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.”
The complete record
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 6 of 7.
“However, I am concerned that virtual solemnisation might dilute the significance of marriages. In the lives of many newlyweds, solemnisation is an important ceremony for family members to witness and be part of the joy in celebrating their union together. An example of diluted significance of marriages for the purpose of convenience can be found in Nevada, United States. Las Vegas, in the city of Nevada, is known to have a booming wedding industry. Wedding-related tourism accounts for nearly US$2 billion of the city's annual US$58 billion tourism industry and generates about 18,000 jobs. One of the reasons for its booming industry is the convenience to get married, such as drive-through wedding services and 24-hour chapels to solemnise couples. Similarly, this has also impacted the divorce rate in Nevada, which has one of the highest divorce rates in the United States, with a rate of nearly 21 divorces per 1,000 married women in 2019. I would like to seek clarification from MSF on how we can ensure that the digitalisation or solemnisation for convenience will not send the wrong signal to newlyweds that marriage can be conveniently entered into without considering the long-term commitment and devotion needed to create a happy and successful marriage. Secondly, MSF intends to introduce a sixth fact of "divorce by mutual agreement (DMA) of the irretrievable breakdown of the marriage" in the amendment by repealing and re-enacting section 96 and inserting a new section 95A. In the amendment, the new section 95(3) stated that a Court "must dismiss an application if it is not satisfied that the marriage has irretrievably broken down and there remains a reasonable possibility that the parties might reconcile".”
“Mr Speaker, I would like to start my speech with a quote from the American author and journalist, Mignon McLaughlin: "A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person". Marriage is a lifelong commitment between two individuals who intend to be in a legally-binding union and share a life together. According to the latest Statistics on Marriages and Divorces in Singapore, the annual average number of marriages fell in the last five years from 27,635 to 26,255, compared to the period between 2011 and 2015. Similarly, there is a slight decrease in the annual average number of divorces from 7,439 to 7,424, compared to the previous five-year period. It is, however, heartening to know that the figure for divorce for 2020 was 6,959, the lowest since 2006. In Singapore, the guiding principle has always been that family is the first line of care and support. Hence, policy and legislative amendments relating to marriages and marital dissolutions can have a deep impact on our social fabric. Therefore, I would like to focus my speech on raising three considerations on the Women's Charter (Amendment) Bill to ensure: one, civil marriages will continue to be upheld and conducted with solemnity; and, two, women and children will be protected in the event of a divorce. Firstly, I understand that section 24 of the Women's Charter is to be re-enacted to permit remote solemnisation in certain circumstances, providing video-link solemnisations as a permanent option. In addition, new provisions will be included in the amendment to allow for the pre-solemnisation process to be completed online. I am supportive of MSF's wider effort to promote the digitalisation and enhancement of convenience of the marriage process.”
“Lastly, the amendment Bill also provides for a new and simplified process for the distribution of un-nominated CPF monies by the Public Trustee on a member's death to a "beneficiary representative" for distribution to the beneficiaries, in accordance with the Intestate Succession Act or section 112 of the Administration of Muslim Law Act. It allows a beneficiary of the deceased member to apply to the Public Trustee to become a beneficiary representative. Although the application will be subject to the approval of the Public Trustee, I am concerned that there is a lack of recourse if the beneficiary representative fails to exercise fairness in distribution of the CPF monies according to the Acts. I am also concerned that the beneficiary representative may unreasonably withhold the monies from some beneficiaries. Thus, I would like to seek clarification on: one, how the application process will be done to identify the beneficiary representative and two, how the Public Trustee intends to ensure that the welfare of the remaining beneficiaries will be taken care of. Mr Speaker, with the expected increase in retirement age to 65 and re-employment age to 70 by the end of the decade, periodic review of the CPF system is crucial to ensure that the key pillar of our social security system is kept up-to-date. Notwithstanding my clarifications, I support the amendment Bills.”
“In addition, can the Ministry also clarify if CPF Board will be conducting periodic reviews of the type of specified significant conditions, in order to keep up with newer medical conditions that would be eligible for such withdrawals? Secondly, the amendment Bill proposed the removal of CPF annual limit for certain types of voluntary contributions to the MediSave account. This means that CPF members can make greater voluntary contributions to their MediSave account to prepare them for the "rainy days", where they may face the possibilities of medical emergencies and can use their MediSave to cover a significant portion of medical costs and hospitalisation bills. However, I have also come across elderly residents in my constituency who are healthy and raised concerns over the underutilisation of their MediSave balance, requesting if their MediSave funds can be reallocated into their Retirement Account. It is understandable that individuals who have made excess voluntary contributions to their MediSave account during their productive work life, but do not have much health issues or incur much medical costs, would want to use that money for their retirement living expenses instead. Thus, I would like to clarify if after lifting the CPF annual limits for voluntary contributions made to the MediSave account, will CPF Board also allow CPF members to reallocate their additional voluntary contributions into other accounts, such as their Retirement Account (RA), if they so choose to in the future?”
“I would like to raise three clarifications about the Bill relating to the disbursement of CPF monies, voluntary contributions to the MediSave account, and payment by the Public Trustee to beneficiary representatives. Firstly, I understand that the amendment Bill will allow CPF Board to make automatic disbursements to members after being satisfied that the member is suffering from a "specified significant condition" by regulations made under the new section 77(1) of the amendment Bill. Currently, CPF Board already allows members to apply for withdrawals if they are certified to have a reduced life expectancy or severe medical conditions that cause members to be permanently unfit for work or lack mental capacity. I would like to clarify if there can be more specificity on how the "significant conditions" will be decided in the proposed amendment Bill to be adopted. I have an encounter with one of my residents, Mdm A, who suffers from a rare and incurable disease characterised by progressive problems with movements and may shorten life expectancy. Mdm A approached me for assistance because she has been using her CPF monies to support her only son's studies, and as she is suffering from this medical condition, she hopes to appeal for the waiver of her son’s repayment. As a mother myself, I can fully understand the intention of Mdm A to support her son through his studies while she is able to, without expectation of repayment. I would like to know whether the examples like the encounter I have mentioned will constitute as a "specified significant condition" and whether flexibility can be given to waiver of repayments under some of the CPF schemes, such as the CPF Education Loan Scheme, if the CPF member suffers from such "significant condition".”
“Given the higher prevalence of chronic illnesses in an older workforce, I am concerned that irresponsible employers can use it to disadvantage older workers and justify not to offer re-employment on the grounds of medical fitness when they are having common chronic illnesses. Although subsection (2) of the Bill states that the employers have to prove on a balance of probabilities that the employee is not medically fit, I would like to clarify what are the safeguards to assure that chronic illnesses would not be used to unfairly disadvantage older workers from being regarded as medically fit. Mr Deputy Speaker, I strongly believe the importance for our seniors to age gracefully and with dignity. Our seniors remain important contributors of our economy and society, sharing their wealth of experiences and valuable skillsets while mentoring younger employees. Thus, legislation is critical to prohibit dismissal on grounds of age and safeguarding their re-employment rights if they wish to continue with their employment. This amendment is an important step in sending out the right signals to the employers that diversity of age at work remains an important driver to increase productivity and allow their business to grow, especially when older employees possess subject-matter expertise and are observed to have lower turnover rates. Now, on the Central Provident Fund (Amendment) Bill, since its inception in 1955 as a compulsory retirement savings programme, our CPF system has been the bedrock of our social security system, which ensures that the seniors can retire comfortably and be financially independent during their golden years.”
“Continued employment may remain an important channel for older workers to meet their expenditure needs, especially the lower-income earners. Having contributed their years before retirement in an organisation and hoping to be valued for their contributions, older workers should not be expected to be short-changed in re-employment terms and benefits to continue their service with the employer. Secondly, I understand the Bill has set forth in section 8A a conciliation process for employers who have re-employment disputes. I would like to clarify, to date, how many employees with re-employment disputes have been directed to an approved mediator for conciliation and how many of these conciliations are successful. I would also like to clarify what is the average timeline expected for such conciliation between employers and employees. It is important that the timeline for these conciliations be short, with amicable solutions reached by both parties, so as not to overtly bring hardship to employees seeking re-employment, especially those who require the job for their livelihood. Third, one of the main eligibility criteria for re-employment set out in section 7, subsection(1)(b)(ii) of the Bill is that the employer will assess the employee as "being medically fit to continue working". With increased retirement age, there would be a proportional increase of those with multiple chronic diseases. The "Transitions in Health, Employment, Social Engagement and Intergenerational Transfers in Singapore" study showed that, in 2017, around 37% of respondents reported three or more chronic health conditions, up from 19.8% in a 2009 study.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of both amendment Bills. I would first like to start by affirming the efforts of MOM in introducing the Retirement and Re-employment (Amendment) Bill to prohibit dismissal of employees on the grounds of age by legislating the minimum retirement age at 65 and increasing the statutory limits for re-employment age from 67 to 70 years old. Given Singapore’s demographic shifts towards an ageing population and the longer life expectancy of Singaporeans, it is inevitable that many of us will have to continue working for a longer period. According to MOM’s Comprehensive Labour Force Survey, as of 2020, 25.7% of our labour force is 55 and older. This is a 9.2% increase from a decade ago. As Singapore moves towards a more inclusive workforce that recognises the increased contributions of our older workers, I would like to make three clarifications to ensure that our older employees are safeguarded from unfair employment practices when offered re-employment. Firstly, MOM released the Tripartite Guidelines on the Re-Employment of Older Employees, which took effect on 12 October 2020. On wage adjustment, the tripartite guidelines stated that "Upon re-employment, any wage adjustment should be based on reasonable factors, such as productivity, duties, responsibilities and wage system”. Although the tripartite guidelines allow for “the wages to be adjusted down to the level of a younger employee with the requisite experience and competency for the same job", I would like to clarify what are the safeguards in place to prevent employers from disincentivising older employees by overtly reducing their salary, knowing that they need to be re-employed.”
“In this respect, I would like to propose for consideration that Division 4 and Division 5 of Part 5 to be included in the list of exceptions from being restricted by contracts so that the authorised entities would be able to provide accessible copies for PWDs, beyond those who are print-disabled, without having the heavy burden of verifying the contractual terms or the fear of a breach of contract. This will encourage greater participation and inclusion of PWDs in our growing arts and cultural works. Nonetheless, this should also be done and carefully applied such that it does not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the creators. As a society, we have grown and matured in our expression and appreciation of arts, culture and creative content. Through the Copyright Bill, we are putting in place a framework to acknowledge the rights of creators and value their work, and updating the law for the digital age. We also need to recognise that PWDs can and should be able to access and participate in the cultural, arts and creative expressions like any of our fellow Singaporeans. I hope that MinLaw will consider my suggestions so that we can build a truly inclusive and fair society. Sir, notwithstanding my suggestions, I support the Copyright Bill.”
“Secondly, we should also consider persons with hearing disability are not excluded in the consumption of creative works unintendedly. Many of the copyright provisions are for the print-disabled, which include those with visual impairments, perceptual or reading disabilities or physical disabilities that impede the ability to manipulate a book. However, technology has made creative content much more immersive, requiring both audio and visual senses to fully participate and enjoy. Content on the web is a rich visual and audio experience which can include audio-visual recordings, documentaries and video reports. For the hearing impaired to consume such content, it will have to be transcribed into an accessible copy that includes subtitles or sign language. Although technology and artificial intelligence tools may be able to enable auto-transcription, but there are also limitations in the quality of transcriptions and hence, the need for manual transcription, which requires access to copyrighted materials. Hence, I would like to ask whether the current provisions for print-disabled persons can also be extended to persons with hearing disability. This would ensure that PWDs with different or multiple disabilities will have fair access to content. Lastly, as we seek to be a more inclusive and fair society, we must make every effort for PWDs to freely participate in the cultural life of the community to enjoy the arts and its benefits. It is important then that this access for PWDs to enjoy works, regardless of the contractual agreements in place between creators and users.”
“I am further heartened to know that the obligation for authorised entities to pay equitable remuneration for converting copyrighted works is removed, thus making access for the print-disabled easier. However, I would like to clarify why this obligation remains for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, as stated in Division 5 of section 217(3). Intellectual and cognitive disabilities cover a wide range of disabilities that affect mental processes of a person. This includes disabilities, such as Down's syndrome, autism, learning disabilities like dyslexia, brain injuries from illness or trauma and dementia. They result in difficulty in processing complex information, requiring a transformation of the material into more easily understood forms. This transformation can include plain and simple language or high/low versions of written and audio works; changes in formatting, including pictorial illustrations and text-to-speech technology, which help people with dyslexia to access print content. The same considerations that apply to Persons with Print Disabilities should also apply to Persons with Intellectual Disabilities. Converting content into a form accessible by Persons with Intellectual Disabilities would likewise be expensive, time-consuming and would add to the cost incurred by effectively paying twice to consume the work. As such, I would like to propose to remove the obligation for authorised entities to pay equitable remuneration to copyright owners for making, distributing or making available copies of copyrighted works for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities. This will bring the treatment of copyrighted works equal for persons with print or intellectual disabilities and likewise, ensure fair and equitable access for both.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, technology has enabled the creation, delivery and consumption of content in ways we could never have imagined. The Copyright Bill is a timely update to ensure that we stay in step with changes in technology, meeting the needs of a growing creative economy and the increased use of data in the form of audio, video and text in all aspects of our lives. The Copyright Bill seeks to establish a well-functioning copyright system that will help content to be created and attributed rightly, distributed efficiently and consumed fairly. I hope to raise some suggestions to ensure that Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) among us have equitable and fair access to consume and enjoy creative copyrighted content. Many PWDs are artistically inclined and are very creative. The Copyright Bill, with provisions for default ownership as well as the right of attribution to be with the creator, will enable creators who are PWDs to have an income from their creation and that their rights are protected. Notwithstanding this, we need to also ensure that they are given the same level of access to creative works as the abled so that they can enjoy content and be inspired by it. Firstly, PWDs should have fair and equitable access to copyrighted content in a format that they can consume, regardless of their disability. I am glad that the Copyright Bill contains exceptions intended to give persons who are print-disabled greater and more equal access to copyrighted works. These exceptions were introduced in 2015 to implement Singapore's commitments under the World Intellectual Property Organization's (WIPO) Marrakesh Treaty.”
“Thank you, Deputy Speaker, and I thank the Senior Minister of State for the comprehensive reply. I would just like to ask a question. With the concern of a rising number of individuals needing dialysis, whether the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Manpower will consider and what kind of measures they might implement for more upstream measures such as workplace education on the risk factors leading to kidney diseases. A lot of laymen are not very aware that, for example, common chronic diseases like diabetes can lead to chronic kidney diseases, if not well managed, and the chronic kidney diseases, if worsened, will require dialysis. So, I would like to check if there are any upstream measures that are implemented in the workplace.”
“Therefore, it is important to appoint a reliable and trustworthy proxy decision-maker early, so that both the donor and their family members have peace of mind, knowing that their welfare and interests will be well taken care of when they become mentally incapacitated. Notwithstanding the considerations raised, I support the Bill.”
“Finally, I would like to raise the concern about the protection of donors and donees should cyberattacks and cybersecurity breaches compromise the integrity of the e-LPA documents. In recent times, there have been several noteworthy cybersecurity breaches on some cloud computing providers. Should a security breach result in e-LPA documents being amended without the donors' or donees' knowledge, a transaction executed in good faith based on the LPA may result in a loss for the donors and/or liability for the donees. How would the parties be protected, especially when the transaction relates to the donors' personal welfare, property and affairs? Should the transaction that is in progress when the breach occurred be halted to determine if there has been any adversarial impact made to the LPA? The Bill introduces section 16A that affords protection of donees and others if the e-LPA has a relevant error. I would like to propose that the section should also be expanded to include relevant protections from liabilities of donors and donees as a result of cyberattacks and cybersecurity breaches. This would go some way to protect the interests of all parties. Mr Speaker, in my interactions with residents in Jalan Kayu, many come forward seeking help because they cannot make decisions for their family members who are suffering from dementia or other forms of mental health challenges, as their loved ones did not make an LPA when they still had the mental capacity to do so. These decisions can range from making simple bank transactions to applying for an HDB flat.”
“SGAs can help to guide and assist seniors who are immobile and cannot approach the Citizen Connect Centres by themselves in the application. In addition, special considerations can be made for seniors, who are immobile, to have the LPA Certificate Issuers (CIs) visit their homes together with the SGAs, to complete the LPA application, to give them the peace of mind. This would benefit seniors with mobility issues. Secondly, under the newly proposed Office of the Public Guardian Online or OPGO process, donors and donees are not required to meet face-to-face to obtain a signature on the LPA Form. I am concerned that this may create an opportunity for vulnerable seniors to be targets of fraud by fraudulent donees who want to take advantage of them. Without the requirement for donors and donees to meet up, seniors might be unknowingly coaxed into creating an LPA appointment by fraudulent donees. Although donors are still required to meet with the Certificate Issuers (CIs) to ensure that the donor has the mental capacity to make the LPA and understands the effect of an LPA, without a third person witnessing the donees' identity, it can become challenging for the Certificate Issuers to act as a safeguard in preventing fraud from occurring. I would like to propose that MSF consider requiring at least one meeting, in person or virtually, between donors, donees and the Certificate Issuers, so that all parties would be aware of each other's identity and for the Certificate Issuers to provide timely feedback to the donors if they have grounds to suspect that the donees might be using fraud or undue pressure to induce the donors to make an LPA.”
“(In English): It is encouraging for me to know that MSF would be expecting over 40,000 applications for Lasting Power of Attorney, or LPA for short, by the end of 2021. This makes the latest amendments to the Mental Capacity Act a timely move. Given that one in 10 Singaporeans aged 60 and above have the chance of being diagnosed with dementia, and with the numbers expected to rise to 80,000 in 2030, I believe that the LPA should be widely promoted to all Singaporeans as it allows an individual to make an early, informed and personal choice of a proxy decision-maker or donees whom they can trust. This reassures donors that their interest will be well taken care of should they lose their mental capacity one day. Since the inception of the LPA in 2014, slightly more than half of the donors are aged 60 years old and above. The focus on my speech will be on the concerns and needs of seniors who are intending to apply for the LPA. I would like to raise three considerations related to the amendment Bill. Firstly, I join my fellow PAP parliamentarians in sharing the concern that by fully enabling LPA to be made electronically, the seniors who are not technologically savvy may be discouraged to submit their applications. Although MSF will be leveraging community touchpoints, such as the Citizen Connect Centres and the Integrated Public Service Centre at Our Tampines Hub, to provide assistance for seniors who are less comfortable with the use of digital services, there is a need to consider also seniors who have mobility issues and are not technologically comfortable. I would like to suggest for MSF to consider mobilising the Silver Generation Ambassadors (SGAs) to promote and assist in the application of LPA for this group of seniors.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to start my speech in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Speaker, it is encouraging for me to note that MSF will be expecting over 40,000 applications for Lasting Power of Attorney, or LPA, by the end of 2021. Given that one in 10 Singaporeans aged 60 and above have the chance of being diagnosed with dementia, and with the numbers expected to rise to 80,000 in 2030, I believe that the LPA should be widely promoted to all Singaporeans as it allows an individual to make an early choice of a proxy decision-maker whom they can trust. This reassures donors that their interest will be taken care of should they lose their mental capacity one day. Hence, I support the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Bill to facilitate more Singaporeans to apply for an LPA. Although I agree that LPAs be done electronically, I am concerned that the seniors who are not tech-savvy will be discouraged to submit their applications. Although there are community touch points such as the Citizen Connect Centres (CCCs) and the Integrated Public Service Centre (IPSC) at Our Tampines Hub to provide assistance to seniors who are less comfortable with the use of digital services, I am still worried that not all seniors who are not tech-savvy will go to these places for help, especially those who are immobile. Like my colleague Member of Parliament Mr Yip Hon Weng, I would like to suggest that MSF consider mobilising Silver Generation Ambassadors (SGAs) to promote and assist in the application of LPA. SGAs can do house visits, help to guide and assist seniors who are immobile in the application of LPA. This will benefit seniors who are not tech-savvy or immobile.”
“LTA can also consider the feasibility for one or two separate fast charging points powered by, maybe, alternative energy like solar energy and batteries that do not depend on the power grid. This will allow users who want to charge their cars using fast chargers without impacting the existing power infrastructure. Such technology is currently available and can be considered to complement the current plans. Mdm Deputy Speaker, the mobility demands of a modern urban city, together with the need for sustainable transportation solutions, make EVs a very compelling answer to these challenges. We need to bring together technology, infrastructure, economic and human behaviour considerations into our planning and policies when implementing the EV charging points infrastructure. I am very glad that we are starting with this amendment Bill. Notwithstanding my considerations raised, I support the amendment Bill. 6.49 pm”
“I understand that these are slow charging points so as not to overload the existing power grid infrastructure. Earlier, the Minister for Transport has also mentioned that the average electric car has a range of 300 kilometres to 500 kilometres per charge and that the average user may only need to charge his car once every five days, hence, this would spread out the demand for charging points. However, as mentioned by Ms Janet Ang, some studies have shown that some users not only have “range anxiety” but also an emerging phenomenon known as “charging anxiety”. Charging anxiety arises from drivers' concerns about the charging process, its ease of use and, most importantly, the time it takes to complete the charging. The duration of the charging process depends on the different charging modes and capacities. Drivers experience charging anxiety when they reach a charging station without any problem, but then face a long wait to be able to charge because there are not enough charging stations. Some drivers may also want to charge their vehicles to full capacity as often as possible. When a lot of people are trying to do this, it can create problems: too many cars, not enough chargers. It would be difficult to try to explain away the driver’s concern in wanting to charge his vehicle often and this will result in possibly long queues and disputes on the use of charging points. To this, I would like to suggest that LTA study the user journey, charging behaviour and how charging will take place at carparks to optimise the infrastructure design that allows charging points to be accessible to as many parking lots and vehicles as possible and allow for quick flexible installation of additional charging points, if demand increases in a certain area.”
“These are targets that will spur us towards a cleaner, more sustainable future and help to ensure that our infrastructure is able to meet the anticipated growth of EVs. I am thus heartened that through this amendment Bill, LTA and EMA are set to collaborate on establishing the necessary policies and frameworks for the EV charging infrastructure development. I would, however, like to raise two considerations. Firstly, with the expected increase in the number of EVs and charging points, there may also likely be an increase in battery and charging point related incidents. A study of battery fires in EVs showed that the energy and heat released in an EV fire is much higher than petrol or gasoline-run vehicles, indicating a bigger fire hazard and requiring more stringent risk-mitigating efforts. This point has also been brought up by a fellow Member of the House earlier. We need to ensure that, in tandem with the rollout of charging infrastructure in public carparks, there would be the need for education, safety precautions and measures, should an accident or electrical mishap occur. I would like to suggest that a review of the safety requirements be undertaken together with LTA, HDB and URA and other relevant agencies to ensure public awareness and establish safety protocols when using EV charging points. The second is in the design consideration when implementing the charging points. A Deloitte report on EV public charging infrastructure highlighted that more than 70% of charging took place at residential locations. It is heartening to know that the Government has planned for 60% of the 60,000 charging points to be in public carparks. On average, 15% of the existing carpark lots will be converted to overnight charging points.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I would like to start in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I would like to start by sharing a bit of history. About 140 years ago, the first passenger EV invented by the French inventor, Gustave Trouve, was tested on the streets of Paris. Interest and adoption of EVs grew at that time. At the peak of their popularity between 1900 and 1912, almost 40% of vehicles in the United States were EVs. However, they began to lose their popularity because of their limited range, lack of electrical power in rural areas, a relatively slower speed and the discovery of large petroleum reserves that made gasoline-powered vehicles cheaper to operate over long distances. Today, 140 years later, even with improvements in battery and vehicle technology, some of the same concerns still weigh on consumers, such as availability of charging points. Unlike the 1900s, there are new and pressing environmental concerns that now drive the Singapore Government to encourage EV adoption. Modern urban transportation needs and the desire for sustainable transportation solutions have made EVs an important strategic solution to deal with these challenges. I am heartened that through this amendment Bill, LTA and EMA are set to collaborate on establishing the necessary policies and frameworks for the EV infrastructure development. (In English): Mdm Deputy Speaker, the Government has announced the Singapore Green Plan 2030. In the area of transport, the Ministry has set ambitious targets to cease registration of diesel cars and roll out EV-ready towns, with a target of 60,000 charging points nationwide by 2030.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to thank both Ministers for the updates and the tremendous efforts put in by everyone to safeguard life and livelihoods for Singaporeans during this difficult time. One clarification is that with the resurgence of the community cases happening just a few months after our Phase Three re-opening from end of December last year, and with the roll-out of vaccination, what is the learning? And how might we plan our re-opening differently this round, after the current tightening measures, ending May, especially with the June school holidays coming up? Should we be prepared for the measures to maybe last for a longer period?”
“I would like to urge IMDA to continually innovate and keep the NPLN open so that it can evolve together with the ever-changing demands of customers. I also hope that IMDA will allow the delivery service providers and SME Internet merchants to further innovate their solutions and apps on the NPLN for continued last-mile delivery innovations. The strong adoption of e-commerce by Singaporeans before and during the pandemic has highlighted the need to address inefficiencies, ensure reliability and scalability in last-mile deliveries. With the continued growth of e-commerce, evolving consumer expectations, the Postal Services (Amendment) Bill is a welcome one. Nonetheless, as we put in place the infrastructure for tomorrow, we must not forget the needs of the seniors and persons with disabilities of today. As we build solutions for the future, we cannot afford to ignore the security risks present today. More importantly, the amendment Bill must prepare Singapore’s logistics network to meet the demands and complexities of the fast-growing e-commerce landscape. I hope that these efforts and my suggestions can help solidify Singapore as a mature and attractive e-commerce market in Asia. On that note, Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the Bill. 5.02 pm”
“While no packages were reported lost, the incident highlighted the need to ensure securing both the software and hardware from malicious actors. I will like to propose to include stronger cybersecurity requirements for the NPLN. Some of these requirements could be in the form of cybersecurity-by-design in the software, hardware and infrastructure. This is to ensure that the cybersecurity best practices are adopted at the very start of the network implementation. Stronger penalties also to be in place specifically for cybersecurity related breaches to encourage operators and service providers to step up in their cybersecurity measures. And requirements for contingency plans to secure parcel lockers should a security breach happen, resulting in parcel lockers being compromised. My last clarification is in the area of operating standards and interoperability of the NPLN. An open access parcel locker network will make pick-up and drop-off of parcels convenient for Singaporeans as they are not limited to any specific delivery service providers. I would assume that this will require common operating standards, compatible technology platforms or systems which delivery service providers would need to adopt to fully take advantage of the NPLN. I note that IMDA’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Pick Network, will ensure that the delivery service providers have fair and open access to the network . Nonetheless, we will need to be mindful that such an arrangement will not stifle innovation, or worse, create an unintended monopoly by the network operator which may increase the cost of operations for the delivery service providers, especially if they are SME Internet merchants.”
“I would like to suggest adoption of assistive technologies as a requirement in the NPLN so that persons with disabilities and seniors can easily access the parcel lockers safely and confidently. Some specific accessibility considerations can include: (a) placement of touchscreens that are convenient for the wheelchair-bound; (b) pre-selection and designation of certain lockers for the wheelchair-bound, so that they need not worry about not being able to reach the locker for their packages; and (c) to include speech and tactile interfaces for the hearing and visually impaired. Another usage is for our ageing population. With more seniors aging-in-place, self-management and home-based care for the management of chronic diseases will become increasingly common and the last mile delivery of medication will be useful. SingHealth, together with Integrated Health Information System or IHiS for short, have developed their Prescription-In-Locker Box or PILBOX stations to allow patients to collect their medication refills anytime, without having to queue at the polyclinic pharmacies. While this is a good solution, PILBOX currently is only available at five polyclinics under SingHealth. I would like to ask how far the NPLN can also be used to scale objectives like the PILBOX, for medication delivery, to bring convenience to our seniors? My second clarification is similar to the hon Member Mr Patrick Tay's concern on how the security of the NPLN be effectively managed? In December last year, a hack on a service provider that maintained a network of package lockers across Moscow and Saint Petersburg resulted in more than 2,700 lockers being unlocked.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker Sir, I declare my role as a consultant in healthcare transformation. I would like to begin my speech by sharing three numbers – 176,000, 16,000 and 11. What makes these numbers worth mentioning is that they are the numbers reported by Lazada from their 11/11 sale in 2020 for Singapore alone. Specifically, in the first 11 minutes of the online sale, 16,000 items were sold every minute amounting to a total of 176,000 items purchased by Singaporeans in the first few opening minutes of the sale. The 2020 E-commerce Payments Trends Report for Singapore by JPMorgan estimated that the value of business to consumer e-commerce has grown from US$4.8 billion to US$6.1 billion, or a US$1.3 billion rise, between 2017 and 2019. The growth of e-commerce has resulted in more deliveries. Delivery service providers have had to step up to meet the increased volume and maintain service standards throughout the delivery process. We can expect this to be the new norm, moving forward, and hence, the introduction of the Postal Services (Amendment) Bill is a timely one. The Postal Services (Amendment) Bill establishes a framework to build and operate a nationwide parcel locker network, or what I will call NPLN for short, to help domestic last mile delivery at scale. This is intended to benefit Singaporeans as delivery services will hopefully improve with increased access and reliability. However, I have three clarifications to ask the Ministry in this proposed amendment Bill. Like the hon Member Joan Pereira, firstly, I would like to ask will the parcel lockers have senior and disability friendly features and access, so that our seniors and persons with disabilities can also benefit from the convenience like everyone else?”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for sharing about the progress and discussing the vaccine COVID-19 passports with various countries. While we need to wait for this to develop because the vaccination programmes are still happening in many countries, can I check how many countries are we actively in discussion with? Are they mostly unique system of bilateral recognition? And are we expecting a significant public budget to have to be invested, when countries open up more for such a recognition system to happen for air travel?”
“I have always hoped that, one day, all our pre-schools will be fully inclusive so that our children, with or without disabilities, can learn and grow together. This will not only assimilate children with disabilities or developmental needs with other children of typical growth earlier in their growing years, it can also develop awareness and empathy in children with normal growth. Research studies also show that typically developing children in inclusive settings perform comparably or even better academically than those in non-inclusive programmes. (In English): Sir, back in English, please. The move for Early Childhood Development Agency, or ECDA, under MSF to oversee early intervention services and pre-school services from the end of 2020, with the transfer of early intervention functions from the Disability Office in MSF to ECDA is an encouraging move towards inclusive pre-schools. MSF has also launched an inclusive pre-school workgroup to strengthen the support for children with developmental needs. I will like to ask for an update on the plans and implementation for having more inclusive pre-schools in Singapore. As the third Enabling Masterplan 2017-2021 will come to an end this year, I would also like to ask MSF how it will engender more creative and impactful ways of nurturing children with disabilities from their early childhood period to better achieve their fullest potential as integral and contributing members of our society. Vulnerable Families – Special Needs Kids”
“I will always remember fondly of the times that I visited the various Early Intervention Programmes for Infants and Children, or EIPIC, run by the social service agencies during my days in the National Council of Social Service. Despite their different abilities, seeing these children being given the opportunities to learn and acquire new knowledge and skills was heartening. However, I have always hoped for the day when all our pre-schools will be fully inclusive so that our children, with or without disabilities, can learn and grow together. This will not only assimilate children with disabilities or developmental needs to other children of typical growth earlier in their growing years, it can also develop awareness and empathy in children with normal growth to include their peers with different abilities in play and in activities. Research studies also indicate that typically developing children in inclusive settings perform comparably with or better academically than those in non-inclusive programmes. Sir, I would now like to speak in Chinese. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Every child is precious, notwithstanding what background they come from or what abilities that they have. Appropriate early-years intervention and support have proven in many research studies to be critical for children with developmental needs. Children with developmental needs deserve a good start in life ‒ the same as any children in Singapore. During my days in the National Council of Social Service, I participated in various Early Intervention Programmes for Infants and Children run by social service agencies. Despite their different abilities, seeing these children being given equal opportunities to learn and acquire new knowledge and skills was very heartening.”
“In my constituency, where there are new Build-To-Order (BTO) flats, such as in the Buangkok Crescent area, I regularly receive requests from young couples seeking help to ensure that they can secure a pre-school place for their children in order for both parents to return to work. I constantly assure them that a place will be availed to them as soon as possible. Sir, in Germany, they introduced reforms guaranteeing a place in childcare for every child aged one and above in 2013. Its purpose was to influence peoples' decision to have children in a rapidly ageing society and tackle the nation's long-term demographic change. Singapore faces the same demographic challenge. To battle Singapore's stubbornly low total fertility rate, we must do more to give assurance to couples that they will not have to worry about having a pre-school place when they give birth to more children. We need to accelerate the pace of the roll-out in regions with a higher proportion of younger families. Sir, I will like to ask for an update on the progress towards the goals and timeline set to close the demand, supply and quality gap in pre-schools in Singapore. Knowing that a reliable pre-school can be counted upon to look after their children will be paramount for many young couples to have the confidence to have more children. Inclusive Pre-schools Every child is precious, notwithstanding what background they come from or what abilities they have. Appropriate early-years intervention and support have proven in many research studies to be critical for children with developmental needs. Children with developmental needs deserve a good start in life, the same as any children in Singapore.”
“Thank you, Chairman, I will take my both cuts together. Chairman the importance of early childhood care and education through pre-school cannot be over emphasised in a country like Singapore, where the quality of our human resource has significant impact on our national success. With the increasing Government spending on early childhood care and education of more than $1 billion annually and growing, it is an investment in the right direction. It is still a small fraction of what Singapore normally spends on education system. Sir, more must be done to ensure a good start for every child in Singapore. I am glad that the shortage of pre-schools in Singapore has been acknowledged and expansion efforts been put in by the Government as early as 2012. 6.30 pm During both the 2017 and 2019 National Day Rallies, Prime Minister Lee also spoke about the initiatives to further develop and boost the pre-school sector. Plans announced so far, including increasing the number of Government-supported pre-schools from about 50% to 80% and enhancing pre-school subsidies for more families to be eligible, are all welcomed but may not be sufficient. While the Singapore Pre-school Accreditation Framework, or SPARK, is also a good tool to continually enhance and assure quality education in pre-schools, only about 50% of pre-schools are SPARK-certified so far. This may leave parents, whose children are attending the other 50% of pre-schools, wondering about the quality of education that their young children are receiving. In a few housing estates with high childcare demand, parents are still experiencing waiting times that can range from a few weeks to a few months. For parents needing to return to work and having no alternative help, this can be a daunting wait.”
“Secondly, would the Government consider piloting more care services for maternal and child health such as the new Temasek Foundation Integrated Maternal and Child Wellness Hub at SingHealth Polyclinic at Punggol, to better understand what kind of intervention can improve the outcomes of maternal and children health. 3.00 pm Lastly, how can the Government enable evidence-based information to be disseminated more effectively to more pregnant women to increase awareness and encourage self-care for the well-being of their children?”
“Chairman, as we dedicate 2021 as the year of celebrating SG women and as a mother myself, I would like to dedicate this cut to bring attention to the health of pregnant women and how it can affect our children. Both overseas and local research have pointed to the impact of maternal health on the health of our children. One of such findings is from a homegrown Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes or GUSTO study conducted by researchers in the National University Health System, KK Women's and Children's Hospital and A*STAR Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences over the last 10 years. The study found that one in five mothers-to-be develop gestational diabetes and this heightened the risk of their children developing obesity Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and even neurodevelopmental disorder later in their lives. Another concern pointed out by the study is the mental health of pregnant women. Mental well-being of mothers-to-be will also affect children, who are likely to develop neuro-developmental disorders such as anxiety, depression or disruptive behaviour disorders. We know that causes for these diseases can be multi-faceted and complex, including the pregnant mothers' own health and her social economic environment. Pregnant mothers and disadvantaged circumstances are at even higher risk. I would like to ask if the Government will consider a more concerted upstream support at maternal stage for women, including looking after both their social and healthcare needs.”
“One example is from Sweden's National Health System where they piloted a bundled payment model for cataract and hip replacement procedure. The bundle sets a single base price that covers the entire care delivery chain from diagnostic surgery to follow-up visits. Providers are paid based on whether they met pre-defined health outcomes to the patient. This has helped in the pilot years for complications to decrease by 18% re-operations to fall by 23%. I acknowledge that there are no silver bullets to address the rising healthcare costs. Nonetheless. I hope that the Government will consider value-based healthcare incentive approach as an important part of the short and long-term strategy to achieve better healthcare value for Singaporeans. MedShield Life Premiums”
“Chairman, the Government has responded decisively in deploying resources to combat the COVID-19 pandemic with healthcare expenditures increased significantly to provide for our public health management measures. However, even without the pandemic, we know that the healthcare expenditure has been rising globally. Globally, we are also seeing similar trends in developed countries due to increasing medical attention, medication, procedures and longer hospital stays from an ageing population. In Singapore, the Government has been working on making our health care accessible and affordable through investing in medical infrastructure, establishing "P" benchmarks, providing various subsidies, as well as working with Singaporeans to encourage a healthy lifestyle. This has worked well for Singaporeans thus far. But we cannot ignore the rising healthcare costs that Singaporeans may face. How can we continue to provide higher value in healthcare in the face of rising healthcare costs and ageing population and advances in medical procedures? Sir, I hope that the Government can consider value-based healthcare as another lever to help manage overall costs of healthcare for Singaporeans. Value in healthcare is generated by delivering better health outcomes for the same or a lower cost. While our healthcare costs have been rising each year, we currently do not have a very clear grasp if healthcare outcomes of major or common diseases, such as diabetes or asthma have been improving. Healthcare providers have typically been paid on a fee-for-service model with subvention given mainly by volume. The objective of health, value-based healthcare, is to create financial incentive to encourage providers to improve the health value given to patients.”
“First, I would like to thank the Minister of State for his reply. I would like to ask the Minister of State if there is an overview of Traffic Police of the roads that are more prone to speed trials and whether there are more prevention measures that can be put in place besides enforcement, to deter. Reasons being that there have been increasing numbers of a residents giving feedback of certain stretches of roads that are very prone to car racing into the midnight. So, my question is whether there are some preventive measures that MHA will consider? Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: I thank the Member for the supplementary question. Indeed, we have a strategy to look at, not only illegal speed trials, but also the overall road safety aspects of how we can keep our roads safe, and at the same time, that road users are able to use the roads to carry out their daily activities. So, with regard to speed trials, we receive feedback and we also conduct enforcement operations. One is when we received the feedback through our sensing and intelligence that we get, not only from the community, but also from people who are working with us and our stakeholders. We know of the areas that are prone to have speed trials and conduct enforcement operations regularly in such areas. For the Member's concern, we have received feedback relating to some of the issues that she faced in her constituency in relation to illegal speed trials. We have been and continue to conduct enforcement operations. 10.30 am”
“I know that the 2021 Budget has an increase in Senior Worker Early Adopter Grant and Part-Time Re-employment Grant. But both are applied directly to employers. Also, the SGUnited Skills Programme caters mainly for mid-career jobseekers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the SGUnited Traineeship targets mainly fresh graduates from the Institutes of Higher Learning. My concern is how elderly like the resident I mentioned, will be able to navigate skills training, job matching and job support amidst these schemes. I would like to ask what more can the Government do to partner employer with the enhanced grants to widen the job range for this segment of vulnerable elderly and how can community agencies be roped in to partner employers in facilitating job matching for those who want to keep dignified employment. Enhancing CPF Returns”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, as an ageing society, the Government has cast an aspiring vision for Singaporeans to age with purpose and grace. For most Singaporeans, this will, hopefully, be in the form of a good retirement with sufficient savings and restful time to enjoy the company of grandchildren and catching up on hobbies. However, this is not necessarily the case for some segments of our lower skilled elderly who may need to continue to hold on to employment in order to sustain independent living. I believe that providing dignified employment for elderly who are able and need to continue working will be a growing challenge in our ageing society with high cost of living. 6.30 pm I am concerned that a segment of our elderly may be left behind because of our fast transforming economy, especially with the rapid digitalisation of work processes by employers to increase productivity. I have a 70-year-old resident who came to seek employment assistance. The resident was an experienced former security officer who was asked to retire even though she desired to continue working. As her children were not doing well financially, she did not want to be a burden to them. She wanted an administrative or customer service role which she felt she would be adequately able to carry out. Nonetheless, she said that no employers would consider her, given her age. Throughout my conversation with her, I could feel her dejected emotions because of the multiple rejections that she has been receiving. Despite her goals to be independent and self-sufficient at her age, it did seem that she might have to end up seeking some form of financial assistance in the interim while continuing her uphill job search journey.”
“Mr Chairman, in January this year, fellow Member of Parliament Mr Louis Ng raised an Adjournment Motion on “Providing more help for those undergoing IVF”. Yesterday, Member Miss Cheng Li Hui also spoke about Assistive Reproduction Technology (ART) and fertility health yesterday. I too relate with the topic because of residents who have shared with me their struggles. Based on the Department of Statistics data, the highest marriage rates among males and females in Singapore has grown to 30 to 34 years old in 2019, an increase of about five years from a decade ago. This means that more couples are getting married at a later stage of their life. With economic uncertainties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, like Miss Cheng Li Hui, I will not be surprised that some couples may decide to delay their marriage and may unknowingly be set back by fertility issues when they plan to have children later at an older age. The Government's move from last year to remove the age limit of 45 years old for women undergoing ART procedures, as well as the cap on the number of IVF cycles a woman can undergo will certainly help sub-fertile couples. 6.45 pm Yet, as recent as last week, I still have a discouraged couple who shared with me their emotional and financial concerns after numerous failed attempts in ART. Given that the Total Fertility Rate has remained low and may worsen due to the pandemic and economic downturn, I would like to ask what other strategies the Government will consider to help young people understand more about fertility health earlier in their life, to better make their marriage and child-bearing plans.”
“However with the number of households with seniors living alone and senior couples living without children increasing so rapidly, it might not be possible for the supply of such Community Care Apartments to catch up fast enough with the demand. I hope that MND can consider integrating some of the success factors of the Community Care Apartments into the Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme where more seniors can apply too. For example, in addition to incorporating technology for elderly monitoring and alert system, perhaps telecare, providing remote health monitoring devices supported by care providers could also be considered as part of EASE. As of 2019, the EASE programme has benefited about 200,000 households. MND shared in a 2018 Parliamentary Question response that HDB regularly reviews EASE by engaging healthcare sector stakeholders to develop and review the list of improvements that can be added to the programme. I hope that MND can consider technology enhancements in the EASE programme, including telecare packages that can be delivered through technology by care providers to reap similar benefits like the Community Care apartments to more seniors. Mr Speaker, please allow me to conclude my speech with a word of encouragement for the year ahead. I rise today to speak about our efforts to support the vulnerable among us because as we recover as a nation, we must bring along everyone and leave no one behind. As our country moves towards the path of recovery, we must not forget those among us who are vulnerable and who can benefit from innovative ideas to continue improving their lives. Supporting one another should continue to be part of our Singapore spirit. On that note, I support the Emerging Stronger Together Budget 2021. 3.01 pm”
“I am glad to hear from Deputy Prime Minister Heng in the Budget Speech that the National Council of Social Service and SG Enable will form an Alliances for Action on support for care-givers of persons with disabilities. I hope the Alliance will emphasise more on women care-givers, who make up the majority, and also cover those caring for seniors with disabilities. I recommend that Agency of Integrated Care and Workforce Development Agency be included in the Alliance so that we can look after women care-givers’ health and employment needs holistically. (In English): The third group I would like to speak about are the seniors who are living alone or only with their spouse. While I am glad to hear that about $200 million increase in budget allocation will be given for the Senior Worker Early Adopter Grant and Part-time Re-employment Grant from Deputy Prime Minister Heng, care for seniors must also extend to supporting them to age in place. According to the Department of Statistics (DOS), the number of households headed by persons aged 65 years and above living either as a couple without children or living alone has increased from about 100,000 in 2015 to 167,000 in 2019. These numbers show that we need to continue to improve the living environment of our seniors to help them age in place as far as possible, especially in mature estates where more seniors reside. The BTO launch of the first Community Care Apartment Harmony Village @ Bukit Batok is an innovative and meaningful pilot for our seniors. What stands out from this pilot is the unique design features, innovative use of technology and complementary care services package. This BTO project, which was over-subscribed by 4.2 times shows that there is a demand for such kind of apartments.”
“The need for women care-givers' re-integration, re-employment and retirement adequacy and their own health cannot be understated. I am glad to hear from Deputy Prime Minister Heng in the Budget speech that the National Council of Social Service and SG Enable will form an alliance for action on support for care-givers for PWDs. I would like to recommend for this alliance to expand to women care-givers, to emphasise more on women care-givers, given that they are likely to be the majority and also to cover those caring for seniors with acquired disabilities or health issues. Holistic actions to support care-givers must address the social, health and employment needs to provide comprehensive and robust support. On this note, I would like to recommend expanding the partnership to include Agency of Integrated Care (AIC) and Workforce Development Agency (WDA) in the alliance for action. Mr Speaker, Sir, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Speaker, Sir, in the Budget, I hope that the Government can pay more attention to women care-givers. The report on labour force in Singapore showed that, in 2019, about 133,500 people indicated care-giving responsibilities for children, the elderly and disabled as the main reason for leaving the workforce. Among them, 90% were women. Majority of these women care-givers were aged between 40 and 59 years and have left the workforce longer than five years. Some of the most common problems that women care-givers experience is setback in their own health and career. The need for women care-givers’ re-integration, re-employment and retirement and their own health cannot be overstated.”
“This will enable employers to build the confidence of the PWDs that their potential will be valued. Two, develop a holistic outcome-based measurement framework for the employment of PWDs, covering end-to-end, from skills training, job placement to career development and growth. Such a framework could integrate the tracking of training outcomes, employment placements, remuneration as well as progression data over multi years to provide a basis for the Government to continually adjust policy and programmes with employers. And three, incentivise and reward more employers to attain the Enabling Mark by SG Enable so that more workplaces can implement best practises for inclusive employment. Next, the group that I would like to bring attention to are the care-givers, especially the women. The report on labour force in Singapore showed that in 2019, about 133,500 of resident population indicated care-giving responsibility as the main reason for them to have to leave the workforce. And of this, almost 90% were women. Majority of these women were aged 40 to 59 years old and almost seven in 10 were out of the workforce for more than five years. Some of the most common problems that women care-givers experience is a setback in their own health and career. In a report entitled "Explaining the gender gap in care-giving burden of partner care-givers" in the Journal of Gerontology published in February 2019, it shows that women care-givers also experienced greater burnout on healthcare due to multiple stressors such as relational, financial problems and problems integrating care-giving with social and work activities. Women care-givers also struggle with uncertainty over their future and financial adequacy in their older age as a result of their absence from the workforce.”
“The Minister for Social and Family Development, Mr Masago Zulkifli also recently announced that about 1,200 job and training opportunities will be created for PWDs by the end of this year. When we look at the data from MOM, as of June 2018, 28.6% of resident PWDs aged 15 to 64 are employed, compared with countries like New Zealand where the employment rate for disabled was 38.7% in 2020. We know that we can and must do more to push for a higher level of inclusion for PWDs in the workforce in Singapore. I believe that we should not merely offer employment to PWDs in quantity, but also in quality that will allow them to optimise their full potential. Recently, a young lady, resident of mine, shared with me that her job scope was limited because of her physical disability. Although she has a desire to interact directly with clients, her employer has assumed that a role in a backroom will be more suitable for her. While she is thankful for the job, she was discouraged that the assumption of her limited ability will limit her career progression. This example goes to show that as we have more employers willing to offer jobs to PWDs, we need to minimise stereotyping jobs roles and have in mind that they have abilities that can be stretched. I urge the Government to work with the employers, Social Service Agencies and PWDs themselves to factor in the aspiration of the PWDs even as the number of jobs will be bolstered. Complementing existing efforts under the Open Door programme, I recommend for the Government to consider the following suggestions. One, add a develop-and-grow type of programme that will help employers identify, design and develop career growth path for PWDs within their organisations.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, first, let me declare my role as a consultant in healthcare transformation. Sir, the COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis of a generation unparalleled to any that Singaporeans have faced in recent history. Vaccines are giving us hope to get through the challenges soon, and as we brace ourselves through probably another year of an adjusted way of life, we must continue to look out for each other. I spoke with residents in my constituency in Jalan Kayu after Deputy Prime Minister Heng had announced Budget 2021. Many felt that it is a balanced Budget that builds on the efforts to support Singaporeans and businesses to stay afloat, to ride the reviving of the economy and, more importantly, to ensure that the vulnerable amongst us are also well taken care of. I would like to call attention to three more vulnerable segments of our population who will need continued efforts to safeguard and improve their welfare under this Budget. The three groups are: one, persons with disabilities; two, women who are care-givers; and three, seniors living alone or with their spouse only. First, support for persons with disabilities or PWDs for short. In Singapore, children with disability can attend special education up to 18 years old and in some vocational track, up to 21 years old. Armed with knowledge and skills, young adults with disabilities and abilities can have almost five decades of work capable years ahead of them. Deputy Prime Minister Heng assured in his Budget speech that employment and training for PWDs will be supported by various initiatives such as those under SG Enable's Open Door programme and the Enabling Employment Credit.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank Dr Janil for the very reassuring answer. I want to first declare that I am a strong advocate for the vaccination programme. Together with the grassroots leaders of Jalan Kayu, we have been actively going out to explain and assure residents to take the vaccine, once their turn comes. The supplementary question is to assure that the checks and balances are in place, that the safety is there for the vaccination implementation. My question, for the MOH onsite audits, how frequent would these be and would these cover all centres, because there are many vaccination centres that have been rolled out in speed by private medical groups contracted by MOH, and would these also cover the PHIs and the PHPCs?”
“Thank you, Speaker, and I thank the Minister for the reply. I am very encouraged by MND, MOH and HDB for their collaboration to bring about such a meaningful pilot housing model and to expand the housing options for our seniors with a complimentary suite of care services – almost able to be customised to their needs. I have several of my residents' families who have expressed their needs for a smaller, affordable apartments like this, with care support nearer to home. My two supplementary questions are: one, will MND also consider granting exceptions for eligibility of such flats if one of the applicants is a care-giver below 65 years old, but is looking after a senior. Case in point is a resident of mine who is the only child of an aged parent requiring such care that has been described in the pilot model. My second question is, will MND consider granting exceptions for eligibility to such flats if one of the applicants is a person with disabilities who can benefit also from such care support, but is below 65 years old? A lot of the criteria spelt out would also be actually very suitable for people with disabilities. So, these are my two supplementary questions.”
“Some of the safeguards could be in the form of: (a) ensuring that, as part of the marketing and know-your-customer process, MAS to require providers to explicitly highlight the risks involved, especially with digital payment tokens; (b) ensuring that seniors must have gone through a risk assessment by the providers on the understanding of digital payment tokens; (c) lastly, ensuring that providers have algorithms to identify suspicious transactions prior to processing and delaying these suspicious transactions to enable customers, especially the seniors, to have time to think through. This will provide transactional level safeguards that will reduce scams and fraud targeting at the seniors. Sir, we are in the midst of the fourth industrial revolution and in a digital transformation that is being accelerated by the pandemic situation. As a nation, we need to continue to break new grounds so that we can take advantage of opportunities even in uncertainties and challenges. The Payment Services (Amendment) Bill and the additional requirements to be imposed are steps that will enable Singapore to remain competitive and attractive to the best talents to build the next breakthrough in digital banking and digital payment token services. But as a society, we must also take steps to ensure that everyone, including the seniors, can participate and benefit from this transformation. I look forward to seeing new digital banking and payment service regulations that will enable an industry to develop products that will make lives of Singaporeans easier and more fulfilling, done in a responsible, inclusive and safe way. On that note, Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the amendment Bill.”
“If we do not actively work to include the seniors, they could find themselves excluded from some important financial services or, worse, getting themselves involved in financial transactions or transfers, including cross-border ones, without fully understanding the risks of being used in crimes like money laundering or scams. We can also expect new digital payment platforms, new service providers and new technologies that will be introduced. The seniors will not only have to contend with a steep learning curve but also with having to choose which platform to use. We need to educate, build trust and confidence towards digital payment services with these seniors. They represent a large untapped market for digital payment token service providers. Thus, the Payment Services (Amendment) Bill, which expands the definition of "digital payment token services" to include marketing activities of the licensee is a welcome one to ensure that the marketing to these seniors, which is a big untapped market, would be done responsibly. I propose to include safeguards when soliciting the seniors to subscribe to and transact in payment services using digital payment tokens as the underlying mechanics are complex and the risks may not be fully understood or accepted.”