Zaqy Mohamad
Singapore
“Deputy Speaker, may I seek your consent and the general assent of Members present to move that the Question Time at this day's Sitting be exempted from Standing Order No 22(1) so as to enable questions for oral answer to continue until the completion of Question Nos 7 to 29, including relevant supplementary questions, until 12.45 pm?”
“Mr Speaker, may I seek your consent and the general assent of Members present to move that the proceedings on the item under discussion be exempted from the provisions of Standing Order No 48(8) to remove the time limit in respect of the Minister Tan See Leng's speech, please?”
“I think on the hawker front, we keep our rentals as low as possible to sustain our hawkers. But for food prices, we continue to monitor. My colleague, Minister of State Gan mentioned about how we are monitoring food supply of food prices, and I think that we will continue to do so.”
“I thank the Member for his question. On seafood specifically, we do not see immediate risk. We have diversified our food imports. We have also got local production of seafood readily available. At this point, as both the Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister have shared, our main risk for agriculture lies in fertiliser.”
“Mr Speaker, as I shared, we are monitoring the situation. The Government is monitoring at this point. There is no need at this juncture, because we have not seen the price hikes hit the hawkers in the same way as yet. There will be downstream impact. I think that is quite sure.”
“For us to also look into buying local produce, that helps our farms to increase capacity at this point, helps them build resilience over time and should there be disruptions or should there be a need for us to divert supplies or look to ramp up local production, I think they would be in a better position if we do what we can today to supp…”
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“Madam, a response to the Minister of State's reply. The strategy I have heard so far from the Minister and Minister of State is that it is very supply-side driven in terms of getting workers trained and we hope that with the training, they get to the market and the market employs them. May I know what is the Ministry's approach on the demand-side of things – engage the employers and try to get them to accept the workers, for example, the people who are changing industries? Also in the last downturn, what I noticed was that many PMETs and even workers above 40 had difficulty finding jobs once they were displaced. That is an issue. Will we, as a result, end up getting a bunch of disillusioned workers whom we may lose to other markets?”
“[For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A* .] Madam, we now have a new Mufti. What can the community *Cols. 4083-4084; 4085-4086. expect from this leadership change? Could the Minister share with us the priorities and plans of the new Mufti and his team? With regard to MUIS strategies, what are its future plans and what role can be played by MUIS in line with the Budget's focus this year on efforts to help the community progress in their religious, economic and social fields? What is being done by MUIS to build the next generation of religious leaders to help the community progress as well as adapt themselves to a secular and modern environment? For the past few years, MUIS and the mosques have implemented more engagement and community programmes. I believe that mosques can play a bigger role to engage the community. Last year, the Minister also announced the construction of new mosques in the western and northern regions. Muslim residents and workers in the western part of Singapore often ask me about the progress of these projects. What may be the concept of the new mosques and what are the collaborative plans that can be expected between the mosques and Malay organisations and the community? Mosque building plans”
“They too face challenges arising from the high cost of living, career development, taking care of their children and family, and many others. I believe they will need the environment and process of interaction that will enable them to be connected with the community and help them to pursue their aspirations in their life. I would like to ask the Minister, besides catering to families that are more prone to instability, what are his Ministry's recent efforts on catering to the needs of such mainstream families. Disadvantaged Malay/Muslim families Assoc. Prof. Fatimah Lateef (In Malay ): [For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A*.] Madam, as we achieve progress and excellence, there is still a segment within the Malay/Muslim community that is lagging behind. They are trapped in a vicious cycle and find it difficult to make progress. There are many factors that led to their condition: issues of mindset, unemployment, unskilled jobs, lack of qualification or low education, among others. What makes their situation so grave is that the problems faced by these families will be transferred on to their next generation, that is, their children and grandchildren who will face the same issues if they are not pulled out of this vicious cycle. Many organisations have implemented various initiatives to help them. Many organisations have also worked together to improve the quality of life for them and empower the affected families. Can Minister share with us the progress of the programmes for such families and whether we can see and assess the benefits gained so far? Community Leaders' Forum Labs”
“Nevertheless, more than just the question of integration, there are still Malay/Muslim Singaporeans who fear that when the economy shrinks, they would be the first to be affected. And some fear marginalisation, although I feel and I would like to reassure the community that we, as a Singapore society, are making good progress and the Malay community need not be fearful. This is because the Government and the people of Singapore, *Cols. 4075-4076. in general, realise that our country will not be stable and harmonious if the Malay community continues to lag behind or, worse, marginalised. May I ask the Minister for his opinion as to whether the Malay community would be able to stand tall and compete like the rest of Singaporeans? Strengthening Malay/Muslim families Assoc. Prof. Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim (In Malay): [For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A*.] Madam, there has been an improvement in the social and economic status of Malay/Muslim families in Singapore, particularly over the last two decades. With more having access to education and completing studies beyond the post-secondary level, there has been greater social mobility among the Malay/Muslims. Many have now joined the middle-income group and are working as professionals in the middle management, in order to improve the quality of life for themselves and their families. I am also pleased to note that the Government, together with the MENDAKI foundation and Malay organisations, continues to work to strengthen Malay/Muslim families, particularly those who are facing problems in their lives. For those in the middle-income group and beyond, sometimes called the mainstream, the challenges faced by them are similar to those faced by the other races.”
“Also, how can MENDAKI and MUIS bring further progress for the community and help it seize opportunities so that we can see more Malays who are successful in the public, private and social sectors? Keeping the Malay/Muslim community competitive The Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed) Madam, Malays and Muslims are an integral part of Singapore. Their challenges are as much national challenges. Malay/Muslim Singaporeans must be relevant not only to Singapore but also to the world. The community has been working hard for self-upliftment. It has shown credible results, but are they enough to meet the competition locally and internationally? How do we keep the Malays competitive? Madam, allow me now to speak in Bahasa. (In Malay): [For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A*.] Madam, from my experience serving the community and my own observation during visits to other countries, I find that the efforts of the Malay/Muslims to uplift themselves are outstanding. This is also true in terms of integration efforts. These have helped our Singapore society to become more cohesive. Singapore stands out as an icon of integration and harmonious living. That is one of the reasons why Malay/Muslim Singaporeans feel hurt when they are seen as not doing enough for integration. It hurts even more when their religion, Islam, is said to be the cause. While they acknowledge that there are those who see Islam through a narrow interpretation and might not facilitate better mixing and integration, Islam should not be blamed. That was why Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's position was well-received when he welcomed the positive role of the Malay/Muslim community towards progress and integration.”
“[For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A*. ] Madam, during the Budget debate, I touched on the progress of the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore. By working together with the Government, the Malay community has progressed not just economically but also in social and religious fields. *Cols. 4071-4072; 4073-4074. When the Malay/Muslim community was confronted with issues like 9/11, the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) and Mas Selamat, we stood as Singaporeans. The Malay community has come forward and stood behind the Government and together tackled complex and sensitive issues as one. The community should be commended for taking a firm stand against terrorism. During times of difficulty, we can also take pride with the fact that the Malay/Muslim community has made adjustments so as to encourage understanding and harmony. Today, our mosques also implement programmes that are more inclusive. In the Hong Kah GRC, for example, events and programmes, jointly organised by the mosques and non-Malay organisations, have become common. And this has brought benefits to nearby residents, regardless of race or religion. The Malay community has spent years building trust with the Government. For the Malay community, integration is not an issue. I believe that the community is committed to and support the multi-racial and multi-religious principles of Singapore. I hope that the Minister can give his views on our progress in terms of integration efforts and on how the Malay/Muslim community can continue working hand-in-hand with the Government to achieve long-term economic, religious and social objectives.”
“Sir, I would like to ask a question on GST. I think the Minister for Finance has given a comprehensive reply in his Budget reply. Many Singaporeans are concerned that there is a potential increase in GST. It is just elections talk but I think it has shown to be one of the more effective means to redistribute wealth. What are the Ministry's considerations before increasing GST? Is it a likelihood that is less likely, now that we have new revenue streams, such as the revision to NIR, as well as the revenue stream from the IRs?”
“Hence, I urge the Minister to make the income tax system fairer and more equitable for sole proprietors and LLP companies. An example of how this could be done, perhaps, is to subject sole proprietors and LLP partners to be taxed not higher than the corporate tax rates. I hope Minister can give a favourable review on the tax system. Business-friendly processes”
“Income tax of sole proprietors and limited liability partnerships Er Lee Bee Wah (Ang Mo Kio): Chairman, Sir, shaping our nation into a regional and global business and investment hub has always been high on the Government's agenda. Rightly so, because this would translate to greater opportunities to develop more industries on home ground which in turn promotes a flourishing business economy. In recent years, the Government has also been encouraging more people to take the journey to entrepreneurship by equipping them with the know-how and making loans more accessible to them. In running a business, the annual income tax payable is one item that must not be overlooked as it can add up to quite a significant figure. For Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) companies, profits are distributed among partners and tax based on each partner's personal income tax rates. The current income tax rate for top bracket income is 20%. A private limited company, on the other hand, is taxed at corporate tax rate which is currently capped at 17%. In addition, they enjoy various other tax exemptions where applicable. This means that they invariably pay lower taxes than successful sole proprietors and limited liability partners. This may impose an undue burden on sole proprietors and limited liability companies which are receiving less Government support and yet are exposed to the same risks and turbulence of a market economy as any private limited company. Also, sole proprietorship and LLPs are less expensive to set up compared to a private limited company. It is precisely for this reason that some budding entrepreneurs are attracted to set up their companies under LLP.”
“Chairman, I would like to declare my interest as the company I work for bids and engages in e-Government projects. I represent the GPC in fielding this cut. The Government has always been seen as a leader in e-government initiatives. With more Singaporeans being connected and having greater interest to have a say in their well-being, there is an opportunity to use the Internet and social media to better engage and collaborate with citizens. Can the Ministry elaborate on new services that it plans to deliver for citizens? What can Singaporeans look forward to better engage, share ideas and better collaborate with the Government? I elaborated in my Budget speech that this is the best opportunity for the Government to truly connect with the young but we must also work hard at the messaging, packaging and communications aspects to truly connect and garner buy-in; not just spend on Web2.0 technologies and infrastructure. I hope that the Ministry is planning on ensuring that we also have sufficiently trained personnel who understand our policies and can engage effectively with members of the public. How does the Ministry improve measures and training for officers to minimise mistakes online, such as the recent case where an HPB officer mistakenly published his personal message on a Government platform? How has the Ministry performed in improving productivity across the Government through better automation and integration in recent years? Can the Government share some statistics on achieved cost-savings and efficiency through large projects and economies of scale projects, such as SOEasy? In this, I also hope that the Government sets an example for the industry to practise best-sourcing for innovation, rather than solely on cheapest price.”
“Sir, I think the MTI's position on productivity is quite clear. I think most companies probably understand. We want to drive productivity – while there are foreign worker levies on one side, on the other hand, we give rebates and incentives to companies. The issue is for many smaller companies, for example, they are never going to transform overnight. I think the easiest way for them is to transfer the cost of increased levies into cost to the consumers. To some extent for the Ministry, it is a little difficult to balance. I would like to hear from the Ministry how it plans to balance productivity on the one side and potential inflation on the other. The second issue with SMEs is the issue of cashflow. Now that we have increased levies, they get hit on a monthly basis. But cashflow for SMEs – if you understand their business – many of them have very poor collection terms, they tend to face collection issues. At the same time as well, they can only collect items like GST claims once every quarter and sometimes even later, depends on when they get revenue. These are the two areas for my clarification. I do have to commend MTI for sharing a lot of examples of small companies making it good. It is important that we have small companies to be the champions because the SMEs like to say that a lot of examples MTI gives tend to be of big companies with scale. I think it is the right direction to highlight SME examples.”
“Mr Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to close the session. I just want to thank Deputy Prime Minister Wong, Deputy Prime Minister Teo and Mr Lim Boon Heng for their enlightening speeches and clarifications. I would also like to thank Members for their various cuts, ranging from baby issues all the way to seniors; not forgetting as well members and staff of the PMO for all the background work they have done to make this whole session comprehensive. With that, Mr Chairman, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $312,476,700 for Head U ordered to stand part of the Main estimates. The sum of $35,120,300 for Head U ordered to stand part of the Development estimates. Head J – Ministry of Defence 5.15 pm Regional security environment”
“Mr Chairman, I thank Deputy Prime Minister Wong for his reply to my cut. I agree with the Deputy Prime Minister that the motives behind setting up families should not be about bonuses and money, but I was also suggesting more money to procreate because of Government subsidies. We need to have the faith that most parents start with the baseline that they want to have the best for their children. That is one of the reasons why they limit the number of children they have because they want to maximise their resources for each. So the issue we have is that many of them have different benchmarks in terms of what we need to give and what is necessary to raise them. Our measures should also include not just the hard aspects but also the soft aspects – how do we break this psychological barrier that raising children is not really that expensive and you know that the Government is being supportive?”
“Perhaps the Minister can also share with us some factors he thinks that can turn the tide around, and which of our current schemes have shown promise and early success. Encouraging procreation”
“So, we also need a whole-of-Government approach to make Singapore more conducive and affordable to raise children. I think there are probably other issues to address, apart from the material ones. Firstly, we have to address the psychological barrier that child-raising is a burden, and anything more than two children is a prison sentence. The tuition arms race and peer pressure also sends the perception that it is expensive and time-consuming to raise a child. For many young couples, this commitment is a barrier to pursuing their ambition and enjoying their freedom. Secondly, lower the barriers for young couples to home ownership. Keep prices of new flats low, have minimal upfront downpayment and provide sufficient supply so that couples can establish their families earlier. If possible, bring parents into the picture. Thirdly, incentivise employers to create more parent-friendly work environments. Do more for the "unconverted" who need the benefit of time to find the right partner or time to build their family – credit to Member Paulin Tay Straughan's recommendations. We can still get it right with the next generation. Create a culture of balance amongst our students. Success is not complete – going for just grades and a good career. Life is more complete when you have a family to share with – spouse, children, parents. We have done well with sending the message and buy in for environmentalism on our young. Let us see if we can make procreation sexy, not sex, pardon the pun. Organisations such as AWARE and "I Love Children" have also put forth recommendations. We should consider their findings, but we should also look at the context of our social norms.”
“Those who said yes were usually in the lower- and middle-income. Those in the upper-middle income put the tag closer to $100,000 per child. For the "unconverted", most also indicated that more parental leave will not change their minds. This is not scientific, but if we do it methodically, there is something here – a Singaporean psyche that needs to be understood. I had two take-aways from this: first, what the Government needs is a package that is in-your-face, upfront and simple that people can understand and appreciate. Singaporeans value the upfront benefit they can see and feel, before they are convinced to change their position. Second, there is a tipping point – a price. It is just that the Government has not found it, or is finding the price tough to swallow. Then, we need to ask ourselves, what is a Singaporean baby worth to the nation that depends on people? If we put what we are also spending to attract, manage and integrate foreign immigrants, we may well be able to balance the opportunity cost to the Government on a per head basis. We may well be spending a lot but our schemes are disparate, confusing and have conditions attached. So, people cannot appreciate the amount of Government support for child-raising to weigh against the opportunity cost. For example, it is hard for a working mother to appreciate the tax relief on foreign domestic worker levies for working mothers. But if we give an immediate rebate or a discount on the levy charge, the perception of household cost changes. But I do recognise that putting too much emphasis on material benefits may well be a hazard. Thus, it is just as important to balance the approach more holistically and perhaps on a steady stream basis.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head U of the Estimates be reduced by $100. Mr Chairman, Sir, thank you for giving me the honour of kick-starting the Committee of Supply session. Much has been discussed on Singapore's fertility rate to replace and economically support our ageing population. Many parents are thankful for the Child Development Credit Scheme and the improved funding support for CFAC and KiFAS schemes given in this Budget. The schemes are generous and go a long way to bring down the costs of raising children. But benefits such as these and the Procreation Package given in the previous Budget may not be enough to stop the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) slide. These benefits are helpful to the "converted" – parents with children or those planning to have children. But we are still a long way from convincing the "unconverted" – the singles and the married couples without children – whose numbers are increasing and contributing to the TFR decline. I initially planned to give a speech on creating a more conducive environment until I did an informal straw poll. Then I realised that I would just throw that cut away, and decided to share my findings. I spoke to single women and those married without children in their 20s and early 30s. Most will only think of marriage nearer their 30s or early 30s, and if they decide to bear children, it would be closer to 35 – very similar findings to a survey by an advocacy group, "I Love Children". But I went further and asked, "If I dangled a baby bonus, paid in cash, no strings attached of, say, $50,000 per child, would this change your mind?" Most said "yes" some said "no". Then I realised that the answer depended on their current income.”
“It shows a good understanding of the ground and being useful in the time of need. Like a good cook, the Government – and credit to the Ministry of Finance – has included the sauces and ingredients that keep the flavour just right, balancing the sweet, sour and the bitter and to keep the dish flavourful. Sir, I support the Budget and look forward to the fine cuisine of success to come. 5.27 pm”
“I read a recent Asian Intelligence Report published by the Political and Risk Consultancy Ltd based in Hong Kong, entitled "Internet and Social Networking as Forces for Change". I quote: "The major question (one that we cannot really answer even after observing Singapore for decades now) is whether or not there is something in the status quo that is so sustainable that there is no fertile ground for anti-government political activists to use the Internet to take root and grow their base of support." The Internet and new media can incite, as shown by the Middle-East situation presently. But used correctly, the Internet and new media can be an effective outreach for the Government to engage with the new generation and in their own language and not with our long speeches in Budgets. So, while the going is good and the risk of destabilisation is not high, we cannot be complacent. Good governments with good policies still need the buy-in from the people to complete the partnership to success. The Government should continue to put more people and resources in place to engage in the social media space to complete the spectrum of citizen communications. For all the hard work and debates over our policies, it would be sad if so few understand and do not have sufficient insights to buy in and be part of policy formulation and governance. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is important that the Government remains prudent and fair in how we use taxpayer dollars – that is be able to account for the taxpayer dollars that we collect, and generate sufficient returns – in kinds and social benefits – to deliver our social compact with citizens. I think the Budget is reflective of what the people need at this point.”
“We need to create an environment where there is sufficient employment opportunities and an environment that is more accepting of older workers. The Government has made the right move to provide the Special Employment Credit over the next three years to encourage the employment of older workers. I think it will need more than hard benefits to change the culture. I think the Government needs to do more to signal a change in mindset among employers. Many tend to consider the alternatives that are available due to easy access to cheaper, younger foreign workforce. Though most cases I encounter currently are from the blue-collared workforce, I see more and more Professional, Managerial, Executives and Technicians (PMETs) affected and this trend, I expect, will continue in the next downturn and subsequent ones. In the near future, the PMET segment – better paid, better qualified – will face greater challenges when they reach this stage of their careers. They will need more time to find a job when displaced, given their higher wage expectations and they face the challenge of being over-qualified. We need to look at the challenges of the middle-class who may find themselves sandwiched in this situation and perhaps, gear up job matchings and skills-upgrade measures for this group of workers. Most are beginning to adapt to the shorter economic cycles and facing up to the reality that the churning of jobs are part and parcel of a restructured economy. This makes it even more important for the Government to help them generate more wealth and savings, by increasing their real incomes over the next decade. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I started my speech about the situation in Egypt and will end with it.”
“Because of our high-performing economy, there may need to be a balance of hard incentives as well as a cultural change in the way employers view parents, and how successful we are in helping parents cope with their children’s education, such as better managing the enrichment class and tuition "arms-race". We should even review flat sizes to determine if size and a sense of larger space will encourage couples to have more children and if this enables better family support through inter-generational living, that is, encouraging even grandparents to live with young couples. I have raised a Budget cut under the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and will elaborate further. Secondly, perhaps we should also look at the long-term impact of our healthcare system. The 3Ms – Medisave, MediShield and Medifund can still be daunting, especially when one in the family gets seriously ill and for a substantial period. As we move into an ageing population, many have provided feedback that once a loved one is admitted to hospital for serious illness several times, the cumulative costs can run into several hundreds or thousands of dollars. And before Medifund can be activated, one almost needs to deplete the Medisave and MediShield options even from other family members at times. Think of the apprehension of others, once their own Medisave is depleted for their loved ones and then they will look at themselves and say, "I have got nothing left". There is a need for us to, perhaps, look at the long term, on how to keep medical costs affordable despite all the good efforts that we are doing to streamline healthcare costs. Finally, during the last downturn, we saw many above 50 years old finding it difficult to find employment once they are retrenched or are forced to retire.”
“I am not advocating affirmative action but let the market compete for talent based on employee value, drive and experience and not cheaper salaries at the expense of the qualified tiers. Hopefully, this will help us ensure fair increases in wages in tandem with productivity so that qualified manpower and those with relevant experience will not find their wages constrained through cheaper and unproductive alternatives. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, given the vibrant economy, I am surprised that we also have not gone further to give greater emphasis to address a number of our nation’s long-term challenges such as our fertility rate, the impact of healthcare costs on our ageing population and keeping employment inclusive for increasingly ageing, yet better-qualified manpower. Firstly, our birth and fertility rate. I am aware that Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng has already indicated that plans will only be released later, but this is something of national interest and I hope that more can be done to create an environment where Singapore can become a conducive, easy-going and affordable environment to raise children with more support for young families. It is a known fact that couples here tend to marry late nowadays and there are also certainly more singles, as mentioned by Nominated Member Paulin Straughan. Thus, it is more important to make it conducive and affordable to bear children, not just one child but in multiples and review our policies in entirety, and not just a few incentives such as paid maternity or paternity leave. Let us look at it holistically. We need a whole-of-Government approach.”
“Many Singaporeans who are better qualified today do not wish to take up these jobs, so there is no strategic pressure to significantly reduce foreign worker dependency in these areas for the long term. The impact is that consumers who need such services may see daycare health services or conservancy charges increase as a result. There is a limit to how much manpower can be cut back through automation to keep our estates clean or to care for our sick, disabled and elderly. Perhaps, the Government should consider tiering the levies. Maintain the levy increases for jobs where the supply of local manpower can meet the manpower requirements. But we should moderate the levy increases for the lower-tier jobs where few locals are able to provide the required manpower even if we increased their salaries by 10% to 20% or to the point where it is no longer economically viable. Perhaps, we should then consider even looking at changing the foreign worker ratios at this level. For example, the Town Councils are already finding it difficult to fill up the Singaporean worker ratios, not just because of salaries, but the reality is that as Asians, many find it difficult to accept because of face value. There is little point to constrain the use of foreign workers at times because it is not realistic to force Singaporeans to undertake certain jobs, not for economic reasons, but for certain cultural reasons. What I hope is for us to level the playing field at the skilled-tiers, so that better qualified locals and especially the senior workers above 40, who have been displaced, all have a better chance of competing.”
“I see a number of challenges, such as our dependency on imports, for example, fuel and goods, land scarcity which means higher property prices and rentals in the long term and, increasingly, a competitive Asian region. These factors have a significant impact on business costs and can erode productivity for businesses and continue to constrain wages. This commitment by the Government is certainly well-meaning but given the constraints, I think it is quite difficult to execute. So, I am keen to find out, if the Minister can enlighten, what are the factors the Ministry is confident of influencing to achieve the real income growth targets that it has set for itself? From the long-term view, how does the Minister plan to contain the land costs and rental? Given our small land mass, there is a limit to how much we can play with land banking and release of property supply. Property and rental tend to be among the largest costs in doing business in Singapore. The continued push for productivity is certainly commendable, especially how the Budget balances productivity incentives, corporate income tax rebates and increases in foreign worker levy. The issue that many are concerned about is whether the broad-based foreign worker levy increases may translate into higher prices to end-consumers and businesses as companies battle the profitability pressure. There are sectors that are naturally labour-intensive and where Singaporeans are not keen on performing these jobs. Companies here may be hit hard such as those in the cleaning services, nursing homes, elderly care, even construction fields.”
“It is the right thing to do, to share the fruits of our growth with Singaporeans. When you think about it, Singaporeans get the lion's share of any surpluses of the economy even though we are also helped by foreign manpower and foreign companies – something the Member Mr Low Thia Khiang and the Workers' Party should think about before criticising the foreign manpower policy. We have a diversified globalised economy where benefits and surpluses of the economy are given out. Singaporeans get them. So, economically global but local at heart. The recent Middle-East crisis in Egypt and now Libya and others, reminds us of the importance of a responsible and fair Government to ensure that the country’s wealth is fairly re-distributed back its people. Not just surplus sharing but ensuring that the Budget is well-distributed, for the various Ministries to deliver the right services and do the right things for the people – education, healthcare, employment, security, and so forth. In this light, it was also prudent that the Government returned the $4 billion in reserves to emphasise the importance of a country’s savings. I hope that this sets the tone on the future use of our reserves in the national interests. Overall, I think that the whole Budget is well-balanced to address the needs of the day, for example, rising costs of inflation, as well as for the long-term interests of our county, for example, the need for our economy to become more competitive. In line with the ESC recommendations, I commend the Minister for continuing the commitment towards realising 30% real income growth for Singaporeans over a decade and driving productivity in the economy through various Government programmes.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I am confident that this Budget will continue to benefit the Malay/Muslim community and this Budget will continue to share the nation's wealth and promises policies that can help increase income for the long term. It also shows that the programmes being implemented continuously are based on meritocracy regardless of race or religion. With that, they can reassure the community that their progress, whether in secular or religious areas, will continue in line with the Government's plans and we will continue to have a partnership in order to succeed together. However, I feel that there is one area that should be given more attention by the Government. This is to increase engagement efforts to help the Malay-Muslim community to be more ready, and know how to make use of national resources as well as the various schemes that can enable them to improve their standard of living. We must also produce more programmes to engage the community so that they can make use of opportunities in education, employment and businesses, just as what the Budget aims to encourage. I can see a new window of opportunity that will bring the community to prosper to the next level. With that, we can enjoy prosperity and forge a stronger partnership with the Government. *Cols. 3025-3030. (In English ): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in my five years sitting here through the Budget debates, we have gone from uptrend, to downtrend and uptrend again. The cycle is certainly getting shorter but we have to thank the many Government policies put in place to bring us to where we are today. I think that the Budget is certainly one that is welcomed by many Singaporeans I spoke to, especially the Growth and Share package.”
“The bottom line is even though differences exist, we are all committed to ensure the nation's harmony and progress. In other areas, we cannot also deny that there are a lot of achievements among Malay students who receive Madrasah education, for example. We must be proud of these success stories and many of these Madrasah students complete their University education with good results. Just look at MUIS. Its officers comprise qualified asatizahs who have received the best education in the secular and religious fields, with some of them even have also received prestigious overseas scholarships. This will surely portray a positive image for our community. From among those who are well versed in religion – they can help and lead the community to balance the needs and implications of life in a modern and secular society, with the obligations and interests in Islam. These characteristics are also seen in our mosques that have been developed with a more open concept and including programmes and activities that can attract all generations. Therefore, the progress and improvement in the lives of the Malay/Muslim community for all these years are not only in the secular field but also in the religious field. I welcome what was said by the Prime Minister when he acknowledged that the Malay/Muslim community has made a special effort to foster closer relations with other communities. I am always confident that the Malay/Muslim community can be proud because they are able to have a partnership with the Government and this good relationship is not easily rattled. There are more benefits that can be gained as long as the Government and community work together to cope with any challenge, be it economic, religious or social.”
“I feel that he was only giving criticism on the Budget but did not give any explanations. Maybe he thought that the elections has begun. However, through policies implemented by the Government like GST and the policy of using foreign workers, we have seen good economic development with low unemployment and we have enjoyed a growth that can be shared by all Singaporeans, even though our economy is also generated by foreign workers. Mr Deputy Speaker, like other communities, the Malay/Muslim community is also trying to improve their lives. They are aware of the swift changes and growth in our economy. They also have the same aspirations and desires, and also face similar concerns like the problem of cost of living. However, in their journey towards progress and prosperity, the Malay/Muslim community can be proud of their many achievements. No matter what the perceptions or grievances are, the fact is that, in reality, the community's success, be it in material or spiritual terms, cannot be denied. It is something that should be hailed because their success is a part of Singapore's success. Just like the other communities, for the Malay/Muslim community, retaining one's identity of language, culture and religion is important. In fact, Islam is part of life for the Malay/Muslim community. However, the Malay/Muslim community also realise that they live in a multi-racial society that accepts one another, leads a tolerant life and learn from each other. Diversity has strengthened a multi-racial country like Singapore. Surely, challenges are present within that diversity, but it is something that we always managed to overcome. We can give and take, and live harmoniously – something that Singapore can be proud of.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I will speak in Malay please. (In Malay): [For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A*.] Mr Deputy Speaker, the community generally welcomes this year's Budget. I am pleased that this Budget, which provides a lot of benefits for the middle and lower income, will help many Singaporeans including Malay families. They will be able to enjoy the Grow and Share package that was unveiled. Among the challenges faced by many people presently is the impact of the rise in cost of living. We understand the grievances about increasing food prices as well as other costs like the electricity bills and so on. It is not easy to support a family and raise children in this present situation. Therefore this Budget presented some timely "solutions" to reduce the impact of rising living costs. On average, a family will receive around $3,000 from this Budget through goodies and tax benefits. The low-income group will also receive more. Overall, if compared to the impact of inflation that is estimated to be around 5% to 6%, these two groups will receive more. In the long term, the various incentives offered which include childcare subsidies, further education for adults and skills upgrading will surely help many citizens. The other incentives available will make it easier for parents to focus on investing in their children's education like the Child Development Credit. The Malay community should seize the incentive opportunity and education subsidy offered, among others, like getting a diploma or degree. A few moments ago, Mr Low Thia Khiang, head of the Opposition, of the Workers' Party, had given his view that this Budget is not enough to fulfill the needs of Singaporeans.”
“May I ask the Minister what is the assessment of the risk that content providers will exit the Singapore market, given that we are too small a market to consider for cross carriage? Second supplementary question, what is the Ministry's opinion that cross carriage may discourage media service providers from generating their own content or working with production houses to package and bundle content? RAdm [NS] Lui Tuck Yew: On the first question on the risk that they will exit the market, we worked with a wide range of companies that have been in the Singapore market for a number of years and even though our market is a very small one, they have decided to operate out of Singapore and have established their regional headquarters here to serve the larger Asian market. The relationship we have with many of them, we believe, is a robust one. The Member's second question really deals with content arrangements. We believe that with the Measure in place, pay TV retailers in future will compete not on signing exclusive arrangements to package content for their customers only but devote more resources and time to service improvements as well as to creating and packaging more content for their channels. WHITE SANDS NEW MARKET 13. Mr Teo Siong Seng asked the Minister for National Development if he would explain why the approval process for the White Sands New Market to start operating business took such a long period of time, causing inconvenience to residents in Pasir Ris.”
“Thank you for the reminder, Mr Speaker. Again, on the effectiveness of enforcement – we had a lot of parliamentary questions on the effectiveness of enforcing bicycles. How effective is the enforcement for this kind of motorised bicycles? My second point is this. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary mentioned about riding on a bike lane. Should it be on or off? It cannot be both ways, or either/or.”
“Thirdly, would the Ministry consider changing the regulation like the way we enforce vehicle speeding, for example, where you make the House accountable and identify the perpetrator from the home?”
“Sir, concerning the statistics put forward earlier, I think having just nine cases that were brought to Court is an under reflection of the situation today. If Members look at the estates today, there is a lot of litter on the ground. I think it is not a question of effort, but it is a question of the lack of proper regulation or ineffective regulation today. Hence, the person throwing the litter makes it quite ineffective for a lot of officers even though NEA deploys a lot of manpower on the ground. I would like to ask if the Ministry will continue to experiment with the surveillance tools until we get the right formula so that we actually save costs on manpower resources. It is also ineffective because most of our manpower resources are deployed during the day and no one is at home during the day most of the time. At night, they cannot see as clearly.”
“Mdm Cynthia Phua asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources in view of the rise in food prices at hawker centres (a) what are the Ministry's plans to moderate the rental rates of hawker stalls; and (b) whether the Ministry would stop the practice of allowing hawker stall lessees to sublet their stalls so as to mitigate the rising cost of cooked food at heartland hawker centres.”
“Sir, I am sure if any user "googles" it, he can find a lot of these sites easily. I was just wondering if the Ministry has done any surveys with parents, for example, who wished that such controls be put in place. May I know the Ministry's position in terms of it not wanting parents to be complacent versus filtering all sites as a mandate? Is there a gap between public expectations and the Ministry's position? RAdm [NS] Lui Tuck Yew: Sir, when the Censorship Review Committee (CRC) was convened last year, they did a public survey on a variety of issues, one of which was the use of Internet filters. The survey asked if respondents were aware of such filters and for those who are aware whether they subscribe to it, and if not, what are the reasons for not doing so. Our belief is that the filters can be a complementary tool to whatever it is that we are doing. The CRC survey results show that 71% of Internet users who are parents with young children aged up to 14 years are not subscribers of Internet filters. Thirty-seven percent of respondents (Internet users who are parents with children aged up to 14 years) are aware that there are filters, but decided not to subscribe to the filters. So, it is not due to a lack of awareness nor the cost of the service. Three main reasons were ascribed to this non-subscription: (i) they are already teaching their children the skills to navigate the Internet, (ii) they are already monitoring their children's Internet usage, and (iii) their children are given very limited access to the Internet. So, for this group, it is not due to awareness nor is it related to cost issues. RENTAL AND SUBLETTING OF HAWKER STALLS 2.”
“I have a question for the Senior Parliamentary Secretary. Based on the projections of the new rental flats coming up, what is the proportion of rental flats to the total number of home-owned flats being made available? With the increase in the number of rental flats, are we saying that we are encouraging more to rent or is this deviating from our current proposition to Singaporeans that a home ownership means something? Secondly, has there been a study by the HDB on the long-term effects of needy families in rental flats – whether it has benefited them, whether it has helped them to get on their feet in the short term? Could the Senior Parliamentary Secretary please enlighten us?”
“Thank you for the Minister's reply. I think it is important that the public is also given the confidence that all the information pertaining to public information and private data is kept confidential. Could I ask the Minister if there are any changes to any policies and procedures within our Government, since the WikiLeaks incident?”
“There are certainly some racial sensitivities involved because there are implications that members who had helped him, whether it is from the family or not, were from the Muslim community. I have two points. One, based on the Ministry's findings so far, is the Ministry satisfied that it is just confined to his family members? Two, given the fact that Mas Selamat also did escape in a tudung, according to the account by the Minister, will the Ministry assure the Malay community that there will not be unnecessary scrutiny on Malay women wearing tudung when they enter security areas or when they seek appointment, for example, for jobs, and other related movements in and out of Singapore.”
“As hosts Singapore has invested wisely for the future of the younger generation. Some of the benefits that were gained can be viewed from a long-term perspective. Firstly, we can see for ourselves the emergence of a young generation of Singaporeans who possess the ability and talent. The fact that they are able to compete with participants from around the world is a source of pride and inspiration to Singaporeans, especially the young. Secondly, the YOG saw the participation of all levels of society, be it volunteers, sponsors or even spectators or supporters. It has widened the common space in which Singapore residents can participate. I feel that we must continue this YOG spirit by providing opportunities for Singaporeans, not only in terms of sport competitiveness and developing young talents but also in public participation. With the presence of an event like the Singapore Games, held maybe once in two years, we can sustain that spirit and community support. (In English ): Singapore has defied the odds in so many ways and in areas where we never thought were possible. In the YOG, we have shown that we have the talents and are able to garner support from the community to make a dream a reality. The YOG can and should be more than just a memory in our history books. It has to be more than us saying, "Yes, it was 2010 and we were there to experience it." It would be nice to see the YOG leave a sporting legacy and the YOG being that spark that inspired us to create a sporting nation. With this, Deputy Speaker, I end my proposal and leave the motion for the House to consider. *Cols. 1175-1176. 6.09 pm”
“I also hope that the MND can also review how we can make sporting facilities more accessible and build more sporting facilities in the neighbourhoods to cater to wider sporting interests of the community. Take the cue from the sports organised in the Singapore Games and and align these facilities to the overall sports road map for Singapore. MND should also explore how we can also make existing sports facilities adaptable to senior citizens and the disabled to be more active in sporting activities. Finally, for MCYS and MTI, as we develop the sporting industry and enable more private sector involvement, we need to ensure that sporting events remain affordable even for low-income earners. My concern with the private-public partnership (PPP arrangement) for projects such as the Sports Hub, it is that sporting events organised should remain affordable and accessible to all. One more point to think about since the Minister also answered my question earlier, on the MINDEF issue of National Service. There may come a point when we need to review how we balance this because at some point, we may have young athletes who may turn professional before they turn 18, 19. In the US, UK, you might find the likes of Tiger Wood or likes of Wayne Rooney and the Michael Owen going professional before then. How will National Service impact them? How will we manage such situations? We are seeing many of our athletes achieving global standards and I think there may come a time when we will find one or two prodigies in our midst. Mr Deputy Speaker, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A *. ] The recent Youth Olympic Games (YOG) was a very valuable event which Singapore hosted.”
“They were warm, friendly and gave me the impression that they were a mother and daughter team and as Mdm Rosminah was often referred to as "mummy". Only later was I told that Mdm Rosminah was referred to by the younger ones, the younger volunteers as "mummy" because of the maternal mentor role she played with the young volunteers. Now, this exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism and community bonding and I agree with Minister Vivian, in his speech earlier, that is, it is amazing to the extent that our volunteers go to make everything a success and I hope that games can bring about the Singapore spirit on a sustainable basis and inculcate this Singapore spirit in our young. The reason for raising this proposal as a motion of adjournment rather than a parliamentary question for the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) is that for Singapore to develop a sporting culture, we need to start pooling our efforts across Ministries to make this work. With such sporting buzz being generated, we should also use this opportunity to maximise the use of sporting facilities in our estates, especially the schools. We can do better to maximise the scheme to use school infrastructure in the estates. I can understand the apprehension of principals and their concerns about safety and maintenance. I think many of these concerns are valid. But I would like to suggest that MOE re-consider the policy by making the policy an opt-out scheme rather than an opt-in scheme. So schools who feel that they have a strong case against opening up their facilities should explain their case against opening up the facilities rather than if they choose to opt-out because this is important to promote more ground-up initiatives and grassroots sporting activities in the neighbourhood.”
“I recall when I played rugby in school, competitions were almost all year around, seven-a-side tournaments early in the year, 15-a-side mid-year and 10-a-side towards the end of the year. So in the same spirit, we could look at different ways to keep the sporting calendar fresh, interesting and engaging. We should also find ways to involve participation from the disabled community, taking a leaf out of the Para Olympics and use this opportunity to develop more sporting facilities for them or adapt current infrastructure for their use as well. For senior citizens, one recent suggestion I think is being considered is to look into new sporting formats so that senior citizens of various abilities can also participate in sports and I like this approach. Ideas taken from other games such as the Para Olympics, which has wheelchair basketball, may prove to be interesting formats for senior citizens. This will also help provide greater community bonding and outreach to seniors who want to remain active through competitive sports. This unique sporting format can also help them bond and find common games which can bring families, friends together as well as neighbours of all ages to form teams. As we speak about bringing people together, we should not forget the spirit behind the games as well. The 20,000 odd volunteers and the thousands and thousands of supporters behind us. They made the difference to the success of the YOG and I think we can harness all these energies behind us too. During the YOG, soccer matches of Team Singapore versus Montenegro and Haiti, I had the pleasure of being ushered by a Mdm Rosminah Ahmad and a Ms Shuheerah Rosli.”
“If we look at nations with strong sporting cultures who are able to produce world-class teams – in particular, countries whose population sizes are comparable to Singapore such as Finland, Norway and New Zealand. They have some things in common – a sporting culture that spans families, neighbourhoods, schools and that they also have a strong club culture. The Singapore Sports Council estimates that there are about 1,600 clubs – ranging from the established Singapore Swimming Club which produces many of our national swimmers to the community-based ones like People's Association's CSCs to the informal clubs and networks such as cycling and soccer and running groups all over Singapore. Our club networks exist today, but they seem to be fragmented and stronger within the schools and it seems that the networks are a lot stronger within the schools and the elite which are going for medals. So there is a gap in between the two ends of the scale. There was a recommendation of the Sporting Culture Report in 2008 by MCYS, suggesting that strengthening the clubs to bridge the gap in mass participation. This is an ideal proposition, given the Singapore Games proposal. With the right team in place, combining the SSC, PA, Schools Conveners and the NSAs, there is scope to align the activities, pull together funding and garner sponsorship support to bring better synergies to the clubs and the sporting calendar. As a start, we can focus on the games featured in the Olympics. If this is too much, we can consider starting with just 10 to 15 sports first and expand as we gain more traction. By harnessing the synergies between the SSC, NSAs and PA’s CSC, we can organise events for these sports in different formats all year round to cater to different interests.”
“Through the Biennial Singapore Games that is being proposed, we can provide a platform that can bring sporting talents and community sports participation from across Singapore together. This will involve identifying a number of sports, getting the community to participate in a series of competitions and sporting events, culminating in the Singapore Games every two years. The Biennial Games is not and should not be an end in itself. It should, over time, develop a sporting culture across Singapore. As we develop mass participation, there is also room to include games for senior citizens and the disabled to keep them active and bond them closer through sports. Singapore's sporting legacy should be as much about a sporting culture as it is about achieving sporting excellence. And to succeed as a sporting nation (especially given our small population), it has to be development at both ends of the scale. We should have the cake and eat it too. It is a tough balance for the Government in deciding how and where to put its money and focus on sports: on the one hand, at the pinnacle, we develop sporting talents, push for sporting excellence and aim to win medals; or, on the other hand, do we spend across a broader base to provide more for community participation, given finite resources? I am mindful of the complexities and logistics implications in organising the Biennial Games taking on a two-pronged approach. So I believe to some extent, we are doing well. In the former objective, the elite sports infrastructure and the funding for sporting excellence. For the latter objective, I am proposing to develop our local club networks to achieve this and to fill this gap in our sports ecosystem. There is merit in doing this.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for giving me the opportunity to propose the motion to introduce a Biennial Singapore Games to sustain the renewed enthusiasm and community support for Sports beyond the Youth Olympic Games and to build a sporting legacy, to develop sporting excellence and a sports culture in Singapore. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this motion is inspired by the athletes, organisers and volunteers of the recent Youth Olympic Games (YOG). Through the YOG, we saw our young athletes compete well – and who could forget the medal winning performances of Isabelle Li (table tennis), Nurul Shafinas (taekwondo), Rainer Ng (swimming) and my personal favourite, the soccer boys. And I am not downplaying the contributions of others who had also made us proud in representing Singapore throughout the Games. During the Games, I remember the vociferous supporters at the stands during the various competitions, the many volunteers who braved the sun and rain to help us make the events a success and even residents who came down and took leave from work to support us as we ran with the torches in our estates. This got me thinking – that building a sporting legacy, achieving sporting excellence and developing a sporting culture in Singapore – they may not be a pipe dream after all. The only question is how? What platform can we use to showcase our local sporting talents and yet achieve broad-based participation across Singapore? How can we bring the community and the families together through sports? So, the concept of the Biennial Games came up in a discussion and the credit goes to my parliamentary colleagues, Ms Josephine Teo and Minister of State Lee Yi Shyan, for coming up with the idea initially, and I just happened to develop on it later on.”
“I would like to congratulate the Minister for a job well done for the YOG. I would like to enquire on my question 5(b) with respect to how we manage youth sporting talent development as they pass through National Service. I do not think that was covered in his speech. The second question I have is, I do understand that the requirements for the YOG did come in late. How do we ensure that we will not overcharge for some of these services or products that we purchased at the last minute? How do we ensure that we did not over-scope given that the notice was short and that the Games were around the corner?”
“Questions for the Minister. I understand that when we embarked on this, the fare structure was predominantly based on distance. Last week, in a media interview, the PTC came out to say that they also took into account time travelled and waiting time. I was wondering if the Minister could clarify whether these are the only two factors or are there also other factors involved in the fare structure. Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat: This question actually relates to the MRT network. The way our system works is if you go from A to B, you zap in at A and when you go out at B, you zap out. The system cannot track how you get from A to B. It cannot postulate whether you took this or that way, the interchange where you hopped on. It will not know as it cannot track your route. So the PTC had to make an assumption for a case like this. The working assumption they take is that, by and large, when commuters get into the system, they try their best to find the fastest way to get from A to B. So they said, "Okay, the fastest way. So what is the fare for the distance travelled in the fastest way?" Er Lee Bee Wah (Ang Mo Kio): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister how many students would have to pay more after the implementation of distance-based fare. I read in TODAY where one writer mentioned that from the same bus stop at Ang Mo Kio MRT station, he took three different buses and was charged three different fares. If this is totally distance-based fare, how is this possible?”
“So what measures are in place to ensure that when Singaporeans vote, prospective candidates have the avenue to effectively counter any damaging reports or rumours by political outsiders or even third parties or overseas political lobbies, for example, without infringing on the rules of the Cooling-Off day? Would we consider an independent watchdog where you could make an appeal to make clarifications on Cooling-Off day? So my concern is that we may not be able to achieve the intent of the Cooling-Off Day given the variety of uncontrolled factors at play given our small size and connectedness in this Internet age. Sir, allow me to conclude my speech in Malay. (In Malay): [For vernacular speech, please refer to Appendix A*. ] With regard to having a Cooling-Off day before voting, we must also ensure that the period is truly useful, and will not bring about the opposite effect, where it can become a period when voters will be more confused and distracted by various rumours and accusations, for example, from the Internet and coffeeshops. I support the objectives of this amendment but hope that all the implications will be studied and considered and, in the end, it will bring about benefits to the people and the nation for the long term. *Cols. 311-312. 4.42 pm”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I cannot remember whether I was ever in a baby stroller so I hope I would be intelligent. Sir, I would like to focus on the amendments relating to the cooling-off period. I would like to ask the Minister how much additional resources have been allocated for the elections to ensure proper governance and enforcement of the cooling day. My concern is really around the safeguards of the political candidates because this is a new concept in Singapore's politics. I would also like to know if we have performance studies to reach this conclusion that the Cooling- Off day will be better and fairer for Singaporeans, the ruling Party as well as Opposition parties. I understand that the Minister have also mentioned examples with Australia and Indonesia, but in our current context, have we really thought through this in a sense that it will be fair to all parties? I think the Members before have also mentioned their concerns which brings me to my next point because there is always a danger of disruptions and distractions coming from online chatter and coffeeshop talk during the Cooling-Off day. Being a small island, information – or misinformation – can be transmitted pretty quickly. As there is no official political messaging that can be carried out during the cooling-off period, will this policy hinder prospective candidates to respond to rumours or misinformation that may be spread just before or on Cooling-Off day itself? Now, the new regulations basically regulate political parties, candidates as well as their agents or sub-agents but there is nothing to regulate third parties who participate in online forums, Internet or even coffeeshop talk.”
“Will this not further facilitate the participation of the Opposition’s representatives, even though they have failed to win votes? What is the implication on our efforts to search for talented people who are committed to the party's and nation’s struggle? This is different from Members of Parliament elected by the people who are fully accountable to their constituencies and all voters. Furthermore, we already have the processes and the infrastructure to encourage views and feedback among new media platforms and others, and we must strengthen this process further. (In English): Sir, I have no doubts that the amendment Bill will encourage more political participation and, hopefully, greater political interests among Singaporeans. It may well satisfy our voters' desire for more checks and balances as we endeavour to stress the importance of more transparency and openness. But, at the same time, I hope that the Minister considers the impact on the quality of proceedings and the accountability of elected MPs in this House to their constituents as we allow more non-elected voices in this House through the NCMP backdoor. With this, Mr Speaker, I support the Bill. *Cols. 181-182.”