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 3 of 6.
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join in the debate. Since the Budget announcement, I have heard positive feedback from many of my residents as well as from the businesses. Many perceive it as a generous Budget that has taken into consideration the needs of the various segments of the population. While no one welcomes a tax increase, there is widespread acceptance of the rationale for the need to raise the GST. The offset package is much appreciated and the pain taken to address the needs of the less fortunate in our society has not gone unnoticed. Putting aside the dollars and cents of the Budget for a moment, I would like to focus on the signals that the 2007 Budget had sent. First, the 2007 Budget continues to demonstrate that we are a forward-looking country. The Budget clearly shows that Singapore continues to plan for its future. We are well aware of our strengths but also the challenges of globalisation and as a small nation amongst bigger neighbours. But we are not daunted. We will continue to forge ahead with confidence, position Singapore well to meet the challenges and punch above our weight. Second, the Budget has laid plans for a vibrant city that is plugged into the world. Singaporeans and people from all around the world alike will want to live, work and play here. Singapore aims to provide a First World living environment that many have and will be proud to call home and country. Third, the extensive, broad-based support of the initiatives in the Budget shows that we are taking great steps in achieving our goal as a more gracious society. It caters to the needs of the elderly, the lower-income, the sick and the young. The message is clear - as long as one does his or her fair share, no one will be left behind.”
“I think Members would either know them or know about them or have indeed participated in some of these ground-up activities. In September last year, the Chinese and Malay communities got together to jointly organise a job fair to provide job opportunities and skills upgrading courses for Malay workers. A number of inter-faith events, dialogues and forums have also been held. In this vein, in October last year, PM Lee officiated at the opening of the Harmony Centre at An-Nahdhah Mosque. The Harmony Centre seeks to promote greater inter-faith understanding and bring people of different religions together by hosting exhibitions, seminars and forums. Early this year, an inter-faith forum and dinner was organised jointly by the University Scholars Programme, Ba'alwie Mosque and Inter-Religious Organisation to discuss ways to enhance inter-faith understanding. Moving ahead, we will be organising a National Seminar on the Community Engagement Programme for the community leaders from the various clusters. This seminar will help to build bonds between the community leaders across different clusters and familiarise them with the community response plans from other clusters. We will then be conducting a CEP exercise later this year to test and validate these response plans. MHA will be providing more details at the upcoming Committee of Supply debate.”
“In July last year, the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts set up the Media Emergency Forum. This forum provides a platform for open and frank exchange of views between local senior media editors and the Government on crisis issues. In October, the Ministry of Manpower set up the Tripartite Panel on CEP at Workplaces. This panel, comprising Government, business and union leaders, will reach out to businesses and unions on the importance of maintaining communal harmony at the workplace, especially in the aftermath of a crisis. Also in October, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports formed the National Steering Committee on Racial and Religious Harmony. This is a national platform for ethnic and religious leaders to dialogue, build networks, and formulate strategies to strengthen engagement across ethnic and religious organisations. The National Steering Committee will also chart strategic directions and provide guidance for the reconstituted Inter-Racial Confidence Circles, which will act as the local platforms to lead in building inter-religious and racial understanding and in responding to tensions with religious or racial dimensions. For the Community Engagement Programme to be sustainable, the key point must be that initiatives must come from the people. It is only when Singaporeans on the ground own these programmes that we can truly unleash the full potential of the CEP. The Government will help to connect people and provide support and resources so that they can sustain these initiatives. In the past year, it is heartening to see communities answering the Government's call and taking the initiative to organise such activities.”
“Although this will not solve the problem, it will at least represent an effort on the part of residents to work with the relevant agencies. My call, therefore, is that, yes, as the illegal moneylenders have geared up, we will also gear up. When we tackle this problem resolutely, we shall overcome. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMME (CEP) (Plans to promote greater religious tolerance and harmony) 4. Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs what plans or programmes does the Ministry have, within the framework of the Community Engagement Programme (CEP), to promote greater religious tolerance and harmony at the grassroots level. Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Community Engagement Programme is a long-term effort to ensure that our multi-religious, multi-ethnic society will stay united should a terrorist attack occur in Singapore. To achieve this, we need to identify and work with community leaders who will help to ensure calm and unity amongst the different communities in a crisis. We will develop and sustain platforms for these community leaders to interact and forge closer bonds. We will also work with them to develop and validate actionable response plans to manage any communal tension that could arise. Since the launch of the programme by the Prime Minister in February last year, MHA has worked together with the People's Association and other Ministries overseeing the five community clusters to develop the necessary supporting structures to facilitate the CEP efforts. We have also started engaging the community leaders and putting in place a national CEP response framework. Let me briefly highlight some of these structures.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Senior Minister of State for a very comprehensive reply. But I raise this question because I sense the frustration of some of my residents on the ground. Some of them are innocent to the whole affair because they are not actually party to the loan. It seems that the modus operandi of most of these loan sharks is to harass the neighbours, cause damage to property, deface the environment and bring indirect pressure. The problem is that statistics show that the trend is actually deteriorating. We appreciate that a lot of effort has been made. But how fast on the ground can some of these cases be solved and the success highlighted so that people feel safer? Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, the Member is absolutely right. This is a problem that affects all of us, something that is very heart-rending to those who are affected. But let me assure him and the House and Singaporeans at large that when we spotted the situation worsening two and a half years ago, we geared up. Formation of the task force was a signal that we sent as well as all the other measures that we have taken. So, on our part, the Police will definitely do what it takes working with the various agencies to tackle the problem. On the ground, residents can also maybe help themselves if they could, for example, form Neighbourhood Watch Groups. This is something that I have encouraged my residents to do, because it is not easy when somebody comes and harasses us and we call the Police. By the time the Police comes, the person would have disappeared. So, if residents are mindful that this is happening in their block and are alert to what is happening and perhaps SMS networks can be formed and direct links established with the NPP.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask the Minister how much lead time do we have in order for us to prepare our own businessmen and in order that this diversion would not cause us any adverse or unnecessary lengthy economic impacts.”
“Is it too difficult to ask to stay with your parents no matter what hardships you will encounter? So, my reaction is, help first, throw out a life line and then take corrective actions. Errant children must know that this life line comes at a cost, and it is full cost. How else can we bring a small number of irresponsible people to task? And this is not to say that money alone solves everything. It is but one aspect. Nothing replaces family. Nothing is better than love, respect and gratitude given freely. But when it has to be compelled, the familial fabric has probably already been torn asunder. A Chinese proverb says that respect for one's parents is the highest duty of civil life, and I do not for one moment believe that filial piety is dead in Singapore. In fact, it is thriving. We can see it all around. The calls I get from children to accelerate lift upgrading or for marketing and recreational facilities to be within reach, or even for their parents' cars to be given a surface car park lot priority, signal that there are many children who would stand by their parents through thick and thin. I have visited homes where multi-generations live harmoniously, sometimes clearly on a very tight budget at that, but they stay together tightly knitted. We want our society to be competitive and yet compassionate. We must now put a premium on achieving this unconditional bond between parent and child which defines our civilised expectations and our Asian ancestry. Let us now send a strong message - do not dump your parents, treasure them. Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the motion. 3.35 pm”
“" It is time to give bite to the process so as to inform the minority of errant Singaporeans that the solution lies within themselves, that they cannot shirk and enjoy a certain standard of living at the expense of their parents. Responsibility is owed to their parents. It is an expected decorum. Yes, much lies within ourselves. And the emphatic message to note, parental care is not the sole responsibility of the Government. Will it build an over reliance of parents on their children in the future? In an environment that costs are rising and some incomes may not keep pace, the pressures are definitely going to mount. But do remember that this is not the only remedy. Our 3Ms and the CPF Minimum Sum underpin the national belief of self reliance. What I am advocating is an additional safety net. Why do I devote my speech to this one topic of making sure that we give more bite and the necessary tools to social workers, Government agencies and the Tribunal to take action against recalcitrant children and, at the same time, empower them to be responsive to displaced parents? It is because every time I see a set of parents in this predicament, my heart bleeds for them. At the same time, my sense of right and wrong is terribly disturbed - disturbed by a sense of injustice. This is an injustice because I see that the bond between parent and child is unconditional. As MP Fatimah has said, "Children must look after their parents. That is duty." Parents are not to be discarded in the quest for comfort, maintaining their lifestyle or to avoid the burden and inconvenience of looking after them. On this, I do not coordinate with Member Hri Kumar who just spoke before me. It comes across as a selfish act.”
“Hence, when such drastic measures are set in motion, they can only be with the consent of parents, just as today, one cannot bring a case to the Tribunal unless the parent or his care-giver initiates the proceedings. When provided with this option, many may balk at taking action. That is life and that is their right of choice. But at least, they have the powers to take action and seek assistance, much like what the vaunted Israeli or Taiwanese parents protection legislation served to achieve despite hardly ever getting invoked. And of course, the contention remains that if the numbers are going to be so small anyway, why bother? I believe we must act now, whether the numbers are big or small is not an issue. It is a statement of what our society stands for. It sends a clear signal that we stand by our Asian values, that we will not condone those in our midst, regardless of how few they may be, who shirk from such parental care responsibilities. It also sends a strong message to Singaporeans that the family is the first line of defence. We have done a lot on the soft aspects. Just look at the different brochures and many pamphlets that MCYS produces. But in the end, we must continue to press on with the soft approach that what we do to our parents, our children will do to us. This reminded me of an ancient story. It goes like this. A father asks the son to carry an old and invalid grandmother in a cage and discard her in the forest. Without opposing, the young son obliged. After disposing of the grandmother, he came back with the cage. On seeing this, the father asked, "Why did you waste your effort to bring back the cage?" And the young man said, "I can use this to carry you to the forest when your time comes.”
“If it is too easy, there will always be another and yet another. What I am putting forward is exactly contrary to this line of reasoning. Let us take care of the immediate needs of the displaced parents expediently first. Then, the corrective behaviour of the children can be dealt with in due time but only after the aged parents have been taken care of. I do not, for a moment, imagine that this consideration will make it too easy for children to shirk their responsibilities. I ask: One, for the Government to step in, house and provide for the parents first and then go after the children on behalf of the parents for the full cost. Two, for the Government to implement a fast track to accommodate such cases of displaced and abandoned parents so that agencies can allocate housing and deliver assistance packages. In short, arm our social agencies to be able to turn on a dime, give them the tools to do the job. Three, for the irresponsible children, it follows that we have to be harsh, file for the full cost, even to the extent of laying claims on the children's assets especially for the children of means. Four, have CASE officers attend to the total needs of both the parents and child so that with guidance, perspective therapy and counselling, maybe some accommodation can be achieved and some semblance of family life can re-emerge. I do appreciate that every family has a difficult scripture to recite. The Chinese saying, "jia jia you ben nan nian de jing ". I do agree that once the full force of the law is applied, both sides, parents and children, may in turn be unhappy with the Government.”
“Of course, certain complexities can be injected. One variation - no assistance can be rendered. They have been time barred. Why time barred? Sold a flat a while back and had cash proceeds. But the pocket is empty as the money has been spent on their children - debt repayment, renovation for the children's flat - with a goodly intention of all staying happily together. Some hopes did not pan out. These examples bring me to the topic of the Maintenance of Parents Act. This Act has been with us for some 10 plus years now. I am told that the situation has stabilised and about 100 cases go to the Tribunal a year. But by 2030, one in five of us will be 65 years and older, will the situation of abandoned parents get worse? I have followed the debates in the Hansard when the Bill was debated in the House in 1994. Views then were divided and the voting was split - 50 ayes, 11 nays and 2 abstentions. Twelve years have elapsed. Singapore has got through two recessions. Through the Tribunal, thousands of parents have sought relief from uncaring children. Looking forward, will it get better or will it get worse? Who knows? But what I do know is that there is a real practical problem to be solved. Throughout this week's debate, there have been calls for the Government to do more. I join the chorus and too ask the Government to do more in this area. With a displaced parent, time is always not on his or her side. There is always an urgency and immediacy that community disbursed ComCare fund has recognised, but in this instance, ComCare is not the answer. Whenever I bring up the possibility of catering to the immediate needs of such displaced parents, there is often the warning that we should not make it too easy an alternative for incorrigible children.”
“If allowed to, globalisation can make lone rangers of the old folks. I detect that through the course of this debate, several Members do support this to some extent. I fully agree with Mayor Zainudin when he said that nothing defines our human compassion more than the way we treat our aged. And I extend it likewise to our own parents. Last week, this House heard from Member, Ms Grace Fu, that even walruses adopt and nurture; wild wolves hunt for the sick and aged in their pack. On the subject of parents and child, Confucius too has a saying, "without feelings of respect, what is there to distinguish man from beast?" There was the lament that two parents can support four children but four children cannot support two parents. And in the course of our interactions with residents, we see so many examples of these. In Sengkang, there is this elderly woman who spends her days at the void deck. She does not get along with her daughter-in-law and is prohibited from going home during the day. Her friends tell me that her son is caught in the middle between mother and wife. Why her friends, you may wonder, because the affected woman does not complain but instead grits her teeth and spends her days, if she is lucky with some friends, if not, alone at the void deck. Her friends brought forth her plight. I have often seen couples, typically elderly, walking hand-in-hand to see me at MPS. Now visualise this - a picture of warmth and companionship but one which quickly evaporates when one sees how their faces instantly betray their feelings of abandonment and helplessness, feelings of nowhere and no one to turn to. They have either been booted out or living with their children is no longer bearable. They have no one but themselves and invariably seek a rental flat.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join in the debate. Many hon. Members have spoken of the inclusive society. Many have spoken of the widening income gap and many have spoken of the need for the Government to do more. I would like to take a step back. In one discussion, I do recall that the MOS of MCYS, Mdm Yu-Foo, with many years of parliamentary experience, elaborates on how the social safety net has evolved and strengthened and how quickly the Government has done more and more. Twenty years ago, there was no CDC and the flexibility of disbursing of assistance at the local level is a rather recent devolution. None of the 36 social assistance programmes existed in coverage and form that we know of them today. Minister Vivian on Friday mentioned that over the period of 2001-2005, the spending by MCYS on social programmes has grown by a staggering 300%. Yes, in prosperity, we can afford more. All of us appreciate everything that the Government is doing to correct household income disparity. But public assistance is not and cannot be unconditional. We subscribe to the guiding principles of self-reliance, of families being the first line of support and of the many-helping-hands as the delivery approach. We appreciate that no one would be left behind and that aid would be provided in a manner that we do not breed dependency. There is one area which I believe strongly should be relooked and emphasised. This is with regard to the dominant social unit, the family unit, that collectively describes the health of our social landscape. I urge the Government to examine the responsibility between parents and child. With an ageing population and modern society pressures, our isolated nuclear family system is likely to become fragile and weaker.”
“Mr Chairman, sports brings all races together. For this very reason, sports development in Singapore must be encouraged. I would like to ask the Minister about how we are engaging the corporate and community sectors so that we have multiple stakeholders for the promotion of a sporting Singapore. For example, pioneering companies, which sponsor and support our sports teams and talents, ought to be showcased and recognised. This way, more companies will be motivated to come forward to support our sports teams and established talents and lead us to even greater sporting glory. This is akin to the recognition that MINDEF gives to companies that are going out of their way to support National Service. Developing sports talent is a resource-intensive activity. We need as many helping hands as we can get from the public and private sectors in order to sustain our growth in this arena.”
“Sir, many charities and VWOs proudly advertise that they are members of the National Council of Social Service on their websites and publicity material. The NCSS logo adds an aura of authenticity and is perceived to be a sign of endorsement from NCSS. The support from NCSS is important to the public. Members of the public usually assume that such charities are under the direct purview of NCSS and feel that they can trust the administration of NCSS to ensure that these charities are run well. No doubt, this perception helps to open their wallets more readily to donate their money for good causes. However, while some of these organisations carry an NCSS' endorsement, they are not under NCSS' direct purview and there is no guarantee of how well they are run. Hence, may I ask if the NCSS plans to tighten up how their logo is used by these institutions and to ensure that there is continual compliance of sorts in order that they continue to carry the endorsement?”
“Yes, Mr Chairman. I would just like to make a clarification on the reply given by the Senior Parliamentary Secretary. I am fully behind the pro-family policy, but I would like to state that all I am asking for is that at every MPS, I see an average of at least two parents who are having difficulties staying at home. Now that we have such instruments like the Tribunal for Maintenance of Parents, all I am asking is how to sharpen that instrument but, in the meantime, fix the problem first, because we have these displaced parents.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Ministry on the various measures to encourage senior citizens to lead healthy and active lifestyles, especially in view of our growing ageing population and their higher expectations. They are better educated and more travelled than their predecessors. They want to lead more and, shall I say, "happening lives". They also want to age gracefully and there must be measures to increase their option for sports and an enhanced social network. Nonetheless, the range and number of activities for senior citizens are still limited currently. We need to have more outlets in terms of recreation and community involvement for the elderly. Would the Ministry give us an update on the initiatives that are being drawn up. I made a cut in MND on displaced parents. I echo Dr Warren Lee's call to pay some attention to parents who no longer have a roof over their heads as a result of tension with the children within the family. Home Caregivers”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, the ComCare Fund has brought about greater flexibility in the administering of help for the needy. The unique feature of decentralisation and targeted help as well as the enlistment of the community, grassroots and voluntary welfare organisations to tailor the help to the specific needs of families have contributed to the success. May I ask if there is a multi-agency forum by the Pro-Enterprise Panel or Zero-In-Process (ZIP) where more complex cases can be better addressed? This is because there are still needy families which fall through the cracks. A number of these cases fall outside the established guidelines, short-term band aid is inadequate. Some of the families that have fallen on hard times have a slew of problems and may require multiple agencies to coordinate help solutions. This means that agencies and departments working in isolation may not be able to deliver our desired outcomes. Social workers must be deployed in enough numbers to craft help packages. Social Workers for Schools and Low-income Families”
“Underground and multi-storey car parks are becoming increasingly common. Unfortunately, not all of them have adequate security measures. Considering that cars are so expensive in Singapore, although it is getting cheaper, it is understandable that car owners get terribly angry when their vehicles get wilfully damaged. According to the Police, there have been an increase in the number of thefts from vehicles in the last few years and, aside from property damage, late-night drivers and passengers feel unsafe in such car parks. Users expect a minimum level of security. May I ask if the Ministry will be implementing measures to require more security features, including the installation of cameras, in our HDB public car parks? Neighbours”
“Sir, I will start with a request. I seek the Minister's consideration to review the current system of renting out stalls and shops in the HDB heartlands. The current system of imposing a fixed rent for our HDB shops is no longer the only viable system. Some risks of the upsides and downsides ought to be shared between the tenant and the landlord, in this case, the HDB. My sense is that the shops in our HDB heartlands have not recovered as quickly and robustly as the rest of the economy. We must find a way to support the viability of our neighbourhood shops and stalls. They are a necessity. Without these amenities, our residents would be the poorer for choice and suffer much from inconvenience. HDB heartlands are fertile ground for entrepreneurs. HDB can contribute to our economy's future by helping to nurture the next wave, a generation of entrepreneurs. For example, a portion of the rental can be tied to revenue. HDB has a broader role than just putting a roof over 85% of Singaporeans. Within its townships, HDB has the potential to seed the next wave of Singapore entrepreneurs. HDB does not have to be just a rent-extracting landlord.”
“I would like to make a clarification on the point of displaced parents. I support the pro-family policy. But in cases where the parents are already thrown out, I hope the Minister could find some accommodation first and later use the existing legislative or other instruments to get back at the irresponsible children.”
“Sir, HDB downgrading is a new phenomenon brought about by the confluence of the weak economy in the last few years and the ageing of owners of larger units. Their children have left the nest and they no longer need to have larger premises. Downgraders are adversely affected by our current two-strike rule. After purchasing two flats directly from HDB, the second one probably as a result of upsizing as the family unit is growing, they are no longer eligible for direct purchases from the HDB. Flats in the open market cost much more which they can ill afford to spend on as they are nearing retirement and have to conserve their funds for living and medical expenses. I hope the Ministry can find more flexible approaches to meeting the needs of downgraders with financing and purchase options. One possibility is to allow buyers over the age of 60 years to purchase smaller HDB flats at preferential rates regardless of whether they have bought HDB flats before. Ethnic Integration Programme”
“However, they do not enjoy some of the benefits that the married citizens enjoy. They feel that they are being unfairly treated. While some do support the pro-family policy, many feel that once they are past the age of 45 years old, the likelihood of them starting a family is getting smaller and smaller. So why should they continue to be penalised?”
“Much focus has been placed on our elderly in this Budget and the pro-family policy is also very clear. Unfortunately, my experience at my MPS indicates to me that there is still a group of elderly that needs special attention and help. A typical scenario starts with the parents selling their flats and using the proceeds to subsidise their children's flats, even paying for part of the renovation and furnishing, all hoping to stay together. Their expectation is that the extended family will live harmoniously together ever after but then often, relationships sour. These parents find living with their children more and more unbearable or are forced out of their children's units. These elderly have nowhere to turn to. Yes, we do not want to encourage dysfunctional behaviour if too easy an option is available but, without doubt, the objective is to ensure families stay together. However, let us be realistic and acknowledge that there are severe strife and tension within some of these families. I would like to ask if we can provide some accommodation to these displaced parents and find a way to get their children to shoulder some responsibility perhaps through the Maintenance of Parents Tribunal. Single Home Ownership Policy The HDB has a pro-family policy for good reasons. However, we must recognise that as a country ages, there is a growing number of aging singles. I guess people are single for many reasons. Some stay single because they have to shoulder the responsibility of looking after aged parents or siblings who are unable to fend for themselves. Others have not found their soul-mates. Being married, I may not know all the reasons. But whatever their reasons, they are all Singaporeans. Most of them are gainfully employed and they contribute to what Singapore is today.”
“Sir, Changi Airport is thriving because of its efficiency, excellent connectivity and high standards of services by all service providers. However, competition is intensifying. Can I ask what are the hardware, infrastructure development and other improvement initiatives that will ensure the airport's competitiveness? Having a vibrant aerospace service supporting industry is important. A growing pool of supporting maintenance companies would be beneficial as this would help to improve Changi's competitiveness as well as appeal to the carriers. Hence, may I ask the Minister if there is a multi-agency effort to ensure that there are adequate levels of incentives for companies to be set up as well as expand in Changi? While EDB and MTI are leading the charge in attracting more OEMs and service providers to Singapore, CAAS plays a role too. Here, there is a win-win possibility for Singapore-grown companies. They need a home market to cut their teeth and thrive and grow. Their commitment to Singapore is probably unquestioned and their presence reassuring. I would like to ask ----”
“However, there should never be a moment of complacency as so much is reliant upon our port doing well and growing. Can I ask what new strategies and additional measures are being implemented to ensure that we stay ahead of our competition and can the Minister give us an outlook of the challenges and opportunities ---”
“Sir, three years ago, MOT announced a plan to develop Singapore into an international maritime centre. Financial incentives were announced. I have heard good things about the Approved International Shipping Scheme. I hope the Minister could describe the progress and contributions made so far to our local economy. There was also a slew of initiatives that accompanied the IMC development. One was the move to attract shipowners to register their ships in Singapore. Another was the development of locally trained talent. I have heard that we face an increasingly difficult task attracting our young men and women to a sea-faring career. Have we made progress on these two fronts? Also, we should make it more attractive for shipowners to build and finance ships in Singapore. It benefits both our financial services as well as our shipyards. Can the Minister also share his thoughts on this? Lastly, what does the development of the IMC mean in terms of port competitiveness, job creation, GDP growth and to Singapore's stature? Port Capacity Sir, it is commendable that the Singapore port achieved a new record for container throughput, shipping tonnage and bunker sales in 2005. As a sign of our confidence, and the bold steps that we are prepared to take in order to secure our place as the premier port of the world, Singapore will increase its total capacity to about 50 million TEUs by around the year 2018 when all the berths at the Pasir Panjang Terminal are operational. This is about double today's capacity. The spin-offs to the economy are well-known. Just several years ago, we were rocked by the departures of Maersk and Evergreen. 2005's performance certainly provides relief that we have not only recovered but actually pulled way ahead.”
“Sir, in Singapore, three out of every four public transport passengers use the buses. Close to three million trips are made on buses every day. The top three complaints are long waiting time, slow travel time and crowdedness. The main culprit is adverse road traffic condition. More than 70% of the time it prevents buses from travelling on schedule. Less than half a percent of all buses leaves their terminals, deviates from their schedules by more than 10 minutes, but by three quarters into their journeys, almost 20% of these buses suffer a deviation of more than 10 minutes. In the last five years, our bus lanes had been reduced from 120 kms in year 2000 to 113 kms today, and bus speeds had fallen by 10% from 19.3 kms an hour to 17.5 kms an hour. We must give more road priority to buses since they are used by the vast majority of Singaporeans. Can I ask the Minister what measures are there to improve travelling conditions for buses? Bus Fares”
“Sir, I would like to declare that I am a director of SBS Transit. One of our policies for the mass public transport system is to avoid duplication of services. Hence, in areas served by the MRT, bus routes are carefully planned to minimise duplication of the MRT routes. This policy has reduced the number of point-to-point bus services. In spite of the predictability, speed and comfort of the MRT services, a significant segment of commuters still prefer point-to-point services. They do not like the inter-modal transfers for a number of reasons. Some dislike the additional waiting times; others find transfers confusing and inconvenient. Singaporeans want choice. I think the time is ripe to give them greater choice by allowing competition between our MRT and buses. The MRT system is now quite mature, except for the Circle Line, with a well-established commuter base. Competition would drive our operators to provide better services and add flexibility and robustness to our system. The ultimate winners will be the Singapore public. Public Transport System”
“But such a review has to be done within the larger context of enhancing Singaporeans' retirement adequacy, including the question of how to improve the rate of return on CPF money as mentioned by Mr Inderjit Singh in the Budget debate. Third, Dr Magad referred to section 5 of the Income Tax Act. Under section 5, employers can enjoy a tax deduction for making contributions for their employees to pension funds approved under the Act. But, there is a qualifier. All of these funds must be for retirement benefits and must be available to all staff. Dr Magad has suggested that we leave it to employers as to who shall benefit from this scheme. If we allow this, it will become a scheme which companies can use for attracting and retaining key personnel, mostly executives, rather than a scheme for supplementing the retirement benefits of all employees. This does not mean that we should, therefore, not allow it. It means that if we do allow it, it is for purposes of attracting talent rather than enhancing retirement adequacy of everyone. So this is something which my Ministry will have to study carefully. 4.15 pm With an ageing population, enhancing the retirement adequacy of Singaporeans is a major priority for the Government. We have several schemes in place, as I have outlined earlier. If Dr Magad or other Members of this House have specific proposals on how any of these schemes can be improved, I will certainly welcome them, with the assurance that they will be studied very seriously, because this is something where we share the same concerns. Sir, I think I have addressed all the issues.”
“Those who wish to set aside more for their retirement savings, over and above the mandatory CPF contributions, have several avenues today. I think it is useful just to outline them. First, Singaporeans and PRs can make voluntary CPF contributions to top up their mandatory CPF contributions up to a ceiling of $25,245 per year. These voluntary contributions enjoy the same interest rates as CPF monies although they do not qualify for tax relief. Second, they can also contribute to the supplementary retirement scheme, SRS, which I think he mentioned just now, which provides tax deferrable benefits. Contributions to SRS are eligible for tax relief and investment returns are not taxed at the time of accrual. Only 50% of the withdrawals are taxable at retirement. But, with proper streaming of the withdrawals after retirement, many people would pay little or no income tax on their SRS withdrawals. The SRS contribution cap is linked to the CPF salary ceiling as the SRS is also meant for foreigners wanting to save for their retirement but who no longer enjoy tax relief for CPF contributions. The CPF salary ceiling is set at the 80th income percentile. Those who earn more than the 80th percentile should be able to save more if they want more for their retirement. They should not expect the Government to provide tax benefits for doing so. The SRS can be part of the extra savings but is tied to the CPF salary ceiling. Dr Magad has asked whether the SRS scheme can be enhanced. I think Members during the Budget debate have also raised the same issue. The Ministry of Finance is prepared to review the SRS contribution cap in the years to come.”
“Hyflux's Chief Executive, Olivia Lum, said that the PPP scheme had actually made it easier for the SMEs to participate in such large scale projects. I asked her when we had the launch of the PPP scheme and she said it is because of the consortium arrangement where the main company is likely to outsource work to other smaller companies without these smaller companies having to go through a tendering process. A final point I would like to make on Government procurement, as brought up by Mr Lawrence Leow, is how do we evaluate it? Evaluation of tenders and the decision on the award of tenders are kept separate. They are decided by different committees in the public sector agencies. This is to ensure both rigour and due process in Government procurement. It is neither appropriate nor desirable for an external party such as the Pro-Enterprise Panel to decide on a Government agency's procurement. What is critical is to have decisions made at the right level, with good checks in place, to ensure fairness and thoroughness in evaluation to make sure that we secure cost effective contracts. The second thrust of our fiscal policy is to create an environment that is beneficial for citizens in providing them hope and progress for the future and the opportunity to be the best that they can be. We have over the years lowered the personal income tax rate and made changes to our tax system. At the same time, our tax treatment of savings aims to encourage Singaporeans to save for their long-term needs. Dr Ahmad Magad has raised the issue of retirement saving plans. In Singapore, the CPF system provide the basic framework for retirement savings. Tax exemption is given for contributions in investment returns and withdrawals.”
“From 1st April 2005 to 1st December 2005, the number of suppliers registered with GeBiz as a trading partner has increased from 11,000 to 17,500, a 59% increase. Now the good news is, and this is in reference to his point on whether GLCs get more contracts than SMEs, that our smaller enterprises, our SMEs, have fared well against the competition when it comes to Government tenders. Out of 374 Government tender contracts below $100,000, awarded between April and November last year, 70% went to companies with net assets below $250,000. Next, let me touch on what Mr Wee Siew Kim brought up on public-private partnership or public finance initiatives, as he referred to them. This is another form of Government procurement. PPPs are long term partnering relationships where we bring together the expertise and resources of the public and private sectors to deliver services to the public at the best value for money. We have awarded four PPP tenders to-date. It will take time to fully evaluate the benefits. But the early results are encouraging. For instance, taking the PPP approach for the desalination and NeWater project has helped to lower the overall cost of water. By leaving the choice of desalination technology to the private sector, PUB was able to purchase desalinated water at a price which is highly competitive internationally. The PPP tender for the NeWater project also yielded very favourable tariffs. The guideline is that PPPs should be considered for all projects above $50 million in capital value. Given their scale, the PPP providers tend to be a consortium. SMEs can participate in the PPP consortium as partners, contractors or subcontractors. Our first PPP project to supply desalinated water to PUB was, in fact, awarded to Hyflux, a home-grown local enterprise.”
“We do not give preference to or discriminate against any supplier, whether local or foreign, large or small, Government-owned or otherwise. Each supplier is assessed on its own merits. We believe this is the best way to grow a strong, resilient and competitive business. I believe that a vibrant SME sector is an important part of the economy. SMEs do face some inherent difficulties due to their size. They are small and so they have certain inherent disadvantages. Competition from bigger companies is inevitable. The way to help them is not to give them preferential treatment on Government contracts, but to enhance their capabilities and opportunities to better compete. Sir, in response to Mr Leow's question as to what are some of the things we are trying to do to facilitate SMEs to better compete, what we have sought to do is to make it easier for them to participate in the Government procurement market. First, we have amended our rules so that we no longer require a track record for the purpose of registration as a Government supplier. New start-ups and SMEs can now register and bid for Government procurement tenders straight off. Second, SMEs can join forces by forming consortia to bid for high value tenders without forgoing their individual identities. To facilitate SMEs coming together to participate in such tenders, MOF has issued a new set of guidelines to recognise the combined strength of smaller companies. Third, on 1st April 2005, suppliers were given one free user account for GeBiz, the Government's e-procurement portal which all suppliers of products and services to the Government are expected to use. This helps cut business cost for the suppliers, especially SMEs.”
“Well, this is something that IRAS is now taking feedback on and they are working it out and they will issue a circular soon - the details on how to treat this. Let me now speak about maintaining a conducive and business friendly regulatory environment. Mr Lawrence Leow has asked if the Government is looking into lowering the age limit to promote entrepreneurship among the young, say, maybe lower it to below 18 years old. Currently a person below 21 cannot set up a business independently as the minimum age to be a company director or business owner is tied to the age of contractual liability, which is currently 21. This is important as companies entering into contracts with directors and owners ought to have the assurance that the contracts are enforceable. The Member is right that jurisdictions, such as Australia, Hong Kong, the US and the UK, have reduced the age of contractual capacity to lower than 21. My Ministry, the Ministry of Finance, is studying the desirability of lowering the age of contractual capacity, which could then pave the way for lowering the minimum age to be a director or owner. In this study, we will also look at other statutory constraints, like the ability to hold land, which may prevent a young person from entering into and conducting business in Singapore. The merits of lowering the age to below 21 years old must be weighed against possible risks to parties to enter into a commercial relationships with young directors and owners. Mr Leow has also raised the issue of Government procurement rules. Our rules aim to achieve value for money in public expenditure through fair and open competition. We do not favour GLCs or SMEs - fair and open competition.”
“It is not as though the door is shut. Related to being the centre for HQ activities is our aim to become a knowledge hub and exchange. An important part of the knowledge exchange is to attract and retain talent. I think the Member has mentioned about the different remuneration schemes that companies are now coming up with in order to retain talent. We recognise this - this is the reason we made it a matter of policy that remuneration in the form of employee share options or direct share award would qualify for tax deduction if actual outlay is incurred. The Member has raised, I think, four questions. One is when a multinational corporation subsidiary in Singapore had incurred share-related cost under ESOP, is it tax deductible? The answer is yes, it is tax deductible. The two other questions, I think, are related. Treasury shares, we allow now. With treasury shares, what happens if, while holding the treasury shares, it goes up in value? Is it taxable? I think, the other issue that he raised, he said, what if you have excess treasury shares and then you sell the excess? All these things, you really have got to base on facts. You have to look at the details, but I can give you the principle involved here. The principle is that we would not tax it if the purchase of these treasury shares was not meant for trading. That means you treat the gains as capital. As a capital gain, we will not tax. But as I said, all these things turn on the details, on the facts of each individual case. That is the underlying principle. Finally, he brought up the issue of what happens if you bought the shares at different times? How do you value these shares?”
“One of our key economic strategies, and this relates to what Dr Ahmad brought up just now, is to develop Singapore as a centre for HQ activities. The Member may be pleased to note, because he mentioned that the response has been underwhelming, that actually it has been quite successful. With EDB, under their IHQ scheme, there are 350 companies under them. We have about 7,000 MNCs in Singapore and 4,000 of them locate their HQ activities in Singapore. The Approved Holding Company Scheme is to enhance and to make it more attractive. So to be an approved holding company, to begin with, you have got to qualify for the EDB HQ Scheme and the requirements there include how much fixed asset investments you are putting into Singapore, total business spending, the amount of jobs you generate. That is one. And, the business that you run should be an operating business, like a manufacturing business, for instance, and not one that simply deals with trading shares. So that is how you qualify the company for being a HQ company under the EDB scheme. What we have done is to enhance this scheme. Because if you are an approved HQ company, sometimes you might need to transfer or sell your shares in a subsidiary. So we put down two conditions, one that it should own 50% of the subsidiary, the other that the shares that you have, you should hold it for 18 months. The Member has suggested why not get rid of this 18-month holding period. There are good reasons for having 18 months. It is to ensure that you are not in the business of trading the shares. That is why you have this 18-month holding period. This is not something that we are inflexible on. If you do not qualify for whatever reasons, including if you are below the holding period, we will review on a case-by-case basis.”
“One, as he said, we should lower further our corporate income tax rate. Our corporate income tax rate has been lowered quite significantly. If you look at it in 1986 it was 40%, today it is 20%. I think what you really want is a competitive CIT rate rather than the lowest headline rate. If you look at the recent study done by the Canadian think-tank, C.D. Howe, a cross-country study of 36 countries, and if you look at what is called the effective tax rate, which is the share of tax payable as a percentage of your pre-tax return on capital, Singapore is No. 1, ahead of Ireland and Hong Kong. So we are very competitive. It is not just the headline rate. But this is not something that is cast in stone. We constantly monitor this. We see what our competitors are doing and the aim, as I have just said, is not to have the lowest, not necessarily the lowest, but to have a corporate income tax rate that is competitive. 4.00 pm On estate duty, I take note that now there are not only six ways, as enunciated by Straits Times, but 42 ways to avoid it. This is something that we are looking at. Our starting point, our operating philosophy, has been that we want everybody to have an equal start in life and not to have undue advantage over inherited wealth through structural advantages like this. But, again, we weigh this against all the arguments that you heard or read about and also debated in this Chamber, that many countries have abolished it, it might affect our aspiration to be a wealth management centre and, as was pointed out, you can get expert advice on how not to pay it. So we are looking at that and we hope to come to a conclusion by the next Budget.”
“Increasingly, we hear of the term private financing initiative (PFI) in Government procurement. I wish to ask about our PFI experience to-date, especially after reading of interest a recent Straits Times' article on its unclear outcomes in the United Kingdom. What are the guidelines and mechanisms used in assessment of PFI projects to ensure that they make financial sense from a taxpayer's perspective? How do we prevent loading operating expenses of future years with what ought to be current year's capital? I understand that PFI is new. What steps are being taken to ensure that the best of three quotations mentality of current procurement officers has been sufficiently reset since entering a long-term relationship requires a whole new mindset and approach? Additionally, as PFI projects are by definition long-term, how can this new approach to Government procurement be utilised to grow our local enterprises, especially SMEs which may not have the track record of financial strength to fulfil the long-term requirements of such ventures? The Second Minister for Finance (Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat): Mr Chairman, let me first thank Members for their comments and suggestions. Our fiscal policies and measures are fundamentally geared towards creating an environment that is best for business and encouraging and beneficial for citizens to provide hope, opportunity and progress for the future. First, let me address the issue of enhancing economic competitiveness. Our key fiscal strategies to do this are two-pronged. First, a competitive and efficient tax system, supported by targeted incentives and, second, a regulatory environment that is conducive for business. On Singapore's tax regime, Dr Loo Choon Yong has raised two points and I will address them.”
“Yes, on behalf of the Members who have raised cuts, I thank the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for their replies. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $163,875,010 for Head U ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $62,180,700 for Head U ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Column No : 569 Head M - Ministry of Finance”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head U of the Estimates be reduced by $100. I have been much impressed by what I hear about the Zero-In-Process (ZIP) set up under PS21. Its objective was to find and resolve X files. These are recurring cases which cut across different public agencies, pointing to an underlying systemic problem. ZIP aims to review regulations, procedures and policies regularly to ensure their relevance to the public's evolving needs. I would like to request for a progress report on the achievements of ZIP since its inception. I believe that such a report card will bring to the attention of many more Singaporeans the tremendous efforts put in by our Government to eradicate red tape and resolve inter-agency issues. Beyond this current set of achievements, I would like to ask if there is a push to expand and extend ZIP and do more work along these lines. In the machinery of the Government, like in most other sizable organisations, there will be issues of turf and silos. However, the public should not be affected or disaffected by boundaries between agencies. Hence, I am convinced that expanding the role of ZIP, which is client focused, will bring much benefit to all Singaporeans. Scholarships”
“In closing, in support of the Budget, I say, let us protect the young, fly cover for the poor stallholders and shopkeepers in our heartlands and do our utmost to pull together local companies in the face of intensifying global competition. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the Budget. 5.08 pm”
“And it dawned on him that all the names that he came up with are all Singapore companies which to a large extent have a common parentage. What this revealed to my Singaporean friend is that there are still too many Singaporean companies which are sub-skill on a global basis, still requiring foreign expertise in sizeable projects but, nonetheless, still content on competing aggressively with each other in this same Singapore pond. In business, there would be rivalries and pride. It is not easy to say that we put aside emotions. But if local business leaders focus on the fact that together we can stake out a larger slice of the global pie, then cooperation, collaboration and mutual help would result. Other countries have a large domestic market, we do not. Earlier, I mentioned McDonald's. They have the whole US market. Hence, why further handicap ourselves by not joining forces? I do not profess to be an expert on the specific measures to nurture entrepreneurship and increase competitiveness. But I do believe that, together, we can take on the world. Our objective today is to appeal to the Government to be as innovative, ground-breaking, proactive and aggressive in its efforts to boost our local enterprise sector. All entrepreneurs have to start somewhere and often fail at the beginning before they can succeed. Hyflux, Creative and many other local enterprises started as SMEs. We need many more Singapore companies like them. Their eventual success translates into more jobs and greater tax revenue for Singapore. Only then will our economic growth be truly sustainable.”
“The initiatives include a $500 million R&D Trust Fund which will be increased to $5 billion in five years. This is certainly quite a boost. But beyond additional funding, I believe that if we become even more cohesive and coordinated, we can extract even more gains with what we already have. Take the example of the recently concluded airshow. Here, I want to declare my interest as an employee of ST Engineering which is an exhibitor of the show. Looking at all the advertisements, it is clear that the coming Singapore Airshow 2008 is pitched in competition with the Hong Kong bound Asian Aerospace and Expo. I see this as a real-life example of competition among countries. Local agencies and companies must pull together for Singapore's benefit. There is an external threat. Another example is the recent win by the Singapore consortium in Qatar for the new airport design. This is a prime example of how Singapore companies pulling together can make waves, and we must continue to do more. So, firstly, we must form consortia, go out together with either a Government agency or, even better, a local company leading the smaller ones. Additionally, companies in Singapore must combine to form bigger entities, increasing mutual competitiveness and becoming even more capable. Take this anecdote told to me by a Singaporean friend who had lived eight years overseas. He has a partner who is consulting for EDS, which is a large US-based computer services company. And he mentioned that EDS was competing for a Singapore Government project and that EDS was partnering a Singapore company. My Singaporean friend rattled off a couple of names that he knew so as to guess the identity of the partnering firm.”
“As many MPs will agree, without these amenities, our residents will be poorer for choice and suffer much from inconvenience. Hence, even as rents go up, let us move away from being just a rent-extracting landlord. I encourage the Government to look at sharing the risks. In success, all wins. In failure, the entrepreneur is poorer in the pocket but richer in experience. But they must bounce back, else why even bother with the experience? When these entrepreneurs fail, yes, they fold. When I come across these people, my heart bleeds for them. I hope we can devise a more structured way to solve this problem. It is not just a matter of another one bites the dust. It is not as clinical as calling another tender, another person steps up, and then we go through the cycle again, hoping that he succeeds and he fails another tender. If he succeeds and grows, I believe Singapore gains. So, why not experiment with ways to share the risk of upsides and downsides with the stallholders and shopkeepers? Yes, there will be issues and concerns on authenticating business levels, the proverbial three books - one for the boss, one for the wife and one for the taxman. We must not be deterred. Only when such small scale opportunities abound that the entrepreneurial spirit would thrive. And we must make the HDB heartlands fertile ground for our entrepreneurs. This way, we increase the probability that we have a continuous flow of companies and franchises that would put Singapore's name on the global map. They would be our BreadTalks and Osims of the future. My remaining comments would be on the competitiveness of the economy. The Prime Minister has outlined our strategies to upgrade and restructure our economy so as to differentiate ourselves from our competitors.”
“We must create opportunities for our people to be entrepreneurs, to be small businessmen, to be hawkers, to eke out a living by their hands, their wit and their sweat. Last year, at the Budget debate, I brought up the issue of freeing up constraints so that hawking is easier. I know that some experiments at the Town Councils are happening, but we must do more, be bolder and faster. Take, for example, the office attendant in my workplace. The wife makes good kueh lapis from the house, and it is all by word of mouth. We must make it easier for women like this to strike out and create a business, and there is no better place for them to go but the shops and stalls in our HDB heartlands. In each and every town centre, in every hawker centre, we have the potential that some stalls and shops may rise to be the next Corona Chicken, which has grown from one stall to a regional franchise, or the next Food Republic that is bringing Singapore-style foodcourt dining to millions of people in China. It is the very fact that they had a small start, tried, calibrated, changed, adapted and grew that we have the next wave of local big names. So, where can they start? The heartlands, of course. Just as McDonald's proof-tested its formula on American audience before it conquered the world, our local talents must have the opportunity to sustain and refine their formulae among our own people before they can even think they have a chance to move outwards. Here, I am pleased to discover that Spring Singapore is now taking up the challenge to be the champion of SMEs. And now it is my fervent hope that some attention be given to the HDB shops. We must find a solution to the on-going survival of the shops and stalls in the heartlands. They are a necessity.”
“I hope that as long as it involves students of school-going age that there is a similar degree of oversight. In the days of Internet, these organisations can reach far and wide, and many readers trustingly accept what they read off their websites. Hence, we must have our agencies, whether it is MOE, NCSS or others, not only to endorse such organisations but also to take on the responsibility for oversight of these activities. Yes, responsibility can be and is a burden, but do we have a choice? As we even subject maid agencies to accreditation, is it not more pertinent that we ensure that any organisation that raises funds, uses sources of funds from the Government and involves our young be likewise accredited as well? This means exercising oversight, vetting the volunteers and full-time employees that run such organisations, thereby ensuring that they are governed by the right people. From the young, I wish to move up the age ladder - the Progress Package is certainly a big bonus to all. With Workfare, when one works, one gets an additional reward. In this way, in a growing economy, the fruits are shared by almost everyone - a recognition that not everyone benefits directly from economic growth and needs help. Workfare is one way. Allow me to cite the example of two fishmonger brothers in Bukit Timah market. They get up early, they sell fish, pack up late morning, and adjourn regularly to a round of golf before turning in early, as they always have an early start the next day at the stall. Would this have been imaginable just a generation ago? What is my point? The point is that Workfare is just one way. Now that we have Workfare, we must look beyond it.”
“I would like to ask whether there is a set of guidelines and checklists for the schools for the verification of the background of the operators and the people, as well as the facilities at the destination to ensure the safety and well-being of our students. Very often, parents trust the schools but, in reality, how reliable are the parties to which the schools outsource? With students travelling farther, we should take more precautions to ensure their safe journey, return and treatment. It would be foolhardy to do less. When students engage in any particular initiative or activity, parents have often relied on the comfort that these initiatives and activities have already cleared certain criteria. This is especially more pressing as we move beyond just selling flags for the CIP. This desire is not to stifle initiative on the part of schools or students, but we just want them not to be exploited, and having had a bad experience, these students get turned off from ever lending their strengths to the community. Now that Opportunity Funds open up broader avenues for even more ambitious projects, I hope that the relevant agencies, and if there are multiple agencies that want to take a lead in coordinating for these agencies that have the responsibility for students and their programmes that they exercise vigilant oversight, develop a system of checks and balance and ensure that there is a high degree of accountability. In the event an unfortunate incident happens, most parents would certainly look to the schools for some form of accountability, and this extends beyond just school organisations. There are also external organisations, however well meaning, that mobilise and organise students.”
“A recent MOE press release has stated that "exposure to the region has tremendous educational value and strengthens personal resilience among our students". The objective of the Opportunity Funds is excellent, but the implementation has to be exercised with care. I support the encouragement for school-based innovation and flexibility, but I want to add a word of caution. My comments are based on certain incidents involving the Community Involvement Programme (CIP) in our schools that have come to my attention. The CIP builds an awareness of service to the community, an awareness that a little effort on one's part actually goes a long way for some of the less well-off in our midst, an awareness that, if we try, we can always find the time. And among the students that I have had the opportunity to interact with in the schools, in my constituency, among the friends of my daughters and the children of my friends, I am rather pleased that we are nurturing a young generation that place others ahead of themselves. For them, sharing is a way of life and they find some level of enrichment through community service. However, parents place a lot of faith in the schools as they entrust their children for a good part of the day in their care. As a result, there must be guidelines, oversight and accountability for the CIP programme. Not all schools are at the same level of vigilance as they possibly ought to be when it comes to overseas CIP projects. Very often, the schools outsource the administrative and operative aspects of these trips.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join in this debate. I rise in support of the debate on the Budget. Like last year, this Budget is a budget for the people - near term and long term. While there is a strong focus on our low-wage workers and the elderly, there is something for everyone, including our indispensable NSmen. There is certainly a positive buzz in the air, accentuated by the positive outlook for both our local as well as the global economies. I have no doubt that this will have a beneficial effect on our retail sector. At the launch of a commercial centre yesterday, the operator/developer had commented that whilst there is no direct initiative like a Progress Package for the SMEs, he believed that with cash in the pockets of Singaporeans come 1st May, the retail sector would no doubt be beneficiaries. I wish to speak on the elements of the Budget that focus on two key segments of our population base, namely, the young and the lower-wage workers as well as on increasing competitiveness of the economy. On the young, the Opportunity Fund is aptly named. The funding opens up new vistas for the young, helping students from lower-income families gain access to enhanced learning opportunities. I must say that our young are already very fortunate and it certainly looks like things are getting even better. In my days, a trip to the Botanic Gardens was already quite a treat. But, today, a botany trip takes our students to Tioman, Langkawi, and our students go to France and the US for historical trips, and humanitarian trips to China and Cambodia. The Opportunity Fund would put the wider horizons within the reach of an even bigger pool of students.”