Xie Yao Quan
Singapore
“Thank you, Sir. Sir, the Minister mentioned the incidence rate of bullying behaviour in our schools and I would like to stress that this is based on reported incidences.”
“Thank you, Chairman. I thank MSF for responding to our cuts and I seek leave to withdraw my amendment. [(proc text) Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. (proc text)] [(proc text) The sum of $5,822,529,800 for Head I ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates.”
“What would be a fair valuation of fairness to current, affected homeowners? The Government will need to use sound and consistent principles for such an exercise, to justify the higher public spending that this implies.”
“My idea of balance that I prompted you on was not so much about keeping versus sharing at the individual level, but about spending and saving at the societal level.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I will just reiterate two points that I have made in my speech. First, I think it is more meaningful to look at how a term of government balances its collection against spending over its entire term in government.”
“Sir, I thank the Member for both clarifications. My basic response to both clarifications is yes. I accept that surpluses can be transferred into Past Reserves at the end of a term of government.”
The complete record
Every one of 336 lines we hold for Xie Yao Quan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 7.
“Singapore has set a target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. With buildings accounting for over 20% of our carbon emissions, what efforts have we taken to accelerate our transition to a low-carbon Built Environment? The bulk of buildings we have today is the existing stock of older buildings which may be less energy-efficient. Can MND provide further updates on how we are helping owners of such buildings to transit?”
“While there is no indication to date as to the voting threshold required for selection, it is by definition more than 0%. In 2019, the Workers' Party released a working paper on alternatives to address the issue of lease decay and affordable housing. Our paper offered policy proposals, including a universal sale and lease buyback scheme, a more widespread SERS programme and an expanded public rental scheme. Our expanded SERS proposal will, however, be bound by similar challenges of ensuring economic viability and securing buy-in as the Government's own programme. If more intensified redevelopment does not yield sufficient economies of scale in and of itself, the taxpayer will have to absorb part of the costs in the name of the public benefits of urban renewal and ensuring that the population, indeed, has a roof over their heads. One potential middle-ground approach between the largely voluntary nature of VERS and the compulsory stipulation of SERS, is to introduce moving voting thresholds for passage of a VERS project. These thresholds would shift as the lease winds down, making an upvote easier when renewal needs become ever more pressing. For example, a flat with 50 years' lease remaining may require a 75% supermajority; but one with half the time remaining, could perhaps, only need a simple 50%. This allows homeowners to both have a say on whether they choose to move but at the same time, respect the need for systematic urban renewal. Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS)”
“Sir, the Government has made major moves to help first-timers, especially parents and married couples to secure and afford a HDB flat. I would to ask, what is the Government's outlook on public housing demand in the next five years? I ask, with the cognisance that forecasting demand is far from a precise science and many people have got it wrong before. Making VERS More or Less Voluntary Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim (Sengkang): To date, the Government has approached the issue of urban renewal of public housing in two ways. The Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS), identifies projects for urban renewal. Since August 1995, HDB has identified a total of 78 SERS projects with an additional four in the pipeline. But economic viability of SERS is limited by whether a more intensive redevelopment of a given site is even possible. Now, this then led to the Government's Voluntary Early Redevelopment Scheme (VERS). There is less clarity about how much compensation exactly this would entail. We have been told to stay tuned, since 2019. But HDB stated that the terms will be less generous than those offered under SERS. The main attraction of VERS then, is that it will offer leaseholders at least a vote to remain in their homes; although doing so, could inadvertently, impede more systematic urban renewal efforts as well as long-term town planning. Now, while SERS offers non-trivial compensation to affected leaseholders, it has also attracted some controversy especially when residents prefer the status quo of remaining in their homes instead of forced relocation. In contrast, VERS is voluntary, but the Government runs into the difficulty of securing buy-in from residents.”
“Chairman, I have said before that the current eligible age of 35 years old for singles to own HDB flats is appropriate. I still think so. That said, I have also called on the Government to consider co‐living facilities in the heartlands to allow young singles to live, work and play together before they move on to different phase in life, essentially short-term, flexible rental for young singles. And HDB does not have to do this by itself. There is, today, a vibrant market with commercial players so HDB can partner private operators, but set standards, including in pricing and affordability; and take the lead in developing the market. This will further enhance housing options for our singles to meet their diverse needs and aspirations. Renting Housing for All”
“Chairman, what might our future workforce look like? First, it will become more intergenerational because our population is ageing, and people are working and staying in the workforce longer. At the same time, because of more rapid technological changes than ever before, the difference in backgrounds, mindsets and skillsets across different generations will become sharper. Second, there will be more churn in our future workforce for all of us, again, because of the pace of change. Our economy must allow for creative destruction to stay relevant and vibrant, but for the individual, churn in one's career is tumultuous. We must help Singaporeans cope. Third, there will be a greater need for our future workforce to engage in agile and deep learning throughout life to deal with churn. We must create a pervasive culture of learning and skilling throughout life in Singapore. Fourth, amid these challenges, there will be growing needs for FWAs because our family structure is getting smaller and so, caregiving burdens are more concentrated on individuals. At the same time, our knowledge of care itself has become more advanced, whether it is for seniors, special needs or mental health. And so, the caregiving demands of tomorrow will be far greater and we need FWAs. Fifth, our future workforce will be increasingly cross-cultural because there is simply not enough Singaporeans and we will need human capital from around the world. Amid this confluence of complex changes, how does MOM plan to develop a future-ready workforce that is more intergenerational and cross-cultural, more prepared for a new normal of churn, more engaged in agile and deep learning throughout life and more flexible in its work arrangements? Career Health Initiatives”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. First, I must thank the Minister for personally leading the Singapore delegation to Los Angeles to negotiate a deal to bring in The Eras Tour. I think that is a huge personal involvement on his part and I thank him for that. I would like to quote the Chairman of KASM, Mr Keith Magnus, who said that there is now a new DNA and passion that has been brought into the operating culture of the organisation, and to quote him, "we are constantly in deal mode." I fully support this basic orientation to go out and make deals and hustle. So, in line with that orientation and to my original question on whether there is a target for the total economic value-add from the concert economy that we are trying to grow in Singapore, could the Minister perhaps shed a bit more light on whether we should consider setting a more tangible target in terms of deal volume and deal flow, even if not economic value-add, the numbers that we expect to see from the concert economy that we are trying to grow in Singapore?”
“Mr Chairman, we have introduced AI Verify last year to help develop testing tools for the responsible use of AI. How has the programme developed and what are our next steps to ensure the use of AI is responsible and safe? Generative AI Chairman, the training of GenAI requires large amounts of data, some of which could be private in nature. How could the Government better protect our personal data from inappropriate use in this regard? Also, GenAI requires large amounts of compute and power to train and operate, and so do our other digital needs. These require power-hungry data centres. How could we power our digital future, our future data centres sustainably? Digital Security and Resilience Mr Chairman, in light of the recent outages affecting our banking and healthcare institutions, how can we enhance the resilience and security of digital infrastructure and services that are critical to our digital economy and society? Also, quantum computing is expected to weaken or break current encryption algorithms that protect our digital communications and transactions. How can we ensure that our data and communications networks remain safe and secure? Third, MCI had announced previously the CISO-as-a-Service last year, to help SMEs develop tailored cybersecurity health plans based on their risk profile and appetite. Could MCI provide an update on its implementation? Digital Enterprise Blueprint Mr Chairman, MCI had announced the launch of industry consultations for the Digital Enterprise Blueprint last year to bring together industry leaders, trade associations and companies across different sectors to better derive insights and solutions to meet Singapore businesses’ digital needs. Could the Ministry provide an update on the progress in this regard?”
“Fusion technology has made major strides in the last two years and the real breakthroughs could come in the next five years with what the industry calls "net energy production". This will put on track the first utility-scale plants to be constructed in the early-to-mid 2030s. Countries around the world have started to make serious moves in fusion. The United Kingdom (UK) has announced an additional $1.1 billion equivalent, in additional funding for its fusion programme. President Biden has set a "Decadal Vision" for the US to produce commercial fusion energy by 2032. China has invested more than $1 billion dollars in fusion research and Japan has recently launched the world's biggest experimental fusion reactor. So, if we start now, there is already catching up to do with the leaders. But if we do it right, Singapore could become the Asia-Pacific manufacturing hub for fusion machines. This would mean a whole suite of new, exciting jobs for Singaporeans – the next generation of fusion scientists, engineers and operators, all designing and making the technology that will power the world in future. To get there, we need to do three things now. First, lead and support our universities, research institutes and local SMEs to build capabilities to get into the fusion supply chain, get into the fusion supply chain now for prototypes and pilot plants; second, work with leading countries to design fusion-specific regulations; and third, importantly, we need to feature fusion energy in our 2050 energy roadmap to formally set the ambition for ourselves and to signal to the global fusion community that Singapore wants to be a player and wants to contribute. On nuclear fusion, we should dream big, start now and signal strong. Future Energy Fund”
“Chairman, all the energy that powers life on Earth today ultimately comes from the Sun. And so, what if we can replicate that energy production in the core of the Sun, here on Earth? This, simplistically, is the promise of fusion energy. I must clarify that nuclear fusion is completely different from nuclear fission. Fusion does not produce the same radioactive waste; does not risk meltdowns; and does not entail dependence on other countries for fuel, such as uranium. Given the advantages of fusion, I hope that when we say we are studying the option of nuclear energy in our future clean energy mix, our bet is weighted towards fusion energy. And I will go further, to say that while we can and will import clean energy, through regional grids and/or hydrogen, ultimately, energy imports may not be enough and not secure enough for Singapore. And so, I think we will need domestically produced fusion energy to secure our clean energy future in the long term. But fusion technology is not yet mature. Furthermore, our net-zero target is 2050 and Deputy Prime Minister Wong has also said that we will take the next 20 years to build our clean energy mix. So, one could argue that we have some time, and should take some time, to decide if we want to adopt fusion. But that is only considering the energy security standpoint. From an economic standpoint, because fusion does also presents tremendous economic opportunities for Singapore and the world, we actually have a lot less time to decide. And paradoxically, precisely because the technology is not yet mature, we should move fast. To paraphrase my Jurong colleague, Dr Tan Wu Meng, we can be the first mover or we can find ourselves too late to move.”
“Thank you, Chairman. I just want to come back to my cut about how Singapore is helping other countries to build capacity. Can I seek some clarification from MFA, please?”
“Emerging technologies have impacted many aspects of our lives and many industries have successfully incorporated it in their workstreams. For MFA, one key workstream is the provision of consular services to Singaporeans in need. Has MFA used technology to improve the provision of consular services in recent years? Singapore Cooperation Programme The Singapore Cooperation Programme is Singapore's flagship platform for technical cooperation with developing countries. For more than 30 years, it has been an important avenue for Singapore to share our experiences and support capability building in developing countries. It is Singapore's way of paying forward the assistance we received from other countries and international organisations in our early years. Can MFA provide an update on how it is supporting the capacity building of other countries through the Singapore Cooperation Programme? Improving Consular Services”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the answer is no. I have never said that, so please do not put words in my mouth. There can be any infinite number of permutations and scenarios, but I think that the job of Government is to look at structural issues and find the best way forward to address structural issues. The starting point of this policy is that there is a structural gap between ITE graduates' starting pay and polytechnic graduates' starting pay. I have said that in my speech as well, if Ms Poa had listened to that, that is the starting point of my position, that I laid out in my speech. So, I think that is abundantly clear.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the short answer is yes. And I think that is the policy intent.”
“Yes, there is a gap, and it is an issue that has been discussed in this House – and, I am sure, will continue to be discussed in this House. The Government has already taken some steps to address the issue, for example, increasing the cohort university participation rate quite significantly so that more Singaporeans have the opportunity to meet their aspirations to get a degree. The Government is also working closely with industry, to leverage market forces, to uplift the wages of diploma graduates and close the gap. I know that behind the scenes, there is a lot of work that is going into this. Should we do more? My position as a backbencher is: I certainly hope so, but we cannot boil the ocean. The move in this Budget is a huge step in the right direction. Focus first on the gap between ITE and polytechnic graduates, and I hope in time, we can extend the same basic policy intent to further address the gap between polytechnic and university graduates. But it will require resources, so we need to consider carefully, prudently and, most importantly, I think, if and when that time comes, it will require the whole of society to support such a policy direction. I hope I have provided the clarifications to Ms Poa.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. First, on whether there is really a wage gap between diploma graduates and ITE graduates who then go on to attain a diploma, I think it is not difficult to see that there is a real wage gap here. Let us compare like for like and let us consider this baseline scenario. One student who enrols in polytechnic after secondary school, spends three years, graduates with a diploma, starts work at the average starting pay for a diploma graduate and then, works for, say, five years, so a total of eight years, as a comparison period. In the same eight-year period, consider another student who goes through ITE, gets a direct higher NITEC in three years, for example, and then starts work at the average starting pay for ITE graduates for two years, and then enrols in polytechnic, graduates in three years with a diploma at the end of the same eight-year period. The cumulative wage gap between these two students, in this very simple baseline example, is quite clear. And we can look at variations to the baseline example, for example, a work-study diploma scenario, but any which way you look, there is a wage gap. The wage gap manifests from the start of our young graduates' working lives and it accumulates over time. And so, I hope I have provided that clarification. I would add that the policy design that is announced in this Budget to focus on ITE graduates when they are young, before they reach 30 years old, is an extremely important feature, because it is about intervening early in our young graduates' working lives, giving them the support as early as possible, try to close the gap as early as possible. So, this is a very significant feature. On the wage gap between polytechnic and university graduates.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the hon Member, Ms Hazel Poa, sought clarification from me earlier, specifically on the ITE Progression Award. With your indulgence, Sir, may I address Ms Poa's points, please?”
“— starting from 1993, we would be talking today about using almost all of our Net Investment Returns and not just a bit more than half of it. Had we taken the easy way out on GST each time, starting from 1993, we would be wringing our hands today, instead of talking about taking two hands to clap, amidst all the exciting plans under Forward Singapore. Fortunately, we are where we are today. Madam, I support the Budget.”
“But it takes two hands to clap and so, I hope with this enhancement and with the larger Healthier SG movement, all Singaporeans will really take ownership of their health and make full use of the infrastructure, programming and financing support provided by the Government to stay healthy and lead long and happy lives. Madam, let me conclude with a final thought. While the Forward Singapore agenda reminds all of us of the need to each play our part, it is also a real luxury that we are able to talk about these exciting plans and have sufficient funds to back up these plans. This has not happened by chance. Rather, it is the direct outcome of sound fiscal decisions taken year after year, over many years. Fiscal decisions, including the GST, starting in 1993, then 2002, 2007 and, most recently, 2022. Our GST journey has spanned more than 30 years, more than half of our existence as an independent nation, taking the right decisions, time after time, steadily building up a sustainable revenue base for Singapore and designing a system of GST and transfers that is fair and progressive, does not hurt the poor and taxes primarily the higher-income Singaporeans and foreigners but benefitting all Singaporeans. This is what successive PAP governments have done. Had we taken the easy way out on GST each time, starting from 1993, we would be $19 billion poorer today, literally. Nineteen billion dollars is our entire health budget. It is our entire Education and early childhood education budgets combined. It is also almost our entire Net Investment Returns Contribution (NIRC) today. And so, had we taken the easy way out on GST each time —”
“Take the security industry, for example. There have been instances of service buyers – corporate clients – reducing the workforce mix when calling for new tenders because of progressive wage. In other words, because the wages of not just security officers but also senior security officers and security supervisors have to go up under the PWM, but the service buyer's budget remains the same, the service buyer cuts its requirement for senior security officers and supervisors in a new tender. This runs against the spirit of progressive wages. It causes our senior security officers and supervisors to lose out. In order for the progressive wage policy to achieve real upliftment of low-wage workers, service buyers must be prepared to pay more. It takes two hands to clap. Fourth, on healthcare. I cheer the increase in per capita household income thresholds for various subsidy tiers. It is timely and it will give more than a million Singaporeans higher healthcare subsidies and keep alive the promise of affordable healthcare for Singaporeans. Specifically, it will allow, amongst other things, more Singaporeans to requalify for the "blue" Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) card. I have met so many residents who got "bumped down" to the "orange" card or "green" card because their children are staying with them are earning a bit more than the "blue" card threshold. And so, with the revision in income thresholds more Singaporeans will get to keep their "blue" card or regain their "blue" card at renewal. The Government has heard and heeded the concerns of Singaporeans. And this is excellent news.”
“The Award helps them close this gap and helps them to catch up with their counterparts in terms of saving for a HDB flat. I think this is patently fair. It is the right thing to do and I am glad that the Government has taken the bold and decisive step to do it. But again, it takes two hands to clap. So, while the Government has taken this bold step, I hope more ITE graduates will be encouraged to take up this scheme, and upskill and uplift themselves. And as importantly, I hope more ITE students, both current and future, will have a strong goal to work towards and be strongly motivated to do well in ITE to qualify for polytechnic. And for our corporates – our enterprises and employers – I hope they will accord ever greater recognition of the skills that both our ITE and polytechnic graduates possess, and join hands with the Government to continue uplifting the wages of both our ITE and polytechnic graduates in the workforce. Madam, thirdly, on low-wage workers, there is strong consensus in this House to uplift them. And last year, the Government has announced it will invest up to $9 billion over five years, in both Workfare and the Progressive Wage Model (PWM), to achieve this. The PWM works hand-in-hand with Workfare to uplift low-wage workers. Progressive wages are really "minimum wage plus". They are good for low-wage workers. And so, there is really no fundamental ideological difference between minimum and progressive wages that warrants our rehashing and repeated debating in this House. Rather, I think what this House should really discuss is how to make progressive wages work for our workers, how to translate policy into real outcomes on the ground. And on this, it really takes two hands to clap. The whole of society has to do its part.”
“For corporates – enterprises and employers – they need to recognise the tremendous value of Singaporean jobseekers who have taken this skills reboot and operated in an intergenerational learning environment. Recognise the tremendous value that this training provides, hire the jobseekers and offer them roles and packages that reflect their true value. Another huge step taken in education in this Budget is the ITE Progression Award to help young ITE graduates get a diploma and move themselves onto a better career and wage trajectory. It is a huge step by the Government because it will uplift ITE graduates early on in their lives, reduce inequality and keep social mobility alive. It is another truly bold step, another game-changer in my mind, in the Forward Singapore agenda. And so, I disagree with the Progressive Singapore Party (PSP), who has said that the $10,000 award upon graduation and to be paid into CPF Ordinary Account is not so helpful, because it creates differentiation among diploma graduates. Well, the reality is, half of every cohort passes through our polytechnics and so, within our polytechnics, there are vastly different profiles of students with vastly different needs. And so, a differentiated approach for different polytechnic student profiles is pragmatic. And more importantly, it is fair. The starting pay for an ITE graduate is around $8,000 lower than that for a diploma graduate on a full-year basis. And so, the gap in CPF Ordinary Account contributions alone is around $1,500 per year. Therefore, the $10,000 CPF Award can be seen as helping diploma graduates coming through the ITE route to close the gap, just in terms of Ordinary Account contributions, that is equivalent to the first six years or so of their working lives.”
“And so, the out-of-pocket fees for a second full-time diploma comes up to about 10% of full tuition fees. I think this is a fair deal. Indeed, on top of all these subsidies and credits, the Government is also introducing a training allowance tagged to one's average recent income to reduce the opportunity cost of pursuing full-time studies mid-life. This training allowance is capped at $3,000 per month for up to 24 months; so, up to $72,000 in total. This is a truly bold step and I think it will be a game-changer. But indeed, if I were to have any criticism on the Level-Up Programme, it would be about this training allowance. Because, generous as it is, I wish the training allowance had covered Singaporeans for up to 30 months, instead of 24 months, so that the entire duration of a full-time diploma programme can be more or less covered. That six months more of financial coverage for an adult learner with a family, with caregiving needs, will mean a world of difference. For the Government, this would mean an additional cost of up to $18,000 per citizen. But I think the difference it will make will be well-worth the cost. But coming back to taking two hands to clap. The Government has made this bold move through the Level-Up Programme for more mature workers. I think it is really up to our citizens, both individual and corporate, to work with the Government to make things work. For individuals, to take the plunge and seize the opportunities to get a comprehensive skills reboot and secure for yourself a second wave in your career and life. And for individuals, it is also about making and embracing an intergenerational classroom, where younger and more mature learners learn how to learn together. This does not come naturally and it will take effort.”
“The Government cannot force or compel landlords to rent to couples with a young child. The Government can only provide the right scheme, the right market incentives, but the market must rise to the occasion and landlords have to do their part in order for the scheme to work. It takes two hands to clap. Second, on education. The Government is taking huge steps forward in this Budget. One huge step is the SkillsFuture Level-Up Programme to support more mature workers. Let me first offer some quick thoughts on the $4,000 top-up in SkillsFuture Credit and whether this is really too little or insufficient to cover course fees. Let us look at things in perspective. For part-time and post-diploma programmes, the full fee is typically around $19,000. But the Government is already subsidising 90% of such fees for Singaporeans aged 40 and above, or around $17,000, such that the nett fees payable to the Singaporean is less than $2,000. And so, the SkillsFuture Credit top-up of $4,000 will more than cover the typical fees after subsidies for part-time and post-diploma programmes. As for a second full-time diploma programme, the full tuition fee from a quick search online is typically around $12,000 per year, or $30,000, over 2.5 years. But for all Singaporeans, the Government is subsidising 75% of tuition fees, or almost $23,000 over 2.5 years. And so, when Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said in the Budget Statement that the Government is giving every Singaporean aged 40 and above a second "bite of the education subsidy", this bite is, in my mind, worth $23,000. On top of such subsidies, the Government is extending to the individual $4,000 in SkillsFuture Credit to cover more than half of the balance of the tuition fees.”
“In other words, beyond having more information to facilitate further discourse, for me, the crux of Forward Singapore is really about action, taking action together, Government and citizens, individuals and corporates. Redoubling our commitment to work with each other and build a shared future together. Because for a Singapore this advanced in its development and with scant playbooks to follow, for a Singapore that is navigating uncharted waters in an increasingly complex and troubled world, it can no longer be about the Government delivering the goods and citizens merely receiving. Going forward, it has to be about the Government and citizens figuring things out together, feeling the stones as we cross the river together. Building our shared future together. And it takes both hands to clap. That is what our social compact going forward must look like. So, for the rest of my speech, I will talk about how we need to apply this basic orientation of action and collaboration between the Government and citizens in four areas under Forward Singapore and this Budget: housing, education, low-wage workers and healthcare. First, housing. The PPHS (Open Market) Voucher supports couples with a child or children and waiting to collect keys to their BTO flats to rent HDB flats temporarily from the open market. This is an important move by the Government to complement the PPHS, which the Government is already ramping up. But for the Open Market Voucher to work, landlords – HDB flat owners – in the open market must play their part. As it is, we know anecdotally that landlords are less willing to rent to couples with a young child because of potential disamenities. And so, it is not about rental price or rental market but it is about tenant profile.”
“Madam, it takes two hands to clap. That was my first and foremost reaction to this year's Budget Statement, aptly titled "Building Our Shared Future Together". The annual Budget has always been about much more than how the Government spends in different areas. Fundamentally, the Budget has always been about the People's Action Party (PAP) Government's agenda for governance – its plans, its priorities, its statement of intent – and undergirding all these, a manifestation of the PAP Government's ethos and core values in governance. And for this year's Budget, the statement of intent is unmistakably about the 4G team's Forward Singapore agenda – to move Singapore and Singaporeans into an even brighter future. In the Deputy Prime Minister’s words, Budget 2024 presents the first installation of plans in the Forward Singapore agenda. This must imply subsequent installations to come – "akan datang" – and I look forward to the unveiling of these future plans in good time. But as it is, the first installation of plans, as presented in Budget 2024 is, in my view, already breathtaking. The plans are bold, they are ambitious and they brim with gumption. They are a breathtaking set of plans. But they are also plans I can describe in one phrase, that remind us that it takes two hands to clap, the Government, on the one hand, and citizens, whether individual or corporate and, oftentimes, the whole of society, on the other hand. The Government and citizens – two hands to clap. The plans in the Forward Singapore agenda require the Government, citizens and the whole of society, to work ever more closely together, take action together, in order to make the plans happen. This, for me, is the crux of Forward Singapore.”
“The second group of persons who provide care are the laypersons in our community, family members who are caregivers to persons living with mental health conditions in the community. It is certainly ideal for persons with mental health conditions to remain plugged into the community while coping with their conditions, but we all know that some in the community are really not coping well. And in these situations, caregivers bear the brunt. I have a resident, who is caregiver to not one but two family members dealing with mental health conditions. They were not coping well, they had disruptive behaviour but they were being kept in the community. One day, my resident lost his cool and got into a physical altercation with the family members. Police came, Police investigated, Prosecutors looked at it and, in the end, decided to proceed to charge my resident in Court. He spoke to my team, and we helped him defend himself against the charges. Thankfully, he got a compassionate sentence. But the point is, caregivers can break, and caregivers need care too. To summarise, as we aim to build what my hon colleague Dr Wan Rizal has described as "a next frontier in our national strategy for mental health and well-being", let us remember those professionals and caregivers standing at this new frontier and let us systematically take care of their mental health and well-being too. Let us make this a key workstream, a concerted vertical in our national strategy for mental health and well-being – caring for those who give care.”
“And it can also help us to reach someone who may need our help and care. So, let us build a kind, compassionate environment, a society free of stigma for mental health challenges, starting with our words and our actions. Mr Speaker, the national strategy on mental health and well-being is an ambitious one, and rightly so. The second point I like to make is to just remind all of us, as we forge ahead in this strategy – there is so much enthusiasm and support for the strategy in this House – let us remind ourselves that those who will operationalise this strategy and those who are providing care for the mental health and well-being of others, also need care themselves. And they may need care in different ways. They may have different care needs. I wish to highlight two groups. First, the professionals in healthcare, social services, education, in the Home Team and even municipal services. As we try to strengthen all of these roles as touchpoints for mental health, let us remember that they are at the frontline, they are the ones dealing with difficult cases, sometimes very raw experiences. And they need care too. I recently met a gentleman working on sexual trauma cases. His hobby is climbing. He was very active in school. So, I took the chance to ask if he still climbs regularly now that he is working. He said yes, in fact, he has to because it is his "me time" to get away from the cases that he is working with and, in his words, to “keep his sanity”. So, the professionals who give care need care too. There are more than 100,000 of these professionals that we are envisaging in the national strategy. They need care and we need to care for them.”
“I have said this before during COS 2022, and I will say it again. Our words, our language and our actions, which shape our everyday discourse and interactions, really matter. When we are careless with our words and actions, or worse, when we choose to deliberately exploit and weaponise mental health with our words and actions, these set all of us back. These tear people down, they build walls back up and they set the whole of society back in our journey to eliminate stigma. I recently met Lisa Chan. This may be a familiar name to some of us. Lisa and her father have been coming out and sharing their story about Lisa’s struggles with depression and her journey in healing and recovery. Their story clearly resonates with others because Lisa has gathered quite a following on social media. And, by the way, this is alongside her full-time work because Lisa is also a thriving professional. So, there are folks whom Lisa may be meeting for the first time but who already know of her and her story through social media. Lisa tells me some of these people, meeting her for the first time have gone, “Oh, so you are the girl with depression!” To be clear, there is no ill intent behind these words. Indeed, these words may be borne of excitement, of resonance and of gratitude to Lisa for coming out and encouraging others with her story. And to Lisa’s credit, being the incredible person that she is, she totally took these words in her stride. But such words, while coming from a good place, can cut quite deeply. And so, we need to be aware and we need to be conscious that our words and actions really matter and we need to learn the right language. On the other hand, when our words and actions are understanding, authentic and sensitive, it helps someone else to reach out to us.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I went through a rough patch recently. Looking back, I think it was early signs of burnout. Luckily, I was aware of what I was going through. I detected the signs, and I took steps to care for myself. And I am grateful that the self-care worked. I became better and I feel okay enough now to be able to make this speech in Parliament. I decided that I would share in the speech, in Parliament, that I did not feel so okay, not too long ago. I think this is what breaking stigma is all about and needs to be about. It is about normalising the struggles and challenges that so many of us have gone through or will go through at some point in time. It is about shining a light on these common experiences, deeply personal but actually common experiences, because they should not remain in the shadows of our minds and souls and we should chase these shadows away. It is about normalising the process – the journey of coping, of regaining health and well-being and of becoming better. It will take all of us, a whole-of-society effort. It cannot be the start of policy interventions or legislation. It takes the whole of society to talk more openly about our own mental health journeys. Imagine a day, when parents tell their children, “Look, daddy and mummy have our struggles too, we may not fully understand yours, the struggles you are going through, but we know what it is like to be trying to cope on your own, so let’s help each other get through our challenges together.” Imagine a day when bosses and supervisors in workplaces can tell their employees, “Look, we too have bad days, please tolerate and hold space for us, just as we must for all of you and let’s work together to protect and promote mental health on our jobs”. I look forward to such a day. How do we get there?”
“Thank you, Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister, for the CBT system for concession card holders, I note that the plan is to hopefully integrate that over time with the CBT system for adult commuters as well. I would like to ask the Minister what the current assessment is of how technically feasible it is to do this integration? And ultimately, if it turns out that it is not possible or not feasible to integrate, can I get the Minister to confirm that the CBT system for concession card holders will also be maintained until at least 2030?”
“When we are faced with challenges, the Government faces the problem squarely and launches responsible and sustainable policies as there is no free lunch in the world. The Government will directly bear part of the cost, while the rest is shared with the people. In the past, we have faced similar challenges and the current issue of cost of living is no exception. In fact, many Singaporeans are aware of this. Many residents have asked me, "The Government is providing so much assistance. How can it be sustained?" As long as the Government, people and business community continue to work closely together and contribute their part, I believe we can overcome the current challenge of cost of living. I support the amended Motion by Mr Liang Eng Hwa.”
“So, I strongly support this policy, but this policy also implies that the overall domestic wage will increase and ultimately businesses will have to increase prices. A crucial consideration is whether Singaporeans support the PWM and whether they are willing to pay a little more so that low-income workers can earn more. This also applies to hawker food prices. Hawkers are self-employed persons, so they are not included in the PWM, but they also work hard to make a living. They also want to earn more. After all, other Singaporeans are enjoying wage increases. I believe that in the past two years, hawker food prices have increased by 13% on average. This reflects the reality. Hawker food prices have increased not just because food and electricity prices have increased. I have a resident who runs a noodle stall. He recently increased his prices by $0.50. I asked him, "So, you have increased your prices." He said, "I have no choice." What I was hesitant to ask was, actually, "Others have increased prices and you are only increasing prices now?" So, Singaporeans have to face the same question. Are we willing to pay a little more at hawker centres so that hawkers can earn a little more? Regardless whether they are low-income workers or self-employed persons, Government has another major initiative - Workfare. This provides direct payout to those Singaporeans who earn low income and it helps to supplement their income. Through Workfare and PWM, on one hand, the Government directly supplements part of the wage increase of low-income Singaporeans; on the other hand, it guides businesses and consumers to take on part of the increase in cost through market. This reflects the fundamental policy of the Government, that is, a small country will always face big challenges.”
“But according to official data, the price of sea bass has remained stable during the same period. So, we can eat sea bass instead of red snapper and batang. Savvy saver are still able to save money. Another important aspect is the increase in the prices of public services. The cost of public services is also affected by the global market and prices. For the increase in cost, the Government has chosen to increase prices to maintain high quality public services. This is the responsible way. For Town Councils, although they are not Government departments, they also provide public services. Thus, the recent increase in Town Council S&CC charges also reflects these increases in cost. This is a responsible way to deal with cost increases. Besides the global market, another factor for the increase in the cost of living is our domestic wages. In particular, I would like to point out the increase in the wages of low-income Singaporeans. Increasing the wages of low-income Singaporeans is the aim of the Government's Progressive Wage Model (PWM). This is an important policy. Because of PWM, between 2017 and 2022, the wages of low-income Singaporeans have increased by 2.9% annually. This is higher than the 1.8% annual wage increase of middle-income workers. In the next five years, the Government will go one step further and aim to increase the wages of low-wage Singaporeans by up to 80%. This will benefit hundreds of thousands low-wage Singaporeans. Sustaining this wage increase of low-income workers at a faster pace than middle-income workers so as to close the gap between the two is something that the Government has put a lot of effort into. As a Jurong GRC Member of Parliament, many of my residents have benefited from the PWM.”
“Even for middle-income Singaporeans, the actual impact of the GST increase is also much lower than one percentage point. Because the Government boldly launched the Assurance Package, the impact will only be felt five to 10 years later. This means that the cost-of-living pressure that Singaporeans are experiencing now is due to other reasons, not GST. One key reason is the global market volatility and the rise in global prices. Singapore is a small country and we import many of our raw materials and goods, so we will be inevitably affected by fluctuations in global prices. For example, global chicken feed price has increased in the past two years. So, we have experienced an increase in egg and chicken prices. Global oil and gas prices have also increased and directly affected our electricity price, MRT fare and prices of public services. As a small country, what can we do? The Government has one major weapon, which is the Singapore dollar. Through strengthening the Singapore dollar exchange rate, we have managed to offset 2.5% of inflation. I believe Singaporeans know that the strength of the Singapore dollar did not occur by chance. It is due to the Government's prudent management of the economy and finance. Individually, we can also take steps to cope. In fact, a lot of residents know that domestic prices are affected by the global market. Singaporeans can also take a prudent approach in spending. When we talk about inflation, it is actually an aggregate of the price increases of all goods, but in this basket of goods, there are still cheaper choices available. For example, seafood. According to official data, average prices of red snapper and batang have indeed increased by 20% and we have seen this at the markets.”
“Mr Speaker, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Official data shows that since July 2021, which is in the past 20 months, the price of eggs has gone up by almost 40%. Price of chilled chicken saw similar increases. Food and food ingredient prices have gone up by 11%. For F&B establishments, including hawker centres, coffee shops and restaurants, prices have gone up by 12.5%. Many residents have told me that the extent and speed of cost-of-living price increases have become unbearable. Previously, you can buy a lot of things with $50 at the wet market, but now it does not buy you much. As Members of Parliament, we feel keenly the impact of cost of living on Singaporeans in the past two years. Thus, today's debate is of great significance and precisely because of this, our debate should stick to the facts and analyse the factors behind the rise in cost of living objectively and accurately, and take a realistic approach to alleviate concerns of Singaporeans. This includes various considerations, trade-offs and compromise so as to avoid politicising this issue. This is the responsibility that Members of Parliament and political leaders should take upon themselves. The first point I want to make is that GST should not be made the scapegoat of the increase in prices. In the last two years, prices have gone up by more than 10% overall, but during this period, GST have gone up by one percentage point. A crucial point is that the Government has increased the subsidies for the lowest-income Singaporeans under the permanent GST Voucher scheme. This will fully offset the impact of GST increase on the 30% lowest-income Singaporeans. This means that the actual impact of GST increase on these Singaporeans is not two percentage points, but zero.”
“Restraint is the much more difficult, much less instinctive, but much more plausible path to peace. It requires strategic wisdom. And I urge for strategic wisdom too, to see that urgent action is needed. Urgent leadership and political organisation and action on both sides, is needed, in order for peace to have a chance, any chance. For the sake of millions of children, Palestinian and Israeli, Arab and Jewish, born and yet unborn, I hope both sides will do the right things, urgently, for peace.”
“This is the fundamental principle and spirit of today's international humanitarian law and laws of war. International law is crucial for Singapore as it is a small country. Singapore's support for the UN resolution is support for international law. However, we must also emphasise that the UN resolution does not mention a country's right to self-defence under international law. The resolution also does not clearly condemn Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. These two points touch on Singapore's core national security interest. Therefore, we must be clear that supporting the UN resolution does not mean that Singapore's position on the right to self-defend has weakened, nor does it mean that Singapore's position on terrorism has wavered. Singapore must strongly condemn any terrorist acts against innocent civilians. Finally, this is likely to be a long-drawn war. In our country, different groups may hold strong and differing views on the Israel-Palestine issue. But we must ensure that international events like these will not divide us. We must maintain our hard-earned multiracial and multi religious harmony that we have enjoyed over the years. (In English): Mr Speaker, ultimately, I think all of us Singaporeans want peace and stability and the cessation of human suffering in this tragic conflict – not only between Israel and Hamas, but in the larger, long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It requires strategic wisdom, on both sides, as Minister Vivian has said, both the Israeli political leadership, and the Palestinian Authority. Strategic wisdom, to see that attacks and counter-attacks, retaliation and retribution, will only harden hearts and harden the path to a durable, just and comprehensive negotiated two-state solution.”
“Israel continues to prevent the full, immediate, safe, unhindered and sustained access to humanitarian aid to ensure the survival of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip – again, in contravention of the resolution. And Israel has not rescinded its order for Palestinian civilians and humanitarian workers to evacuate all areas in the Gaza Strip north of the Wadi Gaza and relocate to south Gaza – again, in contravention of the resolution. Israel should comply fully with the UN resolution, as it should, too, with previous UN resolutions on occupied territories and settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem. These are all UN resolutions that Singapore has consistently supported. It is in our interest that UN resolutions are respected and complied with, as it upholds, preserves and strengthens the multi-lateral rule-based system that is so critical to us. Mr Speaker, in Mandarin, please. (In Mandarin): The United Nations Special Emergency Meeting on the Israel-Hamas war passed a resolution calling for an immediate and sustained humanitarian ceasefire by both sides, to facilitate the cessation of hostilities. Singapore supports this resolution at the United Nations. I support Singapore's position for two reasons. Firstly, the situation unfolding in Gaza is, undoubtedly, a human tragedy and a humanitarian catastrophe. It is saddening. Both sides of the conflict and the international community have a duty to immediately ensure basic protection and humanitarian aid for civilians. Secondly, modern warfare is not like ancient warfare. In modern warfare, while fighting is ongoing, humanity and humanitarianism is also emphasised. The more powerful the killing power of modern weapons, the more countries have an obligation and responsibility to uphold basic humanity.”
“It is in our absolute national interest to have a clear consensus in this House on this point. I would like to say too, that this consensus is a big deal. It matters, because in the UN General Assembly 10th Emergency Special Session, Canada did propose an amendment to resolution that was passed, to also "unequivocally reject and condemn the terrorist attacks by Hamas that took place in Israel starting on 7 October 2023 and the taking of hostages". Unfortunately, this amendment did not pass, with 55 votes against and 23 abstentions. So, the international community is split in its views on not just the condemnation of Hamas' attacks on 7 October as acts of terror, but even the characterisation and recognition of such acts as acts of terror. Our language and our words do matter, they matter on the international stage, they matter here at home. The international community could not agree on the language and the words to use, but Singapore cast a strong vote in the UN in favour of that amendment proposed by Canada, and again, I am glad in this House, we have strong consensus on this basic point. I hope, as a next stage, all Singaporeans outside of this House will be unified in our view on this point. Because if what Hamas did on 7 October 2023 were to happen to us, we would want these acts to be recognised and condemned unequivocally as terrorist attacks. Finally, let us be clear on a third point. Israel's ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip do violate the resolution passed by the UN Special Session. Israel has, so far, failed to take steps towards an immediate humanitarian truce, which is in contravention of the resolution.”
“I want to make this point, and I am glad that I have heard both the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Deputy Prime Minister make the point, but I thought it is important that I also make the point as a backbencher, because I sense that there are some questions amongst our communities about what our vote in the UN means in terms of where we stand on our right to self defence. As our Ambassador to the UN Burhan Gafoor – he has been quoted many times today – put it in his intervention at the Special Session, "every country…has a right to defend itself from heinous terrorist attacks, to protect its people from senseless violence and to keep its territory secure." This is close to my heart, not only as a Singaporean, but also as a National Serviceman who has been serving in various parts of the Singapore Armed Forces. In our training and exercises, my fellow commanders, planners and I constantly grapple with the fundamental intersection between military operations, international humanitarian law and strategic political objectives. But we are clear, and there should be no doubt, also, I think, about where all Singaporeans should stand on this. If we are ever called upon one day to defend ourselves, our people and our territory against the attacks of an adversary, whether state or non-state, we will do what we need to do. And we will apply our military power to secure our existence, if that is what it takes. On this note, let us also be clear on another point. What Hamas did in Southern Israel on 7 October 2023 are acts of terror. Enough has been said in this House, I am not going to belabour the point. I just want to say that I am glad to hear that we have strong consensus in this House.”
“Mr Speaker, I rise in support of the Motion and its proposed amendments. This is a very difficult speech for me. Difficult, because I speak firstly as a human being, but also, equally so, as a Singaporean. And so, while I express my grief and dismay at the lives lost and blood shed and homes destroyed on both sides, but especially in the Gaza Strip, where a humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in this escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas, while I express my grief and dismay at the situation, I am also deeply cognisant about the need for me to keep my sight clearly on our national interests. Our national interests, in a humanitarian and political crisis embroiling our brothers and sisters in another part of the world. And equally so, the important need for all Singaporeans to have a consensus and common view on our national interests. So, while I fully support the resolution passed by the 10th Emergency Special Session of the UN General Assembly on 27 October 2023 calling for, I quote, "an immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities", so as to allow the "full, immediate, safe, unhindered and sustained access to humanitarian aid to respond to the most basic needs of the Palestinian civilian population in the Gaza Strip", and while I am proud of Singapore's vote in favour of this resolution, let us also be very clear. The right to self defence is cardinal, and sacrosanct, especially to a small state like Singapore, and Singapore's vote in favour of a cessation of hostilities, and in favour of a resolution that glaringly omits an affirmation of the right to self defence, in no way diminishes, or signals a softening of Singapore's position on our sacrosanct right to self defence.”
“Speaker, on Cat A versus Cat B supply, if we look at the car population statistics, beyond any bidding exercise or even in any given year, but if we look at the population level, in 2012, 55% of cars were Cat A. But this has fallen to less than 50% in 2022. So, that is what the statistics tell us. I just wish to ask the Senior Minister of State if the Ministry would consider redeploying some Cat B supply to Cat A, especially in the longer term. I believe that at least part of the demand for Cat B will not be fungible and, therefore, will not move to Cat A. So, net-net, I am asking if the Ministry would consider increasing Cat A supply, which should mean decreasing Cat B supply, but I believe for the benefit of a middle-income Singaporean household who may just need to own an entry-level car.”
“But precisely because of this, it behoves the Government to exercise wisdom while playing an active role in the ecosystem, always looking to get things done through partnerships, indeed, enabling, empowering and strengthening various partners and stakeholders in the ecosystem and finding different ways to go far together in different sports, including in emerging and niche sports. And I have to stress this: the basic orientation for us has to be to go far together, rather than to go fast on any of our own. We play the long game; we take the long view. And the final point, Madam, because sports are a mirror that reflects the heart and soul of our nation and our society, fundamentally, sports should unite, not divide. Sports must unite. Therefore, we do not need to exaggerate differences when there are few and we should celebrate common ground where there is plenty of such. In this debate, I have seen and heard, first and foremost, a shared sense and a shared desire for sports in Singapore to help our athletes reach their maximal potential, to rally our communities and to strengthen our sense of togetherness and national pride. So, for these reasons, I support the spirit of the original Motion but I also support the amendments to the Motion as proposed by Mr Darryl David, to better reflect and encapsulate what, ultimately, we all want for sports in Singapore.”
“SportSG has also provided sport psychology resources to help the teams in their mental preparation for tournaments and I am told this is making a big difference. The Association is not only driving our national excellence in tchoukball. It is also looking to put Singapore on the regional and world maps for tchoukball. So, they are also looking to host regional and world tournaments and I understand SportSG has provided key support for these aspirations. In fact, in the next two weeks, the Association will be hosting the World Youth Championship 2023 and the South East Asia Tchoukball Championship 2023. These will be held at the ActiveSG Pasir Ris Sport Centre and I understand that SportSG has provided this venue free of charge. I will be going down to support the national teams and the Association in these tournaments and I look forward to a wonderful showing of skills and heart from the teams. Madam, let me conclude. I believe sports are a mirror that reflects the heart and soul of our nation and our society. This means that success and our broader goals as a nation with regard to sports must be about how we support every sport and every sportsperson, every athlete, at every step of the journey, whether the sport or sportsperson is emerging, reaching a peak, staying at the peak or, indeed, going through the important and necessary valleys and downslopes en route to the peaks. It is about how we show up throughout the journey. It is also, fundamentally, about coming together – athletes, sports entities, individuals and corporate supporters, civic society, alongside the Government, forging a compact. Inevitably, the Government will be the biggest animal in the jungle.”
“In fact, the Tchoukball Association of Singapore (TBAS) has been a national federation since 2018. That status was updated this year. So, they have NSA status and they are recognised as an NSA. I thought this is important and a basic clarification that I thought I should make. In any case, many of us would have heard of our national women's tchoukball team making history by becoming the world No 1 for the first time earlier this year after they won powerhouse Chinese Taipei at the 2022 Asia Pacific Tchoukball Championships in Malaysia. The President of TBAS, Mr Delane Lim, happens to be my resident. And so, through my conversations with him, I have learnt a lot about the fascinating journey of tchoukball in Singapore. And what struck me about their journey were two things: one, the passion of Delane, his team at the Association, his athletes and the entire tchoukball community for the sport; two, the strength of the support of corporates and individuals that the Association has been able to galvanise throughout their journey so far. Their latest fundraising campaign I heard was very successful. I am heartened to see this and I think this story of how everyone has been coming together to support and play a part in the achievements of the national tchoukball teams is something that we should be equally proud of, quite apart from the team's achievements themselves. And I understand that the Government has been playing a very active role, too, alongside the athletes, the NSA and civil society. Our tchoukball players use the gym at the NYSI and the strength and conditioning specialists there have created a programme to help the team.”
“All of us got to come together and find sensible, creative ways to best support emerging and niche sports. And I am glad to see that the Government is doing its part and playing a very active role in supporting emerging and niche sports. So, let me talk a little bit about this. Take skydiving or, more precisely, competitive indoor skydiving. It is quite niche, certainly not for everyone. But 21-year-old Kyra Poh is already a world champion and a household name. And I am happy to note that she is currently being supported under the spexScholarship, the first for a sport not featured in the Major Games. I applaud SportSG for taking this broader view to the spexScholarship to more closely support our young Singaporeans' diverse ambitions and aspirations across various niches. Or take sport climbing, break dancing, or breaking for short, and skateboarding. Quite niche. But I know that the NYSI has started engaging our young talents in these sports even before they become part of the Major Games programmes. For example, as early as 2017, the NYSI has already started supporting skateboarder Shadiq, who was at that time only 16 years old, by sending him to the UK Talent Inspiration Programme. Today, the Institute has a speed climbing wall which our climbers use regularly to hone their skills. And corporates and Singaporeans at large can also play a part by contributing to the Athletes' Inspire Fund (AIF), to support these athletes to represent Singapore at international competitions. So, those are niche sports. For emerging sports, tchoukball is a good example. And before I carry on, I thought it is important that I raise this factual clarification after listening both the speeches of hon Members Assoc Prof Jamus Lim and Mr Leon Perera. Tchoukball does have an NSA.”
“We need to be proactive in identifying and supporting athletes who may need help and we need to help our athletes develop the skills and the mental resilience they need to deal with the demands they face, including in their post-athlete careers and lives. And I am glad to note that the Singapore Sports Institute (SSI) and the National Youth Sports Institute (NYSI) have been organising and committing their resources to do just these. But, ultimately, while we have expectations of our athletes' performance, achievements and success, let us also celebrate their journey, their pursuit of excellence, their pushing of boundaries and their maximum potential to become – again, in Mr Darryl David's words – the best version of themselves and let us support them in their downs as much as their ups. I think that is how we, as a nation, should show up for our athletes and that should underpin our goals for sports in Singapore. Second, if sports are to be a mirror that reflects the heart and soul of our society, it must mean that sports are a national project that involves all of us – athletes, sports entities, individuals, corporate supporters, civic society, alongside the Government – all of us coming together, for each and every sport, but in different ways for different sports, according to their different contexts and needs. And this national project will be a constant work in progress, constantly evolving, but all of us, coming together, that is the key and in different ways, for different sports. Specifically, for emerging sports and niche sports, all of us got to find a way to come together and support these sports because resources of the whole ecosystem are finite and we cannot avoid the need to prioritise.”
“Madam, sports are a mirror reflecting the heart and soul of a nation, a society. And by "sports" in this context, I mean sports in which our fellow countrymen and women don the national colours, wear the national flag on their sleeves or chests and go out there and compete. Sports, in this way, are a mirror that reflects the heart and soul of our nation. I wish to make two points around this theme. First, sports reflect our values as a people – whether we only celebrate success, achievements, outcomes or whether we value equally or perhaps, even more, the process, journey and pursuit of excellence. It reflects whether we are fair-weather fans who only partake in our fellow countrymen and women's victories or whether we stand by them all the way, through their ups and downs, and let them know that we are there for them as they give their all for us and for the nation, day in, day out, in training and in competition. So, in this regard, what is success? What does success look like? What should success – what should a broader conversation on our goals in sports, as a nation, beyond medals and victories – look like? In this regard, I support what my Parliamentary colleague, Mr Darryl David, said earlier about helping our athletes to cope with stress. While we have high hopes for our athletes, we must be careful that these do not add to the stress and demands on our athletes. While we strive for sports excellence, it is also crucial to take care of our athletes' mental well-being, especially when overly high public expectations are placed on them and when they come under the glare of the mainstream and social media.”
“Thank you, Deputy Speaker, Sir. Actually, that was my second point of clarification. But it was on land management. Specifically, I have asked about how much land, what is the total land area that the state-owned portfolio of black and white bungalows sit on? And how might these factor into the Government's weighing of both economic and social factors to determine how best to make use of this total land area and to manage the portfolio of black and white bungalows.”
“Deputy Speaker, I have two points of clarification. First, on the clearing of the adjacent land at 26 Ridout Road, I would like to ask how many trees were actually cleared and did the review by Senior Minister Teo look into not just SLA but NParks – as an involved agency – NParks' process to determine the removal of trees, which trees were removed and so on and, most crucially, did NParks know the identity of the prospective tenant in the course of this process. Second, on land management, I would like to ask what is the total land area the state-owned portfolio of Black and Whites actually sit on and how might this factor into the Government's weighing of economic and social factors to determine how best to use the land and manage the portfolio of bungalows.”