Mohamad Maidin B P M
Singapore
“Sir, actually, the context and, in this case, I think Mr Chiam is well aware, the timing must apply. If the artiste merely performs his regular hits and routine at the constituency function which happens to fall outside an election period, I think there is nothing wrong in that.”
“Sir, the question concerns a constituency function, not about participating in politics. Foreigners are not allowed to participate in local political activities. Under the law, foreigners, especially during elections, are strictly prohibited from taking part in any election political activities.”
“Yes, no foreigners are to participate in our local politics during an election. Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong: Yes? Is it only during an election period? Does that mean that during a non-election period, they can actually talk about Singapore politics? Is that what he means?”
“Mr Chiam has said that the casino is the first step for us to go down the slippery road. He has also mentioned that in the last 40 years, we have a clean and moral living environment. At the same time, he has asked the Government to be truthful in this matter. Can I ask him to be truthful in this matter?”
“And, in addition to our idyllic parks, jogging tracks, fishing grounds, public golf courses, and even driving ranges, PUB has also been working closely with the National Parks Board - because some of the parks are under NParks rather than PUB - to introduce boardwalks as well as forest trails at MacRitchie and Lower Pierce Reservoir catch…”
“Sir, currently, we can say that the use of handphone is one of the situations where a driver may take one of his hands off the wheels. But there are other scenarios, like the Member has mentioned, but at the moment they are not legislated as a specific offence like in the case of handphone.”
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“Sir, in conclusion, I would like to state that the Home Team will continue to strive for excellence in upholding our mission to provide a safe and secure best home for all Singaporeans.”
“These procedures have been designed so that we will not alienate our youths but, in fact, to reflect the authority and, where possible, befriend them, because the police officers are there to assist them in whatever ways to look after the young and protect them from possible crime. There are instructions on how police officers handle different categories of people, such as the young or those in the category of being a suspect or non-suspect. They will know how to handle these cases. Sir, we will also take up Mdm Ho's suggestion to extend such training to officers in other Home Team departments who have to interact with youths. Indeed, one of the reasons for setting up the Home Team Academy is for the Home Team departments to share their core expertise with one another. I am also pleased to inform Mdm Ho that we will be launching a Behavioural Sciences Programme, which would be spearheaded by the Police Psychological Services Division. The programme will develop the knowledge and skills of our Home Team officers in the specialised area of behavioural sciences. Tie-ups or collaborations with external institutions of higher learning and research institutes will certainly be something that we will explore. Mdm Ho also noted that the law enforcement officers today have to strike a balance between protecting the wider interests of society and that of the individual. Indeed, the police is very mindful of the need to manage this delicate balance. I would like to assure Members that the police will continue to improve the training of our officers so that it remains a professional outfit that is capable of meeting evolving challenges in crime and terrorism.”
“While we cannot substitute for experience, we believe that enhancements to training content and training methodology, coupled with the wider use of tools, such as After Action Review, will enable our police officers to discharge their duties effectively. In addition, the Home Team will explore how we can tap on the experiences of suitable retired officers, such as re-employing them as instructors in the Home Team Academy, so that their experiences will not be lost. Mr Ravindran mentioned that if an officer dies today after 30 years of service, all his experiences will be lost. If we compare one-to-one, maybe we will get worried, because someone with such vast experiences will retire and a new rookie will come in, without experience and almost "blur". But in reality, that is not true. If someone with 30 years' experience retires today, there is another guy with maybe 29, 28 or 25 years of experience. In other words, the full force of the police team has people with varied experience. We will try to tap the experiences of those who have left. I must mention that the new Home Team Academy also has what we call the Knowledge Depository Branch. They will help young officers to get to know better on what has happened, what we have gone through. This institutional memory will be passed on to the newer officers. 2.00 pm Sir, Mdm Ho also suggested that police officers today should receive special training to deal with youths. Dealing with youths is not something entirely new for our officers. The police has various procedures in place to assist our officers to engage the young ones.”
“For CSSP, for example, the number has gradually increased over the years from around 492 in 1999 to 695 last year. And since the implementation of the NPC, we see more members of the public coming forward to assist the Police in apprehending criminals. This percentage of public assistance, as mentioned by the Minister earlier, reached 42% last year. It was about 30% in 1996. Sir, on the question of how the crime rate has changed since the switch from the NPP system, let me say that this is not a very meaningful comparison as the crime rate is influenced by many different factors, social economic factors and all, and it would not be correct to attribute changes in the crime rate solely to our move to the NPC system. Sir, Mr Ravindran and Mdm Ho have requested for an update on the training of Police officers. I am happy to inform the House that beyond enhancing its operational capabilities, Police has continued to place strong emphasis on the training of its officers to ensure that they are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to cope with today's policing environment. Over and above the basic training, special groups of officers are provided with advanced training in skills that are becoming increasingly critical for tackling the latest crime and terrorism challenges. This includes computer forensic skills for investigating cyber-crimes and post-blast investigations skills for dealing with terrorist bomb attacks. With the migration of the Police Academy to the new Home Team Academy early this year, the training of our Police officers will be supported by even better facilities, including a Training Village, where a realistic scenario based training will be conducted. Police officers will also be able to attend various advanced developmental courses there.”
“This works out to a ratio of about one officer serving 1,580 residents as opposed to 1,700 in 1997. This was achieved, although our population has increased from around $3.8 million to $4.35 million last year. The increase in the number of officers is achieved through the optimisation of our police resources, including better utilisation of our full-time Police NSmen to complement the regulars in frontline duties. The number of Police cars on patrol at any one time has more than doubled from 45 to 96, giving an average of three for each of the 32 NPCs. Furthermore, in addition to the frontline NPC officers, we now also have strategic reserve forces from Special Operations Command and Key Installation Command, making regular patrols in designated areas to project greater Police visibility. Sir, it might however be recognised that effective policing is not determined solely by the number of police posts or police officers on the ground. The public, as explained earlier, has a crucial role to play as well. The cornerstone of our NPC system is the focus on developing community leadership and responsibility for the safety and security of the neighbourhoods. In particular, the Community Safety and Security Programme (CSSP) and the Neighbourhood Watch Zones serve as useful platforms for the Home Team to connect with the grassroots leaders and residents to tackle local safety and security issues. Dr Maliki also asked about the key performance indicators (KPIs) of our NPCs. Sir, the performance of the NPCs is measured under various KPIs, such as crime rates, response time and community engagement, which should reflect the corresponding emphasis on the NPC system. We monitor these KPIs closely and there have been improvements in several areas.”
“Sir, I will now respond to some of the questions raised by Members concerning their Neighbourhood Police Centre (MPC) system, Home Team training and professionalism raised by Dr Maliki, Mr Ravindran and Mdm Ho Geok Choo yesterday. Firstly, Sir, Dr Maliki raised some questions about the NPC system and the level of Police presence on the ground. Sir, the transition from the Neighbourhood Police Post (NPP) system to the NPC system started back in 1997 when the first NPC was established and was completed in 2001. It was a strategic move by the Police to evolve and keep pace with the changes in the operating environment, and to improve the system of community policing. Currently, there is a nationwide network of about 32 NPCs supported by 65 Neighbourhood Police Posts (NPPs). Under the NPC system, the NPPs still retain an operational role and have not been completely replaced. Overall, the number of service points has not changed significantly under the two systems. There were 98 fixed service points under the previous system compared to 97 fixed service points today, comprising NPCs and NPPs. The operating hours of the existing NPPs have been shortened to allow for the redeployment of more officers for patrol duties during periods of lull activity at NPPs, in other words, more officers are being released to do patrol work. This means their presence is more visible in the neighbourhood, rather than reduced. Dr Maliki has also asked about the number of personnel assigned to police our housing estates under the NPP and NPC systems. Sir, prior to the implementation of the NPC system, a total of 2,210 officers would patrol the total land area of Singapore. Under the current system, this number increased to 2,761 officers, or an increase of more than 500 officers, or about 25%.”
“Is this an actual case or is this a hypothetical case? Every case needs to be studied. In this case, if the comments or remarks were made during a performance outside an election, I do not think he has done anything wrong.”
“They have been talking about it all the time. Foreigners have been here and have spoken, given permit to speak in Singapore.”
“Yes, no foreigners are to participate in our local politics during an election. Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong: Yes? Is it only during an election period? Does that mean that during a non-election period, they can actually talk about Singapore politics? Is that what he means?”
“Sir, actually, the context and, in this case, I think Mr Chiam is well aware, the timing must apply. If the artiste merely performs his regular hits and routine at the constituency function which happens to fall outside an election period, I think there is nothing wrong in that. An artiste giving praises to his host is a common thing happening all over Singapore, whether he is a prospective candidate or not. So, it is not an issue whether the artiste is performing for, in this case, your rival, and whether that election candidate or prospective candidate is an individual or is representing a political party. The question of blacklisting and debarment is also quite serious. It will have to be considered carefully whether the actions done by the artiste really break the law.”
“Sir, the question concerns a constituency function, not about participating in politics. Foreigners are not allowed to participate in local political activities. Under the law, foreigners, especially during elections, are strictly prohibited from taking part in any election political activities. It is covered under our Parliamentary Elections Act as well as the Presidential Elections Act. So, if they do break the law, they will be dealt with.”
“Mr Chiam has said that the casino is the first step for us to go down the slippery road. He has also mentioned that in the last 40 years, we have a clean and moral living environment. At the same time, he has asked the Government to be truthful in this matter. Can I ask him to be truthful in this matter? What made him say that in the last 40 years, we have been living in this clean and moral environment? Who had done all the efforts to achieve that? How did he come to that impression that we have done that in the last 40 years?”
“Mr Speaker, can I be allowed to seek some clarifications from Mr Chiam?”
“And, in addition to our idyllic parks, jogging tracks, fishing grounds, public golf courses, and even driving ranges, PUB has also been working closely with the National Parks Board - because some of the parks are under NParks rather than PUB - to introduce boardwalks as well as forest trails at MacRitchie and Lower Pierce Reservoir catchment areas. At the Bedok Reservoir, as mentioned by the Member, there is also a jogging track that is well within the reservoir park, and also a track around the reservoir, which, as the Member probably knows, is used by the PUB for its inspection of the reservoir and for carrying out various other activities. Sir, in these areas and others, the PUB will continue to work with the relevant agencies to explore ways to provide more amenities for our reservoir parks. This will make the parks more attractive, for families to spend leisurely outings at these scenic locations.”
“Sir, under the Sewerage and Drainage Act, the construction of any work to intercept water from any place, including rivers and canals, requires the approval of the Public Utilities Board. And, as a general rule, the PUB does not allow the pumping of water from rivers and canals, as many of these water courses channel rain water into our reservoirs and are part of the nation's water supply system. Unless you can get approval from PUB for certain specific reasons, they may allow. But, generally, the answer is no. Mdm Cynthia Phua asked if PUB could open up its reservoirs for more water-based recreational activities for the public. Sir, we are mindful of the recreational needs of the public and we recognise that our reservoirs, the reservoir parks, and the central water catchment reserves are valuable assets to Singaporeans, not only as water resources, but also as recreational resources. Many of our reservoirs have, in fact, been opened up for water-based recreational activities, such as boating and fishing, as mentioned by the Member. PUB welcomes any organised groups or interested agencies and the Singapore Sports Council to work with them, to introduce more water-based recreational activities in our reservoirs. But, Sir, public safety and pollution control measures must be in place to ensure that the safety of the participants is assured and that the water quality is not being affected by these activities. Mdm Phua also suggested that more amenities and facilities be provided for the public to enjoy the open spaces around the reservoirs. She expressed concern about some of the developments in these areas. Sir, there are many amenities and facilities that are currently being made available in many of our reservoir parks for public enjoyment.”
“Sir, I will respond to the comments made by Mdm Cynthia Phua on our reservoirs, Prof. Low Seow Chay and Mr Andy Gan on river and canal water. Sir, first, may I touch on the questions of private collection of rain water. Since October last year, the PUB has allowed buildings and house owners to collect rain water within their premises for non-potable uses, including toilet flushing, general washing and watering of plants. 5.45 pm This change in policy was conveyed on 29th October last year at a briefing to the relevant associations, including the Singapore Institute of Architects, the Real Estate Developers Association of Singapore and the Singapore Contractors Association Limited. The new policy is also explained on PUB's website. Sir, under the new policy, developers can build rain water collection systems and storage tanks in their developments. But, for public health reasons, however, they are also to comply with the National Environment Agency's guideline to prevent mosquito breeding in the rain water collection system, as well as the underground tanks. Used rain water that is discharged into the sewers requires treatment at PUB's plants, followed with proper disposal. Therefore, water-borne fees will be levied. But this will only affect customers that collect rain water in large quantities, and they are primarily non-domestic users. For tank sizes of less than 20 cubic metres, roughly 5 by 2 by 2 metres in depth, water-borne fees will be waived. In other words, private homes would fall under this category. Assoc. Prof. Low also asked about the pumping of water from rivers and canals.”
“I am not sure whether the weather referred to by Dr Ahmad is similar to Singapore. But drivers can switch on their lights all day and this is not against the law. But to make it compulsory is another thing. I think the Traffic Police has got to look into this proposal. On his idea of interlocking concrete blocks in school zones, at the moment, we find it not appropriate partly because it is going to cause a lot of noise pollution and it is going to incur a lot more maintenance cost as a result of frequent wear and tear. However, his concern is recognised. We are having some programmes to ensure that cars will slow down, especially near schools. We have provided safe crossing facilities. There are traffic calming measures like road humps and speed regulating strips as well as road dividers to discourage indiscriminate parking and overtaking. Even in industrial parks, similar provisions are provided to slow down vehicles. However, at the moment, in these areas, the speed limit is already very low at 40 km per hour. We are not sure whether we should reduce it further because it will impact on the traffic efficiency in such areas. Anyway, if there is a need, Traffic Police with the LTA will look into the specific needs of certain areas and if 40 km per hour is regarded as dangerous we will look into it. 1.50 pm”
“And we have also organised another 220 road safety training programmes for school children and other groups, altogether reaching some 300,000 Singapore citizens. These efforts have proven to be useful. For senior citizens particularly, the Traffic Police is going to be of greater help to them by leveraging on Rediffusion to broadcast some road safety messages in Chinese dialects so that some of them who only speak dialects could at least understand and learn more about how to use the roads in a safer manner. For senior citizens also, we are looking into the possibility of allowing the green light signals for crossing the road to last longer in areas where we know there are a lot more senior citizens staying. So the green light will probably stay longer. This is being looked into and, hopefully, it can be implemented soon. Sir, in terms of enforcement, yes, there are traffic patrols all over the island every day, and we also undertake special operations to keep violators in check. One example is the action against drink driving, and this has resulted in a number of accidents due to drink driving and the number dropped over last year. We have also clamped down on other drivers who continue to put the lives of pedestrians at risk. One example is that last year, almost 3,000 motorists were booked for committing offences against pedestrians, such as failing to give way at pedestrian junctions and crossings. This is an increase from 2,700 in year 2002. Finally, the third prong is tough and effective laws. MHA and Traffic Police regularly review the laws to ensure that they remain relevant and to provide sufficient deterrence to undesirable driving behaviour. Sir, there are some other suggestions made by Members, eg, lighting throughout the day.”
“Sir, some Members raised questions concerning road safety in Singapore which boils down to the question whether our roads are safer today than before. Sir, in general, compared to many countries, such as Malaysia, the United Kingdom and Japan, Singapore's accident fatality rate of 5 per 100,000 population is one of the lowest anywhere in the world. Dr Ahmad Magad and Mr Tan Soo Khoon raised concerns about our senior citizens. Yes, this group could be vulnerable on our roads, as has been shown. However, Sir, although the number of senior citizens who died in road accidents last year comprised more than half, 33 out of 63, overall there has been a drop in the number of pedestrians involved in accidents - from 923 in 2002 down to 850 last year. Of this figure of 850, 752 of them, including senior citizens, sustained slight injuries. Many of these accidents are attributed to the fact that people still jaywalk, a matter raised by Mr Tan Soo Khoon just now. There were also drivers who failed to look out for pedestrians. Sir, in these two respects, I must say that the Traffic Police is very well aware of such incidents and has been taking action against jaywalkers. In fact, last year the number of people booked for jaywalking has gone up. The Traffic Police is also taking action against the drivers who have become a danger to road-users, pedestrians, especially the elderly. But what is the long-term effort that we are doing to make our roads safer? Sir, the Traffic Police is taking a 3-pronged approach, comprising education, enforcement and legislation. In terms of education, we work with many community groups. Last year, Traffic Police organised more than 330 road safety talks and exhibitions for school children, senior citizens and others.”
“Sir, I want to clarify whether being obedient is docile. I wonder why he thinks like that of Singaporeans. Is that how he looks at his fellow citizens?”
“But does that mean he is not obedient, compliant and docile as the majority of Singaporeans? I just want to clarify his position on this.”
“Mr Speaker, may I seek some clarifications from Mr Chiam? Mr Chiam said that after 30 years under the PAP, Singaporeans have become obedient, compliant and docile. Can I ask if he is also like that? Is he experiencing that himself? Otherwise, how can he make such a sweeping statement?”
“Sir, I would say that if you happen to receive a call, you press the button and you have a hands-free kit, you can respond by speaking on the phone. That, I think, is quite safe. But if you let go one hand from the steering wheel and keep yourself busy with the handphone, you will be committing an offence. Dr Tan Boon Wan rose ---”
“Yes, Sir, it is an offence. In fact, if you use the handphone and send SMS, I think you will be a lot more distracted from the road at the point of using it. So, therefore, it constitutes an offence.”
“Sir, currently, we can say that the use of handphone is one of the situations where a driver may take one of his hands off the wheels. But there are other scenarios, like the Member has mentioned, but at the moment they are not legislated as a specific offence like in the case of handphone. So you can press the air-conditioner button and the other buttons. Under the law, it is not an offence. Assoc. Prof. Chin Tet Yung (Sembawang): Sir, may I ask if the use of the handphone for viewing SMS messages while driving or sending such messages would also constitute an offence under the Road Traffic Act?”
“The Member is referring to a driver who is driving a car which is in motion. If he is not using the handphone, he does not have to hold it. So, under normal circumstances, if you are holding your phone in one hand, it is regarded as using it, especially if you are seen pressing the buttons.”
“Yes, he will be. If he is driving and one of his hands is holding the phone and using it, it is an offence.”
“Sir, under the Road Traffic Act, section 65B states that, "Any person who, being the driver of a motor vehicle on a road or a public place, uses a mobile telephone while the motor vehicle is in motion shall be guilty of an offence..." Dr Tan Boon Wan: Further clarification. What if he is using an extension device? Would he still be committing an offence, in view of the Senior Parliamentary Secretary's explanation earlier?”
“And these include aftercare counselling and assistance offered by the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprise (SCORE) and the agencies participating in the Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex-offenders (CARE) network. Sir, the successful rehabilitation of drug offenders, as rightly mentioned by the Member, requires the support and cooperation of the agencies, the families and friends of the drug offenders as well as society at large. As he has explained, in some incidents where they were not clearly welcomed by some residents, I would like to take this opportunity to once again exhort all concerned to help our ex-offenders successfully reintegrate into society and to continue to lead a useful life. With regard to educating our people, Sir, the CNB has its own preventive education programme reaching out to students in various schools, and I think SANA also has its own programme to educate the community. The other programme which I mentioned earlier is CARE. Under CARE, the various agencies believe that some kind of coordinated aftercare programme is very good in our effort to bring the ex-offenders or drug addicts back to society. These programmes, coordinated by the Prisons Department, involving SCORE, National Council of Social Service, Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association, and others, are actually a network designed to provide this assistance. They wanted a lot more people to be involved and to participate in a collective effort to help ex-offenders to come back to society. I hope we can use this opportunity to let more people understand how the CARE network can help. Various organisations and community leaders, MPs and others can also assist by way of encouraging our people to participate, to be more aware and involved.”
“Dr Maliki has asked about the effectiveness of our Community-based Rehabilitation (CBR) Programme. Sir, this programme was launched sometime in 1995 and it was aimed at reintegrating drug offenders detained in our DRCs back into the community. Inmates who are assessed to be receptive towards the programme are emplaced either at their own homes or at half-way houses at the end of their detention. Inmates emplaced at home are employed during the day and must observe curfew hours in the evening, while those in the half-way houses will attend various rehabilitative programmes arranged by the half-way houses. So far, about 6,000 inmates have benefited from this programme. Sir, the results of the CBR programme have been encouraging. The completion rate for all the cohorts emplaced on the programme from 1995 to 2000 has averaged about 82%. The recidivism rate of inmates who have undergone the programme has also been consistently lower than those who have not. For example, among the cohort of drug offenders released in the year 2000, the recidivism rate for those who underwent the CBR programme was 38%, compared to about 60% of those who did not. I would like to assure Members that other inmates in the DRCs who may not be suitable for the CBR programme are not forgotten. They undergo other programmes within the centre, for example, substance abuse treatment, anger management and violence prevention courses. The rehabilitation effort, however, does not end with the completion of the CBR programme or the release of the inmate from our DRC. Programmes are also put in place to help the drug offender reintegrate into our society.”
“Allowing children born to Singapore women overseas to be citizens by descent would seem to qualify as one. Third reason, globalisation. We live in an increasingly globalised world and our citizens, both men and women, travel and work overseas in rising numbers. While Singaporeans are overseas, they tend to feel more patriotic and conscious of being Singaporeans; some more than others. Such national consciousness is to be encouraged and we should be appealing to it, rather than making it that much harder for a group of Singaporeans - in this case, the women - to nurture it and to pass on the rights of a citizen to their children by descent. In his previous reply, the Home Affairs Minister said that although the Constitution has made this differentiation between men and women for children born overseas, the practical effect is not great. He said that most applications for citizenship of children born overseas to a Singaporean parent are approved. But this is like a father saying to his son that his children can enjoy the privilege of becoming part of the family by descent, and telling his daughter that her children have to apply to be a part of the family. And then adding that the practical difference is not great as the application would probably be approved. I think, to the daughter, it would make all the difference between feeling whether they are part of the family or not. I would urge the Minister to review this policy.”
“In particular, I have been approached by parents with adopted children who have expressed concerns that, if a natural mother has the birth certificate number of the child, would she, in later years, be able to trace the whereabouts of that child simply by giving the number to any institution, like the hospital or other institutions? If so, can such adopted children be given new numbers so that their identity would be protected? These are the two questions. Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong: Presently, children born overseas of a Singaporean mother and a foreigner father have to apply for citizenship if they want to be Singaporeans. However, if they are born overseas to a Singaporean father, they are citizens by descent. I do not want to argue this as a gender issue because I know where this would get us in this House. Instead, I would offer these three reasons why we should review this Article in the Constitution, which was written in a totally different era. First, marriage trends. More Singapore women, especially our graduates, are marrying foreign men and going overseas. They have babies overseas and would like their children to be Singaporeans. But because of the constitutional hurdle, they face bothersome red tape when they are trying to do the patriotic thing. Ironically, there are relatively fewer Singaporean men who marry foreign wives and then have babies overseas. Yet, they are given as a right the convenience of citizenship by descent for their children. Second, demographic. We are facing falling fertility rates. We do not have enough babies to replace ourselves. I would think that we should be looking at all manner of legitimate ways to increase our pool of babies and to enrich our gene pool.”
“Sir, the Prisons Department will continue to work with the relevant agencies to improve the effectiveness of our rehabilitation system. We also need the support of all Singaporeans to help in the reintegration of the offenders into society. Much will depend on the willingness of Singaporeans to give these ex-offenders a second chance. Sir, Mr Chandra Mohan also mentioned about the need for some research and study to see the implications of all this. I think this matter will be looked into. Assoc. Prof. Chin Tet Yung: I have two issues to raise, arising out of feedback from members of the public. The first has to do with the very positive response towards the new driving licence, which I regret I do not have one. But I have seen them and they look rather attractive. The question raised by members of the public was whether we could not have that to replace our IC. Because after all, the driving licence for citizens is the same as the IC number. So why can we not have that to replace? The second question I have is concerning this: Can we do more with this new driving licence because they complain that they are having too many cards in their wallets that, sometimes, they look like they are carrying a pack of playing cards, rather than carrying a wallet. The question is whether the Ministry of Home Affairs can come up with a multi-purpose IC driving licence, cashcard, everything in one. The second issue is a matter of some concern, and it has to do with the privacy of information in the registry kept by the Government.”
“The School runs courses ranging from skills training up to 'A' levels for offenders. And I am happy to report to this House that prisoners enrolled at the School have constantly achieved good results when they sit for 'N', or 'O', levels. 2.15 pm Suitable offenders are also given the opportunity to undertake food training during their stay in prison, and training ranging from food preparation, hair dressing or IT skills is provided to prepare offenders for a wide variety of jobs available in the Prison, or later on outside. Besides, inculcating good work ethics and discipline, such vocational training also enhances the employability of offenders after their release. Sir, to help ease the often difficult transition back into society, the Home Detection Scheme was implemented sometime in the year 2000 to allow selected offenders to serve the last few months of their sentence at home with electronic monitoring. So far, over 2,000 have benefited from this scheme, and the completion rate for the scheme is almost 100%. Sir, the help that we give to offenders does not end with his release from prison. In the area of aftercare, we have brought together various agencies under the Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex-offenders network to provide aftercare counselling and assistance to released offenders. The network includes organisations, such as the Singapore Aftercare Association and Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association. Both help ex-offenders to return to society during the pre-release phase and continue to support the offenders after their release. We also have the Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprise (SCORE) providing assistance in job placement.”
“Mr Chandra Mohan has asked for some elaboration on the main initiatives for rehabilitative programmes in the prisons and also how and what we do to provide the best possible second chance in life for ex-prisoners. Sir, as he rightly pointed out, the traditional role of our prison and its systems is to protect our society by putting criminals who pose a threat to society behind bars and, at the same time, to deter any would-be criminals. In recent years, however, the Prisons Department has done a lot more to help prisoners to reform or rehabilitate themselves. Programmes have been introduced over the last few years to help rehabilitate them and reintegrate offenders back into society. We have seen that these measures have had some measure of success. For example, the re-offending rate has declined steadily from about 56% in 1995 to about less than 35% in the year 2000. And the Prisons Department has pioneered the concept of CARE (Community Action for the Rehabilitation of Ex-offenders) which provides for a structured rehabilitation programme for offenders that begins at admission, and continues beyond their release. Upon admission, inmates are individually assessed and a personalised treatment plan is drawn up for them. Inmates first undergo a core skills programme to help them cope with their imprisonment. Modules covered include self-control, issues arising from imprisonment, stress management, etc. Each inmate is also assigned a prison officer as his personal supervisor. And the offenders then undergo specialised treatment programmes targeted at specific offending behaviour. Offenders who wish to continue their education can also be sent to the Prison School which was established in the year 2000.”
“What I hope is that, when facing this crisis, the solution for Singaporeans is not by taking the easy way out. On the other hand, what we have to do is not just by asking what the Government or the CDCs can do for us. All these will continue to be provided. In fact, we should ask what we, as a Singaporean, can do or take action in order to contribute towards the recovery of the economy, and not be too dependent on the goodies that are given out by the Government. Mr Speaker, Sir, that is my hope. I hope our fellow citizens can think about this matter together.”
“He is so used to working hard since young to raise his family. And I suppose the young Singaporean man who prefers to use the motorised bicycle is seen as a sign of young Singaporeans, whom we think are wiser, but I worry if this is an indication that they would find an easy way out when faced with a problem or crisis. Mr Speaker, Sir, I still hope, and dare say that, in general, Singaporeans have not become weak, but these are signs which we must pay attention to. I raise this issue with the hope that Singaporeans realise that at times we should not be trapped by the norms of our wealthy lifestyle during this difficult period. We still find people with financial difficulties who are seeking help from CDCs and CCCs but who do not want to do away with their handphones. There are also people who have rejected many job offers with lower salary. There are some who realise that their jobs will be relocated to other countries, but are still reluctant to go through new courses to acquire new skills to enable them to get better jobs and have careers that are long lasting in the years to come. Mr Speaker, Sir, I raise this matter to urge Singaporeans to think that, since the 1960s, we have progressed not based on our ability to take the easy way out. I am confident that the earlier generations, and some who have passed away, had toiled day and night to build a future for their children and now the prosperity is enjoyed by the younger generation. It is important for us, when facing the situation at present, not to easily give up. Instead, we should be daring to explore new ideas, find new ways and work hard to bring Singapore to greater heights in the years to come. I hope that the illustration that I have given just now is not necessarily true despite my concerns.”
“If given a job they prefer it to be air-conditioned, because if it is too hot, they would get headaches, and if their working places are too far away, they find it a waste of time. These are the reasons which are frequently heard nowadays. I see this young man as another sign. Is it true that we are weakened by our own progress and wealth? This question arises as I am comparing how some senior citizens whom I have met in my constituency frequently cycle from one place to another. I have asked them why they like to cycle. There are two reasons for this. Firstly, they said that it is a good form of exercise whenever they have to travel from home to the shops, mosque or anywhere else. It not only improves their health but also helps them to save money. Last week, I met a 70-year-old man. He is a trishaw rider. When he was young, he worked very hard to raise the family, and most of his children have grown up now. Although they live on their own and have their own house, this Singaporean, who is more than 70 years old, is still a trishaw rider. I asked him whether it is tiring for him. He said no. In fact, he felt that riding the trishaw has helped him to maintain a healthy life. And because of his good health, last year - after his wife passed away more than 10 years ago - he remarried. He could afford to remarry as he is still working and has an income. Now he is married to a lady who is half his age. I asked him whether he did fall sick from time to time or worry about remarrying again. His reply to me was very encouraging. He said that he has been riding the trishaw for many years and has never taken any medical leave. He did not have to take leave as he is always healthy, seldom coughs or falls sick. He belongs to the early generation of people.”
“Can we face it in a way that could build up new advantages and strengths in which we are able to provide goods and services to the global marketplace? I am worried because, among some of the factors which made us strong and successful, in the end, these successes and strengths could be factors that would weaken our country and community. Mr Speaker, what I meant here is whether the effect of our wealthy lifestyle has brought about an impact on Singaporeans to think that we should always live comfortably and find an easy way out when facing a crisis. I ponder on these questions when I was on my way to the office this morning when I saw a young Singaporean man in his mid-30s or early 40s. I saw him using a motorised bicycle. I thought to myself: is it necessary for a strong and healthy man to use a motorised bicycle to travel from his house to a shop which is not too far away? The question is: is it wise for this young man, who is not the only one using the motorised bicycle which is getting popular nowadays, to use a motorised bicycle to travel from his house to the shop? Is it because he wants to save time so as to reach his destination fast, or is it because of other reasons? I was unable to ask him as I was driving. But I am worried whether this is an indication that, in many issues which include travelling to a place which is not too far away, Singaporeans would like to find the easiest way out, just press a button and you get what you want, you reach your destination. We press the button to use the lift or escalator and we ask for more linkways. Many hon. Members of Parliament have heard complaints by the residents about providing a bus stop near their homes.”
“As a Singaporean, I realise that, in many areas, for more than two decades, we have been enjoying a good life, we have been enjoying the wealth that allows us to speak not only in terms of improving our standard of living but also a better quality of life. In the constituencies, our Members frequently hear appeals for us to provide more linkways and additional facilities in order to improve and make it easier for the residents. Mr Speaker, I would like to urge Singaporeans to think again on how, as we face the situation at present, after having successfully built our nation, today we are facing a crisis which has been on-going since 1999. Are we able to overcome this crisis effectively? Secondly, are we prepared to face this crisis with the right attitude? What I mean is: do we only want to face it lightly and do not want to face the difficulties posed by the new challenges that we face? Are we hoping that a group of people, be it in the Government or elsewhere, can spring out a new formula to resolve our problems immediately? Or are we prepared to work hard and struggle together to once again rebuild our own strengths and niches that we have built since independence? Here, we have a question to ponder. Although I am confident that our Singaporeans are practical, hardworking and dare to struggle to continue making Singapore a successful country, there are also signs which at times are worrying. Today, we often hear the effect and consequence of the wealth that we have enjoyed for so long has caused Singaporeans to complain and criticise the situation. This is not a reaction that will generate more ideas on how to face the problems of the country that affect its people, which could bring about problems to our future.”
“Mr Speaker, I wish to thank you for allowing me to participate in this debate. As a Singaporean and based on the feedback that I have received from many Singaporeans, I have no qualms in saying that we are proud to be citizens of a country that has achieved a lot of progress. There are many factors that have made us a successful country. Among others, I would like to state only two. First, is the existence of a strong and dynamic leadership. This is found in the political leadership, civil service and the private sector. All who are at the leadership level are working hard in giving the best services for the well-being of the country, companies, and so on. There is also a second factor that I feel is important. We have a capable and hardworking community, from the private as well as the public sectors, to work together in order to make Singapore a prosperous and progressive country. Mr Speaker, the combination of these two factors and other factors which have been debated by our colleagues in this House have strengthened Singapore's economy. We are also recognised as the best workforce in the world and we have also been successful in making Changi Airport the best airport in the world in conjunction with Singapore Airlines which is also the best. Year by year, it has been ranked as the best in the airline service worldwide. Although there were retrenchments in PSA recently, we also know that our port is still one of the best and most efficient in the world. Likewise, as a result of the combination that I have mentioned earlier, the standard of living of Singaporeans and the quality of life is the best not only in Asia but the world too.”
“During the peak period, yes. What happens is this. The peak period in the morning, for example, is between 6 am and 9 am, when the vehicles come in. It is not possible for the Immigration Department, for example, to open up all the counters to cater for this big number of vehicles and to clear them as fast as possible. Because after that period, officers will be there and they will be idling around. They would have nothing to do because all the vehicles have been cleared. I have the figures here for Mr Chia's information. In the morning peak hours, we open up more counters because we understand that they need to reach their work place as fast as possible. At the arrival point, in the morning, we open up 25 car lanes and 44 motorcycle lanes to cater for the vehicles from Malaysia. So the processing is faster. In the evening, it is different because they are departing, and they have no urgency to reach home within a certain period. So we open up 25 lanes. That is the maximum we can do for the morning and the evening because of the urgency for them to reach their work place by a certain time. We have done what we can to accommodate the needs of these workers, ie, to clear them as fast as possible.”
“Sir, that was the explanation I gave earlier to Mr Chia. As the vehicles reach the Checkpoint, we should not allow the different modes of transport to be mixed together. As he has explained, before the 200-metre point, the mixture of vehicles has caused a little bit of a difficult situation. This is what we have avoided - by segregating them at the 200-metre point.”
“Sir, what Mr Low mentioned was actually the situation that occurred mainly at the previous Checkpoint, before the new Checkpoint was built. At the present Checkpoint, because of the experience in the past, we have actually segregated the different transport modes at about 200 metres before the Checkpoint. So at that point, if there is a traffic jam, there is a traffic jam. What we have done actually is to divide them into their separate zones and, hopefully, to speed up the process. That can take about - I do not know how many motorcycles or cars - but beyond that, a jam is a jam.”
“Sir, at the moment, I think the answer is no, unless we can make prior arrangements. If once we allow for a change, what happens if 10 seconds later, cars are coming in? These are the situations which will become more difficult to manage. Anyway when we talk about Singaporean motorcyclists, there is no guarantee that the pillion rider is also a Singaporean. And if you go into a Singapore citizen counter, your pillion rider cannot be cleared. So all other practical problems may arise if we change the system without taking into account all these factors. However, the point has been noted by the Immigration Department. They will see whether such changes are necessary in the future. At the moment, because we have been able to clear the traffic faster without undermining our security and safety, we find the current system quite useful and it should be continued for the time being.”
“Sir, the question asked by Mr Chia was whether motorcyclists holding Singapore passports could be allowed to use the less jammed car lanes. In this respect, the suggestion is for them to try to adjust their time - they should not go into the Checkpoints when all the Malaysian workers are going back, because they are going to be trapped in a traffic jam. In any case, Sir, at the moment, overall, our figures show that 85% of motorcyclists are Malaysians, and they are holding long-term passes. At the immigration counters, they are cleared within 20 seconds, because we have their data, and they are cleared faster. The traffic jam, for most, according to our survey, is between 30-45 minutes, before they reach the 20-second clearance time. This is already much better than in the past. Because at the previous Checkpoint at Woodlands, for example, where most of these workers passed through before the new Checkpoint was ready, they had to wait longer than one hour before they were cleared. At the moment, because we segregate them, we have been able to clear them, and they get caught in a jam of between 30-45 minutes. Officers are made available, whenever necessary. In fact, at peak hours, we have, if I am not mistaken, more than 25 counters open to clear the motorcyclists. During normal hours, there are about eight counters only. So, we have, in fact, trebled the number of counters available to clear them, and we will try to do more as and when it is necessary.”
“May I seek a clarification from the Minister? In his reply about a register of religious teachers, I just wonder whether registration also involves accreditation. In other words, I wish to know how do we ensure that we have a means of checking that they are actually qualified to teach and can teach the right kind of materials in Islam. Assoc. Prof. Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, I do not have the details of how the system works. But I would assure the Member that if we have a list of registered qualified teachers, there must be a system for us to ascertain their qualification. If need be, I will find the details and pass it to the Member. I would like to assure the House that at the end of the day, we want to maintain the standards to ensure that people using that list will feel safe and satisfied that their children will not be misled through the teaching of religion.”
“Sir, many voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) are doing a good job in providing social and community services. However, I often wonder if our VWOs are getting adequate support from the Government. Many organisations seem to be in constant need to raise funds. Should these organisations be required to raise funds while they are also expected to provide a good service? And Singaporeans are constantly demanding even higher quality service, even though they are in a group who needs help. Can the Ministry ensure that our VWOs need not spend too much time worrying about fund raising so that they could accord more time and energy to excel further in the services they provide? Can MCDS and the National Council of Social Service assist our VWOs in this respect? Sir, may I also raise some of the issues of catering to the needs of people who do not speak good English. It is well known that some people can communicate best in their own language, be it Chinese, Malay or Tamil. Many of them speak broken English and I do not think we should expect them to explain clearly their problems in English, especially to welfare workers. Neither should we expect them to understand clearly all the advice and counselling if they are given only in English. 3.30 pm Sir, may I know if MCDS is working to cater to the needs of these people? One example is those who are Malay-speaking. I have seen some of them who come to my MPS, and when I referred them to other agencies, they told me they have tried and it is very difficult to communicate. I see that, in Singapore, many Malay families and youths are also facing social problems. Yet, I am not convinced that there are enough provisions made by social agencies to cater to them. I hope the Minister can enlighten me.”
“If the building of new mosques can be completed within a certain timeframe, is there a possibility that the Mosque Building Fund that is collected through the Central Provident Fund Board be allocated for the upgrading or rebuilding of the old mosques? Aside from these, I understand that many mosques in fact have large surpluses or savings. Can we set aside, for instance, 10% of these funds, for the building of new mosques and the repair of the old ones? As our resources are limited, I think we need to explore new and effective means to meet the needs of both our new and old mosques. I hope the Minister could clarify.”
“One of MUIS' major successes has been in the implementation of the mosques building programme. With the community's contribution and the collection machinery of the CPF Board, the mosque building programme has been our meaningful achievement. Since the first generation Muhajirin mosque was built, we have witnessed increasing improvements in quality and architecture. However, it seems that many of these new mosques had to expand the space for prayers by fixing awnings or by adding several floors to cater to various needs. This requires more funds. The result is that many of these mosques are continuously finding ways to raise funds. In fact, there have been occasions when several mosques compete to raise funds at the same time. At the same time, many older mosques which are usually in a state of disrepair also need attention. Over the past years, several older mosques had been rebuilt or were given extensive upgrading. Each project requires millions of dollars. In addition, there are some mosques that continue to organise fund raising projects even though their upgrading work had been completed. They felt a need to raise funds to sustain other activities. I wish to know if the building of new mosques will be an on-going programme or will it be completed within a certain timeframe. Can the Mosque Building Fund afford to build one new mosque within a year or 18 months? If not, will MUIS encourage those who can afford it, to increase their monthly contributions? As many Muslim workers have lost their jobs in this difficult time, it will have an impact on the collection of this fund.”