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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“Mr Speaker, Sir, debt collection activity is often a necessary and important part of any credit ecosystem. But debt collection must be performed in a regulated and civil manner. The number of Police reports made against debt collection harassment has remained high in recent years. Licensing debt collecting companies is a step in the right direction. This is to stamp out problematic debt collection activities. Nevertheless, I wish to seek some clarifications. Firstly, Mr Speaker, Sir, are there specific offences that are given more weight when taken into consideration in approving the licence of debt collectors? I understand that a range of offences under the Organised Crime Act, Vandalism Act and Protection from Harassment Act would be given more weight against the approval of licence. Is this an exhaustive list? Would the Licensing Officer also take into consideration the age of the debt collector at the time of the offence, the frequency of the offences and the interval between the last offence and the time of licence application? Secondly, Mr Speaker, Sir, there must be clearer and accessible guidelines on what constitutes proper and improper debt collection. This is not merely for the benefit of the licensed debt collectors. It also benefits potential victims of improper licensed debt collectors. There was a very recent case of a resident who started with legitimate intentions to get a $30,000 loan from a purportedly licensed moneylender. However, she ended up losing even more cash in a loan scam. She also got harassed by loan sharks and even got duped into being a money mule. As such, having clear guidelines would help residents not fall prey to dubious debt collectors. Another area of concern is the coverage of communication channels.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for the reply. I have two supplementary questions. I note the Minister's response on adding COVID-19 vaccinations into the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule. It will give assurance to parents that the COVID-19 vaccination does play an important role to better protect children against severe complications, such as Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in children. What else is the Ministry doing to encourage more parents to vaccinate their children for COVID-19? My second supplementary question is when will MOH allow children below the age of five to get the COVID-19 vaccination, since other countries, such as the US, have allowed COVID-19 vaccines for babies aged six months to toddlers aged four years?”
“I thank the Minister for his Statement. I agree with the need to bring in top talents. However, some of my residents have given me feedback about concerns with regards to the ONE Pass and how our local talent can compete fairly for opportunities. As such, I would like to ask the Minister to elaborate on how we can give assurance to local workers, especially the broad middle segment, that they can benefit from this.”
“I thank the Deputy Prime Minister for his response. In light of the higher than expected $60.7 billion tax revenue collected in FY2021, how will the Ministry better project and estimate tax revenue in the future, so that we can better fine-tune our fiscal and monetary strategies so that we can better implement measures pertaining to tax policies?”
“Thank you, Mdm Deputy Speaker. I thank the Minister for his reply. As the Minister said, 95% of our energy is from natural gas, which is a single modality. I wish to ask whether the Ministry is considering diversifying our electricity sources to reduce concentration of risks?”
“Mr C was anxious that he would not have fair access to justice, taking into consideration that the nature of his offence was rather complex. The PDO will help to provide assurance to residents like Mr C. Ultimately, all of us cannot bring justice to the poor every day. But the PDO, together with other schemes in place, creates a holistic system that allows us to be a more caring nation, to reach deeper into ourselves to find ways to help every Singaporean achieve equality and justice. We would be a dead society if we do not make every effort to lift people up from the bottom. We need to have a criminal justice system where dedicated officers have their eyes, ears and hearts open to the difficulties underprivileged people face and to make the Courts see that pain and respond. It is an exalted mission, a mission of maximum importance by releasing underprivileged people from their bondage of powerlessness. As part of the larger system, the PDO will narrow the gap between the rich and the poor and more importantly, it keeps the promise of justice and equality alive for all Singaporeans. I support the Bill.”
“Can the Ministry share statistics on how many practising criminal lawyers are there currently in Singapore? How can we recruit adequate talents to fill the new roles? And how do we attract more criminal lawyers, without adversely affecting the rest of the criminal law landscape in Singapore? Fifth, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we must strike a balance with protecting the victims' legal rights. What about circumstances where victims that wish to separately seek personal redress and private prosecution is needed? For example, if the injury is not particularly serious, but these victims may want to seek a vindication of their rights. If they are unable to afford lawyers and are too emotionally distressed and tied up to navigate the legal process with minimal support, who can they turn to for help? Are there cases where victims feel pressured to drop charges, or to settle for the first offer of compensation, due to the lack of funds? Who can victims turn to in such situations? In conclusion, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, everybody deserves equal access to legal advice and representation. This should be regardless of their financial circumstances. I have met some of these vulnerable residents at my MPS. One of them is Mr C. He works in the F&B sector and was charged with committing a criminal offence while he was drunk. He came to see me at the MPS as his last resort. He needed professional legal advice and representation. But his income and means were limited. While he could be eligible for certain pro bono legal services, he was unsure of where to seek help. Community Legal Clinics could take weeks to see an applicant and only for 20 minutes each time.”
“While it is good to ask, we should also be mindful of how it is going to be paid for by the Government and how the public taxpayers' money is spent. The Minister had previously cited cases of abuse in his Statement. In some of these cases, the accused persons may meet the means and merits eligibility criteria but could be morally undeserving of aid. One example was a war criminal in Australia, who incurred closed to $1 million in costs to defend him. It does not necessarily take a crime of international impact to be widely considered morally reprehensible among citizens. One example is the case of violent crimes against children, like sexual assault or severe abuse. If the accused has been found guilty, but appeals against sentence, citizens may find it repugnant to have taxpayers' money used to defend such a heinous person. Moreover, what safeguards are there to prevent people from misusing the PDO to make all sorts of appeals against the legal process? Having safeguards on keeping costs down would also go some ways in preventing abuse of the legal process. Aid should not be granted to unmeritorious applications. An example of such an application can be seen from the recent appeal of an appellant, against her sentence of 30 years imprisonment for, amongst others, the killing of her maid. Therein, the Court of Appeal found the factors which were raised in the appeal to be wholly without merit. Fourth, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we need to ensure adequate manpower for the PDO, which will consist of an entirely new department. Back in 2014, the Chief Justice said that Singapore faces a shortage of lawyers in criminal law. There seems to be little relief since. Private law firms continue to report a talent crunch.”
“Are the accused eligible for legal assistance or criminal legal aid for serious traffic offences that carry potential jail terms? Almost all cases of perceived careless driving carry a potential jail term, with reckless and dangerous driving carrying a potential jail term of up to eight years for a first-time conviction. Serious traffic offences are often complex in nature. I refer to accidents where multiple parties or even the victim could be partially responsible. The high stakes make it even more critical that the accused parties have the necessary resources to legal aid. I have met residents at my Meet-the-People session (MPS), who were involved in serious traffic offences and needed help. They fit the criteria for means testing. However, traffic offences which carry the risk of custodial sentences, do not appear to be covered under CLAS. As such, their options are limited. I pause here to note that whilst the assumption is that most drivers have adequate means, we must not forget that several drivers do not own the vehicles that they are operating. These include bus or delivery drivers. Some may be private hire or taxi drivers too. Third, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, ensuring cost efficiency is a must. This is especially so in the current economic climate. Now, the intention is to have the PDO publicly funded. On top of this, the Government will continue to provide co-funding to CLAS and expand the coverage so that more vulnerable residents will get the help they need. How will the Government ensure that the costs do not spiral? What are the safeguards in place? There are calls for the Government to cover more people with higher income under the PDO Scheme.”
“Furthermore, what about offences that are not covered by CLAS or PDO? Will there be regular reviews as to what offences should be included or excluded for aid granted under CLAS or PDO? In this regard, who should inform the accused of the aid available? This is particularly important since the person would usually be in a very stressful situation. Would it be possible to use the Public Defenders Bill to also provide for such a support structure? On a related note, with the establishment of the PDO, it is imperative to communicate the different avenues of legal help to the public in clear and simple terms. Potential applicants may be less educated. To many, the legal system is not something that crosses the mind of one on a regular basis. How does the Government intend to do this, so that the average Joe can understand and navigate the various means for free or subsidised legal support? Community legal clinic volunteers should also be advised, so that they are able to dispense timely and up-to-date information. Ultimately, both initiatives, in addition to the functions of the Legal Aid Bureau, need to be clearly positioned, to avoid potential confusion by the public. Second, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, can the Ministry clarify why offences under many pieces of legislation have been excluded. The idea of broadening access to justice through the setting up of the PDO should not be narrowly construed. No one, regardless of the alleged offence committed, should be less deserving of access to legal representation. Related to the above, should regulatory offences be included? Members Mr Louis Ng and Mr Saktiandi also raised this point. For instance, should serious traffic offences be covered under the PDO?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the move to establish the Public Defender's Office (PDO). I believe that the PDO will help to reduce the inequality in our criminal justice system, by providing legal representation to the vulnerable and low-income citizens and PRs. Notwithstanding, I have several clarifications on the PDO Bill. First, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, there needs to be clearer delineation of the various legal help channels available to low-income groups who face criminal proceedings. Currently, they have a few options. One is the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS). There may be an overlap in matters covered by both CLAS and the PDO. For instance, if an applicant is eligible for both CLAS and PDO, that is, if both offences are non-capital offences under the Penal Code and if the applicant qualifies under both means test, will there be redundancies to have both CLAS and PDO capable of providing the same aid? One way to ensure efficient resource allocation is to create a clearer distinction between the nature and the types of cases that the PDO and CLAS should respectively take on. The PDO hires full-time lawyers and pays them for their work. On the other hand, lawyers under CLAS volunteer their services and expertise. Therefore, I believe it would be fairer for the PDO to take up more complex cases. They should also take up the bulk of the cases. The PDO, with more resources at its disposal, may be better positioned to handle the greater workload. This is compared to pro bono lawyers who often have to manage other paid work concurrently. In fact, how would the interplay between CLAS and PDO evolve the legal aid landscape in the future, for instance, for offences that are covered by CLAS and not PDO, and vice versa.”
“I thank the Minister for his reply and response to my PQ slated for tomorrow on hospital-related infections. I have one clarification for the Minister on whether his response on hospital-acquired infections include our community hospitals and nursing homes, because many of the patients there are seniors and vulnerable patients.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank the Minister of State for her reply. I have two supplementary questions. First, whether errant vendors will be closely monitored to prevent similar situations from happening in the future? Two, will SSG consider working with specialist agencies like GovTech to make sure that the computer system is up-to-date and to ensure that similar situations do not happen in the future?”
“I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for her reply. I have two supplementary questions. First, how does MOH ensure that insurers do not shortchange policyholders who have been dutifully paying their dues and what recourse do policyholders have to appeal against decisions from insurers? Second, are there guidelines on the premiums that insurers charge and what is the oversight on this? While patients are allowed to change insurers, many, often, have little choice in changing insurers due to the coverage of existing conditions and risk loading.”
“Thank you, Mdm Deputy Speaker. I thank the Minister for his reply. I have two supplementary questions. First, it was previously reported that there was a wave of manpower leaving the public healthcare sector. Have we been able to hire new staff to make up the shortfall? Is it enough for the next wave? Second, the number of hospitalised COVID-19 cases has increased over the last three weeks. Will there be a cutting back of elective surgeries in our hospitals on the horizon, due to the COVID-19 situation?”
“We must do everything within our means to stop or at least slow down the next one. In conclusion, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, Singapore must take firm action to abide by our international commitments and do right by international laws. The illegal wildlife trade is the fourth largest trade behind drugs, human trafficking and counterfeiting. It also raises concerns about future pandemics. I am glad to know that we actively contributing to CITES and the INTERPOL Wildlife Crime Working Group. I am confident that we can do more to utilise our capabilities in this area. Ultimately, exotic pets and their by-products are non-essential luxuries. Yet the market for such pointless indulgences is built at the expense of needless immense suffering of living creatures. As Singapore moves towards a more compassionate and kinder society, we should not only encourage mutual care and concern amongst the people but also speak up and do more for the voiceless. I support the amendments. Thank you.”
“Under the Wildlife Act, there is a maximum fine of $10,000 and/or imprisonment of up to six months for first time offenders keeping prohibited wildlife as pets. Can the Minister share more about the enforcement of this law? How many were convicted? What were the penalties? How were they caught? Are there routine checks conducted for signs of illegally kept wildlife in potential areas such as around landed estates? Are there people keeping certain exotic pets under a permit? If so, are routine visits conducted to ensure that the animal is still being responsibly housed and not used for breeding? Are vets required to make a report if they come across an exotic pet that is illegal or suspected to be procured through illegal means? Public education is imperative. We need to educate people on why they should not keep wildlife as pets. There have been several cases of wildlife being discreetly abandoned and released into our nature reserves. To create an effective public education programme, we should obtain an understanding of the degree of public awareness about owning exotic pets in Singapore. Is it due to ignorance and assumption that they make easy pets? Are consumers aware that releasing non-native wildlife into our forests and nature reserves upset our biodiversity and have adverse consequences on our ecosystem? The adverse consequences of wildlife trade on public health deserves more prominence. Illegal wildlife trade fuels the spread of zoonotic diseases and pandemics. Some of the most common and deadliest human diseases are caused by bacteria and viruses of animal origin, including COVID-19. We have experienced first-hand the terrible consequences of a pandemic on lives and livelihoods.”
“It makes explicit reference to the illegal trade of animals in the definition of "illegal content". In addition, it requires that service providers take quick and effective measures to remove illegal content from their services. This is to ensure that "what is illegal offline is illegal online". Would the Ministry look into adopting similar measures? Fourth, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the legislative treatment with regards to wildlife management and relevant laws should be more holistic. Presently, there are two acts covering wildlife, namely, the Wildlife Act and ESA. ESA only covers animals listed under the CITES Convention. I believe there is scope to combine the two acts to remove existing overlaps, if any, and to streamline the clauses. Moreover, can we have ESA expanded to cover more than just CITES animals? Lastly, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we must deter consumers from contributing to illegal wildlife trade. This should be done through public education and effective enforcement and heavier penalties for offenders. Government regulations prohibit the ownership of most species of wild animals as pets. Yet, as mentioned earlier, we have local Telegram channels with people selling and seeking out exotic pets. Even though NParks can enforce on buyers who have such wildlife in possession, we should perhaps consider indicating "buying or looking to buy" as an offence under the Act. This will deter consumption and widespread queries in these Telegram chat groups. Last month, a video of a woman carrying an endangered African Crown Crane in Singapore went viral. It was thought to be a runaway pet. These make me question the severity of current penalties.”
“Only a week ago, we read in the media of local Telegram groups being blatantly used to buy and sell exotic pets. Are our Police, NParks or Customs closely monitoring such groups? What is the possibility of identifying and arresting the perpetrators? Would the buyers be penalised, if they transacted with the seller but do not yet have the animal in possession? Would sellers be prosecuted as a business or commercial entity, even if they are not registered as a business? It would also be pertinent to find out how such traders could still bring in these exotic wildlife. In recent years, INTERPOL updated its training syllabus to address ways to tackle digitally-enabled wildlife trafficking. With increasing amounts of digital evidence recovered during wildlife crime investigations, digital forensics is high on the training agenda. The emphasis that INTERPOL places on such skills among their crime investigative professionals is a testament to how widespread and severe the online wildlife trade problem is. Besides social media platforms and messaging apps like Telegram, the dark web has also become an increasingly popular platform for wildlife trafficking syndicates to conduct their operations. Do our local NGOs and agencies have the capabilities, training and resources to effectively track down these criminals in the digital realm? Third, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we need to hold online technology companies accountable for exposing wildlife crime and thwarting the sale of exotic pets online. The Digital Services Act by the European Parliament was recently amended to introduce new transparency requirements for companies that will make the detection of illegal wildlife products and law enforcement easier.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, Singapore is a major transhipment hub. Post-pandemic, we expect the volume of imports and exports to increase substantially. This will correspondingly apply to the illegal wildlife trade. Southeast Asia is a hotspot for illegal wildlife trade. As such, we must stay vigilant and come down hard on illegal wildlife traders. The Bill amendments are laudable improvements. However, I seek clarifications in several areas. First, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, illegal wildlife trade should be recognised as serious organised crime. Member Louis Ng raised this earlier as well. According to INTERPOL, wildlife crime is a part of serious organised crime, which feeds into money laundering, tax evasion and corruption. Many other countries, including Hong Kong and the European Union, have also treated illegal wildlife trade as such. In doing so, the relevant authorities are accorded greater enforcement powers to investigate the illegal wildlife trade. This enables them to effectively track down the heads of the syndicates through the money flows. Following the amendments, persons prosecuted under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) would receive a maximum of four years' prison sentence and a fine of up to $500,000. This is paltry, compared to $66 million, the value of a single shipment of elephant ivory and pangolin scales intercepted in Singapore in 2019. I propose that the prison sentence should be raised to no less than five years for deterrence. The aggregate fine should be three times the market value of the goods, aligning it with the Customs Act. Second, Mr Deputy Speaker, we must do more to investigate and conduct enforcement of illegal wildlife trade happening in the digital realm. The problem is getting more widespread.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Finance for his reply. I have two supplementary questions. First, can the Deputy Prime Minister share what are the consequences of further delaying the GST hike of 1% which is scheduled to take place by January 2023? Specifically, MOF has previously shared that the GST increase will go towards supporting healthcare expenditure and to take care of seniors as well as other areas of social spending. As such, which specific areas of healthcare and social spending will be affected if the GST increase does not take place by January 2023? Second, the global economic outlook since January, has taken a nose-dive. Is the Government adaptable enough to consider what the approach to take, including reconsidering the GST increase, should there be a global recession in the coming months?”
“Lastly, I would like to express my admiration and appreciation for the Singaporeans who have adopted children. Dedicating resources, energy and giving of your lives to a child outside of your natural family is, undoubtedly, one of the most selfless acts of humanity. I support the Bill.”
“While advertising adoptees with identifying information is understandably prohibited, perhaps a generic awareness campaign on local child adoption could help to shed more light on the values and realities of child adoption. In conclusion, Mr Deputy Speaker, a well-matched adoption can be a potentially life-changing and life-saving experience for the adopted child. With the new laws, I believe that Singapore will be a safer place for vulnerable children. Singapore will also benefit from a new generation of children who would have otherwise fallen by the wayside. Adoption is, ultimately, an act of kindness. In my maiden speech in this Parliament during the Debate on the President's Address one and a half years ago, I spoke about how we can be richer as a nation, if we help one another. We are just emerging from the COVID-19 crisis. Over the last two years, the Government has done much to help fellow Singaporeans to save jobs and to provide emergency support for workers and their companies. But there is other help that is needed. We need the community to come together and to care for those who may be less fortunate and may be in need of a loving home and loving relationships. In helping those in need, such as children who struggle through challenging family circumstances, we leverage our various strengths and abilities to create a stronger social compact. There is great value for us to do more for one another. Natural families already have many obstacles to overcome, to achieve stability and provide a safe and comfortable environment for children to thrive and grow. I imagine that adoptive parents would face even more challenges. Let us help in every way we can, to make every match between adoptees and adopters a success.”
“Are there mandatory health check-ups and mental health assessments for the adoptees, before an adoption procedure is finalised? Moreover, what if the adopted child is unable to get along with the rest of the siblings and other family members? Will the Ministry encourage adoptive parents and their families, where practical, to participate in respite fostering activities, if they seem unsure about adoption? In this way, the family can gauge whether they really have what it takes to welcome someone new into their families. This should not be a test, but it could be an avenue for families to determine their readiness. I would suggest that part of the adoption process should include training or conversations with adopting parents and their families, to aid them with such decisions. The discussions should cover the sibling relationship issues. In this way, these conversations can be a whole family affair. Fourth, Mr Deputy Speaker, does the Ministry intend to actively raise awareness and encourage adoption of children who have been under state care? According to a news report, there are fewer than 10 applications for children in state care, out of about 400 adoption applications filed in Singapore yearly. How does this figure compare with the number of children who are under state care? What is the percentage of those in state care who have been identified for adoption? What are the criteria for these children to be deemed suitable for adoption? I support the amendments to ensure that adoption agencies publish their fees in a transparent manner and only charge the permitted payments.”
“Will this restriction, based on the conviction of serious crimes, also apply to the immediate family members of the adopting couple? These would be people who also live with or spend significant amounts of time in the company of the adopted child. If the applicant or said family members have committed serious crimes abroad, will they also be subjected to the same restrictions? Third, Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the amendment that seeks to provide more clarity on circumstances, where consent from the birth parents can be dispensed with, if it is in the child's welfare. However, there may sometimes be compatibility issues between the adopting family and the adopted child. What intervention and support measures will the Ministry provide to the family and their adopted child, if these issues occur? Quite often, this may happen when the parents adopt a special needs child or one with some behavioural baggage, but underestimate the effort and resources required to bring him or her up. I know of a couple who adopted a child with special needs from the Philippines. Caring for the child is not easy and I applaud the couple's efforts in providing a safe and loving home for him. Other than briefing the potential parents with regard to the potential needs of the child, will the Ministry consider providing greater support to parents willing to care for such children? This is to, hopefully, prevent the need for the Court to make an order against the adopting parents for the child's welfare. The Bill stipulates for prospective adoptive parents to attend a compulsory pre-adoption briefing, where they learn more about the adoption process and related issues, before they can apply to adopt. Is such a briefing adequate? Should there be a more extensive preparation course and follow up?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, children in their early and formative years require nurturing care and support. A safe and happy childhood leads to lifelong and intergenerational benefits for health, productivity and mental wellness. This stems from my personal experience being a father of five kids. The sad reality is that not all families are equipped or able to care for their children. This is notwithstanding how much they want to. Some children struggle through challenging family circumstances. These situations may be present at the time of birth or come into being during their childhood years. For these kids, adoption may be the best option for them to lead a normal and healthy childhood. This Bill is timely, given the sharp rise in child abuse cases within the past two years. Personally, I believe the overriding principle for adoption is to provide them with psychological safety, as well as the caring and supportive environment that they need. I have a few clarifications on the Bill. First, Mr Deputy Speaker, will all the changes to child adoption laws apply to foreign adoptees, where the adopting family is based in Singapore? Second, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, what are some exceptional circumstances that may permit adoption by a person who has been convicted of serious crimes? I support the decision to prevent persons convicted of serious crimes from adopting. That said, I also believe in second chances. I trust the effectiveness of our prison rehabilitation programmes. Thus, I believe that the current position is the right balance between caution and giving second chances. How does the Ministry decide on the time-bar duration? Also, how does the Ministry determine whether the person has been adequately reformed, to be capable of providing care to a vulnerable child?”
“In Yio Chu Kang, I have seen how caregivers need additional support after their loved ones have passed away. At times, they are lost and end up having prolonged grief, which then affects their own mental health. The support from AIC must be comprehensive, simple and accessible to all types of caregivers to seek help without requiring onerous research. AIC can better link up with the community and have better visibility. To my knowledge, not many people may be aware that AIC provides support for caregivers, too. I can volunteer Yio Chu Kang constituency to work with AIC on this effort. Lastly, Mr Speaker, Sir, we should consider having a Caregiver’s Day or even a Caregiver’s Week to create awareness and recognition. Like the SAF Day, businesses and organisations can provide discounts to caregivers. The logistics may have to be finetuned, but the goal is to appreciate caregivers for the essential role they play in our society. In conclusion, Mr Speaker, Sir, it is said, time and again, that one of the most important things a caregiver should do is to take care of themselves. This has to be a whole-of-nation effort. As a family-friendly society, we can do more to care for our caregivers.”
“In the US, some states enacted legislation to create mandatory family leave insurance programmes, to provide caregivers with paid time-off. Several EU member countries, such as Belgium, Denmark and Finland, have various forms of caregiving leave and benefits. This is to ensure that caregivers are not financially deprived from their caregiving roles. Paid caregiving leave, together with respite and day care for patients, will allow caregivers to take a much-needed break to recharge. I know caregivers amongst my residents who have not had a real holiday in years, since they started looking after family members with chronic conditions. It is a 24/7 commitment with no scheduled break. Second, Mr Speaker, Sir, I hope the Government can consider providing tax breaks for caregivers who have to finance items that are not subsidised under the Seniors' Mobility and Enabling Fund (SMF) such as diapers and nutritional supplements. These are items required on a regular basis and the costs do add up. We should also consider tax breaks for caregivers for persons with mental health problems, who may include adult children, spouses and siblings. Include them in the conversations and proposals. This is because the current recommendations are focused on mothers, and caregivers of seniors, children with developmental needs and persons with disabilities. Third, Mr Speaker, Sir, the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) as a one-stop centre for caregivers must be adequately equipped as a one-stop centre for caregivers, must be adequately equipped to provide support for all kinds of caregivers. Beyond caregivers of seniors, this should also include caregivers of persons with mental health problems and children with chronic health conditions.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, women today have varying aspirations. Despite the ambitions, most will, at some point in their lives, find themselves being responsible for the care of a loved one. This could be a parent, grandparent, spouse, child, sibling or relative. Yio Chu Kang is a mature estate. I know many of my residents who are caregivers. Hence, supporting caregivers is a subject that I take great personal interest in. I agree with the various recommendations in the White Paper to enhance support for caregivers. Certainly, I also concur that men should take up our share of caregiving responsibilities. It should always be an equal partnership. Caregiving is both physically and emotionally draining. Sometimes, it requires round-the-clock attention. It is usually more challenging than what is conventionally regarded as "real work", especially with the emotional attachment. Yet, unlike formal employment, there is no remuneration. There is only sacrifice and the self-satisfaction of knowing one's loved one is well looked after. Caregivers put their own aspirations on the back burner and this may cause some of them to face social isolation and suffer from low self-esteem, which may result in poor emotional and mental health. They may worry about a time when they, too, will require caregiving, but lack the finances for it. While the proposals in the White Paper are laudable, I would like to suggest more services and support with direct benefits for caregivers. While the proposals in the White Paper are laudable, I would like to suggest more services and support with direct benefits for caregivers. First, Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government should consider providing a grant for employers to offer paid leave to caregivers.”
“In this connection, financial institutions often have significant funds. Also, inflation would degrade the deterrent effect of a fixed financial penalty. As such, how often will the range of financial penalties set out in the Bill be amended? Lastly, Mr Speaker, Sir, will there be exceptions where the statutory protection will not be in effect, even with the absence of wilful misconduct, negligence, fraud or corruption? I support the provision of Statutory Protection from Liability clauses in the Bill. This will encourage mediators, adjudicators and dispute resolution employees to conduct their duties with greater confidence and autonomy, which are important for successful mediation. In conclusion, Mr Speaker, Sir, as a top financial services centre and fintech innovation hub, we must stay ahead of the various challenges and developments in the industry. Singapore has built up a strong global reputation for reliability and resilience. This remains unwavering even in the face of recent global crises. Swarths of capital and data from all over the world flow through our nation every day. We must continue to review our legislation on a regular basis to ensure that they remain robust and adequately comprehensive to support developments in our finance sector. I support the Bill.”
“In this scenario, criminals may purchase a NFT with illicit funds and proceed to transact with themselves to create records of sales on the blockchain and wash the cash clean. I have asked several NFT-related Parliamentary Questions previously, given these concerns. Member Derrick Goh had also spoken about this yesterday. Can the Ministry clarify how the possible risks of AML/CFT through NFTs are addressed under this Bill? Can NFTs be brought into the definition of virtual assets so that the new rules will be applied equally to NFTs? I note the specification that the Bill covers VASPs created in Singapore or carrying on business of providing digital token services from a place of business in Singapore. What about foreign digital token services which provide virtual assets activities within Singapore? I would also propose that we further streamline the capture of licensees under this Bill. MAS has explained that if a VASP is already licensed, exempted from licensing or required to be licensed under the relevant provisions in the Securities and Futures Act, Financial Advisers Act or Payment Services Acts, then it need not be licensed under the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA). Is it not possible to consolidate all of these licences under one omnibus Act? Third, Mr Speaker, Sir, how often will the maximum penalty of $1 million be meted out for technology risk management lapses? The technology sector progresses rapidly and funds flow in copious amounts daily. A 2018 International Monetary Fund (IMF) report stated that projected cyber attacks were costing financial institutions at least $100 billion globally on an annual basis. This figure would likely have risen with the sharp rise in technology progression and cybersecurity breaches in recent years.”
“More than just putting up regulations and by-laws, we should look at the gaps in how we allow businesses to get registered. Ever so often, we hear of bank account holders being flagged up and put through a lot of queries over the sources of funds in their own bank accounts while the real sharks swim away after gnawing an arm or a leg. In sum, we need a more proactive enforcement of our laws and licensing conditions. This has to be in addition to more effective oversight and not just closer monitoring of our financial institutions. Notwithstanding the above, I am pleased that the Bill, in its provisions, for example, clause 174, expressly allows for the prosecution of directors and individuals involved in the management of the corporation for offences committed by corporations. This is a clear signal to fraudsters that there is no hiding behind the corporate veil. It is also broad enough to prosecute fraudsters who often avoid registering themselves as officers of corporations. Second, Mr Speaker, Sir, can we further enhance and streamline the regulation of virtual asset service providers (VASPs) to better manage money laundering and terrorists financing risks, or AML/CFT? I note that MAS does not intend to regulate non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for now. However, the NFT market is vulnerable to money laundering activities. In a recent study, the US Treasury Department revealed that NFTs may become a tool for money laundering in the high-value art market. Recent sales of high-profile art pieces involving NFTs have sold for millions, indicating that this art sector has reached similar valuations as traditional art mediums. These art sectors using NFTs are popular vehicles for illicit financial flows. NFTs can even be used to conduct self-laundering.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as a global financial hub, Singapore must stay abreast of the rapidly evolving financial landscape. Today, technology has led to a rapid increase and innovation in new financial products and assets. Conversely, the risks and challenges of managing these products and assets as well as the financial institutions and persons involved have also heightened. I support the consolidation and enhancement of the regulatory powers under this Bill to address the challenges. I believe that this will lead to a more holistic and comprehensive management of the financial services sector. I have several queries on the Bill. First, Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Minister provide further clarification on the Harmonised and Expanded Powers to Issue Prohibition Orders (PO)? If a person has been placed on a watchlist or issued something of equivalence to our PO by an overseas jurisdiction, would they be issued a PO here by default? This will facilitate various national regulators to better work together to maintain the integrity of global markets. The Bill also states that persons who have been issued a PO may be, amongst other things, prohibited from becoming a substantial shareholder of a financial institution. Will it be an offence to wilfully assist the PO individual to evade the PO? Even with the PO, it is not difficult for seasoned fraudsters to set up their theatre here, with actors and props in tow. Take, for example, the recent case of a blockchain company that is being investigated for cheating offences. One of the key personnel was previously convicted for commercial crimes. Usually, these cases only come to light after some of our citizens are cheated by these individuals. Such incidents would make a mockery of our regulators in the way we oversee such theatrics.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Senior Minister of State for his reply. Will SSIR be made mandatory for banks and Government agencies? What agencies will be exempted and what penalties will be meted out if the required agencies do not join the registry?”
“I thank the Minister for her reply. I have two supplementary questions. First, will the Ministry consider improving the awareness of VDS in coffee shops and canteens because the concept of time- and area-bound VDS may not be easily understood by the public? Second, will the Ministry consider streamlining the VDS approach for markets, hawker centres as well as coffee shops and canteens?”
“I note that the Gambling Control Bill seeks to introduce consistency with regards to treatment of A&P offences across all types of gambling. In Singapore, A&P for gambling activities is not allowed, unless specifically approved by the authorities. Currently, we still see such mobile games being advertised on mainstream media and outdoor advertising platforms. Admittedly, a blanket restriction on A&P could come across as harsh for games, where the main gameplay has no gambling elements. Publicity for online games tends to be driven through player communities. Therefore, reducing exposure through A&P also has limits to practicality. Ultimately, education and awareness, along with laws and enforcement, are important to curb gambling. Parents too must do their part to impart financial literacy to their children and pay heed to their online activities. Mdm Deputy Speaker, I will conclude in Chinese. (In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] As the saying goes, there are no father and son at the gambling table. This shows that gambling is merciless. During my Meet-the-People sessions, I see residents who are addicted to online gambling and lost a lot of money. They do not know what to do. Hence, it is right to have a single agency to manage gambling activities holistically. I support the Bill.”
“Second, how will the consolidation of gambling control measures impact the management of cross-border remote gambling? Despite good efforts from our Singapore Police Force to reign in illegal remote gambling, it is getting increasingly rampant. There have been several reports about remote gambling operations being uncovered in Singapore. It is also common to receive text messages from unknown sources that promote illegal gambling activities. Some elderly residents have asked me about the constant flow of texts they had received about horse and soccer betting. The borderless nature of remote gambling makes it clandestine. Compulsive gamblers would use Virtual Private Networks to access blocked websites and apps. Some countries have introduced or updated their remote gambling laws, including Germany, the UK and Switzerland. They would license some commercial remote gambling platforms, and subject them to gambling duties. Third, can the Ministry provide further clarification on products and services containing financial risk elements, which are being excluded? For example, the Ministry clarified that there are no intentions of treating investments in financial products as gambling products, as those are already regulated through other legislations and fall under the purview of MAS. Likewise, the Ministry also stated the exemption for physical social gambling among family and friends at home. What about products like non-fungible tokens (NFTs), which are not regulated? Some have likened it to gambling because of the amount of speculation involved. Lastly, how will the updated Advertising and Promotion (A&P) laws apply to activities containing an optional gambling element, including mobile games with mystery boxes?”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, the gambling landscape has evolved greatly. Modern and emerging forms of gambling, enabled by technology, make youths and even young children, susceptible to its insidious nature. Our seniors are also increasingly vulnerable as they are consuming more online content. We must ensure that our regulatory approach towards gambling is up-to-date and forward-looking. Regulation and enforcement of gambling laws is sometimes like a cat and mouse game. Despite laws and resources to conduct enforcement, illegal service providers and gambling addicts will try to circumvent these regulations. They will also search for ambiguities to evade the rules. The constant stream of unsolicited text messages touting illegal betting activities comes to mind. I support the consolidation of regulation bodies under a single Gambling Regulatory Authority (GRA) to regulate all forms of gambling activities. This will allow for a more holistic and cohesive management of gambling policies, as well as the emerging trends and products related to gambling. In doing so, we can better identify and minimise loopholes in the system. In my Budget debate speech last week, I called for more efforts to streamline processes and reduce redundancy in the public service, to cut out unnecessary costs and resource wastage. Consolidating agencies and regulations is a step in the right direction. I have four queries on the Bill. First, will the Ministry share details about how the merger of the different regulatory bodies will be conducted? How will the Ministry ensure that there are synergies between the different agencies that are being converged? Will this move lead to an excess of employees, who will have to be redeployed to other departments or agencies?”
“There is continued evidence that our existing public health measures help to reduce transmission even within the same household. There is still much we do not know much about COVID-19. Studies continue to reveal new possible long-term health complications associated with the virus, such as cognitive decline. As we move towards improved vaccines and treatment, avoiding or delaying an infection is important. We are not yet out of the woods. Our healthcare workers continue to struggle with large numbers of COVID-19 cases and they deserve a long overdue break. Our residents are also frustrated and weary. This has been a long drawn-out battle. While things have definitely been looking up in the past year with the vaccines and boosters, we are still extending and introducing COVID-19 management measures. We need more specific goal posts and simplified measures. This is so that the light at the end of the tunnel does not seem out of reach. I support the Bill. 1.35 pm”
“But we can certainly do more. An example is the new SMM and VDS measures for coffee shops and canteens. The vendors may have more options now, but I have received feedback from the ground about how confusing the new measures are. Even some young patrons have trouble making sense of them, let alone seniors. Operators, too, have reported hesitancy to adopt the new measures, given that the added hassle and manpower to ensure compliance. I believe the abuse that some hawkers received from angry and confused patrons when VDS was first introduced last year remains fresh in their minds. I have filed a Parliamentary Question on this matter and I look forward to the Ministry's response. I also believe that entry into markets and sitting arrangements in hawker centres can be standardised to reduce confusion. Lastly, Mr Speaker, Sir, we should do more to nudge the unvaccinated people to get their shots. There is a general consensus among healthcare professionals and researchers that unvaccinated persons are in danger of severe symptoms and death, which increase the workload for the healthcare system. Unvaccinated people also increase the risk of emergence of new variants. This is why VDS remains relevant. However, they cannot continue indefinitely as these measures also pose a burden to businesses, institutions and organisations. Can the Ministry share what are the plans to nudge the remaining unvaccinated individuals to get vaccinated, especially those who are not medically exempted? We can now leverage on non-mRNA vaccines with high efficacy, like Novavax and oral anti-viral medication, for treatment of patients who are at risk of severe disease. In conclusion, Mr Speaker, Sir, I understand and support the need to continue enforcing COVID-19 safe management measures.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am glad to hear the Health Minister mention during the COS debate a few days ago that the current Omicron wave has peaked. I will share three perspectives on this Bill. First, I would like to propose a more specific modality of extension. The Bill, along with Safe Management Measures (SMMs) and Vaccination-differentiated Safe Management Measures (VDS) have allowed us to react as quickly as we did towards the more infectious Omicron variants, without the need to resort to lockdowns. This is so that businesses, schools and life in general can go on with minimal disruptions. While we should remain vigilant against possible new variants, I ask whether there is a need to extend the Bill for another full year. What happens next year, if the virus continues to exist and mutate? Do we extend this indefinitely? From my conversations with my Yio Chu Kang residents, many dread the thought of continued restrictions on social gatherings, economic activities and events. They ask how is this endemic living if we continue to live with these nationwide restrictions that impact social well-being and businesses? I am not suggesting that we do away with the measures. But I hope the Ministry can and will introduce more certainty. Rather than this be given carte blanche, can MOH extend the clauses for a certain period of time only if we hit a certain trigger point, for example, if the R number or the number of deaths go up to a certain rate. Second, Mr Speaker, Sir , I would like to ask whether the current SMM and VDS measures can be further streamlined. Several Members have spoken about this. I am glad to hear from the Senior Minister of State that MOH is intending to do this although the implementation was delayed, given the current Omicron situation.”
“Mr Speaker, I just have a very short supplementary question. Would the Ministry consider making participation in TRECS mandatory for all gencos?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for his reply. I would like to ask the Ministry to clarify whether there is a limit to the amount that generating companies (gencos) can draw on EMA's standby fuel facilities for TRECS. Two, are gencos entitled to draw on EMA standby fuel facilities if they are not participating in TRECS?”
“Thank you, Madam. I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Out of the cases of stray animal abuse over the past three years, how many animal abusers were caught? How can we better educate and create better awareness amongst community feeders about animal abuse, especially about signs and symptoms of abuse?”
“Chairman, I welcome the Healthier SG plan and working closer with GPs. I have two clarifications. First, how will MOH measure the outcomes of success under this plan, especially since some of the interventions for seniors involve not so much medical care but rather social prescribing like exercise activities and so on and also working with social care agencies? Second, under this plan, will we encourage GPs to work together to share resources and for better demand aggregation to serve residents better?”
“Employment has generally been recognised as being good for health, as it provides for a sense of purpose, a social life and financial independence, which are crucial in old age. A senior-friendly workplace will contribute many more productive years to a senior's health. I hope the Ministry can have more cross-collaboration with MOM to introduce more targets and programmes to get companies in Singapore to hire senior workers and make their workplace more senior-friendly. 2.30 pm Successful ageing in Singapore should be a multi-pronged approach that involves self-reliance of seniors, partnerships with stakeholders, such as employers, and empowerment of family to care for their seniors. Careline”
“It gave an outlet for seniors to stay physically and socially active. During the pandemic, these exercises took a step back. For two years, we encouraged our seniors to stay home for their health and safety. Not everyone was able to switch to electronic means of socialising and exercising. As we emerge from the pandemic, we urgently need an update on the Ageing Plan Refresh. What are the new priorities? What are the tangible methods to measure the success of the programme? What are the significant timelines and milestones? Even though the Ministry has committed more resources to improve the healthcare infrastructure, there are other areas of opportunity that require resources to grow. We need to improve our home-based care, caregiving and ageing in the community to free up resources from the public hospitals and clinics. By leveraging on digitalisation, we can use telecare to reduce crowds in our healthcare institutions and provide more accessible healthcare in the community and convenience to patients. A better relationship between seniors and GPs, and allowing seniors to choose their GPs, can help seniors manage their chronic health conditions better. And, as I have spoken in my Budget speech, the palliative care sector is in need of more resources for development. As Singaporeans live longer, there is a higher likelihood of suffering from more chronic health complications and severe illness. These can bring about rather immense suffering, physically and emotionally. Palliative care plays a significant role in helping a patient maintain their dignity and peace at the end-of-life. I urge the Government to commit more resources to this.”
“Mr Chairman, in Singapore, many healthcare providers leveraged on telehealth to remotely monitor at-risk patients’ conditions during COVID-19, when they were discouraged from visiting the hospitals. With the current healthcare crunch, telemedicine is a solution to do more with less. This is especially so considering that many healthcare professionals find their time taken up by administrative work, which could be better used on clinical work and delivering better bedside care. How does the Ministry plan to use smart technology to relieve the healthcare crunch? Within the community, how can we accelerate the adoption of telehealth? The polyclinics continue to be crowded with patients, especially seniors, many of whom who are not familiar with telehealth, despite being the group that would benefit most from it. Yet, with the convenience brought about by digitalisation, security always seems to be the trade-off. But this must not be the case, given the highly sensitive nature of healthcare data. The World Economic Forum warned that more needs to be done to strengthen healthcare cybersecurity. Serious ransomware attacks could jeopardise the timely delivery of quality healthcare. What is the Ministry doing to ensure security of our data and IT systems in the healthcare sector? How are we applying the lessons learnt from the 2018 SingHealth hack and subsequent cybersecurity breaches in other healthcare systems? Supporting Singapore's Ageing Population The increase in our Budget expenditure was largely attributed to the costs associated with caring for an ageing population. The instructor-led fitness and exercise group workouts around the island by the Health Promotion Board is part of the Action Plan for Successful Ageing.”
“Mr Chairman, primary care is the first line of defence in the healthcare system. General Practitioners (GPs) are critical to the care landscape. Not only can they help to alleviate pressure on the public healthcare system, as they have demonstrated during the pandemic, they are also important for chronic disease management, especially for our seniors. One of the main roles of GPs is to identify the need for specialist care and to refer patients accordingly. But holistic healthcare for seniors goes beyond physical health. I wish to ask on the progress of the enrolment of GPs in the primary care network. For holistic care, GPs should also connect patients to social service agencies for social interventions. For instance, if they need to exercise or to take part in interest groups. How does the Ministry intend to activate the GPs in these areas? How can we better connect the GPs to the various social services in the community? In countries like Sweden and Norway, each family is assigned to a GP of their choice. This is ideal for health management, because a good doctor-patient relationship plays a significant role in fostering trust in patients to accept healthcare advice and to adopt good healthcare practices. In Singapore, some patients have the tendency to doctor-hop. A possible reason could be that different GPs have different rest days and opening hours. Do we intend to introduce a similar model of gatekeeping to specialist care as in the Nordic countries, or do we intend for this relationship to be primarily for chronic disease management? Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to our GPs for stepping up during the pandemic. Preventive Healthcare”
“Mr Speaker, I thank the Senior Minister of State for her reply. Before the Town Council can issue a summon for the foreign-registered vehicle, the Town Council needs the owner's details. My understanding is that as foreign vehicles are not registered LTA, it would not be able to provide the Town Council with the foreign owners' details and so the Town Council cannot proceed with summons. Will the Ministry consider working with ICA and LTA on this matter so that the Town Council can issue summons as part of its enforcement actions?”