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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Every one of 324 lines we hold for Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 7.
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, please allow me to begin my speech in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Since the earliest days of nation-building, home ownership has been a key cornerstone of our public housing policy and a key pillar of Singapore's social compact. As a young nation, we want to support all Singaporeans to own their own homes, so that they can have stability to build their families and raise their children, have a sense of rootedness in Singapore, and have a stake in our country's progress. We have delivered on this commitment. We have one of the highest home ownership rates in the world, at close to 90%. Many Singaporeans have also benefited from the growth in the value of their HDB flats and upgraded to new homes at different stages of their lives. The Government's commitment to help Singaporeans own their own homes remain firm. Despite the disruptions caused by COVID-19, HDB has been catching up on its building programme. We will launch up to 100,000 flats between 2021 to 2025, if required. The Government has also kept BTO prices almost flat, despite escalating construction costs, in order to ensure that flats remain affordable. Virtually all first-time buyers of subsidized flats get to select a flat within three tries if they apply for BTO flats in non-mature estates. Overall, almost nine in 10 first-time BTO buyers in non-mature estates can finance their monthly HDB housing loan fully with CPF, without any cash. The facts speak for themselves. HDB flats remain accessible and affordable. Moving forward, like what we have done before, we will continue to ensure that public housing is accessible and affordable for Singaporeans. We will also take care of the housing needs of those who are more vulnerable and lower-income families.”
“In line with what Mufti has stated, although homosexuality is a sin, the community should not reject or ostracise them. We should remain principled and balanced even though we have different views and look at what is best for the society as a whole. This is why the Government supports both the repeal of Section 377A and the amendment to the Constitution to protect marriage. As we move forward, I would like to call on everyone to keep calm and exercise moderation as we work out a consensus for the betterment of Singapore, as one united society, as we have always done. I would also like to thank our community leaders and colleagues for sharing their views and giving their support to the Government in this matter. We heard their views and opinions, and we will continue to work closely with them in this matter. I am touched with their readiness to continue strengthening our nation-building ecosystem despite facing complex issues from time to time. Thank you, Mr Speaker.”
“Malay/Muslim community leaders and asatizah can continue to preach freely on Islamic beliefs about homosexuality, including doing so online to engage more youths on the matter, as long as it is done respectfully, and does not cross redlines of inciting violence or hate towards others. The community should also take reference from Mufti's guidance. More importantly, I would like to emphasise that religious freedom must be balanced with mutual accommodation, respect and compassion in our plural society. This is essential to maintaining social cohesion. Where sensitive issues are concerned, people are free to disagree with one another, and we should have the space to air views and concerns. But even so, as we navigate these differences in worldviews, we must remember to abide by principles of mutual, understanding, respect and accommodation in these interactions so that we are able to have constructive conversations on how we can move our society forward. In an earlier interview, Mufti commented that the repeal of Section 377A was a complex social issue and a tough balancing act for everyone, including the Government and religious groups. As a community, we must continue to be guided by Islamic values and teachings in all that we say and do, even as laws change. We have to be careful not to polarize debate on this issue and risk straining the communal ties that we have built up painstakingly over the years. As Muslim leaders, we should not focus on our own personal views and appeal to our own community only. Instead, we should fully consider what is best for our community by considering and balancing the views of all Singaporeans. This will ensure that we adopt a holistic view and approach to enable us to move forward together.”
“Taken together, the Constitutional amendment and the repeal of Section 377A reflect the approach that the Government is taking to prevent the definition of marriage from being overturned by the Courts, while doing the right thing and maintaining unity and social cohesion. Earlier I mentioned some of the key concerns raised by the Malay/Muslim community with regards to the repeal of Section 377A and the possible implications. I also made clear that there will be no change to the various laws and policies related to marriage as it is not the Government's intention to cause a destabilising shift in our society. Let me address some of the feedback the Government has received from our engagement sessions. First, I understand that the Malay/Muslim community wishes to protect longstanding religious and family values. Regarding this, I would like to refer to the Mufti's recent religious guidance concerning LGBT matters. Mufti clarified that in Islam, only sexual relations between a husband and wife is permitted. I agree this should continue to be protected and promoted. At the same time, Mufti also acknowledged that we live in a diverse society where we ought to respect differences in worldviews and that we should continue to extend compassion to Muslims who identify as LGBT. As Muslims, we must exercise kindness and empathy to our fellow Muslims who might have differences in opinions and views from us. Second, some are concerned that the push for LGBT rights would infringe on religious freedom. I would like to clarify that the repeal will not affect the religious freedom of the Malay/Muslim community which will continue to be constitutionally protected.”
“This has also been echoed by the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong that this Government has no intention of changing the definition of marriage, nor the policies that rely on this definition. You may ask, “why repeal Section 377A now?” Allow me to briefly explain why the Government has decided to repeal Section 377A and protect the definition of marriage. First, repealing Section 377A is the right and principled thing to do. Fundamentally, there are no law-and-order concerns arising from consensual, adult homosexual conduct in private. Society has changed since Parliament last debated Section 377A in 2007. In 2007, our society was not yet ready, but our engagements over the past few months have shown that most Singaporeans today accept that sex between men should not be a crime. Even if we may be personally opposed to homosexual conduct, we should recognise that Section 377A as a law has been a marker of stigmatisation to those in the gay community, and experienced as a stark reminder of their rejection by the rest of society. Removing this source of psychological and physical distress from their lives is the right thing to do, so we can move forward as a society where our gay family, friends, and colleagues are treated with the same degree of respect. Second, as Minister Shanmugam has explained earlier, there is a significant risk of Section 377A being struck down by the Courts, on the grounds that it breaches the equal protection clause of the Constitution. Third, if Section 377A were to be struck down by the Courts, our definition of marriage and related laws and policies would be subjected to similar legal challenges.”
“Minister Masagos had also earlier in his speech highlighted US and India as examples of why Court-led decisions could lead to undesirable, win-lose outcomes for society. If we do not take action to protect the institution of marriage, and allow this to be left to the Courts, we risk damaging the bedrock of society which is the structure of family. Where important social issues are concerned, Parliament is more suited to deal with them. Parliament can consult different groups, take in their feedback, and assess the best way forward while balancing wider societal considerations. In essence, the making of pro-family laws should be decided by Parliament; not by the Courts. I have shared a gist of the above in my various engagements with the Malay/Muslim community and most of them understood and welcomed this. As Minister Shanmugam explained in his speech, we are also moving to repeal Section 377A. During my engagements, some, including those in the Malay/Muslim community, shared they were concerned that the repeal would signal a sea of change in other laws and policies, and result in a sudden shift of the tone of our society. Some also shared their fears – that the repeal of Section 377A would open the floodgates for same-sex marriage and same-sex family formation, normalising LGBT discourse in our society, and lead to knock-on effects pertaining to sex education in schools, normalising the portrayal of LGBT relationships in the media, and so on. I would like to reassure the community that there will be no change to the Government’s position on marriage and family. The Government has no plans to change the definition of marriage to include same-sex marriages. Similarly, policies relying on the current definition of marriage will remain unchanged.”
“Mr Speaker, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Over the past few months, the Government has consulted extensively with various groups on this important issue. I have met Malay/Muslim religious leaders, Malay/Muslim organisations, interfaith groups, youth groups, and healthcare professionals during those engagement sessions. Participants shared their honest and candid feedback. The majority in our society, including the Malay/Muslim community, value and wish to uphold the traditional view of family, where marriage is between a man and a woman, with children raised in such a family setting. The Government is fully supportive of this. Our position on marriage and family is clear, and this has consistently been reflected in our policies and legislation. The conventional definition of marriage is set out in our laws – in the Women’s Charter and the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA). Many of Singapore’s policies are based on that definition, including adoption, housing, education, and media. With the Constitutional amendment, the Government is taking steps to protect the definition of marriage and related laws and policies from constitutional challenges. This would ensure that any changes to the definition of marriage can only be debated and decided through Parliament, and not through the Courts. If we look at the various challenges mounted against Section 377A over the years, we can expect similar challenges to the definition of marriage and laws and policies based on this definition. Such decisions should not be left to the Courts to decide. During Prime Minister’s National Day Rally speech, he made it clear that judges have neither the expertise nor the mandate to address political questions, nor rule on social norms and values.”
“As Minister Desmond Lee mentioned earlier, we will enhance the Fresh Start Housing Scheme, which is for second-timer families with children in public rental. We will increase the grant amount from $35,000 to $50,000. We will also expand the scheme to include the purchase of 3-room flats with shorter leases. We hope these enhancements will make it easier for rental families to have a better living environment for their loved ones. If you would like to find out more about how you can work towards home ownership, HDB will be happy to assist. Let me also share a bit about our plans for Kampong Gelam. Kampong Gelam is an important area to the Malay/Muslim and wider Singapore community. So, we want to work hand in hand with the local stakeholders and other citizens, to keep it vibrant and preserve its culture and heritage. I recently took on the role as advisor to the Kampong Gelam Alliance, that is, KGA, which unites local stakeholders, such as businesses, residents and institutions. Together, we will work closely to address local issues and ensure that Kampong Gelam continues to be a place that we hold dear. I also invite Singaporeans to share your ideas with us at an engagement session organised by KGA later this year. (In English): Mdm Chairperson, to conclude, let me reassure everyone that we are committed to supporting vulnerable citizens, meeting the diverse needs of all Singaporeans, and creating vibrant and endearing spaces. And we will do so in close partnership with citizens and the community, to make sure that Singapore continues to be a place that all of us can truly call home.”
“They are making good progress and we will continue to collaborate with private sector and community partners to enliven neighbourhoods across Singapore. Mdm Chairperson, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Last week, Mr Faisal Manap spoke about Malay families living in public rental flats. We understand that families in public rental have the same aspirations as other families. They want a home where they hope to build a bright future for their families. But many of them are also dealing with multiple challenges, such as health issues, family conflict and employment. So, in public rental housing, the Government gives them both a physical home as well as social support. We take a holistic and coordinated approach to uplift families in rental flats. Through initiatives like ComLink and Project DIAN, HDB works closely with other social agencies and community partners to identify families’ needs and provide the support they need to achieve self-reliance. When families are ready to own a home of their own, they will also receive the help they need. We are ramping up our public housing supply to provide more affordable housing options for Singaporeans, including those from the Malay community. Today, families can receive personalised guidance from HDB’s Home ownership Support Team, that is, HST, who will advise them on their housing options and guide them through the flat purchase process. Families can also benefit from significant housing subsidies and grants, such as the CPF Housing Grant and Step-Up CPF Housing Grant. Between 2017 and 2021, over 1,800 Malay rental households progressed to home ownership. This is more than double the number in the previous five years. This year, we will do more.”
“To rejuvenate these heritage precincts, the Government takes a participatory approach on the ground – to actively engage and respond to local communities and find a more resilient and sustainable way forward. This includes working with stakeholders to mitigate gentrification risks and allow older tenants and newer stallholders to exist alongside each other in a seamless and complementary way. In Kampong Gelam specifically, local businesses, institutions, landlords and residents had come together to form the Kampong Gelam Alliance, or KGA, to collectively look into various long-term issues concerning the area. To encourage greater interest in the rich heritage that Kampong Gelam offers, the alliance recently worked with URA, LTA and students from LASALLE College of the Arts to put up posters detailing Kampong Gelam’s storied history around Bugis MRT Station. I have taken on the role as advisor to this alliance and will work closely with existing and new community stakeholders to support their efforts for the area. Together, we hope to preserve the heritage that makes Kampong Gelam distinctive and, at the same time, refresh it so that it remains relevant for future generations. I also invite Singaporeans to share your visions for Kampong Gelam when KGA engages the community and public later this year. Your ideas will guide our efforts to keep Kampong Gelam alive as a centre of community, culture, heritage and enterprise. Through partnership platforms like the pilot Business Improvement District programme, URA also works closely with local stakeholders to transform other neighbourhoods into vibrant and attractive destinations.”
“We will also launch a site at Parry Avenue for sale by public tender later this year, for a private assisted living facility, to give seniors even more assisted living options. The facility may accommodate about 300 to 400 seniors. I invite prospective tenderers to propose innovative assisted living models to help our seniors age gracefully within the community. We look forward to partnering the private sector to co-create new assisted living housing products that will further enhance the quality of life for our ageing population. Beyond seniors, other segments of our population also have diverse needs and aspirations. For example, Mr Louis Ng asked about catering more lactation rooms in buildings to better support working mothers. The Code on Accessibility which buildings have to meet, by default, includes a requirement to provide lactation rooms. Only certain types of buildings, like offices, are currently not required to provide lactation rooms if they are below a certain size, in consideration of practical space limitations. Nonetheless, the Government encourages building owners and occupants to go beyond the requirements of the Code to cater to the needs of building users. Building owners can tap on co-funding under BCA's Accessibility Fund to undertake voluntary upgrading to provide accessibility and inclusive features like lactation rooms. Finally, on working with community stakeholders to rejuvenate heritage precincts in Singapore, which Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked about. Our heritage precincts were impacted by COVID-19. For instance, businesses suffered when footfall fell, due to border closures and other safe management measures.”
“We want to offer a spectrum of housing options to meet the aspirations of seniors to age autonomously and gracefully in place. In particular, we want to meet the aspirations of our senior population for assisted living housing typologies that integrate housing and care services together. Hence, MND, HDB and MOH worked together to develop the Community Care Apartments (CCA). 5.30 pm CCA is a new public housing typology. Affordably priced, it combines senior-friendly housing with care services that can be customised according to seniors’ needs. It also offers communal spaces and social programming for seniors to interact and stay engaged with the community. The first pilot we launched last year in Bukit Batok was very well-received, with an application rate of 4.2 applicants per unit. So far, over 90% of the units offered have been booked. To meet the demand for assisted living, we will launch a second CCA pilot this year in Queenstown. About 200 CCA units will be offered and the project will also include other flat types. There will also be common facilities, such as roof gardens, fitness stations and community living rooms, to promote social interactions among all residents. This second site is situated within the Health District at Queenstown, where HDB, NUS, healthcare partners like NUHS and local grassroots organisations are piloting new strategies to create a built environment that promotes a healthy lifestyle and active and healthy ageing. Queenstown also has the Alexandra Hospital, which will allow medical and healthcare services to be seamlessly incorporated into the care model for residents. HDB will share more specific site details later this year.”
“Within homes, seniors can tap on HDB's Enhancement for Active Seniors programme, or EASE, to install senior-friendly features for mobility and comfort. These features include grab bars, mobility ramps for wheelchair users and slip-resistant treatment to toilet floor tiles. There has been strong demand and over 250,000 households have benefited from EASE so far. Together with other agencies, we will continue to refine the enhancements offered under EASE, to help seniors age independently in their own homes. At the town level, our physical infrastructure also offers an inclusive and user-friendly living environment for all ages. We have features like gentle-sloping ramps for barrier-free accessibility, and pictograms on directional signages to aid wayfinding. Earlier this year, we also formed a pilot community partnership in Boon Lay, called "Our Accessible City @ Boon Lay Neighbourhood". Together with the local community, including seniors and persons with disabilities, we will study how to address accessibility gaps in the HDB heartlands. We also intend to form a similar partnership in Nee Soon Central later on. Beyond infrastructural features, we work with agencies to provide amenities and services in HDB towns so that seniors can meet their needs easily. For example, at the integrated developments at Kampung Admiralty and Yew Tee, senior-friendly housing is co-located conveniently with healthcare, commercial and community facilities under one roof. In each HDB estate, HDB also sets aside spaces for social service agencies to offer services to residents onsite. Depending on residents' demographic profile and needs, these services could include home and day care services or befriending services, which provide support for seniors to age in place.”
“Under this model, singles can apply for public rental without finding a flatmate first and an appointed social service agency will manage the flats and flat-sharing arrangements. I am happy to update that the pilot has started and is progressing well. We currently have two sites, in Bedok North and Buangkok Crescent, which are managed by Good News Community Services. HDB started accepting applications last December. So far, about 90 tenants have confirmed their tenancy and some have already moved in with the flatmates whom they were matched with. I visited the site at Bedok North recently and was encouraged to see that tenants were, generally, able to get along. I also spoke with the operator, who plays a critical role in this model. They help tenants adjust to living together, address other challenges that tenants might face and foster a living environment that is comfortable and supportive. Plans are underway for a third site in Bukit Batok and we will continue to monitor the effectiveness of this model, to see how it can be improved to better meet the needs of singles. Next, on supporting our rapidly ageing population. Mr Yip Hon Weng, Mr Henry Kwek, Mr Xie Yao Quan and Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked about our efforts to help seniors age in place, including our plans to provide assisted living options. As Mr Henry Kwek and Mr Yip Hon Weng mentioned, this is something that the PAP Seniors Group also cares about. I thank Members for their strong interest and support on this. We understand that many seniors prefer to age in environments they are familiar with, surrounded by family and neighbours they can depend on. So, we have made extra efforts to provide senior-friendly homes and estates.”
“They help families make sense of available housing schemes and grants, provide practical tips and advice, and walk families through the processes of buying a flat. Over the past two years, the team has successfully helped about 110 households own their own homes and another 230 should be ready to apply for a flat in the next one to two years. Families can also benefit from generous housing grants when they purchase a flat. For example, first-timers can tap on the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant and receive up to $80,000, on top of already subsidised flat prices, if they purchase a new flat. Second-timers can tap on the $15,000 Step-Up CPF Housing Grant. We are also enhancing the Fresh Start Housing Scheme this year, as Minister Desmond Lee shared earlier, to help second-timer families with young children in public rental to own a home again. These grants ensure that public housing remains affordable and accessible, especially to lower-income families. Owning a home is an achievable goal. Between 2019 and 2021, over 2,200 rental households have moved into flats of their own. Another 2,200 or so households have also booked a flat and are waiting for their new homes to be ready. I encourage all rental families to aspire and work towards home ownership. The Government and community will support and complement your efforts, as you work towards better lives for yourselves and your loved ones. For low-income singles under the Joint Singles Scheme, or JSS, Mr Lim Biow Chuan and Mr Chong Kee Hiong spoke about the unique challenges they face when it comes to finding or getting along with their flatmates. We understand these concerns and are continually exploring ways to address them. Last year, I shared that HDB will pilot the JSS Operator-Run model.”
“ComLink is a flagship project led by MSF and it is being scaled up nationwide to cover some 14,000 families over the next few years. ComLink proactively reaches out to families to understand their unique challenges and aspirations, provides close case support through befriending and action planning, and works with community partners and volunteers to offer customised programmes and services that meet families' needs. Through ComLink, we hope to empower families to regain stability, become self-reliant and, eventually, achieve social mobility. On Mr Chong Kee Hiong's concerns regarding larger families in public rental flats, families may request for a 2-room flat if there are three or more persons. Multi-generation families that can form two family units may also apply for two flats and HDB will try to ensure that both flats are located near each other. We also work closely with MSF and Family Service Centres at selected ComLink sites to offer 3-room rental flats, coupled with social support, to larger families with children. With a limited supply of 3-room flats, however, we are only able to offer them to a small number of families on a case-by-case basis. Like Mr Gan Thiam Poh and Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin, we hope to help rental tenants achieve their aspirations to own their homes. HDB has a dedicated team of officers, the Home ownership Support Team, who will guide rental tenants on their journey towards home ownership. Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked how families will be identified. The Home ownership Support Team estimates the housing budget of households, based on their income and CPF information that they last shared with HDB. These officers then provide one-to-one guidance.”
“Mdm Chair, the fight against COVID-19 has been long and hard. But the past two years have also shown us that Singaporeans share common aspirations for a caring and inclusive society and want to contribute to making Singapore a better home for all. Today, I will share more about our efforts to support different groups of citizens, especially those who may require more assistance, and create vibrant places in partnership with the community. First, on those staying in public rental flats. Some Singaporeans face more challenges than others in life. For those who are lower-income or more vulnerable, providing highly subsidised rental housing is an important first step. With shelter, they have a safe space to come home to, a stable foundation upon which they can regroup and stabilise. Mr Louis Ng spoke about giving more assurance to single unwed parents. We understand the anxiety that families may face when their housing arrangements are uncertain. Generally, single unwed parents can receive the outcome of their rental flat applications within three weeks of submitting all required information, although more time may be required for complex cases. All rental flat applicants may contact HDB at any point for updates on their applications. HDB will also prioritise flat allocations for those with urgent housing needs as far as possible. Beyond housing, those in public rental may also be grappling with other challenges: health issues, family conflict, employment troubles and more. So, public rental housing is not just a shelter; it is a home that comes with social support, to help our rental tenants bounce back stronger. For example, under Community Link, or ComLink, HDB and many other agencies work together to support families with children living in public rental housing.”
“(In English): Sir, I will now address Dr Tan Wu Meng's question on ensuring proper handover of medical care for ex-offenders. In general, ex-offenders who need further follow-up after release will be referred to Changi General Hospital's specialist clinics for continuity of care. Prisons is exploring with SingHealth on facilitating follow-up appointments at other public healthcare institutions which are closer to the ex-offender's home. Before I end, I want to highlight a special group of people, namely, our National Servicemen, or NSmen. Our NSmen serve alongside our regular officers with the same dedication and commitment. Mr Desmond Choo asked about our plans to enhance the NS experience and Mr Patrick Tay asked what more could be done for our Home Team NSmen. SPF and SCDF will be adjusting operational requirements so that more NSmen, especially those with slight physical or medical limitations, can take on more frontline roles. We are also looking at ways of improving the touchpoints for our NSmen for a more positive NS experience. 5.15 pm This year, we commemorate 55 years of National Service. It is timely that we will be officially opening the HomeTeamNS@Bedok Clubhouse at the end of the year. Sir, the Home Team will continue to work together with the community to keep Singapore safe and secure, and free from the harms of drugs.”
“We will continue to support other Malay/Muslim organisations to build upon and expand the network. The "Dadah Itu Haram" campaign has been going on for almost five years with the aim of working with the Malay/Muslim community to spread the message of living healthy, drug-free lives. Currently, we have more than 230 volunteers and advocates, along with 340 partners comprising various Malay/Muslim organisations, community groups, special interest groups, barber shops and eateries, participating in the campaign. Their efforts ensured that the "Dadah Itu Haram" campaign reached out to over 650,000 participants through more than 140 co-created events. To ensure continued participation during COVID-19, CNB conducted more than 20 virtual and hybrid events in 2021. In 2021, all 71 mosques across Singapore participated in the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking for the first time by displaying "Dadah Itu Haram" signages and banners in the mosque compounds. This event included a Friday sermon specially prepared by MUIS on the importance of prohibiting drug abuse and to raise awareness about the dangers of drugs. The latest survey on the "Dadah Itu Haram" campaign is very encouraging. It shows the community’s strong support towards this campaign and there is encouraging evidence of this campaign’s success in spreading the anti-drug message to the target group within the Malay/Muslim community. We are studying the “Dadah Itu Haram” campaign to identify the learning points that can be used to increase our reach to other groups. We thank the community for their support in the war against drugs, and we look forward to more collaborations.”
“Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim asked how MHA is working with the community to strengthen support for drug offenders and ex-offenders. I had earlier spoken about efforts to support the reintegration of ex-offenders. Former drug abusers will be subjected to supervision by CNB to support them in leading drug-free lives. CNB will be enhancing its drug supervision scheme to better support the reintegration of former drug abusers. Since 2019, CNB has been piloting Community Supervision Skills (CoSS) sessions where CNB supervision officers will check in on supervisees and assess their residual reintegration needs. If necessary, supervisees will be referred to the appropriate agencies for follow-up. I am pleased to announce that CNB will be rolling out CoSS progressively, with full implementation islandwide by March next year. Mr Murali Pillai spoke on the mixing of ex-abusers who are reporting for supervision. Currently, there are different reporting days for youth and adult supervisees to prevent undesirable interactions and contamination. Further, supervisees are not allowed to communicate with each other during reporting and are to leave the reporting centre once they are done. I will now speak in Malay on the supportive role played by the Malay/Muslim community in our fight against drugs. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Zhulkarnain requested an update on MHA's collaboration with the Malay/Muslim community in the fight against drugs. In November 2021, a network comprising 26 Malay/Muslim organisations (MMOs) and 11 M³@Towns was launched to strengthen collaboration and support for inmates, ex-offenders and their families. These include Malay/Muslim organisations, such as FITRAH, PERGAS and AMP, which provide intervention and outreach programmes.”
“CNB has been leveraging social media to secure mindshare to build a drug-free Singapore. In May 2021, CNB released the short film "Down The Rabbit Hole". The film sheds light on the mercenary motivations of drug pushers and traffickers who had profited at the expense of vulnerable and addicted persons. To involve parents and educators of youths, CNB published an information booklet on "Staying Free from New Psychoactive Substances". This booklet provides tips on identifying tell-tale signs that their children are abusing drugs and ways to help youths stay away from drugs. In fact, if you go to the CNB website, you will be able to see many resources and information. We also engage in using social media, such as Instagram and Facebook. We proactively share information. Whenever there are arrests, we also share such photos so that we can get people aware and involved in such efforts. So, I hope you can support us and share our messages and issues that we want to proactively reach out to Singaporeans with. CNB also organises an annual video competition to provide a platform to engage older youths interested in video production. This allows youths to articulate their understanding of the harms of drugs and promote anti-drug messages through short videos. This year, CNB will reach out to more students through pre-competition workshops and provide opportunities for collaboration with CNB to develop PDE resources for their peers. I am heartened that a Home Team Public Perception Survey conducted in 2020 found that more than nine in 10 respondents below the age of 30 were aware of PDE efforts. We will continue to engage our people to forge a strong national consensus of zero tolerance.”
“In 2021, all 11 religious partners working with Prisons adopted the TVF. We are heartened by the strong support of prison volunteers and community partners. On the drug front, the local drug situation remains under control. However, there are still areas of concern. Among them is the observation that there is a gradual slide towards increasingly liberal attitudes. To better protect Singapore from the scourge of drugs, we will strengthen the three pillars of our harm prevention efforts: tough laws and robust enforcement; preventive drug education or PDE; and rehabilitation and aftercare. We intend to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act to better regulate new psychoactive substances, expand PDE efforts to forge a national consensus of zero tolerance against drugs and enhance drug supervision to support former abusers in leading drug-free lives. First, Mr Christopher de Souza asked how the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) could be made more flexible to deal with new variants of new psychoactive substances, or NPS. MHA will amend the MDA to introduce a new legislative framework to regulate NPS, based on their potential to produce a psychoactive effect. This will allow us to be more responsive to emerging forms of NPS. We will share more details in due course. Mr Derrick Goh asked how we address the use of the digital space for dealing in drugs. CNB will continue with operations targeting trafficking and abusers who use encrypted messaging applications such as Telegram. Second, Mr Christopher de Souza and Mr Derrick Goh asked how we address liberalising attitudes towards drugs and strengthen resilience for a drug-free Singapore, especially among youths. Mr Raj Joshua Thomas asked about the impact of our efforts in spreading the anti-drug message.”
“Apart from upstream efforts, we also invest in rehabilitation and reintegration. Minister Shanmugam has spoken about rehabilitation in his speech. Our rehabilitation efforts would not be effective if the community is not willing to give ex-offenders a second chance. Dr Tan Wu Meng asked how we can improve job search prospects for ex-offenders and further incentivise HR practices. Hiring ex-offenders is one of the most symbolic acts of acceptance. Yellow Ribbon Singapore, or YRSG, has built a system of support to incentivise, recognise and empower employers to hire ex-offenders. Placement exercises are held in prison to match inmates with suitable employers prior to release. YRSG provides Career Retention Support for ex-offenders. For up to 12 months, career coaches work with ex-offenders and their employers to set behavioural goals and resolve work issues. Later this year, YRSG will launch the Friends of Yellow Ribbon network to galvanise individuals, community groups and employers to advance second chances. Currently, about 80% of ex-offenders assisted by YRSG are employed in lower-wage jobs. MOM will implement the Progressive Wage Mark, or PW Mark, to accredit firms that pay progressive wages. The PW Mark will uplift lower-wage workers. Beyond employers, YRSG has put in place a community action masterplan to map out opportunities for the community to be involved and better harness the strengths and aspirations of volunteers. Prisons partners community organisations and volunteers to provide pro-social support to ex-offenders when they are released into the community. Under the Throughcare Volunteer Framework, or TVF, volunteers involve them in activities after their release and connect them to wider communities of support.”
“Sir, the Home Team continues to do well in keeping Singapore safe and secure. Prevention and rehabilitation play an important role in our successes. Mr Vikram Nair asked about our efforts to identify and work with those who are at-risk of offending. Dr Shahira Abdullah asked about MHA's efforts to prevent young individuals from offending and re-offending. The Police and the National Crime Prevention Council have been jointly organising the Delta League since 2011. We engage youths through football tournaments, workshops and e-sports to imbue a sense of teamwork, discipline and social responsibility. In 2018, we set up the National Committee on Prevention, Rehabilitation and Recidivism, or NCPR, to oversee national efforts to prevent offending and re-offending and enhance the rehabilitation of offenders. We piloted the Localised Community Network (LCN) in 2019 to provide support for children and youths who exhibit at-risk behaviours. The Youth GO! Programme (YGP) has been in place since 2012 and engages around 300 youths each month through structured activities to reduce risky behaviour, build positive relationships and life skills. Thanks to the hard work of the agencies and our partners, we have seen the number of youth offenders decreased by 28% over the past decade. Dr Shahira Abdullah asked about the percentage of youths who re-offend. The two-year recidivism rate among youth offenders aged under 20 who were under the charge of the Singapore Prison Service was 26.4% for the 2019 release cohort. The three-year recidivism rate of youth offenders aged under 16 who were on MSF's Guidance Programme, Probation or Youth Homes was 14.9% for the 2016 release cohort. We do not track if these youths' subsequent offences become more serious in nature.”
“This Bill ensures that we can continue to take this stance and that Singaporeans can continue to make our own choices on how we should govern our country and live our lives.”
“This Bill does not significantly increase the substantive powers from existing laws, such as the Internal Security Act, Criminal Procedure Code, Broadcasting Act and Telecommunications Act. In fact, a significant portion of the Bill is simply the Political Donations Act ported over. So, what the Bill does is to provide more targeted and calibrated levers against HICs, which are narrower than existing powers, such as in the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Act. I have brought the House through these levers and provided some illustrations of how we intend to use them in a judicious and proportionate manner. In addition, this Bill ports over the requirements for PSPs from the Political Donations Act and introduces a more robust framework of designations and executory powers to deal with interference through PSPs, which Minister of State Desmond Tan will elaborate on. There are comparable levers and requirements in other foreign jurisdictions. Let me also reiterate that this Bill does not target Singaporeans participating independently in our domestic political discourse nor the very vast majority of interactions with foreigners. It is primarily concerned with covert and clandestine activities to manipulate our domestic politics and undermine our political sovereignty, and not open, transparent and attributable activities, transactions, relationships or even criticisms. There are also various safeguards, such as clear criteria for offences, clear authorisation thresholds for directions and avenues for appeal. Mr Speaker, this Government has always taken the firm stance that our domestic politics are for Singaporeans to decide and that we should not allow foreign actors to interfere in them.”
“The difficulty that confronts us is the suitability of making the Courts serve as an oversight body for decisions taken under the Bill, which involve issues of national security, defence and foreign policy and information from intelligence sources, not necessarily only of our agencies. Our own Courts have said that they have limits in these areas. The reviewing tribunal structure thus recognises the need for checks and balances while protecting sensitive intelligence that is relied upon to counter a HIC. The tribunal, in fact, goes further than judicial review in some ways in that it is able to assess the initial decision on its merits, whereas the Court in judicial review proceedings focuses only upon the legality of the administrative decision. Mr Speaker, allow me to continue my speech in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech on Pg xxx.] Mr Speaker, we are facing a severe and evolving threat of foreign interference, which can be carried out online through HICs or through local proxies involved in our political processes, also known as Politically Significant Persons or PSPs. The Minister and I have outlined the threat of HICs, and Minister of State Desmond Tan will speak on the threat of PSPs. It is clear that we need to take steps to counter it. We have been discussing these issues in Singapore over the last three years. At least 18 representors spoke on the threat of foreign interference at the Select Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehoods in 2018. There was a major conference in 2019, and discussions at our Committee of Supply (COS) debates. So, this is not a Bill that has come in haste.”
“In assessing whether a HIC is afoot, the primary determinant is the behaviour of the actor involved and the entities behind the content. It is clear, therefore, that Singaporeans who are simply expressing their own views or engaging in the political process on their own accord are not covered and neither will the vast majority of communications involving foreigners, be it journalism or academia or online advocacy. MHA has also consulted the major stakeholders on the operationalisation of these directions and will continue doing so, to take into account the industry's constraints, from the technical to the legal, as we work together to counter HIC threats on their platforms. I have set out the clear conditions that must be met before directions can be issued and the defences inscribed in the Bill. I will now set out the avenues for appeal. This Bill will provide the right of appeal to recipients of counter-HIC directions and proprietors of POLs. Appeals will be heard by a reviewing tribunal. Clause 23 clarifies that recipients of counter-HIC directions and proprietors of POLs must first apply to the Minister to reconsider the Part 3 direction. Should the Minister reject the application, the appealing party may then appeal to a reviewing tribunal, which is constituted under Part 8 of the Bill. The appeal to the tribunal must be submitted within 30 days from the outcome of the Minister's reconsideration. This tribunal can then dismiss the appeal, confirm the direction appealed against or revoke the direction. Decisions would be determined by the tribunal and are final. These are set out in clause 97. The Minister has explained the reasoning behind the reviewing tribunal.”
“Clause 21, therefore, provides for two specific directions – Technical Assistance Direction and Account Restriction Direction – to be authorised before harmful communications activity has taken place. Let me illustrate how we intend to use these levers. Take the following scenario, which is illustrative but not exhaustive. It is not hypothetical because we have seen this modus operandi in HICs conducted against other countries. On a social media service, a set of accounts amasses followers by first posting popular content on lifestyle matters, such as cute animal videos or funny memes. There are multiple accounts and the accounts act in coordination. For example, account A actively tries to increase account B's visibility by sharing its content and so on. At the opportune moment, such as election season or during a period of tension with another country, these accounts start to pivot to social and political commentaries, hoping to sway how Singaporeans vote or react to a foreign policy issue. Assuming this happens here and our monitoring agencies detect these accounts gaining traction. We can issue a Technical Assistance Direction to investigate the origin of such accounts. If we have sufficient reason to believe that these are foreign accounts and are planning to undertake an HIC against Singapore, we can issue Account Restriction Directions to prevent them from propagating their HIC content to end-users in Singapore. Mr Speaker, MHA has studied international cases and reviewed testimony from the Select Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehoods to come up with these directions. Let me reiterate that MHA will use these powers judiciously and will calibrate our actions based on the specifics of each case.”
“Class 1 can be issued to Internet access service providers to disable access by every end user in Singapore to the website or service that had not complied with the direction. Class 2 can be applied to Internet access service providers, relevant electronic services and social media services to disable access to a POL if paid content on the POL is published in Singapore or the POL fails to comply with the Must Carry (Class 4) Direction to notify Singaporean users about its POL status. Clause 38 introduces the Disgorgement Direction. This can be issued to any Singaporean, resident in Singapore or locally registered entity that has supported the HIC and it will require them to return to the foreign source any funding or material support provided. Non-compliance with these directions will be an offence under clause 45. If charged, parties may raise the defence that it was not reasonably practicable to do more than what was done or that there were no better practicable means of complying, for example, due to technical impossibility. Mr Speaker, HICs can cause devastating harm, including erosion of the country's sovereignty, undermining of social cohesion and loss of public trust. The Minister has provided a detailed account and these cases are well-publicised. In addition, threat actors are improving their tactics all the time. Therefore, we cannot wait for harms to occur before taking action because severe damage may already be done. Should there be credible information about a potential HIC threat, the Government must be able to act to prevent it. Our authorisation thresholds must, therefore, be calibrated to allow certain directions to be issued even before any harmful communications have commenced.”
“For example, restricting a certain function of their service, preventing harmful content from being actively recommended to end users in Singapore, or slowing down or stopping Internet access. MHA will work with the industry on how such directions are to be operationalised and identify reasonable and practicable interventions, given the potential significant impact on the services. Clause 37 introduces the App Removal Direction to stop the further distribution of an app to Singapore end users, if the app is being used to spread HIC content. This can be issued only if at least one direction that is not a Technical Assistance Direction or another App Removal Direction had been issued with respect to that app. Clause 24 provides for the Minister to declare an online location as a Proscribed Online Location or POL, if one Part 3 direction, other than the Technical Assistance Direction, has been issued. Once proscribed, it is an offence to operate this POL, provide support to it or have advertising dealings with it. Clauses 39 to 41 give effect to these restrictions. To ensure that the public is aware of its POL status, a Class 4 Must Carry Direction can be issued to require the owner to put up a notice about its proscribed status. The intent of this POL regime is, hence, to reduce the impact of the POL by: firstly, reducing its visibility via advertising; secondly, warning Singaporeans to the threat posed by the POL; and thirdly, cutting off its revenue streams and preventing it from profiting from its operations. We also need to be able to take action against non-compliance of directions. Clause 33 introduces the Access Blocking Direction. There are two classes.”
“A Class 3 direction requires providers of social media services, relevant electronic services, telecommunications services, newspapers or licensed broadcasting services to publish a general notice to end users in Singapore. It is not necessary for HIC content to have been communicated on the service in order for a direction to be issued. This class of directions is intended to alert Singaporeans that a HIC is ongoing. A Class 4 direction requires proprietors of Proscribed Online Locations to put up a notice about its proscribed status so that any visitors to the online location are aware that it is a HIC vector. There are two directions to remove specific HIC content from being accessible by end users in Singapore. Clause 30 introduces the Stop Communication (end-user) Direction, which will require communicators to take down information or material that is published in Singapore and to stop publishing similar material in Singapore; and clause 31 introduces the Disabling Direction, which will require relevant electronic services and social media services to take down specific content from the view of Singapore end users. Clause 34 introduces the Account Restriction Direction, which can be issued to relevant electronic services and social media services and is intended to prevent specific accounts from communicating with Singapore end users. Clause 35 introduces the Service Restriction Direction, which can be issued to relevant electronic services, social media services and Internet access service providers to stem the virality of HICs and restrict Internet service functionality respectively. Each Service Restriction Direction will specify the actions required of the recipient.”
“It is not MHA's intent to demand assistance that is not reasonably practicable or information beyond what is necessary. Nor will we demand information for purposes beyond investigating a suspected HIC. Technical Assistance Directions are subject to a non-disclosure requirement to prevent tipping off a suspect of an ongoing investigation and prevent any unauthorised external party from undermining investigations. Recipients can specify that they received the direction but cannot disclose the substance of the direction. Breaches of any non-disclosure requirement constitutes an offence under clause 46. Other Part 3 directions are designed to provide targeted powers for the Government to contain the propagation of HICs and mitigate the harms caused. Clause 32 introduces the Must Carry Direction that will require the recipient to publish, post, display or include a message about the HIC content in a manner prescribed by Regulations. The intent of such directions is to warn the public that the content is part of a HIC. There are four classes of directions for different recipients. A Class 1 Must Carry Direction can be issued to the communicator of the HIC content to publish a mandatory message. A Class 2 direction can be issued to relevant electronic services and social media services to publish a mandatory message with respect to specified information or material, or identical copies of it. For example, if a foreign state-run media outlet posts videos on social media and these videos are part of a HIC campaign, then the Government may issue a Class 2 direction to the social media platform, to require the platform to publish a notification tagged to the video to notify the public that this video is part of a HIC campaign.”
“As the Minister has stressed, the basic architecture of our counter-HIC measures is that directions can be issued only when the Minister assesses that all of the following three conditions in clause 20 are met: (a) online communications activity is undertaken, or suspected to be undertaken, by or on behalf of a foreign principal; (b) the online communications activity results in content that is published in Singapore; and (c) it is in the public interest to issue that direction. Clause 7 sets out non-exhaustive illustrations of what would cross the public interest threshold. For example, in the interest of the security of Singapore, to protect public health or public finances, to prevent incitement of feelings of enmity among different groups in Singapore, or to prevent foreign interference directed towards a political end, which would include interfering in our domestic politics. These illustrations reflect the context of HICs. They are not meant to constrain the interpretation of public interest found in other laws, which should be read in their respective contexts. To improve the Government’s ability to investigate potential HICs, clause 36 introduces the Technical Assistance Direction to request various forms of assistance from social media services, relevant electronic services, hosting services, Internet access service providers and proprietors of online locations. The intent is for these parties to provide information or data that is useful in investigating if there is an ongoing HIC and the source of the HIC content, in particular, whether it originates from a foreign source. This information includes basic subscriber information that is provided when accounts are set up, such as IP addresses, or aggregated geolocation data.”
“Clause 18 introduces a separate aggravated offence of clandestine foreign interference of a target using electronic communications activity. This offence would apply if a few conditions are fulfilled. First, a person undertakes electronic communications activity on behalf of a foreign principal. Second, the person does so to influence another person to undertake activity or engage in conduct in Singapore that is prejudicial to Singapore’s public interest. Third, in doing so, the person does not disclose his links to the foreign principal. This is an aggravated offence because it involves a greater degree of duplicity in targeting another person to act against Singapore’s public interest. Such acts are calculated and more likely even harder to detect, and, consequently, have the potential to cause greater harm. The offence thus carries higher penalties commensurate with the greater harm. Clause 19 introduces an offence of preparing or planning for the above offences and clause 115 clarifies that these offences will have extra-territorial application. These offences will be investigated by the Police. For offences involving SAF installations, assets and personnel, Police will work with SAF. The Bill contains customised powers for the Government to act against HIC content online. Part 3 of the Bill empowers different directions: (a) to obtain information about HICs before they happen; (b) to detect and prevent HICs taking place; and (c) should they occur here, to contain the HIC.”
“Third, the person knows or has reason to believe that the electronic communications activity or the information or material published in Singapore is against Singapore’s public interest. The offence clearly deals with persons covertly and knowingly acting against the public interest on behalf of a foreigner. The mere fact that communications were private, for example, an online video call between two people, would not make them covert. For an offence to be made out, there must be an element of secrecy or a lack of transparency surrounding the person’s conduct. For example, a Singaporean is paid by a foreign intelligence agency to publish a number of articles criticising Singapore’s foreign policy towards that country. He does so but presents it in his personal capacity as a citizen without disclosing his links to the foreign agency. This would be considered covert. Clause 17 does not cover Singaporeans acting on their own accord or foreigners making open and attributable comments. Nor does it cover unintentional acts. For example, an article by a foreigner who openly declares his identity, published in a foreign publication, such as the Economist or the Wall Street Journal, would not be an offence under FICA. The same applies to foreign political observers or political commentators publishing on a social media platform or a blog, if they make no attempt to mislead Singaporeans as to who they are. A Singaporean shares an online video propagated as part of a foreign HIC on his social media account. However, he does so unwittingly and was not aware that the content is part of a HIC nor did he receive any support or instruction from a foreign principal. The Singaporean also has not committed an offence.”
“Mr Speaker, the Minister for Home Affairs has explained the outline and reasons for the Bill. I support the principles of the Bill as outlined by the Minister and would like to advocate the importance of having such a law to deal with hostile information campaigns (HICs). I will discuss Parts 2 and 3 provisions pertaining to HICs. Foreign actors have leveraged digital technologies to carry out HICs. We have observed that these tend to be deliberate and coordinated attempts to use information to manipulate public opinion and harm a country’s interest. In addition, they are often clandestine and seek to mislead the public under false pretences. This Bill does so by providing a set of offences and empowering the Government to issue directions to counter HICs. The new offences in Part 2 of the Bill are aimed at acts of foreign interference by covert means using electronic communications. Clause 10 defines electronic communications activity as the communication or distribution of any information or material through means of SMS, MMS, a social media service, a relevant electronic service or an Internet access service. Clause 17 introduces the offence of clandestine foreign interference by electronic communications activity. There are three elements. First, the person acts on behalf of a foreign principal, or on behalf of a person acting on behalf of a foreign principal. He undertakes electronic communications activity that results in or involves publishing in Singapore any information or material. Second, any part of the person’s undertaking or electronic communications activity is covert or involves deception.”
“So, essentially, we are very happy that many more volunteers are coming on board. These are Malay/Muslims who have been very successful in their own life, in their fields and they are able to contribute back to the community. We will continue to work with them, together with all the other Malay/Muslim organisations and Project DIAN@M3 will integrate these community assets that we have to help families in rental flats holistically and inspire them to be homeowners. In doing so, we hope to also cultivate values, such as independence and resilience, in these families as they journey towards home ownership. We will launch Project DIAN@M3 in the fourth quarter of this year, where we will start with three M3@Towns, namely Bedok, Geylang Serai and Jalan Besar. As we journey through this process, we hope that we will be able to strengthen families, provide opportunities for the Malay/Muslim families, especially those in rental flats, and, at the same time, give them and work with the Government agencies and our partners for them to move towards home ownership in the years to come.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for the supplementary questions. I will take it as a whole and try to answer the questions. So, as I have shared earlier, for now, Project DIAN@M3 will focus on outreach to families staying in rental flats and build upon the partnerships which M3 has earlier on developed with Government agencies and Malay/Muslim organisations. In essence, we will augment the efforts of the community partners and the agencies that we have built partnership with, so that Malay/Muslim families who live in rental flats are able to take part in programmes and also receive holistic support from the programmes that we have. These include counselling programmes under MENDAKI SENSE, Bersamamu and Project ARIF undertaken via the focus areas of M3 and with the support of the volunteers. When we look at the integration of assets relating to Project DIAN@M3, we are looking at the institutions that we have as well as the people and the volunteers. I am happy to share that since M3 started, the number of volunteers that have come on board has also increased. For example, for M3@Towns, we have about 500 volunteers who have come on board and this is also something that we want to train them. In addition to that, we also have volunteers that come on board via other programmes, like programmes relating to how we support vulnerable individuals as well as families; as well as how we support mentoring among the youths where more than 1,000 volunteers have come on board for our youth mentoring programme. For efforts like Fitrah, we have about 460 volunteers as at June this year. Mayor Mohd Fahmi Aliman is also looking at how we can increase a lot more volunteers for efforts relating to upskilling of our people.”
“(In English): Working together with citizens, the community and various partners, we remain committed to strengthen our support for vulnerable citizens, uplift lower income families and meet the housing needs of all Singaporeans.”
“To better support large families living in public rental flats, MND and HDB will work with Community Link (or ComLink), which is an MSF initiative, to offer 3-room rental flats to large families on a case-by-case basis. At the moment, we have a very limited supply of such three-room flats. Hence, we will only be able to offer these flats to a small number of families. The selection will be done jointly by HDB and MSF, based on the families’ circumstances and suitability. At the same time, all public rental flat families with small children will receive holistic support under ComLink to enable them to achieve stability, self-reliance and social mobility. As far as possible, we aim to uplift them so that they can be self-reliant and eventually own their own home. Many young people have shared with me their aspiration to own a home. Some already have a few children of their own, and they want to provide a better home environment for their families and children. Indeed, owning a home is a milestone that brings pride and joy for them. We will continue supporting them to realise this aspiration, by providing various housing grants for first-time flat buyers. Additionally, for families staying in public rental, the HDB’s Home ownership Support Team provides one-to-one guidance on how they can plan and work towards buying a flat. For those who make a down payment for a new flat, HDB will not increase their rent for the rest of their stay in rental housing. I would like to assure all young Singaporeans who are planning to or starting a family, that the dream of owning their own homes can be achieved, through their own efforts, and complemented by support from the Government.”
“This encouraging response validates the consultative approach that agencies took on in developing the concept, from the design of the units and communal spaces, to the services to provide. Seniors, care-givers and healthcare professionals provided valuable feedback during Focus Group Discussions we held in 2019. For example, we added design features, such as the sliding partition to the flat, based on feedback that seniors appreciated the open layout but might desire more privacy at times. Given the positive feedback and strong interest, we are studying plans for a second pilot site. We will share more details when ready. With the pilots, we will monitor how the flat design and care services promote the well-being of seniors, both physical and socio-emotional and support them to age in place. These pilots will help us to further improve the housing and care options for our seniors. We continue to welcome feedback from seniors, as well as their care-givers and family members. Mr Chairman, let me now say a few words in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the lives of many Singaporeans, especially the lower income and the vulnerable among us. I was heartened to see the resilience shown by these families in coping with the impact on their jobs, health, and family life. At the same time, our community spirit also became stronger. Many individuals and groups have stepped forward to help others in need. The Government has also offered extensive support to help the lower income households. For example, HDB provided rent rebates and rent reductions for households living in public rental flats. If you know someone who needs further assistance, please ask them to approach HDB or the nearest Social Service Office (SSO).”
“The social service agencies will have better expertise to match singles of similar profiles, and to mediate disagreements that may arise. If necessary, they can also arrange for individuals to move to another flat. The rents in this new model will be largely similar to the JSS rents, and tenants will be subject to the same eligibility conditions. HDB is working towards rolling out this pilot later this year and we will share more details when ready. We will continue to support the housing needs of other vulnerable groups, such as single parents and divorcees, who Ms Carrie Tan and Mr Louis Chua spoke about. Members who are aware of families or individuals who need assistance can refer them to HDB, and we will do our best to assist them, based on their circumstances. HDB has also been working closely with MSF, social service agencies, and community partners in the PEERS Network to assist rough sleepers and help them to move to more stable housing. 6.30 pm We have also been expanding housing options for seniors. In December 2020, MND, HDB and MOH introduced the Community Care Apartments, or CCAs, a new assisted living typology that combines housing with care services and community living for seniors. I thank Members for their strong interest and strong support in this. Mr Xie Yao Quan and Mr Henry Kwek Hian Chuan spoke about the CCAs and asked about our future plans. Let me briefly update on the first pilot project, Harmony Village at Bukit Batok, which was launched for sale in February 2021. We received a very positive response for these flats, with 706 applicants applying for 169 units.”
“HDB’s HST is part of the ComLink network, to guide these families in budgeting and planning for home ownership. Mr Lim Biow Chuan, Mr Chong Kee Hiong and Mr Louis Ng shared concerns about the Joint Singles Scheme, or JSS, for public rental. For example, some individuals face challenges in finding a flatmate to apply with, or in getting along with their flatmate. During the ESC, a few participants shared similar concerns. We understand their concerns and have been looking at ways to improve the JSS. To provide more privacy, HDB has been building new 1-room rental flats with partitions, including some that have internal doors to separate the sleeping areas. There are currently 705 such rental flats with pre-installed partitions. For older 1-room rental flats, HDB will install partitions at the tenants’ request. Interested tenants can contact HDB. HDB has installed partitions in about 530 existing rental flats so far. Most single tenants are prepared to share a flat with a flatmate. Flat sharing enables companionship and mutual support, which is especially important for older tenants. It also allows us to help as many who need a public rental flat as possible, within our limited resources. For those who have extenuating circumstances, such as medical conditions that make it unfeasible for them to share a flat, we are prepared to look into their requests to rent a flat alone. To provide an additional option to singles who apply under the JSS, HDB will pilot a new model which will allow them to apply individually, without having to find a flatmate first. In this new model, we will set aside a few floors in a few rental blocks and appoint social service agencies to manage the flats, including the flat-sharing arrangements.”
“Therefore, we will integrate new rental flats that HDB builds with sold flats in the same BTO projects, including in prime areas. Where feasible, we will build them in the same blocks too. The first such mixed block is located at Marsiling Greenview, which was completed in June 2018. Feedback from residents living in both rental and sold flats has been largely positive. Mr Lim Biow Chuan and Mr Chong Kee Hiong raised concerns about large families staying in public rental flats and asked if we can provide larger flats. This was also discussed at the ESC I attended. We understand these concerns. Families with three or more persons living in a 1-room flat can approach HDB to transfer to a 2-room flat. Families that form two nuclei, such as families with children, parents and grandparents living together, can apply for another flat, and HDB will offer them a second rental flat in the same block where possible. To better support large families staying in public rental flats, MND and HDB will also work with MSF under ComLink to offer 3-room rental flats to large families with children, on a case-by-case basis. At the moment, we have a very limited supply of such flats, so we will only be able to offer the flats to a small number of families, based on the families’ circumstances. At the same time, all families with children living in public rental flats will receive holistic support under ComLink to enable them to achieve stability, self-reliance and social mobility. For example, SSOs and community partners will engage the families to understand their needs, and connect them to programmes and services, such as employment assistance and childcare services. As far as possible, we aim to uplift them so that they can eventually buy their own home.”
“Among them, 50 have booked flats, and 177 should be ready to apply for a flat in the next one to two years. HDB will also work closely with MSF and other partners under Community Link, or ComLink, to provide coordinated support to our rental families. One family who has moved from their rental flat to a new flat with HST’s support is Mr Irman, his wife and their three children. They were staying in a 1-room flat in Bedok since 2005. The Family Service Centre referred the family to HST in September 2019. HST guided Mr Irman and his wife closely, from understanding their housing budget and options, and applying for the flat, to key collection and settling into their new home. The family moved into their new 3-room flat in Bedok in June 2020. I would like to encourage all rental families that owning a home is achievable, with their individual effort complemented by the support from the community and Government. Many rental families have already moved on to home ownership. In the past five years, about 4,600 rental households have moved into their own homes. Another 2,000 are waiting for the flats that they have booked to be completed. Mr Louis Chua asked about the supply of public rental flats. We currently have enough supply for households who need them. We will continue building a small number of new rental flats to replace older blocks that are redeveloped, and gradually renew our stock of rental flats. Designing our HDB blocks and neighbourhoods to be inclusive, where Singaporeans regardless of background live together and share common spaces, continues to be an important part of how we will build a stronger, more caring and more cohesive society.”
“In 2020, about 4,000 public rental households were assisted with lower rents, including those who experienced a fall in income. We also continue to look for more ways to partner the community. I attended one of HDB’s Emerging Stronger Conversations, or ESC, on enhancing housing support for vulnerable communities. The participants shared many thoughtful suggestions, including suggestions to help large families and singles staying in rental flats. We are studying these suggestions, and welcome more ideas. Let me now share some updates on our on-going efforts to better meet the housing needs of low-income and vulnerable families as well as seniors. First, our efforts to support those staying in public rental flats. Many rental families I met have shared with me their hope to own a home and provide a better environment for their children. It is also our hope for them to realise this aspiration, and we have various measures to support them. They can tap on generous grants for their flat purchase, such as the Enhanced CPF Housing Grant for First-Timer families and the Step-Up CPF Housing Grant for Second-Timer families. In addition, the Fresh Start Housing Scheme helps Second-Timer families with young children in public rental to own a home again. Since June 2019, tenants who have made a downpayment for a new flat will not have their rent increased for the rest of their stay in rental housing. They can put the savings towards their upcoming new homes or other needs. About 350 rental households have benefited so far, with median rent savings of about $150 per month. They can also get one-to-one guidance on home ownership from HDB’s Home ownership Support Team, or we call it HST, which was established in December 2019. In the past year, HST has assisted 654 rental households.”
“Mr Chairman, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected many Singaporeans, with the lower income and vulnerable among us especially hard-hit, for instance, in terms of jobs and income loss. At the same time, the crisis has brought out the best in us. We saw so many individuals and groups stepping forward to help others. For example, groups of volunteers went out at night to befriend rough sleepers, distribute essentials and offer them shelter and assistance. The Government has also implemented extensive support to help lower income households bounce back stronger from these challenging times, including through the COVID-19 Budget measures. Households living in 1- and 2-room HDB flats received an average of $3,400 per member from the COVID-19 Budget measures. We also rolled out additional support for households living in public rental flats. About 47,000 such households benefited from three months of rent rebates from October to December 2020. Late payment charges have also been suspended from April 2020 to March 2021. To Ms Carrie Tan’s suggestion on further rent waivers, I would like to assure her that the Government will continue providing targeted support to lower income households to cope with the impact of COVID-19, for example, via the Household Support Package announced during the Budget speech, as well as the COVID-19 Recovery Grant and Jobs Support Scheme. Government agencies and community partners have also stepped up outreach to public rental households to offer assistance. HDB has sent out letters and SMSes to inform these households to approach HDB or Social Service Offices (SSOs) if they cannot afford their rent or need other financial assistance. HDB has existing guidelines to lower the rent for households who cannot afford their rent.”
“Foreigners with family ties to Singaporeans who are not able to obtain PR but wish to continue residing in Singapore may apply for a Long-Term Visit Pass, work pass or Student Pass. Parliamentary colleagues, thank you for your strong support. With your continued support and that of all Singaporeans, the Home Team will continue to keep Singapore safe and secure.”
“Under the Jobs Growth Incentive (JGI) that was launched in September, ex-offenders are eligible for the higher tier of wage support. This has expanded the employment opportunities available to ex-offenders. Mr Murali Pillai asked about encouraging short sentence inmates to take advantage of the increased job opportunities. YRSG offers career guidance and job matching to all inmates, regardless of the length of their sentence. From 2018 to 2020, an average of 2,560 inmates received employment assistance prior to release each year. Of these, about 5.5% served short sentences, with the rest comprising long-term or DRC inmates. In all, about 95% of all who received assistance between 2018 and 2020 secured a job. YRSG and Prisons will intensify outreach to create greater awareness of the opportunities available and we will take Mr Murali Pillai's suggestion. Dr Tan Wu Meng suggested introducing a Yellow Ribbon mark to recognise firms that practise inclusive hiring of ex-offenders. We have been recognising such employers through the previous SCORE Appreciation Awards. Nonetheless, a Yellow Ribbon mark could encourage more employers to partner with YRSG and offer more employment opportunities to ex-offenders. YRSG will explore this further. And I thank Dr Tan Wu Meng for his suggestion. On immigration, Mr Gerald Giam asked about permanent residence for foreigners with family ties to Singaporeans. Each PR application is evaluated holistically on a range of criteria, including but not limited to economic contributions, educational qualifications and applicant's ability to integrate into society. In general, PR applicants with family ties to Singaporeans are already considered more favourably to those without.”