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 [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.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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“It is important that Singaporeans continue to regard Singapore as a city of possibilities. Our size may be small, but our imagination must be big. Despite our land constraints, we must somehow find ways to reinvent and remake what we have; develop new buildings, new districts and new gardens that delight our citizens and amaze the world. Second, making our communities stronger. A beautiful Singapore must be underpinned by strong and united communities. Singapore's community-building efforts have come a long way since our Independence. We embrace multiracialism and multi-religiosity. We have a harmonious society united for progress. Our experience has been admired and emulated by many around the world. However, our society construct is also exposed to some unique challenges: the advent of social media has the potential to aggravate fractures within our society through fake news and fear mongering – sensational pieces are always more attention-grabbing than run-of-the-mill news pieces; our changing demographics – an ageing society will assert more pressure on the working class; evolving expectations of citizens increase pressure on our Government to deliver better and faster; religious radicalism plants dangerous seeds of antagonism and mistrust which could destroy our social bonds; and, of course, there is a risk of widening wealth and digital gaps. The consequences are serious if we do not actively address these challenges. For example, if fake news or radicalism gains momentum, our social fabric, so carefully built and maintained over the past decades, could be torn if people doubt and confront one another over what is true and what they think is true.”
“Faced with ever-changing conditions, Singapore must continue to strive relentlessly and strengthen our capabilities both externally and domestically to maintain our position. I hope that the Government will continue to give strong support to manpower training, urban development, building resilient and cohesive communities, and the aspirations of our youths. (In English): Speaker, Sir, I fully support MGP and the other social initiatives announced in this Budget. But it is also important that we strike a balance between spending to benefit the current generation and directing a good part of our financial muscle towards investing in the future. A significant portion of this year's Budget is dedicated to strengthening our economic competitiveness and building deeper enterprise and people capabilities. These are important investments into the future. But I hope we will also think about the following. First, making our city better. Through the annual Formula One night race, last year's Trump-Kim Summit and the movie Crazy Rich Asians, Singapore showcased our beautiful city to the world. But in 10, 20 years to come, when our infrastructure has aged and as other cities catch up, will we still have anything to show and be excited over? What is the next big attraction after Marina Bay, the new financial district and Gardens by the Bay? What is the next iconic public housing project after the Pinnacle and Kampong Admiralty? It is important that we continually upgrade and rejuvenate our city. It is equally important to find ways to create new "space" where new developments can take place. Of course, we should retain some parts of old Singapore so that our people can remain connected to our heritage. But Singapore should not be an old city.”
“To the others, the fact that there is such a package is an assurance that the Government cares about the more vulnerable and understands what worries our people most. Taken together with the many other schemes and programmes for our seniors, it is apparent that the Government is working hard to enable Singaporeans to age with dignity. In Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Speaker, Sir, one of the highlights of this Budget is the MGP. The MG contributed their youth and efforts and built the Singapore that we are proud of today. This $8 billion package conveys our gratitude and respect for the MG and cannot be considered as welfare. It is a concrete manifestation of our sense of gratitude. The package has focused on healthcare, and it shows that the Government empathises with the elderly's concern over healthcare costs. They have, therefore, addressed the problem directly, with the aim of lightening senior citizens' burden in terms of healthcare costs, so that they can enjoy their golden years and have less to worry about. Actually, the Government has always looked after the elderly and the disadvantaged. In recent years, our social and public healthcare expenditure has increased significantly. As the youngest Member of Parliament, I am very grateful that the Government has made these efforts, as policies rolled out by a government that cares for the people would definitely prioritise the long-term interests of the nation. This is a people-centric and compassionate Government. Of course, besides dealing with current problems, a responsible government with foresight must also plan for the future. So, I am glad to see that this Budget continues to prioritise economic transformation and talent development.”
“Speaker, Sir, thank you for the opportunity to speak in this debate. My colleagues have put forth their earnest opinions and excellent ideas covering many aspects of the Budget in the past two days. Hence, as the last backbencher to speak in this debate, I will keep my speech relatively brief, or at least I try to. The Budget is an important business of Parliament. This House must decide not only how we allocate resources to address immediate needs, but also how we can find resources to invest for the future. The Budget is a means to implement the Government’s strategies and realise Singaporeans' collective vision for Singapore. Therefore, what we spend on and how much we spend on are important. One highlight of this year's Budget is the Merdeka Generation Package (MGP). This package is estimated to cost over $8 billion in present value, and help close to half a million senior Singaporeans. This significant package will make a tangible difference to the lives of the Merdeka Generation (MG). It shows our gratitude to seniors who had given so much of themselves to build the Singapore we are proud of today. There are many ways the package could have been designed. But the Government chose to focus the benefits on healthcare, which is the right priority. The package will clearly address the top-of-mind concern and alleviate the healthcare cost burden on this group of seniors, while encouraging them to age actively. So far, feedback on the package from my residents has been positive. Seniors who missed out on the Pioneer Generation Package (PGP) are happy and appreciative. The younger ones, who are children of the PG and MG, are supportive as well. This is because these packages relieve their parents' medical expenses, indirectly benefiting them.”
“Even in our twilight years, we can still strive to broaden our horizons, keep up with new trends, continue to learn, enjoy ourselves and contribute to the society.”
“But at the same time, as we tackle the challenges brought forth by ageing and strive to fulfil the vision of ageing in place, we cannot neglect the important role played by caregivers. We need to take care of their welfare as well and give them practical support. In community service, we often see that many of these caregivers are actually family members of the elderly. They take pains to take care of the elderly. Some even give up their careers and dreams. In this process, they will encounter many difficulties and need assistance. As such, I hope that the Government can be more proactive and provide more comprehensive support to the caregivers. I have four recommendations. One, subsidise the expenses needed to take care of the elderly to help relieve their financial burden. Two, consolidate information related to caring for the aged, put them up proactively in the community so that caregivers can get needed help in time. Three, provide respite services outside normal working hours so that caregivers of dementia patients can get enough rest and enjoy some work-life balance. Four, encourage employers to adopt FWAs so that employees who are caregivers can attend to family emergencies while still being able to complete their work. To implement FWAs, the performance appraisal system should also be tweaked to pay more attention to quality of work. This is not only fairer, but also more humane. To the employees, it is also a form of encouragement. Lastly, I would like to encourage everyone to support active ageing. We should not have this negative mindset that "being old is useless", because the elderly can also lead a vibrant life, like a beautiful sunset.”
“We need to apply elderly-friendly designs to the development of common spaces, facilities, machine interfaces, workflows, public processes, smart phone applications and more. Fourth, help seniors to be digitally ready. Equip seniors with the tools and know-how so that they can access the Internet and take advantage of useful mobile applications. Help them harness technology to stay connected to news and information, support networks and friends and families. Mr Speaker, Sir, please allow me to continue in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] There is a saying that goes like this, "the young should not mock the old, for there will be a day when he himself will age as well." This is a very interesting statement, and I have two interpretations for that. Firstly, we should actively create an elderly-friendly environment to better look after the elderly and make sure that their basic needs are taken care of. After all, we will all age one day. If we do not respect and take care of the elderly today, who will respect and take care of us when we get old? Secondly, we need to look at retirement life with a positive attitude. Being old does not mean that one is useless and will be detested. Just like sunset, the elderly, too, can cast a beautiful glow in their old age. Population ageing in Singapore is a familiar topic to us. For years, the Government has been making tremendous efforts to tackle the challenges brought forth by ageing and seeking ways to better take care of the elderly. The result is clear to all, especially when it comes to elderly welfare, which has been put in place gradually.”
“Is this not wonderful? Hence, I call on all seniors to maintain a positive outlook and to lead an active lifestyle. In reality, we know that it takes more than a willing senior to lead a successful active ageing lifestyle. I made several calls on the Government in this House before to create favourable conditions for our seniors to age actively and gracefully. Allow me to reiterate some of them here. First, create a favourable environment and employment opportunities for seniors who want to work. Stem out ageism. The Government can take the lead in testing how work environment, workflows, job role designs and even compensation and benefits, such as health benefits, can be optimised for senior workers. Second, create meaningful volunteering opportunities that play to the strength of our seniors. Incentivise elderly to volunteer more. I was especially struck by an example of this lady called Mdm Anne Choo when I attended the opening of the Brahm Centre in December last year. At the centre, we were introduced to Mdm Choo, who, despite being in her late 70s, almost 80, is still very active. She turned from being a volunteer to a staff with the Brahm Centre, and every day she would visit the elderly, some of whom might be younger than her, visiting them, encouraging them, and helping them through with physiotherapy. She is an inspiration and, to be honest, after hearing her story, she is my dream, and I hope that one day when I grow old, I can be like her. Third, design to include. Understand the physical requirements and cognitive characteristics of seniors. Apply elder-friendly designs into our hardware and heartware solutions. We need to mainstream elder-friendly designs and make them pervasive.”
“Ensuring a fair appraisal will send a positive signal to all employees and enhance manpower retention as well as staff motivation. As Singaporeans live longer and work longer, we can expect more senior workers who are caregivers as well. Therefore, FWAs and corresponding adjustments to appraisals to value quality over sheer quantity are increasingly imperative, and I call on employers to work with the Government to implement such arrangements. So far, efforts have been focused on supporting seniors as care recipients. This is important. It will be very sad if we are unable to take care of our seniors’ basic needs and it will reflect poorly on us as a civilised society. However, we must be more optimistic and ambitious as well. I have made this statement in this House before and I will repeat it, that I firmly believe that our seniors are much more capable than being mere recipients of care. As we enhance our healthcare, we can expect longer and more healthy years. As our economy evolves, there will be less reliance on physical strength at the workplace but more use of intellect and wisdom. As each population becomes better educated and more savvy with the digital space, there will be less fear and deeper entrenchment of technology in our lives. Some hold the belief that you will get useless when you age. In Chinese, we call it "老了不中用". While I understand there are some constraints that come with age, I do not agree with this belief. It is self-defeating and we risk a self-fulfilling prophecy. We need to keep active and keep trying. Of course, we hope we do not have to work into our old age because we have to, but I hope we can continue to contribute because we love to. It brings meaning to life, and it helps us look forward to every new day with new hope.”
“Employers constitute a group of key stakeholders whose compassion and willingness to adapt working arrangements for workers who are caregivers as well are called upon. In the case of Chris, there is a limit to the number of leave days that he is entitled to. His father is generally fine in the day, as he is still physically fit and has a routine to follow. But there were times when his father was hospitalised due to fall injuries or when he went missing. Chris would have to take leave. Upon utilising all his entitled leave days, Chris could resort to taking unpaid leave, but this is undesirable as this affects his income when he is already struggling financially. Also, taking leave reduces his "face time" at work and affects his perceived work performance. Chris is not alone in facing such a situation. Having sufficient leave days to care for an elderly loved one is much needed, but it is untenable over the longer term. A more sustainable solution is to enable FWAs so that these caregivers can work offsite and continue to deliver work products while watching over the elderly at home. Hence, I urge employers to keep an open mind, embrace FWAs where possible. So far, we have seen encouraging results in terms of re-employment through the Re-employment Act and hiring of seniors through the Special Employment Credit. To enhance the appeal of implementing FWAs to employers, the Government could consider increasing financial incentives and mounting a nationwide campaign to solicit buy-in from employers. In addition, the Government could work with the tripartite partners and consider financial incentives to nudge employers to place more weightage on the quality of work output instead during appraisals. Less face time does not mean less commitment to work.”
“Beyond this, we should also consider establishing more AIC-satellites within communities, perhaps co-locating them with existing setups, such as the Silver Generation Offices, SACs or Community Centres (CCs), so that residents can simply walk in whenever they need help. Similarly, digital options should also be made available and widely publicised to benefit caregivers who are digitally savvy. An example is to make the Moments of Life app the digital equivalent of AIC. Third, respite care for caregivers beyond conventional working hours. As in the case of Chris, he desperately needs a respite, especially at night, when he needs to rest and when his father who has dementia is active. Chris was pale and drifting off at times during our conversation. I was worried and told him that even superheroes need a break. He agreed, but he asked, "Where and how to?” It was a good question. Chris is not alone. I also meet elderly parents who are still struggling to care for their aged children suffering from mental disabilities. They face similar challenges. Not a moment of downtime. Physically washed out, but still pushing on because their love and sense of responsibility are too strong for them to let go. Worse, if the elderly caregiver unexpectedly falls ill, who will take over the care duties under short notice? Therefore, providing respite care beyond the conventional working hours will offer relief and restore balance to the lives of these caregivers. To be ready for an ageing population and give support to caregivers, relying on the Government alone is not enough. The society, too, needs to play a more active role. We need a whole-of-society effort.”
“Also, not every household wants to or can hire a foreign domestic helper to care for their elderly, as in the case of Chris. The existing FDW Grant will be of little use to them. Hence, providing financial support specifically to offset caregiving expenses, whilst allowing the care recipient or his caregiver the autonomy to decide how to use the money, will be useful in relieving the care burden. Second, enhance accessibility to care information, schemes and support services. In my engagements with caregivers, many are often clueless about the types of help available and how to obtain them. Sometimes, when they need particular care information or apply for, say, motorised wheelchairs, they imagine themselves having to navigate various Government departments and filling in long questionnaires. This can be daunting. For others who are more digitally savvy and turn to the Internet for information, they dread having to trawl through different websites to piece together the information they need. This can be draining. Therefore, access to care information, schemes and support services needs to be enhanced. Firstly, provide a one-stop platform where all the information needed can be conveniently and accurately obtained. Secondly, bring the platform directly to those who need it. AIC was announced as the one-stop agency for all elderly matters in Singapore. I voiced my support for this last year. But more can be done to exploit its full potential. Despite so much good work done, many of my elderly residents and their caregivers are not aware of the agency and what it is able to offer. Hence, we need to raise the awareness of AIC as the one-stop agency for information and assistance.”
“He must stay alert all the time; he cannot let up. Chris was visibly burnt out when I saw him, a far cry from how he was years ago before his mother's demise. He is unable to perform at work, unable to get a good pay, unable to pay off his study loans, unable to afford a domestic helper. He is clueless about what he needs to do to care for his father properly and does not know what care options are available to them. I offered some suggestions to Chris and helped him write in to AIC to seek help. Chris is perhaps considered to be better off than some of the other caregivers I have met in the community. At least, he still has a job and is young enough to cope with the physical demands of work and caring for his father. But even so, he is burnt out and needs help. Caregivers form an important pillar of support in our ageing landscape. They are also critical in delaying potential institutionalisations, and enabling our aspirations of helping Singaporeans age in place. Therefore, it is imperative that we strengthen our support to caregivers. Given my observations in the course of my constituency work in MacPherson, I have the following recommendations for the Government. First, financial support to offset caregiving expenses. Whilst Chris is still able to fetch an income, many caregivers are not. They gave up jobs to care fulltime for their elderly loved ones. If they are fortunate, they may have savings or contributions from married siblings to rely on. But savings can deplete quickly, and regular contributions are not guaranteed. Others may have to apply for public financial assistance to cover basic living expenses. But such financial assistance often does not cover other caregiving expenses.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the Motions. This House has debated and endorsed numerous Motions and Bills in support of an ageing population in Singapore. Just last year, for instance, we debated a Private Member's Motion on support for senior citizens. The importance of addressing the ageing issue in Singapore is clear and cannot be overstated. Significant progress has also been made, with much being done to improve the physical infrastructure and social programmes benefiting our seniors by the Government. Government spending has also increased by multiple folds. Public healthcare expenditure, for instance, more than doubled in the past six years. The Government has implemented comprehensive measures to support the ageing needs of our seniors in Singapore. It is now time to also pay attention to caregivers. In MacPherson, I have met many caregivers of elderly residents. These caregivers include elderly parents, children who are singles and siblings. It is a common sight that these caregivers give up their jobs and personal pursuits to care for their elderly loved ones. The care demands are high, and they are often too absorbed with keeping up with their daily schedules to pay attention to what happens around them. On Monday, I met a resident Chris at my weekly Meet-the-People Session. He came to seek financial assistance. Chris is in his early 30s and the sole caregiver of his father who suffers from dementia and is prone to falls. Chris' mother passed away years ago after succumbing to cancer and his younger brother cannot be relied on as he had left the family. As a result, Chris had to juggle working in the day and caring for his father at night. As his father is prone to falls, Chris can hardly sleep every night as he stays alert to his father's movements.”
“This is a very unfortunate incident. I have got two questions. One is, may I know what is the risk of potential suicide amongst the affected individuals and what MOH may be doing to provide more support to help them tide over this very difficult period? Second, quite clearly, from the whole sequence of events, these two individuals, Brochez and Ler, lacked conscience. They are recalcitrant, spiteful, committed a very despicable act and, as Minister has mentioned also, despite having systems and policies in place, it did not stop Ler from abusing his position and authority. It did not stop Brochez, even with the different time milestones after being discovered, from being willful and spiteful. So, I am wondering whether the current penalties are deemed to be deterrent enough and whether there is scope to enhance the penalties further to prevent such individuals from ever committing such crimes ever again?”
“I would like to thank the Senior Minister of State for a very comprehensive reply and the assurances. I just have a question, and this pertains to the timeline. I understand that some time may be needed for SingPost to address the gaps and as the Ministry of Communications and Information considers additional regulation, may I know if there is a timeline for both these aspects? In the meantime, what else might we be able to expect to ensure that the letter delivery performance will still be upheld?”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for the very comprehensive answer. I have two supplementary questions. Firstly, for such an eye operation, which I would imagine is quite common for the elderly and with the ageing population, it will be imperative that we keep the cost affordable for them. So, since SNEC is reviewing its charges, will MOH also ensure other public hospitals or other healthcare institutions offering similar procedures also review their charges to make sure that they are on par and, therefore, ensure affordability for elderly citizens? That is the first question. Secondly, I think Mr Seow's case has been quite unsettling for a lot of the elderly, given that it seems like a very reasonable procedure, common enough and yet the experience is that the payout is only $4.50. Given the spirit of MediShield Life, such an example will not be very helpful in giving that sense of assurance in terms of healthcare affordability. While I am heartened that there is a review, I am wondering if the review can be brought forward, given that MediShield Life was launched quite a number of years ago. So, whether the review could be brought forward and, in terms of the review frequency, I understand that the Senior Minister of State is estimating around every three years. Would this be timely enough? Does this coincide with the general healthcare inflation pattern?”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for the answer. I have a few clarifications to make. One, I would like to ask, for caterers, there is a food delivery portion. So, in terms of the delivery, sometimes they may outsource to a logistics company, for example. Does that compliance come under the purview of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and NEA? If so, what are the steps being taken to ensure that food safety at the highest standards is still being complied with? Second, now and then, with all these incidents, I believe that there might be tightening of measures to ensure compliance and safety. How do we ensure that, apart from putting up on the websites, the latest changes or updates are being communicated effectively to the entire chain? So, whether it is those who are preparing at the restaurants or those who are then in charge of the delivery itself, what is NEA doing to ensure this?”
“Sir, questions and concerns that need to be addressed aside, there is a real need for Singapore to get ready for the consequences of an ageing population. My sincere hope is that we will all enjoy good health, lead a full and fulfilling life and, rather than having to spend on our care needs, are able to spend on things that we enjoy. But the reality is that we can never be sure of what will happen to us in the years to come. The statistics in Singapore and other developed countries, such as the US, UK and Japan, highlight just how prevalent severe disabilities are amongst their aged – in Singapore, one in two; in the US, also one in two; in the UK, eight in 10; and in Japan, the statistics are expected to triple in the next two decades. Sir, it would be too late if we only start to worry or find ways to finance our care needs later in life when our familial obligations intensify, or worse, when we suffer disabilities. It is also unsustainable and unfortunate if we have to burden future generations – which is, by the way, shrinking because of our ageing population – to fund our own care needs. Very importantly, CareShield Life provides better long-term care and protection for all Singaporeans. This does not mean that the Government can cut back its support, this does not exonerate individuals from exercising personal responsibility, but this does enable us to pool our risks and help our fellow countrymen through times of need. In a society that expounds the importance of compassion and inclusion, all of us will need to contribute, in ways big or small, in one way or another. I support the Motion.”
“They may have some illnesses but are generally still healthy. They may not appear to qualify for MediFund or ElderFund because of their income but, in reality, they are under heavy family financial burdens. For this group of people, what kind of support and protection will be available from the Government? I believe our ultimate goal is to ensure that every Singaporean will have basic long-term care protection. Hence, the Government must balance various considerations and look after the vulnerable during implementation. Only by doing this, can we achieve the goal of CareShield Life. (In English): Women policyholders are expected to pay a higher premium than men and this stands out starkly. The main reason articulated was that women have a longer lifespan on average and risk being disabled for a longer period of time. It is also a common practice in other countries. Arguably, however, the idea of a public insurance plan is to pool risks and resources to help one another. First, should women not be allowed to pay the same amount of premium as the men in their respective cohorts? Moreover, many women sacrificed their prime years to stay home and care for their loved ones. The years away from work mean they may have little or significantly less savings in their MediSave. These women may also not come from well-to-do families who have little to contribute to their MediSave even if they wish to. So, I would like to ask: what will the Government do to help this group of Singaporean women cope with the inevitable cost burden? What can they count on to ensure their own long-term care and protection without having to fear burdening their own families?”
“In other words, among an elderly couple, one of them will, at some point, develop severe disabilities due to degenerative diseases and become dependent. This will have a big impact on their living expenses in the coming years. Therefore, to prepare Singaporeans for the future challenge is a pressing task. Although we can understand the rationale behind the CareShield Life in principle, the Government must understand how this will affect our people and give appropriate support. The group that will be affected the most will be the middle-income, middle-aged Singaporeans – the so-called "sandwich class". This group of people have their young to feed, old to support and are also feeling the effects of ageing. They are most concerned about the affordability of CareShield Life premiums. They are not only concerned about the increase of the premiums, but also whether they have enough cash to pay for this inevitable cost item. Firstly, they have to support their families' living expenses, and the amount of cash they can fork out is limited. Secondly, their MediSave is, in fact, shrinking continuously to pay for medical expenses of their own, their parents, and their children who have yet to work. They also have to pay for MediShield Life. Now that CareShield Life will be added on top of all these, they are worried that they would not have enough money. They have also heard that the claim process is tedious. If severe disabilities indeed happen, the tedious process will be like “adding frost to snow”. Hence, the Government must give enough support to this group of Singaporeans. Otherwise, even if they have the heart to support CareShield Life, they may not have the ability to do so. I hope the Government can pay more attention to the sandwich class and help them more.”
“Fourth, looking ahead, for each cohort of premiums collected, what is the expected proportion of claims? Fifth, if there is money remaining from that cohort, what will happen to the money? CareShield Life ensures universal coverage and offers basic long-term care assurance for the current and future generations of Singaporeans. It is a very real way of translating the idea of inclusivity into real policy. However, the mandatory nature of the scheme also means we must garner overwhelming buy-in and support from Singaporeans in order to sustain this pillar of support. Allow me to continue in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Deputy Speaker, we had a heated debate on MediShield Life in this House and passed the Bill in 2014. Back then, the purpose of passing this medical insurance was to provide universal coverage for Singaporeans so that all will receive basic protection. Besides Government grant and our own MediSave, MediShield Life will help us to cope with unforeseeable risks. It is a risk-pooling mechanism whereby people put their money together and allow those in need to pay for large medical bills. Everyone will have equal chances. Nowadays, our population is ageing rapidly and the family size is also shrinking. It is inevitable that Singaporeans must help one another and work together. Hence, the implementation of MediShield Life is, in fact, to plan for our own, as well as for others' future. Today, we are debating CareShield Life. In principle, CareShield Life and MediShield Life are the same. Statistics have shown that in Singapore, one out of two Singaporeans will develop severe disabilities after 65 years old.”
“This means that if we are lucky to live beyond 65 years, each of us has a 50% chance of becoming severely disabled in the remaining years and can expect to incur high cost of care in the years that follow. Despite this high probability, our young today question the need for the scheme to be made mandatory for all. This is understandably so. Many, who are still in the prime health, do not anticipate severe disabilities when they age. Many also do not see the urgency in planning for the possibility of age-related disabilities at this point. Hence, they would want to preserve their autonomy in choosing whether and when to enrol themselves in such a universal public insurance scheme. Furthermore, the sense of importance for risk-pooling is diminished when they observe that the total claim of $100 million is only a small fraction of the total premium collection of $2.6 billion as at end-2015. "What happens to the huge sum of money remaining in the pool?", they ask. “Who pockets the rest?”, the more cynical amongst them may also ask. Therefore, there is a need for more and targeted engagements with the younger Singaporeans to not only explain the philosophy and design principles of CareShield Life, but to also answer the questions they have. Some of the questions would be as follows. First, for each cohort of Singaporeans, in terms of caring for an individual with disability, how much of the cost is borne by the Government, by the individual and by peers? Is this the right balance? Second, what is the long-term financial impact on the system and on our population if Singaporeans preserve their right to choose whether to enrol in CareShield Life? Third, could the Ministry explain why there remains such a huge sum of money in the pool?”
“But such systems work only when everyone contributes, regardless of whether they think they will need to tap on the common pool. This requires a strong sense of national solidarity and willingness to help their fellow countrymen. In Singapore, we face similar challenges and responded with the 3M system, namely, MediSave, MediShield Life, and MediFund. While the 3M framework is robust, this House agreed that we could do more as a society. Our society has been expounding the need to be caring and inclusive. We all feel a deep sense of compassion when we see someone in pain and we all feel the need to help that someone to lead a life as normal as possible again. As a society, we talked about it, we argued for it and we did it when this House finally passed the Bill on MediShield Life in 2014. Through a universal public health insurance in the form of MediShield Life, we pooled our risks and money to help those who incur such expenses. Therefore, we collectively understand the philosophy and need for public insurance as one of the pillars in our social safety net. Since this House had supported MediShield Life, then, philosophically, there is no reason not to support CareShield Life. However, there are some questions and concerns that ordinary Singaporeans have and I would like to reflect these in this debate and to seek answers from the Government. The first pertains to the New Enrolment batch, and that would be the young today. From 2020, all Singaporeans born in 1980 or after will automatically be enrolled into CareShield Life, regardless of pre-existing conditions or disabilities. Locally collected data showed that one in two healthy Singapore residents aged 65 today could become severely disabled in their lifetime.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the Motion. Sir, first of all, I would like to register my thanks with the CareShield Life Review Committee. I believe the CareShield Life Review Committee has done its best to address a wide range of issues concerning Singaporeans and has produced a comprehensive report articulating the tradeoffs considered and making many good recommendations for the scheme, formerly known as ElderShield. CareShield Life and MediShield Life are similar in their philosophy and principles, in essence, to provide basic protection for all Singaporeans. In my speech during the Parliamentary debate on MediShield Life in 2014, I had set out my arguments in support of the scheme, and I would like to rehash part of it today. In principle, our health is ours and each of us has the responsibility of taking care of ourselves. However, we know in reality that relying on ourselves alone may not be sufficient, as care expenses are costly and not everyone has high earning power. Moreover, some Singaporeans may be more unfortunate to be hit by serious or debilitating illnesses that require long-term care. Hence, there is a need for additional support from other sources. Different countries adopt different ways of tackling this issue. Some completely socialise the cost, and fund care expenses through taxes. But this can lead to escalating, and potentially unsustainable, public healthcare expenditure. In some developed economies like the United Kingdom (UK), public healthcare expenditure is one of the most costly fiscal items each year. Others do it through insurance: collecting premiums from everyone, pooling the funds collected and then allocating the money as required by the population.”
“The Government must do more to create a more pro-elderly learning environment. We should use pro-elderly designs to encourage them to seize these opportunities and master digital skills, so that they will not be left behind in a rapidly changing society. Regions around us are quickly catching up in developing the digital economy, in terms of e-commerce and universal digitalisation. We must continue to innovate to keep up with the times. (In English): This next transformation will not be an easy journey. It has to be a national effort, not just the work of the Government. It will require all Singaporeans to contribute actively with their ideas and efforts. We will need dreamers who do not just want to become successful professionals in traditional jobs, but imagine a new world of exciting possibilities and are prepared to work hard to create this new world. This next transformation into a Smart Nation with a vibrant digital economy has to be a national priority. Whether we are able to do so successfully and quickly is, therefore, a matter of public interest affecting our economy and businesses, the lives of Singaporeans, as well as our international reputation. Therefore, I urge all Singaporeans to work together, to make sure that this national effort succeeds.”
“As an international financial centre and information hub, Singapore cannot neglect this trend. Digital economy is one of the most important elements in our future economy and the Government is actively promoting the development and coverage of the digital economy. According to the 2017 Digital Evolution Index Report, Singapore is the fastest country in terms of digital adoption in the Asia Pacific with significant outcomes in promoting digitalisation and Internet penetration. In order to ensure that all our citizens can share in the benefits of digital economy, we have to make sure that all can board this express train and be connected to this mega trend. In terms of technology and innovation, Singapore is ahead of many countries and holds first-mover advantage. With the popularisation of smart phones, people can access the latest shopping and transport information and be connected to many resources and services through mobile apps. With the touch of a finger, we can order food and buy things online and have them delivered to our doorstep. With these apps, family members can monitor the health conditions of their elders and ensure their safety. Therefore, technology, when properly harnessed, can bring about many benefits to the country’s economy and people’s lives. The Government has to ensure that everyone, regardless of their background and age, is ready for the digital future and shares the fruit of the digital economy and Smart Nation. We must make sure that a digital future will not create new inequalities and new wealth gaps inadvertently. In particular, we need to pay attention to our elders. Many of them are trying to catch up with the pace of digital economy, but many are hesitant towards learning these new technologies.”
“In MacPherson, we are now developing a platform to pull together different digital solutions aimed at connecting our elderly, especially those who are financially, physically and socially more vulnerable, connecting them to community information, resources and services, such as Friendly Neighbourhood General Practitioner (GP), connecting to existing and new support networks, such as befrienders and volunteers-on-demand – just think of "Uberisation" of volunteerism to meet ad hoc needs. We also have aspirations to expand it to “game-fy” daily tasks to encourage active living and also enable predictive analyses of their overall well-being so that appropriate medical or social interventions can be introduced. We had to raise funds and could only raise enough to do a watered-down version of what we had in mind. We used the limited resources to build a minimum viable product. If successful and, if we are to take it further or scale it up, we will need more resources. Therefore, it would be most useful if the Government can set aside some funding and support to help enthusiastic communities like ours. Speaker, Sir, allow me to continue in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Speaker, Sir, digital economy is the future trend. It has given us numerous opportunities. The emergence of digital technology has brought about earth-shattering changes to modern lives. Various mobile apps have greatly reduced the time spent on daily tasks. With the prevalence of smart phones, high-speed Internet, big data and artificial intelligence (AI), the digital economy has disrupted the old way of life and doing business. Many countries in the world are promoting the development of digital economy so as to bring convenience to their people.”
“Whilst future generations of elderly will be better educated and tech-savvy, we must not neglect our current generation of seniors. We need Smart Seniors for a Smart Nation. We need to harness technology to supplement our shortage of eldercare manpower and help more seniors live independently in the comfort of their own homes and community. We need to harness technology to help them stay connected to news and information, to support networks, to friends and families. To do all these, it is important to ensure that they are digitally ready. Digital readiness is the very first step and a critical enabler for our elderly to fully exploit the benefits of technology. Finally, Smart Communities. Engendering a smart nation need not only be the responsibility of the Government or big enterprises. Local communities can also contribute since we know local needs and gaps best. We should allow innovative ideas, which may be simple ideas with simple benefits, to flourish. These help to create a conducive environment, familiarity and a positive attitude in the community towards digital solutions. In MacPherson, we have quite a few ideas that can help the elderly and families. But to do so costs money which we, as local grassroots, can ill-afford. Current Government funding schemes do not cover digital project, at least not yet.”
“And for those who can stretch a little more, supplement their science and mathematics learning with coding skills, as part of building the STEM foundation. Coding is fundamental in understanding and designing technology, critical to jobs in a digital economy. Many countries have introduced coding lessons to their curricula. Examples include Israel, New Zealand, Australia, Denmark and some German states. Singapore will do well to do the same. Our workforce needs to have ready access to courses and training opportunities with constantly refreshed curriculum. SkillsFuture must continue to be an important upgrading asset for workers, along apprenticeship and practical work opportunities. We also need to pay attention to helping women to achieve their fullest potential. Digital fluency not only opens up new career opportunities for women in the digital age but also enables women to exploit smart solutions that help to create capacity and options. With the right smart solutions, women and men can remotely manage situations and monitor their young and old at home while they are at work. Smart solutions can allow women to work productively and respond efficiently even if they have to be away from their offices, thereby enabling flexible work. Digital platforms can allow women to exchange useful information and create job opportunities. E-commerce platforms, for example, can help stay-at-home caregivers monetise their skills or overcome resource constraints in starting their businesses and, in the process, maintain financial independence, stay plugged in while continuing to care for their loved ones. Women can also make use of these platforms to raise funds, find mentors and network with other women entrepreneurs. We need to help our elderly to be digitally ready.”
“The Government will need to play a key role to shepherd this and the overall transformation that Singapore is currently undergoing and, if need be, dictate certain technical parameters and solutions. We must also not be locked into legacy systems and legacy corporations. Otherwise, it will be extremely difficult for e-payment or any type of transformation to take off in Singapore. We have to use the solution that offers the best user experience if we are to hope to lure consumers and merchants away from cash. We will need to push hard, take bold steps and be ready for disruptions to existing players. Next, we need to invest in our people to move ahead together. We need to do more to prepare our people for a digital economy. It is useless to "chiong" towards digital economy if our people are not ready for it. We must make sure that our people are able to benefit from this transformation and not be left behind. We must not inadvertently create a new inequality or widen the existing gap between those who can access and exploit the new digital technologies and those who cannot. We need to help our students embrace science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and develop a certain level of appreciation in technology possibilities, even if they do not eventually major in such subjects. Currently, we have a strong curriculum in mathematics and science from primary to pre-university level. This must be preserved even while we adapt the pedagogy to suit the needs of different learners at each level. We must equip even those students who may not have the aptitude for these subjects with a reasonable foundation, to prepare them for future job opportunities.”
“Once, I visited a hawker stall to purchase a cup of tau huay chui or soya drink. I asked to pay via quick response (QR) code since I have PayLah installed on my phone. Aunty asked me to pay in cash because she has to switch on a machine, which she hid in a drawer, to confirm receipt of my money after I scan the QR code. I was curious and asked her why. I said that based on my understanding, the Network for Electronic Transfers (NETS) provides the machine for free and charges no transaction fee for at least three years. It is free for hawkers and consumers and there is a one-time cash incentive six months after the hawker installs the equipment, so why not try it? But to her, it is simply inconvenient, consumes electricity and, whilst there is no direct financial cost to her, there is not much of an incentive for her to actively use it as well. Moreover, cash is a great medium of exchange, which she is used to and has never failed her. Adoption goes beyond having good technical solutions, though in this case, it would help if Aunty can verify the payment on her mobile phone rather than use a separate machine. It is also about outreach and promotion, perhaps even consolidation, to avoid confusing consumers with too many options. Apart from NETS, Alipay, WeChat Pay, PayLah and even FavePay, a local private provider, are able to offer QR code payment in Singapore. Hence, one wonders why e-payment is still not taking off. Is it because our market is too small but players too aplenty, resulting in a highly fragmented market? Or is it because the incentives are too little to lure consumers and merchants away from cash?”
“In doing so, the Government has a critical role to play in creating a conducive environment, building a supportive ecosystem, and nurturing strong public-private partnerships so that social good will guide the innovative private sector. I commend the Government for forging ahead in our Smart Nation project. There is interdependence between a smart nation and a digital economy; they reinforce each other. However, there are still areas that are not progressing as fast as it could and should. One example is e-payment, which received several national mention and much attention. Several commentators have noted how fast China has transformed its payment landscape to do away with cash, especially if one considers paper-form money was invented in China in the seventh century. But of course, China and Singapore are in different circumstances. For the Chinese, cashless payments may be more reliable and more secure. China also has a different regulatory and business environment that catalyses innovations much faster. In Singapore, the use of cash is deeply entrenched. KPMG reported that 60% of consumers and businesses in Singapore use cash for non-stored-value-facilities payments, whilst Paypal found 43% of Singaporeans cited cash as their most frequent or most preferred mode of payment. Clearly, cash is king here. There are a few reasons for this. Firstly, our currency is of high quality and hard to forge. Secondly, our crime rate is low; people have no qualms carrying sizeable amounts of cash around. Thirdly, while technology can fail, cash never fails. Hence, to substitute cash and change habits, we will need a cashless solution that is superior to cash in the user’s experience. We are not there yet. A personal encounter may be helpful in illustrating my point.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Motion. In the President’s speech, she highlighted what our nation has done well so far, outlined the challenges that we face and clearly set out the priorities that this Government has to focus on doing. I agree fully with the priorities set out and would add that this Government and this House must continue to take bold steps in creating a new world of opportunities for Singaporeans and continue to invest in our people so that this and future generations of Singaporeans will continue to thrive together. First, in terms of bold steps for a new world of opportunities. In our 53 years of nationhood, Singapore has undergone several transformations that demanded bold vision in our leaders and courage in our Government and people to trot uncharted paths. We took risks, forged ahead and developed successfully from Third World to First. Here we are, once again, in the midst of yet another transformation, as we embrace a digital economy. We need to embrace the digital economy for Singapore’s long-term good. Many countries around the world have been profoundly impacted by the advent of the digital economy. The way we organise our society, the way business is conducted, and the way people transact and interact with one another are all changing. As technology disrupts the world, Singapore must find a niche for ourselves to stay relevant and continue to be of service to the world. Past successes do not confer us any advantage, and we must not be unnecessarily burdened by legacy achievements. We must move fast, seize new opportunities and entrench the advantages gained before others do.”
“I would also like to ask that given the prevalence and complications of gestational diabetes, what is the Ministry doing to increase awareness and control the incidence of gestational diabetes amongst women in Singapore.”
“Sir, we know the ills of sugar and our Government has taken major steps to cut down on sugar intake, including setting a cap on the amount of sugar packet drinks can contain. It is also very encouraging to see how drinks manufacturers have responded in support of such a move. Still, changing habits and combatting diabetes is a long journey. Hence, I would like to ask the Ministry how it is furthering efforts to promote healthy living through lowered consumption of sugar or sugar-sweetened beverages. Also, habits are cultivated from young and it is important that our children start their lives with the right habits. I would like to ask the Ministry how it will ensure that preschools and childcare centres also actively cut down on the sugar intake for young children.”
“Sir, gestational diabetes can lead to birth complications and a higher risk of diabetes in the children born to mothers who suffer this condition. In Singapore, one in five pregnancies are affected by gestational diabetes and two in three mothers who have gestational diabetes go on to develop diabetes later in life. So, may I ask what is the Ministry doing to control gestational diabetes among women in Singapore?”
“Sir, nurses play a crucial role in healthcare. They are on the frontline every day, tending to the sick, counselling patients on their health, improving processes throughout the healthcare system, and the list goes on. With the push towards delivering greater quality and value in healthcare, the role of nurses is undoubtedly even more important. We must, therefore, equip our nurses with adequate skills and knowledge to meet the increasing demands on them and also empower them to tackle the many difficult situations that they are faced with on a day-to-day basis. Therefore, I would like to ask the Ministry for an update on the development and career pathways for our nurses. As our public healthcare transforms, how will the role of nurses change and how will their training and career development transform along with it as well? Healthcare Manpower”
“Singapore can take the lead in setting elderly-friendly standards and be the authority in this area. We are already doing so much to get ourselves ready for an ageing population, I believe we should look into this area. Therefore, I would like to ask if the Ministry will consider setting up an office that does research, set standards and audit public and private projects to ensure elderly-friendliness. Is there effort to train more students in elderly-friendly designs? And perhaps, would the Government consider creating specialisations for students to undertake in tertiary institutions?”
“I am also aware that the Government has been looking into ways to make our living environment more elderly-friendly with initiatives, such as City for All Ages, Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) and other general upgrading programmes. These are great efforts in retrofitting hard environments to become more enabling. However, it is the details that often make the difference. Therefore, designing with the elderly in mind, ensuring that products, services and the real or virtual environment that we are immersed in are inclusive and empowering is important. We should design to include and empower our seniors. We must not design only with the "majority" in mind, who used to be younger, and expect the rest to comply or find their own solution. Even this "majority" is getting more mature. Moreover, what is designed for the elderly, surely must be suitable for the young, too. Hence, we should conscientiously and actively apply elderly-friendly designs into all our hardware and heartware solutions. Currently, there are only two silver industry guidelines in Singapore. One is the "Guidelines for age-friendly homes" and the other is the "Guidance for digital devices and online services to be senior friendly". These are a good start, but we need to mainstream elderly-friendly designs much more and make them pervasive. We need to apply elderly-friendly designs to the development of common spaces, facilities, machine and application interfaces, workflows, public processes and more. The key is to make them pervasive such that seniors can move from setting to setting smoothly and live a completely normal life. No institution or country so far has been an authority in terms of setting elderly-friendly design standards.”
“From Toyota's Robina and Humanoid, Honda's ASIMO, Tokai's RIBA to AIST's PARO, which is a very cute seal, Japan has a full range of robots that can help the elderly with household chores, to get out of bed, conduct conversations complete with emotions and even help paraplegics walk again. Imagine if these solutions are available to us in Singapore, many elderly whom we used to think can only be cared for in nursing homes, can now lead a fairly independent life in their own flats. Alas, while these are possible and already in existence, it is still not known if these solutions can be exported and at what price. It would, therefore, be most ideal if Singapore can leverage our existing competencies in research and development (R&D) to develop digital eldercare solutions for ourselves. I understand that MOH had introduced a funding scheme to encourage innovations to solve elderly-related challenges. Therefore, I would like to ask for an update on the utilisation of funds to support R&D efforts and startups looking into digital eldercare solutions. Could the Government share some of the success cases so far? Could we accelerate developments locally and implement sooner than later? With the drive towards a Smart Nation, how is the Ministry part of this effort and what other programmes or public-private partnerships might be available that can be utilised to further our agenda for seniors? Design to Include and Empower Sir, I have just spoken on the use of technology and AI to transform eldercare and enable more seniors to live independently in the comfort of their own homes and communities.”
“Sir, with Singapore undergoing rapid ageing, it is not only important that we set the right policies, put in the right resources and organise ourselves the right way now, but we should also start exploring solutions that can help more seniors age gracefully and live independently in the comfort of their own homes and communities. With an ageing population, there may soon be a point in time when there are more who need care than those who can care. Other concerns also include seeing more with age-related disabilities and loneliness, as more elderly outlive their family members or as more choose to remain single. While the human touch in eldercare can never be fully substituted, we can leverage technology to mitigate some of these concerns. By leveraging technology and AI more effectively, we can drastically change how care is provided and help even more Singaporeans age in place. At present, many of the technology-related pilots conducted are focused on making the living environment more enabling, which is the right thing to do. I am also aware that there are some solutions, such as telemedicine and marketplace applications, to help seniors live more conveniently. But I hope we will also start exploring solutions that can provide effective and transformative interventions to help individual seniors live independently. Take Japan as an example. Japan is even further ahead of us in terms of ageing. They have an increasing number of elderly with a decreasing number of working adults. They suffer severe labour shortage, especially in eldercare nursing. Yet, they reinvented how the elderly can be cared for by leveraging technology and AI.”
“Mr Chairman, I would like to thank the Ministers for their answers, and I also like to thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for addressing the topic of family support. Clearly, I strongly support the idea of having family as the first line of defence. Still, I would like to ask how MSF balances the need to emphasise family as the first line of defence and the need to help our elderly or the vulnerable in a timely manner. Some elderly residents have shared that their children simply refused to help and yet they have immediate needs to be addressed. How will MSF achieve the balance and help assure those in need that they will not be left in the cold? Second question, in addition to the Families for Life Council, what other organisations seek to promote family life and development? Are there organisations that cater to the needs of families from various ethnic groups? Lastly, besides the skills framework and salary guidelines for the social service sector, what other measures are in place to attract and retain good people?”
“Sir, strong families have been a cornerstone of our society. As an Asian society, we believe in families as our first line of support. Over the years, various studies done reaffirm this. For instance, in a study done by Kau Ah Keng et al, published in 2001 – a little bit dated – Singaporeans "strongly subscribed to the traditional value of supporting one's parents in their old age". However, as our population changes with rapid ageing, smaller family sizes and more singles, the strength of family support is increasingly being tested. This will have profound implications on our social structure and how welfare is delivered. In a recent IPS study published in "Singapore Perspectives 2018 'Together'", one finding indicated that Singaporeans believe the Government ought to bear greater responsibility in taking care of older people in the absence of familial support, a shift from the "many helping hands" concept. But I wonder if it is also the beginning of a shift from our traditional value of family support. Given these, I would like to ask MSF if indeed there has been a shift in family and social values and, if so, how will this impact Singapore in the long run. Strengthening Families and Community”
“Sir, the Singapore Government has, over the years, built up a wide range of social assistance schemes and programmes to support the vulnerable and less privileged amongst us. Driven by passion and in response to the call for "Many Helping Hands", various VWOs, grassroots, religious entities, charitable organisations or foundations and even informal volunteer groups have also introduced their own help schemes and programmes. This is encouraging, but the wide range of schemes and programmes can be too complex for the low-income and vulnerable to grasp and navigate, and they are the very intended beneficiaries of these well-meaning initiatives. The low-income, for instance, often have to work long hours and may not have a strong education background or access to resources. Therefore, availability is less of an issue, but rather, access. How will MSF thus ensure that low-income and vulnerable Singaporeans will be able to fully benefit from these schemes and programmes? How will MSF help to reduce the administrative paperwork and stress that often result from applicants having to approach different organisations for different purposes and having to make sense of the different qualifying criteria? Social Services”
“Sir, the Government has done a lot to strengthen community support for Singaporeans in need, especially for our elderly and vulnerable. However, there are still needs in the community which cannot be fully addressed by machines or paid staff. We need more Singaporeans to step in and step up to help as volunteers who care. I am, therefore, happy that the Government has started the SG Cares movement in Singapore. To fully exploit the potential of this meaningful movement, there must be a solid structure, network of services and programmes and a strong human touch. We need to organise ourselves effectively so that the total impact is greater than the sum of impact had we acted alone. Today, we have a myriad of formal and informal groups of volunteer organisations doing community service, serving from their hearts. Still, we also see Singaporeans who would like to serve but are unsure of what they can do, what needs are still unfulfilled and whether the time commitment will be too great for them. Hence, we need to find ways to make serving a priority and organise ourselves better so that busy Singaporeans can just "plug and play" when serving the community. Therefore, I would like to ask the Minister for an update on the overall SG Cares movement and how he assesses its impact so far. What is SG Cares doing to inspire Singaporeans to see community service as a priority in their lives? Does SG Cares sees itself as, potentially, the national coordinating body for community causes and needs in Singapore, one that consolidates and monitors the list of needs in the communities and resources that are already available, one that identifies the roles and corresponding manpower needed, and one that coordinates and helps everyone clearly see how we can all fit in to help? SG Cares”
“[Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Our mother tongue languages (MTLs) form the links to our cultural heritage and are the vehicle for the transmission of our cherished traditions and values. Proficiency in our MTLs helps us to appreciate the richness of our culture and allows us to connect with our roots. In addition to the recognition and reinforcement of our own identity, our MTLs are invaluable as a glue that gels our communities and enables us to communicate and connect with our counterparts around the region and other parts of the world. For Singapore to continue to embrace this diversity as a strength in our multilingual and multicultural city, a strong command of our MTLs would be critical in helping our students to thrive in a rapidly changing global society. How will MOE engage our students and community to make the learning of our MTL come alive? What are the steps that MOE will take to ensure that our students develop a deep appreciation and love of our MTLs not just in school, but also outside of school and beyond their schooling years? 3.45 pm National Language Proficiency”
“But let us just make the workplace elderly-friendly and give the seniors an option to decide for themselves. Productivity of Older Workers”
“Sir, there are seniors who want to work, either out of passion or compelled by financial needs. In the course of my community work, I have met a good number of seniors who have expressed interest in working and, yet, despite relevant experience, find themselves stonewalled after employers find out about their age. Sadly, they could only turn to menial jobs that are physically demanding. Is this ageism? Looking ahead as our economy evolves, there will be fewer jobs that demand labour but more jobs requiring intellectual wisdom. The elderly tomorrow will be better-educated and tech-savvy. If we do not combat ageism now and start changing how we structure work, everyone will soon lose out, especially as our population ages rapidly. To be clear, this is not to ask for special privileges. Assessment should be based on merit. But what if a senior candidate is denied the chance, not because of his innate ability, but because the work environment, process and job roles were designed against them? Therefore, it is imperative to create employment opportunities for seniors and a favourable environment to help them thrive. What is MOM doing to stamp out ageism? Would MOM consider adding teeth to the legislation? Alas, legislation is a crude though effective way of combating ageism. More importantly is how do we redesign the workplace and work for seniors? Apart from the grants available, could the Government take the lead in testing how work environment, workflows, job role designs and compensation and benefits, such as health benefits, CPF contributions and leave conversion, can be adapted and optimised for senior workers? Not all seniors will choose to work. Some may choose to volunteer or pursue unfulfilled dreams.”
“How then is the Government working with the local private sector players in implementing e-payments and NDI, as well as developing use cases or practical applications for them? Smart Nation Talent Development”