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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“The pipeline was not connected to the gas distribution system. So it was not combustible as the question suggested. Hence, there was no combustible gas in the pipeline and there was therefore no danger of any gas leakage, or any risk of fire. In the meantime, PowerGas will stop all high pressure testing until we know what went wrong, and how to prevent recurrences and enhance safety. SELECTIVE EN-BLOC REDEVELOPMENT SCHEME 14. Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for National Development, in view of the glut in the property market whether (i) he will consider having a moratorium on the Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme and, if so, (ii) for how many years.”
“Why was it done in the first place? The reason is that parts of the existing network of gas pipelines in Singapore are ageing. It is more cost effective to rehabilitate the pipelines rather than to replace them with new ones. This will also avoid public inconvenience as our pipelines are laid under public roads. Now pipeline rehabilitation is an established practice in the gas industry world-wide since the mid-1970s, and the technology has been refined over the years. This technology is used in Japan, Europe and the USA. Why was it done when human traffic could be high? PowerGas had carried out high-pressure tests using compressed air on parts of the rehabilitated pipeline at Jalan Bukit Merah to check for their integrity. The international code of practice is for this test to be done over a duration of 32 hours. Pressure is gradually increased over 8 hours and then held at the final test pressure for 24 hours before being brought down gradually. As the test had to be done over an extended period, PowerGas was not able to avoid having the test done during the 6.00 pm to 7.00 pm period when traffic was high. So what next? PowerGas had submitted its investigation report to the EMA. EMA has formed a committee of experts from the LTA and MOM to consider PowerGas' report and recommend measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The Committee will also review the adequacy of current safety measures, such as advance notification to the public, the extent of public cordon area, and so on. Although PowerGas had cordoned off the most vulnerable parts of the rehabilitated pipeline, the Committee will be investigating why PowerGas had not cordoned off the entire area where the tests were carried out. The Committee targets its findings to be ready end July.”
“Sir, in my question, I asked specifically about design-and-build flats. Can I clarify with the Senior Parliamentary Secretary whether the statistics he quoted refer to all design-and-build flats or to all flats? Because the problem with design-and-build flats is that the flat owners will go in and expect everything has already been done, and they feel very disappointed when they find a lot of defects in their flats. Assoc. Prof. Koo Tsai Kee: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think most of the flats in Woodlands that Dr Maliki referred to are of the premium type. So, they are either design-and-build, or design plus. These flats come with full finishings. They have completed kitchen, as well as tiles. Because the flats have more fixtures, there tends to be a little bit more defects. Compared, for example, to a plain vanilla 4-room flat, there are no kitchen fixtures, the floors are not tiled, so there is no question of tile complaints because there are no tiles. So, there are slightly more defects than the plain vanilla standard type of flats. In fact, instances of defects in Woodlands new town are lower than the global average across all towns. GAS PIPE TESTING IN BUKIT MERAH AREA 13. Dr Chong Weng Chiew asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) why was combustible works such as gas pipe testing in the Bukit Merah area carried out from 6 to 7 pm, when human traffic could be high and (b) in the Bukit Merah case, where work was carried out near a library and a petrol station, why was the area not cordoned off. The Minister of State for Trade and Industry (Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat) (for the Minister for Trade and Industry): Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank Dr Chong for his question. I share his concerns and it gives us an opportunity to give some perspective on this.”
“I wonder whether the 20% complaint rate is acceptable to HDB, because 200 out of every 1,000 new flats with unsatisfactory workmanship is quite high. Secondly, what has the Ministry to say about the kind of quality control mechanism that is in place? Because it is rather disturbing to note that when HDB new flat owners come into their flat, they realise that there is unsatisfactory work done, and 20 out of every 100 flat owners would be facing the same problem. Can the Senior Parliamentary Secretary please clarify the quality control mechanism that is in place, and why is it that the problem still occurs? Assoc. Prof. Koo Tsai Kee: Mr Speaker, Sir, Dr Maliki might have misread the statistics I quoted. There were 200 instances of unsatisfactory workmanship reported within the defects liability period for every 1,000 flats. In one flat, there may be two or three instances of defects, eg, the flat owner may say these tiles are not polished, those tiles are not polished, so there are two instances. So, it is not 200 flats out of 1,000 flats. It is 200 instances. Some flats have more complaints, some flats have less. Is the number acceptable? It is in the nature of construction that some defects do occur after completion of the flats. That is why, in all contracts, whether it is private condominiums, landed estates, or HDB flats, we provide a one-year defects liability period, for the contractors to move in to remedy the defects.”
“This will provide greater relevance to the application of acquired knowledge when they return to Singapore as religious teachers and scholars. I encourage MUIS to take a more proactive role in guiding the madrasahs and their students in this regard. Sir, as Singapore is undergoing major changes in its economic and social landscape, so do the other social and religious institutions. The Muslim community should continue to see these changes as key to our efforts at attaining the vision of a community of excellence.”
“(4) What is the role of MUIS in curriculum development in the madrasahs? (5) Are there plans for the madrasahs to collaborate with the national schools in terms of sharing of resources, eg, use of science laboratories, etc? In line with the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs' vision of a community of excellence, the madrasahs should aim to be an institution of excellence in the country and in the region. The madrasahs will continue to serve an important function for the Muslim community. They will produce generations of religious teachers and scholars for the community. It is also recognised, however, that not all madrasah graduates will become religious scholars and teachers. Some may be bankers, teachers, administrators, and so on. I have seen graduates of madrasahs succeed in our local tertiary institutions. They are indeed role models for the others who have set their eyes on tertiary education. The Compulsory Education Act is a boost to these students as they acquire the requisite set of knowledge and skills. It sets a stage for madrasahs to succeed in attaining the vision of an institution of excellence. I would like to encourage MUIS to continue to play an active role in helping the madrasahs excel in its work. As the religious authority of the country, MUIS should set the directions for the madrasahs and assist the madrasahs secure the resources that they need to achieve their mission. Sir, in taking the lead role on the development of the Muslim scholars in Singapore, MUIS should also guide madrasahs and its students on training opportunities abroad in universities in countries where the Islamic community is the minority community.”
“Sir, compulsory education will take effect in the year 2003. The Act recognises the importance of education and ensuring that every Singaporean child is given ample opportunities to education in our national schools. Sir, we also recognise that education is indeed the social leveller and for Singaporeans to be able to survive in the knowledge economy, they must possess a minimum level of education and a set of skills. Students of full-time Islamic religious schools, or madrasahs, have been given an exception on condition that they also sit for the PSLE examination and obtain a minimum grade. I believe that madrasah students and their parents are aware of the need for them to also be prepared for the new economy. Whether they graduate and seek employment in the religious sector or other sectors, the knowledge and skills-set obtained will enhance their relevance and indeed employability in the new economy. Sir, running a school is no easy matter. It requires resources and expertise. The focus of madrasahs has been religious education. The inclusion of Mathematics, English and Science in their curriculum will indeed create a challenge for the madrasahs. In this regard, I would like to ask the Minister in charge of Muslim Affairs the following questions: (1) What is the level of PSLE result that the madrasah students must attain when compulsory education comes into effect? (2) How are the madrasahs gearing up in meeting up this new expectation? Do the madrasahs have the needed resources and expertise to prepare their children for the PSLE examination? (3) What is the role of MUIS in ensuring that the madrasahs stay focused on providing religious education and, at the same time, meeting the standards set?”
“In the case of the Muslim community, for example, we generally find that many of our religious teachers are trained in universities in countries where the Muslim community are the majority. Oftentimes, they learn the experience and practices of these communities. As the Muslim community here is a minority, situations and practices for the Muslims may be different here compared to countries where the Muslims are a majority. Indeed, there are minority Islamic communities of excellence in other parts of the world. In our effort at attaining the vision of a community of excellence, may I suggest that MUIS provide attachment programmes for these religious teachers to go to these countries and understand how Islam is practised by a minority community par excellence. They can then bring home the wealth of experience and teach the community more effectively.”
“There is sufficient evidence around the world that show the charisma of religious leaders can influence the behaviour of his or her followers. To this end, I would like to raise the issue of the qualification and registration of religious teachers in Singapore. We must set a mechanism in place to ensure that religious teachers who conduct classes in Singapore are qualified and have the necessary qualification. The recent incident of the JI operatives is an example of how the situation may be detrimental to the security of the country and how it can threaten social cohesion and religious harmony. The leader of the group is a self-professed religious teacher whose qualification and credentials have not been established. We are fortunate that the group was arrested before any mishaps could happen. We cannot take any more chances. In this case, may I ask the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs if MUIS has any plans to register religious teachers who conduct classes for Muslims in Singapore. I understand that it will be an arduous task to do as there are many classes that are taking place in residential homes. The value, however, is that the register will enable Muslim Singaporeans to be certain that they are indeed getting religious guidance from qualified teachers. I feel that it is better if the public is informed on what measures that could be taken should they suspect a particular religious teacher of improper teachings. I mentioned earlier the critical point that religious teachers should teach their respective religion within the context of our multi-racial and multi-religious society.”
“Sir, the arrests of 13 operatives of Jemaah Islamiyah is a serious wake-up call to most Singaporeans. Not only did the news make Singaporeans realise how real the threat of terrorism is, it also highlighted the reality of how vulnerable we can be. The fact that the leader of the 13 arrested is a self-proclaimed religious leader sets a new dimension and presents a critical challenge to Singapore. Religion has traditionally been a close and personal matter to every individual. However, events in the world have suggested strongly that it is no longer a personal matter. The situation is critical for a multi-religious society like Singapore. Sir, every religion often presents its followers with a set of values and beliefs that they should embrace. These are then translated into behaviours. To some, religion is an abstract phenomenon that is difficult to understand. Followers look up to religious teachers for guidance and direction, especially when they are faced with difficult decisions to make. Sir, like teachers in academic schools, religious teachers also have the moral and ethical responsibility to provide sound teachings. What is more critical, in my opinion, is that religious teachers must understand the context in which its followers are practising the religion. In Singapore, for example, I think it is the moral and ethical responsibility of every religious teacher to help their respective followers understand and practise their religions within the context of a multi-religious society. This implies the need to place higher value to the greater good of society than the interest of the individual. I am sure that every religion aspires to achieve greater good for society that its followers are living in.”
“Sir, the responsibility of ensuring that social cohesion is enhanced should not be limited to the community sector alone. We need to ensure that the other sectors, the employment, the schools, etc, also consciously work towards enhancing social cohesion. To this end, may I ask the Minister the extent to which MCDS works with the private sector in enhancing social cohesion in the workplace? What programmes have been in place to facilitate this process? Sir, when we discussed the issue of social cohesion, we must also go beyond inter-ethnic relation. Sir, our society is as hierarchical as any other modern society. We do have different levels of social classes. Social cohesion must also address the relationship between the different social classes. In this regard, may I ask the Minister what is the level of participation of residents in private estates in the programmes that aim to promote social cohesion organised by CDCs and grassroots organisations? Sir, as we attempt to narrow the economic divide between the different social classes, we should also work towards narrowing the social divide. The state of our social cohesion is indeed the responsibility of every Singaporean. We must ensure that Singaporeans understand the circumstances that Singapore is facing, and take ownership of the issue and the need to improve our level of social cohesion. I understand the Ministry, and its related agencies, can do that much in providing opportunities for Singaporeans, but if Singaporeans do not respond, these efforts would only be futile. Of course, the Ministry should continue its best to attract and assist Singaporeans to identify and own the issues.”
“Sir, much has been talked about on the need to maintain social cohesion. It is even more critical for a multi-racial society like Singapore. Sir, the CDCs were formed in 1997 with the primary task of maintaining and enhancing the level of social cohesion in our society. Since 1997, the CDCs have taken different shapes and sizes, and today we have five CDCs managed by full-time Mayors. Sir, apart from the CDCs, the People's Association, with its fleet of grassroots organisations, has also been actively involved in implementing programmes that aim to enhance social cohesion. To this end, I would like to ask the Minister the following questions. How much has been spent by each CDC in programmes that aim to promote social cohesion? How do these CDCs measure social cohesion? What are the outcome indicators used by CDCs in ascertaining the effectiveness of their programmes? How much have been achieved thus far, and how much more do we need to do? Has there been any systematic evaluation of these programmes? If there are, what are the findings? If not, are there plans to evaluate these programmes? With the expanded size of the CDCs, how do they ensure social cohesion in their respective geographical areas? Sir, the programmes developed by the CDCs and other grassroots organisations oftentimes set the stage and provide opportunities for Singaporeans to interact. However, we have often heard the common lament that it is the same people who are participating in these activities. If this is so, what is the profile of Singaporeans who are not actively involved in social programmes organised by these grassroots organisations? How do MCDS and the CDCs plan to engage this group of Singaporeans?”
“As often times, the fees charged by VWO-run childcare centres are more manageable for the low-income families after receiving the subsidy. Sir, the issue of childcare and related to it, the welfare and development of children, is indeed important for us to address. Children coming from disadvantaged backgrounds are likely to continue to be disadvantaged, unless they are given an alternative environment that will stimulate their intellectual and social development. Access to formalised childcare services not only benefits the children, it will also facilitate upgrading opportunities for their mothers. The children are our future, regardless of their socio-economic status that their families are in. Those who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, indeed, deserve special attention. We need to invest in their development for us to prevent another generation of low-income families to emerge. I hope MCDS will look into the criteria and administrative processes of administering the CFAC to ensure the access to the scheme for children of low-income families is further enhanced.”
“I think these children will benefit more from structured developmental programmes that are available in childcare centres. They need a headstart to ensure that they will be on the same footing as the other children when they reach primary school. Sir, MCDS has put in place the Centre-based Financial Assistance Scheme for Child Care (CFAC) to assist these families. Subsidies of up to 90% of the childcare fees, subject to a cap of $250 per child, are provided to assist these families to place their children in childcare centres. I think MCDS recognises that CFAC not only facilitates improvement of family income but provides a headstart for children of low-income families. I would like to ask the Minister what is the take-up rate of the CFAC programme to-date, that is, how many children are currently enjoying the subsidy from CFAC. My understanding is that the take-up rate is rather low. If this is so, what are the Ministry's plans to improve the take-up rate? Can the Minister also compare this figure to the number of families with young children, who are receiving financial assistance from CDCs, to determine the extent of children from low-income families who can benefit from the CFAC programme? Sir, my suspicion is that the low take-up rate is due, firstly, to the lack of motivation for private childcare operators to facilitate this process. For at the end of the day, if these parents are not able to pay the fees due after the subsidies, they become a liability to the childcare operators. The administrative process must be made as simple as possible for the operators, to ensure that the scheme reaches out to the deserving families. Perhaps MCDS can encourage more voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) to operate childcare centres.”
“Sir, our childcare policy has been in place for many years. The primary purpose is to facilitate women to continue to remain in the workforce following childbirth. This policy has served us well. Childcare centres are excellent grounds for the total development of a child physically, emotionally, socially, psychologically and, of course, intellectually. Indeed, it is a stimulating environment for the children. I can attest to this as my children have benefited well from the exposure to a childcare environment. Sir, I am concerned about the children of low-income families, just like my colleague, Mr Charles Chong. I am seeing many of these families lately, with heads of households who are not working and with minimal income coming into the family. The mothers do not work because often times, they have more than one to three children. To the mother, the decision to work is weighed against the cost that she would have to incur in placing her children in a childcare facility. This is a practical consideration as what they can possibly earn may actually end up going to the childcare fees; thus, the decision to stay at home and look after their children themselves. While this is a practical and viable option for them, I am concerned with the development of their children. Sir, we have just completed the debate on the budget for MOE, and one of the issues raised by many Members of the House is the stress that children face in school. Indeed, today's child may not have a bright future if he or she enters primary school without a good foundation during the pre-school years. I am concerned that children from low-income families do not have access to strong foundations, and they may be disadvantaged for life. Yes, there are the kindergartens that provide pre-school education.”
“30 pm Sir, I have always believed that dual career couples share three jobs between two people, that is, two careers and the maintenance of a home. Indeed, we should continue to promote this and, I am sure, it will contribute towards increasing our fertility rates. I am glad to note MCDS' support on the role of fathers. But, Sir, I think we need to do more. We need to address the issues that men face in families. As we encourage them to perform non-traditional roles, I encourage MCDS to develop more programmes that will focus on the issues that men face as husband, father, employee, and even son. This in itself is deviating from the norm - that men do not talk about their issues. Sir, I have worked with men in different groups, and I am confident that men do need to talk about their issues, and these issues are directly related to their ability to strengthen their families. Sir, I would encourage MCDS to also focus its efforts on the issues of socialising our children in preparing them for adult roles in families. While we are socialising our girls to be independent, educated and career women, we are not socialising our boys to be domesticated husbands and nurturing fathers. Unless they are prepared, and we deal with this at this juncture, we will continue to see stresses in marriages as roles are not performed to expectations. It is not a role reversal but a complementarity of roles. In this regard, I would encourage MCDS to develop a coordinated programme at addressing the socialisation issues of our children in our families.”
“Sir, I have argued elsewhere that to understand the developments of families, we need to appreciate the changing societal trends. The increase in the educational qualification of women, in my opinion, has a significant influence in understanding the state of the Singapore family. I believe that the role within the family must change, from one that is clearly defined along gender lines, to one that is complementary in nature. Sir, with women making up half of the workforce, and dual income families being the norm rather than the exception, it is imperative that we recognise the need for complementarity of roles between men and women in families. Sir, while we do not deny the Asian value that men are seen as being the head of the household, we also cannot deny the contribution of women in the family's economy. It is impractical to expect women to go out to work, to supplement the income of her husband, and contribute to the country's economy but, at the same time, to expect them to continue to perform their traditional roles of mother and homemakers. While the women are doing their part to supplement the men's role in the economic sphere, men must also reciprocate and do their part in supplementing the women's role in the domestic sphere. Sir, I believe strongly that MCDS should focus its programmes on promoting strong families, on the complementarity of roles between men and women in the family. Men can, and should be encouraged, to be nurturing fathers and domesticated husbands. Their roles should not be confined to merely being the breadwinner and disciplinarian. The wives will certainly appreciate their partners sharing the responsibility of building this strong family. 5.”
“Mr Chairman, one of the tenets of S21 is strong families. We have often heard that the family is the building block of our society. As the key social institution, we will continue to strive to keep our family strong. It is this importance that has been placed on the family that I am raising this cut. I am not clear, if we do indeed have a family policy. My understanding is that we do have policies that affect the family, in the form of housing, healthcare, employment and, even perhaps education. But, do we actually have a family policy that systematically attempts to put forth the interest of the Singapore family? I would appreciate it if the Minister can enlighten the House on this. Sir, the marriage and divorce statistics, as mentioned by Mrs Yu-Foo, do not reflect a healthy trend for the Singapore family. In 1999, there were 14 divorces for every 100 marriages. In the year 2000, there were 23 divorces for every 100 marriages. In terms of actual numbers, Sir, between 1999 and the year 2000, the number of marriages dropped by 7%, but the number of divorces increased by 57%. These statistics, compared with the much talked about decreasing birthrate and ageing society, raise questions on the strength of the Singapore family. Why are there fewer marriages, but more divorces? Other indicators of our families being stressed include the incidences of domestic violence and juvenile delinquency. I would like to ask the Minister the following questions: What are the programmes that MCDS has developed in strengthening the family? What are the outcome indicators of these programmes, ie, are these programmes effective? How does the Ministry define a strong family? Are our families getting stronger or weaker? How do we know that we are indeed strengthening our families?”
“While we pride ourselves in ensuring that our financial assistance programmes do not create a disincentive to work, the availability of many financial support providers may create a buffet syndrome, resulting in what social workers call the "professional cryer", one who is able to move from one organisation to another in seeking help. May I ask the Minister what efforts are being done to ensure that this does not happen? Sir, during the general debate on the Budget Statement, I shared observations that many families are feeling financially trapped with arrears quickly accumulating as the days go by. My understanding is that the financial assistance provided by the CDCs will only assist these families in the short-term, and will not be sufficient in helping them settle their arrears. I would like to ask if MCDS shares this same observation and, if so, how does MCDS hope to assist these families overcome their financial predicament. Mr Ahmad Mohd Magad (Pasir Ris-Punggol): Sir, what I wanted to say have been succinctly put forth by those who have spoken before me.”
“What is the turnaround time for each of the case, that is from the time the case comes to the attention of the CDC to the time that the case receives the financial assistance? How has this differed from the time these schemes were administered centrally by MCDS? Can the Minister also share with the House how many individuals have come to seek financial help, other than EDRS, at the CDCs in the last one year? How many of these cases were successful in their applications, and how many were not successful? What are the social demographic profiles of these families who have come to seek help? What is the proportion of those who have returned for more assistance? We all know that providing financial assistance to these families will only address the symptom. There are other underlying problems that often accompany the financial problems. The provision of financial assistance should be a means to an end rather than an end in itself. To do this, however, requires closer caseload management and intervention. In this regard, I would like to ask the Minister what is the average caseload of each worker in the CDCs with regard to financial assistance cases? Anecdotal evidence indicates that the caseload for each CDC's staff is very high. If this is so, how can the CDCs ensure that their staff are effective in doing caseload management and intervention, thus ensuring that the underlying problems are addressed? CDCs are not the only organisations who provide financial assistance to needy Singaporeans. Indeed, there are many VWOs out there who provide financial assistance to these families also.”
“The current economic downtown has seen many Singaporeans affected either directly or indirectly. I have spoken earlier during the general debate of an increasing number of Singaporeans who are financially trapped with mountains of bills to settle. Sir, our approach to welfare has been guarded and indeed cautious. It should continue to stay that way. We have to ensure that any financial assistance scheme implemented does not create a disincentive to work. Sir, the role of administering financial assistance programmes has now been delegated to the CDCs. It has been a year since the CDCs took over this role and somehow, it coincides with the onset of the economic crisis. I would like to ask the Minister to give an update on two groups of people who have come to the CDCs for financial assistance. The first group are the retrenched workers. Sir, the EDRS was introduced as part of the off-Budget package to assist Singaporeans who were retrenched. Can the Minister share with the House how many families have been assisted through the EDRS scheme? How long has assistance been provided? What proportion of these recipients return to the CDCs for further assistance? That is, what is the proportion of those who are still in need of assistance at this time? The second group are the non-retrenched workers. These are the people who are not eligible under the EDRS. Can the CDCs also administer the other financial assistance schemes to assist their respective residents? Since taking over the role from MCDS over the past one year, can the Minister share with the House the effectiveness of CDCs in administering these programmes?”
“Sir, indeed, we must invest in the formative years of our children to ensure that their experiences are positive and meaningful, thereby guaranteeing a future generation of socially conscious and inter-ethnically networking individuals.”
“(4) What are the programmes that have been put in place to ensure better inter-ethnic integration in our schools? We have to go beyond the programmes that see our children put on each other's ethnic costumes during Racial Harmony Day. If there are such programmes, what are the outcome indicators of these programmes, ie, how would the Ministry determine the success of these programmes? Where are we today in terms of these indicators? What do we hope to achieve in the immediate and the long-term future? (5) Have there been studies that document the level of inter-ethnic integration in our schools to date? If yes, what are the findings? And if no, is the Ministry planning to conduct one such study? Sir, we certainly cannot take our inter-ethnic relationship for granted. This relationship, like our children, is the cornerstone of our future. Our children's formative years in school will have significant influence on their attitudes and perceptions in their adult lives. I have come across many university undergraduates, who know very little about the top cultural values and practices of the different ethnic groups. When given an assignment to interview people who are ethnically different from them, many have difficulties, even when the assignment allows them to interview people who they already know. This seems to suggest that these undergraduates do not know people who are ethnically different from them as part of their network. Sir, I hope this is not a result of what happened in their earlier schooling years. These undergraduates are our future leaders. We must ensure that such trends are not perpetuated.”
“Mr Chairman, our national schools provide excellent opportunities for our children to mix and integrate. They are the common grounds for our children to experience and explore our commonalties and, at the same time, appreciate our apparent differences. However, the natural reaction is for our children to gravitate among their own kind. Children's minds are most impressionable when they are still in school. Value systems and social behaviours are often shaped through such early experiences in schools. Given the backdrop of September 11, and the increasing need to enhance inter-ethnic understanding and appreciation among our people, we must ensure that our schools continue to provide a conducive environment for students to mix, and mix well. To this end, Sir, I would like to ask the Minister the following questions: (1) What in the Minister's assessment is the current level of inter-ethnic integration in our schools today? From a scale of 1 to 10, where are we? What would be some of his criteria in making such an assessment? (2) Are there differences in the levels of inter-ethnic integration in the different types of schools, eg, the Independent schools, neighbourhood schools, autonomous schools and the SAP schools? If there are differences, what are the Ministry's plans to improve the situation? (3) What does the Ministry plan to do with the schools that have a lower proportion of ethnic minorities? How can inter-ethnic integration be enhanced in these schools? I think more needs to be done than merely expecting them to mix through the school cluster system, where students in the cluster of schools get to mix through some joint events or functions. There must be a concerted effort that ensures the process is continuous.”
“My last point, Sir, is to ask the Minister for an update of drug offenders who are in long-term detention. I think that was sometime in the mid-90s and the first group will be released soon. What are the rehabilitation plans for them, especially in returning to society?”
“Sir, in line with our vision of accepting failures and redefining success, I think we need to operationalise second chances. My last point, Sir, just one minute.”
“I urge MHA to try to encourage all other Ministries to show that they are open enough to accept ex-offenders amongst them. This would then set the example for the private sector to emulate.”
“I recognise that the Prisons Department will probably face constraints with regard to allowing civilians into the system, but we need to consider this seriously because, otherwise, we are going to continue disconnecting family members from the incarcerated individual. At the same time, it may prevent future generation of incarcerated individuals or offenders. The second point I would like to raise is with regard to employment opportunities. Rehabilitation is often seen as in the process when a person is incarcerated. Often times, we do not pay too much attention when the person is released. What is important is that the adjustment process is equally important when the person is released, and employment opportunities have been found to be critical in preventing them from going back to their criminal activities. I recognise the role of SCORE in trying to create employment opportunities for ex-offenders. But what I do hear a lot is that, often times, these ex-offenders are given employment amongst ex-offenders. This does not create a sense of normalcy. What they need is employment amongst non-offenders, to create a sense of normalcy that they are reintegrating into society. I am glad to note that earlier this week the Minister for Home Affairs mentioned that there is going to be an amendment to the Registration of Criminals Act, and I echo very strongly Prof. Chin's call for it to be tabled as soon as possible, such that we are giving second chances and new opportunities for ex-offenders to be reintegrated into society. May I also suggest - I raised this point earlier this week - the idea of creating job opportunities in the civil service for ex-offenders? I think MHA has responded.”
“Sir, the incarceration of individuals often affects many people around him, especially his family members. Following incarceration, often times, the family experiences a sense of loss and crisis, and often sends them scrambling to try to manage. This is often more serious when the incarcerated individual is the head of the household. I acknowledge and am pleased to hear the Minister mentioning earlier that families are more involved in the rehabilitation process of drug offenders. I wonder if such programmes are extended to criminal offenders too, because, often times, in my experience, when the incarcerated person is in prison, the family readjusts itself and tries to adapt one way or the other in the absence of the person. In due course, the family manages one way or the other, with support services around. But when the person comes back, the family has to readjust again to readmit him into the family system. This often creates a lot of problem for the family. Ever so often, the incarcerated individual comes along and says that the family is not able to accept him again, or is less supportive of him. In that regard, often times, what he does is that he takes the easy way out and says the family is not supportive and, therefore, he returns to his old ways and the vicious cycle continues. Sir, what I am asking the Minister is whether it is possible for the Prisons Department especially, to include family members in the rehabilitation process of criminal offenders, not just drug offenders, because what we need to do is to really maintain the family unit, even when the incarcerated person is in.”
“Sir, the Minister mentioned the plan to reclassify some of the ex-offenders if they do not re-offend. May I know when this plan will be implemented and what is the period of non-re-offending that will be considered before the person's records will be relooked at? Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, in fact, this is something we have been studying for some time. Those of you in the House last year, in the Committee of Supply debate, will know that several MPs raised this point. So we have studied the matter very seriously. We have almost completed the study. Within the next 1-2 months, we will come up with certain plans. SENNETT ESTATE (Upgrading of precinct) 13. Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for National Development when will the residents of Sennett Estate and the other blocks in the same precinct get the upgrading of their precinct since they make up more than 50% of the votes for the People's Action Party candidate at the last General Election.”
“Sir, the Minister does not have the figure for the other Ministries, but what about the figure for the Home Affairs Ministry itself? How many ex-offenders have been employed by the Ministry of Home Affairs? Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: The suggestion here is that the Ministry of Home Affairs must lead by example. All the Ministries must play their part, but certainly because we have a stake in helping ex-offenders rehabilitate, both the Prisons Department and the Home Affairs Ministry take an interest in this. For example, the Ministry of Home Affairs has employed 60 ex-inmates as part of the community-based programme in one of the statutory boards, SCORE. You may know that SCORE also secures offers for jobs for ex-inmates. But, here they have directly employed these 60 ex-inmates. The Prisons Department has employed two ex-offenders, and I hear that they have done very well.”
“Like many other first generation Singaporeans, they overcame insurmountable challenges. It is a process that is on-going. Today, like many other young couples, my wife and I strive to build a strong home for our children. I have spoken of nurturing the Singapore Home - preparing ourselves for the expectation of Singapore's marriage partner, ie, the global economic market, strengthening the bonds between communities, strengthening families through enhancing the role of fathers, and developing new age fathering practices in the relationship between the Government and the people. Sir, this is my vision as a Singaporean, as a young father of another generation of Singaporeans. For Singapore to survive, we need to accept and move towards a common destiny. Singaporeans must share the same vision. My vision for the remade Singapore is one in which the people are economically successful, yet rooted and bonded to the family, individually confident, yet socially networked, global in outlook, yet Singaporean in identity. These are ingredients that will continue to nurture the Singapore H ome. Sir, I support the motion. ADJOURNMENT OF DEBATE Resolved, "That the debate be now adjourned." - [Mr Mah Bow Tan].”
“Paternalistic, patronizing, patriarchal are adjectives that have been used to describe the Government. Yes, the children of Singapore have been raised well with a father figure who knows what is best for them. I have a similar father too - dogmatic, disciplinarian and no buts. But the children of tomorrow are different. The fathering practices that my father used on me no longer work with my children. I have to be present in their lives. I have to listen to them - listen not just with my ears, but with my eyes and, more importantly, with my heart. Recognising this, I try to reach out to my father. The initial hesitancy is slowly changing. He is more able to express his emotions. He can change. There have been calls to remake the Government. I think the Government should continue being the father of Singaporeans. But the new age father also nurtures his child and provides the emotional support when needed. He is more than a disciplinarian, more than the decision maker. He is a friend who has built strong bonds when the child is an infant. It is timely for the Government to invest in these bonds today. The children are reaching out to the father. Like my father, I am confident that the Government is capable of responding to this call. Take time to listen, take time to nurture, take time to provide the emotional support. I am confident it will go a long way in building up a Singapore Home that is united, strong, resilient and supportive. Sir, I am as old as independent Singapore is. I have seen how my parents built a strong home for my eight siblings and I - from the kampong house at Coronation Road to the 1-room rental flat in Toa Payoh and, subsequently, to a 3-room purchase flat in Toa Payoh where they still live today.”
“We need to normalise such behaviours and encourage fathers to feel comfortable about doing such fathering practices in public. Sir, gone are the days where fathers can be contented with merely bringing home the bacon, or the halal meat, or the vegetables. He is expected to share in the parenting and household responsibilities, just as his wife is sharing in his traditional role of income provider. The family bonds can be strengthened with mutually supporting partners who share the same vision and responsibilities. Sir, the measures above may seem small and insignificant in themselves but, put together, I am confident, as shown by many researchers, that they would go a long way in ensuring that children are raised as successful and confident adults in a safe, secure and supportive environment, with the presence of both fathers and mothers. Sir, as the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with one single footstep. Sir, the sharing of parenting roles and responsibilities in families is even more critical as we study the impact of restructuring the economy on Singaporean families. As women are a force to be reckoned with in the economic sphere, they too need to constantly upgrade themselves to remain employable and relevant. Such demands have direct implications on how families negotiate their times in relation to parenting responsibilities and individual needs for training and upgrading. It is thus most critical now that we begin to sow the seeds of positive fathering practices as we prepare Singaporeans moving into the new economic structures. As we remake Singapore, we need to also remake our perception of the family - a key pillar of the Singapore Home. As I talk about the new age father, the way the Singapore Government has been described comes to mind.”
“And I think we have the next five years to discuss that. An infant child is at his most dependent state, and this is the most excellent time for a father to establish the bond with the child. Another opportunity for bonding is when the child is ill. Today, we have child sick leave only for female civil servants. Sir, this seems to send the message that when a child is sick, it is the responsibility of the mother to care for the child. I would recommend that the child sick leave benefit be extended to male civil servants to send a consistent and clear message that fathers are equally responsible and capable of looking after a sick child. There are other opportunities like facilitating father's presence in parent-teacher meetings in schools. I have often given parenting talks in schools, and one clear observation which is supported by many school principals, is that, often times, only mothers attend these talks and meetings. Where are the fathers? Working? Many mothers who attend these meetings are working mothers too. Children often read the absence of fathers as their disinterest in their education and the lives of their children. These are opportunities lost for fathers. The result is a distancing of the children from their fathers. As a society, we need to send a clear message that fathers must be involved in the total development of their children, as do mothers. In this regard, may I be so trivial to suggest that the Ministry of the Environment ensure that every public men's room be equipped with diaper changing facilities. Once, I had a hard time finding a place to change my son's diaper after I took him for swimming, as I could not find a place in the men's room to do so. But, rest assured, I did not go to the ladies' room. There are ways of doing it though.”
“However, the dynamics of role performances must change to keep up with the changing environments. I read with great interest the issues raised in the last Parliament as it debated on family-friendly practices. I should not belabour the point nor repeat the points raised. However, I would like to reiterate the need for us to recognise some of the changes that families are subjected to, and respond with a clear message that we support these changes through relevant policies and legislation. Sir, to strengthen our families, we need to ensure that emotional bonds between each family member are strong, such that support would be available when called upon. The emotional bond between mother and child is a given and, often times, assumed to be a natural order of things. However, the emotional bonds between fathers and children are considered rather alien, especially in the context of Asian cultures. Fathers are seen more as disciplinarians in families. They are not supposed to be emotional. Our boys are still raised not to show their emotions. Sociological and psychological research has begun to show the importance of father-child bonds in the development of children and families. Bonds do not appear overnight. They need to be cultivated and nurtured. In my work with fathers, I have heard many lament that they do not know how to relate to their adolescent children, as much as they realise the importance of doing so. Sir, bonds of fathering must be developed when children are young and most dependent. I am pleased to note that the Government has made provisions for paternity leave for fathers to be involved in the lives of their new born. The current three days of paternity leave is a good start, though I would encourage the Government to consider extending it.”
“This is ethnocentrism. The issue of religion and value systems is so intrinsically rooted in each individual and community that it is often all too sensitive to discuss it in the open. Self-awareness is crucial. Mutual respect is imminent. The work of the IRCC must take into account these key factors for it to succeed. Mr Speaker, Sir, as we continue to nurture the Singapore Home with strong inter-ethnic bonds, another significant pillar of the home that needs attention is the family. There has been talk that many Singaporean families are highly stressed. Indicators that our families are stressed include incidences of juvenile delinquency, marital dissolution, domestic violence, drug abuse, etc, in these families. While statistics show that these problems are either on a decline or are stabilised, we cannot pretend that they are not important. Often times, these problems do not happen in isolation - they actually co-exist and we typically have what social workers call multi-problem families. The systemic effects of any of these problems are tremendous. A family who has a juvenile delinquent not only deals with the behavioral problems presented by the teenager, but also the effects on the other family members. Marital relationships are often strained with couples placing blame on one another. The compensatory efforts at dealing with the delinquent child often result in unintentional neglect of the other children. The potential effects go on. The juvenile delinquent, if not well rehabilitated, may graduate to be adult offenders. Sir, families need to be strengthened to prevent the onset of such incidences. The family today is different from the family of yesterday. Yes, in its form and function, one may argue that there is no difference.”
“I am sure many of us have many questions about each other's values and practices. What do these findings and anecdotes indicate? I am not too sure. Our integration policies are in place. Yet, we are still seeing such outcomes. Perhaps the outcome could have been worse if the policies had not been in place. Sir, it is not surprising that people gravitate to their own kind and remain in their comfort zones. I am not advocating for more Government intervention, but for Singaporeans to realise that they need to be committed to the process of inter-ethnic integration. When the threat of terrorism came knocking on our doors recently, the issue of inter-ethnic relation was pushed to the forefront. It is a timely reminder that we cannot be complacent. We need to recognise that building and sustaining relationships and networks require effort and commitment. It is not enough for us to merely smile at our neighbours or get our children to dress in each other's ethnic costumes during Racial Harmony Day. These are good starting points but we cannot remain at the starting block. Each community must make the effort to reach out to the other communities. The best way is, of course, to open the common spaces. Yes, we do recognise and respect the private spaces. But to build relationships, we need to step out of our private spaces and enter the public spaces more readily. The process of cross-cultural understanding and interaction requires a high level of self-awareness and openness. While we are presently "gung-ho" about wanting to improve interaction and getting to know each other better, we must be mindful of the potential threat of ethnocentrism. Each community must respect the values and cultures of others and avoid the perception that one's values are better than the others'.”
“The threat of global terrorism calls for Singaporeans to look within ourselves and assess the support system that we have. The analogy of domestic violence that I have used is not unintentional. Indeed, the threat of terrorism is no more a foreign and external issue. It has become a domestic issue on the threats of violence. Sir, prior to September 11 and the JI arrests, we seem to take our social support network for granted. Not only are social support systems critical during times of crisis, they are indeed our first line of defence. Our social support network is not a static phenomenon. It is dynamic and fluid. It requires constant effort at building and sustaining. Sir, in 1994, I conducted a study on social support network of low income families. One aspect of the study was to assess the role of social support network as buffers to economic hardship. What surprises me is that families are less likely to have individuals from different ethnic groups as part of their social network, even when they are neighbours. This spurred me to include cross-cultural understanding in my classes at NUS. In the class, one of the exercises that I usually task my students to do is to interview five persons who are different from them ethnically, to understand their values and belief systems. Many of the students have difficulty doing so, even when the exercise did not limit them to talking to strangers only, ie, they can actually interview friends that they had known even before they entered university. Many have difficulty completing that exercise. Each time I give them a quiz on what they know about each other's community, they fail miserably. When September 11 took place, one senior Chinese grassroots leader came up to me and asked why do Muslim women need to wear the tudung.”
“This infrastructure, however, should not only focus on providing an array of training programmes, but to include the complex realities that individuals and families face as they embrace the value of life-long learning amidst functioning and managing a household in a fast-paced society like Singapore. Sir, this reality has serious implication on the Malay community, as they are hardest hit in this recent economic crisis. The community must focus and concentrate its efforts at reducing future psychological and emotional abuse brought about by the merciless economic realities. Unless the members of the community are able to equip themselves with the required skills and the technical know-how of the new economy, they will feel abused again when the cycle returns. This requires the coordinated effort of everyone in the community. We need to focus our resources and energies in such efforts which are critical to the survival of the community, as well as the Singapore society in general. Let me return to the Singapore Home. The constituents of the Singapore Home are the different ethnic communities. Family systems theory noted that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The strength of the Singapore Home is not merely the existence of the different ethnic communities, but rather the dynamic interaction between them. These interactions are key ingredients to the development of social support networks and systems in the Singapore Home. Sir, social support systems are critical in the home as they often buffer the impact of domestic violence. While the global economic market may be a potentially abusive partner, the abuse may not come from the economic sphere alone.”
“As much as the perpetrators are responsible for the actions, the victims have also to protect themselves and minimise the impact. Sir, Singaporeans must realise by now that we are not immune to the potentially abusive global economic realities. We cannot leave the relationship. In the Singapore Home, this marriage is for life. Divorce is not an option. We need to make the relationship work. We can empower ourselves, lengthen the honeymoon period, recognise tensions building up, minimise the impact should the explosion or abuse happen again. Like victims of domestic violence, we must come out of each abusive incident stronger and more strong-willed. Sir, the sooner Singaporeans accept the reality and work towards protecting themselves, the sooner they will be prepared for the next onslaught of abuse. Singaporeans need to increase their resilience, be nimble and make adjustments quickly but, above all, increase their repertoire of coping skills. They also need to know their partners and adjust accordingly to meet the latter's expectations. While a marriage requires both parties to make adjustments and negotiate expectations, the marriage between Singaporeans and the global economic market, unfortunately, seems unfairly one-sided. We have to make the adjustments to meet the expectations of the new global economy. We need to find the fit or else we will feel victimised again. The sooner we know what our partner expects, and the sooner we fulfill his expectation, the longer will be the honeymoon period. As we know, honeymoon periods are the best times in any marriage. Sir, the Government must continue to provide the infrastructure for Singaporeans to improve their repertoire of skills to fit into the new global realities.”
“Sir, I have been involved with domestic violence for some time now, but let me assure the House that my involvement is as a counsellor, not as an abuser. I do not think I look like an abuser. Tensions will build up before an abusive incident takes place. After the incident, commonly known as an explosion, the storm will subside and the honeymoon period will emerge again. But the nature of violence is that it will happen again. In domestic violence work, we help to empower the victims to protect themselves and to raise their self-esteem. The reality is that many of them will endure many years of abuse before they decide to say no and leave the relationships. As social workers, we continue to work with them to minimise the impact of the potential abuse. We also work with the perpetrators in overcoming their problems psychologically and behaviorally. Unmet expectations are common precursors to tension build-up and further violence. We help the couple to negotiate each other's expectations. Sir, unlike domestic violence where we can work with the victims and where the victim may decide to leave the relationship should the violence continue, Singaporeans cannot leave the relationship with the global economic market. Worse still, we cannot counsel the perpetrators. We are at their mercy. What we can do then is to continue to work with the victims and the potential victims. We need to empower them to be prepared for the next explosion, such that the impact is minimised. Sir, in incidents of domestic violence, we always have the police to protect and doctors to cure. At least we hope that they are there all the time. But, often times, these are remedial actions.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Motion of Thanks to the President. Thank you also for allowing me to participate in this debate, albeit the arduous task being one of the last few speakers. I do not envy those who are speaking after me. From brisk walking to running, from rowing boats down the river to exploring the larger seas, the eloquent speakers before me have articulated not just challenges facing Singapore but recommended solutions to overcome these challenges. I hope the House is not speech-fatigued just yet. I shall try to entice your attention buds with keywords like "explosion", "tension" and even "honeymoon". Sir, much has been said about remaking Singapore and the new vision of what Singapore can be. One key theme that has received much attention is about rooting Singaporeans here and calling Singapore our home. I would like to speak about the nurturing of the Singapore Home. Sir, the current economic crisis is a rude shock to many Singaporeans. As the labour MPs in the House have repeatedly said, no one is spared. From the uneducated cleaner to the factory operator, from the clerical officer to the HR manager, many have been victims. Many also probably feel abused psychologically, emotionally and, of course, financially. Abused by whom? By the uncompromising, emotion-free global economic market. Sir, the current situation we are facing can be akin to domestic violence. Like the victims of domestic violence, the victims of the current abusive economic conditions manifest emotional reactions of fear, anxiety, helplessness, hopelessness, denial, anger, the list goes on. Sir, domestic violence is a vicious cycle.”