Seng Han Thong
Singapore
“In the Bill, it also mentioned about applying a blanket permit for usage at same location. So, is it possible for our Grassroots Organisation (GRO)'s new media team to do it for our community events coverage all year round?”
“Mr Lee has left. Let us uphold the Singapore Spirit, stay united in front of crises and seek consensus when facing differences. We will let Mr Lee know that Singapore will continue to develop for another 50 years! Page: 20 We will always remember you, our founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. [Applause.] 4.42 pm”
“Through open tender, we now see real market competition in terms of management solutions and fees charged by the competing companies to operate the bundles of public bus routes.”
“Madam, in view of the heightened international terrorist threat, what will be the measures taken by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) to enhance aviation security and safety at Changi Airport? Changi Airport served a record 54.1 million passengers from around the world with 340,000 flight movements last year.”
“For patrons who drink, taxis are vital in ensuring the journey home is safe for themselves as well as other road users, while we hear of the difficulties of serving such a segment of commuters, especially relating to drunken patrons.”
“Maritime safety. Madam, as our maritime strategy is to strengthen Singapore as a premier global hub port and develop Singapore as a leading international maritime centre, a strong maritime safety culture needs to be nurtured and developed to support the strategy. What are the work plans and programmes to further enhance maritime safety?”
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“Second, would the requirements set for commuter safety and consumer protection be of the same level to all service providers, including taxi companies and car rental companies offering third-party taxi booking service, and also companies offering third-party taxi booking service only? Third, how would LTA create greater awareness among all stakeholders – commuters, taxi drivers, hirers of rental cars and service providers – of consumer rights and the duties and responsibilities of service providers? On the Bill, I also have three clarifications. Page: 98 First, will the Bill also cover private hire cars providing their services through third party booking service providers? These private hire cars are functioning like taxis except that they are not allowed to do street pick-up. Second, will the Minister consider requiring drivers of the private hire cars to be screened, trained and tested for their competency before they could provide these services through the third-party booking service providers? This will ensure the interest of commuters using their services is safeguarded. Third, in view of the introduction of this Bill, will LTA look into other aspects of the taxi regulations from: (a) Quality of Service (QoS) of taxi operator licence (TOL), in particular, the taxi call booking regulations; (b) defined statutory use of each category of vehicles; for example, how to prevent the revival of pirate taxis; and (c) data collection, application and enforcement. Mdm Speaker, I support the Bill. 5.45 pm”
“Mdm Speaker, first, I declare my interest as Chairman of the Singapore Taxi Academy. Since the third party taxi booking apps entered the Singapore market two years ago, there has been widespread use of third-party transport booking applications among a large number of commuters and individual self-employed drivers. There have been an equally fast-growing number of private car chauffeured service operators using global positioning system (GPS) meter fare installed in a smartphone or tablet functioning exactly like the taxi-meter installed in a taxi. As we know, the third-party taxi booking service operators that this Bill is trying to regulate are platform service operators. These platforms are run by data scientists, software engineers, operations and marketing specialists. As new technologies mature, it enables these platforms operators to apply their platform services to various modes of land transport: van or goods vehicles, passenger cars or taxis or private cars for hire and private buses for hire. As such, it may disrupt the existing regulations for all the modes of land transport. It may also change the traditional business operating models of these land transport modes. In the case of taxis, the impact on taxi regulations is significant. We must not only look at the disruption on current taxi operations, but also look beyond taxis to other closely-related modes of transport, such as private cars for hire. In this aspect, may I ask the Minister three questions? First, how would commuter interest and consumer protection be safeguarded under the basic regulation approach of this Bill in view of what have transpired in other countries where the third-party taxi service booking service has developed into a social and political issue?”
“In the Bill, it also mentioned about applying a blanket permit for usage at same location. So, is it possible for our Grassroots Organisation (GRO)'s new media team to do it for our community events coverage all year round? For application of permits to use drone for recreational and private uses, will it be a friendly and simple process and, in terms of waiting time, will it be short? It is good to have a Bill to create awareness on the responsible use of drone by the public on the one hand and to achieve the objectives of national security and public safety on the other hand. Mdm Speaker, I support the Bill.”
“Mdm Speaker, I support the spirit of this Bill, that is, the flying of unmanned aircraft must be carried out in a safe and responsible manner. As a resident, I received an advisory note on the Safe and Responsible Operation of Unmanned Aircraft for recreational and public uses from CAAS. The flyer lists out six "dos" and eight "don'ts". As the advisor to the Ang Mo Kio Grassroots Organisations, I would like to seek clarification on Nos 7 and 8 on the list of "don'ts" from the Minister. No 7: "Don't fly the aircraft over or within restricted, prohibited or danger areas, including security-sensitive locations." No 8: "Don't fly within five kilometres of any airport or military airbase, or higher than 200 feet." Page: 86 As we know, there is the Amoy Quee Camp in Ang Mo Kio Town. There is also the Seletar Airbase not far from Ang Mo Kio Town. With the introduction of this Bill, it is not clear if we are allowed to fly drones at all future community functions as we are in the immediate vicinity of the restricted and prohibited areas like the Amoy Quee Camp, Seletar Camp and the Seletar Airport. Under the category on "Location of Operations", it states that a permit is required if the drone is flying within five kilometres of an aerodrome regardless of operating height, or about 200 feet beyond five kilometres of an aerodrome. So, is there a need to apply for a permit, if the drone is flying outside five kilometres of an aerodrome and within the 200-feet height limits? For the information of drone operators for recreational and private uses, will CAAS be publishing a map to indicate the areas that are outside five kilometres of an aerodrome? Many of my areas, for example, the Yio Chu Kang Stadium, there are many activities that are within this area.”
“Mr Lee has left. Let us uphold the Singapore Spirit, stay united in front of crises and seek consensus when facing differences. We will let Mr Lee know that Singapore will continue to develop for another 50 years! Page: 20 We will always remember you, our founding Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. [Applause.] 4.42 pm”
“What the founding Prime Minister has left behind are not the thoughts of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, but a system, which includes governance by the elites, racial harmony, economic development, strong defence and foreign relations, bilingualism, honesty and integrity, a garden city, metropolis, a heart of gratitude and home ownership. This is a system that will enable Singapore to develop continuously, and is adaptable and able to keep abreast with the times. It is like our smart phones which can be upgraded every now and then, and can allow new applications to be added in. When Mr Lee was a young student in Cambridge, he already decided to return to Singapore after graduation and fight for independence from British colonial rule. He chose to join politics. At that time, Singapore had many choices. Singapore chose Mr Lee Kuan Yew and that is why we have the Singapore today. This morning, Mdm Speaker, several Ministers and many Members of Parliament were at the Parliament foyer keeping vigil for Mr Lee. We saw an endless stream of Singaporeans coming in to pay respect, after queuing up for hours. Some of them were in school uniform, some of them were in their working attire, many were young Singaporeans and some of them were elderly people who were not able to walk very well, but they all wanted to say goodbye to the founding Prime Minister. They could not help but cry. Here, we saw the Singapore spirit. What can most comfort Mr Lee in heaven is that we shall stay united when there is a crisis in the future and to seek consensus when there are differences. On the day Mr Lee passed away, many of our colleagues went to the Istana to see him for the last time. We saw on his face the usual air of pride. I told him, "Mr Lee, you are right to be proud and we are proud of you".”
“At times, he also invited Members of Parliament and their spouses to attend dinners at the Istana with him. But whether it was lunch or dinner, it was always a working meal. Through these gatherings and interactions, Mr Lee shared with us his political wisdom and we let him know our views on some political issues and the reaction on the ground. Sometimes, he would ask us to give him an individual report on a specific issue, so that he can convey to the relevant Ministry. In 2003, when SARS broke out, he knew that I was in charge of the taxi association. He was the first one to send me an email. He wanted to know what the taxi association was doing to help the taxi drivers, and he also said if we needed his help, he would try his best to help. He said, "I can help you to send a message to all the taxi drivers". So, he sent me a photograph of him, as well as a personally signed message, that we passed on to all the taxi drivers, reminding them what they must pay attention to. All of us know that Mr Lee was most concerned about industrial relations in SIA. Whenever SIA management and employees had different views, he would meet both sides. For him, protecting the competitive advantage of SIA was protecting the interest of Page: 19 Singapore. We can say that he was very concerned about workers' welfare. He had frequent interactions with the union leaders and he saw a greater purpose, which is to bring better jobs for Singapore workers, better lives for Singaporeans. In fact, he was the main driver behind the Industrial Relations Bill and the Employment Bill in 1968. Mr Lee is gone. What kind of Singapore will it be without Mr Lee Kuan Yew?”
“When he was 90, we also gave him a birthday card. Up to last year, when he was 91, we did the same. This is a photo taken by Prime Minister Lee at the 49th National Day Celebrations. Unfortunately, this year, he cannot celebrate SG50 with us. I worked in the newspapers in the 1970s, became a Member of Parliament and joined NTUC in the 1990s, altogether over 30 years. Because of my work over these years, I had the opportunity to work with Mr Lee, interact with him and went overseas with him. From my Page: 18 close observation of him, I drew three conclusions. First, all of Founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's considerations are for the interest of Singapore. Second, politics is long-term work, we must be down-to-earth and not be populist. Third, we must help the vulnerable groups, so that everyone will have a better life. In the 1980s, I was working in the news desk in Zaobao and I had the opportunity to cover his overseas trips, including trips to the United States, Europe, China, India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and ASEAN countries. Whether it was President Reagan, Deng Xiaoping, Mrs Gandhi or Suharto, they all saw Lee Kuan Yew as a good friend and they knew the purpose of Mr Lee's visit was to seek more multilateral interests or bilateral interests, but all for Singapore's interest. They respected and appreciated Mr Lee Kuan Yew and never considered us as a small country. Countries large and small honoured Mr Lee Kuan Yew with protocol and courtesy, which made me understand that as long as we are strong and independent, a small country can have strong diplomacies, too. While working as a journalist and as an elected Member of Parliament thereafter, I had many opportunities to have lunch with him, together with other colleagues.”
“Mdm Speaker, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Today, in Parliament, with a heart of gratitude and thanks, we remember a great man who served Singapore his whole life – our founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew. If we have to use a four-word phrase to describe what he did, then the most appropriate would be "concern for the country, concern for the people, 忧国忧民.” The last time Mr Lee was in Parliament was on 5 November last year. At that time, he was not very mobile, but each of his steps, each turn of his body, attracted our attention. We still remember 16 September 2013 when we were all here to celebrate his 90th birthday. The National Archives, on that occasion, published a series of books entitled "Singapore Chose Lee Kuan Yew". Before that, I visited him in his office in Istana and asked him what he was most concerned about regarding Singapore. He said that, at 90, he need not worry about Singapore as "there are other younger and more competent people in charge." So, he had no big worries for Singapore. "Singapore is in good hands and will continue to thrive and prosper." We can say that he left with peace of mind. Every year, Members of Parliament would together send him a birthday card. I remember, on his 88th birthday, we gave him a birthday card. This is the card, and I wished him a life to a hundred, he smiled and said, "Ninety, no problem, I think. But a hundred, very difficult". So, that is him, someone who treated everything seriously and based his statement on facts. His father passed away at 94 and his mother passed away at 69, the average is 81.5. So, he said, if he passed away after age 80, then he would be happy with his life and fate, because the person who is happy with life and fate would have peace of mind.”
“Maritime safety. Madam, as our maritime strategy is to strengthen Singapore as a premier global hub port and develop Singapore as a leading international maritime centre, a strong maritime safety culture needs to be nurtured and developed to support the strategy. What are the work plans and programmes to further enhance maritime safety?”
“Madam, in view of the heightened international terrorist threat, what will be the measures taken by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) to enhance aviation security and safety at Changi Airport? Changi Airport served a record 54.1 million passengers from around the world with 340,000 flight movements last year. Thus, will the initiative agreed upon at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to enhance flight tracking be implemented soon? Will all carriers based in Singapore as well as foreign carriers operating into Singapore be required to do so and what is the time-frame set? Unclaimed Baggage at Changi Airport”
“For patrons who drink, taxis are vital in ensuring the journey home is safe for themselves as well as other road users, while we hear of the difficulties of serving such a segment of commuters, especially relating to drunken patrons. My final question, therefore, is whether more can be done to ensure the welfare of taxi drivers is protected in such situations. Certificates of Entitlement (COEs)”
“I am sure many of us are personally familiar with taxi drivers who work hard, drive long hours and successfully support and raise their families. I have growing concerns about the way our taxi drivers are being treated as a group of service providers. They are increasingly being exposed to unnecessary discomfort and even danger, especially when on late-night shifts. If this continues, a long-standing source of stable employment in our society will be compromised. Driving a taxi involves significant challenges, and some of these were highlighted by The Straits Times journalist Toh Yong Chuan in his article of 1 December last year. Taxi drivers probably span the entire range of personalities and it is difficult not to see individual drivers from extreme ends of the behavioural spectrum stand out. Mr Toh's article reminds us that they do a job few would consider easy. More should be done to provide a safer and better work environment for them. Page: 72 We hear of taxi drivers whose services are terminated as a result of customer complaints. My first question, therefore, is: what recourse do taxi drivers have in such a situation? Do taxi companies have a non-punitive system of counselling for taxi drivers to help them make improvements in response to commuter complaints of poor service? My second question is: can more be done by LTA, in concert with taxi companies, to help taxi drivers benefit from the wide range of third-party booking apps that are increasingly becoming available? Finally, taxis serving entertainment spots into the early hours of the morning play a very important role in the service industry.”
“We need to take a long-term view on taxi COE policy. This will help the taxi operators plan their fleet size and the corresponding capital investment which is long term in nature. Page: 71 Four, on taxi service and private-chauffeured car service regulations, LTA has announced that it will regulate the third-party taxi service booking smartphone application operators. However, we cannot ignore the fact that the same smartphone application is also used to book private-chauffeured car service at the same time. Five, on taxi diesel tax, petrol duty has increased by more than 33% following this year's Budget announcement and immediate implementation. To those taxi drivers who are driving non-diesel powered taxis, they, too, would be paying higher fuel tax. LTA should review the approach we go about equalising the statutory cost of buying a private car and that of providing a taxi service. In the meantime, I would like to appeal to the Government not to increase the annual taxi diesel tax or special tax just to equate the increase in petrol duty. 2.45 pm Protecting the Lot of Taxi Drivers Assoc Prof Randolph Tan (Nominated Member): Mdm Chair, several Members have already reiterated on other occasions the importance of taxi drivers as a key group of public transport service workers. I would like to join in the call for improvements in the welfare of taxi drivers. I would also like to point out that taxi drivers need support in order to serve the public efficiently, especially in managing the difficulties they face in terms of health and safety. Beyond their critical role in the transport industry, taxi drivers are an important part of our society.”
“Madam, it has been 12 years since the deregulation of the taxi industry in 2003. In this aspect, may I propose that LTA conduct a Taxi Industry Review that will nurture taxi industry developments in the next four to eight years so that the different interests of all the stakeholders, from taxi passengers, taxi drivers to taxi companies, are taken into consideration? The review should cover the following key areas. One, taxi fare structure. As we know, the taxi fare structure comprises flag-down charge, distance meter charge, time meter charge, peak-hour surcharge, location surcharge and taxi call booking fee, hourly charging rate, flat fee transfer and, on top of all these, Electronic Road Pricing (ERP). In recent years, we even see different prices for the same category of taxi services and for the same vehicles of different registration periods. We should frame a set of rules for compliance when taxi companies go about setting their respective taxi fare structures. For example, one taxi company should not set two different prices for the same category of taxi service. Two, from August 2012 to December 2013, taxi fleet growth was capped at 2% for all taxi companies without conditions. From January 2014, taxi fleet growth for individual taxi companies, still capped at 2%, is subject to the company having met the required taxi availability (TA) standards. As the regulatory framework for the TA standards is established, LTA would need to review if the cap for taxi fleet size growth is still justifiable. Three, on taxi COEs, can the Minister explain if the policy to disallow taxi companies to bid for COE has served its intended purpose? LTA should allow market forces to determine the price of COEs and, more importantly, the actual fleet size of each taxi company.”
“— could be activated to provide free connecting services. What would happen if it is under the bus contracting service? Bus Services”
“Through open tender, we now see real market competition in terms of management solutions and fees charged by the competing companies to operate the bundles of public bus routes. As the public transport infrastructure and operating assets are long-term capital investments, could the Minister share with us what would be the long-term financing framework for public bus service? How would public bus fare be set under the bus contracting model? Two, operating framework. We used to have multi-model public transport operators who operate both the public bus and train services. Bus and train services are designed to complement each other and not competing against each other. Currently, when the train service is disrupted, public buses belonging to the same PTO —”
“To adequately address those questions in the minds of commuters, could the Minister share if LTA has a comprehensive plan or strategy as the regulator to ensure that its appointed operators and their employees would deliver the expected level of reliability and security in our train services? On train reliability and security, the questions in the minds of commuters are: How can these outsiders enter the protected area of the train depot so easily? How can these people remain undetected while they went on vandalising the trains? How to ensure that every train leaving the station and depot is secure and safe? How can we shorten the response time when there is a disruption? How can we minimise human errors leading to train service disruptions? How can we make sure that our equipment is fit to serve, in tip-top condition, every day before the trains leave the depot to serve public commuters? Why am I paying higher fares to contribute to the profits of the operators and not to the higher maintenance and security standards of the train services? Sustainable Improvement on Bus Services Average daily bus ridership has hit 3.8 million. We have seen improvements in the public bus services, especially in bus waiting time and frequency. How can we sustain these improvements so that bus commuters could continue to experience better and affordable public bus services? There are two frameworks. Page: 54 One, financing framework. With the bus contracting model, the Government takes the unprecedented step to build and own the operating assets of the public bus service, in particular, the bus monitoring and deployment system and the purchase of buses. The contracted operators are paid by the Government to operate these assets while the Government collects the fare revenue.”
“Yes, Madam. Last year, at the COS of MOT, I mentioned, "Train services have been disrupted quite frequently due to different factors. Such incidents have impacted on the reliability of public transport and, at the same time, the confidence of commuters in general." I am repeating the same concern in view of the latest spate of disruptions on SMRT's rail network. SMRT has apologised and pledged to analyse each incident thoroughly. LTA called the spate of disruptions "unacceptable". Local Member of Parliament (MP) Liang Eng Hwa has expressed his disappointment and called for LTA and SMRT to get their act together to really bring up the reliability of the system and bring back the public's confidence. And to the 40,000 commuters who were affected by these disruptions, they were very frustrated by the lack of reliability of the system. On top of this, there are also high-profile vandalism cases at Bishan MRT depot that put the trains' safety and security standards in the spotlight. Apart from the public apology and promise to increase manpower from the operator and public reprimand from the regulator, what else do we need to do to restore commuters' confidence in our train service? Page: 53 May I ask the Minister to give the House an update on the preventive and pre-emptive actions announced last year? Has the Government ensured that the operators provide the necessary manpower capabilities and financial resources to fully comply with the "Predict and Prevent" whole-life maintenance approach to the train service assets?”
“Finally, may I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.”
“Madam, on behalf of all the Members who filed the cuts, may I first thank Deputy Prime Minister Teo for his detailed and comprehensive answers, interrupted by his coughing. His answers are very reassuring, especially to the low-wage civil servants and all Singaporeans who want a good Government. My thanks also to Minister Grace Fu for telling us that, in fact, last year, we had more marriages and more babies and also many more new initiatives to come. To Minister Lawrence Wong, thanks for the sharing on the outreach programme for our Singaporeans. We know that, in fact, many Singaporeans are shining in the financial industry domestically and internationally. I know that I have to thank so many Ministers. And to Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, thanks for sharing with us the Smart Nation programme. This is the Year of the Page: 97 Goat, I wish everyone a Good Year!”
“I believe that this reporting centre will have a deterrent effect, such that those who are tempted by corruption will think twice. As for the review of the Anti-Corruption Act, I hope it will ensure that ikan bilis cannot be involved in corruption even on a small scale. Likewise, the "big fish" cannot do so with impunity. In China, the anti-corruption movement aims to "swipe all houseflies and take on the tigers alike", while our aim is to "net all big fish and ikan bilis" to ensure no one gets away. I hope that with greater anti-corruption efforts and enhanced communication with the masses, public trust in our Government will reverse its slide and improve. This is the Year of the Goat. Let me quote an idiom, "It is not too late to mend the fold even after the sheep is lost", to commend the Government's effort in tackling corruption, to ensure that our reputation of being clean and corruption-free continues for the next 50 years. Update on Salaries”
“Unfortunately, in recent years, our public service, private corporations and organisations have been embroiled in corruption cases and even CPIB officers have been implicated. This has caused public trust in the Singapore Government to fall by six percentage points in the past three years. It now stands at 70%. Compared with public trust in most governments elsewhere, we are still way ahead. However, it is important to note that if public trust in the Government does not improve, it will be further eroded. Singapore's anti-corruption experience is often quoted by the foreign media and experts. They say that Singapore's system meant that people dare not, cannot and would not want to be involved in corruption. We dare not be corrupt because chances of being caught are very high. We cannot be corrupt because the system is rigorous and there are relatively few loopholes in our financial system. We do not want to be corrupt because the salaries of civil servants are on par with market rates, so there is no need to resort to corruption. However, in recent years, why is it that "dare not be corrupt" has become "dare to corrupt", "cannot be corrupt" has become "can be corrupt", "do not want to be corrupt" has become "desire to be corrupt"? Page: 54 Two months ago, Prime Minister Lee announced that the Government will be reviewing the Anti-Corruption Act. This is timely, as there is a need to strengthen our anti-corruption regime. More importantly, as Prime Minister Lee said, leaders must continue to set an example in order to safeguard the values of honesty and integrity. CPIB will also increase its staff strength by 20% and set up a one-stop corruption reporting centre to strengthen its anti-corruption efforts.”
“One is on the effectiveness and efficiency of the Government and Government agencies. What are the areas that PSD will focus on in this new media age? Two is on anti-corruption. As it has become a basic value in governance, eradicating corruption will not improve trust in government. However, it will affect the trust level if there are more and more malpractices among civil servants. Page: 53 In this aspect, the set-up of a One-Stop Corruption Reporting Centre is a good move. What are its operating concept and implementation timeframe? Why is there a need to increase CPIB manpower by 20%? In Mandarin, please, Madam. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The logo of the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) in its early days was a lotus, which symbolises "a flower that grows from the mud but remains untainted". At the heart of the lotus flower is a sharp sword that cuts through it. The sword symbolises dignity and justice. This is precisely what people expect of a good government. A good government must not only be highly efficient in administration, it must also possess strong political will and be fearless in eradicating corruption. CPIB subsequently changed its logo. The new logo is a rectangle that symbolises openness and fairness, framed by the CPIB mission statement "Swift and Sure". Furthermore, the "I" in CPIB has its dot emerging from the frame. From top down, the dot looks like a reflective mirror, as well as an aerial surveillance device. The message conveyed is that the CPIB will be highly efficient in investigating all corruption cases, in order to safeguard Singapore's clean image.”
“I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head U of the Estimates be reduced by $100." Trust in Government remains high at 70%, according to The Edelman Barometer of Trust survey. However, it shows a drop of 6% over the last three years. Singaporeans want a good government which is not only effective and efficient but, even more importantly, corruption-free. In short, while Singaporeans may complain bitterly about inefficient service, they have absolutely zero tolerance for any act of corruption. The Pioneer Generation of Singapore has built up a culture among Singaporeans who place a high expectation on the competency and moral standards of Government officials; it includes both elected officials and civil servants. Singaporeans view the setting up of the Municipal Services Office (MSO) to improve the Government's overall coordination and delivery of municipal services as a response to their expectation of an efficient government. Singaporeans also see the Prime Minister's announcement that the Government was reviewing the laws on corrupt practices as part of the overall effort to keep corrupt practices at bay as a move to win the trust of the people. Though the increase in corruption cases contributes to less trust, that is not the fundamental issue. The fundamental issue is that people, especially the young, now expect to be consulted on all issues, big and small, before the Government makes any decision. Thus, consultation and communication have become the third contributing factor to the trust level. We have just heard Minister Lawrence Wong on consultation and communication and the Government's strategy to reach out to all Singaporeans on major issues. May I also ask the Deputy Prime Minister the following two issues?”
“Chairman, the target audience of the Pioneer Generation Engagement programme is the 450,000 Pioneer Singaporeans. This personalised outreach is both time consuming and labour intensive. It has started in Ang Mo Kio GRC, Nee Soon, East Coast and Tampines. How long will this Pioneer Generation Ambassadors' Engagement Programme take to cover all other constituencies? As this programme is intended to be sustained and on-going, so that the pioneers will always have a contact point that they can approach if they have questions about the Pioneer Generation Package, what are the long-term plans in terms of manpower training and communications strategy?”
“May I ask whether the enhancements to the WIS over the years have been effective in encouraging Singaporeans to work? Two, since the WIS will be reviewed next year, can MOM consider lowering the age eligibility criterion from 35 to 30 years, and also offer a higher tier payout to lower income workers from age 55 and 60?”
“Madam, the Government has called for the re-employment of older workers. What is the progress in both the public and private sectors? Among older workers who have accepted re-employment, were they hired on terms that were similar to their previous employment? What are the lessons learnt from engaging Page: 93 and encouraging older workers to work longer? Readiness for the Ageing Workforce Next cut – readiness for the ageing workforce. Feedback on the ground is that employers generally lack the expertise to adapt their workplace to meet the needs of their mature workers. There are also concerns that older workers might find it hard to remain employable. In terms of readiness for the ageing workforce, what are the strategies and programmes MOM has to help companies and workers prepare for these challenges that come with an ageing workforce?”
“The way they live their retirement life is different. Also different are their expectations for retirement. The Panel recommends that the Government "provides appropriate and timely information and financial counselling to help members make informed choices" . My question is: how is the CPF Board going to help this elderly group, especially those who have little knowledge of financial management, make informed choices? Page: 58 Helping SMEs in the Productivity Push”
“Madam, the CPF Advisory Panel has recommended that the Minimum Sum be adjusted after 2015 based on three key considerations: adequacy, simplicity and flexibility. Page: 57 Thus, the Minimum Sum will be renamed as Basic Retirement Sum, Full Retirement Sum and Enhanced Retirement Sum. The repackaging of Minimum Sum reflects the reality on the ground, especially the principal of adequacy. In fact, when one gets older and older, one's lifestyle becomes simpler than before. It is really back to basic. The name "Minimum Sum" is also misleading as it implies that it is the minimum required. The panel also recommends that Government provides appropriate and timely information and financial counselling, to help members make informed choices. My question is: what are the communication plans CPF Board has to provide appropriate and timely information and financial counselling? How will CPF help its members, especially the not-so-well-informed and not-so-well-connected lower income retirees to make informed choices? Does the CPF Board have the capability and capacity to do it? Again, the communication plan should not be a "one size fits all" as members come from different background and with different priorities and preferences. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Among the many recommendations suggested by the CPF Advisory Panel, changing the concept of the "Minimum Sum" to "Basic Retirement Sum", "Full Retirement Sum" and "Enhanced Retirement Sum" is the most noticeable. Last month, an online survey conducted by Lianhe Zaobao showed that more than 30% of the readers were pleased to see the change. Among the retirees, some are rich and some are poor; some are active and some are quiet. Some have "seen through life" and some still have not.”
“Not long ago, we read in the newspapers that our fellow Member Mr Hri Kumar had to visit the house of an old man who had to work two jobs to return the money he owed to the Government. That is the challenge to the Government: how can we put across the benefit of this scheme to the seniors like this vulnerable old man? When they receive money from someone, they will also ask, "Why give me this money? Is it true?" However, some may take it as "teok bay peow" or 财 柛 到. As the Deputy Prime Minister put it, "It is like Hock Lee Por" of the olden days. Many believe that the "Hock Lee Por" is meant to help the vulnerable. So, I am confident that we can come up with a similar communication programme to reach out to this group that the Government is here to help and help the vulnerable for life. 1.39 pm”
“It comes in a set of four, each with a meaningful phrase printed on it, such as "Building Our Nation", "Sharing Our Joy", "One Sustained Effort" and "Passing Our Page: 42 Traditions to the Next Generation". This is wonderful! In the same spirit, I believe the Government can come up with creative ways to explain the Silver Support Scheme so that the 15,000 disadvantaged elderly can understand the scheme. As Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Mr Tharman has mentioned, this scheme is meant to help provide some relief for the disadvantaged. It is not the same as meeting a Fortune God or striking 4D. It is a token from the Government to let them know that even though life may not be easy, they have a good Government to take care of them. (In English): Mdm Speaker, the Silver Support Scheme is a new feature in our social security landscape. As the Deputy Prime Minister put it, together with Workfare, both constitute the fourth pillar of our social security. They will help mitigate life's inequalities. The Deputy Prime Minister also said, "It reflects a value we must preserve as an inclusive society." So, the very objective of this scheme is to help mitigate life's inequalities. The challenge to the Government is how do we ensure that this message of helping to mitigate life's inequalities is put across to the 150,000 elderly Singaporeans aged 65 and above who will benefit from this scheme? As we know, many of these vulnerable seniors are not well-informed, not well-connected and, from time to time, they can be misinformed. Some of them work as cleaners, hawker assistants and there are reports that they are being cheated on their hard-earned money and savings.”
“[Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I remember that during my childhood days, when we worshipped our ancestors during the festive seasons, my grandmother would point to the offerings on the table and say: "It would be better for us to serve her a drink while she is alive than to worship and offer her a chicken drumstick after she has passed away." What she meant was that actions speak louder than words and it is better to do it now rather than later. Lastly, something tangible is better than something imagined. The Silver Support Scheme recently announced in the Budget was just that. A Lianhe Zaobao editorial said this was the highlight of Budget 2015. Indeed, to the 15,000 low-income elderly, this was a highlight. And to the Government, it is a challenge to let this group understand our intention that we not only want them to see that we care, but truly feel that we do. It is a challenge as this group is one with very little information, limited means of communication and gullible. Just recently, it was reported that an old man was made to believe that he owed the Government money and had to work day and night to pay back. It was hon Member Mr Hri Kumar who later told him in person that he did not owe the Government any money. I believe this old man is covered under the Silver Support Scheme and, this time round, if Mr Hri Kumar were to tell him that, in fact, the Government would like to give him money, he would be frightened and ask why the Government wants to give him money. My point here is that reaching out to this group of seniors is really a challenge. I would like to commend the Pioneer Generation Office and their efforts in promoting the PGP. This is a hongbao packet given by the Pioneer Generation Office. It is very creative and very meaningful.”
“I also asked about making it compulsory for URA and HDB to indicate specifically the sites for places of worship.”
“Mdm Speaker, may I ask the Minister what lessons can HDB and other Government agencies learn from this episode? Secondly, is it possible for URA, in its Master Plan, to indicate the possible sites for the development of places of worship; make it compulsory? And is it possible for it to be made compulsory for HDB to be specific in its future sales brochures to indicate a site meant for development of places of Page: 12 worship? A third question in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I would like to ask the Minister this: in the past development of Singapore, what experiences have we gained in the building of temples, churches, mosques in residential areas? Many of our residents believe that if they live near to a temple or places of worship, they will be blessed. Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery has opened up to become a tourist site. In the case of Fo Guang Shan, they were able to be developed to provide both temple and columbarium services without any problems. Why is the development a problem?”
“They are Pioneers but they did not receive this package and we have sent in, but replies are pending.”
“I noted that the large majority of the unsuccessful appeals is age-related. However, there are cases of appeals linked to the ignorance of their parents or a twist of events that rendered them stateless when Singapore suddenly became independent in 1965 and many of them acquired their citizenship after 1986. And they feel to be part of the Pioneer Generation, not because of medical benefits. Will a case of this Page: 26 nature be given special consideration?”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Minister for his cautiously optimistic answer and for the hard work by the PUB. And, really, this time round, we did not suffer any flooding in the Orchard Road area, not even ponding. May I ask whether there are other initiatives besides the recommendations of the expert panel in 2012?”
“Supplementary questions, Madam. The first question is for the Deputy Prime Minister. CPF is a very complicated scheme and CPF is also a story that can be retold again and again. In fact, different persons read it from a different perspective. May I ask the Deputy Prime Minister for his assessment of the effectiveness of CPF's communications to its members and in what ways it can be further enhanced because not all Singaporeans have the luxury of listening to your very clear explanations here? My second question is to the Minister for Manpower. Of the 500 appeals annually to use the Minimum Sum for housing needs, what are the guiding principles of approval for the two-thirds and why was the one-third rejected?”
“"Do not bother with small-minded men, for they make things difficult for everybody; Do not go against society, for you will make things difficult for yourself; Do not make things difficult for yourself, for everything shall pass eventually; Do not quarrel with friends and family members, for they will ultimately help you; Do not dwell on the past, for it is already over; Do not go against reality, for you still need to survive." Page: 30 All those present now were sworn in three years ago as Members of Parliament. We said, "I, having been elected as a Member of Parliament of the Republic of Singapore, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully discharge my duties as such to the best of my ability and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Republic, and that I will preserve, protect and defend its Constitution." In fact, we have all pledged to do our best, so that everyone can survive and continue to live a better life. T 2.40 pm”
“While "Lee Kuan Yew: World Insights" (李光耀观天下) offers an analysis on major international events and Mr Lee's candid view on death, Singaporean author Lee Hwee Min's "Growing Up In Lee Kuan Yew's Era" (成长在李光耀时代) looks into policies of Lee Kuan Yew's era. In other words, as a woman born in the 1970s, she was also able to publish a book on local politics, based on her own views. So, this is another platform. Politics is life. Life is politics. When we meet friends, we often greet each other by asking, "How have you been?" They often reply by saying, "I'm okay". In Hokkien, we say "Eh Sai" (会使), which basically means "not bad". When life is "not bad", it is the result of constructive politics. If life is difficult and unbearable, people would long for constructive politics to improve their lives. The important point is, we have to make a stand on politics, and on policies. In other words, to offer not just opinions, but also solutions. When one has an opinion but no solution, he/she does not have a firm stand. Politics is forward-looking. In politics, we sometimes misread major trends or make the wrong judgement. Just apologise, people will understand. As the saying goes, "No man is a saint, to err is human; To mend one's ways, is a good thing". In this way, everyone can have a decent life. This is important. Here, I would like to quote a short passage that I read over the Internet, the title is "To Make Things Difficult".”
“So, we had the ambassador Lim Ru Ping to assure them that they will get another card, "Do not worry about which card you have, another card which is better than the orange and blue card". And she told them this card is called "tok kon" or 独贡, "tok kon" card, Effective and Powerful. And everyone, on hearing "tok kon", they understood it, with their big eyes and broad smile. I hope we can have all the "tok kon" messaging. I hope I have contributed constructively though my view is not so "tok kon". In Mandarin, Mdm Speaker. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I would also like to talk about constructive politics. The definition of constructive politics is: everyone can have their own opinions, everyone knows the right platform to express their opinions, every citizen shares the achievements. Non-constructive politics is: everyone has a different opinion, everyone expresses their own opinion wherever they want, the result is chaos. While one results in everyone sharing the fruits of success, the other will result in chaos. Many people believe that politics is only for politicians, it is the business of the Prime Minister, Ministers and Members of Parliament, it is the business between the PAP and the Opposition party. The truth is, politics is everybody's business. Recently, two books were launched on the same day. One of them is on our first Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, titled "Lee Kuan Yew: World Insights" (李光耀观天下); the other Page: 29 book is titled "Growing Up In Lee Kuan Yew's Era" (成长在李光耀时代). What can we learn from these two books? Yazhou Zhoukan reported on the launch of these two books.”
“To maintain and promote constructive politics, we must have an effective communications system guided by a comprehensive set of communication strategy. We must decide what kind of debates could have been done in a more constructive way, for example, the debate on the Population White Paper. We must decide what kind of information to be shared with the public on policies that will affect their daily life, for example, the restructuring of the bus industry and the bus contracting model. We must also decide what kind of notice board should be displayed at the lift lobby. More and more people are now looking at their iPhone's small screen for short messages. People are not looking at the notice board for the wordy messages. It does not mean that this screen is not effective. Look at the Suntec City's biggest screen. It is colourful with moving messages. We have the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP), HUP and I would suggest Page: 28 that we should have the Notice board Upgrading Programme (NUP) for better communication so as to promote constructive politics. In conclusion, to maintain constructive politics, we need to develop creative and proactive channels while reviewing the rusty and passive channels. Notice Board is the rusty channel. The messaging should be short and sharp so that the recipients 一听就懂 or understand on hearing it and 一看就知道 or know it at a glance. How short is short and how sharp is sharp? Let me cite one of the dialogue sessions with the Pioneer Generation in Ang Mo Kio, which I attended with fellow Member Mr Baey Yam Keng. The senior citizens asked if they could change their card, what card they were not so sure, they said a card, the orange card, the yellow card, so that they could get better subsidy.”
“We have done well in conducting "Our Singapore Conversation" to hear from Singaporeans at dialogues and online Page: 27 about their priorities today and their hopes for the future. We are also doing our best to explain to our Pioneer Generation about the Pioneer Generation Package (PGP) and hear from them on how to make the package more elderly-friendly. We are also looking forward to the "Nation for All Ages" dialogue, as announced in Parliament by Minister Gan Kim Yong. These platforms should not be a top-down – 不是一言堂, but where all can talk and discuss – 是众言堂, and with good ideas or 善言堂，讲好话. Second, people-initiated platforms. The traditional coffee shops and the new media are also platforms for constructive politics if the participants are well-informed and the Government has an overall strategy to engage them with short and sharp messages and adequate information sharing. In fact, market stalls, provision shops or "zhap huey po" and shopping malls are also places where ordinary Singaporeans exchange views and information daily and instantly. Third, the silent majority platform. The silent majority are of all ages and all races. They are silent but this does not mean that they do not need a platform for constructive politics. They are also the concerned citizens worrying about their future. Thus, our platform for the Pioneer Generation is a good move to begin with. We should create more platforms for the silent majority in different formats and structures so that they are not overwhelmed by the current system and set up. In my constituency, we have organised "Conversations at Corridor" and we have found this as one of the humble ways to engage our silent majority.”
“Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion and I shall focus on constructive politics. As President Tony Tan pointed out, "It is crucial to maintain constructive politics in Singapore that puts the nation and people first". Before I elaborate on this point, let us look at the opposite of constructive politics, that is, destructive politics. However, I prefer to call it "non-constructive politics". Non-constructive politics can happen when political leaders are cast in and out of office too often because of differences within the political party or instability within the country or both. As a result, political leaders find it difficult to establish themselves and engage their citizens for the long-term interest of the country and the people. Non-constructive politics can also happen because of lack of ability to resolve disputes among political parties or between the Government and her people. There are examples where I do not need to put here. As a result, it is either 议而不决 or to discuss about the resolution without any final decision. Or 決而不行 or passing resolution without any concrete execution plan. In the recent years, we also see a new trend of non-constructive politics emerging in the new media. Thus, the challenge for Singapore, in the face of the new normal, is to maintain and promote constructive politics on all platforms, the traditional and new media platforms included, among all races and all ages, in multiple languages. In my view, we should actively maintain and promote constructive politics on the following platforms. First, the Government-initiated platforms. The Government should share more information and all options with active citizens, especially the vested interest groups, before formulating long-term policies affecting their livelihood or lifestyle.”
“As our population is ageing, we need to have a public education programme to promote the right image of ageing and the right approach to the issues not only among the seniors, but also within the whole population as, like it or not, we will all be old one day. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Nowadays, when we mention old people, we think of the Pioneer Generation. And if you were to address them as pioneers, they will suddenly feel "tall"! In the past, whenever we talked about old people, we felt that there were a lot of problems associated with them. In fact, being old is not the problem; the problem is the way we look at them. If you visit nursing homes or hospices and see those old people who cannot look after themselves, you tend to think that old people particularly have many problems. But if you go to the community clubs or parks and see those seniors Page: 114 dancing and practising qigong, you would think that we should look at ageing more positively. It is a good thing that our community clubs can draw many seniors to participate in various healthy activities. But if one day they are not coming, then it is a bad thing. It is a good thing that the parks can draw many seniors to exercise voluntarily; but if one day they are not coming, you will have to visit them in the hospital, then it is a bad thing. HPB, under MOH, and many voluntary welfare organisations will face greater challenges to ensure the physical and mental well-being of the elderly. The biggest challenge we face is how to look at the ageing problem positively. Being old is not the problem; the problem is the way we look at them. Some say they are treasures; some say they are liabilities. No matter what they are, we should all work together to make their golden years enjoyable.”
“Madam, it is said that, in the coming years, Singapore's healthcare system will come under pressure from the ageing Page: 113 population. And as our population is ageing rapidly, some have even described it as a "silver tsunami". However, there is this Chinese saying "家有一老，如有一宝” or an elder at home is a treasure for the family. Both are right from different perspectives. Indeed, as more and more of our aged are suffering from dementia and other ageing-related diseases, we need to gear up for this challenge. If you visit nursing homes and hospices, and meet with the seniors who are no longer able to do simple things, you would agree that this is a real challenge. However, more and more of our senior citizens are also active agers involved in various voluntary and community activities. If you visit community clubs and neighbourhood parks and meet with seniors who enjoy line dancing and tai-ji, you tend to agree that they are our treasure and many of them are what we now call the Pioneer Generation. Thus, the reality is in between. We need to step up our effort to engage more seniors with many more creative and innovative activities so that after each and every engagement, they will go back to their own home where all the family members treat them as treasures. If we can engage more seniors as early as possible with the right knowledge on mental health and healthy tips, more will enjoy a healthy body and healthy mind and do not need to end up in a nursing home. HPB and the People's Association and many other voluntary welfare organisations have been working closely to engage our seniors in the areas where they work, live and play.”
“In Singapore and other parts of the world, we have seen the development of using smartphone applications technology to match the commuters' demand for taxi service to the taxi drivers without the need to go through a centrally-manned call centre. 2.30 pm Would the Government, under the current frameworks of Taxi Drivers Vocational Licence (TDVL) and Taxi Operators Licence (TOL), regulate the use of such third-party innovative technology that would enable commuters to be directly served by many more taxi drivers or other private transport drivers all at the same time?”
“It is noticeable that there are now more new buses on the roads. Bus capacity has been expanded with the introduction of more than 300 of the 550 buses funded by the Government. With the roll-out of the remaining 250 buses by end of this year, two years ahead of the schedule, may Page: 46 I ask the Minister whether the public transport operators are able to recruit enough drivers to meet this sudden increase of their bus fleet? As we know, even if we can afford to roll out more buses in the shortest possible time, the new buses can only be parked at the depot if there are not enough bus drivers. The increase of 550 buses will need more than 1,000 bus drivers. To be exact, it is 550 multiplied by 2.5, for two shifts plus one relief, which is 1,375. What are the measures taken to ease the existing infrastructure and bus interchanges capacity to serve this increase of 550 buses? On top of it, would the competitive bidding for the provision of bus routes under the BSEP be extended to the existing bus routes? How would the bus interchanges be managed if there are multiple bus service providers through competitive bidding?”
“" Hence, I would like to ask the Minister how to solve this issue. Public Transport Reliability”