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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“Sir, I am no accountant. The high cost of medical education is of equal concern to the Ministry as it is to Members, and indeed the public. This is taxpayers' money and we want to make sure that what we are paying, we are getting our money's worth. We do ask the same question to academics when we visit other universities and the first retort is yes, it is really expensive business. Two, the accounting is complex. Why? Because your teachers are also practitioners. They practise, they do research. Whatever it is, we have to ask ourselves: one, are we getting value for our money? Do we produce good doctors? Secondly, is it money well-spent? MOE subsidises NUS, as I said, to a tune of $64,000 a year per student. My own sense is that this is justified because we have good schools, we have good doctors and we have a reputation.”
“Sir, the breakdown of the $80,000 is roughly 6:3:1, 60% in terms of academic teaching; 30% in terms of research; and 10% in terms of clinical practice.”
“Sir, I am no expert on the way the other schools account, and I am not sure whether what the Member says is completely true, in the sense that it is unsubsidised. We have just come back from a tour of a number of medical schools in the United States. I have asked the same questions to the deans of those faculties. In Cornell, the full course is US$400,000. So, dollar for dollar, it is equivalent. And they said that even then, they think that the cost is higher, that they are not fully funding all their teachers. The same is true in UPenn (University of Pennsylvania). Lord Oxburg, the Chairman of our IAP report did state that there were differences in accounting with different schools. But the point is this: it is very expensive to train medical students. I am not quite sure that the Member's point is true that it is more expensive to train medical students here, as I understand that most medical faculties do subsidise even foreign students.”
“Yes, if it is per capita per year, the total cost would be around $400,000.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, foreign workers are advised of their rights at the start of their employment. To the extent that this has been successful, let me just state some figures. Last year, we had about 7,000 complaints, the majority of these cases from the construction industry. My Ministry helped to settle 75% of these claims of about $6.5 million involving 5,000 workers. In other words, each worker received about $1,300. We will continue to do more by advising foreign workers, at the start of their employment, their rights and their avenues for redress. 1.30 pm”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, employers of foreign workers are responsible for repatriating their employees when their Work Permits are cancelled, terminated or not renewed. The employers are also required to settle all outstanding wages due to the foreign workers. The employers must also pay for the workers air ticket to return home. When a foreign worker lodges an employment claim with the Ministry, his employer would not be able to repatriate him until the claim has been settled. The Ministry will take firm action against the employer by disqualifying him from future application of work permit for foreign workers if he deliberately sends back the worker to prevent him from pursuing his claims. However, should a foreign worker be repatriated and he has outstanding salary claims against his employer, he may still lodge a written complaint with the Ministry. The Ministry will help him pursue his claims with his employer. Wages recovered from his employer will be remitted to the foreign worker in his home country. Foreign workers should seek help from the Ministry if their employers have not been paying their salary promptly. By alerting the Ministry early, the amount in salary arrears would be limited. The chances of recovering the owed salary would be better.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as I mentioned, the extent of the problem is not large from our survey. With regard to the question on what we intend to do in terms of extending the protection for those who are employed on contract for service, when indeed they should be employed for contract on service, let me just state that any person who feels he is not given the benefits, regardless of the terms of the contract, should approach the Ministry. There are clear guidelines where a worker would be entitled to benefits, in the sense that he would be employed under a contract of service. My Ministry has provided conciliation services before, and this has been quite successful. On the second question of what the Ministry would do to inform both employers and workers of their obligations and duties, we have done this together with the unions. In terms of informing workers of their rights, the Ministry will continue to work with the unions to inform them of their rights under the Employment Act and the benefits due to them. REPATRIATION OF FOREIGN WORKERS 5. Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Manpower what steps are being taken to ensure that foreign workers are not unfairly repatriated by employers before they can make their claims for unpaid wages and other benefits.”
“Nothing more, nothing less you shall receive. Tis enough I hope. Must be enough, I wish. Here I am, stand or fall with me. Mr Speaker, Sir, this time last year, I would have been in a different chamber, and the poorer for it.”
“What then is the ethos with which I hope to serve? Of what do I remind myself? Expect people to come to you with problems. That is what you got elected for and appointed to do. Remember your oath before the President. Be a servant, but do not diminish your people or your office as a Member of Parliament. Be honest and upfront. The patient never got better through empty platitudes; neither will the nation. Be diligent. Get to the root of the problem. Ask and listen. Do not get bedazzled by brilliance and be wary of those who try to befuddle you. Diagnose wrongs and say plainly what you need to do. Do not promise more than what you give, but when you say something, see it through. If the problem needs fixing and surgery is required, for goodness sake, get a good anaesthetist to minimise the pain. You are not perfect and will make mistakes. Admit them, correct the complications and move on. Mr Speaker, Sir, I started by saying how change can be unsettling. Despite these difficult times, I have been strangely calm. I am confident that we will emerge stronger and more united. My confidence and strength come from the people's trust, the commitment of my comrades and my captains' ability. In my captains, I have only seen care, never fear. Their calmness and collectedness have inspired me. Sir, I am, by training, not a poet. I cut better than I speak. But since we are encouraging creativity and innovation in our schools, I thought it wise, or foolish, to lead by example and close with a poem. At the very worst, both you and I will know that I am completely lacking in literary skills. Here I am, through the sacrifices of those before me, sacred trust received, honour and duty conceived. On my plate of service, offerings of diligence, compassion and integrity. Tis I have.”
“The Government must intensify our search for new growth areas. We must continue to invest in our people and capitalise on opportunities when the global economy recovers. But, above all, we, this generation of new political leaders, must win by their own merit and effort, trust and confidence. Almost 75% of voters reaffirmed last October their belief in us to govern. But for me, this trust was vicariously obtained. Did the people vote for this Government so resoundingly because of the new faces and their great abilities? I would be the greater fool if I chose to believe that. No, they did so because the party and the Government before me has never broken faith with the people. I am acutely aware that my position is obtained through the sacrifices and efforts of those who preceded me. I reap where others have toiled. How have previous Governments won the explicit trust of its citizens? Through sustained honesty and consistency. It never promised what it could not give and accomplished only what it could promise. It never went for soft options, believed that its people could rise to the challenges and, as a result, prospered. This trust is a source of our nation's strength. This recession will pass but there will be another. The tudung issue will revisit us in a different form and religion constantly seeking to divide and weaken us. But the trust that exists between us and the people is that which sustains us. When that is shattered, all else is lost. The Government is a marathon not a sprint, Senior Minister says. I take heed. Learn how they did it, I tell myself, more so than what they did. What have I learned? You see, just as I expect each Singaporean to take personal responsibility for his well-being, I must be personally accountable to the people.”
“I read recently that Starbucks has a quality target based on what is known as the "Order to Froth Time". This is the time it takes for a customer to give his order and for him to receive or to drink the froth of his coffee. Their software tracks this in all their branches and mobilise their workforce to meet this demand and deliver coffee within a prescribed interval. Sir, the "Order to Froth Time". In the aftermath and havoc following September 11, inventories were slashed with astonishing speed because of the rapid assimilation of information. Correspondingly, the downsizing of companies must have followed just as responsively. Mr Speaker, Sir, in this brave new world, employment cycles are likely to be disruptive and discontinuous. While Government will do everything within its power to assist Singaporeans, each must take personal responsibility for his or her well-being. Government can help the citizens turn the corner. But without an intrinsic level of resistance, minor infections can become fatal. We should help our people face these challenges squarely without the use of steroids. Our pioneers succeeded with this approach and so shall this generation. Within the Jobs Task Force, we decided collectively to speak plainly to those unemployed and risked the accusation of being insensitive. I am happy to report that, as a result of this strategy, our job placements have gone up. Singaporeans have understood, and now about 1,000 a month are finding new jobs through the CareerLinks at MOM and CDCs. We must continue to cultivate strength in our people, to give them respect and help them survive and indeed prosper. Does this then mean the Government can take a reduced role? On the contrary, adversity provides us the opportunity to work harder.”
“We have educated them well but we must do more to inculcate the attitude of self-sufficiency, endeavour and enterprise. By whim of geography and capricious twist of history, we were landed up with 680 sq km of land after reclamation, and each other. Lifelong learning applies to everyone. Let me give you a personal anecdote. I have always struggled with my second language. Chinese has been my bane. When I went into medical school, I was quite glad to be rid of it. I thought, as a doctor, I would use less. When I did indeed become a doctor, I found that most patients spoke Hokkien or Mandarin and to get a consistent and proper history, I had to speak Mandarin. When I went into private practice, there were Indonesian patients who spoke Chinese. So there I was speaking half the time in Chinese. Then, of course, I became a Member of Parliament and had to make speeches in Mandarin. So there I was studying hanyu pinyin listening to the correct diction with CDAC's help. And I thought what a bitter irony or bitter twist life deals to me. When you are bad in something and you have to learn again, your occupation forces you to do it, I was getting a bit paranoid. I thought perhaps the PAP particularly put me in Toa Payoh to brush up my Chinese. When that did not work, they put me in the Ministry of Education. So I thought before this got any further, I better brush up my Chinese and get tuition. So here I am, aged 44 and taking Chinese tuition. Sir, lifelong learning is for everyone. The road ahead is uncertain for our people. Business cycles are shorter and likely to be more disruptive. Globalisation and interconnectivity have created rapid response times. The just-in-time concept applies both to manufacturing and service sectors.”
“Regales me with stories of how heavy a load he can carry on his shoulders, even though he can afford to hire others to do it. He is wealthy but chooses to live in Toa Payoh where he has lived for over half a century. Walks up to his flat rather than takes the lift for exercise. Supports my meet-the-people-session (MPS) faithfully by his physical presence since he cannot draft the letter. But came election time last year, he was sweating away putting my posters up. Picture a millionaire putting up my plywood posters! Sir, do not misunderstand me. I am not extolling this man's virtues because he helps me during the election. I praise him because he knows that there can be dignity in labour. Sir, this is a man that is unschooled and the less enlightened might even say uncouth. But I have more respect for him than most because he has made good despite his shortcomings. The other is a man in his 60s, another provision shop owner. We have many of those. About a month ago, he had difficulty breathing. His lung burst, probably from scarring due to an old infection. So when I visited him in Tan Tock Seng Hospital, he had a tube sticking out of his left chest to drain out the air that escaped. I asked him, "Do you know what the doctors are going to do?" He said stoically and matter-of-factly, "Yes. They used some chemical or powder to seal up the hole or perform surgery." Two weeks after his discharge, he is back at my MPS and helping me as usual. Sir, these people bounce back because they have an innate resilience of spirit born of adversity. Do not misunderstand me again! I am not advocating a return to menial labour. The world and our population have changed too drastically for that model to be sustainable. 80% of each cohort now has at least a post-secondary education.”
“Doctors use steroids judiciously, even though, to many, it is a miracle drug. Ask the wheezing asthmatic or the patient with rheumatoid arthritis with painful joints. To these patients steroids alleviate discomfort and suffering. But there is a downside. Steroids also weaken a person's immune system so that they are less able to mount appropriate responses to infection. An appendicitis, for example, becomes a critical event because the steroids prevent the patient from displaying early warning signs of fever and pain, until it is too late and the infection overwhelming and systemic. Steroids also weaken the bones so that prolonged users are prone to fractures. Sir, the parallel between liberal administration of steroids and the indiscriminate use of assistance is too close for comfort. Both can erode the basic strength and structure on which our health and prosperity were built. We decided, my grassroots leaders and I, to award the EDRS only to those who have signed up for training or looking for jobs. By the beginning of this year, things improved and the message got through, such that most of them were at least on the job bank when applying for assistance. Sir, I believe we need to go further and invoke the spirit of resilience and self-sufficiency that our pioneers had when they built this nation, and if I may add against much greater odds. I have two such grassroots leaders that come to mind who exemplify this spirit. One is in his mid-50s, survived and prospered by selling provisions to hotels and the like, speaks mostly Hokkien. A minor celebration erupts in my constituency when we can persuade him to put on shoes rather than his Japanese slippers.”
“How do we help Singaporeans respond to and cope with this change and more to come? In his Address and Addenda, the President has wisely outlined the challenges and how we must respond to continue to thrive and prosper in an uncertain world. Sir, I believe that all of us will have to dig deeper within ourselves if we are to meet these challenges. Permit me to use a medical analogy. The bug that causes tuberculosis is endemic, that is, it is always present. But not all those who are exposed will get tuberculosis. Those that do get infected are more likely to be those with a weakened constitution. Similarly, in an Intensive Care Unit, some patients are treated with every known antibiotic but will still succumb because they have lost their innate immunity. Nature teaches us that each individual must develop his own set of survival skills. Sir, in this regard, our past successes may have created a sterile environment, such that when exposed to a germ attack, some Singaporeans may develop full-blown pneumonia rather than a self-limiting infection. The last time we had a protracted unemployment of this magnitude was 15 years ago. So it would be quite natural for some Singaporeans and their children who live in such an environment to expect lifelong employment. Just a year ago, we had two jobs for every worker. Now, we have three jobless looking for one job. When we first launched the Economic Downturn Relief Scheme (EDRS) last year, I had quite a few constituents who were young and able-bodied, who requested for the EDRS but had not even put themselves on any job search list. My grassroots leaders and I decided that we would not succumb to the soft approach. It would have been like giving steroids when you make the patient feel good but reduce his immunity.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to add my voice to the chorus of thanks to the President. He has reminded Singaporeans that times have changed and we must adapt to survive. Sir, it appears that change spares no one. Take me, for example. This time last year, I would have been in a different chamber. No doubt, the operating theatre would have been less august, but equally bright. I would have been comfortable and confident, the environment predictable, the patient blissfully asleep, while I did what had to be done. Little could I guess that within a few months, I would have to switch from grappling with the problems of patients to solving the nation's woes. When the Prime Minister said that he would throw us, new office holders, into the deep end, I had not realised the full implications, neither the extent nor the pace of his intent. Barely two weeks after agreeing to be in office and still operating on humans, I mean, the waves flowed fast and furious - the Jobs Task Force, an unemployment high of 15 years and climbing, 100,000 unemployed, economic restructuring, terrorism within our borders, racial harmony, tudung, water, frictions with our neighbouring countries, remake Singapore, review our educational institutions. All in a day's work? Not quite. As the President has said, and I quote: "The next few years will present us with the most severe challenge since independence. Singapore is at a turning point." Sir, I chose the change. But I can empathise with those whose change was neither invited nor welcomed, who had change foisted rudely upon them. It must indeed be unsettling for many to be out of job, to feel that they are no longer in control of their destiny, to be unable to provide for their families.”