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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“The needs of our elderly poor are multi-faceted and broadly fall into one or more of the three categories – financial means; affordable and accessible health and long-term care; and opportunities to be active and socially engaged. MCYS is committed to ensuring that the elderly poor are supported in all these areas, along the principles of self-responsibility, family as first line of care and support, and a Many Helping Hands Approach. I will elaborate on each of these areas. First, there are various ComCare schemes to help needy elderly financially. For example, the Public Assistance (PA) scheme provides an allowance for their basic living needs. PA recipients also receive free medical care, and are eligible for highly subsidised rental flats. Elderly who do not qualify for Public Assistance may receive support from the other ComCare schemes, such as the ComCare Transitions schemes. In addition, the Community Development Councils, voluntary welfare organisations and charities can provide further assistance customised to the specific needs of the individual. For those who are not able to cope in the community even with financial assistance, they can be admitted to the destitute homes. We are also reviewing the Maintenance for Parents Act, to reinforce the importance of filial piety in our society. The Commissioner for the Maintenance of Parents will be more active in assisting the elderly poor to resolve maintenance and other relevant issues in a holistic way. Second, the Government is committed to developing a healthcare system which is relevant to our ageing demography. This includes developing more step-down care services, including community hospitals, nursing homes and day care centres.”
“SSC will work with the NSA to hire a new coach, or find a part-time replacement coach in the interim, to ensure the continuity of the athletes' training and competition schedule. DANGEROUS CYCLISTS (Penalties) 35. Er Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Transport (a) what action has been taken against cyclists who pose a danger to pedestrians; (b) what are the penalties imposed on these cyclists; and (c) whether his Ministry will consider licensing all motorised bicycles with motors below 200 watts.”
“The National Sports Associations (NSAs) are independent people sector organisations. They are governed by their respective constitutions and managed by properly constituted management committees. The selection and hiring of coaches for national athletes are the responsibility of NSAs, based on their human resource policy and the internal processes. Therefore, my Ministry is not involved in the selection and hiring of coaches by NSAs, irrespective of their nationality. However, the Singapore Sports Council provides NSAs with two Best Practice Guides – the NSA Human Resource guidelines and the Coaching Programmes Handbook, to facilitate the recruitment process. In instances where NSAs request for advice, SSC will provide the necessary guidance throughout the hiring process. In addition, for key NSA staff positions that are directly funded by SSC, such as technical directors and head coaches, a SSC management staff member will sit on the evaluation panel to assist the NSAs. The relationship between NSAs and their coaches is no different from any other employer / employee relationship. The specific terms of employment and dismissal are laid out in the employment contracts, which need to comply with general employment laws in Singapore. A coach who feels he or she has been unfairly treated can seek clarification from the respective management of the NSAs or turn to external mechanisms including the Alternative Dispute Resolution for Sports for mediation and arbitration. In the event that a coach is dismissed before his or her contract has expired, it is the responsibility of the NSA to ensure that the athletes' training does not get disrupted.”
“Whilst on this subject of public awareness, I would also like to make a plea for the mass media not to over-sensationalise cases of suicide. We do not want to cause even more pain to the remaining family members, and certainly do not want to promote copy cat suicides. We must all do our part to identify, reach out and enable vulnerable persons to access the support services available. We also need to be especially supportive of the families whose lives have been torn apart by the impact of a suicide. CONSENSUAL SEX AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE 21. Mdm Cynthia Phua asked the Minister for Education with the rise in the number of young people indulging in consensual sex (a) what is the Ministry doing to address this problem; (b) whether the Ministry has conducted any studies to find out why this trend is increasing; and (c) whether the Ministry will review its sex education programme to increase its effectiveness.”
“MCYS strives to build strong and stable families through our various initiatives such as our series of family life education programmes. In schools, teachers, school counsellors, and guidance specialists are also trained to actively identify and support students in distress. Support services are also available at the Family Service Centres and most social service agencies. On top of this, the Samaritans of Singapore runs a 24-hour crisis hotline to counsel anyone in distress, including those with suicidal tendencies. Past record suggested that young people contemplating suicides do indeed make use of this hotline to seek help in addressing their concerns and suicidal thoughts. Thirdly, the Government engages health workers and social service professionals to identify and help high risk individuals such as youth in crisis. Treatment programmes available in our healthcare institutions include the Child Guidance Clinic under the Institute of Mental Health. The Institute of Mental Health also works with general practitioners in the community to provide the first line of treatment. Fourth, research has consistently shown that early identification of warning signs of suicidal thoughts is an important factor in preventing suicides. One important approach is therefore to increase public awareness of mental health issues and to promote mental wellbeing. The annual Suicide Prevention Week by the Samaritans of Singapore, for example, helps to increase public’s understanding of suicidal thoughts and the available avenues for help. Through talks and workshops, members of the public are equipped with information on where one could seek help, and how to identify early warning signs.”
“In 2008, 14 young persons below the age of 21 committed suicide. There were 19 and 15 in 2007 and 2006 respectively. Each suicide represents a tragedy for the family and loved ones involved. Each case is unique, and we should not simplistically over-generalise the causes that lead to suicide. The medical literature indicates that multiple factors, including depression, desperation, emotional instability, anxiety or inability to deal with stress may all play a role. The main lesson for us is that a person who is resilient and well supported by family and friends will be better able to cope with the many challenges of life. Early detection and professional advice will also be useful. Given the complexity of the problem, the Government adopts a multi-pronged strategy and a many helping hands approach to prevent suicide. Firstly, we aim to build greater resiliency in young people. Our schools provide opportunities for students acquire social-emotional skills to enable them to cope with life's challenges. This enhances their resilience. An example is the "Mind Your Mind" programme launched by the Health Promotion Board in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. The programme targets primary and secondary school students and covers topics such as stress and anger management, building positive self-esteem and recognising depression. Resiliency and character building are also elements that are built into many of my Ministry’s programmes and services targeting young people. Secondly, we work with community partners and supporting ecosystems on preventive measures to reduce suicidal tendencies. Families play a crucial role as the first source of care and emotional support for the young.”
“I think it is a matter of degree. I assure the Member for recipients of Public Assistance and Special Grant, the automatic exclusion will include family members. In the case of undischarged bankrupts, we have decided not to be so liberal in automatic exclusion. And whilst I accept his point that there may be some family members of undischarged bankrupts who are vulnerable, I would rather leave it at this point in time for them to voluntarily exclude themselves, rather than subject them to an automatic exclusion. So again, I share his objective but it is a matter of how we implement this.”
“And as the situation unfolds, if you notice that we are falling short of these commitments, bring it up in Parliament, file a parliamentary question or cause a debate to occur and the Government will have to respond. But I give you that assurance that we share your concerns.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I share Mr Christopher de Souza's motivation. But it is a question of how we achieve this objective. I have handled this casino issue – in my stints at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, MICA, MCYS and even partly when I was in MND. The lesson I have learnt is that in dealing with this complex issue we, in fact, need a network approach and we need multiple agencies to all do what they are best at, but to share information, coordinate and collaborate. I may be misreading your speech but the gist of your speech was that we should empower and even put a duty on the Casino Regulatory Authority to do all these things. That means, apart from regulating the casinos itself, it should also concern itself with all the upstream, downstream and side-stream issues related to the many social ills which could arise from casino gambling. What I am giving you is an assurance that we will work collectively. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports and all our necessary agencies will work to ensure that we take collective responsibility for this and we put in place a sensible and practical system that will mitigate the social ills from casino gambling. I do not believe it will be practical to put everything into one vehicle or any single agency. I now have sufficient experience to know that it makes for a convenient speech, and it makes for a tidy summary on a piece of paper but it does not work in practice. So I would urge you to hold us to this commitment.”
“A recent example is the "Play It Right" youth outreach initiative by the Singapore Management University's Recreational Gaming Club, which was supported by the NCPG to reach out to students in our local universities, in order to raise awareness of problem gambling, to allow people to identify early signs of problem gambling and also to know the community resources which are available. This is an excellent example of empowered youths reaching out to other youths. As part of NCPG's capability-building efforts, it recently organised a Train-the-Trainers Workshop in August this year to train social work practitioners, youth workers and psychologists to deal with young people. This workshop was conducted by Dr Jeffrey Derevensky, who is a world-renowned expert in youth gambling, prevention and treatment. Going forward, we will continue to work with schools, tertiary institutions and our other community partners to expand our outreach and our public education efforts, as well as to focus our efforts in capacity- and capability-building, especially when it comes to young people, who are the most vulnerable members of our population. Let me end by urging all Members to support these amendments, as we walk this fine line between ensuring that, for the majority of our people, they would be given sufficient freedom and latitude to exercise responsibility, whilst for the minority who are most vulnerable, we do our best to protect them, sometimes even from their own bad judgments. I will be prepared to take clarifications, Mr Deputy Speaker, before Mrs Lim Hwee Hua rounds up the debate.”
“As far as advertising is concerned, I am pleased to inform Ms Audrey Wong that my Ministry will be working closely with the Casino Regulatory Authority to promulgate the casino advertising regulations. Regulations on casino advertising to our local population are a key social safeguard, as we do not want to promote or normalise gambling. The regulations will be in line with the advertising restrictions that the integrated resort operators agreed to when we first conducted a Request for Proposal for the integrated resorts, and they agreed, at that point in time, that there would be no advertising to the local population. These restrictions include prohibitions on advertising in free-to-air and cable TV, radio, newspapers, and outdoor advertising, such as at bus stops and on public buses. The advertising regulations will only permit casino advertising within Changi Airport, the Singapore Visitor Centres, and tourist attractions. Even then, the information disseminated on the casinos should be factual and not promotional in nature. Let me finally turn to youth gambling, which is a concern that I share with many Members of this House. That is one of the reasons why we chose a minimum age of 21 years for entering the casinos, rather than 18 years, in contrast to other forms of gambling. We recognise that casino gambling is potentially more addictive and more dangerous, especially to young people. The NCPG has identified youths as a key target group. It has conducted consultations with students from schools and tertiary institutions, as well as with youths-at-risk, in order to find out their motivations for gambling. NCPG and its partners have also developed youth programmes to reach out to students.”
“It is not a means to make a living. It is not a means to salvage an already compromised financial situation. Ms Audrey Wong asked about the process of implementing the Exclusions. Yes, there will certainly be inter-agency link-up. The NCPG will obtain, on a regular basis, an updated list of undischarged bankrupts and Public Assistance and Special Grant recipients from the Insolvency and Public Trustee’s Office and from my Ministry’s ComCare database respectively. This list will be sent to the Casino Regulatory Authority, the Police and the casino operators. The NCPG is currently finalising the process for Third-Party Exclusions and Ms Wong and Mdm Ho can be assured that we will make the process as speedy and efficient as possible. That is also the reason why we have to amend the legislation to enable us to transmit this information in a soft copy form, to ensure that the information is accurate and updated. Mdm Ho Geok Choo also asked about the checks conducted to ensure that excluded persons do not enter the casinos. Under the law, section 126 of the Casino Control Act states that the onus is on the casino operator not to allow an excluded person into the casinos. The Casino Regulatory Authority and my Ministry will hold the operators to this duty. As to whether the stringent checks to detect excluded persons will deter tourists, I think the operators will have to exercise some ingenuity in order to create an effective semi-permeable membrane. In other words, for bona fide tourists, they should be able to get through easily. For those who are excluded, they should find it virtually impossible to get through.”
“For the same reason, the opportunity to object and appeal against casino exclusion has also been removed. Mr Calvin Cheng would be pleased to know that dependants of those receiving Public Assistance and Special Grants will be automatically excluded from the casinos. The dependants of undischarged bankrupts would not, however, be automatically excluded, as it may not always be the case that these dependants are financially vulnerable. For dependants of undischarged bankrupts, I would suggest that they consider voluntary Self-Exclusion and the NCPG can work with the families who come forward for such help. I share Prof. Straughan’s concern for persons who are receiving assistance from other charities, but I am not willing to automatically exclude them. I would suggest that they consider voluntary Self-Exclusion. And perhaps the benefactors can consider making this a pre-condition before offering assistance. But the NCPG will explore her idea further. The NCPG will also accept applications to exclude persons with a poor credit record. On this point, I must say that it has to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. It will take into account the total debts, the unpaid bills the person has accumulated, his earning capacity, overall financial circumstances, emotional stability and family support. These are cases which we cannot hard-wire and hard-code. I agree with Ms Audrey Wong that it is not easy to balance between over-regulation and protection of the more vulnerable members of our society. On this issue, I am inclined to agree with Mdm Ho Geok Choo that those in financial hardship should not be gambling at the casinos. And I am sure Ms Audrey Wong will also agree that we do want to send a strong message that gambling is not for those who cannot afford to do so.”
“Of the two applications made by sisters, the brothers were also supportive and understood the reasons why the sisters made these two applications. As the NCPG handles more cases in the future, I am sure there will be more difficult, more complex and more adversarial cases. But with a social work approach to these cases, we believe that we will try, to the maximum extent possible, to avoid an adversarial outcome. Mr Christopher de Souza expressed concern that the Family Exclusion may not have much impact. I think time will tell. We should look at things in totality and remember that this is just one part of a total package of social safeguards that we have put in place after carefully studying the experiences and lessons of other jurisdictions. And, as I have said earlier, we are prepared to tweak these measures, if need be, in order to suit our own unique context and circumstances. Under the Third-Party Exclusion, undischarged bankrupts and recipients of Public Assistance and Special Grants from the Government will be excluded from the casinos. We estimate that there are about 29,000 people who will be excluded under this scheme. I would like to inform Ms Audrey Wong that there has, in fact, been no change in policy. This is something which I had previously stated during the earlier parliamentary debate in 2005. The objective of the Third-Party Exclusion is to protect persons who are already in severe financial hardship and can ill afford to gamble, from getting into further debt. The proposed amendments simplify the legal process. For this group of persons, there is no need for any "judgment" or discretion to be exercised by the Committee of Assessors since the exclusion criteria are clear cut.”
“The social worker will help to stabilise the family, while taking a non-adversarial stance with the member with a gambling problem. Both the problem gambler and the family members will be invited to attend interviews, offered counselling and necessary support by the social worker. So it is meant to be a supportive and non-adversarial interaction in the first instance. The NCPG has also consulted extensively on the composition of the Committee of Assessors. It will be chaired by a NCPG member and, thus far, the Council has asked two of its members, who are retired High Court judges, to chair these Committees. The other members of the Committee will be drawn from professions such as social workers and counsellors as well as grassroots leaders, Justices of the Peace and school principals. The Family Exclusion empowers a family that is adversely affected by a problem gambler to seek assistance in curbing the problem behaviour of the gambler. As at 31st August 2009, seven Family Exclusion Orders have been issued. Of these seven cases, three cases have opted to continue with counselling on a voluntary basis. Amongst the seven cases, two were made by wives against their husbands, three were made by parents against their sons, and two were made by sisters against their brothers. For both cases made by wives, the husbands were supportive and agreed to the Order. Of the three cases that were requested by parents, there was no indication of a strained relationship with their sons. In fact, they had earlier bailed their sons out of their debts and the children were remorseful and understood their parents' reason for making such an application.”
“An Order will only be issued if there is reasonable apprehension that the respondent may cause serious harm to his family members because of his or her gambling. The making of the Order has to be appropriate in the circumstances, and the respondent has to be given an opportunity to object to the application, and the Committee must be satisfied that it would be in the best interests of both the respondent and his family members to make such an Order. So there will be safeguards in the process by which such Orders are executed. A respondent will be regarded to have caused serious harm to his family if, for instance, because of his gambling habit he has previously engaged in gambling activities irresponsibly, has done so repeatedly over a period of not less than three months or in a particularly irresponsible manner over a lesser period. It is difficult to spell out in fine detail, but these will be judgments which we will have to leave to the Committee of Assessors. Prof. Paulin Tay Straughan has asked about measures to prevent abuse of the Family Exclusion Order. All members of the Council and anybody sitting in the Committee of Assessors will be deemed to be public servants under section 193 of the Casino Control Act. Hence, a false declaration made to the Council or Committee is an offence under section 182 of the Penal Code. Such an offence draws a punishment of imprisonment for a term up to one year, or a fine which may extend to $5,000, or both. I would like to assure Prof. Straughan that the procedures that the NCPG has put in place for the Family Exclusion aim to help the family and the person with a gambling problem. The first point of contact for a family member who wishes to make an application for an Order will, in fact, be with a social worker.”
“Outside of the casinos, there will also be existing laws and processes to guard against such undesirable activities. The Casino Regulatory Authority’s core duty, therefore, remains the regulation of the casinos. However, having said that, I agree with Mr Christopher de Souza that the Casino Regulatory Authority, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) and MCYS will clearly have to work together and collaborate in order to monitor and to address the overall social impact of casino gambling. In fact, these various agencies have already begun to work very closely together and they do meet very regularly at staff level. Mr Calvin Cheng has also suggested that persons who have committed offences under the Common Gaming Houses Act, the Betting Act and the Private Lotteries Act, and I presume he also means loansharks, should be excluded from the casinos as they may have links with gambling syndicates. I think this is an interesting suggestion which we will consider. Nevertheless, let me reassure him that the Police and the Casino Regulatory Authority will work closely with the casino operators to make sure that our casinos are free from such undesirable activities and individuals. The Government will assess and monitor the effectiveness of the social safeguards after the casinos are open, and as I have said earlier, if we need to tighten, we will do so. Let me now move on to Family Exclusions. Family Exclusions enable a family to exclude a particular family member with a serious gambling problem from entering the casinos. A Committee of Assessors will be appointed by the NCPG which will sit to hear and to review each case before making a Family Exclusion Order.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I will address the issues raised by Members with respect to the casino exclusion orders and the social safeguards. This is probably the second or third time I am participating in a debate on the casinos, and the casinos have not even opened. It shows that this is not the first and will probably not be the last time that we will have to calibrate and adjust our regulatory and operational postures with respect to casinos. Let me, first, reassure Mdm Ho Geok Choo, Mr Christopher de Souza and Ms Audrey Wong that we will establish a set of social safeguards which are, in fact, more stringent than that in many other jurisdictions. Apart from the common safeguards, such as the minimum age of 21 and the process of self-exclusion, we also have safeguards which are uncommon or uniquely Singaporean – for instance, the casino entry levy, the prohibition of casino advertising in the local mass media, as well as Family and Third-Party Exclusions. Mr Christopher de Souza will be pleased to note that section 129(1) of the Casino Control Act requires the casino operators to take all appropriate steps to ensure that undesirable activities, such as prostitution and illegal money lending, do not take place within their premises. The Police and the Casino Regulatory Authority will work closely with the casino operators to ensure that their casinos are free from such undesirable activities. Any casino operator who contravenes section 129(1) of the Casino Control Act shall be liable to disciplinary action, which is spelt out in section 54 of the Act. In addition, should loansharking, money laundering and syndicated vice activities be detected in the casinos, the Police will not hesitate to prosecute the offenders.”
“Complex cases are referred to the third tier of support, which can involve guidance specialists from MOE, mental health professionals at the CGC, or the relevant social service agencies. Pertinent information about students, including support rendered to them by counsellors, is handed over from the primary to secondary school, as they move from school to school. While schools can support and educate our youths, the support from the home is also paramount. Parents and family members can help their youths set realistic expectations for themselves and develop the resilience and strength of character which will enable them to ride the challenges of life. Assoc. Prof. Paulin Tay Straughan (Nominated Member): Sir, I have three supplementary questions. The first relates to the role of teachers. They are inevitably the frontline identifiers. Can the Senior Parliamentary Secretary elaborate on how well teachers are trained in the role of counsellor/mentor, because that is not an easy task and is not an innate kind of ability either? My second question relates to the balance between student privacy and through-train information, so that when they move from institution to institution, there is sufficient information on their at-risk behaviour so that the next institution will not be caught off guard. What is in place for that? Third, I wonder if the Ministry would consider reducing class size in secondary schools, because it seems that that is where the impact of all kinds of challenges come on the teenagers, when they are searching boundaries. Perhaps a better staff-student ratio may help students morph into their new identities as young adults, and for teachers and other educators/mentors to be able to better identify students with such a need.”
“MOE actively works with the Health Promotion Board (HPB) and mental health professionals, including psychiatrists and clinical psychologists from the Child Guidance Clinic (CGC) of the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), to implement a comprehensive approach to build resilience against stress and prevent suicides. Our approach comprises three key elements: (i) building protective factors in our students, (ii) identifying at-risk students for early support, and (iii) channelling students with depressive disorders and/or suicidal tendencies to the appropriate psychological, medical and other necessary resources for intervention. Our schools help students build protective factors through the provision of social and emotional learning (SEL). SEL helps students acquire a set of social and emotional competencies which will enable them to better understand themselves, interact effectively with others and cope with life’s challenges, thereby inoculating them against depressive and suicidal thoughts and behaviours. This is further augmented by the Mind Your Mind (MYM) programme, a school-based mental health education package, targeted at primary and secondary school students. The package, jointly developed by HPB and MOE, covers topics such as stress and anger management, building positive self-esteem and depression. To help students in need of support, every school has a tiered-referral system to facilitate the early identification and extension of help to them. At the first tier are our teachers who are trained to identify students who show signs that they are troubled and provide the necessary basic support, including referring students to the second tier of support formed by the school counsellors.”
“Sir, I share Mdm Halimah's views that the next spouse or the prospective family should be aware of the track record of this person whom you are going to marry. We are still studying that. Again, the key thing is that we need to do so without breaching privacy and confidentiality where that is merited. But, again, this is a proposal which I am sympathetic to. SUICIDE AMONG STUDENTS 4. Assoc. Prof. Paulin Tay Straughan asked the Minister for Education (a) whether his Ministry tracks documented cases of clinical depression and attempted suicide among school-going students and, if so, what are the possible triggers, and what is being done to alleviate the incidence; and (b) how does his Ministry manage these cases in general and, in particular, whether the receiving school is informed when a student moves from primary school to secondary school. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, MOE pays careful attention to the mental well-being of our students and closely monitors the state of mental health in our students, including depression. Clinical depression can affect people across social spectrum and age groups but it is far less common among children and adolescents. Suicidal acts are symptoms of a complex problem for which there is no one single cause. The main contributory factors among student suicides are relationship problems with family and peers, failure to meet self and parental expectations, dysfunctional family patterns, as well as the occurrence of mental illness, including clinical depression.”
“We want these ex-spouses to be able to get work and to generate enough income to be able to pay off what they owe their ex-spouses and their children. I totally agree with the Member's sentiments. I know where she is coming from. But we got to be careful that the cure that we propose does not make things worse.”
“Sir, I share the Member's sentiments in making the poor lady – usually it is the lady – go to court at least three times in order to pursue payment of a maintenance order, which has already been made, is too many times. So, rather than just looking at nights or lunch hours, what we are really trying to do is to reduce the number of times that they have to go to court. But, like I said, this is something which I need to do carefully with the courts and the Ministry of Law, because we need to make sure that justice is also done and seen to be done. But give us some time to take this bottleneck out of the system. We will try to shorten it and make it less onerous. I totally sympathise with the Member's views on this. On her proposal to tag the passport and, in effect, put travel restrictions on people who are in remiss of their maintenance payments, I think that requires further study. The standard counter argument to that will be that they need to travel overseas to work and if we impaired their ability to work, then it would impair their ability to pay. So, let us study that carefully. On her third supplementary question, they can actually apply for an attachment order. In other words, the employer of that person would then divert a portion of the salary directly to the ex-spouse. But, again, on the ground, this has not been a popular option. And if the Member speaks to the lawyers, they will explain to her. Part of the reason that this has not been so popular is that it tags that person as a person coming with legal complications. And sometimes that may actually reduce his likelihood of getting employment, because employers will say, "Look, I do not want to take you on because you come with all these complications." We need to achieve a right balance.”
“Hence, applications for maintenance and other family matters can now be lodged during lunch hour as well as on Saturdays.”
“I had, at this House, mentioned during the last Committee of Supply Debate that my Ministry would review how enforcement of maintenance can be enhanced. We have invited views from the public and from Members of this House. My Ministry, the Ministry of Law, the Family Court, the Attorney-General’s Chambers and various agencies have been studying the matter in the past few months. We have also received many suggestions from members of the public and organisations, including the Singapore Council of Women's Organisations. We are currently studying their various suggestions, as well as reviewing proposals. Some of these measures include introducing stiffer penalties to deter defaults, and simplifying the process of seeking enforcement. There were also suggestions such as giving free access to marital records and making public the maintenance payments of divorcees to their former spouses and children – all these are also being considered. The review should be completed in a few months' time. Mdm Phua has also asked if we could consider allowing applications for the enforcement of maintenance orders to be heard at Night Court. Unfortunately, I have been informed by the Courts that this will not be practical. The Night Court deals with essentially regulatory offences in which the offenders plead guilty. If the offender decides not to plead guilty, his case will be heard in the day court. Such hearings, which often entail Respondents’ and Claimants’ presentations, could be lengthy and there may be insufficient time for such proceedings to be conducted at night. However, in order to serve the public better, the Subordinate Courts has recently extended its operations throughout the lunch hour, so we can squeeze in some time there.”
“In 2008, there were 2,860 applications for maintenance orders made by ex-spouses. This is actually a decrease from 3,021 in 2007 and 3,618 in 2006. On average, 86% (around 2,720) of these cases were applications for enforcement of maintenance orders, where applicants failed to get payment on an existing maintenance order from their ex-spouse. Some of the reasons cited for non-payment are the ex-spouse’s inability to pay because of a loss of job, increased financial commitments because of a new family or continued unemployment. We do not have available information on the average amount of maintenance granted per child. The enforcement of maintenance orders follows the process for all other Magistrate’s Complaints under the Criminal Procedure Code. The applicant has to, first, go to court to file the enforcement complaint. If the applicant does not have a lawyer to represent him or her, the applicant would then need to be present in court a second time, when the court issues the summons and fixes a date for a Mention. On the third occasion, the applicant would then have to attend court for the first Mention and, if both parties are present and agreeable, they can go for mediation on the same day. If both parties can reach a settlement through mediation, then the judgment would be recorded by the judge and the case is concluded. Unfortunately, it does not always stop there. Sometimes, parties have to return to court another day for the trial on the matter. Therefore, it takes a minimum of three court appearances and sometimes, many more. We acknowledge that there is scope to improve the procedures and introduce more effective measures to enforce compliance of orders, while ensuring that the system is fair to all parties.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, with your permission, I would like to take Question Nos. 2 and 3 on the enforcement of maintenance orders together.”
“These children are eligible for MOE’s Financial Assistance to defray their school and miscellaneous fees, cost of textbooks and uniforms. ComCare helps the younger children through childcare and kindergarten subsidies. Today, low-income families with a monthly income of $1,500 or less pay only $10 a month for childcare and $5 for kindergarten. Those earning between $1,500 and $1,800 pay $20 for childcare and $10 for kindergarten a month. We expect to spend $77 million on ComCare programmes in FY2009, 37% more than what we spent last year. As at end June 2009, the ComCare nationwide schemes were helping about 27,000 cases, an increase of 15% compared to the number of cases receiving assistance as at end December 2008. Since the inception of ComCare in 2005, we have helped over 85,600 cases. We will continue to monitor the situation and review our schemes so as to ensure that all Singaporeans will have opportunities to do well individually and collectively. (2) The Gini coefficient is a summary measure of inequality, and takes value between zero and one. The more unequal the income distribution, the larger the value of the Gini coefficient. A value of 0 represents absolute equality, and a value of 1 represents absolute inequality. (3) By way of comparison, according to the UN Human Development Index, Singapore's Gini coefficient falls between that of the US and Hong Kong. APPENDICES Section Name: ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS Title: HOUSING GRANT Filename : Affordability MP Name: Mr Mah Bow Tan”
“Singapore's Gini coefficient(2), which is a measure of the income gap, was 0.481 in 2008, lower than the 0.489 in 2007. The figure would fall to 0.462 after adjusting for Government benefits and taxes. It was 0.479 in 2007(3). We help lower-income Singaporeans upgrade themselves through training and job redesign so that their wages can increase over time. Since 2006, low-wage workers have made some significant progress in their incomes as they took advantage of job opportunities. The wages of the lowest 20th percentile full-time employed residents increased from $1,200 a month in 2006 to $1,310 in 2008. Correspondingly, the number earning $1,200 or less has fallen from 360,000 in 2006 to below 300,000 in 2008. Workers can tap on the Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience (SPUR). This $650 million programme provides enhanced financial support for Singaporeans to upgrade their skills so they can stay employed or seek re-employment. For those who are earning low wages, the Workfare Income Supplement (WIS) scheme helps to supplement the incomes of these workers. For work done in 2008, some 330,000 workers have received $390 million in Workfare benefits, including the Workfare Special Payment announced as part of this year’s Resilience Package. Our social safety net caters to the neediest. Through ComCare, affected families are given necessary assistance while the main breadwinners seek employment. Those who are not able to work and have no family support would be placed on the Public Assistance scheme. We also invest heavily in developmental opportunities for children from low-income families. This is key to helping the next generation break out of the poverty cycle.”
“We hope that the inaugural Youth Olympic Games will be the "People's Games". The competition venues are in our local neighbourhoods. We need our local residents to take pride in and ownership of the Games. People from all over the world and the cameras of the world will be in our neighbourhoods. We need every single resident to proudly showcase Singapore at its best, in our usual understated but dignified way. We need Singaporeans to get involved by decorating their estates, taking part as spectators to cheer the athletes on, as community volunteers to welcome the visitors, as well as participating in the numerous community and city celebrations that are being planned. All of us in Singapore can be part of YOG – by volunteering, by being gracious hosts and by showing how the Olympic values of Excellence, Friendship and Respect are truly part of the Singaporean way of life. I look forward to the support of all Singaporeans to make our YOG a success that we all be proud of. Column No : 1411 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY IN SCHOOLS 35. Miss Penny Low asked the Minister for Education (a) how is information and communications technology (ICT) currently being used in schools; (b) what is the Ministry’s plan to roll out FutureSchools nationwide; (c) what are the costs and benefits of implementing ICT in schools; and (d) how has ICT changed formal education.”
“Changi Exhibition Centre will provide a logistic hub during the Games; KhattarWong will provide legal services; and Crocodile International will be the Official Apparel Sponsor. As a wide range of products and services will be required to organise the Games, the YOG will also offer significant business opportunities for local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to promote their products on a global platform and associate themselves with the Olympic brand. We expect more local companies to come aboard in the near future. On this note, SYOGOC wishes to welcome more companies on board as sponsors and invite more people to register online to be volunteers for the YOG. We will make the YOG as inclusive as possible. With less than one year to go, SYOGOC, together with the National Sports Associations and other partners, will be ramping up efforts to provide more opportunities for the public to be part of YOG. This would include opportunities for what Ms Low calls the "marginalised sector". For example, members of the public have been invited to help name the YOG mascots. SYOGOC has also engaged the Council for Third Age (C3A) to organise events for elderly involvement. In addition, SYOGOC has worked with various community partners like Wheelchair Basketball Association, Special Olympics and St. Andrew's School of Autism to involve youths with special needs. At the community and grassroots level, the People’s Association and the Community Development Councils (CDCs) will be involving residents in activities like the YOG Torch Relay and the Olympic Day Run/Walk. For the official YOG Opening Ceremony, there are also plans to bring it to the masses through community celebrations at the different Community Development Councils (CDC) districts.”
“The preparations for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) are on track. Since securing the bid to host the Games, the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) has been in close contact with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to work out the detailed requirements for the Games. Key plans such as sports competitions and venues, the Culture and Education programme, Youth Olympic Village, transport, logistics and games operations, have all been approved by the IOC. Upgrading of venues and procurement of equipment and support services are also well underway and on schedule. The IOC has commended SYOGOC for making good progress despite the very hectic timeline. We will only be able to provide an update on the budget after we have obtained approval from the IOC and the Cabinet for the standard of services to be provided. I am glad to report that SYOGOC has created many opportunities to involve people from all walks of life. To date, about 15,000 people have signed up to be volunteers and will begin their training from September. Our youth are actively engaged. For instance, the Culture and Education Programme has enabled students from our schools and junior colleges to take part in YOG through the Olympic Education Programme and Friends@YOG Programme. To date, 209 of our schools have been twinned with schools from 112 National Olympic Committees in the Friends@YOG Programme. The cultural exchange programmes will present many opportunities to learn more about the culture and people of the respective countries. On the corporate side, three local companies have come on board as sponsors.”
“As our population ages, the number of seniors requiring care is expected to increase. We appreciate that caregiving can be stressful and therefore my Ministry has introduced various initiatives to help this group cope. We started the Caregiver Training Grant in 2007. We are building six more daycare centres for the elderly over the next five years, to add to the existing pool of 22 centres. My Ministry has also set up the Centre for Enabled Living (CEL) to look into caregiver support and training, as well as to coordinate care for the elderly and disabled. CEL will adopt a family- and senior-centric approach, and will work closely with the Ministry of Health’s Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) to provide services in a coordinated manner across the medical-social care continuum. CEL is now preparing the ground work for its care coordination role. Minister Lim Boon Heng will officially launch CEL tomorrow. We will continue to encourage companies to implement flexible work arrangements, which will allow employees to balance demands at work, and in their personal life. Employers who can afford to do so can also exercise discretion to grant eldercare leave as part of their personnel benefits. However, the Government will not impose mandatory eldercare leave. Column No : 1391 GIFTED EDUCATION PROGRAMME 14. Dr Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for Education (a) how successful have schools been with the Gifted Education Programme (GEP) students in terms of promoting their greater interaction with mainstream students by intermingling them for non-core subjects such as physical education, art and music at Primary 4 and 5 levels; and (b) what are the plans for the GEP in secondary schools.”
“Ninety percent of the sports courses are actually conducted by coaches from NSAs that are affiliated to SNOC and SSC. However, it is not a requirement for these instructors or organisations to be affiliated to SNOC or SSC. Most of the sports organisations conducting classes in the PA are linked to their own international sport bodies. Each has its own set of safety rules and measures when conducting activities in the CCs and RCs. In addition, PA requires every sports instructor to have a first aid certificate. Mr Seah may be aware that the PA has just convened a Committee of Inquiry (COI) to study the tragic incident during a recent taekwondo competition organised by the Greenville Residents' Committee. The COI is currently reviewing the safety rules and measures adopted by the different sports organisations conducting classes and competitions in the CCs and RCs. The PA will look into the findings and recommendations of the COI when it has completed its work.”
“My favourite answer – yes. Column No : 1138 SPORTS COURSES AT COMMUNITY CLUBS (Standards) 11. Mr Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) whether there are sports governing bodies recognised by People's Association (PA) that are conducting courses at various Community Clubs but which are not recognised by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) or Singapore Sports Council (SSC); and (b) should there be differing safety standards, whether PA will consider adopting those that are stipulated by the sports governing bodies recognised by SSC and SNOC. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (Mr Teo Ser Luck) (for the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports): Sir, the National Sports Associations (NSAs) are recognised as the governing entities for their respective sports by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) and the Singapore Sports Council (SSC). They oversee all aspects of the conduct of the sport. There are, however, other organisations such as clubs or associations which operate independently of the NSAs and are not affiliated to the SNOC or SSC. The People’s Association (PA) currently adopts an inclusive approach when engaging instructors or organisations for courses conducted by the Community Clubs (CCs) and Residents’ Committees (RCs). To cater to the demands of a diverse clientele and to provide more options for participants, the PA’s policy is not to turn down any established groups from teaching in the CCs and RCs, provided they are legally registered and have qualified instructors who are competent to teach.”
“If we can maintain that as well as maintain a social safety net, in which we remember the fundamental principles of self-reliance, family support and the many helping hands approach, then we can also ensure we have a system which is fully bankable. The funds are available; it is a fully-funded system. So, many of the things that we are doing now actually straddle across different Ministries and across many of the policies which we argue about in this House. But the Member's question deserves a further study and we will pursue that.”
“Mr Speaker, I think these are very important fundamental questions and I really cannot do justice to it at this point in time. I think we all should be aware that, first, we are going to be one of the fastest ageing societies anywhere in the world. In the next two decades, the proportion of Singaporeans who are aged 65 and above is going to triple. The dependency ratio is also going to go down because we have smaller families or no families in many instances. The breakdown of the extended family also means the personal network of support is going to be much less available. The fact that we are an open, global city and many families travel or are extended across different continents will also make care more difficult. So there are many, many fundamental reasons which make me worry that this is a problem which is only going to get worse and, hence, my objective of focusing on it now while it is not yet an emergency. But I am flagging this as an issue which we need to pay attention to. We will look, of course, at the experience of other countries but even that is going to be limited because circumstances are different. But one key point of difference which I think we want to ensure in Singapore, and this is the principle which actually pervades much of the debate in this House, is that we have to try to arrive at a situation in which every generation earns and saves enough for his entire life cycle. Because if we can do that – and we can do that through making sure people get jobs, hold on to jobs, increase productivity, save enough, maintain CPF accounts, make sure you have enough for your healthcare, then this question of inter-generational dependence will be reduced.”
“Mr Speaker, I agree with the Member that if you ask an untrained volunteer or even a grassroots leader to mediate and provide advice, that is not going to be sufficient. So I agree with her. I think we do need to provide more training. We also need to provide more information about where to go for help and we need to educate everyone about the legal options, even if you do not want to or are not contemplating using legal recourse in the first instance. I agree with her that there is always a danger of erosion of filial piety and, as I said in my earlier answer, the fact that in the last 12 months, we had a significant increase in the applications with the Tribunal is a cause for concern. I also agree with her that this is not going to be a simple solution and we do need a continuum. It starts with the inculcation of values and, on that count, I must say, as parents, we have our responsibilities too. Our children will treat us the way they watch the way we treat our own parents. So in a sense, it comes round. Secondly, we need to make sure that we remain a society which I would say is unashamedly conservative as far as family values are concerned. And you need to know that no matter how successful you think you are, if you do not discharge your familial responsibility, you really have not made it. Third, we need to make sure all the community facilities, charitable organisations and support facilities are available to people who need help. Lastly, we need to make sure that if need be, the law is available but as a last resort.”
“But, nevertheless, we are going to refer them to the Tribunal, refer them to the Commissioner's office so that they know that these options are available. They will be able to consider whether or when to initiate legal actions. Even if they do not pursue these legal actions, the Commissioner's office can, as I said earlier, assist the elderly parents with managing the complex, social and family problems which they often are caught in. So the key point is to provide timely, effective and comprehensive assistance to the elderly parents at the point of need. I want to end by saying that legislation and legal actions have to be the last resort. We cannot legislate love nor can you use legislation in this House to guarantee emotional support. We know that the vast majority of families in Singapore are still strong and instinctively abide by the concept of filial piety. Our ageing Singaporeans deserve to be surrounded by a strong network of close family ties. But we will know that there is a small minority that will need help and what we will focus on is ensuring that for this small minority, help and recourse will be available and in a timely and effective way. Our job is to make the entire process as efficient and effective as possible basically so that those who are even contemplating abdicating their responsibility will know that the system will catch up with them and this is not a path of least resistance. I am also studying the possibility of amending the Act and I look forward to receiving suggestions from Members of this House as well as members of the public on how we can further strengthen the Maintenance of Parents Act.”
“This makes it more difficult obviously for the CDCs to process the applications and also to check on whether the children are available and able to support their parents. We are exploring how the relevant information from different Ministries, different agencies can be shared without compromising privacy and confidentiality. But, nevertheless, we see that the information can flow safely and appropriately so that we can deal with the cases comprehensively. Secondly, we are looking at strengthening the office of the Commissioner for Maintenance of Parents. Under the Act, the Commissioner already has legal powers to act on behalf of the elderly parent before the Tribunal. In the future, I have requested that the Commissioner play a more active and effective role in case monitoring and advocacy, in facilitating mediation and conciliation, and also for ensuring proactively that the elderly receive prompt assistance. My Ministry will therefore increase the resources available to the Commissioner's office so that all these things can be done. The third area is to ensure that elderly parents who are caught in this situation receive timely and comprehensive assistance. The ComCare schemes already provide for urgent interim assistance to any needy parents who need help. The elderly parents who are caught in such a situation can, of course, see the local advisors and can access the schemes delivered through ComCare. But in addition to that, I think there is also a need to provide more information to the elderly parents so that they are aware of their options. Many of them will not want to initiate legal action in the first instance.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, a fundamental principle of our society is the concept of filial piety. At a practical level, what that means is that we have to support our ageing parents. Unfortunately, I think Members in this House would all have come across cases, not common but not rare either, circumstances in which you will see that some aged parents are not getting the support that they deserve from their children. Sometimes, it is because there is a problem with the relationship. Other times, this dispute is really between siblings on how to adequately share the responsibility of looking after their parents. But whatever the case may be they often result in a situation in which the elderly parents are left to their own devices or they are forced to seek assistance from charitable organisations or from the State. This is unacceptable and unfair. It is unfair to the parents. It is unfair to the charitable organisations and it is unfair to the taxpayers. Over the last 12 months, there has been a total of 172 applications filed at the Tribunal for Maintenance of Parents. The usual annual rate is about 100. So over the last 12 months, there has been a significant increase in the number of applications filed. Consequently, there are three areas my Ministry is focusing on in response to this escalating situation. First, we will tighten the workflow and referral processes and the information flow between agencies in dealing with this. Let me give Members an example. Of the elderly who approach the CDCs for financial assistance, we have found that nearly one third do not even have the contact details of their children.”
“(Note: The above numbers exclude cases not concerning sports dispute or not involving athlete and/or coach – eg, cases concerning governance or management committee issues within the NSAs.) SMC’s statistics show that in 2008, there were three cases in which the parties went directly to SMC for mediation, and all were resolved. This year, there is one case pending mediation. APPENDICES”
“In 2008, the Singapore Sports Council (SSC), Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC), Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC), Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and Singapore Institute of Arbitrators (SIArb) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to pool their resources and expertise to establish a framework for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for Sports in Singapore. The objective of sports ADR framework is to provide a structured, independent and cost effective avenue for the expeditious resolution of sports disputes. Under the sports ADR framework, SSC will first attempt to informally counsel the disputing parties to reach a resolution, failing which SSC will encourage the disputing parties to go to either SMC for mediation or SIAC for arbitration. Disputing parties may also approach SMC or SIAC on their own without seeking SSC’s assistance. The number of sports dispute cases that came to SSC’s attention from 2004 to present did not show any consistent trend, although there appeared to be a peak in the number of cases last year. The figures for the past few years are shown in the table below: Year Cases Cases referred for mediation Outcomes 2004 1 - Resolved 2005 1 - Resolved 2006 4 - Resolved 2007 2 1 referred to SMC Resolved 2008 8 1 referred to SMC (In 1 other case, the parties went on their own to the Community Mediation Centre, and the dispute was resolved.) 6 cases were resolved. In the 7th case, there was initial resolution but a follow-on dispute arose. In the 8th case which was referred to SMC, the parties reached a contractual settlement at the conclusion of mediation, but dispute subsequently arose over the fulfillment of the terms of settlement. 2009 (January – present) 5 0 1 case was resolved. 4 cases are ongoing.”
“Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for Transport in view of the proposed $1 million drive to promote taxi ridership (a) why is the Ministry funding this project; (b) how is the cost shared among the various parties involved, from shopping centres to transport operators; (c) if a study was done to find out the reasons for the drop in taxi ridership; and (d) whether the taxi operators will consider reducing fares to improve ridership.”
“In the next round of contracts from 2011, NEA will continue to be mindful of the need for PWCs to provide reliable and efficient refuse collection services at reasonable rates. Fees can only be adjusted based on the terms of the contract and with the approval of NEA. The current refuse collection fees for private condominiums and apartments serviced by PWCs range from about $4 to $6.90 per month while the fees for landed premises range from $16 to $22.50 per month. The fees levied by the PWCs differ from sector to sector as the fees are determined by tender and the sectors differ from one another in terms of the number of dwelling units, the traveling distance for refuse collection and disposal and timing of the tenders. The average fee for private condominiums and apartments serviced by PWCs is about $5.20 per month while the average fee for landed premises is $18.30 per month. Compared to the previous round of contracts awarded between 1999 and 2001, the current average refuse collection fee for private condominiums and apartments serviced by PWCs decreased by 32% on average, while the fee for landed premises decreased by 15%. Private high-rise residential estates which choose to engage the services of GWCs incur refuse collection fees based on the terms and conditions of their individual agreements with the GWCs. These fees are not regulated by NEA. However, the GWC market has 340 licensed service providers. Thus, the management corporations of private estates can consider their options and choose one that best suits their respective developments. TAXI RIDERSHIP (Reasons for drop) 21.”
“The protocol that was developed and field-tested during the AYG will certainly help to ensure a safe environment for the YOG. There are many other lessons, such as the enrolment, training and engagement of volunteers, working as a team among the various stakeholders, enhancing our relationships with the Olympic Council of Asia and the international sports federations. SYOGOC will carefully study all the lessons learnt and apply them to ensure that the YOG, though much larger and more complex, will deliver an even more exciting, enriching and memorable experience for all athletes, officials, visitors, volunteers and other stakeholders. PRIVATE ESTATES (Rates for collection of refuse) 20. Er Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) what are the rates for collection of refuse in private estates in the different zones in Singapore; and (b) what is the percentage increase in the rates charged for each zone now as compared with the last revision in rates. Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Domestic waste from HDB estates and private landed estates is collected by Public Waste Collectors (PWCs) which have been appointed by NEA through public tender. Private high-rise residential estates, such as condominiums and apartments, can either use the PWCs appointed by NEA or make their own arrangements with licensed General Waste Collectors (GWCs). Singapore is divided into nine geographical sectors for the purpose of public waste collection and there are four PWCs serving these sectors. The current PWC contracts were awarded between 2004 and 2006 for a period of seven to eight years. The fees levied by the PWCs are based on the rates in the tender and cannot be adjusted without the approval of NEA. There has been no fee revision to date.”
“The AYG did not have the luxury of time or budget for sustained publicity for the Games. We now recognise that perhaps due to lack of familiarity of sports and the athletes, some events were less popular for spectators. The YOG team, together with the national sports associations and other education, community and corporate partners, will be increasing public outreach. I hope this will drum up greater support for all athletes before and during the games. There was one area where we broke new ground. The innovative use of live new media broadcasting over the Internet had turned out to be a positive experience in engaging the public, both locally and overseas for the AYG, and it will be considered for the YOG. The third area is in the conduct of the culture and education programme (CEP). This was first introduced at the AYG and will be a key feature of the YOG where sports, culture and education will be integrated as part of the formal programme for all the athletes. The CEP aimed to help the participating athletes learn about different cultures, and establish new understanding and friendships with fellow athletes and our volunteers off the field. The athletes had given positive feedback. We have gained valuable knowledge on areas such as athletes’ interests, event schedules and role of interpreters. With these insights, SYOGOC would be able to refine service levels and ensure delivery of an engaging and lasting off-the-field experience for the YOG participants next year. Fourth, we also learnt much about how to manage a potential outbreak of influenza and other infectious diseases while conducting an international event. We were able to quickly detect the few cases of influenza among the athletes and officials and took prompt actions to prevent an outbreak.”
“The inaugural Asian Youth Games (AYG) was a success. The Organising Committee comprising staff from the Ministry of Education and Singapore Sports Council did an excellent job despite the very short preparation time and tight budget in organising a complex multi-sports event. The AYG was conceived as a test event for the coming Youth Olympic Games in 2010. Therefore, members of the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) were involved throughout the preparatory and operational phases of the AYG. Both Games Organising Committees are undertaking a comprehensive review of all aspects of the AYG to draw relevant lessons for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) next year. I shall now touch on some of the preliminary lessons learnt and also give an update on the preparations for the YOG. First, we gained invaluable experience in conducting an international multi-sport event in a community setting. It is worth bearing in mind that both the AYG and YOG will be conducted without the National Stadium being available. Therefore, all the venues are really community sports venues used by local residents. We had to quickly bring the facilities up to international competition standard to ensure that athletes have a conducive environment to perform to their best. It was also a complex exercise in coordination because of the numerous different venues and transport arrangements to ensure that athletes and officials could move safely and efficiently. On the accommodation front, I am pleased to note that the Games Village has impressed the National Olympic Committee, athletes, officials and VIPs for the total offerings and world-class service excellence. Second, we learnt the importance of having sufficient lead time and publicity to increase spectatorship.”
“Mr Baey Yam Keng asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports how the hosting of the Asian Youth Games 2009 has helped Singapore prepare for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games.”
“The National Sports Associations (NSAs) are responsible for the training and preparations of all their athletes, including our national athletes for international competitions and major games. To support the NSAs in the training of our athletes, the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) funds the NSA High Performance programmes. For the current financial year (FY09), SSC will be investing about $20 million in these NSA programmes and training of athletes. SSC also provides other forms of support including the provision of facilities and sports medicine and sports science services, at a cost of about $7.3 million in FY09. The support given to the NSAs cater to over 800 athletes. The above framework will be supplemented by the recently launched Olympic Pathway Programme (OPP). This builds on the previous Project 0812 programme which was a multi-agency effort to prepare athletes for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The OPP will provide support for a select group of top athletes to help them achieve success at the 2012 London Olympic Games. MCYS and MOE have also set up the Singapore Youth Sports Development Committee in September 2008 to focus on broadening the participation base and strengthening the youth development pipeline. This supplements the Singapore Sports School (SSP), funded by MCYS, which prepares our younger athletes for regional and international games. The Singapore Youth Sports Development Committee also channels resources to NSAs so that they can provide more opportunities for young athletes to participate in training or in selection trials for the YOG. HOSTING OF ASIAN YOUTH GAMES 2009 14.”