Teo Ho Pin
Singapore
“Mr Chairman, Sir, when Total Defence was first introduced in 1984, it was recognised that threats will not simply affect our military but potentially Singaporeans, combatants and non-combatants alike. Thus, we must continue to build resilience in our people and community.”
“Chairman, over the past year, we have witnessed an increase in the number of cybersecurity breaches. As a response to these incidents, many countries are stepping up efforts to strengthen their cybersecurity capabilities.”
“Sir, I wish to seek an update from the Minister on the skills upgrading and development of public officers as well as aspiring public officers, especially in the three areas which I have mentioned. Can the Government also consider giving out scholarships to nurture and attract talent in these fields? Role of PMO”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we should empower the community to come up with innovative solutions like North West 911 and build capabilities in our people to cope better during emergencies.”
“The French Government passed a law in 2016 mandating that large supermarkets have to donate excess food to food banks and charitable organisations. If we had a similar initiative in Singapore, we can not only reduce the amount of food waste, but we can also help those in need.”
“Sir, I have three clarifications for the Senior Minister of State. First, will the Ministry consider licensing PMDs so as to manage the growth of PMDs in Singapore and also to make it compulsory for the PMD riders to attend a safe riding course?”
The complete record
Every one of 936 lines we hold for Teo Ho Pin, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 19.
“Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the Bill. The proposed amendments to the Environmental Public Health Act will achieve the following objectives: (a) upgrade and improve the performance standards of the cleaning industry; (b) increase the wage and welfare benefits of local cleaners; and (c) reduce the number of cases of high-rise littering in Singapore. Madam, it is, indeed, timely to regulate the cleaning industry and improve the business practices and skills of our cleaners. Over the years, it has become increasingly challenging for cleaning contractors to recruit skilled local cleaners. As a result, the cleaning standard in many places has declined and more complaints were received. The standard of services of the cleaning companies is further compromised due to cheap sourcing and intense competition. Competitive bidding for cleaning services based solely on lowest tender price has also suppressed the wage growth of local cleaners, and discouraged cleaning firms from adopting Page: 66 innovative solutions to improve productivity and quality. Madam, in the 15 PAP-run Town Councils, we have a total of 107 cleaning services contracts provided by 19 conservancy contractors employing 2,500 local cleaners. As part of the ongoing efforts of the Town Councils to improve our services to residents, the Town Councils had implemented the Job Redesign Programme (JRP) for our cleaning contracts a few years ago. The Town Councils adopted a three-pronged approach, namely: (a) Performance-based tender system; (b) Performance evaluation system; and (c) Price-Quality Method tender evaluation system to improve the cleaning standards of our contractors. In doing so, we have increased the skills and wages of our Town Council cleaners.”
“In the new contract, NEC will own the contract because it is a leasing model. It is a service model. The Town Councils do not own the software and also the right. At the same time, as to AIM, AIM does not own the new software at all.”
“As I mentioned, the termination clause applies to all Town Councils. As to the material change, it all depends on the substance of the change. That is the reason why it is mentioned there to be fair to the bidder, when there is a material change, they have this right to exercise it. But it is up to the bidder to exercise the right. As I mentioned – why is it there – it is because we want to balance the risk and the pricing of the tender.”
“The third point on wastage of public funds. There is no wastage of public funds because the whole AIM transaction has helped the PAP Town Councils, firstly, to recover the residual value of the obsolete TCMS; secondly, to secure extension of the TCMS at no extra cost. And, thirdly, to make a better decision to develop a new TCMS suitable to the TCs. As regards to Mr Png Eng Huat's speech, he asked why the AIM subscription fee is similar for all 14 TCs. This is because the fee is for the right to use TCMS so it applies equally to all the 14 TCs. Secondly, the $16.8 million NEC contract is based on a service model, so the TCs do not own this software.”
“Mdm Speaker, I wish to clarify several points made by the hon Members Ms Sylvia Lim and Mr Png Eng Huat. First, she asked why risk the sale of an essential service asset for $8,000 savings? I have given the reasons. This is a recommendation by our consultant Deloitte and Touche that by doing that, we are able to have the flexibility to explore the various development options so that the Town Councils can get better value for money for its new TCMS. And also, although the development of a new software may take 12-18 months, but if it is a service model, it will take a much shorter period. Secondly, the PAP Town Councils had actually taken adequate safeguards to make sure that there is no disruption of services to our residents and that is the reason why the tender specifications are very stringent that all Directors of the firm must have IT and TC experience. And also there are provisions in the TCMS for the extension of contract with NCS. When we opened the tender, we received one bid and we are very confident that AIM, which is fully backed up by the PAP, can deliver. The second clarification is: why the one-month termination clause? The reasons are: firstly, we want to be fair to the tenderer because it is a balance of risk and pricing; secondly, we want to get a better deal for the Town Councils because of the pricing and the TCMS extension at no extra cost. By the way, the one-month extension or termination clause applies to all TCs irrespective of their political affiliations. So, it was not mean to undermine any party. As shown in the AHTC's case, they were granted two extensions by AIM to use the IT system and there was no disruption of services to the residents. Anyway, if there were disruptions, I am sure AHTC would have politicised the issue two years ago.”
“In this way, we shall be able to safeguard the interests of the HDB residents whenever there is a change of management. Mdm Speaker, the PAP-run Town Councils have served their residents well over the years. The PAP-run Town Councils have received strong support from the PAP and its leadership in the running of Town Councils. Many HDB residents have witnessed the improvements in their living environment, and expressed appreciation for the range of services provided by their PAP-run Town Councils. The PAP-run Town Councils will continue to work hard to make every HDB estate the best home for their residents. 3.46 pm”
“Different Town Councils have similar ODA policy with regard to fire safety for the display of goods outside shopfronts, but allow flexibility in the display areas due to the different needs and designs of the HDB shops. Mdm Speaker, since the formation of Town Councils in 1989, the PAP-run Town Councils have been diligent in serving their residents. The PAP-run Town Councils have initiated many projects to get value for money for their residents. In the process, the Town Councils have also established good rapport with their residents. Residents have been responsive in providing useful suggestions to improve Town Council services, and implement improvement projects that meet their needs. The strong partnership between the PAP-run Town Councils and their residents has enhanced the quality of living environment for HDB residents. Mdm Speaker, I understand that there are concerns raised with regard to the handover of Town Councils when there is a change of political parties or boundary. Elected MPs should not get into a "blame game" and politicise the handover. This is unproductive and do not benefit the residents. Instead, elected MPs should adopt a professional code of conduct to effect a smooth handing over of Town Councils. This is commonly practised in strata-titled developments whenever there is a change of management or managing agent. In the case of Town Councils, both incoming and outgoing MPs owe a duty of care to the residents to make sure that Town Council services are not disrupted during the handover. I would propose that the MND review the Town Councils Act to provide a framework to facilitate the handover. In the event of any dispute, the MND shall be the arbitrator to resolve these problems.”
“With bulk purchase and installation, the Town Councils were able to save the capital cost of $24 million for the LED lightings. Instead, the supplier has proposed an energy-saving sharing formula to fund the project. The LED project has also brought immense savings in utilities bills to the Town Councils. Sharing of Best Practices. Mdm Speaker, over the years, the PAP-run Town Councils have been sharing best practices to provide quality estate management and maintenance services to their residents. In order to better serve their residents, the PAP-run Town Councils have partnered with our service provider to develop the Integrated Estate Management System (IEMS). The IEMS is a management tool that provides recording of feedback and observations which then activates a sequence of follow-up actions. With IEMS, the Town Councils can respond faster to feedback by residents. The IEMS also collates data for the planning of preventive maintenance works. The PAP-run Town Councils have set high performance standards for their service providers. For example, the lift maintenance team must respond within 25 minutes to rescue passengers trapped in lifts. As the design of HDB towns and needs of residents are different, the PAP-Town Councils often share their experiences and practices to improve their services. The PAP-run Town Councils also compare notes when formulating their respective by-laws and policies. This sharing provides flexibility for the Town Councils to address local needs while adopting best practices from other PAP-run Town Councils. One example is the by-law and policy for Outdoor Display Areas (ODA).”
“Furthermore, cost savings can be derived with a common IT infrastructure, such as the hosting of software and data in a centralised environment, including backup, as compared to the Town Councils having to purchase individual servers and related equipment. Thus, with the collective knowledge and experience, the PAP-run Town Councils are able to develop a comprehensive and well-integrated TCMS, thus improving the productivity and efficiency of the Town Councils. In addition to the operational efficiency, the TCMS has provided much convenience to residents as the PAP-run Town Councils offer different modes for S&CC payment, faster response to accounts queries, and prompt payment to their contractors and suppliers. Three, town improvement projects. It is a common practice for the PAP-run Town Councils to call joint tenders for improvement projects, such as covered linkways, children's playground or elderly fitness equipment, so as to obtain comparative prices. Due to bulk purchases, the PAP-run Town Councils are able to attract better quality suppliers and contractors for improvement projects. This has enhanced the durability, maintainability and safety of the amenities added to the towns. Similarly, the PAP-run Town Councils have worked together to negotiate with different lift companies to get better lift maintenance servicing fees, and also spare part prices due to its economies of scale. This has also slowed down escalating costs for lift servicing and maintenance. As part of the green efforts of the PAP-run Town Councils, the Town Councils jointly called tenders in 2010 and 2013 to replace all common areas and corridor lightings – close to one million tubes – to energy-efficient LED lightings.”
“Madam, let me provide some examples to illustrate how the 15 PAP-Town Councils have worked together to benefit their residents. Economies of scale. One, Emergency Maintenance Service Unit (EMSU) Joint Tender. The PAP-run Town Councils jointly called a tender to provide 24 hours emergency maintenance services for their residents. These include lift rescue services, emergency repairs and call centre services. The benefit of this joint tender is to bring down the cost of providing 24-hour emergency maintenance services and ensure that backup emergency maintenance services are available. The EMSU tender for the 15 PAP-run Town Councils is grouped into three zones – East, West and Central – so that two or more service providers can serve and provide backup emergency maintenance services to the residents. Two, the Town Council Management System (TCMS). Town Councils are established under the Town Councils Act, which stipulates specific functions and duties of the Town Councils. As such, the Town Councils share similar business processes and operations, such as accounting, statutory reporting, income tax, arrears management, by-law enforcement and interface with various Government agencies. Due to the similarities in business, the PAP-run Town Councils have reaped economies of scale when they jointly developed the TCMS in 1994 instead of each Town Council developing or purchasing computer system separately on their own. In addition, the Town Councils can leverage on each other's strengths and experiences, thus saving time and cost in the TCMS development.”
“The inherent political nature of Town Councils is to ensure good governance of Town Councils by MPs for the benefit of their residents. It is the duty of all elected MPs, and their appointed Town Councillors, to run the Town Councils in compliance with the Town Councils Act and Town Council Financial Rules. Over the last 24 years, the PAP-run Town Councils have worked closely with their residents to improve the living environment of their towns. The PAP MPs have engaged their residents actively and improved Town Council services to better serve their residents. The PAP-run Town Councils have also implemented many improvement projects to fulfil the needs of their residents. For example, covered linkways connecting block to block, block to bus-stops, new generation children playground, elderly fitness outdoor gym, and landscape works. All these projects have improved the quality of life of their residents. Besides serving the residents of their respective towns, the PAP Town Councils also meet regularly to share best practices and implement joint projects for the benefit of their residents. As Co-ordinating Chairman of the PAP-run Town Councils, I chair both the Town Council chairmen and the Town Council GM meetings to facilitate all Town Council matters. The 15 PAP-run Town Councils have always worked together as a team supported by the PAP to continually improve the running of their towns. Over the last 24 years, the PAP-run Town Councils have built capabilities, and accumulated much domain knowledge in the running of Town Councils. At the same time, the PAP-run Town Councils have also taken advantage of their economies of scale to implement many joint projects to bring cost savings to their residents.”
“Based on my professional training in Building and Estate Management, I have always exercised my best judgement to serve my residents, and safeguard the interest of residents in the PAP-run Town Councils. I hope the facts of the AIM transaction will help the public to understand that the PAP-run Town Councils had acted in good faith in the interest of and for the benefit of their residents. As Co-ordinating Chairman of the PAP-run Town Councils, I wish to reiterate that the PAP-run Town Councils have always exercised good governance in the management of the Town Councils. We are guardians of our residents' and public funds, and must always be accountable to our residents. We must ensure that our residents get value for money in Town Council services. The AIM transaction is one of the many joint projects which the PAP-run Town Councils have worked together to benefit our residents. Mdm Speaker, the AIM transaction has enabled the PAP-run Town Councils to explore various options to develop a new Town Council Management System (TCMS) while paying no extra cost for the maintenance of their existing TCMS. In April 2013, the PAP-run Town Councils have awarded the new TCMS contract to NEC Asia Pacific Pte Ltd for $16.8 million. This is based on a "Service Model" as recommended by our consultant, Deloitte and Touche. The new TCMS will have enhanced features in estate management solutions, dashboard reporting, more friendly usability, and e-learning tools for staff training. The new TCMS will save all 15 PAP-run Town Councils millions of dollars over the next seven years. Madam, Town Councils were set up in 1989 to enable elected MPs to run their respective HDB towns, and be accountable to their respective residents.”
“Mdm Speaker, I wish to place on record in this House, and highlight the rationale and facts of the AIM transaction based on the press statement which I issued on 2 January 2013. I have also given the same facts to the MND Review team. In my press statement, I have clearly and categorically stated the details that led to the AIM transaction. In 2009, the PAP-run Town Councils appointed Deloitte and Touche to advise on the review of the Town Council Management System (TCMS). Deloitte and Touche identified various deficiencies and gaps, and that the current TCMS system was becoming obsolete and unmaintainable. As recommended by Deloitte and Touche to consider a "Service Model", the PAP-run Town Councils decided to sell the existing TCMS so that the Town Councils can continue to secure extension of the maintenance of the system without extra cost while exploring development options. AIM submitted the only bid in an open tender, met all tender requirements and was awarded the contract. During the review, AIM had secured two extensions of the existing TCMS at no extra cost to the PAP-run Town Councils. It had actively worked to explore new software options and enhancements for the new TCMS. Thus, the AIM transaction has benefited the PAP-run Town Councils, and paved the way for the new TCMS tender to be called in February 2013. On 30 April 2013, the MND review committee reported the facts of the AIM transaction, and found that the PAP-run Town Councils complied with the Town Councils Act and Town Council Financial Rules. The findings also show that no PAP-run Town Council Chairman or their Town Councillors had any pecuniary or direct interests in the AIM transaction. Mdm Speaker, I have been involved in the running of Town Councils for 22 years since 1991.”
“Madam, General Practitioners (GPs) or family doctors are in the best position to identify high-risk Singaporeans and advise them to go for health screening, and ensure that they take up action to stay healthy. Thus, I would urge the Ministry to engage the services of the GPs at market rates for health screening. Another area of preventive care is the promotion of healthy lifestyle among Singaporeans. We need to constantly encourage Singaporeans to exercise regularly to stay healthy. More outreach, education and encouragement are needed to help Singaporeans to lead a healthy lifestyle. We have done a lot in terms of health promotion education. It is about time we start to encourage or incentivise Singaporeans to exercise regularly to keep fit. Sir, I wish to ask the Minister the following questions: (a) What are the key preventive care services provided by the Ministry? (b) What are the key strategies in providing preventive care to promote healthy lifestyle to prevent chronic illnesses and disease infection among Singaporeans? Workplace Health and Singapore Core”
“Madam, preventive medicine or preventive care involves taking measures to prevent disease or injuries rather than treating or curing their symptoms. It can save lives and reduce healthcare costs if effectively implemented. In order to work out effective preventive care strategies, we need to understand the causes of preventable deaths or injuries. Research has shown that leading causes of preventable death include hypertension, smoking, high cholesterol, obesity and physical inactivity. In Singapore, we have an effective preventive care vaccination programme for children, which includes polio, measles or mumps vaccinations. However, we do not have a nationwide programme for vaccination of the elderly against flu or pneumonia. Thus, I would urge the Ministry to consider subsidising a Page: 115 national vaccination programme for the elderly. Our health screening efforts are also ad hoc and, therefore, not effective in the early detection of diseases or illnesses. There is a general lack of focus on preventive care services to prevent diseases or injuries. As a result, today we are faced with problems of obesity, chronic illnesses, pneumonia and injuries, especially among the children and elderly. Madam, I would urge the Ministry to consider implementing a comprehensive programme for preventive care services for health screening. We need to set up the infrastructure to provide preventive care services to improve the health of Singaporeans. For instance, health screening can be better organised to ensure that high health-risk Singaporeans are encouraged to go for regular health screening.”
“Can the Ministry consider building a polyclinic in Bukit Panjang Town? Can the Ministry operate polyclinics on a 24-hour basis? Primary Healthcare”
“Madam, polyclinics provide affordable and accessible primary healthcare services to Singaporeans especially low-income heartlanders. Today, we have 18 polyclinics in Singapore providing about 20% of primary healthcare to Singaporeans. But many polyclinics are experiencing heavy patient load and long waiting time. This could be attributed to the high demand for their services and the short operating hours of polyclinics. Polyclinics are open five-and-a-half days from 8.00 am to 4.30 pm. Page: 65 Many Singaporeans who need outpatient medical services after these hours would have to consult private GPs or go to the Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments of hospitals. The charges of GPs and A&E departments are much higher, thus posing financial burden on Singaporeans, especially low-income households. In Singapore, medical services after office hours are not easily accessible or affordable. Many housing estates do not have 24-hour clinics. As a result, many Singaporeans have to activate our ambulance services to go A&E for emergencies. This has put additional strains on our limited ambulance services and caused long waiting time at our A&E departments at hospitals. Madam, this situation will aggravate if we were to have more babies and elderly in the future. With such population profile, our existing hospitals and medical facilities will not be able to cope with any National Emergencies such as disease outbreak or disasters. Thus, I would urge the Ministry to consider building more polyclinics, operate polyclinics 24 hours, seven days a week, and equip polyclinics to be National Emergency medical centres. Madam, I wish to ask the Minister the following questions. How many polyclinics will be built by 2030?”
“(c) Can the Ministry update the progress of the Energy Conservation Act in promoting energy conservation in the industrial, domestic and transportation sectors? Page: 26 Community Going Green”
“Madam, promoting energy conservation and efficiency among households requires consistent outreach, education and ownership. Due to the wide range of domestic electrical appliances available in the market, it is challenging to provide adequate information to guide consumers into making environmentally friendly appliances purchases. Furthermore, consumers are usually influenced by pricing and budget constraints when purchasing domestic electrical appliances. Thus, over the years, many residential units were installed with inefficient home electrical appliances which consume lots of energy. These appliances add on to the cost of living of Singaporeans and increase our carbon footprint in Singapore. Madam, air-conditioners, refrigerators and heaters consume the most amount of electricity in the households. Many of these appliances have relatively long life spans. Thus, it will take many years for all our households to go "green" if we were to rely solely on the Minimum Energy Performance Standards and mandatory energy labelling schemes of the Ministry. The replacement cycles of home appliances are long and replacement may not be the most energy-efficient due to price considerations. Madam, one way we can expedite the greening of our homes is to incentivise home owners to replace their inefficient electrical appliances as soon as possible. The Ministry can consider giving green grants or green tax rebates for households which install four ticks air-conditioners, refrigerators or heaters. Madam, I wish to ask the Minister the following questions: (a) What is the Ministry doing to promote energy conservation and efficiency in households? (b) Will the Ministry consider implementing a Green Mark Scheme for households?”
“Madam, the Active, Beautiful and Clean (ABC) Waters Programme by PUB has been successful in making our water bodies more attractive for recreational and community bonding activities. To date, there are more than 20 ABC projects around our island and many Singaporeans are beginning to use these facilities more frequently. But there are certain barriers which deter Singaporeans from visiting these ABC Waters projects: (i) limited and paid carparks; (ii) lack of toilet facilities; and (iii) lack of Page: 19 repeat visitor's attractions. Madam, we need to make our ABC Waters projects more user-friendly and attractive so as to attract more Singaporeans to appreciate its beauty. We must provide features that will draw repeat visits of users especially for residents living near ABC Waters projects. There are three groups of users ABC projects should attract, namely, elderly who exercise in the morning, families and children who wish to play at the amenities, or individuals or groups doing regular physical exercises. Thus, PUB should consider building multi-purpose hard courts for seniors, children playground for juniors, and park connector for brisk walkers, joggers and cyclists in the ABC Waters projects. To further encourage seniors to use the facilities, PUB should install self-cleansing toilets at their ABC Waters projects. Ample free parking should also be provided so that families and users can spend more quality time at the ABC Waters projects. Madam, I wish to ask the Minister the following questions: (a) how many ABC Waters projects will be implemented by 2030; (b) are there new attractions of ABC Waters projects that will encourage frequent visits and promote healthy lifestyle among Singaporeans; (c) will there be any ABC Waters projects in Bukit Panjang?”
“The BCA Overseas Test centres are not stringent in ensuring that only highly skilled foreign workers are granted permit to work in Singapore. I propose that we conduct the skills test at the Institutes of Technical Education in Singapore and raise the standard of skills of construction workers for both locals and foreigners. Madam, the low productivity of the construction industry is attributed to systemic and culture problems and not due to the lack of mechanisation. Industry stakeholders do not work together to achieve productivity, quality and adopt fair business practices. Madam, I wish to ask the Minister the following questions: (a) how does the Ministry measure the effectiveness of its productivity initiatives, and (b) what are the key strategies to improve the productivity and quality of the industry?”
“Madam, despite years of productivity push by BCA, the productivity in the construction industry remains low. The industry is still labour-intensive and reliant on foreign workers. The construction industry also suffers from an image problem, thus, making it difficult to attract Singaporeans to work in the industry. Page: 8 Based on feedback from the industry, the low construction productivity is attributed to a number of factors: (1) lowest tender award practice, (2) intense competition among consultants, and (3) lack of skilled labour. First, the award to the lowest bid culture is prevalent in Singapore, especially in the public sector. Thus, contractors will compete and secure jobs at cut-throat prices and, thereafter, cut corners, resulting in poor project management, shoddy workmanship and delay in many projects. Abortive works and building defects are common occurrences in the construction industry. Many construction disputes have also wasted much resource in mediation, arbitration and court proceedings. Second, the intense competition among architects, engineers and consultants has resulted in low consultancy fees. Thus, many consultants have to secure many jobs in order to sustain their businesses. This situation has resulted in poor consultancy services, such as poor design, lack of coordination and poor supervision of projects. Third, the transient foreign workforce retards productivity and increases accidents. The poor control of skilled labour has allowed many low-skilled foreign workers to work in Singapore. Many of these foreign workers are mono-skilled, and lack work experience. In fact, some industry practitioners told me that many of our projects were built by farmers.”
“Two, can HDB allow Balance of Sale flats to be sold daily? Pro-family Housing Policies”
“Madam, housing policies must meet the housing needs and aspirations of Singaporeans. With a fast ageing population and low birth rate, our housing policies must facilitate ageing in place of our elderly, and provide flexibility for family members to live near one another for mutual support. Madam, at my Meet-the-People sessions, I frequently receive requests from residents for new and rental flats. Many of these residents face tremendous stress in housing their families due to the high open market rental. Children of these families are also badly affected as they face problems to find schools while their families are moving around or squatting with others. Many upgraders and downgraders also face difficulty to buy flats from HDB. Many cannot afford the Cash Over Valuation (COV) and open market HDB resale flats. Page: 122 Thus, I would urge the Ministry to consider providing more flexibility for families to live near one another through the following suggestions: One, allow Balance of Sale flats to be sold daily so that those eligible for such flats can purchase the flats as soon as possible. The queue should be on a first-come-first-served basis. We should allow more time for the applicants to choose their flats based on the urgency of their needs. We should not penalise those who have yet to select their flats. Two, more studio apartments for elderly should be built and integrated into new or infill HDB developments. This will provide more choices for families to live near each other. Three, more rental flats should be built for low-income families for short-term or long-term stay. Madam, I wish to ask the Minister the following questions. First, how effective are the existing housing policies in facilitating family and community bonding?”
“It will also reduce healthcare expenditure in the long run. Thus, I would urge the Government to set up a Health Promotion Endowment Fund to support Health Promotion initiatives of the public, private and people sectors on a sustained basis. Three, supporting active ageing of elderly Singaporeans. Sir, many Singaporeans welcome the top-up of MediFund and ElderCare Fund to provide more assistance to the needy and elderly. The top-up of the Senior's Mobility and Enabling fund will also improve the quality of life of seniors. But many seniors are facing rising costs of living and depleting income or savings. This has caused much anxiety among our seniors, especially those with limited savings. As such, many seniors are trying to stretch their savings so that they can maintain a certain standard of quality of life. One way we can better support our seniors to live an active and healthy life is to consider providing free bus services, and free usage of sports facilities during non-peak hours. This will encourage our seniors to be more active and keep fit, thus improving their quality of life. Seniors can also build better social support groups among themselves through active participation of healthy lifestyle activities. This will further strengthen community bonding and enhance the quality of life of Singaporeans. Sir, every healthy elderly in a family will bring much joy and happiness to the family. Sir, I support the Budget. 7.09 pm”
“Despite much outreach and engagement efforts, we only managed to encourage 18,000 residents who are active in participating in our healthy lifestyle activities, such as brisk walking, health qigong, dance-fit, community aerobics, swimming and sports. It is indeed an uphill task to encourage Singaporeans to exercise regularly. Sir, there are three lifestyle habits which will increase the healthcare costs and shorten the lifespan of Singaporeans. These are: (a) cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking; (b) excessive eating; and (c) lack of exercise. Over the years, many health promotion pilot projects were launched to address these health hazards. But not many of these pilot projects are successful to be implemented nation-wide to produce good health outcomes. As a result, we are still facing problems of obesity, chronic illnesses and cancer deaths among Singaporeans. If HPB were to set a Body Mass Index (BMI) cut-off point of 23 as the passing standard, many Singaporeans will fail. Sir, I urge the Government to invest in the health of Singaporeans and allocate more resources to promote healthy lifestyle among Singaporeans both young and old. MOF must understand that it is difficult to set KPIs for Healthy Lifestyle Promotion programmes. Thus, MOF should consider setting up a Health Promotion Endowment Fund instead of working out yearly budget for health promotion initiatives. Page: 150 More sports and fitness facilities should be built in the community to encourage Singaporeans to exercise regularly. The Government must be prepared to subsidise or provide free usage of community sports facilities to maximise the usage of such facilities. Investment in health promotion and the health of Singaporeans will definitely yield more returns both economically and socially.”
“Sir, at present, many part-time, contract and casual workers are working without written employment contracts, employment benefits, and CPF contributions. Such unfair employment practices of low-wage Singaporeans are not acceptable and should be stopped. The Government must ensure that all Singaporean workers are properly employed with fair terms and conditions. Every Singaporean worker must be registered and make monthly CPF contributions irrespective of the amount of their salary. This will ensure that all low-wage workers can benefit from the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) Scheme and receive proper employment benefits entitlements. To further increase the salary of low-wage workers, I would urge the Government to provide higher quantum of WIS to all low-wage workers Page: 149 including part-time, contract and casual workers. Two, setting up a "Health Promotion Endowment" Fund. Sir, although the total expenditure for MOH in Financial Year 2013 is estimated to be $5.68 billion, only $176 million or about 3% is allocated to the Health Promotion Board (HPB) to build a nation of healthy Singaporeans. In a recent The Straits Times report on 28 February 2013, healthcare experts have recommended that our Government should spend more on preventive care and public health rather than disease care. Sir, as the saying goes, "Prevention is better than cure". We need to invest in preventive care services instead of focusing on healthcare. More needs to be done to keep Singaporeans fit so as to reduce their needs for medical treatment. This is especially so for an ageing population. Sir, in North West CDC, we have been advocating healthy lifestyle among our residents for the last 12 years.”
“The control of S Pass and employment pass holders will create more job opportunities for Singaporeans. But these measures will also increase business costs and threaten the sustainability of businesses, especially smaller firms. Page: 148 Sir, SMEs face enormous challenges to recruit and retain good staff to sustain and grow their businesses. As such, the staff turnover affects the productivity and quality of their businesses. Furthermore, SMEs lack resources to invest in technology to improve productivity and quality. Therefore, I am concerned that the three-year transition support package and Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) bonus may not be effective in encouraging many SMEs to achieve higher productivity and quality. Although technology can help to improve productivity, the key driver of productivity and quality of SMEs is the quality of manpower. Thus, I would urge the Finance Minister to consider providing more support for SMEs to retain good staff through a "Work Performance Support" scheme. For example, the Government can co-share 50% of the annual variable bonuses, that is the Annual Wage Supplement or Annual Variable Compensation, given to workers earning up to a gross monthly wage of $4,000. The co-sharing support can be capped to the yearly bonus payable to civil servants. In this way, SMEs will be in a better position to reward and retain their staff, thus enhancing productivity and quality. To further safeguard the interests of low-wage workers, I would urge the Government to provide free NTUC union membership to low-wage workers. This will provide better safeguards for low-wage workers and enable them to enjoy union membership benefits such as discounts at NTUC Fairprice or Foodfare outlets.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the key thrusts of this year's Budget to spearhead quality economic growth and build an inclusive society. Faced with rapid globalisation and an ageing population, Singapore will encounter many challenges to sustain its economic competitiveness and provide a good quality of life for Singaporeans. In an increasingly globalised and competitive world, Singapore has no choice but to enhance our competitiveness through productivity and quality improvements. Sir, increasing productivity will help our companies to secure more business thus creating more jobs for Singaporeans. Focusing on quality of our products and services will help companies to sustain their business operations, and thus continue to provide employment for Singaporeans. Therefore, it is crucial that we invest in both productivity and quality growth of our businesses, workforce and business operating environment. Sir, many Singaporeans welcome the $1.7 billion assistance and benefits given to them to cope with the rising costs of living. However, I would urge the Finance Minister to be more generous in giving out more U-save and S&CC rebates to the lower income HDB heartlanders living in 1- to 4-room flats. Sir, there are three areas of concerns which I would like to urge the Finance Minister to consider in the Budget: first, safeguarding interests of low wage workers; second, setting up a Health Promotion Endowment fund; and third, supporting active ageing of elderly Singaporeans. First, safeguarding interests of low-wage workers. Sir, the Budget provides innovative solutions to boost wage increase of Singaporeans through the Wage Credit Scheme and the tightening of foreign workers.”
“I would urge Singaporeans to be more open-hearted and embrace our new citizens as fellow countrymen to strengthen social cohesion. We should also gracefully accept PRs and foreign workers who are making contributions to our country. Together, the 6.9 million people in 2030 can live harmoniously and happily in our Global City Singapore. 3.12 pm”
“We should instead explore more innovative ways to intensify existing developments and retain our green spaces in the built environment. Page: 62 Madam, I fully support the construction of the 360-kilometre park connector and more parks to enhance the quality of our living environment. But it has taken too long to implement the park connectors due to different land ownership problems. I would urge the Government to consider developing 2.5-kilometre stretches of park connectors near housing estates. These can be built more easily and faster instead of coordinating among different Government agencies and landowners to implement a 150-kilometre round island route park connector. Madam, to many Singaporeans, a 2.5-kilometre park connector near home is better than a 150 kilometre square park connector round the island. Many Singaporeans, especially our elderly, only need to walk two rounds of 2.5 kilometre to have a daily five-kilometre brisk walk to keep fit. Thus, I hope that more 2.5-kilometre park connectors can be built to serve our residents over the next three years. Strengthening social cohesion. Madam, it will be very challenging to integrate and bond a population of 6.9 million comprising old citizens, new citizens, permanent residents and foreign workers. A diverse population will require more efforts of all stakeholders to build a strong Singapore community. Madam, many new citizens chose Singapore as their home for various reasons. These include political stability and good governance, good job prospects, safe and good living environment, and better prospects for their children. Therefore, we should continue to safeguard these attributes to build a strong Singapore community.”
“While I support the HDB's development policies to bring families together, I am concerned about having too many infill developments in existing housing estates. These developments are taking up "green lungs" and social interaction spaces in the community. Although infill developments can expedite the construction of housing, we should consider optimising land use through intensification, such as increasing the plot ratio of existing residential buildings. Madam, I declare my interest as a subsidiary proprietor of a strata title development. The amendment of the Land Titles (Strata) Act has incentivised many residential buildings to go for enbloc to intensify land use. The Government should consider reviewing the plot ratios of more existing buildings to further encourage redevelopment so as to provide more private housing to meet the aspirations of Singaporeans, especially our future PMETs. While land intensification will provide more housing units, I do hope that developers will not build "shoe box" units which will reduce the quality of living for families. Madam, Singapore must not follow the footsteps of Hong Kong, which is also known as a "Yam Cha" city. Apartments in Hong Kong are so small that Hongkongers can hardly have any family gatherings at home. Therefore, most of the time, they spend their time outside their homes to "Yam Cha" or drink tea. This should not be the type of high-quality living environment we are planning for. Madam, I am concerned about the proposal to reclaim land for future development. Reclamation is costly and causes much environment distortion and damage. Besides, we do face difficulty to purchase reclamation sand. Thus, I do not think it is prudent to use public funds to reclaim land.”
“Road widening and flyover projects should be expedited to reduce bottlenecks and facilitate traffic flow. Madam, for instance, the Members of Parliament of Bukit Panjang town have requested for road connection from Bukit Panjang town to KJE for three years to ease the traffic congestion in our town. To date, LTA is still studying the request. I hope that LTA can work faster to build this road connection as soon as possible for Bukit Panjang residents. As for HDB housing, we used to build about 30,000 to 35,000 flats a year in the past. The local construction industry does have the capacities and capabilities to build more flats faster to meet the housing needs of Singaporeans. One way to speed up the construction of HDB flats is to outsource the design and project management of public housing to the private sector. We can adopt more standardised and precast designs, such as The Pinnacle @ Duxton, to shorten the design and construction duration of BTO flats. In this way, we can provide more new flats at a faster rate for Singaporeans who are first timers, upgraders or downgraders. If 30,000 new flats were built per year over the next three years, the resale HDB and private property prices will stabilise, thus making both public and private housing more affordable to Page: 61 Singaporeans. Madam, there is a need also to change our housing policies to restrict foreign ownership of residential housing in Singapore, especially for foreigners or companies owning more than one residential properties in Singapore. A high quality living environment. Madam, the term "High Quality Living Environment" is not clearly defined in the White Paper. Thus, it is difficult for Singaporeans to understand or to visualise their future living environment with a 6.9 million population.”
“This is understandable as many Singaporeans are presently facing problems of congestion and overcrowding in our transport system, high COE and property prices, and high cost of living. If the Government does not take immediate measures to resolve these problems, it is difficult to convince Singaporeans that we need a 6.9 million population by 2030. Addressing short-term problems. Madam, instead of planning for 2030, which is basically an 18-year plan, I would propose to the Government to phase out the plan into three stages: first, a three-year plan to address the present problems faced by Singaporeans, that is from 2013 to 2015; second, a five-year plan to address the medium term challenges of an ageing population and Page: 60 shrinking workforce; and third, a further 10-year plan to have a 6.9 million population to sustain a dynamic economy. In addition, it is important to coordinate and synchronise all the Master plans put forward by the various Ministries so that they can prioritise their development works and programmes to address both short-term and long-term challenges. To overcome the present problems faced by commuters and drivers, I would urge the Government to expedite the implementation of our land transport system. For instance, instead of waiting for five years to buy the 800 new buses under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme, the Ministry should consider short-term quick-fix solutions, such as leasing buses from private bus operators to supplement public buses during peak hours or granting more direct express routes to private bus operators, to relieve commuter load. We should fast track many construction works at our roads and expressways so as to reduce traffic disruptions and congestions.”
“Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the Motion. This Population White Paper has laid down a strategic roadmap for Singapore and Singaporeans for the next 18 years, that is, from 2013 to 2030. Its desired outcomes should be to make Singapore a more attractive place for business investments so that more good jobs will be available for Singaporeans and, in the process, enhance the quality of life of Singaporeans. Madam, although the White Paper has good intentions to inspire Singaporeans to build a better Singapore together, many Singaporeans have expressed concerns and discomfort. There are three key areas of concerns raised by many Singaporeans, namely: first, 6.9 million population which will cause overcrowding problems; second, 2.5 million foreign workers and 600,000 Permanent Residents which will result in competition for jobs and social cohesion problems; and, third, 700,000 more homes to be built on our limited land which will result in a highly dense living environment. Madam, all these are real and practical problems faced by Singaporeans. These challenges will affect the quality of jobs, quality of living environment and quality of life. Madam, the White Paper provides broad framework on the key initiatives of the Government to cope with the challenges of our population growth. There are many figures and projections on the population trends, and programmes by various Ministries to support the growth. But the key discussion among Singaporeans is the 6.9 million population by 2030. Many Singaporeans do not understand the need to have this 6.9 million population size, and the consequences of a shrinking workforce and ageing population.”
“This project will reduce the electricity consumption by 40% to 50% and contribute towards greening our HDB flats. In addition, the 14 PAP Town Councils have taken the initiative to apply for Eco-office certification by the Singapore Environment Council. To date, 10 Town Councils' offices are Eco-office certified. Sir, we must encourage building owners to take ownership and continue to green their buildings. They must also make concerted and continuous efforts to educate their users to adopt green habits. I hope the Minister will amend the Bill to mandate three-yearly Green Mark certification of the entire building instead of just certifying the cooling system. This will ensure that green buildings will always stay green. Sir, I support the Bill. 5.02 pm”
“Sir, why only conduct three-yearly audit on the cooling system? Although the cooling system of buildings consume the most electricity, other electrical and mechanical components of the buildings, such as lightings, mechanical pumps, lifts and electrical appliances, also account for a significant proportion of electricity consumption. Besides the mechanical and electrical components of the buildings, there are many other green features which can be incorporated into existing buildings to make them more energy efficient and green. These include energy efficient lightings, control blinds or sun shading to reduce heat transfer through building facades, air tightness of rooms to reduce air-conditioning leakages and insulation of walls to reduce heat transfer, thus reducing air-conditioning loads of buildings. All these features will enhance the energy efficiency performance of buildings. Sir, recently HDB implemented the pilot Grid-tied Solar PV system in a few housing estates. Based on actual electricity bill readings, the Town Councils experienced about 30% in saving in their bills. The use of renewable solar energy will reduce the use of power generated electricity, thus indirectly reducing carbon footprints in Singapore. Sir, many retail malls installed many types of lightings which are not environmentally-friendly. Thus, I would urge the Minister to adopt a more holistic approach to green our buildings, instead of the proposed piece-meal, that is, cooling system only method. At this juncture, I wish to share that the 14 PAP Town Councils have already replaced 350,000 common area light tubes to LED lightings, and are in the second phase of replacing the remaining 500,000 light tubes.”
“In this way, building owners can introduce more green features to their buildings, including adopting green lifestyle among its users. Three, lack of sinking fund. Sir, some owners of existing buildings may not have sufficient sinking fund to undergo green building retrofitting or upgrading works. This is another barrier which owners must overcome. Furthermore, many banks may not understand the value-add or yields of green buildings, and offer limited retrofitting loan, thus restricting the scope of works for greening. Thus, it may be useful if the Government can adopt a risk sharing scheme to secure higher retrofitting loans for green buildings. Sir, I support that the Bill will empower the Minister for National Development to prescribe the types of buildings to be subject to the minimum Green Mark standards as and when building owners install or replace their buildings' cooling systems. As mentioned by the Minister, BCA will first focus on hotels, retail and office buildings with a minimum Gross Floor Area of 15,000 square metres. Sir, I wish to ask the Minister two questions. First, why start off with three building types with a minimum GFA of 15,000 square metres only? I understand that hospitals, universities and some mixed developments also consume large amount of energy. In fact, the 1.1 million residential dwelling units in Singapore also consume a significant amount of electricity and thus warrant attention too. Page: 629 Thus, I would propose to the Minister to include all building types with floor area above 2000 square metres to comply with the minimum Green Mark standards when they carry out any major retrofitting works, instead of any "major energy-use change" works. This will align the BCA Green Mark Scheme for both new and existing buildings.”
“Page: 628 Sir, as the initial capital outlay for environmentally-friendly buildings is high; there is a greater need for Government to provide more support in terms of financial incentives, services, or legislations. For example, many states in the US have tax benefits for green buildings. In Japan, the Osaka government provides advice to developers on energy efficient measures from pre-design to construction stage. In Tokyo, the government provides subsidies to homeowners to purchase solar panels. Thus, I would urge the Government to revise the incentive schemes for Green Mark Schemes. Two, difficulty to get Subsidiary Proprietors' consent. Sir, in strata titled buildings; it is often difficult to get consent from subsidiary proprietors to invest in green features during upgrading or retrofitting works. Many subsidiary proprietors cannot see the value of green buildings, and thus are unwilling to pay for environmentally-friendly features. Therefore, if we were to wait for "major energy-use change" as proposed by clause 8 of the Bill, it may take many years to convert these existing buildings into green buildings. As the lifespan of cooling systems of buildings varies due to different make, maintenance and usage, the pace of greening existing buildings will be slow. Thus, introducing a mandatory requirement for cooling system may not expedite the growth of green buildings in Singapore. I would urge the Ministry to consider providing a "green grant" based on per metre square for existing owners to attain the BCA Gold or higher awards, instead of the existing 50% cash incentive for installing energy efficient cooling equipment and professional services. In addition, tax incentives can be granted to owners who carry out retrofitting works to green their buildings.”
“Similarly, the BCA Green Mark Scheme for existing buildings did not see a surge of building owners applying for the incentives or Green Mark certification. Sir, as highlighted by Senior Minister of State, Mr Lee Yi Shyan, and I quote, "We still have some way to go before we achieve our target to green 80% of our buildings by 2030 under our Sustainable Singapore Blueprint." Sir, the proposed Bill is a step in the right direction in greening our built environment. But I am concerned that the take-up rate by building owners will be slow thus increasing our energy security risks and "heat island" effects. Sir, we need to understand why developers and building owners are not taking up ownership to implement sustainable and environmentally-friendly features into our buildings? I wish to highlight three barriers faced by developers and building owners in going green and propose some suggestions for the Minister to consider. First, lack of Government incentives. The existing BCA Green Mark Gross Floor Area (GFA) incentive of 1% and 2% for GoldPlus and Platinum Awards are inadequate to increase take-up rate to build more green buildings. I would propose to the Ministry to revise the GFA incentive scheme. In addition, the authorities should also consider providing more flexibility for change of use to further incentivise existing building owners to upgrade or develop their environmentally inefficient buildings. Sir, I would like to propose that the Government revise the plot ratio of older buildings so that owners can be encouraged to redevelop their buildings to meet Green Mark standards.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Bill. Sir, I am a Chartered Builder. I wish to declare my interest as a Board Member of the Singapore Environment Council and also my family is involved in the construction and development business. Page: 627 Sir, in 20 years' time, Singapore's built environment will be dense comprising skyscrapers in the business district, 20 to 40 storeys high-rise residential buildings in HDB towns and private estates, big and complex shopping centres, and extensive road networks. Buildings will be closer to one another and more buildings will be installed with high technology communication, mechanical and electrical, and air-conditioning and heating systems. Older simple buildings will be upgraded or rebuilt into high-rise complex buildings for different purposes. Together with new buildings, the intensity of our built environment will increase further thus posing risks of the "heat island" effects in Singapore. Sir, skyscrapers and tall buildings will affect cross wind ventilation of our built environment. Exhaust fumes and haze will be trapped in our built environment. Extensive road networks will have more vehicle emissions into our built environment. More complex buildings with higher capacity or more air-conditioning, thus emitting exhaust hot air into our built environment. Sir, buildings consume about 30% of Singapore's total electricity consumption, and contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Although BCA has implemented the BCA Green Mark Scheme in 2005, the take-up rate has been slow. As at today, very few new buildings have attained the highest energy efficient and environmentally-friendly award, that is, the Platinum Award.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, each year, over 50,000 needy Singaporeans apply for ComCare Assistance Scheme through the five Community Development Councils (CDCs). About 90% of these applications were means-tested within four weeks. This is a drastic improvement as compared to the three months' processing time of social assistance cases in the past. Sir, the CDCs and MCYS have been working closely to redesign the work processes of the Social Assistance Services by CDCs so that timely assistance can be given to the needy. But it is important for the needy and general public to understand the workings of our social safety net. Sir, ComCare is not about giving out financial assistance to the needy quickly. ComCare is about identifying appropriate assistance schemes which will help the needy achieve self-reliance quickly. That is why the CDC Social Assistance officers need to conduct due diligence to understand the barriers faced by needy families and encourage them to take responsibility to work towards self-reliance. Sir, based on feedback from our officers, there are many barriers hindering the progress of needy families to be self-reliant. These include barriers to employment such as transport cost, childcare issues, low skills, illness or past criminal records. Sir, I wish to ask the Minister the following questions: (i) Can the Ministry consider enhancing the ComCare scheme to help the chronically ill and unemployable? (ii) Can more resources be given to the ComCare Local Network to assist chronic cases? (iii) Can ComCare and Workfare Schemes be better aligned to help the unemployed or vulnerably employed to upgrade their skills? Policy matter”
“(ii) Can the People's Association provide more resources to grassroots organisations to organise more bonding activities? (iii) How do we measure the social capital and national identity of Singaporeans?”
“Madam, building social capital is about bonding our people. There are three levels of bonding, namely, family bonding, community bonding and nation bonding. In order to strengthen bonds among Singaporeans, we must provide more opportunities or platforms for interaction and bonding. Madam, the Community Development Council (CDC) was introduced in 1997. To date, many Singaporeans are still not sure of the role of the CDC. I wish to take this opportunity to highlight that the key role of the CDC is to bond our people. Over the years, the CDCs have been providing many platforms such as brisk walking, qigong, dancing and many community activities to bring residents to spend time together. But how can we further strengthen the bonds of Singaporeans? Madam, I would like to make the following suggestions: (i) encourage more interest groups to be formed in the community and encourage them to be active in organising bonding activities on a regular basis; (ii) recruit more volunteers and train more people to be community leaders. Community leaders play a key role in ensuring the sustainability and effectiveness of community activities; (iii) provide more resources and staff to support community-based organisations, like RCs, NCs, CCs and CCCs; and (iv) encourage more partnership among organisations in community projects. Madam, I feel that strong social capital must have three ingredients in place, namely, ownership, partnership and friendship. We must encourage both community organisations and Singaporeans to take more initiatives to facilitate the bonding of Singaporeans. Madam, I wish to ask the Minister the following questions: (i) What are the measures in place to further build social capital among Singaporeans?”
“Children must be taught and be inspired from young to do their part to protect the environment. We need to instil green values in our children so that they will live eco-friendly lifestyles. Sir, I wish to ask the Minister the following questions: (i) What measures or programmes are in place to encourage Singaporeans to adopt eco-friendly lifestyles? (ii) Can the Ministry consider providing incentives to encourage households to purchase energy- and water-efficient home appliances? (iii) Can the Ministry consider accrediting developers, consultants, contractors and suppliers which promote eco-homes? Energy efficiency”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, the Government has mandated the energy-efficient labelling of household appliances like air-conditioning and refrigerators, and the labelling of water-efficient appliances like taps, dual-flush low capacity flushing cisterns and urinals. The main purpose of the labelling is to provide information for consumers to make informed decisions when purchasing home appliances. Sir, despite the mandatory labelling, not many consumers are purchasing energy- and water-efficient appliances for their homes. The take-up rate for energy- and water-efficient home appliances is low and slow. This means that many homes in Singapore are not using electricity and water efficiently, thus wasting money, energy and water resources. Sir, consumer education to encourage households to purchase eco-friendly home appliances is an ongoing concern. But not many people in Singapore are living in eco-homes and adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle. Changing living habits and value system of people is always an uphill task. To be effective, I would propose a two-pronged approach to make households eco-friendly. First, we must share more eco-friendly home appliances information, and eco-friendly lifestyle tips with homemakers and household decision makers. I would propose that the Ministry consider providing an eco-friendly education kit for every household, and monitor the take-up rate of eco-friendly home appliances and eco-friendly lifestyle closely. To further incentivise consumers to purchase four ticks energy-efficient and water-efficient home appliances, the Ministry should consider providing cash rebates or tax incentives. Second, we must adopt an experiential learning approach to teach children to adopt eco-friendly lifestyle.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, Singapore and China have excellent bilateral relations for 20 years. During this period, both countries have regular high-level visits of our political leaders. The people-to-people exchanges have also increased drastically, thus cementing strong ties between the two countries. As China continues its strong economic growth, it will provide more opportunities and exert more influence on the surrounding region. Small countries like Singapore will need to establish our niche to stay relevant in a more competitive world. Thus, it is crucial for Singapore to continue to strengthen the strong foundation laid and explore more creative ways to engage China in win-win situations. Sir, I recently went on an official trip to China. From the interactions with various Chinese leaders, I can sense that China is very keen to leverage on Singapore's brand name to expedite their economic development. At the same time, I also observed that China has developed many competitive capabilities which may pose serious challenges to non-productive countries. Therefore, it is necessary for Singapore to identify new areas of cooperation with, and add value to the economic expansion of China. Sir, I wish to ask the Minister the following questions: (i) What is the state of relations between China and Singapore? (ii) Will the economic and military growth of China affect diplomatic relations in future? and (iii) When are the two pandas coming to Singapore?”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi and the recent National Elections in November 2010 set key milestones in the political development of Myanmar. As a member of ASEAN, Singapore hopes that democracy in Myanmar will result in economic development and improvement of quality of life for the Myanmar people. Sir, Singapore has successfully implemented the Singapore Cooperation Programme to provide technical assistance and human resource development to developing countries. To date, the training programmes have benefited many people in developing countries. Human resource development provides a key impetus in building capabilities of a country to progress. Thus, I hope that the Ministry will consider expanding the Singapore Cooperation Programme in Myanmar to further enhance the bilateral relations of Myanmar and Singapore. Sir, I wish to ask the Minister the following questions: (i) What is the state of relation between Singapore and Myanmar? and (ii) Can Singapore consider providing more technical assistance to Myanmar? 12.15 pm”
“Two, design a Total Defence curriculum to educate young and old Singaporeans about Total Defence. Three, develop a Total Defence system and conduct regular exercises to increase readiness of our people. Four, sound the Total Defence sirens on February 15th every year and observe five minutes of silence to commemorate the deaths of those who lost their lives during the Japanese occupation in 1942. This will constantly remind Singaporeans of the significance of Total Defence. Sir, I wish to ask the Minister the following questions: First, what is the Total Defence operational readiness among Singaporeans? Two, what programmes are in place to instil a strong sense of Total Defence among Singaporeans? And three, how does MINDEF monitor and measure the effectiveness of its Total Defence outreach efforts? National education campaign”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, February 15th is Total Defence Day for Singapore every year but how many Singaporeans pay attention to this day? Are Singaporeans aware of the significance of Total Defence Day? What are they doing on Total Defence Day? Sir, when I asked a number of Singaporeans as to whether they know what Total Defence is, many do not have an idea. Many also do not know what to do for Total Defence. This situation is indeed worrying and calls for a re-look into our Total Defence outreach and education efforts. Sir, the concept of Total Defence was introduced in 1984 and comprises five key components, namely psychological, social, economic, civil and military defence. Despite years of campaign and outreach by MINDEF, the level of awareness, readiness and fighting spirit amongst Singaporeans to defend our country is still very lacking. Sir, while I appreciate the outreach efforts of MINDEF using different activities – campaigns, songs, competitions, movies, exhibitions and animation contests – to engage Singaporeans, Total Defence is not about song and dance. Total Defence is about defending our country against aggressive forces or crises. Sir, the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq in 1990 provides a grim reminder of a small country's vulnerability. Therefore, we need to take total defence seriously and adopt a more consistent approach to instil a sense of pride and loyalty among Singaporeans. We must provide the same message to all Singaporeans to protect our land and be prepared to die for Singapore. Sir, I wish to suggest the following for the Minister to consider. First, set up a Total Defence Council comprising all stakeholders of our country, the 3P (Public-Private-People) sectors to spearhead the defence efforts.”