Rahayu Mahzam
Singapore
“We engage the insurance providers quite regularly, but we are very mindful about where we intervene, especially because they need to be competitive and there is a commercial dimension to it, which we feel that we should respect. So, how we intervene is via the conditions that are put in place vis-a-vis the consumers.”
“So, that is not something they can worry about. There is already the S+3M framework that is already in place, so we know that MediShield Life is one, they have their MediSave and if all else fails, there is MediFund.”
“Should there be disputes over specific claims, policyholders can take it to the Financial Industry Disputes Resolution Centre (FIDReC), an independent and impartial institution that assists with insurance-related disputes.”
“It is just a symptom, so the underlying cost pressures still need to be addressed. The description that we had put earlier in the past is that it is a knot that we need to untangle; and that is something we are doing with a multi-pronged, with engagements with different parties and stakeholders.”
“I appreciate the Member's feedback. As I said earlier, this is something that we will continue to consider. But we do also have to appreciate that the information that we get is live, in terms of waiting times and all that.”
“But I do take the point and we are actually reviewing to see what is a meaningful way to put out this information so that the public can understand, so that we can all track properly whether the good health outcomes are a result of the efforts that we are making. I will take the feedback back and we will continue to review this.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,289 lines we hold for Rahayu Mahzam, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 20 of 26.
“He said that it was the best way to build people's trust towards our system. After that, he said, we should disclose the steps that we have taken openly after the review is completed. This has been done. Earlier, Minister Shanmugam had analysed in detail the specifics of this case. He gave a report on the findings of the investigation that was carried out and answered Members' questions regarding this matter. The investigation showed that, amongst other things, indeed, there is room for the police and the Attorney-General's Chamber to improve the process of preparing the case for trial. For example, the Police should not have taken so long to take a record of the things that were said to be stolen after the police report was made. This shortcoming was acknowledged and assurance was given that this matter will be given attention. However, there was no finding of any wrong-doing or influence over the police or AGC. There was no evidence that showed any personal relationship between the Liew family and the police, the AGC or the judge. The police and prosecutors actually considered this case as a routine case such that the superiors were not aware of this case while it was in progress. The reality is that, specifically for this case, there is no basis to say that there is unfairness or wrongdoing in the judicial process. The question now is whether the issues of justice and fairness are systemic, are we seeing wrongdoing that is happening pervasively in our justice system? Is our justice system broken to the extent that we need a review? On this, I would like to raise a few matters. Firstly, I feel it is important for us to realise that for each case that is portrayed in the media, there are many other cases that are dealt with by the police and prosecutors.”
“Mr Speaker, in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Fairness is one of the key foundations of our society. It is etched in our pledge as Singaporeans. This democratic society is built on the basis of justice and equality. We were raised with these values and they are entrenched in us. Therefore, when something that goes against these values happens, we will reject it and our people will voice it out. Recently, the Ms Parti Liyani's case has received a lot of attention and made people voice their concerns. This case involved a helper and her previous employer, Mr Liew Mun Leong who is from a well-to-do family. One issue that has arisen in the minds of many people is whether someone with a high position in society, like Mr Liew, had used his status to influence our justice system. Many questioned whether our justice system, which encompass the police, the Attorney-General's Chamber (AGC) and the Court, is truly fair and treats everyone equally. We have seen many news materials, sharing of opinions and comments about this case in the traditional media and social media. Maybe not everyone knows each detail of this case or had the opportunity to read all 100 pages of the written judgment of the High Court judge, but many were affected by the issue of fairness that was raised. When doubts were raised about the system and processes in our institutions arising from the decision of the High Court judge and the public concerns in this matter, the Government took steps to investigate further. This reflects the transparency of the Government and our commitment to fairness. Minister Shanmugam, from when this case was first raised, had already stated that we have to find out what happened, how it happened and later deal with it; and take responsibility.”
“I thank the Member for the question. The details which the Member has asked for, I will need to check and, if the Member wishes, she can file another Parliamentary Question asking specifically for the data. In respect of considering alternative treatment, this is work in progress. We are all still new at this and we are all looking at how to better address this situation as a community. With inputs from community partners and people in the sector, we can continue to build on this. I do not believe this is a closed option. But we definitely need to look and find out if the approaches that we are taking will actually meaningfully help address the situation. So, this is something that I can take back. But we hope to also get support from the community with the existing measures that we already have in place to help address the situation as we build towards strengthening the support that we are giving to the partners.”
“I would just like to highlight that we have actually been working very closely with the health care institutions, community health partners, Government agencies like the Police, HDB and grassroots organisations to build up community networks to better support and manage persons with mental health conditions in the community. So, the suggestion that the Member has raised about working with religious partners is something that we can definitely look into. And we definitely need to look into enhancing the awareness and support. As I have mentioned, MOH is already reviewing the enablers for the community support. We will take the Member's feedback and input into consideration during this review and assess the appropriate approaches and recourse that we can take to address such cases in the community.”
“I thank the Member for the question as well as the extensive feedback and I am grateful for the acknowledgement given to all the different partners involved in resolving the particular issue that he was faced with. MOH is aware of the concerns that the Member has raised and, in particular, that case. We definitely need to look at how to better support persons with or suspected with mental health needs and displaying challenging behaviours in the community as well as the people around them. Indeed, this is a work in progress. In 2012, MOH launched the Community Mental Health (CMH) Master Plan to further strengthen mental health care in the community and enable persons with mental health needs to be well supported. In 2017, we announced that the Government will be further enhancing and expanding mental health services over the next few years. So, it is work in progress. AIC, as the Member has mentioned, has established Community Intervention Teams to support general practitioners, GP partners and service providers with allied health services, such as psychotherapy and counselling. As of end 2019, over 26,000 persons had been supported by these teams. We have also started mental health and dementia services in more than half of our polyclinics and trained over 210 GP partners to diagnose and support persons with mental health conditions. So, a lot has been done and a lot will continue to have to be done. And it is, indeed, important to enhance these efforts.”
“Nevertheless, MOH recognises that there is a need to better support persons with, or suspected with, mental health needs and displaying challenging behaviours in the community. MOH is currently reviewing the enablers for the community support required which include the current legislative levers. We would like to urge Members and any member of the public that if they come across any person with mental health needs, to contact the Institute of Mental Health (IMH)’s 24-hour mental health helpline (6389 2222) or AIC’s Care-in-Mind (careinmind@aic.sg) for assistance.”
“The Mental Health (Care and Treatment) Act or MHCTA allows for the state to intervene for persons with or suspected of having mental health conditions and who may be a risk to self or pose a danger to others. The Police can apprehend the person and take him or her to a doctor for an assessment or bring the person to a psychiatric institution for treatment. The processes that are empowered under MHCTA apply, even if the person declines to seek treatment on his or her own accord, or relatives refuse to bring the person to receive psychiatric treatment. Nonetheless, MOH's approach is to intervene early and reach out to the persons who are facing mental health issues and their families to encourage them to seek help voluntarily, before there is a need to enforce mandatory psychiatric evaluation and treatment. MOH has worked with Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) to develop services to support persons with mental health conditions under the Community Mental Health Masterplan. AIC acts as a "first touchpoint" for agencies, service providers and members of the public to refer persons suspected to have mental health conditions and not receiving the treatment they need for further support. AIC, with the support of relevant stakeholders, could refer such persons to the appropriate medical and social services. To actively reach out to community to provide early identification and community support for persons with mental health needs, AIC has set up 43 community outreach teams and trained over 24,000 frontline staff from Government agencies and community partners across Singapore as of end 2019. These teams have reached out to over 300,000 persons and provided assistance to more than 23,000 persons who were at risk of developing mental health conditions or dementia.”
“We need to also look at enhancing the career pathway of educators in the special needs sector. The reality is that embracing and supporting this community bring great value to Singapore as a whole. There is great economic value in empowering this group with the necessary skills to take care of themselves and be as independent as possible. If we deal with this issue upstream, we will spend less in providing support for them in the future. When we enable people with disabilities, we enable the whole community. More importantly, they are differently-abled and should be seen an equally valued member of the community. People with special needs are conduits through which we all learn to be kinder and more compassionate. This I have learnt from you, Mr Speaker. A kind and compassionate society is one that can brave through difficult challenges and emerge stronger. It is so important that in the midst of all the turbulence, we remain steadfast in preserving and shaping our values as a nation and remain a fair and just society, a society that is truly embracing of diversity. It is a great honour and privilege to be able to debate in this august House. As I have said in my maiden speech, in this House, we may not always agree with each other, but we debate respectfully. I believe this decorum can extend beyond this House and I hope, as a nation, we always seek consensus, not conflict. I hope, as a nation, we embrace our differences and be kind and compassionate always. Mr Speaker, I support the Motion. [Applause.]”
“I am happy to hear that there will be stronger support for special needs students by training educators, opening new special education schools and upgrading current ones. The efforts in improving the support and infrastructure has been a work-in-progress. We have made many big strides and Ms Denise Phua deserves special mention for all the efforts that she has done in this House as well as outside to champion the needs of the special needs community. We can and should continue to build on these efforts. I do hope that when we look at reviewing some of the support given, we go beyond lip service and truly work towards changing attitudes and norms. I hope that we truly learn what empathy is. We should not tick boxes and be content to just address one feedback at a time. When we talk about improving infrastructure, it is not enough to just build ramps and a few inclusive playgrounds. We must really nudge behaviours to facilitate and make it convenient for those who have disabilities to join in all the activities that others are involved in. When we talk about creating awareness and being inclusive in workplaces, it is not enough to just incentivise employers to employ people with disabilities. We must encourage understanding and conversations amongst employers and co-workers. We must learn to see the value and contributions of people who may be differently-abled. When we talk about building the capacity and capability of educators, it may not be enough to just train a select group of teachers or provide basic training for all teachers. We must provide the skills to all educators to identify needs, teach the right values and attitudes and inculcate a culture of pervasive inclusivity within our education system.”
“Therefore, it is very important for us to ensure that, in Singapore, we develop our own norms and ways to conduct online discussions, especially when touching on hot and sensitive issues. Issues related to religion and racism, or discrimination issues, for example, are important issues that we should face in a plural society. We must be bold enough to speak out and be firm in calling something out if it goes against our societal values. We should also want to continue contributing suggestions that can improve the lives of our people. But we must always rely on facts, and not just accept all the stories that we hear; and when we are faced with different views, we need to discuss with wisdom and have a constructive attitude. We are indeed facing challenging times. But in times of difficulty, our character and integrity as a society are tested. We have the opportunity to shape the norms in our country. I hope, we can choose our own way, the Singapore way, in debating important issues in our country. Hopefully, with constructive contributions, Singapore will continue to grow and become an inclusive society, where we all have the opportunity to work, build families and achieve our aspirations. (In English): How we treat each other will determine how we evolve as a nation. Our individual actions accumulate to create the culture of our society. I hope to do my part to make this world kinder, more compassionate, more accepting of differences. I hope to make this place a better place for my son, Ayden. Ayden, as many of you know, has Down Syndrome. As a parent, I worry about how he will be treated when he grows up. I wonder if people will be patient with him, whether they will be kind and whether he will have the support he needs to live well.”
“So, while the Government can do its part by putting in place laws and regulations to set the necessary boundaries that circumscribe our discourse, as individuals, we all have a personal responsibility to behave fairly and call out any action that threatens healthy discussions. Beyond having safe spaces for discussions online and even offline, to truly shape norms, we need to translate our discussions into real action. We need to walk our talk. For this, too, we all must play a part. Some policies or legislation may need to shift to shape behaviours. There have been concerns by some in this House about the issues of discriminatory conduct on the part of employers and we need to review and look at the frameworks in place and improve them. However, we must also take individual responsibility. We must ensure that we ourselves do not discriminate, especially in our conduct with others who are different from us and that we teach the right values to our children. Mr Speaker, in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] We are increasingly seeing various views expressed on current issues affecting Singaporeans, especially online. What is good is that it shows the maturity of the community in discussing important issues such as Government policies or community norms. What is bad is that sometimes the discussions that we see online are very negative, leading to personal attacks on someone and running away from the original topic of discussion. This is worrying because we can see how online campaigns and cultures that spread in other countries, can divide society and lead to violence.”
“The movements in the US have had their fair share of criticisms, even among liberals. So, even as we may be inspired by some of these developments abroad, we should not follow them blindly but, instead, find the Singapore way to evolve. We have much to learn from the experiences of other countries. However, as we look to others for lessons to develop norms in our nation, we must pause to appreciate the impact of the same in our context. We should be cautious not to jump on the bandwagon and copy and paste the playbook in other countries without adjusting the same for our needs. In particular, we must be keenly aware of our special demographics as a multiracial, multi-religious society. Multiracialism is a value we hold dear. We must, therefore, ensure that in our debates and discussions, we are mindful of the impact of our comments and the danger of fraying our social fabric if we pit one group against the other. We must, therefore, take the necessary action to ensure that we shape the norms of discourse in our nation. What can we do? We all need to play a part in creating a safe space online that encourages meaningful debates and curbs vitriolic discourse. I sit on the Management Committee of OnePeople.Sg (OPSG) and have been involved in a few discussions with our youth volunteers and participants of our programmes recently. We were discussing what were acceptable boundaries when discussing race and religious issues and whether current laws or frameworks need to be adjusted to changing times. The youths shared that it was not so much the laws they were afraid of. They feel afraid of expressing their views online because they fear backlash from others who have different views.”
“A popular podcast channel was criticised when it was found to have certain episodes where comments which were misogynistic and degrading to women were made. Many women and men, called out the hosts. Misogyny is unacceptable and has no place in a progressive society. However, what was actually an opportunity to address an important issue, turned out to be a highly polarising exercise for the community. Online, people were pushed to take sides – you are either on the camp asking for the hosts to be de-platformed or are seen as their supporters and, by affiliation, accept misogyny. Some people I spoke to about the matter felt that there was so much negativity and people missed the point about the need for the community to address misogyny. We must take a stand against things which are morally unacceptable. However, we need to learn to do so constructively so that the community can learn, have discourse and shape new and better norms. Another trend that we have been seeing is the online movements that have been waged in other countries to change norms and push back against years of repression. Power has shifted to the people, with the Internet and social media platforms as accessible battlefields. We have seen the #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter movements in the US. There is value in rallying people to call out injustice and shift norms to be a more just and fair society. We should encourage people to be conscious of social issues and do their part to bring about positive developments as a society evolves and matures. However, we must be conscious of the impact to the community. Inevitably, there will be different opinions and we need to ensure the expression of opposing views does not cause polarisation.”
“However, all of us must continue to push for decorum and constructive debates always. As we evolve and mature as a nation, we have to find a better way to have discourse and for each of us to express our views and challenge opposing ones. We have been seeing some negative conduct on the Internet for some time now. There is increasing cognisance of the "cancel culture" which is causing some concern. "Cancellation", basically, refers to an attack on someone’s reputation by a determined group of critics because of an opinion or action of that individual that is deemed to be unacceptable. It is a targeted effort to destroy the individual, to get them de-platformed or put out of business. Conceptually, the "cancel culture" is not new. Society had always rallied against what it deems wrong and groups of people have campaigned against individuals to censure them. However, the Internet and social media have amplified and caused an evolution of this phenomenon and its repercussions. For one, online, a certain issue or matter can get viral very quickly and a mob mentality can form long before facts can be verified or discussed. Secondly, the distraction from all the attacks takes attention away from the substance of the matter which is often then lost in the flood of comments and criticism. Thirdly, people are quickly pushed to take sides and the very person or groups that need to be edified about the error of their ways, or to be shown different perspectives, are then disengaged. A more serious side effect is that those with genuine views become muted as they fear being judged or lynched by the angry mob. The cancel culture can manifest itself in many different ways. Several months back, there was an issue that arose within the Malay/Muslim community.”
“Mr Speaker, the President gave a very solemn and meaningful message that touched on key issues affecting Singaporeans. We are facing tough times but it is during times like these that our mettle is tested and we are given an opportunity to shape our norms as a nation. We decide how we respond and the path we take. Singapore, as always, has to evolve. She needs to adapt and change to adjust to the changing global environment. She needs to evolve economically, politically and socially. But she can choose to be different from everyone else and do things the Singaporean way. Politically, we are maturing. For some time now, there has been a call for alternative voices to represent the diverse interests in the community. I am encouraged to see our electorate maturing and many people from different backgrounds stepping up to contest during the last General Election, offering different perspectives, aspiring for a better Singapore. What we have in Singapore is an adversarial process. This process, when carried out in the best traditions of democracy, brings out the best in all of us as we seek to continually improve. Healthy competition is good, as we challenge each other to do better and, in the end, the nation benefits. However, when people take the adversarial process to its extreme and assert their opinions in a very vicious manner, there is a danger of the society being divided and polarised. During the campaign, in the online space, we saw some constructive discourse but also some malicious comments being passed, vitriolic remarks being expressed and personal attacks being made which strayed from the substance of the debate and became an attempt to bring people down instead. An election, is an emotive exercise, I appreciate that.”
“I thank the Minister for the comprehensive answer. It is indeed heartening to note that specific efforts have been put in place to support parents. I think that you rightly pointed out, it is a challenging journey, especially for the parents; it can be quite frustrating because it is not easy. With the teachers' help, it actually facilitates a lot of the training for the kids when they are in schools, but at home doing it on their own, it can be a bit challenging. So, I am glad to know that there is support through teleconferencing, teleconsultation. Given the circumstances, especially as you highlighted, for some of those children with special needs, the fact that they now have to limit their time outdoors or to limit their interactions with other peers, these all have an effect on their development. So, I am wondering whether the school, looking at various safe distancing measures and how we can support this, could also look at how we can have more of sessions physically aside from just leaving it to the parents. I know that you have a few students who are actually going to the schools to receive therapies but these are for the more serious cases. I am just wondering for the regular cases, whether you could also consider having sessions where parents and the students could come to school and have regular interactions, because I think that would matter. Secondly, whether we could create a more pervasive structure for the teleconsultation because I understand that this is in place but I feel that it is a little limited, and I am wondering whether schools and also the other Ministries like MSF as well as MOH could look into this.”
“I thank the Minister for the comprehensive answer. I just wanted to check a little bit more about the issues that some of the parents have been facing because we hear a lot of feedback that it is has been very challenging, even for the most savvy of parents to actually conduct HBL. I am just wondering whether schools and the Ministry have been receiving feedback about some of these challenges that parents are facing, and how are they supported in carrying out some of the HBL lessons at home. The second thing I wanted to check on is the teachers. How are they coping with this because it is also not very easy for them managing. I think I heard feedback that some of them have challenges in ensuring the level of reception of the students, especially through online learning. So, how are teachers being supported in this? Especially since a recent article mentioned about how some of the students needed support beyond just their lessons but also in terms of the counselling they need because the challenges their parents may be facing. So, I am just wondering how are the teachers supported in all these, especially since some of them also are parents themselves and also have to handle HBL for their own kids.”
“Thank you, Speaker. I would like to seek a clarification from the Senior Parliamentary Secretary on why action against this message claiming partial lockdown, was not taken under POFMA, whether it is relevant and whether that was something that could have been used against the perpetrator.”
“I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the comprehensive answer. I just have one clarification. In relation to the blacklisting, I note that MOM would also blacklists the FDWs if they have committed an offence. I am just wondering whether that is the only threshold for purposes of blacklisting, because there may be other acts or behaviours or conduct of the FDWs that may not amount to an offence but these are things they have done in the course of the work with their previous employers. If the employers give this feedback to MOM, would this be something that MOM would share with prospective employers or put these helpers in a different list so that future employers would not have to face the same difficulties as those previously who had challenges with a particular helper?”
“This crisis is pushing us to do all the things we know we should have been doing but have resisted for so long. Some of us have championed flexible work arrangements and asked employers to allow for opportunities to work from home. There was much inertia but now, we are pushed to look at digital solutions and make it happen. We have spoken about wanting to make Singapore clean, educate people with better social habits, how we want to be like Japan. Now, public hygiene has come to the forefront and we have the opportunity with SGClean to make this vision a reality. For the longest time, we have wanted people to use their own containers to buy food from stalls or restaurants. Now, we have been pushed to do so more pervasively as the "tabao" option will be a common feature. Like many Singaporeans, I am anxious and overwhelmed with all that is happening. However, I am also hopeful as I have faith in the strength of this leadership and the compassion and resilience of the people. Let us make the best of this crisis, learn the important lessons from the challenges that come our way and emerge stronger as a nation. Mr Speaker, I stand in support of the Supplementary Budgets.”
“I have always been so proud of being Singaporean but now more than ever, I am proud to be part of this great nation. It has been oft said that this is the crisis for this generation. We may not have to physically go to the battlefield and pick up weapons to fight the enemy. But we have our own burden to bear and we will do this together. SGUnited is one of the taglines we have chosen to capture the spirit of togetherness. Let it not be mere lip service but an actual effort by all of us to do our part. Employers should tap on Government support like the Enhanced Jobs Support Scheme to retain their employees and let them continue to earn a living. Employees need to be understanding and help support the businesses where necessary so that there will still be a job to go to after this crisis is over. Landlords should work alongside tenants to help them retain the premises and pass on the property tax rebates to their tenants. Let us not take advantage of each other and give indulgence to each other where possible. We definitely have this compassion in us, as can be seen from the numerous ground-up initiatives by Singaporeans. I have heard of businesses and young people from different academic institutions banding together to put up a list of job and internship opportunities to help their peers who have had their overseas internships and studies cut short due to COVID-19. I have seen Facebook posts from people personally offering to cook or give food to those who may be struggling during this period, so one would never go hungry. These efforts are heartening. The COVID-19 crisis has brought about carnage but, at the same time, also allowed for many good things to blossom.”
“Numbers of those infected by COVID-19 continue to rise and the Government has had to announce further measures, in particular the circuit breaker, to protect our people. This will bring many things to a standstill and cause massive disruption to our routine affairs. Construction projects cannot proceed, cases in Court would have to be postponed and more businesses and more individuals will be affected further as non-essential services have to be shut down. I am therefore heartened that the Government has announced the Solidarity Budget to augment the existing support and, in particular, to address the side effects of the circuit breaker. There are so many aspects of life that would be affected especially in light of the recent measures, I would therefore like to ask how the Government plans to manage all the knock-on effects of the crisis. Would there be a coordinated effort to assess the challenges faced by the different sectors and come up with a recovery plan? Are there lessons we could learn from the lockdown in other countries? Further, it is apparent that more funds would have to be injected to continue to support businesses, individuals and families affected by the disruption. Deputy Prime Minister Heng has announced that he has gotten in-principle approval from President Halimah Yacob to draw down a further $4 billion from our Reserves on top of the earlier $17 billion dollars that was approved. I would like to ask if this will be something sustainable and what is the Government’s assessment now on our fiscal ability to weather this massive storm? I am truly grateful for the stewardship of the Government as we navigate through these challenging, unchartered waters.”
“He was the last resident I was meeting for the night and I heard a child’s voice as he walked out of my Branch. His wife and son were waiting for him outside. I walked out too and saw a familiar face saying hello to me. I had met the boy just a few weeks back when I sent some cupcakes over to his pre-school because we had cancelled the regular birthday celebrations. He was lively and happy, innocent and clearly oblivious to the challenges his parents were facing. It hit me how much things had changed since I last met the little boy, how fast things have become a lot more challenging in just a few weeks. The issues his father is facing is not unique and I have met many residents in similar situations. At one point, especially before the announcement of the Resilience Budget, I was feeling rather helpless because people were really struggling and I was concerned if enough is being done to help them. The extensive $48 billion Resilience Budget therefore came as a much welcomed relief. Many felt that the measures were generous and gave much hope to different groups of people within the community. Details of the specific measures have come in and we have started to roll out some of these measures like the Temporary Relief Fund. However, the challenges brought forth by COVID-19 is multi-faceted and the Government needs to also step in with various new legislation to make the system work. For example, the proposed new law to compel landlords to pass on property tax rebate to tenants and the proposed law to provide relief to parties with contractual obligations and have difficulties performing them because of COVID-19. It has become even more stark, in the past few days that the worst is not over.”
“It is likely that they will face difficulties getting suitable jobs with good pay. Observers have said that the graduating Class of 2020 will be affected beyond the duration of this crisis. Their careers and income potential may be affected throughout their lifetime. Therefore, there has to be sustained efforts to help them so that they can use this difficult period to continue upskilling and enhance their competitiveness. In this regard, the Government has announce the SGUnited Traineeship Programmes and the SGUnited Jobs Initiative. These efforts can help new graduates gain employment. We must also ensure that young Malay/Muslims are aware of these available opportunities and make use of them. At the same time, I feel that Malay/Muslim bodies like MENDAKI and AMP can also play their part to strengthen support for these young people, perhaps through their available programmes. MENDAKI, for instance, has the Future-Ready and mentoring programmes that can be enhanced to supplement the Government’s efforts. In conclusion, I feel that the Government has announced many efforts to reduce the challenges that are being experienced by people from all walks of life. The Malay/Muslim community can be helped to seize available opportunities and can continue receiving support using the resources within our own community. May these efforts help us overcome any challenges that come our way together and continue to contribute to the economic recovery and development of Singapore. (In English): Just a few days ago, I met a resident seeking some assistance as he had lost his job in the midst of this COVID-19 crisis. He seemed disheartened but not defeated, and we spoke about the various support measures available.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. Allow me to begin my speech in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The COVID-19 crisis has evolved so rapidly and shaken us to the core. This situation drove our Government to act swiftly and issue new regulations and legislation to contain the spread of this outbreak. At the same time, the Government also coordinated support to assist those who are facing the fallout from this crisis. This began with the Unity Budget which was then supplemented with the Resilience Budget. Today, Deputy Prime Minister Heng announced the Solidarity Budget. The Government also gave a commitment that there will be a sustained effort to help those facing difficulties due to the COVID-19 crisis. The impact of this crisis is becoming clear and we can see many people from various job sectors being affected. Within the Malay/Muslim community, those affected include Geylang Serai bazaar entrepreneurs and the asatizah. Many Malay/Muslim workers, families and students also face challenges arising from this crisis. I think we need to have a targeted approach to assist the Malay/Muslim community and mobilise the resources within our community, like the Malay/Muslim bodies, to come up with holistic support. Therefore, I am heartened that the SGTeguhBersatu team was set up to ensure that the COVID-19 national assistance schemes will reach our community. I am also glad to be involved in this task force. I see opportunities for many of our community members to go to the ground and work hand-in-hand to help everyone ride through these difficult times. For instance, one group that I am concerned with are the young people who are about to complete their studies and enter the workforce.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for her response. I am happy to learn that the school has taken this seriously and some efforts have been made to address the actions that these students have done. I am just curious though, because, based on the news report, the sister of the victim indicated that this was not the first time that the victim had been bullied. So, my first supplementary question is, do we know how long this has been going on? I am asking because, if this has been going on for some time, then, it is of concern if the teachers and the people in the school had not noticed and taken any action. My second question relates to the similar issue of the sister raising the matter on Twitter. What is the formal channel in which the parents or family members of victims can raise their concerns? I understand based on the report in the news, that the sister had said that she had raised it to the school, but no action had been taken. So, I just wanted to know what was the background to these circumstances and whether there is a need to actually review the process?”
“Investment on our madrasah students’ development is highly important. I would therefore like to ask what are MUIS' plans to ensure that our madrasahs have the resources and capabilities to fulfil the developmental needs of students in current and new fields? Managing Diversity in Muslim Community”
“Chairman, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I had the opportunity to speak to several groups of asatizah at dialogue sessions organised by Berita Harian last year. In the discussions with them, one of the issues raised was the challenges faced by the asatizah when they perform their duties to educate and provide guidance to the community. Among other things, the asatizah shared that our community members approach them to ask about new issues that they face, and therefore, the asatizah must have knowledge and a fresh approach to manage such issues. Our living environment has certainly changed. The Malay/Muslim community needs to adapt religion within a new context that is different from the context long ago. From the way we connect in the cyber world, to the way we do business, to our medical treatments; much has changed. For example, MUIS has produced a compilation of fatwas (Islamic legal ruling) on issues related to science, medicine and health. There have been many new scientific procedures and developments, and our community requires proper guidance. What is certain is that, with rapid global developments, there will always be new issues that our community must face. Due to the ever changing needs of the community, our asatizah must also be equipped with the relevant knowledge to manage current issues. Our young asatizah must have a very strong foundation in Islamic education as well as other relevant fields such as science and technology. We must begin preparations as early as primary school. We must develop a younger generation that is well-versed and comfortable with current issues so that they are able to handle future challenges. They may also join other fields apart from Islamic education and therefore they should be prepared.”
“Just building on that effort that MSF is doing that Minister of State mentioned, I wanted to just find out about the parent groups. Because I think that is another group that you may want to also continue to build on. Because I am part of some of these organic groups and they can, I believe, augment the support structure if you empower them and also be the ambassador. So, I am just wondering with all the efforts of streamlining, having SG Enable as the one-stop point and also overseeing the See the True Me campaign, perhaps the parent groups could also be engaged and empowered to be the advocates. I have a second clarification to Senior Parliamentary Secretary Faishal. He mentioned earlier that there is a sum of about $800,000 that has been donated to the KidSTART efforts through "GROWING TOGETHER with KidSTART". I am just wondering how would that donation be channelled through the beneficiaries as well as what are the volunteering opportunities? If we are able to share about this more, people would be more interested and we could scale up this programme. On that note, what is the objective of actually growing aside from just getting the support because I think there is potential to scale up KidSTART and potentially help more families.”
“As much as we would like to believe that every child has the potential to succeed and do well in life, in reality, the circumstances in which the child is in at the start of his or her life, could dictate this trajectory of the life journey. His or her future could be impacted even as early as when the child is in the mother's womb. The mother's nutrition during her pregnancy will have an effect on a child's health and development. As soon as the child is born. The child's well-being and development will be affected by stimulations the child receives. We have now identified the importance of early childhood education and how crucial the early years are in shaping his or her development. I have always been excited about KidSTART and the potential it brings to change the lives of many children from low-income families and those who have challenging backgrounds. This programme provides holistic and comprehensive support to these families and gives these children a fighting chance to seize the same opportunities as children from better-off families. My biggest concern with this programme is whether it can be scaled up faster. I am therefore heartened to hear the recent announcement on the expansion of KidSTART and the launch of growing together with KidSTART at the Early Childhood conference last year. Could MSF share more about this? Perhaps one way to scale the programme is to have more involvement from corporate and community partners who can help replicate the programme and support more families. Could this be something MSF could consider? Further, in this regard, could MSF provide any updates on the types of partnerships with corporate and community partners forged thus far and whether we could build on these partnerships? Social Capital – Sharing to Multiply”
“We often hear of how children become embroiled in your parents' acrimonious divorce proceedings and are made emotional pawns. I am a lawyer in family practice and I see that happening often. In such situations, I often ask my client to think about the child's best interests. Divorcing parties are, however, often caught up in their emotions and are not able to think rationally. One area that is particularly challenging relates to arrangements of custody, care and control and access of the children. It would help processes in the family justice system better support divorcing parties and encourage more positive outcomes and arrangements. Last year, the Committee to review and enhance reforms in the family justice system submitted its recommendations to make various processes less acrimonious for families undergoing divorce, particularly for those with children. I am happy to note the announcement last week that there has been support from the public and stakeholders and that the Government has accepted the wide-ranging recommendations. Could the Ministry provide an update on this matter and the specifics on the key proposals which should be adopted and implemented?”
“My son Ayden has Down Syndrome. He will be three years old in April. Time really flies but I remember vividly the emotions I felt when my husband and I were figuring out how to support his developments. We have a challenging start but found most of the information, guidance and support we needed online, through talking other parents and people in the sector. SG Enable was one of the agencies which my husband and I became familiar with very earlier on in our journey. We were informed about SG Enable through the social worker at the hospital and she helped us apply for the Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) through SG Enable. In the course of my work as Member of Parliament, I found out more about the work that is done by SG Enable, especially in providing information and referral services of various schemes and providing employment support for persons with disabilities (PWDs). I believe that over the years, SG Enable has started to establish itself as a trusted partner to PWDs, their care-givers and social service agencies. It is important to build on this and make the infrastructure and services more pervasive and accessible to families. Parents sometimes find that the services and spaces that are conducive for their children with needs are not located to where they live. It would be ideal if more spaces like Enabling Village, for example, could be replicated all around Singapore. I am appreciative of the efforts that have been put in to provide support to families with children with special needs. However, what else can be done to bring greater convenience to PWDs and their care-givers in accessing social services. Third Enabling Masterplan”
“In recent years, there has been greater support for students with special needs in mainstream schools. For one, schools are equipped with allied educators who can provide more specialised support. There are also professional development opportunities for teachers to acquire deeper knowledge and skills in attending to students with different needs. There are some areas which schools could continue to work on, including helping neuro-typical students understand people with different abilities. This could help with normalising differences, reducing occurrences of discrimination or even bullying. There could also be more extensive support in transitioning students through different milestones in their educational journey by creating an ecosystem and support network with teachers, parents, therapists and people in the community. Having well-trained staff that truly believe in the cause, is key to the quality of support for students with different needs. Can MOE provide an update as well as more information on how it intends to equip educators in mainstream schools with the capabilities and strategies to better support students with special needs? Uplifting Pupils in Life and Inspiring Families Taskforce (UPLIFT)”
“There is an increasing awareness about the need to monitor the mental health of our young and provide the necessary support that they may need as they navigate through life's challenges. I am happy that MOE has made many efforts to comprehensively look at ways to support the mental well-being of our students in schools, such as incorporating lessons on mental health in the curriculum, equipping teachers with mental health literacy, having counsellors in schools and promoting peer support programmes. Indeed, mental health is a multi-faceted issue that needs to be addressed through different approaches and platforms. I believe that it is important not just for schools, but also parents, peers and the community to play a role as well as make a concerted effort to create awareness and reduce the stigma. MOE, however, could play a critical role in coordinating upstream efforts. Can MOE share and elaborate about its efforts to help students who are in need of mental health support and how it intends to further develop mental health education in schools? Could MOE perhaps do more to leverage on social media, the youths' preferred mode of communication and work towards building an eco-system within which all stakeholders could work together to aid early detection, encourage students to seek help when needed and provide pervasive and holistic support in and outside school? Microaggressions in Schools”
“In reviewing the developments over the years, what is the assessment on the effectiveness of our initiatives in digitalising companies? Are we better able to appreciate the specific challenges faced by SMEs and address them? How do we intend to continue helping companies access opportunities and scale in the Digital Economy?”
“Most, if not all, companies in Singapore would agree that digital transformation is no longer an option, but a necessary step if they are to survive. Over the years, the Government has been urging companies, including small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to transform and adopt appropriate technology to stay relevant and competitive. This message appears to have sunk in and there is keen awareness of the need to go digital. However, awareness may not necessarily translate to action as a number of companies, especially the smaller businesses, have been slow to make the transition. Minister Iswaran at MCI's workplan seminar last year said that it is not about a lack of awareness or will on SMEs’ parts anymore but more about them being resource-constrained and lacking capacity to get the transformation done. Similar observations were also made by the Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Business Federation (SBF), Mr Ho Meng Kit in a commentary last year. He mentioned that business transformation is hindered by talent deficit in Singapore's tech sector and cost or perceived cost of adopting digital solutions. In the commentary, Mr Ho, gave several suggestions to businesses to tackle the tech gap, for example by leveraging on IMDA’s SMEs Go Digital Programme. Earlier this year, SBF also released its National Business Survey 2019/2020, which found that SMEs know that they need to adopt digital solutions to tackle their top challenges of manpower costs and finding new and better ways to generate revenue, but costs remain the biggest roadblock. SBF called on the Government to build on the momentum with robust measures that encourage, support and strengthen the digitalisation and research and development efforts of companies.”
“The overall crime rate increased slightly last year mainly because of an increase in scams. This seems to be the trend for the past few years. Victims were cheated of at least $6.8 million in about 1,700 reported cases of loan scams between January and November last year. This is more than three times the reported amount for the whole of 2018, where there were about 990 cases and victims were cheated of a total of about $2 million. The number of people scammed by impersonators on social media also jumped by more than nine times in the past three years, with most victims being in their 20s to 40s. The number rose from 2017's 71 to 672 cases in the first 11 months of last year. The amount cheated increased nearly 43 times, from at least $168,000 to about $7.2 million over the same period of time. These figures are alarming. The Home Team has put in a lot of effort over the years to educate the public, including having anti-scam programmes for the elderly and "Scamalert". However, psychologically vulnerable people regardless of age and background continue to fall prey to scams and scammers are evolving to become more sophisticated. What is the Home Team’s strategy to mitigate the prevalence of scams?”
“If such efforts have been showing results, are there upcoming plans to increase community-specific public education programmes? Community Efforts against Drugs The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministers for Education and Minister for Social and Family Development (Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim): Mr Chairman, I thank the Ministry for the various outreach efforts on drug abuse and community involvements to protect our people from drug abuse and rehabilitate the offenders and help their families. Among these efforts are those targeted at the Malay/Muslim community. Can MHA provide an update on the on-going efforts to engage the Malay/Muslim community with regards to drug abuse and whether there are other programmes or initiatives in the pipeline? Drugs and Youth”
“Chairman, in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I watched Senior Parliamentary Secretary Amrin Amin's efforts to engage the Malay/Muslim community to spread the anti-drug message through the Dadah Itu Haram campaign. This campaign brings a deeper understanding about the efforts by the Government and the community in the fight against drugs. I also see this campaign as a good opportunity to create awareness about the challenges faced by ex-addicts. This can encourage efforts to help addicts recover, turn over a new leaf and give back to society. It seems that many people are now aware of this campaign and understand the important messages that it wants to send. May I ask, apart from the increasing awareness, what are the other positive outcomes arising from this wonderful endeavour? Will other plans be implemented to build on the current efforts? (In English): Chairman, in English. I have seen the efforts to reach out to the Malay/Muslim community through the Dadah Itu Haram campaign. There is clearly great value in taking a targeted approach and doing a community-specific engagement. By understanding the values within the community, the messages in the outreach efforts can be made more nuanced and would therefore have more impact to the people within the community. However, has the Ministry carried out an assessment on the effectiveness of the community-specific public engagement approach in raising awareness and curbing drug abuse? Has such targeted approach resulted in better outcomes, especially in relation to reducing the numbers of addicts within the specific community or curbing the negative effects of drugs in the community?”
“In May 2019, MinLaw, together with the Law Society, Enterprise Singapore and Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) launched Tech-Celerate for Law. This is a scheme for Singapore law practices to get funding support of up to 70% for the first-year cost of adopting baseline and advanced technology solutions. This scheme is supposed to prepare law practices for future disruptions beyond baseline technology adoption, empower them to focus on delivering enhanced legal services, strengthen their capabilities and increase their competitiveness in the global landscape. This is, indeed, a meaningful endeavour. Law firms, like other businesses, need to equip themselves with the necessary technology to be efficient and productive and be ready for trends and changes in the future. However, as I had highlighted in my speeches in previous years, there is often hesitation on the part of small firms to invest time to review and adopt new technology because, unlike bigger firms, they cannot afford to dedicate resources and time to this effort in the midst of continuous and on-going legal work. I am also not sure if awareness of the various support programmes and schemes is high amongst the lawyers in the smaller firms. This may lead to some of these lawyers feeling left out of the efforts that MinLaw has been making in supporting the profession build capabilities. I am, therefore, wondering how MinLaw is preparing small law firms, which may not have sufficient resources, including time and money, to be future-ready? If awareness and interest in such technology adoption is not high, would MinLaw consider having more engagement and sharing sessions with smaller law firms to encourage the move towards adopting new technology?”
“Legal aid schemes provide assistance to those who are unable to afford legal advice or representation. Legal aid, however, is only available to those who meet the criteria and some people may not be eligible. The claims may have merit but the legal costs, may be prohibitive and so they decide not to pursue their cases. The concern becomes even more pertinent when it involves matters such as those relating to divorce, applications under the Mental Capacity Act or criminal matters. In this regard, what has been done to improve the legal aid schemes to enhance access to justice? Could the Ministry look at how to further assist individuals who are not eligible for legal aid to get the help they need? I declare that I am a lawyer in private practice. I raised previously the need to incentivise low bono efforts by lawyers. Many lawyers are already doing pro bono work but this often comes at a cost to the lawyer’s earnings, and thus not sustainable. I had asked if a framework could be developed to support low bono efforts by lawyers to augment existing legal aid schemes. I note from the response last year, that MinLaw is working with partners like the Law Society Pro Bono Services and the Singapore Academy of Law to study how it could enhance support for pro bono and low bono efforts. Could MinLaw give an update on these efforts? Updating Probate and Apostille Processes”
“Many of us spend a large part of our day, and in fact, our lives at work. It is therefore important for both our mental and physical well-being that there is a healthy culture at the workplace environment. Social norms and the workplace culture can impact Singaporeans' decisions on important issues like marriage, having children and career progression. One of the key challenges faced by parents with young children is managing their work and family responsibilities. If they find this too challenging, they may not want to have more children. On the other hand, we must also ensure that those who are single at the workplace, are not the ones having to pick up the workload of their colleagues who have children, because this may prevent them from having opportunities to have relationships and eventually marry. Some singles may also have elderly parents to care for and need the flexibility to take some time to perhaps bring their parents to check-ups. I am grateful for the Government's efforts in giving out the Work-Life Grant and in encouraging employers to adopt Flexible-Work Arrangements, but I believe we would all like to see the adoption of such arrangements to be more pervasive. I am happy to learn that last year, the Government convened a Citizen's Panel of Work-Life Harmony. It was indicated that the Government would seriously study the recommendations. How will the Government be following up on the Panel's recommendations, and how can employers and other stakeholders play a bigger role in implementing solutions to make workplaces more family-friendly? Youth Aspirations and Work-life Balance”
“Chairman, the Government's commitment to a low carbon future and reduction of greenhouse gases is welcomed. One key effort was passing the Carbon Pricing Act, which took effect last year. However, there has been some doubt about the effectiveness of carbon taxing in Singapore as some say it does not guarantee the desired level of emissions reduction. I understand that the Young PAP conducted a focus group discussion recently with climate activists and experts from the sustainability sector. Amongst the issues discussed was the perceived over-emphasis on economic metrics as a means of calculating growth. Some felt that such metrics encouraged excessive production and consumption. Also, the current calculations of emission levels against GDP value may not truly reflect current performance levels. Can the Government consider a review to measure absolute carbon emission levels against holistic progress indicators, such as the Human Development Index or the United Nations Environment Inclusive Wealth Index? I note that the Government had also carried out a public consultation exercise last year to discuss formulating Singapore's long-term low-emissions development strategy and the findings were released in early February. Can the Government give an update on Singapore's plans moving forward?”
“There should, therefore, be an appropriate budget allocated for these efforts as well as provision of the necessary platforms for them to implement their ideas and work with people from different ages and backgrounds. I believe that if we work together, we can harness our diverse strengths and bring Singapore to greater heights. It is akin to what we see here in Parliament. The Budget season is one of the more exciting periods for the House. The House is abuzz with anecdotes, findings and information about a myriad of issues. Members of this House pour our hearts and souls to the issues we champion because they matter to us, to the people we represent. I have seen the views that we raise in Parliament make their way to the formation of policies and I trust this will continue to be how the Singapore Government improves and builds on its framework for the future. This Budget is aptly named Our Unity Budget as we stand together, united by our desire to make Singapore stronger and better for generations to come. Mr Speaker, I stand in support of the Budget.”
“I oversee the youth engagement efforts under M3 and one of the key initiatives is to create a culture of mentoring within the community so that the Malay/Muslim youths have somewhere to turn to for guidance as they navigate through challenges and choices in life. There are also resources like the MENDAKI Future-Ready Toolkit and the M3 Resource Directory which are available online for youths to refer to for information on various matters. Mr Speaker, at this juncture, allow me to continue my speech in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] It is very important for us to continue engaging and supporting our youths because they are the next generation who will inherit our nation. We must empower them and help them achieve their aspirations. I oversee the third workgroup under M3 related to youth matters, and one of the focus areas in our current projects is the development of a culture of mentoring within our community, so that our young can receive guidance and knowledge from those who are more experienced. This will hopefully help our youths grow their confidence and seize any available opportunity so that they can continue to progress. At the same time, we also encourage our youths to get involved and give back to society, regardless of race, religion or background. I hope that our community will continue supporting this effort and we can achieve our objective to develop youths who are highly competent, competitive, confident and show concern towards the people around them. (In English): Indeed, the efforts to empower, mentor and engage youths should continue. We should involve young people in discussion of key issues and policies and find opportunities to work with them to create positive social norms within the community.”
“Over the years, I have continued to be involved in the youth sector efforts, especially through my engagements under M3, the collaboration among the People's Association Malay Activity Executive Committees Council (MESRA), the Council for the Education of Muslim Children (MENDAKI) and the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), and as a council member of the National Youth Council. In my dialogues and discussions with young people, many of them have shown much desire for a more inclusive, more compassionate society. I am very heartened by their passion and I feel that it is so important to continue to engage them and seek their views as we build this nation. In this regard, I laud the Government's efforts through the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and the National Youth Council (NYC) to meaningfully engage our young people. Now more than ever, young people are given opportunities and are empowered to make the change they want to see. There are many support mechanisms, for example, through the National Youth Fund, the SG Youth Action Plan and NYC's Young Changemakers Programme, which not only provide monetary grants but connect youths with mentors and like-minded peers to help implement ground-up projects. Aside from providing support to youths for their causes and to carry out their projects, it is also important to support them to achieve their aspirations. I note the provision in the Budget to ready our youths for various opportunities by providing more overseas exposure. This is very welcomed. I am hoping that many youths from different backgrounds can take up this opportunity. We should also continue to build on the efforts to support youths through empowerment and mentoring programmes.”
“Much have been done in the sector, through the Enabling Masterplans, various policies and schemes as well as through the formation of workgroups to review the support to address different aspects of disabilities. However, there is still some way to go in closing the gaps to better support PwDs and their families. More significantly, one theme that repeatedly comes up from the feedback from parents and family members is the need to build a culture of care and compassion towards PwDs. Parents, especially, worry about the world they would be leaving their differently-abled children in when they pass away. Could their children be meaningfully integrated within the community and be given opportunities like others? Will the society be kind, patient and understanding of their child's needs? Will they be taken advantage of? Will someone stand up for their rights? There is, therefore, a fervent hope that the Government continues to make effort to create awareness, build infrastructure and implement policies that would normalise inclusiveness and allow for people with different needs and abilities to be truly embraced as part of the community. This may sound like a lofty ideal to some, but not one which we should shy away from. We need to constantly and relentlessly participate in such efforts and seek partners from amongst the community. In seeking partners for causes that matter to humanity, I have found hope in the youths. I feel that the youths of today are very accepting of differences and have a strong sense of social fairness.”
“In my speech in 2018 on the Motion in support of inclusive education, I shared some of the challenges faced by parents of children with disabilities and called for more support for these families. Last year, as part of the People's Action Party Women's Wing paper on supporting parenthood and families, my colleagues and I engaged many parents to hear their views on the support needed. Dr Intan Azura, Miss Cheryl Chan and I had carried out an online survey to get a sensing of the needs of these families and we also held a dialogue to hear their stories. We had to summarise much of the information we received to fit the paper, but we shared our insights with the relevant Ministries after the paper was finalised. Through this experience, we have found that: firstly, there is still a lack of awareness of the different types of support available for families with children with different needs. Secondly, there are specific circumstances in each family and thus the support extended needs to be more customised to be more meaningful. Some families, for example, may have more than one child with special needs and may need more support. Thirdly, the infrastructure and services available need to be more pervasive and accessible to families. Facilities, like playgrounds, should ideally be equipped for children with different abilities. We may have a few of such inclusive playgrounds but only in certain parts of Singapore. We also have a hub at Enabling Village in Bukit Merah where parents and caregivers could get assistance with some services. There is also a Caregivers' Pod in the village meant for caregivers' use. However, those living in the east or north of Singapore may find it to be too far from them and are not able to benefit from the support and facilities available.”
“Mr Speaker, the Budget reflects the Government's priorities and directions for the country. It has to be visionary to prepare our economy and people for the future, but yet also address immediate needs. To me, the Budget is also an opportunity to nudge behaviours and shape norms. The Government's schemes and policies send an important signal on key issues and should encourage efforts that make Singapore better as a nation. For example, the support given to firms to train and redesign jobs for workers would hopefully translate to businesses and a workforce that is more productive and future-ready. Incentives for energy-efficient appliances or cleaner energy products should encourage better adoption of such products and, in the long run, create a greener Singapore. Support for employers to hire Singaporean persons with disabilities (PwDs) should encourage more to be inclusive and allow more space for PwDs to participate and contribute to the economy. I am always keen to see the initiatives in the Budget that will help shape our values as a people. I am happy to note that the Government is building on the efforts from previous years to build a caring and inclusive society. This year, the Government introduced the EEC to provide stronger support for employers of PwDs. The intent is to provide help for PwDs to find employment and remain in the workforce. To me, this is important as it is a signal to be inclusive and normalise PwDs' participation in our society. In recent years, I have had the great privilege of engaging with family members and caregivers of people with different abilities. There is a whole range of disabilities, including intellectual and physical disabilities, and PwDs come from a broad spectrum of age groups, from infants to the elderly.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Minister for the update. I just have one specific question on the effectiveness of temperature screening because this has caused a lot of surge in the demand for thermometers. More importantly, whether it is actually effective because some of the patients that have been discovered, showed very mild symptoms. It also uses a lot of manpower. I am really not sure if it is the best way. The other thing is, there have also been reports about how there were some faulty infrared thermometers that were not very accurate. So, I just want the Minister's thoughts on this and the guidelines that can be given to the organisations on this matter.”