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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“Madam, lately, train services have been disrupted quite frequently due to different factors. Such incidents have impacted the reliability of the public transport and, at the same time, confidence of commuters in general. Thus, the recently announced code of practice on incident management framework, with a command structure to handle large-scale disruptions, is crucial and important. However, it is even more important to prevent such frequent disruptions from happening. May I ask the Minister, how would the "Predict and Prevent" whole-life maintenance approach be effective in restoring commuters' confidence and reliability of the train service? How could the Government ensure that the operators will provide for the necessary manpower capabilities and financial resources to fully comply with the "Predict and Prevent" whole-life maintenance approach to train service assets? Madam, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The frequent train service disruptions have caused a lot of inconvenience for commuters, undermining their confidence in the reliability of the rail system. This press report has reflected the sentiment very well. The report said, "Commuters were unhappy with the fact that train services broke down five times within a month. Minister for Transport said he shared the same feeling". Residents told me, "When the train breaks down, the Minister has a sour face. We can understand that." Page: 40 They also asked me what is "Predict and Prevent". I told them, "Predict" means predicting that disruptions might happen; "Prevent" means stopping them from happening. They then asked me, "How does the Minister make sure that the train operators invest enough resources to predict and prevent these incidents from happening?”
“Page: 65 What is the Minister's assessment of the Government's public communications and engagement capability and capacity?”
“(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Next year, Singapore is going to celebrate its 50th birthday. This is a very significant event. I would like to ask the Minister if there are ideas to mobilise Singaporeans to help promote this very significant event to the rest of the world. Do we have enough resources and manpower? We introduced the Pioneer Generation Package. Many Members in the House have also urged the Government to enhance communications via various channels. I would like to ask the Minister: when introducing major policies, do we have ample preparations to ensure policies are properly communicated? When publicising information to the public, we often make a fool of ourselves. STB had made a fool of itself, so did NHB. NHB translated the "Bras" in "Bras Basah" literally into "bra" in Chinese. Most of us are very familiar with Bras Basah, but this mistake had made the news in the China, Hong Kong and Taiwan media. NHB explained that the translation on its website was done by the Google Translate plug-in. However, whether it is Google Translate or other software, should we not view the work of translation more seriously, including Malay and Tamil translations? On this front, are we lacking in the heart or the ability to do the job right? (In English): REACH's survey on how much people know about the help available to them shows that though Singaporeans are generally aware of the various assistance schemes, a significant number of elderly and low-income earners are still unclear about how the schemes work. As we are celebrating Singapore's 50th Anniversary, may I ask the Minister if we have an overall strategy to engage all Singaporeans not only for this occasion but also for any good news, sad news and any important policy announcements?”
“A recent survey shows that many Singaporeans have their retirement plan but, in reality, they end up working longer than originally planned for various reasons. The employment rate for our senior citizens aged 55 to 64 is now 66.8%. With more and more Singaporeans approaching the retirement age, may I know what is our longer term target of employment rate for older workers and what are the policies and programmes to encourage more Singaporeans to work longer and employers to engage older workers? The Government's approach should be to create an economic structure that will make the older workers productive and are able to generate economic value. This is no different from EDB creating jobs for the graduates from University, Polytechnics and ITE. We can create meaningful jobs for the seniors and train them for these jobs.”
“Although the increase in Minimum Sum for 2012 was about one-third lower than what it would have been, only about 50% of the active CPF members were able to meet the Minimum Sum at age 55 last year. For those who are unable to meet the Minimum Sum, many also have difficulty serving their housing loan. And many of them come to our Meet-the-People Sessions for help. On the other hand, over the last 10 years, about 10%-15% of each cohort turning 55 has chosen to leave the balances in their CPF accounts above the Page: 66 Minimum Sum. These are sums of money that they could otherwise withdraw. Thus, when the Minimum Sum reaches the target of $120,000 in real terms (2003 dollars) next year in 2015, may I know if the Government will conduct a review on the long-term Minimum Sum policy? May I also suggest that the future Minimum Sum policy to have a tiered Minimum Sum targeting at different income groups, with higher income Singaporeans having bigger Minimum Sum and lower income workers keeping a smaller Minimum Sum? In this House, we always hear this phrase: "not one size fits all". I say: "not one sum pleases all". CPF Retirement Account”
“So, on this note, may I beg leave to withdraw the amendment? [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $380,061,900 for Head U ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $70,752,700 for Head U ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“On behalf of all Members who spoke, may I thank Deputy Prime Minister Teo for his reassurance of the integrity of the Public Service and his assurance that the public sector will work with the unions for the betterment of low-wage workers in the Civil Service. I must also thank Minister Grace Fu for her sharing of the immigration policy with a slower and stable growth, and her story of her visit to OCBC Bank. I am happy to know that now she also knows that gentlemen care for childcare. I must also thank Minister Lawrence Wong for his insightful view on our monetary policy. We are really concerned, especially in the Ang Mo Kio Town Centre, which now has more pawnshops and moneylenders than provision shops – "当店多过米店" —”
“Why can a school principal not lead by example? Why does a Police officer, in executing the law, break the law? Why does a CPIB officer overstep the legal boundary? Of course, people are not generalising. They still have faith in our public service. They also know that in a large organisation, such as the Civil Service, there will always be a few black sheep. Should we not strengthen the supervision of the public service and increase its transparency? Public officers who are pondering on potential corruption would then know that they are being watched. Shall we review the recruitment process of public officers so that we can truly select the best, the ablest "horse", based on Bo Le's standard? This year is the Year of the Horse. We should act immediately. People hope we have more outstanding stallions in our public service. People also hope that the Government can get rid of those black sheep. Low-wage Officers in the Civil Service”
“We may identify a few more areas of monitoring for a start. I trust different Ministries must have their own internal monitoring system by now. My point is that we should make it more open and more transparent so that all civil servants are mindful of their misbehaviour. It is both preventive and pre-emptive. However, the effectiveness of such a monitoring system design lies in the ability to sustain the efforts. Two, the CPIB steps up its education efforts to remind Public Service officers across all levels, especially those involved in licensing, pricing and transacting public services and goods, on what is an incorrupt government, what corrupt practices are and what actions are not acceptable. Madam, systems are designed and maintained by people. We may have a very effective system but a corrupt officer can circumvent and corrupt the system. On the other hand, in the case of an upright officer and an ineffective system, the good officer can keep on enhancing the system. Such good value system of uprightness should be internalised in the whole of the Civil Service. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The integrity of the Singapore Government and the efficiency of its Public Service are the hallmarks of Singapore. We take pride in them. This resonates especially well with the first- and second-generation Singaporeans. They know that without the integrity and efficiency, it will be impossible for us to fund the $8 billion Pioneer Page: 58 Generation Package. However, in the last two to three years, there have been cases involving public officers. People cannot help but wonder, what happened to our Public Service? Is it because "the mountain is high and the emperor is far"? Or is it because "material comforts lead to lust"?”
“Madam, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head U of the Estimates be reduced by $100". Singaporeans want an incorrupt government and, at the same time, they have held our public service in high regard. They believe that an effective and incorrupt public service is a key pillar of our prosperous and stable Singapore. The Government is able to introduce the $8 billion Pioneer Generation package this year not by chance but by the incorruptible system of governance supported by belief of the people in a clean public service. Indeed, Singaporeans whose children are civil servants feel proud that their children are part of the Civil Service. Thus, the trust that Singaporeans place in Page: 57 the Public Service must be preserved and enhanced. Singaporeans see each and every civil servant as an integral part of the Government, be he a postman or a Permanent Secretary. However, in the last two to three years, there have been cases involving public officers at the middle level in CPIB, Home Team, education, foreign service and other Statutory Boards who were found guilty of wrongdoings. Singaporeans are asking, "Why are there more and more such wrongdoing cases by the Civil Service?" Thus, I would like to suggest that the Public Service adopt two pre-emptive approaches to preserve the integrity of the Public Service. One, more stringent recruitment criteria and monitoring system, especially for middle-level public servants, be adopted so as to strengthen public trust. The open and transparent monitoring system for the Public Service is to capture any wrongdoing of the civil servants before the situation gets from bad to worse. Thus, if a civil servant visits the casino for more than 100 times a year, the monitoring system should sound the alarm.”
“However, there have been cases involving public officers in the CPIB, Home Team, education and foreign services who were found guilty of their wrongdoings. Why are there more such wrongdoings, across more services? And would more stringent recruitment criteria and monitoring system, especially for our public servants, help strengthen public trust? I shall elaborate further also during my PMO cut. With that, I support the Budget. 3.42 pm”
“One, he would be filled with pride as Singapore has succeeded against all odds. Two, he would be very sure that in a hundred years' time, Australia and New Zealand would still be around and sheep and cows would still be roaming their land, but he was not sure if Singapore would be around then. His worry then is now the worry of our second-generation pioneers. (In English): For Singaporeans who were 16 in 1965 and is 65 now, they are now officially termed as the "Pioneer Generation". I would like to touch on the concerns of those who were born in the 1950s and 1960s, and I shall call them "the second Pioneer Generation". First, while the second Pioneer Generation are relieved that their parents' and grandparents' medical needs have been looked after, they are worried if our current economic structure can really accommodate them in the workforce for the next 10 to 20 years, as many are now nearing the retirement age and they would like to work longer, work beyond the age of 62. Our employment rate for older workers aged 55 to 64 shows that 65% are employed. The Government should develop a strategy to address the issue. This is no different from the EDB creating jobs for graduates from University, Polytechnic and ITE. We also need to create jobs suitable for the second Pioneer Generation as they live longer and like to work longer. I shall elaborate further during my MOM cut. Page: 90 The second concern of the second Pioneer Generation is the Integrity of the Public Service. Singaporeans have held our Public Service in high regard and trusted our civil servants in discharging their duties. Many also feel proud that their children join the Public Service. The many crises we overcome together as a people have sealed a strong bond between the people and the Government.”
“But when the round of applause was given, they stood and they stood taller than before. In my 18 years as a Member of Parliament, this is the most generous, inclusive, compassionate package. It had certainly made older Singaporeans very happy. As the old saying goes, a person who does not plan for the future is a person who faces many problems in the present. Even though our second-generation pioneers now have less worry for the medical expenses of their Page: 89 parents, they have other worries, none other than the social issues that have cropped up in Singapore over the last two to three years. The second-generation pioneers had been through some turbulent years in the early times of our nation-building. As the country stabilised over the years, no riots have occurred over the last 40 years, and, yet, a riot took place. And when foreigners find it unbelievable that we have not had a strike in 26 years, a strike broke out. Did we not pride ourselves that high civil service pay would deter corruption? But the corruption cases involving officers in the Police Force, education and foreign services and even CPIB had worried the second-generation pioneers. They asked if Singapore can survive for another 50 years. Did we not say that high civil service pay would be effective in deterring corruption? The second-generation pioneers are also worried about the frequent train breakdowns, poor maintenance of infrastructure and telecommunication woes. Do we still stand a place in the various world rankings? I want to quote what founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew said during his official trip to Australia in 1988. I was part of the delegation as a journalist. With every trip returning from Australia, he would have two reflections.”
“If you recall, on 14 May 2011, then Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong made a joint statement to retire from the Cabinet. In their statement, they said, "the younger team must always have in mind the interests of the older generation" and "this generation who have contributed to Singapore must be well-looked after". The generation that our founding Prime Minister wanted to be "well-looked after" is precisely the Pioneer Generation. And what problems are they most concerned with? Healthcare costs. The greatest fears older Singaporeans face include (a) not being able to afford one's medical fees, (b) losing the ability to take care of oneself, and (c) the loss of mobility. During our founding years, the Pioneer Generation were still young. They were then concerned about daily necessities. Their school uniforms and school shoes were hand-me-downs from neighbours and relatives which, in turn, would be passed down to others who were even younger. But now, in their aged years, they have different concerns. They worry about medical expenses. This shows that the problem of ageing is a pressing one. I am aware that doctors must have medical ethics and businessmen should have business ethics. As for Government, if it is able to take care of the ailing Pioneer Generation, then it is a Government with political ethics. Two weeks ago, during a Lunar New Year dinner held in his constituency, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong invited the pioneers living in Ang Mo Kio to stand up for a round of applause to be given to them. We know that it is not easy for old people to get up from their seats, some of them could not even stand properly and had to try to maintain their balance so they would not topple.”
“Mdm Speaker, in Mandarin first, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mdm Speaker, I would like to talk about the concerns of second-generation pioneers. "Pioneer Generation" is a creative name which aptly reflects the spirit of the first-generation Singaporeans, their sense of togetherness, hard work and endurance. It also portrays our respect for them. Our grandparents and parents belong to the Pioneer Generation. The Government estimated that there are about 450,000 of them. In reality, many of those who had contributed in our nation-building had already left us before they were able to see our present achievement. They had dreamt of Singapore's future but they did not get to see it, neither could they enjoy it. They were the "lost" Pioneer Generation. While we are celebrating our 50th year of nation-building, they should not be forgotten. The PGP will provide some relief for the pioneers in terms of medical expenses and, in a way, many of those who are caring for their elderly parents, and who were born in the 1950s and 1960s, will also feel that their burden is somehow lightened. These are the second-generation pioneers, a group which is somewhat burdened. The PGP announced by Prime Minister Lee has provided assurance for the Pioneer Generation, and the second-generation pioneers can heave a sigh of Page: 88 relief. But not every government can deliver what they promised. Some countries overpromise and under-deliver, in Chinese there is an equivalent saying of "the heart is willing but the strength is weak". But we always deliver what we promise. In Chinese, it means "we have the heart as well as the strength". Today, I want to thank our first-generation leaders.”
“Madam, when I chaired a dialogue session on this Budget, one resident commented that, as a self-employed, he worried about the adequacy of his social safety net. The number of self-employed Singaporeans is increasing over the years and cuts across many sectors, especially those employed as contract-for-service to small time businessmen. Many of them have seen the need to strengthen their social safety net, especially when they get older. While we have built up social safety nets for the more organised and company-based self-employed groups like the taxi-drivers who now enjoy the Drive-As-You-Save scheme, many other self-employed groups, such as hawkers, tour guides, property agents, freelance designers and so on, only have the Medisave and their personal insurance, if they do buy one, as a safety net. As salaried workers may enjoy the wage credit programme of salary increases, may I propose that the self-employed groups will have their additional top-up in the form of Medisave if they make additional contribution on top of the legislative requirement? Page: 143 Foreign Manpower Management”
“Madam, MOM has announced that the Work at Heights Regulations will likely be introduced this year. Could the Minister give an update on the progress of this? While some amount of legislation is Page: 131 necessary to raise safety standards, feedback from the ground is that businesses could be overwhelmed if too many rigid rules are in place. In fact, their comment in Hokkien is: "chin giam chin jia lat" or "very stringent, very tough". As new regulations are introduced to elevate safety standards in priority areas, I urge the Ministry to continue to review the existing regulations to ensure that they remain relevant to all stakeholders.”
“The old can communicate with the old better and they can also serve as a feedback channel so that CPF LIFE can be a Better Life.”
“Madam, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] In the past, when one reached 55, one would go to CPF Board and collect an umbrella, a souvenir from the Board. It means to say that you are now a retiree. Thus, when old friends meet, they always ask, "Have you collected the umbrella?" "Collecting the umbrella," also means that one has collected the lifelong savings minus the Minimum Sum with the Board. Indeed, many stories begin from collecting the umbrella. We read in the newspapers about how our seniors lost their small fortunes. Some fell into the trap of "love"; some were cheated; Page: 123 some invested wrongly. Then came CPF LIFE in 2009. In the beginning, it had 12 plans. It has now been streamlined to two plans only. As this has become a compulsory scheme from this year for those who reach 55, may I ask the Minister to update us, of all the seniors, how many have opted for the CPF LIFE Standard Plan, and how many opted for the CPF LIFE Basic Plan? For members who are now drawing from the LIFE, what is the average monthly amount? Some retirees opine that the sum is not enough for their daily expenses and ask for a higher sum. Some seniors ask to use CPF LIFE for other purposes. It shows that some seniors do not understand the purpose and mechanism of CPF LIFE. They ask us to write to CPF Board on their behalf. Usually, they will receive a letter from the Board telling them why their money is meant for old age and cannot be withdrawn for that purpose but, frankly speaking, they disregard the explanations in the letter. I would suggest the Board take a more member-centric approach by engaging them through face-to face-explanation. In this aspect, the Board may invite active seniors as volunteers.”
“Although we cannot conclude that the rise of COE prices has nothing to do with taxi companies bidding for COEs, we can confirm that taxi companies are not the key driving force behind the dramatic increase in COE prices. What is the Government's long-term plan on how the taxi population will be controlled by the COE quota system? Taxis are a public transport service. The public commuters expect its pricing to be competitive, orderly and justified. The recent changes in COE policy on taxis had made it impossible for taxi operators to play its intended role to manage the fluctuating cost of COE as they will only find out the COE cost when the vehicle is registered. With the total cost of putting a taxi on the road fluctuating significantly, we begin to see taxi companies not able to price their taxi rental and meter fare in a very planned and orderly manner. Taxis are public service vehicles, just like public buses. There is a case to make taxi service more accessible and taxi fare more affordable so that public commuters would treat taxis as their "next car" instead of chasing new cars and further push up the COE prices. So, there is also a case to take taxis out of the COE system, just like the public buses, and replace it with a more stable and reasonable statutory cost structure for taxis without the COE and without making it more expensive to put a taxi on the road than the private car. Page: 13 Vehicle Quota System (COE)”
“Madam, the Government is now auditing the operations of rail and buses, especially in the reliability and safety aspects. As the total taxi population on the road crosses 28,000 and the estimated daily ridership of 940,000 last year, how would LTA benchmark the safety and reliability of taxi services? Would the Government improve its supervisory framework of the taxi companies such that both their taxis and drivers are fit to serve and able to meet these standards? Role and Growth of Taxis Madam, my next cut. May I ask the Minister what is the role and position of taxis in the Master Population Plan 2020 and 2030? The Government has planned for the 2030 public transport infrastructure. What is the Government's plan to make taxi service more accessible to the able-bodied, young, aged and the handicapped? Page: 12 For the taxi industry to function well, we need to invest in building up the capability and capacity of the industry. To make these heavy capital investments which require time, taxi operators need to have certainty in the Government's policies in the next eight to 16 years or one or two lifespan of a taxi. Could the Government spell out its long-term policy for the taxi industry? What are the conditions that will determine the optimum size of the taxi population in Singapore in the next, say, five to 10 years? Would the Government require the taxi operators to compete in terms of pricing, efficiency and quality of their service so that public commuters could benefit from them? Taxi COE and Taxi Fares Madam, my next cut. Since taxis have been taken out from the bidding of COEs, the price of COEs continues to rise to cross the $90,000 mark.”
“The Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP) was introduced to increase bus capacity and enhance bus service levels to benefit commuters. May I ask the Minister to update us on the progress of BSEP? How many new services and how many new buses have been added by now and by end of this year? Page: 153 With the shortage of bus drivers and other constraints faced by the public transport industry and the operators, how do we ensure that the new bus services can be rolled out progressively and service levels enhanced over the next five years? The Minister also disclosed that LTA would put up some new routes under BSEP for tender. What are the kinds of routes to be tendered out and what is the response so far? 6.00 pm (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] It is said that roads are generated by men. I would like to say that bus routes are also generated by men. Bus routes should go to where most people go. I want to share one experience. A few years ago, residents in our constituency asked for a change of the bus route. LTA was worried then because re-directing the route would mean longer journey on the bus. On the other hand, the old route meant more bus changes and some residents had to cross the road to catch the bus. With the concerted effort of the residents, grassroots leaders and LTA, the bus route was finally changed, to the convenience of the residents. What I want to say is that the residents would rather spend an extra 10 minutes or so on the bus, than wait at the bus stop gazing at the sky. We hope BSEP can be ASAP. Private Transport Operators”
“In this aspect, I believe the Government needs to do more to improve communication with the masses, and to focus on the main communication media with the elderly, namely: newspapers, radio and television. There are a few reasons why the elderly read newspapers: firstly, is to look through the obituary, to see if any of their friends has passed away; secondly, they listen to the radio as there is a rich variety of information and the presenters are humorous; they like to watch television news and share those news with their friends. Some television programmes, for example, Tuesday Page: 100 Report and other documentaries, are well loved by old folks as they are informative. Therefore, I hope MCI will consider increasing funding for these programmes. Many old folks also have iPhones, so we also hope that the Government can make use of iPhones to communicate with the elderly. For example, during Chinese New Year, we receive cartoon versions of the God of Fortune. Why can we not create a cartoon version of the Minister for Finance, and tell them about the good news from the Budget? For example, the Wage Credit Scheme, where 40% of workers' wage increment will be subsidised by the Government. Engaging Singaporeans in Policy Making”
“Madam, as policy issues become more and more complex and cut across many Ministries, like the issues of population, housing and transportation, what is the Ministry's overall strategy to engage and communicate with Singaporeans of all ages? For the younger generation, has the Ministry exploited fully the new media to reach them and to the seniors? What are the most effective ways to communicate with them with specific messages? What constraints does the Ministry face to engage them? Also, with the appointment of the Chief of Government Communications, have there been any new initiatives launched in terms of policy announcements and other Government messages? As the Ministry's information service is to enhance the Public Service's communications network, how does the Ministry coordinate with the various agencies and Statutory Boards to help them engage stakeholders and communicate policies and programmes to the public? (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Madam, the Health Sciences Authority recently published a newspaper advertisement reminding members of the public not to believe in claims that certain pills can deliver miracle cures. I think this is an innovative and effective way to communicate with the elderly, because old folks worry most about falling ill, and they love to buy medicine on their own. The only problem is, they may buy the wrong medicine. I hope that the various Government Ministries will take a pragmatic approach when they communicate with old folks. Firstly, do not show them too many figures; secondly, do not tell them too many reasons. They understand the reasons, but they must know what is the message you want to convey.”
“After listening to the 29 cuts, may I thank the Deputy Prime Minister Teo, Minister Grace Fu and Acting Minister Lawrence Wong for their answers with a big heart to the wide ranging issues. After listening to all the answers, I realise the Prime Minister's Office is also the office which will "cover mountain, cover sea", or in Chinese, "包山，包海". On this note, may I beg leave to withdraw my amendment? [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $349,890,100 for Head U ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $56,031,700 for Head U ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“The EBRC also sought to ensure that the number of electors in similar-sized GRCs did not suffer from too much variation among them. I urge the Government to recognise that future EBRC reports can secure more buy-in and sustain confidence and trust in the electoral process if the EBRC explains the rationale for the changes and how they were decided. The process by which the boundaries are reviewed and decided upon is just as important, if not more important, than the specific changes themselves. This is notwithstanding that any redrawing of electoral boundaries will be seen as an inherently political process and that it is probably impossible to have perfectly distributed electoral divisions. Could the EBRC be constituted by civil servants, as is the current practice, and respected members of our society with the relevant expertise to make a nuanced sense of what is needed to be done where the electoral boundaries are concerned?”
“Representation is an essential part of our system of parliamentary democracy. Increasingly, Singaporean voters are concerned with the fairness of the electoral process. This House should not be surprised that voters may, all things be equal, decide to cast their ballots based on their perceptions of how level the electoral playing field is. Page: 109 Perceptions are often treated as realities in politics. As such, in our one-party dominant system, perceptions of unfairness in the electoral system tend to work against the ruling party. But that is not my key concern. My concern relates to the need for trust and confidence in the entire process of elections. Recent reports over the last two decades of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committees (EBRC) are characterised by their brevity. Brevity is often a virtue but details, reasoning, and explanations are often lacking in the EBRC reports. As such, where there may even be justified boundary changes, explanation is lacking. Often there is the presumption that the changes are politically motivated. There is a need to provide for more robust substantiation of the rationale and principles that guide the EBRC's recommendations. For instance, taking the EBRC Report of February 2011, what are the reasons to retain the Singapore Member Constituencies (SMCs) of Potong Pasir and Hougang, while abolishing five other SMCs? How did the EBRC decide which GRCs should become smaller? One could not discern the methodology of the EBRC. Not surprisingly, accusations of gerrymandering were raised. This takes away from the good work done by the EBRC. For instance, the EBRC report sought to advance the principle of fair and balanced representation.”
“A person can change over time due to environment that he is exposed to. Thus, constant education on corruption as a reminder to civil servants is equally important. National Climate Change Secretariat Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef: Singapore has been an active proponent in the discussions on climate change negotiations. We are also engaged in environmental cooperation, both regionally and internationally. The Resilience Working group under the National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS) looks at our vulnerability and long-term solutions in the area of climate change. How actively are we pursuing potential new innovations and initiatives? What measures do the group feel can have the greatest impact on Singapore, especially when Singapore has also pledged to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by16% below business as usual levels by 2020. How on target are we in this direction? Currently, Singapore does not have carbon pricing. Will the Secretariat be considering some form of carbon taxation or other alternatives to reduce carbon emissions? Also, has the potential impact of carbon taxation on our economy been studied? These considerations will become key, especially with the expansion of industries, restructuring of our growth and also expansion of our public transport system. With the expected 800 new buses and more taxis, what measures are being considered to reduce these environmental effects? Also with the recent announcement on the reclamation of more land for Singapore, will there be specific strategies and precautions to be undertaken, such as keeping the reclaimed land levels a specific distance above the highest recorded tide levels. Electoral Boundaries Review Asst Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene: Madam, the electoral process is an integral part of any democracy.”
“The Transparency International Corruption Perception Index ranked Singapore as number one among 178 countries in 2010. However, in 2011, we slipped to number five and in 2012 we are number five too. May I ask what lesson have we learnt from this? CPIB celebrated its 60th Anniversary last year. We are admired by many countries and we have enjoyed the good name of being a clean, developed nation. Delegations from many countries came here to learn about our anti-corruption practices. In view of the recent high profile corruption cases, will Singapore's CPIB ranking slip further? Our Civil Service has always prided itself on integrity, service and excellence. But it is up to the law to punish suspected wrong doers. Our civil servants, especially our top civil servants should not act in any way that compromise their image in the eyes of the public. In this aspect, have the Government and the Public Service Commission reviewed the code of conduct for civil servants? Every individual's personal life is his own private life. But public servants should always bear in mind that as servants of the public, it is up to them to live a life of integrity in the service. We do have good check-and-balance systems to deter corruption, but the latest ranking of our corruption perception indicates that there is still room for improvement. Other than religious beliefs, moral values, integrity is being instilled through family upbringing and education and that determines the act of every individual. Due to the focus on seeking academic achievement in our Page: 108 education system all these years, we now need to pay more attention to the moral values. Unlike work competency and academic achievements, integrity is something hard to determine.”
“As we are adopting measures to enhance our total fertility rate, what type of flexible work arrangements are available for employees in the public service sector? What proportions of the staff are already on this arrangement? PSD can indeed set the example for many other companies and organisations to follow. Terms of Re-employment”
“It means that the polices are meant to benefit, but not please the people. This is something which we all know. My view is that policy formulation should benefit the people. However, during policy implementation, the Government should please the people. We should not allow inflexibility in implementation to cause unhappiness. This year's Budget and many other policies have been carefully drawn up. Should we not take some time to consider how to implement these policies so that people will appreciate the Government's good intentions? Recently, Government agencies have introduced a series of measures to tackle various social issues. This reminds me of a phenomenon called "beating the system". From COE, retail prices to foreign worker policy, we see a battle of wits between the Government and the people. However, during this battle, some law-biding citizens' interests will get hurt. Because of this, some ground resentment surfaced. The Government and grassroots representatives should have better coordination. We must understand what is in people's mind in order to build an inclusive society. Page: 73 Flexi-work in the Public Service Sector Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade): Mdm Chairperson, the public service sector is one of the major employers in Singapore, which offers exciting and challenging careers, especially to young recruits in the prime of their lives, and for ladies in the prime of their reproductive lives. Today, we have some 65,000 graduate ladies who are not economically active. In many surveys that have been conducted locally, women who actually stopped work or do not work, have cited family and childcare as the main reasons.”
“No rules and regulations fix all circumstances, but there is a need for it in order to protect the interests of the majority and order of our system. We should win more hearts and souls of our people through understanding the ground and Singaporeans' behaviour patterns. We should also exercise more flexibility when it comes to implementation. We are doing the right things, but we need to do a review if Page: 72 we are using the mass approach. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] It is said that even the wise are not always free from errors. No matter how smart you are, even if you have a group of people pondering over the same question a hundred or thousand times, inevitably, there will still be an error somewhere. When the Government implements key policies, errors will sometimes occur, and this is what we describe as "even the wise are not always free from errors". On the contrary, it is also said that a fool may get things right occasionally. Here, the "fool" does not mean a stupid person − he is simply an ordinary one. In other words, if an ordinary person thinks hard and long, he may reap unexpected results. At present, the COE prices have risen up to as high as $90,000, but once there was a person who had secured a COE with only $50! This is what we call "a fool may get things right occasionally". The wise and the ordinary person, the "success" and "error" here are interrelated, not mutually exclusive. The Government and the common people can consult each other and achieve a win-win outcome. Government policies have all along been based on people's interests and are meant to benefit them. Taking into consideration people's long-term interests, the Government will not please the people.”
“Madam, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head U of the Estimates be reduced by $100". Every motorist knows that whenever he or she travels along the expressway and meets a heavy downpour, there is a shelter nearby for them to take cover. I always admire the planner of this project who has a heart for every single user in mind, especially when I see the motorist taking cover under the shelter. This is a classic case which shows that for every policy, project and programme that the Government implements, it can always be made more user-friendly and people centric, and people appreciate whenever they use it or even have a look at it. This Budget and many other policies which this Government introduced are, in fact, formulated with more heart for our people. However, when the policies come to implementation or communication with the public, it may sometimes lose a human touch along the way. The way that our civil servants respond to our residents' requests has been in general too robotic and lacking the human touch. Instead of just playing the role of saying "yes" or "no" to the application, they need to take a step forward in exploring alternative options to help Singaporeans, as these officers know the background of the case better and also the policy guiding the decision. The residents' problems will not just go away by simply telling them about the rules and regulations, especially when our rules and regulations are becoming more and more complicated. We should work on trying to understand the root of their problem and exercise flexibility on a case-by-case basis. We know that we have to strike a balance in doing so, or else it will blur the transparency and consistency of our system.”
“Singaporeans do watch television programmes, but there is so much variety, they have many choices. If we want to attract Singaporeans to watch Parliament news to understand Government policies, then we have to ensure that our message to them is clear and simple, and not so complicated that one does not know where to start. 5.48 pm”
“Where can you find Singaporeans who are willing to change the light bulbs and install the fans? We cannot live without foreign workers." This is a simple example that we can see. We hope that the Government can bear in mind the difficulties faced by SMEs when they implement policies. For these companies, although they are willing to raise productivity, they are unable to do it. For the low-wage workers, certainly the increase in wages would be good for them. However, they are afraid that once wages increase, prices will also increase. Therefore, although it is a good idea to raise productivity and increase wages of low-wage workers, the question remains: how do we implement these plans? How do we ensure that the beneficiaries will really benefit from it? There are three areas that I would like to urge the Government to look into. First, I would like to propose that we give small and medium enterprises more time to increase their productivity and restructure. Secondly, the Government should take the lead and refrain from increasing fees. If not, many private companies will follow suit. Thirdly, all policies should not only be people-centred, but also simplified, so that people can easily understand them. This is something that the Government has to work hard on. Page: 124 We always say that everybody should be knowledgeable. If they are not knowledgeable, they should at least have common sense. If they do not have common sense, they have to watch more television programmes. Singaporeans are very knowledgeable; they are aware that globalisation has an impact on Singapore. Singaporeans are also knowledgeable because they know that this Government is a good Government that puts the people first, although the Government may sometimes over-react.”
“Taking a holistic view of the Budget, I think it is focused on two issues. Firstly, how to raise productivity as a whole and, secondly, how to build an inclusive society. In terms of raising productivity, everybody has his or her own view of how this can be achieved. For many, it is not something that can be achieved as we desire. Neither is it something that can be done just by relying on Government funds. It must be a nationwide effort. For example, when you talk about raising Page: 123 productivity of bus drivers, do you want him to drive faster or take more passengers? In fact, what he should do, is to ensure the bus arrives safely and passengers enjoy a safe journey. If he speeds, or quarrels with passengers, or gets involved in accidents, and gets a lot of complaints from passengers, he is not being productive. The other focus is, how do we ensure that our society is more inclusive? One of the highlights of this Budget is the Wage Credit Scheme. This is a unique innovation of Singapore, and 70% of Singaporean workers who earn less than $4,000 can benefit from it. The Government will subsidise 40% of wage increases for three years. Two years ago, when the Government set the target to increase wages by 30% in 10 years, nobody believed it. But it can be achieved with this scheme, together with an increase in productivity. However, for SME bosses, ultimately, the issue remains. In the current situation, although there are business opportunities, they do not have the headcount. Bosses say, "Singaporeans do not want to do these jobs, but we cannot employ foreigners. Without profits, how can we increase wages? We cannot be sure that we can cope three years later." A contractor supplying tents told me, "You see these tents?”
“We know that there are many Singaporeans out there who work hard to eke out a living every day. Although they are not well-off, they still have high aspirations and hope that their children will be well educated, that their next generation will not be as poor as they are. However, some recent reports seem to suggest that our society is becoming intolerant of foreigners. This gives others the impression that Singapore is no longer an inclusive society. However, the truth is that most of us are still very tolerant. We are contented and are aware that foreigners work here to help promote economic growth. Nevertheless, there is a particular group of Singaporeans who are in the lower-income bracket, who experience difficulties in finding a place of their own. It is very difficult for them to even find a suitable job. It is only natural that they want to find a better job. So, the Government's most immediate task should be to house these people and help them find jobs. Perhaps, the Government over-reacted and tightened the influx of foreign workers which, in turn, affected tens of thousands of small and medium enterprises. If the tightening of the labour policy results in the closure or overseas relocation of SMEs, low-income workers will be the ones directly hit. This is because, once they lose their jobs, it is difficult for them to find another one. If this is the case, will they remain poor beyond two generations? This Budget is very comprehensive. It also shows that the Government has put a lot of thought into the Budget, and many of the civil servants in the Ministry of Finance have thought over it carefully, to come up with a "Quality Growth, Inclusive Society" Budget that covers all aspects in our nation.”
“[Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance presented this year's Budget with the theme "A Better Singapore. Quality Growth, An Inclusive Society". In reality, Singapore has always achieved quality growth. However, there are concerns that the quality may deteriorate. Singapore has also always been an inclusive society, but there are also concerns whether we can continue to be inclusive. We know that Singapore is now one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Yesterday, Forbes released the global list of billionaires, with 10 Singaporeans on the list. These are people who have benefited from Singapore's quality growth. Many of them are philanthropists who have supported charities to promote an inclusive society, the Lee Foundation being one of the well-known charities. However, recently, we have seen many undesirable trends in our society, such as extra-marital affairs. This reminds us that our quality society is starting to change. It has prompted us to question whether Singapore can remain wealthy beyond the third generation. How can we strive for quality growth and, at the same time, remind Singaporeans who have made good not to be corrupted by wealth? Mr Deputy Speaker, building an inclusive society has always been our policy. In fact, our society has always been inclusive and compassionate. For Page: 122 example, in the recent accident where Mr Lim Guang Chin was killed, and because his wife had passed away before him due to cancer, his death meant that their four children became orphans overnight. After members of the public read this story, tens of thousands of dollars in donations were collected in just a few days, to show support for this Singaporean who had to juggle two jobs.”
“Four, with two-thirds of the jobs created going to PMETs and with slower GDP growth, the Government has to ensure that those Singaporeans who cannot catch up with the competition will not be marginalised with the inflows of new citizens. Conclusion. During the dialogue sessions, some asked, "Why call this Population White Paper a White Paper?" Some jokingly mentioned that it was raised by the men in white, thus White Paper. However, as we know, growing Singapore's population is a long-term national issue that calls for constructive debate between all stakeholders. Whether it is the Government, the Opposition or various segments of our people, we all have very big stakes in our future and we must be ready to listen and be persuaded to adjust our positions after listening. More need to be done to explain the rationale and implications of the Population White Paper so that Singaporeans can understand our demographic challenges. I support the Motion. 5.56 pm”
“This is particularly important for those who may feel marginalised by the influx of foreigners. In reality, some Singaporeans feel that they have been disadvantaged when competing with the new arrivals. (In English): Here are four suggestions put forth by the residents. It is proposed that at this year's National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee can again invite Nanyang Polytechnic School of Interactive and Digital Media to present to us the 2030 scenario, the best scenario, a Singapore with 6.9 million people will still be a Singapore with quality housing, transportation, infrastructure and Page: 95 good jobs, as illustrated by Deputy Prime Minister Teo just now. Two, the Government should give periodic reports in 2020 and 2025 to reassure Singaporeans that the plan of growing our population is implemented with constant fine-tuning and adjustment. Three, with the inflow of new citizens and the fact that out of 10 newly-wed couples, four are having foreign spouses, the Government needs to review our current integration to make it more effective. Currently, the agencies integrate new citizens through various programmes, from learning journeys, audio-video presentations, sharing sessions, citizenship ceremonies, invitation to grassroots events and national events. For better integration, more social gatherings and activities can be organised to promote better communication and understanding between locals and citizens. Understanding of local concerns and sensitivity can also be shared. The Government must or should consider granting PR-ship and citizenship to those who have been waiting for PR for a long, long time despite the fact that all the rest of the family members are already PRs and citizens.”
“Therefore, the number of foreigners we need is a matter of trade-offs. Deputy Prime Minister Teo had explained what it meant for us of the trade-offs and how the White Paper was trying its best to strike a balance between the different trade-offs. Second, the basic needs of the people in 2030.The Government of the day must fulfil the basic needs of the people − be it in the 1960s, 1980s or 2030 − whether it is housing, transportation or other daily necessities. When everyone sees the overcrowding in public transport, the long queues for public housing and the rising cost of living today, it is very easy for them to associate what they see now with what it will be like in 2030. This is a natural response. Everyone hopes the Government can solve the current issues and let everyone regain confidence. To them, the current issues are more pressing than the vision. We import everything, we grew from having nothing to having everything, and this did not come easy. So they asked: can we still enjoy the same quality of life in 2030? Will the price of housing and COE be beyond the reach of their children? These are serious questions. Third, integration issues between Singaporeans and foreign immigrants. While it is crucial for the Government to plan for the infrastructural needs of an increasing population, the "heartware" is equally important to ensure that Singaporeans co-exist with new citizens/foreigners and live harmoniously and bond together. At the same time, we want to have more human touch in Singapore. The current integration programme has not been as effective as desired. If we want Singaporeans to be united as a whole and support the population policies, they need to see a vision where they can "share the fruits of growth".”
“[Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mdm Speaker, I had a sharing session on the Population White Paper with 60 grassroots leaders and residents on the third day after it was released, to discuss the various assumptions, proposals and the implications to us. The group comprised Singaporeans from various age groups, communities and backgrounds. Their top three concerns are: first, the impact of 6.9 million population; second, basic needs of the people in 2030; and third, integration issues between Singaporeans and foreign immigrants. The first concern is the impact of 6.9 million population. People asked: can Singapore really accommodate a population of 6.9 million by 2030? Even so, will we be filled to the brim and will there be "room for further development"? Minister Khaw Boon Wan had later clarified that 6.9 million is the "worst case scenario". What some people failed to understand are why we need immigrants and why there would be a "worst case scenario" if they come, and not an "everything-is-okay scenario" or a "best case scenario". Why would it not be a "80/20 scenario" where there is a 80% chance that we would reach the projected population and a 20% chance of wait and see? The foreign arrivals would probably not behave like what we say in Hokkien "no come no come, one come Page: 94 all come". During my school days in the 1960s, we had a population of over 2 million. During my children's school days in the 1990s, our population increased to over 4 million. So in 2030, our population might increase to 6.9 million. We understand that the projected population and the various goods and materials that needed to support it highlighted the growth challenges we face under the current usage of goods, materials and technology.”
“Sir, the Act is amended to specify that members who have attained 16 years of age can make a CPF nomination. We know that members can change their nomination from time to time and CPF Board does notify them that they have made their nomination. I would suggest that CPF Board take a more proactive approach by updating them of their nominations when they reach 21 years, at the time they get married and when they reach 55. It will serve as a reminder to them that they can review the nomination and make changes, if need be, to avoid future disputes. Sir, CPF touches the life of every Singaporean in every aspect – be it housing, education, medical, retirement or investment. The agency can be more member-centric to different groups of members by engaging them and informing them and even educating them of the changes affecting them in different aspects so as the CPF Board is seen as a friend in need and also a friend indeed. 5.48 pm”
“Sir, I support the Amendment Bill and will comment on the MSTU for in-laws and the minimum age for making CPF nominations. First, the MSTU for the in-laws. With these amendments, members will be allowed to make CPF transfers to parents-in-law and grandparents-in-law and to make cash top-ups. And as we know, for any policy changes, there are always positive and negative views depending on one's perception of the policy and one's personal circumstances and preferences. For one who does not know about the changes, one, of course, has no views. I support this amendment as it helps more seniors build up their CPF savings for their old age and, at the same time, promote family values. It also provides tax incentives if the top up is in cash. This is what I call positive views. However, we know that there are CPF members who belong to the middle and lower income groups and do not need to pay taxes. So, even if they top up a small sum for their in-laws, there is no incentive for them. Thus, if the CPF Board can provide other incentives to encourage the lower income group to also top up the Minimum Sum for their in-laws in cash, the amendment will be seen as more inclusive. Can the Government also top up a token sum to their in-laws for those who make cash top-up but do not enjoy tax incentive? I would also suggest that CPF Board steps up its marketing activities and be more focused in its communications to the target audience whenever there are policy changes. Thus, for this amendment, we may not need to inform those who are not married yet but to those who are married, the message can be more informative and creative. Page: 641 Two, the Minimum Age for making CPF nominations.”
“As for the self-employed, such as taxi drivers, they would like to thank the Finance Minister for increasing their training subsidy. I would like to raise a point – some Singaporeans, particularly the Budget's targeted beneficiaries, are unclear or even ignorant about how the new policies will benefit them. We should think hard and come up with practical ways of communicating the message to them. For example, the Primary Care Partnership Scheme implemented last year is a good policy. But many people did not know about this scheme, neither did they apply for it or enjoy its benefits. The scheme is now renamed "Community Health Assistance Scheme". Two days ago, Prime Minister Lee mentioned this scheme during a dialogue in our constituency and found out that not many people knew about this scheme and its details. As a Chinese saying goes, "good news are often kept within the walls but bad news spreads quickly and widely". So, I hope the Government would be able to spread the good news far and about and be bold in sharing the bad news directly. The Government can be wordy and detailed in their internal documents, but for the key messages to the people, particularly the benefits for the low-income earners, older Singaporeans and the disabled, they should be "short and sweet and easy to understand". So, I ask the Finance Minister, will the Government be "short and sweet" in communicating the new Budget Statement to Singaporeans, particularly the low-income earners, older Singaporeans and the disabled, so that they can easily understand it? Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, most Singaporeans support this Budget but they hope everyone would know more about it and understand it readily. I support this motion. 6.15 pm Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang) :”
“Amongst them, the most touching story was Madam Wu Qiaozhen. When she finally witnessed her husband stand up on his feet after receiving physiotherapy, she said, "I often told my daughter, there is compassion in this society." Yes, we are a compassionate society. This inclusive society will eventually help those who are crippled to stand on their feet, allow older workers to regain confidence and dignity, and allow low-income earners to have job prospect. And it is in this prospect can we build a stronger and more inclusive society. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, two days ago, I attended a dialogue on the Budget. Unlike previous years, people no longer talk about who gets a bigger red packet, but rather they want to understand from various aspects how the Government will help these three groups of Singaporeans – the low-income families, older Singaporeans and families with disabled members. They supported the Budget but they also had some questions. Why do we need to provide $1.1 billion for public transport operators to buy new buses? How does the Government ensure that bus services would improve and fares would not increase? And I, too, would like to ask the Finance Minister whether the Government would ensure that the bus companies would increase drivers' wages, otherwise how are they going to employ another 1,000 bus drivers? If we cannot find more Singaporeans to become bus drivers, we would have to employ over 1,000 foreign drivers. Of course, we need some foreign drivers in the team, but we need to ensure that Singaporean drivers can have higher wages. Page: 1371 Older workers are also grateful to the Government for increasing their CPF contribution rate, so that they will have higher savings.”
“Under such circumstances, she grew older and was eventually able to attend PCF Kindergarten like any normal child. This is the photograph of Baoping in the PCF Kindergaten. Later, like everyone else, she went to Primary school and Secondary school. But she suffers pain whenever she walks due to her arthritis, thus everyday her father would send her to the bus stop on a bicycle, then she takes a bus to school, and, after school, her mother would fetch her from the bus stop on a bicycle. After secondary school, she attended ITE Simei and learnt a skill. Now, she can work from home on a computer. But she has to face the realities of life. Her struggles are lifelong. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, Baoping comes from a low-income family. And over the last 20 over years, because of our inclusive society, she received much help on her medical treatments and also benefited from the MOE Financial Assistance Scheme so that she need not worry about expenses, such as textbooks, school fees and uniforms. And now, she finally enters a new phase in life. She is a working adult. Thus, it is commendable that the Finance Minister, in presenting the Budget this year, has increased the income ceiling for MOE Financial Assistance Scheme to allow 80,000 families, up from 40,000, to benefit from the Scheme. At the end of the Budget Statement, Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam played a motivational video about how Singaporeans strive for the best. The video featured several Singaporeans, some from low-income families, some are older workers, and others have disabled family members. But these people were full of confidence and were motivated to work hard and do good. Meanwhile, they benefited from the Government's various assistance schemes for the poor and needy.”
“(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Pg 1411-1412 for Vernacular Speeches.] Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to tell a story about a compassionate and inclusive society. This story took place 21 years ago, right here in Singapore. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, last Sunday, I attended the 21st birthday party of a girl with scaly skin – Huang Baoping. Her father said, "We couldn't believe that she could celebrate her 21st birthday because when she was born, the doctor said she may only live for two weeks, perhaps at the most two months, and later the prognosis became 10 years." Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, Baoping is now 21 years old. With the care and support from the society and her family, she found a job. Her mother said, "We couldn't believe that she can work." This is indeed an inclusive society. When Baoping was born 21 years ago, her skin peeled daily and looked like fish scales, thus she was called the girl with scaly skin. She had to take medicines and injections everyday, with monthly medical expenses that can go up to thousands of dollars. She also had arthritis. When her story appeared in Shin Min Daily then, the public donated generously to her and, upon receiving sufficient donations, her parents said they had enough and even donated the extra funds to the Chinese Development Assistance Council. The couple decided to bring up Baoping against all odds and had never complained about their plight. Page: 1370 This is the photograph of Baoping when she was eight months old and during that time, as there was medical subsidy, she received special treatment in the hospital and could afford the medical expenses. As she grew up gradually, we can see her skin peeled and shed daily.”
“[For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A*.] Mr Chairman, every year, the Government collects $120 million from radio and TV licence fees. Now that the radio and TV licence fees have been abolished, will the Public Service Broadcast programmes that have benefited from the radio and TV licence fee collection be affected? In response to this question from reporters, Minister Lui Tuck Yew said funds from other areas will be directed to fund these programmes. He also said that among the top 10 most popular programmes, seven or eight of them will continue to receive funding support. Audiences of Mandarin programmes are concerned if their top three favourite programmes will be affected. The first is the long-running programme "星期二特写" (Tuesday Report), second is "财经追击" （Money Week） and, third, "前线追踪" (Frontline). I would like to ask the Minister: does he mean that the programmes will not be affected, or that the programmes will be minimally affected? This reminds me of a saying "出兵三十二，收兵十六双，点兵都不少，个个都受伤" (The army left with 32 soldiers, and came back with 16 pairs of them. None were left out at roll call, but all of them were injured). In addition, if the funds were directed from other areas, will the Channel 8 News programme be affected? The Channel 8 News programme has the highest ratings and will have the biggest impact on our Mandarin audience. Another area that MPs are very concerned about is whether the parliamentary reports will be affected. Or will the impact be minimal? *Cols. 4711-4712.”
“More short films with local flavour can be produced, including those about Singapore's changing landscape and people. I would also like to suggest that Minister Mah apply for the grant and produce a 10-minute short film, so that everyone will know how the Government ensures every citizen has a home. Madam, in recent years, Government Ministries have used short films to promote some of their messages. The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports commissioned a short film featuring a storyline about a father and daughter buying shoes: the daughter grew up and saw the pair of shoes bought by her father, and the loneliness of her father when she returned home one day. The strong relationship between father and daughter was portrayed in the short film. We can have more short films of various types or nature so as to strengthen relationships and the cohesiveness of the community. In this aspect, there is no limit to the kind of impact that a short film can make. The MDA short film grant can encourage more people to produce short films, so that we can achieve the Ministry's objective of "Arts for everyone, everyone for the Arts *Cols. 4547-4548. More opportunities for School of the Arts”