Pritam Singh
Singapore
“Mr Speaker, I hear what the Minister has said. I am also sure the Minister has understood where the Workers' Party Members of Parliament are coming from. And I also would like to add that as the Opposition, we come to this House to scrutinise Bills and it is our duty to ask those questions.”
“Thank you, Speaker. I am empathetic to the arguments of efficiency and ensuring that patients can see a polyclinic doctor or consultation as quickly as possible. I understand the Senior Minister of State mentioned it is important to try and make a make an appointment so that your waiting time is within a certain period.”
“Thank you, Speaker. Just a question for the Minister of State. Does the Ministry capture the total amount of monies recovered from Singaporeans who are victims of scams?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. Just a point of order. I believe the Senior Minister of State, in his wrapping-up speech, referred to a speech made by a Member who did not deliver a speech in Parliament on the Bill, that is, hon Member Ms Mariam Jaafar. I would just like to confirm whether that is as per the Standing Orders of Parliament.”
“Much obliged, Mr Deputy Speaker. At the Sitting on 7 April 2026, I rose to seek a clarification on the joint Ministerial Statement on the situation in the Middle East.”
“Thank you, Speaker. The Minister of State mentioned meaningful impact a few times, so I will give an example. The KPI in the Budget Book, "the percentage of patients who waited less than or at least 100 minutes for consultations at polyclinics", for example, for each fiscal year, 2023, 2024, 2025 – the number is 99%.”
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“Madam, I would like to ask the Ministry for an update on the feasibility study into the Rapid Transit System connecting the upcoming Thomson Line with Johor Bahru, and to explain Malaysia's contribution to the study, reported by the mainstream media in Singapore as one of the most expensive commissioned LTA studies, with Singapore quoted to be footing two-thirds of the cost. I would like to enquire how this co-funding was determined and when the findings of this study are likely to be released. Noise Barriers”
“Madam, HDB rental flats are an important housing option for many Singaporeans who have difficulties paying their own flats for a variety of reasons. While I do acknowledge the policy decision to increase the number of rental flats available over the last few years, I would like to enquire from the Ministry if there are any plans on raising the income ceiling in view of the raising of similar floors across some other Government assistance schemes, so that those in genuine need are not turned away. Separately, while the public rental scheme is a crucial safety net, I would like to enquire if the HDB exercises greater flexibility or consideration in waiving or reducing the resale levy of rental flat tenants who previously owned HDB flats, but who now seek to purchase their 2- or 3-room flat so as to get back on the road to self-sufficiency. What incentives are in place to encourage rental flat tenants to work towards moving out of these rental flats and owning their own HDB units again, so as to free up the finite number of rental units for needy Singaporeans? Page: 129 Allowing Elderly Singles to Rent Flat”
“As this number appears to be high, would the Ministry consider more initiatives to educate Singaporeans on the importance of mortgage insurance cover and look into ways how HDB homeowners who pay their mortgages by cash can be better protected. While additional catastrophic insurance cover is ultimately a personal decision and requires individual responsibility, some households, especially lower-income households, would be much more affected by the demise of a breadwinner than most and may not be fully apprised of the importance of the HPS. Can the Ministry consider targeting these households for specific outreach and look into how future Government transfers can include the prospect of HPS rebates as a recognition and signal of how important such insurance schemes can be for the low and middle income? Another possibility is to review and assess if HDB homeowners who are not servicing their loans through CPF can choose to be automatically included in HPS, but with the ability to opt out at any point. Spur Construction Industry Productivity”
“The Community Improvement Projects Committee (CIPC) funding is an important source of taxpayer funding to Town Councils to assist in the construction and upgrade of community facilities. The Citizens' Consultative Committee (CCC) is the entity within the CIPC framework which nominates projects to MND. While the CIPC Committee at MND has to ensure that taxpayers' monies are prudently spent, in view of the finite amount available and different needs of each town, I would like to ask if there is a distinction made in the percentage of funds disbursed for upgrading existing facilities of Town Councils on the one hand and new projects on the other, for CIP nominations by the CCC. Would the Ministry consider the formation of an appeals forum under the CIPC framework where differences of opinion, if any, about an Opposition Town Council which manages and maintains the community facilities, and the CCC's nominations can be ironed out? Page: 120 Home Protection Scheme Awareness I go on to my second cut on the greater public awareness of the Home Protection Scheme (HPS). From Parliamentary Questions asked by Members, the Government has replied that about 60% of HDB home owners with outstanding loans are paying for HDB flats through their CPF. Extrapolating from these percentages, about 16,000 are uninsurable and about 11,000 have lapsed on HPS premiums. For the remaining 40% of homeowners who pay for their HDB flats by cash, about 200,000 or 56% are not covered by HPS, although an unknown number from this figure may have some mortgage insurance or some other catastrophic event cover.”
“As Singapore diversity becomes more apparent with Filipinos, mainland Chinese and Indian families, and yet other races and transient population coming to Singapore for work and long-term residence, have the relevant agencies under the Ministry reviewed their training programmes to take into account the demographics changes in our society? Is there a formal training package for mainstream Police Officers for our Auxiliary Police Officers to tap on? Would the Ministry consider setting up a cultural advisory unit or institutionalising similar training to work with migrant groups in particular, as they tend to congregate in large groups on their off days, so as to build up trust and understanding, as seen in other immigrant communities in Commonwealth countries, such as Canada and Australia? Separately, have there been any operational examples where there has been a lack of Auxiliary Police Officers with the appropriate language training to communicate their intentions or instructions to the public, and how are these challenges overcome? Finally, for our Auxiliary Police Officer force, how many are Singaporeans, PRs and foreigners respectively? Appropriate Adult Scheme”
“As of the end of 2013, a total of about 1,000 cameras would have been installed by the Police at HDB void decks and multi-storey carparks under the larger community policing system initiative. There is a public expectation that these cameras would go a long way to address the scourge of loansharks who harass HDB residents even if these residents are not involved in any illegal moneylending. At one block in Bedok Reservoir, where such cameras have already been installed, a resident not involved in any illegal moneylending activity remarked to me that he had to endure harassment to his family by loansharks who masqueraded as salesmen when he was out at work, causing him much consternation. Have the Police determined whether loansharks have changed tactics in light of installation of such cameras? In tandem, I would like to ask for an update of this specific programme under the Community Policing System with cameras already installed in a number of precincts in Singapore, and its success in addressing the scourge of loansharks. Separately, would the Ministry consider allowing Town Councils to access video footage on an ad hoc basis from these cameras to tackle unauthorised dumping, for example, and other anti-social activities? Page: 59 Cultural Training for Law Enforcers I turn to my second cut. In view of the heavy use of Auxiliary Police Officers for various policing and patrolling responsibilities in Singapore, from foreign worker management in places where they gather to the staging of international events, I seek to enquire what sort of formal training these Auxiliary Police Officers undergo to manage and communicate with the culturally diverse public they face.”
“I signed up last year to attend one session of the Committee to Strengthen National Service (CSNS) in the second half of the year. The session I attended as an NSman was facilitated by Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Mr Masagos. Like many of the NSmen in my group, I found the feedback process open and helpful in terms of soliciting feedback from NSmen on how to strengthen NS. In fact, one of the more commendable things the Committee did after the feedback session was to publicise the summary of the consultation on the CSNS website. It may not have been possible to accommodate everyone's inputs as I heard them but the process itself I understand was appreciated, with many of the exchanges quite robust, frank and open. My own interactions with a handful of NSmen found that in spite of the occasional disruptions associated with NS duties with their civilian jobs, for many of them, there was a general appreciation for the institution of NS and its importance. I would like to ask the Minister if the Committee to Strengthen the National Service could look into supporting NSmen beyond financial measures, such as the civilian utility of skills picked up in the military domain, for example, easier and more facilitative conversion standards from military to civilian licences and equipment with direct civilian applications. Separately, last year, I raised the prospect of new citizens performing some form of NS. Can the Minister update the House on the plans for the SAF Page: 161 Volunteer Corps announced last year? Use of NSmen Resources”
“The international media have reported that the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) was demonstrated to the SAF late last year in the US. At the last COS, the Defence Minister stated that MINDEF was in the final stages of evaluating the Joint Strike Fighter although the Minister did state that there were a number of caveats in assessing to complete this purchase. Separately, towards the end of last year, it was confirmed that Indonesia had purchased advanced Apache attack helicopters and the Leopard 2 Main Double Tank platforms that were purchased by Singapore not too long ago. Page: 157 In evaluating the purchase of the Joint Strike Fighter, how does MINDEF consider the impact of the introduction of such new defence technologies by the SAF into the region? How does MINDEF assess that its purchases do not alter the strategic dynamic such that it does not overly widen the capability gap beyond that required by the SAF to protect Singapore, and paradoxically generate insecurity in our neighbourhood or encourage tit-for-tat purchases? Maritime Safety”
“While I appreciate the need for IPTO to be thorough and consistent in its assessment of undischarged bankrupts in addition to balancing the rights of debtors and creditors, I would like to enquire from the Ministry if the duration of time the person has been an undischarged bankrupt – as in this case more than 10 years – factors in the decision-making process with regard to discharge and whether long-term undischarged Page: 102 bankrupts, who have been listed as bankrupts, can be treated differently. Finally, what is the progress on the review of the bankruptcy discharge regime and its anticipated completion date as announced in last year's COS? Insolvency Law Reforms”
“First, amending the Coroners Act. I raised this up in view of the relative lack of public information that was released after the death of an inmate in official custody in 2010 and the lawful discontinuation of the Coroner's inquiry on the same inmate's death last year. I highlight this case to ask the Ministry to consider a review of the relevant sections of the Coroners Act to require coroners to continue with an inquiry in the case of death in official custody if the defendant or defendants have pled guilty to a criminal charge so the public is served by a continuation of the coroner's inquiry. A limited review covering death in official custody would be in line with the spirit of the current standalone Coroners Act passed in 2010 shifting the spirit of coroner's inquiry from a fault-finding to a fact-finding regime. This would also be in line with the intent of Parliament as reiterated by then-Senior Minister of State for Law, Assoc Prof Ho Peng Kee, who said that the Coroners Bill of 2010 would better serve the public interest. Discharge Regime for Bankrupts On to the next cut on the discharge regime for long-term bankrupts, I would like to enquire if the Insolvency and Public Trustees Office (IPTO) would consider looking actively into the discharge of bankrupts who have in bankruptcy for more than 10 years.”
“I hope employers do consider this larger societal concern, even as they battle on to develop new productivity initiatives, and manage with fewer foreign workers, in addition to the ever-present business challenges of high overheads. In light of feedback by some employers, it would be important for the Government to nonetheless monitor the reaction on the ground with regard to Page: 33 the employability of older workers in view of the CPF rate rise, so that our most vulnerable workers are not priced out of the workforce. Finally, the Minister spoke of extending the Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme (CEVS) until June 2015 with a view to continuing the scheme thereafter. The Minister stated that more than 50% of new cars received CEVS rebates, an improvement over 2012 when only 40% of new cars were in the rebate bands. However, in assessing the efficacy of CEVS against the environmental sustainability and climate change, it is worthwhile to consider that the neutral zone where no rebates are attracted and surcharges levied lies between 161 and 211 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre. Even in 2011, about 60% of cars sold in Singapore already fell in this zone, so it is debatable how far CEVS, as it stands, is going to encourage a larger green footprint in Singapore. While the CEVS is positive policy, there is scope for the Government to review the carbon emissions standards so as to alter behaviour in favour of greener policies through a scheme of clearer and sharper incentives and disincentives. As the reality of climate change becomes ever more apparent, there is considerable scope for Singapore to increase its soft power by establishing itself as a leader in embracing green technologies in view of our small size. Mdm Speaker, I support the Budget. 1.03 pm”
“However, it is difficult to appreciate this increase holistically until the impact of MediShield Life premiums is announced, even as the promise of a more flexible use of MediSave for outpatient treatment is welcomed. It is, nevertheless, noteworthy that the new total CPF contribution rates of 35% for workers between the ages of 50 and 55, and 25% for workers aged between 55 and 60 have surpassed those proposed by the 2003 Economic Review (ERC) Sub-Committee on Policies related to Taxation, the CPF system, Wages and Land. Nonetheless, I am concerned about the employment prospects of older workers in light of media reports that these higher CPF contributions would put a tighter squeeze on profits and because of the fact that it is our SMEs that proportionally hire more older workers. In fact, the 2003 ERC Subcommittee's report referred to earlier justified reducing the CPF rate for older workers precisely to make them more employable. In 2003, then Minister Lim Boon Heng, on the back of the decision to slash the CPF contribution rate from 36% to 30% stated that having watched retrenchments carefully over the preceding 22 years, the invariable conclusion was that older workers are more vulnerable to retrenchments and take longer to find a new job. I hope employers do not resort to selectively shedding older workers because of the 2% CPF rate rise they will have to bear for workers aged between 50-55, and 1.5% for those between 55-65. The overwhelming majority of Singaporeans in this age bracket do not qualify for the PGP and would need to build up their MediSave and retirement balances in light of the higher MediShield Life premiums.”
“The results are likely to be progressive, with ups and down, but with the desire that, ultimately, only a minority of individuals will be more resistant to change than others. But, eventually, change will be optical in that we will be able to see the results of such initiatives and gauge how far we have come. However, it is harder to gauge the effectiveness of measures, such as a more empowered workforce where the views and contributions of employees are appreciated and valued. Our companies should be made to see the real benefit of such initiatives, supported by Government incentives to promote such cultural change. This may well include leadership training packages and incentives for employers and businesses to send their middle managers and decision-makers for skills upgrading, and promoting, recognising and rewarding efforts to pursue such change. Beyond how we are going to measure how our companies effect such change, a rigorous and sustained public education effort should be launched, both for employers and employees. This cannot just be another campaign – it will have to be more fundamental and whole of Government – getting people to be more conscious not just about productivity, but to create a belief in their ability and power to effect positive change. This will mean putting more Page: 32 information in their hands, encouraging a spirit of inquiry in our people, and even relooking how we educate our children. I would like to move on to the CPF rate increase. The raising of the CPF MediSave rate by 1% for all workers in this Budget was a positive announcement.”
“I will speak on three issues that were covered in the Budget – transforming the economy through changing our social norms, the CPF rate increase and the Carbon Emissions-Based Vehicle Scheme (CEVS). While Budget 2014 is likely to be remembered for the recognition given to our Pioneer Generation, the point the Finance Minister made about changing our social norms, in the long term, may well prove to be as emphatic, if not Page: 31 more empathic than the appreciation generated by the PGP. The Finance Minister spoke about changing our social norms in three broad areas. At the workplace, there was a call for a workplace culture where employees are appreciated and valued so as to engender an empowered workforce with real knock-on benefits on productivity. This was closely associated with the call for Singaporeans to aim not just for competence but excellence. Equally important, there was a call on employers to understand that doing the job well was the goal, not long hours on the job. Finally, the Finance Minister urged all of us, as consumers, to change our habits, become at ease with self-service facilities and, very importantly, treat service staff with respect. The cultural changes required to transform our economy would have to be deep and sustained, with resources devoted to educative efforts and, in the appropriate case, with a regime of incentives and disincentives to modify behaviour. We have heard of such forays before. Two years ago, the NEA took the step of moving in this direction by kick-starting a process of getting individuals to return their trays at selected hawker centres with a view to alter individual behaviour. This initiative was rolled out to 34 out of 107 more hawker centres in 2013.”
“In the Workers' Party 2011 National Day message titled "Honouring our First Generation", the Party made a special tribute to our Pioneer Generation, the first generation of Singaporeans who built Singapore during the early decades of Independence which was a message in gratitude to our parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, elderly cleaners, the retired civil servants, teachers and the first National Servicemen. This special group embodied the Singapore spirit, the determination to work hard and to overcome odds to carve out a better life for all Singaporeans today. Indeed, they are a shining example for generations of Singaporeans to come. In 1960, my father boarded the SS Rajula in India, a British-India steam navigation company passenger and cargo steamliner for Singapore, to join my grandfather who worked in the old Outram prison. Coincidentally, the SS Rajula was the same ship that carried troops from India to Singapore before the Japanese invasion of Malaya in December 1941. This migrant story is not an uncommon one amongst many Singaporeans, particularly Indians who came to Singapore and Malaysia after World War II. Although my grandfather and many pioneers have already passed away, the Pioneer Generation Package (PGP) is a welcomed recognition of the efforts and struggles of his peers who are still alive today and who embody the Singapore spirit – the determination to work hard, to overcome the odds and to carve out a better life for their children. The emphasis of the package in the area of healthcare will give our pioneers some peace of mind even as the Government should remain mindful of those pioneers who may not be able to afford co-payments because of their chronic conditions and the high cost of medication.”
“In this Bill's place, Singaporeans would have been better served by a piece of legislation that addresses liquor sale and alcohol consumption throughout the island, and not just Little India. Mdm Speaker, I oppose the Bill. 5.13 pm”
“It has been publicly stated by the Government that this Bill reduces the powers available to the authorities to manage the situation Little India today. If this is the case, then why the need for this Bill? Can the Minister further clarify what are the serious operational shortcomings on the ground that do not allow the Government to wait until the COI finalises its report? Does the Public Order (Preservation) Act (POPA) preclude the authorities from moderating the exercise of their powers? The argument that this Bill scopes existing powers better comes into distinct relief with regards to clause 12 on powers of search and seizure, which give a police officer – on reasonable suspicion – the power to "stop, enter, search, remove and retain any vehicle, vessel or aircraft" not just in Little India, but anywhere in Singapore for the reasons spelt out in clauses 4, 8 and 13(11). Another troublesome detail concerns clause 11 read with clause 13 on the special zone banning notice. The explanatory note to the Bill states that a lone demonstration in support of causes within Little India can also be subject to the Page: 82 banning notice. The drafters had not explicitly included this provision in the Bill proper except in open-ended terms but subjecting civil society to the threat of a banning notice through the explanatory note, likewise does not correspond with narrowing the scope of existing laws. It is difficult to understand the rush to introduce this Bill, which is directed at alcohol consumption by foreign workers in Little India, when the problem is not unique to Little India and the post-riot situation in Little India has been stable under existing legislation. The absence of period of public consultation on this Bill is also a glaring omission.”
“The Minister for Law has correctly stated that South Asian foreign workers, like the rest of our foreign workers are generally a well-behaved group. However, there is concern that without the proper language, Page: 81 mediation and cultural training, APOs who may not be Singaporeans and who are contract officers – some of whom may not have the depth and quality of training of police officers – may be ill-equipped for the job. Are there areas of concern that foreign workers may be shouted at on the ground or spoken to rather roughly to on grounds of reasonable suspicion? Bearing in mind that these are the very same officers that will be making active decisions on the ground on strip searches, deciding who enters Little India and have powers to turn people away from Little India, can the Minister, inform Parliament what training, in particular, cultural training, APOs will undergo, lest APOs themselves unwittingly become a factor "that prejudices the recovery of the community". As this Bill has identified a specific area in Singapore, frequented by members of the South Asian community – be they local or foreign – it is practically inevitable that South Asians will be subject to these powers more than any other community. While powers to strip-search an individual do exist in the context of other laws, with this Bill, such powers will be exercised for an extended period, in an area of Singapore frequented by one ethnic community in particular. Could there be unintended consequences that encourage racial profiling in Singapore and is this a healthy law enforcement development in the context of a multi-racial society? Even though the Bill is only a temporary measure, a worrisome precedent would already have been set.”
“This would also have allowed for more time for the collection of public feedback, including in areas where alcohol-related businesses and residential areas sit close to one another. In fact, about two weeks before the riot, the Minister of National Development went on Facebook to comment, "void decks in HDB towns have sometimes been abused by drinkers who go on to urinate in staircases and that this is a common complaint from residents." This comment made on the back of the launch of a MHA public consultation exercise to review measures on liquor sale and consumption in public places which started on 25 November 2013. Significantly, this MHA statement of 25 November 2013, while referring to the problem of alcohol sale and consumption, acknowledged that the issue was not unique to Little India. But this Bill before Parliament today targets Little India specifically and will operate in practice to curtail civil liberties of a specific community of foreign workers in an area frequented more than others by a specific community of Singaporeans. The Bill itself grants a number of worrying powers to the authorities and, in particular, to Auxiliary Police Officers (APOs) who will have to make calls and decisions based on their judgement, on the basis of reasonableness, which, in theory, sounds fair, but which may not be so simply deduced on the ground. Clauses 9,10 and 11 of the Bill give APOs the power to inspect people entering Little India, including possible strip-searches, powers to require reasons for entry and powers to refuse anyone entry into Little India. We can debate this Bill in Parliament and extend powers to APOs accordingly, but the practical workings of this Bill on the ground are not adequately addressed.”
“However, it is difficult to understand the timing of this Bill especially since the reasons behind the riot have not been established by the Committee of Inquiry (COI), in addition to the fact that the Government has gone on record to state that there are a variety of opinions on the cause of the riot. In view of such ambiguity, a pre-emptive Bill that is clearly tailored to addressing alcohol-related concerns in a specific area only cannot represent a positive example of how laws ought to be made in Singapore. The fact of the matter remains that as a society, we have had no sustained conversation amongst ourselves as Singaporeans, as to the reality of living with foreign workers where Singaporeans themselves already live cheek in jowl. Have their numbers grown too large for a small island to accommodate without us unwittingly impinging on their civil liberties, preferring them to be out of what we consider to be our space? Can our foreign workers really be expected only to be confined to their living quarters? This is a sustained conversation that needs to take place and unsurprisingly, educational initiatives to understand and respect the rights of our foreign workers who number almost a million, are not Page: 80 mainstream, even though foreign workers represent a very significant minority in Singapore. In view of this, it would have been far more propitious of the Government to await for the findings of the COI to be presented before tabling the Bill, so that a holistic legislation can be looked into how to accommodate the recreational rights of our foreign workers, not just in Little India, but throughout Singapore, especially in areas where foreign workers congregate, along with the concerns of local residents.”
“For many years now, South Asian foreign workers, the same ones responsible for building our roads, schools and HDB flats, congregate in Little India. They are ferried there in buses and after working six days a week, Sunday is the one day they come to Little India, repatriate Page: 79 money, consume familiar cuisine, meet with friends and sit in public areas in Little India discussing everything from their local politics to the health and happiness of their families back home. Little India has been a crowded place on weekends for many years now. Given the large numbers of such workers, the prospects of a minority of them drinking too much and congregating at HDB void decks in Little India is a reality. In fact, many Singaporeans avoid Little India on Sundays primarily because it is too crowded and work their schedules around this fact, a behavioural state of affairs that mimics drivers who try their best to avoid Orchard Road on Saturday afternoons and weekends in general. Unsurprisingly, and for many years now, residents in Little India have given feedback on a range of issue affecting foreign workers: the lack of portable public toilets for foreign workers on weekends causing them to relieve themselves indiscriminately at times; the lack of proper drop-off points in view of the large numbers of foreign workers ferried to the area; and the number of liquor licensees in the area. This is in addition to feedback asking the Government to consider using the significant foreign worker levies it collects to be ploughed back into welfare-related concerns for foreign workers. The Government certainly has a duty to take measures to prevent the recurrence of another riot.”
“The last point – whatever the rules that the Government applies with regard to Little India in future and no alcohol zones, as long as they are applied across the board, I think I will be satisfied with that. Thank you.”
“I completely empathise with them, but that situation really was a licensing issue that could have been resolved earlier. Unfortunately, it took a riot to do so. More than that, the point I want to make is —”
“Yes, I am coming to it now. Their question was quite straightforward: when can the no-alcohol zone be expected to be lifted in Little India back to the pre-riot time? Page: 87”
“Thank you, Mdm Speaker. My question is directed to the Deputy Prime Minister. I attended the Thaipusam celebrations on Friday evening at the Dhoby Ghaut area as the procession made its way to the Tank Road temple. I had a chance to speak with some Indian Singaporeans who were rather unhappy about the imposition of the no-alcohol zone indefinitely. Their argument was quite simple – they are responsible drinkers. They are responsible drinkers who are Singaporeans or foreign workers. More importantly, alcohol has been available for years in the Little India area. So, their question —”
“Noted, Minister. I will re-file the question.”
“Madam, just a typo here in the Question. The first part of the Question should read as "East China Sea". My apologies to Members for the typo. Question No 37, please. Page: 19”
“Mdm Speaker, I believe you said you were going to start with Question No 37.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, can I seek a clarification from the Minister?”
“A change to the rule would benefit our local SMEs and MNCs and contribute to their enterprise ambitions, no different from the ambitions of hundreds of thousands of Malaysians who come to Singapore to work and for business daily, riding on our comparative advantage. In conclusion, Sir, greater people-to-people interaction between Singaporeans and Malaysians can also assist in contributing positively to the Malaysia-Singapore relationship, one that has already premonitioned the construction of a third causeway, a high-speed express link between the two countries and the decision earlier this year between both countries to go ahead to link Johor Bahru and Singapore by a rapid transit system, with the Page: 108 Woodlands MRT station to serve as an interchange station. Singaporean businesses should not be denied the economic opportunities unfolding in Johor by the three-quarter tank rule that contributes to disadvantage some Singaporean businesses. Sir, my request for the Government to review the rationale of the three-quarter tank rule notwithstanding, I support the Bill. 6.12 pm”
“Sir, some of our SMEs would receive a shot in the arm if the rationale of the three-quarter tank rule was reviewed or even perhaps reduced to the half-tank level, so as to encourage our businessmen to take further advantage of the cost benefits that can be reaped in Johor, but not in Singapore. Allowing our SMEs to access the market in Johor by removing rules that impede free enterprise would also go some way to encourage greater entrepreneurship amongst younger Singaporeans in particular. Secondly, Sir, Malaysian policy has also changed since we introduced the three-quarter tank rule. Singaporeans now do not have access to subsidised Malaysian petrol and can only buy 97-octane fuel or a higher variety, which is not subsidised by the Malaysian government, a law which was passed three years ago. Thirdly, Sir, a review of the rationale of the three-quarter tank rule will be in concert with the goals and objectives of the ASEAN Economic Community's 2015 goal of (a) a single market and production base, (b) a highly competitive economic region, (c) a region of equitable economic development and (d) a region fully integrated into the global economy. Singapore, as one of the most-open economies in the world, opens its doors to foreigners and businesses and we are known to be one of the easiest places to do business. Singaporean enterprises and Singaporean businesses would greatly benefit if the protectionism manifested by the three-quarter tank rule today is reviewed and Singaporean businesses looking to venture north are not hamstrung by Government policy.”
“Instead, it is the two abbreviations – COE and ERP – that are seen to be the primary instruments curbing road usage. These have little, if any, correlation to the rules that determine the entry of Singapore cars into Johor. At the recent 6 November exercise, the price of an open category COE was at $89,001 and, since August this year, Singaporeans have had to pay $6 at three ERP gantries, a number which has since jumped to seven after the levy was raised to $6 at four more gantries this month. Sir, like the three-quarter tank rule today, the new section 6B of this Bill, must be seen through the lenses of 2013 and not 1989. Many things have changed since then. Firstly, there has been a steady political and economic shift in Singapore's relationship with Malaysia. Only 11 months ago, in December 2012, the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) was actively encouraging MNCs to invest in the Iskandar region in Johor, with The Straits Times reporting that this new approach was because of rising land and labour costs in Singapore. To mitigate this, the EDB saw MNCs siting their higher value and more skilled operations as well as headquarters in Singapore, while their factories operate in the neighbouring countries, where land and labour are relatively abundant. While the EDB's statement covered MNCs specifically, about a week earlier, Minister for Finance Tharman Shanmugaratnam was quoted as saying, I quote, "There will, over time, also be increasing pressures on our SMEs, because of the shortage of labour in Singapore as well as land" and it goes on to say, Page: 107 "Malaysia is a logical hop away, easy in terms of operational flexibility and logistics".”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, my speech on the subject of this amendment Bill covers the new section 6B – which creates a presumption that a person in charge of a motor vehicle driven past the Customs checkpoint with a tampered fuel gauge knowingly does so and is liable to be guilty of an offence. The presumption is rebuttable, of course, for example, if it can be proven that the vehicle is shared or driven by a number of people and an accused person is unaware of the fact that the fuel gauge has been tampered with. However, this new section will appear in our Road Traffic Act after Parliament approves it, as a result of another law that has been in place for more than 20 years now – the three-quarter fuel tank rule for Singaporean cars Page: 106 which cross Singapore Customs before entry into Malaysia, as referred to in the amendment Bill, section 136 of the Customs Act. Sir, I do not oppose the amendment Bill but I do ask that the Government conduct a review of the continued relevance and rationale of the three-quarter tank rule. When then Finance Minister Richard Hu introduced the half-tank rule in 1989, the rationale, in his words, I quote, "was to ensure that the use of petrol pricing to control the usage of roads in Singapore was not bypassed" because of cheaper petrol in Malaysia. The move was also to staunch the loss of duty on petrol, estimated at $2 million a month. The same rule was amended two years later in 1991 when the half-tank rule was raised to become the three-quarter tank rule. Sir, measures to control the usage of roads in Singapore have seen many changes since 1989. In fact, today, the common man does not think of the petrol tax as an inhibitor before buying a car.”
“Thank you, Mdm Speaker. Minister, I would just like to clarify whether with regards to the four match fixers and their detention under the Act, was there any difficulty working with international counterparts in bringing sufficient evidence forward for these individuals to be charged in open Court, as opposed to being tried under the CLTPA?”
“Madam, any decision about whether to add another category of crime to the Orders issued under the Act should be weighted carefully between an affront to the right of the accused to have his case heard in open Court and the need to give our law enforcement bodies adequate tools to tackle real and pressing threats to public safety, peace and good order. While the Government may argue that the environment may not be appropriate to remove the Act, the Government can certainly do more to explain to Singaporeans at the appropriate time, if necessary, why the Act should be expanded to include more crimes, in addition to explaining what makes Singapore different from European countries which have dealt with match-fixers before an open Court. It would be very important to do so because, in the Malaysian case, the laws governing detention without trial originally had to be removed because of a public perception that there was an abuse of power by the authorities. As such, it would be important for the Minister to explain how match-fixing gels with the objective of the Act so that the public does not feel that the definition of a threat to public safety, peace and good order is defined too loosely. 4.36 pm”
“Madam, I rise to seek clarification on the use of the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act with respect to the recent arrests of four local match-fixers and their detention under the Act. It is difficult to see how match-fixing gels with the objective of the Act, namely to address crimes that are a threat to public safety, peace and good order. My concern with extending the Act to match-fixing is that it provides a too convenient means by which to get around the usual legal processes in trying accused persons. Can we not look to improve our legal framework to address such crimes in open Court as opposed to doing it through the Act? I would also like to ask the Minister if our transnational agreements and exchanges are sufficiently robust and deep enough to specifically address match-fixing such that we can prosecute offenders in open Court. With regard to the recent detentions, the Minister for Home Affairs stated that our security services worked closely with Interpol and other international law enforcement agencies and were able to obtain information from Interpol, Europol and European countries affected by the syndicate's match-fixing activities. It would seem that this information was insufficient to prosecute the match-fixers in open Court for some reason. Were there requests for extradition? Page: 72 Were there specific difficulties in extraditing the match-fixers to countries where the crimes were committed for the law to take its course?”
“Yes, I will follow up under PQ 8, but it does not relate to the jobs bank. It should relate to the FCF framework as a whole, and jobs bank just being part of it.”
“Madam, I just request your permission because it is an important policy affecting Singaporeans, and I would be very obliged if I could Page: 25 just follow up with a question on the earlier four questions that were asked.”
“That is correct. I raised my hand four times, and I wish to ask questions.”
“Thank you, Mdm Speaker. I would just like to come back to the FCF and would like to ask the Minister with regard to Singaporeans who are outside the PME framework —”
“Thank you, Mdm Speaker. I have a question for the Minister of State on rental flats. I understand that previously the Minister for National Development had announced that the plan was for 57,000 rental flats to come on stream. Can I just confirm when the additional 7,000 will be available?”
“I thank the Minister for the reply. As the Minister suggested in the initial response that he gave, some people were unduly alarmed at the presence of the spare boxes being discovered. To avoid this sort of alarm in future, would the Minister, depending on the Police investigations and other discussions that take place with regard to the incident, consider including spare boxes as controlled items in future elections?”
“I would like to thank the Minister for the comprehensive reply and the detail at which the Minister went through the elections process proper. Coming to my question, I refer to the press release by ELD on 30 August, where it was stated that ballot papers and other documents used in the elections, are placed into separate boxes and sealed for safe custody at the Supreme Court and then six months later, for disposal. Can I ask the Minister if these other documents include spare ballot boxes and their locked down form and if the other documents used in the elections are to be placed in separate boxes and sealed for disposal, are there any other election related items that are also similarly disposed by the appointed contractor?”
“I refer to the Minister's reply with regard to the Coroners Act and reference to section 39 with regard to causes and circumstances of the death. Once those were established, then section 39 kicked in. That was the clarification provided by the AGC as well. There is a section in the Coroners Act, section 26, I am referring to subsection (3) which states that "Notwithstanding that proceedings at any inquiry might have been concluded by a Coroner, where it appears to the Public Prosecutor that further investigations are necessary, the Public Prosecutor may direct the Coroner to reopen the inquiry and make Page: 36 further investigations" and it goes on. My case is that there is a lot of confusion as to what were the circumstances of the death. The cause has been established: positional asphyxia. That is quite clear. When I was going through those newspaper reports, in the public eye, there is some confusion as to really what happened. While the Committee of Inquiry Report may not reveal what were the circumstances of the death of the inmate, could there be any additional information that the Ministry can provide so that the public is assuaged as to what exactly happened without having to worry about which newspaper report is saying what.”
“Yes, I will put my question. In view of the varied reportage on the death of the inmate, would the Minister order the release of the Committee of Inquiry's Report to assuage public concerns on how Dinesh Raman died? The second supplementary question: when the Coroner's Bill was read for the Second time in Parliament in 2010, one important reason for the enactment of the Bill was to move to a fact-finding regime, which would better serve the public interests. In this case, while the cause of death has been established as positional asphyxia, the circumstances remain unclear, as evidenced by the varied mainstream media reportage on the issue. As such, would the Government consider re-opening the Coroner's inquiry in the name of public interest? My third supplementary question: the Second Minister mentioned just now that on 4 November 2010, the Police finished preliminary investigations. Can I just enquire what were the findings of the Police's investigations at that point? The fourth supplementary question: was the deceased ever found guilty of any minor or aggravated prison offence as defined in the Prison's Act, prior to his death on 27 September 2010? The final supplementary question: have any of the other seven officers been found to have contravened Prison regulations, specifically Part IV, which covers subordinate officers? What actions is the Ministry considering to take against them?”
“Mdm Speaker, firstly, my condolences to the family of the deceased. The mainstream media reportage on this episode has been a little bit varied. For example, one netizen helpfully pointed out that TODAY reported that when Prison Officer Lim tapped the inmate's face, his eyes were open. And then, he proceeded to decontaminate him because there was pepper spray on him. The Straits Times reported a little bit differently, saying that Lim and a number of other officers actually carried out this act to wash away the pepper spray. Lianhe Zaobao said that the prison officer took about 30 minutes to check on Dinesh Raman, while the English papers said he did so in one or two minutes. The Business Times does not say anything —”
“Thank you, Mdm Speaker. Minister, I would just like to request that with regards to the strategic review of Town Councils that is coming up, can we have a regime which is open, transparent where residents can find out completely every single detail they need to know or want to know about the contractors that are tendering for Town Council contracts.”
“There are other ways of looking at how much value residents are getting for their dollar. But in so far as we are concerned, Aljunied, Hougang, Punggol East Town Councils with FMSS at the helm, we will make sure that residents actually get full value for their dollar. And that is our assurance to them and we will serve them to the best of our abilities.”
“Mdm Speaker, it was helpful to learn of all these revelations about FMSS here in this House. It would actually be quite useful to know revelations about PAP-owned companies, how many PAP-owned companies there are in Singapore, what business do they do? This is a piece of information that a lot of Singaporeans are very curious about. That has not been answered. I am not sure whether this is the appropriate forum for it but the key instance here is, FMSS is not a WP-owned company and I think that is the point that we are stressing to the public. The second point I would like to make in regard to this issue is the final point I made before I ended off my speech which is, in so far as the strategic review of TCs is concerned, MND should really look at directing companies fully owned by political parties not having any business dealing with Town Councils. I understand that Minister extended that to say party supporters also but that would make it really hazy because everybody goes to the polls. Somebody votes for PAP; somebody votes for WP. Nobody will be able to bid for a TC contract under that definition. So, what we are saying is political parties should be removed from having business dealings with TCs. And let us be open about it, let us be completely transparent. Both parties, PAP, WP, everybody, any party that contests. That is the first point. And I think we really have not got that assurance yet. Second point I would like to make is with regards to some of these numbers that were going around. Well, before the WP won, the Aljunied Town Council under the leadership of George Yeo, that Town Council has the highest S&CC rates in addition to one other PAP Town Council, of any Town Council all over Singapore. The numbers ought to be looked at in a different perspective.”
“It will not guarantee a level playing field as sought by Singaporeans, nor will it be reflective of the "new normal" we operate in today where an expectation of transparency, accountability and equality ought to represent the guiding principles of good governance. I look forward to the tabling of the Town Council amendment Bill where these matters will inevitably be debated in greater detail. For the immediate term, it would only be appropriate, in light of the findings of the MND report, for the Minister to direct that companies fully-owned by political parties ought to have no business dealings with Town Councils. 4.51 pm”