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…”
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“Sir, I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for the answer. I have just one clarification. Considering that our society continues to evolve, I think the trend will be towards more and more dual-income families, especially in the younger age group. Would the Parliamentary Secretary consider that in his long-term study, and he would consider making the results progressively available so that young parents can make informed decisions? As he rightly pointed out, there is a balance to be struck between having high-quality childcare and improving the social development and cognitive skills of the child versus having close attachment to the parents which actually leads to other social behaviours as well.”
“Executed well, Brand Singapore would be enhanced. To the Secondary 3 student who had spoken to me a week ago and who boldly voiced her fears, Singapore could possibly turn out even more desirable - great jobs and opportunities for our next generation. But, she, like every Singaporean, has a part to play. With this, Sir, I support the Prime Minister's statement.”
“We must be careful not to under-estimate these costs. We must be unsparing of the manpower, financial and other resources to mitigate the negative consequences. Gambling and its woes had always been around, and even as the presence of the casinos would see an increase in the level of affliction, I believe that it is only now that substantial resources would be applied to address this problem. This, in itself, is a great improvement from the scant attention that is paid to the existence of pathological gamblers. On top of what had been announced, I am very happy to note that the Government is putting aside a portion of the revenue from the casinos and channelling these funds to charities and grassroots organisations for programmes to help gambling addicts and their families. 55,000 potential problem gamblers is a frightening number. 55,000 families in crises would be devastating. As part of the many-helping-hands, the VWOs and GROs should be geared up to lend a hand. I urge the Government to derive a formula which would ensure a generous and sustainable flow of funds from the casino revenue to our GROs and community causes. From the little that I have seen and heard about the IR proposals, I dare say that the two IRs would remake our city. These are premium proposals undertaken by the most savvy of operators. The resulting product would appeal to a wide audience. It would be one more piece of the mosaic that would lend credence to our aspiration to be a Global Metropolis, one of several Global Cities that would be the key centres of business, culture, entertainment and for living a real magnet for the movers and shakers, a haven where wealth is made. There are risks, but as the decision is made, how our society will turn out depends wholly on the implementation.”
“Keeping our borders sanitised and sterile no longer offers the guarantee of immunity that we enjoyed in the less connected world of the past. Avoidance is no longer an option. We might as well take the benefits and manage and mitigate the risks. That would be the pragmatic approach, the same pragmatic approach that has brought us thus far. I believe that if there is any country that can attempt to soak in the benefits of the IR and casino, alleviate the potential ill effects on its citizens, and project a vice-free image to the world, Singapore can. This bold statement can only be made in the light of what we have achieved in the past 40 years. Hence, allowing a casino today signifies a belief that our reputation, our systems, our whole national psyche are robust enough to take in this new development. We have all heard the measures that are being put in place to handle and remedy the concerns of many Singaporeans. I believe that they are all well thought out. In order that the concerns of the Secondary 3 girl and many other Singaporeans are well attended to, let me implore the Government to be resolute in its implementation and thorough in their execution. It is going to be an unrelenting task that has no end point. Like many hon. Members who have spoken before me, the acceptance of an IR with a casino is a gradual one for me. Over the course of the past year, I began to accept that it is worthwhile doing, as long as the safeguards are in place. Hearing from MHA, MCYS and MOH Ministers gave me a substantial measure of comfort. We are all well aware of the potential social costs. What I think many people fail to acknowledge, that even now the IR has yet to reach our shores, the social costs of gambling are already being borne by society.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to participate in this debate. The proposal to build an integrated resort with a casino has attracted much discussion from Singaporeans of all walks of life. The detractors are vehemently opposed, many for good reasons. Many have seen close members of their families afflicted by gambling woes and are permanently scarred. Many, from their religious or familial values, cannot even bring themselves to see any other possibility. Others dread that Brand Singapore would be irretrievably damaged. There is only one expectation - that Singapore will never be the same again. A week ago, a Secondary 3 student told me that she would deeply miss the Singapore she had grown up in. She feared that when she grows up, she would inherit a Singapore that is a less desirable place to live in. Contrary to what one may expect from a young person, she is not interested in a hip and happening glitter land. Buzz is not important to her. Her vision for Singapore is that of an incorruptible nation with high moral values and a strong social fabric. If it is a little staid and restrictive compared to other countries, the benefits far outweigh the costs. She said that her generation would have to pay a heavy price for the lifting of restrictions on gambling. She dreaded the accompanying vice activities. A Pandora's box would have been opened. But, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the economics is compelling. We live in a rapidly changing world, one that would pass us by, if we do not adapt and not only keep pace, but leap ahead of others. Globalisation is here to stay. Large numbers of Singaporeans travel on a regular basis.”
“On the topic of younger Singaporeans, I would like the Minister to comment on the need to work closely with the schools' sports councils so that as many children as possible be given the opportunity to be exposed to games and not be left out in the cold as schools pursue elitism and competitive glory at the expense of mass participation. Parliamentary Secretary Dr Maliki lamented on the plight faced by his friend's children in this Chamber just two days ago. In order to achieve our objective of mass participation in sports, we have to start in the schools.”
“Sir, the last 12 months have seen several highs in the sporting scene of heroes in badminton, table tennis and soccer did Singapore proud. Singaporeans were glued to live telecasts and wept, whether we won or lost. What is important is that we have achieved a presence on the international sports scene. What is important is that, once out there, these sports heroes have all of Singapore's hopes pinned on them. To get to where we are has been a long road, a committed process and, of course, funding. I have noticed that funding for sports has dropped from a high of $111 million in FY2002 to $85 million in FY2005. However, much hope was raised with the announcement by the then-PM Goh of the $500 million fund that accompanied the report by the Committee on Sporting Singapore, known affectionately as COSS by the people involved in sports management in Singapore. I would like to ask the Minister if there is a similar follow-on fund to provide the continuity that the first $500 million had initiated. A significant portion of the first tranche has gone into the Sports Hub and the Sports School. However, even as the infrastructure and the hardware get attention, I would like to ask the Minister if he can share his thoughts on how he is applying funding to nurture the software as well. By "software" in this case, I mean the funding for youth development, coaches development and the funding to nurture a vibrant sports scene in Singapore, without which the lack of competitive exposure would relegate our plans to a stillborn. I would also like to ask the Minister if he has plans to work with the STB for bringing in key sports events to fire up the enthusiasm of younger Singaporeans.”
“The needy and hardship cases usually do not fit typical cases and I hope more resources could be devoted to tackling them. ComCare Fund”
“In the examples that I have come across, they are usually families with low and irregular income, some daily-rated, which means no-work-no-pay. However, once they cannot work for any length of time due to illness or other reasons, they plunge straight into financial hardship. These families scrape by and are literally hanging by their fingernails.”
“These two groups are: (1) The spritely aged who need an income; and (2) The aged with young kids. I am not asking for dole-outs. Much as we have come across residents in our constituencies asking for their share of hand-outs, by and large, I maintain faith that Singaporeans retain good work ethics. But they must have work. Hence, help that is most appreciated must be in the form of employment for the spritely aged. I came across a 78-year-old woman who spends her mornings selling second-hand goods at a church's thrift shop. I came across a 68-year-old who pressed for a Yakult door-to-door sales licence to help support a grandchild of a divorced son. I came across a 60-year-old man who asked for work as he said that he had spent all his meagre savings on the funeral of his aged mother. He was single all his life, devoting it to looking after his late mother. Now alone, penniless, all he wanted was a job. For these aged, there is no work to be found. Hence, I believe that there is a category of the aged poor who want to be given a chance of self-sustenance and independence. Some may have dependants, but often we hear that their offsprings are already stretched ekeing out a living, much less looking after aged parents. I do not know how many of these aged, unemployed and needy are out there. If there are 20 of them, there must easily be 1,000 of them in the 84 constituencies. They need customised help. Can I ask the Minister what is the social safety net for these people? What can we do to create the jobs for them through our local work schemes to get employers to employ them and to make it worthwhile for employers to take on older workers on a part-time basis? The other category that needs attention is aged parents with a young set of children.”
“Sir, I welcome the introduction of the ComCare scheme. It will play an important role in our many-helping-hands approach to community assistance. More importantly, it focuses on customised help programmes for the CDC acting as the one-stop centre for social assistance. Together with the local grassroots organisations, I hope that we can now reach out to those who have fallen through the cracks. I hope that ComCare will pay attention to those who are struggling but ignored by existing assistance schemes. I tried to make a count. I believe there are at least nine social assistance schemes administered by the CDCs. In addition, we have private foundations, self-help and volunteer groups, each having also set up funds for the poor. So, on the surface, we do seem to have many help schemes. But the question is, how effective are all of us in reaching out to the poor, especially the chronic cases? The set up of a ComCare supervisory committee to customise help programmes that meet specific needs and to streamline existing schemes will be steps in the right direction. However, I ask the Minister to consider giving more flexibility to the CDC and the GROs on the ground to enable them to customise assistance. At the 18th February 2005 sitting of Parliament, I asked about the number of children in schools that were below a certain per capita income. Fifty children of this year's Primary 1 intake indicated that their parents are retirees. I have no data on school children with parents who are unemployed. Only the local GROs would be able to sieve out these families and render assistance. Hence, I would like to ask the Minister if he would give the resources to the CDCs and local GROs to come to the aid of the two groups that I believe could benefit from more attention.”
“Sir, I would like to thank the Minister for agreeing to look for additional places as properly protected car parks for heavy or large vehicles. I have two clarifications. First is that I am asking for a car park that is within bicycling distance and not in the middle of the HDB heartlands. Moreover, one side is even slated for a light industrial park. My second clarification is that I am not asking for an additional limb to Total Defence by allowing tanks to be driven back home!”
“Whatever they get is better than what they have now, either struggling to get to their vehicles a long way away or running a cat-and-mouse game with parking enforcement on the side of roads and, to top it all, there are vast stretches of space in Sengkang and Punggol that would not see development for some years. Can I ask the Minister to consider the plight of these drivers in parking in Sengkang New Town?”
“Sir, last year and the year before, I spoke on the crying need for parking lots for vans and vehicles that could not access the multi-storey carparks in Sengkang New Town, and the hon. Member Miss Penny Low has also asked me to voice the same for the Punggol New Town. This new HDB town is very well designed. The comment that it is as good as some condominiums is often heard and well-deserved. However, the only parking facilities available are the MSCPs. Drivers of vans and vehicles that have heights that exceed the height constraints have no parking solutions at all nearby. Yes, I hear the reasons that were often given for rejection are noise and safety. But what I am asking is for a carpark that meets the needs of these drivers that are one to two kilometres from the nearest flats, really walkable or a bicycle ride away. And what safety concerns can we not address if one possible place is already earmarked for industrial park some time in the unknown future? Yes, I know that people who drive buses for SBS and trains for SMRT - and for that matter, tanks for the army - do not get the option of driving them home. But we cannot compare the solutions and requirements of the big organisations with that of smaller entrepreneurs. Some just own one bus or one van and that is their livelihood. Yes, there is a concern that once built and when development overtakes this carpark, we would have problem taking it away. But if we state constraints ahead of time and set the conditions that once development encroaches on the park, the carpark would have to go, I am sure the people will understand.”
“Sir, by and large, the HDB is an organisation Singaporeans have a lot of reasons to be proud of. The announcement in the Budget that there would be measures to assist the retailers in the HDB heartland is an indication that it is sensitive to the pain of the heartlands. There are many retailers who are trapped in high rentals that they are committed and are sloshing in losses. While we wait with bated breath for details of the measures that will handle the situation, I wish to comment that exit from the business may not be the only solution both for the retailer and also for the interest of the immediate community which HDB heartland shops were set up to serve in the first place. I seek to ask the Minister to explore alternative ways of handling the situation. Would the Minister consider flexibility in handling specific cases that are in difficulty? There is often-mentioned comment that it is not fair to the other tenderers that have not succeeded in their bid if we now give quarters to the incumbent retailer. But let us not assume the worst of Singapore's businessmen. They do not bid to fail. By the time they start to scream, they are already deep in the hole. So would the Minister allow a review of each case, specifically more from the standpoint of changing business circumstances and the environment since the bid? Yes, there would be grey areas and judgements would have to be made and officials pressed to come out with the work-around solutions. But is this not in the nature of the uncertain world we live in? Work-around is a commonly heard word in the corporate corridors to find ways to turn around poor performers. Could I ask the Minister if he will consider stretching out a hand as a partner to work out a situation? It is a hand of partnership and not a handout.”
“Sir, Singapore has always maintained a liberal aviation policy to strengthen our air hub status. Presently, we have open skies deals which do away with all restrictions for airlines flying between and beyond signatory countries. We must get more airlines to fly here and encourage existing carriers to operate more flights in order to boost Changi Airport's air hub status. Currently, we are in the process of negotiating open skies deals with Australia and within our 10-member ASEAN group. At a conference in Singapore in January, there were calls for a single open skies in Asia. May I ask the Minister if there are any updates on the current developments on our Air Services Agreements and what can we expect to happen in the near future. And beyond air services liberalisation, what other measures, be they creative or liberating in nature, are being taken to ensure that our air hub status grow from strength to strength? Workload and Performance Indicators”
“Sir, last year saw intense activity in the field of low-cost carriers (LCCs). Not unexpectedly, the competition to attract these LCCs by competing airports in the region has heated up. Last month, Malaysia announced that it would fast track the construction of a purpose-built $43 million terminal for LCCs at the KLIA so that it would be operational by the first half of 2006. At Changi Airport, a similar $45 million LCC terminal would also be completed in early 2006. On the other hand, neighbouring governments have been slow in dismantling the restrictive regimes that control the distribution of air traffic rights to carriers. As this has a direct impact on the viability of the LCC terminal and even LCCs as a whole, may I ask the Minister to give an update on the measures the Ministry will be implementing to ensure that as many LCCs as possible use Changi Airport as a hub, especially, as I understand it, one of the key success factors for a LCC is intensive asset utilisation. What is being done to ensure that LCCs come to Singapore because we offer them the fastest turnaround on the ground, coupled with an extensive network to fly?”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, Changi Airport faces increasingly tough competition. The Dubai International Airport's Terminal 3 and Bangkok's new airport will be ready next year. Changi's Terminal 3 will also increase the airport's capacity to 64 million passengers per year and will be completed in 2008. Besides greater competition from other airports, new developments in aircraft technology and Singapore's attractiveness as a business and tourism centre, as well as competition from regional carriers and new aviation growth markets, such as China and India, will have an impact on Changi Airport's position as an international air hub. I would like to know how we are addressing the above developments and what strategies do we have currently to capitalise upon them. The Ministry introduced a $210 million Air Hub Development Fund in 2003, and a $40 million Growth Incentive Scheme for airlines in 2004 which rewards each airline based on its passenger growth, and it is in addition to other incentive schemes and rebates. Would the Minister tell us if these schemes are yielding the expected results, and what other measures do we have in store? Lastly, could the Ministry give an update on our progress in our development as an International Aviation Centre, an initiative that was launched in 2003 to provide another engine of growth for our aviation sector and help ensure that Changi retains its competitive position in the long run?”
“Sir, I wouldlike to inform theMinister that I also have a couple of swallows in my constituency. Although the term is for three years, for those whoare trapped in the three years and seeing rents dropping all along and increased competition frompeople who are benefiting from the lower rentals, I think they feel that something ought to be done. Can I ask the Minister that for these exceptional cases, especially if the disparity is very big, to take this into consideration and review these cases as well?”
“Sir, a lot of our schemes of help from different Ministries actually target at specific groups, like young parents with small families or young parents with very low education and hoping that the secondary generation gets help. But there are two groups that sometimes fall out of all these benchmarks: one, people who entered parenthood late and they have very young children - there are only 50 of them, as mentioned - and, I guess, the other group is young parents with very large families and a very large number of children. Sometimes, there is no proper way to address this problem, and I hope that maybe the Ministry can look into ensuring that these children have enough resources so that they can stay in school.”
“All of us have a role to play. The VWOs and the Government can only facilitate the process. But I believe the Government can do a lot more to pull Singaporeans together so that all Singaporeans, families and individuals can come forward and contribute. Mr Speaker, Sir, I have no doubt that our new leadership has the ability to lead all Singaporeans ably in the task of creating a Singapore to be a place for everyone. Let us put our money where our mouth is and apply the resources to reach out to these Singaporeans who are "over by the window". With this, Sir, I support the motion.”
“If the Government could put together a group of people to look into this, I know much can happen. No group must miss out on the fruits of economic success. Then there is also a role for all Singaporeans. Some weeks ago, a Filipino child wandered from her home and lost her way. She found a guardian angel in the form of an old woman who sold tissue paper. Her family was so grateful, they invited the old lady who was quite alone to spend some weeks with them. The old lady was naturally delighted, and she took out the invitation readily to enjoy the warmth from a family for a while. But her story pierced my heart, for it was a story of an old woman, a sad and sorry one. Because she was all alone and missed the bustling prosperity of Singapore. Need this old woman spend the end of her days in such loneliness and poverty? And how many more old Singaporeans are in such stage out there? Is there not more that we can do as a society to make all their lives a little better? For the lonely elderly, the issue is not only about money for basic necessities. Based on the latest figures available on the MCYS' website, 86% of the recipients of the Public Assistance Scheme are the aged destitutes. There are 2,191 of them. Under this scheme, a single adult household receives a monthly allowance of $260, two-adult household, $455. But beyond the cash, as a community, we must review our current systems of reaching out and caring for them, caring for these lonely elderly. It has to be done on a consistent and sustainable basis. Maybe an "Adopt-a-Grandma/Grandpa" programme could help integrate these lonely senior citizens back into our community. They are in need of daily care and daily social support. Should we just leave this task to the VWOs? Or only to the Government? Yes and no.”
“Take the example of the itinerant hawker licences. Why do we not review the restrictions again with a view of further freeing up? Or even the way we tender out hawker stalls. Must it all be on a purely competitive and highest bid wins approach? If one is allowed to open a hawker stall with only elderly workers, I am sure it would find an appreciative and loyal following. I am sure the elderly amongst us can do a lot more than just clean the tables and clear the dishes. Or even relook the ways school and factory canteens are managed. Here, I am totally sympathetic with Mayor Amy Khor's point which she made yesterday that her mother brought her up with the income from a school canteen stall. Many of us have stories of grandmothers who raise a family with only their culinary skills, some peddled their cooked food door-to-door - the food being cooked in their own kitchens. My maternal grandmother is one. I hope the Government would take a comprehensive look at all these aspects when they nurture a "silver" industry. Yes, a key plank has already been laid with the Minimum Sum in the CPF. But in most cases, much as we can deliver the message of telling those in need to cut back on their lifestyle needs and curtail excessive expenses, many will be hard put also to live on $668 a month. I also read a paper that stated that a large proportion of the elderly live in households with only one breadwinner. However, I have not seen enough data to feel good about as yet. The medical and other expenses of supporting aged dependants would put a strain on singular breadwinners. Hence, for those older people that are still prepared to work, to take off some burden from their immediate family members, we must find ways to help them out.”
“One can no longer brush off this problem as too small in absolute numbers to merit attention, or fob it off by saying that their children and family members ought to take primary responsibility, or avoid the problem altogether by the fear that a moral hazard is created, as too many fall upon Government for help if it is too readily available. These older people who need jobs are generally beyond the age that most employers would consider seriously, generally less educated and less energetic. Once displaced, many are unable to get back into the workforce easily. A focused approach to tackling this problem is key to eventually dwindle down the numbers. An elderly earning his or her own keeps would see his or her self-esteem rise. For some, life may have dealt them a poor hand of cards. But for those who are prepared to help themselves, and are physically able to do so, we must have ways and avenues to reach out and lend a hand. Employer groups can be co-opted in. One example is the elderly directing traffic in multi-storey car parks in Japan. These silver-haired wardens are invariably smartly dressed in uniforms with impeccably clean white gloves. I am sure they carry out their job with pride. And I am also sure that an electronic sign may suffice in most cases and would displace them. But there must be a good reason why there are still so many of these traffic directors around. I remember we used to have tax allowances for companies to automate, to raise productivity. Maybe it is time now to consider some tax relief for employers to retain specific jobs for some of the needy, less educated, physically deteriorated, older workers amongst our populace. Beyond what the Government can encourage employers to do, there are also other avenues that can be explored.”
“I am much encouraged by two points that MCYS is paying attention to. They are: enhancing systematic case management and building up a "silver" industry in Singapore. Here, I am paying particular attention to the elderly amongst us. Unknown to many in Singapore, there are increasingly more elderly households in Singapore. The number of wholly elderly households increased from 10,400 in 1990 to 25,700 in 2000 - a rate of 9.4% per year. And 12.3% of all residents over the age of 65 years are not living with a spouse or children. Who are they and how many need customised attention? This is why I am enthused when I hear that more help is on the way with an enhancement in systematic case management. We should devote resources to locate and map out such families. Many families would not need any assistance. But awareness by their local community - the RCs, the NCs and the CDCs - is probably good enough. But then there are families that need particular attention. This is where focused case management would be extremely helpful. Amongst the needs and requests that I come across from older residents, I find that the one that I am most hard put to address adequately is the request for jobs. Much as we want to enable more Singaporeans to continue working into their 60s and stay active, many today are unable to find employment. Hence, the mention of building up a "silver" industry signals a focus of attention to this segment. They need attention.”
“Other such people by the window that I would hazard to include are our elderly destitute, the mentally handicapped, the physically disabled, the long-term unemployed and under-employed, the neglected minors, the abused (both adults and minors), the "un-integrated" amongst us (these are people with difficulty fitting into the mainstream such as those with severe autism, Asperger's), or what we deem as outcasts amongst us (prisoners, ex-prisoners) and also the self-destructed (drug, alcohol and gambling addicts). As you can see, they are all out in the cold. An inclusive society - A review of the "Many Hands" approach The challenge for us is how to improve upon our current welfare delivery system so that we can identify these people, minimise their numbers and reduce the time they need to pick themselves up. As far as possible, we want to integrate them into our mainstream society. Singapore's approach towards the weak, the poor and the helpless is the "many hands" system, a partnership involving our VWOs, the Government, GROs, community groups, religious groups, families and individuals. However, it is not an equal partnership and VWOs bear a substantial responsibility of managing and delivering welfare, with support from other groups. Yet, our experience in the last few years has shown us that depending so heavily on VWOs to identify and assist needy Singaporeans may not be sufficient. There is a limit to what these VWOs can do. There are still gaps. The Government can lend a hand to enhance the outreach. Hence, MOS and Mayor Heng's concept of dynamic community care, which was just articulated, is extremely encouraging. It is an acknowledged mission that there is a place for everyone in Singapore, ensuring that the less able are not left behind.”
“Surely, you may ask, are there such people existing in Singapore? After all, we have an extensive welfare reach. We do good work through our voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs), grassroots organisations (GROs) and through the many assistance schemes. However, any social worker, any grassroots leader and MP can tell you that Singaporeans "over by the window" are amongst us. More often than we would like, they fall beneath our radar. Our social support fails to reach them. Some are not aware that they can apply for help or are unable to do so, which is frequently the case with the elderly, the minors, the mentally or physically impaired. Others refuse to request for help out of a sense of pride and independence but inevitably they cause unnecessary suffering to family members. In the course of my work, I came across a family whose three children have not eaten for three days. There was also a baby whose birth was not registered because her young parents could not afford the $18.00 registration fee. Or the poor retrenched man with three bright daughters but was unable to pass a reading test, which is the prerequisite for his bus driver interview, because he could not afford reading glasses. He was told - come back when you have the glasses. These are our people "over by the window". They can only stare into the party from the outside.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Motion of Thanks to the President. We began this year with a heavy heart. Nonetheless, a sense of hope and optimism is palpable. Singaporeans have rallied around the plight of the victims of the tsunami tragedy, contributing generously and spontaneously. In Singapore, we enjoy an oasis of calm and security. In response to such tragedies, Singaporeans' universal demonstration of love, empathy and support is indeed heartwarming. And to our NCMP, Mr Steve Chia, I would say that this is the only demonstration that we want to see, not massive demonstration on our streets, as he has just advocated, that we should allow. In response also to such tragedy, we see that the human spirit is indeed enduring and resilient. To the hon. Member, Mr Chiam, this is what I call an example of true resilience, not so much that there are still two Opposition Members in the Chamber. The people over by the window During the run-up to Christmas, the atmosphere in Orchard Road was perceptibly celebratory. It was a time to shop and be merry! And so amidst the "ka-ching" of the cash registers, Singaporeans, regardless of race and religion, had celebrated the year-end season. With the forecasted economic growth of between 3% and 5%, we have reasons to be optimistic. But are all boats lifted by the rising tide? In spite of our economic recovery, there are groups of people who do not, and who cannot, join in the celebrations. They have not benefited from our economic growth and progress and they need a helping hand. They are the Singaporeans "over by the window". I borrow this phrase "over by the window" from a book by Ms Kuroyanagi, a Japanese author and Asia's first UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. She is referring to people on the fringe; those left out in the cold.”
“I started by saying that I am an early product of the bilingual policy. And I believe that I am so much the better for it. I would not have been able to mix with many of my business associates and both my professional and cultural lives would be that much the poorer. And even harder to account for is the direct correlation in my case of age versus the desire to discover my "Chineseness", if there is such a word. Without a facility for speaking and reading the language, this rediscovery would be no more than a longing for me. I am glad that I have a mother tongue. Many of the experiences and stories that were told in this Chamber for the past three days came with a heavy price of effort, hardship and, at times, embarrassment. Young students of today would find it hard to take this in, internalise and apply their efforts in the appropriate areas. Hence, the modular approach to the teaching of the language, the no one-size-fits-all approach is so welcome, not a moment too soon for many of these students. The emphasis on reading and speaking, of growing into the language as opposed to pushing them into scholarship, would be unimaginable for my generation of students. By supporting the motion, it is going to be a reality for my children. So Minister, make it fun, make it interesting, take the learning out of the classrooms, and take away the excuse from all these students to hate the language. Let it come to life. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, from my perspective, what this review has accomplished is that it would take the pain out of the learning of the Chinese Language. It assures that, for most of us, it is okay to approach the language just as a tool. It is one piece in each of our tool kit, maybe rusty at times, but always there to be used whenever it is needed.”
“In the late 60s and early 70s, we were in the throes of industralisation, the emphasis was English primarily because it offered the road to either a technical or professional education. The Chinese Language just did not fit in. However, in the last 30 years, many changes took place. The external environment changed. The social landscape changed. As one aged, even my own outlook changed. [Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Chew Heng Ching) in the Chair] 5.31 pm At university in London, I encountered western students from the School of Oriental Studies who were staying with me in the same hall, superbly adept at Mandarin. At that time, it was just a matter of awe, a matter of curiosity for me. Why are these people studying Mandarin? Only years later into my career, when I had to live in China and Hong Kong, did I know that they were way ahead with their times. They were way ahead of the economic wave. When having to speak the Chinese Language became a daily affair for me, you could not imagine the difficulties or the hilarity of some of the situations I got into. Much as many of my PRC colleagues and business associates understood and tolerated a low standard of language, it became a personal conviction to improve. At the deep end of the pool, one definitely kicked furiously. Then I appreciated that, early in life, some basics of the Chinese Language had actually been retained and edged in. So luckily, for me, there were some foundations, not deep as in well-anchored, but deep as it took a long while to rediscover. Upon these foundations is overlaid a whole new foundation to the language, this new overlay necessitated by sheer economic needs and the need to socialise. I learn to appreciate the language and took to its learning with more gusto.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, almost at the end of the third day of debate, what needed to be said, I think has already been said. So what I have to add to this debate, I think some of my Chinese teachers, who were very dedicated teachers in the past, would cringe. But I would air it anyway so that I can lend support to this motion. I am an early product of the bilingual policy. I just heard yesterday in this Chamber from MM that the enrolment of students into the Chinese Language schools actually went up in 1966, the year that I entered Primary 1. But never for a moment, did both my Chinese-educated parents think of sending me to anywhere else except an English language school. Even in 1966, they were already seeing that the world was changing. In those years, for CL2, rote learning was the rule. We certainly did not perceive any attempt to make the study of the language interesting. Maybe that was the state of the art at that time. It was the days of teachers know best, to learn we must suffer and so suffer many of my fellow students did. But we got by. However, once we got through with the examinations, we quickly lost what we had learned. There was no other motivation to continue to excel. In my cohort, those who came through and retained a strong mastery of the Chinese Language were but a handful, mostly attributable to a family environment that sustained it. For the rest of us who got by at home in dialects and in schools in English at that past age and time, the Chinese Language appeared to have no place. We had learned the Chinese Language reluctantly because we had to and we forgot it just as readily out of disuse. To us, at that time, it was never about identity or culture. This, we made do with our dialect links. It was all about what is important to livelihood.”
“Sir, while we are on the subject of bamboos, can I find out whether there are any safety elements in implementing the new system rather than just focus on cost?”
“I thank the Minister for the response. I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $4,988,629,220 for Head K ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $1,367,553,700 for Head K ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head S - Ministry of Manpower”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head K of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code KI 3000. The growth of Singapore as an education centre is an important objective. To increase the tertiary intake to 25% of each cohort ensures that educated and trained manpower is continuously available to fuel our projected growth. Hence, I would like to ask some questions which revolve around the quality of the staff in universities. The questions are: (a) What does the latest survey of students in our universities say about their level of satisfaction of their lecturers and tutors? (b) Do the lecturers and tutors, as a rule, undergo some training on pedagogy and communication skills, which are required to handle more mature students? (c) The import of foreign professors and lecturers add diversity, richness, colour and intellectual momentum. However, do we have a disciplined approach to ensure that the ones who do not quite fit in or have shown to be inept at communicating with our student body are promptly handled so that the quality of instruction and guidance do not suffer? 4.15 pm”
“I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $712,577,340 for Head I ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $114,786,900 for Head I ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head O - Ministry of Health”
“Mr Wee has suggested that we should work closely with MINDEF andMHA to ensure that our elite athletes inNational Service will not lose two years of sports talent development. This is, indeed, an important issue for sports. Currently, I would like to assure him that MCDS and the Sports Council will work closely with MINDEF and the other agencies and SAF to ensure that those identified as having the potential to represent Singapore in major games, or who will be representing in major games, have the time to train and compete adequately during their National Service while fulfilling their National Service obligation.”
“Madam, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head I of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code IN 2100. Two of the pillars emphasised in the COSS Report are Sports Excellence and mass participation. I say that one follows readily from the other. Win a couple of golds in table tennis, sailing, and you get youngsters jumping in to learn the sport. We have a dearth of national sports icons. FSTs are good for a start, but we want eventually to have home-bred sports talent and icons. NSAs lament that National Service takes away 2 to 2 ½ years of grooming for the athletes in their prime of their sporting development. Although all of us understand that defence is important, I would like to ask the Minister to consider working with MINDEF and the Ministry of Home Affairs to come up with some criteria for the potential staff to continue to train while in National Service. Sports excellence is long term. I believe that through winning a sport and having sports stars would increase the pride of the nation immensely,certainly a cornerstone of our nation building that we should not downplay. With the Dragon babies of 1988 entering NS soon, the bumper crop of NSmen can afford us some luxury to exercise some flexibility to achieve the goals of Sports Excellence in Singapore. Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Madam, I agree with the hon. Member that if we are able to encourage more people to achieve excellence, that will inspire other people, especially the young, to come and play sports. We would like to build up our home-grown talent and that is why we have the various sports pillars in place.”
“Building and maintaining sports complexes is only one way to promote sports. It is a costly way and may not even be the best way to cater to the sporting needs of our residents. It is in this light that we had started a review of all our facilities masterplan last year, and we will be completing this review soon. Under this review, we will explore new creative ways of providing for the sporting needs of residents. We hope that we can better address the needs at a lower cost. Mr Charles Chong also asked about the submission of the SSC Annual Report. SSC will be submitting its FY 2002 Annual Report this month to Parliament. It is late in the submission because it was preoccupied with the SEA Games preparation last year, and we did well in the SEA Games. Madam, Mr Wee has asked about the Sengkang Sports Complex. As I have explained earlier, we need to find new ways to stretch the dollar. I do not think we can expect that each constituency will have a full-fledged sports complex. It may not be possible for each constituency to have swimming pools, sports hall, football stadium, or even other facilities. For instance, an open field may sometimes suffice, instead of a stadium. I have cited the example of the Ayer Rajah Japanese Association Sports Centre which was opened last Saturday. I think we need to explore other ways. So MCDS and SSC will be exploring with Mr Wee on how we can cater to the sporting needs of his residents within an acceptable budget.”
“Madam, the residents of Sengkang look forward eagerly to the day when they have their Sports Stadium. We have a fairly young population in this new town. This is certainly the place where healthy lifestyle must be promoted. This is certainly the place where they would produce many of the key actors that will make the dreams of COSS come to life. The Sengkang Sports Stadium, I understand, is unable to proceed quickly because of budgetary constraints. Can I ask the Minister to free up this logjam so that, come 2006, the residents of Sengkang can look forward to swimming pools and other sporting facilities? Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Madam, Mr Charles Chong has asked about the number of sports facilities and attendance at these facilities. The SSC managesmany sports facilities. The falling attendance at sports facilities may reflect a few possibilities. It may be due to demographic changes. It may be that sports, such as squash, have somehow declined in popularity and therefore squash courts are no longer necessary. Or it may be that the neigbourhood layout has changed, leading to less traffic to the sports facilities. Whatever the reason, I do not think we should jump to the conclusion that it means thatfewer people are participating in sports. In fact, we can show numbers to prove that more people are participating in sports, especially people using facilities provided by other agencies, such as neighbourhood links provided by NParks and the various green spaces that we have opened up. But whatever it is, it points to the need for us to constantly review our facilities and ask if these still address the needs of our people. So this is another reason why we need to rethink our strategies to promote Sports for All.”
“Madam, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Family Bonding”
“Madam Chairman, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head I of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code ID 1500. I applaud the measures put in place by MCDS to detect and prevent child abuse by working closely with MOE, teachers, PCFs and other kindergartens, as well as MOH, doctors and nurses. These inter-ministerial cooperative measures ensure that a very high percentage of children will be observed and help early detection of physical and emotional abuses. However, what about the children who are not yet in pre-school? In the last two years, we lost five of them. Criminal though these cases are, I think that there must be something we can do. More must be done to help other toddlers at risk. A multi-agency approach is required. Can I ask the Minister to consider a multi-agency approach to tackle this problem? In view of our declining population, each child is even more precious. 5.30 pm”
“Sir, we are uniquely Singaporeans. Going to the hawker centre and fresh market is part of our habit. Many of my generation grew up with it. For many in the older generation, these trips mark the start of their day. I used "fresh market" because of the environmentally unhygienic connotation of wet market. You may ask: why push for wet markets (fresh markets) and hawker centres? Simply because after hearing pleas from my constituents, I believe people want fresh markets. It means that fresh produce usually comes without the trappings that signal high price. It is the place where they go and meet their friends. The market stalls are to many what Starbucks is to the young. The markets and hawker centres are themselves the centre of the town. It is itself the heart of the heartlands. One cannot underestimate the rapport between the market stallholders and their customers. Much as we talk about customer service, or the lack of it, in our retail sector last week, it is certainly not what is happening in our markets and hawker centres. A relationship with your friendly neighbourhood fishmonger could mean the difference between whether he keeps the fish head for you or not. As we seek modernity, this is the social habit that we should not change. The impersonal and selfish attitude that high-rise flat living has engendered could be mitigated by a thriving market in every town. Can I ask the Minister to consider stepping up the building of more markets and hawker centres, especially for the residents of Anchorvale and Fernvale? Public Toilets”
“Sir, I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for his reply, and beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head J of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code JA 1500. Sir, the MOS has talked about females in National Service. I want to focus back on the male students. Presently, our male students in primary and secondary schools, junior colleges, polytechnics and ITEs do not go through a systemic physical fitness programme tailored to prepare them for the rigours of National Service. They have some exercise each week in the physical education classes and in their CCAs, but not all choose to select sporting activities. The Minister for Health has been encouraging us to exercise at least three times a week, but I am not sure that many of our children get that much exercise. Without a concerted effort, my concern is that a relaxed attitude towards our boys' physical training may not prepare them sufficiently well for the physical demands of National Service. 4.00 pm May I suggest that the Ministry consider setting the desired level of fitness we expect of our recruits and work backwards all the way to Primary 1, and work with MOE and MOH to set in place a systematic training programme to prepare our boys for National Service. A multi-agency approach to build a rugged society is required. By the way, I have just heard yesterday that monkey bars would be banned from playgrounds. I find that such a move is a deviation from our need to build tougher and more rugged males. If the boys are effectively built up gradually and systematically over 12 years from ages six to 18, we probably can expect a higher standard of fitness. There will be no surprises. In view of our declining population, we should not lose anyone on account of physical fitness.”
“Clarification, Sir. The SBS has just fed its comment back to me. We all know the reasons why heavy vehicle parking has not been allowed. But really what I ask for is, firstly, there is already a light industrial park planned for Sengkang and if people cite safety issues, then we have a problem with the light industrial park. Secondly, I mentioned that it is on the fringe. We have heard the comment that Sengkang is a wild west, and I do not know what noise and safety the people are talking about. I would like the Ministry to reconsider its position. Assoc. Prof. Koo Tsai Kee: Sir, we will take his feedback and look at the issue again. But, again, I want to emphasise that Singapore is a small place. There is no wild west like California. And Sengkang is indeed one of our very favourite HDB estates, and it is reflected in the choices given to us by the residents. Sengkang itself is an estate which is heavily populated and we must balance the needs of heavy vehicle drivers and the residents.”
“Heavy vehicles are actually factors of production and they should be parked in places designated for such purposes, in the factories or in heavy vehicle parking lots. Where possible, URA, together with LTA, tries to provide these heavy vehicle parking lots at the fringe of HDB estates. In the case of Sengkang, I understand that many residents are heavy vehicle drivers and, hence, the pressure on the MPs like Miss Penny Low and Mr Wee Siew Kim. At the same time, we also have to be mindful of the residents’ concerns. The residents have complained to the press, Ministries, URA, HDB, LTA and also to MPs – perhaps not to the Member – that the presence of heavy vehicles in the vicinity of HDB car parks, initially multi-storey car parks, endangers the lives of their children and, indeed, themselves. At the same time, we are also mindful that heavy vehicles are noise polluters and emission polluters, however efficient they may be. So the suggestion that we should locate these heavy vehicle parking lots in the midst of the HDB estates should be reconsidered. We have to balance the needs of the heavy vehicle drivers with that of the residents. We are talking about residents in the hundreds of thousands, and we are talking about heavy vehicle drivers perhaps in the hundreds. We understand the difficulty of heavy vehicle drivers of rising before dawn and going back after dark. We will try as far as possible to locate heavy vehicle parking lots near the estates. SLA and LTA are mindful of this. They have provided a special portal called "Onemotoring.com", and the owners of the heavy vehicles or, indeed, the drivers can access this website and look at the nearest parking lot.”
“Invariably, paying parking fines becomes a fixed monthly outlay. And we say we pay attention to lifestyles and want more babies? As an MP, I too worry about the safety and noise concerns, but these can be solved. Can I ask the Minister to consider locating heavy vehicle parking at the fringe of Sengkang Town, so that at least the drivers of such vehicles have the option of a long walk or go on bicycles? This would take care of the noise and traffic issues. Or we could locate the parks, as Dr Warren Lee has just said, in the area designated for light industries. Surely, one cannot say that heavy vehicle movements to and from these industrial estates pose a safety issue. Assoc. Prof. Koo Tsai Kee: Sir, the URA works very closely with the various authorities (NParks, HDB and LTA) to ensure the sufficient provision of land for parks and sporting facilities as well as the provision of heavy vehicle parking facilities. These facilities are implemented together with the HDB’s building programme. Dr Lee suggested that we find creative ways to use the land not presently needed. Indeed, we do that. Today, the grassroots organisations can approach SLA or HDB to use vacant land for interim parks and other community and recreational uses. Residents who need to use this interim land for any special purposes can always contact the advisers who can access a special portal, and the approved uses are listed in the portal. Sir, on the issue raised by Mr Wee on the provision of heavy vehicle parking lots in HDB estates, he has given us a reason, and I think it is a good reason, because heavy vehicles are not meant for personal transport.”
“Sir, there is much unhappiness among Sengkang residents over the lack of heavy vehicle parking. Last week, Miss Penny Low faced the ire of 10 families in just one block of flats alone in Compassvale. In a survey in Anchorvale, 180 families responded with their predicament. Safety, noise-heavy vehicles are anyway not supposed to be used for personal transportation - are often used to justify the lack of attention to this problem. Take a moment and look at it from the standpoint of the drivers. Can you seriously believe that these drivers have any bargaining power with their employers over whether they get transportation to and from work, or get paid an allowance to get to work and back home, when all of Singapore is asleep? Invariably, it hurts the drivers’ pockets. Yes, each heavy vehicle comes with a parking permit when it is registered. But there is a severe mismatch of where the parking lots are and where people live and work. This parking permit cannot be a solution. Also, the options available to these drivers are disappearing. The compounds of schools, temples, churches, petrol stations where they used to have them are getting smaller and are fast disappearing as an option. The new town does not have surface car parks. Multi-storey car park is the norm. These multi-storey car parks are themselves the bane of drivers who are not even driving the big prime movers but just a van with a roof that exceeds the 2.1 metres allowed clearance for these multi-storey car parks. I feel for the effect that it has on the lifestyle of these drivers. They either park miles away from home or work and spend untold hours to commute. They hit the road before the break of dawn and get home with just the moon as company, or else play a cat-and-mouse game with traffic wardens.”
“Sir, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Can I ask the Minister to study whether it is possible to find ways to rejuvenate this Jalan Kayu enclave, thereby using it as a ready-made centre of lifestyle amenities for the residents of Fernvale?”