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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“MOE also provides authentic work-experience opportunities for students in Specialised Schools, such as NorthLight School and Assumption Pathway School. For students in these schools who are not yet ready to further their education at ITE or start work independently at the workplace, they can join the Work-Study Pathways programme. They will have on-the-job learning at the workplace for three days and continue with their education for the remaining two. Regardless where our students begin in life, MOE has always placed importance on nurturing students who do not just have the mastery of knowledge, but also skills and attributes required to succeed in life. So, we look at the different strengths and we help them as much as we can. Mr Azmoon Ahmad acknowledged the success of the Malay community and shared his concerns about children from disadvantaged backgrounds. He has concerns if they are able to progress as well as they should. I would like to address this point in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.]: Sir, there have been discussions on the state of the Malay community. One of the discussions is about the concern that we have not progressed, left behind and excluded from the nation’s development. I would like to assure you that this is not the case. So far, the Malay community has shown progress in education, as we will see from the data that I will be sharing now. Based on data over the past 10 years, there has been an increase in the percentage of Malay students entering post-secondary education – 84.1% of the Primary 1 Cohort in 1997 has gone on to post-secondary education. Meanwhile, the Primary 1 cohort in 2006, who are now 18 years old, 94% of that cohort has progressed to post-secondary education.”
“I will speak now about investing in our high-needs learners and preparing all students for the future. MOE remains committed to helping our weaker students in schools through levelling-up initiatives. For example, additional teachers are provided to ensure that the Learning Support Programme and its sister programme, Learning Support for Mathematics, for lower primary students, are conducted in small groups of less than 10. A primary school student on these programmes would have received 60% more resourcing, compared to a peer not on the programme. At the secondary level, MOE provides additional resourcing for students from the Normal course. To smoothen their transition to post-secondary education, these students can take Elective Modules, which are 20- to 30-hour modules that secondary schools may develop together with our ITEs and polytechnics. Bendemeer Secondary School is one such good school that has done well to support its students from the Normal course. As part of its Elective Module Framework, the school identifies accredited Science and Technology courses at ITE that would benefit students as they face the future economy. For Secondary 4 students, the Elective Modules are used as precursors for different pathways, leading to post-secondary education institutions. The support provided by Bendemeer Secondary School is not just academic. They also have the Students Overcome Adversity Responsibly (SOAR) programme, that engages at-risk youths after school. Through the programme, these students engage in healthy and meaningful recreational activities jointly planned by community partners, such as Family Service Centres.”
“I should add that MOE's financial assistance would apply to Saiful, even if his family is already receiving concurrent help from other agencies. We do not want financial concerns to prevent our children from exploring their interests. Over the past few years, Saiful has been able to tap on the school's Opportunity Fund to enjoy co-curricular activities, such as a local learning journey to the River Safari. In the future, as Sitihajar and Saiful progress to a post-secondary educational institution, such as ITE, polytechnics or autonomous universities (AU), we will continue to support them. Since 2017, we have increased the quantum and extended the coverage of Government bursaries for ITE, polytechnic and AU students. By raising the annual bursary quantum of the Community Development Council/Citizens Consultative Committee Bursary by between $200 to $400, depending on the institution, we can help students further defray the cost of post-secondary education. We have also enhanced students' access to these bursaries by introducing Gross Monthly Household Income as an alternative income assessment, so that more students qualify for assistance. Students may also apply for other merit-based scholarships and financial assistance schemes offered by foundations, Self-Help Groups and other community or private organisations. As shared earlier during the Parliamentary Question (PQ), in 2016, over 70% of students at ITE received some form of financial aid, bursaries or scholarships. More than 60% of our students in polytechnics and AUs receive similar support. So, just like Sitihajar and Saiful, other children with a similar background can be assured that they will be given the same opportunities, regardless of their family circumstances.”
“Recognising that children learn better in school when they have a strong early start, we set up the first five MOE Kindergartens in 2014 with the following admissions policy: to reserve one-third of places for Singaporean children from low-income households. This has benefited children like Sitihajar, who may not have had the opportunity to enjoy quality and affordable preschool education otherwise. Sitihajar also benefited from the subsidies provided through the Kindergarten Fee Assistance Scheme. Last year, her monthly fees at MOE Kindergarten cost $150. But because Sitihajar's family met the income eligibility criteria, her parents only paid a monthly fee of $1.50. As Sitihajar was also enrolled in KCare for afternoon student care, her parents paid $2.10, instead of the monthly fee of $225 for Singapore Citizen children. Sitihajar was also able to redeem three sets of uniforms yearly, as part of the Start-Up Grant of $240. While she joined MK@Riverside with fear and anxiety, Sitihajar blossomed into a confident and joyful learner. Her experience at MOE Kindergarten gave her a good head start when she enrolled in Riverside Primary School this year. Similarly, her brother, Saiful, who is in Primary 4 this year in the same school, also receives financial support under MOE's Financial Assistance Scheme. Under this scheme, he has his school and miscellaneous fees waived and receives free textbooks, school attires and transport subsidies. He is automatically placed on the School Meals Programme, where he can use the meal subsidies for breakfast, lunch and recess. With basic needs, such as food and transportation, no longer a concern, Saiful is a friendly and helpful student who is fully engaged in his learning.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Minister Ong had earlier raised the importance of how we should not cap the top, but lift the bottom. I would like to add that to lift the bottom, we are committed to ensuring equal access to opportunities for every child, from preschool to adulthood. Our commitment goes beyond our students in school to adult learners who have graduated from the formal school system. MOE leads the SkillsFuture movement, which emphasises opportunities for Singaporeans to fulfil their potential, regardless of starting points. A wide range of subsidised modular courses are available through the SkillsFuture series at our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs). We also empower individuals to make informed decisions for lifelong learning through the MySkillsFuture portal, which hosts online self-assessment tools. This ensures that those who may have had a rockier start than most, can still find a path back into learning and retool themselves for a better future. For now, let us go back to the start of a child's educational journey. MOE believes that with a robust system of support, all children can go on to lead confident, independent lives with hope in the future. I will cover three points, specifically, how MOE is committed to investing in three groups of students: our students from disadvantaged families; our high-needs learners; and our students with special educational needs. First, I will talk about supporting our children from disadvantaged families. Let us start with Sitihajar, who is currently a Primary 1 student at Riverside Primary School. Prior to joining Riverside Primary School, she was enrolled in MK@Riverside in 2016.”
“As their Values-In-Action project, the students further collaborated with the Residents’ Committee to share their harvest with the community. They also got the canteen vendors to cook the vegetables for the whole school to savour the vegetables of their labour during recess. These are small but important steps in guiding our students to care for others and contribute to the community within their means. Sir, we are all preparing our students for a future that is fast changing with many unknowns. It is not an easy journey. However, as the Malay saying goes, "Sedikit-sedikit, lama-lama jadi bukit, sehari selembar benang, lama-lama menjadi kain", meaning a little effort in time makes a hill, and a thread woven becomes a cloth. I believe we can go a lot further and do a lot more for our students when we do it hand in hand with our parents, community and industry. Together, we play a collaborative role in preparing our next generation to be ready for the new world.”
“Mr Chen Show Mao asked if we can also extend the learning of Malay language to other students at the primary level, by including conversational Malay language skills as part of schools' formal curriculum. The Conversational Malay Programme was introduced since 2005, where non-Malay students learn to conduct simple conversations in the Malay language and gain appreciation of the Malay culture. Today, 91% of our primary schools offer the Conversational Malay Programme or similar school-based programmes. This equips our students with some grounding of the Malay language so that they can pick up the language more easily should they need it for economic or other reasons in their adult lives. Making it compulsory for all primary students may not be feasible with a number of competing demands on our students’ attention. The current model, where the learning of a third language is encouraged but remains optional, is a balanced approach. Lastly, let us talk about the industry, how we can partner them to complement and supplement our students’ learning in schools. Let me illustrate it using the example of Juying Primary School. The school’s Learning for Life Programme is Environmental Education, and they partner an industry partner, Greenpac, which is a big advocate for green practices, to teach the students grow and harvest their own vegetables using a hydroponics system. The students benefited tremendously from this partnership as lifecycles of plants, a topic in the Primary 3 Science syllabus, came to life. This is what Applied Learning is all about, where our students learn by doing and experience the real-world application of sustainable farming.”
“Themed Malay Gastronomy, our students will learn about indigenous herbs and spices in the outdoors before applying that knowledge to create their own unique nutritious salad dish and share their ideas with their peers and parents in a creative way. One of our teachers whose expertise was tapped on to design the learning experiences of the camp is Mr Azhar Bin Abdul Rashid. Mr Azhar explained that the Perkasa Warisan camp is where language truly comes alive for our students as they explore the application of the Malay language in the wider community. This camp will be piloted in Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency (GRC) and Tampines GRC this month. We hope to extend this initiative to more schools in other GRCs in the future. 6.00 pm (In English): For our younger children at the preschool level, we want to spark their interest in learning Malay through play. Following the successful partnership between the Committee to Promote Chinese Language Learning and Wildlife Reserve Singapore, I am glad to share that the Wow Wild Learn Programme, which turned the River Safari into a mega living classroom for our preschoolers, will be offered in Malay from August this year. Such collaborations are made possible as the Malay Language Learning and Promotion Committee has established a good system to facilitate networking and partnerships among schools, preschools, community organisations, such as the Malay Youth Literary Association (4PM) and ASAS '50 (The Singapore Writers' Movement ’50), and Government agencies, including the People's Association (PA), National Library Board (NLB), NParks, National Heritage Board (NHB) and the National Arts Council (NAC).”
“If you were to visit Lianhua Primary School on a Saturday morning, you will see it bustling with energy, with students playing soccer in the field, while others play tennis in the sports hall. These are, however, not school-based programmes but community programmes led by professional football club, Warriors Football Club (FC), as well as SC Global and Singapore Tennis Association. Parents see to the logistics, take attendance and contribute in ways to ensure a smooth running of the programme. Such partnerships augment schools' programmes, offer our students more options and expose them to a wider range of sports. We also recognise the importance of bringing together community and industry partners whose expertise and resources can extend the knowledge and learning in schools through authentic contexts. This is particularly relevant in the learning of our MTLs. For instance, the teaching of the Malay Language does not just belong to the cikgu or the parents. It also involves the Malay community coming together to deepen our students' sense of their own culture and rich heritage. The Perkasa Warisan Camp designed for our Primary 4 students is one such initiative. Allow me to elaborate more about the camp in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The Perkasa Warisan Camp is a collaboration between the grassroots leaders of the Malay Activity Executive Committee (MAEC) and our experienced teachers of the Anugerah Guru Arif Budiman Work Group (AGAB), with the support of the National Parks Board (NParks) and the Malay Language Learning and Promotion Committee (MLLPC).”
“Mr Chairman, both Minister Ng Chee Meng and Minister Ong Ye Kung spoke about preparing our children for a changing future. It is our goal to provide every child with the opportunity to get a good start in life, discover his strengths and interests, and help him realise his potential. As we prepare our children to be future-ready, we want them to develop holistically. We want to cater to the diverse interests of our students with multiple pathways and different options. This is also what parents want. I know, as a father of two children, we all share the same goal – we want the best for our children and to bring out the best in them. That is why we must work together, as strong school-home-community partnerships will lead to better student outcomes. Over the years, we have made significant efforts and progress in building enduring partnerships with parents, the community and industry partners to support our schools and students, and we will continue to build upon these efforts. Parents are a child's first teacher. Together with the teachers in schools, they are crucial in supporting our children in discovering their strengths and achieving their aspirations. This includes our efforts in exposing our children to a broad range of diverse sports, and developing those with sporting talent, which was raised by Mr Edwin Tong. As Minister Ng shared, we have put in place various programmes to expose and nurture our students in this area. I am glad that many parents and community partners also recognise the value of sports being inculcated in our young and partner schools to provide our children with the opportunities to try out different games and sports.”
“This will go a long way in nurturing our next generation on Arif Budiman, anchored on sound values and wisdom drawn from our cultural heritage. As the Malay proverb goes, "Shoulder the heavy, carry the light". Let us bring Singapore and our community to greater heights.”
“] The Malay Language Learning and Promotion Committee (MLLPC) has organised programmes and developed resources to nurture students' love for the Malay language and appreciate the usefulness and relevance of the language in their everyday settings. One such resource for parents is the Nabil and Nabilah Reader Series for Primary 1 and Primary 2. The Series has been well-received by parents like Ms Siti Shyamira, who uses the story books as part of her family bonding sessions for reading and inculcation of values, such as respect for others. MLLPC will continue to build upon such efforts and is developing two language apps to support parents in their children's learning of the Malay language at home. These apps are targeted at the primary and secondary school level. MLLPC also works closely with various agencies and the wider community to generate interest in the language and its cultural heritage. Partners, such as the Malay Language Council, Malay Heritage Centre, Malay language organisations and grassroots organisations have come on board to launch a range of initiatives and programmes. An example of such a collaboration is the Malay Language Month, which celebrates the language and its cultural heritage through a range of community events. Without the active involvement and collaboration of various community partners, the impact and reach of these events would be limited. Mdm Chairman, such partnerships complement MOE's ongoing efforts to make the teaching and learning of mother tongue languages more engaging and enriching. Looking ahead, MLLPC has planned for many programmes and activities to continue supporting our students, teachers and parents in the learning of the Malay language and culture.”
“Each institution will move at its own pace to implement the roadmap. Beyond the AIs, we do see many who pursue private degree programmes to fulfil their aspirations. As Dr Tan Wu Meng pointed out, there is concern about the employability of graduates from these programmes. When deciding to attend such programmes, we want students to be more informed and make wise choices. To help them, the Committee for Private Education is enhancing its regulation of the Private Education Institutions, mandating annual graduate employment surveys and publishing the results. Parents play an important role in partnering schools to support their children in developing their passions into strengths and reaching their fullest potential. We agree with Mr Zainal Sapari and Mr Gan Thiam Poh that strong school-home-community partnerships lead to better student outcomes. We are committed to fostering such strong partnerships, and our Parent Support Groups (PSGs) play a very crucial role in this. To support PSGs, we recently launched the "Parent Support Groups − A how-to-guide by parents for parents". It was developed by our parent representatives from the COMmunity and Parents in Support of Schools (COMPASS) who wanted to help others in setting up and running PSGs effectively. Besides parents, the community also has a role in enriching our children's educational experiences. This can be seen in the efforts by the community to make our mother tongue languages come alive. Madam, I will continue my speech in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.”
“At LASALLE, all students are required to take a curriculum vitae (CV) and Cover Letter Writing course, as well as courses on personal branding and managing freelance work or a small business. Such programmes prepare students better for stepping into the working world. Second, there are continued efforts to build stronger industry links to enrich the curriculum and to expand internship opportunities. NAFA has revamped its curriculum to include industry-based learning to provide authentic learning opportunities as well as links with relevant industries. Third, there will be greater provision of modular and short courses to support lifelong learning. This will make it more flexible and practical for industry professionals to return to the classroom for further learning to deepen their skills. NAFA, for example, has developed several short, specialised courses, such as the Certificates in Visual Merchandising and Fashion Business, based on industry feedback. These courses are aimed at broadening the design and business skills of creative professionals. We recognise the special role played by the AIs in offering pathways for those with the interest and talent in the field. Since 2011, MOE has provided NAFA and LASALLE with funding to offer high-quality creative arts degree programmes validated and awarded by reputable overseas partners. Going forward, there is value in developing NAFA and LASALLE further into centres of excellence in creative arts education. MOE will be working with them on a roadmap to raise the standards of their programmes and to better prepare their students for the workplace. It will include efforts to further enhance teaching quality, strengthen employment outcomes and ensure financial sustainability.”
“Mdm Chairman, our education system will continue to strengthen the paths to recognise and build up the different aptitudes and interests of our children. We want to do this with strong partnerships with our parents, industry and the community. Mr Gan Thiam Poh and Mr Edwin Tong asked about arts education and how we are supporting our creative arts graduates in preparing for and developing their careers. The interest in arts education and the range of opportunities and support available have increased over time. Just in 2016, around 6,000 students enrolled into creative arts courses at our polytechnics, AUs and Arts institutions (AIs). 1.45 pm Last year, I shared that MOE was looking into the creative arts tertiary education sector to improve the current landscape so that our creative arts graduates are better prepared for their future careers. We have been speaking to various stakeholders to understand the sector and look at the graduate employment outcomes of creative arts graduates, especially those from the Arts institutions (AIs), which include NAFA and LASALLE. Our engagements highlighted that creative arts play a role in our economy within and beyond the creative industries. We saw that AI graduates moved into arts-related careers and some also joined larger organisations as managers and executives, where their artistic abilities are put to good use. We also observed the prevalence of freelance work as 17% of our 2016 AI graduates in the labour force are working as freelancers. Against this backdrop, the AIs have started several initiatives to support their students better. First, Education and Career Guidance efforts are being strengthened.”
“Initially, his son was apprehensive about his father's presence and involvement in school. However, once he saw how his father was getting along well with his friends, he grew to appreciate having his father around. Juraiman now better understands his son's interest in chess and feels much closer to him. According to Mr Juraiman, the PSG experience "has been a learning journey for me". Madam, by being involved in our children's education journey and working in close partnership with schools to develop their strengths and interests, we are helping our children to be better prepared for the future.”
“I urge you to make use of this with your child. We also collaborated with members of our advisory council, the COMmunity and PArents in Support of Schools (COMPASS), to launch the COMPASS-Parent Support Group (PSG) Mentoring Scheme to build PSG leaders' capabilities in structuring and growing as well as sustaining PSGs. To support PSGs further, we are working with COMPASS to develop an online resource for PSG leaders. This resource is developed by parents, for parents, and will be ready in the latter half of this year. Madam, I will now end my speech in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Education prepares our children for a journey that requires them to undertake lifelong learning and master various skills. MOE will continue to focus on developing our children holistically by reducing the emphasis on academic results and offering multiple pathways to success. Hence, we are making several changes to the PSLE and increasing aptitude-based admissions at IHLs. Parents play a critical role in supporting our children as they grow older. Give them the space and time to discover their strengths and interests and build a strong foundation of knowledge, skills and values that they can develop in their life. Work closely with their teachers to understand their strengths, in both academic and non-academic areas. That way, you will be able to guide Page: 61 them better in making better choices for themselves. Navigating the education journey is not always easy and it will be helpful if parents seek the support of other parents. Parents can get support from other parents through PSGs in their children's schools. For example, Mr Juraiman Rahim joined the Northland Primary PSG in 2014.”
“Going forward, we will study how to improve information transparency about courses and employment outcomes, enhance industry-relevance of PEIs and ensure regulatory requirements of CPE remain relevant. The ongoing Graduate Employment Survey covers the nine largest PEIs, which cater for the bulk of private degree students. Survey results will be made public. We will also study how more PEIs can offer industry-relevant training for continual skills upgrading and support manpower capability development in areas of industry need. Today, PEIs, like SEED Institute and At-Sunrice, already offer relevant training for skills upgrading and mastery. While we take these steps, students and parents must do their part to get all the necessary information before deciding which courses to pursue. MOE's ECG efforts will help students assess their reasons and readiness to pursue further upgrading and if the course will help them acquire relevant skills for future employment. While I understand we have our own aspirations, I urge Singaporeans not to pursue qualifications as a paper chase but to develop their strengths, talents and skills. Parental support is, therefore, crucial in helping our children develop the right instincts to make appropriate choices about education pathways, based on their passions and strengths. As raised by Mr Zainal Sapari, the partnership among the home and school is critical in helping children discover and nurture these strengths and interests. We will continue to support our educators and parents in their partnership efforts. We have developed two resources for this: a Parent Engagement Guide for Educators and a parent-child activity book for all Primary 1 students. If you have a child or grandchild who is in Primary 1, you would have received this.”
“I recently met representatives from arts institutions and polytechnics. Many shared that creative arts should be valued for how it develops the individual. They highlighted that creative arts graduates find employment in industries beyond the creative arts, such as retail and manufacturing, because they bring with them artistic skills and dispositions that can be cross-pollinated to benefit different industries. One such graduate is Ms Sasha Rafi who found that Ngee Ann Polytechnic's School of Film and Media Studies helped to expand her skills in creative thinking, effective communication and management of group dynamics. These have been a significant help in her current role as head of marketing for the Singapore Grand Prix. Ultimately, we want these graduates to have good career prospects, contribute to the vibrancy and diversity of our economy and society and, at the same time, keep developing their passion, skills and love for what they do. With more opportunities, students and parents need to make informed choices about the options available for further study or employment, including courses by PEIs. In response to Mr Ang Wei Neng, 50 PEIs offered degree programmes in 2015, with a student intake of around 21,500 Singaporeans and foreigners. Page: 60 3.00 pm Concerns raised by some hon Members about the quality and relevance of PEI-run courses are valid as this private market sector is highly heterogenous, with uneven standards. While CPE ensures PEIs meet minimum standards in corporate governance and course administration, it does not accredit or endorse the quality of their programmes.”
“Thank you, Mdm Chair. My colleagues have spoken about MOE's continued efforts to provide a holistic education that prepares students for lifelong learning. We agree with Mr Kok Heng Leun in his Budget Debate speech and Dr Intan Mokhtar that the arts play a crucial role in this endeavour. Arts education cultivates creativity, imagination, multiple perspectives and innovation; each trait is important in forging our future. It fosters a deeper appreciation of our shared culture and heritage, and promotes social harmony. Who among us is not moved with pride and a sense of belonging when we come together at the National Day Parade to sing "Home"? This is the power of the arts. We want to harness this further by enhancing students' exposure to the arts and providing more opportunities for students with talent and passion to deepen their learning and pursue it at the tertiary level and beyond. This year, four more secondary schools began offering the Enhanced Art or Music programmes, benefiting more than 300 students in the 10 schools offering these programmes. In addition, three more centres began hosting Art or Music Elective programmes, with students from over 30 schools selected through demonstrations of their talents and not their PSLE scores. With expanded opportunities come a growing interest in the creative arts tertiary education sector. Enrolment into diploma-level courses increased by around 30% from 2006 to 2015, and by about 40% in degree-level courses from 2010 to 2015. Minister Ong Ye Kung has asked me to study this sector to see how we might improve on the current landscape and better position our creative arts graduates for careers that align their skills with industry needs. We also want to see how industry can contribute to deepening their skills.”
“Sir, I thank Members for the points raised earlier. As a nation, we have made tremendous progress in health: we have more than halved our death rates in the last 40 years, resulting in about 17 years of increased life expectancy. This can be credited to improvements in nutrition, healthcare advancements, disease prevention and health promotion. Our health promotion efforts are focused on effecting sustainable healthy habits in Singaporeans of all ages and from all backgrounds. To Ms Ellen Lee's question, the main challenge in adopting healthy living is in translating knowledge to action. Hence, central to our approach is a greater emphasis on behaviour change, and not just public education. To do this, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) has been engaging the community and private sector to understand their needs and motivations. This enables the HPB to implement relevant initiatives to effect behaviour change on the ground. I agree with Dr Chia Shi-Lu that investing in health is important. While we welcome innovative ideas such as HealthFuture accounts, Singaporeans do not necessarily have to spend money to keep healthy, as I will illustrate in the next few minutes. First and foremost, investing in health needs to start with our own personal decision to stay healthy. Then, it needs to be sustained across generations, to have a healthy population in the long term. Sir, if I may have your permission to show some slides.”
“Mdm Chair, I appreciate Members' thoughtful questions and views on our transport policies. In the 2013 Land Transport Master Plan, LTA set out an ambitious goal that 80% of households in Singapore will be within a 10-minute walk from the nearest MRT station. We will achieve this when our rail network is expanded to eight lines and connected by about 280 train stations in 2030. Page: 92 In this regard, the walk to and from the stations, often termed as "the first- and last-mile connection", is a key determinant of the commuter's overall experience. For some of us, it is an important consideration in choosing between taking public transport or driving the car. Mdm Chair, if I may have your permission to show some slides.”
“The Government, through its plans, has to ensure that every Singaporean has a part to play and that we have to take responsibility for Singapore, our country, our home, to be a more inclusive society for all. Sir, on that note, I thank you.”
“The New Order in an uncertain future will require society to have a mindset that wants to continue improving their skills, as a preparation for the coming changes in a new socio-economic landscape. In the past decade, we have seen the shortening of economic cycles, apart from speedy advances in technology and economic engines that shapes the world’s agenda. Our community must act fast towards these changes, not only to ride through the effects from the emerging challenges, but also to take advantage of opportunities in the New Order. What is important is that this value must be part of the Singapore spirit so that we can continue to survive and be relevant, in any era of globalisation. *Cols. 679-682. (In English ): I am pleased to note the Government's effort in reaffirming its commitment to Singapore and in moving forward to face the challenges of the 21st century. Managing the challenges of the New World Order is a journey in which all Singaporeans would travel together. There is no overnight solution but we should stay confident of our system that was built upon sound fundamental principles that has brought us to where we are today. To stay competitive, we should have thecourage to fine-tune, innovate, keep on trying to find relevant solutions. If Singapore makes fundamental changes to the way we work and embrace a culture of innovation and change, we will attract like-minded friends who share our vision in our island city state. This will help gravitate talents and investors to share our vision to build a vibrant and cosmopolitan Singapore, where a diverse group of people from all over the world can work, live and play. Mr Speaker, Sir, the President has provided us a template to ensure that Singapore continues to evolve and sustain success in the future.”
“Seminars and workshops like "MoneySense" and "Smart Spending" must go beyond the small segment of the community that has already been identified. These programmes must form some modules as part of an inter-connected family programme that is targeted at children, elderly, singles, married couples as well as other segments of the community. Another issue that needs to be re-looked is family planning. This issue should not be seen as merely a numbers issue, that is, in terms of the number of children we have. When we talk about family planning, we must look at the way we raise our children as long as they are under our care. We must study the issues of family development and survival. This includes the topics of daily living, education, morals and other needs of our family members. During my Meet-the-People-Sessions, I often meet female divorcees who share with me their experiences on the failure of their ex-husbands to pay for their children’s maintenance after the divorce. The ex-husband usually gives excuses that he must take care of his new family, which may include the children from his new wife, and thus making it difficult for him to support his children from the previous marriage. These will give the family more problems and can be the main source of stress that worsens the problem until the family becomes dysfunctional. As we move forward, we must update our system to ensure that those involved, especially the children, are not affected by this situation. To make this effort successful, all parties involved in family development, including main stakeholders like husbands, wives, parents and the couple’s relatives as well as community and religious leaders, must play their roles to expand our community’s perspectives on family issues.”
“I would like to add another C and that is the courage to persevere, courage to stay resilient, courage to innovate, courage to adapt and, to me, most importantly, courage to pursue their own peaks of excellence. This attitude must be embraced by all Singaporeans and organisations here, and it is my hope that the Ministries especially would factor this in their policy making. One learning point from the Women's Everest team which, I think, is an excellent example of the Singapore mindset. It was reported that the team had to delay their plans due to certain groups not wanting to support their bid. But due to their perseverance and a strong can-do belief, they have now conquered their ultimate peak of excellence – Mount Everest itself. Allow me to continue my speech in Malay. (In Malay): [For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A*. ] Mr Speaker, the uncertain future requires us to think differently and take actions in a different way too. We must continue efforts to strengthen families, as it is one of society’s institutions. Today, some members of our community still face problems related to the issue of dysfunctional families. This is due to the various reasons, which are usually complex and inter-related. In this matter, we may need to look for different ways to solve this issue, and change the practices and habits in dealing with the issue of family. This is in addition to analysing our system to ensure that everyone in the family can exercise their responsibilities in any situation, whether during difficult times or when the family breaks up. For example, we must continue efforts to spread the message of good practices in financial planning.”
“We still need the many-helping-hands approach to assist Singaporeans secure their homes and get their family's deep-rooted problems out of their life. Above all, the core of the matter is still to ensure Singaporeans have stable employment so that they can pay their home mortgage or rental and get back on their feet. Sir, I believe that further extension of housing options would enable the sandwich class such as those from the middle lower income and those affected by the downturn better manage their financial standing in meeting the challenges of the New World Order. In this way, even those who fall from their peaks of excellence can recuperate and recover and start their journey to climb towards their peaks again. To me, most importantly, the availability of more housing options would enable the healthy functioning of the family unit, thus, contributing to the progress of our nation. Thirdly, Sir, is the New Singapore mindset and norms in the New World Order. The New World Order would require us to face certain uncertainties. The Singapore mindset must also be tuned to such a phenomenon. The current norm/status quo may no longer apply in 10 years' time. Old strategies and outlooks have to be replaced with those thought through out of the box. Without us realising, our children may be preparing for jobs that have yet to be invented. The New World Order would also cause those unable to adapt to the changes and capitalise on opportunities to fall behind and this would likely impose stress lines onto the lower income. Mr Speaker, Sir, it is my observation that, generally, Singaporeans have developed a certain status quo rites of passage. Most famously is the five Cs that Singaporeans hope to realise.”
“Recently, I have been receiving increasing requests from my constituents to rent HDB flats as well as to purchase smaller flats. Realising that the queue for rental flats is long, some residents have shared that they do not mind purchasing smaller flats, such as a two-room flat, but they are unable to do so due to the high cost. As such, in addition to the available rental flats, I would like to propose to the Government to consider setting aside two-room flats with a limited bundle of rights for purchase on shorter leases to families or those who may need a temporary reprieve from the downturn or any other personal crisis. This concept could ride on the current studio apartment system for our senior citizens but the criterion is further extended to certain segments of the population. We can limit the bundle of rights attached to the flats, such as the rights to trade in the open market and the tenure of the flat to serve its purpose. I feel that the tenure of the flat should not be too short a time for the families to recover from the crisis that they are facing. On the other hand, it should not be too long as this may discourage them from progressing towards a higher level. Perhaps a five to 10-year lease would be appropriate. While we want to provide temporary shelter for Singaporeans, we should also facilitate them to scale their own peaks of excellence once they are ready to do so. I understand that the main problem faced by those who are unable to secure homes for themselves is simply because they are already entrenched in the deep end of the problems which goes beyond just the housing issue. I also recognise that my recommendation is just part of the solution to the main problem.”
“There are those who have to be separated from their families while waiting for their accommodation to come. I have seen family members having to stay apart, where their kids stay at one relative's home, while their parents stay at another relative's home. In addition, I met a single mother who shared with me that her son had run away from a temporary shelter as he could not withstand the pressure of having to cramp in the home of her relative. I believe there are other examples. Sir, I feel that the home is an important institution for an individual, the family and the society. My concern is that these families may be driven into dysfunctionalities or, even worst, go deeper into the dysfunctionality cycle without a proper home. Every Singaporean has the potential to contribute to our success. However, without a proper home, that potential may not be realised or be hampered. I can still remember how I felt my family's well-being improved when my parents took care of our home needs since I was a young boy. We started staying in a row of wooden houses in Joo Chiat. Following the resettlement, my parents rented a flat at Marine Terrace. With hard work and commitment to improve the family's well-being, my parents bought a three-room flat in Bedok South before settling down in a four-room flat in Tampines till today. My father believes in being prudent in his home purchases, however, he feels that having a reasonable home is important for the family's well-being. We need to continue to inculcate the values of being prudent and educate Singaporeans on the true meaning of home ownership in Singapore. Sir, I welcome the recent refinement to the HDB rental policy to ensure that only those who deserve should be allocated a rental flat.”
“At the same time, I have seen an increasing trend of Singaporeans opting to rent HDB flats as a way out of their housing problems, such as the inability to pay their mortgage loans. Due to increased demand, many fall into the long waiting list for rental flats. There are also young couples who are eagerly waiting to buy flats direct from the HDB. Buying a home, be it a HDB flat or private property would require a large capital outlay, particularly the initial capital payment and long-term commitment from the buyers. Although the CPF provides the avenue for paying this long-term financial commitment, however, it turns into a burdensome experience when retrenchment sets in and there is not adequate money in the CPF account. This may become more apparent with the uncertain future. Sir, I would like to urge the Government to continue to explore more housing options for Singaporeans with different circumstances. In addition, we need to provide Singaporeans the options that can be achieved within a reasonable time so as not to affect the stability of the well-being of Singaporeans and their family members. Since I started helping at the Meet-the-People Sessions back in 1997, I witnessed how hard the HDB staff worked to help individuals and families, who have difficulties, in securing their homes. Our policies have also been refined to help more Singaporeans cope with the changing socio-economic landscape. While there are those who could be helped, there are also those whose circumstances are more difficult to address. I am concerned that our inability to secure homes for these Singaporeans will affect their well-being. Due to their inability to secure a home for themselves, we have seen many Singaporeans made alternative arrangements to find shelter on their own.”
“On a related issue, we should ask ourselves if the current lease structure of land in Singapore is the most optimal one, taking into account of the current needs of the society, such as ageing society, as well as the current socio-economic landscape, namely, globalisation. In addition, with added competition in the region and globally, as each city attempts to have a stake in the global city arena, we need to continue our effort in positioning our city-state not only as a place for real estate investment and consumption but also as a place to live, work and play. However, above all, I feel that our policies should facilitate the creation of Singapore as a home for all Singaporeans. This brings me to my next point, which is housing and well-being of Singaporeans in the New World Order. Sir, the President in his Address spoke about Singapore being an Asian city with a high quality of life. The housing market represents homes where Singaporeans live. In particular, its significance is apparent where the majority of Singaporeans own our homes. In the academic literature, home is often described as a haven. To me, a home is where one should feel secure, safe, comfortable, peaceful and able to live with our loved ones. It is where one grows, develops and achieves the best that one can be. It is a place or space where people can retreat and relax. Housing encompasses a bundle of characteristics that are integral to the family well-being. These characteristics include the physical and availability of housing, its relationship to the occupants and the neighbourhood conditions. During my engagements with my constituents, I observe an increasing number of certain segments of my constituents facing problems in meeting their commitments from home ownership.”
“I feel that the New World Order is likely to be characterised by shorter economic cycles, more integrated and globalised marketplace, high mobility among products, services, funds as well as human, without the exception of Singaporeans. Many economists have called for more flexibility in all markets in responding to the needs of the New World Order. Therefore, it is important that we continue to refine our policies to make it more relevant to this New Order. Let us take the real estate policies as an example. The cost and management of real estate ownership and usage often form part of the evaluation criteria in a business decision-making process. While the real estate investment trusts have increased real estate's liquidity as a form of investment vehicle, real estate still remains relatively illiquid, with high transaction cost and operates in a relatively inefficient market. Over the years, the URA has increased the level of transparency in the real estate market by releasing useful data to the public. Many stakeholders that I have met in the real estate industry have welcomed this greater transparency. As we move forward, the URA should enhance the partitioning, or what they call classification of the released data, which would certainly provide greater transparency to the real estate players and investors in their decision-making process, thus, contributing towards reducing the inefficiency of the real estate market. Sir, we need to continuously refine our real estate policies so that they are relevant to the times. For example, the need for flexibility and the shorter economic cycles would mean that companies may require shorter leases as part of their risk reduction strategy, if they look at real estate as a factor of production.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the President in his Address has outlined the priorities and focus of the Government and Singaporeans in the years to come. He defined a "New World Order" with its impending challenges, citing examples such as the recent global economic downturn and the H1N1 flu pandemic. However, he left the question as to how multi-racial and multi-religious Singapore will cope and respond to these challenges for debate. He called for a fresh rethink of perspectives and creative solutions from all Singaporeans. As such, I would like to begin by extending my appreciation to the Government as it is due to its forward-looking approach in crafting policies that have enabled Singapore to be where it is today. We have built ourselves a successful and harmonious nation that has been the envy but widely recognised by others. Nevertheless, we should never underestimate the undercurrents of change and the complacency of continued success. Our policies must meet the needs and feel the pulse of the people. Thus, it is imperative that we constantly review and tweak our strategies and policies to ensure its alignment to the needs and aspirations of Singaporeans. Many issues have been discussed over the last three days. I would like to discuss three more issues that we may need to address to better prepare ourselves for the New World Order. Firstly, policies in the New World Order. Sir, our Prime Minister mentioned in the House yesterday that the world beyond the crisis will not be the same again. This is not just another cyclical downturn followed by recovery but the world economy is undergoing a structural shift instead.”
“I believe that the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports have been working with schools and welfare bodies to solve the issue of dysfunctional families. In the meantime, how can the Malay/Muslim community further increase the channels of assistance and raise their level of excellence, and at the same time, not duplicate available programmes like the Healthy Start Programme (HSP) or the Home Ownership Plus Education Scheme (HOPE), and others? I am concerned with the limited capacity of the Malay/Muslim bodies, especially geographically, to be more effective. As such, how can Mendaki and MUIS expand their network to solve social issues like children whose parents are in prison, the sniffing of glue and other contraband items, the problems of family violence and gambling, and teenage marriages - social problems that have long haunted the Malay/Muslim community? Use of the Revised Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund”
“[For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A*.] Madam, education is essential to achieve excellence, as it enables our country and society to progress from one level to a higher one. I would like to ask the Minister if there are resources, including manpower and finance, to meet the educational needs of the Malay/Muslim community during this economic crisis. What are the steps taken to ensure that our children's schooling and education, from the primary to tertiary levels, will not be affected even though their parents lose their income? As we help the needy when solving welfare issues, it is essential for us to also increase our investment in the community's educational needs. I believe that this will help our efforts towards excellence for Singaporeans. Measures to Strengthen Malay Families The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education and Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M) (In Malay): [For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A*.] Madam, a task force or inter-ministerial committee was set up to solve the issue of dysfunctional families. Sociologists agree that children from dysfunctional families may be trapped in a vicious circle if they are not taken out from it. This initiative must touch on 4 strategic issues, that is, identifying dysfunctional or high-risk families, prevention, ways to solve the problem effectively, and the efficiency of the welfare sector In relation to this, how does the Malay/Muslim bodies, including MUIS and Mendaki, can work together and play an important role to support and help the community, based on the suggestions given. More importantly, how can we ensure that the number of dysfunctional families do not increase during this downturn?”
“Sir, the economic crisis would likely cause strains on some families here in Singapore. In particular, tensions might occur within families that do not have a strong foundation. Among those likely to be affected are youths, and I am concerned that the number of at-risk-youths may increase as the economic crisis deepens. Research has shown that youths are at-risk when two or more risk factors interact. These include poverty, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, truancy and illiteracy. Families with limited resources are especially vulnerable. Mentoring programmes have proven to be successful in reducing at-risk behavior. I would like to ask the Minister on the plans and programmes to mentor at-risk-youths in view of the economic downturn. Childcare and Early Childhood Development”
“Sir, I have a clarification for the Minister. Yesterday, the Minister mentioned that there would be an increase in the number of intake and the courses being offered at the local polytechnics. I would like to know if the capacity of the existing polytechnics is adequate to absorb this new intake as well the number of new courses being offered.And following that, are there plans to build new polytechnics in the near future? The Senior Minister of State for Education (RAdm [NS] Lui Tuck Yew): If I may reply to the second part. There are no plans to build anymore polytechnics beyond the existing five. The polytechnics today have drawn up plans to enhance the campuses, and when these are ready we will implement them. Assoc. Prof. Kalyani K Mehta (Nominated Member): This is a point of clarification in regards to yesterday's progress report on the fourth university. I just want to clarify and find out whether any Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences subjects will be offered in the fourth university. And if not, perhaps the Minister can explain. And another idea is that, would the students possibly be able to access similar subjects from other universities in case there are constraints of putting these subjects in the fourth university.”
“Sir, at yesterday's sitting, the Minister spelt out the additional financial assistance for needy students at tertiary institutions and schools during this economic crisis. I would like to ask the Minister for further details on how MOE intends to reach out and support families of needy students, so as not to compromise education in times of this economic crisis. Sir, among other institutions, schools and tertiary institutions present a good avenue for us to detect and tackle social problems, such as dysfunctional families and the need for financial assistance for the students. Does the MOE have a holistic approach in identifying and assisting students and their family members with social problems and thus need financial assistance at times? As the economic crisis deepens, MOE needs to ensure that no one is deprived of educational opportunities at all levels due to financial difficulties. On this note, I would like to ask the Minister, on average, how many students are under the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) in each school and tertiary institutions? How many counsellors does each school and tertiary institutions have? How do the tertiary institutions cater to the counselling needs of the students? Is this adequate? And, as the economic crisis deepens, are there plans to increase the number of counsellors in each school? Students from Low Socio-economic Status Background”
“Sir, although the world is now facing an unprecedented downturn, besides addressing the current recession as a united society, we should be forward-looking and geared towards preparing ourselves for the upturn in the future, so that we can provide a variety of opportunities for Singaporeans to reap the benefits of the upcoming recovery of the economy. This is especially so in the current crisis where we see many governments this week pumping in large amount of resources seeking to address the economic downturn. This would have significant impact on the types, as well as level of skills and expertise needed when the upturn arrives. I would like to ask the Minister if the economic downturn will have any effects on the enrolment of students and courses being offered at the ITE, Polytechnics and University. Further to this, are there plans to increase the enrolment at ITE, Polytechnics and Universities and courses offered to prepare for the upturn in the economy? Will there be any strategic change in the focus of post-secondary education in Singapore as a result of the current global crisis and to prepare for the upturn in the new economy?”
“In a Berita Harian report on 26th January 2009, which obtained information from the NKF, the statistics showed that the number of Malay/Muslim kidney patients rose by around 36% compared to three years ago. There are 513 kidney patients in December 2008 compared to 377 in the year 2005. How will the Ministry tackle this issue? Related to this topic, I would like to ask the Minister, what is the level of the Malay/Muslim community's support towards organ donation under HOTA? *Cols. 2499-2500. The Chairman: Mdm Halimah, take both your cuts together. Chronic Illnesses”
“Madam, I have met a few residents who shared with me how they have successfully managed their health situations by having regular health screenings. Therefore, it is important that we continue to encourage Singaporeans to conduct regular health screening, as it will enable them to detect any forms of illnesses, in particular, chronic illnesses and address them immediately. I would like to ask the Minister on the trend of Singaporeans conducting health screening as well as the relevant demographics, such as gender, age and race of those who have gone for their health screening over the last five years. Relating to this issue, I would like to ask the Minister on the state of health of the different communities in Singapore. What are the types of chronic illnesses suffered by the different communities? What efforts are undertaken by the Ministry in managing the issues of chronic illnesses in the different communities. As the people in the different communities have different eating habits and culture, it is important that any effort and engagement process take these factors into account. How do these efforts and engagement process vary? Madam, allow me to continue my speech in Malay. (In Malay): [For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A *.] Madam, I would like to know, what is the state of health of the Malay/Muslim community? What type of chronic illnesses do they face? Can the Ministry share with the House the patient demography, like age and gender, related to the Malay/Muslim chronic patients? How does the Ministry plan to engage the Malay/Muslim community in facing and managing health issues related to these chronic diseases?”
“A large percentage of my residents belong to the low-income group who are owning refrigerators and for some, possibly air-conditioners, with older technologies. These residents may not be able to afford to buy new appliances that have good energy utilisation rating like the energy labelling scheme. If they cannot afford new ones and are stuck with the old ones, how can they contribute towards energy efficiency? What programmes do we have in place to ensure that energy-efficient appliances are affordable by the general population?”
“Sir, with the economic recession, I would like to know how will the Ministry help households and businesses cut cost and ride out the crisis by becoming more resource efficient. What technologies and methodologies can we use for energy and water efficiency mentality in industries and households? And, ultimately, how do we employ them? How do we ensure that these technologies and methodologies are effective and efficient? I understand that a multi-agency committee, namely, the Energy Efficiency Programme Office was established to drive energy efficiency improvement in Singapore. Can the Minister provide an update on the following matters? Firstly, how successful has the programme been at reaching out to the public and businesses and promoting energy efficiency behaviour and practices? What big truths have we achieved in building Singapore's capability in energy-efficient technologies? Based on what we have achieved, how capable is Singapore to drive and sustain energy efficiency efforts and to develop the local knowledge base and expertise in energy management? How have businesses, industries and consumers and households in Singapore responded to the adoption of energy-efficient technologies? I would like to applaud the Ministry's effort to instil energy and water conservancy mindset through the 10% Energy Challenge and 10% Water Challenge programmes. Can I have an update on the reduction in the energy and water usage as result of these programmes. What initiatives does the Ministry have in moving forward? How far are we from reaching our national targets of energy and water conservancy? Finally, a typical household refrigeration and air-conditioning account for a significant portion of electricity consumption.”
“Sir, two points of clarification. One is with regard to the housing counsellors mentioned by the Minister earlier in his speech. I would like to know whether these are full-time professionally-trained counsellors or HDB estate officers doubling as counsellors. Secondly, with regard to the optimal level of lease structure in Singapore, in view of the changes in the socio-economic structure, such as with the ageing population and globalisation, are there plans to review the land lease structure in Singapore for the development of private residential housing in Singapore? Has the Ministry received any request or indications of demand for such developments of maybe, 30, 50 or 60-year lease land for private residential development in Singapore?”
“But because of time constraints, I can only mention two. One, preserve and restore the edges around the seven fragmented patches in our nature reserves. Our once integrated forest nature reserves are now fragmented into roughly seven patches, each standing isolated with gaps in the forest cover. Fragmentations bring about population isolation among the various species causing the edge effect which has no immunity or resistance, therefore finally killing the native wildlife. Two, conserve 10% of our natural unmodified remaining coastline. Although we have high biodiversity, the small reef size or areas mean that we need a critical area for the reef to survive and thrive. Fragmentation of our reefs like the terrestrial case does not work. I would be happy to provide the Minister with reports on all the other recommendations.”
“Sir, in his Budget speech, the Minister for Finance revealed that the Government plans to spend $1 billion over the next five years on sustainable development initiatives. May I know what has been the progress of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Sustainable Development (IMCSD) in charting new strategies for Singapore's future development since it was formed a year ago? When can we expect the IMCSD to announce its findings and recommendations? Nature Conservation - Marine and Terrestrial Er Edwin Khew Teck Fook (Nominated Member): Sir, much has been done by the MND over the last five years to find a pragmatic balance between infrastructure development and conservation of terrestrial and marine ecosystems. I applaud the NParks for developing nature walks in the Southern Ridges, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Sungei Buloh and also marine areas like Chek Jawa, and setting up of a coral nursery. However, more can be done if we want to be truly a sustainable island state. A survey done recently by the Singapore Tourism Board shows that of the selected fauna groups, 252 species of animals exist in Singapore. However, 55 are locally threatened and will disappear if we do not do something to protect them. In the marine ecosystem, we have lost 60% of our coral reefs because of coastal reclamation, but we are fortunate that the biodiversity has not been affected much. We are still in a position, if we act now, to reverse the trend of our dying corals. In our coral reefs, we have more than 250 species of hard corals, more than 120 reef fish from 30 families, 12 out of the 23 seagrass species found in the Indo-Pacific region. To ensure that we conserve and preserve what we have both terrestrial and marine, I have a number of recommendations.”
“I feel that not only do these residents need help to pay their arrears, they would also need support to manage their stress levels and the financial knowledge and skills to get them out of the vicious cycle of outstanding loans and arrears. I would like to propose that the Government take an inter-Ministry and agency integrated approach to assist these residents in managing their current financial burden, as well as to get them stay out of the arrears cycle. In our quest to encourage home ownership among our people, it is also important that we continue to educate them about property ownership and their responsibilities when owning properties. I would like to know what other plans the HDB has in enhancing the understanding of home ownership. Finally, as we move deeper into the economic crisis, I am concerned that the number of housing loan arrears may increase. As such, there may be a risk of a sub-prime crisis in Singapore. I would like to ask the Ministry how the HDB intends to prevent such a sub-prime crisis from taking place here.”
“Sir, with the economic downturn, many home owners may face retrenchments and job losses. They may struggle to pay their HDB loans. I would like to know how the HDB will help these home owners cope with their loan payments. I would like to urge the HDB to demonstrate compassion and generosity in helping these residents. Home owners who had gone through such experiences in the past could actually share their personal experiences with those experiencing their plight now to help the latter manage their problems better. I would like to ask the HDB if they have a platform akin to that of a support group to help these financially stricken home owners. Will the HDB consider helping the setting up of support groups for such purpose? Sir, I would also like to urge the HDB to facilitate the process of timely downgrading for those who genuinely need to do so. This will help them avert from going deeper into their financial woes. For those whose flats have been foreclosed, we should do all we can to assist them secure alternative or temporary housing. Wherever possible, we should avoid situations where the family members are displaced due to the unavailability of housing options. We do not want a situation where the children and their parents have to stay at different locations due to the foreclosure of their flats. This will result in the disintegration of the family unit, lower morale and affect the development of our society. Sir, I often observe that those who are unable to manage their HDB loans often have arrears with SP Services, property tax as well as Town Council.”
“These are likely to be cheaper and will help in their planning for a secured retirement here in Singapore. I would like to ask the Minister if there are any plans to have variations, as in shortening the lease structure of land sold for private residential developments here in Singapore, to cater to our ageing society. Has the Ministry received any request for the development of private residential developments with shorter leases?”
“Sir, it was previously announced that the Lease Buyback Scheme (LBS) will be launched this year. I have met many residents who have asked me about the implementation of the scheme. Will it be anytime soon? Can the Minister give the House an update? One common concern among the elderly is whether they will leave anything behind to their children as they pass away. If the elderly in the LBS passes away before the end of 30 years, what will happen to the flat and the balance of his annuity money? Sir, following the announcement about the LBS, I have also met elderly residents who may not be able to meet the criteria to participate in the LBS. These include those who live in larger than 3-room flats, and those who may have enjoyed more than one housing subsidy in the past. Will the Ministry consider having variations in the LBS policy to allow residents having different circumstances to have the opportunity to monetise their assets and have a secured retirement here in Singapore? Sir, besides the LBS, many elderly I have met have also called for more development of studio apartments. Can the Minister share with the House on the development plans for such a housing option? Where are these flats going to be developed? What is the demand for such flats and how can the supply meet the needs of such demand? On a related issue, does the Minister think that the current lease structure of land being sold for private residential development in Singapore is the most optimal one, taking into account the current needs of the society, such as ageing population as well as the current socio-economic landscape, such as globalisation? Among us, there may be elderly Singaporeans and perhaps foreigners who may like to stay in private developments with shorter leases.”