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?”
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“I fully support the new subsection 1A which requires a collective sale committee to be constituted at a general meeting. In addition, the new Second, Third and Fourth Schedules of the Bill will provide clearer rules for the collective sale committee to comply. The three Schedules have addressed contentious issues such as the appointment of advocate and solicitor, property consultant or marketing agent, apportionment of sale proceeds, terms and conditions of the collective sale agreement, information on sale process to owners. These new requirements, which will be tabled as resolutions during general meetings, will make the collective sale process more transparent. Sir, I would like to propose to the Ministry to consider designing a set of standard collective sale forms to facilitate these compliances. Having standard forms will remove any ambiguities and omissions which may render the sale process invalid, thus wasting resources and causing a lot of lawsuits. Sir, the Bill, however, does not address a number of barriers to collective sale such as uncontactable owners, fixing of date of vacant possession, and non-monetary factors. We know that in the HDB's upgrading programme, we often cannot locate or contact about 2% to 5% of flat owners. As such, they are always regarded as "objection" votes. As for the strata title developments, I am not too sure whether non-contactable owners should be regarded as "minority owners" with valid objections. If that is the case, the Strata Titles Board must be empowered to decide for these non-contactable owners. Sir, the LTSA must address this problem of non-contactable owners, and consider its status in a collective sale. I hope the Minister can clarify on how we should treat non-contactable owners in an en bloc sale.”
“Thus, I wish to seek the Minister's clarifications as to whether the Minister can elaborate on how this new requirement can facilitate en bloc sale, especially in mixed developments. Empowerment of Strata Titles Board Sir, the new subsections 5A, 5B, 7A and 7B empower the Strata Titles Board to increase the sale proceeds for minority owners who filed valid objections subject to an aggregate sum limit. It is not clear how much is this limit and whether this limit should be decided at the AGM when the collective sale committee is formed. To facilitate en bloc, I propose that a lump sum (equivalent to what we call a contingency sum) should be set aside at the beginning, so that the collective sale committee can refer owners who object to the sale to the Strata Titles Board for a settlement. In this way, the interests of all owners will be better protected, thus minimising disputes among the owners. Sir, with the increase in en bloc sales, there is also a need to consider increasing the panel of Strata Titles Board members. I understand that the present workload of the Strata Titles Board members is heavy and, thus, this may delay the completion of many en bloc sales. I propose that the Ministry consider appointing more Strata Titles Board members from the various professions so as to expedite the processing of en bloc sales and settlement of disputes. Collective sale process Sir, many subsidiary proprietors and proprietors are not familiar with the Land Titles (Strata) Act, and the procedures for en bloc sale. As such, there are often disputes arising from the collective sale process. We should provide a simple and clear legislative framework to ensure that en bloc sale can be transacted in a fair and equitable manner.”
“Sir, I hope the proposed Bill will address some of these collective sale barriers, and facilitate the successful completion of more en bloc sales so that more land parcels can be better utilised to cater for an increasing population in Singapore. Sir, I wish to highlight four areas of the Bill which I hope the Minister could clarify: (1) Additional requirements based on floor area; (2) Empowerment of the Strata Titles Board to increase sale proceeds for minority owners with valid objections; (3) A more transparent and fair collective sale process; and (4) Cooling-off period. Additional requirements based on floor area Sir, I support the new additional requirements as stated in clauses 7 and 10 to obtain the consent of subsidiary proprietors or proprietors of lots with not less than either 90% or 80% of the total floor area of all the lots for developments which are less than 10 years or more than 10 years respectively. Although this requirement will address concerns of minority shareholders, it may not facilitate en bloc sale as it will be more challenging to get consensus of owners of that required floor area. In mixed developments, the owners of residential and commercial units usually have different interests. Owners of residential units usually regard their units as homes and, thus, normally do not wish to go for en bloc. Commercial unit owners are usually driven by profits and operating costs. Thus, they tend to be less emotionally attached to the development and pro- en bloc if there is good financial return. This contradiction of interests among different types of owners will be further aggravated with the new requirements.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, first of all, I wish to declare my interest as a subsidiary proprietor of a strata title development which is undergoing en bloc sale. Sir, I rise in support of the Bill. Sir, en bloc or collective sale is a complex property transaction, and can be time-consuming and costly. In many cases, the process of getting consensus from subsidiary proprietors can be tedious and emotional. The recent reports in the media have shown that collective sales have resulted in unprofessional practices and non-compliances with the Land Titles (Strata) Act (LTSA) by various parties involved in the sale. This has caused much unhappiness among some subsidiary proprietors who are calling for more protection of their rights, and a more transparent and fair process in conducting en bloc sale. Sir, since the amendment of the Land Titles (Strata) Act in 1999, a few hundred collective sales have been successfully transacted. This has provided many opportunities for these sold land parcels to attain higher development potential, thus addressing the challenge of land scarcity in Singapore. Despite the increase in collective sales, many strata title developments are still faced with difficulty in convincing their respective subsidiary proprietors to go for collective sale. Common barriers to collective sale include unrealistic reserve price, difficulty in contacting the subsidiary proprietors, different interests of owners, unfair apportionment of sale proceeds, non-compliance with the LTSA procedures, financial loss of some subsidiary proprietors, and non-monetary reasons such as emotional attachment, convenience or closeness to loved ones.”
“We should also provide more flexibility for individuals who are keen to join the security industry. Course subsidy could be given directly to the individuals attending security courses. The Ministry should also consider granting personal security licences to individuals directly as in the case of driving licence. In this way, we will be able to encourage more personal accountability of individuals wanting to join the security industry and develop a more stable and committed workforce in the security industry. Sir, the raising of professional standards as stipulated by the Bill will further complement the Government's efforts in making Singapore a safe and secure place. But we need both the Ministry and industry stakeholders to show commitment to achieve the desired outcomes of the Bill. Sir, I support the Bill. 3.36 pm”
“First, is there a professional framework by the Ministry to raise professional standards of the private security industry such as a Singapore Standards for security services or Code of Practice (CP) for security services? Second, what are the key desired outcomes of professional standards? And third, is there any enforcement team in the Ministry to ensure compliance of the Act? Cost of business Sir, the new requirements of the Bill will pose a cost burden to businesses, especially small and medium enterprises. Clauses 8, 9, 16 and 17 of the Bill require the licensed private investigation agency or licensed security agency to inform the licensing officer within 14 days after the employment or termination of their employees. This is indeed a very stringent administrative requirement to comply with, especially for smaller security firms. I propose that the Ministry should consider liaising with the CPF Board which now requires all employers to submit the employer's statement of account (CPF Form 92) to indicate the status of their employees. The information provided by the CPF's Form 92 should be adequate for the licensing officers to conduct the necessary checks on the suitability of the candidates for employment in this security industry. Sir, the cost of training for security officers is high (about $550 for training and $150 for assessment tests) and does increase the business cost of security firms. WDA only subsidises 80% to 90% of the course fee. The high turnover of security officers also serves as a disincentive for many firms to send their officers for training. To ensure that there is an adequate supply of trained security officers, we should consider lowering the cost of training for security officers, especially the basic security course.”
“This will result in the poaching of qualified security guards amongst security service providers, thus causing more disruption to the security services of many buildings. The impact will be more severe in buildings managed by small or medium-sized security firms. Thirdly, the new requirements of the Bill will add on much administrative burden on security and private investigation firms. Many of these are small business outfits or one-man-operations. Sir, I wish to ask the Minister the following questions: First, what is the manpower forecast for security officers in the next three years? Second, do we have adequate WDA-accredited training service providers for security officer courses? Third, what are the measures in place to help small and medium security firms cope with the new compliances of the Bill? Professional framework for security officers and private investigators Sir, licensing alone will not enhance the professionalism of security officers and private investigators. We need to develop a comprehensive framework to set professional standards and key desired outcomes of our security services. This would entail quality and professional training by accredited training establishments, and close supervision by the Ministry to ensure professional standards. Due to the complexity of the private security industry and the importance of security, we cannot assume compliance of the Act automatically. Although the increased penalty will act as a deterrent for non-compliances, it is necessary for the Ministry to adopt a more proactive approach in conducting spot checks to ensure professional standards and achieve the desired outcomes of the Bill. Sir, with regard to enhancing professional standards, I wish to seek the Minister's clarifications on the following.”
“We can instead issue personal licences for security officers who are trained in different levels of skills and knowledge, such as Class-1 Security Licence for low-security installations, Class-2 for medium security installations and Class-3 for high security installations. A three-tier personal security licence scheme will facilitate the employment of security officers with the appropriate skills and knowledge relevant to the security needs of the installations. It will also provide a career path for security officers who are keen to upgrade themselves to manage complex installations. Sir, the Government is encouraging Singaporeans to work longer. The private security industry provides many job opportunities for older workers, and certain segments of our population would prefer such jobs. I fully agree that we must raise professional standards for the private security industry, but we must also strike a balance between providing job opportunities for older Singaporeans and ensuring safety and security. Impact on private security industry Sir, the implementation of the Private Security Industry Bill will also affect the security industry in a number of ways. First of all, the stringent licensing requirements for security officers will result in a severe shortage of qualified security officers. At present, the security industry is unable to attract many good workers. Many security officers must work on a 12-hour rotating shift. The salary of security officers is not very attractive. It is between $1,000-$1,200. As such, not many job-seekers are keen to pursue a career in the industry. Secondly, the buoyant property development market will further increase the demand for security officers of many new buildings, such as shopping centres, offices and integrated resorts.”
“Today, private security firms are faced with three key challenges: (1) Intense competition due to low entry barrier into the industry; (2) Shortage of qualified and well-trained security officers; and (3) Relatively high turnover of staff and low staff morale. Sir, the present situation in the industry is indeed unhealthy and will not enhance our safety and security. I wish to highlight four areas of the Bill which I hope the Minister will provide clarifications. Impact on existing security officers Sir, the Bill will affect the jobs and livelihoods of many security officers/guards, especially inhouse security guards. Many of these security guards are old and may not meet the new licensing requirements or pass the screening or training. The Bill will cause much displacement of jobs and retrenchment. How can we protect or help those affected by the new licensing requirements? Many of these old security guards will encounter difficulty in finding another job. I have received industry feedback that about 20%-30% of these inhouse security guards may not pass the security screening or Security Workforce Skills Qualifications (Security WSQ) training course. Thus, a few thousand security guards may lose their jobs. Some of these guards are relatives or trusted employees of building owners and have been working for many years as security guards. Sir, may I ask the Minister what are the plans of the Ministry to help these affected security guards? Sir, as the number of existing inhouse security guards who will be affected by the Bill is about 5,000, I would propose to the Ministry to consider phasing the compliance of licensing of security officers in accordance with the different levels of security needs of clients or installations.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Bill. Sir, the 11th September terrorist attack in the United States has changed the security landscape and security industry in many countries. The governments of many countries have implemented various security measures and systems to further enhance the safety and security of their installations. In Singapore, our Home Team and various Government agencies have also developed security measures to safeguard strategic installations, such as our airports, MRT system, Government buildings and certain public places. But we cannot solely depend on our Government agencies to provide security. There is a need to engage the private security industry to further enhance our safety and security. As such, the Bill is indeed timely in providing a comprehensive framework to regulate and enhance the professionalism of our private security industry. Sir, at present, the private security industry lacks supervision and enforcement to ensure that they provide professional security services to their clients. Some security agencies do not provide much training to their security officers, while some employ ad hoc or temporary security guards to fulfill their contractual obligations. This has resulted in unethical business practices and unprofessional practices in the industry. The private security industry also suffers from an image problem, as the majority of people who are keen to join the industry are senior citizens. Many regard these jobs as their retirement jobs, and do not have much motivation to upgrade their skills and knowledge. Furthermore, due to the intense business competition, some security agencies are tendering at prices which they cannot provide quality and professional services.”
“Sir, may I ask MOS whether NParks will consider using a tie-back system, as what they have done in Japan, where they tie back mature trees so that they can fall safely in a certain direction during typhoon. Along footpaths, we can tie back to fall backwards and along the roads, to tie back so that they will fall outside the roads. This is seen in Japan.”
“A person with ill intention can also send genuine passports of other Singaporeans to other persons overseas for unlawful gains. I propose we amend the Bill by deleting the word "false" in clause 38. This will make it an offence for anyone who brings, takes or sends Singapore passports to someone else across international borders. This will complement clause 42 which sets out the offence for selling Singapore passports or travel documents. Thus, the new offence will be able to cover all trafficking of Singapore passports or travel documents irrespective of whether they are genuine or false documents. Sir, the tougher penalties and increased powers of the Controller will provide more impetus to combat identity fraud, terrorism and other crimes relating to Singapore passports or travel documents. Sir, I support the Bill. 5.59 pm”
“The right to travel for Singaporeans must be respected and safeguarded. Instead, we can impose a penalty system for the replacement of passport to deter careless behaviour, and tag persons who have replaced their passports for more than two times in our immigration computer system so that our immigration checkpoints will be alerted when such persons travel in and out of the country. This will serve as a better deterrent to the abuse of Singapore passports. In 2005, Australia amended its Passports Act to increase the replacement cost for passports ($50 for the first passport lost or stolen; $153 for the second; and $306 for the third or more). We may consider using this additional fee to encourage Singaporeans to protect their passports at all times, both at home and overseas. Three, offences relating to Singapore passports and travel documents. Sir, I support Part V of the Bill to increase the fine and imprisonment term for offences relating to Singapore passports and travel documents. The tougher penalties will serve as a strong deterrent to potential offenders who have intention to misuse the Singapore passports for unlawful gains. Clause 38 states a new offence, which is the "bringing, taking or sending across international borders a false Singapore passport or a false Singapore travel document to someone else". Sir, I have two queries on this new offence. First, how can this clause be effectively enforced especially for senders of false Singapore passports? Very often, the mastermind behind such unlawful acts will engage runners or con innocent people into sending the false passports. As such, this clause may not be effective in preventing the abuse of Singapore passports. Second, why the offence is only for false Singapore passports?”
“Sir, currency notes are also vulnerable to forgery or counterfeiting but, yet, the average lifespan for currency notes is about 10 years. I do not think the pace of new security technology advancements in passports warrants a shorter lifespan. Very often, new technologies will take many years to be tested before it can be introduced and integrated into our existing passport control system. Furthermore, it is always possible to introduce new security technologies in passport on an incremental basis without the need for a total revamp. Such practices are common in the printing of currency notes. As such, I would propose that we continue to issue passports with a 10-year validity period. Two, issue of passport. Sir, I support Part III of the Bill which sets out various situations or circumstances which the Controller may refuse to issue or cancel a Singapore passport or travel document. This empowerment is necessary especially if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the holder of the passport will engage in harmful activities, such as drug trafficking or criminal offences. But I do not agree with clause 25 which allows the Controller to refuse the issue of Singapore passport to a person where two or more passports issued to the person have been lost or stolen. Sir, I support personal accountability whereby Singaporeans must exercise caution to safeguard their passports. However, when in foreign countries, the chances of having passports stolen or lost can be high. Sometimes, passports were lost or stolen under circumstances beyond the control of passport holders. Sir, unless there is evidence to believe that such persons will be engaged in harmful activities if issued with another passport, we should not refuse the issue of Singapore passports to Singaporeans.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Bill. As Singaporeans become more affluent and the cost of travelling reduces, many Singaporeans will need a passport to travel the world. But the rising security threats and abuses of passports have made it necessary for Singapore to set up a comprehensive framework to protect the interests of Singapore and Singaporeans. Sir, I fully support the introduction of technologies and measures to combat identity fraud and possible misuse of Singapore passports and other Singapore travel documents. Sir, as we introduce more stringent measures to curb abuses, we must also not over restrict the rights of Singaporeans to travel overseas. With globalisation, more Singaporeans will need to travel overseas for business and work. In addition, many Singaporeans have relatives and friends living in many countries and may need to travel for social purposes. Thus, we need to have proper control in the issue of Singapore passports and travel documents and, at the same time, set up an integrated system among different Government agencies to prevent forgeries and abuses. Sir, I wish to seek the following clarifications from the Minister: One, lifespan of passport. Sir, I understand the continuing need to introduce new technologies to deter criminal elements in forging our passports. But a six-year lifespan for Singapore passports is rather short and does incur extra costs to both the Government and Singaporeans. Many Singaporeans do not travel frequently and thus their passports are used only a few times per year. Having to replace a passport every six years will entail wastage and pose unnecessary cost burden on Singaporeans.”
“Just to clarify. I think when the case is registered on the SC net, meaning that when the case information is given, the CDC staff will key it in, and that is when the clock starts. And it is closed either when we reject it or when it is processed and help is given. So we close the case when it is endorsed. Actually, that is the time we measure. So, today, more than 90% of cases actually have been processed within six weeks, with the bulk of them within four weeks.”
“Sir, just one clarification. The Minister reported that there will be 450,000 jobs created over the next five years and that about 50% to 60% are mainly for the PMETs. I presume that about 40% of the jobs will be blue-collar jobs mainly for the process and construction industries, which are mainly for the foreigners. How many jobs are actually available for older Singaporeans and, of these jobs, how many are low-paying jobs below $1,000?”
“Sir, I do not think the 10% fixed and 90% variable mosquito fund is fair to the Town Councils, taking into consideration that 17% of the breeding grounds are due to littering, which is the responsibility of NEA. I still hope that the Ministry can consider providing more fixed funds to support the Town Councils in its dengue prevention efforts. Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, let us put an end to this biting question. This is a start. I think we understand the role of Town Councils in dengue prevention and we appreciate the role of Town Councils. We will continue to work together with the Town Councils. I appreciate the fact that funding is an important part of this exercise. And this is the first scheme that we are testing out. We will do it for the next two years. We will work together with the Town Councils to appreciate better their demands, and we can review as we go along. But let us have this scheme tested out first. There is a fixed component, because we understand that there is some fixed cost, and if the Town Councils' performance is good, they will be able to get the remaining 90%. So let us test it out first and then improve as we go along.”
“Sir, I want to re-emphasise that dengue prevention requires the efforts of all stakeholders. So I hope the Ministry will also play a role in dengue prevention. I also hope that the Ministry can give us more details on the size of the mosquito fund which it is going to give us and what are the details of this mosquito incentive fund that it is going to give to the Town Councils. We need to know the quantum. Is it $5 million, $10 million or $15 million? We need to have an answer so that, at least, we know how to proceed with our pest control operations.”
“Sir, I feel that the NEA is unfair to the Town Councils, ie, to its partners. First, dengue outbreak is a public health issue which NEA must take responsibility to address. Second, many mosquito breeding grounds are due to littering of receptacles by the general public. Sir, littering comes under the purview of the NEA. If NEA has been effective in educating the public and its enforcement action, there will be no litter for mosquitoes to breed. Maybe NEA should organise a "Big Sweep Day" and better understand littering problem. Third, the PAP Town Councils have acted in good faith of the partnership, and have already awarded the contract to the pest control operators amounting to $7.7 million. Sir, dengue prevention is a big task. I hope the Ministry will not give the 14 PAP Town Councils a small mosquito fund to perform the task. The cost of the programme is $7.7 million.”
“Sir, I would like the Ministry to continue to partner and co-fund the dedicated mosquito control programme with all Town Councils to prevent dengue outbreak. Sir, dengue outbreak is a public health problem. It is under the responsibility of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. In 2005, there was a dengue outbreak in Singapore, and dengue fever cases went up to 14,209 cases. In that year, NEA called for an all out war against the Aedes mosquitoes which cause dengue fever. As such, NEA approached the Town Councils for help to fight the dengue outbreak. Sir, as responsible corporate citizens, the 14 PAP Town Councils agreed to allocate more resources to partner NEA in its fight against dengue. A series of dengue prevention and elimination efforts were implemented jointly by the NEA and 14 PAP Town Councils. These included carpet combing of more than 8,000 blocks of HDB flats, stepping up routine maintenance inspections and chemical control, appointment of pest control operators for the dedicated mosquito control programme, and the appointment of estate environmental officers. The joint programme which amounted to $6.7 million was co-funded by the 14 PAP Town Councils and NEA. Sir, the dengue prevention efforts of the 14 PAP Town Councils and NEA have brought the dengue situation under control. In 2006, the number of cases dropped from 14,209 to 3,126. Sir, although the dengue prevention programme is effective, the implementation of a dedicated mosquito control programme is costly, and imposes financial constraints on the Town Councils. In 2006, the NEA decided not to co-fund this programme and, instead, set up an enforcement regime to penalise Town Councils if mosquito breeding grounds were found.”
“Madam, I have two clarifications. One, on the proposed 220 km park connector by 2012, are there any special considerations in terms of phasing in the construction? Because I can suggest to the Minister to consider building those park connectors within housing estates first, so that at least the residents can use instead of building the Changi boardwalk or the Kallang River park connector where there are actually no housing estates near them. The other question is on spalling concrete. Just now, Mdm Lee Bee Wah mentioned that the Town Council did not do a good job in repairing the spalling concrete. I just want to clarify with the Minister whether spalling concrete within a flat, from what I understand, is the responsibility of the flat owner. It is not the responsibility of the Town Council. So I am a little bit puzzled by her comment. Can the Minister clarify on the responsibility of repairing spalling concrete within a flat?”
“Sir, I wish to ask the Minister the following questions: First, how effective are the arts outreach programmes and initiatives by the Ministry? Two, are there plans to develop an arts culture in the heartlands? And, three, how does the Ministry encourage more corporate sponsorships to support its arts outreach efforts? The Arts School”
“Sir, to build an active and gracious society, we need to have more effective arts and cultural outreach programmes in the community. Today, many arts and cultural activities have limited outreach to Singaporeans and there is a lack of arts and culture in Singapore. Sir, even the energetic and artistic Crazy Horse cannot live in our sterile environment. Sir, many Singaporeans are still not into arts appreciation and also not willing to pay for arts and cultural activities. That is why many arts and cultural groups find it a struggle to sustain their operations in Singapore. Sir, as we progress to be a first-world nation, we must provide more opportunities for Singaporeans to appreciate arts and culture. We must tap on the creative talent of our people and nurture them to excel in the creative industries. Arts and culture will also enhance our quality of life and strengthen the bonds of our people, but it will be a challenge to match the interest and aspirations of our people with the different types of arts and cultural activities in a multi-racial and cosmopolitan society. The market for arts and cultural activities is fragmented and small. Therefore, we must be focused to select sustainable arts and cultural activities in our community outreach. Otherwise, too much wastages will occur, thus hampering our outreach efforts. Sir, besides community outreach, I would like to propose the setting up of a national arts gallery in Singapore. We can make Orchard Road our national arts gallery and encourage building owners, businesses and arts groups to display their works along Orchard Road. In this way, we can also provide more arts outreach to Singaporeans and also further enhance the tourism attractiveness of Orchard Road.”
“Sir, after listening to the responses by the Minister and Senior Minister of State, I think we must change our behaviour. We are indeed very impressed by the good work done by the Home Team. I think we are more confident now to prepare ourselves for any security threat. Of course, we must also do our part to make sure that we play an active role to make Singapore safe. Once again, I want to thank the Minister and the Senior Minister of State for their comprehensive replies. I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. That the sum of $2,198,293,910 for Head P ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. That the sum of $407,181,800 for Head P ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Column No : 2430 COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY REPORTING PROGRESS”
“Sir, just a few clarifications. First, I am pleased to learn that there are 72 security watch groups being formed. What is the level of readiness of these 72 security watch groups and how effective are they, and has the Home Team provided some help to test the readiness and effectiveness of these 72 security watch groups? The second clarification is on the traffic rules. Sir, I have been to many cities. I realise that our roads are very well-decorated, with a lot of road markings and signages all over the places. As compared to many other countries, we indeed have too many road markings and signs, different sizes, hung up on lamp-posts all over the places. So it is totally almost impossible to comply with all those road signs. I am not too sure whether they are effective or not, and I am quite puzzled that road safety comes under the purview of two Ministries - MOT and MHA. Is there any way to synchronise it so that it is only one set of rules, ie, the road markings and traffic rules come under one Ministry and one enforcement agency, so that it is easier to implement instead of having two Ministries? The third point is that I am not too sure about the effectiveness of DIPS and whether over the years DIPS has indeed changed the behaviour of our motorists or not. Looking at the statistics, it looks like the fire situation has not improved over the last 10 years. We still have about 5,000 cases of fires every year. I presume they are mainly home fires. I am just wondering whether the public education efforts have been effective in preventing home fires over the last 10 years.”
“The Traffic Police should place more emphasis on changing the road behaviour of motorists and pedestrians instead of just issuing summonses. Sir, I agree that we must revoke the driving licences of recalcitrant traffic offenders and prevent them from causing safety hazards to other road users. But some of these traffic offenders are not dangerous or reckless. I would like to propose that the Ministry review its penalty regime for the suspension of licence. We should be more flexible and give drivers a second chance. Maybe we put them on a six months' probation period and, thereafter, if they commit further offences, we will suspend their licences. I wish to ask the Minister the following questions: (1) Can the Ministry review the traffic rules to make it simpler and easier to comply? (2) Can the Ministry review the penalty regime for traffic offenders? (3) Can we standardise the speed limits for expressways and all other roads, eg, expressways, 90 kmh and all other roads, 70 kmh?”
“Sir, driving on our roads can be very stressful and motorists are very vulnerable to infringing traffic rules. You will notice that our roads are flooded with many different types of traffic rule markings and signs. Sometimes, on one stretch of road, we can find about five to 10 types of road markings, such as single and double white lines, yellow solid and broken lines, red or zig-zag lines, yellow or white boxes, etc. You can also find different speed limit signs displayed along the same road. If you drive along the PIE, you will find you have to switch from 90 kmh to 80 kmh at different points of the expressway and, thereafter, you have to change to 50 kmh when you filter out and change gear to 60 kmh or 70 kmh on other roads. Sir, I understand that traffic rules are necessary to ensure road safety. But I think we have too many traffic rules on our roads. The vast number of traffic rule markings and signs on our roads has made it difficult for many motorists to comply. It is like a web of traps with the Traffic Police always ready to catch you flouting the rules. Each year, thousands of summonses were issued to motorists, and some of them have their licences suspended. Are all these motorists dangerous and reckless, or we simply have too many traffic rules, thus making it difficult for motorists to abide by? Sir, we must remove dangerous and reckless driving habits on our roads, such as excessive speeding, tailgating or drink driving. The Traffic Police should focus their enforcement efforts to take action against these road abusers. Recalcitrant traffic offenders or those who have accumulated 24 demerit points should be sent for road safety rehabilitation.”
“(2) Are our efforts in engaging the public on crime prevention effective? (3) What is the success rate in solving crime?”
“Sir, although the crime rate in Singapore has been declining, we still have over 30,000 cases of crimes committed per year. Many of these cases are theft-related offences and crimes involving young offenders. Last year, 3,645 youths were arrested mainly for offences, such as theft or rioting. This is an area of concern, as youngsters moving in groups tend to be bolder and do silly things of mischief or due to peer pressures. The high number of cases in housebreaking, theft, robbery and snatch theft also reflects the lack of vigilance among Singaporeans. Many failed to take precautions to prevent crime, thus, providing opportunities for crimes to take place. I would urge the Ministry to allocate more resources to focus on these two areas, namely, public education on wayward youths (especially school gangs) and crime prevention for the general public. 5.00 pm Sir, at present, the crime rate is measured based on reports submitted by the police or victims. Therefore, it may not provide the total picture of crime situation in Singapore. For instance, some offences may not be reported to the police, and some offences, especially cheating cases, may be regarded as civil matters. The police will not take up such cases, thus reducing the number of cases reported. Therefore, we should not be complacent and let our guards down thinking that our environment is crime free. Sir, I understand that the crime rate statistics monitor the trends of various types of crimes and types of offenders. But it does not reflect the profile of victims for different types of crimes and the success rate in resolving crimes. Sir, I wish to ask the Minister: (1) What measures are in place to reduce the crime rate on youths and elderly?”
“This would have caused much damage to the building and its surrounding buildings, resulting in the loss of many lives. The recent liberalisation of postal services may also open doors to potential security threats, as letter bombs can be sent en mass to office buildings to cause severe destruction. Sir, many Singaporeans have become over-confident and complacent that the Government will be able to handle terrorism effectively. Thus, many have not taken any interest in preparing themselves to respond appropriately in times of terrorist attacks or emergencies. The distribution of ready bags or emergency handbooks will be useless if Singaporeans do not have the knowledge and skills to apply them during emergencies. Many exhibitions, road shows and talks are ad hoc and token in nature. These merely increase awareness and will not prepare Singaporeans to respond to emergencies effectively. Like any skills, emergency preparedness skills must be properly taught and practised regularly in order to be useful. Last year, the Home Team conducted Exercise North Star V to test the emergency preparedness of our various stakeholders in responding to terrorist attacks. I am not sure whether the exercise has achieved its stated objectives, and what lessons were learnt from that exercise. Sir, I wish to ask the Minister the following questions: (1) What are the anti-terrorism measures taken by the Ministry to cope with new terrorist threats? (2) What are the lessons learnt from North Star V and how many more public emergency exercises will be conducted this year? (3) What public education programmes are in place to better prepare our community for terrorist attacks?”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head P of the Estimates be reduced by $100. Sir, the recent series of letter bombs in London, the use of truck bombs filled with chemicals in Iraq, and the infiltration of terrorists into civilian organisations, such as university campuses, have raised new security threats. It shows that terrorism is very much alive and has adopted new tactics to cause harm to more innocent people. As a small country with limited resources, Singapore has no choice but to adopt a risk-based approach in our anti-terrorism measures. Therefore, we must always stay vigilant and respond appropriately to these new security threats so as to safeguard our people. Sir, to fight terrorism effectively, we need the full commitment of all our stakeholders in our society, ie, the Government, business and people sectors. From my GPC visits to the Home Team divisions, I am confident that the Home Team has made good progress in equipping themselves with the appropriate technology, manpower and systems in countering terrorism. My concerns, however, lie with the readiness of our business and people sectors in preventing and responding to terrorist attacks. Although the Home Team has been working closely with the business community, such as hotels and transport companies, to boost up the security measures of hotels and transport, many office and retail establishments do not have much anti-terrorism measures in place. In fact, many office buildings in the business district are soft targets of terrorist attacks. For instance, a truck carrying a bomb with chemical gas can easily drive into any of the tall office buildings in Shenton Way without much problem.”
“Sir, I would like to thank the Minister and Senior Minister of State for the positive responses to the queries by Members and also the comprehensive answers. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $139,437,000 for Head R ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $128,138,000 for Head R ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Column No : 2374 Head P - Ministry of Home Affairs 4.45 pm”
“Sir, I am a little bit concerned about the effectiveness of these seminars on how to avoid bankruptcy. I am just wondering whether the Ministry can consider coming up with an "avoid bankruptcy" checklist which can be given to creditors, eg, those taking housing loans and credit card companies. This can be given as a form of advice when consumers are taking up loans so that they will know what are the pitfalls or they can do a proper assessment before they actually take up all these financial commitments. Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, the key question is really financial prudence. I think the message out there is that we take personal responsibility for how we spend. Indeed, Dr Teo is right because the large majority of the cases that go bankrupt are credit related - credit cards, credit facilities. So the general education must be, and all of us Singaporeans will know, that when you become a bankrupt there will be disabilities and inconvenience. So that is the part where there is a deterrence. But how to generally manage one's own finance so that one will not get into trouble - I think that is something which is not for the Government or IPTO to do. But I would agree that these are talks that should be organised on the ground and, indeed, I think all of us who are on the ground and who want to reach out to residents, can do so, and the residents will find it very interesting. But on IPTO's part, IPTO will continue to run public seminars for which Singaporeans are invited.”
“Sir, I just want to make some clarifications based on the answers by the Ministers. First, on the legal clinic, I just want to know what is the funding allocated to conduct the two trial legal clinics. Second, on the amendments to the en-bloc sale procedures, when is the effective date and can the Ministry also provide an SOP to facilitate en-bloc sales so that the agents and the Management Corporation can follow that procedures? And, third, in terms of public education to prevent bankruptcy, are there any specific programmes which are conducted at the community level to increase the knowledge of Singaporeans to avoid bankruptcy?”
“In cases where debts are incurred and bankruptcy petitions are filed, the Ministry should intervene through mediation or a repayment arrangement before the court hearing. I wish to ask the Ministry the following questions: (1) What measures are in place to prevent bankruptcy? (2) How can the Ministry incentivise bankrupts to have an earlier discharge?”
“Sir, each year, more than 3,000 Singaporeans were made bankrupt. Personal bankruptcy is a social stigma, and has caused much family distortion and hardship. A large number of these bankrupts are Singaporeans who failed to pay their debts amounting to less than $100,000. The key reasons attributing to their bankruptcies include over-indulgence in expenses, poor management of finances, business failures or personal crises. Many of these ill-informed Singaporeans have over-committed themselves financially in housing loans, renovation loans, car loans, credit card facilities, hire purchase arrangements or dubious timeshare investments. Once they face financial difficulties to service their loans, they will fall into "debt traps" where their creditors will impose high interest charges, high late penalty fees, high legal fees or administrative fees. As a result of these debt traps, the debtors will find it extremely difficult to repay their debts, thus, finally facing bankruptcy. Sir, I understand that the Ministry has reviewed the Bankruptcy Act to permit earlier discharge of bankrupts. But more can be done to prevent Singaporeans from getting into bankruptcy. As long as we continue to practise caveat emptor, there will always be consumers who will be persuaded to over-commit themselves financially and become potential victims of debt traps or bankruptcy. In order to protect the interests of the creditors, bankrupts and potential bankrupts, we should review the bankruptcy regime in Singapore. More can be done to prevent bankruptcy, especially in the areas of public education, pre-bankruptcy measures, and bankruptcy discharge incentives.”
“Besides the means test, there is also a physical barrier to access the legal aid services as there is only one office located in the city centre. Many low-income households would need to incur additional transport expenses to access the services. In some cases, these low-income families would have to bring all their children to the legal aid office as they do not have any domestic support to look after their children. This adds further financial burden to these families. Sir, to make legal aid available to low-income households, we need to make the services accessible and affordable. I would like to urge the Ministry to consider setting up legal aid service outlets in the HDB heartlands. The Ministry can partner with the Community Development Councils, Community Clubs, Family Service Centres or HDB branch offices to provide such services. Furthermore, I hope the Ministry can exercise flexibility to consider on a case-by-case basis to extend legal aid to applicants who may not meet the criteria but have good reasons to seek legal aid. 3.30 pm Sir, I understand that the Law Society has partnered with a Family Service Centre to provide pro bono legal assistance services to persons who do not qualify for legal aid and are unable to afford the services of private lawyers. This is indeed a commendable effort. I hope the Minister will also consider supporting this scheme. Sir, I would like to ask these questions: (1) Would the Ministry consider revising the means test criteria for legal aid services? (2) Are there plans to extend the outreach services of legal aid services? (3) Would the Ministry provide support to expand the pro bono legal aid schemes in the community?”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head R of the Estimates be reduced by $100. Sir, the Legal Aid Bureau has provided legal assistance services to many low-income households for many years. The low fee levied by the Bureau has helped low-income families to gain access to get legal representation to resolve their problems. But these legal aid services are only available to persons who pass the means test, that is, the applicant's disposable capital is not more than $7,000 or the applicant's disposable income does not exceed $10,000 per annum, that is, about $850 per month. Sir, with rising prices of consumer goods and higher salary, many low-wage earners with salary of between $900 and $1,500 will not be able to meet the criteria to use the legal aid services. At the same time, these low-wage earners cannot afford to engage private lawyers and do not know how to make representations in courts. As a result, many have no choice but to plead guilty and suffer the consequences of the law without mitigating their cases. This situation is unfair to the low-income households. In addition, the capital means test of $7,000 of disposable capital also poses a problem for low-income households. I have one MPS case where my resident bought a secondhand car and subsequently went into financial difficulties. He is unable to sell his car as he would have to incur further financial losses. But the car has a disposal value of more than $7,000. As such, he is not eligible for legal aid services. Sir, in order to make legal aid available to low-income households, I would urge the Ministry to consider revising the means test criteria for legal aid so that more low-income households can benefit from its services.”
“Economically, it is easier for these new citizens to fit into our economy as many would be able to secure good paying jobs. The challenge will be whether they will pose intense competition to other Singaporeans in competing for good jobs. This may result in unhappiness among Singaporeans. Socially, it would require many hours of community engagement before these new citizens can gain acceptance by residents in our society. This is particularly so in the HDB heartlands as many of our residents may not understand the cultures of these new citizens. Sir, community bonding is a complex task. In a fast-paced and cosmopolitan society like Singapore, bonding will need a more structured approach to achieve success. I wish to ask the Prime Minister the following questions: (1) What policies and measures are in place to bond the 6.5 million Singaporeans? (2) What are the plans to integrate new citizens into our community? (3) How can we further strengthen the family and community ties among Singaporeans? New Citizens and Permanent Residents”
“Sir, Singapore is planning to be a First World nation with a population of 6.5 million people. With the present total fertility rate of 1.25 and our Government's efforts in attracting global talent to Singapore, we would expect the majority of the additional two million citizens to be migrants from various countries. I presume that these new citizens will be professionals or specialists of different talent from different ethnicities and cultures. These new citizens will be adults who have lived in different political systems and experienced different sets of country governance. As a multi-racial and multi-religious country, Singapore is constantly faced with the challenge of bonding our people. We are still developing a sense of belonging and identity among our people. We need to do more to develop a sense of pride among Singaporeans so that our people can carry our flags high to be a top First World nation. Therefore, integrating new citizens of different backgrounds into our multi-racial and multi-religious society will pose immense challenges to the Government and its people in the future. This would also have to take into consideration the political, economic and social aspects of citizenship integration. Sir, politically, I wish to find out from our Prime Minister whether the Government has plans to help new citizens and also new migrants and PRs who could be our future citizens, understand our political system. We need to ensure that these new citizens understand our Government's policies and will support the Government to take Singapore to new heights. The key question is whether these new citizens will support and vote for a strong and stable government with little or no opposition.”
“We have got to do more, do our best to keep up this churn and mobility, even as it gets more difficult. That is our approach - maximise opportunities, give everyone a fair chance to succeed. This year, MOF, with the Economic Society of Singapore and the Straits Times, organised a Budget Essay Competition. We received a lot of entries: 125 from students, mainly in Singapore, and also several from abroad. The winning entry at the school level was from Daniel Ong of RJC. I read his essay, but I assure you that I had no part in the judging. He summarised what he thought the philosophy of the Budget should be. He says, and I quote, "the overarching priorities for Singapore's fiscal policy remain starkly simple: to ensure Singapore's long-term economic survival, and its survival as a cohesive social unit. We must remain competitive in a global economy which becomes increasingly aggressive every day, while continuing to take advantage of the opportunities globalisation offers us. All this time, we have to take care of each of our citizens - low-income, middle-income, high-income - and provide the support infrastructure to maintain Singapore as an effective social unit." This is exactly what the Budget has been about and what Members have given their wholehearted support for. Let us do this well and work to build the Singapore of the future which Members have in different ways described, a future which Daniel Ong describes as "a land of opportunity and hope in the years to come, and also a land that takes care of its citizens - a land to call home". [Applause.]”
“In four years, they pulled their results up from below national average to the top quarter of PSLE performance. How did they do it? There were many strategies, none of which were new-fangled ideas but hard work, good quality and tremendous motivation. The Primary Six teachers have been allowed to design their own curriculum to meet the needs and abilities of their students. They have been visiting students who have been absent from school - they visit them at home. Students who are weak in a particular area, they give one-on-one coaching. They have been motivating students through their CCAs, the dances and the sports, and giving them confidence in their talents. They have tea sessions as well, like we do! But their tea sessions are for the most problematic pupils, motivating them and encouraging them on. This means many real individuals in Bukit View, like many other schools, who start off from very modest beginnings, are moving up very fast. Take Nurul Syafiqah as one example. She lives with her parents and five siblings in a three-room flat. She has benefited from our schemes - used our Financial Assistance Scheme, and is also on the School Breakfast Programme. She was an unmotivated student in her lower primary years. Then, they got her into the Malay dance group in Primary Four and she also joined the concert band - two CCAs. Last year, they won the Gold medal at the SYF for Malay dance, and the Silver medal for concert band. Nurul became a very responsible, highly-motivated pupil. She was also made a prefect. She did very well in her studies. Got 254 points in PSLE. That is in the top 10%. She's now at Bukit Panjang Government High School. There are many Nurul Syafiqahs in our system.”
“We ensure that all our students have access to quality facilities and teachers, not just for academic learning, as Ms Denise Phua was mentioning earlier, but for the whole range of talents that we are trying to develop. We spread this out across the system. We have enhanced opportunities in the last few years, by adding to our financial assistance programmes. Opportunity Funds have already benefited many students. Financial assistance schemes were widened last year and benefited a whole lot more students. We are providing more support at the pre-school level - we already have the Baby Bonus and the Child Development Account, and we have enhanced KiFAS and the CFAC scheme for childcare centres. So this is why, even if we look at those in primary schools now, a much younger batch than those I mentioned earlier, we see this churn and mobility. Take students in our primary schools who live in one to three-room flats . That is the bottom 20% in terms of socio-economic profile. In fact, one to three-room flat kids are only 12% of our primary school kids. About 30% of our students in one to three-room flats make it into the top 50% in PSLE performance. And almost 10% of students in one to three-room flats end up in the top 20% of PSLE performance. How do we achieve this? It is basically a system that provides opportunity for every student to succeed, and a system that rewards effort, not just in academic work, but in all areas. We provide this through good schools; not just a few exceptional schools, but across the board. There are many examples. I will cite you just one - Bukit View Primary School. Four years ago, their PSLE results were below the national average and they were facing declining enrolment.”
“It is about providing every incentive for individual effort - to study, to work, to retrain, to upgrade, and to uplift your family. As Mr Zainudin Nordin put it, to give everyone a fair chance to succeed in Singapore. It starts with education. Singapore is still unique in the extent of social mobility that we see. We all know about the tremendous amount of mobility that took place in the first few decades after our independence. Members in this House are, in many instances, themselves testimony to that mobility, starting from near the bottom and moving up. It is still happening. If you look at current batches of Singaporeans entering university - for instance at last year's university intake into our three universities - 63% had parents with secondary or below education. It will get more difficult over time. Every developed society has seen this. In Britain, they saw tremendous social mobility after the war, working-class kids moving their way up, becoming part of the middle-class, becoming professionals, lawyers. But it gets more difficult over time. If you look at the developed societies now, most of them are highly stratified - if you start at the bottom, you tend to stay near the bottom. In Singapore, it is still happening. We are still seeing this churn and mobility in every new generation. And it is because of the emphasis we are placing on investing in education and delivering quality in every school. Throughout the island, we have good primary schools that provide a high quality of education and the best chance for their kids to succeed. And entry to secondary school and beyond secondary school is based on merit.”
“The same upper middle-income family that we see, between the 60th and 90th percentiles here, would in Dublin and Sydney pay between 29% and 32% of their income in taxes respectively. If we look at Hong Kong, we are broadly comparable. Hong Kong has no GST, but the effective personal income tax rates for the middle and upper-middle income groups are higher than Singapore. This is shown in the chart. [Refer to Chart F*. ] It is updated to take into consideration the changes made in the Hong Kong budget yesterday, which lower the effective personal income tax rates for the middle and upper-middle income groups. Despite that, the personal income tax burden on our middle and upper-middle income groups is not high. It is lower than Hong Kong, and certainly lower than any other advanced city. Conclusion Let me conclude. Members have given this Budget their strongest support - the hardware, the software, and the "heartware". You have supported the *Cols. 2215-2216. measures the Government is taking to sharpen our competitiveness and build new capabilities, to make the most of the opportunities that are presented to us by globalisation. You have supported our measures to strengthen social cohesion, by helping lower-income Singaporeans in the face of increased pressures from globalisation, pressures that we face now but which we know will be with us for a long time to come. You have supported the measures we are taking, now and in the future, to create the city of the future, to raise the quality of life for all Singaporeans, and to build a strong society. But underlying this all, the Budget is about maximising opportunities. Our approach to the challenge of inequality must be to find every way to provide opportunities for Singaporeans to succeed.”
“I think, from the descriptions given, they are referring mainly to the group of Singaporeans who pay income taxes, own a car and have a maid and, therefore, pay significant indirect taxes, in addition to direct taxes. This is a group that is mainly between the 60th and 90th percentiles of our population. Their overall tax burden is typically about 9%-11% of their annual income. I agree that we should be concerned about the tax burden of this group. The Government has been taking steps to reduce their tax burden, for example, by reducing the maid levy and ownership taxes on cars as well over the years. This year, we have taken another step, lowering the maid levy further and extending the concession to employers with disabled family members who need additional caregiving support, and lowering road tax further. *Cols. 2213-2214. When you look at the chart as a whole, is it fair? Taxes have to be paid by someone. I think Members would agree that it is fair that the lower-income group pays less taxes as a percentage of their income. It is also fair that the highest-income group pays more taxes as a percentage of their income. So the 9%-11% of income that the middle and upper-middle income group pays is really part of a fair distribution of the tax burden in Singapore. And in aggregate, it is not a high tax burden, because we only collect 15% of GDP in total revenues, and tax revenues are only part of that 15%. I should also note that if we compare the tax burden of the middle and upper-middle income groups to that in any other advanced city, it is not high. In fact, it is significantly lower than what it is in most cities.”
“In other words, if we take the share in total income of the top 20%, it would be about twice the share of the bottom 40%. But the amount of tax they pay is four times as much as the bottom 40%. The second chart shows that after all the measures we have taken in this year's Budget, the total tax burden faced by different households - all existing taxes plus the changes we made in this year's Budget - continues to follow a highly progressive pattern, significantly in favour of lower-income households. This chart includes the GST offsets. [Refer to Chart D*. ] *Cols. 2209-2210. In the next chart, we take out the GST offsets and just look at the permanent tax scheme, less Workfare Income Supplement benefits (because WIS is really a negative tax). This chart shows taxes as a percentage of your income. But for the bottom 10% of households - retirees and those who are unemployed - there is no income, and that is why they are not on this chart although they in fact receive Workfare. But it is basically a highly progressive tax schedule that we have in Singapore. [Refer to Chart E*. ] This does not include the changes we made to CPF contribution rates which will further benefit the lower middle and middle-income groups especially, and it does not include other fiscal transfers that we make directly to households, in particular, our housing subsidies and our lower-income housing grants. If we include these other fiscal transfers, we have a highly progressive fiscal scheme in Singapore. Some Members have nevertheless asked whether we have done enough for the "squeezed middle-income group".”
“First, it is going to be very difficult and very intrusive for the Government to be able to figure out or establish who is really giving care at home and how much work it involves, from this family to the next. It will require a certain degree of intrusiveness on the part of the Government to decide on a scheme on how to compensate or recognise caregivers at home in monetary form. More importantly, we will have to be careful that, in attaching a monetary value to work within the family, we do not inadvertently undermine the values that underpin the strength of the family and indeed the strength of Singapore society. These are important issues which we will have to think about and address. We will keep our minds open, study the issue further, and I am sure there will be more discussion on this later. A progressive fiscal structure I think Members are satisfied from the examples and the data we have provided, including the data that Mr Lim Swee Say provided yesterday as well, that the GST increase, when coupled with Workfare, is not a regressive scheme. The lower-income group will be better off after the GST increase and Workfare. Our fiscal structure as a whole, apart from the measures taken in this year's Budget, will also remain a progressive one. I have put up a chart here. [Refer to Chart C *.] This chart shows the shares of total taxes that are contributed by households on different parts of the income ladder. The top 20% of households contribute 54% of total taxes. They contribute, in fact, four times as much as the bottom 40% of the population. This, by the way, is well beyond the proportion if we look at their respective shares of total income.”
“We have boosted further our subsidies for KiFAS and child care in the present Budget. In addition to all these forms of assistance, there will be families who will somehow fall between the cracks because they have special needs that are not well- served by the way we have provided the benefits. This is why the CDCs, CCCs, self-help groups and voluntary welfare organisations will deal with these families case by case - look at their special needs, see how we can help them additionally. This is the discretion that we are giving to these agencies. We are also providing them additional funding, so they are able to do more to help these families. There have also been suggestions to extend benefits to other groups to recognise their contributions. Several Members, such as Dr Lim Wee Kiak, Ms Lee Bee Wah and others, spoke about the concerns of homemakers. I think at least nine or 10 Members must have spoken about this. First, let me say that homemakers do, in fact, benefit from the GST offset package, like all other adult Singaporeans. In fact, a homemaker living in a three-room flat can get more than the breadwinner typically, because she has effectively no income. There was a specific suggestion made by Assoc. Prof. Kalyani Mehta with regard to caregivers, and I think she is referring here to specific categories of caregivers who work at home and not people who stay at home generally. I agree that there is real work involved here, and sometimes very challenging work. I think we should keep our minds open, study what other countries do, before deciding if we should take this step. There are some major issues that we have to address before we decide if we should move in this direction - in fact, two quite significant issues.”