Wong Kan Seng
Singapore
“We all want a better future for our children and the future generations. Amid the debates, let us not lose sight of what we are working for – we are working for the benefit and future of Singaporeans. Not for growth targets, not for foreigners, but for Singaporeans.”
“Mrs Mildred Tan also suggested doing a longitudinal study on the impact of new citizens on Singapore. I am told that there is a periodic study on the perception of integration and rootedness of Singaporeans and PRs. A study is now ongoing too.”
“All they need to do is simply declare that they meet the residential criteria. EASING IN US ECONOMY (Impact on Singapore) 9. Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Senior Minister what will be the expected impact on the Singapore economy arising from the US Federal Reserve's announcement on 3rd November 2010 of a "quantitative easing" of the US economy…”
“Well, from the data I have here, 553 registered to vote before the 2006 GE and this is the data I have but Ms Lim may be right. There may be 1,000-odd that Ms Lim had mentioned. From what I am told now, we have 1,325 Singaporean overseas who are eligible to register to vote have registered.”
“But, as I said, there are so many other possibilities that they could come in and there could also be many possibilities that we could have missed and they have entered or left Singapore. LAND SWAP AGREEMENT FOR KTM STATION AND RAILWAY LANDS 2.”
“They are also recruiting people by offering them scholarships. So, we hope more of our companies can do that. Hopefully they come here to work for a while and, if they like our place, they may want to settle down. This is a place which they can think about. POPULATION AND TALENT DIVISION 5. Assoc. Prof.”
The complete record
Every one of 3,192 lines we hold for Wong Kan Seng, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 14 of 64.
“The casino operator may also need to adjust the location of the gaming areas within the Integrated Resorts for business reasons. We can allow the casinos to do so, so long as they keep within the 15,000-square-metre limit for the gaming area, subject to other planning considerations. This is the intent behind clause 51 of the Casino Control Bill. I would like to assure Mr Sin Boon Ann that the Ministry of Home Affairs has no intention of allowing the CRA to administratively increase the 15,000 square metres allowed for each of the casinos. These are not decisions to be taken lightly by the CRA but by the Executive. Sir, with regard to Dr Lily Neo's suggestion on operating hours, we do not intend to stipulate opening hours for the casinos, as this will interfere with the casino operators' ability to run their businesses effectively. During the consultation exercise for the Bill, the investors have provided feedback that controlling the hours of operation will affect them adversely. The casinos in Las Vegas and Macau which I visited operate 24 hours and seven days a week, 365 or 366 days a year. If ours are to be of a comparable international standard, we should not specify fixed opening hours. We will be short-changing ourselves, when our nearest competitors do not. For that matter, when we first drafted the Bill, we noted that the Victoria Casino Control Act in Australia empowered the regulator to stipulate the number of operational controls on the casino operator, such as the maximum and minimum number of games, detailed control over the casino layout, restrictions on the operating hours, etc.”
“Sir, let me now address questions raised by Ms Indranee Rajah, Mr Ahmad Khalis, Mr Sin Boon Ann, Prof Ong Soh Khim, Mdm Ho Geok Choo, Dr Lily Neo and Mr Ong Kian Min about our policies on the casino operations. Members have cited the figure of 5% of the total Integrated Resort area as the total gross floor area for the casino and raised questions on who will decide whether to allow further expansion and how this will be determined. The answers to these questions are found in the offiicial Request For Proposal (RFP) document for the Marina Bayfront Integrated Resorts that was launched on 15th November last year. However, I think Members are not likely to be potential bidders, so they did not get a copy of the RFP. The RFP document sets out clearly the maximum gaming area of 15,000 square metres within each Integrated Resort. If we compare this to the maximum permissible gross floor area of 570,000 square metres at the Marina Bayfront site, it is a very small component, barely 3%, of the entire development. This is consistent with our intention to develop the Integrated Resorts, albeit with a small component of casino gambling, to support our tourism and economic objectives. The size of the casino floor or total area for casino is also similar to that of the many well-known casinos overseas. We decided to fix the maximum gaming area in square metres, instead of a percentage of the gross floor area, to provide clarity and certainty on what is the allowable maximum gaming area. We will work with the casino operators to ensure that the visitors will be able to move within the non-gaming facilities in the Integrated Resorts without having to go through the casinos.”
“Sir, it is not possible at this early stage to define more clearly what the Council will do or how it intends to conduct its proceedings. There is also no need to enshrine the functions of the Council in the Bill. Unlike the exclusion orders that the Council can issue, the initiatives and programmes of the Council do not impact on personal freedom. Since the Council is set up under MCYS specifically for the purpose of tackling problem gambling, Members can be assured that the Council members, who perform their role, will pool their collective wisdom and experience. But we must also be realistic about the extent to which we can prevent a person from gambling and become a problem gambler. If a person is bent on gambling, no measure will deter him. If he cannot gamble in Singapore, all he needs to do is to take a ferry to Batam, or take a ride to Genting, or go on a cruise. No government, no NGO or social do-gooder can stop him. Ultimately, the responsibility is his, and the consequence is for him to bear. The unfortunate part is that his irresponsible behaviour will affect his family. Mr Ong Kian Min and Dr Lily Neo have also asked about casino-related TV programmes and promotional flyers. The Media Development Authority's TV and Radio codes do not allow programmes promoting or offering instructions on gambling to be aired on our TV and radio networks. On the issue of promotional flyers, the casino operators will be allowed to conduct direct marketing only to non-Singaporean residents and registered casino patrons who have paid the $2,000 annual casino levy. We will work with the casino operators to see how excluded persons do not receive such promotional flyers.”
“Mr Ahmad Khalis and Dr Lily Neo have suggested allowing our courts, co-workers, healthcare workers to apply directly to the Council to exclude their clients who are problem gamblers. As exclusion orders curb a person's freedom of movement, such orders should not be made lightly. This is why we have limited the parties who can apply directly to the Council for exclusion orders and the Council has to give the respondents a fair hearing. As for the suggestion to exclude bankrupts, clause 165 of the Bill has empowered the National Council on Problem Gambling to exclude them from the casinos. Sir, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports has set up a database to capture all social assistance beneficiaries supported by Government funding. This database can be tapped on to check who should be excluded from the casinos, as suggested by Ms Eunice Olsen. We have also considered the possibility that the family exclusion order could create domestic disputes. As such, the Council intends to work with social workers to help counsel families that apply for exclusion orders. This would allow social workers to intervene and provide assistance to families should there be a need. In addition, the Council will work with the courts and social workers on a system of referral protocols for family members to obtain Personal Protection Orders if there is a need to do so. The Council will consult families, social service, religious and community sectors to ensure that the processes for applying for family exclusion orders are simple and effective. With regard to Prof. Ong's point about the voluntary exclusion orders, the patrons can also apply to the National Council on Problem Gambling for voluntary exclusion orders.”
“This is what the National Council on Problem Gambling hopes to do. Mr Ahmad Khalis, Mr Sin Boon Ann, Prof. Ong and Dr Lily Neo have asked about the role of the Council and its programmes. I believe the Council has put up its role on the website. Its role is to: (a) provide independent advice and feedback to the Government on education programmes to promote public awareness on problem gambling; (b) decide on funding applications for preventive and rehabilitative programmes; and (c) assess and advise the Government on the effectiveness of treatment, counselling and rehabilitative programmes. Sir, the Government will fund the initiatives undertaken by the National Council on Problem Gambling, which deals with problem gambling holistically, and not just in relation to the casinos. The Council has started working on initiatives to help problem gamblers. For instance, it has set up a website containing information on problem gambling as well as help services available to problem gamblers and their families. To raise public awareness, the Council has also funded television programmes featuring real-life cases of problem gambling. It has also made funding available to voluntary welfare organisations to organise public education initiatives in the community. The Council will continue to evaluate the response to its current programmes and determine what more needs to be done. The Council will be empowered to issue exclusion orders against problem gamblers. Families of problem gamblers can apply to the Council for such exclusion orders. In response to Mr Ong Kian Min's question, parents of foreign students studying in Singapore can also apply to the Council for exclusion orders to prohibit their children from entering the casinos.”
“In effect, such controls would mean creating two casino gaming floors. Ms Eunice Olsen has also suggested mandating a loss limit for patrons and to require the casino operator to provide responsible gambling counselling services. These suggestions will cause operational and enforcement difficulties. All these good-intentioned suggestions also hamper the casinos' ability to manage their businesses effectively and make our casinos different from others. Instead, our approach would be to work with the casino operators to strike a balance between meeting our regulatory objectives and implementability, and at the same time, have regard to some of the social problems which may be created. As regards how to deal with the social problems, we should leave it to the National Council. Prof. Ong has suggested that the casino operators provide prominently time displays to ensure that patrons do not lose track of time. She has also suggested information about the games and responsible gaming should be made available to patrons in four languages. I think there was an exchange between Mr Zainudin and her. These measures to promote responsible gaming may be considered later when the CRA works with the casino operators on the details of the casino layout and operations. It may go beyond the four official languages. If we have customers coming from Japan, for example, they may have such instructions in Japanese too. As with all Government policies, we will monitor and review the various safeguards to ensure that they remain relevant and effective. Sir, I agree with Mr Ong Kian Min and Mr Sin Boon Ann that having measures alone are not enough. We also need to educate the general public about the dangers of problem gambling and how to recognise the symptoms.”
“Mr Sin Boon Ann has suggested lowering the age limit from 21 to 18 years. In Hong Kong and Australia, studies show that the rate of problem gambling among the youths tends to be higher than for adults. This shows that youths are more vulnerable to problem gambling. As compared to other forms of legalised gambling like those conducted by Singapore Pools that are currently available in Singapore, casino gaming involves table games and more sophisticated jackpot machines, which are characterised by rapid play, high re-staking rates and instant gratification. This is what some researchers call "hard gambling" as compared to "soft gambling", like Toto, where after each draw, a person would have to wait a few days for the next draw, thereby creating a break for the punter. Taking all these into account, it would therefore be prudent to set a higher minimum age of 21 years old for casino gambling to protect our young. Prohibiting automated teller machines (ATMs) in the casinos aims to create a break for patrons who have run out of cash by making them step out of the casinos. Hopefully, this will make them think about whether they should continue gambling. While Mr Ong Kian Min and Prof. Ong are correct in pointing out that the ATMs can be placed immediately outside the casinos, it would not be practical to prohibit ATMs outside the casinos since there are other facilities and services within the Integrated Resorts, such as retail shops and restaurants, which are not gaming related. Besides, how far to place the ATMs is far enough? Dr Lily Neo has suggested having separate sections within the casinos for locals and foreigners so that we can be stricter on locals by imposing further controls, such as shorter opening hours.”
“Mr Low Thia Khiang has asked why the entry levy collected is channelled to the Singapore Totalisator Board and not to the National Council on Problem Gambling. A mandate of the Singapore Totalisator Board is to disburse gambling related monies for public, social and charitable causes. They will be best placed to decide how to use the levy. Mr Low can be assured that the Government will provide sufficient funding to the National Council on Problem Gambling for its operations. The casino operators will be required to put in place a robust system to ensure that excluded persons and minors are not allowed into the casinos. They are allowed to implement any system so long as it achieves this objective. As part of their submissions for the Integrated Resorts, the investors will be required to propose how they intend to enforce the various social safeguards. Ms Indranee Rajah and Prof. Ong have also asked about the treatment of minors under the Casino Control Bill. The Bill prohibits persons who are below the age of 21 years old from entering the casino. The patron will be required to provide an acceptable proof of age before he or she is allowed entry. What would constitute an acceptable proof of age will be covered in the subsidiary legislation. Clause 133 of the Bill provides a defence for the casino operator to disciplinary action if a minor is above 16 years or older and has produced false evidence that he is not a minor. Minors who are found in a casino or have used the false evidence to gain entry into the casino will be guilty of an offence. These are not seizable offences. The casino operator will be required to inform CRA of any minors found on the casino premises and they are allowed to remove the minor using no more force than is necessary.”
“Firstly, let me now respond to questions related to social safeguards, as raised by Ms Indranee Rajah, Mr Sin Boon Ann, Mdm Ho Geok Choo, Prof. Ong Soh Khim, Mr Ahmad Khalis, Dr Lily Neo, Dr Amy Khor, Mr Ong Kian Min, Mr Low Thia Khiang, and Ms Eunice Olsen. Members will recall that last year in this House, we debated at length the issue of social safeguards to minimise the negative impact of casino gaming on locals. While we need to have these social safeguards, the measures must also be practical and not too onerous for the casino operators to implement. For example, Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs) will have to pay the entry levy of $100 for every 24 hours, or $2,000 for annual membership, which is not transferable. We will not allow the casino operators to directly or indirectly reimburse the entry levy to the patrons. This means that the moment a citizen or PR walks into the casino just for a look-see, he has already parted with $100. He will have to think very hard about even stepping in. Some Singaporeans suggested doing away with the entry levy. Some Singaporeans also suggested raising it. There are no right answers. Some MPs also suggested fixing the number of times a member can visit the casino. I think we should not micro-manage every measure. There will be no end to the number of ways to stop people from visiting the IR. What we have done is to put in some barriers so that Singaporeans can pause and think whether to cross it. We settled for $100 per entry and $2,000 for the annual membership for 10 years, rather than chop and change and cause uncertainty to patrons and investors. Specific details as to what constitutes reimbursement will be worked out later between the CRA and the casino operator.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Members for their questions and comments. Several Members commented that the Bill, though comprehensive, did not provide the details on many operational issues, such as what is the allowable maximum number of jackpot machines, anti-money laundering measures, advertisement policies, and how the Casino Regulatory Authority will go about performing its role. Sir, it is simply not practical to state every detail in a piece of legislation, although the important provisions reflecting the policies are incorporated in the Bill. The Bill is already 152 pages and over 200 sections. If we were to put all the operational details into the Bill, it will look like a Police manual. Even then, there is no certainty that every conceivable measure is reflected in this first attempt on the Bill. The Bill defines a general legislative framework and deals with the broad policy issues like all our other legislation in Singapore. The operational details will be covered separately in subsidiary legislation which will be promulgated by the CRA in due course. They can also be specified as licensing conditions or as directives from the CRA to the casino operators. Some of these directives may be issued after discussion/consultation with the casino operators to ensure that they are implementable. This is also the practice in other jurisdictions, and so we cannot be any different. It is also the same way we draft our other laws. Sir, the questions raised by Members broadly cover three areas: social safeguards, casino operations and, finally, casino taxes and funding for the Casino Regulatory Authority and the National Council on Problem Gambling.”
“Sir, the Government is always very sincere. I beg to move, "That the debate be now adjourned." Question put, and agreed to.”
“A sound and comprehensive legislative framework, based on international best practices and with the appropriate safeguards, is therefore necessary to protect our interests and our hard-earned reputation. We will take a strict but fair approach in working with the future casino operators. We shall do our best to ensure that the Casino Control Bill provides a conducive environment for the Integrated Resorts to develop and operate successfully in Singapore. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. 3.45 pm”
“Similarly, credit extended by the casino and licensed junket promoters to patrons for the purpose of casino gaming in a manner that complies with the Casino Control Bill is also enforceable. This is needed to provide assurance to our casino operators that they will have legal recourse to recover their earnings. For consistency, clause 201 of the Bill will make a related amendment to the Civil Law Act to also make enforceable, gambling contracts between patrons and other legal gambling operators in Singapore, such as the Singapore Pools and the Singapore Turf Club. However, unlike the casino and junket operators, gambling contracts issued by the other legal operators, ie, Pools and Turf Club, that are based on credit shall continue to be unenforceable. This means that if Pools or Turf Club decides to take bets based on credit and if the patron subsequently defaults in payment, Pools or Turf Club will not be able to take the patron to court to reclaim the payment. This is to ensure that the local gambling operators do not promote gambling to locals by giving out credit. Sir, the Government decided to allow two Integrated Resorts with casinos to be built in Singapore because we assessed that there are significant economic and tourism benefits if the Integrated Resorts succeed and take off in a big way. We will help provide the environment to help the industry succeed. However, this must not and need not come with heavy costs to our society or the law and order situation. MHA, together with the other relevant Ministries and agencies, have tried our best to strike that delicate balance in drafting this Bill.”
“Family members of the problem gamblers can also apply to the Council for exclusion orders to be imposed on their loved ones. The Council may also issue the order on persons who have poor credit records or are on social assistance programmes. This process will help prevent problem gamblers from getting deeper into trouble. Persons who have a gambling problem can also make a personal application to be excluded. These voluntary exclusion orders can be lodged with the casino operators under clause 120 or with the National Council on Problem Gambling under clause 165. This is an additional service to help those who know that they are vulnerable. The CRA will work closely with the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports to ensure that the social safeguards, such as entry levy collection and the exclusion orders, are effectively implemented in the casinos. Casino tax and enforceability of gaming contracts Sir, let me now turn to the casino tax and enforceability of the gaming contracts. Clauses 146 to 152 of the Bill shall provide for tax rates of 5% and 15% to be levied on the gross gaming revenue from premium players and non-premium players respectively. This is on top of the existing corporate and goods and services taxes that the casino operators shall have to pay. As mentioned earlier, the tax rates will remain unchanged for 15 years as part of our commitment to the Integrated Resorts. Clause 202 of the Bill shall also make a related amendment to the Income Tax Act to impose a withholding tax of 3% of the commissions earned by the junket promoters. Separately, clause 40 of the Bill will allow gambling contracts made in casinos enforceable in courts. To put it simply, the winner can take the loser to court, if the loser does not pay his dues.”
“Clause 108 of the Bill shall prohibit casino and junket operators from extending credit to Singapore citizens and permanent residents, unless they maintain a credit balance of at least $100,000 with the casino operator at the start of their gaming which would qualify them as premium players. Automated teller machines (ATMs) shall be prohibited within the casinos under clause 109 of the Bill so that patrons will not have easy access to their savings accounts to gamble continuously. Minors Minors are also another potentially vulnerable group who may fall prey to the glamour of the casino, without realising the possible dangers of gambling. Clauses 130 to 137 of the Bill will prohibit persons below the age of 21 years from entering the casinos. Exclusion orders Under the Casino Control Bill, various bodies shall be empowered to impose exclusion orders. These are statutory orders that will prohibit a member of the public from entering the casino. The objective is to ensure that certain persons who may be more vulnerable or are undesirable from stepping into the casino. Clauses 121 and 122 of the Bill will empower the CRA to impose exclusion orders in general. In addition, the Commissioner of Police can also impose exclusion orders on criminals or suspected criminals, to deny them the use of casinos as a place to perpetrate their illegal activities. As Members may be aware, the National Council on Problem Gambling was launched on 31st August 2005 and has started its public awareness campaigns on problem gambling as well as specific initiatives to help problem gamblers. The Council will also be empowered under clauses 155 to 168 of the Bill to issue exclusion orders to stop problem gamblers from entering the casinos.”
“In a study conducted by the Commercial Affairs Department on prison inmates who had committed commercial crimes, the interviewees revealed that they got hooked on gambling after experiencing the euphoric feeling when they won. Others gambled to escape stress. As they develop into problem gamblers, they get so consumed by it that they lose interest in everything else, and their family and work lives are affected. They also lie habitually about their gambling habits and conceal their losses. When they lose, they tend to chase after the losses and end up in deeper trouble. Many eventually turn to crime to finance their habits. Based on this study, there seems to be a point beyond which some casual and recreational gamblers begin to slide down the slippery slope to become compulsive and pathological gamblers. It is, therefore, vital that those who choose to gamble are aware of the vital signs, so that they can seek help before their habits get out of control. Entry levy To discourage locals from developing into problem gamblers, clause 116 of the Bill shall require the casino operator to collect an entry levy from Singapore citizens and permanent residents for every consecutive 24 hours in the casinos or $2,000 for an annual membership. The levy will also underscore the message that gambling is an expense and not a means to get rich. Credit and loss limits Problem gamblers have a tendency to gamble beyond what they can afford. As a safeguard, clause 106 of the Bill shall require casino operators to provide information about games to patrons as well as a loss limit system that casino patrons may choose to use. This will give patrons an option to commit upfront to a loss amount that they can afford in their gaming.”
“Strict internal controls and procedures are therefore needed to protect the integrity of the games and the financial transactions against cheats and other criminals. We shall require the casino operator to put in place a robust anti-money laundering programme which shall include know-your-customer due-diligence, mandatory reporting for transactions above $10,000, record keeping for transactions above $5,000, mandatory reporting of suspicious transactions, and anti-money laundering training for the employees. These measures, which will be prescribed in the subsidiary legislation under the Act, are in line with international anti-money laundering standards set by the Financial Action Task Force and other leading gaming jurisdictions. Clauses 138 to 145 of the Bill will also require the casino operator to seek approval for its system of internal controls and administrative and accounting procedures. Of importance would be a comprehensive surveillance system throughout the casino to facilitate the monitoring of operations and the gathering of evidence. Social safeguards Sir, what I have described thus far are measures to deal with the law and order aspects of the casino operations. Another key objective of the Casino Control Bill is to minimise the potential for casinos to cause harm to minors, vulnerable persons and society at large. The Bill shall enact the social safeguards that the Government had announced in Parliament in April last year. Problem gambling In deciding the appropriate social safeguards, we also need to understand how casual and recreational gambling can lead to problem gambling.”
“Under clauses 72 to 78 of the Bill, the casino operator shall be required to seek approval for contracts of significant monetary value or that provide critical services to the casino, such as security and surveillance. Such contracts are called "controlled contracts". The objective is to ensure that there is no undesirable influence on the integrity of the casino operations through these contracts. Details of the controlled contract regime, such as the exact value or the specific types of services that will render a contract as controlled, will be prescribed in the subsidiary legislation to be enacted under the Casino Control Bill. Operations of the casinos and its internal controls Sir, casinos are highly complex operations. The gaming devices that a casino employs, such as jackpot machines, are highly technical and specialised, and are increasing in sophistication. Clauses 57 and 99 to 105 of the Bill will enable the CRA to supervise casino operations, including requiring the casino operators to seek approval before a game can be conducted in the casino. CRA will study the game rules closely to ensure that the odds are not overly skewed in the casino operator's favour and the integrity of the game is not easily compromised. Jackpot machines shall also be closely regulated for the same reason. Prostitution and illegal money lending are often associated with casinos. Clause 129 of the Bill will also require the casino operator to take all appropriate steps to ensure that such activities do not take place within its premises. The police and the CRA will work closely with the operators to keep the casinos clean from such undesirable activities. Huge amounts of cash and chips are constantly flowing within and through the casinos.”
“Junket promoters function as the middle man between the casinos and the high-rollers, buying and encashing chips on behalf of the high rollers. Because of the large sums of money transacted between the junket promoters, their clients and the casinos, it is important that junket promoters are well-regulated to ensure that the junkets do not provide a cover for crime syndicates to engage in criminal activities, such as money laundering. For this reason, clause 110 of the Bill shall require junket operators to be licensed before they can work with our casinos. Shareholders and Business Associates Sir, apart from the casino operators and their employees, shareholders and business associates can also be possible avenues that criminals can exploit to infiltrate casino operations. Hence, in Nevada, for example, share transfers of any amount would require approval from the regulators if the casino is privately held. For publicly listed casinos, regulators are to be kept informed of shareholders who become 5% stakeholders and approval is required for stakes of 10% or more. As such, under the Casino Control Bill, the regulator will be empowered to exercise control over such relationships. Shareholders taking a 5%, 12% or 20% stake in the casino operator shall be required under clauses 64 to 71 of the Bill to seek approval from the Minister for Home Affairs. Such shareholder controls are to ensure that persons owning significant stakes in the casino operators are suitable persons to be associated with our casinos, and to ensure that there is no undesirable influence over the casino operations. The casino operator's relationship with other business partners will also be closely monitored.”
“The Authority shall also work closely with the Police to manage the law and order situation in and around the casinos. Casino operator, related parties and its operations Let me now turn to the regulatory requirements of the Bill and explain their policy intent. Many crimes in the casinos are committed by persons who collude with casino employees. They range from less sophisticated crimes, such as cheating at tables, to high-level schemes between the casino and criminal syndicates to, say, launder money. To ensure that the integrity of our casinos is not compromised from within, clauses 43 to 56 and clauses 79 to 98 of the Bill will require the casino operators and their key employees to be licensed by the CRA. No one shall be allowed to work or hold key positions within the casino without a licence. Only suitable persons will be licensed to operate the casino or to work in positions of influence in the casino. The considerations of "suitability" include whether the applicant is of good repute with regard to character, honesty and integrity, and has the ability to work in the capacity that he or she has applied for. For applicants who wish to operate the casino, the applicant must also demonstrate that he has a sound and stable financial background. Having obtained the licence, the licensee must remain suitable throughout the validity period of the licence. Where there are material changes to the licensee's situation that could affect his suitability, the licensee is required to report these changes promptly to the CRA. Organising junkets is a specialised and highly lucrative business that is important to the casinos' viability. Junket promoters, or junket operators, bring in high-rollers to the casinos and provide them with VIP treatment in return for a commission.”
“These practices are nonetheless necessary to ensure that our probity checks measure up to the standards of respected casino jurisdictions in other parts of the world. Any company that wants to be involved in the casino industry in Singapore is expected to cooperate with the CRA and be subject to probity investigation. This principle of having the industry demonstrate that they can meet the regulatory objectives before being allowed to operate a casino is succinctly captured by the phrase "Compliance first, Commerce later", a policy adopted by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Secondly, the CRA is empowered to deal with offences typically committed in casinos. Cheating, forgery, tampering with gaming equipment or attempting to exploit the casino chips as an alternative currency are regarded as attempts to undermine the integrity of the casinos' operations, which will lead to fines or imprisonment or both. These are covered under clauses 171 to 188. Apart from investigative and enforcement powers, CRA is also the approving authority for the various aspects of casino operations. It will oversee the casinos' system of internal controls and accounting procedures, such as those listed in clause 139. It can also receive and investigate complaints from the casino patrons about unfair gaming. Clauses 111 to 114 of the Bill empower the CRA to adjudicate disputes between the casino operators and their patrons. In addition, various clauses of the Bill empower the CRA to collect licensing fees and to take disciplinary action against casino operators, key employees and other parties licensed under the Casino Control Bill for any regulatory breaches. Disciplinary actions include fines or the variation, suspension and even termination of their licences.”
“This is inconsistent with overseas practices, where dedicated bodies are set up to regulate casinos. Firstly, the CRA shall have powers to investigate and probe into the casino operator's background, accounts and business links (under clauses 10, 15, 46, 63 and 85). The investigations, which are very thorough and often involve the key directors and management, are standard practice in many well-known overseas casino or gaming jurisdictions. Such comprehensive investigations are also being conducted for the bidders of our Integrated Resorts. When I visited the Nevada Gaming Commission in November last year, the Chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission and members of the Nevada Gaming Control Board advised me to carefully scrutinise the potential casino operators, as it is only through the selection of suitable casino operators with the right people to manage its operations would we be able to keep criminals and fraudsters away from our casinos. This is the reason why we, like other leading gaming jurisdictions, conduct probity investigations on potential investors and operators of our Integrated Resorts. Such checks will ensure that only suitable persons are given the licence to operate casinos in Singapore. Having been exposed to similar investigations in other casino jurisdictions, foreign bidders of our Integrated Resorts project have cooperated fully with us in the process. However, such comprehensive investigations are new to Singapore companies taking part in the Request for Proposal for the Integrated Resort. Their management may not be used to disclosing so much information about themselves and their companies.”
“First, the Bill will provide for the setting up of the casino regulator with the necessary powers to enforce the regulatory regime. Second, the Bill will set out a regulatory regime for the casino operator and related business parties. Third, the Bill will provide for a number of social safeguards to protect vulnerable persons from casino gaming. I will now describe the key aspects of the Bill. Casino Regulatory Authority The Statutory Board Clauses 5 to 17 of the Bill will establish a new statutory board called the Casino Regulatory Authority, or CRA for short. The CRA will be supervised by the Ministry of Home Affairs. As a statutory board, the CRA shall be subject to the same governance standards as other statutory boards of the Government. In particular, the CRA shall submit to the Minister for Home Affairs its annual report and audited financial statements, which will be presented to Parliament. The Board of the CRA shall comprise a Chairman and 4 to 16 members, approved by the Minister for Home Affairs. For transparency and accountability, board members are also required by law to declare their interest in any particular project or transaction concerning the CRA or the casino operator. These are provided for under clauses 18 to 39 of the Bill. The CRA will be formed 12 to 18 months before the first casino starts operation. The casino operator can take this lead time to seek approval from CRA and apply for the licences for various aspects of the casino that are required under the Casino Control Bill. Regulatory powers of the CRA Sir, I shall now touch on the regulatory powers of the CRA. The CRA will be responsible for enforcing the provisions in the Casino Control Bill and regulating the casinos in Singapore.”
“The lease of the land on which the Integrated Resorts will be sited will be for 60 years and they will be allowed to operate a casino for 30 years, subject to the suitability of the casino operator to run them. We believe that all these measures will provide greater certainty and enhance the competitiveness and attractiveness of our Integrated Resorts and the investors' ability to raise funds for the project. Foreign regulators' feedback In addition to seeking comments from the public and the investors, we also sought comments from casino regulators in other jurisdictions. The objective was to tap their experience and expertise as established casino regulators, to help address our own lack of experience in managing the casino industry. I am happy to say that their feedback has been very encouraging. Many cited the Bill as a thorough and sound legal basis to launch a comprehensive regulatory framework. Here, I would like to commend all the officers who have put in a great deal of effort in coming up with the provisions of this Bill. I note that they have covered practically all bases and provided enough provisions in the law to allow for flexibility as well as to allow for regulations to be made so that, as we implement these regulations, we will be able to adapt from our own experience. Casino Control Bill Sir, the Casino Control Bill will provide the legislative and regulatory framework to help to ensure that criminal activities associated with casino operation do not take root in Singapore, and to mitigate the potential negative consequences of the casinos on our society. The Bill comprises 13 Parts and deals with the key aspects of regulating casinos in Singapore. It has three broad objectives.”
“Investors' feedback In comparison, the investors' concerns were whether the various requirements were overly stringent and could affect their ability to raise funds or run their businesses effectively. We took into account the investors' feedback and suggestions, and decided to relax a number of operational controls on the casino operator that may interfere with their day-to-day operations. They include the requirement for the casino operator to seek the regulator's approval for the casino layout, and the powers to stipulate a minimum number or a maximum number of a particular type of game in the casino. The Casino Regulatory Authority's power to limit the number of hours that a casino can operate has also been removed from the draft. We believe that our supervision and regulation of the casinos will not be compromised by these changes. In response to feedback, the Government also decided to enact the Casino Control Bill early so that potential investors will have a better idea of our regulatory regime and what they can and cannot do. In addition, through this Casino Control Bill, the Government is committed to a number of measures to provide greater certainty and support to investors of our Integrated Resorts. This is because the Integrated Resorts require heavy investments. We want them to succeed after the investors have committed to spend billions of dollars on the projects. For instance, the casino tax rates will remain unchanged for 15 years. The two casino operators will also enjoy an exclusivity period of 10 years. During this period, no new casinos will be allowed.”
“Having studied more about the best practices across these jurisdictions, we have adapted the best practices and sound policies appropriate to our unique requirements. We aim to position our Integrated Resorts with the best in the world. Our regulatory standards, therefore, must necessarily be on par with theirs too. Public consultation My Ministry put up the draft Casino Control Bill for public consultation from 17th October to 11th November last year. Members of the public were invited to give their comments on the Bill. Potential investors of our integrated resorts were also invited to provide feedback on the Bill. We also sent the draft to regulators in the United States and Australia for comments. Public feedback The exercise has generated useful feedback from Singaporeans. Most of it pertained to specific social safeguards, such as the entry levy and exclusion orders, and not on crime, corruption or other law and order concerns traditionally associated with casinos. This suggests that there is public confidence in the Government's ability to manage the potential law and order issues associated with casinos. It is interesting to note that while some members of the public suggested that we should remove or lower the entry levy, there were others who supported the entry levy, and even suggested raising it higher and incorporating more entry criteria! On balance, we decided to keep the entry levy fees at $100 per 24 hours and $2,000 per year, as we felt that it should be adequate to discourage Singaporeans from picking up the gambling habit. Our response to the public feedback was posted on the Feedback Unit's e-Consultation portal on 13th December last year.”
“The Bill seeks to put in place a legislative and regulatory framework that will help provide an environment where the Integrated Resorts can succeed and thrive, while enabling us to keep social and law and order problems under control. Learning from other leading jurisdictions Since April last year, my Ministry has been studying the regulatory practices of well-known casino jurisdictions in other parts of the world. We studied multi-casino jurisdictions, such as Nevada and New Jersey in the United States; and single-casino jurisdictions, such as New South Wales and Victoria in Australia and Macau. I visited casinos and regulators in Las Vegas and Macau to appreciate first hand the challenges and issues of regulating an industry as complex and dynamic as casinos. Apart from Las Vegas and Macau, my officials also visited casino regulators and operators in New Jersey in the US and New South Wales and Victoria in Australia to learn from their experience. The issues and concerns across the various jurisdictions are not very different from ours. Each jurisdiction has chosen a slightly different approach to tackle specific issues, depending on its historical and legislative context, as well as the resources available. For instance, in the United States, the general practice is to divide the regulatory powers into a Commission, which sets the policies and collects licensing fees, and a separate Casino Control Board, to enforce the policies and conduct investigations. This reflects their preference for checks and balances. In Australia, however, the regulatory powers are centralised in a single agency for effectiveness and efficiency.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Background In April last year, the Government announced its decision to invite proposals to develop two Integrated Resorts with casinos in Singapore. This was debated over four days in Parliament during which many Members shared their concerns on gambling, stated their positions and made suggestions concerning casinos in Singapore. The Integrated Resorts was also a subject of vigorous public debate for over a year. There were many Singaporeans who supported the proposal for the Integrated Resorts as they will enhance Singapore's tourism appeal vis-a-vis other popular tourist destinations that are also reinventing themselves. The Integrated Resorts would provide a strong boost to our economy and create many new jobs for Singaporeans. At the same time, having casinos could mean more people gambling and getting themselves - and their families - into trouble. Concerns were expressed that crimes, such as loan sharking, money laundering and prostitution, could increase and tarnish Singapore's reputation as a clean, safe and secure place and that casino gambling could also erode values such as thrift and hard work that have underpinned Singapore's success. Finally, after much debate and deliberation, we decided to act in favour of what would bring more benefit to Singapore and Singaporeans, and to allow the Integrated Resorts to be built. At the same time, we will also take measures to minimise the undesirable effects of casino gambling, and put in appropriate safeguards to deter vulnerable persons from the casino. Sir, the Casino Control Bill that I have introduced in Parliament is an important milestone in the process of bringing the Integrated Resorts project to fruition.”
“Sir, the Committee was appointed in November. I hope the Committee will submit its report soon. I think that it should be soon. HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD RESALE FLATS (Rejection of applications due to ethnic integration ratio) 2. Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many applications for sale and purchase of resale flats had been rejected each year over the last five years due to the ethnic integration ratio and what percentage is this of the total number of resale applications received per year; (b) whether any waiver from this policy had ever been given and, if so, how many were given and what were the reasons; and (c) whether the HDB renders any assistance for cases where no waiver is given, to mitigate any hardship that may arise due to the application being rejected.”
“Sir, I do not have the answers to these questions because the report has not been submitted by the Committee. So I cannot tell the Member whether there will be an increase in the number of constituencies or whether there will be smaller GRCs or more single-Member constituencies.”
“The public will be pre-warned of an emergency exercise so that they are mentally prepared. We are mindful that any surprise emergency exercise involving large numbers of the public may lead to unnecessary panic and anxiety. Prior to an exercise, there will be publicity to give an indication of when the exercise would take place and what the public should expect. On the day of the exercise and just before the exercise commences, signs are put up and announcements are also made to assure the public that an exercise is being conducted and that there is no need to panic. Staff are deployed to guide, answer queries, and to explain the situation to members of the public who are affected by the exercise and who may not have understood the announcements. In addition, safety officers are deployed to look out for the safety of the public and to prevent accidents. Teams of paramedics and ambulances are also put on standby to respond to any injuries. The question of whether anyone would be responsible should there be a fatality during an emergency exercise depends on whether there is any negligence in the conduct of the exercise or the actions of the officers involved. The public can rest assured that every precaution will be taken to guard against this during the planning and execution of the exercise. OVERHEAD PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES (Accessible to elderly and disabled) 2. Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Transport whether the Ministry will (i) consider modifying the existing overhead pedestrian bridges which have very high steps, to make them more accessible to the elderly and disabled persons; and (ii) ensure that all new overhead pedestrian bridges that are built, will be elderly and disabled-friendly.”
“Ong Soh Khim asked the Minister for Transport whether his Ministry will (i) introduce a system of defining specific locations for taxis to pick up or drop off passengers as well as for passengers to wave down taxis; and (ii) penalise taxis for suddenly stopping to pick up or drop off passengers at any location they wish.”
“The total number of summonses issued for illegal parking from 1st January to 30th September 2005 was 153,000. The total monetary value of these summonses was $12 million.* For the corresponding period of 1st January to 30th September 1999, prior to the introduction of the Traffic Warden Scheme on 1st November 1999, the total number of summonses issued for illegal parking was 178,000. The total monetary value of these summonses was $13.5 million. The total number of summonses issued and the monetary value of such summonses are insufficient as indicators of the illegal parking problem. Traffic Police measures the seriousness of the illegal parking problem in each location by the number of summonses issued and the number of complaints received for that area. Since the introduction of the Traffic Warden Scheme, Traffic Police has seen a decrease in the number of locations with illegal parking problems. Finally, I would like to clarify that there are no plainclothes traffic wardens. All traffic wardens are in uniform when they are on duty. *This figure reflects the total composition amount of the corresponding summonses issued. The figure is not adjusted if (a) a summons is cancelled upon successful appeal; (b) a subject goes to court instead of taking up the composition offer; or (c) a subject pays a higher fine on the day of his court hearing. Column No : 2119 BOARDING AND ALIGHTING TAXIS (Accidents and measures ) 2. Assoc. Prof. Ong Soh Khim asked the Minister for Transport (a) what are the numbers of accidents caused by the sudden stopping of taxis along the roads to pick up or drop off passengers from the year 2002 to present; and (b) how many of these accidents have resulted in injuries and fatalities. 3. Assoc. Prof.”
“The Police has been upgrading its ability to deal with public order incidents. The Police has also conducted study trips to various conferences around the world to learn from the organisers and the Police Forces on dealing with such protests. In conclusion, let me assure you that the Police is well prepared to deal with militant protestors if they attempt to stage violent protests or demonstrations during the Annual Meetings. Column No : 2109 INDIVIDUALS COLLECTING AND SELLING CARDBOARD BOXES AND TIN CANS (Assistance) 25. Assoc. Prof. Ong Soh Khim asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports from 2002 to the present, (a) what are the numbers of individuals who make a living by (i) collecting and selling cardboards; (ii) collecting and selling tin cans; and (iii) selling tissues, food items, etc, at MRT stations and other public places; (b) how many of these individuals are in their sixties and seventies; (c) whether there are any VWOs that actively seek out these individuals to help them; and (d) what are the steps and actions that will be taken to help these individuals.”
“The World Bank and International Monetary Fund's (IMF) engagement of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at its Annual Meetings is a well established process, which includes various activities organised for the CSOs throughout the Annual Meetings. In order to participate in these activities, CSOs are required to be accredited with the World Bank and IMF. As host for the 2006 Annual Meetings, Singapore intends to follow this tradition of constructive engagement with accredited CSOs and provide the necessary framework and support for this process. However, the accredited CSOs would still need to abide by Singapore's laws. In particular, any person or group that wishes to organise an assembly or a procession would have to observe the requirements and procedures specified under the Miscellaneous Offences Act. The existing law on assemblies and processions requires all organisers, foreign or local, to apply to the Police for a permit. In evaluating such applications, the Police would consider the potential impact on law and order as well as the suitability of the proposed location. The Police would not hesitate to investigate and prosecute any breach of our laws. This is especially so for any person or groups committing violent crimes such as vandalism, arson and causing hurt which would attract severe punishment, including caning and imprisonment. Comprehensive measures would be put in place to prevent and deal with violent protestors during the 2006 Annual Meetings. We will step up security at sites hosting the 2006 Annual Meeting events and at hotels housing the delegates. Police officers will be deployed at such locations to respond swiftly to deal with violent protestors and restore law and order.”
“The amendments to the INSA will bring it in line with the MDA and help to enhance the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the CNB. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr Wong Kan Seng]. Bill considered in Committee. [Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr S Iswaran) in the Chair]”
“As inhalant abusers can be involved in other crimes, just like other drug abusers, it is important that the DNA profiles, finger impressions and photographs of inhalant abusers are also collected and stored for purposes of investigation. Hence, clause 6 of the INSA Bill inserts new sections 26A to 26D into the INSA to provide for the taking and keeping of body samples for DNA profiling, finger impressions and photographs of inhalant abusers. Other amendments to the INSA Sir, I will now move on to the other amendments to the INSA. As we are amending the MDA so that CNB is not limited to relying only on HSA for conducting drug analysis, we are similarly amending the INSA so that CNB would not be restricted to using HSA for conducting analysis of the blood to detect inhalant abuse. Clauses 3 and 4 of the INSA Bill thus amend sections 14 and 15 of the Act respectively to allow CNB to employ the services of other laboratories, other than HSA, to conduct analysis of the blood to detect inhalant abuse. Next, Sir, the Director of CNB currently does not have the power under INSA to impose a supervision order on a person discharged from a prison or DRC other than the "approved centres". Clause 5 amends section 16 to provide the Director of CNB with such powers. This is to cater for cases where an inhalant abuser could be serving sentence in a prison or DRC other than "approved centres" for other criminal charges. Supervision of these inhalant abusers will help to ensure that they do not go back to inhalant abuse after their release. Conclusion To conclude, the Ministry of Home Affairs will continue to monitor the inhalant abuse situation and deal with abusers.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Introduction Sir, the inhalant abuse situation in Singapore remains very much under control. Examples of inhalant abuse include the sniffing of glue and paint thinners. Looking at the inhalant abuse situation over the past decade, we see that the number of abusers arrested has come down from a high of 423 in 1996 to about 140 last year. Although last year's figure is higher than the record low of 82 abusers arrested in 2001, it is only about one-third of the level in 1996. As at end 2005, the inhalant abuser population in approved centres has dwindled to only three. Nevertheless, we will continue to monitor the situation on the ground and take enforcement action where necessary. Although the numbers are small, we will need to ensure that inhalant abusers are not treated differently from other drug abusers. As such, we are amending the Intoxicating Substances Act (INSA) so that it is consistent with the amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) that I had covered earlier. These amendments to the INSA will also help to enhance the administrative and operational efficiency of the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB). Key amendment to the INSA Sir, the key amendment to the Intoxicating Substances Act is the DNA profiling of inhalant abusers. I had mentioned in my speech on the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill that the MDA will be amended to provide for the taking and keeping of body samples for DNA profiling, finger impressions and photographs of drug abusers committed to DRCs and drug supervisees.”
“Conclusion Sir, to conclude, although the overall drug situation remains under control, we must press on resolutely with our efforts. In particular, if the new generation of Singaporeans see synthetic drugs as fashionable and acceptable, we will be down a very slippery slope. There is therefore a need to continue to be vigilant and to inculcate zero tolerance against all forms of illegal drugs at all levels of our society. In this context, these amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act will provide for better drug enforcement and deterrence and enable us to gear up for the new battlefront of synthetic drugs in our war against drugs. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr Wong Kan Seng]. Bill considered in Committee. [Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr S Iswaran) in the Chair]”
“Extension of the period of supervision for drug abusers Sir, the Director of CNB is currently empowered under the MDA to make a supervision order on drug abusers for a period not exceeding two years. However, there is no provision in the MDA to empower him to extend the supervision order which may be necessary if the order is disrupted when the supervisee commits a drug or penal offence and goes into prison, or stays overseas on employment. So clauses 9 and 11 of the MDA Bill thus amend sections 34 and 58 respectively to empower the Director of CNB to extend the period of supervision of drug abusers for a period not exceeding two years, if these abusers did not successfully complete the two years of supervision because they absconded or were imprisoned for other offences. Engagement of other service providers for conducting drug analysis Next, clause 4 of the MDA Bill amends section 16 of the MDA to allow CNB to employ the services of other laboratories, other than the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), to conduct drug analysis. This amendment is made because, currently, the MDA states that a certificate signed by an analyst employed by the HSA shall be admitted as prima facie evidence for an offence under the respective Acts. If CNB engages the services of other laboratories to conduct drug analysis, the findings of these laboratories will not be deemed as prima facie evidence and may be subject to challenge in court. Hence, these amendments will ensure that CNB is not restricted to rely only on HSA for conducting drug analysis. Similar amendments will also be made to the Intoxicating Substances Act, which I will explain later when I move the Second Reading of the Intoxicating Substances (Amendment) Bill.”
“DNA profiling of drug abusers committed to DRCs and drug supervisees Sir, I will now address the issue of DNA profiling of drug abusers committed to DRCs and drug supervisees. DNA profiling is widely used in forensic investigations in many countries. Our Registration of Criminals Act was amended in 2002 to provide for the establishment of a DNA database of criminals convicted in courts. Further, in year 2004, the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions), or CL(TP), Act was amended to provide for the taking of body samples for DNA profiling, in addition to finger impressions and photographs, of persons arrested, detained or placed on supervision under the CL(TP) Act. However, there is currently no provision in the MDA for the taking and keeping of body samples for DNA profiling, in addition to finger impressions and photographs, for drug abusers committed to DRCs and drug supervisees. As drug abusers have been known to turn to crime to feed their habits and addictions, it is important that the DNA profiles, finger impressions and photographs of these drug abusers are collected and stored for purposes of investigation. Hence, clause 10 of the MDA Bill inserts new sections 40A to 40D into the MDA to provide for the taking and keeping of body samples for DNA profiling, finger impressions and photographs of drug abusers committed to DRCs and drug supervisees. A similar amendment will be made to the Intoxicating Substances Act, which I will cover later during the Second Reading of the Intoxicating Substances (Amendment) Bill. Other amendments to the MDA Sir, I now turn to other amendments to the MDA to enhance the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the CNB. Let me highlight the more important ones.”
“Similar to the current long-term imprisonment regime 1 (LT1) for heroin abusers, these synthetic drug abusers will be sent to prison for a minimum of five years and a maximum of seven years, and will be given a minimum of three and a maximum of six strokes of the cane. Those who relapse upon their release from LT1 will be sentenced to imprisonment for a minimum of seven years and a maximum of 13 years as well as a minimum of six and a maximum of 12 strokes of the cane. Essentially, this new approach means that, regardless of whether it is heroin or synthetic drugs, abusers will be subject to the same penalty regime. Inclusion of 'Foxy' (5-MeO-DIPT) as a Class A drug Sir, the next amendment is the inclusion of a new synthetic drug called 'Foxy' as a Class A controlled drug. In August 2004, there were two seizures of the synthetic drug 'Foxy' at Zouk Disco. This drug belongs to a class of chemicals known as Tryptamines. It is currently not controlled under the MDA, although several other Tryptamines have already been listed as Class A controlled drugs in the Act. 'Foxy' abusers will typically experience a multitude of effects, which include hallucinations, euphoria, dilated pupils, visual and auditory disturbances or distortions, and emotional distress. The Health Sciences Authority, or HSA, has advised the Central Narcotics Bureau, or CNB, to consider including it as a Class A controlled drug. The Singapore Medical Council and the Centre for Drug Administration, or CDA, have no objections to include 'Foxy' as a Class A controlled drug in the MDA. The Centre for Drug Administration also pointed out that there is no known medicinal or clinical use for this substance. Hence, clause 12 of the MDA Bill amends the First Schedule to include 'Foxy' as a Class A controlled drug.”
“Long-term imprisonment regime for recalcitrant synthetic drug abusers Let me now turn to the next key amendment, which is the proposed long-term imprisonment regime for recalcitrant synthetic drug abusers. The long-term imprisonment regime for recalcitrant heroin abusers was first introduced in 1998. Under this regime, heroin abusers who do not change after two admissions into the Drug Rehabilitation Centres (DRCs) will be charged in court if they are arrested for the third time or more. If they are convicted, they will be sentenced to prison for five to 13 years and given three to 12 strokes of the cane. The long-term imprisonment regime was a major factor in breaking the heroin problem. This tough policy achieved its purpose of taking recalcitrant heroin abusers out of circulation to prevent them from contaminating others in becoming drug abusers. It also stopped hardcore heroin abusers from continuing with their drug-taking habits. In July last year, the Prisons Department implemented a new rehabilitation regime in the DRCs, specially tailored to the treatment of first and second-time synthetic drug abusers. These include abusers of 'Ecstasy', Ketamine, Methamphetamine, and Nimetazepam. However, while a rehabilitative approach is taken for these synthetic drug abusers, there is also a need to deal firmly with recalcitrant abusers for persisting with their drug habit and to deter potential drug abusers from falling into the drug trap. Hence, clause 8 of the MDA Bill amends section 33A to place synthetic drug abusers who are arrested for the third or more time on the long-term imprisonment regime.”
“In addition, despite the improved situation in Ketamine abuse, the seizure of Ketamine in 2005 increased to 8 kg as compared to 4.7 kg in 2004, that means, despite the numbers of traffickers and abusers going down, the quantity of Ketamine being supplied to the market and seized actually went up. To deter would-be offenders from trafficking in Ketamine, clause 12 of the MDA Bill amends the First Schedule to upgrade Ketamine from a Class B to a Class A controlled drug. This would increase the penalties for trafficking in Ketamine to five to 20 years of imprisonment and five to 15 strokes of the cane. In addition, clause 5 of the MDA Bill amends section 17 to extend the presumption clause for trafficking to Ketamine. Any person who has in his possession of more than 113 grammes of Ketamine shall be presumed to be in possession of Ketamine for the purpose of trafficking and the onus is on him to prove that his possession of Ketamine was not for that purpose. This amount of 113 grammes of Ketamine is equivalent to 100 times the estimated daily dosage of the drug for an abuser. This basis is the same as that used for deriving the presumption amounts for other drugs, such as methamphetamine, 'Ecstasy' and heroin. Just to give you an idea of what 100 shots of Ketamine cost. 113 grammes of Ketamine cost about $8,000 in market value. This means that if a person needs to spend $8,000 on Ketamine for himself, then he cannot be doing for himself, he must be trafficking. That is the basis for the presumption. These changes will bring Ketamine on par with the other synthetic drugs like methamphetamine and 'Ecstasy', which are already Class A controlled drugs.”
“Sir, the objectives of the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill that I am presenting today are to provide for better drug enforcement and deterrence, particularly against synthetic drugs, and to enhance the operational efficiency of the Central Narcotics Bureau. Let me now explain the key amendments. Key amendments to the MDA Stiffer penalties against trafficking in Ketamine First, the Misuse of Drugs Act (MDA) amendments provide for stiffer penalties against trafficking in Ketamine. Ketamine was first listed as a Class B controlled drug in September 1999. As a Class B controlled drug, the penalties for trafficking in Ketamine are three to 20 years of imprisonment and three to 10 strokes of the cane. From year 2000 to year 2003, both the number of Ketamine abusers and traffickers saw significant increases. The number of Ketamine abusers increased from 78 in 2000 to 497 in 2003, while the number of traffickers increased from 23 in 2000 to 152 in 2003. In 2004, the Ketamine abuse situation registered an improvement for the first time with a drop of 38% in the number of Ketamine abusers to just 306, while the number of Ketamine traffickers arrested remained relatively constant at about 150. The Ketamine situation continues to show an improvement in 2005. The number of abusers decreased from 306 in 2004 to 201 in 2005. The number of Ketamine traffickers has also decreased from 150 to 102 in 2004 and 2005 respectively. However, although the abuse and trafficking of Ketamine has declined in 2005, Ketamine abusers and traffickers continue to form the majority of abusers and traffickers arrested. Indeed, Ketamine abusers formed the largest proportion of abusers arrested at 26%, while Ketamine traffickers formed 24% of traffickers arrested in 2005.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Introduction Sir, the Singapore drug situation has improved significantly as compared to a decade ago. The number of drug abusers arrested dropped from over 6,000 in 1994 to less than 800 in 2005. The number of new abusers also dropped from about 1,300 in 1994 to around 450 last year. In addition, the total drug abuser population in the Drug Rehabilitation Centres, or DRCs, which was at a record high of around 8,900 in 1994, has decreased to only about 190 in 2005. The relapse rate of drug abusers has declined from 68% in 1994 to just about 5% last year. But as I have said many times before, the war against drugs is not over. While the overall drug situation has improved, there is the emerging threat of synthetic drugs such as 'Ecstasy', Ketamine, Methamphetamine, and Nimetazepam. Indeed, the trafficking and abuse of synthetic drugs continues to be a major concern in the region. Some countries in the region have become major producers of methamphetamine. Last year, clandestine laboratories used for the production of methamphetamine and 'Ecstasy' were dismantled in some of these countries, including one laboratory with a production capacity of 100,000 'Ecstasy' tablets per hour. Sizeable drug storage facilities were also discovered. Our proximity to these countries makes us vulnerable to potential spillover effects. In fact, synthetic drug abusers made up about three quarters (78%) of the drug abusers arrested in Singapore last year. We must therefore continue to keep our local drug situation under control, as the worsening drug situation in our neighbouring countries can have an adverse impact on us.”
“The Police will look at all ways and means to make it easier and transparent for the people. At the same time, they must also be seen to be fair. Whether people queue for two hours, five hours or 24 hours, I think that is very much left to the initiative of the individuals. Column No : 2001 MANUFACTURING SECTOR (Employment of diploma and degree holders) The following Question stood in the name of Mdm Ho Geok Choo- 21. To ask the Minister for Manpower, in view of Singapore's switch to high value added manufacturing industries (a) what is the percentage shift in the number of diploma and degree holders employed in this sector in 2004 and 2005 as compared to 1995; and (b) what is the trend in the labour productivity output in the manufacturing sector.”
“Sir, I do not think it is the Police's job to decide who chooses it first. The system is there for people to see and Mr Low knows how it is done and it is for him to work it out himself. Surely, the rally is not the only occasion for the political parties to reach out to the people. The PAP does it all the time, so does the Workers' Party, and so do, I believe, all the other political parties that have an interest to contest in an election. If he thinks that the only time for him to get to the ground is through the rally, maybe he has not worked hard enough. But I think the Workers' Party has worked very hard. So do not be diffident about this.”
“Sir, it looks like Mr Low is very familiar with the queuing system and, surely, the PAP cannot have the monopoly of queuing in front all the time. Since the Opposition is aware that allocation is on a first-come, first-served basis, then they go there and queue. I suppose that is the most transparent of all the systems. The Police is not in a position to decide whether it is desirable or not desirable. It has made available the facilities. It has made available to all concerned who want to contest the timing for the issue of the permit. At the same time, everyone is familiar with what is required to apply for such a permit to hold an election rally. So I am sure that political parties, being ingenious as they are, will know what to do to deal with the situation in order to cope with the competition that they face. I think that is the best for all. And if Mr Low thinks he has been done in, then it is time that he be better prepared.”
“To educate the Member! Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: Sir, as DPM has replied on my behalf, it is to educate the Member. The purpose of bottling NEWater is really to get Singaporeans used to the idea of NEWater. We have mentioned this before in Parliament. The former Minister for the Environment had mentioned that we added only a small amount to our reservoir, because no country in the world drink it directly. So, at the end of the day, this is a practice to get Singaporeans ready. And as Members can see, during major occasions such as National Day, Singaporeans show that if we have to, we will drink it. But I think the more important message is that we get Singaporeans comfortable with the idea of NEWater.”