Seah Kian Peng
Singapore
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for his reply. Just a few supplementary questions. Given the decline in volume and given that I can understand SingPost having their challenges, how does the Ministry ensure that there is no degradation of services that are provided by SingPost?”
“Yet, violence, domination, pain, harm and abuse also occur within the walls of a family. We need to be vigilant and sensitive in our approach. Hard rules and automatic application of these rules are a poor response to the challenges that we face today.”
“Both parents and schools have a role to play in shaping our children in the way they should go and I agree with Mr Don Wee that it is important for families to have open conversations about these matters.”
“Just a quick supplementary question for the Senior Minister of State. First, I must say I am surprised but happy that the number of cases has gone down. Having said that, we need to also pay attention to the number of unreported cases. Personally, I am sure we have heard from many residents who come to us for these cases.”
“Second, we propose to put in place new processes to prevent the misuse of the MPA by parents who have abandoned, abused or neglected their children and did not fulfil their parental duties. In so doing, we also protect and spare their children from unnecessary distress.”
“The way we feed ourselves will not be the same. The way we live and the way we work will also be different – telemedicine, work from home, online learning and the need for insurance. But there are other things which will remain the same – resilience, unity, and a single-minded commitment to our joint future.”
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Every one of 752 lines we hold for Seah Kian Peng, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 9 of 16.
“Mr Chairman, Singapore experienced the longest dry spell on record early last year. February 2014 was the driest spell in Singapore since 1869. I understand that PUB has increased the amount of NEWater injected into our reservoirs then to maintain the water levels in the reservoirs. Page: 132 We need to be assured that we will similarly be able to cope with such dry spells in the future, especially since water demand actually went up during this period despite public appeals to conserve water. I would like to ask the Ministry what plans they have to better prepare ourselves against future dry spells. Are there any steps being taken to educate the public on the value of water? PUB has a number of noteworthy initiatives like the Water Conservation Awareness Programme that has been running since 2011, the Water Efficiency Management Plan introduced in 2010, and the sharing of water reduction measures for during dry spells. What has been the impact of these initiatives? Given these initiatives, are we adequately prepared for future dry spells? Do we need to institute water rationing days for Singaporeans and all so that we can be future ready to face such a crisis in the event of another prolonged dry spell? Drainage”
“Second, could we get schools into the act, not the usual primary and secondary schools but also the tertiary education institutions and their hostels? By introducing this in schools, I think students are more likely to pick up this desirable habit through social learning and at an earlier age as well. I understand that some hostels in the National University of Singapore Page: 123 (NUS) already have this. It would be interesting to collect this data to see what works and what does not in persuading people to reduce or eliminate food waste. Perhaps the Ministry could jointly work with the Ministry of Education (MOE) on some of these campaigns. Biodegradable Plastic Bags”
“Mdm Chair, each one of us is likely to waste 400 grammes of food today. In 2013, there was food wastage of 796,000 tonnes; this had increased from the 703,200 tonnes in 2012 – a 13% increase – the sharpest spike in six years. In 2013, food waste made up about one-tenth of all wastes generated. How does the Ministry intend to address this? Food wastage is a huge problem around the world. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, a third of all food produced for consumption goes to waste, which is about 1.3 billion tonnes worth of food. In the UK, 7.2 million tonnes of food and drink is thrown away each year and, in Europe, this figure goes up to 100 million tonnes of food wastage per year. Food wastage, or for that matter any form of wastage, is never good. But, in our case, it is worse here because we import 90% of all we eat. It is heartening to know that the Government has started to look into this programme. I know Minister Grace Fu is very passionate about this, so am I. One of Government's efforts has been the commissioning of a food waste survey. I would like to bring up two ideas for the Ministry's consideration. First, we can use the power of social norms. We could have a "Clean Plate" campaign that encourages everyone to finish their food and have a "clean plate" at the end of their meals. By encouraging this habit, we are likely to facilitate it becoming a norm, which would then make it easier for people to adhere to this norm and harder to detract from it. Personally, for myself, when I was young, my mum always taught me to finish every grain of food on my plate. That was more for financial reasons. I have carried this habit to my current age – I am 53 years old now. Whatever I take, I will finish everything.”
“Although 62% of residential projects approved by URA and 34% of commercial, hotel or mixed-use projects have taken up LUSH incentives over the last two years, could and should there be more? What could be done to encourage a greater take-up of the LUSH incentives? Last, can URA's Master Plan do more in ensuring that Singapore's green cover remains adequate and sustainable, not just in terms of providing a green cover, but in protecting old Page: 20 trees? Environmental Impact Assessment”
“Mdm Chair, first, let me declare my interest as a board member of NParks. Singapore is a City in a Garden, and, to that end, we have, indeed, one of the most comprehensive landscaping and greening efforts in Asia, maybe even the world. In reducing pollution and dust, and improving air quality and the quality of life, we see that there is immeasurable value in this. There are two issues that I want to raise: first, I would like to point out that despite our highly regarded tagline of being a City in a Garden, over 120 square kilometres of land have been added to Singapore's land area; and more than 95% of Singapore's original forest cover, which is about 578 square kilometres, has been cleared. This means that we could, effectively, become more a city than a garden. Given the increasing urbanisation and demands for various development works, what safeguards are being adopted to ensure that our green cover is being maintained and that we retain the "Garden in a City" and "City in a Garden" uniqueness for Singaporeans and visitors to our country to continue to enjoy and experience? Second, I know that we have taken some measures in "greening" Singapore. For example, between 1986 and 2007, the green cover in Singapore grew from 35.7% to 46.5%. But I ask that we be clear-eyed about it – a 100-year-old tree is surely different from a six-month-old shrub and manicured road dividers in terms of ecological value. Like avocados and kang kong, not all greens are the same. I understand that there have been efforts to encourage skyrise greenery, such as the Landscaping for Urban Spaces and High-Rises (LUSH) programme, started in 2009.”
“Mdm Chair, late last year in Parliament, I had asked that the Ministry consider offering HDB flats not on the usual 99-year leases but on Page: 119 shorter leases, say, 70-year tenure. Minister Khaw Boon Wan had then responded that the demand for these flats would not be strong and that the price point advantage may not be so attractive. In China, the lease for residential property is 70 years. While Singapore is certainly not China, I believe that offering HDB flats on a shorter lease has its advantages for Singaporeans. For instance, shorter leases could be for smaller flats – the prices for such flats, while it may not be proportionately lower based on its shorter lease term, would, nonetheless, provide another much needed opportunity for Singaporeans, under different circumstances and stage of their life, to own their own flat at a much lower price point. For some Singaporeans, they might not need nor desire to own a property for as long as 99-years and they might not want to pass their flat to the next generation – they just need a more affordable flat and for a shorter lease period. Although this group of Singaporeans could possibly look to the resale market, the prices in the resale market are subject to greater fluctuations and are usually at a higher premium than if they were to buy from HDB. Also, these people might desire new flats, which the resale market would not be able to offer even though they might have shorter leases. As such, I hope Minister and the Ministry could consider – besides having HDB flats with 99-year leases – offering some HDB flats, especially smaller flats on shorter tenures, such as on 70-year leases. HDB Loan Eligibility”
“I am always amazed at the reunions – involving the boys – that old school alumni have. Can MINDEF consider also Page: 101 providing support for such efforts and perhaps have them in camps? I think this would bring communities together and that is another way we can build a closer and more inclusive society. Optimising Resources and Productivity”
“Madam, our defence budget for FY2014/2015 hit a record high of $12.56 billion. This marked an increase of 3.2% from 2013. Arms spending alone was $12.2 billion last year, compared to $8.6 billion in 2004. Our defence expenditure has increased steadily by about 4% a year since 2008. The steady spending on our defence is necessary for our national security, which is becoming ever more important. Terrorism has become a very real issue, and tensions between countries all over remain a concern. Besides continuing to maintain good ties with countries, Singapore needs to continue building up its own defence capability and security in order to deter would-be aggressors. Looking across the Causeway, our neighbour, Malaysia, had recently announced that their National Service programme for 2015 would be suspended as part of measures to cut costs. While our budget for MINDEF has sometimes come under criticism, not spending enough on our national defence and, hence, compromising our national security is unthinkable. While Singapore may have the highest defence spending in Southeast Asia, other countries in the region of Asia have also increased their defence spending and any cut-down on Singapore's spending seems likely to have implications. Madam, I understand that our defence expenditure includes investments in human capital, operating and development expenditure, and investments in new capabilities. Could MINDEF provide an overview of how spending is allocated across these three areas? I have spoken in my main speech about MINDEF being a crucial public space in Singapore. Can the Minister tell me if MINDEF has a way of tracking the social capital it has built up over the years? And if not, can it explore a way of doing so?”
“I also argue that public spaces, whether it is for security, for MINDEF or hawker centres – to name two – need to be well-funded and well thought out to ensure that Singaporeans of all income groups will have opportunities to come together, shoulder-to-shoulder, with a common goal – whether it is for something humble, such as enjoying a meal together, or a worthy and higher endeavour, such as protecting our home. These are our common goals, our common spaces. We have to make them bigger and brighter, if we are to build a common future together. Madam, I support the Budget. 2.54 pm”
“His wife, who works at the stall with him, says some people come in the afternoons for "breakfast" too, but he says, "It is okay, whenever they are hungry, we will feed them. I am hoping that it will catch on among the other hawkers, too, but, so far, I do not think anyone else has done it yet. But it does not matter." He says, "I will keep doing it and, someday, others will do the same way, too, if they can afford it." He gives out 50 free breakfasts a month and I think, sometimes, he feeds more than their stomachs. He is a friend to them. Those people who know of his effort then give him the money to continue this work. Together, in his case, they enlarge the common space of Ang Mo Kio. Hawker centres are a magnet for all Singaporeans. On any weekend, you will see top corporate bosses sharing a table with drivers, technicians, cashiers. It is a facet of social life that deserves to be enlarged. So, I hope that the Government will conduct a review of public and social life in hawker centres, see what interactions and social life exist at present and create some new common spaces in and around hawker centres. Madam, to build our future, we need to make growth real for all Singaporeans, to give each one of us a stake in a new and brighter tomorrow. This can only be the case if we are not divided by class, if the common spaces on this tiny island are large enough for all of us. I have argued that our public space must be made stronger and better by first distributing wealth better through fiscal measures but also by changing our view of what it means to give to others in our community – out of a sense of fair play and duty to our fellowmen, rather than that of magnanimity and condescension. Page: 68 This is one way of expanding public space in our minds.”
“Today, more than ever, in a Singapore where ideas are contested, with the goals of development uncertain and, yet, where larger scale climate events are more imminent, where geopolitics remain as fraught for Singapore, we need large public spaces so we are truly one country. Another important public space in Singapore is our hawker centres. I think it is a feature of our national life. Perhaps, this is a factor of my age, but I have become a bit allergic to cafes. Amongst the young people that I meet or hire, one of their common "dreams" is to "own a cafe". I think we have gone wrong somewhere here, if the sum of the aspirations of our young people comprise many of such dreams. I would rather have a bowl of bak chor mee than spending $15 on eggs and cream. And I dare say you will be hard-pressed to find any Singaporean who does not enjoy going to a hawker centre and trying the food there. Page: 67 So, I hope our Ministries could adopt a whole-of-Government approach to consider how hawker centres can be made more user-friendly to allow people to linger for more than a quick meal perhaps, or to encourage hawkers to be closely linked to the people they serve each day. I do not have a hawker centre in my constituency, so, I will use another example. Mr Toh Ah Wat is 66. He runs a drinks stall at an Ang Mo Kio market. He lives in a 4-room flat in Yishun with two of his four children and his wife. He takes only three days off a month. He works hard but his income goes also to those who live around the hawker centre. In fact, anyone who cannot afford a meal gets a free breakfast from him – two eggs, a hot drink and kaya and butter toast.”
“Sir, National Service, is a great public space for men. And, through men, as sons and husbands, we draw our families into this world as well. I support a strong and well-funded MINDEF and I have filed a cut for this Ministry and will say more about it then. Here, I want to note the importance of MINDEF in creating common spaces for Singaporeans. And that is why I support our continued strong spending for MINDEF – there are those from both sides of the House who had argued that spending on defence, including its use of large tracts of land, is competing with other uses – that the resources could be better spent elsewhere. More dangerously, there are those who argue that National Service could be shortened because the opportunity costs of a young man's life are immeasurably high. True, these resources could possibly be used better but this is true only in a very weak sense – that money used and spent on MINDEF is wasteful in the same way that health insurance is wasteful. We spend it hoping and wishing we would never have to use it, because we cannot count this spending as wasteful. We instead should see it as a shield, as a deterrent. But there is a larger point to this. Michael Sandel, an American philosopher, is today writing at a time when there is great intractability in his country's politics. There is polarisation in public dialogue, distrust between reds and blues – there is a decreasing amount of common spaces in national life. For him, the American military is an example of public space. Some years back, former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong had spoken out on the importance of these common spaces for a multi-cultural, multi-racial country.”
“In this Budget, we see that the Finance Minister has also moved away from it – from the hierarchy of grades to a mastery of skills, with many different paths to a good career. Meritocracy is, indeed, a terrible system that does not account for the role of luck, for circumstance of fortunes. But, luckily, in the real world, we also have national Budgets – we have men and women leaders who will decide that, in the spirit of fairness, we should make allowances for the things that a system of meritocracy does not and cannot. In the past, I have argued for unequal treatment in schools – ensuring that the least advantaged students get more subsidies, more attention. Today, I would like to argue also for more public spaces in Singapore, so that people of all income groups and classes can interact, think and value common things about and in our country. Expanding civic spaces. Madam, I did my National Service and completed my in-camp trainings many, many years ago – I am quite old now. I had met many Singaporeans from all walks of life during those National Service and in-camp training days and made many friends as a result. I am the richer for the experience and the friends I had made have helped me become a better person. Together, we went to many different training places in Singapore and overseas, trained as one unit under rain and shine, lived together and talked about all kinds of things and, most important of all, we became friends for life. I started as an Officer Cadet, became an Infantry Officer and finished up as the Chief Logistics Officer of a heliborne Brigade. I worked with a diverse team from manpower to administration to logistics, interacted with interesting Page: 66 vocations – storekeepers, drivers, cooks.”
“But I argue that the time for this has passed – at a time when the rich have become rich because of the stability of Singapore, the public infrastructure built, the collective efforts of all Singaporeans, all these positive externalities – donations from those who have succeeded are not merely kindness or generosity, it is a public duty. It is not, or not only, compassion; it is fairness. This is not compassion. This is fairness. Madam, this is a Budget that helps us understand the role of luck in our lives. This is a Budget that makes it less important whether you are born rich or poor, brainy or not, athletic or not, entrepreneurial or not. It is generous to the poor; it is fair to the rich. It is a Budget that ties our collective destiny together, expands our civic and shared spaces; it is a Budget that will make SG50 a celebration and SG100 a real and brighter Page: 65 possibility. In this, we must change the mindset that donations are a function of generosity and magnanimity. Donations and charity, rather, are a recognition that success is also a measure of luck – of genetic endowment, or fortuitous meetings, of kindness from strangers. For example, there is an episode of "The Noose", a satirical news programme, which, sometimes, I like better than real news. It is about a boy who scores very highly for his PSLE and he attributes it all to his own hard work – leaving aside the fact that his parents are both doctors with the wealth necessary to ensure that he is chauffeured to and from school and attends expensive high-quality enrichment classes. This is perhaps the mindset in many students and young Singaporeans. It is a mindset bred by years of "meritocracy". I have previously spoken out against a strict definition of meritocracy.”
“5 times permanent until such time as he sees a need for Page: 64 revision. The figure for donations from individuals is now at a high of $1.25 billion, a 14% rise from the amount of $1.10 billion in 2012. This is no small amount, given that the Budget for MSF was $1.69 billion in 2013. Can I ask the Finance Minister what the revenue implication of this increase to 2.5 times has been over the years? What is the total increase in donations? What has been the reduction, if any, in tax collected? Or has this been tax revenue-neutral? From my rough calculations, I think if the income tax was at 25% and tax relief at four times, then it might be revenue-neutral. At the moment, I think we could be gaining in donations more than we are losing in tax revenue. Make no mistake – I am not proposing an increase in tax to 25%. I am reiterating my call for a three times tax deduction, assuming, of course, that my rough calculations are right. The Finance Minister has given a three times tax deduction for 2015, but this will expire at the end of this year. I urge the Minister to revise the policy thus – three times until 2018 and 2.5 times to be made permanent. We can tax the rich more, or we can allow them to redistribute wealth in their own way and towards causes which they support. This latter way is voluntary, less certain and more persuasion perhaps needs to be done. But to do it this way allows us to build a stronger, more cohesive society in the end, because we are all helping our fellow countrymen. Donations are not like taxes because they are voluntary. But they do have something in common. For a long time, donating, as an act, has been cast as a matter of compassion, as something that the rich are in a "position to confer".”
“Madam, thank you for allowing me to join the debate. At the start of this term, the President, in his Address, had spoken about the need for economic growth, the promise of better distribution, the call for unity. At that time, I had asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister to go beyond the rhetoric and make "growth real for Singaporeans." This included: one, targeted subsidies for Singaporeans; two, better distribution of wealth – including placing a heavier fiscal responsibility on the rich; and, three, more manpower for social services. Over the years and certainly in this Budget, I think the Finance Minister has addressed all three – I will say how and why in the COS debates later and give some suggestions on where we could do more, and other areas in which we could do less. Today, I would like to ask the Finance Minister to make growth real by distributing wealth even better, by making this distribution a matter of personal choice, not fait accompli, by making Singapore a fairer and more just society in thought as well as deed and by expanding the public spaces we all have and treasure. First, distribute wealth better. I thank the Finance Minister for the courage to raise taxes on the rich. I would like to suggest that the Government give further incentives to the rich who donate. A few years ago, there was a temporary increase of deductions to 2.5 times until 2015. It ends this year. When I asked for this to be kept permanent, I was told that what we do is already generous by international standards. This year, the Finance Minister has extended this 2.5 times tax deduction till 2018, for which I thank him. This ensures some distribution, not by tax, but voluntary giving. I would like him to consider making this 2.”
“I just want to seek a clarification from the Minister. He mentioned that there is already a form and is prepared to work with groups for Singaporeans to be excluded from entering the casinos. I just want to clarify that that would be a similar form like this form in my hand that will come up as a result, allowing, whether it is at the workplace, churches, temples, mosques to organise their members to fill up this simple form for the individuals to be excluded as a whole and not singly.”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Minister for the reply. The basis of my question is really that the current consolidated application form for foreign workers is good, but I would like the Ministry and Casino Regulatory Authority (CRA) to consider making a form similar to this one in my hand, that could be extended to locals or Singaporeans. It may be done at the workplace, it may be done in different groups and it may be done in churches, temples or mosques, but this is still on the basis of the self, the individual, wanting to be excluded but just simply making it easier. Yes, the forms are online, you can log on with SingPass. But my driving principle is: can we make it easier? If we make this available for foreign workers, can we make the same easier for locals? I have in front of me also the local application form for self-exclusion and for foreigners. Even then, for individuals, the local form requires a few more columns to be filled. Can we make it easier? Can we make it simpler? For those who want to, I think we should make it easier. We do know that if they are excluded, the implications, going forward, would be fewer and better for Singapore. So, I hope the Minister can consider, firstly, making this consolidated form for foreign workers available for Singaporeans. The Minister may decide whether it could be done at the workplace or at religious institutions or, for that matter, any groups. Secondly, can the Minister consider making the current self-exclusion form for locals even simpler. There are three areas which I find are unique to Singaporeans. We have to indicate race, religion —”
“I thank the Minister for the reply. I want to assure him that I recognise that the current schemes in place have made it more affordable for first-time owners. My supplementary question goes back to the underlying reason why I asked the question in the first place. I am not asking for this to replace the 99-year option but to offer this as an additional option primarily because while I recognise it would not be 70% of the cost of the new flat but it would lower the price and make it even more affordable. I hope the Minister could continue to consider ways to make it more affordable to own new flats and that this be placed on the radar screen as something which you do not rule out, if not for the present, perhaps in the future then. Just as for industrial spaces – the lease used to be 60 years and, now, they are on 30-year leases. I hope we will continue to explore ways to make new flats more affordable.”
“I thank Deputy Prime Minister for the answer. A few supplementary questions. As Members know, I have been pushing a lot on paternity leave, and I am glad this was legislated. I appreciate the efforts by the Government in giving our civil servants all these pro-family measures. The Deputy Prime Minister mentioned about needs basis, I recognise that. I do think that all those, whether it is childcare leave and, in particular, paternity leave, I think we would want every father to take the paternity leave that is available to them to spend some time with their children. Which is why my question is: what are the underlying causes that fathers are not taking up their paternity leave? This is something which we would want to encourage our civil servants to do, to proactively tell them, "Please go and take leave and spend time with your children and family". I am asking what are the underlying causes and to, perhaps, from the top-down signalling approach, encourage our public officers to celebrate the joy of having children to, please, take their paternity leave amongst other things.”
“She is a 34-year-old lady, married to a 40-year-old Singaporean, has three children aged 13, 11 and 4, and the youngest has got special needs. They live in a 3-room flat and I have been helping her through various sources in a multifaceted way. Last night, she came to see me. Her husband had passed on within the last three weeks. He had Stage 4 advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which is a cancer. Tears welled up in her eyes as she made an attempt to tell me what she wanted. It was not about help. It was not about finances. She was asking whether I could help her extend her Page: 47 Long-Term Visit Pass or perhaps get her a Permanent Resident because now, as a housewife, she would have to work to support her three Singaporean children and she was not going to go back to her original country. All her stakes are now here in Singapore. What would you do? Make representation for a foreigner? She has got no other contacts, relatives, no extended family. Can we let three young children lose their mum after losing their dad? With the notion of a caring society moving all through my neural networks in the gray matter, I decided to write that letter last night. If not for anything, it is at least for the youngest child with special needs. How effective, responsible and responsive the Government and the agencies are, is something that must be acknowledged by the ground and the people. Flexibility can enhance our position as a caring society. From a nation of opportunities, can we become a city of the future that inspires? From just efficiency and effectiveness, can we add humanistic values like care and share, and increase our caring capital? A lot has been said about constructive politics. Well, I hope to promote the practice of what I would call "conscience politics".”
“Let me also correct one misperception that may have been generated from hon Member Mr Inderjit Singh's comments in today's TODAY newspaper on restructured hospitals promoting medical tourism around the region. As a practitioner in healthcare in the last 24 years, please understand that Singaporeans are at the heart of all we do. That is the reason why I strive and work 24 – well, some say 25 – hours a day. We have a strong and good, effective healthcare system. Our reputation is good, our brand name is strong and this has been built over the years with good vision. Is it wrong for international patients to want to seek care here? Well, everything we plan is planned with Singaporeans in mind in our restructured hospitals. All in, we need efficient and timely ramping up. As we await the announced enhancements, changes are going on. Change is the only constant in our lives. Our seniors are continuing to grow old. Diseases, such as dementia, are being diagnosed and increasing daily. The situation is very dynamic. The question to ask is: will we have to play the "catch-up" game every time? Finally, can we incorporate flexibilities into our policies and schemes because people, their lives, their experiences and their situations are unique and there will always be differences? Staff from the public service and Government agencies will need to spend more time on the ground in order to appreciate the root causes of situations and the interplay of various factors, especially in cases that do not satisfy the standard guidelines. Let me, at this juncture, share with Members very quickly a story. I have the approval of this lady to share this anecdote with you.”
“(In English): In the area of healthcare, there are still a few issues to be sorted out although we have a very good healthcare system. I would just like to highlight a few. We need more long-term and intermediate care facilities. We have heard the numbers that are going to be ramped up in the next few years. I have one suggestion to share. Would it be possible to use our HDB flat model as one to provide a facility, perhaps called the "Vertical Step-down Care Facility"? And why not? One block of HDB flats has between 100 and 150 units that could house at least a similar number of residents, seniors or patients. There are lifts that stop on every floor. It is elderly-friendly. It is disabled-friendly. There are toileting facilities in every unit which are excellent for hygiene and accessibility perspectives. Perhaps, MND and MOH can consider piloting this model in land-scarce Singapore to nurse and manage the less critically ill patients needing chronic management. The cost will be very reasonable, I would say. Of course, the timing would also be very reasonable, compared to having to build a nursing home from scratch. As we talk about productivity and innovation, well, this, indeed, is about being productive and innovative. Page: 46 Let us help and support those with mental illness as well, as they need a bit more care facilities and also rehabilitation facilities in the community. On healthcare manpower, we are, indeed, in need of a major ramping up because at several polyclinics these days, they have to reject registrations from as early as one or two o'clock in the afternoon because allocated reasonable quota of daily attendances has been reached for each staff, who will need time to actually settle all the cases they need to see and provide consultations.”
“Many do not care about this issue until, as the Malay saying goes "only after you knock against something, you try to avoid hitting it", because they did not plan early. I would like to urge our younger generation to take positive steps to help their families in these issues since they are more knowledgeable. Some of those affected come from the low-income and middle income families, who do not understand how to manage their finances and family Page: 45 expenses and would simply want to take out all their CPF savings right now to settle their financial problems for the short term. That is unhealthy. Your CPF savings are kept safe for future withdrawal and for your retirement years. There are many schemes that are available now to assist you. The elderly and our Pioneer Generation should also take proactive steps by taking care of their health. With an ageing population, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, stroke and other illnesses are still increasing. Do we know how to take care of family members who are affected? Have we ever undergone a course to become caregivers? The social service sector and the Health Ministry should organise more courses and dialogues to provide guidance and encouragement to the caregivers. Their staff and workers should go to the ground more often and garner feedback directly. In conclusion, although our community has progressed far and achieved further excellence, there are a few issues that are still hampering us. Issues like dysfunctional families, single mothers, divorces, drug problems and others. I am sure that with a mindset change in our community, the combination of efforts and the spirit of gotong-royong and collaboration, together, we can help these people gradually move inch by inch out of poverty trap and vicious cycle.”
“Although a lot of help is available, many still do not understand and are unaware of schemes that are beneficial to them. In fact, it not only benefits individuals and the elderly, but the whole family as well, because their children or grandchildren are usually the ones who help bear their treatment costs. If we take a closer look, if we use the schemes that are available, the subsidy is quite substantial. Therefore, I urge those who are unaware or do not understand, to come to the dialogue sessions or seminars that provide explanations like the one held recently for the Pioneer Generation Package. Many people within our community, who upon becoming ill, will accept it as fate. In fact, some refuse to do anything and get treatment. This attitude is wrong. Please make the effort and get treatment because the treatment is already available. Health literacy amongst our community is also low. This is also the reason for the high rate of chronic diseases in our community compared to other communities. Our lifestyle and diet are also generally unhealthy. If we wish for change and improvement, it should begin with us, by changing our mindset to correct the wrong and outdated perceptions. For working adults, the exercise regime that can usually be done at the workplace, together with their colleagues, is good and useful. Employers can also give support. The Health Promotion Board (HPB) can help companies appoint health champions or health ambassadors who can influence their colleagues through good habits. Mental health programmes can also be enhanced because many of our adults at the workplace sometimes experience a lot of stress. The number of those who have health insurance within our community should also be improved.”
“We can use kindness to help, show care, befriend and contribute to society. Let us learn to throw that kindness boomerang, as it will always be returned eventually back to us. In the process of integration, we are doing a lot. Can our foreign friends and new immigrants also have an open mindset and a big heart to adapt their ways, respect ours, and come together? Can Singaporeans and new immigrant neighbours be buddies as we see in a buddy system, and develop close and nurturing relationships? This way, we can enlarge our social, cultural and even kindness capital. The recent outburst and reaction towards the Philippines independence day was really uncalled for. Every day, Madam, I work with many Filipino doctors and nurses at the hospital – they care for Singaporeans, they care for any and every patient. And I have to say they do a very good job in our extremely hectic and overloaded healthcare system, and I respect them and the many foreigners who work in our system. Madam, in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Throughout 50 years of Singapore's development, our Malay/Muslim community has become more progressive and excellent in many fields and areas. But in terms of taking care of our health, it is clear that there are Page: 44 weaknesses to be addressed. Singapore's health system and policy are comprehensive and cover many aspects for Singaporeans. Recently, there have been many references and improvements made to help all levels of society pay for the costs of their treatment and medicine. The schemes that are available and have been refined includes the 3M, CHAS, Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP), Medication Assistance Fund (MAF).”
“Are we ready to change our mindsets as to how things get done? Better still, are we ready to see through some of these things ourselves, with our neighbours and friends? Nominated Member of Parliament Mr Laurence Lien wanted citizens' involvement at more levels. Well, the platforms are there, but will our citizens come Page: 43 forward to voluntarily serve and do what they have to do? Community capacity building can win you friends and unite people: Singaporeans and new immigrants, young and seniors, different races, different backgrounds and inter-generations. It can help in the intensification of people-to-people interactions. Strong and caring communities start with citizens and residents at the very base. With this model , nation-building, cohesion and even national identity can be strengthened. Community problems may be resolved together. Conflicts can be managed in a more positive way. Our social capital and cultural capital can then flourish even better. Partnerships will be forged as a way forward. Kindness and graciousness will then, hopefully, become a way of life. It will be all about relationship building. Everyone of us is born kind: it is an inherent human value. And here, I would like to quote a Chinese saying which says: "人之初，性本善", which means at the start of human life, we are all originally kind. However, external factors get subjected to a lot of determinants which make us manifest ungraciousness. What are these? Stress, jealousy, competition and so on. Will our intrinsic, inherent value of kindness be strong enough to overcome these external stressors and allow us to be kind and gracious? After all, all of us have got 86,400 seconds every day. Do spend some of these doing acts of kindness.”
“They will not be able to utilise their parents' CPF for education. They also do not usually fall in the group that is going to be able to attain scholarships easily. They may have to turn to bank loans or study loans if their families qualify. Frustrations may arise not only for them but their parents too and, of course, they may be at a loss as to how to proceed. Perhaps the Government can consider how we can assist this group. Education is meant to bring out the best in every child and every adult. It is a continuum, a spectrum – from pre-school right up to lifelong learning in our Pioneers and building up life skills. The following are some suggestions I have: (a) can we have more learning communities, where there are lessons to be learnt everywhere and anywhere, including through play and activities? Then, we can be a society with a strong emphasis on learning at every critical point; (b) can we inculcate more creativity by being more flexible?; and (c) can we use more narratives for learners at all ages to share stories, experiences and be better integrated as they form networks of trust and greater friendships? On community capacity building – we have built ourselves to become one of the most efficient societies on the globe, I think. But let us reflect: are we able to explicitly promote the ethics of caring as a fundamental societal value? After all, part of citizenship is about respect and obligation to care for one another. Are we ready to inculcate this at all levels of our communities and society – teaching, mentoring, coaching, sharing, being positive role models and utilising our shared common space together amicably? Can we all put forth our capabilities and resources, which we have a lot of, and take ownership and become empowered?”
“They worked hard, mostly in construction and rebuilding, putting in a lot of hard labour. Their efforts, sacrifices, hard work and commitment contributed to the development of Singapore. Today, there are a handful of them left and I am privileged to have known one of them. Madam, on education, it has proven to be one of the great equalisers in our meritocratic society. Those from very humble and less privileged backgrounds, who strive and excel, can go the extra mile in achieving their dreams. With the strong foundation and basics we have here, I have to say, "If you can do well in Singapore, you can make it anywhere in the world." That is what I tell my students and the doctors that I teach. The various pathways to the many mountain peaks we have created is, indeed, the right way forward. Page: 42 Finetuning the education system would require: (a) more values-based education: to help inculcate the kindness and graciousness we want to see; (b) more flexibility for those who want to pursue other talents and interest along the way; (c) more time for community involvement, whether local or global, to deepen understanding of human relationships; and (d) more personal time for reflection and thinking, so that we can create more thought leaders. There is, however, one dilemma we are facing today. As our society progresses and we push the bell curve of achievement to the right, there will be a need for more places and placements in our institutions of higher learning. The Government has announced the creation and allocation of many more places, but we will still not be able to meet the demands completely. This group may then have to seek alternative sources more likely in private or overseas institutions. Herein lies the challenge: funding.”
“There are interpretations that speak to clean and responsible public discourse, to open and transparent Civil Service and to progressive values. There are interpretations, too, that speak to the opposition – to irresponsible allegations, to falsehoods, to bravado over real political courage. There are rights and wrongs in political life, Mdm Speaker. Our duty is to get it right. On that note, Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion. 3.05 pm Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade): Madam, Singapore has come a long way. Like many small nation states, we are plagued by so many issues and challenges. A recent case in point is that of Ukraine. We are not immune to these challenges. However, the efficiency, vision in planning and strategies of our Government have kept us developing, progressive, adaptable to global changes and resilient. It has not been a walk in the park. Tasks involved are not easy. Decisions to be made were not simple or straightforward. It requires vision and a deep understanding of the variety of challenges and issues. Political stability has been a very critical factor in the growth and development of Singapore into the Nation of Opportunities we have today. On the global platform, our brand name is strong and respected. All these came from the very strong and correct foundations that were set so many years ago by our forefathers and our Pioneers – the men and women who started building Singapore. Here, I wish to pay tribute to our samsui women who mostly came here between 1934 and 1949. Some 200,000 of them came, just like some of our new immigrants now. They had the courage to travel far and negotiate change. They had a hard life, and they lived in crammed and rudimentary conditions.”
“And he succeeded in great measure. But let us think again. What if he did not? Even if we took the risk and the risk did not pay off, our lives remain good and meaningful because trying and striving are their own reward. Living well, on an individual level, sometimes can mean choosing what is likely to be a worse life. As Dworkin says, and I quote him again: "Living well is not the same as maximising the chance of producing the best possible life." This individual can take chances, he can gamble on a dream, and, indeed, this is what makes life meaningful. But does logic hold true for the collective? Mdm Speaker, physics ensures that we can only live one life. We cannot know in advance whether we succeed or not. But countries must live according to their collective morality. As leaders in this House, we bear an additional duty, not just to lead an ethical life, but shape a larger morality. In this, we have a duty to steer a course that stays true to the values of Singaporeans. Not economics, not even policies, but to recognise and shape the collective morality for Singapore – and I think this is the real challenge of 2030. In these years since 2011, we have charted many new courses, taken many new paths. But I also urge us all to see that all this is in line with the larger interpretation of the good life by Singaporeans, for continued prosperity, for education as a way of realising a secure future, for happiness and for domestic peace and strength. Page: 41 This is the Singapore Story and while we may add new chapters, we need to bear in mind the larger picture, that there are right and wrong interpretations of our collective morality.”
“Our duty is to ensure that there is significant and regular redistribution of wealth, in a fair and transparent manner. This sharing of the country's success and the strengthening of our social safety nets must go hand in hand. Within our basic tenets of Singapore life, we can and we must tolerate even more radical changes, including a reform of our civil and administrative service. We must continue to pursue prosperity and progress but there needs to be a new collective interpretation. I believe there are rights and wrongs even in interpretations. In his book "Justice for Hedgehogs", Dworkin spoke about the difference between personal ethics and collective morality. He wrote, and I quote him: "Moral standards prescribe how we ought to treat others; ethical standards, how we ought to live ourselves. The happiness that Plato and Aristotle evoked was to be achieved by living ethically; and this meant living according to independent moral principles." Page: 40 If we live our lives well, we give it meaning, the sort of meaning that "stands up to the fact and fear of death". In this, our duty as a Government is to provide the environment to make this possible – the sort of opportunities that allow us to live a meaningful life – one that stands up to the fact and fear of death. But there is a difference between life for a person and life as a nation. Mark Lee, one of Singapore's most popular comedians, recently had a set in English at the Esplanade – in a show called Happy Ever Laughter. He spoke about his journey in being a comic actor, earning just $25 a week when he started. His success is a matter of chance and self-application. Or as Mark Lee himself put it – good luck and "gut lad" or Hokkien for hard work. It was a big risk, but he was determined to make it work.”
“Now, however, we seem to be less of a hedgehog because the collective vision is increasingly contentious. We no longer know what the one big thing is. Instead, we each have our version Page: 39 of the smaller things that we know. How then can we move together? We move together by affirming the basics, interpreting our future based on our shared past, and undertaking this exercise in good faith that we work for the collective good, and not personal gain. These basics are reflected in the President's speech – they include the national pledge, the Constitution and our commitment to rule of law. Within these basics, however, there is wide room for new and different interpretations of the good life. The Finance Minister has, in his Budgets so far, made radical changes to the Budgets in the first half of the term of this Government. We have moved more into explicit welfare provision, more into social spending, more into progressive taxes. We had used more non-price incentives, including regulatory mechanisms, in public policy. More recently, he has made another radical move to improve real wages for poorer Singaporeans. Madam, in this, I want to point out that Singapore, like many other developed and developing nations, is increasingly a society where there is great wealth disparity. I have, in the course of the past five years, pointed out that much of what we call meritocracy has been sullied by the unfairness of those who perform so much better because they are born into wealth. This is a fact of life, and not one that we can totally erase – nor should we wish to. The motivation to provide well for our family is the driving force for many of us to strive ceaselessly. And yet, the massive accumulation of wealth by some runs against the tenets of an equal society.”
“But it is clear that such collective action will be very much more difficult in the future. At this point in our national life, we all want so many different things. Mdm Speaker, the negative narrative that has been imputed to the Population White Paper – that it is about economic growth over values, wealth over welfare, prosperity over people – this cannot be further from the truth. All policies – be it on population, education, housing, security, economy – all serve to build for the present and also future generations of Singaporeans a fair and just society, regardless of race, language or religion; so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation. The fox and the hedgehog. Mdm Speaker, the President spoke about and reiterated the pledge to happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation. These remain the foundations of the Singapore Dream. We all want what is good for Singapore but the trouble is, we do not all think "good" is just one thing. It is like the difference between the fox and the hedgehog in ancient Greek parables. The fox knows many things but the hedgehog only knows one big thing. I do not know much philosophy so, in my own way, I understand the first to be a post-modernist position and the second, a more anti-pluralist one. The fox believes there are many truths, but the hedgehog believes that things are either true or false but not both. In the early days, we can all believe in the same thing – pro-growth, pro-market, homes, jobs and development. Small government, large role for market forces, private enterprise, transparent competitive public sector salaries. Is this one big thing with many small details? Or many small things? I say the first. We have always believed in one big thing – one common vision.”
“It is common now to greet such comments with a roll of the eyes and accuse the Government of scaremongering. But wait. Let us see how all this reality hangs together. The rising tide. We have recently been told about global warming leading to rising sea levels. Arctic melting is not a mere matter for polar bears and marine life. It will result in opening up of the Northern Sea Route which will greatly reduce transshipments to Singapore. This will mean the loss of tens of thousands of jobs related to transportation, logistics and relevant supporting business chains. All these will have major and long-term impact on Singapore's survival in economic, environmental and other areas. Many global events will shape and change our future whether we like it or not. For example, the Euro zone crisis, the US financial troubles, the Middle East revolts, Israel/Palestinian conflicts, the Korean peninsula's nuclear threats, escalated tensions in the East China Sea and South China Sea, the state of China's economy, the rising of regional powers, such as Indonesia. Overcoming all these major challenges require long-term vision and planning by the Government. But ideas cannot be held as good or bad just by a small group of people because the land – this 700 sq km – is held jointly by all of us. Whether in District 9, 10, 11 or in Woodlands or Sembawang, Singapore, this land is a freehold property with many million Page: 38 owners. The decision about who we want to invite into our homes, the key renovations we want to make, what kinds of protection we need – all these are collective decisions which require the full support of Singaporeans. Singapore has become First World in many ways because of our basis for collective action.”
“" But because, truly, it is an exam that has passed its time. The mysterious PSLE. Madam, each year, about 3% of students fail PSLE and they get filtered out into other parts of the education system. So, 100% of children – and probably 200% of parents – go through the stress and frenzied preparation that is the PSLE. Let me ask those of us who are employers – do you hire students based on their PSLE scores? No. Do we rank better internationally because our 12-year-olds can draw better models and memorise idioms for English compositions? No. Do parents need the PSLE scores Page: 37 to be proud of their children? No. What then is the role of a national examination at 12? Nothing – except the bureaucratic function of sorting students into schools. But 97% of primary school students pass and move on to secondary school education. The remaining 3% are retained or go on to assigned secondary schools. But each year, in Primary 1 to 5, there are pupils who fail and are held back. Why can we not treat the Primary 6 exams the same way we treat other exams – to each school its own? Why do we insist on a narrow and insular measure of educational abilities and potentials for 12-year-olds when the demands and entry requirements for tertiary education already make such tests obsolete? Our universities benchmark themselves against the world and recognise global examination results. The larger exams. But whether the Government decides in the end to abolish PSLE or not, one fact remains – Singaporeans need to take larger exams than the PSLE. The reality remains that Singapore is a small nation-state in a sea of neighbours who owe us no favours and who are different from us in many fundamental ways.”
“Over the course of the Eleventh and Twelfth Parliament, I have spoken about single mothers being mothers first and singles second – and the Government has given them the maternity leave that I lobbied for. Paternity leave was finally legislated after I had pushed for it for five consecutive years. I also spoke on the need for more welfare for the elderly – and the Government has given out $8 billion in the Pioneer Generation Package. I asked for more subsidies for healthcare and the Finance Minister has more than doubled the healthcare budget. Ah, the power of speech-making and a Parliamentary seat! I feel as powerful as an Administrative Service officer on some days. Why let a few hon Members lay sole claim to the use of "post hoc ergo propter hoc" – a Latin phrase which means "after this, therefore, because of this"? I must say, that was quite good fun. But, Madam, I make the political point to underscore the need for us to lay it aside – collective action can only be possible when we see one another as fellow Singaporeans working for the larger good, not vote-grabbing politicians seeking popular advantage. We need to resonate with what the people want, and not only expound populist measures, or shy away from taking a stand on difficult policies. This is what constructive politics is – a certain magnanimity and respect for good ideas. Today, there is a sense in which people from different parties must, at all cost, run one another down before we make policy. This was not what politics had been in the past, and not what it should be now, nor in the future. And now, I would like to make a suggestion about PSLE – not because the voters of Marine Parade GRC will be able to point to me and say, "This is the man who made the Government abolish PSLE!”
“But by some other measures we have not done as well. In distribution of wealth, in providing welfare, in making sure that we measure success not just by PSLE scores and prices and salaries, but by other means, we need to do much better. The lack of success in these areas have now reached worrying levels; a fact which some of my colleagues have alluded to in the debate on the White Paper on Population. Some have called it a crisis of trust in the Government which is clearly exaggerated and, fortunately, not the case. Madam, I agree that we need a better resonance of public policy with popular needs and wants. But in the speeches of fellow Members so far, from both sides of the bench, there has been much handwringing and criticism of what we have failed to do. Everyone has new and different ideas of what is best for Singapore. Collective action 2030 – how do we move together? In the past, many things were difficult – our population was poor, we had no reserves, many national projects were funded by loans from international agencies. But things had a clarity then – we needed growth, we needed jobs, to move forward quickly. Today, many things appear easy – we have large reserves, we have many educated people, strong foundation of public housing, transport and schools. And yet, things have become more difficult – the most difficult of which seems to garner agreement on collective action. Page: 36 There is a sense of crisis about congested public transportation, high HDB/ Certificate of Entitlement prices, rising inflation and cost of living. The Government has gone some way to addressing these concerns – and it has done well on this front. Incidentally, to whom is credit due for this?”
“Mdm Speaker, thank you for allowing me to speak. Today, we speak at the half term – with two and a half years or fewer before the next elections. But today, we also speak at 15 years past the millennium – with another 15 years before 2030. By 2030, the ice caps would have melted considerably and the sea levels would have risen and new lanes would have opened. By 2030, Indonesia would be the world's 16th largest economy, overtaking the United Kingdom and Germany. By 2030, Singapore may have more than 6.5 million people and 8% more land. What is the collective destiny of these six-plus million Singaporeans? Page: 35 In my travels, and from the policymakers who have come here to study Singapore from a diverse range of political systems, the success of Singapore is not so much a matter of "good governance" as one of great collective action. There is, of course, some sense in which the two are the same. Let us take our public housing programme, which has been cited globally, and rightly so, as one of the most comprehensive and successful programmes. We have done a pretty good job here. But is it rocket science to build more homes? Is it high technology to lay bricks one on top of the other? It is, however, considerably more difficult to get people to agree – to give up their land for collective use – to agree to make a sacrifice so that the greater good can be accomplished. So, in part, our public housing is not so much a matter of good engineering as good community relations. We had a common Singapore Dream and we agreed to all go for it. Some may lose, some will win, but, overall, Singapore will emerge the winner in the end. And in many ways, we did – in housing, in transport, in economic growth. By quite a few measures, we have done well.”
“Madam, on behalf of my GPC Members and, for that matter, all Members in the Chamber, I want to thank Minister Chan Chun Sing and Parliamentary Secretary Low Yen Ling for their comprehensive, thoughtful and heartfelt replies to addressing the social needs of the people. I also want to take this opportunity to thank Permanent Secretary Chan Heng Kee, Deputy Secretary Ong Toon Hui, all the fine and kind men and women, staff, volunteers in the Ministry and in the social service sector. You are the face, the heart and at the forefront in our quest to make Singapore a fairer and more equitable society. On that note, Madam, it is my pleasure and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $1,795,824,000 for Head I ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] Page: 52 [(proc text) The sum of $69,024,500 for Head I ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“Yes. I wonder if MSF could review this and take up my suggestion to bring it up to age 18.”
“I first want to congratulate the Minister – I am very heartened by all the positive developments that have taken place and the approach that is being taken to address all these social needs both upstream and downstream. A few clarifications for the Minister. First, he shared about some incidents that are posted on various websites or reported in the news. He mentioned that as a policy, MSF does not reveal details. I can understand the sensitivity. But at the same time, I think when we adopt this approach, it is very unfair to all the social workers and the good work that the Ministry and various FSCs are doing. There must be a way to correct some of these wrong perceptions and inaccuracies because the Members in this House may understand the wrong perceptions. But the ill-will that is created through such reporting makes it very tough and creates a wrong impression for the general public. So, I hope the Minister could rethink and review this, selectively. The second clarification is on single parents: Parliamentary Secretary Low Yen Ling mentioned that some progress has been made. Indeed, there are several, but I would like to just push the envelope further and ask, particularly for the single, unwed parents or parents who are not married. There have been some adjustments made but whether we could push the envelope further, that for those who have a child, can we review some of the housing schemes? Also, could some of the financial tax and reliefs be accorded to them? So, I hope the Minister could address that. Finally, my third clarification is still on parents who are going through divorce. As I mentioned in my earlier cut, right now, counselling and mediation are compulsory for those who have a child aged 14 and below, I suggested —”
“Single Parents Sir, with changing demographics and strain on families, we expect to see more households headed by single parents. Page: 167 Some recent studies have indicated that the number of low-income single-person headed households ranged between 21,000 and 88,000. I can imagine many of them facing increasing challenges in having to earn a living and raise a family. Such challenges include housing, employment, childcare and parenting issues. Given this, it is important that we also ensure that their children are not unnecessarily disadvantaged due to their family circumstances. I am heartened by the policy change last year which extended childcare and infant leave to single parents. Six days of childcare leave a year for children below the age of seven, two days for those aged between seven and 12, and six days of unpaid infant care leave a year if they have a child below the age of two. These are now available to single parents. Beyond the childcare leave and childcare subsidies, however, I would like to know the Ministry's plans to provide further support to single parents and their children. This is a group that needs more attention and deserves our fullest support. Finally, I also want to single out another group of single parents for special attention. These are the unwed mothers and their children. For whatever reasons and circumstances, they are in that difficult and challenging situation where, based on current policies, they are not entitled to certain benefits for the simple reason that the unwed mother and her child or children are not, by policy definition, considered a family. Can the Ministry start a whole-of-Government approach and process to review this?”
“Sir, over the years, I have highlighted and championed many aspects and issues that families face. For this year, I wish to raise the following points. First, I would like a progress update on the Family Matters Initiative which was launched last year with the intent of providing more support for people to pursue a positive family life. A sum of $40 million was set aside to help provide funding to schools and workplaces to run pro-family programmes. How many companies or organisations have taken up this funding and to what extent has this helped promote pro-family programmes? 7.00 pm Second, I would like to also ask for more support for families that are undergoing divorce and post divorce, as their children may be affected when relationships turn sour. Currently, parents who are in the midst of divorce proceedings must attend mediation and counselling at Family Court if they have at least one child below 14 years old. I feel such a restriction is unnecessary. In any divorce, all children would be affected, and so I opine that the need for mediation and counselling should be made compulsory as long as they have any children who are aged 18 years or below. Currently, there is one FSC – Help Every Lone Parent (HELP) FSC – which is providing socio-emotional support to single parents and the children from single parent families. I think more agencies are needed to also provide support in this aspect. Beyond mandatory mediation and counselling, there could be better support for the family and children, both in terms of financial assistance and socio-emotional support. Could the Ministry share its views and the measures on this? My next cut, on single parents.”
“Why not create a human resource market from our community? I know this sounds, at first blush, perhaps a socially and morally unacceptable idea – to pay people to volunteer. But to me, this is not volunteering. It is really payment for work – freelance, flexible work but work nonetheless – work that confers dignity, that requires discipline and, yes, that demands that the worker fulfils a contractual role. This is not a spit and a handshake but something that is formal and well accounted for. Another argument is that this will "crowd out" volunteers who would otherwise have done this. My feeling is that there is a great need on the ground – there are more needs than there are hands. Page: 149 All of us here today know there is a vast network of retirees, housewives and even teenagers that can be tapped for work in the community – it is like working in a grocery or convenience store near your home – hours are reasonably flexible, I do not think you need a very long training period, and you can earn useful money. This "community corps" can be a small pilot scheme and I volunteer my own ward for this effort. If successful, I think we can make this a larger national effort. Social and Family Policy”
“The iLeap Professional Course for Non-Profit Leaders by the Lien Centre for Social Innovation is such an initiative, but are there more? Second, what are the Ministry's plans to attract and develop professionals other than social workers? Currently, even the Social Service Talent Development Scheme (SSTDS) by NCSS only develops social workers for the specialist track. Page: 148 What about other professionals like the allied health professionals and teaching professionals in the social sector? 6.15 pm I urge the Ministry to look at a close collaboration with MOH on this because, often, social and health needs are closely intermingled. Many social workers do their jobs in hospitals as Medical Social Workers. At the same time, many of the issues they have to deal with in the community, as our population ages, will increasingly involve long and intermediate care or the Intermediate and Long-Term Care (ILTC) sector. In this, community nursing, primary health care and social work will see an increasing convergence. How can and how is the Ministry working with the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) in terms of manpower development, training and provision of home care and community services for our country in a more holistic manner? Lastly, Sir, I have a radical idea which I wish to propose. Previously, I had spoken about funding more community-based plans; but why not fund those among the community who can help themselves? For example, a housewife within a block who can be paid a small sum, say, $300 a month, to check on her neighbours daily? I know there are volunteers who already do this and it would sully the volunteerism to pay for it. But at the same time, we know that there is a shortage of this sort of labour, and we do have a ready supply of this.”
“The answer, in my opinion – and I say this again – is to fund more and think less – to be more generous in funding and less centralised about how these funds are used. Accountability and corporate governance will have to be in place, of course. But the actual plans, implementation and evaluation of our care must come in greater proportion from the community itself. Manpower Development for Social Service Sir, I move on to my next cut. A strong core of professionals in the social service sector is key in providing better and more effective services. Yet, VWOs find it a challenge to develop and retain good staff due to various reasons. While remuneration and benefits have been improved for some social service professionals, especially social workers, other concerns, such as professional development and career progression, remain. The lack of a proper career progression pathway and opportunities for development, leads people to leave in search of such, and high turnover will affect the quality of services and succession to leadership positions. I, therefore, hope that the Ministry can look into tackling this issue more systematically. I do know that NCSS has started a Social Service Talent Development Scheme (SSTDS) and that it is aimed at developing leaders and specialists in the social services. NCSS also helps support continuing professional development of social service professionals by offering relevant courses for current professionals and training of new professionals at its Social Service Institute. I would like to address two points. First, strengthening leadership and organisational capabilities of the VWOs to enable them to scale up and deliver effective services.”
“Second, we all know that some families have multiple needs; for example, in financial assistance, employment, family issues and so on. Therefore, they will need more coordinated support. I would like to ask what the Ministry's plans are to address issues faced by such families with multiple needs. Sir, I know this is a very difficult issue and I want to tell you about one area which has been very well taken care of. It is at Jalan Kukoh, which is under the care of Dr Lily Neo. This is an area which is poor with many rental flats and the kids are often in the care of grandparents or relatives. This is an area which is well served by the residents' committees. There are many tutors and well-meaning groups which help the kids with their schoolwork and study with them. But, you know, these are families and kids, they are not subjects for study. I applaud Dr Neo and her grassroots leaders and volunteers for working on the ground for years, and, in fact, below the radar. I also want to point out that the community itself has several strengths – a close-knit community, kids who watch out for each other, kids who stand by each other in times of despair; kids who know it is okay to cry and that you do not have to comfort or encourage, just sit by each other and help each other cry. I think the new model of Government that I had spoken about in my Budget debate speech should take this into account – when we care for a community, we cannot just treat them at arms' length. This is a tension and I know well this tension because there are needy residents within my own ward, too. How do we put on a policy hat and still not Page: 147 lose the helping hand? How do we care for a community sensitively, specifically, and still run a nationwide, systematic programme?”
“Madam, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head I of the Estimates be reduced by $100". Improving the delivery of social assistance needs to be a priority for the Government. The Government's move to set up Social Service Offices (SSOs) to bring social assistance closer to residents is thus a positive move. As SSOs are relatively new, it is important for them to establish good relationships with the community partners already on the ground and to work closely with them. [Deputy Speaker (Mr Charles Chong) in the Chair] Still, notwithstanding the presence of SSOs and VWOs, some needy families may continue to struggle to cope with multiple issues, such as illness, marital problems and jobs. Integrating help for such families and providing peace of mind are important and necessary. All Members will have stories to share where we have come across cases where the coordination can be better; no doubt, these are the exceptions and not the norm. I know it is impossible to provide a one-stop service for everyone, given the complex nature of the different issues which may be involved. But for the most vulnerable and needy facing multiple challenges, we have to strive to provide Page: 146 help which is as coordinated as possible. This must be a desired outcome, a KPI for all SSOs. In fact, I would advocate even more resources be invested in these offices so that these KPIs can be met. So, my questions on improving social service delivery are as follows. First, I would like an update on the Social Service Offices (SSOs) in terms of their roll-out, as well as how the SSOs have improved service delivery for clients, working with partners on the ground and gathering ground feedback for local planning of services.”
“Madam, I would like to address the "bathtub effect" or the dip in volunteering when youths leave school and enter the workforce. NVPC's Individual Giving Survey 2012 showed that volunteering rates peak when youths are in school. From a high of 55% for youths aged 15 to 19, the volunteerism rate drops significantly when they leave school and enter the workforce. I am not surprised. Young working adults have other competing priorities but we know many would still like to contribute to the community. One way to address this issue is to integrate the spirit of giving and community involvement into the workplace and to give working adults opportunities to participate in corporate volunteering or philanthropy programmes. Corporate giving does not always have to be in monetary terms. Employees volunteering for worthy social causes represent a meaningful way of corporate giving. Will the Ministry encourage and promote such forms of corporate giving? Can the Ministry share its plans to do so? Page: 15 The Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (Mr Lawrence Wong): Mdm Chair, with your permission, I would like to display some slides on the screens.”