Zainal Sapari
Singapore
“I believe great leadership is not only about making the hard decisions but, having empathy and the ability to relate to and connect with the people that are hardest hit to gain their trust and providing the support needed to cushion the impact on their lives. Without a doubt, our Ministers have demonstrated great leadership.”
“I would like to urge every service buyers and service providers to be responsible because any unethical action on their part will affect the workers who are trying to earn an honest living. I believe that it will be our spirit of solidarity, peppered with a lot of empathy and compassion that will pull us through this crisis.”
“Chairman, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Asatizah play an important role today in guiding the Singaporean Muslim community to help us thrive in a multi-religious and multi-cultural society, as well as globally, in addition to upholding our religious values.”
“Mr Chairman, in Malay, please. 10.45 am (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The 4G leadership recently expressed the Government’s strong commitment to partner Singaporeans of all races, cultures and religions, and working together with them in nation-building.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, before I ask my question, I would like to tender my apologies to Mr Louis Ng for referring to him as a fellow Labour Member of Parliament, but he is most welcomed to join us.”
“Chairman, in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] So far, there has been no cases of COVID-19 that came from the mosques in Singapore, even though many Muslims of different nationalities visit the mosque daily to perform congregational prayers.”
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“Service providers are then forced to cut corners. It creates a vicious cycle that has one simple flaw – their mentality that labour, especially rank-and-file workers, is a cost that needs to be driven down. However, labour needs to be more than that. It needs to be one where work is given the remuneration it is due, when the low-wage workers among us are not merely numbers in a contract but treated as human beings with dignity and with dreams for themselves. Mr Speaker, how about workers? What can workers do? Workers must have the right mindset to be ready for the future. We must be ever-ready and have the ability to adapt our skills to the changing needs of the workplace. Lifelong learning must become the norm in the course of our work and we need to leverage SkillsFuture to sustain our efforts in lifelong learning. When I talk about skills upgrading for the future, some people have asked me, “What does it really mean?” Is it more certificates and attending courses? As a worker, when you upgrade yourself, it means that you can do more and do it better. It cannot be business as usual. New skills should help you take on new tasks and responsibilities you may not have been able to do before. Productivity increases mean that you can now do more as one employee either by leveraging technology or simply doing things better. This is the future I see throughout our whole workforce, and especially so for the low-wage workers. I want to see a world where they are now able to do more for themselves and be recognised for it. Too many times have I heard an unfortunate comment that suggests that these people are to be blamed for their circumstances. And I tell them that they merely have not seen them fight to break out of it.”
“However, is that really wisdom in this time and age? In 2015, Forbes released an article discussing how some companies, such as Gap, Starbucks and Walmart, are pushing their revenue to the next level. It was not aggressive marketing, nor was it ingenious product innovation. It was something much simpler, and one that many of our companies can adopt as well. It was simply living up to a sense of social responsibility to be fair and treat workers, especially the rank-and-file workers, better. These progressive companies went beyond the idea that only a token pay rise is needed to increase the morale of their workers within their companies. Instead, they started to treat their employees better, like giving better pay packages, generous worker benefits and creating a more positive work environment. When workers are happy at work, they become walking ambassadors for these companies, often going beyond the call of service to do a good job. They are smiling at work, and customers begin to believe in not just the companies, but also the workers as well. As the companies I cited have shown, we need to create a new work culture among Singaporeans. Perhaps, new policies could focus on encouraging and incentivising companies to have a good work culture. We have always taken pride in showing that Singaporeans are some of the most productive and highly skilled workers in the world. Yet, reports on aspects, such as happiness and work-life balance, always seem to shed a different light. To me, this is a sign that there is, indeed, a need for change. When companies do not pay workers enough, everyone pretends they are working. They are not willing to ensure that jobs are carried out as they should be. Companies react by imposing punitive liquidated damages.”
“In leading us into the future, I would like to urge the 4G Ministers to direct the industry stakeholders to think about how we can engender inclusive growth, where possible, in each of the 23 ITMs under their purview. This is important, otherwise we place our vulnerable workers at risk of having the progress made to better their lives amount to nothing in the face of inflation and technological disruptions. For a start, each ITM committee could start by contextualising the various ITMs to see how they can help the vulnerable workers to have the means to make a future living. Each ITM must talk of skills that will also be attainable by the spectrum ends of society, such as the aged or those with low educational qualifications. In 2030, one in five Singaporeans will be aged 65 and older. How can we ensure that they also receive the necessary skills required under the ITMs? How about those who are currently under-employed? Can they attain the necessary help for them to have a job more befitting of their skills and qualifications? How can we help those at risk of being displaced adapt to the changing job market while still working at their present job? I understand that, right now, we may not have all the answers to these difficult and inconvenient questions but, if each ITM committee spends time to focus on the vulnerable workers, then we are taking the right step into the future where no Singaporean will be left behind. Mr Speaker, how about companies? What can companies and service buyers do? Likewise, questioning assumptions must also involve the employers. Conventional wisdom dictates that you try to bid for contracts by cutting costs or keeping labour costs to a minimum so that you can win the contract or increase profit margins.”
“” For a start, in helping better the life of low-wage workers to be "betterer", we must start by doing things differently. While the real wage increase for workers at and below the 20th percentile has increased because of tripartite efforts to push for workfare schemes, such as PWMs, the Inclusive Growth Programme and many others, we cannot expect to get better results if we keep on doing the same things. Doing different things differently then must stem from every stakeholder thinking differently when they are looking at trying to address income inequality. Moving ahead, our 4G leaders must continually think differently to be able to catch and ride on the next "S" curve of better income growth for low-wage workers. But to think differently, we must first question our assumptions behind the current policies on low-wage workers. Are the assumptions still valid, given current circumstances? Only then, can we have the mindset change required to come up with better policies that can make a difference to the lives of low-wage workers. Only then can our 4G leaders make bold changes and not, as what our President said, “be content to tweak things at the margins.” Mr Speaker, what can the Government do? In the past, there was a Ministerial Committee on low-wage workers and, subsequently, this was replaced by the Tripartite Committee for Low Wage Workers and Inclusive Growth. The move to set up this committee sent a very strong signal of our Government’s and stakeholders’ resolve to better the lives of low-wage workers. The question is, "What’s next?" While the term of this tripartite committee has ended, we now have many sectoral ITM committees.”
“Mr Speaker, let me begin by quoting from a speech made by our late Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew at NTUC's 50th Anniversary Dinner held on 13 May 2011. I quote, "In Government, I have never forgotten that it is in the interest of the workers and their unions that we must strive for growth and development. In other words, growth is meaningless unless it is shared by workers, shared not only in wage increases but indirectly in better homes, better schools, better hospitals, better playing fields and, generally, a healthier environment for families to bring up their children." In short, it is about ensuring workers have good jobs with fair and progressive wages for us to aspire towards greater social equality. The labour landscape has changed tremendously ever since our late Minister Mentor first helped the group of workers from the postal services in 1952. There are now different types of employment, from the traditional employer-employee relationships to the self-employed freelancers. Nevertheless, every worker aspires to the same – Better Jobs, Better Pay and Better Lives. This is only possible if economic gains from our growth are shared fairly with the workers. What would then be a good indicator that gains are being shared with low-wage workers as well? I believe a good indicator would be a narrowing gap in real income inequality. As a unionist, I see this as one of the key defining challenges for our 4G leaders as they confront the question posed by our President, “What is next for Singapore?” Without a doubt, rising inequality is “a clear and present danger” to any government of the day. Let us heed our President's rallying call to “tackle inequality vigorously.”
“Mr Chairman, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The threat of radicalism on our youths is a risk that comes from their exposure to undesirable elements on various social media platforms. Our youths may not have or lack the maturity to differentiate between truth and falsehoods on social media. In an effort to counter influences that can lead our youths astray, MUIS set up the Asatizah Youth Network (AYN) last year to offer a safe space for youths seeking guidance. I feel that this is a good beginning and should be supported. May I ask the Minister to share more about the AYN's progress, and what are its plans for assistance or outreach programmes for our youths? MUIS' 50th Anniversary Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim (Nee Soon): Sir, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Since its formation in 1968, MUIS has touched the lives of many people, particularly Muslims in Singapore. Over the years, MUIS has played a key role in ensuring that the socio-religious lives of Muslims in Singapore are being looked after. As a former Council Member of MUIS, I have seen MUIS making every effort to stay relevant in this ever-changing world that we live in. MUIS' efforts in building an excellent and inspiring Muslim community that is resilient, socially cohesive and thrives in a multi-religious society, secular state and globalised world are apt and commendable. The year 2018 marks 50 years since MUIS was established. Could the Minister share some of the plans that MUIS is embarking on this year and MUIS' vision for the future? Support for Malay/Muslim PMETs”
“(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Our madrasahs are key institutions that produce our future leaders and religious teachers to guide and provide advice to the Malay/Muslim community on religious matters in a context that is suited to our multiracial and multi-religious society and our customs. Several of our madrasahs also have long histories and legacies that can reflect the development of Islam and the Malay/Muslim community here. Madrasah Wak Tanjong is one such institution. I understand that Madrasah Wak Tanjong, which has a very long history and legacy, is due for its lease renewal and this involves very high costs. May I ask the Minister how the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) plans to help Madrasah Wak Tanjong in this matter to ensure that the legacy and history of Madrasah Wak Tanjong can be preserved? Support for Madrasahs”
“Sir, in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Raising special needs children comes with a lot of challenges. Undoubtedly, it can be financially straining to families and parents who are taking care of these children. Even though Singapore has a support system that helps to lighten their load, there will still be occasions where it can be financially draining, especially when paying for the costs of medical treatment for these special needs children. Recently, one of my residents with moderate income had to postpone the basic dental treatment for his special needs children due to the high cost since the children had to be administered with general anaesthesia. These problems do surface when caring for special needs children. Would MOH look into the possibility of allowing such parents to tap on their MediSave account to pay for the outpatient treatment for those who have special needs children, if the bill exceeds a certain amount? Improving Management of Chronic Disease”
“Sir, as a former educator, I was heartened by MOE's move to further incorporate aptitude-based admission into our universities, polytechnics and ITEs. I believe that it is important to help students be curious and engaged in what they are learning. Such is what is needed to encourage lifelong learning, a necessary skill for success in the real world. Aptitude-based admission presents another approach to evaluate the students' strengths and weaknesses. Such an awareness may allow the education system to equip them with the skills that are best suited for their abilities and interests. Personally, I see aptitude-based evaluation as a means to uncover hidden gems amongst our students, ensuring that the education system is able to recognise these latent abilities and offer them the best possible chance for their career development. Studies by MOE have shown that among students with similar national examinations aggregate scores, those admitted based on aptitude tend to do better in their studies and are more likely to continue in careers in the sectors they were trained for. Hence, can MOE share its plans to offer more courses based on Aptitude-Based Admission to our ITEs? Polytechnic Foundation Programme (PFP)”
“Mr Chairman, the future of our children depends on what we are willing to do for education today. We want to prepare our students to lead productive and successful lives once they leave the education system and enter the realm of working life. Given the rapid changes around us, we may not know exactly what lies ahead for our students in the future and, at best, we can only try to ascertain what skillsets they might need by looking at current trends. Our graduating students must compete in an increasingly borderless world for the best jobs and, hence, they will need to be nimble, flexible and dynamic and ready to recognise and respond swiftly to emerging trends that call for new solutions, many of which moved into attempts into technological innovation. The students of today are adept at incorporating new technologies into their lives. I believe that we should tap into these new inclinations of our students and imbibe skills which would continue to make our labour force competitive to employers. I would like to ask the Minister what some of the fundamental shifts in pedagogy and curriculum are that MOE is looking into to prepare our students for the future, because I believe education is the key for us to be ready for the future. Education Model for a New Era”
“At these places, companies may provide good, proper rest areas for their permanent employees. However, when it comes to the outsourced workers who slog at these sites, they often find that there are no proper rest areas provided to them. Neither are they allowed to share rest areas provided to the permanent employees. These workers also put in effort and hard work into their job duties, and the fruits of their labour often result in a better environment for everyone at the site. These workers deserve the proper dignity of having proper rest areas so that they can carry out their work more productively. Thus, I would like to call for a review of the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) guidelines to incorporate compulsory designated rest areas for outsourced workers, such as cleaners, landscape workers and security guards, at their respective workplaces. Strengthening Workplace Safety and Health”
“Sir, the Progressive Wage Models (PWMs) in the cleaning, security and landscaping sectors have helped over 70,000 low-wage workers to become more productive through skills training and earn higher wages. The effects of the PWMs are not one-off. The cleaning and security PWMs were recently enhanced to provide these workers with year-on-year increments in wages. These planned built-in increases in wages will partly address the problem of "down-waging" when their contracts are being renewed. It also helps the service providers to manage business cost better when they bid for contracts as the future manpower cost is more predictable. Would MOM look at extending the PWM to more sectors, such as through industry-led or voluntary arrangements? I would also like to ask what more can be done to improve their wages and employment conditions. Could we review the EA to make it more pro-low-wage workers? For example, could the pay for working on the rest day be standardised, regardless of whether it is at the request of the employee or employer? Many employers now find ways to pay only the lower rates applicable for work done at employees’ request although it is really them who made the request. Could the Annual Wage Supplement (AWS) be made mandatory? Could we explore the possibility for employers to pay the medication cost for outpatient treatment done at company-appointed clinics or Government polyclinics for non-chronic illnesses? Mandating Proper Rest Area for Workers I would like to raise the issue of rest areas provided by companies for their workers. In the low-wage sectors, such as construction, landscape and security, the workers often find themselves deployed at various sites throughout Singapore.”
“What documents or documentation are required for the appeals? Employee CPF Contribution Flexibility”
“Seniors who meet the criteria for Silver Support are already means-tested to be requiring cash support to meet their everyday needs. They are rigorously means-tested to have low lifetime wages, live in an HDB flat, not own large properties and have low household support. The HDB flat type is not part of the means-testing. However, seniors who live in larger flats get less payouts though they are just as needy as those who live in smaller flats. This does not make sense. The seniors who qualify for Silver Support are already means-tested to be needy. The size of the flat that they happen to live in does not make them more or less needy. Many seniors often do not have a choice of which son or daughter to live with, or the size of the flat could be a legacy. Having payouts tiered according to flat types seems to signal two things to seniors and their families. One, it is better for a senior to stay with the child with a smaller flat or to live alone. Two, it is better for the family to downgrade to a smaller flat. These signals go against the thrust to get our seniors to age in place. Can the Minister explain the rationale behind the tiered payouts? I also have several questions to address other specific concerns. What is the breakdown of beneficiaries of the Silver Support Scheme by gender? Since the payouts started, how many beneficiaries have lost their eligibility for Silver Support and what were the reasons? The Minister had said that seniors who did not qualify for Silver Support could appeal for a review of eligibility. How many appeals have been received so far? Out of these, how many were approved? What were the main reasons when the appeals were not approved? On the appeal process, how can a senior make the appeal?”
“It is a global phenomenon that life expectancy is increasing in many countries. Studies show that global life expectancy will increase, on average, by two and a half years every decade, or an increase of three months every year or six hours every day. Singapore's life expectancy is increasing by three and a half years every decade. So, if you were born between the 1960s and 1980s like me, half of us can expect to live for over 90 years. For those born from 2000 onwards, 50% can live beyond 100 years. I had made a call in my Budget speech for our tripartite partners to consider gradually making employers’ CPF contribution rates to be the same for all workers up to 67 years of age to help with retirement adequacy. I do acknowledge it will be difficult for the tripartite partners to reach a common consensus. Given the circumstances, perhaps MOM can help members to get better returns from the CPF Investment Scheme (CPFIS). The Minister mentioned last year at COS that MOM will review the CPFIS to better serve the interest of CPF members. I am concerned that some members are investing through the CPFIS even though they are not financially knowledgeable. They may not fully understand the risks and costs involved, and this could be detrimental to their retirement adequacy. Can the Minister provide an update on this review, in particular, with regard to how we can help CPF members have better awareness on how much they actually understand the financial implications before they decide whether to invest their CPF savings? Silver Support Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong: Chairman, Sir, I have argued in my Budget Debate speech that Silver Support payouts to needy seniors based on HDB flat type may cause hardship for the seniors as well as send the wrong signals.”
“Sir, across the years, SAF has drawn heavily on Singapore’s human capital in its pursuit of a strong military force capable of protecting Singapore. However, several trends in recent years have threatened the size of the SAF's enlistment pool, chief among them, the trend of our falling birth rate and the ageing population. 11.15 am As Members of this House will recall, the Minister for Defence noted last year that SAF will see a one-third reduction in manpower supply by 2030. In view of these impending manpower constraints, what are the manpower challenges faced by SAF? What measures are being taken to ensure that these manpower challenges will not compromise our overall military capability? NS Cohesion”
“Sir, the changing security environment has birthed a more diverse range of dangerous and non-conventional threats to Singapore, especially within the cyber domain. For example, the growing availability of sophisticated tools on the Dark Web, designed to thwart secure systems, has greatly heightened the impetus to test and strengthen the security of our existing digital systems. At the same time, in our current fiscal climate of prudence, there is also a strong motivation to exercise good fiscal judgement. Last year, MINDEF started its Bug Bounty Programme where they invited a select group of white-hat hackers with the required skills and tools to attack their systems. This, I agree, is a sensible move to test its systems as it will be far cheaper than hiring a dedicated commercial cybersecurity vulnerability assessment team and potentially reveal weaknesses that may not be surfaced, given the very individual nature of white-hat hacking. Furthermore, efforts into strengthening our cybersecurity are always welcome if it means a greater defence of our borders within the space of cyber technology. These hackers were allowed to test eight MINDEF Internet-facing systems to identify any code bugs and vulnerabilities. Could the Minister of Defence provide an update on the Bug Bounty Programme? Is the Bug Bounty Programme a one-off exercise or an ongoing engagement? How does MINDEF's efforts fit into our national cybersecurity ecosystem? Prudence”
“I would also like to suggest making the 13th month bonus or the Annual Wage Supplement mandatory, in order to boost the retirement savings of low-wage workers. Helping low-wage workers, by having employers pay for the costs of their outpatient treatment at polyclinics, can also relieve their burden. (In English): In conclusion, in the past and also very recently, I have written several blogs to highlight the bread-and-butter issues of low-wage workers. I know that some of my entries might have caused some discomfort to some readers, particularly my most recent post entitled "Slavery of the poor". But there is nothing I would change about the message I intended to convey. It was not a blog post I wanted people to scroll past, nor was it a post to exaggerate the struggles faced by these workers. It was a post that echoes the sentiments of our low-wage and elderly outsourced workers who exist in our society. These workers are real. Their families are real. The problems they face are real. We must not fool ourselves to think that, as a society, we are doing enough in being fair to all our workers. While there are policies in place today to help our low-wage workers, many of them are still being taken advantage of. They struggle to make ends meet, let alone save for retirement, no matter how hard they work. The stark realities faced by vulnerable workers do not have to persist year after year. We are not powerless to help them. We must have a bigger heart and mind to ease their livelihood. We must value their contributions and think more about them and less about us. Mr Speaker, I support the Budget. 2.39 pm”
“Hence, the union leaders felt that the Tripartite Partners should consider amending the Employment Act to include better medical coverage for workers, by making employers pay for the full cost of non-chronic outpatient treatment at polyclinics or company-appointed clinics. While a clear majority or 86% of employers do offer outpatient benefits beyond the required statutory requirements on a voluntary basis, it is the low-wage workers who are being hurt the most by the limited coverage under the Employment Act. Mr Speaker, in this Budget, the Government is providing a lot of support for companies through all the various schemes and grants. Perhaps, the various Ministries may want to consider this as a leverage to incentivise companies to care more for their workers, particularly the low-wage workers. I am aware that the suggestions I am making may cause some pain not only to employers but also to us as final consumers. But, again, if there is no pain, there is no progress. Mr Speaker, please allow me to speak in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The rapidly changing current economic landscape and job situation can affect many workers. I am very concerned about the fate of low-wage workers who are mostly older and do not possess higher qualifications. Although many training opportunities have been made available to help them upgrade their skills, it is essential that the training is suitable to their age group and learning capabilities. In order to ensure that low-wage workers have enough savings for their retirement, I would like to call on the Tripartite Partners to form a review committee on CPF to explore the possibility of having one universal rate for employer’s CPF contribution for all workers up to the age of 65 years old.”
“It is also in our best interest to ensure that workers can meet their retirement sum as it would reduce the burden on social services in later years which would have to be shouldered by the current working population. Such a review would no doubt add cost for the companies, but I believe that we need to move away from the 1988 policy which has indirectly created a class of "cheaper, older" labour. Employers must value our mature workers as an important resource who can still contribute to their businesses, especially in this tight labour market. Secondly, the union leaders also call for Annual Wage Supplement (AWS) to be made mandatory for all workers. Many of us assume that all workers get the 13th-month bonus (AWS) at the end of the year. But the sad reality is that the very group that needs it the most is not receiving it. Mandating AWS could bring about an increase of 8.3% to the salaries of low-wage workers ‒ and help reduce the widening income gap present in Singapore. I believe this 8.3% increase in salary will bring back much more than its worth in monetary value when it comes to making our vulnerable low-wage workers feel a sense of fairness, recognition and appreciation for the work they do. After all, this nation was also built on the backs of these toiling workers who had also played their part to pave the way for a better future ‒ a future that we, today, enjoy. Third, the union leaders felt that more can be done to help low-wage workers cope with medical cost. The current provision of the Employment Act only requires employers to pay for the medical consultation fees when a worker sees a doctor for outpatient treatment.”
“During our engagement with our union leaders to arrow in on the plight of low-wage workers, the issue of ensuring workers' retirement adequacy, especially for low-wage workers, stood out prominently. Of all the suggestions given on retirement adequacy for low-wage workers, there were some prominent ones that I would like to put up for the Government's consideration. First, the union leaders felt strongly that it is about time for our Tripartite Partners to set up a committee to review the employer's CPF contribution for older workers. Currently, the employer's CPF contribution rate decreases progressively after the worker reaches 55 years of age. The different CPF contribution rates tagged to different age bands were introduced in 1988 with good intentions to ensure our companies could remain competitive. However, the assumption to rationalise why older workers should have reduced employer's CPF contribution rates may no longer be valid today. Many workers, regardless of their age, are already being paid based on the job value as we have moved away from a seniority-based wage structure. Moreover, given longer life expectancy, workers need to build on their retirement savings. There are also many who still need to service their mortgage loans, as well as take care of their aged parents who are living longer. Hence, it may not be a bad idea to explore the possibility of working towards having one universal rate for employer's CPF contribution till the age of 65 years old. This would help workers build their retirement savings and would be especially beneficial for elderly low-wage workers.”
“The Progressive Wage Model (PWM) is one initiative that has improved the wages and skills of thousands of low-wage workers in the cleaning, security and landscape sectors. We believe that PWM has also caused a ripple effect that has led to the increase in wages of low-wage workers in other sectors as well. In fact, from 2012 to 2017, the wages of those in the 20th percentile have shown the largest increase. This has, hopefully, eased the ever-increasing cost of living for these workers. Recently, the Tripartite Committees have made recommendations to have a built-in wage increase for workers in the cleaning and security sectors to ensure their real wages are not eroded by inflation or experience "down-waging" when their contracts are renewed. Other schemes implemented over the years, such as Workfare Income Supplement (WIS), have also gone a fairly long way in making life easier for these low-wage workers. They have a better chance of bringing home higher salaries. Under the Workfare Training Support Scheme, they also have better opportunities for upgrading their skills through available training programmes at heavily subsidised rates, giving them some confidence to be relevant to the workforce today. Amendments to the Employment Act, such as requiring employers to issue pay slips and employment contracts, will go a long way to offer better protection to our vulnerable low-wage workers. The road to improving the lives of low-wage workers cannot just end here. The sad reality is that many of the current lowest paying jobs in our country are held by elderly workers with little education and limited skills.”
“Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak today on Singapore’s Budget 2018. My fellow Labour Members of Parliament have touched on various worker groups but we must not forget our more vulnerable low-wage workers. We must value their contributions, too. One of the core missions of every labour movement anywhere in the world is to look after its workers, particularly the more vulnerable workers in its midst. It is also a responsibility that our Government shoulders and commits to this mission in order to improve the livelihood of our people. Low-wage workers will always be part of our labour landscape. Not by design but because there will always be those who form the lower tier in the income hierarchy. More importantly, the work they do forms an important part of our social fabric and contributes to our economy. Their struggles, hopes and aspirations give us reason to be their voice to pave a better future for them. Hence, for our Labour Movement, the Budget presents an opportunity for us to do good, do more and do right by them. Indeed, I believe that with everyone's help – Government, union and employers – low-wage workers can have a sense of hope that their lives will be better year after year and, more importantly, that the future for their families and themselves are that much brighter. To date, the efforts of the Labour Movement to help low-wage workers have paid off with the strong support provided by the Government and our Tripartite Partners. The long hours put in by policymakers, unions, companies and every one of us sitting here today have resulted in the implementation of many policies to better support and protect these workers’ wages and their employment rights. Let me share some of these policies and initiatives.”
“I thank the Minister for the clarification. Some courses, such as cooking classes, Korean language classes, are hailed as SkillsFuture classes. What is the approach that we take in order to determine whether any particular course can tap on the SkillsFuture funding?”
“I thank the Senior Minister of State for his reply. I know the renaming of merged schools is not an easy exercise. I would like to ask: what support will MOE be giving to affected schools' alumni to help them retain their school's history?”
“I thank the Second Minister for her reply. Every retiree will be concerned with inflation. Most low-wage workers may, at best, opt only for the BRS plan which gives a stagnant payout. What can the Government do to protect the real value of their savings against an inflation for this group of people to ensure that the payout will be sufficient to meet their basic retirement needs?”
“I just need a clarification or assurance from the Minister that every MK child will be able to secure a place where the MK is located in.”
“Alternatively, MHA could also allow building owners not under the select building scheme to opt-in to meet the requirement or standard of the security measures under the category of Selected Buildings. Would MHA be able to provide the support they require to conform to the prescribed security standards? In conclusion, security is everyone’s responsibility. I have made some suggestions that would complement the efforts undertaken by the Infrastructure Protection Bill as these areas would have a direct impact in achieving the desired outcome under this Bill. I support the Bill.”
“Hence, I would like to ask MHA what are the plans to improve working conditions of the security officers and to consider my proposals above to attract younger people to be security officers. Second, I would like MHA to consider having basic security requirements in residential areas, such as condominiums, that will require the use of technology to improve security with less reliance on headcount. Even though a set of guidelines on enhancing building security by MHA and BCA is available, the take-up rate can be further improved if some of these requirements are made mandatory in these residential developments. Some of these mandated security requirements should involve the use of technology, such as next-generation visitor management systems, using more smart cameras with surveillance software and smart analytics, perimeter detection that would reduce the need for patrolling, cloud-based reporting for incident reports to be sent to key decision-makers at short notice and having a remote command centre that could optimise manpower deployment on the ground. All these could reduce the overall demand for private security officers to allow for shorter working hours which are currently at 12 hours a day for six days a week. As a start, by properly assessing the security needs of a site, suitably hardening first before prescribing security manpower will definitely go a long way in enhancing security outcomes for any site and also increase productivity almost instantly. In short, I would like to propose MHA mandating some of these security risk assessments for residential areas as well.”
“These officers should be allowed to serve as security officers at sites deemed low risk, and we thank MHA and the Police Licensing and Regulatory Department (PLRD) for taking the first step towards this consideration, as reflected in the proposed Bill. It is important to note that my recommendation does not discriminate this group of workers. Should any of these officers like to upgrade themselves, by all means they can do so. In the middle, we have a group of officers who, though not as fit, may be able to take on other duties, like first aid, lift rescue and firefighting. Buyers today already expect them to do so, without properly prescribing them in the contracts, nor paying for it. I would like to propose that for every skillset they are expected to have, these officers must be given an extra pay equivalent to the value of that skillset. This should sit on top of their basic pay. I firmly believe that if we variegate the jobs in the security industry in this manner, we will create a proper career path for our security officers with meaningful pay. After all, none of us would like to work in an industry where everyone has the same job scope. Afterall, we are talking about 42,000 officers. Related to this is the need to have better working conditions and employment terms and benefits for our private security officers which can lead to better work performance. Currently, the security industry is plagued by issues, such as long working hours, lack of proper rest areas, and officers are given only basic employment statutory benefits. Unless a decisive effort is made to improve the working conditions and mandating better employment benefits, it will be difficult to attract younger workers into the industry.”
“Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Infrastructure Protection Bill. However, to ensure that the desired outcomes of the Bill be achieved, it is important that other aspects related to the implementation of the Bill be looked into as well. Firstly, I think we need to look at the quality of our security officers, especially those engaged by the private security agencies. The effectiveness of the Bill will depend on the capabilities and competency of the security officers which, currently, vary widely. Our ICA and SPF officers are well-trained and equipped with relevant training, such as the Threat-Oriented Person Screening Integrated System (TOPSIS) profiling and Red-Team simulations, to ensure that they always maintain their edge in executing their duties. For private security officers today, the 42,000 of them on the ground are treated as a common group. I seek MHA to review this approach. The 42,000 officers diverge on demographics, education and capabilities. At the risk of over generalising things, may I propose that we categorise them into three separate groups? On the one hand, we have officers who are fit and highly competent. Bouncers, event security officers fit into this category, which is not unlike the APO (E) scheme currently available for APOs who do not need to carry a weapon. For this group, we should treat them as APOs and they should command a premium salary. They would have to undergo annual refresher courses and physical fitness tests. On the other hand, based on our ground engagement, about one-third of the 42,000 officers today are near retirement or post-retirement. For these officers, taking every extra module subjects them to undue stress because of language difficulties.”
“Would Mr Faisal Manap then agree that the amendments made in the Bill are in the spirit of the Muslim community, acting in good faith of what is in the best for the community?”
“Madam, I am not referring to any part of Mr Faisal Manap's speech. But I think, in the pantun, it does say that we have to answer to the higher authority if we are unjust in this world. It is insinuating that there might be certain aspects in the Bill which could lead to MUIS or Syariah Court to make unjust decisions.”
“Maybe the question by my colleague, Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef, was not clear enough. Perhaps, if I could rephrase her question. Is there anything in the amendment Bill which Mr Faisal Manap feels could lead to MUIS or the Syariah Court being unjust in their actions?”
“(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] In this day and age where it is practically impossible to control the flow of information, this has a significant impact on one's perception and interpretation of religious matters. In our own Muslim community, it has led to some degree of polarisation when different segments insist on their approach or interpretation of Islam as the only one that is correct. Complicating the matter further are the various extremist threats which are linked to religion. I would like to ask why there are no amendments in this Bill that include steps that can be taken to monitor or regulate the Muslim religious landscape in Singapore. (In English): Madam, in conclusion, I believe that the amendments represent a right step forward in ensuring that the Muslim community can be clearer on means available to them, in a manner appropriate for the current context we see today. I believe that with continued cooperation and constant learning, Muslim bodies and scholars, together with understandings of practices in their countries can help us make balanced decisions in line with the Muslim faith. 3.25 pm”
“While the Bill allows the amount to be determined by the majlis after consulting the mutawalli of the wakaf, I would like to know whether the majlis has the final say on the percentage should there be any disagreement. I would also like to iterate my support for the amendments to AMLA with regard to marriage and divorce. In terms of marriage, I am in great support for greater responsibility to be placed in involving parents for children being married under the age of 21. Marriage is a significant commitment with life-long impact on a person's life. Hence, parents and guardians should be empowered to play a more active role in such big decisions involving their children. The pre-marriage counselling sessions can also go a long way in ensuring that young couples making this huge transition in their lives can do so in a better informed manner, particularly with regard to financial matters affecting the household which, as I understand, becomes a major cause of friction in several troubled marriages. On amendments in the Bill related to divorce, I welcome the move to adopt a more "child-centric" approach. I have come across cases during my Meet-the-People sessions where children are affected when the Court orders the matrimonial home of the couple to be sold. The proposed amendment will allow the Syariah Court, amongst others, to propose care and living arrangements for any child of the marriage, based on the child's interests, when there are couples intending to initiate divorce proceedings. I would like to propose that AMLA could be enhanced further to offer greater protection to the children of couples seeking divorce. This could include making sure that the children have a proper home before the matrimonial home can be sold. Madam, in Malay, please.”
“Mdm Speaker, as shared by Minister Yaacob, the AMLA amendment Bill covers three broad areas covering steps taken to reinforce Muslim institutions, enhance the management of Muslim assets and strengthening Muslim families. In general, I am supportive of these amendments but would like to seek greater clarity in some areas. On reinforcing Muslim institutions, the new amendment will allow men to apply for divorce as plaintiffs without pronouncing the talak. My question is: will the Syariah Court still require the pronouncement of talak at any point of time to be in accordance with Islamic law in the finalisation of the divorce? If the Muslim man's right to pronounce the talak is recognised under the Act if he still chooses to do so, how does this discourage the frivolous pronouncements of talak outside the Syariah Court? How does the Act compel the husband to file the divorce at the Syariah Court if there is pronouncement of talak outside the Syariah Court? Next, the proposed amendments also seek to strengthen the trustee management of wakaf. I support all these enhancements and would like to make some suggestions. Would the Ministry consider having term limits for the appointment of a mutawalli or having a process in place for a mutawalli to relinquish his position upon reaching a certain age limit? This is to ensure there is good governance and succession planning in the administration of the mosque. I also support the establishment of a separate sinking fund for wakafs. Given that this amendment is intended towards a reserve for the future upkeep and development of the wakaf, I feel it is important to set a minimum percentage of the wakaf's annual net income to ensure sufficient sinking funds are available to achieve the intended outcomes.”
“How do our Organs of State ensure that Ministers and other officeholders do not abuse their power? Do we have a whistle-blowing policy that can take action if there is a case of possible abuse of power by them? As my fellow Members have stated, we should pay attention to issues that affect the livelihood, shelter and security of Singaporeans. I think that many are hoping that this dispute can be resolved amicably and the Lee family can begin efforts to reconcile amongst themselves. I began with a poem and, so, please allow me to end with a poem: Parents lived in harmony Making sacrifices day after day Siblings should never part company But to love each other like a dead knot. 1.28 pm”
“I hope that the Prime Minister can state his position on such a Select Committee in order to dismiss any negative perceptions that the Government wants to suppress the truth. Regarding the will, I would like to ask the Prime Minister why he made a statutory declaration on the circumstances that led to the last will. Why did he not raise this matter before the Probate was issued? I would also like to seek clarification on why there was a need to form a Ministerial Committee, since we already have a Founders' Memorial Committee. Why was the Founders' Memorial Committee not asked to give suggestions on the possible options for the house at 38 Oxley Road? Since its members comprise individuals that can be considered as independent, perhaps this would have been a better approach and the Government could have prevented any negative perceptions. Also, yesterday, after hearing the statement by the Minister for National Development, Mr Lawrence Wong, about the Deed of Gift, I would like to ask a few questions. Firstly, why did NHB accept the unusual terms that were stipulated? Were the NHB officers involved unable to exercise good judgement? Secondly, or perhaps, did they accept the terms because it was stipulated by a Lee family member and they were given special consideration? If the NHB officers were instructed to accept the terms, despite their unusual nature, by the Minister-in-charge, this would certainly be considered as an abuse of power. Furthermore, I would like to ask, from a national governance perspective, what are the checks and balances that exist in Government to ensure that conflicts of interest and abuse of power are avoided and do not take root in our governance structure?”
“(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Please allow me to begin my speech with a poem: Money lost can be regained Wealth cannot be taken to the grave Don't look back in regret When family ties are lost forever During the Parliamentary debates yesterday and today, many questions were posed and explanations given, but I agree that there is still no clear evidence that supports allegations of abuse of power by the Prime Minister or the Government. In fact, many felt that we should pay attention to more important issues that affect Singapore, such as the economy, employment and the terrorism threat. However, if the serious allegations made by Prime Minister Lee's siblings are not debated and addressed, it will have an impact on Singapore's reputation of having a government that is honest, corruption-free and transparent. I agree with Dr Janil Puthucheary's view that this sitting is the best platform to give all Members of Parliament an opportunity to ask about matters that Singaporeans would like to know regarding the abuse of power. Here, I would like to ask whether Mr Lee Hsien Yang's accusations that this Parliament session is held to cloud the truth or hide wrongdoings can be deemed as contempt of Parliament. I hope that he realises that this debate would not have taken place if he had not made baseless allegations about the abuse of power by the Prime Minister and the Government. During the Lee family's dispute over the past weeks, there was some discomfort when several Ministers made statements on this issue. Perhaps, can some clarifications be given as to why there is a need for these Ministers to weigh in on this matter? Some have also suggested setting up a Select Committee to look into the allegations levelled by the Prime Minister's siblings.”
“Mdm Speaker, can I have your permission to deliver my speech in Malay, please?”
“Mdm Speaker, during the meeting, all the issues that we raised are on the record. I do not have the records now. We could always share later on with AHTC, if it so desires, what were some of the information given to us and they were not complete for us to be operationally-ready.”
“Mdm Speaker, with regard to the first clarification by Mr Low Thia Khiang whether there is a criminal intent based on the report, it is not for me to establish. With regard to the second question, what is my view, that is the whole purpose of having this amendment − it is to make sure that we improve on our financial governance.”
“Mdm Speaker, with regard to the second clarification, the thrust of my speech was not with regard to the amount that is being transferred; really, to the operational difficulties that PRPGTC faced when we were unable to get complete information or information that was given to us was after some time had actually lapsed.”
“With regard to the first clarification whether we had engaged the Chairman of the Town Council, these are all done by the Secretariat, by the Town Council staff, to actually work directly with the staff from AHTC. What was shared with me was information that was told to me by my staff. On the second point with regard to the transfer, we did explain, we did make the first transfer of $10 million within three months of the handover. The subsequent amount was eventually transferred to AHTC after we have resolved all the accounts.”
“Mdm Speaker, as I have mentioned, whether there is any finding of criminal intent is for other Government agencies to establish.”
“Madam, let me answer the clarification sought by Ms Sylvia Lim. On the issue whether we have met several times to resolve some of these operational issues, yes, I think we have met several times. But during many of these meetings, while there is assurance of cooperation, our Town Council faced a lot of challenges. For example, data were provided in the PDF format instead in the format that we could actually use. We were also not given the information that we required in a timely manner and these all affected our ability to be able to serve our residents. On the second point, with regard to the late transfer of sinking funds, I did not make any specific reference to any Town Council. I just said that if a Town Council is late in the transfer of sinking funds, it could imply the two things which I have mentioned in the speech. And I would like to state, looking at the records of AHTC, the transfer of sinking funds was late even before Government transfers were being withheld. Then, on the third point about the quote that I cited from Prof El'fred Boo of criminal liability, I have read actually the report by KPMG. As to whether there is criminal liability, it is not for me to establish whether there is criminal intent.”
“Mdm Speaker, please allow me to continue in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mdm Speaker, the amendments in the Town Council (Amendment) Bill will ensure better public accountability and strengthen financial management in the Town Councils. In addition, these amendments would ensure that any inconvenience to residents would be minimised following changes to a Town Council after a General Election. As Town Councils manage a substantial amount of public funds, the proposed regulatory oversight by MND will ensure that problems that are identified early can be nipped in the bud before they become a liability to all the residents if funds are mismanaged. The amendments would ensure that the key Town Council personnel will be held accountable if there is evidence of criminal intent in their decision-making while managing Town Council affairs.”
“On the topic of accountability, the current Town Councils Act only holds two positions responsible, the Chairman and Secretary, for any cases of criminal liability. Clause 25 introduces a new section 48A that imposes on the Chairman or Secretary of a Town Council, or any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, criminal liability for certain offences committed by the Town Council in certain circumstances. I support this amendment because Town Council operations do require some decision-making to be done by various key officers or Town Councillors. As such, this amendment would ensure the key officers could be held accountable for their decision-making. The KPMG report on AHTC illustrates the need for this amendment where several problems were uncovered. The Nanyang Technological University's (NTU's) accounting professor El'fred Boo was quoted during an interview with Channel NewsAsia (CNA) that the findings have, I quote, "serious and grave implications for the parties involved in the AHTC scandal, including a potential basis for filing criminal charges if a deliberate intent could be established". Prof El'fred Boo further added, I quote, "One of the major findings centred on a series of payments of at least S$23 million, which, in the absence of approved controls in a severely weak control environment amid a conflict-of-interest situation, could suggest that the agent is approving and making payments to itself. This was corroborated by instances of overpayments, and payments without approval and certification of work performed". The involvement of many individuals appointed by the Town Council illustrates the need why they need to be held accountable, other than the Chairman or Secretary, if criminal intent can be established.”
“PRPGTC also had to manage cases of residents accumulating arrears because they were not informed by AHPETC prior to 1 December 2015 that their general interbank recurring orders (GIRO) arrangements had been stopped. All of this essential information was not shared and affected the residents. As such, with reference to section 3(3A)(e), I would like to ask the Minister if the incoming Town Council can apply to the Minister to instruct the outgoing Town Council to provide more data or information as required by the incoming Town Council. This is important because the lack of complete documents and information can hamper the ability of the incoming Town Council to serve and thereby causing much inconvenience to the residents. I also support the amendments in the Bill to improve MND's regulatory oversight to ensure Town Councils comply with the Act and Rules. All Town Councils manage a substantial amount of money, and non-compliance by Town Councils can have repercussions downstream. Hence, it would be prudent to ensure MND has regulatory oversight. One of the regulatory issues where compliance is required by a Town Council is to ensure quarterly transfers of the S&CC fees collected into the sinking fund. Failure to perform this quarterly transfer could imply two things. First, the Town Council is not doing their job well to manage their accounts; or second, the Town Council has overspent on routine maintenance and, hence, do not have sufficient funds to make the required sinking fund transfer. If MND has greater oversight, such a Town Council should be brought to task to observe the regulatory requirement and this will ensure that any regulatory non-compliance problem is detected early and solved before it escalates into a huge mess.”