Mohamed Irshad
Singapore
“The multi-faceted crisis the world is faced with did reveal itself in various ways in the last decades, continuously sending us signals on the urgent necessity to take action and embark on a transformational journey.”
“So, how can we implement safe distancing within bus stations, within MRT stations and also on the bus itself we can have one seat beside each other to be vacant, we can actually Implement some sort of measures even on the MRT trains to have one seat in between each other.”
“Okay. We have a policy of people coming back from overseas to be issued Stay-Home Notice but however, Singaporeans who want to visit their relatives who just came back and visit the houses, how can we discourage them from doing so?”
“Chairman, as I previously mentioned in the House, the Singapore Muslim community is a highly diverse one. In addition to the racial diversity, we have Muslims from all around the world coming to study, work, marry and settle in Singapore.”
“Sir, the recently submitted COFA report appears to have set a direction for tuture asatizah. I also note that the current generation of asatizah have the MUIS Academy which offers a range of courses and training as part of their lifelong learning ethos.”
“If this trend continues, it does not bode well for the financial well-being of lower income households even when income inequality is mitigated. Does MSF have a programme to track the income, expenditures and financial well-being of lower income HDB residents? Tracking such data can help MSF provide better and targeted assistance.”
The complete record
Every one of 116 lines we hold for Mohamed Irshad, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 3.
“Due to inflexible reporting timings or delays in taking their urine test, their jobs are affected and, in some extreme cases, they are laid off. Some of these supervisees are even putting off finding a job just because the potential employers cannot accommodate them taking time off for urine tests. Secondly, clustering the supervisees in batches to take their urine tests provides an opportunity to meet other former drug offenders. Such gathering points while waiting to take urine tests provides a platform for ex-offenders who may be still active in illicit drug activities to prey on fellow ex-offenders. Even if a person wants to stay clean and away from drugs, the lure of bad company might lead them back to drugs. Therefore, is there a possibility to allow the supervisees to report for urine tests at flexible timings without being clustered into groups? I hope that MHA could look into this issue to make the process less painful for those who are sincerely and genuinely trying to turn over a new leaf and find a stable employment. Support from the community remains an integral part in the fight against drugs. I commend efforts, such as CNB's United Against Drugs Coalition (UADC), an anti-drug coalition made up of local organisations and business enterprises. I would also like to highlight the good work undertaken by ReviveSG, a ground-up initiative formed in 2017 by a group of former drug-related offenders and renounced gang members. ReviveSG not only provides support and counselling to youths-at-risk, they also conduct recovery programmes and educational programmes for parents, educators, employers and the public. I would like to ask if there is funding to support other similar ground-up initiatives.”
“I also understand that Singapore is studying successful models of engagement from Iceland and Finland to tackle the drug issue effectively. Can the hon Minister share if Singapore will be adapting or implementing these models or have drawn lessons from them to improve our local efforts? On integration, Minister K Shanmugam recently announced that SPS will look into assigning inmates the same case officer from the start of their sentence until they are fully integrated into the community. He also shared of plans to have counselling sessions via video-conferencing and an App containing self-help resources and a database for jobs for former offenders. This is a welcome move to better rehabilitate former offenders and it shows the commitment of our officers. Drug offenders who have been released from prison or DRC face a lot of obstacles in their efforts to reintegrate themselves into society. They navigate a world with a stigma on their backs, while coping with their obligations to report for mandatory urine tests at designated police divisions while trying to avoid some of their peers who may draw them back into drugs. I have learnt from ex-drug offenders that they have to report at fixed timings where they are clustered into batches to take their urine test. Although efficient, this posed some problems. Firstly, I understand that, sometimes, due to processing delays, these tests may take longer than the stipulated one hour which the supervisees have to report for. This affects the livelihood of these former drug offenders as they have to take time off work to take the urine tests, sometimes up to three times a week. Many of these supervisees work simple jobs as delivery or dispatch riders on a part-time basis.”
“Having just completed my reservist, I believe NSmen can also benefit from this training. In tertiary educational institutions, can I suggest we have organisations, such as NCADA, step up engagements with students by tying up with student bodies and training these youths to be Anti-drug Ambassadors on campus? There are currently many efforts aimed at addressing this growing pro-drug trend, including the recent media campaign launched by NCADA and the ongoing Dadah Itu Haram campaign, as well as the annual activities and efforts by CNB. But based on my interactions with youths from all spectrums, I have found that these campaigns are quite effective at reminding the mainstream youths, but not as effective at targeting the youths who are more at risk of drug abuse due to gang influence or other delinquency issues. It is a challenging issue to address. One step towards targeting those youths-at-risk is this Bill's efforts to criminalise acts by adults who expose children to the risks of drug abuse. Often, these adults are the children’s own parents. Parents who do not seem to care that if you expose a child, who does not know better, to drugs, you condemn him to a life of misery and addiction. I agree wholeheartedly with this new provision. We must protect our vulnerable young from reckless parents or adults. In the same light, I would also like to support this Bill's move to grant the Director of CNB the power to require possibly negligent parents or guardians to attend counselling to rehabilitate low-risk youth abusers. As they say, it takes a village to raise a child. I say we must do our part to fight and stamp out drug abuse, starting with the young.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker and hon Members of Parliament, allow me to begin my speech with greetings of well wishes to Singaporeans who are celebrating the Tamil festival of Pongal. (In Tamil): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] May I wish Happy Pongal to all those who celebrate the Pongal festival. May your homes and hearts be filled with joy forever. (In English): I support this Bill as it enhances and strengthens the MDA to effectively and comprehensively tackle the issue of drug abuse in Singapore. Today, I wish to speak on two areas of concern: prevention and integration. Based on statistics by CNB, 3,091 drug abusers were arrested in 2017; 40% were new drug abusers and two-thirds of the new abusers were under the age of 30. These statistics seem to underline a growing trend among the young in taking a more liberal attitude towards drug abuse, influenced by pro drug-related content. This was one of the conclusions drawn by the Youth and Public Perception Survey by the National Council Against Drug Abuse (NCADA). Online peddling of drugs has also been flagged out as a rising concern by CNB. What efforts are undertaken by the authorities to counter these influences and online drug peddling? Are there plans to flag out and perhaps block such contents or access to websites promoting the use of harmful drugs? Unlike the past, more of today’s drug abusers hail from middle and even upper middle-class families, with parents having no history of drug abuse. Undergraduates, NSFs and young working adults are taking drugs, with some even going overseas to consume drugs thinking they can evade detection and prosecution. Can I propose that the authorities introduce a mandatory anti-drug course as part of NS?”
“They do not predict the future. Culture is a leading indicator. Culture predicts the future." She adds that culture is "more important in some ways than strategy", and that "if you are not thinking about building your culture for survivability and sustainability, then you are not leading". These are strong words, but nonetheless words of wisdom. I believe that what Prof Kanter says of business applies just as much to nations. GDP employment figures are a lagging indicator. National culture predicts the course of progress and development of countries. To deal with a future which is uncertain and rapidly changing, a culture of innovation is what Singapore needs to build up to be a nation of enterprise and innovation, especially in today's context, where technology and the world move too fast. This Bill reflects a desire to be innovative but in a suitably cautious manner. However, the very essence of innovation means much of the innovation may not succeed in the end. We need to be willing to try, to change as we go along, and even to abandon what we started off with. If we are too cautious, we would undermine the innovative spirit itself and fail to promote a widespread national culture of innovation so necessary to propel Singapore ahead. With those words of caution and encouragement, Mr Speaker, I support this Bill.”
“What is the Government’s plan to ensure our financial institutions stay creative and innovative? Quoting Mr Lim Siong Guan, former Head of Civil Service and former President of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation, he said, "To ensure the country's continuing success and survival, Singaporeans need to be a people who embrace innovation and excellence and be prepared to go out of their comfort zones, to create a new economic ascent.” We need a culture of innovation. The spirit of innovation must be made an integral part of our character and personality as a nation and a society. There should be a deliberate, conscious, national effort to get such cultural transformation across all sectors of society. Startups and innovation have become an integral part of culture in countries, such as Finland, Estonia and Israel. Singapore has to get there and be exceptional in our own ways. This, I believe, should be a cultural change and a mindset change and not simply a case of encouraging innovation. In Singapore, we are inclined to pile accolades on people who have achieved top grades and got gold medals and leave others unnoticed and unmentioned. This is a severe cultural challenge for changing values in society, to value best efforts, as opposed to disproportionately rewarding the super As and gold medalists. There needs to be far more awareness in society on how to notice and nurture the best efforts of others around us. Culture takes time to shape or reshape. It is an intergenerational challenge which needs committed leadership and consistency of effort, behaviour and action. Prof Rosabeth Moss Kanter of Harvard Business School has pointed out that financial results are a "lagging indicator" of a company’s health. "They tell you what you have just done.”
“It seems to be wanting to prohibit exchanging e-money for Singapore currency. It states under section 19(1)(a), that a licensee that provides an e-money account is to prohibit a customer from (i) withdrawing e-money and (ii) exchanging that e-money "withdrawn" for Singapore currency at any of the licensee’s places of business. On this point, can I check why there is a need to exclude an issuer from also doing transactions? For example, if the licensee is a bank, when I open an e-wallet with a bank and then one year later I want to cash that e-money back out, the provision in this part of the Bill seems to be trying to prohibit me from doing just that. Again, I would like to seek further clarification on the intended outcome that this section is trying to achieve. In some jurisdictions payment system providers are also able to provide loans and credit facilities to customers. This Bill explicitly forbids such provision of services. Is there another proposed Bill to cover such businesses in the digital age that would encompass e-money, e-wallets and virtual currencies and so on? It is very hard for a specific country to frame regulations in the digital age of global cross-border businesses. I feel some of the legislation falls short of this global consideration. Having said that, once again, it is a commendable start for Singapore, who leads the world in framing such forward thinking rules of conduct. However, when it comes to innovation, perhaps we can take a leaf from China, specifically WeChat and AliPay. Singapore was at the forefront of digital innovation, especially for financial innovation. So, where are we now compared to before? As a financial hub, we need to keep innovating to stay ahead and to compete globally.”
“Mr Speaker and hon Members of Parliament, I support this Payment Services Bill as it will streamline payment services under a single legislation by combining the PS(O)A and the MCRBA, taking into account new developments in payment services and various risks they pose with expanded scope of regulated payment services. It is a very comprehensive, well considered, globally researched and, above all, publicly consulted and reviewed. The Bill commendably sets out to protect Singaporeans in a digitised world. At the same time, the Government has been mindful not to immediately overreact and, therefore, over-regulate. They have seemingly found a way to effectively achieve both outcomes. With regard to the Bill, firstly, I would like to seek clarification on section 10 on annual fees of licensees. Are there any guidelines as yet for the prescribed annual fees for the three classes of licences? Secondly, in the Consultation Paper by MAS, e-money is clearly defined as follows: "An e-wallet is funded with e-money. This e-money is denominated in fiat currency. This is an important distinction from virtual currency which is defined as any digital representation of value that is not denominated in any fiat currency. In section 3.15 of the MAS Consultation Paper, it is mentioned that "the full definition of virtual currency and e-money are set out in the proposed Bill in Annex B". It refers to an Annexure B in the Bill for definitions of "virtual currencies". However, the Annexure is not to be found in the proposed Bill document. Can the hon Minister clarify this point? Thirdly, I refer to section 19 of the Bill on prohibition against exchanging e-money withdrawn from payment account for Singapore currency.”
“Equipping organisations, such as DOT with the right legal resources, such as business contract templates and other relevant knowledge, will go a long way to assist these women and, hopefully, prevent legal issues from occurring, thus, reducing the need for legal aid in a small but important and significant manner. In conclusion, Mr Deputy Speaker, I support this move to ensure that any Singaporean who seeks justice may obtain it. It is a sign of a compassionate society when we ensure that even those who lack financial means may still be able to afford the ability to protect his or her rights. Access to justice provides all Singaporeans with the same dignity and the same fundamental right to fairness. Mr Deputy Speaker, I support this Bill.”
“Most were for matrimonial, claims and probate matters. I also support the increased funding and support for the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS) over the past years. These are important institutions in the provision of legal aid and access to justice. But the public often turn to LAB when it is too late, when issues have come to a head or a problem has arisen. Perhaps, there is a role that can be played in promoting awareness of the law and to equip the public with enough legal knowledge in order to prevent legal issues from occurring. For example, in the area of promoting micro enterprises among low-income families, LAB or the Law Society of Singapore's Pro Bono Services Office can explore working with community organisations, such as Casa Raudha, the Singapore Muslim Women’s Association (PPIS) and Daughters of Tomorrow (DOT), or our trade associations and chambers of commerce, and even small and medium enterprises (SME) Centres, to equip them with legal resources that can help micro enterprises. In the example of DOT, it is a registered charity that aims to facilitate livelihood opportunities for underprivileged women to build and sustain financially independent and resilient families. Since its inception in 2014, DOT has enabled 150 women to find jobs and start business projects. Some 40% of these beneficiaries are single mothers with low education – secondary school and below. They have to juggle between caring for their children and making ends meet through their micro enterprises.”
“I support the digitisation of the registration and document submission process as it will help speed up the process to match assigned solicitors to those who are seeking legal aid. But based on my interactions with Singaporeans through my outreach work with Roses of Peace, it seems that there are still Singaporeans who may not be aware of the available avenues for legal assistance like LAB or the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS), despite efforts by the Ministry as well as legal awareness campaigns by the Law Society of Singapore. I would like to ask the Minister if there are any more steps that can be taken to educate the public, especially those who require legal assistance but are unable to afford it, about the legal help that is available to the public. Perhaps our civil society and our social service organisations can play a part to help spread the word on the avenues available for legal help. I note that Singaporeans who are receiving financial assistance from our various social support systems may also often require access to legal aid. However, not all the frontline officers providing assistance to these individuals and their families may be equipped with the right knowledge of our legal aid services. Perhaps, we can have a Legal Aid Conference to inform and equip these frontline officers from the social sector with basic legal knowledge and information on legal aid so that they can help their beneficiaries. It will also be of great benefit to have a legal aid playbook or an online resource guide that can be accessed by the public. It is commendable to witness the progress of LAB since 1958. I understand that, to date, it has received about 400,000 applications for legal aid and, in 2017 alone, it received about 9,000 applications.”
“Hon Deputy Speaker and hon Members, Singaporeans may not often talk about justice, but few will doubt how important it is to have recourse to the law to affirm one’s rights; or to receive proper compensation for one’s work; or to protect one’s property; or to receive a fair arrangement at the end of a marriage; or to obtain protection from abuse. In our pledge, we refer to ourselves as a society based on justice and equality. To realise that pledge, I believe that justice may be accessible to anyone who seeks it or who requires it. That is why I support this Bill as it is a great step towards strengthening access to justice for Singaporeans who may not ordinarily be able to afford lawyers or seek legal help. Allow me to zoom in on two areas: Public Awareness of Legal Aid and Expanding Services. Mr Deputy Speaker, I welcome the move to simplify the means criteria for low-income Singaporeans in their applications for legal aid. The adoption of PCHI and the AV of the applicant's place of residence, savings and investments to replace the current arrangement, which is based on disposable income and disposable capital, is simpler and clearer. It will also align the means criteria to what is commonly used in other social support schemes. I also support the move for greater discretion in the granting of legal aid. There are many applicants who are truly needy and deserving but find themselves unable to meet the means criteria for whatever reasons. A closer scrutiny of these cases and an inclusive approach are welcome. The recent announcement of a website revamp at the LAB's 60th anniversary dinner is another step in the right direction.”
“At the core of that resilient spirit, Singaporeans must not take our energy supply for granted and must give credit where it is due and to commend the Government, MTI and EMA for ensuring the energy supplies of Singapore and for taking all possible steps to mitigate any shortage or disruptions over the years. Mr Speaker, I stand in support of this Bill and the wider efforts to strengthen our energy security and resilience. 3.43 pm”
“I would like to seek further understanding on the timeline to go into large-scale implementation for solar PVs. We should also encourage more green practices. For example, in Japan, Toyota has come up with a green coating to coat buildings to keep them cool by as much as 30%. Such green innovation ensures the efficiency of cooling down our buildings which will translate into great cost savings in electricity bills for the consumers. I would like to laud the proposal to expand EMA’s functions under the Gas Act to deal with dangers to health concerns arising from the import of gas. On energy resilience, our world is unpredictable. Our founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew reminded us repeatedly that we have to take the world as it is, and not as we wish it to be. We are not immune to cybersecurity attacks or major energy disruptions. About two weeks ago on 18 September, we faced a major blackout that affected over 146,000 residential and commercial customers. The incident emphasised the need for Singapore to be energy-resilient. Although the disruption was due to a partial loss of electricity supply from two power generation companies, we cannot take it lightly. In that light, it is important that all Singaporeans are equipped with the skills and knowledge to remain calm and resilient in any such emergencies. Perhaps carrying out an awareness campaign or public education drive is something that can be considered. It is a strength to know what to do if the lights are out.”
“Also, with the expected increase in worldwide demand for LNG, how are we looking to stabilise the market price fluctuations and deliver a reliable and stable service and, more importantly, keep an affordable price point for Singaporeans? On a related point, I commend the Singapore LNG Corporation on expanding its capacity over the years. I understand that there will be a second terminal that will strengthen Singapore’s position. I would like to ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary when this second terminal will be ready. Singapore is in a unique situation, located in the Straits of Malacca, with important shipping access that serves all major shipping lines. Singapore’s strategic geographical location allows for easier access to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Southeast Asian countries. Globally, Singapore is also well-known as the financial and commodity trading hub of Asia. I would like to make a proposal that our Government consider making Singapore an important LNG hub of Asia to attract gas producing countries to utilise Singapore as their storage farms for Asia and to establish an LNG hub for Asia in Singapore as how Rotterdam is for Europe. On energy sustainability, in my work with Singaporean youths, I have met many who feel strongly in preserving the environment. As part of this, many support switching from fossil fuel to renewable energy. Towards this, I commend good initiatives, such as the JTC's SolarRoof project, Treelodge@Punggol, deployment of Solar Photovoltaics (PVs) in reservoirs across Singapore and building Singapore’s first micro-grid living lab in Pulau Ubin. I believe we should make a stronger push about going into solar energy.”
“Hon Speaker Mr Tan Chuan-Jin and hon Members of Parliament, I support this Bill as it strengthens and tightens the Gas Act to safeguard our future. Today, I wish to speak on three areas, mainly, energy security, energy sustainability and energy resilience. On energy security, almost every Singaporean knows that we are a vulnerable and small nation with almost zero natural resources. But not as many may realise the extent to which we rely on imported fuel to meet our energy demands. Imported natural gas account for 95% of our energy generation. For our security, I feel it is important that we should not be beholden to any country to meet our energy needs. So, we have to take this Bill very seriously for now and our future generations as, without the natural gas, our power generation will be disrupted and Singapore will be in total darkness. All this while, Singapore has been buying gas and piping it from Malaysia and Indonesia through our strong bilateral relationship, and we have enjoyed this facility for a very long time. That dependence has been reduced over the years from 100% to 77%. And with the opening of the Singapore natural gas terminal in 2014, I am glad to see Singapore diversifying our sources of supply to include LNG. This is an important step in reducing our reliance on PNG and I would like to congratulate the executives for their far-sightedness to build the terminal to strengthen our energy security. And, from what I understand, the existing six contracts for PNG from our neighbours will expire between this year and 2029. In this regard, could the Senior Parliamentary Secretary share with us if these contracts will be renewed or will we make the switch to LNG upon expiry of these contracts?”