Ng Eng Hen
Singapore
“I think we try to keep this virtuous state of affairs as long as we can to make sure that we can invest steadily. Year-to-year fluctuations would occur, whether it is economic, not so much in COVID-19, but remember the Global Financial Crisis? Everybody needs to take a haircut. If you have to take a haircut, you have to take a haircut.”
“Mr Chairman, as the World around us becomes more unpredictable and changes, the more we need to keep the strongest commitment to strengthen our own defences and, if needed, we must be willing to do more. Singapore celebrates 60 years of Independence this year.”
“MINDEF will continue to work with partners to encourage Singaporeans to raise their digital literacy, develop and maintain good cybersecurity habits, protect sensitive data and guard against scams, fake news and disinformation so as to make the digital domain a safer and more secure space.”
“The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) conducts regular mobilisation exercises (MOBEX) of our National Service (NS) forces. In a silent mobilisation, NSmen are notified through their personal contact numbers. Open mobilisations include the broadcast of unit code-words through mass media.”
“In 2020, the Ministry of Defence replied to a Parliamentary Question on this matter that the relocation of Paya Lebar Air Base (PLAB) would likely occur around 2030 or beyond, after Changi Air Base and Tengah Air Base have been expanded to house the existing assets at PLAB.”
“When incidents or near-misses happen, as it did where one Hunter armoured fighting vehicle rear-ended another during Exercise Wallaby in Australia, thorough investigations are conducted and lessons learnt shared across the units.”
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“This Government is a government of Singaporeans for Singaporeans, and its responsibility is to Singaporeans. All our policies, including the foreign worker policy, are directed towards the interests of Singaporeans. We will do our utmost to help citizens find and keep their jobs. But we cannot succeed by shutting out foreign workers from Singapore. MOM will give its full energy to help Singaporeans get jobs. One major initiative is the Workforce Development Agency, whose Bill I will be moving later. Mr Speaker, Sir, I have tried to explain the reality of the job market, because I think that is where the real focus of this discussion is. But I would like to end by addressing some questions about the comprehensiveness of the labour statistics we publish. Can I request that the attachment be circulated? [Copies of attachment circulated to hon. Members.] Our labour statistics are reliable and accurate. They follow International Labour Organisation guidelines on concepts and definition, access, integrity, data and quality. Singapore also subscribes to the International Monetary Fund's Special Data Dissemination Standards for key data on unemployment and employment figures. These standards cover four dimensions, namely, coverage, periodicity and timeliness of the data, access by the public, and integrity and quality of the disseminated data. Nobody has ever cast any doubts on the veracity of our figures. We are ahead of many countries in the range of labour statistics we provide regularly. The Government provides precise and accurate numbers regularly on labour market statistics for residents. The quarterly Labour Market Report issued by MOM gives detailed information on the profile of resident unemployed workers and on retrenched local workers and their re-employment rates.”
“Also, if we require employers to show that he has failed to find a local, there will be endless disputes as to whether the company is offering fair terms, whether the wages are adequate, whether the job seekers are qualified or suitable. Better for us just to impose a levy on the foreign worker. And if the employer volunteers to pay the levy and hire a foreign worker, when he can hire a Singaporean without a levy, we conclude that he has a valid reason to do so. Countries that have tried to protect their workers by imposing rigid labour market policies have not reduced their unemployment - in fact the contrary occurs. Both France and Germany protect their workers well but both have unemployment rates above 9%. The same can be said for many European countries within the OECD, with an unemployment rate of 8.9%. We have been advised to follow labour policies of Canada. Well, Canada has an unemployment rate of 7.8%, so more protection does not guarantee more jobs for your residents. I agree with Members that from time to time, we will have to adjust our quota and levy system to get the right mix within our labour force. But the current problem is that of demand. As an open economy, we are dependent on the state of the global economy. Jobs will return when the economy picks up. They will not come from keeping foreign workers out. I well understand the sentiments of workers who lose their jobs, and are faced with the problem of providing for their families. But the way to help them is to create more new jobs and to prepare them for the new jobs through training and skills redevelopment programmes. We also need to focus on wage restructuring to reduce retrenchments, and on up-skilling for employability.”
“When the SARS crisis hit the hotel industry, they had to reduce cost, and manpower cost was the first obvious target. Hotel owners quickly asked for a reduction in the levy. If we had not lowered the levy because we wanted to protect or reduce, in fact, encourage the foreign workers to go back, the hotels could not survive, and both locals and foreigners would have lost their jobs. In many factories, the night shift is manned almost completely by foreigners. They cannot find Singaporeans to work the night shift, despite shift allowances and resident unemployment at about 5%. Without foreign workers to do the night shift, the factories could not be viable in Singapore. They would relocate to Malaysia or China, causing those Singaporeans who perform the day shift, as well as the engineers and technicians, also to lose their jobs. In other areas, the staff shortages can have even more serious repercussions. Take nursing as an example. If not for the foreign nurses working side by side with local nurses, our hospitals would not be able to function. Members would remember that during the SARS crisis, no one would have blamed the foreign nurses if they had chosen to return to their home country. Instead, many foreign nurses stayed and risked their lives taking care of patients with SARS. Dr Amy Khor suggested that we introduce measures such as those in the US, where an employer can hire a foreigner only after he has failed in his attempt to employ a local. In fact, our dependency ceiling that we already have is even more stringent than what she proposes. So that even if an employer can show that he cannot find Singaporeans to hire, we will not allow him to hire more foreigners above the dependency ceiling.”
“We have already restricted the proportion of foreign workers that a company can employ, to require each company to employ a certain minimum proportion of locals. We do this through the mechanism of the dependency ceiling. Let me explain that to you. Beyond the ceiling, even if the company is unable to recruit Singaporeans, we will still not allow that company to hire foreign workers. So in the services sector, the dependency ceiling is 30% which means that we require the company to hire at least 70% locals. This causes problems to many companies trying to reduce their cost, especially the smaller local firms, as many Members here will know from their MPS cases. But it is a way to get the firms to try harder to hire more locals. Furthermore, foreign workers are subject to the foreign worker levy. This levy reduces the differences in wages between Singaporeans and foreign workers, and attempts to tilt the playing field in favour of Singaporeans. Should we lower the dependency ceiling or raise the foreign worker levy to reduce the number of foreign workers? Will that help us solve unemployment? We have not done so because this will be counter-productive. We cannot force companies to hire more Singaporeans by depriving them of foreign workers. If we make it harder for companies to hire workers whom they need, we will make it more difficult for companies to operate in Singapore. This will discourage them from growing their business here. Because beyond a certain point, companies will relocate in order to survive - they have to compete along with you - or if they are unable to relocate they will simply close down. Our economy will shrink, and Singaporeans will lose even more jobs.”
“New investments will create new jobs, and expand the economic pie for everyone. Secondly, we must emphasise training and skills upgrading, to enable our workers to do the jobs that are available and to hold their own against the competition. Thirdly, we need to free up the labour market, by reforming the wage system and retuning the CPF system. Our fixed, seniority based wages are a rigidity which discourages employers from hiring older workers. The CPF system achieves important social objectives, but its burden must be kept as light as possible so that it does not make our workers uncompetitive. Fourthly, we must get Singaporeans to take up the jobs which foreigners are doing, including in the industries which they previously avoided. In other words, when the buffet table has less appealing dishes, we have to encourage them to eat them because they are still nutritious even though they are less appealing. Foreigners form about a quarter of our workforce. There are around 200,000 jobs held by foreign work permit holders in the manufacturing and services sector, excluding the 140,000 foreign maids and the 150,000 construction workers. I encourage Singaporeans to take up these jobs. I appreciate that some of these jobs are not attractive because of lower pay or working conditions. We have been working with industries to redesign jobs to help them make the jobs more suitable for Singaporeans. If we can increase productivity through job redesign, wages can also go up. But we have to be realistic, and Singaporeans need to adjust to market conditions too. Why does the Government not simply tighten up the foreign workers policy to protect more jobs for Singaporeans?”
“It was a natural reaction and the luxury we could afford in a time of plenty. Instead they chose to move into the services industry where working conditions were more manageable. It was a logical choice for some. Very few complained when employers who needed the manpower hired foreign workers to fill up those jobs that they did not want. So if you look at the number beginning in Table 1, from 1993 to 1997, the number of foreign workers in fact nearly doubled, but very few complained. But 1998 to 2002 were difficult years. Skilled workers from China and India entered the global market. The Asian financial crisis, September 11 and the Bali bomb blast took their toll. In Singapore, fewer jobs were created than the new entrants added into the workforce each year. So instead of 100,000 jobs created each year, only about 18,000 jobs were created. Instead of the luxurious spread, fewer and less appealing dishes were now on the buffet table. As a result, many foreign workers went home, especially from the construction and manufacturing sectors. Only in services did foreign worker numbers go up, and many of these were domestic maids. Hence, Table 1 shows a net increase of only 8,900 foreign workers over these five years as compared to the preceding five years where there was an increase in 291,000 foreign workers, ie, 9,000 compared to 291,000. But note that, despite fewer jobs being created during 1998 to 2002, Singaporeans continued to move out of manufacturing. The service industry was still creating jobs but not enough to absorb everyone. So the resident unemployment rate rose. Singaporeans had not shaken their attitudes shaped by years of plentiful jobs. How do we solve the current problem of unemployment? First, we need to get the economy growing again.”
“However, if we compare the number of jobs created for Singaporeans in the two periods, only half as many new jobs were created in the later period for Singaporeans compared to the earlier period - 185,000 versus 93,000. I can therefore well understand, as many of the Members in this House have told me, the sentiment of retrenched Singaporeans who find no comfort in the 9 to 1 ratio. In fact, many of them do not even bother what the ratio is. Every Singaporean knows that the job market is tougher than before and, with the recent spate of retrenchments, is rightly concerned about his job security. He also wants to know why we allow foreign workers here when our resident unemployment rates have reached 5%. These are their concerns and let me now address these more important concerns. Why is the job market tougher? As Members should have realised from comparing these two periods, it is ultimately job creation which reduces unemployment. We are feeling pain because not enough jobs were created in the last five years. The ratio of foreign to local workers is unimportant when enough jobs have been created. We have about 35,000 additional residents entering into our labour force every year. From 1993 to 1997, there were about 100,000 jobs on average every year. So in fact, it was a grand `job buffet' as we created nearly three jobs for every Singaporean. From 1993 to 1997, Singaporeans could pick and choose the type of job they liked. As they could, indeed they did. So as Table 2 indicates, they declined jobs in the construction, marine, domestic, cleaning, kitchen, hotels and even manufacturing sectors. Singaporeans basically said no to hot or difficult jobs, those that had 12 hour or night shifts, those that required you to commute too far, etc.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in response to Dr Amy Khor's and Mr Steve Chia's questions. There has been some controversy and confusion since the NTU economists released wrong employment trends on 31st July. I therefore welcome this opportunity to answer Members' questions and to present the correct facts. More importantly, I want to address the concerns of Singaporeans who are worried about their job prospects and who fear that foreigners are taking away their jobs. Let me first present the facts. I have circulated two Tables (Cols. 2449-2452). I distribute detailed information on employment changes for every year from 1993 to 2002. This is contained in Table 2 which also provides the breakdown into broad sectors. But to prevent us all from being overwhelmed with details, I suggest we focus on Table 1, which gives the total employment change of both local and foreign workers. It is here where we will find some of the answers that account for our present predicament. Table 1 - Employment Change, 1993-1997 and 1999-2002 (Cols. 2449-2450) Table 2 - Employment Change by Sector, 1993-1997 and 1998-2002 (Cols. 2451-2452) Table 1 shows that in the earlier period from 1993 to 1997, almost 475,000 jobs were created. Of these, Singaporeans took up about 185,000 and foreigners, the remaining 290,000. Note that in this period of high economic growth and job creation, more jobs - 60% - went to foreigners than Singaporeans. But very few Singaporeans complained then because locals found jobs easily and the foreign workers helped us meet the labour demand. In the later period from 1998 to 2002, about 102,000 jobs were created. 93,000 of these jobs went to residents, and only 9,000 to foreigners. So the ratio of 9 Singaporean to 1 foreigner is statistically correct.”
“The Ministry will take Mr Inderjit Singh's comments about investable amounts into stocks, shares and loans when we review the policy. HDB'S MAIN CONTRACTORS AND SUB-CONTRACTORS 7. Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan asked the Minister for National Development, in view of the recent problems experienced by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) with its construction and upgrading projects and in order to avoid the future occurrence of such problems, what steps have been taken or are being taken in relation to (i) the HDB's internal systems and processes to evaluate tenders and manage main and sub-contractors, (ii) its communication with affected lessees; and (iii) the tendering procedures and registration of contractors for HDB and other public sector projects administered by the Building and Construction Authority. 8. Miss Penny Low asked the Minister for National Development whether the recent failures of the HDB's main contractors and sub-contractors are due to a systemic problem on how HDB awards and manages its contracts in relation to (i) its tender system and (ii) its timing of payments to these contractors for services rendered that may have burdened the cash flow of these contractors. 9. Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for National Development (a) why about 560 HDB flats at Punggol Field were not completed on time and abandoned by the contractor; and (b) whether compensations were paid or will be paid by the HDB to purchasers of those flats.”
“I agree with Mr Chia in principle that if, and it is a big "if", a particular member has accrued enough Minimum Sum, we could consider that he could dip into that pool. But it is a big "if" for a very small number that exists currently. And in individual cases, we will look at it, but as a general principle, as I have said, only 42% of CPF members meet our Minimum Sum which, I will tell Members, is an under-provision, even as it stands. Because the way it is structured currently, we have not asked members to fulfill a Medisave minimum sum before the amount goes into their Ordinary and Special accounts. So while we say it is provision for medical care, that is not even taken care of. So there are these real limitations that we need to solve before opening up the CPF scheme and allowing members to further diminish that amount.”
“Sir, I mentioned that there is a trade-off in terms of the statutory burden. In other words, over-consumption, over-saving or over-investment from the CPF has to be measured against the trade-off of wage rigidities and employment creation. If we impose too high a statutory burden on wages, we are going to be less competitive. So the first premise we have to understand is that, while we want to put aside for our retirement, healthcare and housing needs, there is a trade-off in terms of what we get in terms of employment creation. The first objective is to arrive at whether we have provided enough for these three essential aspects. And as I have said, the figures tell us that we have not quite provided enough. Having said that we have not quite provided enough, it really makes no sense to further expand the opportunities in which the CPF could be consumed because the first task is to make sure that we have provided enough for the majority. If we do not, there will be serious implications downstream in the long-term. We would have conscribed our economic opportunities, we would have forced ourselves into a tighter fiscal position and we would have engendered and encumbered future generations with our problems, something which we would not want to do.”
“Sir, I agree wholeheartedly that education is an investment. The question is whether we should allow CPF to be used for that investment. And as I have said, we should stay sharply focused on the original intent of the CPF scheme, which is, retirement, housing and healthcare. If we have provided enough and it is a big "if", I would tell Members that currently, only 42% of CPF members meet the $40,000 Minimum Sum. And this $40,000 Minimum Sum is not calculated from the air, but in adequacy terms, if we withdraw annuities, in other words, monthly payments based on the principal sum, it only yields about $238 a month. It is not a large sum. It is enough to keep body and soul together. 42% of CPF members reach this amount. Sir, in the sense of under-provision, I would say that the urge for the CPF system is to really provide adequacy and not to increase the avenues for consumption. As to the specifics of the small businesses, I would have to look into the specifics and answer the question from the Member separately.”
“It is for this same reason of remaining pure to the original and focused aims of the CPF scheme that I am against allowing the early withdrawal of CPF savings for business start-ups. There is no certainty that all start-ups will thrive and indeed data proves the contrary, that the majority of start-ups fizzles out. We run the risk of many members losing their retirement savings for a few to make good. For those intending to start their own businesses, they could look to the Government or private incentives and financing schemes for assistance. The Micro Loan Programme, for example, administered by SPRING Singapore and offered through participating financial institutions, is a fixed interest rate financing programme designed to help the very small local enterprises gain better access to financing. Other assistance for start-ups include the Franchise 21 Assistance Programme, Local Enterprise Financing Scheme (LEFS) and New Business Creation Incentive.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the primary objective of the CPF is to help members save for their retirement, healthcare and housing needs. While often stated in these simple terms and often repeated, we should be reminded again that our CPF system remains a cornerstone on which we build our social and indeed economic well-being. We should resist strenuously attempts to adulterate the original aims and intents of the CPF system. Yes, from time to time, we may have to recalibrate the amount we put aside to meet these basic needs because there is a trade-off from too high a statutory burden for wages. We risk becoming less competitive and thereby restrict employment creation, we create less jobs. In other words, we should make sure that the majority of the population has enough to cover these basic needs and we should neither under or over-provide. The CPF Education Scheme was introduced in 1989 as a special concession to help lower-income families support themselves or their children through full-time local tertiary education. To allow CPF savings for overseas tertiary education would be a further deviation from the aims of the CPF scheme. It would also introduce opportunities for over-consumption. For example, an overseas engineering course could cost as much as $58,000 a year as compared to $5,650 at the NUS for the academic year 2003/2004. Further, if we did allow it, this availability of the use of CPF savings would put unwelcome pressure on parents to fund an ever-increasing aspiration of children to pursue a tertiary education. I am not for it. I would rather we hold the line than ask parents to do it. There are other avenues of scholarships and loan schemes available to good students who would benefit from an university education, anywhere.”
“To help promote the adoption of the above-mentioned alternatives to retrenchment, the Ministry proactively visited companies with excess manpower. In other words, we do not wait for them to call us. We monitor the trends and then we go down to the ground and try to manage it. Between March and October 2002, MOM visited 110 companies ranging from SMEs to large firms employing over 500 staff. With the implementation of the various alternatives to retrenchments, many jobs have been saved as companies could avoid retrenchments and where retrenchment is unavoidable, the number of workers affected could be minimised. CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND (Liberalisation on use) 6. Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Acting Minister for Manpower will the Government consider liberalising the use of Central Provident Fund (CPF) monies for purposes of (i) supporting overseas education of children who are not able to gain admission into local universities so long as any housing loan owing has been paid up by the CPF account holder; and (ii) subsidising the start-up of a small business (up to a comfortable limit as determined by CPF) as part of the Government's encouragement for self-employment by the unemployed.”
“Sir, MOM has been providing retrenchment advisory services to help companies explore feasible alternatives to retrenchment, as Ms Braema Mathi has suggested. We have asked them to carry out retrenchment only as a last resort. Following the recommendations of the Tripartite Panel on Retrenchments in June 1998, a special Retrenchment Advisory Unit under the Labour Relations Department of the Ministry was set up. This Unit monitors retrenchment trend, advises companies on how retrenchments can be carried out smoothly and fairly to the extent possible, provides conciliatory assistance to resolve disputes, disseminates information relating to retrenchment through brochures and leaflets. The Unit also manages a Retrenchment Assistance Hotline to enable employers facing excess manpower to seek timely advice and assistance on retrenchment issues. Companies are urged to retrench workers as a last resort and are advised to consider the following alternatives if they have excess manpower. One, take the opportunity to train and upgrade their workers' skills under the Skills Redevelopment Programme (SRP), which is exactly what we did in terms of our assistance schemes during the SARS crisis for tourism and hospitality-related sectors. The Government issued a $57 million budget for training and for some sectors, as you might have read, the uptake was significant and did allay further retrenchments. Two, look for alternative areas of work within the company to deploy the surplus workers, including implementing job-sharing and part-time work, as well as other cost-cutting measures. Three, implement shorter work week or temporary lay-offs. Four, if it has a flexible wage system in place, use it to adjust its wage cost.”
“The Taskforce is expected to release its final report within six months. ADOPTION OF ALTERNATIVES TO RETRENCHMENT 5. Ms Braema Mathiaparanam asked the Acting Minister for Manpower what steps his Ministry has in place to (i) ensure that employers use retrenchments as a last resort to save costs and (ii) encourage employers to use other strategies such as job-sharing, part-time work or cutting back on frills such as company cars as cost-saving measures.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as the Member rightly pointed out, in the face of stiff global competition, the NWC has, in its wage guidelines for July 2003 and June 2004, urged companies and unions to speed up wage restructuring to enhance wage flexibility and competitiveness. It has also recommended that a Tripartite Taskforce be set up to drive this process of wage restructuring. The Government has accepted these recommendations and a Tripartite Taskforce has been set up to help companies in their wage reform. This Taskforce is chaired by my Permanent Secretary and will also include representatives from the unions and employers. I thank the Member for her inputs and agree that more information regarding wage reviews should be provided periodically to industries. We have recognised that this is a deficiency and we will work towards that. In other words, we will provide market information more readily to companies to see what the hiring salaries are. We will take her inputs into account. The Taskforce will provide companies with relevant information and analysis on wage cost, formulate flexible and competitive wage models, and highlight the experiences of companies in their wage reform. The Taskforce will also recommend measures and options that companies and unions can adopt in restructuring their wage system. Together with the tripartite partners, my Ministry will work closely with industries, companies, unions and professional societies to implement changes to their wage systems and look into skills upgrading and industry transformation that would complement wage reform. The successful implementation of wage reform and the upgrading of our workers' capabilities will help enhance the competitiveness and employability of our workforce.”
“Before I answer Mr Low Thia Khiang, my other more learned colleague has told me that actually 10,000 people took up the People-for-Jobs Traineeship Programme, of which 4,000 stayed on. I will again have to check on the numbers. Is it sufficient? It is a relative word. I would rather give the Member numbers so that we know where we are now and in the future. As I said, the number of accounts in utility arrears is 1%. The average amount of arrears for each account is about $1,000 and the trend is down. Are we satisfied? Can anyone be satisfied? We will work with our CDCs and VWOs and we will monitor the situation and calibrate the assistance in tandem with the hardship felt on the ground and in tandem with the economic conditions. WAGE RESTRUCTURING 4. Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Acting Minister for Manpower in view of National Wage Council's recommendation for wage restructuring and the global competition that our companies are faced with, (a) will his Ministry facilitate the review of wages in both the local and global industries and provide a database of such reviews for companies to make informed decisions timely; and (b) how can his Ministry be better poised to partner industry players to carry out job profiling exercises which are essential in supporting wage restructuring and minimising tensions between employers and unions during restructuring exercises.”
“Sir, I do not have the exact number but, from my recall, about 4,000-odd people have been placed on this scheme since it was introduced. But I would have to check the number.”
“Sir, we actively do this, but to really get the effect, my Ministry has decided that a holistic approach is better, which means that not only we work on the mindset of all those parties involved but we also introduce enabling schemes. One particular enabling scheme, as I have mentioned previously in this House, is the People-for-Jobs Traineeship Programme where Government will fund half of the worker's salary for about six months or $2,000, whichever is less. This will facilitate, if you like, the employer to accept the employee and for Government to show its support and for that six months for the employee to be tested in the new job. I am sure that those who have signed up for this scheme will prove their own worth in due time.”
“Sir, the Member fully appreciates that the word "sufficient" is subjective. Let me give some objectivity to his question in terms of those who are in utility account arrears, which he has mentioned. Yes, for everyone who suffers hardship, we empathise, but we need to be mindful of the numbers. The percentage of households who have arrears on utilities is 1% of all accounts. Even in the 1-room and 2-room HDB flats, it is around 5%. The Energy Market Authority has set for itself particular targets to try to bring down the number of accounts in arrears to reduce the figure to pre-1999 level, which is 0.2% eventually. So that is the working target internally. As I have also mentioned, PUB, instead of disconnecting supply, has agreed that they will use thimbling so that their essential water requirements are still met. We will work hard and, as I said, we will calibrate the financial assistance schemes with our CDCs and VWOs to respond to those in need. But the number suggests that there is a declining trend of those who are in arrears.”
“Sir, I think the Member has touched on the issue of job vacancies. Let me give some numbers again. As of March 2003, there were still about 12,000 job vacancies in the private sector. There are still about 31% or 4,000 jobs for professionals, managers, executives and technical vocations. Also, in the public sector, there are about 1,800 jobs available for professionals and associate professionals. It is not only a question of the grade of jobs but also the industry. Yes, there is disruptive unemployment, in other words, particular sectors have shrunk so that those who work in one sector cannot go back to that sector and they have to convert to another sector. We have created specific schemes targeted at this group. One particular scheme is called the Strategic Manpower Conversion Programme and it is aimed especially at professionals to help them change. For example, an executive who is retrenched from the electronics sector can switch to the healthcare sector. There are these schemes available. We also work with professional organisations, such as SHRI and SPEC, to help them help professionals to make this conversion.”
“Sir, saying that half of the workers unemployed are white collar workers does not quite lend equanimity to the situation. Let me give a clearer picture. Of all the unemployed residents - if we take the overall global number of those who are unemployed - the unemployment rate for degree holders is 3.8%, in other words, 96% of those with degrees are employed. For diploma holders, it is 3.5%; upper secondary, 3.4%. Nonetheless, we do agree with Dr Amy Khor that more needs to be done to help every sector of the unemployed and our programmes are crafted not so much at either blue or white collar workers but industry-specific, to look at areas where there is growth and to enable workers who have been unemployed or retrenched from one sector to convert to another sector.”
“The various financial, training and employment assistance measures which I have just described provide a sound and holistic framework for helping unemployed and low-income Singaporeans in this downturn. We will have to calibrate the extent of assistance depending on economic circumstances, and feedback from MPs, VWOs, and officers on the ground. Unfortunately, our experience shows that despite the difficult conditions, there are jobs which companies still cannot find Singaporeans to fill. Hence, the Government will need to tighten the connection between financial assistance and efforts on the part of individuals to look for jobs, take up jobs that are available and undergo training. We will monitor closely how well the existing schemes are working and, wherever necessary, to streamline and improve the assistance framework to make it more effective. Ultimately, jobs and self-reliance are the best guarantee of financial independence, self-confidence and personal dignity. I urge Singaporeans who are out of work to be flexible and realistic in their search for jobs. They should not turn down job opportunities which may not be ideal, but which can financially tide them over this downturn.”
“For those lower income families that are unable to pay their utility bills - this is in reply to Mr Low Thia Khiang - PUB has already adopted the practice of thimbling their water supply instead of cutting it off completely since late 2002. This has enabled them to continue to have access to a minimum supply of water for basic needs. PUB will extend this practice until the economic situation improves. As for facilitating job placement, between December 2001 and last month, 152,000 visits for job assistance under MOM's Career Link and its Distributed Career Link Network were recorded; of these, 19,600 people were placed into jobs. Recently, we have seen an increase in take-up rate and this is encouraging. MOM also introduced a number of industry-targeted programmes to place and train or convert job seekers for jobs in growth or strategic sectors. More than 1,200 Singaporeans have benefited from such programmes so far. Further, training programmes are in place to ensure that workers' skill sets develop in tandem with the economy. About 80,000 workers have benefited from the Skills Redevelopment Programme. I share Members' concern on the impact of a further rise in overall unemployment rate, as pointed out by Dr Amy Khor. Hence, MOM is working towards introducing more place and train programmes in other sub-sectors which offer employment opportunities. We will support retooling and upskilling workers and later I will be introducing a Bill which will enable us to start the CET statutory board. These developments will enable MOM and its partners to be more effective in helping the unemployed find jobs.”
“Because the Questions have been asked from various agencies, this reply is with the inputs from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Community Development and Sports, Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Trade and Industry. As the Member rightly pointed out, since 1998, as economic conditions worsened, the Government appreciated that more would face hardship. In response, several measures have been introduced to help lower income groups and unemployed workers cope with the difficult times. These measures involved not just temporary financial assistance, but also job matching and placement services, and specific schemes and programmes to facilitate re-entry into the workforce. On financial assistance, the Government works closely with Community Development Councils (CDCs) and voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) to tailor the assistance to households in need. For instance, the unemployed who have a low household income can apply for interim financial assistance at their Community Development Councils. Short-term financial aid will be granted for six months, subject to a review every three months. In FY2002, 6,700 unemployed Singaporeans were helped by this scheme. 88% of them managed to get a job within three months and become financially independent. In addition, families who live in 1-, 2- or 3-room rental and purchased flats who have difficulty paying their rental, utilities or conservancy charges can obtain short-term relief to tide over temporary crises. They may apply for monthly subsidies for rent, utilities and service and conservancy charges, up to a maximum monthly cap of $90 for utilities and $35 for service and conservancy charges.”
“I think the Ministry of Health should make it very clear to all the people that if anyone is to visit a foreign country, he would have to check his temperature at least twice a day for three days upon his return to Singapore. If he has been to any of the SARS-affected areas, then he will have to impose self-isolation for 10 days, upon his return to Singapore. I think this will be very effective in preventing this disease from being brought into Singapore. I support the Bill.”
“Can the Minister please enlighten us how such an event could be prevented from occurring again under the amended law? There is also this new section 17(5) of the Bill which says that any person who, without reasonable excuse, contravenes an order under subsection (3) shall be guilty of an offence. I think this is misleading. It would appear that anyone who violates the order could get away with it so long as he can come out with a reasonable excuse. This will surely lead to some unnecessary trouble. In my opinion, the phrase "without reasonable excuse" should be deleted. Bearing in mind that the first three index cases actually caught the virus when they were on a shopping holiday in Hong Kong, we should require anyone who has gone overseas on official duty or otherwise to conscientiously check his temperature for at least three days upon his return to Singapore to see whether or not he has been infected. If he has visited a SARS-affected area or country, then he would need to impose self-quarantine for 10 days. Nowadays, many organisations are making arrangements to this effect. Some Government departments and statutory boards are sectionalising their offices so that, if anyone is infected, only the section in which he works will be quarantined. I think in Singapore we should send a very clear and precise signal to our people. If you go to a SARS-affected country or area, then you have this responsibility to impose self-isolation for 10 days. If this had been done earlier, the three primary index cases would not have infected so many people and the consequential effects on our economy and social lives would have been minimised.”
“First, how do we deal with any person who may have been infected with SARS, refused to go and see a doctor, but preferred to stay at home by taking some Chinese medicine and herbs, and hoping that he will be cured? In the process, his family members, and even his neighbours, would get into trouble. The proposed amendment to section 4(10) of the principal Act seeks to require any medical practitioner to obtain from his patient, who is suspected to be a case or carrier or contact, such information relating to his contact with any infected persons, and to transmit such information to the relevant authority. But how extensive is the coverage of the term "medical practitioner"? As we know, there are people who prefer to seek alternative treatment for their illness. Some go to Chinese physicians, while others may go to acupuncturists, and even foot reflexologists instead of western doctors for treatment. If we talk about healthcare providers, then I think we should also include all these people - the Chinese physicians, acupuncturists and foot reflexologists. In this way, the coverage is more comprehensive. The identity of any suspected case will be picked up and sent to Tan Tock Seng Hospital much earlier. The proposed new section 14 of the Bill deals with the funerals of the deceased SARS patients. We read about this person who died on 14th April, and it was not ascertained whether or not she died of SARS. There was a wake for three nights and, as a result, many friends and relatives of the family are now worried that they may have been infected. So this was something that should have been contained. Yet, it was only on 24th April, some 10 days after her death, that she was confirmed to have died of SARS.”
“In order that life could go back to normal, we must control the spread of SARS. Theoretically, if every Singaporean assumes his own responsibility, for example, everyone who has been to a SARS-affected area or in contact with suspected SARS patients should isolate himself, and everyone who shows symptoms of SARS infection should go to the hospital for examination and treatment, then we will be able to contain the spread of SARS. But, in reality, the matter is not that simple. We have a pastor who visited his church member to pray for her but ended up getting infected himself and succumbed to the disease. We have also an affected person who simply refused to accept the fact that he had been affected with SARS, and went doctor-hopping, thereby causing the entire neighbourhood to be shut down, and a lot of people inconvenienced. We have also the founder of an education centre, presumably one who is well-educated, who recently returned from Guangzhou, a declared SARS-affected area (he had fever in Guangzhou) but refused to be examined and even escaped from the hospital where he was isolated for observation. If we have in our midst more of such ignorant and irresponsible persons, then our efforts to contain SARS would be made much more difficult. Apart from mobilising all our people to be on the alert and to expose the irresponsible ones in the community, we should also have good legislation to severely punish and physically force those who choose not to comply with the isolation orders. The introduction of this Amendment Bill is most timely, and I support it. However, I would like to make a few observations.”
“I knew Dr Chao who was a few years younger than I was. He has often been described as the son of the late-famous Professor Chao. He himself was a likeable and very talented character. He had his MBBS in 1989 and FRCS four years later. I remember my recollections of him. I had taken a holiday in Sydney with my family and there he was with his father, as usual, looking for good food. Both of them were burly characters. They have what the French called joie de vivre - joy of living. When I entered political office, I thought of Alex as a suitable candidate perhaps to introduce to the party. He could sing very well, was entertaining, extremely likeable, talented and bright. But in 1999 he was doing his vascular fellowship in Sydney. We will never know whether Alex could have contributed more to society. He sacrificed his life to protect our nation, caring for SARS patients. Sir, we should not let the sacrifices be in vain. Singaporeans must be truthful and responsible. We can overcome this enemy. Even if Singaporeans choose to lie, our healthcare workers would still pledge to protect you. This is their sacred duty and they will do it even if it costs them their lives. Sir, you asked what the next battle plan is. We must continue to isolate and contain these SARS bombs in hospitals. Then the rest of Singapore can go on living and working. They need to do this to get more resources to help our troops fight this enemy. It is a costly fight but we cannot afford to lose. We stand and fight united. This Bill will help our fight. I support it. Assoc. Prof. Low Seow Chay (Chua Chu Kang)(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, at the moment, SARS is seriously threatening us. Due to the fear and reaction to this threat, our economy and even our social lives are affected.”
“It is steady. But something has happened that will sabotage the efforts and destroy the morale and we will lose this war. Singaporeans who know they have bombs on them are not going to the right bomb disposal unit. Worse still, they do not warn the doctors that they have bombs on them. Singaporeans lie or withhold information of contact or travel to SARS-affected regions. They go to Guangdong and do not tell the doctors. They have contacts with family and friends with suspected SARS and this information is not told. So our troops did not isolate these people and touch them unprotected. In some cases, the bombs went off and the doctors and those around them were wounded and infected. Some with bombs are frightened and stayed at home, until they are very sick. Even then they refused to go to Tan Tock Seng Hospital and instead go to other Accident & Emergency Units. They collapsed but healthcare workers do not know that they have SARS bombs on them. Many procedures are performed on them by our unprotected troops and more bombs go off. Still others, with exploding bombs, are told to stay put, but they walked right into public and crowded places. Sir, our healthcare workers are pleading to Singaporeans. They say: we are willing to risk our lives to disarm you, but please give us a chance to protect ourselves and others around you. Let us know that you have been in contact with SARS patients or have travelled to affected places. If you have SARS bomb, go to the Tan Tock Seng Hospital to be disarmed. The SARS combat units are prepared to fight the enemy but, Singaporeans, please do not shoot and kill your own troops. Sir, our healthcare workers are willing to lay down their lives to protect and heal Singaporeans. Some, like Dr Ong and Dr Chao, have died.”
“Sir, you asked how it is that Tan Tock Seng Hospital has managed not to have any explosions. To find out, I went to see their bomb disposal unit. I stepped into their ICU last Sunday. This is the place where bombs are likely to go off, if handled wrongly. Why did I go? Well, Sub-Commander Khaw and I needed to see how they do it so that we could assure other troops that it could be done. And their officer, Lim Suet Wun, told us it is safe. He and his other officers walk around Tan Tock Seng Hospital routinely every day. Do not worry, Sir, I did not touch or trigger any bombs, but we wore protective gear anyway. The staff at the Tan Tock Seng Hospital are expert and professional. They do their work with a measured calm and routine. My heart swelled with pride when I saw how they worked. They are confident with their own protection and go home to their families after work for comfort and support. Some civilians though are less understanding. Initially, they shunned these Tan Tock Seng Hospital workers and some chased them out of their homes. But recently, they have given their full support to our healthcare worker (HCW) troops. The nation is rallying, Sir. Sir, you asked if our troops in the hospital understand the importance of their mission. Without a doubt. They know the consequences of failure. They are aware that this is a defining moment for the medical community. If they allow the SARS enemy into the community, more bombs will go off and lives will be lost and our livelihoods will suffer. Hotels and restaurants will remain empty. Taxis will wait for hours for passengers. Markets, schools and public areas will be deserted. Tourists will not come back. Other nations will shun Singaporeans. The nation depends on them. They know this well. Sir, you asked about morale.”
“Instead, he and his generals have launched a counter-offensive swiftly and decisively. His battalions - Alexandra Hospital, Changi General Hospital, SGH, NUH, KKH, Tan Tock Seng Hospital - have been magnificent. They have managed to isolate and contain 84% of the enemy into our hospitals and 12% into houses. Only 4% escaped their ring-fencing. Other foreign armies have noticed our efforts. One of them gave us the ultimate compliment. He said, "If Singapore cannot contain this enemy, no one else can." Once isolated, these bombs on our people have to be disarmed and disposed. The Tan Tock Seng Hospital battalion is our main bomb disposal unit. They have specially trained personnel to disarm bombs. They wear protective gear when they do this, otherwise they themselves risk getting wounded or killed. The Tan Tock Seng Hospital battalion has done well and, for the last four weeks, no explosions have occurred and no one has been infected by SARS bombs in Tan Tock Seng Hospital. It is not humanly possible for them to keep this perfect record. And indeed, one of their troops, a doctor, may have been infected last week. But after these minor breakthroughs, they are on renewed alert and have tightened their protection. They have been able to save 92% of our Singaporeans who have been infected. But, Sir, as I have said, the enemy is cunning. SARS can disguise its bombs and many have triggered these bombs while handling it unknowingly and unprotected. The other battalions at SGH, KKH, NUH, Changi General Hospital were affected this way. Half of those wounded have been these healthcare workers. Some have died. But we are getting more careful and have learnt from our mistakes. They are fighting to eliminate pockets of resistance and we can be proud of them.”
“Mr Speaker and Members of Central Command Singapore, this is the SARS combat unit reporting. It is the 43th day of battle since the SARS enemy entered our territory. I have been embedded in the flanking private hospital division this past week. They have seen some skirmishes but they have managed to beat back the enemy. The private hospital division remains intact. Sir, this enemy is not to be underestimated. We should fear and respect it. The SARS enemy uses a cunning strategy. It attaches bombs onto our people. These bombs are invisible. We do not have any test to detect these bombs. They cause a fever which triggers explosions that send even more bombs that attach themselves to people around them and infect them. This sequence is repeated. Sir, the enemy uses our own people to multiply itself. So, to prevent further spread, we have had to restrict movement and change social customs. We tell people where to go when they are sick and we do not even allow visitors to visit them when they are in hospital. We quarantine people in their homes, close schools, close businesses. We even deny some a proper funeral. We do not like doing these things but we do them to protect Singaporeans and protect our livelihoods. It is a difficult time for all of us. We have not seen such an enemy since the 1950s when we closed schools because of the polio epidemic. This national crisis is unprecedented. Our people have become fearful. Some fear everything. They fear other people, taxis, buses, vegetables, banks, hawker centres, shopping malls. This fear paralyses all of us and is even a greater threat than the SARS bombs. But, Sir, I have some good news. The Group commander, Lim Hng Kiang, has not been `shocked and awed'.”
“ITE also takes in a number of special needs students who are able to follow the curriculum and function in a workshop environment without undue risks to themselves. I agree with Mr Gan that the parents need support, and parental involvement is important. The SPED schools have put in place such programmes. MOE will continue to work closely with NCSS and the VWOs on the education of children with special needs. There can never be enough done for these children, but we should continually strive and do so. To sustain this tripartite partnership, there must be active involvement and support of the community and parents. There must be a passion and participation from the community, coupled with a strong spirit of giving and volunteerism among Singaporeans.”
“As for pupils with hearing or visual impairment, there are six designated schools where such pupils have access to additional resource teacher and assistive devices. Dr Amy Khor recounted to this House the case of a hearing-impaired child who could not hear the instructions and who was subsequently penalised. I believe her, and I can well imagine that these things can happen. But I would think that the teachers do not do it because they are trying to victimise the child, but because they probably did not understand. I agree with her that a certain standard operating procedure should be adopted. If Members know of individual cases, they should relay them to MOE, and we will explain to the staff of the relevant schools what the problem is, and I am sure they will take remedial action. Children with disabilities who do not attend mainstream schools are better served in SPED schools with specially trained teachers supported by paramedical personnel. At these specialised schools, these children can learn at their own pace through a curriculum and environment specially tailored to their needs. In fact, those who are able to - even though they study in these SPED schools - have an opportunity to prepare for the PSLE and to continue their education in mainstream secondary schools. In 2002, 39 pupils from SPED schools sat for the PSLE and, of these, 90% were placed in secondary schools. Mrs Fang alluded to the fact that these children can also be independent in employment and, indeed, we should strive to. Through the SPED schools, those who are able to pick up functional literacy and numeracy, and the Vocational School for the Handicapped provides further training to children with hearing impairment and children with mild intellectual disability.”
“As of February 2003, 73% or 410 of these teachers have received training, while another 23% or 131 are either currently undergoing or would be starting their training in the NIE soon. Every SPED school is also provided with funds for staff development. This amounts to about $1,080 per professional staff per year. They also have access to MOE programmes, when we run them, to facilitate courses and workshops for SPED school teachers. Members have expressed that there is a lack of career path and that we should facilitate secondment from MOE. Yes, teachers from the MOE do undergo secondment and, if teachers want to teach in the SPED schools, we will facilitate it on a case-by-case basis. The lack of career path is due to a number of reasons. Many of these VWOs work as separate entities. There is nothing to stop them from coming together to derive economies of scale, and we will encourage them. But this is something that they would have to do. To take it over would also decrease the level of stakeholdership from these VWOs, something which we should not do, because it is to our detriment. Dr Amy Khor asked about the assimilation of children from SPED schools back into the mainstream. I thank her for acknowledging that some of these efforts have borne fruit. Children with learning or physical disabilities who are able to follow the mainstream curricula are provided places in mainstream schools. That is our principle. Some mainstream schools, she rightly pointed out, already have full facilities to enable access for pupils with physical disabilities. MOE targets to have at least one such school per geographical cluster of 8-9 schools. Currently, there are 51 mainstream schools equipped with handicapped-friendly facilities.”
“Mr Gan said that the cost of education for children with special needs is very high. We recognise this and, therefore, SPED schools receive more funding per student from MOE and NCSS. Mrs Fang said indeed quite correctly, that they receive four times the subsidy of a pupil in a mainstream primary school. In other words, we use the child without disabilities in the mainstream school as a benchmark, and then we provide four times as much. That works out, as she said, to $12,000 versus $3,000 per year. Eligible pupils who attend these SPED schools also receive a yearly Edusave contribution of $160, like their counterparts in the primary schools, and receive as well an annual Edusave grant for enrichment programmes and purchase of equipment and resource materials. As for the fees charged, they are subject to the approval of NCSS, and the NCSS and the VWOs also oversee the welfare assistance for needy pupils. A number of Members, including Mr Gan Kim Yong, Ms Braema Mathiaparanam and Dr Amy Khor, have touched on the teachers in these schools. They have asked why not subsume these teachers under MOE. First of all, the provision of care, while to a great degree is provided by our teachers, is not the only avenue of care. There need to be a number of elements which will provide for these children. There is a balance between subsuming responsibility and decreasing stakeholdership. As I have said, the many-helping-hands approach that engages and says to the community, "This is a problem that we have to collectively address and, therefore, we will have to signal to each other the level of commitment" is a correct one. Therefore, teachers in the SPED schools are provided training at the NIE.”
“MOE, together with the National Council of Social Services, has increased the number of SPED schools run by VWOs from 11 to 19. Today, these 19 SPED schools provide education for about 4,004 pupils, double the figure in 1989. MOE has started a redevelopment programme to improve the facilities of these schools. Once redeveloped, these schools will be purpose-built with facilities customised to their specific needs. Within the last four years, we have completed the redevelopment of four of these 19 schools. MOE provides capital funding for 90% of the construction cost for this redevelopment programme at an estimated cost of about $100 million. Some Members said that there was a queue for these schools. That is not quite correct. There is actually no queue for any child with special disability, except for autism. For autism, it is a world-wide phenomenon. From the medical point of view, we are not sure why there has been a sudden rise. Mrs Fang Ai Lian alluded to it. Perhaps it is more recognition. Other theories have been ascribed. We do not really know why. There has been a sudden ramp up and, as Mr Gan said, we should expand capacity for this particular group of children, and we have been trying. As a result of recent efforts by NCSS and MOE, the number of SPED schools providing programmes for autism has increased from a previous two to 11. In addition, as Mrs Fang Ai Lian alluded to, we have set up a special fund, together with the Autism Resource Centre, to develop teacher capability in the SPED schools to manage children with autism. It is not that we cannot build the buildings; the buildings are there, but we need teachers. As more teachers are trained, an additional 400 children with autism would be catered for in SPED schools by 2006.”
“These measures will complement the 12-cluster art centres serving 97 schools, and one centre for Chinese orchestra music serving east zone schools. We plan to add 10 more such cluster art centres. Let me now address the queries by various Members on special education. I hear clearly and empathise greatly with the calls from Dr Amy Khor, Mr Gan Kim Yong, Mrs Fang Ai Lian and Ms Braema Mathiaparanam for compassion and for us to do more for these children. As part of my duties, I have to attend many functions as guest-of-honour hosted by these VWOs working in concert with other agencies to take care of our disabled children. If Members have attended any of these functions, Members will agree with me that the passion is palpable, often-times heart-wrenching. Your spirits are both lifted and saddened; lifted because of the individual stories and the bravery they showed to take care of their children, and sometimes saddened because of the inequalities of life. But, through these functions, I have become more and more convinced that the many-helping-hands approach - the philosophical stance, if you like - that MOE takes in providing assistance to these VWOs is the correct one, because it engages the community and unleashes the passion without which we would have made our provision less than effective. This many-helping-hands approach that we adopted since 1989 was in response to a key recommendation of the Advisory Council of the Disabled, which involves the Government, family and community. However, the many-helping-hands approach must not mean less subsidy or support from MOE. Mrs Fang Ai Lian and Mr Gan Kim Yong have both asked for more to be done in the area of special education. We will try our best.”
“Sir, let me address Members' concerns about arts and special education. Firstly, arts education. Mr Zainudin has asked what MOE's level of support and commitment to this is. He and other Members will be happy to know that the arts education environment promises to be more vibrant as a result of a number of recent initiatives. Firstly, for NAFA and LaSalle-SIA College of the Arts, MOE provides these two arts institutions with per capita funding that is equivalent to the per student subsidies received by polytechnics and ITE. MOE will also be providing funding of about $180 million for the development and land needed for their new permanent campuses, which should be ready by 2004 and 2006 respectively. Every time I pass the Central District, I get a sense of excitement. With the new SMU, NAFA and LaSalle-SIA College campuses coming up and the Arts Museum, I think the area will add vibrancy and a glowing buzz to the arts education milieu. Secondly, with the recommendation for NTU to have a school of design, media and art will allow interested students a relevant route to the university. Thirdly, Mr Zainudin has asked about teachers. MOE has recently launched a 4-year Art and Music Teacher Training Scheme, together with NIE and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. This scheme will supplement our existing recruitment avenues for these teachers. The structural and manpower provisions will strengthen arts education in Singapore. Arts education is provided for all students in our schools, through the general art programme and the general music programme. Students can also opt to offer art at "O" and "A" levels, and music at the "O" and "A" levels as elective subjects.”
“Madam, I am quite heartened to hear that Mr Chia is not upset. That makes my job in the Ministry that encourages lifelong learning easier. As to the comment that he was told that many foreigners applied, that is a generic point. But, really the point is that he did not get into it because other Singaporeans with adequate qualifications did.”
“But Mr Chia should not be upset with these Singaporeans who got into the MBA class and displaced him. To be fair to them, they could not have prior knowledge that he, a former union President and NCMP, was also applying that particular year. If they did, I am sure they would have deferred. But as the Ministry that encourages lifelong learning, I would encourage Mr Chia not to lose heart. There are many other MBA courses in Singapore that he can apply. I note Dr Teo Ho Pin's suggestion to convert NUS' Bachelor of Science (Building) to a Bachelor of Engineering (Facilities Management) course. We will relay the suggestion to the appropriate faculty. Finally, I wish to address Mr Inderjit's earlier suggestion to encourage local distance learning providers to become full universities. We agree. My Committee did agree that private universities in Singapore be allowed to complement the 25% CPR provided by our three publicly-funded universities. So if SIM feels that they would like to expand their cohort, they are free to do so. We agree with him and Dr Amy Khor's point that the private universities' presence can enhance the diversity and competition within this sector. However, to maintain our reputation as a premium educational hub, any private university wishing to establish itself in Singapore must be one of high quality and high international standing.”
“This figure of 30% is quite normal for MBA programmes and, indeed, many hundreds of Singaporeans who themselves are foreign students attending MBA courses in UK and USA yearly will tell you that business schools have higher rates of foreign participation to achieve a strong international flavour and to allow networking. It is this very diversity of talented people that makes MBA programmes attractive and successful. But I am puzzled by one aspect, because I do not understand why Mr Chia is upset with the foreign students who got into the MBA course. I can understand him, and empathise, if he is upset that his undergraduate degree did not meet admission requirements. I can also understand if he is upset that being a former union President and NCMP did not count enough as relevant working experience, even though it clearly shows his leadership qualities. He did not tell us if he met the GMAT standards. But, even if he did not, I can understand why he would be upset, as this may not be a singular measure of MBA material. But, Madam, why should he be upset with foreigners? Members will remember that Mr Chia had also spoken against Contact Singapore trying to recruit foreign talents to Singapore to improve our competitiveness. Madam, Mr Chia's xenophobia, like all phobias, is irrational, misplaced and unjustified. Applicants for this MBA course are selected by merit. So, even if the class had no foreigners, in other words, they were all Singaporeans, the admission standards would still have to be fulfilled. I hope that he is not implying that an NCMP should be given preference over others. Indeed, Mr Chia did not get into the course not because of foreigners, but because of Singaporeans with better qualifications.”
“This department also offers PhDs and Masters programmes in Chinese studies. NTU - Mr Ang Mong Seng has touched on that - has a Centre for Chinese Language and Culture, which conducts general courses in Chinese language and culture, plans the implementation of minor degree and post-graduate degree programmes in Chinese, and conducts research. In addition, since July 2001, NIE has been offering the Bachelor of Arts Education for Chinese Language and Literature specialisation. The course is established specifically to train the teaching of Chinese Language at the primary school level. The proposed School of Humanities and Social Sciences for NTU will complement this initiative. I thank Mr Chia for his altruistic call because he said that from his personal experience, he felt that NUS favours or admits non-Singaporeans to the MBA courses. He has brought up this point so that others like him, in his words, "former union President and NCMP will not suffer" - a similar fate, I presume. Madam, entry to the NUS MBA programme is highly competitive. It is rated as one of the top MBA programmes in Asia. The general requirements for admission are a good undergraduate degree with a strong academic record, relevant working experience and, as he has rightly pointed out, a good General Management Admission Test (GMAT). All entrants, I presume, have to meet these standards. Last year, when he applied, it was not quite a lot of foreigners. It was about 28 non-Singaporeans, to be exact, that were admitted to this course, and that formed about 30% of the intake. In other words, the majority of 70% were Singaporeans.”
“Each year, 50 outstanding university students from each country would be selected to participate in that programme. During their two weeks in China, our students would have the opportunities to interact with Chinese leaders, officials, academics and students from top Chinese universities. NUS is also developing a China initiative to enhance our students' appreciation and understanding of China. This initiative includes dual degree programmes with top institutions like Beijing University and Xinhua University, student exchanges with leading Chinese universities, a satellite campus in China and extensive research collaborations. NTU is also moving in that same direction. It has recently entered into partnership with the Shanghai Qiao Dong University to offer MBA programmes. To complete the picture, the polytechnics are also getting into the game. On their part, they will conduct basic and business Mandarin classes, as well as modules on Chinese history, culture and development in Mandarin. They also offer overseas industrial training programmes in various Chinese universities and companies and staff exchange programmes. And, if you heard Dr Michael Lim, these efforts have already been paying dividends. ITE gets into the act as well. It conducts overseas attachments for its students and staff and will be introducing an elective Business Mandarin from this year. Dr Ong also spoke on the role of our universities in training our Chinese professionals. Our universities would continue to take on this role. In NUS, the Department of Chinese Studies offers more than 50 undergraduate courses in five major areas of study, namely, Chinese Linguistics, Chinese Literature, Chinese History, Chinese Philosophy and Translation.”
“As to whether NTU and NUS have adequate applied research and practical aspects and nexus with the industry, the Ministry broadly is now moving towards establishing systems for output and outcome indicators, as well as not only measuring input levels. In other words, we want to move the universities to measure by themselves and to engage the stakeholders, whether they are graduates, industry or employers, for themselves to get a sense of how they are doing, vis-a-vis the stakeholders, and thereby respond adequately to the signals. Madam, I thank Dr Ong for moving the cut to add to our budget. I would endorse his cut and relay that sentiment to the Ministry and the Minister for Finance. I am heartened that a number of Members have voiced support for the findings of my Committee. If the Government accepts the recommendations, it would be the start of another exciting phase of development for our universities. If we succeed, and I believe we shall, our universities will truly be Singapore's strategic assets, fulfilling the objective of human capital development through education, ideas and wealth creation through research and international branding to entrench our repute as a keynote in the global education landscape. I will address other issues on university education. Dr Ong has asked how our universities are preparing our graduates to ride on China's economic growth. We agree that this is an important development that we must address. A number of initiatives are already underway at the tertiary level to strengthen the awareness of young Singaporeans about China and China-related issues. These include an exchange programme for outstanding university students between PRC and Singapore, which would commence this year.”
“I also want to point out that they will be offering diversity and there will be the element of competition with one another. The GMP and the existing NUS undergraduate programmes could still complement and enhance each other even if they are housed in separate places. There must be inter-campus connectivity for students and faculties within the multi-campus university structure. Members have raised queries regarding university admission system and other aspects relating to design and staffing. Mr Zainudin has recommended that staff be allowed to take breaks and other appointments which will gear them better to teach. Mr Iswaran has commented on what the proposals for the new tenure and compensation schemes would be. Dr Amy Khor has commented on the ratio of local and foreign staff. Madam, NUS has formed a task force to examine the issues relating to possible enhancements to the university's policies on tenure and compensation. One of the primary issues the task force is looking at is how best to provide for more options for faculty, as Mr Zainudin has suggested, to exercise greater flexibility and freedom to faculty members to pursue various activities during the off-season months, after they have fulfilled their teaching and research responsibilities. The task force is due to submit its report to NUS management only by July 2003. At this point, I understand the issues are being floated for exploration and discussion. In terms of local and foreign staff, in both universities, NUS and NTU combined, there are about 1,600 Singapore citizens and PR staff and about 1,000 foreign staff members. We are quite neutral in terms of both the weightage and spread. I think what is important is to have a mixture so that the students can benefit from the diversity of faculty.”