Yeo Guat Kwang
Singapore
“Madam, a supplementary question. Many are concerned that with the rising manpower cost and manpower shortage, whether the standard of cleanliness and the hygiene level in the hawker centres will also be affected.”
“The Government should consider implementing new disposal standards like Taiwan and the cities in China, as well as roll out assistance schemes similar to the Innovation and Capability Voucher (ICV), to encourage the local F&B industry to bring in new technology and provide businesses with grants to purchase kitchen waste disposal machiner…”
“Madam, the Minister of State mentioned that instead of having a one-stop, he is suggesting to provide a better first-stop. So, I hope the Minister of State can elaborate further on how this first-stop can really help.”
“Mdm Speaker, I would like to seek a few clarifications from the Minister. The Minister mentioned that the Bill targets those dormitories that are housing 1,000 workers and above. But this Bill's name is "Foreign Employee Dormitories Bill". Why do we not call the Bill the "Purpose-Built Dormitory Bill"? That is, we call a spade a spade.”
“I would like to ask the Ministry: why does it not just group all these regulations together under this Bill and apply it to all? Madam, as the legislation is allowed time to take effect, I would also want to urge the Government to continue close consultation and engagement with the operators and migrant worker residents especially, as wel…”
“This is a Bill that touches everyone in one way or another: some of us are pet owners, others are potential pet buyers, business owners, and some of us may be neighbours to pet owners.”
The complete record
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“During this time of economic crisis and unstable market conditions, it is very difficult for voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) to carry out fund-raising activities. In fact, these organisations are constantly worrying about how to get the funds needed for their activities. I am concerned that activities of these voluntary organisations may be paralysed for lack of funding. At present, VWOs which provide convalescence, chronic care services or day-care services for the aged enjoy 50% subsidy from the Government. I would like to urge the Government to increase the subsidies for VWOs, particularly those which provide health services for the elderly, to, say, 60% of their cost. In addition, I hope that the Government can also provide land to these VWOs to build their own hospitals or hospices, at concessionary prices. I understand that in Hong Kong, the government gives the land, free of charge, to voluntary organisations to build facilities for the aged. There is a saying in Chinese, "Open up resources and save on their outflow." If you can give them more subsidies, that is, more resources, I hope that the Government can also consider other measures, such as the setting up of a task force to provide guidance to these VWOs on how to be more cost-effective in order to save cost. Perhaps, the Government could provide them with cheaper supplies of medicine so as to help them to cut costs. These voluntary organizations are doing a great job in providing medical care and support services selflessly for the chronic sick and aged persons in our society. They deserve better support from the Government.”
“Its active role of helping the needy in our community with the various assistance schemes deserves the Government's continuous financial backing. In Punggol South, we see an increase in the number of applicants for our one-time interim financial assistance scheme for the unemployed. For the last three months, we have an average of 20 cases per month. Sir, other entities that have seen a growing role for themselves are the Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWOs). They are often very spontaneous in offering assistance to Singaporeans who need them. Thus, the Government can enhance the effectiveness and ability to help Singaporeans by providing more funds to the VWOs to computerise and to train their personnel in such areas like counselling management and care-giving skills. The better the trained VWO volunteers are the better equipped they are to offer help to Singaporeans. Sir, another area of concern amongst Singaporeans is the rising bill each time they have to incur at their favourite eating outlets like the coffeeshops and food courts. Many of my residents have come to share with me that they are very puzzled about the price increases at the coffeeshops and wondered what these outlet proprietors have done with the rebates given by the Government. For instance, the 55% property tax rebate for a coffeeshop of about 4,000 sq ft means a saving of $12,000 to $15,000. NTUC FairPrice and NTUC Foodfare are often cited as good examples of how cost savings have been ploughed back for consumers' benefit. These residents have wanted to know whether the Government has any monitoring mechanism to ensure at least some justice is being done with regard to ploughing back cost savings from tax rebates and lower prices. I think their concerns are valid and their request reasonable.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I must say that given the prevailing economic conditions, the Minister for Finance's Budget is an appropriate one. It is a remarkable balancing act in ensuring that Singapore lives within its means, maintaining our ability to compete in the market place and looking after the needs and welfare of Singaporeans. I am also very relieved that despite the relentless calls from various quarters, the Government has rightfully not dipped into our reserves. Singaporeans must realise that these reserves are built up painstakingly over many years. Hence, it must not be drawn at the first sign of trouble. Mr Speaker, Sir, the ordinary Singaporeans are also not left out of the scheme of things. The service and conservancy charges, utilities and rental rebates for the HDB heartlanders amounted to a sum of $142 million. This is a big testimony that the Singapore Government is a caring one. However, despite the effective measures put up by the CSC and the rebates from the Budget, there will still be some Singaporeans who need help. They have many worries. Jobs, school fees and daily expenses are nagging concerns. Meeting the medical expenses will be another challenge. In each financial year, from FY94 to FY97, the Government contributed $100 million to the capital sum of Medifund. I am pleased to note that for the year 1998 Medifund has paid out $13 million to patients from the lower-income families. As for my ward, Punggol South, about $50,000 was granted over the last six months. Therefore, I urge the Government to continue to make generous provisions for Medifund to ensure that the proceeds from its capital sum would be able to meet the increasing demand. The Community Development Council (CDC) is slowly but surely providing its worth during this trying period.”
“Sir, would the Ministry consider identifying more schools to offer Higher Malay now that the eligibility has been extended to pupils in the top 21%-30% cohort? RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Sir, there are now currently 10 schools which are offering Higher Malay and four of them function as Higher Malay Centres to which students who are studying in schools close by come to as well. Our assessment is that the geographical spread and the number of schools are adequate, but if there is a need we will be prepared to increase the number of centres.”
“Do I have to sum up? I do not understand what was the main point of Mr Low's intervention. What I know for sure is that 90% of our Singaporeans own their flats and we have a manageable unemployment rate although everyone says that the regional economic situation is very bad. But we are considered not bad. On the Internet, someone remarked that in Singapore, the acronym IMF stand for "I am fine."”
“If our Government's judgement is not sound, if they are not capable, then today how do we have a Singapore which is least affected by the economic turmoil?”
“I do not understand why the Opposition Member holds the view that for one to be capable, one has to set rules and stick to them in spite of changing circumstances, without making the relevant adjustments. For example, if you are driving a car along a certain route, there is a puddle of mud ahead of you, do you drive straight on irrespective of the conditions of the road, or would you swerve to a side and go round the puddle? What we should do is to make accurate judgement with regard to the situation before us. Identifying the problem is important. But just identifying the problem is not enough. We must look for solutions to the problems. We cannot tell the people that the economic situation has changed and then stay on with the past policies and measures to deal with the present situation. Can we do that?”
“Mr Low does not understand the expediency of "suiting measures to the time and local conditions". We should make decisions according to the situation here and now, to look for the most effective measures to tackle our problems head-on. This is exactly where we are different from the other governments.”
“If we look at the situation from some small micro-perspectives, then it will enhance our workers' anxiety, as they do not know what to expect next. We should be united, work as a team, be pragmatic, and then we will have a better tomorrow.”
“I was not going into the argument of whether we have hens first or eggs first. The example I quoted was to illustrate the point that we must have a healthy hen in order to get good eggs. The recommended measures are meant to prepare us for the worst. Just now Mr Low remarked that in February this year, DPM Lee had claimed that our economy was quite all right. I do not know whether our Opposition Members are in the habit of not reading the newspapers. The economy changes every week, every day! Today's situation is very much different from what it was six months ago. As a matter of fact, even in the second quarter of this year, we still had a positive growth. But, by the third quarter of this year, we began to have negative growth. From the various economic reports, we can see that certain countries were not seriously affected by the financial crisis in the beginning. However, they are in a significantly different situation now. For example, a worker told me that at the beginning of the crisis, people called it the "tongyam effect", because it originated in Thailand. Soon after that, other countries in the region were affected, and it became the "Asian flu". With the troubles in Russia and Latin America, this crisis is going globalised. It has become a global economic crisis. The world of economics is dynamic. It is not static. Therefore, we say that the across-the-board wage cut is necessary. No doubt, some companies are still making good profit. To them, I say, "Please do not take these wage-cut measures rigidly." They can reduce the price of their services or goods to help the workers. Therefore, we should look at the situation as a whole.”
“Whatever savings they get, they should pass them on to the consumers. I would like to make another suggestion that our public transport cost be lowered. According to estimates, out of the total cost in operating public transport, 50% comes from the workers' wages. So, with a 10% cut in the employers' CPF contri- bution, the operational cost should be reduced by at least 4%. I suggest that the public transport operators give a 5% rebate to passengers who purchase farecards. For every $10 farecard purchased, a 50 cent rebate should be given. The NTUC cooperatives have also announced a series of measures to help the workers. For example, NTUC FairPrice has announced price reduction to some of the sundry and daily essential goods in its outlets. This will help to lower the cost of living of the ordinary workers. We hope all these well-intentioned measures will receive similar response from merchants and supermarket operators to see how prices can be lowered. When we are facing an economic crisis, we need to have a spirit of unity. We should look for the root causes of our malaise to find out how the employers, Government and workers can unite and work together to solve the problems. If we take a short cut, as what our neighbouring countries have done, to devalue our currency or to make use of our financial surpluses and reserve to tide us over the crisis, we will bring more troubles and pains to our economy, although these measures may appear to be painless and superficially effective. Therefore, we should think of pragmatic measures. We should bear some pain. However, as long as we believe all these efforts and sacrifices are for a better tomorrow, then I think we are in the right direction.”
“If we are not prepared, Mr Low would ask why we did not see it fit to be prepared. When we are prepared, he asked why should we do so. We do so in order to ensure that our workers would keep their jobs. Our workers have shown guts and determination. They are prepared to take a wage cut. However, the higher-income executives should make even bigger sacrifices by accepting a deeper pay-cut. If possible, the lower-income workers should be spared the wage cut. As the biggest employer, the Government should take the lead. I believe our Government will do so. Sir, today, our workers have manifested such determination and spirit of unity and their sacrifice deserves our applause. They must not be forgotten when the good times return. The employer should do the same. We should not act like the Opposition Members. We should not add more troubles to our workers. If we are pragmatic, adjust our measures, we can still live a comfortable life in Singapore. Our market economy, according to Mr Low, is without restraint. Our economy develops without restraint. Therefore, we are in this plight. However, what I learnt from the various reports, I see quite a different picture. Many economists agree that because the Government has made proper policies to guide our economy, therefore, we are not like other countries in this region who suffer gravely during the economic and financial turmoil. He said we are unreasonable in asking our workers to meet the 1998 cost of living with 1994 level of wages. If we look at the figures carefully, we will find that various types of daily necessities have fallen in prices. The NTUC FairPrice has benefited from the off-budget measures and these benefits are passed on to the consumers. We hope other businessmen should not find any pretext not to do so.”
“I remember when I was a little boy, I used to venture into the compound of a certain house in the kampong where I lived. This family reared a few hens and a pig. I particularly enjoyed watching the hens laying their eggs. What amused me was the rate at which different hens laid their eggs. Some laid a lot of eggs while some laid not as many. One day I asked the master of the house, who was a respected kampong elder, why it was so. He smiled and told me, "The healthier hens, those well nourished and better fed ones, naturally are more productive and can lay more eggs. The under-nourished and sickly ones, of course, cannot lay as many eggs. But, If I were to slaughter these weaker ones, then I would not even get one single egg from them. " This is like what the Chinese say, "If there is no soil, there are no flowers." Without hens, how do we get eggs? It is the same with our workers today. They have answered the call for a wage reduction. They are prepared to accept a wage cut, not that they derive any pleasure in doing so, but because they know that this is a bitter pill they have to swallow in order to help their employers tide over the difficult times ahead. If the company can survive, they can keep their jobs, and they can then have take home pay to support the families. We should not slaughter the hens to get their eggs. Therefore, our opposition party members and their employers should understand the plight and intention of the workers. Our workers have made short term sacrifices and we hope that the employers will respond in kind. They should manage their companies well so that the workers' sacrifices will not be in vain. The 10% cut in CPF is painful but cannot be avoided. We must prepare well in advance.”
“I also welcome the amendment to provide for those people who are in arrears in contributing to their employees' CPF to be summoned directly to court. This would improve our enforcement efficiency and shorten the legal procedure to make sure that the employees will get their CPF due to them. The ceiling for composition fine is increased from $200 to $500. This will have a better deterrent effect. I would like to ask the Minister whether it is because the number of offenders has been increasing to such a great extent that it had prompted the Government to raise the maximum amount of composition fine. If that is the case, will the $500 composition fine be enough to achieve the desired deterrent effect? At the same time, will the CPF Board exercise some flexibility in their enforcement by first allowing the errant employers the opportunity to explain the reasons for their default in payment, before an appropriate composition fine is offered? Allowing inter-account transfer by members is a measure to be welcomed. But I do not understand why it has to be done only under certain circumstances. Can we not allow all the CPF members to transfer their money from Ordinary account to Special account at their own time, at their own convenience and according to their own wishes? I welcome the amendment to Section 9 of the Act which gives priority to claims for any sum due to the Fund so as to better protect the CPF members' interest. Generally, I support the Amendment Bill.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I support this Amendment Bill. I welcome the further opening of the door to voluntary contributions of CPF. Mr Speaker, Sir, in the past few years, our economy has enjoyed rapid growth and the Government had accumulated a lot of surpluses. To share the fruits of our economic success with the people, the Government initiated the CPF Top-Up Scheme which has enabled a lot of people in Singapore to have their CPF accounts topped up so as to enjoy better benefits as CPF members, such as MediShield and all kinds of protection schemes. Based on our present economic situation, it is unlikely that the Government will continue to top-up our CPF accounts in the next two years or so. On this perspective, I must say that this Amendment Bill is very timely. It provides for people who do not have a regular employment or fixed income to have the opportunity of enjoying the benefits provided by the CPF scheme through voluntary contributions, especially for temporary or casual workers and self-employed people who do not have regular incomes, such as private tutors and housewives. With the amended provisions in this Bill, they can make voluntary contributions to their CPF accounts according to their own free will. They will not be excluded from the CPF scheme just because they are unable to submit certified statements to substantiate their incomes. By so doing, these people enjoy the benefit of being covered by the MediShield scheme for medical protection, not only for themselves but for their dependants too. With medical cost rising all the time, I think it is very important to have this kind of protection, particularly when the coverage of MediShield or MediShield Plus is being extended to 75 years.”
“Can the Government consider granting a higher subsidy to the financially troubled organisations such as those providing these convalescence or recuperative services? Can the Government increase the subsidy from 50% to, say, 65%? There is a Chinese idiom kai yuan jie liu [ ], meaning, increase income and decrease expenditure. If the Government is unable to provide more subsidy, ie, to increase their income, then perhaps it may consider setting up a special task force to help these voluntary welfare organisations improve their efficiency so as to reduce the recurrent expenditure. Can they be given higher rebates on the road tax of their vehicles? This will help to lighten their burden. The Government may also consider providing some professional and less expensive medical supplies to reduce their operational cost. Finally, I hope that despite the shadow of this economic crisis, the Government may seriously consider introducing some measures to allow the cultural organisations to have some discounts when they rent the venues for performances to send the signal that the Government's effort to promote the arts to develop Singapore into a gracious society will not be slackened.”
“Where necessary, the flexi-wage system can help lighten the burden of labour cost of the investors without affecting the basic wages and income of our workers. Can the Government consider introducing some measures to encourage the private sector to fully adopt the flexi-wage system? For the time being, Singapore's economy has not gone into a recession as in the 80s. I urge the Government not to consider reducing the CPF contribution rates on either the employers' or employees' sides. I hope the Minister will give our workers an assurance that until and unless all other options are exhausted, the Government will not reduce the CPF contribution rates for the employers and employees. Under the effect of the financial and currency crisis, and the uncertain market situation, the voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) are heading for a hard time. They are facing tremendous pressure in trying to meet the target for their fund-raising efforts. The Chinese characters for raising fund are chou kuan [ ]. The first character chou sounds exactly the same as the Chinese word [ ] for worry or anxiety. To these VWOs, to raise fund is to "worry about the fund". It is like the Chinese saying: "the worries reflected on the frowning brows strike deep into the heart". The famous female poet Li Qing Zao from the Song Dynasty once wrote a well-known line: "All the boats on the two rivers are not enough to ferry all my worries." Many of these voluntary welfare organisations may be paralyzed because they are unable to raise enough funds to attain their target. At the moment, organisations which provide convalescence service, recuperative service for the chronic sick or day care service for the aged, enjoy a uniform 50% subsidy from the Government.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this year's budget can be said to be a sure and steady budget. It is like a description in the Chinese kung fu story: "when a blow is delivered, only 50% of the power is used with some power kept in reserve. Contain motion with quietude and counter changes with no change." I support this kind of budget. When we make the offensive, we must always reserve some strength for the defensive. On the positive side, this budget seeks to strengthen the financial services sector which is the first to bear the brunt of the regional financial crisis. The financial services sector is a high-value added industry. It provides the impetus for the other trades and industries to progress and to ensure their long-term steady growth. It has the greatest effect in promoting the overall economic development and to provide job security and good remuneration for the workers. In this year's budget, emphasis is given to the areas of infrastructure construction, education and defence. At the present stage, these are the areas which need to be strengthened to enhance our competitiveness. It is a wise move. However, enhancing the skills of our limited human resources and their employability is also a task which brooks no delay. Can the Government consider increasing the allocation of funds to support those who are willing and prepared to upgrade their skills, so that they can go for training to enhance their employability? Just as my colleague, Mr Lim Swee Say, has said just now, this is in line with the long term interest of our economic development. After the recession in the 80s, we came to know of an effective and not too painful way to help the nation and the people to tide over the crisis, ie, the flexi-wage system.”
“This should be able to deal with the needs of the aging population. In addition, we should also ensure that we have enough recreational and rehabilitation centres for the old people. Right now, such centres are all run by voluntary organisations. In our past, we depended on social, community and religious groups to form aided schools to provide more school places for our students, and ensure that everybody gets a place in the school. This worked very well for the interim until the Government was in a position to take over the administration of all the schools in Singapore. In the same way, I hope that the Ministry of Health can also work along the same line and build on the foundation of the existing private rehabilitation centres to gradually develop more facilities for the old and poor people among us. Right now, what kind of assistance is the Government giving to the voluntary organisations in running such centres? Will the Government consider giving them more aid to lighten their financial burden, for example, give them more technical assistance, medical supplies and other materials to improve their efficiency and effectiveness?”
“Two days ago, we heard many stories about wool and sheep and how the shepherd sheared the wool from the fat sheep and gave them to the thin sheep. Now we go to another aspect of the story, to look at old feeble and sick sheep which are unable to grow wool and they need covered pens to shelter them and shepherds to look after them. Sir, with the problem of the aging population receiving more and more attention, people are increasingly concerned about the health care services for the aged, especially services which are community-based. In April this year, the Ministry of Health announced the setting up of a department specialising in health care services for the aged. An inter-Ministry department will also be set up to assist in formulating relevant policies and measures. This is good news. It shows that this issue has been receiving priority attention. In less than 30 years' time, out of every four people, one will be above the age of 65. We will have to prepare early for the situation. I would like to suggest that we should strengthen health care services for the aged, and provide them with other facilities on a community basis. More and more old people are staying alone at home. More and more day-care centres are set up in the neighbourhoods of HDB estates. We need to expand the role of Government polyclinics so that they will be able to provide services to the old people in the neighbourhood. For example, the entrances and waiting rooms should be improved to give more convenience to the old people. I would like to ask the Ministry of Health to also consider introducing mobile clinics which could visit the various neighbourhoods to provide medical services to the old people. Home nursing service should also be improved and enhanced.”