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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“Essentially, common spaces should minimise differences and maximise commonalties, that is, a space where members share values, aspirations and motivations, with the betterment of the group, community or society as a whole, as the desired outcome. These are universal values that should be accepted by every religion. Thus, Muslims should feel comfortable that being part of the common space does not make them any less Muslim. MUIS must take the lead in helping Muslims in this regard. There will always be room for private spaces but we cannot remain in the private space alone. We need to be part of the common space in a multi-racial and religious context, like Singapore. Sir, as much as the White Paper has unequivocally emphasised that the issue is about terrorism and not Islam, many in the community still feel that they are in the spotlight yet again. While the Malay MPs and community leaders continue to motivate the community to move on and move forward, the process can be further facilitated by members of the other communities. Life should go on and should not be affected by this incident. The other communities should also assure the Muslim community that they are still as comfortable with the Muslims as before. If there should be any questions or doubts that arise, they should be dealt with immediately and not be allowed to brew. The Malay MPs have met members of the Chinese media and clan associations and are heartened to note their continued understanding and support for the Muslim community. The channels of communication are open at the community level through the IRCC or direct to the authorities, like MUIS, should any clarification be needed about the Muslim community.”
“And should anyone make it rigid (by going to the extremes) the religion will eventually overcome him.' He went on to explain: 'Indeed to propel our community forward, we have to be wise and tactful. We must avoid coming near to any of the two extremes. At one end, there are those who neglect religious duties, no prayers, no fasting, no good moral character, and the list goes on. On the other hand, there are those who exaggerate the teachings of Islam and promote chaos and disturbances wherever they are. They isolate themselves, have their own rigid interpretations, and plan for the demise of their own community.' In the same sermon, the Imam also highlighted the role of the Muslim community, and I quote: 'The community of Islam must be exemplary. It must set the highest standards of performance and be the reference point for others. It must avoid excesses and extravagances and static rigidity and extremism. To strike a middle course of action, to be steadfast and consistent, to know what to accept and what to reject, to have principles and at the same time remain adaptable is probably the hardest test of the human character and social viability.' Sir, indeed, Islam is about moderation and the Muslim community is committed to upholding this value steadfastly. This is also clearly stated in the statement by MUIS on the White Paper. MUIS urges all mosques, Muslim organisations and the Muslim public to uphold the true teachings of Islam and its values of moderation, tolerance and mutual respect. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as we grapple with the challenge of religious revivalism, we are confronted with the issue of common spaces. Where are these common spaces? What are the guidelines towards behaviour in these common spaces?”
“There is a more fundamental issue to this, ie, the need for a set of guidelines that perhaps allows religious teachers to help Muslims know what are the parameters of behaviours and expressions of religious piety, within the context of a multi-racial society, that gives them the assurance that they are indeed being good Muslims, and practising the religion well, as much as they are being good citizens. Sir, the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs yesterday noted that Muslims are duty-bound to contribute towards the development of a good society. Indeed, this is part of what being a good Muslim entails. The goal for each individual should be the betterment of society as a whole. I am confident that every religion, Islam included, espouses towards this. Sir, in relation to the call for a self-regulating mechanism, I am heartened that the Muslim community has taken the recommendation positively. Last night, a group of Muslim residents, including a couple of grassroots leaders, came to see me to say that they would like to register the religious classes that are being organised in their neighbourhood. I welcome their voluntary gesture and directed them to the mosque in the area which is in the process of compiling a list of Muslim residents to refer to. Sir, there has been much call for the moderates in the Muslim community to speak out and denounce terrorism. Implicit is for Muslims to exercise moderation and not allow extreme elements to take over the community's agenda. Sir, Islam is about moderation. The Friday sermon of 17th January this year, just last Friday, delivered in mosques all over Singapore clearly emphasised this point. The Imam quoted the Prophet as saying that: 'This religion (Islam) is a simple religion.”
“Some have said that the doctrines are there and it is the individual's personal choice to follow for at the end of the day, it is between him and his Creator, while others believe it is their duty to ensure that those who steer away are brought back to the right path. With so many different tenets and doctrines, the fundamental question that arises is what makes one a good Muslim. For example, what makes a wife beater, who piously prays five times a day but works irregularly and does not support the family financially, more or less of a Muslim, compared to a non-tudung wearing single mother who works hard and struggles to provide food on the table for her children? Who is to pass judgment? Muslims and non-Muslims should refrain from making judgments about individuals, based on whatever criteria. Perceptions are inevitably made from such judgment and, if not checked, these perceptions may translate into prejudices and prejudiced behaviours. To facilitate interactions, especially cross-culturally, we should remain non-judgmental and learn to accept the person who he or she is. Sir, the spiritual vacuum experienced by members of the JI has been highlighted as one of the keys to their vulnerability. Exploited to the extreme, they are told that to be a good Muslim and to guarantee their afterlife, they have to subscribe to jihad, even if it means hurting and sacrificing fellow Muslims. The White Paper thus calls for a self-regulating mechanism to ensure that the likes of the JI members are not exploited by religious teachers, like Ibrahim Maidin. Sir, indeed, some scholars have argued that the rise of global religious revivalism is due to a spiritual vacuum created due to modernisation and complex urban living.”
“Are we willing to leave our comfort zones and be part of the larger network? The bottom-line goes back to Singaporeans. Do they feel compelled enough to answer this call or are they comfortably living within the four walls of their own homes? The White Paper also raises the important, though rather abstract, issue of religion and religiosity. It is indeed complex - for one it is supposed to be a private and individual affair - but at the same time, it has implications for a larger community. Indeed, we used to think of religion as being part of a private space of the individual and have left it to that space. We separate religion from the affairs of the state precisely because we know the complications that will arise if we did otherwise, especially in a multi-religious society like ours. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the complexity of religion cannot be sufficiently underscored. In any religion, there exist fundamental doctrines, often times, manifested in various forms. Varying behavioural manifestations of followers are used as indicators of variations in the interpretations of these doctrines. No religious community is spared from dealing with such complexities. The complexity is acknowledged by social scientists who study religiosity. As a psychological construct, these scientists agree that religiosity is a multi-dimensional phenomenon. They view religiosity as more than just a behavioural manifestation of the religion. It includes both intrinsic and extrinsic commitments to the religion. It is thus even more difficult for those outside any community to comprehend that very complexity. Today, the Muslim community is put on the spotlight and its members have struggled to explain variations that exist within the community itself.”
“If this is true, we have to ask ourselves: where will this lead us to in the long run? If there is one thing that we can learn from this JI episode it is that we can no longer take our social relationships for granted. We need to consciously find time and invest in these relationships. What is also more critical is the inter-ethnic relations between neighbours. What is the current level of inter-ethnic relations in our neighbourhoods? The housing policy has been in place for many years now. But anecdotal evidence, however, suggests that relationship is, at best, superficial. The grassroots organisations can do their part in organising activities that will facilitate interaction. But if we do not embrace the value, we will continue having the same converted individuals attend those functions. Perhaps, grassroots organisations should consider reducing the geographical focus of their activities to a smaller number of blocks of flats to encourage more micro-level interaction between neighbours. This is not to micro-manage relationships between neighbours but to facilitate their interaction, knowing how critical such relationships are in ensuring a continued level of trust amongst residents. We have heard anecdotal incidences of people not wanting to be in the same lift with members of other ethnic groups following the news of the JI arrests last year. Such unwanted incidences can be avoided if neighbours really know and trust one another. Cumulatively, it will ensure a higher level of trust between people. Sir, the White Paper is not only a call for Singaporeans to wake up to the impending danger that is lurking outside our doorsteps. It is also a gentle reminder for us to reflect within ourselves some of the fundamental values that we uphold.”
“We are not expected to be vigilant or to track every suspected character that lives in our midst. But we can ensure that we actively invest in our social relationships such that we are comfortable and confident of the level of trust that we have with each other, with the people who live around us. For all those Singaporeans out there who are not activists or have not participated in grassroots activities, what is your role in ensuring and strengthening our social bonds? More generally, have we invested sufficiently in our social relationships with the people around us? At the most micro level, do we know our neighbours well enough? These questions had been raised yesterday. How many neighbours who live in the same block of an HDB flat does the average Singaporean know? What about within the same RC zone? Why are these questions important? Our housing policy ensures that we live among the different ethnic groups. The level of trust that we have of the people around us will ensure that our social cohesion remains strong. It will also act as a deterrence for individuals to get involved in acts that will hurt the people that are close and mean something to them. Sir, the psychological profile of the JI members, as reported in the White Paper, noted that they had high level of loneliness. Perhaps they may also not be close to their extended network, let alone their neighbours. The point I am making, Sir, is that social networking is an active process that requires effort and time. We need to reflect on the value we place on such relationships and act upon it. We have often heard the common response of the lack of time as a reason for not participating in grassroots-organised activities. Many will also say they do not even have time to interact with their neighbours.”
“Sir, we must also recognise that although the ISD has succeeded in thwarting the plans of the JI on Singapore targets, we can see the subsequent costs that we have to pay to-date. More manpower and resources have to be deployed at all our Checkpoints and important installations like Jurong Island. The Minister for Defence has already said that defence spending for this year will be increased. These are important and necessary to prevent a catastrophe that will cost us not only millions of dollars but possibly lives. The White Paper is very explicit in its discussion on the implications of the threat of terrorism on our social cohesion. I have, as have many others in this House, spoken on this issue. In the past year, much had already been done. There is heightened awareness of the need to understand and appreciate each other's beliefs and practices. There has been a visible increase in the number of visitors to places of worship like mosques, churches and temples, in the name of improving mutual understanding and tolerance. Several Members, however, have also highlighted that strengthening our social cohesion needs more than organised visits to these places of worship. Indeed, often times, these visits are organised by and for grassroots leaders and activists who, many of us know, are often already the so-called converted. In any case, how many more mosques, churches or temples are there to visit? Sir, while the relevant Ministries and security agencies will continue to be vigilant in ensuring Singapore's security, and the grassroots organisations actively organise programmes to facilitate cross-cultural understanding, the question we have to ask ourselves is: what is our role as individual members of the society in ensuring our own security?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join in the debate on this very important matter facing us. Indeed, the issues before us are multi-faceted. On the one hand, we are facing a serious threat to our internal security. On the other hand, we are faced with the philosophical issue of religion and religiosity amidst rising global religious revivalism. Yet, on another front we are challenged to ensure that our social cohesion remains strong and intact. All these, with the background of increased globalisation and economic uncertainty, certainly not the best of times, but persevere we must, to ensure the continued survival of the generations to come. The challenge for speakers on the last day of such a debate is always to say what has not already been said - it is indeed a challenge. Much has been said about the damage that terrorist acts will do to any society. We have seen the devastation of the irresponsible acts of September 11 and October 12, not to mention the many more by Al-Qaeda and the JI. Sir, the extent of terrorist acts that have been linked to the JI has been documented in a report entitled, "Indonesia's Terrorist Network: How Jemaah Islamiyah Works", prepared by the International Crisis Group (ICG). For example, the report linked the Christmas Eve bombings of December 2000 to JI, noting the impressive planning and coordination work that took place in the attack. It reported that the network ensured that bombs were delivered on Christmas Eve 2000 to 38 churches or priests in 11 cities. Nineteen people were killed and some 120 wounded. These are very serious attacks planned by people who have no qualms about taking the lives of innocent people. These are the people whom we are talking about today. Singaporeans cannot take the threat lightly.”
“I understand that if they violate the agreement, they are supposed to serve a ban for a certain period. Can I check how long is this ban? Also, if they did not apply for a permit to get married, even if the spouse had ceased to be a work permit holder, but if the husband is capable of supporting her, how long is the ban that she has to serve? Does she still need to serve a ban if the husband is capable of meeting the criteria set by MOM? Dr Lee Boon Yang: Mr Speaker, Sir, as I have said, for those who choose to consciously violate the conditions of the work permit which are stated upfront and quite clearly that they must seek prior approval, then we have no option but to insist that they suffer some penalty. Otherwise, the provision itself is ineffective as a deterrent. As to exactly how long the ban should be, it depends on the circumstances of the case - some are perhaps a bit longer than others. Also in the interim, if they make efforts to further upgrade themselves, then the lifting of the ban can be achieved much earlier. In the case of those who married a Singaporean who obviously is of a fairly high calibre, high education and achievement, could we have a shorter period ban? Yes, that would be considered.”
“Can I just confirm whether the welfare homes have already been looked at in locating these children?”
“Sir, would the Senior Minister of State consider the fact that the students have to move from one school to another to gain readmission is indicative that principals are using different kinds of criteria because they are the same cases, unless the students tell different stories to different principals? Does the Ministry have any guidelines in this regard?”
“We now want our students also to think as much, as they learn to acquire the requisite skills to ensure their own survival.”
“What is missing in the report is thus the transition from 'O' levels to 'A' levels or the other routes. The skills like creative and independent thinking, etc, will also be applicable even if the students do not go to JC and take the polytechnic route instead. As I mentioned earlier, what is even more important is that those 15% students who are JC bound too, are the ones who will need the extra help in blending into the JC curriculum. My question is: what is the extent of the upper secondary curriculum, as it stands now, which is in line with the proposed changes in the JC curriculum? I believe these skills are important for those who are polytechnic bound. The report fails to address this transition from 'O' levels to the other paths. I urge the Ministry to study this gap and address it concurrently, as failure to do so will only disadvantage these groups of students further. Mr Speaker, Sir, we acknowledge that we are living in very difficult and uncertain times. The Minister of State for Education, Dr Ng Eng Hen, has been quoted as saying that the "education roadmap needs to move from uniformity to diversity, rigidity to flexibility, from conformity to resilience, and from moulding to empowering." These are indeed excellent targets to work towards. We must, however, ensure that as we develop the social structures through our policies to achieve these, that we do not inevitably divide our society further. Social stratification is part of society, but policy makers must be conscious of the extent to which policies perpetuate social stratification. In the long run, we know that whatever we are doing is best for Singapore and Singaporeans. Singaporeans must be made to understand and own this process. Indeed, the nation is learning as much as the schools are thinking.”
“Going by the records, these students will do well in their "A" levels even without the through-train programme. The programme will probably enhance their performance at the "A" levels, perhaps just marginally. If these skills are critical for the 'A' levels examinations and for the new economy, why are we not extending them to the other 15% who will end up doing their 'A' levels anyway? I have argued earlier about the problem we face today on the transition from 'A' levels to university education, and the changes to the JC curriculum aim to address this. But what about the transition from 'O' levels to 'A' levels? Would these students not benefit from it even more? Why should they be deprived of something that will benefit them? Unless the skills are academic performance dependent, which I do not think they are, I urge the Ministry to reconsider and actually extend it to the other students at the upper secondary level. I believe it will greatly enhance their performance at the 'A' levels. Sir, this brings me to my last point. The report is supposed to look at the JC and upper secondary education. As far as I understand, upper secondary refers to secondary 3 and 4, focusing on preparing students for the 'O' levels, while the JCs are the post secondary educational institutions where students take their 'A' level examinations. Sir, the changes in the JC curriculum is certainly in line with the current system in the universities, local and abroad. This is rightfully so since the path is clear for these students to move from JC to university. Of course, the skills to be acquired will be useful for the new economy. Sir, the through train programme seemingly aims at providing this seamless progression from PSLE to the 'A" levels.”
“I encourage MOE to pay attention to this group of Singaporeans whose survival will ensure that we are able to consciously narrow the gap. Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister said yesterday that the through-train programme is targetted to allow students who can do well with less structured environment. As the target is the top 10%, he thus alluded to the fact that the higher performers will do better in less structured environment compared to the not so high performers. I am not sure what the basis of such a conclusion is. I would appreciate it if the Minister can elaborate on that. Sir, the report indicated that on average, 25% of a Primary One cohort will do their "A" levels. If the through-train programme is targetted at the top 10%, it means that there are still 15% of students who will go on to do their "A" levels, albeit after going through their "O" levels. This works out to about 7,500 students per year. The report identified that one of the criteria for the through-train programme is that it "must add value to the education of the students by developing their capacities for creative and critical thinking, and by offering special leadership development and other co-curricular programmes. It must optimise the use of students' time to provide them with opportunities to develop their intellectual curiosity and to ensure they acquire a broad-based education." Sir, these are indeed qualities that are relevant and critical to the new economy. Indeed, they are very much in line with the objectives of the changes in the new JC curriculum. But what it means is that these top 10% of the students will be prepared with the skills and knowledge that will help them do well in their "A" levels and beyond.”
“If we factor in socio-economic status (SES) into the equation, we will potentially be in a position where the haves are not sufficiently mixing with the have-nots. I hope the Minister can provide the House with the socio-economic background of this top 10% students to ensure the House that the SES is indeed not a factor in the equation. If the top 10% students are indeed predominantly middle and upper class children, I urge the Ministry to put in place programmes that will facilitate greater exchanges and mixing between these students and the rest of their cohorts. Let us not widen the gap any further. Sir, indeed, the digital divide has been one of the contentious outcomes of the streaming processes. Some researchers in Britain have argued that low ability pupils who are grouped homogenously compared to those who are in mixed ability groups are less likely to participate in school activities, exhibit lower expectations, experience more disciplinary problems and have higher levels of absenteeism and non-completion. Sir, I do not have the figures, but anecdotal experience suggests that this is not too far away from the case here. Perhaps, MCDS can enlighten the House but my sense is that the higher proportions of juvenile offenders, for example, are from the academically weaker streams. As we focus our attention on the cream on the top, let us not forget the residue at the bottom. My experience as a social worker also suggests that many of them are not able to fit into the structured nature of the educational system. While flexibility has been argued to benefit the top fliers, have we studied the possibility of providing the under-achievers with greater flexibility too? Are our secondary schools equipped with the same level of flexibility?”
“The through-train programme targets 10% of a cohort - about 5,000 per year. Sir, in the report, schools like RI, RGS, ACS, Chinese High School are slated and set to roll their through-trains on the fast tracks. Sir, I would like to ask the Minister to provide the socio-economic profiles of students in these schools who will board the through-train. What proportions of these students come from middle and upper-class backgrounds? My worry is that we are perpetuating further the already existing differentiation. One may argue that these schools are already in operation all this while and the students have been differentiated from the students of neighbourhood schools at present already. So what is the problem? The problem is that with the new programme, they will be further advantaged, compared to the students in the neighbourhood schools. At this time, we are not informed of how much resources will be allocated to the through-train programme but I will be surprised if the resources are not significantly increased. Otherwise, why talk about investing in their talents? They will go even faster and even further from the rest of their counterparts. Sir, I do acknowledge that the social divisions due to our meritocractic principles are inevitable and have, in fact, been accepted here as a fact of life. We are always separating the bright from the less bright in the name of giving each child the potential to develop at his or her own pace. It is the fundamental nature of our system. Certainly it serves the needs of the nation and the individual. Why hold someone back when he can go faster than the other? But have we stopped for a while and asked what is the cost that we may incur if our top performers are not interacting with the less bright?”
“It is indeed a test of our own system's ability to be flexible and adaptable - values that the changes hope to inculcate in the beneficiaries of the new system. Mr Speaker, Sir, we have heard much about the proposed Integrated Programme or the through-train programme. Sir, just before setting off, the conductor of an actual train will usually invite all passengers to come on board. He will shout, "All aboard." But sorry to say, this particular train is only for the top few. Sir, notably, this proposal has drawn the most attention in the present debate. Somehow, we often react at the slightest indication of a policy that will result in differentiating people. We have heard arguments justifying streaming from the Ministry for the umpteenth time. Yesterday, Assoc. Prof. Koo Tsai Kee eloquently argued that labelling or stigmatising need not be present, if only society stops doing so. He is right that labelling and stigmatising are mere social constructions. They are man-made and can be deconstructed. But he must remember that these are systemic processes that take place in any society. The social construction is dependent on the social structures that exist and the values that prevail in any society. These structures include the very policies that we are talking about today. Unless we deconstruct our value systems and social structures, we cannot escape from the natural processes of constructing labels. The challenge is to continuously manage this complex process and evaluate the costs and benefits to society. Sir, I think we cannot deny that the proposed through-train programme is yet another streaming exercise. Some Members have labelled it as the extension of the Gifted Education Programme. The GEP targets 1% of a cohort, approximately about 500 students per year.”
“If we are to think out of the box for a moment, in the name of flexibility, will the Ministry consider allowing students to take courses across JCs? Sir, this point is important if we analyse the potential fate of the students in the 3-year Centralised Institutes. Yes, their numbers are small. And because their numbers are small, it will not be a surprise to find that the range of subjects offered will be lesser than those in the JCs, simply because there are no economies of scale. What is the extent of flexibility that they would have then? Will their subject combination be limited to the subjects offered by their respective institutions? Can the system be flexible enough to allow these students to take a subject or two in a JC? Impossible? Why not? Just as the ERC Sub-committee on Enhancing Human Capital proposed that Normal students be allowed to take one or two "O" level subjects, why should we not allow the Centralised Institute students to take one or two subjects in the JCs and to take their "A" levels for these subjects earlier? Certainly, the interaction with the JC students will facilitate further cross fertilisation of ideas and experiences between the students. It would foster interaction between institutions and help bring down artificial social barriers between the supposedly brighter JC students and their country cousin from the CIs. Yes, it may be an administrative nightmare. But since we are remaking almost everything around us, why not reconsider this too? These "A" level institutions, the JCs and CIs can be clustered such that each cluster provides the widest range of subjects to encourage flexibility in subject combinations.”
“These are important processes that must be part of the new system. What is critical is the extent to which we develop this culture of valuing individual ideas and opinions in and of themselves. We should not value the ideas because the ideas bring economic value. We should value them because they come from an individual who is willing to share his thoughts. We value them because we value each individual. Such processes will go a long way in developing self-esteem and confidence of our students. Sir, pedagogically, it is a new way of looking at education. Education is more than just the transmission of knowledge, often assessed through the outcome of examinations. Education is about processes. We should indeed pay equal attention to the processes as we do the outcomes. We should be conscious of the processes for the best learning is often done through processing the processes. Assessment should thus not merely focus on the outcomes but the processes that students go through in their learning. Sir, I urge MOE to pay attention to this aspect of education as it implements the proposed changes to the JC curriculum, including training the teachers with new teaching methods. Sir, I applaud the recommendations of the Review Committee which calls for greater flexibility in the subject combinations that students are able to take. My question is how flexible can the JCs be. I hope we do not end up in a situation where, because of limitations of space, time, manpower, it prevents students from taking the subjects of their choice. Sir, I am not sure the extent to which the range of subjects offered by the different JCs isimilar. It is not surprising to find one JC developing a course on biochemistry and another offering theatre studies.”
“There is a gross lack of self-confidence in many of them. I am not sure how the proposed changes will address this lack of confidence among the students that come to the university. They are the products of the current JC system. Yes, there will be the few who will display confidence naturally. But, by and large, many that we see do not. The proposed changes are touted to produce students who have better thinking and other knowledge skills including communication skills. The recent changes in the way the "A" level examinations are being designed test students' thinking skills where students are encouraged to offer personal views and bring higher-order skills of analysis, synthesis and knowledge application to their reading and writing. All these are well and good. But I wonder what aspect of the proposed curriculum changes will develop the confidence in the students to express their own independent thoughts, independent of what they think the teachers are thinking. These students must be taught to question the question. Perhaps these skills are not taught but rather are outcomes from processes that recognise individuals for who they are and for their own abilities. It goes back to the values that are transmitted within the system itself, to what extent do we value individual opinions, no matter how insignificant they may be. Our students are afraid to speak out because they are afraid that what they will say may be wrong or they may be saying the wrong thing. In the complex new world, right or wrong are in themselves complex concepts. One's opinion may lead to the right decision today but wrong tomorrow. Successful entrepreneurs make many wrong decisions and fail before they succeed. The point is: do we dare to speak up, make a mistake and learn from the mistake?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to participate in this debate. Much has been said on the motion before the House since yesterday. The fact that 33 Members have indicated interest in speaking on the motion speaks volumes of the importance of the topic. Education policies have been in the hearts and minds of many Singaporeans. Yesterday, we heard eloquent speeches from Members, some defending the education system, others presenting their well-argued criticisms of some parts of the system. Sir, indeed education is so dear to all our hearts. The changes proposed have far reaching implications for our children. True to the intent it was set out to serve, the operative words in the proposed changes are flexibility, diversity, creativity - ingredients necessary to survive in a new innovation-driven global economy. Indeed, each talent needs to be enhanced. The proposed changes seek to prepare and develop these diverse talents through paths that best suit each individual's abilities. Sir, as a lecturer at the university, I find the proposed changes to the JC curriculum indeed very long overdue. I guess the frustration faced by teachers like myself is epitomised by the offer made by NUS to run its own secondary school to overcome the problem of students coming to NUS expecting to be spoon-fed. Till today, I still have difficulty getting students to open up and present their own ideas. Many are still tongue-tied, expecting me to give them the "answers" to the discussion topics. If ever they spoke, many will be guarded, often trying to say what I want to hear rather than what they actually think. Are they thinking individuals? Well, some are, but most are not thinking of their response to the topics discussed, but rather thinking of what the teacher wants to hear.”
“Is there a differentiation in terms of what a married woman gets and an unmarried woman gets? The woman who is married gets double relief, meaning that she can also claim relief for looking after her elderly parent as well as employing a maid. Whereas the person who is single does not get double relief.”
“Sir, I think the issue is that if the woman is married ---”
“Mr Speaker, given that Government has been doing all these things to make sure that Singaporeans are trained and available to be employed, what is the problem faced by SMEs that they have all these difficulties attracting local workers? Has MOM done anything to study what are the problems that SMEs are facing because we have all these schemes in place? Is there any kind of help that has been given to the SMEs to understand all these schemes and for them to actually utilise what is already made available?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I recognise what the Minister said about equal access to opportunities, but would not the issue of having quota for the female students in medical school mean that there is access, but based on gender? If it is based on gender, then would it not be discriminatory in itself because the gender becomes a factor in getting access to the medical school? Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, I would not disagree with the Member's interpretation. As it stands now, there is a selection process to ensure that we maintain a balance between the number of male doctors and female doctors that we have in our institution. FOREIGN WORKERS 12. Ms Olivia Lum Ooi Lin asked the Minister for Manpower whether his Ministry will consider lowering the foreign worker levy and raising the quota of foreign workers in value-added or highly specialised industries where SMEs are facing difficulties in attracting skilled local workers to fill vacancies in their operations. 13. Ms Olivia Lum Ooi Lin asked the Minister for Manpower whether the Ministry will consider allowing the employment of foreign workers from non-traditional sources for the textile industry or other industries with high export activities.”
“Sir, we know that there are a lot of accusations that the Malaysians have given. One of the things that the Malaysians had alleged is that the 3 sen price was fixed by the British in 1927 because they favoured Singapore. Can the Minister clarify whether there is any basis for such an allegation?”
“Can I ask the Minister if the price review clauses provided for a review after 25 years, have the Malaysians ever explained why they did not raise the issue of price review all these years and why have they only done so recently?”
“It is a good start. However, we need to explore other ways of providing Singaporeans with the opportunity to appreciate what goes on in the House. Perhaps a television channel akin to CSPAN in the US where the proceedings of the House of Representatives and the Senate are televised live may be considered. Yes, cost is an issue, economic viability is the essence, but if we hear the third generation's voice, let us think out of the box and see if we can indeed make this work. Let us look at the benefit that we can reap - more informed Singaporeans appreciating the works of the Government. Singaporeans need to feel they belong, they need to own the processes that take place in the country, and I do believe it is critical for them to own the processes that take place in this House too. I urge MITA to seriously study this possibility. Yes, the argument is that: will Singaporeans tune in to it even when it is provided for? We certainly cannot force them to do so, but we can facilitate and start with the schools tuning on to it. We can explore delayed telecast over designated channels. The point is, Singaporeans need to own the processes - they need to be partners of the Government for them to belong and want to stay in the partnership. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as we are now going through the process of self-reflection, let us seriously reflect on our relationship with the people. We have to start taking dance lessons seriously so that we can tango to the heartbeat of the third generation and synchronise our footsteps to their tempo. Let us make the marriage work - till death do us part. I support the Motion.”
“I would like to recommend that the Government include, as part of the school curriculum, at least at post-secondary level, since the bulk of our cohort would have reached that level, an industrial attachment programme with Government agencies and Ministries. I think such a programme is limited only to scholars at this time. Such a programme would go a long way in giving young Singaporeans a glimpse into the world of civil service and governance. We have an extensive programme of industrial attachments in the private sector to expose students to the real working world. It may be timely to expose Singaporeans to the world of the Government. This would facilitate understanding and appreciation of policy formulation and implementation. It will strengthen the foundation of the relationship between Government and the third generation Singaporeans. Perhaps it will make them stay in the marriage longer. Sir, this House is the highest policy-making body in the country. It is sad, however, that not many Singaporeans are aware of what happens in this House. The media reports what it deems as important and that shapes what Singaporeans think of the House and its processes. Apart from a few pages in the print media, we get 15 minutes of airtime over television (maximum 30 minutes). Of course, we do see the reason - its commercial viability or a lack of it. I was also guilty of it. Prior to being a Member of the House, my perception is solely guided by what I read in the papers and watch on television. I do now realise that there is much more that happens in this House. To appreciate the works of the Government, Singaporeans need to be exposed to such important processes as much as possible. I am glad to notice many school students coming to the House to hear what is happening.”
“Do we communicate with each other? Some say yes, some say no. This is common in relationships that are turning sour. Communication theorists argue that "we cannot not communicate". The Government needs to recognise the non-verbal communication of Singaporeans. There have been suggestions that the lack of enthusiasm in putting out the state flag outside their flats was indication of Singaporeans' sense of unhappiness in the recent National Day. While we can continue to read non-verbal messages, we need to ensure that Singaporeans are made to feel that they are being listened to. We have different mechanisms for feedback but the common grouse is that this feedback is seldom taken into consideration. Many Singaporeans, however, hold on to the view that feedback is listened to and taken into consideration only when it is acted upon, ie, if there is no action from Government, it means that they are not listening. The transport fare hike is a good example, though I am sure that there are many other examples prior to this. Whatever the explanation, Singaporeans need to be assured that the decisions made have taken their concerns into consideration. The third generation Singaporeans are more discerning. They need to be convinced with rational arguments supported by relevant facts and information. In this regard, Sir, I think more can be done to get third generation Singaporeans to understand the workings of this Government sector, how policies are formulated and implemented, how they respond to public queries and how they react to new trends.”
“Recently, the Government formed the Remaking Singapore Committee, which promised to leave no stone unturned. Every policy will be scrutinised and analysed. My only hope is for the committee to ensure that any change in policy be done with a systemic orientation, noting how one policy may affect the other. I do not want to pre-empt the recommendations of the committee as I am sure this House will have the opportunity to debate them. Sir, while the Remaking Singapore Committee is an encouraging process of self-reflection on the Government's part, I think we also need to reflect on the relationship that the third-generation Singaporeans have with the Government. The first and the second-generation Singaporeans established a relationship by choice when they decided to migrate here. It is like a marriage by choice. But, Sir, unlike the first and second-generation Singaporeans, the third-generation Singaporeans are born into the relationship with the country and the Government. For the third generation, it is like an arranged marriage or a marriage of convenience. Sir, it takes two to tango. It takes two to make a marriage work. Couples quit marriages after they realise that they cannot tango together anymore. They are not able to synchronise their steps any longer. They step on each other's toes ever so often. They were not able to meet each other's expectations. Common problems they face include: they cannot communicate to each other, they do not listen to one another, they do not share a common vision, they do not see eye-to-eye. Sir, before our third-generation Singaporeans quit on the country, perhaps we need to understand their needs and expectations and facilitate their understanding of the country's needs and expectations. Let us make this marriage work.”
“Thus, the arts is not valued for its contribution to the 'human condition' but rather is used to generate creativity for economic purposes." Sir, I think what the third-generation Singaporeans are clearly saying is that their survival is beyond economics and education. It is more on their sense of self and well-being. They are calling out for a more relaxed environment. They want to do well in other things - not necessarily excel in these activities - just do well and be happy. Maybe, what they are saying is to stop judging success narrowly, perhaps not even to define success and leave success to the individuals to define. This will also allow us to move away from the tendency to classify people into neat categories like quitters and stayers. Sir, I was away from Singapore in the mid-90s for several years. When I returned, I saw a new Singapore - a Singapore that was going through a process of self-reflection. It was indicative of the realisation on the part of the Government that third-generation Singaporeans are not identifying with values and principles of the earlier generation, that they may need a different set of values, expanding the economic and academic definition of success. The S21 initiative was well conceived and received by Singaporeans. It prides itself with gathering feedback from more than 6,000 Singaporeans. As a result, five tenets were conceptualised. We now attempt to encourage Singaporeans to embrace these tenets. But I am not sure how many Singaporeans still remember them. It was supposed to be the social blueprint for the Singapore society. It addressed the issues raised by third-generation Singaporeans also. Yet, we are still hearing the rumblings from this generation that we want to reach out to.”
“They are those who have succeeded academically. Yet, they are the ones who are voicing their displeasure at the system that they have experienced. I cannot imagine the voices of those who do not make it to the university, those who have dropped off half way. These youngsters do not seem to identify with the earlier emphasis on success defined by academic and economic achievements. They seem to want to move beyond that. While they do recognise that these are the principles that were critical for our nation's survival, they want a different societal ethic. They understand that Singapore needs the human capital and drive in order to survive in the world's economy. Yet, they argue that in this new age, where life is a lot more complex, and youths are presented with a lot more choices and information, this same rule of enterprise cannot be presented to them like a doctrine, ie, work hard and study hard because it is good for you and good for the country's economy. Many of today's youths know that there are certain things that cannot be measured economically in dollars and cents, and that they are more than simply the sum of their education. But they are often not heard, especially those youths who choose paths alternative to the mainstream, due to personal preferences or limitation. Very often, they are only expected to believe in what the authority says. How can they feel any sense of belonging to the country when they are so detached from the very issues that address them? Another student shared his thoughts on such alternative paths like the arts: "What is saddening is that all this talk about the arts and cultural vibrancy is not seen by the Government as an end in itself, but rather as a means to the ends of economic growth.”
“The pressure is at times - and "at times" would actually be an understatement - unmanageable, and often the fun is missing from the learning equation. Learning is seen more as a means to an end - study hard to get a good high-paying job. There is no real opportunity to exercise creativity and broaden our horizons as the teaching schedule is often very tight. Exposed to such a harsh, unrelenting, cut-throat competitive environment for the most part of our lives, some of us shudder when we think of the future working environment. Surely, it cannot get any better! What with the Government's emphasis on economic competitiveness and being the first in everything, most of us cannot envision a more relaxed or even sympathetic environment. There seems to be no end to our hard work and we may never be able to run away from the pressures; not even after slogging 20 years of our lives to finally relax and reap the benefits of our education." When asked about their future in Singapore, another student shared that: "The future seems to be stressed to our generation as one based on personal merit, capability and hard work, where work and economic competitiveness is primary, and being burnt-out at some point is a necessary outcome of our country's pace. Perhaps, many people 'quit' because they are disillusioned by the pace of this society, and are unable or frustrated to keep up with it. To them, to 'quit' from this society would help in 'staying' on track with life, as they are able to better manage their lives and stress levels and self-actualise perhaps elsewhere." Sir, what I am hearing from these young Singaporeans is that they need a different environment. These are students who are currently in the university. They are the cream of the crop.”
“The third-generation Singaporeans, however, seem to define and give meaning to the term "survival" differently. It is naturally difficult for a generation born in times of economic boom and raised in relative wealth and comfort to be told that they need to think of their survival. This is the IRC (Internet Relay Chat), ICQ generation who spend most of their time in cyberspace, networking and finding their own space, identity and sense of individuality. The self is emerging as the central focus for this generation compared to the "other". This seems to be a change from what sociologists and psychologists know of Asian societies - where the "other" is more important than the "self". Sir, as a lecturer in the university, I meet the third-generation Singaporeans every day. It was not surprising when I asked them for comments on the motion and how the third-generation Singaporeans see it. The response was "What is the point? The Government is not going to do anything anyway." They seem to say that their voices will not be heard. Of course, with much persuasion, some spoke. In the course of this speech, I would like to share with you the voices of the third generation. Sir, what is clear to them is that they are the product of the policies that the Government has implemented. They do not blame the system nor are they avoiding to take the responsibility. The highly competitive educational system has been highlighted as being responsible for their sense of self-centredness. Time and again, children are reminded by parents about the importance of education in securing well-paying jobs. One of my students shared and I quote: "Our life scope seems to be narrow and mainly centres around school and achievement.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me the opportunity to join in this debate. I rise in support of the motion standing before the House. Much has been said about the labels "stayers" and "quitters" over the last month or so since Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong's National Day Rally. This is not the first time that Singaporeans have reacted to such labels. A couple of years ago, we hear Singaporeans reacted to the labels "cosmopolitans" and "heartlanders". Whatever labels are used, there are fundamental issues that Singapore and Singaporeans must address. One key issue is survival, and related to it is the issue that Singaporeans are needed for Singapore to survive. This issue of survival has been at the core of Singapore society since we gained independence. However, the definition and meanings given to the word differ as we look at the stages of development and who is defining the term. Sir, to the first-generation Singaporeans, survival was critical during the early Singapore years - the post-war and pre-independence years. The struggle to create an independent Singapore amidst severe political and economic uncertainties made them stick behind the Government and accept its policies. The second generation continued this sense of commitment to the nation, understanding the need to continue to survive and to build wealth. The pursuit of economic development was the sole objective, and everyone embraced such a philosophy. Policies were accepted and economic progress was the visible outcome. Intermittent economic crisis set in, but the previous experience showed that the Government knows best and the generation followed what was prescribed by the Government.”
“Clarification, Sir. While the number of reports of physical abuse of maids has come down - and the Minister of State earlier mentioned about the different options and avenues that maids can actually lodge complaints should there be any forms of other abuse - I wonder what is the extent of such complaints of other forms of abuse of domestic helpers at this time, or even within the last few months, in relation to ascertaining the extent of problems with regard to maid abuse.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister of State talked generally about physical abuse of domestic maids. My work with victims of domestic violence suggests that, often times, other forms of abuse are precursors to physical violence or abuse. In order to prevent physical abuse of domestic maids, what are the measures that have been taken to detect other forms of abuse that may happen in a household, rather than wait until physical abuse actually takes place?”
“Also, what will happen to those who already have problems with their creditworthiness? What will happen to them if the banks refuse to grant them the loan? Sir, we need to study this further before implementing it. Sir, I believe that the recommendations put forth by the ERC sub-committee and endorsed by the Government have the interest of the people at heart. We are indeed going through rough times and major shifts have been recommended. For Singaporeans to be convinced that these measures are for their good, we need to give them hope and direction. I seek the Government's indulgence in looking at some of the issues that the other Members of the House and myself have raised as we work together to give Singaporeans this ray of hope that things will indeed get better for us.”
“How many of them are on the verge of being declared bankrupt following failure to meet their financial commitments to other creditors? These latter creditors are likely to be the commercial banks who we intend to send them to with the implementation of the new policy. These are the cases that we have seen in our individual constituencies. Today, they come to us for assistance in negotiating instalment plans, tomorrow they will come to us looking for a roof over their heads for themselves and their children. Sir, while I see the need to make Singaporeans more responsible for themselves and for the Government to let go some of the hand-holding, there is a need to do this incrementally. Sir, behavioural changes are best achieved incrementally. Sir, I believe that if we can study the trends of what happened to this group in this economic crisis, it will help us prepare for eventualities when the new policy sets in. We have to accept that there will be no more safety nets for this group of people. Should they default, and by our previous experience, many will, and should the flats be repossessed, we will have a problem in our hands. Sir, I do acknowledge that we cannot save everyone nor should we protect them. They should be responsible for their own actions. But the current economic crisis tells us that there is a group that ends up in a difficult situation due to no fault of theirs - they are structurally unemployed and need time to upgrade themselves to regain employment. The HDB has used its own discretion and exercised moral responsibility in extending different schemes to this group to help them tide over difficult times. But the commercial banks will not care. They will look at the bottom-line.”
“These two should not be equated - ideal as it may be - just as other demographic factors like gender, ethnic group, should not be linked to economic productivity and thus wages. Sir, it is a frightening thought to be told on my 50th birthday that I am too expensive and my economic value has dropped by 4%. I would ask if my performance had not deteriorated, why should my salary be reduced. The statistics I quoted earlier have shown that in some sectors, older workers are already earning lower wages, and I believe it is not due to their age but rather their skills set and productivity. Sir, any reduction in CPF contribution from employers is a reduction in the total income of the individual worker. To the lower skilled worker, it would be significant. This is even more critical if he is taking a loan with a bank to mortgage his HDB flat. He may be one who falls into the category of HDB market interest rate loan. I would like to address some of the implications of the new initiative announced by DPM Lee yesterday on the intended target group. Sir, although the new policy applies to the new loans or refinanced loans, we should study the potential effect using the experiences of the current group of home owners who would fall into the target group. I would like to ask DPM Lee or HDB what is the proportion of the current group of home owners who would have been affected by the new policy. From the records of HDB, what is the proportion of this group of home owners who have a history of defaulting payment on their mortgages? What is the profile of this group of home owners? Were they also defaulters of other payments, like utilities and other bills?”
“At the same time, while I acknowledge that our society is aging, we need not hasten the pace by confirming that the 50-54 age group is indeed a new group of elderly people. I think they have much to offer and reducing the CPF rate may perhaps send a different message to them. We should try to remain as youthful as we can for a longer period of time, perhaps we should classify them as the "older young", instead of the "younger old", still up and about, and certainly able to contribute to the economy. I think we recognise that changing the CPF rate is not the only solution to the problem. Indeed, there are larger issues, eg, ensuring that the wages of these workers are commensurate to their productivity, regardless of their age or gender, going by yesterday's session on Questions for Oral Answer. In this regard, Sir, one perception that exists, following the recommendations put forth by the ERC sub-committee that the employers' CPF contribution for these workers be reduced, is the underlying value that older workers have lower economic value as they grow older. I think no matter what we say, we cannot deny that such actions can lead to such perceptions. Age has always been equated to wisdom and productivity with the caveat of the presence of the relevant skills set. We need to ensure that we are not accused of ageism. I recognise that the argument can be raised that we have already lowered the CPF rates for workers aged 55 and above. This was more palatable as it was pegged to the then retirement age of 55. But palatable or not, the current measure, I think, is just as equally, if not more, bitter in taste. Perhaps it is not the right medicine for the sickness. Sir, we need to evaluate the value behind our treatment of age and economic value and viability.”
“8% of companies have implemented the monthly variable component in the wage system. It was rather surprising to me to find out, Sir, from the Report on Wages in Singapore 2001 survey that 64% of firms studied indicated that they had no wish to introduce the MVC in their wage system. This is despite efforts by the labour movement in encouraging them to do so. I wonder what is the proportion of these firms which currently use a performance-based appraisal system in deciding remuneration for their employees. Sir, such blatant attitudes of the employers will continue to plague the already harsh employment landscape for our workers. We will continuously have to return to the workers to make the adjustments and, of course, the CPF will end up being the easiest target. I would encourage the Government to introduce measures to encourage employers to move into the flexible wage system, perhaps starting with some incentives, if not, some legislative measures may be necessary. I am glad that as an employer, the Government has set an example for the private sector to follow. But I would suggest that the Government also study why such examples are hard to follow. Sir, one can say that this is a chicken-and-egg issue. But the proposed cut in the CPF rates for older workers has got a deeper implication. We need to look at the issue beyond the economic consideration. Sir, I believe the economic productivity of these workers is also dependent on their emotional and psychological well-being. The current economic gloom will certainly affect the psychological and emotional well-being of these workers. If we keep asking the workers to continue sacrificing their salary, it will continue to dampen their spirit.”
“Sir, if we evaluate these statistics and the earlier figures on the profile of the unemployed, with specific reference to the workers in the 50-54 age group, we can infer that perhaps wages are not a significant factor in their ability to seek re-employment. The wages of the older workers with lower skills and education are already lower than the wages of their younger counterparts. Lowering the employers' CPF contribution rate may not be the solution to ensuring their employability. Indeed, it is their skills set and its relevance to the available jobs that are critical. However, Sir, a 4% reduction in salary may mean a lot to this group of workers. I would like to thus echo the call made by Mr Ravindran yesterday for this reduction to be a temporary measure, and for it to be restored when the economic situation improves for this group of workers with their improved skills set. Sir, I am glad to note that the Government will extend the People-for-Job Traineeship Programme and the SRP as these programmes will serve the needs of this group of workers. The challenge is to entice these workers to take advantage of these programmes. Sir, I think much has been asked of the workers - from wage restraint to wage cuts to now, cuts in CPF contributions - all in the name of staying competitive and keeping costs low. However, what are we asking the employers to do? What have we done to educate employers to play their part in ensuring the employment market remains buoyant? Employers have been given much handouts in the recent Budget, especially with regard to tax cuts, etc. However, it is rather surprising to note their attitude towards issues related to the employment market. Yesterday, Mdm Halimah shared with the House that only 4.”
“Yes, perhaps we have inherited a wage system that has structurally created a stumbling block to our economic system. We need to replace this stumbling block to something that is small, agile and flexible, to ensure that age is not a factor in determining wages, but rather performance. Sir, while the proposed changes in the employers' CPF contribution of workers aged 50-55 suggest that the wages of this group of workers are a significant inhibitor to gaining employment, I wonder if it is a valid assumption. The Report on Wages in Singapore 2001, published by the Ministry of Manpower, showed that the relationship between age and wages is mediated by the skills level of the workers. It noted, and I quote: "The pace of wage increase with age is more pronounced with the highest skilled workers as their work is generally knowledge intensive." For example, the median gross wage of managers aged 30-35 was $3,930 compared to $5,005 for managers aged 50-55, a 40% difference in favour of the older workers. The report, however, continued, and I quote: "The impact of age on wages is less among lower skilled workers. Here, wages generally peaked earlier." In June 2001, the median wage of cleaners, labourers and related workers aged 30-35, for example, was $1,582 compared to $1,298 for workers aged 50-54 years old, a difference of 18% in favour of the younger workers. Another group of lowly skilled workers are the plant and machine operators and assemblers. There is little difference in the median age of the young and older workers in this group with those aged 30-35 earning a median income of $1,878, and those in the 50-54 age group earning $1,810, a very, very small difference.”
“The profile of unemployed persons as at June 2001, documented in a Report on Labour Force 2001 by MOM, showed that although workers aged 50 and above make up only 14% of the unemployed, which is proportionate to their proportion in the population, they take the longest time to regain employment. The median duration of unemployment for this group of workers is 14 weeks. They were also found to be more vulnerable to under-employment. It was also reported that job seekers with primary education and below took the longest time to regain employment. Thus, it can be extrapolated that the older workers with lower educational qualifications are the most vulnerable. Sir, it is thus understandable to see the measure as a way of reducing the cost of employing older workers. It is based on the assumption that wages of the workers are a key inhibitor for them to regain employment. We first need to understand how the cost of employing these workers has risen. Many speakers in the House have spoken of the seniority wage system, ie, with the seniority comes the practice wisdom that they have acquired all these years. This practice wisdom would then be the value-add that they bring along to their employers. Sir, one would hope that the wages of the workers are pegged to their performance or productivity, taking into consideration the practice wisdom and the value-add that they bring along. However, we have heard arguments from the employers that they can find younger workers doing similar jobs done by older workers at a lower price. Is this really so? If this is so, the issue is thus to look at the wage system, ie, ensuring that the wages are based on performance and not age.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me the opportunity to participate in the present debate on the proposed changes to the Central Provident Fund. Sir, this is a difficult time for Singaporeans. It is not easy to strike a balance between taking care of the welfare and emotional well being of Singaporeans, and dealing with the hard facts of the economic realities. I am pleased to note the comprehensiveness of the measures proposed and announced by DPM Lee yesterday at ensuring that our economy remains competitive and our workers remain employable in a highly gloablised and competitive world. Much has been talked about the group of older workers whose employers' CPF contribution has been proposed to remain at 16% when the full restoration of CPF rates takes place. Essentially, they will be experiencing a 4% cut in their salary. Sir, I remember when I was doing research on the elderly population, there was the classification of the young old - those aged 60-75, and the old-old - those aged 75 and above. The classification is often times based on their level of economic and social activity. The proposal involving the 50-55 age group seems to suggest a need to classify another group of "elderly". Perhaps we need to call them the "younger old", or maybe "the not so young", or maybe "the not so old". Whatever we call them, they seem to be a new group of workers that we are concerned about since their age is a determinant in the present debate. Sir, the unemployment figures, especially those involving this group of workers, are a cause for concern.”
“Sir, how does the Ministry monitor the effectiveness of these external counsellors? If everything is left to the school, how does the Ministry ensure that these counsellors are effective in their work and what is the extent of the effectiveness?”