Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman
Singapore
“Just a quick response to the question on JKJU. Indeed, we continue to pay attention to the health of the Malay/Muslim community. I mentioned earlier while we have been making progress, there have been some areas that we continue to want to improve on, particularly, increasing in our rates of participation in signing up for Healthier SG, p…”
“00 pm (In English): Mr Chairman, beyond our shores or closer to home, efforts like M3's Aid for Gaza and our initiatives for local communities in the M3@Towns show how our acts of care and contribution, as donors or volunteers, and how we can connect with one another to do so, can make a difference to those around us.”
“The other dimension is that having Dian ambassadors help with the cultural dimension, because not all family coaches from ComLink necessarily understand the dynamics of Malay culture, the nuances, and so the Dian ambassadors help them and tell them that these are the ways in which we can connect with Malay families in a manner that will g…”
“This will also mitigate the impulse to normalise or chase the extremes in the contest to circulate ever more startling videos and content. While firm actions will be taken to address the parties involved in each incident, the school will also use the opportunity as a teaching moment for all its students.”
“Sir, I agree with the Member that we have to strike a balance. We cannot just swing one way or the other. Just to assure the Member that MOE did commission a National Institute of Education study – it was a two-year study which was commissioned in September 2022, but it is not completed yet.”
“Mr Speaker, the short answer is yes. We welcome anyone who is keen to join the SPED sector. We know this SPED sector is a very challenging sector to be in. It requires determination. It requires passion. It is a calling.”
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“Sir, can I ask the Minister how much resources have been placed locally with regard to such a research?”
“Sir, can I have the Minister's clarification that, of the 35% who are ineligible for the HOPE programme, how many of them or what percentage of them are the borderline cases, for example, one spouse meets the eligibility requirement but the other does not, and whether the Ministry has started looking at this on a case-by-case basis to allow them leeway to get into the programme? Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, I do not have the details of the 35% that we have rejected. They may be borderline cases. But we have left it to the CDCs to exercise flexibility. My only reply to the Member is that, at this point in time, we are still new in implementing this scheme. It is only over two months. I think let us develop as we go along. And if there are instances whereby we can move at the margins, I think we will certainly consider that.”
“Sir, can I ask the Minister, among the 8,000 flats that are in non-mature estates that are not sold currently, what is the percentage or proportion of them that is already built for five years and not being bought yet, and how long does HDB think it takes to sell them off? They are not being purchased after five years already. Are there any plans to get them sold off as quickly as possible?”
“Sir, recoginising the fact that there are many different types of organisations with different sizes, and picking up on what the Minister said just now, I would like to ask again whether there is a need for us to have a different set of caps in relation to what they can use for fund-raising dollars. Because if we have a large organsation and the guideline is still 30%, how do we know that they are using it excessively or not excessively if, at the end of they day, they say that they are within the 30% guideline? Mr Lim Hng Kiang: Sir, ultimately, it is up to the donors. When you give your donation dollar, you must check how the organisation you are donating to is spending the money. And if you are not happy, then you donate to some other more worthy causes. I think the idea is to put the disclosure out and for donors to decide for themselves.”
“Sir, can I ask the Minister what is the basis for the 30% cap on the funds that can be used for fund-raising expenses? Does the Minister think that this is high, eg, if we take a donation of $6 million which allows the organisation to use up to $1.8 million just for fund-raising expenses alone? What is the basis and whether this is high in his opinion?”
“I asked the question about former work permit holders having to seek approval to marry Singaporeans. I think that was answered. Can I ask the Minister also in relation to that, they are supposed to serve a ban, but it is not clear how long that ban is to last? Is there any way that the former work permit holders can be relieved of the requirement to seek permission if they have not been holding the work permit for the next five years or so?”
“Sir, may I seek a clarification from the Minister?”
“Sir, in the last year alone, there were several media reports that were rather worrying with regard to the accounting practices in the SAF, namely, the case of the fake bids for maintenance work involving a very senior officer, the case of NSmen making false salary claims, and recently the findings of the Public Accounts Committee report that found similar lapses in concentration with regard to financial accounting practices. Sir, compared to the total defence budget, the sum involved in these cases may be small, but given the current economic conditions and our policy on financial prudence, every dollar counts. The public needs to be assured that the practices are sound and will not lead to any lapses again. So I would like to ask the Minister what are the reasons for such lapses in accounting practices and how has the SAF improved on its system to prevent such lapses from happening again. Irregular Claims”
“Sir, the budget for MINDEF has not been reduced despite the economic situation. We have heard so many in the House say, in fact, that it has been increased - the only Ministry that has not had its budget cut. While many will not argue on the importance of defence, some in the House have argued that other Ministries like the Ministry of Education perhaps, also deserve equally important attention and hence, should not have their budget cut. Sir, in this regard, we cannot take our security for granted. I would like to ask the Minister: how can MINDEF justify its budget and expenditure? What are the proposed plans for the SAF in the next five years with this budget? Sir, the public may be asking that while they hear that the SAF needs more funds, they only hear of accidents, mishaps, financial improprieties and record rigging in the SAF through the media. Sir, such negative media reports do not do justice to the amount of work that MINDEF has been doing over many years. Thus, I would like to ask the Minister if there are sufficient public education efforts in ensuring that the public understands what the money is spent for or why we need good defence spending so that the public continues to have confidence in the SAF.”
“Sir, the SAF has been one of the key pillars of our progress. We have been told that our armed forces have come a long way from its beginning. One of the key components of our SAF is the operational readiness of the National Servicemen and the reservists. Sir, mobilisation exercises have been going on for several years now and, to ensure the operational readiness of our SAF personnel as well as the civil resource owners, I would like to ask the Minister what are some of the criteria used to assess our operational readiness during such exercise. How has the performance with regard to mobilisation exercises been in the last few years? In terms of civil resource owners, how has their response been towards such exercises? How do we fare compared to other armies of the same size as ours with regard to such exercises? Sir, with the threat of terrorism looming the world over, I would like to also ask the Minister on the SAF's readiness in combating non-conventional war and threats. Are our servicemen prepared and trained for this non-conventional warfare? How prepared are we, and what more will be done to ensure the highest level of preparedness? Intelligence”
“Sir, related to this issue of supply of rental flats, I would like to ask the Minister if there is any plan to offer those purchased flats that are not taken up, just like what Dr Amy Khor talked about. I see many vacant flats in my area and some of them have been vacant for five years. Certainly, it is better to rent them out to gain some income for HDB rather than to leave them vacant all the time. Can I seek the Minister's clarification on whether MND is planning to look into this matter?”
“Sir, I would like to congratulate HDB for changing its rental policies which resulted in more Singaporeans being eligible for rental flats. Sir, it was in this House last year that we saw a slight confusion with regard to the issue of demand and supply of rental flats. While we are told that there are 55,700 rental flats currently available, we are also told that there is a long waiting list. Can I get a clarification from the Minister? What is really the size of this waiting list that resulted in this delay in people getting the flats? Is there a system that differentiates between those who urgently need the flats versus those who are just merely being choosy? I would like to also ask the Minister what is the trend of Singaporeans asking for rental flats. Is there an increasing trend? If there is, what is MND's assessment of the matter? Is it a temporary surge in demand such that it will not do anything? If this is so, at what point will MND decide that rental flat is a living option that Singaporeans may actually prefer? Sir, I am not advocating for us to make a U-turn on our home ownership policy. But given the current experience of the economic downturn, some Singaporeans may feel that renting a flat is a better option. Yes, rental flats are heavily subsidised but if we can have a tiered system of charging in "C" class wards, we can also look into a system for rental flats, that is, allowing Singaporeans a choice in housing types just as we allow them to choose the wards that they want when they are hospitalised. In that sense, they pay the rental based on their income rather than forcing them to buy flats all the time.”
“Sir, I would like to echo the calls by many of my colleagues in the House about the plight of those downgraders. The reality is that the economic downturn that we have just experienced forces a lot of Singaporeans to really downgrade or ask for greater options in terms of housing possibilities. Many of them do not have good ratings, that is why they want to downgrade. But HDB's policy really does not allow them to do so. They are allowed to downgrade but they have difficulty getting HDB loans. They cannot get bank loans because of their credit ratings. Yes, they may get some proceeds from the sale of their existing flats, but they cannot go anywhere if they cannot get loans from any party. So, we can actually tell them to stay put in their current flat and make use of HDB assistance plans, but this also incurs costs. Deferring payments is not without cost. Refinancing is not without cost. In that sense, they are trying to reduce costs, but the options make them incur further costs. Sir, I want to find out what is the real intent of HDB, whether it is merely to stop being a lender for Singaporeans and for Singaporeans to be more prudent in their housing spending. To some, comments have been made that HDB's new financing policies are just like that of commercial banks. They give you the umbrella when it is really sunny, like when you want to upgrade, and then they pull back the umbrella when it is raining heavily, when you need it most, when you need to downgrade. In this regard, I would like to ask if HDB has really studied the real impact of the new housing policies. As we encourage Singaporeans to be homeowners, what do we do when their capacity to be home owners diminishes? HDB Flexibility in Policies”
“As a Government, we should really set the tone for the development of a more forgiving society, of course, not at the expense of public safety and security. The Senior Minister of State had on two previous occasions, in the COS debates, reported to the House that the Ministry is reviewing the Registration of Criminals Act, so that those convicted of minor offences will have their criminal records spent or expunged after a certain period, if they do not re-offend. I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State on the outcome of that review. I hope we do not have to wait much longer for the review to be completed, so that this broken record need not be played again at next year's COS. Sentencing and Prison System”
“Sir, this is my third COS debate, and I am making this cut many times. I know I am not the only one who has been raising this. Many Members before me have raised this matter at every COS debate. I am beginning to sound like a broken record, but I suppose the matter is important enough for me to continue to pursue this cut. Sir, we all know that persons who commit crime must pay their dues. Their freedom must be taken away from them; thus, the need to incarcerate them. The belief also is that society must be protected from them. But while we incarcerate them, we also rehabilitate them. But rehabilitation is not limited to the periods of incarceration alone. Upon release, they need to feel accepted and welcomed in society. Many struggled to get back on their feet because society, especially employers, views them with suspicion. Marriages have broken down due to the chronic instability in their lives. Innocent children suffer as a result. Sir, we should help those who have shown grit and determination despite the odds. These are the people who have been able to resist the temptation of returning to crime when all else fails. But still we are already lagging behind in this. I recently came across a resident whose criminal conviction (when he was 18 years old) prevented him from getting a job as a security guard. The relevant authority had apparently rejected his application. He is now near 50 years old. Some 30 years of leading a crime-free life, his criminal record is still held against him. Sir, our employers must be more forgiving. Last year, DPM Lee told the House that the civil service has begun employing ex-criminals. Though the numbers are small, it is a good start.”
“And, if there is, at what stage will the community be involved to ensure an effective community response to such a threat? 6.15 pm Sea Lanes and Piracy”
“Madam, it was not too long ago that we were all awakened by the real threat of terrorist attacks here. Despite the relative calm and Singaporeans moving on with their daily lives, I am sure our security agencies are working very hard to ensure our safety and security. We have appointed Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan as Coordinating Minister for Security and Defence, indicating our resolve at putting security as our top-most priority. We have recently introduced air marshals on some of our flights. Madam, I would like to ask the Minister on the status of our homeland security preparedness. How much more resources, eg, manpower and others, have been committed to enhance our security? For example, we know that the SAF now has to place personnel to ensure the security of Jurong Island. Also, how has security in the different entry points been enhanced? In this regard, Madam, I would like to ask the Minister if there has been any discovery of materials at any of the entry points indicating signs of any terror plot. Also, I would like to ask the Minister what is the level of cooperation between our security agencies and that of those in the region. Madam, in this regard I would like to ask the Minister how has productivity at the airports and ports been affected by such increased security measures. Also, I would like to ask the Minister what is the nature of collaboration between the different Government agencies to ensure our readiness and preparedness. We also know that security is not the responsibility of the security agencies alone. How has the community been involved and prepared for any emergencies? Is there a system of assessment of the degree of terrorist threat like that in the US where it is kind of colour-coded?”
“Apart from economic cooperation with the region, what are the other areas of cooperation that we can establish with the region? Essentially, Madam, following PM's visit there, where do we go from here? I am confident that the benefits that we can reap will be mutual, ie, Singaporeans will know more about the Muslim world and the latter will be more connected to secular societies like Singapore, thus enhancing appreciation for diversity in values and lifestyles and, in the same vein, reducing apprehensions and suspicions. Piracy in the Malacca Straits”
“Madam, Islam has been the focus of much media attention since September 11 and the subsequent terror-related events in this region as well as elsewhere. The perception of non-Muslims about Muslims was affected the world over. Middle East, for some time known as the Arab world, is seen with caution. At home, we established the IRCC to facilitate greater understanding and appreciation of diversity to counter any possible threats to our inter-ethnic relations. Opportunities for inter-ethnic interactions were enhanced to increase familiarity and expand their comfort zones. Madam, from the global perspective, relationship between countries and the Arab world is similar. The nature of this relationship will send a message on the way Islam and the Muslim world is being perceived by the other parts of the world. Greater opportunities must be created for more interactions with the Arab world. Madam, this message will subsequently trickle down to the people in their respective countries. In Singapore, a stronger relationship with the Middle East sends a clear message to Singaporeans, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, that we must delink Islam from terrorism. Madam, PM's recent visit to the Middle East is indeed encouraging, as we not only saw the significant economic potential of the Middle East for mutual cooperation and growth, it also signals to Singaporeans that we are comfortable in working with the Muslim world. It will provide opportunities for Singaporean businesses to feel comfortable in the Muslim world and conduct businesses there. Madam, in this regard, I would like to ask the Minister on the status of Singapore's relationship with the Middle East.”
“Sir, we heard summits and ministerial meetings in ASEAN are organised every so often, the most recent one being the Bali Summit. Yet, observers have commented that ASEAN has not made much impact, especially in the last five years, in the larger global arena, because each country is dealing with its own set of issues and problems. Sir, we have heard that diversity is strength and should be capitalised on. How can diversity in ASEAN be converted into opportunities? As a founding member of ASEAN, I would like to ask for the Minister's assessment of Singapore's role in the development of ASEAN, especially with regard to the less developed members of ASEAN. How has ASEAN introspectively assessed the factors that have facilitated or inhibited its development as a region? In this regard, we have heard so much about the political instability in the region in inhibiting its development. How can ASEAN ensure greater political stability in the region for its own good? What are our plans in making ASEAN a more effective grouping? ASEAN-EU Relations”
“We must be clear about the position that women hold in society. We cannot send mixed signals where, on the one hand, we raise our girls to be educated, career minded, and yet, at the same time, they have to be a dutiful wife and mother, while the men remain as heads of households and maintain the one-up position. It will not work. The women's movement has been very successful in bringing forward advancement of women in many spheres. But I fear our men are still lagging behind in catching up with their female counterparts. Our governmental policies must reflect our political will to change the needed mindset and for a new order of gender relationships. Sir, indeed as Janadas Devan puts it, "What we need is a social ideology that not only approves of women having careers but also encourages equality both at work and at home." Certainly, there is more that we, Singaporean men, must do to advance this social ideology. We not only need to play our part in making babies, but also to assure our spouses that we will be there to raise these babies together, in a mutually supportive and respectful environment. Sir, to conclude, I am sure my male colleagues would be wondering what am I doing standing here fighting for the right of women. To the women folk, I do want to share that men understand their issues too. Yes, the voices of the 15 women in the House are loud, or we can make it even louder with men supporting these voices. Sir, in the end, we are fighting for the rest of our children to be raised by both women and men.”
“The changes in our fiscal and tax policies today are meant for a better economic outlook tomorrow. So too, will be the effects of what we do at home today. It will determine the family life of tomorrow. We must start re-examining the way we socialise our boys and girls. Today, we raise our girls to be educated, independent thinkers, able to stand tall with their male counterparts. We want them to be career women and succeed. Are our boys raised to appreciate and respect these aspirations that we have for our girls? Are they raised to treat their female siblings and friends as equals? How can they do so if they do not see their fathers doing exactly that? Men must begin to recognise the critical role that they play in raising their sons and daughters. Children will observe and model the behaviours of their parents. They will observe if dad will be around if mum is busy at work, or will mum be the only one there all the time, in sickness or in health. Sir, the issue of reversing the declining birth rate is indeed multifaceted. Much has been said about cost. It is sad to think about dollars and cents when it comes to having children, most Singaporeans do take that into serious consideration. Many of the speakers before me have highlighted the serious financial constraint on young couples. Sir, we cannot blame them. We raise them in comfort and with high personal aspirations. We raise them - boys and girls - with the value that they must be educated, have a good career, have a good paying job, have an apartment of their own. But we also have to address the broader societal issues that affect marriage and family life if we are to address the problem of falling birth rates. Sir, as a society, we must be clear of our social objectives.”
“The answer must be no, because their husbands will share the responsibilities of raising the children and be equally effective parents, more than just relying on foreign domestic helpers. Sir, to achieve the latter, I have argued before in this House that we can no longer expect families to operate with gender specific roles. Roles exist in families and couples must be comfortable to complement each other in performing these roles. The environment in the family must be one that is mutually supportive for the couple. We can give them more financial incentives; we can make it easier for them to have child care givers. But we cannot ensure that they can support each other unless we send a clear message that child bearing and rearing responsibility is shared. Sir, in his commentary in the Straits Times dated 27th February 2004 titled "What Singapore needs to boost birth rate", Janadas Devan argued that Southern European countries like Spain, Italy and Greece and East Asian countries like Japan have lower fertility rates compared to countries like the US, Iceland, New Zealand because the former still holds on to traditional attitudes towards women compared to the latter. He quoted Professor Lena Sommestad, an economics historian at Sweden's Uppsala University, as saying "birth rates are particularly low in countries that support traditional patterns of marriage and breadwinning." Singapore is currently in the same state. If we continue to hold on to the traditional patterns of marriage and breadwinning, we will continue the downward slope of declining birth rates of Japan and the other Southern European countries. Socialisation and parenting the future generation. Sir, what we do today will have significant effects tomorrow.”
“In the US, it is a norm for husbands to accompany wives to pre-natal check-ups. When I returned to Singapore, I do not see the same norm amongst Singaporean men. Perhaps it is slowly changing, but I am sure the pace can be boosted. Sir, we must make sure that men play a more significant role in the equation. The marriage statistics recently show that our graduate women and our primary and lower educated men are remaining single. The Government is rightfully concerned about this trend. It has direct effect on the fertility problem. Why is this happening? One explanation is that men, in general, prefer to marry down. Reason? Psychological comfort, ie, prescribed as the head of the household, they probably feel that they must be one up on their spouses, in education, if not in income. A sociological explanation to this rests on the concept of manhood and how comfortable men are with their manhood in their choice of a life partner. Sir, this is one of the fundamental issues we have to address - men must be comfortable with their manhood and thus treat their partners as equals. As a Government, we must also recognise this. Family policies must treat men and women as equals. Only then, I think, will men recognise the critical role that they play in not only bearing but raising children. Only then will we send the strong message to our women folk that they should and will be supported when they bear our children. When they ask: will their career be at risk? The answer will be no, because we will put in place a system that will not discriminate against women when they give birth. The risk is even higher if we go ahead with the proposed lengthened maternity leave. Will they struggle in juggling the demands of being a career woman and a mother?”
“We are now thinking of further financial incentives to attract women to have more children, ie, to help couples defray the cost of having children. I do not doubt that financial incentives will be attractive to these couples, but I would argue that there are more fundamental issues that will have to be addressed first. Next, beyond the baby dollar. Sir, it is so interesting to note that whenever the discussion on declining fertility rate arises, the bulk of the related issues raised were about women, and often-times by women - women in the labour force, flexi hours for women, extended maternity leave, work-life balance. Career women have always been asked: how do you strike the balance? Who looks after and manages the children and household for you? It is as though the issue of declining fertility rate is solely a women's issue. Perhaps that is why we have not been able to reverse the trend - our minds have not been sufficiently reversed or, should I say, liberated. We must stop thinking that declining fertility rate is a women's issue - it is as much a men's issue! And I am not just talking about making babies! It is only up till recently that we spoke of paternity leave and child sick leave for men. Sir, indeed, men must not think that pregnancy is a women's issue alone. A significant turning point in my life was when my wife and I met an American several years ago when we were living in the US. My wife was a couple of months pregnant at that time with our first baby. The American man asked how pregnant was my wife. She answered "five months", and his response was, "Oh, we are six months pregnant!" It took my wife and I a couple of minutes to figure out what he meant. Sir, he owned the pregnancy and I suppose he felt psychologically pregnant. His wife was very lucky.”
“We are also hearing that all these graduates and postgraduates are asking for salaries that no Singaporean counterpart will work for. Sir, at the end of the day, the issue is no longer just telling the aunties and uncles in the factories that their jobs are threatened. The larger issue is that everyone's job is threatened - the investment banker, the IT engineer, etc. How is the Budget addressing these issues? What can Singaporean white collar workers do to face up to the competition? What is in the Budget that addresses this growing threat? Next, keeping the job, paying the mortgages and having children, a topic that has been much discussed in the House in the past two days. Another much anticipated announcement that never came during the Budget Statement was: what is in it for Singaporeans to have more children? A week after the delivery of the Budget Statement, I did my regular block visit in my constituency. Many of those whom I met were young couples either without children or having only one child. Their response to my question on when they will have their first or next child was interestingly similar - wait till August and see what the Government has to offer. Sir, yes, they may say it in jest or they may actually mean it. Whatever it is, it is quite sad that young Singaporeans will actually wait for what the Government will offer before thinking about having one or two kids. But, Sir, from the economic situation confronting them, we cannot really blame them. While previously white collar workers can feel comfortable about their jobs and incomes, today, they face serious threats from counterparts in other countries. Worse, these competitors are coming here through the "S" passes.”
“What is the hope that we are giving Singaporeans with this Budget? Can they look forward to something more observable? Thirdly, outsourcing: the threat to white collar workers. Sir, DPM Lee also touched on MOF's decision to introduce "best sourcing" for new services policy. This also relates to the concept of "outsourcing" services to those who can provide the services at the lowest cost. If I recall correctly to a question by Dr Amy Khor on the impact of outsourcing on the Singapore economy and jobs, the Minister for Trade and Industry replied that we are targeting higher value-added jobs in the global outsourcing market. I suppose this suggests that we have the skilled manpower for these higher value-added jobs performed by trained white collar workers that will be outsourced to Singapore. But, Sir, I think the global trend is showing that the real theat for Singapore not only comes from competition for the lower-end jobs but also from the high-end jobs, ie, white collar jobs. Recent trends and studies in the US show that white collar jobs are increasingly coming under the threat of workers in India and China. If the workers in the US are facing the threat, we cannot assume that we are immune to this threat. For jobs to stay in Singapore, we need workers, white collar and blue collar alike, who are either cheaper or much better, which gives the same end result, ie, higher productivity. Sir, a Business Week report dated 3rd February 2003 noted that China produces 322,000 graduates and 41,000 post-graduates, and India produces 251,000 graduates and 63,000 post-graduates in just 1999 - that is more than a quarter of the total Singapore workforce.”
“Much has been done to our fiscal policy to arrest the problem. From direct pay cuts to cuts in employer's CPF, Singaporeans have been biting the bullet. Again, for this Budget, we are telling Singaporeans to be patient. Although there is nothing outright for them in terms of tax rebates, etc, the Budget is meant to increase our competitiveness, and the end product - more jobs for Singaporeans. Sir, it is hard for Singapoerans to reconcile the above. To many Singaporeans, it is a simple equation - better things equal more jobs, fewer retrenchments, better take-home pay, lesser problems with monthly bill payments. But they are not seeing this. The messages are rather confusing. They hear the Acting Minister for Manpower telling the press that we have a yearly shortage of 350,000 workers till 2009. Yet, they also hear of the over 95,000 unemployed Singaporeans with an unemployment rate of 5.4% as at September 2003. Despite this, they are hearing that more foreigners are needed to fill the jobs that Singaporeans are not sufficiently skilled in. Sir, some may conclude: "Yes, the jobs may be created from the Budget policies, but it is not for me. It is for the engineer, Mr Chong, from China perhaps, the IT professional, Mr Logan, from India, or the nurse, Ms Imelda, from the Philippines." Is that so? Are the 95,000 unemployed Singaporeans the so-called structurally unemployed whose skills set is so bad that they cannot fit into any of these 350,000 jobs that the Acting Minister for Manpower talks about? Among the 95,000 unemployed, we have 15,500 who are degree holders, while another 8,500 who are diploma holders. Sir, another related question will be: why are we bringing jobs that Singaporeans are not skilled for? Have we no choice?”
“So, will the Budget that is meant to benefit the businesses actually have the desired multiplier effect of bringing in the investment dollar and the jobs? The first point I want to make is the Budget and its promise I: More investment dollar? Sir, we have heard much about how the new economies are giving us a run for our money in terms of their competitive labour and production costs. A report by the Asian Development Bank in 2003 titled "Key Indicators of Developing Asian and Pacific Countries" showed that our share of the FDIs coming to Asia is fast getting smaller. Amongst the South East and East Asian countries, we used to have about 23% of the FDI pie in 1991, similar to China's. But our share has been steadily declining to a low of 4.25% in 2000 and 7.7% of the pie in 2001. China, on the other hand, has taken almost half of the FDI pie in 2001, due for Asia. Sir, the above is a layman's interpretation of the figures. I stand corrected in terms of my interpretation. But, Sir, I wonder if DPM Lee can share with us the Government's thinking behind the relationship between the Budget and our FDI position vis-a-vis the other countries in South East and East Asia. What is our target in terms of the FDI pie that we hope to capture with the various fiscal policies in this Budget and that of the previous or subsequent few years? Sir, we owe it to the people to give them hope and promise. We need to tell them that although this Budget is "pro-business", it is actually "pro-Singaporeans", as Singaporeans will benefit from the multiplier and systemic effects. So, what are the promises that we can give the people with this Budget? Secondly, the Budget and its promise II: More jobs? Sir, we have been plagued with the problem of unemployment for the past couple of years.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me the opportunity to join in the debate. I was away when the Budget Statement was delivered in Parliament a week ago. The reaction I received upon my return, when I asked about the Budget was, "What budget?" A journalist related that after DPM Lee finished his statement, she and her colleagues looked around at each other and asked, "That's it?" To the man-in-the-street, Sir, the message of the Budget is still as unclear as last year's. To them, the key word is: It is a pro-business Budget. Indeed, that was how it was reported in the media the next day. The only thing that they got out of the Budget is the hope that businesses would do well with this pro-business budget and thus their jobs would be secure, more jobs will come their way, with the promise of more Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs). In his Budget speech, DPM Lee also mentioned that Singapore remains competitive as a manufacturing location, especially for high-tech, high value-added activities. According to DPM Lee, last year, we attracted about US$7.6 billion in Foreign Direct Investments. Sir, to the man-in-the-street, it can mean two things: (1) Wow! That's a lot of money! But what's in it for me? More job optiions? Lower risk of retrenchment? No more pay cut? And (2) a question is raised: is this US$7.6 billion good? What was the target set and was this figure below or above the target? Are we expecting better FDIs with the current fiscal policy and budget provisions? Sir, as far as the man-in-the-street is concerned, this Budget is only for and about businesses, and the larger businesses at that, as pointed out by some of my colleagues in this House.”
“Mr Speaker, the Minister mentioned about the random checks or testing. Can I ask, ever since the outbreaks in other countries, how much more intense have we been in doing these random checks, and what percentage of the poultry that we import are being checked? Secondly, can these tests actually detect the viruses in the carrier birds, rather than just the infected birds?”
“If there are still reservations, I urge them to objectively bring these reservations to MUIS and the Fatwa Committee to be answered. I hope, in due course, more Muslims will opt to come into HOTA and do our part as more responsible and caring citizens. Sir, I support the Bill.”
“Others have expressed concern about respecting the dead and the ability to fulfil funeral rites and obligations. A heightened public education campaign must be embarked on continuously to address these concerns. Sir, in such a circumstance, ignorance is not bliss. Sir, yesterday, Mdm Halimah highlighted that Part IVA of the proposed amendment which relates to living organ donor transplants effectively suggests that the Muslims are already in HOTA. Sir, about a year ago, my wife and I lost a dear friend to leukemia. She was diagnosed with the illness some five years before her death. At that time, we were told that a bone marrow transplant was the best option for survival. All her family members were eager to donate their bone marrow. And so were we. But there was no suitable match. We looked everywhere, including her distant relatives in India, but our efforts were in vain. She succumbed to the illness at the end of 2002. Sir, only patients of such diseases or illnesses and their loved ones will understand the sufferings and the longing for a donor organ to come by. Many will have to suffer in silence for a long time and perhaps may perish prematurely when their hope for an organ transplant is not fulfilled. I do not think we need to personally experience a loved one to be diagnosed to have a disease or serious illness to feel for his plight. This Bill is about saving lives. This Bill is about doing what we can to improve the lives of our fellow citizens. As a citizen, I support the Bill. As a Muslim, I call on all my fellow Muslim brothers who are waris, to consider the greater good of humanity and show their support to their family members who want to be donors.”
“In fact, in arriving at its ruling, the Fatwa Committee makes reference to several Islamic countries and the International Islamic Authorities, like the Islamic Fiqh Academy in Al-Azhar, the authorities in Cairo and the OIC in Jeddah. Sir, all over the Muslim world, the position of organ donation and transplant is similar. In Saudi Arabia, for example, the Senior Ulama Commission resolved that both living and cadaveric organ transplants are permissible on the grounds of saving lives. The Saudi Centre for Organ Transplantation prescribes specific protocols with regard to proclamation of brain death for the purpose of organ transplantation. Malaysia practises a similar opt-in system for organ donors and consent from the next-of-kin is essential before retrieval of organs. In Egypt, there is no legislation regulating organ transplants except for a 1962 law that legalises cornea transplants. Kidney transplants of related donors are allowed with written consent from the donors. In Turkey, the Directorate of Religious Affairs has approved of organ transplantation, proclaiming that the deadly diseases can be treated by people using modern medicines and techniques and remains in conformity with the demands of Islam. Sir, I raise the above examples to highlight to the Muslim community that the Fatwa issued by MUIS' Fatwa Committee is in tandem with that of many Islamic countries. This is important to allay concerns expressed by some sectors of the community about the permissibility of organ donation and transplant in Islam. MUIS and the Muslim Kidney Action Committee (MKAC) will have to continue to educate the Muslim community on the Fatwa and address other concerns that they may have. I have heard of Muslims being concerned with who the recipients of the organs will be.”
“Following the introduction of HOTA in 1987, the number of Muslims who have pledged to be donors has increased from 400 to some 14,000. This, however, as indicated by several of my colleagues, makes up only a small percentage of all eligible Muslim adults. I have known of Muslims who are keen to opt in to HOTA but faced resistance from their waris. I think the issue is not to secularise the issue of consent for the Muslims, as suggested by Mdm Ho earlier, but rather the challenge is for MUIS and the Muslim community to convince the waris to provide their consent without compromising the prescribed laws on consent giving. MUIS must continue to reach out to the waris to understand and address their concerns and reservations about providing consent. Certainly, the question is: what is stopping the waris from giving their consent? This is related to a more fundamental issue of whether organ transplantation is permissible in Islam or not. The Fatwa Committee of MUIS has ruled that organ transplantation is permissible for the purpose of saving lives. This is a similar position taken by several other religions, as I understand it. Sir, indeed, the issue involving the Muslims is one of public education. There is a belief held by many Muslims that one is created and born complete with the necessary organs and, thus, one should return to one's Creator in the same manner. This is why, despite MUIS' Fatwa Committee's ruling on the matter, many Muslims are still uncertain about their willingness to be part of HOTA. Sir, yesterday, Mr Ahmad Khalis had outlined in detail the developments of the Islamic rulings or Fatwas with regard to organ donation. Sir, the Fatwa Committee's ruling is not unique to Singapore alone.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak on the proposed amendments to HOTA. Sir, my colleagues before me have eloquently articulated the issues related to the proposed amendments - from the need to safeguard against the trading of organs in cases of living organ transplants to the ethical issues of what constitutes brain death to the procedures that doctors will have to adopt in declaring a patient for being brain dead. Some have highlighted the perennial problem of the lack of public education and the need to ensure that the public is kept aware of the developments and their individual rights and obligations. I share their concerns and I look forward to the Minister's response to these concerns in relation to the proposed amendments. I would like to, however, focus on the issue of information sharing and public education, particularly on HOTA and the Muslim community. Sir, the issue of organ transplantation, as with many other issues, has often been said to be very sensitive to the Muslims. Dr Lily Neo yesterday and Mdm Ho today asked why the Muslims are given the choice to "opt in" when they are more vulnerable to getting kidney and other diseases - rendering them in a disadvantaged position should they be diagnosed with having such a disease. What is important to note is that, whatever the religion, the transplantation of organs requires the consent of the donor. In the case of non-Muslims, the consent is presumed, thus one is given the option to opt out if consent is not granted. In the case of Muslims, consent cannot be presumed. Islamic law stipulates that the consent must be given by the waris or the next-of-kin of the intended donor.”
“Sir, I thank the Minister for the detailed response. I would like to ask what are the criteria that are used in setting targets for international meets like the SEA Games because I understand that for the previous games, the target was 22 golds and was based on the performance in the KL Games. Why is the target not set higher than the previous performance? Why is it based on the previous performance? Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, the target was not set by us. The CDM (Chef De Mission) himself decided that he wanted to put a target for himself. But I think that is commendable to be able to push the athletes. What we do after every game is that we will review the performance of our athletes and our NSAs, look at the areas in which we have done well and the areas that we need to improve. I am very reluctant to do a crystal-ball gazing and decide what should be put as a number for ourselves. But internally, we know that there are some areas where we can improve and really aim for it. As a matter of fact, some of the NSAs themselves have decided to put up some of these criteria internally so that they are guided by this target. We have kept the target internally as a planning tool for ourselves. Ultimately, what we want to do is to try and encourage all the athletes to maximise their potential. We performed well in the KL Games. I think we should try and improve even further than that, which we did. Setting at 22, which was the gold medals that we achieved at KL, means that we want to try at least to reach to the same level. To be able to do 30 is actually a tremendous improvement on our part. So we will learn from this experience and this should help us guide for the future Games.”
“Sir, is it true that residents who would like to add a family member as a co-lessee, because they are not able to pay the current mortgage loan and their child perhaps may be able to help, such transaction is considered as a new transaction and therefore they would have to apply for a commercial bank loan and not be entitled to another HDB loan?”
“Sir, with regard to those who choose to downgrade, one of the reasons is that they are not able to manage their current obligation. Would the HDB consider this on grounds that they actually are not able to pay, that is why they want to downgrade? But the restriction disallows them to do so.”
“So there was more walking with load rather than jumping, running and pounding in the early part of the course to build up the strength of the soldiers, their joints and their muscles/tendons. So there are data collection methods like this. I do not have the information on when the last time the GSI inspected this particular unit. As I said, this is the 80th course. We have had 6,000 come through this course. On whether there are other violations, the SAF is currently going through a complete relook of everything to make sure that procedures are correct and they are properly being adhered to. And that, Mr Speaker, Sir, is one of the reasons why I called in the 400 commanders this morning to tell them about this incident, to tell them how it happened and to tell them that they had better make sure that this does not happen in their commands.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, it is quite disturbing to be told that there are such serious violations of rules within an organisation like the SAF. With regard to detecting violations, I wonder whether this is the first time such a violation has been detected. And by virtue of the fact that a death had occurred, were there any indicators that the SAF use to detect other possible incidences of violations, perhaps excessive numbers of servicemen requiring medical attention, not necessarily death as in this instance? The Minister also mentioned about the ad hoc inspection processess that are in place. Can he describe a little bit more how these inspections take place? Because I wonder whether this particular training programme of the commandos has ever been subjected to such ad hoc inspections. If it has, when was the last time it has been inspected such that any violations before this could have been detected? Can the Minister also assure us that, at this point in time, there are no other similar violations in the other units in the SAF? RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Sir, we have a comprehensive system of data collection. In medical cases, we know, for example, that several years ago, many of our soldiers were suffering from problems with their joints, because they were being subjected to very heavy physical training very early in their recruit training and also in their OCS training. And this was something which was not good for the soldiers and not good for the SAF, because we were losing soldiers because of medical downgrading for no good reasons. As a result of studies like this, we redesigned the courses to make them more progressive.”
“In implementing these changes, the other two tripartite partners, the Government and the employers, must do their part to improve the situation for workers and to keep non-wage costs down. The tripartite partnership is only as strong as each partner is and each must be seen to pull its weight fully during this difficult time. It is like a three-legged race. Each partner must keep pace or the race to save jobs and improve our competitiveness will fail. On that note, I support the changes.”
“Perhaps, we should consider a bigger CPF top-up for women, when times are good, to recognise their role as primary care givers for their families, like the way we recognise NSmen for their sacrifice for the country. We should also not forget singles who are the primary care givers for their ageing parents or siblings. I would suggest that the Minimum Sum need not be a fixed amount, standard across all income groups, but should be differentiated with different figures for different income groups. In this way, at least the lower income can touch their CPF savings after 55 years old. Madam, in every dialogue with workers and unionists, they have asked for the cost of living to be kept down, as we have heard in this House. I urge the Government to take these calls seriously and I am heartened by DPM Lee's assurance that the Government is looking into ways to cut waste. But to cut waste, it does not mean to translate the savings into cheaper transport or cheaper housing for workers. So I would urge the Government to consider whether it is necessary to revive the Cost Review Committee, under PMO, to examine every facet of transport costs, education costs and housing costs, and put pressure on the Ministries and see how costs in these sectors can be kept down. And, in fact, the Health Ministry is setting a model in how it is aggressively looking at ways to cut down costs which will be translated into keeping costs down for the consumers. It would go a long way in assuring workers that their worry is taken seriously, especially since the GST will rise next year. Madam, in conclusion, workers accept these CPF changes because they want job security. They also want to retire with peace of mind. They have been taking wage cuts on their chin and, now, the CPF cut.”
“They will be caught in the twilight zone, unable to get a job because of the skills mismatch and the job market preference for younger workers, and unable to draw on their CPF savings because of the higher Minimum Sum rule. They will have little, if any, savings to rely on. Madam, if we do not pay attention to this group and defuse this potential time bomb, we will have a mass of unhappy jobless older Singaporeans with nowhere to turn to for ready funds, except maybe the loan sharks. Indeed, in this respect, my biggest worry is for women. According to the latest CPF figures, as at 31st May 2003, women aged between 25 and 55 have a median net balance of only $27,000, compared to men in the same age range who have about $36,500. The median cash balance refers to cash remaining in the CPF accounts. Another set of figures, that of the median regrossed balance, is even starker. The median regrossed balance includes cash CPF savings and those withdrawn under the various schemes before retirement. For women aged between 25 and 55, their median regrossed balance is just about $64,000, while men of the same age range have about $94,000. In other words, on average, women have about a third less than men in their CPF accounts. This means that, compared to men, women would have a harder time meeting their Minimum Sum requirement at age 55. The reasons for this include the fact that women tend to take time off from work to care for their families and then return to work later, often for lower pay. On the other hand, women tend to live longer and would arguably need more in their CPF savings for their retirement. I urge the Government to pay special attention to women to see how we can help them to prepare better for their retirement.”
“I worry that as long as the Government allows CPF to be flexible, employers will be reluctant and slow to implement wage reforms to make the wages more flexible. And I do not think this is in the interest of workers. Madam, the second difficult change for workers involves the raising of the Minimum Sum. By 2013, workers must set aside $120,000 in their CPF, half in property, and $25,000 in their Medisave, before they can withdraw their CPF balances at age 55. I am glad that this is being introduced in phases. But, still, it would be hard for workers, especially the lower skilled and the lower income. Take the example of a daily-rated cleaner that I know, who is 41 years old. She is supporting three school-going children. She will be affected by this change. She earns about $800 a month, takes home about $600-plus after deducting CPF. She now has about $20,000 in her CPF savings, and even if she works night and day, for another 10 years, she will never build up the required CPF Minimum Sum of $120,000. So what does retirement hold for her? More back-breaking work? Indeed, one important consequence of this Minimum Sum requirement is that it will force workers, especially the lower income, to just keep working, whatever the work is, till at least 62 years old, or else they will find it hard to survive. They cannot withdraw from their CPF at age 55 as they cannot meet the Minimum Sum requirement and they have little, if any, personal savings to rely on. Indeed, woe to the workers who lose their jobs after 55 years old for reasons out of their control, such as the jobs disappearing to a cheaper location or their company restructuring.”
“I would rather that the Government just leave the CPF at a fixed sustainable rate, say, 33%, or, if necessary, just 30%, than to have it fluctuate between 30% and 36%. When times are good, it should return the cut to the workers via CPF top-ups and wage bonuses, rather than raise the rate. When times are bad, the companies affected should just shave 3% off the variable part of the wages, if necessary, rather than cut the CPF across-the-board by another three points to 30%. But for this to work, employers must take wage reforms seriously. However, as we have heard, many employers continue to drag their feet on this. And, indeed, when the labour movement called for profitable companies to return the savings from CPF cut to workers via special cash bonuses, some companies said that their salary structure does not allow for this. It is that rigid. Such a state of affairs is quite unacceptable to workers who have been asked, time and time again, to take CPF and wage cuts quickly and flexibly for the greater good. Employers should take the extra effort to also reform their wage system and to reward workers just as quickly and as flexibly so as to be fair to the workers - if not for the greater good, then for their own good. If workers see their employers just distributing the windfall from the CPF cut to shareholders with little improvement in the employment situation, they will be less inclined to support CPF cut so readily in the future. The CPF should not be seen as part of the variable wages. It should be seen as a fixed part of the wages. It is important to keep a steady fixed stream of savings for retirement purposes.”
“They must now factor in a big enough buffer in case their CPF and their variable wages are cut drastically, unexpectedly as well. This requires a drastic mindset change. It also requires a special will to resist housing agents who do their sums for buyers on the basis of their prevailing salaries and prevailing CPF rates and who insist to buyers that they can afford it, never mind what the future holds. I have met too many workers living in bigger flats who now regret bitterly going for the biggest flats they could afford a few years back. And, now, they are having a hard time trying to sell their flats even if they want to downgrade. Madam, recently, I had a dialogue with the union representing the public daily-rated workers. They are basically the bottom earners in Singapore. I am the union adviser. One of them, an electrician, lives in a 5-room flat and has nothing in his CPF balance, ie, 0. He is 52 years old and earns about $1,000 a month in gross. He takes home about $800-plus a month and he supports three school-going children. He has nothing in his CPF because all has been used up to buy his 5-room flat. His wife and his son also contribute their CPF towards the flat. But when we think about it, we cannot really blame them for upgrading to a 5-room flat years ago because, going by the CPF rate and the salaries at that time, they could afford the flat. They had dutifully done their sums. HDB did not discourage them. Madam, the flexible CPF rates coming on top of their other uncertainties and worries can be psychologically quite hard on Singaporeans. A moving CPF target may be an easy escape route for the Government and employers. But for individuals, especially the lower income living from hand to mouth, it can be a trap.”
“Madam, I support the proposed changes and hope that by the end of this debate and, further into the future, in times of economic crisis like this, CPF will be remembered by Singaporeans as creating a promising future and not cutting pay first. Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong (Tampines): Madam, I would like to thank the DPM for the comprehensive and well-designed assistance schemes that he has announced, which would help workers affected by the CPF changes. But despite the generous relief package announced, the CPF measures announced will still mean pain for workers and I would like to highlight the far-reaching effects of two changes in particular, and ask that the Government pays special attention to these aspects. First, the change to make the CPF rates more flexible. With the change, the CPF rate will go up and down within the 30-36% range, depending on the economic situation. Madam, this change will come on top of on-going efforts to make wages more flexible and the wage cuts that workers are already taking. The result is that a larger portion of their wages, plus CPF, will become variable and less reliable as a steady source of funds. A smaller amount of their wages will now be fixed. The variable portion can fluctuate, depending on the economic situation. And we know that, increasingly, economic cycles are getting shorter and more volatile. This means that workers would have to factor in a greater level of uncertainty in their plans for the future. It will be harder for them to plan with confidence and to chase their Singapore Dream. For instance, they should think long and hard, in fact, longer and harder before buying the biggest flat they can afford at that particular moment.”
“Madam, I propose that the Government introduce a scheme that encourages Singaporeans to save for unemployment. I am not advocating unemployment insurance for there are too many negative social implications to it. I am proposing an opt-in savings programme that can incentivise Singaporeans to participate. Such a scheme subscribes to the philosophy of self-reliance that we advocate in the people. The key feature of this programme is that the amount of benefits available upon unemployment depends largely on one's own employment history, last-drawn pay and how much he has saved in the account. The benefits available from the scheme are based, first, on what has been accumulated in the account and, second, upon registering with the Singapore Workforce Development Agency and deemed to be actively seeking work and engaging in training, a line of credit may be extended to him after he has exhausted the balance in his account. He will continue to contribute to the account and repay the loan once he is gainfully employed again. Madam, we must make Singaporeans understand that such savings must be one of the items that they work on in their monthly budgets. I am working on the final details of the proposal and will be pleased to submit it to the Government for consideration. Madam, this is the second debate on the CPF in as many years. Last year we debated it, following recommendations by the ERC. We have been doing so much in the past years to grapple with this economic situation. Each time we see a ray of hope, something happens. While we continue to give Singaporeans hope, we must moderate their expectations. We must come to terms with the realities.”
“I think the changes in the CPF fall short of preparing Singaporeans for the eventuality of the next economic crisis when they lose their job again. When the crisis struck, many were not prepared, as they did not have sufficient savings to pull them through. They scrambled around looking for the safety nets. The Government also scrambled in knitting the net and throwing it at them. We cannot allow this to happen again. Madam, anecdotal evidence suggests that apart from the compulsory savings of CPF, Singaporeans are not saving enough. In fact, many are indebted. With many spending more than their incomes, one wonders how they can possibly save. We have read about bankruptcies heading for an 18-year high. A paper entitled "Wealth and Liabilities of Singapore Households", published by the DOS in March this year, noted that the ratio of outstanding loans to the personal disposable income and GDP of Singapore is the highest amongst several developed countries, like the US, Japan, UK and France. Madam, I think one mindset that we have to change is that we save only for retirement and thus, with CPF, it would be fine. In reality, CPF will not guarantee a good retirement, thus the need for us to radically change some of its features. Recognising this too, the Government introduced the Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) to enhance Singaporeans' savings mechanism for retirement. But while we may save for retirement, I believe we need to also save for potential unemployment. While we may be at the crossroads and taking the path of the CPF changes that may lead us back to the sunny island, the road may be bumpy, with thunderstorms and lightning. We need to encourage Singaporeans to be prepared for these rainy days. The Rainy Day Account.”