Toh Keng Kiat
Singapore
“Having said this, Sir, the Ministry, of course, is concerned that the IIS should also, in the public eye, be perceived to be doing its job well. Whilst we feel that the IIS should continue to be within the Police set-up, the Ministry has, in fact, begun the process of examining to see how it can be further strengthened.”
“I have two supplementary questions, Sir. The first one is whether the Minister will consider a rotational posting of good principals and teachers to all the neighbourhood schools to uplift the standards. And the second one is whether the Ministry of Education will proceed with the ranking of primary schools.”
“Sir, if I may ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary, what have been the problems raised by people involved in this scheme? In particular, has there been any complaint about the adequacy of time given for completion of a project? I have spoken to one or two people involved in this and they said that ---”
“Yes, Sir. We have already heard that the aged in Singapore today have many facilities. But I would urge the Minister to consider seriously the setting up of a national agenda for the aged and to include in this: (1) recognition and constant review of the changing needs of the aged; (2) public education to increase awareness of these needs…”
“This would then shorten the travelling time and lessen congestion due to frequent filtering into and out of bus stop bays. The mini-bus service, on the other hand, should be as flexible as possible with regard to routes, drop-off and pick-up points within its area of operation.”
“It is a variation of the group experience used by psychologists for group therapy, and by political and religious groups to secure the commitment of members to their causes. Such techniques can be exploitative. Schools and members of the public should be aware of their possible dangers.”
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“I think they are good value for the money that the patient spends.”
“The Minister for Health has also commented on this. It is important because of the anticipated contraction in the number of intensive care beds. When a facility becomes limited in supply, rationing follows. In rationing, there must be priorities and someone has to suffer. By his training, a doctor will be hard put to turn off respirators or withdraw life-sustaining lines. In conclusion, Sir, I thank you for this opportunity to participate in the debate on the White Paper. I support the philosophies expounded therein, but I must disagree with the reasons behind some of those reforms.”
“A solution to this problem is to have a common career path for all doctors with a compulsory stint in public service for a defined period during the earlier years as junior doctors and specialists to be followed by compulsory exit by everyone to the private sector. Only the best are to be retained in Government service or in academia with commensurate financial rewards and other compensations. They will be the teachers, senior consultants, State surgeons and physicians. The CPI plus X factor. The Minister has already assured the House yesterday that when this increases, revenue will also increase by tandem changes in the subsidy and cost recovery within the context of the long term subsidy targets and not by cost recovery alone. The White Paper, on page 34, however, states that one incentive to subvented hospitals to improve service "must be a profitable bottom line." Sir, the Public Accounts Committee must have anticipated this as it has stated in page 4 of its Report to Parliament presented on 6th November 1992 that: "`While cost increases are inevitable over time, the MOH should bear in mind, when reviewing its fee increases, that the objective of restructuring the hospitals is not to enable them to make profits or even to recover costs, but to enable them to work more efficiently.'" The National Health Council. The White Paper has proposed a Medical Fees Council to review fees periodically. I would like to suggest a National Health Council instead, with increased functions. There will be a committee not only to review fees but to act as an Ombudsman to arbitrate in complaints against overcharging, another to review the health care needs of Singaporeans and re-define the basic health package periodically, and a third to deal with ethical and moral issues.”
“In its implementation, I hope consideration will be given to situations where there is more than one specialist looking after the same patient, or when an ill patient requires a doctor to visit him more than once a day, sometimes after office hours or at night. To discourage frivolous use of Medisave, perhaps a bonus scheme of higher interest earned for savings left undrawn for a certain period of time could be considered. Once the maximum sum has been reached, interest accrued should remain in the Medisave for use in retirement and not be channelled back into the Ordinary Account. Basic health care. Steps should be taken to guard against the evolution of a system where the rich, powerful and those with connections can have access to state-of-the-art care overseas, or the lower-income groups have to make do with what is deemed best for them. The Government should also retain enough of facilities to cater to the needs of retirees, the aged, the poor and the pensioners instead of just being a health care broker. As the emphasis will be on primary health care and family medicine, the Department of Family Medicine in our university should be strengthened. At present, it is only an appendage of a larger unit which is basically concerned with gathering health statistics. Integration of public and private sectors. As one perennial problem is doctor migration from the public sector to private practice, especially at the specialist level, we should think of a system where we can integrate the two. Money alone is not the push or pull force. Job satisfaction as is derived from a lower patient-load and a more personalised style of practice are also factors involved.”
“Sure, doctors do have professional autonomy, but so do architects, lawyers and engineers. Few doctors have translated their autonomy into a radical monopoly. Yet market forces have been allowed to prevail when it comes to the allocation of HDB premises for medical practices. The economic research department of a local bank has found that rentals form 40%, at 1990 prices, of the recurring cost in running a clinic. Any cost must ultimately find its way into the patient's bill. Now that the curbs will be imposed, it will keep the cost of health care down if the Government will reconsider an earlier request of mine in this House for preferential rates and purchase prices of HDB units to be used as medical clinics but under restricted tenure. Other tradesmen, businesses and tenants should have no cause for complaint, unless they opt to subject themselves to the same restrictions. The White Paper has focused heavily on the control of doctors and hospitals to curb the rising cost of health care. It has remained silent on pharmaceutical trade and providers of diagnostic or ancillary services. These must surely have a role in determining health care costs. Sir, it is prudent planning that health care cost be controlled. It is also good politics. But sound policies must not be implemented in expediency or with ambivalence as this can only lead to more problems for the future. Until we find an even keel, I do not know what direction medicine will be heading in Singapore. When our forefathers bound the feet of their women to restrict their movement, they also hindered their growth and mobility. In carrying out the proposals of the White Paper, I would like to make some suggestions: Medisave. Restriction on balance billing will come in late 1994.”
“The White Paper has identified bone marrow transplants as research treatment that needs strong justification. Sir, I beg the Minister to reconsider this. Like renal transplant, it offers the only hope of a cure for patients with leukaemia and some forms of acquired and hereditary blood disease. Where a suitable donor is available, bone marrow transplant should be offered, otherwise it makes the treatment of leukaemic patients temporary and futile, for cures without a marrow transplant are anecdotal and relapses, after a brief remission, almost a certainty. In most countries, the bone marrow transplant is always a part of the leukaemia package. On the question of supply of doctors, the White Paper has warned against the training of too many. Even as I was gathering my thoughts for this debate, the Government came out with the announcement that the number of overseas universities approved, where Singapore students can read medicine, has been reduced from 176 to 28. There is also a second level of control in that only 30 graduates each year from these institutions will be registered to practise. Sir, it is a moral obligation for the Government to register all graduates from these already approved institutions even if the number exceeds 30 in any one year, which I think is a highly improbable event. Many of these universities have already closed their doors to foreigners and others have set such a high standard of entry that few, if any, Singaporeans will make the grade. A control of the number of doctors, it is said, is important because the medical market is a failed market when it comes to supply and demand. A surplus, it seems, will lead to provider-driven demand due to the profession's autonomy.”
“Sir, one of the most common and obvious political issues related to health is based upon the charge that access to medical care is inequitable. Too drastic a return to basic health services will leave Singapore in the backwaters of medical progress when the rich and those with the power and the connections can go abroad for second opinions or the best in care but children of a lesser God will have to make do with second best. Managed health care is also not necessarily the best although it may be the cheapest. The Rochester New York experience had often been cited in the past as a good model in the USA to follow where against a national budget of 14% GDP, there were surpluses. Large companies, like Xerox and Kodak, call the shots and hospitals and physicians were made to charge 30% less than elsewhere in the US for an equivalent service. I have been to Rochester, I have discussed this with doctors there, and I am told that as a consequence of this low-priced packaging, high calibre physicians are hard to come by in Rochester today and the quality of care has suffered. The White Paper has also hinted of mechanisms, like the Diagnosis Related Groups, to control hospital charges. This can only work where there is an economy of scale when what one loses on the swings one gains on the roundabouts. On medical research and training of doctors, there will also be restraints. Research is important to teaching institutions. It keeps the academic staff in contact with the colleagues around the world and informed of what is happening at the frontiers of medicine. It nurtures an enquiring and analytical mind. It develops brain power and brain power is what keeps Singapore going. Research must not be measured in monetary terms or by a direct applicability of the knowledge gained.”
“When good men were hard to come by for ministerial posts, the then Prime Minister Lee proposed better salaries for the Cabinet so that members would not leave to become bankers or CEOs. When the RSAF lost its pilots to the commercial airlines, the Minister for Defence suggested higher pay to retain them. We did not cap the salaries of our bankers, our CEOs, or our SIA pilots so that Cabinet will have its Ministers and the RSAF its pilots. Why cap the fees of doctors in the private practice so that the ranks of Government consultants will stay repleted? The White Paper on Affordable Health Care is not just about costs. It is also a total reform of the health services. From being a provider, the Government has changed its role to that of a broker for health services, as well as an auditor and a policeman. It has taken upon itself the onus of determining a basic medical package for all Singaporeans. Yesterday, we heard the Minister for Health reassuring us of the comprehensiveness of this package. But I would like to emphasise that it is not the extent of this coverage but rather the content, or level of care, that we want to give to each specific sickness within this package that matters. The definition of "basic" must, therefore, always remain clear. At OECD levels, "basic" will be state-of-the-art to the underdeveloped and the developing. During the Cultural Revolution, I had occasion to travel in China. My guide appeared to be a commissar of the Communist Party. Like his countrymen, his basic clothing needs were taken care of. Everyone wore the universal Mao jacket, but I noticed a difference. His was tailored in garbedine, theirs in drill.”
“For a while, the intense rivalry between the two public institutions which offer tertiary health care exposed our population to esoteric, expensive and equivocal treatment modalities in high-tech medicine. The public were treated to an almost daily media blitz on advances in medicine which each had acquired. Expectations were raised and, with it, the demand for more health care. Sir, I have outlined what I believe are the aggravating factors on perceptions of unaffordability in health care. The philosophies in the White Paper cannot be faulted. I subscribe to the ideals fully but I cannot agree with the reasons put forth for some of the changes that are to come. The private health care sector has significantly contributed to Singapore's economic growth as a regional medical centre of excellence. Its personnel-intensive services employ a large number of Singaporeans. It takes care of 75% of the outpatient and 25% inpatient health needs of Singaporeans. Its only fault seems to be that it has done its thing too well. For this, it has earned the opprobrium for what has gone wrong in health care and inflicted upon itself the curbs that are to come. The high earning capacity outside has been identified as the cause of specialists migrating to the private sector. Some have even hinted of less than honourable means for this high income. Most doctors are still men of honour who abide by the tenets of the Hippocratic Oath and the teachings of Aesculapius. To deny that this is so is to admit the failing of our medical school which selected and trained them. Admittedly, there must be errant doctors just as there are dishonest politicians and crooked lawyers. Do we need to punish a whole community for a few black sheep?”
“Two events are responsible for this - the liberal use of Medisave by CPF account holders and the restructuring of Government hospitals. Medisave, which is a savings scheme to meet hospitalisation expenses after retirement, was at one time wrongly perceived by the people as citizens' money which was locked away by the Government. This, of course, was fuelled in some ways by Opposition politicians during elections. Therefore, on every occasion that it could be or had to be drawn upon, the practice was to use the maximum allowable or available. The problem was compounded in the early days of restructuring of the Government hospitals. I was at the dialogue session with Dr Ow, and I would like to reiterate his comments on the C Class beds. The removal of the highly subsidised C Class beds drove those who could not afford it to opt for the more costly ones at the upper end of the scale. They were exposed to creature comforts and costly high technology medicine which was subsidised. Therefore, when a reduction of these subsidies and upward revision of charges came, matters worsened. A more liberal and lucrative consultancy fee scheme, which was introduced to keep specialists from resigning, did not help. It led to excesses which have only now been put right. It was this limitation of choice and the narrowing of the differential in prices between the private and the public sectors, coupled with the ready availability of private hospital beds and a more personal care by a specialist of one's choice, even within the ward beds, which were the push and pull factors that led to increased use of private sector health care services.”
“Mr Speaker, thank you for allowing me to join in the debate on this White Paper. I must first declare my interest as a practising physician in the private sector. Singapore spends only 3.1% of our GDP on health but our citizens enjoy a standard of care that surpasses the OECD in many areas. Why then have we needed three Ministerial Committees in the last two years and now three days of parliamentary debate to discuss this issue of cost of health care? The answer must be the Government's determination not to allow Singapore to be bogged down in the same quagmire of stifling health care costs that Britain, the United States and some European countries are in today. The message is clear: it is not how much one spends on health services but what one spends it on that matters. Good medicine alone does not make our citizens live longer nor by itself give our infants a better chance of survival. Let me illustrate. The morbidity and mortality from rheumatic heart disease has fallen, not because the surgeons and cardiologists are better at treating them, but also because of the lower incidence of rheumatic fever due to better living conditions, cleaner environment and better nutrition. I am glad Dr Aline Wong has already mentioned these points, and I share her sentiments that the accolades for what we have achieved in health care today should not only belong to the profession or to the Ministry of Health, but be shared by those in the Ministry of the Environment as well as the Ministry of Labour. The White Paper has outlined what will keep health care cost down. But the first question is: is it already beyond affordability? Apparently, this is so.”
“Sir, I would like to have two clarifications from the Minister. The CPI plus X factor has been used as a formula to control increase in revenue for subvented hospitals. Will the Minister tell us whether, with each revision, as the CPI plus X increase, as revenue is equal to cost recovery plus subsidy, this revenue will come mainly from cost recovery, or will there be a tandem increase in the subsidy? The other clarification is on the balance billing for Medisave. It may be premature now, but the Minister has told us that this will be after due consideration has been given to the cost of running a private medical practice. But he has not told us what happens when a patient requires the services of more than one specialist to look after him or, for a very sick patient, when more than one visit per day will have to be made to that patient.”
“May I ask the Minister whether efforts will be made to improve the quality, instead of just the quantity, of the broadcasts, especially on Channel 8. Currently, there is a serial on gambling and anti-social activities, such as drinking, to solve social problems have also been promoted. BG George Yong-Boon Yeo: The pressure to increase quality is ceaseless, not least because the competition is relentless. As to whether anti-social themes should be introduced on TV dramas, I think we have to strike a balance between being realistic and being moralistic. We want to maintain a certain moral tone on our television programmes, and to have messages which further the cause of our social development, but we cannot over-moralise on television because that is the quickest way to kill interest. Drinking, prostitution and gambling are part of the drama of life. Unless these are inter-woven into the dramas of SBC, SBC's dramas would not be interesting and will have very low viewership. FOREIGN WORKERS (Trends of employment) 13. Mr Robert Chua Teck Chew asked the Minister for Labour what are the latest trends of employment of foreign workers by the various sectors of our economy and their long-term economic or social impact and whether the Government is considering any changes to its foreign worker policy to counter any undesirable trends.”
“Sir, is the Minister aware that there were complaints by some successful applicants for the Group C tranche that there was a delay in the confirmation of these shares which caused them to lose the opportunity of being able to trade in the shares on the first trading day?”
“Commenting on those who voted the Opposition, Prime Minister Goh said, and I quote from the Straits Times, 5th September 1991: "Their concerns are bread-and-butter issues, and we are going to have to pay attention to them ... a big group of Singaporeans only care about daily life ... less taxes, less levies, cheap hospital charges, cheap educational services. So we have to reach out."”
“38 million are due to import and excise duties on motor vehicles and this soared to 87.9% compared to last year. And we are not even talking of COE. This is for 5,000 new vehicles which were registered and 2,300 old ones which were de-registered. The COE for August for all categories of cars was between $20,000 and $30,000. A rough calculation would show that the income from COEs alone for August was between $100 million and $120 million. Sir, I beg that the Government looks again at the ARF and reduce this in tandem with the COE for two reasons. First of all, it will dispel public opinion that ARF is a "cash cow", more than just a means of vehicle control and, secondly, the Government will absolve itself from blame for further increases in vehicle costs. More taxation on car usage rather than on its ownership should be quickly implemented. Costs change with times, expectations and circumstances. The CRC has recommended a more permanent cost review body, and I agree with that, and I also agree that CASE is best placed to do this. Its close connection with the NTUC means that it can put its fingers on the pulse and ears to the ground and monitor changes quickly. The Cost Review Committee must be congratulated for putting into focus the issue of rising costs. It was no easy task. Its work was even criticised as being as much a political exercise, as it was an economic one. But there need be no apologies for this, for the issues were critical. Let me illustrate. In the post-mortem analysis of the last General Elections, the Prime Minister and other PAP Members spoke on the matter.”
“This is due to low prevailing interest rates and double family incomes. But interest rates change, and may increase during the lifespan of a mortgage loan. With more than 50% of a combined family income spent on servicing housing loans, any increase in interest rates, an economic downturn, or the loss of a spouse's income will have devastating results. On education, like other speakers before me, I support the CRC's call that there should be no further reduction of subsidies on university fees and to cap this at 79%. Education is an investment in our human resource. But as it benefits everyone in society, the Government alone should not bear this subsidy. Clan and alumni associations, local and multi-national companies, as good corporate citizens, and service clubs, should make more student loans, scholarships and bursaries available. A review should also be carried out on our education system . Like all speakers before me who have commented on this subject, I feel it strange that our education system, good as it is, results in more than half of primary school students and one-third of secondary school students having private tuition at home at an annual cost of $260 million. One primary school has been reported to be successful in reducing this to a negligible level; others could learn from it and follow suit. Public transport has also been an area for great concern. The CRC has recommended that fare increases be done in stages and in smaller amounts, and that new policies, such as re-routing and rationalisation and upgrading, be fully explained before implementation. I support this as well as the call not to deregulate taxis. Sir, today's Straits Times, on page 36, carries an article headlined: "Inland Revenue rakes in record $1.13b in August", of which $38.”
“society must be prepared to provide a certain amount of support to this group like subsidised rental for flats, subsidised health care and education, and financial assistance to the destitute, as is the case at present." There is yet another group that cries out for medical subsidies - children who are born with congenital and hereditary problems. No child chooses to be born unwholesome, neither has it a choice of parents nor of genes. Some, like the juvenile diabetics, the epileptics and the haemophiliacs, can, with good medical care, be productive members of society. But that care comes at a cost, which increases year by year. Their sustained well-being is a life-long commitment and financial burden to their families. To pay more than lip service to our claim that we are a caring society, let us have a foundation set up to look after them with public donations matched by Government funds. On housing, I support the CRC's call to phase out subsidies for executive flats. The Government has to be mindful that its primary objective is to provide affordable housing to the lower income groups, but it must also not absolve itself from its duty to ensure that private housing does not rise above affordability for Singaporeans, as a result of manipulation by foreign speculators. Home ownership is what holds a people to the motherland. This is especially important now as more and more Singaporeans go abroad to work. They may not come home when there is no home to come back to. The CRC has concluded, and I quote paragraph 11, page 66: "... private property has become less affordable in the last few years." But people are still able to manage, despite the rise in the property price index of 100 points in the last two years relative to 1988.”
“(Copies of Table distributed to hon. Members). Discrimination was again evident when a review of subsidies was carried out. In Table 5.2 of the Cost Review Committee Report, the Long Term Subsidy Target (LTST) of 80% for the class C patients was reached in 1992, having been brought down from the previous level of 85%. The subsidy for B class patients was 71% last year, a drop of 2% from the year before, but still quite a distance away from the LTST of 65%, attainment of which has been kept open. Surprisingly, for class B1, where there had originally been a decision for a full recovery of costs, there is now a subsidy of 11%, with an LTST of 20%. The subsidy to this group would therefore be increased, I repeat, increased progressively until the ultimate is reached. The table I have compiled shows that on a patient day basis, and in dollar terms, the subsidy for C class patients in SGH last year was less than for the two categories of B patients. Even taking a 100% subsidy, it should still be less than for the class B. Sir, something must be amiss when those who have need of it less are given more subsidy. I am as much against subsidies as the Government is and would certainly not like to see Singapore commit the same kind of follies that Albert Beveridge led his countrymen into with the British National Health Service. But there is a time and a place for all things and there is a group that needs to be subsidised. The Cost Review Committee has identified this in paragraph 16 of page 35, and I quote: "However, lower-income households do have a sense of being left behind. Their living standards are better than before but those who remain in this group are still disappointed to find that they have not improved their position relative to others....”
“It was as if it was an uncontrollable cosmic event like the unpropitious appearance of Haley's Comet. The happening was iatrogenic. In the post recession years, everyone appeared in a hurry to recover costs to make up for lost time. When the recession came, we urged our workers to take a hefty cut in their CPF. They cooperated. It is well nigh on to 10 years since that recession. We have yet to repay our workers in full. Why, then, was there this hurry to recover costs? Unfortunately, it was in health that the pressure was most felt. The citizen's right to good basic health care and who pays for it is an emotive issue. Restructuring, upward fee revision, reduction of subsidy, increased co-payment, upgrading and acquisition of new technology came close on the heels of one another. To top it all, the Ministry had to contend with the decimation of senior staff due to resignations for the private sector. To entice them to remain, a more liberal and lucrative scheme of remuneration was implemented. Because of the emphasis on bottom line figures, and the pressure for increased productivity, heavily subsidised and non-paying patients felt discriminated when attention was concentrated on the fee-paying, as it was easier to measure productivity by the amount of revenue generated than by an assessment of affective skills or the degree of complexity or difficulty of a case. This generated some unhappiness. Sir, may I have your permission to distribute a Table that I have prepared?”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, for allowing me to join in the debate on the Cost Review Committee's Report. Concern over the rising cost of living was an issue in the last general elections. Whilst the Government and the people were agreed that cost had increased, their views on the reasons for this and the effect on the people were different. Some translated their displeasure into votes against the PAP. The Cost Review Committee was commissioned to address these issues. I compliment Mr Lim and his team for the work that they have put into this. They found health care, housing, public transport and education to be areas of concern, underscoring public consensus. The Report is fair, objective and full of facts, figures and enlightening statistics. Although the veracity of some of these has been questioned, like the CPI, by the hon. Member for Potong Pasir, I agree with most of their conclusions and support their recommendations. But I would like to point out that I detect a tendency to lapse into academic rationalisation in some areas. Painful misjudgments cannot be dismissed by a simple justification and equation that as long as nominal wages are above rising costs, this is affordable and there should be no problem. Sir, at the national macro-economic level, cost increase may be diluted. But for the individual who has to dig deeper into his pocket to buy the same bowl of noodles at the same outlet, or to find that he has less to eat for the same price, the perception is different. This can be exploited and here is where trouble begins. The CRC has concluded that it was a confluence of factors like scarce resources, timing of fee increments, removal of subsidies and the upgrading to meet expectations which brought about some of these events.”
“Sir, will the Government consider a different tier or level of conveyancing fees and statutory charges or even early resale capital gains tax as a measure to dampen speculation in properties?”
“Sir, actually my question has been partly asked by Dr Tan. I note from the Annual Report of Singapore General Hospital last year that occupancy of C class beds was 106%. What is the actual ratio of B class to C class beds? Does this mean that the demand for C class beds will be more than B2 beds?”
“Sir, may I ask the Minister whether there are any plans to demolish low-rise apartments and rebuild on the same site to maximise land use?”
“Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for Finance whether he will cut down Government-approved gambling activities comprising two draws per week for Toto and 4-D, race days on Saturdays and Sundays and the monthly Big Sweep.”
“Sir, will caning also apply to a SIA passenger who has his own notion about what a great way to fly is? Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, a person who is subject to Singapore law, and that would include a person who is flying SIA, must surely be subject to caning if it is meted out by a court of proper jurisdiction within the framework of the law. WATER PRESSURE OF FIRE HYDRANTS 4. Mr Robert Chua Teck Chew asked the Minister for Home Affairs, in view of a recent warehouse fire at Penjuru Road and the difficulty in fighting the fire due to low water pressure, if he will assure the House that all fire hydrants, especially those in the Jurong Industrial Estate, will have adequate water pressure for effective fire fighting. Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee (for the Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) conducts regular checks on all fire hydrants. The SCDF would liaise with the Public Utilities Board (PUB) to rectify faulty hydrants. In the situation mentioned by the hon. Member, the difficulty in fighting the fire was not due to low water pressure. In any case, should there be any problems with water pressure in fighting a fire, the Civil Defence can overcome it. Water supply from other sources will be channelled to fight the fire when necessary, eg, from relay pumping from distant hydrants or from pumping from open water sources, such as rivers, lakes, reservoirs, etc. For major fires, officers from PUB's Water Department are also present to ensure that the water supply and water pressure are adequate. GOVERNMENT-APPROVED GAMBLING ACTIVITIES (Cutting down) 5.”
“Sir, as there was some disquiet over the caning sentence on a young molester who was thought to be educationally subnormal, may I ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether the Government would consider alternative punishment such as chemical castration for molest by persons who are feeble-minded or mentally incapable? There are several reasons for this. Mr Speaker: Dr Toh, no speeches. You have asked your question. Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, what the Member asked is something that is not related to caning. The Ministry of Home Affairs is always prepared to examine and study practical measures to see how we can further bring down the crime rate. Therefore, I will ask the officers in the Ministry to carefully study this suggestion and, particularly, we will look at the experiences of other countries where this has been done to see whether it has the intended impact of curbing any rise in the number of molestation cases.”
“Sir, may I ask the Parliamentary Secretary, where an exemption has been given for a reservist to be absent, will he have to make up for lost time upon his return?”
“Sir, is the lack of coordination between the Ministry and the National University of Singapore's Medical Faculty one of the factors?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Minister what are the reasons for the deficiencies in certain areas in specialist practice in Singapore?”
“Whilst the new section 47A is a necessary deterrent to drug traffickers by denying them the pleasure of their ill-gotten gains, the proposed section 54A and the power given to the Monetary Authority of Singapore to inspect the books, accounts and transactions of Clearing Houses will be viewed by the banking community as an infringement of the autonomy that they now enjoy in the management of their activities. Sir, with exception to section 47A, these intrusions into banking secrecy may hinder the further development of Singapore as a financial centre at the time when some of our neighbouring countries are offering haven banks to foreigners. Finally, Sir, while the banking industry in Singapore has neither been tarnished nor scarred by the scandals and corporate failures of a magnitude that has disfigured foreign banks, we have, however, had our share of the minor blemishes and slight dents created by the occasional delinquent. If not for the vigilance and the supervision of our Government and the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the situation would have been worse. The Bill will further improve banking practice here and enhance the profile of our financial institutions. I support the Bill.”
“But even then, some may have to resort to cash calls, rights and bonus issues to meet this requirement. The smaller banks may be forced to merge or cease operation. The Bill has provisions to facilitate merger which are outlined in sections 14A to 14C. It even provides for an exemption to banking secrecy for this purpose. The Bill also empowers the Minister to make a final decision on whether to approve or disapprove a merger without his decision being called into question. Sir, as there are no provisions in the Bill for it, I would like to ask the Minister whether a rejected merger application can be re-submitted involving the same parties at a later date and, if so, under what circumstances. The Banking (Amendment) Bill also calls for an increase in the capital adequacy ratio to 12%. As I am given to understand, our banks are already doing this and maintaining the capital adequacy ratio at the more than 8% currently recommended by the Bank for International Settlements. Indeed, most of them keep this above the 12% proposed by the Bill and this is calculated with first-tier capitals, discounting the risks which the Minister alluded to. This new section of the Bill will, therefore, only serve to formalise an existing practice. Sir, since its incorporation, DBS Bank has been viewed as a favoured bank. The removal of exemptions for DBS Bank will be welcomed to competitors as having a more even playing field. Exceptions to banking secrecy, however, other than those which apply to laundering of drug trafficking money, will be less acceptable. There are proposals in this Bill for exemptions from banking secrecy, in housekeeping activities with respect to credit given to customers and also in the regulation of Clearing Houses.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we have heard the Minister tell the House that the last time the Banking Act in Singapore was reviewed was nearly 10 years ago because of the staggering Third World debt crisis and the tailspin that banking went into around the world. Since that time, Singapore had gone through a recession which saw our banks and the rest of the economy suffering adversely. For two consecutive years, in 1985 and 1986, the local banks saw a contraction of minus two percentage points in the capital funds and reserves. Today, our economy is again in a robust health. Singapore has matured as a financial centre and our banks are reporting double digit growth of 13% and 17%, respectively, in their reserves for 1991 and 1992. Many banks have also gone regional and some global. In terms of capital reserves, a few of our banks have surpassed OECD competitors but, sadly, they are still ranked in the worst position when it comes to risk-exposure. It is, therefore, appropriate that the issued and paid-up capitals of our banks should be raised from the currently unrealistically low levels of $3 million. Increased capitalization will enhance the corporate image of Singapore banks. The Banking (Amendment) Bill 1993 seeks to do this by increasing the capitals of our banks to $800 million. But, Sir, it is not this leap in the quantum of paid-up capitals which it seeks that will make this Bill important, but rather the quantum leap in the changes to some other areas of banking activity that it provides. I refer to the removal of some exemptions from and exceptions to be made to the existing Act. The proposal to increase the capital can be met by most of the major banks in the Fourth Schedule.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Acting Minister whether this mutual agreement to restrict circulation of newspapers extends to mutually agreed jamming of each other's radio and television broadcast?”
“Sir, may I ask the Minister: how many of these successful applicants with foreign spouses were males and how many were females? Prof. Jayakumar: I do not have the details but I do recall that in both cases the percentage now is very high. It is either in the high 60s percentage or in the 70s percentage. ENHANCED CHILD RELIEF/FOREIGN MAID LEVY RELIEF (Claim of relief by men) 12. Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for Finance whether he will allow men to claim for (i) enhanced child relief and (ii) foreign maid levy relief which are currently only given to women.”
“Sir, may I ask the Minister whether he would consider requiring CPF investors who have accounts to buy a bank draft or cashier's order before applications are made for IPOs?”
“Mr Speaker, before I ask the question, I want to declare that I do not have any shares in any of the three companies referred to in the question. Question No. 6, Sir.”
“I have asked the Minister for Law and Minister for Home Affairs in a previous sitting of the House and he has replied that there have only been four cases prosecuted from 1988 to 1992. All the offenders were prosecuted under the Penal Code and none under the Official Secrets Act. All cases have involved financial corporations with a total amount, in terms of money lost, of only $985,000. Despite the paucity here, the Government has wisely put in place legislation to deal with this advancing tide of high technology crime. With this Bill, we now join a long list of countries, Australia, Germany, France, Canada, United States, Switzerland, Netherlands, Iceland and the UK which all have computer crime legislation. Sir, I support the Bill.”
“There is also a provision that there should be an intent to commit further offences as indicated in clause 4(1). The British Computer Misuse Act 1990, with which we share many similar clauses, appears to be more defined in these areas. It makes it an offence to access computers "even though the facts are such that the commission of further offences is impossible." Again, the interpretation in our Bill on stealing of computer information is that the act of stealing itself becomes an offence. Sir, to steal means to take illegal possession of something which belongs to another person and, in the process, deprives the original owner of its use. Today, all of us are inundated with junk mail, the result of all kinds of mailing lists being compiled from computer databanks. No doubt, some of these are the result of illegal access to computer storage data but their mere compilation and use has not, in many instances, led to any loss for the original possessor of that information. Does this constitute stealing? The law needs to be more clear-cut on this. There is also some ambiguity in clause 5(2) where a fine of $20,000 is imposed for damages to computers beyond $10,000. Without the damage being defined. The British Computer Misuse Act 1990 is again more definite in this area as it relies on the British Criminal Damage Act 1971 where a modification of a computer program is not regarded as doing damage to the computer or the computer storage medium unless its effect on that computer or the storage medium impairs its physical condition. Sir, computer crimes in Singapore, as I have said earlier, are fortunately few and far between.”
“Dr Beng has spoken of the increasing wave of computer crimes being part of an international network. But when it comes to hacking, the scenario is different. A study of the computer hacker's profile reveals an identical thread that runs through all of them. The typical hacker is a middle-class teenaged student, very often highly intelligent but introverted, and with an intense need to boost his self-esteem. Within the bounds of the territory known as cyberspace, within which these hackers work, they communicate with each other, although they have never met, for several hours of the day. And when the breakthrough comes, it is the paragon of achievement for the hacker. Sir, our Computer Misuse Bill provides for custodial and pecuniary punishment of computer criminals and hackers but I doubt that when the audit trail of a computer misdeed, particularly one that deals with security matters, leads to such a teenaged hacker, we will be prepared to surrender him to a foreign country for prosecution, extradition and mutual assistance arrangements notwithstanding. Vice versa, I doubt that a foreign country will also readily give up one of its citizens for trial here for a similar offence. Computer skill of this quality is often tacitly condoned as invaluable in fifth column activity as well as industrial espionage. But things are changing, for in the Sunday Times of 23rd May 1993, we read of a report of two British hackers being prosecuted for a computer crime for the first time under the British Computer Misuse Act of 1990. Several speakers have drawn our attention to deficiencies in this Bill. I agree with them. Clause 2(4) of the Bill states that the form in which any program or data is output is immaterial.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to speak in support of this Bill. By its enactment, Singapore will join a growing number of countries which have similar laws which will bring into focus computer-related crimes. High technology offences have come about as a result of coupling the computer to the telephone through the use of the modem, resulting in rapid electronic transfer of data. As the Minister says, computer crimes in Singapore are still extremely low, but it is timely that we should have in place a law for us to deal with perpetrators of this type of criminal offences and to use it as a deterrent against would-be offences. Such an act will also bring Singapore within the league of nations, which have similar legislation, which are now engaged in establishing extradition as well as mutual assistance programmes. Computer abuse criminal activity is international and cross-territorial. A misdemeanour initiated in a far away country would have devastating results here and vice versa. And because of its cosmopolitan nature, the fight against these crimes also requires international cooperation. Sir, a speaker before me has already referred to reports of computer criminals who have escaped prosecution. The same British schoolboy he spoke about managed to hack the computer systems of the British Ministry of Defence and the US military establishments in Britain. Again in Straits Times of 14th May 1993, an Australian student was reported to have successfully hacked the NASA computers in the US causing a 24-hour stoppage. He not only decoded highly sensitive and secret computer files but passed on the technical know-how to other computer buffs. That is how the "technorat", or hacker, operates.”
“Sir, in asking Question No. 9, I want to declare that I am an active CPF contributor.”
“What about Singapore citizens who have been trained, qualified, and fulfilled all the statutory requirements abroad? Will they be recognised and registered fully in Singapore?”
“Sir, before I ask the question, I want to declare that I am a practising doctor with both local and foreign qualifications. Question No. 5, Sir.”
“Sir, may I ask the Minister whether the Government has considered some form of capital gains tax in order to dampen speculation in the private property market?”
“Sir, when I proposed that we do away with the employees' CPF contribution after attaining the age of 55 years, it was not as a measure of cost-cutting but more to try and rationalise an action. Here we have, on the one hand, a worker who is allowed to withdraw all his CPF but, on the other hand, he has to make back monthly contribution. I do not see the rationale behind this action.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I just make a point of clarification? I said that I am not suggesting that the withdrawal age for CPF be increased to 60 years because it will be a political decision of dire consequences. In fact, I want it to be retained at 55.”
“In this era of constant competition, practices such as this, that go against noble values like showing gratefulness to one's parents, are gaining ground among the younger generation. This is an undeniable fact, and the solution will take time. So the possibility of carrying on working depending on one's ability will in some way help the aged to continue to fill their time in a useful and gainful way. Another point is that the skills which the worker has acquired during his working years can be put to good use. He may be 55, but in terms of skills and experience, younger workers may find him hard to match. The aged can also help to fill up shortages where they arise. For example, when the services of teachers are badly needed now, we can cope with the problem as we seek a long-term solution by extending the services of those teachers who wish to continue working after 55. Sir, I do not agree with the suggestion by Dr Toh that workers be allowed to withdraw their CPF only at 60. May I urge the Minister to continue allowing workers to withdraw their CPF at 55.”
“When a person retires at 55 not for any reason of health, he would tend to grow restless and bored staying at home without a permanent job. This state of boredom is understandable and can be explained on two grounds. Firstly, he is used to working, having done so for at least 30 years. Secondly, he is used to being independent, earning his own income every month. With growing awareness of the importance of maintaining good health, many workers in the country are able to carry on working even when they reach 55. This Bill will meet the needs of this group of people. According to the Singapore Yearbook of Statistics 1991 and the weekly news magazine Asiaweek, the life expectancy of Singaporeans is estimated at 74 years. In view of this, if we fix the retirement age at 55, we will have to ask ourselves what the retiree is going to do for the next 20 years. 20 years is a long time for one to spend life in idle pursuits, at home or anywhere else, when one could still be productive. If the United States, where life expectancy is 75 years, has a law enabling retirement age at 65, there is no strong reason for Singapore not to have the same. To prevent workers from continuing to work after 55 is to bring social problems. Most workers who are 55 and above have children who are already working and have their own families. If these workers are able to support themselves, we will be able to avoid one growing problem - that of children neglecting their parents. Not everyone among the younger generation is willing to provide their retired parents constant support and company. The trend today shows many aged couples living alone while their children attend to their own families and their own life.”
“Clause 5 states that a contract of service or collective agreement made before the commencement of this Act shall be void to the extent that it is so less favourable. Sir, to set the precedence of making an Act retroactive is undesirable. Some personnel managers I have discussed this Bill with have already found a way of circumventing this clause and clause 6 by suggesting to their workers who reach the age of 55 years of age that they resign with the full retirement benefits, like gratuities, thus making it not less favourable than after the enactment of this Bill. Mr Goh should rest assured that the workers who choose to retire or resign earlier would not be disadvantaged. Sir, all this is happening even before the Bill has been taken through its Second Reading. Whilst it is premature to ask the Minister at this stage, I would like to enquire of him for an indication as to what this Bill would cost the Government when it is applied to the private sector. I support the Bill, Sir. Mr Umar Abdul Hamid (Ang Mo Kio GRC)( In Malay): Being a country without natural resources, Singapore depends a lot on the labour and skills of its workers. Every working citizen is a gain to our economic system. So the contributions of workers within a certain period of time inevitably influence our growth and economic stability. The Retirement Age Bill, which seeks to raise the minimum age of retirement from 55 to 60 and thereafter to 67, is most welcome. Mr Speaker, considering our practice of meritocracy, it is no surprise that our workers have become so used and immune to hard work and industry. They are conscious that only through diligence and effort can they ensure the comfort and future of their children.”