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.”
The complete record
Every one of 993 lines we hold for Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 18 of 20.
“The key strategies under the masterplan are as follows: (1) Creating more opportunities for school leavers as well as mid-career entrants to join the sector. So, I am glad that Dr Maliki has been giving talks to bankers, lawyers and engineers. (2) Putting in place a comprehensive training framework. (3) Addressing issues of attraction and retention of personnel in the sector. Sir, allow me to elaborate on these three strategies. We have created opportunities for Singaporeans to take up jobs in the social service sector. The recently introduced Strategic Manpower Conversion Programme now makes it possible for Singaporeans to make a career switch into the sector by being trained as social workers or social work assistants. By 2006, we expect some 150 graduands through this programme; some 90 will be trained as social work assistants via a Specialist Diploma in Human Services, and about 60 will qualify as fully trained social workers via the Graduate Diploma in Social Work. This will relieve the shortage of trained social workers, given that only about half of the 120 NUS graduates in social work actually enter the field every year. Other than social workers and assistants, we will systematically bring other critical social service jobs under the ambit of the Manpower Conversion Programme, so that mid-career people can be trained for jobs in social services. 5.45 pm Sir, we started another scheme, "Training for Employment in the Social Services" (or TESS) in December last year aimed at workers with secondary education and below, particularly older Singaporeans who may face structural unemployment. Generous subsidies now make it attractive for VWOs to recruit and send older and less educated Singaporeans for training.”
“For the social services, how does the Ministry ensure that the professional service standards in the social services are keeping pace with the higher expectations and changes in the world over professional standards? Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, I fully agree with Mr Charles Chong that VWOs need to be accountable to the well-wishers and supporters of their programmes. To deliver good programmes and use their resources effectively, VWOs must practise effective governance and management. The National Council of Social Service (NCSS) has conducted workshops on board governance for over 200 VWO Board members, and has also provided consultancy to several VWOs. VWOs can also apply for training and consultancy grants from the $30 million VWO Capability Fund to upgrade their internal management capabilities. To expand on current efforts, NCSS intends to roll out a Code of Governance for the VWOs in June this year. The Code covers important areas, such as resource management and evaluation of outcomes, conflict of interest, financial management and fund-raising, to achieve high standards of transparency and accountability. The NCSS is in the process of consulting the VWOs to improve the Code. So far, feedback on the Code has been generally positive. Several Members - Dr Maliki, Dr Warren Lee, Prof. Ngiam and even Ms Braema Mathiaparanam - have spoken about manpower planning and development of the social service sector. My Ministry and the National Council of Social Service have developed a Social Services Manpower Masterplan to ensure enough trained manpower and to enhance professional standards in the social service sector.”
“Who is ensuring the standards? As the sector is so diverse, what are MCDS' plans to ensure the standards and the supply of professionals into the different sectors? Who is to determine what qualifications allow one to practise in what aspects? Sir, apart from ensuring that the proper mechanisms are in place to ensure the close monitoring and control over the sector, we should also ensure that Singaporeans are given adequate information and knowledge to discern between the qualified and the non-qualified practitioners. To many, a counsellor is a counsellor. As long as you have a good heart, you can listen to my problems, you call yourself a counsellor, you have a paper that hangs on your wall to support it, I am okay. Is there any avenue for Singaporeans to check the authenticity of such qualifications? Sir, I would also like to ask the Minister what proportion of our social service sector personnel are Employment Pass holders? In this regard, who ensures and monitors that the qualifications that they bring in are accredited accordingly? This is important, as they may come from cultures that are different from ours, and their intervention may cause more harm than good to their service users. Sir, many people have said that there is an inverse relationship between the economic downturn and the growth of the social service sector, as more people need those services. Let us ensure that the numbers do not increase because of incompetent practitioners who enter when we are not keeping watch on the gate. Assoc. Prof. Ngiam Tee Liang: Sir, our population is getting more educated and the people are having higher expectations about the quality of services that they receive.”
“Sir, I would also like to declare my interest as a social work educator and a practitioner in social services. Sir, the social service sector has seen a rise in the demand for professional manpower. There may be various reasons that can explain this rise in demand. In a career talk on the social service sector that I conducted not too long ago, I was impressed by the number of people who are looking for second careers. Some are lawyers and businessmen, and one a banker. People are more aware of the range of services available as well as the growing diversity of needs, and also their interest. This is hardly surprising, as the social service sector provides very many intangible benefits and significant rewarding experiences to its members as they help others to enrich their lives. Sir, commensurate with this growing interest in the social services, there seems to be a proliferation of training courses run by different organisations. This certainly provides opportunities for people to get into this sector. Their duration ranges from a couple of days to a couple of years, some using the same title though, eg, counselling, family therapy, psychotherapy, etc. Many who are graduates of these courses happily and proudly identify themselves as counsellors, family therapists, and some as psychotherapists. They offer their services to people who meet them, and the demand is rising, given the very stressful lives that we lead. Sir, dealing with human lives and emotions is not a simple matter. It is complex and requires, among others, the person's proficiency, maturity and, of course, competency in the area of practice. Thus, it is imperative that certification of such courses is checked and accredited. Who is responsible for such accreditation processes?”
“What proportion of the curriculum time is given to sexual education? What has been the feedback received from students and parents with regard to this programme at this time? I urge the Minister to pay particular attention to sexual education as our teenagers are actually exposed to a lot more wider resources on the matter.”
“A social worker of mine had just recently related to me a case of a 15-year old boy who was charged with more than 10 counts of carnal connection. This means he was having sex with girls whose age was between 14 and 16 years. He was not even aware that he was breaking the law. Some do not even know that having sex with a girl under 14 is considered as statutory rape. So, often times, the effects are tremendous for the youngsters as they not only have to deal with pregnancies and abortions, the boys will have to deal with the law. I would like to urge the Ministry to include the legal aspects of sexual relationship in the sexuality education curriculum for students in our schools. I would also like to ask the Minister if there have been any studies looking at the profile of these students. I know it is hard to detect them because you cannot identify them, but what we can do is to study those who have gotten pregnant and gone for abortion or have given birth. This will also be a good entry point to study the profile of the boys who are sexually active. If such a study has not been done, I would urge the Ministry to conduct a study for us to really tailor a more targeted preventive education programme for students who fit such a profile. Another related issue is how is sexual education actually taught in our schools today. I am very curious because I have got young children. I want to know how they are taught. Yes, I know there are VCD, CD-ROM and a Teacher's Resource in this regard. But I wonder how does the Ministry ensure its effectiveness. What is the desired outcome? Is it more responsible sexual behaviour or preventing sexual activity amongst teenagers? What kind of training do the teachers need to go through to be prepared to teach such a curriculum?”
“Madam, earlier I spoke about stress, and I would now like to talk about sex. I know for sure sex is a three letter word. In 2001, the Ministry introduced a new sex education curriculum with the objective of providing accurate knowledge as well as interpersonal relationship skills and positive attitudes towards sexuality. One of the issues of sex education is whether the increased knowledge will actually increase the curiosity and sexual urges of teenagers such that they begin to get involved in sexual activities. The plain question: are more of our teenagers having sex? Recently, we saw figures from MOH on teenage abortions and from MCDS on teenage births. There were about 1,500 teenage abortions and 850 teen births a year. Thus, you have about 2,300-odd cases of teenagers getting pregnant. It, however, does not show the extent to which our teenagers are sexually active. But these figures show a slight increasing trend. This may be small by international standards, but I am sure this is one area that Singapore does not want to be number one in. Madam, if not checked, these young people may not realise that they are jeopardising their future. Teenage pregnancies and births not only affect them medically, but it also affects them socially and psychologically. I have seen many cases of teenagers being parents at the age of 16. They are still dependent on their parents who are living and now they have dependants of their own. Madam, there is another issue that I am concerned about. While the current sexuality education curriculum covers the nuts and bolts of responsible sexual behaviour and its related interpersonal relationships, I wonder to what extent it addresses the legal implications of sexual activity amongst teenagers.”
“I agree with the Senior Minister of State that increased numbers of detection do not mean that it is necessarily bad. It means that it is good. But could he comment on what I mentioned earlier that psychiatrists are saying that a lot more of our students may need early detection but are not receiving early detection? I wonder what mechanisms are there to identify them early enough to be able to give them the kind of help that they need at an early stage.”
“With all the recent changes made to the education system and curriculum for pre-school, secondary, pre-university and university levels, parents and the public are generally not well informed and clear about them. Some of these changes were discussed in this House and some, my parliamentary colleagues and I had the privilege of visiting and seeing when the Minister kindly arranged for these visits, for instance, to ITE and NIE. But, as I said, we are the privileged lot. What is the Ministry doing in helping parents and the public understand these changes in simple and clear language, and how is the public education to be carried out?”
“One can argue that stress exists in any profession and so why should teachers be the exception? I heard in a recent conference on mental health that noted that teachers are the most highly stressed group among the list of professionals. Several articles in the New Paper dated 2nd March also provided some case examples of how teachers are suffering from depression as a result of work-related stress. We do not know the estimated number at this point in time, but I think it is more critical for us to understand whether seeking help will adversely affect their performance appraisals. Sir, this issue of coping with stress is a complex one and, therefore, we need to ask ourselves how do we actually view help-seeking behaviour. Is help-seeking behaviour seen as a failure to cope or seen as a coping mechanism? Sir, we pride ourselves as having one of the best education systems and institutions in the world. Our students excel in international competitions. We make a mark despite our size. As we celebrate this glory, let us be mindful of the silent killer that may be cancerous in our institutions and systems. Sir, STRESS, is a six-letter word that can mean Students and Teachers, in Reaching for Excellence, may be Suffering in Silence. I urge the Ministry to conduct regular "stress mammograms and scans" to ensure that cases are detected early. Like cancer, early detection leads to the best chances of cure. Our children have a whole lifetime ahead of them. The teachers are responsible in caring and nurturing their students. Let us also begin to care for the caregivers. 2.30 pm Assoc. Prof. Ngiam Tee Liang (Nominated Member): Sir, public education on educational reforms.”
“Sir, the word "excellence" is synonymous with Singaporean culture. It exists in spirit, if not in form, in almost all our institutions' vision and mission statement. Our schools are no exception. We strive for excellence in everything we do, to the point that a newspaper report recently noted that some schools have excelled so much in their examination results that there is little room for improvement. We may have to create a grade Excellence* on top of the A* for them to improve further. It is thus not surprising that the other side of the coin for excellence is stress. Sir, much has been said about the stress levels in our schools. We have heard the Ministry's response. It is manageable as our students are indeed excelling, and only a handful are having difficulty managing the stress. The other thing is that it is the parents who are stressing out the children with their unrealistic expectations. Coping with stress requires a certain skills set and resilience. The extreme failure to cope with stress is for one to go into depression and to some, become suicidal. Sir, psychiatrists and other helping professionals have highlighted that stress is a silent killer. In 2001, about 14,000 children were reported to have seen psychiatrists for help. About 2,000 or more are new cases. Studies have also shown that 5-25% of children have some mental health issues. If we take about 10% of them, you will have 90,000 students who may need help, but only 14,000 are receiving help so far. Are they suffering in silence? What is the Ministry's plans to ascertain the status of mental health of our children to be able to detect them early? Sir, in the school system, students are not the only ones who are stressed out. Many have heard how teachers are also stressed out.”
“If the supply of rental flats is considered limited, perhaps HDB should do regular monitoring of the income levels of its tenants to ensure that only those who really are low income families are allowed to rent flats, because of the heavy subsidies, and encourage those who can afford to actually purchase their own flats, thus freeing the flats for more deserving residents.”
“This argument will stand only if people's sole motivation to divorce is to enable them to rent a flat. Madam, divorce is complex and does not happen overnight. Social workers, family and marital therapists will tell us that sometimes it is better for an acrimonious couple to separate than to live together. While we want to strengthen our families, sometimes couples are better off divorced. I do not think that making the rental policy more flexible to accommodate the single mothers and their children will lead to higher divorce rates. Certainly, reasons for divorce vary. I am asking for some flexibility to be exercised for the genuine cases who do not have any means of purchasing their own flats. The open rental market is just too expensive for them. Let us do a little to lighten the burden of these families, to allow their children to experience some stability in their lives. I am sure HDB will also say that the number of rental flats is limited and that there is already a long waiting list. As of March 2002, I understand that there were more than 55,000 rental flats, most of which are 1 to 3 rooms. This is not a small number. One of the criteria, as mentioned previously, is the $800 income ceiling. Since rental flats are heavily subsidised, I would like to find out what proportion of the tenants are those who really deserve these rental flats. There are those who earn less than $800 per month. They may have qualified initially, but their economic circumstances have improved over the years and they are still staying in those rental flats. Does HDB check their incomes regularly and determine if they are still suitable tenants of the rental flats?”
“Madam, HDB rental flats have always been seen as a haven for our low income families. They are meant for those deserving, and thus HDB has set out clear and stiff rules that govern the operations that allow people to rent HDB flats. Like many of my colleagues before me, I would like to highlight one of the groups that is affected by the current policy, ie, the plight of the single parents with their children. Often times, these are the single mothers and their children who are affected. Because of the 30-month debarment period, they have little option; often times, the woman is left with her children with nowhere to go. I have seen several cases of my residents who live like nomads, moving from one relative's home to another, sometimes squatting at friends' homes and, after a while, they would have just exhausted their options of informal support providers. In fact, I just saw one last week when I was doing my block visit. She has three children and she has been moving from one place to another, often relying on the sympathies of others. The impact on the children is negative and undesirable. The irregularity and instability will affect their development. Can we be more sympathetic to the plight of such women and children? Madam, we all know that they receive little or no maintenance from their ex-husbands. Because of the lack of education and skills, they face difficulty in looking for jobs and, even if they have jobs, these jobs pay very little. Certainly, they will qualify for the rental flats based on their income. But they are stuck, due to the 30-month debarment period. I can anticipate HDB's response. It does not want to encourage people to abuse the system as it will encourage people to see divorce as an easy option as housing is readily available after that.”
“The second group involves those whose composition of family nucleus changes. Madam, many Singaporeans appreciate the Government's offer of concessionary rates to their mortgage loans. However, sometimes, family circumstances change and render it necessary for families to have to change the names of co-lessees due to different circumstances. Quite unfortunately, when such circumstances arise, HDB considers the next loan negotiated as separate and renders the family not qualified to enjoy concessionary rates any longer. The new policy forces them to get "refinancing" from the commercial banks as it would have been considered as a "market rate" borrower with HDB previously. Madam, lay persons often find it difficult to understand such processes. How can changing a name of a co-lessee mean that their monthly instalments will have to increase? They do not understand that they are actually signing a new lease agreement. HDB will argue that it is the same as selling the current flat and buying another flat with different people as co-lessees. Will HDB consider on a case-by-case basis, depending on the circumstances of each case, allowing for concessionary rates to continue even after the names of co-lessees were to change as long as the main lessee remains? Madam, I think the problem is that the two concessionary rates are granted to each family nucleus. But the problem is that the composition of the family nucleus may change, that is, sometimes circumstances force one to change course and direction without one's own deliberate intention. Such cases may be rare, but it does test the flexibility of the system in its place. I would like HDB to relook at this policy in the light of such cases.”
“Madam, the new HDB loan financing policy took effect on 1st January this year. The banks have reassured us that it will not be too quick to repossess the flats of borrowers who have defaulted payment. I am glad to note this and I hope we will not face the problem later on. While the issue of repossession may be far fetched, other issues are beginning to emerge. Madam, I would like to discuss the plight of two groups of people who may face difficulty with the new financing policy. One, is the failure to obtain loan by those with poor credit standing. The banks are not likely to extend the loan to those who were assessed to have poor credit standing. There are about 15,000 undischarged bankrupts as at September 2002, and thousands more are waiting at the doorsteps of the High Court to be declared bankrupt. Some are trapped with credit card and other bills. These people will not stand a chance in obtaining housing loans from the banks. Worse, what happens when they cannot afford their current flat any more and want to downgrade to a smaller flat but they are not eligible for any more concessionary loans from HDB, thus forced to borrow from the bank? They are likely to be rejected due to their poor credit worthiness. What will happen to these individuals? They probably cannot rent the HDB flat either, as they would have to serve a 30-month ban. If they remain in the current flat, they are just going to accumulate more arrears with interest. They are stuck. Madam, they are the products of our own system. When times were good, we encouraged them to upgrade. We are proud to tell others that we have 85% of our population that own their own flats. But when they are stuck, what do we do? I would like to ask the Minister to share the Ministry's position with regard to such cases.”
“I would encourage the Ministry to study these systems and implement them here to overcome future problems of people not being able to pay for their utilities. Let us ensure that we continue to allow our people to manage their lives with dignity and self-worth.”
“Secondly, allow people to decide and prioritise what they want to use. Most people would choose water over electricity in terms of priority. For cases where electricity supplies have been disconnected, I encourage Singapore Power to accept payments for usage of water only, thus preventing the water supply from being disconnected. It will be more affordable and manageable for them. Their electricity supply can be reconnected when they feel that they can afford it. Sir, some have commented that these households need to be more responsible and discerning in their usage of utilities. This is true, and we should encourage users to be more responsible. In this regard, can we think out of the box and consider different possibilities to ensure that people have greater responsibility to manage their lives? I would like the Minister to consider the possibility of supplying utilities through a stored-value system. Stored-value system is already in use in our transportation system through the ez-link cards and the cashcards in paying ERP charges. The system I am proposing is for the users to store a certain pre-paid value for both water and electricity. The meter will show how much supply they have used and how much is left for them to use. The user will then be responsible in deciding on cutting down on his usage, or topping up on the stored value. In this way, his dignity and self-worth are maintained, as he is given the responsibility to manage his own life. He is in control of the connection or disconnection actions. For the low income and hardship families, it is a way of teaching them skills in managing and budgeting their expenses. Sir, such a system is already in operation in some parts of the UK and the US.”
“Sir, the severity of the economic crisis is mostly felt and indicated through the disconnection of utility supplies. The situation seems more acute lately, as we have seen more Singaporeans affected by it. Certainly, there are those who are recalcitrant defaulters, but I am referring to the genuine hardship cases who are often victims of their economic circumstances. Sir, my understanding is that Singapore Power will disconnect electricity supply first and, if no payment is received, water supply is disconnected, often about a week later. Depending on the size of the arrears, they will then require a substantial amount before the utilities are reconnected. I can anticipate the response from the Minister, ie, these actions are necessary because, basically, Singapore Power is not a welfare organisation. Sure, I understand that. It is a profit-oriented organisation and should make profits. Indeed, it was reported that, excluding factors like divestments, Singapore Power's net profit for 2001 rose 15%. While it is not a welfare organisation, I am sure it can afford to be a caring one. Sir, the disconnection of these supplies robs the individuals and families of their dignity and self-worth, as they are made to feel that they cannot afford even the basic human needs, such as water. I would like Singapore Power to consider the following suggestions for a win-win situation between them and the people. Firstly, following the assessment and recommendations by the CDCs or family service centres, allow genuine hardship cases to defer payments to their arrears, akin to what HDB is doing with those who are not able to pay their monthly mortgage loans. They can resume paying their arrears by instalments when their economic situation improves.”
“Madam, the impending war in and on Iraq will have a tremendous effect all over the world. Many analysts have argued that the length of the war will determine the extent of its effects. The Iraqi crisis is indeed a serious acid test to world peace. It is even challenging the integrity of the United Nations. Madam, in today's Today, Derrick Paulo analyses the lack of discourse on Iraq in Singapore. Anecdotally, we have heard many Singaporeans from all backgrounds, they are concerned with the impending war. Like many all over the world, I am sure we agree that war must be the last resort. The issue of Iraq provides an excellent opportunity for Singaporeans to understand the complexity of international relations and Singapore's position in such a complex world. As a small country, there are factors that have to be taken into consideration each time Singapore is challenged to make a decision on international matters. The Iraq issue is not only a challenge to Singapore, but to the world over. Madam, I have two questions in relation to this issue. One, I would like to ask the Minister to share with the House the principles that guide Singapore's decision-making process in dealing with such complex and critical international issues. Can he cite some previous examples on decisions that Singapore has made on the United Nations based on such principles, especially with regard to issues in the Middle East? How is Singapore being viewed by the world community based on the principles we hold and the decisions we made in such international matters? Next, since the war in Iraq is imminent and should it take place, what are the plans that we have in being part of the United Nations' effort in rebuilding post-war Iraq?”
“Sir, I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the response. I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $1,834,716,870 for Head P ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $480,156,000 for Head P ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head N -”
“We are studying the experience of other countries such as the UK and Hong Kong, which currently have provisions to allow criminal records to be rendered spent. Criminal record that is rendered spent means that the record only surfaces for court sentencing purposes, but he would still have been considered to have a prior conviction for employment purposes. Hence, what we are considering is the possibility of allowing a complete removal of a criminal record, that is, expunging it. Because, if implemented, this would mean that the person whose record is completely removed is deemed not to have been convicted of the offence recorded. To a question in an employment application form as to whether he has a prior conviction record, he can then reply `no'. This will be helpful in rehabilitating ex-offenders who have genuinely changed. Of course, this is something which is very rarely done. But I think this will really help the offender. Because it is not a matter of whether or not his record has been spent; in other words, whether it will surface in a court proceeding or whether it is taken out from the record, but rather to a question in an employment form on whether he has a prior conviction, if he answers `yes', then employers may still be hesitant. So, it is an intricate thing that we want to study, and we are taking some time because we want to do as much as we can to help genuine offenders. We hope to complete this, possibly within the next few months.”
“A personalised relapse prevention plan is developed for each offender and reinforced by follow-up support sessions. Eleven sex offenders have completed the programme since its launch last year. Seven of these have since been released from prison and so far, none has re-offended. For sex offenders detained in the Singapore Boys' Home, the Ministry of Community Development and Sports conducts a customised programme called the "Positive Adolescence Sexuality Treatment" (or PAST). The programme aims to develop the skills, knowledge and awareness needed to change the youth's sexual offending behaviour. Psychological counselling is also provided. Fourteen offenders have undergone the programme since its introduction in the year 2000, and so far, none has re-offended. In short, Sir, the re-offending rate of sex offenders is very low. I think we are happy about that and we want to ensure that it keeps that way. But, of course, as we always do in MHA, we will continue to improve our existing programmes, in this case, for sex offenders and, where necessary, introduce new ones. Indeed, if Prof. Ngiam has some ideas on how to improve our programmes, I would be very happy to hear from him. Yes, I agree with Dr Maliki that we should also help ex-offenders who come out from prison, particularly those who are genuine, who really want to find a job. And I think many of us in our MPS will come across cases like that - constituents who have served their time, who have been punished and who really want to get back on track, including getting emplaced in a job. Hence, MHA, as I have announced, has been reviewing the legal provisions to allow a person's criminal record to be removed.”
“So for the last few months, they will still get help from various agencies, including half-way houses. To-date, about 250 long-term inmates have been emplaced in half-way houses with a successful completion rate of 98%. Sir, that is the drug situation. I want to assure Members that we have things under control, but we do not rest on our laurels. We recognise these new threats and indeed will take steps to nip them in the bud. And, of course, we will continue to remain vigilant and continue to monitor the global and regional developments on the drug scene. I believe our multi-pronged approach has borne fruits and we will continue to press on. Prof. Ngiam Tee Liang has asked what more can be done to rehabilitate sex offenders incarcerated in prisons, the reformative training centres and the Singapore Boys' Home. First, Sir, let me assure Members that there are existing programmes in these institutions to rehabilitate sexual offenders. Such programmes are generally successful in preventing sexual offenders from re-offending. Out of 156 offenders released from prisons since the year 2000, only seven have recommitted a sex offence. So that is a small percentage. The Prisons Department conducts what is called a 3R treatment programme for sex offenders detained in prisons and the reformative training centres. This programme aims to achieve the 3Rs of "respect, restraint and responsibility" in the individuals through empathy training, victim awareness, relapse prevention and self-monitoring. The programme is tailored to the needs and risk profile of each individual sex offender. Sex offenders also receive assistance in integrating back to society after their release.”
“And it has been very innovative in mounting programmes that reach out to students and young people in ways that will appeal to them, in particular drawing in members of the mass media and advertising agencies to put out very striking publicity materials warning against the taking of drugs. The third prong, Sir, is rehabilitation. New opiate abusers are currently given a chance to undergo rehabilitation at drug rehabilitation centres. These are the heroin abusers. In contrast, new synthetic drug abusers are prosecuted in court and, if convicted, are sent to prison. MHA is now considering whether we should also send synthetic drug abusers to drug rehabilitation centres. This will ensure that such abusers have the opportunity to undergo structured and supervised rehabilitation. This will help them overcome the temptation to abuse drugs. Mr Yatiman has asked about the effectiveness of the long-term imprisonment scheme. The scheme was introduced in 1998 with the twin objectives of removing hardcore drug addicts from society, to prevent them from contaminating others as well as deterring other addicts. Members will know that under the scheme, hardcore addicts with three or more convictions are no longer sent to DRCs but to prison instead. Sir, since then, more than 4,000 drug offenders have been admitted to prison under the scheme. The first long-term prisoner was released in December 2001 and to-date, about 650 of them have been released. Only 19 of them have since re-offended. Although it is still too early to gauge the effectiveness of the scheme, the initial results are encouraging. But, still, in April last year, MHA further strengthened the scheme by extending community-based rehabilitation programme to these long-term imprisonment offenders.”
“As Mdm Ho very succinctly puts it, synthetic drugs are harmful and possibly even fatal. I think that is the first misconception that must be dispelled. Because anyone thinking of experimenting with synthetic drugs must not delude themselves into believing that these drugs are harmless or non-addictive or even hip. They pose similar health and mental risks to the individual as opiate drugs. MHA takes a comprehensive and multi-pronged approach to tackling the drug problem. What do I mean by multi-pronged? A total integrated approach encompassing strict laws, vigorous enforcement, proactive preventive drug education, rehabilitation and aftercare. Firstly, enforcement. The Central Narcotics Bureau conducts regular raids against drug abusers and traffickers. Last year alone, CNB carried out 51 major drug raids and broke up 32 drug trafficking syndicates. CNB also works closely with its counterparts in neighbouring countries to exchange information and conduct joint operations. This ensures that we tackle the drug situation even before it reaches our shores. CNB is also active in preventive drug education and has stepped up efforts on publicising the dangers of abusing synthetic drugs. A host of preventive education initiatives, including talks, competitions and other mass outreach activities, have been organised to communicate the anti-drug message. In particular, the National Council Against Drug Abuse, which is chaired by a private sector person and also supported by a lot of private sector people with different expertise and backgrounds, plays a key role.”
“Last year, some 2,200 heroin abusers were arrested, as compared to 5,300 in 1992. So the number has come down quite a bit. On the other hand, synthetic drug abuse has risen in recent years. About 30% of local drug abusers arrested last year consumed synthetic drugs such as ecstasy, methamphetamine and ketamine. The number of synthetic drug abusers has more than doubled from 438 in 1999 to 970 last year. Amongst young abusers, aged 19 and below, synthetic drug abusers have displaced heroin as the main drug of abuse. And I think this is also the point made by Mdm Ho. 61% of young abusers arrested in 2002 were synthetic drug abusers. 2.00 pm Sir, this may sound like frightening figures. But I think I should put these figures in perspective, because I would like to assure the House that the overall drug situation is not a bleak one. Let me cite some figures. Firstly, the total number of drug abusers arrested has declined from over 6,000 in 1994 to under 3,500 last year. Secondly, the number of drug abusers, aged 19 and below, has also declined over the years, from a high of 679 young abusers arrested in 1993 to 215 last year. As a percentage of total abusers arrested, the number of young abusers arrested for drug consumption has also fallen from more than 11% in 1993 to about 6% in 2002. Hence, the overall drug situation actually has kept on improving, which has been the case for the last six or seven years. But I think all that we read points to this new threat that is emerging. The absolute numbers are not large. But in terms of the percentage increase, I think that is a concern. Hence, MHA takes a serious view of the growing abuse of synthetic drugs and we will take action to nip it in the bud.”
“I am certain their chances of seeking employment, whether in the private or public sectors, will be greatly enhanced if their criminal records are expunged. Yesterday, we heard the Minister for Law agreeing on the need to decriminalise some regulatory offences. This is indeed laudable. Last year, the Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs reported in this House that the Ministry is considering the amendment to the Registration of Criminals Act, so that those convicted of minor offences will have their criminal records rendered stanched or expunged after a certain period if they do not re-offend. Indeed, this will further help ex-offenders find jobs, as the records will no longer feature in the assessment of an individual's suitability for the job. I would like to ask the Minister the status of this process. When can we expect the amendment to be introduced in this House? Sir, as our society develops and matures, we must reflect it through our willingness to be forgiving and compassionate. I look forward to the proposed amendment to be introduced and for us to be able to indeed facilitate and enhance every Singaporean's potential to the fullest. The Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee): Sir, I will respond to the speeches of Mdm Ho Geok Choo, Encik Yatiman Yusof, Prof. Ngiam and Dr Maliki, and my colleague, Mr Maidin, will respond to Mr Chandra Mohan. First, the drug situation. Both Mdm Ho and Mr Yatiman have expressed some concerns about the drug situation, in particular, about the synthetic drug abuse situation, especially amongst the young. Heroin used to be the main drug abuse for more than 30 years. However, the number of people arrested for abusing heroin has been falling steadily over the past 10 years.”
“Sir, former offenders often leave their penal institutions with the desire to turn over a new leaf. Many strive to build their lives and they certainly desire to lead normal lives. One of the constant struggles is the stigma that stays with them for a very long time - the label of being an ex-convict. With this label, many have difficulties securing stable employment simply because employers resist employing them, sometimes even disregarding the length of time they have been able to stay away from crime or drugs, nor whether they have the necessary qualifications to do the job. Sentencing them to institutions achieves the objective of taking away their freedom from them, apart from penalising them for their misbehaviours. But, often times, they do not necessarily gain total freedom, even when they are released. Some continue to struggle to achieve normalcy, but after several attempts and constantly being tormented by societal stigmas and prejudices, many are led back to their old ways. Yet, there are those who are resilient enough to stick through the odds. Sir, many professionals who work with ex-convicts will testify that expunging the records of those former offenders who have shown their ability to stay away from crime for a period of time will enhance their continued recovery and contribution to society. They are resilient. Expunging their records will surely enable them to seek regular and stable employment. Thus, providing stability to their lives and that of their family members. Yesterday, we heard that the civil service has started employing ex-convicts based on their merit. Human nature will not stop us from having a second thought about the person, no matter how qualified he is if we know that he has a criminal record.”
“Given the diversity of the different target groups - professionals, elderly, youths, foreign workers, etc - how will MINDEF ensure that these groups are effectively and efficiently reached out to? Given the threat from religious extremists lurking at the doorsteps and threatening our social cohesion, does the National Education Office intend to work with the IRCCs in reaching out to Singaporeans? My suggestion is it should. Sir, we have often heard civil defence exercises being conducted to ensure that Singaporeans are prepared during emergencies. My question is: how successful are such exercises? Apart from the numbers present, what would be the other indicators that MINDEF uses in ascertaining the effectiveness of such exercises and programmes? What, in MINDEF's assessment, are the groups that need the most attention, ie, the groups that often do not participate in such exercises? What are the plans that would be adopted in reaching out to such groups?”
“Sir, the significance and reality of security threats to Singapore has been underscored in this House for some time now. Sir, the concept of total defence has also been introduced to Singapore for many years now. Singaporeans are very familiar with the five arms of total defence - psychological, social, economic, civil and military defence. Sir, the National Education curriculum has been introduced to our schools to highlight to the school children significant events in our history with the objective of making them appreciate what we have today and not take our peace for granted. This would work well as school children are a captive audience. But, Sir, total defence, as the name would suggest, requires not only a comprehensive approach that addresses all aspects of defence. It also should be comprehensive in its reach-out to the different groups of Singaporeans. Everyone has a part to play in protecting and defending Singapore. Sir, while we can relatively conclude that Singaporeans are aware of the threats facing us, I wonder whether they are aware of what can be done should the threat become a reality. Are Singaporeans ready for the first bomb to go off? What about the threats of biological weapons, anthrax? Do they know what to do? Also, one quarter of our residents of the population are foreigners. In times of emergencies, they are equally concerned for their safety and protection. Would total defence strategies and programmes also consider reaching out to these foreign friends who work and reside here? My questions to the Minister are: with the threat of security being so complex, how do MINDEF and its partners ensure that the people understand what they have to do in the event of an attack or emergency?”
“Have any of these personnel shown any signs of PTSD, and, if so, what has been done to assist them? The second concern I have, Sir, is with regard to the welfare of families of personnel deployed in peace-keeping missions. Another study involving Australian military personnel sent to peace-keeping missions highlighted the need for care and consideration to be given to families of personnel or individuals on deployment. Deployment of personnel is a very stressful time for families. If personnel return to difficult family situations, they are potentially at greater risk of developing chronic trauma symptoms. The study also found that good social support is a strong factor in preventing the development of traumatic symptoms. My questions in this regard are: what is being done to support families of personnel sent to peace-keeping missions? How are families assisted in understanding and supporting their members who have gone to these peace-keeping missions to ease transition when they return home? And have such personnel faced family problems upon their return from such missions? If so, what is being done to assist them? I recognise the value of such peace-keeping missions have on Singapore as a country. I think there is tremendous value for these individuals too. However, if we do not pay attention to the above issues, these benefits may be easily challenged with negative effects and they may end up being more costly to the personnel, their families, and Singapore.”
“Sir, the world has seen tremendous amount of unsettling events, some of them are very unnerving. While most of these events happened in other countries, we often feel their ripple effects, especially when some of these happened so close to our homes. In a global village, everyone has a role to play in maintaining peace and order. I am pleased to note that Singapore is an active participant in UN peace-keeping missions. Such missions not only provide our servicemen with invaluable opportunities to gain frontline experience and build up confidence, they also ensure Singapore's presence and commitment to international and regional peace and stability. Sir, I understand that SAF personnel have been involved in peace-keeping missions for the past 12 years. This is certainly an impressive track record, and I understand that in this period, more than 900 personnel, if not more, have been deployed in various peace missions. The duration of such missions, as I understand it, is, on average, about a year. I would like to raise two concerns that I have in this regard. First, is on the issue of the mental health of SAF personnel who have gone for such missions. Studies of US military personnel deployed to peace-keeping missions in places such as Somalia and Bosnia found that some of these personnel were at risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (or PTSD), having been exposed to stresses like witnessing the aftermath of death and destruction, observing sufferings and experiencing stress about peace-keeping duties. Sir, my questions are: what are the processes that these personnel were made to go through before and after their peace missions to ensure that their mental health needs are met?”
“Before he goes on to a peace mission in Pedra Branca --- The Chairman: Just carry on with your speech.”
“Sir, I thank the Ministers for their responses. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $182,876,500 for Head U ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $52,241,000 for Head U ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head D -”
“How many have applied but were not successful? What were the reasons for their failure in securing employment in the civil service? Much has been said in this debate about the role of the civil service, its rigidity and bureaucracy. Would such rigidity and bureaucracy lead to conservative civil servants leaning on the safe side, thus resulting in a preference not to employ these ex-offenders, despite being able to do so? "Every Singaporean matters" - so says one of the S21 tenets. Another says, "Opportunities for all" - certainly, important pillars in developing a compassionate, fair and resilient society. The challenge for the Government, in this case through the civil service, is to walk the talk. I am confident the rest of the private sector will quickly follow suit.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head U of the Main Estimates be reduced by $100. Sir, my cut is on the role of civil service in building a compassionate society. I would like to discuss the policy of the civil service in employing ex-offenders. Every year, thousands of Singaporeans are released from our penal institutions and drug rehabilitation centres. I was told the number was some 9,500 last year. They look forward to rebuilding and renewing their lives. A stable job will greatly enhance their reintegration process. In 2001, more than 1,500 offenders were assisted in getting jobs, all of whom are in the private sector. This certainly shows their employment potential. It also shows the gap in the number of people who are still seeking jobs. Despite the success, many more employers still hesitate to employ these ex-offenders; in my sense, this includes the civil service. As the civil service is the employment arm of the Government, it plays a critical role in sending out a clear message that the Government believes in the potential of these ex-offenders in being positive and contributing members of society. Opening the doors of employment opportunities to them illustrates the Government's willingness in giving second chances - an important first start in building a compassionate society. Sir, the current economic climate makes it more difficult for an ex-offender to secure a job. It is with this that I would like to ask the Prime Minister's Office on the civil service's policy of employing ex-offenders. We know that Ministries are given the discretion in employing their own staff. Does it include employing ex-offenders? If so, how many ex-offenders have so far been employed by each of the different Ministries?”
“Allow Singaporeans to own the Report, the process, and the direction we are heading. Madam, I support the motion.”
“I would recommend that the Government consider setting up a separate account in the CPF called the Lifelong Learning Account which can be used for topping up of course fees as well as fees for post-graduate training. This will certainly facilitate Singaporeans' ability to upgrade themselves, especially the higher educated ones who already have the necessary motivations. I recognise that the Government has already raised the tax relief for course fees to $3,500 as well as allow tax relief for fees for seminars and conferences. This is indeed laudable. But the individual Lifelong Learning Account will further enhance the ability of Singaporeans to internalise this value of lifelong learning. The reality is that very few Singaporeans have cash savings to be used for upgrading and allowing them to use their CPF savings will go a long way in this regard. Madam, the "re" words that I started out with imply a constant process of change. Any change will create systemic efforts on the different actors in the equation - from the workers to the families, to the employers and subsequently to the Government. Each plays a critical role. The action of one will affect the others and we need to speak to each other in a language that each understands. We know that we need to enhance our human capital - indeed, I grew up being indoctrinated with this point that human resource is our best and only asset. For the people to accept this, they need to be convinced, and sold too. They need to own it. I encourage the Government not to tell them what to do, rather to share with them what we can do to make this work. My last recommendation is to produce a simplified version of the ERC Report and let every Singaporean have it.”
“It is a culture that has to be developed, but if the environment is not conducive, then the value will not be internalised by the people. I encourage the private sector employers to also do their part in making this restructuring work. Much is provided for them in the Budget to facilitate their business but they must also do their part in making it easier for their workers. I encourage the Government to consider mechanisms that will recognise employers who are pro-training, as we recognise pro-family firms. A code in relation to training rights of workers akin to the one in the public sector should be drawn up and implemented in the private sector. Madam, the education profiles of our workers are diverse and I have made the point about the different approaches needed to reach out to them. The educational levels of our workers have also proportionally increased over time. As we encourage the internalisation of the value of lifelong learning, we need to ensure that Singaporeans have the means to upgrade themselves and certainly take personal responsibility for their training and upgrading processes. The Government has allocated much resources in this regard, through the various programmes as well as through the Lifelong Learning Fund. However, in line with encouraging personal responsibility, some of these workers may need to top up the course fees. Another group of workers who may need substantial resources in upgrading are the professionals and graduates. To them, the only way up is to get post-graduate training. Currently, however, there is very little support in this area.”
“Can you imagine what it would mean when parents are expected to spend more time in training? What will happen to the supervision of their children? Sir, for those children and youths who are already victims of circumstance and currently undergoing rehabilitation, we must ensure that sufficient resources are allocated to allow them to develop their potential too. Many do find it difficult to fit back into society and may then graduate to be adult offenders. We must prevent this from happening. Madam, we must also do what we say. When we say that every Singaporean matters, we must recognise their potential and facilitate their enhancement, including those who have failed before. The next point I would like to touch on is that of the responsibility of the private sector in facilitating this whole notion about lifelong learning and continued education. We have been asking much of Singaporeans and I think Singaporeans have been trying their best to do their part. They swallowed painfully the reality when told that their employers' CPF will not be restored fully for another two years. Last year, during the debate on the CPF issue, I highlighted the need for employers to do their part. This is even more crucial in terms of training. The MOM study I cited earlier also indicated that workers in the public sector are twice as likely to have gone for training compared to those in the private sector. Madam, the public sector, as I was told, has a policy that every civil servant has the right to 100 hours of training per year. This is very encouraging. But I do not think there is any such policy for workers in the private sector. It is up to the respective employers to facilitate the process for their workers.”
“The average couple with two school-going children work during the day and spend the evening supervising their children's education, if they are capable of. Some have difficulties even doing so. Some have to work two jobs to survive. Now, we want them to train and upgrade themselves, to develop our human capital. With this growing emphasis for Singaporeans to develop and upgrade to stay relevant and perhaps sharpen their competitive edge, we must seriously consider the impact on the family. Unless training opportunities are available during working hours, most training is often done after working hours. There needs to be a supportive infrastructure to enable this to be part of the living patterns of Singaporeans. Without such infrastructures, many will find the pressures too harsh to handle. We already have problems of latch-key children with two parents who have to work during the day. Can you imagine the phenomenon that will develop when parents have to go for their classes in the evenings? These are systemic effects that will further challenge the institution of the family. Madam, with all these complex demands on Singaporeans and their families, do we wonder why many Singaporeans choose to remain single or not have children? I would like to support the call by Mdm Halimah Yacob yesterday to set up the National Council on the Family to ensure a more systematic and systemic approach at addressing issues affecting the family. A related aspect to the family is that of youths at risk, as we enhance the human capital. As we discuss the impact of this new development on the family, one issue that arises is that of youths at risk. Reports have recently shown the sharp increase in juvenile crime and many experts attribute it to the lack of parental supervision in the family.”
“Madam, obviously, there needs to be a targeted approach at different groups. I wonder if we have studied these trends sufficiently. Are we being fair to Singaporeans in asking them to buck up and do their part, when perhaps they have very little idea what is happening and what they are expected to do? I wonder if the Government has an indication how many Singaporeans have actually picked up the ERC Report, whether in the bookstores or downloaded them from the Internet. How many Singaporeans, especially the lower educated, understand what is in the Report? Do they really know where we want them to go and what they are supposed to do? I have argued before in this House the need for Singaporeans to identify and own the problem that we face. We have to make them understand these problems and then own it together with the Government before we can expect them to come up and do their part. I think, so far, all they have heard in the last two years is, "economy is bad, so cut CPF; economy is still bad, cannot be choosy; economy may still remain bad, must go for training and upgrade yourself; must remain relevant, otherwise you will be in trouble." Basically, keep striving; do not be complacent, or else you will be left behind. This leads me to my next point - implications of this requirement to upgrade on the family. The earlier list I highlighted also noted that training was more prevalent amongst workers who are single compared to those who are married. Of course, if we factor the issue of age and educational qualification, we will realise that those who need training most are not getting it. This is not surprising as heavier family commitment could have hindered training participation amongst the married persons. Madam, to many Singaporeans, this is the real issue.”
“We need to understand the deeper and more complex issues that will motivate Singaporeans to accept the need for them to train and continue to train. [Mdm Deputy Speaker (Mrs Lim Hwee Hua) in the Chair] 3.42 pm Madam, the Ministry of Manpower conducted a study on adult training in the year 2000. Overall, it was found that only a third of the economically active Singaporeans engaged in training. The timeframe was 12 months prior to the study. Also, it was found that participation in training is inversely related to age and educational qualification. The higher educated workers were more willing to undertake training than the lower educated ones, and so are the younger workers compared to the older workers. Of significant importance I think is the finding on the motivations or lack thereof among those two-thirds who did not actively participate in training. One quarter of them indicated no desire to train at all. Amongst those who indicated interest, factors that will motivate them to train include whether the training can improve their career prospects, having more time to go for training, the affordability of the course fees, and when their family commitments are taken care of. A more recent study in 2002 amongst retrenched workers also showed similar trends, especially the inverse relationship between educational qualification and age with willingness to undergo training. In this study, it was found that the educated workers were two times more willing to train compared to the less educated workers. Amongst those who were re-employed, 30% indicated their unwillingness to seek training. More than a quarter of them gave the reason that it is not necessary or that they were not required to go for training - this despite having been retrenched previously.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to participate in this debate. Last year seemed to be the "R" year for Singapore - Singaporeans were introduced to many "R" words that they are not usually used to - restructuring, remaking, refreshing, revitalising, renewal. Those are the few that I can think of so far. Actually, these words have one thing in common. They are the base words with the prefix "re". I am not a linguist but these words suggest that what we have been doing previously are no longer relevant. Thus, the need for us to redo them, and we must before Singaporeans get fatigued with the letter "R". Sir, I am going to focus on several aspects related to the issue of Enhancing Human Capital presented by the Minister for Finance and the ERC Report. Like many of my colleagues in the House, I welcome the Government's decision to set up a statutory board to facilitate this process. The first point I want to talk about is the issue of training and lifelong learning. Sir, apart for the "re" words, Singaporeans are also rather fatigued with this constant reminder to train and internalise the value of lifelong learning. Yesterday, Ms Indranee Rajah eloquently argued that Singaporeans should just pull themselves up together and do their part and not expect the Government to do everything for them. Certainly, this is easier said than done. How many Singaporeans are actually hearing the calls made in this House and outside this House by Ministers, MPs, union leaders, etc? But, more importantly, how many in this House are hearing the cries and pleas of Singaporeans? Are we speaking in different languages? Do we understand Singaporeans enough? Are we reaching out enough to the different target groups?”
“Can I ask if the Ministry has detected any profile of such teenagers? Also, what is the proportion of the different actions, in terms of whether they keep the baby or whether they give up the baby for adoption? What is the proportion of the different actions? And when they keep the baby, what is being done specifically to help these teenagers and their parents? Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, I do not have the breakdown in terms of the different actions, but I would be most happy to provide the details to the Member. If they choose to keep the baby and if the family service centres identify the teenage parents and the newborn are at risk, we will provide assistance through the Healthy Start programme and other intervention means which are being carried out by several FSCs. As to the profile of the teenagers who have delivered, I do not have the exact figures here. But based upon the numbers that we have seen coming through the Healthy Start programme, they tend to come from low income families. But I will have to verify that, Sir. SURVEY ON ELDERSHIELD SCHEME (Findings) 16. Mr Gan Kim Yong asked the Minister for Health whether the proposed survey on the ElderShield Scheme has been completed, and if so, what are the main findings, and if not, when is it expected to be completed.”
“Sir, the Minister has not commented on the 12% average and whether over the past years, the Ministry is seeing any trend in terms of teenage abortion.”
“I wonder if the Minister can comment on how this 12% average in the last five years compares to the previous years, and whether we should be concerned about any trend in terms of abortion, especially among the teenagers. Secondly, he mentioned about pre- and post-counselling - I do not know whether there was post-counselling - for teenagers. Is the counselling only meant for the teenagers? Are families involved in the counselling? At the same time, are the fathers of the aborted foetuses involved in the counselling process?”
“Given the history of their habit of changing their minds ever so often, does the Minister foresee that they might decide to go back on the package route again? If so, what is our response to that? Secondly, now that the package has been dismantled, can the Minister explain how the other bilateral issues, apart from water, are going to be resolved?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we started 2002 with the news of the arrest of the first batch of JI operatives. We have started 2003 debating on what we should do to ensure that our society continues to function amidst these serious threats and challenges. I wonder how we will start 2004. But however it may be, I am confident that we will weather this storm together and come out of it as a more cohesive and resilient society. Sir, on that note, I support the motion.”