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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“I see many residents are severely affected by the economic downturn, feel depressed and dejected when their effort at securing a bank loan is rejected. They need to sell their flats and downgrade for they cannot afford their flats anymore. They have huge debts to settle and because of their poor credit standing, no bank wants to lend them money. Yes, you can say that they are responsible for their own actions but, Madam, I think we are also responsible for encouraging them to dream and aspire. Now that they have woken up from the dream and are facing reality, we must be there to support them. Madam, I am glad to hear the support mechanism announced by DPM Lee a while ago to help families who are affected. I only have one appeal to make on the revised HDB rental policy. I laud the move to increase the salary eligibility criterion to $1,500 and to charge higher rentals for those who earn more than $800. However, I urge HDB to assess the households on per capita income when deciding on the rent to charge these families. I would also urge HDB to periodically review the tenancy period such that those who can really afford it should be asked to purchase their flats. Reality 5: Unemployment is a real possibility. While the proposed changes are aimed at ensuring Singaporeans keep their jobs and more jobs would be made available, they do not negate the possibility that jobs continue to be threatened. The threat is as real as SARS coming back every winter. The shorter economic cycle necessitates that we prepare Singaporeans for impending unemployment. Madam, the crisis has shown many Singaporeans that they cannot take their job, nor their lifestyle for granted. Many Singaporeans are caught unprepared.”
“For those earning between $1,000 and $1,500, about 57% spent equal or below their income levels. From a strength perspective, this suggests that some low income Singaporeans are capable of living within their means, while some are not. The issue is complex and will be compounded by variables like the household size and the number of dependants in the household. The question then is: are we really living within our means and can we continue to live within our means in times when our incomes are reduced? Can we make the choices of prioritising our expenditures such that we are able to make do without some, ie, are we able to differentiate between our needs and our wants? Or are the needs really beyond our means? Madam, a related question is: are we being fair to Singaporeans, having given them so much promises and having them increased their aspirations, we now tell them they have to be realistic and lower their aspiration. We encourage homeownership and we take pride in that 90% of Singaporeans are home-owners, even when we know some are struggling to keep up with their payments. We encourage them to upgrade, but when the lightning strikes, we must be there to help those who are hurt. It is more than just extending the mortgage repayment periods, more than just the ERS to cushion the GST increases. It is how we walk side by side with Singaporeans as they overcome their difficulties. Some of these difficulties are compounded by our own policies. Madam, last night some of the banks came out proudly announcing their willingness to help Singaporeans who are affected by the proposed changes. But these are only cases that already have existing loans with them.”
“Reality 3: Gone are the old jobs and get prepared for the new jobs. We have been talking much about the need for Singaporeans to understand that the old jobs that they are comfortable doing are gone and will never be back. Changes in the CPF rates promise to save jobs and bring in more jobs. But no amount of CPF cut is going to help if Singaporeans do not realise the need for them to do their part and be skilled for the jobs that will come. The jobs will come and they will go if the workers are not prepared and ready for them. Reality 4: Is money really not enough? - The need to lower expectations and aspirations. The decision of the Government to establish a range of 30-36% as the target for the CPF contribution sends a strong message to Singaporeans that they have to be flexible and nimble all the time. Although the changes will not happen every year, it may and will happen under circumstances of great economic uncertainty. We have heard the laments of many Singaporeans, and voiced by many Members of the House, about the increase in the cost of living. In not so many words, increase in cost of living translates to "money not enough". But is it really not enough? Madam, the data from the Household Expenditure Survey of 1997/98 showed that the average household expenditure exceeds household income for those in the less than $2,000 income group. For example, the average household expenditure for those earning below $1,000 was about $1,300. The average household expenditure for those earning between $1,000 and $1,500 was about $1,600. But a closer look at the data leads to an interesting interpretation. For those earning below $1,000, about half spent less than $1,000 in their household expenditure, ie, spending within their means, perhaps.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, thank you for allowing me to participate in this debate. During the Budget debate this year, I spoke of the several "R" words that had dominated our vocabulary - Restructuring, Remaking, Refreshing, Revitalising and Renewal - all in the effort at preventing Retrenchment. Yesterday, PM Goh introduced two more "R" words - Retuning and Restrategising - two more important processes we have to undergo as our economy remains relevant and effectively responsive to the ever-changing global scene. Perhaps another "R" word we have to emphasise to Singaporeans is "Reality". There are several realities that I would like to focus on. Reality 1: We are at the mercy of our environment. CPF has been touted as one of Singapore's most sacred cows. So when a sacred cow is not spared, Singaporeans must wake up and appreciate the gravity of the situation. No one can predict what else is going to happen in other parts of the world. No one will know when the next bomb will explode or when SARS will reappear. But the reality is, unless we prepare ourselves for whatever may happen, we will be caught off-guard and we will have to pay dearly for the consequences. Reality 2: We are no longer leading far ahead in the economic race. One of the motivations of the CPF change is the realisation that Singaporeans are just too expensive to employ. We used to be way ahead in the race and thus we command good wages because we are able to provide goods and services that are of more superior quality compared to our competitors. But these competitors are catching up and the reality is that what we can do today, they can do just as well, if not better. If we do not find the competitive edge, we will be overtaken and left behind.”
“All right, Sir. I will file another Question. RETUNING THE CPF Order read for Resumption of Debate on the Prime Minister's Statement [28th August, 2003]. Question again proposed. 1.49 pm”
“No, just a clarification. Sir, we actually have 5,700 vacant flats. What about the waiting list that we talked about yesterday?”
“Sir, I just wonder whether the sexuality education programme in the Ministry of Education includes information on the avenues that the girls can go to should they end up being pregnant. Secondly, are schools equipped to deal with such pregnancy situations, ie, if a girl gets pregnant and goes to the teacher, what does the teacher do? What kind of advice does the teacher give, and what happens to the girl? Is she allowed to continue schooling? If she wants to carry the pregnancy to full term, what are the avenues for such a person?”
“Question No. 9, Sir. SEXUALITY EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS 9. Dr Mohamad Maliki bin Osman asked the Acting Minister for Education whether the incidence of pregnancies and abortions among school-going teenage girls are on the rise and whether his Ministry is evaluating the effectiveness of the current sexuality education implemented in schools to address the issue.”
“To rephrase or understand it, it means these 5,000-plus flats are the total number of flats that HDB has for rental. What proportion of it is currently available or vacant for people to rent? And, at the same time, can I also ask if the Minister can provide information on what is the size of the waiting list for us to know the extent of the wait that our residents will have to endure? Also, based on the waiting list, has HDB certain kinds of assessment criteria to look at the seriousness as well as the urgency of the needs of such families, for example, the single mothers who really do not have anywhere to go, except to rely on the sympathies of friends and the goodwill of others?”
“Sir, I am sorry, I still do not quite understand. There are 5,000-over flats available. Does it mean that they are currently available in the market for applicants to apply to rent, ie, they are vacant, they are available, but not the total number of rental flats that HDB has? Am I right?”
“Sir, may I clarify? On the 5,000-odd rental flats that are available, are these currently vacant flats?”
“Sir, if there are more than 4,000 rental flats that are available right now, why is it that a lot of my residents keep telling me the response from HDB is that there is a long waiting list? Is there really a long waiting list? And would the cases of single mothers who have a tendency to live like nomads, unless they get housing, because they have been chased out of their homes, be given priority based on the circumstances that they face? If I get the Minister correct, the single mothers are helped. Under what circumstances are single mothers not given rental housing or told that they have been debarred, and some of them have been debarred permanently? For such cases, will HDB also consider their circumstances? The third question is with regard to single mothers who are permanent residents (PRs). I know the policy is that PRs are not eligible for rental flats, but some of these single mothers do have custody of their children and their children are Singaporeans. But yet, because of the policy, they are not allowed to rent those flats and they are still moving around looking for housing.”
“Sir, point of clarification and supplementary question. The Minister of State mentioned that SP Services is prepared to defer payment of arrears by a period of three months if the cases are assessed to be in genuine hardship by the CDCs. The CDCs usually take an average of two months to process a case. Would SP Services withhold any action with regard to disconnection or impending disconnection until the CDCs have completed their investigations and assessments and made their recommendations?”
“Otherwise, WDA will have a hard time understanding why the unemployed individuals are unwilling to accept a particular job offer - ending up labelling them as unmotivated. In conclusion, Madam, we have and are still going through a very difficult patch in our country's life. Singaporeans are struggling to make ends meet. Even those who have jobs are struggling with pay cuts and the threats of retrenchment. The setting up of the WDA provides a ray of hope - with a more comprehensive and systematic effort at making our workers more world-ready. We have asked much of the people. They have been swallowing pills after pills, no matter how bitter. We must understand and empathise with their position. We must provide an infrastructure that enhances their sense of competence in managing the challenging environment through this comprehensive programme of giving them jobs and assistance wherever necessary. They must feel mastery over their destiny. It is thus imperative that the WDA work closely with the social support agencies in setting up this comprehensive system that will achieve the dual objectives of ensuring the unemployed Singaporeans take up the jobs and still be able to support their families. Madam, we may teach them how to fish and they may try hard to fish, but let us help them when the season is bad and there is very little fish to catch for that day and what they catch is not sufficient to feed their children. It will give them the sense that life can and should go on, and that tomorrow may be brighter, with more fish to catch. Madam, I support the Bill.”
“The latter is a perennial problem encountered by many of us who meet them - they are not willing to take up the job that is offered because sometimes it is hard to live on an income of $1,000 or less as a cleaner, having to support a wife and four school-going children. Having been unemployed for some time, the arrears to some of the household expenditure would already have accumulated, making the financial hardship more acute. These are real issues faced by the unemployed. The WDA must recognise these issues and make available a more systemic assessment of the needs of the unemployed for it to be effective. It must work closely with the CDCs and other social service providers. Today, the financial assistance schemes are pegged to the person's effort at seeking employment. It must go beyond that. Given severe shortage of jobs available, and to encourage the unemployed "not to be choosy", financial assistance programme should address the shortage of the funds needed by the family to continue its functioning, even after the unemployed head of household accepts a job offer that may pay lower than his previous salary. These are the jobs that the foreigners come here to do. We can encourage Singaporeans to take up these jobs. Yes, it is what is left on the buffet table as the Acting Minister suggested yesterday. Yes, it may still be nutritious, but it may not be enough for him to ta pau (pack) back and place on the dinner table for his family. Madam, today financial assistance is generally stopped once the person is gainfully employed. The assistance for such individuals must be provided based on the needs of the family. There is thus a need for closer collaboration between WDA and the CDCs and others in the social service sector in this regard.”
“There is a need for more qualified job counsellors to provide a more comprehensive and systemic approach in helping the job seeker be placed in a job. There must be a thorough assessment process that will provide a better picture of the needs of the job seeker. Indeed, the job counsellors must not just facilitate but attempt to ensure that the job seeker overcomes whatever barriers that are in his way of getting a job. In this regard, we can study the examples of Hong Kong's Job Matching Programme and the UK's New Deal programme in which job search support follows up and monitors a job seeker's progress till emplacement. Madam, these barriers go beyond the need to improve the individual's skills set. That can be overcome by ensuring that he gets the necessary training. There are also other real barriers that arise from the costs associated with job search. Transportation for job interviews, work clothes, interpersonal skills in presenting oneself at job interviews are real barriers to the man in the street seeking employment. The barriers are heightened with increasing period of unemployment, with his self-esteem lowered and sense of helplessness and frustration raised. Often times, his financial obligation to his dependants forms the bulk of his thought process as he considers what job to take. The Agency must work with the relevant social support agencies in assisting such individuals. Madam, it is easy for us to tell the people to tighten their belts, spend less, do not use their airconditioning, do not allow their children to watch television too much, and take whatever job that comes.”
“I urge WDA to work closely with the employers and formulate some clear guidelines for employers to have such policies. Such guidelines should also ensure the minimum period of continual training employees should be entitled to in a given year. The work place must provide the environment that promotes the value of lifelong learning to ensure that the workers consequently internalise these values. Madam, whenever a new agency or body is set up, much hype and hope often surround it. Discussions revolve around stretching its potential and maximising its reach. We must ensure that this new agency lives up to its mission of being a catalyst for the workforce and not just another bureaucratic set-up. Madam, related to this issue is the current lack of a comprehensive and complete database for storing job seeker's information. The database at CareerLink does not comprehensively track the history of employment and training offered to a job seeker with essential information like detailed information of the courses the job seeker had attended, the personality profile or his level of employability. This results in difficulties in profiling the job seeker. Without detailed profiling, emplacement will be harder as the placement officer will not be able to attain a good job match and placement due to the lack of information. I urge WDA to address this gap in the system. I believe the Agency will enhance the existing system of assisting our unemployed workers. This system must assist the workers overcome their barriers to securing employment. It must ensure that programmes and services are accessible. It is not sufficient to match the qualification and experience of the job seeker to the available jobs.”
“Hong Kong's Tailor-Made Programme consists of ERB and the training body collaborating to develop a training scheme that would equip trainees with the exact skills most vital to the survival and competitiveness of the industry. The "New Apprenticeship" programme in Australia employed a similar approach as there is close partnership between the training bodies, the employers and employees to ensure the relevance of the training programmes and for all three parties. Mdm Deputy Speaker, another aspect of training and retraining that the new Agency needs to address is the extent to which the workforce and the industry are aware of these training and support programmes. In another MOM's study titled "Adult Re-training 2000", it was reported that only 33% of those surveyed had gone for training. Amongst these, only 12.5% reported utilising funding from the Government, primarily the SDF. More than one third had self-funded their training, while close to 60% had received partial or full support from their employers. The perception, perhaps, is that one has to find one's own funds to be trained or retrained - thus the lower rate of participation in training due to lack of personal funds. This lack of awareness of support programmes seems prevalent among the employers too, with more than one third reporting not being aware of the SRP, as reported in the 2001 survey on employers. Madam, this is going to be the umpteenth time I am going to call on employers to do their part in the training and employment equation. The MOM's survey highlighted that only 22% of the firms surveyed had a formal training policy. There is a strong association between having a formal training policy and sending employees for training.”
“Madam, I think one weakness in the present provision for training assistance is the catch-all, rigid structure of the training and retraining programmes. Training programmes are developed by the authorities, MOM, SPRING and NTUC and while they design these programmes with the requirements of the concerned industry in mind, they may not be fully in sync with the latest industry requirement. This is reflected in the Employer Support Training 2001 Survey conducted by MOM. It was reported that only 16% of the employers who sent their employees for training, sent them under the SRP. It was also reported that 48% of employers who sent their employees for training and another half of those who did not send their employees for training, gave the irrelevance of the training as the reason for not utilising the SRP. Thus, whether they send the employees for training or not, almost half find the training programmes not relevant to their operations. This, despite the SRP supporting more than 1,300 course modules in more than 30 industry sectors! Are we barking at the wrong tree? Madam, staying abreast of new industrial trends is important as most industries nowadays face a shorter shelf-life of skills, hence relevant skills at a certain point of time may quickly become obsolete. Training programmes that reflect and address the varying and constantly changing demands of industries are thus necessary. There are several examples in the region that we can study and perhaps emulate in this regard. Hong Kong's Employee Retraining Board's "Tailor-Made Programme" and Australia's "New Apprenticeship" programme are examples we can look at to better tailor training programmes to suit industries' needs.”
“In this regard, I would like to ask the Minister how successful has the programme been so far since its launch and what further support is needed by the budding entrepreneurs to facilitate their efforts at starting up a business. Will WDA look into enhancing this programme by meeting the other needs of these budding entrepreneurs? WDA should also look at setting up a one-stop information and consultancy service where these budding entrepreneurs can seek the necessary assistance. For example, the unemployed who intends to start a small business may need assistance in participating in a simple tendering process. WDA should also continually monitor and review governmental policies and procedures that inhibit the process of setting up small businesses here - the "No Fishing" sign highlighted by Dr Jennifer Lee earlier. Mdm Deputy Speaker, in the last year or so, I have lost count of the number of times I have spoken to residents about the importance of training and retraining. It has been a cliche, somewhat. I find it hard to believe that while 80,000 people have benefited from the SRP, we still have thousands who remain unemployed. It is not clear the proportion of those who have undergone SRP through surrogate employers like NTUC and the other self-help groups. But official figures show very few participate in SRP through their employers. What is clear is that I have heard repeatedly the lament of many residents about having gone for training under the SRP but not able to secure jobs after that. To such individuals, prolonged unemployment, despite conscious effort to train, retrain and seek jobs, will affect their sense of self-esteem and hope immensely.”
“Madam, the issues we are facing, and thus facing the WDA, go beyond helping Singaporeans remain employable and competitive. No one wants to be nor to remain unemployed. The social support system that is currently in place is not a disincentive to work. It is sometimes confusing when we read in media reports that there are jobs out there but there are no takers, ie, the common complaint that Singaporeans are choosy and fussy. Such attitude is apparently changing and it is certainly an encouraging sign. I think the fundamental issue today is that there are just not enough jobs to go around. The Acting Minister tried very hard yesterday to explain that the fundamental issue is to bring the jobs back to Singapore. MOM's labour market report for the first quarter of 2003 showed that as at March this year, there were only 24 job vacancies for every 100 unemployed persons. If we exclude the construction industry, the ratio was 21 jobs for every 100 unemployed persons. I hope the figures I am citing are correct for they are obtained from the MOM website, and I hope I am interpreting them correctly too. The reality today is "jobs no enough". So no amount of changing attitude towards jobs is going to help if the jobs are just not available. In this regard, Madam, WDA should seriously look at self-employment as an option for the unemployed. We know that the Self Employment Training Programme, or SET, has been introduced to help entrepreneurial Singaporeans in self-employment, creating jobs for themselves and for others in the process. The programme is currently managed by SNEF and I think WDA should further enhance the outreach of this programme to more unemployed Singaporeans.”
“Madam, I rise in support of the Singapore Workforce Development Agency Bill. In every parliamentary sitting in the last year and a half or so, we hear Members' concern about the unemployment conditions facing Singaporeans. The unemployment rate has been creeping up steadily from 2.4% in March 2001 to 4.5% in March this year, and we are told that it may still go up. Various schemes have been put in place - from the financial assistance programmes for those affected by retrenchments and unemployment to the employment assistance programmes like the Skills Redevelopment Programme (SRP) and the People-for-Jobs Traineeship Programme (PJTP). We have also heard the Ministry of Manpower giving figures of how many Singaporeans have benefited from these programmes. But the reality remains - 75,000 or more Singapore residents are still unemployed, with one-third remaining unemployed for at least six months. We have seen the impact of prolonged unemployment on their self-esteem and on their family members - most importantly, on their survival and their ability to meet basic needs. The Bill proposes the setting up of an Agency that will consolidate the efforts targeted at ensuring the Singapore resident workforce is competitive in the global market. The Agency also aims to ensure that Singaporeans remain employable for as long as they are able to. This is important at a time where streamlining and retrenchments seem to be the order of the day. In the spirit of streamlining and consolidation, the proposed Agency brings together several divisions of MOM and other related secretariats. It is hoped that this will further enhance our efforts at addressing the employment and unemployment issues comprehensively for the whole must be bigger than the sum of its parts.”
“Sir, the Minister of State just now mentioned that there is no indication that students in the higher level are succumbing to stress. First, is there any difference in the incidence of students at different levels receiving psychiatric help from institutions like NUH or IMH? Second, what are the indicators used by MOE to determine the extent to which students are able or not able to cope with stress, and whether the Ministry is monitoring or keeping track of these indicators?”
“Sir, I would like to ask what is the status of the people who have gone to the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre during the identified period coming forward to be screened? How many of them have come forward? And for those who have come forward and are found not to have any symptoms of fever, have they been quarantined or have they been asked to voluntarily quarantine themselves? In that sense, will they also be given compensation during their voluntary quarantine period?”
“Sir, I would like to focus on Islamic education, following up on several discussions that have gone on in this House after the two JI arrests. Last year, the Minister announced the setting up of a list of religious teachers by MUIS. It is a kind of an opt-in scheme where religious teachers can have their names registered with MUIS so that the public can check as and when they need to. I would like to ask the Minister about the status of the list. Has the list been helpful to the members of the Malay/Muslim community? Sir, this issue of Islamic education was at the core of the JI incident and debate when Islam was used as the reason for the terroristic mindsets. The community started introspectively looking at the form and system of Islamic education we have here. I would like to ask the Minister to share the current system of Islamic education that we have in Singapore, as we understand today, there are part-time and full-time classes run by various organisations. My question is: what is the role of MUIS in supervising and monitoring the system? Is there an accreditation mechanism for organisations providing formal Islamic education? If there is, who does it? Are licences issued for such institutions to run such classes? Who issues these licences? Sir, not too long ago, I also understand that MUIS embarked on a thorough review of the Islamic education system, including its curriculum, structures, etc. Can I ask the Minister for an update of that review?”
“Sir, I just want to echo what Mr Khalis has said and this is basically on the role of MUIS and its leadership. What I am saying today is very much what I hear on the ground with regard to the perception on the role of MUIS. The role of MUIS has even been more critical over the last year or so, given the fact that the Malay/Muslim community has been put on the forefront quite a bit. And often times, the ground is asking what is the position of MUIS in many aspects that affect the Muslim community. In this regard, I would appreciate it if the Minister could clarify what is the relationship between MUIS and the various Malay/Muslim organisations. Because some of these Malay/Muslim organisations are not religious organisations. I just want to clarify the position of MUIS. With regard to Islamic matters, how does MUIS reflect its leadership roles through the different actions or programmes that it has? In this regard also, some of the members of the community question the directions of MUIS, because I think they see MUIS as doing a lot of things but without a clear focus as to what are the directions. Could the Minister please clarify that? Another perception is that MUIS is spending a lot of money on the media to enhance its image, which was never done before. My questions are: how much is being spent, for what purpose is it necessary, and are the objectives being met?”
“Just a point of clarification. What about the cases of inter-personal violence among non-married couples, ie, the cohabitation group? They are not protected. They cannot get PPO. I understand that MCDS will look into it. What is the status on that? Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, I am sorry. I do not have the figures here, but I will be most happy to provide Dr Maliki the figures on this particular question. Can I invite Minister of State, Mr Chan, to reply to Mr Chia's question?”
“What are some of the problems that MCDS face in getting parents to be involved in the rehabilitation process? How are these problems overcome, and how successful have these efforts been? We have seen the plight of many young teenage mothers in the US dependent on the Government for aid and continuing the poverty cycle. We cannot allow this to happen to our youth. They are our future, and we cannot allow them to ruin their own future and, in that regard, our country's future. 12.45 pm”
“As I mentioned earlier, I have seen cases of 16 and 17-year-olds, who are still dependent on their parents, now becoming parents themselves and have dependants of their own. Sir, I have also called earlier for a detailed study of these youngsters, not just the girls but also the boys. What is their profile like? Are they not fitting into the education system and its demands? The Ministry of Education has argued that streaming will allow them to study at their own pace, and should enable them to fit into the system well. Were these kids wrongly streamed then? I urge the Ministry to work with MOE to conduct a study to allow us to understand the problem better and to develop more preventive programmes in this regard. Sir, delinquency does not happen overnight. Social scientists have identified the stage of pre-delinquency where children begin to manifest early signs of delinquency. I would like to ask whether the Ministry works with schools in identifying pre-delinquents. If so, how many pre-delinquents are identified every year and what is being done to assist them? Sir, like the response given by MOE, I am sure MCDS will also tell us that the role of dealing with the issue is not theirs alone. Certainly, parents must play a part. The Children and Young Persons Act was amended in 2001 to allow courts to instruct parents to be involved in the rehabilitation process of children. In this regard, I would like to ask the Minister how many parents have been involved in the rehabilitation process of their children since the amendment of the Act took effect. Are both parents actively involved in the rehabilitation or only the mothers are involved, with the fathers missing again?”
“The counselling orders reach out not only to victims and abusers but, more importantly, perhaps to the hidden victims of violence, ie, the children. These children may grow up learning and internalising that violence is part of their lives. Studies have shown that this can happen. We must stop family violence, and I urge the Ministry to continue working with the courts in acknowledging the importance of counselling orders in helping address the problem of family violence. As we talk about the children, I want to wrap up my last cut with the issue of teenage birth and delinquency. Sir, issues of delinquency and teenage pregnancies are inter-related. We have heard that statistics show that they are starting to move towards an increasing trend. I cannot help but notice it also, as I see many teenagers getting pregnant, some forced to get married, others choose abortion. While the girls are getting pregnant, the boys are getting into trouble with the law, either due to their sexual behaviours or sometimes due to other anti-social and criminal behaviours. If not assisted, we are breeding potentially new multi-problem families. Who are these kids? Is it part and parcel of a country's development that we have such issues of juvenile delinquency and teenage pregnancies? I recognise that dealing with youth problems is not an easy task and requires the collaboration of many parties. The Government has set up the Inter-Ministry Committee on Juvenile Crime a couple of years ago. I am sure the Committee has done much to curtail the incidences of juvenile crime. But the problem of teenage pregnancy is a serious one as, often times, the future of these children is at stake.”
“MCDS should be congratulated for including these amendments in the Women's Charter. It can, I believe, contribute to stronger family bonds and healthier family relationships. Since the inception of counselling orders, I would like to ask the Minister: 1) How many counselling orders have been issued in the last five years? 2) For each of the five years, what is the proportion of counselling orders issued to the number of personal protection orders issued? 3) Is this seen as an acceptable proportion? 4) What is the likely explanation for this, and what happens to the rest of the cases that were not given counselling orders? I have worked with families which have been mandated to come for counselling and, though there is resistance from some of them in the beginning, when they see the value of how their families can be helped, they become open to the counselling process. I would like to ask the Minister what are MCDS' assessment and plans on how we can reach out to more families experiencing violence, through the counselling order process. Have the experiences of other countries been studied in this regard, and what are the outcomes? The issues of family violence, though small in number in comparison with other countries, are a concern for us in Singapore. The impact of family violence on children growing up in homes has been documented in other countries. We know also of how adult survivors of violence have difficulty coping with relationships when they have grown up in violent homes. I am not talking about physical violence alone; emotional and psychological abuse is often more debilitating than physical violence. Thus, reaching out to these families who actually take the first step to seek help through the application of a PPO is critical.”
“As one of the key stakeholders of the National Family Violence Networking System, what is MCDS' position or policy on breach cases? How does it work with the police in this regard? Sir, whatever the reasons, violence is disrespectful behaviour. Violence is also about making a choice and, with choices, come consequences. When an abuser breaches the PPO, he is in fact breaking the law and, when someone breaks the law, there are punishments to be meted out. Thus, the issue of breach of PPOs is important, because we need to send the message to both victims and perpetrators that the law has to be respected. The actions of the relevant agencies, eg, the police and MCDS, must also reflect this very same message. I am also aware that, with issues of interpersonal violence, getting the cooperation of victims when action is taken is sometimes difficult, as victims do back out. This is expected, as no one wants the member of the family to be convicted. However, we also need to keep in mind that reporting a person for breaking the law is not - and I stress, is not - about breaking up the family. It is about stopping violence and, as I mentioned earlier, we want to stop abuse and help families rebuild their relationships. By doing so, we can keep the family unit intact. Sir, part of preventing a breach from happening is the issuance of Mandatory Counselling Orders by the court to ensure that abusers and victims of violence receive counselling services. This is laudable, as we know that families experiencing violence need to deal with the trauma of violence. I have heard from many social work colleagues how, with the introduction of counselling orders, the entire family experiencing the violence gets an opportunity to deal with the violence in their home.”
“As we deal with domestic violence, there is what is called a personal protection order (PPO), which can be taken up by victims to protect themselves from further abuse. It is an instrument and an avenue for them in this regard. I would like to ask the Minister how many personal protection orders have been issued to victims of abuse in the last five years and, if the trend is increasing, whatever the reasons may be, will greater resources be allocated in addressing this trend? Sir, violence does not occur once. There is such a thing that is called the cycle of violence. Thus, many of the victims are protected by PPOs from further abuse. However, because violence occurs again, there is what is called a breach of PPOs. I would like to ask how many cases of PPOs have been breached. How does the police determine a breach? I ask these questions because I know of many situations where victims are told by the courts and their social workers that, should a breach occur, all they need to do is to call the police. However, when they seek police assistance, they perceive that no action is taken although, according to documents given to them in court, a breach has occurred. It is even harder for them when psychological abuse takes place in the form of threats and harassment, as these are often difficult to prove. Sir, I am not questioning the professionalism of the police force. Like many others, I am proud of their achievements. I know that they maintain high standards. However, I would like to know what happens when a person breaches an order, ie, what kind of action is taken when a breach occurs. In the most recent year, what is the breakdown of the different kinds of action taken for breach cases?”
“Sir, this is critical in repeated cases of abuse that we see - because of what is known as the "battered women" syndrome, ie, the sense of helplessness or the fear of further abuse to them and their children - many of these victims are extremely fearful to seek help. I would like to ask the Minister how are such cases helped. Would MCDS consider a system like the one in Australia where, in very serious cases of domestic abuse, the police can apply what is known as an interim protection order? Sir, in the case of child abuse, there are laws to remove children from abusive homes. In cases of violence in the home, eg, in cases of elder-abuse, spousal violence, are there laws that give the police the mandate to remove adults from their homes when they are abused? Sir, from time to time, we hear of cases of victims in cohabitative relationships being abused. While they can seek private summonses, there is no formal protection accorded to them. How is domestic violence with regard to such couples handled? MCDS has indicated that it is going to look into this matter. I would like to ask what is the status of the situation now. In the light of the recent murder cases involving couples who have resorted to the most extreme form of violence - and some of them are in cohabitative relationships - does MCDS plan to deal with violence in an intimate relationship? Sir, whatever the reasons, violence can and should never be condoned. It is our moral responsibility not only to respect but to protect the dignity of individuals and families from abuse. The world may be turbulent, and war may be going on as we speak. We must continue to strive for peace. Let peace begin within the four walls of our homes.”
“I must applaud MCDS and the Singapore Police Force for spearheading the National Family Violence Police Networking System, which allows victims needing help to go to Family Service Centres. This system has been in place for five years. I would like to know what is the extent of the problem now. How many incidents of violence have been reported to the police in the last five years? I have heard that, when incidents of violence occur and families call the police for assistance, there is a tendency for some police officers to downplay the violence, because they perceive it as a private domestic quarrel. In this regard, I would like to ask what is the police protocol with regard to handling domestic violence cases. Even with the protocol in place, what is being done by way of monitoring to ensure that these protocols are being adhered to? Sir, my concern is that victims of violence are already being disempowered. It takes a great deal of courage and will for them to seek help. When attempts of help are thwarted by well-intentioned officers, who sometimes confuse family violence with marital and family disputes, it is harder for the victims to come forward again. Some clients actually tell social workers that abusers tell them that it is no point seeking help, as no one would believe them. Sir, all they are asking for is for the violence to stop, not for the relationship to end. Perhaps, this message needs to be stressed to the very people whose mandate is to stop violence, ie, the police. Thus, my question is: how does MCDS work with the police in ensuring that cases of domestic violence receive appropriate and immediate attention? What are the legal obligations of the police to help?”
“However, lately, I note that many of the new FSCs are affiliated to religious institutions. I was informed that in some of these FSCs, there are religious symbols and paraphernalia. In this regard, I would like to ask how does MCDS ensure that these do not become barriers to access by those who do not profess the particular religion of the organisation. How does MCDS ensure that everyone has access and is not disadvantaged by structural characteristics of the FSCs? In short, what is the MCDS' policy on this matter? Sir, another critical issue relates to the access to services, ie, the language proficiency of the staff in the FSCs. Not everyone speaks English, especially the elderly and low-income families, who are the bulk of the service users. Are there guidelines to ensure that every FSC has a sufficient range of staff members who are able to speak all the official languages, to ensure access is not denied through language gaps? I would also encourage MCDS to monitor issues of cross-cultural interaction between helpers and services users. My next cut is on domestic violence. Sir, I would like to also declare that I am the adviser to a Centre called Promoting Alternatives to Violence. Sir, yesterday we heard about the start of Gulf War II. We have talked about the devastating impact of terrorism on people. Yet, for generations, another form of terrorism has been taking place in our midst, ie, terrorism in our homes. Domestic violence, which encompasses psychological and physical terrorism, has a debilitating effect on the family. The 1997 amendment to the Women's Charter has opened doors for victims and their families to seek help. We also know that the first source of help for the victims of violence is the police.”
“Sir, on Family Service Centres, I would want to declare my interest as a member of the Ang Mo Kio Family Service Centre. We have heard the initials FSCs for the umpteenth time in this Chamber. Set up in the early 1990s, we now have about 35 FSCs serving a population of 3.3 million people. This works out to approximately 96,000 persons, or 24,000 households, per FSC. I wonder if this is an acceptable ratio of FSCs to households in MCDS' view. Otherwise, is MCDS planning to allow more FSCs to be set up to cater for the growing need of so-called social services in Singapore? Sir, my understanding is that MCDS provides 50% of the recurrent cost of running an FSC that it approves. As I have many questions for the Minister on this cut, I will just go straight to the questions. First, who are the service users of the FSCs? What percentage of the geographical population is the FSC actually serving? 12.30 pm Secondly, on funding justification, what were the outcome measures of FSCs and whether they have been met? Have FSCs been effective? What are the criteria used to assess their effectiveness? What service standards are set, and how are these standards ensured? What criteria are used in granting organisations licensed to operate FSCs? Is there a licensing mechanism in setting up and operating FSCs? Does MCDS license and monitor those FSCs that do not receive funding from the Government? How are these standards assessed in such FSCs? Sir, this latter issue is of importance as, unless FSCs, whether funded by MCDS or not, are subjected to clear guidelines and service standards, residents may be using services from these FSCs without knowing if they have the requisite staff qualification and service standards. Sir, many of the pioneer FSCs are operated by VWOs.”
“At the end of the day, if the cash outlay required of the family is high, it will demotivate them from sending their children to childcare centres. The other issue is that of childcare operators. I have heard that sometimes the childcare operators choose not to be processed under the CFAC scheme, because they find it cumbersome. I wonder whether the claim procedures are indeed tedious and cumbersome, which make the childcare operators not actually encouraging the potentially low income families from benefiting from childcare. Sir, I hope the Minister can address these issues.”
“Sir, I just want to focus on childcare issues in relation to low income families. One of the things that I find quite a lot in my work is that many low income families have many children. And one of the problems that they face is really the choice of whether the mother wants to go out to work or not, and that is dependent on the number of children that they have, because childcare fees sometimes are pretty high. I know that we have the Centre-based Financial Assistance for Childcare scheme of MCDS, and I think this is a very good programme. I am happy to note that a lot more families are participating in this programme. But, sometimes, it also depends on the fees that are charged by the childcare centres to enable a family to send a child to the childcare centre. I just want to make the point that childcare will benefit low income families because it will not only provide stimulation for the children in their social and intellectual development, it also increases the sense of self-esteem of the mother when she is able to work and be independent. Sir, I have several questions in relation to the Centre-based Financial Assistance for Childcare (CFAC) scheme. First, how many people have applied for CFAC but not successful? What were the reasons for them being unsuccessful? Are there plans to review the scheme in the light of these unsuccessful applications? Also, in that light, are there sufficient affordable places in childcare centres for these CFAC applicants to make use of? Because, sometimes, it really depends on the location of the childcare centres, and I am not sure the extent to which such affordable childcare centres are located sufficiently in different parts of Singapore.”
“I recognise the need for us to understand the reasons behind these abortions. Are there examples in other countries on programmes where the States work with these mothers and motivate them to carry their babies to full term, and then perhaps put the babies up for adoption? Perhaps we can give them bonuses. Such informal schemes are already happening in the adoption sector, where the adopting family offers the mother an ang pow in giving up the baby for adoption. We may want to consider that. Sir, many people are saying that money is not the only thing that motivates the people to have children. While, in most circumstances, money talks, in this case, perhaps, we need to understand what else makes baby talk.”
“After the men have chased them, let us talk about the babies. Hopefully, that works out. Much has been said about declining fertility. The rate is reportedly very low. We talked about the possible extinction of Singaporeans. And we introduced the Baby Bonus Scheme about two years back. What was the target when it started? How far are we from the target? How many people have benefited from the scheme so far? And I would also like to ask how much has been spent on the Baby Bonus Scheme. We all know the critical situation for Singapore. Have we attempted to understand more why Singaporeans are still reluctant to have children? Are there plans to improve the package to motivate more people? Studies have shown that other factors are important in the decision to have babies, one of them being the rising medical cost. Perhaps one aspect of the bonus would be to help them purchase health insurance for their babies, if this is really one of their concerns. Some have told me that it is the nitty-gritty, even buying diapers and baby formulas could be an issue to them. Certainly, we do not want the Government to be surrogate parents to their children. But I wonder how the Ministry has taken all these into consideration, especially those that have been mentioned by Dr Jennifer Lee. Sir, another related issue is that we are assuming Singaporeans would at least want to have one child and thus the bonus is only for the 2nd and 3rd child. Perhaps, if the situation is desperate enough, we may want to consider extending it for the 1st child and thereby motivate having the 2nd and 3rd, if not more. Previously we heard that 12,000 abortions take place every year, on the average. Every unborn child is a loss to our country.”
“Maybe we can give the men some steroids to stimulate their chase.”
“I would like to ask if the Ministry has done a thorough review of these programmes to see if they are meeting the needs of the changing profiles of Singaporeans. Sir, this is crucial, as 20 years is a long time and the recent MCDS survey and many other surveys have indicated changing profiles, attitudes and needs of Singaporeans towards marriage and family life. Sir, the Census 2000 also showed the other "problem" with regard to family formation. The highly educated women and the lowly educated men are not marrying. My undergraduates have no qualms in raising their hands when I ask how many of them do not plan to get married. It is quite worrying. What is being done in this regard, and has there been any improvement in our efforts in the last two years since Census 2000? Sir, part of romancing, and I must declare that I am not an expert in it, is about appreciation and respect for one's partner. It is about understanding each other's expectations. It is about being ready for a commitment. It is about living lives together within the same environment. And it is about sharing a vision. Affairs of the heart are really hard to understand, but understand they must. One of the issues, I think, is for men to understand the changing expectations of women - not just about romancing - but about being husbands and fathers. I encourage the Ministry to focus more efforts on the men to understand these changes and reciprocate with appropriate actions as they continue to romance into the hearts of their womenfolk. Perhaps we need to initiate a men's movement to catch up with the women's movement that had started some 30 years ago. Indeed, many of them are leaving their men behind, and my message to my fellow men - run after them.”
“Sir, yesterday I spoke about stress and sex education. Sir, allow me to mediate when we are talking about romance. Last month, MCDS ran a campaign to entice Singaporeans to do the little things that will increase the feelings of love towards their loved ones. Some critics are very quick to highlight that this is the epitome of the sad state of our society - not only do we need to be taught on the social etiquette in public toilets, now we need to be taught or encourage to show or express our love. Sir, real or not, another perception of the Romancing Singapore campaign is to address the issue of low marriage rates and the perennial problem of our fertility rate, which have been mentioned by many of the other Members. Sir, I understand that some $400,000 was spent on Romancing Singapore. I wonder what was MCDS's desired outcome when embarking on such a one-month campaign? Also, since we are talking about encouraging Singaporeans to get married, I would like to discuss the role and performance of SDU and SDS. SDU was established in 1984. Next year, it will be celebrating its 20th anniversary. Sir, this is almost one generation. We are probably now courting the children of our pioneer SDU couples to get married soon. Two decades, and we are still needing to spend money to encourage people to get married and have children. In this regard, I would like to ask the following questions: How much is spent every year on SDU and its related programmes that aim at encouraging family formation? How successful have these programmes been? We saw the number of marriages is coming down - 2% decrease last year. The proportion of single people over-35 years has jumped from 18.7% to 30.3% in just one decade. Could these figures have been worse without these programmes and efforts?”
“Yet, at the same time, as I have said earlier, we need to be more strategic in the way we address this issue. To bring in new philanthropists into the system, we have to be able to give them a stake in the programme, as in the example that I have given on the Robin Hood Foundation. I am sure we can find some creative means to bring a lot more people into the sector by engaging them, not just only as donors, but also as partners in the programme. Dr Maliki has raised a particular question about the number of employment pass holders who are on the social service sector. I do not have the numbers but I will be most happy to provide. I would like to assure him that the FSCs and the VWOs are constantly ensuring that the standards of their social workers and people working in the VWOs are indeed met, because this is important for their clients. But, nonetheless, I will endeavour to get the numbers for him.”
“I would like to assure her that there is close coordination between MCDS, NCSS and the CDCs where we basically do an overall planning in some of the services which are key to the community, to ensure that there is minimal duplication to services like Student Care Centres and Family Service Centres. But I can understand that as emerging needs are coming up, there will always be a need for us to review these on a regular basis, and this is something that is being done constantly between MCDS, NCSS and CDCs. I agree with her that we should excite the VWOs to engage in social entrepreneurship. I will be most happy to listen to any ideas that she may have on how we can encourage more of the VWOs to find, for the lack of better words, "new revenue streams" from within their own services. Sir, on the question of balance between the VWOs and CDCs, I would like to assure her that the CDCs do not provide services. The services are provided through the VWOs. For example, Family Service Centres are run by VWOs, but they are linked up with the CDCs for the purposes of referral and, in a sense, case management, to ensure that holistic help is being given to the family in need. I would like to assure her that there is no attempt on the part of the CDCs to take over the role of the VWOs. But if there is an instance that she has come across, we will be most happy to address that, together with the Mayors involved to see if there is any form of overlapping between the CDCs and the VWOs. Finally, Sir, on her point about the different demands on the charity dollar, I think this is something that we have to address on a continuous basis. I spoke earlier about trying to promote more philanthropy so that we have more people who can come forward.”
“And I believe Ms Braema has also raised the same issue with respect to the quality of training. Sir, a key factor is the competence and professionalism of the staff. I have already talked about the efforts of MCDS and NCSS and the role of the Social Service Training Institute in ensuring competent manpower. Over and above these efforts, we will be requiring VWOs, which deliver services funded by MCDS and NCSS, to meet specified requirements, including relevant professional standards. MCDS and NCSS have also put in place a Programme Evaluation System (PES) that all funded VWOs have to comply with and report on. This helps us ensure that social service programmes are relevant and effective, carried out appropriately and meet the required professional standards. In the case of services provided by various community and religious groups with their own funds, the Ministry encourages them to use programme evaluation to ascertain whether they are meeting their own objectives and to use consultancy services offered by the NCSS, to upgrade their standards. Ultimately, their funders and stakeholders would have to be satisfied that they are doing a good job. Sir, the NCSS has also issued the Best Practice Guidelines which cover areas such as good management and service delivery processes, for example, in the areas of human resource, financial management, fund raising, and case management. Sir, let me address some of issues raised by Ms Braema first. She spoke about the duplication of services and who is supposed to determine to set up what service.”
“In the case of Government-funded services, my Ministry is working on specifying the relevant professional competencies which must be met by the service providers. For example, counsellors at Family Service Centres who provide counselling services are expected to possess a Diploma in Counselling in addition to a Bachelor Degree in Social Work. A perennial issue facing VWOs is how to attract and retain good staff. Our efforts to professionalise the sector through formal and accredited training will help attract Singaporeans to make a career in this sector. It is also necessary to have adequate remuneration. My Ministry, together with NCSS, recently reviewed VWO funding and we intend to conduct regular reviews, so that VWOs can pay appropriate remuneration to their staff. Members may recall that in July last year, my Ministry increased funding to the VWOs by an average of 17%, or $7 million per year. My Ministry is also working with NCSS to find ways to reduce attrition in the sector due to factors such as burn-out. To this end, the VWO leadership and management staff are being educated on good HR practices and work-life strategies. Sir, last but not least, my Ministry will be launching a public education programme to introduce the social service sector and career opportunities to students and people contemplating a mid-career change. This would help Singaporeans better understand the sector and the various rewarding careers in the social services. We also want to correct the wrong impression that social workers are volunteers. Prof. Ngiam has also asked how my Ministry plans to ensure professional service standards of social services in the light of higher expectations in the community.”
“The Institute will organise specialist training in areas such as elderly, youth and family services. My Ministry and the National Council of Social Service also offer specialist scholarships ranging from Social Work to Gerontology Counselling and Disability Studies. Dr Maliki asked about the accreditation process and who would ensure the standards of training provided to social service professionals. As Dr Maliki already knows, professionals in the social service sector, such as social workers, psychologists and therapists, are generally required to have a minimum undergraduate degree in their respective field. The Ministry is of the view that it is for the industry or professional associations to regulate themselves. The Social Service Training Institute, in consultation with the relevant professional institutions and the industry, will, however, look into the standards of training for all levels of jobs in the social service sector. It will also ensure that courses run by the Institute's partners adequately equip trainees for the job. For example, nursing aides, health attendants and therapy aides currently undergo a formal full-time training programme ranging from one to six months. The training providers and the Institute will jointly certify these courses. There is a large group of personnel in the social service sector today, who did not have the opportunity or lack the necessary qualifications to undergo formal training. My Ministry will reach out to them with "bite-size" practical training at the workplace through the National Skills Recognition System. The eldercare sector will be the first in the community-based social service sector where such modular training programmes will be developed and certified.”
“The training currently covers therapy aides, nursing aides and healthcare attendants. The first batch of 32 people has been trained and will be starting work in the VWOs. We hope to have trained at least 450 persons by 2006, under the six certificate programmes. I am pleased to announce that with MCDS support, the National Council of Social Service will set up a Social Service Training Institute in April 2003. This is a major milestone in the development of the social service sector. The Institute will ensure that the training needs of all personnel in the social service sector, from social workers, management staff, therapists, counsellors, special education teachers, social work assistants to social service volunteers are systematically addressed. Such training will help upgrade the quality of services and personnel in the social service sector, as well as allow mid-career people to be trained to take up jobs in the sector. The Social Service Training Institute will run a total of 119 courses in its first year of operation, enabling some 768 staff from the sector to undergo professional training. So the concern of Dr Maliki about the quality of social workers or people in the social service sector could be addressed if they undergo the training programme. Leadership and management training for executive directors and senior managers of voluntary welfare organisations will be another key training area that the Institute will be driving together with accredited institutions of higher learning, such as the Singapore Management University. Course fees will be affordable. VWOs will also be able to tap on the VWO Capability Fund which will subsidise up to 70% of the course fee. As highlighted by Ms Braema Mathiaparanam, there is a need to develop specialists in the sector.”