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.”
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“Nevertheless, where the Government can help, it will, and it has already done so. For example, to deter people from committing robbery in lifts, CCTVs and lift doors with glass panels are already progressively introduced in our HDB estates. Members would have seen these in the newer estates and upgraded HDB precincts. I would encourage the private condominium developers to also do the same. On youth crime, Sir, several Members have raised concern over the increase, in particular, shop theft and rioting. Several Members asked what is being done to address this problem. Last year saw a marginal increase of 5% in the number of youths arrested, from 4,441 to 4,658. This is a much smaller increase compared to the 61% increase from 2001 to 2002. Similar to the trends in the previous years, 60% of the youths were arrested for shop theft, simple theft and rioting. First-time offenders made up 70% while 74% were students. Just like the overall crime rate, we should not read too much into these fluctuations. Mr Ahmad Khalis asked about the fluctuations in previous years and what were the figures and whether we share such information concerning the profile of these people. The fact is that, firstly, the figures can go up and down year after year. What is important, however, is to focus on the comprehensive slew of programmes and measures to deal with youth crime. This issue is coordinated and led by the Inter-Ministry Committee on Youth Crime (IMYC) chaired by Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs, Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee. This inter-agency collaboration provides a useful platform to examine important issues concerning juvenile delinquency and youth crime, and to discuss preventive measures to address these issues.”
“Besides the elderly, there are also other vulnerable groups such as young children, the handicapped and people with mental deficiencies who may be vulnerable and fall prey to crime. Do we then prescribe heavier penalties for offences committed against these groups of people? The answer must be no, we should not do that. A better and more pragmatic approach is that, at the prosecution level, when the case is being put up in court, the prosecution will ask for a deterrent sentence, after taking into consideration the various aggravating factors, including the circumstances in which the crime was committed. That is a better approach. In other words, if there are reasons why a deterrent sentence should be asked for, an offence, which has been committed against an elderly person or a young child, then it will be up to the prosecutor to make his case for a deterrent sentence. This will give flexibility in the application of the law. Let me give an example. In the case of a serial robber who preyed on the elderly, the offender was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment and 24 strokes of the cane. Already, the prosecution knows what to do when there is a need to ask for an increased penalty. Besides tracking offenders and bringing them to justice, the Police also works with other agencies to organise crime prevention activities. Last year, there were over 1,100 of such events reaching out to nearly 110,000 elderly persons. Those with elderly persons in their family can help by explaining the various crime prevention messages to the elderly. Prof. Ngiam suggested that elderly persons be equipped with personal devices, such as sirens, like some ladies used to carry. These are already widely available. If the elderly want to use it, it is up to them to decide.”
“As it is with the issue of counter terrorism, all Singaporeans have a part to play. On crimes against the elderly, Sir, a few Members expressed concern over crimes committed against the elderly. In year 2003, there were 104 elderly victims of robbery, a slight increase from the 95 cases in 2002. Many of these were actually committed by two serial offenders. One of them was responsible for over 50 cases of robbery, most of which were committed against elderly persons. The number of elderly persons who were cheated also rose from 63 to 87 last year. 11.45 am Although these numbers are small when compared to the 389,000 elderly persons in Singapore - by that, I mean those who are aged 60 and above - Police views such crimes seriously and will spare no effort to track down the perpetrators. In 2002, Police noted a spate of robbery, snatch theft and cheating cases committed against the elderly. Only 21% of the cases were solved at that time. Police quickly intensified its crime prevention and public education efforts. This bore some results as Police managed to solve half of such cases last year. Mr Heng Chee How suggested prescribing tougher penalties in the law for those who commit a crime on an elderly person. The Member no doubt drew this idea from the enhanced penalties we have for specific offences in the Penal Code when these are committed against a domestic worker by the employer or member of the employer's household. These provisions were introduced as domestic workers are kept in the confines of their employer's home and isolated from the rest of the community for most of the time. This makes them more vulnerable to being abused by the employer. But the situation is slightly different here for the elderly, for the young and so on.”
“Sir, many Members have spoken on the rising crime rate and expressed concerns on specific areas concerning law and order, youth crimes, crime against the elderly, and so on. Let me first touch on the overall crime situation so that we can all see this in perspective and not just look at little peaks from time to time on specific issues and then get too concerned about it. Of course, we are very concerned about every increase and every aspect of crime. I will deal with them one after another later on. On the overall crime situation, last year, the total seizable offences increased by about 5% to around 33,600 compared to the year 2002. The corresponding increase from 2001 to 2002 was 10%. That means that we increased at a slower rate. The increase was mainly attributed to increases in offences, such as drink-driving, housebreaking, cheating and related offences. The increase was also due in part to the intensified policing efforts which resulted in more arrests. Last year, nearly 24,000 persons were arrested, an increase of about 8% over that of 2002. These figures should, however, be seen in the context of an overall declining crime rate since 1988. The crime rate in 2003 is still lower than that in 2000. It works out to about 800 crimes per 100,000 population, a figure lower than that in many other parts of the world. Singapore remains a safe place to live, work and bring up families. As I have said, even during times when the crime rate was falling, the reality is that the crime rate will go up and down from year to year. It will fluctuate. Whichever way it goes, the police will continue to take effective steps and work with the community to keep Singapore safe and secure. Keeping Singapore safe and secure is not just the primary responsibility of the Police.”
“The right against terrorism will be for the long haul because terrorism has become a global and regional phenomenon. Dr Mohamad Maliki would be happy to hear that we will continually adjust our strategies to suit changing conditions and seek international cooperation to narrow the space for terrorists to operate. However, whilst the Government can take all the necessary measures, we need the public and the business community to be firmly with us as strategic partners in the fight against terrorism. I am confident that we can win this fight, just as we have overcome the deadly SARS with our tenacity, determination and unity. Youth Crime”
“It has met regularly over the years to discuss contingency plans for managing crisis situations for a wide range of scenarios including terrorist bomb explosions, hostage situations, aircraft hijacks and civil emergencies, like building collapses and air crashes. More recently, the EG was activated to help the Ministerial Committee to manage the SARS crisis. It is currently maintaining an oversight on the Avian flu situation, and coordinating the inter-agency contingency plans to handle an outbreak, if one should occur in Singapore. Sir, my Ministry has reviewed the crisis management structure in order to improve it. The Ministerial Committee, which I chair as the Minister for Home Affairs, will be formalised as part of our crisis management framework. It will provide policy guidance during a national crisis. The Ministerial Committee will be named the "Homefront Crisis Ministerial Committee", while the Executive Group will be renamed the "Homefront Crisis Management Executive Group" and its scope expanded to deal with all civil contingencies, including security related ones. Multi-agency subgroups that report to the Executive Group can be formed, where necessary, so that cross-agency issues can be coordinated and resolved quickly. A Homefront Crisis Management Centre will be established to support the Ministerial Committee and the Executive Group to maintain the latest situation pictures and perform horizon scanning of emerging potential threats. The enhancement to the crisis management structure will enable my Ministry to plan for contingency responses more holistically. 11.30 am Sir, our multi-pronged strategies and integrated approach towards security have thus far kept the threat of terrorism at bay.”
“The Task Force has identified a number of preliminary tasks, including strengthening multilateral cooperation, enhancing coordinated patrols and other operational measures to deal with the issue of maritime terrorism, and enhancing law enforcement to deal with piracy. Sir, the Government has put in place a strategic National Security Framework, which enables strategic policy coordination and intelligence sharing among the Home Team, MINDEF, SAF and other Government agencies involved in security and counter-terrorism. This synergy, among these agencies, has been greatly enhanced since September 11, with the creation of new outfits, such as the National Security Task Force, the Homefront Security Office and the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority. These structures enable us to integrate our counter-terrorism efforts and streamline coordination between MINDEF, MHA and other Government agencies. Nevertheless, DPM and Coordinating Minister for Security and Defence, Dr Tan, is currently leading a review of our Strategic Framework for National Security to make our policy coordination and intelligence sharing even more seamless and sustainable in the long term. Within my Ministry, we have reviewed our operational coordination framework to dovetail the overall strategic framework review. Sir, since 1978, the Government has an inter-agency management structure called the Executive Group (EG), which is tasked to manage all civil security-related incidents. The EG is headed by my Ministry comprising the Permanent Secretaries of Ministries and Chief Executive Officers of statutory boards. It has been successfully tested in such crises as the rescue efforts when Hotel New World collapsed in 1986, and the hijacking of SQ 117 in 1991.”
“All ASEAN nations, Japan, China, Korea, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are working under ReCAP to set up an information network and a cooperation regime to prevent piracy and armed robbery against ships in the regional waters. We have worked closely with our neighbours too. One such example is the IndoSin Coordinated Patrols, a bilateral anti-sea robbery cooperation between Singapore and Indonesia, involving both the navies and police coast guards. Mr Yatiman Yusof and Mr Tan Soo Khoon also mentioned the dire consequences if a tanker were hijacked and used as a bomb as it is piloted towards our shores. To minimise this threat, vessels deemed to be of higher risks must give a 24-hour advance notice of their arrival, and are required to move along specific designated routes. Their movements are closely tracked using our Vessel Traffic Information System and the Automatic Identification System by the MPA. As a deterrent, the Navy also carries out selective escort of high value or high risk vessels through the Singapore Straits. As piracy attacks and maritime terrorism grow in sophistication and complexity, we need to adopt a multifaceted approach on maritime security and to strengthen our linkages with the Government agencies. I would like to assure the House that my Ministry works closely with the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Transport, the Maritime and Port Authority in maritime security. DPM and Coordinating Minister for Security and Defence, Dr Tony Tan, recently announced the creation of a high-level Maritime Security Task Force to tackle piracy and to further strengthen our maritime security.”
“The Police Coast Guard's strong enforcement efforts have been highly effective. One measure of success is that since 1990, there has been only one reported sea robbery incident within our Singapore waters. We have also received intelligence that the stepped-up measures to safeguard our territorial waters have made it difficult for human smuggling syndicates to convey illegal immigrants to Singapore by sea that they now have to resort to asking the illegal immigrants to swim to our shores under the cover of darkness. Sir, we have also taken a serious review on our port security. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is implementing security measures to meet the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) newly introduced International Ship and Port Facilitiy Security (ISPS) Code. In the pipeline are other proposals like the need for all vessels, including Singapore registered small craft, to be fitted with transponders to let authorities identify them electronically. This is beyond the IMO requirement for identification transponders for vessels above 300 gross tonnes. Nonetheless, Mr Yatiman and Mr Tan Soo Khoon correctly pointed out that there has been an increase of piracy attacks, and a real risk of terrorists collaborating with pirates outside Singapore territorial waters, especially in the Straits of Malacca. This is a vital waterway not only for us but also to the world. International and regional cooperation is key to preventing terrorist attacks and piracy and ensuring the safety of our sea lanes. One international initiative to address piracy is the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Anti-Piracy in Asia (ReCAP).”
“We also assisted the Indonesian authorities in their prosecution of cases by allowing the detainees they had interviewed and who were willing to testify through video-conferencing at the trial of Abu Bakar Bashir. International cooperation is critical also in the area of aviation security. Our air marshals are operationally ready and are flying to selected countries, providing security cover to our national carriers. This arrangement allows us to meet foreign demands for protection for our national carriers flying to other countries. We are also working towards developing a protection system for our airlines against the threat of surface-to-air missiles. Mr Tan Soo Khoon asked what my Ministry has done to deal with the threat of maritime terrorism and piracy. Mdm Ho Geok Choo has also asked on the extent that our Police Coast Guard (PCG) has beefed up its resources. Within Singapore waters, Sir, the Police Coast Guard undertakes law enforcement and security policing. Mdm Ho would be assured to know that the PCG has increased its manpower establishment by 134 permanent posts, so that the security operational deployment within our Singapore territorial waters will be strengthened. PCG has also developed projects to boost its training and operational capability. These projects include enhancing surveillance and monitoring capabilities, and buying new training simulators to improve the realism and the scope of training options for our PCG officers. All these projects serve to improve the effectiveness and professionalism of our PCG officers. The PCG will continue to upgrade its capabilities to face new challenges. On the landward side, the security of facilities serving maritime assets has also been enhanced.”
“That would cause a lot of anxiety to our population. Although our security measures are resource-intensive, I would like to assure Prof. Chin and the House that our success on the terrorism front has not come at the expense of Police law enforcement duties. The Police has made the organisational adjustments to meet the surge for manpower, for example, by increasing recalls of operationally ready National Servicemen and deploying officers in staff positions to operations. I would elaborate on this later on. Sir, international cooperation is a vital component in the fight against terrorism because terrorism is a transnational problem which no country can fight alone. My Ministry has been sharing intelligence about terrorist identities, movements and activities with other countries. This has contributed to several successes, such as the arrest of the JI members, like Hambali, Fathur Rohman Al-Ghozi, Arifin Ali and the Singapore JI leader, Mas Selamat Kastari, in our neighbouring countries. Arifin's arrest had in turn led to the discovery of a terrorist plot to bomb certain embassies and targets in Bangkok, and the Singapore Embassy was one of those targets. This gave the Thai authorities the lead to investigate and arrest the culprits before they could complete their planning, thus averting a tragedy. Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked about our cooperation with the Malaysians and the Indonesians. I wish to inform Members that cooperation with the Malaysians has been invaluable in our efforts against the JI. The Malaysians were the first foreign intelligence counterparts that ISD alerted on the JI case. We gave law enforcement officers from Malaysia and Indonesia access to our JI detainees to assist them in their investigations.”
“The Singapore Civil Defence Force formally introduced the In-place Protection Procedure to public housing during Civil Defence Day in September last year, to help residents protect themselves against a hazardous materials release or terrorist attack. The in-place protection procedure is being progressively extended from residential buildings to commercial and industrial ones through their Fire Safety Managers. In January this year, the occupants of some 13 commercial buildings around the Raffles Place MRT station successfully exercised the in-place protection procedure during a multi-agency exercise simulating the release of a chemical agent within the station. The SCDF will engage more companies this year to guide them in designing in-place protection plans. The Police also engage the community on security threats. They have distributed information pamphlets on counter-terrorism responses and instituted target-hardening mobilisation exercises. To-date, 51 Security Watch Groups, comprising representatives from 357 buildings, have been formed to encourage private building owners and security managers to implement target hardening measures. 11.15 am Dr Mohamad Maliki asked whether we use a colour code in our public alert system like some other countries, for example, the United States. No, we do not. Instead, we inform those who are the potential target of a terrorist attack directly and quickly so that they can swiftly take the appropriate preventive and protective measures. This approach has served us well. It ensures that we do what we need to do, without generating unnecessary anxiety among the general population. If not, every time we raise a code, people get anxious; we bring it down, they will say, "Times are back to peaceful time again", and so on.”
“For the business community, in particular, the briefings seek to increase their security awareness and encourage them to take ownership of their own security. After the Jakarta Marriott Hotel bombing last year, about 300 CEOs and senior management of hotels and major commercial buildings were briefed, and given a security handbook "Guide to Securing Your Organisation's Security". I was encouraged to note that our efforts had been effective when I read a Straits Times' article on 10th December last year that hotels were treating the terrorist threat seriously, and were beefing up security on their premises. Some had set up clusters to coordinate anti-terror responses, while others had implemented security measures like restricting parking at critical frontages or erecting anti-charging barricades to deter vehicles from charging in. For the general community, our efforts are aimed at educating everyone about the security threat and the measures that they can take to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) plays a key role in these efforts. It has refocused the theme of its Community Emergency Exercises to prepare the community for a terrorist attack. It has also enhanced the role of its civil defence volunteers. The Home Team, together with the People's Association, will build on the network of civil defence volunteers, in rolling out a new grassroots programme to prepare residents to deal with such emergencies as infectious disease outbreaks, water shortages and bomb blasts. I am pleased to note that the idea of forming teams to deal with emergencies was suggested by the grassroots leaders themselves - it indicates that our efforts to involve the community in security are making good progress.”
“But the occasional inconveniences are but a small price to pay to enhance our security. Let me add that our officers at the border control points have done very well in responding to the added security demands placed on them. Sir, the Government has done much to protect Singapore against terrorist attacks. But the war on terror is a shared responsibility between the Government and our people and businesses. Everyone must be aware of the terrorist threat and play his part in fighting terrorism. In the White Paper on the JI that we tabled here last year, the Government had asked Singaporeans to approach the authorities if they were aware of terrorist or other suspicious activities. I am pleased to report that Singaporeans have indeed become more alert. Last year, the authorities received some 120 calls, that is, one call every three days, from members of the public about suspicious people or vehicles. Such efforts increase our chances of busting yet another terrorist plot or attack. It is also important to strengthen our social cohesion and resilience as a society, so that Singaporeans are strong enough to carry on with their lives, even if a terrorist incident were to take place. To achieve this goal, my Ministry works closely with other agencies, such as MITA, which drive mass-awareness programmes and public education efforts like the "Anti-Terrorism Preparedness Workshops" at the constituency level. The Home Team is also engaging the community directly on security issues. For example, we have conducted nearly 1,000 briefings to build awareness of the terrorist threat and encourage everyone to assist the Government in combating terrorism.”
“We make good use of technology to ensure effective checks, despite the heavy volume of visitors and vehicles. For example, radiographic scanners are deployed to screen sea cargo at PSA sea terminals at Tanjong Pagar and Pasir Panjang. We will buy more such scanners to beef up our cargo screen capacity at our checkpoints. Second, we have enhanced security for critical installations and "hardened" "soft targets" in Singapore. Recently, enhanced security measures were taken at areas where large numbers of people congregate, such as Mohamed Sultan Road, to minimise the possibility and impact of bomb attacks. Third, we are acting to deter terrorists from mounting unconventional attacks in Singapore. Licences are now required for the import, transport and storage of flammable substances such as magnesium and hydrogen over a certain threshold quantity. We have also taken steps to prevent terrorists from gaining access to dual-use goods like explosive precursors, radioactive substances and toxic materials. A security review of critical biological laboratories has been carried out to reduce the likelihood of terrorists getting hold of highly contagious pathogens from the laboratories in Singapore. Dr Mohamad Maliki has asked if the enhanced security measures have affected the productivity at our checkpoints. In the current global security environment, Singapore is not the only country that must balance efficiency with security needs. With the ongoing terrorist threat, we must build security considerations into the way we conduct commerce and businesses. Members may recall that last year, I informed the House that as we stepped up security checks at our checkpoints, some inconveniences might be experienced during peak hours.”
“They would have undergone a more structured religious indoctrination at radical madrasahs, and trained with established foreign militant groups like Al Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Tayyiba. Moreover, the fact that the JI has gone beyond Southeast Asia into South Asia demonstrates its resourcefulness and ability to network with other terrorist groups. Mr Ravindran also asked about our state of readiness in preventing terrorist attacks in Singapore. We are well prepared. Till now, we have been able to stop planned attacks by using a combination of good intelligence, international cooperation and security measures, which we review regularly to keep pace with the changing conditions. Mr Ravindran also raised the issue of whether our security agencies have become better at sharing intelligence. Intelligence sharing is not new. After September 11, we strengthened our inter-agency cooperation on counter-terrorism. A Joint Counter-Terrorism Centre, hosted by the Internal Security Department (ISD) and the Security Intelligence Division (SID), was set up to provide intelligence assessment on terrorism. ISD's Counter-Terrorism Research Division maintains a round-the-clock website for the security and intelligence community in Singapore. This website houses a terrorism database and postings of the latest terrorist threat alerts and information for immediate dissemination to all significant parties who need to know. Sir, let me update the House on some of the key measures we have taken to strengthen security. First, we have imposed 100% security screening of visitors and vehicles entering Singapore by land since March 2003 to prevent terrorist infiltration and the smuggling in of arms and explosives.”
“"Soft targets" remain the greatest risk of another attack, as terrorists, who are constantly on the look-out for opportunities to carry out their operations, face more obstacles in targeting hard or heavily fortified targets like embassies. The Philippines continues to experience sporadic incidents perpetrated by suspected militants, while southern Thailand recently faced a spate of attacks early this year beginning with a raid on one of its military armouries. Mr Ravindran has asked for an assessment of the terrorist threat faced by Singapore. Terrorism still poses the gravest threat to our country's security. Singapore remains a prime target for attack. The regional JI terrorist group has not been eliminated despite the arrests of key JI terrorists like Hambali and Arifin Ali and our crippling of the local JI network through a series of security operations that began in December 2001. The most recent one was the January 2004 detention of two more JI members and the placing of restriction orders on 12 Singaporeans. JI militants, like Azahari Husin (who is an expert bomb maker), Noor Din Mohd Top, Dulmatin and Zulkarnaen remain at large, and are reportedly planning more terrorist attacks. Another concern is that the JI has shown itself to be a resilient organisation, which is already grooming its next generation of leaders and operatives. This is evident in the recent discovery of the JI "Al Ghuraba" (foreigners) cell in Pakistan in September 2003. What is more disturbing is that the arrests in Pakistan indicate that the next generation of JI leaders, if they are not stopped in their tracks, would be "better educated" and better trained.”
“Sir, may I just respond to some of the points raised by Members concerning homeland security and terrorism yesterday before we adjourned. Sir, international terrorism remains a significant threat to global security in spite of increased efforts by many countries, including Singapore, to combat terrorism. Al-Qaeda is believed to retain the capability and intention to mount terrorist attacks, and its ability to inspire like-minded terrorist organisations and radical individuals to become instruments of terror has not diminished. Terrorist attacks remain unabated. In May last year, suicide bombers attacked residential estates in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, causing heavy casualties. Six months later, suicide bombers struck Riyadh again, also targeting innocent civilians. Just yesterday, the European Union experienced its worst terrorist attack in recent history in the Madrid train bomb blasts. These attacks not only underscore the ruthlessness of terrorists in their determination to harm innocent civilians, but also demonstrate the extent of our vulnerability. In addition to attacks on land, the possibility of a major aviation or maritime attack by terrorists, which will result in severe loss of human life and dire economic consequences, cannot be ruled out. Terrorists have even explored the use of chemical and biological weapons in attacks. Sir, closer to home, terrorist organisations like the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and Abu Sayyaf Group continue to pose a significant threat to security in our region. The suicide bombing attack of the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta in August last year is a case in point, as it is the worst attack in the country since the suicide attacks in Bali in 2002.”
“Madam, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made further progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 2004/2005, and ask leave to sit again tomorrow.”
“However, with the 2% cut in the budget, and with the increase in the crime rate, can the Home Team cope with the challenges ahead this year, in keeping Singaporeans and Singapore safe from terrorism and relatively crime-free? In particular, I would like to ask the Minister to brief us on whether security agencies in the world have improved on their level of intelligence gathering and cooperation and whether he is satisfied that the assistance we received from abroad has enabled us to fight terrorism more effectively. Madam, we live in a particularly vulnerable area, with the Malaysian election just round the corner and some political instability in Indonesia. Are we prepared for the onset of what might be a very tense period in the region as far as terrorism is concerned? Finally, can Singapore, probably the most stable country, the most proactive in terms of combating terrorism, take a non-intrusive leadership role in the region to fight terrorism? Terrorism”
“Madam, may I just have a slight interruption here. May I remind Members to address the Chair as Chairman. There is no Deputy Chairman in the Chair as this is a Committee of Supply. When Mrs Lim is sitting up there in the Speaker's Chair, please address her as Deputy Speaker. Homeland Security and Crime Control Assoc. Prof. Chin Tet Yung (Sembawang): Madam, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head P of the Main Estimates be reduced by $100. Madam, the Minister, his staff and the Home Team have done well for yet another very difficult year, protecting Singapore from the twin threats of terrorism and crime. The Home Team has managed to provide a level of security second to none. Some have euphemistically referred to Singapore now as "Fortress Singapore". However, there is a danger that such a reputation, of course, would make us an even more attractive target for terrorists. The war against terrorism is difficult to bring home to Singaporeans, who think that we are safe and secure. That is how much trust our people has placed in the Home Team. But the war goes on. On Wednesday, the Straits Times reported that the spiritual leader of the JI had his sentenced halved, an alarming signal that JI may be rejuvenated by this news. On the same day, it was reported that Tom Ridge, US Security Chief, gave a speech in Singapore emphasising that the war against terrorism is global, on-going and long-term. In other words, it is a world war. Shorn of diatribe, it is clear that the war is very much fought in terms of intelligence gathering and sharing on a global basis, and that the domestic situation is only part of a much larger picture.”
“As far as rally sites are concerned, this is a matter under the police, and not under the Elections Department. I am not speaking for the police now because they decide on this. The police choose a site to ensure that safety and security, law and order can be considered. We know that from past experience, outdoor open areas near housing estates are not areas that would be favoured. They would prefer to have enclosed areas like a stadium. In the case of Potong Pasir, because there is no nearby stadium, there was a site available. I do not know whether it is still available or whether it has been built up now. There was a site available in Potong Pasir but, unfortunately, on that very day, there was a clash. The PAP candidate happened to book the site earlier as it was allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. As a result, Mr Chiam went to a different site. But he might also know that at that site, there were a lot more people than could have been accommodated at the Potong Pasir site. But in the end, what was the result? The result was that he won the election. And there was trouble at the site that he went to. So, can he imagine if that particular rally was held within Potong Pasir, there could be no end of trouble.”
“So, while it might have been $13,000 the previous time, and over the last few years, the MP's allowance had been reduced, the deposit may not be $13,000 at the next general election. At the next election, whether it will be $13,000 or not, it depends on what would be the MP's allowance in the preceding year before the election is called. The election deposit is not something that would definitely be lost. It is not like going to a casino and he puts his money down on the table on one colour or the other, one number or the other, and then he loses the $13,000. The threshold for reclaiming the electoral deposit is not very high. It is only a small percentage of the votes. And if a candidate cannot marshall the percentage of votes and as a result lost his desposit, then, in the first place, he should think carefully whether he should participate in the election. On election sites, I am not clear what Mr Chiam meant by election sites, unless he refers to rally sites.”
“Sir, Mr Chiam asked that our election process be fair, open and transparent. Our election process is really very fair, very open and very transparent. As far as the conduct of the election is concerned, I think the same rule applies to all. There is no particular part of the election process that is not known to the Opposition but which is known to the PAP. We all know that and we have all been through the elections, and we know what an election entails. As regards his specific request on the publication of the Electoral Boundary Review Committee Report, I have answered Mr Steve Chia on this question. It is published as soon as the Prime Minister receives the Report. But to ask the Prime Minister to fix a date and say, "I'll have this particular date", the Prime Minister cannot do so, firstly, until he has appointed a Committee, and until the Committee has completed its work. Even then, he will have to think carefully about when to call for an election. So, if you ask the Prime Minister now, it is just as difficult for him to answer the question as it is impossible for me. So, we really do not know when will be the election date. Mr Chiam made the point that in the US, election dates are known, but that is the American system. In the parliamentary system, it is different. In the Westminster system like in the UK, Australia, Malaysia and New Zealand, the Prime Minister has the prerogative to fix a date for the election. There is no particular date that he has to fix for the election. As regards Mr Chiam's question about the deposit being too high, the same deposit applies to all the candidates, and it is a certain percentage of the MP's allowance for the preceding year before an election.”
“If the Prime Minister gives the assurance now and he fixes a particular date or a particular period and timeframe, he may not be able to fulfil it. One should not bind the Prime Minister's flexibility in making such a decision.”
“From the records I read, I know that whenever the Electoral Boundary Review Committee submits its report to the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister will, as soon as it is possible, get the report published. That is the standard practice. As soon as the Electoral Boundary Review Committee's Report is published, and depending on the timing as decided by the Prime Minister, he may call for election three months after that, or he may call for election three weeks after that. This is the prerogative of the Prime Minister, and this practice remains. 12.45 pm”
“He is talking about history. But we are in the year 2004 and this rule was changed in the year 2001/2002, I think we must move on.”
“The PCF is a foundation with $5 million or more of paid-up capital. They set up kindergarten education classes, etc. And, because of the relationship between the PCF and the PAP, the PAP was able to pay a rental to the foundation to make use of one room for our once-a-week meet-the-people session. On CIPC funds, I am not sure why Mr Chiam brings up CIPC funds because, as far as I know, from what I was told, Town Councils already get grants from the Government and that is for the residents But CIPC funds are for improvement of the whole constituency and therefore it is disbursed through the CCCs, and if they have projects, they can apply to the CIPC for funds. From what I was told, Potong Pasir residents have not been deprived of CIPC project funding. In fact, in 1998, CIPC funds were used for back-lane lighting of Jalan Wangi and Upper Aljunied Road. In 2002, CIPC funding was available to build covered linkways in Potong Pasir Town, but because Potong Pasir Town Council failed to come up with its co-share of cost, the project could not be implemented. Why is this so? I do not know. Only the Potong Pasir Town Council can answer. But as far as PAP Town Councils are concerned, when the CCC gets funding for CIPC projects, the Town Council would have to chip in to pay for part of the cost. It is not completely free, it is not completely at Government's expense. On the issue of not being able to speak at his constituency's dinner, I thought Mr Chiam must have known by now that the Police has relaxed the rules to allow MPs to speak at constituency functions.”
“It is in the Hansard. Mr Chiam will know that. But, again, more seriously, whether it is a single-member constituency or a GRC, really it is up to the candidates themselves whether they can convince the voters to vote for them. It does not depend on whether it is a 2-man, 5-man or 6-man GRC. On Mr Chiam's points about treatment of Opposition MPs, his first point was about his experience at the Istana party where somebody asked him where were his grassroots leaders. I do not know what grassroots leaders he has. I know that Potong Pasir grassroots leaders were invited. Maybe not his grassroots leader but, as far as the Government is concerned, the grassroots leaders are the ones who serve in our CCC, RC, CCMC and so on. We did not consider Town Council as part of the grassroots, otherwise the PAP Town Councils would also be involved. His other complaints about not having a room, having to work at the void decks, not being able to plant a tree, not being able to have CIPC funds, not being able to speak at a dinner, and not getting upgrading in his estate, etc, I think we have been through all that before. Mr Chiam now finally finds a piece of ground to plant the tree, and the reason being that, as he said, that piece of land is managed by the Town Council. But in the public housing estate, the HDB owns the land and, therefore, it is up to the landowner to decide who plants the tree. And every year, we have the tree planting campaign and, therefore, the Advisor is the one who is allowed to plant the tree. We have been doing this for the last umpteenth year since we have the tree planting campaign. This is not something new. On the conducting of the meet-the-people session, the PAP MPs do not have a room either. The PAP MPs make use of the PCF centres.”
“If Mr Chiam says he would like Potong Pasir to be part of a GRC, the Prime Minister just told me that he might ask the Electoral Boundary Review Committee to consider this.”
“That is the fault of the Opposition, for not being able to get enough people to contest for them. Otherwise they would be there in the GRC. And Mr Chiam had the by-election effect strategy, which says that he would rather not contest in all the constituencies. I think that is a very good reason to give for not being able to get enough candidates to contest in an election. But that is very clever.”
“Sure. Mr Chiam just asked me whether I want him to be in the GRC or not. He is the leader of a party, he should really decide. And, being the leader of a party, he should lead the charge and not leave it to others to lead the charge for him and he just follows behind and says it is very good. But to be serious, there is a reason why we have GRCs, as the Deputy Prime Minister explained earlier on in answer to another question concerning the GRC. The reason is that we need the GRC for multi-racial representation. But whether a 2-man, 3-man, 4-man, 5-man or 6-man GRC is to the disadvantage of the Opposition or not, I think it is the same to both the Opposition and the PAP. The PAP would need to put up candidates whether it is a 2-man, 3-man, 4-man, 5-man or 6-man GRC. And so do the Opposition. But the fact that since the Opposition cannot put up enough candidates that surely cannot be the fault of the GRC system. Mr Chiam See Tong: That is not the only reason.”
“So I cannot tell him whether or not the Committee has finished its work. I come to Mr Chiam's question about the GRC. After 16 years of operation of the GRC - we had our first election based on the GRC system since 1988 - we are still talking about the GRC system. Unfortunately, even after 16 years, Mr Chiam is still contesting in a single constituency and has not gone into a GRC. Maybe if he had led a team to the GRC he will then know how he can win a GRC.”
“He may have misunderstood that there is such a legal requirement that the Prime Minister appoints such a committee. There is none. There is no such requirement under the law. In fact, dection 8 of the Parliamentary Elections Act empowers the Minister-in-charge, and in this case, the Prime Minister, to decide on the number, names, boundaries of the electoral divisions for the purpose of election in Singapore. But, in practice, the Prime Minister appoints the Electoral Boundary Review Committee to review the electoral division boundaries and recommend changes to him. The Electoral Boundary Review Committee is made up of a number of senior public officers who are guided by a set of terms of reference for their work. The review will take into account the population growth, the population shift arising from housing developments since the last boundary delineation exercise, etc. As to whether or not there are election officials in the Electoral Boundary Review Committee, the only official on the committee is the Secretary, who is the Head of the Elections Department. He is there because he needs to perform the secretarial work for the Committee. That is all there is to it. The people who are appointed to it are senior civil servants who know about the number of voters, the population changes, housing changes, and so on. These are key officials who know about population shifts and statistics of our demographics. Mr Chia asked whether or not the committee had been appointed, when will the report be ready, what are the terms of reference and whether or not the report can be published early. As of now, I do not know of any Electoral Boundary Committee having been appointed. So I cannot give him the rest of the answers.”
“But, having said that, let me stress that the Elections Department has conducted the elections fairly. And it has applied the same rule to all the candidates. I am not telling you a secret if I tell you that even PAP candidates have complained about the strictness or the toughness of election officials that they were not allowed to do this or to do that; whether to hang a poster or whether to get near a polling station, and so on. So the Elections Department officials have conducted their duties in a way that is expected of them, that is, without fear or favour, and that they have treated both Opposition and the PAP candidates in the same way. I want to inform the House that our Elections Department has sat down with their officers who have experience in conducting elections and they have come up with a code of conduct for election officials. This code of conduct has been formalised and the officials would be reminded about the behavioural norms expected of them when they conduct an election. The code lays down the following seven principles to guide the conduct of election officials, namely: neutrality and non-partisanship; voting in secret, incorruptibility, transparency, accuracy, serving the voters, and professionalism. Any breach of this code will subject the official to appropriate disciplinary action. This will further enhance our people's confidence and trust in our Elections Department, the officials, as well as our electoral system. Mr Steve Chia also talked about the Electoral Boundary Review Committee and he has a series of questions. Let me state at the outset that the appointment of an Electoral Boundary Review Committee is not a requirement under the law.”
“For the next Presidential Election, should there be a contest, we are not likely to have electronic voting. I come now to Mr Steve Chia's question about an independent election commission, a subject which he raised before and he has now found a new reason for asking the Government to do so. Again, I will have to say that whether the Elections Department is under the Prime Minister or an election commission to be an independent one or not really does not matter. We know that for years, the Elections Department has conducted elections fairly. While the Elections Department is under the Prime Minister's Office and the civil servants have a career, they also need to make sure that they do a good job. The Prime Minister does not directly decide on their career. There is a civil service system to ensure that civil servants are appointed and promoted according to civil service rules. No Minister, not even the Prime Minister, can say to the PSC or to the Special Promotion Board, or any particular Promotion Board within the civil service, that this particular person should be appointed, promoted or demoted because the person has not been listening to him. That has never been the case in our system. So our system has separated the political leaders from the civil servants who will have to do an impartial job in carrying out their duties diligently without fear of interference from the political leaders. 12.30 pm If we have an Elections Commission separate from the Prime Minister, then I think today Mr Steve Chia would not be able to raise his question here because there will be no one who will represent the commission to answer his question in Parliament. Now, at least he can raise this question every year, and he can get an answer from the Minister.”
“Sir, Mr Ravindran asked for an update on what the Elections Department has done with regard to overseas voting for Singaporeans who are now overseas, and in particular, in preparation for the Presidential Election in 2005. Members would know that the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections Act were amended to provide for overseas voting in April 2001. The intention then was to implement overseas voting in five of our missions abroad. As preparation was underway, unfortunately came September 11, and as a result, due to security concerns, we decided to stop that process of providing for overseas voting for overseas Singaporeans. But we have not stopped looking at it. Of course, other than the five missions already announced, the Elections Department will now also consider several other missions where we have a consular representation to enable overseas Singaporeans to vote. We hope that when the time comes for the Presidential Election and if there is a contest, we will have more missions abroad where Singaporeans can go and vote, provided they have registered to vote. As regards electronic voting, we also earlier on wanted to try out electronic voting in two single-member constituencies during the last General Election. While the process of authenticating or certifying the system was still going on, election had to be called. As a result, we ceased the effort of certifying that system. We have to start all over again at the next election. But having considered the cost of doing this electronic voting and the changing technologies in the years ahead, the Elections Department decided to defer this process of electronic voting to some future date until we see what others have done with regard to electronic voting and learn from their examples.”
“The Clerk told me that he is negotiating with LawNet to see how access can be made on a per log-in basis. If that can be done, I am sure the unit cost of access will be less.”
“If the Member has the written text, he can submit it to our librarian. I am sure she will keep and file it for future reference. Will this satisfy the Member?”
“If the Member looks at this from a historical value point of view, I think the best thing is to listen to the CD. Because from the CD, he can hear his own voice too. (In English): Mr Ram will confirm this. He said that after a few more months, they are going to have video CDs of speeches made by MPs. (In Mandarin): From the video, he will be able to see and listen to himself making the speeches and this will be able to satisfy his needs. But if he wants it to be recorded in written form, we would have to ask our Parliament staff to look into it to see whether it is feasible. I suggest Members make this request to them. Mr Ang Mong Seng (In Mandarin): Sir, I am saying that we could submit our original written text to the Library every time we make a speech in Mandarin. There should be no difficulty. We are not asking Parliament to transcribe our speeches.”
“As I said, this will add to the administrative cost of our Parliament. It may be difficult under the present financial situation.”
“Parliament staff function to serve the MPs in the proceedings of Parliament, and not to help them to do research work. Ms Braema asked about having Hansard for all and allowing free access to the Hansard. She asked why the earliest available Hansard on the website is dated March 2002. From what I was told by the Clerk of Parliament, the current session of Parliament's Hansard is available on the website. The Hansard records before that are available from the LawNet and if anyone wants to access the Hansard before the current session, they can access the LawNet. Of course, there is a cost to maintaining the Hansard, whether it is by Parliament or by LawNet. Therefore, those who wish to access it have to pay for it. Paying for access to the LawNet is not a new thing. In the past, before such records were placed in the LawNet, members of the public have to buy a copy of the Hansard from the Singapore National Printers. They already have to pay for access. If they do not want to pay for access, they can go to the National Library and read the Hansard. I do not think we need to do anything more than that.”
“Sir, both Mr Ang and Dr Ong wanted the text of their speeches made in Mandarin to be kept in the Parliament Library for future reference. Presently, all speeches are recorded in Hansard in English, which is the administrative language. As Dr Ong has said, the speeches in Mandarin, Malay or Tamil are now recorded on CDs and kept in the Library. Members can have access to these CDs and listen to the speeches, if they wish. They can listen to the speeches that they have made in the mother tongue. If the Member does not have a written script and requires our Parliament staff to have the speech transcribed and keep it in the Library, I think that will add extra work and cost to Parliament. Afer all, Members' speeches are already recorded on CDs in their original language. I do not think it is necessary to have them transcribed. (In English): Next, I come to Mr Chandra Mohan's request for more professional staff to be employed by Parliament so that they can help the parliamentarians to do research and provide support to them in their work. Sir, Mr Chandra Mohan raised this before and I will give him the same answer. Our Parliament Library already provides some kind of a research support for MPs. If they want to look up some materials, they can ask the librarian to look up for them. But if they want work to be done for them, I think that is not possible. Work has to be done by the MPs. If they want more research to be done, then they have to provide guidance to the librarian and she can help them search for the materials. But if they want an analysis to be done by the professional staff, that is not the task of Parliament staff. Ministries are different. Ministries function to serve the Government.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That Parliament do sit on Saturday, 13th March 2004. This year, we have 769 cuts to be moved by MPs compared to 707 last year. As a result, we will need to have an extra day of sitting as well as to extend the sitting of every day to 6.30 pm. Resolved, That Parliament do sit on Saturday, 13th March 2004. - [Mr Wong Kan Seng]. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS (Business Motion) Resolved, That, notwithstanding the Standing Orders, the proceedings on the Estimates for FY 2004/2005 on 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th March 2004 be continued beyond 6.00 pm and be exempted from the provisions of Standing Orders until 6.30 pm each day. - [Mr Wong Kan Seng]. SUPPLY AND SUPPLEMENTARY SUPPLY (FY 2003) BILLS (Business Motion) Resolved, That, notwithstanding the Standing Orders, the second and third readings of the Supply Bill for FY 2004/2005 and the Supplementary Supply (FY2003) Bill for FY2003/2004 may be proceeded with immediately after the conclusion of the proceedings on the Main and Development Estimates for FY2004/2005. - [Mr Lim Hng Kiang]. ANNUAL BUDGET STATEMENT Order read for Resumption of Debate on Question [27th February 2004]. "That Parliament approves the financial policy of the Government for the financial year 1st April, 2004 to 31st March, 2005." - [Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance]. Question again proposed.”
“In the last three years, the average annual numbers of Singaporeans applying* for Citizenship and Permanent Residence (PR) for their foreign spouses are 2,400 and 10,400 respectively. About 90% of these applications were submitted by male Singaporeans for their foreign wives. About 50% of the PR applications and 85% of Citizenship applications received were approved. The approval rates have been increasing over the last few years. Of the successful cases, more than half of these foreign spouses have completed at least Secondary level education. About 30% of them hold at least a tertiary qualification (Diploma, degree or other professional qualification). * Some of these are repeat applications from applicants who were rejected earlier. FOREIGN DOMESTIC WORKERS 3. Ms Braema Mathiaparanam asked the Acting Minister for Manpower how many foreign domestic workers are employed by (i) unmarried singles and (ii) divorced individuals.”
“Currently, it is not an offence for Singaporeans to have sex with minors overseas. When we replied to a parliamentary question on this in 1995, we said that there was no need to amend our laws to make it an offence. The situation has not changed significantly since then. We can study this matter once more. It is not just a matter of enacting a provision in our statutes to make it an offence for Singaporeans to have sex with minors overseas. Difficult legal issues arise in extending our jurisdiction overseas. Besides, there are also practical problems in enforcing such a law. Police will have to first detect such an act; it will then have to conduct investigations overseas and even bring witnesses back to Singapore to give evidence. Our preliminary study is that jurisdictions with such laws have found it difficult to enforce such a law. Successful prosecutions have been few and far between. WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS MEDICAL BENEFITS SCHEME 1. Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance what is the number of female civil servants who are on the (i) co-payment ward charges scheme, (ii) Comprehensive Co-payment Scheme and (iii) Medisave-cum-Subsidised Outpatient scheme as at December 2003.”
“Part V specifies that ACRA will be set up as a self-funding statutory board with full revenue retention. Clause 16 of the Bill requires ACRA to submit a copy of all annual estimates and supplementary estimates to the Minister for Finance, and to publish a summary of the estimates in the Gazette. Part VI of the Bill provides for the transfer of property, assets, liabilities and employees to ACRA. Existing staff of RCB and PAB will be transferred to ACRA at no worse-off terms than today. Part VII contains legal provisions for the effective functioning of the Authority. Sir, in closing, let me reiterate that the formation of ACRA will synergise the expertise of RCB and PAB. ACRA will be well placed to advance our corporate governance, financial reporting, and disclosure standards. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed.”
“ACRA will support the work of the Council on Corporate Disclosure and Governance, a private-sector led committee set up to prescribe accounting standards in Singapore and advise the Government on corporate governance and disclosure matters. ACRA will also work closely with other Government agencies as well as professional organisations such as the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore and the Singapore Institute of Directors to maintain high auditing standards and to help companies adopt good disclosure and corporate governance practices. To achieve its mission and meet the challenges ahead, the ACRA Board will comprise private sector representatives and professionals as well as people from the public sector and academia. Main povisions in the Bill Sir, I shall now highlight the main features of the Bill. Parts I and II of the Bill establish ACRA as a statutory board under the purview of the Ministry of Finance. Specifically, clause 5 empowers the Minister to appoint up to a maximum of 16 Board members, with two appointed in their capacity as representatives from the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Singapore. Part III sets out ACRA's functions and powers which are essentially those already undertaken by RCB and PAB today. In addition, ACRA will represent the Government internationally on matters relating to the registration and regulation of business entities and public accountants, and promote public awareness on new business structures, compliance requirements, and corporate governance practices. Part IV of the Bill sets out the provisions for the appointment of the Chief Executive and officers of the Board. It also gives protection from personal liability to an officer or employee in discharging his duties in good faith.”
“The merger will achieve synergies between the monitoring of companies' compliance with disclosure requirements and the regulation of public accountants performing statutory audit. This merger will consolidate within a single Government entity the expertise to carry out these functions effectively. Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority The Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority Bill provides for the formation of this new statutory board on 1st April 2004. To reflect its role as a regulator of corporate entities, businesses and public accountants, the statutory board will be called the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, or ACRA for short. ACRA's mission will be, "to provide a responsive and forward looking regulatory environment for companies, businesses and public accountants, conducive to enterprise and growth in Singapore." ACRA will maintain a strong focus on issues concerning businesses, such as developing the corporate law framework, accounting, and corporate governance. It will also register and regulate public accountants who act as auditors of companies. As a regulatory agency, a substantial part of ACRA's work will be to ensure that companies, businesses and auditors observe relevant standards and comply with legal requirements. However, an effective enforcement regime cannot rely solely on tough penalties for offenders. ACRA will promote greater awareness and understanding of the requirements and standards. It will engage its stakeholders regularly through public consultations. Another important aspect of ACRA's work is to promote a business-friendly environment. This is fundamental to our drive to make Singapore an attractive global hub for business.”
“I would presume that should be the case. 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; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. EXEMPTED BUSINESS (Motion) Resolved, That the proceedings on the business set down on the Order Paper for today be exempted at this day's sitting from the provisions of Standing Order No. 1. - [Mr Wong Kan Seng]. ACCOUNTING AND CORPORATE REGULATORY AUTHORITY BILL Order for Second Reading read. 5.05 pm The Second Minister for Finance (Mr Lim Hng Kiang): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time". Background Currently, the Registry of Companies and Businesses (RCB) is responsible for the incorporation of companies and the registration of businesses. It seeks to ensure that companies and businesses comply with the relevant laws, and maintain a repository of financial reports and business information. The Public Accountants Board (PAB) registers and regulates public accountants who are qualified to sign off companies' accounts as auditors. It also maintains professional auditing standards. Rationale for merger As part of our efforts to promote a more conducive business environment, we have been moving towards a disclosure based regime for business regulation. This requires enhancing our regulatory framework for monitoring and enforcing companies' compliance with disclosure requirements and accounting standards. Sir, it is with this objective that the Government announced its plans to merge RCB and PAB in May last year.”