Yu-Foo Yee Shoon
Singapore
“I thank the Member for her suggestions. PRICING GUIDELINES ON CANTEEN FOOD FOR STUDENTS 19. Er Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Education (a) what are the Ministry's pricing guidelines on the sale of food to students in school canteens; (b) how does the Ministry balance the needs of the students and those of the canteen operators to mee…”
“[For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A*.] Sir, I would like to say that Mr Calvin Cheng must have thought deeply about what I have said. I have mentioned that 80% of singles actually wanted to get married. The responsibility of providing a social network used to be borne by the Government.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Centre-based Financial Assistance Scheme for Child Care (CFAC) and Kindergarten Financial Assistance Scheme (KiFAS) provide fee subsidies to help low-income families send their preschool children to childcare centres and kindergartens respectively.”
“The childcare philosophy is to encourage the women to work. We have already relaxed the criteria because for those housewives who send their children for half-day care, we would still help them, so that they can get half subsidy.”
“I think we can consider that. INCOME CEILING FOR CHILDCARE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEMES 16. Mdm Halimah Yacob asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports whether the Ministry will consider increasing the family income ceiling for eligibility to the Centre-based Financial Assistance Scheme for Child Care (CFAC) and Kinde…”
“Very soon. IMPROVING ROAD SAFETY FOR ELDERLY PEDESTRIANS 17. Mr Laurence Wee Yoke Thong asked the Minister for Transport (a) what are the measures in place to (i) promote the safety of elderly pedestrians, especially at traffic crossings; (ii) encourage the able-bodied public to assist the vulnerable frail elderly crossing alone; and (b)…”
The complete record
Every one of 618 lines we hold for Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 11 of 13.
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head J of the Main Estimates be reduced by $100. (In Mandarin): Sir, the further prosperity and progress of Singapore must be established on happy families, a more cohesive society and a more united people. In building up the spiritual civilisation and a cohesive society, the Ministry of Community Development plays a very important role. At a time when we are stressing on regionalisation and internalisation, we must not forget our roots. While enjoying a good material life, we must not forget to help those who are less educated and less fortunate among us. Apart from that, the Ministry of Community Development must also reflect the views of the people to explain the Government's policies and strengthen the bond between the Government and the people. The Ministry has also to promote family values, look after the young and the old, sports facilities, the handicapped and the community needs. Although every year there has been an increased budget for this Ministry, I think with so much to do, $300 million is not much because this only constitutes 1.9% of the annual budget of $18.5 billion. So I would like to know whether the Government can consider giving more money to this Ministry for all its activities. I hope that my colleagues will not say that I am too soft-hearted. Of course, I agree that we should not have too much handouts and make people lazy, but our activities must be done through incentives, education and assistance. Under all these premises, we help our people to help themselves to become self-reliant. Under these premises, I would like to raise a few points.”
“Sir, at present, for first-time applicants who want to purchase Housing and Development Board flats from the open market to stay close to their parents, the Government will assist them by giving $30,000 through their CPF accounts. This is to encourage children to stay close to their parents. There are many benefits for children and parents to stay close to each other. First of all, young couples who stay close to their parents can make use of the extended family network to help look after their children as well as to look after their aged parents. Secondly, it also helps to build strong ties among the family members. They can visit each other more often and assist each other more conveniently. To further encourage the children to stay close to their parents, I would like to suggest that the Government should consider giving priority in the allocation of flats for those first-time applicants who apply for new HDB flats close to their parents. Sir, the Housing and Development Board's Interim Upgrading Programme (IUP) has so far received very good response from the residents. From the voting results of the first batch of IUP, more than 90% of the residents supported IUP. Many of my residents had approached me and asked when would be their turn to have IUP. The benefits of IUP not only help to enhance their flat value, it also helps the town council to provide better facilities to make their estate more user-friendly. At the same time, town councils could take the opportunity to carry out major repair to rectify some of the building defects. Since there is a strong demand for IUP, can the Government consider speeding up the IUP so that the residents can enjoy the benefits of IUP earlier?”
“I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $232,897,700 for Head W ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $1,181,120,000 for Head W ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head R -”
“Sir, would the Government consider converting more of the better schools, including the neighbourhood schools, into autonomous schools as we know that the feedback and response have been very good? The other question is: will the Government consider assisting schools which are going independent by helping them to purchase land as well as give them more capital grants?”
“Such a Commissioner should have the power to act when approached by aggrieved parents, and the Commissioner should also have the power to act when he has knowledge of any deserving case. In both situations, the Commissioner will have the opportunity to adopt a softer approach such as counselling parent and child to resolve the problem, or reach settlement out of court. The case should be taken to court only if the child remains stubborn despite all efforts to find an amicable settlement. Thus, legal proceedings should only be a last resort. These amendments take into consideration the sensitivities of the parties involved, and make the Bill more acceptable to the public in general. In conclusion, Mr Speaker, Sir, we have to concede that the abandoned aged is more in number today. But we are faced with the reality of an aging population. Let us have the foresight and courage to enact a law that deters acts of gross filial impiety because it goes against the very core of the values on which the family unit stands.”
“But does this mean that the Israelis lack strong family values? No. The family unit in Israel is very strong. In fact, Israel's socio-cultural and religious values converge to strengthen family relationships and values. Having these values in the law does not mean the Israelis lack them. Instead, the law emphasises the importance of these values by enshrining them. Mr Speaker, Sir, what exactly does the Bill aim to do? In my view, this Bill merely seeks to give some protection to any parent who is abandoned by his children. This Bill gives such a parent the last resort to appeal to the court of law to claim a reasonable amount of maintenance from his children. Besides providing this safety net for the aged, the Bill also serves as a deterrent to children who are persistently unfilial. The proposed Bill does not protect irresponsible parents who did not take care of their children in the past. Clause 5(3) of the proposed Bill states that if the parent has previously abandoned, abused or neglected his child or children, the court may dismiss his application for maintenance or reduce the quantum of maintenance. Mr Speaker, Sir, in principle, I support the Maintenance of Parents Bill. However, we need to make some refinements to it. In the Asian context, some parents may be reluctant to sue their children in court because they are embarrassed to wash dirty linen in public. In view of this, I would like to suggest that for these parents, an alternate route be provided. I would propose that a Commissioner be appointed who can take up these cases on behalf of the parents. This Commissioner, who will play an important role in assisting these parents, should be strongly supported by a secretariat.”
“Although these laws have existed for quite some time, the majority of parents take care of their children because they love them, not because it is a legal requirement. Similarly, most children will take care of their parents whom they love and respect. This Bill will not undermine the loving relationship most children have with their parents. In most families, parents care for and bring up their children. Grown-up children reciprocate and care for their parents when their parents grow old and are financially less secure. This behaviour is the cornerstone of our Asian family values. We have to separate the debate on how to strengthen family relationship from the true merits of this Bill. It is true that the Bill is not meant to strengthen the family unit which can only be done through schools and social and family education. This Bill, like the majority of our laws, exists as a deterrent, for example, the Penal Code and other laws. We are not offended by the existence of such laws because we know we are not going to break them. But the Penal Code and other laws are there to deter undesirable and anti-social behaviour. Likewise, we should not be unduly alarmed by the proposed Bill because it will not affect most of us. Also, to be fair to the children, the proposed Bill does not protect irresponsible parents. I can understand when a law concerns the individual relationship it is always a sensitive issue. In fact, some countries like Taiwan, Canada, France and Israel have this kind of laws for quite some time. Let me cite you the example of Israel. Since 1959, there has been in existence in Israel a law that binds a person to maintain his family. This does not mean just his children, but his parents, grandparents and his siblings as well.”
“This is why my colleagues in this House are extremely concerned about the kinds of programmes that are televised over SBC and the values they spread. This is also why, time and again, we have emphasized the importance of devoting more resources and curriculum time to teaching moral education in our schools. Hence, if the survey results which I have mentioned earlier show that most Singaporeans believe in filial piety, why then must we introduce this Bill? Mr Speaker, Sir, unfortunately our society is not a perfect one. There will always be irresponsible and unfilial children who abandon their aged parents. This law will provide a means as a last resort for these abandoned parents to seek assistance. Let me give some examples. At my meet-the-people session, some elderly people have complained that their children refused to care for them. I referred the case to the Ministry of Community Development but the children refused to attend the counselling session provided. A nun from a home for the aged told me that there are those in the home whose children are high wage earners but who never visited their aged parents. Some have even stopped paying their dues to the home. What should we do in such cases? Should the homes for the aged themselves be forced to finance these cases or should the taxpayers bear the burden? It is at this uncaring minority that this Bill is targeted, not at the filial majority. Some of us worry that, because of the law, children will only take care of their parents because they are legally obliged to do so but not out of genuine care and affection. I disagree with this view. For example, we all know that there are provisions in the Women's Charter and the Children and Young Persons Act that bind parents to maintain their children legally.”
“The first survey, commissioned by the Singapore Press Holdings, reveals that 82% of working adults give money to their parents, and 81% will ask their parents to live with them if their parents are sick and had no one to look after them. 86% of the elderly parents interviewed say that they receive monthly allowances from their children. The second survey was carried out by NTUC on unionised female workers. The findings confirm the premium placed on a 3-tier family living together. Firstly, because it reinforces family values and, secondly, it is less costly. 86% of the married respondents give money to their parents and/or parents-in-law. As you can see, Mr Speaker, Sir, filial piety is alive and well. Why is the Bill necessary then? Mr Speaker, Sir, let us first of all look at what the Bill aims to do. Some Singaporeans do not support this Bill because they feel that we should not, and indeed cannot, enforce filial piety by law. They feel that filial piety is a natural human emotion. They are also afraid that this Bill will induce our young to think that maintaining parents is a legal requirement, not a moral obligation. I sympathise with these reservations. Filial piety is an intangible emotion. I believe that filial piety is a moral obligation. It is part of the broader spirit of mutual help and support within a family. I share the general view that to strengthen the family unit and strong family relations, there should be more emphasis on moral education and good social behaviour. We have to inculcate the correct social and family values among our young at home, in school, and through the mass media. This is why we have identified and promoted the five core family values.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, let me say that I am very glad that this Maintenance of Parents Bill has received widespread attention among Singaporeans. It has been debated extensively, in private and in public, and today in this House. It is only through such frank discussions and debates that we can try to build a consensus on an issue that governs the very basic social relationship - that between a parent and a child. The Feedback Unit recently conducted a straw poll among 100 people to obtain their feedback on this Bill. The sample was fairly represented in terms of race and age. 67% supported the Bill. All those interviewed, regardless of their stand on the Bill, agreed that it was the responsibility of the children to support their parents when they are old. This shows that people are still rational. In deciding whether or not to support this Bill, we have to be very clear of the objective. First, let me touch on an area of growing concern for Singapore and which is fundamental to an understanding of the Bill. This is the reality of an ageing population which is inevitable. With improvements in nutrition, a healthy lifestyle, good health care, the life expectancy of the population is now longer. Not only do the elderly live longer, but their numbers will also grow. Our society has great respect for the elderly because of their wisdom and experience. In private, this respect manifests itself in filial piety. Mr Speaker, Sir, let me say that I believe that filial piety is still strong among Singaporeans and as supported by figures from two recent surveys.”
“Sir, from the Minister's reply, I notice that most of the activities are run by religious or civic groups. What about senior citizens, women and youth organisations? Would the Minister find ways and means to encourage these organisations to be more active in running social activities?”
“Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head J of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code JH 3100. Sir, a thriving community centre (CC) is a sign of a vibrant community. The community centre is a key to building greater social cohesiveness and racial harmony. In the past, people used to live in one area of Singapore for much of their lives. Today, families are very mobile. One could live in four to five different places within one's lifetime. How do CCs fit into these changes? CCs have to serve as the chief focal point for interaction between residents in the same housing estate. CCs also face tougher competition than before. In the past, we had very few social clubs. Our schools also did not have a wide range of sports facilities and enrichment programmes. CC facilities and programmes were attractive then. Now, Singaporeans have more choices offered by all kinds of clubs, societies and schools. Sir, I would like to know whether we are facing an upward or downward trend in the rate of participation in and usage of CC facilities. What plans do we have to keep community centres relevant to the residents today and in the future?”
“Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, the Minister has not answered my question on whether MCD will set up more Family Service Centres to give help to families at neighbourhood level. Mr Abdullah Tarmugi: Sir, I will answer that question later because there is another amendment on Family Service Centres afterwards.”
“The Budget presented will consolidate further the stability of the country. Although it was not what our businessmen had expected, the signs indicate stable progress and a secure business environment. EXEMPTED BUSINESS (Motion) Resolved, That the debate on the Budget Statement be proceeded with beyond 5.30 pm and the proceedings thereon be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order No. 1 at this day's sitting. - [Mr Wong Kan Seng]. DEBATE ON ANNUAL BUDGET STATEMENT”
“Various strategies have been presented covering enterprise and industry, but no idea has been given by the Government as to the role that can be played by educational institutions like the polytechnics and universities in Singapore. The Government should issue guidelines to these institutions towards increasing the number of professionals who can then spread out and serve at the regional level in Southeast Asia. Singapore, as a reputable urban centre, is capable of an effective contribution by encouraging more professionals to find a foothold in countries requiring their expertise. Countries that are now adopting open market policies are in great need of their know-how. This would further expand and promote business for Singapore and the region. This can be achieved more effectively if university and polytechnic enrolments are increased according to the areas of expertise required. I understand the Government's concern over creating a situation where there are too many graduates or professionals chasing a limited number of jobs. However, I think this concern can be avoided because the demand for expertise in this region far exceeds what Singapore possesses. I am more concerned with the situation where the economies of the countries we have invested in goes into rapid growth and they require more professionals from Singapore. These professionals would then leave Singapore and we would be faced with the problem of shortage of professionals to lead the country in various areas. In conclusion, the prosperity that we have enjoyed year after year would be more meaningful if we can share it with the countries that have always looked up to us as an example. The rapid progress of the region can only be an advantage to Singapore.”
“The effective role of these private schools is undeniable. Indeed, they should be encouraged considering that they offer further opportunities for workers or those who are interested in continuing education to further enhance their achievements. At the same time, in view of the growing number of such institutions and the response from the public, this will mean the creation of a large, influential market of high potential. This might have an impact on the Government's policy to achieve a balance in expertise in all areas of endeavour. If we could have a form of guidelines to manage the direction of these institutions, their role will be more integrated with the aims of the Government. In presenting the Budget this year, the Minister for Finance stated the need for Singapore to enhance the individual's potential to the highest possible level. In this connection, I would like to know the progress of the Singapore Open University. Unlike the National University of Singapore, the Open University functions to give more people the opportunity to further their education to degree and post-degree level. Towards this end, it would be necessary for the admission system of the Open University to be more flexible in terms of qualifications and admission places. This flexibility should not mean that the degrees are perceived as being of a lower quality than they really are. I would like to ask the Minister whether the Open University can play a role in meeting the objective of enhancing the individual's potential to the highest level. Is every eligible applicant admitted to the University? If not, what are the problems faced by the administering body? Every year, the Government has presented strategies for Singapore to go overseas.”
“These incentives can be in monetary form such as better reliefs for those who are looking after a multi-generation family or other privileges to reduce the burden or further encourage children to look after their parents. As such, I would like to call upon the Government to grant benefits aimed at fostering a family spirit and not benefits for the individual only. I also welcome the Government's move to increase the allocation to the Edusave Fund by 100% from $500 million to $1 billion. In view of the fact that our students are a valuable share in the future, these investments and increases are appropriate and timely. They will mean that secondary school students, for example, who are receiving $150 each will now have $300 each. There are already schools planning to use two-thirds of the amount and others which are going to use a certain sum only based on the needs and the capabilities of their students. In other words, even before the increase of $0.5 billion for this year, the schools are already making plans as to how best to use the money. The amount as a whole is no mean sum. In order not to burden the school administration in planning the use of the allocation, community self-help bodies like MENDAKI, SINDA and CDAC should be allowed to benefit from the allocation too. They can use the Edusave funds for activities that are in line with the goals of the schools. In this way, these organisations can enjoy a closer working relationship with the schools. I am confident that the two sides will obtain a more comprehensive and balanced benefit in the use of this Government grant. Another matter I would like to touch on here is the development of private institutions providing educational services, both academic and technical.”
“As a result, some people have incurred losses. Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government will launch another CPF Share Ownership Top-Up Scheme. But we should ensure that such a scheme will not bring about the unintended result of gambling on the stock market. This year's Budget is pragmatic. This Budget not only lays the foundation for our future prosperity, it also helps, through various offsets and rebates, to alleviate the burden of the people, with the result that 75% of the people would not have to pay income tax. Many people hope that the Ministry of Finance will keep to its promise of not increasing the GST tax rate beyond the 3%. If the economy is doing well, the Government should not increase other taxes, and further adjustment should be made to the CPF contributions so as to make GST a means to strengthen our competitiveness. Mr Umar Abdul Hamid (Ang Mo Kio GRC)( In Malay): Mr Speaker, I support the Budget presented by the Minister for Finance. Recently, much emphasis has been placed on family values in conjunction with the International Year of the Family this year. But the Budget this year has been more concerned with the individual rather than the family. I agree with the suggestion by Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon to introduce incentives for family life. As we know, the family plays an important part in all aspects of our life. The Government needs to play a role in nurturing the family spirit. The Government can grant incentives for better family life. These incentives can open the way towards a stronger family life in our long term interests. The concern about a growing number of neglected elderly persons in the future can be allayed if the family spirit is nurtured as early as possible.”
“This also shows that the Government sympathises with the plight of the people. In the past few months, there has been a spate of price increases on goods and services before the implementation of GST. This has increased the burden of the people and, therefore, many people are dissatisfied with the Government with regard to GST. It cannot be denied that GST will be a major reform of our taxation system and will enhance our competitiveness and lay a strong foundation for our future. However, GST will bring about some pressures and worries for the people because after the implementation of GST on 1st April, everyone will be affected. The family expenditure will increase. Therefore, we have to provide more assistance to the lower-income group. The tax rebates and the various forms of assistance in the payment of HDB rentals and S&C charges provided in the Government budget amount to the Government giving some of its surpluses into the pockets of the people and this will foster the people's confidence in the Government. The people hope that during the period of rapid economic growth and when the Government accumulates more surpluses, the people should be allowed to share in the fruits of such growth. One example of the Government returning the surpluses to the people is the CPF Share Ownership Top-Up Scheme. However, such top-up schemes should be used to encourage people to increase their savings and not to create a frenzy to buy shares among the people, because investing in shares does entail great risks. Some people who have bought Telecom shares have made some money and they think that they could buy other shares and make the same amount of money. Hence, there has been a scramble to queue up to buy shares and such people are turning the share investments into gambling.”
“Can such an officer co-pay based on Class C rates instead, since he did not choose to be upgraded? (2) This is a concern of woman officers whose husbands are also civil servants. Why must such woman officers opt for the same medical benefits scheme as their husbands if they want to enjoy the husband's medical benefits? (3) Some have asked whether the Minister for Finance can give them an assurance that the co-payment rates of 15% and 40% will not be increased at least for the next five years, like GST. I look forward to clarifications on these concerns. As our society progresses, we will face many new challenges. We will keep old methods and policies that have served us well. We must also continue to find new innovations and solutions. Our aim is to get everyone on board as we propel ourselves forward. Our policies must focus on our common destiny and strengthen our social fabric. I am confident that with prudent and farsighted economic and social management, the Government will be able to lead Singapore into the First League of Nations. With this note, I support the Government's financial policy. Mr Teo Chong Tee (Changi)( In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, this year's Budget has brought some good news to many people in the lower-income group. These include the 5% income tax rebate, the adjustment in the CPF contributions, both for employers and employees, the increase in tax deduction for CPF contributions by the self-employed and no tax changes in the import duties for liquor and cigarettes, but the most welcome measure is the financial assistance given to the 1-room to 5-room HDB flat dwellers in the form of rebates for S&C charges and rentals. These measures will go a long way to alleviate the burden which will be incurred by the people when they cope with GST.”
“Therefore, I would like the Minister for Finance to consider raising the salary ceiling for parent relief to at least $4,000 per year. Under the present rules, one taxpayer can claim relief for his or his spouse's parents, grandparents or great grandparents, subject to a maximum of two such dependants. Our family size has been getting smaller; life spans are getting longer. Therefore, each of us has more aged dependants. Under the present rules, if a single taxpayer lives with his two parents and one grandparent in the same household, he can claim tax relief for only two of them, not all three. I would like to suggest that the Minister for Finance consider removing the ceiling of two dependants per taxpayer. Such a ceiling does not support our policy of encouraging filial piety. Tackling a substantial aging population is a new challenge for Singapore. We need to think of more innovative ideas, flexible policies and multi-pronged approaches to meet this challenge successfully. Government has recently reviewed its role in providing health care. Government is committed to providing good and affordable basic medical services to all. Government has since implemented the new medical benefits scheme in the civil service, based on the principle of co-payment. I am glad that Government has taken steps to clarify the initial doubts felt by many civil servants. However, questions from civil servants to the NTUC Hotline show that there are still some concerns. I would like to highlight some of them. (1) There are no Class C wards for some medical specialities. Officers eligible for Class C wards are automatically admitted to Class B2 wards. He has to co-pay his hospital bill based on B2 ward rates.”
“What choices should be made available to the elderly? At the bottom end, Government is already supporting the aged destitute in old age homes, and the aged sick in nursing homes. At the top end, private developers will respond to market demand for rich retirees. I would like to focus our attention on those in the middle. They are the ordinary salaried workers who have retired. They have to make their every dollar stretch. They may not want to continue to live in their 4- or 5-room flats after their children have moved away. Cooperatives and self-help groups can take the initiative to set up retirement villages. Retirement villages are dedicated housing for the old, equipped with special facilities. Cooperatives will be providing a valuable social service. Government can provide support by leasing suitable land at subsidised rates to the cooperatives. Cooperatives can run these retirement villages on a self-financing basis, covering operating costs. This will keep costs low for the retired residents. This works on the same principle as child care centres where Government leases out space at nominal charges. Another issue is how to encourage Singaporeans to support the elderly and strengthen family ties. Government should recognise the efforts of those who support their parents and grandparents. We can give suitable tax incentives. Under the present rules, a taxpayer can only claim parent relief if the dependent parent does not earn more than $1,500 a year or $125 a month. This income ceiling should be raised to a more realistic level. We want to encourage those beyond 60 to continue working. Such older workers can earn at least $300 a month or $3,600 a year.”
“They require the support of the full-time Community Development Officers (CDOs) employed by the People's Association. Grassroots work is highly labour intensive. CDOs need to reach out to residents, talk to them, understand their problems, explain Government policies, organise community activities like block parties and so on. These require time and personal touch. More CDOs will be needed when residents increase, as in new HDB estates. More CDOs are needed also when grassroots organisations step up their programmes. Therefore, I request the Minister for Finance to be flexible in enforcing the zero manpower growth policy with respect to CDOs. Our investment in newer and better facilities in CCs has to be supported by investment in manpower. As our population ages rapidly, we will have to tackle its many attendant problems. One major issue is housing arrangements for the elderly. Government's policy in this area should be flexible enough to meet different needs. The traditional and perhaps best arrangement is for the elderly to continue to live with their children or grandchildren in the same household. According to a recent study, for the past decade, 85% of the elderly in Singapore still live with their families. Our policies should continue to encourage children to live with the elderly, either in the same household or nearby in the same block or neighbourhood. On the other hand, we should also provide options for those elderly who do not stay with their children for one reason or another. Taiwan's experience is instructive. The same study shows that in the two years between 1989 and 1991, the percentage of its old people living with their children dropped by 7%, from 70% to 63%. About 14% of Taiwan's old people now live alone.”
“We must pay close attention to those in the neighbourhood schools. During the period of rapid economic growth, the developed nations have responded to social change by giving out generous social welfare benefits. Today, as economic growth slows down, these welfare states could no longer sustain the promised benefits. The social contract between people and government is subject to great stress. Similarly, we will face increasing pressure from Singaporeans for Government to expand and strengthen the social safety net, especially given the recurrent budget surpluses. We do not want to go the way of the welfare states which weakens individual responsibility, the work ethic and the family structure. We have to chart our own way. Government has traditionally kept expenditure on community development low. For FY 94, 1.6% of the budget or 0.32% of GDP has been allocated. We do not want to give handouts. But some worthy programmes may incur expenditure. When necessary, Government must be prepared to implement creative incentives to promote self-reliance and hard work. For example, we may need to allocate more budget for MCD to implement programmes to strengthen the family and community. Grassroots organisations, the Citizen Consultative Committees (CCCs), Community Centres/Clubs (CCs) and Residents' Committees (RCs) are set up to promote social interaction and cohesiveness. They also form a crucial communication link between Government and people. We need an effective grassroots network to keep in close touch with residents and their changing needs. We can then respond effectively. Our grassroots leaders work hard to serve the community. They volunteer their time on top of their own work and family commitments.”
“I feel that we need to pay more attention to strengthening our social fabric as we face fierce international competition. We need a strong and united home base to serve as the springboard for our external interests. Plugging into rapid growth in the Asia-Pacific region brings both opportunities and challenges for Singapore. The professional and skilled Singaporeans are mobile. They are keenly sought after. They will command world-class salaries. However, our less-skilled or unskilled workforce will have to compete against cheaper labour in Vietnam, China and India. This keen competition will make wage increases for them more difficult. As Singapore grows with the region, all our incomes will continue to rise. However, incomes of those at the bottom of the structure will rise more slowly. These trends can exert pressure on our social cohesiveness. One way to tackle these trends is to help those in the low-skill, low-income families to break out of the circle. We have to step up training and retraining of workers, especially the older ones. Many older workers above 40 do not receive adequate training. Those 40 and above make up about 30% of our workforce. Yet they took up only about 7.5% of training places funded by SDF in 1993. We must identify the obstacles and solve them. Companies must be prepared to employ older workers and equip them with the relevant skills. I am dismayed by the practice of some established companies, even Government-linked companies, which retire workers at 45. We must also equip our young with the education and skills that will stand them in good stead. Our policies must also motivate the low or under-achievers. We must continue to invest in vocational training for the less academically inclined in the institutes of technical education (ITE).”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to thank the Minister for Finance for a fair Budget. The interests of both workers and business are well taken care of. I am grateful that the Government has taken the final steps to achieve its target to equalize employers' and employees' CPF contribution at 20% each. During lean years, workers tighten their belts. During good years, Government must restore their confidence. The business community should not complain about this restoration, especially my MP colleagues who are businessmen. With sound economic growth, our salary structure will continue to shift upwards. We also have to set up workers' training to meet the needs of changing industries. Therefore, the SDF salary ceiling should be revised upwards from time to time. SDF levy is not an extra business cost. It is part of training costs for companies. Companies cannot avoid training their workers if they want to stay competitive. In fact, employers who send their workers for training have gained from SDF funding. So I should thank the Minister for Finance for revising the SDF salary ceiling. I am also happy to note that Government will give rebates on HDB service and conservancy charges and rentals, extend the claim period for procreation incentives from seven to nine years and further contribute $500 million to Edusave and $100 million to Medifund in the financial year of 1994. In his Budget speech, the Minister for Finance has clearly stated the role of Government in economic management. I have no doubt that Government, with its excellent track record, will continue to improve Singapore's competitive position. Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to direct the House's attention to our social and community development.”
“I do realise that there are different departments under various Ministries which are overseeing the issues that I have talked about, for example, we have an Advisory Council on Family and the Aged under MCD, population planning, health care for aged under MOH, SDU under the Ministry of Finance (I do not know why Finance), censorship under MITA, and so on. We also know that all these very important issues are closely inter-related and policies in one area will have an impact on another. I would like to suggest that Government establish a high-powered executive ministerial committee to plan, review and coordinate policies related to the family, including issues related to our young, women, and the aging population. This standing committee could consist of Ministers from the relevant Ministries, supported by senior civil servants. This committee will provide the driving force to help solve these long-term problems more effectively. Government can only help Singaporeans who help themselves. Ultimately, Singaporeans have to decide for themselves what they can and should do to counter the negative trends. Singaporeans have to examine their values and decide whether to continue to cherish, respect and preserve the family unit. What will be the fate of the family as a time-honoured institution in 10 to 20 years' time? The answer will depend on the decisions of each one of us.”
“If a member leaves a Minimum Sum of $34,600 in his account, he can draw from it a sum of $266 per month from the age of 60 till the principal and its interest are exhausted. This will be in 10 to 15 years' time. Is $266 per month too little? What if he outlives his CPF savings? And what about medical costs? How much do we have to set aside for old-age medical costs? The likelihood of hospitalisation for those above 60 years is two to three times higher than the average rate for the population. The average length of hospitalisation for the elderly is 14 days, almost twice that for younger patients. It has been estimated that a person spends about 80% of total life-time hospitalisation expenses in the last two years of his or her life. Therefore, it is crucial for those still working to plan ahead for retirement, and for those already in retirement, to assess their situation. How should we manage our funds? Should we continue to work beyond 60, or even 65? Can we manage? The family plays a central role in supporting the aged as they face all these challenges. Caring for the aged can be stressful, but meaningful. According to the Department of Statistics' Pilot Study on Composite Social Indices, family conditions deteriorated between 1986 and 1992 in that total fertility rate had dropped, divorces had gone up and so had the number of singles. We can say that we have a mixed report card on the health of the family. And if some existing negative trends persist, or worse, pick up momentum, the family structure will be undermined.”
“The emphasis in moral education should be strengthened in our schools. We can kill two birds with one stone by transmitting moral values through mother-tongue teaching. Mother-tongue lessons will be enlivened by interesting folk tales, historical stories and meaningful idioms. Problems of the aged Singapore has one of the fastest growing ageing populations. Today, one in 11 Singaporeans is 60 years and above. This will increase to one in four by 2030. In other words, while there are eight working persons supporting one aged person today, there will be only 2.2 working persons supporting one aged person in 40 years' time. With the breakdown of the extended family, more and more aged are expected to live with their equally aged spouse or alone. According to the 1990 Census of Population, about 9,000 old people (or 4% of the elderly population) live alone in one-person household. This is not an encouraging development. In 1992, there were 12 reported cases of old people who were not known to have died, until someone noticed their absence. Last year, there were 14 such cases. A recent study on suicide showed that more elderly persons have been attempting suicide, and many are those who lived alone in abject poverty. Is there a decline in values, such as filial piety? What can we do to ensure that our aged parents are taken care of by their children? We may need to address this problem seriously and urgently through legislation. CPF savings can help to provide some financial security for Singaporeans in their retirement. The average cash balance of CPF members between the age of 50 and 54 years old is about $39,000. Men tend to have more CPF savings than women, about $49,000. But are CPF savings enough, especially for those who have no other sources of income?”
“What are our children learning from their peers at school? Do we have youths who are groping blindly by themselves to find out what is right and wrong, what is socially acceptable and what is not? Do our youths come under the influence of gangs and secret societies in the hope of finding some friendship? Who are their role models? What are our youths learning from the mass media? What sort of behaviour and values are they learning from television, video, cinema, magazines, computer and video games, and pop music? Are they exposed to unhealthy pornographic and violent materials? The mass media can exert unhealthy influence on our vulnerable children. Unlike adults, children do not understand the difference between reality and artistic imagination. We must not allow unhealthy social mores to develop in the name of art. Frequent exposure to sex, violence and crime could confuse children into thinking that that is the real world, and many may start to imitate these actions. Were the two 11-year old boys imitating something they saw on TV when they so cold-bloodedly murdered a two-year old boy in England? The Board of Film Censors must maintain a high standard in screening out pornographic and violent materials. Our local SBC productions must not compromise moral standard for the sake of higher profits. It is regrettable to note that recent SBC productions have resorted to more sex, violence and ghost stories to boost viewership. Have we thought of the damage to our young? Parenting is an important part of family life. The ultimate responsibility for bringing up children rests with parents. They have to devote time and energy to take care of and communicate with their children. However, parents also need the help of schools and Government to inculcate values to the young.”
“Research in the United States shows that a child's emotional and psychological health is likely to be adversely affected by the breakdown of the family. A child from a broken home is likely to have emotional and behaviourial problems, to be poorer, to perform worse in school, to get pregnant as teenagers, to abuse drugs, to be in trouble with the law, and to be physically or sexually abused. Do we want that for our children? Breakdown of extended family structure In the past years, we have seen how extended families have broken down into several smaller nucleuses. The proportion of one family nucleur household increased from 81% in 1980 to 85% in 1990. Of the households with at least one family nucleus, only 15% consists of three or more generations. This is expected, as young couples prefer to set up their own homes instead of living with their parents. And HDB policies have been liberalised to cater to these aspirations. I understand that HDB also has schemes to cater to families who want to stay close together. To prevent further erosion of extended family ties, HDB should continue to explore ways to provide incentives for extended families to stay close to one and another, either in the same housing estate or even the same neighbourhood. For example, children should be encouraged to ballot for new homes near to their parents, or siblings could get flats within the same estate more easily. The breakup of the extended family structure means that the majority of young working couples do not have the help of their parents to look after their children, while the aged do not have the support of their children. Grandparents are also deprived of the valuable role they can play in inculcating the right values to their grandchildren.”
“In the European Community, the proportion of children born out of wedlock increased from 9% in 1980 to 20% in 1992. There is little social stigma attached to unmarried mothers now in the West. This shows that social consensus and moral values can change within a generation. Last year, the Straits Times carried a report on a handful of single, unmarried women in Singapore who want to be mothers or have succeeded in doing so. Is this an emerging trend? What are Singaporeans' views on illegitimacy and are these values changing? The Straits Times also carried a story on a family where three generations of women were unmarried mothers. Will boys born into such an environment grow up to be responsible fathers? More divorces Besides fewer marriages, we also register more divorces. The general divorce rate has increased from 4 to 6 per 1,000 married persons between 1982 and 1992, up by one-third. Generally, the divorce rate was higher among younger married persons. The divorce rate among those between 20 and 24 years old doubled from 8 to 17 per 1,000 married persons between 1982 and 1992. I have double checked this figure. In the 1950s, most American parents believed in putting up with one another in an unhappy marriage for the sake of their children. By the mid-1970s, the view was rejected. As a result, half of all American marriages ended up in divorces now. Are Singaporeans' views towards divorce also changing? Our statistics show that divorcees under the Women's Charter did so after about 11 to 12 years of marriage. On the other hand, divorcees under the Administration of Muslim Law Act were likely to separate after 8 to 9 years. They become single parents to their young children.”
“Social trends Fewer marriages It is an established trend that more Singaporeans, both men and women, are choosing to remain single. According to the Census of Population of those aged between 35 and 44 years, the proportion of single men rose by a third, from 9.4% in 1980 to 15% in 1990, and the proportion of single women nearly doubled from 7.3% in 1980 to 14% in 1990. Those who marry do so later. In 1990, the mean age of marriage for women was 23 years, compared to 21 years in 1980. This trend is not unlike that in the European countries, where the mean age of marriage for women has risen from 23 years in the late 1970s to 25 years today. In the West, the decline in marriage has been offset by a rise in cohabitation. In Singapore, we do not know how widespread this practice is as there are no records. However, if we look at the results of the survey conducted by the Censorship Review Committee in 1992 to gauge Singaporeans' changing moral values, one-quarter of married respondents and almost half of single ones do not disapprove of cohabitation. So, will more and more Singaporeans adopt this liberal attitude? Trend towards unmarried parenthood A few years ago, a group of professional American women visited Singapore, and one lady above 60 years old asked me out of the blue if I would accept unmarried motherhood. I told her that it is a social stigma in our society to be an unmarried mother. She said that 30 years ago, when she was my age then, women in America thought like I did too. That was the 1950s and 1960s in America. By the 1970s, three-quarters of American women felt that it was not morally wrong to have a child outside marriage. Today, about 30% of American babies are born to unmarried mothers, a figure rising by one percentage point a year.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to join my Parliamentary colleagues in this debate. I would like to thank President Ong Teng Cheong for his comprehensive outline of the Government's long-term policies for Singapore's next stage of nation building. I am also happy to note that, in pursuing our economic goals, the Government has not neglected Singapore's own social development. Its long-term policy, as stated in the Presidential Address, is to encourage self-reliance of the family and the extended family. I would like to urge the Government to conduct a comprehensive review of the issues and policies which have both a direct and indirect impact on the well-being of the family. The trends in marriages, divorces, the extended family structure, erosion of family values and the ageing population do not have an immediate impact. But over the long term, they have huge effects on our social fabric and the dynamism of our nation. Many of the developed countries are now realising the mistakes they made in the 1970s, and discovering the huge cost they have to pay and the difficulty of reversing these undesirable social trends. There is no better time to review our policies than this year, which is the International Year of the Family. We should take stock of emerging social trends in Singapore, and how the behaviour and personal choices of individuals can have an impact on society. What I am referring to are personal choices of whether to marry or not; whether to have children and, if so, how many; whether to live in an extended family or form their own nucleur family; how to juggle their time between work and family commitments; how to bring up their children; relationships between elderly parents, grown-up children and grandchildren; and how to lead a meaningful life in old age.”
“Sir, will the Minister consider building new flats in place of old flats instead of upgrading?”
“Sir, in Singapore, much assistance has been introduced to help working mothers stay in the workforce and balance the dual roles of home maker and wage earner. However, even with the present scheme, these incentives alone will not be sufficient. Much has to be done in order to help reduce the burden of working parents as well as to encourage economically inactive mothers to join the labour force. In Japan, the childcare leave law was approved and enacted in the Japanese Parliament on 8th May, 1992. The law provides that a worker, male or female, can take leave of absence for childcare from the employers in the private sector until his child becomes one year old. Sir, in Singapore, childcare leave is only provided in the public sector and not found in most of the private sector. Employers in the private sector could play a crucial social role by providing the same kind of leave as that provided by the public sector to their female employees. This would certainly help to strengthen the support system for working parents. I would like to ask whether the Ministry of Labour would look into the possibility of providing some kind of guidelines or regulations for private sector employers to follow.”
“Sir, the subsidy for childcare centres was introduced in 1987 and, since then, the number of childcare centres has increased tremendously from 48 centres in 1984 to 304 centres in 1992. During this period, the cost of operating childcare centres, which is labour-intensive, has also increased due primarily to increase in operating cost. So this has resulted in higher fees for parents. During the last Parliamentary debate, I had asked the Minister whether the Government could consider increasing the childcare subsidy from the present rate of $100 per child per month. The Minister had then informed the House that his Ministry was in the process of reviewing the scheme. I would like to ask the Minister whether his Ministry has completed its review of this subsidy scheme.”
“Okay, I will just try to sum up. (In Mandarin) How do we teach our people to adapt to this new husband and wife relationship? Now we have more than 51% of our women joining the labour force. The financial position of our women in Singapore has also been enhanced. This has resulted in changes in the status of our women and the positions of husband and wife in a family. Just imagine, if we have a wife going outside to work and her husband staying at home to look after the children, what will people think of this? In circumstances like this, it seems that women have a choice whether to work or not, but the man has no such choice open to them. This change in the traditional roles of husband and wife is a result of progress to society. Therefore, teaching our people to adapt to these changes is very important. One other point that I would like to talk about is the change in the parents and children relationship. Some of our colleagues have advocated legislation to force children to look after their parents. This point has not been debated upon. Although we can legislate to require children to support their parents, the most important thing is to honour their parents. In the Chinese classics, Zi You asked Confucius what was filial piety. Confucius replied, "Nowadays, when we talk about filial piety, we are just talking about providing for the parents. Even dogs and horses can provide for their children. If there is no respect, then what is the difference?" In other words, dogs and horse can also provide for their parents, the difference lies in that human beings must, apart from providing for their parents, show respect to them. The point I would like to raise here is something which you, Sir, may also like to know.”
“Sir, I would like to thank the Minister and look forward to the announcement as soon as possible.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head N of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code NI 1500. Sir, the reason for Singapore's success has been largely due to its policy of rewarding each one according to his or her merit. Hence, whether the person is male or female is immaterial as equal opportunities and pay are given to all based on their level of skills and performance. Likewise, distinctions are not made between male and female employees in the provision of fringe benefits by employers. I am sure the Minister will agree that his female staff in the Ministry work as hard as their male counterparts and are also as good as his male staff. It is therefore logical that medical benefits be extended to the family of female civil servants. Last year, when the issue was raised, the Finance Minister did give an indication that Government may consider this when reviewing the remuneration package of civil servants. Would the Minister inform the House when the announcement will be made?”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for his answer. I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the amendments in the Children and Young Persons Bill. The new provisions will help deter potential child abusers. They will help to protect our children from people who exploit or are cruel to them in any way. The passage of this Bill will send a strong message to these people that such barbaric behaviour will be met with fitting punishments. Unfortunately, the law can only do so much, but for the victims, their experience can be very traumatic. Professional counselling can help these abused children and their families cope with their bad experience and carry on normally with their life. So too, counselling can help the offenders realise their mistake and change their behaviour. So I would like to call upon the Ministry to give more attention to the counselling service. I am happy to note that educational and skills training programmes are provided in homes for juvenile delinquents. Such rehabilitation programmes help these misguided children adjust more easily when they return to society. However, the training is often biased towards technical and vocational skills. Perhaps we could offer a choice of technical or academic training in these homes. They will allow children with the potential and inclination to re-join the mainstream for their education after their release. Our children are our future. I think it is worth our while to see that every child, even those who have made mistakes in the past, get a second chance to make good.”
“Sir, I would like to know what is the amount of increase and when will it be implemented. I would also like to ask whether the Minister will consider giving childcare subsidy to parents with a fourth child.”
“Sir, does the Minister not feel that a more equitable policy is to allow our people the choice of either residing in the HDB flat and renting out the private apartment or residing in the private property and renting out the HDB flat? Is there a difference between the two alternatives since the resale of HDB flats occurs only when the flats are no longer needed by their owners and resale prices are determined by market forces without Government subsidy?”
“Sir, I beg to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“I would therefore like to urge the Ministry of Labour to help our women by looking into ways and means of encouraging employers to introduce flexible work arrangements. Sir, not many child care centres at present offer child care services for children below 2 1/2 years old. This is because of the high cost and manpower needed to provide infant care. Many working mothers have to resort to employing maids to look after their very young children. The Government should consider a two-tier child care subsidy, where working mothers with very young children would be granted a higher child care subsidy. This will make it viable for child care operators to provide such infant care services, and give working mothers an alternative to foreign maids. Finally, figures show that many women leave their jobs to bring up families. However, once their children have grown up, many wish to return to work. Very often, they need help in identifying the kinds of jobs that are suitable for them. They also need re-training to acquire new skills or to improve on their existing ability, and adapt once more to working life. I would like to suggest that the Ministry coordinate with the National Productivity Board to develop and sponsor courses that would help women to re-enter the job market. I hope that the Minster could look into my suggestion.”
“I can understand the Ministry's reluctance to provide a blanket provision for the payment of maternity benefits for the third child. I do not, however, see the rationale for not allowing employers to provide such a benefit when they can afford to, and wish to do so. The primary aim of our labour laws should be to protect workers, to stipulate minimum benefits and working conditions, not to restrict what employers can give if they wish to be more generous. The Government has encouraged and introduced many incentives for women to have more children. The Employment Act should be reviewed to bring it in line with this policy. There are a number of other ways in which the Labour Ministry and employers in Singapore can help our working women and those who wish to work. The most effective way is to provide flexible work arrangements. Examples of such flexible work arrangements include part-time work, job-sharing, flexible hours, leave of absence for child care, and home-based work. So far, not many employers have adopted such flexible work arrangements. Not all jobs require workers to follow fixed schedules. Journalists, for example, need not be stationed in the office waiting for news to happen. Others, such as computer programmers and systems analysts, also need not be stuck to the computer terminal at the office the whole day. They can work equally well using a computer terminal at home. Modern communications and computing technology can help workers to be just as productive in the home as they are at the office; sometimes, more. Telephones, fax machines, electronic mail, ISDN networks, all these help us keep in touch with the office.”