Poh Li San
Singapore
“Thank you, Speaker, and I thank the Senior Minister of State Janil. I have two supplementary questions. The first one, will NEA consider adjusting gate fees for industrial and commercial waste collection to shift behaviour of businesses towards higher recycling rates, especially for food waste which accounts for about 11% of total waste b…”
“Thank you, Speaker, and I thank the Senior Minister of State Janil. I believe my questions in my speech were not addressed in the Senior Minister of State's reply.”
“Thank you, Speaker, and I thank the Senior Minister of State for her reply. I have a supplementary question on such an arrangement for existing flat owners who require back-to-back sale of their existing homes to finance their BTO flats.”
“Singapore households can achieve dual savings by combining Government-provided climate vouchers with the direct import of efficient appliances from overseas suppliers, whilst business operators, particularly those in the food and beverage industry who need to purchase multiple appliances, can also avoid excessive energy costs by using ene…”
“Coastal protection is a candidate for the latter even if we want to harness the power of the former. I ask the Minister to consider a centralised approach towards the design and construction of all coastal protection measures to ensure the most robust outcomes.”
“Mr Chairman, on behalf of all hon Members who have participated in the MSE Committee of Supply, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Minister Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State Zaqy, Senior Minister of State Janil, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Goh and all members of MSE, PUB, NEA, SFA.”
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Every one of 370 lines we hold for Poh Li San, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 8.
“In view of the high traffic growth trajectory and the opening of Terminal 5 in the middle of 2030s, how does the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) intend to recruit and train aviation professionals to support other roles, such as aeronautical and aerospace engineers for maintenance, repair, overhaul (MRO) functions, air cargo logisticians and ground handling operators? These functions are undergoing changes as more advanced technologies and new work processes are being deployed. How is CAAS working with the Institutes of Higher Learning to ensure that the course curriculum related to aviation are updated with the latest industry standards and practices? Based on the projected number of graduates from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), polytechnics and universities, will there be sufficient well-trained professionals for our aviation industry in the next 10 years? The aviation industry is traditionally heavily male-dominated, with only about 20% representation by women globally, based on a recent Women Aviation International Advisory Board study. The representation in Asia Pacific and Singapore may be even lower. To tap on the other half of the talent pool, are there plans to encourage more women to join the sector and are there targeted initiatives, such as scholarships and internships, to attract and recruit more women to join the industry?”
“Mdm Chair, I would like to declare my interest as an employee in the aviation sector. From 2026, travellers flying out of Singapore will need to pay a levy to support the use of greener jet fuel. MOT aims for Sustainable Aviation Fuel to constitute 1% of all jet fuel used at Changi Airport and Seletar Airport in 2026. The longer-term goal is for Sustainable Aviation Fuel to reach 3% to 5% by 2030 to help reduce Singapore's international aviation emissions by about 4%. Singapore is the first country in the world to impose a Sustainable Aviation Fuel levy on passengers. The purchase of the fuel will be set at a fixed quantum, based on the Sustainable Aviation Fuel target and projected Sustainable Aviation Fuel price at the time of purchase. How does the longer-term goal and the means for funding the higher cost of Sustainable Aviation Fuel adoption compare with other key aviation hubs? Is the increase in the supply of Sustainable Aviation Fuel on track to meet the 4% goal in 2030? How can the cost of Sustainable Aviation Fuels be available to Singapore be kept competitive given the increase in global demand for feedstock and biofuels? Attracting Talents into Aviation Sector MOT recently announced the $120 million upgrade for the Singapore Aviation Academy, which will boost its training capacity by 20% when it is completed in 2026. The Academy intends to update its courses on air traffic safety, safety and security and aviation management.”
“Mdm Chair, the maritime industry has embarked on a sustainability transformation and our decarbonisation efforts can be further accelerated. What is Singapore doing to catalyse the adoption of green maritime solutions? The Energy Observer, the world’s first hydrogen-powered ship, docked in Singapore for a 10-day stopover in March 2022. Are there plans for subsequent phases of Tuas Port development to cater to maritime vessels using hydrogen fuel in the future? Also, how will the Government ensure the safety and supply of alternative marine fuels?”
“Separately, what can owners who do not meet the medical criteria do with their PMAs if they are not able to use them anymore? Use of PMAs”
“Mdm Chair, MOT is one of the leading partners for the Age Well SG programme. Would the Ministry share details of the plans for the nationwide transformation of our transport framework and design, to enable the elderly to commute more conveniently and safely? How does the Ministry intend to make use of the Age Well SG funding, to make it easier and more comfortable for seniors to move around in their neighbourhoods, so that they can continue to lead active lifestyles and age gracefully in their communities? As there will be more Personal Mobility Aids (PMAs) and wheelchair users with the increasing number of elderly, does MOT intend to widen pedestrian and shared paths, and create parking spaces for PMAs, especially in older neighbourhood estates? Active Mobility – Personal Mobility Aids (PMAs) PMAs have been widely used in recent years, mainly by the elderly and those with mobility issues. However, there is a growing trend, including in Sembawang West, where some young people with no visible disabilities or health issues, are also using PMAs. Some of them drive them at high speeds, with little regard for the safety of others in their vicinity. Most of them are using their PMAs to deliver food and other items, so they are probably rushing deliveries. Such errant and selfish behaviour threatens the safety of fellow walkway users, especially seniors and young children. 4.00 pm Hence, I fully support the recommendations tabled by the Active Mobility Advisory Panel (AMAP) in December 2023 to impose medical certification requirements and speed limitation on PMAs. Can the Ministry share the timeframe to implement these recommendations? Can seniors above a certain age, for instance, above 65, automatically qualify as eligible users, even without medical certification?”
“In order to temper vehicle population growth, the zero-growth rate policy for car and motorcycles was implemented in 2018, and will continue until next year, 31 January 2025. However, vehicle ownership may not correlate directly to road traffic conditions, nor compared to actual vehicle usage. Can the Minister share if there are improvements in the present overall roadway traffic density and peak-hour conditions compared to pre-pandemic period? Can the Minister also share the trends in the transportation modal split over the past six years since the implementation of zero-growth policy? Has there been a decline in private vehicle usage, especially so as the PHCs have become prevalent in recent years? Does MOT intend to continue the zero-growth rate policy beyond January 2025? Electric Vehicles (EVs) There are some challenges getting vehicle owners to switch to electric vehicles (EVs). Firstly, the variety of models for commercial EVs is limited and the upfront costs can be much higher than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. Secondly, the available duration for operations is limited for commercial fleets, including taxis and PHCs, due to the long charging times required. Lastly, a robust second-hand market is still absent, posing difficulties for financiers and operators to assess the risk of investing in commercial EVs. For new private car sales in 2023, what were the take-up rates of EVs, hybrid vehicles and ICE vehicles respectively? How do the statistics compare to those for commercial vehicle sales? Will MOT introduce more incentives to encourage take-up of EVs for commercial use? More EV Fast Chargers”
“Recent surveys have shown that the standard of cleanliness in our public toilets at hawker centres and coffeeshops remains disappointing. What plans does the Ministry have to address the longstanding issue of dirty toilets in these public places? What measures will the Government implement to educate and involve our community to keep our public spaces clean? Keeping Public Toilets Clean”
“Mr Chairman, Singapore's green transition requires all stakeholders to play their part in reducing their carbon footprint. Enterprises can contribute in many ways, such as by becoming more energy-efficient and reducing waste. 6.30 pm What is the Ministry doing to incentivise businesses to use renewable energy and to reduce energy consumption? In view of current and new regulations to reduce waste and boost recycling, how is the Ministry supporting companies to build their capabilities to do so? In addition, are there industry guidelines and targets to encourage business-client cooperation in reducing waste, particularly packaging waste for consumer products?”
“The Government has set the goal of producing 30% of Singapore's nutritional needs by 2030. What has been the progress of our "30 by 30" plan? Our agri-food producers face various issues, including lease durations, rising costs, lack of economies of scale and a challenging business environment. What measures are in place to ease these pressures and attract more producers and investors to this sector? Could the Minister provide an update on the $60 million Agri-Food Cluster Transformation Fund? And for a sustainable agri-food sector, we need strong support and demand from our consumers, too. The AfA on Demand Offtake and Consumer Education was formed last February to look into demand and supply aggregation of local produce. One of its main objectives is to increase public awareness and also to build greater support for local produce through consumer education. What has been the progress on this? Also, how is the Government ensuring food security in view of the increasing frequency of food supply chain disruptions? What can Singapore consumers do to support our food resiliency? Lastly, given the announcement today by cultivated meat producer, Eat Just, that operations in Singapore will be paused, can the Minister shed light on how will this latest development affect Singapore's "30 by 30" food security goals?”
“Mr Chairman, with global warming, Singapore will not be spared. Our days will become hotter, and we expect to have very hot days with temperatures exceeding 35 degrees Celsius. It has been projected that we will have more warm nights too, when temperatures exceed 26 degrees. Will MSE share its plans to help build our people's heat resilience and increase urban liveability in view of these rising temperatures? Will there be specific studies designed to better understand the impact of heat on vulnerable groups in our population and the appropriate measures to assist them? How will the Government utilise findings from our Third National Climate Change Study (V3) to strengthen our city's heat resilience and also to contribute to international climate science efforts?”
“Mr Chairman, the Singapore Green Plan 2030 has set concrete targets to reduce our carbon emissions. It is a whole-of-nation effort involving all stakeholders – Government agencies, enterprises, communities and individuals. Some of these targets are shorter-term, such as the plans to quadruple solar energy deployment by 2025 and to develop over 130 hectares of new parks by 2026. Other targets, such as producing 30% of Singapore's nutritional needs locally and completing the formulation of coastal protection plans by 2030, are for the longer term. Would the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) share an update on the progress made by Government agencies towards their 2030 Green Plan targets? What had been the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and supply and logistics challenges caused by global political tensions and conflicts? What about the progress among multinational corporations (MNCs) and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in terms of their environment, social and governance (ESG) performance? Singapore Green Plan”
“Mr Chairman, MINDEF had previously announced plans to acquire the F-35B fighter jets. Can MINDEF provide an update on this acquisition? As a small country with no strategic depth, it is important for Singapore to have an effective military to deter potential aggression. We are keenly aware that it is necessary for us to modernise our military and ensure that the SAF can protect Singapore. Over the past few years, MINDEF has provided updates on the modernisation of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) through the purchase of advanced fighter aircraft and other systems, which play a pivotal role in a nation's defence capabilities. In March 2019, MINDEF announced that it would purchase four F-35B aircraft, with an eye towards procuring a fleet of F-35s to replace the RSAF's ageing F-16 fleet. Since then, MINDEF has announced that it would acquire an additional eight aircraft, for a total of twelve. The Minister for Defence had also said that the RSAF would take delivery of its first four aircraft in 2026. However, over the past few years, the world seen many supply chain challenges, which have impacted the timelines for the delivery of some military platforms. Could MINDEF provide an update please? Unmanned Technology”
“Chairman, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $619,177,000 for Head U ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $61,955,200 for Head U ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“In January this year, the Centre for Climate Research Singapore released the Third National Climate Change Study, which estimated more extreme projections for Singapore's weather conditions, including temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind speeds, and sea level rise. Which are likely to be the most major changes that Singapore needs to prepare for? What are the Government's plans in response to these projections? Will some segments of our population be more vulnerable in the event of these weather changes and how can the Government support Singaporeans, especially those with less resources, in the green transition? How will the Government increase public awareness of the implications of more extreme weather conditions? How can businesses, households and individuals play their part in the fight against climate change? The Northern Sea Route”
“Would the Ministry share what other regional cooperation projects are in the pipeline to boost our joint efforts to decarbonise as well as to manage and protect our regional environment and water resources? What are Singapore's capabilities and strengths which we can bring to the table in these collaborations to help in the fight against climate change? How will the initiatives from the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) affect Singapore? And how will the Government encourage stronger international cooperation to address climate change? Singapore is well positioned to be the green finance hub for ASEAN and Asia. We can also play an important role in transition finance to help companies become greener via long-term initiatives. What can the Government do to encourage investment in climate action, especially in Southeast Asia? [(proc text) Question proposed. (proc text)] Climate Change – Extreme Weather”
“Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head U of the Estimates be reduced by $100". As an island nation, Singapore is vulnerable to the impact of climate change and the resulting more extreme weather conditions. We have started on our transition to adopt more green practices to decarbonise. Although Singapore accounts for only around 0.11% of the world's carbon emissions, we want to do our part as global citizens to mitigate climate change. However, as an international oil and gas refining, storage and trading hub, the transition while reducing our primary emissions to zero will not be easy. We will need to transform our economy and decouple growth from fossil fuel consumption. In order to achieve net zero, Singapore needs to reduce the net output of each person by 8.31 tonnes of carbon emissions by 2050. This reduction needs to come from the power, industrial and transport sectors, which account for more than 97% of our total primary emissions. To decarbonise our power grid, we have to increase solar energy provision and purchase renewable electricity from other countries such as through imports of renewable energy from the Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project. Up to 100 megawatts of renewable hydropower from Lao PDR will be delivered to Singapore via interconnections with Thailand and Malaysia. Being a small country without natural resources, regional cooperation projects like this with larger neighbouring countries which are endowed with big land masses suitable for harvesting solar, wind and hydroelectric are necessary.”
“MSF's Social Service Office (SSO) and AIC's Silver Generation Office (SGO) are located all over Singapore with the intention to develop the networks of ComLink and promoting active aging respectively. These regional offices, despite being similar in nature, have different considerations in determining their service boundaries, like MSF's SSO using the Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA's) planning area regions and the AIC's SGO using constituency boundaries. The issue is not in having service boundaries, but rather in having disparate and differing methods in deciding service boundaries. Healthier SG requires a seamless coordination between the medical, social and community services and different approaches may lead to increased friction for professionals and make it more difficult for local ground-up social-health coordination by the various community agencies and medical institutions. We must decisively synchronise our regional medical and social services in their service boundary in order to ensure long-term medical-community partnership. Each town can offer a suite of services across the medical-social spectrum, advancing local medical-social integration. This synergy would exponentially improve the community social-health integration and strengthen our overall national heart-ware resilience. It may be big step forward, but it may also be necessary if we wish to have a seamless integrated social-health system. These plans will provide Singaporeans with greater access to community senior and mental health services at locales where they live. I hope MOH will consider strengthening the resilience and heart-ware of communities and integrating the service boundaries across health and social services. Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Budget.”
“On another note, I would like to highlight what many of us are very concerned about these days – mental wellness of caregivers. Many of my fellow MPs have been speaking about mental wellness. But in the context of dementia, many caregivers living with people with dementia are likely to be psychologically impacted. We have to ensure that all caregivers and community volunteers are regularly monitored and that they are constantly supported by social workers. My next point is about the integration of health and social services. More synergies can be unleashed if service boundaries across health and social services are integrated. MOH campaigns such as Healthier SG, National Mental Health and Wellbeing and Action Plan for Successful Aging are efforts towards achieving a healthier nation. Oftentimes, these objectives can be quite similar. Our medical, health and social services are structured to serve different boundaries across Singapore. Restructured hospitals are clustered intuitively to serve the East, North, Central, and West and South regions of Singapore. As a result, professionals from agencies such as the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) and MSF have to understand their service boundary in detail while also being well-informed of the service boundaries of other services. Some services such as MSF's co-funded programmes like the Family Service Centres have bespoke boundaries based on the geography of where the majority of social needs to be focused. Other services such as AIC-co-funded programmes like CREST and COMIT mimic grassroots and constituency boundaries so that they can have greater synergy with the grassroot leaders.”
“Back in October 2022 and at around the same time of my previous Adjournment speech on dementia, the Sembawang West team brought together a panel of community leaders, local caregivers and people living with dementia. The purpose was to discuss the difficulties that the caregivers face and for the community leaders to understand the user experiences these individuals would prefer. Since then, regular discussions facilitated by AWWA CREST and Dementia Singapore have been organised. Together with AWWA CREST, Republic Polytechnic and People's Association and grassroots volunteers, the working group also convened a four-day hackathon for hyperlocal dementia ideas for the Woodlands region. In addition, a Community Living Resource initiative for the Woodlands Region will be launched soon. This will be organised by agencies such as Care Corner, Club Heal and Sembawang Town Council. Earlier this year on 6 January, our local ground-up Sembawang-Woodlands Dementia Search Activation Network (D-San) Telegram group was featured at the #DementiaFriendlySG exhibition at the National Museum. We are glad to see how the awareness and public campaigns of dementia-friendliness have spread across Singapore since the first dementia-friendly community was launched in 2012 at Yishun. These DementiaFriendlySG efforts could only be possible with our "many hands on Deck" collective efforts across the various community partners in Singapore over this past decade. I would like to acknowledge the contributions from the founding members of our Dementia Workgroup at Sembawang West – Soh Lai Yee, MaryAnn Khoo, Nicodemus Ching, Samuel Lau, Noraini Yusof and Carol Tan. We appreciate what you have done for us.”
“Mr Speaker Sir, I am in favour of the 2024 Budget, in particular, the $3.5 billion allocated to Age Well SG to assist seniors to age actively, healthily and happily. I look forward to adding more senior-friendly facilities and amenities in our housing estates. However, I hope that beyond adding hardware, we can also use the funds for heart-ware programmes There are two areas I would like to address. One, inter-generational preparation and safeguards towards degenerative ageing conditions like dementia, and two, programmes that will increase social sustainability amongst the elderly. In my October 2022 Adjournment Motion, I shared three ideas on impending dementia emergency for inclusion in the Healthier SG framework. Today, I would like to highlight how dementia and community mental health efforts can be part of a broader social-health integration. In recent years, as more caregivers come forward to share their struggles caring for loved ones living with dementia, Singaporeans are increasingly aware of this condition. By 2030, there will be around 152,000 persons projected to be at high risk of dementia. Presently, almost every child is using digital devices. This is a worrying trend. In 2022, an American study detailed how, Gen X, Y and Z, and even younger generational youths will have a further four-to-six-fold increase in risk of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. This is largely due to the prevalent use of computers, mobile screens and digital computing. Dementia as a societal reality will affect our population as a whole. MOH should consider commissioning similar studies to look into how we can prepare for the fight against dementia. At Sembawang West, we have initiated some programmes and these are some examples.”
“Thank you, Speaker and Minister. I would like to know will further details of the findings and lessons learnt after NEA's thorough review, also be shared with the other private incinerator operators so that similar work accidents do not happen in the future. And the second question is, what are the types of assistance that have been rendered to the families of the three affected staff?”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for her reply. Given that the subsidies are for new equipment, how can the Government further support businesses that have already invested in equipment and these equipment typically last 10 to 20 years, and also prevent these cost increases from being passed down to consumers?”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Minister of State for the clarification. My supplementary question pertains to a question on the packet drinks as they would be thrown into trash bins or even become litter. So, how can MCCY ensure that there is no undue disrespect to Mr Lee Kuan Yew if packet drinks or similar commercial products are being allowed?”
“Unlike passwords, we must be mindful that in the event of data breaches, biometric data such as fingerprints and iris scans cannot be reset. How can we assure Singaporeans, residents, and travellers of their concerns over the collection of their biometric information is a safer option compared to traditional identification methods? I am also concerned about the credentials and quality of IT contractors’ systems and staff when it comes to outsourced technology work. How robust are the checks on theses contractors and the background clearance of their staff? What are the potential vulnerabilities from the involvement of foreign partners, firms and governments? Lastly, are these IT systems contracted out to firms with foreign associations? My third concern is about small private bus operators. Bus operators had expressed that they are facing difficulties in submitting passenger information before their vehicles arrive at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. They are also worried that some passengers might use fraudulent identities. Understandably, these bus operators will not have the means to validate such information. We should not burden the bus operators on immigration matters. To get around this problem, I would like to suggest that foreigners entering Singapore via the land checkpoints, submit SG Arrival Cards online three days before their arrival. This way, ICA can inform any affected passengers directly on any entry concerns. I hope ICA will assist these rather senior small operators who are not tech-savvy with their operating costs. Mr Speaker, Sir, notwithstanding my three concerns raised, I will conclude with my support for the Bill.”
“One, how can ICA prevent or minimise the occurrences of such failures? What measures does ICA have in place to protect and reinforce the systems? Two, will the Ministry have regular independent audits to check on the failure rates? Three, what are the contingency plans since manning levels will be minimal with the implementation of NCC? Four, how quickly can the back-up response kick in? I do hope that there are sturdy solutions to address these technical weaknesses and operational impacts. The second concern relates to cybersecurity and biometric vulnerabilities. Despite cybersecurity protection, hacking incidents and data breaches continue to affect both private companies and public organisations more often than expected. In 2021, there was a data leak affecting 580,000 Singapore Airlines' customers, arising from an external air transport information technology company. Last year, personal information of 4,749 KrisShop customers were exposed to a phishing attack. For the departure process, the NCC entails an end-to-end biometric system to be used to verify identities and travel details at various automated touchpoints, from bag-drop, to immigration and to boarding. This would mean that the travellers’ biometric information will be stored and linked to even more points than we have today. Though this process will provide more convenience, will the trade-off result in an increase in a higher risk exposure to data breaches? Internationally, the number of public and private organisations collecting and keeping biometric information has been increasing. Correspondingly, the number of hacking incidents involving biometric data is also on the rise. Given this trend, how will the Ministry ensure the strictest protection for biometric data?”
“The next NCC will allow residents and visitors leaving Singapore to clear immigration without having to use their passports from 2024. Instead, they can use the Automated Border Control System with their biometrics for clearance. With the NCC, immigration clearance will become even faster and smoother for all travellers. In addition, the amendments to the Bill will enhance ICA's powers to obtain information on travellers upstream. The introduction of NBDs will require transport operators to deny the boarding of undesirable individuals that are a threat to our security. Screening them prior to arrival and prohibiting them from arriving or transiting is a necessary step towards the protection for Singapore. The benefits of faster and easier immigration clearance and manpower savings are evident. However, the typical pitfalls associated with digitalised and automated systems must also be highlighted and the mitigation measures carefully considered. I shall highlight three key concerns. The first relates to system reliability and their massive knock-on effects. The system must be made extremely robust to prevent system breakdowns, long down time and false negatives, which will all result in delays in clearance, resulting in build-up of long queues and passengers missing their flights, and other knock-on effects. Sometime in March this year, there were delays and long queues at Changi Airport and land checkpoints. This disruption to the immigration clearance system lasted more than five hours. All automated departure lanes in all four airport terminals as well as at Woodlands and Tuas Checkpoints were affected by this system disruption and some passengers missed their flights. Will the NCC be more resilient to such breakdowns? Here are some questions.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir. Singapore is a thriving international hub. We expect 12 to 14 million visitors this year. Last year, passenger movement at Changi Airport totalled 32.2 million and is expected to return to pre-COVID-19 traffic of 68.3 million by 2024. Over the same period, we had close to 1.2 million cruise passengers. At Tuas and Woodlands land checkpoints, daily crossings are around 300,000 to 400,000 people. In 2022, 104.8 million travellers were cleared. An efficient, effective and resilient border control is critical to smoothen the movement of people and restrict criminals and blacklisted travellers from coming into Singapore. With the increasing number of visitors, juxtaposed against a shrinking workforce, the use of technology to automate immigration clearance is a critical enabler. I support the introduction of the NCC. Advance technology will improve the speed of immigration clearance and enhance security. Digitalisation and automation will enable ICA to make efficient use of limited manpower resources. ICA is one of the early adopters of facial recognition technology. When Changi Airport Terminal 4 opened in October 2017, the Automated Immigration Gates allowed Singaporean passengers to sail through immigration clearance without the need to interact with an ICA officer. The shift to the automated clearance by using facial recognition and fingerprint for identity validation was a major milestone then. ICA has extended the automated clearance to foreigners as well. Since May 2022, more than four million foreign visitors from 51 jurisdictions have enrolled in the automated clearance initiative and cleared immigration with their biometric details.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank Minister of State Sun Xueling for the comprehensive clarification. On behalf of concerned and affected parents, I have two supplementary questions. Firstly, CCTVs are useful as a deterrent and for investigation, but they will not be fool-proof to prevent child abuse. First question – will ECDA and preschool operators implement programmes to build trust in parents and stronger rapport with teachers? Also, will ECDA provide guidance to parents to detect signs of unusual behaviour in their children that may indicate child mismanagement or abuse and also to update them on the reporting channels? The second question pertains to preschool teachers facing a heavy workload to teach, prepare lesson plans and reports. Many centres are also short of staff and they face a heavy workload caring for special needs children. Will ECDA introduce a time-out system for teachers who are facing burn-out or mental health issues without being penalised?”
“Similarly, you can provide perks and have a goal like having our national soccer team participate in the World Cup finals. When it is unrealistic, we must be able to admit that some goals are not quite possible to score yet. Having said that, we must also bear in mind that sports are for everyone and not just about glory. I chose to serve as the President of STTA pro bono because I want young players to be able to believe in their passion, achieve their sporting dreams and eventually become world-class paddlers who can win Olympic medals against all odds. STTA has a plan, is constantly improving, works with partners within the ecosystem and sets goals that are attainable to inspire our youths.”
“Professional sports can be very cruel because, after every victory, the athlete has to start from scratch again. If our national athletes are expected to devote their youth to sports and to go all out to win at competitions in order to fly our flag high, we have to assure parents that professional sports is a viable career. Our sporting ecosystem must be able to support the professional athletes not only while they are at their peak but also after their retirement. It is only fair that our athletes and their families have such an assurance. Mdm Deputy Speaker, I have just explained how STTA searches for talents from a young age, nurture these talents through training and competitions and help them to persevere through the challenging periods. Improvement is always necessary but identifying areas of improvement will be dependent on many factors, which include hidden challenges that may have absolutely nothing to do with sports, for example, issues like low birth rates and the relentless focus on academics. Such are difficult issues that we will have to manage when evaluating not just Singapore’s sporting ecosystem but our economy as well. The Motion put forth by Assoc Prof Jamus Lim and Mr Faisal Manap is a concern that is expressed in a very elemental manner. Different sports have different challenges. The Motion fails to identify any focus or highlight the sports or games that they were referring to. Regardless of any Government participation to support any sports or games, achievement in sports requires an athlete’s passion, his desire to overcome obstacles to nurture a strong fighting spirit and a strong desire to achieve will always take precedence over any evaluation.”
“With each tournament, their world rankings improve so that they can qualify for major games and tournaments. As an example, Izaac Quek’s world ranking has risen rapidly from world No 239 in January 2023 to No 62 as of 4 July 2023 – two days ago – giving him a good chance to qualify for the Paris Olympics. In the past, talented athletes would not have considered sports as a career. Family members and friends would openly discourage them as it was truly difficult to survive as a professional athlete. Our times have since changed and there are signs that sports could now be considered as a viable career option. With proper management, successful athletes, such as Joseph Schooling and Loh Kean Yew, were able to generate sizeable incomes from both prize monies as well as endorsement fees. In addition, athletes who achieve podium finishes at the four major games will be rewarded with attractive prize monies from the SNOC Major Games Award Programme that is sponsored by the Tote Board Group. In STTA, apart from the rewards, we will also prepare our national paddlers for eventual retirement. Funds will be set aside for full-time national paddlers who have completed at least three continuous years of service. The gratuity amount will correspond with the duration of their service, which can be drawn upon their retirement. In addition, we have also set aside trust funds for high achieving national paddlers who have represented Singapore in the Olympics to further their studies in the universities. Most people may not be aware that beneath the glamour and fame of any recognised athlete, their schedule and expectations to achieve are extremely demanding. To add, there is always a possibility that the athletes may suffer a serious injury and can no longer compete.”
“At the end of the day, athletes are still able to earn their diplomas and degrees while playing table tennis competitively. Ten out of 13 national team players are alumni of the Singapore Sports School. And medals and academic degrees are important but, in my view, the most valuable lesson from this rigorous youth development pathway will be the lessons on independence, resilience, discipline and teamwork. There is a saying that it takes a village to raise a child. In sports, it is a multi-million-dollar investment that takes years to groom a world-class champion. In STTA, approximately two-thirds of our annual expenses are funded by Government grants. The remaining expenses are self-funded by our training programmes and from goodwill donations from sponsors and donors. STTA works closely with SportSG to map out multi-year sports plans and targets for international tournaments and major games. To groom world-class players, they must consistently compete against the top players in the world or train with established table tennis leagues and academies. We have signed memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with several table tennis academies in Europe and Asia so that players from both sides can train together and learn from each other. The fact is that our paddlers are away from home most of the time as they travel to far-flung places across Africa, Latin America, Europe and Asia to compete, train or acclimatise well before major games. We clearly spare no effort in providing maximum training and competition opportunities for our top players. Over the past two years of intense competition and training stints, we have witnessed vast improvements in the technical skills and composure of our young national players, such as Izaac Quek, Koen Pang, Wong Xinru and Zhou Jingyi.”
“Students with good potential will start serious training from 10 years old and have an opportunity to be part of the Junior Development Squad, which has about 100 players. Thereafter, at the secondary school level, about 40 players will be selected for the Youth Training Squad and School within Schools Programme. From this lot, between five and eight players will be selected for the Intermediate Squad. And finally, the top 12 players will be selected into the National Team. The fact is that less than 1% of the Zone Training Centre students will eventually make it into the National Team. These youth players have many opportunities to compete locally and internationally. Many talented youths were discovered during the annual Crocodile Cup, Singapore Junior and Hopes International Tournament, Southeast Asia Junior and Asian Junior Table Tennis Championships and the World Table Tennis Youth Contender series. In fact, most of our current National Team players started off as Crocodile Cup age-group champions. The outstanding players, with some as young as 12 years old, will get opportunities to compete in junior table tennis competitions overseas. For instance, in April this year, 12-year-old Loy Ming Ying won her first under-13 gold medal in the World Table Tennis (WTT) Youth Contender held in Poland and her second gold medal in the under-13 WTT Youth Contender held in Berlin. It is extremely demanding for the youth players to cope with the challenges of having to achieve academically and, at the same time, to be able to perform during training. To help them balance schoolwork with sports, the Singapore Sports School provides a flexible and athlete-centric academic approach around the athlete’s training and competition schedule.”
“Many Singaporeans would remember how the Singapore women’s team won our first Olympics silver medal in the Beijing Olympics 2008. There were criticisms with regard to the fact that they were foreign talents. However, their contributions have undeniably elevated the standard of competitive table tennis in Singapore. To add, our head coaches for our current national team were both former Olympians: Coach Jing Junhong and Coach Gao Ning. They are naturalised Singaporeans and have remained here to help STTA nurture our national paddlers. Their valuable experiences and skills have contributed towards our table tennis successes. Experienced stalwarts like Olympians Feng Tianwei, Yu Mengyu and Lin Ye have retired and STTA will have to ensure that there are new talented paddlers to take over. I am happy to share that as a result of STTA’s youth development programmes, we are not only able to nurture young talents to replace our stalwarts, the average age of our national team now is only 22 years old. The recent Cambodian SEA Games men’s team gold medal was a historic win. It was the first victory in 50 years by an all local-born team. The men and women’s teams won four golds, two silvers and three bronzes – the best results since SEA Games 2017. This achievement is a strong testament to the early fruits of our local youth development efforts. In STTA, we have put in place a very stringent selection process and start training the paddlers at a very young age. Children as young as five start training at one of our seven zone training centres that are located all across the island. There are approximately 350 students in total.”
“Even with these accomplishments, I am of the opinion that there is always more room to achieve sporting successes as a nation. The fundamentals for this blueprint are in place, we are on the right track and there are bright sparks. With the recent achievement as a reference, it is likely that in another decade or so, we might be able to see more TeamSG athletes on the Olympics podium. And in order to achieve sporting successes, focus must be placed on youth development. To support the development of national athletes and national sports associations, the Government has already invested about $70 million annually on the High-Performance Sports system. These are significant investments to assist our high-performance athletes with a conducive training environment and to provide some financial support for them to train and compete at major competitions. In October 2021, I spoke about nation-bonding through sports in Parliament and I recommended a four-pronged approach to strengthen our competitive sports system. The four points were: (a) focus on a few key sports; (b) search for talents from a young age; (c) nurture them through training and competitions; and (d) help them persevere through the challenging periods. These approaches will require commitment and continual efforts from both the Government and stakeholders. Mdm Deputy Speaker, as the President of Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA), I would like to share my views and experiences about the table tennis youth development plans that we have. STTA was founded in 1931 and has a long history of more than 92 years. The association has gone through its fair share of ups and downs over the years. Today, table tennis is one of the most popular sports in Singapore.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I would like to highlight some of our accomplishments at the 32nd SEA Games and the 12th ASEAN Para Games in Cambodia. Amongst the 558-strong contingent, our Team SG athletes bagged 51 gold, 43 silver and 64 bronze medals. Three athletes stood out. One was Sprint queen Shanti Pereira, who was also commended by fellow Members. At 26 years old, Shanti became the first Singaporean woman to clinch gold medals for both the 100-metre and 200-metre sprint events and rewrote the national sprint records several times this year. The second was 21-year-old swimmer, Jonathan Tan. He clinched gold at the games and broke the national and SEA Games record for 50-metre freestyle. With this winning time, Jonathan has also qualified for Paris Olympics 2024. His achievements are impressive even though he is still currently serving his National Service. The third was 16-year-old debutant, Izaac Quek. Izaac swept three gold medals in all three table tennis men’s events by beating competitors who are more than twice his age. At the 12th ASEAN Para Games, our athletes won 12 golds, 15 silvers and 17 bronzes. Special acknowledgement must be given to swimmer siblings, Colin and Sophie Soon, who both excelled. They clinched gold medals and rewrote the Games records for the S13 freestyle event. With 51 gold medals, eight Games records, 17 national records and 40 personal best results, Singapore ranked sixth amongst 11 ASEAN countries, and not seventh as mentioned by Assoc Prof Jamus Lim earlier on. For a small nation to compete with more populous neighbours, it is not an easy feat. But we did well and what was achieved is credible, to say the least. So, congratulations to all our athletes!”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for the clarifications. I will have one more supplementary question. Singapore is one of the busiest maritime ports in the world. Will the BBNJ Agreement have any effect on our sea lines of communications?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I have two questions. Notwithstanding the findings that both Ministers were cleared of any wrongdoing, the revelations of the Report have since raised more concerns from the public. So, the first question is for Second Minister Edwin Tong. For 26 Ridout Road, which had only attracted one bid, did SLA not solicit additional bids after the extensive refurbishment was completed to test if the price was still a fair market price? My second question is for Minister Shanmugam and Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. The Ministers' Code of Conduct clearly mandates that a Minister must scrupulously avoid any actual or apparent conflict of interest between their official duties and private financial interests. So, it is in the interest of transparency that both Ministers declare all their property assets. If there are any, will the two Ministers declare if these properties have been rented out anytime during the lease of 26 and 31 Ridout Road to assure the public that there are no monetary gains from lease arbitration?”
“I hope the Ministry of Community, Culture and Youth (MCCY) can work with the PA and VWOs to attract more singles to participate in community work. In particular, cause-based programmes. There are many programmes that are designed to engage families with young children, but singles may feel they do not fit in and are not keen to be a part of such programmes. We need to make singles feel welcomed. Mr Speaker, Sir, fairness and inclusiveness have been brought up by singles in feedback sessions frequently. We must review our social policies to ensure that singles are not left out. While we encourage people to get married and have more children, pro-family and single-supportive policies need not be mutually exclusive. Whether you are single or married, we are all part of a Singapore family. We do what we can to take care of our siblings and elderly parents. We would not want our well-resourced singles who do not have close relatives anymore, retiring in countries like Australia, New Zealand or Canada. Let us make everyone feel more included and rooted, with an equal stake in Singapore’s future. Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Motion.”
“(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] During the final phase in life, many singles may be concerned that they do not have people whom they trust to assist them in preparing for their final days. For instance, they may need help with their Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for decisions to be made should they lose their mental capacity. They would also need guidance and advice to lodge their medical care preferences through an Advance Care Planning (ACP) session as well as Advance Medical Directive at recognised healthcare institutions. End of life discussions pertaining to tube-feeding and Voluntarily Stop Eating and Drinking (VSED) may be made in advance with qualified medical practitioners and counsellors. Many may require assistance to review their CPF nominations and draw up or review their wills. Perhaps they may have assets that they wish to bequeath to charitable organisations but are not familiar with the arrangements. I urge the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and volunteer welfare organisations (VWOs) to look into setting up such services to assist them, so that they can leave the world with a peace of mind. If these singles do not have children, they can contribute their assets to benefit the community after they have passed on. (In English): Social programmes are essential to create community ties and to keep our singles deeply rooted to Singapore. Singapore has to be a place that is attractive, accessible and affordable for our seniors, so that they can live their final years comfortably. Involvement in community work will help singles feel more connected; friends, family and neighbours give them a purpose to stay on and contribute to their homeland.”
“They could be playing mahjong games, growing plants, cooking or whatever. To add, the co-living flat mates can also help to look out for one another, especially during medical emergencies and request for assistance in a timely manner. The lease could include basic service package comprising cleaning, cooking, marketing and emergency response services. Services could be outsourced to private senior care operators. That way, a group of singles can have the option to stay together and take care of one another in their golden years. Other than securing a roof over their head, singles may also be concerned about securing their finances. In particular, the elderly are more likely to be vulnerable and exploited by scammers and other criminals. They may be preyed upon their confusion due to new technology. Recent scams via phones and online sites had depleted the bank accounts of many senior citizens, even those who are highly educated. I strongly urge the Government to set up trust arrangements for the elderly, especially for singles who do not have partners nor children to help them. We do not have to reinvent the wheel. In fact, we can tap on current infrastructure, such as the CPF and accredited insurance companies, which are members of the Policy Owners' Protection Scheme under the Singapore Deposit Insurance Corporation. With economies of scale, the trust arrangement fees can be kept quite low. Their funds can be managed by the trusts which will pay for their expenses such as medical bills and release their pocket money monthly. I urge CPF to consider offering such financial services to retirees, especially to single seniors, so that their retirement funds can be well-managed and protected. Mr Speaker, I would like to say a few words in Mandarin.”
“(In English): I would like to call upon the Government to consider some medical appointments leave and caregiving leave for parents, to be a mandatory benefit for all employees. This benefit will likewise apply to married individuals. Most singles end up living alone upon retirement and after their parents pass on. Divorced and widowed individuals may also live on their own. There will be more and more seniors staying alone. But living in isolation is not a good option and social interaction is essential for one’s cognitive and physical health. These days, sadly, it is no longer uncommon for news reports of seniors found dead alone at home. HDB has embarked on assisted living facilities in December 2020, such as the pilot Community Care Apartments in Bukit Batok. These apartments are very small. It is only 32 square metres and will not solve the concerns of the singles as many seniors will still eventually end up staying alone after their spouses pass on. The problems of seniors living in isolation will not be addressed. I like to call for HDB to consider leasing out some of the existing HDB flats in mature estates where the seniors are familiar with and are served by nearby neighbourhood amenities, to set up co-living options for singles, divorced and widowed Singaporeans. We could consider developing spaces for three to four singles living together comfortably. These could be leased apartments catered for senior citizens who live alone. To make it work, single seniors could have the option to sell their own properties and invest in such a retirement co-living space. We must provide the support for these single seniors to age well and allow them to enjoy their time together with their flat mates.”
“Some companies may provide a few days of caregiving leave but this will not suffice if the elderly parent suffers from chronic illnesses. Often times, the caregiver will have to use their annual leave or even apply for unpaid leave to care for their parents. The lower-income groups will tend to face more challenges because most are unable to afford additional resources such as domestic help. Should the caregiver be an unmarried sole breadwinner, he or she will have to continue working while attending to the ailing parents. Having time off for medical appointments and caregiving leave for ailing parents is much needed for singles who are also primary caregivers. Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to say a few words in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Not all workers in Singapore get additional leave to look after their parents. Companies in Singapore are required to provide maternity leave, paternity leave, childcare leave and unpaid infant care leave but not family leave, parental care leave or eldercare leave. Some companies may give a few days of caregiving leave but this is not enough if the elderly parents of the workers suffer from chronic diseases. Usually, the caregivers have no choice but to use their annual leave or apply for no-pay leave to take care of their elderly parents. The lower-income group will face more challenges as most of them cannot afford additional resources such as domestic help. If the caregiver is the sole breadwinner who is still single, he or she must continue to work while taking care of his or her frail parents. Having leave for medical appointments and leave to take care of elderly parents who are unwell will be a boon for unmarried caregivers who are also the primary caregivers.”
“If we do not look into taking better care of this group of Singaporeans, they may well decide to work overseas or even migrate altogether once after their parents pass away. I hope that as a society, we can better appreciate Singaporeans who choose to remain single. Singles contribute to society and they should be provided equal support from the Government and the community. They, too, will need help to cope with the challenges that are more particularly felt by being single. I would like to call for more inclusiveness in our social policies and programmes. There are three pertinent aspects that we should highlight, namely, caregiving for parents, ageing with support and advance care planning. At a certain old age, regular visits to the doctors, frequent hospitalisation or taking care of health conditions that require 24/7 care, such as advanced dementia, is inevitable. With our rapidly greying population, longer life expectancies and smaller families, caregiving duties for elderly parents typically land on singles. Most singles will stay with their parents if their siblings are married with kids. This is seen as the right thing to do. There are even some who decide to remain single so that they can be caregivers and take care of their ailing parents. These caregiving responsibilities require substantial time off work. Often, the health conditions of both parents may deteriorate at the same time, doubling the caregiving load. Not all employees in Singapore get extra leave to care for their parents. Companies in Singapore are required to provide maternity, paternity, childcare and unpaid infant care leave, but not family, parent or eldercare leave.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, President Halimah opened the 14th Parliament by charting out the direction, challenges and priorities for a Singapore for everyone. She emphasised the importance of inclusiveness, the need for a refreshed social compact and, regardless of our different backgrounds, the support for one another in our next phase of nationhood. To be inclusive, the Government must consider the needs of different groups of Singaporeans in their policies and implementation of social programmes. For many decades, our policies have been pro-family and increasingly so over the past few years. These policies are not slowing down even though our total fertility rate continues to plunge year after year, hitting an all-time low of 1.05 in 2022. Policies related to housing, caregiving and taxation are causing a divide that favours married Singaporeans more than singles. This policy bias has created growing dissatisfaction among singles. Given the change in lifestyle priorities, singlehood has scaled up to around 30% of Singapore’s population. Broadly speaking, for every Singaporean couple, there is a Singaporean single. This percentage will continue to be more prevalent. The proportion of singles in the age groups below 50 years old has increased and the rise is higher among those below 35. An inclusive society like Singapore should not allow any group, let alone such a significant group, to feel left out in contrast to their married siblings, friends or colleagues simply because of their marital status. Like married individuals, singles work and contribute at workplaces, in communities and take care of their families. They must not be left to feel disengaged, disappointed or even disenchanted.”
“Should bags be required for trash, trash bags can always be purchased at the supermarket. This way, we are all implementing simple changes to slow down global warming. To add, this will also avoid any profiteering from the sale of plastic bags that was once provided free of charge. Let us talk about the beverage container return scheme. An estimate of about 800 million plastic bottles and metal cans are expected to be returned for recycling purposes annually. It is a good thing. We should do more to encourage this campaign by creating new roles. Maybe we could support the seniors, who once collected discarded metal cans to be sold. Alternatively, scheme operators can hire seniors to manage the collection stations. The Government can support these roles. Mdm Deputy Speaker, I commend the MSE team for nudging Singapore towards a zero-waste nation. However, for these schemes to succeed, attention to details in their implementation is key and nothing beats the importance of communicating public education intensively. Singaporeans must understand why we need to do what we do, and only then will our attempt to slow down global warming be a wholehearted nationwide effort. Notwithstanding my suggestions, I support the Bill.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, most Singaporeans will agree that there is a need for new policies to mitigate climate change. However, the purpose of these new policies must do more than reflect a message of global warming. These polices must address the need to make small but impactful adjustments to our daily habits. Let us talk about disposable plastic carrier bags. As of 2018, 127 out of 192 countries had enacted certain national legislations to address the use of plastic bags. In some of these places, plastic bag bans have not been as effective. Like in California, studies have shown that while shoppers used fewer plastic bags, the sales and utilisation of trash bags has proportionally increased. A migrant domestic helper, Ms Maricel Vicente from Bacarra, a municipality in the province of Ilocos Norte in the Philippines, shared with me that in her hometown, the supermarkets over there do not provide plastic bags, styrofoam or any plastic containers. They only provide thin brown bags, with no handles. These bags are not helpful if you have to store and carry your groceries. The inconvenience reminded the shoppers to bring their own reusable shopping bags. Singaporeans use around 2.5 billion plastic bags annually. Just take 10% of that with a five cents charge, you will get a hefty $12.5 million, annually, in bag charge collection. Having said that, the additional five cents to each shopper will probably not deter most of them from the usage of plastic bags. We should practice what supermarkets in Bacarra does. Completely stop providing plastic bags and encourage shoppers to bring their own recyclable shopping bags. Should shoppers require a bag for their groceries, they can always purchase recyclable bags just like any other product sold at the premises.”
“I hope that Singaporeans who have saved us from COVID-19 are celebrated, that we will continue to have such individuals to serve Singapore; and that the inadvertent impact and hardship suffered by various groups of Singaporeans will be addressed. I support the Motion.”
“At one point, our air hub's passenger traffic fell to less than 0.5% of pre-COVID-19 traffic. There used to be some 50,000 staff employed in Changi Airport pre-COVID-19. About one-third of the staff lost their jobs or got redeployed to other sectors. During the pandemic, the aircrew suffered significant pay cuts and some had to switch careers – like one airline pilot, Johnny Tan, who had to sell durians instead of being able to fly a plane. In response to the fluid situation during the pandemic, the border control measures had to change every now and then. Airport staff working in the transit areas had to don PPEs, as they faced the highest risks of contracting the virus from arriving passengers. Similarly, aircrew risked their own health and safety, serving passengers who could be COVID-19-positive. We are now almost back to pre-COVID-19 days, but our recovery has a different set of challenges. Over the last 10 months, passenger numbers rebounded from 2% to 80%. Companies are struggling to find staff who can be trained quickly in order to deal with the sudden surge. With the opening of the Chinese border, manpower demand will further increase. Manpower is a major problem. In addition, companies operating in Changi Airport will have to deal with the increase in utility cost, fuel cost, salaries, GST, carbon taxes and so on. Changi is one of our most important strategic assets and being Skytrax's Best Airport comes with a price. That only means that we have to deliver and confront the challenges facing the aviation sector. Mr Speaker, no country is immune to the trials and tribulations caused by the pandemic and the rapid-changing world.”
“I hope the Government will look into ways to assist Singaporeans who had to go through such a painful experience. The second group will be the workers and companies in the construction sector. During the outbreak, strict SMM were imposed at the worksites. Workers had to be transported everywhere they went. Meal breaks were carefully scheduled and migrant worker dormitories had to be drastically reduced in capacity. All these regulations changed how construction companies operate and productivity diminished due to the restricted construction work processes. As a result, many construction projects, including various Build-To-Orders (BTOs), were severely delayed. Many workers left the construction industry during the pandemic. Many who left are not returning. There is now a real shortage of workers. The construction companies had to increase the salaries of workers quite significantly to avoid bigger financial losses arising from delays in project completion. In fact, some large-scale local construction companies, such as Greatearth, could not survive the cost pressures and had to close. Many local companies are still struggling with the massive financial losses incurred during the pandemic. The rising costs of materials, utilities, fuel and high Certificates of Entitlement prices for their vehicles are not helping them to gradually recover. I do hope the Government will try to provide even more assistance to the local construction companies during this vital recovery phase. Mr Speaker, Sir, I declare my interest as an employee working in Changi Airport. The third group that I would like to mention are workers and companies in the aviation industry. Changi Airport was a ghost town when the borders were closed.”