Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim
Singapore
“As a society, we need to ensure that no family is trapped by their circumstances, no child is defined by their starting point, no potential goes unrealised and no hope beyond reach. This is not just a social policy; it is a moral responsibility.”
“Will the Ministry set up clear timelines, audit and review mechanisms and public reporting expectations for these enhancements, so that agencies are held to consistent standards across, and families can have this confidence and trust, especially in suspected child abuse cases, so that they are not missed or delayed in reporting?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. And I thank the Minister. I had a supplementary question on humanitarian aid assistance and I am heartened to hear that Singapore will continue to work with the international bodies, and at the same time maintain the safety of our humanitarian workers there.”
“Thank you, Sir. I thank the Minister for the Statement. I do agree that identity politics would be disastrous for Singapore, especially minorities. And I thank him for the Statement.”
“Sir, I thank Minister Josephine Teo, Minister of State Faishal Ibrahim and Minister of State Sun Xueling for laying out the clear and comprehensive plans and priorities for MHA.”
“Sir, I thank Minister Edwin Tong and Minister of State Murali Pillai for their clear clarifications and plans for MinLaw and for our fellow Singaporeans. Sir, the law is the tool, but justice is the ideal. I thank the staff and officers of MinLaw for making access to justice the ideal for our Singaporeans.”
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“Similarly, SAF's new DIS cannot operate in silo and has to integrate into the whole-of-nation approach to combating the growing digital and information threats now and in the future. Hence, I propose that our DIS officers should have exposure and experience of operations across all SAF services and perhaps, key DIS officers should also have experience and exposure within the various relevant agencies within MHA or MCI. Across jurisdictions, it is important to have an updated exchange of ideas and innovation in the industry so that the latest of ideas and best-of-class technology can be deployed within DIS. In this regard, I welcome the announcement that SAF's CCR will host bilateral and multilateral exercises, bringing together "militaries, industries, and academia" to facilitate information exchange. Digital defence cannot be done on our own. Would there be efforts to formulate a joint comprehensive defence framework for the region? How will such bilateral or multilateral digital defence take shape in the light of certain geopolitical tension or relations? I hope to hear more plans on this from the Minister. My third and last concern is this. We cannot just focus on defence per se, but it is important for us to also build up pre-emptive strike capability. I cite two examples from the UK and the US. In the explainer published during the establishment of the UK National Cyber Force (NCF), part of the stated objective of the UK NCF was that it "is responsible for operating in and through cyberspace to disrupt, deny, degrade and contest those who would do harm to the UK and its allies".”
“MINDEF has announced that it will establish a Digital Ops-Tech Centre (DOTC) and a Centre of Excellence for Cyber Range (CCR) to stimulate capability development of SAF in the digital and cyber frontier. I humbly propose that SAF can consider specific scholarships in key areas and expertise to attract, groom and train in specialised fields local talents for DIS. Would SAF consider recruiting from private-sector expertise and if so, will this be on contractual basis? For example, in the US DDS, although scope is not similar, the team is recruited on a two-year limited appointment to focus on a specific mission; after which they return to the private sector or the academia. However, we have to balance this with how SAF protects the sensitivity of information and screening of recruits. To illustrate this, Dickson Yeo was a Singaporean academic who was arrested by US authorities for being an illegal agent of Chinese intelligence. Yeo's former PhD supervisor in LKY School of Public Policy was Chinese US citizen Huang Jing, who was expelled and identified by MHA as an "agent of influence of a foreign country". This underscores the importance of screening and protection, especially in the fields of cybersecurity, information and intelligence. Secondly, we need to build capability and cooperation across and within jurisdictions on a whole-of-Government approach. Within Singapore, DIS has to work on this collectively with other Governmental agencies. For instance, in the UK, the National Cyber Force (NCF) is part of the UK Ministry of Defence, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, the Secret Intelligence Service and the Government Communications Headquarters.”
“In times of war, the battlefield is not just about conventional warfare, but we also need to strengthen defence in cyberspace. This is due to cyber attacks and hackings of key institutions with sensitive information. Besides cyber attacks, information operations should also be addressed collectively. An example is the current Russia-Ukraine conflict, where there has been the deployment of information warfare comprising disinformation campaigns and false-flag videos that aim to deceive the public. These were harnessed to influence public opinion and manipulate information to undermine Ukrainian sovereignty and break their defensive spirit. Therefore, when faced with such scenarios, we need MINDEF and the SAF to spearhead our information defence in both wartime and peacetime. This important role should not just be within the purview of MHA or MCI. Therefore, this Bill will establish a Digital and Intelligence Service in the SAF, which will play a crucial and critical role in strengthening our information defence especially in the ever-changing battlefield. (In English): I would like to raise three areas of concern. Firstly, we need to attract the best of talents, but at the same time be selective and protective in the process. In a tight labour market, SAF needs to attract the best talents for our DIS and groom the expertise. To cite an example, in 2015, the Pentagon launched the Defense Digital Service office (DDS). Brett Goldstein, the Director of DDS, described his team of technologists, which come from various public/private-sector backgrounds and which includes engineers, designers and developers, as a "SWAT team of nerds" to show the diverse and deep levels of expertise at hand.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of this Bill and the establishment of Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) of the SAF. Today's battleground is shaped not only by kinetic weapons of war, but by a potent blend of data, technology and innovation that forms our digital world. In this age of increased information warfare and information-enabled warfare, the way these advances are deployed will be pivotal in achieving a competitive advantage over adversaries. In an interview, Major-General Robin Anderton-Brown, a director at UK Strategic Command in the UK Ministry of Defence stated: "The term 'domain' in a military sense reflects the fact we traditionally considered Defence in terms of the environmental domains of maritime, land and air, but now there is the growing importance of space – a domain in its own right – as well as the virtual domain of cyber, which affects not just Defence but the whole of society." Other jurisdictions have had similar services. In the US, its Army Cyber Command integrates and conducts cyberspace operations, electromagnetic warfare, and information operations, to ensure dominance in the cyber domain and information warfare. The UK established its National Cyber Force (NCF), which is a partnership between defence and intelligence in 2020. There is, hence, a need for MINDEF to take the lead here. In Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Fake news or misinformation and disinformation have been used as weapons during peacetime to de-stabilise a country. We have seen examples, through online campaigns, where terrorist organisations, such as ISIS, recruits and mobilises their members to carry out attacks. We have also seen the presence of foreign influence in the 2016 United States presidential elections.”
“In terms of specialisations, perhaps there could be a setting up of dedicated teams within PDO, like that in AGC, arranged according to the types of offences, so that PDO officers can build up deep capability and skillsets, and secondly, a platform for the cross-training and sharing of ideas between prosecutors, PDO and the criminal bar. In conclusion, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with the setting of the PDO, we will have greater access to criminal justice for the public and build skillsets and experience deep enough to prepare us for tomorrow. I stand in support of the Bill.”
“It is imperative that we attract and retain talent in PDO, to ensure that there are PDO officers with the appropriate trial experience. I propose a secondment of AGC officers to PDO and for active recruitment from the criminal bar. We need to dispel the myth that Public Defenders are not going to give a fair representation of any accused. In fact, the converse may be true, studies show that Public Defenders perform better than the appointed counsel, that is, those who are counsel in private practice and paid by the system. In an article published in Yale Law Journal which involved a study of almost 2,500 cases in Philadelphia, it was found that in comparison to appointed counsel, Public Defenders had reduced the clients' murder conviction rate by 19%, lowered the probability that their clients receive a life sentence by 62%. Public Defenders also reduced overall expected time served in prison by 24%. There were two factors that interviewees cited as important differences between public defenders and appointed counsel: firstly, Public Defenders use of integrated teams, which means greater access to non-legal professionals who may help in the defence; and, secondly, the larger amount of case preparation by Public Defenders. What this means is that a robust training will create more opportunities for our PDO officers. Firstly, they would be able to handle more cases and this will enable them to build up their specialisation and hone their skillsets; and secondly, they will have greater access to resources to aid them in their defence of APs.”
“Very few cases go to trial. US Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy once wrote: "Horse trading [between prosecutor and defense counsel] determines who goes to jail and for how long. That is what plea bargaining is. It is not some adjunct to the criminal justice system; it is the criminal justice system." The situation in US is possibly due to a disparity in funding of the two sides of the criminal justice system. Of the US$200 billion spent on criminal justice activities by state and local governments in 2008, only 2% went to indigent defence. There was also lack of training and support for overworked Public Defenders and a lack of reform to the bail system which holds people in jail simply because they lack the funds to secure their own release. In Singapore, with the establishment of PDO, it is important to ensure that our system does not devolve into a similar scenario like that in foreign countries. I would propose for safeguards to be put in place to ensure that any plea bargain entered will be in the best interest of an AP and perhaps, these cases may have an avenue for review by an independent body with MinLaw and LawSoc's involvement. I echo hon Member Mr Murali Pillai's suggestions for publication of KPIs. I would like to propose for such transparency, whereby there is publication of annual report of statistics of PDO cases that went to trial, number of APs assisted and conviction rates, if possible. Next, on avenue of redress, if complaints are raised about PDO officers, to which body would these complaints be referred? For private or CLAS practitioners, they are governed under the professional conduct rules and referred to the Law Society. My next point is on building up the capability of PDO officers.”
“Is it the one with the best merits, the one with the lowest means, or the one that is first in time of application? In instances where it is equal and the co-accused person is deserving of representation, I welcome Senior Parliamentary Secretary saying that PDO may assign the case to CLAS. I hope it would be the same for the other co-accused persons as well. Next, in relation to offences involving false or misleading statement, the Offences and Penalties proposed under clause 23 of this Bill, is the same as that of section 21 of the Legal Aid and Advice Act, in that both carry fines of S$5,000 per contravention and imprisonment of up to six months. May I ask, what is the rationale of having similar penalties? Would not the breaches under the Public Defenders Act be more egregious and, thus, should attract more hefty penalties as a deterrent? Given that, firstly, it amounts to a perversion of criminal justice; secondly, it mainly involves matters of policy and public interest, as opposed to civil claims; and thirdly, it involves wastage of public resources. Lastly, I would like to highlight the important role that PDO plays in portraying the image and integrity of Singapore's criminal justice system, and therefore, it is very important to look into the following aspects. The first is the practice of plea bargaining, which is practised in Singapore and may generally occur once an accused is charged. The outcome of any plea bargain depends on various factors, including public interest, timing of the guilty pleas and so on. It is important to note, that while a guilty plea saves public resources, a plea bargain is not a given right. In the US, the vast majority of felony convictions are now the result of plea bargains: some 94% at the state level, 97% at the federal level.”
“I quote hon Member Mr Lim Biow Chuan's concern that there is need to safeguard against abuse of process. It is important to clarify that passing the means and merits criteria does not automatically mean criminal legal aid will be granted. PDO, or CPD, shall still retain discretion whether to issue grant of aid or not. Hence, I welcome clause 12(1)(d), which retains such discretion and this will cover the exceptional cases and prevent the decisions of CPD from being challenged unmeritoriously. To illustrate this point: in October 2021, a US couple sued the Colorado Public Defender's Office for refusing to represent them in a criminal case. Both of them earned less than $3,000 a year, which automatically qualifies them for a Public Defender under the Colorado Supreme Court's guidelines. In Singapore, this may not be challenged because of the proposed clause 12(1)(d). Secondly, with regard to the merits test, CPD can award aid if he is of the opinion that AP requires legal representation to plead guilty, as stated under clause 12(c). However, what about a straightforward plead guilty case, where the AP would require legal assistance to formulate a mitigation plea, for instance, for appropriate sentencing? I propose that for such cases, aid should be granted because firstly, it will save time and resources for both AGC and CPD, if issues on sentencing are appropriately addressed; and secondly, it will be just if the appropriate sentencing is meted out, if the necessary mitigating factors are highlighted. Next, in respect of co-accused situations now, clause 14 prevents PDO from acting for more than one accused person. This is rightly so, to prevent conflict of interest. However, how will PDO ascertain which accused persons PDO will represent? What will be the criteria?”
“With the setting up of the Public Defender's Office, I hope that more accused can get access to fair and equal representation in Court notwithstanding their position, status or financial standing. (In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, providing criminal or civil legal aid requires funding and resources. However, there is also an economics argument to improve access to justice in society. In Canada, the cost of unequal access to justice on public spending in other areas, like social assistance and healthcare costs, had been estimated to be about 2.35 times more than the annual direct service expenditures on legal aid. In Australia, studies have shown that there are net public benefits from legal assistance expenditures. Investments in legal aid can lead to significant Government savings through avoided cost of arrest, conviction, incarceration, probation and post-prison supervision. In addition, public investments in legal aid are also found to generate net savings in terms of avoided shelter or housing costs. For one to qualify for PDO aid, one would have to pass the means and merits test. I have a few clarifications in this regard. Firstly, on the merits test, I welcome the expanded means criteria that Senior Parliamentary Secretary mentioned just now. Already, it is higher than the civil legal aid criteria of $950 dollars. Specifically on PCHI and definition of household members, I would like to ask, if there will be discretion on the part of the Chief Public Defender (CPD), to grant criminal legal aid, if the accused person (AP) is no longer residing in the household, but the NRIC reflects the same address? How about APs who can actually afford private lawyers because their children can pay, but their children are not living with the AP?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, according to the World Bank Group report on Cost Benefit Analysis of Legal Aid, the world faces a widespread justice gap. Globally, billions of people lack access to basic justice services and the most vulnerable are often women, children, people with disabilities and people from minority ethnic communities. It is thus important to address this justice gap. While Singapore has a leading legal system and great access to justice already, we must continue to ensure that the most vulnerable segments of our society get the fair representation that they deserve in our criminal justice system – which is why this Bill is important. I welcome and stand in support of this Bill and I would like to applaud MinLaw for this step towards greater access to justice. In Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] In October 2020, I asked whether the Government would consider providing direct legal aid to those with lesser financial means, who have been charged with criminal offences. This was in light of concerns raised about access to justice and adequate legal representation for such persons, following the case of Parti Liyani. This Bill allows for access to justice for criminal cases. Previously criminal legal aid is administered by the Law Society alone. Based on my previous experience as an assigned solicitor with the Legal Aid Bureau and CLAS, I welcome the mechanism for provisional grant of legal aid and mechanism for approval by the Public Defenders Office board. I also welcome the scope of cooperation and sharing of caseload between PDO, that will be established, and CLAS, that is administered by the Law Society, as this will enable accused persons to have access to reasonable legal representation and expertise.”
“Thank you, Mdm Deputy Speaker. I filed a PQ yesterday and it was answered in respect of the monkeypox situation. Just to clarify, in the answer, the Senior Minister of State mentioned that a small percentage of those can fall seriously ill, and 99% of the cases were men and have been self-identified as men who have sex with men. That is the data from the current multi-country outbreak indicated in Europe. So, my question is, given the risk factors involved, what would be the advisory and efforts for us to reach out to groups of the community that are more susceptible than others?”
“Thank you, Mdm Deputy Speaker. I am grateful to the Minister of State for the explanation. Back in November 2021, I asked a Parliamentary Question on young suspects and the measures. I am heartened that the AAYS age threshold would be increased from 16 to 17, come October 2023. I have a question on the limited pool of AAs and how we can perhaps increase it. Would the Ministry consider, by default, having parents as AAs? Secondly, in terms of training of AAs, whether we can look into enhancing their training, especially with the soon-to-be-established Public Defender's Office (PDO), where the rights of young suspects can further be briefed by PDO, or AAs can be further trained by PDO in the future.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank the Minister for his clarifications and Statement. I am heartened by the good work done by our SPS officers. As a volunteer with Yellow Ribbon Singapore, I have visited the prisons myself and spoken to some of the inmates. I have two clarifications: one on the meals for our inmates and second, on the mattresses. On the food, this is a point highlighted to me by a resident as well. There are three meals for inmates – one for breakfast at 7.30 am, lunch at 12.30 pm and dinner at 6.00 pm. For inmates who do not have visitors or family members who can provide the approved snack bags by SPS, they would have no choice of any night snacks from the period of 7.00 pm to the following day's breakfast. Would perhaps the Prisons be looking into providing at least some snacks for inmates who require them after 7.30 pm? Second, on the mattresses, I totally agree with the Minister on the security aspect for hidden contraband risks. There is also the risk of flammability, I think, of the mattresses. I quote from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission in this regard that although there are fire-retardant and protective fabric barriers that can be used, through any acts of vandalism, the material within the mattresses can be exposed and be used as a fire safety risk within the prison, posing safety risks for the inmates and our custodians. In this regard, is MHA looking into actively any other materials that can be used as an alternative to the current bedding that is being used right now?”
“In conclusion, here in Singapore, we cannot afford to sweep family violence under the carpet. With greater awareness, change of mindset and a whole-of-nation approach, we can end family violence and, with it, online harms from our society. Thus, I am glad that both the White Paper and the Recommendations of the Taskforce on Family Violence are moving towards greater intervention, closer cooperation and rehabilitation efforts amongst all stakeholders. There are wounds that do not appear physically, but they hurt more and leave deeper scars. Such is the emotional trauma caused by family violence and online harms. I support the White Paper and this Motion and the action plans set out by the Government. We must target zero violence and online harms against all. This is our collective effort. Men are not just allies because we are good men, but because we are all meant for good.”
“Of those who are employed, about 80% earn less than $2,000 per month. These women face challenges in getting affordable accommodation sometimes to be near their workplace or their children's school. A new way to envision crisis shelter service delivery, perhaps. I recall, many years ago, when volunteering at Casa Raudha Crisis Shelter, I brought my daughter along. There, she saw many girls her age playing with their mothers. The crisis shelter was nice but secluded. It is gated and, some may say, isolated. When I explained to my daughter why the other girls were there, her reply stumped me. She asked, "They didn't do anything wrong. Why must they be here? Why can't they go home? Why can't the bad people move out instead?" Our approach towards family violence has always been to tread carefully with relationships and balance that with the safety of survivors in a confidential setting, mostly away from the public glare. In the Netherlands, The Orange House, established in 2011, changed this thinking behind crisis shelters. The Orange House, located right in the city centre, provides shelter and care in a safe but open and visible setting within the community. Their motto is "Not secret, but safe". Their interventions break with the traditional "behind closed doors" approach. It means working with all family members, including, if safety allows it, the ex-spouse or perpetrator. The focus is on the impact of family violence on children and safe parenting. Perhaps, we can consider a similar, more visible and accessible shelter which will not only be empowering to survivors but also send a strong signal to the rest of society that we stand by them, alongside them. It would also be and must be welcoming to men who are perpetrators themselves but want to seek help.”
“A mindset shift to bring about equality should start at home. Therefore, this White Paper is important to everyone. Each of us is a leader of our respective families and able to portray positive traits that can be emulated. When family members help one another, the result is family harmony and prosperity in the community. (In English): Mdm Deputy Speaker, a change in mindset on family violence requires rethinking a more inclusive approach. In Australia, Victoria state's initiative called the Orange Door provides access to comprehensive services for those experiencing family violence so that they can feel safe and supported. It also provides services for men who resort to violence so that they themselves can get help. In Singapore, our Family Violence Service Centres also act like a one-stop centre for assistance and links survivors to other forms of help. However, beyond survivors, we also need to assist men to get the help that they need, be it in parenting, anger management or conflict de-escalation. Hence, I am heartened that the Taskforce on Family Violence has recommended to strengthen the rehabilitation of perpetrators, including mandatory counselling programmes (MCP) and treatment, to reduce the risk of violence recurring. Such efforts would preserve relationships and the family unit in the longer term. This is better for the family's financial and housing security, too. Survivors of family violence are more likely to live in interim rental housing upon discharge from crisis shelters. Based on data from Casa Raudha, the number of beneficiaries who went on to live in rental housing upon discharge has gone up from 40% in 2017 to over 70% in 2021. Further, almost two-thirds of them are still unemployed upon discharge despite training and upskilling efforts.”
“We need people who would either be brave enough or feel safe enough to stand up, speak out and take action against such behaviours, be it in the real world or online. Besides awareness, we need a network of support and information accessible to those who need it and make it easier and safer for reporting. For example, in Taiwan, crisis shelters sometimes are held in the same building as the police station itself. Late last year, France rolled out an initiative to facilitate the lodging of reports on family violence by survivors from where they have found shelter so that they can be in an environment where they feel safe. I am grateful that MSF has adopted my suggestion on the hand signal for the "Break the Silence" campaign to provide non-verbal cues for family violence reporting. The Government also, in response to my previous Parliamentary Question, will enhance the National Anti-Violence Helpline to include a text messaging service or app, which would allow discrete queries or reporting. In Australia, such resource websites incorporate a "clear history" or a "quick exit" button which brings the reader quickly to a nondescript Google page, for instance. Through such awareness and efforts, we hope we can shift mindsets of our society. Mdm Deputy Speaker, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Last year, Casa Raudha conducted a survey and a discussion between fathers and men at the Keat Hong Community Club to understand the impact of the patriarchal mindset on families and its correlation with family violence. A third of the respondents agreed that having a head of family with a patriarchal mindset can destroy a family’s harmony. Patriarchal mindset and misogynistic and violent behaviours have no place in our society.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, I declare my interest as a board member of Casa Raudha, a crisis shelter for women and children facing family violence here in Singapore. I rise in support of the Motion and, in particular, the action areas in the White Paper on increasing protection against violence and online harms. Ending family violence and preventing online harms require a multi-pronged approach involving many parties. Men – husbands, fathers, brothers, sons – can be advocates and allies for the cause. But men can also be victims of violence or online harms as well. I am thus heartened to see the White Paper involving the feedback of many men and setting out what men can do to make a difference. First, we can raise awareness – make it easier to report, make help more accessible and make reporting safer not just for survivors but also for whistle-blowers. Second, we can help change mindsets that violent or misogynistic behaviours have no place in our society. Third, we can rethink the way we tackle family violence and rehabilitation efforts in our community. First, raising awareness. Recently, in conjunction with International Women's Day, PAP Women's Wing provided a resource toolkit for activists to assist anyone facing online harms. I was involved in this, together with hon Members Nadia Ahmad Samdin and Hany Soh. Together with DefenceGuild SG, we held talks to raise awareness on online harms. DefenceGuild SG is a ground-up initiative of lawyers which I founded, following the incident of the lewd online poll on female religious teachers in the Muslim community. Probono lawyers provide assistance and advice to victims of similar online harms and sexual harassment. However, there needs to be protection for whistle-blowers as well.”
“LUP polls have also always been conducted only among these benefiting units. The current method of counting only the units without direct lift access as benefiting units may thus be, in our view, a cleaner approach. Nevertheless, as I have shared earlier, we thank the Member for his suggestion. We will continue to look at ways to bring down LUP costs and alternatives to improve accessibility of residents living without direct lift access. If the Member has residents who are facing such an issue, I would like to urge the Member to raise it with HDB. He can approach the HDB branch office. We will do our best to explore ways to help the family and the household.”
“Thank you, Speaker. Out of the 150 blocks in the whole of Singapore that are segmented, 20% of those, or 30 blocks, are within the Keat Hong ward of the Chua Chu Kang GRC in my constituency. The flats and blocks are more than 30 years old and some of the residents are elderly and I know of one resident of mine who has an adult child who is a stroke patient whom he carries up and down the stairs every time he needs to get to medical appointments. The real distress is there for residents having lived there for many years. I have two questions for the Minister of State. First, whether HDB can consider a different way to assess what is and what is not a benefiting unit for the purposes of an LUP. Because, if you think about it, there are other units that may actually benefit from LUP in the event of a lift breakdown, for example. The second question: I appreciate the answer just now by the Minister of State that HDB is still exploring further solutions, but can HDB determine whether there are any feasible technical solutions conclusively and quickly? And if none is forthcoming, can HDB consider other solutions like purchasing the flat and repurposing it for interim public rental housing, for instance, where the tenants are on a revolving basis and are younger? I ask this because the residents have waited 30 years for LUP and some of them may not survive to wait another 10 more. Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, I thank the Member for the supplementary question and also for his suggestion. If we look at how we have been doing LUP, we have always only considered the units that do not have direct lift access as the benefiting units of the LUP, since the cost of the LUP has always been shared amongst these units only.”
“Just one supplementary question. In particular for MTOs, even without an MTO, would SPS be looking into a tailor-made, customised intervention programme within the prison, for any at-risk individuals? Also, for members of the public who have any information of individuals who may be at risk or susceptible to knife-related crimes, how would one go about highlighting that individual to the Police and for treatment?”
“Thank you, Chairman. I thank the Minister for the announcement on the update on the Singapore Community Wakaf. I think the bigger issue will be the general estate planning, future planning and retirement security of our community. So, I agree that public awareness is key. If I may ask, with the workgroup, will there be other efforts to be made to approach the community and engage the community through the community partners, preferably through M3 and other Malay/Muslim organisations to tailor-make the message, for example, just like "Dadah Itu Haram" campaign that is quite effective for the community. Secondly, what would be the framework of support that we would encourage the take-up of such strategies to plan for estate planning and wealth planning, including the recruitment of Wakaf and also the Lasting Power of Attorney. This could also include legislative amendments and the proposals that I suggested in terms of the Syariah court and MUIS' recommendations.”
“In March last year, following my Parliamentary Question on WMS, we were informed that the Advisory Panel has submitted its recommendations and Minister Masagos Zulkifli also explained that, apart from the submitted recommendations, the Government also needs to study various other aspects to refine the general approach on wakaf. And this includes considering proposed amendments to existing laws. The last wakaf was made more than 40 years ago – in 1978. Here, I agree that we need to restore the spirit and culture of endowing property for the benefit of society and nation, as those before us had done in the past, which helped established many of our religious institutions and welfare bodies through wakaf. To achieve this objective, I had proposed in my previous Parliamentary speech that we need to establish a holistic ecosystem, including a more comprehensive dispute resolution framework and a public awareness campaign, on estate planning. Our community needs to be prepared for a rainy day. I hope WMS can trigger a positive change in our community. Therefore, can the Minister provide an update on the establishment of WMS and its plans, moving forward, to further encourage the practice of wakaf in Singapore? Can the Government also consider setting up a dedicated department in the Syariah Court or MUIS to hear any disputes related to the issue of Muslim inheritance, including wakaf?”
“(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Chairman, in last year's Committee of Supply debates, I asked about the KelasMateMatika, or KMM, programme and I was pleased that KMM had successfully prepared students for primary school. I am also excited about the School Readiness Class (KSS) programme announced last year. KMM and KSS are effective because they are not only meant for our children, but their parents as well. A KMM participant in Chua Chu Kang told me that the programme gives her confidence when teaching Mathematics to her child. This is encouraging because many parents participating in the programme come from low-income families and may not be highly educated. What is the latest update on the achievements of the KSS and KMM programmes and to what extent has the ECDA-led KidStart programme been able to complement the KSS and KMM programmes for Malay/Muslim families? Educational assistance is not just for children, but also for parents in their lifelong learning. So, what are the efforts to improve lifelong learning for young couples and workers in our community? Wakaf and Estate Planning (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The Singapore Community Wakaf (WMS) was announced in 2020 to generate a sustainable income to support the long-term needs of our community which includes religious institutions, asatizah development and community programmes. An Advisory Panel has been set up to review the necessary steps for the wakaf.”
“All inmates, even those who decide not to attend the programmes, can access – using tablet computers – rehabilitation materials like e-versions of psychology-based correctional programmes, motivational talks and various guides on regulating emotions and communication skills. At the halfway houses, all supervisees would have to go through a programme to reinforce the skills and concepts learned in prison, like what I shared in my answer earlier. So, as I also said earlier, while SPS provides various programmes to help inmates, there are also other factors that will help in the successful rehabilitation and reintegration of ex-offenders, such as having stable employment and positive pro-social networks. It would also depend a great deal on the individual's personal motivation and desire to change. In fact, that is always the message whenever I visit the prisons to meet the inmates. I will always remind them "while we will do our best to help you to rehabilitate as part of your rehabilitation and reintegration journey, at the end of the day, a large part of it depends on you". Many of them agree. We will continue to support them, so that they are able to reintegrate into the society in a better and stronger way.”
“I thank the Minister of State for the clarifications. Just a full disclosure, I am on the Board of Yellow Ribbon Singapore. In September last year, I asked a Parliamentary Question (PQ) on the rehabilitation challenges faced by elderly inmates and also, in the recent cuts in the Committee of Supply, I have asked on rehabilitation efforts. The Minister of State mentioned about the various rehabilitation programmes, such as the release preparation, religious, work and family programmes. I was just wondering, how many, in terms of percentage, of inmates actually attended those programmes in the last year, in 2021. For those who did not attend, what are the reasons for them not attending? If so, what are the steps that SPS and the Ministry would be taking to enhance attendance in such programmes? Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, I thank the Member for the supplementary question. As I have shared earlier, SPS assesses inmates for programmes based on various factors, such as their risks of re-offending, rehabilitation needs and the remaining length of sentence and also looking at their responsivity with regard to the programmes that are available. So, we assess that psychology-based correctional programmes and family programmes would be suitable for about half of the 2021 admissions into prisons. However, about 5% may, eventually, not attend the programmes due to motivation or mental health issues. For some, they also fall sick. About 40% of the inmate population as at end-2021 attended skills training. About 30% of the inmate population as at end-2021 attended work programmes. For other programmes, such as educational, religious programmes, the participation ranges from about 5% to 60%, as it depends on the inmates' own needs and preferences.”
“I thank the Minister of State for the announcement. It is very welcoming news of the new modes of reporting and assistance to complement NAVH. With discreet text messages or through web link or through the app, we do need to consider two considerations. One, is to minimise the risk of interception of the chat history, data on iCloud, the conversation thread; second, is preventing impersonation, perhaps by the use of code words or a phrase. In other jurisdictions, they will use code words like S-A-F-E to convey that there is some unsafe access to the conversations. Could MSF look into this while looking into the rolling out of the other modes of reporting, to look at how to further enhance the protection and perhaps in concert with colleagues from MCI as well, together with the recently announced Code of Practices on Social Media Platforms? I would appreciate any clarifications in that regard.”
“Thank you, Sir. I thank the Minister for the announcement on the plans on simplifying the probate process. I just want to have one clarification. I think there is also the need to synergise with the Muslim law probate process as well because there is a need for Muslim intestate beneficiaries to also extract Syariah inheritance certification from the Syariah Court; and whether there will be also plans to synergise the two systems, so that there will be a seamless transfer of documents and the certificate from the Syariah Court to the Family Justice Court, which may be administering the family justice or the probate and the letter of administration process.”
“This is especially so for smaller or local firms which may not have the benefit of economies of scale when seeking to acquire such legal technology solutions on their own. Retaining Talent in the Legal Industry”
“Sir, there has been an increase in unclaimed CPF monies held by the Public Trustee. In 2018, it was reported that 2% of CPF monies were unclaimed, amounting to $132 million. Last year, the Central Provident Fund Act was amended to take a "Beneficiary Representative" (BR) approach to simplify the payment of deceased CPF members’ un-nominated CPF monies. Besides this, what other efforts have been made to increase public awareness among beneficiaries and reduce the amount of unclaimed CPF monies held by the Public Trustee? 6.00 pm Further, the probate and administration process in Court for beneficiaries can be quite cumbersome to navigate before they are able to appoint the executor and administrator of the estate of the deceased. Hence, may I know what are MinLaw's plans to make it easier during the probate process for beneficiaries to appoint executors and administrators particularly for those with limited means or those without any legal representation? Legal Technology Reform Technology is becoming increasingly an important element in the practice and business of law. My own firm, which is part of a larger international set-up, has a global collaborative platform focused on developing, deploying and investing in new technologies in the practice of law in our offices all around the world. It is almost imperative nowadays to incorporate and leverage technology in legal practice. Clients are increasingly looking for quicker assistance and more are specifically seeking out innovative solutions and the adoption of technology. In this regard, how is MinLaw supporting law practices in their digitalisation journey and also to encourage legal practitioners to utilise legal technology in their practice?”
“For me, this is something very encouraging to our community and it is the result of efforts by CNB and MHA over the years, especially the “Dadah Itu Haram” campaign which began in April 2017 in support of our Malay/Muslim community’s initiatives. The “Dadah Itu Haram” campaign has been around for almost five years. And we have already seen how these efforts are effective in fostering greater awareness and reducing the number of drug offenders in our community. Here, I would like to acknowledge CNB and MHA officers who have been working very hard to help save our community from the drug scourge. Their sacrifices and efforts will shape the future of our children in a life free from drugs. I hope that more community members and organisations will answer the call and get together to assist this noble effort. In view of these latest statistics, what are MHA's next plans and updates to cooperate with Malay/Muslim organisations on the fight against drugs? What are the lessons and approaches in the “Dadah Itu Haram” campaign that can be applied to reach out to other communities or young people? Ex-offenders' Continuity of Healthcare”
“Madam, Singapore's two-year recidivism rate is amongst the lowest in the world, with the rate for the 2018 release cohort being 22.1%. Our relative success is fueled by the good work of our officers in MHA and its agencies. It is complemented with an ecosystem of support like Yellow Ribbon Singapore, where I volunteer and other community partners. Our approach in Singapore is, indeed a whole-of-nation effort to help with the employment and employability of ex-offenders in their path away from recidivism and towards rehabilitation and reintegration. Society's perception and understanding of the challenges that ex-offenders face are crucial to our reintegration efforts. Clear efforts have to be made to remove stigmatisation and labels. Personally, I prefer the term "overcomers" instead of "ex-offenders" as it better reflects their journey to overcome their chequered and challenging past. I thank Member Mr Mark Chay for his support in this regard. Let us help offenders become "overcomers". In this regard, how is MHA working with other partners to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders, generally, and in particular, to drug-related offences? How is MHA working with the community to strengthen support for ex-offenders? May I suggest, besides rehabilitation and reintegration, we add another reconciliation, that is, reconciliation with their families. Malay/Muslim Community against Drugs (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Recent statistics show that the number of Malay drug offenders arrested last year declined by 15%, compared to offenders from other communities which declined by only 7%. The number of new Malay drug offenders declined by 32% and the number of new Malay offenders was less than the Chinese community.”
“Chairman, in Malay. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Since last August, Saudi Arabia has welcomed international vaccinated Umrah pilgrims, after a gap of one and a half years due to COVID-19. In fact, many Singaporeans performed their Umrah during this pandemic. As Umrah for international pilgrims has resumed since last August, could we expect the Haj to resume for Singapore pilgrims for this year, too? In last August too, I asked a Parliamentary Question during the tensions in Palestine. Minister for Foreign Affairs explained how the Government has, through the Enhanced Technical Assistance Programme (ETAP), trained over 500 Palestinian officials in public administration, economic and urban development. Singapore also sponsored Palestinian students to pursue post-graduate degrees in our local Universities. Many thanks to our MFA officers. Can the Minister for Foreign Affairs update us on efforts to support capacity building in the Palestinian Authority? Singapore's Relations with other Key Partners”
“Our relations with Brunei have been very close and mutually beneficial for many years. In 2021, Brunei assumed the chairmanship of ASEAN in the midst of great challenges brought upon by the COVID-19 pandemic in Southeast Asia and other issues as well, such as the military coup in Myanmar and the ongoing maritime disputes in the South China Sea. ASEAN, under the chairmanship of Brunei, would have to cooperate, navigate and chart a post-pandemic future together to achieve stability and prosperity in the region. In this regard, can the Minister please elaborate on how we have maintained our excellent relations with Brunei in the midst of these challenges? And what are the highlights of Brunei's chairmanship of ASEAN in 2021? 12.45 pm ASEAN”
“Chairman, I am a Member of ACCORD. It is an honour to serve alongside other Members to promote the support for NS amongst families and employers. Ours is an important role because NS is key to our concept of Total Defence, which covers not just military defence preparedness but also fosters greater identity and social cohesion amongst our young men in NS, who come from all races, religions and backgrounds. The recent conflict in Ukraine has underscored how important it is for countries like Singapore to never lose our ability to defend and look after ourselves. A resolute defence comprises two things: first, a credible and strong SAF and, second, the unshakeable resolve of our people. NS provides the opportunity for Singaporeans to forge a deep sense of rootedness and resolve to defend what is ours and our way of life. A strong SAF, augmented by NS, serves as a strong deterrent, which goes hand-in-hand with diplomacy. Come 17 March, NS would have been implemented in Singapore for 55 years already. NS has served us well, and long may it continue. Could MINDEF please provide an update on ACCORD's efforts to better shore up support for NS? How can we do more to involve all Singaporeans in our defence, including employers, parents of new citizens or those who wish to pursue sports or further education and, thus, seeking deferment of NS?”
“The recent crisis in Ukraine has thrown up stark reminders to all nation-states, big or small, that cooperation in times of need is critical. Globally, US-China tensions have polarised countries, both in our region and further afield. These have manifested in various geopolitical theatres, including the South China Sea. Internally, many ASEAN countries are facing challenges domestically, economically and with the current pandemic. A region that is divided and distracted is not in our interest. Singapore should seek to facilitate stronger cooperation among ASEAN countries, given the increasingly complex regional landscape. The ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) is the region's security platform to engage in open dialogue and practical cooperation to foster regional stability. ADMM prides itself as being open and inclusive in this regard. Can the Minister for Defence provide an update on MINDEF's efforts to foster greater cooperation through ADMM? Further, ADMM-Plus consists of eight other countries, including China, Russia and the US. ADMM and ADMM-Plus are the region's security architecture and are meant to contribute to regional peace and stability among all 18 countries. Given the developments in Ukraine, what is the impact on the work and security cooperation of both ADMM and ADMM-Plus? Environmental Sustainability”
“I thank the Minister of State for the response. It is heartening to know that there are six companies that are keen to make or assembly ART kits here. This is very welcome news, indeed. I understand from a recent Straits Times article or report last year that there are, currently, two local manufactured ART kits that are being approved for use within a clinical setting with professional guidance, but they were not able to obtain the necessary validations for approval to sell on the retail market because most local hospitals are too busy to carry out clinical trials of the kits. I have three follow-up supplementary questions. First, will there be any particular consideration that could hold back the approval of these six companies' applications that have been announced? Second, what are the considerations when approving an ART kit for retail sale? Third, what steps are being taken to mitigate the risk posed by connectivity disruptions to ensure a good, steady and healthy supply of ART kits to Singapore? Appreciate the clarifications.”
“Would MOF set some targets within the next five years, to reinvest more of our investment returns to build up our reserves and explore more revenue streams to complement our investment income? Hopefully with such targets we will be able to save more for our children and their children. In conclusion, Mr Speaker, Sir, we must continue to work hard, spend smart and save more for Singaporeans of today and Singaporeans of tomorrow. I stand in support of the Budget.”
“With such explanations or regular reports, Singaporeans can understand that the borrowing will not only help “free up” our spending capacity but at the same time not be a burden to future generations. Next, streamlining our tax system. One example is the Land Betterment Charge Act (LBC) which streamlines the previous framework for tax collection. Under the previous framework, landowners and developers have to pay to either the URA or SLA, a Development Charge or a Temporary Development Levy or a Differential Premium. However, now under the new Act, the LBC will replace all these previous charges and collected by just one agency, SLA. This is a good example of making things more efficient. I have a clarification: would MOF be looking into streamlining the imposition and collection of other charges to ensure greater efficiency? Is there a specific department that looks into this? Our tax system is admittedly already simpler and less complicated to navigate than other jurisdictions', but we can still see how to make it more efficient. Perhaps just like how we set targets on right-sizing Government spending with 5-year Block Budget Framework, MOF can similarly set targets to trim down the number and types of taxes too. Third, save more. Besides cutting on costs and spending smart, we must save more into our reserves. Our country does not have any other viable natural resources. NIRC, is already the single largest source of revenue. We cannot be over reliant on this alone. We cannot tax this golden goose. Now is the time for us to start planning to put more into our reserves for the future generations.”
“If you want to run further, run together". In recent years, MOF had also developed a number of joint Budgets to ensure better alignment and greater efficiency and value. We have seen these efforts in the Smart Nation initiative for example. What other whole-of-government efforts can be better coordinated across Ministries and agencies so that we can also attain greater efficiency and savings in implementation? For instance, I would suggest that the recommendations of the taskforce on family violence be considered for potential implementation not just by MSF alone but on a whole-of-Government effort. With regard to the pandemic, does MOF track the coordination of efforts and resources by MTF and the various agencies and Ministries related to the COVID-19 pandemic? This would be useful for future studies on the impact of the pandemic and how much it cost our country to provide the necessary support and response. I would suggest a multi-Ministerial consolidated Budget or allocation to address any future crisis. This will also provide a more accurate picture of non-crisis related expense by a particular Ministry or agency. The second step, spend smart. In my work with the Parliament Estimates Committee, we looked at the Government's budget to see how improvements may be effected to increase efficiency. In the course of the past year, we have also introduced various legislation which has helped in this. One example is the Significant Infrastructure Government Loan Act (SINGA) which allows Government borrowings for major national infrastructure projects that will last for at least 50 years. If I may clarify, can Minister illustrate how significant the financial impact of SINGA has been on this year’s and future Budgets in an easy to read and digestible manner?”
“While it is unclear if this is due to an expectation of GST increase or other factors like the rise in the costs of energy and supplies, I welcome the establishment of a Taskforce by the Government to tackle profiteering and those who take advantage of the upcoming GST hike as an excuse to raise prices. The Taskforce is not something new as it was also set up during the GST hike in 2007. Our GST system is progressive and the features of the permanent GST Vouchers and other transfers have the effect of helping those who need it the most. At the same time, it also results in savings in administrative costs and implementation. The increase in GST alone will not be able to cover our expenditure, especially healthcare expenditure which will continue to increase. At the same time, while the Government had been able to tap on the country's reserves to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, this is untenable for the long term. We need to take steps to reduce the budget deficit in the future. (In English): Mr Speaker, Sir, as stated, this year’s Budget will have an even bigger deficit. What this means is that we need to do three things: first, work hard; second, spend smart; and third, save more. First, given the continued impact and uncertainty of the pandemic and global situation we have to continue to work hard in our economic recovery and strengthen our social compact. I am glad that we have come up with many efforts for close coordination between Ministries and agencies in specific areas which would also give us the ability to work harder together. For example, the Singapore Green Plan 2030 involves various Government agencies working in concert, along with a whole-of-society effort, to meet a global challenge. Just like the saying, "if you want to run fast, run alone.”
“We must also look at the retirement security of not only our seniors but entire communities, by considering reforms to make it easier and affordable for Singaporeans to plan for their retirement and their future. Third, invest in our next generations through technology, education and skills required for the future. This involves not just targeting young people or students but also working with their parents, educators and industry players. How we support the young determines how they will grow to support our country in the future. However, all of these goals and aspirations will only remain as a wish list if we do not have the fiscal discipline and proper planning to finance our plans in the future. This Budget 2022 gives us the springboard to do so. Mr Speaker, in Malay, please. (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] This Budget is bigger than last year. Total Expenditure exceeded $100 billion, which is $4 billion higher than the Revised FY2021 estimate. Although revenue is projected to be higher than last year, this is not sufficient to cover our recurring expenses. The projected overall fiscal position for the year is a deficit of about $3 billion. Therefore, there is a need to increase revenue not just for current and future expenditure but to save for our future generations. Many people are talking about GST. Minister Lawrence Wong has explained its reasons and the fact that the GST increase will be done in stages and will only take place from next year onwards. However, anecdotally some Chua Chu Kang residents have informed me that they are already seeing some shops and stalls increasing retail prices.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, last year’s Budget had set us on the course to brave the storm of this pandemic by helping businesses, workers and families. We had also planted the seeds of growth on the SG Green Plan through sustainability efforts and green financing. Our consistent and careful handling of the COVID-19 crisis has led to greater confidence not only in Singapore but the region as well. However, we are not out of the woods yet. New challenges have emerged in the course of the past year. COVID-19 and its variants have tested our system and the resilience of our people. But we have prevailed, thanks to the cooperation and understanding of everyone. This is also assisted by the various schemes like the JSS, COVID-19 Relief Grant and the Jobs Growth Incentive (JGI), just to name a few. We are also facing a period of global economic uncertainty and higher energy prices, given the recent developments in the Ukraine region. With these challenges we now face, I agree with Minister Lawrence Wong that we have to further strengthen our social compact as one people, more so now than ever before. In this regard, in my Committee of Supply cuts, I will focus on three main areas. First, strengthen our institutions and relations. This includes strengthening our total defence and relevance of National Service (NS) to our people and new citizens, maintaining and improving our relationship with other countries in the region and all over the world. Second, prepare our people to be secure and confident to face a post-COVID-19 world, that means maximising the potential of everyone, especially the most vulnerable, like ex-offenders. Instead of offenders, they can become overcomers through our help in their rehabilitation and reintegration into the workforce and society.”
“We have social service professionals, for example, those from the family violence specialist centre, who would also engage the families, not only from the reconciliation perspective, but also how to provide safety plan, in case there is re-offending. At the same time, we also engage the perpetrators to connect with family, and also to encourage him or her to better understand what are the avenues, how they can overcome such behaviour. This, in itself, we want them to respectfully, resolve their conflict and to reduce the risk of family violence. If you have followed the developments that we have been doing in family violence, we have formed a Taskforce on Family Violence where the Minister of State Sun Xueling and I co-chaired, and we have released a set of 16 recommendations in September 2021. I am happy to share the Government has accepted, in principle, our recommendations. We hope to progressively implement this over the next few years. Essentially, what we hope to do, is to increase awareness of and strengthen societal attitudes against family violence, and enhance preventive efforts for persons at risk. And, also, we want to develop more avenues to make it easier for survivors and the community to report family violence and get immediate help. We are also working to strengthen protection and support for survivors to reduce their risk of being harmed again. And, I think, last but not least, we will increase the accountability of perpetrators and strengthen their rehabilitation to reduce their chances of re-offending. So, we will continue to work with community partners to tackle family violence. In fact, everyone can play a part in breaking the cycles of abuse and neglect.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Minister of State for his response. I asked the Parliamentary Question (PQ) and my intention is actually to seek clarification on a process whereby we can prevent further stigmatisation; and at the same time, promote rehabilitation and reconciliation between the ex-offender and the family. Back in December 2021, there was a case of domestic violence involving someone, the perpetrator who had breached bail conditions. Sir, I was wondering whether there can be more emphasis on rehabilitation and reconciliation between family members which, I think, would be a far more permanent and longer-term solution, which would be beneficial to both parties and the children as well. In this regard, what would the Ministry be conducting to do, to help in the reconciliation process of our ex-offenders? By the way, I do not like the word "ex-offenders". I think we should call them "overcomers" – they would overcome the challenge of their checkered past. Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, I thank the Member for the supplementary question. We agree with his suggestion about how we should focus on reconciliation, and that is what we hope to do for every ex-offender because that will also make their rehabilitation and reintegration process better. So, essentially, what we do is that for those with known family violence, the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) will refer these cases to and work with MSF and also with the relevant social service agencies before the person is being released from prison. In some cases, we also have case conferences where we discuss deeper into the situation and see how we can help them better.”
“I thank the Minister for the elaboration and detailed explanation. I am thankful for the answers to my Parliamentary Question as well, wherein I asked about assistance to fellow Singaporeans who are embroiled in that conflict. I have two clarifications. First is, I think both the virus and violence are taking a toll on the people in the Ukrainian region. So, it is going to be a great humanitarian crisis and the refugee situation in Eastern Europe will also be unprecedented. What can ASEAN and Singapore do to alleviate the situation over there, particularly, given that COVID-19 is still raging amongst us and there would be some need to render assistance in that regard? Secondly, I am told that for small countries, we do hold true to the principle of international law and we denounce the notion of "might is right". But at the same time, we still need to know the lay of the land and navigate our way through. So, what are the implications in terms of international order, particularly for Singapore and smaller states, given this particular crisis that is unravelling before us?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, on the Motions, firstly, against the former Member, given her own admissions and the reasons stated in the COP Report, I concur with the penalties recommended against the former Member. Secondly, on the Motion on adopting the COP's recommendation to refer the two party leaders and Members for further investigation by the Public Prosecutor, I think this is the fairest outcome as I am personally uncomfortable in judging my own peers and Parliamentary colleagues. Let an independent body like the Public Prosecutor investigate, as this would allow both Members to present their fullest case and provide their own explanations. With sadness and regret, Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Motions.”
“Even though he was asked about the materials which Mr Singh and Ms Lim brought to the meetings, he still refused to answer the question. Despite being told that such a refusal to answer may be an offence, he still did not want to answer. He was asked eight times. Yet, he refused to answer. Hence, I can understand why the COP had no choice but to refer his conduct to the Public Prosecutor for his refusal to answer. What else can the COP do? Or anyone else among us could have done? I am also disappointed on another aspect. Ms Raeesah Khan looked up to and got advice from Mr Faisal Manap as a senior Malay/Muslim Member of Parliament in her party. He is the Vice-Chairman of the party and someone who has had many years of experience as a politician. He was Ms Khan’s mentor. She asked him to guide her and give advice. And this was evident in the communication messages between them. According to Ms Khan, she was advised to take the lie to the grave, and when exposed, she was eventually sacrificed. At the critical time during the COP proceedings, Mr Faisal Manap chose to remain silent rather than answer the question posed by the COP. Where is the compassion for a young person in need? Does this show exemplary and honourable character and morals? As minority MPs who are Muslims, we also reflect the values, morals and principles of our community and faith, as responsible leaders. As they say in the olden days: "Leaders must be capable Earning the trust Displaying bravery Bound to promises and vows Given the responsibility For leaders are chosen by the people Revered by the community Placed high on a pedestal And status accorded appropriately" (In English): We need to earn the right to lead and the respect to be called leaders.”
“Trust is earned when our actions are equal to our words and we walk the talk. But once that trust is lost, things will never be the same again. The actions of the former Member were clearly wrong. She has admitted her wrongdoing and we are now debating the issue of an appropriate punishment. But she is a young woman with no experience in politics. According to her, her party leaders told her to keep to the lie but they turned on her and, subsequently, she had to resign. To have a first-class democracy, we need good contestable politics, in the best interest of the people. In ensuring that, we need to attract young people who will place Singapore and Singaporeans first; before party or politics. In order to attract and retain young people to be involved in shaping the politics and future of Singapore, we need to have party leaders on both sides of the aisle who exemplify high moral courage and characters of great integrity. Not leaders who are the first to turn their backs on the young or leave them in the lurch in their time of need. In this matter, the evidence of the hon Member Mr Muhamad Faisal bin Abdul Manap has been key to understanding the events that unfolded as stated in the COP Report. It is disappointing that Mr Faisal Manap has refused to answer a question put by the COP eight times. The question that was asked was simple. When Mr Faisal Manap gave evidence, he said that he met with Mr Pritam Singh and Ms Sylvia Lim on 7 and 8 December 2020; just two days before he was due to give evidence to the COP. The meetings, according to him, lasted two to three hours on each day. He was asked about the documents that Mr Singh and Ms Lim brought to the meetings but he refused to answer the question.”