Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim
Singapore
“Some of their preliminary recommendations include a hotline dedicated to support families of inmates and ex-offenders, as well as a one-stop rehabilitation hub to consolidate the MMO programmes and initiatives. (In English): Sir, MHA has enhanced the culture-responsive rehabilitation for the Indian offender population.”
“(In English): Sir, let me conclude by re-affirming our commitment to uplifting those in need, providing them with stability and empowering them to lead lives of dignity and opportunity. To make a lasting impact, we need the support from every member of the society, including all of us here in this House.”
“SCDF will also continue to disseminate advisories on AMD fires via social media and mainstream media. The Ministry of Transport's (MOT's) COS debate will further address enforcement measures against AMDs. Sir, it is incumbent upon us all to ensure a safe and secure Singapore.”
“We will continue to build a home that responds to the diverse and evolving needs of our population, a home that integrates housing with social support to empower and uplift our lower-income households and a home that allows our seniors to age gracefully and safely within the community, in our neighbourhoods and homes.”
“The HTX is developing novel NPS testing capabilities to enable this. We will also continue to collaborate with other countries to curb drug supply into Singapore. In 2023, CNB conducted 19 joint operations and investigations with foreign counterparts.”
“21 travellers missed their flights, and these affected travellers were offered to rebook on alternative flights within a week at no extra cost.”
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“Some interventions may seem harsh. But they are necessary to balance the interests of all residents. I would like to reassure the Member that such interventions are not taken lightly. Behind the scenes, Town Councils and relevant agencies have expended significant effort to communicate with affected parties and develop win-win solutions. At times, despite the work done to bring parties together to resolve issues amicably, there are sometimes parties who may be unwilling to compromise. In such cases, Town Councils and relevant agencies may have no choice but to intervene directly, to ensure a conducive living environment for all. We will continue to engage residents and in the spirit of give-and-take, explore solutions that address the concerns of affected residents. Cultivating mutual respect and good neighbourliness is now more important than ever before, as more people spend more time at home with the rise of remote work post pandemic. Good neighbourly behaviour and habits are essential in building a harmonious living environment and strengthening community resilience. In conclusion, I thank Dr Syed Harun again for the opportunity to respond to his ideas and to set out our approach towards this topic of social cohesion in common spaces. Common spaces are created to serve individual and community needs. Activating our common spaces and building a cohesive society is our collective responsibility. We will continue to design, build and maintain conducive common spaces and work with the community to provide meaningful programming for the community that enables social cohesion and integration. I hope that, as a community, we can be considerate and kind to one another in the use of these spaces and embody gracious, inclusive and harmonious living.”
“Under the third run of the Remaking Our Heartland Programme, HDB worked with close to 6,000 residents and community stakeholders for the design of six community nodes, 10 neighbourhood parks and four Build-A-Playground projects in Toa Payoh, Woodlands and Pasir Ris. Agencies also engage residents to develop upgrading proposals for their estates under the Estate Upgrading Programme, which has benefited about 54,000 households in 74 estates to date. A key guiding principle in managing our common spaces is that they should be kept open and inclusive. In line with this philosophy, HDB estates are not gated and remain accessible – not just to residents of the estates but members of the public. The openness and inclusiveness of our common spaces allow for spontaneous exchanges and citizen-led initiatives to happen. These contribute towards a common, lived experience, which is a key enabler in fostering deeper understanding and empathy within the community. In using our common spaces, we must remain mindful of the diverse needs and interests across different groups. On occasions, there are conflicts and disamenities, which we have to manage, as we balance the interests of different groups within our community. Today, our Town Councils manage and maintain the common spaces in public housing estates. Residents who wish to use the common spaces are required to apply to the Town Councils for permission. This allows the Town Councils to ensure safe and appropriate use and manage any disamenities to residents. We note the Member's concerns that such arrangements may not be ideal to some residents. However, given Singapore's land constraints, we need to ensure fairness and efficient use of space in our housing estates, while creating a conducive and harmonious living environment.”
“For homeowners-to-be, HDB and the People's Association organise MyNiceHome Roadshows to bring future neighbours together to build relationships early. Getting to know one another and the support available in the community enables better assimilation and good neighbourliness among new residents. Across all residential estates islandwide, the People's Association and Grassroots Organisations actively organise and support a range of ground-up community initiatives that bring people together across race, religion, socio-economic backgrounds and age groups. Examples include Ramadan Porridge Distribution, donation drives, as well as free tuition and peer coaching for students. We can easily spot these efforts in our common spaces – in our community decks, neighbourhood parks, Residents' Committee and Network centres, as well as community centres and clubs. As a Grassroots Adviser for more than 15 years, I have seen how Government and social service agencies and residents work together to promote social cohesion in our community. I must say, such efforts take time, but make a big difference in building a strong and vibrant community. I have also seen agencies going beyond to innovate and take a concerted, holistic approach to marry hardware and heartware. As of end-2023, we have disbursed and committed more than $1.1 million under the Lively Places Programme, supporting 229 projects that enliven common spaces and strengthen community identity. These include the establishment of pet parks, community cafes, allotment gardens, community libraries and workshop spaces at community decks. In the upgrading of estates and towns, we engage residents to co-create solutions, enabling residents to collectively express and decide on what they would like to have in their neighbourhood.”
“HDB carefully designs our estates and towns to incorporate a range of common spaces that maximise social interaction and facilitate community building while meeting diverse needs. HDB's Designing for Life roadmap guides the planning and leveraging of common spaces, to help Singaporeans "Live Well", "Live Green" and "Live Connected" to each other. Within residential blocks in new HDB developments, Community Living Rooms provide a laid-back gathering point for neighbours to hang out and host simple, small-group activities at the community deck. We have also introduced facilities like the community pavilions, fitness corners, and 3-Gen playgrounds, to facilitate inter-generational interaction. Older estates are retrofitted with new or enhanced facilities through upgrading programmes like the HDB's Neighbourhood Renewal Programme and the Ministry of National Development's (MND's) Estate Upgrading Programme. It is at such facilities where residents have the chance to meet and mingle, while exercising, playing, or going about their daily lives. At the town-level, HDB has planned and built larger spaces, like neighbourhood parks and town plazas, to host big-group activities and heartland events. The "hardware" constitutes only one part of the equation. Activities and programming that bring residents together and encourage spontaneous interactions, are just as, if not more, important. They shape and activate our common spaces and encourage community-driven participation to foster social cohesion. Each year, HDB hosts some 600 activities and events with an outreach of 220,000 residents at town plazas, in collaboration with agencies, such as SportSG, National Arts Council and Health Promotion Board, as well as schools and grassroots organisations.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi for sharing his views and putting forth suggestions on how we can foster stronger social cohesion through purposeful design and management of common spaces in our residential estates. I fully agree with the Member on the importance of social cohesion. Given our multiracial and multi-religious context, building a harmonious and cohesive society in Singapore is critical. This is something we must never take for granted. Social cohesion does not come about by chance. It requires a deliberate and concerted effort from all of us – to build bonds and mutual understanding amongst Singaporeans, whether it is across races, religions, socio-economic backgrounds or age groups. The Government pays close attention to the upstream planning and design of the built environment, to facilitate social cohesion amongst Singaporeans from all walks of life. In order to create opportunities for Singaporeans to interact with one another on a regular basis, we deliberately inject a range of common spaces when planning for residential estates, parklands and commercial and mixed-use areas. We also actively encourage the integration of community and sports uses within commercial and mixed-use developments, to provide highly accessible spaces for the community. With almost 80% of Singapore's resident population living in HDB flats, HDB plays a pivotal role in providing a liveable environment for Singaporeans to live, work and play together. I shall now touch on some of the efforts by various agencies including HDB, to foster a cohesive community in our heartlands through both design as well as active programming.”
“First-timers can tap on the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant and receive up to $80,000 while second-timers can tap on the $15,000 Step-Up CPF Housing Grant. We also have the Fresh Start Housing Scheme, which helps second-timer families with young children living in public rental flats to own a home again. The design of this scheme embodies the idea of social empowerment – coupling strong support from the Government and the community, with commitment and hard work from families. We enhanced the scheme recently to offer 3-room flats on shorter leases so that families have more housing options and increased the grant amount from $35,000 to $50,000. There is also a dedicated Home ownership Support Team at HDB, who will provide one-to-one guidance to tenants on their homebuying journey. The team will share practical tips and advice on their housing budget and options and guide families through the process of flat selection, application and booking. The team has reached out to about 1,500 households over the past three years. Mr Khairi and Mdm Dayang is one of them. Together with their five children —”
“Different agencies and partners then work together backend, behind the scenes, to support families' individual needs – the Ministry of Education for school subsidies, the Ministry of Health for healthcare, Family Service Centres for family counselling, community-based after-school care and programmes for children, and so on. In Boon Lay, for example, children in ComLink+ families may spend their after-school hours at the Tak Takut Kids Club. The club is operated by 3Pumpkins, a community-based organisation. Located at the ground floor of a rental block, it runs various free play, sports and crafts activities, and provides a safe and supportive environment where children can grow and express themselves. In November last year, we worked with MSF to launch the ComLink Rental Scheme to strengthen our efforts and go further upstream. Once families apply for a public rental flat and are assessed to be eligible, they will automatically be enrolled in ComLink+. A ComLink officer will then proactively reach out to them to offer support even before they move into their rental flat and continue to journey with them as they work towards achieving stability, self-reliance and social mobility. To date, over 700 families have been engaged under this scheme. When public rental families achieve stability and build up their finances, we support them on their journey towards homeownership. I have met many rental families and I know that many of them hope to buy their own flats. Families can count on our full support. We provide substantial housing grants for lower-income families on top of the significant subsidies that we provide for all BTO flats.”
“The space can be used as a child's room with a single bed and a small wardrobe, or as a study or activity room to support children's development. For larger families, those able to form two family nuclei will be allocated two public rental flats. Where possible, HDB strives to ensure that both flats are located near each other to facilitate mutual care and support. HDB also works with MSF to offer 3-room public rental flats to selected large families with children on a case-by-case basis. Like Ms Tan, we are driven by the desire to see families achieving social mobility and seniors ageing well even if they live in public rental. But to achieve these, hardware alone is insufficient. We need to pair hardware with good social support and programming to make concerted efforts to address households' needs and aspirations holistically. For example, HDB works with relevant people sector partners to support seniors in public rental flats with active ageing programmes and assisted living services. At a rental block in Kebun Baru, the Integrated Dementia Assisted Living project by Dementia Singapore offers a telehealth room, community kitchen and social programming to support seniors living in the rental block to age well in place. For families with young children living in public rental flats, Government agencies and community partners work closely together through the ComLink+ programme to provide coordinated support. ComLink officers and Family Coaches will journey with families, understand their needs and aspirations and work with them to develop goals and action plans.”
“Each tenant will have their own private bedroom that comes with basic furnishings such as a bedframe, table and wardrobe. Amenities like toilets, kitchens, dining areas and laundry rooms will be shared to ensure that we make good use of the space and to facilitate social interaction. For older public rental blocks, HDB keeps them in good condition through regular maintenance and upgrading. Older rental blocks will typically be upgraded together with sold blocks when the entire area is rejuvenated through HDB's various upgrading programmes. We are also progressively redeveloping older clusters of rental flats. Tenants who are relocated can move to newer rental flats with improved designs. We empathise with Ms Tan's point about providing a good living environment for rental families with young children. We have been making efforts in this area and will seek to further improve the design of flats. Under the Public Rental Scheme, HDB generally offers 1- and 2-room flats to cater to both singles and families. The vast majority of our public rental households – more than nine in 10 – have four or fewer persons. We do not have a hard space norm per person but we recognise that some larger households may have space concerns and have already started some efforts to help provide a better environment for families with young children, including using good design to overcome the constraints of land and space. Families with at least three members will be allocated a 2-room public rental flat. These are typically sized similarly to 2-room Flexi sold flats. In recent years, HDB has also started building 2-room rental flats that come with an additional partitioned space.”
“In integrated blocks such as those at Marsiling Greenview and West Plains @ Bukit Batok, public rental flats look no different from sold flats from the outside. On the inside, they have similar finishes and fittings as 2-room Flexi sold flats. We do this because having a good social mix is a key objective of our public housing programme. After the first integrated block was completed at Marsiling Greenview, we commissioned a study with the National University of Singapore to understand the impact of this integrated design. We found that the design features have encouraged interactions and ties between owners and tenants, for example, by locating sold flats and rental flats on the same floor, minimising visible differences between sold flats, and rental flats and having shared amenities such as playgrounds. The study also found that owners and tenants have the same perceptions of what constitutes a liveable environment and they act in similar ways to uphold these standards, for example, in terms of upkeeping shared corridor spaces and managing cleanliness. We are encouraged by these findings and will apply these learnings to the design of future integrated blocks. Another 17 integrated blocks will be completed in the next five years and we will continue to build them, including in future Prime and Plus projects. We also explore new typologies to improve the living environment for public rental tenants. For example, we announced earlier, as shared by Ms Tan, that we are piloting a new public rental typology for singles called the Single Room Shared Facilities (SRSF). The SRSF aims to give tenants greater privacy while providing shared facilities to prevent social isolation.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank Ms Tan for her passionate speech on enhancing the living environment to motivate, empower and uplift public rental households. We share Ms Tan's belief in the power and social impact of good design. As the master planner and developer of Singapore's public housing estates, HDB appreciates the importance of quality homes and environments that enhance residents' wellbeing and support Singaporeans to lead their best lives. To that end, HDB launched its "Designing for Life" roadmap in 2020. The roadmap seeks to enhance residents' physical, mental and social well-being through thoughtful, resident-centred design, for example, by bringing nature and greenery closer to residents, improving facilities for active living and providing ample community spaces to encourage social connections. Rental flats are always built as part of a wider HDB neighbourhood. This means that rental tenants enjoy the same communal facilities and amenities as sold flat owners, including community living rooms, roof gardens, fitness facilities, playgrounds, neighbourhood shops, preschool centres and Active Ageing Centres. Over the years, we have made progressive improvements to our rental flats to enhance their design and provide a better living environment for our tenants. Rental blocks that were built since 2007 are better designed with enhanced natural lighting and ventilation within units and at the corridors. These newer blocks are very different from the older rental blocks that have long corridors with units lined on both sides. In addition, we have been building public rental flats alongside sold flats – in the same projects and, since 2014, in the same blocks and on the same floors.”
“They may, for example, contribute to authorised fundraising activities and donation drives in support of humanitarian relief efforts, such as the fund-raising appeal by the Singapore Red Cross. Mr Alex Yam asked whether there has been an increase in rhetoric or activities by extremist groups in the Southeast Asian region. Hamas has issued statements calling on all Muslims to fight. Supporters of terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS, as well as those in Southeast Asia, have celebrated Hamas' attacks. They have called on followers to join in a wider jihad. Singaporeans are not immune to such sentiments. Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong mentioned the individuals we had detained in the past. Our stance is clear – we condemn all acts of terrorism. Terrorism is not justifiable under any circumstances. Neither will we tolerate people calling for violence. We will take firm action. Our security agencies are watching the situation very closely and have stepped up their alert. Additional measures have been taken, such as enhanced security patrols at certain events and places. Singaporeans, on their part, must stay vigilant. They should report to the authorities any suspicious behaviour or individuals whom they suspect could have been radicalised. Mr Speaker, our strongest defence is our collective vigilance. Mr Speaker, again, in line with Singapore's condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and our support of international law as well as the two-state solution, I support the Motion raised by Members of Parliament Mr Vikram Nair, Mr Alex Yam and Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim. [Applause.] 6.51 pm”
“We understand that Singaporeans desire to come together to show their concern and support. Some have applied to hold assemblies at the Speakers' Corner. Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi asked about applications to use the Speakers' Corner for such events. Over the last three years, NParks has received more than 400 applications to use the Speakers' Corner for events. Of these, seven applications were rejected. Five of the rejected applications were to hold events related to the Israel-Hamas conflict in October 2023. The two remaining applications were for unrelated events in December 2022 and August 2023. The Singapore Police Force (SPF) has said that public assemblies on matters related to the Israel-Hamas conflict will be prohibited. There are real public safety and security concerns. There have been numerous incidents of violence related to the conflict in other countries. Tensions are high and public demonstrations may inevitably advocate or show more sympathy for one side of the conflict or the other. They can spark off incidents on the ground. They also have the potential to divide us as Singaporeans. Once we allow one event, we will have to allow others. Our position is consistent with previous requests for events held outside the Speakers' Corner, where the SPF had assessed there to be a safety and security risk, such as those related to the Russia-Ukraine war. We would have adopted the same approach if the event was held at Speakers' Corner. NParks will continue to reject applications to use the Speakers’ Corner for such events, as long as there is a public safety and security risk. There are other practical and impactful avenues through which Singaporeans can show support.”
“We also have powers under the Broadcasting Act to disable access to egregious content, including those likely to cause racial or religious disharmony in Singapore, or which advocate violence or terrorism. The laws are only one part of our holistic approach to maintaining racial and religious harmony in our society. We work closely with the community. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) regularly engage our religious and community leaders through platforms such as the National Steering Committee on Racial and Religious Harmony. MCCY has refreshed the 93 Racial and Religious Harmony Circles, one in each constituency, to build trust and interactions across our ethnic and religious communities. MCCY also uses the Harmony Fund to support community initiatives that bring different communities together, deepen their mutual understanding and foster meaningful conversations about their commonalities and differences. Individuals who engage in offensive conduct are a minority in our society. Even where views on the conflict have differed, most Singaporeans have been measured and mature in our response. We may feel deep sympathy for the civilians caught in the crossfire between Israel and Hamas. However, we should be mindful that just as there are those among us who feel more deeply for the Israelis killed or abducted by Hamas, there are also many Singaporeans who are profoundly saddened by the sufferings of the Palestinian people in Gaza. We should therefore show our support and concern, in a way which does not lead to conflict and tensions among us and is not framed as a clash between religions. Whether it is an Israeli or Palestinian life, it is still a life, and we should be concerned and should be willing to give help.”
“Mr Speaker, I rise in support of the amended Motion. The loss of innocent lives in Israel and Gaza has shaken all of us. I am sure I speak on behalf of all Singaporeans, when I say that we feel the grief and pain of those who have lost their loved ones. As the conflict in Gaza intensifies, we also watch with great concern the tremendous suffering of innocent civilians – babies, young children, the sick and the elderly. With food, water and medical aid not reaching the people, this humanitarian crisis will worsen. We are already reading reports of emergency surgeries being conducted without anesthesia. This is the tragic price of conflict – the loss and suffering of innocent lives. It is heart-wrenching and our thoughts and prayers are with all of them. The long-standing Israel-Palestine conflict is an emotive issue. This latest outbreak of hostilities has led to a global rise in hate speech, crimes and attacks. Mr Alex Yam asked if there have been increased reports of anti-Semitic rhetoric or inter-religious disagreements in Singapore. As mentioned by Deputy Prime Minister Wong earlier, in the month of October 2023 alone, the Singapore Police Force received eight reports of offensive remarks or actions targeted at either members of the Jewish or Muslim communities in Singapore. This is equal to the total number of anti-Semitic or anti-Muslim police reports received between January and September this year. We take firm action against acts that threaten our racial and religious harmony. We have provisions to do so in the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act and Penal Code.”
“21 travellers missed their flights, and these affected travellers were offered to rebook on alternative flights within a week at no extra cost. Of the 21 passengers who had missed their flights, 11 passengers rebooked their flights and departed on the same day, four passengers rebooked their flights and departed the next day on 1 April, while another four passengers departed by land and two passengers remained in Singapore”
“21 travellers missed their flights, and these affected travellers were offered to rebook on alternative flights within a week at no extra cost. Of the 21 passengers who had missed their flights, 11 passengers rebooked their flights and departed on the same day, four passengers rebooked their flights and departed the next day, while another two passengers departed by land and two passengers remained in Singapore. [Please refer to "Causes Behind Major Disruption to System at ICA Checkpoints on 31 March 2023", Official Report, 21 April 2023, Vol 95, Issue 101, Oral Answers to Questions section.] [(proc text) Written Statement by Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim circulated with leave of the Speaker in accordance with Standing Order No 29(5): (proc text)] I wish to make the following factual correction to the reply given during the Parliament Sitting of 21 April 2023. My reply should read as follows:”
“What is key is that with the capabilities that we have built and those that we have detected before, we will be able to test quickly. But there will be new ones where if we do not have reasonable suspicion, we will not arrest the person.”
“What is key is that with the capabilities that we have built and those that we have detected before, we will be able to test quickly. But there will be new ones where if we have not got any confirmation, we will not arrest the person. [Please refer to "Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill", Official Report, 21 March 2023, Vol 95, Issue 94, Second Reading Bills section.] [(proc text) Written Statement by Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim circulated with leave of the Speaker in accordance with Standing Order No 29(5): (proc text)] I wish to make the following factual correction to the reply given during the Second Reading debate of the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill at the Sitting of 21 March 2023. My reply should read as follows:”
“Mr Speaker, on behalf of the Minister for Home Affairs, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."”
“By providing them with coordinated support right from the point of entry to rental housing, we believe we can help more families achieve stability, self-reliance, and ultimately social mobility, including home ownership. When families have built up their finances with stable employment and income, they can count on our full support to buy a flat of their own. We have also been making improvements to the public rental Joint Singles Scheme, or JSS. We started piloting the Joint Singles Scheme - Operator-Run (JSS-OR) model in 2021. For each JSS-OR site, HDB appoints a social service agency to manage the flat-sharing arrangements, provide social support to tenants, and mediate amongst tenants when needed. We currently have three sites, which can accommodate around 400 tenants. Given the positive response, we will expand this pilot program to three new sites. These three sites, which will be at Bukit Panjang, Bidadari, and Sengkang, can accommodate a total of about 600 tenants. We expect to open applications for these three sites later this year. (In English): Madam, let me reaffirm our commitment to build an inclusive home for all Singaporeans – where home ownership remains affordable and accessible, including for low-income Singaporeans; where we integrate housing with social support to empower and uplift our lower-income households; where our homes and towns support the needs of our seniors; and where we partner the community to create vibrant and endearing places.”
“Third, for BTO flats in non-mature estates, we will give first priority to First-Timer Parents and Married Couples for the flats set aside under the Family and Parenthood Priority Scheme, if they apply for a 4-room or smaller flat. This means that they will be shortlisted ahead of all other applicants eligible for the scheme, and thus, stand a higher chance of being invited to select a flat. We also take care of families that may not be ready for home ownership yet, because they need to stabilise their finances first. For low-income households with no other housing options, our public rental flats offer them shelter, a safe space, and a stable base where they can build up stability and self-reliance. For families staying in public rental flats, our goal is to uplift their lives, so that they can eventually buy a flat of their own. This is achieved by providing holistic support much earlier, to help them address the multiple and interlocking challenges that they face. The Community Link Rental Scheme, which we launched together with Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) in November last year, pairs rental housing with holistic support for families with children, right from the start. Once a family applies for a public rental flat from HDB and is assessed to be eligible, the family will be automatically enrolled in ComLink. A ComLink officer will contact the family to understand their situation and connect them with relevant assistance, even before they move into their rental flat. After the family moves into their rental flat, an officer will continue to journey with the family, regularly check in on how they are doing, and coordinate support from Government and community partners.”
“] In his speech, Minister Desmond Lee provided an update on the further efforts that we will make to take care of the housing needs of different segments of Singaporeans, from those buying their first home to seniors in their golden years. To support couples buying their first home, we already set aside the vast majority of the BTO flat supply for first-timer families – at least 95% of the 4-room flats, in both mature and non-mature estates. Last year, we arranged several sessions of the Forward Singapore Housing Conversations, where there was a strong consensus to give more help to young married couples and families buying their first home. So we will do even more to help first-timer applicant families with children aged 18 and below, and young married couples aged 40 and below. We will introduce a new priority category, which we will call First-Timer (Parents & Married Couples). To qualify for this category, they must also not have owned or sold any residential property nor had the chance to book a flat in the past five years. We will help them to get a flat more quickly in three ways. First, they will receive one more ballot, up from the two ballots that first-timers currently get, when they apply for any flat type in any estate. Second, we will expand the existing Parenthood Priority Scheme so that all First-Timer Parents and Married Couples also qualify. We will increase the supply of 3-room and larger flats that we set aside for them by another 10 percentage points to 40% of the BTO flat supply and up to 60% of the supply of balance flats. To reflect this expansion, we will rename it as the Family and Parenthood Priority Scheme.”
“Together with MOH and other agencies, we will also continue to meet the housing and care needs of our seniors and support them to stay healthy and engaged within the community. We will share more details of our plans later this year as part of Forward Singapore. We would like to thank all Members for all their suggestions. We will study them. Finally, let me go beyond our homes and HDB towns to talk about how we are partnering local stakeholders to enliven and rejuvenate various precincts across Singapore. One example is the public engagement exercise conducted by Kampong Gelam Alliance (KGA) to shape the place plan for Kampong Gelam Historic Area. Miss Cheryl Chan and Ms Nadia Samdin asked about the Kampong Gelam Historic Area. In total, we have engaged more than 1,600 stakeholders, such as local businesses and community groups, as well as members of the public, through workshops and online surveys. Many of them shared that it is important to continue supporting traditional trades while attracting new ones to the precinct. There is also strong support for initiatives to showcase the precinct's rich history and culture and recognition of the need for strong local partnerships among stakeholders. KGA and URA will study these findings carefully and incorporate suggestions into the final place plan. This will complement several other projects that have been piloted at Kampong Gelam, such as a recent citizen engagement project by NHB and URA, to document the stories of heritage businesses. These collective efforts will keep the Kampong Gelam Historic Area thriving as a centre of community, culture and enterprise. Mdm Chairman, allow me to speak in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.”
“More recently, together with MOH, we introduced Community Care Apartments (CCAs) – a new housing typology that pairs senior-friendly housing with care services. As Minister Desmond Lee shared earlier, we will be launching a third CCA site later this year in Bedok. It will offer about 200 units, alongside other flat types in the development. Residents will be able to conveniently access fitness stations, a playground and community gardens. These amenities encourage active ageing and provide opportunities for residents of different ages to interact. The site will also be located near Active Ageing Centres, community centres, markets and hawker centres. We are also partnering the private sector to co-create innovative assisted living models that can cater to seniors' diverse preferences and lifestyles. In collaboration with MOH, URA launched a pilot private assisted-living site at Parry Avenue for sale in September last year. The tender is closing later this month, and we look forward to receiving novel proposals. For seniors who want to tap on their flat to supplement their retirement income, we offer a range of monetisation options. Those who wish to continue living in their homes can take up the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS) or rent out spare bedrooms. For those who want to right-size, we offer 2-room Flexi flats and the Silver Housing Bonus (SHB). About 9,700 households have taken up the LBS, and more than 1,500 households have benefited from the SHB. We will continue reaching out to seniors, through local community events, public talks and the media, to share about these housing monetisation options.”
“Divorcing parties also do not need to wait until their matrimonial flat is sold before applying for a new flat. They are given up to six months after collecting the keys to their new flats to sell their matrimonial flat, which is generally sufficient for flat owners. For those who need more time to sell their flat due to special circumstances, HDB will assess each request based on its merits. Mr Murali Pillai spoke about ensuring that the housing needs of the children are addressed when the Court decides on the division of the matrimonial flat. When deciding the division of the matrimonial flat, the Court does consider the welfare and needs of the children and may consider HDB's input. For example, HDB will provide information to the Court on the matrimonial flat and post-divorce housing options for the divorcing parties and their children when asked by the Court. The Court can also refer divorcing parents to HDB for housing counselling before the divorce is finalised, for them to better understand their post-divorce housing options. We will continue to work with the Court to find ways to improve these processes, to ensure that the housing needs of the children are taken care of. Let me move on to address the cuts on seniors. We want to ensure that our HDB flats and towns support our seniors to live long, healthy and happy lives, within the communities they are familiar with. We have been planning ahead and making our homes and towns more inclusive for seniors over the years. For example, we introduced the Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme in 2012. We have also been adding senior-friendly features, such as elderly fitness equipment, residents' corners and community gardens, to our HDB estates, as part our neighbourhood upgrading programmes.”
“We will continue to learn from this pilot and find more ways to improve the lives of singles in public rental. Some face housing difficulties due to unexpected and unfortunate life events, such as divorce. Mr Lim Biow Chuan and Mr Murali Pillai spoke about some of these difficulties. We have been adjusting our policies over the years to take care of their housing needs and smoothen the housing transition for them. We want to ensure that they have a stable home, especially for their children. Divorcees with children can buy a subsidised flat from HDB or a resale flat on the open market and qualify for the same housing schemes and grants as other families. Those who are buying a flat as second-timers can receive priority under the ASSIST scheme when they apply for a 2-room Flexi or 3-room BTO flat in non-mature estates. Those who require interim accommodation while waiting for their BTO flats to be completed can apply to rent a flat under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme. For divorcees who cannot afford to buy a subsidised flat and do not have other housing options or family support, HDB will assist them with public rental housing. Those in very urgent need of housing can also seek help from MSF's shelters while applying for a public rental flat. We understand that divorcing parties want assurance on their next housing arrangement. Since March 2019, HDB allows divorcing parties who have not finalised their divorce to apply for a flat from HDB, once they have obtained the Interim Judgment of divorce and resolved the ancillary matters relating to the matrimonial property and the custody, care and control of their children. These matters have to be resolved as they affect the parties' eligibility to purchase a flat.”
“In 2021, we started piloting the JSS Operator-Run model (JSS-OR). For each JSS-OR site, HDB appoints a social service agency to manage and mediate the flat-sharing arrangements and provide social support for tenants. Several Members have asked for an update on the pilot. We currently have three JSS-OR sites – in Bedok, Buangkok and Bukit Batok – which can accommodate around 400 tenants in total. The pilot has been well-subscribed, and all three sites are close to full occupancy. The feedback from our tenants has been positive, and they appreciate having the operator on-site. While some differences between co-tenants are inevitable, most can be resolved through early mediation by the operator, which prevents disagreements from escalating. The operators also conduct regular check-ins with the tenants and organise social activities for them. One JSS-OR tenant is Mdm Chan, who is 75 years old and stays in a 1-room flat at Bukit Batok with her flat mate. They share a good bond and often help each other out. For example, Mdm Chan, who is bilingual, helps to translate letters and conversations in English for her Mandarin-speaking flatmate. Mdm Chan also gets along well with her neighbours. She enjoys cooking and shares her home-cooked food with her neighbours. She also participates in social activities and celebrations organised by the operator – New Hope Community Services. When my colleagues met Mdm Chan recently, she shared with them that she was happy to be staying there. I am happy to share that given the positive experience thus far, we will expand the pilot to three new sites. The three sites at Bukit Panjang, Bidadari and Sengkang will be able to accommodate 600 tenants in total. We expect to open the new sites for application by the end of this year.”
“Mdm Nurul has also started working as a canteen assistant to supplement the family's income. Some families had to move into public rental housing after losing their flat due to financial difficulties or other life events. To provide more help to such second-timer families with children, we enhanced the Fresh Start Housing Scheme last year. We increased the grant to $50,000 to boost their housing budget. In addition to 2-room Flexi flats, starting from the ongoing February BTO sales exercise, Fresh Start families can also buy 3-room flats with a shorter lease, which will be more affordable. We hope the enhancements will encourage more families to work towards buying their own home. In the past 10 years, 7,800 households who stayed in public rental housing have progressed to home ownership. We are happy for every one of them. Their success stories show that home ownership is achievable for families staying in public rental housing, with hard work and commitment on their part, coupled with strong support from the Government and the community. We have also been making improvements to public rental housing for low-income single tenants, who rent under the Joint Singles Scheme (JSS). While many of them can find a flatmate and live together amicably, we know that some find it difficult. We have been working on addressing concerns about the JSS, while managing within our land and resource constraints. Since 2015, we have been building new rental flats with high partitions, to provide more privacy for tenants in their sleeping areas. These have been well-received by our tenants. We have also been installing partitions in existing flats at tenants' request since 2019. There are now about 1,300 flats with partitions.”
“By providing coordinated support early, right from the time that families enter rental housing, we believe that we can support more families to achieve stability, self-reliance and, ultimately, social mobility. MSF will share more about ComLink at their COS. When families have built up their finances with stable employment and income, they can count on our full support to buy a flat of their own. For example, they can receive one-to-one guidance through their home-buying journey from HDB’s Home ownership Support Team (HST). Over the past three years, HST has reached out to about 1,400 households. Among them, about 370 households are assessed to be ready to apply for a flat in the next one to two years, about 100 households are waiting for their new home to be completed, and about 60 households have collected the keys to their new home. 5.45 pm One family who has moved into their new home is Mdm Nurul and Mr Rozi. After getting married, the couple stayed together in public rental housing for about 11 years. As the family grew in size, they moved from a 1-room flat to a 2-room flat. As their children grew older, the couple set themselves the goal of buying their own home to provide more space for the family. Mr Rozi worked as a cleaner while Mdm Nurul took care of the family. When they received HST's outreach SMS in 2020, they contacted HST. Our HST officer guided the couple to understand their housing budget and options, and the support available. With that knowledge, the couple applied for a 3-room balance flat at Ang Mo Kio, to be nearer to their child's school. With a stable job and income, they were able to qualify for the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant and an HDB housing loan. They moved into their flat in October 2021, and they are happy to have their own home.”
“We understand these concerns and we want to help parents to provide a better home environment for their children. For all families staying in public rental, our goal is to uplift them, so that they can buy their own flat eventually. That is why we provide significant support to help families to own a home. While they build up their finances, we do our best to take care of their housing needs, through public rental. Families with at least three members can be allocated to a 2-room public rental flat. Those that form two family nuclei, such as families with children, parents and grandparents living together, can apply for another flat. We will offer them a second flat in the same block where possible. Some families staying in public rental flats face complex and interlocking challenges, which make it difficult for them to progress to home ownership. So, we are going upstream to provide support in a holistic way that addresses each family’s unique set of needs and aspirations. As part of this effort, we worked with MSF to launch the ComLink Rental Scheme in November last year to pair rental housing with holistic support for families with children. Once a family applies for a public rental flat from HDB and is assessed to be eligible, the family will be automatically enrolled in ComLink. A ComLink officer will contact the family to understand their situation and connect them with relevant assistance, even before they move into their flat. After the family moves into their rental flat, a ComLink officer will continue to journey with the family, regularly check in on how they are doing, and coordinate support from Government and community partners. As of end-January 2023, ComLink officers have engaged over 130 families under this scheme.”
“As we have shared before, we assess all requests for public rental flats holistically, considering all relevant factors, including applicants’ household size, family support, housing budget and housing options. For those who have no other housing options, we will assist them with a public rental flat. Due to COVID-19, we saw higher demand in 2020 and 2021. The severe labour crunch in the construction industry also disrupted how quickly HDB could build new flats and spruce up vacated ones before renting them out to new tenants. To overcome these sprucing delays, HDB worked closely with its contractors and brought in new ones. HDB streamlined the customer journey for rental applicants to allow them to select from available flats across Singapore. This alleviated the longer waiting time in certain regions. As a result of these efforts, we have reduced the average waiting time to about six months currently. For applicants who are in urgent need of a rental flat, HDB will prioritise allocating a flat to them. We will continue to monitor the demand closely, given potential economic headwinds, and we are studying options to augment the supply. We have also been improving the living environment for our tenants and ensuring that our HDB neighbourhoods are inclusive. Our newer rental blocks and flats have better design, lighting and ventilation. We have also been building rental flats with sold flats in the same BTO projects and, where possible, we build rental flats in the same block as sold flats. I thank Ms Sylvia Lim for acknowledging these improvements. Mr Murali Pillai and Ms Sylvia Lim spoke about tackling overcrowding in public rental flats and providing larger flats to large families with young children.”
“Mdm Chair, I thank Members for their suggestions and ideas on supporting the housing needs of seniors and lower-income and more vulnerable households. In my speech, I will share more about how the MND family is building an inclusive and caring home for Singaporeans. I will focus on three main areas: firstly, empowering lower-income households by pairing housing with social support; secondly, taking care of the housing needs of seniors; and thirdly, partnering the community to create vibrant and endearing places. Firstly, on empowering lower-income households through Housing Plus Social Support. Our commitment to provide affordable and accessible housing is for all Singaporeans, including lower-income households. Recognising that they start off with less, we have designed our system to provide more help to them, for example, through housing schemes and grants that are tiered by income, so that, with a stable job, they, too, can buy a home of their own. As a result, Singapore’s home ownership rate is one of the highest in the world, including for our lower-income households. At the same time, some families may not be ready for home ownership yet, because they need to build up and stabilise their finances first. For low-income households who do not have other housing options, our Public Rental Scheme (PRS) serves as a social safety net – providing these households a safe space and a stable base, where they can build up their stability and self-reliance and, eventually, buy their own flat. The rents are highly-subsidised to ensure that they are affordable. I thank Mr Chong Kee Hiong and Ms Sylvia Lim for their cuts. I would like to clarify that there is no income ceiling for PRS.”
“Thank you for allowing me to make a clarification. With regard to my reply, to the supplementary question asked by Mr Dennis Tan during the Oral reply for Parliamentary Question No 1 at the Sitting of 24 February 2023, I mentioned that there will be a Coroner's inquiry and that it will be public information. [Please refer to "Inquiry into Death of SCDF NSF Firefighter in December 2022", Official Report, 24 February 2023, Vol 95, Issue 86, Oral Answers to Questions section.] I should clarify that the State Coroner may decide to hold a Coroner's inquiry, as I had previously shared in January. It will be held in open Court and it will be public information, unless the Coroner has sufficient reason not to do so.”
“These include AMP, FITRAH, Jamiyah, PERGAS, PPIS, PERTAPIS, Yayasan MENDAKI and a number of mosques. Let me share some examples of how these MMOs have stepped forward to offer assistance. FITRAH has developed a values-centric in-care religious programme for inmates and prepares Friday Prayer sermons that are contextualised to their rehabilitation needs. FITRAH has galvanised all 71 mosques to support inmates, ex-offenders and their family, beyond zakat assistance. Today, all mosques are familiar with FITRAH's work and refer them to FITRAH for support, such as befriending. Many MMOs have joined Singapore's efforts in supporting rehabilitation. MHA recognises that there is value in coordinating all these efforts to create greater synergy. In November 2021, we launched the MMO Rehabilitation Network, which brings together 26 MMOs and all eleven M³@Towns. Since its launch, many collaborations have been forged. For example, FITRAH has collaborated with New Life Stories to develop a referral system where they can tap on each other's expertise. Jamiyah Halfway House has collaborated with the West Mosque Cluster to further support the reintegration of its residents. Supporting inmates, ex-offenders and their family is an endeavour that cannot be undertaken by the Home Team alone. I am thankful to MMOs for working closely with us to uplift and make a difference to the lives of our beneficiaries. Your efforts and contributions have helped to keep the recidivism rates low and the number of new drug abusers stable. Keep up the good work! (In English): Sir, in conclusion, thanks to our Home Team Officers, Singapore remains safe and secure. We will continue to work with our community partners to combat terrorism, prevent drug abuse and support our inmates and ex-offenders.”
“Yellow Ribbon Community Project (YRCP) grassroots volunteers have engaged over 19,000 families since 2010, linking them to community assistance and ensuring their well-being. In 2023, we will strengthen support for inmates' families by collaborating with more community resources, such as religious organisations, Social Service Offices (SSOs) and Family Service Centres (FSCs). Mr Patrick Tay asked for a review of the Registration of Criminals Act on spent offences. From time to time, MHA reviews the spent regime for criminal records. In our last review in 2021, we assessed that the existing regime continues to be appropriate to facilitate the reintegration of ex-offenders, in particular those who committed minor crimes. This position took into consideration the many initiatives to facilitate reintegration and reduce long-term recidivism. Mr Patrick Tay asked about support for female ex-offenders. In September 2022, SPS set up a secular all-women halfway house, named Rise Above Halfway House (RAHWH). RAHWH provides gender-responsive interventions and facilitates social reintegration for the residents. As of February 2023, 31 female offenders have been emplaced to RAHWH. We will continue to support female ex-offenders and facilitate their reintegration. 4.45 pm Next, Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked about collaboration with the Malay/Muslim community to better support inmates and ex-offenders. I will now speak in Malay about our community's crucial role. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech on Pg 245.] Sir, many Malay/Muslim Organisations (MMOs) have stepped forward to work with SPS and CNB to prevent offending and re-offending by providing support to inmates, ex-offenders, and their family from incarceration to post-release.”
“From 2023, the CARE Network will tap on the Desistor Network to co-opt desistors in planning and conducting programmes for ex-offenders. Family support is also critical. Mr Murali Pillai asked about supporting offenders to mend family ties. To aid in their family reintegration, SPS works with community partners to provide family programmes to inmates, and befriending and other pro-social support to ex-offenders after release. Mr Christopher de Souza and Mr Raj Joshua Thomas asked about creating greater acceptance for ex-offenders and recruiting more volunteers to help with rehabilitation. The Yellow Ribbon Project's (YRP) outreach has generated high awareness and support. Based on a 2022 survey, about 91% of respondents were aware of YRP's objectives, rehabilitation challenges faced by ex-offenders and the need to reduce stigma towards them. SPS and YRSG have expanded roles and training for volunteers in areas of in-care and aftercare, including support for families. Collectively, SPS and YRSG have more than 4,000 volunteers supporting rehabilitation. In 2023, YRSG will focus on showcasing inmates and ex-offenders' talents and contributions to reiterate that ex-offenders can contribute to society. Mr Murali Pillai asked about allowing desistors to perform at National Day Parades (NDPs). We have been providing desistors with opportunities to showcase their talent at public events. The Yellow Ribbon Performing Arts Centre Alumni Band had performed at Red Dot August at the Esplanade for the past three years. We will explore more opportunities. Mr Raj Joshua Thomas asked about alleviating the impact of incarceration on one's family.”
“Currently, about two-thirds of ex-offenders secure employment within six months of release. We hope to improve this and will raise awareness of the UEC and other available support amongst employers. Dr Tan Wu Meng asked about recognition for inclusive employers. In 2022, over 200 employers, community partners, ex-offenders and volunteers were recognised for their contributions towards second chances through the Yellow Ribbon Awards. Sir, I would like to express my appreciation for NTUC in joining SPS and YRSG in engaging with inmates and ex-offenders to understand their concerns, priorities and aspirations through the #EveryWorkerMatters conversation. Second, by strengthening pro-social support in the community. The community, including ex-offenders themselves and their family plays a critical role. Mr Christopher de Souza asked about enhancing post-release mentorship. I am pleased to announce that SPS has piloted a new scheme for volunteers to assist in the case management of selected supervisees emplaced on Community-Based Programmes (CBPs). Volunteer Case Officers will guide the supervisees towards a pro-social life during and beyond the CBP. SPS is working with community partners to launch the Desistor Network in April this year. Desistors who have stayed clear of crime and drugs will serve as mentors to recently released ex-offenders. This will also strengthen desistors' sense of self as contributing members of the community. Mr Raj Joshua Thomas asked about follow-ups from the CARE Network Summit 2022 and expanding YRSG's role. YRSG will continue to work closely with SPS and community partners via the CARE Network to tackle long-term recidivism.”
“We must work with community partners to offer offenders and drug abusers an ecosystem of support, starting from when they enter our prisons and DRCs, and continuing to do so after their release. Let me share our strategy to support them. First, by enhancing their skills and employment outcomes. Gainful employment allows ex-offenders to be financially independent and reduces risks of re-offending. In 2023, SPS and YRSG will continue to work with partners to help ex-offenders upskill and boost their longer-term career progression. In collaboration with the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), SPS has set up education hubs to enrol more inmate students. In 2023, SPS will work with ITE to run more short courses, such as the Computer Maintenance course, following positive reviews. I am pleased to announce that YRSG is launching the YR Sandbox initiative to develop new career options in emerging sectors. YRSG will work with industry partners to hire releasing inmates and provide on-the-job training or work-study programmes. Potential sectors include skilled sectors like Digital, Built Environment and Agri-Tech. This new initiative complements TAP & Grow – TAP meaning "Train and Place". This scheme provides inmates with industry training in prison and potential job placement with a partner employer. TAP & Grow has been launched in the Precision Engineering, Media and Logistics and Wholesale sectors. As of 2022, a total of 422 inmates have completed the training programmes. In 2023, YRSG will expand TAP & Grow to Food Services, which we expect to benefit up to 700 inmates and ex-offenders annually. Mr Murali Pillai asked about the UEC. It will provide time-limited wage offsets to encourage employers to hire ex-offenders. More will be announced at MOM's COS.”
“CNB recently reviewed its drug supervision regime and has deployed suitable officers to take on specialist roles in supervision to enhance the rehabilitation process. As I had announced last year, CNB has been piloting Community Supervision Sessions, in short, CoSS, since 2019, where supervision officers help supervisees address financial, housing and other rehabilitation needs. A supervisee who has benefited from CoSS is 46-year-old Mr Aidil. After his release from the Drug Rehabilitation Centre (DRC) in 2021, Aidil was afraid of not being able to find a suitable job. Through CoSS sessions, Aidil was given career guidance and advice on his rehabilitation needs by his supervision officer. With this support, Aidil landed a part-time job within five months of his release. As the pilot has shown good results, I am pleased to announce that CoSS will be progressively rolled out to all supervisees by June this year. Mr Murali Pillai asked about support for desistors with drug-abusing pasts. The SPS has enhanced its Psychology-based Correctional Programmes (PCPs) to be more targeted for repeated drug abusers during their in-care period. These PCPs will cater more time to address negative attitudes and improve emotional regulation, as both factors contribute to repeated drug use. Mr Murali Pillai, Mr Christopher de Souza, Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim and Mr Raj Joshua Thomas asked about efforts to reduce recidivism, and Mr Patrick Tay and Dr Tan Wu Meng asked about improving the employability of ex-offenders. Singapore's two-year recidivism rate is low and stable at around 20% for the 2020 release cohort. Our five-year rate is higher, at between 40% and 43%. Reducing long-term recidivism will not be easy.”
“As part of the #CNBPerspectives Series launched in 2022, CNB took to Facebook and Instagram to share worrying trends from the World Drug Report 2022. In fact, I also posted things relating to this to support their effort. These include the increase of cannabis-use disorders in jurisdictions which legalise cannabis for non-medical use. We also educate our anti-drug abuse advocates about the increasingly permissive views other countries have towards drugs and train them to speak up against drugs. The second pillar of our anti-drug strategy is tough laws and robust enforcement. To deter Singaporeans and PRs from abusing drugs overseas, CNB has stepped up enforcement at the checkpoints with the deployment of Saliva Test Kits from January this year. These kits, like the one I am holding here – they are light and compact. They offer a more efficient way to detect drug abusers at the checkpoints. This month, CNB and Police started trialling joint roadblock operations to detect drug abusers. Saliva Test Kits will also be used. Mr Derrick Goh asked about enforcement against New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) and vaping. The speed and breadth at which NPS variants have appeared have often outpaced authorities' ability to control them. On 24 February, MHA introduced a Bill to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act to control psychoactive substances based on their capacity to produce psychoactive effects rather than their chemical structure alone. This will empower CNB to take swift enforcement actions against illicit activities involving NPS. Enforcement against vaping will be addressed at the Ministry of Health (MOH)'s COS. The third pillar of our anti-drug strategy is enhancing rehabilitation. Mr Raj Joshua Thomas asked about efforts to reduce drug recidivism.”
“The upcoming Online Criminal Harms Act announced by the Second Minister earlier will also give us powers to direct takedowns of online content facilitating radicalisation. As the threat of terrorism in Singapore remains high, we will continue to enhance our operational capabilities and expand our outreach. 4.30 pm I will now address cuts on drugs. Globally, drug use continues to rise, posing challenges to keeping Singapore drug-free. Locally, while the drug situation remains under control, we are concerned with drug abuse amongst youths. While most youths support a tough stance against drugs, some younger Singaporeans take a more permissive attitude, especially towards cannabis. Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked how we are preventing drug abuse. We will continue to strengthen our harm prevention approach to combat drug abuse. Our first line of defence against drugs is a well-informed public. Mr Christopher de Souza and Mr Derrick Goh asked about preventive drug education (PDE) for youths. The CNB will expand PDE efforts in schools. Secondary schools which did not do a PDE engagement in the last two years, will conduct at least one engagement in 2023. Moving forward, CNB is working with the Ministry of Education (MOE) to ensure all primary and secondary schools conduct at least one PDE programme annually. With TikTok becoming increasingly popular amongst youths, CNB launched its TikTok account last year, which regularly posts short videos of our drug enforcement efforts. Mr Christopher de Souza asked about sensitising the public to the threat of drug liberalisation globally. CNB highlights trends of concern in the global drug situation through various communication channels.”
“Mr Chairman, the Home Team continues to do well in keeping our streets safe. However, terrorism poses a serious threat to our security. Mr Christopher de Souza asked about efforts to combat terrorism. International cooperation is critical to tackling terrorism and terrorism financing. We work closely with overseas counterparts to share intelligence on potential terror threats and conduct joint operations. We will continue to enhance collaboration through international platforms, such as the Financial Action Task Force and INTERPOL. Within Singapore, we have implemented structures and processes to take swift action against terrorism financing. This includes the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Steering Committee, which coordinates efforts amongst Government agencies. We also work closely with private sector partners under the Countering the Financing of Terrorism Operational Group. This workgroup facilitates round-the-clock investigative collaboration, allowing us to investigate terrorism financing expeditiously. Youth radicalisation cases have increased significantly in recent years. From 2002 to 2014, only two youths aged 20 were dealt with under the ISA for terrorism-related activities. Since 2015, ISA orders were issued to 11 self-radicalised youths aged 20 and below. Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked about measures to address youth radicalisation. The ISD has intensified its outreach. In 2022, ISD organised close to 70 counter-terrorism or radicalisation outreach events in schools and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) targeting students and educators. This includes workshops to train school counsellors to identify signs of radicalisation and on early intervention.”
“For example, we introduced the Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) Programme in 2012, more than 10 years ago. So far, about 280,000 households have benefited from HDB’s Home Improvement Programme (HIP) and EASE Programme, to make their homes more senior-friendly. As part of our neighbourhood upgrading programmes, we have also been adding senior-friendly features to our HDB estates. Most recently, we introduced the Community Care Apartments, or CCAs in short, a new type of HDB flats that pairs senior-friendly housing with care services which can be personalised to seniors’ needs as they age. We have launched two CCA pilot projects so far. The public response has been positive, and we are studying the feedback received as we develop our longer-term plans. The CCAs, along with 2-room Flexi flats on shorter leases, also provide right-sizing options for seniors who wish to right-size to a smaller flat after their children move out. Mr Gerald Giam will be glad to know that we have been significantly ramping up the supply of 2-room Flexi flats from about 1,500 2-room Flexi flats launched in 2013 to around 4,000 such flats launched every year since 2014. We will continue taking care of our seniors’ housing needs, as we have always done. So, Madam, to sum up, the Government has delivered on its commitment to affordable and accessible public housing for all Singaporeans. To ensure that no one falls through the cracks, we have also gone all out to help those who are more vulnerable and partner them as they work towards a brighter future for themselves and their children. We will continue striving to do better as we work with Singaporeans to build an endearing, inclusive home for us and our future generations. [Applause.]”
“For those going through divorce, we understand that the housing transition is a stressful period. For divorced parents with children, I would like to assure them that they can qualify for the same housing schemes and grants as other families. They can buy a subsidised flat from HDB or a resale flat on the open market, and qualify for housing grants and priority schemes for families, such as the Multi-Generation Priority Scheme and the Third Child Priority Scheme, if they meet the prevailing eligibility conditions. To further improve their chances of getting a subsidised flat, those who are buying a flat as second-timers can receive priority under the ASSIST scheme when they apply for a 2-room Flexi or 3-room BTO flat in non-mature estates. For those who are undergoing divorce and want to better understand their post-divorce housing options, they can approach HDB for housing counselling. For single unwed parents, if they are in stable employment and can afford to buy a flat, we will allow them to buy up to a 3-room new flat in a non-mature estate, or any resale flat. If they cannot afford to buy a flat and need a place to stay, we will consider them for public rental if it is in the best interest of their child, in consultation with social workers if necessary. Some Members in this House claimed that seniors will have a lot to worry, when their leases diminish. We take care of our seniors and we have been doing so all along. For seniors who want to monetise their flats to support their retirement needs, we have various options available, such as the Lease Buyback Scheme and the Silver Housing Bonus. In addition, we have planned ahead and introduced measures to help seniors age in place independently and confidently.”
“After eight years in public rental housing, she bought a Fresh Start flat three years ago. When she was interviewed recently, Mdm Zaidah said, "My son and I are so happy to have our very own home." Simple words, but there is so much behind it. She has brought up three children, gone through divorce, and battled cancer. Now, she has her own flat – a home for life, paid for in full with her CPF savings. In guiding her towards home ownership, we have been very inspired by her and we are so happy for her too. I was very happy to read Mdm Zaidah's interview. It touched me. In fact, I cried. I could resonate with her happiness, particularly that of her son, as that was how my family, particularly my siblings and I, felt in 1979 when we moved from a rental flat in Marine Terrace to our 3-room flat in Bedok South. I sat down reflecting and appreciating what we have here in Singapore. I told myself I knew how she felt. We must do more to help fellow Singaporeans, especially those who live in rental flats to have a home of their own. Madam, over the past decade, 7,800 rental households have benefited from HDB’s various housing schemes and grants, and moved into their own homes. Another 2,300 rental households have booked a sold flat and are now waiting to collect their keys. We are very encouraged by this, as it shows that home ownership is achievable for our rental families, with hard work and commitment on their part, coupled with strong support from the Government and the community. As part of building an inclusive society, we have also adjusted our policies to take care of those who may be facing housing challenges due to unexpected life events. Especially when children are involved, we want to ensure that they can have a stable home to grow up in.”
“Before that, they had lived in a public rental flat for some years with their three young children. From the outset, they were determined to work towards home ownership to provide a better home environment for their children. Knowing that steady income with CPF contribution is crucial, both of them persevered in their jobs. Nabilah shared with me that their journey was not without challenges, but they were determined and worked hard to save up for their own flat. As they were not sure about their housing budget, they sought help from the HST. The HST worked with the family to plan their housing budget and options. They also benefited from an Enhanced CPF Housing Grant of $60,000. Their determination and hard work paid off. They are now the proud owners of a beautiful 4-room flat in Punggol. In fact, I visited them at their home. Some of our rental families are those who had to move into public rental housing after losing their flat due to financial difficulties. To help these second-timer families with children own a home again, we introduced the Fresh Start Housing Scheme (Fresh Start). Under Fresh Start, they can buy a shorter-lease 2-room Flexi flat with a grant and receive support from a Social Service Agency (SSA) to help them stay on track in their journey towards home ownership. This was also shared by Member of Parliament Nadia earlier. We have just enhanced the scheme last year by increasing the grant amount from $35,000 to $50,000. Starting from the February 2023 BTO exercise, Fresh Start families can also buy a 3-room flat on a shorter lease. One of our Fresh Start families is Mdm Zaidah and her son. Mdm Zaidah is the sole breadwinner of the family and has worked as a security officer, massage therapist and several other jobs, while saving up to buy a home.”
“Ultimately, our goal is to help these families achieve stability, self-reliance and eventually, social mobility. This is why we have gone further upstream to pair rental housing with ComLink to provide holistic social support for families entering rental housing, With the ComLink Rental Scheme we launched in November 2022, eligible families with young children will be automatically enrolled in ComLink when they apply to HDB for a public rental flat, even before they move in. ComLink officers will work with the families to understand their needs and aspirations, then develop customised goals and an action plan. Depending on their needs, we bring in the relevant support schemes and programmes across the various agencies. For example, ComCare financial assistance, employment support for the parents, and KidSTART for the children. For rental families who have achieved stability and have potential for home ownership, we set up the Home ownership Support Team, or HST in short, in HDB to journey with them through their flat-buying process. The HST provides one-to-one guidance to help families work out their budget, make sense of the housing grants and schemes available, all the way until they move into their new flats. I work with them very closely and we engage rental tenants, as well as those who have moved into their new flats. Since it was set up in end 2019, the HST has reached out to about 1,400 rental households. I have met some families who have benefited from HST's guidance and they are always very appreciative of the effort that our HST officers put in to help them. For example, I met a young couple last September, Nizam and Nabilah, who had just moved into their new home.”
“As these examples show, HDB flats continue to remain affordable, even for families on the lower end of the income range. Beyond delivering our commitment to affordable and accessible public housing, we have been going all out to take care of those who are more vulnerable. We recognise that some families may not be ready for home ownership yet as they need to build up their finances. To ensure that these families and their children have a stable home as they work on their life challenges, we provide highly subsidised public rental housing as a social safety net. We have been making improvements to our rental flats over the years to provide a better living environment for our tenants and we will continue to do more. For example, we improved the design so newer rental blocks have better lighting and ventilation. And going forward, we will be building rental blocks in the same projects as sold blocks and where possible, in the same block. Doing so also helps to ensure that our HDB estates remain inclusive. For low-income singles in public rental flats who are under the Joint Single Scheme, or JSS, we know that some of them have difficulties finding a flatmate or getting along with them. A few years back, we started building partitioned 1-room flats for the JSS, to provide more privacy. More recently, we started piloting an operator-run model for the JSS, where we appoint an operator to help manage the flat-sharing arrangements, and individuals can apply without having to find a flat-mate first. These efforts have been well received so far. For our rental tenants, our approach goes beyond providing rental flats for shelter. We want to ensure that their children have a stable home environment to grow up in.”
“(In English): Madam, I will continue my speech in English, please. As Minister Desmond Lee said in his speech, one of the Government's key objectives is to create an inclusive society, through public housing. This is why our housing grants are tiered to provide more support for lower-income families, on top of the significant subsidies provided for BTO flats. As a result, about 85% of our low-income households own their homes. This is something not commonly seen in other countries. Take for example, a lower-income family with household income of $2,500, which is below the second decile of resident household income. They can enjoy $70,000 in grants. If they were to buy a 3-room flat in Vanda Breeze @ Yishun in the November 2022 BTO exercise, where the typical selling price was $200,000, the housing grant would reduce the selling price to $130,000, or about 4.3 times of their annual income. This family would only need to use about 16% of their household income for their monthly mortgage instalments. This means they can service their mortgage entirely using their monthly CPF contributions, without any cash outlay. Or if you look at a household combined income of $5,000, which is below the third decile of resident household income, they can receive $45,000 in housing grants. Based on a typical selling price of $350,000 for a 4-room flat in West Glade @ Bukit Batok in the November 2022 BTO exercise, the housing grant can reduce the selling price to $305,000. This family would only need to use about 21% of their household income to pay for their monthly mortgage instalments. Again, they can service their mortgages entirely from their monthly CPF contributions, with no cash outlay.”