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 5 of 6.
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head T of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code TJ 2100. Sir, last Friday, the Minister for Transport called Fernvale in Sengkang the wild west in the context of the continued closure of the West Loop of the Sengkang LRT, and I think he is right. But wild west or not, we have built pockets of flats there. They are already populated. We need to provide for these residents who have moved there, certainly not expecting to play cowboys and Indians. One may say that our people are little pampered. They all come from mature estates where they are practically immersed in everything they need in life. But then, is this not part of the lifestyle in Singapore that we all along to preserve? In spite of the fact that the pace of the building programme for Fernvale has slowed, can I ask the Minister two questions: (a) to consider ways to ensure that the necessities of life be provided in close proximity to these residents as quickly as possible; (b) we may need to exercise some creative flexibility to free from the constraint of economic viability. The HDB may need to invest ahead of full demand. Alternatively, there is already existing an enclave of shops and amenities along Jalan Kayu leading to Seletar Airport. It is paying for its roti prata and it attracts Singaporeans from near and far. The infrastructure for LRT access is already there and, eventually, the LRT will be turned on. Seletar Airport grounds also harbour potential for other recreational activities. The wilderness of the farmway tracks provides a rustic distraction.”
“Sir, the Minister has replied earlier on Saturday. I will pass.”
“I thank the Minister for the hope that he has given us. I beg leave to withdraw the cut. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $370,710,550 for Head V ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $3,926,193,500 for Head V ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head Q - Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head V of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code VA 1500. I will jump straight to informal economy. Systematic and predictable, that is Singapore. That is how most visitors would describe Singapore. Singapore has an informal economy but it has moved indoors. Street hawkers, pau hong chia are all things of the past. Tuition teachers, piano teachers, gardeners, cleaners, baby sitters still thrive. It appears that as long as it is performed indoors, it is okay. Now, a new group of rather young, meaning 40-plus years, structurally unemployed has emerged. As much as we hope to keep training, skills retraining on them, you may have to accept that it is sometimes very difficult to teach old dogs new tricks. As such, I have seen so many of these people and their spouses seeking for an opportunity to be financially independent by being hawkers, small storekeepers and peddlers. While it is well worth preserving the external order that we have, I hope the Minister would devote some resources to study whether we could move towards a liberalisation of rules for hawking and street peddling. We should have more hawker centres, fresh markets, flea markets. We may have to tolerate some messiness with some more sidewalk peddlers. Done well, this may be something that STB may even promote. Tough work it is, but it returns to many their self-esteem. Beyond the old lady selling evening papers, or the blind man selling Big Sweep tickets, could the Minister initiate a movement that draws our informal economy outdoors and thereby create livelihood for a group of people that probably have no other relevant and employable skill sets.”
“Sir, Mr Leong Horn Kee has adequately covered the first part of my cut. I will jump to the second part. On the back of the FTAs, we have scored early successes with the revitalising of the garment, furniture and food industries. At the risk of appearing to patronise our businessmen, I hope the Minister would step up measures to push the awareness of the full power of the provisions residing in each of the FTAs. I hope that in so doing, more of the participants in our traditional industries could be jolted to leverage on the FTAs and find new leases of life. Sir, many of our citizenry who are skilful with limited formal education and who are in their late 40s and 50s had been retrenched. They have limited options. If more of the seemingly traditional and sunset industries can ride on the back of the FTAs' new leases of life, many in our population would have more to look forward to. Going forward, can I ask the Minister that in the new FTAs, additional attention be paid to revitalising our traditional industries? Globalisation”
“Sir, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, we have a world-class infrastructure - good roads, great airport, highly competitive seaport. Much more investments have been recently announced for terminal upgrades at the airport, new berths at the seaport, and new expressways. These investments keep us ahead of competition. But hardware investments are not enough. The competitors can also find money to outbuild us. Beyond the hardware part, competitors have also locked horns with us on the software aspects. For example, they have brought on board foreign management at their seaports and renewed their emphasis on service deliveries. I firmly believe that we are true to our reputation of impeccable service and ever innovating on product and service deliveries at our sea and air hubs. However, for users of our airports and seaports, their first interface and, ultimately, their perception of whether we are good or not is the frontline service staff. Can I ask the Minister to put aside adequate funds to ensure that the training, grooming and retention of experience of such frontline staff are well taken care of? I believe that this is an area that we should spend more rather than less.”
“Sir, can I ask the Minister two questions: (1) When and under what conditions would the West Loop be opened; and (2) In the interim, what measures can he propose so that the transportation needs of the Sengkang residents in the West Loop could be met, especially since the main marketing amenities of Sengkang Town have been located in the eastern part of the town.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head W of the Main Estimates to be reduced by $10 in respect of Code WA 1500. Sir, the Sengkang New Town was conceived with an LRT system as an integral part of the town. The connection of this LRT to the North East Line serves to provide ready access to the north eastern part of Singapore to the rest of the island. However, the West Loop of the Sengkang LRT is still not operational. The residents who have moved in with the expectation of LRT ---”
“Sir, on 3rd June last year, it was reported in the Straits Times that the feedback to the fiscal development feedback group indicated that many Singaporeans asked the Government to spend more on public transportation. Cost effective and affordable public transportation is key to the functioning of our economy and for the pursuit of leisure activities of our citizens. It is both a matter of livelihood and lifestyle. However, with salaries seemingly not going up, with families suffering wage cuts, there is a strong possibility that the rate of increase of cost of public transportation may very quickly outstrip the ability of our citizens to pay, for we all know that the PTC looks at a basket of factors in determining fare increases and as the objective of keeping transport operators economically viable as well. When the cost of public transportation rises, the impact will be most felt by families in the lower income categories. I ask the Minister to provide an awareness of the proportion of the disposable income of families in households with household income below $1,500 to pay for transportation, especially if one takes a typical family of two working spouses and two school-going children, and if we can articulate a policy such that transportation cost as a proportion of disposable income for such families will not reach a level that they become unaffordable. On many other things, we can advise citizens to cut back, but transportation for most people is not a discretionary luxury good. Ensuring availability and affordability of transportation is key. Rail projects”
“The need is more urgent, now that the recent amendments to the Road Traffic Act allow for the possibility of enforcement action on vehicles which are not parked in their statutorily declared sites. Yes, island-wide, there are many and adequate parking lots, but there is a wide disparity between where the lots are located and where people live and where the demand is. I hope that in the new towns, the Minister would consider flexibility in the implementation of the policy on heavy vehicle parking, and that the plight, and the alleviation of the pains and frustrations, of these key players in our logistics chain be taken into consideration.”
“Sir, the topic of heavy vehicle parking must have been discussed many times in this House. Nonetheless, in new towns, I would like to see some flexibility in the policy of heavy vehicle parking. In new towns, residents do not have much of an option if he drives a van with a high roof or a heavy prime-mover. This is because multi-storey carparks are the norm. Their vehicles just would not get in. Moreover, the new towns are generally further away from the centres of employment. So, one would empathise with the frustration felt by many residents who are unable to find parking, especially for those who have to hit the road early and wind up the workday late. I am aware that there are rationally correct arguments that such vehicles are meant for business and should not be used as a mode of transport to and from work or the employers must provide transportation for the employees. However, there is a human face behind each problem and, if a solution also lessens business cost as well, so much the better. I hope we can find some accommodation. Noise and safety considerations also merit the position that heavy vehicles should be kept out of residential areas. Noise and safety considerations must be respected. However, I hope that the Minister would consider allowing the public and private sectors to build and operate heavy vehicle parks, say, 2-3 kilometres away from the dense population centres. This way, heavy vehicle drivers can either walk or cycle back and forth between their home and the parking space. With our much respected long-term town planning, land earmarked for facilities like light-industrial estates - and possibly would not be built for some years - could be temporarily released for such purposes.”
“Can I then ask the Minister to consider the need for such markets to be available and accessible to residents in new towns and to consider favourably building one for those towns that suffer from a lack of such a facility?”
“Madam, wet markets have improved over the years. Now the environmentally-friendly, cleaner new markets have taken shape. The neater, cleaner and drier appearance is a welcomed departure from the wet markets of old. However, a market continues to fulfill its roles from time immemorial. It is primarily a place where fresh and inexpensive foodstuffs are purchased. It is a key node of community life. A market gives character to the locality. In many cities and towns in many countries, there are old market streets. We have our own - Whampoa, Kreta Ayer and Tekka are characterised by their markets. For many of the less academically-inclined Singaporeans, the market is a source of livelihood. In short, a market is a key feature of any community. Hence, I ask that the Minister consider building new markets to meet the demands of residents in new towns. In Anchorvale and Fernvale, parts of Sengkang, they are constantly inundated by requests for a market. From such interactions, I begin to challenge the assumption that as Singapore continues on its inexorable modernisation drive, the new generation of younger Singaporeans eschew the wet markets for other shopping experiences. Like their grandparents and parents before them, even career-minded and professional men and women continue to view the markets as fulfilling the needs that I have mentioned earlier, especially so with the success of our drive to make these markets hygienic and less messy. Even our ingenuity in co-locating markets with multi-storey carparks or as part of a shopping facility has alleviated the concerns that wet markets suffer from poor land utilisation.”
“It is recognised that in prototyping new products, testing new products and proofs of concepts, enhancements to bring forth new versions of products, require a base of supporting industries. These are the people who, with engineering ingenuity and skilful hands, craft and bring to life the ideas. These too are the same supporting industries that have cut their spurs being key suppliers to the MNCs that have located their manufacturing and design centres here. Hence, SMEs that are engaged in these downstream activities may need to be identified and given special attention and incentives. I ask that the Minister consider that when we approach the twinning of topics of promoting entrepreneurship and manufacturing, we give special attention to alleviating the challenges facing the SMEs in our supporting industries.”
“Sir, Singapore industries can look forward to harnessing the cheaper factors of production of labour and land on the islands of Bintan and Batam. On top of the proximity to Singapore, the two islands are not unfamiliar to most Singaporeans, having become choice holiday getaways. Now that our Government has taken the initiative to include the two islands in our FTAs, this augmentation to our industrial base would continue to anchor manufacturing as the key driver for our economy. However, some SMEs that had studied this latest development cite logistical and cross-boundary administrative issues or transfer of goods and materials as continuing impediments to achieving the full integrative potential of Bintan and Batam as our manufacturing hinterland. I would like to ask the Minister for the expeditious streamlining of procedures with the Indonesian authorities to facilitate the movement of goods and services. In a cut on the Ministry of Transport, the Minister for Transport had assured that we are tackling the customs procedures for importers and exporters, but this is the Singapore side. Let us extend these to our Indonesian friends as well. Additionally, the transfer of the security measures and precautions and knowledge that we have already attained to the islands would give additional comfort to our export markets that our extended manufacturing hinterland comes with the same assurance that they have come to expect of Singapore. Sir, even as we expand our manufacturing hinterland, it is our goal to spur entrepreneurial development in Singapore. Through innovations, we hope to generate the fuel that propels our manufacturing base.”
“Sir, Singaporeans are justifiably proud of the pre-eminent positions occupied by our airport and our seaports. The reliability and efficiency of these hubs have contributed enormously to the successful and huge strides our trade and industry sectors have made to plug into the world. These are the multiplier effects the air and sea hubs have on our economy. Needless to say, many enterprises in Singapore continue to depend on the continued growth of these hubs for continued existence. Hence, the success of the hubs cannot be singularly judged within the boundary fence of the port, or the confines of the airport. A narrow measure of performance would fail to recognise that the performance of these hubs must be viewed in a much broader context. I would like to ask the Minister if the regulatory oversight of these key hubs and drivers of our economy could be further augmented with performance indicators that measure the impact on the enterprises along the value chain downstream of the ports and the airport.”
“Sir, the loss of two major shipping customers had jolted the port. Measures and initiatives taken in response had resulted in a respite. However, the threats from regional ports have not disappeared. Their aspirations to supplant us would inevitably lead to renewed and re-intensified bouts of competition once they have time to build and expand capacities, and had adjusted and digested their new-found business volumes. I would like to ask the Minister for the initiatives that we have underway to ensure that we maintain our pre-eminent position, and to prevent the onset of complacency. Additionally, in the face of competition from port operators, they are in a position to offer package rates that are applicable to a string of ports located astride the global shipping routes. What would we do differently, now that competition is on a more global basis? Our "little red dot" may have to consider linking up with other dots along the world trade routes, and offer a comprehensive package, if that is what shipping customers now view as competitive advantage.”
“Sir, Sengkang LRT is operating well for the past eight weeks now. It has brought convenience to the residents. Quality service along the frequency and reliability dimensions has been enhanced. Truly, we must commend the LTA for bringing to life the White Paper on Public Transportation of 1996. While the light rail system now has provided enhanced reliability and to the dot predictability, one must not forget that the LRT system, by and large, is expensive to build and maintain. Cost must always remain paramount at the forefront of our thinking. I would like to ask the Minister whether there have been continuing studies and considerations for other forms of transportation, so that future generations of Singaporeans can continue to look forward to increasingly more efficient and cost effective modes of transportation.”
“On receiving the complaints, the taxi companies or LTA would investigate. The taxi drivers were asked to give explanations, mostly in writing, and when the drivers, in the opinion of the investigators, had committed an offence, they would decide and impose the penalty. In many cases, it means that the taxi driver would either face suspension or, worse still, lose their licence if they exceed the demerit points. Once the decision is conveyed to the taxi driver, there is no satisfactory avenue for him to appeal, so they approach the MPs. In my experience, out of more than three dozen or so appeals that I had handled, there was only one success. While I understand the reason is, among others, to uphold the credible standard of taxi service in Singapore, I can still emphathise with the drivers because, in most cases, the taxi drivers feel that this is not fair. As the number of retrenched workers who seek employment as full or part-time taxi drivers increases, the current taxi drivers are made more vulnerable to losing their source of income. To overcome this problem, I would like to suggest that we create some kind of transparent appeal process through an arbitration. My colleague, Mr Andy Gan, had more or less suggested the composition of the arbitration panel. I agree with his suggestion. I would like to know the Minister's view on this matter.”
“Sir, it is commendable that we are putting in place a system to monitor service standards for the taxis, ie, the QoS. Taxi operators would no doubt be assessing their operations and procedures to ensure that they are compliant, especially in the face of increased competition from new entrants. The question I am asking is whether there are adequate measures being put in place to ensure that the livelihoods of older taxi drivers - the majority of whom are wholly dependent on taxi driving - would not be unintentionally compromised. There would be occurrences of drivers that would need time to cope with the changes. For example, even as technology is rolled out to our taxi fleets, I have known a taxi driver who had been driving for 17 years, he was dropped because he could not cope with the new text messaging system. Would others suffer the fate of summary dismissal, after failing a language test? In the light of poorer alternative employment prospects for older workers, we must ensure that the transition to high-tech systems required to achieve the higher benchmarks of service delivery must be done with some compassion and, in the event that doubts arise as a result of disagreement between the drivers and the operators, the Minister should look into adequate cost-effective recourse to be available to the drivers, many of whom have not got the adequate financial means to contest effectively. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts (Encik Yatiman Yusof): Sir, during my MPS, I came across a number of cases involving taxi drivers who were alleged to have committed offences ranging from discourteous behaviour to arguing with passengers and overcharging, among others.”
“Now that there are multiple rail and bus operators, it may be timely that the transfer rebate mechanism be re-examined to assess if it still provides adequate equity; and, secondly, to address the transfer pricing so that people plying solely on the shorter feeder services do not end up paying more. Can I ask the Minister to consider that in fare pricing, adequate attention be given such that pricing should not only consider full cost recovery but it should also be complemented with measures to drive maximum utilisation of the system, especially with new additions like the North East Line. This may accelerate the development of the new towns and give a boost to businesses there.”
“The cost of transportation is never far from the forefront of many people's minds. While there is widespread appreciation of the quality of our system and widespread acknowledgement that the investments in public transportation infrastructure, like roads and rail, have made travelling about for both work and play so much more pleasurable, we must, however, continue to focus on cost. Bus and rail operators are contracted by the authorities to run the services. The learning on the frontlines by the operators would no doubt reveal more efficient ways to provide the quality service that we all so desire. I ask the Minister to consider having regular reviews between the authorities and operators so that the licensed operation conditions have the fora to be continuously adjusted to reflect changing conditions, and incorporate such learning experience. Stipulations and conditions that are proven over time to be overly stringent - kiasu would be another characterisation - must be gradually relaxed, finding a new balance and equilibrium among the factors of quality, cost and safety. Such a partnership between the authority and transport operators would, I think, lead to an even more cost-effective transport system. Let me now move on to the issue of fare transfer rebates. It is my understanding that we have adopted an administratively efficient system of fare rebates between the bus and rail operations with a transfer rebate paid from the operator of the first mode of transport to the operator of the follow-on mode. This transfer is transparent to the travelling public.”
“Madam, can I take the two cuts together?”
“Sir, homeland security requires multi-agency cooperation. The US may have swung to one extreme with a whole behemoth in the form of Department of Homeland Security. I am not asking for this, as we have to adapt what we have today in Singapore to suit our own local requirements. As a nation, we have always been better organised, allowing us to pull ahead with limited resources. The formation of the ICA is encouraging. The timely disruption of the JI networks offers much reassurance that our systems are working. However, now that the internal and external threats have changed, what had worked for us previously needs to be re-examined. There are lots of capabilities, both in expertise and technologies, residing in many agencies, like the MPA, LTA, MINDEF and the Police Force, etc. Let us focus on the integration of these capabilities and expertise, so as to effectively combat the new threats. I would like to know whether adequate resources have been deployed to face the new threats and that adequate attention has been given to inter-agency cooperation and coordination, especially the key trade-offs between the economic and the security agencies. 12.45 pm”
“The economic agencies and the security agencies would debate on how much is affordable and whether it would increase the cost of doing business. But I would contend that security and efforts to enhance personal security and business continuity make good business sense for the people, for the Government and for the business community. I believe that the people would not want us to be stingy on issues of security.”
“We must draw upon all our resources to tackle the new terrorist threats. The issue of social cohesion had been well debated during the debate on the White Paper on the threat of terrorism. But I wish to add that strengthened social cohesion must be supported by reinforced security infrastructure. Terrorists, like water, seek the path of least resistance. But we are already ahead in this respect. We are probably one of the most IT-savvy and wired-up islands where pockets of good information technologies are under the jurisdiction of different agencies and Ministries. The next step is to have all these agencies connected up, sharing information and sharing learning. The fact that we are a small island makes this task even easier. A similar analogy is the rationale for the setting up of the credit bureau in the financial industry. Prior to this, each bank has its own information, but this is not shared. The sharing of critical information on a common platform now results in a better outcome for all. Today, technology allows us such sharing of data, information and experience on a broad-based basis on end, even instantaneously. Just as we have strong ministerial overview on entrepreneurship and services, I hope we will likewise strongly consider having an overview on homeland security on a ministerial level. There must be a strong concerted and focused effort by drawing upon all the agencies that straddle different jurisdictions and a determined effort at wiring up and strengthening our island and its infrastructure. The mission requires resource coordination, tracking, quick identification and precise response, often in very compressed timeframes. The security agencies must be given the tools to get this job done and done well.”
“There is also further confidence that we read of the gamma ray machines and the focus that are being brought to bear at the new Immigration and Checkpoints Authority. However, I believe that it would do us well to be doing even more. We need to further reinforce the confidence of our people and external investors. We must stand out from our neighbours as being ahead in the area of security and vigilance. We must be the bedrock of stability in this part of the world. Looking just beyond our shores, we are beginning to develop Bintan and Batam as part of our economic hinterland. They feature in our FTAs. We should now extend our security measures and procedures to this extended hinterland as well, so that they become part of our security eco-system. With greater confidence in these two islands, investors would no doubt be more convinced and motivated to plant the more labour-intensive factories there, while using Singapore as their logistics and management centre. For expatriates, the security of their families is often paramount. More so for those who make Singapore as their launch pad and spend most of their time travelling in the region. Peace of mind would definitely drive their choice of location. For the investors who decide on the location of their multi-million-dollar plants and are reliant on these to be sole suppliers of key components and processed materials, Singapore's commitment to homeland security to reduce even the remote possibility of a catastrophic event would definitely be a swing factor in their investment decision. For our people, especially those who have experienced the lack of civic safety in other major concentrations of population, we understand too well that our safe environment cannot be taken for granted.”
“Singapore would need to find new value-added activities that are either generated in the country or attracted from abroad. The many FTAs that have been put in place since the last budget debate will certainly help, and they will give much comfort to Singaporeans that this Government plans and executes well. With the many measures being put in place, there is no doubt that Singapore would be well-placed with a significant role in the world and the region. With first-class infrastructure and value-added manpower, it is not difficult to imagine several years from now when Singapore will have a vibrant movie industry, a hotbed of R&D activities, that it will be an indispensable node in the world of network finance and a key hub through which tangible and intangible services flow efficiently and seamlessly through. But, as we all know, everything eventually hinges on confidence. While we hope to be a linchpin in a thriving Southeast Asia, it would be too hopeful to think that the threat of terrorism would subside anytime soon. While we yearn for a peaceful world, we must not let our guard down. The very ingredients of our success make us a choice target. The fact that we succeed as a key cog in the world machinery will make us a natural target. So, while we keep a sharp eye on the fiscal position of the country, it is imperative that we invest enough in our homeland security in order to deter anyone with intentions to inflict harm on our citizens and to dent economic confidence. I hear with much comfort the measures we have undertaken in being the first to participate in the container security initiative, a key node in the so-called Green Lane.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join in this debate. It is to be applauded that in spite of a difficult environment and much pressure to implement populist measures, the Government has come out with a clear roadmap that will take us to the next lap to be a global, entrepreneurial and diversified economy, one that will be well-positioned to take on the competition and challenges posed by mega-cities around the world. Rather than manage just for the short term, the Government has decided to take measures to ensure the long-term survival of Singapore. In my mind, that we would succeed to remake Singapore to be an attractive place to work and play for both Singaporeans and foreigners, is without doubt. Three and a half decades ago, Singapore was in a worse position - a poorer background and devoid of the many advantages that we have today. While today's competition is stiffer, we have also progressed much in terms of being a better organised country with world-class infrastructure. Just as the Senior Minister of State, Mr Khaw Boon Wan, has said, we are a fertile ground that would be nourished by today's rain. But we are also pragmatic and hard-nosed enough to take the bitter medicine required at each stage of our growth. Nowhere else is a country's leadership so forthright and bold enough to be upfront on the need for retrenchments, that they are a necessary part of the solution needed to meet stiffer competition. Retrenchments alone are not sufficient. We need measures to take care of the lower strata of society, and to prepare them to contribute positively in the new Singapore. I am pleased that we would have a new statutory board set up to look at retraining and employment opportunities and placements. Job creation is key.”
“But if we can build this great sense of unity as one people - investing time and effort to understand our fellow citizens better, accommodate each other with all outward manifestation and affirmation of support for each other - then can we tackle any such threats as one united people with no in-fighting. I second the call by so many hon. Members that this is the time to drop any reservations, come out from all our comfort zones and erase any fault lines between the races by all of us getting into the mainstream of Singapore society. It is with this national fortitude that we can weather any threats that threaten our social cohesion. In many ways, this is a call to Total Defence for every Singaporean. While many of us serve National Service and are equipped with the skills to defend the sovereignty of our nation, every Singaporean can also participate in National Service on a daily basis through: full hearted participation in the IRCCs and Harmony Circles, giving life to the ideals of these bodies; build on the trust and respect that we have for each other; do our part to ensure foreign subversive elements do not drive wedges among us; and, finally, build our "internal strength". It is a long road. I had begun by saying that we must take a long-term view. We must persevere. I reiterate that there are no quick fixes and it requires hard work on everyone's part. Let us be prepared to defend what we have. Pull together and redouble our efforts. Again, I repeat, we have no other options. I support the motion.”
“Every religion is at risk and every religious body must be alert and proactive in ensuring their followers stay on their religious paths. Other than the vigilance of Government and religious bodies, parents and families must also take responsibility. While the JI detainees are above 28 years, we know that some of the more charismatic religious leaders were able to penetrate homes and took advantage of teaching platforms to proselytise their extremist views. Only parental good sense and judgment would ferret out these imposters and eliminate this avenue of contamination. What else can we do to enhance our social cohesion so that we can confront and manage any events that threaten to tear us apart? The respect that we must have for each other's religions and cultural spaces cannot be under-estimated. We must continue to take steps to ensure that our entire social fabric remains strong and intact. The advent of the IRCCs and Harmony Circles already provide us with the tools to develop the continued understanding and rapport amongst our people. This inter-racial, inter-cultural and inter-religious understanding and rapport is very important. It is all too easy to take a simplistic view of this, but we cannot. We have our very own unique pluralistic, secular and multi-racial identity that we must preserve at all costs. Any dismantling of this will lead to our downfall. We cannot fully anticipate what would hit us next. The foe will certainly evolve new strategies to undermine security and stability even as we take measures to fortify ourselves.”
“It was only through the information of one concerned Singaporean that ISD had the first specific lead on Aslam and from that point, the whole JI network in Singapore unravelled. I believe vigilance must be practised at different levels to be effective. While the Government will not let up on its stringent vigilance, I believe religious bodies, parents and families can play very important roles in this challenge. We must be assured of the vigilance of the religious bodies. Why religious bodies? Because we are dealing with an extremist ideology and in this current instance, it happens to be a deviant strain of Islam. But under different circumstances, it could happen under the guise of any other religion. History has ample examples of extremists using religion as cover for their activities. Hence, all religious bodies must take stock and be on the lookout for attempts to use their religious bases for political agenda. In the White Paper on the Maintenance of Religious Harmony in 1989, the Singapore Government had clearly stated the principle of rigorous separation of religion and politics. Thirteen years on, this is still as valid and must be strictly adhered to. Our religious bodies must find avenues to reaffirm this commitment in order that Singapore can continue to enjoy inter-racial harmony. No one should take advantage of the religious freedom that Singapore practises to perpetuate other foreign agenda. Religious bodies and leaders must have their feelers out to detect those who stray and have ways to draw these followers back into their folds or choke off support so that virulent teachings do not spread. The message to our Muslim citizens is very clear - you are not alone in tackling misguided individuals intent on using religion for extremist acts.”
“Let us not delude ourselves that there are quick fixes or, worse, believe that the issue has been fixed. As a phenomenon that originated from the pan-Islamic revivalist movement from the Middle East and its reach fuelled by petro-dollars, the transnational terrorist network of Al-Qaeda and its JI associates will be major security challenges for years to come. So, while I hear some quarters talk about alienating decent people, about the uncomfortable glare of directing the spotlight on certain segments of our population, bear in mind that we have no other options. The security threat is real. The JI members in Singapore had gone for military training; organised themselves for subversive action and had even met fellow activists in the region secretly in order that they may harness and direct resources and efforts towards the harm of our fellow citizens. We have to expose these people; take long-term measures to ensure any others are rooted out and ensure new ones have little chance to take root on our shores and spawn. Just like my other parliamentary colleagues, I applaud the steps taken by the Government to safeguard our key installations. These measures must be continued to ensure that we are a hard target. The enemy is cunning and evolving. Inter-agency cooperation must be enhanced; new organisations and institutions formed, and our Government must ensure that we have the latest technology and informational tools to combat this enemy. Beyond physical security, we have to raise national awareness, keep our guard up and act with one resolve. Each of us has a role. Now that there is full awareness of the insidious nature of the JI operatives, we must look out for instances of aberrant and deviant pockets. We must be vigilant at all times.”
“Our pillar of inter-racial trust and tolerance that has served us so well - all races working together towards the goal of a meritocratic society, equal opportunities for all, an upward mobility irrespective of our current station in life - is threatened. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in essence, we stand to lose the future for our children. It is a shock that Al-Qaeda linked elements are in our midst. So, we must send the message, far and wide, down to every level, reaching every member of the Singapore family, the severity of the issue confronting us. Whilst the initial shock and disbelief may have diminished over time, this security issue, and the implications, cannot be brushed aside and wished away. Many Singaporeans still think it will just go away. Well, it is not a sudden apparition that would disappear with the blink of an eye. As the White Paper has traced the origins, this strain of terrorism has mutated and festered around the region and contaminated our shores a decade ago. While we may have crippled the in-country JI cells, the region around us continues to remain hotbeds of terrorism. While some governments are hampered by domestic agenda, others continue to offer sanctuaries to these terrorists, and the sources of this fanaticism continue to provide the spiritual, organisational and financial support to continue to subvert legitimate governments and societies, Singapore cannot let its guard down. We cannot ring-fence Singapore. As such, I believe it is time to impress on one and all that in order to keep terrorism away from our shores, it requires each and every one of us to do our part. As a people, we must be prepared to take the long-term view and take the measures to ensure that we preserve the society, as we know it now.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join in this debate. Singapore prides itself as an open economy. It is an undeniable fact that we have prospered and got to where we are today by being a very open society. Our people had moved ahead by assimilating the best of the East and the West. Whether it is the best practices in business, technology, the arts or fashion, we have learned, absorbed, and localised it into something that is distinctly Singapore. But, as with all things, with an open economy, we take in both the good and the bad. While it was sobering to Singaporeans to learn of global terrorism, it was shocking to discover that the brand of militant Islam has infiltrated into our region, and into Singapore. The White Paper has so clearly put forth that certain members of our citizenry have been indoctrinated with these virulent teachings. They saw no contradiction between living in a prosperous and harmonious society of ours, while serving in a militant group that would destroy any society and anyone that does not believe in their brand of religion. In their pursuit of achieving a supra-national goal, they are prepared to sacrifice lives, regardless of race or religion. They are dangerous people who could, in just one act of violence, destroy what several generations of Singaporeans had built and achieved. We stand to lose a lot. They threaten our way of life and threaten the open society which is vital for Singapore's prosperity. We stand to lose the confidence of international investors. As we make Singapore into a more diversified and knowledge-based economy, all the more we need to attract the foreign talents and investments. Many jobs are dependent on the stability and the continued assurance of stability in Singapore.”
“In conclusion, I reiterate that I am in favour of the proposal to revise the education system. In the process, we must bear in mind not to put additional pressure on our students. Hence the recommendation to trim curriculum content to create space for enhancements to other areas in JC education is applaudable. Parents have consistently been complaining that their children are stressed and do not have time for recreation and to pursue other interests. While aiming for a more flexible curriculum and to develop thinking generations of Singaporeans, the stress factor must not be increased. The new system should allow for students to learn at their pace, provide for those who may be late developers and for those with non-academic talents. And they should be given additional chances as they explore; to fail and try again. We want multi-faceted Singaporeans who will contribute to the economy and add vibrancy to our young nation. We want thinkers, creators, sportsmen and artists. Is it a tall order? Perhaps, but we are a nation known not to wallow in discussion, one that is quick on our feet. We act on solving our issues and that is what we are doing right now. Being examination savvy is no longer enough. Our young must be equipped with the best hi-tech fishing rods, nets and spear-guns to go fishing and not merely provided with fishes. They must have the ability to do lateral and vertical thinking, to think and question the fundamentals, to achieve understanding rather than just knowing. Mdm Deputy Speaker, I support the Motion.”
“Rather than suffer the fate that, if imposed upon, some youngsters feel they are being brain-washed; let them go on a journey of self-discovery. My third point concerns stress and pressure. This comes up often whenever the subject of education in Singapore is discussed. Could the Committee consider more emphasis on continual assessment and reduce the frequency of examinations? With less rote learning, there should be a correspondingly less need for examinations that we know today. Learning should be fun. The KI approach could be extended to even more subjects. Examination pressure may actually paradoxically be mitigated by incessant and continuous assessments. And, through life, we are continually assessed. Beyond my earlier suggestions on some adjustments to the proposals, I am totally supportive. Especially, in the new school environment, emphasis must be on students presenting and convincing other students. Communication skills must be brought to the forefront. From a tender age, they must learn to stand up, speak, be heard, convince and defend. I have just returned from a short trip to Israel and one thing I heard is that when you put two Israelis together you will get three opinions. Why not? As we hope to turn out generations of more inquiring Singaporeans, we may also have to handle the possibility of a more chaotic, challenging, vibrant and unpredictable environment. But this is exactly the strength of a pluralistic society, tapping the wisdom and experience of everyone. We just have to be prepared for this new environment, stay the course and not waver in our resolve, for it could get uncomfortable for the older people used to more compliance. It is a journey that we must see through.”
“They are making decisions at a tender age and we must be prepared that some make mistakes in judgement. Here is the only area where I think the proposal has not gone far enough. We must have a structure in which they are given a second chance; and even maybe a third. For if we subscribe to life-long learning, then we must allow students to unwind earlier choices and start anew. Like what the Senior Parliamentary Secretary said, "as long as the train arrives, it does not matter if it is late." So along the way, maybe we may create the entrepreneurial environment that we all yearn for. My next point is that the new proposal should increase emphasis on National Education. This has been introduced in schools and it must continue to be emphasised. I have heard from a fellow MP that he detects that younger people in the upper secondary and post-secondary exhibit less of an identification to Singapore than those in their mid-twenties. Why is this so? Should not this sense of identity set in earlier rather than later? Hence, I hope that the Committee will look into more aspects of National Education. Beyond textbooks, bring National Education to life, eg, visits to military camps, exposure to our war heroes, our journey to water sufficiency, etc. We are a young nation; our people are always looking ahead and perhaps spending too little time remembering the past. We must do more to commemorate and celebrate the sacrifices of those that had made nationhood possible for us. The achievements, sacrifices and contributions of the many notable Singaporeans must be made known to the young. Hence, why not make National Education one of the KI or PW topics?”
“One, to ensure that there is an adequate pool of teachers who can switch from the traditional approach to teaching. No longer must there be just one way or a fixed way to approach a problem. Students' curiosity must be aroused, and they must be guided to figure out complex issues with their own thinking and insights. Encouragement must abound. Remove the fear of failure, of giving wrong answers. At all ages, students must be encouraged to experiment, to fail, understand why they failed, nudged to pick up and try again. Teachers must establish that rapport with the students, create an intellectually uninhibited environment in the classroom; unfreeze the students psychologically from the paralysis that stems from the fear of "messing up". My second point on implementation is priority and pace. I believe the approach is correct. We must not fail because we do not apply the adequate level and type of resources in the execution. Hence, while the changes proposed are bold, we may have to prioritise. The proposal of creating even greater diversity in courses and new pathways is, in my opinion, not an area of immediate urgency. We must allow time for the students to reorientate to these new educational skills and priorities. Introducing too many changes all at the same time may, in fact, cause saturation, heavy workload, and may result in disruption and confusion for both students and teachers. A phased approach will be a better way to introduce such evolutions. The proposal is comprehensive in many aspects. However, I hope the Committee would consider three more factors. Firstly, it is a system that is unforgiving; one that does not allow repeated failures. The flexibility and diversity of the new proposal involve some form of risk taking by the students too.”
“Hence, we need to pay heed to how we impart knowledge in this very modern world; where the information highway makes available at the speed of light a whole cache of information through the Internet and other modern media. There is a wealth of information and knowledge out there waiting to be harvested and turned into useful, commercially viable know-how. The new emphasis on project work, research and inquiry-based search for knowledge at an early stage would develop and hone the questioning spirit and nurture inquisitive minds. In addition, self expression must be encouraged. Multi-way communication must be buoyant. The classroom must be turned into a forum. The flow of thoughts, questions and ideas should not be linear. A matrix flow must be encouraged between students and teachers; among students and among teachers. Teachers must relish the challenge and be trained to draw out the more reserved among their students. The Socratic method of teaching - drawing answers from questions posed, getting students involved and excited about the material being taught - is one form of doing this. Diversity is our strength. Hence, I also support the flexibility of the new system to allow for academic and non-academic specialisations. The approach of having sports and arts specialities in dedicated schools would open up new avenues for our young who are endowed with these talents. We have to persevere or we would not have a continuous stream of badminton, bowling, ping-pong, playwrights and violinist stars to stand proud for us. We redefine what is success for our young. I believe that the key to the success of the proposed new system rests on two points revolving around implementation.”
“Too often, they accept the knowledge imparted without question. This may stem from our traditional respect for teachers and people in authority and therefore not questioning. As a result, we have often heard our students are too reliant on teachers to feed them with information that they lack questioning minds and initiative. The lack of these qualities is glaringly noticed when they enter the workforce. Anecdotal examples from friends and colleagues illustrate this point. Let me just share one. A foreign senior manager, whom I had the chance to speak with, is from a major disk drive manufacturer. He heads a team responsible for Asia and draws talent from around the world. Among his 10 senior managers - the people mapping strategies, formulating solutions and responding to challenges - he has a wide range of Asian nationalities but no Singaporeans. Why? "Singaporeans are not innovative enough" was his response. They need checklists and a guiding hand all the time. And they play it safe. However, his middle management is all populated with Singaporeans who he can trust because they are great executors of plans. This and other anecdotes may be symptomatic of the issue - rote learning. To survive well in an ever changing and more globalised economy, we must equip our younger generation to question and think on their feet. They will then be able to adapt to different environments and be able to face challenges. And if one remembers that the great bulk of the body of knowledge had been amassed in the last hundred years and fast accelerating, what we learn today may well be obsolete in our lifetime.”
“While changes are being proposed to our education system, this is not to say that our current system does not have its benefits. Many of us have gone through the current or even the older system, depending on our ages. We all have benefited from it. It has produced high levels of achievement by international comparisons. Our students have consistently done well overseas, courted and admired by foreign centres of learning. So, at this juncture, I would like to reiterate some of these benefits which I hope would not be lost in the revamped system. Our current system produces outstanding Science and Mathematics students. Other countries have evaluated our approach and adopted our syllabi and teaching methodology. Perhaps it is the rigour of the system, the disciplined approach that has generated this. The other important aspect that must be retained is the continuous effort to integrate our people; to build a society that is multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious. My early memories of school is the recital of the Pledge before the start of each school day. We must preserve this at all costs. Now, on to the proposed revised education framework and education system. I particularly like a quote that I read recently which, I believe, is appropriate in our discussion today. By theologian, T. Edwards, who lived in the 19th century, it says: 'The great end of education is to discipline rather than to furnish the mind; to train it to the use of its own powers, rather than fill it with the accumulation of others.' This, I believe, is the thrust of what our proposed system aims to do. We have succeeded in imparting knowledge to our students. They, in turn, are like sponges soaking in all the information that is fed to them.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, thank you for allowing me to speak on today's motion, which has far-reaching and long-term implications. First, I would like to state that this is a courageous and responsive move on the part of the Ministry of Education. There has been so much talk in homes, schools and debates in the newspapers on our school system - the pressure on the school children, the perceived rigidity and, of course, its strengths. As some of the earlier speakers have said, after all is said and done, we do not have a train wreck! Feedback has been taken into account and many opinions sought. I applaud the efforts of the Committee to tap a wide spectrum of views. The fact that this motion is tabled today is a reflection of our system's true responsiveness and swift action on feedback, resulting in a timely and better solution for the future of the country. I am glad that we have the courage to make changes to our system when we feel there is a true need for it. In many aspects, this also reflects the true strength of our people, the willingness to make changes even ahead of time. To revamp the education system is not an easy matter. It will involve changes in processes, methodology, systems and, more importantly, mindsets. It will not happen overnight and it will be painstaking. The impact will be far-reaching. Many, those already in school as well as our future generations, will feel the impact. So, why are we doing all this? In order to ensure that our only key vital resource - our people - is nurtured and developed to be able to compete in the global arena. That our people are economically active and in the passage through life enrich the well being of both themselves and their fellow citizens.”
“To consciously make this happen, we should reorientate our view of GLCs and judge them on how much their business is derived offshore and how many local SMEs they have spawned or partner with in their ventures. Singapore is an economy that has seen a rapid transformation from third to first world in one generation. It is unparalleled. We are unique with unique strengths and constraints. In short, we learn from others but we need to adapt. In trying to transform, we must not throw out the baby with the bath water, as this is said three times today. We must not slay all our sacred cows and then discover that the alternatives are stillborn. In conclusion, we must remember that we are Team Singapore. In a team, there are defenders, midfielders and attackers. The ultimate goal is that Singapore should win. In-fighting amongst the players to get choice roles will just jeopardise our chance of winning. We are Team Singapore and in the SME 21 plan, which is characterised as a partnership between Government, Chambers of Commerce, industry associations and the private sector, it should also be expanded to include the GLCs as well. We are no longer only playing home matches. We are in a global match. And in the away games, we must train to win. While the debate is on GLCs, I think there is and must have resolve to ensure that the momentum behind SME 21 does not fizzle out. We must stay the course. As in the ecosystem analogy that I started with, a symbiotic relationship with competition in specific niche areas will have to be one of our formulae for going forward. So, in the Motion which supports competition, which nourishes the spirit and culture of partnerships, and which squarely sets the sight on the external wing, I am supportive.”
“It may mean to be more proactive in identifying good SME suppliers with potential to be part of a winning combination. It may also mean helping these suppliers by equipping them with the know-how to improve their efficiency or management, so that they are more ready to weather the perils beyond our shores. This will help shorten the SMEs learning curve by being able to piggy back on the GLCs. In SME 21, the often mentioned structural weaknesses of the SMEs tend to be centred around inefficient use of technology, outmoded methods of production, limited ability to tap economies of scale, shortage of professional and technical manpower, insufficient management know-how and professionalism. I believe the emergence of a partnering culture between the GLCs and the SMEs would mitigate, to a large extent, these structural issues. It has to start with the building of trust. The SME 21 plan intends to treble the number of SMEs with sales turnover of $10 million or more to 6,000. With such growth, I believe that there are great opportunities that exist, and these cannot remain untapped, just because no one makes the first move or we are focusing our energies on only competing amongst ourselves. IE Singapore's Network China has been successful and Network India is being set up. Can the GLCs not partner some SMEs and tap into these markets together? Perhaps IE Singapore can play the matchmaker, and it must have mechanisms in place, so that the concern of appearing to be partial whenever one SME is being selected over another does not hold back initiatives. Clusters created to foray overseas must be based on good business case with the best chance to win.”
“So, what is so difficult about this especially where we proactively do this with overseas businessmen and potential partners? Strangely enough, I suspect that we do not do enough of this between the GLCs and SMEs. We need a bridge to connect the GLCs and SMEs. Through this bridge, ideas can be exchanged, lessons learned can be shared, new business thoughts may spring forth and partnerships may blossom. These partnerships may be between GLCs and SMEs or even among the SMEs themselves. Perhaps IE Singapore can be the business SDU to bring these parties together. Or the Chambers of Commerce and industry associations can act as catalysts. A forum needs to be created. Just as our successful SDU has dinner talks, tea parties, social activities and match-making capabilities, this business SDU can do the same for GLCs and the SMEs. Secondly, GLCs can play an active role in helping SMEs venture abroad by partnering them when they seek new pastures. A business associate, which I think was also mentioned by an earlier colleague, shared with me the observation on Taiwanese businesses venturing into China. When these businesses have identified opportunities in China, they bring along their suppliers with them. Together, they almost replicate their entire supply chain in China, ensuring a better chance of success. They work with people they know best. They link hands and venture out together. It is a united approach with all parties benefitting - an interesting business model worth considering for us in Singapore. Our GLCs have a strong home base and are better placed to venture abroad. They also have the management and financial capabilities. So, what is stopping these GLCs from bringing along their local suppliers along with them?”
“In beer parlance, the small craft brewers moved in to provide consumers with a wider variety in taste, colour, form and serving temperature. The vibrancy of the local business landscape is borne out by the statistics. In the 10 years, from 1988 to 1998, the number of SME establishments grew by 59%. The same organisational ecologists also subscribe to the red queen theory. Remember the red queen in Lewis Carol's fairytale "Through the Looking Glass". The red queen seems to be running but actually staying on the same spot. What it means is that competition is good, in that a company is forced by direct competition to improve its performance, in turn, pressurising its rivals to do so, thereby creating a virtuous cycle of learning and competition. A research has revealed that a lack of domestic competitive experience is a critical disadvantage when a firm is thrust into global competition. Hence, a competitive landscape must be nurtured. So, it is not a question of snuffing out the big boys, neither is it that the SMEs do not have a role in embracing and enhancing Singapore's competitiveness and economic growth. Rather, let us see how we can harness the strengths of the GLCs to nurture and promote the SMEs, so that they can also get bigger, stronger and fly the Singapore flag in the world. Coexistence of the GLCs and SMEs would have to be the way forward, honing our capabilities within our shores, so that once we foray abroad and leaning on brand Singapore, which is one that is already recognisable, one with high regional and global awareness and standing for efficiency, fair dealing and transparency, we will have a much better overall chance of success and survival. Competitive coexistence Here are some of my suggestions. First, let us network and talk.”
“There is no level playing field in the economic world anywhere. So, why create an artificial environment that will only ensure local survival? What is at stake is continued and global survival. Here, I believe there are two key elements which are critical to any GLC versus SME debate. The first is the definition of our economic ecosystem. We must realise that the playing field is not just the domestic market. Rather, the economic ecosystem is well beyond Singapore. We must not run the risk of debating how we should compete locally, ie, keeping the balance in our pond ecosystem while the larger ocean ecosystem, which is globalisation, washes us over and leaves us in its wake. In our discussions, we must be mindful that the mission is building establishments out in the world for our descendants, so that wherever we decide to stake out, there is always HQ Singapore. To have such global ambitions, we need a strong home base, just as the SMEs want to build a strong home base, so we should not deny the GLCs the same. A strong home base will better prepare our companies to take on the world. There is an incessant cry that SMEs are being crowded out. When faced with Goliath, David may have just cause to cry foul. But, paradoxically, organisational ecologists have observed empirically that increased dominance of large firms actually creates an environment that is hospitable to the entry of smaller specialist organisations. The August issue of Stamford Business further reported that this is seen in industry after industry - breweries, airlines, auditing, music recording, newspaper publishing, manufacturing of hard disks, etc. As large generalist firms tend to go for the market centre, niches appear around the periphery.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, thank you for allowing me to speak on the Motion. Perhaps I would start by giving an analogy which encapsulates my opinion on the debate on GLCs and the SMEs. In an ecosystem, there is a dynamic complex of plants, animals and micro-organisms and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit. Each, regardless of size, has a role to play in the web of life. For example, in the ocean ecosystem, the oceans support a wide variety of plants and animals which co-exist in relative harmony, each fulfilling a specific niche and role they have in the ecosystem. While in any ecosystem there is competition and survival of the fittest, there are also symbiotic relationships. The ecosystem is really a matrix of inter-relations, not just a singular approach or formula. Take, for example, the little cleaner fish in the ocean. How does it survive? Often, tiny micro-organisms fasten themselves to a big fish and make sores on its body. When this happens, the big fish goes to a coral reef where the cleaner fish lives. The cleaner fish hunts all over the fish body, and helps the big fish by eating all these tiny micro-organisms and, in this way, the cleaner fish gets fed and the bigger fish is spared the discomfort. An economy is similar to the ecosystem. As such, there is a place and role for large corporations and smaller enterprises. The difficult part is how do we go about this balancing act. Let me share with the House my thoughts on this. Rather than just levelling the playing field in Singapore for the SMEs, there should be more constructive ways to help them grow, compete and survive beyond our shores. The Chinese proverb - give a man a fish, and he would eat for a day; teach a man to fish, and he would eat for the rest of his life - is very true.”