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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“Sir, the HDB blocks in my Kaki Bukit ward were built in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Most of these blocks had undergone the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) except for one precinct, which comprises of blocks 512 to 518 of Bedok North Avenue 2 and block 554 for Bedok North Street 3. I understand that the said blocks were ineligible because this precinct had probably undergone a Main Upgrading Programme (MUP). Being part of an old HDB estate, these nine blocks have a considerable number of elderly occupants. In my interaction with some of my elderly residents through house visits and community outreach, I received feedback requesting for the replacement of pipe sockets with new clothes drying racks. I note that this is one of the compulsory improvements under the HIP. These elderly residents said that they envied their friends whose flats had been installed with this feature as it makes hanging laundry less challenging. Sir, can HDB look into replacing pipe sockets with new clothes hanging racks for flats that were not eligible for the HIP, to make it easier for residents to hang the laundry, especially the elderly? I sincerely hope HDB will give this request some thought. Building Age-friendly Neighbourhoods”
“Sir, I am of the view the FAS also be accessible to the following two groups of less privileged students. First, students of the six full-time madrasahs. Were parents choose to enrol their child in a full-time madrasah, it is to aspire the child to be equipped with both academic and religious knowledge. Our public schools do not provide the latter. I note that MUIS does provide financial assistance in the form of Progress Fund Madrasah Scheme (PROMAS). Nonetheless, as part of our ongoing efforts in making our society more inclusive, I would like to propose that MOE extends the FAS to all Singaporeans students who need it, regardless of the type of institution they are attending. Secondly, I propose that FAS should also be made available to needy students who are Permanent Residents provided one of their parents or stepparents is a Singaporean. I have come across cases of low-income Singaporeans parents who has a child or stepchild who is a Permanent Resident and are struggling in their child's education expenses. Some even ended up with school fees arrears, even though they are paying subsidised fees. A good number of these Singaporean parents had attempted to acquire Singapore citizenship for their child or stepchild, hoping to alleviate the financial cost. However, many have been unsuccessful. I note that between 2019 to 2021, around 30% to 40% of all marriages involving Singaporean citizens were transnational marriages. Some of these marriages do lead to children who may not have Singapore citizenship. Sir, I believe my proposal of extending the FAS to cover children in such circumstances is in line with our mission of strengthening our social compact. Support for Students' Well-being”
“MOE's Edusave Award is a recognition to Singaporean students who have demonstrated good character, leadership, conduct, learning disposition and academic performance. However, I note that Singaporean students who are studying in the full-time madrasahs are not eligible for the Edusave Award. This is because of the full-time madrasahs' status as a private education institution and not a public school. This was the reply given when I asked in 2015. At this point, I would like to declare that I have a child who attends full-time madrasah. Sir, I am aware that the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) presents the Madrasahs Student Awards yearly to the top 5% of the best performing and top 5% of most improved madrasah Singaporean students from each level in academic and religious subjects. What I would like to propose is for MUIS is to continue giving awards, but only for religious subject as they are a statutory board which regulates Islamic education system in Singapore. Separately, full-time madrasah students excelling in non-religious subject should be eligible for MOE's Edusave Award like Singaporean students in public schools. My suggestion is meant not just to boost financial support for our madrasah students and their family. It is also meant to foster a greater sense of solidarity amongst all our students regardless of whether they are attending madrasah or Government school. This will, in turn, add to our existing efforts to maintain inter-religious, and inter-racial harmony in Singapore. Financial Assistance Scheme MOE's Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) aims to provide financial support to Singapore students, from the low-income households studying in the public schools or public-funded schools.”
“Sir, the Child Development Account (CDA) was introduced in April 2001. The objective is to assist parents to lighten their financial commitment in raising children. The CDA scheme consists of two components: First Step Grant and Government co-matching. In this year's Budget Statement, it was announced that there would be an increase in the First Step Grant from $3,500 to $5,000. Secondly, the co-matching caps have been increased to $4,000 for the first child and $7,000 for the second child, an increase of $1,000 respectively. CDA funds can be utilised at approved institutions for approved expenses, which includes basic educational fees, medical fees, purchases of vitamins and health supplements, optical appliances and payments for assistive technological devices. I would like PMO to consider extending the use of CDA for purchasing milk formula and diapers. Parents are spending a substantial amount monthly on these two essential items. According to a recent report in The Straits Times, the price of a tin of infant milk formula can go as high as $113.35 for a 1.8kg tin. In April and May 2017, many parents had voiced concerns on the price hikes for infant milk formula, asking for regulation of price and fair pricing. These calls were also heard in this Chamber. The cost of infant formula has not gone down since then. I understand that the Government would like to encourage breastfeeding of newborns and infants, but many parents have to rely on infant formula for various reasons. Sir, for many low-income families, diapers and infant formula are a significant financial burden. Adding milk formula and diapers to the list of approved items would be much welcomed and bring relief to many parents, especially those from low-income households.”
“However, it is disappointing that following the resignation of Mr Tatsuma Yoshida after the Suzuki Cup tournament, a replacement has yet to be announced. Sir, we must move fast or be left behind.”
“Sir, in December last year, our Singapore Lions men's football team put up a brave fight, in the semi-final of the AFF Suzuki Cup. Although they were down to eight men, they put up a proud fight until the final whistle and could hold their heads up high despite the defeat. The team's run in the tournament sparked a reinvigoration in local sentiments about our footballing scene. Twelve years ago, another team bearing Singapore colours sparked the imagination of local football fans – the Singapore Youth Olympic Games (YOG) football team. The players from that tournament were dubbed a "Golden Generation" not only for achieving a milestone bronze medal at the inaugural event, but also for their exciting style of play. And yet, a review of their fortunes a decade later told a story of a lost generation of footballers. While it is true that youth footballing success is no guarantee of future achievement, we must also be mindful of other factors, such as failures in the training and development systems and the lack of quality in mentoring, coaching and grooming of young talents. Sir, it is my hope that those involved in the "Unleash the Roar" (UTR) project announced in March 2021 bear in mind the lessons learnt from the past and continually engage stakeholders, such as coaches, club management, fans, but, most of all – the players. Just over the weekend, a feature on CNA asked the question, "What does Singapore football need to raise its game?" The feature struck a cautious, yet, optimistic note for the future of Singapore football. I welcome the small steps that have been taken under the UTR project, such as the setting up of School Football Academies and partnerships with global leaders in football, such as clubs from the Spanish premier La Liga.”
“Sir, the Muslim community's progress does not depend solely on the development and improvements in education. It also depends on efforts to do good and, at the same time, endeavours to help Muslims follow Islamic values more closely. Last January, the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (PERGAS) issued a statement via social media platforms Facebook and Instagram that they will form a task force on the issue of LGBT, or Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Transgenders in Singapore. Some of the plans made by PERGAS include a dialogue with members of the LGBT community who are Muslims, and efforts to help and guide Muslims in Singapore in facing and addressing the LGBT issue together. Sir, in this regard, I would like to state that I am fully appreciative of this effort by PERGAS, and I will certainly support any effort that takes a positive and enlightened approach in discussing and navigating the LGBT issue.”
“In future, with the world changing rapidly and new fields of knowledge being created, there will be more Malay students who may want to gain knowledge and experience in institutions of higher learning overseas. I hope MENDAKI can enhance its overseas study loan scheme in terms of the loan quantum and also by including many more new fields. This is to ensure that our Malay students' ambitions and aspirations are not hindered due to financial matters. In this regard, I have some questions for the Minister. Over the past 10 years, firstly, how many Malay students have received assistance through the overseas Study Loan Scheme provided by MENDAKI every year? Second, how many of these students who received assistance had their loan scheme converted into scholarships due to their excellent results? Third, what is the average loan amount given out by MENDAKI every year? Fourth, how many postgraduate students did MENDAKI assist over the last 10 years so that they can take their Master's and PhD in overseas universities? And, finally, what is the average loan amount channelled to overseas graduate students every year? Going forward, the Malay community would like to know clearly whether there is a masterplan by MENDAKI to propel the Malay community forward, in line with the demands of IR 4.0. Sir, at the beginning of my speech, I spoke about achieving progress in both religious and secular fields. I shared my views on how we can further strengthen efforts to continue our progress by expanding educational fields and knowledge to keep up with the changing times. Before I end my speech, I would like to touch on current developments that we must pay attention to, especially by Muslims in Singapore.”
“For these new fields, we also need the expertise of religious scholars to enlighten the community on matters that require our involvement. As such, I would like to ask the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs the following questions. Firstly, what are the Government's plans to enable more young Malays to enter these new fields by 2025? I hope that the Minister and MENDAKI will share these plans, so that the Malay community knows the direction they need to take in this rapidly-changing world. I would also like to ask what are MUIS' plans to equip our asatizahs with the knowledge and expertise in the areas of fintech, pharmaceuticals, robotics and green technology? The community needs to know if there are any asatizahs in leadership who are knowledgeable in these fields and, at the same time, able to delve deeper into Islamic jurisprudence and syariah issues. I would also like to know how the Malay community can learn from the current asatizahs who are experts on these issues. Mr Chairman, our young Malays are increasingly getting excellent results in the "O" and "A" Level examinations, as well as in their studies at the local Universities. These include madrasah students who obtained distinctions despite being burdened with a much higher number of subjects compared to their peers in secular schools. This shows that there are young Malays with huge potential who need to be given the full attention, assistance and support. Besides the increase in the number of Malay students in local Universities, there is also a growing number of young Malays who are furthering their studies at the Bachelor's degree or postgraduate level in foreign universities.”
“Mr Chairman, in terms of monthly income, the Malay community is lagging behind. The 2020 Population Census showed that the average monthly household income from work was $6,851 in 2020 and the median level was $5,704 which is the lowest, compared to the Chinese, Indian and other communities, and, furthermore, 37.1% of Malays are living in 3-room, 2-room and 1-room flats. Sir, although I would like to touch on a number of things in this speech, due to time constraints, I will focus on one basic and important aspect in achieving progress and development in any society, which is education. Organisations tasked to address this challenge must ensure that they have made appropriate and sufficient preparations. Hence, improvements must take a two-pronged approach. First, by identifying jobs that will provide the most opportunities for our community right now and in the future. Second, by identifying the community's inclinations and strengths, so that any necessary preparations and adaptations can take place now in order to prepare us for a work environment that has changed and will change in the future. All this will certainly influence the focus of our education in the future. A focus on education that prepares our children in navigating future challenges must be emphasised. Forward-thinking education should be the basis of their curriculum and any exposure that they have to undergo should be future-realistic. We also need to find new ways to help Malay students excel in innovation and creativity, in Islamic finance which is being increasingly accepted in the global market including fintech, pharmaceuticals, robotics with its sophisticated use of nanotechnology and green technology, which are the bases of the new and future economy.”
“(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Chairman, over the past decade, the Malay/Muslim community has achieved much progress in both secular and religious fields. We should be proud that the Malay community, through its awareness, determination, drive, effort and hard work, has managed to excel. During this period, we have seen many more young Malay/Muslims excelling in higher education. However, to achieve further success, we have to look at the gaps and challenges before us and try to find solutions for each one. The Malay community is known for its "gotong royong" spirit. They are good at uniting their efforts. Nonetheless, as the world is changing rapidly, we also need to learn from others to gain new knowledge and skills to overcome the current challenges. As the Malay proverb goes, whenever it floods, the shoreline changes shape, that is, when a major change takes place, everything else will change, too. So, while many people may be happy to just swim in a small pond, the Malay community now aspires to swim in the ocean. However, there is also another proverb cautioning us that if our fishing line is short, do not test the ocean, that is, if we do not have the capacity, do not attempt something beyond our capabilities. A rapidly changing world has impacted on our stability and traditional sources of income. Careers that used to provide stable employment are now facing challenges and becoming scarce. These careers have been replaced by new forms of jobs that change quickly and this requires us to be nimble and adaptable to ensure a stable income. Our workforce is challenged by stiff competition from foreign workers flooding into our country, hungry for job opportunities that are increasingly becoming scarce in their own countries.”
“Sir, MSF had launched the ComLink initiative in 2019, which aims to provide comprehensive, convenient and coordinated support to empower families with children living in rental housing through a proactive outreach and closer case support. I understand that under ComLink, the Social Service Office (SSO) for each town leads a team consisting of Government agencies, corporates and community partners. I note, Sir, that a good interpersonal relationship between the beneficiary and the case worker is a pertinent factor behind the success of such programmes. In this regard, I would like to better understand ComLink and request that MSF provide details on how beneficiaries are engaged and managed. For example, is each family assigned with one case worker? Is there any minimum number of engagement session requirement for each family in a month? And can MSF also share the ratio of beneficiary to a case worker? On a related note, Sir, I believe it is also important that the beneficiary is fully involved and committed. However, many low-income workers are engaged in jobs that involve irregular hours, such as daily- or hourly-rated work or food delivery. Also, time spent on programmes, interviews and counselling is time not spent working. This means lost income. I propose providing such individuals with a make-up allowance so as not to deter them from participating in such programmes towards their long-term benefit. Finally, Sir, can I confirm that the ComLink for Bedok covers the rental blocks in the Kaki Bukit ward of Aljunied GRC? Uplifting Youth in Rental Flats”
“Sir, in replying to my Parliamentary Question on whether MSF could consider debarring individuals who are under both Self-Exclusion and Family Exclusion Orders under the Casino Control Act from placing bets at Singapore Pools outlets, the Minister had noted that there were several safeguards around betting with Singapore Pools and that such an exclusion may drive more gambling underground and cause more harm. Sir, I raise this issue because I have a resident who has continuously lamented to me on his wife's problematic gambling habits. Although the lady is under both Self-Exclusion and Family Exclusion Orders, she has continued to spend thousands of dollars gambling at Singapore Pools using her salary and borrowing from licensed and unlicensed moneylenders. Sir, no measures can stop problem gamblers from feeding their addictions. However, I believe that we need to consider how to disincentivise gambling and reduce opportunities for gamblers to indulge in their habit. We can use technological solutions for this. I propose creating an additional requirement for Singapore Pools' counter staff to scan the identity card of individuals placing Toto and 4D bets above a certain threshold. The purpose of the scan would be to verify that the said individual is not, in fact, under an Exclusion Order and should thus be prohibited from placing bets with Singapore Pools. While this will create some delays in the process, I believe it is worthwhile if it deters those on Exclusion Orders from gambling excessively via legal platforms. Supporting Families”
“Alternatively, instead of the two mentioned options, the Ministry could also consider issuing warnings to the madrasahs that do not meet the benchmark, accompanied by a requirement for them to conduct an independent audit of its practices. Sir, I would like to declare that I have a child who is studying in a full-time madrasah. 1.15 pm Full Subject-based Banding”
“Sir, when the Compulsory Education Act was implemented in 2003, MOE implemented a minimum academic benchmark for madrasah students, requiring them to attain a PSLE aggregate higher than the average PSLE aggregate score of Malay students in the six-lowest performing national Primary schools. It was deemed necessary for madrasah students to meet this benchmark to ensure that they will be able to complete their Primary education and will possess the minimum academic standards required for them to qualify for Secondary school. Regrettably, a madrasah was not able to meet MOE’s benchmark in 2008 and 2010, which resulted in the madrasah being barred from taking in Primary 1 students from 2012 to 2014. Aside from that, all madrasahs have been able to meet MOE’s benchmark. In fact, the PSLE results of madrasah students in the past two years have been extremely encouraging. Through the efforts of the madrasah administrators and teachers and support from both MUIS and MOE, madrasahs have become private educational institutions that provide quality education to its students. Although the MOE benchmark was born out of good intentions, it may cause undue stress for the madrasah administrators and teachers, as well as for madrasah students and their parents. This is because the MOE benchmark disallows a madrasah to take in Primary 1 pupils for three years if it fails to meet the benchmark. A madrasah that cannot take in new students may find it difficult to continue operating as a private education institution. As such, I would like to ask MOE to work with MUIS and the madrasahs to review the necessity of this benchmark and to consider either removing it completely or easing the benchmark.”
“I am dismayed that the Government will be going ahead with the rise in GST. My main concern is with the impact on the lower-income households. I note the Government’s explanation that assistance will be provided to this segment of society via various schemes. Nonetheless, I believe any additional cost-cutting measures will be much appreciated by our low-income families. Sir, if I may cite one example, the application of GST on water tariffs, which already incorporates a Water Conservation Tax (WCT). I recall that when Mr Low Thia Khiang raised this issue, the Government had explained that the GST and WCT served different purposes and that applying a value-added tax on water tariffs was standard practice elsewhere. Sir, we should consider if standard practices are helpful before adopting them. We are already taxing our citizens on their water usage via WCT. Is there really a need to perform a double taxation on them with the GST as well? I believe Members can agree that there is still a substantial number of low-income Singaporeans, especially those living in HDB’s public rental flats, who are struggling with their utility bills even though they are being assisted with U-Save rebates. WCT’s amount may seem negligible to many but, to low-income families, every cent and dollar counts. Sir, if the Government disagrees with the call to abolish GST on WCT, can the Government seriously, at least, consider exempting GST on WCT for Singaporeans who are residing in HDB’s public rental flats? Assistance for Point-to-Point Sector”
“Second, what are the Government's plans to increase the number of preschools that can offer the teaching of Malay Language to meet the needs of the majority of the 38,668 children aged 0 to 4 years old, where currently only 350 preschools out of around 1,800 preschools that are doing so. Third, what are the immediate steps that will be taken by the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs as well as the Mendaki Foundation to improve Malay language proficiency among primary school students who will sit for the PSLE. Generally we know that Mendaki Tuition Classes do not offer tuition in the Malay language. Four, what is the near-term objective of the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) to address the lack of Malay Language teaching in preschools by 2030? Sir, what I presented are part of several key issues that the Government needs to address with detailed answers. The Malay community is always told about our achievement and progress, and when we look that the available statistics, we can see a significant weakness over the last 10 years. The issues highlighted must be addressed decisively and judiciously. At the same time, we also seek the Government’s understanding to look into the living situation of Malays, with many increasingly living in rental flats. This has to be addressed quickly to extract them of the cycle and grip of poverty, and all the social problems that come with it.”
“I acknowledge that it is important for our people to have a good command of English, and the bilingual policy adopted by the Government should ensure a balance for all mother tongues, including the Malay Language, and on this point, my concern is that if there is no concerted effort, the majority of our 38,668 Malay children will have difficulty mastering the Malay Language, much less being fluent in their Mother Tongue. Moreover, the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results showed a very clear indication that the percentage of Malay children who scored grade A* to C for the Malay Language had declined. The lowest percentage was 97.5% in 2020, and this downward trend began since the beginning of the new millennium in 2001. The Malay community cannot allow this decline to continue on. This is an early indication that a critical step must be taken to prevent this problem from worsening. Some may think that this decline is very small or negligible. Therefore, on this issue, I would like to pose some questions to the Government on the education of Malay children. This will allow the community to know more clearly the Government's position and stand in ensuring that Malay children are not hindered from the opportunity to learn Malay Language from a young age. As the saying goes, bend the bamboo while it is still a bamboo shoot. Sir, I have these questions for the Government. First, what will the Government do to address the shortage of preschools offering the teaching of Mother Tongue? Will the Government provide a bigger allocation to attract more professionals to join the preschool teaching sector to teach the Malay language?”
“This comprises almost 15% of the entire Malay community in Singapore. So, I would like to ask the Government; first, what is being done by the Government to improve the ability of Malays to purchase flats and therefore leave the rental flats? Second, how many Malays are living in HDB rental flats in 2021? Third, what are the Government’s short-term and medium-term plans to reduce the number of Malays living in 1-room and 2-room rental flats? Four, what is the Government's target to reduce the number of Malays living in rental flats by 2030? Sir, moving on, I would like to know clearly the Government's plans on the education of Malay children, especially with regard to the Malay language. I am very concerned, looking at the growing number of our children who are more comfortable speaking in English. This will cause their command of the Malay language as their Mother Tongue to be eroded. In future, perhaps within another decade, Singaporean Malays will generally feel awkward speaking in their own language. According to statistics from the 2020 Population Census, there were 38,668 Malay boys and girls aged 0 to 4 years old. Children at this age are at a critical stage in their growth development. With married couples focused on supporting families, most of these children are placed in childcare centres before being sent to kindergarten. The upbringing and teaching of Malay Language, whether at home or at childcare centres, are equally important. However, I discovered from a reply by the Minister for Social and Family Development in April 2021 that 350 childcare centres provided Malay Language lessons beginning this year, despite having more than 1,800 preschools here. This means that only 19% of preschools here teach Malay Language. This is far from sufficient.”
“As a result, we can see now that on the world stage, Singapore is increasingly known as an exceptional and reputable brand name. We are a nation that is far ahead in many areas like economic growth, public administration, quality education, health services, anti-corruption and so on. Sir, as Members are aware, Singapore’s excellent achievements today have made our citizens more educated, skilled and capable. However, there are still many who are unable to say that they are self-sufficient. This is because we are facing critical challenges and problems, brought about by the wave of progress in the name of development, success and prosperity In short, we all face the pressure of a very high cost of living. Just look at last January’s core inflation which has gone up by 2.4% on a year-on-year basis, reaching the highest level in nine years, driven by higher inflation in food, electricity and gas, as well as a smaller decline in the cost of retail and other goods. This was declared by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) in a joint statement on 23 February. In this august Chamber, I would like to say clearly and plainly that the increase in prices of goods has adversely affected our people's cost of living. In this challenging and increasingly stressful situation, the Malay community is the most affected. The Population Census showed that the number of Malay households living in 1-room and 2-room rental flats has more than doubled in 10 years, from around 9,100 in 2010 to 18,600 in 2020. This, Mr Speaker, this is not progress but regression. If every rental flat is occupied by a family of four, it means 74,400 Malays are now living in a cramped, stressful and hampered manner.”
“According to the Minister for Home Affairs, as of end November 2020, there were 1,109 stateless individuals in Singapore, of which 76% have obtained Permanent Residence status. That still leaves another 266 individuals. I also note that the Minister for Manpower had said in January 2021 that there were no regulations preventing the employment of stateless persons. However, I note that there are several steps that prospective employers of stateless persons need to take before employing them. Sir, I understand that the immigration authorities take this issue seriously and have to assess each application for Permanent Residency and Citizenship in detail before issuing their decision on whether to approve an application. I hope that the authorities will consider formulating streamlined policies to resolve the status of the stateless in Singapore. Sir, in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I would like to bring up a number of issues relating to the Malay-Muslim community, during this Budget debate as well as the Committee of Supply debate. In today's debate, I would like to touch on two matters, that should be given due emphasis and attention to ensure the well-being of the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore. First, on home ownership and second, on education. After almost 57 years of independence, Singapore has attained many commendable achievements. The excellence that we achieved is the result of having awareness, hard work accompanied by sweat and tears, in addition to the spirit, perseverance, commitment, determination and solidarity of our people with a touch of vision and aspiration. As the people of a multi-racial Singapore, we are cognizant that united we stand, divide we fall.”
“Full-time madrasah students may also feel excluded from society in some ways. While the move to provide all full-time students at madrasah with Edusave accounts is a welcome one, I note that the Edusave awards, which are presented to students who have performed well or shown good improvement in a mainstream school, remains unavailable to madrasah students. Sir, at this point, I would like to declare that my daughter is a student at one of the full-time madrasah. I would like to once again request MOE take additional inclusive measures by extending the Edusave award to full-time madrasah students. Sir, the recognition of MOE through the Edusave award should not be limited to school students under the administration of the Ministry. Such awards should be extended to every Singaporean student to further strengthen efforts to inculcate inclusive values in our society, especially students. Sir, the last category of individuals which I wish to highlight are those whose nationality is classified as unknown or stateless. I have raised this matter in this House, previously citing two individuals who have sought my assistance on their dilemma of being stateless. Both of them were born and bred in Singapore and have never left this country as a result of their nationality status. One of them has to bear a heavier financial burden due to ineligibility for medical fee subsidies and the other is unable to access ComCare assistance. 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. Other Members of this House have also separately filed questions relating to the plight of the stateless.”
“Although there are reform measures taken by the Government such as allowing single parents to buy subsidised flats without having to go through a development period and also allowing unwed single parents to purchase up to a 3-room flat in a non-mature estate from HDB or a resale flat, but I think more flexibility can be exercised to reduce the difficulties of this group. This is worrying as there are still many restrictions in our public housing policies for unwed single parents as they and their children do not meet the criteria of a family nucleus under the existing rules. I and many other Members of Parliament have expressed our concerns on the matter and have been calling to abolish this unfavourable ruling and at the same time, to extend public housing benefits to all single parents regardless of their marital status. I hope this issue can be given due attention and will result in more positive changes to HDB's existing housing policies. There are two other concerns I have voiced in recent years, which I feel can have a positive impact in our effort in continuing to reinforce caring and inclusive values if they are addressed. One is with respect to the Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme, KiFAS. I have asked on several occasions in this Chamber to have this scheme extended to students from low-income families who attend kindergartens run by non-profit organisations such as charities, voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) and religious entities such as mosques and churches. This is because parents who wish to send their children to a kindergarten of their choice for certain reasons should not be sidelined or deprived of the opportunity to obtain financial assistance schemes. I do not think this is in line with inclusive values.”
“On this issue, the Workers' Party has specifically called for foreign spouses to be given priority for citizenship naturalisation if they apply after five years on their LTVP+, on the condition that they have been married to their current Singaporean spouse for three years or more and they have at least one child together. Another stressful situation faced by individuals married to foreign spouses is the cost of schooling for the children of their spouses. That is, their stepchildren. They have to pay high school fees because their stepchildren are student pass holders. For low-income earners, this is a very heavy burden. Many such individuals are destitute and find themselves out of options and solutions for their financial problems arising from the high school fees. Many of these individuals have already sought to obtain Permanent Resident status in the hope that their children would not be subject to high fees. However, many of those who have applied have been unsuccessful. As a concern for Singaporeans experiencing such a situation, I would like to ask the Government to re-evaluate our immigration policy in order to provide relief in this situation. Alternatively, I recommend that MOE considers establishing a subsidy scheme for such students, especially for those from low-income families and where their stepfathers have legal guardianship status over them. The next group who feels marginalised are divorcees: single mothers or fathers and also unwed single parents. Many still suffer from failing to find a place to live.”
“In responding to the Motion, MOT agreed on how the high COE prices burden motorcycle owners, especially those belonging to the low-income segments. The Ministry said it would monitor the situation and will assess what were the best measures that could be taken to address the matter. I would like to take this opportunity to ask MOT whether it has any updates to share with the House relating to this matter, about four months after the Adjournment Motion. Sir, the COE prices for motorcycles had already crossed the $10,000 mark. I would like to know whether the Government considers this situation to be an appropriate one and what are the steps that have been or are being considered so that those who depend on the use of motorcycles to make a living do not face even deeper troubles as a result of this situation. The second group of citizens are those whose spouse is not a Singaporean Citizen. The difficulty they face is in obtaining a Long-Term Visit Pass (LTVP) or Singaporean permanent residence or Singapore Permanent Resident status. I believe I do not need to elaborate at length as this matter has been raised repeatedly in this Chamber. However, I want to emphasise the negative implications stemming from the situation whereby applications for the Long-Term Visit Pass and permanent residence are rejected many times. I personally know some of my residents who face such situations, the implication of which is separation. This is very sad, because it is far from demonstrating our caring and inclusive society that every Budget claims to want to achieve.”
“Sir, there are two parts to my speech. First, I will cover the topic of a caring and inclusive society, which I will deliver in English. For the second part, I will speak on a couple of issues related to the Malay/Muslim community in Malay. Sir, the constant feature of almost every Budget tabled in this Chamber has been efforts to build a caring and inclusive society. This year was no different. With this in mind, I would like to use my speech to invite the Government and every Member of this House to reflect on the issues that are faced by certain segments of our fellow Singaporeans who may still feel marginalised. For those who belong to these segments, the phrase "caring and inclusive society" may provoke anger and disappointment rather than any joy or pride. Sir, let us start by identifying who these people are and what the reasons are for their discontent. They are the ones who face challenges in their respective lives due to certain existing Government policies. I want to highlight the difficulties they face and make some suggestions that could alleviate the hardship these citizens face. The issues I am about to cover are not new. Rather, they have been discussed before and been raised repeatedly by many Members from both sides of this House, including myself. Sir, the first marginalised group I wish to highlight are our fellow countrymen who are low-income earners and are low-income motorcyclists who depend on motorcycles to support themselves and their families. In November 2021, I put forth an Adjournment Motion on the ever-increasing issues of motorcycle COEs. I proposed some suggestions which I felt could reduce the burden on motorcyclists and motorcycle owners.”
“Sir, ever since the news reports published the recommendations of the Committee of Privileges to refer me and Mr Pritam Singh to the Public Prosecutor for further investigation, many have expressed their concerns whether this would affect the Workers' Party. Concerns were also relayed about my situation and Mr Pritam Singh’s situation. Besides concern and worries, many have expressed support, words of reassurance and confidence, and quite a number of people also wished us well and sent prayers our way. Thank you very much for all the support and we deeply appreciate it. I would like to reiterate the statement by the Workers’ Party that since our founding in 1957, the Workers' Party has faced and weathered many challenging situations. In facing this current situation, we are confident that we will continue to survive, persevere and carry on with our mission to contribute to the formation of a democratic society. This is our resolve and commitment. In conclusion, I would like to share a quatrain for everyone who have expressed their support and concern about this situation. "Soldiers to the battlefield Fighting hard for truth Struggle requires sacrifice Sacrifice brings change." Thank you, Mr Speaker.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] This debate intends to approve the Motion, in a nutshell, on the recommendation of the parliamentary Committee of Privileges for Ms Raeesah Khan to be fined $35,000, and also to refer me and my colleague Mr Pritam Singh to the Public Prosecutor for further investigation. I had given evidence to the Committee of Privileges on 9 December last year in a session that was nearly six hours long, as mentioned by Ms Sylvia Lim just now. In my speech, I will not touch on and repeat what I presented at that session. This is because I am sure that at the end of this debate, this Motion will be passed, and Mr Pritam Singh and I will be referred to the Public Prosecutor for further investigation. I will give my best cooperation to the investigation that will be carried out. Therefore, it is more appropriate for me to give a statement later at the appropriate time. What I will say is that, first, I would like to once again reject the accusation that I, and both my colleagues, Mr Pritam Singh and Ms Sylvia Lim, advised Ms Raeesah Khan to continue to lie. This is untrue and a total fabrication. Next, I would like to assure residents of Aljunied GRC, especially residents of Kaki Bukit whom I have served for almost 11 years, that my services to you will not be affected. The Meet-The-People sessions, weekly house-to-house visits and other efforts will continue as usual. For Sengkang GRC residents, I would like to reiterate my statement on 2 December that I will work closely with the three Sengkang GRC Members of Parliament, Ms He Ting Ru, Assoc Prof Jamus Lim and Mr Louis Chua in serving you, especially in matters related to Malay/Muslim community affairs. This commitment will continue.”
“In the case of deviant teachings, I previously shared that MUIS seeks to address these problems at the root, by adopting a multi-pronged approach of counselling individuals and inoculating the public against harmful ideologies". I agree with the approach of addressing issues related to deviant teachings through methods, such as counselling services and public education against the dangers of such ideologies. However, I feel that if the punishment for offenders can be further enhanced, it may be a preventive factor and thus strengthen the existing efforts to combat as well as prevent it. I hope this proposal can be considered again. With this, Sir, I end my speech by expressing my support once again for this amendment Bill. (In English): Sir, I support this amendment Bill.”
“Sir, next, clause 11 introduces an amendment to section 50, which enables the first set of appointed hakam to make a divorce pronouncement without requiring a new set of hakam. I would like to seek a clarification, if possible, with an example about the challenges or shortcomings in the existing hakam system that spurred the Syariah Court to take these improvement measures. However, I believe that the Minister had earlier provided some examples on this matter. Sir, clause 18 makes amendments to section 87(9), to clarify that the Council (MUIS) can ask for payment of fees in the performance of functions related to the madrasah through the laws under this section. I would like to request information from the Ministry to provide some examples of MUIS' functions which require payment of fees by the madrasah. In this matter, I hope the amount of fees charged, if any and if necessary, will not burden the madrasah. Here, Sir, I would like to declare that I have a child attending full-time madrasah. The final thing I will be touching on is section 139 which is about false doctrine. As I mentioned earlier, I would like to raise this matter because it is important. Sir, in reply to my Parliamentary Question in September 2021, on whether there is a need to review and increase the number of existing summonses, that is, the amount not exceeding $2,000 for offenders in connection with false doctrine, the Minister stated, "Offences under AMLA are reviewed periodically to ensure they are consistent with broader legal policies and are effective in deterring offenders. Any attempt to apply legislation to religious matters must be carefully considered.”
“Among the feedback received are the use of digitalisation and absence of oral hearings, which can negatively impact the justice process. It is said that such a situation could cause uneasiness because the plaintiffs and the defendants could not witness the process that was carried out, or could not understand how the Court reached its decision. Arising from this concern, the Ministry gave its assurance that the Syariah Court and the MUIS Appeal Board would conduct the process through digital channels only if all parties are agreeable. At the same time, it also emphasised that digital channels are not meant to replace existing methods. I believe what the Ministry stated. I just wish to reiterate that the Syariah Court, the MUIS Appeal Board and the Registry of Muslim Marriages should monitor and take appropriate steps so that there will not be any negative consequences, or at least ensure that any potential undesirable negative impact that may arise when implementing these digitalisation measures is kept as low as possible. Sir, I would also like to express my support for the proposal to allow divorce registration, even in circumstances where the registered party cannot afford to pay the registration fee. This is stated in clause 8, 9 and 10 of this amendment Bill. I was also approached by some residents who had difficulty paying the registration fee and asked me to appeal to the Syariah Court to set aside the registration fee. Often, such requests come from wives who do not have any income because they are fulfilling their responsibilities as full-time housewives. These changes can eliminate that feeling of utter helplessness that is felt by those facing financial issues.”
“It is human nature that any convenience and ease when undergoing a process can influence one's assessment when making a decision. My concern is that the convenient access to the Syariah Court process through digitalisation can influence the assessment of parties wishing to divorce. For example, based on my past experience in conducting counselling sessions for cases referred by the Court, the divorce process, which can take some time, could sometimes provide more time and space for the divorcing couple to make a deeper assessment before making the final decision to separate. This is because, some married couples make a hasty decision to divorce without much thought because they feel very distressed due to anger and frustration. By simplifying the Syariah Court process through digitalisation, which is made easy with a click of a button, this "convenience" factor will erase any additional space and time that could have enabled the divorcing parties to make a much deeper assessment. However, I acknowledge that simplifying the Court processes through digitalisation will be good for divorce cases that should be resolved quickly. These include cases of irrevocable divorce and also cases with elements of domestic violence, where divorce may be the best way out. In light of these concerns that I have stated, I hope the Syariah Court, in implementing digitalisation processes, can monitor the situation closely to avoid or mitigate any negative consequences arising from these improvements. Sir, concerns about the unintended negative consequences when implementing digitalisation processes, were also expressed during the public consultation exercise held by MCCY in August and September 2021.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, may I deliver my speech in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Sir, I support this amendment Bill. In this short speech, I would like to offer my views, seek clarifications and relay my concerns on some issues contained in this amendment Bill. In addition, I will briefly touch on section 139 of AMLA, relating to false doctrine, although it is not related to this amendment Bill. However, since this issue is an important one and, in the interest of Muslims in Singapore, I would like to highlight this matter in the hope that a change can be made to this section in future. Sir, it is quite natural that whenever a challenging or pressing situation occurs, changes to the norm will be needed so that daily living activities can continue. We have seen at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many couples who had plans to hold their solemnisation ceremonies and wedding receptions were affected, due to the implementation of the COVID-19 regulations, which were implemented to safeguard the safety and well-being of our people. Despite the numerous obstacles faced by many couples in the last two years, they do acknowledge that these strict controls are necessary and they bravely and patiently overcame these obstacles so that they can proceed to build a home together. I would like to congratulate these couples for successfully overcoming these trials and tribulations and offer my best wishes to them. I hope and pray that their marriage will last until the end. Sir, I support the efforts to digitise the Syariah Court process. However, I would like to express my concern over the possible undesirable negative impact.”
“Thank you, Speaker. I thank the Parliamentary Secretary. Just one short supplementary question. Does MOH have a ballpark figure of the annual amount of expenses that are being used to tackle issues related to mental health? A ballpark figure for annual expenses.”
“Just a short supplementary question. Are these help measures mentioned by the Parliamentary Secretary made mandatory for such individuals, those who were being saved from attempted suicide?”
“Thank you, Sir, and I thank the Parliamentary Secretary. Just one supplementary question. May I know what are the follow-ups that are taken by relevant Government agencies in helping those who are saved from attempted suicide?”
“Thank you, Sir. I would like to thank the Minister of State for the reply from MHA. I just want to know whether apart from the SOC, what are the other units being deployed, as I had asked in my Parliamentary Question?”
“Towards this end, policies such as the COE, the ARF, Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) and such, have been introduced and continuously refined towards this goal. At the same time, you must recognise there is a segment of our population that relies on motorcycles to make a living and they have been affected negatively by the impact of the policies. In my speech, I have proposed several refinements to existing policies; some of these are not new but they have been updated. I hope the Government will look into these proposals towards improving the conditions of our fellow Singaporeans who have had to endure challenging circumstances. [Applause.]”
“Presently, such renewals or extensions are only offered for Category C vehicles, that is, goods vehicles and buses. Besides the COE, I would like to submit two more proposals. First, I propose that a Preferential Additional Registration Fee (PARF) be also extended to motorcyclists who de-register their motorcycles early. As MOT had explained previously, given that the ARF for motorcycles is only 15% of its Open Market Value (OMV), the amount of PARF that motorcyclists can receive is not high enough to incentivise them to de-register their motorcycles. Since most of them who work as delivery workers do not earn a high income, any PARF rebates, even a modest amount, will be appreciated. More importantly, policies should be implemented consistently across all vehicles. Secondly, I propose to have allocated parking lots made available for dispatch workers in areas such as the Central Business District (CBD), regional business hubs such as Changi Business Park as well as shopping malls located in housing estates especially public housing estates. Riders often avoid using the available parking lots because they want to save money and time. In situations where riders are fined for parking their motorcycles indiscriminately, those fines will further impact their livelihood. By setting up allocated motorcycle parking lots for dispatch workers in such areas, it can help them perform their duties without compromising public safety, save delivery time and, at the same, enhance their work routine and their life circumstances. (In English): Sir, in conclusion, the Singapore Government has set targets for the number of vehicles on the road, including for motorcycles.”
“However, it is clear that the situation mentioned by the Senior Minister of State still happened recently in the current COE system. So, I hope that MOT will consider my suggestion so that we can create a fairer system for motorcyclists in Singapore. The second proposal is abolishing COE bidding for Class 2B motorcycles, that is, motorcycles which use engines below 200 cc, and replace them with a conditional balloting system. I understand that the then Minister of State for Transport had once replied to a question about balloting system for the COE for cars. She explained that such a system will cause problems like a black market and also mentioned the difficulty of determining a suitable price for the COEs. In my opinion, we should consider the creation of a system similar to the one used to purchase BTO flats. Those who wish to buy BTO flats and those who wish to buy Class 2B motorcycles are both definitely first-time buyers. If MOT does not wish to make changes to the existing bidding system, I would like to suggest that every possible buyer be allowed to participate in the bidding and not just rely on motorcycle dealerships. This move could reduce the negative effects caused by speculation on the part of the motorcycle dealers. Although LTA maintained that there is no evidence of speculation, the number of COEs that had been obtained but remain unused, as well as the increase in COE prices in May despite a higher number of COEs on offer, indicate the possibility that this problem really exists. Next, I would like to suggest a renewal or extension for COEs that had already been renewed for only five years, for motorcycles that are used primarily for work.”
“] Today, I would like to highlight the problems faced by Singaporeans who depend on motorcycles to support themselves and feed their families. In particular, I will concentrate on the Certificate of Entitlement system, better known as COE. In particular, I would propose several ways to improve the COE system for Category D, which is for motorcycles. I have questioned multiple times as well as given my opinions and proposals on the COE for motorcycles in this Chamber. I will highlight this again because the issue of motorcycle COEs involves as well as impacts motorcycle owners who need their vehicles to earn a living to support their lives and their families. COE prices for Category D have continued to rise and have skyrocketed recently. In 2001, the lowest price was $509 in December and the highest was recorded in January with $1,313. Ten years later, in 2011, the lowest price was recorded in December, which was $1,481, and the highest price in March was $2,534. This year, the price reached $7,501 in January and continued to soar to $8,899 in August and $9,689 for September. Sir, I have several proposals to improve the COE system for motorcycles. Firstly, I would like to propose to divide motorcycle COEs into three categories, much like the existing categories for the motorcycle riding licence system. Further, I suggest that the number of COEs available be allocated in accordance with the percentage of motorcycles on the roads in each category. This is not a new proposal. In 2016, the Senior Minister of State for Transport at the time had replied that the move would lead to rigidity and further volatility in the COE prices for motorcycles.”
“I note that then Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan had said that given the ARF for motorcycles are about 15% of the Open Market Value (OMV), the PARF rebate value would be too low to incentivise deregistration for motorcycle owners. But I am of the view that most motorcycle owners who choose to deregister their vehicles early would still value receiving the PARF rebate, given that most of them do not earn a high income. There should be also consistency in the payment of ARF and the PARF rebates for all vehicles. Sir, my second proposal is to have allocated areas for dispatch and delivery riders to temporarily park their motorcycles while they are making their deliveries in the Central Business District (CBD) area, regional business hubs such as Changi Business Park and International Business Park, to name a few, as well as shopping malls located in housing estates, especially in the public housing estates. Most of the time, dispatch and delivery riders do not park at the prepared car parks at the area mentioned above because they will or might incur parking charges and also due to time factors, both of which will affect their earnings. In situations where they have been issued a fine for indiscriminate parking, it will further add into their expenses. Additionally, indiscriminate parking also poses a safety hazard for other road users. Having a designated area for dispatch and delivery riders to park their motorcycles would reduce incidences of indiscriminate parking, enhance the safety of pedestrians and other road users and is also time-saving for these riders. In short, an allocation of such an area will enhance the work routine and life circumstances for these riders. Sir, I will now speak in our national language. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.”
“LTA has maintained that there is no evidence of speculation. However, the number of expired or unused Category D COEs and the fact that the COE prices rose significantly in the May 2021 exercise despite the higher number of motorcycles COEs on offer, are signs that LTA may need to update its information. Next, Sir, I would like to propose that MOT consider allowing the extension or renewal of another five years for motorcycles whose COE was initially renewed for only five years, provided that the motorcycle is used primarily for the earning of income. The current practice is that a motorcycle's COE can be renewed either for (a) a continuous period of 10 years or (b) for five years only. However, if the COE is renewed for five years, it cannot be renewed for another five years upon the expiry of the first five years. I understand that this additional legislation is only available for Category C vehicles, that is, goods vehicles and buses, and is subject to the statutory lifespan for this class of vehicles currently set at 20 years. Given that there is a segment of our population that depends on their motorcycles for work, I am asking for the same flexibility offered to owners of goods vehicles and buses to be extended to the riders as well. In addition to the changes I am proposing to the COE system for Category D, I have two other proposals which I believe will benefit Singaporeans who rely on the motorcycle for work. First, I would like to reiterate my call for the Preferential Additional Registration Fee (PARF) rebate for motorcycles with Additional Registration Fee (ARF).”
“In this regard, I call upon MOT to consider my proposal towards making a proper and fairer allocation of quotas among the three different classes of motorcycles, according to the demand of the respective classes. Sir, my second proposal to MOT is to consider abolishing COE bidding for Class 2B motorcycles with engine capacity 200c and below, and to replace it with a balloting system. This is to ensure that the cost of motorcycle ownership in this category is affordable for those who need it for income. In 2014, I filed a Parliamentary Question (PQ) asking if the COE for Class 2B motorcycles can be abolished and the reply was that the COE is needed to regulate the motorcycle population. I have thus refined my proposal to propose balloting as a substitute for the bidding process. I understand that in 2013, then Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo had replied to a PQ about a balloting system for the COE for cars and said that it was not viable as it could encourage a black market. Mrs Teo also said that it was not possible to set a price for balloted COEs to deter speculators and yet remain feasible for genuine buyers. That was for cars. However, I believe that an introduction of a balloting system with conditions attached, similar to what is done for Build-To-Order (BTO) flats, could be a way to regulate the Class 2B motorcycle population. Like BTO buyers, prospective owners of Class 2B motorcycles are more likely to be first-time buyers with a genuine need. However, if MOT intends to retain the bidding system, I would like to ask the Ministry to consider allowing motorcycle buyers to bid for COE under their own name rather than through the dealership. This is to address the issue of possible speculation by dealers.”
“And again, the difficult choice has to be made between buying a new machine or a second-hand vehicle. They can also rent motorcycles, but that is not a sustainable option in the medium to long term, given the rental rates of around $70 daily. One month’s salary does not even cover the rental costs. And this is before we consider the cost of petrol, parking, ERP and more. The COE remains the largest cost factor in the purchasing of a motorcycle. In this regard, I am making a few proposals towards improving the COE system for Cat D. I am mindful that the ultimate goal is not to lead to an increase in the number of motorcycles on the road. Rather, my intention is to improve the well-being of our fellow Singaporeans who rely on riding motorcycles to make a living. I am reiterating my call for MOT to consider categorising the COE for motorcycles into classes according to engine capacity, similar to how the licences to ride motorcycles are categorised. This is a proposal I first mentioned in a cut I filed for the 2016 COS debates. I am also renewing my call for the number of COEs available for each category to be allocated in accordance with the percentage of these vehicles on our roads. Under the current practice, all motorcycles are grouped into a single Category D regardless of its engine capacity. When I raised this point in 2016, then Senior Minister of State for Transport Ng Chee Meng had replied, given that 70% of the motorcycle population in Singapore had an engine capacity below 200 cc, introducing such a differentiation would lead to rigidity and, subsequently, lead to higher volatility in the COE prices for motorcycles. This volatility has already set in as we can see from the COE prices for motorcycles, especially in the last few months.”
“In 2001, the lowest COE prices for Cat D was $509 in December while highest was $1,313 in January. Ten years on, 2011, the lowest price was in December, $1,481 and highest in March, $2,534. This year, 2021, the COE price in January was $7,501 and it has skyrocketed in the last couple of months, to $8,899 and $9,689 for August and September, respectively. According to MOM’s statistics for 2020, there were 220,000 residents who declared themselves as engaging in "own account work", that is, they are self-employed or freelancers. A number of these residents are likely to be motorcyclists engaged in delivery and dispatch services with one of the existing platforms. In addition, there are riders who are direct employees of various companies. There are no clear indicators on the number of Singaporeans who are riding commercially. However, browsing through the job listings for riders on the MyCareersFuture website, I noticed that the monthly salaries offered range between $1,000 and $2,500. That is to say, that someone who wants to purchase a Class 2B motorcycle so that he can earn an income as a dispatch rider, will need to set aside four to 10 months of a salary he has not yet earned just to afford the latest COE for a motorcycle. When we take into consideration the road tax, insurance and other costs involved in purchasing a new bike, the number can go up to 14 months. More than a year of working just to afford a vehicle that is needed. There is the option of second-hand motorcycles. However, those are not cheap either. A three-year-old motorcycle can go for around $10,000. A motorcycle with three years left on the COE can cost around $5,000. After buying a second-hand motorcycle, the new owner will soon be faced with a decision on whether to renew the COE when it expires.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, my speech today calls for the Government to make motorcycle ownership more affordable, in particular, for fellow Singaporeans who are reliant on this mode of transportation for their livelihood. Largely, my speech will focus on reviewing and making necessary and reasonable changes to the current Vehicle Quota System (VQS), namely Category D of the Certificate of Entitlement, better known among Singaporeans in short as the COE. Additionally, I would also like to raise two other related proposals. The VQS was introduced and implemented in 1990 with the objective of regulating the growth of the vehicle population in Singapore. Under the current VQS, the COE are categorised into, A, B, C, D and E. Categories A and B are for cars. Category C is for goods vehicle and buses. Category D is for motorcycles and Category E for all vehicles except motorcycles. Sir, the COE for motorcycles has been getting more attention compared to other vehicles in recent years and the attention has heightened in the recent two months due to the skyrocketing prices. I have brought up the issue of motorcycle’s COE multiple times in this Chamber in the form of Parliamentary Questions (PQs) and Committee of Supply (COS) cuts. This time around I am tabling this matter as an Adjournment Motion as I strongly feel that this issue needs to be conveyed, explained and discussed more in depth with the hope that MOT will consider reviewing motorcycle’s COE system which is Cat D. At this point, I would like to reiterate that the intention of calling for this review is mainly to benefit our fellow Singaporeans who depend on motorcycles to feed their family. Sir, let us explore the trend for motorcycle’s COE prices over the years.”
“Sir, the issue of third parties profiting from the reselling of public sports facilities has recently received much attention after a couple of media articles were published on the matter. It was mentioned in one of these articles that there is even a virtual shop space to purchase bookings of public sports facilities such as badminton courts. A Straits Times article dated 1 February 2021 reported social footballers had to fork out between $240 and $300 in order to play. In another media report, it was said that the reseller is making a profit of $180. Sir, in responding to such unethical practices, Sport Singapore, or SportSG, was reported as saying that it has vowed to clam down on the unscrupulous practice of a few ActiveSG members who resell booking of its sports facilities for profit. A follow-up media report dated 15 February 2021 mentioned that 255 ActiveSG accounts guilty of reselling bookings have been suspended by SportSG. I would like to ask the Ministry, apart from the suspension of accounts, what other measures or actions have SportSG implemented to further and better manage the situation? Sir, we do have public sports facilities managed by other public entities such as the People's Association or community clubs. I would like to urge MCCY and SportSG to initiate and lead a more concerted effort involving other public entities in eradicating such unscrupulous practices and the exploitation of our public sports facilities. Opportunities to Participate in Sports”
“Thank you, Sir. I got two points. One is for Minister Masagos Zulkifli. I appreciate him sharing that indeed we had a closed door person-to-person talk on this issue last year. I do recall that. So, I like to just to ask the Minister whether you can extend the trust that you have in me in discussing such things behind closed doors, in a really formal closed-door setting. I just like to hear from the Minister. Secondly, this pertains to what has been alluded by Minister Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman. He did mention that there are some countries where tudungs are not being allowed to be donned by nurses because it causes divisiveness. But in contrast, I kind of recall there are quite a number of countries like Australia, New Zealand and the UK, actually, that allow the tudung to be donned. I would like Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman to at least share a country or two which he was referring to earlier.”
“Chairman, I have two clarifications for the Minister. First, my question on the deviant teaching, I would just like the Minister to clarify, and if I can repeat my question in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] When was the first complaint received by MUIS about this individual who practice deviant teaching? (In English): On the issue of discussion on tudung, Sir, I would like to offer myself to the Minister to be part of this closed door discussion. I am not privy to any of the discussions being done, behind closed doors. I believe that as the Minister had mentioned, it only involves PAP Malay Members of Parliament. I feel all elected Malay Members of Parliament should be part of this closed door discussion. So, maybe through my involvement as well as the involvement of other elected Malay Members of Parliament in the discussion behind closed doors, I may consider not to bring or to surface what is deemed by Minister Masagos as insensitive and divisive issues. So, I do want a response from the Minister on this whether all the Malay elected Members of Parliament can be part of this discussion as well as other discussions which involve the relevant Malay agencies such as MENDAKI, MUIS, maybe not MAC but MENDAKI and MUIS?”