Ng Ling Ling
Singapore
“My final appeal is to the Government, including the Ministry of Finance, to consider providing more budgets for MSF to gradually convert these social residential homes for the vulnerable to purpose-built Homes, like what the Ministry of Education (MOE) did for special education (SPED) schools over the past decades.”
“— everyone in social services who are working very hard to help our Singaporeans in need. I have two questions for the Minister. The first one is on social service research.”
“Chairman, I just have one clarification for the Minister for Health. I am really glad to hear about increase in healthcare subsidies for Singaporeans because it is always a good thing, but if it is on the back of continually increasing cost, then it begs the question of sustainability and the tax burden on our future generations.”
“For our Indian community, there are what we call Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), which is increasingly known in India. My question is, does MOH sees wisdom in beginning studies and understanding into such traditional medicines of our Malay and Indian communities too?”
“My clarification is that, for important issues, like climate change and also earlier, the ageing population, we have Senior Minister-level and Deputy Prime Minister-level coordination, whether this whole class of issues on PDPA, PSGA, cybersecurity, cybercrimes should coordination be taken at a more senior level, at Deputy Prime Minister…”
“The total age dependency ratio that the World Bank uses is the ratio of young and elderly dependents who are generally economically inactive, compared to the number of people of working age. Despite this good data from the World Bank, with an ageing population and declining TFR, there is still cause for concern.”
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Every one of 310 lines we hold for Ng Ling Ling, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 7.
“Mr Speaker, I rise to speak on the Penal Code and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill as a mother, community leader and friend, in addition to my role as an elected legislator of this land. Since the proposed repeal of section 377A was mentioned in the media and the public, I have received several written appeals from my Jalan Kayu residents to urge the Government not to do so. These residents are mostly parents of young children and youths. As a mother, I can relate to their concerns. In October 2007 when the Parliament undertook a comprehensive review of our Penal Code since its major amendments in 1984, the public feedback on section 377A was emotional. The Cabinet, after extensive public consultations and discussions, concluded at the end of the debate that Singapore society remained conservative and the majority preferred to uphold a stable society with traditional, heterosexual family values while giving homosexuals the space to live their lives and contribute to society. As one who has been brought up in a traditional Asian family, I understand Singaporeans who uphold the construct of a family formed by marriage between a man and a woman. This is an important cornerstone of any society since the start and for the continuation of human history. Why then the need to repeal section 377A now? The Minister for Home Affairs, Mr Shanmugam, gave a detailed explanation. Section 377A was first introduced in 1938, when Singapore was still part of the Straits Settlements and under colonial rule. The origin of the provisions of section 377A stretched even further back to the Victorian times in the 1860s.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I also want to express my deep appreciation to our healthcare workers, especially the doctors, nurses and staff working in the EDs, some of whom are my personal friends and I have seen how they have persevered through these few years of COVID-19 pandemic. And I am journeying with them. I have two supplementary questions. Pertaining to the GPFirst initiative that was piloted in Changi General Hospital back in 2014, how many of our current slate of about 1,800 GP clinics are on it? My second supplementary question is that I have spoken to some of the GPs in my Jalan Kayu constituency about the situation in the EDs and what is the role that they can play, especially under Healthier SG to be part of the solution for the ecosystem. They have asked whether there can be more practical resources, such as a peer-to-peer call line for them to reach out to their Accident and Emergency (A&E) doctor counterparts in the public hospitals in the region so that they can triage and also assure the patients that the conditions may not warrant an ED admission.”
“I thank the Minister for the answer. I have two follow-up questions. One is, does the Ministry track the adoption of LPA, those who apply, by age group above 60, maybe in 10-year bands? Because I think the older they are the more this is important for them. I am very heartened to hear the high absolute number growth, but I am not sure what it is from the baseline. So, do we track the percentage of our population above 60 years old by 10-year bands on their adoption of LPA? The second question is, for those that may have more difficulties getting an LPA, will the Ministry consider an opt-out scheme where appropriate donees are given to them and if they opt out, then they cannot be a part of LPA?”
“Thank you, Deputy Speaker. I want to thank all the officeholders for Health for the very, very helpful responses to all the speeches that had been made. And you will see that the members in the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Health, we have all spoken up because it is a really important initiative for the population health of Singapore. I have one clarification for the Minister for Health. I would like to ask, of the $1 billion start-up funds that the Minister mentioned and potentially, $400 million recurrent funds, to support this whole initiative, how will it be broadly, allocated to the stakeholders in this whole ecosystem that need to make this work, especially for the GPs that we know have to do a lot of the heavy lifting, as well as the residents who have to feel the incentive to take ownership of their health?”
“This can include doing away with the need for issuing medical certificates (MCs) for mild acute illnesses, like coughs and colds, which my fellow hon Member Ms Mariam Jaafar has raised earlier in the Parliamentary speech she made. While this will require the support of the Ministry of Defense (MINDEF), the Ministry of Education (MOE) and MOM, countries like the United Kingdom that have practised doing away with MCs for absence from school and work due to common colds and coughs have not seen students or employees abusing such a move. Also, more use of telehealth, that can augment and take away some of the family doctors' repetitive tasks, should continue to be invested in and subsidised by MOH. There is no doubt that Healthier SG will take time – I think at least a decade – before we can see a healthier population coming to fruition. Nevertheless, as a strong advocate of healthy living and active ageing, I commend MOH for taking this bold step towards reshaping Singapore's population health. With the collective and united efforts of all Singaporeans, we will get there. Notwithstanding my considerations raised, I strongly support the White Paper on Healthier SG.”
“In this way, residents will be able to take ownership of their own health, making it easier for them to accept preventive care. This will also help to strengthen the Healthier SG ecosystem. Finally, I hope that MOH will be able to improve the HealthHub and Healthy 365 mobile apps to make them more accessible for the seniors under Healthier SG. I also hope that MOH will work with IMDA to promote HealthHub and Healthy365 apps through the IMDA's Senior Go-Digital Scheme and teach the seniors how to use these two apps and introduce their main functions. I hope that when the seniors experience the benefits of using these apps, they will help promote Healthier SG through word of mouth. [Mr Speaker in the Chair] (In English): In closing, I would like to speak up for a group of healthcare professionals who have become my friends in my four-and-a-half years of involvement in the healthcare sector. They are the family doctors working both in GP clinics and public polyclinics. They are a group of highly intelligent, motivated and committed healers in our community. The falling ill of one family doctor in a busy polyclinic can mean the rest taking up a much higher patient load for the day, sacrificing lunchtime or even any breaks in that day. I hope that MOH will continually invest in helping them reduce unnecessary administrative workload. To the Minister for Health Mr Ong Ye Kung, I agree that administrative work that is required for claims is very necessary, but I think we should study some of the areas in which we can maybe reduce for the professionals.”
“] Prevention is better than cure. Not only does this phrase demonstrates our understanding of preventive care, but it is also the core concept of the Healthier SG White Paper. Through preventive care, we can help every Singaporean improve their health and quality of life. In our ageing society, preventive care can also reduce the cost and burden on the healthcare system and individuals. If you want everyone to be healthier, we must empower them. Therefore, I strongly support the initiatives put forward in the White Paper. At the same time, I would like to make three suggestions to the implementation of Healthier SG to help residents better accept preventive care measures to improve their health. Firstly, I hope that MOH will provide more public education and information on benefits of preventive screening to encourage residents to undergo screening. MOH currently has the Screen for Life programme which covers chronic illnesses and some common cancers, for example, colorectal cancer. I hope that MOH will further strengthen public education under Healthier SG, and even use Malay, Tamil or even dialects to reach out so that more Singaporeans, especially the seniors, will understand the benefits of preventive health checks. Secondly, I also hope that MOH will work with the GPs and the community partners to empower residents to complete their own health plans, using more of the Community Participatory Approach. In the community, we should also have the regional health system to help identify common illnesses in each local constituency through the coordination of the three regional healthcare clusters, and work with Government agencies such as the People's Association and SGOs, as well as the residents, to organise healthy activities that benefit the residents.”
“The existing eldercare centres are usually located nearer to rental blocks of each constituency. I would like to ask how MOH will also support the social prescriptions by family doctors for the senior residents living further from eldercare centres, including those living in the private estates. Lastly, I understand that enrolment will start next June, beginning with our older residents aged 60 and above first. This is good as we should always prioritise the health of our seniors first, given their higher risk of developing health challenges. The White Paper proposed the HealthHub app and Healthy 365 app as the digital front doors of Healthier SG to encourage and nudge residents to adopt healthier lifestyles. I understand that the HealthHub app will have a digitally enabled health plan where residents can access and check their health outcomes. This will be complemented by the Healthy 365 app which allows tracking of physical activities and diets, as well as supports their access to community activities. Like fellow hon Member Dr Tan Wu Meng, several studies that were published between 2020 and 2021 shared that there is lower interest in adopting mobile health applications and digital health services amongst seniors despite the convenience that it presented during the COVID-19 lockdown. Thus, I would like to clarify with MOH on the current adoption rates for these two apps by the senior population above 60 years old. And if the take-up rates have been low, similar to my fellow hon Member, Ms Denise Phua, I would like to ask how MOH intends to help our seniors utilise these two apps after they have enrolled with their family doctors under Healthier SG. Mdm Deputy Speaker, please allow me to say some words in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.”
“I believe for preventive health behaviours to improve significantly in Singapore, MOH must invest more in creating the right awareness and assurance of benefits of preventive health screening and a follow-through care that Singaporeans can expect. This should be done in more mass media and vernacular languages, including even some dialects, to correct the misinformation that screenings will lead to more problems. Secondly, I would like to propose strengthening the community participatory approach so that our busy family doctors, whether they are practising in the GP clinics or polyclinics, would know and have quick ways of connecting with their community, sports and social service counterparts when they see patients that need support beyond medical treatments. The White Paper proposed to rally a group of community care partners to support residents in leading healthier lives. The White Paper mentioned the People's Association (PA), SportsSG and Agency for Integrated Care (AIC)'s Silver Generation Office (SGO) to help organise healthy living programmes for residents. It also mentioned plans to tap on the eldercare centres to serve as the community care connectors for seniors, to help them follow through the recommended lifestyle interventions prescribed by their family doctors. Although I am fully supportive of this approach after speaking with a few GPs in my Jalan Kayu constituency since the release of the White Paper, I noted their concerns on the bandwidth to activate such community partnership to care for their patients who are my residents. There were also questions on seniors who are living in the private estates, such as those who are living in the Seletar Hills East and Jalan Kayu private estates where some of my older residents live.”
“For my Jalan Kayu residents, you have your Member of Parliament who will walk this journey with you. All good policies can only be as good as how well they are implemented. That is when the tyres hit the road, so to speak. I will focus my speech on clarifications with MOH on three implementation considerations. One, awareness of subsidised preventive health screening; two, enhance community partnership and participatory approach to collective health; and three, enabling seniors through simplifying healthcare technology. Firstly, I would like to know how MOH will be tracking and reporting the usage of the enhanced subsidies provided under Healthier SG to encourage Singaporeans to adopt more preventive health behaviours. The White Paper outlined MOH's plan to fully subsidise nationally recommended vaccinations and screenings as well as an onboarding health consultation with their chosen family doctors upon enrolment. I would like to clarify what types of vaccinations and screenings will be fully subsidised. Are they those that are under the existing Screen for Life programme or will there be more added under Healthier SG? What is the participation rate for Screen for Life for Singaporeans above 50 years old currently? And what improvement does MOH aim to achieve under Healthier SG? From my Meet-the-People (MPS) experience, whenever I asked my residents in need about their awareness of Screen for Life programme, I will usually draw a blank look. For the handful who may be aware, they would admit to me their fears of finding out illnesses that will cost them more to treat and affect their jobs.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I would like to first declare my role as an independent consultant in healthcare transformation projects. Madam, I give apples to Jalan Kayu residents at every house visit from the start of this year. This gives me an opportunity to share with them about healthy living, a key theme that I promote in Jalan Kayu besides sustainability and intergenerational bonding. An apple a day keeps the doctor away – this 19th century proverb sounds simple, but it is not always easy to follow. In my COS speech in March, I spoke about my concern for the increased prevalence of chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol in our population, not just amongst our seniors but also in some of our younger people. I recognise that our national Budget for healthcare will inevitably have to increase in order to create better health and quality of life outcomes for our people. But I also suggested to manage the workload on our healthcare professionals by empowering Singaporeans to take more ownership of our own health and participate whenever possible with our healthcare professionals on our treatment or health plans. I thus read the Healthier SG White Paper with great delight, that we are, indeed, embarking as a nation towards a much healthier way of living, with stronger emphasis on preventive care, building relationships and trust with our family doctors to maintain our health, supported by each of our own community, right in our neighbourhood. This is a transformative healthcare policy, in my view. It will also require a transformative mindset from our people to fully reap the fruit of this healthcare policy breakthrough. But we can take heart that we will have our neighbours to walk the journey ahead with us together.”
“However, I hope that MHA will clarify that when collecting invasive samples of juvenile offenders under the age of 16, the written consent of the person, parent or guardian will be sought based on the needs of different age groups. I would like to know if MHA has the same provision to protect persons with special needs or intellectual disabilities who may have committed registrable crimes and eligible non-registrable crimes. I feel that people with special needs and the intellectually disabled, even if they are over the age of 16, are still vulnerable. Hence, there is a need to have provisions to give special attention to them, especially to their mental state, and to protect their rights and interests. Where necessary, provide appropriate assistance when collecting samples from them to help them, their parents, and guardians to understand the procedures and cooperate with the DNA officers. (In English): Mdm Deputy Speaker, back to English, please. Forensic medicine advancement has contributed to more effective criminal investigations. To our investigators and forensic pathologists, the pieces of evidence that they collect, including DNA data in a secured database, can lend a voice to the victims who suffer the brutality of the crimes committed against them. For the family and friends of the victims in murder cases, it offers the opportunity to bring closure to the death of their loved ones. Being a nine-year-old schoolmate of the first murdered child in the Toa Payoh ritual murders, I can speak personally of the trauma I felt when I heard the tragedy about 40 years ago and the closure I had when the murderers were finally brought to justice. Mdm Deputy Speaker, notwithstanding the clarifications I have raised, I strongly support the amendment Bill.”
“Such news shows the risk of network security breaches and the safeguards that need to be in place. Although there was an assurance that legislative safeguards will be introduced with several examples cited in MHA’s press release, I did not manage to find them within the amendment Bill. Thus, I would like to ask if MHA can outline some of the legislative safeguards, such as whether the data will be stored in an on-premises secured database at a secured location or a secured cloud database. Also, how will the access of the database be controlled, that is, who are the people that MHA has identified to access the database based on their needs for investigation? Thirdly, will there be a data breach response plan in the unfortunate event that the DNA database experiences a data breach? Mdm Deputy Speaker, please allow me to say a few words in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] As forensic analysis capabilities and technologies improve, personal information such as DNA, fingerprints and photographs have become the key for solving crimes. Although the Police have a high solving rate for murder cases through DNA information, according to Lianhe Zaobao, between 2017 and 2021, about 60% of the DNA samples collected by the Police at the crime scene did not match the existing database. Hence, I believe that by including those who have committed eligible non-registrable crimes in the scope of data collection through the Registration of Criminals (Amendment) Bill, the database will be expanded to provide a more effective tool for the Police to solve crimes. Therefore, I strongly support the Bill.”
“I share the same concerns as hon Member Ms Denise Phua. I would like to thus clarify how would the amendment Bill deal with the collection of DNA samples as well as non-DNA information from special needs individuals who are accused of the eligible crimes. In addition, section 25 re-enacts with modifications section 13E(5)(b) which empowers a DNA officer to use reasonable force to take a body sample. In relation to my point on special needs individuals, despite being accused individuals, I believe that they are to be considered vulnerable adults and may warrant special attention to their needs and emotions while they undergo the potentially traumatic experience of being an accused person. I would like to clarify how MHA will safeguard the safety of these special needs individuals and ensure that no excessive force would be used on them if body samples are to be collected. Thirdly, new sections 29 and 32 will be inserted into the amendment Bill to provide for the maintenance of an identifiable database that stores the records of DNA and non-DNA information of individuals accused and convicted of an eligible or registrable crime. It also laid out that the purpose on which the DNA database may be used for investigation into a death, identifying a dead individual or for identifying an individual to provide Police assistance. In November 2021, a laboratory that was processing DNA evidence from rape victims for the Oklahoma City Police Department (OKCPD) in the United States was involved in a data breach due to unauthorised third-party access to their network, resulting in the exposure of personal data of an unknown number of victims of sexual assault. The compromised data included certain personal and medical information.”
“I would like to clarify if the accused or convicted individuals of reckless or dangerous driving causing hurt with injury of (a) hurt and (b) minimal or no injury, will be subject to having their DNA information registered in the Police database? My concern is for individuals who are accused or convicted of driving without due care or reasonable consideration – which section 65 of RTA states as “any person who drives a motor vehicle on a road (a) without due care and attention; or (b) without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road”. From time to time, I have attended to residents who have been charged in Court under section 65 of RTA during my Meet-the-People Sessions. Most of them committed the offence unintentionally and were remorseful of their actions. Although I stand firm that they should be dealt with fairly under our laws, drivers who unintentionally cause hurt or minimal or no injury, in my view, should not be subject to having their DNA information collected as the degree of blameworthiness of their actions is lower. In other words, it is not a deliberate act of harm. I would like to clarify with MHA if drivers convicted under driving without due care or reasonable consideration will be subject to having their DNA information collected and stored. Secondly, under section 24 of the amendment Bill, it states that an invasive sample must not be taken from an individual who has not attained 16 years of age unless the appropriate consent – in written forms and by the individual or the parent or guardian depending on the age range – is given. However, in the amendment Bill, it did not explicitly state the requirements for special needs individuals, whom I consider as vulnerable even if they are above 16 years of age.”
“Given the high success rate in solving murders through DNA information in recent years, enabling a larger database for our Police Force to compare the samples from crime scenes can help tremendously in our criminal investigations. The amendment Bill is thus a timely response to increase our Police Force’s capabilities to solve crimes. Nonetheless, like the collection of any other information that is personal, there are ethical and privacy considerations that we need to contend with. Thus, I would like to raise clarifications in two main aspects: one, the collection of DNA identifying information for eligible crimes under the amendments; and, two, the storage of the information collected. Firstly, clause 2(d) of the amendment Bill states that an eligible crime is “any offence that is, at the time of the commission of the offence, punishable by imprisonment, not a registrable crime and not compoundable under any written law”. As such, under section 9 and 18(1) of the amendment Bill, an authorised officer may collect the DNA and non-DNA information from the individual accused of an eligible crime. MHA has further listed that reckless or dangerous driving causing hurt is one of the eligible crimes under the amendment Bill. Under section 64 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 (RTA), the sentencing of reckless or dangerous driving causing hurt is considered based on the injury caused to the victims, depending on four levels: death, grievous hurt, hurt and minimal or no injury. Under RTA, the sentencing framework of (a) hurt and (b) minimal or no injury, does not carry a mandatory imprisonment sentence and the offence appears to be compoundable under section 135 of RTA .”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, let me start my speech by citing two murder cases that happened about 40 years ago. The first case happened in 1979 when four children of the Tan family were murdered in their flat in Geylang Bahru. There was no evidence of forced entry nor was their house ransacked. Although bloodstains were found in the kitchen sink, DNA technology was not advanced enough then to identify the culprit and the murders remain unsolved today. Subsequently, in 1981, a temple medium, Adrian Lim, together with his two partners, murdered two young children, aged nine and 10 then, at their flat in Toa Payoh. The murderers were apprehended only after they had killed the second child. This was when CID inspectors traced the bloodstains at the crime scene to the staircase steps leading to the floor of the same block, near to Adrian Lim’s flat unit. This was the infamous Toa Payoh ritual murders. What if these cases can be solved by identifying the criminals through the DNA databases owned by our Singapore Police Force? Will the second murder of the 10-year-old child by Adrian Lim and his partners be avoided, or will the perpetrator that killed the four children from the Tan family be apprehended? These questions are pertinent today, as I rise to speak in support of the Registration of Criminals (Amendment) Bill, which expands and enhances the collection of DNA and non-DNA identifying information. I am heartened to know that the advancement of forensic medicine has greatly improved the possibility of apprehending criminals in recent years. DNA identifying information has become useful tools for crime-solving.”
“Thank you, Mdm Deputy Speaker. I want to thank Senior Parliamentary Secretary Rahayu Mahzam for her replies and explaining the ACE process on how cancer drugs are evaluated, negotiated, because bringing the prices down really helps our Singaporeans. I wanted to ask whether MOH will consider extending the negotiated price – or maybe more of a clarification – whether the negotiated price is also extended to benefit the private healthcare providers. This is because ACE does tap on a committee that comprises public and private oncologists and, as parliamentarians, we would all know of a resident or someone we love who has cancer and is battling cancer and seeking private healthcare for reasons that we all understand, because they want to get well. So, I just wanted a clarification whether that negotiated price also benefits our private healthcare providers to help our Singaporeans battling cancer.”
“Many studies have shown that adopted children are at a higher risk of developing emotional problems than those who grow up in their biological families. Therefore, I hope that MSF will continue to provide social services for adopted children until they reach the age of 21, so that we can detect and treat potential mental illnesses early. The adoption of a child is a very important decision that requires unwavering love and selfless dedication of the adoptive parents to fulfil the promise of a home to the adopted child. I believe that the safety and well-being of the adopted children are the key factors in determining whether they can find a happy home, conducive for their development. The new provisions added to the Bill are in line with this guiding principle of protecting the safety and welfare of children. I, therefore, support this Bill. (In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, there are many wonderful stories of adopted children finding good homes, where they are unreservedly loved by their adoptive parents. For adoptive parents, it can also be a rewarding journey of parenthood, so that their adopted children can get a better life. Adoption is a beautiful thing and, with the necessary legislative framework and social support in place, I believe that it will serve the interest and welfare of children identified for adoption and create a journey filled with hope ahead for the children and the parents. Notwithstanding my considerations raised, I support the Bill.”
“] Mr Deputy Speaker, I welcome the Adoption of Children Bill tabled by MSF. The adoption of a child is very meaningful. This is because it enables children who need a family, especially those under state care, to find a home suitable for them. It also gives couples who cannot have children of their own a glimmer of hope and helps them form a happy family. I would like to make three suggestions on the proposed Bill. First, the Bill proposes that, for joint applicants, at least one parent must be a citizen, or both must be PRs. At my weekly Meet-the-People sessions, I came across residents who adopted a foreign stepson or stepdaughter because they have married a foreign spouse. However, as they could not afford to pay for the tuition fees of foreign students, they hope to apply for PR status for their stepchildren to lighten the burden of school fees. Therefore, I hope that MSF will consider certain measures to help these applicants. Second, the Bill proposes that persons who have committed serious offences would not be allowed to adopt children. I hope that MSF will clarify what constitutes a serious offence. While limiting the eligibility of ex-convicts who have committed serious crimes to adopt children to protect the safety and welfare of children, we cannot prevent ex-convicts who have committed non-serious crimes from re-offending, thus affecting the development of the adopted children. Therefore, I hope that MSF will consider giving lower priority to ex-offenders who have committed non-serious crimes, to better protect the safety of the adopted children. Third, the Bill proposes to give the Court the power to order adoptive families to attend counselling, if necessary.”
“I would like to clarify with MSF on what will be the difference in the lead questions that will be asked as well as the criteria for assessment that will be used to make Adoption Suitability Assessment (ASA) more useful than the current Home Study Report (HSR) to ensure the child's welfare. I also note that the current HSR fee is set at $2,000. However, there are no means-testing schemes to ensure that the fee would remain affordable for prospective adopters. I would like to ask how MSF will ensure that ASA will remain affordable for potential adopters, especially in special circumstances, such as unwed single mothers who wish to formally adopt their biological children, who have financial difficulties to pay for the fees for these assessments. Finally, I am encouraged that the Bill will empower the Court to order the attendance of relevant support services, such as counselling and mediation. Several established research studies have consistently shown the long-term effects that adopted children faced, which often persist into adulthood. The research showed that adopted children are at higher risk of developing behavioural and emotional issues, such as anxiety, depression and delinquent behaviour. Given the mental health and behavioural development risk associated with adopted children, I would like to suggest that MSF consider providing support services to adopted children up to the age of 21 when they can lead an independent life. I would agree with the majority of the respondents during the public consultation process that the support services not be made mandatory, but are provided on a needs basis, when it is required. Mr Deputy Speaker, please allow me to speak a few words in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.”
“Many appeal for permanent residence and citizenship status for their adopted stepchildren to try to reduce their school fees in Singapore, but this process takes time. I hope to seek clarification from MSF on what may be the safeguards in place to ensure that Singaporeans under such circumstances are given full counsel on the full financial implications of bringing their stepchildren up in Singapore to ensure that the welfare of the adopted children are taken care of. Secondly, I am supportive of the legislative provision that prevents persons convicted of serious crimes from adoption. A good adoptive relationship depends on the good character of the adoptive parents to instil good behaviours and set good examples for their adoptive children. Thus, I would like to understand how MSF intends to determine the nature of offences to be prescribed in the legislation. Will serious crimes be determined by the category of crimes, length of imprisonment and/or the amount of fine imposed? In my view, even for those with non-serious offences, as it will be difficult to guarantee that there will be no risk of re-offending, it may be in the best interests of children being put up for adoption to also be protected. This is especially if the criteria for serious or non-serious crimes are not easy to prescribe. I would like to suggest that MSF consider placing potential adoptive parents who have previous convictions in Court, even for non-serious offences, on a lower priority for adoption. My third point relates to the suitability assessment for all prospective adopters.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, adoption is a significant decision for those who intend to undertake the important responsibility and legal obligations as parents. It is a beacon of hope for couples who are unable to conceive, but desire to have children. As it takes great love, sacrifice and long-term commitment to adopt a child, the process must be considered in the best interests of the child identified for adoption. I am heartened to know that MSF is repealing and re-enacting the Adoption of Children Act 2022 to better safeguard the welfare of adopted children. My speech will focus on four aspects of the Bill: one, giving priority to prospective adopters who have strong ties to Singapore; two, safeguards to prevent persons convicted of serious crimes from adopting; three, suitability assessment for all prospective adopters; and four, post-adoption support for adoptive families. Firstly, I understand that the Bill proposes to prioritise Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs) for adoptions in Singapore. For joint applicants, I note that both the individuals should be habitually resident in Singapore, and either or both of the individuals are citizens of Singapore, or both individuals are PRs. I would like to seek clarifications on the impact of this change on Singapore Citizens who intend to adopt the foreign nationality children of their foreigner spouses. In my Meet-the-People Sessions, I came across several residents who are either adopting or have adopted the children of their foreign spouses. After the adoption process is completed, these adoptive step-parents have expressed concerns and difficulties in affording the educational fees of their step-children, who are often foreign students.”
“While it is difficult to see the effectiveness of mindset shifts in the short term, it is the most needed to materialise in all the areas that we are pursuing. I believe that the mindset shift towards empowering women need not be seen as a zero-sum game where the rights of one gender have to be compromised over the other and men are supposed to give something up. Rather, it is the empowerment of women to progress in society as a whole where they reach their fullest potential to become active contributors to realising a fairer and more inclusive society for all Singaporeans. Thus, in order to fully appreciate the progress of women in Singapore, in our society, we need to also consider the immense support and understanding that our fathers, brothers, husbands and sons have been giving to us in this enduring partnership in women's development. May this partnership continue to flourish so that we, as a nation, can achieve greater heights together. Mdm Deputy Speaker, notwithstanding my consideration raised, I support the White Paper on women's development.”
“Therefore, I hope that the Government can provide a one-stop portal that can match women at work and those re-entering the workforce with a suitable mentor who can help them open a window of opportunity and fulfil their career aspirations. Second, I am heartened by the recommendations to enhance female caregiver support proposed in the White Paper, such as the enhanced Home Caregiving Grant and respite services to lighten the financial and mental burden of caregivers. I hope that the Government can also pay attention to caregivers of seniors, by having the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) actively promote advanced care planning, so that seniors can ponder and plan in advance their personal care arrangement in later years. By doing this, caregivers would know what the most appropriate medical treatment and care will be, based on the seniors’ own choice, without being mentally burdened or feeling guilty. Lastly, uplifting the social status of women requires the collaborative efforts and support from both genders. Therefore, a mindset change is crucial. To collectively build a society where men and women are equals and all can pursue their dreams freely and fully, we need our fathers, brothers, husbands and sons to give their unwavering support and close partnership. May this partnership continue to enable Singapore to become a fairer, more inclusive and united country. (In English): Mdm Deputy Speaker, embarking on this endeavour to advance Singapore women's development is a partnership between both men and women. As the Conversations on Singapore Women's Development have rightly identified, mindset shifts in our society remain the foundational factor undergirding the progress of women in Singapore.”
“Additionally, I understand that the current MediSave Care Scheme allows individuals with severe disabilities or their spouses to withdraw up to $200 monthly, with the cap of $2,400 per year to supplement long-term care needs. I would like to suggest that the MediSave Care Scheme be extended to senior caregivers above 65 years old that have adult children with severe disability to tap into their MediSave to support the care of their loved ones at home or in adult disability homes. This will likely help to ease their financial burdens to support the long-term care needs of their children when they become incapable of giving care to their adult children themselves. Mdm Deputy Speaker, please allow me to say a few words in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Deputy Speaker, since our Independence in 1965, the role of Singapore women has gradually evolved from family-centred homemakers to career women in the modern era, making substantial contributions to our country and society. I fully support the White Paper on Singapore women’s development. The White Paper will help uplift Singapore women's status and lay the foundation for their development in the future towards a fairer and more inclusive society. In particular, I support the action plans in two areas in the White Paper. First, equal opportunities in the workplace; second, support for caregivers. First, I am encouraged that the Government will be developing career mentorship and training programmes for women at work and those re-entering the workforce. I have been providing mentorship to younger women and it has been most satisfying to see them grow and succeed in their careers.”
“To facilitate more of these mentoring efforts, I would like to suggest for agencies, such as Workforce Singapore and NTUC, to provide a common platform or a one-stop portal that offers resources and information on job-matching opportunities, transition training programmes as well as an available pool of mentors that women at work or re-entering the workforce can connect to. Social platforms can allow those who are willing to be mentors to be matched with women who are seeking mentorship. This will be especially helpful for women who have been stay-home caregivers for many years and require support transitioning back to the workforce. I am glad to share that, in partnership with fellow hon Member Yeo Wan Ling and NTUC Women and Family Unit, my constituency in Jalan Kayu will be implementing a women-mentoring-women programme to support such efforts. Secondly, I am heartened by the recommendations to enhance caregiver support proposed in the White Paper. I have spoken about the need to enhance caregiver support in my 2021 Budget speech and I believe that action plans in the White Paper to enhance respite care options for caregivers and Home Caregiving Grant will, indeed, be welcome measures to alleviate the caregiving load. Besides the action plans proposed for caregivers' support, I would like to call for further support for caregivers of seniors by having the Agency for Integrated Care actively promote advanced care planning, especially at the early stage of caring for their senior loved ones. This is so that the caregivers can alleviate their concerns of what would be the most appropriate care to carry out, without being burdened or feeling guilty whether the right care was given to their loved ones.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, visually- and hearing-impaired author and advocate Helen Keller famously shared this quote about women's progress in 1904. I quote, "I think the degree of a nation's civilisation may be measured by the degree of enlightenment of its people, of its women". Women today are no longer confined to the traditional role of homemakers alone. Over the years, women in Singapore, including myself, have benefited greatly from the meritocratic system with equal educational opportunities for all and become contributors to nation-building and social progress through our own inspiration and self-determining efforts. It is thus very encouraging for me to know that the Government is putting forth wide-ranging action plans to advance Singapore women's development, with the vision of creating an inclusive and fairer society for all. Having been part of the consultation process, I am glad that the White Paper has captured the Government's action plans to enhance support, especially in two areas: one, equal opportunities at the workplace; and two, recognition and support for caregivers. My speech will focus on some suggestions that could further enhance the actions to be taken in these two areas. Firstly, I am encouraged that the Government will be developing career mentorship, network opportunities and training programmes for women at work and those re-entering the workforce. I believe that mentorship is an excellent way to support women who intend to pursue career advancement, professional development or wish to return to the workforce. I have been providing mentorship to younger women for several years and it has been most satisfying to see these women grow in their careers.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Having had to assure quite a lot of residents at Buangkok Crescent for the recent knife-related crime, many residents have asked me what are the criteria for the Singapore Police Force (SPF) to locate a Neighbourhood Police Post in areas of high risks where there are concerns and there are actually incidents that have happened like this. What are SPF's criteria for locating a Neighbourhood Police Post so that they feel like there is more Police presence in the area? The second question I have is, if Neighbourhood Police Posts cannot be located for good reasons, how much can patrol and surveillance be increased to again assure the residents?”
“All this while, I appreciate the partnership and support rendered by the Social Service Office who worked with me and the family to stabilise their circumstances, to help the wife find suitable employment and caregiving arrangements and for the couple to work on their strained relationship. As families face financial issues or other unexpected circumstances like health problems, family relationships are bound to be affected. They will present early signs of stress, which may lead to greater challenges down the road. I would like to ask MSF, what more can we do as a community to increase upstream efforts to help families from at-risk groups, such as those from low-income groups, or those who are suffering from illnesses. Alliance for Action”
“Sir, under the backdrop of these social trends, I would like to ask what more will MSF be doing to promote and strengthen families in Singapore so that we can continue to be resilient as we gradually recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Upstream Support for Stressed Families Mr Chairman, in my previous cut on Keeping Singapore Families Strong, I mentioned the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the resilience of family relationships. In times of strained relationships or when the families are under stress, it is challenging for the family to act as the first line of support. During my Meet-the-People Sessions, I often encounter residents who would share with me their family problems. The lower-income group remains the most vulnerable to fallouts from strained family relationships because of the limited resources among family members to support one another. A resident couple’s story left an impression on me as it presented the need for greater upstream support when families are faced with early signs of stress. The couple initially approached me when they were struggling with their finances after their employment was affected by the pandemic. They had pressing needs because they had just welcomed their newborn child, but their income dropped drastically at the same time. In order to take care of the child, the wife decided not to look for employment and the husband became the sole breadwinner, continuing the financial strains of the family. The couple later developed relationship strains and the husband moved out and contemplated divorce. This further left the wife in limbo, as she had to fend for financial support and caregiving while going through a difficult time with her husband.”
“Mr Chairman, the Government has consistently upheld the philosophy of family as the first line of support as our social compact in Singapore. The World Values Survey conducted in 2020 has shown that family remains a key priority for most Singaporeans, forming the core of our social values today. Upholding the institution of family and keeping families strong will thus be a continuous endeavour that we must be committed to. I am heartened to know that the number of marriages in 2021 has returned to pre-pandemic levels, despite a slight decline in our birth rate. However, there are still some risks that threaten our family institutions as a nation. Some of the emerging social trends warrant our attention to ensure that we continue to support our Singaporean families to stay strong. There are several observations that I noted from the Singapore’s Census 2020 that I would like to highlight. Firstly, more young adults are choosing to stay single longer, with the proportion of singles aged 25 to 29 rising from 74.6% to 81.6% for males, and from 54% to 69% for females between the years 2010 and 2020. Secondly, the average number of children born over the same period has decreased. Lastly, the old-age dependency ratio has drastically increased from 13.5 to 23.4 in the same 10-year period. These trends of increasing singlehood, declining fertility rates and a rapidly ageing population can place additional strains on our families across different life stages. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has also taken its toll on some family relationships. Various studies across the world on the impact of COVID-19 on family resilience have shown that the pandemic has caused psychological distress for children and parents. In Singapore, our families are also not spared from these effects.”
“I thank the Minister for sharing about the Healthier SG initiative. Indeed, in the healthcare sector, many have been thinking that is very important to pivot to primary care. And community care is a very important part of managing our ageing population, with a growing chronic disease burden. I have two clarifications. I know there will be more consultations and a White Paper later on, but I hear Minister mention the National Health SG enrolment programme would likely be through the three clusters. I am wondering for residents who may have GPs that they have been seeing that is outside the cluster, would they be allowed to choose and would they still get the potential incentives? In some countries that have similar systems, they have, in fact, allowed residents to have up to a choice of two GPs because a lot are working; so, they have a GP when they are in their workplace and one nearer their homes. The second clarification I have is that, when I speak with my senior residents about where they get chronic care, their chronic disease management and when I ask them about whether they go to the nearby GP clinics, many of them still feel that the out-of-pocket expense can be higher than if they go to a Public Health Institution. So, I just wanted to check whether that is an area of focus during the White Paper consultation?”
“I hope to ask MOH how it will leverage on technology amongst our healthcare professionals and patients, especially in the space of prevention and management of chronic diseases and how it will help to make care treatment augmented by technologies, such as telehealth affordable through, for example, the use of MediSave or CHAS. Minority Community Outreach”
“Mr Chairman, during the Budget debate, I spoke about the increased prevalence of patients with chronic diseases and sought clarifications from MOH on the ways that can better address this trend. Given that our resident population will continue to age, it is inevitable for our healthcare needs and costs to rise. To mitigate the costs of healthcare on individuals, especially long-term burden of chronic diseases, I believe that we need to empower individuals to understand our own health, both in the prevention and prompt management at the onset of common chronic diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol as well as long-term management and disease control. A study on a cluster of polyclinics in Singapore has shown that the median annual healthcare costs per capita increase with the number of chronic diseases. To reduce such cost burden especially on our seniors, it is important to increase education to at-risk groups with customised and relatable content, enable screening for early diagnosis and support long-term management to prevent complications from chronic diseases. I acknowledge that the efforts to reach out and enable more individuals to manage their own health, if solely placed on our healthcare professionals, will increase their already stretched workloads without more supportive tools provided. In this regard, I hope that MOH will consider more use of technology, including telehealth and artificial intelligence amidst our nation's digitalisation efforts to help individuals monitor and manage our health in partnership with our healthcare providers.”
“The study found that many caregivers would have to juggle both caring for children working from home had limited access to other activities to occupy their children's time and this resulted in screen time being the only way to occupy their children. An informal study done by The Straits Times in February this year with several counselling agencies showed that the number of cases they received for intervention regarding screen time addiction rose by up to 60% during the circuit breaker period. I also note another Straits Times' article published just last Sunday, introducing a set of guidelines by a workgroup led by KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), aimed at supporting parents to instil better daily habits from birth, helping young children get enough sleep and reducing screen time exposure to improve their health and well-being in the long term. I would like to raise two suggestions for MOH's considerations. Firstly, can we support the good work of the workgroup led by KKH, which I mentioned earlier, by supplementing their guidelines with tool kits, play resources and other practical help to support young parents and educators in the early childhood sector to be trained and equipped with strategies to manage screen time for children from early childhood? Secondly, can we research and implement evidence-based programmes to support educators, community health practitioners, parents and caregivers of children and youth who are at risk of developing Internet addiction or who already have total mean screen time above a certain threshold? As we move to an endemic Singapore, I hope that more outdoor activity options will become the preferred choices of our children and youth to participate in so that screen time will not dominate their days.”
“I would like to thus suggest for coordination amongst the Ministries, between MOH, MND and MSF, to profile the BTO blocks with a larger number of seniors in 2-room Flexi Flats, to provide integrated senior care support in addition to services for young families. In fact, if more inter-generational community services that cater to both social and health well-being of our younger and older residents together, it will be beneficial to the community as a hope. Child-maternal Health and Well-being Mr Chairman, in my COS cut last year, I raised the concern of maternal health of mothers and its impact on their children. With our birth rate continuing to slide, every child born is precious to us. Ensuring the health of mothers and their children is hence a priority that needs our continued efforts. I am glad to hear that MOH has developed a Child and Maternal Health and Well-being Strategy to provide comprehensive support to women and their children, spanning from pre-conception to youths aged 18. These are formative years with many critical milestones. I hope to have more updates on what the new initiatives are and how the strategy will address health needs and mitigate risk factors of mothers and children in Singapore. One emerging risk that I would like to highlight is on children's screen time usage and addictions. According to data from IMDA, Internet usage among children aged 15 and below increased from 69% in 2016 to 92% in 2020. COVID-19 has intensified the usage of technological devices for communication and entertainment. A study done in 12 countries on those aged eight- to 36-month-old showed that children's screen time increased during COVID-19 lockdown relative to before.”
“Mr Chairman, the Population in Brief 2021 continues to report an increasing trend of our citizen population aged 65 and above, with the proportion growing at a faster pace compared to the last decade. From Census 2020 data, we note that 22.8% of this group of seniors are living alone or with their spouse only. As our population ages and family sizes decline, more seniors are likely to have only themselves or their spouses to support them in their old age and many may require community care at some point in time. I would like to continue to call attention to integrate housing and care needs for our seniors. During the Budget debate last year, I strongly supported the Community Care Apartment model piloted at the Harmony Village at Bukit Batok. I am glad to hear from the MND's COS session yesterday that more of such Community Care Apartments (CCAs) will be launched and I hope MND will spread them island-wide to benefit more seniors. A related issue that I hope to raise is incorporating senior care services in new BTO projects with flexi 2-room flats. During my walkabouts to newly completed BTO projects in the Buangkok Crescent estate of Jalan Kayu, which consist of mixed room types of between 2- to 5-room flats, I noticed that the flexi 2-room flats are mostly occupied by seniors living alone or with their spouse only, many of whom have chosen to downgrade to a smaller flat in their advanced years, mostly in their 70s and 80s. BTO projects in newer estates consist predominantly of younger families and the social and community services around then tend to cater to their needs.”
“A point to note is that to anchor health delivery in the primary care and activating more GPs to engage in preventive and chronic disease management, GPs will have to assume more responsibility for the long-term health and well-being of their patients that they are serving. This is likely to have additional workload for GPs as they would now have to monitor and provide follow-up care for more. This is especially important to note, as we know that many GPs have already stretched themselves to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, I would like to ask if MOH will consider providing more resources and incentives to encourage GPs to step up in preventive and chronic disease management to enhance healthcare for our ageing population? Primary Care”
“Mr Chairman, first I would like to declare my role as a consultant in healthcare transformation. Sir, when a person falls ill and needs to see a doctor, primary care is often the first line of care in the community that they think of. It is an important line of defence and primary care family physicians play a very critical role in caring for patients for non-emergency needs, preventing acute hospital episodes where possible, especially seen during this COVID-19 pandemic period. Many developed countries around the world attempt to provide proactive primary health services instead of reactive care where a person will only visit a doctor when they are sick. This can improve population health in general. In the United Kingdom, more than 99% of residents are enrolled with their General Practitioners (GPs) who will provide health screening and follow-up care within six months of their enrolment. This practice shifts the focus from treatment of acute and chronic diseases to disease prevention and early management. With our chronic disease prevalence continuing to rise with our rapidly ageing population, this form of comprehensive primary care delivery may be beneficial for our population for several reasons. Firstly, when a person is enrolled to a GP, it allows both the doctor and patient to establish a long-term care relationship together. Furthermore, early screening and diagnosis can also help in better management of chronic diseases, rendering it more cost-effective in the long term by avoiding complications and reducing needs for hospitalised care.”
“Mr Chairman, also on the Zero Waste Masterplan launched in 2019, our target for Domestic Recycling Rate in 2030 is 30%. This is on the back of our domestic recycling rate declining from 19% in 2015 to 17% in 2019 and 13% in 2020. How can we encourage and support Singaporeans towards achieving our zero-waste target? I would like to mention Slovenia as a case study in Europe, with a domestic recycling rate of 59.2% for some learning points. Their domestic recycling rate increased by almost 37% over just one decade. Its capital city, Ljubljana, attributed part of its success to strong communications strategies, campaigns and educational programmes to shift its citizens towards an eco-conscious culture. They adopted a bottom-up approach, with communities’ involvement, cooperation from different stakeholders and implementation of nationwide programmes. Considering our aspirations towards reaching the zero-waste target and Singapore’s strength in whole-of-community approach, I will like to ask how MSE plans to enable families and communities to achieve our targets. Waste-to-landfill Enhancement”
“I would like to ask how NPTD can work with a wider group of stakeholders to further normalise such family-centric work balance mindset and working models for the longer-term population benefits of Singapore.”
“Mr Chairman, our Total Fertility Rate (TFR) at 1.10 and number of marriages at 19,430 in 2020 were at their lowest points for the decade. While the number of marriages showed signs of returning to pre-pandemic levels, having children remains a hesitation in many young Singaporeans' minds. In a Youth Survey conducted by TODAY newspaper with 1,066 respondents between the ages of 18 and 34 published in November 2021, only about half of the unmarried respondents felt that marriage was important and less than half said it was important or very important to have a child in the future. They cited cost of living, stressful education system and lack of quality time as their top concerns. How can we build cultural norms and an environment that are more family-friendly in Singapore? I believe we need to tackle three interdependent fronts together for family centricity – at home, at work and in the society. In 2021, 46% of employed residents in Singapore were working from home due to the COVID-19 situation. Such flexible remote working arrangements have provided a space for more parents to spend more time with their children while still attending to work. While there are, certainly, those who had to cope with more childcare and work burdens, many residents shared with me that it has given them a chance to make adjustments and see their children more. In fact, flexible work practices and family-friendly workplaces were highlighted as one of the key themes that emerged from "Building a Singapore that is Made-for-Families" in the Emerging Stronger Conversations. As a society, we also begin to appreciate that the flexible work arrangements can be a reality, with adjustments to expectations and mindsets during this pandemic.”
“Thus, it is definitely important for us to engage Singaporeans more, especially during these few years where housing remains an issue for many of the young couples who want to settle down. This, in the face of our continued declining rate, is an important issue that I feel should be addressed. There are two suggestions that I would like to suggest for better meeting the housing aspirations of young Singaporeans. Firstly, I would like to suggest for MND to consider extending greater interim subsidies or housing loans to young couples who are trying to get a resale flat if they have immediate housing needs and cannot wait for the longer waiting time for BTO flats. Secondly, I would also suggest for MND to consider reviewing some of the criteria of the current schemes to give more flexibility for young couples to be able to find their flat if they do not meet all the criteria immediately. Mr Speaker, as the economy gradually recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic and we move towards the goal of an endemic Singapore where Singaporeans coexist with the virus, it is timely that this year's Budget focuses on how we can chart our new way forward as a nation. As we strengthen our resilience from the shadows of COVID-19, my hope is that the Singapore Dream – where opportunities and care continue to be available to all and aspirations of all Singaporeans can become real – will remain alive in the many years to come. On that note, I support Budget 2022.”
“Although the crude prevalence was partly attributable to population ageing, it is nonetheless important to know that more than one in every five older adults aged 60 to 75 are diabetic. Furthermore, the numbers of patients with hypertension does not fare well either, with an increase of the overall crude prevalence of 24.2% in 2017 to 35.5% in 2019 to 2020. Similarly, the age-standardised prevalence also showed an increasing trend from 21.9% in 2017 to 31.7% in 2019 to 2020. This data shows that we must do much more to manage chronic diseases in an ageing population. In my Committee of Supply cuts for health, I will also elaborate on my suggestions on activating more primary care general practitioner's (GP) clinics as well as the use of technologies to help our population manage chronic diseases. I look forward to hearing from the Ministry of Health their overall plan for managing population health. Lastly, I would like to speak about helping to fulfil the aspirations of our younger adults and the challenges that they are facing in building a home and a family. COVID-19 has accentuated the challenges of home ownership amidst the supply crunch in the construction sector and the rising cost of utilities due to the increase in energy prices. Many young couples in my constituency have written to me or approached me at Meet-the-People Sessions about their difficulties in successfully balloting for a Build-to-Order (BTO) flat although they want to settle down and have a family. In Singapore, a study conducted by the Asian Development Bank has shown that the idea of "no flat, no child" is prevalent among our young generation.”
“I also observe that families, for example, with parents who are trying to upskill, find new employment and manage their transition into new jobs while raising young children all at the same time would be struggling in juggling multiple demands. I would like to ask how would the Government help to streamline all these programmes and help the family in a more wraparound holistic manner for them to navigate between social and manpower schemes that are targeted to help them? The second topic that is close to my heart is the issue of managing the long-term healthcare needs of our ageing population. The COVID-19 pandemic showed us the importance of building a resilient healthcare system. Singaporeans, healthcare and frontline workers have rallied together and through the cooperation and efforts of everyone, we have avoided overwhelming our hospitals. I take this opportunity to salute all our hardworking healthcare workers and frontline workers. We need to continue to strengthen our healthcare systems and build capabilities to ensure that our frontline workers would remain adaptable in responding to future crises. Besides being able to be prepared for future pandemics, a resilient healthcare system should also meet new challenges and changing healthcare needs. The 2020 population census report showed that residents aged 65 and above has increased from 9% to 15.2% over the last 10 years . At the same time, the National Population Health Survey 2020 highlighted that diabetes prevalence increased with age where more than 20% of adults aged 60 and above are diabetic. Despite Singapore's effort to tackle diabetes, the crude prevalence of diabetes showed an increasing trend from 8.6 % in 2010 to 9.5% in 2019 to 2020.”
“6% in 2021, we know the recovery in the labour market remains uneven, especially for those that are more impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Families with members in these sectors would likely have experienced a greater loss of income or job insecurity and their children may face a host of obstacles in their social mobility. A study in the UK assessing the social mobility implications of COVID-19 has shown that a fall in earnings can reduce the options available to displaced workers as they have less resources to finance reskilling and to lean on while they search for re-employment. For their children and young who are still in education, a fall in parental income or job loss has been shown to reduce attainment in school and through this, have long-run impacts on future earnings. I am thus really glad to hear in the Minister for Finance's Budget speech that we will continue to invest and upskill our workers and encourage companies to do so through skills development initiatives, increase in support for continued training and SkillsFuture Career Transition Programmes. These will certainly go towards helping our people remain employed and to transit into new growing industries and the digital economy. Programmes such as the Fresh Start Housing Scheme, KidSTART, UPLIFT Community Pilot and scaling up of ComLink are also helpful in ensuring that our children in disadvantaged and low-income families have opportunities to improve their lives. However, I note that many of these schemes will take years before they can reap their full benefits. I would thus like to ask how will the Government monitor and ensure that the families these schemes are targeted to help are making the transitions in these few years of rapid and intense changes?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, this is our third year into the COVID-19 pandemic. As Singaporeans adjust to the new norms and with borders opening up progressively, our economy has also gradually improved, and the outlook is optimistic. Although I am heartened to hear that the MTI's projection of a 3% to 5% growth in Singapore's economy in 2022, I continue to be mindful of the uncertainties in the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential downside risks it has on our economy and our people, especially with also now the war in Ukraine. Last year, I rose to speak about safeguarding and improving the welfare of three vulnerable segments of our population – persons with disabilities, women who are caregivers, and seniors living alone or with their spouse only. Given the 2022 Budget's focus on charting a new way forward together, I intend to highlight three areas where I feel there are long-term implications to pay more attention to as our nation moves forward to living with COVID-19. These three areas are: (a) social mobility amidst COVID-19, economic restructuring and digitalisation; (b) managing long-term healthcare needs; and (c) fulfilling the housing aspiration of our younger generation. First, I would like to raise the issue of social mobility amidst economic restructuring and digitalisation. COVID-19 has exacerbated the need for economic transformation and digitalisation. We know that this is important as we strive to thrive in a volatile, unpredictable and fast changing world. Yet this may also bear a considerable impact on vulnerable groups including the lower-wage workers, middle-aged workers, persons with disabilities and their families. While Singapore's overall unemployment rate saw a decline from 3% in 2020 to 2.”
“Mr Speaker, it is important to strengthen marriages in creating a cohesive family environment for the next generation to model after. As far as possible, conditions need to be created to allow couples to reconcile amid family disputes and marriage breakdowns. It is inevitable that divorces can occur and families possibly broken apart. It is my belief that there must then be therapeutic justice incorporated in divorce proceedings, in which acrimony and hostility during these proceedings would not be aggravated and the children's best interest is prioritised. Although couples can no longer be husbands and wives, they continue to be parents and role models for their children. Therefore, it is important that the amendments to the Women's Charter allow couples to have closure and move on with their separate lives, while continuing to be the pillar of support for the children that they would likely have to raise jointly. Mr Speaker, notwithstanding my considerations raised, I support the amendment Bill.”
“There could, however, be situations where a spouse, who has higher financial control and power over the other, coerces the dependant spouse into mutual agreement to divorce but not out of that spouse's own will. In such situations, how will the Court be able to determine if the mutual agreement of the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage may not be out of their own volition of one of the parties? Are there any safeguards that MSF will make to recommend to the Court that the marriage is still reconcilable? Lastly, the Women Charter is also amended to mandate for all divorcing parents with minor children to attend the Mandatory Parenting Programme (MPP) before they can file for divorce. In my interactions with residents who are going through divorces, they often share the emotional difficulties that they faced during the proceedings and worry about the impact that their divorce has on their children, especially when the other party refuses to cooperate and allow for a smooth divorce process. I have a resident who once sought my help and shared with me how her ex-husband was missing through most part of the divorce proceedings and was only contactable before the final judgment for divorce is delivered by the Court. In such cases where the marriage has become acrimonious and one of the parties refuses to attend MPP to proceed with the divorce proceedings, will the other half be stuck in the marriage and unable to move on? I would also like to ask what happens if the couple is going through a family violence situation and the perpetrator is not willing to attend MPP? How can MSF ensure that the divorce proceedings will continue and the victim can receive closure to move on in life?”