Zainudin Nordin
Singapore
“We may end up a burden to our future Government and our future generation, but it is necessary. We must do this and, at the same time, we should also make sure that there are enough resources in the future and safeguard and manage the Silver Support Scheme well.”
“They are worried that they would just simply lose their jobs upon reaching the age of 65. They are still alert and full of energy. These are real concerns of Singaporean workers. We should look longer into our Employment Act amendments and see how we can further take into consideration some of this feedback and take care of our workers.”
“Madam, I am very supportive of the Singaporean Core initiative. But on the other hand, I would just like to understand better if all these efforts of getting the EP are making the employers' job more onerous and more difficult, and whether there is a change in image about Singapore being a friendly country for investments, and also, in th…”
“Mdm Speaker, just a supplementary question. I agree with the Prime Minister on taking time and doing this properly. I would like to also reiterate the point that Mr Lee was a giant among the Pioneer leaders and I would not be wrong to say that he was much loved and respected by many.”
“Mdm Chair, for all the resources that the Government is investing in continuous education and training, more still needs to be done to instil a lifelong learning culture in the Singapore worker's psyche. So, I think SkillsFuture is a very promising initiative to encourage working adults to improve themselves.”
“A supplementary question, Mdm Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister if the recipients of the zakat donations are excluded from the regular assistance elsewhere, or can they also tap on the national schemes.”
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“To me, independence means the universities are now deciding for themselves the effective allocation of their resources, designing relevant curriculum in meeting the market demands, abort courses which are of low-market value or no demand, deciding on the direction for research which has commercial interest, setting up venture capital to further mature their intellectual properties, take appropriate action to lower their operating cost, and taking many other positive measures which are of interest to the university and students. All these would lead to one simple important conclusion that the independent status of the universities would lead to the efficient use of the Government's fund and, in return, the unit cost for the operation of the undergraduate training would be achieved to the best optimum. In my speech last year during the debate on the Budget Statement, I spoke on the university fee. I said that the 25% share of university operating cost as tuition fee should not include the cost which is unrelated to undergraduate teaching, especially research. I also said that the fee paid then already exceeded 25% of the norm of other university undergraduates' operating cost per student. The Minister for Finance then, who is the Prime Minister today, responded to my speech and said that research and other unrelated expenditure would be excluded from the operating cost for the computation of undergraduate fee. Sir, 2005 is the year for rising university tuition fee. Both NUS and NTU announced a 5% rise in the tuition fee and SMU announced a 15% rise in the fee just a few days ago.”
“No wonder, every long weekend, the Causeway is packed with vehicles hurrying to enter Malaysia, because people aspire to have more space. The recent opening of the Bedok Reservoir for boating and the permission granted for people to camp in the East Coast Park are a significant move to free up more space for our people. I read in the newspapers about critical views on possible pollution of water in the reservoir, dirtiness resulting from irresponsible campers' behaviour, and private activities being conducted in the wrong place. Sir, all these are expected human behaviour. Our present laws are more than adequate to deal with all of them. We should not be deterred from further opening up our public places because of these behavioural concerns. The enforcement of laws and public education must work in tandem with the opening up of more spaces for recreational activities for our people. Singapore will become a better place to have fun for all of us. Sir, the next issue I would like to deal with is university education. Here, I wish to disclose my interest as a teaching staff in NTU. Sir, in the Addendum of the Ministry of Education, it mentioned about granting independent status to NTU and NUS, develop SIM to be the fourth university, and increase the total enrolment for our local students to 25% of the student cohort. All these are exciting news. The various top executives of the universities spoke in strong support of the universities' independent status and they cited many advantages for gaining such independent status.”
“Usually, the users pay a high price for using such facilities in meeting the investors' expected return. Take China road toll as an example. From my experience, the toll charge collected on the roads in China which are of a lower quality, could be doubled that paid in Malaysia, which are of a better quality. The latter is also a BOO, but it is a ruling-party-owned BOO. Singapore is a well developed nation. We are efficient, no shortage of funds, nor are we lagging behind in terms of technological know-how. Why should we choose a BOO for critical projects like water supply? Ultimately, BOO works against the interests of the people. Sir, the Addendum also talked about the creation of more opportunities for the community to enjoy our environmental resources. The recent opening up of the Bedok Reservoir for boating is a significant progress in this area. I fully support this idea and would like to call for greater relaxation of the use of public areas like parks, rivers and lakes for recreational activities. Sir, Singapore is a small island, there are limited places for the people to have fun and recreation. The space for Singaporeans is further limited due to the various restrictions like no swimming, no fishing and no boating in the lakes and rivers. Places in the HDB housing estates are purposely built with humps and the landscape is undulating to prevent people from playing football. Other than in the sites belonging to the few uniformed groups, one is not allowed to camp anywhere overnight. You cannot cycle in a park unless it is one of the designated cycling paths. If one dares to roller-blade on the roadside of Orchard Road, people would look at you in a very strange manner. All this makes Singapore to be a relatively boring place.”
“The mindset of the Government officials should also be changed from one of worrying about the loss in revenue from the car tax to that of allowing more energy-efficient and environmental-friendly vehicles on our roads. Sir, in the same Addendum, it mentioned about providing water at an affordable price to the people and also about the Build, Own and Operate (BOO) concept for the new water project. Sir, in my view, BOO is not a good idea. It runs contrary to the concept of affordable water. BOO means there is a middle-man and his objective is profit. Once a BOO contract is signed, usually 20 to 30 years, many of the cost-related parameters are fixed. Like our desalination contract, it pegs the price of water at a fixed rate with adjustment for energy price variation. Sir, we know that the membrane technology evolves very quickly. The membrane cost is on a downward trend. The membrane operating pressure is also lowered. Once the BOO contract is signed, the consumer would no longer benefit from the cost advantage due to the evolution of the membrane technology and the process improvement. As membrane technology advances, operating pressure would reduce and it would mean that less energy would be used. The BOO contract again prevents the consumers from benefiting from a more energy-efficient technology. For a BOO operator, the profit gained is unlike that of the PUB. The PUB ploughs the profit back to the whole water supply system, either for enhancement or further development of the new water supply system. Ultimately, PUB makes future water to be more affordable to the people. Sir, a BOO is a famous concept for the Third World country. It is one of the rapid ways for development of infrastructure.”
“If this could be properly dealt with and managed, we could easily reduce the energy consumption and contribute towards the reduction of greenhouse gas emission. The Government must set the example and take measures in reducing energy wastage. We could set an annual energy reduction target for every Ministry to achieve, in the same manner when we decided to cut manpower in the Ministries. Every year, Ministries must cut energy consumption by a certain percentage. By doing so, we would contribute in a big way to the reduction of greenhouse gas and protect the earth from global warming. Sir, the transportation sector uses almost half of the country's energy consumption and, therefore, it contributes almost half of the greenhouse gas. There is tremendous opportunity in this area to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emission. This is because of the poor energy efficiency of the cars running on our roads. In fact, the efficiency averages not more than 20%, which means 80% of the fuel that we burn on our roads are all wasted. I feel that greater effort should be placed on the energy efficiency for vehicles. Established technologies, like the compressed natural gas-powered cars, hybrid diesel-electric cars, are the options for environmental-friendly vehicles. The reason deterring people from owning these types of cars is that there is no infrastructure for gas refilling stations and, at the same time, the initial cost of such vehicles would be more expensive. The Government should take action in encouraging fuel companies to set up convenient filling stations and, at the same time, the Government should give substantial tax incentives to encourage more motorists to shift towards the environmental-friendly vehicles.”
“In the Addendum, although it mentioned about energy conservation and improved efficiency as a means to reduce the greenhouse gas, from the electricity consumption data, I noticed that the trend in energy consumption increases faster than the average GDP growth rate from year 2000 to 2003. We burned more fuel on the road due to the 0.8% annual growth in vehicle population in the same period. The most recent information shows that the Ministry of Transport is considering increasing the annual growth rate of the vehicle population to 3%. In solid waste generation, there is a slight improvement. The quantity is reduced by an average annual rate of 3.5%. As a whole, if things go along in this direction, I wonder how we could mitigate the greenhouse gas emission, as stated in the Addendum. In order to be a responsible world citizen and to play a constructive role in dealing with global warming, Singapore must take proactive measures in curbing the ever-growing greenhouse gas emission. To achieve this, the Ministry really has to work very hard together with other Ministries in exploring and implementing practical measures in the reduction of greenhouse gas emission. We must have an aggressive plan in energy conservation for key areas of applications, like air-conditioning for buildings and the more efficient use of energy for big energy users in industries. Take this House as an example. Sometimes, on certain occasions, the air-conditioning in this room is so cold that we have to put on a jacket in order to keep ourselves comfortable and warm. The lighting system in this House is very bright, just to accommodate the video camera recording requirement.”
“For all the other organisations, if we want to move forward for the future of Singapore's sports, we need to focus on the young and develop their talents early. The effort that has been put in by FAS over the years has started to show results. I would like to say thank you to all the supporters and stakeholders of the football fraternity. It was a great lesson for all of us to see a sea of red at the stadium and it makes us feel like it was National Day. So I hope you would continue to support sports, whatever it may be, in Singapore, at the community level and even at the national level. With that, Mr Speaker, I support the motion. Assoc. Prof. Low Seow Chay (Chua Chu Kang): Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for granting me the opportunity to speak in today's debate, and to be the last one in the list. Sir, I support the motion in thanking the President for his Speech on behalf of the Government at the opening of this Parliament's Second Session. In the Addendum for the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, it stated that greater efforts would be placed in the mitigation of greenhouse gas emission and contributing to the international efforts in addressing the issue of global climate change. Sir, the use of energy in Singapore is quite high per capita. We depend solely on fossil fuel, practically nothing on nuclear, no hydro-power, and very little emphasis on the use of renewable energy. Our emission of greenhouse gas per capita is high in order to support our high standard of lifestyle and industrial activities. Furthermore, in the treatment of solid waste, Singapore prefers the method of incineration. This would further increase the emission of greenhouse gas per capita for Singapore.”
“I would like to propose to the Ministry of Education to reconsider and make the early childhood education as part of the overall framework of our formal education system. There must be more active involvement and participation on the part of MOE in this area. This sector of our education system has mostly been left to the community organisations and private sector. Sir, the Ministry of Education can ensure the quality and standards of the early childhood education and kindergartens. The external reputation of our education system that we enjoy abroad should also flow to the early childhood education in Singapore. On the other hand, I am glad that there are plans outlined by the MCYS to enhance the employability of our out-of-school youth and the ex-youth offenders through further education and skills training and provision of more opportunities and social participation; this must be lauded. These youths are also our resources and they should be given extra support to realise their potential. May I propose that MCYS work closely with VWOs and youth organisations that are keen to focus in this area so that we can formulate a concerted effort for the betterment of the future of these youths? Before I end, may I just mention a little bit about the recent Tiger Cup match which we have enjoyed? I also would like to declare that I am the Vice-President of FAS. Sir, the recent victory that we enjoyed at the National Stadium, with the presence of more than 55,000 of our fellow citizens supporting our team, is the result of a long and difficult journey. We have decided to focus on youth. We have decided to work on the vigour and dynamism of youth and I think this is a correct strategy.”
“But I am confident, Sir, that with proper implementation and support from all stakeholders, we will be able to see the achievements and the positive desired outcomes that we want. I was hoping, probably against all hopes, that in the Addendum of the Ministry of Education, there would at least be some plans and strategies on pre-school education and how we can further improve this sector further. Alas, there was none. Nevertheless, I am glad that MCYS will focus on early childhood education. Mr Speaker, Sir, everyone, from parents, educationists to policy makers, recognises the importance of the formative years of a child. The proliferation of nursery schools, kindergartens and other education centres, catering to those between the ages of 3 and 6 years old, shows the demand for pre-school education in Singapore. In this time and age, and especially in Singapore, can a child afford to miss out on pre-school? I do not think so. Should pre-school education be made compulsory, or should parents be compelled to home school their little ones as an alternative? If we all agree that foundation education is important, I believe we could and should be more proactive and put more resources in this area. Sir, I believe that this could help to ensure that our children get quality pre-school education that will prepare them properly for the next 10 years of primary and secondary education. Mr Speaker, the compulsory education law, which became effective last year, is a clear indication of the Government's commitment to educating our future generations. This augurs well for us. Let us take this step further and incorporate the foundation years into the mainstream education.”
“In this respect, Sir, I am glad that the Prime Minister, in his speech yesterday, showed that the Government has heard the calls. It was comforting to know, and the initiatives that he announced are very much welcomed. Mr Speaker, Sir, now that the economy seems to be on the mend, we have a new leader at the helm and a new fresh team in its place, our citizens would be watching and assessing how much we can deliver. I sincerely hope that we can translate some of these broad strategies and policies to whatever level that can be clearly understood by the layman, accompanied with reasons and implications of each of them on our country and especially the citizens that we serve. I would like to commend the Government and the Ministries for being progressive, forward-looking and, at the same time, caring in its plans. Nevertheless, Sir, as an eternal optimist, I would like to highlight some of my thoughts and concerns in the hope that the relevant Ministries would consider them in the review of their plans. I would focus my views on two areas, namely, education and youth. The changes that are taking place in our education system and the education landscape can only be described just like the movie title "Fast and Furious". Kudos to MOE for all their efforts. The move towards greater flexibility and choice in education is a bold and, I believe, a right one. I am also glad that MOE is giving greater recognition to students' achievements and talents in areas that are not captured in national examinations. The unfortunate thing is that we will only see and appreciate the results of these efforts many years down the road.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the Motion of Thanks moved by Mr Gan Kim Yong, Member for Holland-Bukit Panjang GRC. As we all know, in the past few years, Singaporeans have experienced many new challenges, ranging from economic downturn, virus pandemics, tragic accidents, tragedies, and some are very painful for most to bear. In the President's Speech, President Nathan has conveyed the Government's broad strategies and key focus areas for the country to move forward. These are eloquently expressed in seven key areas which I generally agree. Sir, we are fully aware that the world we live in has been fundamentally altered, either by man-made tragedy or natural disaster. In the literal sense, it was reported in the papers, and I quote, "NASA scientists reported that the massive earthquake of Sumatra, which measured 9.0 on the Richter scale, had shifted the earth's north pole, changed the planet's shape, shortened its days, slowed its rotation and made it slightly more compact." On the human level, we are more globalised and more connected than any time in the human history. But, unfortunately, security and safety issues are and will inevitably remain a key concern for all of us. The speech gives us hope and makes us proud to be Singaporeans. Together with the Addenda, it contains interesting principles and concepts that pillar on strong basic fundamentals that have brought us thus far and, I believe, furthermore. The challenge is for the Government to convert the vision that has been painted into reality for the citizens to benefit. Thus, it would be wise for us to remember that after the hard knocks that we have received in the past few years, the concerns of our people have always remained the same, ie, their livelihood, employment and their family's welfare.”
“But the point that I am making here is that there are many views, perspectives, methodologies to learning a language out there, something for all of us to think about. Sir, although I commend the Ministry for its effort, I am more concerned with the impact that these changes will have on the community and the society at large. We are aware how parents in Singapore are always worried about the criteria of admission to schools, course, universities and, eventually, good careers and jobs. I think the perennial question is: how does this curriculum review and change affect their children's options and changes of admission to the academic places or even career choices? In this respect, Sir, I certainly do not agree with the suggestion put forward by Mr Chiam to make mother tongue as a criterion for admission to university. We have to be realistic in our expectations on learning a language, and should not move backwards to the time when a number of our young were deprived of university education because of their weakness in the mother tongue. With this, Sir, I hope the Ministry can address some of the issues that I have raised. I support the motion.”
“Apart from Singapore, Bahasa Melayu is widely spoken by the people of Indonesia, Malaysia, southern Thailand, Brunei, Mindanao in the Philippines, Champa of Cambodia, and Vietnam. That is a community of almost 300 million people. Perhaps, Sir, research may reveal to us concerns of the Malay Language community, if any, both perceived and real. Is there any evidence of language shift or a change of attitudes towards the language and the current language ecology, as mentioned by the Minister earlier? Are there any policy implications due to this shift? Drawing from personal experience when studying the French language, I cannot emphasise enough the importance of practice and being in a conducive environment for one to grasp a new language by leaps and bounds. Speaking a language effortlessly gives us one great confidence level. Only then will love and appreciation for it come naturally. Frustration will then take a back seat. Perhaps, one of the most innovative ways of learning a second language would be the immersion technique, as mentioned by Mr Gan Kim Yong earlier. Apparently, English education in South Korea is undergoing a revolutionary change, as local governments establish English immersion villages which allow students to develop their language skills by using only English in an environment similar to that of a real English-speaking community. In the villages, people would be given English names and use foreign currencies to purchase goods. Hotels, post offices and other facilities would be run in a similar way as in the English-speaking countries, giving visitors the opportunity to learn more about foreign cultures. The Japanese are impressed and might even follow suit. Whether this is the best way to learn a language is still debatable.”
“Sir, it has also dawned on me, just like Miss Penny Low, that the teaching of mother tongue languages in Singapore, eg, the Malay Language, may also require looking into. Let us be pro-active in this matter. There can only be much to be gained. I am happy that the Ministry has already started working towards achieving similar goals for both Malay and Tamil Language teaching and learning. Just as it has been done for the Chinese Language, the Malay Language teaching would also need to be upgraded and ameliorated to remain relevant to the present context and time. Matters of instruction, techniques and materials used are surely in need of improvement. Lessons can be drawn from the teaching of the Chinese Language experience on the whole, and these must be shared. As reported in the Chinese Language Curriculum and Pedagogy Review Committee paper, one of our strengths is our multi-lingual ability that allows us to connect with the countries within this region and the world. The bilingual policy of adopting English as the official business language while learning the other mother tongue languages should be continued. Through use of language, Singaporeans will attain a better understanding of its history, civilisation, cultures and traditions. The cultural heritage of each child is very important, and it is essential to know these languages to gain access to the culture and history of Singapore. And, importantly, it provides a unique Singapore identity. Similar to the Chinese Language, it also makes economic and cultural sense to encourage the learning of the Malay Language, which was the original lingua franca of the archipelago.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for the opportunity to speak on the subject of teaching the Chinese Language to our young Singaporeans. I must applaud the Ministry of Education's head-on approach and handling of this matter. Indeed, learning a language should not be reduced to merely a school-taught subject that requires mugging and a pass, and after school the language is not put to much practice. A language can only be said to be alive when its learners speak it rather fluently in a natural setting. Practice is the key word here. In fact, when a language is embraced wholeheartedly, it will allow its students to fully appreciate its accompanying culture. We all agree that we cannot discard the complex relationship between language and culture. I hope we do not want to learn the language only to ride on the wave of the thriving Chinese economy. It has to be more than about dollars and cents. Establishing the correct attitude towards our mother tongue must begin from a very young age. Naturally and logically, it should begin at home and through the pre-school. Pre-school education also allows us to inculcate in our children the sense of importance of the mother tongue, and strengthen the emotional link to the language. Speaking and listening skills are, without debate, the fundamentals of mastering any language. We all agree that reading must be introduced at the very early age, while writing can come later. Why do I say this? Because we must be mindful that the basic goal is to get the younger generation to be comfortable with the language so that they are encouraged to communicate with ease. Building an impressive vocabulary and mastering the literary aspect of a language are options open to a specific number who desire them.”
“Sir, may I know, on the average, how long is the process, from the point when a company applies for a licence to the point when the licence is awarded?”
“Sir, we are aware that we have a greying population and I think this problem will become more acute as time goes by. May I know what kind of timeframe the Ministry is looking at to make improvements to the existing old system?”
“Sir, the size of the new stadium will havea seating capacity of 55,000 and the few stadiums that the Minister has mentioned earlier are very much smaller with a seating capacity of 3,000-4,000.Would the Ministry considerputting some resources to improve the present infrastructure of our neighbourhood and regional stadiums so that at least we bringthem up to a certain reasonable size? Secondly, the gap between the 55,000and 4,000 seating capacity is toowide and I still believe that it is worthwhile to consider an intermediate-sized stadium forthe future. Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: I thank the Member for his suggestion. We will certainly look at the infrastructure in the current stadiums to see whether some improvements can be made and whetherindeedsome expansion in the spectator stands. I will still have to take his suggestion on an intermediate-sized stadium on a reserve basis and look at the issue. I will not be able to committo it at this point in time. I am sure he will understand that.”
“Sir, I would just like to ask the Minister if there is any plan for the Jurong Stadium that is in existence. My second question is that the new Sports Hub will have a new stadium which is about thesame size as the present Kallang Stadium. With the present sportsactivities that are happening in Singapore, does he feel that there is a need for an intermediate-sized stadium in Singapore?”
“Sir, I appreciate the concern about the digital divide. But at the same time, I am also concerned that with the kind of investment and the kind of money that we have beenputting into IT, whatis the level of achievement we expect from our students? If we want them to attaincertain IT skills and we want them to apply, how can MOE assistthe students to apply their skills that they have acquired in this training atimportant examinations, like GCE 'N', GCE 'O', and so forth? I would prefer for us to be able to level up than level down.”
“Sir, having all these efforts in IT, do we seea need for our students to be allowed to use the skills that they have acquired for important examinations? And if that is the case, is there any situation where students are not allowed to use the skills for examinations, like presentations or whatever?”
“This rate is close to developed economies such as France and Italy which recorded 45% and 49% respectively. We must remember that Bill Gates himself has once mentioned that there is no technically feasible way of preventing copyrighted digital material being replicated. So, it is likely in future that attempts to protect copyright works by solely introducing and implementing increasingly tougher laws will not be economical as well as popular. It is the attitude and the mindset of the users that need to be addressed. And for those die-hard users who are unwilling to pay for software, there is always the alternative free or open source software and materials. I believe the Government could do more to increase awareness and encourage the development of this free or open source software. In conclusion, I fully support the amendments to the Singapore Copyright Act but would urge the Ministry to clarify some of the areas that I have highlighted. The hope is to ultimately find a win-win solution and create a balance between public domain and copyright-protected materials.”
“According to the proposed amendment to our Copyright Act, anyone caught illegally downloading files, using files and benefited from the commercial advantage could face criminal charges, including six months in jail and fines of up to $20,000. At this stage, however, the term "commercial advantage" is rather ambiguous, in my opinion. Where exactly does criminal liability begin? The public needs to know. The issue of home users also comes to mind. The new laws are originally aimed at businesses which make use of pirated materials for financial gain and not meant to put average home users behind bars. I hope not. There is still the issue of file swappers that we need to contend with. We all know that the free Napster is no longer around, but nowadays file sharing or peer-to-peer programmes are still plentiful and all have these unique names like Gnutella, Kazaa, Morpheus and Grokster, and all this while I thought Gnutella is a hazelnut chocolate spread. This brings us back to my earlier concern regarding ambiguity. If someone has downloaded one hundred songs, for example, will this be considered "commercial advantage" or "significant"? As a comparison, this is almost equivalent to six audio CDs. Interestingly, a lawyer commented that the ambiguity is deliberate. It may be a good way to keep infringers guessing as a preventive measure. Knowing when criminal liability begins will encourage them to work around the limits. For example, if 500 is defined as "significant", then they will download 499. In a global piracy survey conducted by the industry body, Business Software Alliance, early this year, it was found that about 43% of the software installed in PCs here are illegal.”
“" Under the IP umbrella, copyright protection deserves special focus, as core copyright activities are one of the fastest growing industries in Singapore, outpacing Singapore's economy over a 15-year period from 1986 to 2001. Based on preliminary findings of a recent research survey in 2001, copyright-based industries generated approximately S$8.6 billion in value added which, in turn, represents 5.6% of Singapore's GDP. These industries also have a strong impact on Singapore's workforce employing a total of about 116,000 persons, equivalent to 5.7% of the total employment. Furthermore, copyright protection has to keep up with the fast paced developments of the IT sector. To reflect these developments, the Copyright Act of 1987 had been amended in 1994, 1998 and 1999 and now in 2004, we are looking at another amendment to the Copyright Act. How is this amendment different from the previous ones, Sir? The proposed amendments are intended to keep our Copyright Act relevant in the digital age. I do agree that it also strengthens our position as an attractive location for copyright-based activities. Similarly, I am confident that it will further directly promote our local creative industries such as literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works. It is clearly visible that the proposed amendments offer new and enhanced rights and updated enforcement provisions for the copyright owners. For the copyright users, the amendments put into effect enhanced fair use provisions and specific exceptions. While I strongly support the intent behind the amendments, Sir, I would like to put forth some of my concerns. One of my main concerns here is ambiguity and the lack of reference to specifics.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak on the important subject of intellectual property protection. Rather than focusing on physical assets, competition in knowledge-based global economy focuses more on intellectual assets including intellectual property. Singapore's continued economic growth hinges on encouraging and protecting knowledge creation. With globalisation and rapid technological advancement, a strong IP regime will be strategically more important than the traditional strength of geographical location, large domestic market or natural resources in abundance. Because I agree when DPM mentioned a globally relevant IP regime will also enable Singapore to attract more high-value added set-ups to our country, which will in turn lead to creation of new jobs and multiple economic benefits for all Singaporeans. In manufacturing alone, there are some 4.7 million patents world wide and 60% are held in the US and Europe. Singapore has to continue to position itself as the launch pad for companies to manage their IP activities in Asia and as a location for these companies to further develop products for the Asian markets. We are beginning to see the results of our efforts. In 2002, the World Economic Forum ranked Singapore as top in Asia for IP protection. In a more recent survey by the Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy, Singapore has emerged as Asia's safest place for intellectual property. I quote from the survey: "Foreign companies feel comfortable about being able to protect their IP in Singapore and the system offers a tightly policed and regulated environment which discourages piracy and a legal system that offers good support to victims of IP abusers.”
“Mr Speaker,I am very happy to hear about all these changes that the Minister is doing for the education system in Singapore. I would also like to ask the Minister if he is going to take a look at the pre-school education sector to see what can be done or improved in this area.”
“Sir, may I know whether MOE has data on the number of children that do not attend pre-school? Secondly, what is the long-term impact on a child missing pre-school in the child's primary school education? Does MOE have any study on this?”
“Sir, I would like to know whether, apart from enforcement and education, there is any technology that can be used to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes. Assoc. Prof. Dr Yaacob Ibrahim: I am not sure I would be able to give the Member a good answer. But I think the enforcement and mechanism in which we have in place, which are fogging and clearing of breeding sites, have proven to be effective. But, nonetheless, I take the Member's point that we should continue to investigate new ways in which we can reduce the Aedes mosquito population in Singapore. SETTING UP OF PRE-SCHOOL CENTRES AND UPBRINGING OF CHILDREN 4. Mr Zainudin Nordin asked the Minister for Education if there are further concrete plans to ensure standard and basic requirements of setting-up a pre-school centre, especially in terms of (i) quality of staff, their qualifications and training and (ii) child-teacher ratio. 5. Mr Zainudin Nordin asked the Minister for Education how the Government assists in changing the beliefs and attitudes of some parents with regard to the upbringing of their children since it is a key element in early childhood development.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we can be confident that after SM Goh's wonderful 14 years of tenure as Prime Minister, Singapore will again, under PM Lee, become an even more vibrant and exciting haven. Ours will be a place where every Singaporean and everyone can call home, whatever the race, language or religion, and all this is by no small means we owe to Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong. For that, I would like to thank you, Senior Minister Goh.”
“He realises how small Singapore is as a country and decided to link us to the world. He took concrete steps to institutionalise this. He conceived the idea of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in 1995 to forge links between Asia and Europe. He was responsible for Asia-Europe Foundation, and steps were also taken to connect us to Latin America and the Middle East. In all these, while at home SM Goh was busy bringing us all closer together as one people, one nation and one Singapore. He has painstakingly taught us that we must, and I quote: "Continue to share the same roof, the same walls, and the same foundation. We must. Otherwise, our home will fall apart." But he also says: "The condition for each room can vary. Not every room needs to be furnished to the same taste." Therein lies the versatility of Senior Minister Goh as a leader. Those words almost captured the essence of a man who held the hands of a young nation and led us steadily into the 21st century. Today, we, as a nation, are united as a whole, regardless of race or religion. Sir, this year marks a new chapter in the pages of Singapore history. We have started on our next journey with a new captain at the helm. Mr Goh had handed over the leadership to Mr Lee Hsien Loong, a worthy successor of his choice. Our new PM is not new to us and he has more than proven his mettle. I am confident, like SM Goh, PM Lee will take Singapore to another level of advancement on the road of nation building. Our new Prime Minister, I believe, will build on the legacies of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, and I am confident that, one day, the future generations will be able to celebrate his legacy, just as we are doing so for Senior Minister Goh in this Chamber.”
“Indeed, may it be known that he established his own connection with Singaporeans, not through a high-flown oratory but delivered in a rational simple anecdotal style, often using simple analogies, like positions in a football team, to explain complex things like his role in his Cabinet, and many more. His dulcet tones exuded sincerity and a willingness to hear out Singaporeans. The less fortunate are often on his mind. During his tenure, SM Goh introduced new schemes to help Singaporeans. CPF top-up schemes, Singapore Shares, Edusave, Medisave and MediShied are just some examples. He took steps to ensure that every citizen has equal opportunities, and that our senior citizens are not forgotten. It was him who continues to push for young people to be brought into the Government. He also wanted to get the local residents to be more involved in the grassroots activities. In his early days, it was also him who tried and tested the Residents Committee concept and that has now proven to be a success. Now, let us talk about the fun things that brought forth. He got everyone on their feet when he launched the first ever Singapore Swing, if you can recall, that began a new wave of letting down the hair as Singapore began to loosen up. What followed were big countdown parties and light-up ceremonies during festive seasons. Of late, he permitted bar-top dancing, though he could not quite understand what all the excitement was all about. Following this was bungee-jumping. Over the 14 years, he made personal sacrifices and led by example. He brought upgrading programmes to HDB homes and made education compulsory for our young. He persuaded Singaporeans to accept tough decisions and taught us that, as long as the peoplework with the Government, the economy will thrive.”
“I owe to you for having made me feel that I belong to this nation and however small a part I play does count." - from Miss Susila Ganesan, Bishan North CCMC member. "Thank you very much. You have taken good care of every citizen for the past years. We owe you forever. Good health and best wishes." - from Miss Helen Wee. "My heartiest congratulations to you for your posting as Senior Minister. Thank you for your love, care and compassion you have shown to us. Your contributions will find a place in our hearts." - from Mr Ahmad Arifin. I must take this opportunity to also say that, by way of example, SM Goh showed us how to live a more ethical and social, gracious life as Singaporeans. A particular incident comes to my mind. During a ceremony, when the Remaking Singapore Committee was submitting the report and recommendations to SM Goh who was the Guest-of-Honour, the event started with a sketch that was quite hilarious, and this was just before his speech. The sketch gently mocked the Singaporean way of doing things - the good and the not-so-good. It made fun of some of our silly habits, typical responses and inclinations. As SM Goh later got up to deliver his speech, he must have recalled some similarities of the speech that he was about to deliver and the issues raised in the sketch when he suddenly burst into laughter. He tried to compose himself again, but gave in to the guffaws as the rest of us laughed with him. To me, that moment was unbelievable. It made him even more endearing as a leader. I witnessed how he truly connected. His humility touched all of us that day, as he demonstrated the ability to laugh at ourselves as Singaporeans. He, of course, spoke to us finally and delivered his message in his own special way.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, after the ode, it would be difficult for me to equal. I rise to support the motion to express our gratitude to Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong for his contributions and services to the nation during his tenure as Prime Minister proposed by our fellow parliamentarians. I would like to thank him for shouldering the very heavy responsibilities as Prime Minister by sustaining and developing our country's peace and stability for the past 14 years. I thank him for his efforts that made Singapore a gentler and a more sophisticated place for all Singaporeans. I thank him for bringing our peoplecloser together. Personally, as a Member of Parliament, he has always made me and my colleagues feel comfortable when approaching him. His height was well matched by his compassion for others, as he built upon the legacy left behind by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. He clearly demonstrated to the nation that the Government comprises people who care and listen. His leadership style brought the nation to another level. During some of the difficult periods when Singapore faced stormy days, which included the economic crisis, strained neighbourly ties, terrorist threats andSARS, SM Goh demonstrated his tenacity and calmness to show Singaporeans that, with sheer grit, determination and foresight, Singapore can surmount any seemingly impossible obstacles. At this juncture, please allow me to read out some expressions of gratitude from my grassroots leaders. So many wrote in, but I have selected only three which showed how he is a role model, and I quote: "You started to lead the nation at a time I was a teenager. My patriotism to the nation and the eagerness to serve my country was inspired by you.”
“I have been informed of HDB flats being left empty, sometimes for several years, because of EIP. My question would be: how do we balance the need to achieve EIP and, at the same time, reduce the wastage of resources like empty flats that could be easily occupied?”
“I do not know whether they are special institutes. I think we still have two vocational institutes - one in Geylang and the other is Baharudin Vocational Institute - which are still not taken care of by ITE.”
“Sir, I would like to clarify. In fact, I am very happy that the Minister of State has explained about ITE. But my pertinent question relates to the vocational institutes that we still have and what are we doing for them. Mr Chan Soo Sen: Is the Member talking about the vocational institutes for disabled people? If he is talking about vocational institutes, they have all been consolidated under ITE, except those which are catering to the needs of the special people.”
“And lastly, because of their importance, will MOE play a more important and direct role in the pre-school education arena instead of leaving it to the private sector? Ms Braema Mathiaparanam: Sir, I would like to draw the Ministry's attention to helping children without pre-school education who enter the school system under the Compulsory Education Act. Currently, 9,586 Primary 1 pupils, or one in five of the Primary 1 cohort, receive Learning Support Programme attention. I suspect many of these children in the programme are probably without any pre-school education. I would like to ask the Ministry if they would consider extending this LSP scheme to children who have missed pre-school. These children can be identified in July of the previous year when they come in for Primary 1 registration. If such a scheme is applied, either directly by the Ministry of Education or with help from other self-help groups or VWOs, these children will at least have a five-month headstart before they enter Primary 1 in January the following year. I hope the Ministry would consider this suggestion. I would also like to ask the Ministry for its update that it gave in an earlier answer to a parliamentary question that it was also focusing its energies in engaging more self-help groups to come on board with the LSP programme. In this regard, what is the update and can that also be extended to these children who are caught in between?”
“Sir, the yearly rush of parents to put their children through pre-school education underscores the importance that is attached to it. While this was once the privilege of a few who could afford it, today, it is made accessible to almost everyone. While the debate on the best teaching methods of pre-school continues, I am sure we unanimously agree that education in the initial years are indeed vital. This then begs the question: what should be the role of the Ministry of Education? What are its immediate plans for pre-school education? This seems to be one area where the private sector has taken the lead in developing and paving the way and we have to play the catch-up. The pre-school education industry in our country is vibrant and thriving. The demand is evident and the Government must be more involved. We must be more active and take concrete steps to educate our young. Sir, I feel that the Ministry could do a lot more to ensure that the schools do carry out their responsibilities expected of them and deliver quality pre-school education. The students are very young and they go through this cycle of their life but only once. If they are not given the correct education and imbued with right values, they will grow up taking a very different road from the rest. I feel that the Ministry of Education should pay more attention to the running of these pre-schools and audit them regularly to ensure that the best practices are adopted by them. Sir, may I ask the Ministry of Education what is MOE doing about monitoring the curriculum of these pre-schools? What are its plans to bring up the standards of the pre-schools so as to ensure that they keep pace with the advancement in education? What is MOE's vision for pre-schools?”
“Sir, I support the decision by the Ministry of Education to give the universities more autonomy so that they can set their own directions where they see their decisions going in the future. The universities will have more flexibility and freedom to manage their funding just as they do to recruit their academic staff and the enrolment of students. The changing criteria wil affect the make-up of the institute and the quality of graduates. I also agree that admission requirements must change with time and the different objectives of our education system. My concern is that the Ministry of Education should keep a close watch on the student enrolment to ensure that in their zeal to balance the financial books, universities do not take the wrong path and lower enrolment standards in exchange for funding. This would erode the value of our institutions of higher learning which we have taken years to build up its reputation. So, in this respect, I have the following questions for the Minister: What will be the minimum standards that universities have to observe with regard to the admission of students? How will the Ministry monitor to ensure that there will be no abuses? I would also like to know will the changes to the admission criteria be implemented for other institutions, like the polytechnics. Transparency of University Admission System”
“Sir, in this fast changing world, parents and students alike are sometimes lost for directions. There are so many choices they have to make, in terms of the course to choose, the career to take up, and so on. It is very difficult because the choices they make now will impact on their future or their children's future. It is natural then that parents will turn to the schools for guidance and advice. After all, the schools should be the best place to seek such advice as they would have been producing batches after batches of students in various fields and they would have gotten feedback on whether or not their graduates would be able to seek the right career path. Also, students who have growing up problems, be they coping with lessons, being confronted with bad influence such as pornography, or those with suicidal tendencies, can at least turn to counsellors for advice and guidance. My question to the Minister is: what efforts and resources are being committed to develop the manpower and the capabilities to help the schools play this role of counsellors to the parents and students? Are there experienced teachers who have been tapped to play this role as counsellors? And, also, are there trained counsellors out there whose services are made available to the schools? Student Suicides”
“Apart from classroom lessons, interest groups, clubs, uniformed groups, the sports field and the other places like the gymnasium, the tennis, badminton or squash courts as well as the swimming pools are places where they also learn and develop their character. This is a very important part of education. We must have both because, at the end of the school years, we want to give our children a holistic education. Nevertheless, there must be a balance in CCA and classroom work. Parents are also worried that some schools put so much emphasis on CCAs that their children hardly have time for their studies. In this respect, may I ask the Minister what are the guidelines for schools on CCAs? What is the balance recommended between studies and CCA hours? Do principals alone decide what sports are to be included or excluded from CCAs? How does MOE monitor the CCA curriculum at the schools? Can MOE assist in making some of the sports facilities more accessible to the community so that more opportunities are open to the young living near the schools? 11.30 am Hobbies and Interests”
“Sir, it has come to my knowledge that some schools have removed certain extra-curricular activities (CCAs) because they feel that with the current talent in the school, winning in competitions may not be possible. If indeed this is true, I am appalled at the message that we are sending the children, ie, "If you cannot excel in sports and be victorious, then let us forget about it." Is that the correct attitude to adopt? Is that a good example to set? Under the prevailing social climate, let me assure you that we will not regret imbuing our children with the sporting ethos of fair play and equality under the laws of the game, rather than simply preparing them to survive and prosper in the law of the jungle conditions which currently prevails. In addition to that, some schools actually view sports through coloured lenses by associating some types of sports with certain character traits, for example, dropping football or soccer as a choice, with the reason that it may bring negative influence. This is very sad and should not be happening in our schools. I must declare my interest at this juncture as the Vice-Chairman of the Football Association of Singapore, as I know that several schools have scrapped soccer in their CCAs for one reason or another. Soccer is one of the few sports that has a very wide following and is a very good vehicle for bonding, promoting team spirit and for character development. Sir, the school is one place where the children can acquire not only knowledge but also the opportunity to develop their potential to the fullest, and to mould their individual character and know their strengths and weaknesses.”
“I agree with Dr Wang and others who have spoken about the importance of leadership and character development. We want to develop a mental toughness in our young, the ability to withstand shocks, come out of difficulty and thrive. These are attributes that will help young Singaporeans do well in the future, and help Singapore do well. I note that several Members have spoken on the subject of streaming, and some others are scheduled to speak on the subject of the Normal Course. Sir, we will address these issues, together with the other issues which Members have brought up, in subsequent interventions. Normal Course”
“The revised criteria for excellence in physical health will recognise schools that allow a broad base of students to take a sports CCA for recreation, even if they are not of exceptional ability and are unable to represent the school. This will dovetail with the efforts of MOH and MCDS to provide an active, sporting lifestyle amongst Singaporeans as a passport to good health. To help parents make the most practical use of the information, MOE will also provide a web-based interactive system to allow them to generate comparative lists of schools based on the features they consider important, eg, schools in a certain vicinity, within a certain academic band or with a strength in, say, rugby. We will also continue to provide detailed individual school profiles for each and every school. The proposed changes to the public presentation of school achievements are targeted for implementation from September this year. Some of the new and revised awards, such as for Excellence in Physical Health and Character Development, will be introduced progressively from 2005. Sir, the initiatives that the Ministry has embarked on in recent years will enable us to bring out the best in every child. Taken as a whole, the greater flexibility and diversity that we are introducing in education will help us groom young Singaporeans with diverse talents, and open to diverse ways of thinking and approaching problems. We need this diversity, both amongst Singaporeans, and through an infusion of people from around the world, if we are to develop the innovative capabilities that Singapore needs, and if we are to make it as a leading world city. The changes will also help us develop strength of character amongst our young, and the desire to serve others and improve society, in each new generation.”
“The new 'school achievement tables' that MOE will release later this year will, therefore, band schools instead of ranking them on their exact academic scores. Instead of showing the top 50 secondary schools ranked individually based on the average 'O' level performances of their students, they will be divided into 12 or so bands. The second change will be to provide a broader picture of schools' performance in various academic and non-academic domains. There is again strong consensus amongst parents and teachers in favour of this. Over 90% of parents favoured us doing so. The new school achievement tables will seek to provide this broader picture in a simple, digestible form. The tables will reflect schools' achievements under the existing Masterplan of Awards, which we have refined for the purpose. This will show schools that have received awards for academic value-added, sports and other areas of physical health, and in the aesthetics. They will also reflect the schools with best practices in the internal processes they have put in place to achieve those outcomes. Character development will be a new area under which schools' efforts will be recognised. We will give recognition to schools that have adopted an integrated approach to developing students in Enterprise, Citizenship and Personal and Social Lifeskills. We will, however, give emphasis to schools' processes and programmes, rather than short-term outcomes, as it is difficult to measure outcomes in character development. In recognising schools for their achievements in physical health, we will place renewed emphasis on the participation of students in sports and games, besides outstanding performance in national competitions. Mdm Cynthia Phua spoke passionately about this during the debate on MCDS yesterday.”
“We will not undermine the meritocratic nature of the Singapore education system. Dr Amy Khor, Mr Chew Heng Ching, Dr Lily Neo, have spoken on the need to refine school ranking. MOE has studied this and consulted widely amongst schools and parents. We will broaden and loosen the school ranking system. By changing the way we measure the performance of schools publicly, we hope to support schools in their efforts to deliver a holistic education to their students. MOE does not intend to do away with school ranking. It continues to serve as a useful benchmarking tool for schools to assess their performance, and allows parents and students to make informed choices. In fact, in our survey of parents, a majority of them still expected that we will continue with some system of school ranking because it provided them information that they needed. However, the ranking system, in its present form, may have led to an over-emphasis on examination performance, at the expense of other important things we want to do in education. It also has the risk of entrenching conventional teaching approaches, and inhibiting schools from exploring approaches which may help develop their students, eg, in innovation or in creative thinking, but which have no assurance of producing superior examination results. We will therefore revise the school ranking system to provide more room for schools to experiment and to offer their students a broad range of learning experiences. The new rankings cannot be too precise an exercise. There is broad consensus that it will not be advantageous to compare schools on the basis of small differences in performance. We cannot measure the things that matter in education with precision.”
“Second, for admission from 2006 onwards, in other words, end of next year, we will double the level of discretionary places available to the Independent Schools and Autonomous Schools to 20% and 10% of their Secondary 1 enrolment respectively. MOE will also provide some measure of autonomy to other mainstream secondary schools that want to develop niche programmes of their own. Schools that receive MOE approval will be allowed to admit 5% of their intake based on their own criteria. We will allow for this from 2006 as well. This broadening of autonomy to more schools will allow for more and different peaks of excellence in the school landscape, for example, in the arts or sports, besides the new specialised schools, Independent Schools and Autonomous Schools. It should be a richer landscape. We will also extend autonomy at the Junior College level. The Junior Colleges that are part of the new Integrated Programmes will, like the secondary schools in these programme, have full discretion to admit students based on their own criteria. The top five JCs will be offering the Integrated Programmes by 2005. They will have full discretion. The remaining 12 JCs will be given discretion to admit 10% of their declared capacity, outside the central posting system, from 2006. This is similar to the discretion that we will grant the Autonomous Schools at the secondary level. The changes we are taking in school admission procedures are significant, and will have to be implemented carefully. Schools will put in place processes to ensure that selection continues to be based on merit. The schools have their reputations to protect. However, MOE will, as Dr Khor has also suggested, audit the admission practices of the schools.”
“When I visited them last year, I was told by the principal that they did this in order to achieve a more diverse school environment. The diversity benefited all students and produced more rounded students in general. Starting this year, we have allowed the new Integrated Programme (IP) schools and Specialised Schools to have full discretion on admissions. NJC, for instance, which selected secondary school students this year for admission into Secondary 3 did so on the basis of a General Ability Test, PSLE scores, school-based assessments, personal essays, references from principals and teachers, CCA achievements and, finally, interviews with all shortlisted students. The NUS High School for Mathematics and Science, as I mentioned earlier, will adopt a somewhat similar framework. The next steps concern the Independent Schools (IS) and the Autonomous Schools (AS). As I have mentioned, these schools are currently able to admit their own students, outside of the central posting system, up to a cap of 10% and 5% of their respective Secondary 1 enrolments. This discretion that we provide the Independent Schools and Autonomous Schools is, however, subject to certain strict conditions. We will phase in greater autonomy for the Independent Schools and Autonomous Schools in two steps. First, for admission into Secondary 1 in 2005, in other words, at the end of this year. We will lift the existing MOE conditions on how the Independent Schools and Autonomous Schools admit their own students, while retaining the existing 10% and 5% caps. They will be free to consider students on their own admission criteria, whether on intellectual or other attributes.”
“There will be other examples of students who may not meet the school's or junior college's usual cut-off scores for admission, but whom the school feels have special talents and will strengthen the school community. This is also how the best schools abroad, in countries like the US, UK and elsewhere, select their students. These are mainly private schools, which are free to set their own entry requirements. Many have rigorous entry procedures, but are usually not focused on results in a single examination. The measures we will take in Singapore, to introduce broader and more flexible criteria for admission to certain schools, will have some similarities with these best practices abroad. But what sets us apart is that we are doing this in a publicly-funded school system, with admission open to all rather than based on the ability to pay. Our approach is to introduce greater flexibility, choice and diversity in education by providing our publicly-funded schools with greater autonomy, rather than by opening up a large private school sector that is based principally on ability to pay. That is the fundamental choice we have made. 4.45 pm Even as we allow for a few private secondary schools from next year, the publicly-funded sector will remain dominant, and very likely remain at the pinnacle of the education system. And there is no reason why our top schools cannot be amongst the best in the world. Some of the top Chinese schools, which operate within a state-funded and meritocratic national system like ours, are moving in the same direction. For example, Beijing University's Affiliated Middle School admits 30% of its students on the basis of achievement in sports and the arts.”
“It will encourage students who wish to put effort into activities they have a special interest or talent in, to take them seriously and not give them up early because they do not count for admission. MOE has, for some years now, allowed Independent Schools (IS) and Autonomous Schools (AS) to look at wider criteria when they admit a proportion of their students - up to 10% of intake in the case of the Independent Schools, and up to 5% for the Autonomous Schools. This was introduced under tightly controlled conditions, to see whether the schools could manage the process, and to enable the public to understand that admission into these top schools is still based on merit, but using wider criteria. The system has worked well, and can now be expanded. MOE has studied this carefully and sought the views of a large number of parents, teachers and ex-students of schools - over 1,200 people in all. Based on a survey we conducted earlier this year, over 90% of each of these groups felt that we should send stronger signals to students on the importance of all-round development. The vast majority supported broadening schools' admission criteria to recognise special skills and talents aside from academic scores. There are several ways in which broader and more flexible school admissions can work. A secondary school may want to select students with intellectual abilities that are not reflected in their PSLE aggregate, eg, a student with a special ability in Mathematics or Higher Mother Tongue Language (HMTL). Or it may want to attract students with other non-academic talents that it wishes to develop. Likewise, a junior college may want to select a student who has done consistently well in his school assessments, or has done outstanding community service.”