Wee Siew Kim
Singapore
“I hope these numbers will persuade the Minister to reconsider installing lifts at overhead pedestrian bridges that are linked to the MRT stations. My heart aches whenever I see elderly residents limp up the long flight of stairs at Khatib pedestrian overhead bridge. This is the fourth time I raise this issue in Parliament.”
“Could there be interim scheme plus, that is, a longer-term solution, maybe even dormitories? Although I fear to think that refugee camps-like enclaves will spring up in Singapore, we do have to find innovative ways to provide spartan-level housing for the down and out.”
“In my visits to the nursing homes and other interactions with the elderly and the not so old, like the neighbourhood vegetable and fruit seller, the florist, or the auntie that sells my favourite deep fat fried chicken wings – I have heard the same thing, they all do not want to stop working.”
“I urge the Ministry to extend the maternity leave, Baby Bonus Scheme, the cash grant for newborns and tax relief to employ domestic maids to single mothers. We may limit the grant to only the first child and make this point clear to the mother upon her collection of the grant.”
“We may not have all the answers and may not be right – but what are our alternatives? Unless we can pull together, marshal our resources, sustaining our quality of life is but a pipe dream. Our forefathers are no strangers to hardships and challenges. Risk taking and them are no strange bed fellows. We should be no different.”
“In conclusion, I believe what would make us different this time round is that in this recession, people who are in trouble look to themselves and their extended families and be self reliant; with the Government moving with speed, empathy and civil servants realising that they have the power to make a difference in many people’s live…”
The complete record
Every one of 267 lines we hold for Wee Siew Kim, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 2 of 6.
“Sir, in the Budget debate, I had spoken on the need to administer with a heart. The question is perhaps how can the Government show that it cares? The tone is already strongly set as relief packages and budget provisions kick in so quickly to help businesses and individuals cope with the recession. In my mind, the Government cares. However, how the Government, through its agencies, interact and help people day to day will be just as important in showing that the Government cares. This is the "software" that will colour the people's perception of the Government – whether it really cares for the people or not. So let me reiterate my call – please go about your work with a human touch and a big heart. Hence, my earlier comments on older workers being mentors to younger frontline officers in interactions with the public. Please empathise with people who seek assistance and be more sympathetic to those who find themselves in difficult situations. For example, an unfortunate accident involving a motorcyclist and his pillion-riding wife was brought to my attention. The car in front of them braked suddenly. The motorcyclist swerved his bike and fell. The car sped off and the motorcyclist and his wife were too hurt to take the registration number down. Not only were both husband and wife hurt and off work, he received a fine and demerit points too. Is this fair or is it just the unthinking application of a rule that if you are hurt in an accident, you are penalised first? Would this resident see this as justice? Are the officers so busy and stretched that everything is an automated response? I had appealed in the Budget debate that many agencies can take a leaf from how ComCare support is delivered.”
“Just as the Government encourages commercial businesses to employ older workers who do not wish to retire, it should also provide opportunities for its older workers to continue working as long as they can, wish and are able to contribute. The public often judges Government agencies for the service they receive and many a time, this is a function of their interaction with Government officers. While excellent customer service comes from the right service attitude, it is also a function of experience. In this area, older workers can be a big plus. Re-employment of Older Workers”
“Sir, fortunately, even in the depth of a recession, we have the resources to provide additional employment with positions in Government agencies. Over 18,000 jobs needed to be filled. I hope that these opportunities will be well shared with two categories of job seekers, namely, the mid-career workers and the older workers. Certainly, for the new entrants to the workforce, armed with their newly-minted certificates, and a zest for life, the Government service would be a good place to start their new job search. They will be a breath of fresh air. I am sure a good percentage of the 18,000 jobs will go to this new group. However, with job losses mounting across a broad spectrum of industries, many workers of varied ages and experiences would become available as well. I believe there are opportunities for Government agencies to inject new old, and not so old blood at every level. Mid-career workers with private sector work experience could provide the agencies with new perspectives. They can bring their private sector experience to bear in Government agencies, providing input to enhance policies and/or processes and even public perception and needs. Another breath of fresh air. However, for mid-career workers to be welcomed and for them to survive, thrive and contribute, the workplace needs to have an organisation culture that welcomes feedback and is relentless in raising performance by adapting and innovating. Stones need to be allowed to be turned over and over again. This will require the support and endorsement of the most senior leaders in the agencies. The next group is the older workers.”
“We are benefitting from the hard work and prudence of prior generations in that we now have reserves that will tide us through. And dipping into it now, actually places the responsibility on us to work even harder so that we can contribute towards replenishing it. Let us work together, support each other and face this challenge confidently as a mature and gracious nation. With that, Mdm Deputy Speaker, I support the Budget. 7.12 pm”
“In this instance, every Singaporean counts. There are many helping hands in our community – VWOs, self-help organisations and charities. There is a great reliance on these non-profit organisations, as they play active roles in making a difference in our community. The Government, too, has led the way by increasing the tax benefits for donations to IPCs. However, these NGOs can benefit from further Government support. For example, the Government can help provide limited rent-free period for facilities. The Government can allocate or second some human resources at no charge to help kick-start an initiative or simply be the extra hands to get through the day-to-day operations. This will not only help reduce operating costs of these NGOs but also indirectly help the Government "supervise" and understand the activities of the organisations and enhance management. We really need not only send in the cavalry only when there are problems. Keeping people employed is the key tenet of the Jobs Credit Scheme. However, we know that we cannot avoid retrenchments as decreasing demand will impact some companies. There will be hardships and we need to expedite whatever help we can. The solution is, of course, training and new jobs. But in the short run, easing the cash flow for people affected adversely by job dislocations would be a great relief. Hence, I hope that there is no additional hardship imposed by agencies withholding services, for example, utilities. In such difficult financial times, every bit of help counts. I am confident that Singapore will come out of this recession stronger. This is because Singaporeans would have rallied and supported each other through this crisis.”
“From previous debates, progress has been made. Leeway has been made for children who are genuinely unable to provide for their parents financially. But there are many who can make adjustments to their lifestyles and accommodate parent care within their means. They are just not willing to. As such, we should consider enhancing the Maintenance of Parents Act to go after these children and adjudicate that they provide not only sustenance, in terms of money, but also a roof and emotional support. Filial piety and caring for our elders is well entrenched in the value system of Asian societies. By no way should we allow individuals in our midst to persist in abrogating this responsibility. We should encourage and regulate as necessary families to take responsibility and care for their aged parents and relatives. This is even more important as our society ages. This is a value that should be perpetuated, so that the young generation know that in the autumn and winter years of their lives, care is also readily at hand for them as well. Still on the subject of families, the support for single-parent families is woefully inadequate. While we fear that proactively reaching out to support single parents may send the wrong signal to society, this group of people do need help, especially the single mothers struggling to look after young children. We are probably not totally sympathetic to whatever may have led them to their circumstances, but the problem at hand still needs solutions. I hope we could devote a portion of the Budget and reach out to them. Could we provide more support for single-parent families? For instance, give priority for childcare application. Provide subsidy for childcare services and Government-operated tuition and day care centres.”
“Another area for more Government support is the social service sector. SILRA Home is in my ward. As part of urban renewal, they move from a sprawling one-storey complex to a modern high-rise building sited on a land footprint a fraction of the land it vacated. Expenses increased due to maintenance of elevators and all other costs associated with a high-rise building. However, their grant has remained stagnant. The officers overseeing SILRA have turned a deaf ear to their entreaties in the face of these increased costs. How stout a heart these volunteers have, before they throw in the towel? My message – please administer with a heart. Families must pull together. Families are the foundation stones of our society. There are many schemes to encourage family togetherness. Examples include the grant to encourage children to stay closer to parents and financial incentives to children who top up their parents and siblings' CPF accounts. We can do more. Give incentives for three-generation housing needs, for example, priority in flat application, selection queue or give a one-time incentive bonus to be used for renovation or furnishing the selected HDB flats. I know we have just increased the additional housing grant. We can enhance it some more to further nurture family cohesiveness. In good times and in bad, we expect families to pull together and look after one another. True kinship sees everyone through thick and thin. However, we all know that there are able but irresponsible children who neglect their parents. We must act for these neglected parents or this will be a further and unnecessary load on society. One can even argue that some parents deserve to be neglected. But if they are infirm and aged, should society be made to shoulder a disproportionate burden?”
“The Administration must make it easier for businesses to operate. Having bonuses pegged to GDP growth is already an indication that our leaders believe that growth is one key indicator of performance. However, many in the civil service may still not fully appreciate this. Allow me to give you an example. But let first me declare a conflict as it concerns one of the companies that I have responsibility for. I only heard the details after the dust has settled. We were merrily operating from land owned and leased from one Government agency. Then the land was transferred to another Government agency. With that stroke of the pen, costs increased. Moreover, we were told that we should consider ourselves lucky as, in normal circumstances, we would have to vacate the land, make good to original conditions and then re-establish ourselves once the ownership changes between the two Government agencies have taken effect. In reality, what has happened? The land title changed from one agency to another and costs to the businesses increased. In this instance, where has value been created? At the end of the day, the company was practically "bullied" into complying. I used the word "bullied" figuratively as I do not, for a moment, believe that it was the leaders' intent but the execution has gone awry. Here, straightforward, single-minded adherence to manuals and policies would not suffice. It is to be infused with a strong dose of the appropriate culture and spirit. It is the entire mindset that people bring along while executing their work that counts. It is the awareness of what is the end game that counts. It is not one agency showing better performance, regardless of its impact on others. There are more examples but bear with me with just one more.”
“So, I think that this is the time to go about one's responsibilities with a heart. Even if you have been burnt before, go about doing things with a heart. The Jobs Credit Scheme is an ingenuous arrangement that preserves the CPF contributions which many Singaporeans depend on for their mortgage payments while, at the same time, saves costs and conserves cash flow for the employers. It helps keep more people in their jobs, with experience and tenure intact, ready for the time when demand returns. Another uniquely Singapore scheme is the Workfare Income Supplement Scheme, which encourages workers to find and stay at work while, at the same time, helping them to save for their longer term needs. However, the good intentions of these two schemes may be negated somewhat, if we continue to rely entirely on the tender system and outsourcing of work. Take the example of cleaning contracts. Every time it is tendered, the price drops. Even as the new contractor takes over the workers, he needs to find ways to reduce his costs as he has invariably tendered a lower price to win the contract. Guess what gives? The worker gets paid a lower salary to do the same work. The Government has set a good example with the Job Redesign so that certain work could command a higher pay. But more needs to be done. Here, the Government has opportunities to set a leading example. I know this is but one example. There are, without doubt, merits in outsourcing and the tender system, but the evaluation must be more sophisticated, taking into consideration whether succumbing to the allure of short-term cost savings would lead to longer term problems. Let us face it. Value creation is with the businesses. Job creation is with the businesses.”
“Can the other Government Ministries also reach out and help within their jurisdiction? Can they empathise with people who seek assistance and be more sympathetic to those who find themselves in difficult situations. Take a very simple but painfully real case – that of a resident who received a curt reply to his appeal for a waiver of a simple parking offence. I have often read such curt replies. Some seem to imply that the agencies believe that Singaporeans are lying unless they can prove otherwise. It need not be so. Why not give the benefit of the doubt for the offence? In such instances, the agency can be more sympathetic because a stiff fine definitely hurts, even worse, a licence revoked – all affecting incomes and livelihood. Why not take a leaf from ComCare support? ComCare works on the principle that the grassroots know the ground situation better. Without direct contact and communication, Government officers sitting in their offices may not be able to fully appreciate the circumstances and needs of the families and individuals. As such, in instances when officers have to make a judgment call, why not be generous in compassion or set up a system where people closer to the situation can be relied upon for an additional view or judgment, just like the roles the grassroots leaders play in the delivery of ComCare support. In these difficult economic times, we can perhaps be more forgiving and try to go out of our way to be more understanding and sympathetic. It is time to bring more heart to policies and manuals. Our civil servants are known to be smart, tackling issues in a logical fashion. Brain power is never lacking. But it is often said that in any campaign, you need to win the hearts and minds of individuals if you want to succeed.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, let me congratulate the Minister for Finance for a Budget which has won all-round praise. As one businessman aptly said, "The Government has heard the suffering and addressed the issues squarely and more than adequately, surpassing all expectations." From businessmen and residents alike, the scope and magnitude of the Budget have certainly drawn positive superlatives. But who knows how long and deep this downturn is going to be? I believe we need a cocktail of remedies to help our people through one of the toughest downturns that Singaporeans have ever experienced. Beyond the Budget, how each of us in our various roles in society and the working community will support and empathise with those in need is also critical. It will speak of the type of society that we are. I hope that the gracious society that we have been developing will come to the fore in this period of need. But we should also emerge from this challenge with a stronger spirit as a nation, more united having weathered another major trial as one people. As such, I would like to talk about the roles of three groups – administration; families and community – in managing through this recession. Through this upsize Budget, it is clear that the Government is concerned, not just for businesses but also for individuals. In addition, there are many Government schemes to help the needy and jobless. The question is perhaps what more can the Government do to show care? In the GPC dialogue with the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, it is evident how MCYS staff, from the Minister down, jump through hoops to reach out and help the needy. This Ministry is definitely one that cares a lot. But care for the people cannot be just MCYS' purview.”
“However, what keeps businesses, tourists and foreign investments coming back to Singapore is the confidence they have in us. And this confidence is buttressed by sound transparent policies, supported to a large measure by a broad spectrum of Singaporeans. This can only be possible if we also continue to invest in matters of societal stability. As the Government has more means, today, the call is even more strident. Let me close by recounting the story of this 60-year old woman who came to MPS. $50,000 was all she had to her name and which she faithfully placed in fixed deposits. Last year, she was convinced that 6% was better than 1% by switching out of the fixed deposits. Today it is $32,000. She panicked and pulled out realising the loss. This is a woman who barely spoke Mandarin, much less being able to understand the legalese of financial documents that she signed. As we debate to release more resources, I hope that we also slay another sacred cow by rebuilding the safety net for Singaporeans of this age group that had been handed the short end of the stick in this current financial climate. Hence, I end by asking the Minister to assure us that enough of the additional funds released through this proposed amendment be put aside for needy Singaporeans who have, for one reason or another, end up in poor conditions. Sir, I support the Bill. 5.00 pm”
“Further, maybe as a guide to the prudence of the proposed change, can the Minister inform the House what would have been the total funds available to the Government if we had not gone 50% NII in 2001 but gone 100% NII instead, and compared for that same period if we had gone 50% NIR, ie,100% NII compared to 50% NIR in the period 2002 to 2008? Additionally, as we all know, there is a crucial difference between realised and unrealised capital gains. What would feed social needs and investment needs is cash. With so much of Singaporeans' assets tied up in real estate on the island, the strength of the Singapore currency is of paramount importance to all of us. As a result, as we generate the cash to pay for the big bills, we continue to keep a close eye on the strength of our currency. Another point I hope to get assurance is the continuous emphasis on maintaining a lean Government. It is a slippery road downhill towards a fat government, especially if there is money. This debate would have brought home to many Singaporeans that even as we husband our reserves over the years, they could only have grown, be it compounded at 5%, 8% or 15%, with the skills of the people who have their hands on the throttles in GIC, MAS and Temasek. To expect that we continue to enjoy long-term growth in our reserves depend so critically in the talents that we have. We must continue to lay our hands on the best financial talents and, at the same time, nurture a local crop of expertise so that we can continue to be assured that the investment of our reserves is in competent and loyal hands. Many have likened Singapore as one large corporation. It is true from the perspective that without a sound economy, there would not be a Singapore.”
“We need to ensure that we maintain the ability to tackle our social issues on a long-term basis and also continue to invest in what would position us to be a global metropolis - be it in infrastructure, research or staying Green. While it is not a given that the more we spend the better off we would be, I believe that we would enhance our chances. On this belief, I am behind the concept of a long-term expected real rate of returns as the sensible approach in estimating the funds available for current and future needs. At the very least, the Government spending would not need to be held ransom to the vagaries of the market. However, I hope that calculation of this long-term expected real rate of returns will be made entirely transparent and that governance will be set in place, and the resources made available to ensure that the process withstands scrutiny. While we strive to divorce ourselves from the volatility that prevailing market conditions would have on the ability of the Government to commit to long-term spending, it is extremely important that we also do not fall into the trap of overspending future income. As such, an explanation from the Minister on why 50% of the NIR is a prudent number is sought. Just two months ago, it may have passed muster. Today, when many have seen their portfolios decimated over a short period of time, it is important that the rationale for this 50% split between now and future be clearly articulated.”
“Certainly not an easy equation to balance – rising expenditure while reducing tax rates and at the same time balancing the budget. It would be to our peril if we rely solely on further near term GST increases as a source of additional funding. Or to pray for future GDP growth to fund these growing needs. Pray we should. The Gods may smile on us, but we are better off putting in place the initiatives that would enhance the probabilities that we stay ahead of the game. In the throes of our emergence as a nation some 40-plus years ago, at a time when we had meager resources, it had not stopped us from investing in infrastructure – Paya Lebar Airport and then Changi, the massive Port of Singapore, Jurong Industrial Park, to name a few. It has not stopped us from investing in education, and it has not stopped us from investing in defence, as we have confidence that we have something to defend for. Now that we have more, we should plant more seeds for the future. Hence, I support the need to give the Government the flexibility to plan long term in the light of the challenges with this requested ability to dip into the total returns from our reserves. The flexibility to have more resources to deploy to combat our challenges will certainly increase our chance of thriving. We should be less enamoured by the maintenance of the status quo, but more driven by the pursuit of a better life, a sustainable future for our children, be it investment in infrastructure, investment in education of our people, investment in societal fabric, investment in key growth industrial sectors.”
“For Singapore has prudently kept its financial firepower dry and would be among the few that can take advantage of investments opportunities that would present themselves in time to come. Hence, in the context of this amendment, I believe that two key principles must be religiously upheld. First, the continual squirreling away of our gains must be the order of the day. Having a Gibraltar rock of reserves is the only way to ensure that the ability of future generations of Singaporeans to react with confidence in crises of the future is not impaired. The outcome of the debate today would set the stage of what Singapore would be like in years to come, the Singapore of our children’s generation. The wealth, the international stature that we enjoy, and being able to punch way above our weight in regional politics and international finance, came about as a result of long-term, forward-looking, steadfast and resolute policies. By extension, the second principle must be to maintain a long-term perspective of our challenges and the strategies we have in place to come up on top. These past two years, we have confronted the issues of an ageing population, hence, CPF LIFE; the increasing need to tackle the financial needs of a group of Singaporeans who would be unable to keep up as the income gap grows and inflation persists, hence, Workfare and ComCare; and the burgeoning healthcare costs. We also confronted the need to be an attractive place for global talents to set up home and businesses here by reducing tax rates; and the pressure of continuous investment in the infrastructure prerequisite of a future city that has its appeals for both work and play.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I stand in support of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Bill. The financial turmoil that engulfed the world would certainly set the tone as we debate this amendment. Many a layman would call this the perfect storm. And they are probably right as so many small investors are affected. From the profile of people residing in Ang Mo Kio who had spoken to me and their entreaties, I sensed that many have not bargained for their savings to be almost wiped out. And many, totally ignorant till September of what a derivative is, would not have consciously traded a promised 5% annual return in exchange for a downside of total capital destruction, if they had understood the risks or the intricacies of the instruments they have put their money in. Many pleaded for intervention as they are retirees and would not have the economic headroom and lifeline for revival. And why is this relevant in this debate? It is relevant because this Government and the previous terms of Government had approached our financial policies with spade loads of conservatism and prudence. It aggressively admonished anyone who pushed for wider leeway in the use of the returns from our reserves. And this resolute stand in the face of pressure to spend more has stood us well in this current climate. Without the bedrock of reserves, how else would the Government be able to guarantee the deposits in Singapore banks? In the days to come, as the crisis unfolds, there would surely be more demands, the likes of which we have not contemplated before. Only the wealth we are sitting on gives the confidence that we would emerge, not only just fine but even stronger.”
“What are the plans we have in place to ensure that we continue to capture a significant share of the LCC segment.”
“Sir, Changi Airport is a Singapore icon. It has made its mark in the aviation and travel industries as a benchmark for service excellence. In many ways, Changi Airport is representative of the efficiency, high standards and excellence the world has come to associate with Singapore. However, the competition is catching up with new and bigger regional airports built or in the process of being built. As such, we must continue to improve our airport standards in all areas, whether it is service delivery, connectivity, facilities. Keep coming up with innovative and industry-firsts in products and services for all users, be they passengers, airlines or airport service providers. Recently, T3 commenced operations. I have used it, and it is an outstanding terminal with top-notch operations by any standards. Beyond T3, what are the other initiatives that are being pursued to ensure the continued supremacy and dominance of Changi Airport and its reputation as a pace-setter? Will the Minister also share with us the initiatives that are being pursued to ensure Changi Airport's leading position as one of the world's best airports? Of interest would be any initiatives to attract new carriers and efforts to recapture certain carriers which have stopped using Changi and opted to use other airports in the region. Additionally, as the LCC segment gains strength and generates a whole new category of air travellers, we must ensure that local and foreign LCCs continue to be attracted here. Hence, what does Changi Airport offer to such carriers which pride themselves on delivering low cost travel? How can Changi Airport be competitive against other regional airport aspirants in this category?”
“I would also suggest that for future developments, BFA must be factored into the masterplan from the every beginning. It should also be re-confirmed at every step of the design so that accessibility is built into the entire development, especially for the crossing of major roads to important, heavily utilised amenities. As one of the most rapidly ageing population, we have to be mindful that the mobility needs of the elderly will only increase and the sooner we have a holistic approach to incorporating BFA into our developments, the better. Improvements in Public Transport System and Ageing Population”
“Sir, although barrier-free accessibility (BFA) is rapidly becoming a reality within our precincts, there is still much room for improvement. The major issue is the connectivity to key areas in the estates that are separated by major roads. Shops and areas of social activities and entertainment are increasingly being centralised. In estates like Serangoon North and Buangkok, the markets and shops are not within the precincts but concentrated in adjacent estates. This is an economic reality that we cannot change. However, major roads separate the estates. As a result, the entire efficacy of BFA is affected as the elderly and handicapped have great difficulty climbing up and down the pedestrian overhead bridges that are the primary means of crossing the roads today. In many areas, ramps cannot be incorporated. In others, lengthy snake-like ramps ruin the aesthetics of an estate and hence are not welcomed by some residents. May I ask the Ministry to come out with other means of crossing roads that will eliminate the need for the elderly to climb almost the equivalent of six storeys of steps to get back and forth each time they use a pedestrian overhead bridge, because the nature of the pedestrian overhead bridge is such that every time you cross over the other side, you must get back? Can escalators and elevators be considered, especially since HDB has made much progress in sourcing and using technologies that have brought down the cost of elevators? In addition, would the Ministry consider connecting pedestrian overhead bridges to existing HDB flats nearby to take advantage of the elevators that are already in the blocks? Heavier pedestrian traffic to some lobbies may cause new problems. But can the MOT and MND look at them jointly?”
“Additionally, would the Minister share with us: (1) The anticipated cost trends, as liberalisation of the road transportation sector gains pace, since fares and their rate of increase are of paramount importance to the travelling public; and (2) Initiatives that the Ministry has planned to rein in costs. A multi-party forum to address the total costs of delivering public transportation would be useful. At the very least, there would be greater transparency on the cost inputs to any fare increase deliberations. Fare increases will never be easy nor completely acceptable but, at least, with such open dialogue, a larger segment of the travelling public would better understand and possibly tolerate any future increases. Quality and Affordable Public Transport”
“Sir, let me declare my interest as a Board member in a PTO. With public transportation being the most important mode of transport for most residents, it is a topic that is and will be of great interest and concern to all. As transportation needs increase to cater to a growing population and commuters' service expectation of public transportation rises, it is inevitable that costs will rise in tandem. As the headway of buses drops from 15 minutes to 12 minutes and eventually to 10 minutes, there would inevitably be cost implications. Similarly, with increasing demand for higher standards of public transportation – be it cleanliness, speed, increased frequencies or enhanced comfort – again, there are cost implications. Hence, there is a need to have in place initiatives to rein in costs and a more concerted or joint effort to manage costs. For the foreseeable future, oil prices will continue to be high. If we cannot rein in other costs to compensate for this, we will have a hard time sustaining the current fares in our public transportation system. Hence, we must have ongoing, healthy and honest dialogues among all major stakeholders on the balance and trade-offs between standards and costs. The public needs to be aware of the tough choices that often have to be made by both the regulators and the public transport operators. Commuters, too, can play an important role in managing public transportation costs, providing solutions that no operator can and no regulator can. For example, their behaviour on public transport will help determine its cleanliness and comfort, something which Er Lee Bee Wah has just eloquently spoken about. Considerate and respon sible behaviour can also bring down costs. Public awareness of these should be enhanced.”
“I ask if the Minister would consider setting aside land next to town centres, or next to or right inside MRT stations for such active ageing centres. Equip the centres with fitness equipment, recreational rooms, activity areas, audio-visual equipment and even small workshops so that the elderly can find a desirable place to socialise, keep fit and enjoy leisure with others in the same age-group. As location and costs are key, without strong leadership and push from MCYS, it would be difficult for such centres to take root and succeed. There is always an economic argument for such prime space to be allocated for other uses. Further, if the MCYS could prescribe a criterion such that we see as many of these active ageing centres as Community Clubs today, then we would have achieved a desired level of societal commitment and recognition of our elderly worthy of our gracious society aspirations. Community Development”
“Sir, following Mr Sam Tan's topic on dying alone, let me deal with the topic of living together. Here, I would like to raise for consideration the issue of inter-generational relationships. We encourage multi-generational families to live together as we believe this builds stronger family bonds. The elderly will be cared for by their nearest and dearest while the young develop close relationships with their grandparents. In an ideal setting, the grandparents act as mentors, share cultural values and keep an eye on the young children while both parents work. However, in reality, there are many instances of friction and tension in multi-generational families living under one roof. These come about from differing values, expectations, living styles, conflicting personalities, etc. In such situations, the aged are often the ones with limited options. I know of elderly residents who deliberately spend long hours out of their homes, eg, at void decks, to avoid family members and, in reality, to "escape". In such instances, I see two needs arising. Firstly, these families need professional help. They need intermediaries, counsellors to help sort through the home issues and come up with solutions that are acceptable to all parties. Hence, we have to provide resources to beef up the capacity and capabilities of our Family Service Centres to meet such needs. Secondly, we should provide affordable day activity centres for the elderly to spend a greater part of their daylight hours in an environment that is conducive to their needs. It is what some would call active ageing. This will go some way in resolving some of the tension at home. I believe that, for such active ageing centres to succeed, affordability and location proximity are key.”
“However, let that not stand in the way of providing immediate temporary accommodation, to take homeless people off the streets and help put them on the road to economic independence and self-sustenance. Often times, with such distressed cases, there is no time to do a thorough assessment. Let us give the benefit of the doubt first. House them first and if they are later discovered to have abused and unfairly or dishonestly taken advantage of the system, then they should be penalised. Developing the People Sector Beyond Social Safety Net”
“Sir, it is an irony that in a developed and prosperous Singapore, we still see homeless people around us. For one reason or another, there are still some who cannot manage to get a roof over their heads. Some simply cannot afford as market rental costs have increased substantially in the last year. Others are not eligible for HDB rental flats because they do not meet the qualifying criteria. Whatever the reason, with no other means or avenues of help, they end up living in HDB void decks, underground passes, beaches and even the airport. Additionally, without an address and a place to call home, many may not be able to take advantage of the many job opportunities that are being created. In reality, a roof comes first. As such, I hope that the Ministry could extend greater help to such distressed individuals and families before they reach such a stage of deprivation. I understand that the Ministry spearheaded a pilot project, New Hope Shelter for Displaced Families, which provides temporary shelter for homeless families last June. They are accommodated temporarily for a few months until they find alternative lodgings or a more permanent arrangement. Could the Minister give us an update on: (a) number of families who have been helped by this project; (b) number of families who have managed to get back on their feet and moved on; (c) profiles of such families and their average length of stay. From what I read, I believe it is a scheme worth developing further. From the experience of this pilot scheme, we could learn and improve on what can be instituted as an avenue where such distressed individuals and families can turn to for help and hope. In our pragmatic approach to solving problems, there is always the concern that help schemes may be abused.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, cargo and passengers drive the very existence of Changi Airport. Several innovative approaches to anchor Changi Airport as an international cargo hub had been made in the past years. The result is admirable - year on year growth, an impressive 4.2% in 2006. Over the years, the nature of the air cargo business must have evolved and the continued efficiency of Singapore's operations put it in an enviable position to attract transshipment cargo. May I ask the Minister if we have been successful in getting a disproportionate share of the transshipment traffic growth and if there are more ways to entrench this economic activity in Changi. One of the more major recent innovations is the development of the Airport Logistics Park of Singapore (ALPS) - a free trade zone right next to the Airport. Now that the ALPS has been up and running for several years, I would like to hear from the Minister if the goals expected from the ALPS investment have been met, and whether the users - freight forwarders, logistics companies, airlines and customers - are happy with what Singapore is offering at ALPS. This continual self-assessment and recalibration are required to keep us relevant and enable us to improve to keep our lead in the air transportation sector. Hub Port”
“Going forward, developments in aviation technology would see much lower cost of ownership of aircraft and thereby possibly making the private ownership of aircraft available to a wider spectrum of people. One such development is the advent of the very light jets - the VLJs and air taxis in the US. With these technological and business model developments, coupled with the emergence of open skies between ASEAN capital cities, we can expect new exciting growth. Could the Minister consider what proactive steps the Ministry and its agencies, like the CAAS, could take, including revamping its rules, processes and guidelines to ensure that Singapore's air entry points of Changi, the Budget Terminal and Seletar do not lose out to the regional aspirants? Air Cargo”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, let me declare my interest as in my work with ST Engineering. The aerospace sector is one that I spend a fair bit of time on. 2006 over 2005, Changi Airport grew - 8% more passengers, 4.2% more cargo, 4% more flights and the usual litany of international awards. Much hinges on the success of the airports, and it is prudent to constantly watch the threats of emerging regional airports. One key element to maintain Changi Airport's competitiveness is a liberalising aviation regime. There is much talk about the air talks between Malaysia and Singapore. The competitive field is constrained by both the current limits on flights and the limitation of carriers. This sector has not gained from the benefits that LCCs have brought about in other areas. In these other areas, consumers are spoilt for choice. Additionally, air transportation becomes an option available to a larger group of travellers. Wider afield, there is also the ASEAN target of having open skies between the capital cities. Can the Minister give us an update of the developments on these two fronts and also the benefits that would accrue to Singapore as a result of such liberalisation? Aviation Sector I would also like to talk about incentives for growth of aircraft fleet and the aviation sector. I noted the success with the shipowners in the maritime sector. The incentive scheme, like the Approved International Shipping Enterprise Scheme, has reaped substantial recurring benefits to the port and supporting ancillary services. The success of the maritime scheme is evident from the substantial increase in the number of Singapore-flagged vessels. May I ask the Minister to consider studying the impact similar incentives would have for the aviation sector if they are offered to aircraft owners.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, the hon. Member, Ms Lee Bee Wah, has actually said what I wanted to say in even fiercer terms. So, I would just say thank you. Vehicle Growth Policy”
“Sir, I would like to declare my interest as a director of a transportation company. When our MRT network was first set up some 20 years ago, bus routes in areas served by MRT were re-routed to minimise duplication. We need to provide our commuters with more choice as well as increase our mass transport capacity. The policy has reduced the number of point-to-point bus services. Although the MRT is more reliable, predictable and speedier, a significant segment of commuters still prefer point-to-point services for good reasons. The number of commuters has increased over the last 20 years. Between 1990 and 2000, Singapore's population has increased by about a million. We have already introduced the premium bus guidelines which allow operators to provide direct services at higher fares. However, it is not enough. We should allow public buses to run routes served by MRT as well. So the public has more choice and better able to enjoy public transport. Bus services carry around twice as many passengers than trains today. I would like to ask the Minister what other plans he has in mind to improve buses for Singaporeans. An important point I can think of is even greater priority for buses on the roads. Unlike MRT, buses compete for road space with other vehicles, making travelling time longer and less reliable. Indeed, over the years, bus speeds have reduced while general vehicle speeds have improved. If we want quick improvements in public transport, we should maybe look at London and increase our investments in the bus mode. In so doing, we will be able to reach out to more people within a much shorter timeframe. Instead of a one-size-fits-all solution, this increase in public choice will drive the provision of better services. Buses”
“Madam, I am concerned with the emotional care of latchkey children. There is more to providing a roof over a child's head and assistance with school work. Children need their parents to understand them and help them deal with growing-up issues in the right way. Loneliness is the cause of many vices among our youths - sex, alcohol and drug abuse. MCYS should now consider expanding resources on children's emotional "comcare". The Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme mentoring scheme was implemented to promote inter-generational integration. Would MCYS consider linking its student care arrangements with schools and other volunteer groups to provide interaction between latchkey children and other student and youth volunteers? These volunteers should be selected based on their moral discipline and emotional strengths. Being in the same generation, their views and advice at times will weigh more than an hour's lecture by any adult. Adoption Currently, there are many couples and single persons who would like to adopt children for various reasons. Some for medical reasons; some, though single, are ready to be parents. We should encourage genuine and qualified couples and individuals to adopt children, whether from Singapore or foreign countries. We should facilitate the process and simplify the rules and procedures for them. The Government can provide financial relief or incentives for adoption, such as a one-off subsidy, not unlike a baby bonus. More importantly, the Ministry should review the current process so as to simplify and shorten the time for processing paperwork for adoption. Presently, this can take anything between 10 and 18 months. We should welcome these new additions to our Singapore family, raising and nurturing them as our own. Single Mothers”
“Madam, may I take the two cuts together, please?”
“Can their needs be directed to a multi-agency forum, as these require inputs from different Ministries, or can the HOPE scheme be extended to this group too? We surely can extend some hope to this group to help them break out of the poverty cycle. Child Care”
“Madam, I am pleased that this year's Budget has provided offset packages to ease the burden on the lower income groups. Rebates to offset the increased GST provide a one-time relief while a Workfare Income Supplement Scheme will help improve the employability of older low-wage workers and increase their take-home pay. However, many of our less-skilled and older residents continue to face great difficulties in finding employment. Many of such residents see me again and again looking for assistance in helping them find jobs. They want to make an honest living and be self-reliant. With jobs difficult to come by, many seek to be small-time vendors or work as hawkers. But our current system and rules impede such micro-entrepreneurship. The tendering process for hawker stalls is economically driven, with space going to the highest bidder. Vendors need to come up with deposits and pay for space to sell their wares. There is hardly any chance for these low-income residents to be successful in bidding for hawker space or afford to even set up shop. Can the Minister look into allowing this group more opportunities to be economically independent by facilitating access for them to become hawkers and small-time vendors? The other group of residents that I see in my constituency who needs help are the much older low-income parents who had their children late in life. For this group, their age does not qualify them for the HOPE scheme. With similar needs, housing, children's education, employment, basic utilities, healthcare, etc, they do need a package of comprehensive assistance that has been extended to young, low-income families and their children. Is there any avenue for them to secure assistance?”
“Sir, the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre released the results of its study on institutions of public character (IPC) recently. Some of the IPCs' top concerns are donor fatigue and limited resources for a dedicated fund-raising staff. Will the Minister be looking into these concerns? Depending heavily on volunteers is also a problem, as the report notes that there is a "lack of commitment from volunteers" and difficulty "sustaining volunteers' interest". One solution would be hiring more professionals to run operations. The needs of those we try to help require that our VWOs become more professional and improve their standard of operations. VWOs will require help from the Ministry to make the transition. Additionally, are there any measures to motivate the volunteers? Government agencies must also pitch in. I have one example. I have a home in Buangkok which houses autistic children. Some of them need weeks to familiarise themselves with the dental chair before starting treatment, and the dentists have to be very patient. There are two private practitioner dentists that come in weekly. They have been asking for the assistance of nurses from the Ministry of Health without success so far. Not only are they patient with the autistic children, they too have been very patient with the Government agencies. Can the Minister have a forum where the VWOs can go for help, so that they can coordinate with all the Government agencies?”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, a chance sighting of a headline of an UNICEF study, "Britain's children are unhappiest in the Western World" set me thinking. If this study were extended to our part of the world, how will Singapore's children fare? Clearly, this is one list that Singapore does not wish to talk. Today, I want to focus on the emotional care of the latch key children, especially the ones that are below six years old, what we call the "pre-schoolers". The Singapore Children's Society's website states that a pervasive issue which it is still grappling with is the growing loneliness of children. We are thus concerned today not with the quality of physical care of children, the alternative childcare arrangements or institutions, but the inner health and state of a child. Loneliness is the cause of many vices and how can we provide a level of support through education to ensure that our children grow up motivated and well-adjusted in life, emotionally and morally? It is more than just providing academic assistance to a child's school work. It is about reaching out to the child's innermost self, getting in touch with strengths, weaknesses, thoughts, questions, fears, wishes and beliefs, and coaching the child to deal and manage with growing up issues the right way. The teachers have to be trained to cope.”
“Madam, in last year’s COS debate, I raised the issue of security in our HDB basement and multi-storey carparks. Thefts from vehicles and property damage aside, late-night drivers and passengers also feel unsafe. Today, I have another two items to add to my list of security concerns in our HDB estates. The increasing audacity and prevalence of harassment by loan sharks has compromised the security of our neighbourhoods. They vandalise and destroy public properties, and intimidate both the borrowers and their unfortunate neighbours. There is also an increase in the number of foreign worker dormitories in close proximity to HDB estates. Affected residents have expressed their unease. I would like to reiterate my request to the Ministry to consider installing more security features, such as cameras in our HDB common areas and carparks. While the police is responsible for maintaining the general level of security, they cannot be everywhere, at every hour. While residents and grassroots organisations can help to keep an eye out for criminals and mischief makers, there are limits to what they can do. I seek the Ministry's consideration for hardware, such as surveillance cameras and other building design features, that can help to minimise crime and put the residents at ease.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, the Lift Upgrading Programme provides lifts on every level and additional benefits, such as decorative tiles, security cameras, planters and better lighting. I would like to request that the Ministry consider implementing the cost cap to qualify for the LUP on a per-precinct basis, rather than on a per-unit basis. The Minister could consider using the cost cap per benefiting unit to identify the blocks that are eligible for LUP. After this, the cost could be looked at from an accumulated precinct-wide basis so that the blocks in a particular precinct would be treated similarly for the features that they will have. For example, the blocks in a single precinct will have different designs for point blocks, segmented blocks, common corridor blocks, etc. Because cost is capped for each benefiting unit in the block, the cost per block is fixed. The Minister says that when there is enough money to tile the lobbies of some blocks but not the others, there would be a stark difference between the tiled blocks versus the untiled blocks after the upgrading. We will also not want a situation that, due to this anomaly, all blocks are deprived of tiles. Hence, this suggestion that the cost cap, once the eligibility of the blocks has been determined, be based on a precinct-wide aggregate basis.”
“Singapore could also look into similar agreements with other Asian neighbours, such as Malaysia and Indonesia. With the need to grow our population, and as we welcome new immigrants, I believe that we should similarly ease the adoption process as the adopted children raised and nurtured in Singapore homes ought to be just as worthy citizens.”
“Reduce paperwork and costs The entire adoption process for a child born in Singapore could also take as long as 10 months. When I look at 10 months, I thought somebody made a benchmark which actually produced their own child. But to adopt a child born out of Singapore is subject to even more compliance requirements and the entire process will certainly take much longer. And I do understand issues do emanate from the countries as well. Where it is within the control and ability of the Government to simplify and reduce the adoption process time, we should do so. For example, shorten the time to complete the Home Study Report (HSR). This HSR essentially states if the potential adoptive parent is suitable to adopt a child and provide a caring home environment. This HSR typically takes about six weeks to complete. The current adoption procedure also requires one who plans to adopt a child born outside of Singapore to obtain a dependant pass before the child may stay in Singapore with the adoptive parents until the court proceedings are completed and the Adoption Order granted. The court proceedings, together with the related paperwork, can sometimes take five to six months and the process is costly and time-consuming. The MCYS could look into the need for the dependant pass and security bond requirements, as well as the necessity for a court order. Legalities should not stand in the way of, or delay the opportunity of allowing, the child and parents to start bonding and creating a home environment as soon as possible. Is the HSR not itself the basis for all these to happen? Singapore has also signed a Note of Agreement on the adoption of children from the PRC. Entering into such bilateral agreements will certainly help smoothen the adoption processes between countries.”
“This is a gesture of compassion, one of gratitude that these people too had played a role in Singapore's formative years, and recognise that they too deserve to be given the benefits of having given most of their productive lives to this country. Population - adoption From my call of allowing some older people to be PRs and citizens, I want to turn to the other end of the age spectrum - adoption of children. People adopt children for various reasons. Some adopt because they love children but are unable to conceive; some adopt because they want to enjoy the joys of parenthood or feel that life is not complete without being a parent but they were unable to have their own. Others adopt because they genuinely believe in wanting to do good, to provide care and love to the less unfortunate who are unable to fend for themselves. The adopted and their natural children live side by side. So, as a more gracious society, could we not encourage, facilitate and simplify the rules and procedures for adoption of children? Suggestions to aid this process include the provision of financial incentives and to simplify the entire adoption process. Government to provide financial incentives or relief for child adoption The Government now provides certain tax rebates to parents with a third child. Just, recently, the period of maternity leave to mothers was increased. All these have been done to encourage and assist with parenthood. Similarly, the Government can consider providing a one-off financial subsidy to eligible individuals or couples looking to adopt a child. This subsidy could be used for any purpose that goes towards making the adoption easier and more affordable, for example, paying for adoption proceedings, purchasing clothing, education, not unlike a baby bonus.”
“The Senior Citizens' Bonus recognises that retirees and aged citizens dip into savings for their daily expenditure. The additional $1,000 is definitely very welcome. Every year, we celebrate Senior Citizens' Week to recognise the contributions of our aged residents. At the same time, we reinforce the younger citizens' appreciation for the generation that had toiled and built the Singapore that we enjoy today. However, amongst these senior residents are some who are not well educated and not accustomed to planning ahead. As a result, they land themselves in a predicament of being a non citizen in the land they had lived, worked and grew old in. Many had worked here, contributed economically, but somehow never got around to being a PR or a citizen. Some have children who are citizens and have served National Service. In their golden years, they yearn to be Singapore citizens, not only because most see this as their only home where their roots are but in reality they also have nowhere else to go. Many feel that their PR or citizenship applications had not made progress because of the concern that older people put undue stress and burden on Singapore's social and health services. I have seen the appeals of many of these residents. So I am asking that the hard-nosed argument that they are no longer economically contributing be reconsidered. While I understand that the working population of today and tomorrow would have to shoulder a heavier burden, I believe that this is a burden willingly shouldered. I hope that the Government would consider giving due consideration to the applications of such older residents when they seek to be PRs or citizens.”
“As the blocks in a single precinct are often of different designs - point blocks, segmented blocks, common corridor blocks - by moving away from a cost cap on a single block basis once the eligibility is determined, I believe, would be able to better meet the overall needs of the residents and enhance the precinct living environment. Singapore as a more gracious society The last signal that I detected in this Budget is that great strides are being taken to inculcate the characteristics of a gracious and compassionate society that we strive to be. Hence, it is encouraging that informal workers not only merited a mention in the Minister’s speech but they are also recognised and treated no differently from self-employed persons. These informal workers do odd jobs on an ad hoc and often erratic basis. For many of them, if there is no work, there is no food. These are the people who are generally lower skilled and with a lower education. For many of them, the new economy no longer requires their skills that they had been trained in. But many still retain good work ethics and prefer to be independent than to receive hand-outs. This is not to downplay the Workfare programme and its merits. It is about creating the additional opportunities for these people to earn a livelihood. Hence, I repeat my previous calls, which I have been making for several years now, to make it easier for these people to become small stallholders or hawkers. The present approach of tendering out all stalls in the market and hawker centres makes it almost impossible for some of them with limited means to attempt to start making a living this way. Maybe a cooperative to facilitate the entry of small, poor stallholders and hawkers could be looked into.”
“To make this a reality, I hope for inter-agency cooperation among the People's Asso ciation, HDB, NParks, MEWR - a lot of people working together. With the hopes of our people raised by this vision, I hope that the Ministers in charge of the different agencies would allow a collective approach to this project. It is a small start but it could well be an exemplary showcase. Staying for the moment still in the heartlands, I would like to speak about another heartware programme - the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP). The LUP is often an eagerly awaited improvement for the older blocks of flats. Understandably, there is a limit to expenses and this is by stipulating a cost cap per benefiting household unit. While the residents benefit from lifts on every level, they also hope to enjoy additional enhancements in the process, eg, decorative tiles, security cameras, planters, better lighting, etc. Grassroots leaders tasked with helping to reach many of these decisions on what to have strive to create an environment that the residents can also be proud of. We are proud that our HDB flats are attractive and very different from the drab and often under-maintained public housing of many other countries. To be able to provide residents with enhanced value add from the LUP, I would like to suggest a modification of the cost cap per benefiting unit calculation. This cap can be used initially for the identification of the blocks that are eligible for the LUP. However, once this hurdle is crossed, let the cost be looked at from an accumulated precinct basis. This way, all the blocks in a precinct could be treated in a collective manner to achieve an overall look and common enhancing features post-LUP.”
“This Budget also laid out the promise of the hardware. To Singaporeans and to the foreigners who set up home here, a vision is painted - a future vibrant city in green and blue. In true Singapore style, we are not selling empty promises. It is built on concrete plans. The early phases of this vision have already materialised in drawings and pictures and are being rolled out. The future city of Singapore - painted vividly in words, and more excitingly in pictures and models - is certainly where all of us want to stay and grow old in. The environment is a key part of the pride we have in Singapore. Wherever I go and travel, whenever I hear of Singapore being referred to as a garden city, it brings out the pride in me, and I am sure it brings out the pride in all of us. Hence, PM's vision of a Singapore - green and blue - would excite Singaporeans young and old, and will excite new Singaporeans as well. It is encouraging to hear that close attention would be paid to the heartlands where Singaporeans spend much of their leisure time. Large swathes of older estates would be rejuvenated. This is eagerly awaited. At Jalan Kayu, my residents are looking forward to building an extension to our void deck community centre with a stand alone multi-purpose hall and street soccer facilities. We hope to incorporate the green and blue environment too by having a garden on the roof of the multi-purpose hall and skyways to directly link the third or fourth floors of nearby blocks of flats to the roof garden. It would certainly soften the harsh and jarring outlines of the CC extension and create an environment that all my residents would be proud of.”
“I hear that the rejection is underpinned by the belief that in allowing them to take a second diploma/degree in alternate fields, it would deprive other students of an opportunity, especially if the courses are subsidised. Clearly, the desire to stem out waste of scarce resources from students' extended stay in educational institutions is understandable. However, with our new mindset of providing life-long learning opportunities, I seek a relaxation of this constraint. Allow eligible students who may have made a wrong choice or have found a new interest or who are capable to pursue second diplomas/degrees the ability to do so. Secondly, give a second chance to those students who had not fared well or had wasted their opportunities by failing to be diligent or had come under the influence of bad company but realised their mistakes later. Our education system must be more tolerant of failures and our students given additional chances to try again. This is the entrepreneurial spirit that we are trying to foster, so let us start with our young. Let us re-examine the rules that hinder second opportunities in the pursuit of learning and eradicate them. Singapore as a vibrant city The second signal from the Budget was about Singapore embracing globalisation and providing first-world living for all. Today, Singaporeans are internationally mobile and many are working in all corners of the world. Increasingly, we must develop the hardware, the software and the heartware to connect our people from all over the world to Mothership Singapore. Earlier I spoke about national confidence that comes from a collective determination and consciousness borne out of surviving adverse challenges. This is part of the Singapore software and heartware.”
“All these had built our resilience as a society; confident in our role and place in the sun. And in this Budget, we continue to build on our strengths, continue to forge new horizons, and continue to plan for the future of our nation. One tangible evidence of our relentless focus on building the future is the commitment to ensure that every child has a first-rate education. And we have seen the results from the significant rise in general educational levels over the years. The unwavering focus on education had certainly borne fruits. Singaporean managers, executives, and workers are highly sought after. The hallmarks of discipline, dependability, diligence and rigour of our work force set us apart and ahead. But the pressure is relentless and we cannot afford to rest on our laurels lest we fall behind. We must continue to provide additional avenues for Singaporeans to advance and train themselves. With the advent of the Post Secondary Education Account, the onus of keeping up, of taking the initiative to keep oneself ahead are firmly in the hands of the individual. Each student can choose how he or she uses the money. The Government has truly put life-long learning within the reach of all students. In addition, the increased Polytechnic subsidies for older students are extremely welcomed as workers can expect to be trained and retrained several times in the course of their work life. However, I seek the Minister's consideration on two points that had often been raised in my interactions with my residents. The first is the desire of our young to take a second diploma or degree. They have met with rejections from our educational institutions.”
“Singapore a forward-looking country Let me elaborate on the first point - Singapore looks ahead with confidence. Riding on the crest of three consecutive years of economic and employment growth, this confidence can be easily brushed aside as a good feeling which a rising tide brings in. The skeptics will have us believe that at the next economic downturn, this confidence would evaporate and all the issues and worries that confound a small nation state would bubble up to the surface again. I sincerely believe otherwise. Yes, growth is important and we will continue to strive for growth to ensure that the next generation - our children - would enjoy a high standard of living just as we are now enjoying a standard that is way above what our parents had experienced. While confidence can be partially attributed to good economic performance, I also believe Singapore’s confidence comes from our people who have proven that we have got what it takes to pull together and confront adversity. Over the last few years, we have weathered multiple crises as a nation and come out stronger. We have undergone two economic downturns within a six-year span and we took the necessary bitter medicine in order to recover. SARS struck us from the blind side and we pulled together. When we woke up one morning to terrorism threatening to tear through the threads of our multi-racial society, we faced it as a rational people of all colours and faiths determined to preserve the harmony that we have enjoyed as a nation. As a small nation, we also have had brickbats thrown at us from our neighbours but we continue to stretch out to offer aid and continue to be in pole position to push for regional solidarity because it is for the good of the region.”