Yip Hon Weng
Singapore
“But we must also keep building our trust. It is the only infrastructure a small country cannot afford to lose. Every generation since Independence has earned our place in the world. Our responsibility is to see that the next generation is given the chance to do the same.”
“It can reinforce Singapore's role as a trusted financial centre, a gateway to Asia and a platform for long-term growth. But at the end of the day, we should also be clear about how success will be measured in practical terms. How much incremental daily trading volume are we seeking to generate?”
“I thank the Minister of State for his reply. While the US dollar remains dominant, some economists have suggested that the global monetary system may gradually become more fragmented and multi-polar over time.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for his reply. Given reports that some firms are slowing workforce expansion due to cost pressures due to the situation in the Middle East, has MOM observed any corresponding shift in firms hiring preferences between local workers and our foreign workforce?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister of State for her reply. Many Singaporeans are already facing rising premiums year after year. As we have seen recently, even with cheaper riders, base premiums continue increasing. So, households may still have to pay more overall.”
“Because this is not just a technology transition, it is a workforce transition. The establishment of the Tripartite Jobs Council is an important step in ensuring that this alignment happens in practice. Technology will move. Markets will adapt. But we must be clear about the future we are building.”
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“No number of cleaners or cleaning technology can keep up with the daily littering habits of hundreds and thousands of residents. Moreover, deploying more cleaners ultimately leads to higher service and conservancy (S&CC) fees. This may perpetuate the mentality that residents are paying for the service and should make the most use of it. It creates a vicious cycle. I recognise that public education on these issues is challenging and takes time. But public education is still essential for creating a society that is civic-minded, considerate and cares for the environment. We must persist in our efforts and work towards fostering a culture of sustainability and environmental responsibility. This is critical to preserve our environment and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come. I support the Bill.”
“How will progress be measured? What factors will be taken into consideration in measuring its success? What other plans and measures is the Government considering to bring down the number of high-rise littering cases? Complaints about high-rise littering have in fact doubled between 2019 and 2021 as compared to between 2016 to 2018. The proposed amendment is timely as this would reduce cost in proceedings against individuals who commit high-rise littering and allow for more effective use of public resources. As we work to strengthen our enforcement efforts against littering, we should not forget the full range of penalties available to us, including the use of Corrective Work Orders (CWOs). While fines may be an effective deterrent for some, they may not always have the desired impact for those who can afford to pay the fines without feeling the pinch. In conclusion, Mr Speaker, Sir, I believe the initiatives are positive steps towards transforming our cleaning and waste management sectors and addressing the issue of high-rise littering from residential flats. Nevertheless, to truly tackle this problem, we cannot just rely on one or two tweaks. We need a systematic and comprehensive approach that addresses the underlying causes of littering and focus on how to tackle the issue effectively. We need to move beyond industry development and enforcement. One key lever is through education and changing norms and behaviour. We must embrace a culture that reduces waste, avoids buying unnecessary items and practises consumption in moderation. By doing so, we create less waste and have less of a need to manage it. Besides, we must all strive to adopt and maintain good social habits to keep our environment and community clean.”
“However, we must also recognise that being elderly or having some form of disability should not be a free pass to commit high-rise littering or any other forms of littering offences. Flats have rubbish chutes on every floor and some even within their homes. As such, inconvenience should not be an excuse. In cases involving children, parents or guardians should bear the responsibility of educating them, especially if it is a repeat offence. Stronger enforcement measures should be taken if the household continues to be found guilty of littering despite multiple warnings, education attempts or fines. Unfortunately, there could also be a possibility that disingenuous individuals may push the blame for littering to individuals that are incapable of being found guilty of an offence, such as children under the age of 10. How will investigation officers determine whether these individuals are pushing the blame to children or other mentally incapacitated relatives and tenants in order to escape the penalties? I understand that there may be operational difficulties in implementing this statutory presumption clause. I cite as an example a flat owner who leaves his flat for a walk at night when the offence occurred. How does the owner prove that he was not at home if there is no alibi? Will checks be made against the Police cameras at the lift lobbies? If the presumption is difficult to rebut, it may be too onerous for residents who have limited abilities or resources to defend themselves. I am also concerned that some flat occupants may act in an inconsiderate manner, thinking that the responsibility is being placed on another tenant or on the owner of the flat. Can the Ministry share what are the specific targets to determine the effectiveness of this new clause?”
“The framework's goals of developing a skilled and resilient workforce as well as creating better employment opportunities are commendable. Nonetheless, it is important to acknowledge that the demanding nature of the work as well as constant exposure to unsanitary environments has discouraged some individuals from entering the field. To attract Singaporeans to this sector, we must do more to value the contributions of cleaning and waste management professionals. This includes enhancing working conditions, incentives and career development opportunities. What are the specific plans and measurable outcomes that have been established to achieve these goals? Furthermore, with regard to the revised framework, I understand that there is a significant difference in the requirements for Class 1 and Class 2 licences, specifically in terms of paid-up capital, which is 10 times more for Class 1. What are the tangible incentives for businesses to upgrade from Class 2 to Class 1 licence? Are there specific targets for increasing the number of companies making the transition from Class 2 to Class 1 licences? If so, are the benefits sufficient to incentivise them to do so? Lastly, Mr Speaker, Sir, as we work to strengthen our efforts to combat littering through the implementation of a new statutory presumption clause, it is imperative that we ensure both clarity and robust enforcement. To that end, I would like to know what percentage of littering cases are currently being attributed to children, the elderly or individuals with certain disabilities. I fully agree that care and compassion should be exercised in investigating cases involving these groups of people.”
“As we seek to enhance the Cleaning Business Licensing Framework, I propose that the track records of companies on timely payment of wages and bonuses should be taken into consideration when they apply for licences. Recalcitrant offenders must be held accountable. They should be required to demonstrate that they are proactively resolving this issue before their licences are approved or renewed. In order for workers to fulfil Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ), I propose that companies should be mandated or incentivised to give workers paid time off from work for training. Without this, it would firstly be difficult for workers to find the time and energy to attend these courses. Secondly, it is the companies that stand to benefit from qualified workers. As such, it is only fair that the companies pay for this benefit. The proposed amendment of "Waste management licensees will be prohibited from deploying individuals in waste management work unless they are employees of waste management licensees" raises questions about who these individuals and workers are. How many of such workers are there and what percentage of the sector does this represent? What are the motivations behind this amendment? I agree that the proposed amendment is a step in the right direction. In particular, this will ensure that workers in waste management work are adequately trained and compensated under PWM. Otherwise, the existing manpower crunch in the sector will only worsen. Second, Mr Speaker, Sir, while I support efforts to strengthen the cleaning industry through the Cleaning Business Licensing Framework, it is critical to have specific and viable targets and plans to achieve this.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I applaud the amendments to the Environmental Public Health (Amendment) Bill. Waste management and cleaning are essential tasks for the functioning of our society. They are also often physically demanding and hazardous. We must do more to recognise and value the contributions of workers in these sectors. This will make the industry more appealing and safer to work in. I wish to seek clarifications on three key areas of the Bill. First, Mr Speaker, Sir, it is imperative that we continue to expand the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) to more groups of workers. I fully endorse diversifying the types of sectors that will benefit from the PWM. Are there plans to extend the PWM to other sub-sectors in the industry beyond waste management and materials recovery? If so, which sub-sectors are these? What is the median income of these workers? Furthermore, what is the timeline to onboard them onto the PWM? Likewise, for workers who are not yet on PWM, how will skills upgrading be made more accessible to them? Before we can even talk about PWM, the workers have to be paid. As we push for better wages and improved earning power for workers, these efforts come to naught if workers are not paid punctually by their employers. It is disheartening to hear of reports where cleaners do not receive their wages on time. A 2021 report revealed that 57 licensed cleaning companies did not pay eligible cleaners bonuses or progressive wages. Another 52 firms were issued warnings for similar breaches. Are there more recent statistics that indicate whether this situation has improved?”
“It requires the individual to be inquisitive, resilient, have an open mind and go outside his comfort zone to master new skillsets relevant for the new environment. And this is an unremitting process – learning, unlearning and sometimes, relearning. Often times, it requires sacrifice of time and effort. I know this from a first-hand experience. While I was doing one of my Masters, I remember going off work at 6.30 pm to travel from my workplace at Buona Vista to Jalan Bahar to attend financial engineering classes at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and returning to office at 11.00 pm to finish up work. This happened two times a week, for close to two years. I never regretted taking up the course. It has opened my mind to new knowledge and value, and has helped me develop new competences to take up different responsibilities in my career. [Mr Speaker in the Chair] The proposed amendments to SkillsFuture will certainly support citizens in their lifelong learning journey. By increasing the regulatory power over adult learning providers, it gives more certitude to the public on the quality and integrity of Singapore as an education hub. A robust education system will prepare our people to learn for life. I support the Bills.”
“This is despite efforts to effect collection from 2015 to 2020. How does this Bill ensure that SSG is able to improve the enforcement of recovering owed payments? Also, what steps have been taken to address this gap in enforcement? Enforcement of judgement debt in the Civil Court would incur time and costs. It would also be subject to the nuances of the various enforcement methods. For instance, these include the issue of how recovered funds should be divided amongst various creditors. These funds are important for the foremost reason that the funds belong to Singaporeans and are necessary in supporting workforce upgrading, as we increase our focus on CET. I believe the recovery of such wrongly disbursed funding should be made as seamless as possible. Such debts owed to SSG should also be given priority over other creditors. In conclusion, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we are facing a more fragmented and uncertain world. Even as we are coming out of the pandemic, we are seeing major nations engaging in big power contestations, both in the East and in the West. We would not have anticipated today's events, say five to 10 years ago. All these uncertainties and insecurities have major implications on important issues, such as trade and digital connectivity and on our place in the world. One undeniable response to the macro environment must be to evolve our education system. As a country with no natural resources, Singaporeans continue to be Singapore's best asset. We must ensure that our education system delivers and continues to deliver for the future. Our citizens must continue to engage in lifelong learning and respond to the larger environment. Lifelong learning is never easy.”
“Besides the IHLs are private training agencies audited every year on both the skills they provide and the claims that they file, who is responsible for ensuring that they do not commit fraud? It is my understanding that, in order to be a Training Provider under SkillsFuture, an organisation must, unless otherwise permitted, be an organisation registered in Singapore with the relevant authorities. What about foreign individuals or organisations who seek to provide training under the SkillsFuture scheme? If so, would their qualifications and expertise be subject to authentication or evaluation, in order to ensure that they meet the necessary standards for providing training? Third, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we must also consider escalating the penalties and enforcement efforts for those who abuse SkillsFuture funding or breach its terms and conditions. I support the higher penalties recommended in the Bill. In 2021, SSG took action against 93 training providers and companies for such infractions. Can the Ministry provide more information on the outcomes of these actions? How can we use this experience to better calibrate the severity of the new penalties and to safeguard our public monies? In addition to increasing penalties, will the Ministry consider barring recalcitrant companies and their respective officers and creating a blacklist of companies with major infractions? We should also consider having a whitelist of companies that are seen as role models in the industry, to make it easier for residents to choose a trusted provider. With regard to repayment of owed funds, are the provisions for recovery set out in proposed section 57D(2)(b) of the proposed Bill adequate? I note that an estimated $43 million of the SDL is still being owed to SSG.”
“As such, I believe the Government can do more to provide better quality assurance for SkillsFuture courses. This is so that more Singaporeans are willing to commit their credits, time and energy to these opportunities, at the assurance that they will not be wasted. As of June 2022, only 29% of eligible Singaporeans, aged 25 and above, had utilised their SkillsFuture credits for the year. Does the Ministry have more recent data on the total utilisation for the year 2022? What is considered an acceptable outcome? Can we do more to assure Singaporeans that the quality of the SkillsFuture courses is worth spending their time and credits on? Second, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, more clarity is needed on the skills and roles of enforcement personnel. As enforcement personnel will receive additional investigative powers, where will they receive training in investigative skills? Will we leverage on industry professionals, or the Police, to guide them? Why is there a need for authorised persons and inspectors? While these roles are differentiated by the need for routine versus intrusive investigative powers, could they not be consolidated under the role of the inspector? Additionally, how does the agency identify suitable individuals to be authorised persons or inspectors? I have spoken to training providers who are concerned by the presumption of intention created by clause 57C(7). As such, I seek clarification as to the mechanics of the presumption, and to understand the rationale behind the necessity of such a presumption. This is important as we do not wish to create a chilling effect on legitimate training providers, who may otherwise be deterred because of the presumption.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I agree with the amendments to better protect public funds and to strengthen enforcement actions against any misuse or abuse of SSG funding and programmes. We have seen in 2017, a crime syndicate attempted to defraud SSG of nearly $40 million dollars. In 2018, a human resources (HR) consultancy tried to cheat SSG of $145,000. Just last year, SSG overpaid approximately $4.2 million dollars of grants. As such, by making changes in the Bills, we can avoid such incidents and ensure that our public resources are used effectively and for their intended purposes. I have several clarifications and proposals on the Bills. First, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we can do more to improve the quality of training providers by better taking in feedback from users. It is heartening to hear that there are already different tiers of funding for training providers. Steps are also in place to remove funding and subsidies from courses which are deemed to be non-certifiable, to better fund quality ones. Will the Government consider setting up a dedicated channel for users to provide feedback to SSG on courses and trainers? For instance, users can provide feedback on courses from the relevance of the courses to their work, to the quality of the trainers and teaching agencies. This is important because some of my residents in Yio Chu Kang have informed me that they were hesitant to use their SkillsFuture credits, due to a lack of confidence in the quality of available courses. They may have heard anecdotal feedback from other students about courses being too basic or impractical. There is also no way to seek recourse if the training providers under-deliver or fail to match students' expectations.”
“I thank the Minister for his response. Are the current penalties of $50,000 fines and written warnings sufficient to deter the sale of such vacant flats? Will the Ministry and HDB consider increasing penalties for such cases and even consider the debarment over a longer period of time?”
“I thank the Minister for his reply. My supplementary question pertains to SMEs. Often, the SMEs will be in need of such foreign workers and only a small number of firms will meet the criteria for M-SEP. As such, how can we help SMEs? They are competing with the bigger companies to stay afloat and meet their manpower needs.”
“State lands do not just concern the state, or the Government, so to speak. Clarity is critical for the quick resolution of problems pertaining to state land. We live in a densely populated country. Residents will often find themselves being in close proximity to state lands. When these lands are not properly managed and issues simply take too long or even years to get settled by the Government, residents are inconvenienced. The Government must be resident-centric. We must ensure that we have strong enforcement as well as streamlined measures to manage state lands in the most effective and efficient way. I support the Bill.”
“During this period, the first set of skeletal remains was detected in 2006 after NEA officers entered for a mosquito check. The second set of remains was then found in 2015 by BCA contractors who were there to erect a temporary roof. From this example, it appears that it took a long time before any intervention was done. Will there be a system of coordination between SLA and the Public Trustee's Office to better handle similar situations in the future? Another example is the Chee Guan Chiang House, which has largely been abandoned. Located on prime land, it received conservation status in 2008. However, it is largely derelict, though it is supposedly own by Lee Tat Development. What constitutes abandoned land? Is it just when there is no claim or when there is also a lack of development? With the new laws in place, will the Government take proactive measures to quicken the process of managing and inspecting abandoned properties? In line with the Upper Thomson example, abandoned land may prove an opportunity for criminals seeking to dispose of evidence. In conclusion, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, land is a precious commodity in land-scarce Singapore. The new laws highlight the severity of misuse and encroachment of state land. They reflect the Government's resolve to use our land prudently. When the time comes to put an empty plot into use, be it for building an HDB estate, a hospital, a public amenity and so forth, it will not cost excessive resources and time to reinstate it to a useable state. I, therefore, support the higher penalties against land encroachment and misuse, which would serve as deterrence. More importantly, we need to put our residents at the heart of what we do. I take a personal interest in this Bill because there is state land in my constituency.”
“For example, there is the Community in Bloom project under NParks, where residents can plant greenery in common spaces. This may lead to the assumption or misunderstanding that residents can do more with the land outside their property and contrary to the intent of this Bill. Residents may use such land to create composts or do micro-farming, in the name of sustainability. This is usually innocuous and with good intentions. How do we strike a balance between giving residents discretion and a stake in improving their living environment, while preventing encroachment on state land? Land encroachment becomes a potentially sensitive problem when religious artifacts or buildings are involved. In fact, it is not rare to see religious paraphernalia, such as altars and statues, left at the foot of trees or on an empty plot of land. I wonder if agencies have made exceptions for such cases because of their religious nature. Nevertheless, laws should be applied fairly and consistently. What is the protocol for agencies to deal with encroachment when the offence is one of a sensitive nature? Can they count on guidance and support from religious organisations to do so when it is necessary? Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, my third clarification concerns the management of abandoned land. When and how long does it take for the Government to conduct such necessary inspection before determining whether land has been abandoned for three years or more? I make reference to the discovery of skeletal remains of two sisters in an abandoned house in Upper Thomson. The house remained in a dilapidated state for more than a decade before the Public Trustee's Office took ownership in 2015.”
“However, what is on a digital map may differ from actual ground. Unlike a map, there are no clear boundary markers on the ground. Misunderstandings or unintentional encroachment may arise when the resident property and state property are bordering each other and if the boundary is unclear. At present, the onus is on the individual to prove that, only on a balance of probabilities, he did not know and could not have reasonably been expected to know, that the land concerned was state land. Can the Ministry clarify how can the individual prove this? How does one prove that they do not have the knowledge? How do the authorities differentiate between ignorance and negligence in checking? Can we do away with this concept in the first place? Second, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, when multiple Government agencies have a stake in managing a piece of state land, ambiguity must be kept minimal. For example, the greenery on a piece of state land is centrally maintained by NParks. Cleaning comes under the Department of Public Cleanliness in NEA. Despite the clear distinction, these issues are often intertwined. When there is illegal dumping on a piece of state land, NParks' maintenance work could be hindered before the problem is resolved. This could manifest in other problems that inconvenience the residents living nearby. Examples include pooling of water that leads to mosquito breeding or pest issues. Which agency is, ultimately, responsible for resolving the issue at hand? The landowner or the maintenance agency? Is there a system in place to designate the responsible stakeholder, with the aim of resolving the problem as soon as possible? Some recent policies and initiatives may contribute to the complexity of enforcement.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is timely to review the laws pertaining to our state lands. The last review was 48 years ago, almost half a century ago. I wish to seek clarifications in three areas. First, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we should leverage the use of technology for the reporting and verification of state land issues. Residents are our eyes on the ground. We should count on them to report issues that were missed during routine inspections. We have the OneService app that allows for easy, one-stop reporting of municipal issues. Even when issues are reported to the wrong category, they are rerouted to the correct agency to be worked on. This ensures that problems are quickly resolved. Most importantly, this ensures that the resident need not approach different agencies to get their issues settled. However, it may not be straightforward to give feedback pertaining to state land. There is comparatively less awareness about accessible and reliable information resources. In fact, unknown to most, the OneMap app and website provide extensive information about land ownership in Singapore. Clicking on the land lots on the digital map displays the responsible agencies and contact information. I would like to ask whether SLA tracks how often the public uses the information from OneMap to report or clarify issues. Is there adequate awareness about OneMap? Does SLA intend to promote its use amongst the public? Can residents, in fact, use the OneService app to report or seek clarification on state land encroachment cases? Is there a one-stop public hotline for residents who are less tech-savvy? When there is less ambiguity and a simplified reporting process, problems can be quickly identified and resolved. OneMap is a comprehensive resource on land ownership in Singapore.”
“We must be bold and ambitious with our targets to evoke significant changes in attitudes towards transportation. Singapore must always be one-step ahead with our planning to meet future needs and demands in the EV landscape. As part of the Steward Pillar in our Forward Singapore conversations, we must also continue to engage our residents on how Singapore can do better in environmental sustainability, as well as grow our partnerships for a green, liveable and climate-resilient Singapore. I support the Bill.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, my last clarification is on ensuring fair competition and sustainability of EV charging providers. There are about 22 EV charging operators as of July 2022. Out of this list, slightly fewer than 10 are major players. The rest are smaller providers, with some providing EV charging as a side business. How do we ensure that among providers, there is healthy competition? On the other hand, how do we avoid the problem of having too many small players and the risk of a fragmented market? From the point of view of EV consumers, there is the concern that a small-scale provider secures the right to provide charging points at their residence, then exits the market prematurely when the business becomes unsustainable. The users would then face supply disruption. We have already seen a similar scenario in our energy market. Will it be like our energy market, where SP steps in to replace a provider that has exited the market? In conclusion, Mr Speaker, Sir, COP27 has just recently concluded in Egypt. We are at a crossroads today. We are just coming out of a pandemic. With the Ukrainian war and geopolitical uncertainties causing inflationary pressures as well as disruptions in energy supplies, there is a risk that nations focus on the pressing issues of the day but lose sight of the climate and energy crisis facing the planet. As such, Singapore must play our part. We must take the long-term view, focus on the clean energy transition and give due attention to the existential crisis of our generation. We must act in time. The adoption of EVs is important for us to meet our sustainability commitments. For EVs to be successful, the infrastructure must be laid out right.”
“Can the Ministry clarify what is the projected percentage of buildings in Singapore that would have to comply with mandated provision of EV chargers? With the ongoing high interest rate environment, there is the likelihood that many developments have suspended plans for upgrading works. As such, how effective will the requirements to increase EV charging facilities be during this period, where plans to upgrade are likely to be suspended? Additionally, many people go to work in such buildings. Instead of charging their vehicles at work, they would have to compete with their neighbours back home for the limited charging lots. Worse still, they may leave their cars to charge in the residential car park and hog the lot while at work. This may present a missed opportunity towards the adoption of EV vehicles due to the reluctance of building owners to create more charging infrastructure due to current prohibitive costs. I am glad LTA has reduced the percentage of votes required at a general meeting for MCSTs of strata-titled developments to pass EV-related resolutions. Will the Government monitor the installation rate of EV charging points in strata-titled developments? For developments that consistently refuse to install EV charging points, will efforts be made to engage them and address their concerns? We are looking at the potential exclusion of a significant number of drivers if strata-titled residential buildings deny their residents of EV charging lots. Concomitantly, I would like to ask the Government to consider providing additional support or subsidies for brownfield sites. Building a new EV charging station on brownfield sites presents many challenges and these are additional requirements imposed on them.”
“An example is a new ride-sharing service next year that allows SMEs to rent electric vans at 20 locations across Singapore. All this is good news for our sustainability targets and should be encouraged. Are these new developments and increased demands for EV charging factored into our targets? Second, Mr Speaker, Sir, human behavioural issues could undermine the actual availability of charging points. I am aware of complaints about EVs hogging charging points when they are fully charged or not charging. Likewise, there are non-EVs that misuse the parking lots designated for EVs. LTA explained that EVs, generally, only have to be charged once every five to seven days. This was one of the factors taken into account for setting the target quota. Even so, it would be idealistic to assume that users would, by default, seek out consensus or compromise on a schedule to use the charging points on different days. Moreover, does the target number of charging points take into consideration the prevalence of private hire vehicles and the high mileage that would be clocked by private hire vehicles? As we work on expanding the infrastructure, can we look into enforcing appropriate parking? Are there deterrent measures or penalties for drivers who park erroneously in lots reserved for EVs? This brings to mind the fines imposed on those who park at designated disabled parking lots. Can we do more to formalise codes of conduct to encourage considerate behaviour for EV charging? Legislation will also not be enough in this case. Active ground enforcement would be correspondingly needed. Third, Mr Speaker, Sir, what are the plans to mandate EV charging at existing developments with no upgrading plans? To promote nation-wide adoption, our EV infrastructure must be comprehensive.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, regular access to reliable and secure EV charging points is a concern for many EV drivers. Introducing and expanding a new infrastructure is always a significant undertaking. But laying a strong foundation early promotes certainty and stability among stakeholders and users. It will help our drivers to use cleaner energy and meet Singapore's sustainability targets in the long run. I have suggestions and clarifications in four areas. First, Mr Speaker, Sir, are the proposed minimum number of charging points adequate? Singapore plans to phase out petrol vehicles and only allow registration of EVs from 2030 onwards. As such, we need to beef up the number of charging points across the island. However, the Bill proposes a relatively small number of all parking spaces in the development to have charging points. Would this conservative number of mandated available charging points move the needle? Would this encourage higher EV adoption in the near future? Can we not afford to have more ambitious targets? I understand that there is an ongoing study to determine what will encourage Singaporeans to adopt EVs. The results are slated to be released in the second quarter of 2023. I look forward to reading it. In the meantime, many of my residents are already concerned about the adequacy of charging points. I note that we have a target of 60,000 EV charging points by 2030. How does this translate to the ratio of charging spaces to the number of EVs? We should establish a national EV adoption or conversion rate target. This would better guide us to determine the adequacy of charging points. Furthermore, while the spotlight has been on personal cars, electric forms of commercial vehicles are also becoming popular, like lorries and buses.”
“I thank the Minister for his clarification. Is there any data that the bivalent vaccine booster has helped to reduce severe illness and death? What is the uptake of the bivalent vaccine? And with the Singapore public treating living with COVID as a new normal, how can we improve the uptake of the bivalent vaccine?”
“I thank the Minister of State for her answer. Now that we have increased Government involvement in the electricity market again, how would that affect or curtail the market and how will MTI and EMA ensure that electricity prices continue to remain affordable to consumers?”
“I thank the Minister of State for his answer. Can the Minister of State clarify our exchange rate policy and how MAS manages monetary policy? If monetary policy is tightened, would the Government ensure that the impact on unemployment in Singapore would not be adversely affected and how would MAS work with MOM on this?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for his reply. I have two supplementary questions. First, I am heartened to hear that TCFs will be paired with our hospitals. Notwithstanding, would there be enough healthcare workers to run the TCFs, given the overall tightened manpower situation in our hospitals? Second, how is MOH supporting our healthcare workers to do their work more efficiently and to prevent burnout during this period of high patient load?”
“Thank you. I just have one supplementary question. Should a person who has multiple COVID-19 infections still take the boosters?”
“With the benefits of Healthier SG, such as having an assigned GP who knows her well and having a proper health plan to keep healthy, I am certain she will be active and can enjoy her silver years for many more years to come. The focus should rightly be on health and not on healthcare, and to stay healthy in the community for as long as possible and not in the hospital. As such, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage all eligible residents listening in to sign up with Healthier SG as soon as the opportunity avails. Let us all do our part to take responsibility for our own health and build a healthier Singapore. I support the Motion.”
“Can the Ministry clarify whether screenings under Healthier SG are primarily done by GPs or Eldercare Centres (ECs)? The White Paper mentions leveraging on physical spaces in ECs to conduct activities like health screening, early detection of dementia risk and other healthcare initiatives for seniors. Yet, GPs are also expected to conduct screenings. What is the envisioned eventual end state? Regular opportunistic screening systems may make screenings more widely accessible. However, they could be confusing and overlapping in intent, thus resulting in excess costs. In conclusion, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, Healthier SG is a paradigm shift. The Government's Population in Brief report was released last week. It shows that Singapore continues to grapple with long-term issues, such as low total fertility rate and the ageing population. The responsibility of caregiving for older family members will rest on fewer shoulders. If all of us can take better care of ourselves and be more independent in our silver years, we can help to reduce this caregiving responsibility for our loved ones. At the systems level, this means reduced fiscal funding on healthcare so that the money can be better used in other areas. But what matters most is for the individual. I recently spoke with Mdm C, a senior living alone in Yio Chu Kang. I often see her around in the neighbourhood. Most of the time, I see her at the weekly exercise class in the park or at the market after her exercise for her breakfast with her exercise kakis. I asked her what she thinks is a good life. She told me that, being in her 70s, she does not ask for much. She said as long as she can eat well, sleep early, exercise and meet up with her neighbours and her friends, she would have lived a fulfilling life.”
“This is more so in solo practices and goes back to my previous point on getting more GPs to join PCNs. In tertiary healthcare institutions, typically, you would have a nutritionist speak to a patient on diet and then there will be other healthcare professionals and programmes to deal with smoking cessation, weight loss and so on. With many GPs still practicing solo, would they have the time and resources to do so? In Australia, GP visits are by appointments. This gives them adequate time to holistically review a patient's clinical and lifestyle needs, including making adjustments. In Singapore, it is, generally, a numbers game. The more patients a GP sees, the more money a GP makes. It would only be natural that the GP would want to earn more by seeing more patients. Fifth, will the annual fee for providing care for enrolled patients be extended beyond CDMP conditions? This could include frailty and mobility issues, which are common with old age. Delaying the onset of such problems is critical in preventive care and will greatly help to improve the quality of life. Sixth, I hope that under Healthier SG, GPs can be incentivised to start end-of-life care planning with their patients. This includes encouraging them to do Advanced Care Planning, or LPAs, at the opportune time. These conversations are best started by people like GPs who know the patient best and ideally understand the patient's family and social context. It is these meaningful conversations that may need to take place. It is not so much to "bend the cost curve", though it might, but it helps people prepare for the inevitable and for families to be at peace with their decisions. Lastly, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I will now talk about the role of community care providers in Healthier SG.”
“Second, how many GPs are enrolled in our PCNs? This may give some insight on GPs' willingness to participate in Healthier SG. Do we have the majority of GPs on board the PCN initiative? What more can we do to get their buy-in to provide effective care in the neighbourhood? Third, will the cost of ancillary services be subsidised by the Government so that it is on par with those provided by tertiary healthcare institutions? The Government has gone to great lengths to reassure us that the drug cost parity between prescriptions from GPs and polyclinics is reduced. Will this be done through restricting the brands of drugs brought in? What happens if a patient opts for "branded medication"? As drug sales constitute a large part of GPs' incomes, how will drug cost parity affect a GP's willingness to sell generic drugs? Does this also extend to the cost of ancillary services, such as blood tests, X-rays and other related services provided by GPs? The White Paper also mentions a team-based care approach. Will this be similar to the PCN where backend support for care coordination and other ancillary services are provided to the GP? Would GPs have to hire additional manpower or to pay for these services? Fourth, how many more staff are required to deal with the additional administrative workload and to handle social prescription? Under Healthier SG, we expect GPs to provide advice on lifestyle and dietary activities but such social prescriptions can involve a longer consultation session and probably over an extended duration of time. In the meantime, GPs still have other patients' ailments to tend to. Can the GP count on the care team to help out or will they have to hire additional staff if they are unable to manage?”
“What is more important would be compliance to a single GP or the Primary Care Network (PCN). How do we discourage the practice of GP hopping? Will there be penalties for either the patient or GPs? Is this a key performance indicator and who is it directed to? Third, can we speed up the implementation of Healthier SG to residents under 60 years old? I believe we should be more ambitious, especially considering that chronic illnesses can start in the 40s. One way to do this is by allowing family members to enroll in the programme together with the senior. For example, if an individual is 60 years old and his wife is younger by a few years, can they both enrol at the same time? This ensures better compliance. They can motivate and accompany each other for consultations and screenings, and adhere with exercise plans. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I now move on to what Healthier SG means for GPs. Our GPs have been very helpful with our efforts to build a dementia-friendly community in Yio Chu Kang. They shared with me some useful insights on Healthier SG. First, how adequately are our GPs trained in managing chronic diseases? A GP who wants to manage more complex health problems must begin their training from medical school. In big countries like Australia, there may only be one doctor serving one or even a few towns. The GPs there are trained through medical school and postgraduate courses, with the expectation that they will function as the only doctor in the town and would, therefore, be equipped as such, with skills spanning from common ailments to more complex chronic conditions. In Singapore, because of how accessible our tertiary healthcare institutions are, many of our GPs focus on common ailments and function as referrers for more complex and serious conditions.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support this bold initiative to promote preventive healthcare. This White Paper has naturally gotten a lot of attention amongst my senior residents and GPs in Yio Chu Kang, which is a mature estate. Having spoken with them, I would like to raise feedback on several areas. First, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I will discuss Healthier SG from my residents' point of view. My residents are generally happy with the Healthier SG benefits. Notwithstanding, there are a few concerns. First, can a patient, who has already enrolled with a family doctor, consult other GPs and still enjoy Healthier SG benefits? I would like to highlight. TCM treatments. Many patients also like to get a combination of Western and TCM treatments for their ailments. Some elderly patients prefer to get regular acupuncture treatments at registered TCM clinics for their aches and pains, rather than to rely on pain medication. Will the Government take this opportunity to review how we involve TCM practitioners in community preventive healthcare, especially, since acupuncture is also offered in our restructured hospitals? Second, how will compliance and success be measured? Measuring health is unlike exercise, where we can determine participation and progress through counting the number of steps taken, heart rate and so on. How does the GP and the wider healthcare system assess adherence and compliance? How do we measure the impact on the individual at the personal level? For patients who refuse to follow the prescribed health plan, how can we then determine whether the overall programme is effective, or even whether the GP is proficient? Having a good number of sign-ups is a favourable start. However, this does not necessarily guarantee in-depth participation.”
“I thank the Minister for his reply. I have two supplementary questions. Will the digitalised LPA be made available in NEHR to facilitate ease of use by clinicians? Second, how does the Ministry intend to improve LPA awareness and better outreach to seniors with the digitalisation of the LPA processes?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for National Development for his reply. Housing in Singapore should be primarily for occupation, rather than for speculation and investment. I have two supplementary questions in line with this train of thought. First, would the Government consider increasing property tax rates for non-owner-occupied properties? Second, would the Government consider higher Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD) for those who buy more than one property in Singapore, especially for foreigners?”
“I am speaking on this Bill for a few key reasons. Singapore is an established international financial centre, but competition for this global position is rife. We always want to project ourselves further, to be a leading global financial centre. This means that we must stay abreast with global developments and consistently work on areas that can be improved upon. This is in line with the Financial Service Industry Transformation Map 2025 just launched a few weeks ago to guide our ambitions in the financial sector. The financial services industry is interlinked with every other industry. It supports the growth of other sectors. What happens in it has systemic implications across the economy. Accounting is more than a mere reflection of financial information. Accounting underpins the financial sector. Its outcomes move market participants and thereby influences our decision-making. This Bill will ensure that the information received by investors is transparent and is of high quality. I also hope that more of our Singaporean students, especially those listening in, will be attracted to accounting as a profession. This is amidst our hunt for local talent to keep Singapore running, knowing the critical role that they will play. Having good local talent, coupled with a strong legislative framework buttressed by this Bill, will, in turn, translate into more efficient and secure investment decisions. This also equates to higher returns and greater investor confidence, thereby entrenching Singapore's position as a global financial centre. I support the Bill.”
“Having a clear remediation framework would reduce uncertainty and anxiety, especially for those who are just entering the profession and veterans who are wary about the new regulations. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, my last point is on encouraging innovation. This is especially so with the launch of the Jobs Transformation Roadmap for In-house Finance and Accounting Functions and Accounting Practices at the beginning of this year. The constant call for innovation and transformation is highly relevant as accounting is a profession with roles that may soon be automated. I am heartened that ACRA, as a regulator, continues to maintain a close watch on emerging developments and risks and stands ready to intervene or make the necessary adjustments. The financial landscape for existing regulated activities has changed and continues to change rapidly, requiring a constant relook at the rules. Take, for example, some of the key emerging technologies that are disrupting the sector, namely, AI and analytics, intelligent automation, blockchain, cybersecurity and cloud computing. Many of these could boost auditing quality, allowing the collection and analysis of broader industry datasets which may previously be less accessible. Conversely, some of these technologies, being less established or in the hands of someone less technologically-inclined, may give rise to problems in audit quality. Even as we tighten the framework to promote quality auditing, how can we also grant leeway to facilitate the experimentation of new innovations and productivity measures amongst AEs, yet safeguard compliance? In conclusion, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I profess that I am not an accountant by training. My expertise lies in financial engineering and econometrics.”
“Going upstream, are MOF and ACRA working with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and our Institutes of Higher Learning to ensure that the new compliance regimes are incorporated into the curricula of accounting diploma and degree programmes? Thirdly, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have to stay abreast with the trend of companies moving into the realm of cryptocurrency and even Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in recent years. It is important that we do a meticulous audit of such companies or companies that may have invested in these new monetary realms. It is important to note that cryptocurrencies have been used to launder money. As cryptocurrencies and NFTs are emerging technologies and complex, they may be poorly understood. This would present challenges in navigating through the accounts to ensure that all relevant transactions are properly accounted for. Building on my earlier point, can we leverage on training programmes supported by the Government to inculcate the necessary skills in our accounting and auditing professionals? Fourthly, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, will there be a designated timeframe for remediation of lapses before sanctions are imposed? If adequate remediation efforts are not met within the time limit for AEs and PAs which are deemed to be "Need Improvement" or "Unsatisfactory", is there a clear escalation mechanism in place for non-remediation and sanctions? To ensure audit firms deliver consistently high audit quality, I agree with having stringent deterrent measures and penalties. Be that as it may, this should not be at the expense of impacting the long-term attractiveness of the profession.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I declare my interest in this Bill as a finance professional working in an investment firm. I support the Bill as it enhances the audit framework. It also introduces measures for better compliance with professional requirements and standards for both public accountants (PAs) and accounting entities (AEs). Notwithstanding, I seek some clarifications on the proposed amendments. Firstly, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, what is the estimated cost of compliance, given the new regulatory measures and increased inspections? I agree with the risk-based approach to focus quality control inspections on AEs with higher risk and public interest clients. This would provide a balance between increased regulatory costs and meeting the objective of the said Bill. However, the burden on these higher-risk AEs in terms of financial costs and time would still be increased. These AEs will need to dedicate time and manpower towards compliance and prepare for the audits. Would the Government provide subsidies as part of the easing-in period to help PAs and AEs to adapt to the changes? Likewise, would there be any form of compensation for the opportunity cost lost by these firms in preparing for the inspections? Secondly, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as we improve the framework for the accounting industry, investment in training of accounting talents is also necessary to raise the overall audit quality in Singapore. PAs and AEs would have to keep up with the new regulatory regimes. The best way to do so would be through professional upskilling. Would the Ministry provide avenues for PAs and AEs to receive training so that they may meet the new requirements?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for his reply. I have two supplementary questions. First, with more data, does MOH intend to periodically review the vaccination eligibility criteria to allow more people who were previously ineligible for vaccination to get vaccinated and protection from COVID-19? Second, how does MOH intend to increase the vaccination rate, especially amongst those who are seniors and have comorbidities?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for his reply. I have two supplementary questions. Does MOM have investigatory powers to ascertain whether a company did the FCF job advertising in bad faith? For example, whether a company has already decided on a foreign candidate beforehand? My second supplementary question is, whether MOM will consider calibrating the FCF or watchlist into tiers, with a specific tier where firms are named and identified.”
“When we were children, we were taught to stand and put our hands over our hearts, facing our national flag and say the national pledge in school. We stood to sing the national anthem. Our children, including my children, continue this practice today. Respect for our national symbols is consistent across economic, racial and religious grounds. Our national symbols are emblems of our unity, thoughts and purpose as a nation. These symbols are not mere pieces of decoration nor objects to be honoured for themselves. They are honoured for what they represent. The use of our national flag and symbols thus offers opportunities for Singaporeans to express our patriotism and such patriotism is more important now than ever before. After 57 years, we are at a crossroads in our nation's journey. Our social compact must evolve and respond to both opportunities and challenges. Through the Forward Singapore exercise, we must come together, examine our values and aspirations, build consensus and, in doing so, refresh our social compact. Our national symbols play an important and unifying role. It allows us to demonstrate our patriotism and express pride in our unique multicultural and multi-religious society. I support the Bill.”
“These groups may be locally registered as a society or as a Singapore chapter of a global organisation. They could also be simply a group with a common cause. Next, there are buildings where you have several flag poles lined up in a row. May I ask the Minister when our national flag is flown on the flag pole, can a social group fly its flag at the next flagpole alongside our national flag? I raise this because it could mislead the public by giving the impression that the Government stands alongside a social group and its beliefs. Flag desecration is a serious offence. We have read of instances where people have burnt decorations put up for National Day and arrests have been made by the Police. Last year, a 24-year-old man was charged with cutting and damaging multiple National Day Parade banners and, most recently, a 39-year-old man set a flag on fire, and he was arrested. May I ask whether it is an offence for the image of our flag and national emblems to be put on paraphernalia which are used for offerings for religious activities, say, during the Hungry Ghost Festival or any other festivals? A person can also use this as an anti-Government gesture under the pretext of practising his or her religious belief. Lastly, Mdm Deputy Speaker, Singapore is a young nation. As we journey along, there may be new symbols being introduced. Does the new legislation cover the addition of new symbols? How will the National Emblems (Control of Display) Act 1949 be amended? In conclusion, Mdm Deputy Speaker, our national flag and emblems are more than just visual representations. Our national flag, especially, represents the values and ideals that we hold dear.”
“For example, if security guards who do not work for Government services or public agencies have been spotted with the flag emblem on their uniforms, would that or should that be an offence? It is pertinent to reduce ambiguity. This is to ensure that the rules can be properly endorsed but without the need to constantly consult the relevant bodies or burden them with onerous approval processes. Secondly, Mdm Deputy Speaker, how specific will the proposed regulations be with regard to the use of national symbols? Also, as equally important, how will penalties be enforced? The interpretation of designs can be highly contentious. Something that is considered disrespectful to someone may be interpreted in an entirely different manner by another. Will there be a framework to provide guidance to our designers? Does the Government intend to get experts to provide views on its assessment? If a notice is served on an offender, what is the timeline given to remove the offending act before enforcement action is taken? How many cases were prosecuted under the Singapore Arms and Flag and National Anthem (SAFNA) Act and Rules for such offences in the past? Related to this, should there be a need to define "use" and what offences can carry a prosecution? Is the Bill also intended to cover the use of the national symbols in documents, for example? Thirdly, Mdm Deputy Speaker, I wish to share some concerns specifically with regard to our national flag. A question I would like to raise is whether social groups are allowed to use the national flag and other national emblems in their activities. While this could ostensibly be perceived as a patriotic gesture, it could, in fact, be an attempt to gain wider public support for their activity and their causes.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, this Bill is a welcome move. Many Singaporeans when travelling abroad would have seen how national flags are quite freely used on apparel and luggage bags. Hence, some of them would question why other countries can be liberal with the use of national symbols whilst what is permitted in other countries may not be allowed in Singapore. As such, I welcome the overarching objectives of clause 14 of the Bill, which allows the President to create such regulations relating to our national symbols as the President deems fit. However, I have some clarifications on the Bill and the proposed regulations. Firstly, Mdm Deputy Speaker, there should be more clarity on the use and design guidelines for national symbols. I believe this will be met with the flexibility of making the regulations pursuant to the Bill. One problematic area is that of commercial advertisements. There were instances in the past where the lion head symbol was used to promote products and services which had no relation with the Government. Often, the symbol was used for innocuous purposes, such as to highlight that the product was made in Singapore. However, such usage may have created the misimpression that the products and services had some form of official endorsement. Under the current circumstances, what if the users were to use part of the symbol or, for example, to use the symbol in different colours as they try to circumvent the rules? We also need more comprehensive guidelines for the use of the flag's image without requiring official approval on attire, decoration and products. Without clear guidelines, businesses may misuse our national symbols to give the impression that the product or service is authorised by the Government.”
“They should also be aware of their legal rights pertaining to overdue payments and debt collection laws. Are our community legal clinics adequately equipped to help residents who have relevant concerns? In conclusion, Mr Speaker, Sir, I have spoken to some residents who have shared with me about their experiences with debt collectors. They shared that the way some of these debt collection agencies work is no different from how some loan sharks or "Ah Longs" operate. Some have no qualms about using tactics, such as public intimidation, shaming using vulgarities and, sometimes, even using violence to get the work done. As we move Singapore forward, we absolutely cannot condone any individual or organisation to harass or harm someone even if it is done with the objective of fulfilling their job responsibilities. Any eventual failure to reclaim debts should be resolved through legal means. I am confident that the new laws would greatly reduce the number of harassment cases and, in doing so, help build a safer and secure Singapore. I support the Bill.”
“Would it be the Police or the Licensing Officer? Fourthly, Mr Speaker, Sir, how are Licensing Officers selected? The Police and Licensing Officers have a significant role to play in enforcing the regulations of the Bill. Debt collectors are screened by the Police and debt collecting companies are licensed by Licensing Officers. Can the Ministry clarify whether Licensing Officers are recruited from the Police or would they belong to another department under the Ministry? Finally, Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to share two points on reducing the need for aggressive debt collecting. Firstly, we should limit the over incentivising of debt collection companies. I am concerned that some of these companies, especially those that are paid on a commission basis, may resort to hard-handed measures to collect debt, especially if it means that they earn more in return. Will the Ministry consider implementing a cap on the total amount of incentives that a debt collection company can earn from a particular assignment? Are clients of debt collection agencies required to pay a base compensation to these agencies even if the agency fails to achieve the target? More importantly, we should strive to solve the problem upstream by reducing the incidence of overdue debts. This would require more public education about borrowing money from different types of sources, be they individuals or licensed moneylenders. Companies in the business of providing loans should always impose credit checks before granting loans. This is to prevent debtors from overleveraging. Debtors, too, are responsible for learning and practising good financial management. This is to ensure that they can repay their debts in a timely manner.”
“Should debt collectors be required to wear body cameras? Do they also have to produce their licence to the targeted debtor before embarking on their debt collecting activities? Thirdly, Mr Speaker, Sir, we also want to ensure that the guidelines and regulations are not too restrictive to the point of hampering legitimate debt collection work. There is some concern that under the new licensing, with a list of guidelines on what debt collectors cannot do, the pendulum may have swung to the other extreme. In order to reduce the ambiguity of what constitutes improper debt collection, would the code of practice to be introduced via clause 16 of the Bill provide a list of best practices and guidelines with relevant explanatory notes on what debt collectors can or cannot do? In Australia, the relevant government and public agencies worked on a debt collection guideline for collectors and creditors. Its purpose is to assist creditors, collectors and debtors to understand their rights and obligations. It is also to ensure that debt collection activity is consistent with consumer protection laws. Do we intend to set out similar guidelines? If a debt collector is found to have breached the regulations, what are the avenues for victims to lodge a complaint? Should a specific hotline or body be created to address these complaints? My concern is that the finite resources of the Police may be clogged up by such complaints, which are often less urgent. What action will be taken against the collector? Will they be suspended, pending investigation? How do we avoid situations where a recalcitrant debtor makes frivolous complaints to hamper the debt collector's job and avoid paying their debts? Who will manage and investigate the complaints?”
“Does the Bill cover online correspondences, such as email, social media platforms and instant messaging apps? These channels have become increasingly common means for debt collectors to badger the debtor, so much so that the US' Consumer Financial Protection Bureau had in 2021 approved a set of rules which dictate how debt collection agencies can email, text or contact debtors on social media to seek repayment of unpaid debts. Among these rules, collectors must allow debtors to opt out of being contacted online. Any messages that they send also have to be private. They are not allowed to post on the debtor's social media pages if it is public or visible to contacts. Are there plans to adopt similar rules here in Singapore? I also wish to ask how the Bill applies to the guarantors of debtors. I support the move to disallow debt collectors to collect money or attempt to contact persons who are not the direct debtors. However, can the Minister clarify whether this is also extended to guarantors of the debtor? Are guarantors bound by law to repay the debts on behalf of the debtor? Some people may have involuntarily agreed to become guarantors without expecting to be responsible for the loan. This could happen when the guarantor did not have full understanding of the implications or they did it out of friendship or family obligations. Does the Bill deem guarantors to also be debtors? Would the Ministry also consider enhanced penalties for debt collectors who harass family members or other persons? Clear guidelines have to be followed through with compliance. Clause 16 of the Bill mentions that the Licensing Officer sets out the code of practice. How will this code of practice be determined and how will compliance be enforced?”