Sam Tan Chin Siong
Singapore
“Sir, the Temporary Relief Fund was set up to provide timely financial assistance to lower- and middle-income Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who lost their jobs or faced significant income loss due to the economic impact of COVID-19.”
“The Workgroups will release their recommendations later this year. (In English): Mr Chairman, in closing, everyone has a part to play in building a caring and inclusive society. Inclusion is not just a vision. It is action.”
“We will continue to deepen our engagement with the EU leadership and also our ties with individual EU member states. We will also continue to engage the UK post-Brexit.”
“It is a very important prerequisite to prepare young children for future employment. There is another workgroup under EMP3 which focuses on the improvement to employment opportunities and prospects. This workgroup is co-chaired by Member Ms Denise Phua and myself.”
“I thank the Member for the questions. We have sufficient places in our Sheltered Workshops. Right now, we have altogether 1,700 places. If there is a need for more capacity, we will certainly increase it.”
“Mr Chairman, I thank the Member for the clarification. The difference between CKS and PDD is that PDD helps persons who have lost the mental capacity to make major decisions like liquidating the assets, bank accounts and all that to provide institutional care or some other major financial needs.”
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“Sir, the Temporary Relief Fund was set up to provide timely financial assistance to lower- and middle-income Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who lost their jobs or faced significant income loss due to the economic impact of COVID-19. It was made available during the month of April 2020, and prior to the start of other assistance schemes including the COVID-19 Support Grant and Self-Employed Person (SEP) Income Relief Scheme (SIRS). As at 30 April 2020, MSF has received a total 594,206 applications for the Temporary Relief Fund. Of this figure, 3,951 individuals have returned their payouts from the Fund.”
“Sir, the Temporary Relief Fund was set up to provide timely financial assistance to lower- and middle-income Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who lost their jobs or faced significant income loss due to the economic impact of COVID-19. It was made available during the month of April 2020, and prior to the start of other assistance schemes including the COVID-19 Support Grant and Self-Employed Person (SEP) Income Relief Scheme (SIRS). As at 30 April 2020, MSF has received a total 537,080 applications for the Temporary Relief Fund. Of this figure, 3,171 individuals have returned their payouts from the Fund. [Please refer to "Number of Singaporeans and PRs who have applied for Temporary Relief Fund for COVID-19 Situation", Official Report, 4 May 2020, Vol 94, Issue No 131, Oral Answers to Questions section.] [(proc text) Written statement by Mr Sam Tan Chin Siong with leave of the Speaker in accordance with Standing Order No 29 (5): (proc text)] After my statement during Question Time for the Parliamentary Question “Number of Singaporeans and PRs who have applied for Temporary Relief Fund for COVID-19 Situation" at the Sitting of 4 May 2020, I wish to make the following factual corrections. My reply should read as follows:”
“I thank the Member for raising this very important question. Care-givers, the parents, form a very important key pillar in holding a family together. To the question of what we do to help our care-givers, particularly parents with children with disabilities or special needs, SG Enable has set up a dedicated place called Care-givers Pod which serves as a meeting place for parents with special needs children or with disabilities to meet regularly. So far, I was told that more than 1,600 care-givers have utilised a place to conduct sharing sessions, training and interaction sessions. So far, 222 care-givers have registered for personal access to the Care-givers Pod. This is only the beginning, because if we can reach out to the parents, we are able to help them chart out the plans for their children for the future. Then, their children who either have special needs or disabilities will have a brighter future going forward. Minister Desmond Lee and I have separately engaged, parents who are care-givers to better understand their situation, challenges and the needs that they need from the Government. So, all those engagements sessions proved to be very useful because they established trust and confidence between both sides. We will continue to organise such engagement sessions to make sure that parents of children with disabilities or special needs will not be left alone to fend for themselves.”
“I thank the Member for raising that question.”
“I thank the Member for the clarification. In the course of almost four months, MSF, together with partners and also the two co-chairman of the Enabling Masterplan 3 (EMP3) workgroups – Ms Denise Phua and Ms Chia Yong Yong – together we have engaged, we have conducted 13 engagement sessions with more than 200 persons with disabilities, the care-givers as well as the social service agencies from the disability sector. Through these sessions, we had the opportunity to really hear for ourselves first-hand information and sharing from them. To many of these participants at this engagement sessions, they told us that this is the first time where they really sit down with a Ministry, Senior Management, Ministers, Mayors and all that to share their inner feelings, their frustrations, their aspirations as well as the challenges that they face. They also told us what they want the Government to do in order to help them. Through these engagement sessions, we have currently identified 12 new initiatives under the workgroup for Independent Living as well as 14 initiatives for the workgroup for Inclusive Employment. We now have 26 initiatives that we are working on together with 19 Government agencies and Ministries. Personally, I think this is a very useful engagement, very productive one. Once we work out all the mechanics and schematics of all these 26 initiatives. We plan to go back to the community to engage them again to co-create and also to co-refine all those programmes and services, so that together all these activities and initiatives are not just merely coming out from the Government, Ministries and all, but it is a joint product between the Government, the people and the private sectors. I think if we can do this, Singapore will truly be an inclusive society.”
“The Workgroups will release their recommendations later this year. (In English): Mr Chairman, in closing, everyone has a part to play in building a caring and inclusive society. Inclusion is not just a vision. It is action. It is about people coming together, enabling each other to create a Singapore where every individual can achieve his or her potential. We want to build a Singapore that we are all proud to call home. So, at this moment, I would like to turn over the floor to Senior Parliamentary Secretary Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, to speak about other MSF programmes and services.”
“Let me also share that from 1 October 2020, SG Enable will be the single touchpoint for disability services, and take over the funding administration and management of disability programmes currently administered by MSF and the National Council of Social Service (NCSS). SG Enable will also take the lead on public education efforts related to disability and will take over the running of the See the True Me campaign from NCSS. The changes will allow SG Enable to enhance their efficiency in coordinating resources and project planning, and reduce duplications, so that they can provide more efficient and effective services for persons with disabilities and their care-givers. In July 2019, SG Enable also launched a new online website – the Enabling Guide. This is a one-stop online platform for persons with disabilities and care-givers to find help more easily. It pulls together information and resources on various disability schemes and services, and users can make more informed decisions about different service options across life stages. Sector professionals and social service agencies can also use the information in the Enabling Guide to better help their clients. MSF will continue to work with our people, private and public sector partners to build a more inclusive society. Under the third Enabling Masterplan, the Government has formed three cross-sectoral Workgroups to look into how we can better support persons with disabilities through their different life stages. This includes providing better support for children with developmental needs through an inclusive pre-school model, improving the employability of persons with disabilities and helping them live independently through the use of technology and design.”
“Those who can live independently can tap on Government funds for Assistive Technology devices to make their lives easier. Others who require some care-giving support can consider residential options in the form of Government-funded Community Group Homes and Adult Disability Hostels. But we also know that there are some who need greater care-giving support. When their care-givers pass away and if no one can take over the care-giving responsibilities, the Government will step in to take care of them in Government-funded Adult Disability Homes as the last resort. Sir, we will not leave them alone to fend for themselves. We will not. In line with the suggestion by Ms Denise Phua, we will continue to work with other relevant agencies to develop the continuum of housing options for persons with disabilities, as well as to make other community services more inclusive. Chairman, I would like to speak in Mandarin now. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Chairman, we are committed to building an inclusive society where everyone can play their part, participate actively and contribute. From 1 July 2020, MSF will enhance subsidies to make Special Student Care Centres (SSCCs) services more affordable for families of Special Education (SPED) school students and will extend the subsidies to more families. We will raise the eligibility criteria for means-tested subsidies from $4,000 to $9,200, and lower out-of-pocket expenses for SSCC services. The reductions will range between 30% and 80% for most families. This means that out-of-pocket cost for a child from a family with a combined household income of $4,000 will be reduced by around 75%, from $582 to $142 a month.”
“The SSCC helped Kylie learn to be more independent in her daily living skills and also facilitated her return home to her family when her mother recovered. Ms Rahayu Mazam asked how we could make it more convenient for persons with disabilities and their care-givers to access the support they require. Besides making services more affordable, we are also making information more accessible. To this end, SG Enable launched a new online website called "The Enabling Guide" in July last year. As a one-stop resource for persons with disabilities and care-givers to find help easily, it pulls together information and resources on various disability schemes and services, and guides users to make informed decisions about service options across the life stages. Sector professionals from the disability sector can also use information in the Enabling Guide to help their clients. Ms Denise Phua and Miss Cheryl Chan also asked important questions about the support available for persons with disabilities as care-givers age, and how we can help care-givers prepare for a future where the care-givers themselves are no longer able or around to take care of their children. Care-givers of persons who lack mental capacity can make financial arrangements such as setting up trust accounts with the Special Needs Trust Company. They can also apply to Court to be appointed as their child's deputies and have a successor deputy appointed to take their place when the need arises. MSF has also introduced the Assisted Deputyship Application Programme (ADAP) to make the deputyship application process simpler and cheaper. Sir, we want to assure care-givers that there is a continuum of support and residential facilities, and programmes for persons with disabilities.”
“Many of these improvements will not only benefit persons with disabilities, but also all of us. The third Workgroup on inclusive preschools, which Senior Parliamentary Secretary Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim and Assoc Prof Kenneth Poon co-chair, is studying models for inclusive preschools that will allow children with severe developmental needs to receive Early Intervention and Early Childhood services. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim will elaborate more on this later. All the three workgroups have taken in findings from the engagement sessions and will put up their recommendations later this year. Chairman, we are also doing more to provide support for care-givers of persons with disabilities. Mr Seah Kian Peng noted that Special Student Care Centres (SSCCs) are key to supporting care-givers. They are particularly essential for care-givers who need to work or care for other dependents and themselves. I am therefore happy to announce that MSF will improve funding and subsidy support for families of SSCC students and extend the subsidies to more families of Special Education (SPED) students. From 1 July 2020, we will raise the eligibility criteria for means-tested subsidies from $4,000 to $9,200, and we will also lower out-of-pocket expenses for SSCC services. This reduces the out-of-pocket cost for a child from a family with a combined household income of $4,000 by around 75%, or from currently $582 to $142 a month, starting from July. However, beyond the reduction in fees, these enhancements also provide much needed support and respite for care-givers like Mdm Valerie, who fell ill and could not take care of her daughter, Kylie. Before joining MINDS SSCC, Kylie had to be placed in institutional care.”
“By stepping into her shoes, we better understand the challenges that she faces along the way to access public transportation and what can enable her to overcome that. First, Amanda needs to cross the road from her house to the train station. She can activate the Green Man Plus at the pedestrian crossing. Not only does this function give her additional time to cross the road safely, the beeping sound also helps to orientate her in the right direction. At the train station, Amanda needs to find her way to the gantry. Here, she relies on the tactile flooring to guide her to the gantry, but she needs to take out and tap her EZ-Link card. By using radio frequency identification or Bluetooth technology that LTA is testing, she can, in the future, pass through the gantry hands-free, without any difficulty. At this point, let me also extend my appreciation to Mr Cheong Kwek Bin and the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped (SAVH). Working with visually impaired persons like Kwek Bin as a member of our workgroup has been immensely helpful. He and SAVH members have provided invaluable insights on how things can be improved. Collaborating with them has enabled us to gain insights, to use smart design and assistive technology to further help persons with disabilities to get around the built environment and also public transport. Another example of such a collaboration was the Mobility Assistance for the Visually Impaired and Special Users (MAVIS) pilot project, earlier shared by MOT. Sir, we also aim to increase public awareness and understanding on how to lend a helping hand to persons with disabilities if they need assistance, and also ensure that they have better access to information and online services.”
“These areas include soft skills, such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills. Second, we will create alternative supported employment models and job opportunities for Mark, as he may not be ready to work in an open employment environment yet. Third, we will enhance employment services to match and place Mark in a job. Fourth, we will enable Mark's colleagues to better understand and support him on the job, and we will strengthen education and awareness on working with persons with disabilities. There are initiatives planned for each of these areas. One such initiative is the development of a soft skills curriculum for students with disabilities, which MOE is working with employers and SSAs on. 7.00 pm Ms Denise Phua and other care-givers also raised concerns about a gap in terms of continual education and training. The workgroup is working with relevant people and also private sector partners to address this concern. All these efforts to support persons with disabilities in terms of training, work and employment are in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), something that was mentioned by Ms Sylvia Lim earlier. Besides employment, independent living is another issue raised by persons with disabilities and their care-givers. The workgroup on independent living, which I co-chair with Ms Chia Yong Yong, is looking into how we can help persons with disabilities live more independently in the community. While we recognise that there is a broad spectrum of disability types, allow me just to illustrate with the example of Amanda, who is visually impaired.”
“With their input and suggestions, we are now working across the whole-of-Government, together with private and community partners, to co-create and co-deliver solutions to address the problems identified and raised during the 13 engagement sessions. Ms Denise Phua and Ms Sylvia Lim asked about what we are doing to help PWDs in terms of training and employment. As announced earlier by MOM, the Government has introduced new initiatives ,such as the Enabling Employment Credit and the enhancements to the Open Door Programme. That said, we are also aware that Government measures alone are not enough to meet all the needs. We need to bring the public, private and people sectors together to advance inclusive employment. A good example of how we do this is through the partnership between SG Enable and SSAs to provide training and job support services and their partnership with inclusive employers, such as UOB, to run initiatives such as "The Unlimited", which helps them reach out to even more employers who are willing to employ PWDs. But of course, there is always more that we can do together. So, under the employment workgroup, which I co-chair with Ms Denise Phua, we put ourselves in the shoes of PWDs looking for a job and we tried to understand the challenges that they face and also we have tried our best to identify the areas where they need more help. Through this exercise, we have identified four key areas where we can and we will do more to help them. Let me use an example to elaborate this further. Take for example, Mark, who is about to graduate from a SPED school and will be looking for a job. First, to enhance Mark's work capability, we will help him to improve in areas that employers have identified as crucial.”
“It will take over the administration of disability programmes currently run by MSF and the National Council of Social Service (NCSS). In addition, people who are willing to serve and contribute towards creating an inclusive society will be able to identify SG Enable as the single touchpoint to volunteer their time and services. Ms Denise Phua and Ms Cheryl Chan made an important point on promoting inclusion and also correcting misperceptions about PWDs. This begins with building positive attitudes and improving understanding through public education. To make our public education messages stronger and clearer, SG Enable will lead public education efforts related to disability. This includes reaching out to the broader community through the "See the True Me" campaign and also coming up with resources on how people should interact with PWDs, and how they can be supported at the workplaces. Bringing different functions under one roof will improve efficiency, oversight and coordination of services. In addition, it will also provide clear direction for the many helping hands involved. This new single-touchpoint structure is the next big step forward for the sector to bring stakeholders under one umbrella to co-create and co-deliver services and solutions for PWDs. Sir, last year, we formed three cross-sectoral Enabling Masterplan workgroups on Employment, Independent Living and Inclusive Pre-schools. The workgroups have worked with Government and community partners over 13 engagement sessions. We consulted more than 200 PWDs, care-givers and over 40 different SSAs from the disability sector.”
“Mr Chairman, we are building a more caring and inclusive Singapore. One where individuals are valued for who they are and also enabled to achieve their potential. The Enabling Masterplans aim to support persons with disabilities (PWDs), recognise their abilities and help them to participate meaningfully in our community and also in our society. As part of the Masterplans, we set up SG Enable in 2013 to better support them. Since then, SG Enable has become a trusted partner to PWDs, their care-givers and Social Service Agencies (SSAs). Minister Desmond Lee spoke about placing citizens at the centre of our work and also the consolidation of disability support services under SG Enable in his speech earlier. Please allow me to explain further. Over the past three years, we have spoken to PWDs, care-givers, social service operators and many stakeholders, to understand the challenges and needs that they face. From their feedback, one common challenge is the need to work with different agencies and SSAs at different life-stages to get help, and sometimes having to submit the same documents multiple times. To them, having a single touchpoint to support them at all life-stages would make life easier. Many SSAs in the disability sector also told us that the sector could be better coordinated. For example, they have to work with different agencies to get approval and funding for different programmes and activities. We are grateful to our partners and stakeholders, and have been making efforts to streamline service delivery for the disability sector based on their feedback. So, I am pleased to announce that from 1 October 2020, SG Enable will become the single touchpoint for the disability sector.”
“We will continue to deepen our engagement with the EU leadership and also our ties with individual EU member states. We will also continue to engage the UK post-Brexit. We have many existing bilateral arrangements that will remain in force and we are also working with the UK to ensure continuity by porting over the EUSFTA’s provisions through a Short Form Agreement. In conclusion, Mr Chairman, I would like to underscore that Singapore’s continued success hinges on many factors, including maintaining a wide network of global partners and friends. We must continue to strengthen our ties with key partners while expanding our global outreach. Mr Chairman, I shall now turn over the floor to my colleague, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Dr Tan Wu Meng.”
“We look forward to maintaining the positive momentum of our exchanges this year. We continue to deepen bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest, such as infrastructure cooperation, smart cities and population issues. With the Republic of Korea, Prime Minister’s visit last November, in conjunction with the ASEAN-ROK Commemorative Summit, resulted in a number good outcomes in smart cities, intellectual property, cybersecurity and the expansion of Singapore-ROK air services. Our relationship with India presents continuing opportunities for Singaporeans and our businesses. We are the largest foreign investor in India and many of our local companies have expanded there. India has also one of the largest number of foreign companies in Singapore.With both countries making strides towards digitalisation, our cooperation is expanding to cover new frontiers such as innovation, digital economy and FinTech. 5.30 pm Australia is a like-minded partner for us. We are exploring new areas of cooperation to refresh our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). Our defence ties with Australia are also longstanding. This year, we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Singapore Armed Forces' training at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland. To assist the Australian Defence Force’s efforts to combat the bushfires in Australia, we deployed two Chinooks to work alongside them for a month. Singapore and the EU share strong ties and are important economic partners. A major milestone was the signing of the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSFTA), the EU-Singapore Investment Protection Agreement, as well as the EU-Singapore Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in 2018, and the EUSFTA’s entry into force in November last year.”
“Mr Chairman, it is in troubled times that one is tested, and a friend in need is a friend indeed. It is vital for us to continue supporting China through these difficult times of combating the virus. On our part, the Singapore Government contributed S$1 million as seed funding to catalyse the Singapore Red Cross' public appeal to raise funds to help our Chinese friends, and donated medical supplies and diagnostic test kits to China. The Singapore Red Cross’ fundraising drive has received support from our trade associations and chambers, companies and local community organisations, as well as members of the public, and has raised more than S$6 million to date. These proactive fundraising efforts by our people amply demonstrated Singapore's spirit of providing assistance in times of need. Looking to the future, we will continue to explore and develop new areas of cooperation with China, and leverage new opportunities, for our mutual benefit. We will also build on high-level exchanges, institutionalised frameworks, and concrete cooperation to further broaden and deepen our good bilateral relations. (In English): Mr Chairman, please allow me to continue in English. It is also critical for us to keep up our engagement of regional and strategic partners outside our immediate neighbourhood. Allow me to address Miss Cheryl Chan's question on how MFA intends to strengthen our engagement of key partners in the region and also to ensure that Singapore remains a relevant stakeholder. Sir, we enjoy close and multi-faceted cooperation with Japan. We had several high-level visits in 2019, including President Halimah's attendance of the Enthronement Ceremony of Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Lee's attendance of the G20 Summit.”
“Since 2013, China has been Singapore's largest trading partner, and Singapore has been China's largest foreign investor. Apart from our three Government-to-Government projects, we have eight Provincial Business Councils, which facilitate more effective engagement and cooperation with Chinese provinces and municipalities. This brings me to Member of Parliament Tin Pei Ling's question on how Singapore’s younger leaders will deepen their relations with Chinese leaders over the next few years. Mr Chairman, Deputy Prime Minister Heng, as well as the Ministers-in-charge of our Government-to-Government projects and Provincial Business Councils, meet their Chinese counterparts regularly to jointly review these projects. Many 4G Ministers have also attended high-level events in China and Singapore, through which they built up rapport with Chinese leaders. Our 4G leadership will continue to strengthen the friendship and trust between our countries. To Member of Parliament Sun Xueling's question on the impact of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak on our existing cooperation, while China has borne the brunt of the recent outbreak of COVID-19, Singapore has also been seriously affected by this global health problem. International cooperation is crucial to effectively combatting COVID-19, a disease which respects no boundaries. During this crucial juncture, China took decisive measures to prevent further spread of the virus, and cooperated with the international community, which allowed Health Ministries of many countries, including Singapore, to swiftly develop diagnostic tests and come up with appropriate measures to manage the outbreak together. China's transparent and sincere actions deserve praise and affirmation.”
“Thank you, Mr Chairman. I shall now elaborate on our relationship with China and our engagement of other key partners. Please allow me to do so in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Chairman, we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and China this year. Our links with China are longstanding, preceding the establishment of our diplomatic relations, with our founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew visiting China in 1976 and then-Senior Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping visiting Singapore in 1978. This exchange of high-level visits by our leaders set a strong foundation for our bilateral relations. Mr Chairman, to Member of Parliament Sun Xueling's question on the state of Singapore-China relations, we have made good progress in many areas. Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat visited China last October in conjunction with the 15th Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), which he co-chaired with PRC Vice Premier Han Zheng. Singapore and China had then signed nine bilateral MOUs and agreements, ranging from trade, finance, culture, the environment, and a youth internship exchange programme. Recently, Vice Premier Han suggested to Deputy Prime Minister Heng to include cooperation in public health as a new agenda item under the JCBC framework. Singapore is supportive of this, and we look forward to hosting Vice Premier Han’s visit to Singapore for the JCBC later this year. In addition to the JCBC, Singapore will continue to work with China through other high-level platforms, such as the Singapore-China Forum on Leadership and the Singapore-China Social Governance Forum. Mr Chairman, economic cooperation is a key plank of our bilateral relationship.”
“I thank the Member for the questions. We have sufficient places in our Sheltered Workshops. Right now, we have altogether 1,700 places. If there is a need for more capacity, we will certainly increase it. With regard to the Member's resident, I would appreciate it if she can provide the details to me, and we will follow up and try our best to help him or her to get into one of the Sheltered Workshops. 1.30 pm”
“It is a very important prerequisite to prepare young children for future employment. There is another workgroup under EMP3 which focuses on the improvement to employment opportunities and prospects. This workgroup is co-chaired by Member Ms Denise Phua and myself. This workgroup focuses specifically on how we can encourage more enlightened employers to provide employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. At the same time, we are also looking into how we can further strengthen and improve the training programmes for persons with disabilities and special needs, so that they will be able to grab the opportunities to be able to get employed. So, there is a slew of initiatives and programmes under MSF, SG Enable. We also partner MOE as well as MOM. So, there is a concerted effort aimed at trying to help persons with disabilities to better integrate into our society through employment.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Member for raising two very important questions. For the first question, our DACs and Sheltered Workshops are open from Mondays to Fridays and they welcome all eligible participants who are able to take advantage of the programmes and services to make use of the centres' programmes and facilities. For those who are not able to attend full-time from Mondays to Fridays, if the Member comes across any specific cases, please let us know so that we can get our social service agencies and my Ministry staff to look into such cases to better understand the reason why they are not able to take full advantage of the services provided by the DACs and Sheltered Workshops from Monday to Friday. As to the Member's second question about the more concerted and integrated approach, this is, indeed, something that we are doing. We share the same concerns as the Member. Under the Enabling Masterplan 3 (EMP3), we set up three different, separate workgroups to focus on different areas. One of the workgroups is focusing on early intervention programmes. This workgroup is co-chaired by my colleagues Senior Parliamentary Secretary Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim together with Assoc Prof Kenneth Poon. So, they are looking into how to strengthen the learning support and the development support programmes in our preschool education centres serving students with special needs and disabilities. One of the things they are doing is to strengthen the learning of the life skills and also other social skills. These are the important attributes and skills that will better prepare our students when they grow into adults and these attributes will enable them to integrate more smoothly into the society.”
“Mr Chairman, I thank the Member for the clarification. The difference between CKS and PDD is that PDD helps persons who have lost the mental capacity to make major decisions like liquidating the assets, bank accounts and all that to provide institutional care or some other major financial needs. Whereas CKS is to involve VWO partners in the community to help seniors who have lost their mental capacities to deal with the day-to-day living activities, like buying food, getting monies to pay for services likes utilities and so on. So, these are the two services. For the second question of publicity with greater awareness on CKS, we just piloted this service not long ago. We are still in the pilot stage. Once the project is piloted, when we decide it is a good scheme to roll out in the community, then we will also roll out publicity. So, it is coming.”
“(In English): Mr Chairman, all of us can play a part in fostering a caring and inclusive society for all Singaporeans, regardless of their age and ability. So, this is one journey where I hope Singaporeans, particularly those who are interested in and have concerns for persons with disabilities or different abilities, can partner us to walk this journey together.”
“Under this scheme, individuals can procure the services of a registered PDD to make decisions on their behalf, for example, liquidating their property to finance their care. To assure individuals that their interests will be protected, we have put in place robust safeguards. These include mandating PDDs to report regularly to the Office of Public Guardian, and record all decisions made on behalf of their clients. We also provide training for the PDDs to ensure that they are trustworthy and able to support their clients. To complement the PDD scheme, MSF launched a two-year CKS pilot in 2018. This scheme allows partner-VWOs to manage the day-to-day expenses of a senior who has lost mental capacity through the authorisation of a Court order. This could include VWOs making monthly withdrawals from the senior’s bank account, passing the senior a fixed cash amount so that he can buy food and groceries, or paying for his medical bills. The first case under the pilot programme is a 78-year-old man who lives alone in a one-room flat. Doctors have certified that he no longer has the mental capacity to manage his daily expenses. Under the CKS pilot, a social worker from the authorised VWO helps him pay his utility bills and visits him twice a week to give him an allowance, so that he can continue with his current lifestyle, for example, eating his favourite meals at nearby coffee shops. With help from a community kin, this senior can age within the community that he is familiar with while receiving dedicated care. This scheme is run by the Office of Public Guardian to ensure that seniors’ monies will not be misused. With these schemes, we hope that Singaporeans will prepare ahead for their future and be supported through their golden years.”
“We know that caregiving is both physically and psychologically exhausting. Therefore, one of the priorities of EMP3 is to help caregivers provide better care for themselves and their loved ones. To ensure that these plans are implemented successfully, all of society across the public, private and people sectors must work as one. Therefore, we will be introducing two cross-sectoral workgroups. The first workgroup will focus on improving the quality of life for persons with special needs through technology and design. I will be co-chairing this group with the President of SPD and former NMP Ms Chia Yong Yong. I will also co-chair another workgroup with Parliamentary colleague and President of ARC, Ms Denise Phua. The aim of this workgroup is to prepare persons with special needs for the future economy by enhancing access to lifelong learning opportunities and employment pathways. Every one of us would like to live well in our golden years, and every Singaporean should prepare ahead for this stage in life. It is for this purpose that we established the LPA. By appointing an LPA, we authorise a family member or trusted friend to make decisions on our behalf in the event that we lose our mental capacity. With this clarity, we and our caregivers would have less to worry about. At the same time, we are also aware that there are senior citizens with no one to turn to and may not have any caregivers to take care of them should they lose their mental capacity. They may be married but childless or they may be single. Therefore, MSF has introduced two community support schemes to help these Singaporeans plan ahead. The first is the PDD scheme. This was launched in September 2018.”
“Thank you. To complement the PDD scheme, MSF launched a two-year Community Kin Service (CKS). This is a pilot launched in 2018. The scheme allows partner-VWOs to manage the day-to-day expenses of a senior who has lost mental capacity, through the authority of a Court order, and also under the close supervision of the Office of Public Guardian. This could include passing the senior a fixed cash amount from his bank account so that he can buy food and groceries and make payment for the senior’s utility bills so that he will not experience a disruption in electricity and water supply. With the help from a community kin, the senior can stay within the community that he is familiar with, while receiving dedicated care. So, with these schemes in place, we hope that Singaporeans will be able to prepare for their future and also be supported through their golden years. Mr Chairman, allow me to now speak in Mandarin. 12.15 pm (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Our vision is to develop an inclusive society where every Singaporean is empowered to participate fully as integral and contributing members. We have been working towards this objective in the past few years, striving to build a society with bigger hearts, where every individual has hope for a good future, regardless of age and ability. Members in this House may remember that we laid the groundwork for an inclusive society when we first launched the Enabling Masterplan in 2007. In 2012, we enhanced services and support for persons with special needs under the second Enabling Masterplan. Under the third Enabling Masterplan, we will adopt a life-stage approach to provide further support for those with special needs at various stages of their lives, so that they are better able to live independently.”
“We have set up the Special Needs Trust Company to support parents and caregivers of persons with special needs in future care planning and financial security. This includes planning for their future expenses for accommodation, health and other care needs. Mr Darryl David has asked about support measures for those who have lost their mental capacity. All Singaporeans need to plan for our own golden years. Having a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) will give us peace of mind, knowing that a trusted loved one is empowered to act for us should we lose mental capacity. It will also enable our caregivers to act confidently in providing care for us. I thank Mr Dennis Tan for his suggestion to do more to protect Certificate Issuers by amending the LPA form. We will consider this in our ongoing review of the LPA form. Yet, there are a number of seniors who may not have the support of family members. They may be single or married but childless. MSF has introduced two community support options to help these Singaporeans plan ahead in the event of them losing their mental capacity. The first is the Professional Deputies and Donees (PDD) Scheme, which was launched in September last year. Under this scheme, individuals can procure the services of a registered PDD to make major decisions on their behalf, such as liquidating their property to finance their care. To assure individuals that their interests will be protected, we have put in place a training course for PDDs, and also put in place very robust measures to ensure all the regulations and practices are monitored. Twenty individuals have registered as PDDs so far. MSF will continue to train more suitable persons to be PDDs and raise awareness of PDD services. Mr Chairman, with your permission, may I display a slide on the screen?”
“Sir, in 2019, MSF will deepen our engagement with various stakeholders, including persons with special needs and their caregivers, VWOs, employers, technology providers and educational institutions. Doing so will not only allow us to better coordinate and provide targeted support to meet the varied needs of differently-abled persons across disability groups but also increase awareness of the Enabling Masterplans. Together, we can co-create the hardware, software and heartware of an inclusive Singapore. I am, therefore, very happy to announce that we will form two cross-sectoral workgroups involving the people, private and public sector partners to focus on employability and independent living. The first workgroup will look at preparing persons with special needs for the future economy, by enhancing access to lifelong learning opportunities and employment pathways. We must prepare our citizens with special needs for the jobs of today and also tomorrow. I am, therefore, very grateful that Ms Denise Phua has very kindly agreed to co-chair this workgroup with me to study this issue further with the relevant stakeholders in the public, private and people sectors, including WSG and e2i. Sir, I will also co-chair another workgroup with the President of SPD, who is also a former Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP), Ms Chia Yong Yong, to look into promoting independent living through technology and design, in the home setting as well as within the community. Mr Chairman, all of us want to have assurance that the needs of our loved ones, and those of our own, will continue to be met when we enter our senior years. Dr Tan Wu Meng asked about support for seniors who worry about their children with special needs.”
“This is why we launched the Caregivers Pod at the Enabling Village last year. It is a place for caregivers to find peer support, and also to attend training sessions and organise sharing sessions among themselves. Sir, we also know that caregivers need comprehensive and reliable information on the services available. To respond to this need, SG Enable is developing a new online portal that will enable caregivers to find relevant resources easily, including for respite care, as suggested by Dr Tan Wu Meng. MSF agrees that formal respite services are needed to provide temporary relief for caregivers to prevent burnout. The Drop-in Disability Programme is a day respite option for caregivers. MSF-funded Disability Homes also offer residential respite care services to those who need it. As announced by the Ministry of Finance, the age limit on children with special needs will also be removed for the Grandparent Caregiver Relief scheme, from the Year of Assessment 2020. Working mothers who seek the help of grandparents to take care of their children with special needs can get tax relief of $3,000, regardless of the child's age. Although these measures will provide welcome support, we also know that many caregivers worry about what will happen to their loved ones when they are older. I will speak more about this later in my speech. For now, I will speak on MSF's forward plans to enable persons with special needs to maximise their potential. Sir, Ms Denise Phua made a very passionate point yesterday on the importance of creating greater awareness on EMP3. She also suggested that the Enabling Masterplans have to be "living documents", and more people and organisations should be co-opted to co-shape and co-implement solutions. I agree with her fully.”
“In her COS speech on Monday, Second Minister for Education Indranee Rajah already elaborated about support for these students in mainstream schools. We know that transportation is a key enabler and have put in place various schemes and subsidies to support persons with special needs. These include the VWO Transport Subsidy and the Taxi Subsidy Scheme. The Government is also continually improving the accessibility and inclusivity of public transportation. Sir, we will continue to support students as they move from school to the next stage of life. One such example is the School-to-Work Transition Programme, which matches students who are able to work, to suitable training and employment pathways based on their strengths and interests. For jobseekers with special needs, MSF and SG Enable will continue to work with MOE and MOM to enhance their employability, expand employment options, and also to promote inclusive hiring. We will continue to help persons with special needs prepare themselves for the workforce. For example, SG Enable works closely with the Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD), Autism Resource Centre (ARC) and the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) to match individuals to suitable jobs and help them adjust well into the workforce. I am, therefore, heartened that efforts by the Government, community and corporate partners are bearing fruit. However, there is still a lot more that we can do together. I, therefore, thank Ms Denise Phua for her suggestions to identify, individualise, integrate, implement and also inspect the caregiver support system. We know that a caregiver’s job is never an easy one. Indeed, support for caregivers is another key focus of EMP3.”
“Mr Chairman, Singapore has been working hard these past 12 years to challenge ourselves to become a society with bigger hearts, where all, regardless of age or ability, have hope for a good future. This is what the three Enabling Masterplans are about: charting our direction towards a more caring and inclusive society, where persons with disabilities or special needs are empowered to participate fully as integral and contributing members. Members may well recall that we first laid the groundwork for an inclusive society by developing services under the first Enabling Masterplan in 2007. That was 12 years ago. We then went on to enhance support and services, under the second Enabling Masterplan in 2012. Notably, we set up a dedicated agency, SG Enable, to support persons with special needs, and improved the quality of early intervention and education services. It is on this foundation that we are continuing to push forward under the third Enabling Masterplan (EMP3). Sir, Ms Denise Phua asked about the progress of EMP3. Under EMP3, the Government is partnering the community to support persons with special needs and also their caregivers across different stages of life. So, we adopt a whole-life stage approach. We want to give young children with developmental needs a good start in life. We shall do so by ensuring that they have timely access to quality early intervention services. My colleague, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, will share more details later. For children of schooling age, we want to give every child access to learning opportunities, regardless of their abilities. From January this year, we have included children with moderate to severe special educational needs under the Compulsory Education Framework.”
“Where we have relevant expertise and experience, we have contributed to the work of the AC in its workshops and task forces, in areas of mutual concern, such as sustainable development and environmental conservation. In particular, our institutes of higher learning have initiated joint collaborations with researchers from the Arctic and Southeast Asia to share best practices and exchange ideas on common challenges, such as energy access in remote communities. We have also worked with several diplomatic missions in Singapore from Arctic member states to organise events to raise awareness of Arctic issues in Singapore, especially amongst the young people. When I attended the 13th Arctic Frontiers Conference in Norway in January this year, I spoke about Singapore’s Smart Nation strategies at a discussion on "Smart and Resilient Arctic Societies". I am happy also to report that Singapore's contributions in this field have been well-recognised and received. Going forward, we hope to involve and familiarise more companies with the growing opportunities in the high north. In conclusion, Mr Chairman, Singapore's survival depends on our effective cultivation of a wide network of partners and friends. Our external engagement, on both bilateral and multilateral levels, has grown dramatically over the last few years. This monumental task requires a whole-of-Government effort. MFA will continue to fly the Singapore flag high and strengthen relations with countries and regions around the world to secure Singapore's interests and also for Singapore's continued development.”
“We also recently launched the Singapore-UK Partnership for the Future to develop existing and new initiatives. As for the agreements with the EU, such as EUSFTA, we are open to having them apply to the UK after Brexit. Ms Tin Pei Ling asked about Singapore's engagement of Central and Eastern Europe. Singapore enjoys good and growing relations with the emerging markets in Europe, notably, Russia, Turkey, Poland, Romania and the Czech Republic. We have fruitful political exchanges and also ongoing collaborations in various sectors, such as science and technology. We will continue working with other European partners, such as the Eurasian Economic Union, with whom we are currently negotiating an FTA. Ms Jessica Tan requested an update on our engagement of Canada. I am glad to report that good progress has been made over the past year. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Singapore to attend the ASEAN Summit and Related Summits as a Guest of the Chair. A highlight was the signing of agreements on cybersecurity, infrastructure and also smart cities cooperation. Canada's provincial governments are strengthening their economic presence in Singapore with the setting up of more provincial offices to promote trade and investments. Mr Desmond Choo asked about Singapore's engagement with the Arctic Council (AC). Since becoming an AC observer in 2013, we have had the opportunity to engage Arctic experts and policymakers who can provide us with deeper insights into the possible consequences that a warming Arctic and the opening of new sea routes could have for Singapore.”
“We continue to build on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed in 2015. We are exploring ways to further deepen the bilateral relationship at the upcoming Singapore-Australia Joint Ministerial Committee meeting. This is a very unique 3+3 meeting involving the Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence Ministers. We look forward to welcoming Australia’s Prime Minister to visit Singapore for the next annual Leaders’ Summit. Ms Cheng Li Hui asked how Singapore is engaging the EU. Singapore and the EU share good ties and we marked a major milestone in the relationship with the signing of the EUSFTA, the EU-Singapore Investment Protection Agreement (EUSIPA) and the EU-Singapore Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EUSPCA) in October last year, and their approval by the European Parliament just two weeks ago. Mr Arasu Duraisamy asked what we can do beyond the EUSFTA to further relations with key EU members. Complementing the EUSFTA, the EUSIPA will enhance investment and business opportunities, while the EUSPCA will promote cooperation in areas, such as education, science and technology. We will continue to work towards the full ratification and entry into force of these agreements. As the EU undergoes a leadership transition in 2019 this year, we are committed to working with the new leaders to deepen and broaden our ties. We will also strengthen our bilateral relationships with the individual member states in the EU. Mr Arasu Duraisamy also asked how Singapore will manage our relationship with the UK in the post-Brexit era. We have strong and long-standing bilateral ties with the UK that exist independently of our engagement through the EU. There are many bilateral agreements which will remain in force.”
“Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and several Ministers visited Japan in 2018. In January 2018, I led a delegation to co-chair the 19th Singapore-Kagoshima Conference, which is the longest-running forum of its kind that Singapore has with a Japanese prefecture. In line with Japan's G20 priorities, we are exploring possible collaborations with Japan to support infrastructure projects in third countries. Mr Ong Teng Koon requested for an update on Singapore-ROK relations. Our relationship with the ROK is warm. ROK President Moon Jae-in made a State Visit to Singapore in July last year and several MOUs were exchanged to enhance our cooperation in trade, environment as well as SMEs and startups. Both countries also discussed new areas of cooperation, such as smart grid technologies, e-commerce, FinTech and cybersecurity. To Mr Henry Kwek's questions on the Korean Peninsula, as Minister Vivian Balakrishnan mentioned earlier, the US and DPRK will continue their dialogue following the second US-DPRK Summit. Continued dialogue will ensure that the tension on the Korean Peninsula remains within control. Singapore will continue to work with the international community to support efforts towards lasting peace and stability on a denuclearised Korean Peninsula. In the meantime, we remain committed to implementing the UN Security Council Resolutions fully. 3.30 pm In the south, Australia is a like-minded partner with whom we share deep historical ties and similar strategic perspectives. Our two countries share a common interest in promoting trade liberalisation. Bilaterally, our economic ties are strong. Singapore is Australia's largest trade and investment partner in Southeast Asia.”
“Our three Government-to-Government projects with China, namely, SIP, which I mentioned earlier, the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City (SSTEC) and the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity (CCI) are doing well. The SSTEC celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2018, and the CCI-New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor has connected the Silk Road Economic Belt and the Maritime Silk Road, thereby enhancing connectivity between western China and Southeast Asia and beyond. Mr Chairman, as we take stock of what our two countries have accomplished together, we must continue to develop and progress. We cannot stick to our old ways of cooperation. We need to continue to innovate and develop new areas of cooperation for our mutual benefit. In this regard, we are working closely together in areas relating to the BRI that are good for Singapore, China and the region. These projects aim to improve infrastructural connectivity, financial connectivity, third-country cooperation and professional services, including legal and judicial cooperation. Last year, we elevated the China-Singapore Guangzhou Knowledge City to a state-level bilateral cooperation project. We are now preparing to establish a comprehensive mechanism for cooperation between Singapore and Shanghai, in addition to the existing seven business and economic councils, thereby opening up a new chapter in our close cooperation. (In English): Mr Chairman, now allow me to continue in English. In addition to engaging the major powers, we must continue to strengthen relations with other key partners. Mr Amrin Amin sought an update on Singapore-Japan relations and new areas of cooperation with Japan. Our ties with Japan are close and multifaceted, with frequent high-level exchanges.”
“Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has highlighted three Deputy Prime Minister-level bilateral platforms, namely, the JCBC, the Singapore-China Forum on Leadership and Singapore-China Social Governance Forum. In addition, we have three Government-to-Government projects and seven business and economic councils with Chinese provinces and municipalities. These include Guangdong, Jiangsu, Liaoning, Shandong, Sichuan, Tianjin and Zhejiang. We have trade and development councils with these municipalities. These institutionalised frameworks and concrete projects allow officeholders, including our 4G leaders and officials from both sides, to exchange views and work together to address common challenges in our changing social, economic and political landscape. The PRC government conferred a Reform and Friendship Award to Mr Lee Kuan Yew last year, in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up, affirming the robust, long-standing friendship between our two countries. Our first Government-to-Government project, the China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP), was first initiated by Mr Lee Kuan Yew and will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year. The development of the Suzhou Industrial Park has since inspired many similar initiatives within and outside China. Economic and trade cooperation has all along been a key pillar of the Singapore-China relationship. Since 2013, Singapore has been China's top foreign direct investor, while China has been our largest trading partner. Singapore was the first Asian country to have a comprehensive bilateral FTA with China. This year marks the 10th year since its implementation. Last year, both sides concluded the upgrade of the China-Singapore FTA, advancing our economic and trade cooperation to the next level.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, Minister Vivian Balakrishnan outlined an increasingly complex global environment in which Singapore must operate. Senior Minister of State Mohamad Maliki spoke on the state of Singapore-US bilateral relations. And I will elaborate on our relationship with China. Mr Chairman, please allow me to do so in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Chairman, next year, we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Singapore and China. This is a very important landmark. In reality, our links with China are long-standing, with frequent exchanges long before the establishment of our diplomatic relations. As we all know, our founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew visited China in 1976, and China's leader Deng Xiaoping visited Singapore in 1978. These mutual visits have laid a solid foundation for our bilateral exchanges and cooperation. Just now, Ms Sun Xueling highlighted how Singapore's younger 4G leaders continue to build strong relations with the Chinese leaders, and she also asked how we could take bilateral cooperation to the next level. Mr Chairman, indeed, it is crucial that bilateral relations continue to grow seamlessly from one generation to the next. Last year saw a flurry of high-level visits on both sides. Prime Minister Lee, Deputy Prime Minister Teo, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman and many younger 4G Cabinet Ministers visited China. We hosted several Chinese leaders in Singapore, including Premier Li Keqiang, Vice Premier Han Zheng and Vice President Wang Qishan. I visited Wuhan and Changsha in July 2018, where local leaders and I discussed cooperation on a wide range of areas, including modern services, such as finance and healthcare.”
“For example, we worked with HDB to inform Singaporeans on LPAs at HDB's series of Heartland Talks. We will continue with these public education efforts. The number of LPA registrations have also risen in recent years, almost doubling from around 12,000 LPAs registered in 2017, to around 23,000 registered last year. This is very encouraging. Miss Cheryl Chan has suggested using HDB flat transactions as a touchpoint for even more simplified LPA-making. We will certainly look into this suggestion as we continue to explore how we can make it easier for people to make an LPA. In closing, Sir, I thank my MOH colleagues for putting together the Caregiver Action Plan, as well as the caregivers and community partners who stepped forward to provide feedback during the consultations. The plans are an important step in the right direction, as pointed out by Members of this House. I believe that, together with the support and partnership of the people, private and public sectors, we can build a more inclusive society for all. Mr Speaker, Sir, I support both Motions.”
“Parents know that they will not always be able to take care of their children, and they hope that their children will be able to find and hold on to good jobs and live independently despite their special needs. We understand all these hopes and concerns and want to assure them that MSF is committed to meeting the employment needs and enhancing the independent living prospects of persons with special needs. Our "Future Economy" and "Smart Nation" drive will not leave their children behind, but rather, be enablers for greater inclusion both in the workforce and also in the community. As part of our efforts to engage the community to co-design and co-create solutions, we are examining these issues together with persons with special needs, their caregivers, Government agencies, VWOs and other stakeholders. MSF will elaborate on all these plans at the Committee of Supply. Now, let me touch on the topic of helping more Singaporeans make a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) which some Members, including Miss Cheryl Chan, have raised. The chances of losing mental capacity increase as we age. As individuals, we can plan early to appoint a family member to make decisions for us when we lose mental capacity. This advance planning will give our caregivers clarity and peace of mind. Making an LPA is, therefore, very critical, and MSF will continue to encourage more Singaporeans to do so. In the process, we have simplified the LPA application process and extended the LPA fee waiver of $75 to 31 August 2020. To raise awareness, we recently launched a radio campaign in January to encourage more Singaporeans to make an LPA. We have also partnered other agencies to hold public education talks.”
“While the Government must do better to ensure that caregivers in need of help do not fall through the gaps, I thank Ms Denise Phua for also recognising that the Government alone cannot resolve all the issues, and that we need to involve the wider community to support the needy in our midst. That said, MSF plans to strengthen case coordination and management to provide better social assistance in cases of complex needs. We will share more about these plans at the Committee of Supply this year. Sir, to do good work together, the Government must engage stakeholders and be open to their feedback and work with them. For example, the EMP3 steering committee called for improved access to information on disability-related social support and services and suggested creating a one-stop information portal for caregivers to meet their needs for information on services, caregiving, self-care and well-being. To answer this call, SG Enable is developing a new online portal that will act as a 24/7 information hub pointing caregivers to social support available for their care recipients and also for themselves. We also heard from VWOs that run Special Education schools that parents feel overwhelmed with options when deciding which care service would best suit their child who is about to graduate at age 18. So, now, we are working closely with MOE to improve the transition management process to help parents make an informed decision on the appropriate care service for their child. Sir, many caregivers have also expressed concerns over the future of their children, especially after they leave school.”
“Connecting caregivers, whether physically, or even through mobile chat groups, allows them to seek advice or share their own experiences with others, including the Government and service providers, more effectively. For example, after meeting Minister Desmond Lee at the Caregivers Pod last year, a group of 15 caregivers came together and proposed a list of priorities that are most needed by caregivers. So, we welcome such ground-up initiatives and we are looking into how we can work together with them to address their concerns through customised solutions. We are also aware that caregivers, especially older caregivers, worry about care arrangements for their children with special needs after they themselves have passed on. To address this concern, the Special Needs Trust Company (SNTC) was set up in 2008 to provide trust management services for these families. We also set up the Special Needs Saving Scheme in 2012 to enable parents to set aside CPF for the long-term care of their children. We will continue to explore more avenues and schemes to help address such concerns. MSF is constantly looking at how we can improve the services we offer to caregivers. I, therefore, thank the Members for sharing with us their accounts of the struggles that caregivers in their constituencies face in seeking assistance from the Government. Indeed, as pointed out by Ms Denise Phua, these are complex cases for which there are no one-size-fits-all solutions or, in her words, cookie-cutter policies, to address each individual issue.”
“Beyond the caregiver action plans, MSF and our partners also support caregivers through various initiatives targeted at helping caregivers across life stages. Allow me to share some of these examples. We are improving support for caregivers and parents of children with developmental needs. Earlier this year, MSF announced that we will make Early Intervention services more customised to the developmental needs of children and also make them more affordable. Children under two will receive intervention under a new Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) Under-2s programme. This programme focuses on training parents and caregivers to include intervention strategies in the child's daily routines in their own home. We will also increase subsidies so that early intervention services are made more affordable. Taking care of persons with special needs is a lifelong journey and, for some, a lifelong commitment, and the support and guidance from other caregivers play an important part in helping them overcome difficult times. For this purpose, SG Enable has been working with the community to facilitate peer-to-peer training to equip caregivers with the skills to mentor and guide other caregivers. Last December, Minister Desmond Lee launched the Caregivers Pod at Enabling Village. This is a space specifically set aside for caregivers to take part in peer support activities and caregiver training. Beyond being a place for caregivers to meet, the Caregivers Pod is also a platform for them to connect and share experiences and expertise and strengthen peer support among themselves.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, another member of the Merdeka Generation is speaking now. Sir, caregivers are the first line of support and, for some, the only line of support, for their loved ones, and their roles can be physically, mentally and emotionally demanding. As shared by a few Members earlier, it is not uncommon to find caregivers neglecting their own well-being, or suffering from burnout, when taking care of their dependants. This is why "Supporting Caregivers" is a key thrust of our Third Enabling Masterplan (EMP3). Through EMP3, we want to help caregivers provide the best possible care to their loved ones, and also to take care of themselves. Caregivers of adults with special needs and caregivers of seniors actually face similar challenges, such as physical care tasks, care affordability, accessing information and maintaining their emotional well-being. Allow me to highlight how caregivers of persons with special needs will benefit from the Caregiver Action Plan. The Home Caregiving Grant that MOH will introduce to replace the FDW Grant will provide much-needed support for caregivers of persons with special needs. It will increase financial support for caregivers of individuals with permanent disability, who require assistance to perform at least three ADLs. In addition, the grant can also be used for a broader range of support rather than just for hiring FDWs. For example, it can be used to pay for out-of-pocket expenses, such as Day Activity Centre fees. MOM is also encouraging more employers to incorporate FWAs to reduce stress faced by working caregivers. FWAs give working caregivers greater flexibility to manage their time when the caregiving need arises.”
“I thank the Nominated Member for this very important question. As this is something that is new, we will have to look at it. And it is also something concerning employment matters. So, we will have to study it together with MOM.”
“I thank the hon Member for raising two very important questions. Indeed, these are issues that we have been looking at. So, for example, for the respite care for parents with seniors at home, I understand that MOH is currently looking into enhancing the provision of respite care. As for parents with young children where they need to put their children at the drop-in centres when their children fall sick and so on and so forth, this is something that is fairly complex. So, my Ministry has been looking at this. And I am glad that the Member has raised this. That has also strengthened our resolve in reviewing this and to come up with some solutions. So, we will be working and discussing with the agencies under the Ministry as well as with community partners to find a solution to address the childcare needs on an ad hoc and urgent basis by the parents. Once again, I thank the Member for the suggestions.”
“Sir, I thank the Member for a very useful question. Every child born in Singapore, whether to a Singaporean couple or to a Singaporean and a non-resident spouse, is a child of Singapore. So, we will do our best to help. I have mentioned that MSF has three programmes to help transnational couples, particularly the foreign spouse, to adapt to living in Singapore. We also have the Letter of Consent issued by MOM to help the foreign spouse find work and employment in Singapore. So, we do have a few programmes to help them, namely, the MPP, MSP and the Friendship Programme, all are designed to help foreign spouses to adapt to Singapore and eventually be integrated with our society. Although I mentioned that these programmes have produced very positive results, we know that there is always room for improvement. My Ministry is in the midst of doing a review of the MPP and MSP to find out whether there are shortcomings in the programmes and, if there are, then we would want to strengthen them further. In the process, we will also explore whether there is a need to offer new programmes. If there is a need, we will seriously consider that.”
“Sir, most children from transnational families attend our local schools, just like other Singaporean children, and interact with students of different backgrounds in their classes and co-curricular activities. Through the Character and Citizenship Education curriculum in schools, children also learn about our society's norms and values. Being immersed in our local school environment is the best and most natural way to ensure that they are integrated, and children of transnational families do just as well in school as any other children. In terms of employment, over the past three years, an average of 14,000 Non-Resident spouses holding Long Term Visit Passes (LTVP/LTVP+) were employed in Singapore each year with a Letter of Consent issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). This figure includes Non-Resident grooms and brides married to either Singaporeans or Permanent Residents. Sir, transnational marriages are as resilient as marriages between Singaporeans. The divorce rates for transnational marriages before the fifth and 10th year of their marriage anniversaries are comparable to those for Singaporean marriages from the same cohorts. For Non-Resident spouses of Singaporeans whose marriages end in divorce, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) would generally facilitate their continued stay in Singapore through a renewable LTVP, as long as they have custody over young Singaporean children. This is to allow them to care for their Singaporean children here. They can seek support from community agencies for a range of financial assistance and social services, and approach Social Service Offices (SSOs) for an assessment of their needs. SSOs and our Family Service Centres will also provide help and socio-emotional support, if the need arises.”