Vivian Balakrishnan
Singapore
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not issue advisories on wait times at overseas airports. Travellers may wish to monitor airline and airport websites, as well as news reports for real-time information on wait times and potential disruptions at specific airports.”
“When the conflict in the Middle East deteriorated and commercial flights were halted in March 2026, the Singapore Government mounted four repatriation flights from Muscat, Riyadh and Jeddah to bring stranded Singaporeans home.”
“The Government has stepped up public engagement to explain our foreign policy fundamentals and responses to key international developments to Singaporeans and to hear their views. We do this through dialogue sessions across segments of society, including students, youths, businesses and community leaders.”
“And the larger point during the Committee of Supply was that precisely, because the world is in such a difficult, prickly, volatile and dangerous state, actually, if we keep our wits about ourselves, we maintain unity and we continue to have this clear eye-realistic, but principled, approach, there are many opportunities for Singapore.”
“Well, in short, I completely agree with you. And that is why we have indeed been hosting these events and in your own capacity as a national athlete and also as an official now, you have seen how it works in practice.”
“Since 2022, about half of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) employees are women. The proportion of women in senior appointments has remained stable at about a quarter. We recognise that overseas postings are disruptive for officers with families, especially female officers who bear greater caregiving responsibilities.”
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Every one of 2,437 lines we hold for Vivian Balakrishnan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 33 of 49.
“Again, they are not comfortable because, obviously, they are not totally private in the same context which you would have, if you were in your own home. The other point is that the reason they are in interim housing is not so much just to provide housing, but rather to give an opportunity for the social workers who are involved with the VWOs to help sort out their problems. In other words, it requires a family to be prepared to work actively to resolve problems and to seek self-reliance. It is not a long-term permanent form of housing. As the Member has said, therefore, it is not necessarily easy. If someone just comes up and says, "I want housing but don't interfere with me and my life, and sort out all my other social problems," then it will be difficult. The final point is the most important point. We are most concerned about the impact on children, and that is why I have taken such an active stance to make sure that we do not have people camping out on beaches or parks or void decks, even though these may be safe and indeed sometimes even pleasant areas for adults. These are not good and safe areas for children. So I have insisted that for any family with children, the children must be put in a proper home. They must continue to go to school. They must continue to get access to good food and good hygiene. And if any family has difficulty providing these things for their children, then MCYS will step in, and we will step in assertively, if need be, in order to protect the children. So the Member can rest assured that I will do my best to make sure that children do not suffer unnecessarily for the problems which adults sometimes bring upon their own families. 12.30 pm”
“Four minutes for four supplementary questions! Nevertheless, they are all very valid questions. On the first point on Angsana Home, or the homes that we run for the destitute, I think any Member here who would like a conducted tour of the home is welcome to do so. And we will show that this is a clean and safe place. It is not luxurious and not comfortable but it provides decent housing for people who, as I have said, have no other option, and it is a last resort. There was a question about whether we restrict the movement of people in Angsana Home. Well, there are some rules in place. We need some rules in place, first, to ensure the security of the all the other residents. Secondly, there are many people in that Home who are in there because they have been brought in under the Destitute Persons Act, which means that they may not necessarily be there on a voluntary basis. So there are some rules and there are some restrictions on the movement of people in and out of Angsana Home. Nevertheless, for those who need to work or who need to conduct other matters which require transactions outside the Home, I am sure the management of the Home will work sympathetically and flexibly with them. But I need Members to understand that there is a need for some rules. The other point which Mdm Halimah brought up is about the options for families. The key thing really is to keep families together. And that is why we always encourage them, wherever possible, to stay with their relatives or if it is not possible, go for interim housing run by the private sector which HDB will refer them to. The other resort is to go to New Hope or to Lakeside Family Centre. These are units which HDB has assigned to these two VWOs.”
“The final and last resort for those who are unable to work and have no family members is to be admitted to a Government-funded welfare home for destitute persons. Mr Speaker, Sir, families facing financial and housing difficulties should get help as early as possible. They should call the ComCare hotline at 1800-2220000. I really want to emphasise that losing a home is one of the most emotionally wrenching exercises I think any family can undergo. And what all of us need to do is to try our best to prevent them from reaching that stage. By the time they reach MCYS, I think the problems have already accumulated beyond a point which we should be satisfied with. So, whilst MCYS will continue to do as much as we can, we will still continue to focus on upstream efforts in order to prevent them reaching that stage.”
“Sir, in 2009, around 299 persons were referred to MCYS for evaluation of their housing needs. Most of them had housing difficulties because they were either estranged from their families or their flats had been repossessed or they had sold their flats and had not been able to buy another one. MCYS works very closely with the Community Development Councils as well as the voluntary welfare organisations to provide comprehensive social and financial assistance to such persons. There are a variety of housing options available for them depending on their individual circumstances. For instance, where possible, the HDB will assist them to buy a flat within their means. For those who need temporary accommodation whilst working on a longer term housing solution, HDB will also refer them to interim rental housing which is managed by the private sector. If they are still unable to afford their own accommodation and they have no other family members who can help, then the HDB will assist them with rental flats under the public rental scheme. Persons who need short-term accommodation may also be referred to transitional shelters which are run by the VWOs. Currently, we have two of them providing such services – the new HOPE Community Services and the Lakeside Family Centre. Apart from housing, social workers will also work with the family to help them resolve their multiple social, financial and employment problems, because the truth is housing is just one dimension of the variety of problems which this family may be confronting. At the end of 2009, 148 families have been assisted through this scheme, of which 107 families have been discharged to alternative housing arrangements.”
“Given that disability is a complex phenomenon, there is no single estimate of the number of disabled persons in Singapore below the age of 60. Instead, there are multiple estimates at different life stages that indicate the possible extent of disability in the population. Among young children aged six years and below, there are about 1,400-2,000 children a year who are diagnosed as having developmental delays. Among those of school-going age in mainstream and special education (SPED) schools, 2.5% have some disability. Among adults, the 2001 National Health Surveillance Survey by the Ministry of Health reported that 1.9% of respondents aged 18 and 59 years old had difficulty with self-care. APPENDICES Section Name: BUDGET Title: ANNUAL BUDGET STATEMENT Filename : Chart 1 (Meridian Income per Singaporean Household Member) MP Name: Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam Filename : Annexes to Annual Budget Statement Filename : Tables 1 and 2 (Top-up to Medisave and PSEA) Section Name: WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS Title: BRIC COUNTRIES Filename : Figure 1 (Level of Singapore's Trade & outward investments) MP Name: Mr Lim Hng Kiang”
“Just one last paragraph. The Consortium has recently launched a financing competition to raise bank financing for the project and there has been significant interest from the banks. So we are targeting to achieve financial close by the middle of the year and to start construction thereafter. The SEA Games is a significant item in Singapore's sporting calendar, and I wanted SEA Games to be our first international multi-sport event held in our new Sports Hub. Consequently, since we are expecting the Sports Hub only to be ready at the end of 2013 or early 2014, I informed the President of the South East Asian Games Federation that it would be best for us to host the Games in 2015. In response, he informed me that there were at least two other countries who were keen to host the Games in 2013. I, therefore, concluded that that would be an optimal outcome for everyone concerned. CLARIFICATION (Ethnicity on identity card) Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, can I make a brief clarification on the reply I just gave?”
“All the banks who had previously been happily queueing to extend credit to the consortium then became very reluctant to extend credit or even where they were, they would have extended credit at exorbitant interest rates which would, ultimately, have led to us paying more. So, if we had proceeded hastily and blindly with the project despite such an unfavourable environment, we would have ended up paying a lot more for building materials and in interest costs. I therefore took the decision to adopt a more cautious approach and to wait for a more appropriate time to proceed. The Government remains fully committed to the development of the new Sports Hub. In fact, now with the stabilisation of the global economy, stabilisation of construction costs and the gradual improvement in credit availability, we expect the project to get back on track in the coming months.”
“The Government decided to develop the new Sports Hub through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mechanism. In this mechanism, the winning bidder would design, build and operate the entire facility over a period of 25 years. The Government in turn would pay the Consortium for operating the facilities and delivering services at contractually agreed standards through annual payments over the same period. The ultimate objective of using such a mechanism is to have a vibrant, compelling, financially viable and fully utilised public facility. In fact, this is currently the largest sports infrastructure PPP project in the world. I make these points because I want to emphasise that the contractual arrangements for these are very complex, and all parties to this contract must perform appropriate due diligence to protect their respective interests. Consequently, this is far more complicated than a standard Government procurement contract. It would have been far easier and far simpler to simply procure a new building. But this is not the way this contract is being structured. Specifically in the case of our Sports Hub, external events in the past two years have resulted in a delay in the conclusion of our contract negotiations. The steep rise in building materials and in construction costs in the first half of 2008 required both us as well as the bidder to review the financial aspects of the construction. We had actually resolved this by the middle of 2008. Members will recall that we were then overtaken by the global financial crisis which led to a global squeeze on credit lines, not only in Singapore but indeed the world over.”
“In general, I do agree with the Member and, in particular, we want to pay attention to those who are on contract service because as the economy progresses, we know that more and more people and more and more women will be on contract service. I give Members the assurance that I am doing my best to see how we can help this group of women, but just bear in mind that we must not inadvertently make it difficult for them to get the job in the first place. If every employer is worried that every potential woman employee, even a contract employee, is going to come with a long tail of benefits, I am worried that it may deter them from taking them on in the first place. DELAY IN COMPLETION OF SPORTS HUB 13. Mr Viswa Sadasivan asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) what accounts for the delay in the completion of the Sports Hub; and (b) whether the Government has assessed the pecuniary and reputation damage to Singapore, especially if this delay causes Singapore to give up the opportunity to host the 2013 South East Asian Games.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, let me begin by saying that I totally share with Mr Seah's concern for women employees, especially those who are pregnant. Members will recall that in October 2007, we amended legislation to enable more women to qualify for maternity leave. The qualifying period for maternity leave was shortened from 180 days to 90 days. Pregnant employees who are retrenched during the last trimester will receive maternity leave benefits, which they were not entitled to previously. These changes were adopted after extensive consultation with both employers as well as the unions. Whilst we wanted to do more for women, our key consideration is how to do so without impairing the employability of women. If our proposals had resulted in higher business costs or significant operational difficulties, then it may have led to employers discriminating against all potential women employees. Notwithstanding this, we will continue to study proposals from Mr Seah as well as the public on how we can further increase our support for working women who are currently excluded from the statutory leave schemes in order to encourage more of them to have children. But whilst we do this, just bear that in mind that it does not inadvertently impair the employability of women.”
“Last year, 57% (or 3,627 out of 6,328) civil divorce writs filed involved children below the age of 21. Detailed statistics on the age of the children and which parent had custody of them is currently unavailable. With regard to Muslim divorces last year, 66% (or 1132 out of 1696) divorces involved children below the age of 21. Of these Muslim divorce cases, 62% (or 703) were cases where the woman was awarded custody of the children. The remaining 38% were cases where custody was either awarded to the father or to both parents under joint custody. On average, each woman or man had custody of approximately two children and the average age of each child was 11 years old. Column No : 1815 JOB PLACEMENT FOR FOREIGN WORKERS (Prevention of exploitation) 9. Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Manpower (a) over the last two and a half years, how many foreign workers have been exploited by unscrupulous agents who promised them jobs which did not materialise and how much debt such workers have incurred in order to work in Singapore; (b) what measures does the Ministry have in place to curb such incidences; and (c) if the Ministry will consider (i) facilitating direct job applications by foreign workers; and (ii) making it compulsory for the employer to settle his worker’s debt to his agent in the event of a termination.”
“Over the last five years, the percentage of national athletes, who are National Service (NS) enlistees, range from 0.27% to 0.48%. The breakdown of the figures is tabulated below: 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 No. of national athletes 66 93 95 54 64 No. of NS enlistees 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 Percentage (%) 0.33 0.47 0.48 0.27 0.32 My Ministry and the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) recognise that NS enlistment can affect our sportsmen’s performance. Efforts have been made to minimise the impact of NS on the sports training schedules of our top athletes. Under the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) Sports Excellence Talented Elite Athletes Management (spexTEAM) carding system, NS athletes who are graded B2 and above and have strong medal potential, may be placed under the SAF Sportsmen Scheme (SSS). Athletes under the SSS are eligible for time off and Full-Pay Unrecorded Leave (FPUL) during their full-time NS. This arrangement allows our top NS athletes to train and participate in major competitions, such as the South East Asian (SEA) Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and the Olympic Games, without having to defer from their NS obligations. MINDEF also considers NS deferment requests on a case-by-case basis, where athletes may delay their enlistment to prepare and compete in major competitions. Column No : 1815 CUSTODY OF CHILDREN IN DIVORCES 8. Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) how many women were given custody of their children in divorce proceedings in 2008; (b) what was the average number of children that each had custody of; and (c) what was the average age of the children.”
“To give greater focus to the development of local youth athletes, the Singapore Youth Sports Development Committee jointly set up by MCYS and MOE in September 2008 is currently working on broadening the participation base of local youth athletes, identifying and nurturing talent at an early stage, and greater exposure to competition. Column No : 1813 NATIONAL SERVICE DEFERMENT FOR ATHLETES 7. Ms Joscelin Yeo asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) over the last five years, what percentage of those enlisting for National Service are national athletes; and (b) whether his Ministry will consider requesting deferments for those who are carded as A1 athletes or are under the Project 0812 or Special Assistance Scheme.”
“Foreign Sports Talents (FSTs) currently constitute approximately 4.6% of the total number of athletes in the Youth, Development and National squads of the seven key sports: Athletics, Badminton, Bowling, Football, Swimming/Waterpolo, Table Tennis and Sailing. The detailed break-down for each of the sports is presented in the following table: Sport National Team/National Development Squad/Youth Team athletes Total no. of FSTs Percentage (%) Athletics 194 1 0.5 Badminton 97 19 19.6 Bowling 57 0 0 Football 120 6 5 Table Tennis 85 11 12.9 Swimming 116 1 0.9 Waterpolo 50 1 2 Sailing 126 0 0 Total 845 39 4.6 The FST policy is guided by three principles; (i) openness to global talent; (ii) fairness in treatment of FSTs and local-born athletes; and (iii) ensuring the integration of FSTs into Singapore society. My Ministry does not see the need to set a ratio on the number of FSTs in each sport. Each FST application is processed individually by my Ministry and the Singapore Sports Council (SSC), and MHA’s final approval is required for athletes to gain Permanent Residency and subsequent Singapore citizenship. We would only recommend an FST for approval if our assessment is that the FST will help raise the overall standard of play in Singapore, thus benefiting the entire sports ecosystem. We also ensure that the respective National Sports Associations formulate a systematic programme to enhance opportunities for local born athletes to fulfil their potential. The elevation of standards and availability of sparring partners will certainly benefit our local-born athletes who are groomed for international competition at the highest levels.”
“Nonetheless, the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) and the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) are currently assisting in talks with the USOC to encourage its participation in all sports. SYOGOC is working with the IOC as well as the stakeholders of the Olympic family, including the NOCs and the IFs, to ensure that the inaugural YOG would be an event of the highest international sporting standards. All parties are committed to a successful YOG in 2010. Column No : 1796 HDB STUDIO APARTMENTS FOR ELDERLY (Integration into community) 49. Assoc. Prof. Paulin Tay Straughan asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether there are plans to locate HDB studio apartments for the elderly in mature estates where there are significant proportions of elderly households so as to minimise geographical displacement of these residents; (b) what types of amenities will be incorporated to make these communities elder-friendly; and (c) whether these studio apartments for the elderly will be integrated with various apartment types so that there will be no spatial segregation of the elderly from the rest of the community.”
“The Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (S2010 YOG) in August 2010 will bring together the best young athletes from around the world. These athletes will qualify on merit, based on their performance in qualifying events designated by the International Federations (IFs) of the respective sports. Being a youth games, the YOG will also have an culture and education programme, but on the sporting field, the best youth athletes from around the world will be competing at the highest level in their age group. To ensure universality and to keep the YOG to a manageable size, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has imposed a minimum of four athletes and a maximum of 70 athletes for individual sports per National Olympic Committee (NOC). This maximum cap will affect a small number of the larger NOCs such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany, etc. It is up to these larger NOCs to select which sports to enter for the Games. Individual athletes would still need to meet the qualification standards set by the IFs. For the four team sports – football, handball, hockey and volleyball – representation is at the continental NOC level. Within each continent, teams can be from a specific NOC or consist of mixed teams from the NOCs. The United States Olympic Committee (USOC), which sent about 600 participants for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, has confirmed that it will not be participating in three out of the 26 sports. These three are namely swimming, cycling and shooting. This is unlikely to have a major impact on YOG. For example, some 400 swimmers are still expected to compete at the Games.”
“The rules of competition are set by the international sports federation that convenes the sporting event. All athletes and officials are expected to scrupulously comply with all the rules in order to ensure a fair competition. These values, attitude and behaviour lie at the heart of sportsmanship. The international sports federations also establish the relevant processes for investigation of complaints, dispute resolution and disciplinary action, if warranted, against offenders. It is not appropriate for governments to be involved in these internal disciplinary processes. Nonetheless, if a specific complaint is lodged, the relevant enforcement agencies will investigate whether a criminal offence has been disclosed. The Attorney-General’s Chambers will then assess whether there is a case for prosecution in our courts. Column No : 1795 YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES 48. Mr Arthur Fong asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports whether the decision by some of the American athletes not to compete in the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games has been communicated to the Singapore organisers and, if so, what is the impact of this on the event.”
“I would like to thank Madam Cynthia Phua for the suggestions on having a new media library and a cyberwellness programme at *scape. I would pass the suggestions on to *SCAPE Company Limited for them to look into. *scape will be the venue for the 3-on-3 basketball competition for the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games. We expect to welcome hundreds of athletes, coaches and guests at *scape. This will be a good opportunity for Singapore to showcase *scape to the international community. I am optimistic that all those present will enjoy the competition at this unique venue. Column No : 1793 DISCIPLINE FOR INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EVENTS HELD IN SINGAPORE (Government intervention) 47. Dr Ong Seh Hong asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports whether the Government should be involved in the disciplinary process when match rigging of an international sporting event takes place in Singapore.”
“In 2004, my Ministry conducted a nationwide youth consultation exercise called "Youth – Creating our Future". Through this exercise, many young Singaporeans called for more spaces for their social, recreational, sporting and community activities. *scape was built in response to these calls. *scape will be a platform for our youth to express themselves, and to pursue various interests and projects that contribute to society. My Ministry has set up *SCAPE Company Limited to manage this youth community space. We have invited young entrepreneurs and youth leaders to serve as directors of the company. My Ministry adopts an arms-length relationship with the company, and the company’s management and its Board have the autonomy to decide on their business and marketing strategies. To support the company in its mission to deliver quality youth programmes, the Government will provide transitional funding of about $10 million in the first six years. This will enable *SCAPE Company Limited to build up its capability and revenue stream. The plan is for the company to become financially independent eventually. *SCAPE Company Limited is constantly on the lookout for good ideas on programmes that would appeal to our youth. They will also look beyond our shores and market *scape for international events. The company has formed partnerships with agencies from not just the public sector, but also those from the private and people sectors. On the new media space, the company’s intention is to develop part of *scape into a technology-centric area to promote youth initiatives and creative talents. I understand that the company is currently studying a proposal, so I would not be able elaborate on this further.”
“The training modules have been enhanced to take into consideration emerging needs such as understanding families from different ethnic groups, help for dysfunctional families, closer linkage and collaboration with government agencies. There will be avenues to promote professional learning among FSC staff and better supervision of junior social workers by senior staff. Since April 2009, the Social Work Accreditation Board has started receiving applications for social workers and social service practitioners to be accredited. This will help professionalise the social service sector. To date, there have been close to 419 applications for accreditation as social workers and social service practitioners. As at 11th November 2009, 336 professionals have been accredited by the Social Work Accreditation Board. MCYS is also looking into making the remuneration of social workers and related professionals more competitive. We will make adjustments to their pay packages if necessary. Column No : 1789 USAGE OF MOTORISED BICYCLES (Accidents and third party insurance) 42. Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for Transport with the rise in motorised bicycles of not more than 200 watts (a) how many riders of these motorised bicycles were involved in traffic accidents over the past 12 months; and (b) whether these motorised bicycles are required to be covered by third party insurance.”
“MCYS has set aside $16 million this year to provide more support to the Family Service Centres (FSCs). This is 23% more than the amount spent in FY 2008. The additional funding, made available to the 36 FSCs from April this year, was a result of a review of FSCs completed earlier this year. The review aims to ensure that FSCs remain relevant to society’s needs and are adequately resourced to carry out their work well. At maximum capacity, each FSC can now hire up to three more social workers and two social work associates, bringing the total staff establishment to 17 per FSC. This allows the social workers to have a more manageable caseload. In turn they are better able to provide more holistic and intensive social work intervention to families with complex or multiple problems. Besides the FSCs’ own staff recruitment, we have successfully placed 21 social workers in 12 FSCs through the Social Work Training Scholarship (SWTS), Professional Conversion Programme (PCP), VWOs-Charities Capability Fund (VCF) and the Lien Foundation Scholarship for Social Service Leaders since April 2009. We are also building more FSCs in areas with high and sustained demand. MCYS and the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) have studied the needs and profiles of residents, for the siting of the new FSCs. The development work for the first new FSC is estimated to start in January 2010 after consultations with Mayors and Grassroots Advisers and the appointment of the service provider. Resources have also been provided to enhance the competencies and capabilities of FSC staff.”
“Since the inception of the Masterplan, we have seen the school and social service sector implementing measures to cater to the sporting needs of the disabled. For example, most of the 20 Special Education (SPED) schools managed by MOE have included physical education as part of their curriculum for recreation, rehabilitation and competition. Across the social service sector, disability voluntary welfare organizations (VWOs) also promote sporting and various physical activities for persons with disabilities. Column No : 1781 HDB RENTAL FLATS (Household income ceiling and eviction) 32. Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many HDB tenants have been evicted from HDB rental flats for the past 12 months due to illegal subletting or inability to pay rental; and (b) what are HDB's plans to provide alternative housing for such evicted tenants if they are unable to find alternative accommodation. 33. Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for National Development whether his Ministry will review the household income ceiling for rental flats to take into account inflation and the increased cost of living, before pegging rental rates at 30% or 50% of the market rate.”
“The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) provides funding to the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) to conduct a variety of sporting activities for different disability groups. The level of funding has increased over the past three years from about S$1.25 million in FY 2007, S$1.34 million in FY 2008 to S$1.47 million in FY 2009. The funding supports national competitions such as the National Disability League and Learn To Play programmes covering a variety of disability sports, to encourage persons with disabilities to take up sports for recreation. This does not include other indirect support by SSC, such as facilities rental and provision of Sports Medicine and Sports Science services for disabled athletes. Our National Sports Associations also run programmes for the disabled. For example, the Equestrian Federation of Singapore co-ordinates overseas competitions and provide training support for disabled athletes. The Singapore Swimming Association and Singapore Sailing Federation lend their support in terms of planning, coaching and other technical expertise to SDSC’s programmes. This is in line with our philosophy of having inclusive programmes, and consequently more sporting options for the disabled. This also means we do not have sufficiently segregated data to make meaningful comparisons with other countries. We will be looking at ways in which a better comparison of data can be made in this aspect. The Government also works in partnership with the private and people sector to help the wider disabled community to lead a sporting and active lifestyle. The Enabling Masterplan 2007 – 2011 provides for persons with disabilities to have access to sports for recreation, rehabilitation and competition.”
“Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts – and Kalaa Utsavam – Indian Festival of Arts, featured more than 140 local and international acts in 2008. There are also opportunities for arts groups to be showcased overseas. In August, traditional Malay groups Sriwani and Sri Mahligai represented Singapore at the 11th Asia Arts Festival in China. I would like to encourage Dr Ong and my Parliamentary colleagues to lend their support to the many platforms that showcase traditional arts performances and talents. Column No : 1777 UPDATE ON PLANS FOR HOSPICE FACILITIES AND PALLIATIVE CARE 29. Mr Sin Boon Ann asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the Ministry’s plans to increase the number of hospice beds and healthcare specialists who provide palliative care and whether these plans are on track.”
“We will continue to develop and promote traditional arts through financial assistance, capability development and showcasing opportunities. A new Traditional Arts Fund provides $2.5 million in funding support from 2008 to 2012 for ethnic arts groups. In addition, ethnic arts groups receive financial assistance through grants administered by the National Arts Council (NAC). In 2008, nearly $1 million was devoted to supporting Malay and Indian performing arts events and training activities. This comprised more than $560,000 from grants and the Traditional Arts Fund, and more than $400,000 in arts housing subsidies. The National Heritage Board also provides funding and administrative expertise to support the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall at Balestier, Malay Heritage Centre at Kampung Glam and a planned Indian Heritage Centre at Little India, all of which serve as focal points for arts and culture events for the respective communities. A pool of well-trained arts practitioners will contribute towards the growth and sustainability of traditional arts. Therefore, we invest in capability development by developing programmes to upgrade the skills and knowledge of our local practitioners, working with partners such as the People’s Association. In 2008, NAC co-organised eight professional training programmes attended by a total of 457 established and emerging talent. Finally, we provide our arts groups with opportunities to be showcased. NAC’s Arts for All Community Programme facilitates collaborations between grassroots organisations and established traditional performing arts groups on performances. The annual HeritageFest organised by NHB incorporates dedicated segments by ethnic arts groups, whilst the Esplanade organises ethnic arts festivals.”
“(5) Over two earlier periods, 1997-1999 and 2000-2002, the number of arts societies and companies generally hovered at the 400 and 500 mark respectively. (6) Despite the growth in ticketed attendance, the number of tickets for performing arts events sold by SISTIC and Gatecrash fell by 13% from 2007. With average ticket prices also dropping from S$62 to S$56, total ticket sale value recorded by SISTIC and Gatecrash decreased by 22% from S$48m in 2007 to S$38m in 2008. (7) Nevertheless, the total number of performances in 2008 (6,864) was still higher than the number in 2006 (6,556), 2005 (6,410) and 2004 (5,105). (8) The current giving to arts and culture come largely from corporations and grant makers. Only 5% come from individuals. This is in stark contrast to the national figures for all sectors which show that 46 % of the $958 million donations in 2008 came from individual giving. Column No : 1775 MALAY AND INDIAN CULTURAL SHOWS (Promotion) 28. Dr Ong Seh Hong asked the Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts (a) how many Malay and Indian arts and cultural shows have been carried out in Singapore for the last one year; and (b) what will be done to promote more of our Malay and Indian cultural shows. RAdm [NS] Lui Tuck Yew: I would like to thank Dr Ong Seh Hong for his interest in Malay and Indian performing arts and culture. In 2008, there were approximately 650 ticketed and non-ticketed Malay and Indian arts and cultural shows staged in Singapore, or nearly two shows per day. These shows included dance, theatre, classical music performances and cultural concerts. Traditional art-forms underpin Singapore’s rich cultural diversity and our national identity.”
“While there are already some incentives in place, such as the double tax deduction scheme, we will continue to identify new schemes and opportunities to make it easier for people to come forward to contribute. The newly established Arts and Culture Development Office (ACDO) in MICA will strategise, coordinate and facilitate the building of greater public, private and people partnerships to broaden and deepen the support base for arts and culture. In the longer term, the office will also provide an advisory role to arts and culture organisations on building up their capabilities in fund-raising and alliance building. The ACDO will launch a Cultural Philanthropy portal. It is being designed to complement the donation portal set up by the National Council of Social Services and will be linked to it. There is a huge untapped potential in individual donation to the arts and culture sector (8). This dedicated portal will make it easier for the public to lend support to arts and culture through donations, big and small. Beyond facilitating donations, the portal will also be a platform for more Singaporeans to volunteer their time, skills and resources in a broad range of arts and cultural programmes. Cultural philanthropy is an important component of enabling an engaged and gracious community. Over time, we hope that our efforts, such as the donation and volunteer management portal, will lead to building a stronger spirit of giving amongst Singaporeans, more private individuals and organisations engaging with arts and culture, and recognising the value that it brings to the community. (4) In general, the visual arts scene enjoyed robust growth over the last three years, with the number of exhibitions rising by an average of 18% every year.”
“While no study was specifically commissioned to look into the impact of the recession on the arts industry, NAC's annual collection of statistics allowed us to draw some broad conclusions about the arts industry. On the whole, our local arts scene has not been significantly impacted by the recession, as growth – although small in some areas – was seen in overall ticketed attendances, ticketed performances, visual arts activities and arts-related companies and societies. However, there was a decline in total ticket sales value recorded by SISTIC and Gatecrash as arts companies adjust ticket pricing downwards. The main findings reported in the 2008 Cultural Statistics Round-up are that: • Visual arts activity was unexpectedly buoyant. There were more than 900 exhibitions in 2008, which was a significant 14% year-on-year increase. (4) • The number of registered arts-related companies and societies rose 16% from 794 in 2007 to 922 in 2008. (5) • Ticketed attendance had a positive, albeit marginal growth rate of 3%, compared to 9% per annum from 2003 – 2008. (6) • The growth rate in ticketed performances was 1% in 2008, though slower compared to the average annual growth rate between 2003 and 2008 of 7%. • Total performances declined by 8% in 2008 from its peak in 2007 (7) as commercial organisations, eg, shopping centres and impresarios, significantly reduced their non-ticketed performances. With regard to the question on philanthropic giving and sponsorship, this is an area which MICA is taking a more comprehensive approach to build greater community ownership for the arts.”
“So far, the Panel has received about 1,800 suggestions, and has accepted and implemented over half, or close to 1,000 of these. If Members of this House or the public have further suggestions, I am sure the Panel would be pleased to consider them. Column No : 1773 IMPACT OF RECESSION ON ARTS SECTOR 27. Ms Audrey Wong Wai Yen asked the Acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts (a) whether the Ministry is studying the impact of the recession on the arts sector as a whole including the impact on independent arts companies and commercially-organised events; (b) how the Ministry plans to encourage more philanthropic giving and sponsorship of the arts; and (c) whether the proposed online donation portal for the arts duplicates the current online donation portal set up by NCSS, and if there are plans to co-ordinate the two portals. RAdm [NS] Lui Tuck Yew: I would like to thank Ms Audrey Wong for her interest in the sustainability and growth of the arts sector. MICA had expected the recession to adversely impact the arts industry and was committed to sustaining the arts during this difficult period by increasing our level of funding support. New initiatives were launched in 2008 and 2009 to support the arts industry under the ambit of the Renaissance City Plan III. The National Arts Council (NAC) launched the International Arts Residency programme, the Arts Creation Fund to seed new works and the Arts For All programme to engage the community through the arts and culture. However, MICA recognises that the growth of the arts and cultural sector is a shared responsibility between the Government, private and people sectors. I will elaborate on this later in response to your other questions.”
“Businesses now only need to make a single application for multiple licences and pay a consolidated fee. There have also been initiatives targeted specifically at Singaporeans who hope to start micro-businesses. For example, the Home Office Scheme initiated in 2003 allows residents of HDB flats and private residential homes to set up offices at home as long as they do not compromise the residential ambience and amenities of the housing estates. As at end October 2009, there were more than 18,000 active HDB Home Office users operating various trading and service-based businesses from home. Under HDB’s Home Based Small Scale Business Scheme, HDB lessees can carry out small business activities like making paper bags, sewing, baking cakes, etc, at home as long as they do not cause inconvenience or pose a nuisance to neighbours. This allows home owners to partake in informal businesses at home to supplement their household income. In addition, the National Environment Agency re-introduced in 2000 the Street Hawking Licence Scheme. The scheme allows itinerant street vendors to operate in Town Council estates and parks, and sell items such as ice cream, other less perishable food items, newspapers and costume jewellery. Since August 2004, the NEA has awarded 257 licences. The Government constantly explores ways to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses. We regularly review licensing requirements to ensure they remain relevant, and would remove licences that cease to fulfil a purpose. The Pro-Enterprise Panel chaired by the Head of Civil Service, seeks suggestions from the public on how Government rules and regulations can be improved for businesses, and acts on these suggestions.”
“Studies have shown that microcredit schemes have proven more successful in developing countries where job opportunities are scarce, financing options for small businesses are limited, and start-up costs of business are relatively low. In Singapore, there are existing mechanisms to help small start-up businesses. Individuals who wish to set up micro-businesses can access small loan financing facilities. These include Thrift and Loan societies, credit cooperatives, commercial banks like POSB’s Loan Assist programme as well as SPRING Singapore’s Micro Loan Programme. With the 2008 amendments to the Moneylenders Act, licensed moneylenders can continue to provide up to $3,000 in unsecured loans where the interest rate is capped appropriately. This gives added protection to borrowers with small or no income. Starting a small business is but one avenue for lower income individuals to be self-reliant. For the majority, it is more viable for them to seek employment and earn a stable income. For this reason, the Community Development Councils and employment agencies have put in resources to help lower income Singaporeans with employment assistance and re-training. Those receiving social assistance on the Work Support programme are expected to demonstrate efforts towards seeking employment. We also promote social enterprises as sustainable avenues to provide employment and training opportunities to the needy and disadvantaged. Mdm Ho had also asked if Singapore’s highly regulated environment in terms of licensing requirements pose a barrier to simple start-ups. Towards this end, a number of initiatives are in place to make it easy to do business in Singapore. The Online Business Licensing Service integrates 71 licences from 19 agencies into a single platform.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for that interesting and, I think, quite sensible suggestion which we will study. Column No : 1718 SINGAPORE PERMANENT RESIDENCY (Applications and revocations) 12. Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs for the nine-year period since 2000 (a) how many foreigners were successful in their application for permanent residency (PR); (b) how many of these permanent residents have given up their PR status; and (c) how many new PR applications have been received.”
“This is another sensitive point which I think most of us can identify with, since all of us have to serve National Service. For a variety of reasons, we currently exempt first generation permanent residents and those who become citizens in the later years. I do not want to get into the technical, operational and security reasons as to why we do not currently enlist them for National Service, but the point is that their children will do National Service. And their children should be indistinguishable from our children in their accents, hopes, aspirations, obligations and their duties to our nation.”
“I think the Member has touched on an important point. Actually, it is a long-standing policy of this Government to ensure that there are no ethnic ghettos in Singapore. This is a point which we will study carefully and I will recognise that in a similar sense, we do not want to promote the formation of newcomer ghettos in Singapore. And this is something which we will certainly discuss in greater detail with the Ministry of National Development.”
“All these initiatives form a good start, and I would like to encourage all the Chambers of Commerce, the industry organisations, the unions and the professional bodies to do their part to integrate newcomers into the larger Singaporean pool. As we embark on this, let us also remember that we must do so in a way which is natural, in a way which celebrates both the contributions and the cultures of both newcomers as well as local Singaporeans. And the CIF funds will be made available for all these efforts. Both locals and newcomers must realise that integration is a two-way process and it does not come about by accident. Much effort and commitment will be required from all of us in order to make integration work, and I encourage newcomers to be proactive in learning about Singapore, widening their social circles, participating and contributing to the larger Singapore family.”
“These programmes can be put together by a wide variety of organisations, be it community organisation, grassroots organisation, educational organisation, industry association or the Chambers of Commerce. For example, the Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) formed an Indian Integration Committee, and this Committee has hosted various dialogues, and I think some Members of this House have also participated in these dialogue sessions. The Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA) has also reached out to Chinese newcomers, in a sense continuing their traditional role of helping newcomers sink roots into the local community and to be plugged in while still engaging and preserving their ethnic heritage. Mr Teo asked about special incentives being extended to encourage ethnic Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Currently, there is already some work in progress. I am sure the Member is aware that the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) has formed a new Immigration Liaison Unit which helps newcomers to integrate within our society and, I suppose, more specifically within the business community. This is a laudable project and one which we would be most happy to support. The National Trades Union Congress and the Singapore National Employers Federation have also jointly set up the Migrant Workers Centre, which aims to facilitate a harmonious co-existence between both local and foreign workers. We also have professional bodies like the Institute of Engineers which is looking to attract new immigrant professionals into their fold so that these members can benefit from the networks and their mutual exchange of both knowledge and contacts that these institutes provide.”
“And I must say that even amongst these leaders are some new immigrants who themselves are now volunteering their time and energy to help other newcomers settle into the local neighbourhood. Volunteering is a good way for newcomers to be plugged into the wider community and it is an excellent way to get to know their neighbours and also to demonstrate their commitment at the local neighbourhood level. We now have newcomers who have volunteered in various grassroots, community and professional committees. In fact, currently, we have about 4,500 new immigrants who are serving as grassroots leaders. In addition, the Working Group for Schools is exploring ways for students from both our national as well as our Foreign System Schools to participate in joint community involvement projects. We will also be working on increasing awareness among new immigrants of the opportunities to volunteer in areas which they are interested in. For instance, Singapore Cares will set up a volunteer matching platform which will provide a team-based volunteer-led programme which will allow people to provide their efforts in voluntary work on a part-time basis, on a flexible basis, in areas which they truly are interested in. We will provide a Kindness Exchange which is an online "meeting place" that will match professional services and the needs of voluntary welfare organisations with the available pool of volunteers and we hope that new Singaporeans will also take advantage of this exchange. We recently launched the Community Integration Fund (CIF). This is a $10-million fund which will provide co-funding of up to 80% for social integration projects over the next three years. This will help promote programmes that will bring newcomers and locals closer together.”
“It does its work through four working groups which aim to promote integration in, first, the community, second, in schools, third, in the workplaces and, fourth, in the media. The NIC will consolidate the existing orientation programmes for new citizens, for instance, we are reviewing the National Education Experience Programme (NEEP) and we are also looking at introducing a more former Naturalisation and Integration (N&I) Journey. The Naturalisation and Integration Journey will leverage on interactive online components as well as meaningful site visits so that our new citizens can get a better idea about our history, our social norms and our core values. They will also be introduced to our grassroots communities and be encouraged to take part in their activities. The NIC is also reviewing the citizenship ceremonies, which are, in a sense, the culmination of a newcomer's Naturalisation and Integration Journey. We have to make these ceremonies more significant and more meaningful for both the newcomers and equally important the family members of newcomers as well as the larger community that will eventually envelope and surround these newcomers. Another key ongoing initiative is the People's Association's Integration and Naturalisation Champions (INC) programme. These are active grassroots leaders. The first batch of them was appointed in 2007. The Integration and Naturalisation Champions play a crucial role in seeking out and welcoming newcomers into the neighbourhood and encouraging them to join and participate in community activities. We now have about 640 of these Integration and Naturalisation Champions.”
“Mr Christopher de Souza and Mr Teo Siong Seng have both asked about programmes that we have to help integrate new immigrants. Let me start by saying that this is a long-term, multi-faceted and complex challenge that all stakeholders in our society, and not just the Government, will have to take up. First, Singaporeans have to understand the need for immigrants and be comfortable with the social adjustments that are needed in order to maintain an open and welcoming society. We do so with our own enlightened self interests in mind. Second, the new immigrants must subscribe to our core values of multi-racialism and meritocracy in a fair and just society. Third, we need to build more social bridges to connect these new Singaporeans to the already existing much larger pool of Singaporeans in order to build a larger united and cohesive community. The children of new immigrants must grow up and be indistinguishable from the children of local Singaporeans. That is the way we build a long-term united society. We are looking at the existing community bonding initiatives, and all these encourage broad-based participation by both locals and newcomers. Let me give Members an example. The Tampines East grassroots organisation organised an International Water Festival in April this year – this was an occasion to celebrate the New Years of both our Indian as well as our Indo-Chinese communities in Singapore. We encourage locals and newcomers alike to participate in these community activities and to use them as an opportunity to expand their social circles. The National Integration Council (NIC) was set up in April this year.”
“Mr Speaker, may I have your permission to take Question Nos. 10 and 11 together?”
“In the light of the recommendation by Justice V K Rajah, CPS will henceforth provide the case summary to the parents prior to the hearing unless the child specifically request not to share certain information with their parents, in which case we will let the Court decide what information is to be shared with the parents. PROGRESS OF CIRCLE LINE 7. Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Transport (a) if he will give a progress update on the Circle Line and when each stage of the Line will be completed; (b) when will the Ministry announce the date when each stage will complete above-ground works such that the road traffic in affected areas will return to normalcy; and (c) when will the Farrer and Buona Vista stations be operational and the above-ground works for these stations be completed.”
“The findings of each case are deliberated by the Child Abuse Protection Team which comprises senior child protection officers, social workers, police officers, pediatricians, school counsellors, psychologists and other professionals with knowledge of the case. The findings and recommendations of the team will be presented to the Juvenile Court. The Court will make the final decision and judgment on the case. The CPS adopts a partnership approach in working with parents to protect the child’s safety and well-being. Before applying for a Child and Protection Order, CPS will discuss and work with parents to address the concerns and provide them the necessary support and assistance. The involvement of parents is critical as they are the main care provider for the child. However, in situations where parents are unwilling to discuss the concerns and persistently deny the risk of harm to the child, CPS will then proceed to apply for a Care and Protection Order and seek the Court's direction on the case plan. In making an application for a Care and Protection Order, CPS will prepare a case summary to the Court which includes information on the background of the case, an assessment of the risks to the child and recommendations on appropriate care arrangements. The Court will inform the parents of the concerns raised in the case summary. The parents (and any relevant parties) will then have an opportunity to respond to the specific issues raised. MCYS takes child abuse very seriously and every effort would be made to involve parents in making decisions on the children's care. However, the best interest of the child is still paramount in MCYS' work in child protection. There will be occasions where a child may request not to share certain information with their parents.”
“The Children and Young Persons Act (CYPA) provides the legal framework for the protection of a child or young person up to the age of 16 years. An application can be made to the Juvenile Court for a Care and Protection Order when there are serious concerns over the safety and welfare of the child and the family is unable to safeguard the child's interest. When a case of alleged child abuse or neglect is reported, the Child Protection Service (CPS) will conduct an enquiry into the allegations of abuse and ascertain if the child is in imminent danger. Information on the risk factors impacting the child, the child's developmental needs and the parents' ability to meet the child's needs will be obtained. Child abuse is a complex phenomenon and includes physical abuse, psychological abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. The risk of harm to the child is evident if parents have inflicted serious injuries on the child, sexually abused the child or physically and psychologically neglected the child. The risk of harm to the child is assessed to be high if despite intervention, parents continue to have unrealistic expectations, lack insight into the child's needs and are not willing to take steps to enhance the child's well-being. In some situations, parents could be suffering from psychopathological problems that render them unable to fulfil their parental roles. In such cases, immediate action will be taken to protect the child's safety. A multi-disciplinary approach is taken in assessing and making decisions on child abuse cases.”
“On this schedule, the project construction completion date is estimated as end 2013 or early 2014. CHILD PROTECTION ORDER (Assessments) 6. Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) how does the Ministry assess if a parent or guardian is unable or unfit to exercise supervision over a child so as to warrant the Ministry applying for a child protection order under the Children and Young Persons Act; and (b) whether and how the Ministry will alter its practices in handling such cases to ensure due process and fairness.”
“The Sports Hub Public-Private Partnership arrangement is one where the preferred bidder, Singapore Sports Hub Consortium (SSHC), will design, build and operate the entire project over a period of 25 years. The Consortium puts in equity and would tap on bank debt financing to build the facilities. After the facilities have been built, the Government would pay the Consortium a certain sum every year for delivering and operating the facilities. These payments would enable the Consortium to re-pay the debt they have taken. The Consortium will hand the entire facilities back to Government at the end of the 25 year contract period. External events in the past two years, such as the steep rise in building materials and construction costs, and the global financial crisis, have delayed the conclusion of our contract negotiation with SSHC. With the financial crisis, SSHC had difficulties raising the required debt from the market. It would not have been prudent for the Government to proceed to finalise the terms of the project while construction costs or interest rates were very high. We would have ended up paying a lot more than necessary for the project. The Government remains committed to the project. Our discussions with SSHC are ongoing and progressing well. With the stabilisation of construction prices and the gradual improvement in credit availability, we expect the project to get back on track in the coming months. The Consortium will be launching a financing competition to raise bank financing for the project in early November and is targeting to get the contract signed or what is known in the industry as financial close, by the first half of 2010. The Consortium can then start construction thereafter.”
“My Ministry and the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) support efforts to engage the private sector as sponsors for sporting initiatives. SSC has put in place platforms such as the annual CEO Networking Session to actively promote the opportunities presented by sports to the private sector. I have attended these sessions and have seen for myself a growing interest and readiness from the private sector to invest in sports. This is evident from the corporate sponsorships garnered for sports events such as the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, OCBC Cycle Singapore and next year's Youth Olympic Games (YOG). Also, the number of blue-chip sponsors for SSC-funded events increased from 26 in financial year 2006 to 53 in financial year 2008. Both SSC and the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee will continue to engage the private sector to explore partnership opportunities. I am pleased to note that local companies such as DBS, Deloitte Singapore, Changi Exhibition Centre, Fairmont Singapore and Crocodile International have come onboard as sponsors for YOG. I hope many others will follow suit. I would also urge the National Sports Associations (NSAs) and the sporting fraternity to actively present your value proposition and interest the private sector to support your cause. WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS TRAFFIC OFFENCES AMONG CYCLISTS 1. Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many cyclists have been booked for traffic offences over the past 12 months; (b) what are the common offences; and (c) what is the rule for vehicular traffic when cyclists ride their bicycles across pedestrian crossings.”
“Ms Joscelin Yeo asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports whether his Ministry has plans to actively pursue sponsors from the private sector for the sporting fraternity and why such sponsors have not been actively pursued in the past.”
“Last year, there were 24,596 marriages of which a third (8,136) were between Singapore citizens (SC) and non-citizens in 2008. Of these, 6,360 marriages in 2008 were between Singaporean grooms and non-citizen brides. This was an increase from 5,414 in 2004. We are however unable to ascertain how many of such marriages were match-made. In 2008, there were 746 Singaporean men who divorced their foreign spouses. Divorces between SC grooms and non-SC brides represented 11% of all divorces (2). The divorce rate of transnational marriages involving citizen grooms and non-citizen brides is not significantly different from other marriages. Looking at cohort data, 4% of marriages contracted in 2004 between a SC groom and a non-SC bride ended five years later, compared to 6% of all marriages contracted in 2004. For the 1994 marriage cohort, 3% for marriages between a SC groom and a non-SC bride ended in divorce after five years, while the figure for all marriages contracted in 1994 was 4%. We recognise that cultural differences and linguistic barriers are a challenge in any marriage. My Ministry has worked with partners, including the Marriage Central, to provide marriage preparation and enrichment programmes to all couples. We are also looking into formulating programmes tailored for Singaporean-Foreigner marriages. Marriage counsellors and educators conducting such programmes could be equipped with the skills to address cross-cultural issues. (2) Computed by Department of Statistics, 2009. SPONSORS FOR SPORTING EVENTS (Private sector involvement) 48.”
“They will also link up the elderly with other agencies where necessary for assistance. For example, apart from assisting PA recipients with a monthly cash allowance, the CDCs could refer them to organisations like the Lions Befrienders for befriending services. For those who have difficulties preparing their own meals, the CDCs would link them up to organizations such as TOUCH Community Services and Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society for free meals or food rations. It will be difficult for Singapore to reverse the trend of a declining old-age dependency ratio. We would have successfully prepared for population ageing if Singaporeans are financially self-sufficient, independent and have a strong network of family and social support. Recent measures to enhance the financial security of the old include measures to help people work longer, the HDB Lease Buyback Scheme and CPF LIFE. The Ministerial Committee on Ageing will continue to monitor and introduce measures as needed so that our elderly can age in dignity and with grace. (1) Project LIFE – Life Improvement and Facilities Enhancement for the elderly MATCHMADE MARRIAGES (Resilience) 47. Assoc. Prof. Paulin Tay Straughan asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) in the last five years, what is the number of locally registered marriages between Singaporean grooms and foreign brides as a result of matchmaking services; (b) what is the incidence of divorce for these marriages; and (c) what is the resilience of such marriages given that there is often a cultural and language barrier involved in such marital unions.”
“In September 2009, the Centre for Enabled Living was launched to help the elderly and their caregivers obtain relevant information and services, such as home-based care. Elderly poor will be assisted in paying for healthcare costs through a means-test subsidy framework and Medifund. Third, we will provide more opportunities for active ageing. The elderly poor are at higher risk of social isolation, especially if they are living alone, divorced or widowed, or in poor health. We estimate that around 30,000 elderly are at risk of social isolation. Befriending and counselling services are available to outreach to the socially isolated. The Government has also outlined plans for a Wellness Programme to be rolled out over the next few years, to promote better health, physical activity and socialisation among older residents. To improve the living conditions of the elderly living in rental flats, HDB has upgraded the one-room rental blocks with high number of elderly households under Project LIFE(1). For example, these flats are fitted with elderly-friendly fittings and an alert alarm system. There are currently 19 Seniors Activity Centres at the void decks of the rental blocks. These are run by our Voluntary Welfare Organisations. MCYS will be building 23 more Seniors Activity Centres for elderly residents living at HDB rental flats over the next five years. The Seniors Activity Centres provide support, information and referrals and social activities to help our seniors age-in-place. Officers at our Community Development Councils are also well placed to help elderly poor with assistance in all these three areas. They take a holistic approach in delivering assistance, and will look beyond the immediate problem to understand the underlying issues.”