Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap
Singapore
“Sir, I believe that the Minister did not answer quite a number of my questions. But due to time factors, I will submit a Parliamentary Question. Nonetheless, I have two clarifications. One, on the full-time madrasahs.”
“Is MOH looking into more aggressively hiring junior doctors, especially those that have left the public healthcare system? How do they intend to do so? Will it include increasing doctor's salaries to better compete with the private sectors and, if so, how much?”
“Sir, actually, I have written to SFA and they have actually replied to me recently. I just want to get a better clarification on the issues. What happened was that there is this issue that has been going on for about 10 years where the bakery located in the same block, a four-storey HDB block, has been emanating noise, heat and pungent sm…”
“What are SFA's requirements for bakeries to operate in a HDB residential block emitting the noise and heat levels resulting from their daily operations?”
“Sir, earlier in my speech, I have sought two clarifications on my cuts pertaining to ventilation systems for bakeries in order to better manage the disamenities caused by bakeries located in the HDB blocks. I really have not received a reply on this from the Ministry.”
“Sir, on the contrary, the implication of not approving LTVP+ applications for both these groups is that their lives will become more challenging and it will further complicate their lives. I would like to request that ICA exercise greater flexibility to applicants who are facing the two situations that I mentioned.”
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“Madam, firstly, it happened a few years ago and I do not have the file with me right now because I am no longer a counsellor. And secondly, I did get the consent from the client; basically she is disagreeing in terms of me disclosing the information. That was why I actually wrote on her behalf without disclosing her identity to HDB at that point in time which was about a few years ago to clarify the matter.”
“Madam, I would like to clarify that the incident happened when I was a counsellor. It was not a resident but a client at that point in time who received counselling from me. I did mention in my speech that I wrote to relevant agencies to seek help on behalf of the client but the outcome was negative. This is what I got according to the client that I had counselled at that point in time. She told me verbally on Page: 69 this issue. So, that was, at that point in time. I wrote an email to REACH to highlight the issues to REACH where REACH channelled my feedback to HDB. And HDB said that due to the policy, they were not able to assist in this matter.”
“All these had the effect of leading both Mrs A and her husband to lose faith in the system and, subsequently, to my knowledge, they went through a divorce. Madam, while undergoing the stringent and deliberate due processes, Government policies should, at the same time, take into consideration the humanistic aspect of its implementation. When it comes to issues surrounding families and all the complexities that accompany them, it is important to be flexible in its execution and lenient, whenever Page: 58 possible. With that, I support the Bill. 3.39 pm”
“I was also made to understand that for such cases, in order to obtain justice, Mr A has to make a magistrate's report. Madam, I think that such processes should be improved because it will bring about unnecessary pressure or additional pressure, whereby such additional pressure will further complicate matters between the parties involved, especially for the children. Hence, it is my hope that this matter will be given the due attention in order to alleviate the pressure amongst the parties involved, especially the children. (In English): The strength and the social resilience of Singapore depend on the well-being of the families that form the fabric of the society. On this front, Government policies play an integral role and at times, the crucial arbiter determining a stable or broken marriage. I would cite the example of Mrs A whom I counselled during the course of my previous work as a counsellor. Mrs A and her husband tried to apply for a flat for their young family but they were unable to do so as her husband had outstanding housing arrears. Mrs A's husband had previously bought a flat before his marriage under the Single Singapore Citizen Scheme. As a result of losing his employment, he committed arrears and eventually had no choice but to let go of his house. When the time came for Mrs A and her husband to settle down with their six-year-old daughter, they were advised to file for a divorce by HDB. It was upon their divorce that Mrs A was eligible to purchase a house under the Single Scheme and thereafter, she married the same husband that she had divorced. Despite my appeals to the relevant agencies in my capacity as a counsellor at that point in time, HDB did not allow Mrs A and her husband to apply for a flat without having to undergo a divorce.”
“Through these courses, a couple would have a better understanding of what constitutes a marriage under the existing legal framework while at the same time be empowered with the relevant knowledge and skill sets to manage the challenges of a married life, especially under demanding life circumstances. In a controlled environment, the assistance of a professional may also be useful in helping the couple to better understand and appreciate one another. Prior psychological and emotional preparation goes a long way in building a more resilient family unit and thereby reduces the potential harm inflicted on one another. For a start, a parent module can form part of the marriage registration process at the Registry of Marriages (ROM). Madam, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Recently, when I conducted a Meet-the-People Session (MPS), a resident, Mr A, expressed his disappointment towards the family justice system. Mr A said that although he and his ex-wife were given joint custody for their child, the Care and Control rights were given to his ex-wife, while Mr A was given access rights. Mr A said that there have been situations where his ex-wife did not allow him to meet their child. Mr A then reported this to the Syariah Court but he was informed that the Syariah Page: 57 Court has no power to take enforcement measures. When Mr A lodged a complaint to the Family Court, he was then informed that the Court Order for his divorce case was issued by the Syariah Court, and therefore, the Family Court could not take any action. In such situations, after speaking to several lawyers, I understand that the Syariah Court does not undertake enforcement due to the lack of manpower.”
“While the pre-filing consultation sessions can help parents to understand the importance of co- Page: 56 parenting and the practical issues arising in a divorce that may have an impact on their children, it is also important to provide divorcing spouses with adequate information on the processes and challenges involved in a divorce. On this, the Ministry may want to consider providing options for divorcing spouses to undergo counselling sessions with family professionals with the view to making these sessions compulsory in some instances. The Syariah Court, for instance, has been conducting the Marriage Counselling Programme (MCP) for divorcing spouses since 2004. While many divorcing spouses tend to dismiss such a procedure, given that they have more or less made up their minds, it is important that these sessions are not seen just as tools to salvage the marriage but more about helping divorcing spouses to better acquaint themselves with the challenges of life after a divorce, such as assuming the parenting role of a single parent and other ancillary matters, such as maintenance and housing complications. This would then prepare divorcing spouses with the necessary tools and information to cope physically, emotionally and psychologically for the Court processes and their respective lives after they divorce as a custodian parent or a non-custodian parent and the legal obligation that accompanies their respective new roles. It is hoped that this initiative would lessen the pain and turmoil of all the parties involved, in particular, protecting the welfare and interest of the young charges. Madam, at the same time, the Government should consider encouraging marrying couples to attend marriage preparation or guidance courses.”
“Madam, as part of the Committee's recommendation on community support and solutions, the establishment of a specialised agency and the introduction of pre-filing consultation sessions were raised. The next part of my speech will touch and expand further on the above two recommendations. I welcome the move of establishing Divorce Support Specialised Agencies to complement the work of existing family violence specialised agencies in the management of the family disputes. At present, there are many voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs), family professionals and community partners that are very passionate in their field of work and would be most willing to provide such services at short notices. However, their good work and best intentions are often hampered by issues pertaining to funding and the funding processes. As a former counsellor, I have previously sat in many discussions pertaining to these issues and I hope that MSF and, in particular, the National Council of Social Services, can carry out a thorough review of the funding processes and provide more timely and adequate funding towards the running and operations of these specialised agencies. As a Member of this House, I am willing to work together with the relevant agencies and provide my inputs on this matter. Madam, I am of the view that for many of the social challenges in this country, it is best to tackle them upstream rather than making ratification when the problem has occurred and requires immediate attention. On this, I am glad to see the introduction of pre-filing consultation sessions as part of the recommendations made by the Committee.”
“Madam, I welcome the recommendations of the Committee of Family Justice in facilitating the resolution of family disputes in a timely and effective manner. As a former counsellor, I am glad to note the purpose towards developing a problem-solving family justice system where families are better assisted to resolve their own respective disputes and children better protected, after the follow-up of a broken marriage. There were, on average, about 7,500 divorces in the three years between 2011 and 2013. The child is more often than not the party most affected in the event of a broken marriage. Thus, it is imperative that in any family justice system the laws concerned should bear in mind and protect the best interest of the child. Page: 55 On this note, I welcome the direction of the Committee in placing greater emphasis in protecting the interest of the child in the event of a family dispute. During the course of my previous work as a family counsellor, I had often been stuck at the brutality of a broken marriage and how children often became victims of the emotional tussles between the spouses. Many of these innocent children were often scarred and left confused by the irresponsible and conflicting behaviours of their respective parent. It troubles and saddens me greatly to see young lives at the receiving ends of arguing spouses and broken marriages. They certainly deserve more protection from the law and I am heartened at the recommendation made by the Committee towards protecting the best interest of the child and this, in the process, will strengthen the family justice framework.”
“Madam, I believe that with proper long-term planning, as well as effective implementation, the issue of health within the Malay/Muslim community will shift to a more positive situation. When this happens, it will become a contribution by the Malay/Muslim community towards a better management of inflation of healthcare costs in Singapore. 5.29 pm”
“We have seen mosques working together with the Health Promotion Board (HPB) to actively organise activities that promote a healthy lifestyle and to take care of one's health. Apart from the mosques, Malay/Muslim bodies also inculcate values pertaining to healthy lifestyles and taking care of one's health in their programmes. For instance, when I was in the social work field, I had managed a MENDAKI Programme called Nur Kasih which focused on strengthening families. One of the modules presented was on health matters. The intended key message was that a family's stability in terms of family relations and finances can be affected if the health aspect is ignored. These efforts by the various Malay/Muslim entities should be continued and improved. Page: 84 Madam, although many efforts have been made, the health issue within the Malay/Muslim community is still considered a major challenge. In the 2010 National Health Survey Report, Malays are the most affected by hypertension and the second most affected by diabetes, compared to the other communities. I believe that the present efforts are commendable. But looking at the latest situation, I feel that improvements may need to be made. I feel that such efforts should be done at the community level. I would like to suggest that this matter be presented and discussed through the Community Leaders' Forum (CLF) platform. I hope that the CLF Steering Committee chaired by Minister Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob can encourage the CLF partners to combine their efforts and work towards producing long-term plans to overcome the challenge of health issues within the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore.”
“It is one of the core responsibilities of the Government to ensure that every Singaporean, regardless of their financial circumstances, can have affordable access to quality healthcare with peace of mind. In Malay, Madam, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The report by the MediShield Life Review Committee is another positive step towards building a more inclusive and caring society in Singapore. I welcome the MLRC's proposition for all Singaporeans, including those who never had insurance before and those with pre-existing illnesses, to also be covered under this scheme. Just like other Singaporeans, I also welcome the additional coverage provided by the MediShield Life scheme. Madam, in my speech, I would like to touch on the health situation of the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore. The Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob, had said during this year's Committee of Supply Debates that one of the challenges faced by the community is health. The health issue also receives attention in the Suara Musyawarah Report. Reportedly, Muslim health professionals are of the view that there are still many Malay/Muslims who are unaware that, if their health is not monitored, it will result in health complications and chronic diseases and, therefore, increasing the burden on themselves and their families. It was also said that there are still many Malay/Muslims who do not practice healthy food choices and are less involved in physical activities. Madam, it is true that there are many programmes implemented to spread the message and awareness on the importance of taking care of one's health.”
“Today, I would like to reiterate this call and to further suggest that the taxi subsidy scheme be extended to all beneficiaries under Medifund. Since I put forth the above suggestion during the last Budget Debate, I have come across and continue to encounter cases in Kaki Bukit where residents have refused to receive further medical treatment at the hospitals as they did not have enough cash to pay for the travel expenses. By not receiving adequate medical care and treatment, it is likely that their pre-existing health conditions will deteriorate, resulting in complications which will require more extensive and complex medical attention. In the long term, this would possibly add more inflationary pressures on the cost of healthcare in Singapore. Secondly, I would like to suggest that the Government consider extending the coverage of Medifund to include the cost of purchasing medical test kits, such as blood pressure and glucose monitoring kits. As many Members in this House would be aware, medical conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, need to be regularly monitored. The cost of such personal test kits should be the least of their concerns. Availability of such test kits will go a long way in assisting patients to monitor their conditions and take appropriate steps in preventing further deterioration of their pre-existing health conditions. More importantly, it would Page: 83 encourage more Singaporeans to take ownership and personal responsibility for their own health. Madam, I do hope the Government would regularly and continuously conduct reviews of Singapore's healthcare costs.”
“We must bear this concern in mind as inflationary health costs, if poorly managed, threaten to price many Singaporeans out from being able to afford their own premiums, undermining not only their access to quality medical treatment but also their retirement in old age. Thus, healthcare costs need to be properly managed and attuned with the needs of a rapidly Page: 82 changing population. Madam, traditional upstream measures, such as health promotion exercises and educational outreach where the emphasis is placed on prevention rather than cure, and sustenance instead of deterioration, continue to be put forth in the report. I would like to put on record my support for the various upstream measures that the Committee had proposed to the Government for consideration. On this note, I would like to acknowledge the good work done by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) on this front. This agency has been critical in the promotion of a healthy lifestyle in prevention and early detection of chronic illnesses. One such programme is the "I Quit" programme. Based on my previous experience as a counsellor, I can attest to it being a well-tailored programme with different strategies to motivate, facilitate and encourage the kicking of the habit of smoking. Madam, at this juncture, I would like to put forth two other suggestions for the Government's consideration that will directly benefit patients, especially those with pre-existing medical conditions. In this year's Budget Speech, I had called upon the Government to extend the taxi subsidy scheme that was provided to the disabled to elderly Singaporeans, in particular, those who are present recipients of welfare assistance under the Medifund scheme.”
“Mdm Speaker, I am heartened to note that the MediShield Life Review Committee (MLRC) has taken positive steps in moving Singapore towards a more inclusive and caring society. I welcome the move to bring on board the uninsured, including those with pre-existing conditions, under the MediShield Life scheme. At the same time, the Government would do well not to ignore the concerns expressed by many Singaporeans about the likely upward impact on the cost of premium, moving forward. Nonetheless, the recommendations made by the MLRC are steps in the right direction. Madam, in my speech today, I will focus on the management of healthcare inflation. As was rightly revealed in the report that was prepared by the Committee, there were many feedback and suggestions that pertained specifically to the cost of healthcare in Singapore. As Singapore grapples with a rapidly ageing population, the cost of healthcare threatens to spiral out of control, above and beyond the financial means of many Singaporeans. Cash payments for medical expenses constitute a major worry. Often, these are large sums of money that ordinary Singaporeans are unable to raise in a short period of time. Hence, healthcare becomes increasingly unaffordable to the ordinary person in the street. Quality healthcare is critical but it comes with a price, a price that many Singaporeans increasingly find difficult to meet. This was one of the major challenges that the Committee seeks to address. At the same time, while many Singaporeans had welcomed the additional protection accorded to them by the MediShield Life scheme, they also highlight their worries over escalating premium costs and, ultimately, the affordability of these premiums.”
“[Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Thank you, Sir. As I said earlier, I, as a representative of the community, am voicing the concerns of the community. It is my own view. I have said in my speech that I am aware and agree that there is progress made. But because there are still many people who say this issue Page: 83 is present, so I, as a voice of the people, would like to voice it out. 5.40 pm”
“[Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Sir, I have said in my speech that I admit that there is progress made in terms of the openness of the Government on the issue of loyalty. I have said that this has happened and I agree that there is progress. However, what I presented were voices that, after 50 years of Independence, they still raised the same issues. So, to me, it is better that we form a committee to see how we can improve the situation and not, as the English proverb says, you are sweeping it below the carpet.”
“Thank you, Sir, in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Sir, I am of the view that in raising this issue that was reported in the Suara Musyawarah report, it is not about looking to the past. In fact, it is an effort to look to the future because the effort of the Suara Musyawarah is to give hope to the aspirations of Singaporeans to look forward and to progress forward. If these issues are still lingering in the minds of Malay/Muslims, how can we move forward? Therefore, the formation of the committee is not only to say that this issue is present but it Page: 82 is also to say how we can resolve the situation.”
“Thank you, Madam. I have some clarifications to make regarding my two speeches – one in English and one in Malay. It is really for both Members, Mr Hawazi and Mr Vikram Nair. They misunderstood my point for the speech which I made about the social safety net. Basically, what I am trying to say is that I am proposing for the Government to implement a systematic measuring device to ensure that the current assistance schemes are effective in achieving their objectives. I am not saying that more should be added onto the current scheme. That is my first point, Madam. The second point is that I do not agree with Mr Hawazi Daipi. Madam, I will speak in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I did not say that the issue of loyalty came from me. I was quoting this issue from the Suara Musyawarah report whereby it was taken from the participants who attended the Suara Musyawarah sessions. So, it is not from me. I was only highlighting this matter so that this issue will be given the proper attention. 5.06 pm”
“Madam, in line with the contents of the President's Address the other day, that the Government pledges to work with all Singaporeans to address their concerns and aspirations to build a better future, here I propose the formation of a committee whose members comprise the Government, Malay Members of Parliament and community leaders who will work to address and find solutions to the issue of loyalty that was mentioned in the Suara Musyawarah report. This effort will be in line with the expression used by the President, that is, constructive politics. Thank you, Madam. 4.24 pm”
“The Minister also said that many changes have taken place in terms of opportunities that are available in education, National Service and others from 1965 until today. Madam, I would like to share an extract from the three final sentences that can be found in page 20 of the Suara Musyawarah report that touches on the issue of loyalty of Malay/Muslims. It states that, "However, the concern that was raised, highlighted policies or practices that question the loyalty of Malays to this country. This perception is unhealthy and can flow into other aspects of life and create a split between communities here. Many have expressed hope that the issue of our community's loyalty can be resolved quickly." From this extract, we can infer that many of the participants who took part in these Suara Musyawarah session, agree for efforts to be undertaken to find solutions to the issue of loyalty, because it can create a split between the communities, and this is not in line with the Government's call to build an inclusive society in Singapore. I agree with the view that changes have taken place in terms of opportunities that are available in education, National Service and others from 1965 to today. I also believe that the Suara Musyawarah participants who voiced this issue can also see this change. However, I feel that these participants from all ages, ranging from the younger generation to the pioneer generation, may feel that this process of change which took almost 50 years and is still taking place, is rather long and slow, to the point that these participants wish to see a quick solution in order to achieve the objective of a more inclusive and more open Singapore Page: 59 society.”
“He also said that the Government pledges to work with Singaporeans to address their concerns and aspirations in order to build a brighter future. One way is to pay attention to the people's voices to take part in OSC or Our Singapore Conversation. Madam, Our Singapore Conversation or its Malay version, the Suara Musyawarah was held to collect feedback from all levels of society in order to improve aspects of Singaporean Page: 58 lives. For the first time, sessions at such a scale were held to give the people an opportunity to voice their concerns, hopes and aspirations so that Singapore can become a more conducive home. The community appreciates this initiative by the Government and hopes for a good outcome from this initiative. The formation of the Suara Musyawarah shows that the Government agrees that there is a need for a more focused channel on Malay/Muslim community affairs. For the Malay/Muslims, the formation of the Suara Musyawarah is welcomed. This can be seen from the active participation of 500 individuals in voicing their concerns and aspirations openly, honestly and sincerely, in order to see positive developments and inclusivity for the Malay/Muslim community. Madam, during the COS debates in March, I submitted that the issue of loyalty of the Malays to our nation, as stated in the Suara Musyawarah report, be given the appropriate attention, and efforts should be made to find the best possible solution. The Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, in his reply, said that the perception on this issue of loyalty comes from a small minority of the Malay/Muslim community. The Minister added that although such perceptions are present, the best way to overcome this matter is to refer such complaints to the relevant people and there is no need to form a committee.”
“When it comes to major issues such as economic development, productivity, urban planning and population policy, we have had the benefit of national strategies, roadmaps and masterplans galvanising public debate and feedback. However, because social assistance schemes are scattered across many Ministries and have only recently been collected and presented by the Government as the kueh lapis approach, we have not had the benefit of mobilising Singaporeans to co-create a national plan to combat vulnerability and become stakeholders in the national effort. Surely, social development and income equity are as important as economic development in the "inclusive growth" approach. With three Steps pegged to median income, the proposed Social Protection Framework is adapted to our national context of encouraging self-reliance and inclusive growth and takes into consideration the many assistance schemes already put in place by the Government. A single poverty line may well be too simple for the complex situations many needy and vulnerable Singaporeans have found themselves in. The Social Protection Framework offers a coherent basis for us to move forward to track the complex situations concretely and galvanise the vigorous debates for what the President called "constructive politics". Madam, in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Madam, in the President's Address during the recent Opening of the Second Session of the Twelfth Parliament, he spoke again about the importance for all of us to take the effort to build a society that is inclusive and open as well as fair and just, regardless of race, language and religion, to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for the nation.”
“We could aim to reduce the percentage of households making up Step 1 from 19% to 11% by 2030. Annual tracking also offers an important awareness raising tool. An inclusive society can only be achieved if well-off members of the society are aware of the problems faced by the less well-off members and know how to take action to help their compatriots. It will enhance public awareness campaigns by the non-profit sector such as the Singaporeans Against Poverty project. Such public information also serves as baseline knowledge for building up more sophisticated multi-dimensional measures of poverty such as the UNDP's Human Poverty Index. Published tracking findings will foster better alignment and coordination amongst NGOs, VWOS and state agencies as they will be relying on a common set of tracking tools to identify and service vulnerable groups. The Social Protection Steps will also enhance the use of the social service net that the Government will roll out by mid-2015. As a positive side effect, the report will also concretely track the Government's progress in fostering a more inclusive growth through the improvement of the wages of low-income Page: 57 workers. As the Steps will keep moving up relative to median wages, wage stagnation among low-income workers will be made more obvious by the annual tracking of households using the Steps framework. Wage stagnation among low-income workers will appear as the increase in numbers and percentage of Step 1 and Step 2 households. Mdm Speaker, last but not least, I propose the Government consider using the Social Protection Framework as the basis for public engagement and consultation to develop a national strategy to address vulnerability and reduce the relative poverty rate.”
“This is important for several reasons. The annual State of Social Protection report will make the Government accountable to the public on the progress being made in helping the vulnerable groups become self- Page: 56 sufficient and self-reliant and achieve higher levels of social protections. Current mentions of utilisation rate of ComCare assistance is not a proper measure of the objective of ComCare to help needy Singaporeans become self-reliant if they are capable of doing so. The Government needs to account to the public on the performance of its assistance programmes. The statistics contained in the report will serve as the basis for Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for evaluation, with which the Government can evaluate its assistance programmes in an objective manner and can use the set targets to achieve. An important set of KPIs is the percentage of total resident households making up each Step. If progress is being made to address vulnerability and reduce poverty, then the percentage of households making up the Steps, especially for Steps 1 and 2, should show a decline in percentages year to year and over medium terms of five years. If over the next five years, the percentage of households making up Step 1 continues to fluctuate around my estimate of 19%, then, we would know that there is a need to evaluate the package of assistance schemes aimed at addressing the most needy of households, such as the Public Assistance and ComCare schemes. Realistic long-term targets can also be set in the light of international experience. Across OECD countries, the average poverty rate, meaning the percentage of population earning less than half of the median income corresponding to both Social Protection Steps 1 and 2, was about 11% in the mid-2000s.”
“The merit of the Government's kueh lapis approach is that it demonstrates the principle of calibrating assistance to an adequate level to prevent dependency, free riding and abuse of the social protection scheme. It shows that the four essential guarantees of social protection can be tiered to provide different levels of assistance necessary to help people climb up and achieve social mobility and better social protection. This helps to preserve our work ethic and the independence and dignity of families in being able to provide for themselves. In recognition of this, we believe the floor of the Social Protection Framework should be differentiated into three steps in further elaboration of the protection staircase. I would like to propose three Social Protection Steps be established and systematically pegged at 30%, 50% and 80% of the annual median monthly household income per member, rounded up to the nearest 50. Based on the 2013 median monthly household income per member of $2,247, this would be $700, $1,150 and $1,800 respectively. Figure 2 shows the Steps and the income ranges for 2014. It is notable that the current ComCare and CHAS eligiblity income caps are similar and this is perhaps not coincidental. I propose that the Government consider publishing an annual State of Social Protection report to give an account of the state of vulnerable groups based on the Steps and to track the progress made. The Minister for Social and Family Development could present them at the Budget as a key component of the Government's inclusive growth approach. Key statistics on how many people, families, elderly and children are in the three Steps, how many received Government assistance and how many progressed on the three Steps should be published.”
“These are Singaporeans who are experiencing a fraction of the standard of living enjoyed by the average Singaporean. We need to know whether the Government's multiple lines of assistance – the social safety net – are helping them and whether the overall situation is improving year on year. I would like to propose that the Government adopt the International Labour Organization's (ILO) Social Protection framework to track the work and performance of our social safety nets. As defined by the ILO, the Social Protection approach calls for a "fair and Page: 55 inclusive globalisation" involving an "integrated set of social policies designed to guarantee income security and access to essential social services for all, paying particular attention to vulnerable groups and protecting and empowering people across the life cycle". Members will see that this already describes the Government's work-in-progress of integrating the social services as part of providing Singaporeans security and inclusive growth. Conceptually, the Social Protection approach offers a two-dimensional social protection staircase. Members may refer to Figure 1 in the handout. The horizontal coverage, which is the Social Protection Floor, guarantees access to essential healthcare for all, income security for children, assistance to vulnerable groups, and income security for the elderly and disabled. The vertical dimension provides more comprehensive social protection coverage building on the Floor, such as state pension funds, employment insurance and comprehensive health insurance. The objective is to empower the households to become self-reliant and climb the staircase to higher income and higher levels of protection.”
“Thank you, Mdm Speaker. Speaking as someone who works in the social services sector, I am glad for the changes that are taking place today. It is good that the Government is seeking to create a social service network to put 95% of where needy residents live or work within 2 km of a Social Service Office or a Family Service Centre, though I wonder where the remaining 5% live on our dense and compact island that put them outside the 2 km. In any case, we are seeing today an unprecedented integration of social service provision, with better coordination among diverse Government departments in different Ministries and volunteer welfare organisations, and tools being developed, such as the national social service map and database. When the Minister responded to the questions and calls to consider setting up a poverty line to guide policymaking with the kueh lapis graph which shows multiple lines of assistance provided by the Government to the needy and vulnerable Singaporeans, he has also set in my mind and in many Singaporeans' minds a very real image that there is now a social safety net in place. Is the social safety net doing its job? Is the social safety net performing to help Singaporeans pick themselves up after a fall? Is the social safety net pulling families out of the poverty trap? How do we know that the temporary poor are, indeed, temporarily poor and are moving up the Government's different scales of help closer to median income self-sufficiency? Mdm Speaker, the Prime Minister may be right to say that there are no dead poor in Singapore because no one here lives under the World Bank's extreme poverty line of $1.50 a day. But as he acknowledges, there are the relatively poor and temporary poor.”
“With your permission, Madam, may I ask the Clerk of Parliament to distribute a piece of handout to Members?”
“I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the answer. Following up on Mr Alex Yam's question, I would like to ask: is there any engagement by the school or the Ministry to engage those who have left school – whether there is any visit to the house to meet up with the parents or the students themselves to encourage them to go back to school?”
“Thank you, Madam. I have two clarifications for the Minister. Firstly, I agree with the Minister mentioning that the SSO officers need to have a helping DNA in them. Nevertheless, I believe that besides DNA, expertise is also a vital component. I would like to know from the Minister whether the officers at the SSOs are social work trained. If yes, what is the proportion of social-work trained to non-social-work trained officers at the SSOs? Secondly, in my cut, I had called on MSF to initiate a joint collaboration effort with HDB, in particular, the Credit Operations Department, in identifying high-risk families from being homeless and work towards drafting preventive measures. Will the MSF look into it?”
“Sir, the Singapore Day 2014 will be held in London later this month. Catered by Singaporeans for Singaporeans, Singapore Day is organised by the Overseas Singapore Unit (OSU) to bring overseas Singaporeans together and celebrate the Singapore spirit. Inaugurated in 2007, Singapore Day is certainly an exciting fixture for many Singaporeans who yearn for a slice of home. But for many overseas Singaporean parents with young children, the Government may have to do more than annual events such as this. Under the present arrangement, Singaporeans who are based overseas would not be able to enjoy the basic infant care and childcare subsidies that their citizenship has rightfully entitled them to enjoy. The privileges of citizenship should not be contingent on geography and, certainly, should not be restricted to the physical boundaries of the Singapore state. Page: 158 To overseas Singaporean parents, this is unfair as the present arrangement penalises them for riding the waves of globalisation which Singaporeans have all this while been encouraged to do so by the Government. I would like to ask the Minister whether his Ministry would consider administering the basic infant care and childcare subsidies to overseas Singaporeans via a registration and reimbursement facility that the cost of childcare expenditure incurred in a non-Singaporean jurisdiction can be subsequently claimed back. Provision of Childcare Facilities”
“Early intervention would certainly go a long way in alleviating the complex problems of homelessness in our society. Improving Service Delivery”
“Sir, in January this year, I asked the Minister for information on the number of homeless families that are camping by the beaches and the assistance rendered to them. In his reply, the Minister mentioned that in the period between 2011 and 2013, support and shelter were provided to 565 individuals and 404 families. About 80% of them were of low income and had weak social support. The Minister, in his reply, also elaborated that three out of four were previous flat owners who had sold their flats for reasons, such as settling financial or debt problems, divorces and cashing out to make a profit. After the sale of their flats, they find themselves unable to afford the purchase or rental of another flat, thus many of them ended up camping on beaches and in public areas. The Minister also mentioned in his reply that his Ministry regularly patrols the beaches and public areas to identify and provide the necessary assistance to homeless Singaporeans in our midst. While I am heartened to note that the Ministry is diligently making efforts to ensure that the homeless in our society obtain the necessary assistance, I am of the view that the Ministry can take a more proactive rather than the reactive approach to the entire issue. Instead of allowing the problem to manifest, more preventive measures should be in place as forms of early intervention. In view that many previous flat owners were forced by the respective circumstances to sell off their accommodation, I would like to propose that the Ministry initiate joint collaboration efforts with HDB and, in particular, the Credit Operations Department, to identify high-risk families and render the necessary and appropriate financial assistance to these families before they lose their flats.”
“It is the responsibility of any government not to overtly impose its assumptions on any issue, particularly on sensitive and emotional issues. Rather, it should base its understanding on scientific findings and in the event that such information is not available, commission a study on the matter. The Government should also make available information that it has. Public engagement and consultations that adopt a more transparent, forthright and comprehensive approach will allow us to better understand the issues at large, the context and the nuances behind each issue. I hope the Minister would agree with me that such an approach would bring us closer to a consensus that is workable, productive and acceptable by the various stakeholders involved. That should be the way forward towards an inclusive society and a multicultural Singapore. Community Dispute Resolution Framework”
“Madam, since 2011, the Government has set out to foster social cohesion and to build an inclusive society through the Budget. While an inclusive society means different things to different people, it is important to know that the fundamental tenet of an inclusive society is a tolerant and respectful embrace of the cultural values that each community in Singapore holds dear. In the context of the new normal in Singapore's society, Singaporeans are increasingly more vocal and want their views to be heard. I believe that in fostering multiculturalism, public dialogue and constant consultations are the way forward. In the case of the recent hijab issue, to the best of my understanding, the dialogue that was conducted with the representatives of the Malay community was more of a platform for the Government to convey its stance rather than a dialogue. This is because the Government has already come to the decision of not allowing hijab to be worn prior to the dialogue session instead of making a Page: 8 decision at or after the session. I am of the view that the Government should enhance not only the manner in which it communicates but also its attitude when forming the communications. At the same time, consultation with one community alone is inadequate, as it may lead to hasty conclusions and unnecessary assumptions. The more constructive approach would be public consultations conducted with different stakeholders and the different ethnic communities. Singaporeans from the different ethnic communities understand that the final policy outcomes may not go according to their preferences. Nonetheless, it is hoped that the Government should also understand that the process is equally important to them.”
“I am of the view that this would foster a greater sense of belonging among the residents living in the community as the football club would then be seen as an integral part of the local ecosystem and a source of pride for the residents. Sport Cares”
“Sir, the Singapore League (S League) is the first professional football league in Singapore. Officially began in 1996 after the nation's withdrawal from the Malaysia Cup in 1994, the inaugural season saw a total of eight participating teams. The last game in the first season between Geylang United and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) saw a record attendance of 30,000. It remains the best attended game in the Page: 159 history of the league. In 2003, as a way to inject more interest into the league, the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) invited foreign clubs to participate. Sinchi FC was the first foreign club to participate in the league and to date, there have been a total of eight foreign clubs that were involved in the competition. 7.00 pm Some of them are still playing in the league today such Albirex Nigata (Singapore) and Harimau Muda. Some foreign clubs played for a season and left due to poor performances, technicalities or off-field disciplinary problems. With the involvement of the Lions XII in the Malaysia Super League (MSL) since the 2012 season, the interest of many local fans has shifted away from the S League. On the website of the S League, it is said, and I quote, "The S League is widely regarded as the best league in Southeast Asia." I would like to ask the Minister what are his Ministry's plans, (a) in rejuvenating the league and generate more interest in the league and (b) in raising the standards of play and enhance the experiences of local fans on match days. Lastly, I would like to propose to the Ministry to consider reshuffling and renaming the participating teams in accordance to the town they are geographically located, using the electoral boundaries map as the basis for this delineation.”
“[Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Madam, I would like to ask if the Minister or the Government will implement efforts or measures to address or look into the issue of loyalty that has been discussed in Suara Musyawarah? Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] From what we know about this issue of loyalty, although there is a perception among the few in our community, the community in general feels that we have opportunities in Singapore. Based on what I said earlier as well as efforts that we have made and undertaken, and our community's achievements, these have shown that our community has a role in contributing to Singapore and, at the same time, our community has also integrated well with other communities. I think that if such perceptions are present, the best way will be for them to forward their complaints to the relevant parties and we can discuss them. We know that in terms of opportunities in education, National Service and others, a lot has happened. Many opportunities have been given to the Malay/Muslim community, and from 1965 until now, many Malays have shown that they can also contribute and their contributions are also acknowledged by the Government. I feel that this is something that does not need the effort of a committee. But if such perceptions are present, we should forward them to the relevant Page: 146 parties and we can discuss them. 6.30 pm”
“Yet, we must also acknowledge and take pride because the number of women who are successful has increased, including those with good education and entered universities. Those who are working as PMETs have also increased and the salary range has also increased. (In English): Therefore, I would like to enquire on how we are continuing to evolve and strengthen our programmes and outreach to the Malay/Muslim women of today. How do we intend to coordinate and integrate assistance and avenues for help? Also, how are we planning to continue to change the mindset and lifestyles of our women of today? Our women are our asset. They must be a model and an inspiration to all, including minority societies globally. Edusave for Madrasah and Joint Madrasah System (JMS)”
“Women in the Malay/Muslim Community Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Our women are usually the pillars of the family and the household. They are the ones taking care of the children and the husband, and sometimes even taking care of aged parents. Their responsibility becomes even heavier if they work and have their own careers, in addition to managing the household and other related matters. Juggling their time becomes a necessity. However, there are still many of our women who are not working and are economically inactive. Several programmes from the NTUC and MENDAKI SENSE help women find employment or upgrade and upskill themselves. But we can still involve more of our women in the workforce if they are able to work. It will also help increase their status and their family's income. Hence, this strategy should be further enhanced to give encouragement and confidence to our women. Page: 124 Women who do not work or do not have their own careers usually do not have their own accounts like the Medisave account and also insurance policies. Hence, women in this category are worried about financial matters and expenditure, and the payment of medical costs becomes a source of worry if their family members fall ill. There are also women who are caught in divorce problems and situations where their ex-husbands do not pay alimony. These women are forced to depend on our social assistance schemes for a long time. In addition, other issues affecting some of our women include the issue of single mothers and some of them have many children, the problem of dysfunctional families as well as women who lack the skills or capabilities and qualifications.”
“" Madam, on 9 February 2014, during the event to commemorate our Pioneer Generation, the Prime Minister thanked the Pioneer Generation of Malays for their sacrifices. The Prime Minister appreciated the Pioneer Generation of Malays for choosing to remain in Singapore during the separation from Page: 123 Malaysia. The Prime Minister agreed that the Malay community at that time was faced with a difficult choice, that is, to choose to be the majority race and receive many special privileges by crossing the Causeway, or to choose to remain in Singapore and become a minority race in the blink of an eye. According to the Prime Minister, based on this, the sacrifice of the Malay community in Singapore, especially the Pioneer Generation, is a unique one. I believe that one of the main factors that caused the Pioneer Generation of Malays to choose to remain in Singapore during the separation is loyalty. As the sons of Singapore, it is natural for the Pioneer Generation of Malays to pledge total loyalty and dedication to serve and sacrifice for the development and well-being of Singapore. However, Madam, as time goes by and as the nation undergoes development, negative perspectives and perceptions that question the loyalty of Singapore Malays began to appear, which resulted in segments of the Malay community in Singapore beginning to feel and perceive that they are not treated equally or not given the same opportunities as other communities in Singapore. Madam, here I would like to voice out the requests of the Suara Musyawarah participants that the issue of the loyalty of Singapore Malays can be resolved soon. I ask that the Government, together with the Malay Members and Malay community leaders, join hands in this effort.”
“[Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Madam, the Suara Musyawarah is a platform that aims to provide the Malay community in Singapore with an open, constructive and rational channel to voice their concerns about living in a multiracial and multi-religious society in Singapore. Firstly, allow me to take this opportunity to thank all those who were involved in the preparation of the report, especially the committee members of the Suara Musyawarah, as well as the participants who expressed their sincere and frank opinions and feelings. 5.30 pm The report by the Suara Musyawarah in general, has a positive and constructive tone. However, there are certain participants who expressed feelings that seem to show unhappiness and disappointment. At the same time, they accept the reality of life and look forward to a positive resolution of these difficult issues. Their unhappiness, shown in several parts in paragraph 31 under the theme "The Spirit of Togetherness", is seen under the main section 2 entitled "The Perception of Unequal Opportunities". In this paragraph, it was reported that several participants have voiced their concern that "our community is still not fully accepted as equals and playing an important role in Singapore society, and certain stereotypes and negative perceptions towards our community have led to discrimination". In another part within the same paragraph, it was reported that "the concerns raised highlighted the policy or practice that questions the loyalty of Malays in this nation. This is an unhealthy perception and can flow into other aspects of life and create cracks in our society. Many hoped that the issue of our community's loyalty can be resolved quickly.”
“I was the last batch of students who were offered RK during my secondary school education. I have personally benefitted from the RK programme. I hope the Ministry can consider and further explore the suggestion I have put forth. School Bullying”
“Madam, Religious Knowledge (RK) was introduced into our education system back at our secondary school level in 1982. During that period, RK was a compulsory subject and it could be used as an "O" level subject to apply for entry into a junior college, pre-university centre, or polytechnic. RK subsequently became an optional subject and was totally removed from the secondary school syllabus in the early 1990s. I would like to call upon the Ministry to consider and explore the possibility of re-introducing RK as one of the Humanities subjects alongside existing choices, such as Literature, Geography and History. Schools should also be given the discretion to offer RK as a subject, and in view of limited resources and interests among students. Page: 9 I would also like to call upon the Ministry to encourage our universities to introduce Theology alongside existing programmes on religion inter-faith studies and philosophy. This will not only offer a reasoned, responsible and constructive basis for discussion, but it will also add diversity to our university landscape. In top universities, such as Harvard, Cambridge and Oxford, Theology has often provided an added dimension to a student's academic life. The re-introduction of RK in our secondary schools and the introduction of Theology in our universities will provide students with more possibilities and offer them an avenue where they can deepen their understanding of not only their own faith, but the faith of their neighbours and friends. At the very least, RK provides a firm foundation to foster an environment for constructive discussion on religious and inter-faith issues in Singapore and beyond. Madam, a school is an important institution where knowledge is acquired and values developed.”
“Thirdly, out of the total number of Malay applicants between 2011 and 2013, what was the percentage that was granted Permanent Residence and citizenship respectively? And for Malay individuals whose applications were rejected, what was the basis behind their unsuccessful applications? Additionally, between 2011 and 2013, how do Malay applicants for Permanent Residence and citizenship fare vis-a-vis non-Malay applicants? Lastly, I would like to seek an update on the Government's effort in reaching out and attracting talents and immigrants of Malay ethnicity to Singapore. Foreign Spouses of Singaporean Families”
“More clarification on the part of the Minister would also be helpful to the children of these individuals. Under what circumstances would a person be termed or classified as "Stateless" or "Unknown"? Can this nationality status be overturned, given the lack and patchy state of documentation in many of these cases? How can family members best facilitate the process of having the citizenship of their parents restored to them? Attracting Malay Talents Madam, on several occasions, the Government mentioned publicly that there is a need to maintain the racial balance in Singapore's population so as to preserve the character of our society and enhance the social fabric of this nation. During last year's debate on the Government's proposed Population White Paper, it was reported that the percentage of Malays in the resident Page: 69 population suffered a drop in the 10-year period, from 13.9% in 2000 to 13.4% in 2010. During the same period, Singapore saw an increase in the percentage of Malay citizen population from 14.9% in 2000 to 15.1% in 2010. The Government has also made it clear that they intend and will attempt their very best to attract talents and immigrants of ethnic Malay origins to Singapore to preserve and maintain the racial balance in our resident population. Madam, I would like to seek clarification on the following issues: firstly, what is the projected size of the resident Malay population in Singapore in 2030? Secondly, over the period of three years between 2011 and 2013, what was the percentage of Malay applicants out of the total number of applications received for permanent residency and citizenship?”
“Madam, over the past two days, both sides of this House are in agreement in giving our pioneers the due recognition they deserve. However, for some seniors in our midst, the Pioneer Generation Package (PGP) appears hollow and distant to their actual life realities. To them, PGP is only an acronym. I met Mdm Tan and Mr Sim during the course of my work. Both of them were born and bred in Singapore and have never left this country. Seventy-one-year-old Mdm Tan married a Singaporean and had six Singaporean children who have since grown up and raised families of their own. Mr Sim, a visually handicapped individual, has also not left this country since his birth in 1937. When they look at their blue Identification Card issued in 1993, all this talk about the Pioneer Generation passes them by. Mdm Tan's nationality status is that of an unknown and Mr Sim is stateless. As a result of their respective nationality status, the family of Mdm Tan has to bear a heavier financial burden due to her medical conditions. And Mr Sim is unable to access the financial assistance available to him at the CDC. Having stayed in this country for the whole of their life and after giving their youth and energy to the building of this nation, they were repeatedly told of their unsuccessful applications and appeals for citizenship. In the context of Singapore's earliest nation-building years and their illiteracy, proper documentation was not properly kept, resulting in their inability to produce sufficient documentation to the authorities. This bureaucratic rigidity has denied them their right as Singaporeans. I think the Government can and should do more for individuals like Mdm Tan and Mr Sim.”
“Second, the Government can start a scheme to encourage supermarkets and neighbourhood business associations to provide discounts to senior Page: 90 citizens on certain days of the week. I understand that Fairprice gives a 2% discount to senior citizen customers every Tuesday. I think that this kind of efforts can be extended to other supermarkets and retailers especially those that are frequented by our senior citizens. Madam, during the 2013 Budget debates, I requested for KiFAS or the Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme to be extended to all kindergarten students from needy families and not only limited to students from PCF kindergartens. In this year's Budget, KiFAS was extended only to kindergartens administered by MOE and Anchor Operators. Once again, I would like to ask the Government to extend the KiFAS scheme to kindergarten students who are attending kindergarten centres run by welfare and religious organisations. Finally, I hope that the measures that were announced during this year's Budget will continue to be reviewed and updated so that the assistance being offered will move with the times, and correspond with the prevailing situation and cost of living. Madam, the Workers' Party supports the 2014 Budget. 3.39 pm”
“Moving forward, the PGP should be reviewed on a regular basis, so that the measures remain relevant with the changing times. I am also hopeful that the Government would consider the proposals I have put forth above. Madam, in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I share the joy and the sense of relief being felt by the Pioneer Generation with the introduction of the Pioneer Generation Package. I support the move to reduce the burden of healthcare costs that the Pioneer Generation is experiencing. However, I feel that the measures taken by the Government in this year's Budget, to acknowledge the Pioneer Generation, should have been done much earlier. Madam, it is the responsibility and duty of any Government to take care of the well-being and welfare of the people from all walks of life, whether they are youths or senior citizens. The ever-increasing healthcare costs are among several causes of concern among Singaporeans, especially the senior citizens. The Pioneer Generation Package is focused solely on helping with the healthcare expenditure of senior citizens aged 65 years and above. Although it is a positive step forward, healthcare costs should not be taken separately. It is only a portion of or one of the costs of living in Singapore that have been increasing and are burdening the needy, especially among the senior citizens. I would like to make two suggestions so that the burden of the Pioneer Generation can be further reduced. First, I would like to request that the Government extend the Taxi Subsidy Scheme provided to the disabled, to senior citizens, especially those receiving assistance from the MediFund Scheme.”
“However, I am of the view that more can still be done. I would like to highlight that the extension of KiFAS should also benefit kindergartens run by Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs) and religion-based entities. I understand that some of these non-profit operators face many financial issues, some of which stem from the non-payment of fees by needy families. Out of goodwill, these organisations would then absorb these fees, with the consequent effect of facing even further pressures on their financial capacity to do more for the community. I would like to put on record my admiration for the compassion and dedication of many of these organisations and their staff in their continual efforts to ensure that the young in our society continue to receive the basic education they need to progress in life. The heavy financial pressures faced by non-profit operators should not be shouldered by them alone. These organisations have contributed incredibly in many ways to the development of our society and the promotion of social mobility. Hence, they should not be further burdened. Page: 89 As such, I would like to reiterate the call that I made through my Budget Speech in 2013 for the Government to expand KiFAS to all families in accordance with their economic needs instead of their choice of the kindergarten. Probably, the Minister can explain to this House the thinking behind the administering of KiFAS and what are the considerations preventing the extension of KiFAS to other kindergartens outside the existing framework. Madam, as a whole, I am heartened to read about the measures in the PGP and I see that as a long overdue recognition by the Government of the invaluable contributions and selfless dedication of our seniors towards the cause of this nation.”