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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“On MOE's considerations of not awarding Edusave Awards to madrasah students due to madrasah offering a total curriculum that comprises both compulsory religious and secular subjects, this can be addressed by only granting the Edusave Award for secular subjects. Subsidies for Non-Singaporean Students”
“Sir, currently, Singaporean students in the six full-time madrasahs are not eligible for MOE's Edusave Awards as well as its Financial Assistance Scheme. At this juncture, I would like to declare that I have a child who is studying in a full-time madrasah. In 2015, I asked MOE through a Parliamentary Question to consider extending Edusave Awards to madrasah students. The Minister responded that, "Edusave Awards recognise secular academic and non-academic achievements in the context of MOE-funded schools. It would not be appropriate to extend awards to private schools, including those in the six full-time madrasahs that offer a total curriculum that comprises both compulsory religious and secular subjects." During 2012's COS debate, I and another Member requested to have Edusave account and contributions to be extended to Singaporean students who are studying in non-public schools. MOE declined this request and explained that the Ministry's policy is to encourage all Singaporean children, as far as possible, to enroll in national schools with the objective to forge social cohesion and common national identity. Nonetheless, Prime Minister in his 2013 National Day Rally speech announced that Edusave accounts and contributions would be given to all students of school-going age, which includes full-time madrasah students. The Prime Minister mentioned, "This is a signal that we value every child and we help with a sense of solidarity among the next generation." Sir, on the very basis of valuing every child and a sense of solidarity as mentioned the Prime Minister, MOE should consider to extend Edusave Awards and its Financial Assistance Scheme to Singaporean full-time madrasah students.”
“Importantly, by taking the lead in establishing such a nationally-recognised internship framework, it not only enables voluntary, progressive acquisition of certification for future PMETs, but also enables the Government to qualify an apprenticeship culture that opens up the substantial benefits of such experiences to a much wider range of candidates, such as non-academic pursuits like the culinary arts, music and sports, artisanal practices, such as furniture-making and other skilled crafts and professions that rely on experience and on job training rather than book smarts alone. This allowed the Government to be a stronger advocate for Singaporeans that have ambitions to contribute to that traditionally and deserved sectors of the economy that nevertheless are paths to meaningful middle-class secured jobs. Skills for Future Workforce”
“Sir, at the moment the process of securing internship and apprenticeship positions is largely decentralised, relying primarily on either the hiring entity or a small number of private jobs clearing houses. Moreover, most programmes tend to focus on highly skilled disciplines, such as finance or technology. These two facts mean that the benefits of internship and apprenticeship training tend to accrue only to a select segment of the workforce. In particular, many beneficiaries of such programmes tend to be highly educated students or graduates majoring in STEM-related courses and who possesses the means to seek, identify and apply to such opportunities. There is substantial evidence that internship and apprenticeship not only contribute to enhanced knowledge transfer and more efficient production but can also play a role in reducing the extent of labour market polarisation, which is becoming a growing concern in Singapore. However, such systems tend to be more successful when operating within the rubric of a larger institutional framework. Such national level institutions help establish the standard roles behind each party's commitment, promote worker firm matching and encourages the movement of journeyman to other firms once they have completed their formal training. [Deputy Speaker (Mr Lim Biow Chuan) in the Chair] The Government has already started in this direction with the Asia-Ready Exposure Programme being introduced at this Budget. I would like to go further and advance the idea of a national internship framework that can be built off the MyCareers job portal.”
“Some felt that panic buying was a reaction to a previous situation, where the stocks of masks and hand sanitisers were depleted despite assurances by the Government that there are enough supplies of masks and asked Singaporeans not to worry. Sir, words that hurt feelings and are insulting should not be said by anyone, either by the people or the leaders. Accusations and finger-pointing are unwarranted and may further aggravate the anxiety that was already there. These kinds of negative actions like condemnations, criticisms and finger-pointing will weaken psychological resilience and have an unhealthy impact on social unity. As a society, we must try to practise the following pearl of wisdom, that is, “It is Better to Stay Silent if One Does Not Have Anything Good To Say”. Sir, let us all, leaders and followers, including myself, do some self-reflection and introspection, and stop doing things that can worsen the situation. We should all take a constructive and positive approach. Avoid any finger-pointing because, as the saying goes, 'When you point one finger at others, the rest of your fingers are pointing at yourself." Sir, it is true that the practice of advising one another, reminding others to be good and patient with others, is a good practice that should be encouraged. This practice is a constructive effort that should be done at all levels of society in order to inculcate, preserve and strengthen psychological resilience so that social and national unity will not be shaken or become tainted during challenging times.”
“It was amazing and heart-warming to hear about some F&B establishment owners coming forward to provide free food and drinks as a token of appreciation and support to those working in the frontline. We also witnessed wonderful efforts from Singaporeans who wish to contribute positively to promote community spirit by distributing free masks and hand sanitisers to the public. This is something that we can be proud of and it is touching. Sir, these are just some commendable examples of unity shown by Singaporeans. The unity on display in the situations I mentioned earlier is something positive that can ignite a community spirit that makes them stand united in the face of challenges. Unfortunately, Sir, there had also been some incidents that were less pleasant and could erode this spirit of unity. Several posts shared on social media channels showed incidents where healthcare workers received cynical comments and were treated poorly. Some members of the public also shared that they received sharp stares when they coughed or sneezed in public places. This is an unhealthy situation and it must stop. Sir, we have also seen certain Singapore Citizens and residents who were so worried that they participated in panic buying due to their concern about food shortage, as soon as the Health Ministry changed the DORSCON level from Yellow to Orange. This incident caused many people to make comments that rebuke and criticise, that described those who took part in panic buying as people who only think of themselves and as kiasu people. Many also gave their take on the reasons behind this situation.”
“Finger-pointing is one of the negative traits that can exist in a person. It is human nature to have such negative feelings, and while it is not wrong to have such feelings, it is definitely wrong when we express those feelings through remarks, words and actions that hurt the feelings of others and make them angry. Sir, it is worse when snide remarks are made by individuals who have a certain standing in society. Leaders in politics, community and organisations, including heads of households, have a duty to set a good example so that those under them will follow their lead. As the bearer of this responsibility, a leader must be big hearted and view certain incidents with a sincere and compassionate heart. In doing so, a leader will be able to make a positive and objective assessment whenever an adverse incident takes place, and thus will be able to think about and work on ways to improve the situation as much as possible. This is no mean feat, but it is the duty of any leader to continue trying and developing the values that I mentioned earlier. Sir, lately, we have seen and heard Singaporeans' reactions when faced with the challenge of the COVID-19 outbreak. Praises and words of encouragement have flooded social media channels and the mainstream media, directed towards fellow Singaporeans who are in the frontline in the fight against the COVID-19 virus outbreak. Healthcare workers like doctors, nurses, paramedics and other healthcare officers were honoured as heroes for carrying on with their duties sincerely and diligently even though they face the possibility of getting infected.”
“We can all agree that any society that possesses strong psychological resilience will not easily crumble when going through challenging times like the one right now. Sir, in this speech, I would like to briefly touch on the importance of psychological resilience when undergoing challenging situations and, at the same time, how we can learn important lessons from a crisis. When any crisis happens to a nation, society, family and individual, it has always been good practice or good culture if some introspection or self-reflection was done on its causes and the lessons that can be gleaned from it. My experience as a family counsellor has taught me that we can choose whether we want to go through a crisis positively or negatively. If we choose to see the crisis from a positive aspect, we will be able to learn many lessons behind each episode. Conversely, if we choose to see it negatively, then there will be a lot of grievances, sadness, anger and even depression. This situation is best described through an analogy called "The Eyes of a Fly" and "The Eyes of a Bee". Sir, a fly, upon entering a garden full of fragrant flowers, will still look for something filthy to land on. On the other hand, when a bee flies into a place full of trash and other kinds of filth, it will still try to find a fragrant flower to land on. This analogy, to me, is the best example that can be used to guide us whenever we face an undesirable situation. We can choose whether we wish to view a situation using "The Eyes of a Fly" or "The Eyes of a Bee". Sir, when an undesirable situation happens, the question on everyone’s minds is usually what could have caused it? Whose fault caused this to happen? When looking for answers, finger-pointing and accusations often take place.”
“Sir, I will deliver my speech in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Sir, the theme for this year's Budget is a Unity Budget, or in our national language "Bajet Perpaduan". I welcome the efforts to provide more support to Singaporeans during a time when the people are facing the challenge of the COVID-19 outbreak. In this Budget, measures are taken so that the industries, businessmen and those affected by the current situation are given help and support to mitigate their financial burden and, at the same time, help to maintain financial resilience in an increasingly gloomy economic outlook. Help and support are also provided for those affected in society so that they can rise up and rebuild their financial capabilities during the recovery phase. Such financial assistance and support are essential because it will make those affected feel that their needs and their future are looked after and not neglected, and this will eventually preserve and strengthen social unity. Sir, financial resilience is an important factor in preserving and strengthening social unity. This is seen in many studies where social class divide has an impact on social unity. This is because those who lead a disadvantaged life will feel dissatisfied, because while they have to go through a difficult life and there is no one looking after them, there are others who live a life of luxury. Sir, although financial resilience is important, what is more important and foremost in preserving and strengthening social unity is psychological resilience. Building and maintaining psychological resilience is no easy task, as it requires patience and sustained efforts. Building psychological resilience can only be achieved by inculcating positive thinking and values within society.”
“I have stated clearly that I do not support this Motion.”
“Sir, the judgment is a judgment, I have to respect the Court judgment. But it is subject to an appeal, as mentioned earlier. The finding can be overturned by the Court of Appeal. So, I stand firm on my call to wait for the Court of Appeal, before I decide to take any actions.”
“I would like to respond to the Senior Minister of State's question. Sir, as AHTC Chair, it is my responsibility to weigh and evaluate what is the best action, moving forward, for the residents of Aljunied-Hougang Town. I have to take into consideration the mandate given by Aljunied residents at General Election 2015, amidst the AHTC saga, where the residents of Aljunied had decided to still give mandate to Mr Low Thia Khiang, Ms Sylvia Lim and the other three of us to manage their town. Personally, it will be improper for me to cancel this mandate. I take the mandate given to us, the Workers' Party's Members of Parliament, seriously. Secondly, I have said earlier, I have also not received any advice from the Independent Panel on the Court findings. Additionally, I believe everyone in this Chamber understands that the Court of Appeal can overturn the current findings. Hence, being a responsible Chair of AHTC, based on the reasonings I have stated above, my call is to wait until the result of the appeal is out before deciding on any actions to be taken.”
“Sir, I will be speaking in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Sir, I do not support this Motion to ask AHTC to recuse Mr Low Thia Khiang and Ms Sylvia Lim from the position or role of the Town Council which covers financial issues. Sir, I have known them both since 2006 and have been their teammates in the administration of AHTC since 2011. I have full confidence and trust in the integrity of Mr Low Thia Khiang and Ms Sylvia Lim. I believe and trust that the actions and decisions taken previously when Ms Sylvia Lim led AHTC as its chairman and Mr Low Thia Khiang as its vice chairman when running AHTC, were made with the sincere intent to do their best for the residents of Aljunied-Hougang town. I also reject this Motion as it is not appropriate for it to be moved. This is because the case involving Ms Sylvia Lim and Mr Low Thia Khiang is still within the period allowed for appeal. The Court’s decision was released on 11 October 2019 and the appeal period will only end on 11 November. As Ms Sylvia Lim said earlier, she will be filing an appeal. Hence, it is not appropriate to table and discuss this Motion. Sir, as Chairman of the AHTC, I have also not received any advice from the Independent Panel appointed by the AHTC on any matter relating to the Court’s judgment. So far, the Independent Panel has only issued a statement dated 11 October 2019, in which they acknowledged the judgment issued by the Court. Nonetheless, I will present the Court’s judgment at the next Town Council meeting. Sir, I would like to say once again that I reject this Motion.”
“Sir, I would like to seek your permission to speak on this Motion.”
“I do agree that religion needs to be kept aside, or apart from politics, so that religion will not be used to gain personal benefit or to benefit any political party.”
“Sir, can the Minister repeat? Just for clarity.”
“I do not wish to be engaged in such a debate because as I mentioned just now, it is clearly stated in my speech. I believe that your clarification, Minister, is directed to my speech. And I have clearly mentioned in my speech my stand as a Muslim which I see: Islam is a way of life; in the process, in every aspect of life, including politics.”
“Sir, to cut it short, can you please refer to the Hansard for the speech that I delivered?”
“Sir, when the Minister seeks clarification based on my speech, not focusing on one particular issue that he is asking right now; so, my speech already clearly stated that —”
“Sir, I believe in terms of the policies that are actually related to religion, as what we are discussing currently, even the Minister has to consult religious groups, right? So, especially in these policies, there is the element of being intertwined between politics and religion, which cannot be separated.”
“Sir, I disagree with that. I did mention in my speech that we should not use religion for the benefit of politics. It is clearly stated in my speech.”
“Sir, I said that, as a Muslim, Islam is a way of life. It encompasses every aspect of life. That is what I meant that, me, as a Muslim, I cannot separate the two entities of politics and religion. I hope I made it clear.”
“I need to do so. Sorry, sorry, Sir. I said that as a Muslim, we learn Islam and we accept Islam as a way of life. I am putting into that context. So, I am not so sure what is the issue with me saying that, in the context of me as a Muslim which, in a way, cannot fully agree, in terms of the principle of the separation of religion and politics.”
“Sir, but I need to put in context. If he just picked on that particular sentence, it will be out of context. I do not think it is accurate and, in a way, fair for me.”
“Sir, I believe I have mentioned it clearly when I provided my clarification. I think the Minister needs to look in what context I am saying this principle which I may not fully agree. As I mentioned, I would like to highlight that —”
“Sir, I would like to clarify the point made by the Minister about my speech earlier. Basically, I just want to touch on two points. The first one would be, the Minister mentioned that, in my speech, I mentioned that I disagree. Maybe, I would like to reiterate my speech in Malay and I would actually translate to English. For that particular paragraph, I will read as full: "Tuan, satu lagi prinsip Akta ini adalah memisahkan agama dan politik. Saya kurang setuju dengan prinsip ini". That means, I do not fully agree with the principle. "Sebagai seorang muslim", as a Muslim, "Islam difahami sebagai satu cara kehidupan atau A Way of Life" being taught, we learn that Islam is a way of life, of which Islam encompasses every aspect of life, including politics and the way to do politics. And I actually continued by saying that I understand that Christianity also believes the same, of which religion cannot be separated from politics. So, I am not so sure the Minister mentioned that he counter-checked with that particular someone on that particular sentence of mine, whether he checked with the same person, the content, in the context of what I have spoken about for this point, rather than just one particular sentence and the Minister tends to choose to amplify by saying that I totally disagree with this principle. Secondly, I think he misunderstood my point. I did not say that I quote from a preacher who says those who believe Jesus as the Son of God will end up in hell fire. I mentioned that it is a quote from the Quran. It has been cited by the preacher. So, two clarifications.”
“Each member of society must strive to give mutual respect to other faiths and to practise true tolerance in order to maintain and further strengthen religious harmony in our nation.”
“They do not practise tolerance by asking followers of a religion to compromise their faith or "to be less Islamic" for the sake of integration. Instead, tolerance is practised in Australia by respecting the beliefs and principles of a religion and by taking steps to render support so that the religious practices of any follower of religion are not impacted, which was what took place in the example I just shared. Sir, another principle of this Bill is the separation of religion and politics. I do not quite agree with this principle. As a Muslim, Islam is understood as a way of life. Islam encompasses all aspects of life, including politics and the way to practise politics. And I understand that Christianity also believes that it is unlikely that religion can be separated from politics. Sir, Parliament, as the highest institution in creating laws, also allows for religious elements in the process of appointing Members of Parliament through the swearing-in and oath-taking ceremony. We can see during the ceremony that Members of Parliament who are Christians can hold the Bible when taking their oaths and they conclude their oaths with the phrase "So, help me God". However, Sir, I agree that it is certainly wrong to use religion in order to gain political advantage. I believe such a thing is prohibited in any religious teaching. This is because religion is meant to shape individuals who are morally upright and pure of heart so that he can contribute as best as he can towards the development of society and nation, and not to use it for one's own interests or certain interests. Sir, the maintenance of religious harmony is a collective role and responsibility, particularly among religious and community leaders.”
“I believe that every religion calls for moderation and tolerance for the sake of harmony amongst humankind. But, Sir, what is the meaning of moderation and tolerance in religion? Do moderation and tolerance mean that the followers of a religion have to compromise their religious values and practices, like making themselves "less Islamic" and so on? Do the followers of a particular religion have to do something prohibited or that contravenes the values and teachings of the religion before he can be considered as someone who practises moderation and tolerance? Personally, I believe that tolerance, as a pillar of religious harmony in a plural society like Singapore, is achievable without having to sacrifice the values and faith of any follower. In short, there is no need to be less Islamic. Sir, I would like to share my experience while studying in Australia. I was amazed by the way Australian society practises tolerance by respecting the beliefs and teachings of a religion. My father's friend, Mr A, sent his daughter to a renowned public secondary school for girls in Melbourne. Mr A sought permission from the school to allow his daughter to practise Islam by wearing an attire that covers her modesty based on Islamic teachings. The school allowed Mr A's daughter to wear the tudung. In fact, his daughter was also allowed to wear long-sleeve blouses and loose-fitting clothes which, nevertheless, still comply with the school's uniform requirements in terms of colour and pattern. Although Australia is a multi-ethnic country where its people come from all over the world, they still adhere to their country's principle of religious freedom. As a nation and a plural society, they recognise the need to respect the teachings and beliefs of followers from various regions.”
“If a video recording of that session is shared on the Internet, I think it is very likely that the majority of Christians will feel offended and angry because they feel that the preacher has insulted their faith. However, from the perspective of the preacher, his intention was simply to deliver Islamic teachings to Muslims and he had no intention or motive to injure anyone's feelings or cause any friction in a multi-religious society. Sir, based on my interpretation of section 17(F) and the next section, that is, section 17(G), which states that motive or intent is irrelevant in determining whether a person has committed an offence as stated under section 17(F). The preacher that I mentioned in my example will be deemed to have committed an offence under MRHA even though the preacher's real motive is to share the teachings that are found in the Quran. I would like to seek some explanation and clarification from the Minister on this matter and, if such a situation occurs, whether the preacher will be charged under section 17(F). Sir, moving on, I would like to touch on two key principles of the Act, which are; first, to live a religious life moderately and practise tolerance towards religious differences and not do anything that can cause hatred and enmity. The second principle is that politics and religion should be separated. Sir, Singaporeans are constantly reminded of the importance of integration among the different races and religions to create and preserve harmony. There is constant emphasis on messages stating moderation and tolerance as key elements to achieve integration. Every religion directs its followers to work towards achieving and maintaining racial harmony.”
“Sir, my speech will be in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Sir, MRHA was enacted in 1992. The two key principles of this Act are; first, that followers of religions in Singapore live their religious lives moderately, practise tolerance towards religious differences and do not do anything that can cause hatred and enmity. Secondly, politics and religion should be separated. I will touch on these two principles. But before that, I would like to seek a clarification from the Minister on one new section being introduced which can be found in this amendment Bill, which is section 17(F). Briefly, what I understand from the Explanatory Note is that a person is deemed to have committed an offence if he willfully becomes involved in acts that insult a religion or the religious beliefs or the activities of others in Singapore, whereby those acts; one, cause hatred towards another religion; two, injure the feelings of followers of other religions; and three, will affect the law and public order. I will share an example, and I hope that the Minister can provide a clarification, based on the example given, whether an offence had taken place as stated under section 17 in the following situation. An Islamic religious leader or preacher said during a sermon that Islam teaches that Jesus was a prophet and not the son of God as taught in Christianity. He then says that any religion that says otherwise that Jesus is the son of God, then the followers of that religion will be punished in hell. While delivering the sermon, the preacher also delivers that message in a fervent manner.”
“(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Speaker, I would like to correct what was said by Mr Zaqy Mohamad when he stated that I was playing with the quotes that I mentioned, which were words spoken by the late Prime Minister. That was not my intention. I said that the words uttered by the late Prime Minister can be interpreted this way, that the Government includes Government bodies, statutory bodies and also the Civil Service and vice-versa.”
“One example is the Government's policy of creating a second key for the national Reserves where this function is given to the Elected President. The objective of having a second key is to prevent an irresponsible government from using the Reserves as they please for political benefit. It is rather surprising as to why there is a difference and inconsistency in the Government's approach and values when dealing with the possibility of abuse of power between the POFMA issue and the national Reserves. Sir, on a final note, through the arguments that I put forth, I believe the Members and the people can agree that the suggestion to make the Judiciary the sole arbiter is a better and appropriate action compared to the basic principles of POFMA which give the role of first arbiter to the Ministers. This is because if the Courts become the sole arbiter, there will be no concerns about abuse of power. As I have said earlier in my speech, if there is abuse of power, it will undermine social cohesion and this runs counter to the primary objective of having a law to deal with online falsehoods and manipulation.”
“Sir, we cannot deny that POFMA will create a situation where the Ministers will be facing a dilemma just like what PM Lee faced. Sir, I now turn to clause 4(f). This clause further reinforces the view on the possibility of abuse of power by the Ministers. This clause provides powers to the Ministers to take appropriate action if there are false or misleading statements intended to negatively impact public confidence in the Government. In such a situation, the Ministers, once again, become the conflicted party, if we take into account the interpretation of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s statement that the PAP is the Government and the Government is the PAP. Sir, I would now like to touch on several arguments by the Government in response to public queries about POFMA. First, when the Government was asked why Ministers were chosen instead of the Judiciary as first arbiter, the answer given was that the judicial process would take time and this is not acceptable because immediate action is needed to curb the spread of falsehoods and limit the potential damage on social cohesion. Sir, this can be overcomed by having provisions so that the process to obtain a decision can be done as soon as possible. This point was already mentioned and elaborated on by my colleague Mr Pritam Singh. The second argument is about the reply on the possibility of an irresponsible future government exploiting POFMA. Minister Shanmugam said that he could not give any assurances. I am of the view that the Minister's reply is problematic and baffling. Sir, the PAP Government has all along said that they are a government that is concerned about Singapore's future and the Government always formulates policies to be forward-looking and that assures a better future for Singapore.”
“Sir, we have also seen the dilemma faced by Prime Minister Lee when he had to decide not to proceed with legal action against his siblings, Mr Lee Hsien Yang and Dr Lee Wei Ling, on the Oxley Road issue which was discussed in Parliament. Mr Lee was in the position of a conflicted party. In this matter, allegations that impacted the integrity of the Prime Minister and the Government were brought forward. This was acknowledged by the Prime Minister himself, and I quote several statements from his speech. The first quote. (In English): "I am making this statement today because my siblings Dr Lee Wei Ling and Mr Lee Hsien Yang have made serious allegation of abuse of power against me and my Government." (In Malay): Second quote. (In English): "These allegations are entirely baseless but they have already damaged Singapore's reputation. Unrebutted, they can affect Singaporeans' confidence in the Government." (In Malay): Third quote. (In English) "In normal circumstances, in fact, in any other imaginable circumstance than this, I would have sued immediately, because the accusation of the abuse of power is a very grave one, however baseless it may be. And it is, in fact, an attack not just on me, but on the integrity of the whole Government. But suing my own brother and sister in Court would further besmirch our parents' names. At the end of the day, we are brothers and sister, and we are all our parents' children." (In Malay): Prime Minister Lee's statements show that it is not easy to make decisions in a situation where he is a conflicted party. Many have questioned whether the decision taken by Prime Minister Lee regarding this matter is correct or not.”
“In my speech, I will first speak on two provisions contained in POFMA that have raised concerns about potential abuse of power on the part of the Government and, secondly, I will also touch on several arguments by the Government in its response to the negative aspects of POFMA. Sir, the two provisions I referred to earlier can be found under clauses 2 and 4(f). Clause 2 provides the definition that a false statement is a statement that is indeed false, or one that is not false but can be misleading. The word “misleading” in this definition raises concerns about the possibility of abuse of power taking place. The Minister is a political member of the ruling party. Many have said that, if there are situations where criticisms are directed towards Government policies, or if there are negative opinions on the ruling party, can the Ministers make fair assessment and decision? This is because in this situation, the Ministers become a conflicted party. This can happen when, in order to defend Government policies as well as to defend the dignity of the ruling party, the word “misleading” under clause 2 can be exploited by the Ministers. Sir, the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew once said that the Government is the People's Action Party (PAP) and that the PAP is the Government, and I quote, "I make no apologies that the PAP is the Government and the Government is the PAP." His words can be interpreted as the Civil Service and statutory bodies are the PAP and vice versa. Based on this interpretation, it is not wrong if there are concerns about the possibility of abuse of power in order to defend the interest of a political party.”
“In Malay, Sir. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Sir, the Government stated that POFMA is a regulatory effort through legislation to deal with the problem of falsehoods that is becoming increasingly prevalent online, especially through social media. It is also stated that this piece of legislation is necessary to protect social cohesion. Sir, the Workers’ Party (WP) agrees that there should be legislation to deal with the problem or phenomenon of online falsehoods even though the WP has made the decision not to support and to reject POFMA. The WP disagrees with the basic principle of POFMA which provides powers to the Ministers, that is, the Executive, as the first arbiter in deciding whether a remark or statement can be considered as a falsehood or otherwise. The WP suggests that the Judiciary, and not the Executive, become the first arbiter. We are of the view and we are confident that this suggestion is more appropriate in achieving the primary purpose of protecting and preserving social cohesion. We disagree with the basic principles of POFMA because it contains elements that can lead to abuse of power and, if this happens, it will undermine social cohesion, something that runs counter to the primary objective of having a law to prevent and control online falsehoods. We must acknowledge that in this context, social cohesion can also happen if the decisions and actions that are taken by the Minister contain elements of power abuse. The concern over abuse of power has been mentioned by many groups – the public, politicians, journalists, civil society organisations, academics and so on ‒ ever since the First Reading of POFMA took place on 1 April 2019. Sir, this concern is not without justification.”
“I heard the Senior Parliamentary Secretary saying that the national team's coach will be announced in June. According to a media report on 25 February, the FAS President mentioned that the selection process is already at the tail-end. May I know the reasons for the delay?”
“However, the scholarship amount is sometimes less than what the athletes are currently earning. Understandably, some athletes reject the scholarship. This is their choice and we respect it. But under the scholarship, there is also budget for overseas competitions and training. May I suggest, if athletes reject the scholarship, can this part of the budget still be given to the NSAs? This will be helpful in grooming the athletes and exposing the athletes to more overseas competitions.”
“To have a good start in this enhancement effort, I suggest the team should study how the Iceland national team which is fielding a team from a nation of about 300,000 population and geographically made up of harsh terrain has managed to attain unique achievement in recent years where they played and did well in the European Football Championship (UEFA-Euro) 2016 and became the smallest nation to qualify for the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup 2018. Sir, with concerted and determined efforts, I am confident that our national team will one day create a name in the international football scene. Yishun Sports Hub Er Dr Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon): Sir, Yishun Town has over 210,000 in population and new BTOs popping up all the time. But our sports facilities remain the same or are uninteresting. Yishun Stadium opened in 1992, while Yishun Swimming Complex was opened in 1988, more than 30 years ago. I am constantly hearing feedback from residents about this. We are certainly looking forward to having something like Tampines Hub, Bedok Lifestyle Hub or Bukit Canberra, the new Sembawang sports and community hub that is under construction now. I had brought this up in this House many times. When I last brought this up, the Ministry said that as other major sports complexes are scheduled, other areas will have to wait till "maybe after 2020". May I ask how long more that we have to wait? I hope the next announcement for a sports hub will be in Yishun. Next, I would like to bring up another issue, but I would like to declare my interest as a past President of the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA). SpexScholarships support athletes financially while they develop their skills.”
“Sir, I have made a call in one of my previous COS speeches for the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to commission a study to search for reasons that are hampering our national football team's progression towards excellence. However, Sir, FAS has recently identified and made known to the public these reasons in a way. Allow me to elaborate. Sir, in early December last year, during a media interview, Fandi Ahmad remarked, I quote "The new national coach must be able to understand and adapt to our unique ecosystem." Fandi Ahmad's remarks have induced some curiosity and sparked discussions amongst Singapore's football fans. A number of football enthusiasts have written forum letters to the media seeking clarity on what Fandi Ahmad meant by unique ecosystem. Sir, in addressing this issue, FAS' General-Secretary wrote a reply letter stating the following, and I quote, "Much like several other football playing countries with a small population and land constraints, FAS has had to work around these factors as we develop the sports in Singapore. Our local young footballers, similar to other local athletes, have to juggle their commitments to National Service and priorities on academia, an age group where, globally and regionally, football players are full-time professionals." Based on FAS' explanation, it can be deemed that the factor that is hampering our national team's progression towards excellence is our unique ecosystem or, in other words, a systemic issue. Sir, since the problem has been identified, I would suggest MCCY, SportSG and FAS form a unique team and work in transforming this uniquely Singapore ecosystem into a favourable ecosystem that will spur our national team to greater heights. MCCY should spearhead this effort since it is a systemic issue.”
“I have two questions for Minister Masagos Zulkifli. Will do it in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Minister, my first question is on Madrasah Wak Tanjong. I would like to declare that my child is a student of Madrasah Wak Tanjong. I am aware that, after the financial assistance was given to Madrasah Wak Tanjong by MUIS, the madrasah is now administered by two chairmen. I would like to ask whether it is necessary to have two chairmen at the same time. My second question is related to what the Minister said earlier on the involvement of PAP Malay MPs in the planning for M3 planning. I would like to ask the Minister whether he is open to the involvement of Malay MPs who are not from the ruling party. Right now, there is just me, but, hopefully, there will be more in the future. I ask this question because I feel that the Minister might be familiar with the idea of ikhtilaf which means diversity of opinions, whereby the presence of ikhtilaf in the community is considered to be a blessing.”
“Together, we will strive and pray that the Malay/Muslim community will become a community of excellence, that calls us to perform good deeds and forbids us from doing bad things, as well as a community that provides guidance and leadership, instead of the other way around. Sir, the traits I mentioned are important if we wish to contribute more positively and constructively towards developing a strong, united Singapore. M3 Development”
“Sir, in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Sir, during a media interview in July 2018, Minister Masagos Zulkifli spoke about the collaboration between three key agencies ‒ the Council for the Development of the Singapore Malay/Muslim Community (MENDAKI), MUIS, and the People’s Association Malay Activity Executive Committees Council (MESRA) ‒ known as M3, as an initiative to further strengthen and uplift the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore. Sir, I would like to ask the Minister a few questions in relation to M3. First, what is the roadmap or strategic plan for M3? Second, what are the mid-term and long-term objectives that have been outlined? Third, what is the difference between M3 and the current collaboration between MUIS, MENDAKI and MESRA before it was named M3, especially in their adopted approach to achieve the objectives that were outlined? Fourth, what are the key values that we wish to inculcate and develop in the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore? Sir, in relation to the Minister's media interview I mentioned earlier, I was impressed with what the Minister shared as it frequently touched on and placed emphasis on spiritual values in developing a successful community. On several occasions, he quoted current and past renowned religious scholars as role models and sources of reference. Sir, as a Malay/Muslim Member of Parliament, I support the Minister's efforts to further strengthen and uplift the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore. However, at the same time, it is an obligation or responsibility of every Muslim, especially political and community leaders, to advise or counsel one another for any shortcomings or mistakes in our mission to further strengthen and uplift the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore.”
“One of the eligibility criteria for an applicant to meet is a household income ceiling of $1,500. Sir, during the Budget Debate, Minister Heng Swee Keat announced changes in enhancing the current available support measures for two groups of Singaporeans: first, low-wage Singaporeans and, second, Singaporeans who are permanently unable to work and have little family support, to support their living expenses. Sir, for the former, one of the measures announced is the enhancement of Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) where the qualifying income cap will be raised from the current $2,000 to $2,300 per month. As for the latter, the ComCare Long-Term Financial Assistance Scheme amount will be increased. 5.30 pm Sir, the revision and enhancement to financial and support schemes from time to time are, indeed, necessary due to the ever-increasing cost of living. On this note, can I urge the Ministry to conduct a review of the HDB's subsidised rental flat household income ceiling eligibility criteria? I do not have the information on when the last review was done. However, I do believe that it has been a while since it was conducted. I do hope HDB will make this timely review. Rental Flats”
“Thank you, Sir. Sir, I have residents who earn their living as a heavy vehicle driver who seek my assistance to appeal on their behalf for waiver of fine for illegal parking. The common presenting issue is that they are unable to find a parking lot for heavy vehicles, resulting in them parking their vehicles illegally. Many of them were issued fines while they were attending to their needs, such as answering to nature's call and when buying packed food for lunch or dinner during their working hours. The fines imposed have a great impact on them financially. Sir, I feel for and empathise with the plight faced by these heavy vehicle drivers being penalised due to a lack of parking spaces for heavy vehicles while they are trying to fulfill their humanistic needs. Sir, I observed that there are existing heavy vehicle parking areas in some HDB housing estates, usually located in the proximity of neighbourhood centres which have dual vehicle parking lots. This dual parking lots have double markings, one marking with the dimension to cater for Class 3 vehicles while the second marking of a bigger dimension is for heavy vehicles. Such dual parking lots will allow any type of vehicle to park on a first-come-first serve basis. Sir, I would like to suggest for such dual vehicle parking lots to be introduced at roadsides in industrial areas as well as non-major roads which have high flow of heavy vehicles. Such implementation will definitely facilitate heavy vehicle drivers to park legally when fulfilling their needs. HDB Rental Flat Sir, HDB subsidised rental flats under the Public Rental Scheme (PRS) are meant to provide low-income families who are unable to afford home ownership and have no family support with a roof over their head.”
“Sir, as Members of this House, I believe many of us may have been asked by residents, relatives, friends and acquaintances who are unhappy with the use of the Central Provident Fund (CPF) on why should there be a limit set for the use of all MediSave money and why is the allowable amount to be utilised annually so minimal. Sir, for the first question on the limits set for the use of MediSave, I would share with them MOH's explanation, that is, the setting of the withdrawal limit is with the intention to ensure that Singaporeans have sufficient funds in their MediSave Account for their basic healthcare needs in old age. For the second question, my reply would be, "Sorry, I do not have the answer." Therefore, Sir, I would like to ask the Ministry the following questions pertaining to MediSave withdrawal limits. One, how is the withdrawal limit amount as well as the incremental amount being tabulated and arrived at? Is there any specific formula applied and, if yes, can the Ministry share this formula? Two, how regular is the review on the withdrawal limit conducted? Is there any specific cycle or is it on situational basis, for example, review will be conducted when there is an inflation in the healthcare cost? Third, who are involved in this reviewing process? Sir, the answers to the above questions may not be able to address or lessen the unhappiness. However, it will provide some clarity and transparency on the matter.”
“Is it due to needs or wants? Sir, findings from such studies will allow Singaporeans to have a better and more realistic understanding of the matter. More importantly, Sir, recognising the root cause will enable policymakers to formulate more accurate and effective remedial actions in addressing this issue, assuming there is a need to do so.”
“Sir, I would like to touch on the issue of two groups of elderly Singaporeans which have been receiving much attention among many Singaporeans and many have also expressed concerns about them, particularly in the last 10 years. The first group of elderly who are doing strenuous jobs, such as conservancy work, collecting of eating utensils and cups at hawker centres, and trolley attendants. The second group, elderly who go around collecting empty aluminium cans, discarded cardboards or any other recyclable items which can be exchanged for cash. Sir, anecdotally, it seems that the number of elderly for these two groups has risen in the last 10 years. The questions that many Singaporeans have in mind in relation to this issue are: (a) Why are our elderly who are supposed to be enjoying retirement in their golden age still doing such strenuous jobs and collecting recyclable items? (b) Are our elderly doing such jobs because they need to do so or is it just a matter of choice? Different views and perspectives have been shared on these issues, in particular, on social media. Some are of the view that these elderly want to have additional pocket money. Some mentioned that these elderly are doing so basically to occupy their time as well as to keep themselves fit and healthy, while many others opined that these elderly are in need of cash for their day-to-day sustenance. The discussion on this issue has been surfacing from time to time in the past years, with some turning into an emotive one. Sir, I would like to ask whether the Ministry has conducted any studies to find out, first, whether there has been an increase or decrease in the number of elderly engaging in such strenuous work and collecting activities; and, secondly, what are the reasons for them to do so?”
“Sir, the survey done by the Ministry in 2014 showed that two in three firms reported that they had implemented fair employment practices. The majority of those which did not were planning to do so. It has been five years since the last survey. I would like to know when we can expect to see the next survey results from MOM. To get a more accurate picture of the situation, the survey should include interviews of employees and job applicants and not just employers, as the then Minister of State Teo Ser Luck said, would be the case for the next survey in employment exchange in 2016. TAFEP sets an important framework for protecting workers. However, it is still just a guideline. According to the Government's Report in December 2018, "there are enforcement mechanisms that complement these guidelines. For instance, if employers are found to have discriminatory hiring practices, such as posting discriminatory job advertisements, MOM restricts such employers' ability to hire foreign workers in Singapore". Sir, how far do these enforcement powers extend if the alleged discrimination does not violate existing laws like the Re-employment Act or the Women's Charter, and where the company does not employ foreign workers? Additionally, the Government should lead by example. MOM can consider ensuring Government agencies and Ministries avoid procuring services and goods from companies placed on the FCF watchlist. Economic incentives can also be given to companies which consistently do well and are not on the watchlist as a means of encouraging fair employment practices. Restriction on Trade”