Masagos Zulkifli B M M
Singapore
“Coordination between Early Intervention (EI) centres, families and preschools is important for the continuity of support for children with developmental needs.”
“The Taxi Subsidy Scheme supports persons with disabilities (PwDs) who are unable to take public transport, by providing means-tested subsidies to offset the cost of taxi travel to school, work and employment-related training supported by SG Enable.”
“The Skills and Salary Guidelines published by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) guides social service agencies (SSAs) to pay their employees fair and competitive remuneration and maintain the sector's attractiveness. The Guidelines are adjusted so that salaries remain competitive with comparable roles in competing markets.”
“Staff turnover rates vary across social service agencies (SSAs). An individual's decision to leave an organisation is influenced by a myriad of factors, of which pay is only one.”
“Beyond the requirement of a structured daily programme, community-based SCFA administrators have the flexibility to offer programmes and additional enrichment activities that meet the needs of their students. MSF does not track staff salaries and turnover of SCCs in general nor those that administer SCFA.”
“Male preschool educators comprised about 1% of the early childhood workforce in each of the last five years. The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has not issued guidelines pertaining to the rules set by preschool centres specific to the conduct of male preschool educators.”
The complete record
Every one of 2,489 lines we hold for Masagos Zulkifli B M M, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 42 of 50.
“Mdm Speaker, to maintain Singapore's vast network of drains and canals, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) works closely with the National Environment Agency (NEA) to adopt a comprehensive maintenance regime which comprises regular cleaning and structural maintenance. PUB regularly inspects and upkeeps our drains to ensure their performance. Drains that show minor damage will be repaired promptly. Such repair works will be prioritised based on the drain conditions. Drains that are found to have severe structural wear beyond repair will be upgraded as soon as possible through PUB's drainage improvement programme. NEA undertakes the regular cleaning of public drains. Debris, litter and shed leaves in the drains are removed promptly to allow stormwater to flow freely and to prevent pockets of stagnant water from forming. This is to avoid choked drains becoming mosquito breeding sites. Drains are also flushed periodically to remove silt. PUB and NEA will continue to keep our drains and waterways clean and in good condition, so as to better protect Singaporeans from floods and vector-borne diseases like dengue.”
“Wet markets are typically integrated with hawker centres to ensure their viability. According to my Ministry’s study of the area, there are sufficient eating establishments and commercial facilities within the Simei estate. The Tampines Round Market and Food Centre is also located a short distance from the Simei estate. There is, therefore, no plan to build a hawker centre or wet market in Simei.”
“The water supply disruption in Clementi Town on 28 October 2015 was caused by an unexpected closure of a valve on a key pipeline supplying water to the Clementi Town. PUB was carrying out upgrading works of the control system to the valve when a software glitch occurred. This resulted in the unexpected closure of the valve and interrupted water flow into the distribution network. For such upgrading works, PUB follows the industry practice of factory testing, followed by site-testing prior to the commissioning of the works. Following this incident, PUB has tightened its testing and commissioning processes to prevent the recurrence of a similar incident. The upgraded control system has since been commissioned. On the deployment of water wagons, PUB operates a 24-hour centre to receive, respond and monitor customers' feedback. Water wagons are deployed by the centre when there is a water supply disruption affecting a large number of customers. PUB's technical crew is deployed for all water supply-related feedback which requires on-site attention, for example, to check water pressure and quality. In the incident on 28 October 2015, the customers affected were located at the lower floors, which receive water directly from the PUB mains. Upon receiving feedback at 5.40 pm, PUB had immediately deployed service vans and water wagons to the premises. The water supply was progressively restored from 6.40 pm, after PUB officers reopened the affected valve. Customers on higher floors were not affected as they get their supply from the rooftop water tanks.”
“NEA has also written to its counterparts in the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Indonesia, to seek their assistance in verifying some of the information provided by the two companies which have earlier responded to our Preventive Measures Notices. As investigations are still ongoing, more details cannot be divulged at this time.”
“Mdm Speaker, the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA) came into force on 25 September 2014. The Act provides investigative tools and evidentiary provisions to allow for the prosecution of entities, whether in or outside Singapore, as well as persons holding positions of responsibility in these entities that are responsible for causing and contributing to transboundary haze pollution in Singapore. Under the THPA, haze pollution is said to have occurred if the 24-hour PSI remains at 101 or higher for 24 continuous hours or longer. Page: 14 Haze pollution, as prescribed under the THPA, occurred for 10 periods from 10 September 2015 to 28 October 2015. During this entire period, NEA had sent Preventive Measures Notices pursuant to section 9 of the THPA to six companies, requesting them to carry out the following: First, to deploy fire-fighting personnel to extinguish or prevent the spread of any fire on land owned or occupied by them. Second, to discontinue, or not commence, any burning activities on such land. Third, to submit to NEA any plan of action to extinguish any fire on such land or to prevent its recurrence. In addition, NEA served Asia Pulp & Paper Co Ltd (APP) in Singapore a notice pursuant to section 10 of the THPA, seeking information from APP on its subsidiaries, its related companies and suppliers in Singapore and Indonesia, as well as measures taken by its suppliers in Indonesia to put out fires in these concessions. Two companies have responded to the Preventive Measures Notices so far and we are corresponding with them, while the remaining companies have yet to respond. NEA also received information from APP following our earlier request for information. NEA is currently reviewing the information provided.”
“Part of our effort is to not just be reactive but to be proactive at the start or before the advent of the dengue season. So, like I mentioned just now, we have made a lot of inspections. Altogether, in 2015 alone, there were 1.4 million inspections around Singapore. In addition to the inspections, we put in what we call "Gravitraps" to monitor whether mosquitos are breeding in that area, to look at the density of the breeding, as well as the people who get infected, from their blood, to understand the serotype changes, be able to map and, therefore, to be able to look at what are the possible risks that can be prevented both to the areas as well as to the country. Should that then appear to be something very risky, then we will deploy our resources to the appropriate places and make sure that the population comes together to make sure that they, too, will take the steps to make sure their homes are not breeding mosquitos. For those homes which we could not get access into, we will put a notice on their doors because we do not know why they are not there. Maybe they are on holiday or for whatever reason. But within a week, if there is no response, particularly in this period, we will have enough powers to get access into the premises and do the necessary inspection and destruction of breeding, if it is found.”
“The number of residential premises that we have discovered breeding is actually large. But on record the number of enforcements that we have carried out against residential premises is about equal to that of construction sites. That is because we give them a stern warning for the first instance of discovery. What we have found is that if we enforce against the recalcitrant – that means having found and given a warning, we still find it again, and we impose a penalty on them – then the recurrence of finding breading in that home disappears, almost disappears. Unfortunately, not everybody has taken a chance, but when given a penalty, that habit of checking on these things suddenly becomes much better. On the Wolbachia, we have been looking at this since 2005. Our department has been looking at what we can do to suppress the population, first, of Aedes aegypti, particularly prevalent during warm weather. This Wolbachia-carrying Aedes aegypti is not a genetically modified (GM) organism. And this has been confirmed by the Genetic Modification Advisory Committee in Singapore. So, the Member can rest assured that it is not a GM-mosquito. There are many ways to do this. But what we are trying to do is to use the male Aedes aegypti which will Wolbachia-carrying, to introduce that and compete with the wild-type males for the wild-type females. Because what the scientists have discovered is that when the eggs are laid, they do not hatch. Although promising, this is something we still need to study further, and to continue to look at what the field experience is like in other countries as they experiment on this, and to ensure that when we do this in Singapore, the impact on environment and health, and even how it affects other insects or population is not adverse.”
“Unfortunately, this area is under MOH and I do not have the details to be able to answer the question. If the Member is keen to know the answer, the Member could file a Parliamentary Question on that to MOH.”
“We are equally worried about the possible detection of Zika in Singapore. To facilitate this, the Ministry of Health (MOH) is working with NEA to enhance ongoing laboratory surveillance of sample Zika infection. Already, Zika is a notifiable disease under the Infectious Diseases Act. However, having said that, the Zika virus is also transmitted by the same type of mosquito that transmits dengue. Therefore, whatever we do for dengue, if we are effective, will also be effective to prevent Zika from spreading. What we are working on is that in the event that Zika were to be found in Singapore, even a single imported Zika or a local Zika case, NEA will then start to step up its vector control activities around the case's residence and/or the workplace. If it were a single local case, we will also conduct a vector control in the case's contacts' residences. That is the first step. But beyond that, I think it is important for all of us to play our part to understand about the dengue-spreading mosquito and the real impact of how we can reduce this threat; and to understand that, in just a week, an egg can hatch into an adult mosquito and, within three weeks, the same mosquito, if it is female, will start laying 300 eggs. That is how it starts to spread virulently. Therefore, we ask everybody to go out, help do something within your homes, stop its breeding, do the "Five-Step Mozzie Wipeout" and, if we are effective in this, we can also prevent Zika from spreading, if it should come to Singapore.”
“Besides checking homes, NEA has also intensified checks for other areas, including construction sites, and taken stern action against those found breeding mosquitoes. In 2015, more than 900 Notices to Attend Court were issued to construction site contractors and over 100 Court prosecutions were taken against contractors for repeat offences. In the same period, more than 100 Stop Work Orders have been issued to construction sites to ensure that proper mosquito control measures were put in place before construction was allowed to resume. My Ministry has set aside about $2.5 million each year to conduct multidisciplinary research in controlling the mosquito population, for example, for the development of surveillance and control tools such as Gravitraps. In addition, more than $3 million has been committed over the next three years to develop a novel method of suppressing the Aedes mosquito population through the use of male Aedes mosquitoes that carry Wolbachia, a naturally occurring bacterium that can prevent mosquito eggs from hatching. The Government is also tracking the development of the dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, and will carefully evaluate the vaccine to ensure that it is safe, of high quality and effective before it is made available in Singapore. As a community, we need to continue to play our part to remove potential breeding habitats from places under our care. This is the most effective way to control mosquito breeding. My Ministry will also continue to work with our partners to keep up our fight against dengue through a combination of surveillance, public education, enforcement, source reduction, as well as research into new methods of mosquito reduction.”
“Mdm Speaker, over 11,200 dengue cases were reported in 2015, and this is lower than in 2013 and 2014. However, we should worry because in the recent few months, there have been a higher number of cases compared to corresponding periods in previous years. We expect the total number of dengue cases in 2016 to be high, with cases spiking earlier than usual. This increase may be due in part to the change in the main circulating dengue serotype. We have also observed an increase in the Aedes mosquito population. The warmer-than-usual year-end weather due to the El Nino phenomenon has aided the breeding and spread of both Aedes mosquitoes and the dengue virus in Singapore and in the region. Source reduction remains the most effective way to curtail the transmission of dengue. In anticipation of a rise in dengue cases, the National Environment Agency (NEA), together with members of the Inter-Agency Dengue Task Force, has stepped up source reduction efforts earlier than usual. From November to December 2015, NEA conducted more than 193,000 inspections and removed more than 4,000 breeding habitats, the majority of which were found in homes, and this can be found in containers, flowerpots, the usual places. NEA has also stepped-up publicity efforts to raise awareness of the "Five-Step Mozzie Wipeout" and encourage the community to take part actively to prevent dengue. Owners of premises in dengue clusters found with breeding habitats can be fined up to $5,000 under the Control of Vectors and Pesticides Act. Already more than 1,000 households in dengue clusters were fined in 2015. The current penalties have been effective in keeping re-offending rates low. Nonetheless, my Ministry will continue to monitor the situation and introduce stiffer penalties if necessary.”
“Singapore takes a proactive, long-term approach towards climate adaptation. We will build greater resilience into our infrastructure and systems within MEWR. On the broader front, we are working with other Government agencies to build resiliency in our key national assets. These adaptation plans will be regularly reviewed as new knowledge becomes available to ensure that we are prepared for potential climate change impacts. MEWR will work closely with all our stakeholders – Government agencies, businesses and the community – to realise the vision outlined in the SSB 2015. Just as our forefathers have left us this City in the Garden, we must leave our children with a greener and cleaner home. Page: 52”
“We will take decisive and sustained action to tackle haze, such as increasing collaboration with industries and key interest groups, to adopt sustainable land clearing practices. We will not hesitate to take tough actions against errant businesses. Last December, the world adopted a historic agreement at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP-21) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris to combat climate change. Singapore is a responsible global citizen and we have put in place ambitious plans to achieve our pledge. This requires all of us – the Government, industries and individuals – to each play our part to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Significant adjustments will be needed as we put in place higher emission standards. We will work with industries to adopt greener practices and enhance their energy efficiency. As individuals, we will also need to reduce our energy consumption and, to enable this, we will share more information under our energy labelling scheme and work with community groups to drive greener purchasing decisions. Our Government, as a large consumer of goods and services, remains committed to taking the lead in sustainability and will do more through more ambitious energy and water efficiency targets for the public sector. Lastly, we are keenly aware of our vulnerability as an island state with limited resources. We will continue to invest in good environmental infrastructure and technology for a more resilient future. We are reviewing the Water Master Plan to ensure a reliable and sustainable water supply for generations to come. While we continue to do our part in reducing our carbon footprint, we need to protect ourselves from the wide-ranging impacts of climate change.”
“We will work closely with the community to reinforce these positive social norms such that it becomes an inherent part of our Singaporean identity and values. We will empower the community and provide more opportunities, such as extending the "Bright Spots" programme, for individuals to adopt greater ownership of our environment and to nurture values of graciousness and mutual respect together. We recognise that spaces are important in connecting individuals and forming communities that care for our environment together. Our hawker centres not only provide hygienic and affordable food, but are also well-loved and vibrant community spaces that enrich our lives. We have embarked on a review to strengthen the role of hawker centres, support innovation and work with the community to promote our local hawker culture and social graciousness. More of our new hawker centres will be integrated with facilities and spaces for meaningful daily interactions among residents. We will also further expand our ABC Waters Programme to transform more waterways and waterbodies into recreational, social and community spaces closer to our homes and hearts. We are actively engaging and co-creating with our citizens during the design and construction phases of the ABC Waters projects, as well as working with them to keep our waterways and waterbodies clean. Economic growth and environmental sustainability are not mutually exclusive. We will work with industry partners and regional governments to support economic growth in an Page: 51 environmentally responsible manner. Our experience with transboundary haze in the past few years has shown the devastating environmental, social and economic impact of irresponsible business practices.”
“Through the foresight and dedication of Singaporeans over the past 50 years, we have built an endearing home and a clean and green city with high environmental standards that we can be proud of. As we embark on the next chapter of our nation's growth, we will build on this rich legacy so that a sustainable environment will become an intrinsic part of our unique Singaporean heritage. The Sustainable Singapore Blueprint (SSB) 2015 outlined our vision and plans to ensure that Singapore remains the best home for Singaporeans to enjoy a good quality of life. We will work with Singaporeans, the larger community and industry partners to realise our vision for a Liveable and Endearing Home, a Vibrant and Sustainable City and an Active and Gracious Community. We will work hard to achieve an even cleaner and healthier environment whilst ensuring that Singaporeans continue to have access to fresh air and clean water. To achieve this, we will further reduce sources of air pollution by tightening vehicular and industrial emission standards. We will also strengthen our regulatory regime to ensure more stringent levels of food hygiene and leverage scientific advancements to minimise the transmission of vector-borne diseases. As our population grows, the demands on our existing infrastructure to meet our daily waste management needs will increase significantly. Given our land and resource constraints, we will leverage innovative technologies and solutions to uphold our high standards of waste management. At the same time, we will encourage and facilitate the efforts of Singaporeans to reuse, reduce and recycle more as we work towards a Zero Waste Nation. Everyone has a part to play in upholding high standards of cleanliness and public health.”
“The Central Youth Guidance Office brings together MHA, MSF and MOE to look at the spectrum of risks that our youths may be exposed to. Some of them may just have some form of severe discipline problems in school. This does not necessarily mean they will fall into crime. But it would be good if we can engage them early, get them on board programmes that will put them on productive purposes so that they do not come into bad company. We do not generally want to just address youths at-risk. We want to make it as broad as possible so that even those at the fringes should be involved. That is the hardest part because those youths who have already been arrested and given stern warnings, we know who they are and we are engaging them. But the biggest problem Page: 42 is those who are at the fringes or suffering some form of problems at home or in school that we need to be aware of. I am glad that the schools, together with MSF, MOE and MHA, are always working together to try and be inclusive and bring as many of them as possible on board; at the same time, not stigmatising them, to tell them that these are youths at-risk and we are working on them.”
“Mdm Speaker, generally, youth crime has been on the decline and the Police have implemented many measures to engage at-risk youths. For example, there is the Youth Engagement Programme (YEP) developed by Police psychologists with inputs from the Ministry of Education (MOE), Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the Police to have activities planned throughout the year to engage these youths, occupy them, especially during holidays, particularly to steer them away from crime. One good example is the Delta League Sports Challenge, which is carried out in June and December, where many youths who have been identified to be at-risk have been engaged by the Police, given mentoring programmes, as well as professional coaching by our S-League teams, to give them a sense of purpose and divert them away from crime. The Police have also been notifying parents when we meet their children hanging out late – we call this programme Youths Hanging Out Late initiative – so that parents and schools know that these children have been out there, maybe not under supervision, and that they should take notice. We have also launched what we call the Youth GO! programme by the Central Youth Guidance Office. It is a pilot in the Northeast and Northwest districts to look out for youths who hang out late, beyond 11.00 pm. These youth workers go out beyond 11.00 pm to identify youths who are regularly out there, not under supervision, so that they can have a person they are familiar with who can work with them should they have issues and prevent them falling into crime.”
“I thank the Member for the question. As I mentioned, it is too early to pre-empt the kind of aid that we should be giving to Nepal or whether to scale it to the kind of aid that we gave to Aceh. Clearly, even in Aceh, all our NGOs played a very big part, because they were our good neighbours, they had connections and, sometimes, NGOs can do a better job than governments. In terms of the expedition by Singaporeans who went there, they were in very close touch with the authorities, as well as the base communications. At times, they also communicated personally with me. We always assured them that if they needed to get help, if they had the wherewithal to do it, they will be supported. You must remember that the Everest base camp was also part of the disaster area. Many people, climbers, also died there. Page: 19 It was a very difficult terrain. Despite that, arrangements were made, they came out, went back to Kathmandu and they are now back in Singapore. So, we are really thankful for the efforts they have made to fly the Singapore flag, to get up to the peak of Everest, to celebrate SG50. Unfortunately, they did not achieve it but, in the process, they knew what was more important – to keep safe, to make sure that they can come back safely and without harm to themselves, and, hopefully, one day, they can pursue their dreams.”
“It is clear that the disaster in Nepal has taken a very big toll on the Nepalese as well as on the country. At this point in time, as I mentioned, an assessment has not been made. The Nepalese are still asking for help in humanitarian aid and the outpouring has not been coordinated. Until such time, we do not want to pre-empt the kind of aid that is needed. Page: 18 In the same way, too, when the relief and rescue work was done, not everything that went into the place were things that the Nepalese needed. So, when the international community comes together to help them with reconstruction, Singapore will do our part to contribute expertise in a way that we can and not overextend ourselves so that we do not over-reach what we can do as a nation. But we should also not discount the public in Singapore and NGOs, such as Mercy Relief as well as SRC, to extend their help also, in the development and rebuilding of Nepal.”
“This financial contribution complements the on-going efforts by Singaporeans and non-government organisations (NGOs) to raise funds for the relief efforts in Nepal. Many Singaporeans have been moved by the tragedy. They have dug deep into their pockets and contributed generously. Other NGOs, including Mercy Relief and religious organisations have also raised more than S$800,000 to date, with many of them mounting medical and humanitarian missions to Nepal. The government of Nepal has expressed appreciation for Singapore's assistance and support to Nepal and the Nepalese people. Mdm Speaker, I would like to assure the House that in the midst of these relief efforts, the Government also spared no effort in looking after the welfare of Singaporeans affected Page: 17 by the disaster in Nepal. MFA's Crisis Response Team arrived in Kathmandu within a day to assist Singaporeans wishing to return home. The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) facilitated the return of 71 Singaporeans, along with 24 other nationals, on the returning C-130 aircraft. Throughout the crisis, MFA continued to reach out to Singaporeans in Nepal to render assistance and, within five days of the earthquake, had accounted for the safety of all Singaporeans who e-registered with MFA.”
“A further six personnel from the Changi RHCC were deployed, together with additional medical supplies. Eight members of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and seven members from the Ministry of Health (MOH) were also deployed together with the SAF's medical team. The combined medical team has, to date, treated more than 3,000 patients. The RHCC assisted the Nepalese national disaster management authorities and military with their efforts to coordinate the relief efforts. Eleven sorties have been flown in and out of Kathmandu by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), transporting more than 100 tonnes of equipment and relief supplies, various Singapore contingents, as well as evacuating Singaporeans from Nepal. Mdm Speaker, the officers involved in this disaster relief effort have worked tirelessly, often times under trying conditions. I would like to express my appreciation to all of them for their dedication and hard work, and to their family members for their support. In addition to mobilising our assets, the Singapore Government contributed a total of S$250,000 through the Singapore Red Cross (SRC). An initial S$100,000 was given as seed money to help kick-start the SRC donation drive. However, as news of the severity and scale of the disaster became clearer and there were increasing calls for international aid, we increased our contribution by another S$150,000 to support the SRC's efforts to purchase emergency supplies. To date, SRC has raised more than S$4.5 million, sent 14 personnel, including two medical teams with a total of 11 personnel and S$200,000 worth of emergency supplies and relief items, including food, household kits and shelter tool kits, to Nepal.”
“Thank you. Mdm Speaker, within hours of receiving the shocking and sad news, the Singapore Government mobilised a disaster relief team for deployment to Nepal in aid of relief efforts. The Home Team mounted its largest-ever deployment for an overseas disaster relief operation. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) formed "Operation Lionheart (Nepal, Earthquake)" – the 14th such Lionheart mission – comprising a 60-member search-and-rescue team. In addition, a 66-member- strong Singapore Police Force (SPF) contingent, including Gurkha Contingent officers, was also deployed to Nepal. Over the course of the deployment, the SCDF and SPF contingents operated in several areas in Nepal, such as the Lalitpur district around Kathmandu, Pokhara and Gorkha. The SCDF and SPF contingents worked with the Nepalese authorities and other foreign teams to provide humanitarian assistance, including search-and-rescue, relief aid and medical assistance, to the affected people, with the GC officers helping to facilitate relief operations as they were familiar with the language, terrain and local communities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) also despatched a four-person Crisis Response Team to Kathmandu to provide consular assistance to Singaporeans stranded in Nepal. Our Embassy in New Delhi also sent an officer to support the team subsequently. Page: 16 At the same time, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) immediately mobilised a joint medical team of 22 personnel and an advance team of six personnel from the Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre or RHCC. C-130 aircraft were also deployed to airlift the personnel, equipment and relief supplies into Kathmandu.”
“I thank the Member for the question. The track record of the event organiser was very clear. So many years, everywhere they have held it, there have always been incidents connected with drugs. And it would be remiss of the authorities to ignore it altogether. Therefore, we took that into consideration and the fact that, during the engagement with the organiser, they failed to show how they can actually prevent or put adequate measures to prevent the same incidents from happening in Singapore. Imagine if this incident had taken place and, on the last day, like in Malaysia, death had occurred and we had to cancel the event, what would our explanation be in Parliament today? So, I hope Members will continue to support the Government's stand to ensure that our zero tolerance against drug abuse is consistent and holistic and prevent such incidents from happening in Singapore.”
“In fact, they were enthusiastic about the confidence among Malay/Muslims, who not only perform prayers diligently in the mosques that they built themselves, but they were also able to integrate easily as Singaporeans who are able to live successfully in a meritocracy without any favouritism. This is the unique Singapore Malay/Muslim identity that he built. My heart is heavy because Singapore lost a leader. He gained global recognition for our island-state. We, the children of LKY, lost a father who built up all the communities. Without him, we may not even have thought of MENDAKI or the MBF. May the future generations honour Mr Lee's contributions and build on the legacy that he left behind. Beware of actions and instigations that can split us up, especially political games that make use of language, race and religion. This eulogy to the family of the late Mr Lee comes from us and fellow Singaporeans. Thank you, Mr Lee, for leaving behind a harmonious nation and an identity for us. [Applause.] 5.13 pm”
“A harmonious multiracial society is his most precious legacy that became the foundation for all our success while protecting the Page: 27 minorities. If a harmonious society enables the minority Muslim community to practise their faith peacefully, Mr Lee's meritocracy system became the benchmark in education or employment matters for all. The Malay community in Singapore should be proud because they managed to prove to the world that their excellence in education and employment did not happen because there was special treatment for minorities. We managed to achieve success by competing in a world-class education system. A substantial amount of funds was provided to help Malays achieve success in education. We were successful in our careers based on our performance. The Malay community's self-esteem was intact and our success is respected by the other races. When I accompanied him to Malaysia, he told off a leader who spread lies about the condition of Malays in Singapore. He issued a challenge for the Berita Harian paper to be distributed there so that everyone can read about how well Singapore Muslims can practise their faith and so many of their children became engineers, scientists and doctors. I was so proud to sit beside him that day. Clearly, he was proud of our achievements. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the global community and world leaders whom I met, like Mr Tony Blair and the Grand Mufti of Egypt Sheikh Shawki Allam, expressed admiration towards the interracial harmony that is evident in Singapore.”
“After his failure in advocating a "Malaysia for Malaysians", Mr Lee was determined to create a Singapore for all citizens, regardless of race, language or religion. Everyone would have a space to cultivate their respective languages, cultures and religions, but at the same time, they were persuaded to accept the Government's policy of expanding the common space, so that they can mingle in housing estates, in schools and at the workplace. Ghetto areas disappeared. Slowly but surely, a multiracial society living together peacefully became embedded in the DNA of Singaporeans, as mentioned by Prof S Jayakumar, whereas Deputy Prime Minister Teo is thankful that Singapore prospers because all of its leaders are responsible and understand that harmony exists not because all the races got what they demanded, but harmony exists because everybody was willing to make sacrifices that are, at times, painful, so that we can all prosper together. As a result, places of worship like the mosques, churches and temples can exist side by side. The people take turns to celebrate one another's festivals by having open houses for their friends. Friends become closer because they share the same interests and not because they speak the same language. It was Mr Lee who supported the creation of the Mosque Building Fund, which helped build many mosques that are magnificent and thriving. However, no matter how much funds are collected, it will be in vain if the foundations of harmony are weak and are not upheld by all. Otherwise, mosques that will be built will face protests and those that have been built, will be burned down. The proof is everywhere.”
“(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] "These are all Lee Kuan Yew's children". That was the nickname given in jest by Pak Ngah, when we visited him in Kota Tinggi, whenever his friends asked who we are. At that time, Singapore had recently separated from Malaysia, and my uncle may be unconvinced that we will be looked after properly in a country with a Chinese majority. Before he passed away, I had the opportunity to meet him again. My uncle still teased us as "Lee Kuan Yew's children" among his friends. However, this time, he added that he was proud and full of admiration, because we were able to become professionals and could compete with the other races in the Lion City. Page: 26 Similarly, that is how the global community views our achievements in Singapore. The attitude of doubt and concern, whereby some even looked down at us when we separated from Malaysia, has transformed into admiration and respect. In any country, whenever we flash our passports, we feel respected because we are Singaporeans. The blessings that we now enjoy in our lives would not have been possible without the vision, passion and determination of Mr Lee. He built a developed nation and he wanted to provide for the well-being of Singaporeans, despite our country's lack of natural resources, and at that time, many Singaporeans were unemployed. In addition, racial conflicts flared up easily during that period. The whole nation was tense. Without a doubt, I would say that Mr Lee established an administration that is transparent, eradicated corruption and crime. Singapore gained the confidence of international investors who came here to work and to do business. Nonetheless, for me, Mr Lee's most outstanding policy is his unique social compact.”
“NEAR volunteers will be trained to respond to residential fire incidents and medical cases requiring first aid treatment, including cardiac arrest cases. On weekends, when activated, they will respond to these emergencies in bicycles equipped with a combination of a first aid kit, AED, fire extinguishers and smoke evacuation hoods. They will also patrol their estate and be on the lookout for suspicious characters and crimes in progress. About 100 persons have thus far stepped forward to volunteer and we hope to implement this programme in more and in all constituencies. The safety and security of our community is our collective responsibility. Community partnerships have a tremendous multiplier effect on the Home Team's efforts. Our volunteers are a dedicated and passionate group, comprising individuals of all ages and from all walks of life. I commend their tireless contributions and sacrifice, and look forward to many more members of the community joining us to do their part to keep neighbourhoods and Singapore safe and secure. Mdm Chair, Singapore remains safe and secure because of the hard work put in by the Home Team. We must not take this for granted. As the Deputy Prime Minister mentioned, we will augment the Home Team with more manpower and resources, and invest in systems and technology. Community partnerships are the third pillar to this strategy and we will take our partnership to the next level in the coming years. Together, these three pillars will form our overall strategy going forward to ensure Singapore remains safe and secure.”
“For a start, we will carry out a pilot later this year in six constituencies – Bedok, Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang, Pasir Ris West, Radin Mas and Tampines West. In particular, I would like to thank Dr Teo Ho Pin for acknowledging the need for such an initiative and volunteering for it during the Budget Debate. SCDF is already in touch with the grassroots leaders in his Bukit Panjang constituency and we will work closely with his constituency on implementation. Let me explain how this programme will work. First, in partnership with MOH, we will grow the pool of community responders. All volunteers will be trained to administer CPR and operate AEDs. No prior medical training or background is necessary. Second, we will make AEDs more accessible at HDB blocks. For a start, we will install them at the lift lobbies of every two to three HDB blocks in the pilot constituencies. Third, SCDF has developed a new myResponder App that alerts users to cardiac arrest cases nearby and locates the nearest AEDs. With the "Save a Life" initiative, the person who responds to your cardiac arrest can be your friend, can be your neighbour, or even your son or daughter. This is possible when we train our volunteers, equip them properly and then link them to those who need their Page: 36 help. We will also help the community organise itself to take greater ownership of its security and emergency response. SCDF and SPF will soon launch the pilot of the Neighbourhood Active Responder Programme or NEAR in two constituencies, in Tampines East and Tampines West. NEAR represents a fundamental shift in the roles that volunteers play in the community – from passive to active first responders. It complements the "Save a Life" initiative.”
“We believe that people are innately willing to help others in need. The Government will do more to encourage and enable more members of the community to play their part, whether it is to be vigilant against terrorism, to fight crime, to deter harassment by illegal moneylenders, or to save lives. We will facilitate this in a systematic and comprehensive way. The Second Minister spoke earlier on how the Police's crowdsourcing initiatives have empowered the community to help detect and deter crime. Our existing community involvement initiatives, like the Yellow Ribbon Community Project and Community Befrienders, are running well. I would now like to touch on how community partnerships will transform our approach towards emergency response. In any emergency, the first few minutes are crucial. The best first responder in such situations is the bystander. For example, in the case of a cardiac arrest, rapid and effective CPR and AED intervention from bystanders increases the chances of survival by as much as 30%. SCDF has empowered bystanders to provide immediate CPR assistance by changing the script of our 995 operators from "Do you know how to do CPR" to "I need you to help administer CPR". Since the change, the proportion of cardiac arrest victims who receive CPR from bystanders has more than doubled from 22% in 2011 to 47% in 2014. We will go beyond these episodic interventions. Under SCDF's "Save a Life" initiative, we will train, equip, and organise a network of community responders that will be able to respond quickly and effectively to cardiac arrest cases in the community. It is imperative that we do so as our population ages and a significant proportion of cardiac arrest cases take place at home. We hope to launch the initiative in all constituencies by end-2018.”
“These penalties will not be waived even upon appeal to the Traffic Police, unless there are very strong extenuating factors which can be substantiated. Should the motorist disagree with the decision, he should present his case to the Court, rather than submitting his appeal to the Traffic Police. On public education, vulnerable road user groups, such as children and elderly pedestrians, remain a priority. Last year, the Traffic Police reached out to more than 45,000 students to teach them good road safety habits. The Traffic Police and the Singapore Road Safety Council also organised two Road Safety Concerts for the Golden Age in 2014, reaching out to more than 2,000 seniors. On engagement, the Government has partnered the transport and logistics industry through the Safer Roads Industry Taskforce to promote safer driving among vocational drivers. We will release the recommendations later this year. Ultimately, the efforts of the Government alone are not enough. All road users must exercise individual responsibility and practise safe and courteous road use. The Traffic Police will, in the coming months, launch a new road safety campaign to encourage all road users to "Use Your RoadSense". This campaign encourages all road users, including motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, to be more patient and careful on the road. Mdm Chair, finally, Ms Tin Pei Ling and Mr Arthur Fong spoke about the need for strong community partnerships. We have built up and developed community volunteer programmes in many areas over the years. Page: 35 As the Deputy Prime Minister said, we must now take community partnerships to the next level by helping the community take ownership of its issues and facilitating those who are prepared to play their part.”
“I have personally seen drivers slowing down when approaching traffic junctions, as the traffic lights turn amber, as they are aware of the cameras, or if they think there is one. I am thankful that our motorists have been responsive. I hope that they will also regulate their speed on the roads. Together, we can reduce accidents and save lives. I agree with Mr Ang Wei Neng on the need to ensure that heavy vehicle drivers are also safe drivers. We have kept up the enforcement tempo against heavy vehicles, and the number of accidents involving heavy vehicles has remained stable over the last five years. But we can do more. Larger heavy vehicles are also required to install speed limiters, which Page: 34 are regularly inspected. On top of this, we introduced additional speed limiter inspections for those caught speeding. Since then, the number of such heavy vehicles caught multiple times for speeding in a given year declined from 270 in 2013 to 230 in 2014. The total number of heavy vehicle speeding violations also decreased from 1,953 in 2013 to 1,743 in 2014. We will continue keeping a close watch on the situation. Speed limiter or no speed limiter, we expect all our heavy vehicle drivers to drive responsibly. We agree with Mr Ang and work with LTA to explore better methods and better technologies for this purpose. Overall, when it comes to enforcement, we will deal firmly but fairly with those who flout our traffic rules. Traffic offences pose a serious danger to other road users. For compoundable offences, the Traffic Police have the authority to issue a composition fine and, where required by law, demerit points, in lieu of court prosecution. Therefore, it saves the offenders the hassle of going through the court process.”
“The outcomes have generally been positive. Other than skills training and employment assistance by SCORE, the Yellow Ribbon Project has significantly changed the community's perception of ex-offenders. Ultimately, the onus is on the individual to take charge of his rehabilitation. Mdm Chair, let me now address Dr Janil Puthucheary and Mr Ang Wei Neng's questions on road safety. In 2014, although injury accidents increased slightly, the number of fatal traffic accidents and fatalities continued to fall. Overall, we have seen improvements in our road traffic situation and our road fatality rate has decreased by more than 50% over the past two decades. More can still be done to improve road safety. The Safer Roads Singapore action plan aims to foster a culture of safe and courteous road use, through a three-pronged strategy of enforcement, education and engagement. On enforcement, our sustained efforts have improved the drink-driving and red-running situation. Even with an increase in the number of drink-driving enforcement operations conducted, I am glad that the number of persons arrested for drink-driving actually fell from 3,019 in 2013 to 2,954 in 2014. The number of fatal accidents involving drink-driving also declined from 14 in 2013 to 10 in 2014. The Deputy Prime Minister spoke about the effectiveness of red light cameras and we hope to do the same for speeding. The number of speeding violations detected increased by 6.5% since 2013 to about 280,000 violations in 2014. The number of fatal accidents involving speeding also increased from 39 in 2013 to 42 in 2014. The Traffic Police have begun installing 20 new digital speed enforcement cameras across 11 locations islandwide starting this week, and we will step up enforcement against speeding.”
“Finally, we have enhanced our early intervention programmes for youth drug abusers of different risk profiles. In the past two years, we have introduced the Youth Enhanced Supervision Scheme for first-time low-risk youth abusers and the Community Rehabilitation Centre for those at moderate risk of relapsing to drugs. These new programmes are more targeted and take into account the individual circumstances of abusers. 12.45 pm We must do all we can to prevent our youths from being tempted by drugs and ensure that those who take drugs do not relapse. All this is possible only if our youths are resilient, possess the will to change and take individual responsibility for their actions. Only then, we can save our youths from drugs and work towards a drug-free society in Singapore. Mdm Chair, Mr Hri Kumar asked about skills upgrading and employment outcomes for inmates. The Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises or SCORE provides skills training to inmates during their incarceration, and this is aligned to the national Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) framework to improve their employability upon release. Page: 33 SCORE also helps inmates with longer sentences secure employment before their release. This follows through from the training received in prison as an important part of their reintegration process. Those with sentences of less than one year though, who comprise the majority of releases each year, are typically not offered assistance, as they have not been out of the workforce for very long. Post-release though, regardless of sentence length, all ex-offenders can approach SCORE for employment assistance and job matching. However, we only track the employment outcomes of inmates who approach SCORE for assistance.”
“Upstream, PDE will continue to be our first line of defence in the war against drugs. We must continue to communicate our strong anti-drug message clearly, and in an engaging and better way that resonates with our youths. Youths may have the impression that cannabis is a "soft" drug. This is not true. Heroin and methamphetamine addicts in our prisons in Singapore have been known to start their addiction with these drugs with cannabis. Cannabis, also known as marijuana, weed, or ganja, is addictive and harmful. It is especially harmful to young people and has been linked to impairments in brain Page: 32 development, psychomotor skills and even cognitive decline with a drop in IQ. The applications of cannabis for managing pain and epilepsy have also not been clinically proven. There are safer and more effective alternatives. Next, CNB will continue to maintain its high tempo of enforcement amid a rapidly evolving operating environment. We are constantly on the lookout for emerging drug trends. Let me share some examples. First, with the rise in e-commerce, some have tried to order drugs online. CNB is watching this development closely. We will intercept suspicious packages and prosecute those who conduct drug transactions online. Second, some youths, when travelling overseas, have been experimenting with drugs because they think that they are beyond the reach of our laws. CNB performs checks at our checkpoints and airports and has taken action against individuals found to have consumed drugs overseas. Third, we are keeping an eye on music events. This is after several youths and young adults, including one Singaporean, died from suspected drug overdose at music events held in this region last year.”
“Zero tolerance means that we strongly reject the scourge of drugs and do not condone its presence in our society. Zero tolerance means that we tackle both drug supply and demand. We take a tough stance against those who wish to profit off drug addicts but, at the same time, we rehabilitate those who consume drugs, even as we take firm action against repeat abusers. I am glad that the community has given its strong support to tackle the drug situation firmly. Other countries have chosen a different approach. Because they could not keep drug abuse low, they moved on to address secondary problems arising from drug abuse. They have, for example, opiate substitution programmes to help drug abusers to stay socially functioning, or needle exchange programmes to minimise the spread of HIV. Some states in the US have even decriminalised drug possession to alleviate prison overcrowding. These initiatives do not treat the underlying drug addiction. Singapore is different. Our tough drug laws keep our streets largely free from drugs and save lives. More importantly, our laws have kept crime low and deterred organised drug syndicates from operating in Singapore. Let us keep it that way. Allow me now to focus on youths and the worrying trend of a rise in youth drug abusers arrested, though the absolute numbers are still small. I currently co-chair a Taskforce on Youths and Drugs with Minister of State Sim Ann, which was set up to tackle the youth drug abuse problem head-on. We will release our findings and recommendations later this year. The recommendations will build on our current comprehensive approach to tackling drug abuse among youths, and this comprises Preventive Drug Education or PDE, effective enforcement and early, targeted intervention for youth abusers.”
“Mdm Chair, I will now speak on the drug situation in Singapore, road safety and the Home Team's efforts in community partnerships. First, an update on the overall drug situation, which Mr Edwin Tong asked about. The international and regional drug situation continues to be challenging, with higher production, higher trafficking and higher consumption of heroin and methamphetamine. International drug syndicates have also formed networks within Southeast Asia to manufacture, receive and distribute drugs to the region. So, Mr Edwin Tong is right – this has increased supply and led to a drop in drug prices. Unfortunately, Singapore remains a major destination for these drugs, either for transhipment or for imports. The Central Narcotics Bureau or CNB has maintained its enforcement tempo. In 2014, CNB dismantled 21 drug syndicates and seized about $8 million worth of drugs. Among the drugs seized last year was 35 kilogrammes of cannabis, a 10-year high. This 35 kilogrammes of cannabis can feed more than 5,000 addicts for a week. On the demand side, there are two worrying trends. First, the proportion of younger drug abusers has increased. Of the total drug abusers arrested in 2014, 34% were below the age of 30, up from 29% in 2010. Among new abusers arrested, two-thirds were below the age of 30, up from half in 2010. The educational profile of abusers arrested is also changing, with more from institutions of higher learning. Second, we are arresting more cannabis Page: 31 abusers, with 184 abusers arrested in 2014. The number may be small but this is a 50% increase over five years. The majority of cannabis abusers are young people aged below 30. Given these challenges, it is important that Singapore maintains a zero-tolerance approach against drugs.”
“They should also observe local laws, purchase comprehensive travel insurance and take care of their passports and other important belongings. Singaporeans should also try to keep track of MFA's travel notices and advisories, which can be readily accessed via our app, MFA@SG, which they can download to their smartphones. The app also allows Singaporeans to eRegister so that we can get in touch with them in a major crisis.”
“Against the backdrop of external uncertainties and higher numbers of Singaporeans travelling abroad more frequently, MFA's challenge is to meet Singaporeans' growing demand for prompt and effective consular services, as well as to manage more complex cases efficiently with our limited resources in MFA. MFA is committed to doing what it can to help Singaporeans, especially those in distress. When a tugboat sank in Jingjiang earlier this year, officers from our Consulate-General in Shanghai immediately rushed to the scene to provide assistance to the Singaporean next-of-kin who had sadly lost their loved ones in the tragedy. MFA currently operates 49 Overseas Missions. Over the years, we have established a network of 30 Honorary Consuls-General in various major cities. In countries where we do not have any diplomatic representation, we cooperate closely with our ASEAN countries to render assistance to our nationals. MFA will continue to improve its work processes, leverage on technology and increase our outreach efforts in order to provide better consular assistance to Singaporeans. In this regard, emergency preparedness is an important priority. To ensure a high level of readiness within MFA and within the Government as a whole, simulation exercises and reviews of our contingency plans, as well as the training of officers, are regularly conducted. The above notwithstanding, MFA has to be judicious in our efforts. We are a small Ministry. We cannot afford to deal with requests that will divert attention or limited resources away from Singaporeans who require genuine assistance. Singaporeans can help by taking precautions and remaining vigilant, both at home and abroad.”
“Mdm Chair, let me touch on the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) that has trained many government officials from all over the world. It is our primary platform for extending technical assistance. Indeed, over 170 countries have benefited from this programme for the last 23 years. I am happy to share that we expect to receive our milestone 100,000th participant this year. Through the SCP, we share our experiences in real settings in governance, economic development, sustainable urban development and port management, just to name a few. Insights into our unique experience in planning, development and renewal of our beautiful island, are prized highly by many nations, keen to learn as they, too, embark on urbanisation and development. A significant part of our technical assistance continues to be focused on enhancing the human resource of our ASEAN neighbours. This is our way to make sure that we make a meaningful contribution that will help to build a resilient and integrated ASEAN Community. In the year ahead, the SCP will also roll out new programmes to meet rising challenges and changing needs around the world. For example, we are offering a new suite of leadership programmes aimed at tapping on the collective experiences of senior foreign officials to address salient challenges affecting governance, women in leadership, education, urban planning and judicial processes. New programmes on social and family policies will also Page: 92 showcase Singapore's progress in advancing the needs of women and children. Mdm Chair, I now move on to consular services for Singaporeans, which are very important priority for MFA.”
“Besides the emerging markets in the Middle East, Singapore is working closely with Turkey to broaden and deepen our ties. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made an official visit to Singapore in January 2014 when he was Prime Minister. Our Prime Minister made his first official visit to Turkey in October 2014 where he signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement with his Turkish counterpart. During the visits, both Page: 91 countries affirmed their commitment towards achieving a high-quality and comprehensive Singapore-Turkey FTA. I am pleased to add that good progress has been made on the negotiations to date. Turning to Africa, there have been numerous positive developments that have opened up a window of opportunity for our private sector to tap into. During my visit to Kenya and Tanzania in 2014, I was impressed by the rapid economic growth and pace of development that were taking place throughout the continent. We will continue to take steps to institutionalise our engagement with Africa and to preserve the gains that we have achieved so far. For instance, the Third Africa-Singapore Business Forum saw 181 participants visiting Singapore. In addition, we played host to the First Sub-Saharan Africa High Level Ministerial Exchange Visit in August 2014 that was attended by seven countries. Our account in Latin America continues to grow, as highlighted by the forthcoming State Visit by President Tony Tan to Mexico this month and our healthy engagement with the Pacific Alliance, a key trading bloc to which Singapore is an observer. These are new areas of growth and opportunity for Singapore businesses. We are also exploring the feasibility of collaborating with Mexico and Chile to train officials from Latin America and the Caribbean.”
“As fellow small states, we share a certain affinity for one another and can cooperate for mutual benefit. We also welcome the continued interest from the Middle East on our developmental experience. We continue to receive regular requests for study visits to Singapore and participate in our Technical Assistance Programme, which I will touch on later. Egypt, for example, is keen to study our experience in developing our ports and maritime industry as the Egyptian government embarks on the Suez Canal Regional Development Project. Others, such as the Palestinians, have sent delegations to look at our anti-corruption efforts and education system. When I visited Ramallah in October 2014, I assured the Palestinian leaders, including President Mahmoud Abbas, of Singapore's continued support for its capacity-building efforts. They welcomed this warmly. With regard to safeguarding the safety of Singaporeans overseas, we would like to clarify that we do not "monitor" or pry into the movements of Singaporeans travelling abroad. Instead, our Missions proactively reach out to and work closely with overseas Singaporean communities, not only in the Middle East region, but in every part of the world, as far as we can, on a regular basis, to build a comprehensive safety network. In times of emergency, these communities play an important role in coordinating and relaying public safety messages to Singaporeans in their country. For example, PERKEMAS, the student association in Cairo played an integral role in coordinating our emergency efforts on the ground and proved integral to our successful execution of the assisted departure exercises of our students from Cairo in 2011 and 2013. 4.30 pm Let me touch on Turkey.”
“Mdm Chair, Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked about the situation in the Middle East, as well as how Singapore monitors our students and business people living or travelling in that region. She had also asked about Singapore's collaboration with new and emerging markets, such as those in Africa and Latin America. The security situation in the Middle East will remain fluid for the foreseeable future. The Syrian conflict rages on with more than 200,000 deaths and this could further foment instability in the region. The situation in Yemen is also of concern, given the disintegration of the central government and fighting between armed groups. ISIS will continue to be a significant threat which the global community must grapple with. MFA will continue to closely monitor developments in the region which may impact Singapore. Having said that, we should not over-generalise the same concerns across the whole of the Middle East as Page: 90 each region and country is unique in its own right. Bilaterally, Singapore will continue to actively engage the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. There has been a major leadership transition in Saudi Arabia and we look forward to working with the new leadership under His Majesty King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to boost bilateral relations. Our ties with the GCC are also sustained by institutionalised bilateral platforms, such as the Singapore-Qatar High Level Joint Committee and the Singapore-UAE Joint Committee. We are also working to facilitate the implementation of the GCC-Singapore FTA, which came into force in September 2013. In addition, we will be commemorating 30 years of diplomatic relations with Oman, the UAE, Bahrain and Kuwait this year.”
“We are working with suitable partners locally for this, but we also need foreign jurisdictions to ensure that when a victim is identified and returns home, the victim is properly rehabilitated, protected and reintegrated in order to prevent the victim from re-entering the trafficking cycle. To combat TIP in the region, we work with other ASEAN member states through platforms, such as the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime, as well as the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime and its Working Group on Trafficking in Persons. Beyond ASEAN, we work with partners, such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Group of Friends United against Human Trafficking. The Police have also been working through INTERPOL to share information on trafficking, as well as offer assistance to investigate into potential TIP cases. With the establishment of the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore, we have a cutting-edge research and development facility for the identification of crimes and criminals, training, operational support and partnerships for better enforcement against transnational and syndicated crimes, such as human trafficking. We will continue to forge strong partnerships with our regional neighbours and international partners so that we can cooperate effectively against transnational syndicates, keep ahead of global criminal trends and activities and stem TIP upstream. I thank Mr de Souza for initiating this Private Member's Bill. This exemplifies the kind of partnership with stakeholders that the Government needs against the scourge of TIP. I urge Members to give your fullest support to the Bill. Page: 113 6.58 pm”
“While doing this, we need to ensure that the protection given to TIP victims is not disproportionate to the protection accorded to victims of other serious crimes in Singapore. Let me assure all Members that we see victim care and protection as an integral part of our enforcement strategy and are committed to supporting each victim and ensuring his or her safety and well-being. We will continually monitor the situation and supplement our existing protection measures, which will now include the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act, where necessary. With respect to Mr Yam and Dr Intan's point about the capacity in our shelters, we will ensure that it is sufficient and continue to work with experienced service providers to ensure Page: 112 that it would be sufficient to meet the needs of the victims. Mr Deputy Speaker, given the cross-border nature of TIP crimes, even as destination countries like ourselves play their part to combat TIP, source and transit countries must also work to eliminate factors, such as poverty and unemployment, that could lure vulnerable and unsuspecting persons to undertake risky ventures. All countries in the trafficking chain need strong laws that are rigorously enforced to eradicate syndicates that prey on such persons. Indeed, we would like to see and hear how intensively these source countries have arrested traffickers, brought them to justice and broken up the syndicates that organised them. With respect to Mr Giam's question on assuring victims' safe return to their home countries, the Task Force agencies agree that this is an important aspect of victim care. We are not there yet.”
“For child victims, who are likely to be more vulnerable, our approach is slightly different. We require that they stay in shelters so that their safety can be ensured and they can be provided with specialised care as soon as possible. All these are consistent with international benchmarks, including the UK Department of Justice's working arrangements for victim welfare which Mr Yam alluded to. During the trial, trafficked victims are accorded privacy and dignity. Besides the provisions in the Bill, the Courts are vested with the discretion, through the Supreme Court of Judicature Act and the State Courts Act, to issue media gag orders or orders that trials be held in camera, for any case. Dr Janil Puthucheary has raised points about whether the handling of the victims is left to a Police or MOM officer's discretion on the ground. I would like to assure him that this, too, falls within the protocols and guidelines co-developed by MSF, MOM and the Police to ensure that every victim gets the help that he or she needs and is treated with care and dignity. The current model of victim care and support makes a careful individual assessment of each case and delivers the required support services to victims promptly and reliably, based on unique needs and circumstances. It is for these reasons that it is neither helpful nor necessary to exhaustively hardwire all the measures that can be accorded in law. This may, in fact, complicate the process by making it more rigid. Beyond baseline victim care measures, additional help can also be rendered on a needs basis to support each victim who comes forward to seek help.”
“Besides proactive efforts by officers, victims may be referred to the Police by NGOs or concerned members of the public. There are also multiple channels for victims to approach Police or other relevant authorities. Once alerted to a potential trafficking case, the case will be handed over to specialist investigators who are trained in techniques to pick up behavioural indicators, while easing the trauma faced by victims. This comprehensive triaging process is applied to anyone who might be a potential victim. Investigations into crimes, such as sexual assault or abuse, follow the same process. To ensure that trafficked victims do not have to stay in Singapore for longer periods than necessary, the Police will work closely with the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) to fast-track the investigation and prosecution of such cases so that the victims can return home as soon as possible. The Taskforce believes in empowering and working closely with VWOs, NGOs and other strategic partners to provide the necessary care and protection to needy victims. Each TIP case is unique and careful consideration is required to determine the needs of each victim. Upon their identification, all adult victims connected with the case are offered the option to be sheltered at a Government-funded facility. Victims will receive food and, if necessary, Page: 111 counselling services, medical care, consular support and the choice to work. They may also be provided with basic conversational English lessons taught by volunteers and job skills training in the shelter. Some adult victims take up the offer to stay in the shelter, but others prefer to stay with friends or relatives in Singapore. These victims may still approach the Government for help at any point in time.”
“Page: 110 Coupled with other developments, such as the recent amendments to the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act in July 2014, and the upcoming Organised Crime Bill to be introduced in 2015, the Bill will strengthen our ability to go after syndicated crimes. This Bill also aligns us with standards in the United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, which we intend to ratify after the proper requirements are met. Mr Deputy Speaker, several Members have spoken about victim care and protection. Let me assure the House that the protection of trafficked victims is a priority. Mr de Souza himself contemplated long when he crafted this Bill. This issue is, indeed, serious. Their safety and well-being are key, especially when such persons may have been subject to abuse and exploitation. Essential victim care is also critical to ensure that victims are emotionally and physically able to assist in investigations, which, in turn, allows us to go after the perpetrators of the crime. Allow me to elaborate on how we manage cases and support victims from the time victims are identified to the time their cases are concluded. Under the Police's Standard Operating Procedure for the investigation and handling of TIP cases, combating TIP begins with our frontline officers. These officers play a crucial role in detecting potential TIP cases. Any officer who may come into contact with victims of trafficking, including Police and MOM officers doing inspections and ICA officers at the checkpoints, is given a card with trafficking indicators and regular training to help them identify potential victims.”
“The Court may also levy caning of up to six strokes for the first offence and mandatory caning of up to nine strokes is prescribed for recalcitrant offenders. We support these stiff penalties as they will serve as a strong deterrent against an exploitative and serious crime. For children, the Bill also lowers the threshold of proof so that we are able to initiate investigations more easily and provide better protection. If the victim is a child, the perpetrator will be considered to have trafficked the child even if he does not use coercive means to do so; it is enough that the perpetrator recruits, conveys or harbours the child with the intention to exploit the child. Second, the Bill supports our collaboration with external law enforcement agencies when looking into cases where persons are trafficked to, or through, Singapore. Local enforcement officers will also have the powers to go after intermediaries involved in the trafficking chain. Third, the Bill will encourage the reporting of TIP crimes. This is achieved through provisions to protect informers. For instance, information provided by informers cannot be admitted as evidence in any civil or criminal proceeding. In addition, no witness shall be obliged or permitted to disclose particulars of any informer that might lead to the informer’s discovery. Together with the increased public awareness from campaigns by the Taskforce and our partners, we hope that such measures can encourage persons, whether witnesses or victims, to step forward and work with the authorities to eradicate TIP in Singapore.”
“The Taskforce has worked on increasing public awareness, removing barriers that may impede victims from approaching authorities for assistance, improving triage protocols used by investigators to identify victims, enhancing capabilities of frontline officers and enhancing partnerships with civil society. Strong laws, effective enforcement and an appropriate victim protection framework have enabled us to keep the TIP situation in Singapore under control. Page: 109 The Prevention of Human Trafficking Bill, when implemented, will add to our arsenal against TIP and help us deal with the many facets of TIP more comprehensively. It will give Singapore a clear signature on this issue while enhancing the operational effectiveness of the Police and other enforcement agencies. First, it provides a comprehensive definition of the offence of TIP. This ensures that we can act firmly against different forms of human trafficking. Take, for example, a lady who was told she would be waitressing in Singapore, only to be forced into prostitution upon arrival. In the past, the perpetrators would have been taken to task under a combination of labour and penal laws, such as the offence of "Procuring Women for Prostitution" under the Women’s Charter. Now, such cases can be investigated and prosecuted under the Prevention of Human Trafficking Bill, in a holistic manner. All elements of the offence – the recruitment of a person through coercion and for the purpose of exploitation – will be investigated and taken into consideration during prosecution. Perpetrators will be liable for a mandatory prison sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of up to $100,000 for the first offence.”