Sun Xueling
Singapore
“We are deploying electric vehicle (EV) chargers in tandem with growing demand, within the constraints of space and electricity. As EV technology is continuously improving, we are also mindful not to overbuild as chargers can become obsolete quickly.”
“I thank Member Dr Choo Pei Ling for raising feedback from her Tengah residents. Currently, two multi-storey car parks in Tengah have EV chargers, and LTA subsidiary, EV-Electric (EVe) Charging Pte Ltd, is in the process of deploying EV chargers in another eight multi-storey car parks in Tengah.”
“The Government targets to deploy 60,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging points by 2030, which comprise 40,000 in public car parks, and 20,000 in private premises. As of March 2026, there are 30,500 EV charging points deployed in Singapore. We are on track to achieving our 2030 target in tandem with the growing demand for EVs.”
“In 2025, about 30% of Build-To-Order (BTO) blocks were completed earlier than their estimated completion dates at the point of flat booking. On average, these blocks were completed about two months earlier.”
“Yes, thank you. We agree with Dr Neo that it is important to bring together the wider ecosystem and we will consult all stakeholders. The Ministry of Transport's immediate focus is to drive the usage of drones more extensively, especially by the public sector and this is because we already have many potential use cases.”
“I thank the Member for her question. Earlier, I mentioned in my reply that the HDB notifies buyers at three junctures. This is to give buyers adequate time to plan. And that is why it is at the one year before, six months before and three months before.”
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“However, where parties have made and failed at every effort to save their marriage and have no other option left but divorce, then there is a need and a place for DMA, in cases where parties agree on the divorce, to reduce acrimony. Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked why DMA is needed when the separation fact allows couples to divorce without apportioning fault. Divorcees who have filed for divorce on the simplified divorce track have shared with us in our engagements that though they had agreed on the divorce and ancillary matters, having to cite a fault-based fact did dredge up pain and hurt and the hurt deepened when parties read the affidavits from each other. They expressed how they wanted instead to be able to take joint responsibility for the marital breakdown instead of citing fault. They also told us that they found it difficult to rely on the separation fact as they felt that their lives were put on hold during the separation period and they could not move on. This was not good for their well-being. It was also not good for their children's well-being because, try as they might, they admitted they could not focus on their children until the divorce was finalised. In the meantime, the children were exposed to the tensions in their relationship during the separation. DMA, therefore, allows such couples to jointly take responsibility for the breakdown of the marriage and heal and to move on from the divorce. Mr Lim Biow Chuan raised concerns as to whether DMA would effectively reduce acrimony, given parties must submit the reasons leading them to conclude the marriage has irretrievably broken down and they may disagree on matters concerning their children and finances.”
“These include: (a) the three-year minimum marriage period before a divorce can be filed; (b) a minimum three-month period before divorce is finalised; and (c) that the existing five facts for parties remain for parties who prefer to rely on them. The divorce process also remains largely the same no matter which fact is cited, including DMA. In fact, citing DMA requires further submissions to the Court: (a) the reasons leading parties to conclude that their marriage has irretrievably broken down; (b) the efforts made by parties to reconcile; and (c) considerations given to the arrangements to be made in relation to the parties' children and financial affairs. It is also for this reason that we will not be reducing the three-year minimum marriage period before a divorce can be filed, as Ms Carrie Tan has suggested. The three-year minimum period is an important safeguard to ensure that couples do not enter or exit a marriage lightly. The first year of marriage is often not an easy one, given the many transitions and adjustments for couples. The three-year minimum period will, thus, allow couples sufficient time to adjust, seek help and overcome difficulties, rather than simply leave the marriage just because things are difficult. If they truly wish to pursue divorce, the three-year minimum period will also allow them sufficient time to consider their decision carefully and also make attempts at reconciliation. Nonetheless, where there are legitimate reasons where a party may need to exit the marriage before the three-year minimum marriage period is up, the Women's Charter allows for that. In cases of exceptional hardship or depravity, parties may seek the Court's permission to file for divorce before the three-year minimum marriage period is up.”
“Both Members also brought up the need for enforcement orders to be made judiciously, especially in the case of a term of imprisonment. I assure Members that the Court will take all aspects of the case into account in making its orders, including whether the child had refused access to the parent, and a term of imprisonment is intended to be imposed only on egregious cases of non-compliance. The Court may reverse the grant of care and control to the access parent if it is in the best interest of the child to do so. On orders to make-up access, as with all orders related to the child, the Court will make this order taking into consideration the best interest of the child. For parties with counselling orders, FAM@FSCs and DSSAs will work closely with the Courts to support them on issues faced with access. The 10 FAM@FSCs set up by the end of this year will be able to manage the expected caseload. However, we have also heard different views raised by Members, particularly on whether we should make the divorce process more expeditious or whether doing so could lead to easier divorces and erode the institution of marriage. I fully agree with Ms Sylvia Lim, Mr Lim Biow Chuan and Mr Melvin Yong that a balance must be struck between making it too difficult for couples to divorce and making it too easy to give up their commitment. Beyond non-legislative efforts to strengthen the family and upstream measures to help families facing stress, we also want to ensure that the divorce process affords parties opportunities to save their marriage and u-turn on their decision, and that the divorce process, even with the introduction of DMA, is not made easier nor faster. For this reason, the safeguards to ensure the decision to divorce – that it is a considered one – remain.”
“To Mr Louis Ng and Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim's queries on why the Programme for Children is not mandatory, what the types of interventions under the Programme for Children are and whether there can be a national body to harmonise programmes for all children affected by Muslim and civil divorce, I would first like to assure Members, such as Dr Shahira Abdullah, who also brought up the need for Muslim marriages to be supported, that MSF and MCCY work closely together to ensure that the programmes offered to all children affected by divorce are similar. In addition, the Programme for Children is also available to children affected by Muslim divorce. There is, therefore, no need for a separate body to oversee this. The Programme for Children covers various component items. It includes an assessment of the needs of the child, counselling, psychological services as well as specific evidence-based programmes, such as Children-in-Between. MSF had considered mandating all minor children whose parents are undergoing divorce to attend a programme to help them cope better with the divorce. However, we believe that parents, even as they undergo divorce, must still assume primary responsibility for their children's well-being rather than have the Government mandate a programme for their children. We are also mindful that mandating counselling for all children may also cause additional stress and that not all children may be ready for the programme. Lastly, on the issue of child access enforcement, I agree with Mr Lim Biow Chuan and Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim that children should not be used as a negotiating tool in their parents' quarrels and those who breach access orders must face consequences.”
“At MPP, counsellors may assess the couple's suitability for reconciliation and refer them for further support. Mr Melvin Yong asked if this pre-divorce counselling could be extended to those who cite unreasonable behaviour. We agree it is good to do so but our priority at this point is to extend MPP to all divorcing couples with minor children, regardless of the fact they cite. We will explore extending pre-divorce counselling further at a later stage. I also fully agree with Dr Shahira Abdullah that religious organisations can play an important role in mediation and counselling and parties may choose to opt for counselling by religious organisations if they are of the same faith. I would like to thank Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim for sharing the Syariah Court's experience with implementing the Marriage Counselling Programme. Indeed, it is through learning from the Syariah Court's positive experience that we have decided to introduce pre-divorce counselling. Members also agree that it is key that families are supported throughout the divorce process. On the Programme for Children, Ms Joan Pereira raised the importance to support all children, including the older ones. We fully agree and, as part of MPP, the counsellor would encourage parents to sign their children up for suitable programmes.”
“Mr Yip Hon Weng also asked if there are sufficient trained professionals to cater to demand, what the average waiting time is for appointments and if there is remedial action if the couple do not attend subsequent counselling sessions. Ms Mariam Jaafar similarly asked about funding and resources for such services. I would like to say that by the end of this year, there will be 10 FAM@FSCs across the island that can support couples facing marital and familial stress and they will be well-equipped to manage the projected demand. In terms of waiting time, parties will be contacted by the agency within a week. As these counselling sessions are voluntary, there is no remedial action that can be taken by the Ministry or FAM@FSC should the couple not choose to continue. Nonetheless, if counselling is ordered by the Court, then, in the case of non-compliance, the Court may make any further orders as it deems fit, including staying proceedings until parties have attended counselling. If couples are not able to resolve their issues and are contemplating divorce, we are also working on a Family Assist portal which will provide couples with links to marital counselling and allow reflection and also information so that couples can make an informed decision. Finally, should couples choose to proceed with divorce, within the divorce process, couples are given opportunities to resolve their issues and to u-turn on their decision. Mr Yip Hon Weng had asked if the Ministry will consider mandating pre-divorce counselling for couples citing DMA. Ms Mariam Jaafar raised similar points on requiring divorcing couples to take parenting education courses and making counselling mandatory. With the amendments, all divorcing couples with minor children must attend MPP before filing for divorce.”
“Let me move on now to the issues raised on the divorce proposals. I am glad that there is consensus among Members on several areas. First, as raised by many Members, divorce is and must be a last resort. Where possible, we aim to save the marriage and help couples resolve their issues. I agree with Mr Yip Hon Weng that couples should be encouraged to seek counselling early, before marital issues worsen. Where there is no other option apart from divorce, we aim to help couples to heal, and we also ensure that the welfare of the children is protected. Mr Melvin Yong brought up the worrying trend of more recent cohorts divorcing earlier. He asked why such a trend has emerged. We believe that this is due, in part, to higher expectations of marital satisfaction and greater stressors in the early years of marriage, especially as more couples are dual income and they juggle career and parenthood. This is a trend not just emerging in Singapore but it has been apparent in many parts of the world for some time. Therefore, as raised by Mr Lim Biow Chuan, Mr Yip Hon Weng, Mr Melvin Yong and Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, our commitment is to protect the marriage and save it where possible. But we must do more, beyond legislation. The legislative amendments must be seen in totality with non-legislative initiatives which will help couples resolve issues at all stages of their relationship. When stresses begin to emerge, we have marital and family counselling under the FAM@FSC to help families resolve issues early. Mr Melvin Yong suggested that marriage therapy be made more accessible and affordable.”
“In addition, while a digital marriage certificate will be issued, a hardcopy ceremonial marriage certificate will also be provided as a keepsake. Through the "Our Marriage Journey" portal, we will continue to emphasise the importance of the solemnisation. Second, we sought to update the necessary safeguards to ensure that the institution of marriage is not abused and continues to be protected. Beyond legislative amendments, upcoming initiatives also boost our efforts to strengthen marriages and families. We have brought together stakeholders, community partners and Singaporeans to co-create and implement solutions through the launch of the Alliance for Action to Strengthen Marriages and Family Relationships last year. We have also woven support for couples into the marriage process. Mr Melvin Yong suggested more can be done to encourage couples to attend marriage preparation courses, including by making it mandatory. The "Our Marriage Journey" portal will recommend and encourage couples to sign up for such courses. However, it is only mandatory where one party is below the age of 21, as the dissolution rates for such marriages are relatively higher. Nonetheless, we strongly encourage all couples to attend marriage preparation programmes and we provide rebates of $140 for couples to attend the 12-hour PREP workshop, or $70 for supported programmes offered by the community. I also agree with Ms Joan Pereira that it is important that solemnisers are equipped with counselling skills. We have started a pilot initiative, Journey with You, referred to as JOY, in short, which enables licensed solemnisers to mentor newlyweds in the first year of marriage. They will undergo training and are provided referral resources.”
“And while Singapore women today are better educated with better employment opportunities, there are still vulnerable women who require the protection of the Women's Charter. Moving on to the issues regarding the marriage-related proposals, in reviewing the marriage processes under the Women's Charter, we sought to achieve two key things. Firstly, we sought to enhance the marriage process to provide greater convenience to couples. The amendments will enable us to take the marriage process online via the "Our Marriage Journey" portal later this year. Mr Gan Thiam Poh raised concerns of marriages of convenience, and I assure Members that the Registry of Marriages will continue to perform due diligence. If there are concerns, the declaration would be performed in-person or via video-link, instead of online, and the Registrar may decide not to permit solemnisation via video-link. Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked how many marriages of convenience we have seen and how many have been involved in vice activities. Between 2014 and 2021, there have been 388 individuals convicted for engaging in or arranging such marriages. We do not track if they have engaged in vice activities. Ms Joan Pereira asked if the digital certificates would apply to both civil and religious ceremonies and who would issue the digital certificates. Digital certificates would apply to all solemnisations and will be issued by the Registrar of Marriages. Ms Ng Ling Ling voiced concerns that digitalising the solemnisation may downplay its significance. We understand her concerns. Hence, couples may choose to hold their solemnisation in-person. Indeed, we have seen that most couples still prefer to hold their solemnisations in-person.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank Members for the robust debate, the pertinent issues raised and their support for the Bill. Important issues have been raised by Members regarding the proposals and the very institutions of marriage and family in Singapore. Let me first reiterate our core beliefs regarding marriage and divorce, which our proposed amendments intend to strengthen. Marriage is the cornerstone of family formation in our society. We must protect the institution of marriage by ensuring the significance of the solemnisation and registration of marriages and that marriages contracted here are genuine. Divorce must be a last resort. Our first priority is to save marriages where possible. Where there is no alternative but divorce, our aim is to help families heal and move on. Reducing acrimony and promoting child-centricity in divorce are key. The Women's Charter is a significant Act, enacted in 1961. Ms Carrie Tan and Mr Louis Ng proposed renaming the Women's Charter to the Family Charter. We will not be doing so in today's amendments as, if we look at the provisions on marriage and divorce, the provisions are gender-neutral and do not discriminate in favour of men or women. The Women’s Charter sets out how family and family relationships should be managed. To quote Prof Leong Wai Kum, School of Law, SUSS, "the Women's Charter promulgated the idea of marriage as an equal cooperative partnership of different efforts". The Women's Charter also provides for protection of women and girls in the areas of vice, prostitution activities for which there is good reason for this distinction as women are disproportionately affected.”
“Our use of educational technology aims to complement and not dilute our teachers' central role in guiding students to learn and master different subjects, especially for higher-level skills. For instance, the Learning Feedback Assistant for English Language (LFA(EL)) provides personalised feedback directly to students on areas such as spelling and grammar. Teachers can then focus their attention to guide students on more complex aspects of language construction and to develop higher-level skills like creative expression, persuasiveness and tone. For students, immediate feedback from the LFA(EL) can also encourage them to write more often, be more self-directed in their learning and to work on their basic writing errors. These help to strengthen their mastery over the basics of writing, which in turn allows them to devote more effort on more demanding aspects like creative expression. With the LFA(EL), our teachers have an additional tool to complement their professional practice, enabling them to further develop our students' writing skills.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I would like to share that if he comes across residents who, unfortunately, need financial assistance, one immediate port of call can be ComCare, because MSF and MOE have established an arrangement since 2018 for students in mainstream schools, ITEs and Polytechnics to be concurrently assessed for financial assistance, when the Social Service Offices (SSOs) actually review their families' application for ComCare. In other words, if the resident that Dr Tan Wu Meng mentioned approaches ComCare, ComCare, through SSOs, would actually facilitate an application through the SSOs for financial assistance, as well as help with the application for school-based FAS. The other point I wanted to mention on school-based FAS is, the specific example that Dr Tan had mentioned was because the student was a graduating student in Primary 6 and would be posting to a Secondary school or another school, and perhaps, at that point in time, it was not yet clear which school the student would be posted to. But I would just like to assure the Member that the MOE directs funds specifically towards the schools to administer school-based FAS, which is over and above the MOE FAS that I was talking about. So, once there is clarity as to which school the child would be posted to, then when the child applies for school-based FAS, the school specifically will make those assessments and ensure that the funds are paid in an expeditious manner to the student.”
“The Ministry of Education (MOE) Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS), which provides support for Singaporean students from lower-income households, is provided for one year at a time. This allows support to be reviewed and adjusted as family circumstances vary with time. Students under MOE FAS continue to receive support, if they transfer across schools in the course of the school year, without having to re-apply. For graduating students who wish to apply for financial assistance in the school they will be progressing to, they can make an FAS application in their current school towards the end of the graduating year. If the application is successful, the students will receive the FAS support in the school they will be progressing to. This arrangement covers our Government and Government-aided schools, specialised schools and independent schools. To support students progressing into our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), MOE also shares with Institute of Technical Education (ITE), the Polytechnics and the Autonomous Universities (AUs) the list of former MOE FAS recipients who are posted to them. This allows the institutions to reach out to these students and provide them with financial support, if needed.”
“(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] I have already mentioned that the impact of foreign interference can be wide-ranging and deeply damaging. We must pre-empt. If we only act after the damage has been done, then it is too late. I hope that all the Members here will consider the big picture.”
“(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Earlier in my speech, I gave an example. In December 2018 when bilateral relations between Singapore and a neighbouring country became tense, we noticed a surge in online comments posted on social media from accounts with fake avatars, and the comments were all critical of Singapore. They were attempting to create an illusion of popular opposition by our own people to Singapore's position. This is to answer the Member's first question. Can the Member repeat his second question, please?”
“Among the 65 people who came to the Select Committee hearing, 18 spoke about the use of hostile information campaigns intervening in domestic affairs. For more than three years since, different institutions and scholars have participated in discussions on foreign interference. There have also been frequent discussions in the newspapers. At the same time, other countries are also actively enacting legislation. After such lengthy discussions, we need to take action. I hope everyone will be united in our efforts to guard against foreign interference. In the face of foreign interference, it is important that we stick to our principles and put the interests of the Singaporean people first. If we were to learn from the history of other countries, the most important lesson will be to counter foreign interference and extreme ideologies. Singapore, as an independent country, must stay clear-headed, focus on the big picture, learn lessons from history, and resist all forms of foreign interference. Not only should we stress the importance of personal ethics and responsibility so as not to be used by external forces, but we must also ensure that our Government, social organisations, and individuals will not be tempted or misled by foreign forces to harm our independence and the foundation of our democracy. I hope that everyone can unite and support this Bill, as we defend our sovereignty and resist foreign interference. 6.11 pm”
“We must formulate a customised legal framework to protect sensitive information and the individuals who provide the information. The Bill proposes to establish an independent tribunal to hear appeals. Compared with the High Court, it is more appropriate for appeals to be heard by the tribunal as this includes a Supreme Court judge and others who have expertise in the security and technology sectors. The members of the independent review tribunal have the necessary expertise and security clearances to deliberate on issues concerning our national security. For issues involving national security, state secrets and diplomatic relations, we should all focus on the broader context. Singapore is not the first in putting national security matters outside the court system for independent review. For example, in the United Kingdom, the review of investigations by British intelligence agencies is placed in a review court independent of the court system to protect sensitive evidence from being disclosed. Israel also has an appeal procedure hosted by a special court to protect sensitive evidence provided by the state during the review of administrative detention. The discussions on how to effectively guard against foreign interference have been discussed for quite some time. One of the two main features of the Bill is to prevent hostile information campaigns. An important means of hostile information campaigns is false information on the Internet. In fact, as early as January 2018, the Government commissioned a Select Committee to study the dissemination of online falsehoods. I was also a member of the committee then. We invited the public to submit feedback and nearly 200 people submitted written feedback. In March 2018, we held an eight-day hearing to listen to public feedback.”
“Where these titles directly involve political positions, they would need to be disclosed. The purpose of this Bill is to prevent foreign interference and protect Singapore’s interest. It does not target personal, business and cultural exchanges outside of these areas. Third, the Bill will not affect free speech. True freedom of speech is when people can speak freely without interference. Free speech is undermined if foreign actors use hostile information to manipulate and influence public opinion. Singaporeans can still express their personal opinions about our politics. For example, if a businessman is dissatisfied with Singapore’s policies and believes that it has affected the industry he is involved in, he is free to express his views and provide feedback to the Government. In this case, the new Bill does not apply. The Bill is not aimed at personal opinions and is not meant to curb freedom of speech. Its purpose is to ensure transparency of information and create an environment where discussions in the public sphere is free from foreign interference and manipulation. Fourth, the Bill targets hostile information. Malicious foreign forces may incite controversial debates in order to sow discord between different groups, sway public opinion towards their intended narrative on sensitive issues, confuse people or weaken the public’s trust in the state’s institutions, thereby undermining the security and stability of the target country. Hostile information can sometimes involve Singapore’s national defence, security and diplomatic issues through intelligence and other means. Therefore, it is necessary for us to protect sensitive information needed for Government decision-making and we cannot make hasty conclusions through common legal procedures.”
“" Such persons and entities should have nothing to worry about if they do not harm Singapore’s public interest. Second, the Bill is not intended to prevent individuals, companies, and organisations from establishing international relationships. Singapore is a global city. We strongly encourage individuals, companies and organisations to participate in international exchanges and international cooperation to make our country more dynamic. I used to work for Business China. It organised cultural exchanges, education and training activities throughout China, Southeast Asia and other regions, reflecting the importance we attach to overseas connections. We continue to encourage companies, associations and social organisations to visit overseas and conduct cooperation projects with other countries. To do business abroad, our companies will, inevitably, deal with local governments or government-related organisations. The building of such relationships is important. Of course, we should also abide by their local rules when dealing with them. If a Singaporean businessman interacts with a foreign government or government-related organisation and discusses national policies, that is not an issue. However, if the other part tries to get the businessman to lobby a Singaporean Member of Parliament or asks the businessman to widely spread the other side’s position in Singapore, then the businessman ought to be more vigilant. In addition, if a Singaporean organisation organises an exchange event and receives sponsorship from a foreign party, the general approach should be to be transparent about the sponsorship in the event materials, so that the process is transparent. Some local individuals may also accept titles granted by overseas governments and institutions.”
“If we do not pay attention and endeavour to resist foreign interventions, it will be as if someone is jumping around, and our boat can be easily overturned. What preventive measures should we take to minimise the risks of foreign intervention? First, the Foreign Interference Countermeasures Act (FICA) will strengthen existing management measures for politically significant individuals and organisations and also make them public. Since foreign influence is often covert and executed secretly through proxies, the way to deal with it is to be transparent and open. "Politically significant" mainly refers to political parties, public officials, Members of Parliament and other people who have influence on national policies, as well as those individuals and organisations who are classified as "politically significant." This Bill does not target ordinary people. As such, there is nothing to worry about for most people and entities, as the Bill will not affect their daily activities. Obviously, political parties, people holding political office, and Members of Parliament are defined as "politically significant". Their actions can directly influence national policies and public opinion. However, we also cannot rule out the possibility that some individuals and organisations whose main activities involve political goals and public interests, may be under the influence of foreign powers and may harm Singapore’s interests. These individuals or organisations may also be listed as "politically significant." Even if they are listed as "politically significant", they can still accept foreign donations, provided that their source of funding is transparent. As the saying goes, "One who stands upright does not fear a crooked shadow.”
“If foreign forces were to use Singapore’s land and resources to meet the needs of their own countries, could we then continue to protect the interests of our people? If foreign forces try to involve Singapore in geopolitical disputes or become a battlefield for wars between other countries, would our children not also get involved and be sacrificed? Just now, some Members said that there was no need for a new law to counter foreign interference. I hope that these Members can realise that Singapore’s unique characteristics make us more vulnerable to external interference. First, Singapore is a multiracial, multireligious and multicultural society. Instigating inter-ethnic, inter-religious and inter-cultural relations is a likely avenue of intervention by foreign forces. At the same time, people of different races or religions may have stronger cultural and historical ties with some countries. They may have a sense of friendliness or belonging to a certain country or a spiritual leader, which makes it easier for other countries to target these people and make use of them. Second, Singapore is a very open society and maintains a high Internet penetration rate, which allows other countries to achieve their propaganda purposes through anonymous, fast and efficient information dissemination. Many countries have the technological and financial capability to expertly create misleading information, incite intimidation and sway the minds of men. Through highly paid mercenaries and the use of sophisticated tools, such as software and hackers, they are able to penetrate into our society and sow discord. Third, Singapore is a small country, which is like a small boat in the sea.”
“These practices are not mere imaginations, they have been happening in fact. For instance, in 2017, an Australian senator resigned because he was found to have accepted donations from foreigners. He disclosed confidential state information to them and advocated the positions of other countries on sensitive issues of national security. In Singapore, in December 2018, tense bilateral relations between Singapore and our neighbours became a hot topic. During this period, we noticed a sudden surge in online comments posted on social media from accounts with fake avatars, which were anonymous accounts that did not show the users' real faces. Most of these anonymous comments were critical of Singapore. Clearly, these anonymous users were attempting to create and spread the illusion of popular opposition by our own people to Singapore’s position, at a time of bilateral tension. Covert foreign intervention efforts can change individuals institutions and even entire societies, in an unnoticed manner. The cohesion of a nation, the fighting spirit of a people, can be corrupted and defeated without a fight. Let us imagine what would happen, if Singapore allows other countries to interfere in Singapore’s affairs and influence public opinion, and our autonomy was really manipulated by foreign forces. Singapore would very likely become a puppet at the mercy of foreign countries’ manipulation. Our nation-building philosophy, lifestyle, safety and interests may all be weakened or subverted. For example, if foreign forces intentionally drive a wedge along racial lines, can our racial harmony be maintained? Would our racial and religious equality still be possible?”
“To protect our basic rights, we must consider ways to effectively resist foreign interference. Today, I will give my opinion on the Foreign Interference (Countermeasures) Bill. Singapore's geographical location is a unique one. It exists in a zone that has seen perennial disputes among major and regional powers. Located in the Straits of Malacca, Singapore is an important international waterway connecting the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It operates the most important energy supply line in the world and is, therefore, one of the most strategically significant cities in the Pacific. Today, with globalisation, Singapore has become an important transportation, trade, financial and information hub in Asia. In today's international environment where competition among major powers is intensifying, Singapore is inevitably a contested space and platform among major powers jockeying for strategic superiority. Holding Singapore under control is tantamount to holding the lifeblood of Asia's transportation, trade, finance, and information. In recent years, disputes over territorial sovereignty and hegemony in the Pacific have been common and countries involved have been looking to meet their own needs. Against this backdrop and in this complex international environment, other countries will pay attention to the attitudes and propositions held by Singapore and will even influence or interfere through various ways. Therefore, we must defend our country’s autonomy. Only in this way, can we independently and freely determine our future. There are various forms of external intervention and the new Bill covers two of them: first, the practice of interfering in internal affairs through local agents; second, hostile information propaganda.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in Mandarin please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Like many Singaporeans, I also desire world peace. Most of us have no quarrel with the rest of the world and try to be kind to others. However, we live in a complicated world. The adage that one does not hurt others, does not necessarily lead to the conclusion that others will not seek to hurt us. Across the span of history, there has always been strife between different countries. Even in relatively peaceful times in the world today, foreign forces do often seek to influence the policies and affairs of other countries for their own political, economic, or military purposes. With the development of science and technology, these interference methods have become more sophisticated, and have the potential to cause significant and destructive impact in a short period of time. I think the comparison made by Mr Leong Mun Wai just now is rather inappropriate. The Nazis were a totalitarian government, whereas ours is an elected government; what the Nazis did was ethnic cleansing, whereas we have been advocating racial harmony all along. Singapore is a democratic, independent and autonomous country. To have autonomy means to be able to make decisions freely and independently without being coerced or influenced to do so. The Bill before us today is to ensure that Singapore's affairs should be decided by Singaporeans. However, foreign forces can use various hidden tactics to manipulate our country’s policies, public opinion and exploit existing faut lines amongst our people. As the saying goes "It is easy to dodge a spear from the front, but hard to avoid an arrow from behind." These actions directly jeopardise our ability to make independent and autonomous decisions.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary questions. School canteen operators are considered self-employed persons and the school canteen assistants employed by the operators are also considered for COVID-19 Recovery Grant (CRG) if they meet the qualifying criteria. So, to answer the Member's question, both the canteen operators as well as the assistants that they employ can qualify for CRG if they meet the qualifying criteria. I hope that addresses his questions.”
“To support school canteen operators whose businesses may have been affected by safe management measures arising from the COVID-19 situation, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has been granting rental waivers for the affected periods, in line with the rental waivers provided for qualifying tenants in commercial properties owned by Government agencies at the national level in 2020 and 2021. In 2020, MOE granted a four-month rental waiver for the months of April to August 2020. This excluded the month of May, which was the designated school holiday period in 2020. For 2021, we have granted two months of rental waiver for the months of May and July 2021, during Phase Two (Heightened Alert), and will be extending another half-month of rental waiver in October as part of the Government's support for sectors affected by the recent tightened measures. Today, there are about 2,380 school canteen stallholders across our Government and Government-aided schools, a slight decrease from the 2,410 in 2020.”
“Schools now have an Education and Career Guidance programme to encourage girls to choose science, engineering, mathematics and other courses to facilitate their participation in a wider range of industries in future. On the other hand, the Government has been investing heavily in early childhood education and infant care services in recent years, to reassure mothers and provide children with accessible, affordable and quality education. At the same time, we have been listening closely to women’s voices and the community’s feedback. In September last year, the Government launched the Conversations on Singapore Women's Development to better understand the current development of women and their concerns. Over the past 10 months, together with community partners, we have organised 160 Conversations on Singapore Women’s Development, with a total of 5,700 participants. I am glad to note that the participants have responded enthusiastically and shared their ideas and suggestions. We will also collect any new suggestions from Members of Parliament today. After the series of conversations, we will consolidate the feedback and draw up a White Paper to submit to Parliament. We look forward to more in-depth discussion on women’s issues, to provide solutions to outline a common vision for the advancement of Singapore women. The PAP Government has always been a strong advocate of women's development, in the past and at present. Looking ahead, we will continue to work tirelessly for the development of Singapore women, with community partners and organisations, building on the hard work of our predecessors.”
“It also protects the rights of women in marriage and divorce, provides for the maintenance of wives and children, and punishes crimes against women and girls. Since then, the PAP Government has remained steadfast in its commitment to further the advancement of women. This includes improving childcare and healthcare services, prioritising the development of children, making universal education available, promoting equality between women and men, encouraging women to pursue higher education, protecting workers' rights and encouraging women to work. Our efforts paid off and together we went through the changes of times. In order to provide care for women of all ages, the Government has introduced a series of policies to address their different needs. For example, older women may worry about not having enough retirement funds. They worry about what happens if they fall ill or if their husband falls ill. In recent years, the Government has introduced the Matched Retirement Savings Scheme to increase their CPF savings and also, increased subsidies through the Silver Support Scheme. In addition, the Government has also introduced the Pioneer Generation and Merdeka Generation packages to reduce the burden of medical expenses for the elderly. In 2019, MOH also introduced the Caregiver Support Action Plan to strengthen support for caregivers. All these policies benefit older women. For the new generation of Singaporean women, they want to pursue their dreams and hope that they can take good care of their families and children. On the one hand, the Government provides equal education opportunities for women.”
“This year, through the Conversations launched by the Government, we will have outlined and united around a common vision for Singapore women's progress. Given the importance of Singapore women's progress to our nation, the Prime Minister will be attending the final session of the Conversations in September and he will be sharing our plans for the future, taking into consideration the feedback received from the Conversations. Mdm Deputy Speaker, I support the good intentions of the Motion. Individuals, families, employers and the community have all played important roles in this partnership. In the next lap of our journey, let us all work even more closely together, towards a fairer and more inclusive society where our Singapore women can realise their fullest potential. Mdm Deputy Speaker, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] In the past 50 years, the status of Singapore women has improved significantly. The female labour force participation rate has risen steadily, about half of Singapore’s University graduates each year are women, and Singapore consistently ranks amongst the top internationally on indices related to women’s development. The development of Singapore women has benefited from economic development, social progress and the tireless efforts of the PAP Government over the years. In 1961, the Women's Charter, which was spearheaded by Ms Chan Choy Siong and others from the PAP, came into effect. This was a major breakthrough at the time and signalled a big step forward for Singapore women. The Charter legislates monogamy, emancipating women from the bonds of feudalism and conservatism.”
“While the 31 July deadline for submission of feedback has passed, we understand that many Singaporeans and local organisations are still brimming with ideas for Singapore women's progress. Any new ideas from today's session will also feed into the overall process. We continue to welcome your feedback, so please send them to us before end-August. Even as we are reviewing the feedback and preparing the White Paper for debate in Parliament, we have begun work to address some of the feedback that we have received, building on what we have already been doing to support Singapore women. To enhance protection for women, MHA has reviewed the sentencing framework for sexual and hurt offences and increased the penalties for three specific sexual offences. The inter-agency Task Force on Family Violence will release its recommendations later this year. MCI launched a Singapore Together Alliance for Action to tackle online harms, especially those targeted at women and girls. To cultivate a shift in mindsets, MOE has enhanced its Character and Citizenship Education curriculum to build an appreciation of the equity of roles in the family, respect for both genders and the importance of not ascribing to gender stereotypes when considering education and career pathways. To review how we can stamp out discrimination in the workplace, MOM announced that it was setting up a tripartite committee to study whether legislation should be pursued and its appropriate scope. Mdm Deputy Speaker, as the saying goes, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." In the past 60 years, we have made significant progress because of partnership at all levels of society.”
“Exactly 60 years later from the passing of the Women's Charter Bill, the Government of Singapore launched the Conversations on Singapore Women's Development to chart the next lap forward for our women's progress. Our efforts are consistent and unwavering. There was an open call to the public to participate in the Conversations and we heard from more than 5,700 participants. Let me now update Members on the key themes that have emerged from the Conversations. And I hope that the Members who have spoken before me would be pleased to note that many of their inputs have been reflected in the key themes. We heard Singaporeans' aspirations and hopes for Singapore women: (a) that women and men are equally empowered to achieve their career aspirations, and women would not be denied opportunities on the basis of gender and/or family commitments; (b) that caregivers' contributions to society are better recognised, and there is more sharing of caregiving responsibilities between men and women; (c) that stronger protection will be provided to women; (d) that support be strengthened for vulnerable groups of women; (e) undergirding these aspirations, participants hoped that we could overcome traditional mindsets and stereotypes about gender roles in our society. My colleagues and I were greatly inspired by participants' vision of a Singapore where women and men work as close partners so that real choices are enabled for women, and where whole of society works together, so that everyone can achieve their fullest potential. We thank everyone for participating actively and for sharing your personal stories, challenges, aspirations and ideas.”
“Female labour force participation rate for those aged 15 and above went up from around 21.6% in 1957, to 29.5% in 1970. In 1991, the female labour force participation rate for those aged 25 to 64 was 51.5%, and stands at 76.6% now. Current programmes such as Career Trial and Jobs Growth Incentive also encourage women who have left the workforce to re-enter the workforce, and tripartite partners work with employers to promote pro-family work environments. The community had also been active to promote women's advancement. In the 1970s to 1980s, several women's organisations such as SCWO, NTUC Women's Committee, PAP Women's Wing, AWARE and AWWA were formed. In 1978, the first Family Service Centre opened to support vulnerable women and families in need. In 1996, the National Family Violence Networking System, which involved various community partners, was set up to address the problem of family violence. The Government also knew that women needed to be supported as they strived to balance caregiving and work-life harmony. In 2001, the first Marriage and Parenthood Package was launched, followed by subsequent Packages in 2004, 2008 and beyond. Leave provisions for mothers and fathers were increased over the years and additional support was provided for families via subsidies for maternity-related medical costs and other expenses. Separately, subsidies for childcare and infant care were also provided to families. As Singapore went from mudflats to metropolis, the Singapore women similarly made significant strides over the years and their contributions are integral to our Singapore story.”
“Between the passing of the Women's Charter in 1961 till today, Singapore underwent rapid transformation and the status of women improved. The political leaders rightly reasoned that for Singapore to be lifted from its fairly low economic status in the 1950s, it needed its entire population to be as highly educated and economically productive as possible. The Singapore Government systematically introduced and improved legislation, policies and initiatives to advance the progress of Singapore women and worked in close partnership with the community over the years. Forty-one ruling party women Members of Parliament, seven Opposition women Members of Parliament and Non-Constituency Members of Parliament, and 34 female Nominated Members of Parliament have sat in this House to vote on legislation which empowers our women. First on the agenda was the need to make quality education freely accessible to both boys and girls. Universal education for children of all races, gender and backgrounds was implemented. Boys and girls were equally valued and given as much opportunity as possible to pursue education and skills-based training. Female literacy rate went from 29% in 1957, to 54.3% in 1970 and crossed 80% in 1988. The female share of University intake has remained at about 50% since around 1980. Healthcare services for women and girls were improved. Did you know that in 1966, KK Women's and Children's Hospital entered the world records for delivering the highest number of newborns within a single medical facility for that year and continued to hold the record for the next 10 years? And we continue to care for the physical and mental well-being of our women and girls. My colleague, Ms Rahayu Mahzam, will touch on this later. Female employment was encouraged.”
“" Further down in the paragraph, "We shall foster the principle, if necessary by legislation, that there shall be equality of women with men in all spheres and we shall encourage them to come forward to play a leading role in politics, administration, business and industry, education and in other spheres." Faithful to its publicly declared goals, the PAP took action when it formed the Government in 1959. The Minister for Labour and Law Mr KM Bryne presented the Women's Charter Bill to the First Session of the First Legislative Assembly of the State of Singapore on 2 March 1960. At the Second Reading of the Bill, he said, "The Government is carrying out its promise... that it will enact legislation which... will make it an offence to contract other than monogamous marriages... and to consolidate the existing laws relating to marriage, divorce, the rights and duties of married persons, the maintenance of wives and children, and the punishment of offences against women and girls." This paved the way for the passage of the Women's Charter in 1961, which was significant, as it raised the social standing of women by institutionalising the equal standing of men and women in marriage and ensuring the welfare and protection of women in Singapore. It is most apt then, that 60 years later, in September 2020, to advance the trajectory of women's progress and to provide them with enhanced protection, that our current Minister for Law, Mr K Shanmugam, would initiate the Conversations on Singapore Women's Development. This is the PAP Government's continued commitment to the advancement of our Singapore women, in partnership with the whole of society, to continue to support, enable and empower our women.”
“We cannot look at issues in silos, at a point in time, without understanding where they sit, relative to the bigger picture. The past 130 years has been a time of great awakening and great progress for women in many parts of the world. Women's suffrage gained momentum in the early 1900s in the Western world. From the 1930s, there were more jobs for women in the developed world as the services industry grew. Singapore found itself in these worldwide winds of change as we moved towards Independence in the 1950s. But what was the status of our women then and what path did we set ourselves on? In the census of 1957, the general literacy rate of women in Singapore was 29% and only 21.6% of the total female population aged 15 years and above were economically active. The early PAP party leaders had a vision for the women of Singapore and they believed in women's advancement and gender equality. I have with me the original copy of the People's Action Party's (PAP) manifesto for the Legislative Assembly Elections in 1959. Under its proposed programme, item 10 states: "To raise the status of women by introducing a monogamous marriage law". This was further elaborated in the PAP's five-year plan for 1959 to1964 titled "The Tasks Ahead" where there is a specific section on the emancipation of women and I read: "Women who form nearly half of our population have an important part to play in our national construction. In the first instance, in order to emancipate them from the bonds of feudalism and conservatism, a monogamous marriage law will be passed.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I thank the Members, Ms He Ting Ru and Mr Leon Perera, for moving the Motion. Since the Government launched the Conversations on Singapore Women's Development in September 2020, we have held 160 conversations involving more than 5,700 participants from all walks of life. Participants include men and women, young and old, homemakers, professionals, executives, social workers, students and many more. And they have provided many suggestions and feedback. Women organisations such as the Singapore Council of Women's Organisations (SCWO), NTUC Women and Family Unit and the People's Association (PA) Women's Integration Network hosted many of these conversations. Other women organisations including PAP Women's Wing, AWARE, trade association women sub-groups and student union groups have submitted their recommendations before the stipulated deadline of 31 July 2021. The Government had said at the onset of the Conversations that it would consolidate views from the conversations and present action plans for the future in the form of a White Paper. The White Paper would form the basis for a full debate in Parliament as it would have taken the range of views expressed by all participants throughout the process into account. I thank the Members for their views and inputs shared today and I would like to assure them that their views today will feed into this process. For today, I will focus on the historical context for women's development in Singapore and also provide an update on the Conversations on Singapore Women's Development. Mdm Deputy Speaker, a discussion on women's development in Singapore needs to take into account global developments, our history, the socio-economic conditions we are in and the values and aspirations of our society.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary question. I do not have the specific details of a research with me right now to address his question. But given the long-standing work we have been doing with single unwed mothers and our understanding of the experience that they and their children have, I am quite sure that MSF has quite ample data to understand the impact that children can undergo or be impacted with when they grow up in such family situations.”
“HDB will assess whether or not the single unwed mother has family support, and in the instance where she does not have family support and she has a citizen child, then rest assured that HDB will ensure that she has housing options.”
“Firstly, we know that we must tackle their basic needs and if there is any need from them for financial assistance, ComCare or Social Service Office; and for longer-term support, the Family Service Centres (FSCs) as well because they build a relationship with the single unweds and know best what they need; this is available to them. Secondly, when it comes to caregiving, we have subsidies through KiFAS and also Childcare, Infant Care subsidies. We also have Student Care Financial Assistance schemes to help these moms. We also know that job support is important to them. It is somewhat related to the earlier point I made about caregiving because if you build an ecosystem or support around their children, this frees up time for the mom to be able to look for a job. There are, of course, job training as well as support grants to help these mothers re-enter the workforce. Next, we also have specific programmes such as KidSTART which targets children in rental housing. Some of them, they come from families where it is a single mom that is taking care of them. We have shared that we are scaling up the KidSTART programme. Last but not least, sometimes our single unwed mothers also need counselling support and that is where the FSCs can come in. The Member had mentioned specifically on housing. I cannot answer on the Ministry of National Development's (MND's) behalf. But from my last posting at MND, this was a topic that has been actively raised by Member Louis Ng before. MND has proactively removed impediments to single unweds when they try to apply for housing, for example, through the HDB online portal. No single unwed mother will be turned away at the onset from applying for housing.”
“I thank the Member for his comprehensive list of supplementary questions. I will start off with the numbers first. Based on the numbers I have, for single unwed mothers, between the years 2006 and 2012, the numbers have been above a thousand a year. The Member has specifically asked for the numbers in the past five years. I mentioned this because, actually, after 2012, starting from 2013, the average number of single unwed mothers per year has been less than a thousand per year. And, specifically, for the last five years that the Member has enquired about, in 2016, the number is 843; in 2017, 805; in 2018, 891; in 2019, 783; and in 2020, 859. So, we can see that from 2006 to 2020, it looks like the numbers on average have come down. But this is a number that we monitor closely because we do agree with the Member that we want to ensure that we give as much support as we can to single unwed mothers. On his larger question about what we are doing, whole-of-Government, to support single unwed mothers, I would like to say that we hold a couple of principles. One I have mentioned in my main reply, which is that we have equalised the benefits for all citizen children. We have consistently been doing this in 2013, 2016, 2017, a whole range of updated measures to support citizen children. There are some specific Government policies that are specific to the encouragement of parenthood within marriage. So, there are a few that are separate from the equalisation of all child benefits which I mentioned earlier. Coming back to the main point of the question, which is what is our whole-of-Government approach towards supporting single unwed mothers. I would like to mention a few points.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Indeed, I think the factors he had raised have been raised recently in a Straits Times article. MOE will consider these factors holistically. As I mentioned in my main reply, MOE would take into consideration parents' feedback; we will look at the impact on after-school and inter-school programmes and also transport provisions and traffic conditions around the schools. So, I thank the Member for his suggestion.”
“I thank the Member Mr Lim Biow Chuan for the question. Indeed, he has raised a very important point, which is that delaying school start time may not translate directly into gain in students' sleep duration. He mentioned good sleeping habits. Indeed, they matter. They are an important factor. A local study by Prof Michael Chee in 2016 showed that a 45-minute delay in school start time resulted in a 10-minute increase in sleep time for students from one school in Singapore. An overseas study in Seattle, 2018, reported an additional 34 minutes of sleep when school started later by nearly an hour. That is why we have commissioned the two studies to understand the topic better. Mr Lim Biow Chuan has mentioned a very important point, which is that we need to work closely with parents so that the students have good sleeping habits, good sleep hygiene. I had mentioned the use of social media devices in my main reply. These are all factors that we need to consider as we think about how to better improve sleep quality for our students.”
“I thank the Member for his suggestion. I think, right now, because of our safe management measures, schools have already implemented staggered start and end times. I had earlier mentioned that MOE had contracted two research studies. We will be looking into the results of those studies to better inform us as to how we can implement more wholesale guidance to schools on start and end times. To share more, the two related projects will help us better understand how the complex issues related to our adolescents' sleep patterns and time use can be addressed comprehensively.”
“International research has established that amount and quality of sleep is influenced by multiple factors, such as circadian rhythm, exercise and sleep habits. The Ministry of Education (MOE) has also recently commissioned two research studies on the impact of factors affecting sleep duration and quality of our students in Singapore. This will help us better understand how later school start times could contribute to students’ longer sleep duration. Currently, schools start no earlier than 7.30 am. Schools have the autonomy to adopt a later school start time, taking into consideration factors such as parents’ feedback, school end time, impact on after-school and inter-school programmes, transport provisions and traffic situation around the schools. MOE will consider the results of the local and overseas research. Apart from whether school start time should be delayed, we will need to work with parents to improve sleep hygiene, manage the overall load on students as well as their use of digital devices.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with your permission, I would like to take Question Nos 5 and 6 together.”
“I thank the Member for his clarification. As I shared in my reply earlier, the CDA's interest rates are determined by banks, that is number one. And number two, different from CPF, for the CDA account, parents can actually withdraw money from it as and when they need it to defray expenses that they need for the upbringing of their children. So, it is more short-term in nature because they can go and withdraw from the CDA bank account to defray those expenses. This is different from the CPF, which is locked in for a longer period of time. [(proc text) Question put, and agreed to. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. (proc text)] [(proc text) The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. – [Ms Sun Xueling]. (proc text)] [(proc text) Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. (proc text)]”
“I thank the Member for his clarification. As I have mentioned, there have been several reviews on our Marriage and Parenthood Packages. The CDA that he mentioned earlier was revised in 2016 to also take into account single unwed parents. As I mentioned, there are certain Government policies that encourage parenthood within marriage; the Baby Bonus cash gift is one such benefit. But again, I would like to remind our Members that I have listed a whole series of benefits that have been equalised for children of both unwed as well as wedded parents. So, I hope that we can look at this holistically. But again, as I have said, we constantly review our Marriage and Parenthood Packages and will continue to do so.”
“I assure the Member that we have always adopted a listening posture and are receptive to feedback. The Bill is, therefore, a culmination of many feedback cycles, instead of a single consultation. Second, most will benefit from this round of amendments. This is the result of the Government stepping up to provide additional support that accrues directly to parents and employers.”
“Today, the Tripartite Standards on FWAs, on Work-Life Harmony and on Unpaid Leave for Unexpected Care Needs recognise progressive companies that support their employees, including those with caregiving responsibilities, to manage both their work and personal needs. Employers who adopt these Standards can use the Tripartite Standard (TS) Logo to distinguish themselves as employers of choice. COVID-19 has also helped create momentum for the use of FWAs, as companies realised that FWAs could be implemented effectively and efficiently as we transition into the new normal. We encourage more employers to come on board and the Government will work with the tripartite partners to look into other ways to have FWAs become a norm at workplaces. As to the Member's suggestion on introducing grants or funding schemes to employers who have demonstrated their commitment to fostering family-friendly workplaces in Singapore, we thank him for his suggestion and we will review this further. Mr Louis Ng has also asked if a public consultation was done for this Bill and to share the reasons why it was not done, given that many could have given constructive feedback to refine the Bill. I would like to share that there was no public consultation with respect to the Bill, specifically, and there are two reasons for this. First, the process of consultation is not a one-off event. Many Members today have given their feedback on the various schemes under the purview of the CDCA over the years, both formally and informally. We have also debated vigorously on the merits of various support schemes that families can access. In addition, we have regular touchpoints with parents and employers through our community partners and tripartite partners.”
“Assoc Prof Jamus Lim also suggested that more leave, above and beyond the current maternity leave provisions, could be extended to parents who have stillbirths. Some companies may also offer compassionate leave over and beyond these entitlements. Ms Joan Pereira has also called for additional leave for parents with multiple births, as they may face increased caregiving responsibilities. Ms Yeo Wan Ling asked that we consider giving parents full flexibility to share parental leave. While more leave that could be flexibly used could be useful, Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin has rightly pointed out that there are associated costs in implementing family-friendly practices and a practical approach must be taken and we have to be mindful that we do not, inadvertently, affect parents' employability if they are absent from work for an extended period of time. Employers face manpower and operational demands and these must be calibrated alongside the need to support working parents. But I would like to reassure Members that I know where they are coming from and I do know that they want to support parents as much as they can. Any increase in leave provisions, however, will have to be considered carefully, especially in periods of business uncertainty. I agree with Ms Joan Pereira that flexibility and mutual understanding between employers and employees are key. Flexible workplace arrangements (FWAs), which contribute to a family-friendly work environment are more sustainable and can be tailored to a parent's own needs. Mr Saktiandi Supaat suggested that more could be done to reward companies that are pro-family.”