Tin Pei Ling
Singapore
“This is not about building a talent pipeline and reserve for the land, sea and air transport sectors, but also about helping Singaporeans seize more valuable opportunities. (In English): Mr Speaker, Singapore did not inherit our connectivity. We built it deliberately, chapter by chapter, and this House now holds the pen for the next one.”
“Thank you, Chairman. Two questions. One is that I hear that there will be a review of the COE system later part of this year. I would just like to ask if there is a specific timeline that we can look forward to. Second is on land transport overall. It is on the impact of ageing population and ageing infrastructure.”
“Leveraging frontier technologies – automation, advanced sensors, predictive analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) – will keep our infrastructure globally competitive. But we must deploy technology responsibly to augment productivity while managing workforce transitions and reskilling needs.”
“Many thanks to all. I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $3,109,174,200 for Head W ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $13,306,280,300 for Head W ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. (proc text)]”
“Can the Ministry consider targeted measures, such as rental relief schemes, tenancy support for heritage and neighbourhood retailers, incentives for landlords to prioritise local tenants or co‑investment platforms that enable local businesses to secure long‑term premises?”
“Internationally, we could forge norms that prevent regulatory arbitrage and ensure cross‑border accountability. Hence, building on existing frameworks, what more will the Government do to strengthen Singapore's role in global AI governance, standards, certification, international coordination and capacity building, to preserve human agenc…”
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“Madam, no amount of medical subsidies and no amount of high quality medical care can match having good health. Good health Page: 124 enables us to focus on our work and families, and to enjoy life. MOH has been working on the Healthy Living Master Plan. Hence, I would like to ask MOH to give an update on its development and how the response has been towards this. Healthy Living”
“Madam, I have spoken on mental health issues in this House every year, and I am glad that MOH has actively implemented programmes to strengthen its outreach and efficacy of mental healthcare in the community, especially in recent years. Therefore, I would like to ask the MOH to provide an update on the current state of community healthcare, and also to share what are the challenges faced, and what are its plans looking ahead. Managing Psychiatric Cases”
“Madam, with an ageing population, MOH has responded positively and pledged to enhance and expand healthcare facilities – increases in bed spaces, step-down care and home-care capacities and putting in place additional facilities can be expected. With these investments in healthcare, demand for manpower will also rise accordingly. Moreover, with the increasing demand for high-touch services, such as home care, the need for manpower is further exacerbated as these settings have lower efficiency of scale. Faced with an already tight labour market and increased constraints on foreign manpower, how will MOH address this need? How will MOH help the public health sector compete for local aspiring Singaporeans to take up a career in this sector? Will MOH also increase local student enrolment in medicine, nursing and other allied health areas? How will MOH leverage innovations to align with the Government's overall drive to reduce foreign manpower reliance and increase productivity? How will MOH reconcile the tension between the need for human touch in healthcare and the need for technology to raise productivity? Attrition of Singaporeans to Private Sector”
“Thank you, Madam. I have one supplementary question on community meditation. It is a point that I raised in my speech and I would like to have it addressed. The point is about whether neutral parties can help to make application for meditation, should both parties refuse to go to the meditation on their own. One of the issues now is that they have an ongoing dispute, but neither side is willing go to the meditation and it just continues. It affects the environment and the neighbours around them. I hope that the Minister can help to address this.”
“This is to offer a last chance for both parties to resolve their disputes, fully knowing that the next step requires them to face a judge in Court and comply with the Court's decision, even if it is against their will. Also, this is a last shot at preserving goodwill between the parties and, therefore, preserving harmony within the community. Page: 11 Madam, we live in a diverse society with our own individual uniqueness or quirks. Understanding the concept of co-existence and accepting our diversity is key in maintaining harmony in environments where we work, play or live in. We must not only tap on soft approaches to inculcate the right culture, but we must also be prepared to have concrete measures in safeguarding our much valued peace and harmony. Community Dispute Resolution”
“Madam, many Members in this House are no strangers to community disputes within our constituencies. This is perhaps expected, given the high residential density in local housing estates and personal spaces are inevitably infringed on now and then. The Community Mediation Centre (CMC) is, therefore, useful. However, those that could not make it to the CMC or could not be resolved at the CMC are the ones that can be most challenging and energy-consuming for everyone, including grassroots leaders, Government agencies and neutral innocent neighbours. In an article in Saturday's The Straits Times, which also quoted Minister Lawrence Wong, it was stated that about 60% of meditation applications could not proceed because one party did a "no show". According to CMC's 2011/2012 Annual Report, of the cases that did go through mediation, about 30% could not be settled. A back-of-the-envelope estimation reveals that about 72% of applications have gone unresolved per year. This figure does not include disputes where both parties refuse to even try to settle it at CMC. In essence, the current CMC is not sufficiently empowered to have the teeth to bite. Hence, I am glad that the Ministry is considering a tribunal framework and I hope that this cut will help tip the balance in favour of it. At the same time, would the Ministry consider putting in place mandatory mediation, once an application is made but prior to the tribunal hearing? In serious cases where both parties refuse to go to CMC for mediation, could neutral parties, such as neighbours, apply for mediation on their behalf, so that at least there is a way of getting them to come to the table and resolve it?”
“Thank you, Madam. I would like to thank the Ministers for the effort in terms of keeping the public areas clean. I just want to ask, apart from fines, will be the Ministry consider releasing the names of high-rise litterbugs so that public pressure can be exerted on them because some of them are rather recalcitrant despite the fines. I was wondering if the Ministry will consider releasing their identity so that their neighbours, the community, can also play a role in being vigilant towards this kind of actions.”
“Thank you, Sir, I would just like to ask, since the Ministry does track businesses and, in this case, entrepreneurs that may have folded or that have closed, may I just ask, overall, for these entrepreneurs and businesses, do they get re-allocated into other industries, or do they find a way back in, or are they just being displaced permanently and be kept in limbo?”
“I understand that one Continuing Education and Training (CET) Centre, the Human Capital Singapore, has received warm responses from non-English speaking business owners who attended its classes where the Chinese versions of these courses were rolled out. These owners would otherwise not have been able to benefit or to understand what the Government has for them. I was also told that there was an observable change in attitude and a greater understanding in acceptance of the Government's intention because of the training. Perhaps, similarly, the CETs and MTI could work with self-help groups, such as MENDAKI, to reach out to these CET centres to develop their courses in different languages so that some of these entrepreneurial communities – these Page: 138 micro and small businesses – can benefit from the schemes that we have. Finally, for those who tried very hard but eventually could not sustain their businesses, would the Ministry consider an employment guarantee programme, similar to the European Youth Guarantee programme, for the displaced SME owners and employees so as to minimise their pain and structural unemployment. We already have many good programmes and funding in place, so this programme is merely an additional and a synergistic step of ensuring that these displaced workers and owners will not be left in the lurch.”
“Sir, I have spoken about how many SMEs have been under immense pressure from the economic restructuring during my Budget Debate speech on Tuesday. As the reality of curbs on foreign manpower, tight local labour market and rising operational cost sets in, businesses can only look to innovation and increases in productivity for a way out. I would agree with the hon Member Mr Teo Siong Seng about small and micro businesses. These businesses, especially those owned or run by people who tend to be older and have little education, are most squeezed and they are very much in need of help. Many of them work from dawn to dusk and because they had low education, they do not have the free time, the energy and the know-how to transform, and they are also not clear how the Government can help them. I had illustrated this with an example in my Budget Debate speech on Tuesday. 5.45 pm As we transform, we cannot leave them behind. Hence, with the plethora of programmes available, I would like to ask how the Ministry intends to hand hold and link up these SMEs, especially the small and micro businesses, through the transformation – for example, helping them with horizon scanning of suitable innovations, technologies, best practices, hand holding them through the implementation of these improvements and helping them to develop new niche areas and move into growth industries. In terms of effective outreach, could the Ministry proactively translate material and training courses into different languages, for example, in our Mother Tongues – Chinese, Malay and Tamil – so that many non-English speaking bosses and employees can better understand and make use of the help available?”
“Madam, this House will agree that the ability to find a job as in financial independence and being meaningfully engaged in community will ensure offenders stay drug-free and crime-free for as long as possible after their release from the prison. Even while they were in prison, it is also reassuring and motivating for them to know that their families are not left alone to fend for themselves. These are also some of the reasons underlining the appointment of Yellow Ribbon Champions in our communities of which MacPherson is part of. As such, can the Ministry provide an update on its overall effort to work with volunteers and community partners to rehabilitate and reintegrate offenders?”
“Madam, ensuring law and order is essential and enabling in an environment in which we can be freed up to focus on our lives, work, families and aspirations. Against the backdrop of rising expectations and tight labour force, the Police has actively leveraged technology to attain efficiency of scale, accuracy and effectiveness in law enforcement. In public housing estates and even on the roads, the Police has deployed cameras to deter offences and fight crimes. Therefore, I would like to ask how effective have the cameras been in fighting crime? Are there any other initiatives or examples that the Ministry can share to illustrate how the Police is leveraging technology to support its policing efforts? Police Cameras at HDB Void Decks”
“Madam, I have three supplementary questions. First, I agree that we want stable families in Singapore but I would like to ask how we define stable families here. Unless we are telling Singaporeans who they can or cannot marry. In this case, if they have chosen a life partner who happens to be a foreigner, then because of the uncertainty of stay and their future in Singapore, it is really very difficult for them to become stable, whether psychologically or financially. The second question, which is related, is whether the Government will consider having a definitive roadmap for such immigration so that the Singaporean and their families will have a clear idea of what is expected of them and they can plan their lives accordingly. The third is about integration. Minister talked about having programmes to facilitate integration of foreign spouses or foreigners in Singapore. In this case, specifically for foreign spouses, I agree it is very important. I am wondering if this is a deciding factor in terms of granting them their passes or their status in Singapore and, if so, may I ask how is this defined and whether there is a set of measures that can be shared in this House?”
“Assuming a scenario where the foreign spouse finds a low-skilled job as a stall helper, the pay can range from about $800 to $1,000 per month. The sum of money will significantly enhance the family's income and bring more benefit than our usual PA assistance which would have been likely in a single-income source family. Madam, marriage is sacred. It has to be a union between two consenting individuals. It is a personal choice. Against a backdrop of strengthening the Singaporean Core, I hope the Government will consider this favourably. Regular Review of PR Status”
“Once married, it is a commitment, and there are obligations that they have to each other. None of the Singaporeans with foreign spouses I met so far has thought of abandoning their foreign spouses, though some wondered if they should give up Singapore citizenship altogether to migrate overseas just so that the family can be whole. These Singaporeans have chosen their foreign spouses to share their lives with and these foreign spouses have also chosen to give up their homelands to be part of Singapore. Moreover, Page: 71 should they have children, the children would be born as Singaporeans, given that at least one of the parents is a Singapore Citizen. Hence, would the Government consider an immigration progression roadmap specifically awarding Long-Term Visit Pass Plus to foreign spouses upon marriage and then permanent residency after a definitive period of, say, 10 years? This will offer a greater sense of security to these families. There are, of course, concerns over marriage of convenience or engagement in illicit activities. Heavy penalties, such as immediate revocation of the pass and permanent entry ban, can be imposed in such instances. There are also concerns over the financial health of the family because of the additional family member in an already financially-needy family. The unspoken question among some is perhaps whether this would inadvertently increase the financial liability to our nation. In light of this, I suggest that we incentivise these families by granting PR earlier if the foreign spouse gives birth to a Singaporean child and perhaps, even earlier, if he or she finds a job with a stable income. The latter would help to strengthen a low-income family's financial position.”
“This is significant and possibly suggesting that such marriages will become a common sight. It may not be the majority but, perhaps, a more common sight in future. However, the certainty of long-term residency for the foreign spouses is a significant issue. There was a total of about 11,736 Long-Term Visit Pass and Long-Term Visit Pass Plus granted in 2012. It is a significant figure. However, what happens after these Long-Term Passes expire? Not all graduates even become PRs; some never do. But the point is that there are still families who are grappling with much uncertainty and cannot plan their lives or do so confidently. Because of the lack of certainty of stay, some who are financially sound become financially vulnerable. While some who are already struggling are now struggling even more because of single-income source and travelling costs incurred by the foreign spouse. I gave some examples in my speech at the Budget debate yesterday. Hence, there is great anxiety, frustration and fear of being separated. The problem is worse if they have children together. The hurdles that such couples have to overcome make me wonder if there is an indirect way of telling people who they can or cannot marry. Every country has its set of policies that not only reflect prevalent societal attitudes but is also a means of social engineering. This is understandable and perhaps the right thing to do for a government chosen by its people. But in this context, I struggle to reconcile the national move to increase and strengthen the Singaporean Core and enable families with difficulties, especially the low-income families with foreign spouses. Marriage is sacred and everyone should have the freedom to choose who he or she wants to marry.”
“Mdm Chair, last year, we debated on the Population White Paper and the House spoke at length about building a roadmap towards a sustainable population for an ageing Singapore. The pillars set out in the White Paper were to build a strong Singaporean Core. Many Singaporeans will agree, and I agree with this, too. The good news is that, apparently, most Singaporeans desire to get married and have kids. The recent Marriage and Parenthood study conducted in 2012 indicated that 83% of singles intend to get married and 84% of those who are married intend to have two or more children. To enable this, we must continue to shift our society and foster a pro-family culture by starting and raising a family take centre stage in our life choices. This involves aligning fundamental values, societal attitudes, practices exercised in settings, such as at the workplace, and, of course, Government policies. The Government has done a commendable job so far in being pro-Singaporean families with a generous Marriage and Parenthood Package, along with all the Baby Bonuses and the likes in the past. However, with so much emphasis on families, there is still one group of Singaporean families who may have been neglected. I am referring to the Page: 70 Singaporean families with foreign spouses. While they are not pure Singaporean families in that one spouse is foreign, as a whole, they contribute to our Singaporean Core, too. The number of Singaporeans married to foreign spouses has been on the rise. Marriages registered between a Singaporean and a non-Singaporean make up about four in 10 of all marriages involving a Singaporean. In 2012 alone, there were about 7,017 marriages between Singaporeans and foreigners, up by about 15% from 2011's figure.”
“We help them when they have difficulty – I can lend you, but please return to me. Perhaps, we can also specify when they must return. I think they will be much more appreciative. With that, I support the Budget.”
“Sugar went up by 20-30 cents per kg, one cup of coffee also went up by 20-30 cents. Is this in the same proportion? Is this profiteering? Talking about profiteering, I would like to turn to the recent hot topic among the construction industry – granite. The Government has made the right move in stockpiling sand and granite so that our public housing and infrastructure construction are not disrupted. As a small country with hardly any natural resources, we are highly vulnerable to the actions and decisions of our neighbouring countries. The Indonesian government banned the export of a wide range of minerals worldwide on 12 January, leaving several local construction projects in limbo. This is an issue that not even diplomacy could resolve. And this is not the first time it has happened. For example, last year, Page: 73 Malaysia banned the export of five types of fish to us for two months, and in 1997, Indonesia banned the export of sand, which led to price surges for sand from Malaysia. The relationship with our neighbouring countries is very delicate. If I may put it in Hokkien, "sar jit hong, si jit hor", that means, "three days, wind; four days, rain". It is unpredictable! I applaud the Government's action in releasing the stockpile to solve the problem temporarily. But all good intentions were wiped out when MND decided to up the price from $25 to $50 per tonne. And people in the industry are asking: is the Government also profiteering? Of course not; very good. Understandably, there is a need to discourage zealous purchasing from the construction companies, but surely there are better ways to go about this, such as putting a quantity limit or asking them to replenish the stock from their own source.”
“From what I see, only in October and December, the company did not qualify or meet this requirement. But if we were to add in the directors, there were three for those two months. I wonder if the Government can consider that so long over the whole year they have most of the months with three CPF staff, it is fine. Not only that, in most SMEs, there can be three or four of the staff who are all directors. But directors are not considered as the part of the minimum three CPF staff. Why? To me, I think that if there are three like-minded friends who are willing to take the plunge, is it not better than employing three staff? I would like to appeal to the Government to make the PIC accessible to all, regardless of the number of CPF staff. I would like to give another example of good policy, poor implementation. I have a resident who told me that they do business in Malaysia and, therefore, they would like to send their staff to be trained in the Malay language. They were looking for Malay language courses. So, they called up WDA, looked through the website, talked to the staff and they were told that there was no such funding. But my resident says that they have funding for Japanese language. Is this not very strange – we have funding for foreign language, but we do not have funding for our own National Language? With the command of Malay language, it will definitely help us to do business with our neighbouring countries, not just Malaysia, also Indonesia. So, this is another example. Last but not least, I am disappointed that there were retailers who cashed in on the hike in liquor duty by imposing an increase of as much as $1.30 for a bottle of beer. I was told that a cup of kopi-O went up by 20-30 cents per cup when the price of sugar went up by the same amount per kg.”
“The Government's decision to announce it two years in advance is appreciated, but that does not allay the fear that these businesses will experience increase in operation costs. Adding on to the problem is the fact that higher skilled workers are harder to come by. This then gives rise to worries of manpower shortage to complete projects should they not be able to afford the wages. The story does not end here. The foreign workers on S Pass and EP are taking advantage of the tight labour market to job hop. I have a friend who told me that her engineer left her for another job with $1,000 increment. Two months later, this same engineer called up my friend and said, "Boss, do you want me back or not? I am willing to come back, but give me another $1,000 increment". MOM can specify that Work Permit holders are not allowed to marry Singaporeans. I fail to understand why can MOM not put a minimum duration, for example, two years, with the employer who applied the S Pass or EP. Less job hopping also means higher productivity. Another feedback about PIC: it is currently eligible only to firms that fulfil the three local employees condition. In an era when we are encouraging productivity and entrepreneurship, it does not make sense that we are penalising firms for their size, which is not indicative of strength. In fact, many world-renowned corporations started from two-person teams or even solo, including Apple, eBay and Whole Foods Market. The smaller and newer companies are the ones that need more help. Page: 72 A resident gave me feedback about his company, Company K. He applied to IRAS for 60% of $14,031 in November last year and IRAS rejected it in January this year because he had less than three CPF staff.”
“Another example – Company B applied to IRAS for 60% of $63,551 in June last year. IRAS approved and disbursed $33,130.60 plus $15,000 PIC bonus to them on January 2014. Applied in June last year, and got approved and disbursed in January this year. It is seven months. It can take even longer if there are some queries and "ding dong" in their applications. For smaller SMEs, this is very difficult on their cash flow. Worse is they may sometimes go belly up before they receive their funds. As a consequence, some SMEs may be afraid to take the plunge and instead opted for the conservative approach. They turn a deaf ear to the call for innovation and choose to march on-the-spot, until they get edged out by the competition. Page: 71 Therefore, I hope more can be done to reduce the red tape on the payout process. Perhaps consultants can be made available to SMEs, especially for the new applicants, to prevent any undue delay in the verification and inspection processes. Additionally, for SMEs with a convincing proposal of innovative solutions that require a large amount of resources, they could perhaps be considered for an earlier payout or even a partial payout before they launch their project. The cost of business is ballooning because of the higher foreign worker levies, tighter labour market and unexplained rejection of Work Permits and foreign worker applications, and even the costs of dormitory accommodation have escalated. Many smaller construction companies feel insecure with the new policy to increase the foreign worker levies from $600 to $700 in July 2016 for Basic Skilled (R2) Work Permit Holders.”
“I hope Singaporeans can show more respect and care for our pioneers, so that the seniors can enjoy Page: 70 their golden years with peace of mind. (In English): Mdm Speaker, now I would like to speak on businesses, in particular, SMEs. I am particularly relieved for the SMEs, who are now getting the assistance that they have been crying out for. Business operators had many items on their wish list answered, including the extension of the Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) scheme which I had brought up in Parliament before. The Budget's PIC+ was a pleasant surprise and a welcomed bonus. Also, I am happy to note that the maximum period of employment for R1 Work Permit Holders has been increased from 18 years to 22 years. Skilled workers are invaluable to us. I must point out that despite the generous assistance afforded to SMEs, there are many who are still facing problems with their finances. We need to actively engage the people as the implementation and delivery is just as important as the offering. Many companies, especially the smaller ones, still do not know how to go about getting the help from Government. The PIC sounds great on paper, but my sense is that it is not achieving its full potential in giving a leg up to more SMEs. With PIC and other schemes targeted at SMEs, the funds do not get disbursed promptly. After the announcement of Budget, I received many emails from SMEs' bosses. I would give you some examples. Company A told me that they applied to IRAS for 60% of $82,560 in July last year, and IRAS approved the last two items and disbursed $33,592.20 plus $7,000 PIC Bonus to them in January this year. They applied in July last year, and got approved in January this year. That is six months.”
“The Minister for Health replied that if people needed help, they could look for help from the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC). However, AIC has income ceiling requirements. Not every Singaporean is eligible. Last Sunday, I met a 75-year-old resident. He told me that every month he has to spend $370 on drugs to prevent stroke. Some residents said that they needed to buy medicines to treat diabetes. Do they all need to go AIC? If they have to wait for AIC's approval and it is not given, they will die. Mdm Speaker, besides providing protection for the pioneer generation, the younger generation with families will also benefit. Bursaries will be increased, and the lower-middle income families can also qualify for KiFAS. Lower-income families now only need to pay $3 per month for kindergarten fees. Middle-income families will only need to pay $85 per month. Where can you find such cheap kindergarten fees in the world? Another highlight is the CPF contribution rate for older workers being raised by 1%. This Budget is centred on Singaporeans and has addressed the various issues Singaporeans are concerned about. It is a booster for all, and people feel very pleased. However, I feel what the pioneers need most is care and concern. Hence, I would like to urge all Singaporeans to show the pioneers more concern. In the morning or when getting off from work, when you get on the MRT or bus, you, being the younger generation, should not just stare at your computers or phones; you should look out for the seniors standing around you and give up your seat for them. When getting into the lift, do not rush and push ahead. Some residents told me, "MP, it is really good to install lifts at the Khatib station, but there are always students who fight into the lift with us".”
“It is a kind-hearted Budget and focuses on our nation's economic development so that we can live comfortably in the present and the future. It is a Budget that is based on the people's needs. The benefits from this year's Budget cover various sectors including the pioneer generation, and we should be thankful that the Singapore Government is kind to the people and thinks of ways to help the people manage the ever rising costs of living. However, I hope that the businesses will not take advantage of the situation by increasing the price of goods multi-fold. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] As our society ages, many Singaporeans are concerned about the affordability of healthcare. This year's Budget provided much assistance in this area. With the generous Pioneer Generation Package, our elderly residents will no longer need to worry about being sick. When falling sick, they should just go to see the doctor without a second thought. This is, indeed, the best way to honour our Page: 69 pioneers. I applaud the Government for introducing this package to cover all seniors who were 16 at the time of Independence, without any means- testing. This is very heart-warming. No matter what economic outlook will be in the future, the Government is committed by setting aside a sum to fund the Pioneer Generation Package to show our appreciation for the pioneers – $8 billion is no small sum! I also strongly support the move which allows senior Singaporeans to use their MediSave more flexibly for outpatient treatment. Last year in Parliament, I suggested that Singaporeans be allowed to use MediSave to buy hearing aid, because a good hearing aid could cost over $1,000.”
“Hence, I wonder if it is because we have not communicated enough and reached out enough to fellow Singaporeans who are often too trapped in their daily work, because they are so worried about their day-to-day living expenses, whether they are able to afford their expenses and that is why they have not had the capacity to really find out what is available to them. Page: 68 If it is so, it is a pity because we have done so much, spent so much and yet, we as the Government have failed at the very last mile – that is, making sure that people know what they can tap on so that the goodwill will not go to waste. Let us not allow myths or half-truths to take root in our society and hijack the real agenda of our Government. That is to help Singaporeans to have a better quality of life. Therefore, I hope the Government will set aside sufficient resources to ensure that we complete this very last mile and do it well so that the target group of Singaporeans will indeed benefit. Finally, I would like to conclude. The generosity of the Budget 2014, especially towards our elders, is made possible by years of contributions by Singaporeans and prudence in our governance. More importantly, it is the values that we are exemplifying through this Budget that I find heartening. As our society moves towards self-actualisation, this Budget, which I find soulful, is a big step in the right direction. With that, I support the Budget. 2.33 pm Er Dr Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon): Mdm Speaker, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Firstly, I would like to commend the Finance Minister for presenting a Budget that signals the Government's concern for the people and far-sighted vision for Singapore's progress.”
“To lessen the amount of pain and failure in the transformation, and to encourage more companies to take bold steps to try, could the Government consider an "employment guarantee" programme to ensure that business owners and their employees will be guaranteed of training and a job, should they fail in the transformation process. This will provide safeguards for the business owners, workers and their families. It will also allow a redeployment of manpower to companies or emerging sectors which have the potential to grow. (In English): The Budget has a lot to offer this year. So, what is next? People need to know what the Government has to offer to help those in need. Many locals and foreigners remain unaware or have only half-understood what we do in Singapore. A recent article published on 28 February 2014 in The Straits Times revealed the results of a poll, indicating that most Singaporeans know of the assistance schemes and benefits available but do not know if they did indeed receive the subsidies. In another example which was also cited by fellow hon Member Ms Irene Ng, BBC recently on 27 February 2014 wrote about how low-income families get by in Singapore. This article was shared by many on Facebook and social media, and there were some chatter about it. The intent of highlighting the needy is commendable and we will all need to work hard to better help vulnerable Singaporeans. I cannot help but notice that some of the problems highlighted may already have available solutions. For instance, I would have thought that MediFund/ MediFund Junior is available to help the child, in the article, with her asthma treatment and the young mother of six need not have to fret over it.”
“And due to the small size of their businesses, they are unable to meet MOM's dependency ratio and have to manage most of the work on their own. Some of them even have to work from dawn to dusk. When they are so exhausted from their work, requiring them to broaden their horizon, search for new technologies and transform their businesses is, indeed, mission impossible. In my constituency, when I speak with shop owners in my neighbourhood, I would hear of the many difficulties they face. One owner of a small bakery, for example, shared that his business is a micro business. He was unable to attract local workers to work for him, but he could not hire foreign workers as he was unable to meet MOM's dependency ratio given his scale. As a result, he had to handle everything himself. I asked if he had considered making use of the Government incentive programmes to increase his productivity via process re-engineering or innovative technologies. He said he would very much like to respond to the Government's call but he did not know of the possible technologies to leverage on and what examples he could learn from overseas. He simply did not know where to start. Moreover, his poor command of English and the prospect of having to navigate through arduous application procedures Page: 67 cause much fear in him. Therefore, I hope that the Government would pay more attention to help these small businesses. Besides pumping in large sums of money, it is very important to assist and guide SMEs closely. Economic transformation is excruciatingly painful. If you succeed, you will be reborn and emerge strongly. But if you fail, you lose everything, including your livelihood.”
“Many do not have the capacity to find out possible innovations or best practices that they can use to improve productivity and reduce reliance on manpower, both foreign and local. Many of these small enterprise bosses work Page: 66 from dawn to dusk and had little education or the know-how to transform. Hence, how will the Government hand-hold them through this journey? For example, helping them with horizon scanning of suitable innovations/technologies/best practices, hand-holding them through the implementation of these improvements, and helping them to develop new niche areas and move into growth industries. For those who eventually cannot sustain their businesses, will the Government consider an Employment Guarantee programme, somewhat similar to European's Youth Guarantee programme, for the displaced SME owners and staff so as to minimise the pain and structural unemployment? We already have very good programmes and funding in place. So, this guarantee programme, from my point of view, is merely an additional and synergistic step of ensuring that these displaced workers and owners will not be left in the lurch. Madam, please allow me to speak in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Respected Speaker, with this year's Budget, the Government has further reiterated the values of continuous improvement through various assistance schemes to encourage enterprises to transform. However, due to labour shortage and high operating costs, many SMEs are still suffering, in particular, the more traditional and small-scale businesses. This is because many of these owners are relatively older with lower education background.”
“Moreover, should they have children, their children will be most likely born as Singaporeans given that at least one parent is a Singapore citizen. I will speak more on this during the COS but I do implore the Government to pay more attention to this group of Singaporean families, who are deserving of our support too. The third value is about continuous learning and improvement. I think many Singaporeans, including SME bosses, understand the need for continuous improvement, so that we can remain competitive. However, many SMEs are suffering from economic restructuring, and especially from manpower constraints. Reduction in foreign manpower is not reversible at least for some time to come. So, what else can the Government do? I urge the Government to not just focus on the larger enterprises, but to extend help to the small enterprises too, especially those owned or run by people who tend to be older and had little education. They are the ones who are most squeezed, suffocated and crying for help. There are many schemes to enable innovation and increase productivity for SMEs – ranging from PIC that covers items such as IT and infrastructure investments to debt and equity financing schemes, which I would like to think it is to encourage SMEs to take more risk and take on positive return projects both locally as part of the transformation or to venture overseas where it is more viable and where there is a bigger market for them. In a way, it is to find an alternate way out. While offering lots of money and help options, I wonder how effective these are in helping the SMEs to transform, especially the small enterprises.”
“However, they found it difficult to stay together as his wife cannot even attain a Long-Term Visit Pass despite years of appeal. In another case, Mr Raffi, in his 40s, married an Indonesian lady. They have children together who are Singaporeans. They tried many times but could not get a permanent stay for her. He worked hard and would have been able to get by but, having to support his entire family on his own and having to bear the travelling costs incurred by the wife being a foreigner, the financial burden that he has to bear inevitably has increased. There are many more of such examples, all of them feel very frustrated. None of these Singaporeans have so far thought of abandoning their foreign spouses, though some wondered if they should have given up their Singapore citizenship so as to go overseas to be with their foreign spouses, so that their Page: 65 family can be whole. The Government would not bat an eyelid in dishing out the subsidies had the wife been born in Singapore. The Government and general public would have also been supportive of giving more help to such low-income Singaporean families so that they can break out of the poverty cycle, so that their Singaporean children can have their best shot in life. So, why not recognise these foreign spouses who are legally married to Singaporeans? Let them have some certainty of stay in Singapore with an immigration progression roadmap with milestones defined, so that the foreign spouses and their families know what are expected of them and plan their lives accordingly. Singaporeans have chosen them to share their lives with and these foreign spouses have also chosen to give up on their homelands to be part of Singapore.”
“So, these actions, infused with a human touch, will certainly be valued more than just dollars and cents. Page: 64 Just as importantly, now that our pioneers have gifted us with such a wonderful legacy, such a robust foundation, we as younger Singaporeans must rise to the occasion and embrace the challenges that lay ahead of us with optimism and a steel mind, and build upon what our pioneers have given us and do them proud. We can, we must and we will. The second value that I would like to talk about is promoting self-reliance and helping the vulnerable so that we all can have a more equal footing in life. It is therefore no surprise that this year's Budget continues to dedicate a significant portion towards helping the low-income. However, what is pleasantly surprising is that there are also more benefits for the middle-income families as compared with past years' Budgets. Families continue to form the bedrock of our society and nation. Many Singaporeans also believe in the value of families. However, there is one group of Singaporean families whom I think have been neglected and who deserve help too. I am referring to the low-income Singaporean families with foreign spouses. Let me give some examples, some cases, some real families whom I have met on the ground. First one, Mr Bose. He is in his 50s. He has given the prime years of his life to the SAF. Unfortunately, he sustained injuries during service and had to retire from the service. Since then, it has been very difficult for him to hold down a proper job. Now, in his 50s, he needs someone to care for him and keep him company. A few years ago, he married a Malaysian about his age, willing to care for him, willing to be there for him.”
“Hence, could the Government consider allowing the pioneers to decide whether a particular year's MediSave top-up be converted into a cash voucher for, say, S&CC and utilities bill payments? In terms of fiscal expenditure, there is no impact – Government will still pay out the same amount but, to the pioneers, it will mean so much as there is more flexibility and more means to resolve their very pressing needs. All said, it is highly commendable for the Government to exercise moral leadership in honouring and caring for our PG – our elders. It is a strong signal to the younger generation that this value of honouring our elders is still precious to our nation and, hopefully, this value will endure many more generations to come. However, the entire society and nation have to internalise and exemplify such a value. For instance, we cannot outsource filial piety or gratitude to our pioneers to the Government and the Government alone. If so, we, as individuals, will truly be soulless beings who see ourselves as having no stake in this land we call home. Hence, beyond the PG package, beyond what the Government can offer, be it in passport format or whatever schemes that we can offer, and beyond mere words in and outside of this House, I urge all Singaporeans to come together and honour our PG in tangible ways. For example, reach out to them, speak with them, keep them company, collect their stories, organise and take part in programmes that will engage them meaningfully. And perhaps even to bring them on organised trips – bring them to Istana which has such historical meaning to our context that I believe that the Pioneer Generation will feel a deep sense of pride because they had a very strong role, a very big part to play in building modern Singapore.”
“So, they tell me, "我终于认了"; they finally admit to being old. Even non-PG Singaporeans have so far expressed support for the PG package, though some wished they had been born earlier. This package is generous and will benefit the PG Singaporeans till the end of their life journey. This also means a whopping national expenditure of $8 billion, probably not something that we can sustain all the time but I believe it is worth it. This huge fiscal commitment is something that is worth it. For the generation who had done so much for today's Singapore, we who are younger need to ask ourselves: how much is this generation of young Singaporeans willing to give of ourselves to support our older generation, especially those who had come from the founding generation of modern Singapore during the Independence? I had made the same statement during the Opening of Page: 63 Parliament debate in 2011 and called for bold steps in offering free basic public healthcare for our old. With this PG package, I can say certainly and gladly that the Government is, indeed, looking after our pioneers. I support the PG package, but I would also like to urge the Government to consider whether the PG package should solely focus on healthcare and whether there could be a cash component as well, pretty much echoing some of our Members of this House had said earlier. One of the key issues that retirees face is cashflow management. They have assets locked up in the form of housing or CPF savings with restrictions on the usage. While the generous subsidies will mean less out of pocket expenses for the pioneers, which will in turn increase disposable income, this may not apply to those who are in good physical but poor financial health.”
“Mdm Speaker, as a society and young nation, we have been debating over our national identity, our collective values and our shared vision for this home of ours. We crave for and have searched hard for our nation's soul as we fear losing ourselves in our apparently relentless pursuit of economic growth. It is in this context that I am deeply heartened by this year's Budget. Budget 2014 is one that I would describe as "soulful", not sorrowful, but soulful because it offers much positivity and hope for our future. The measures announced, in particular the social provisions, are underpinned by important Asian values that I believe many Singaporeans till today still hold dear. One such value that is especially salient is to remember our roots and show gratitude even if it is not demanded. We always use this term in Chinese: "饮水思源". The Pioneer Generation Package is a revolutionary one. Firstly, there has never been a package with the intent of honouring an entire generation of Singaporeans who have given the prime of their lives to build modern Singapore; secondly, this package does not have means testing which is rare for Singapore where we are used to the idea of taking from the rich and giving it to the poor; thirdly, it addresses right on target the prevalent fear of healthcare costs amongst our old. Hence, the package came as a pleasant surprise to many. While engaging the ground, I have received many heartening comments. Some PG Singaporeans said they had never expected to be recognised or honoured in their lifetime because they had deemed themselves to be ordinary Singaporeans – ordinary but great in our hearts. Others who have a keen sense of humour even joked in Hokkien that they are finally "gam wan" to admit that they are old.”
“Mdm Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister, based on what had been shared earlier and in his reply, there seems to be a fair amount of judgement that the bus captain and the traffic controller have to exercise on a day-to-day basis. Because of the subjectivity, would the bus driver not feel pressured and make reckless decisions, especially when they may have had to stop for a few more minutes to allow an elderly passenger, for instance, get onboard, or because of congestion on the road? In such instances, what kinds of measures are being put in place to guide them in terms of making such assessments, that is, when they should slow down and when they should catch up so that, overall, not only will they be safe on the road, but also to cut down on the excess waiting time to improve reliability of the service to passengers?”
“Mdm Speaker, I have two supplementary questions for the Acting Minister of Manpower. First, to remedy the damage to the international reputation of Singapore as portrayed by the foreign media as well as to correct the unfair portrayal of Singapore and Singaporeans who are largely civil and gracious, may I ask what will the Ministry be doing to engage these foreign media, perhaps together with NGOs, so that they have a clearer understanding of how we treat our foreign workers in Singapore and, hopefully, to put the fact out there that Singapore remains a civil and gracious society even towards the foreign workers in Singapore? This is something that I am concerned about. The second supplementary question is that the Acting Minister mentioned in his speech that MOM is looking into encouraging employers to schedule their days off on different days so as to reduce the concentration of foreign workers in certain popular areas. I presume that that is an acknowledgement that this is one possible way of addressing the issue. May I ask what will the Ministry be doing in concrete steps to coordinate and, perhaps, facilitate this? Page: 78”
“Mdm Speaker, I thank the Acting Minister for the answer. I would like to ask the Acting Minister two questions. First, should we not support young Singaporeans in pursuing their aspirations, even though some of the further education that they are trying to pursue here are not in full-time or subsidised public Universities, such as NUS and NTU? Secondly, what might the other concerns be if the children promised and eventually do pay back into their parents' CPF? I understand the concern is about preserving enough money in their CPF for retirement. But should we not give them the flexibility while they are able to at this time, to help them pursue their dreams and aspirations and later on when they put the monies back to their parents' CPF, the monies of their parents are still pretty much intact for their retirement?”
“Question No 17, Madam. The Acting Minister for Manpower (Mr Tan Chuan-Jin): Mdm Speaker, the CPF Education Scheme was introduced in 1989 to enable members to tap on a portion of their CPF savings for tertiary education. However, the primary purpose of the CPF remains to help members save for retirement, housing and healthcare needs. Therefore, we have limited the usage of CPF funds for education to only full-time subsidised local tertiary education courses at approved publicly-funded tertiary institutions. This is so that we have assurance on the affordability and also, quality of these courses. All full-time subsidised courses offered by the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and LASALLE are covered under the CPF Education Scheme. This comprises all full-time diploma courses offered by NAFA and LASALLE and degree courses offered by LASALLE in partnership with Goldsmiths' College, as well as the Music degree course offered by NAFA in partnership with the Royal College of Music. This means that parents can already use their CPF monies for their children's education in the above-mentioned courses. Tertiary education courses that are not publicly subsidised, such as SHATEC's full-time diplomas, are not covered under the CPF Education Scheme. MOM has no plans to expand the CPF Education Scheme beyond what is currently allowed, as it is important to preserve members' CPF savings for their retirement, especially in view of improving life expectancies. For students who may require financial assistance for their courses, we do encourage them to explore other avenues, including study awards and bursaries offered by the institutions, where available.”
“I thank the Acting Minister for the reply. I would like to ask, firstly, how demand is determined. I am asking this because even for mature estates, there are BTO projects coming up and I anticipate that young families would be moving in. So, I think that there would be an increase in demand for childcare, student care and even infant care services. The second reason is that there are also low-income families, for example, in MacPherson, and sometimes these young families with children may not surface in a conventional way and they go to a childcare centre to demand for childcare. But from observation, it is with the availability of childcare that young mothers especially can be freed up, comforted in the knowledge that their children can be taken care of, and that they can go out to find a job to supplement their household income. I would like to ask the Acting Minister if the Ministry would also provide funding to help build or retrofit some of the existing buildings to allow for the provision of additional childcare services in mature estates such as MacPherson.”
“Madam, three points of clarification. First, is on alumni. I would like to ask the Minister how will his Ministry directly or indirectly continue to engage the alumni. Development is a continuum and not in a discrete manner such that after they have graduated from the programmes, Page: 100 they continue to be active in the volunteering scene or in the community. Second, will the Minister assure that there will continue to be a careful mix of programmes such that there will not just be programmes catering to a certain demographic of youths, but there will be platforms whereby youths of different interests and background can come together and get to know one another more? The third and last point, I would like to ask the Minister what is the definition of success for youth programmes and engagement?”
“Based on the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NPVC)'s bi-annual survey on volunteerism, the volunteerism rate for young adults is one of the lowest amongst all age groups, at about 28%. It fluctuated within the low range of 11%-15% between 2002 and 2006. I would like to ask how the Ministry could tailor the volunteering opportunities of these young adults and take into account their priorities of starting a family and building their careers. Looking at the same NPVC survey, I notice the high youth volunteerism rate for youths aged between 15 and 24 years old at about 43%. As youths volunteer during their formative years in schools and tertiary institutions, I would like to ask the Minister whether MCCY continues to track the development of alumni, being defined as young persons who have gone through youth programmes, such as Youth Expedition Project, National Youth Forum, SHINE Youth Festival Programme and Young ChangeMakers Grant. Furthermore, can the Acting Minister advise us on the quantitative and qualitative indicators on how we measure the engagement of youth programmes' alumni? Social Enterprise and Youth”
“Madam, as the youngest Member of the House, as an Organising Chairman of National Youth Forum 2006 and actively being involved in youth programmes in the past, I thought I would like to speak on youth engagement and development today. Madam, today's youths are passionate and outspoken about issues that concern us. As we live in an interconnected world, we find youths advancing important local and international causes which we feel strongly about, from animal rights to global warming. We need to harness youth passions, help effect positive change and create new realities in the society. Acting MCCY Minister, Mr Lawrence Wong, mentioned that getting more youths to contribute to the community and society will be one of MCCY's priorities. He also wanted to help youths realise their aspirations by supporting them in the best possible way. I agree with him. We need to listen and understand youths so that we can align our policies to be in tune with their aspirations and concerns. However, I wonder if we are doing enough to pass on to our youths our shared values and wisdom from the generations before us. Hence, I would like to ask how the Government sees its role in youth matters. I would also like to ask the Acting Minister the extent of the youth programmes reached outside the school. Take the Young ChangeMakers Grant, for example. What is the take-up rate amongst young working adults, those in their mid-20s to 30s, who have applied for the Grant since 2006? Also, how does the MCCY define success for youth programmes and engagement? What are the benchmarks and key indicators used to evaluate and monitor programmes rolled out? Page: 80 I would also like to enquire about the trend of youth volunteerism and how youth from 25 to 35 years old have been engaged.”
“I am so sorry. Will the Ministry share with us what is being done to address this issue? And, finally, for the respite care services, apart from dementia, does that also extend to other forms of mental illnesses as well?”
“Mdm Chair, I would like to thank the Minister, the Minister of State and the Parliamentary Secretary for the very comprehensive replies, and I am heartened to know that there is a lot of attention given to the mental healthcare sector. I have got four questions. The first question is: if a person is suspected to have a mental health issue, perhaps somewhat moderate to severe, and is causing disturbances in the community setting which may not be aggressive and violent enough for the Police to come in, and this person may also not be known to IMH yet; therefore, no records with the IMH; may have little or no family support or social network; how shall the community respond to such an instance, and cope with this case, such that this person will be able to come Page: 132 within the radar, and receive the treatment that he or she needs in order to recover as soon as possible, and to regain normalcy in life? That is the first question. Second question, talking about stigma, will the Ministry consider working more closely with the mass media to provide a more objective and balanced portrayal and coverage of mental health issues? There have been studies which show that media is a very pervasive and very effective medium for propagating certain messages and imaging certain issues. The third is about meaningful employment. I have also heard of many instances where people who have mental health issues do have reservations as they feel that they cannot come out into the open and tell their bosses that they need to go for medical appointments and so on. That, in a way, hinders them from getting meaningful employment or staying employed —”
“For instance, I have heard of some employees not daring to present MCs issued by the IMH, or to inform Page: 101 bosses that they need to go to IMH for appointments and, hence, have to take no-pay leave or miss the appointments altogether. One reason for such behaviours could be due to the stigma and inaccurate stereotypes of those with mental health issues. Unfortunately, the more people try to shun stigma and do the "normal" thing, the more it reinforces stigma. Hence, efforts to combat stigma need to continue and be reinforced. I believe that giving help to those with mental health needs is an important signal of our priority and governing philosophy. Singaporeans with mental health issues need help but are not in a position to advocate for themselves. In many cases, giving more help might improve their lives and will not generate immediate tangible returns to the society. But in adding this as a focus area, we are sending an important message that we, as a people, believe in carrying everyone together with us, even those who cannot ask for help, and that we help not for gains but to share, as a society, the burdens of those less fortunate. It shows that Singapore is a nation with a strong, pulsating heart. Women's Health Screening Programme”
“Would the Ministry also consider: (a) working with the mass media to provide a more objective and balanced coverage of mental illness by avoiding linking crimes or "bad" behaviours to mental illness and instead, highlighting and celebrating inspiring models, such as successful individuals who have overcome mental illnesses or showcasing great works by famous persons known to have mental illness, for instance, Sylvia Plath, Van Gogh, Isaac Newton, Beethoven, Abraham Lincoln and John Nash. (b) organising a national campaign to promote deeper understanding of the range of mental illnesses – from depression, eating disorders, sleep disorders, general anxiety disorders (GADs), personality disorders, bipolar, OCD and psychosis – and to re-image mental illnesses as being no different from any other illnesses any person may have at some point in life. (c) working with and give financial support to NGOs in destigmatising efforts. These organisations can help share the agencies' load in mental health efforts and destigmatising mental health ought to be a national effort in a society aspiring to be inclusive. The fourth area is enabling confidence and meaningful employment. I applaud the launch of the handbook for employers and employees, which aims to help raise awareness and promote greater understanding amongst employers and colleagues of those with mental health issues. This is a good initiative and definitely a step forward in the right direction. However, the readiness of employers to hire or continue to hire those with mental health issues needs to be addressed too.”
“They also play a role in helping those with mental health issues to rehabilitate and integrate well into the community. MOH has set up a fund for caregiver training. This is useful, but apart from equipping them with the needed skills and knowledge, their welfare is also important. As caregivers, they make many sacrifices – in terms of jobs, which impact their financial capability, and personal time, which, in turn, impacts their own personal well-being. Thus, could the MOH consider providing more financial support? For instance, for those who need foreign domestic helper, can the levy be reduced further? Could more respite care services be provided so that caregivers can catch a breather while comforted in the knowledge that their care recipients will continue to be well cared for? Caregivers are often assumed to be strong and resilient and I believe they are. However, they, too, need to catch a breather at times to refresh, recharge and then soldier on. Page: 100 The third area is to combat stigma. Public and self-stigma hinder early detection and intervention of mental illnesses. Public stigma makes fund-raising to help those with mental health problems more difficult, and makes it much harder to find meaningful employment for those with low or moderate mental health issues. The latter could have been due to misconceptions and scary portrayal of people with mental illnesses portrayed in the media. Following my call on the Government during last year's COS debate to do more in combating stigma, can the Ministry provide an update on what has been done to address this issue?”
“In such cases, what other levers do the MOH have in getting them to seek treatment? Third, can the MOH consider a mechanism to ensure that people who have mental health issues but not yet known to IMH will be treated? For example, having a community health assessment officer to conduct preliminary assessment at the person's residence and then make the necessary recommendations to the IMH. If the person is assessed to suffer from moderate Page: 99 to severe mental illnesses, the person is required to seek treatment. This may sound intrusive, but the main aim, really, is to make sure that those who have mental health issues can receive help and treatment and recover as soon as possible. This will no doubt enable the well-being of the individuals and those who are around them in the family or community. Clearly, what I have just shared will require more space and manpower and, hence, will the MOH look into increasing the capacity and capabilities in the public mental healthcare sector? Perhaps MOH can also leverage on NGOs or VWOs more to achieve better outcomes. For instance, can MOH work with and give funding support to these organisations to outreach to the community and do early detection work? Currently, I know that organisations such as the Silver Ribbon Singapore are often tapped on by Government agencies to visit, befriend and conduct preliminary assessment – more in terms of detection work and not intervention – of residents who are suspected to require mental healthcare. Can more be done to support such organisations which play a complementary role within the public mental healthcare sector? The second area is to give more support for caregivers. We should give more support to them. They play the main role in caring for those with mental health issues.”
“Mdm Chair, over the past year, the MOH has put in commendable efforts on the front of mental health. However, I urge the MOH to continue paying attention to this area. There are four points that I would like to raise. First, on capacity for public mental healthcare sector. The Institute of Mental Health (IMH) is the authority in the mental health sector in Singapore. Many look to the IMH when encountering mental health issues. It is commendable that there are satellite wellness centres, which are under the purview of IMH, in some neighbourhoods, and there are also community health teams that go into the community to assess and provide support to those with mental health. However, more can be done. Firstly, there are those who suffer from moderate to severe mental health problems. They may not be violent but do require constant attention and care. They may also not have caregivers or their caregivers are no longer able to provide care. The IMH is currently operating at near full capacity. Hence, would the MOH consider increasing bed space at IMH or setting up more homes that can permanently care for those suffering from serious mental illnesses or whose families can no longer care for them? 3.00 pm Second, there are those who exhibit certain anti-social behaviours but who are not violent, which is typically the barometer for the Police to intervene. However, they do not seek treatment either because they have no insight to their conditions or they fear being stigmatised. Those who were once IMH patients or with family members who can persuade them to get help and treatment are more likely to get help with their conditions. However, there are also cases not known to IMH and without family or friends available or willing to approach them.”