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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“Sir, our calibrated policy on employment of foreign workers and our open economy has allowed our economy to grow at a pace and scope that is envy of many countries. In 1990, 14% of our three million population were foreigners. We now have foreign workforce that make up more than a million of our close to five million people in Singapore. Undoubtedly, their contribution has helped us raised standards of living for all residents. We are dependent on them to fill many jobs for which there are shortage of Singaporeans, especially in construction and marine sectors, in manufacturing and service industries. However, we now need to manage this dependence and ensure a balance proportion of total workforce over the long term. This will enable us to provide employment opportunities for Singaporeans and allow them to develop the skills and gain experience in these sectors. A shift from being dependent on cheap labour will motivate employers to look at ways to work smarter. With the proposed increase in foreign worker levy, the construction industry will likely be the most impacted by these changes. The construction industry employs almost a quarter of a million work permit holders. Foreigners make up nearly 90% of the workforce in the industry. The levy increase is individually minimal but collectively will have direct impact on construction costs. In tandem with the proposed increases, Government programmes and schemes must also be introduced over the three years to raise skills, productivity levels to attract Singaporeans to re-enter the construction sector. If the employers react by reducing the workforce as a knee-jerk reaction, then our goal to re-skill Singaporeans will not be achieved. Can the Ministry of National Development share its strategies to address these issues?”
“In the future, if there are workers who lost their jobs, they can be given proper guidance and receive counselling on their abilities and strengths, which can be developed in those institutes. With the advanced CET structure, more workers can be helped to enter developing sectors and industries that need suitable workers and, most importantly, workers who have the required skills. Mdm Deputy Speaker, the message that I would like to convey is that our workers must open their minds to explore new jobs, and upgrade their lifelong capabilities and skills. They must continue the effort to improve themselves. Do not be shy to ask, and go to Government agencies like the Community Development Councils (CDCs) and also the e2i, if they still do not understand what they can do and get the job assistance so that they can help themselves and their families. (In English): Now it is time for us to take a step back and focus on the fundamentals, ie, our mindset, skills and values. Develop true value and real substance that will be able to sustain through thick and thin and not just superficial. I believe this can be done through skills upgrading, innovation and productivity. Though it is not going to be an easy way, we should persevere and avoid the shortcut measures. The Government can lead the way and make the difference. At the same time, Government should also help to lower the cost of doing businesses in Singapore wherever it is possible so that we can continue to grow and develop our economy. With that, I support the Budget. *Cols. 2821-2822. 6.30 pm”
“What else can we do to improve these sectors? Firstly, we need to professionalise these sectors that have very high number of casual and contract workers. This can be done through proper accreditation and improving the image of these jobs. For the training programmes, these training programmes need to be targeted for the casual and contract workers and it must be made more flexible. For example, it must be done over the weekends, in small groups, by modules, more tutorial staff for easy learning, create platform for them to learn and practise at the same time. Of course, Madam, we need to also give them some recreational and social support and make it more accessible for them to receive emotional support. To this end, I am very glad that the Government will be introducing the Workfare Training Scheme (WTS) and is also improving the WIS to assist the low-wage worker. We need to make these schemes more effective and robust to ensure that we can achieve inclusive growth – real inclusive growth. I am confident, Madam, that we can do more and urge our Government to stay focused on how to assist these workers to overcome their challenges that I have mentioned earlier. Madam, allow me to say a few words in Malay. (In Malay): [For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A *.] Mdm Deputy Speaker, I would like to encourage more workers to continue upgrading their skills and knowledge. Our economy is growing and getting vibrant, and more opportunities will emerge. It is during these times that we must take the opportunity to improve our workers’ conditions to get jobs. As mentioned by Mr Tharman, the Government will set up more training institutes to help workers upgrade their skills. I am certain that more new training and jobs will be made available.”
“They have low level of skill sets and lack English, numeracy and basic proficiency, which is an important requirement for them to acquire new knowledge and skills. We also discover that they do not have or have very low savings. Now, let me also touch on the challenges that these casual and contract workers face. They have very high inertia to change jobs. They lack confidence to move into new areas despite training. Sometimes even location of a job can be a barrier to them as travelling takes time and additional costs. Very often, you do not see the benefits of training. They tend to be myopic and have a short-term mindset. They find it tough to go for training because of shift work and employers are always unable to find manpower to replace them somehow. They are also disadvantaged by the cheap sourcing practice. They lack recreational and social activities and support. Madam, let me share some of my views on how I believe we can make a difference, a positive change to the lives of these casual and contract workers. We must continuously work hard to cause a mindset change in them and help them to acquire vocational skills that are relevant to the industry. We need to dedicate and focus a series of programmes to help them. This assistance cannot be random or ad hoc. It needs to be a sustained effort from the Government. We need to continuously advocate the importance of re-skilling, up-skilling and multi-skilling so that they can improve their lives and their productivity. We need to ensure that more employers embrace best sourcing and make training part of the company's culture and to peg rewards to performance of their workers. We have seen and heard a lot about some of the sectors that employ many casual and contract workers.”
“An example, at the Central Singapore and the South-East CDC, we have started a silver cooperative where we organise and train elderly from predominantly one- to two-room flats into work groups to undertake activities in their spare time such as quilting, packing of goodie bags and documents scanning. These folks enjoy the opportunities to work as it breaks the monotony of their days and makes them feel valued. I hope that more funds would be channelled into social initiatives such as these, to set in place a framework that can absorb the growing elderly labour force in a dignified, effective way in the years to come. Let me now touch on the vulnerable low-wage casual and contract workers. My experience in the last two years working at the unit for casual and contract workers at NTUC have been enriching and an eye-opener. Let me share with you the characteristics and the profile of low-wage workers, including the contract and casual workers. They are often lowly-educated and the majority of them have lower secondary and below in terms of formal education. For the matured workers, 50 years and above, they usually hold low paying jobs and with less than $1,000 monthly salary. They take up jobs that have low entry requirements, for example, cleaners, packers, despatch riders, hawker assistants, general workers. Unfortunately, they do not have basic statutory benefits and minimum or low medical insurance benefits. For the casual and contract workers, they are unable to enjoy incremental benefits due to short-term contracts, no annual increment, AWS, or bonus. And for family life, they are often married, with school-going children and family commitments like housing loans or elderly parents.”
“But just as there are many exemplary employers, there have been some who are also unreasonable. These include employers who are only willing to hire people aged between 20 and 30 years for jobs like cashiers, kitchen helpers, clerks and administrators, jobs which older workers have shown time and time again that they can excel at. Sir, my prediction is that today's chronically unemployed will be tomorrow's low-income elderly. Already, about 60% of the job seekers registered with the Central Singapore CDC are above 40 years of age and classified as non job-ready due to low educational attainment, unsuitable skills and with personal complications. The demographic profile of the Central Singapore District is reflective of the projected Singapore profile in 2030. So we know the challenges that face this group will only increase. At the Central Singapore CDC, we have pioneered local schemes such as the Bright Home Programmes to prevent social isolation of the low-income elderly as weak social economic background is strongly correlated to poor social networks and engagements in society. There is a limit to how much such social initiatives can do however. As we know, life expectancy will increase across all our social economic groups and this group will inevitably grow. Madam, the best way to ensure that they remain engaged in society and age in a dignified way is to ensure that they are economically active in some form or another, though not necessary in full-time employment. We thus need more resources to be channelled into bold and creative ways to ensure that there are opportunities for our elderly to be a productive labour resource.”
“One can only conclude that it is a result of employers' much-stated preference for foreign workers over locals. Do not get me wrong. I am of the view that foreign workers are vital to our economy, especially in the sectors where locals are few and hard to find, where they bring valuable skills and talent to grow our industries and where they can also transfer their expertise to our locals. But when cheap foreign labour as an immediate panacea to our labour concerns supersedes the upgrading of the skills of our workforce, it becomes a concern. So the question would be: can Singaporean employers afford to simply sit still and depend on cheap foreign labour? The answer would be that we do not have any choice but to go back to basics, that is to improve productivity. Mdm Deputy Speaker, as much as I agree that the productivity thrust is key and important but, more importantly, the commitment to including all Singaporeans in growth is also vital. We must also avoid the mentality of growth at all costs and be mindful of the income divide and its impact on the social fabric of Singapore. Unequal growth will lead to social unrest and social problems among vulnerable groups who are not able to catch up. To this end, two aspects of the Budget should be applauded, namely, the reiteration of the principle of progressive taxation and the lower middle income group is taxed less than those in the higher income group, and the second is the use of Government transfers such as WIS to ensure more equitable distribution of the fruits of growth. On top of this, it is of utmost importance that the efforts to unlock productivity are also extended to all groups, in particular, one growing marginalised group needs attention. This is the elderly and, more specifically, the low income elderly.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, thank you for allowing me to participate in the debate on the Budget speech made by the Minister for Finance. This Budget has been given many labels such as Transformation Budget, Business Budget, Clearing the House Budget, and many more. Whatever we want to call it, this Budget certainly expresses the clear intent of this Government to change the way we run the economy and the changes that it want to happen in the industries. Budget 2010 was crafted with a strong sense of realism and the key words that rang aloud in my mind are productivity, innovation and inclusiveness. Nevertheless, Sir, this Budget only marks the beginning of a long journey – a 10-year journey, if I am not mistaken – we all need to undertake individually and as a nation. Let me take this opportunity to highlight three points of concern that I hope to share, namely, the issue of productivity, benefits of growth for all Singaporeans and the issue of low-wage and casual contract workers. Madam, to employers in Singapore, I say the growth and the success of your businesses and companies are crucial. It means more, the continuation of all you have worked hard to achieve for in your hands is the livelihood of thousands of Singaporeans. However, allow me to point out that for us to be a more competitive economy, productivity must be improved. Unfortunately, this is not the case in the last 10 years. It is distressing to see that despite the millions of dollars poured into Singapore's education and the CET infrastructure which translates into millions of dollars to prepare our workers for the industries, workers which are highly skilled, an up-to-date workforce, Singapore's productivity has plateaued and even declined.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you very much. If ever anything that we have learnt from the financial crisis was that free market sometimes, do not work. Just like to ask whether MDA has considered a regulated monopoly for such a small market for distribution and maybe, operating on a cost-plus basis? Secondly, I would like to ask whether the issues on the exclusive right actually impede the real free market we are looking for, because in actual fact, we are only guided by one service provider – when we want to buy a product, the product cannot be given by other service providers. RAdm [NS] Lui Tuck Yew : The MDA is looking at a range of options and we will take time to study these carefully.”
“Supplementary question, Sir. I just would like to know when the $30,000 cap was decided and if it is still relevant in this current time?”
“Supplementary question, Sir. May I know what HDB did with the 1,260 flats after repossession, please?”
“Supplementary questions, Sir. First, I would like to ask the Minister of State whether she has any data to show the development of the remuneration package for professionals in the childcare industry. Has this remuneration package improved a lot over the years? Is it satisfactory? Are we able to attract talent into this industry? I am happy that the Minister of State is asking centres to refrain from increasing fees but if we are attracting talent into this industry, I am not so sure whether it can be sustainable to keep fees low.”
“The Private Education Bill cannot make PEIs treat their workers better. The philosophy has to be adopted full-heartedly by the organisation in order for them to tap the full potential of their workers for the benefit of the individual company and the industry. A lot of attention was drawn to the plight of the students, which I think is right, but a lot of workers that are also left stranded when companies misbehave. Naturally, the unions will assist members if they are affected. If the companies in the industries do not come together to embrace fair employment, then the talent will naturally shy away and go into other industries where they can get better treatment and benefits. At the end of the day, the private education sector will also suffer. I do not know how much damage has been inflicted on our reputation, but I sense that parents overseas would be wary to send their children to study in PEIs now. Let us all work together to improve the situation. For the PEIs, their zeal for recruitment of students must be equally matched with good management of the schools and the quality of the teaching. Then we would all have a better report card for Singapore. Sir, in conclusion, I am confident that this Bill will now open a new chapter in our quest to be an education hub, as all parents and adult learners will be watching how PEIs perform hereafter. Sir, I support the Bill. 5.00 pm”
“In addition, most PEIs requested for greater details on the mechanics of the audit system to be provided, as they expect to take some time for the preparation. Another point, Sir, is that EduTrust will be stipulated by the Immigration and Customs Authority (ICA) as one of the pre-requisites for the issuance of student passes to foreign students enrolled with PEIs. Thus, the importance of regular and thorough audit to be conducted to ensure PEIs who have fallen short of standards will be penalised accordingly. There were past instances of CaseTrust-certified PEIs whose standards might have dropped but were not discovered due to a lack of external audits. These PEIs could continue getting foreign students, as the relevant agencies did not communicate regularly on such matters. So the communication channels between agencies of concern is very important. When standards are found to be wanting, all agencies concerned must be alerted, so that the effectiveness of the system will be even better than what we have seen in the past. Sir, as an overall effort to further improve the private education sector, I believe that we need to also go beyond the Private Education Bill. There must be concerted and strategic plans to maintain quality and standards. I would like to ask whether there is a possibility to implement more specific guidelines on academic quality assurance process and procedures in respect of areas such as course review periods, assessment methods, grading scales, and so on. And also there could be the implementation of minimum standards for contact hours for programmes and entry requirements. A benchmark could be established across the industry. One more point that could be considered is the effort to promote fair employment in the private education sector.”
“And sometimes we hear of complaints that the teachers merely regurgitate from textbooks and read them aloud. The students would then be better off studying in their own homes rather than attend private classes. I hope we will see an improvement in the quality of the trainers with the new Bill. Like many, Sir, we all hope that the new regulation framework will also incentivise PEIs to upgrade and set higher standards through EduTrust certification. PEIs will be graded and differentiated into three tiers of excellence. Potential students will be able to make informed decisions on the choice of school. We could also give some form of star ratings for the schools on the basis of the lecturers, the administration and the reputation of the institutions collaborating with them. Sir, we also heard feedback and concerns about the Bill from the operators. The PEIs highlighted that there could be an increase in costs, as the implementation of the Bill will result in costs to be passed on to the students. Concern was raised that higher costs would reduce Singapore's attractiveness to international students as compared to countries, such as our neighbour. PEIs also requested for clarification on which authority they ought to approach when applying for exemptions or waivers. Thus, if we want to be a reputable regional education hub, we need to strike a balance and remain competitive while guaranteeing quality education in Singapore. It was also noted that a large volume of information was required to be prepared for the registration and application for EduTrust certification. Preparation is expected to be a tedious process for most PEIs.”
“Sir, we have, over the past years, been attempting to build up our reputation as an education hub for the world. Unfortunately, our attempts have, time and again, been thwarted by unscrupulous business operators who choose to make a fast buck out of the students all in the name of private education. We could have been more proactive in our response, as we all know that with reputation, it takes just five minutes to ruin what takes years to build. [Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Matthias Yao Chih) in the Chair] 4.54 pm Hence, the Ministry of Education's introduction of the Private Education Bill and the new voluntary quality qualification scheme, EduTrust, are things we should have introduced when we began to embark on our plans to become an education hub under our vision of Singapore as a "Global Schoolhouse". Allow me, Sir, to raise some concerns and also suggestions on how we could make the overall framework for the Bill more effective. I am confident that this Bill will raise standards of PEIs and safeguard Singapore's education brand and reputation. Specifically, there should be a greater focus on academic process and quality assurance, such as more stringent record keeping, the setting up of academic and examination boards to ensure quality of teaching, and periodic external audits to promote compliance. I am happy to hear from the Senior Minister of State that the Bill will also safeguard the interests and welfare of local and international students. PEIs have to upkeep standards with the mandatory registration framework that calls for registration renewals at regular intervals. Teachers must be able to deliver the lessons in a manner to enable the students to learn and absorb the facts.”
“Sir, what I mean is that in the last 50 years, we have built our nation and we have also achieved what is in the Pledge. But, moving forward, there will always be challenges. That is what I mean by "achieving the tenets as enshrined in the National Pledge".”
“Similarly, in singing the National Anthem, I cannot but be satisfied that it was composed by the late Mr Zubir Said, also a member of a minority race. Our National Flag was designed by a Committee headed by the former Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Toh Chin Chye. And it was Sir George Oehlers who was the first Speaker of Singapore's Legislative Assembly in 1963. These events alone show that justice, equality and meritocracy were principles that we have infused into our system from the days of our gaining self-government. Sir, as a multi-racial and multi-religious country, we will face undercurrents and challenges from time to time. We can certainly be proud of how far we have come, but we must never relent on working towards strengthening our ties. While there are many initiatives by the Government, community and religious organisations to promote harmony, it is strong connections among the people at a personal level that will keep the wheels of harmony turning. The extent of harmony we will achieve in the next 50 years will depend on the extent in which we are willing to respect, understand and appreciate our differences. It is our personal responsibility to ensure diversity continues to be the greatest asset of this country. And looking forward to the future, it is for us to build a country and a nation that is going to surprise our next generation like the way our forefathers have done. Nobody expected us to arrive and build this country as it is today. Similarly, in 50 years' time, the foundations that we have built will allow for another surprising outcome for Singapore in the future. Sir, with that, I beg to move.”
“Community Engagement Workshops are conducted for Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles to sharpen their knowledge and nuances in handling racially charged issues. At the OnePeople.sg portal, resources are also available to raise the depth of our community level efforts in the promotion of racial and religious harmony. Sir, the People's Association (PA), over the years, has also developed strong community bonding initiatives at the grassroots levels as well as a vibrant PA youth movement to engage young people to take an interest in community issues. PA has also successfully developed grassroots circles to engage new citizens. In addition, the Community Development Councils also play a crucial role in community development in strengthening harmony and integration by building community networks at the local district levels through far-reaching initiatives. While there have been much efforts to grow the harmony we have in our beloved country, we have still not arrived. Minister Mentor, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, shared his thoughts on harmony recently. His remarks that we are very much a "nation in transition" invoke the reality that faces our nation. Racial and religious harmony, as an important part of our nation building, will always be work in progress. One of my proudest moments when I am walking around the housing estates is to watch the children from different races playing together, holding hands, dancing and laughing. I always remember the times when I took the National Pledge as a school boy, standing shoulder to shoulder with my other non-Malay school mates. The National Pledge makes it even more meaningful, because it was penned by our late Minister S. Rajaratnam, a member of a minority race.”
“We need to find new platforms to demonstrate that the values of multi-culturalism and racial harmony can and must coexist with the commitment to meritocracy. Civic movements in Singapore are too often carried forth by our seniors. We need more of our youths to step forward and champion the cause. Perhaps the way to go is to connect with our youths in their own style and lingo, through mediums which best reach out to them, be it Facebook, blogs or YouTube – it is what makes them tick that will work. As future flag bearers of this country, they will determine the destiny of Singapore. It is thus vital for us to imbibe values of harmony in our young as early as it is possible. Sir, there is only so much that the Government can do. And also that there is so much that we, the hon. Members in this Chamber, can do to promote racial harmony, compared to the collective efforts of more than three million Singaporeans. We can start the rhythm but, ultimately, for the sound to travel across the communities, it must come from the people beating the drums. There is no shortage of community efforts to address these challenges. OnePeople.sg, which champions racial harmony initiatives in Singapore, has developed programmes to foster harmony among our youths, community and religious leaders and the wider community as a whole. This is done through workshops, camps and conferences for our youths to engage deeper on issues relating to inter-racial understanding and appreciation. Inter-faith learning journeys and inter-faith dialogues in partnership with the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) are organised for religious leaders to understand the practices and beliefs of different faiths.”
“We face critical challenges to racial harmony and social stability in our country. These challenges, if not addressed, would lead to the undoing of the precious harmony that we have carefully built over 40 years. Globalisation has connected us all together more closely than ever before. All over the world, people of different backgrounds now live and work together in mixed societies. We face new challenges as we welcome foreign talents and new citizens to our country. Apart from the knowledge and skills, they bring to our country new cultures, traditions and perspectives. The recent Straits Times Forum page articles on the issues of integration with our new citizens are a clear indication that we have some way to go in dealing with these current challenges. Eventually, the level of integration boils down to the depth of interaction with our fellow citizens, and equally for us to understand our bearings as Singaporeans. If we do not grow this common space, then sadly we would be back to where we started 50 years ago. Just as we did in the past, we must allow room for diversity and talent to thrive if we are to progress as a nation. We must be gracious enough to share our experiences and trade our cultures. Likewise, new citizens would also need to reciprocate and understand the Singaporean way of life and values. It is this spirit of give and take that would allow every section in the society to work together as partners for a common cause – to build an equal and harmonious society. The other challenge that we face in our quest for racial harmony is the engagement of our younger generations, who have never experienced the horrific consequences of racial strife.”
“It was to recognise the need to ensure that the minority voices were heard and represented in the highest policy-making body that this amendment was made. This is an example relevant to our maintenance of race and religious harmony, and meritocracy. Another is our education policy on selection of candidates for scholarships, admission to schools and universities. We have also encouraged our people to mix freely. We have incorporated racial integration explicitly into our public housing policy. While we may not have many close friends from other races, we will not be strangers to their practices and traditions. This willingness of our people to embrace the diversity of ethnicities and religions continues to be passed on from generation to generation. This is also something that we have come to accept and treasure in Singapore, in order to keep our small, multi-cultural society cohesive and harmonious. Sir, as our population grows and our country progresses, we must be mindful that the social environment has also moved. We are a global city. We trade with the world and we communicate with the world. We can read and watch events in our living rooms as they unfold anywhere in the world. As the Prime Minister has said in his National Day Rally speech, there is also a growing religiosity among the various groups. Religious fanaticism and the spread of militancy among some quarters elsewhere can spark off incidents in our community if we are not careful. After all, the fault lines are there – we cannot deny that – like crevices in a wall, where external water can seep in. Singapore's demographic landscape is changing as we continue to progress. Higher population density can easily create tension.”
“Sir, I beg to move, "That we delete the words in line one, after the word "house" to the end, and there insert: "acknowledges the progress that Singapore has made in the 50 years since it attained self-government in 1959, in nation building and achieving the tenets as enshrined in the National Pledge, and reaffirms its commitment towards achieving the goals and ideals of our Pledge when debating national policies." Sir, while I thank Mr Viswa Sadasivan and Mr Michael Palmer for moving the original motion, I must say that the motion does not do justice to what those present here and those before us have been working on all these years. The original motion overlooks the progress and the very exemplary manner in which we have delivered all our policies even handedly on the basis of justice, equality and meritocracy. I see no reason why we should only emphasise the principles of meritocracy, justice and equality in economic policies. Rather, in the last 50 years, we have achieved so much in our nation building that we are often cited as an example of a good government that has brought prosperity and progress for its people through its multi-racial policies. It is my submission that all the key policies, whether economic, social, security or political, must be grounded in these common values of meritocracy, justice and equality. Take the case of the Health Ministry and its introduction of the Advanced Medical Directive Act, which was passed in 1996. This policy was widely discussed and debated, and religious groups were consulted to take into account the sensitivities of the teachings of the different religions. The other example is the introduction of Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) in 1998 to amend the Parliamentary Elections Act.”
“Yes, Sir. May I request the Clerk of Parliament to distribute to hon. Members a copy of the proposed amendment to the motion? [Copies of amendment distributed to hon. Members.]”
“The Government is so concerned that the voice of the workers would not be heard in its policy deliberations that the NTUC Secretary-General is made a Cabinet Minister. Again, so concerned is this Government for the elderly and aged sick that a Minister is assigned full time to take care of policies on the aged. We spend so many hours in this House explaining policies on healthcare, housing, transport to barrier-free environment because we care for the people. This is one Government whose heart throb is one with its people. This is one Government which does not take its people for granted. At the end of every term, it stands before the people to be judged by them. The policies have worked. The people across all races know this. These policies benefit everyone, everywhere, everyday. Therefore, in this motion before the House, while it offers us the opportunity to discuss the issue of nation building, I think we can do better. With that, Sir, I would like to propose an amendment to the motion on Nation Building Tenets.”
“We cannot afford a repeat of the panic and irrational fear that led to segregation of the races after the two riots of 1964. Houses and buildings can be rebuilt in a flash, but trust and harmony take generations to restore. Peace and harmony did not happen today by chance. Our leaders made that one decision never to allow these events to happen again. Yes, we cannot erase race and religion from society. Indeed, race and religion run so deep in our lives that it is unthinkable to try and remove them. It is like the East and the West, and never the twain shall meet. But that does not mean we cannot get them to communicate and to maintain harmony. So, our leaders created a new set of values that could be commonly accepted by the different communities – the principles of meritocracy, justice and equality. What has been the outcome? Where there were squatters and swamps, we turned them into housing estates and playgrounds. Where there were sorrows and sufferings, we brought happiness, comfort and relief. We gave jobs to the people, we trained the untrained so that they could get reemployed. We helped the poor not through the outright handouts, but through a deliberate policy to give them the tools to enable them to break out of the snares of poverty. Education is compulsory and dote on each child through their school years to ensure that by the time they leave, they are equipped, if not academically, then technically. Not one is disadvantaged because of his or her race or religion. You name the professions, be it medical, legal, accounting, engineering, banking, and they are all there – Chinese, Indians, Tamils, Malays, Eurasians and more. Speaking from my experience with NTUC, we see tripartism between labour, management and Government working at its best.”
“Many would not even know that 34 people were killed and 563 injured in two outbreaks of racial riots in 1964. But Singaporeans of that era, shocked by the horror of those riots, have resolved from then on never to take racial harmony for granted. Singapore, in the 50s and early 60s, was not too much different from the preceding century, where identity was concerned. Singapore had developed and thrived since our founding as a motley mix of immigrants, united by the necessary business of making a living. A sense of community and common destiny was gathering momentum, however, forged by the experience of the war years. At the heart of the challenge to turn Singapore into a functioning state was the handling of our racial relations. It is no understatement to say that our efforts at instilling racial harmony are primarily responsible for the tremendous economic success and political stability we enjoyed in the last five decades. Since the early days of our nationhood, we have worked hard at maintaining peace and stability for our country. But maintaining racial harmony is a long journey, and we would be foolish to assume that we have arrived. We only have to look at the ill-fated first steps of our journey as a nation to realise how fragile race relations can be. The lessons of the racial riots in the 1960s remain an indelible part of our history. Everyone whose lives were touched by the riots understood how we all lost when racial differences spilled over into actual conflict. Lives were lost, work slowed down, there were food shortages, hawkers could not conduct their business, and children could not go to school. It was a setback for all of us, and generations after have remained convinced that we cannot afford to ever bring ourselves down that road again.”
“" Yesterday, as I sat in this Chamber and listened to Mr Viswa Sadasivan, this was the picture that was painted: – we are more an "Inc" than a "nation", more concerned about the bottomlines and KPIs; – we lack freedom of expression, as Singaporeans live in a "climate of fear"; – we are a society confused by the mixed signals; – this is a country that takes its "citizens for granted"; – the Government lacks accountability to its people, and he said, "accountability requires the Government to go beyond lip-service ...". He also mentioned that we do not care enough for our old and needy; and we lack justice and fairness, and to quote him, "When justice, especially in the way it is meted out, deviates significantly from the common man's sense of fairness, questions of legitimacy arise." To be honest, Sir, I was worried. I ask myself – is this really what Singapore is today? Is that what we have become after 50 years of nation building? Mr Speaker, Sir, I think and I feel that this is not what Singapore is today. We have built and done much more for our country. Let us not be too harsh on ourselves. Allow me, Sir, to cite some of the good work our forefathers, leaders and citizens have done that resulted in this country that we are enjoying today. Racial and religious harmony was not a natural instinct when we attained self-government 50 years ago. The multi-racial and multi-religious profile of our country posed a big challenge for the government of the day as there were potential community fault lines that could scuttle the good work that needed to be done. The harmony that we have today was made possible through the will and determination of our founding fathers.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, allow me to recite the Pledge: "We, the citizens of Singapore, pledge ourselves as one united people, regardless of race, language or religion, to build a democratic society based on justice and equality so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation." Sir, upon closer scrutiny of the Pledge, I realised that the Pledge only comprises three sentences. Because in those three, albeit long, sentences is captured the essence of how we should live our lives as Singaporeans, and what we want for Singapore. It is somewhat like a Vision Statement. To me, Sir, the most poignant statement is the line, "regardless of race, language or religion, to build a democratic society based on justice and equality". Each time I read this line, I feel a sense of purpose and pride as a Singaporean. This is the heart of the Pledge. It is the one organ that is responsible for supplying the body with oxygenated blood. Each time the heart beats, it applies just the right pressure on the veins and arteries for the blood supply throughout our body. Hence, this statement in the Pledge is the key element that underpins our belief in the plurality of our nation. This year, we celebrate 50 years of self-government. It is worthwhile for us in this House to reflect honestly on what we have attained. As this year's national song title asked us, "What do you see?", and I also would like to ask this House, "What kind of Singapore have we built?”
“We must also be more welcoming to our foreign friends, Permanent Residents and new citizens. They are not here to steal our jobs but, instead, to make an honest living and contribute back to Singapore. We should also, Sir, smile more, be gracious, I think we are too serious sometimes. We could all use some uplifting during these difficult times. I know that some workers may have to experience temporary layoff, but we could always look at the positive angle, those mandatory unpaid leave or temporary layoff, could be a blessing in disguise to spend more time with your family and friends and reconnect. In conclusion, Sir, I would like to thank the President for his speech. He spoke about maintaining our economic competitiveness; strengthen social cohesion, focus on the importance of education, amongst others. It is now every Singaporean's duty – in your capacity as husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, workers and employers, leaders of organisations – to figure out exactly how we as individuals can help to build Singapore's future in an uncertain world, as that the next decade become not a lost one because Singapore, as a country, is always looking forward to work harder and to achieve even more in the next decade.”
“To this extent, we have endeavoured to work with industry partners to look into areas such as raising professionalism; improving image and pay issues; and gaining greater public recognition of pre-school teachers' work. This would complement the nation's effort in raising standards and help attract and retain entrants into the sector. At the same time, a workgroup comprising of representatives from ESU, MCYS, MOE, WDA, e2i and other industry players was formed recently to look into the issues that I have mentioned earlier. The workgroup's immediate priority is to raise the profile of the sector to encourage new entrants such as PMETs who were out-placed to enter the sector. We believe, Sir, that with better qualifications, the teachers' value adds to the sector and, in turn, parents do not feel short-changed when centres raise fees to cover the increase in teachers' salaries in the future. I would like to call for greater support from the Government to raise the profile of the pre-school sector and for more recognition of the contribution of the pre-school teachers and that all stakeholders view and treasure them as Pre-school Professional. Competition amongst different interests for limited resources will be brought more starkly into relief during difficult times. We must prevent stresses on our social fabric by appreciating one another more during these times. We must learn to accept, even embrace, our differences – be they national, race, religious, or upbringing – as they make Singapore a unique multi-cultural society. By all means, hold on to our beliefs and our views, but respect the fact that not everyone or everybody will share them. We must learn to agree to disagree.”
“Teachers were concerned, with the rising minimum qualifications for teachers set by MCYS and MOE. I can understand this because the experienced teachers without the necessary paper qualifications might be forced to leave. Others are genuinely concerned that the term that we continually use, "Childcare Centres", could undermine their role as teachers. Teachers were also concerned that the public, including parents, still perceived them as "nannies" and parents still might not view pre-school as being essential to a child's educational development. They hoped for more to be done to raise awareness of the sectors and the professional status of the pre-school teachers. On the other hand, Sir, operators were very concerned with the shortage in supply of qualified teachers. Despite increasing student intake in Early Childhood Diploma courses, the sector still sees higher attrition rate. Many cited low recognition and low pay being the main reason for leaving. In addition, existing teachers without the new minimum qualifications would drop out if bridging courses are not introduced quickly. With 200 new centres targeted and estimated 2,000 job openings in childcare sector over the next five years, the sector can expect to see an acute shortage of qualified teachers in the short run. Operators also shared the same concern as teachers with respect to the lack of public awareness of the importance of pre-school education although a child would transit from pre-school to a primary school. Pre-school teachers are as important, if not more important in the preparatory stage of a formal education compared to primary school teachers.”
“Today, while there are "Many Helping Hands", we hope they come forward to be more coordinated in working with the CDC so that we minimise duplication and maximise use of our resources. Fourthly, Sir, I believe we need to promote more social innovation and entrepreneurship. Fuse commercial goals with social mission so that serving social needs becomes self-sustaining over the long run. The US is leading the way. There are some social entrepreneurs here, but Singapore is still in a very fledgling phase. More could be done to help social entrepreneurs fulfil their mission in Singapore. Mr Speaker, Sir, though I am elated by the recent announcement of more tertiary institutions for Singaporeans, I am hoping for more to be done in the pre-school sector. The early childhood sector has seen many new developments in the recent months. These initiatives, introduced by MCYS and MOE, seek to raise the standards of the early childhood sector and enhance the accessibility and affordability of early childhood education in Singapore. Sir, now I would like to declare my position as the Executive Secretary of the Education Services Union (ESU), an NTUC-affiliated union that represents private education industry employees. This also includes the pre-school sector. We welcome the new initiatives rolled out by the Government which would upgrade the quality of pre-school education and enhance professional status of our members of the sector. However, Sir, industry stakeholders have also raised concerns which might not be addressed in a holistic manner with the roll out of these new initiatives. Over the past few months, I had the opportunity to engage extensively with two groups of key stakeholders – pre-school teachers and operators.”
“At the CDC, we have begun to see the signs of the needy seeking help increased by about 40%, from 800 on the average per month in 2008 to about 1,100 per month average in 2009. Fortunately, help is available. Last year alone, Central Singapore CDC spent more than $17.6 million through national and local schemes helping some 12,000 low-income households and this in partner with the VWOs and also the social services organisations on the ground. But, Sir, continuing welfare cannot be the only answer. It is only a short-term solution. Again, we must re-visit the fundamentals: Firstly, education. I applaud the move by Ministry of Education (MOE) to increase the amount of Edusave per child. I believe that, given the tightest squeeze on national resources, spending on education remains sacrosanct. Secondly, we have to look at sustainability. We have seen from other countries' examples that a cradle-to-grave welfare system, of which the state is the main provider, is unsustainable. But how do we have a balance, with the growing need for assistance to low-income families who are stuck in a poverty cycle? Sir, in my view, community self-help must be the cornerstone of our framework of help for the community. We could recall, back in colonial days, when there were none or minimal help from the Government, clans, associations and religious groups filled the gap for help. Today, I hope that privileged individuals, successful businesses and foundations continue to come forward to lend a helping hand. Thirdly, Sir, we need better coordination of deployment of resources. There need to be a more concerted effort and we need to co-opt community self-help into the larger national network of social assistance. The CDC's ComCare Local Networks (CLN) have been doing so since 2007.”
“We must support genuine companies who invest in improving their operations and productivity through mechanisation to raise the productivity of workers; train their workers to increase their efficiency and, most importantly, adhere to the employment legislation and treat the workers well. Sir, we have also engaged companies who are good employers and who have embraced and practised the Tripartite Advisory on Responsible Outsourcing. We could tell that their workers are generally happier and they can see career progression with their employers. The company is able to provide value-added services to their service providers who are willing to pay for good service. Their relationship with the service buyer is "win-win" and both can see long-term mutual benefits in their relationship. Though we know that such problems will continue to exist, as they say there will always be some rotten eggs, we do hope that the rest of us can do our part and be more involved when it comes to helping our fellow workers to earn a decent living for themselves and for their families. Mr Speaker, Sir, in the grave scenario of a lost decade, resources are tight and the social safety net will become ever more strained. But more than ever, greater numbers of people will need help. It will become tempting to walk down the path of a welfare state and I am telling you this is a true pressure. Historically, key social welfare systems that defined welfare states were created in the aftermath of difficult times. The British welfare state, embodied by the National Healthcare System (NHS) was created after World War II. The US Social Security Act was part of Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal in response to the Great Depression.”
“Thirdly, many contract specifications do not include requirements such as requiring service providers to provide written employment contract to workers, stating working hours, salary and benefits besides the normal performance standards. Workers also do not know their terms of employment. We have seen workers' salaries remaining stagnant for many years. This is exacerbated, Sir, by the complete lack of audit or assessment on the performance of the service providers once the contract is awarded, for example, check on whether there is a written employment contract for their workers and their working hours. Basic questions that could be asked by service buyers are: why is a particular worker working seven days per week without rest? Or why workers are not given annual leave or sick leave? Fortunately, Sir, though these things are still happening, moving forward, we believe that all is not lost. There are ways that the situation can be improved. All relevant parties that are involved in the outsourcing phenomena must play their part and not use legalistic position to excuse themselves of their responsibilities. We feel that service buyers can help to put a stop and weed out the service providers and contractors who have been recalcitrant. Work with those with established track records because this is more sustainable and beneficial for the company in the long run. Check their background thoroughly as some of them can set up a new company under a different name. It is easy to register as a sole-proprietor and run a labour supplier business with low capital outlay.”
“On behalf of the contract and casual workers, I would like to call upon the service buyers to be more vigilant and involved when they outsource their contracts. Recently, it was reported on 14th May that seven employers were charged for employment violations, which included unauthorised salary reductions, excessive working hours and failure to provide statutory employment benefits. Besides these seven, another 17 were also charged for similar offences earlier and are awaiting for court mentions. Some of them will only pay up after multiple interventions by the authorities. During our interactions with workers, we do come across bad practices of employers. Often, the workers earn low wages and are lowly educated. They do not know their rights and are afraid to come forward for fear of losing their jobs. In this economic climate, contract workers are also hit. We are aware that companies may not see the need to renew their contracts due to low business volume. Companies are also impacted by the downturn and some have resorted to cheap sourcing as part of their cost-cutting measures. There are many reasons why workers are short-changed. Allow me to list some of these reasons for Members' benefit: Firstly, service providers could be in financial difficulties and may lack operating funds. Some of them have too many contracts on hand and cannot deliver quality service. They get penalised for poor performance regularly and are unable to pay up those liquidated damages. Secondly, contracts are awarded based on the cheapest quote, and the easiest to cut cost is, of course, salaries and benefits of workers or requesting workers to work excessive hours.”
“Ironically, the only way to combat the "Grave New World" situation is to be even more optimistic and positive. Mindset will determine whether one lands that job or not. Stay positive. Be willing to take work beyond your scope and be proactive in the search. Allow me, Sir, to share real-life example: Mr Sng Kok Tong, 40 years old, had worked as a futures trader for 16 years and was previously earning more than $5,000. He even brushed shoulders with famed rogue trader, Nick Leeson, who brought down the Barings Bank. Recently, at a job fair held by the CDC in March for precision and transport engineering, Mr Sng was looking for a job as a welder and a crane-driver. The father of two said: "I started from zero. There is nothing wrong with starting from zero again. I'm prepared to retrain and work shifts and weekends for my family." Sir, I hope more will learn from his admirable example. Mr Speaker, Sir, while workers must continue upgrading and re-skilling, companies must improve productivity by investing in capital and technology to leverage on the higher skills of our workers. In the last decade or so, we have seen the outsourcing practice becoming a common mode of operation for companies. Most gave cutting costs as their reason, others claimed those activities are not their core business. Whatever it may be, as a result, many workers now end up working for contractors who are providing services that range from manufacturing, cleaning, landscaping, security, etc. The number of contract and casual workers in Singapore has grown to more than 180,000 and it is still growing. Unfortunately, Sir, all is not well for this group of workers.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, pundits are talking about the possibility of a lost decade that is a result of a long drawn-out financial crisis, out of which a "Grave New World" could emerge. Today, the collective sense is that we are only at the beginning of a long road we all need to undertake as a nation. The President's key message is this is not a time to panic or resort to short-term protectionist measures, but rather to focus our energies on what has allowed Singapore to succeed globally, and let us better our competitive advantages. I could not agree more. During the Budget debate earlier this year, I had said that we should use this financial crisis as an opportunity to review and re-look at the way we do things. After the excesses of the global financial industry over the past 10 years – that feeling of invincibility that proved fatal – let us re-focus on the basics and strengthen our fundamentals. The crux of our strong foundation as a nation has always been, and will always be, the strength of our people – the strength of their skills – their mentality, and their will to combat challenges. On top of that we are fortunate to have strong leadership and institutions like NTUC and the CDC at the forefront in helping our workers to re-skill and upgrade them to ensure continued employability, and put retrenched workers back into employment. Since the beginning of this year, at the CDC, we have seen the number of people seeking jobs doubled compared to last year: from an average of 400 per month last year to about 800 per month this year. The good news is that despite the downturn, there are jobs. But we are all overly challenged and have to be more prepared to work harder, because for every 50 jobs available, there are some 100 job seekers.”
“Sir, if, by chance, there is no plan for development at the Alexandra Hospital, will the Ministry consider to hold back and still have the extra beds at Alexandra and Khoo Teck Puat Hospitals?”
“As we become more integrated with the global economy, we should be cognisant that both our security and economic well-being will become even more susceptible to any instability in our external environment. In these uncertain times, may I ask the Minister how do we ensure peace and stability in our region? We must acknowledge that regional security and stability is best served by having an open and inclusive security architecture that comprises strong bilateral relationships and multi-lateral arrangements, especially with the strong and emerging powers. What is the status of our bilateral relationships with these powers? Have we done enough to strengthen and deepen these bilateral ties with them? Are there plans to open new areas of cooperation apart from exchanges of visits? Sir, how do we balance these relationships with the new emerging powers vis-a-vis the existing big powers? Closer to home, Sir, what about our closest neighbours? Have we made enough and much improvement in defence cooperation in our relationship with our neighbours like Malaysia and Indonesia? Sir, like my parliamentary colleagues, I am also concerned about the progress and development of our defence system. With respect to this, I would also like to enquire on SAF's 3rd Generation transformation journey and operational readiness. How do we compare to our regional neighbours in terms of defence resources and capability? Regional Security and Operational Readiness”
“Sir, in his keynote speech at the 6th Asia Security Summit last year, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called on Asian countries to continue to work together and strengthen their framework of cooperation. He stated, "One challenge for Asia is to develop the right framework for regional cooperation, within which countries can deepen cooperation, discuss sensitive issues and contain and manage frictions so as to ensure a stable environment in Asia for the benefit of all." Sir, the economic crisis will see the creation of a new world order not only in the financial market. More than that, the crisis and the resulting disarray may prompt militant and terrorist groups to regroup and create havoc in some countries. This is where countries must establish not only good diplomatic relations, but also build up a networking and trust between their military forces so that they can present a united front against such groups. While the overall regional security outlook for the Asia-Pacific remains largely positive, many uncertainties remain. With growing economic cooperation and traction towards integrated markets in Asia, a framework of regional cooperation appears to be emerging. However, Sir, major challenges, like terrorism, maritime security, competing boundary claims and growing competition for scarce resources, will still need to be carefully managed. We are all aware of the damage done by the pirate attacks in the waters of Somalia, and the potential risk of these incidents in our surrounding waters. Sir, our nation's peace and prosperity are inevitably linked to the region's stability.”
“Two points of clarification, Madam. I was very happy when Minister was talking about the growth of the pre-school sector. I just wanted to ask whether there is still this issue of parents seeing the pre-school sector and the childcare as nannies; and neglecting the fact that the important work in educating our young and laying the foundations of their learning and social skills. So, I believe, more should be done to educate the public of the importance of early childhood education and the work done by pre-school teachers. So, this will give the right recognition to teachers as well help to attract more entrants into the industry. The other point I would also like to ask: the Ministry has put in a lot of resources for the Baby Bonus and the CDA funds. But I suspect that a lot of parents do not understand that these CDA funds could be used for the childcare and the pre-school education. The aim of the Baby Bonus is to help parents cope with the different costs of having a child. These also include the early childhood education which allows the children to develop important knowledge and skills as a child. So, parents should also be educated to know how they can help their children by using that money that is provided under the baby bonus towards funding a suitable kindergarten and childcare centre. So, may I have inputs from Minister, please?”
“Young Malay/Muslims who aspire to be one such scholar would need to receive religious education in a conducive environment that is relevant to Singapore. So may I ask how we would be able to measure the positive impacts and value-added of the additional resources that go to the JMS? Madrasah Education”
“Madam, last year, in spite of increasing living costs, the Malay/Muslim community generously supports the change to AMLA in 2008 to increase contributions to the MBMF. First, it is important that we ensure the funds are well spent and that our Malay/Muslim community will benefit from the additional contribution and expenditure. I wish to enquire about the progress of the implementation of the revised MBMF. Some of these funds are scheduled to be allocated for the renovation and rebuilding of various old mosques. May I ask the Minister, what are the criteria of selection for the mosque that would be earmarked for this initiative? How is the Ministry strategising to allocate this fund for the various aspects of revamping work? What is the estimated amounts of funds which would be required for the next five to 10 years to renovate and rebuild these mosques? Madam, our country's mainstream education is often undergoing changes, transformation and upgrading in the last few years. This is beneficial and useful for the future of Singapore. Similarly, I also believe that we have to continue to upgrade and improve the joint Madrasah system which provides a strong foundation in religious education for Malay/Muslim students. A proper and quality religious education can assist our younger generation in contextualizing their religious knowledge and provide relevant guidance for Malay/Muslims living and working in a multi-racial and multi-religious modern city such as Singapore. Furthermore, Madam, the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore should aspire to develop our own group of Islamic scholars and thinkers who have a proper understanding of Singapore. We cannot always depend on foreign religious scholars for our needs.”
“Sir, may I have clarification from the Minister on two points? Has means testing brought any behavioural change in the way Singaporeans spend on healthcare and do we have any study on the impact of means testing? Second point is, we have seen low-wage workers sometimes attending private clinics or co-op clinics because these are the clinics they could get benefits like the subsidies provided by their employer or NGOs. I would like to know whether they would be penalised by considering them as A Class patients just because they attend private clinics outside as outpatients. Could the Minister clarify, please?”
“Sir, cadaveric organ donation is an emotional issue. And for Muslims, we must also recognise the religious sensitivity attached to organ donation. I empathise with those who are involved in handling cadaveric organ donations. Their task is a difficult and delicate one. Sir, the passing of a loved one is always heart-wrenching and an emotional and stressful affair for the next-of-kin. Yet, we must not avoid confronting difficult questions because the benefits of organ transplant are obvious. For some, getting a timely transplant makes the difference between life and death, or between prolonged suffering and hope for a better quality of life. Sir, with that, I would like to ask the Minister to revisit the issue of cadaveric organ donation and see how the system can be further improved. To begin, Sir, perhaps the Minister could advise this House how many Malay/Muslim patients have benefitted since the introduction and the Amendment of the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA). In line with religious obligations, we will also need to arrange for the prompt recovery of the cadaver once the organs are harvested in order to proceed with an earlier burial. Can the process be improved to minimise the time taken to recover the body of a departed loved one? I believe if this issue can be resolved, then perhaps we can allay some of the prevailing concerns of the Malay/Muslim community with regards to HOTA.”
“Madam, in a study done several years ago, it was reported that more people in Singapore die from suicides than from road accidents every year. And conditions, like schizophrenia, major depression and alcohol use disorders, are increasing significantly. The burden of disease attributable to neuro psychiatric disorders is expected to rise, with depression being the second most common cause of disability. The effect of major depression on the quality of life is as great or greater than that of chronic medical condition. In 2005, the Ministry of Health had tasked a committee of policy makers and mental health professionals to formulate the first national health policy and blueprint for the year 2007-2010, to try to improve the mental healthcare system in Singapore. It has been several years since then, and I would like to enquire on the progress of the recommendations that were made. More specifically, I would like to know how much has been allocated to carry out the recommendations made in the blueprint. Is the amount provided sufficient for our current and future needs? Has there been much improvement in the way we care for mental patients? Is there a comprehensive epidemiological research done to gauge the extent of psychiatric mobility in Singapore? The findings will allow us to target population sub-groups at increased risk facilitating prevention, early intervention and treatment for psychological mobility in the community. Madam, have we managed to address the issue of stigma of the illnesses? Are there efforts to develop community support for patients released from IMH and assist them to integrate back into society? And do we have support resources and system in place in the community to assist caregivers? Breast Cancer”
“This is largely because of the rise in medical treatment, equipment and medicine as well as the projected increase in the number of senior citizens in our country. Moreover, with the restructuring of hospitals, it could very well mean that higher hospital bills for our patients in Singapore could be a thing that is common in Singapore. And when hospitals are given more freedom to reorganise to meet the needs of Singaporeans, this could possibly lead to a reduction in the amount of subsidies given to hospitals. Medical bills would likely increase and healthcare would not be affordable for Singaporeans in longer term. With this in mind, Madam, how do we ensure that we are proactively increasing the awareness of affordability of healthcare and prudence in the healthcare spending for Singaporeans? Secondly, will the means testing that has been put in place ensure that Singaporeans know how to manage their healthcare? To reduce cost of healthcare, like Mdm Halimah has said, there have been requests for Medisave to be used for overseas treatment. What is MOH's position and guidelines on this? What are the concerns if this is allowed? Human Capital in the Health Sector”
“Madam, I read recently that the United States spends nearly 17% of its gross domestic product on healthcare, while Singapore spends about 4% of its GDP. However, we have been regarded as a healthcare superstar, especially when compared to the United States. Life expectancy at birth in the United States is 78 years; while in Singapore, it is 82 years. The Singapore infant mortality rate is at 2.3 deaths per 1,000 live births, versus 6.4 in the United States. As some have noted, these trends persist despite the fact that the United States has far more care-givers: 2.6 physicians per 1,000 people, compared with 1.4 physicians in Singapore. According to the World Health Organisation, Singapore has one of the best healthcare systems, and the 3M – Medisave, Medicare and Medifund schemes – has often been quoted as best practice in managing the costs of public healthcare. Madam, our healthcare policies which have been successful in meeting the needs of Singaporeans have also its limitation. Some of it is our efforts in encouraging self-reliance. Keeping healthcare affordable, promoting a healthy lifestyle and engaging the community in the provision of healthcare, have been quite lacking but have improved somewhat lately. Ensuring that Singaporeans continue to enjoy a high quality of healthcare services, to me, is one of the most important things in Singapore. I am glad that we have also put in a mechanism to ensure that healthcare resources are allocated to those in need of them. However, Madam, with the rising cost of living and inflation, Singaporeans should naturally be concerned with the cost of healthcare. It is likely that the healthcare costs will rise in the future.”