Michael Lim Chun Leng
Singapore
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask the Minister, in the light of scientific evidence to show that as many as half of the people who are presented with a heart attack at a hospital do not have any critical stenosis or narrowing in the heart artery, but actually only have a very minor narrowing in the heart artery, and as a result of tear…”
“My question is: in the light of things evolving, whether for specific high-risk individuals, we should actually look at other means of identifying them. On the second point about AED, if we reach the A&E for a sudden cardiac death, of course, your mortality is more than 90% because it takes a long time to reach it.”
“Clinical practice guidelines help doctors to manage patients in the most optimal way. They do not help doctors manage patients in a most cost-effective manner. Ultimately, most Singaporeans want to have the cake and eat it. Let us not raise the expectations too high. Let us keep healthcare bills in the public sector affordable.”
“The Ministry had spent millions of dollars on IT cost, man-hours and employing new staff. Yet, till this day, few believe that it has translated to any real tangible improvements in the healthcare delivered to the man-in-the-street.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am getting a bit confused here. I am trying to understand the process. Can I check with the Minister? Does it mean that an operator can seek approval from PTC and PTC, based on a certain set of criteria, has approved the routes or what they are supposed to do, and then the operator can decide not to follow what PTC has…”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister how can there be more predictability if one took an express bus from point A and reach point B on the same express bus vis-a-vis someone who has to take a bus to the MRT station, drop off at another MRT station and then take another bus to his destination. How can there be more time predictability?”
The complete record
Every one of 361 lines we hold for Michael Lim Chun Leng, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 6 of 8.
“(5) In a situation where the circumstances having been carefully investigated by the social worker and reviewed by the Commissioner and it is deemed that there are no merits to proceed with an application, the individual can still proceed to take up a civil suit at his own expense as an individual and the Commissioner is not bound to assist him in the application in any way. An amendment to the Bill to take into account these considerations will: (1) allay the fear of frivolous cases; (2) prevent undeserving parents from getting maintenance; and (3) provide an avenue for deserving parents to make an application via the Commissioner without incurring high legal costs. As this is an important and emotional issue with wide-ranging views, I would strongly recommend that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee for further consideration. 4.15 pm”
“If a Commissioner was to be appointed, the Commissioner in acting on behalf of the parents should not commit the case to court, if the parents are not willing as the case may be weak with the parents unwilling to allege failure of maintenance and it may sow further discord within the family. In the Asian context, one must never underestimate the importance of preserving the dignity or face of the family. To prevent frivolous cases from being brought to court and wasting valuable time in court, there should be safeguard measures. (1) The Bill should give broad criteria on what is considered inadequate maintenance to screen out unwarranted cases. (2) Every case should be thoroughly and carefully investigated by a social worker appointed by the Ministry of Community Development. (3) Deserving cases should then be raised to the attention of the Commissioner who will make an application on behalf of an applicant only if the applicant consents to the action. In the event the applicant is unable to make a decision because of physical disabilities, the Commissioner can proceed with the application on his behalf. In these deserving cases, the Commissioner can arrange for the applicant to be legally represented without the need to incur high legal fees. Otherwise, the high legal fees will by itself deter those deserving from applying and hence the exercise becomes self-defeating. (4) Parents who have abandoned, neglected or abused their children should not be entitled to any maintenance cost from these children.”
“They cannot see the rationale for having to maintain parents who have not treated them as their children. They will also have to recount their traumatic and painful childhood experiences of being abandoned, neglected or abused publicly in the court, a step which they will not relish. The Bill should address these concerns. The Member for Yuhua had proposed to amend the Bill to include the appointment of a Commissioner for the maintenance of parents who may make an application on behalf of an applicant whether or not the applicant is able to do so. There is some merit to this amendment. In the hospitals, there are instances of aged parents who are left in the hospitals for long periods while children push the responsibility of looking after their parents to each other. Of course, there are situations where there is only one child who is working and supporting his family and hence may have difficulty adjusting to the social difficulties of looking after the aged sick. These families should be helped and the court is not the right place to resolve the problem. However, there are families with many children and none want to take up their responsibility of providing for their sick aged parent. In this instance, the appointment of a Commissioner who can then make an application on behalf of the aged parent will be an unpleasant but viable option. However, unlike the Member for Yuhua, I do not see the Commissioner as someone who is a champion of neglected parents, championing the rights of the parents even if they have no wish to raise the matter in court. In the recent survey by the Straits Times, it was not surprising that 87% of those aged 50 years and above stated that they would not take their children to court if their children did not support them financially.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join in the debate. Providing for adequate maintenance of parents appears to be a natural duty of children. I support the principle behind the Bill. But the Bill in its present form is a Pandora's box. The guiding principle is to maintain the family unit and strengthen the tenuous links in the family where there is discord between parents and the children. Court measures should only be a last resort as it is likely to drive a wedge into family ties which are already fragile. The end result is that the parents may be maintained materially through the court but they would have lost something more important, the emotional bonding between parents and children. [Mr Deputy Speaker in the Chair] 4.08 pm The Bill should prevent frivolous suits. There is a danger that parents may use the threat of the Bill to get more maintenance from their children. The mere threat of a court hearing may be sufficient to force the children to bend to the demands of their parents which may not be reasonable. The definition of "child" in the Bill includes an illegitimate, adopted and step-child. The likelihood of weak bonding or even neglect of the child is greater in such instances. Only when the parents have taken adequate care of the children should there be adequate justification for parents to clamour for maintenance by their children. Although the Bill seeks to address this in clause 5(3), children who have been abandoned, neglected or abused may not automatically have the case dismissed, but may still be forced to provide for maintenance of their parents although the quantum may be reduced. Young adults have voiced their concerns that this is not a fair measure.”
“Sir, the Family Service Centre (FSC) provides important social support for a changing society. The Singaporean family today is faced with the pressure of working parents with little time for children, the pressure cooker school environment for the children, youths with high aspirations facing a more difficult future and a growing elderly population. Such pressures tug at the fabric of our family unit and sometimes break the thread that holds the family together. The FSC is an important channel through which pressures facing the family can be dissipated and family values can be promoted. We should continue to promote the concept of FSC. The interest from the 25th Anniversary Endowment Fund was supposed to fund social projects, like the FSC. However, over the last few years, little has been heard about the FSC. Can the Minister enlighten us on (1) the status of the FSC; (2) the Government support for Family Service Centres; and (3) future plans for the Family Service Centres?”
“I can understand the intention to discourage people from being dependent on Public Assistance. But the Ministry must be able to empathise with the families and give realistic financial assistance. Perhaps the computation of PA rates should be revamped to give more realistic rates. I would even suggest that after each revision of Public Assistance rates, some of the Ministry's officers should try subsisting on the new PA rates before they are implemented. (4) Variable PA rates. The subsistence needs of a family of two healthy adults and one healthy child cannot be the same as that of a family of a single mother with a sick elderly father and a handicapped child. Yet both are given the same Public Assistance rate of $340. I would recommend that the Ministry should consider a range rather than a fixed sum for each type of family unit. I hope that the Minister would not reject my recommendations by saying that we must not cultivate a welfare mentality. We have worked together in the GPC for Community Development and we shared the same sentiments and the same vision for the poor. Now that he is the Acting Minister for Community Development, I hope that he and I will continue to share the same sentiments and vision for the poor.”
“Sir, every year we hear of surpluses of billions of dollars. Yet there are always Singaporeans who, no matter what the Government does, would always have problems meeting ends meet. The Government has done much to help the poor but more can always be done. I am not asking for such generous welfare benefit that discourages people from working. But if we were to look at the current Public Assistance (PA) rates, I doubt that anyone of us here will be able to subsist on such meagre allowances. For example, the PA rate for one adult and one child is only $280, and for two adults and two children, it is $405. I would like to make four recommendations for the Minister to consider. (1) I would like to thank him for revising the PA rates but I would recommend that not only the PA rates be revised in April, but the increases be backdated. The poor will not benefit from most of the offsets given by the Government but they would have to bear the full brunt of the price increases associated with GST. I hope that the adjustments made in the interim will be fair and even err on the generous side. Unfortunately, price increases have already started even before the GST has been implemented. And therefore I think it is only fair that the increases be backdated, perhaps, to 1st January 1994. (2) Revise the PA rates annually. Currently, PA rates are only revised once in two years whereas consumer price increases do not only increase once in two years. Hence, the Minister should consider reviewing the PA rates at least, perhaps, annually. (3) Revise the method of calculation for Public Assistance. In calculating the Public Assistance, the Ministry conducts surveys and works out the rate. However, the current rates do appear rather low.”
“The other Government support includes tax exemption for donations for charitable purposes, release of State land or premises at nominal rates, assistance in the recruitment of staff or in the recruitment of foreign workers who are needed by these homes, and free medical treatment for deserving residents in homes. With the introduction of GST, Government will give grants, as I mentioned earlier, to voluntary organisations which provide direct service to help them cope with GST increases. This will be for the next five years. Sir, I believe I have answered most of the questions from Members, including Dr Michael Lim.”
“These were reported by hospitals and agencies providing counselling and support service to the aged. The number of complaints of physical abuse was around 10. In many of the 166 cases, it was difficult actually to ascertain whether the abuse reported was real or misconstrued. Many a time, when we think it is abuse, when we examine it closely, it is not really abuse in the true sense of the word. Cases brought to the attention of my Ministry are given counselling and other assistance where necessary. If there is evidence of wilful abuse, my Ministry would refer such cases to the Police for action to be taken against the guilty party. So far, my Ministry, fortunately, has not dealt with a case which would warrant such an action. The incidence of abuse reported is very low. It is 0.7% in relation to the aged population. This indicates that a high proportion of our aged enjoy good family ties and that filial piety and a sense of responsibility for the aged are still prevalent amongst most, if not all, Singaporeans. With regard to support for VWOs who look after the aged, the Government has, since 1990, implemented a financial assistance scheme to give financial support to the voluntary organisations in the provision of residential facilities and community-based services for the aged and disabled families. Under the scheme, Government provides funding up to 80% of the development cost for new facilities or for the upgrading of existing facilities and up to 50% of the recurrent cost.”
“Then there is the Rent and Utilities Assistance Scheme (RUAS). This scheme is administered by the National Council of Social Service and is now being reviewed. The revision will take into consideration the impact of GST on the families who are under this scheme. The Member also asked about the impact of GST on voluntary welfare organisations. My Ministry is very mindful of the impact that GST would have on the operations of these organisations. We have made representations to the Ministry of Finance and I am proud to report that with the introduction of GST, Government will provide additional grants to voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) providing direct services to offset the GST which they will incur for the next five years. Turning to Dr Vasoo, he asked about Government policies and issues toward the aged and, in particular, what Government intends to do about the neglect and abuse of aged persons. He has mentioned the number of aged persons who will be in our community in future. However, the scene, fortunately, is not bleak, because almost 94% of our aged are well and fit. Only about 5% are frail and the remaining 1% bedridden. The majority of the aged are living within a family nucleus. Only about 3.6% live alone and they are likely to be those who have children but choose to live alone, those who are left with an empty nest, ie, their children have grown up and left their homes, and those who are single and have no families of their own. On the issue of neglect and abuse of aged parents, I would like to assure Dr Vasoo that the incidence of abuse, including neglect and abandonment, is closely monitored by my Ministry. Last year, we had a total of 166 cases of abuse.”
“Under the rebates for HDB tenants, those residing in 1- to 3-room HDB rental and purchase flats will be given rebates for rent and service and conservancy charges for a period of five years. The amounts are $28 and $23 for 1- and 2-room HDB rental flat tenants respectively, $8 to $12 for 1- to 3-room HDB purchase flat and 3-room HDB rental flat tenants respectively. These are monthly rebates for five years. In addition to that, we have one-time rebates for HDB tenants in 1994. The Government will pay three months net service and conservancy charges for 1- and 2-room HDB tenants and two months net service and conservancy charges for 3-room HDB tenants. As I said, this is a one-time payment for 1994. In addition to these HDB rebates, my Ministry will also be implementing the following programmes to help the low-income groups. Revised Public Assistance rates With effect from 1st April this year, PA rates will be increased to take into consideration the introduction of GST. The PA rates will be increased from $5 to $15 per month or between 3 1/3% and 5.17% over the current PA rates, depending on household size. These increases will be more than sufficient to offset the GST. Then, there is also a grant to grassroots organisations to help those who fall outside the offset net. Government will provide CCCs a total yearly grant of $3 million to assist low-income individuals and families who are not HDB flat owners or tenants to offset the GST which they incur. These are individuals and families who do not benefit from the rebates on HDB rentals and service and conservancy charges. They can approach the CCCs for help. It is estimated that there are about 20,000 households with monthly income of $1,500 or less who could benefit from this grant.”
“My Ministry and NACFA will work with the various groups on the promotion of these values. Besides the document, there are also plans to popularise the family values in a shorter version to be disseminated in various forms, such as posters, bookmarks and songs. The MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC enquired about the programmes for the International Year of the Family. A special committee was set up last year to plan the programme for Singapore's observance of the International Year of the Family (IYF). Some examples of the projects which will be carried out to commemorate IYF are the song "Heart of the Nation" specially commissioned by MCD for IYF and the national Family Day Carnival which will be held in June. There will also be family carnivals organised by various organisations, such as NTUC and SINDA. A book fair with family themes will also be organised. An exhibition on family heritage will also be held and the IYF message will be carried on phonecards, coins, postage marks, and supermarket plastic carriers. Our theme for IYF this year is "Our Families, Our Future". 2.30 pm Sir, the importance of having healthy and strong families cannot be over emphasised. But family ties need constant nurturing, constant attention and care. Family values have got to be lived from day to day, not just on anniversaries, festivals and birthdays. Fortunately, Singaporeans cherish and value their families and we will help them to do so. Mr Chandra Das asked how MCD would help the low-income groups cope with GST. I am happy to inform the Member that the Government has put up a package of rebates and assistance to help the low-income groups cope with GST. We have the 5-year rebates for HDB tenants, for example.”
“Society and Government cannot simply legislate and require family members to love and respect each other. So I am, therefore, very heartened, and MCD is also very heartened, by the response to the proposed set of Singapore family values. Constructive inputs were received from individuals as well as civic, welfare and grassroots organisations, and these have been compiled. Family values must be something which Singaporeans cherish and want to live by. These are not codes of conduct or commandments laid down by the Government or a committee. They are also not cast in stone. And each and every Singaporean will interpret family values slightly differently and apply them to his or her own circumstances or inclinations. Several MPs have asked how we intend to propagate family values. Here again, we would like the community to suggest to MCD on the best ways to provide these values, instead of MCD deciding by itself on how it should be done. After the document on Singapore family values is finalised, the Committee on the Family will be discussing with the various bodies, the media, schools and the community, on how to promote these values in a natural and most effective way. The Committee has already received some suggestions and these include the writing of stories and songs, compilation of family albums, etc. As with the drawing up of values, it is better that families, civic and community groups take an active part in transmitting these values and not rely on the Government to do so. I would like to inform the MP for Yuhua that the Committee's recommendations for implementation will be studied by the National Advisory Council on the Family and Aged (NACFA) and the relevant Ministries and statutory bodies.”
“The starting point is that we have to recognise each family and each individual would have to decide and to determine their own future. The schools, the media, society and the Government can only play a supporting role. We can create a conducive climate and provide the necessary supporting services for the family and this the Government will definitely do. But we can never and, I repeat, we can never and must never take over or diminish the role and responsibility of the family in inculcating and transmitting values to our young. Childcare centres, for example, and even schools can teach their students on how to respect the elders. But the actual practice must depend on the nature of the relationship between the child and the parents or grandparents. Our schools currently incorporate family themes into the Civics and Moral Education programme (CME). The Ministry of Health, childcare centres, family service centres, voluntary welfare organisations, civic clubs and religious groups run regular pre-marital courses, parenting seminars and family life education programmes. MCD also publishes its own newsletter called "Families Today". Last year, MCD commissioned two handbooks, one on Marriage Preparation and the other on Parenting, and we have also commissioned six videos on various aspects of parenting. The nub of the matter is how do we strike a fine balance between being supportive and yet not be overbearing in our efforts. We can illustrate desirable family values through nursery rhymes, songs, legends, posters, stories, or whatever, but if a child does not experience the love, comfort and security of his or her family, these songs and legends will, indeed, sound hollow.”
“Are there any new measures to arm our community organisations with the tools to enhance social cohesiveness? What measures are there to ensure that the elderly will continue to feel that they are socially relevant in this rapidly changing society? Perhaps the Minister will enlighten us on his Ministry's views. The Acting Minister for Community Development (Mr Abdullah Tarmugi): Sir, I would first like to thank the various Members for speaking on behalf of MCD, especially the Members for Cheng San GRC and Yuhua, and for their support for what MCD is trying to do and also how the Ministry of Finance could help MCD. Before I answer the specific questions, I would like to take this opportunity to outline MCD's thinking and approach with regard to the role of the Government on the family and issues that surround this institution. This is necessary because of the wide spectrum of issues which surround the institution, stretching from marriage to parenting, to care of aged parents, support of working mothers and even to the status of women. These issues are complex and delicate and they need to be handled sensitively and with care especially when we have to contend with social, religious norms and with the many views from those who perceive themselves to be experts on the family. We believe that a majority of Singaporeans support and subscribe to our core value of the family as the basic unit of society. The warm public response and the warm support of Members in this House to the proposed document on family values show that Singaporeans do treasure the unique ties of kinship in a close knit family. But, Sir, how do we live these values from day to day and prevent them from being eroded from generation to generation?”
“Sir, thank you for allowing me to join in the debate. The Singapore society is primarily an Asian society. Recently, the five common family values that have been proposed are: (1) love, care and concern; (2) mutual respect; (3) filial piety; (4) commitment; and (5) responsibility. They have always been part of the values inculcated into Asian families as part of upbringing. They have become so much a part of our lives that you do not think of them as values that you need to learn about. The fact that the Government is embarking on this programme to promote such values is perhaps a recognition that, in this generation, some of these values have become alien. Is it because Singaporeans have come to value material values more than social values? Is it because the constant exposure to other value systems through the media have influenced Singaporeans to value the individual above the society and self before others? It is not just the traditional family value systems that are being threatened but community cohesiveness as well. About 90% of Singaporeans live in high-rise apartments where families often keep to themselves. Neighbours complain of excessive noise from each other's homes, rubbish is thrown indiscriminately and they tussle over which part of the common area is within their territorial rights. Campaigns have been waged to promote social cohesiveness, the latest of which is the promotion of family values. Will this be another campaign, or will there be concrete measures to inculcate this in our homes, our schools and our workplaces? Are these ad hoc programmes? Or is there some grand strategy to help preserve the family unit and the kampong spirit of the community?”
“I am glad to say that the administrators, whom I know personally, who are involved in formulating the details of this system have the best of intentions. However, they will have to modify the system considerably to overcome the concerns of those who fear that the eventual outcome of such a system may be worse than the current system. The important changes in the health care scene such as this will definitely merit the attention of the Minister for Health. Perhaps, the Minister will enlighten us on the Ministry's viewpoint on the Managed Healthcare System.”
“The basic motivation in managed care is to provide the least acceptable amount of care. Innovation in such a system focuses on improving administrative processes. There is a fine balance between the quality of care and the cost of medical services. If family doctors are forced to make health cost reduction their primary priority, they will be limited in the quality of treatment that they can administer. Opponents of the system offer the following views: (1) Instead of just paying fees directly to the doctors, the patient will also have to contribute towards two other beneficiaries in this system, that is, the insurance companies and the administrators that manage health care groups. (2) In a cost-effective system, the managed care system by further reducing costs may result in a compromise in the quality of care. (3) The system encourages the provision of the least acceptable amount of care and hence also discourages investigations and referrals to specialists. Every consultation, medication, investigation and referral is considered a cost that should be reduced. Worse still, doctors may be forced to collude with the aims of administrative systems whose primary aim is to ration services to a minimum. 3.15 pm (4) The close doctor-patient relationship may be substituted by contracts. Medical professionals may be forced to become self-serving entrepreneurs. The damage it will do to the doctor-patient relationship may be irreparable. (5) The end product will be more process, not better health outcomes. There are merits and demerits of any health care delivery system. In Singapore, we have always managed to glean the best from each system and formulate our own system. Despite the weaknesses in the managed care system, it has its merits.”
“Proponents of the system say that the main benefits of this system are lower health cost, less investigations and less referrals. They argue that the system will provide an acceptable quality of health care and yet contain health care costs. Primary health care in Singapore Our primary health care system is in many ways different from the USA or many of the Western countries. In these countries, the family practitioners are widely dispersed so that there is little competition between family practitioners. In Singapore, the population is densely concentrated in housing estates where General Practitioners abound. The sheer number of clinics within a stone's throw of each other ensures that the medical fees charged are competitive, reasonable and affordable. To many Singaporeans, their family doctors are more than health professionals, they are also counsellors and friends. This doctor-patient relationship profoundly affects compliance, drop-out rates, investigation rates and referral rates. There is no evidence that our family doctors generally tend to overcharge, over-investigate or refer excessively. This is an area where the free market has kept primary health care affordable. Opposing views Opponents of the managed health care system question whether the professional services of our health care system should be replaced with a public health care business, a managed health care system. Both professionals and managerial expertise are required for both services but professional skills are more important in service whereas managerial skills are more important in a business. Opponents ask: Is managerial capability and efficiency more important in health care than the dedication of doctors, nurses and other health care workers?”
“Sir, pragmatic reappraisal of the health care delivery system is inevitable, as it is constantly exposed to the ebb and flow of economic tides and the unpredictable march of modern medical science. What directions should we take? Every system has its strengths and weaknesses. In a fee-for-service scheme, an impressive array of modern medical treatment methods is often readily available. Medical research and innovation blossom in this system. However, its strength is also its weakness, as it encourages the doctors to give the maximum amount of care possible, thereby increasing the number of services offered and raising health costs. At the other extreme, it is the full-time salaried system. The main drawback to this system is the disincentive to go the extra mile or, worse still, to work. In Singapore, we have our own unique system which has positive features of both systems. Of late, there is a move to introduce yet another system into the Singapore health care scene to contain health cost, that is, managed health care. Principles of managed health care This has been elaborated by my parliamentary colleague earlier on. But the managed health care system is basically based on the belief that financial incentives are instrumental in influencing the behaviour of patients, health care providers and payers when they seek, provide or finance medical care. Medical treatment is considered as a cost in this system which is subject to a capitation of expenses. Primary health care doctors are given a fixed budget per patient and any investigation or referral to a specialist will result in a reduction in the budget. Essentially, primary health care doctors are used as the gatekeepers to specialist treatment in this system.”
“Yes, the anus hole claimed it is equally important - it was modest enough not to claim to be the most important. All laughed. But after shutting the hole for a few days, a week, maybe two, the entire body parts blurred, sweat, shook, and they voted the anus hole to be the most important. They learned their lesson. Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the motion.”
“There is another point. On the one side, we raise expectations, but on the other side, we cannot deliver, and that often upsets the citizens. We are talking about moving into the next phase where all the more the people have got to rally behind the Government. There is this particular landed property sale. The Government has raised the hopes of private individuals when it announced the sale of small plots of land for individuals and small-timers to build their own dream homes. Nobody feels upset when lands were tendered out in large parcels. But when hopes were raised and not satisfied, frustrations and anger set in. Small-timers and individuals felt let down. Of course, the Government is right; the Minister is right to say, "Save our sympathies for the 3-roomers." But here we are talking about having raised their hopes, and we tell them, too bad, you have got to compete. There are many, many more instances of unhappiness here, Sir. I shall not take more time to raise them. But I am trying to drive home the point that beneath the budget numbers, we have to look at the cohesiveness of our society. As we plunge into the next lap, the rulers and the subjects have to work even more closely. Everyone has a role to play. Every role has a dignity. Do not be mistaken that only the brains count. With your permission, Sir, I would like to share a somewhat crude, but more apt, story - the body anatomy. The brain, the eyes, the mouth, the nose, the legs and hands were all arguing as to who is the most important part of the whole body. Every part has a very strong reason, and each cannot accept the other to be the more important. In that heated argument and commotion came a sudden squeak from the anus.”
“With full market pay now, many commented whether it is still necessary for them to serve - what more to serve free? These men come from all walks of life, and we have to admit that many of them are not less qualified than our politicians. What about the social, charitable organisations? Are they going to be able to attract volunteer workers in future? Surely our values cannot simply be measured by dollars and cents. Parents often pin their hope on their children. Some hope their child will grow up to become a doctor, a High Court judge, a Permanent Secretary, or even a Minister. So this hope cannot be pay-motivated. I think it could be probably due to the respect the parents have for a particular honourable job. The civil service in the tripartism, where the Government was mentioned as one of the three legs, makes up the second component. And the recently proposed change in the medical benefits had angered quite a lot of them, if not all of them, and some cried foul, some cried a breach of trust, a breach of contract. So why was the outcry? Thankfully, the Prime Minister himself had come out to assure the civil servants that they are actually part of Government, and why should the politicians upset them. Some said, with all the changes, if they really would not be worse off, then, why change in the first place? I think the Government has done the right thing in setting aside in the pension fund a sum estimated to be equivalent to our outstanding pension liability. Can the Government do the same? If we look at the civil servants' medical cost with our huge surpluses, we can set aside a sum for those who are already enjoying the current life-time free medical service, whilst new entrants come in with a new scheme, like the way we did away with the pension scheme.”
“We still treat our Ministers with love and respect. Yet this high social standing is not enough to lure good people into politics. Our leaders have repeatedly expressed their concern. They conclude that much has to do with opportunities to make money outside. Therefore, they propose a market package to compensate these great sons of the soil to come forward and serve Singapore. I check around and I ask former leaders. None has any disagreement in wanting to pay our Ministers decently. The unknown factor is whether this market pay will draw us the right kind of candidates. But many still believe - I hope they are not wrong - that politics is more than just a job. It is a vocation, and it is dangerous to use money as the motivating factor. People who love money should not be allowed into politics. It is just too dangerous. The recent stepping down of so many of our heavy-weight Ministers worries many of us. However, none of us believe that they were stepping down simply because of pay. Some went so far as to ask whether there were leadership differences in the top hierarchy. Will we ever know? My question here, Sir, is what can we do if (a) with the best of pay, we still cannot attract public-spirited people to serve the country; and (b) worse still, the wrong people are attracted? Do we have a better plan then? (c) The third group (the community leaders, the social workers, the grassroots leaders) - they play a very important role too in our social fabric. They are the unsung heroes. They spend their precious times, and often dig deep into their pockets, to serve the less fortunate countrymen. They see their MPs and Ministers sacrificing for the good of all, so they come forward to serve.”
“These holy people answer the call of their God and they serve, believing that they will be rewarded in the next life when they are united with their God. Hindus who believe in reincarnation believe they will move up the social order if they do good now. While there are others who simply serve because that itself is satisfaction, that is reward enough. It is in our well-being that we have amongst us good and responsible religious leaders. They are very powerful and influential amongst their followers. Under our multi-racial, multi-lingual and multi-religious society, all our religious leaders and ethnic-based leaders have a very important earthly role to play. It is most fortunate that we have good and responsible leaders amongst us now, and it is also good that our Government provides assistance to ethnic-based self-help groups and religious bodies. And, in fact, I would suggest that the Government increase the grants to them to help them do an even better job. Some ask me, just how much should we pay to save our souls? How much should we pay to have a peace of mind? I think that peace of mind is worth it. (b) Is politics simply a job? Ancient Greeks described politics as a supreme science of philosophy. Politics is about ethics, morals, ideals, and mankind itself. Politicians were well revered and respected then. They provided leadership and vision. They were people of character, integrity, virtue, dedication and commitment. They led the people towards a better future, a better tomorrow. Those were the days, so sighed many people around the world. Politics has become a joke. We hear of dirty politics, money politics. Thankfully, by the grace of God, probably the blessings of our multi-religious society, Singapore politics has not deteriorated to such a sad state.”
“We need good social community workers too, in addition to the good Government workers, bosses of industries, union workers. Therefore, for Singapore to succeed, we have to have good leaders all round in all these key institutions. Our success has shifted a lot of our values, as Dr Michael Lim has said earlier. We have become too materialistic. Our aspirations and expectations have multiplied manifold. Sir, personally, I think there is nothing really wrong with wanting to be rich, to live in a big house, drive a big car, dine in the best restaurant, so long as we continue to honestly work for our improvements and have a heart for the less fortunate. We have to play our part as good and loyal citizens. We cannot envy or be jealous of our brothers and sisters who do better than us. Directly, or indirectly, we all benefit from the contributions of one another. We have to be grateful to the many leaders in the various bodies that lead and sacrifice for the well-being of our fellow men. So, therefore, we have to give them decent competitive compensations; otherwise they will not be motivated. So by and large, the rationale of paying market rates to attract the right talents works. However, there are many jobs - some very, very important jobs, thankless jobs - that money alone cannot buy. Worse still, money may buy the wrong candidates. Examples are politics, religious, charitable, social workers. (a) Let us take the religious workers. I believe religions all over the world today are finding it more and more difficult to attract people to serve their religions. Full-time people in the various orders are shrinking - priests, monks, nuns, imams, rabbis, pastors, and so on.”
“There are many changes that have not been well digested and that may result in discontentment and resentment. The fact that we are so successful has a lot to do with being a cohesive and harmonious society. Our Prime Minister has recently cautioned the people not to kill the goose that lays the golden egg. According to the Prime Minister, the golden goose is of course the Government. Kill it, and that is it. I think no one can quarrel with him that much of our success has a lot to do with our Government, good government. And, granted, investors often cite our political stability, integrity and honesty of the Government as key reasons for investing in Singapore. But, on the other hand, we all also know, agree and accept that Singapore's success cannot be due to one midwife alone. No man is an island, and no government functions in isolation. There are some key pillars or social institutions that provide the superglue to our well-being and to our staying cohesive and harmonious. We have (a) tripartism - the equal role, cooperation and trust amongst the Government, employers and unions; (b) the very important ethnic and religious leadership. Their importance and influence cannot be under-estimated. Mutual tolerance, respect and understanding prevail. All have to live, work, compete and progress side by side. Chauvinism is not allowed. And the other key pillar is meritocracy. There is no nepotism here. Everyone has an equal opportunity, everyone progresses according to his talents, ability and willingness to work. And, at the same time, the talented are asked to show compassion. The better educated are asked to come out and lead and look after the less fortunate.”
“I think it is real that the retail business is bad, and probably the Minister could look at the report and the survey submitted by the SRA and see how we could go about helping them. Our assets seem to be inflated. We tell our people that the living cost has not really risen that much. But when they measure it against the things that they want to buy, such as houses and cars, it seems to be a case of asset inflation. I also understand that there are a lot of loans taken to buy houses. Also, the credit card loans. At any one time in a month, I understand that credit card holders are owing $500 million. So is that an indication that our people are having a higher gearing than they should? Of course, employers look at cost and reacted to the 1 1/2% increase on the employer's CPF contribution. I think there is no quarrel. It is only fair that we pay up to the workers who have sacrificed during the recession years. The only concern and worry is actually the cost in business. If inflation goes up by 5-7%, together with the implementation cost of GST, etc., would we be pricing ourselves out of the market? Would we fall into the trap of Japan that suddenly went into a position where they are now just finding out what had actually gone wrong? Our leaders are actually trying very hard to help Singaporeans cope. As our economy matures, we cannot expect the same kind of growth in Singapore. Our Senior Minister and our Prime Minister have told us that if we want quick growth we should go overseas. I think a lot of things have not been accepted by our people. I am rather worried, and I am not alone in this worry, to observe that all is not well beneath the good budget numbers. People seem to be afraid.”
“This year, with the 18-month period to top up $750 to enjoy the $300, could we find a way out to help these people who did not respond? Could not the $200 the last time, and $300 this time, be credited to them straightaway, into their Special Account for use at old age? There must be reasons why they are not responding to benefit from the $200? I am glad the Government is paying higher interest rates for the CPF Retirement Account. Could the individuals who do not want to get into share investments actually keep the money straight into the CPF old age account? That means, top up the $40,000 if they can afford to, and enjoy the higher interest, instead of going to invest outside. GST and business cost are of big concern. Many, including the Government departments, have raised their prices, not in the name of GST, but giving reasons that they have not increased for the last few years and they are asking the people to buy their reasoning. But the way people are fearing about the price increases, I think it shows that they are not accepting those reasons. It is good that the Government has come out to give the assurance that they would smack hard on profiteers. But our worry is that inflation would not be what the Minister had said last year, that is, a one-time 3% increase. It would look like maybe 5-7%. And what would happen then? Will there be a contingency plan to help out because cost of business will rise? Unions will be asking for higher wages and I think it is justified if inflation shoots up way above the 5-7%. I declare my interest as a retailer. Dr Wong Kwei Cheong has said about the ALS and the retail business.”
“- [Mr Wong Kan Seng]. Mr Chia Shi Teck: Thank you, Mr Speaker, Sir, for allowing me to join in this debate. 1993 turned out better than expected. Singapore has progressed to become a model city-state. In fact, we read daily that there are so many countries inviting us to start townships in their countries. We would soon find many, many "Singapores" around the world. I salute the Government last year and I do it this year again for a job well done. Many things happened last year and most noticeably is the thrust for our second wing. The seeds have been sowed. Our Government leaders, in fact, our Prime Minister, Senior Minister and many of the other Ministers have just returned, and they have been working very hard to go for this second wing. Our private sector has also responded. If we take the budget incentives announced last year and this year (it is correct that the private sector is unhappy) and if we digest a bit and look at the two years' incentives, probably it is fair to let the incentives run. The Government is listening. Last year, there were a lot of incentives given to corporations, and this year, the attention is switched to the individuals, even for individuals who are working overseas, things like the CPF reduction, the tax incentives, and so on. Maybe the Minister would like to explain the rationale behind the individual ceiling tax of 30% versus the corporate tax of 27%. The other interesting point is the Government returning the dividends to the people, particularly the CPF Share Ownership Top-up Scheme (SOTUS). Last year, there was this $200 offer, but there were still over 10% of people not benefiting from the $200. I do not know whether he has found out the reason.”
“The mixture of high expectations for material wealth and unhappiness can be a potent potion. Material success appears to be the ultimate goal of our younger generation. Family relationships, social cohesiveness and neighbourliness are all secondary to this goal. This is an unhealthy trend. The Ministry of Community Development's allocation was only 0.32% of the GDP, yet this is the Ministry that will spearhead the cultivation of family values and promote social cohesion. A set of family values has been espoused by the Ministry of Community Development. It should not be a passing campaign. It should be made to bear fruit and be inculcated in our Singaporean families. If we do not invest in developing family relationships, neighbourly relationships and community relationships, we will have a nation of self-serving beings with no social souls. We should invest in our education system not only to promote educational excellence, but also to inculcate good social values in our youths. We need to invest more in our community centres and our grassroots organisations that play an extremely important role in developing social cohesion in the community. I hope that the Government will not consider the development of social values as being not an economically productive investment, but rather will continue to invest in institutions that will develop social cohesion. A collective effort is required to inculcate family values, social values and community values in Singaporeans. Only then can our society be rich, not only materially but also socially. EXEMPTED BUSINESS (Motion) Resolved, That the debate on the Budget Statement be proceeded with beyond 5.30 pm and the proceedings thereon be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order No. 1 until 6.00 pm at this day's sitting.”
“He, however, was supportive of the Government's move to increase the CPF Minimum Sum. He felt that although he had contributed to the changes that have made Singapore a success, the Singapore today does not appear to have a place for retirees like him. The middle age who are unskilled and lack educational qualifications and the retirees are two groups of people who appear to have missed out on the good life. Certainly, all the measures in the past few years and in this year's Budget will ensure that in the years to come, less will join the ranks of the unskilled, lowly-educated members of the workforce. For the retirees, surely it will not hurt Government agencies, quasi-Government agencies and statutory boards, to grant concessions to retirees where appropriate in recognition of their past contributions. The Government should study the needs of these two groups of people so that they do not feel alienated in their ever changing environment. Two days ago, a senior staff member from a newspaper told me that his staff who had a $300 pay adjustment had expected $1,000 pay adjustment. And those who were promoted expected a double promotion. This situation is a reflection of the times where high expectation is the norm of the day. Singaporeans have been urged to strive hard to reach the Swiss standard of living. In this quest for increased material comforts, our social values may have fallen behind the blazing trail of economic growth. In our maturing economy, the younger Singaporeans will find it more difficult to buy a car, own a house, join a country club or aspire to have those material assets that will enable them to tell their friends that they have arrived. Crest-fallen hopes turn to disappointment and sometimes eventually to unhappiness. We must be careful.”
“Many of those with lower educational attainment are those in their 40s and 50s who find it difficult to adapt to the changing demands of industry. They have skills which may be obsolete, do not have the fundamentals of education to help them climb the educational ladder and are at an age in which most companies are not willing to hire or retrain them. The only jobs open to them are the lower end jobs with low pay. They seek avenues of self-employment only to face an increasingly hostile market. Whether it is a market stall, a hawker stall or a shop, the tender prices are not for the faint-hearted. They feel alienated and do not know who to turn to. What does the Budget hold for these people? They might find some solace in the rebates on service and conservancy and rental charges, increase in employer's contribution to the CPF and some may be able to benefit from the CPF Share Ownership Top-up Scheme, but otherwise there is not much to look forward to. I was taken aback recently when an elderly well-qualified administrator remarked to me. What is there for those who have retired? There is nothing. He added that the nation did not recognise the contributions of those who have given the best years of their lives for the nation. Many who have retired, he felt, have not qualified for senior citizen concessions for public services, such as the public transport system at the point of retirement. He expressed disappointment that many recreational places such as Sentosa did not have special concessions for the elderly. I remarked that besides housing, good affordable healthcare services, there was CPF to meet the financial needs. Of course, there are many elderly who have little in their CPF accounts.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join in the debate. James Jacob, in the Economy of Cities, wrote: "The primary economic conflict, I think, is between people whose interests are with already well-established economic activities and those whose interests are with the emergence of new economic activities." The dreams, the hypotheses, the research ideas of today will one day spew forth new technologies that will sweep away industries of today and make established industries worthless. Those who do not ride the winds of change will find themselves slowly slipping into obsolescence. In many ways, the Singapore Government has consistently espoused policies that have kept us at the forefront of emerging changes. The success of the policies and investment have brought material progress. Material progress is, in many ways, elitist, making the rich richer. We have been fortunate that the Singapore Government has made it possible for the large majority of Singaporeans to accrue material wealth and hence avoid the politics of envy. However, the past years of material progress have resulted in a shift in values, a change in aspirations and expectations and an increase in material wealth that is not necessarily accompanied by happiness. Success is now equated with those who have extraordinary wealth. They are often held as examples to be followed. Singaporeans now have much higher expectations. Increasingly, we will have to grapple with two changes: (1) with those who failed to make the transition to the new changes, and (2) the higher expectations and shift in social values in the younger generation. Only about 54% of our labour force has attained at least a secondary school education.”
“I think the current senior citizens' centres are not quite set up to perform such functions and maybe we should look at the possibility of developing centres to cater for these needs. The health and social problems are certainly areas that the Government should examine more closely to provide solutions to such problems. In the midst of success and prosperity, we must not forget those at the bottom of the social ladder in Singapore. The recent focus of attention of many Singaporeans has been on the increased costs, that is, cost of homes, cost of COEs, cost of health care. It is also time to review the Public Assistance rates to meet this increase in costs. The Public Assistance rates should be reviewed not based on previous standards of living but rather current standards of living. The Government has always been sensitive and responsive to the needs of those Singaporeans who face hardship. I hope that there will be a review of the Public Assistance rates to reflect the concern of the Government for these people. With these comments, Sir, I support the motion.”
“With the rising cost of health care, the ceiling for Medisave should be reviewed so that the retired will be able to fend for themselves when they are ill. Perhaps the Government should also consider whether it should be made compulsory for children to contribute to the Medisave of their parents. Equally important, the values of filial piety should be reinforced in the schools and educational institutions. The health problems bring with it social problems. It is not easy for any family to manage a member of the family who has, for example, a stroke. It is never easy to feed the person, clean him up and help him with his activities of daily living. Are the nursing homes a solution to this problem? Are they affordable to the average family who has a member who has a stroke? Do the nursing homes help to foster family support for the sick? I think these are issues that need to be looked into. And perhaps the Government may consider building nursing homes in the heart of HDB estate itself, so that the family will have easier access to their loved ones in the nursing home and there will be better and closer relationship between the family members. For those who have partially dependent family members who may have recovered from a stroke, a heart attack or a debilitating disease, they may be partially dependent and the family members may also be unlikely to leave them at home. There perhaps should also be more structured facilities and community organisations to ensure that the family members can leave their semi-dependent family members in the community facilities when they go to work. This will allow the family members to carry on being economically active and yet have peace of mind and heart when their semi-dependent family members are left in these community facilities.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for letting me join in the debate. The President's Address has covered several areas. I will confine myself to a few areas. The good PAP Government we have had over the years has resulted in a prosperous Singapore and high standard of living, and this has resulted in a longer life span for Singaporeans. With many Singaporeans living up to their 70s, 80s and beyond, problems of old age will arise. Health problems such as stroke, heart problem and cancer may afflict the elderly. Social problems such as loneliness and lack of family support will also occur. Many of the health problems of the elderly are both difficult and costly to treat. Are our elderly prepared for the day that such a disease condition will affect them? Last week, I saw a lady in her 60s with suspected heart disease. She underwent a test which showed that there was significant blockage of her heart arteries that required surgery. That afternoon I went to the ward to explain the findings to her and the treatment required. She was almost in tears. She said that her son had just scolded her. Her son would scold her every time she required money for her health problem. And her son considered it a waste of his money by spending it on his mother's health. Yet he had no qualms about spending money for his own vacation. This was in the words of the patient. She was so disappointed that her son whom she had brought up and cared for considered it more worthwhile to spend his money for his own vacation than for his mother's health care. The filial piety of yesteryears may not be so prevalent today. It may even be less prevalent in future. The middle age and young Singaporeans will have to prepare for the day when he or she grows old.”
“On the same page, paragraph 44, there is a statement which says that: "As the stock of 3-room HDB flats is nearly depleted, the HDB should consider making more 3-room flats available to the public at posted prices." The point I am trying to bring across is that with the depletion of the 3-room flats stock, many of these people will actually be forced to buy 4-room flats. And if you say that it was 26% and then 10 years later, it is 10.7%, this may not be a very accurate reflection. As we have heard from the Minister of State for National Development yesterday when I raised the question about the problem of revestment, in the last five years alone, more than 2,000 flat owners were subjected to the threat of revestment, of which more than 300 of them had their flats revested. Furthermore, most of these were 3-room flat owners. And the number of people who are applying for rental flats is fairly substantial. I do not have the figures, but the waiting period on average is about nine to 12 months. So I think there is really a segment of our population who would benefit if HDB continues to build 3-room flats. I am not suggesting that HDB does not build budget 4-room flats. Please go ahead and do that. But there will be a category of them that will not be able to even afford these budget 4-room flats and I feel that HDB should continue to build 3-room flats. With this, I would like to thank the Deputy Speaker again for giving me this opportunity to speak. 1.46 pm”
“Does it imply that these specialities are not part of the basic medical care package? Does it mean to say that if you have coronary artery disease and you need a balloon angioplasty or a bypass surgery, is it not part of the basic health care package, especially so when you know that coronary artery disease is a very prevalent disease in Singapore? Does it mean that if a person has a tumour on the face and needs resection of the tumour, or he has an accident that disfigures his face and he requires plastic and reconstructive surgery, that is not part of basic medical health care? Does it mean that a child that is born with some congenital abnormalities and has to undergo paediatric surgery, is that not part of basic medical care too? Or, for example, a worker who injures his hand, cuts his tendon, loses a thumb, and requires hand surgery, is that also not part of basic medical health care? I think the Government or the Ministry of Health owes it to us to be more precise in its definition of "basic medical health care". Otherwise it would be very meaningless to bandy this term around without really knowing what it actually stands for. On housing, I would like to refer to Table 6.6 on page 61. This is a table where it puts monthly repayment of housing loan as a percentage of median household income by flat type of three typical couples. I would especially like to draw Members' attention to those referring to the lower income couples who are purchasing a 3-room HDB flat. And you would notice that they said that in 1981, it would be about 26% of their median household income; and in 1990, it would be 10.7%.”
“I agree with the CRC that health cost is generally affordable and the waiver system and the Medifund system that we have in the hospitals ensure that no one will be denied of necessary health care. The CRC has recommended that at least one Government hospital be allowed to continue as a Government hospital so that patients have a wider choice. I fear that if we were to do this, the hospital may be thought of as a second-rate hospital or a poor man's hospital. I do not think that this is a wise suggestion and I do not think that people will have a healthy perception of such a hospital. Instead of watching cost in one hospital, I think that the restructured hospitals should have a cost monitoring committee that will monitor the increase in health cost for subsidised patients and recommend measures to reduce cost. In this way, Singaporeans who prefer B2 and C class care, especially the lower income group, will not have the perception that they are getting second-rate medical care at a second-rate hospital, but first-rate medical care at a first-rate hospital. The other issue of health that I wanted to address was partially addressed by my colleague, Mr Loh Meng See, and that is about the definition of "basic medical care". To the best of my knowledge, the care-givers in the hospitals do not really know what the Government means by "basic medical care". Perhaps a better phrase to use would be "adequate medical care", because this will be determined medically. If the term "basic medical care" is to be used, I think the Ministry of Health should define clearly what it means. I think if you keep on using a term which you cannot define, it really does not have very much meaning. And I notice that five categories of specialities are not available in the C class ward.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak. The CRC has given us an honest and comprehensive Report on the issue of rising cost of living and it has provided concrete recommendations. To those who are empathetic, they will see eye to eye with this statement. To the sceptics, they will say this is a political exercise. To those who are apathetic, they will not pay attention and will just listen to hearsay. These three categories of people have one thing in common: most will not have read that 229-page Report. So is this Report an exercise in vain? Certainly not. The Committee, or perhaps the Government, should go further by producing a small booklet, summarising the salient points in the Report, which can be easily read by the man-in-the-street in minutes, or perhaps they may produce a simple video clip that can bring across the findings of the CRC in an engaging and interesting, yet informative manner, and this can be distributed or loaned to community organisations, schools, etc. With so much information on an important issue such as the cost of living, I think that the average man-in-the-street deserves to be able to get the information in a succinct and digestible manner. The CRC has provided several recommendations in its comprehensive Report and I just saw the Government's response to it today. To lend credibility to these recommendations and the Government's response, I am of the opinion that the Government should collate all the actions taken by the Ministries to address the recommendations put up by the CRC and perhaps give Parliament a follow-up report in a year's time. I would now like to comment on two areas of interest - health and housing. I will first speak on health.”
“Sir, would it be possible for the Minister to make known the bus routes, both the trunk routes and the feeder services, to the grassroots organisations in that area so that perhaps they could give useful feedback before the bus routes are finalised?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, would the Ministry consider looking at the 366 flats that were revested and actually study the income profile of these families and perhaps that would give them an idea of the type of families that are likely to run into these problems? I think my main concern is those families who do not actually have the money to purchase the flat but went ahead without sound advice. Perhaps HDB could help out by providing some financial advice on some mortgage loan schedules before they sign to purchase the flat. If they can have a study of the household income profile of these families, perhaps there may be an income limit in which it will alert the officials to these types of families.”
“Are there any preventive measures that are taken by the Ministry to actually prevent such revestment procedures from being undertaken because the revestment process is not only socially very traumatic for the family but also results in a net loss for the family? If the Ministry can study the household income profiles of these families, then perhaps there may be a certain household income which would alert the officials and these families can be specially counselled in terms of the repayment schedules and in terms of the downpayment, so that they will not have their flat revested, say, within a year of their buying the flat.”
“What is the period of occupancy by these residents before they default on repayment? Can the Minister either give a range or a mean or median period?”
“Sir, can the Minister clarify what is the profile of the flats? Are they three-roomers mainly or also four-roomers and five-roomers?”
“Would the Minister, in making a decision on the tender, consider the likelihood of making that area a public marina? The reason is that if you have it as a private members' club only, very few people will be able to afford the facilities whereas, at the present moment, there is a ready pool of members who will be able to continue their boating and sea sports activities if the new marina was made a public one.”
“In the first place, I wonder whether the Member is representing Potong Pasir or Punggol. But, nevertheless, I would like to ask the Minister whether, in the tender for the marina, is he thinking in terms of a marina that is a private members' club only, or is he thinking of a marina that is for general public use.”
“Sir, poverty is a rarity in Singapore. The number of people on public assistance is small. However, that should not give us false complacency that we have done enough. The amount given to those on public assistance is only a percentage of the minimum household expenditure. One can barely make ends meet, let alone indulge in any luxury or excesses with our public assistance scheme. I am not one for excessive welfarism that stifles the incentive to work and reduces the drive to climb out of the poverty trap. Neither do I support excessive frugality with dispensation of assistance to the extent that even if the spirit is willing, the environment makes it impossible for one to climb up socially. 2.15 pm The criteria for public assistance should be stringent. Rightly, this should be so. However, sometimes it becomes too stringent. At the end of the day, we must not lose sight of the aim of assistance, that is, not only to help them in times of difficulty but, in the longer run, to help them climb out of the poverty trap. Adjustments have been made to soften the effect of GST. It remains to be seen whether these adjustments are sufficient. I would like to ask the Minister what measures will the Ministry be taking to ensure that there is sufficient flexibility in the scheme to buffer the effects of price increases on those receiving public assistance.”
“Sir, promotion of reading habits will only be beneficial to the nation. Certainly because of limited resources, one cannot expect a library in every constituency. However, having a neighbourhood library in a large constituency would stand to reason. I would like to ask the Minister whether there are plans for a neighbourhood library in large constituencies, such as the Punggol area, where there are about 250 blocks of flats. In the interim, if suitable premises with the requisite amenities can be provided in the constituency, will the Ministry consider operating a smaller scale library in this area, perhaps, under a charitable foundation?”