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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“" We hope that the exhibition showed that there is much each individual can do to keep Singapore strong. This year, we refreshed the Total Defence song "There's a Part for Everyone". I am sure Members can all remember that song from many, many years ago. But the updated version is a lot more hip. Indeed, with updated lyrics and a new upbeat arrangement by home-grown band QuickPick, the familiar medley caught on very quickly. The song was re-introduced to schools and reached more than 600,000 TV viewers over a 10-day period. Even Minister Ng Eng Hen was game enough to sing along to the refreshed song, helping us reach out to half a million people through his Facebook page. Unfortunately, I do not have time to show the video today. I hope that all of us will renew our commitment to Total Defence each time this song is sung. We also continue to engage Singaporeans through platforms like the ciNE65 short film competition and N.E.mation! digital animation competition. Hoon Wei Ting, from Victoria Junior College, was so inspired by her participation in N.E.mation! last year that she volunteered to help out and share her experience with participants this year as well. We hope that when these competition clips are shown nationwide, they will encourage conversations about Total Defence and inspire all to do their part to keep Singapore strong and resilient. Mdm Chair, MINDEF and the SAF also reach out to a diverse audience through various media platforms. Our stories highlight the sacrifices our NSmen make and the tough training they undergo to defend Singapore. Those who caught the "Ah Boys to Men" movies said it "shed (light) on the untold story of our unsung heroes".”
“For example, C2D Ambassadors like COL (Ret) Goh Lye Choon would captivate his audience by recounting his experience fighting infiltrators in the jungles of Kota Tinggi during Konfrontasi. According to C2D Ambassador MAJ (Ret) Ashim Mochtar, our youths are far from apathetic. They are passionate and understand the need for Singapore to stand up for itself. Dr Teo Ho Pin asked about the public's readiness to address a variety of evolving threats. MINDEF agrees that the public needs to join the conversation on ensuring our future security. Therefore, we integrated this year's Total Defence campaign with the SGfuture citizen engagement initiative, under the theme "A Secure and Resilient Nation". One of the discussion participants, Mr Saravenan said, "It was good to see that we feel strongly about our country and care enough to share." Many have also contributed interesting ideas to bring Total Defence to life, such as by running crisis simulation exercises to demonstrate the importance of Total Defence in overcoming hybrid threats. We will continue to explore how such ground-up ideas can revitalise community action for Total Defence. We held a Total Defence exhibition in February and March this year. The exhibition featured individuals like Ms Nur Arfa, who was only 13 years old when she volunteered with "Citizens on Patrol" to spread awareness on crime prevention in her neighbourhood; as well as groups like the Religious Rehabilitation Group that fight religious extremist propaganda. Mr Lee Beng Kit, an exhibition visitor, said, "It is nice to see people contributing to society in their own ways. After all, Total Defence is about everybody coming together to keep Singapore strong, regardless of race, language and religion.”
“Last year, 122 individuals, businesses and organisations were awarded the NS Advocate Award for their outstanding support towards NS. Absolute Kinetics Consultancy Pte Ltd was one of the winners. They demonstrated their strong support for NS by providing incentives for NSmen who excel in their IPPT and recognising employees who do well during NS. What is most heartening is that these projects were initiated and led by members of the respective councils themselves. Their passion and enthusiasm are truly inspiring. In 2016, we can look forward to an expanded "We Support YOU in NS" programme and more exciting collaborations with Families for Life to reach the wider community. We will continue to encourage more pre-enlistee fitness programmes and engender broader-based support for NS through the "NS Mark" later this year, which recognises supportive employers, businesses and organisations. Mr Amrin Amin and Mr Lee Yi Shyan asked how MINDEF is encouraging Singaporeans to strengthen commitment to defence. The SAF regularly organises events to educate the public on our defence capabilities in a fun and engaging way. For instance, the RSAF will organise an Open House in May this year. Later in June, the Singapore Army and the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) will hold an exhibition and Navy@Vivo respectively. We project to reach out to over 250,000 visitors through these events. Last year, we launched the Commitment to Defence (C2D) Ambassadors programme to allow our SAF Pioneers to engage and inspire the younger generation with personal stories of Singapore's early struggles and our accomplishments in the face of adversity. Our younger generation found the sharing sessions interesting, authentic, and I quote, "not something we can get from the Internet".”
“I am heartened that Singaporeans understand the importance of the community's role in the nation's defence and provide useful feedback through ACCORD. Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef and Mr Baey Yam Keng asked for an update on the work MINDEF has done to strengthen the community's support for NS. I am pleased to update that ACCORD has implemented 14 out of 18 proposals submitted last year to strengthen support for NS. First, the Family and Community (F&C) Council has encouraged almost 70 businesses to show appreciation to NSmen by offering discounts and benefits through the "We Support YOU in NS" programme. The response from our NSmen and their families has been very positive. The F&C Council also improved their outreach to women through partnerships with the Singapore Council of Women's Organisations and the Women's Integration Network of the People's Association. Second, through the Educational Institutions (EI) Council, four Post-Secondary Education Institutions piloted fitness programmes to help pre-enlistees get ready and fit for NS. These are their students. The results are encouraging. At Temasek Polytechnic, for example, the fitness programme increased the IPPT pass rate of participating students by more than 25%. In addition, the EI Council reached out to Singaporean and PR students in Foreign System Schools and Privately-Funded Institutions to help them understand the importance of NS. The United World College of South East Asia was so enthused that they hosted an NS Information Evening for 430 pre-enlistees and their parents from nine Foreign System Schools. Third, the Employer and Business (E&B) Council piloted a post-ICT letter to employers, to recognise useful skills and attributes of our servicemen which are invaluable in the business world.”
“This facilitates social integration, where Singaporeans come together, eat in the same space and interact. This is the cornerstone of our multiracial society and Singaporeans accept this. Similarly, there is no strict requirement that all restaurant kitchens must be halal-certified before they are allowed to operate. The SAF operates similarly, just like society at large. In our camps, where space is available, we make provisions for halal food to be prepared separately from non-halal food, but our soldiers eat together in our dining halls. Where space is limited, vegetarian and halal food are brought in from centralised kitchens instead of being prepared in the cookhouse. In operations, like field camps, we provide combat rations that are halal, and vegetarian options are also made available. The preparation of halal food requires strict adherence to the religious stipulations governing the food source, preparation and even storage. For Navy ships, space is always a premium which needs to be maximised and prioritised for key operational requirements, such as for combat systems, ammunitions and equipment spares. Nonetheless, we make provisions for our Muslim servicemen on board ships by providing options, such as seafood, chicken and vegetables. Similarly, we make provisions for non-Muslim Navy servicemen with specific dietary restrictions, wherever possible. Our practice is similar to other Navies, including France and the US. SAF will accommodate where we can, but the SAF's operational priorities come before individual needs. Our servicemen and women understand and accept this. They are prepared to make sacrifices where needed and are committed to defending Singapore and all that we stand for. Let me talk about the points raised on ACCORD.”
“In 2011, following the arrest of 15 members of the Singapore JI branch, interracial confidence circles in schools and workplaces were formed to promote inter-religious understanding. We emerged stronger from the episode, but it became clear that security agencies cannot fight the threats alone. As members of the public, we can play our part by being vigilant and sounding the alarm if we find something amiss. For example, a self-radicalised youth was detained in April last year after a friend noticed changes in him and alerted the authorities before he could carry out his attack plans in Singapore. The battle today, and in the future, is not one waged by tanks and planes. It is a battle that needs to be won in our hearts and minds as we guard against influences that threaten our social cohesion. Mdm Chair, the SAF is a microcosm of Singapore society, with soldiers from different backgrounds, religions and race. I would like to remind Mr Mohamad Faisal Abdul Manap that Singapore is a secular state and all Singaporeans enjoy the right to practise their religions under our Constitution. Apart from Islam, religions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism and Sikhism, also practise certain dietary restrictions. However, we do not insist that public eating places cater to any specific religious requirement. Rather than encouraging any one religious group to push fully for its own strict requirements, our approach has been to accommodate as far as practicable the needs of devotees of different religions while maintaining the common space and common goals for all. So, in hawker centres, school canteens and food courts, for example, there are halal and vegetarian food stalls, but there are no specific corners for halal or vegetarian tables.”
“Mdm Chair, last year, Singapore celebrated 50 years of Independence and we reaffirmed the beliefs, values and attitudes which contributed to building the Singapore of today. But some may wonder: will we make it to SG100? We are confident that our home and way of life are safeguarded by an advanced and highly trained SAF, but we must know that our security agencies cannot do the job on their own. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of every individual to participate in the defence of Singapore. I am heartened that many Singaporeans I spoke to during focus group discussions shared this view. 3.15 pm This idea of strength in unity is captured in this year's Total Defence campaign theme "Together We Keep Singapore Strong". The threats and challenges we face since Total Defence was introduced 32 years ago have evolved, but the message to respond as one people remains equally, if not more, important today. Take the experience of Paris last year, when terrorist attacks claimed 120 victims. The initial shock gave way to a strong show of solidarity by the French. Just two weeks later, Paris hosted the 2015 United Nations Conference on Climate Change involving more than 140 world leaders and around 40,000 attendees. Today, despite increased public security measures, Parisians have not withdrawn into fear and doubt but have returned to their daily routines in celebration of the city's strength and resilience. As President Hollande said, "[the terrorists] have a cult of death, but we have a love of life." As Mr Amrin Amin pointed out, we need to be resilient as we face evolving threats. I fully agree.”
“We cannot, however, accede to unreasonable requests, especially those that divert our attention or limited resources away from more urgent cases. Singaporeans must also respect and observe local laws as MFA is not in a position to intervene in the legal or judicial process of another country. Many of the consular cases are admittedly complex and difficult to handle. But I am glad to say that MFA officers have often risen to the challenge and this is occasionally recognised by the Singaporeans whom they have helped. Mdm Chair, MFA will remain steadfast in advancing our national interests amidst an increasingly complex global environment. We will endeavour to work with our ASEAN neighbours and other key partners to promote peace, security and progress for Singapore and Singaporeans.”
“To maintain a high level of readiness, MFA regularly conducts simulation and training exercises and reviews of our contingency plans. We and our Overseas Missions have rostered officers 24 hours a day so that Singaporeans in need of urgent help can get in touch with MFA. While MFA is committed to do its utmost for our fellow citizens, Singaporeans should also play their part by staying in close contact with their next-of-kin and close friends, taking necessary precautions for their personal safety and planning properly for their travels. They should, for instance, purchase comprehensive travel and medical insurance, as our experience shows that emergency medical bills incurred overseas can be very costly. I urge Singaporeans to e-register with MFA each time they travel overseas. This would allow us to contact them quickly in a crisis, like we did during the Brussels bombings last month. Some Singaporeans perceive that e-registering their whereabouts is a means for the Government to track their movements. This misperception must be corrected. It is in their interest that they e-register so that we can help them should they face any emergency situation abroad. During the Paris terror attacks last November, our officers worked day and night to contact our e-registrants. We did not stop until every 263 registered Singaporeans were accounted for. This included an e-registrant who did not subscribe to auto-roaming services and required MFA to leverage social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, to contact him and ascertain his safety. Against the backdrop of an uncertain global security climate and increased frequency of natural and man-made disasters, MFA's challenge is to meet Singaporeans' growing demand for prompt and effective consular services.”
“Mdm Chair, everything we do in the international arena boils down to our recognition that we need to be a useful and relevant player to others. While we may not have deep pockets to provide assistance through cash grants or soft loans, we believe that the best way to help others is through developing human resource and sharing from our own developmental journey. Mdm Chair, one of MFA's core responsibilities is to assist our nationals in distress situations away from home. In this regard, allow me to address Ms Low Yen Ling's question about consular support for Singaporeans overseas. The safety of Singaporeans abroad is of paramount importance to MFA. Last year, MFA promptly deployed several Crisis Response Teams (CRTs) to assist the return of Singaporeans from places like Nepal, Sabah and Yemen, which were rocked by earthquakes and civil unrest. For example, our MFA officers worked tirelessly under challenging circumstances to contact over 100 Singaporeans who had registered with us following the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Nepal last April. On the ground, the MFA CRT had to quickly establish a registration point at the airport to facilitate Singaporeans' return home. The task was made more challenging by aftershocks which disrupted telecommunications lines and Internet connection. CRT worked closely with our Embassy in New Delhi, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the SilkAir office in Kathmandu to secure landing slots for our Republic of Singapore Air Force C-130 aircrafts at the chaotic and congested airport and runway. Although we have no Singapore Mission in Nepal, we persisted with a whole-of-Government spirit and worked with the Nepalese government to bring home 70 Singaporeans and seven Permanent Residents safely.”
“Sustainable development will increasingly take centre-stage in international development, following the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development last year. Through the SCP, Singapore is doing our part in rolling out Sustainable Development and Climate Change programmes to include courses on energy efficiency, environmental management, disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation strategies. At the same time, the SCP is also working with the Centre for Liveable Cities to roll out a leadership programme in urban development. We will deepen these capacity building efforts in partner countries by responding to their new training requests arising from implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. I agree with Asst Prof Mohan that the present global emphasis on sustainable development and clean energy presents opportunities for Singapore businesses. This is a broader area which our economic agencies are developing with the necessary coordination among the other relevant agencies. Through SCP, we are also exploring public-private partnerships to offer more sustainable development tools through Singapore businesses, non-government organisations and volunteer organisations, such as the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) to complement the Government's development toolkit. Our youths can continue to play a role through these and other organisations. We are also partnering the Singapore-based United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Centre for Public Service Excellence to conduct leadership programmes on sustainable development and good governance, under the new Sustainable Development Programme launched by Minister Vivian last September in support of the UN's 2030 Agenda.”
“We have been working closely with our partners and UN agencies, learning from the experience of others and sharing with them what we do. Agencies like the World Health Organization and International Labour Organization, study our new policies like MediShield Life and SkillsFuture with interest, because we are tackling urgent questions like how to provide universal health coverage and the future of work in an outcome-focused way. We have consistently been active at the UN as Chairman of the Forum of Small States since its inception in 1992 and convenor of the Global Governance Group. Let me now talk about the Singapore Technical Cooperation Programme. During our early years, Singapore benefited from the assistance of others. We have consolidated our developmental experience and, in turn, launched the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) in 1992 as a means to give back to the international community. Over the years, the SCP has built us a strong network of friends and a strong international brand name as a constructive partner. Notably, the SCP reached a milestone with our 100,000th participant in July last year. To date, more than 170 developing countries have participated in the SCP. Singapore remains committed to enhancing the human resource capabilities of our ASEAN neighbours, especially the newer ASEAN members. The majority of SCP alumni, over 65,000-strong, are from ASEAN. Our four Training Centres in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam continue to deliver over 100 courses a year under the Initiative for ASEAN Integration. 12.45 pm To Asst Prof Mohan's query, almost 11,000 foreign officials have learnt from our sustainable development journey through the SCP.”
“We should be careful not to be drawn into these conflicts that are exploiting religion for political ends. Allow me to briefly return to Dr Teo Ho Pin's question on emerging markets. I will speak about Africa. There is a growing interest in Sub-Saharan Africa as a market for Singapore companies looking to expand overseas. In the last decade, trade between Singapore and Africa has grown by an average of 10% annually, with total investments in Sub-Saharan Africa exceeding S$21.1 billion in 2014. Good relations with the respective governments can help open doors for our companies. This August, MFA will host the Second Sub-Saharan Africa High-Level Ministerial Exchange Visit that aims to foster closer political partnerships with key African leaders. The Fourth Africa-Singapore Business Forum will build on past editions that had attracted about 2,000 participants from Africa and the region to explore business opportunities and establish networks. Such efforts have helped our businesses expand into new markets like Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Ghana in sectors, such as logistics, agri-business and real estate. Mr Amrin Amin asked how Singapore can play its part as a responsible member of the international community. Asst Prof Mahdev Mohan also asked for details on our support for sustainable development and how this might enhance Singapore's standing internationally. As a small nation, Singapore has to be active in international fora to create space to advance our strategic interests. We do so by sharing our development experience and ideas, and this enhances our standing as a responsible and constructive member of the international community.”
“The Iranian Foreign Minister recently visited Singapore as part of a regional tour. We look forward to maintaining our political engagement in the months ahead. Another promising market is Egypt. I joined Deputy Prime Minister Teo on his recent visit to Egypt to commemorate the 50th anniversary of our relations. The Chairman of the Suez Canal Economic Zone Authority briefed us about its development plans. Singapore will continue to explore opportunities for economic cooperation with Egypt and share our experience in development where relevant. Singapore and the Middle East countries also share a common interest in combating religious extremism. Ms Joan Pereira had asked how Singapore is working with other countries to counter the spread of violent extremism. During my recent visits to the Middle East, religious scholars shared their concerns about extremism and the need to counter the threat of radicalisation. They categorically reject violence in the name of Islam. I invited them to visit Singapore to share their experiences, so that we can learn from one another how to deal with this threat. Similarly, our students pursuing Islamic education in the Middle East also play an important role as they return and apply what they had learnt to Singapore's context as a multiracial and multi-religious society. Singaporeans have always displayed tolerance for all religions and should continue to do so. But given the geopolitical complexities in the Middle East, there is a risk of Singaporeans, especially our Muslim community, being drawn into the narrative of sectarian strife. Some of the causes of these conflicts are historical and long-standing, while some are driven by current regional political rivalries.”
“A number of Singapore leaders have visited Ramallah. We want to help the Palestinians where we can, to rebuild their lives and develop their economy. Over the last 20 years, we have trained over 230 Palestinian officials in various courses under the Singapore Cooperation Programme. Further, since 2013, Singapore has also offered a special technical assistance package valued at S$5 million to support Palestinian capacity building. Under this package, we have hosted customised study visits in areas like education, anti-corruption and economic development. We are happy to do more within our means to share Singapore's experience and enhance the capacity of the Palestinians. As a friend to Israel and Palestine, we urge both sides to engage in direct negotiations and to refrain from taking any unilateral actions to change the status quo, including through acts of violence. We should be careful not to view the entire region through the same lens, though. Singapore will continue to seek economic opportunities in emerging markets, including the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Our FTA with the GCC will help further economic cooperation with its six members. I have visited almost all of the GCC countries since last November. While lower oil prices have impacted the budgets of the GCC countries, there is admiration for the Singapore model of development and they remain keen to engage us and expand cooperation. In fact, our experience in diversifying our economy has taken on greater relevance to the GCC. We should also not neglect the other countries outside of the GCC. There are potential opportunities in Iran following the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Our relations with Iran remain friendly.”
“Mdm Chair, allow me to respond to the remaining issues raised by Members. Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked about the situation in the Middle East, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and our plans for engagement of the region. Mr Cedric Foo also asked about the implications of developments in the Middle East amid a sustained low oil price environment. The interests of the US and other major powers in the Middle East go beyond low oil prices. They will continue to be interested in the Middle East given the volatile security situation, terrorism and the various conflicts in the region, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. And the current conflicts in the Middle East are likely to persist. The situation in Yemen, Libya, Syria and Iraq remains of deep concern, given the humanitarian toll and the threat posed by terrorist groups like ISIS. We welcome UN-mediated efforts to seek a political solution to the conflicts, but the process will not be easy, given the geopolitical complexities. The leadership role of the US and other major powers will be critical in pushing the negotiating process forward. Singapore welcomes the latest French initiative to convene an international conference to seek a political solution to the stalled Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is long-standing and resonates with many in Southeast Asia, including Singaporeans. We share in the hope that a comprehensive and just agreement can be reached to achieve the two-state solution whereby Israel and Palestine can live side-by-side in peace and security. Singapore's position on this has been consistent. We support the rights of the Palestinian people to a homeland. We have also voted for several Palestinian-related resolutions at the UN General Assembly.”
“Depending on the Servicemen's circumstances, additional assistance for education and medical needs may also be provided. Eligibility for the Welfare Benevolent Grant is re-assessed every two years and we do not set a limit on the number of renewals. Two other grants are also provided under the SAF Care Fund. They are the Helping Hand Grant and the Care Support Grant. Injured Servicemen may apply for a one-off Helping Hand Grant of up to $5,000 and a monthly $300 Care Support Grant. Eligibility for the Care Support Grant is re-assessed every three years and we do not set a limit on the number of renewals.”
“Madam, the safety and well-being of our National Servicemen are of utmost importance to the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). We make every effort to minimise the risk of injury during service. If a serviceman is injured in the course of service, we will ensure that he receives the necessary assistance and support. We will pay for all medical expenses incurred for the treatment of the service-related injury at Government and restructured hospitals or clinics, including the cost of medical supplies and equipment. This applies as long as treatment is required, even after the Serviceman has left service or if the injury recurs. We will also provide compensation if the service-related injury results in permanent disability. This will be equivalent to the lump-sum compensation prescribed under the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA). The amount is doubled for disabilities that result from military training or operations. Additional amounts are also provided for total permanent disability. Other forms of assistance schemes available to National Servicemen include the SAF Benevolent Fund and the SAF Care Fund, which provide welfare support to injured Servicemen and their families. The amounts disbursed are based on the financial circumstances and needs of these Servicemen. Two grants are provided under the SAF Benevolent Fund. They are the Benevolent Grant and the Welfare Benevolent Grant. The Benevolent Grant is a one-off $12,000 financial grant provided to meet the immediate needs of the families of Servicemen who have sustained permanent disability. The Welfare Benevolent Grant provides mid-to-long term assistance for injured Servicemen. This grant provides financial support of up to $42,000 per annum to defray the family's cost of living.”
“We must do all we can to prevent a terrorist attack here in Singapore. But when an attack happens, we must not succumb to our suspicions and fears. We must fight back as a united community, respond effectively and recover well. For now, we must continue to strengthen ourselves against untruths, fear and mistrust. On that note, Mdm Speaker, I move to support the Motion.”
“Hence, it is critical that, whether we are Muslims or non-Muslims, we must all recognise that we have a major role to play in strengthening our social and psychological defences against radicalism. Our social cohesion depends on all of us having a proper understanding and trust among the different races and religions. Without social cohesion and social resilience against the threat of radicalism, all it takes is one thing, just one terrorist attack, to sow deep mistrust and it may create irreparable fault lines in our society. Page: 13 (In English): Our security challenges are beyond traditional warfare. We can overcome this ideological war and threats of terrorism by demonstrating social and psychological resilience and solidarity within the local Muslim community and with the rest of the non-Muslim community in Singapore. It will not only allow us to prevent an attack, but also prepare us to deal with the aftermath of such attacks. In the unfortunate event that an attack occurs, we must stand together as a united community to deal with the aftermath. We should draw inspiration from brave societies like Australia when Australians showed solidarity by standing by their Muslim community in the wake of the Sydney hostage crisis, with many offering to ride with members of the Islamic faith to work on public transport. Our commitment to fortifying our social and psychological resilience will make us much stronger and more resilient and bolstered by a renewed sense of conviction as we unite in the face of terrorism and violent extremism. A strong sense of national identity and commitment to the values of our society will be the irreplaceable pillars for the years to come. We will and must continue to adapt to rise up to the threats of today and tomorrow.”
“This action-reaction effect applies to both positive and negative actions. We need to focus on generating positive chain reactions in order to preserve social harmony and build social resilience so that we remain a strong society. For this to happen, we must commit ourselves to sharing common spaces in order to facilitate positive interactions and deepen understanding amongst one another. We must be on guard against external influences that constrict our common spaces with other communities. Otherwise, as a community, we will stand to lose. These common social spaces that we share are the cornerstone of our multiracial society. Religious and community leaders, including returning religious scholars who may be exposed to and potentially be influenced by different societal structures, must be assisted to consciously reorientate their world view in order to be consistent with our societal values and the make-up of our country – for our Muslim community. It is one that supports the tenet that Islam embraces and respects diversity – diversity in terms of culture, social, religion and politics. Islam teaches us that we should learn from one another and this is the main aim of diversity; and respecting each human being as a creation of God is respecting God. Thus, it is critical that the moral and religious compass that we present to our community reflects our deep appreciation of this diversity. In short, we must continue to build social and community resilience against the spread of extremism. The extremists will continue to exploit the misunderstanding of Islam and seek to divide us along racial and religious lines.”
“It gives happiness to friends, families and acquaintances, regardless of race or religion, and this is encouraged in Islam". Page: 12 Ustaz Hasbi Hassan, the President of PERGAS, agrees and advises that the Muslim community must be discerning in adapting to their circumstances and context. According to him, and I quote, "although there are different views about this issue, that is, wishing 'Gong Xi Fa Cai' or 'Merry Christmas', it is not against Islamic teachings or traditions". He stated that the Muslim community has to know how to adapt themselves to their context and situation. The occurrence of expressing a festive greeting may seem insignificant if taken alone, but if it were to occur every other day, and if the Muslim community does not have the religious ballast to fight the ideological challenge, one can only imagine the religious fault lines that they could create in our society. We cannot underestimate how actions by Muslims could cause non-Muslims to react. This is the natural process of human interactions. Similarly, actions and counter-actions of non-Muslims will also draw reactions from Muslims. As more attacks occur around our region, it is not unexpected for some non-Muslims to wonder if, indeed, our Muslims are becoming more religious and whether this means that they have an increasing propensity for terrorism. Non-Muslims need to know and they must be given the assurance that the religiosity of a community is not a problem. It is the misinterpretation and misrepresentation of religious beliefs and teachings that become the source of terrorist thinking. At the same time, we would also need our non-Muslim leaders to speak up on the best way for non-Muslims to continue their relations with Muslims today.”
“We are now faced with an ideological war that is fought in the minds of our people and it is made more challenging with modern communication tools like social media. We need to build up the resilience of our religious relations and our minds so that we are not vulnerable to the influence of the Internet and social media. Our Muslim community needs leadership and guidance from our religious leaders and our religious teachers, who will equip them with the moral and religious compass to help them navigate the complex web of information in the borderless cyber world. It will not only be useful to equip our Muslim community with a deeper understanding of Islam and its true teachings, and discern it from the misrepresentations of Islam and the multitude of alternative extremist views that are readily available on the Internet, it also benefits the larger non-Muslim communities who will have a greater awareness of the true Islamic values and teachings, given our multiracial context. They will be better able to understand and engage our Muslim community. For example, some of you may still remember the call that tells Muslims to not wish "Merry Christmas" to Christians through SMS and WhatsApp. These messages became viral. Those who did not know better might be taken in and believe that it is, indeed, un-Islamic to do so. However, in Singapore, fortunately, we have senior and respected religious leaders like Habib Syed Hasan Al Attas, who is the Imam from the Ba'alwi Mosque, and other religious and community leaders who have voiced their views, as published in today's Berita Harian. Our community knows that this view is inaccurate. According to Habib Hasan, I quote, "the purpose of greetings is to make the recipient happy and feel delighted.”
“The outgoing Ambassador of Indonesia to Singapore, Bapak Andri Hadi, told me that the family members and fellow villagers of the terrorists killed in the police counter-attacks in Jakarta recently have refused to allow their bodies to be buried in their village. Essentially, they have disassociated themselves from the dead terrorists. Indeed, although our Muslim community in Singapore comes under the spotlight whenever a terror attack takes place, our Muslim religious leaders have irrevocably denounced strongly the radical ideology articulated violently by ISIS, Al-Qaeda or JI. For instance, following the arrest and repatriation of the 27 radicalised Bangladeshis, our Mufti Dr Fatris Bakaram publicly denounced extremism and the extremist acts that threaten the security, peace and harmony in Singapore and in the world in general. The Mufti said, and I quote, "they (the extremist groups) contradict the fundamental Islamic teaching of protecting the sanctity of human life and preserving peace and harmony at all times. The safety and peace of Singapore is of paramount interest to the Singapore Muslim community. We have a commendable tradition of living as inclusive and progressive Muslims within the context of Singapore's multi-ethnic and multi-religious landscape". Indeed, every terrorist act carried out in the name of Islam will significantly affect all Muslims. In fact, it will potentially alienate this group from their fellow citizens and also deepen the misunderstanding about Islam as a peaceful religion. We are fortunate that our painstaking efforts in the past 50 years in building trust and maintaining social and religious harmony have brought us peace and stability. However, this effort is even more critical now.”
“Islam teaches that God identifies learning from one another as the primary goal of diversity and that respecting each human being as a creation of God is respecting God. Thus it is critical that the moral and religious compass presented to our community reflects our deep appreciation of this diversity. In short, we must continue building social and community resilience against the spread of extremism. Extremists will continue to exploit the misunderstanding of Islam and seek to divide us along racial and religious lines. It is critical that, whether we are Muslims or non-Muslims, we all recognise that we have a major role to play in strengthening our social and psychological defences against radicalism. Our social cohesion depends on all of us having a proper understanding and trust amongst the different races and religions. Without social cohesion and social resilience against the threat of radicalism, all it takes is one hit for terrorism to sow deep mistrust and create irreparable fault lines in our society. Mdm Speaker, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Our Muslim community must act and act decisively in order to give the assurance that we also denounce violence, similar to the view of a Turkish Muslim scholar who wrote in The Wall Street Journal on 27 August last year. He felt that Page: 11 the terrorists are committing grave sins towards Islam. According to him, scholars and researchers of primary sources like the Al Quran and the Traditions and Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad have all dispelled any claims by the terrorists that their cause has religious justifications. Therefore, Muslims must reject strongly any forms of violence in the name of Islam.”
“It is the misinterpretation and misrepresentation of religious beliefs and teachings that is the source of terrorist thinking. At the same time, we also need our non-Muslim leaders to speak up on how non-Muslims should and should not treat Muslims. This is critical. Non-Muslims also look to the leaders in their various communities for guidance on what to do in such sensitive situations, be it religious or non-religious communities. Ultimately, it is about interacting and engaging constructively with the Muslim community as fellow Singaporeans, so that everyone in Singapore can continue to enjoy the social harmony and stability we have built together all these years. This action-reaction effect applies to both positive and negative actions. We need to focus on generating positive chain reactions to preserve social harmony and build social resilience so that we remain a strong society. For this to happen, we must commit ourselves to share mutual respect and wider ideological and social spaces to facilitate positive interaction and deepen understanding amongst one another. We must guard against external influences that constrict our common spaces. As a society, we will only stand to lose if this happens. The common social spaces that we share are the cornerstone of our multiracial society. Religious and community leaders, including returning religious scholars exposed to and potentially influenced by different societal structures, must be assisted to consciously re-orientate their world view to be consistent with our societal values and make-up – for our Muslim community, one that supports the tenet that Islam embraces and respects diversity – cultural, social, religious and political.”
“Habib Hassan said, and I quote, "The purpose of greetings is to make the recipient happy and feeling of delightfulness. In Islam, it is strongly encouraged to make friends, family members and people happy, regardless of race and religion. It is not wrong in Islam when a person greets and gives well wishes to a friend or acquaintance who is not of the same faith, as the intention is to make the person happy". Ustaz Hasbi Hassan, the President of Persatuan Ulama dan Guru-Guru Agama Islam Singapura (PERGAS), the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association, advises that the Muslim community must be discerning in adapting to their circumstances and context and, in this Page: 10 case, for a multi-racial society like Singapore. According to him, a Muslim greeting "Gong Xi Fa Cai" or "Merry Christmas" to a friend is not against Islamic teachings or traditions. This occurrence of expressing a festive greeting, if taken alone, may seem insignificant, but, if it were to occur every other day and if the Muslim community does not have the religious ballast to fight the ideological challenge, one can only imagine the religious fault lines it could create in our society. We cannot underestimate how actions by the Muslims could cause non-Muslims to react. It is the natural process of human interaction. Similarly, actions and counter-actions of non-Muslims draw reactions from Muslims. As more attacks occur around our region, it is not unexpected for some non-Muslims to wonder if, indeed, our Muslims are becoming more religious and whether this means they have an increasing propensity for terrorism. Non-Muslims need to know and they must be assured that religiosity per se is not the problem.”
“The ideological war confronting us is fought in the minds of our people, made more challenging with modern communication tools like social media. We need to increase our religious understanding and also build up our social and psychological resilience to reduce our vulnerability towards those who exploit the Internet and social media with false teachings. Our Muslim community needs leadership and guidance from our community and religious leaders and scholars to equip them with a moral and religious compass to help navigate the complex web of information in the borderless cyber world. This will equip our Muslim community with a deeper understanding of Islamic teachings and discern it from the misrepresentations of Islam and the multitude of alternative extremist views that are readily available on the Internet. It also benefits the larger non-Muslim communities who will have greater awareness of the true Islamic values and teachings, given our multiracial context, and be better able to understand and engage our Muslim community. For example, some of you may be aware of calls for Muslims to abstain from wishing Merry Christmas to Christians via SMS and WhatsApp messages that have gone viral. For those who did not know better, they might be taken in and believe that it is, indeed, un-Islamic to do so. Many of us are heartened that, as reported in today's Berita Harian, senior and respected scholars, like Habib Syed Hassan Al-Attas, the Imam of Ba'alwie Mosque in Singapore, and other religious and community leaders have chosen to speak up and address this issue directly. We now know that the proposed ban on Christmas or other similar greetings has no Islamic basis.”
“The outgoing Ambassador of Indonesia to Singapore, Bapak Andri Hadi, informed me recently that the family members and fellow villagers of the terrorists killed in the recent Jakarta attacks refused to allow the bodies to be buried in their village, totally rejecting and disassociating themselves from the dead terrorists. Indeed, each time a terror attack takes place, our Muslim community and religious leaders have repeatedly denounced the radical ideology articulated by terrorists and condemned the acts of these terrorist groups,including ISIS, Al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). For example, following the arrest and repatriation of the 27 radicalised Bangladeshis, Dr Mohamed Fatris Bakaram, Mufti of Singapore, publicly denounced extremism and extremist acts that threaten the security, peace and harmony of Singapore and the world. Mufti Dr Fatris said, and I quote, "(the extremist groups) contradict the fundamental Islamic teaching of protecting the sanctity of human life and preserving peace and harmony at all times. The safety and peace of Singapore is of paramount interest to the Singapore Muslim community. We have a commendable tradition of living as inclusive and progressive Muslims within the context of Singapore's multi-ethnic and multi-religious landscape." Every terrorist act carried out in the name of Islam will significantly affect all Muslims, potentially alienating them from their fellow citizens and deepening the misunderstanding about Islam as a peaceful religion. We are fortunate that our painstaking effort for the past 50 years in building trust and maintaining social and religious harmony has brought us peace and stability. However, this effort is even more critical now.”
“Unfortunately, such misrepresentation of Islam has caused anxiety and even fears in inter-group relations between Muslim and non-Muslim groups in Singapore. But while this inter-group tension is understandable as a natural human reaction given the misinformation, if left unaddressed, it will surely – and not necessarily slowly – lead to suspicion and one group blaming the other. Very soon, inter-group relations will deteriorate and tensions escalate, and everyone in Singapore will suffer when the social harmony we are used to, abruptly erodes. Hence, every group needs to make the effort to understand the other group, and act and react in constructive and adaptive ways. Non-Muslims need to understand that terrorism is based on radical ideologies and teachings that are completely un-Muslim and unIslamic. To believe that violent extremism is Islamic and that terrorists are religious Muslims, our society will fall into the terrorists' trap to sow discord. All non-Muslims in Singapore can help preserve social harmony by doing small but important things, such as correcting misconceptions or stereotypical and anti-Muslim remarks or actions by family members and friends, and also on social media. Our Muslim community must also act and act decisively – give the clear message and assurance that we denounce violence. A Turkish Muslim scholar recently wrote in The Wall Street Journal that terrorists are committing grave sins in the name of Islam, and scholars studying the primary sources of the Quran and the teachings of Islam have all dispelled any claims terrorists make of religious justifications of their cause. Muslims must, therefore, reject any forms of violence Page: 9 in the name of Islam.”
“However, a military solution alone will not be sufficient in the fight against radical ideologies and terrorism, which aims to exploit potential racial and religious fault lines and de-stabilise society by causing mistrust amongst different religions and races. We need a whole-of-society response to this threat of radical ideologies and terrorism. I would like to commend the efforts of Government agencies like MHA, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) for their support of programmes that help to tackle radicalisation and extremism head-on. Looking forward, MINDEF will continue to support MHA, SPF and other social and security agencies in their counter-ISIS efforts. In addition to what the Government must do, I would also like to highlight that each of us needs to pay special attention to strengthening our social and psychological defences, which are two of the five pillars in Total Defence. Conceived over 30 years ago, Total Defence has enabled us to face and overcome national challenges, and will continue to do so in the years ahead. But we will all need to continuously translate the ideas of Total Defence into effective actions. The fight against violent extremism will not be a quick or easy one. It is an ideological war against terrorists whose goal is social destruction through fear and mistrust and not only physical destruction. To put it simply and directly, these terrorists are criminals who have exploited and misrepresented Islam and deceitfully portrayed themselves as practising and religious Muslims. Scholars and Islamic religious leaders have noted that terrorists who claim to be motivated by Islamic religious ideology often turn out to have little and incomplete understanding of Islam.”
“Scenarios like those attacks in Paris, Jakarta and others can happen in Singapore despite our strong security measures. These events highlight one salient point – the nature of threats we face has changed in important ways. We are now faced with a battle of ideologies, and the ubiquity of social media has allowed radical ideologies supporting terrorism to invade the thoughts of people without extremists having to physically enter a society. There are some 46,000 Twitter accounts globally and at least 1,000 Facebook accounts in Southeast Asia supporting ISIS. As a result of such pervasive social media outreach, as many as 1,000 Southeast Asians have travelled to join ISIS in Iraq and Syria since 2011, including two Singaporean families that joined ISIS since 2014. Terrorism is closer to home than we think. Mdm Speaker, as the threat of ISIS to Singapore is very real, we need to continue to address the problem collaboratively, comprehensively and at its source. Singapore was the first Southeast Page: 8 Asian country to join the counter-ISIS coalition in November 2014. The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) had contributed to the counter-terrorism effort within our means and in niche areas of value to the coalition. The Minister for Defence will be speaking on the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF's) contributions in greater detail. The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) will continue to support MHA, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and other social and security agencies in their counter-ISIS efforts and to strengthen Singapore's Total Defence, in the combat against extremism and terrorism. Internationally, our intelligence agencies will continue to work closely with their counterparts in the region to protect our borders.”
“Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion of Thanks to the President for his Speech at the Opening of this session of Parliament. Mdm Speaker, within the past few months, violent extremism has affected the lives of many in various societies. Turkey and Paris suffered terror attacks, leaving scores of people dead and many more injured. The threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is spreading beyond the Middle East to Asia. Jakarta was attacked two weeks ago, leaving eight people dead. India arrested four students with links to ISIS who were planning attacks within Delhi and, over the weekend, Malaysia arrested seven suspected ISIS militants who were planning attacks in several locations in Malaysia. Singapore is no less vulnerable. In October 2015, two Singaporean teenagers were arrested and detained for being involved in terrorism-related activities. More recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) arrested and repatriated 27 radicalised Bangladeshis in Singapore who were planning to take part in extremist activities outside Singapore. Since 2011, over 25,000 fighters from 100 different countries have travelled to Iraq and Syria, with rising numbers of Indonesians and Malaysians amongst them. Our counterparts in Indonesia have identified Bahrun Naim, an Indonesian based in Syria, as the mastermind of the recent attacks in Jakarta. In fact, militant extremist groups have voiced their ambitions to establish a "satellite caliphate" within the region, to become the unifying force for Islamic State supporters. The social fabric in our region faces the compounded challenges of returning Southeast Asian fighters, radical ideological narratives online and offline, and competing extremist groups for leadership.”
“Madam, I want to assure the Member that progress is being made and the ROH for Hougang is not limited to the Town Centre alone. There are various aspects which are currently on-going. With regard to the question on other sites, the context of each site is actually very different. Therefore, the plans for every town have to be customised according to the specific needs and requirements for the town. The site in Hougang Town Centre, specifically asked by the Member, where the existing Hougang MRT station is, it will house, as I have mentioned earlier, an integrated development comprising many different uses, such as residential space, commercial retail space, bus interchange and the town plaza. Given the scale and complexity of the project and site constraints, the various Government agencies involved have to work on a detailed planning of facilities to be provided. Many stakeholders are involved and the interests of the residents have to be carefully considered at the same time. Agencies' plans and timeliness also have to be coordinated. In addition, the requirements of the tender have to be well coordinated in order to ensure that the development enhances the existing Hougang Town Centre to best serve the residents of Hougang. I want to reaffirm the point that it is not that the ROH is not moving. There are other aspects of the proposals that are currently on-going. It is just that the Town Centre requires a lot more work in terms of planning and the complexity of the project requires more time for the different agencies.”
“In a recent incident, Page: 39 for example, farmers who adhered to the early warning signs were able to minimise the fish kills by introducing the canvas bags which actually managed to save much of their fish stocks.”
“I thank the Member for the supplementary question. It is really not clear whether the on-going reclamation works in Malaysia have an impact on the fish death. But what we are doing now is, following last year's plankton bloom episode, AVA has been working with the Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI) of NUS on a research project to conduct studies on plankton blooms to enable development of effective mitigating solutions. Studies are ongoing and expected to conclude by 2017. In addition, AVA had also called for proposals for the design and development of closed containment aquaculture system for coastal fish farming last year. AVA recently awarded the tender to five companies to develop a more sustainable sea-based farming system under the co-innovation partnership programme. The companies will be working on systems that offer a sustainable option for coastal fish farms to minimise exposure to environmental changes such as the plankton bloom. On the question of how far we are from the 15% mark, we are working with all the fish farmers. We encourage them to modernise and look at various options, including the closed containment system and looking at the possibility of high-rise fish farming methodologies. We have been going to various countries to study various options available, with farmers coming along to look at the various options. We are working very hard to meet those targets. As far as dealing with the current plankton bloom situation is concerned – we have had two, last year and this year – we continue to monitor the situation with the studies being done with TMSI and we hope to be able to help our farmers mitigate.”
“Madam, we certainly recognise the need for childcare centres. ECDA and MSF are working very hard to try to meet those demands and the need for childcare places. We will continue to work with ECDA to look at the request made where there are already existing demands and to see whether existing BTOs can increase the supply to meet the existing demands of residents in the neighbourhood.”
“Madam, we will work with ECDA. ECDA is a supervising agency. As mentioned, HDB will try its best to accommodate requests from the supervising agency. HDB is not in a position to determine the actual number of places required but, if so requested by supervising agencies, like ECDA – and even MSF with regard to elderly facilities – HDB will try its best to make those spaces available.”
“Madam, we noted Er Dr Lee Bee Wah's concern for her residents in the new BTO flats. She is correct that there are BTOs in Nee Soon South. To date, I have checked that there are already 12 childcare centres in Nee Soon South Division. There are three BTO flat precincts that are already included with childcare centres. Three childcare centres are being constructed in three new BTO precincts which will be ready by the third and fourth quarters of 2015. There are six new BTOs sites in Nee Soon South and each BTO site will have childcare centres provided. HDB will continue to work with ECDA to Page: 24 anticipate the demand. HDB will try its best to try to accommodate the needs of the residents in that area, following ECDA's assessment of the projected demand for childcare places. Er Dr Lee Bee Wah: For your information of the Minister of State, for every new BTO of about 1,000 units, the childcare placing is about a hundred over places and, from past experience, this is grossly insufficient. So, I would like the Minister of State to help to work with ECDA to change the planning parameter to allow for more childcare centres.”
“Madam, the point is that the NRP is a project conducted via a process of consultation. So, there was a working committee that was formed and they consulted the residents. Residents gave input and there was a decision made. 1.15 pm In this case, two projects were shelved because of budgetary reasons. The committee was not consulted on the decision. It was unilaterally made by the Town Council and the local community leaders and residents informed HDB that the residents had the impression that the items were cut by HDB because the Town Council was run by Opposition. We are concerned about this kind of impressions being made. More importantly, if it is because of budget, then consult the working committee, inform them so that the residents are aware why the decision was made that way. Or even, could there be others that could have been prioritised because of budget constraints, if their reason for the need to cut projects was due to budget.”
“Madam, just to clarify. The point I made was, first, the fairness of MND in giving out budgets to Town Councils for projects like HIP and NRP and that AHPETC has also been given its fair share of HIP and NRP projects. The second point was about the Serangoon North NRP projects, where some of the projects had to be cut; and it was unilaterally cut because of cost overruns. And the point I was making was that it was unilaterally cut because the working committee, as I understand it, was not consulted. I think in the nature of the NRP, there was a working committee that was formed and we hope that the process is one in which the decision to cut whichever projects because of cost issues would have been better managed and handled in consultation with the working Page: 40 committee.”
“I just want to clarify the objectives behind the CIPC programme. It has worked and we will continue to uphold and continue to use this platform, because it is very important for us in building up our HDB estates. Community cohesion is important. Community bonding is important. Residents must want to own the projects that they require. And when we say "own the projects", it means that they want to work with the community leaders to raise the Page: 35 funds that are required. There is some ownership; there are some issues of responsibility. On the Member's explanation, I take the Member's explanation as to where and when they want to nominate the different projects of the HIP and NRP. As I have mentioned, those projects are given to AHPETC, and AHPETC and its members have the prerogative to decide where and when they want to allocate the funds to.”
“Mdm Chairman, let me first start off with the issue of CIPC. Yes, it is Government funds, but the Government decides on the nature of the programme, based on different objectives. CIPC, as I mentioned in my reply earlier, is a community-oriented programme. It is community-oriented because we want to build community cohesion through an upgrading programme. Not all upgrading programmes are just purely upgrading. CIPC is unique. We started CIPC with the intended objective of getting residents together, getting residents to come up and work with their community leaders – who amongst themselves are fellow residents – and bring about the cohesion in the community. That is one of the reasons why we decided to allocate the funds through the CCC, and not through the Town Council. There is nothing wrong with the programme, and there is nothing wrong with that objective, because it goes back to the residents. The beneficiaries are the residents. It is a different objective from the other upgrading programmes, like HIP, NRP and LUP. So, the original intent of CIPC must be seen in that context. That is one of the reasons why community engagement is critical and we continue to uphold this objective because we have seen it work. We have seen how community leaders engage residents and how residents respond, and they also have to work towards their 10% co-payment component that has to be borne by the CCC. The objective of the programme must be understood. It is not just about allocating funds to a Town Council, because CIPC funds have never been allocated to the Town Councils. It has always been allocated to the CCCs. The CCCs decide on the managing agent, and subsequently work or discuss with the Town Councils for maintenance of the project that has been completed.”
“The company puts their fish stock in a closed containment system and has an appropriate water treatment system to protect the fishes from the harmful effects of the algae. They managed to save two-thirds of their fish stock with their system. I am glad that there are already several farmers who realised this and have invested in technology, such as the closed containment systems. Green Cover”
“AVA will help farmers to develop operationally-ready contingency plans to reduce their losses in future occurrences. I strongly urge the fish farmers to work with AVA on this. We also plan to help farmers learn from their counterparts who have installed resilient systems. Farmers can tap on AVA's Agriculture Productivity Fund to purchase relevant equipment to enhance their resilience. MND and AVA are exploring further assistance, beyond these measures, for affected farms to restart their operations. Similar to last year, AVA will not impose the minimum production requirement on affected farms nor take action against them for not meeting the minimum production requirement. We are very reasonable people. We are not heartless. We understand the difficulties the farmers face during these times and will allow them sufficient time to get back onto their feet and we will continue to help them do so. Second, we need to better understand the science behind this phenomenon. AVA is collaborating with agencies, such as the National Environment Agency (NEA), the National Parks Board (NParks) and the Public Utilities Board (PUB) and experts from research institutes, such as the Tropical Marine Science Institute (TMSI), to study the relationship between plankton blooms and fish kill. Third, through the Co-Innovation Partnership Programme (CI Partnership), AVA has commissioned projects to develop closed containment systems which can reduce the vulnerability of the fish stock to water conditions. The existing mode of farming in net cages in the sea exposes the fish to unnecessary risks. Fish farmers must consider modernising their farming methods so that they are better protected in the longer term. Page: 19 A good case in point is Singapore Aquaculture Technologies.”
“AVA has been monitoring the situation at the fish farming areas daily over the past weeks as there were concerns about the potential impact of the recent hot and dry weather spell on our fish farms, and they do it every year. On 30 January, AVA alerted the fish farmers to the adverse weather conditions and advised them to monitor the situation. As soon as AVA detected the elevated plankton levels at the East Johor Straits, they alerted the fish farmers on 16 and 17 February so that they could take immediate action. AVA advised them to deploy canvas bags to isolate the fish from their external environment, harvest their fish early to cut losses and transfer their fish stock to unaffected areas. The farmers, who heeded AVA's advice before the fish deaths peaked on 27 February, averted the worst. Similar warnings were given to fish farmers in the West Johor Straits on 25 February, prior to the fish deaths on 6 March. Page: 18 One of the farmers whom I met, Mr Gary Chang of San Lay Marine Culture Co, took early action after AVA's warning on 30 January. Mr Chang lined his net-cages with canvas and installed a simple filtration system to maintain the water quality. His losses this year were only one-tenth that of last year's fish kill that he experienced. Unfortunately, there are many farmers who did not react in time and suffered much worse losses. To assist farmers in the disposal of dead fish, AVA officers worked hard and deployed waste disposal vessels, even working and visiting the farmers daily during the Chinese New Year period. We cannot prevent plankton blooms from recurring, but we can take steps to minimise their impact when they recur. First, AVA will work with the fish farmers to recover and build up resilience against similar future incidents.”
“I think the grassroots Page: 17 and the local community leaders are fully prepared to work with the Town Council to serve residents better. But it takes two hands to clap. 12.00 pm Mdm Chair, let me now respond to Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim's query on the recent plankton bloom that affected our fish farms in the East and West Johor Straits. The fish losses have come up to 600 tonnes so far, most of which are from farms near the East Johor Straits. The farms near Lim Chu Kang on the West Johor Straits are less affected, with losses of about 10 tonnes. Most of the dead fish reported in that area at Lim Chu Kang jetty and Sungei Buloh coastline were wild fish from the sea. The plankton situation has since improved, with reduced fish mortality. During my visit to the fish farms in East Johor Straits last week, I personally saw a farm that lost its entire fish stock. I fully empathise with the fish farmers on their losses. I know it must be a very painful experience for those whose farms were badly affected. According to experts, the plankton blooms that caused the fish mortalities could be due to a confluence of unfavourable environmental factors, such as neap tide, dry weather, increased nutrients in the water possibly due to untreated sewage, oil palm discharge and other pollution. We are investigating and will see what can be done to reduce such pollution at source. Agri-Food and Veterinary (AVA) has collected samples from the affected farms for laboratory analysis. No marine biotoxins that are harmful to humans were detected from any of these samples. AVA will continue to test fish samples from the affected farms to ensure food safety.”
“CCCs also have to raise the 10% co-payment for CIPC and will have to be prudent in what they decide to do as they have the responsibility to raise the funds, thus the need to consult the residents and know what the residents want and whether the residents are prepared to support the CCCs in their fund-raising efforts. In the case of AHPE CCCs, I understand that it had earlier consulted residents on the proposed CIPC projects in their HDB estates and received 90 project proposals. The number of projects residents proposed had busted the CIPC budget for the year and the CCCs needed, therefore, to prioritise these projects. Notwithstanding this, the CCCs reached out to AHPETC for its nominations; AHPETC proposed 52 projects. This meant that there was a long list of proposals, 90 that the CCCs received from the residents, plus 52 with some overlaps between them. The CCCs, which comprised community volunteers, needed time to go through all these proposals. Eventually, the CCCs identified 17 projects which could be funded within the allocated budget: six were proposed by both the Town Councils and CCCs; that is the overlap; six were proposed by the Town Council and the remaining five were proposed by the CCCs. So, AHPETC's proposals actually accounted for 12 out of the 17 projects selected. And the CCCs have to raise funds for these AHPETC's proposed projects. The CCCs would need a bit more time to implement the projects. I do not know why Mr Singh would now turn around, blame the CCCs for tardiness, and unfairly paint them in such a negative light in the eyes of the public when the CCCs took the time and trouble to seek, go through and, as it is clear, gave significant consideration to the Town Council's proposals and were prepared to support many of them.”
“The local grassroots informed HDB that residents had the impression that the items were cut by HDB because AHPETC was run by the Opposition. That is not true. Again, this is a mischievous distortion. These items were cut because the Town Council's costs are higher and exceeded the approved budget. Page: 16 MND has been fair to AHPETC and has treated AHPETC no differently from other Town Councils. Indeed, when it comes to exerting its autonomy even against prevailing HDB policies, it is the AHPETC that has been especially aggressive and often with total disregard for such national policies. In the case of the CIPC, Mr Singh would be aware that CIPC funds are disbursed through the CCCs, not the Town Councils. We have said this in this House many times before. It is, therefore, incorrect for Mr Singh to say that MND had previously given CIPC funding to the former Aljunied Town Council, but withdrew it from AHPETC. This is untrue. The funds were never disbursed through any Town Council. They were disbursed through the CCCs. Just as we give Town Councils flexibility over proposals under HIP and NRP, we give the CCCs flexibility to assess proposals under CIPC and to prioritise them for implementation. The CCCs are close to the ground and will be better able to decide on the projects which will be most useful for the local residents. CIPC is community-oriented. Its key objective is to bond residents, working together with their community leaders, to improve the living environment.”
“Through HDB's measures, such as the introduction of EPS to encourage higher vehicular turnover, HDB has managed the situation and all residents who have applied for season parking tickets for this car park have managed to obtain one. Let me address the issues raised on Community Improvement Projects Committee (CIPC). Mr Pritam Singh asked about CIPC. To set the issue in context, we must recognise that there is a difference between CIPC under the charge of Citizens' Consultative Committees (CCCs), and programmes like Home Improvement Programme (HIP) and Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) which are nominated by Town Councils. So, there is a difference. As Mr Singh would be aware, from FY2012 to FY2014, over just a three-year period, MND has given Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) six HIP and three NRP projects. This is comparable to the number of projects received by other Town Councils. MND gave AHPETC full flexibility to nominate and prioritise the eligible HIP and NRP projects assigned to it. AHPETC has used this flexibility to give a big share of the projects to Hougang Single Member Constituency (SMC), although Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC) has more eligible projects. Nonetheless, that is, of course, a call the Members of Parliament (MPs) are entitled to make. Mr Pritam Singh would also be fully aware that after various NRP projects were handed over to the AHPETC to be implemented, AHPETC had unilaterally cut the works at Serangoon North Avenues 1 and 2. The works were cut because the Town Council's cost overran and exceeded the approved budget. As a result, residents will no longer get shelters over the basketball court at the Family Park and the Community Plaza, which were committed earlier.”