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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“For example, Dr Lily Neo, after our most interesting and robust discussion at last year's COS debate, now runs a Meals and Groceries Programme in her constituency which provides an additional $30 a month through meal and groceries vouchers for needy PA recipients in the Kim Seng-Kreta Ayer division. In addition, community organisations such as the Bo Tien Welfare Services and the Thye Hua Kwan provide free meals and food rations to PA recipients. The Shaw Foundation, the Hong Leong Foundation and the Singapore Buddhist Lodge, for example, also give out annual hongbaos to PA recipients regardless of race or religion. PA recipients may also receive home help or befriending services provided by the voluntary welfare organisations. Let me now touch on the impact of rising prices. My Ministry closely monitors the impact of the changes in the cost of living on our PA recipients, but we do not peg the PA allowance to the CPI per se. Instead, we monitor the cost of items which the typical PA recipient will need. A review is currently on-going and is likely to be completed this year. At the same time, we also recognise that some PA recipients may have additional needs. Since 2005, MCYS has empowered the Citizens Consultative Committees (CCCs) to play a larger role in helping the PA recipients through the CCC ComCare Funds. From January to September last year, the CCCs helped a total of 6,514 cases through this Fund, and spent slightly more than $1.1 million doing so. On average, each case that comes for help received about $150 per month. Adequate resources have been set aside for the CCCs to provide such assistance, and I can add that most grassroots organisations have not fully utilised the ComCare budget that has been set aside for them.”
“In early December last year, I stated publicly that the Government is monitoring the impact of price rises, especially on those Singaporeans who are most needy, and that we would provide more assistance. Yesterday, the Minister for Finance reaffirmed both what we are doing and also our commitment to do more for those who need most help and we also emphasised that we would do so in a targeted and efficient manner. I am not yet ready to make any substantive announcements today. So I want to set the expectations right. Nevertheless, I think it would be useful for us to review what we are currently doing, the thinking and the philosophy behind it. I do not expect to have a full debate today, but I am sure we can have a robust and useful discussion in the weeks that follow and especially during the Budget debate. The Public Assistance (PA) allowance is just one component of the overall safety net for persons who are unable to work, and for those who do not have family support. Apart from the cash component, PA recipients also receive free medical care through Medifund as well as the Primary Care Partnership Scheme, which allows them to see private practitioners in the neighbourhood. They stay in subsidised rental flats. They benefit from rental, service and conservancy and utilities rebates. And Members would also remember that they received disproportionately more of the growth dividends under the Progress Package as well as the GST credits from the GST Offset Package. PA recipients also receive extensive community support.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, with your permission, I will take Question Nos. 1 and 2 together as they both relate to public assistance.”
“The People's Association (PA) and the grassroots organisations welcome all residents, including Permanent Residents (PRs), to take part in its community activities. This can help the PRs settle in faster and fit in better with the local community. This will also enable them to build strong social bonds, which will be a positive influence for those considering taking up citizenship. Until recently, PA has not tracked PR participation in grassroots activities. However, as an indication, PA had only 1,400 Community Club members who were PRs in 2002. PA now has over 14,500 Passion Card members who are PRs. Passion Card membership replaced Community Club membership in 2005. MRT DISRUPTION (SOPs and protocols) 11. Dr Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for Transport in the event of a disruption to the Mass Rapid Transit (a) whether there are Standard Operating Procedures and protocols to ensure business continuity in areas such as backup, alternative transport arrangements, crowd control and information dissemination etc; and (b) whether these plans have been made known to all staff concerned for rapid and expeditious implementation when the need arises.”
“WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS GOOD SAMARITAN LAW 1. Dr Fatimah Lateef asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Law whether there are plans to consider adopting a Good Samaritan law in Singapore and, if not, what are the reasons.”
“The Multi-Million Dollar Award Programme (MAP) was initiated in 1991 by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) as an incentive for our athletes who win medals at the four Major Games – these are the Southeast Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and Olympic Games. The SNOC is the national non-government organisation responsible for selection of athletes to take part in these Major Games. The Singapore Totalisator Board is the primary sponsor for the MAP award, and Asia Pacific Breweries contributes towards the Asian Games individual and team gold medal winners. The purpose of the MAP award is to recognise our athletes' individual and team efforts and sacrifices in training intensively at the elite level and attaining medal honour for the country. To date, 622 MAP awards, amounting to S$15.13 million, have been disbursed. The MAP award should be viewed as part of a comprehensive support and recognition framework for our athletes. This framework includes the Singapore Sports School, which nurtures our talented youth. For the senior national athletes, Singapore Sports Council and National Sports Associations offer specialised coaching, sports medicine and sports science services, career and education guidance programmes, and so on. Viewed in this broader context, the MAP award and other athlete-centric programmes and services have been successful in steadily motivating and improving our athletes' performances in the Major Games. For instance, in 2006, Team Singapore secured our best ever performances at the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. Then in 2007, we secured our best ever medal haul at an away SEA Games. We will continue to provide holistic support and recognition to our athletes in their quest for world-class excellence.”
“The framework will cater to a broad spectrum of issues, such as athlete selection, liability, commercial rights and so on, with the aim to resolve sports-related disputes in a timely and professional manner. SINGAPORE NATIONAL OLYMPIC COUNCIL (Multi-Million Dollar Awards Programme) 43. Mr Baey Yam Keng asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) how many recipients have benefited from the Multi-Million Dollar Awards Programme of the Singapore National Olympic Council; (b) what is the total sum awarded to date; and (c) how effective has this programme been in motivating and improving Singapore athletes' performance at international competitions.”
“Besides the current system of appeal channels, the appealing party can also take the case to mediation, arbitration or litigation. In Mr Gino Ng's case, the case was brought before the Singapore Mediation Centre. Both parties then reached an amicable settlement through mediation. To prevent similar disputes from taking place, SSC will work with the NSAs to professionalise their athlete selection and management processes. To complement the NSA Code of Governance introduced in recent years, SSC is now working with the NSAs to adopt a Code of Athlete Management (COAM), which spells out how NSAs should manage their athletes. The Code covers the respective roles and responsibilities of the NSAs and athletes. It will help the NSAs to be fair and transparent in the implementation of their programmes, and to practise meritocratic selection of athletes for major competitions. There are existing channels and arrangements through which athletes can turn to should disputes arise between the athlete and their respective NSAs. Athletes who feel they have not been fairly treated in the selection process can turn to SSC for advice and assistance. The Code of Athlete Management that I have mentioned earlier would also help to safeguard our athletes' interests in selection matters. In addition, there is an Athletes' Commission within the SNOC that looks after athlete-related issues and their welfare. Mr Zaqy may like to know that SSC has launched the framework for Alternative Dispute Resolution for Sports, also called ADR Sports, earlier this month. This initiative is developed in collaboration with SNOC, the Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC), the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) and the Singapore Institute of Arbitrators (SIArb).”
“Athlete selection is conducted prior to every Major Games. This includes the SEA Games, Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and Olympics. Athlete selection is coordinated by the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC), which is a non-governmental agency affiliated to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). SNOC sets the qualifying standards for the various sports to determine which local athletes would represent Singapore at the Major Games, with the exception of the Olympic Games, for which athletes are selected based on qualifying criteria set by the respective International Federations (IFs). For instance, the qualification mark for all sports at the 2007 SEA Games is the third place timing of the previous SEA Games, or a third placing among SEA Games athletes in the current rankings. The National Sports Associations (NSAs) would in turn conduct selection trials for their athletes and nominate the athletes for SNOC's consideration. The Singapore Sports Council (SSC) regularly reminds the NSAs to ensure that the selection trials are fair and transparent. After the selection trials, the NSAs will submit their nominated athletes to the SNOC. The SNOC Games Selection Committee will then decide on which athletes to send to the Major Games. The current system has channels for appeals at the NSA and SNOC levels. An athlete who is not nominated by the NSA can appeal to the NSA, which will then convene an Appeals Committee to review the case. As for athletes nominated by the NSAs who are not selected by the SNOC, the NSAs may submit an appeal to the SNOC Appeals Committee, which will then deliberate over the case. The SNOC Appeals Committee's decision is final.”
“Dr Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for National Development whether there is a schedule for the maintenance and upgrading of exercise and play equipment at public parks and playgrounds and, if so, how frequently is the maintenance and upgrading done and who is in charge of it.”
“Social workers who join the Civil Service are employed under the Management Executive Scheme. The current starting pay of a social worker under this scheme is about $2,350 per month. The government reviews the scheme regularly to ensure that remuneration remains competitive with the private sector. In fact, the Public Service Division is currently undertaking such a review, and should be finalising it soon. As announced earlier this year, MCYS plans to put in place a social worker accreditation scheme. We are currently developing the accreditation framework and implementation plan with employers, practitioners, academia and Singapore Association of Social Workers. This accreditation framework will take into account social workers' experience in the sector, the hours of training received and the hours of supervised practice they have undergone. We expect to roll it out by the first quarter of 2008. Besides accreditation, we are also putting in place various initiatives to enhance the professionalism of social workers. Two such initiatives are the Sabbatical Leave Scheme and the Leadership and Professional Development Scheme. We are working closely with the National Council of Social Service to finalise the implementation details of both schemes, which are expected to roll out by the end of 2007. With these schemes in place, I am confident that we will help to further advance the social work profession and elevate the level of professionalism among social workers. Column No : 2299 EXERCISE AND PLAY EQUIPMENT AT PUBLIC PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS (Maintenance and upgrading) 34.”
“MCYS is committed to bringing about the necessary changes to ensure the progress of women in Singapore, so as to fulfil our obligations under the CEDAW. Column No : 2295 CHRONICALLY SICK ELDERLY RESIDENTS IN NURSING HOMES (Use of Medisave account for payment of fee) 25. Dr Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for Health (a) if his Ministry will consider allowing a portion of the Medisave account to be used for the payment of the "caring fee" for chronically sick elderly residents in nursing homes; and (b) what is the average waiting time for placement in Government nursing homes and community hospitals.”
“The Committee cited it as an example which other countries could follow. While the Committee welcomed the significant progress made by women in Singapore, it made comments on a few issues. These include the lack of explicit laws against gender discrimination, the application of Syariah law in matters relating to family and inheritance for the Muslim community, the level of women's participation in politics, the trafficking of women, the protection of foreign domestic workers and foreign wives. The Committee also urged Singapore to withdraw our four remaining reservations to the Convention, namely Articles 2, 16, 11 and 29, and to consider acceding to the Optional Protocol. MCYS has taken note of these comments. Our Inter-Ministry Committee on CEDAW will continue to review our reservations and the specific issues raised by the UN CEDAW Committee. Singapore's dialogue with the UN Committee was a valuable learning experience. Women in Singapore have come a long way but there is room for improvement and more can be done to raise the status of women. We will continue to work with the Women's NGOs, such as the Singapore Council of Women's Organisations, the National Trades Union Congress Women's Committee and the People's Association Women Integration Network (WIN) Council to raise awareness of CEDAW and gather feedback on the aspirations of women in Singapore. These apex organisations represent more than 90% of women's groups and are our valuable partners in the promotion of the status and wellbeing of women. Sir, I would like to conclude by reiterating that the empowerment of women requires more than just legislation. It involves changing social norms and mindsets.”
“Singapore presented its Third Periodic Report at the 39th Session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women on 1st August 2007. I am happy to report that the UN Committee has commended Singapore on the significant progress made by our women, especially in the areas of health and care for the elderly. The Committee welcomed the withdrawal of Singapore's reservation to Article 9, which requires State Parties to grant women equal rights with men to acquire, change or retain their nationality. When Singapore first appeared before the Committee in 2001, a child born overseas could only acquire citizenship by descent if the father was Singaporean. With amendments to Article 122 of the Constitution, a child born overseas can now be a citizen by descent as long as the child's mother or father is a Singaporean. Other significant milestones included the removal of the one-third quota on the intake of female medical students to the National University of Singapore's medical faculty in 2003 and the equalisation of medical benefits for civil servants in 2005. The gender wage gap has also been narrowing. Women earn 86 percent of what their male counterparts earned, up from 83 percent a decade ago. Our younger and better-educated women are earning wages comparable to their male counterparts. The Gender Empowerment Measure ranked us 18th out of 175 countries, which goes to show that our women have economic and political opportunities comparable with that of our men. The Committee was also pleased that an Inter-Ministry Committee on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) had been set up to monitor Singapore's implementation of the Convention.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the classification of sports as a charitable cause recognises the value of sports to our society, particularly in promoting community bonding and for developing healthy, resilient and rugged individuals. Registered charities enjoy income tax exemption and property tax exemption for premises which are used exclusively for charitable purposes. These tax incentives will enable these sports groups to set aside more financial resources to carry out their programmes and activities. In order to qualify for registration as a charity, the National Sports Associations (NSAs) need to include as its main objective the promotion of the sport so as to advance the health of all participants. The sport must require physical skill and exertion. To facilitate the registration process for sports groups, my Ministry and the Singapore Sports Council have developed a simple governing instrument template for adoption by the NSAs in order for them to use if they wish to obtain charity status. The registration process has been rolled out. So far, I believe that the Singapore Badminton Association has amended its governing instrument and is currently seeking approval from the Registrar of Societies before applying for charity registration. At present, all charities enjoy income tax exemption if they expend 80% of their annual receipts on local charitable causes within two years. However, following the announcement made at Budget 2007, charities will enjoy automatic income tax exemption, from Year of Assessment 2008 even if they do not spend 80% of their annual receipts within two years. This will facilitate better fiscal management and greater flexibility. 3.00 pm”
“Every commanding officer has the lives of his men in his hands. And the purpose of training is to enhance safety. We require people to be operationally proficient, because we want people to be safe, especially during operations. And on this concept of running till you collapse, I feel quite confident to categorically reassure Members that that is not the attitude in which we conduct physical training and, in any case, it does not make sense to do so. If we are training to enhance fitness and to build up strength, we do not run till we collapse. So I do not know where Mr Chiam got that misconception from. But I can reassure him that it does not make medical, scientific or operational sense to do so. MEDISAVE BALANCES OF CPF MEMBERS (Breakdown) 15. Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Health (a) if he will provide a breakdown of the Medisave balances of CPF members by age and income level; (b) how many CPF members have accumulated the Medisave Minimum Sum; and (c) how many CPF members have no Medisave savings at all.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we had two recent tragic incidents when young men collapsed after moderately long distance runs. The Coroner's inquiries have not been conducted and I do not have specific details of the medical problems associated with those two cases and the details of what tests they had undergone before the incident. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on these two specific cases. On the second question on what constitutes pre-participation screening, as I have explained earlier in my answer, the level of pre-participation screening is one which depends very much on the individual. There is a world of difference between a young person and an older person, between a person with pre-existing disease and a person with no pre-existing disease, between a contact sport and a non-contact sport, between a long distance run and even a short sprint, between weightlifting and playing netball. So I cannot stand here and say, "This is a complete check list." What I can say is that we will have guidelines in place, so that depending on one's profile, he knows what he should undergo, what questions he should ask himself, in what circumstances he should consult his family doctor, in what circumstances perhaps even a specialist's evaluation is necessary. But underlying and beyond all this is good common sense and moderation in all things, whether we are talking about food or exercise or almost anything else in life, moderation in all things is the most sensible and rational approach. I am not sure whether the Minister for Defence wants me to answer the last question. But what I can say, as a person who has done National Service and as a person who has been a commanding officer of a unit in the SAF, is that we take safety, especially training safety, very, very seriously.”
“And I do not believe that Singaporeans, in general, are going to be scared of sports because such incidents have occurred. But what Singaporeans do want to know, and I think have a right to expect, is that sensible precautions are in place. Things which can be done have been done. Tests which should have been done were done. Equipment which is easily available should be made available. That everyone who is involved in sports knows basic first-aid, knows how to make attempts at cardiopulmonary resuscitation and knows how to use the Automated External Defibrillators. Fortunately, we now live in a time where equipment costs have come down and with the built-in intelligence in the defibrillators, a lay person can deliver that. So we are also encouraging more and more people to go for such courses, get themselves certified and to be prepared to use it in the unlikely event that you face such a situation. So, let me conclude again by saying that we will do everything possible in a rational and sensible way to make sports as safe as possible. But people also have to take responsibility for their health and for their sport activities and be prepared to go for training.”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Member for those two questions. On reassurance, the key point is education. People need to know that, like many things in life, there is no such thing as zero risk. But you have to take a reasonable approach and you decide whether, on balance, participating in sports is a wise thing or not. And the evidence is clear that for almost everybody, especially if you have no pre-existing disease, participation in sports will reduce the overall mortality and morbidity due to ill health. So, the message needs to be emphasised that we all still need to engage in healthy levels of exercise. But the question then is: how much is enough? What sort of exercises are appropriate and what precautions we need to take? And that is where further public education needs to be put in place. And it is not possible there to give people just generic advice. Our point then will be that if you are just starting out, we will make sure that there are certain questions which you must ask yourself - your family history, your blood pressure, whether you have diabetes, whether you have chest pain or you have breathlessness and other symptoms. This is a self-administered questionnaire. If there is any doubt on any of those points, please consult a doctor and let the doctor perform further examinations in order to stratify your risks and give you specific advice to what you can do or what you should not do. But the longer term point is what the second question is about, which is that we must not allow these incidents to derail our long-term objective, which is to ensure that our population remains a rugged and healthy and, in a sense, optimistic population, a kind of attitude which you get from participating in sports of the physical kind.”
“Other recommendations, such as whether to have a central repository, will have to be studied and we will have to see whether that is the efficient and effective way of having such a system. I would conclude by saying that we must not take sports safety for granted but this is something which all of us are responsible for. Organisers have to make sure that safety measures are taken, medical support is available and equipment is available. Participants need to train, prepare and get themselves screened appropriately before any competition or event that necessitates strenuous exertion. And each one of us, whether a professional or weekend athlete, needs to learn to listen to our body, recognise the danger signs and not push ourselves beyond what we should safely or reasonably do. I therefore urge everyone to play his or her part to ensure that we can continue to enjoy sports, to derive the benefits of sports and to minimise the risks thereof.”
“And in particular, everyone who is closely associated or has close contact with athletes, that means coaches, volunteers and officials, should be certified in first-aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and in the use of the Automated External Defibrillators (AED). For sports facilities, the Committee's view is that facilities should be both staffed and equipped based on the risk profiles of their clientele. And each facility must have its own respective medical emergency plan. With respect to medical coverage for sports events, the Committee has developed a risk assessment matrix for the different sports. In other words, sports which have a higher level of cardiovascular activity and higher contact or collision risk are sports which must have more elaborate and more detailed plans to deal with emergencies. Such a classification matrix would enable the event organisers to tailor the appropriate safety equipment, the level of safety personnel as well as the medical arrangements in order to ensure that these sports can be pursued with reasonable safety. The Committee has also proposed the establishment of a central repository in order to capture data for sudden deaths and serious adverse events. This would allow more accurate situational analyses with subsequent improvements to our safety systems. The Committee will be releasing its detailed recommendations within the next day or two. I would like to thank the Committee for coming up with such a comprehensive framework to anchor our nation's sports safety efforts. Some of these recommendations, particularly the ones pertaining to public education, are important and will be implemented as soon as possible.”
“These guidelines include the provision of certified first aiders or paramedics, ambulance service with Automated External Defibrillators and other resuscitation equipment as well as ensuring that there are safety briefings for participants. These guidelines and the detailed plans for medical treatment and evacuation are even more crucial when we are having major endurance events such as the upcoming Singapore Marathon. To enhance our sports safety framework, my Ministry set up the Sports Safety Committee, chaired by Dr Benedict Tan in July this year, to review our current practices and to make specific recommendations to enhance safety. The Committee has completed its report and has submitted recommendations in five key areas. First, in pre-participation screening. Second, public education. Third, having safe sports facilities. Fourth, ensuring proper medical coverage for sports events. And, fifth, a system of surveillance and follow up for all matters relating to sports safety. Let me highlight a few of the recommendations. In the area of pre-participation screening, the Committee has recommended a tiered, risk-based approach, and this ranges from mandatory screening for professional athletes all the way to a self-administered questionnaire for weekend recreational athletes. In the area of public education, the Committee has recommended that we should have initiatives to ensure that all individuals are aware of sports safety issues, basically learn to recognise danger symptoms and to understand the dangers of over training.”
“Sir, from the beginning of 2005 to June 2007, the Health Sciences Authority's (HSA) Department of Forensic Medicine reported that there was a total of 21 deaths that occurred during sports - nine of them occurred in 2005, six in 2006, and six in the first half of this year. This represents about 0.05% of total deaths in Singapore. Based on available data, there is no evidence to suggest that there is an upward trend in mortality. The main causes of these sudden deaths are usually related to heart problems such as ischaemic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, myositis or congenital heart abnormalities. Medical evidence also suggests that the benefits of regular moderate exercise far outweigh the risks of exercise for healthy individuals. In fact, a recent report published by the American Heart Association's Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism and the Council on Clinical Cardiology indicated that whilst the relative risk of cardiac arrest was greater during exercise than at rest, nevertheless, the total incidence of cardiac arrest, both at rest and during exercise, decreased with increasing physical activity. The report highlighted that the total incidence of cardiac arrest in the least physically active group was 18 events per million person-hours, whilst the incidence was only five per million person-hours in the most physically active group. In other words, keep on exercising but do it moderately. Although the incidence of sudden death during sports is low, my Ministry takes sports safety very seriously. The Singapore Sports Council (or SSC) currently provides guidelines on safety measures to all the National Sports Associations and to sports event organisers.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, with your permission, I will take the next two Questions, ie, Question Nos. 13 and 14, together as they both relate to sports safety.”
“Other specific programmes and initiatives to be undertaken by the Council would include organising campaigns and community programmes to promote water safety, encouraging all school children to participate in the Learn To Swim programme, as well as reviewing existing building codes and best practices for swimming pools and water bodies. My Ministry will support the Council's work to improve all aspects of water safety. But I would like to emphasise that the Council cannot do it alone. Water safety is a collective responsibility and we all have a part to play. For instance, parents can enrol their children in swimming programmes and exercise constant vigilance when their children are in or near water bodies. Swimmers should also take personal responsibility for their own safety and not overestimate their abilities, even if they are experienced swimmers. Members of the public can also be on the alert to look out for persons in distress when they are around water bodies. WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS FORMULA ONE RACES (Implementation of safety and security measures) 1. Ms Ellen Lee asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs what safety and security measures for Formula One races will be implemented in view of the fact that the race will likely be carried out in the Central Business District or densely-populated areas.”
“The inter-agency National Water Safety Task Force led by my Ministry had earlier identified three broad key areas in enhancing water safety - public education, attainment of swimming proficiency, and the application of life-saving skills and equipment. One of the Task Force's key recommendations was to form a National Water Safety Council to take the lead in promoting and enhancing water safety in Singapore. My Ministry has announced the Task Force's recommendations and appointed the Council in April this year. The Council is chaired by Member of Parliament for Bukit Panjang and Honorary Advisory to the Singapore Life Saving Society, Dr Teo Ho Pin, and comprises members from the people, private and public sectors. The Council has on 29th May 2007 announced its water safety promotion plans for 2007-2008. It intends to adopt a three-pronged strategy to cultivate a water safety culture among Singaporeans: - namely, Embarking on Water Safety Education, Increasing Proficiency in Water Safety Skills Training, and Improving the Safety of our Swimming Pools and Water Bodies. The Council has also announced a "Water Safety Code" to encourage all Singaporeans to understand the importance of water safety and prevent drowning. The "Water Safety Code" entails the following water safety messages: (i) Learn swimming and water survival skills, (ii) Understand the dangers of the water, (iii) Follow safety rules and signs, (iv) Swim in safe areas, (v) Never swim alone, and (vi) Supervise children and weak swimmers at all times. It is important that all Singaporeans take heed of these water safety messages.”
“Er Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) whether he will provide an update on the work of the National Water Safety Task Force; and (b) when will its key recommendations be implemented for public safety.”
“Such awards have varying reputations and different objectives and criteria. Awards, particularly the established ones, already have their own ways of publicising their award recipients and missions in local and international media. In Dr Fatimah Lateef's case, her winning of the Most Outstanding Young Persons award was featured on 6th December 2006 in the Straits Times. The information was passed to the media by the Singapore Chapter of Junior Chambers International. Junior Chambers International is the organisation which gives out the annual Most Outstanding Young Persons award. This is an example of how prestigious international awards generate their own publicity for their award-winners. While the Government does not recognise in any formal way the international awards won by Singaporeans, from time to time, our political leaders do highlight and refer to their inspirational stories and achievements in speeches where appropriate, thereby giving them some form of recognition. However, any international award and the recognition it bestows on its winners, cannot be an end in itself. On the contrary, it should whet the winners' desire to strive for even higher levels of achievement in serving the community. In this, success is ultimately measured, not by how many awards or how much recognition one has garnered, but by how much one has contributed towards making our community, our nation and our world a better place. It should also be measured by how much one's achievement has inspired the next generation of youth into action, and into achieving great things for the common good. Of course, when appropriate opportunities arise, we will work with award-winners to motivate and inspire other youth. NATIONAL WATER SAFETY TASK FORCE (Update on work) 46.”
“More resources will be invested on mental health promotion and treatment. The Health Promotion Board (HPB), in collaboration with my Ministry, Ministry of Education, employers and grassroots organisations, will be expanding mental health programmes to help people manage stress and build strong relationships with family members, colleagues and friends. An Inter-Ministry Working Group on Mental Heath, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, with representatives from Government and non-Government agencies has been formed to look at ways to improve the mental and emotional resilience of our people. With these joint collaborations and close partnerships with community organisations, we hope to detect and prevent suicides more effectively. PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL AWARDS RECEIVED BY SINGAPOREANS (Recognition) 44. Ms Ellen Lee asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) whether the Government recognises the prestigious international awards received by Singaporeans, the most recent being the place on ten Most Outstanding Young Persons list, awarded to Dr Fatimah Bte Abdul Lateef in 2006; (b) what form does this recognition take; (c) whether the Government is taking steps to showcase the achievements by international award winners in the last 42 years so as to encourage more young Singaporeans to aspire towards such achievements. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: The Government is happy that young Singaporeans like Dr Fatimah are being recognised internationally for their achievements in various fields. We are proud of them, and hope that our efforts to develop our youth will lead to many more such winners. There is a plethora of international awards administered by many agencies and organisations worldwide.”
“Some of the services include: a) A 24-hour hotline run by the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS), that handles calls of distress. The SOS also provides an email befriending service as well as an Emergency Squad that provides on-site support to highly suicidal individuals. b) Counselling services run by the Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH), Family Service Centres (FSCs) and SOS. All these centres have toll-free helplines or hotlines for people to call in to. c) Financial assistance for those in financial difficulties or are unable to afford healthcare costs. Such assistance is provided through the ComCare Fund, and the Medifund. d) Specialised treatment for those with psychological or mental problems. Such services are provided by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and the restructured hospitals. Our mental health and social service professionals are trained to identify, detect and treat persons at risk. IMH, for example, has implemented various community-based programmes to detect severe mental health problems early, to support patients within the community, and to help prevent relapses. Help is also given to family members and loved ones affected by a suicide. SOS runs the Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) programme to reach out to family members of suicide victims, who may experience trauma. As a key preventive strategy, the Government, together with various voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs), has been actively promoting public awareness on mental health issues for the past few years. The Health Promotion Board (HPB) and various VWOs such as the SAMH and SOS organise regular outreach programmes that include talks, discussion forums and workshops, to raise public awareness on issues related to mental health or suicide.”
“Suicide trends among men in 40s and women in 50s The suicide rate has been increasing for both men in their 40s and women in their 50s since 2003. In 2003, there were 14 suicides per 100,000 men in their 40s. This number increased to 19 per 100,000 last year. For women, there were 8 suicides per 100,000 women in their 50s in 2003. And this increased to 13 per 100,000 in 2006. In 2004, our overall suicide rate for those aged between 45-54 years is 12 per 100,000, which is lower in comparison with other countries such as Japan, Hong Kong and Switzerland, where suicides per 100,000 among those in the same age group are above 20. The increase in the suicide rate is a worrying trend, as each suicide is a tragic loss for the family as well as for the community. Reasons for suicide There are multiple reasons that may lead a person to contemplate suicide. Each case is unique, and is often accompanied by a combination of psychological, emotional, social, relationship and material problems. Contributing factors such as personality traits, mental health and socio-cultural environment may also play a role. Prevention The family, as the first line of care, has a crucial role to play. Strong family ties and support will help to strengthen an individual's emotional and mental well-being. Friends and neighbours can also help to identify persons in distress, provide emotional support, encourage them to seek help early or call for help on their behalf. The Government works closely with various community organisations to help vulnerable individuals and their families cope with crises or stressful periods of their lives. Some of these services are funded by my Ministry, the Ministry of Health, and the National Council for Social Service (NCSS).”
“If they face difficulties in their relationship, they should seek help early. With the 3P approach, I am confident that we can build strong marriages in Singapore. ** Statistics as at 2005, which are the latest available figures we can find. # This is defined as the number of divorces and annulments granted within a specific age group during this year, out of every thousand married residents in the same age group. ^ Such a licence is needed for persons aged 18 or below. DRUG ADDICTION SITUATION (Update) 38. Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs whether he will give an update of the drug addiction situation, including the size of the problem, recidivism rate, trends of concern and new strategies being deployed to fight the drug menace.”
“Under the Women's Charter, underaged applicants applying for a Special Marriage Licence(^) are interviewed and must attend counselling sessions with their parents. Those aged above 18 but below 21 years must obtain their parents' or legal guardian's consent. Currently, the Registry of Marriages distributes brochures containing information on marriage preparation and enrichment courses to all couples, including those aged between 18 and 21 years. 13 mosques and 2 community centres offer marriage preparation courses for Muslim couples to impart necessary life-skills in dealing with marital responsibilities. In addition, there are specially-designed marriage preparation courses for minor Muslim couples where at least one partner is aged below 21. To step up capacity and capability to help couples whose marriages are at risk, religious teachers and vice-kadhis, or vice-solemnisers, have been specially trained to provide marriage counselling and mentoring services. The Syariah Court also has in place mediation and marriage counselling programmes to help save marriages. Individual responsibility and many helping hands The Government alone cannot mandate strong marriages nor prevent divorces if individuals themselves are not committed to stay married. Strong marriages, however, need support from the people, private and public sectors, or an integrated 3P approach. For example, employers can play their part by creating a pro-family workplace environment to help couples and families manage their work and home responsibilities. Relatives and friends, religious groups and voluntary welfare organisations could counsel and support couples facing marital difficulties. And couples should put in effort to always communicate and grow their relationship.”
“Divorce trends The number of divorces in Singapore has been increasing over the years. In 2006, there were 1.96 divorces for every 1,000 residents, an increase of 0.01 from 1.95 in 2005. The corresponding figure for Japan in 2005 was 2.1. That for the US was 3.6, while Hong Kong was 2.1**. Data from the Department of Statistics showed that younger married persons aged 20-24 registered the highest divorce rate(#). This suggests a positive correlation between earlier marriages and earlier divorces, since those who divorced young would have married young. Of all divorcees under 25 years of age in 2006, there were 127 Women's Charter divorcees, compared to 384 divorcees under AMLA. The number of divorcees under 25 years of age for both Women's Charter and AMLA has stabilised since 2004. Strengthening marriages Recognising the need to strengthen marriages, my Ministry works with key stakeholders such as the National Family Council, family service providers and educators as well as religious groups to support couples at different stages of their married life. For example, to promote and strengthen the institution of marriage, the National Family Council has proposed to set up Marriage Central. This one-stop access point will provide information on marriage preparation and enrichment programmes, and counselling services. Deputy Registrars of Marriages and most religious organisations encourage couples to attend marriage preparation programmes. Soon-to-wed couples can also access the on-line marriage preparation programme on the popular wedding portal, www.singaporebrides.com. Married couples are encouraged to attend marriage enrichment programmes.”
“Sir, notwithstanding the above, we will monitor the situation closely and review existing policies, including the child care subsidy policy, where necessary to better assist parents in their child care arrangements.”
“Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports whether the Government will consider increasing the $150 child care subsidy which was last revised in 1995 and which is no longer adequate in view of the rising cost of child care fees. The Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports (Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon) (for the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to thank the hon. Member, Mdm Halimah, for her concern about child care development in Singapore. While the quantum of the child care subsidy has remained at $150 a month, the Government has introduced various initiatives in the past few years to help parents defray the cost of raising children. The Baby Bonus scheme was introduced in 2001 for the second and third child. In 2004, the scheme was extended to the first and fourth child to make it more attractive. Currently, the scheme provides a cash gift of $3,000 for the first and second child, and $6,000 for the third and fourth child. It also provides Government matching contribution of up to $6,000 for the second child, and $12,000 for the third and fourth child, if the parents open a Baby Bonus Children Development Account and put in their contribution. Both the cash grant and the Children Development Account funds can be used to pay for various child related expenditure, including fees at childcare centres. We have chosen to provide more support through the Baby Bonus package as it provides parents with more options in how they can use their money. In recognition of the higher cost of infant care, in 2004, the Government had also introduced an infant care subsidy of $400 to help families which place their infants aged 2-18 months in centre-based infant care.”
“Sir, the Board of Visitors should visit each Home at least once in two months. Under the Children and Young Persons Act, the Board has the right to enter a Home at all reasonable times - in other words, they do not have to pre-inform and get everything in the Home arranged spick and span so that what they see is not a realistic picture. On awareness, the Member is absolutely right. There is no point in having all the systems if the residents in the Home do not know how to use these avenues. That is why we have to, first, make sure that avenues are possible, for instance, the Post Office box address, make sure that the Board of Visitors goes in. And when they go in, they can also, at random, select residents to speak to. Third, we have also reminded the Homes to put up a notice board to say that this is the national helpline number the residents can call. And also, as the Member has suggested, when any child comes in to have a standard briefing, this is a Home, these are the rules which apply to the boys or girls there, as well as the rules which the staff need to comply with, so that people are, in a sense, aware of their rights and the avenues for redress. But the most important thing is to understand that these are vulnerable children, and that staff, volunteers and management committee members are in a position of trust and that everyone really has to do his part. And it requires, in that sense, an entire village to bring up these children. So any one who is involved in these Homes needs to view himself as a member of the village. And if we can get that done, restore trust, then focus on restoring these children to the rightful trajectories which their life should take. CHILD CARE SUBSIDY (Increase) 17.”
“So this system provides another alternative channel. The Board of Visitors will then investigate any complaints or feedback given by these residents and then raise it with the Ministry or with the Home Management Committees. The third thing we have done is to instruct that all children's Homes must display a national toll-free Child Protection helpline number. The Management Committees have been instructed to also educate the residents on the various channels of seeking help if they are abused or if they wish to report an incident of abuse, either involving themselves or one of their friends in the same Home. The residents have also been reminded that they have a right and that they should approach trusted adults - their relatives, friends, school teachers or indeed other volunteers in the Home if they face any such problems. I would end by emphasising again that no child residing in any of our Homes should be subjected to any form of abuse. When it comes to protecting children, everyone has a role to play. And my Ministry will continue to look into what more we can do to ensure that this protection extends uniformly and effectively to each and every single child. We will work with the Police and our community partners to prevent a recurrence of such incidents in the Homes.”
“My Ministry has also implemented some additional measures to protect the welfare of residents in these Homes. For instance, I have instructed the Board of Visitors to extend their visits to the 10 non-gazetted Homes. Let me explain a little bit more on this point. We have 20 Homes which look after children in such circumstances. Ten of these 20 Homes are what we call "gazetted Homes" - in other words, they have statutory functions under the Children and Young Persons Act. Under this Act, I appoint a Board of Visitors who will visit and inspect the Homes and check on the conditions which the residents are living under. I have now decided to extend the Board of Visitors' role to also cover the children's Homes which today are not gazetted with statutory functions. So, for instance, a Home like the Darul Ihsan Orphanage is not a gazetted Home but, from now on, will receive visits from the Board of Visitors once every two months. These will be random visits so that they can go in and check on the conditions which are prevailing. The Board of Visitors, after their visit, will report their observations directly to the Director of Social Welfare of my Ministry. And then from there on, we can take any necessary investigations or enforcement actions. Secondly, my Ministry has also set up a Post Office Box address for the Board of Visitors, so that the residents can write directly to the Board of Visitors. These inputs will be forwarded to the members of the Board and these inputs can be sent to us anonymously - in other words, a kind of whistle-blowing mechanism within the Home itself. We have to do this because some of the young boys or girls there may feel shy or intimidated from making a specific complaint under their own name against a staff member.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, first of all, let me say that my staff and I were very troubled by the incident in Darul Ihsan Orphanage. A member of the staff had used abusive methods to discipline the residents in the Home. When we consider that these boys already come from dysfunctional or have unfortunate family circumstances, I think it makes the abuse even worse, and this is clearly unacceptable. My Ministry's first priority, when we heard of this case, was to ensure that the abuse had stopped and the residents were safe. The staff member responsible had already been dismissed by the Home. A police report was made and I believe that person has now been charged and the court hearing is due later this month. A team of experienced social workers from my Ministry then met with all the residents of that Home and provided them with necessary counselling and emotional support. My Ministry views the ill-treatment of children very seriously, and we will not hesitate to take tough enforcement actions against anyone found guilty of mistreating children and young persons. The incident in the Darul Ihsan Orphanage is a reminder of the important role and heavy responsibility that the Home Management Committee members have. They have to ensure that the Homes that they supervise are safe. In this particular case, my Ministry had to reproach the Management Committee for not disclosing the incidents more promptly to us, and we also warned them to comply strictly with all the regulations under the Children and Young Persons Act as well as the MCYS' specified Standards of Care. The Home has since worked hard to ensure that the proper systems are in place so that the Home is safe for children. They have consequently reviewed and improved their SOPs.”
“PUBLIC TRANSPORT CONCESSION PASS FOR SENIOR CITIZENS (Review) 50. Mr Baey Yam Keng asked the Minister for Transport in view of the rising retirement age and lower wages of elderly workers, whether his Ministry will consider extending bus and MRT concession rates for senior citizens to include peak hours.”
“My Ministry investigated an average of 175 cases per year of alleged child abuse, over the last five years. The number of cases has been declining over the last three years. Most of these cases were referred to my Ministry by schools, hospitals, social workers and police. The most common form of child abuse was physical abuse, which accounted for about 51% of all cases, followed by sexual abuse at 34%, physical neglect at 9% and emotional abuse at 6%. 64% of the victims of abuse were female, while 36% were males. Boys were more likely to be subjected to physical abuse while girls were more likely to be sexually abused. Slightly more than one third of the children were between ages seven to 11 years old and another one-third was between 12 to below 16 years old. My Ministry takes a serious view towards the abuse of children. Each child is given specialised help depending on the assessment by a multi-disciplinary team of professionals. Such a team comprises pediatricians, psychologists and senior child protection officers. Where necessary, MCYS will apply for a Care and Protection Order for the child at the Juvenile Court. Perpetrators will be prosecuted in Court for the criminal acts. If found guilty, they could be sentenced to a fine or imprisonment, or both. The Court may also order them to undergo mandatory counselling, psychotherapy and other rehabilitation programmes. However, our aim is still to encourage parents and family members to seek help early if they have difficulties managing their children or are undergoing stressful life events. In this regard, we work closely with Family Service Centres in the community to provide the necessary support and assistance to families at-risk of abusing or neglecting their children.”
“My Ministry, MOM and NCSS are also working together on the Enabling Masterplan Committee's recommendation to implement the foreign domestic worker levy concession for families or disabled persons with issues with activities of daily living such as bathing, feeding, and so forth. Our original timeline for implementation was November 2007. I am pleased to say that we can now bring forward this deadline to 15th September 2007. Last but not least, the Ministry of National Development (MND) has just proposed changes to the Code on Barrier Free Accessibility to make the built environment more conducive to persons with disabilities, the elderly, and families with young children. Besides strengthening the accessibility within buildings, particular attention is paid to improving the connectivity between buildings and from buildings to nearby facilities such as transport nodes and parks. These are important steps towards better meeting the needs of the disabled community. BCA has also set up a $40 million fund to subsidise private sector building owners for the provision of basic accessibility features. The Standing Committee will deliberate on the other recommendations made by the Enabling Masterplan. We have made progress. To date, 11 recommendations have been accepted and announced by the different Government agencies. I expect more recommendations to be accepted. MCYS will provide an annual update during the Committee of Supply each year. WORK HOLIDAY PROGRAMME 37. Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Minister for Manpower if he can elaborate on the Work Holiday Programme which will commence in December 2007 with 2,000 places for university students and graduates.”
“The Enabling Employers, a people-sector group led by Mr David Wong, Chief Executive and Managing Director of ABN AMRO Bank, South-east Asia, is supportive of the business case of employing persons with disabilities. Last month, David led his team of employers on a visit to Holiday Inn Park View hotel, which employs 15 persons with disabilities to showcase their capabilities. David has also planned for more activities in the coming months. I am confident that with the Enabling Employers' efforts, as well as with the support from caregivers and the public, more employers will be encouraged to come forward to give persons with disabilities a chance in employment. My Ministry, together with MOE and the National Council of Social Service (NCSS), are already working with Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA), Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board (SPRING) Singapore and National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Learning Hub, and selected Special Education Schools, to come up with training facilities and apprenticeship programmes to equip students with disabilities with the necessary skillsets for employment. On the education front, in line with the Enabling Masterplan Committee's recommendation, MOE had announced at this year's Committee of Supply that children in special education, who have been assessed as being able to follow a curriculum leading to the 'O' or 'N' levels or pre-vocational certification, may have their education funded up to 21 years of age, up from the current 18 years of age.”
“The ENABLE Fund was open to employers who hired four or more persons with disabilities. Up to end April 2007, 11 companies have tapped on the Fund, with 58 workers benefiting from it. In February this year, the Enabling Masterplan Committee recommended three enhancements to the ENABLE Fund. First, employers need not employ four new persons with disabilities to qualify as existing employees with disabilities can be counted in the tally of four. Second, companies that outsource jobs to disabled persons can tap on the Fund. Third, the Fund can be used to provide employment support, such as engaging a job coach. The Committee also suggested renaming the Fund as the Open Door Fund. My Ministry has accepted all the recommendations. The Open Door Fund was launched on 1st May 2007. The Singapore National Employers Federation (SNEF) has informed me that so far, 10 companies have committed to hire 41 persons with disabilities. Of these, 19 are already employed. SNEF is also actively promoting the Open Door Fund through brochures and posters to SNEF member companies. Together with the National Council of Social Service, MCYS also co-funds Bizlink, which is the central agency for job placement for persons with disabilities. Bizlink has been successful in placing out up to 250 persons with disabilities annually. To date, they have matched up to 4,900 job placements. In addition, another 1,300 are employed at sheltered workshops at the various Voluntary Welfare Organisations. In addition, employers have also taken the lead to promote the employment of persons with disabilities.”
“I would like to take both Parliamentary Questions together. The Enabling Masterplan Committee put up 31 recommendations to the Government for the disability sector. The recommendations covered issues in early intervention, education, employment, caregiver support, and care for persons with disabilities in their adult years. The key recommendation of the Enabling Masterplan was the call for an integrated, inter-ministry approach to disability issues. Thus, the first recommendation we have accepted is the set up of an inter-ministry Standing Committee on Disability (SCD) to address disability issues holistically. The Committee will report to the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports. It will be chaired by my Permanent Secretary, and will include senior officers from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Manpower, Ministry of Health, and other relevant ministries and public sector agencies. The Standing Committee will set policy directions holistically, develop feasible strategies and look into the resource planning for the sector. The Standing Committee will also engage the people sector on their views so that VWOs can continue to play a key role in the implementation of disability services. A clear priority area that emerged from the Enabling Masterplan was that employment for the disabled should be improved. It would enable them to integrate into society and be independent. Thus, we have focused on employment to start with. I shall elaborate further. This is also in response to Dr Fatimah Lateef's, Member for Marine Parade GRC, question on the ENABLE Fund. My Ministry has been working with the Singapore Workforce Development Agency. This Fund was set up in July 2006. The Fund aimed to encourage employers to employ persons with disabilities.”
“From 1997 to 2006, an annual average of 5,200 marriages between Singaporeans and foreigners were registered in Singapore. The annual figures for the period are at Table 1. Table 1: Number of Marriages Registered in Singapore between Singapore Citizens and Foreigners, 1997-2006 Year Number of Marriages 1997 4,445 1998 5,102 1999 5,172 2000 4,823 2001 5,058 2002 4,929 2003 4,566 2004 5,411 2005 6,777 2006 6,359 For the same period, an annual average of 4,200 marriages between Singaporean men and foreign women were registered in Singapore. The annual figures for the period are at Table 2. Table 2: Number of Marriages Registered in Singapore between Singapore Citizen Males and Foreign Females, 1997-2006 Year Number of Marria ges 1997 3,592 1998 4,143 1999 4,129 2000 3,834 2001 4,117 2002 3,988 2003 3,647 2004 4,358 2005 5,611 2006 5,202 The most common origins among foreign spouses who married Singaporeans from 2004 to 2006 are listed at Table 3. We only have a breakdown by origins from 2004. Table 3: 20 Most Common Origins of Foreign Spouses, 2004-2006 Alphabetical Order Foreign Males Foreign Females Australia Australia Bangladesh Brunei Canada Cambodia France Canada Germany Hong Kong Hong Kong India India Indonesia Indonesia Japan Italy Korea Japan Mainland China Mainland China Malaysia Malaysia Philippines Netherlands Russia New Zealand Sri Lanka Pakistan Taiwan Philippines Thailand Sweden Turkey Taiwan United Kingdom United Kingdom United States of America United States of America Vietnam APPENDICES”
“NCPG will also continue its preventive and public education work to raise awareness of problem gambling. FORT TANJONG KATONG AT KATONG PARK (Preservation as national monument) 35. Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts whether the Preservation of Monuments Board will consider preserving Fort Tanjong Katong at Katong Park as a national monument due to its historical significance.”
“CAMP saw 66 new cases in 2006 and 10 new cases from 1st January to 31st March 2007. The NCPG also emphasises preventive education measures. The Council aims to raise awareness of problem gambling through the mass media as well as through ground-up initiatives by community groups that bring messages on problem gambling to the heartlands. The Council is also working with youth and social service groups to raise awareness of students and youths about problem gambling. The Honourable MP has also asked if problem gamblers are victims of unlicensed moneylenders, or as they are more commonly known, loan sharks. The 2005 MCYS study cited earlier found that 1.4% of all respondents had borrowed from loan sharks. Of these, 79% admitted to having borrowed from loan sharks to pay off gambling debts. Anecdotal evidence provided by Police and Prisons of arrested loan sharks also suggests that a substantial proportion of those who borrowed from loan sharks were gamblers. On 23rd January this year, Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs, in answer to a question from the Honourable Mr Wee Siew Kim informed the House that the Police has in place a comprehensive range of measures against unlicensed moneylenders. The key ones include enhanced penalties in the Moneylenders Act, confiscation of assets of unlicensed moneylending syndicates, use of the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act against syndicate members whenever necessary, and the formation of a dedicated Anti-Unlicensed Moneylending Taskforce in the Criminal Investigations Department. Moving forward, the NCPG and MCYS will continue to work with its partners to build capability in social services to address gambling addiction.”
“A study done by MCYS in February 2005 found that about 2.1% of the adult population were probable problem gamblers. To address problem gambling, the Government had announced a national framework which included the setting up of the National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG). Since its formation in August 2005, the Council has worked with MCYS to develop a three-tier framework to address problem gambling. The first tier involves training workers in the community and social service sector to identify individuals or families facing problem gambling issues and motivate them to seek specialised help. So far, a total of 192 staff from over 100 social sector agencies, including the various Family Service Centres and CDCs, have undergone this training. Further rounds of training have been planned for the rest of 2007. The second tier of help is provided by specialised community-based centres operated by Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society and Care Corner Counselling Centre. These two social services agencies were appointed by NCPG and MCYS in September 2006 to pilot intervention services for pathological/problem gamblers (PPGs) and their families at the community level. This involves counselling for gamblers with moderate problems who do not require medical treatment services at the Community Addictions Management Programme (CAMP), organising support groups for PPGs and their families, as well as linking them up with other social services where necessary. From September 2006 to February 2007, the two pilot centres saw a total of 102 cases of problem gamblers, or affected family members. At the third tier, CAMP at the Institute of Mental Health provides medical treatment to persons with multiple addictions and psychiatric issues.”