Shahira Abdullah
Singapore
“To ingrain the spirit of volunteerism and service, we could have dental officers serve short postings while serving out their bond, to treat these elderly and special needs patients. This could also be extended to other vulnerable groups such as the migrant workers.”
“I thank the Minister for his reply. I just have two supplementary questions. The statistics that were given were wide. Is there a smaller breakdown available for the reach of these platforms? And if not, will the Ministry consider collecting such data? Because what we have right now is just for those aged 13 and 44.”
“] As asatizahs shift to secular careers, can I ask the Ministry how we can encourage their continued contribution to the religious development of the community? I would like to suggest building a network of asatizahs which could possibly be a scale up of the Asatizah Youth Network (AYN).”
“Therefore, could MOH consider dentists getting some incentives for the backbreaking work and increased time spent caring for these patients? For standard of care, can we have a clinical practice guideline to help ensure quality and appropriate care for these vulnerable populations?”
“Therefore, considering the close proximity of the current dental NSCs situated centrally, mainly NDCS and that National University Hospital (NUH), can the Ministry consider allowing all hospital dental clinics to provide specialised subsidised treatment, in order to better serve patients located in further geographical locations?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I thank the Minister for the response. Recently, there is a study from Harvard University that published the fact that social capital was the strongest predictor of upward income mobility; basically, that those with friends of higher socioeconomic status (SES) actually have better income mobility.”
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“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have one supplementary question. In light of the recent Ngee Ann Polytechnic case in which male students were urinated on and which a male student came out to say that it was just mindless fun and it was something consensual, would MOE consider teaching consent to youths at a younger age so that they can be better protected from bullying as well?”
“Therefore, I would like to ask the Minister if there is data about the number of youths who are working while still in school and if there are initiatives available to engage and encourage them to stay in school? In addition, I understand that the National Jobs Council provides a range of jobs and skills training opportunities for jobseekers under the SGUnited Jobs and Skills Package and SGUnited Traineeships Programme. Would the Minister know what is the take-up rate for the different job-support initiatives among the low-income youths, and if the Ministry knows the reasons for such rates? Finally, could the Minister also share what is the hire or employment efficacy rate for low-income youths who have applied for job attachments under the SGUnited Traineeships Programme? Have employers and such jobseekers expectations and requisite skillsets been met? Lastly, earlier in February, it was said that there was no available data on the number of youths who take on care-giving duties for elderly family members. Would the Ministry be able to collect such data, as well as data on whether the youths who have these care-giving responsibilities are able to hold on to promising jobs long term? If the number is high, could proactive initiatives be done to reach out to them be considered? Currently, youths are encouraged to reach out only if they require support. In this regard, the Ministry may wish to consider partnering with Social Service Agencies that are already working with these low-income youths and thus have better rapport and understanding of them. They would be well placed to help boost the take up rate of any initiatives introduced and create awareness of applicable national programmes for these youths. Partnering Citizens”
“Chairman, COVID-19 has resulted in uncertainty in the job landscape. This has affected the vulnerable groups comparatively worse. Beyond Social Services released a report in February this year which found that prior to COVID-19, the median household income of Family Assistant Funds applicants, derived from totalling work income in the household – was $1,600. Post-COVID-19, the median household income from work among applicants fell to $500 – a 69% drop. Low-income youths are likewise affected. While reaching out to Youth Want Work, a youth employment initiative by Beyond Social Services, I was told that many have started working early to help support the family. Some as early as 14 years old, while they are still schooling. In addition, they may have care-giving responsibilities. The youths may also be tempted to drop out or not further their education as they may not see the opportunity cost of stopping education while trying to fulfill their immediate needs. Adam, the lead of Youth Want Work shared, and I quote, “Most youths in this category do mature fast and they do understand the need to better their education but sometimes things at home just doesn't allow them to. Sometimes, I attribute this notion to the older generation parents, because especially for females, the parents do feel it's better to be married off rather than continuing their studies.” This is something very worrying. This pandemic is set to continue for a protracted time. It may be difficult for these low-income youths to stop working or to focus on their studies due to their familial financial situation. In the worst case scenario, the youths may remain in menial roles or the unskilled gig economy, effectively perpetuating the poverty cycle.”
“Chairman, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mentoring is an important aspect of guiding the youths. For the Malay/Muslim community, the Ministry has taken steps, through M3, to grow a strong culture of mentoring for its youths. We have gender-specific programmes such as the Empowerment Programme for Boys (EPB) and the ITE Empowerment Programme for Girls (EPG) in the ITE, as well as Project SOAR, a community mentoring programme for secondary school students. A Youth Mentoring Office has also been set up to train volunteers in becoming mentors and many programmes have been started. One of the concerns I have relates to the guidance of high-risk Malay/Muslim youths who often come from families with many issues. They may have insufficient role models at home for a variety of reasons. It is not uncommon for such youths to suffer low confidence, poor performance in studies, or be involved in activities that may lead them down the road of juvenile delinquency. Such youths would benefit from a mentoring programme tailored to meet their complex situations under the ambit of M3. Through M3, the different strengths of MENDAKI, MUIS and MESRA can be leveraged to address both the secular and religious growth of these at-risk youths, and provide the necessary resources and referral mechanisms to support their mental and emotional well-being. Would the Ministry consider developing this?”
“One example of a programme that could be expanded is "Journey of a Green Purpose", an initiative spearheaded by Seastainable and Green Nudge Singapore. It is a 12-part webinar that aims to equip students and young adults with knowledge on what to consider while trying to establish a career in sustainability. This would, in the end, help channel these students into green jobs to accelerate Singapore's green recovery from the pandemic and our low-carbon transition. With a steady increase of talents in the green industry, and a strong robust framework, Singapore can be an education hub for sustainability and attract ASEAN students to build capacity in the region. Sustainability Efforts – Schools and IHLs”
“Singapore is embarking on the Green Plan 2030 to spearhead the move for sustainable development in Singapore. The immense growth potential of the environmental sector will translate into new jobs and industry transformation. In MSE's Addendum to the President's Address in 2020, the Minister stated that MSE will develop a pipeline of talent to support sustainability in Singapore, by offering scholarships in specified areas, such as climate adaptation and climate science. May I ask the Ministry if there are any updates regarding this plan and on whether the number could be increased? Would there also be an extension of the scholarship to other degrees or diplomas also related to sustainability? To ensure this pipeline, I also believe that the process starts from young. Students should be exposed to green careers from their Secondary school years. These could be done through learning journeys, assembly talks and having sustainability issues become more integrated into the education syllabus. Teachers and parents will also need to be equipped with the knowledge of this growing industry. This could be part of the present Eco Stewardship programme. There is a wide variety of education options with different career pathways. Many sustainability careers span beyond science and engineering. Specialised career guidance in these industries could be considered by ensuring that the present career counsellors in Institutes of Higher Learning are also well-versed in them. We could consider having experts and professionals to mentor interested students. Attachments and internships with green companies and organisations could also be offered.”
“My own research has shown that they are particularly concerned about the impact of breaking laws, breaching norms, especially important OB markers, and faced with the pressures of national examinations, many do not want to deviate from the prescribed official curriculum. Teachers also face pressures, such as the threat of external challenges or sanctions, and censure from superiors or peers." These uncertainties and fears will undoubtedly lead to some sort of self-censorship and unwillingness of teachers to conduct these conversations. In a previous Budget debate in March last year, the Minister had said that with the expansion of the CCE curriculum, every school experience can be a CCE lesson. Every teacher can be a CCE teacher. I think this is an excellent goal. However, could I ask the Ministry if there are plans to have all teachers trained in such specialised skills and, if so, what is the estimated timeline for this? Controversial issues and incidents can happen at any time and it would be advantageous for all teachers to be able to seize it as a teachable moment when it happens. For teachers who are trained, I would also like to suggest for periodic reviews and surveys to be done to find out the perceived confidence versus competence, when handling these conversations. This may be an indication of the willingness of teachers in conducting these conversations. Enhancing Counselling for Students”
“Chairman, youths are highly plugged into issues that surface in Singapore and beyond due to the ease of access to the Internet. More often than not, their opinions and knowledge about these issues also tend to come from the Internet. Constructive guided discussions in school may be an effective way of unpacking these issues. I am heartened that the revamped Character and Citizenship Education or CCE curriculum is trying to prepare the students to have these conversations in a sensitive and thoughtful manner. These topics may include issues, such as bullying, social media use and the navigation of race and religion issues. I believe this is a good move as students from different backgrounds are able to interact together in the school environment. At the same time, students are generally more comfortable in school, so they tend to be more candid in their responses. With my own personal interactions with teachers on the ground, however, many have confided that they are uncomfortable in handling these difficult conversations and I quote, "Yes. Sometimes, we are also scared to discuss as may not always be able to deal with what is raised" or "Students indicate that they are comfortable discussing sensitive topics like, for example, race, religion, sexuality but some of the teachers are not. Then, how do we move forward?" These are just two of the many teachers who have said something similar. In a recent CNA article, Ho Li-Ching, President of the Singapore Association for Social Studies Education, found additional pressure present and I quote, "Singapore teachers who wish to address controversial public issues in their classrooms face constraints.”
“On 2 February this year, Minister Iswaran informed the House that under the Home Access and NEU PC Plus Programmes, Singapore’s household-level broadband penetration rate has increased from 87% in 2014 to 98% in 2019. There are 1.37 million resident households in Singapore according to the statistics. This would translate to about 27,000 households not having broadband access – no small number. I appreciate that IMDA will be streamlining the application for Public Rental Scheme households to ensure that they can auto-qualify for the assistance. However, this would take time. Beyond Social Services has a free wifi void deck project currently to counter that problem. Would the Government consider working with similar organisations to roll this out to more rental households so as to not delay access to suitable internet connectivity?”
“Chairman, COVID 19 has accelerated digitalisation in Singapore. However, it also means that the vulnerable groups who were already disadvantaged before the pandemic may be left further behind. The Singapore Government has put in tremendous effort in trying to narrow the digital divide on the back of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the Home Access and NEU PC Plus programmes, many now have a digital device. MOE has aimed for a one-to-one laptop provision for all Secondary school students by 2021. However, increased digital device ownership would also mean that access to the support for maintenance would increase. Low-income households may not be able to afford these services from existing shops. Deputy Prime Minister Heng mentioned that non-profit organisations such as Engineering Good are already working with community partners to provide these services. Therefore, I would like to ask the Ministry if we can tap on the networks and expertise of such organisations, who may already have ties with the Social Service Agencies, to help them expand their reach and enhance the suite of digital services they offer? Digital literacy is also very important in this hyperconnected world. Users need to be aware of issues such as cybersecurity risks and responsible online behaviours. Practical skills like handling live- conferencing and dealing with internet connection issues would also need to be learnt. Often though, the students from low-income households may have parents who are not digitally literate enough to support them in these matters. MOE already has a National Digital Literacy Programme for students. Would MCI consider partnering MOE and/or other Social Service Agencies to offer the programme to parents as well?”
“Let me end off this speech with a few stanzas of a Malay song, that is a personal favourite of mine. "Ilham Pujangga", Inspiration of a Poet, is a song performed by Singaporeans Mr Ismail Haron and Cikgu Zaharah Salleh in 1972. The song talks about the value of the youth in the wider society, encouraging the youth to contribute to the country and the world. And at the same time, do so with underlying love for all human beings. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] To all the young people, Lend a helping hand To your motherland The new age is here Do not delay any longer Love humankind As much as you love yourself As how each individual beholds the community And as how the community beholds each individual (In English): Thank you. [Applause.]”
“In my humble opinion, I beg to differ. I feel that that is the beauty of it. Because they have had fewer life experiences, they are unencumbered by them. More than a few times, in my role as a consultant for the Youth Action Challenge, a platform for youths to provide solutions that tackle community issues, I have been amazed by the ingenuity of the ideas proposed. Moving forward, I feel we should engage them further on the Budget. Any ideas can be further developed by connecting them to experts and people on the ground. With a richer understanding of what has been done before, what has worked and what has not, these synergies can result in workable solutions for the greater good. As President Halimah said in her Opening Address of the 14th Parliament, “Singaporeans must come together, in partnership, to pursue the greater good, united by a belief in Singapore and a desire to turn our vision into reality.” Lastly, I have a personal message to the youths who are listening. It all starts with you. Each one of you holds the key to your own individual story. And each individual story forms a unique thread in the tapestry of the Singapore Story. The intention you have in your heart, the values you embody and the choices that you make form who you are and what we become as a society. If you choose to be kind, compassionate, inclusive, fair and brave, then that is the Singapore you will build for the future. And honestly, that is the Singapore we can all look forward to. Youths, the Budget is about the kind of future that you want. It is about the kind of country that you believe in. So, sit up, take note, understand it, use your voice. For it affects you and everyone around you.”
“At the same time reading those stories, I am overcome by a sense of awe by what these women have achieved for themselves while giving back to the community. Take Nurhajah Haron who overcame difficult family circumstances which saw her family being homeless and having to sleep in void decks. She nonetheless graduated from ITE as a valedictorian with a perfect GPA and as the top nursing graduate. She is now giving back to the community as a nurse. Or Azurah Khalid, a national silat representative and rugby player for the national team. She is the owner of Lokalfeed a podcast and online platform for content featuring inspiring women, and Wilder Café, an eatery that practises sustainable cooking. Being a woman may bring about its own set of challenges but the stories of these inspirational women gives me great hope for the future. As such, we need to tap on our promising Malay youths. I believe the Budget should try to further leverage on this, by providing more platforms to develop their leadership potential and volunteer with the community. Mr Speaker, Sir, youths have a lot to say and contribute. More often than not, much of what they think and feel strongly about comes out on social media. For example, after the Budget announcement, we see youths trying to create awareness about it, while others take to their accounts to comment and give their take on it. Admittedly, though, some are not interested at all. However, it also seems like many would like to see the Government take note of their views and opinions, acknowledge that they have listened and show how their participation has helped to shape future policies. Are the voices of youth too idealistic? Are their recommendations too impractical to consider due to their lack of life experiences?”
“A CNA article in February 2021 states that calls to mental health helplines have increased since the start of the pandemic. According to the Samaritans of Singapore, the number of suicides rose 10% in 2020, with suicides among boys aged 10 to 19 at a record high. This is worrying, as according to mental health professionals, stresses relating to the social and economic impact of the pandemic may have an impact on mental wellness. I welcome that the Government has set up a COVID-19 Mental Wellness Taskforce to tackle the pandemic’s impact on mental health. However, I would like to know if there are any updates or if a budget is allocated to take this further moving forward. I also would like to speak about something that is close to my heart – the Malay/Muslim youths. The Malay population has a relatively higher youth base with 32% of its population between ages 15 and 34, as compared to national at 26%. According to the 2018 Future-ready Conversation Series report by Yayasan MENDAKI, our youths also reflect an altruistic notion of wanting to be of "service to society". They see themselves as members of the wider community and believe it is a privilege and responsibility on their part to contribute. And there are ready examples in the community. One case in point, Mendaki Club, run by youths, is launching the Young Women in Leadership Dialogue Commemorative Book with support from the Singapore Muslim Women's Association. Titled “Unprecedented – To the Beat of Her Own Drum”, it features 20 young Malay/Muslim women who overcame tough odds and achieved success in various forms throughout their lives. This book launch also serves as a fundraising effort for Casa Raudha, to support its shelter for women and and children who have been victims of domestic violence.”
“There may be inherent systemic, structural barriers that make it difficult for them to contribute their voices, so we must make a conscious effort to recognise those barriers and break them down so that their voices are heard. Therefore, I welcome the pilot Inclusive Support Programme to allow more children with developmental needs to be more meaningfully engaged alongside other children. When inclusivity is integrated into the psyches of the children from young, we will be able to understand each other better and celebrate our differences; not just tolerate each other. I also truly feel that the Alliances for Action on support for care-givers of persons with disabilities is a step in the right direction and echoes what the youths have been seeking. I look forward to hearing more details about it in time to come. The other issues facing the community and the wider world that youths are concerned about is sustainability and mental wellness. When it was made known that there would be a potential clearing of Dover Forest for potential BTOs, youths took to social media to create awareness. When Kranji woodlands was erroneously cleared, there was uproar on social media among youths about it. It shows that issues about the environment do strike a chord with them. I do appreciate that the Government is playing an active role to engage with environmental youth groups in a bid to combat climate change. I am glad that there is a Green Plan for Singapore and I look forward to the upcoming debates. However, I feel as though more can be done to encourage careers in sustainability among the youths. This will be elaborated further in my Budget cut. It has also caught my attention that there is no mention yet of any mental wellness initiatives in this current Budget.”
“For example, there was a very smart youth who was offered a degree position, but she had to turn it down due to her care-giving responsibilities for her grandmother and younger brothers. We also met youths who decided to enter the workforce early because they don’t see the benefit of further education, especially since they always felt ostracised in school for their circumstances. Some of them even had Secondary school teachers telling them that they won’t make it, so you can’t really blame them for not feeling very motivated.” Therefore, even though I think it is a wonderful step to extend the SGUnited Skills and the SGUnited Traineeships, it seems like, to help especially the low-income youths, underlying issues need to be addressed as well. There are also many youths who are engaged in delivery and ride-hailing jobs. The introduction of the petrol duty hikes, though needed for the good of the environment, maybe a bit too abrupt for many to adjust to, especially if they are from low-income families. Though it may also serve as a disincentive for these youths to continue in the unskilled gig economy, would a gradual introduction be less disruptive and give them more time to adapt? I would urge the Government to closely monitor the effects of this. Other than the low-income group, youths are also concerned about other vulnerable communities and want an inclusive society where no one gets left behind. To do so, we need to ensure that the national conversations we have are actually inclusive of all the different voices that make up Singapore. Singapore is a melting pot of races, cultures, religions and more. How do we ensure that all the voices are brought forward, from the people with special needs to the person with disabilities?”
“They care about what is happening in Singapore and what is happening outside of Singapore. And they can be fiercely protective if they think an injustice has been done in some way. Some may be a little more indifferent than others, but in such a highly plugged world like today, it is hard for the youths not to have an opinion on a variety of issues. From my interactions, the issues they care deeply about, during this COVID-19 pandemic are jobs and the economy, the support of vulnerable groups in the community, environmental sustainability and mental wellness. Firstly, due to the pandemic, many youths are concerned about their career. They wonder if they are able to remain nimble and adapt to the ever-changing economy. Due to increasing digitalisation, they are worried about competition for jobs from within and beyond Singapore. Job security becomes less guaranteed. For low-income youths, the problem is infinitely worse. A lot of these youths have lost their jobs and employment opportunities. Many are supporting their families. Adam, a community worker and lead for "Youth Want Work" for Beyond Social Services, was able to share more. "Youth Want Work" is a youth-led, youth employment initiative that aims to provide workshops and the necessary skills to prepare them for the workforce. In his reflection, he shared about the uphill struggle low-income youths face in employment and the importance of understanding, inclusivity and sensitivity in the workplace. And I quote: “People often think that if an individual tries hard enough, they will get the necessary opportunities, but they don’t understand the struggles these youths face at home.”
“Mr Speaker, I am humbled to be given this opportunity to participate in this debate. I would also like to thank the Minister for Finance for a Budget in which it is evident that the country tries to take care of the community as a whole for the present while at the same time is cognisant of the challenges we may face in the future. A Budget, to me, is like a blueprint for the future. With the Budget, people are able to see the priorities that a Government has for the country – its vision, its plan and its ideas. When I was part of the Singapore Youth Action Plan as a panel member, that was what we were trying to find out. What do youths envision for Singapore in 2025. Or more simply, what is the Singapore that they are striving for? I am happy that the five key values that youths felt were important for Singapore – inclusiveness, fairness, care, sustainability and progress – came out strongly in the Budget. But what would our Singapore youths think of Budget 2021? Does it really address their concerns? What do they think is really important for the future, especially with a pandemic happening in the background? According to the National Youth Council, youths are those aged between 15 and 35 years old. I have worked with youths for a long time, with Mendaki Club and National Youth Council. Even in my daily work as an orthodontist, I see mostly youths as patients. But with such a wide age range, it is evident that different issues may resonate with different age groups. An old youth, aged 33 like me, may have different priorities compared to someone who is 23. But a common thread that runs between all youths is that they care. They care about what is happening to the people around them, the spaces around them.”