Teo Chee Hean
Singapore
“The second point first, Mr Speaker. Certainly, it could have been a factor. But to the Panel which reviewed the thing, it was not an acceptable excuse or reason. The agencies still have to be responsible for what they are doing, whatever season of the year it is.”
“On the balance in ACRA, I would not say it is a conflict, but you have to strike the right balance between the functions that ACRA is meant to provide, which is to have a registry which promotes corporate transparency, and you have to balance that against how you protect personal data.”
“That means, if you do find a bug or you do find a way in which you can penetrate a Government system, you let us know, and there is a bounty for it. And this is evergreen. But we also do, from time to time, have a hunting season. So, for certain of our systems, we invite white hatters to attack those systems.”
“Then, he asked when the political office holders got involved in the public communications on the Bizfile portal issue. They got involved, I think, almost as soon as it became apparent that there was public anxiety. Next question about paragraph 40 and the email to senior officers, yes, the July 2024 CM was emailed to officers.”
“In fact, we monitor the dark web for a variety of things, including this, and we have not seen any sale of NRIC numbers as such. On the question of collection and use of NRIC numbers, actually, in the communication with the Government agencies, I think it is important to know who you are communicating with.”
“So, you actually make your email address available to others. But for authentication purposes, it is quite different. You do not tell your password to others. That is something which you keep for yourself and your email service provider knows. So, there is a difference between an identifier and an authentication.”
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“Sir, I would like to thank the hon. Members for their comments and questions, and also for their steady commitment to Singapore's defence and security. Ms Indranee Rajah, Mr Arthur Fong and Mr Ang Mong Seng asked about the security implications of the global economic crisis. This House has extensively discussed its economic and social impact. From the security perspective, there are three implications of the crisis that MINDEF is concerned with. First, it will accelerate global geo-political shifts. Second, during a recession, social stresses may lead to increased instability. Third, the threat of terrorism overlays these first two concerns. Mr Hawazi Daipi and Mr Zainudin Nordin asked how we can ensure peace and stability in our region in these uncertain times. Ms Indranee Rajah asked about the regional security architecture. Since the end of the Cold War, the US has been the pre-eminent economic and military power. Other countries such as China and India were emerging, both economically and militarily. The economic crisis has accelerated this process. While the G7 used to shape the global financial and economic framework, it no longer has the means to resolve the economic crisis by itself. Wider concerted action is required, as illustrated by the hasty convening of a G20 meeting last November. This shift in global economic weight, and the rise of other powers, will lead to a faster transition to a multi-polar world where no single power can steer global developments. The US will remain the world's most powerful nation. Its leadership will be necessary to address key economic and security issues, but it cannot work alone.”
“Mr Chairman, in fact, in a number of the agencies, the recruitment is beyond the numbers that they currently have. For example, in the Ministry of Education, a lot of the new recruitment is for allied educators and what we might otherwise call teacher aides to improve the teacher-student ratios in our schools and to improve teaching. In healthcare services, for example, these will be new positions to improve healthcare delivery. So, indeed, some of these numbers will be beyond our current establishments and beyond what the Ministry of Finance have previously allowed. Sir, on encouraging our civil servants to be more sensitive to the ground, we have a number of programmes already in place to encourage more senior civil servants to go to the ground to understand what is happening. I have had, even in my own MPS, senior civil servants and members of the administrative service, who have come for an attachment to understand what it is that takes place on the ground. And this takes place at the various milestone courses, as well, that the senior civil servants, administrative service officers and even the younger ones attend. There are some agencies which, I think, have made tremendous strides in being in touch with the ground. LTA, for example, has put officers to work closely with the constituencies and a number of places, and this has worked very well and has quite transformed the grassroots leaders' and the ground's image on what the LTA is and what the LTA can do. 5.15 pm”
“During this period, the public service will make use of the opportunity to recruit suitable staff that it needs to build up and strengthen capacity and capabilities in the public sector. We will continue to improve the quality of our public services in order to better serve our customers and citizens. Thank you for your indulgence, Sir.”
“Sometimes, by explaining schemes and initiatives more clearly, more patiently and by offering alternatives, we can help people better understand the situation and determine the best course of action. While we strive to deliver public services with sensitivity and compassion, Members of the public must also appreciate that we will not be able to accede to every appeal, but rest assured that our public officers will be fair and objective and will do their best to understand and to work alongside Singaporeans through this difficult period. I would like to offer a broader perspective of what public service is. Public servants serve the public in two respects: they serve individual members of the public and we must always remember that; but they also service the public as a whole, and hence there is the wider public interest as well. So policies and laws are there because they serve this wider public interest too. Traffic rules are there because they make the roads safer for all members of the public. They may be inconvenient for certain individuals, but they are there to make lives safer and more convenient for all. Hence, while flexibility can and should be exercised in considering the request of individual members of the public, the interest of the wider public must also be taken into account. We will not, for example, want our roads less safe, or neighbourhoods to become more tarnished by litter, just because of the downturn. That would just add to the doom and gloom. In fact, if our city remains safe and clean and secure, that will help to lift the spirits of our people. Sir, the economic downturn presents challenging and uncertain times ahead for us. However, while the downturn may pose challenges, it will also provide opportunities.”
“Civil servants have various internal channels to make their views known, whether it is through their own agency's staff channels or to service-wide platforms, like Staff Suggestion Scheme. In fact, with the availability of email, as Mr Baey has pointed out, civil servants are able to share their suggestions and views with several parties within the civil service, almost instantaneously. To further enhance existing feedback channels, we are also looking at new communications channels, such as new media platforms in the Government intranet. We will take into account the suggestions raised by Mr Baey. Apart from proving the channels for feedback, the civil service encourages supervisors to be receptive and opened to new ideas and staff suggestions, so that staff will not be deterred from giving their honest opinions. I am also aware that it is quite common these days for the senior management in agencies, including CEOs and Permanent Secretaries to have regular small group sessions with their staff. Depending on the openness of both the management as well as of the staff themselves, views on various issues can be raised at such sessions. The experience has been mixed. Some management teams are more open than others. Likewise, some officers are more prepared to speak their minds than others, but we will continue to encourage more open exchanges. I will now address the issue by Mr Wee Siew Kim. I agree with Mr Wee that public officers need to show understanding, empathy and sensitivity, especially towards Singaporeans who are going through a challenging period. All quality service managers throughout the public service have been briefed to pay attention to these aspects of service delivery. Small efforts can make a big difference.”
“I can provide what all these agencies are, if you want to know. I would like to assure Mdm Halimah that the public sector takes a long-term view and remains committed to the employment of its older officers, taking guidance from the tripartite committee on the employment of older workers. Mdm Halimah has also requested for an update on our efforts to redesign jobs for officers in the corporate support and operation support services. The civil service has been working on this in close partnership with the Unions for the past year. For a start, jobs have been redesigned for some 500 officers in three Ministries – the Ministry of Manpower, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Home Affairs. The redesigned jobs have given officers the opportunity to take on more meaningful and challenging work, and the response from the officers have been positive. I met some of them myself, personally. Other Ministries are now starting on the same journey. In total, the job redesign effort will involved some 4,000 corporate support officers and 2,000 operations support officers across all our Ministries. The civil service will also design training courses and programmes that will prepare our officers for their redesigned jobs. In addition, we will also continue training officers to improve their literacy, numeracy, IT and service skills. Some of our Ministries have also taken the lead in sponsoring officers for higher level qualifications, such as polytechnic diplomas. We will be encouraging other Ministries to do the same. Let me now move on to the point raised by Mr Baey on feedback channels.”
“For the statutory boards, 65% or 234 officers who retired at age 62 years were re-employed in the same year in 2008. The public sector will continue to press on in with its efforts in the re-employment of our older workers. In January this year, the public service division issued an advisory to public sector agencies on the best practices for re-employing retiring officers. For example, public agencies are encouraged to offer re-employment contract of at least one year, where possible. Re-employment job arrangements may also include part-time or short-term project work. In terms of wages and benefits, agencies may consider appropriate adjustments to wages, but will offer re-employed officers the same leave and medical benefits as a fresh recruit. The three agencies, which are piloting the implementation of the re-employment policy, the Ministry of Education, the Singapore Police Force, and the Ministry of Manpower have started operationalising the best practices in the advisory. As pilot agencies, they will help us finetune the practices. I am also pleased to note that several public sector agencies have shown their commitment to the re-employment efforts by signing a memorandum of understanding with the respective Unions, and these include the AVA, BCA, DSTA, EMA, HPB, HSA, IDA, IPOS, MPA, LTA, NLB, SLA and HDB. (ie, Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore, Building and Construction Authority, Defence Science & Technology Agency, Energy Market Authority, Health Promotion Board, Health Sciences Authority, Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore, Intellectual Property Office of Singapore, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, Land Transport Authority, National Library Board, Singapore Land Authority, and Housing and Development Board).”
“However, I should add that, notwithstanding our intention to hire more people, the public sector currently employs 110,000 people who constitutes just about 4% of the total labour force. Hence, the public sector cannot be the solution to all those who are looking for a job. While we expand recruitment, I would also like to stress that the public service will maintain its standards in terms of hiring people with the right skills and more importantly, the right values and attitudes for public service. I will now turn to the issue on the employment and re-employment of older workers, which Mr Wee Siew Kim and Mdm Halimah have raised. Mr Wee Siew Kim suggested that in filling the 18,000 jobs, we consider mid-career recruits and re-employ some of the older workers in the Government. Our recruitment policy in the public service is based on merit. We look for candidates who have the relevant skills, competency and traits that best fit the requirements of the jobs regardless of age. We believe this approach will better meet the needs of the public service. For the civil service, the number of officers who are recruited at age 40 years and above has increased from 13% of annual recruitment or 728 officers in 2007 to 16% of annual recruitment or 1,000 officers in 2008. Mdm Halimah has asked for an update on the efforts to re-employ older workers in the public service. The percentage of civil servants who were re-employed at the age 62 years has been steadily increasing. In 2006, the number of officers who were re-employed at age 62 years was 96 or about 53% of the number of officers who retired at age 52. This rose to 57% or 103 officers in 2007, and 64% or 189 officers in 2008.”
“Mr Chairman, I would like to thank the Members for their interests in issues related to the public service. Mr Teo Ser Luck has asked for the breakdown by educational qualifications of the 18,000 jobs that the public service said will be made available in the next two years. About 30% of the jobs will be for those with 'A' Levels and below. The rest will require at least a diploma qualification. The jobs requiring degree qualifications are in more specialised professions, such as teachers, doctors, pharmacists and engineers. Those requiring diploma qualifications include positions, such as nurses and technical officers. The Singapore Armed Forces and the Home Team agencies have a range of jobs for applicants with qualifications ranging from 'A' Levels or below to diploma and degree holders. There are also jobs available for those with 'A' Levels or below, such as environmental health officer positions and healthcare related positions, such as assistant nurses. Mr Chairman, when the economy is doing well and jobs are plentiful, the public service, like the private sector, often faces challenges recruiting sufficient staff and retaining them. However, when jobs are not so plentiful, job seekers are more prepared to consider the merits of jobs that are available, including those in the civil service. The public service will, therefore, make use of this opportunity to recruit suitable applicants, many of whom are needed to fill our existing vacancies in education, healthcare, and other essential services. Some of these jobs will meet new demands, eg, to improve teaching in our schools and healthcare delivery.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, what the civil servant in question, Mr Tan, does during his vacation leave is his private decision. However, I was disappointed with what he wrote in the Straits Times. The article showed a lack of sensitivity and was ill-judged. It struck a discordant note during the current difficult economic circumstances when it is especially important to show solidarity and empathy for Singaporeans who are facing uncertainties and hardship. The Head of Civil Service has spoken to Mr Tan about this to make these points and asked Mr Tan to take note of the feedback and learn from this episode. The Head of Civil Service has followed up to write to Mr Tan to put the matter on the record. SINGAPORE'S PENAL POLICY (Review) 5. Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Law whether there is any need to review Singapore's penal policy in view of the statement in the latest issue of the Law Gazette by the President of the Law Society of Singapore, Mr Michael Hwang, that Singapore is sadly lacking a principled and transparent penal policy.”
“Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for National Development in view of the recent melamine contamination of Yili dairy products from China, (a) why are products containing melamine approved for sale in Singapore; (b) what were the tests done by the Ministry and what results did they show before the product was imported and put for sale; (c) how can the Ministry assure consumers that other food products from China and elsewhere are safe for consumption; (d) whether a review to strengthen the current inspection process will be carried out; and (e) whether there are any unscrupulous practices by Singapore importers involved in the import of Yili products. 16. Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for National Development in the light of a number of products imported from China that are found to be contaminated with melamine, (a) how does the Ministry intend to strengthen food safety; and (b) whether there is a need to further tighten food screening process for products beyond China as well. 17. Ms Ellen Lee asked the Minister for National Development in the light of the tainted dairy products from China, whether the Agri-Veterinary Authority performs screening on all food items imported into Singapore to protect consumers. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for National Development (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman) (for the Minister for National Development): Sir, with your permission, may I take Question Nos. 15 to 17 together?”
“The infection must have been abrupt and caused his condition to deteriorate rapidly. REC Cheah told his section mates before the two-kilometre walk that he felt a little breathless; and during the walk, his instructor, who was walking with REC Cheah, observed that he looked tired and was breathing hard. However, he had no other observable symptoms such as cough or fever. In these circumstances, it was difficult for his instructors or platoon mates, or indeed for REC Cheah himself, to have known that the breathlessness was caused by acute pneumonitis and not simply fatigue. The instructor had asked REC Cheah whether he was not feeling well, REC Cheah replied that he was just tired. Hence, the instructor allowed REC Cheah to continue with the walk around the stadium in Pulau Tekong camp and did not pull him out as REC Cheah was able to converse with him, answer his questions with clarity in speech and in thought. The COI concluded that the instructor's decision to let REC Cheah continue with the walk was not unreasonable. The COI concluded that there was no safety breach and neither was there foul play or negligence on the part of any personnel. Column No : 528 MELAMINE-TAINTED FOOD PRODUCTS FROM CHINA (Tightening of food screening process) 15.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in the case of 2LT Clifton Lam, the Higher Board of Inquiry convened by MNIDEF has been completed and the cause of 2LT Lam's death is heat stroke. For all training activities, trainees are constantly reminded to hydrate themselves. There are water breaks and water parades when trainees drink water. In the event when there is an exercise where the trainee is required to take responsibility for himself, such as the training that 2LT Lam was undergoing, which was a three-day jungle confidence course, they were given safety briefings and, in this case, he was provided with four litres of water and purification tablets to purify stream or river water for drinking. The HBOI, unfortunately, established that 2LT Lam may not have hydrated himself adequately during this period of training. The HOBI looked into the SAF's safety systems and was satisfied that these were in place and that there was no safety breach, neither was there foul play or negligence on the part of any personnel. In the case of REC Andrew Cheah, the Committee of Inquiry investigation has been completed. Based on the autopsy report, the cause of REC Cheah's death is acute pneumonitis. I should point out that in neither case was the cause of death linked to medical screening as such. So the case of REC Cheah's death was determined by the autopsy report as acute pneumonitis. This is an acute infection causing extensive inflammation of the lungs. The typical symptoms are cough, phlegm, fever, pain in the chest, body aches and difficulty in breathing. However, it is possible, the doctors tell us, for a person to suffer from lung infection and yet not develop cough or fever, and this was indeed the case of REC Cheah.”
“They are, after all, our sons and our daughters and every life is precious to us.”
“For example, the training schedule is designed so that before any strenuous activity, servicemen do get sufficient rest and follow a proper hydration regime. An attending medic will be on-site during the conduct of the strenuous activity to deliver prompt medical care. In the event of a medical emergency, there are proper and established procedures to deliver prompt and appropriate medical attention to the serviceman. Apart from this, commanders look out for servicemen who show signs that they are not feeling well. Such servicemen would be excused from training to seek medical attention. Servicemen are also reminded to tell their commanders should they feel unwell during or after any training activity. This is important as it is sometimes not easy or possible to know if someone is not feeling well unless the soldier himself tells his commander. Mr Speaker, Sir, let me reiterate that the well-being of our soldiers is always a priority in the SAF. We have to train our soldiers hard so that they have the ability to fight, and to defend Singapore should the need arise, and it will help to ensure success on the battlefield and that they return home safely after that. So the SAF provides tough and realistic training to our soldiers but the SAF also maintains high safety standards to ensure that safety is not compromised. I think both Mr Siew and I know that, despite our best efforts to reduce risk in training, it is not possible to guarantee that there will never be injury or death arising from it. Nevertheless, I can assure this House that the SAF will continue to do its best to look after our servicemen and servicewomen in terms of medical screening, proper training systems, training safety procedures and medical coverage during training activities.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, Mr Siew Kum Hong asked, in view of the death of three servicemen during training this year, whether the Ministry intends to implement any additional measures to prevent such deaths. At the outset, perhaps I should clarify that Mr Siew asked about three national servicemen. In fact, out of three servicemen, two of them were national servicemen and one was a regular serviceman. Let me recap the steps that have been taken. Immediately after the deaths of REC Andrew Cheah (a full-time national serviceman) and 2LT Clifton Lam (a regular serviceman) on 10th and 11th June this year, the SAF took a three-day time-out to review its training safety systems. The review established that the systems are good and sound. As for the recent death of PTE Foo (a full-time national serviceman) on 30th September this year, a Committee of Inquiry has been convened and investigations are ongoing. I want to assure Mr Siew and Members of this House that the safety and well-being of our servicemen are taken very seriously. At the last parliamentary session, I explained to the House in some detail our medical screening processes. These medical screening processes are in line with good international clinical practice and are continually reviewed by independent panels of medical consultants and specialists, and where there are improvements that can be made, we will do so. Safety of our servicemen doing training is also taken very seriously. Training is progressive and graduated. Over and beyond having sound training systems, there is command emphasis to ensure that our soldiers are well prepared for training and strenuous exercises.”
“This will help ensure that the work environment in the Public Service remains free of harassment and unwelcome behaviour. WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OBTAINING BLOOD SAMPLES FROM FOREIGN WORKERS IN AFTERMATH OF ATTACK (Legal basis) 1. Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs if he will clarify the legal basis for the police to take blood samples from about 200 foreign workers in the aftermath of the attack on a university student at Clementi Woods Park in June 2008.”
“Every public officer is expected to conduct himself in a manner which upholds the integrity of the Public Service. There are existing processes for public officers to raise complaints and grievances which apply also to sexual harassment in the workplace. An officer who feels that he or she is a victim of sexual harassment at the workplace can report this to the Director of Human Resources or the Permanent Secretary, who may order an investigation into the matter. We will ensure that confidentiality is preserved in such complaints to protect the victim and witnesses. If the officer is a member of a union, he or she may also bring it up to his union to help him take up the case. An officer can also choose to lodge a Police Report on his or her case at any time. All complaints reported will be investigated. The Ministry will take disciplinary action against offending officers where a case has been established. For serious cases, the Ministry will refer the case to the Public Service Commission for disciplinary action, which could include dismissal from Service. Public officers are also subject to the rule of law in Singapore. Like any other member of the public, a public officer is liable to be prosecuted under legislation such as the Penal Code and the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act for sexual harassment. While the measures in place are adequate, the Public Service Division will do more to educate officers and raise awareness of what constitutes proper conduct and behaviour at the workplace. As some officers may not be aware of the channels available for raising complaints and grievances, we will advise Ministries to make sure that staff know of the procedures.”
“We will continue to look at the IEMS system to make sure that it remains up-to-date and that it continues to be able to perform the mission that we have set out for it. STRONG SINGAPORE DOLLAR POLICY AND MANUFACTURING SECTOR 2. Mr Liang Eng Hwa asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether the Government will continue to adopt a strong Singapore dollar policy in view of the weaker GDP and non-oil domestic export data; and (b) whether the weakness in the manufacturing sector will extend beyond the pharmaceutical segment, leading to weaker employment prospects. 3. Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) how can Singapore avert the further shrinkage of economic growth as manufacturing exports fall in volume; (b) what measures are being taken to ensure that job losses in the manufacturing sector are minimised; (c) what is being done, either through retraining or other means, to soften the impact of retrenchment for those in the less knowledge-intensive manufacturing sector.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we continue to engage the United States Navy to understand and to ensure that their ships which call in Singapore, particularly their nuclear-powered vessels, are safe. The US Navy has assured us that their nuclear-powered vessels are designed to extremely stringent standards and these standards include being able to operate in a combat shock environment. They tell us that the nuclear material is contained in four ways. First of all, in the fuel itself, so that radioactive material is not likely to escape from the fuel rods. There is the containment vessel, the compartment in which the reactor is mounted, and the hull of the ship itself, be it the submarine or surface vessel. So within these four very strongly built containment systems, the US Navy's assessment is that it is highly unlikely that there will be a leak of radioactive material. That is also our own assessment. The US Navy has operated nuclear-powered vessels for 50 years without incident. Why has the IEMS not detected radioactive activity in spite of there having been a leak? The reason is that the radioactive leak was so low that it was below the threshold which the IEMS was designed to detect. The IEMS threshold is set at the safety level which has been designed and determined by the National Environment Agency. In fact, the USS Houston, which itself has a radiation detection system, did not detect such a leak. It is my belief that for the submariners themselves, because they are living next to the reactor 24 hours a day, they are the ones who are most keenly interested in whether or not there are radioactive leaks from the reactor. Their own radiation detector did not pick up such a leak. And that is the main reason why the IEMS did not pick up anything.”
“While the USS Houston was in Singapore in September 2006, the IEMS did not show any abnormal readings. After the news of the USS Houston's leak in Japan broke, a review of the IEMS data for the period of the USS Houston's visit also confirmed that there were no abnormal readings recorded. Our IEMS has therefore provided independent verification that public safety was not compromised at any point during the USS Houston's port call in Singapore in September 2006. Our Defence Science Organisation scientists have also assessed that based on the figures provided by the United States Navy, the potential exposure is 100,000 times less than exposure from natural radiation in a year. With the assurances from the US, verification from the data collected from our own monitoring system and our own experts' assessments, I am confident that there was no adverse impact on public health, marine life or the environment as a result of the USS Houston's port call in Singapore in September 2006, and that the safety of Singaporeans was not compromised by the reported leak.”
“The US informed us that through these tests, the United States Navy was able to determine that one of the USS Houston's shut valves was leaking water at a rate slightly above the United States Navy's Nuclear Propulsion Programme's stringent design specifications. The US told us that further tests by a specialised US government nuclear laboratory, Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL), were required to determine the extent of radioactive material being leaked, as well as the duration of the leak. KAPL eventually determined that the leak could have begun as early as June 2006. The US also told us that KAPL confirmed that the trace amounts of radioactive water leaked were so low that the monitoring systems onboard the USS Houston itself could not detect the leak. The US has assessed that the cumulative amount of radioactivity that could have been leaked in Changi Naval Base was approximately 0.095 micro curies. To put things into perspective, the US indicated that this was less than the amount of radioactivity found in a common smoke detector, and would not have any adverse effect on human health, marine life or the environment. Apart from the information provided to us by the US, MINDEF also has its own independent monitoring system. Since February 2003, MINDEF has put in place a round-the-clock Integrated Environment Monitoring System (IEMS) at Changi Naval Base. The IEMS takes readings of air quality, and water and sea-bed samples to determine the normal background environmental radiation level, and to detect whether there has been any abnormal level of radiation which may be of safety concern. The safety limits are set by our National Environment Agency's Centre of Radiation Protection and Nuclear Science.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, on 1st August 2008, the media reported that the US nuclear-powered submarine USS Houston had been found to be leaking trace amounts of radioactive water. The leak had been discovered by the United States Navy during a routine dry dock maintenance of the submarine at Pearl Harbour Naval Shipyard in Hawaii in July 2008. The media noted that the US had informed Japan of the leak, as the United States Navy's investigations had determined that the USS Houston could have been leaking when the USS Houston made its port call in Sasebo, Japan in March 2008. At that time, there was no information to suggest that the leak went beyond the port visit that the USS Houston had made in Sasebo, Japan. Nevertheless, as a precautionary measure, we had asked the US on 4th August 2008 for information about the leak. The USS Houston had last called at Singapore nearly two years ago from 22nd to 26th September 2006. We also went through our own monitoring records for the period when the USS Houston was berthed in Singapore at Changi Naval Base. On 7th August 2008, the US informed MINDEF that the USS Houston had been leaking trace amounts of radioactive water since June 2006. This suggested that the USS Houston could have been leaking during her port call at Changi Naval Base in September 2006. During this period, the USS Houston had also called on other ports in the region, besides Singapore, including Japan, Malaysia, and Guam. The US informed us that after the initial detection of the leak and the report that the submarine had been leaking while in port in Japan, the United States Navy had conducted more tests to determine the extent and duration of the leak.”
“The Squadron also put other junior pilots on an enhancement programme, which included increased supervision and simulator training, to ensure flying competency is maintained at a high level. ILLEGAL HOARDING OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS 36. Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for Trade and Industry in view of the high oil prices, (a) whether his Ministry has received any reports of hoarding of petroleum in Singapore; (b) whether a special licence is needed for storage of any petroleum product; (c) what is the maximum quantity of petrol a person is allowed to store for his own personal consumption; and (d) what is the penalty for the illegal hoarding of petroleum products.”
“MINDEF has completed the investigations into the crash-landing of the Super-Puma AS 332 helicopter at Sembawang Airbase. The crash-landing was due to an error made during take-off by the pilot in control of the aircraft, who was a junior pilot on a training flight. He was undergoing continuation training to improve his proficiency, something that all pilots do. As the aircraft lifted off the ground, it experienced a left yaw. A left yaw means that the nose of the helicopter was swinging to the left. The pilot immediately tried to correct the yaw, but assessed that the aircraft was not responding as quickly as he wanted it to. As his attention was overly-focused on correcting the yaw, he did not simultaneously increase the power of the aircraft, as was required. As a result, the helicopter lost height, hit the ground and rolled over in a matter of seconds. Under such circumstances, the senior pilot supervising him was not able to take over control of the aircraft. Flying an aircraft is a complex task requiring the pilot to carry out multiple actions at the same time. In this particular instance, the pilot over-focused on one action which rapidly resulted in the crash. The RSAF immediately ceased all flying on this aircraft type. After ascertaining that the cause was pilot error, and ruling out mechanical failure, flying was allowed to resume. Before doing so, the RSAF took immediate steps to review its pilot training and flight operations. These were found to be adequate for equipping our pilots with the skills to operate aircraft safely and competently. The pilot concerned was put on a revalidation package that included simulator training and check-flights by instructor pilots. He has since resumed flight training.”
“Hence, NS-liable males who commence their university studies before their enlistment would be enlisted at the first opportunity after age 18. They will have to disrupt their university studies as they will not be granted deferment. In line with the above, MINDEF has stopped granting deferment for university studies since the end of 2005. This change to our deferment policy was announced during the Committee of Supply in 2006. Our deferment policy can be found on the NS Portal on the internet and in the information package that is sent to all NS-liable males when they turn 16½ years of age. MINDEF has also informed major private institutions of our deferment policies and has more recently requested them to remind their potential students at the point of application that deferment will not be granted for university studies. For the minority who complete their basic educational qualifications before age 18, they can apply for early enlistment if they are above age 16½ under the Voluntary Early Enlistment Scheme. This will enable them to enlist slightly earlier and complete their full-time NS before proceeding for university studies. CRASH-LANDING OF SUPER PUMA AS 332 HELICOPTER (Outcome of investigation) 34. Ms Indranee Rajah asked the Minister for Defence what is the outcome of his Ministry's investigations into the crash-landing of the Super-Puma AS 332 helicopter on 21st May 2008 at Sembawang Air Base and what are the reasons for the crash.”
“As university degrees are considered higher educational qualifications, deferments for university studies will not be allowed. This will strike an appropriate balance as our NS liable males will be given the opportunity to complete the basic qualification at ‘A’ levels, polytechnic diploma or equivalent, and be enlisted for military training while they are young and fit. Educational opportunities in Singapore have increased over the past years. There has been a proliferation of private institutions and courses offered. Some of these private institutions offer to admit students directly into their undergraduate programmes upon the completion of their ‘O’ levels without them having to first attain ‘A’ levels or diploma qualifications. Some NS-liable males have enrolled for such undergraduate programmes upon the completion of their 'O' levels before they turned age 18. They subsequently asked to be deferred to complete their university studies or their semester examinations before enlisting. Mr Yeo has asked whether MINDEF can exercise some flexibility by allowing such students in private institutions to defer till their end-of-semester examinations. Sir, MINDEF does not allow deferment for university studies, regardless of whether the deferment is for part of or the entire duration of the undergraduate course. Allowing such students deferment would be unfair to the vast majority of their peers studying in Junior Colleges, Polytechnics and other institutions, who do not have the same opportunity to be deferred for their university studies. This would also undermine our key NS principles of universality and equity. The NS system will not work if we allow individuals to choose when they would like to be enlisted.”
“Let me first explain the basis of our deferment policy. Under the Enlistment Act, NS-liable males can be called up for NS as soon as they turn 18 years of age. There is a reason for this enlistment age. The SAF must be able to maintain a credible defence force for our security and survival. Given our small population, national servicemen form the backbone of the SAF. We train them to become soldiers and leaders in their two years of full-time NS and they continue to play these critical roles during their operationally ready service. For many, this means they are required to serve up to at least age 30. By enlisting them at around 18 years of age, we optimise the ability of the SAF to fulfil its missions with an energetic and able-bodied defence force. Despite the legislated enlistment age, MINDEF exercises flexibility by granting deferment from full-time NS for pre-enlistees pursuing their studies under certain circumstances. In determining our policy, MINDEF applies the key principles of universality and equity to ensure that everyone is given the opportunity to attain ‘A’ levels, international baccalaureate, or polytechnic diploma or equivalent qualifications before enlistment. MINDEF therefore grants deferment for pre-enlistees to gain their basic educational qualifications of up to 'A' levels, polytechnic diploma, international baccalaureate or equivalent qualifications. This is reasonable as most of our NS-liable males would either have completed or are completing their basic educational qualifications when they turn 18 years of age. NS-liable males are therefore enlisted at the earliest opportunity after turning 18 or when they have finished such courses, whichever is later.”
“And we will be happy to receive any other studies or information which the panel may, by some chance, have missed. SUDDEN CARDIAC DEATHS OF SINGAPOREANS 18. Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong asked the Minister for Health (a) whether there has been any pattern of sudden cardiac deaths afflicting Singaporeans over the last 10 years; (b) what can be done to reduce the incidence occurring in the general public; and (c) how does the percentage and rate of sudden cardiac deaths in Singapore compare to that of other countries.”
“Sir, I think that if the individuals or parents want to go for additional medical screening and tests, that is entirely their right to do so and they may do so if they wish to. But whether they do so or not, I think that they and their parents should be assured that when they come for National Service at the pre-enlistment stage, the SAF will give them a comprehensive medical screening whether they have gone for one themselves or not. So that is our commitment, and that is important. The medical screening protocols are audited and recommended by the SAF medical panel of specialists. There are about 50 of them covering 14 medical specialities and areas. I can only go by what they recommend to us and if there are doctors, individuals who feel that there are practices supported by good evidence and research which will be helpful for SAF servicemen, we will be happy to receive such research reports and reviews supported by good evidence. The medical panel will be happy to consider them and if they are appropriate for application in the SAF, we will be happy to do so. I would invite Mr Siew or doctors in public or private practice or individuals who have such information, who feel that it is relevant to us, to please do so and send it to us. But I do assure the public and parents that the SAF medical panel itself does comprehensive literature searches, they are experts in their field, and they do look out for the best practices available. The example I gave was that of a study that was concluded in 1998. The panel looked at it very quickly after the study was completed, found that it was a study which was useful and valid to us, and we brought it into effect by the year 2000.”
“The resting ECG test found a previously undetected heart anomaly in 1.2% of those screened. This rose to 4.9% for the exercise ECG. In light of this study, does the Ministry still stand by its decision not to introduce additional screening for NSFs?”
“His condition could have been picked up by the 12-lead resting ECG that was introduced in 2000, and this pick-up would have led to him being referred to a cardiologist and subjected to an exercise ECG or echocardiogram. Sir, MINDEF will continue to review our medical screening procedures and amend the protocols or adopt new procedures should the SAF's panel of medical experts advise that it is appropriate to do so. Mr Siew Kum Hong: Sir, I would like to thank the Minister for his comprehensive reply, which I think would have given Singaporeans some comfort. Nevertheless, I have three supplementary questions for the Minister. Firstly, the Minister has said separately that additional screening in the form of the exercise ECGs or echocardiograms is "helpful". If that is the case, then why is this "helpful" screening not made available to NSFs who serve the nation by performing National Service and so the nation should serve them by taking all the measures that are helpful, instead of leaving it only for those who can afford to pay for these additional testing. My second question, Sir, is that the Minister has said that MINDEF has a panel of leading doctors who say that the existing tests are sufficient but a cardiologist in private practice has publicly stated that many of his colleagues who agree with this publicly, nevertheless, send their own children for additional screening. Can the Minister then confirm whether this panel of leading doctors send their own children who are required to serve NS for additional tests? My third question, Sir, is that a recently published study by the Institute of Sports Medicine in Florence, Italy, tested over 30,000 people, including 23,500 men, using both resting ECG and exercise ECG.”
“In a recent review concluded last September, the SAF medical screening protocols were found to be comprehensive, robust and in line with good clinical practice. In fact, the SAF's routine screening for heart disease in pre-enlistees is equivalent to the standards recommended by the European Society of Cardiology and International Olympic Committee, and higher than the standards recommended by the American Heart Association. The SAF's screening protocols are also more comprehensive than those used by many other established armed forces. Mr Siew Kum Hong asked for figures on sudden cardiac deaths (SCD) in the SAF since 1965, and how many of these were Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs). Sir, I am unable to give the figures since 1965, but I am able to provide the figures from 1995. Specific data on SCD for the years before 1995 was not systematically collected, as SCD itself, in young adults then, was not a well understood phenomenon in the medical community. The figures for 1995 to 2008 showed that there were a total of 23 SCD cases in the SAF. Seven of them were of Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs), three of which occurred during training. Mr Siew also asked whether any of these could have been detected by exercise ECGs or echocardiograms, and whether the SAF was going to introduce additional screening such as these. Of the seven NSFs who died from SCD both during training and not during training, six were due to conditions that were most unlikely to be picked up by exercise ECGs or echocardiograms. This is what the doctors have told me. The remaining one had a condition that could have been detected by exercise ECGs or echocardiograms. This death occurred in 1999, a year before the SAF began conducting ECG screening for pre-enlistees.”
“Medical screening takes place at several key junctures: before enlistment, before attending specialised courses, before strenuous training or deployment and, periodically, after the age of 25. The screening is comprehensive. There are 14 medical speciality areas, including eyesight, hearing, cardiovascular, muscular-skeletal conditions. Let me take the screening for cardiac conditions as an example. A 12-lead resting electrocardiogram (ECG) screening is conducted for all pre-enlistees, and the SAF has 28 different protocols to address the different cardiac conditions based on these ECG findings. If abnormalities are found, the pre-enlistees will be sent for additional testing, which may include the stress ECG test or the 2D echocardiogram and referral to a cardiologist. The 12-lead resting ECG screening was introduced in November 2000 on the recommendation by the SAF's panel of medical experts. The panel of medical experts concluded that the findings of a study published in 1998 on the screening of competitive athletes in Italy were appropriate for the SAF and ought to be adopted by the SAF. The comprehensive study showed that resting ECG was a reliable tool for screening for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM), which is one of the more common causes of sudden cardiac death among young adults. HCM is a disease of the heart muscle in which a portion of the muscle is thickened. Sir, the introduction of this 12-lead resting ECG screening is an example of how the SAF keeps up with the best and most appropriate screening practices. The SAF is guided by an independent panel consisting of top medical consultants and specialists in Singapore that sits regularly to review the entire medical screening regime.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the late 2LT Clifton Lam Jia Hao and the late REC Andrew Cheah Wei Siong. MINDEF treats every death of a serviceman with utmost seriousness. For each case, we conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause and also to enable us to take all necessary preventive measures in the future. MINDEF has convened two separate inquiries to investigate the deaths of the two servicemen. As the investigation process has yet to be completed, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on their outcomes at this point in time. Ms Indranee Rajah asked about the need for any consequential actions to be adopted by the SAF. Sir, the SAF did not wait for the outcome of the investigations but, in fact, took immediate action by imposing a three-day time-out for all physical and endurance training to review their systems, processes and procedures. The review provided an opportunity for units to confirm that the systems are good and sound, and that proper processes and procedures are in place and are being followed. The time-out allowed both commanders and soldiers themselves to refocus on safety. Ms Indranee Rajah and Mr Siew Kum Hong asked about medical screening in the SAF. I should first say that it would be premature to draw conclusions about whether medical conditions that might have been detected in pre-enlistment medical screening were factors in the incidents, as the investigation process has not yet been concluded. Nevertheless, since there has been quite a lot of interest in the medical screening processes of the SAF, let me take the opportunity to describe these processes. The SAF carries out medical screening of our servicemen carefully.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as Question Nos. 16 and 17 by Ms Indranee Rajah and Mr Siew Kum Hong are closely related, may I have your permission to address them together?”
“Indeed, in countries like the US, vehicles drive on the "right", which in our context is the "wrong" side of the road! A particular danger which arises from driving on highways is fatigue, something which drivers here do not have to contend with, which can cause a loss of concentration and even falling asleep at the wheel. Also, less experienced drivers should as far as possible be supervised by more experienced drivers in case they encounter an emergency situation or, worse, be tempted to take unnecessary risks. As for defensive driving skills, ie, driving in such a way as to anticipate dangerous situations and knowing how to take evasive action, let me assure Mdm Cynthia Phua that elements of defensive driving are included in the theory and practical components of our driver training and testing curriculum. Some of the defensive skills taught to drivers include over-taking safely, keeping a safe distance and scanning for possible dangers. 3.00 pm”
“DRIVING ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS OVERSEAS (Educating Singapore drivers on safety measure) 25. Mdm Cynthia Phua asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether his Ministry has any plans to educate Singapore drivers on safety measures to adopt when driving along major highways overseas; and (b) whether defensive driving is included in the syllabus for learner drivers before qualifying for a driver's licence. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M) (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, over the years, Traffic Police has worked with the Automobile Association of Singapore (or AA for short) to provide advisories on the potential dangers of driving overseas. For example, as many Singaporeans drive in Malaysia, AA has worked with its counterpart in Malay- sia to produce a brochure entitled "Drive Safely in Malaysia". The brochure contains useful safety tips including a checklist on preparing for long distance driving, what the speed limits are, procedures for over-taking on the highways, as well as the things to look out for while driving at night. As for other countries, drivers can find safety guidelines and useful tips on driving overseas online at the AA website. On their part, Singaporeans should take a practical and common sense approach when driving overseas. Hence, they should familiarise themselves with the traffic rules, speed limits, road signs, road and weather conditions as well as the driving customs and practices of a country they intend to drive in. For example, in some countries, as your vehicle gets to the top of a hill, we should watch out for the "wind-shear factor".”
“Civil Service benefits are part of the contractual terms of service agreed to between employer and employee. The benefits are provided primarily for the officer. In the case of medical benefits, we also have provisions for the spouse and dependent children of a civil servant to receive medical subsidies. Dependent children are defined as unmarried children below the age of 18 years old. All new civil servants join on the prevailing Medisave-cum-Subsidised Outpatient (MSO) Scheme, which was introduced in 1994. Today, almost seven in 10 civil servants are on the MSO Scheme. The other three in 10 officers are on old schemes. Under the MSO scheme, every officer, regardless of marital status, number of children or age of children, receives the same 1% additional contribution on the officer's salary into the officer's Medisave account every month. The officer also receives outpatient subsidies capped at $350 annually which can also be used by the officer's spouse and children. The unused balance of the $350 outpatient subsidy will be credited into the officer's Medisave account at the end of each year. The officer can make use of the amount credited into the officer's Medisave to pay for medical bills or buy medical insurance for the officer and the officer's family members, including children above age 18, subject to CPF rules on the use of Medisave. For these officers, therefore, raising the age limit for dependent children from 18 to 21 years old will have little practical impact. However, raising the age limit will benefit officers who had decided in 1994 to remain on the old medical schemes. But we should not be enhancing the attractiveness of these old schemes in comparison to the prevailing MSO scheme.”
“Sir, as I mentioned in my answer, the pension really is a fixed quantum which is determined by the length of the pensioner's service plus the salary that the pensioner earned at the time of his retirement. We should not vary this loosely because this is the term which the worker accepted at the time when he took up his service. This is part of his contract. Nevertheless, like all elderly Singaporeans and Singaporeans who may be needy, there are schemes in place in Singapore which help elderly Singaporeans. For example, the latest Growth Dividends are actually skewed towards assisting older Singaporeans, and these include our pensioners. CIVIL SERVANTS' DEPENDANTS (Raising of age) 24. Mr Sin Boon Ann asked the Prime Minister in light of the growing number of dependants who are reaching the age of majority who are still reliant on family support for various reasons, whether the Government will consider raising the age of civil servants' dependants from 18 to 21 years of age.”
“Civil servants who transferred to statutory boards have no entitlement to the annual allowance. Such employees enjoy full CPF contributions during their time of employment. In 2000, Government decided to give statutory boards the flexibility to pay an ex-gratia payment to civil servants upon transfer to the statutory boards. Government decided not to apply this decision retroactively as it would create an undesirable precedent for other policies to be applied retroactively as well. Over the years, the Public Service Division (PSD) has received numerous appeals related to this issue. The PSD conducted another review of its position recently following a further appeal from the unions. As conveyed to the unions in December 2007, Government is not able to accede to this appeal. Government's earlier position still stands. APPENDICES”
“Sir, I can assure Dr Ong that our officers are still taught strategy, and that it is a very important part of warfare. But to understand not just the operational art of warfare, the operational strategy, but also the policy dimension is important. So we do ensure that our officers understand the policy dimension as well as the strategic environment which they have to function in. I make it a point myself to meet the officers at every course of the Singapore Command and Staff College. I go there and have a session with them, and it is combined together with those who are attending our National Service Command and Staff College Course. And it is always a very interesting session to have discussion with these officers.”
“Sir, we place a lot of importance on the people-to-people relationships between the various forces. And, hence, we encourage our officers to attend courses in the Command and Staff Colleges, for example, in the surrounding countries. A good example is our officers who have attended the staff courses in Indonesia - SESKO-AD, SESKO-ABRI, SESKO-AU and SESKO-AL. During the tsunami relief operations, we deployed a number of these officers to serve as commanders and liaison officers. Coincidentally, some of them were commanding officers or serving in units which were deployed to Aceh. That provided for a very close working relationship, and for liaison. In fact, some of them found their classmates in the TNI operating in Aceh. And they were able to operate very closely together. So this is one example where the commanders and officers have worked well together. We are also encouraging exchanges at the warrant officers' level, and not just at the officers' level. We have started warrant officer exchanges with a number of countries, including surrounding countries and places like US, New Zealand and Australia. At the more senior level, there are a number of meetings of senior commanders. We have the ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Force informal meeting that has been going on for some years. And the ASEAN Army, Navy and Air Force Chiefs also meet separately, service by service. These meetings have also been going on for a number of years. In the Asia-Pacific as well, there is a Chief of Defence Force meeting. So there are a number of these types of meetings that are going on which allow not just commanders but also mid-level commanders and even warrant officers to get together.”
“Sir, our view is that the security of the Straits is a responsibility of all countries who have a stake and an interest in them. There are three principles which the littoral states as well as the user states have agreed upon. Firstly, that the primary responsibility for security in the Straits is with the littoral states, but that is primary responsibility and it is not sole responsibility. Secondly, user states have a useful role to play as well as international organisations like the IMO. Thirdly, that whatever steps that are taken have to be respectful of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the littoral states, and be consistent with international law. So within these principles, contributions by other countries, user states and international organisations, which are not among the littoral states of the Malacca Straits, would certainly be welcomed by us.”
“So, the informal nature of the Shangri-La Dialogue has helped ideas to be floated, and even to be implemented subsequently.”
“The formal meetings are still evolving. And when it comes to a formal meeting, there is a certain amount of pressure, for example, to sign a resolution at the end of it, or to have an agreement. And you come representing your country and already have a stated and a given position. Whereas in the informal meetings, especially where there is a good mix of other professionals who are not necessarily with the government - security experts and so on - one can come and express a view. And there is no need for anyone to feel under any pressure because there are no resolutions to be signed at the end of it all, no common statements to be made. All that one needs to do at an informal meeting is to come and be prepared to share his ideas, and to listen to what other people have to say about his ideas, and for him to listen to other people's ideas. Perhaps he will go back and think about these ideas, and he may be able to come up with a good solution which can be adopted in a more formal setting later on. 4.45 pm The Shangri-La Dialogue is a very good example of that. We had been discussing Malacca Straits security for quite some time, and different views had been expressed by different countries. At one of the Shangri-La Dialogues, the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia and Defence Minister, Dato Seri Najib, proposed the idea of Eyes-In-The-Sky, and this fitted in neatly with some of the principles that had been discussed on how we can conduct Malacca Straits Patrols among the littoral states and the user states. And as a result of these proposals and ideas that came up, outside the Shangri-La Dialogue, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore were very quickly able to agree that Eyes-In-The-Sky was a good idea, and we launched it and got that going.”
“No system is perfect unless we remain vigilant and people remain vigilant. The SAF will continue to ensure that our servicemen are effectively trained and properly supervised so that they can appreciate the importance of these processes and implement them properly. On a final note, Sir, I also want to thank Ms Indranee Rajah, Ms Jessica Tan and other Members of this House for volunteering to do the IPPT. MOS Koo Tsai Kee will respond to that. But I think that we should leave it to our senior commanders to judge whether it adequately stimulates - I mean motivates - our NSmen to the fitful - I mean fitness state. But if MINDEF judges that it is appropriate, I would want to volunteer my services pro bono to choose their outfits.”
“But in terms of SAF’s systems and processes to ensure the security of camps and control of firearms and ammunition, Minister Teo had also replied in detail, as the Member has cited, to similar queries last year, so I will only reiterate relevant points. The SAF convened a Higher Board of Inquiry (HBOI) immediately after the incident. The HBOI concluded that the SAF's systems and processes were generally adequate, but that the negligence of several servicemen contributed to the security lapses in this incident. Those found to be negligent have been or are being disciplined. Our investigations also traced the three extra rounds of live ammunition mentioned by Ms Indranee Rajah to a section live firing exercise conducted two weeks prior to the incident. The SAF has audited its system of ammunition control for live firing exercises and found that the procedures are adequate. Nevertheless, these processes and procedures will be subjected to regular reviews and further strengthened, such as when new technologies emerge which can increase our effectiveness or better practices adopted from the sharing of ideas with other agencies facing similar challenges. Since the incident, the SAF has taken steps to improve camp security. For example, we have integrated various aspects of camp security audits so that they are done holistically and we have stepped up the number of spot checks to ensure compliance. We have also centralised the supervision of training for camp security personnel to ensure a consistent, high standard of proficiency in security duties. Sir, I want to reassure Members of the House and the public that the SAF and MINDEF take this very seriously. While we have adequate processes in place, we rely on our servicemen to implement them effectively.”
“Come this April, he will further his passion by pursuing a full-time Advanced Diploma in Nursing, sponsored by the SAF. He is an example of how the SAF has enabled our regulars to realise their aspirations to upgrade their educational qualifications while providing a fulfilling career. MINDEF will regularly review our schemes to ensure that the SAF continues to offer compelling careers. Dr Ong asked if investment returns from the SAVER scheme could be improved. Let me first clarify that Dr Ong is referring actually to the SAVER-Premium Fund which is applicable to both officers and WOSpecs respectively. This Fund is not from the salary of our officers and WOSpecs but drawn from additional contributions which MINDEF provides so as to enhance the total lump sum when they leave. Accordingly, the Fund is invested to achieve steady returns over the long term. We have in place an investment committee made up of experienced and qualified financial professionals who provide oversight and guidance of investments in a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds. As with other investment funds, there would be short periods of volatility in return. Officers and WOSpecs can choose their investment plans based on their risk appetites. Our advice to them has been to recognise that this Fund is for their longer term retirement and not for speculative purposes. Ms Indranee Rajah asked for an update on the incident involving CPL Dave Teo. Sir, as the criminal case against CPL Teo is still pending, Ms Indranee Rajah and other Members of this House would understand why it would be inappropriate to comment on the ongoing case.”
“LTC Li was first sponsored for a local degree programme at NTU two years into service, and later for postgraduate studies at the US Naval Postgraduate School in 1999. Like LTC Li, many officers have received similar opportunities to realise their academic aspirations and have a fulfilling career in the SAF. Let me now talk about the WOSpecs scheme. There is a wider range of operational and technical jobs where longer experience and service is necessary. Hence, WOSpecs serve till the age of 55 because they possess specialised skills and play key roles in training the current and also the next generation of soldiers. To bring in good people into the WOSpec Corps, we increased the recruitment incentives for the various induction schemes. The wages of our WOSpecs are also regularly reviewed to ensure that they remain competitive. In line with market movements, we raised starting salaries and paid a market adjustment component last year to improve recruitment and retention. We will also be paying out a market adjustment component this year. We have introduced new measures as well to meet the academic aspirations of our WOSpecs. To attract good diploma holders to join the WOSpec Corps, we have introduced degree sponsorships for WOSpecs. This is in addition to the current opportunities for upgrading to ITE, Diploma and Advanced Diploma qualifications. One of those who have benefited from such upgrading opportunities is 2WO Koh Ping Wah, Senior Medic in HQ Guards. In the 13 years he has spent in the SAF, 2WO Koh has served in progressively senior appointments, taking part in peacekeeping operations in Timor Leste as well as the humanitarian relief operations in post-Tsunami Aceh. 2WO Koh has a strong passion for nursing, which explains his specialisation as a combat medic.”