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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“Sir, the proposition for a single elderly living alone or be given a rental flat on his own or her own is very attractive. Even if we assume there is not that many today, the moment we open the door, I am sure we will get an influx of applicants. We want to be quite careful about such possibilities. Secondly, for the singles, some cases are due to the death of a partner, and they may still have children. If they really do not have family members, then we want to try to encourage them, in the first instance, to share the space with another elderly. The reason being the limited resources. I have mentioned in my speech earlier that for every one rental 1-room flat that we give out, there is another family that will probably have to wait his or her turn. We have to strike that balance between whether we want to encourage or even facilitate elderly singles, understanding some of these constraints, and help them with another person. Under special circumstances – where they really have got medical issues that are supported by medical documents that say that they really cannot live with another person – I have also mentioned earlier, that we have acceded to such appeals previously.”
“Sir, I can understand the Member's interest in the EUP. I have a constituency made up of 70% of private estates. I also have personal interest in ensuring that our private estates continue to be Page: 153 upgraded. As the Member is aware, the EUP programme is quite an extensive programme. We have already launched about eight batches now; we have just invited nominations for the ninth batch and the deadline is 30 April this year. We have also brought forward the gap between batches. In each batch, we select about seven to eight estates depending on the size. Each time we go out and upgrade those eight estates at every batch, it requires a long time to plan, to assess. It takes a lot of ground-up initiative because we want to ensure that there is ownership amongst the residents. So, the working committee has to be formed. EUP is beyond the normal upgrading works of all the different agencies, so it does take a long time to get the projects going. As much as I can appreciate Er Dr Lee's interest in us expediting the programme, it is something that is an issue of capacity. As I have mentioned, we have reduced the duration. Members will notice that batch nine is just about one, or one-and-a-half years after batch eight. We will try to bring batch 10 even closer to batch nine. But there is a capacity issue. For Members who really have got private estates that they would like to put up for nominations, please do so. As much as we want to give the project to everyone, as in any upgrading project, we just have to take turns and look at the needs of the ground as well as achieve a fair geographical spread over the different estates that we select.”
“NEA and AVA are now looking into developing a comprehensive public education outreach programme targeted at schools, community and retailers to reduce food wastage, especially in moderating the way we consume food. Many of our stakeholders have already implemented their own initiatives to reduce food waste and are willing to do more. As part of IMC's recommendations, several agencies such as NEA, AVA and SPRING Singapore are developing guidelines for food manufacturers and retailers to help them identify areas along their supply chain to minimise food waste. We will consult the industry on these guidelines when ready. To complement these guidelines, companies can leverage on the existing NEA's 3R Fund to reduce food wastage and promote more recycling. Mr Chairman, we have done well in sensitising Singaporeans to conserve water and energy. We should do likewise for food consumption. All of us must play our part in ensuring Singapore's food security. Besides inculcating good habits not to waste food, we must also be prepared to switch to equally good alternatives, for example, frozen meat in place of chilled meat, or powdered and liquid eggs as substitutes for shell eggs, when supplies are disrupted. By working together, we can increase our resilience and safeguard our food supply for our present and future generations. URA Master Plan”
“The IMC recognises that there is room for the food industry to share resources and functions such as procurement, logistics or even equipment in order to boost productivity and efficiency. We will also facilitate and encourage our food importers to move upstream and consider investment in farming, collection, processing or packaging to gain better control over product quality and supply. Some companies have started to do this, recognising the benefits of securing food at source. IE Singapore is in the process, for example, of assisting Chew's Group Limited to set up an integrated aquaculture centre in China through grants and operational support. In this way, not only does Chew's Group control the entire value chain, it can also gain access to one of the world's largest seafood markets. IE Singapore and AVA will continue to identify interested companies and match them with available opportunities for upstream investments in the region, expanding the source and supply of food back to Singapore. The IMC also recognises that food wastage reduction can help enhance our food security by managing the demand for food. We must inculcate the right attitude and habit in not wasting food amongst all Singaporeans – young and Page: 138 old. Today, households, food manufacturing and catering industries, food and beverage retail premises, hotels and shopping malls are the main food waste generators. In 2012, about 703,200 tonnes of food waste was generated in Singapore. This is equivalent to, on average, of an individual wasting about 650 bowls of rice per year. Imagine how much food we can save to help the less fortunate and buffer us during times of emergencies! All our stakeholders agree that more can be done to increase awareness of the need to reduce food wastage.”
“Mr Chairman, allow me to display a photo on the LED screen. One beneficiary of the Food Fund is the Metropolitan Fishery Group (MFG), a local fish farm which received about $570,000 for investments in solar-powered aerators and water monitoring systems to enhance its operations. The investment has indeed paid off as the farm was not adversely affected by the recent mass fish death. Ms Faizah also asked about rooftop gardens and whether there will be support for residents who wished to plant their own vegetables on rooftops. Page: 137 Such rooftop gardens are very much a community initiative and, indeed, we are seeing the community gardening movement flourishing amongst our HDB residents. HDB will set aside space at all new multi-storey carparks (MSCPs) rooftops, and equip them with planter beds and irrigation systems to facilitate community farming. Both AVA and NParks also conduct training for these community farmers. However, our experience shows that such initiatives require strong local champions who are passionate about community farming. The production capabilities of such community farms are also limited. Let me now give an update of the work of the Inter-Ministry Committee (IMC) on Food Security, as requested by Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal. Formed in 2012 under the purview of the National Security Coordinating Committee, the IMC is tasked to review and formulate strategies to mitigate food security risks and vulnerabilities. It started out focusing on two broad strategies – industry development and food wastage reduction. The IMC has engaged stakeholders along their food supply chain, such as importers, processors, retailers and logistics players for their inputs.”
“Our focus will be on the key food items, and we will work with these farmers to boost farm Page: 136 productivity in a sustainable manner and to intensify the use of whatever limited farmland that we have. Ms Faizah asked about how the recent mass fish death incident has affected our aim of achieving self-sufficiency in fish supply and how much time is needed to recover from the loss. The recent mass fish death incident which saw losses of up to 500 metric tonnes of fish was, indeed, unfortunate. However, the impact to our food supply was minimal as our farms produced only 6% of the fish consumed in Singapore. AVA is assisting the affected farmers to get back onto their feet and resume production in the following ways. First, AVA will fund 70% of the cost of restocking of frys and fingerlings to help the affected farms re-start their operations. Second, AVA will increase its Food Fund's co-funding support from 50% to 70% for the purchase of equipment and systems that farms can put in place to mitigate against similar incidents in future. These include aerators, oxygenators, generators, water treatment systems and water quality monitoring systems. Third, AVA will review and strengthen the current alert system to quickly detect and warn farms of adverse environmental conditions which could affect their farm production. Fourth, AVA will work with the fish farms to develop a more sustainable sea-based farming system, so that they are less susceptible to changes in environmental conditions. The mass fish death incident is a timely reminder to our fish farmers to enhance their production systems through technological innovation to safeguard against externalities, build up their resilience and to improve productivity.”
“Yet, like water and energy, we should never take our food availability for granted. We must continue to ensure our food supply resilience, especially when we import more than 90% of our food. Mr Chairman, food source diversification will continue to be our core strategy to ensure Singapore's food security. This strategy has worked well when some supply sources are disrupted. For instance, the recent export ban of several species of fish by Malaysia had minimal impact on our fish supply as our importers were able to increase fish imports from other countries to meet our consumers' demand. 5.30 pm During the world rice shortage in 2008, Vietnam banned the export of rice but we had adequate supplies from different sources and our rice stockpile provided the additional assurance of buffer stock. While we actively open up overseas food sources to guard against supply disruptions, we have also supplemented our food imports by producing three key food items, namely, eggs, fish and leafy vegetables locally. Ms Faizah has said that AVA gave a reply to a Forum page letter in The Straits Times last year that Singapore aimed to be self-sufficient in these three key food items. This is incorrect. We have never aimed to be fully self-sufficient in these food items. We cannot, as we do not have enough farmland. AVA's reply dated 23 February 2013 that Ms Faizah referred to, in fact, said that we only aimed to achieve some degree of self-sufficiency in the production of these three key food items. The reality in Singapore is that we have limited land with many competing uses. Hence, land for our local farming sector will remain small.”
“As we build more rental flats, we will ensure that they are well-integrated, and we hope that residents can also play their part to be more understanding and accepting. Let me conclude that making a decision on whom to allocate rental flats to boils down to an assessment of housing need. Members would appreciate that it is not straightforward, as circumstances and challenges underlying housing difficulty are complex. Where housing can be removed as an impediment to stabilise the family, we will do so. However, often times, needs go beyond housing, and it may be too simplistic to surmise that resolving their immediate housing need would eradicate other challenges they face. For those who need support beyond housing, we work with the social service sector to provide relevant social services for these families to improve their incomes and social well-being. The Government remains committed to giving the less fortunate a leg-up. We will do so and we will do our utmost to help those who are willing to work with us. We will make sure that as we move ahead, we will stay together and no one will be left behind. But this also depends on individuals exercising responsibility and having the aspiration to improve their lives and work towards Page: 135 securing a better future, especially for their families. The Singapore Dream will always be within reach for those who work for it and we will do whatever it takes to give each one a lift. Mr Chairman, let me now touch on the issues raised by Ms Faizah Jamal and Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal on food security. Today, Singaporeans enjoy a steady supply of safe food at affordable prices. Our supermarket shelves are never empty and we can always find a place, be it a hawker centre or restaurant, to have our meals.”
“This was a better outcome than if we had given them a heavily subsidised rental flat. They will continue to be home owners and have a stored value in their asset in their later years. Second, my Minister has mentioned that our rental stock will make up 6% of our total public housing stock. We know that we cannot build new rental flats Page: 134 indefinitely. Thus, how can we get more rental tenants to progress to own a flat? Can rental flats be seen as transitional housing for those moving on to home ownership? Indeed, for some, the story does not end with allocating them a rental flat – today, over 4% of existing tenants, or some 2,200 units, have booked a flat. Over the last three years, 1,100 tenants moved into flats they bought, and 60% of them do so with the help of the AHG, or AHG and SHG. Despite rents being heavily subsidised, we also waive the rent increase for tenants whose income improves from "$800 or less" to "$801 to $1,500" for up to two term tenancies, so that they can use their additional income to build up their savings. What more can we do to give tenants a leg-up, and create the right incentives to reward positive work ethics and self-reliance? Our housing policy rests on the primary pillar of promoting home ownership and we help even our low-income Singaporeans aspire to be home owners. Third, as we build more rental flats, how should we do so in a way that is inclusive? We build rental flats not just as shelters, but integrate them within estates, where tenants are able to go about their daily lives no differently from those who own their flats. HDB builds rental blocks in new BTO projects, sometimes in infill sites, to ensure a good geographical spread.”
“In some cases, the need for a rental flat is only temporary, because they have suffered a setback, such as a divorce, and need time to stabilise themselves and their children, while they work towards home ownership. Some may need a rental flat over a longer term as they face chronic difficulties that render them unable to work. Yet, there may also be some who see rental flats as the easy way out after cashing out from the sale of their flats; or are unable to live with their family because of disputes. Many may claim to be in need, but how do we discern those in genuine need and prioritise them within our limited resources? More fundamentally, our objective should not be putting more people into rental flats as a convenient first response, as many of them would also prefer, but rather how can we help those who are able to work towards owning a flat to do so, within reasons. At times, this calls for an exercise of judgement and flexibility in the application of rules. Let me cite the example of Mr H, who wanted to rent a flat with his wife, after they sold a flat less than two years ago and had spent their cash proceeds of $37,000 on living and medical expenses. In fact, they had combined CPF savings of over $150,000 and could get a loan with their income of $1,550 per month but just did not have enough cash for the resale levy – a question that Mr Pritam Singh asked. HDB encouraged them to apply for a BTO flat instead and incorporated the resale levy into the selling price of the flat. While waiting for their flat to be completed, HDB is assisting them with Interim Rental Housing at subsidised rent. When they move into their flat later this year, they should be able to pay their mortgage instalment with their CPF, without cash outlay.”
“In extenuating circumstances, where it is not forcible or feasible to share because of medical conditions, we will make that trade-off, to not require co-sharing. Sharing living spaces is not uncommon in various forms of elderly accommodation in other ageing societies like Japan. It facilitates mutual support for these single elderly. I think it is timely that we take stock and ask ourselves some critical questions as we consider ways to strengthen the social compact and support the housing needs of our low income. First, who should public rental flats cater for? We set the income ceiling at $1,500 a month, to focus our help on the bottom 20th income percentile. Mr Pritam Singh suggested raising it, so that those in genuine need are not turned away. Let me assure Mr Pritam Singh that we will not turn away those with genuine housing need. We are not heartless. We do not apply rules unthinkingly. As a social worker, I have always guided my staff to exercise compassion as we go through each case carefully and assess the housing options available. In the last three years, 340 or 3% of approved applicants, had incomes above $1,500, but were allowed to rent because we assessed that they had no other housing options. Page: 133 However, a debate over whether to raise the income ceiling masks the complexities driving demand for rental flats. Why is it that some earning more than $1,500 are unable to buy at least a 2-room flat when others who earn less were able to do so – like the 800 households in 2013 – were able to buy 2-room flats with incomes below $1,500, amongst which half were second-timers? In 2013, two-thirds of approved rental applicants were second-timers who owned and benefited from the sale of a subsidised flat.”
“Let me assure Assoc Prof Muhammad Faishal that we do exercise flexibility in allocation, by administratively adding up to 10%-points to the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) block limits for rental flats and allowing applicants to switch to another zone with vacancies. While waiting, families on the queue can take up Interim Rental Housing, where they pay the same rates as they would Page: 132 under the Public Rental Scheme. Even as new units become progressively available, we want to help as many as we can with what we have. Mr Lim Biow Chuan proposed allowing elderly singles to rent a 1-room flat alone. Mr Lim said that we have done well in giving our Pioneer Generation good health coverage to ease their worries and so why not extend it to their accommodation needs. This is something we have to consider very seriously, as it is not about just the Pioneer Generation, but that of the housing needs of single elderly in an ageing population. We recognise that among those who approach HDB for a rental flat, some do not have next-of-kin, while some are estranged from their family, although we should be careful about dispute and inability to get along becoming convenient excuses for children to absolve responsibility for their aged parents. I can appreciate that elderly singles may not like having to give up comfort and privacy to live in a rental flat with someone else, be it a friend they apply with, or someone on the single persons listing; and to be able to live together amicably requires mutual respect. We can appreciate that. However, in allocating a limited resource, the trade-off we have to consider is having fewer flats for the other 1,800 households on the rental queue.”
“Mdm Chair, this Government has always been concerned with the less fortunate. We understand their challenges and empathise with their struggles. We strive towards a fair and inclusive society, by helping the low-income build capacity and creating opportunities to keep the hope of progress alive, while strengthening social safety nets to tide them through difficult times. This year, we will pay particular attention to the vulnerable groups. The Government spares no effort in helping the low-income families own a flat. We believe home ownership improves their self-esteem, enhances their potential to do well, and gives hope for upward mobility for their children. We build affordable 2-room and 3-room flats, and give out substantial CPF Housing Grants to first-timers – over the last three years, the Additional and Special CPF Housing Grants benefited 1,860 first-timer low-income families who bought a new flat. We did not stop there. Last year, we introduced a Step-Up CPF Housing Grant to help families upgrade from a 2-room to 3-room flat. [Deputy Speaker (Mr Seah Kian Peng) in the Chair] Despite these, some are still not able to buy a 2-room flat and have no family support. This is why we build public rental flats as a safety net for them. When we resumed the building of new rental flats in 2007, we had 42,000 flats. Today, we have 50,000 flats and are on track to reach 60,000 by 2017. Applicants on the rental queue wait seven months to be allocated a flat, down from 21 months in 2008. We can always expect some waiting time, as applicants can choose their preferred zone, to be nearer their workplace or nearer their children's schools, but where there may not be vacancies in those places.”
“We hope that these ordinary Singaporeans with extraordinary hearts will be inspirations for others to do their part, daily, for Total Defence. Some of these materials are in the bags that you have received. Let me conclude by sharing a quote from a young Singaporean taken from the reflection wall we put up at the National Museum during the Total Defence exhibition this year, which I found very encouraging. Ms Lee Li Wen, a 21-year-old student wrote, "Singapore is home to me and I love her dearly. I am glad Page: 38 that my parents and the public are taking the time to make meaning of Total Defence Day. Indeed, we protect what we love." This tells us that the younger generation shares the conviction that Total Defence continues to be relevant and important to Singapore. It also gives us confidence to, together, build an even stronger Singapore. Total Defence has evolved and it will continue to evolve. It is up to each generation of Singaporeans to take ownership of Total Defence and infuse it with fresh purpose. But what will not change is Total Defence as a personal and collective commitment to defend our home and our way of life.”
“competition for students, I was impressed by how many of the teams went the extra mile for their projects and also how thoughtful their messages were. Many of the students' stories revolved around helping people in need and initiating actions to strengthen our society. This sense of community is integral to Total Defence today. The path of reflection and self-discovery taken by these students must be integral to Total Defence as we move forward, as every generation of Singaporeans must also discover for themselves what Total Defence means for them. On MINDEF's part, to strengthen support for Total Defence, we will continue to reach out to the younger generation and other sectors of society through more "experiential" and "reflective" forms of engagement. Indeed, Total Defence must be a daily experience of every Singaporean. In this year's Total Defence campaign, which is themed "30 Years of Total Defence: Because You Played a Part", we featured stories of everyday Singaporeans who have contributed to Total Defence in their own way. For instance, Mr Lin Chin Heng, who was once a troubled youth, is today a mentor to other troubled teenagers. Or the senior SMRT bus captain, Mr Suppiramaniam, who unfailingly greets all his passengers and remembers the names of his regulars. These are everyday Singaporeans doing what they consider to be ordinary things, but the outcome for the community is anything but ordinary. Their stories were featured at an interactive Total Defence exhibition at the National Museum last month and were also published in a commemorative book. These stories will also be showcased at some of our public libraries over the next few months.”
“Over the last 30 years, we have seen and have been confronted with a variety of challenges, including the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-2008, the SARS outbreak in 2003 and the potential terrorist threats post-9/11. In all these instances, we witnessed Total Defence in action. Total Defence has stayed relevant because it has adapted to changing circumstances. Because everyone played a part, we were able to overcome all these adversities. But as we move forward, a new generation of Singaporeans will need to take ownership of Total Defence. For the younger generation, their memories do not stretch to World War II and Konfrontasi, events that many could read about only in textbooks and the Internet. While these events remain vivid in the minds of our Pioneer Generation, it may not be so for our younger generation. Of course, we must not allow these memories to fizzle away. But we must also recognise that our younger generation will have their experiences and memories that will be etched in their own minds. We must ensure that these experiences continue to have relevance to Total Defence, given that the younger generation now exists in an increasingly unpredictable world and that the next crisis could be just around the corner. How Singaporeans responded to the haze crisis last year gives us clues of how our younger generation views and is capable of managing Total Defence. Page: 37 We witnessed how many young Singaporeans stepped forward to help fellow Singaporeans. Some groups set up Facebook pages to encourage Singaporeans to share resources, such as masks and air purifiers, while others distributed masks and herbal tea to the less fortunate. Similarly, when asked to share their takes on Total Defence via an animation clip for our annual N.E.mation!”
“Members will also be familiar with the BMT web reality series "Every Singaporean Son", and may be pleased to know that MediaCorp will be telecasting the series on Channel 5 later this year. Entertainment aside, these efforts create a strong emotive resonance that allows all members of the public to understand the need for defence, the SAF Page: 36 and NS. We are extremely heartened that Singaporeans' commitment to NS and defence remains high. According to the October 2013 survey conducted by NUS' Institute of Policy Studies, more than 98% of respondents agreed that NS is necessary for Singapore's defence. Surveys aside, we have also witnessed different members of the community expressing their support for our NSmen in their own ways, ranging from the 21 retailers who offered exclusive promotions to all SAF servicemen during SAF Day last year, to bloggers, such as Darryl Kang, who saluted online those who have contributed to national defence, and an unnamed female student who gave PTE Yang Hui a thank-you note for his service to the nation whilst on a bus earlier this month. MINDEF will not take this support for granted and we will continue to expand our engagement efforts to further strengthen Singaporeans' commitment to defence. Madam, we agree with Ms Irene Ng and Mr Ong Teng Koon that Singapore's defence depends on Singaporeans taking personal responsibility and getting involved in our defence. Mr Ong and Mr Alex Yam asked how Total Defence remains relevant and how MINDEF engages the public on Total Defence. This year marks our 30th anniversary of Total Defence.”
“In November 2013, the Navy@Vivo also attracted around 31,000 visitors. Such outreach efforts aim to enable Singaporeans to experience first-hand the capabilities of the SAF, particularly also the competence of our NSFs and NSmen. In collaboration with MOE under the SAF-Schools Partnership Programme, we have also reached out to almost 70,000 students from 30 schools through various activities since 2010. Hopefully, these activities do give the boys a good preview of the SAF before their enlistment, thereby increasing their level of commitment when they get enlisted and, for the girls, we hope to give them a better understanding of what their friends and family members go through during NS. MINDEF has continuously sought new communication and engagement initiatives to bring the SAF closer to the hearts and minds of Singaporeans. On the social media front, our cyberpioneerTV YouTube channel, and the Army, Navy and Air Force Facebook pages have attracted strong followings. It is heart-warming to read some of the personal reflections on these Facebook pages. Let me share with the House one such post made by LTA(NS) Davis Koh Han Rong, who is currently a University student, on the Army Facebook last year: "I am grateful for the Army that has transformed me to who I am today... Ever a day the button is pressed, I will be ready to stand forth and protect this place I call home." Many Members will be familiar with PIONEER magazine, which was started in 1969. PIONEER continues to reach out to 180,000 subscribers each month. Over the years, we have refreshed the magazine to make it more relevant and informative. We have also shared its content on our social media channels to extend its reach and help us engage our audience.”
“We will also be redeveloping SAFRA Tampines to include new sports and other exciting facilities, and also studying the feasibility of a new SAFRA clubhouse in the northwestern part of Singapore, to expand further the variety of offerings to more than 540,000 NSmen and their families who are SAFRA members today. Mr Giam has suggested that NSmen who take on extra responsibilities be specially appreciated. We are heartened that Mr Giam shares our sentiments. In recognition of their efforts, these NSmen have been given an additional allowance since 1983. This is reviewed periodically and MINDEF will continue to look into other ways to recognise the contributions of these NSmen. However, as we explore how MINDEF and SAF can continue to offer more recognition to our NSmen, it is also important for other stakeholders to do their part in showing recognition to our NSmen. Employers, families, communities – there is much that each can do to send a clear message that NS is a critical institution and its success, including showing recognition, is everyone's Page: 35 responsibility. This shared responsibility and the commitment of all Singaporeans to defence were highlighted by Ms Irene Ng and Mr Ong Teng Koon. MINDEF continues to engage all Singaporeans to strengthen their support for defence. The CSNS is only the latest in our series of engagement efforts over the years. We have been engaging ACCORD members, grassroots leaders, employers, trade union leaders, overseas Singaporeans, new citizens and others through various activities, to keep them updated on NS and defence-related issues. For example, we arranged for more than 260 different stakeholders and their family members, and more than 10,000 students, to visit the Singapore Airshow in February 2014.”
“Madam, I thank Mr Ong Teng Koon, Mr Gerald Giam and Mr Pritam Singh for asking what more can MINDEF/SAF do to recognise the contributions of our NSmen. Over the years, we have shown our appreciation to NSmen in different ways, such as the National Service Bonus, the NSman Tax Relief and the National Service Recognition Award (NSRA). Many NSmen have benefited from these schemes. For example, the NSRA has already benefited 210,000 NSmen Page: 34 to date. As part of the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS), I chair the "Recognition and Benefits for National Service (NS)" Working Group to address how MINDEF and SAF can better recognise the contributions of our NSmen. We have spoken to many NSmen as well as Singaporeans from all walks of life, and are at our final stages of evaluating the feedback and suggestions, including enhancing our existing recognition schemes like the NSRA, for example, to better recognise our NSmen in the area of healthcare. 12.45 pm When we commemorated the 45th anniversary of NS in 2012, MINDEF also offered SAFRA benefits in the form of vouchers and club memberships. I am pleased to report that more than 80% of NSmen have redeemed some $43 million worth of the SAFRA vouchers, and about 400,000 NSmen have taken up the free membership offered. With increased membership and as part of our continuing efforts to recognise our NSmen, I am pleased to announce that the construction of a new SAFRA clubhouse in Punggol will commence in the middle of this year. This will add close to 20,000 square metres of additional recreational spaces for our NSmen and their families to enjoy and bond. When completed, NSmen and their families will have convenient access to quality lifestyle facilities at six SAFRA clubs located island-wide.”
“On average, that is about five feedback a day. I think we take it quite seriously. We want to strike a balance between the nuisance that is created by monkeys and the way we treat the monkeys, in relation to how do we manage the co-existence of the monkeys and human beings. We hope that they continue to be in the nature reserves and continue to be there. The more they come out of that space and intrude on the space of our residents – and our residents are giving us those feedback – we get concerned about that. In the longer term, we have to try to work with animal welfare groups to ask for their cooperation also to help us mange some of these challenges. Our residents need to also understand how to manage the monkey nuisance but, really, it is very tough. We live in an urban environment. Many of our youngsters grow up in an urban setting, not quite used to such intrusions, if I may call it. The Member also asked about the long-term plans of AVA. AVA looks at it on both perspectives: looking at the welfare and well-being of the animals, at the same time, understanding the concerns and responding to the feedback that I have received by the residents when it comes to the monkey nuisance.”
“Madam, I think there were several questions there. First, on the safety of the animals and the bins, the bin is one of the approved methods and that is not the only one that has been used in Singapore; we use cages. As I have said, monkeys do get familiar and cages are a lot more apparent to them when you put the baits around the cage. The bin traps are also used by the authorities in Hong Kong and they have proven to be effective. AVA gives clear guidelines to its contractors and there are guidelines for the capture, the handling and transportation of the animals. We try to minimise the discomfort to the animals when the animals are captured. The contactors are expected to be on-site. The moment they set up the traps, the way the bin trays work, is that the spring is at the bottom of the bin. We put baits there and when the animal goes in, and they press on the string, the cover is closed. The contractors are nearby. They are supposed to immediately bring the monkeys to the AVA for inspection. We are very mindful of the welfare and the well-being of the animals. At the same time, on the question on where they site the traps, the Member is right. We do not send them to the nature reserves. Some of these monkeys are very fast. The contractors are giving the site where the feedback was given, and oftentimes, this is near the residential areas. They will not go into the nature reserves but they set up traps where there are feedback of the sighting of Page: 10 monkeys and the nuisance that has been created by the monkeys. To the question of how many has been captured by AVA, I think in the region of about 500 has been captured. In 2013 alone, AVA received about 1,800 feedback from the public related to monkeys. I do not think that is a small number.”
“When we revoked their licences recently, there were a lot of pleas from the fish farmers. We want to try to help the fish farmers. The first thing is to help them develop their systems as well as to be able to produce. Certainly, there are targets that have been set in place because we have very limited spaces. We have limited water and land spaces for farming activities. With the farmers, we have put in place opportunities for Page: 24 them to improve other productivity levels. Yes, in a worst case scenario, we will revoke licences for those who have failed to comply with the regulations we put in place, including those who fail to produce the kind of quantity that is required. The way to go right now is to help them. We want to help the farmers because this is their livelihood. We want to try to be sympathetic even for those who have recently suffered the mass fish deaths. AVA is working very closely with them, trying to facilitate and, possibly, help them with the purchase of fish fries, fingerlings, put in greater subsidies to help them get back on their feet. We want to try to help our local farmers. We also have targets where we want to improve the productivity level of our fish production because fish is one of the key food items in our food strategy. So, as much as we want to try to make them comply, we will take a very calibrated approach to support them. For those who have failed over several years and they have not been taking part in productivity movements, certainly we will look at the worst case scenario of revoking their licences.”
“The jetty will be ready by this quarter and will be operational probably by the later part of the year. On the issue of the health impact, we are studying the health impact and the conditions of the water; we are monitoring very closely. On the last question on technological advancement: that is really one of the things we found when I visited the farms recently. We have put in place opportunities for the farmers to improve their conditions. One of the challenges they had was that they had very poor aeration system. Some did not even have generators to facilitate aeration as an immediate action when the oxygen level of the water came down. The oxygen level came down because of the plankton blooms. We are working very closely with the farmers to help them improve on their current systems. One of the challenges that we acknowledge – and I think the farmers acknowledge it as well – is we want to turn this situation from adversity to opportunity, and see how we can actually facilitate them in improving their systems such that future occurrences may be prevented. There are farmers who have successfully tapped on the Food Fund and they have put in better systems that had allowed them to mitigate the impact of the current situation. So some of the farms were not affected because they have invested in proper technology and proper systems that allowed them to mitigate the impact of such sudden changes in the temperature and sudden changes in conditions. Their aeration systems were a lot more advanced. They were able to manage the oxygen levels within their farms.”
“I thank Ms Faizah for the set of questions. On the skid at Changi Creek, we will ask AVA to investigate on what happened. If the Member's observation is right, we have to find out exactly who is responsible for that. On the recent issue of what happened at the fish farms, the plankton bloom: the conditions happened over the last couple of weeks facilitated a plankton bloom because there is heat as well as the tide. Because of the low tide, we were told that facilitated the flourishing and the blooming of the plankton. AVA is monitoring such a condition. But when it happened, it was very fast. It also linked up to the type of fish that the farmers were actually rearing. There were three types of fish that were susceptible to such conditions and these were the ones which were not able to survive. I think there was a multitude of factors that led to that condition. On the issue of the quality of the water: the way the fish were disposed of during the recent fish deaths, AVA brought in their contractors to help the affected fish farmers. Under the normal situation, the fish farmers are responsible to dispose of the fish waste – that is their responsibility. We have two locations: western and southern, and the eastern. The western and southern section, they have the Lim Chu Kang jetty that has facilitated a more controlled fish waste disposal system. They dispose of their waste at the jetty and there is a central disposal system available there. At Page: 23 the eastern farms, we do not have that system at this point in time. That is one of the reasons why we are building the Lorong Halus jetty to facilitate similar processes. Once we have the Lorong Halus jetty, then the farmers can dispose of their waste centrally at the Lorong Halus jetty.”
“Mdm Speaker, under the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority's fish farm licensing conditions, owners of offshore fish farms must properly dispose of the waste generated from their farms. The owners must also keep their premises in good condition and ensure that the waters in and around their farms are clean and pollution-free at all times. AVA carries out quarterly inspections and ad hoc night raids on all fish farms, including those in the southern and western coastal areas, to check for compliance with its licensing conditions. During the inspections, AVA officers will check that farmers use proper waste disposal methods. In addition, night raids deter farmers from illegally towing fish farm trash to the shore under the cover of darkness. In October 2013, AVA explored if door-to-door waste collection services could be provided for fish farm sited in the eastern Johor Straits. There were 60 licensed eastern fish farms at that time. AVA estimated that each fish farmer would have to pay $160 per month for weekly door-to-door waste collection service. With the new AVA jetty at Lorong Halus ready later this year, the eastern fish farmers can bring their farm waste to the waste collection centre at the jetty to help facilitate proper waste disposal. This is similar to the arrangement for the western fish farmers who use the waste disposal services at the Lim Chu Kang jetty.”
“Madam, I think the laughter from the other Members of the House reflects the answer. It is beyond the Government at this point in time. We understand the importance of the EIP and because 90% of Singaporeans live in public housing estates, we want to ensure that the ethnic mix is useful for our society to continue to function. Within private housing estates and condominiums, these units are bound by the Management Councils' regulations. We will leave it at that. But we hope that Singaporeans will also be able to appreciate the mix that is required and that it would come naturally in the private estates. We hope that Members will continue to support Page: 32 the EIP within the HDB estates.”
“Madam, we will look at appeal cases on a case-by-case basis, but our observation is that for those cases affected by EIP, often times, it depends on the practical nature of the asking price. We noticed that in many cases that are affected by EIP, at the end of the day, they are able to sell their flats. Majority of the cases that are affected by EIP are being sold either at or above valuation. The way we look at it is: we want to try to encourage these families to look at the conditions of their flats and to try their best to find buyers. Yes, I understand that sometimes they are not able to receive any offers, but when we look deeper, often times, it is due to the kinds of prices that they are prepared to receive. The prices that they are prepared to offer are also dependent on the characteristics of the flats. If we looked at the figures, even in the Member's constituency in Bishan-Toa Payoh, the majority of flats that are affected by EIP have been able to be sold by sellers at or even above valuation. There are also flats that are not affected by EIP that were sold at below valuation. So, I think the EIP alone is not one of the key factors in determining whether the seller is able to sell their flats. We recognise that some face more challenges than others but, by and large, our data show that it is not impossible for them to be able to find the buyers of the necessary ethnic group.”
“In fact, we plan to ramp up supply for rental flats up to 60,000 by 2017. We have reached the level of 57,000 rental flats and we are moving upwards to enhance the number to 60,000 by 2017.”
“Madam, as I have mentioned earlier, we have a stock of 50,000 rental flats, of which 48,200 have been allocated. We have about 1,300 rental flats that are awaiting allocation. It is an on-going number because there are rental flats that are returned to us when families move out. Right now, we are looking at allocating the 1,300 flats I mentioned. The speed at which we can allocate the flats really depends on the availability of those flats and the readiness of those flats. Sometimes, yes, as the Member Page: 30 mentioned, we see empty flats available, but it does not mean that they are not being allocated. They are being allocated, but sometimes, flats are affected by the Ethnic Integration Policy (EIP) quotas. But we try to allocate to those families who are on the queue as soon as we can. We have reduced the duration or the waiting time in the queue from 21 months to the current average of seven and a half months.”
“Madam, affordability is also dependent on the family's capability in budgeting their income and expenditure. We try to help them in various ways: first, we do financial counselling for the families, especially on how they manage their expenses, and depending on the number of children they may have. The current pricing or fees for rental flats are already heavily subsidised. We try to allocate them to the truly needy. We do have criteria in place, for example, the household income criterion. But we do take into consideration the number of children in the family. As far as possible, we have a broad guideline in relation to the criteria that we put in place for families who are eligible for rental flats, but beyond that, we look at individual cases and try to help them as far as possible to be allocated rental flats when they really, truly need them.”
“Mdm Speaker, for the first question, on whether we regard divorcees as first- or second-timer, it really depends on whether they have been tagged as having taken the first subsidy on their matrimonial home. Sometimes, they may have purchased a home but not tagged as a residential occupier or as a first-timer. As long as they are first-timers at the point of divorce, then they are eligible to purchase the 2-room BTO flats that we just allowed for singles, and they have to meet the eligibility criteria like age and income. Secondly, on the issue of whether the debarment period for divorcees for rental flats can be reduced or waived, it really depends first on whether they Page: 28 have custody of the children. We are more sympathetic towards to divorcees who do have custody of the children and when they form a family nucleus. They are bound by the demand debarment, but we have seen cases that require some further assistance and we are prepared to look at those. If they do not have custody of the children, we treat them as singles and we hope that they can also try to look for housing options on their own. If they are above 35 years of age, they can always apply for rental flats under the Joint Singles Scheme.”
“These are suggestions for the various agencies to consider.”
“Madam, as mentioned earlier, we acknowledge that we could have done better, in terms of the communication. The letter was not the first that was sent. HDB officers sent a letter earlier last year, in 2012. The same letter, but it did not create that misunderstanding. At that point in time, they were also doing the same census. Unfortunately, this time round, it came up quite negatively and we acknowledge that we could have done better in the communications and the processes. I think we have rectified the processes to make sure that it does not happen again. On the issue of the local cultural heritage, I think Singaporeans acknowledge what Pulau Ubin offers. Whether it is a formalised process we can put in place, various agencies can come together and review that possibility. Even if we do not formalise that process, today, the natural environment and attraction of Pulau Ubin are sufficient for Singaporeans to acknowledge that that is something that we have already. If Singaporeans themselves continue to visit Pulau Ubin and experience the wonders of the rustic lifestyle, Pulau Ubin will continue to be the way it is. Many times when I visited my residents there, and I visit the shop owners, they are very happy because, over the weekends, there are so many people who come back. During the weekdays, they are quite quiet; naturally, because people do flock over during the weekends. They are quite happy with the way things are happening in Pulau Ubin. And whenever I go there, not only Singaporeans, I also see tourists come and enjoy the various aspects of Pulau Ubin.”
“I think that is quite a different proposition. I am not sure Ms Faizah will agree to that. Well, I think the issue really is whether that is something that Singaporeans want. When we talk about retirement village, there are also ageing and elderly issues. To put our elderly on an island, you would need to put in a whole slew of services and a lot of issues with regard to cost and whether we can put those infrastructures in place. That is a proposition that is worth considering in the longer term if it does merit such a proposition. For now, we are quite clear. We want to leave Pulau Ubin the way it is for as long as we can. Even when we have chalets, the chalets try very hard to keep it to the way it is without too much of modern facilities going into it. We want to try to provide an avenue for Singaporeans to go back to something that we used to have. So, whether it would turn into a retirement village one day, I am not quite sure. Whether that is something that we want to consider at this point in time, I think there are other alternatives for our retirees to age in place. We also want our retirees to age in place rather than go to an island. We want them to be part of the larger community because I think that is where the social support ought to be made available for our retirees.”
“We engage the residents quite regularly, even when they have issues with regard to things that needed to be upgraded, we will continue to work with them on the nature and how we go about putting in place some of these facilities for them. So, I assure the Member that we will continue as best we can to keep Pulau Ubin as rustic as we can because that is something that I think Singaporeans can treasure.”
“Madam, I thank the Member for the three questions. First, I want to assure the Member that we take the interests of the residents very closely to our hearts. I say that because I am also the local Member of Parliament for Pulau Ubin. I meet the residents as regularly as I can, and I know most of them. We engage the residents very regularly through my house visits to them, as well as various events that we organise in Pulau Ubin. We are very mindful of the concerns that the residents may have. The Member is absolutely right. We could have done better in our communications. We have a local committee in place: Pulau Ubin Changi Village, with various subcommittees which include residents in Pulau Ubin as well as Changi Village because it is their main point where they come to the mainland. Many of the residents, they used to live in Pulau Ubin and they do have some residential property in Changi Village. But they go to Pulau Ubin regularly. We are very mindful of how we should be engaging these residents. I assure the Member that I will personally connect with the residents there. On the issue of Mdm Kamariah, I know her also. I think she has done a lot of work, too. On how best we can facilitate her work, we can discuss with her on a separate occasion and to look at how best we can look at the whole Pulau Ubin, not as a tourist destination of sorts. I do not like to see it as a tourist destination but I like to see it as a destination for Singaporeans to go back to experience what rustic life is about in Pulau Ubin. The Member is absolutely right. We continue to engage the residents. Even when we do any form of upgrading works, it is also to tie in with the nature and rustic environment.”
“This means that the residents only need to pay the full TOL fees from the sixth year onwards. Most of these households will only need to pay less than $20 per month in the first year and less than $120 per month in the sixth year. For residents who face financial difficulties in paying the rent, SLA will be facilitating the assessment for them to receive financial assistance from the Government.”
“There is currently no development plan for Pulau Ubin. Our intention is to keep Pulau Ubin in its rustic state for as long as possible and as an outdoor playground for Singaporeans. Both SLA and HDB have clarified that the letter sent to the 22 households on Pulau Ubin in March 2013 was meant to notify them of a census survey to determine their eligibility for resettlement benefits arising from the land acquisition exercises in 1987 and 1993. The letter was not an eviction notice. SLA and HDB acknowledged that the letter could have been more carefully worded and the language updated to reflect the eventual development on Pulau Ubin. They had already apologised for the anxiety caused to the affected residents. While the affected land owners were all compensated for the land acquired by the Government earlier in 1987 and 1993, not all the households had claimed the resettlement benefits. Furthermore, as these households have been staying on state land since the acquisition exercise without a Temporary Occupation Licence (TOL), SLA is taking this opportunity to regularise the TOL for these households, which is a requirement for them to remain on state land. The resettlement benefits that some of these affected Pulau Ubin residents are eligible for include an ex-gratia amount payable to the house owners and Page: 55 tenants for their houses and improvements made to their surroundings; priority allocation of HDB flats for those who wish to relocate to mainland Singapore; and a transport allowance for the relocation. To help those residents who decide to remain on Pulau Ubin and not relocate to the mainland, SLA will not be charging them the full TOL fees immediately, but phasing it in over five years.”
“As I have mentioned earlier, the context of housing and family support is intertwined. We hope that the adult child, who Page: 39 is able to purchase a property – it depends on the property that the child is able and capable of purchasing – if a child is able to purchase a 5-room flat, for example, and there is available space, extra room to accommodate their parents, we will encourage that. If the child is a low-income person who is able only to afford, say, a 3-room flat, and he has his own family, of course, we will be more compassionate to then say that maybe the child cannot provide for the parents, then we will be more sympathetic, and I will certainly take a look at the case when Er Dr Lee Bee Wah refers that case to us. As I mentioned earlier, HDB really tries to understand the issues that every family faces and I think the House would probably appreciate that every case comes along with a complex array of issues and no one case is similar to the other. We have to look at every individual case differently so that we can try to help them better.”
“There are people who live in rental flats and when their children get married they face problems like this. So, I would like to ask the Minister what help can be given to them. Can we be more compassionate to help elderly parents in that situation?”
“Of course, we hope the whole family goes together, if that is a family household and we hope the child can also help to support the parents. So, when they buy a flat, I think they have to look at the long-term implications. Long-term implications are whether the child can continue to live and co-live with the parents and support the parents in the new flat, should they choose to purchase. Certainly, if the parents are old, we would advise them on the ability of the parents to own the flat on their own if the child chooses to marry. For such cases, the housing counsellors will actually look at each of the individual cases, assess them, provide them with relevant advice to look at the long-term implications of such choices that they can make. Wherever possible, we would facilitate the possibilities of home ownership for them but I want to assure the House that we are not out to misplace people who are in the rental flats. What we are trying to do is to strike a balance because there will always be people who are subjected to different life circumstances and they fall below the cracks and they need the rental flats. But because of the limited stock of rental flats, we want to facilitate this continuous movement where those who are able to purchase and own their own flats should do so to provide space for those who may need the rental flats. And for those who have gone into the rental flats, we want to continue working with them such that they can own their own flats subsequently again. Er Dr Lee Bee Wah: Mdm Speaker, in last night's MPS, I had just seen a case like that. The child has grown up, got married, bought a flat and this old father received a letter from HDB asking him to shift out by 17 July. So, I have just put up an appeal.”
“Madam, when we look at the housing trajectory for families, first, we always look at it from the perspective that the family is still the first line of support for families, especially for parents also. So, when you look at a scenario of this nature, they grew up in a rental flat, a young adult grows up, works and has the capability to own a flat, if the income goes beyond $1,500, we do not immediately tell them, "Please go out". We want to tell them that you have the potential to own a flat and if you have the potential to own a flat, why not, so that the availability of rental flats could be given to others who are more deserving. Because there will be people who are asking for rental flats. People go through different life cycles, different life challenges and sometimes the rental flats could be better given to those who really are in need. So, if they have the potential to own a flat, we will encourage them to own a flat, but we give them time. We give them time to work towards home ownership. Page: 38 It is certainly not almost immediate that we expect them to move. That is why we introduce "term tenancy" where for every two years, we assess their capabilities. Even if they have gone into income levels like $2,000, sometimes circumstances do not enable them to own a flat, perhaps there is disability in the household, HDB is very, very compassionate. We look at such cases very compassionately. We allow them to continue to stay in the rental flat. We do not force them to move into home ownership unless we are quite certain that they really have the potential to do so. To the question of what happens to the individual if the adult child chooses to buy a flat, what happens to the parents?”
“If they are first- timers and they have potential, we look at what that potential is. We will then work with them, for example, to get grants and with the grants, the price of the flat is maybe $60,000 or $45,000 or $50,000. This is for a 2-room flat, for example. With that loan that you may take up to own a flat, what kind of jobs and income will you be required to have? We will work with the CDC to try and facilitate upgrading opportunities so that they can get the relevant skills to get the relevant jobs to get incomes that are suitable for them to buy those flats. The public housing policy remains the same: we want to promote home ownership because it makes better sense for them to own their own homes. Page: 37 Their self esteem will be higher, and in due course, because of appreciation in the value of the property, they do have good investments. The point is that we work with closely with the different social service agencies. For these families, the challenge really is to work with all the other social aspects, issues that they are facing. It could be an issue of the skillset. It could also be issues of childcare or an issue of taking care of elderly patients. This is one group – especially for those who are first timers, it is easier for us to work with. The challenge is really when we have rental flat dwellers who are second- and third-timers. They are even more challenged because of the age that they are in. When they are in the mid 40s, 50s, to work with them on longer term employments is a greater challenge. But that does not mean we cannot help them; that they cannot become home owners subsequently. We work with the relevant agencies to also help such families.”
“Mdm Speaker, first please allow me to clarify. We now give automatic waiver of the rental increase if their income moves from $800 to $1,500. Previously, it was discretionary, depending on a case-by-case basis. I had made that announcement in an earlier session. So, we now give automatic waiver of the rental increase. This is what we call the cliff effect. Previously, the moment you hit above the $800 mark, they will charge higher rental. The concern is that the higher rental is higher than the income increase that they have. Now, the moment they go into the next bar, we give them automatic renewal of the same rental for one term tenancy, which is two years. If after the first two years, their rental increase is still higher than their income increase, we will still allow them to keep to the same rental rate for another two years. The Member is absolutely right in that during this two-year plus two-year term tenancy period, we need to work with the families. This is why we always say that housing is just one aspect of the life of the low-income families. We need to look at the various social infrastructures that we can put in place to support them. Income and employment are critical. We need to look at how we can enhance the income levels of these families. Sometimes, they are single-income families; sometimes they have the potential to be dual-income families but because of circumstances, they were not able to do so. The interface between the housing and social aspects is very important. What do we do now? We work with the FSCs and the CDCs very closely. HDB has got in every branch housing counsellors; they will help these families look at a trajectory; we call it the "pathway of housing opportunities". We look at what is possible for them.”
“Page: 185 Mr Chairman, it is also encouraging to see Singaporeans driving initiatives which help to strengthen commitment to defence. Some Members may have watched the Jack Neo movies "Ah Boys to Men" and "Ah Boys to Men 2". The films struck a chord with many Singaporeans with their candid portrayal of Army life, becoming the highest-grossing Singapore film of all time! 7.30 pm This sentiment was vividly captured by Ms Heng Shu Qing, who wrote after watching the first instalment that, "'Ah Boys to Men' tells a story that will touch the heart of every Singaporean. It is not merely just a laugh but to remind us that our independence did not come by so easily. So love our land and never take it for granted." We look forward to more such initiatives, which bring richness to our NS story and underscore the public support for NS. With your permission, Mr Chairman, I have asked the Clerk to place on the Members' seats additional materials that show how MINDEF has been engaging the public on defence issues. One of the materials is a DVD with the top 10 N.E.mation! Seven clips. Let me conclude by showing you this year's winning clip, produced by four young students from Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School last December, when they were in Secondary 2. On screen is a picture of the team at the award ceremony last month. You can see the happy faces of the young people. And you will see the clip a little later on. It warms the heart to know that young Singaporeans understand the challenges we face. Mr Chairman, may I have your permission to screen the video? [A video was shown to hon Members.]”
“Some of you might have also watched 2LT Zacky go through Officer Cadet School (OCS) in the cyberpioneerTV web-series Every Singaporean Son II. While 2LT Zacky had initially found the training at OCS to be physically and mentally challenging, the constant support and encouragement from his parents spurred him on and he eventually emerged as the third best graduate in his infantry cohort. Such examples underscore the invaluable role that employers and families play in supporting NS. Mr Alex Yam and Dr Intan Mokhtar also asked about MINDEF's online engagement efforts. We actively use social media to reach out to different segments of Singaporeans. There are currently nearly 400 video clips on life in the SAF on our cyberpioneerTV YouTube channel, which has received close to 11 million views and 20,000 subscribers. MINDEF's vibrant online presence is also reflected with more than 33,000 users "liking" the cyberpioneer Facebook page, where we post updates and photos of ceremonies, exercises and more. These efforts help to deepen public understanding of and support for NS and defence. Recognising the power of social media platforms, the Army also launched its Facebook page earlier this month. Our cyberpioneer and Army Facebook pages are useful platforms for our servicemen to celebrate their shared stories of service, rites of passage, camaraderie and sacrifice. This ground-up sharing of common experiences can help to enhance our servicemen's cohesion and engage them more deeply. MINDEF manages the associated risks of social media participation by educating our servicemen to use social media responsibly, and reminding them that their exchanges, even on non-official platforms, should not compromise safety and security.”
“Mr Chairman, Mr Alex Yam and Dr Intan asked how MINDEF ensures public commitment to defence and confidence in the SAF. MINDEF reaches out to grassroots leaders, employers, trade union leaders and other stakeholders through regular dialogue sessions and visits to SAF units, and also through the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD). In collaboration with MOE, MINDEF works with all 30 Post-Secondary Education Institutions under the SAF-School Partnership Programme to organise student engagement activities. To reach out to more Singaporeans, we also held the Army Open House for the first time in the city last year at the F1 Pit Building, which attracted a record turnout of 188,000 visitors. Beyond these outreach efforts to bring the SAF closer to Singaporeans, our NS system, as a key institution of Singapore society, is the best opportunity to enhance Singaporeans' commitment to defence. NS is more than just the obligations of NSFs and NSmen – it should be the commitment of every family member and employer. Support from family members and employers is critical Page: 184 for our NSFs and NSmen to continue performing their defence roles. Most of us will recognise Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) as the company that operates Universal Studios Singapore. What you might not know is that RWS actually employs more than 2,500 NSmen amongst its staff, and has put in place a range of processes to support NS, such as revamping its HR system for supervisors to efficiently manage their employees' NS commitments and allowing the recently issued NS45 vouchers to be used at its attractions and shops. In recognition of its commendable support for NS, RWS was awarded the Meritorious Defence Partner Award in July 2012 at the Total Defence Symposium.”
“Sir, complementing our efforts in Military Defence is our Total Defence framework. Dr Intan asked about MINDEF's plans to ensure public Page: 183 understanding of the importance of Total Defence. We agree with Dr Intan that this is a very important aspect of Total Defence. That is why our Total Defence campaigns in recent years have sought to engage Singaporeans at a more emotional level and encourage ground-up initiatives. This year's campaign, for example, themed "Will You Stand With Me?", carried the message that when Singaporeans stand together and work as one, just as we did during the SARS outbreak a decade ago, we can overcome any challenge. This message further came alive through the key component of this year's campaign, the Total Defence Challenge, in which 25 teams comprising SAF personnel, students, active agers and people with disabilities worked together to complete tasks embodying each pillar of Total Defence. Corporate donors also showed their support for the Challenge, matching in dollar value the points accumulated by the teams, and donated some $224,000 to the Community Chest. MINDEF also runs N.E.mation!, a digital animation competition for youths, as part of our Total Defence engagement efforts. I am pleased that the number of story submissions has increased from around 800 in the past few years to a record 1,122 entries this year. We also ran the first ciNE65 short film competition in 2011 and received an encouraging 72 entries. We have just launched the second run of ciNE65 and will continue to explore various platforms to allow different segments of society to share their take on what defending Singapore and the Singapore identity means to them.”
“The exercise also brings recruits step-by-step through the cleaning, maintenance and assembly of the SAR 21. The training of our soldiers has been enhanced as a result, and the SAF is now ready to extend LEARNet progressively across to the rest of our units. Fighting systems, such as the Terrex vehicle that we have developed in recent years, also take into account the profiles of the new generation of soldiers, allowing them to very quickly learn how to operate these systems. For instance, the Battlefield Management System in our Terrex adopts an interface that is similar to the touch-screen multimedia devices that youths today are comfortable with, and our soldiers can easily see where friendly and hostile forces are on an intuitive touch-screen display. Mr Chairman, in recognition of its commitment to being a world-class learning organisation, the SAF has been awarded Asia's Most Admired Knowledge Enterprise Award for three consecutive years since 2010. Overall, the SAF's training transformation will allow for a more engaging and effective training experience for our Regulars, NSmen and NSFs. Mr Ong also asked how the SAF meets the aspirations of today's servicemen. Over the years, various steps have been taken to recognise our servicemen as strategic and active contributors to the SAF, including implementing enhanced career schemes – for Officers, Warrant Officers and Military Experts – that cater to different aspirations and organisational needs. We provide a competitive career proposition by offering meaningful employment to maximise the individual serviceman's potential, providing unique opportunities for our servicemen to serve in operational deployments, and developing our servicemen through continuing education and professional military training.”