Tan Wu Meng
Singapore
“So, if I may just recall briefly what I said five years ago during the debate on the President's Address. Healthcare is about all our people's lives, your life and mine, the lives of our loved ones, the life of every Singaporean. And with that, let us all hope for healthier and happier lives together.”
“Mr Chairman, I thank all who contributed to this debate. Our MOH leadership and MPs of all persuasions. Also want to express deepest thanks to our entire healthcare family, our front liners, the support team and our public officers. If I may briefly seek the indulgence of Speaker —”
“I thank the Ministry of Transport (MOT) for sharing that there are plans to introduce regulations to address the issue of online shops selling AMDs that are in breach and unsafe.”
“The online Community Justice and Tribunals System brings convenience to those who can go online. What happens to seniors who are less digitally-savvy, less literate or who may not be so familiar with the English language?”
“Mr Speaker, I thank MOE for this move. On the topic of social capital and social network diversity, can I ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary that for these studies, will MOE look at it much further into the future?”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Minister of State for her answer. My Clementi residents shared with me that they discovered their child was vaping. Because they did not know what to do, they brought their child to the nearest Police station. The Police referred the case to HSA and the child was issued with a $300 fine for vaping.”
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“Better Support for SC and SPR Applications”
“Mr Chairman, one of my Clementi residents came to me for help. Middle-aged uncle, breadwinner, looking for a Security Officer Licence because he was retrenched from his previous job. Agencies told him to submit the application online. The “GoBusiness Licensing Portal”. He was told he has to use SingPass, submit it through a website. He was told to use a desktop PC to login, because the website operates a bit differently on a smartphone. But my Clementi resident is not IT literate. He does not have a desktop PC. There are residents looking for work, looking for a security licence, who do not have a smartphone. What happens to fellow Singaporeans like him, looking for a security officer job, but facing difficulty getting into the website? Another Clementi resident told me his story, also a breadwinner. His wife hopes to get Singapore PR. They have been married for many years. She’s a pillar of strength, caregiver, supporting at home. They’re not English educated. They are not IT savvy. So they cannot access ICA’s Electronic Permanent Residence website – the e-PR website. When he appealed for help, the agencies told him, and I quote, “You can refer to the 'Step-by-Step Guide' on the e-PR system for more information on how to complete and submit your wife’s PR application online.” Sir, I believe the agencies meant well. But they did ask my resident to go online to access a guide on how to submit the application online. He does not know how to go online. Mr Chairman, even with the best of policy intentions, it can be regressive, when digitalisation of services makes it harder for the less well off, less literate, less IT savvy to go online. So, even as we move towards a smart nation and more technology, let us continue trying better to do better to improve.”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for his answers. Integral to safe management and containment is, of course, the process by which we test suspected patients who may be carrying the COVID-19 virus. Can I ask the Senior Minister of State, what is the current turnaround time for a PCR swab test? And the reason I ask this is because one of my residents late last night, contacted me saying on Wednesday morning, he went to the polyclinic and was required to take a swab test. He has been asked to stay home till the test result comes out and can be confirmed as negative. But his wedding is on Saturday. And so, if he does not get the result in time, he may have to cancel the wedding. So, this is a very material question for Singaporeans who may be in a challenging personal situation. And so, I was wondering if the Senior Minister of State might be able to share a bit more about the timeline for the swab test turnaround.”
“All the more so amidst a burning platform for Singapore and other small open economies. Mr Speaker, in conclusion, we value what Singapore has achieved today. It is the report card of our people, our agencies, our society. But we must also ask ourselves beyond what is possible today what is necessary for tomorrow? What do we need to do that we cannot yet do? We must be bold enough to make necessary dreams into necessary reality. And so I stand in support of our Budget – what it is today and what it can be tomorrow.”
“Our ability to respond to COVID was learnt through the hard journey of SARS and the investments in biomedical research more than two decades ago. Our ability to battle Disease X and survive the next pandemic will depend on what we do today. In short, again, "Not just what is possible, but what is necessary." Not just the report card on what we have achieved today, but what is necessary for Singapore tomorrow. My third point on public sector talent recruitment. During the past year, I met a number of Clementi residents who had returned from overseas jobs. Some had held very big portfolios. I had coffee in one of our Clementi coffee shops with a Clementi resident who used to manage a multi-billion-dollar cash portfolio for a MNC regional office. His regional role was relocated because of COVID-19 and he was not keen to uproot his very young family to relocate, especially in a pandemic. He told me about how he was looking at jobs in the public sector, now that he was based back in Singapore for the foreseeable. There are many more like him. Private sector. Non-profit sector. People sector. Research sector. International experience. And a breadth of experience from all over the world. Mr Speaker, COVID-19 is a generational opportunity for our public sector to recruit top private sector talent. There are highly qualified Singaporeans who because of COVID-19, are no longer keen to continue overseas. Some have young family, some have ageing parents back in Singapore. These are candidates who previously because of their journeys would not have considered joining the public sector. We should not squander the opportunity to recruit and retain mid-career and experienced private sector talent from these diverse backgrounds.”
“Even Siri, the iPhone personal assistant, is a spin-off from a DARPA artificial intelligence project. Research with real-world outcomes. Commercial outcomes. In the UK, there is a research foundation called the Wellcome Trust. They have funded a new R&D agency called Wellcome Leap – a DARPA model for human health. Some of their mission statements for projects are inspiring. For example, "What if we could develop a universal cancer vaccine to stimulate an immune response at the earliest sign of abnormal cells?"; "What if we could grow fully functional replacement human organs in a lab" – to help people with kidney failure, on dialysis? Some will say this seems far-fetched. But if a reputable research organisation like the Wellcome Trust is imagining this, aspiring to this, making the leap – it tells us something. Martin Wolf, Chief Economics Commentator at the Financial Times, recently wrote an op-ed, "Why once successful countries like the UK get left behind". He sees a need for greater government support for innovation in the advanced economies. There are lessons for us to avoid being left behind. Mariana Mazzucato, an economist, who has advised the European Commission, talks of mission-oriented research, bold missions which mobilise the public sector, private sector and academia. Chasing challenging mission statements beyond what is capable today but thereby setting goals that can improve human health, improve the environment, improve sustainability and the economy. Sir, today’s research investment is the infrastructure of tomorrow’s innovation. So, I call on this Government: increase our investments in research, be even bolder in the projects we choose.”
“If Singapore can be among the first countries to develop a vaccine for the next pandemic, it will be good for our fellow Singaporeans, good for our economy and good for the world. Sir, my second point on R&D and commercialisation. We have a published strategy for Research, Innovation and Enterprise – RIE 2025. We know what is possible, we know what is in the report card. But we can and must do even better, to meet the challenge of what is necessary. I remember an overseas meeting with the Chief Scientist of the national innovation authority from a small country with a reputation for innovating against the odds and punching above its weight. What this Chief Scientist from another country told me – he left a deep impression – he said that his national innovation agency wants to fund projects which the market would not normally fund. That the most interesting projects are not the ones where the outcome is guaranteed. That the potential breakthroughs are where half the experts say it cannot be done, while half the experts think it can. Sir, public money is precious. Research funding must be stewarded responsibly. But we must also be unafraid to try new things, to break new paths, blaze new trails. In the USA, there is an agency called DARPA. It brings together experts from industry and academia to work on urgent challenging problems facing the real world. Although the US military was the original customer for DARPA, its innovations have created and shaped many multi-billion dollar industries. Innovations such as today's Internet, carbon composites used in advanced manufacturing, the GPS navigation system that our smartphones use to operate, telepresence surgery which allows robotic surgery to take place.”
“We have seen what happens amidst this pandemic, when countries are burning with fear, when the world and countries grow desperate. COVID-19 has shown us. We have seen what happens with PPE nationalism, where protective equipment is hoarded. In the early days of COVID, there were some countries that blocked the exports of PPE, even if the purchase contracts had already been signed, even if the bill had already been paid. Today, we see vaccine nationalism – certain countries placing export controls on vaccines for COVID-19. So, imagine when "Disease X" hits the world, it will be worse than COVID-19. To survive such a future, Singapore has to go beyond asking what is possible today. We need to ask ourselves and search ourselves to ask what is necessary for a more dangerous tomorrow. The Government has spoken about "fill-and-finish" production and regional distribution for COVID-19 vaccines. "Fill-and-finish" means filling the containers, the vials with vaccine and then finishing the packaging of vaccine for distribution. We can and need to go beyond this and to go upstream. We need to be able to analyse new pandemics, develop new vaccines and new medications and to manufacture them quickly onshore – quickly, at speed. We can, of course, continue collaborating with other centres of excellence around the world. But we should have the development and manufacturing capability onshore, in Singapore. Even before "Disease X", there is the chance that COVID-19 will mutate into new strains which no current vaccines can protect against. So, there are very real reasons to build this capability, in Singapore, onshore, today.”
“Mr Speaker, Singapore faces a burning platform. The world is on fire with COVID-19, with protectionism, with disruption to supply chains, trade networks, businesses. Climate change threatens all of us and is changing how companies and entire economies operate and compete. Climate change is also accelerating the onset of new pandemics that will threaten the world. And all these is a serious and grave challenge for small countries like Singapore, small, open economies which need to connect to the world to survive. So, even as we improve on existing capabilities, getting better at what we already know how to do, we need to go further. We need to move boldly, to do things which we have not done before, learning how to do things which we could not do before. Tony Blair, former UK Prime Minister, last month published an article on pandemic response in a COVID-19 world. One quote stood out: "The question which should be asked of policymakers in government is not what is possible, but what is necessary." "Not what is possible, but what is necessary." Our existing work is important. Builds our capabilities, maintains what we already know is possible. But beyond our report card, we must ask ourselves: "In a world on fire, on a burning platform, what is necessary for Singapore to continue to survive and thrive tomorrow?" Sir, let me outline three areas. There are more but I will speak on three topics today – vaccine development, R&D and commercialisation, and public sector recruitment. Sir, my first point on vaccines. COVID-19 is a grave threat, but we must assume the next pandemic will be much worse. Imagine what researchers call "Disease X", an unknown pathogen more contagious than COVID-19, more deadly than SARS.”
“I thank the Minister for his comprehensive answer. I have got two supplementary questions. Sir, I want to surface an observation that some residents have broached with me in Clementi. Some of these residents are elderly, sole proprietors of micro SMEs. Some of these elderly residents have had limited formal education. They went to start a small enterprise, a micro SME, got into a situation with a landlord. And because of their background and their lack of knowledge, they are in an unequal bargaining position. Can I ask the Minister what is the policy rationale for scoping the Small Claims Tribunal, or SCT, jurisdiction in its present form regarding tenancy disputes? I ask this because in some of these cases, had the dispute involved a contract in a private, non-commercial capacity, the same asymmetry of bargaining power would have existed, the same quantum might have been in contention, but it would have qualified for SCT jurisdiction. So, I was wondering if the Minister can share more about the policy rationale there. And secondly, how we can further enhance awareness of the available measures for recourse among these elderly micro SMEs sole proprietors?”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Senior Minister of State for his answer. I have two supplementary questions I would like to put to MOH. As preamble, I just want to make reference to the Budget 2020 Round-up Speech delivered last year by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, and I quote from paragraph B24(a), "The Government will award public officers on the frontline who are directly battling with the COVID-19 disease up to one additional month of special bonus. This will include many healthcare officers in MOH and the restructured hospitals." Sir, in the context of this, I can share that my Clementi residents tell me, and my brothers and sisters in the Labour Movement tell me, that there are cleaners serving in our hospitals, cleaners who are cleaning COVID-19 patient rooms, cleaners who are cleaning COVID-19 patient room toilets, who unfortunately, at the moment, do not qualify for this bonus because they are outsourced. So, can I ask the Senior Minister of State will the Ministry consider extending this bonus to outsourced cleaners and rank and file workers who are embedded deep in the COVID-19 frontline? I ask this again, Mr Speaker, because in the pre-outsourcing era, these workers would have been in-sourced, would have been direct hires and in the pre-outsourcing era, they would have qualified for similar bonuses and support. And it would also be in harmonisation with the existing measures the Senior Minister of State has mentioned – provisions of vaccination support and PPE support. So, I raise this for the Ministry's consideration, please.”
“So, I thank the Minister for that. I am asking both specifically as well as more generally. Just want to clarify that we are looking at the broader impact to the network as well.”
“I thank the Minister for his very comprehensive answer and supplementary reply to the other Member. Just want to ask one clarification to the Minister, please. The Minister shared about the assessments for green corridor connectivity. Can I just clarify with the Minister that when these assessments are made, especially when an environmental impact assessment is commissioned, the assessment looks not just at the plot of land under consideration, but also at the implications for the rest of the network of biodiversity if a particular node is developed?”
“I thank the Ministers for their Statements. I would like to ask one clarification to highlight a group of individuals who may well benefit from expedited access to the COVID-19 vaccine. These are Singaporeans who serve Singapore overseas. Often in jurisdictions where COVID-19 may be very prevalent and even with the best protective measures, they may come face-to-face with a COVID-19-infected person during their overseas duties. These include our public officers at overseas missions, whether from MFA, MTI or MINDEF. Another related group would be our national sports women and sportsmen, some of whom may be training overseas, some of whom may be back home in Singapore right now, like one of my residents, but at the same time worried about what will happen when they return overseas for studies, when they go overseas to train, and may again come face-to-face with a COVID-19-infected person while flying Singapore's flag. So, I would like to ask the Ministers what is the policy approach that will be taken to support Singapore Public Service officers and our Singaporean sportswomen and sportsmen who represent us overseas, often in jurisdictions where COVID-19 is running rampant?”
“And if there has been an issue with the charts for whatever reason, it is, of course, a concern for navigating the patient care journey and giving the relevant treatment. Sir, I raise these questions to the Senior Minister of State.”
“Mr Speaker, I start by declaring that I am a doctor who happens to be a specialist in medical oncology but I should also declare that my Clementi residents too follow the news. Some have also raised this issue with me, in my Member of Parliament capacity. Sir, a number of residents have said this unfortunate situation should not have happened. But it has, and it is incumbent upon the authorities and the hospital to do the very best to support the affected patients in as holistic a way as possible and as compassionately as possible. Sir, I have two supplementary questions for the Senior Minister of State. The first is that in terms of supporting the patients, will the relevant authorities bear in mind that patients who undergo unnecessary treatment as a result of this unfortunate situation, some of these patients will have had to make recurrent visits to clinic, recurrent visits for treatment involving time-off work, care-givers taking time-off work – all of these with possible financial implications as well as implications for job security in the current COVID-19 climate. And I ask, will the Ministry, together with KTPH, consider this compassionately and holistically in supporting the patients who have gone through this? The second question to the Senior Minister of State is that even as the root cause analysis is on-going, can the Ministry assure us that we will also look at whether any areas of improvement may impinge on other immunohistochemistry tests that may have come out of that relevant laboratory? Sir, I say this because pathology tests, immunohistochemistry tests – they are like the charts which guide sailors at sea, which guide the treating medical team, which guide the patient.”
“On 25 October, collection of TraceTogether tokens took place at the Clementi Mall. It was advertised on the TokenGoWhere website and I am told it was the first such collection to physically take place in Clementi town. My residents tell me the collection at the mall started at 11.00 am; 12 minutes later, my residents were told the tokens were no longer in stock; they had been fully distributed. So, my question to the Senior Minister of State is as follows. Can the Minister tell us how many TraceTogether tokens were allocated for distribution at the Clementi Mall that day and, more broadly, for the heartland mall distribution sites, compared to potential demand in Clementi Town? Secondly, what lessons can we draw from the early distribution experiences, so that the Ministries can improve forecasting of demand including surge demand and pent-up demand?”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for his reply and I would like to raise two supplementary questions to the Minister. If Speaker would allow me, I just want to share a bit of the context, so that the questions can be better understood.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Minister for his answer and I would like to put two supplementary questions to the Minister for Education. Firstly, I would like to ask the Minister what measures are in place to identify students who may benefit from additional coaching and support in the development of soft skills, in the same way that today, for more technical skills or curriculum-related material, students who need extra help are being identified. So, how are students who need extra development in soft skills identified? The second question, Mr Speaker, if I may ask the Minister, what measures are being taken to ensure that students from less advantaged backgrounds, students who are starting with less, that these students continue to have good opportunities to build social networks, to build social capital and to develop soft skills in a variety of domains? I raise this, Mr Speaker, because there is a good body of evidence from researchers such as David Deming or Catherine Weinberger on the role of soft skills synergising with technical skills. And this is all the more important today in our uncharted new 21st century COVID-19 world.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his answer. I would like to raise two supplementary questions regarding his answer. The first is whether, as part of the on-going review, the post COVID environment will be considered, in particular, new features, such as working from home, students doing home learning and furthermore, looking at the built density of our HDB estates. I raise this because, especially during the recent and on-going examination season, a number of residents in Clementi have been very worried about noise from nearby construction developments. Secondly, Mr Speaker, I would also like to ask the Minster of State, whether as part of the review of the penalties framework, they can also consider the economic levers that may be applied to the construction firm. I raise this because when a private development generates noise and disamenities to residents, such as residents along Clementi Avenue 1 and in the Faber Hills area, these disamenities are socialised, whereas in many cases, a private development results in privatisation of gains from the construction.”
“Sir, this data is fundamental for the planning of manpower, clinic timings, clinic sizes, both for today and for future hospitals, and especially in busy practice settings such as our public sector hospitals. Mr Speaker, these legislative amendments are an important step forward in helping patients and helping doctors to help patients. But our healthcare institutions, processes and management have a critical role too. I stand in support of these two Bills.”
“Software – the procedures, training and support; hardware – the machines and equipment; environment – the workplace in which everything and everyone functions; and liveware – humans, people who have to work with software, hardware and the working environment. So, it is critical that MOH continues to touch the ground and look at systems factors as part of root cause analysis when mishaps occur. Healthcare workers being professionals must necessarily take responsibility, but our healthcare institutions also have a duty of care and a role to play in making safer workplaces and reducing the risk of human errors. Because nobody starts their day thinking of doing harm. No medical professional, no healthcare worker, no nurse starts their day intending to cause harm. We need to continue making workplaces safer and reducing the risk of human error. We have to keep on improving because the day a belief sets in that improvement is not possible or not worth striving for, that is the day our system will ossify and begin to decay. We must stand against the belief that improvement is not possible. We must keep on improving. Mr Speaker, in seeking improvement, good quality data is key. We have today discussed the duty to advise as part of informed consent. In Question Time earlier, I spoke about seeking truth from data, seeking truth from facts. May I ask the Minister and MOH: have there been studies done on how much time is needed on average to adequately advise the average patient on a particular topic? How does this time compare with the average time slot provided for a patient consultation? How often do healthcare workers have to go the extra mile by finding time and doing these communications outside of official clinic working hours?”
“How can you expect a nurse who has to take care of all 180 residents to also provide the standard of care that is expected to be given to sick patients?" Sir, I still remember how troubled I was to read about what happened because as healthcare workers, we are all in this together. When a fellow doctor does not deliver that care to the patient, we feel for the patient and we ask, "How can we help that doctor to do better?" When a nurse has been put in a difficult situation and things have not gone well, we believe in standing by our fellow healthcare workers as well. In a letter to the Straits Times that year in 2006, I wrote, "It is true that nurses – while human and thus fallible – owe a duty of care to their patients. Yet care is not provided by individuals alone, but by organisations and the systems set up therein. When accidents occur, it is crucial to look not just at the individuals involved in making the error but also the system and organisation." Nurses, doctors, healthcare workers – like everyone in this House, human and thus fallible. But we know healthcare is not provided by individuals alone but by organisations and systems. Sir, Minister Ong Ye Kung spoke about aviation earlier today and indeed there are lessons we can learn from the aviation industry. The airplane pilot has ultimate responsibility for operation and safety in-flight. But safety goes beyond the pilot and the airline industry recognises this deep truth. The International Civil Aviation Organization's or ICAO Safety Management Manual looks at the relationship between humans and workplace. They call it the "SHELL" model – software, hardware, environment and liveware. Liveware, as in people.”
“Seeing through the eyes of our people. Seeing through the eyes of patients to make the journey safer and better for all. Seeing through the eyes of healthcare workers so that our people can do their best – and do even better – to look after patients, keep patients safer, lower the risk of human error. Because when a human error happens, it is not always just about one human. Sir, I want to talk about learning from a tragedy. I want to mention a case reported in the media. In referring to this case, I take reference from public domain media reports, in particular, a Straits Times article from 18 January 2006. Mr Speaker, over 15 years ago, Mdm Grace Leong was the only staff nurse in a welfare home taking care of 180 residents. One hundred eighty residents. One nurse. One of the 180 residents was a patient with a drug allergy, newly diagnosed during a hospital admission. Staff nurse Mdm Leong was the only one at the home who knew of the drug allergy but she omitted to inform the doctor who was going to see the patient at a subsequent hospital appointment. This drug was later given to the patient who had an allergy to it. The patient died. The State Coroner found staff nurse Mdm Leong negligent because by the legal definition of neglience, there was a duty of care, that care was breached for whatever reason and harm ensued as a result. So, you might say the coroner was bound legally to find that there was neglience. But the coroner also noted the challenging circumstances she worked under. The then-executive director of the Singapore Nurses Association was quoted as saying, "This is a home with 180 elderly residents and they require a certain level of care.”
“I want to speak about younger doctors because for the SMC, lowering the minimum years of standing from 10 to eight, it sends an important message of inclusion – inclusion of the views and experiences of our younger doctors. This is important for Complaints Panels too, which must draw people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. The new section 39 allows a doctor of eight years’ experience to be appointed to the Complaints Panel. But, Sir, what is on paper and the actual extent of representation – the actual extent of representation matters too because when you speak with junior doctors, young doctors out on the ground; busy, running, doing everything they can to keep patients going, to keep patients alive, our junior doctors have that certain closeness to the ground, especially on the inpatient wards. Our junior doctors have that sense of the actual working experience, actual working conditions. Whether it is implementing the decisions of a senior, more experienced doctor, or caring for patients in the middle of the night on call, a 24-hour shift, 36-hour shift or in the old days – and I am starting to sound like an older doctor – even longer shifts by those seniors who came before some of us. But these views from the ground from our junior doctors, our younger doctors, they add important colour to the understanding of healthcare delivery every day on the ground. Sir, implementation is policy. And on the ground, especially in healthcare, implementation is reality. Indeed, Sir, over the years, in some hospitals, it is our younger doctors – working together with nurses, allied health, medical social workers, healthcare administrators, mentors – who help bring change and transformation, keeping open eyes, open minds and open hearts.”
“On the other hand, Mr Speaker, it would also be a disservice to patients and doctors together if strict, speedy timelines are pushed, but without sufficient resources to do the job thoroughly and fairly. Can the Minister confirm and assure us that there will be sufficient resourcing and how will the resourcing be budgeted for? I want to speak about expert witnesses. Allowing a Disciplinary Tribunal to appoint experts is an important reform because we know that in an adversarial system, there is always a risk, whether real, implied or subconscious, that an adversarial spirit will permeate the adversarial proceedings. The Disciplinary Tribunal's own expert witness can thus be a second opinion to each side’s expert opinions. You might say a third opinion or a third way: a moderating force, a stabiliser when there are differences in expert opinion. Indeed, some jurisdictions have explored having the experts convened together in a less structured way, they call it “hot tubbing”; and these current reforms introduce an aspect of that. Because the first duty of the expert witness is not the side that is hiring them, but to the truth. So, expert witnesses must continue seeking the truth together and not as adversaries. Mr Speaker, I now want to talk about the big picture. Improving patient safety, improving patient outcomes. Beyond the changes to the law and the regulatory framework, we must also look at the bigger picture. How do we improve patient safety? How do we help doctors and healthcare workers to keep patients safe, to provide better care? It starts by touching the ground every day, all the time.”
“Because the informational needs and concerns and worries of the Ah Gong, the Ah Ma living in a 1-room, 2-room HDB flat, are very different from the very well informed professional going to see a doctor. It is something that every practitioner faces every day and having confidence that the Ministry has looked at that is going to be very much part of looking at these reforms. The Minister also said that there were comparable legislative moves in other jurisdictions like Australia. Can the Minister confirm that these were recalibrations or codifications of case law? On the proposed section 37, sub-section (4) can I ask the Minister what will be the approach when there are different peer professional opinions, each of them deemed reasonable and logical? How does the Ministry foresee Disciplinary Tribunals and the Courts adjudicating on this? And if a Disciplinary Tribunal or the Courts happens to prefer one particular body or peer opinion, does that shape the weight in which that body will be considered in subsequent Disciplinary Tribunals or Courts' decisions. Sir, on the second point – the process. Mr Speaker, implementation is policy. And if the new structures are to deliver justice and outcomes well for patients and for doctors, there must be adequate resourcing and manpower – whether to support the Inquiry Committee, the revised Complaints Committee or the workings of the SMC. We know that when justice is unduly delayed, it is unfair for the patients and families, who spend years wondering what the outcome will be. Delayed justice is also unjust to an accused who will go for years not knowing if he or she will be found guilty or innocent.”
“Mr Speaker, I start by declaring my interest as a medical doctor. I also declare my interest as the son of a cancer patient. All of us have loved ones who have been through the journey of illness. All of us know of stories, whether family, friends, residents being diagnosed – wondering what the next step is on the treatment journey. Grappling with uncertainty – whether from the perspective of a patient, or being the loved one looking on wanting the best for the patient, our loved one. And for those of us who happen to be doctors as well, seeing it from the professional lens but, at the same time, having those thoughts go through our minds that the person we are caring for is someone's loved one – could be very much like our loved one; that humanity connecting us together. I support the broad architecture of the legislative changes. The intent is to help patients, and to help doctors to help patients. But I have questions to ask, both on the detail and on the bigger picture and my questions fall into three sections: the law, the process and the big picture – making patient safety better, helping patients better. On the law, I want to ask about this new statutory test. How often is a statutory test legislated so quickly to supersede case law after a high profile Court of Appeal judgment such as the case of Hii Chii Kok. I understand the Minister has shared there was consultation with the legal profession. For the benefit of those of us in this debate who are non lawyers, we will be happy to hear more on what was the legal profession's view. The Minister spoke about engaging patient advocacy groups. Can the Minister share in greater detail what patients think of this and whether patients across a broad range of socio-economic backgrounds were engaged as well?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer and for his sharing about the efforts to continue shaping the market and to bend the arc of our society towards further inclusivity. I have got two supplementary questions for the Minister. The first is on statistics. Would the Minister consider tracking the statistics mentioned in my Parliamentary Question more actively and more deliberately? I say this because sometimes, to understand the situation, we need to seek truth from data and seek truth from facts. And by having that data, we are in a better position to understand if certain companies or certain sectors may be disproportionately retrenching PWDs. My second supplementary question is: what efforts are ongoing by the Ministry to help shape the awareness of employers, the awareness of what a PWD can bring to the workplace in an intangible way. For example, the power of having a PWD team mate inspire other colleagues? And if I may just seek Mr Speaker's indulgence, I have a resident, a young lady, who survived a car crash. She moves around in a wheelchair but got back to work, started a family and has continued in work as a working mother. But recently, during COVID, she was retrenched by a company which has a significant presence in the Singapore private sector and that actually had an emotional impact on neighbours and fellow residents. So, it is important, Mr Speaker, I would put to the Minister that we look at shaping that intangible element as well.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Minister for her answers. I have three supplementary questions to raise. The first is, on the firms that had been taken to task, following being on the FCF watchlist. At the whole-of-Government level, has there been any correlation to see if these firms previously had been awarded tenders or contracts for Government or Government-related projects, and subsequent to being taken to task, whether any such firms subsequently were awarded Government tenders. The second question is, whether as part of the paradigm of environmental, social and governance responsibility, which is increasingly being considered these days, whether some Government tenders can consider the role of HR practices either as a clear criterion or as a tie-breaker in the event of two companies having very similar value prepositions otherwise. The third question, Mr Speaker, is to ask, whether or not, the Ministry has used or is considering using the "Mystery Shopper" methodology to look for companies with discriminatory hiring practices. Just to briefly elaborate, the Mystery Shopper approach involves sending CVs with otherwise identical qualifications, but varying the age, the ethnicity as suggested by the name, to the company. The idea is to, by doing this "A/B" testing to see whether there are companies that have a clear pattern of rejecting certain applications at the CV or resume stage. This may help identify soft discrimination before it becomes a bigger issue.”
“The Minister for Finance has spoken about fiscal prudence but, in a deep recession, we should also be willing to spend counter-cyclically, to invest further in our fellow Singaporeans and further build up capabilities within Singapore and in our public sector healthcare, especially in areas where the market alone may not generate the most optimal outcome straightaway. In conclusion, Mr Speaker, outside Singapore, it is a world of troubles. But to survive and surmount these challenges, our domestic policies at home must also be ready for the future – looking after our people, making sure no one is left behind or falls between the cracks. Mr Speaker, health is key, because it touches all our lives. When a grandparent falls ill, it affects the grown up children and their own households. Is Ah Kong, is Ah Mah going to get better? Would Ah Kong be there when "didi" finishes his PSLE? When a breadwinner is struck down, the whole family worries. When a child is unwell, the hopes and dreams of an entire family are at stake. Mr Speaker, healthcare is about our people’s lives – your life and mine, the lives of our loved ones, the lives of every Singaporean, regardless of background. Sir, I support the Motion. [Applause.]”
“Are there also ways to relook our patent system so that cheaper but equally effective medications can more easily enter the market, while still allowing our pharmaceutical industry to create jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans and maintaining our forward position as an intellectual property hub and intellectual property thought leader? I am sure that MTI and MOH can explore this further. Sir, fifth, and importantly, our healthcare workers. Many residents in this COVID-19 crisis have shared how COVID-19 has been a reminder of the contributions and good work of our healthcare workers, especially our nurses, our allied health workers, our healthcare frontliners. In a pandemic, our frontline healthcare workers are part of our national defence. If the pandemic frontline cannot hold, Singapore will be overrun. Some residents have asked if we are paying our nurses enough and if we can have more Singaporean nurses and staff in our public hospitals. I have met older uncles and aunties, pakciks and makciks. They say there is something comforting about having a fellow Singaporean looking after them in the hospital wards, even just having someone bringing them between the ward and the clinic an assistant who understands them, with whom they can connect instantly, someone who can connect in our seniors' languages, in their dialect, it is that much closer. As one auntie said in Mandarin, "有这个亲密感, 有这个亲切感" – someone who can be a familiar-sounding voice in difficult times for our seniors. So, I would like to ask the Government: how often does MOH compare the pay of our nurses and allied healthcare workers across the public and private sector? Can we pay our nurses and allied health workers more?”
“Mr Speaker, in a Straits Times Forum letter published on 29 August this year, the Singapore Medical Association shared that some insurers are no longer allowing claims for diagnostic endoscopy, even when medically necessary. This is a serious development, implications for patient care and patient safety. It is also a very visible sign that individual patients and customers do not have bargaining power to stop insurance companies from such practices. When an insurance company moves the goal posts for an integrated shield plan, it is not so easy for a patient to switch provider because existing conditions become pre-existing conditions under the new policy. We have also seen from the SMA letter that even individual healthcare practitioners, despite assessing a diagnostic procedure to be medically necessary, in some cases cannot move the insurance companies. Mr Speaker, the invisible hand of the market appears to have become unbalanced. I call upon MOH and MAS to look at this, and to see if the visible hand of the regulators needs to come in to level the playing field for patients and our people. Fourthly, access to new treatments. Sir, as a small country with a small market, we cannot negotiate based on market size alone. We must find new ways to ensure affordable access to the newest treatments, not just for today but for tomorrow. For new and emerging treatments, such as cell-based therapy, which are capital intensive and where very few firms currently have the capability, we should invest in our own domestic capability, so that we can shape the local and regional market, and not be held ransom by overseas manufacturers who will charge what the market can bear or what the wealthiest segments of the market can bear, as we have seen in some other jurisdictions.”
“So, again, we must continue pushing, to inculcate IT skills in our elderly, but we must also continue to keep the face-to-face and telephone option open for interacting with Government services. And the telephone option must be meaningfully available, which means not a half-hour wait on the line before there is a human voice. It maintains the human touch to have that face-to-face, that human telephone option. And in an economic downturn, it is an opportunity to hire many more Singaporeans with people skills and life experience to help fellow Singaporeans. Sir, my second point – supporting workers. There are low-wage workers and those without flexible working arrangements, who cannot get time-off for a polyclinic consult during the day. If they go to a GP after hours, the cost is higher. Sir, I call upon MOH to work with MOM, to look even deeper into the health situation of low-wage workers, including gig economy workers who are especially vulnerable. Sir, for low-wage workers going to a CHAS GP after hours, can we identify them, subsidise them better, so that the out-of-pocket cost can be comparable to polyclinics, or even equivalent to a polyclinic consult? Sir, in the COVID-19 crisis, I have also met residents, workers, brothers and sisters who have lost their jobs. Some have lost their employee healthcare benefits. Just because their workplace had healthcare benefits, does not mean the workers were rich to begin with. Our residents, especially in the COVID-19 crisis, should not face unnecessary challenges to means testing when trying to return to subsidised healthcare. I have filed a Parliamentary Question on this, so that we can look at this issue further. Thirdly, access to health insurance.”
“Are such seniors less likely to keep up with primary care appointments and necessary follow-ups? Are they more likely to be admitted to hospital? And when they are hospitalised, do they stay longer when they are admitted? On mobility and medical assessments. Sir, some Government programmes require a doctor to assess an elderly resident. I have met elderly seniors who tell me that when they apply for a personal mobility device, they were told part of the process involves a doctor signing off on the paperwork. But some seniors, Mr Speaker, are confined to the home because they are not mobile, to begin with. Some have a care-giver who also has mobility needs and is home-bound. Some do not have family to bring them to the doctor. So, it becomes a difficult situation – have to go out to see the doctor as part of the process to get the mobility assistance, but they need that assistance to more easily go out. Again, in the community, many of us in our constituencies are trying our best, but we must continue looking at improving the implementation. We must make sure that residents do not fall between the cracks of policy implementation and we must continue to try and improve. Digital access. I have older residents who have mixed feelings. Every time there is a new Smart Nation app or digitalisation programme, some are excited, the more techno-savvy uncles and aunties. They are excited that Singapore is innovating with new technology, new platforms. But there are some older seniors who are less IT-literate. Sir, digital access must not become a digital divide. Otherwise, digital progression broadly will have regressive impact on the less well-off, the less IT-savvy, and all those elderly who are less literate.”
“Mr Speaker, I stand in support of the Motion of Thanks to the President. In my maiden speech in this House in 2016, I spoke of imagining a Perfect Storm, "… a global downturn lasting many years; divisions of race, language, religion; social class, inequality and culture; a fractured national consensus, divisive politics. And then having to face a major crisis – a terrorist attack on Singapore soil, a pandemic, or a regional conflict where old friends ask us to choose between them." It has been nearly five years and a storm has gathered all around the world. Not quite a Perfect Storm, but still a hurricane. COVID-19 pandemic – worldwide. US-China relations – full of uncertainty. Economic crisis – all around the world, the worst in the history of independent Singapore. Some say it will be as deep as the Great Depression of a hundred years ago, or even worse. Sir, in crisis, all the more important that we look after our people at home – our fellow Singaporeans. We must be clear-eyed about where policy and implementation can be improved. As I said in this House in March 2016 during an Adjournment Motion, it is about "seeing through the eyes of our people". This includes looking after our people in sickness and in health. I will speak on five areas, on health – our elderly; our workers; access to insurance; access to new treatments; and our nurses and our allied health staff. Supporting our elderly. Sir, we know of many elderly in our estates who are less mobile. Some in older flats that cannot easily have ramps installed through the EASE programme and these elderly cannot afford to pay for transport assistance to get to the clinic. In our community outreach, we do our best to help. But I ask, has MOH systematically studied seniors in such a situation?”
“You can see the bars are not quite exactly the same length and not exactly the same value, and that is reflected in the handouts which we have distributed to Members. Consumers can also tick multiple boxes on the Fuel Kaki website to search across multiple petrol retailers and across multiple discounts and rebate programmes to find the lowest effective price. So, if you are curious, you want to see what the other promotions, options, discounts and rebates are, you can search. I know of users who will tick all the boxes and then they click search and the website gives a whole list, much like what you see in Figures 3 and 4 of the handouts that you have. And this helps individual consumers also find out if a different retailer with different discounts and rebates can give a better lower effective price. Mr Speaker, actually, there is so much more to look at beyond the listed pump price; so much more to see when you look into the rebates and discounts when you look at the effective price. And Fuel Kaki puts that into the palm of your hand, on your smartphone, and you can search within a minute. That information can help you in so many ways. If you are a consumer, you can search for the lowest effective price; if you are an academic, it helps to have a single portal which you can look up, and I am sure there are many learned economists in this House and outside who would be interested. If you are a journalist or an analyst, it helps you, too. So, by making it easier for consumers to compare effective prices, Fuel Kaki helps empower consumers and, as mentioned earlier, well-informed consumers are a key deterrent against unreasonable pricing and we will continue to work with CASE to improve Fuel Kaki and to continue empowering all our consumers.”
“Sir, I will continue as the handouts are being distributed. We can very much understand the interest in the listed pump prices. That, to date, has formed a lot of the discussion and discourse among members of the public. When you talk to uncles and aunties, it is often the listed pump prices that are at the top of the mind. But the listed prices can be different from the effective prices, which are what individual consumers pay after discounts and rebates. The 2017 study by the then-CCS had found that there was a lack of ready access to, and awareness of, retail petrol prices by consumers. This prevented consumers from having the necessary information readily available to make the best petrol purchase decision. Following that study, MTI and CCCS worked with CASE to develop the Fuel Kaki website to help improve transparency for petrol prices. The Fuel Kaki website does not just collate the listed pump prices. That is what you see at the top of the handout. But it also has a Price Estimator within. And as individual consumers, you can find out which petrol retailer offers the lowest effective price based on your individual eligibility for discounts and rebates. So, if you look at the handouts, what you can see is that the retailer with the lowest listed price may not be the one with the lowest effective price. You would also see that although listed prices are the same for most retailers, effective prices do differ even without any promotions or discounts other than the loyalty programme. So, although the handout has quite a small font size, I thought I would bring your attention to Figure 2, which is the effective price that one can get based on the loyalty programme only.”
“I thank the Member for his many extensive supplementary questions. If I take a bit of time, please cheer me on with "加油". On the question about the three-quarter tank rule, the three-quarter tank rule is part of a suite of policy measures to encourage less car usage and reduce carbon emissions. These considerations remain relevant today. The Government will continue to ensure a well-functioning competitive petrol market against this backdrop. There was also a question that the Member raised, about what some have called "white pump fuel dispensing". The idea, essentially, is, if you have a company that maintains a stock of fuel on site – some of these companies may do so because of a vehicle fleet – whether this stock can be sold onwards to consumers. At the moment, companies maintaining such fuel stocks for their own vehicles are not allowed to retail to the public. We are prepared to look at his suggestion and to consider it. But any consideration has to be done very carefully because there would have to be factors such as implications for land use and land allocation as well as ensuring safety for this. The other issue that the Member alludes to is: how do we improve transparency in a way that the consumer, on a day-to-day basis, has that information easily. With your permission, Mr Speaker, may I ask the Clerks to distribute the handouts to Members?”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary questions. If I can address his first point, which is whether petrol companies pass through more of the price change and at a faster rate when the crude oil prices go up, as compared to a decrease. And the answer is that, if you look at the empirical evidence, it does not suggest listed retail petrol prices adjust downwards more slowly or by a smaller amounts compared to upward price adjustments. The 2017 report by then-CCS found that between January 2010 and December 2016, for every 10 cents change in Mean of Platts (MOPS) price, the listed retail petrol price changed by an average of seven cents. This finding applied to both increases and decreases in price. On average, adjustments in listed retail petrol price, took place over eight days for MOPS' price increases and six days for MOPS' price decreases. The Member also asked about the components of listed petrol prices. In 2015, MOPS made up less than one-third of total listed petrol price and the non fuel components such as operating costs, taxes, duties, land costs, discounts and rebates made up the remaining amount. Some of the information that the Member is interested in may well be commercially sensitive, but we are prepared to work with CASE, with our agencies and with the companies to see whether there are ways to put more of this information out there.”
“This is something that we will continue looking at – on how to improve and how to keep on empowering our consumers.”
“Sir, I thank the Member for her supplementary questions. If we look at the research that was done by the then-CCS, what they found was that the pass-through of an increase in the price of oil – and when you compare the increase with the decrease, the pass-through is about the same. The amount that retail petrol price goes up by, and when you compare that with the amount that it goes down by, as mentioned earlier in my answer. If you look at the amount of time it takes, actually it takes a little bit longer for the price pass-through to go through when it is upwards. So, the prices take longer to go up on average for roughly the same pass-through, whereas when the price goes down for oil, the pass-through happens a bit more quickly. So, in summary, basically it takes longer for the pass-through on the upward side, but it is faster when it happens on the downward side. That is the first part of the clarification to the Member's question. The other point that the Member raised, was about helping our consumers and this is something that CASE has been working on with the Fuel Kaki's website. In the past, when you were comparing the retail price at the pump, the availability of information on discounts and rebates is harder to keep track of – because different suppliers, different promotions – and it was not all together in the same portal. But today, with the introduction of Fuel Kaki, we have a way for consumers to look at the different rebates, look at the different discounts available and that helps consumers make better decisions because when consumers are aware of the actual effective price with the rebates and discounts included, it helps consumers decide better and that helps make the market function in an even more competitive way.”
“And Sir, it is my belief that this element of social capital can and must be part of how we continue building and uplifting our communities and our societies because, whether in Singapore or around the world, much of the research on the role of neighbourhoods, on the role of communities, implicit in that, is the idea that in that in the role of places and neighbourhoods, there is also the role of social capital. Whether you are looking at the research by Raj Chetty and his colleagues in the US, whether you listen to the stories by researchers such as Angus Deaton, all these researchers who have looked at inequality in society, who look at the role of neighbourhoods and how people's lives change over time – my belief is that a key question in all this, is the role of social capital and we must continue looking at it closely, developing it, growing it further. Mr Chairman, to bring that social capital together in our society, it also helps to bring different stakeholders together to bring corporations and community partners together. And as we heard recently at the Early Childhood conference in September last year, the Minister for MSF announced the expansion of KidSTART and growing together with KidSTART. So, if I may ask the Minister, can MSF share any updates on the types of partnerships with corporates and community partners forged so far, because it takes all of us to make Singapore better and part of that journey to building a more fair and more equitable society is how we grow that social capital among us, how we grow the networks among us and how through that we uplift one another. Because, Mr Chairman, as we said earlier when we share social capital it multiplies. So, let us grow our society and multiply the good within us to touch others.”
“Young professionals, as well as students still in higher education, young people working together, volunteering as homework mentors for children who are starting with less. Again, sharing time, energy and heart. And with each friendship forged, each moment shared, it lifts up each child even as it changes, touches, transforms the life of each volunteer. Mr Chairman, what these stories tell us, is that community partners can play a very special role in helping to lift up our children, in helping to lift up communities, in helping to lift up our fellow Singaporeans and especially children, who are starting with less. It tells us that how we multiply social capital is an important complement to the traditional fiscal measures that can found in any Budget. Because, Mr Chairman, in a fair and equitable society, fiscal redistribution is an important part of policy. Fiscal redistribution in a progressive way, giving more to people who start with less. But there are also many kinds of sharing, many kinds of sharing which go beyond dollars and cents which cannot easily be measured in terms of hard numbers, but these forms of sharing are also deeply important. The sharing of life experiences, the sharing of networks, the sharing of mentorship, the sharing of social capital. Sir, the magic of social capital is that sharing is not a zero-sum process. When we share social capital, it multiplies and it lifts up everyone even as we connect together, grow together, grow closer together as one Singapore family together, as Singapore together.”
“Mr Chairman, at one of our Clementi coffeeshops, on weekends you can find a very special group of uncles and aunties. Some stay in Clementi or nearby. Some come from all over Singapore to meet. Some from the Pioneer Generation, some from the Merdeka Generation. Each one a veteran artist with a lifetime of experience. Many nationally, even internationally acclaimed. A number have even won the Cultural Medallion. All these luminaries and legends – and you can find them at one of our Clementi coffeeshops on a weekend. Last year, as part of our National Day celebrations, these veteran artists helped organise an exhibition at our Clementi Community Centre. It was a very special gathering, but what made it extra special, even more special, was how our residents came together, across from all walks of life, with the artists for this community art exhibition. Exhibiting artworks together, even making impromptu artwork on the spot together. Young parents, youths, children from all walks of life, including families, starting with less, families living in our rental blocks in Clementi. I spoke with a young boy, who was deeply moved that his drawing was being exhibited alongside the work of these famous artists. It boosted his confidence. He had found new friends, new networks. The artists also shared, that by connecting with the community, including some of our children who were starting with less, they had also found ways to introduce their heritage, their life stories to another generation of young Singaporeans. Sir, it makes a difference in our communities when we give time, energy and heart. When people come together, creating moments, creating memories, creating opportunity. We see this too, in our tuition mentoring programmes in Clementi Town.”
“Our Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs) and companies are doing their part too. Last month, when demand surged for essential commodities, the Singapore Food Manufacturers' Association teamed up with six other associations to increase domestic food supply. E-commerce companies, with the help of Enterprise Singapore, shared delivery vans to cope with increased demand for delivery throughout Singapore. And, Sir, we will continue supporting our TACs and other industry groups to help companies get through today's economic uncertainties and prepare for tomorrow's recovery. We will introduce the SG-Together Enhancing Enterprise Resilience programme, otherwise known as STEER, which will match $1 for every $4 raised by industry-led funds, up to $1 million per fund. The Singapore Furniture Industries Council will be launching its members' assistance scheme this week as part of this, supported by Enterprise Singapore through STEER, and more than 250 of their members will benefit from the scheme to strengthen business capabilities and market diversification. Mr Chairman, in conclusion, we are all in this together – you and me, the people around us, our TACs, our fellow Singaporean businesses, Government. All of us in this together. And this is how, as a nation, we can survive and thrive, no matter what odds the world throws at us. This is how we keep on creating new possibilities for a better, brighter Singapore. This is how, together, we can make a difference, because together, we can, and together, we will overcome.”
“I am pleased to announce that the Price Kaki app will be rolled out across Singapore in the coming months. With this crowdsourcing network, everyone can have a buddy, everyone can be a buddy. You might say, "Long zhong wu kaki, long zhong si kaki" or we all have buddies in Hokkien. Furthermore, Price Kaki helps people who has less time, who are less aware of market prices, who are less experienced shoppers. It is an app for everyone across all walks of life, but especially people who may be starting with less. It is a progressive move to build a more fair, more equitable society. We hope you can benefit from the app, whether contributing as a kaki or benefiting as a price kaki. Mr Chairman, in Mandarin, please. 11.15 am (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] We understand and care for your concerns with regard to cost of living issues. CASE will be launching the Consumer Empowerment Panel (CEP) in April to look into matters on cost of living. The panel will work together with associations, unions and grassroots leaders, to engage and help consumers like you stretch your hard-earned dollar. (In English): Mr Chairman, in English, please. Sir, we are a small island, a little red dot in a changing world. And sometimes, the world outisde throws challenges at us. And to face these challenges, it takes all of us, because when we pull together, we are stronger. In Mandarin, "众人同心，其利断金"。In Malay, "berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjing". We have seen this in the fight against COVID-19. Nurses and doctors on the frontlines, working day and night, round the clock, to protect us from the outbreak. Volunteers, at mask distribution centres in the community, delivering masks to the homes of neighbours who are less mobile.”
“Second, raise industry standards. The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore has developed a set of guidelines on the Dos and Don'ts in price transparency for all consumer-facing industries. This will reduce the risk of consumers being misled. These guidelines will apply to both online and offline transactions and will be published in due course. Third, promote consumer awareness and empowerment. Mr Lim Biow Chuan had raised the question of charge-back issues. I assure Mr Lim that consumers can seek assistance on charge-back issues through their credit card issuers' hotline. And there are also ongoing efforts to raise awareness on the charge-back process. The websites of credit card issuers, the Association of Banks in Singapore, the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) and MoneySENSE – all these have Frequently Asked Questions on the process of resolving common credit card disputes including charge-backs. Sir, we also believe in empowering consumers with information to make well-informed purchasing decisions, because better information means better choices. CASE piloted the Price Kaki app featuring crowdsourcing insights on prices at supermarkets and hawker centres across Tampines, Toa Payoh and Jurong West starting from September 2019. What does crowdsourcing mean? It means that people at supermarkets, people looking for cooked food, can share information about prices and bargains, so that other users can share the information from it as well. We could say, "by users", "for users". Since its launch, we have seen 15,000 registered users, more than half a million crowdsourced entries from users. And all this, across just three towns in Singapore. Imagine if we had it across the island.”
“This is to help TACs engage experienced executives to guide companies in business transformation and growth. Participating TACs will help to identify, engage and match the executives with companies based on their needs. Our TACs will also need to upgrade their workforce and capabilities, which Mr Douglas Foo asked about. TACs can tap on the Local Enterprise and Association Development (LEAD) programme to strengthen their leadership and secretariats, and improve organisational processes. Several have done so, such as the Federation of Merchants' Associations Singapore and the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and there will be many more to come. Sir, let me now speak on consumer protection. Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked about errant retailers that attempted to profiteer from the COVID-19 situation. Let me say this categorically. Profiteering is wrong. We recently exercised our powers under the Price Control Act to ask two retailers, which had received public complaints about profiteering. We asked the two retailers to show us the basis of their prices. The retailers subsequently apologised and reduced their prices. We will continue to monitor the situation. Mr Lim also suggested ways for the Government to deter unfair practices. We will study his suggestions, but there is also a need to balance between consumers' interests and a pro-business environment, because our fellow Singaporeans include entrepreneurs and business owners as well. Sir, we will continue to strengthen consumer protection in three ways. First, review our laws on competition and consumer protection, to ensure they continue to be effective in deterring unfair practices. This will help consumers make better decisions and help companies to continue competing on a level playing field.”
“Sir, we all play a part in keeping Singapore's economy going. We appreciate the good works of our Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs). They are a store of social capital with their institutional memory, shared experience and industry networks. I agree with Mr Douglas Foo that our TACs help the Government to better understand the needs of our business community, and partner us to develop industry. Mr Foo, Mr Teo Ser Luck, Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked about the Government's plans to help TACs and companies expand into new markets. Last year, Enterprise Singapore started developing strategic roadmaps with our TACs, to help them adopt longer-term plans to transform industry. The first roadmap is with the Singapore Business Federation (SBF). As Minister Chan shared earlier, GlobalConnect@SBF will be launched this April. It will scale up SBF's capabilities and resources to help our Singapore-based companies access new markets overseas. To start, SBF will organise seminars, trade fairs and business missions to help businesses grow in Southeast Asia and they will do this for emerging markets as well across the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa. SBF's international advisory centre will also answer companies' enquiries about internationalisation and the use of Free Trade Agreements. Because when our businesses take flight, it grows our economy's international wing of the economy. It creates more opportunities for fellow Singaporeans at home and abroad and furthermore, COVID-19 has also been a stark reminder of the need to diversify across multiple markets. The Government will equip TACs with more resources to support companies in their transformation journey. Enterprise Singapore will pilot the two-year Executive-in-Residence programme.”