Zulkifli bin Mohammed
Singapore
“This is because there is little or no opportunity at all for this group of people to undergo training, as many of the SMEs they are employed in have not been involved in training, as they are too preoccupied with bottom-line profits and survival.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head S of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code SI 1500. Sir, the first point I wish to raise is on noise induced deafness.”
“Sir, I also share my colleague's view on the concern about safety and fatalities at hazardous work sites. Sir, I would like to touch on the safety management system and safety audit whereby, last year, some tough regulations were introduced.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head S of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code SL 1500. Sir, I just like to know from the Ministry what plans do they have to expand further the level of cooperation between the Ministry and the NTUC in the field of safety and health programmes.”
“Sir, the issue I wish to address is hit-and-run accidents that hit the newspaper headlines recently. 1.30 pm Sir, in 1993, there were three fatalities but this had jumped to eight in 1994 and it shows an increasing trend and therefore a great cause for concern.”
“In addition, overcrowding at public entertainment places is now under better control, as owners are taking steps to limit the admission rate to the permissible level. The bottom line, Sir, is that so far the Fire Safety Act has worked well and the beneficiaries of course are Singaporeans who can now feel safer.”
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“These workers who have been laid off have a right to receive fair compensation for their loyalty and dedicated service. Sir, I would like to know the Ministry's views on this matter.”
“Sir, I am pleased to note that the Minister for Labour had earlier on mentioned that the Ministry of Labour will do more to assist retrenched workers so that they can facilitate them to find alternative jobs or make them stay employable. Sir, in moving this amendment, what I would like to focus upon is on the retrenchment benefits for older workers. Some employers have linked the issue of retrenchment benefits with the raising of the retirement age. The question of retrenchment benefits should not be confused with the raising of the retirement age. This issue was never a bone of contention when the retirement age was raised from 55 to 60 in 1993. Why should it be so now? Why should workers above 60 be stigmatised, mindful that the present legislation does not spell out the quantum for paying retirement benefits? The quantum has always been a negotiable item between employers and the union. We should continue to preserve this spirit of negotiation to perpetuate the harmonious industrial relations climate that has prevailed in Singapore for a long time now. Sir, the pertinent question I wish to ask employers is: have unions been unreasonable when negotiating benefits for laid-off workers? As far as I know, unions have been responsible in the matter and take into account the reasons for the retrenchment, such as the company's financial position. If the company is insolvent, the unions do not press for compensation. On the other hand, Sir, there are companies that are doing well but still lay off workers because of restructuring or relocation. Sir, in such instances, there should be no excuse whatsoever for companies not to pay retrenchment benefits to the laid-off workers.”
“This is an important issue we need to address as we do not wish to see employers regard workers above 60 as unproductive and offer them terms and conditions of employment that are not commensurate with their worth. Employers must recognise that it is essential for older workers to be treated with dignity, as studies have shown that morale improves when people feel that they are contributing to society and are considered part of the mainstream of society. Sir, some employers also fear that they will not be able to create jobs for those above 60. In this respect, I am of the opinion that every single Singaporean in our workforce counts, as we must be prepared for the eventuality that the current pool of foreign workers will no longer be available and we should attach more importance to older workers as a source of labour. Sir, another area of workers' concern is that they want to be assured that they have the option of retiring before the legislated retirement age so that they could still enjoy the benefits due to them on retirement. On this note, I would like to hear the Minister's comments on the points that I have just raised.”
“Sir, the labour movement strongly supports the raising of the present retirement age. With longer life expectancy at about 76 years now, many older Singaporeans are healthy enough to work for another 10, perhaps 15 years beyond the age of 60. People who retire early will generally require a larger sum of money to meet their retirement needs. Therefore, the move to raise the retirement age is necessary to enable workers to continue to earn income that could see them through their old age as well as meet their health care spending. Sir, it is heartening to hear from Mr Stephen Lee just a moment ago that employers support the extension of the retirement age beyond 60 but, at the same time, employers are concerned with its cost implications, in particular, the seniority-based wage system. Earlier, my colleague, Mr Sinnakaruppan, has already highlighted the mechanics and advantages of the proposed base-up wage system which, I believe, will go a long way to overcome this problem. I would therefore join him to strongly exhort the Singapore National Employers Federation to seriously consider the base-up wage system proposal and get their members to start implementing it. Is it valid for employers to feel unduly worried? I should not think so, because employers should be rest assured that the labour movement follows closely economic developments in the region and around the world, and understand the need to train and retrain workers to enable companies to maintain their competitiveness. Sir, what about workers' concerns? Will the raising of the retirement age mean drastic cuts in pay and other benefits?”
“Sir, like my other parliamentary colleagues before me, I see the onset of the ageing society with trepidation. Its implication can already be felt and one, which had earlier been mentioned, will be the growing number of old people being left all by themselves during the daytime when their children or married children are out at work. Sir, it is inevitable that there will be more demand for services for the elderly, so that we can endeavour our utmost to keep our elderly as healthy as possible, and thereby reduce the strain on our various national resources. Day-care centres for the elderly is one service that can go some way towards achieving this goal. By providing day-care service for the elderly, we not only support families in caring for their dependent elderly, but also enable them to continue to care for the aged within the home, and thereby help to preserve the integrity of the family unit. At the same time, such services will enable more educated and skilled women to join the workforce to help supplement the family income. And over the long run, it will enable our society to moderate its dependence on foreign domestic maids. Sir, I understand that a survey has recently been conducted to ascertain the projected demand and type of elderly day-care services in the coming years. The questions I wish to ask are: Has the survey been completed? What are its preliminary findings? And what is the future scenario that has emerged?”
“Sir, one of the main objectives of the Registration for Flats System (RFS) introduced in the second half of 1994 is to ensure that first-time home buyers are given priority over upgraders. However, quite a number of first-timers are still unhappy as they feel that the waiting period is now longer. It is more like four years, and some were even told that they have to wait five years before they can get their flat. They attribute this to the fact that the current ratio of 60:40 for first-timers and upgraders is inadequate as it has not cut down the waiting time for getting their flats. Sir, I am fully aware that the waiting period hinges upon the location they apply for. But some of my constituents have informed me that even their applications for the West and North zones are now experiencing a longer waiting period. What I would like to know is whether the 60:40 ratio is working satisfactorily or is there a need to further fine-tune it in favour of the first-time home buyers? Secondly, with regard to the spread of applications, what is the current position? Has there been a better spread? Last year, the Minister mentioned that more than 55% of the applicants preferred the North-East zone.”
“Sir, civil defence is a matter that merits serious consideration by all Singaporeans. Whilst we may be blessed that we live in a region safe from natural calamities, we run the risk of neglecting our civil defence readiness by taking it for granted that no major catastrophe will befall on us. As mentioned earlier, the Civil Defence Force had implemented a volunteer scheme some years ago through the Civil Defence Coordinating Committees. But unfortunately, Sir, over the years, to me, it seems that the interest has waned and the presence of this existing pool of CD volunteers trained in basic civil defence skills is not that visible at the neighbourhood levels. Hence, there is a need to motivate our volunteers further and give more meaning to their role, vis-a-vis the CD regulars and reservists. In this connection, Sir, I would like to ask: is there any recent review done on the type of assistance and support the Civil Defence Force is able to render to the volunteers? In my view, one aspect that needs looking into is sustaining the interest of existing volunteers as, otherwise, it would be difficult to recruit new volunteers. This requires the CDCCs to be proactive and a new impetus must be given in order to remind our citizens on the importance of civil defence in Singapore and the need for everyone to play his or her part. 4.00 pm”
“This is because there is little or no opportunity at all for this group of people to undergo training, as many of the SMEs they are employed in have not been involved in training, as they are too preoccupied with bottom-line profits and survival. Surely the Government can do more to act as a major catalyst by giving financial incentives to encourage training of low-income workers in order to keep them employable. Sir, in this connection, I would like to urge the Government to be more pro-active in rendering whatever financial assistance possible to stimulate SMEs to train their employees. On this note, I support the motion moved by the Minister for Finance. 5.36 pm”
“Given the scenario I have just mentioned, I am confident that Singaporeans are discerning enough and cannot be easily hoodwinked. On the contrary, I believe that our people understand and appreciate what the Government is doing. However, we must be pragmatic and realistic by being fully aware of the philosophy behind these give-aways and not assuming that this happy situation will be around year after year and thereby raise unrealistic expectations. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, on specific issues, I would like first to touch on rebates pertaining to HDB rentals. Whilst I applaud the decision to further assist both 1- and 2-room households by increasing to three and two months net rent rebates respectively (against two and one month respectively last year), I am of the view that the Government could have been more generous. I would like to call on the Ministry of Finance to consider giving additional rebates, maybe up to six months, in the coming fiscal year for these low-income families to further alleviate their financial burden, as I believe the additional amount involved can be comfortably absorbed by the good budget surplus. Next, I support the view expressed by my other colleagues from the labour movement on the absence of new financial incentives for workers' training in the Budget. This is indeed a disappointment as we have been harping on the importance and the pressing need for training and retraining for our workers irrespective of age. By not having some new incentives, we will put the older workers and those employed in small and medium enterprises at a disadvantage.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join in this debate on the Budget Statement for fiscal year 1996. Sir, this year's Budget Statement indeed contained several good news, to the extent that it is no exaggeration to describe it as "too good to be true". Almost everyone that I spoke to reacted that they were very pleased with the Budget. If there is any complaint, it is that it is very difficult to fault the Budget. Not surprising though as the benefits cover a wide spectrum of our society. As such, there should be no quarrel this time around as to whether it is pro-worker, pro-business or pro-individual. Simply, it is pro-everyone and perhaps the most appropriate label to attach to it is the "people's budget". Sir, the Ministry of Finance deserves the highest accolade for once again being able to generate a surplus of $7 billion for the current fiscal year. If I am not mistaken, this is the fifth consecutive year that the Government has been able to share the fruits of our economic development with our people. This speaks volumes for the Ministry of Finance for its judicious handling of our nation's financial resources. However, Government policies alone are not enough, as it must not be forgotten that the hard work put in by our people has also contributed to this creation of wealth. Despite this sterling performance, some quarters - and I hope they are in the minority - are cynical by commenting that what the Government gives with one hand, it takes back with another. Can these cynics substantiate their claim? If this was true, how do we explain from the social indicators that Singaporeans are better off? Examples are real wages have risen by 5% per year over the past five years; home ownership has reached 92% and 75% of Singaporeans now own shares.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of this Amendment Bill. Sir, the main concern here is: are we to turn a blind eye and tolerate the lawlessness taking place at worksites accommodating foreign workers? I am sure the answer is surely not, as we have been told of the alarming statistics of serious crimes by the Minister a short while ago. Sir, it is apparent that existing legislation, though stringent, is still inadequate to deal with such offences which keep on increasing. This Amendment Bill is, indeed, more than a welcome relief to all law-abiding Singaporeans as it serves to deal with such problems more effectively by placing the accountability on employers to ensure that law and order are maintained at their worksites. The stiffer penalties provided for will be a strong deterrent to force employers and main contractors to put up better security and access control measures in order to stamp out lawlessness at worksites. In this connection, Sir, may I ask the Minister whether the Police is satisfied with the present standard of security implemented at the worksites and what steps are being contemplated to monitor it to ensure that it is being tightened up to meet the enhanced requirements. Sir, once again, I support the Bill.”
“Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $45,585,440 for Head S ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $2,583,900 for Head S ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head I -”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head S of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code SL 1500. Sir, I just like to know from the Ministry what plans do they have to expand further the level of cooperation between the Ministry and the NTUC in the field of safety and health programmes.”
“Sir, I accept the Senior Parliamentary Secretary's reply and I would like to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head S of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code SI 1500. Sir, the first point I wish to raise is on noise induced deafness. As this is still the leading occupational disease, may I know what additional control measures the Ministry intends to take to further reduce this incidence? The second point is on the incidence of chemical poisoning at workplaces. There has been a sharp increase, as reported earlier this year by the Ministry, and my question is: what are the existing safety procedures for factories handling poisonous chemicals and are they adequate? I would also like to know how often are checks made to ensure compliance with safety standards, like ensuring the air in the factory is within the safety limit?”
“Sir, I just want to know what is the level of preparedness. Is he satisfied with the level of preparedness?”
“Sir, I also share my colleague's view on the concern about safety and fatalities at hazardous work sites. Sir, I would like to touch on the safety management system and safety audit whereby, last year, some tough regulations were introduced. I would like to ask the Minister whether he can give a progress report on the present level of safety preparedness at the shipyards, and whether the Ministry will be making further recommendations on safety as a result of the preliminary findings on the audit reports received so far.”
“Sir, the latest report announced by the CID on 13th March 1995 revealed rather disturbingly that the arrest of under-16 offenders are on the rise, showing a four-fold jump from 100 to 400 over the past four years and also that more juvenile offenders are getting bolder and committing more serious crimes. This escalation surely has a spill-over effect to schools, as is evident by the worsening discipline problems currently being encountered by teachers. Sir, during last year's debate, the House was informed that the incidence of juvenile crimes involving pupils had not risen. Can this be so? I am inclined to believe the situation now is otherwise, bearing in mind there is a correlation between juvenile offenders and delinquent students. My question is: what is the increase in the number of delinquent students and what kind of serious offences or crimes are they involved in? It appears to me that the tripartite cooperation between the Ministry of Education, the schools and the Police to tackle the problem is not achieving the desired results. I would like to hear the Minister's assessment on the points that I have just raised. 4.15 pm”
“I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for his reply, and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $811,420,500 for Head Q ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $220,000,000 for Head Q ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head V -”
“In addition, overcrowding at public entertainment places is now under better control, as owners are taking steps to limit the admission rate to the permissible level. The bottom line, Sir, is that so far the Fire Safety Act has worked well and the beneficiaries of course are Singaporeans who can now feel safer.”
“The second aspect of the Fire Safety Act is the implementation of the Fire Safety Managers (FSMs) scheme where owners and management of designated buildings are required to appoint FSMs to assist them in looking after fire safety matters in the buildings. Currently, there are already 570 FSMs. Sir, in the first phase, all of the 87 buildings affected complied with the requirement to employ FSMs. These buildings exceeded 19 storeys in height. The second phase which will start in September 1995 will cover about 200 buildings. These are commercial buildings exceeding eight storeys with a gross floor area of 5,000 square metres or more with an occupancy load of 1,000 persons or more. The owners have been notified of this requirement in February. Sir, the third aspect of the Act is the Registered Inspectors (RI) scheme introduced in August 1994. Up to end February 1995, 571 inspections have been carried out by RIs. The Fire Safety Bureau (FSB) was able to issue temporary fire permits and fire safety certificates for these inspections within three to 14 days. This is a vast improvement over the former situation when it took 14 to 30 days. Spot checks by FSB are carried out to ensure that the standard of fire safety is maintained under the scheme. Sir, the fourth aspect is that FSB has also stepped up its enforcement action against people who are responsible for the creation of fire hazards in buildings. Building owners and tenants are now more aware of the offences and punishments that will be imposed on them. Most have heeded the warnings issued by FSB for offences such as the locking of fire exits and obstructing of common corridors.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head Q of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code QE 1500. Sir, it is almost a year now since the Fire Safety Act came into force to counter some common fire hazards in public buildings. What I would like to know is whether the SCDF is satisfied that its public education programme is achieving the desired objectives, bearing in mind that the new procedures still require some time for people to be familiar with and also whether there are any serious problems encountered in implementing the Fire Safety Act? Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, I think the best way for me to answer the Member is to recount the implementation of the Fire Safety Act. The Act came into operation in April 1994. It was introduced to impose new fire safety requirements and to enable SCDF to deal more effectively with fire safety related offences. Sir, the Act is working well. There are four aspects to the Act. The first is the Fire Emergency Plan (FEP). The scheme was introduced in April 1994 and involved 422 public buildings with an occupancy load exceeding 200 persons. This scheme requires buildings to have a plan for the safe, orderly and efficient evacuation of occupants in case of fire. The plan also includes the conducting of fire safety programmes and fire drills. So far, 418 buildings, or 99%, have prepared the Fire Emergency Plans. The remaining four buildings which did not comply were fined $200 each. They are still being monitored for compliance. Sir, the second phase will commence in the second half of 1995. This phase will involve landed industrial premises with an occupancy load of more than 200 persons. Building owners will be given six months' advance notice.”
“Sir, I also fully support this move to involve the community in the form of participating in half-way houses to tackle the drug problem. But from what I know, the response to this half-way house scheme has been lukewarm despite the financial support, both capital and recurrent, that will be forthcoming from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Why is this so? I would like to ask the Ministry: is it because running a half-way house is a daunting task that brings with it prickly problems? Or is there insufficient expertise in the voluntary organisations? I suspect this is so and would like to know what are the Ministry's views and what further steps it intends to take to involve more organisations in this matter? Mr Low Thia Khiang( In Mandarin): In page 22 of the Budget book, it shows that the manpower expenditure of the Ministry of Home Affairs has increased by $92.6 million, mainly to fill up 552 vacancies. My question is, firstly, since when did these 552 posts become vacant and what kind of posts are they? Secondly, why did the Ministry of Home Affairs feel there is a need to fill such vacancies? Thirdly, the EOM expenditure has increased greatly and is it not against the Government policy of maintaining zero manpower growth?”
“Sir, the issue I wish to address is hit-and-run accidents that hit the newspaper headlines recently. 1.30 pm Sir, in 1993, there were three fatalities but this had jumped to eight in 1994 and it shows an increasing trend and therefore a great cause for concern. Although the statistics may appear small, what is of more importance is the untold suffering and misery that befell on the families of those who died from such accidents, especially if they are sole breadwinners. Sir, I have read recently that the Traffic Police have set up a hotline to facilitate information from witnesses regarding such accidents. But I feel this is not sufficient and I would like to call on the Traffic Police to recommend enhancing the existing penalties so as to send a strong signal to these cowardly drivers that it does not pay to flee the scene and to accord more justice to the aggrieved families who lost their loved ones.”
“Sir, most Singaporeans welcomed the good news that the overall crime rate continued to drop for the sixth consecutive year since 1989. But, like Dr Beng, I am alarmed at the detection of crimes committed by illegal immigrants and also at the degree of lawlessness at construction sites which house foreign workers which, I believe, has not abated. Certainly this is the price Singapore has to pay for our dependence on foreign workers and for having a buoyant economy that attracts illegal immigrants. Like Dr Beng, I am interested to know what measures the Ministry intends to take to prevent the situation from worsening. Sir, another crime that is perturbing is the increasing number of molest cases. Although more victims are coming forward to lodge a report, can something more be done to educate our women folk on preventive measures to protect them, particularly against aggravated outraging of modesty? I feel there is a need for the Police, in cooperation with the other community groups, to step up a public education programme and other relevant strategies to combat this heinous crime. Can the Minister please comment?”
“I would like to ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary whether his Ministry is satisfied that,in view of the high percentageof foreign workers now working in shipyards, they have taken adequate measures to ensurethat the safety practices and methods that have been given to these workers are strictly enforced.”
“Dr Kanwaljit Soin asked the Minister for Education why only 14% of the students have withdrawn money from their personal Edusave accounts to improve the quality of their education.”
“Dr Kanwaljit Soin asked the Minister for Finance if he will elaborate on the problems that cause the delay of tax treaty negotiations with other countries as Singapore has concluded comprehensive tax treaty with only about 27 countries. Cdre Teo Chee Hean: A tax treaty helps to promote bilateral economic relations between two countries. It provides clarity on the taxing rights of each country on all forms of income flow between the two countries. It also removes instances of double taxation which can arise from trade and cross-border investment activities between the two countries. Generally, we are keen to conclude tax treaties with countries with which we have significant investment and trade flows. Before we commence on any treaty negotiations, we would evaluate the feasibility of having such a treaty in respect of the mutual benefits which it would bring about. Being a bilateral agreement, the pace at which a tax treaty can be concluded and ratified is also dependent on how quickly the other country wants to have the treaty and the terms it is prepared to accept. Based on these factors, we have concluded 31 comprehensive tax treaties with almost all our major trading partners. Of the 31, only 2 have yet to be ratified. There has been no delay in treaty negotiations. In this regard, 1993 has been a bountiful year. Tax treaties were signed in that year with Luxembourg, Pakistan and Poland. Treaty negotiations were also held in 1993 with Hungary, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Mexico. The treaty with Vietnam was signed in 1994. There were also several renegotiations with our existing treaty partners, namely, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Japan, Denmark and India. WITHDRAWAL FROM EDUSAVE ACCOUNTS 2.”
“Sir, I rise in support of this Bill which revises our existing patent system and I am confident that many interested parties can now sigh a relief. Sir, as has already been explained by the Minister, the existing system is costly, time-consuming and cumbersome, particularly for local inventors. In addition, it also tends to stifle creativity. On the other hand, there will be distinct advantages when the revised system is put in place in due course. Firstly, Singapore need not commit scarce resources in having to invest heavily in building up a full-fledged domestic system with search and examination capabilities; Secondly, local applicants will save time and effort; Thirdly, indigenous patent expertise will develop over time; and Fourthly, it will make it easier for local inventors and foreign companies to obtain patents without requiring the full documentation facilities and large technical staff of developed countries. In summary, Sir, the new system will be a major reform Bill. It will pose a major challenge to the legal and business community. It will also allow local investors and encourage MNCs to use Singapore as a R&D centre. In view of the technical complexities involved, I welcome the Minister's decision to commit the Bill to a Select Committee. Sir, I support the Bill. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time. Resolved, That the Bill be committed to a Select Committee consisting of Mr Speaker as Chairman and such Members as the Committee of Selection may nominate. - [Prof. Jayakumar]. ADJOURNMENT Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn to a date to be fixed." - [BG Lee Hsien Loong]. Adjourned accordingly at Seventeen Minutes to Six o'clock pm to a date to be fixed. WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS TAX TREATY NEGOTIATIONS 1.”
“Sir, I wish to draw to the HDB's attention the plight of those who in the process of upgrading are left stranded after selling their existing homes but are unable to move to their new accommodation, because of a breach of contract by the other party. Sir, I understand these incidents are on the increase. These are families who unexpectedly lose a roof over their heads and are in urgent need of temporary accommodation but do not have the financial means to rent private premises. At the same time, they are not eligible for rental flats as their incomes would definitely exceed the stipulated income ceiling. They are thus in a jam. Existing HDB rules and regulations do not have a provision to handle such cases. Whilst sub-letting may be an option, in reality, there are practical problems, for example, availability and location of the sub-letted flats. As the sole public housing authority, surely the HDB can do more to render assistance to such cases. Sir, what I am talking about are bona fide cases of families whose lives are dislocated as a result of circumstances beyond their control. I therefore would like to call on the HDB to exercise more discretion and flexibility by allowing these families to temporarily rent a flat. If this is not possible, may I know what plans HDB has to provide interim housing for such cases?”
“Sir, I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for his answer and beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $39,230,400 for Head S ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $5,976,400 for Head S ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head I -”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head S of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code SL 1500. Sir, I would like to touch on the Safety Instruction Course (SIC). While I understand that the syllabus is wide enough, I would like to suggest that it be improved from time to time to keep up with developments in the industry. In my opinion, the use of solvents for chemical cleaning, proper control and storage of chemicals should be given greater emphasis. My question is: does the existing syllabus provide sufficient emphasis on the handling of chemical substances? Finally, Sir, still on the subject of safety, I would like to ask whether the Ministry has considered introducing a training programme designed for the intermediate category of safety personnel, such as safety supervisors. I believe such a programme will go a long way towards enhancing the safety environment at the workplace. I would appreciate the Minister's comment on this matter.”
“Sir, I wish to reiterate that the labour movement views with deep concern the spate of shipyard accidents that took place in 1992 and 1993, and also the most recent one on 8th February this year. Sir, the Ministry of Labour is aware that in recent years, and in particular in 1992, industrial accidents have been on an upward trend. I hope this does not reflect that there is a slackening of enforcement and surveillance. Sir, I share the sentiment expressed by my colleague, Mr Othman Haron Eusofe, regarding safety at worksites. I would like to know the Ministry's assessment of the current situation on industrial accidents. Is the Minister satisfied with the existing measures to monitor and contain industrial accidents?”
“Sir, like my other colleagues, I applaud the decision to revise the CPF Minimum Sum upwards. Whatever the perceptions may be, I am convinced that it would be better for the long-term good of our citizens, in particular those in the lower income bracket. It is a known fact that the majority in this category have little or no savings at all, apart from their CPF savings, which also may not be that much. Sir, speaking of the lower income group, they look forward to withdrawing their CPF money upon reaching 55 to make their outstanding financial commitments and other uses. For example, paying up the housing loan, children's education or, for the Muslims, some look forward to use the money for their haj pilgrimage. With the raising of the CPF Minimum Sum, they fear, whether rightly or wrongly, they will be deprived of this opportunity to withdraw their meagre savings. In this connection, Sir, I would like to seek the Minister's assurance that the concerns of the lower income workers will be addressed thoroughly. Could the Minister perhaps inform the House what additional measures the Ministry would take to alleviate their anxieties and fears?”
“Sir, the latest statistics released by the CID on 22nd February 1994 pertaining to juvenile offenders are indeed disturbing. Not only does it show that it is on the increase since 1990 but what is shocking was that there is an unhealthy quantum jump of 30% in 1993 over 1992. What is also raising eyebrows is the profile of the juvenile suspects. Most are aged below 16 and are students or school dropouts. Sir, it is obvious that there is a correlation between juvenile offenders and delinquent students. For some time now, I have heard that principals and teachers have been saddled with the problem of delinquent students but cannot do much to effectively handle it. Unless appropriate measures are taken by all parties concerned, including the school authorities, it will be a question of time in the near future before we see an alarming proportion of law breakers within our midst when this category of students becomes adults. Sir, my question is: what is the extent and degree of the problem of delinquent students in schools? Are the schools doing enough to tackle it? Also, I would like to know what measures have the Ministry of Education taken so far to train principals, discipline masters and teachers with relevant skills to enable them to better cope with the problems. 5.00 pm”
“Sir, I am heartened to note that the Ministry of Home Affairs, working closely with the Prisons Department, has been introducing new and better methods to help different categories of drug addicts to kick the habit and improve their chances of reintegration with their families and society. In this connection, last year, I enquired on the possibility of using a suppressant medication (Naltrexone) to treat hardcore drug addicts, as it was reported to have a high success rate in the United States. I am aware that the Prisons Department had recently introduced this drug in their rehabilitation programme. Could the Minister, therefore, give an update on the progress of this Naltrexone project? I am particularly keen to know whether we are seeing the desired results, ie, resulting in many cases of drug addicts staying away from drugs for good. Next, Sir, is the Electronic Monitoring System (EMS) which was introduced a few years ago aimed at allowing drug addicts to leave the DRCs to work and to go back with their families. During last year's debate, the Ministry reported that EMS was progressing well and that its use will be extended to criminal law supervisees. Has this been done and what is the feasibility of extending it to other categories of offenders?”
“Sir, I am assured by the Minister's reply and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. 5.45 pm”
“I would also suggest that those appointed as Fire Safety Managers be constantly kept informed of new fire safety measures and methods so that they will remain updated and enthusiastic about their important role in ensuring the safety of building occupants. Sir, I would appreciate it if the Minister could comment on the points I have just raised.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head Q of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code QE 1500. Sir, the Fire Safety Act which will come into operation soon will enable the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) to deal more effectively with fire-related offences and require building management to come up with preventive measures to ensure fire safety in buildings. Sir, I would like to raise two issues. First, is on the question of enforcement of the Act vis-a-vis the general public. As it will take some time for the public to be familiar with the main provisions of the Act, there will be some apprehension when fire safety officers make their rounds to enforce the new law. Thus, there is a need to reach out to the public by giving them more information on what is expected of them under the Act so that they can avoid committing unintentional offences. What I would like to ask is what plans the SCDF have in the pipeline to secure a better understanding and cooperation from members of the public to enable them to perform their enforcement duties effectively. Second, Sir, is the issue of qualified Fire Safety Managers. I understand that the Fire Safety Bureau (FSB) has put in efforts to arrange training courses to qualify persons as Fire Safety Managers. During this initial period when the Act comes into operation, I hope the FSB will give special consideration to those who are already on the job but do not have the full academic qualifications to enrol in such courses. I would like to emphasise that their years of experience should be taken into account when they apply for such courses.”
“We want to involve the developer who is developing a building. We want to involve the management of a highrise building after the building is built. We want to involve everyone who works in it, whether he is a manager, a secretary, a clerk or a typist. Because if a building is built and has met all the specifications, a year later, when you have moved in the furniture, equipment, curtains, drapes, and the management, residents and workers of that building do not play their part, then the role of the Fire Safety Bureau and Civil Defence is really to come and put out the fire. Our approach is, let us not wait to put out the fire. Let us prevent the fire from starting out in the first place. In order to do that, you must involve those who are residing in the building and are responsible for its management. I do not think, in all fairness, that it can be said to be shifting the burden of the Fire Safety Bureau. It is to involve the community and the owners and managers of the building. If we do not do that, and if I did not introduce this Bill, then Government will be failing in its duty. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Prof. S. Jayakumar]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. EXEMPTED BUSINESS (Motion) Resolved, That the proceedings on the remaining item of business be exempted at this day's sitting from the provisions of Standing Order No. 1. - [Dr Lee Boon Yang]. AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE (Motion) 3.37 pm”
“As I said, the pass rate is very high and I am told that more than 90% of the buildings which are to be covered in the initial phases of the Fire Safety Management System already have such Fire Safety Managers trained to take up the job. His second point is that because many of these persons to be appointed as Fire Safety Managers are in fact also doubling up in other capacities, such as security officers and so on, and since they will not be confronted with actual situations, I gather his point is that they may not be as sharp in the duties expected of them. I do not think this is so because even if a real fire does not occur in the premises where they are working, there will be enough expected of them as Fire Safety Managers, for example, they will have to give an annual report to the Fire Safety Bureau on what they have done in the building, what is the training given to the staff, what is the status of the checks on fire safety equipment, fire protection system, and whether they have any fire drills and so on. In the case of a Fire Safety Manager who does not give such a report or gives a report saying that nothing was done, then I would expect the Fire Safety Bureau of the Civil Defence to look at it as a warning bell and to find out what is going on. Although it is true that the FSMs will be doing other work, it is not true that their role as a Fire Safety Manager will become so mundane and with so few responsibilities that they will not be taking the job seriously. Thirdly, I do not agree that this Bill is to shift the responsibility of the Fire Safety Bureau of the Civil Defence. In other words, passing the buck, so to speak. Yes, we do want to involve others in the prevention of fire hazard and to prevent a major towering inferno situation.”
“In other words, they are doubling up as Fire Safety Managers whilst performing their full-time jobs. While this pool of people may have successfully undergone the Fire Safety Course, in reality, there will hardly be any opportunity for them to face a real life situation and thus there is a likelihood that they may lose their competency as they are not professional fire fighters. Could the Minister therefore enlighten this House as to what measures can be taken to counter this? Sir, a final point I wish to raise is the perception within some quarters that this Bill unnecessarily shifts the burden of responsibility on to the shoulders of building owners. With the appointment of Fire Safety Managers, it is foreseen that the building management, in particular, the Fire Safety Managers, will be subjected to a lot of questioning in the event that there are heavy casualties resulting from a fire outbreak. As for me, I am clear as to what the Bill is designed for, and would appreciate the Minister's comments on this matter. Sir, I support the Bill. Prof. Jayakumar: Sir, first of all, I welcome the support of Mr Zulkifli. What I need to respond to is his questions on Fire Safety Managers (FSMs). First, his concern that there is some anxiety. Actually, the course is about 2-3 months. When I was briefed on it by my officials, I recall that it is not a difficult course. In fact, the pass rate is more than 95%. So the persons who did not make it constituted a very small number. In any case, this small number of people who did not pass will be given a second chance to sit for the test again. So let me assure him that the Civil Defence Fire Safety Bureau will not take such a rigid approach in implementing this measure.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, this Bill is a significant development towards further improving fire safety standards in Singapore and therefore I rise in support of it. Sir, Singapore today is dotted with skyscrapers and to ignore sound contingency plans to deal with major fire disasters affecting high-rise buildings will only imperil the lives of our citizens. However, to-date, we have been fortunate that our Civil Defence Force has a good track record of fighting fires and protecting people and property. But it is essential that close monitoring is done to ensure buildings, be they old or new, are fitted with adequate fire safety features. Sir, under this Bill, building owners are required to employ a trained Fire Safety Manager to maintain fire safety standards, ie, people who are trained through special courses conducted jointly by the Civil Defence Force and the Ngee Ann Polytechnic. In this respect, I understand that to qualify to pursue the course one must have a minimum of three GCE 'O' passes, including Science and Mathematics. Because of this requirement, there is much anxiety on the part of personnel who are currently performing fire safety duties but who do not possess the necessary paper qualifications that they may lose their jobs. Although some are given an opportunity to undergo the course they are made to understand that they will not be given a second chance should they fail to make it the first time. Sir, I would like to seek the Minister's clarification in order to alleviate this fear. Another concern which I wish to highlight, Sir, is that presently, in most public buildings, the personnel engaged to look after the fire safety aspect come from people like Chief Engineers, Maintenance Managers or Chief Security Officers.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of this Bill. Sir, if we follow closely news reports on drugs and its associated problems on the world scene, we cannot but feel shivers down our spine when we reflect on the untold miseries and havoc it is causing to many countries in the world. The fact remains that the drug menace is ever present over the horizon threatening the well-being of society if it is allowed to go unchecked. We in Singapore are indeed blessed to have tough and stringent laws to keep the supply of drugs under control. In addition, our enforcement agency, the Central Narcotics Bureau, must be commended for making this possible with their relentless efforts and ongoing vigilance for which there must be no let-up, mindful that drug traffickers and drug couriers are using new and more sophisticated methods in smuggling drugs. Despite our mandatory death sentence, drug dealers still continue to use Singapore for their nefarious activities. We must not forget that Singapore's proximity to the Golden Triangle will always make us vulnerable to the drug menace. Coming back to the Bill, Sir, I would like to touch on the proposal to re-word the presumption clause under section 17. If I could recall, this presumption clause was last amended in 1989. Sir, I am not a lawyer but, as the Minister has mentioned, the current re-wording of the clause will make it almost similar in wording as spelt out in the Act prior to the 1989 amendment. As such, Sir, I would like to seek the Minister's clarification on this matter.”
“If you have a kidnapping and somebody accidentally discharges a gun or discharges a gun in warning, without intent to kill anyone, that is a mandatory death sentence. The victim is going to be dead for sure. Resisting arrest, similarly. Somebody in the course of resisting arrest accidentally discharges his gun, he loses nothing more by actually shooting to kill the next time when the police come for him. So I hope we are sure what we are doing down here. I understand the Minister's concern and I fully support the Minister's concern to ensure that Singapore is a hostile environment to people who want to traffic guns. My primary apprehension is: are we going to make things worse by imposing a mandatory death sentence? Is it not sufficient if we keep it as it is by amending section 4 with the presumption? If you take out the new section 4A, it will make no difference in my submission. Because basically what you will have is that if somebody does fire a gun, there is a presumption that he meant to injure someone and that means he can be convicted and sentenced to death. If he can satisfy the Judge that he fires without intent to injure anyone, then you can get him for possession of the gun under section 33 or 34, send him to jail for life, and cane him with six strokes. Is there really a need to make it a capital offence just to fire a gun irrespective of the intention? I hope that Members of this House would seriously consider what I have said when they vote on these amendments.”
“I am not sure whether it is really desirable to treat people who fire a gun accidentally, let us say, on par with someone who fires a gun in order to hurt someone else. What happens if you got a robber who accidentally discharges the gun? This is the use without intent. Mandatory death sentence. Mandatory death sentence for accomplices too. Are we comfortable with that? What happens if you got an armed robber who fires in the air, a warning shot? No intent to injure anyone. Mandatory death sentence for him and mandatory death sentence for his accomplices. Will it improve matters? Do armed robbers take these things into account? Do they go and check up the legislation first to see whether it is mandatory or not? I doubt it very much. So I am not sure the deterrent effect is increased one bit by having a mandatory sentence. You might have situations where the imposition of a mandatory sentence makes a desperate man more desperate. For example, look at the scheduled offences. One of the scheduled offences is kidnapping. Another one is abduction. Another one is resisting arrest. You have someone who accidentally discharges his gun in the course of a kidnapping. Mandatory death sentence. He has taken the victim already. Is the victim going to survive if he knows that once he is charged there is no chance of anything except death? Many years ago in this House, an amendment was proposed to the Kidnapping Act to make death sentence mandatory for kidnapping. As was pointed out by the then Dean of the Law Faculty, Prof. Tommy Koh, if you did this, you almost guarantee that the victim is not going to live because the kidnappers would rather kill him than run the risk of him identifying them. You are in effect doing the same thing with this amendment.”
“I hasten to add not in Singapore but at some place else. So I fully support stringent measures to control arms and control the use of arms. My reservation about the amendment Bill is really a reservation about making mandatory death penalties. When a judge is faced with a problem, he has to decide what sentence is appropriate. The reason why we give judges the discretion to impose sentences is that Parliament cannot foresee all the possibilities. And the strength of the common law system that we have is that we do not try to foresee all the possibilities. When you impose a mandatory sentence, you take away that flexibility from the judge and all the more so when you impose a mandatory death sentence, because this is the ultimate sentence and cannot be recalled. Before this House passes the amendments, I hope that we all understand what we are doing. If you look at the Arms Offences Act, if you possess a firearm, you will go to jail, you will be caned. If you possess a firearm for one of the scheduled offences, in other words, the more serious offences, it is life imprisonment plus caning. If you fire a gun in the course of an offence with intent to injure someone, then under the present section 4, that is mandatory death sentence. I do not think there is any problem with that. And the amendment that is being proposed means that the presumption is that when you fire the gun, you intend to injure someone. What I am apprehensive about is the new section 4A which basically says that if you fire a gun when committing one of the scheduled offences, whether you intend to injure someone or not, that means death; and it also means death for all your accomplices. Does this in fact improve the deterrent effect of the Arms Offences Act? I do not think so.”
“Sir, having listened to the background given by the Minister, I rise in support of this Bill. Sir, the increasing flow in firearms trafficking, as has been told earlier to the House, is a trend that we cannot afford to pay scant attention to. While the use of firearms in Singapore has not reached alarming proportions, I am in total agreement with the Ministry of Home Affairs in taking a proactive approach by introducing whatever measures that are deemed necessary to keep our crime rate as low as possible. Sir, it is beyond doubt that our strict laws have been an effective deterrent in keeping serious crimes to a manageable level and in keeping out hard-core criminals from using Singapore as their base of operations. There must be no let-up in sending such strong signals in order to enable us to continue to enjoy a safe environment. Sir, under the proposed amendment, ie, clause 4 which re-enacts section 5, the death penalty can be meted out to an accomplice who fails to take reasonable steps to prevent the use of any arm by the main criminal who normally is the mastermind. In this connection, I must admit that I do not feel comfortable as my concern is that accomplices are sometimes coerced or threatened and may not have agreed to the use of arms when the offence is committed. Here, I want to be assured by the Minister that whilst chances for a wrong conviction may be remote, he is fully satisfied that there are sufficient checks and balances before the death penalty is imposed on accomplices. I would therefore be grateful for the Minister's clarification on this matter. On this note, Sir, I once again support the Bill. Assoc. Prof. Walter Woon: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have had the dubious distinction of having been a victim of an armed robber at gun point.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I join my colleague in commending the Minister for Home Affairs for taking the initiative to amend the Moneylenders Act. Sir, this is a move that has been anxiously awaited and will go a long way towards alleviating the suffering of those who have become victims of loansharking activities. Sir, from newspaper reports several months ago, as mentioned by the Minister, it appears that the perpetrators of illegal moneylending are having a field day and have inflicted injuries on some of the victims. So it is thus clear that loansharking and thuggery go hand in hand. What I would like to know from the Minister is whether the current situation is now under control and whether the measures taken by the Police have been effective in controlling this problem because we make no apology for taking or ensuring effective laws are legislated to protect hapless victims. Sir, I am glad that the proposed amendments now make offences under the Moneylenders Act seizable and non-bailable. I am confident that these new provisions will act as an effective deterrent to curb such criminal activities. Sir, once again, I lend my wholehearted support to this Bill.”
“Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The Chairman: Amendment No. (6), Mr Goh. Can I suggest that you and Mr Cheo ask your questions so that we have time for a reply?”