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[+2 sentences][(proc text) recommendation of President signified; presented by Mr Heng Swee Keat; read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available Sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. (proc text)]
[+2 sentences][(proc text) "to amend the Income Tax Act (Chapter 134 of the 2014 Revised Edition) and to make related amendments to the Economic Expansion Incentives (Relief from Income Tax) Act (Chapter 86 of the 2005 Revised Edition) and the Stamp Duties Act (Chapter 312 of the 2006 Revised Edition)", (proc text)] [(proc text) recommendation of President signified; presented by Mr Heng Swee Keat; read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available Sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. (proc text)] Page: 7
Election of Deputy Speakers›Motions3 turns · 250w
· 6 highlighted
motion-265
Mr Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade)215 words
[+4 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I propose that the hon Mr Charles Chong and Mr Lim Biow Chuan be elected as Deputy Speakers of this Parliament. Mr Charles Chong has been a Member of Parliament since 1988. I think this makes him the longest serving and the most experienced backbencher. He has sat on Select Committees and has led various Government Parliamentary Committees. He also participated actively in the work of various parliamentary conferences. He was also the Deputy Speaker in the Twelfth Parliament session, having been elected and appointed to the position in 2011.[+2 sentences] I had the privilege of working with and being seated next to Mr Charles Chong during the last Parliament session. As for Mr Lim Biow Chuan, he was, like me, elected to Parliament in 2006. A lawyer by profession, Mr Lim has contributed actively to parliamentary work. He was a member on the Standing Select Committee and was Singapore's regional representative in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Exco.[+1 sentence] He has participated in the work of the various parliamentary committees and parliamentary friendship and regional groups. With their expertise, experience and character, I am confident that both Mr Charles Chong and Mr Lim Biow Chuan will make good deputies in discharging their duties and supporting Mdm Speaker in the course of this Thirteenth Parliament session.
The Senior Minister of State for Finance and Law (Ms Indranee Rajah)6 words
[+1 sentence]Mdm Speaker, I support the proposal.
Mdm Speaker29 words
There being no other proposal, I declare Mr Charles Chong and Mr Lim Biow Chuan to have been duly elected as Deputy Speakers of this Parliament.[+1 sentence] Page: 6
Adjournment of Debate›Motions5 turns · 52w
· 0 highlighted
motion-267
The Leader of the House (Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien)15 words
[+1 sentence]Mdm Speaker, may I seek your consent to move that the debate be now adjourned?
Mdm Speaker21 words
[+2 sentences]I give my consent. . (proc text)]
Mdm Speaker8 words
[+1 sentence]Mr de Souza, resumption of debate what day?
Mr Christopher de Souza3 words
[+1 sentence]Madam, tomorrow, please.
Mdm Speaker5 words
[+2 sentences]So be it. Page: 65
Committee of Selection›Motions1 turns · 201w
· 0 highlighted
motion-268
The Leader of the House (Ms Grace Fu Hai Yien)201 words
[+1 sentence]Mdm Speaker, I beg to move, "That this Parliament, in accordance with paragraph (1) of Standing Order 100, appoints the following as members of the Committee of Selection: Madam, the appointment of the Committee of Selection will enable the Committee to begin its work of nominating Members to the six Standing Select Committees of this House and the Special Select Committee on Nominations for Appointments as Nominated Members of Parliament. [(proc text) Resolved, "That this Parliament, in accordance with paragraph (1) of Standing Order 100, appoints the following as members of the Committee of Selection: Page: 66
Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah)2489 words
[+6 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I beg to move, "That the following Address in reply to the Speech of the President be agreed to: 'We, the Parliament of the Republic of Singapore, express our thanks to the President for the Speech which he delivered on behalf of the Government at the Opening of the First Session of this Parliament.'." Madam, my earliest memory is growing up on Changi Airbase. My family was allocated quarters there because my father was a pilot in the RSAF. This was back in the 1970s. They were happy memories: growing up within my close-knit group of Air Force families and their children, the smell of sea breeze from Changi Beach and the daily chant of "kiri, kiri, kiri, kanan, kiri" of soldiers, both National Servicemen and regulars, who would run through the streets of the airbase. That daily chant ensured that the whole team of soldiers got to their destinations together, united. One of the earliest lessons that I can remember I learnt was there on that airbase. I remember both my father and mother teaching me that, "You must ensure that Singapore survives." Madam, this is what GE2015 means for me – that Singapore will survive.[+20 sentences] Singaporeans voted to give the best chance possible for Singapore in the future. Singaporean voters placed into our hands that previous ingredient for effective leadership – that of trust. Being a Member of Parliament is not a job or an appointment. It is a calling. And so, we, the elected few, must respect that trust that has been placed in our hands. We must nurture it and reciprocate it with very hard work; even harder work now for the residents we serve and their families. But Madam, on this, the first Sitting of Parliament post-GE2015, what will our chant be as a country? As we look into the horizon of the next 50 years, what will our drumbeat be as a people of Singapore to ensure that we stay united and get to our destinations together? Madam, I humbly suggest three tenets of this chant. First, that we recognise that Singapore is indeed a precious gem – unparalleled in the region, unparalleled globally. Second, we must realise that while economic accolades are important, these accolades must benefit the very Singaporeans who make up Singapore, her identity and drive. Third, we, as a Government, must put on the cloak of humility and realise that there is still a lot more progress and advancement that can be made for Singapore and Singaporeans. If we are to put on such a cloak of humility, we will realise that there are some countries globally that have effective social economic policies that have worked well for their populations. If we are humble enough, we will be able to adopt such policies while adapting them and nuancing them to the local context for the benefit of Singaporeans. However, while we put on such a cloak of humility, we should and must retain a deep sense of quiet confidence so that we can likewise recognise countries regionally and globally that have not done so well for their populations. We should have that quiet confidence to resist taking on-board short-term economic policies to the long-term detriment of our people. Mdm Speaker, undergirding these three tenets, is the foundational principle that we should never betray the trust placed into our hands by the constituents we serve as we discharge our fiduciary duties. Page: 8 Madam, let me delve into four key policy areas which I feel we need to get right for the continued survival of Singapore. First, security. A look at the South China Sea will show many competing claims over territory. This should cause us pause and provides a poignant reminder that we must never take our sovereignty for granted. Therefore, I think it is odd that some quarters in the political field have called for a reduction in the defence budget by as much as half. This is totally at odds with the geopolitical situation presented to Singapore today. I ask the House in this political term to support a strong security budget to ensure that we have men and women of capability and courage to defend our shores, air spaces and borders.[+5 sentences] Equally, we need the best equipment and infrastructure to ensure that these men and women in uniform are able to fulfil their roles. A strong defence budget will help ensure this. However, Madam, it is not only sovereignty security that is important, but domestic security too. A quick look at our neighbours, Malaysia, Indonesia and even ourselves, shows that there are some individuals who become radicalised domestically. They then take up arms in other countries to support "terrorist causes". The 14 January Jakarta bombings and the rounding up of 27 Bangladeshi foreign workers just last week are cases in point.[+8 sentences] Therefore, we need to ensure that we have a strong Home Team budget to ensure that we have a well-equipped Home Team and a proficient Internal Security Department (ISD). This will ensure that we are able to detect and deter threats beyond our shores and to ensure that we have a safe and secure Singapore. Should the threats unfortunately vest in Singapore, we will have a strong team partnering various community organisations to preserve our communal ties and overcome such threats and adversities. Madam, I do support the President's call to build a safe and secure Singapore. Second, education. It is important to ensure that our students are given the most number of opportunities available to reach their potential domestically, regionally and globally. This is because they will be our next generation of Singaporeans, advancing the country's interests and their own in the world. We need to create an education system that provides opportunities for all Singaporeans and that maximises their potential. Today, Madam, I would like to focus on one key policy in education and that is to ensure that we have a character-, values- and ethics-based education system.[+20 sentences] Let me explain how important it is to encourage all our students to reach their maximum academic potential, because this will stand them in good stead in their chosen vocations. I strongly believe that of equal importance is the need to instil character, values and ethics in a child. Let me further explain. To assess a school purely on its academic output is too simplistic. This is because the schools with longer histories usually have the ability to set the higher cut-off as the entry criteria into the school. It therefore follows that at the next major national examination, the school's academic performance would be good, if not better than average. I would have thought a better assessment of the success of a school would be the amount of value-add that the school gives to each individual child. Here, I would like to acknowledge the concerted effort of Minister Heng Swee Keat and his team in the Education Ministry in the last Term to instil the importance of character in students. This policy has gone down well among parents that I have met at school functions, dialogues and community events. This is because it recognises the individual talents and gifts of the child, Page: 9 beyond academics. It incentivises the school and prioritises the school's focus to bring out the best in each child, for example, to turn a less confident child into a team player. Therefore, I would ask the new leadership team at MOE, namely, the two new Acting Ministers, to advance and consolidate the existing character-, values- and ethics-based education system. My vision is for Singaporean students, when they eventually enter the working world, whether domestically, regionally or globally, to be known for their character, ethics and integrity and that they will make the right decisions and choices in difficult situations. Global MNCs, domestic and regional firms would want to employ Singaporeans because of their character traits and values, in addition to their academic ability and skillset. If we are able to get this right, then, the brightness of our little red dot will radiate in cities and countries around the world, through our Singaporeans who live and work in them. The third policy area that I wish to speak on, Madam, is the need to create a sustainable and predictable property market. I raised in this House the possibility of adapting the Australian model to Singapore to deter overly speculative behaviour by foreigners in the market. In summary, in Australia, foreigners are only allowed to buy new property and only allowed to sell that property back to domestic buyers. This somewhat fetters speculation by foreigners in the Australian property market because these foreigners will not buy property at a price that they do not think they will be able to resell it at to an Australian. When I first raised this in Parliament, the then Minister for National Development, Mr Khaw Boon Wan, explained that he would much rather adopt a more calibrated and flexible approach to cooling the property market. And for that reason, he decided to introduce the Additional Buyer's Stamp Duties (ABSD) and Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR). I appreciate the Minister's rationale and therefore in that same spirit of flexibility and the same desire to adopt a calibrated approach, would the present Minister for National Development, Mr Lawrence Wong, consider removing ABSD for Singaporean buyers while still retaining TDSR for Singaporeans and ABSD for foreigners?[+3 sentences] Let me explain. By retaining the TDSR, a Singaporean is only going to be allowed a credit line that is within his means. If this Singaporean is able to afford a second or third property through the TDSR regime, why tax him with an additional buyer's stamp duty? By retaining the ABSD for foreigners, we help ensure that the foreigners will not enter the Singaporean market in an overly speculative way. Therefore, would the Minister consider removing the ABSD for Singaporeans?[+14 sentences] The fourth policy area, Madam, relates to caring for the marginalised and vulnerable in our society. I strongly believe that one day soon, governments will be assessed also on how they treat the most vulnerable in society. Yes, Singapore has altruistic social and economic initiatives and, yes, we have an effective and efficient Government to administer these policies. However, some among us face circumstances that we were never able to predict. And some, through no fault of their own, land in some very dire straits. Therefore, we must have a compassionate and proactive Civil Service that ensures that we partner the vulnerable in Singapore and lift them up again. This is in line with the President's message to care for one another. Today, Madam, I would like to talk about four specific vulnerable groups. First, abused women and children. I have worked with shelters that do marvellous work for this vulnerable group. Among them, Dayspring, which runs a shelter within Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, and the Good Shepherd Sisters which also runs a shelter in Singapore. They are committed, dedicated and passionate. But I feel that the Government can do a lot more to partner these groups in three concrete ways. Page: 10 One, to provide livable long-term shelters. The Government should allow their tenancies to be much longer term than two to three years. It should be for five to 10 years at a stretch.[+1 sentence] Two, through financial support. Could the Government provide $3 to $4 matching grants for every $1 raised by voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) and non-government organisations (NGOs) which are sheltering abused women and children?[+4 sentences] Three, full-time support in the form of book-keeping and administration. Here, would the Government provide, for example, on secondment a civil servant to assist with book-keeping and administration? This is so that the volunteers at such organisations can focus on giving their time and energy to vulnerable women and children, and partnering them out of difficult situations, rather than getting bogged down with administrative matters. The second vulnerable group are stateless residents of Singapore. I have met several residents in the constituency that I serve who were born in Singapore, grew up here, were educated here, worked here, but have not been given Singapore Citizenship.[+1 sentence] They are recorded as stateless. I hope the Government can take a considered and compassionate view regarding these individuals and accord them Singapore Citizenship.[+4 sentences] A common theme often found among these people is that often, it was their parents who did not register them for a birth certificate. As compared to potential new citizens, I would have thought that these stateless people, born and bred in Singapore, are more deserving of consideration for citizenship. The third group, Madam, is the foreign or migrant workforce and in particular, the migrant workers who may have been duped, cheated or mistreated by their employers. For example, those that have not been paid their wages, or worse still, have had crimes committed against them. I am specifically talking about those in the construction industry. I ask the Government whether we are able to institute a policy to allow such workers to earn a wage while they assist the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) in investigations as prosecution witnesses.[+2 sentences] After all, these people have literally helped to build Singapore and are assisting the state in investigations and the prosecution of errant employers. I think it fair that as a gracious host, Singapore should allow them to earn a wage while they assist the authorities, so that they can pay down their high agency fees. The fourth and final group are our former offenders. It was found that after inmates were released from prison, some enter another prison.[+2 sentences] This is because some cannot find employment. Yes, Yellow Ribbon Project is a worthwhile cause but could we not go further? Today, I ask the Government whether it will lead the way in providing more employment opportunities for suitable released persons in non-sensitive positions in the Civil Service, on a probationary basis. Should the released person show himself or herself to be trustworthy and diligent, would the Government confirm him or her?[+8 sentences] In conclusion, Madam, I return to the imagery of the airbase. I believe that Singapore has flown its first 50 years well. Yes, we have encountered some turbulence, squalls and weather fronts, but we have pulled through because we stayed united. As we embark on the next leg of our flight together as a nation and look at the horizon of the next 50 years, I humbly say that we are starting from a position of strength. Because on this aircraft of Singapore, we have powerful arsenal, that of meritocracy, that of a Government that has no tolerance for corruption and that of a diligent and courageous people. And if we get our drumbeat as a people right, if we get our chant as a nation right, then I believe, because I choose to believe, that Singapore will survive. Mdm Speaker, I beg to move. Page: 11
Mr Sitoh Yih Pin (Potong Pasir)1941 words
[+15 sentences]Madam, the President's Address for the Opening of the Thirteenth Parliament has set the tone and direction for our country. Twenty-fifteen was said to be a watershed year for Singapore. It was. We celebrated our nation's 50th anniversary, mourned the passing of our founding father, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, and had the first General Election (GE) since Independence where all parliamentary seats were hotly contested. The results of 2015 are plain for everyone to see. I need not dwell on that. It marked a coming together of Singaporeans and their Government, a sense that we are together in this journey. After GE 2011, it appeared as though there was a "disconnect" between the Government and the people. I spoke on the paradigm of "trust" at the Budget debate in 2013. I appealed to the Government to listen better and communicate more. I also spoke on the "out of touch" politician at the Budget debate in 2014. It was not a critique of individuals or the Government. It was never meant to be. It was to say, from my heart, what I heard about the perception of "disconnect". Madam, GE2015 had also been a soul searching and humbling experience. I speak for myself and other hon Members of this House when I say that many of us did not expect the resounding support and result.[+2 sentences] I entered politics in 2001. I lost twice. I won the third time but by the skin of my teeth or 114 votes to be exact.[+1 sentence] In 2015, I won again. This time, I was supported by 66% of the voters in Potong Pasir.[+11 sentences] You should think that I would be a happy man. Well, I am, but I also feel a much heavier burden. I feel that I now have the unenviable but proud task of living up to all the expectations and trust that my voters have placed on me. I am sure that each and every Member of this House feels the same. But Mdm Speaker, credit must be given where credit is due. The Government listened. It recalibrated. It acknowledged the areas of concern. It worked hard at building and rebuilding its relationship with the People. It was not easy. How was it done? The "Our Singapore Conversation", led by Minister Heng Swee Keat, was a national initiative aimed at improving communication between the Government and the people. From all accounts, it was an unqualified success.[+24 sentences] But more importantly, what enabled the change was not any single national initiative but the entire mindset of the Government. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong led his Ministers and office-holders in cutting through the red tape of bureaucracy and communicating directly with the people. Senior leaders explained difficult policies. There was a determined and concerted attempt to get the people to "buy in". A wave of new initiatives on many fronts for the young and the old were launched. The Government did not stop there. Unlike many other governments, it "walked the talk", and the people responded. The GE2015 results speak resoundingly loud and crystal clear. This is, however, just the beginning of a new journey. A new and fresh journey in which the Government and the people, having come together in 2015, must work even harder and build a future together for our country as we march towards our next 50 years. If we fail, we will all go down together. As a nation, we have our limitations. We do not have natural resources and, as a little red dot, stand exposed to be battered in this global arena of constant calamities. All we have are people of true grit, will power and determination. Page: 12 So, we journey afresh knowing what we have, what we do not have, but stand "always prepared". We cannot afford to be complacent. We cannot afford to let our guard down. We must always stay ahead of the game. If we do, the next 50 years will be better than the last. Since October 2015, there have been rapid global changes. Many simmering issues have reach boiling points. We head into uncertain times and unchartered waters. Mdm Speaker, the President reminded us of the ever-present security threats we face from terrorism. The terrorists have again struck close to our border at our neighbour. Our security agencies apprehended 27 individuals in Singapore who were planning an attack overseas.[+50 sentences] No one is completely safe. The threat is real. Economic uncertainty looms. Oil and commodity prices have fallen drastically. Stock markets are volatile. Big developing economies are slowing down and showing signs of distress or are undergoing corrections. These are really strong ill winds that will have severe repercussions on us. The challenges we face now are not unlike those in 1965. Then, we separated from Malaysia. The British announced their withdrawal in 1967. We had no potable water. We could not even defend ourselves. We had nothing. We were right at the bottom. But we were blessed with strong leaders and a united people who rallied behind their Government. They were men and women made of steel. They saw opportunity in adversity. They knew the special characteristics of Singaporeans; penchant for hard work; willingness to cast aside communal and religious divides for the common good; thirst for education and skills; unity to succeed and, above all, resilience in their hearts. The "never say die" attitude. Madam, admittedly, we started at a lower base in 1965. Times have changed. Fifty years of hard work has earned us strong reserves. We have good infrastructure and a modern city. Naysayers argue that as we grew more affluent as a people, we are no longer as hungry. They say that we no longer possess that fighting spirit and the desire to succeed. I disagree. The people I see around me are just as hungry. Our students are often ranked top internationally. Singaporeans in sports and the arts are being groomed to take on and grow with the best around the world. Our goals in life may be different now but I do not think there is less desire to succeed. It is true though that the dreams and aspirations of Singaporeans have changed. They are more diverse. It is no longer only about three square meals on the table, a roof over the head and good sanitation. Now, people also want choices. They want to be included in discussions and be consulted. Views are becoming increasingly more diverse as our social fabric becomes more complex. They have access to the world and, sometimes, want it all. This is to be expected as we grow as a country and as a society. We are after all, a First World country now. Madam, change is inevitable. I spoke on this at the President's Address in 2014. To not change is to not improve. If we seek improvement, one must change. It is what we do and how we adapt that matters, but we must never allow ourselves to lapse into complacency that has befallen other successful First World countries. Never fall for the seductive nectar of basking in a "Good Life" without hard work and constant striving to improve. But Mdm Speaker, I look around at my colleagues in this House and Singaporeans at large, and I feel confident of our country's future. I said earlier that, as a country, we have some strong characteristics. The one that is not commonly applauded is "resilience". A resilience running through the Government and the people as one. Page: 13 I believe, Mdm Speaker, that this is what makes us special. The resilience of our founding leaders and our Pioneer Generation overcoming the impossible odds together since 1965. We built a formidable modern defence force with National Service. We developed and used technology to reclaim waste water and turned it into potable drinking water.[+21 sentences] During tough times, our people rolled up their sleeves, sweat and put their shoulders together with the Government to grind it out and make it work. Ordinary Singaporeans who make extraordinary contributions. We do it on the basis that we will never allow anyone to trod on us or take us for granted simply because of our size. We never give up. We need to maintain this core fibre of resilience that made Singapore so successful for the past 50 years. The single-minded desire running through the Government and our people as one to make our little red dot a safe and successful harbour and home for each and every Singaporean. A place to live and grow old in and see our children grow up and live on. If we lose this desire, we are but a tray of loose sand and will achieve nothing and most certainly regress from what our forefathers have built for ourselves. But, Mdm Speaker, the Government cannot do this on its own. Former United States President John F Kennedy famously asked of his fellow Americans at his inauguration, "Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country". We are a different people and these are different times. But this statement continues to resonate. Government and people are a partnership and the glue is trust. Singaporeans need to accept that new times will bring new challenges. It was not plain sailing for the past 50 years. It will not be plain sailing for the next 50 years. There will be teething and difficult times. There will be times when the very foundations of our country will be severely tested. The Chinese characters for the word "Country" is 国家. 所谓，先有国才有家. It means, not literally, that for family units to exist, there must first be a stable country. So, to all Singaporeans, I urge you to back the Government fully. In 2015, your votes show your trust for this Government to lead you moving forward.[+9 sentences] Our country did not arrive at what it is in 2016 by accident. It was only through the sheer hard work and commitment of the Government and the people, with and to each other. We must build on it, people and Government, hand in hand together, in order to ensure that our future generations can enjoy the same fruits that we now enjoy. On the other hand, the Government needs to reciprocate and do its utmost to maintain this trust. It is a solemn duty and burden. To continue to build and re-build its relationship with the people, as we embark on a journey that is likely to be fraught with difficulties and many unknown challenges. But more, importantly, not only to concentrate on winning the trust of the people, but also to trust the people. Trust that the people will fully support the Government even when things are imperfect or when times are difficult. Trust that good communication is the key. That Singaporeans are discerning and able to accept the good, the bad and the ugly news.[+1 sentence] Mdm Speaker, there are very many examples around the world of the consequences of a breakdown in trust. There have been systems of government that are based on the absence of trust and they frequently result in deadlock.[+2 sentences] This is not the system for us. The people have voted for us. They have reposed their trust in us to help lead them through good and bad times.[+4 sentences] We must not let them down. We must maintain the trust. Page: 14 At the same time, we must put out our hands to the people to travel with us together, as without them, we are nothing and will likely become another footnote in the history books. With that, Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion.
Mr Desmond Choo (Tampines)2060 words
[+7 sentences]Mdm Speaker, thank you for allowing me to join this debate. Singapore is at a pivotal point in our history. Over the past year, we reflected on our journey as a nation and celebrated how far we have come along by overcoming the odds. We have also started an important conversation about the next 50 years – will Singapore be around in 50 years, and if so, what will SG100 look like? An important question was raised by our President, Dr Tony Tan in his Opening Address in Parliament – how do we ensure that our island nation remains a shining Red Dot so that our children and grandchildren will thrive? The last 50 years have seen Singapore going through a phenomenal transformation which was achieved through the collective efforts of our Pioneer Generation, the Baby Boomers and Generation X. The next 50 years will be shaped and led by our Gen Y, otherwise known as the "Millennials", who are born between the years 1981 and 2000; and the Gen Z – those born from the year 2000 onwards. In Singapore, there are about 1.2 million Millennials and they form about 22% of our resident population. The oldest of our Millennials are about 35 years old, and the youngest, 16 this year.[+28 sentences] Many of them are at the beginning of their careers, or may be in their second jobs. Amidst a restructuring and renewing economy, I believe that we are at the inflexion point in our nation's development where we must put in place structures that best allow our Millennials and young Singaporean workers to succeed and shape our nation. In the Fourth Industrial Revolution, talent, rather than capital, will be the critical factor of production. It is vital to Singapore that we prepare them for this future economy. This is why I will be focusing on how we can best help our Millennials and young workers to succeed at work, at home and in society. Mdm Speaker, every generation will have its doubts about the younger generation. So, first, we have to seek to understand the Millennials and young workers and what are their aspirations. I am not young enough to be a Millennial, yet not too old to be too far from being one. Therefore, I spoke to quite a few Millennials and young workers to find out about their aspirations. Their answers surprised me because despite the generational differences, they want what many of us in other generations desire: financial and career growth, opportunities for growth and learning, and to be successful, not just at work, but also with their family and socially. Some of them have not thought about jobs or what career paths they would like to pursue. I do worry for this group of Millennials and young workers because while new opportunities abound, Singapore also faces uncertainty in the economic and geopolitical spaces. Preparing early and being ready to adapt quickly to new workplace requirements is more important than ever. At this point, I must also caution against generalisations about specific generations. Generational differences are often accentuated by experiences and priorities at different life stages. However, whether they are generational or life-stage traits at this point, I think, there are several observations that might prove to be useful insights for us. Page: 15 First, young workers aspire to be successful across different facets of their lives. We often hear that the younger workers are only concerned about work-life balance. But I believe what many meant is, "Not only is career success important, but so are social and family successes." They want latitude in managing their time to explore personal growth. This is especially so when they are true digital natives who are comfortable producing work anywhere, not just in the office. Second, young workers believe in chasing growth and learning curves. It is not uncommon to hear employers lament that young workers just do not stay long enough in their job to learn sufficiently. My dialogues with many of the young workers reveal that some left their jobs because they felt that they are not learning much anymore, or when their career paths are not clear, or when they cannot identify with the work of their companies. Third, they learn best when there is a combination of good communications, hands-on work and mentorship. Technology has allowed them to learn more and better through connecting with people, rather than just mere consumption of information. The older Millennials have also proven to be resilient as they experienced tough times entering the workforce during the recession due to the 2008 Global Financial Crisis. If we harness the strengths of our young workers and are willing to look for ways to support them, they can take us boldly and purposefully into SG100. Confronting our young workers is a rapidly-changing workplace and economy. So far, our youths have fared well in getting higher starting salaries and employment rates, according to the Graduate Employment Survey.[+3 sentences] The challenge is, how do we then continue to provide such opportunities for subsequent generations? We face a new work order. Disruptive innovation has fundamentally changed many industries and the way we work. In this Fourth Industrial Revolution, there will be new sectors and jobs that will require skills and knowledge that are new even to those who just graduated.[+1 sentence] This has become a "VUCA" world – volatile, uncertain, complex and unpredictable. The mindset that the parents of Millennials had in building a career, which is to find a good job, be good at it, stick to it and rise up the ranks, may not always be so suitable in the future economy.[+1 sentence] Mdm Speaker, the new economy will be full of both new opportunities and threats for our young workers. It is imperative to ensure that they are able to adapt and thrive, knowing that progression is no longer linear and adapting to connected skills ladders is the norm.[+5 sentences] And to do so, they must learn and apply continuously. They must learn to integrate information across domains into usable knowledge to be applied at the workplace. In a VUCA world, competencies such as lifelong learning and learning agility are key. The question is: knowing the aspirations and inclinations of our Millennials and young workers, how can we better prepare them to be future ready? Our youths and young workers should be empowered with information to make more informed learning and career choices, but we must pair it with mentors from the working world to cater to the learning preferences of the young people. MOE has provided career guidance resources such as Education and Career Guidance Counsellors, ecareer.sg portal and the soon-to-be-launched Individual Learning Portfolio (ILP).[+20 sentences] These are important initiatives that can help our youths to chart their learning and career journeys. We must ensure that they are well-synced to avoid duplication and enhance their awareness and usage. Page: 16 Importantly, to scale and enhance the efficacy of such schemes, mentors, both formal and informal, where students can reach out to easily, are critical. After all, people connect best to people and not just to technology. Importantly, mentors can share what the real world requirements and conditions are. We have new non-profits, such as The Apprenticeship Collective in Singapore and MENTOR in the United States, seeking to crowd source mentors for the diverse needs of our youths and young workers. There are many more Singaporeans who are willing to step forward to help. We can tap upon the inventiveness and dynamism of the corporate volunteers to better prepare our students for the fast evolving workplace. I would also encourage the Government agencies to work closely with the Labour Movement's Unions and U Associates for access to networks and mentorship. This can allow for faster scaling, leveraging on existing resources. For instance, NTUC has the Young Engineers Leadership Programme where young engineers can attend talks and network with senior professionals in their fields. Young NTUC holds its CrossRoads programmes to link students and young working adults to industry captains. To prepare our youths and young workers, we must also ensure a tight nexus between learning and job requirements. Many young Singaporeans aspire for a degree. We must ensure that this is not merely a paper chase but we add real value to their professional development. I came across young working adults who found that their private degrees did not significantly improve career and job prospects. Many employers have also found new entrants from schools under-prepared for the workplace. This nexus is also tightened when learning is current. This then requires the deeper involvement of the private sector in shaping curriculum. In a casual conversation that I had with Dr Robert Yap, President of SNEF, one comment struck me. He said, "The best and most current learning is on the shop floor. Then, you will be plugged into the latest developments." Therefore, I encourage the Government to consider beyond Earn-and-Learn Programmes, to look into incentivising companies to provide more work experience, apprenticeship and internship opportunities, especially amongst the SMEs.[+10 sentences] Employers are key to helping our young workers to be future-ready. An employer that can best tap on the strengths of our Millennials would need to, one, constantly scan the business environment to calibrate and develop skill requirements and career ladders; and two, adopt progressive workplace practices. Our young workers aspire to chase growth and learning curves. Employers can help to keep Millennials relevant and help them to grow through market-calibrated and well-defined skills and career ladders. Many companies, especially the SMEs find it difficult to do so. I encourage Government to consider further measures to help these SMEs, especially in enhancing their HR capabilities. There are many established workplace practices but we shall examine two that best cater to the work inclinations and aspirations of our young people. First, employers can better help young workers achieve work-life balance and pursue success in different domains by, one, adopting outcome-based mindsets; and two, allowing for flexible work arrangements. Millennials are accustomed to working everywhere. Trusting them to manage their targets while mentoring them provides for a nurturing work environment. According to a survey by MOM in 2014, 50% of our firms provided at least one form of flexible work arrangement, the most common of which being part-time work.[+8 sentences] More can be done to allow employees to do telecommuting, have flexible work schedules or staggered working hours. Diversity of work arrangements can play to the strengths of our young workers. Page: 17 We have established earlier that our young Millennials want to succeed not only in their careers but also in raising families. The question is how we can better support them to do so. One immediate group of workers who can benefit further from a more progressive attitude towards work is new mothers. Often, new mothers who have to return to full-time work after 16 weeks of maternity leave, feel anxious and have difficulties adjusting back to work. Anxiety from being apart from her child and establishing a new work and family routine requires transition time. I would like to encourage the Government to consider affording our mothers legislated right to request for eight weeks of Flexible Work Arrangement. In this "16+8" model, a female employee who has just given birth, has 16 weeks of maternity leave and eight more weeks of Flexible-Work Arrangement which may include telecommuting, and staggered work. This will help a mother to ease her transition from caring for a newborn full-time and having to return to work.[+1 sentence] Equally, young fathers believe in shared parenting. The recent move to promote an additional week of paternity leave is positive but thus far, the take-up has been tepid. The Civil Service has taken the lead and the Labour Movement has gotten 63 companies on board but more needs to be done islandwide.[+2 sentences] I would like to encourage the Government to consider further moves to improve the take-up. There are indeed many different ways, avenues and facets to helping our Millennials and young workers to be future-ready – more than what my speech today can do to do justice to the topic. Regardless of the different facets, avenues or levers, the crux is perhaps to put young Singaporeans at the centre of this common future we want to build and empower them to succeed.[+1 sentence] On this note, Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion of Thanks to the President.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Amrin Amin)2313 words
[+21 sentences]Mdm Speaker, we live at a time of immense challenge and change to keep us safe and secure, harmonious and prosperous. I will cover two main topics in my speech today. First, true security requires external and internal borders. This is achieved through the unity of hearts, minds and wills. Second, a prosperous, harmonious society must ensure social mobility. From our early days, we got our fundamentals right. The late President Yusof Ishak said in his speech in 1965 at the Opening of the First Parliament of sovereign Singapore: "An industrious and talented people striving to secure their future will surge forward to prosperity and strength if they are given honest administration and effective leadership". Here we are 51 years later, an industrious and talented people united behind a Government with the people, for the people. We have exciting plans for the future, charting our course for the next five years and laying foundations for SG100. Mdm Speaker, our fundamentals have to remain strong. Our plans for the future require stability and good economic growth. We are facing the future from a position of strength – with a strong military and Home Team, a dynamic economy and cohesive people. But for all our progress in the last 50 years, many daunting challenges remain. Our challenges remain essentially the same. I will focus on stability today. We remain a small state with a multiracial and religious people in a turbulent world. Our stability is the result of our unity amidst our diversity of racial and religious backgrounds. But this Page: 18 unity is fragile. It requires constant nurturing and sustained effort. It is a continuing and necessary work-in-progress, a responsibility we all share. Mdm Speaker, a crisis such as a terrorist attack can tear at our unity if we are not careful. In the past few months, Beirut, Paris, Istanbul and Jakarta were attacked by terrorists.[+1 sentence] Tomorrow, it could be anywhere, even Singapore. The recent arrest of 27 radicalised Bangladeshi foreign workers in Singapore is a sobering reminder.[+6 sentences] I was happy to hear in President Tony Tan's Address a call for us to stay strong and united especially when others seek to sow fear and create division. Divisive forces that threaten Singapore are not new. In 1965, President Yusof Ishak spoke about a potent, disruptive group – the Communists who played on communal heart strings. Today, we face another potent, disruptive group – extremists and terrorists motivated by religious extremism. They seek to spread their twisted ideologies and ferment chaos by exploiting our diversity, and sow fear and discord. Mdm Speaker, I support the plans to enhance the safety and security in Singapore. Our borders are our first line of defence and need to be secured.[+1 sentence] We are working hard at that. Tightening checks at our borders, increasing CCTV surveillance in public areas, and leveraging on technology and upgrading weapons.[+32 sentences] But it is not just physical borders. Internally, we have to strengthen our mental and emotional borders to ensure they are impenetrable to invidious elements. The key entry points that can tear our social fabric are our hearts and minds. If we learned anything from how we fought the communists in the 1960s, it is that legislation, policies and weapons alone are not enough. We have to involve the community; we have to win hearts and minds; we have to stand as one united people. In 11 September 2001, I was in New York as an exchange student at Columbia University. That fateful day, I remember the devastating terrorist attack on The World Trade Center. I remember the horror and shock everyone felt, standing on the streets. But more than that, I remember the amazing generosity and rich spirit of Americans who came together to comfort one another. Americans who stood shoulder-to-shoulder on the streets to cheer the first responders and the tribute sites which sprang all over America. But it was not all rosy. I also remember the sense of fear, people running out of subways and buildings due to false alarms, people exacting revenge on Muslim Americans and those who resemble Muslims, in particular the Sikhs who wear turbans, and vandalism of Muslim-owned shops. Mdm Speaker, even as we stay vigilant against terrorism, we cannot rule out the possibility of an attack in Singapore. The terrorists will keep trying. Even with our best efforts, there is no guarantee that they will never succeed. We have to get it right every single time, all the time. While the terrorists only have to get through once, at any time. Our security agencies will step up their readiness and responses to prevent, deter and deal with an attack. We will work closely with private and public building owners to strengthen the protection of our hard and soft targets. But, at the very heart of it, is the community. We have to involve every single one of us, our people, in our efforts to better protect ourselves from a terrorist attack and its aftermath. Keeping Singapore safe is our shared responsibility. Should the unthinkable happen and a terrorist attack happens, we have to make absolutely sure that the terrorists' agenda to create chaos and sow discord does not prevail. Brick and mortar Page: 19 can be repaired and rebuilt easily. Fractures in our community cannot be fixed so readily. The bleak, dark message of extremists contrasts markedly with a vision of our Singapore, a sunny island by the sea, a land of opportunity, a beacon of hope, a magnet for promise and a caring, compassionate society. Mdm Speaker, a crisis can tear our society apart. But so can success, if the fruits of success are not equally accessible to all. We are a meritocratic society. This is a hallmark of Singapore. Where we start in life does not dictate where we will end up. It is our task to ensure that our society provides opportunities for upward mobility. For Singaporeans who want to improve themselves, improve their skills and education – support has been and will continue to be given through a good foundation in our schools, technical institutions and continuous education through SkillsFuture.[+23 sentences] Our people must know that the stars they strive for are within reach. And if they need a little boost to help cover that extra bit of distance, there is help given. Rich or poor, strong or weak, academically inclined or not, no one gets left behind. An African proverb says, "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." This is not a sprint. This is a marathon, and we are in it for the long haul, together, as one united Singapore. We saw how Singaporeans came together this past year in happiness and in sorrow. We mourned for our late Mr Lee Kuan Yew and celebrated our nation's success at SG50 celebrations, SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games. From fighting communism, economic recessions, to SARS. Crisis after crisis, generations of Singaporeans stood as one people. Our strong resolve was never in doubt. We built this country together, we will keep it thriving together and we will continue standing as one people. Mdm Speaker, allow me to speak in Malay before concluding in English. (In Malay): Recently, I met students from the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) and the Singapore Polytechnic for a discussion. I am proud of their maturity and confidence in expressing their views on many issues – from housing, employment to national security. The courses that they are studying are interesting – for instance, infrastructural engineering, information technology and communications, aerospace systems, electronic games design and chemical engineering. Our community's future is bright with such a wide range of educational opportunities. Mdm Speaker, I recall my conversation with Mohammed Fahmy Rosly, 26 years old. He received the Outstanding Student Award from 4PM. Fahmy initially did not do well in school, but he turned over a new leaf while doing National Service and, after National Service, Fahmy resumed his studies in the ITE. Initially, Fahmy told me that he felt awkward because many of his ITE schoolmates were younger than him. But Fahmy's determination and resolve to study was strong. His efforts paid off when Fahmy achieved a perfect GPA score of 4.0 and emerged as one of the top Malay/Muslim students in ITE.[+4 sentences] He is now studying Marine Engineering at Singapore Polytechnic. Another example from our community is Captain Muhammad Azhar Said, 37 years old. He is an officer from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). He was named as the best cadet at the commander's course. Captain Azhar started his career as a Sergeant.[+1 sentence] Through hard work, Azhar was gradually promoted. He received a scholarship from SCDF and obtained an engineering degree with first class honours from the University of Glasgow.[+2 sentences] Fahmy and Azhar's road to success showed their resolve, determination and desire for lifelong learning and continuous upgrading. This is the indomitable spirit of our young Malays. And this is Page: 20 the Singapore that we want, where opportunities to upgrade one's skills, regardless of age, are always available. This is the objective of SkillsFuture, which is to equip our community with the skills in a challenging world that is becoming more challenging.[+7 sentences] We are now hearing more and more about young Malays achieving excellent results, from PSLE, up to degrees and PhDs. This fighting spirit is not only evident in the academic field, but also in sports and the arts. These excellent results proved that we can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the rest. Our young talents are not only shining brightly in Singapore, but in other countries too. Sufie Rashid was crowned champion of Akademi Fantasia in Malaysia. During the finals, he had fever with a temperature of 39 degree Celsius. Nonetheless, Sufie managed to give a sizzling hot performance. Arts activist Khairuddin Hori, 40 years old, was recently appointed as the Assistant Director for Programming at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris.[+16 sentences] This is a good example of our young Malays who are confident, able to compete on the international stage and brought honour to our community and nation. In sports, I still remember Nur Alfian who won gold in the silat event at the SEA Games. Although his foot was injured, he never gave up and soldiered on. The sight of him in tears while the National Anthem was playing was touching. The determination to work hard and the Singapore spirit is alive and well in our community. Yes, we are sons and daughters of Singapore! Mdm Speaker, the community's success did not happen by accident and in the blink of an eye. This success comes from our hard work and the community's strong support for Government policies that provide opportunities and ensure security, prosperity, harmony and progress for the nation. Our community's solidarity cannot be taken for granted. We are able to perform our obligations as Muslims peacefully without any interference from anyone. This is in contrast to certain countries where members of the Muslim population were harassed by neighbours or colleagues, just because they are Muslims. This situation is worsened by the ideologies of terrorists who mis-use the holy name of Islam to create havoc in their countries. Islamophobia will divide our community. We must protect our country from such a situation by having a moderate stance, in line with a multi-racial and multi-religious Singapore. We must help to spread the message of compassion, peace, and respect for one another, regardless of religion or race. There are still many challenges facing our community. Apart from the threat of terrorism and radical beliefs, there are also challenges like drugs and crime, as well as a level of achievement that has not fully reached the potential of our community.[+18 sentences] We can overcome these problems and challenges together. Every member of the community, working hand in hand with the Government. Mdm Speaker, there are many challenges. But as they say, Malays never fear from facing challenges head on. Today's battlefield is in the economic arena, in educational institutes, in sporting arenas and in the artistic stage. The competition is fierce, but we are not easily cowered. Today, we are equipped with better education and better skills so that we can address future challenges wisely and stoically. Page: 21 Our Malay community is well known for our polite demeanour, our elegant language and our immense fighting spirit. This generation will ensure that our community will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the other communities in Singapore and in the world. With one voice, the Malay community will be united, with a noble and new spirit, together we proclaim – Majulah Singapura! (In English): Mdm Speaker, Singapore is never resting on its laurels. Tomorrow will be better. A people moving ahead with determination to claim our place in history, to build a truly remarkable Singapore. President Tony Tan's Address echoes a familiar call – a call to action for Singaporeans to unite and renew our hopes for a brighter Singapore. This is a call familiar to generations of Singaporeans across time. From the Samsui women and the dock-side coolies who toiled under the sun, to our tireless Pioneers who built this nation; from our children in schools and madrasahs; our men and women defending our nation; to leaders, the likes of Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Generation after generation, year after year, there was never a doubt – "Singapore will survive". Mdm Speaker, we will build an inclusive home in our Singapore, a home for all ages, people from all walks. Many hearts with one beat, the Singapore heartbeat. We will renew and strengthen our vibrant economy using our best minds in Singapore. We will perfect our living environment with our hands. We will nurture a caring society with our hearts. And we will protect and defend our Singapore with our lives.[+1 sentence] Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion.
Ms Sun Xueling (Pasir Ris-Punggol)1950 words
[+5 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion. As we deliberate our next 50 years together, I think it worthwhile if we think about who we are as a people, the values that define us and what we want in our society. Our needs have evolved over the years. From the time we struggled to make ends meet, to now where we have an opportunity to shape the future Singapore for our children, where we can be aspirational, to become a great nation and a great people. The Straits Times is running a nomination for the Singaporean of the Year. Amongst the nominees is Mdm Noriza A Mansor, a single mother with five children, who came to the aid of a stranger, Mr Tan Soy Yong, 76 years old, who had soiled himself while buying groceries.[+6 sentences] Mdm Noriza cleaned him up and has since been taking care of the old couple like they are her parents. She said, "I will always make time for them. How can I not?" The Singapore Story has often been told in terms of an economic success. But it is also a story of human spirit. After 50 years, through our repeated choices of what we want and what we reject, we have distilled and created something – the spirit of Singaporeans. We have, in ourselves, a certain generosity of spirit: a bigness in our hearts to accommodate differences, to forgive and to care. We care for every family who wants to own a home; for every child who wants to go to school; for every senior citizen who wants to retire with dignity; and for everyone in the minority or majority group who wants to have an equal opportunity. We made an active choice to reject chauvinism and build an equal society.[+25 sentences] The broad social mobility, social cohesion and racial harmony that we enjoy now are a function of the generosity Page: 22 that we show each other. We curbed our individual tribal instincts so as to grow a greater common area and we balanced the needs of everyone in our society because we celebrate our success together. We can only succeed together. In the first 50 years, we created more by sharing what little we had. In our next 50 years together, we will have to nurture and grow this generosity of spirit, for it will allow us to go beyond ourselves, beyond current possibilities, beyond our shores, and set us on the path to becoming a great nation and a great people. In the President's words, "Ours should be... a society consisting of generous hearts who treat one another with warmth and dignity". Today, as our needs, interests and perspectives become more diverse, how do we go beyond ourselves and beyond narrow self-interest? Einstein once said, "A man starts to live when he can live outside himself". We see issues through the lenses of our own backgrounds and experiences. When there are differences, can we look beyond our own perspectives and find the generosity to love and accept another human being, to go pass all that divides us and believe in a common humanity and a shared destiny as Singaporeans? As the example of Mdm Noriza has shown us, we can. She helped a stranger, not of the same race, not of the same religion, someone who is elderly and vulnerable. Her personal act of generosity shows us how as individuals we can epitomise our values of social and racial harmony. We should also exercise generosity in our worldviews and the way we see each other. As our young aspire to take different routes to success, can we stand by their choices and not let our pre-conceived biases tie them down? Can we as a society be less judgmental when others take a less well-trodden route to success? And as representatives of the people, while we fight for the interests of our constituents, can we strive to promote an uplifting politics of constructive criticism and discourage the politics of division? As the President highlighted, "Our system discourages narrow interest-based politics". Generosity does not mean that we are indiscriminate about what we accept. Today, as we are undergoing economic transformation, how do we go beyond current possibilities? The new economy brings challenges in terms of new technologies, new skills to master and new ways of working. Often times, we know what we must do, but our human psychology trips us up. For instance, where a new technology emerges, are industry incumbents generous enough to embrace it knowing it may displace legacy assets? Or where there is a need for us to relearn skills or work with others in an interdisciplinary way, are we able to put our egos aside to form new collaborations and break new ground? We will need a generosity of spirit to embrace the changes which will lead to long-term benefits for Singapore. Lastly, can we look beyond our shores and see a Singapore larger than our geography? We were home to China and Taiwan's first historic leadership talks in more than 60 years as we are seen to be a friendly partner.[+7 sentences] We welcome people with ideas and energy who share our values and aspirations and want to help make Singapore a success. We have always been an international hub, since our days as a free trade harbour. Can we continue to keep that openness and generosity Page: 23 of spirit so that Singapore can continue to achieve success as a hub for people; and ideas and help to power and shape the region and the world? Singapore, as we have created it, is a function of our thinking. We cannot change it without first changing our thinking. To go beyond what we have now, requires us to find the generosity within us to accommodate differences, accept changes, care for our community and become a hub for people, activities and ideas. So, how do we strengthen this generosity of spirit? First, we have to promote a culture of communication.[+2 sentences] People to people, people to Government, people to social organisations. We need to first communicate to understand each other's perspective and then only can we resolve to respect differences and be generous in accommodating each other. The SGFuture conversations build upon the One Singapore Conversation and are important initiatives to encourage dialogue.[+3 sentences] Second, the way we bring up our children is important. Do we teach them to be self-centred, to be close-minded, or do we encourage them to be considerate, to be team players, to try varied experiences, to explore and to be curious. And, lastly, the role of the media. As broadcasting gives way to narrow-casting, public service broadcasting in new forms using new channels, is even more important as it is the platform for us to conduct a national conversation.[+19 sentences] Our media can also contribute to a positive culture by showcasing admirable qualities in the human condition and promoting the generosity inherent in our national psyche. We need to set in motion a virtuous cycle of imbuing generosity into our lives. The future brings uncertainties. But just like the late Minister Mentor Lee once said in 1965, "10 years from now, this will be a metropolis – never fear!" We believed, we aspired and we achieved. In the next 50 years, let us aspire to greatness. And that starts with each and every one of us. Let us maintain our generosity of spirit. We are made a kinder and a greater people for it. I would now like to say a few words in Chinese. (In Mandarin): Looking back at the 50 years of nation-building of Singapore, perhaps, the most outstanding feature is our economic success. However, what has guided us in our action and led to our success, is the spirit of Singaporeans. The Singapore Spirit is not based on a single race, language or religion, instead, it encompasses the spirit of every Singaporean. It is based on something that we can all identify with, that lies deeper within, and that is – the spirit of inclusiveness and humanity. Inclusiveness and humanity are part and parcel of Singapore's development as a fair and harmonious society. Inclusiveness and humanity is crucial as Singaporeans stand united to weather difficult times together. Inclusiveness and humanity are also intrinsically linked to Singapore's role as a bridge to the world. It is the spirit that uplifts the individual and it is also the spirit that makes a nation great. For Singapore to progress from prosperity to greatness, not only do we need material wealth, but also great spiritual strength. Page: 24 In his speech to Parliament, the President stressed the need to build a caring society.[+4 sentences] First and foremost, this requires understanding and tolerance between people. Confucius once said, "The benevolent loves others". In our pursuit of personal happiness, we must also be tolerant and care for others, especially those who need help. As Singapore becomes an ageing society, we need to establish, more than ever, a society that respects the elderly and care for the young, where people care for each other and is full of human kindness. In his speech, the President talked about the need for Singapore to re-invigorate the economy and adjust to changes in the world.[+4 sentences] Likewise, to develop the new economy and utilise new technologies also require an open mind and an inclusive attitude. New technologies are often game-changers. New models may disrupt old business chains and impact traditional trades. Can our Government, businesses and individuals accept new technologies and new models that will bring long-term benefits with an open mind and inclusive attitude, while taking care of each individual's interests? The President also said that we must continue to invest in education.[+19 sentences] During my Secondary school years, I attended CHIJ St Nicholas Girls' School. That was a period of my life where I received the most warmth and was most confident. Two weeks ago, when I met my principal Mrs Lee Poh See again after many years, I finally realised why I felt so. On that day, there was an alumnae event where we gathered to watch a documentary about xinyao (新谣). It was directed by alumna Eva Tang (Deng Bao Cui). After the documentary screening ended, we took a photograph together. Mrs Lee led us to shout, "Bao Cui, we will always support you!" Mrs Lee is already more than 70 years old and her legs are not working well, but still, she raised her arms and hugged all of us. And once again, we felt the same warmth that we experienced back in our Secondary school years. I remember back then, the school organised many extra-curricular activities, every student had a chance to shine in her own field. It did not matter if your results were good or not, Mrs Lee had encouragement for every student. Now, I finally understood that good education has to be inclusive, and requires love and the ability to embrace the individuality of every student, to unearth their potential and to enable them to progress to the next stage of life with confidence. "The ocean can hold water from thousands of rivers, it is great because it embraces all." Our success depends on how big-hearted we are. We are Singaporeans. Previously, we came from different backgrounds, speaking different languages and had different beliefs. On this island that was almost overlooked, we overcame difficulties and created a miracle, all because we respected and embraced one another, all because we respected and embraced the world. "Be strict with oneself, but forgiving towards others". In an unpredictable and ever-changing world, Singapore, the little red dot, shall forever be a shining light for humanity in the history of mankind.
Ms Sylvia Lim (Aljunied)1640 words
[+17 sentences]Mdm Speaker, in his Address, the President asked Singaporeans to progress as an exceptional nation with a thriving economy and a caring and inclusive society. Page: 25 This aspiration statement bears examination. What is an exceptional nation? SG50 has come and gone. Twenty-fifteen also saw the passing of our founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Mr Lee is widely regarded as an exceptional man, but to be an exceptional nation takes more than an exceptional leader. It is akin to organisations. Any organisation that cannot sustain its performance after the departure of a particular CEO, cannot call itself a great organisation. The current economic climate seems dire, with analysts predicting that it would deteriorate further and hoping it would not be as bad as the post-Lehman period of 2008. The region's stock markets continue to dive, including the STI. China's growth has slowed down, affecting many countries, especially Singapore. Worldwide, jobs are being cut, with Singapore as no exception. There is weak demand for office space, with vacancy rates here expected to be in the double digits this year. Amidst this climate, what does it take to be an exceptional nation? The Government has laid out its Addenda to the President's Address, setting out in broad strokes some of its plans. We need to debate them in the coming days. For my speech today, I would like to focus on the role of the people of Singapore in building an exceptional nation. According to World Bank data, Singapore in 2014 had a GDP per capita of about US$56,000 or S$70,000, making us, apparently, one of the richest countries in the world.[+24 sentences] Of course, this aggregated figure at the national level is no measure of wealth distribution amongst citizens and no indication of inequalities that exist. I have spoken in the past about the inadequacies of GDP as a measure of the people's well-being and I believe that is clearly accepted in many developed countries. Neither is a high GDP per capita a measure of how committed a population is to the country. In my past teaching career and travels, I have encountered people from countries far less wealthy than ours, countries whose GDP per capita is about US$1,000 or less. What strikes me is that even though the international community may laugh at them or even use their countries as negative case studies, the people have a strong commitment and passion to their home. When natural disaster strikes, the people use their own resources and energy to help each other, knowing that they have to take the initiative. Should there be a border incursion by a neighbouring country, the people are up in arms and willing to fight with whatever outdated weapons and ammunition they have to ensure that not one inch of their soil is given up. To me, these are exceptional displays of love of country, of passion for their country that money cannot buy. Fundamentally, these citizens strongly believe in their ability to make a difference and that it is up to them to make their country stronger. About 20 years ago, in a speech to the Singapore Press Club, Mr Lee Kuan Yew expressed sadness that a young Singaporean had considered emigration because she could not fulfil her dream of owning a house and a car. "Man does not live by bread alone," he said, quoting that famous biblical phrase. Dreams should move beyond material wants. He recalled that when he first set out as a young man, he had a Singapore dream, a dream that Singapore would be a democratic society, keen and vibrant, a united people. Madam, a nation cannot be exceptional by bread alone. Its people should have dreams for the country, a vision of what the country should be and the gumption to go out and realise that vision. We must believe that they are the ones who can move the country higher and be unafraid to take Page: 26 risks even if they should fail. An exceptional nation should have a people whose DNA is being unafraid to fail. What then can be done to unleash Singaporeans' potential to dream and be agents of change? To foster a climate that supports dreaming big would require a thorough examination of Singapore's life cycle: how children are brought up, what role models society celebrates, safety nets for failure and the extent of citizen empowerment. Today, I would like to touch on just two areas that I believe are worth looking into: one, aspects of our education system; and two, scaling back Government in non-core government functions. First, our education system. Over the years, our education system has been a social leveller and a key to social mobility. It is important for us to ensure that students from poorer backgrounds continue to have equal access to education opportunities in Singapore. The Government has stated that it is making efforts to ensure that our students' experience is holistic. For instance, it has announced that schools will move to reduce excessive focus on examination results. However, in a somewhat conflicting move last month, after the release of the PSLE results, MOE issued a directive to schools to no longer consider appeals for transfer from students who did not meet the PSLE T-score cut-off for entry into the school. This sends a signal to parents that academic results are still the most important criterion for progression within the system.[+3 sentences] Parents will have to pressure children to achieve academic scores over and above all else. Students will be hard pressed to spend more time to pursue other interests against society's pressures. Madam, it is assessment that drives student behaviour. If we accept that, then I believe our education system could still produce Singaporeans who can dream and chase rainbows if we fundamentally review the way students are assessed. If we want Singaporeans to be able to dream, our system should nurture a spirit of exploration and encourage students to think out of the box and to have different opinions.[+1 sentence] To ensure the message is not diluted, such an approach should not be just in one or two subjects, but be a pervasive and consistent theme throughout our education and assessment system. For instance, could our educators be required to give credit for answers that do not regurgitate what has been taught? Instead of only rewarding students who give the right or model answers, can extra credit be given to students who give alternative solutions or different approaches to questions posed?[+1 sentence] Granted – each subject is different and what is possible would vary from subject to subject. The last thing we should do is to blindly mark a student down because his or her answer does not conform exactly to the expected answer.[+22 sentences] That has been happening. It is the surest way to discourage creative thinking. As dreams also carry the risk of failure, students should also learn that some things may be worth doing even if one fails. The school syllabus should highlight case studies of persons who failed to achieve what they set out to do, to appreciate why certain endeavours are important even if the outcome is uncertain. Madam, our education system plays a vital role in nurturing Singaporeans from young. If we believe we need a different mould of Singaporeans to face the future, compared to the past, our education system must support these goals. Next, scaling back Government in non-core government functions. Madam, the PAP Government has been in power for more than 50 years. Our Civil Service has known no other governing party. Over these five decades, the governing party has established strong connections within the public sector and outside. A power network is in place. The Government's presence is Page: 27 felt in practically every aspect of life. Singaporeans want a strong government. However, even the Government understands that there must be stabilisers and checks and balances in the system. It is not sufficient to talk about letting alternative views be articulated and taken into consideration. Singaporeans must feel that they can make a difference. In other words, all citizens should be free to have a vision for Singapore and to be a mover to achieve that vision. To truly empower citizens, there must be real power centres outside the Government – in local enterprises, in the private sector, in civil society, in the people sector – so as to effectively check and work with the Government. Lately, the Government has been using the phrase "collaborative governance", referring to a collaboration between the public sector and the private and people sectors. For true collaboration, no partner should be dominant. The Government needs to let go and devolve more power first, so that there is real and meaningful collaborative partnership among equals. Singaporeans should be given more voice and more say in the running of their lives and society. To this end, the Government should re-examine and reduce its presence in matters that are not core government functions.[+1 sentence] For a start, a lot of Government nominees are on the boards of professional bodies and sports groups. Is there a need for the Government to nominate persons to such bodies, instead of leaving the organisations to manage their own affairs?[+6 sentences] Mdm Speaker, Singapore is facing a different world today compared to the founding years. While in the past, we could get far while being technically competent and hardworking, today's ever-changing world requires a people who are visionary, adaptable, resilient and empowered. Singapore is our home and Singaporeans must take ownership of it. Empowered Singaporeans will not blame others when the going gets tough but will face difficulties squarely, with an unwavering faith that they can be overcome. The future is uncertain. We need Singaporeans who will stick by Singapore through thick and thin because that is what an exceptional nation is all about.
Dr Tan Wu Meng (Jurong)2003 words
[+11 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I stand in support of the Motion. We have heard questions of exceptionalism, of the exceptional. And the exceptional is also about imagining what exceptional challenges lie before us and how we may meet them, no matter what form they come in. Science fiction writer Iain M Banks described what he called an "Outside Context Problem", where a society encounters an existential challenge which it did not foresee. So, we must always be ready as one people to confront the unexpected. Because only by imagining the unthinkable, can we be ready to survive whatever the future may bring. History has shown that perfect storms and black swans are not that rare. If I may, let me highlight four areas where exceptional circumstances might happen and then look at how we may survive together these challenges. Page: 28 Four areas: international relations; the global economy; our social fabric; our politics. Four areas where a few or all of these factors could come together as a perfect storm. Let me make it clear, Mdm Speaker, I am not saying these situations will happen, but we must be ready for them and imagine them. In the international sphere, the US-China relationship will be the most important geopolitical issue of our generation.[+1 sentence] An established superpower, with another great power rising: building its own blue water fleet; land-based and maritime Silk Roads; an additional set of institutions. Prof Graham Allison of Harvard has spoken about a theory – a theory called the Thucydides Trap. He looked back at 500 years of examples of rising powers and established powers, and he found that in 12 out of 16 cases, the outcome was not sanguine. But we need not be so pessimistic because Prof Allison's own research showed that, since World War II, these re-balancings have been peaceful.[+15 sentences] And today, globalisation connects countries, economies and people. So, there can be a healthy accommodation between these powers that will benefit the world and Singapore. Of course, there may yet be a miscalculation. A junior officer may set off a skirmish: sink a boat, or shoot down a plane. Domestic pressures may turn nationalistic. It is unlikely, but we must be prepared in case the exceptional occurs. Non-state actors are a very real challenge, Mdm Speaker. ISIS, as fellow Members of this House have pointed out, can poison a young mind from thousands of miles away. What happens if they establish a wilayat, a province of their Caliphate in Southeast Asia? Our ASEAN neighbours are doing more to tackle terrorism, but the problem has been growing for some time. The challenge still remains. We see the challenges in Jakarta, recent arrests in Kuala Lumpur and the arrest of the radicalised Bangladeshi migrant workers. We have to do all we can to prevent an attack on Singapore soil. But it is possible that such an attack might happen, and in the event it happens, we must be resilient and make sure that it does not break our society. The global economy, Mdm Speaker, is another situation where the exceptional may occur – the exceptionally challenging. China's growth is gradually slowing – 6.9% in 2015.[+30 sentences] If it slows more sharply, it would affect our tourism, our SMEs, our exports. The US recovery, some green shoots, but it may yet run out of steam. And both great economies have limited short-term policy options for stimulus. At home, big challenges for us as well. If we do not restructure fast enough, we could be in a trap of a high-cost environment, but not creating high enough value to compete with the top tier of global cities. We have to beware of stagnation and inflation at the same time. What other exceptional challenges might we face in our society? We have pledged ourselves as one united people. But the Pioneers who were present at the creation, who lived through our first foundation, that first forging of our Singapore identity – they are growing old, dwindling in number, fading into history. So, each generation must pledge itself anew and re-forge that unity. But today, there are new fault lines. Page: 29 Social class. Differences in wealth, upbringing and social networks. Independent schools charging more, which can discourage students who are afraid that they might not qualify for a full fee scholarship. Culture wars. Globalisation of culture. Belief systems and values from faraway lands, very different to Singapore, coming to our island. New divides. Foreigners and locals, old Singaporeans, new Singaporeans – as some choose to call it. I will not pollute this House by naming specific websites or their supporters, but we know who they are. We know which websites they are and can guess much money they make from advertising, while trying to teach Singaporeans how to hate. And the risk, Mdm Speaker, is exceptional when multiple fault lines come together. Our local politics, Mdm Speaker, could turn divisive. That is a downside risk for us. What happens if a campaign is waged with negative, destructive emotions? It could be a General Election, a Presidential Election. The politics of protest, of tearing down – we have seen what it can do in the traditional mature democracies. Gridlock in some of the major democracies in the world. Anti-immigrant UKIP in the UK, Syriza in Greece, AfD (Alternative für Deutschland) in Germany, a far right party. And such parties need not do exceptionally well to win, Mdm Speaker. Just by becoming a political force, they hollow out and poison the political centre. So, Mdm Speaker, imagine this Perfect Storm: a global downturn lasting many years; divisions of race, language, religion; social class, inequality and culture; a fractured national consensus, divisive politics.[+14 sentences] And then having to face a major crisis – a terrorist attack on Singapore soil, a pandemic, or a regional conflict where old friends ask us to choose between them. So, how do we get Singapore ready to survive an exceptional Perfect Storm? No party can do it alone. If I may suggest, not even the PAP. No matter how many seats we have in Parliament, no matter how strong our mandate. We must become a cohesive Greater Society. All of us, one family. Not a hotel, not a corporation. All of us, one Singapore family. In this, we all have a role to play: Government, politics, citizens. I do not think the answer is less Government involvement. I do not think the answer is politicians' stepping back. I do not believe the answer lies in citizens becoming disengaged, disillusioned and disenchanted by rhetoric that is negative and destructive. Government, Politics, Citizens – there is all a role in building this. In Government, policy must be measured not just by the bottom line, but by whether it promotes social cohesion amongst Singaporeans.[+13 sentences] The financial bottom line is important. It puts bread, rice on the table. But it is cohesion that keeps a family at home at the dinner table, talking to each other, having a shared sense of purpose. And Government has a role here, shaping social norms, shaping values. A school system that brings students together from different backgrounds. Housing estates bringing residents together: shared spaces, hawker centres, green gardens, even void decks, they Page: 30 make a difference. The tone of our politics and our culture, bringing people together. Mdm Speaker, good politics is essential as well. The marketplace of ideas can be a powerful, positive, progressive force: the wisdom of crowds, the energy of the new, working together with experts and expertise. But as we have seen elsewhere, there can be market failure in the marketplace of ideas. We would not accept laissez-faire economics in this decade. The lessons of the past 20 years have suggested otherwise. I do not believe in laissez-faire politics either. Policy does reduce this risk of market failure.[+2 sentences] That is how our GRC system works. It ensures minority representation. It ensures any serious political party must be multi-racial. It ensures that any chauvinist racial party will not be able to recruit multi-racial talent to contest on a multi-racial platform.[+10 sentences] Mdm Speaker, we also need a good, constructive Opposition and good politics. Open politics, so you know where the other person is coming from, what they stand for, their views on major issues of the day. Not just the easy issues, but the challenging issues. Contestable politics. Where you need not be a millionaire or have the right friends to step into the ring. Robust debate, Mdm Speaker. People having the courage of convictions, standing up for what they believe in, but at the end of the day, always remembering that we are Singaporean brothers and sisters with a shared future. Political culture matters too, Mdm Speaker. We must guard against poisonous forces. The poison of money politics, where political parties feel they have to reward their supporters with kickbacks, favours and contracts. We have seen this in many places, other countries. There is no place for that kind of money politics here in Singapore.[+19 sentences] The poison of anger, envy and hate – where politicians encourage voters to destroy what has been built over decades and generations, tearing down institutions, tearing down ideas, without a vision for what comes the day after. The poison of intellectual dishonesty. Telling people to vote for something, without saying how they will get you there. The risks and benefits, the side effects, the journey. But above all, Mdm Speaker, we, the citizens of Singapore, have a responsibility. We must keep on building a sense of fellowship. Understanding our brothers and sisters, our different faiths, our different cultures. Being blind is not the answer. Through seeing the people next to us, seeing through their eyes, seeing how they see us, we learn to see better, to understand, to grow together. Every individual's actions can make that difference, make our society stronger. Whether it is giving up a seat on the MRT train to someone who needs it more, or giving your time and energy to help fellow Singaporeans. Page: 31 In Clementi, where I serve, we have a voluntary welfare organisation (VWO) – Bringing Love to Every Single Soul. They call themselves BLESS. BLESS has a reading programme. Young Singaporeans reading together with children, children of all races from our rental flats. Young Singaporeans, helping children who start with less. Its founder, Ms Francesca Wah, is a Primary school teacher – a very busy job, but she makes time to give back from the heart. In Jurong, we have the Fei Yue Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) with special needs. Fei Yue had three students with many illnesses and difficulties with mobility. A group of young Singaporeans linked to South West CDC came together, did crowd funding, private fundraising, raised money to get special chairs for children with mobility needs.[+15 sentences] The fundraising lead was Mr Lim Der Shing. He is a successful entrepreneur, the founder of JobsCentral. He has done well, yet Der Shing uses his skills, networks and resources to help the community. That spirit of an activist community of volunteerism, people stepping forward, is very much alive. And Government and politicians partnering with that can make it even stronger. Mdm Speaker, we do not choose our parents, or when we will be born. So, we must always be a fair and just society. Regardless of race, language or religion. Regardless of your background, where you start in life, or how much you start with. Regardless of when you are born. Yesterday's Pioneers, today's Singaporeans, tomorrow's children, who will inherit the risks and rewards of what we decide today. And that culture of responsibility, those values of fairness, equitability, social cohesion – they are the ultimate safeguard to ensure good politics as well. Mdm Speaker, we hope for fair weather, but we must always be ready for exceptional perfect storms. By becoming a stronger, more resilient, more cohesive Greater Society, we will be ready to see SG100 – as One United People. I stand in support of the Motion.
The Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) and Senior Minister of State for Defence (Mr Ong Ye Kung)2198 words
[+13 sentences]Mdm Speaker, it has been a privilege to join this debate. As a new Member of the House, I seek your guidance as I embark on my journey as a parliamentarian. Mdm Speaker, We have done remarkably well as a society and country from SG01 to SG50. SG51 to SG100 will, however, be very different in terms of our external circumstances, in terms of our domestic situation, in terms of the outlook of Singaporeans. Today, the eyes of our people are upon us, the Government. We are jointly committed to the next phase of nation building. Some principles – integrity, meritocracy, open to the world – we must steadfastly hold on to them, while other things must evolve to suit new circumstances. Today, I would like to talk about three aspects that we may have to evolve. I choose the word "may", because the process will never be straightforward, certainly not sudden, and always a gradual, progressive evolution, fraught with tensions even at times. But this process of evolution is absolutely necessary because no city stays successful by standing still. Page: 32 Animals – they develop sharper claws, harder shells, longer beaks in order to survive. The three aspects of evolution that I would like to talk about today are: faster legs, stronger hearts and wiser minds. First, faster legs, which means how we make a living. At our birth, Singapore wanted, not foreign aid, but Foreign Direct Investments (FDI).[+10 sentences] The global economic system was then emerging from the old world of colonialism, where country-to-country relationships were hierarchical and benefits unbalanced. It was changing to a new global order based on market forces. Our economy strategy of attracting FDI was conceived in this era of receding colonialism. But the next 50 years will be different. US, Europe and Japan will continue to be major players and important investors in Singapore. But we are also in the midst of the making of an Asian century. China is a major part of that equation. We need to look at China's trajectory beyond the current stock market sell down, beyond the current pessimistic talk about hard and soft landing. China's economic transformation has moved on from growth to addressing the quality of growth. Low value-added activities are no longer the China Dream, 中国梦. Growth will be slower, but even at 6-7%, that represents a huge absolute dollar growth and, especially for a small country like Singapore, it represents tremendous opportunities.[+7 sentences] The major change is that the Chinese economy will be more discerning in allocating capital to more productive uses, it will move up the value added ladder and with greater discipline in allocating capital to production capacity, consumption accounts for a higher proportion of China's growth and investments today. Consumption is not just of goods, but also of services. That is why services are generating more jobs than manufacturing in China today. With that, ASEAN no longer serves as the major component supplier for China. China now produces those components, assembles them into final products and ships them globally, including to ASEAN. Because of that, our trade surplus in ASEAN that we used to experience in the early 2000s, has now flipped into a deficit now. India may also feature prominently in our economic fate. By 2050, India is likely to be the largest country in the world in terms of population and third largest economy globally.[+2 sentences] It is the fastest growing developing country in Asia. Outside of Asia, Africa's demographic momentum will be of tremendous global impact. By 2050, about a quarter of the world's population will be African.[+1 sentence] Africa will be a major part of the global equation on growth as well as climate change and even international migration. In this new era, our post-colonial strategy of attracting FDI remains relevant but not enough.[+20 sentences] FDI has many more places to go to. We cannot look at the value chain of China and try to fit ourselves in, as we did when we outsourced more labour intensive activities to China. Today, China drives that value chain. We must now look at China as a tremendous business and consumer space that we can tap into. Many Asian economies are facing headwinds, not because there is slower growth in China but that a new division of labour is emerging in the world, in Asia, and every country and every economy is finding its footing in this new configuration. Page: 33 For Singapore, I think we must know the markets around us intimately – traditions, customs, taste, language, habits, psychology. We used to encourage Singaporeans to anchor in Singapore. With a stronger anchor now planted, it is now necessary to seek our fortunes out in the region. The learning curve will be steep. President Tony Tan has warned that, "We cannot expect an easy journey ahead". This is why Institutes of Higher Education are encouraging overseas internships for their students. We must be able to understand, bridge and operate across different cultures. We must have depth in our know-how, in our skills, so that wherever we go, our expertise is valued and can be put to good use. Most of all, as Mr Christopher de Souza said, we must always be grounded in values, character and ethics. The next area of evolution: stronger hearts. This refers to our resolve to define Singapore and our national identity. In the beginning, Singapore was regarded as special because we resolved to move ahead together. Fifty years later, one of the greatest achievements arising from that resolve is to have built a national self-consciousness, an emerging, unique Singapore identity, from a diverse immigrant society with hardly any common ground to stand on. But this is a process that will take further decades and centuries. If we look around us, China and India – they are civilisations. In other parts of Asia – Mynamar, Thailand, Japan – they, too, have centuries of history behind them, shaping the way they are. So, for the next 50 years, the most important development may well be invisible to our naked eye. With a stronger heart, we will develop a stronger and more distinct national identity, and strengthen the Singapore soul.[+17 sentences] That will be our moment for the next 50 years. But our identity is not merely derived by a legal fiat that pronounces that everyone is "Singaporean". There is richness in the identity, drawn from our diversity, ancestry and cultural origins. It is derived from that inclusive, generous spirit, as Ms Sun Xueling has mentioned. This is why it is critical that we make, and continue to make, great effort in living together, side by side, appreciate each other, understand each other, and build even larger common spaces. As Members of Parliament, we knock on the doors of many HDB units in many HDB blocks. Just within one block, I have stood before homes with Quran verses, crucifixes, joss stick urns, statues of Ganesh, fixed around and at the side of their front doors. Nowhere in the world can we find this. I think our HDB flats, maybe, also deserve UNESCO recognition, not that we have applied. But this is truly our heritage. The President has said that, "To remain special, we must first resolve to move ahead together". While we do that, I say – let us not be afraid of the old – things of old are part of history and part of our soul. Even as we continue to develop physically, we must take pride and care to preserve special buildings, our art pieces, historical artefacts, and our beautiful old trees that provide glimpses into our soul. More young Singaporeans are now curious about the paths we have travelled, interested in our history and proud of it. We should celebrate this because this is a new generation trying to discover their sense of self. Like the National Gallery and Botanic Gardens, as we preserve them we also modernise them and take a leap forward. Our national journey is not measured in artificial laps of decades, 50 years or 100 years, but it is a continuous chain and cycle of preservation and renewal, of understanding history and inventing the future. The third area of evolution is wiser minds: the way we make decisions.[+10 sentences] I have vivid memories of conversations in my family when I was a child and we were living in our little flat in Bukit Ho Swee. At that time, getting demerit points for bad driving or a red summons for not paying your PUB bills were major family affairs involving family conferences. Often, we would gather around Page: 34 and the adults would always discuss whether we should appeal to the authorities to waive that red summons. But inevitably, some aunty of mine would say that it was no point appealing because "Government operates law by law". That was the most often cited argument. As a kid, who hardly knew any English, even I knew that that made no grammatical sense, but gradually, I realised this means that rules are transparent, consistently applied, with no quarter given. Similarly, throughout the Government administrative system, decisions are often made by strict adherence to rules and criteria, or comparing scores and numbers. We allocate – and we are quite used to this – school places by PSLE T-scores and aggregate scores, and award tenders by the lowest price if we are buying, or the highest price if we are selling. At a time where our nation was nascent, certainty of rules and consistency in application were critical. It is an approach that leaves little or no room for personal favours and, hence, no scope for corruption. We must continue to emphasise integrity and stand firm against corruption. But we must also exercise judgement and discretion.[+15 sentences] This is because the world is now too complex to be reduced to rule and numbers. Rules are made for man, not man for rules. Abiding by the rules is part of standard operating procedure, but so too, must be the exercise of judgement. Singapore is successful today partly because at the crossroads of our nation's history, our founding fathers and Pioneer leaders made important and the right judgement calls. In time to come, robots and computers will take over many, many human functions. But, I always believe one thing they can never overtake is the ability of humans to make and exercise judgement. There is also the risk that we excessively view ourselves in numerical terms – whether it is scores or rankings. This is our society and culture today. What we need is a clear focus on what truly matters – the worth of an individual, the standing of institutions, people and country, which can only be captured in part by numbers. Indeed, we are already seeing greater exercise of judgement today. Social assistance schemes, for example, are means-tested. They have rules and criteria, but, on the ground, lots of qualitative assessment and judgement are taking place. Because, who is to say a person earning $2,500 with two aged and sick parents to support is less deserving than somebody, a single man, with $1,500 of income? Similarly, in many public tenders now, the consideration is no longer just price, but how compelling and attractive the entire proposal is. Such contests can only be decided through judgement. Judgement is most needed when it concerns people. I have spoken of a need for a broader definition of merit.[+1 sentence] All the qualities, attributes, interests, achievements and moral grounding of a person cannot possibly be expressed in one metric. One big caveat – judgement and discretion sound good, but can cause great discomfort – because when things are not "law by law", when there is no comfort in numbers, there is always the fear that the system is not transparent and not fair. But, relying on one number to make decisions when life is so complex, cannot be fair and cannot be just.[+2 sentences] A well-calibrated, greater exercise of judgement must permeate throughout our system. Page: 35 Exercising human judgement does not mean we simply use our gut, or to bend rules willy-nilly. Good judgement is exercised through training, years of experience and assumption of accountability.[+1 sentence] This is far more difficult, but far more superior, than simply sticking to rules and numbers. Our human resource system must recognise people who are able to exercise judgement, who know when it is time for man or woman to make rules.[+2 sentences] This involves courage, heart, purity of intentions and a very human touch. Mdm Speaker, if we see the world as a living habitat and Singapore as a living and dynamic creature, then we have to consider nation building in evolutionary terms. Sometimes, what we need are not billion-dollar schemes, but perhaps new survival traits to adapt to a more complex and competitive environment.[+3 sentences] The President has said that ours should be "a society where the bonds of kinship run deep and people look out for one another". Today, and in this House, we must answer the President's call to continue to improve ourselves, to develop faster legs, stronger hearts, wiser minds, and to renew our resolve to march towards our common destinies. Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion.
Mdm Speaker45 words
[+5 sentences]Order. I propose to take a break now. I suspend the Sitting and will take the Chair at 4.05 pm. Sitting accordingly suspended at 3.42 pm until 4.05 pm. Sitting resumed at 4.05 pm
Mr Vikram Nair (Sembawang)2342 words
[+20 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I speak in support of the Motion. I will be speaking on two themes in the President's Address. The first is keeping Singapore safe and secure, and the second is renewing our economy. On the first theme, keeping Singapore safe and secure, as a National Serviceman, I have seen the growth of Singapore's Armed Forces, even in the short span of my own lifetime. When I first started National Service, I remember the weapon of choice was the M16. On a good day, I will be able to pass my shooting test by hitting one out of every two shots. During reservist, I was introduced to a new weapon. It was called the SAR. I do not believe this is a military secret. With the aid of this new weapon, I was able to get a marksman at my first range – not on any improvement on my account but purely because of better technology. This growth in the Singapore's Armed Forces is probably seen in many different areas. I have just highlighted one simple example. But I think one of the important things about Singapore's Armed Forces is that it is one of the most respected in the region. Whenever I meet counterparts in other countries, they are always grateful for the Singapore Armed Forces, sometimes because they provided them with help in times of need. Our Indonesian counterparts are grateful for the help we rendered in Aceh. And when I visited New Zealand, they still remember the assistance we provided Page: 36 when the Christchurch earthquake hit. So, Singapore's Armed Forces is respected in the region. I think it has been an important part of the lives of many people in this House. The question is what role would the Armed Forces play and what are the upcoming security issues we face in the foreseeable future? I see at least three sources of security concerns. The first is rising nationalism; the second is the hunger for resources, and the third, the most insidious, is the threat of terror.[+7 sentences] I think it is important to have a strong Armed Forces to deal with all three. The first, rising nationalism. This is one of the oldest causes of conflict and it has been there since time immemorial. Whenever countries feel the need to rally themselves together or to divert attention away from domestic issues, they sometimes raise concerns with neighbours, they try to unify the country against someone else. You see this in many areas, not all of them focused on Singapore. The tension between North and South Korea often sees a very strong assertion of identity on both parts of the divide. Differences between China and Taiwan often have a strong nationalistic streak, notwithstanding the strong economic ties between the countries. Closer to home, the most worrying incident we had in recent times was Indonesia's naming of a vessel, the Usman Harun ship.[+11 sentences] These are all examples of how neighbouring countries or countries around the region may decide to assert a strong nationalist identity. Nationalism, if it does not result in anything else, does not really mean very much. However, nationalism or rising nationalism is often the first step towards the building of hostilities. The strong assertion of a national identity, if it ultimately needs to express itself in territorial expansion, would be one of the major sources of security concerns. This brings me now to the second point, which is closely related, the hunger for resources. The hunger for resources has also been a very old cause of war from time immemorial. When a country is growing, it needs more resources. A simple way of doing it is to march across to its neighbour and take over, especially if your army is stronger. The post-World War II era has made this a lot more difficult because of the strong network of international law, and a willingness to enforce that by the major powers. But these two need to go hand in hand; international law in itself is not enough. This hunger for resources manifests itself in some disputes that are even closer to home. The South China Sea dispute, for example, has seen a number of countries, all of whom are our friends, fighting over a few pieces of stone.[+7 sentences] But it is not really the pieces of stone they are fighting over but the large economic zones that come with them. This is an expression of the hunger for resources. As these countries grow, they are hungry for resources and they will grab on to anything they can legitimately grab. It is in this light that we find ourselves in the middle of disputes that we may have no personal stake in but which will, nonetheless, affect us very profoundly. The South China Sea dispute, for example, includes many of our ASEAN neighbours as well as China, all of whom are countries we have very close ties with, and navigating these straits is not going to be easy for us, literally. The third source of threat is, perhaps, the most insidious, and this is terrorism. Terrorism is a little bit different from the first two because it originates from non-state actors. Terrorism, in its current form, I think the most insidious example is the growth of ISIS.[+3 sentences] The origins of ISIS come from the Middle East, and the battles that they are most concerned with are the Syrian conflict and Page: 37 the Iraqi conflict. However, the expression of terrorism and its manifestation has gone far and wide. Terrorist attacks in Paris, Ankara and Jakarta have all been linked to ISIS. Recently, 27 workers in Singapore have also been arrested.[+6 sentences] So, the threats are, in fact, very close to home. This is the danger of terrorism. We are dealing with a non-state actor but they penetrate through boundaries, and they may express themselves in countries that are very far away – so certainly not something that we can rest easily with. Our Armed Forces have joined the coalition against ISIS together with about 39 other countries but, of course, helping in the way it can within the limited resources that it has. I think it is important for Singapore to continue to express its strong stand against terrorism even as we take domestic measures to fight and weed out the threats from within. The second broad area I wish to deal with, and this actually links up a little bit to the first as well, is in renewing our economy. In particular, I would like to look at the role of the ASEAN Economic Community which just came into force on 31 December 2015.[+1 sentence] The ASEAN Economic Community has a great deal of promise. ASEAN is a region which has 625 million people and a GDP of 2.5 trillion in 2014.[+20 sentences] It is a huge market. Economic integration is a very important means of preventing other types of hostilities. So, if the economic destinies of the ASEAN countries are more closely integrated, that would hopefully allow ASEAN to provide a united front in other aspects as well. But economic integration is not easy. Europe has been at it for the last 30 years and it is not easy to find the right balance. The easiest of the forms of integration is to get rid of trade barriers and that has already been done effectively. So, it is quite easy for goods to move between ASEAN countries without tariffs. However, more challenges come when we talk about other aspects of integration. When we talk about movement of services or investment and capital, this is much more difficult. There are many prohibitions in individual countries relating to shares that foreign investors can have in domestic companies and land that can be owned by foreign investors. Ultimately, if we have the free movement of capital between countries, I think it would benefit all ASEAN nations. For example, many of our ASEAN counterparts are rich in resources and have large populations with unemployment. On the other hand, we have a lot of capital, we are short of labour, we have a much older population. In that sense, there is ample scope for win-win solutions if capital is allowed to flow to other countries, but this needs to be supported by the rule of law. For example, it would be ideal if the flow of capital is supported by investment treaties and, hopefully, aspirationally, also a dispute resolution mechanism. In the best case scenario, investment disputes should be able to resolve themselves privately without having to involve state actors at all stages. It would be quite unwieldy if every investment dispute needed to have diplomatic relations involved to resolve it. My hope is that at some point, there will be a dispute resolution forum as well for the ASEAN region. While I am a strong supporter of the free movement of goods and the free movement of capital, I would be a little more hesitant when it comes to the free movement of labour. In this respect, I am glad to note that the integration process is also a lot more measured. At the moment, there is no free movement of labour envisioned, but more a mutual recognition of qualifications in certain limited professions.[+3 sentences] It is important to understand the differences between the ASEAN region and Europe in this respect. When the European Union, or the European Community first formed and subsequently became the European Union, it was a group of economies of about equal standing. I say "about" – Page: 38 but all of them would have been what was traditionally known as the First World. However, in the ASEAN region, there is a much greater disparity in incomes and living standards between countries. So, if you have a complete free movement of labour, there is likely to be a very strong demand or a very strong desire for labour to move to the highest income community, which would be Singapore.[+3 sentences] Given the constraints Singapore is already facing with the inflow of foreign workers and foreign talents, we would be under even more pressure if such a measure were part of the ASEAN integration. On the other hand, many of our ASEAN counterparts would benefit from having skilled labour from Singapore move over there to help build up economies, build up cities, build up industries. So, in this sense, my hope is that ASEAN counterparts would be amenable to more nuanced labour movement rules, ones that allow the appropriate talent to move between countries without opening the flood gates that would cause a brain drain from one way and a flood of talent in the other. All in all, the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is a very promising start and it is one that requires a lot of work to get into effect, but the one that ultimately will have a very profound impact on the future of Singapore.[+11 sentences] I also think it is important to look at the AEC in the context of the larger global economic malaise that some of my colleagues have mentioned earlier. The reality is that the economy looks like it is going to slow. Stock markets have been falling all across the world. Commodity prices have been dropping. But what is important is that even in the face of a global economic slowdown, if we can find discrete economic opportunities, there will a chance for us to continue growing. The same way in 2008, when the Lehman Crisis hit, by nuancing our economic policies, we were able to benefit from the flight for safety to bring capital into Singapore. So, likewise I believe, that if we can open a new market into ASEAN at the same time, as the global economies slow, this could provide a promising platform for Singapore businesses to find growth even in difficult economic climate. Let me end off with a few words in Tamil, also talking on economic opportunities, but in a slightly more discrete area. (In Tamil): In the President's Address, I was heartened to hear the Government's commitment that Singapore will continue to be a place where children can "chase rainbows and fulfil aspirations". This includes investing in education, from pre-school to lifelong learning with SkillsFuture. I would encourage all members of our community to take full advantage of the opportunities on offer. In SINDA's strategic review in 2011, it found that the Indian community had made significant strides in education since SINDA's inception.[+1 sentence] However, there remained worrying signs. For example, some 17% of Indian parents had not sent their children to preschool.[+2 sentences] That is about one in six families. These were more likely to be children from low-income families whose parents had less education. The study also found that those who had missed out on pre-school education had more difficulties with core subjects, such as mathematics, in school. This seems to have knock-on effects and some 8% of Indian students did not have post-Secondary school education.[+1 sentence] SINDA had put in place a wide range of programmes to address this concern, including a preschool bursary for low-income families. Unfortunately, a perception remains amongst lower- Page: 39 income families that preschool education is expensive and unaffordable. I remember one case at my Meet-the-People Session (MPS) where I had to explain to a family how, with CFAC subsidies, the cost of childcare and preschool education would be only around $20 a month and that it made more sense for the mother to return to work while enrolling the child in childcare where professionals could see that the child gets a proper education.[+2 sentences] My hope is that with additional Government support, all parents, particularly those from lower-income groups, would realise that preschool education is within their reach and that it is important for their child's future. Mdm Speaker, the investment in our children's future starts from an early age and I strongly encourage all members of our community to give their children the head start they deserve and make full use of all the support available.
Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye (Tanjong Pagar)1453 words
[+6 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I stand in support of the Motion. The theme of the President's speech before this House – "Renewing Our Commitment to a Better Singapore" – is also at the heart of what Singapore's Labour Movement strives to do day in, day out for all collars, all ages and all nationalities of workers. In this regard, I would like to devote my maiden speech to tripartism in Singapore and what it holds for us. Singapore's 50th birthday last year triggered a reflection on the attributing factors that have transformed our nation remarkably from a Third World to a First World country. One key, but often overlooked factor to the success story of Singapore is our tripartite system. Tripartism was born at the time in our early years when there was a great need to move away from confrontational labour-management relations to strive for industrial peace with a common mission to making progress as one nation. Formed in 1972, the National Wages Council laid the foundation for the development of strong tripartism in Singapore.[+3 sentences] Our dynamic brand of tripartism has been tested and put into action over the past decades, and more recently, during the 2009 global economic downturn. Then, while many countries were cutting jobs to save costs, the tripartite partners in Singapore had a different approach. Together, we cut costs to save jobs. Some of the major initiatives rolled out included the Jobs Credit Scheme, Skills Programme for Upgrading and Resilience and the Tripartite Guidelines on Managing Excess Manpower.[+3 sentences] The concerted efforts by the tripartite partners enabled Singapore to upturn the downturn in a swift manner. Madam, we succeeded because we were willing to bite the bullet together. This year, the slowing of the economy and tightening of the labour market are major concerns for the Labour Movement. In the first quarter of 2016, unionised companies may see retrenchment affecting some 234 workers, a 31% increase from the same period in 2015.[+30 sentences] The Labour Movement will continue to work closely with our tripartite partners to ensure that our workers are taken care of and not left behind. So, why is tripartism important to Singapore? We simply have to imagine what it would be without tripartism to understand its importance. The Government would possibly plan and implement policies based on empirical studies and technical data, without proper ground sensing. Employers would resort to actions that are beneficial to its businesses, possibly at the expense of the workers. And the unions would fight for the welfare of the workers, without considered thoughts for the business climate. Each party would do things according to its own, sometimes mutually-exclusive interests, in a silo manner. Needless to say, the result would be a lose-lose for Page: 40 all parties. For tripartism to be successful, there must be mutual trust and a "give and take" understanding between Government, trade unions and employers. Each partner must also be strong and representative of its constituents. Today, tripartism at our national level is strong. MOM works closely and works well with NTUC and the employers to roll out effective measures for the benefit of our workers. However, going forward, with different industrial needs and challenges, a one-size-fits-all approach at the national level may no longer fully address the issues faced by the respective industries. Sectoral tripartism is not a new concept and it has been practised in certain industries for specific purposes. I believe sectoral tripartism strengthens our national tripartism and we need to do more to entrench the tripartite spirit at the sectoral level. In any economic cycle, different industries would likely be impacted at varying degrees. Some may not be affected at all. But each will face sector specific challenges. National tripartism must provide the key direction and guidance, while sectoral tripartism can tailor measures according to the respective industries' needs. As new technology develops and we continue to restructure our economy, there is also an urgent need to optimise our workforce for the future. Some industries will need more manpower, some will require manpower with new skills, while others may need to shed manpower through automation. Sectoral tripartism would play an important role to help our workers enhance their employability through continuous learning. Employers, too, can leverage on sectoral collaboration to create higher value-added jobs and better paying jobs. Madam, there is a successful example of sectoral tripartism. It is in the public transport industry. When the new bus contracting model was first mooted, our transport workers were very concerned with job security and staff welfare. Would they lose their jobs? Would they lose their staff benefits in a new company? Gathering these ground feedback, the National Transport Workers' Union highlighted these concerns to the Public Transport Tripartite Committee. The PTTC includes representatives from the union, LTA and the public transport operators. Together, the sectoral tripartite committee developed and agreed on a set of guidelines, which ensures that all affected employees must be offered a job by the incoming operator on employment terms not worse off than each individual's current package. The affected employees can also choose to join the new operator, or be re-deployed by their current employer where feasible.[+20 sentences] All bus operators would have to factor these guidelines into their tender proposals accordingly. Such tripartite outcome is probably not seen in any other parts of the world. Madam, I believe the success of the PTTC can be replicated in other industries as well. More needs to be done to enhance our sectoral tripartism. The Government, Labour Movement and employers would each have to stand strong in its own ways. For matters on industrial relations, MOM has traditionally been the main representative of the Government. However, at the sectoral level, the Government is represented by various Ministries and Statutory Boards. We require these Government agencies to be aligned to tripartism as well. LTA in PTTC is a positive example. It works closely with the transport workers' union and the public transport operators, and adopts a partnership approach to achieve a win-win-win outcome for all Page: 41 parties. As for the Labour Movement, we would have to reach out to more workers and expand our membership in the different industries. With a changing workforce demographic, the Labour Movement has to cater to a more mature workforce, an increasing number of PMEs and a growing economy of freelancers. For employers, strong industry representatives are required. In the case of PTTC, the main public transport operators are the sectoral employer representatives. However, for some other industries, there can be many companies with possibly a wide range of different concerns. The Employers' Federation has to expand its membership so that it is able to have a pervasive presence across industries and provide strong sectoral representatives at the industry level. Would our tripartism stay strong as it is forever? The lifespan of tripartism depends on whether the strong tripartite relationships are sustained. The current tripartite leaders have built up the reservoir of trust over a period of time, from working with one another, through good and bad times. We cannot assume future generations of tripartite leaders would automatically have the same strong bonds. As announced by the NTUC Secretary-General at the International Forum on Tripartism in October last year, promising officers from the Civil Service and the unions will participate in an exchange programme to strengthen the tripartite relationship. Today, two Civil Service officers and one NTUC officer are on secondment, with another 13 civil servants on various attachments with the Labour Movement. The Singapore National Employers Federation is also keen to come on board this scheme.[+3 sentences] Madam, tripartism is an artificial construct. It does not take place naturally. As the President said, our economy requires an upgrade to meet tomorrow's challenges; so does our tripartism. Efforts to enhance the tripartite relationships have to be deliberate and our national tripartism must cascade to the sectoral level.[+3 sentences] If it is left on auto-pilot, if complacency sets in, the strong tripartism that we had yesterday and working today would easily be no more tomorrow. Tripartism has served us well. It is a powerful weapon in our economic defence. But we should not allow it to remain a "secret" weapon known and practised only by a few. I would urge for tripartism to be included in our national education so that every Singaporean child would know, appreciate and continue to nurture this key competitive advantage, so that we can continue to be an exceptional nation.[+2 sentences] In conclusion, I would urge the House to recognise the importance of tripartism in Singapore and to do more to strengthen it, both at the national and sectoral levels, and to make tripartism more pervasive in our journey together to a new economy. Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion.
Mr Chong Kee Hiong (Bishan-Toa Payoh)1777 words
[+18 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the Motion of Thanks to the President for his Address at the Opening of Parliament. Following the President's speech on our Government's priorities, our Ministries had announced a series of policy outlines and measures to support these goals. Many of the schemes will require substantial investment and expenditure. I am very grateful that we have the resources Page: 42 to implement them. Our predecessors had accumulated significant assets through sacrifice, hard work and discipline. Building a nation from almost nothing – not even water – they had not only survived but thrived, raised children and grandchildren, and left us something extra. This is how we celebrated our 50th National Day in style and substance last year. Let us work even harder to ensure that we get ahead for our future generations, just like what our forefathers and the Pioneer Generation have done for us. We must continue to pursue economic growth. Growth is necessary for progress. A growing economy generates good jobs for Singaporeans. It will also help retain the talented and our young who are mobile and attractive to other competing economies. Historically, our growing economy has created wealth through asset ownership, which helps to build retirement security, especially with new HDB schemes. If this form of wealth preservation for retirement purposes is no longer viable in the absence of similar rates of growth as in the past, how do we ensure Singaporeans are well-prepared for retirement as leasehold assets would generally depreciate over time? There is wisdom in the continual pursuit of economic growth and wealth. This is needed to generate sufficient revenue to defend our shores, build infrastructure and help the disadvantaged and underprivileged amongst us, and even build surpluses so that future generations will not have to shoulder our debts. The world economy is increasingly difficult to forecast. Over and above market forces, frequent government interventions have contributed to the volatility and uncertainty of global markets. The World Bank had just reduced its forecast for 2016's global growth, from 3.3% it made in June 2015 to 2.9% this month. The International Monetary Fund had to repeatedly downgrade its forecasts for global economic growth. Its current forecasts for 2016 and 2017 are 3.4% and 3.6% respectively.[+22 sentences] The world is expected to be in a prolonged low growth environment. Singapore's GDP grew by 2.1% last year. The road ahead remains bumpy. How can Singapore achieve moderate growth in this environment? An advanced economy like ours has the advantage of a more educated and skilled workforce but we also have a higher cost environment and an ageing population. The Government has emphasised the focus on higher value-added and less labour intensive sectors, more productive industries and in particular, those where we have a comparative advantage, such as services. Investments and projects in these fields should be further strengthened and built upon. I am glad that the Committee on the Future Economy, headed by our Finance Minister, will be looking into five key areas essential to our economic growth. We all know that it takes many years, lots of resources and efforts to build up skillsets, talents and capacity. At this juncture, perhaps we should critically re-examine our divestment policies to ensure that the divested entities are indeed past its relevance to our economy. Today, we face mounting challenges on many fronts. Rapid developments in many sectors have brought about shorter business cycles. The relentless pace of change can be intimidating and disconcerting, even for those who are prepared. It is not just the older employees who are under Page: 43 pressure to upgrade constantly and face the threat of redundancy. Even younger ones are subject to similar stresses. Indeed, staying relevant and competitive is increasingly difficult. However, if we can take advantage of developments in technology and R&D, Singapore is in good shape and well-placed to seize these opportunities. We have a well-educated workforce with a "can-do" spirit. Through SkillsFuture, the Government is helping Singaporeans equip themselves with the skills to elevate their relevance in the workplace. At the same time, we need to think ahead. What are the plans to diversify drivers and industries of growth so as to satisfy the aspirations of the greater proportion of skilled workers who as individuals would have different aspirations, interests, expertise and goals? Clearly, we are in the process of transiting to a higher-value economy and innovative society. In fact, Singapore was recently ranked the sixth most innovative country by Bloomberg Innovation Index.[+7 sentences] An innovative economy will provide more jobs, better pay and longer employment security. We are aware that growth and transitions can put a strain on existing capacities and disrupt the status quo. Unfortunately, investments and projects do not come in neat packages at desired intervals. We have to adapt to their schedules instead. Make hay while the sun shines. We cannot afford to slow down. Mdm Speaker, I would like to speak on the next few paragraphs in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): Seventy percent of our workforce are employed by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which contribute half of our gross domestic product.[+13 sentences] Human capital is critical to the success of our SMEs. We must help young Singaporeans see their own potential to grow with promising SMEs. We should also give recognition to successful executives in growing SMEs, so that the younger generation can see joining SMEs as an exciting career path where they can make a significant and different contribution building an international company with Singapore DNA. SME bosses must be open-minded and offer attractive remuneration packages when they hire professionals. They should also set up human resource management systems that are transparent and consistent, to show their staff that the company's promotion and leadership prospects are based on performance, not personal or family ties. Undoubtedly, SMEs will continue to play a critical role in our economy. Therefore, the Government must do more to develop our SMEs and help them grow as regional or international headquarters, for example, provide incentives that are similar to those given to MNCs that set up headquarters in Singapore. There are many schemes to assist our SMEs. The amount of the assistance funds which have been tapped would probably vary from scheme to scheme. If the draw-down rate is low, the Government must rethink and review to see if the reason for the low drawdown is due to the qualifying criteria or if there is a mismatch between the definition of the schemes and the needs of SMEs. I would like to ask if the Government can consider streamlining the procedures for SMEs seeking assistance. Time to market is of the essence in particular for innovative industries. (In English): Prime Minister Lee mentioned in 2008 that about 25% of the top A-level students who had gone abroad to study or work did not return. The number of Singaporeans overseas has also increased by more than one-third from about 158,000 in 2004 to 212,000 in 2014. Page: 44 In five years' time, our local Universities will take in up to 40% of each school cohort.[+14 sentences] We must do what we can to provide the most attractive work and living environments so that we can retain as many talents that we have nurtured as possible. In the past two years, I have met many management level executives in the course of my work who have been retrenched. They are mid to senior managers in their 30s and 40s, who are unable to find a job for many months. Some are still unemployed. They are at the stage in their lives when they have young children and old parents to provide for and mortgages to pay. During the period of unemployment, some even have to pretend to go to work so as not to pass on their worries to their family members. They suffered a big blow to their ego and confidence. There are many reasons for this unemployment, one of which is lack of matching of skills; another is their reluctance to lower their expectation. The latter attitude could be attributed to their faith in the Government to lead the economy out of this low growth situation and the return of good jobs. Hence, we cannot let them down. With the current economic conditions, I believe many more companies are looking to trim headcount and the situation would likely worsen. The Government needs to do more to help these groups of Singaporeans. One of the ways would be to provide more publicity and create greater awareness for our National Jobs Bank and CaliberLink, which provides training advisory and employment assistance for our local Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs). Both are set up and administered by the Workforce Development Agency (WDA). I checked their websites a few days ago – not that I am looking for a job. There are over 56,000 jobs listed on JobsBank; there is a wide range of jobs at different levels, including many jobs for PMETs, though the exact number of jobs for PMETs was not available. JobsBank is user-friendly and browsing through it, I found jobs with monthly salaries ranging from $800 to $30,000. These include cleaners, air-conditioning technicians, construction managers, data security analysts, pilots, senior managers in various industries and even a retail banking CEO.[+13 sentences] I believe that many of these jobs could be filled by Singaporeans but why are there so many vacancies not taken up on the website? How long do these listings remain, on average? Traditionally, PMETs go to placement agencies and head-hunting firms for jobs. Can more be done to make JobsBank the go-to site for those seeking employment? Perhaps more frequent advertisements on our free-to-air channels and newspapers will be helpful. As a society we must respect all jobs and take pride in all occupations, "敬业乐业" as we say in Chinese, which means to take pride and derive joy from one's chosen vocation. There is still a general perception in Singapore that jobs that require abstract thinking – "using brains" – are superior to jobs requiring skills – "using hands". Such an unjustified and unfounded preference is undesirable and will have severe repercussions on our economy and social make-up. I am happy that the Government has embarked on the SkillsFuture programme where both types of jobs are given equal recognition and prominence. Together, let us create an environment that will boost the confidence of every Singaporean. One would feel safe in the knowledge that no one will be left behind. With peace of mind and confidence in the future, we can be free to pursue our dreams and soar. With that, Mdm Speaker, I Page: 45 support the Motion.
Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap (Aljunied)1996 words
[+14 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I will deliver my speech in Malay. (In Malay): First of all, I would like to take this opportunity to put on record my thanks to the voters of Aljunied GRC who gave me and my colleagues the trust for the second time to be their voice in this House. Madam, in his Address, the President touched on five important objectives for the people of Singapore so that the country will always remain strong, respected and admired globally at the world level. I agree with the objectives that were outlined. In this speech, I would like to focus on the objective of "Creating a More Graceful and Caring Society". I will be focusing on this specifically because I am of the belief that it is the primary objective that will give us the basic factors for achieving the other objectives. A society that is gracious and caring by nature is a society that will have mutual trust and will help each other even though it may consist of various ethnic groups, religious beliefs and backgrounds, just like Singaporeans. These characters will create closer ties between the different races and hence, there will be solidarity. Solidarity is necessary for us to achieve whatever are our desired objectives. So, what are the factors that will result in creating a gracious and caring society? Undoubtedly, political philosophy and the administrative principles of a government is one of the basic factors. This is because the political philosophy and principles of a government is an important thrust in the formulation of policies and schemes that will be applied by the government administration. The policies and schemes implemented by the government have an effect on the creation of the society. It is like the nature and circumstances of a family, which is formed, whether for better or for worse, through the methods of the head of the family in leading the family. We could see how in the Twelfth Parliament, the PAP Government has evolved itself in terms of its political philosophy and principles in national administration. This was acknowledged by the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Tharman, who said that "Of late, the Government has made a shift in its approach that is slightly to the left in formulating and implementing social policies and in the way it gives help to the needy.[+1 sentence] It was also in the Twelfth Parliament that there was a shift of the Government's perspective on meritocracy. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in a media interview, said that a compassionate meritocracy is the key to us going forward.[+1 sentence] He said that the word "compassionate meritocracy" was first used by the Emeritus Senior Minister Mr Goh Chok Tong who said that compassionate meritocracy is a concept where those who are successful help those who are still looking for success. The principle of compassionate meritocracy can be seen in the implementation of the MediShield Life scheme and in the changes made to the income tax system which was announced in the 2015 Budget, where some analysts have even called the 2015 Budget as the Robin Hood budget, meaning that we are taking away from the wealthy to give to the poor.[+1 sentence] Changes in terms of philosophy and principles have led to the Government giving more focus to social policies and channelling more social support and assistance than before. A number of the social assistance schemes have been introduced, such as the Pioneer Generation Package and the Silver Support scheme, to ease the burden of the pioneer generation and the seniors in meeting Page: 46 the costs of their basic needs.[+12 sentences] Financial assistance, such as ComCare has also been extended so that more of the needy could receive necessary help. What could have triggered this shift by the Government? In my view, it is the people's voice. It is the people's voice expressed through the ballot papers in the 2011 General Elections and the by-elections of 2012 and 2013. Madam, in his speech, the President said that the efforts to provide assistance to the needy is a continuing endeavour and it will require adjustments from time to time. However, he also reminded us to tread with caution so that the social assistance programmes are not implemented excessively, as has frequently happened in advanced countries that resulted in complications for the nation. The Workers' Party agrees with the reminder given by the President. The Workers' Party supports Government's measures to enhance social assistance but at the same time, we also acknowledge we have to be cautious so that there will be no adverse effects. In this consideration, I would like to once again propose that we have a monitoring system for the social assistance schemes that we have presently. I have put across this proposal during the debate at the Opening of the Second Session of the Twelfth Parliament. With this monitoring system, we will know the effectiveness of the assistance schemes and will be able to take the necessary measures to improve them. In the previous term of Parliament, the Government had also widened its perspective in the education sector. The Edusave Scheme has been expanded to private students including full-time madrasah students for the first time since the scheme was introduced 20 years ago.[+6 sentences] MOE which has been maintaining that the Edusave Scheme can only be offered to students in the national schools, has changed its position so that more Singaporean students can benefit from Edusave. The launching of ASPIRE in 2013 has given better recognition and support to ITE and Polytechnic students and graduates in the effort to improve their skills and enhance their careers. This is a change on the part of the Government which usually gives more encouragement to students to pursue University level education as a way to achieve success and progress in their careers. Although many improvements and changes have been made to Government policies and schemes, efforts to raise the standards of living of the people of Singapore needs continuous effort. Currently, there are many things that could be improved and implemented. Some of the existing Government policies and schemes will still need to be reviewed so that they remain relevant to ever changing and challenging circumstances, especially since these policies and schemes could impact the well-being and lives of Singaporeans. Amongst the examples of existing schemes that I feel should receive Government's attention is the Public Rental Scheme and the COE scheme.[+5 sentences] In my observation, there are still some segments of Singaporeans who need public rental housing due to their financial and family situation that are becoming increasingly challenging. However, these groups are not eligible for the Public Rental Scheme because they do not meet the stipulated criteria. As a result, many of them are forced to rent rooms in the open market and continue to remain in an unstable financial and family situation. This is because they have to set aside a large portion of their monthly income to pay for the room rental and they also suffer psychological stress due to the lack of space. For those who cannot afford to rent from the open market and have no means for other alternatives, public areas such as void decks and beaches become their residence. Page: 47 Madam, I would also propose that we carry out a review of the COE scheme, for the motorcycle category so that the people who earn their living through the use of motorcycles are not burdened by excessive COE prices.[+18 sentences] I cite these above examples because I would like to paint a picture of a situation where there are still Singaporeans who face difficulties and pressures as a result of side effects of existing Government schemes and policies. These pressures occur because these policies have an impact on the individual's effort to fulfil basic needs such as shelter, a source of income and maintaining family ties. And as a result, Singaporeans who are affected feel like they are shunted out because it looks like their basic needs seemed to receive no attention from the Government. Based on what I have shared, I feel that it is necessary for these measures to be reviewed. Madam, generally, I welcome the changes, enhancements and improvements to the Government's schemes and policies in an effort to create a more inclusive, gracious and caring society. These are good measures which have been well-received by the people, including us, the Workers' Party Members of Parliament. This is because the objective is in line with the main vision of the Workers' Party that was stated since it was set up in 1957, which is "Towards a Caring Society". It is our philosophy that every policy measure outlined and implemented by the Government must take into account and emphasise human needs. Only through these measures, inclusiveness, graciousness and care will remain alive in the hearts of the people of Singapore. Hence, this would drive the people to contribute their best towards national building. Madam, I would like to shift the focus of my speech to one thing contained in the Addendum by MCCY. MCCY talked about the SGfuture engagement that functions as a platform for conversation towards achieving a shared future. I support the good intentions behind the idea of SGfuture engagement in providing space and opportunities for the multiracial people of Singapore with different backgrounds and religions to express, listen to one another and exchange ideas sincerely and openly. Such a conversation would be positive because it would create discussion that can be scrutinised and understood in the best way possible. The understanding and clarity that will be obtained from these sessions will result in consensus if there is a meeting of perspectives. On the other hand, if there are differences that cannot be resolved. This holistic conversation can produce mutual respect between one another – as we say in English, "Agree to disagree". In this respect, I would like to suggest that current issues that have impact on the general public could be discussed on the SGfuture engagement platform, for example, current issues that are being hotly debated such as the threat of radicalisation. In addition, I also hope that the platform could also be used to obtain holistic views and feedback from the people on sensitive issues, such as the wearing of the head cover, or hijab, by Muslim women who are serving in the uniformed services, such as nursing, military, Police and Civil Defence. In 2013, in an effort to address this issue, the Prime Minister held a dialogue with Malay/Muslim Members of Parliament and community leaders to explain why the Government does not allow the wearing of hijab or tudong in the Singapore uniformed services. I appreciate the Prime Minister's effort in having such a dialogue. However, some segments of Muslim Singaporeans feel there should be a dialogue not just involving the Muslim community, but also the other communities, the chiefs of the uniformed services and Government and non-government agencies with an interest in the issue.[+5 sentences] A dialogue session held in this way will open the opportunities for multilateral discussions as it will allow the perspectives and ideas from all parties to be presented openly and sincerely. This will also enable all parties involved to understand one another's perspectives and, in this way, find the best resolution. I feel that such a holistic dialogue will be more positive, constructive and inclusive in our effort to find collective consensus on an Page: 48 issue. In the end, this will generate mutual respect and caring amongst Singaporeans. Madam, I would like to end my speech by saying that the Workers' Party Members of Parliament will continue to play our role by contributing to the process of the formulation of policies and Government schemes, in a rational, responsible and inclusive manner so that we can create a dynamic society, based on graciousness and care, and eventually gain the fruits of that effort so that Singapore can remain strong and become an example to the world.
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministers for Trade and Industry and the Acting Ministers for Education (Ms Low Yen Ling)2466 words
[+36 sentences]Mdm Speaker, thank you for allowing me to participate in today's debate. Today, we have heard from several Members on their concerns about the threat of terrorism and the ISIS – a force that is insidious and growing, but not insurmountable. If we stand back-to-back, join hands, hearts and minds, together, we can collectively fight the battle to win this war. Everyone, every Singaporean can fight terrorism. Each of us – from the doorman, to the clerk, lawyer, teacher or firefighter – has a responsibility for our collective security. The Government can be our bulwark, but each Singaporean is needed to prevent terrorism from splintering our society. May I suggest we counter the threat of terrorism with an "I-CAN" approach. "I" for Inclusive society, "C" for Community involvement, "A" for Advancing and upholding our values, and "N" for forging a strong National identity. In short, "I-CAN". This is a fight that calls on all Singaporeans to play a part in defending and protecting our home, people and land from the terrorist threat. This is a battle beyond border controls, guns or law. We are waging a war for hearts and minds. The forces of terrorism capture the thoughts and desires of individuals and lead them to destroy their country, loved ones and home. Cyberspace spreads dissatisfactions, feelings of injustice and anger. In an economic downturn, it is even easier for terrorism to play the card of race and religion to divide us. Potential fault lines like a wrong understanding of Islam, racial stereotyping or weak national identity can threaten us from within. Therefore, as one people, we must close ranks to build a fair, caring, cohesive and inclusive Singapore that leaves no space for the weeds of terrorism to grow. Please allow me to elaborate on "I" – Inclusive society. In President Tony Tan's Address to the Thirteenth Parliament, he urged us to build a caring and inclusive Singapore. Building an inclusive society is our ultimate defence against terrorism for when members of a society care for one another in unity, divisive elements find it hard to take root. Home-grown terrorism tends to be driven by disaffection, anger and the search for significance. Potential ISIS recruits are attracted by false sense of idealism and the promise of being able to change the world. By strengthening our community bonds, and building trust across races, we weave a tight network against this warped ideologies. By caring for the marginalised and weaker members of our community, an inclusive society is able to desist the lies of radicals like the ISIS seeking to lure the disenfranchised. "C" – Community involvement and all hands on deck. The fight against terrorism belongs to us all, each and every Singaporean. Only a whole-of-society response can nullify this clear and present danger. To do this, we need all hands on deck – community involvement from self-help groups like the CDAC, Mendaki, SINDA, Eurasian Association and bodies like the inter-religious organisations (IROs), People's Association as well as voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) and Page: 49 non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Together, we must continue to make social harmony a priority, for without it, Singapore would not be where it is today nor can we progress. At every level of our society, we must strive to foster mutual understanding, tolerance and respect, and enable Singaporeans, regardless of race, language or religion, to flourish in diversity and harmony. Social harmony and inclusiveness promote trust across religions and strengthen community bonds. To this end, inter-faith dialogues and initiatives must continue to play a part in uniting Singaporeans and fostering mutual understanding, multi-racialism and multi-culturalism. By safeguarding and upholding religious and social harmony, we are each doing our part to boost our strategy of Total Defence that comprises military, civil, economic, social and psychological defence. The community can give early warning signs for the Police and intelligence services. Social workers and family members can work upstream to prevent potential ISIS recruits from being radicalised. Together, we can work to prevent potential fall-out from social disenfranchisement by strengthening families and marriages, keeping open communication lines between races and educating the public on the role in our collective fight against terrorism. With everyone chipping in, we can achieve an inclusive Singapore.[+1 sentence] We have made progress. We have made progress with the Pioneer Generation Package, MediShield Life and the roll-out of master plans for enabling those with disabilities, the elderly and improving social assistance. For both lower income and middle income Singaporeans, real incomes have increased five to six times since 1965. In terms of social mobility, 14% of those with low-income parents end up in the top 20% of incomes. In the US, only about 7.5% do so.[+6 sentences] Singaporeans have also stepped up in support too, through social entrepreneurship and charity giving. Most importantly, an inclusive Singapore will unite Singaporeans and counter potential fractures of marginalisation and disaffection that could make us vulnerable. However, inclusiveness does not come naturally. We all know that. We have to continue to work hard at it, and it takes time. In addition, radicalisation is not limited to those on the fringe. One of our first self-radicalised individuals in 2007 was a lawyer named Abdul Basheer Abdul Kader.[+9 sentences] A Quebec University psychology professor who has studied hundreds of terrorism examples, Mr Jocelyn Bélanger, suggests that radicalisations stem from the fundamental and universal human quest for significance. He found proof that "feeling humiliated and ashamed were predictors of radicalisation and willingness to die for a cause." He further explained that "Neuroscientific evidence shows that the part of brain associated with social exclusion and physical pain is the same". It means that when you are being ostracised and excluded, you are physically hurt. Therefore, inclusion is vital and education is key to guiding this fundamental human drive. Through education in the public sphere and in schools, we can promote the right understanding of Islam, encourage Singaporeans to be inclusive, show respect and tolerance, prevent marginalisation and uphold our nation's founding principles of justice, equality and meritocracy. "A" – Advance our goals of meritocracy, equality and opportunities for all. By upholding and advancing these inclusive values, we can snuff out the warped ideology behind terrorism. Our pledge of "being one united people, regardless of race, language or religion, based on justice and equality" keeps our nation united as we defend and uphold it across all sectors of our society, be it in education, the economy or social sector, Singaporeans must safeguard, live up and hold fast to these principles. As President Tony Tan underlines in his Opening Address, the Government seeks to make our nation a place where every individual, regardless of background, can do well as long as he applies Page: 50 himself or herself. We will continue to invest heavily in education, from preschools to institutes of higher learning.[+3 sentences] Our diversity in higher education makes for an inclusive Singapore. There will be no let-up in our efforts to improve healthcare, transport and infrastructure. As the economy re-structures, we continue to strive to create opportunities for all. The introduction of SkillsFuture and the Committee on the Future Economy serve to advance the interests of Singaporeans at large, and secure the prosperity and progress of our people.[+15 sentences] As we reaffirm our fundamental values, we value our people and, ultimately, protect ourselves from terrorism. "N" – A strong National identity. As a form of defence, may I suggest, Mdm Speaker, that we take a fresh look at how we can fortify our Singapore identity and national pride. The love for our nation is preventive medicine to the toxins of ISIS. Nationalism and positive fervour for our country is counter-defence against the emotional pull of radicalised terrorists, who are, sadly, ready to even give up their lives for a broken ideology. Having a strong national identity gives us rootedness, connections and a deep sense of belonging to one other and our homeland. The time is now. One year after our SG50, the time is now – to fortify, to validate and to let our Singapore pride shine. During the Jubilee year, we shared a sense of unity and national pride like never before. We saw a glimpse of this fierce and protective love expressed during the passing of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Singaporeans of different races, ages and beliefs were united in grief. Under the blanket of mourning, a special sense of togetherness, a special sense of kindness and, I will say, a special sense of Singaporean-ness emerged during that one week. As we waved the Singapore flags to bid Mr Lee goodbye, there came a realisation of what our little red dot has achieved, encapsulated in the life of our late Founding Father. This emerging honest and fierce pride can defend us against the threat of terrorism. It can keep Singapore strong and free. Post-SG50, we need to fortify our Singapore national identity, values and aspirations.[+21 sentences] In an interview by The New Yorker, a young French Socialist politician Nicolas Cadene shared that one of the reasons for the rise of extremism in France was because it had failed to create a national story that included all its citizens. So, what is our Singapore narrative today, one year after SG50? What are our guiding principles that we want enshrined − old and new − that will lead us towards SG100? What is our Singapore dream? While the SGfuture dialogues will help us answer some of these questions, we need to waste no time in forging a strong post-SG50 Singapore identity that can withstand the onslaught of globalised terrorism and its insidious penetration. And, indeed, our common Singapore identity, values, dreams will give us the rootedness and strong ground from where we can stand to fend off the enemy's aims to alienate and divide us. It may sound antithetical, but celebrating our Singapore culture, identity and uniqueness is really the soft power to fight the harsh and cruel sting of terrorism. Our collective identity, values and aspirations and inclusive Singapore narrative rise up to form a formidable psychological defence. I can. We can! Finally, we will not cower under this threat. We are to always be alert but not afraid. Like fighting a virus, the harder we fight, the stronger we get. On this note, Mdm Speaker, please allow me to continue in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): Mdm Speaker, last year we just celebrated SG50. Within a generation, Singapore has transformed itself from a Third World country to a developed nation. We achieved this not only because of the wisdom of our Pioneer leaders and the hard work of our people, but also one very important factor, that is, peace and stability – the peace Page: 51 and stability of the region, our country as well as our society. With peace and stability, we will have progress and development. With peace and stability, all that we have achieved with hard work can be sustained. With peace and stability, our next generation can stay healthy and strong under a favourable environment. Therefore, we must continue to work hard to defend our peace and stability and not let terrorism destroy all that we have carefully nurtured. In the face of possible terrorist attacks, we must be fully prepared in Total Defence, that is, military, civil, economic, social and psychological defence. Here, I would like to share five words: sincerity, trust, courage, loyalty and peace.[+11 sentences] The first is sincerity. It means frankness and open discussion on difficult issues we face, the concerns we have and the consequences we fear. We are a multiracial, multicultural and multi-religious society. Only by open discussion and sharing, can different races deepen our understanding and discover that, after all, we are all worried about the same thing − the future of our country. And what we treasure are also the same things, which are the prosperity and stability of our society. It is only by confronting the issues frankly, can we be fully prepared for the future. Sincerity is the foundation of Total Defence. Second, trust. Trust needs to be maintained. We know that trust is very vulnerable. It is not easy to build but can be easily destroyed. Once destroyed, it will be very difficult to regain or to heal the wound. Therefore, we must resolutely defend the trust that we have built up over the years between our communities. Individuals and communities all have the responsibility to safeguard this trust.[+1 sentence] Next is courage. When facing potential terrorist attacks, we must be united and brave.[+23 sentences] If we run away, we will be more likely to become a target sooner. But if we do not take it seriously, should an attack occur, we will be caught unprepared. Therefore, we must be well prepared and face the risk with courage. Next is loyalty. Loyalty means loyalty to Singapore. Regardless we are Chinese, Malay or Indian, all that we Singaporeans have are one another. So, we must be loyal to our country, loyal to Singapore and defend the home that we have built together. The last one is peace and harmony. In our Chinese culture and also in our Southeast Asian traditional values, harmony is a common core value. I would like to share with you three words relating to harmony. First, in our dealings with one another, it is best to have peace in our heart and a calm tone, so that a big issue will become a small issue and a small issue a non-issue. Second, we say that "the family will do well when there is harmony". A family must be in peace and harmony for it to prosper. Similarly, a country will prosper and grow if it can maintain peace and harmony. Third, between people, we must put a premium on harmony. With harmony, you can grow your wealth. This follows the same logic as "the family will do well when there is harmony". Page: 52 I did some research. What I understand is that in Arabic and in Islam, harmony is also a core value. We know that when Muslims meet one another, they will say, "As-salamu alaykum". In English, it means, "May peace be upon you". We can see that in our heart of hearts, what we are looking for is the same, and that is peace, harmony and happiness. Therefore, we must treasure what we have today in Singapore − the peace, harmony and happiness. Singapore's future development will depend on regional peace, social harmony and national stability.[+1 sentence] Only with these, can people create happiness. So, I hope we can remember these words: sincerity, trust, courage, loyalty and peace.[+2 sentences] Let us take these traditional values as our nutrients, stay firmly grounded and work together to create a peaceful, stable and prosperous Singapore for the next generation. I support the Motion, Mdm Speaker.
Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade)2125 words
[+25 sentences]Mdm Speaker, let me first start by defining the word "collaborative" or "collaboration" which was touched upon by the hon Member, Ms Sylvia Lim. Collaboration essentially means to work with a person or with a group in order to achieve something, to cooperate or to work jointly. There is no mention − and this is according to Webster's dictionary − of equal contributions, equal partnership. In collaborative leadership as well, there is no mention of equality. Therefore, I am happy to stand before the House and state that I am a strong proponent of collaboration and collaborative culture, collaborative leadership, collaborative effort and collaborative everything, if it will deliver whatever desired outcome I want. I would also be glad to say that I will contribute more than my fair share if I can, if I know how to and if I am capable. Madam, Mr Faisal Manap also said that he agreed with the President's as well as the Government's stand on many policies and also the MediShield Life scheme, Pioneer Generation Package and a few other schemes that we have. However, I would like to ask what has he got to come up with? In Malay, Madam. (In Malay): What substantial suggestions does the Opposition have for Singaporeans? They are the alternative voice in Parliament but we have never heard this alternative voice. Their job is not only to question the Government's schemes but also to step forward with new ideas that are substantial and practical for Singaporeans. This is what Singaporeans want. For his information, the schemes that he mentioned and wanted to know whether they are monitored; we, in the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC), always give our feedback and monitor these schemes, and hence changes are made to the schemes, and that is how the changes have been made for our people. (In English): Mdm Speaker, thank you for allowing me to join the debate. We thank the President for setting the strategic thrust for us moving into the coming years. President Obama, in his final State of the Union Address recently, made a very impassioned call for real changes in the "nuts and bolts of American politics". He also said: "We need to fix our Page: 53 politics. If we want better politics, it is not enough to just change a Congressman, a Congress woman or even a senator or the President. We have to change the system to reflect ourselves better". Indeed, rather aligned with the call by President Tony Tan for a "refreshed system". Many described our political system as that of a socialist democracy, perhaps now drifting a little towards liberalism, what with the majority of the electorate now born post-Independence and desiring more political diversity, competition and democratic openness. Political set-ups are, indeed, dynamic. They have to be, in order to accommodate the changing nature of human societies. The political system of the day that we have must be able to safeguard the rights of our people and sort out social and political issues facing the nation. We have a unique political system in Singapore, customised to our setting, but not cast in stone and ever evolving and changing as well, like a few other countries − Australia, Japan, South Korea, for example. We have set up the Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) scheme since 1984, the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) system in 1988 and the Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) system since 1990, and, of course, the Elected President, which is also unique to Singapore, in 1991.[+13 sentences] Good women and men in leadership, coupled with a rigorous and robust system of checks and balances, will enhance our system of Government and governance. Whatever changes and migration we have in our political system, the following tenets must be upheld. One, a strong, effective, accountable and clean government after every election, to develop, align and deliver on sound policies. Two, ensuring diversity in the representation, and this is really moving away from what our President called the narrow interest-based politics. Three, having a fair system prevail. The two groups of changes that we may see may include amendments, that is, making needed changes in the current system whilst keeping the basic nature of the system intact, or to changes that may change the whole basic structure or nature of the system that would be a serious or major shift. Madam, good politics is about good policies. And good policies are good politics. Politics is not an exclusive club for ambitious members, but more a general membership organisation that gets better and stronger the more people join and buy in. Politics is the lubricant that helps grease the government machinery to make it responsive to human and population needs. Politics is the adhesive that holds a diverse society, like ours, together, by involving individuals and groups, such as Our Singapore Conversation, Our SG Future, focused group discussions and many, many more to come. But we also realise that good policies may not necessarily get the credit they deserve from the public sometimes, depending on a variety of factors, of course. So, what are some of the changes I would hope to see? Page: 54 Firstly, perhaps, smaller GRCs, more SMCs, stop the NCMP scheme.[+1 sentence] I find it a little bit lacklustre. Expand and make the NMP scheme more robust, more structured and casting the nets wider for greater inclusivity. Standardisation across the different functional groups that we want to reach out to during the nomination process can be more practical as well.[+2 sentences] Singapore, I feel, must offer and help create an environment where the bright and talented young people with leadership qualities can bloom and be groomed. Their strength and mettle will be proven when they fight their electoral battles. The young will inculcate a sense of service to nation, nurture their sense of justice, and have an independence of mind. This is what the President meant when he said, "Every generation must develop the next generation consciously and systematically".[+10 sentences] Our political system can be better. We owe it to ourselves and our future generations to make the positive changes and evolve the system further, and inclusivity is the correct starting point, I feel. The French novelist Marcel Proust said: "The real act of discovery consist not in finding new land but in seeing with new eyes". Our engagements will have to be even more multifaceted and deep. For the masses − for the aunties and the uncles who do not routinely read the newspapers; for the quiet and silent voices who need more personalised approach; the Government, leadership and society partnership must continue to be strengthened, and this is what all of us are doing. This will, of course, cause some conflicting interests or issues to arise, as we access greater needs. But it will be useful to find means to understand, embrace and, maybe, include and accept some of these. In order not to widen fault lines in society, we can seal these up through common needs and aspirations through some of our dialogues and conversations. Finally, Singapore must be a future city with a past and a nation which all that comes before contributes to the shaping of all that is yet to come. Madam, in Malay, please. (In Malay): For our Malay/Muslim community, as a minority, what is important to note is that we are not marginalised or taken for granted, but instead, we play an active role, have a voice that is united and loud, and we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the other communities in a meritocracy system in Singapore.[+10 sentences] This is what we want – equal opportunities, where we can manage and practice our worldly and religious activities, and showcase the abilities of our present and future generations. Our community is unique, different from other Malay communities in our neighbouring countries. Why? It is because we are comfortable with life and the interactions within a plural society. In fact, this strengthens us and our commitment. Our Malay/Muslim community can work with other communities in many activities. They understand that this is important and this enables them to progress quicker and further together. They generously share the common spaces instead of arguing about their own rights like in other countries. During the dialogue sessions, Madam, we heard "The Aspirations of our Malay Community", which I have mentioned before. We organised these dialogue sessions because we wanted to know what the community wants. Page: 55 Firstly, they want racial harmony that is more stable and much stronger.[+5 sentences] They understand the importance of this. Secondly, they want success and excellence for their children and grandchildren who will eventually lead Singapore. Thirdly, they want Singapore to continue succeeding and be able to overcome all global challenges that we are facing now and in the future. They definitely have other aspirations, but these are the most obvious ones. I am heartened to hear these because it is the correct direction for our community, for us, for Singapore. In new issues like the issue of ISIS, Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) and others, our Malay/Muslim community faced them calmly and rationally.[+18 sentences] Our grassroots leaders and Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles (IRCC) members have worked hard to provide clarifications to the other communities about the true nature of Islam and correct all the misperceptions. Mdm Speaker, the war in Afghanistan, the civil war in Iraq, the bombing episodes in Jakarta and Bali – I have treated many victims and casualties from these incidents. Their injuries were severe; some fatal. There were also innocent women and children who were affected. In these incidents, many things happened. Among them, the terrorists used ball bearings, or tiny pieces of metal balls, in their bombs and explosive devices. These flew into the bodies, organs and bones of these casualties. They are innocent. Islam has never condoned such actions, and in fact, condemns them. This is the global situation now – more complex, ever changing and unstable. It will be with us for years to come. Therefore, we should take care of ourselves, our families. Every Singaporean plays an important role – take care of our family members, neighbours, friends and every Singaporean. Correct all the misperceptions in our plural society. Every Singaporean plays an important role in our country's Total Defence. (In English): Madam, we are all against this war on terrorism. We have to work together. Separation, division and hatred will only tear us apart and break our will together. Recent terrorist attacks in Turkey, Sydney and Indonesia close to home, are growing concerns, especially for Singapore being small and strategically situated.[+5 sentences] The Paris attack, for example, demonstrated multi-site attacks happening simultaneously, and the intricacies and complexities of the minds of the terrorists that we are dealing with today. It was planned both within and outside France, involving foreigners as well as French nationals. It commenced with an explosion in a packed stadium and it was followed within 20 minutes by shootings which happened at four different sites and also explosions at three other sites, and not forgetting, hostage-takers set to action in a concert hall. All these were planned to simultaneously deplete or overwhelm the resources of a nation. Knowing this calls upon us to review our strengths, strategies and intelligence of the relevant agencies and resources that we have in Singapore. In the French attack, the Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris (APHP) coordinated 40 government hospitals, 100,000 healthcare personnel, 22,000 beds and 20 major operating theatres – the numbers are really beyond Singapore.[+5 sentences] But we Page: 56 are a small country. This was also the first time that the authorities in France activated their "White Plan", which has been around for some 20 years, but has been well exercised and tested. Therefore, frequent exercises have proven beneficial for them. This time round, the coordination between the pre-hospital and the hospital care was very good, and has come forth in many publications as excellent. These are also issues for Singapore to think about. Others would include our border control, how to maximise our nation's relatively small Armed Forces in counter-terror efforts and also not forgetting, nurturing community awareness and social resilience through our Total Defence outreach and approaches. We have to look after and look out for one another. No one else is going to do this for us, for this is our only country and this will also be our future together. The future of us, the future of our children and the future of our grandchildren, lie in our hands, as a community, as a society, as a multiracial nation. The only upper limit there is, is the one that is set by our own mindsets.[+1 sentence] Thank you, Madam, and I support the Motion.
Mr Alex Yam (Marsiling-Yew Tee)2017 words
[+10 sentences]Mdm Speaker, for amateur astronomers and star-gazers the world over, the five weeks from 20 January are a rare moment in the celestial heights with Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Venus, Mercury and our own moon visible together in the night sky, almost in a diagonal line from north to east. Dr Robert Massey of the Royal Astronomical Society calls it: "The dance of the planets." Our own Dr Cindy Ng from NUS calls it a "special event", one that is well worth to get out and have a look. Both are saying that the stars have all aligned. Yet, over 50 years ago, the stars perhaps did not quite align – no celestial night show, no astronomical extravaganza – something quite terrestrial happened, however, when Singapore was kicked out of the Federation and found herself quite accidentally independent. If someone tried to read the horoscope of Singapore at the moment of her birth, it would undoubtedly have looked a little bleak. Resourceless, a hodge-podge of races, a country with few assets except for her people. Singaporeans, new members of a fledgling nation, like a newborn – a little fearful, looking vulnerable, defenseless, but also like any newborn, feisty, determined to be heard and with a natural instinct for survival. We were expected by some to go grovelling back on their terms, but our destiny would not be like our Independence, it would not be accidental, but rather shaped by our own hands. In the words of our late founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew, he said, "The people understood what they were in for and were prepared to make sacrifices. The progress you see today is the result of hard work and careful planning. It is a team effort." Mdm Speaker, it was no luck of the planets, no alignment of stars and no "mumbo-jumbo" that brought Singapore to where it is today but pure hard work, careful planning and more importantly, it was and still is a team effort.[+3 sentences] Page: 57 Mr Lee concluded early on that for Singapore to survive, it had to be extraordinary. Singapore had to be better, more organised and work even harder than those around us. But all this would have come to nought if the stars had their way and if not for the social compact forged between our early leaders and Singaporeans. Our stellar 50-year rise from Third World to First World was built on the trust of Singaporeans in the Government they elected to represent them.[+2 sentences] Early generations of Singaporeans saw their lives improve over the decades; they were prepared to give their trust time and time again to the PAP Government to provide strong leadership in an uncertain world, to do the right thing for Singapore and by extension for them. We were literally plotting our way through violent stormed tossed seas of racialism, communism, communalism, and the Government was always prepared to tell it like it is – open about the harsh realities and multitude of challenges that Singapore faced. No star-gazing is required to tell us that that social compact delivered excellent infrastructure, housing, education, healthcare, social security that catapulted Singapore into the league of First World nations, all within 50 years.[+15 sentences] Yet if we look to the skies again, that waxing crescent moon of our flag that "represents a young nation on the ascendant" has perhaps gotten a little fuller. The generation that started with that waxing moon has walked with the Government and brought the light of the moon to its first quarter, shining just that little bit brighter on Singapore. With the passing of Mr Lee last year, we mark perhaps a new chapter in the Singapore Story. The next chapter needs new writers, new narrators, new publishers, new readers, new fans and no doubt critics too. But, perhaps, there is no better time than now to renew our social compact. The past has brought us progress but where we have done well, we need to respond with a spirit of humbleness. In these present days, soon after GE2015, where we need to do better, we need to respond with a spirit of openness. And in looking forward, where we need to break new ground, we need to respond with a spirit of boldness. A new generation of Singaporeans now live in different circumstances from the past. Younger Singaporeans have perhaps everything going for them compared to others, they are now more educated, more discerning and some say, perhaps, a little more demanding. But this is part of progress. You cannot reap only economic growth without the societal changes that come with it. So, how do we boldly create, or more accurately, co-create and collaborate this new social compact? I suggest that we once again look to the skies and be guided by the stars. Not the stars like Gemini and Taurus, but the stars on our flag. The stars of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.[+6 sentences] The same five ideals that correspond to the President's five key points in his Address. First, equality. We have long passed the tumultuous days of 1964 and 1969 and perhaps it is time to look beyond convenient labels and start by seeing ourselves as Singaporeans first. I am factually Chinese, Catholic and male, but I see myself as a Singaporean-born, male Chinese, whose faith is Catholic. Page: 58 To be truly equal in our sense would be for labels to disappear, where opportunities are available regardless and in spite of race, gender, language, origin or faith. A softer, gentler meritocracy that we have talked about previously. If we truly believe in reaching equality and upholding racial harmony then perhaps we need mature discussions on sacred cows such as, even the Ethnic Integration Policy.[+6 sentences] This is a mark of equality. Second, justice. Our country was built on the strength and equality of our laws and that cannot be replaced. But justice should put on a different cloak as well, where justice extends to all who may be disadvantaged beyond laws. Where we, Government and people, stand up against the injustice of poverty, the injustice of cruelty, the injustice towards animals, the environment, the unborn, the elderly, the disabled, the marginalised. A new social compact needs us to respond with a more caring Singapore, one that takes care of its people through a more inclusive approach. This is not so much leaning towards the left but moving ourselves to the centre of the majority of society, where societal views may have shifted over the years. We all need to acknowledge at the same time that a popular but bankrupt Government is of no use to the people.[+4 sentences] We must remain prudent but can do more to maintain self-worth and dignity amongst the most vulnerable in our midst. Thirdly, we turn to progress. It used to be said that when the US sneezes, the rest of the world catches a cold. Now, China's economic and financial woes seem to have the same chilling effect on the rest of us. Economic progress will still be a cornerstone for Singapore's future and Minister Heng Swee Keat's Committee on the Future Economy will see to that, but we will need to be extraordinary in more ways than just our economy.[+2 sentences] Progress needs to see us to grow socially. Material wealth should not correspondingly lead to moral poverty. The Gospel of Mark says, "What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?" So, in our new social compact, we need to grow not just Singapore's material capability but also moral leadership.[+16 sentences] That is progress. Fourth, peace. Just like equality, peace has been hard fought for Singapore and should not be taken for granted. Religion can be a force for moral good but religion in deviant minds can be a potent force for destruction as we have seen in Indonesia, Syria, Iraq, France, Lebanon and beyond. Peace needs to be defended but peace also needs to be communicated. We cannot have peace simply by having the largest gun or the biggest stick. That will give us security, but not peace. Peace must also exist between people, that beyond the deviant views of terrorists, we must accept that, even us, we will differ amongst ourselves, even in this Chamber. How we allow our differences to lead us – either to mutually assured destruction or constructive collaboration will be the mark of peace for the future Singapore. Lastly, democracy. Singapore's democracy is unique. Some like to call it "illiberal", simply because it does not fit into any convenient political theory. Many political scientists have referred to us as a communitarian society with the community as the basis. But whatever they call us, we have to acknowledge that we have a unique system that works. What we need to also acknowledge at the same time is that this system has not stood stagnant, it has evolved and it has changed. What we have today is really quite different from our Independence and all this is part of an organic process of responding to the desires of Singaporeans. Page: 59 Moving forward, this will become more intense than in the past as society continues to mature. There have been suggestions for smaller GRCs, racial representation in the Elected Presidency, further changes to the electoral system, but these are just functional parts of democracy, not the be all and end all of it.[+14 sentences] A maturing democracy needs, first, for us to play our part in shaping this new social compact and yet realising that everything we have is indeed fragile and can easily slip away from us if we are not careful. So, we need a responsible collaborative democracy. Mdm Speaker, my younger son will be born in the next few days. My elder son just celebrated his second birthday. The future Singapore belongs to them and their generation of younger Singaporeans. By SG100, both will be in their 50s and hopefully they will, like all Singaporeans today, play their part to bring Singapore to SG150. But, we need to start that process now. What we do today in forging a new social compact for Singapore, in setting the stage for Singapore's next lap will ensure that there is an SG150 to work towards. It is not dependent on the stars or planets but hard work and careful planning. And hard work it is. In the words of GA Nelson, former US Senator and the founder of Earth Day movement: "The ultimate test of a man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard". We may not hear the thanks of future Singaporeans. We work not for their gratitude. But the onus is on us to build up on the goodwill afforded to us, with all humility and dedication. The new social compact should include all Singaporeans, but we should not just leave it to the Government.[+10 sentences] It is a team effort after all. We, Singaporeans, should share with the Government what we aspire to in this new social compact, offer constructive and innovative ideas and collaborate with the Government to create the kind of Singapore that we want in the next 50 years. Come forward to break new ground to create a better future for our children. It is only apt that I end off by quoting the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew at this juncture: "For the young, let me tell you that the sky has turned brighter. There's a glorious rainbow that beckons those with the spirit of adventure. And there are rich findings at the end of the rainbow. To the young and to the not so old, I say, look to the rainbow, look to the horizon, follow that rainbow and ride it." Mdm Speaker, our parents rode that rainbow and were not disappointed. Now, it is up to us and our children to ride that rainbow to gather the promised rich pickings of democracy, peace, progress, justice, equality and a life in this great nation called Singapore. In that spirit, I support the Motion.
Mr Lim Biow Chuan (Mountbatten)1429 words
[+19 sentences]Mdm Speaker, in the General Election held in September last year, the people of Singapore gave a strong mandate to the PAP Government to govern the nation for the next five years. Like many people, I was surprised at the strong results when the electorate gave such a strong mandate of 69.86% to the PAP. At the same time, I felt grateful and indeed humbled at the trust given by the residents to each of us to represent their concerns in Parliament. Even though the elections have been over for almost three months, I still receive congratulatory messages from residents. And on many of such occasions, I can sense that the residents are placing their trust in us as their Members of Parliament to look after their interests and work to ensure that their lives can be improved upon. It is a heavy responsibility and, like all Page: 60 my other fellow colleagues in this House, I pledge to carry out these responsibilities to the best of my ability. Singapore has had a good run for the last 50 years. We had made excellent progress from being a Third World nation to a successful nation which is well respected by many other countries. Our success is not just because we have a good Government but also dependent on the other natural resource which we have – the people of Singapore. The next 50 years will be a huge challenge for the Government. How can successive governments ensure that we have continued growth in the economy, that Singaporeans will have well-paying jobs, that we can enjoy good healthcare, convenient public transport and comfortable homes? Can we all continue to live the Singapore dream which the previous generation had lived? Over the past few years, from the many conversations and dialogues held, I have concluded that Singaporeans will continue to support a government that listens to their views, address their concerns and look after them. They want a government that will provide them with security for their future. Besides material needs, as we mature as a society, the people also want a gentler, kinder, compassionate and caring government. Many residents also spoke to me about the rejection of confrontational politics. They want a government that can work with different organisations that are committed to building Singapore to become a stronger and better nation. As we debate the Government's vision for the next five years, allow me to share what I hope to see in the Government's programmes. First, focus on growing the economy. There have been many projections that there will be slower growth in the economy. Thus, there is an urgent need to ensure that jobs continue to be created and Singaporeans will benefit from the creation of more jobs. I urge the Government to ensure that Singaporeans be given priority to secure jobs.[+1 sentence] Currently, I still receive regular feedback that despite our excellent employment figures, many Singaporeans who have lost their jobs are unable to find another job readily even though they are willing to adjust their expectations. Many Singaporeans also continue to be frustrated when they find that jobs which they aspire towards are taken and given to foreigners. Hence, I urge the Government to ensure that our manpower policies are tweaked towards giving Singaporeans the best option to secure meaningful and well-paying jobs.[+4 sentences] Second, ensure that costs of living remain affordable for the majority of Singaporeans. One concern which I have is that as the years go by, costs of living will continue to rise beyond the average Singaporean's income. For Singaporeans who are retiring, will the costs of living exceed the savings which they had accumulated over the years? Will CPF savings be really sufficient for them if living expenses continue to escalate? What about Singaporeans who are retired, but living in private estates? I appeal to the Government to assess our social assistance schemes based on income, rather than home or asset type.[+9 sentences] I have many residents living in the private estates who are asset-rich but cash-poor. Many years ago, they had sought to improve their lives by buying their dream homes. Now that they are retired and have no income, they are unable to receive any form of social benefit or assistance just because they live in private estates. Is their only option to sell off the dream homes where they have lived all their lives? In contrast, there are some Singaporeans who have higher income but are still living in HDB flats. They continue to receive the benefits of budget transfers or other social benefits from the Page: 61 Government just because they live in HDB flats. This does not seem right to me. I hope that the Government will find ways to assist Singaporeans who are asset-rich but without income, so that they can live a meaningful life in their golden age. Third, to ensure that healthcare costs are contained and remain affordable. While we have MediShield Life today, what many of us worry about is the cost of the premiums for MediShield Life.[+10 sentences] Will it be affordable for older Singaporeans after 10 years or after 15 years? If the premiums sky rocket after several years, what will Singaporeans do? Can they afford the premiums for the insurance? Fourth, continue to improve public transport and to keep public transport affordable. I believe our transport woes are well-known to all and I have full confidence that MOT will be able to tackle the issue of frequent train breakdowns. Nevertheless, it is an area of great frustration to many train commuters and I urge the Government to spare no effort to solve the problem so that commuters' confidence in the reliability of our train system will be quickly restored. Only when public transport becomes reliable, will it then be the public's choice mode of transport and, in which case, we can indeed have a "car-lite" city. Fifth, I urge the Government to continue its focus on strengthening the family. We are living in a more stressful world today and family ties are subjected to frequent stress. We need to find ways in which we can encourage Singaporeans to balance their lives and to look after their loved ones. Whilst I agree that ours should be a society where bonds of kinship run deep and people look out for one another, I am concerned that our housing policies inadvertently force our elderly to stay with their children even when they have unresolved disputes with one another. Thus, we do not allow our elderly to rent flats just because their children are able to provide for them. This essentially means that the elderly parents or parents-in-law have no choice but to stay within the same household even though they are not on talking terms.[+4 sentences] Surely, we can review such policies and make appropriate adjustments. Finally, I hope that the Government will continue its practice of past years of being more consultative regarding policies. The lives of ordinary people are constantly affected by government policies. Hence, it is important for the Government to ensure that policies which affect its citizens are considered carefully before implementation. Just last month, I was surprised to find out that MOE had implemented a policy – appeals for places in secondary schools will no longer be entertained if the students did not meet the school's PSLE cut-off points.[+3 sentences] This change in policy has deep impact on many students who, for one reason or another, did not do as well in their PSLE. In the past, MOE's point to parents was that PSLE is only a placement exam. Students who are well-rounded in their Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) but, for some reason, fumble in the PSLE, may still appeal to a particular school for admission. The principal, who is a very senior administrator, is given some discretion to decide whether to allow the appeal, depending on the merits of the appeal. However, it seems that the policy now focuses only on the PSLE score.[+6 sentences] The rest of the student's performance seems to be less important. The school principal has no discretion anymore. I hope that the Government will not forget that Singaporeans have aspirations. It is the role of Government to ensure that our policies are tweaked so as to benefit Singaporeans and never because it is administratively more convenient. Page: 62 In conclusion, I urge the Government to remain humble, to be sincere in wanting to serve the people, to listen to their concerns and do whatever they can do to help Singaporeans lead a better life. Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion.
Mr Yee Chia Hsing (Chua Chu Kang)925 words
[+9 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the Motion to thank the President for his Address. The President spelt out five key areas to be achieved in this term of Government. One of these is to renew the economy so that Singapore will always be a place where our children can chase rainbows and fulfil their aspirations. As a father of two, I too hope that my own children can fulfil their aspirations here in Singapore rather than abroad so that I can see them more often. The Committee on the Future Economy has been set up to develop strategies to ensure Singapore remains relevant and competitive and through SkillsFuture, we hope to prepare our workers for the jobs of tomorrow. Today, I will be focusing on the slowing economy and the challenges faced by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The General Election last September was the first since Independence which saw all seats being contested. The people of Singapore turned out to vote and have given this Government a strong mandate, and that shows the confidence they have in us to steer the country through thick and thin. Mdm Speaker, 2016 is unfortunately beginning to feel like a hangover after our SG50 celebrations last year. Recent data shows that on a year-on-year basis, our non-oil domestic exports fell 7.2% in December. The December reading of the Singapore Purchasing Managers' Index which measures the economic health of the manufacturing sector has also shown six consecutive months of contraction. Annual container volume handled at our ports for 2015 was 8.7% lower compared to the year before.[+10 sentences] These figures which I have quoted certainly post a gloomy outlook for Singapore in the year ahead. While it is too early to determine if we are indeed facing a full blown recession, looking at the figures and also the sentiment on the ground, I think now is an appropriate time to make the necessary adjustments to help Singaporeans, especially our SMEs, tide over this uncertain and potentially difficult period. Mdm Speaker, in the course of my work, I have many opportunities to speak to owners of SMEs who share with me the difficulties they face. Many of them tell me about the rising cost of doing business over the past few years from rental costs to the cost of COEs for goods vehicles. Another common area of feedback I receive is the manpower shortage and that SME owners cannot find local employees to work for them. We have to recognise that some locals shun certain industries involving manual labour or shift duties outside normal office hours. One resident, who is a small business owner in the construction industry, came to seek help at my Meet-the-People Session (MPS) as he is facing cash flow problems. Business has become slower and his own customers are taking longer to pay him. As such, his monthly foreign worker levy contributions have become an increasing strain on his operating cash flow. Page: 63 To reduce Foreign Worker Dependency, we have been increasing foreign worker levies progressively over the past few years. In the construction industry, the foreign worker levy for a basic skilled worker can be as high as S$950 per month.[+3 sentences] These are rates typically paid by sub-contractors who do not have Man-Year Entitlement. Mdm Speaker, the current levies were set in better economic times when businesses were in a better position to absorb the increased costs. Indeed, businesses, especially in the service sector, have responded by hiring more locals. The labour force participation rate for women have increased from 56.5% in 2010 to 60.4% over the past five years, while the labour force participation rate of those aged 55 to 64 have increased even more from 61% to 69.5% over the past five years.[+14 sentences] Anecdotally, nowadays, we are more likely to see locals rather than foreigners working in a variety of jobs, such as petrol pump attendants or in food courts. Our SMEs are certainly facing tough times and it is essential we help to keep them afloat in this testing period. Levies were intended to equalise the wage levels between local hires and foreign workers, but under difficult conditions, can potentially jeopardise the very survival of these businesses. I recognise that we cannot maintain a low-skill, labour-intensive economy in our next chapter of growth for Singapore. However, if we do not help these SMEs weather the oncoming storm, they may no longer be around to tap on opportunities for growth when the economy recovers. Let us not forget that every successful business was once small and I believe we should have the business environment to let a thousand flowers bloom. As we face a slowing economy, I would also like to urge the Government to review the quantum of foreign worker levies and hope to see some room for reduction. This will certainly allow more breathing space financially for our SMEs. On the backdrop of such developments, I think it is timely that the Committee on the Future Economy has been set up to look into how we can continue to keep our economy competitive, so as to create good jobs and opportunities for our people. I hope the Committee can also consider the struggles faced by SMEs during their review. SMEs by virtue of their smaller size are naturally less productive than bigger corporates and less likely to achieve productivity gains as they lack the economies of scale. But just like Singapore, small can be beautiful. On this note, Mdm Speaker, I reaffirm my support for the Motion. Page: 64
[+3 sentences]. (proc text)] [(proc text) 'We, the Parliament of the Republic of Singapore, express our thanks to the President for the Speech which he delivered on behalf of the Government at the Opening of the First Session of this Parliament.'." – . (proc text)]
The Senior Minister of State for Defence and Foreign Affairs (Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman)3897 words
[+7 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion of Thanks to the President for his Speech at the Opening of this session of Parliament. Mdm Speaker, within the past few months, violent extremism has affected the lives of many in various societies. Turkey and Paris suffered terror attacks, leaving scores of people dead and many more injured. The threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is spreading beyond the Middle East to Asia. Jakarta was attacked two weeks ago, leaving eight people dead. India arrested four students with links to ISIS who were planning attacks within Delhi and, over the weekend, Malaysia arrested seven suspected ISIS militants who were planning attacks in several locations in Malaysia. Singapore is no less vulnerable. In October 2015, two Singaporean teenagers were arrested and detained for being involved in terrorism-related activities. More recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) arrested and repatriated 27 radicalised Bangladeshis in Singapore who were planning to take part in extremist activities outside Singapore. Since 2011, over 25,000 fighters from 100 different countries have travelled to Iraq and Syria, with rising numbers of Indonesians and Malaysians amongst them.[+5 sentences] Our counterparts in Indonesia have identified Bahrun Naim, an Indonesian based in Syria, as the mastermind of the recent attacks in Jakarta. In fact, militant extremist groups have voiced their ambitions to establish a "satellite caliphate" within the region, to become the unifying force for Islamic State supporters. The social fabric in our region faces the compounded challenges of returning Southeast Asian fighters, radical ideological narratives online and offline, and competing extremist groups for leadership. Scenarios like those attacks in Paris, Jakarta and others can happen in Singapore despite our strong security measures. These events highlight one salient point – the nature of threats we face has changed in important ways. We are now faced with a battle of ideologies, and the ubiquity of social media has allowed radical ideologies supporting terrorism to invade the thoughts of people without extremists having to physically enter a society. There are some 46,000 Twitter accounts globally and at least 1,000 Facebook accounts in Southeast Asia supporting ISIS.[+3 sentences] As a result of such pervasive social media outreach, as many as 1,000 Southeast Asians have travelled to join ISIS in Iraq and Syria since 2011, including two Singaporean families that joined ISIS since 2014. Terrorism is closer to home than we think. Mdm Speaker, as the threat of ISIS to Singapore is very real, we need to continue to address the problem collaboratively, comprehensively and at its source. Singapore was the first Southeast Page: 8 Asian country to join the counter-ISIS coalition in November 2014.[+26 sentences] The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) had contributed to the counter-terrorism effort within our means and in niche areas of value to the coalition. The Minister for Defence will be speaking on the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF's) contributions in greater detail. The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) will continue to support MHA, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and other social and security agencies in their counter-ISIS efforts and to strengthen Singapore's Total Defence, in the combat against extremism and terrorism. Internationally, our intelligence agencies will continue to work closely with their counterparts in the region to protect our borders. However, a military solution alone will not be sufficient in the fight against radical ideologies and terrorism, which aims to exploit potential racial and religious fault lines and de-stabilise society by causing mistrust amongst different religions and races. We need a whole-of-society response to this threat of radical ideologies and terrorism. I would like to commend the efforts of Government agencies like MHA, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) for their support of programmes that help to tackle radicalisation and extremism head-on. Looking forward, MINDEF will continue to support MHA, SPF and other social and security agencies in their counter-ISIS efforts. In addition to what the Government must do, I would also like to highlight that each of us needs to pay special attention to strengthening our social and psychological defences, which are two of the five pillars in Total Defence. Conceived over 30 years ago, Total Defence has enabled us to face and overcome national challenges, and will continue to do so in the years ahead. But we will all need to continuously translate the ideas of Total Defence into effective actions. The fight against violent extremism will not be a quick or easy one. It is an ideological war against terrorists whose goal is social destruction through fear and mistrust and not only physical destruction. To put it simply and directly, these terrorists are criminals who have exploited and misrepresented Islam and deceitfully portrayed themselves as practising and religious Muslims. Scholars and Islamic religious leaders have noted that terrorists who claim to be motivated by Islamic religious ideology often turn out to have little and incomplete understanding of Islam. Unfortunately, such misrepresentation of Islam has caused anxiety and even fears in inter-group relations between Muslim and non-Muslim groups in Singapore. But while this inter-group tension is understandable as a natural human reaction given the misinformation, if left unaddressed, it will surely – and not necessarily slowly – lead to suspicion and one group blaming the other. Very soon, inter-group relations will deteriorate and tensions escalate, and everyone in Singapore will suffer when the social harmony we are used to, abruptly erodes. Hence, every group needs to make the effort to understand the other group, and act and react in constructive and adaptive ways. Non-Muslims need to understand that terrorism is based on radical ideologies and teachings that are completely un-Muslim and unIslamic. To believe that violent extremism is Islamic and that terrorists are religious Muslims, our society will fall into the terrorists' trap to sow discord. All non-Muslims in Singapore can help preserve social harmony by doing small but important things, such as correcting misconceptions or stereotypical and anti-Muslim remarks or actions by family members and friends, and also on social media. Our Muslim community must also act and act decisively – give the clear message and assurance that we denounce violence. A Turkish Muslim scholar recently wrote in The Wall Street Journal that terrorists are committing grave sins in the name of Islam, and scholars studying the primary sources of the Quran and the teachings of Islam have all dispelled any claims terrorists make of religious justifications of their cause. Muslims must, therefore, reject any forms of violence Page: 9 in the name of Islam. The outgoing Ambassador of Indonesia to Singapore, Bapak Andri Hadi, informed me recently that the family members and fellow villagers of the terrorists killed in the recent Jakarta attacks refused to allow the bodies to be buried in their village, totally rejecting and disassociating themselves from the dead terrorists. Indeed, each time a terror attack takes place, our Muslim community and religious leaders have repeatedly denounced the radical ideology articulated by terrorists and condemned the acts of these terrorist groups,including ISIS, Al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). For example, following the arrest and repatriation of the 27 radicalised Bangladeshis, Dr Mohamed Fatris Bakaram, Mufti of Singapore, publicly denounced extremism and extremist acts that threaten the security, peace and harmony of Singapore and the world.[+5 sentences] Mufti Dr Fatris said, and I quote, "(the extremist groups) contradict the fundamental Islamic teaching of protecting the sanctity of human life and preserving peace and harmony at all times. The safety and peace of Singapore is of paramount interest to the Singapore Muslim community. We have a commendable tradition of living as inclusive and progressive Muslims within the context of Singapore's multi-ethnic and multi-religious landscape." Every terrorist act carried out in the name of Islam will significantly affect all Muslims, potentially alienating them from their fellow citizens and deepening the misunderstanding about Islam as a peaceful religion. We are fortunate that our painstaking effort for the past 50 years in building trust and maintaining social and religious harmony has brought us peace and stability. However, this effort is even more critical now. The ideological war confronting us is fought in the minds of our people, made more challenging with modern communication tools like social media. We need to increase our religious understanding and also build up our social and psychological resilience to reduce our vulnerability towards those who exploit the Internet and social media with false teachings.[+5 sentences] Our Muslim community needs leadership and guidance from our community and religious leaders and scholars to equip them with a moral and religious compass to help navigate the complex web of information in the borderless cyber world. This will equip our Muslim community with a deeper understanding of Islamic teachings and discern it from the misrepresentations of Islam and the multitude of alternative extremist views that are readily available on the Internet. It also benefits the larger non-Muslim communities who will have greater awareness of the true Islamic values and teachings, given our multiracial context, and be better able to understand and engage our Muslim community. For example, some of you may be aware of calls for Muslims to abstain from wishing Merry Christmas to Christians via SMS and WhatsApp messages that have gone viral. For those who did not know better, they might be taken in and believe that it is, indeed, un-Islamic to do so. Many of us are heartened that, as reported in today's Berita Harian, senior and respected scholars, like Habib Syed Hassan Al-Attas, the Imam of Ba'alwie Mosque in Singapore, and other religious and community leaders have chosen to speak up and address this issue directly. We now know that the proposed ban on Christmas or other similar greetings has no Islamic basis.[+4 sentences] Habib Hassan said, and I quote, "The purpose of greetings is to make the recipient happy and feeling of delightfulness. In Islam, it is strongly encouraged to make friends, family members and people happy, regardless of race and religion. It is not wrong in Islam when a person greets and gives well wishes to a friend or acquaintance who is not of the same faith, as the intention is to make the person happy". Ustaz Hasbi Hassan, the President of Persatuan Ulama dan Guru-Guru Agama Islam Singapura (PERGAS), the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association, advises that the Muslim community must be discerning in adapting to their circumstances and context and, in this Page: 10 case, for a multi-racial society like Singapore. According to him, a Muslim greeting "Gong Xi Fa Cai" or "Merry Christmas" to a friend is not against Islamic teachings or traditions.[+5 sentences] This occurrence of expressing a festive greeting, if taken alone, may seem insignificant, but, if it were to occur every other day and if the Muslim community does not have the religious ballast to fight the ideological challenge, one can only imagine the religious fault lines it could create in our society. We cannot underestimate how actions by the Muslims could cause non-Muslims to react. It is the natural process of human interaction. Similarly, actions and counter-actions of non-Muslims draw reactions from Muslims. As more attacks occur around our region, it is not unexpected for some non-Muslims to wonder if, indeed, our Muslims are becoming more religious and whether this means they have an increasing propensity for terrorism. Non-Muslims need to know and they must be assured that religiosity per se is not the problem. It is the misinterpretation and misrepresentation of religious beliefs and teachings that is the source of terrorist thinking.[+10 sentences] At the same time, we also need our non-Muslim leaders to speak up on how non-Muslims should and should not treat Muslims. This is critical. Non-Muslims also look to the leaders in their various communities for guidance on what to do in such sensitive situations, be it religious or non-religious communities. Ultimately, it is about interacting and engaging constructively with the Muslim community as fellow Singaporeans, so that everyone in Singapore can continue to enjoy the social harmony and stability we have built together all these years. This action-reaction effect applies to both positive and negative actions. We need to focus on generating positive chain reactions to preserve social harmony and build social resilience so that we remain a strong society. For this to happen, we must commit ourselves to share mutual respect and wider ideological and social spaces to facilitate positive interaction and deepen understanding amongst one another. We must guard against external influences that constrict our common spaces. As a society, we will only stand to lose if this happens. The common social spaces that we share are the cornerstone of our multiracial society. Religious and community leaders, including returning religious scholars exposed to and potentially influenced by different societal structures, must be assisted to consciously re-orientate their world view to be consistent with our societal values and make-up – for our Muslim community, one that supports the tenet that Islam embraces and respects diversity – cultural, social, religious and political.[+14 sentences] Islam teaches that God identifies learning from one another as the primary goal of diversity and that respecting each human being as a creation of God is respecting God. Thus it is critical that the moral and religious compass presented to our community reflects our deep appreciation of this diversity. In short, we must continue building social and community resilience against the spread of extremism. Extremists will continue to exploit the misunderstanding of Islam and seek to divide us along racial and religious lines. It is critical that, whether we are Muslims or non-Muslims, we all recognise that we have a major role to play in strengthening our social and psychological defences against radicalism. Our social cohesion depends on all of us having a proper understanding and trust amongst the different races and religions. Without social cohesion and social resilience against the threat of radicalism, all it takes is one hit for terrorism to sow deep mistrust and create irreparable fault lines in our society. Mdm Speaker, in Malay, please. (In Malay): Our Muslim community must act and act decisively in order to give the assurance that we also denounce violence, similar to the view of a Turkish Muslim scholar who wrote in The Wall Street Journal on 27 August last year. He felt that Page: 11 the terrorists are committing grave sins towards Islam. According to him, scholars and researchers of primary sources like the Al Quran and the Traditions and Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad have all dispelled any claims by the terrorists that their cause has religious justifications. Therefore, Muslims must reject strongly any forms of violence in the name of Islam. The outgoing Ambassador of Indonesia to Singapore, Bapak Andri Hadi, told me that the family members and fellow villagers of the terrorists killed in the police counter-attacks in Jakarta recently have refused to allow their bodies to be buried in their village. Essentially, they have disassociated themselves from the dead terrorists. Indeed, although our Muslim community in Singapore comes under the spotlight whenever a terror attack takes place, our Muslim religious leaders have irrevocably denounced strongly the radical ideology articulated violently by ISIS, Al-Qaeda or JI. For instance, following the arrest and repatriation of the 27 radicalised Bangladeshis, our Mufti Dr Fatris Bakaram publicly denounced extremism and the extremist acts that threaten the security, peace and harmony in Singapore and in the world in general.[+7 sentences] The Mufti said, and I quote, "they (the extremist groups) contradict the fundamental Islamic teaching of protecting the sanctity of human life and preserving peace and harmony at all times. The safety and peace of Singapore is of paramount interest to the Singapore Muslim community. We have a commendable tradition of living as inclusive and progressive Muslims within the context of Singapore's multi-ethnic and multi-religious landscape". Indeed, every terrorist act carried out in the name of Islam will significantly affect all Muslims. In fact, it will potentially alienate this group from their fellow citizens and also deepen the misunderstanding about Islam as a peaceful religion. We are fortunate that our painstaking efforts in the past 50 years in building trust and maintaining social and religious harmony have brought us peace and stability. However, this effort is even more critical now. We are now faced with an ideological war that is fought in the minds of our people and it is made more challenging with modern communication tools like social media.[+6 sentences] We need to build up the resilience of our religious relations and our minds so that we are not vulnerable to the influence of the Internet and social media. Our Muslim community needs leadership and guidance from our religious leaders and our religious teachers, who will equip them with the moral and religious compass to help them navigate the complex web of information in the borderless cyber world. It will not only be useful to equip our Muslim community with a deeper understanding of Islam and its true teachings, and discern it from the misrepresentations of Islam and the multitude of alternative extremist views that are readily available on the Internet, it also benefits the larger non-Muslim communities who will have a greater awareness of the true Islamic values and teachings, given our multiracial context. They will be better able to understand and engage our Muslim community. For example, some of you may still remember the call that tells Muslims to not wish "Merry Christmas" to Christians through SMS and WhatsApp. These messages became viral. Those who did not know better might be taken in and believe that it is, indeed, un-Islamic to do so. However, in Singapore, fortunately, we have senior and respected religious leaders like Habib Syed Hasan Al Attas, who is the Imam from the Ba'alwi Mosque, and other religious and community leaders who have voiced their views, as published in today's Berita Harian.[+3 sentences] Our community knows that this view is inaccurate. According to Habib Hasan, I quote, "the purpose of greetings is to make the recipient happy and feel delighted. It gives happiness to friends, families and acquaintances, regardless of race or religion, and this is encouraged in Islam". Page: 12 Ustaz Hasbi Hassan, the President of PERGAS, agrees and advises that the Muslim community must be discerning in adapting to their circumstances and context. According to him, and I quote, "although there are different views about this issue, that is, wishing 'Gong Xi Fa Cai' or 'Merry Christmas', it is not against Islamic teachings or traditions".[+6 sentences] He stated that the Muslim community has to know how to adapt themselves to their context and situation. The occurrence of expressing a festive greeting may seem insignificant if taken alone, but if it were to occur every other day, and if the Muslim community does not have the religious ballast to fight the ideological challenge, one can only imagine the religious fault lines that they could create in our society. We cannot underestimate how actions by Muslims could cause non-Muslims to react. This is the natural process of human interactions. Similarly, actions and counter-actions of non-Muslims will also draw reactions from Muslims. As more attacks occur around our region, it is not unexpected for some non-Muslims to wonder if, indeed, our Muslims are becoming more religious and whether this means that they have an increasing propensity for terrorism. Non-Muslims need to know and they must be given the assurance that the religiosity of a community is not a problem. It is the misinterpretation and misrepresentation of religious beliefs and teachings that become the source of terrorist thinking.[+15 sentences] At the same time, we would also need our non-Muslim leaders to speak up on the best way for non-Muslims to continue their relations with Muslims today. This action-reaction effect applies to both positive and negative actions. We need to focus on generating positive chain reactions in order to preserve social harmony and build social resilience so that we remain a strong society. For this to happen, we must commit ourselves to sharing common spaces in order to facilitate positive interactions and deepen understanding amongst one another. We must be on guard against external influences that constrict our common spaces with other communities. Otherwise, as a community, we will stand to lose. These common social spaces that we share are the cornerstone of our multiracial society. Religious and community leaders, including returning religious scholars who may be exposed to and potentially be influenced by different societal structures, must be assisted to consciously reorientate their world view in order to be consistent with our societal values and the make-up of our country – for our Muslim community. It is one that supports the tenet that Islam embraces and respects diversity – diversity in terms of culture, social, religion and politics. Islam teaches us that we should learn from one another and this is the main aim of diversity; and respecting each human being as a creation of God is respecting God. Thus, it is critical that the moral and religious compass that we present to our community reflects our deep appreciation of this diversity. In short, we must continue to build social and community resilience against the spread of extremism. The extremists will continue to exploit the misunderstanding of Islam and seek to divide us along racial and religious lines. Hence, it is critical that, whether we are Muslims or non-Muslims, we must all recognise that we have a major role to play in strengthening our social and psychological defences against radicalism. Our social cohesion depends on all of us having a proper understanding and trust among the different races and religions. Without social cohesion and social resilience against the threat of radicalism, all it takes is one thing, just one terrorist attack, to sow deep mistrust and it may create irreparable fault lines in our society. Page: 13 (In English): Our security challenges are beyond traditional warfare. We can overcome this ideological war and threats of terrorism by demonstrating social and psychological resilience and solidarity within the local Muslim community and with the rest of the non-Muslim community in Singapore.[+1 sentence] It will not only allow us to prevent an attack, but also prepare us to deal with the aftermath of such attacks. In the unfortunate event that an attack occurs, we must stand together as a united community to deal with the aftermath. We should draw inspiration from brave societies like Australia when Australians showed solidarity by standing by their Muslim community in the wake of the Sydney hostage crisis, with many offering to ride with members of the Islamic faith to work on public transport.[+2 sentences] Our commitment to fortifying our social and psychological resilience will make us much stronger and more resilient and bolstered by a renewed sense of conviction as we unite in the face of terrorism and violent extremism. A strong sense of national identity and commitment to the values of our society will be the irreplaceable pillars for the years to come. We will and must continue to adapt to rise up to the threats of today and tomorrow. We must do all we can to prevent a terrorist attack here in Singapore. But when an attack happens, we must not succumb to our suspicions and fears. We must fight back as a united community, respond effectively and recover well.[+2 sentences] For now, we must continue to strengthen ourselves against untruths, fear and mistrust. On that note, Mdm Speaker, I move to support the Motion.
Mdm Speaker3 words
[+1 sentence]Mr Dennis Tan.
Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong (Non-Constituency Member)1957 words
[+25 sentences]Mdm Speaker, in the President's speech, he mentioned five key aims that the Government hopes to fulfil in this coming term. I would like to touch on the fifth aim – to engage and partner Singaporeans in nation-building. Madam, 2015 now behind us. While we are thankful for much that we have achieved and gone through in the last 50 years, the next 50 years will likely be more challenging. We cannot rest on our experience of the last 50 years. As the world becomes more complex and people more mobile, it is important that Singaporeans feel rooted and committed to Singapore. There are many elements in nation-building and, for today, I would like to focus on just three points: social justice; rule of law and access to justice; and strengthening governance in our national institutions. Social justice. The President talked about a caring society and treating one another with warmth and dignity. Before we can move ahead together, we must continue to have a Singapore that looks after its people, regardless of their economic means. Ultimately, how we treat our people reflects very much on ourselves. How we care about the less well-off and the less fortunate will speak very much about ourselves. We must have compassion and empathy for our fellow Singaporeans who are less privileged. We should desire to grow together as a nation and as a people. Recently, I had a poignant conversation with an experienced social worker who shared her deep concerns about families she worked with, where both the parents and, subsequently, the grown-up children in the families continue to rely on state welfare assistance. Yes, we have to take care of such Singaporeans when they are in need but, like the social worker, we must have Page: 14 empathy with even the most difficult of cases and, at the same time, we must not easily give up on trying to find ways to help needy Singaporeans get out of this financial spiral. In a small city-state like Singapore, we cannot afford to be a society where every man lives for himself. This is especially so in a place like Singapore where a large part of our population is made up of transient residents. Like pilgrims on the same journey, we have to watch out for one another so that we can all arrive together. Rule of law and access to justice. Rule of law is the lynchpin of developed nations. It is the knowledge of the rule of law that informs citizens their rights: what to do, how to conduct themselves, how to lead happy, orderly and lawful lives. The rule of law also helps the government of the day and our national institutions to manage and run the country in accordance with the laws of the land. And rule of law must come with access to justice. Early access to lawyers. Recently, the President of the Law Society, Mr Thio Shen Yi, had, in his speech at the Opening of the Legal Year on 11 January 2016, brought up the issue of a suspect's right of access to legal counsel before the suspect's statement is recorded by the Police.[+2 sentences] As Mr Thio puts it succinctly, and I quote, "Justice and fairness are served because it is that lawyer's job to advise the suspect to tell the truth, to articulate any defences that they may have, to cooperate with the Police, to advise if no defence is available, but also to advise on the privilege against self-incrimination". He mentioned that, and I quote, "An accused may be detained for days or weeks without access to a lawyer", and "we need to re-evaluate whether this is fair or desirable". Mr Thio stated that the Law Society's Criminal Practice Committee has recommended that a suspect be allowed to consult a lawyer privately for up to one hour before statements are recorded by the Police. I agree with the President of the Law Society's call for the Government to accept this recommendation.[+7 sentences] In our legal system where the accused is innocent until proven guilty, we must give the accused an opportunity to have early access to legal counsel. Until he is proven guilty, he has all rights as every other citizen. As a democracy, we must value the rights of every Singaporean and guard them jealously. These rights must include his rights to early legal advice in a situation where the end game is potential punishment by the Court. Just as the accused's failure to abide by the law shall have consequences, equally, we must give the accused an opportunity to understand his rights and defences at the onset. Disclosure in criminal proceedings. Moving to another point regarding access to justice, I would like to refer to the Attorney-General's (AG's) speech at the Opening of the Legal Year as well. The AG made proposals for early disclosure of evidence in criminal cases by both the prosecution and defence.[+5 sentences] I support this proposal. This is a step in the right direction for our criminal justice system. Fair disclosure of evidence in criminal cases in common law countries are usually taken seriously. Discovery of obligations under our civil procedure rules have been in place since time immemorial. As the AG said and I quote, "Disclosure may or may not affect the outcome of the case, but the fairness and openness of the process is important". Disclosure and, particularly, early disclosure, of evidence promotes a transparent process and also potentially reduces legal costs.[+9 sentences] The accused is aware of the case he has to meet. Indeed, in some cases, he may be advised from the disclosure made that he has a weak case, and he may be advised earlier to take a certain course of action. Transparency in a criminal justice process will demonstrate to our citizens that evidence is taken seriously and that, in fact, evidence is submitted early and efficiently. This knowledge will surely strengthen public confidence in our criminal justice system. Page: 15 Legal aid. We have to ensure that our legal system is readily accessible to all Singaporeans, regardless of their economic means. It is heartening to see the continuing increase in the number of cases that are handled by volunteer lawyers under the Law Society's Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS). In recent years, it is also heartening to see many lawyers volunteering at our community legal clinics all over Singapore, giving legal advice to many needy Singaporeans, and also lawyers volunteering their services to do pro bono legal work under various auspices, such as the Law Society, the Community Justice Centre and various non-government organisations (NGOs). But I think there is still a shortage of lawyers who are able to provide pro bono representation work. Many people need lawyers to assist them beyond giving advice for 20 minutes in the manner that we see at community legal clinics.[+1 sentence] I would like to ask the Ministry of Law to consider reviewing the limits under the means test for all applications for legal aid under the Legal Aid Bureau. I believe the current limits of $10,000 disposable income is still too restrictive and a moderate increase on the limits may provide much needed assistance to many more low-income earning Singaporeans who are caught by the current limits.[+9 sentences] Many lawyers in private practice are already doing pro bono work. May I also suggest that the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) and the Government Ministries consider allowing their lawyers to spend at least some time doing some form of pro bono work? AGC has a big pool of lawyers who are called to the Bar. This will not only help to increase the assistance that can be rendered to Singaporeans who cannot afford legal assistance, it may also help Government lawyers, being public servants, to better understand the challenges that many needy Singaporeans requiring legal assistance may face. I move on to strengthening governance in our national institutions. In the next 50 years, we need to work towards further strengthening our national institutions, including our Civil Service and Statutory Boards. We have a highly talented Civil Service which we have built over time and one which is known for its integrity. Until now, our Civil Service has only worked with one ruling party. In the next 50 years, we must ensure that our Civil Service will always remain one of the key stabilisers of our country, regardless of which political party is in power. The independence and political neutrality of the Civil Service and Statutory Boards must be fiercely maintained so that Singaporeans will always have complete confidence in the non-partisan nature of these institutions.[+11 sentences] The President mentioned that the Government will work closely with the people. We must remember that Singaporeans are the masters of our country. In this connection, Singaporeans must feel engaged in the country. They have a right and a say in the governance of the country. They must not feel resigned to being a digit in the country, helplessly dependent on those in authority to make all decisions for them. Singaporeans must feel empowered about their future and in giving them a voice and a role in nation-building so that they will be engaged and vested in the country. To this end, access to information is important for all. It is important because every citizen needs access to information in order to make informed decisions concerning matters around them which we need a comment and input in nation-building. The engagement of Singaporeans does not stop at giving them a platform to speak. They must be given the background and information so that they can make informed choices and give constructive input for nation-building. Page: 16 Correspondingly, transparency is also one of the features of a good government. For this reason, I would echo the previous call for the introduction of a Freedom of Information Act by my colleague Mr Pritam Singh who spoke about this in his speech at the President's Address in 2011.[+1 sentence] The office of ombudsman. The Government should consider setting up an independent office of ombudsman.[+5 sentences] Such an office can review any allegations of wrongful decision-making, as well as to investigate any allegations of wrong-doing on the part of public servants. Such a process may also avoid legal costs that may come with judicial review. And on judicial review, although our laws provide for judicial review, this avenue remains under-developed. It is important for us to develop this area such that people will have confidence that they are able to challenge any questionable decision-making process of any public authority. As an eminent English Judge Lord Hoffmann puts it succinctly, "The principles of judicial review give effect to the rule of law". The average Singaporean must also be able to afford reasonable legal fees to commence the judicial review application, or the rights under the law will be merely academic.[+6 sentences] To this end, it is also important that provision be made for sufficient legal aid to be extended to the applicants of the judicial review such that legal costs will not be a deterrent to Singaporeans who have a genuine case that he wishes to bring up. Finally, whatever political changes the Government may have in mind will probably have important consequences on our nation- building. Singaporeans must be amply consulted and Singaporeans must be happy with such changes before any decision is made for their introduction. Mdm Speaker, the Workers' Party will provide a platform for Singaporeans to have a strong say in the direction in which Singapore will progress. Singaporeans must feel secure about our country and where we are going from here in the next 50 years and be confident of the governance and institutions of this country. With that, Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion of Thanks.
Mdm Speaker3 words
[+1 sentence]Mr Henry Kwek.
Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry (Nee Soon)2234 words
[+16 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I stand in support of the Motion. President Tan said that it is important for us to upgrade our economy to sustain growth. I cannot agree more. Inclusive growth is important. Of late, it is fashionable to focus more on the inclusive part of it, rather than the growth. In fact, just now in the House, there was talk about social justice. But really, if we think about it, growth is a critical element and ingredient for inclusiveness. Without growth, our society's wealth will be more commonly inherited and less commonly created. Without opportunity, our society will be one of permanent class and stifling glass ceiling. And without success, we will not be able to pay for an inclusive society, for generations to come. So, in this fast-changing world, how can we make sure that Singapore remains relevant? I would like to talk about three points today. One, how we can grow our future economy by creating more businesses, especially those with disruptive innovation and models. Two, how we can refresh our education system for the new economy. Three, how we must retain our fighting spirit. Before we talk about the "what" to do, it is important to understand where the global economy is at today. For the last few decades, we have had unsustainable borrowings that have fuelled Page: 17 excessive consumption. But after the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), this unsustainable borrowing has stopped.[+14 sentences] We still have a lot of surplus production capacity. So, basically, we have a supply challenge. To keep the world afloat, the central banks have flooded the world with money and, businesses and individuals fearing deflation and disinflation, are afraid to spend or expand. Even China today is cutting back and is entering a low-demand period. So, on top of the supply challenge, we also have a demand challenge. The other emerging economies are also getting more competitive. Singapore Airlines (SIA) has to fight "tooth and nail" against Middle Eastern airlines, which are well-funded. Our shipyards have to contest against capable Korean counterparts. Even our role in the region is also less certain moving forward. In the Western-dominated economic order, we have a distinct role in Singapore – as a finance and business hub in Asia. But think about it: when China builds its One- Belt- One- Road initiative, a new world economic order, it is unclear how central our role will be in Asia. And then, there is the disruptive effect of technology. Multinational corporations (MNCs) that Singapore traditionally relied on are being disrupted by start ups, and start ups have much less to do with Singapore. A case in point – Hewlett-Packard (HP) employs around 10,000 people in Singapore, while Google just have a few mere hundreds. A recent World Economic Foreign Report said that the 15 major economies in the world in the next five years will lose around seven million jobs to technology; seven million jobs.[+1 sentence] So, what is the underlying theme to all these? The underlying theme is actually that our mainstream export-based economy that has fuelled Singapore's success for the last few decades is now under siege from excessive competition and from disruptive technology and business models.[+18 sentences] And let us not forget that Singapore is mainly designed to support this mainstream economy. Our mainstream economy is important, and will continue to be so, and I will share some of my thoughts about it in the Budget speech. But for today, I would like to talk about how we can urgently grow the economy. Let us ask ourselves: how many significant companies with disruptive models and disruptive technology has Singapore created in the last decade? Honestly, very few. If we do not have a frank conversation about this today, and do not adjust, we will be in for a tough ride in the future. How can we grow this new economy? The Government's role is primarily to create a conducive environment for the new economy. But in specific areas, such as finance, smart-nation, urban planning, where Singapore is boldly inventing the future, we should give ample opportunities for Singapore-based businesses and start ups to grow together with Singapore, and they can be global giants one day. We usually equate the new economy with cutting-edge technology. But it is not always true. Case in point – Facebook, Instagram and Uber – these are combinations of existing technology, but not necessarily leading-edge ones. So, what matters is the combination and the recombination of ideas and technology and the ability to test and scale the innovations quickly in the global markets in weeks rather than months. Page: 18 Our role as a Government is to build this environment for the new economy. I have a few suggestions. One, our research efforts must be aggressively translated, first, into innovations and then into enterprises. Our research labs should get the ideas out quickly in an affordable and simple manner, preferably to Singapore-based companies. Let us not forget that the circulation of the ideas is just as important as the ideas themselves. Two, we have to build a world-class funding environment. We already have a good base of venture capitalists today, but, because of the recent uptick in number of startups and a lack of high-profile market exits, there is a pressing gap in seed, Series A, mezzanine funding.[+5 sentences] We also do not have a real venture-focused bank like a famous Silicon Valley bank that looks at start-ups' viability beyond their balance sheet. Three, crowd-sourcing platforms like Kickstarter are fast becoming the preferred way to test and scale innovations globally. So, we should entrench these players in Singapore and, as our start-ups secure commitments from such crowd-sourcing platforms, we can help them scale up their ideas in weeks, instead of months, by giving them access to capital by also connecting them with local manufacturers, contract manufacturers and partners. Four, we should provide opportunity for start-ups to demonstrate their ideas. The finance industry is on the verge of being disrupted by financial technology companies. Barclay's President recently said that in the next 10 years, 20% to 50% of finance jobs will be replaced by technology; 20% to 50% in just 10 years.[+2 sentences] I am confident that Singapore can invent the future and set the gold standard on how financial hubs should operate in the digital world. The important thing is this: while we invent the future, let us make sure that we bring our startups along to ride this wave. For example, we can create regulatory sandboxes to test out new ideas on a small scale.[+1 sentence] After all, the United Kingdom is doing the same already for the finance industry. For these experiments, what our agencies can do is to look beyond the established firms, perhaps through a double-envelope tender system where, first, you can evaluate the innovativeness of the idea and then evaluate the companies' ability to see the project through and not just on financial terms.[+5 sentences] If Singapore startups can do it, our Government should provide more support. Five, we should remove unnecessary regulations. Many of our economic agencies are pro-business, but many regulations fall outside their purview. Let me share a light-hearted example from the traditional economy. Try putting a food truck on the side of any road in Singapore. Do you know that you would have to apply for a separate permit for every location you put it at?[+16 sentences] But is this really necessary? After all, if the National Environment Agency has certified the food truck for safety, is it still necessary to have a location-based licence for every location? After all, do we not have solid rules on traffic obstruction? So, that is just an example. Regulations should protect the essential. But in most areas of the new economy, Singapore can strike a better balance between stability and opportunity, because it is hard to go against what the consumer wants. Once Internet banking is invented, it is hard to uninvent it. It is hard to protect our local banks by limiting the number of foreign banks' branches or automated teller machines (ATMs) because when you go to the Internet and use your smartphones, you will get past it. So, therefore, our regulations should go with the type of consumer preference, which usually Page: 19 embraces the new economy and not against it. In fact, I think that we can go the extra mile by setting up an advisory centre for startups to assist them in regulatory and public sector matters. The second part of my speech is about education. The future of science fiction is almost upon us. Fast forward 10 years, and we will live in a world of self-driving cars, computers detecting diseases, and robots doing routine tasks. History has shown that technology creates winners, especially in the long run. But in the short run, it can create many losers. In the last industrial revolution, it took 100 years before the steam engine was able to uplift somebody's life in Europe. In today's digital revolution, the effect is even more pronounced, because the winner can usually replicate their ideas digitally at virtually no cost and take most of the profit home.[+28 sentences] Let me give an anecdote. Two centuries ago, the world's 10th best bricklayer was assured of a future. But today, an app developer working for the world's 10th best, let us say, music streaming app company has a questionable future. So, the question is: are we preparing Singapore to thrive in such a future? And this goes beyond SkillsFuture. We must prepare our children starting in their earliest years. Therefore, I urge the Ministry of Education (MOE) and SkillsFuture to critically examine our basic and continuing education system in two ways. Firstly, we should prepare our children to do what machines cannot do. It means we should teach them how to innovate, how to communicate complex ideas, how to recognise macro patterns, how to connect ideas across different fields, sense the ground and tap on intuition. Secondly, we should also teach our children to be the masters of machines. By that, I mean letting them learn the basic principles of computer programming, artificial intelligence and big data. We must prepare Singaporeans as if their future depends on it, because it does. What I am saying is not for every kid, on top of their hefty curriculum, to be a top-notch programmer, an AI specialist and a big-data analyst. What kind of childhood is that going to be, if it is all work and no fun? What I am saying is that we must teach them the broad principles through a general programme, so that when they graduate into tertiary education and beyond, they are able to specialise in some of these areas. Singapore is in an excellent position to refresh our education system because we are excellent and nimble and we can plan 10 to 15 years ahead and adjust our curriculum quite quickly. We already have a tech-savvy population. Just look at the number of kids with iPads when you go out. But we must go beyond being just consumers of technology to being co-creators of technology. My first two points are about how the Government can help Singapore preserve our livelihoods. But no Government intervention is sufficient if our people are not hungry enough. So, the question is: how can we preserve our children's will to fight and win? Education – be it history or social studies – is a key way we can pass down values from one generation to another. To me, the real story of Singapore is in the first 20 years of our Independence. This is the Singapore exceptionalism Deputy Prime Minister Tharman spoke so eloquently about at the St Gallen Symposium. It is about how we turned our perpetual disadvantages into a determination to Page: 20 succeed and innovate. Out of nothing, we created a multiracial society, a contrarian growth strategy, an inclusive housing programme, a thriving metropolis well-defended by all. So, the story is not just about the Government. It is also about our people, including the community and business leaders, how they rose to the challenge. Therefore, I am calling for an increased emphasis of our history and social studies on the first two decades, with the focus on Singapore's exceptionalism. It is critical that our children learn that they should continue to take risks, not take anything for granted, recognise the harsh realities of our surroundings. In short, we must make sure that our children learn about the spirit of 1965.[+6 sentences] In conclusion, fellow Members of Parliament and fellow Singaporeans, our success in the first 50 years has been described as a vision of audacity, an audacity that was built on far-sighted and bold Government policies; on the determination and spirit of Singaporeans; and Singapore's survival and success in the future again depends on this spirit. Will our nation continue to defy the odds? I believe we will. Recently, I came across a quote by Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Atlantic. He has this line, "Train our people well enough so that they can leave, but treat them well enough so that they do not want to". Let me paraphrase him to encapsulate some of the points that I mentioned today: "We should prepare our people, so that they can go beyond Singapore, today or tomorrow, but build a home, and a sense of purpose, so that they will stay".
Mdm Speaker4 words
[+1 sentence]Mr Seah Kian Peng.
Mr Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade)1703 words
[+8 sentences]Mdm Speaker, thank you for allowing me to join this debate. Before I come to my main speech, I just want to add my comments to the two points which the hon Member Mr Dennis Tan spoke about just a couple of minutes ago. Unfortunately, he is not in the Chambers. He touched on social justice. Indeed, I think social mobility is something which this Government and, certainly, the People's Action Party (PAP), subscribes to and takes great pains to ensure this remains the case for every Singaporean, something which our Prime Minister, our Deputy Prime Ministers and many of our Ministers have mentioned several times, that we should leave no one behind, and that we should build a more caring and inclusive society. The way many of our assistance schemes are designed is tilted to give more to those who have less. It is something which we continue to do over the years, not just the last few years, from Year 1 – SG1, to now, SG51. I am sure we will continue to go on that route. Over these last two weekends, as with many of us here, we gave out several Edusave awards. I handed out to over 1,100 recipients over 12 sessions.[+31 sentences] For many of them, education is, indeed, the most important area we want to invest in. It is the best way for each and every Singaporean to break out and create a better life for themselves – which is why we always see MOE getting a large slice of the Budget, something which we all support. The other point which Mr Dennis Tan made was about strengthening governance in national institutions. He exhorted it. I totally agree with him. In fact, strengthening governance is something that should take place in every organisation and we should all embrace it. If you are a public-listed Page: 21 company, it matters. If you are a sports association, it matters. A religious institution, likewise. A voluntary welfare organisation (VWO), a charity and, I dare say, also in the Town Councils, we all have a duty of care to all stakeholders in any organisation to make sure that governance is there. Mdm Speaker, for today, I would like to reflect on the President's points about partnership and collaboration amongst citizens, that everyone plays a part in building our nation. Last year, I had a senior, although young, civil servant observing one of my Meet-the-People sessions. The combination of youth and seniority is sometimes an indicator for high flyers, but it can be an unpropitious mix. This officer observed what we did that evening. At the end of the session, as we were sharing, he turned to one of my key volunteers, exasperated, and he asked, "Why do you keep writing us these letters to make exceptions? You know that we cannot do that. You do not waste time writing; we do not waste time replying". Mdm Speaker, as a politician, I am very seldom speechless. And as a former Administrative Officer, I am very seldom at a loss for ideas. But that night, I paused on both counts. Does our Public Service need to change? On the one hand, this high flyer is right. Some residents do sometimes ask me to write letters that are beyond the pale. One resident lives in a landed property and owns three cars. Unfortunately, her house is only big enough to have one car park lot. She expects the Government – that is me – to provide her with lots for her two other cars. If not, she told me, the Government is lousy and she would vote against me in the next election. My reply, given verbally, was quite a strong one. With hindsight, I was lucky that she did not video-tape me on her handphone. A Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) officer was not so lucky. I am sure you are all familiar with the incident that took place at the Social Service Office (SSO) at Boon Lay, where a man went to demand his monthly social assistance which was late for that month. The SSO, knowing that this man was actually going to have another baby, had initiated an early review, and increased the amount of assistance for the family from $600 to $800 per month. This change, unfortunately, resulted in a delay of a few days in the crediting of the financial assistance to the recipient.[+1 sentence] Even as the MSF officer was trying to explain this, the recipient, loud and hectoring, demanded "his money". After several minutes of this, the officer was riled up enough to say, "We do not owe you".[+19 sentences] The whole exchange was put up on social media. Two things were clear to me. First, the man seeking assistance intended to record everything because the recording started with his session. Second, there is a strong sense of entitlement and the tone he took was that the officer, indeed, "owed" him the money. Both sides were not right, but in this sense, my sympathies lie with the officer. Mdm Speaker, I have noticed in recent years that there is a rise of self-administered vigilante justice among members of the public. The weapon of choice – the handphone. Judge and jury – the social media public. This has to change. On the flip side, I have also seen some very bad responses by civil servants, the very few which give the Government as a whole a bad name. Some put on what they call an "EQ face" but their empathy quotient leaves much to be desired. This is not who we are. This is not what we dream of becoming. This is not Singapore. The President, in his Address, noted that many Singaporeans are willing to contribute and share a part of their lives with one another. He invited all of us to participate in shaping our common future, to strengthen our bonds and deepen trust with one another. And implicit in his speech is the tension I spoke about. He said, "Our individual aspirations may differ, but we all Page: 22 realised that we must work together to create our common future. This spirit was sustained through our SG50 celebrations, and profoundly deepened when we mourned the passing of our founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew. The SGfuture dialogues and the Committee on the Future Economy are but two national platforms for us to make our future together." Mdm Speaker, the Government is the servant of the people, but civil servants are not minions to be ordered about; they are our brothers, our sisters and they are also our friends, too.[+1 sentence] They are the people who help those of us who cannot help ourselves. The people direct public resources with their collective will, but, individually, we have no special call on these resources, we cannot demand private use of this joint resource. We cannot demand rules to break on every occasion that benefits us, without care for fellow Singaporeans.[+15 sentences] We should have neither vigilante justice from the public or high-handed behaviour from the civil servants. This is not who we are as Singaporeans. So, what are we? Who is this "Singaporean"? My answer is not very "cheem". But every week I walk around Braddell Heights, Marine Parade, Serangoon Central and, yes, Aljunied too, I can see our language is one kind. Our style – you do not mind I say – is other places cannot find. Nasi lemak and roti prata, our yong tau foo got halal one. Who is the Singaporean? I ask you, you just listen, can tell lah. By the way, I ask you, what is this "Eu-no-ia"? Mdm Speaker, you may be thinking whether to stop me now because dialects are not allowed in Parliament. But is Singlish a dialect? I do not know. But I do know that our language is like us – we are Malay and Chinese and Indian – and we are "others", too. Our common space is large and our politics practical – not because we do not care, but because we care too much.[+9 sentences] We care too much to allow what makes us different to keep us apart. Our faiths, our race, our religions may be different, but these differences make us strong. Mdm Speaker, Eunoia – I have no strong views on the name of the new junior college, but I have strong views on how we need to be confident in our new identity. Sure, our country is young, especially compared to Greece, but in our names and in our lexicon, let us be proud and celebrate our own. Indeed, "our language is one kind". And to the students of Eunoia, be confident and make the name your own. The history of your school is yet to be written, so co-create it and write it in your own words, with your own accent. So, what is this Singaporean style? It is said that the Singaporean is pragmatic, which has often been mistaken for not caring enough; for not having a particular political philosophy. The truth is we care too much – we care too much to allow blind ideology to prevent us from pursuing our clear vision. We care too much to let go of our brand of metaphysics – keeping our families safe, our jobs secure, our future bright.[+10 sentences] This is what gives us meaning and hope, and this is how we define our shared future. We must keep our common space large and our country united. What makes us Singaporean is invisible – the way we sound, the way we think, the way we reason and the way we make collective decisions. To continue to do this, to continue being Singaporean, we must remain together. We must not see people to be herded by rules that cannot be broken; at the same time, we must not see our collective good as largesse to be exploited, our public servants as servants to do our bidding, to bear our anger, to right our personal wrongs. Who is the Singaporean? We, the people of Singapore, we are Singaporean. We are the Government and we are the people. Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion. Page: 23
Mdm Speaker3 words
[+1 sentence]Mr Leon Perera.
Mr Leon Perera (Non-Constituency Member)2114 words
[+1 sentence]Mdm Speaker, it is my privilege to address this House today to support the Motion of Thanks to the President. It is a privilege that I do not take lightly. I shall speak today on the subject of national unity and, specifically, what ideas and values we should unite around.[+8 sentences] My starting point is the reaction to the results of the General Election 2015. One key note quickly emerged from some quarters. It was said that the results showed that we were one united people. Mdm Speaker, I find that casting the election results as a badge of national unity is deeply unhelpful for nation-building. It suggests that what unites us as Singaporeans is our support for one political party. I am sure that most Singaporeans believe that what unites us is not that. Mdm Speaker, real unity should be built to last. It should be built on sterner stuff. Real unity recognises that the different voices and the debate among them are precisely what make Singapore stronger.[+1 sentence] Singing with one voice is neither proof of unity nor is it conducive to real unity. What unites us is our shared heritage, our shared values and our common hopes for the future.[+5 sentences] Our bedrock as a nation should lie not only in the trust between the Government and the people. Mdm Speaker, our bedrock should be the trust that we have in one another, our collective sense of self-worth and national purpose. This will outlast any government and any party and is a firmer foundation on which to build our nation. To me, there is no more eloquent statement of what defines us than the Singapore pledge that our children recite every day at school. There is no point in asking our children to do this if we do not fashion our institutions around the values that it enshrines. The pledge enjoins us, yes, to be one united people, but united in building a democratic society based on justice and equality.[+23 sentences] Some say that the pledge enshrines abstract principles. Yes, it does. But are we a people who do not hew to any abstract principles? Are we a people who only recognise purchasing power as a touchstone of progress? Surely not. I am sure everyone in this Chamber would agree. Mdm Speaker, the pledge gives us principles but, to concretise those principles, I will argue that we can unite around two major themes that will build the Singapore story on strong foundations for the 21st century. The first is a confident Singapore, and the second is what I call a big Singapore – a Singapore where not only the state is strong but non-state actors are strong and influential and steering our course as well. Today, our economy faces major headwinds, as many Members here have noted. Such challenges are likely to recur in the 21st century. This is because we have already picked all the low-hanging fruit of economic growth. Future growth in the 21st century as a developed economy in an increasingly competitive and globalised world may not come from pursuing exactly the same economic development strategies that got us to where we are today. Mdm Speaker, what should unite us at this time is the same thing that will secure our long-term economic future as a developed economy, that is, to build a confident citizenry and a confident base of local companies. Confident citizens are not so worried about the cost of living, or Page: 24 their ability to retire, afford property or afford to have children, that they cannot take risks or make career choices with longer-term payouts. Confident citizens will dare to switch industries to start a business, to take time out from working to reskill or further their education. Confident companies would not be so insecure about future business costs and rentals that they cannot invest in big bucks about the future or secure the funding to do so. The confident citizenry and companies would drive productivity, innovation and entrepreneurship. Confident Singaporeans will not only want to work for multi-national companies, but to found their own multinational companies. Mdm Speaker, the Workers' Party has proposed several measures to foster confidence amongst Singaporean citizens and companies. We should continually strengthen our risk-pooling of social safety nets and management of the cost of living. Insecurity about the risks and costs that lie in the future holds back risk-taking and breeds short-termism. We should cherish social mobility, take steps to enhance it and measure it regularly. We should do more to ensure retirement adequacy. Right now, many Singaporeans who reach their drawdown age have little or nothing to withdraw from their Central Provident Fund (CPF), whereas CPF LIFE payouts that they would receive are insufficient to retire on.[+13 sentences] If Singaporeans fear retirement, they will not make confident choices that a 21st century economy needs us to make. We should do more to groom our local companies to become world leaders and to form a strong third engine of economic growth, alongside multinational and Government-linked companies. The Workers' Party has called for a National Secretariat to bring a whole-of-Government approach to this critically important task for our nation's economy. Together with a raft of other measures that not only provide Government support and help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to manage costs, but also help to nudge SMEs towards greater productivity, a way of setting long-term productivity targets and enabling our SMEs to benchmark their own productivity performance within their industries. Lastly, we should look at our education system when talking about a confident Singapore. Is our education geared to producing leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs? Or are our students focused more on content-mastery at the expense of cultivating soft skills like leadership, problem-solving, initiative, communication skills and confidence? It is said that, in Singapore, a child raises his or her hand only when he or she is 100% sure that he or she has the right answer, whereas in Silicon Valley, for example, a child would do so even if he or she was not completely sure. Are we nurturing Singaporeans who have enough sense of self-worth and self-esteem to make confident choices? Mdm Speaker, when we talk about the economy, we have to talk about industries. What is a sunrise or a sunset industry will change, and change more frequently as the 21st century meanders on. Confident Singaporean citizens and companies will be able to seize opportunities in any new sectors that emerge. But when we talk about future-ready economic sectors, we should not forget those sectors where Singapore's small size and high population density force us to develop Page: 25 expertise. Necessity, it is said, is the mother of invention. We have developed technologies and know-how in water recycling and water management due to our water scarcity.[+1 sentence] This is an example of that. In the same vein, we should consider becoming pioneers in the fields of indoor urban agriculture and urban as well as offshore solar power generation which bolster our food and energy security. We should explore using underground space for indoor farming and optimise our rooftop and maritime options for solar power generation, thereby developing potentially exportable know-how and intellectual property.[+12 sentences] We shall have more to say about these matters in future sessions. Mdm Speaker, some would say that Singapore and Singaporeans are already confident enough. I am not so sure. In my grassroots work in East Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC) and Aljunied GRC, I meet many residents who feel insecure and, in some cases, overwhelmed by the cost of living and the challenges of retirement and by fears about whether their children can afford housing. The second theme that we should unite around, Mdm Speaker, is that of a big Singapore, a Singapore that is not dominated by a very strong state, but one where non-state actors are also strong, confident and influential. Here, I refer to the private sector, civil society, alternative political parties and the citizens of Singapore themselves. How can we face the future as a developed country if we are dominated by a very powerful state that is, in turn, dominated by an entrenched, single political party? This structure creates too much dependence on a small group of people. The risk is too high. When our leadership core comes overwhelmingly from one kind of career background – lifelong civil servants – the risk becomes greater. Mdm Speaker, I respect our Civil Service and the civil servants who have devoted their careers to serving the needs of the people. But to have a core leadership that has very few with any other kind of career profile, that opens up the danger of groupthink, self-rationalisation and self-congratulation. Recently, some individuals in the Arts Engage network of Singaporean artists commented, in an op-ed piece, that there were "cases of work censored to protect the Government from embarrassment rather than for society's good." They said, "Singapore has yet to achieve the ideal of 'arms-length funding' where public money is given out by an independent, non-government body." This was said in the context of the arts sector.[+26 sentences] Mdm Speaker, we have some degree of public debate involving scholars and public intellectuals. This is good, but we need more civil society bodies that take on the role of policy debate and advocacy. And what about politics? In the General Election of 2015, it was said that voting for the Opposition went against human nature because it was human nature to thank a party for good policies. There is something else that is more or less predictable about human nature. In my opinion, when too much power becomes entrenched in one party or group of persons or individuals, whoever they may be and from whatever party they may come from, inevitably, that power breeds complacency and a tendency to be self-serving. It is a matter of time. There is yet another argument about diversity and debate, Mdm Speaker. If policy ideas are not tested in open and public debate, not only in Parliament but outside Parliament, there will be Page: 26 less public understanding and buy-in into the thinking that has gone into the policy making. This will make it harder for us, as a country, to truly move as one. Yet, Mdm Speaker, in the last election, we came close to having no elected Opposition Members of Parliament in this House. With a Parliamentary super majority for one party, what is the greatest danger facing Singapore's political landscape in the long term? Is it that of gridlock, a word which we had frequently heard yesterday? Or is it that of the non-existence of any viable alternative party other than the ruling party? Mdm Speaker, we must celebrate diversity of views, debate and disagreement. This must start in our schools and carry forward into this Parliamentary Chamber and to all social spaces in between. We must celebrate debate and disagreement as the best way to test ideas. We must learn to agree to disagree without branding one who disagrees with us as our enemy or as someone who has disrespected us. This is real unity; this is real respect. Let us debate and disagree but remain united as Singaporeans. That is real unity worth fighting for. Let us not forget that in 2019, which is just another three years into the future, we face another anniversary – 200 years of Singapore's existence as a recognisably modern society. Mdm Speaker, I believe that a confident Singapore and a big Singapore can stand the test of time. And if we focus on that test of time, on the longer term, there is one way in which we, in Singapore, can be a beacon to the world; there is one purpose which can serve to focus our hearts and minds in the 21st century. The Singapore glass is half full. We have done very well with a very high quality of civil service, government efficiency and urban planning. We have not done as well in fostering strong non-state actors and institutions to balance a strong state. We can be an example to countries around the world of how efficiency in government, economic and urban planning can be combined with democracy, healthy and vibrant democracy, balanced politics, active citizenship and an active civil society and private sector.[+3 sentences] We can show the world how a country can be vibrant economically while having a vibrant political life and a deep sense of belonging. Mdm Speaker, at SG51 and staring out at SG100 – which I will most certainly not live to see but our children will – I can think of no better mission for the country that we love. With that, I support the Motion.
Mdm Speaker3 words
[+1 sentence]Ms Joan Pereira.
Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar)1371 words
[+7 sentences]Mdm Speaker, thank you for allowing me to participate in this debate to express my support for the Motion of Thanks to the President for his Address. As a new Member, I am humbled to be given this opportunity to serve and be a voice for our constituents whom we care about a lot. Despite overwhelming odds, our Pioneers had brought Singapore from Third World to First within a generation. Singapore has experienced such remarkable growth that other nations are looking to us to share our experience. A number of my residents told me that the recollections of our past during the SG50 celebrations last year have strengthened their resolve to protect our little red dot and preserve our Page: 27 way of life. Indeed, as the President has highlighted in his Address, we must, first and foremost, keep Singapore safe and secure to ensure our own sovereignty and livelihoods. Terrorist attacks had claimed many lives in the last few years, with the most recent in our neighbouring country Indonesia. Just last week, MHA announced that 27 radicalised Bangladeshis were arrested here.[+12 sentences] We must be prepared and vigilant against potential attacks as well as the impact of incidents upon our social fabric. We must maintain our neutrality and be careful not to get involved in foreign politics or religious movements which could disrupt our delicate social balance and erode the goodwill which has taken years to build. The social harmony we are enjoying today has been hard-earned. Let us continue our work to deepen mutual understanding, tolerance and respect among our diverse racial and religious groups. The President's call to all Singaporeans to unite and to move ahead together is an important reminder for a young nation. Whether we are fifth generation Singaporeans or new immigrants, we must always be mindful that we have pledged to stay united, regardless of race, language or religion. Every one of us has an important role to play. Social integration and assimilation are built one encounter, one day at a time. A kind word, a thoughtful gesture or a considerate act can make all the difference. And occasionally, when we accidentally step upon one another's toes, let us always remind ourselves to take the high road for the greater good. Since our Independence, social integration and harmony have always been the Government's priorities, backed by innovative policies. I say "innovative" because these policies have no precedent elsewhere in the world and were even criticised as overly controlling and intrusive. Our Housing and Development Board (HDB) ethnic quota policy is a very good example. However, in view of the clashes in neighbourhood enclaves from the United States (US) to Paris and London, we come to appreciate the intent and benefits of these measures and initiatives.[+22 sentences] Our political system, National Service, schools, HDB estates and even People's Association activities bear testimony to successful integration. Nonetheless, we can do more. There is always room for improvement. One of the ways is through our community bonding programmes. In addition to our usual inclusive festive seasons' activities, we should put in more effort to update our programme formats. When I was working in the People's Association, there were activities to promote inter-generational bonding, such as parent-and-child, grandparent-and-grandchild, young-and-seniors singing/dancing contests. We can have similar formats to promote inter-racial bonding. Our community clubs can organise more activities which require participants of different races to team up and work together over a period of time. For example, cooking contests comprising several rounds so that participants have to practise and create several dishes over a few weeks. This would promote mutual understanding through cooperation. Clan associations can also be encouraged to consider inviting non-Chinese to participate in more activities and events. Similar initiatives by private companies should also be encouraged Page: 28 through Government funding or resource sponsorship. Another important platform where social interaction takes place is in cyberspace. The importance of social media will only increase as our younger generations become more and more Internet-savvy. The anonymity provided by social media facilitates freedom of expression but this freedom can also be abused, trigger conflict and deepen divides along racial, religious and income lines. We have legislation in place which enables the Government to act against incendiary expressions in cyberspace or in print. However, prevention is better than cure. We have to step up on public education to set the parameters for acceptable expression and inculcate responsible behaviour online. I urge the Government to continue taking the lead in creating, funding and supporting such public education programmes which should reach as many as possible – schools, housing estates, recreation centres, workplaces and more. Mdm Speaker, in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): Our seniors. In his speech, the President talked about his hope that Singapore can build a caring society. With our rapid ageing population, groups that need care will include the increasing number of seniors. I am pleased to see that the Government will introduce several schemes, including the Action Plan for Successful Ageing, to help the seniors live a fulfilling and happy life.[+3 sentences] We say that, "One should look after the seniors the same way he treats his own parents". When we care for our own seniors, we should also care for and help the seniors around us. Looking after the elderly is not just the responsibility of the children, family and Government; as long as it is within our means, we all have the responsibility to extend help to the elderly around us. There are many warm-hearted VWOs and volunteers in Singapore, who spend time and effort to visit and help the seniors. It will take a multi-prong approach for elder-care to be effective. Hence, I suggest setting up a Statutory Board or an officially recognised organisation to take the lead to provide one-stop services for the seniors.[+1 sentence] This will streamline administration, improve service quality and ensure the long-term sustainability of the various programmes for seniors. At the same time, I also suggest that the Government consider setting up more holistic eldercare service centres.[+4 sentences] The centres should have day care services and look after the seniors' needs in areas, such as medicine. Staff in these centres should understand the background of the seniors and slowly build bonds with them through various activities. The centres should also coordinate programmes of VWOs and the Government and look after the needs of the elderly at different stages. I think this operating model will greatly simplify the collaboration process and is worth being introduced more widely. Second, I further suggest that the Government set up a central website so that seniors who wish to become a volunteer can register by stating the areas that they are interested to serve and the time they are willing to devote.[+8 sentences] Page: 29 Many professionals are still healthy after retirement and they want to contribute to the society. But, sometimes, just because they do not know how, their passion and skills end up being wasted. It is truly regrettable. These professionals include retired teachers, nurses, lawyers and accountants. They possess knowledge, skills and experience accumulated over a life long time and it will be good that there is central system which can act as a middleman, introducing them to organisations that need their service. By doing so, these senior volunteers can maximise their time, remain healthy physically and mentally, and stay connected with the society. The benefiting organisations also save money and manpower at the same time. This is killing two birds with one stone. My last suggestion is asking Town Councils to install Alert Alarm System (AAS) for the poor seniors living in rental flats, so that they can be connected with the 24-hour maintenance centre Essential Maintenance Service Unit (EMSU). Currently, AAS is monitored by the Senior Activity Centres during working hours; at night, it is monitored by neighbours.[+5 sentences] The problem is that not every HDB block's tenants can help. As EMSU has 24-hour emergency service, it should also be able to receive emergency signals sent by AAS. Mdm Speaker, to build a loving home is not a very difficult task. As long as we all do our part, our society will be filled with love and care. Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion.
Mdm Speaker3 words
[+1 sentence]Minister Yaacob Ibrahim.
The Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs (Assoc Prof Dr Yaacob Ibrahim)4091 words
[+2 sentences]Mdm Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak in support of the Motion to thank the President for his Address. I would like to elaborate on the exciting future that Singaporeans can look forward to. Last week, I announced that we will be restructuring the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA) and the Media Development Authority (MDA), to create a new Info-comm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and a new agency, tentatively named the Government Technology Organisation (GTO).[+11 sentences] This restructuring is a key part of the Ministry of Communications and Information's (MCI's) policy agenda for this new term of Government. In his Address, the President said that "we must adapt as the world changes". Few sectors have changed as much as infocommunications technology (ICT) and media. Infocomm media technologies have fundamentally disrupted established business models. Today, the biggest taxi company in the world, Uber, does not own a single car. The largest purveyor of accommodation in the world, Airbnb, owns no hotels or rooms. The changes will only accelerate. Our motivation to restructure IDA and MDA is to help Singapore seize the opportunities presented by these technological changes. The first, Madam, is convergence – the increasing overlap between ICT and media. We see this in many ways – traditional telecommunications companies (telcos) expanding into content creation, such as StarHub, new media companies delivering content over the Internet, such as our own Viddsee. Page: 30 In order to better harness the power of convergence, we reviewed our approach towards the development of the infocomm media sector. In August last year, I launched the Infocomm Media 2025 masterplan which was the culmination of the ideas and recommendations from the committee.[+13 sentences] The report showed the many ways in which the media sector was embracing digital technology in order to better understand audiences and create even more appealing content. It also showed how technologies developed for the media could be applied in other settings. Madam, the second change is big data. Data can be invaluable in allowing service providers to improve the way their services are delivered by making them more customised and anticipatory. The public sector is also actively looking at ways to use public data to get a better understanding of people's needs and how to meet them in a seamless and cost-effective way. One example is in media. Those of us who use YouTube will know that it recommends videos based on what we watch and like. Mediacorp is doing likewise on its online platform, Toggle. Using data, it will recommend programmes to enhance your viewing pleasure. More importantly, Mediacorp will also use the data to improve the content that it produces. The third is the Internet of Things. One reason there is Big Data is the advent of the Internet of Things. With declining cost of sensors and cloud storage, it is now possible to connect devices to the Internet and to each other. In Singapore, work has already started to build a Smart Nation Platform that enables our public agencies to be plugged in so that essential sensor data can be shared and analysed in a secure manner.[+11 sentences] Another area is how machines can improve productivity through learning algorithms. One of the major areas that machine intelligence is leading us to is an understanding of natural language voice commands. We have been using natural language processing (NLP) technology in delivering Government e-services. One of the virtual assistants serving more than one agency is called "Jamie". Virtual assistants can help to free up scarce manpower to do other important work or building up the most common questions posed which we then use to improve our policies and processes. In future, NLP can provide real time translation for "live" television, benefitting the hearing-impaired. They can translate languages so viewers can enjoy content produced in foreign languages. All these technologies will continue to develop and will only get cheaper, more mature and more reliable over time. The Internet of Things will generate immense pools of data which, through the application of data analytics, will generate fresh insights and offer new possible solutions. How we respond to these trends will determine how much benefit we derive from them. We must use technology to benefit our economy and our society. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Lee announced our commitment to develop the services and digital economy in Singapore under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2020 Plan.[+9 sentences] Indeed, there is tremendous potential in pushing the frontiers of technology in various service sectors. For example, in healthcare, cognitive systems like IBM's Watson are being trained to analyse medical images and videos and perform diagnoses to a very high accuracy. Developments in remote medical care will allow doctors to consult with their patients, healthcare providers or caregivers without the need to be physically present with their patients. These technologies will help make the provision of healthcare services more efficient and less manpower-intensive, and support our ageing-in-place initiatives. Page: 31 IMDA will drive further sectoral innovations. We will work with the industry and community to develop these shared solutions. Next, Madam, we will use the opportunity offered by new technologies to further improve Government services. We have been pioneers in many areas of Government service delivery. We were one of the first globally to deliver nationwide fibre-to-the-home broadband with the Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network. Today, there are currently more than 830,000 residential fibre subscriptions in Singapore – a residential fibre broadband penetration of about 70%.[+4 sentences] As a government, we have also used technology boldly. We implemented the computerisation of the Civil Service in the 1980s. We also led the way into cloud computing for Singapore to enable organisations to consume infocomm services without the need to own expensive servers and data centres or operate an IT infrastructure team. As technology changes and matures, the new GTO will help our Government to understand and use technology boldly to deliver better public services. GTO will include all the functions of IDA's Government Chief Information Office (GCIO) in providing enterprise IT solutions to over 90 Government agencies, governing ICT standards within public agencies and coordinating the three-year ICT masterplans across the Government for more effective procurement of ICT services. As we continue to adopt new and emerging technologies for better service delivery, GTO must safeguard Government digital services against cyber threats. GTO will be well-placed to provide robust and cyber-resilient IT services for the Government, so that we can be well-prepared against cyber attacks.[+24 sentences] With an expanded mandate to grow new technology capabilities, GTO will also support the Government in its digital transformation efforts and build engineering talent for the Government. It will also help public agencies realise the capabilities to build a Smart Nation. We will, hence, see more improvements and initiatives that will bring more benefits to citizens and improve their quality of life. Madam, in October last year, Prime Minister Lee announced that the Government will set up a Committee on the Future Economy (CFE) to develop economic strategies to position Singapore for the future. Infocomm media has tremendous growth potential to contribute to our Singapore economy. With a vibrant infocomm media sector, we will see many good jobs that have meaning and purpose and which have good career prospects for Singaporeans to aspire towards. One such Singaporean is Janice Chan, a layout and match-move artist at Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) Singapore Janice has worked on a number of movies, such as "Transformers", "Hitman: Agent 47" and, of course, "Star Wars: The Force Awakens", and is now working on "The Great Wall", a US$150 million project directed by Zhang Yimou. She is one of the many talented Singaporeans putting their mark on global productions. IMDA, Madam, will continue to work with companies, both locally and internationally, to raise the capabilities and profile of our local talent. Madam, I am heartened that many Singaporeans have been drawn to the infocomm media sector and we are working on great ideas. I am confident many will bear fruit in the future. Page: 32 IDA's Infocomm Investments Pte Ltd (IIPL) has invested in a number of accelerators to build high-growth, innovation-driven technology start ups in Singapore. IIPL created an incubator space, which they call BASH. It stands for "Build Amazing Startups Here". It was set up almost a year ago at Block 79 at Ayer Rajah Crescent. It has become a home and a place for members and partners of the tech building community across the entire value chain – from accelerators to investors, incubators and entrepreneurs. They gather at BASH to exchange knowledge, co-create innovations and seal deals. The energy at BASH is quite incredible; we not only see start ups work hard to realise their vision, but also share experiences and help one another to succeed. In fact, I hear that many successful start ups, like Glint and Carousell, keep returning back to BASH to meet more mentors and investors, even though they have officially graduated from our accelerator programmes and moved out since. Madam, it is a good sign for the health of innovation and entrepreneurship in Singapore. IMDA will support BASH and more of such spaces. And for those who aspire to create great media content for new digital platforms, they can look forward to the Creators' Space, which will be built later this year. There will also be equally vibrant places for GTO engineers and programmers. The recently opened HIVE has become a fledgling centre of excellence in data analytics, software design and development. The in-house team has already partnered Government agencies to develop new and exciting apps, such as Beeline that allows commuters to pre-book rides on express private bus routes; and myResponder, a location-based app that mobilises users to respond to nearby cardiac arrest cases to render first aid before an ambulance arrives.[+12 sentences] The team has also helped to develop OneService, a one-stop platform which helps agencies resolve issues faced by the public by collating public feedback and routing them to the relevant Government agencies. The new IMDA and new GTO will continue to engage the public to co-create solutions. Madam, in July last year, IDA organised Hackathon@SG and invited participants to create applications to benefit our society and build our Smart Nation. The hackathon saw more than 300 entries from participants as young as five years old! More recently, I attended the Designathon organised by DesignSingapore Council. One hundred and seventy participants took part in the 36-hour challenge to come up with design solutions to make lives better for our elderly. One of the teams, Mobilizer, came up with an innovative walking stick to prevent the elderly from falling. Lee Jung Wei, one of the team members, is serving his National Service. He had just booked out of his army camp for the weekend, and, of all the things that he could have done, he chose to come down to the Designathon to work with his friends. There is a lot of excitement and energy, and it speaks volumes of our young people who want to make Singapore a better place. In the digital economy, Madam, data will become a new currency of great value both to businesses that use them and the individuals who provide the data. To maintain the confidence of individuals that their data is being well-managed and is not abused, to develop Singapore's reputation as a mature venue for data and to build up trust in the Singapore economy, we need a balanced and robust data protection framework. With the restructuring, we will incorporate the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) into IMDA to bring about better policy synergy. It will continue to maintain its separate identity as an independent personal data protection authority.[+10 sentences] Page: 33 Mdm Speaker, with the new GTO and new IMDA, my hope for the future is that Singapore is at the forefront of technology, with Government departments that use technology boldly, with an economy that is constantly transformed for the better through technology, and with a people comfortable and welcoming of technological change. Madam, please allow me now to speak as the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs. Madam, with the Opening of the 13th Parliament, it is timely for the Malay/Muslim community to ask what future we want for ourselves and for our children. What sort of community and society do we wish to have? How can our community be adaptive and ready for the future? How can the Government and the community build upon our past efforts and co-create solutions to meet new challenges? Please allow me to share three challenges ahead for the Malay/Muslim community and how we can work together to chart the way forward. The first challenge, Madam, comes from a rapidly evolving and volatile modern economy. The restructuring of the economy and increasing competition mean that our businesses and workers need be more productive, adaptive and committed to continual upgrading. Organisations like the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry and MENDAKI SENSE have stepped up to partner national agencies like the Workforce Development Agency (WDA) and Spring Singapore to bring the full range of SkillsFuture support for training and skills mastery. MENDAKI is also starting a Future Ready unit to explore more opportunities for the community to tap on SkillsFuture.[+13 sentences] But all these efforts will only succeed if members of our community step forward with the desire to learn and equip themselves and if companies actively support and invest in developing their workforce. Without this commitment, the consequences will be grave. We may have a pool of well-meaning, hardworking workers, but they lack the skill sets to compete and do well in the new economy. The second challenge, Madam, is that of diversity. In truth, diversity is nothing new. The Malay/Muslim community has always consisted of various ethnicities and schools of Islamic thought. Our community's religious life has always been shaped by the basic principles of moderation, respect for differences, the promotion of inclusiveness, and openness to diversity. These are values that our community cherishes. We know very well that we cannot afford to be divided by narrow views or the selfish agendas of a few individuals or groups. Yet, in recent times, we have started to see some quarters in society, and not just in the Malay/Muslim community, holding stronger, if not intractable, views on a range of complex issues. Harsh judgements and pejorative labels have been unnecessarily passed. Online media trends, migration changes, and regional and global influences, including developments in the Middle East, threaten to accentuate our differences and bring culture wars that are taking place half the world away to our doorstep. Faced with these challenges, our community needs to continue to stand together to foster an environment of mutual respect and understanding. The Government will continue to serve as a community arbiter.[+1 sentence] However, this will be an increasingly difficult job as we try to balance competing views and interests, and as our usual approach of negotiating sensitive matters carefully and discreetly is being challenged. If we should be intolerant of anything at all, it would be against the intolerant, particularly those who sow discord, spark disunity and incite hatred.[+1 sentence] This brings me to the third challenge, which is that of extremism. The Government has been able to work with a proactive community, led by organisations like MUIS, PERGAS and the Religious Rehabilitation Group, to build our resilience against extremist forces. But the risk of Page: 34 radicalisation remains because of the sheer accessibility and spread of information on the Internet.[+11 sentences] Just as we rose strongly against the challenge of the Jemaah Islamiyah threat more than 10 years ago, we must press on to reach out to every segment of the community and speak with one rational, moderate voice against exclusivist and extremist doctrines. Such a time also calls for extra vigilance to keep our country safe and secure, whether against radical ideologies, errant preachers or of any suspicious activities around us. We must stand as one united people and not let the radical actions of a few spread fear and suspicion among the different communities in Singapore. Madam, the challenges that we face as a community are not insurmountable. We have faced difficult challenges in the past, but, together with the Government, we have been able to tackle them. The positive state-community relationship has been steadily built over the last 50 years, thanks to the support and patience of the community. With that trust and confidence, the Government went beyond national initiatives, such as public housing, education, and healthcare, to also make inroads in areas key to the community's progress and socio-religious life. This started with the passing of the Administration of Muslim Law Act in 1968 to set up MUIS and to regularise the Syariah Court and the Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM). In 1975, the Government facilitated the introduction of the Mosque Building Fund (MBF) to allow Muslim workers to contribute to the construction, and later also upgrading, of our mosques. In 1982, we partnered the community to form Yayasan MENDAKI to address the under-achievement of our Malay/Muslim students. This link between the state and the community has strengthened over the years and allowed the community to thrive. Through consultation and engagement with the community, the Government introduced several initiatives to better support our madrasahs, including MOE's Edusave Fund for enrichment programmes and the waiver of national examination fees for secular subjects. In his National Day Rally speech last year, Prime Minister Lee announced that the Government will work with MUIS to provide financial support to help teachers of secular subjects upgrade themselves. There will also be awards for students who achieve academic excellence in secular subjects in our full-time madrasahs.[+3 sentences] Madam, all these efforts are a result of our shared focus to raise the quality of education in our madrasahs, so that they can develop into progressive, all-rounded institutions for the benefit of our students. Such state-community engagement on sensitive matters or issues of interest is not unique to the Malay/Muslim community. It has been the Government's approach for other communities as well. Earlier this weekend, our Hindu friends welcomed "live" music during the Thaipusam procession event, something that had been banned previously but was just relaxed this year.[+9 sentences] There was some measure of give-and-take during the discussions, with both sides eventually coming to an agreement on the three "live" music points and seven music-transmission points along the route. Importantly, there was an openness and appreciation of needs and constraints as state and community worked together to arrive at the best possible solution. However, Madam, state-community relations are not static. They will evolve with the external environment and as the community progresses. Also, the perspectives of Government and communities may not always be aligned because we view issues with different concerns. For example, the Government may be wary of how rising religiosity could lead to deeper divides, but some followers from the different faiths may see religiosity as a positive development that could Page: 35 translate into a more spirited and engaged community. We want to work with the community to realise multiple possibilities and to dabble less in narrow binaries. A transactional "winner takes all" relationship between the Government and the community is one-sided and will not be helpful for all parties. It cannot be as optimal as a relational approach, where both sides are co-creating "win-win" solutions. The Suara Musyawarah dialogues in 2013, the KITAx youth envisioning exercises in 2015 and the current SGfuture discussions, all show that we have moved from simple consultation exercises to discussions focused on generating ideas, proposals and collaborations with fellow Singaporeans.[+26 sentences] These are good initiatives, but we must continue to build on these to develop stronger processes of mutual engagement between state and community that can be sustained for the next 50 years. Differences of views have and will continue to emerge between the two sides. It is how we manage those differences to allow for a greater plurality of views and ideas, and yet not pull the society apart. It is always easier to dismiss differences for its perceived potential divisive effects. But it is far more enlightened and progressive to look for ways to accommodate some of the differences in order to enlarge the common ground. This is the best way, and the only way for the Government, as we shape our future together. It is an approach of honesty and mutual understanding, as, together, we will weigh the concerns, weigh the constraints and options for both the Government and the community. Most importantly, it is an approach to work through our differences and enlarge our common ground, as we seek to reach the best solutions possible together. Madam, to conclude, some of the challenges we are facing are, indeed, unlike any we have faced before. But as the President said, "The future of Singapore is what we make of it… everyone plays a part in building our nation". I have every faith that we will overcome our challenges by standing together. We are already starting from a much better place than ever before. Our foundations are strong, our institutions are sound, and our people are motivated. That Singaporeans have given the new Government a strong mandate only inspires us to keep giving our best for our people. I am convinced that an even stronger partnership between the community and the Government is, and must be, the way forward to co-create the future. For the community, let us continue to stay united, to inspire success in one another, and to step forward to lead this community to even greater heights. Singapore is our home, and, together, we will build this nation for our children and for many generations to come. Madam, allow me to conclude my speech in Malay. (In Malay): Mdm Speaker, for the past 50 years, the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore has achieved remarkable progress. We made major contributions to the nation as an important partner in the effort to strengthen Singapore's multiracial and multi-religious society. This new term of Parliament is a starting point that provides us with a good opportunity to re-evaluate the type of Malay/Muslim community that we want for our children and grandchildren. How can the Malay/Muslim community prepare itself to overcome future challenges? Essentially, we want to strengthen the cooperation between the Government and the Malay/Muslim community because this has been the cornerstone of our progress. This positive cooperation comes from the strong support and perseverance of the Malay/Muslim community, Page: 36 who have given their trust and confidence to the Government. As a result, the Government was able to introduce special supplementary policies that contribute to the progress and well-being of the Malay/Muslim community's socio-religious life. For instance, the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA) was passed in 1968 and has resulted in the establishment of MUIS, the Syariah Court and ROMM. In 1975, the Government assisted in the creation of MBF, which receives contributions from every Malay/Muslim worker through their CPF accounts. Seven years later, the Government worked with the community to form Yayasan MENDAKI to improve the educational standards of Malay children.[+2 sentences] This positive cooperation between the Government and the community continues to be strengthened year after year. The Government's efforts to constantly consult and involve the community closely when dealing with issues have clearly produced results. For instance, the Government managed to introduce several initiatives to support the full-time madrasahs. These include the Edusave Fund from MOE and the financial assistance to allow teachers of secular subjects in the madrasahs to upgrade themselves, and awards for students who excel in secular subjects.[+4 sentences] It is clear that the Government wants to continue working with all Singaporeans, including the Malay/Muslim community, in order to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes, through the process of consultation, information and idea gathering, and cooperating with the people to create the best solutions. Mdm Speaker, just like Singapore, the Malay/Muslim community faces challenges that are becoming increasingly complex. Although it is tough, by virtue of our strong fighting spirit, I am confident that the Malay/Muslim community can overcome these challenges, just as we have successfully done before. In fact, today, we are in a better position: our foundation is strong, our institutions are stable and our community members are more mature, more qualified and more confident. We have a noble aspiration to create a Community of Excellence, which is in line with the aspirations of our other fellow Singaporeans. We are committed to continue making contributions together with the other communities in order to build a better future in Singapore for all of us.
Mdm Speaker3 words
[+1 sentence]Mr Cedric Foo.
Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng (Pioneer)1727 words
[+8 sentences]Mdm Speaker, Members in this House have spoken about a fast-changing world and that for Singapore to survive, thrive and remain exceptional, we need to stay ahead of this curve. We have a very small domestic economy and must "plug" into the world if we are to do well. I hope, in my speech, to describe what economists and researchers see as potential changes that will confront us. Many of my colleagues here have spoken about them and I will reinforce some of those points. Not all these changes will have a big impact on us, but some definitely will. If we are not alert to them, then we risk being left behind. Going forward, some things will change linearly but probably at a faster clip as technologies from diverse fields advance and converge to produce solutions that were not possible previously. Other things will face non-linear changes brought about by disruptive technologies, that my colleague Henry Kwek talked about, the way cassette tapes or general cargo ships gave way to the iPod and container ships. Page: 37 As early as 2011, Foxconn, the electronics contract manufacturer for Apple and other electronics companies, announced its goal to replace one million workers in China with robots.[+2 sentences] It did not succeed initially because robots then were not dexterous enough and were costly. Today, many of these shortcomings in robotics have been overcome. Foxconn now deploys 50,000 robots in China, and they call these robots "Foxbots".[+8 sentences] Other companies like Asea Brown Boveri (ABB), a Swiss and Swedish joint venture, are also deep into robotics research and production. It now produces robots that can be sophisticated enough to do very micro-type circuitry assembly, and at low cost – each robot costs about the price of a car in Sweden, not in Singapore. ABB called their robots "Yumi" which stands for "You and Me (the robot)", collaborating in manufacturing. In the early 2000s, manufacturing moved to China in a big way, because environmental laws were less stringent, labour costs were low and labour relations more stable than in the West. All of these factors are changing. One would think that China which has to find jobs for a population of 1.4 billion, would not want to adopt automation or robotics. But they, the Chinese, know that, if they do not, other countries will. So, their peculiar domestic situation notwithstanding, China is embracing this new technology and, if they are successful, they will leapfrog others who are less nimble. China has an initiative called "Made in China 2025" and this is to transform the country from a "Big Manufacturing Country" to a "Powerful Manufacturing Country". Sale of industrial robots in 2014 rose 56% in China from the year before. Today, there are 25 robot-making companies, not companies using robots, but robot-making companies, in China and the plan is to have up to 200 robot-making companies.[+31 sentences] With robots, unlike humans, they work 24/7. They do not join unions who go on strikes once in a while. They do not take sick leave – maybe a couple of days a year for maintenance. They do not argue with their supervisors about work conditions. They live in the factories, literally, never once late for work. This is the type of competition that we can expect to face. We will see more robots not just in China but also in North America and Europe where a large chunk of global consumption takes place. The US economy is about maybe 60% to 70% consumption. Instead of "off-shoring" manufacturing from the US and Europe to China, the buzz word now is "near-sourcing". So, production for European consumption will take place maybe in Eastern Europe or Europe itself, and production for the US will take place in Mexico, facilitated by NAFTA. This "near-sourcing" will become even more pronounced as clean energy in the form of shale gas becomes readily available in the West. This will impact areas like logistics and supply chain solutions. So, think of change in shipping routes. Change is not only happening in manufacturing, as I have described, but also in services. Professional work like accounting and legal services can be performed in lower-cost locations like India or Estonia. The output is then transmitted through low-cost fibre optics to the US, Europe or Singapore where the customer-facing takes place. Even research work and the very slick power-point presentations of major consulting firms are now produced in low-cost centres in India and they call them "knowledge centres". They like to call it "knowledge on tap" in the consultants' jargon. Many jobs that were thought to be domestic in nature are becoming tradable. In fact, many Singaporeans have haircuts in Johor Bahru. Robots, labour cost arbitrage and supply chain disruptions are but a few of the changes that are taking place. Then, there is Uber. As the Minister talked about, drones, the e-commerce wave – Page: 38 Taobao, Carousell, Apple Pay, and we have our own DBS PayLah; and Oculus Rift, the virtual reality that can bring you to face a dinosaur, dive deep into the ocean or go into outer space. Not real, but virtual reality. Genome editing will change medicine; 3D printing – I thought they print toys, but I just read that they have printed an electric car; batteries – you have heard of Elon Musk – that will be used at home and they would not look like batteries we are used to, but they may be a painting or a sofa set. These batteries will take electricity from the grid at night when the industrial needs are low. All these change the way we commute, the way we shop, the way we pay, the way we play, the way we learn and perhaps even the way we think. Such developments could be viewed as threats but, if we are nimble, they also present Singapore with many new opportunities. It is easy to become complacent with past successes or to buckle under political pressure to take it slow, to "relax", so they say. And I heard in this House, "Just be happy!" The reason why our economic thinkers in Government are somewhat "paranoid" about economic growth is because we cannot risk a hollowing out of our economy. Without economic growth, as some of my colleagues have said, and without good jobs, we cannot sustain the funding for defence, education, health care and other social programmes, especially with an ageing population.[+7 sentences] The Committee for the Future Economy, led by Minister Heng, has its work cut out. So, is the new SkillsFuture Statutory Board and the Smart Nation initiative. If we do all these well, Singaporeans will continue to live good lives. As we embark on economic transformation, we also want to avoid the pitfalls of unfettered capitalism. So, in line with such arguments, there are calls to protect our citizenry. Should our political instincts be "to protect" or "to prepare"? I think the answer is both. For vulnerable groups who are disadvantaged either through disability, ill-health, educational opportunities and so forth, we should seek to protect them, but always within the bounds of preserving our work ethic. For able-bodied Singaporeans, it would be better to prepare them for the challenges that lie ahead.[+6 sentences] SkillsFuture is an excellent way forward. The programme recognises that the world is changing faster than most people can cope on their own; that learning does not end with formal education, that we all need to learn, unlearn and relearn throughout life, lest our skill sets become less valued or outright irrelevant. Having said that preparing our workforce is a more enlightened path, I am especially concerned about our professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs). I believe they need a little more protection, especially against unfair employment practices. We have talked about this, where Singaporean PMETs are sidelined for other nationalities because the bosses from the same other nationality are more comfortable working with their own kind and not because we are less skilled as Singaporeans. This is prevalent in certain sectors of our economy and also in certain companies more than others. Since there are no dependency ratios for Employment Pass (EP) holders, there is little or no protection for these Singaporean PMETs.[+19 sentences] And, indeed, the space that they occupy and the work that they do are subject to wage arbitrage. It is, of course, easy to empathise with them to see the Page: 39 injustice in unfair employment practices on our own soil. Mdm Speaker, we live in a fast-changing world. We are fortunate to have a Government which is always forward-looking. It understands our strengths and vulnerabilities and then charts a course to take the country forward. Whilst change can be disconcerting and intimidating at times, it also presents many new opportunities, if we stay nimble. Singapore has more resources than it ever had. We can use them to protect the vulnerable groups and prepare the rest of us for what is to come. Our young are smart, well-educated and inventive. I see a Singapore future that is bright and exciting. I thank the President for his Address. Mdm Speaker, before I end, I would like to comment on what the hon Member Leon Perera spoke about. Mr Perera bemoans the low number of Opposition Members in this House. Yet, in the same breadth, he calls for open contests. He calls for more democracy. Let me remind the Member that in the last general elections, every seat, each and every one of the 89 seats was contested. That Singaporeans have voted for the PAP and also six other Opposition Members is the outcome of an open contest. I hope the Member and his party will respect that outcome. We, on our part, are humbled by the outcome and will work even harder to do well for Singaporeans. In fact, the presence of Mr Perera as a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament himself was a creation of the PAP Government because it believes in diversity, as he has suggested. And it guarantees − and no other governments guarantee − that there will be at least nine Opposition Members in Parliament.[+2 sentences] On top of that, the PAP Government also introduced the Nominated Member of Parliament scheme, so, like the Member said, different segments of society and their voices can be heard and be represented in this House. Madam, I support the Motion.
Mdm Speaker56 words
[+6 sentences]Order. On that note, since we are all not robots, I propose to suspend the Sitting. We will take the break now. I will take the Chair again at 4.10 pm. Sitting accordingly suspended at 3.49 pm until 4.10 pm. Sitting resumed at 4.10 pm
Mr Ang Hin Kee (Ang Mo Kio)1438 words
[+10 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I stand in support of the Motion of Thanks to the President. Our employment landscape has changed much over the decades. Most workers from my parents' generation held only one job since they started working and served the same company until retirement. Recently, I witnessed a colleague receiving her 35- year long service award. Many were amazed that it was her first and last job. These days, it is not surprising for a worker to change jobs four to five times in his career. Some even take on jobs in different industries. Indeed, technological shifts and rapid changes in customer tastes have led to traditional jobs or tried and tested ways of making a living becoming less reliable. Page: 40 To make sense of the fast moving dynamics and in response to changes on the jobs front, some workers have taken on a new earning option, that is, to freelance. It is fast becoming a viable career option. A conservative estimate today puts the total number of freelancers in Singapore at about 200,000.[+20 sentences] This figure is likely to go up. Many in our midst probably think that it is about having the courage to change course from being a salaried employee to becoming a freelancer. However, having spoken to many of them on why they decided to forgo jobs which provided them with a steady income every month, I am beginning to understand that it is about wanting to break free from becoming accustomed to a previously secure situation and being oblivious to the need to adapt in view of rapid changes. Freelancers want to adapt. Some look to freelancing to offer variety and scope of roles that their current jobs do not offer them as an employee. Of course, there are those who enjoy the flexibility and, naturally, prefer not to be bounded by employer-employee arrangements. For this group, they pick freelancing as their first option. The types of freelance jobs have also expanded. I have met many who offer services in photography, copywriting, translation, web design, sports coaching, and the list goes on. There are also websites today that allow a freelance worker to be registered for assignments, connecting them to offers of jobs both locally and overseas. Such one-stop hubs allow free service buyers to have access to a wide pool of talents, both in Singapore and elsewhere, to engage for projects. Options for those who wish to pursue freelance work have also opened up. Some even see it as a viable long-term career option. I have met former employees who moved out of a stable and regular income job to become their so-called own "bosses". Some do so at the prime of their careers. And there are those who also started off by holding down a full-time job and taking on freelance projects on a part-time basis. Gradually, as they become more aware of the market, they moved to become full-time freelancers, bringing their former skills to the marketplace. Some are also learning new skills and offering different skills options. For example, there are trainers that I met who also double up as translators. What used to be popular among stay-at-home mums, retirees and undergraduates looking for some earnings has become more viable and stable. Freelancers, Mdm Speaker, are working people, too, and we, in the Labour Movement, are embarking on efforts to assist them.[+1 sentence] What can the rest of us do? With freelancing becoming a viable career option, there are three key areas I feel that our society, buyers of services and the Government can do to support them.[+14 sentences] On society's mindset, many still deem freelancing as a deviation from the norm and equate it to unstable earnings or being more suited for retirees or as a temporary stint. Since young, we are encouraged to study hard, get the best skills, secure a full-time job, preferably with the best employer in that field. With economic restructuring, however, companies and jobs could be impacted at short notice, and retrenchment, unfortunately, is an unavoidable outcome for some. People lose their jobs when they are unable to adapt or acquire new skills when companies go through major shifts or when product lines get obsolete. Society, too, needs to move away from the past notion of what is defined as a good job and a stable income. Page: 41 To many of us, freelancing may look like frontier town. Some of the rules appear unclear and the marketplace seems fraught with uncertainty. However, those who are in freelancing choose how to build their own security, overcome uncertainty and make adjustments, as well as collaborate with one another. Many are also refining their old skills and acquiring new ones to stay relevant, even before the Government announced strategies, such as SkillsFuture. They do not wait for someone else to navigate the path ahead for them. On our part, we need to change how we perceive freelance work and embrace it as part of the changing employment landscape. On the role of service buyers, companies, we know, are always on the lookout for new ways to do business and to reduce costs. For some, freelancers are a source of talent pool. With no actual headcount, they can keep costs low, have access to a worldwide pool of talent and are able to obtain services anytime, anywhere. The number of new jobs created appears to be declining, but, based on sharing by freelancers themselves, the demand and offers for freelance work seem to remain steady.[+2 sentences] Perhaps, companies are already making structural changes as to how they assemble the resources needed to complete tasks in this changing environment. For these companies to work well with freelancers, they do not treat them as a cheaper option. Instead, they accord their appointed freelancers the same respect and treatment as they would a business partner.[+5 sentences] They make reasonable demands, respect intellectual property and make payment on time for the freelancers' services. For other companies contemplating the option of using freelancers, it is, therefore, wise to adopt the same approach. They can only tap on the best services if freelancers are allowed to grow well, earn decently and sustain their businesses. I propose that high among the service buyers' priorities must be to learn how to tap on the different capabilities out there and treat freelancers fairly to achieve a win-win situation. On our policies, we have good schemes to help our Singaporean working people. Schemes like SkillsFuture will benefit many workers, enabling them to acquire new skills to pursue lifelong learning while MediShield Life will offer them greater protection.[+1 sentence] However, some of our schemes and attitudes need to be reviewed to consider the needs of freelancers. For example, HDB housing loan eligibility for freelancers or the self-employed, even if it comes from an applicant who is about 30 years old, can appear to be conservative because they do not seem to have a regular income or able to produce an income pay-slip of six months or more. I was told that banks, when assessing credit card applications, also take on very conservative approach when it comes to freelancers who apply for credit cards.[+1 sentence] Our system to help Singaporeans apply for HDB housing and prepare for retirement has worked well for those who hold conventional jobs. As freelance work grows to become a popular career choice, it is timely to tailor policies to be more inclusive and to benefit the freelancers.[+10 sentences] We talked about encouraging an entrepreneurial and pioneering spirit in our people. It is, indeed, a positive sign that there are increasingly more Singaporeans opting for freelance work. It is, therefore, crucial that we offer them the right support that can benefit them directly and enable them to thrive. Mdm Speaker, many of our older generation workers stick to one job for life. This current generation of workers change jobs many times in his career lifespan. That is how we respond to economic and business shifts. Our next generation of workers will have to tackle a different set of challenges. Freelancers, like many new working people, are seeking new earning options and it should not surprise us if, one day, our new job entrants' preferred choice of earning comes from freelancing. Page: 42 Freelancers are responding to the new competition and adopting approaches that we may deem unconventional. In fact, some of us regard their decisions to discard their well-paying jobs as a bold one. Perhaps, it is we who need the courage to adapt our mindset, to change our policies and offer strong support to our freelancers and the proper recognition due to them.[+1 sentence] With that, Madam, I support the Motion.
Mdm Speaker4 words
[+1 sentence]Dr Koh Poh Koon.
The Minister of State for National Development and Trade and Industry (Dr Koh Poh Koon)2413 words
[+13 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I rise to thank the President and speak in support of the President's Address. As the President said, we are embarking on "a new chapter of nation-building". Last year, we celebrated half a century of economic progress and success. This was the product of decades of hard work by our forefathers. We will need to have the same resilience and enterprising spirit, in order to write the next chapter of our economic miracle together. However, with the changing population demographics, disruptive technologies and new global economic challenges, the previous formula for economic success may no longer be adequate to ensure our economic resilience for the next 50 years. For Singapore to remain competitive, we need to do things differently. A new formula for success may be required. Our businesses need to go beyond adding value and competing on costs and move on to creating value and competing on innovation. As a significant part of our economy, SMEs play a crucial role in the transformation of our economy. Mdm Speaker, I would like to deliver the next part of my speech in Mandarin and to conclude thereafter in English. (In Mandarin): In the last few months, I have met with a number of SMEs and had a deeper understanding of the way they operate. They almost unanimously highlighted one point: the various challenges that they face today have brought about greater pressure. The most recent SBF-DP SME Index shows that SME's business sentiment has fallen to a four-year low. This indicates that our SMEs are less upbeat in their business outlook, as they are under strain due to domestic business cost pressures as well as the worsening external economic factors.[+8 sentences] Two of the major challenges that our SMEs face are in the areas of manpower and rentals. On the manpower front, the key issues faced are rising manpower costs and difficulties with attracting and retaining talent. In addition, SMEs also have difficulty in coping with rising rents. While there are cyclical factors affecting both issues, they also stem from the fact that Singapore is, fundamentally, a small country with limited resources. In order to address manpower challenges, our economy needs to transform and shift towards growth driven by productivity improvements and make the best use of available manpower. Rental increase is another challenge faced by SMEs. Many SMEs have told me that they have been struggling with rising rents. However, the overall situation has stabilised. In the third and fourth quarters of 2015, retail rentals fell by 0.3% and 0.1% respectively on a quarter-on-quarter Page: 43 basis. Likewise, office rental fell by 0.1% in both quarters, while industrial rental dropped by 0.8% in the third quarter of 2015.[+25 sentences] Nonetheless, the Government will do its best by working through the market to ensure that there is enough space supply to meet long-term needs. I believe sufficient supply would mitigate the adverse trend of rising rents. At Singapore's current stage of economic development, our companies, particularly SMEs, need to pursue growth through innovation and internationalisation. With innovative technologies, SMEs can introduce new products and services to consolidate their market position. By internationalising, SMEs can tap into larger markets to grow their revenue sources. The Government has introduced a broad array of programmes to help companies access the financing, infrastructure and expertise that they require in order to succeed. However, many SMEs are still unaware of the channels of assistance. The Government will, therefore, engage and consult closely with the business community to identify technology trends in each sector and further improve our various assistance programmes provided for companies. We will also further leverage our current SME Centres to provide SMEs with advice on how to transform and innovate their business models. In addition, they should also help the SMEs to forge closer ties with public research entities to design specific technological solutions for them. The SME Centres can also play an active role in guiding our SMEs to seek for the relevant R&D and technologies they need. Businesses undergoing transformation can be likened to warriors on a battlefield. In order to have well-developed muscles, they have to train very hard to build a strong and healthy body. This will not only ensure that they can face the challenges on the battlefield, but also help them withstand the injuries that they may sustain. Similarly, in order to succeed in the competitive landscapes, companies must continually seek breakthroughs in technology to develop their unique weapons and capabilities. The process of transformation of the business can be difficult and painful, much like life-saving surgery. Even businesses which have realised that they need to transform can be daunted by uncertainties and fear of the unknown future. But we also know that there are many examples of SMEs which have successfully transformed. Today, I would like to share a few examples, not only to recognise the achievements of these businesses, but also to give you some inspiration. As long as we maintain an open and innovative spirit, we can overcome any challenge. Sanwa Group was established in 1977. It focuses on manufacturing high-quality and cost-effective products. However, as fewer young Singaporeans are willing to work on the production floor, the company faced severe manpower shortages. In response, Sanwa invested heavily to automate and mechanise its production and quality control processes. Factory automation has also helped Sanwa to perform highly repetitive tasks and achieve higher levels of accuracy, reliability and efficiency. Through this, Sanwa achieved 50% manpower savings and improved its overall productivity by 15%.[+2 sentences] In addition, buyers recognised the higher quality and reliability of its products, resulting in higher sales for Sanwa. Beyond improving work flow for its existing businesses, Sanwa has also been actively building capabilities to seek out new business opportunities and niches. Sanwa is currently partnering research institutes, such as A*Star's SIMTech to develop new technologies and business opportunities. Recognising additive manufacturing as another potential growth area, Sanwa worked with six other local precision engineering companies to focus solely on additive manufacturing projects.[+8 sentences] Page: 44 Supported by Nanyang Polytechnic and the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), this consortium pools together capabilities of each member firm in developing additive manufacturing solutions for key customers in niche areas. Sanwa has shared with me that this collaboration has been successful because members did not see one another as competitors and were willing to share expertise with one another. In fact, members acknowledged that the competition was global and that they had to collaborate in order to survive and succeed. I am heartened by the spirit of cooperation shown by Sanwa and its partners and hope that more SMEs will embrace this mentality to develop win-win outcomes for the broader industry. Another example that I would like to share is Skylace Language School. This is a Chinese language training school. In terms of scale of operation, resources and finance, it is significantly smaller than that of Sanwa's. However, it has similarly taken the first step to transform. To reduce its teachers' workload in having to mark student's worksheets, Skylace digitised its worksheets onto tablets.[+3 sentences] This way, not only do students receive instant feedback on their automatically-marked assignments, it also frees teachers up to focus on their main job – teaching. Skylace is also looking to implement the same technology to automate its administrative functions, such as payroll. The underlying point of all the examples that I have shared is that all SMEs, regardless of size, have the potential to transform their businesses through technology to address business challenges and open doors to new business opportunities. The Government is committed to helping SMEs which are willing to transform through multidimensional assistance, but businesses have to recognise the need for innovation and transformation and be willing to change their old business model, in order for the assistance programmes to be effective.[+10 sentences] (In English): Mdm Speaker, I would now like to finish the rest of my speech in English. Beyond helping established SMEs to transform, we must continue our efforts to support entrepreneurs and build a vibrant startup ecosystem in Singapore. Startups, particularly those with high-growth potential, are an important source of innovation in our economy and help to rejuvenate our business landscape. Today's innovative startups are transforming many aspects of our lives, from the way we travel and the way we shop to the way we live or interact with others. The use of Facebook, Uber and Airbnb are well-known examples. Over the past years, there have been strong, concerted efforts by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and many Government agencies to build a vibrant startup ecosystem in Singapore. Through the collective efforts of both the startup community and the Government, we now have in place the key building blocks of a successful start-up ecosystem – infrastructure, financing support, community and culture. For instance, in the past year, JTC Launchpad@One-North was launched as a deliberate effort to create a startup cluster in the One-North area. The response to Launchpad has been good, with occupancy currently at over 90%. As a result of these efforts, the startup scene in Singapore has gained increasing momentum. For instance, the Global Startup Ecosystem Ranking in 2015 put Singapore's startup ecosystem at 10th place in the world, an improvement from 17th place in 2012.[+12 sentences] Our population has also become increasingly entrepreneurial in outlook. Based on surveys by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), the proportion of our working population actively involved in an entrepreneurial activity increased from 4.9% in 2006 to 11% in 2014. On my recent visit to JTC LaunchPad@One-North, I was struck by the passion, optimism and can-do spirit of the startups that I met. ShopBack was one of them. Recognising a market gap in the growing e-commerce space within Singapore and the region, ShopBack set out to revolutionise the Page: 45 e-commerce landscape by tying up with online merchants to provide cashback to online shoppers. Its young founders, whom I spoke to, were not trained in computer science or computer programming, but that did not stop them from taking the bold step of starting their own company. Aware of Singapore's unique value proposition as a well-established Asian hub for businesses, with close links to the fast-growing Asian market, ShopBack decided to build a base here in Singapore and use that to target the neighbouring Asian markets. Within 18 months of its formation, ShopBack had moved into our neighbouring markets, such as Indonesia and the Philippines, with support and facilitation from International Enterprise (IE) Singapore, while the e-commerce landscape in these countries were still relatively less mature. Today, ShopBack has over 400,000 regional users and receives over three orders every minute. As a first-mover in a rapidly growing e-commerce space, ShopBack is well-placed to establish itself as an important link in the e-commerce value chain and ride on the global e-commerce wave. Our SMEs and startups must constantly be on the lookout for new opportunities and not be constrained by our geographical limits, just as how ShopBack has recognised that the global nature of its business, which means that it must internationalise at a very early stage to reach out to a wider customer base. This is a very different approach from what a usual brick-and-mortar business like our SMEs, which usually consolidate their local operations and only internationalise at a later stage of their establishment. ShopBack may look like a thriving and promising startup today. But, in fact, their initial proposal for Government funding was rejected by our agencies. Firmly believing in the market value of their business idea, the initial rejection, from what I know, according to the young founders of ShopBack, was actually helpful in making them work and think harder about their business ideas and, eventually, they caught the eye of investors who provided them with further seed capital. ShopBack started out with three co-founders less than two years ago and now they have close to 60 staff, with an average age of only 27 years.[+14 sentences] Clearly, in the case of ShopBack, it was not Government efforts alone that got them started. In transforming our economy to be future-ready, startups can be a driver of change. But we must ask ourselves these questions: how can we create a more conducive ecosystem for our entrepreneurs to thrive? Are there hindrances that we must remove to allow ideas to germinate and innovative start-ups to prosper? Will over-supportive policies stifle the fighting spirit and the desire to succeed, much like over-watering a plant would kill it? How do we calibrate the relationship between Government and the industry to ensure that the optimal amount of intervention and creative-tension exist? Is this a case of "doing more is not doing better but may be doing more harm"? How can we be more flexible in the way we render help to our small startups and SMEs to make impact where and when it matters most? As we move from SG50 towards SG100 and cast our thoughts on what our future economy entails, these are questions that we need to think carefully about. The entrepreneurial spirit of our next generation, like the group which started ShopBack, will open new avenues through which we can create the economy of our next 50 years. The Government must rethink how it supports our entrepreneurs and work closely with the entrepreneurial community to build a vibrant startup ecosystem. Page: 46 Today, we stand at a critical inflexion point in the journey of our nation-building. Even as we celebrate the successes that we have achieved in the past 50 years, we also need to take the necessary steps to build the framework and the groundwork for our future generations from this position of strength. The path forward does not promise to be easy. We are acutely aware of the pains that our SMEs are going through and we are prepared to walk this journey with them. We will continue to provide strong support to SMEs that are prepared to transform and enhance their businesses. We will work closely with the trade associations and the business community to ensure that our SMEs continue to succeed. We will seek new growth industries to set the stage for our future economy.[+2 sentences] With the business community, the Government and the people working hand-in-hand, I am confident that the next chapter of our economic story will transcend what had preceded before and bring about greater prosperity and opportunity for each and every Singaporean. With this, Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion.
Mdm Speaker3 words
[+1 sentence]Miss Cheryl Chan.
Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling (Fengshan)2168 words
[+7 sentences]Mdm Speaker, in his Address, the President highlighted that by 2030, one in four Singaporeans will be aged 65 years or above. A critical question then is: how do we want our society to age? How prepared are we to manage and deal with not just the economic consequences of a rapidly ageing population but, perhaps, more importantly, the social implications of a greying society? In my conversations with my residents, dialogues with VWOs and also with healthcare professionals, a striking observation here is that our seniors often feel they are unable to integrate within the community post-retirement and has a tendency to be or to feel isolated. Studies have also shown that many of our seniors wish to continue being a part of the community, actively involved in one way or another and, to some extent, the broader society. Understandably, this helps in improving their self-esteem and builds confidence even as they age. This being so, whether there are choices readily available to them is thus something we need to focus on. In Singapore, we have encouraged our seniors to remain in the workforce for a longer period and introduced the concept of Lifelong Employability.[+1 sentence] The Government has also encouraged the tripartite partners to enhance job opportunities and employability for our mature workers. Various grants are available to companies to tap on to redesign jobs, handle age management and so on. But the impetus to take up the grants has remained relatively low.[+21 sentences] This could be attributed to a lag on the employers' mindset and also the general work culture that we have here. We still do not easily associate having experienced older workers with a positive value. What then are the implications to those seniors who wish to but cannot be gainfully employed at a mature age? From their feedback, many of these seniors remain at home not to care for their grandchildren but because they have no alternatives. Many choose not to go out as they do not wish to spend much since they no longer have an active income. Unfortunately, for some of our seniors, their ageing conditions also deteriorate after their spouses have passed on. It may seem surprising, but surveys show that these lonely seniors are not living alone. In fact, many of them actually live with their families. However, they feel isolated Page: 47 as they have little communication with their children who often work long hours or they do not have activities to be mentally and physically preoccupied with. Over time, such isolation has detrimental effects on their health and, naturally, increases their healthcare costs. Given where we are today and a future with more seniors, what should we do to ensure that they have a meaningful life? I believe that, first and foremost, we need to consider the needs and aspirations of our seniors and their caregivers. Let me touch on some known needs and/or aspirations of these groups. The first one being the seniors. I think many of them wish to continue to be active contributors of the society. Some want to be part of the workforce. Others actually require activities to have a regular routine. Some want to be active and positive contributors, for example, being volunteers or fulfilling dreams that they were not able to pursue previously, having no time for it. They want to have a social network that provides mental and physical support, one that encourages communication and channels to seek assistance, and caregiving beyond just their family network. They want to have awareness of their health conditions and being financially capable to seek the necessary medical treatment and with the discipline to follow through. For their caregivers, they hope to have personal awareness leading to better preventive care for themselves and also how best to play the role of being a caregiver and having a larger community network to support caregiving – from volunteers, healthcare options and financial support – and for the support group to provide mutual sharing and learning. One way which I suggest we can help meet these needs and aspirations is to develop integrated social hubs for our seniors at the community level − "integrated" in the sense that we bring many of the social activities into one location, one place that caters to the needs and aspirations of our seniors.[+2 sentences] To help see how this may work in practice, let me describe how a day would be like in an integrated social hub. To begin, we start with the familiar. Site these integrated social hubs at our Community Clubs.[+21 sentences] Why? Presently, many of our Community Clubs are not extensively utilised during the weekdays. At the same time, we face space constraints in accommodating more facilities at the HDB void decks. As the Community Clubs today are much better equipped with facilities and they already serve many functions, we could consider enhancing their functionality and leverage the infrastructure to serve as an integrated social hub. The Community Club becomes an integrated social hub during the weekdays and continues with its usual outreach activities in the nights and on weekends. Various services from the VWOs, like the day-care activities and training, the healthcare partners who manage elderly care centres and the Government agencies with their social service helpdesk will be co-located at this hub. Additionally, the constituency office, together with the social enterprises, can coordinate the resources available within the community and can allocate these resources accordingly for employment, training and for volunteer work. Let me now give a quick introduction to some of these residents who live in this community. Mr and Mrs Salleh, both aged 62. Mr Salleh is a former school teacher who retired about seven years ago and Mrs Salleh is a housewife. They have three children − two sons who are married, while their daughter is single. One of their sons lives within walking distance from them and they Page: 48 have two children who are attending nursery with childcare. Mr Goh, aged 50, is working odd jobs as he has some health issues requiring regular treatment. As he is single, he needs to continue working in order to afford his daily expenses and medical bills. Mdm Lee, aged 76, has five children but none of them lives with her. After her spouse passed away about three years ago, she has been a little depressed and has not left home much until our volunteers engaged her and started bringing her to our Community Club activities. Mrs Soh is a stay-at-home mother who is a caregiver for her two school-going children and also her father-in-law. Her father-in-law is still healthy and very mobile. He is very much interested in music and likes to interact with others during his younger days when he was working as a producer. So, below is an example of what their usual day is like within the community. Mr and Mrs Salleh usually begin their morning by sending their grandchildren to the nursery at the void deck of their HDB block. After this, they will head to the hub to meet Mr Goh as they have been volunteering at the elderly care centre located in the hub. This elderly care centre is managed by the VWO with healthcare professionals, but the difference is that it is widely operated by volunteers made up of residents, many of whom are also seniors living within this estate.[+3 sentences] Like other volunteers, when first inducted to the care centre, the Sallehs are trained by the professionals. They feel that they have personally benefitted, as these ongoing training sessions and practical experiences also help them raise awareness of how to better care for themselves as they age. With education and support from these healthcare professionals and volunteers, Mr Goh has been more disciplined going through and following through with his treatment. The social service helpdesk that is co-located at the hub enables some of the needy residents like Mr Goh to actually seek for advice, understand some of the schemes that are available and also to seek help with applications if required.[+4 sentences] Mdm Lee, who had not been out of her home for a while, is really intrigued by many activities that are happening at the hub. She gets to socialise and learn more about what is taking place in other parts of Singapore and some of our policies through the explanation from the trained staff, our volunteers and also her local advisor. Moving forward, being illiterate and unable to read the papers will not stop her from knowing and learning broadly. But what excites her most is her newfound job, to become a part-time cook and to prepare nutritional food for the children at the nearby childcare centre. Mrs Soh and her father-in-law would consistently be at the hub for half a day to contribute their know-how at the social enterprise that was established by their neighbours. This enterprise provides jobs for those in the community who require flexible work options.[+12 sentences] Through the social enterprise, they also found a network of friends who have strong passion on some causes and continue to set up their own initiatives to support these causes. This, then, is how an integrated social hub for our seniors would work. If properly executed, these hubs will help, first, to raise awareness of this stage of life and will effect a longer-term positive social impact. Let me explain. Most in the middle-age working group today play the role of caregivers and will, in the next two decades, become seniors themselves. Often, in their state of busy-ness, they will conveniently Page: 49 forget or ignore what lies ahead of them as they progress in their life stages. However, it is imperative for them to be aware at an early stage what it entails and be mentally prepared for life as a senior which involves, often times, discomfiting changes on various fronts − ranging from relationships with their families, preventive care and well-being both medically and socially, adaptations at the workplace and social acceptance in retirement. Second, leverage our social capital to maximise resources and strengthen our social fabric. Diversity adds colour to a society, but it is the communal strength that defines us as a community and a nation. We do not, and should not, hope for unity to shine through only when we have difficult times. As Singaporeans, we can and should aim to build solidarity at different levels within the society. This is possible if we aspire to be a part of nation-building and want to define community involvement at all ages and in varying forms. Shortage of labour will persist in our system, like many other developed countries, specifically in this area of caregiving.[+1 sentence] Singapore will compete with other countries, like Japan, Germany and Italy, for external caregiving resources. UN studies have shown that these countries will also have more than 25% of their population aged 65 years and above by 2030.[+9 sentences] Thus, the urgency and need for self-reliance and building resources that cater for the characteristics of our aged as they are strongly influenced by the culture within the country. Third, to help to supplement and provide support at the community level to state-level welfare initiatives. Increasingly, we have seen that it is a social and economic cost to our society when older people are shut out from mainstream life. Loss of income, status and a positive role in community life means a greater likelihood of dependence on the taxpayer. In addition, the failure by society to use the experience of older people results in further costs to our communities. Older people are as heterogeneous as any group in society and reflect the social and cultural mix of any cross-section of the community. Similarly, they have needs and aspirations which differ from their individual circumstances. For some, work has provided a sense of identity and recognition of their contribution to society. A substitute thus must be established in retirement to maintain their individual self-esteem. In summary, through the integrated social hub, we can bring about a reinforced sense of social and human awareness, and inculcate values through intergeneration sharing, thus strengthening our social fabric. This way, we not only maximise resources, infrastructure, people, communication of policies and outreach; it also provides options for localised employment opportunities, promotes active ageing and lifelong learning. As such, it will slow down their health and mental deterioration, leading to healthier lifestyles and providing choices for these seniors to age gracefully.[+1 sentence] The stories mentioned earlier may seem to be a dream to many. But is this a vision we can jointly turn into reality?[+1 sentence] The answer is yes. We can create an integrated social hub within each living community where the residents live, work and socialise. In a true sense, the kampong spirit is revived and this takes on a whole new dimension. I term this new village the "3G Village", one built with care and respect for all ages, as everyone has a meaningful role to play.[+1 sentence] With that, Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion.
Mdm Speaker6 words
[+2 sentences]Mr Chee Hong Tat. Page: 50
The Minister of State for Communications and Information and Health (Mr Chee Hong Tat)3058 words
[+13 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I speak in support of the Motion. Last year, we celebrated Singapore's 50th birthday. This year, we embark on our journey to SG100. Our first 50 years have not been easy. The odds were stacked against us. But our founding fathers and our Pioneer Generation had a "never say die" attitude. They took on whatever challenges they faced with courage and determination. Through hard work and innovation, they overcame many obstacles and brought Singapore to where we are today. Innovation was critical to our success. As a newly independent nation, we faced many difficult issues for the first time. There were no templates and standard operating procedures to follow. We had to chart our own destiny and find new paths as we go along. We started National Service and built up our armed forces to defend ourselves. Against conventional wisdom at that time, we attracted multinational companies and foreign investments to create jobs for Singaporeans. Dr Goh Keng Swee took a calculated risk to transform the swamps in Jurong into Singapore's first industrial estate.[+4 sentences] We also succeeded in many other areas, such as turning Singapore into a Garden City; creating a harmonious multiracial society and allowing many Singaporeans to become home owners through our public housing policies. All these achievements did not happen by chance. They were due to the hard work and innovation of our Pioneers. As we developed, we continued to innovate. Mr Philip Yeo realised the bold vision of joining together smaller islands through land reclamation to form Jurong Island. Mr Tan Gee Paw and his team at the Public Utilities Board (PUB) successfully implemented NeWater and enhanced our water security.[+22 sentences] On the education front, we have created new pathways for our students. I was fortunate to be part of the MOE team working on some of these initiatives, including the establishment of Northlight School and Assumption Pathway School, for students who are less academically-inclined. These innovations in policy and implementation have benefitted Singapore and Singaporeans. Some people claimed that Singapore lacked innovation. And they either attributed this to Singaporeans not being confident enough, or tried to put the blame on our education system, schools and educators. I respectfully disagree. If we had not been innovative, could we have survived after 1965 and become one of the most admired and prosperous cities in the world? Could we have improved our lives and transformed Singapore from Third World to First in one generation? As Mr Lee Kuan Yew said, "This is not administration doing a job. This is entrepreneurship on a political stage, on a national scale." The President has highlighted our key challenges in the coming years and how we must create Singapore's future together. Looking ahead, my worry is that we get trapped in the comfort zones of our current success and we start to lose our appetite to take risks and question the status quo. Will we end up playing it too safe by staying well within existing boundaries? Will we focus too much attention on complying with rules and procedures, instead of the outcomes we want to achieve? It is fine if we just want to cruise along in maintenance mode and make small, incremental improvements. But it is not good enough if we want to deal with difficult challenges and bring Page: 51 Singapore to the next higher level. To do that, we need to embrace the enterprising spirit of our Pioneers and we need to innovate. There are three important things we could do to encourage innovation and enterprise. First, we must face our problems and challenges with a positive attitude. We should view these as opportunities to develop new solutions and discover new breakthroughs. Innovation often involves bringing together ideas from different disciplines and sectors and also from other countries. Existing ideas from adjacent sectors can be applied to new problems to achieve a better outcome. An example is how the Ministry of Health is working with Design Singapore and VWOs to bring together healthcare professionals, architects and community leaders to co-create a senior-friendly living environment at Kampung Admiralty.[+25 sentences] We want to develop infrastructure and solutions that encourage active ageing and intergenerational bonding. By combining ideas from different disciplines, such as healthcare, information technology, design and social behavioural research, we aim to provide better care and greater convenience for seniors in a home and community setting. The learning points from this project can be applied to other estates. This is a priority for Singapore as we need to be ready for an ageing population. Many of our older towns already have a higher proportion of seniors. I see this when I meet my residents during house visits and constituency events in Toa Payoh. Some of my elderly residents are in good health and lead active lives. I met this 100-year-old lady who stays with her family in Toa Payoh North. She exercises regularly and joins her friends for outings and activities. She is more fortunate than some of her neighbours who are non-ambulant and require frequent medical assistance. We need to come up with innovative solutions to provide a conducive living environment for these different groups of seniors, so that they can age well and age in place. Besides improving our quality of life, such innovations also allow our companies to realise commercial value from their products and services. The market is not confined to Singapore. Many other cities have rapidly ageing populations. By innovating and solving our problems, we will develop new ideas and create new value that can be exported overseas to grow our economy and provide good jobs for Singaporeans. Let me share another example from my time at the Energy Market Authority. Contestable consumers today can choose from many electricity retailers. These include independent retailers who offer innovative contracts, such as supply of electricity from renewable sources and energy management solutions like smart meters and demand response. But this was not always the case. Previously, there were no independent retailers in Singapore because we did not have an electricity futures market for independent retailers to manage their risks. Setting up the futures market was a complex and difficult task. Earlier attempts had failed because power generation companies did not want independent retailers to enter the market and compete with their retail subsidiaries. But my colleagues and I did not give up. Together with the Singapore Exchange (SGX), we thought of different ways to overcome the obstacles. And after some initial setbacks and many months of hard work, we succeeded. Today, we have a futures market with three independent retailers – CPvT Energy Asia, Sun Electric Power and Sunseap Energy. I am glad their entry has led to more competitive prices and more choices for consumers.[+1 sentence] This includes my residents in Bishan-Toa Payoh. Independent retailers submitted the most competitive bids in our Town Council's latest Page: 52 bulk tender for electricity supply. This will translate into lower costs for our residents.[+12 sentences] The second thing we could do to promote innovation is to encourage risk-taking and experimentation. We need an environment where people are willing to try new ideas and are not overly afraid of making mistakes. This spirit is a key success factor for British technology company Dyson, whose inventions include the bagless vacuum cleaner and the bladeless fan. Its founder, Mr James Dyson, said their engineers are not afraid of testing and failing, as that is part of getting to the final product. When I was at the MTI, I visited Tan Seng Kee Foods (TSK). This is a family-owned Singaporean SME. It is now run by Mr Raymond Tan and his sister Annie. Their grandfather started the company. TSK manufactures noodles which they sell under the "Kang Kang" brand. These are not just any regular noodles. They are preservative-free, fresh noodles that can be kept for a month without refrigeration, far longer than conventional noodles. So, how did TSK overcome the problem of fresh noodles having a shorter shelf life? With support from SPRING, they conducted R&D and found a simple but effective solution: pasteurisation.[+29 sentences] TSK adapted this process – typically used in dairy products – to extend the shelf life of their noodles without affecting the taste and quality. This makes it more convenient for their customers and allows TSK to export its noodles to overseas markets, opening the door to more business opportunities. Like many who take the innovation route, TSK had to deal with risks, challenges and setbacks. But they were determined to keep trying. And SPRING supported them. They are building on their initial success to experiment with new ideas and products. I am proud of what TSK has achieved and wish Raymond, Annie and their colleagues continued success in their innovation journey. As a society, we must not be intolerant of genuine mistakes and come down too hard on people who try and fail. We should encourage new ideas and accept that some of these ideas will fail. This is part and parcel of learning what works and what does not, so that we can refine our solutions and make them even better. At the individual level, we need people with the gumption to take calculated risks and to push the boundaries when pursuing their passion; Singaporeans with the determination to press on in the face of adversity and the resilience to bounce back when they fail. This enterprising spirit is not only for startups and entrepreneurs, it also applies to other areas, such as how the Government formulates and implements new policies; how we improve our social services; and how we develop strong and caring communities. Mdm Speaker, please allow me to now say a few words in Mandarin on how innovation can help to rejuvenate our neighbourhood shops. (In Mandarin): I believe that there are many people like me who patronise the heartland shops for daily necessities. These heartland shops have become part of our lives and they also contribute to the community by providing job opportunities for residents. In recent years, heartland shops have encountered many challenges, for example, rising costs and manpower shortages and so on. Most of these shops are small businesses which are unable to derive benefits from economies of scale and find it difficult to invest to improve productivity. Page: 53 Moreover, many proprietors of heartland shops are ageing and their children may not be keen to take over the business. I am worried that with this trend, our communities will soon lose their vibrancy and this unique aspect of local culture will be lost. I have discussed with the Federation of Merchants' Association on how to help heartland shops improve productivity and enhance their products and services to attract more customers. In addition, how we can provide opportunities for young people to start their business within the community, to take the first step in becoming their own boss. When I visited my constituency, I noticed that the vicinity near Toa Payoh West Market has attracted some young people to set up shop. One of them is a successful ice-cream shop known as Creamier. This shop was started in 2011 by three Singaporeans in their 30s. Their business is good and they have attracted many customers. They have subsequently expanded their business by opening a cafe named Sunday Folks at Chip Bee Gardens at Holland Village. Recently, during a visit to the National Design Centre, I found out that the handmade ice-cream created and produced by Creamier has won recognition from the centre as a top-class locally created product. This shows that their creativity and design are, indeed, outstanding. Apart from cafes, we can also consider setting aside some heartland retail space to create an entrepreneurial hub, so that startups, entrepreneurs and investors can set up shop in the HDB heartlands. In other words, extend The LaunchPad scheme for startups to the heartlands and bring venture activities to our neighbourhoods.[+6 sentences] In addition, the heartland shops could also consider providing part-time or temporary job opportunities for residents. This would encourage more seniors to continue working and stay active. It would also help some Singaporeans to return to the workforce on a part-time basis. In this way, they will be able to take care of their families and earn some income at the same time. We must be bold in thinking of new ideas. Only with innovation and determination can we achieve the desired outcome for these schemes. All stakeholders, including the Government and businesses, have to try out new ways of doing things. I suggest that the Government appoint a designated agency to take the lead in promoting the development of heartland shops and, at the same time, work with other Ministries and the Federation of Merchants' Association to review relevant rules and regulations.[+1 sentence] When necessary, they should move with the times, improve existing policies and schemes to further support entrepreneurship and small businesses. A few constituencies can be selected to pilot these new ideas.[+11 sentences] (In English): Mdm Speaker, I will now conclude in English. The third thing we need to do to promote innovation is that we must stay connected to the world and be open to different sources of ideas and talent. This includes attracting overseas Singaporeans to return home. They bring useful perspectives and networks from abroad. To be an innovative society, we also need to have a largeness of spirit to welcome and integrate international talent, especially in sectors where we are still growing our local talent pool. Being open to international talent does not mean we dilute the focus on developing Singaporean talent. The two objectives are not mutually exclusive and can, in fact, reinforce each other. Ultimately, what we want is to strengthen Singapore to benefit Singaporeans. Page: 54 When I met our local film producers and designers, they supported keeping Singapore open to international talent, so that our creative industries can remain vibrant and competitive. They also saw value in having young local talent work with these foreign experts, to broaden their perspectives, deepen their skills and build stronger networks that could lead to possible partnerships in future. We have to manage our population growth carefully. At the same time, we must not over-tighten the inflow of immigrants and foreign workers and send the wrong signal that Singapore no longer welcomes talent.[+15 sentences] That will hurt us as it will lead to slower economic growth, fewer jobs and a less vibrant society. I know this is a sensitive topic to raise in a maiden speech. But I believe it is an important issue for Singapore's future, which we need to discuss and find the right balance. Let me tell you why. Earlier this month, there was an article in The Sunday Times by Leo Lewis entitled "Japan's deflated generation". It described how Japan's ageing population, deflation and slow economic growth over two decades have produced a new generation of young Japanese who are afraid of taking risks. They do not dream big but look for small moments of happiness in their current situation. One of them, a fashion school student, said, "I often surprise myself. I am more conservative than my mother. I am more conservative than my grandmother. She lived in a time of war." When I read the article, I asked myself, will Singapore end up like that? Or do we have the vision and courage to innovate and chart a different path? One of our key success factors has been our ability to stay connected to the world and be open to new ideas and talent from abroad. We must preserve these elements if we want to remain an innovative society. The critical thing is that when we open up, we do not lose our identity and we must continue to ensure that Singaporeans remain at the core of everything we do.[+16 sentences] This is not easy to achieve and there will be tensions, but we must find a way to strike a good balance between these objectives. If we simply do what is convenient and choose the path of least resistance, including pandering to populist sentiments or avoiding difficult topics, we are effectively short-changing our future generations. And we will end up like the Japan which Leo Lewis talked about in his article. That is not the future which I want to see for Singapore. That is not the kind of society which I want my children to inherit. The PAP Government believes in facing difficult issues with courage and determination and working closely with Singaporeans to tackle our challenges. The Government does not have all the answers and we cannot do everything on our own. We need to work with partners from the private and people sectors. I see more scope for such collaboration going forward as our challenges become increasingly complex and multifaceted. But it does not mean that we simply step back and do less. Having a reduced role for Government does not necessarily mean other sectors will become more innovative and dynamic. It is not so simple. What we want is to grow the pie for all stakeholders, and for the Government to catalyse and enable stronger collaboration and innovation. This is not a zero-sum game. More importantly, we must have leaders in all sectors who walk the talk and who say what they mean and mean what they say. This is an essential element of trust. And without trust, there cannot be effective leadership. So, when the Workers' Party talks about the importance of transparency and having a Freedom of Information Act, I hope they go beyond talking about these Page: 55 ideas and to put them into practice, including in the running of their Town Council.[+1 sentence] After all, we know that actions speak louder than words. Singaporeans will judge politicians and political parties based on what we do and not just what we say.[+2 sentences] Singaporeans are a pragmatic, resourceful and resilient people. We are the descendants of lion-hearted Pioneers who built this country. If we continue to stay united, work hard and embrace the pioneering spirit of our forefathers, I am confident that we will overcome our challenges and emerge even stronger than before.[+3 sentences] Together, we have come this far and built this place from scratch. Together, we have created a country that we feel proud to call home. And, together, we will build a better Singapore for our future generations.
Mdm Speaker3 words
[+1 sentence]Mr Zainal Sapari.
Mr Zainal Sapari (Pasir Ris-Punggol)1524 words
[+4 sentences]Mdm Speaker, our SG50 journey was characterised by a history of courage, faith, endurance and a sheer will to surmount all obstacles that Singapore faced. I have faith that the Singapore that we wish to see over the next 50 years will happen if the Government continues to take responsible actions with the next 50 years in mind. The President's call "to develop a caring nation" and "renew our economy" resonates strongly with the Labour Movement. It is within the Labour Movement's DNA to care for our workers. Working with our tripartite partners, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has transformed our workers' lives through several forerunner initiatives, such as the Inclusive Growth Programme, Best-Sourcing, and Progressive Wage Model where thousands of workers have benefited through better skills, productivity, career and pay.[+24 sentences] In addition, NTUC has been a strong voice to advocate changes for many groups of workers through all the various initiatives and help given by our support centres, such as U-Care Centre, Migrant Workers' Centre (MWC), U-PME, e2i, U-Family, U-Live and many others. The Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE) is the latest to join this spectrum. Through our Social Enterprises, NTUC has helped Singaporean workers and their families stretch their dollar and made essential goods and services more easily available. These Social Enterprises brought together a platter of opportunities for work, live and play. Moving forward, our Social Enterprises will rethink, redesign and reinvent products and services to cater for the changing life-cycle needs of Singaporeans. Singapore has changed remarkably over the past 50 years and the Labour Movement is presented with new challenges as we continue to grow. The business environment is evolving rapidly. Technological advancement, globalisation of jobs, shorter product cycles and future manufacturing demand that we think out of the box to ensure that the Singaporean workforce can adapt to these changes and our economy remains competitive. Our workers' profiles have changed as well. Workers are now better educated and have greater aspirations. We also see an increasingly older workforce. They are choosing alternate career paths, such as freelance and contract jobs. This re-emphasises the importance of the Labour Movement in reinventing itself, not only to remain relevant and continue to be the strongest voice of workers, Page: 56 but also to be part of Singapore's effort "to develop a caring nation". Mdm Speaker, international reports of the fiscal outlook for 2016 all point to a not-so-rosy climate in the year ahead and the next. We are facing a tight labour market and slowing workforce growth, coupled with structural unemployment and shortage of skilled labour. These are worrying trends that must be addressed as we renew our economy. And in weathering these, my deepest concerns are on the widening income gaps that affect our workers in the lowest percentile of the economic pie. The real income growth could have been worse for this group of workers if not for numerous interventions, such as providing Workfare Income Supplement, introducing mandatory Progressive Wage Models in low-wage sectors, making specific National Wages Council (NWC) recommendations for low-wage workers, and providing training to upgrade and deepen their skills. We must take bolder steps to address the widening income gap and, at the same time, ensure sustainability of our efforts and their outcomes. Mdm Speaker, we either find a way or make one to reduce this widening income gap. I strongly call for more affirmative action to give a hand to our low-wage workers to cushion the oncoming impact. There are several areas that I would like to bring to the House's attention. It was a laudable move in 2012 when NWC made specific recommendations to help low-wage workers. Unfortunately, many workers in non-unionised companies and those working in outsourced industries still had not received the recommended dollar quantum increase. Employers out there view NWC recommendations as merely guidelines. Therefore, I strongly call for legislation on some sections of the recommendations. The dollar quantum wage increments should be made mandatory for employees in the 20th and 30th percentile, in terms of basic salary. Alternatively, the Government could explore making this mandatory in three industries – cleaning, security and landscape − by factoring these as part of the licensing conditions.[+9 sentences] There is another aspect that can bring about better pay packets for our workers. The Government can play a greater role in encouraging their service providers with many low-wage workers to give annual increments (AI) and annual wage supplement (AWS). Government procurement officers can be more worker-centric by being more proactive to look into the welfare accorded to the outsourced workers by their potential service providers. All these moves, with the Government taking the lead, will create a ripple effect, gradually evolving to become an industry norm. The Government has shown strong support for the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) in the three low-wage sectors. Beyond these three sectors, PWM should be introduced to other sectors to better the livelihoods of more low-wage workers. All Government-linked companies must be encouraged to be the catalysts to take the lead in implementing PWM by insisting that all major projects and tendering should incorporate PWM for the workers. We have moved from price-based outsourcing and have been advocating best sourcing over the past decade. The nuances of this mechanism have allowed the stakeholders to take advantage of some loopholes. Eventually, this bad practice has ended up hurting the people who should be most protected – the workers employed on contracts for services. Therefore, we have to venture further into employing a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model as another tool to address our widening income gap, with greater emphasis on the human resource practices of the partners from Page: 57 the private sectors.[+2 sentences] The second big area that I would like to touch on is the President's call to "renew our economy". Renewing our economy will entail restructuring to improve productivity. Productivity improvement is key in maintaining our competitiveness. It is also the major driver of sustainable real wage increases for our workers.[+4 sentences] NTUC and its affiliated unions will give its strong support to companies to adopt technology and innovation in their work processes. Our Government has invested heavily to encourage productivity. Management should leverage on this and spearhead the productivity drive within the company and build a culture that supports innovation at the workplace. Without doubt, the unions and our workers will do our part to support new ways of harnessing technology and innovation and by contributing ideas for improvement at the workplace. As raising productivity requires labour-management cooperation, teamwork and sustained efforts, companies must also adopt a more proactive gain sharing mindset to ensure that workers will benefit from their share of productivity improvements.[+4 sentences] This is to ensure such efforts gain momentum and sustainability in the long run. When companies restructure, it would bring about a need for new skills to facilitate operations. This will demand that both companies and employees invest in continuous training and skills upgrading to ensure that the workforce remains competent and relevant to the changing needs of the industry and resilient at all times. While employers may bring in new employees, this also presents an opportunity to strengthen our fort on the Singaporean Core. This is even more so with the Government's move to reduce reliance on foreign manpower. Hence, it is imperative that our SkillsFuture initiative must achieve the desired outcome.[+5 sentences] There should be no compromises and our SkillsFuture initiative must achieve its key deliverables. Mdm Speaker, please allow me to address in Malay. (In Malay): For the Malay/Muslim community, we must be prepared since Singapore's economy is expected to go through a challenging phase and this will affect many local workers here. Many training opportunities to enhance skills or perform new jobs are made available with the Government's assistance. It is important that these opportunities are used in order to help their employers make the necessary restructuring measures to improve their competitiveness. Currently, the number of Malay workers undergoing training for skills upgrading is still lower than workers from the other communities.[+3 sentences] This can affect the ability of our Malay workers to get good jobs when Singapore's economy undergoes renewal. The Government should also take more aggressive steps to help workers, especially the low-wage workers, to overcome this challenge. NTUC would like the Government to give more focus and attention to low wage workers, since the income gap is becoming wider, compared to other workers. In order for low-wage workers to enjoy better pay increments, I propose that the NWC's recommendation for pay increments for low-wage workers be made compulsory for all employers.[+4 sentences] (In English): Mdm Speaker, the tripartite partners must champion new approaches to improve productivity by reinventing business processes, rethinking creative use of robots and machines and redesign deployment of manpower. We will face failures as we chart forward, but we should not be discouraged because every wrong attempt presents an opportunity to move a step forward more intelligently. The difference Page: 58 between the impossible and possible in SG100 will depend on the determination of every Singaporean to make it happen. With that, I support the Motion to thank the President for his Address.
Mdm Speaker4 words
[+1 sentence]Mrs Foo Mee Har.
Ms Foo Mee Har (West Coast)2055 words
[+7 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the Motion to thank our President for his Address. The 13th Parliament commences at a time when Singapore is entering a new phase of its development. SG50 celebrations helped Singaporeans from all walks of life appreciate how far we have come as a nation, but, as the happy year drew to a close, the new one began on a rather grim note. The President is right to recognise that the journey ahead will not be an easy one as we cope with the challenges posed by a slowing mature economy, an ageing population, greater social diversity and continuing threats of terrorism. Amongst the five key aims that the President has laid out for this term of Government, I would like to focus my speech on how we may renew our economy. It is critically important that we transform our economy to meet the needs of the global marketplace of the next 50 years, for only then can we hope to provide for all that Singaporeans wish for, whether it be good jobs, security, housing, healthcare, transport or welfare for the less privileged. The figures are sobering. Our economy grew at a modest 2.1% last year, the weakest rate of growth since the financial crisis of 2009. Analysts have downgraded their growth forecasts for 2016 from 2.8% to 2.2%. Forty-four percent of companies expect a drop in profit margins.[+12 sentences] The year 2016 has gotten off to a rocky start, with tumbling stock markets, slumping commodity prices and world news dominated by security incidents. The International Monetary Fund rated China at the top of their list of concerns in 2016, and the impact of its reduced rate of growth will continue to reverberate through Asian economies, not least in Singapore, because of our open economy. Sir, whilst we focus our attention on building longer-term competitive advantage, we should also help Singaporeans get there. Help the more vulnerable amongst us to ride out the coming storms. I am particularly concerned about how certain segments, such as the older PMEs, will cope. Once displaced, they often find it hard to rejoin the workforce. Targeted Government interventions can help this group transition to new opportunities. So, I urge the Government to do more to systematically retrain career switchers, to provide mid-career Earn and Learn Programmes to help them secure new jobs. We should explore how IE Singapore can tap the rich experience of older PMEs to help companies expand overseas, especially into emerging markets. Many of these are wizened and street-smart from years of hard knocks. They could represent an invaluable resource for companies trying to internationalise. In fact, mature PMEs, whose children have already grown up, may be raring to find their second wind in foreign lands, flying the flags of both their employer and of Singapore. Page: 59 The Government has announced the setting up of a 30-member Committee for the Future Economy to develop strategies to position Singapore for a vibrant and resilient economy that creates opportunities for all.[+2 sentences] I have some suggestions for the committee to consider. First, despite the efforts of many in the past few years, productivity growth continues to elude us. Our annualised productivity growth of 0.3% over the 2010 to 2014 period fell far short of the target of 2% to 3%.[+14 sentences] We must now be prepared to make drastic changes. It is time to do away with generic Government support schemes that served more as subsidy schemes to help businesses defray fixed and equipment costs, rather than to address their underlying lack of competitiveness. Future schemes should focus on helping firms create new, innovative and differentiated products and services that are truly competitive internationally. Schemes should also be tailored at the sectoral level and streamlined for easy access. Sir, I hope the Government will reflect on our heavy reliance on MNCs to bring technology and expertise. We must also make a concerted effort to invest in indigenous Singapore technology – innovations made in Singapore. In fact, developing globally competitive local firms was already listed as a key objective of the Economic Review Committee recommendation in 1998, yet we are still far from realising this ambition. To achieve this, we need to take bold steps to create an ecosystem that enables targeted growth clusters to proliferate, multiply and develop depth in capabilities that are competitive internationally. There is much we can learn from South Korea on how the Government can enable growth of new clusters and build indigenous capabilities. The Korean government rolled out a comprehensive strategy to build the movie, drama and music industry as a new cluster, after the Asian Financial Crisis. As many K-Pop and soap opera addicts amongst us will attest, this has also promoted the Korean brand internationally. Some of the more significant government initiatives include lowering entry barriers by providing artists access to many movie-making locations, government seed funding and assistance in market development with the Busan International Film Festival and the encouragement for chaebols, the large Korean groups, to enter the entertainment industry in order to provide the investment needed to produce blockbusters. The government also played an active role to foster talent by promoting majors in entertainment, including pop singing, film making and acting, and even setting up top-quality master's degrees, such as the Hanyang Entertainment Master's degree, for the development of management and leadership skills in the entertainment industry. Another innovative government initiative is the setting up of the Korea Technology Finance Corporation (KOTEC), a special purpose financial institution to provide funds to technology-innovative SMEs with weak collateral capabilities, in the form of credit guarantees for new technology. As part of its credit guarantee programme, KOTEC also developed a sophisticated and patented credit rating system to assess technology level and business feasibility, on very different lending criteria than the traditional banks, thereby enabling emerging technology companies to access funding efficiently. It has played a leading role in supporting technology startups with compelling business cases, in the form of billions of dollars in credit guarantees.[+8 sentences] Sir, we must develop our own "next big thing" as a key engine of our economy and not be so dependent on foreign intellectual properties. Sir, companies in Singapore can also benefit from better linkages and collaboration. For example, companies, large and small, can benefit from collaborating with one another when they Page: 60 venture overseas. Large Singapore corporations which have secured overseas projects should be encouraged, perhaps through tax incentives, to bring along a whole collection of smaller Singapore suppliers as part of their expansion internationally. This will help smaller SMEs kick-start their overseas ventures. Companies can also benefit greatly by collaborating in skills development, jointly uplifting talent for their industries. This is the norm in some of the most competitive and innovative economies in the world, such as Switzerland and Sweden. We should explore incentives for companies to come together to set up shared training facilities and to co-develop training programmes. Under the Swedish Higher Vocational Education (HVE), the system basically has a training provider, together with a steering group of employers, to define the industry's demand for manpower and skills over a specific time horizon. And through a competitive bidding system, the Swedish government funds the programmes that most clearly link industry requirements to training provision.[+17 sentences] So, Sweden has elegantly built training demand and employer support into the design of continuing education, and HVE programmes have achieved strong outcomes. I hope a similar approach can be adopted by Singapore industries and supported by the SkillsFuture movement. SkillsFuture is a key initiative to sustain Singapore's competitiveness by raising the quality of our workforce and refresh our value proposition in the global marketplace with new skills and capabilities. I hope the setting up of a new Statutory Board, SkillsFuture Singapore, under MOE, will enable as robust and strong a sector in continuing education as is currently the case with our formative education sector. At this point, I wish to declare my interests as CEO of the Wealth Management Institute and Temasek Management Services Academy, in the interests of transparency. Sir, an important starting point for a robust continuing education sector is knowing what to train for. The Government has announced sectoral manpower strategies to identify medium-term manpower and skills plans for each key sector in order to support industry growth and deepen expertise. But for the sectoral manpower strategies to be successful, we need employers and employees to be fully on board. The skills ladder identified must be owned by the industry, anchoring training efforts. Career and pay prospects must also be commensurate with skill and competency levels. Targeted training solutions should be readily available to enable individuals to advance their career by climbing the skills ladder in their area of interest. I have received feedback that many programmes in the continuing education sector are too generic and not targeted enough. There is an urgent need for training solutions to be aligned to the skills ladder, enabling individuals to achieve mastery and expertise in their jobs. To jump-start the sector, I strongly suggest that SkillsFuture Singapore consider the Swedish HVE model to bring industry and training providers together, in the way I had described earlier in my speech. We have all heard the saying, "What gets measured gets done". We should, therefore, develop a set of metrics to track the outcomes of our lifelong learning initiatives, with clear plans to achieve a certain goal or reach a certain level, within a specified time. Furthermore, we need to leverage SkillsFuture to develop a strong Singaporean Core in the workplace, especially amongst PMEs. Companies with unusually high dependence on foreign EP holders should be required to submit a detailed plan on how they intend to train and develop Singaporeans for those jobs.[+16 sentences] And the success of their EP applications and renewals should be influenced by the extent to which they Page: 61 fulfil their obligations to train and develop locals. Sir, I wish to end with some comments on how we may build a culture of innovation. For innovation to thrive, people must be willing to experiment and explore. But the fear of failure drives Singaporeans to "play safe", rather than "play to win". We must foster a culture that is more tolerant of mistakes, where failure is less stigmatised and missteps are seen as merely learning opportunities. No successful Silicon Valley entrepreneur is ashamed to tell you of his mistakes. Instead, they are proud to tell the tale of how they picked themselves up, dusted themselves off and bounced back from adversity. They are willing to try again because failure is not a "bad word". Beyond the willingness to take risks, most successful entrepreneurs also possess an infectious belief in the cause they pursue. They have a strong sense of purpose and mission in life and will not be easily deterred from chasing their dreams. Many believe they are working for something bigger than themselves. And it is this faith that will lead others to overcome obstacles and drive innovation. Whether it is to find the cure for cancer, to be the biggest star on Youtube, or to save the planet, the dreams of Singaporeans will light the way to our tomorrows. We must nurture this precious spirit and inspire beliefs, arm Singaporeans with the fortitude to deal with adversity and infect them with the hope of success and then set them free to create and build a better life for others. We must teach them what it means to "play to win". Sir, Singapore finds itself, once again, at a crossroads in its journey. The Singapore of SG100 will depend on the deliberations and decisions of our generation. We will have to take roads less travelled, where the paths will not be easy and the obstacles will not be small. But we have never been in better shape to do so than we are today. We stand on the shoulders of giants, bolstered by strong Government and institutions, a sound financial base and a resourceful people. We can draw inspiration from our history of turning local disadvantage into global advantage.[+3 sentences] And come what may, we will always have one another. May this House lead the way, with the clear-eyed determination, courage and wisdom of our forebears. With this, Sir, I support the Motion.
Mr Deputy Speaker3 words
[+1 sentence]Mr Darryl David.
Mr Darryl David (Ang Mo Kio)1867 words
[+25 sentences]Sir, I thank you for the opportunity to speak in support of the Motion of Thanks to the President. I agree with the first line of the President's Address that "SG50 was a defining year for Singaporeans". As we now move into SG51, we are entering a new era. Many citizens whom I have spoken to, feel a sense of excitement and optimism. Yet, this is also tempered with some caution and concern, due to the new challenges that Singapore is facing. Externally, we are dealing with an increasingly borderless world that military strategists would term as volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous, or "VUCA". This VUCA world presents economic, security and environmental challenges to a small country like Singapore. At home, we have a more pluralistic Singaporean society defined by a greater multiplicity of voices, perspectives and opinions on what is best for the country. The new generation of Singaporeans has to deal with education, transport, housing and healthcare landscapes that have evolved, and will continue to evolve, over the next few years. Indeed, we are not so much talking Page: 62 about a "new normal", but a "New Singapore". Sir, I would like to highlight two areas that are important to help navigate this new paradigm that we are facing today. I would first elaborate on how we can develop the next generation of Singaporeans and imbue them with the resilience and the necessary life skills to navigate this increasingly complex global and social landscape. Second, I would like to comment on how we can better strengthen our social fabric and community ties in this pluralistic society, so that we can tap on the collective wisdom of the crowd, while avoiding divisive forces that might segment our nation. Our early leaders and Pioneers lived in a unique era where the exceptional circumstances that surrounded Singapore at that time produced tough and resilient men and women who were mature beyond their years. While it is impossible to replicate the exact same political climate and social settings of that period, I believe that it is important for us to imbue our youths today with the spirit of resilience that kept our Pioneer Generation going when things got tough. I have heard "resilience" being mentioned quite a few times in this august Chamber in the past few days. My "resilience" is defined by the American Psychological Association as "the ability to adapt well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threat or significant sources of stress." Contrary to what many people would think, resilience does not require extraordinary fortitude and strength. In fact, it is a concept that can be taught. Renowned psychologist Dr Martin Seligman created the Penn Resilience Program at the University of Pennsylvania for young adults and children. This highly successful programme has been run in many schools ranging from those in the US suburbs and inner cities, to schools across China. Youths and young adults who had undergone the programme were found to be more optimistic; they were more likely to interpret setbacks as temporary and regard them as learning opportunities; and they were less likely to display depression-like symptoms later in life. In short, they were more resilient than their peers. While training our youths in resilience will prepare them to ride the waves of change and challenges that will undoubtedly come their way, we also need to give them the tools that will allow them to master their own future. That brings me to my next point: creating the "I" shaped graduate. Since the early 2000s, MOE has been advocating a "T"-shaped education where students are equipped with deep subject-matter knowledge and, concurrently, a breadth of other areas of knowledge that would give them the ability to operate across different fields. But we now need a new paradigm of learning. This is the concept of the "I" shaped graduate that some polytechnic colleagues and I have been advocating.[+6 sentences] Allow me, Sir, to speak more on this concept. The horizontal bar at the top of the capital "I" is the breadth of knowledge that is embodied by the same horizontal bar that denotes the T-shaped education mentioned earlier. The vertical bar in the "I" is the depth of subject matter knowledge and technical skills that will help our students master the key competencies of the field of their choosing. Page: 63 What I believe is important and is currently lacking, is the horizontal bar at the bottom of the "I". I believe that the bottom stroke on the "I" should be anchored by life skills. While there is currently no one recognised universal standard of what might constitute a "life skill," Ellen Galinsky, co-founder of the Family and Work Institute in the US, gives us some insight. She highlighted seven essential life skills that she believes could provide a useful framework that will help individuals to continue to grow and learn throughout their life. They are: (a) focus and self-control, (b) perspective taking, (c) communicating, (d) making connections, (e) critical thinking, (f) willingness to take on challenges, and (g) self-directed and engaged learning. The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a programme that is being increasingly adopted by independent and autonomous schools in Singapore in place of the GCE "O" and "A" levels.[+1 sentence] The IB Learner Profile is designed to facilitate 21st century learning and aims to provide the platform for lifelong learning and to give its graduates all the characteristics that are necessary to succeed in a 21st century society. Ultimately, IB aims to provide students with life skills that make them: (a) inquirers, (b) knowledgeable, (c) thinkers, (d) communicators, (e) principled, (f) open-minded, (g) caring, (h) risk-takers, (i) balanced, and (j) reflective.[+2 sentences] These are skills that will allow our youths to not only move across different career stages and pathways, but also allow them to traverse the diverse and sometimes, uncomfortable scenarios that this VUCA world will throw at them. Just as the base stroke of the capital "I‟ is what differentiates it from a "T‟, so, too, will these skills and attitudes strengthen and anchor the character of our youths. As an educator, I was heartened to read about MOE referring to the concept of "holistic education" to develop "life skills from a young age" in its recent Addendum to the President's Address. I would thus strongly urge MOE to examine how we can incorporate such life skills into the pedagogical content and curriculum of our schools as early as possible.[+10 sentences] The aim should be to go beyond broad and general statements in textbooks and to adopt a deep-rooted approach in building these skills into the whole learning experience. In this way, these skills will become second-nature to our youths by the time they reach adulthood. This will help us build a generation of confident Singaporeans who can rise above adversity and grasp their future, and Singapore's future, firmly in their hands. Sir, I would now like to move on to the second portion of my speech on strengthening our social fabric and communal ties in a more pluralistic society. Singapore has always prided itself as a multiracial and multi-religious society where no one is disadvantaged or discriminated against because of the colour of their skin or because of their faith. While we continue to work through various grassroots organisations and committees to ensure that Singapore remains a tolerant society, we also have to acknowledge that the communal mix of Singapore today has changed over the years. Among us are foreigners, Permanent Residents (PRs) and new citizens who have decided to sink their roots into our country, which highlights the social reality that the "New Singapore" is facing today. This reality was acknowledged by the President in his Address when he commented on how we are becoming more diverse, and posed the question as to whether we will "remain a cohesive society, or will our differences pull us apart?" The oft-repeated message that Singapore has its roots as a migrant society and that immigrants need to be introduced in a calibrated manner to augment the low fertility rate is something that has been absorbed into the collective consciousness of Singaporeans. What we need to do, however, is to think about how we can better integrate these PRs and, especially new Page: 64 citizens, into our social fabric. An emerging challenge today is not so much one of integration among ethnic groups, but perhaps one that is between Singaporeans and new citizens.[+7 sentences] At a community event welcoming new citizens last year, I observed that there were quite a few new citizens who had trouble communicating because of their inability to speak basic English. Grassroots leaders have also provided feedback that some of the new citizens tend to not get involved in community activities, because they feel that they are not able to communicate with their fellow residents of different ethnicities. Sir, my esteemed colleague, Mr Seah Kian Peng, earlier talked about how Singlish defines us as Singaporean. To respond to that, I would like to say, "I double confirm, agree, with what my brother says lah". However, I would also like to add that English, specifically standard Singapore English, is possibly the most common language that is used in Singapore. It is the main language of commerce, information and, more critically, of communication across the different ethnic groups. It is, in short, our lingua franca today. As such, it would be useful to explore how we can make it mandatory for potential new citizens to attain a basic level of English language proficiency before they are given Singapore citizenship. Another pre-citizenship requirement could be to consider mandating annual community service hours for the new citizens in their local neighbourhoods or with an NGO of their choice.[+1 sentence] This would allow them to develop a deeper understanding of the wider community and society that they are in. For Singapore to progress as a country, I believe that we need to attract the best talent from around the world and bring in new knowledge and skillsets that are not available locally. However, I would urge the Government to consider introducing language and other assimilation requirements for PRs before they are granted Singapore citizenship.[+8 sentences] These measures would, undoubtedly, help new citizens assimilate and integrate better into our social and community fabric and that, in turn, would allow them to better contribute to Singapore's growth and development. This would also allow all Singaporeans to have what the President referred to as, "a shared understanding of what unites and binds us to one another." Sir, Singapore has achieved much in the last 50 years. On the horizon is a "New Singapore" that faces a set of radically new challenges that are different from what we once encountered. While we will adapt and adjust to meet these new challenges, let us also continue to hold true to our unassailable principles of democracy, meritocracy and equality of ethnicities and religions. This will ensure that Singapore will always be that special and unique place in the world that Singaporeans are proud to call home. Together, we will navigate these uncharted waters with courage and look ahead to SG51 and beyond. On this note, Sir, I support the Motion of Thanks to the President.
Mr Deputy Speaker6 words
[+1 sentence]Senior Minister of State Indranee Rajah.
The Senior Minister of State for Finance and Law (Ms Indranee Rajah)1355 words
[+6 sentences]Mr Deputy Speaker, thank you for allowing me to join the debate. In his speech earlier, Mr Dennis Tan raised a few points which really touched upon the work of the Ministry of Law and I thought it might be helpful if I responded to them. Page: 65 His two main points under the Legal Aid and the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme can be considered under the broad rubric of access to justice. Mr Dennis Tan had called for a review of the $10,000 cap on the means test for legal aid. I thought that I should share what has been done because, sometimes, the perception is that that parameter of the $10,000 cap is too strict. In fact, what we have done over the last couple of years is to expand the coverage, even though the amount of $10,000 has not itself increased. In 2013, we amended the Legal Aid and Advice Act to take into account the current cost of living.[+10 sentences] The net effect of the amendments was to expand the coverage of legal aid to include more vulnerable applicants. To qualify for legal aid, the individual must have an annual disposable income of $10,000 or below, and disposable capital of $10,000 or below. So, it is a double-barrelled test, meaning you have to meet both the income test and the capital test. The thing about the income test is that most people have the impression that when we say $10,000 income, that means your gross income. They think that so long as you earn more than $10,000 per annum, that disqualifies you. What we actually look at is disposable income. So, you look at the gross income, minus off all the things which you can deduct, like the cost-of-living expenses and so on, and you see what remains. What remains is the disposable income, and, if that is $10,000 or less, then you would qualify. So, someone could have a gross income of $30,000, for example, but if after deducting all the items that are permitted to be deducted, your disposable income is, let us say, $9,000, then you would qualify. What we did in 2013 was to increase the deductibles, so that more people would qualify. Prior to the amendments, the coverage of legal aid was about 17% of Singaporeans and PRs. With the expanded means test, it was envisaged that legal aid would cover about 25% of Singaporeans and PRs, which would translate to about 300,000 additional persons who could be potentially covered under the Act.[+7 sentences] This extended coverage does not even take into account the Legal Aid Director's discretion to depart from the general means test in certain circumstances. Just to reiterate the point I made earlier – although we have not increased the $10,000 cap, we have, nevertheless, increased and expanded the coverage of legal aid. I move on now to criminal legal aid. Mr Dennis Tan noted that more people had stepped up for pro bono work and called for others to step up as well. I should say here that we are completely in agreement that more volunteer lawyers and others who are in a position to do so, should step up for pro bono legal work. What I want to do is to highlight what the Government has done in the last couple of years and to indicate that it is also our mission to encourage pro bono work. In May 2015, the Minister for Law Mr K Shanmugam launched the Enhanced Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS). Under the enhanced scheme, what the Government now does is that it provides the bulk of funding, comprising $800,000 for start-up costs and an annual commitment of up to $3.5 million to cover operational costs, honoraria and disbursements.[+8 sentences] This is given to the Law Society. The Law Society is the organisation that runs the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme. The lawyers deal with the Pro Bono Services office of the Law Society. But the funding now comes directly from the Ministry of Law, given to the Law Society. This increased funding enables increased legal aid. The increased funding covers the honoraria, operational costs and disbursements. Page: 66 We should have a look at the contrast before and after the provision of funding. In 2014, there were 1,780 applications for criminal legal aid, out of which only 431 were granted. In contrast, I note that Mr Thio Shen Yi, Senior Counsel, the President of the Law Society, mentioned at the Opening of the Legal Year in 2016 that last year, that is, in 2015, the CLAS lawyers helped 1,300 poor people accused of crime, an increase of 300% from 2014.[+10 sentences] The volunteer lawyers are paid an honorarium. It is not the same as market rate, but that honorarium goes some way towards defraying their legal fees. And the disbursements are covered. In effect, by providing the increased funding, my Ministry is supporting criminal legal aid. I should also say that there is another aspect of access to justice. I talked about legal aid and criminal legal aid. There is another category of cases where it may not actually be necessary to have a lawyer because of the nature of the claim, but you, nevertheless, want to have your dispute resolved. Two very good examples of this are the procedures under the Prevention from Harassment Act and the Community Dispute Resolution Act 2015. Those two Acts were specifically designed to allow individuals to make their claims in person, and not to have to incur legal costs and expenses. If you take these three things that I have mentioned, you can see that, very slowly, what we have done is, we have been boosting and supporting legal aid, we have been boosting and supporting criminal legal aid, and at the same time, increasing access to justice by simplifying procedures and making it easier for individuals to have their disputes resolved. Moving on to another point that Mr Dennis Tan raised, which is access to counsel, the rights of an accused person to legal counsel are set out in Article 9(3) of our Constitution, which states "where a person is arrested, he shall be informed as soon as may be of the grounds of his arrest and shall be allowed to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner of his choice". Our Courts, in interpreting the Constitution, have determined that this right to legal counsel is to be exercised within a reasonable time after arrest and not immediately after arrest.[+2 sentences] What amounts to a reasonable time would, of course, depend on the circumstances of the case. I think it has been explained in this Parliament before that we need to strike a balance between the right of the accused person to consult his legal counsel and the public interest in ensuring that the Police is able to effectively investigate each case. Permitting an accused person to communicate with third parties before the Police can wrap up their investigations may compromise the investigations, especially so in cases where the Prosecution relies primarily on the testimony of witnesses and accused persons to lead them to the crime scenes, accomplices and other corroborative evidence.[+3 sentences] At the end of the day, we have to carefully balance the needs of the accused person on the one hand and the public interest on the other hand, and that means to enable the Police to conduct complete and thorough investigations. Every country must find the right balance that suits its circumstances. Our system is well-established; it has proven effective over the years to help keep Singapore safe and secure and our crime rates low. On criminal discovery, there are provisions in place for criminal discovery and our Courts have set out what these obligations entail. In essence, the Ministry of Law remains committed to the promotion of access to justice and we will work with the other Ministries, including MHA, to ensure that we have the right kind of Page: 67 system that takes into account the rights of the individuals and yet balances that with the needs of society.[+2 sentences] Sir, with that, I support the Motion. Page: 68
[+3 sentences]. (proc text)] [(proc text) 'We, the Parliament of the Republic of Singapore, express our thanks to the President for the Speech which he delivered on behalf of the Government at the Opening of the First Session of this Parliament.'." – . (proc text)]
Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Holland-Bukit Timah)2561 words
[+3 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I am glad that the President spoke about renewing our economy in his address. I would like to voice my support. We owe it to our children to keep the country strong and our economy vibrant so that they can also chase the rainbows and fulfil aspirations. Social well-being for our people can only be enhanced and sustained if we have a growing economy that generates the financial resources to pay for the needed expenditures, which include security which the House talked about last two days, as well as to provide good job opportunities for our citizen workforce.[+2 sentences] That includes the tens of thousands fresh graduates that join the workforce each year. In the last 50 years, we earned our prosperity largely by value adding and we are pretty good at that. Not just because we do it cheaper than others but rather, we were able to create our own competitive advantages. We engineered strong growth in manufacturing and services by way of a whole-of-Government approach – building the necessary infrastructure ahead of demand – ports, airport, industrial spaces – continually developing international linkages and connectivity to facilitate trade and investments, free trade agreements (FTAs), multinational corporations (MNCs) with their international links, instituting pro-business policies, among others, our low tax regime, and ensuring that there are sufficient manpower resources for businesses, both local sourced and foreign sourced.[+1 sentence] This strategy has enabled companies large and small to ride on the global economic cycles and thrive. Continuing this way of growing our economy is still a viable option, particularly in areas of high value adding, and it remains a policy option. However, given the inherent constraints in our capacity, that would mean we have to settle for a much lower growth range going forward and are destined to always compete with the next cheaper player. We will also be at the mercy of the volatile global demand cycles, which tends to impact us more as a small and open economy. So, just adding value and competing on prices has become less of a value proposition for us, especially so as our economy matures and that we are near the limits in terms of manpower growth and land spaces.[+21 sentences] Enter the value creating and innovative economy, a term that we have be hearing a lot in the last few months since the Committee on the Future Economy (CFE) was set up. It is the next logical step, and it is also time that we make bold moves to open up new growth frontiers and expand possibilities. Any restructuring and any major re-positioning of the economy of this magnitude comes with its challenges and risks. There will be disruptions to existing businesses and jobs, and the outcomes are by no means guaranteed. Fortunately for Singapore, we are in a position of strength. Our strong economic fundamentals, our solid financials and the adaptable workforce can help us weather the risks and to tackle the multiple challenges ahead. Our hard-earned political and social stability also give us the scope to think and act in the long-term interest of the country – in contrast with many of our regional competitors who are bogged down with their domestic political impasses or social disharmony. For a small country with unchangeable physical constraints, further advances in digitisation and easier access to the global knowledge pool actually works better for Singapore. With smarter resource optimisation, greater technological adoption and enhanced global linkages, our smallness as a country can be less of a disadvantage. In the future landscape, it may well be the case where the big no longer beats the small. It is the fast that beats the slow and the imaginative that will eat the lunches of the uninspired. But we need to be among the early movers and trendsetters, and to exploit the fast-expanding networked world to our advantage. The key is how we identify the future opportunities and how we could transform ourselves to seize those opportunities. The CFE has that difficult task on their plate. The Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Finance, Trade and Industry looks forward to participating in discussions and engaging the CFE on the various suggestions and recommendations in the months ahead. In this era of fast-paced technological changes and, as a result, shortened obsolescence cycle, it is increasingly very difficult to predict future product trends. We may be none the wiser about what the next "Big Thing" would be – more than ever before. So, building hard infrastructure ahead of demand, something that the Government is very good at, may not be as straightforward in the future world. Hence, the road ahead towards a value creating economy is more about developing soft infrastructures to become an innovative and entrepreneurial society – and thereby be able take advantage on a range of possible scenarios that comes our way. Singapore has been consistently recognised for its business-friendly environment and producing graduates excelling in mathematics and science. We also have among the best legal framework for intellectual property (IP) protection rights in the world as well as the high availability of venture capital and research and development (R&D) funding. These are necessary conditions for a vibrant start-up scene. However, while Singapore ranks high in world rankings in terms innovation inputs, such as infrastructural support and business sophistication, the innovation output has not been as encouraging; and it is mostly in the area of wholesale trade and financial services.[+7 sentences] Indeed, it was not the lack of support schemes for the businesses or the regulatory frameworks being less or not innovation-friendly enough, that is the impediment. The smart and hardworking officers of the various economic agencies are always on top of this and will continue to add new schemes, finesse existing schemes as well as to keep up with the best practices around the world. I think we only need to look at the SPRING Singapore website to see the range of schemes available to help the start-ups. I am sure the CFE will further add more new ideas and new approaches in developing innovative capabilities for companies and to expand our market linkages. We can debate that at a later date, while the new approaches that we should explore. But what I think we need do more, and what we are talking more about today, is the human dimension of innovation and entrepreneurship. The human factor is the spirit and purpose of innovation. Successful innovation rests on the foundation of education, skills and, more importantly, the passion and risk attitudes of individuals. I echo calls by many Members in this House for the Ministry of Education (MOE) to do more to diffuse the high stress and high stakes situation of our education system, from the primary school to tertiary level.[+2 sentences] In the economy of the future, having good subject-based knowledge is important but not good enough on its own. We need to foster critical and creative thinking as well as develop behavioural and social skills. Our education system cannot be narrowly focused on examination-based academic performance.[+4 sentences] It just stresses out everyone – the students, parents and teachers and even the Members of Parliament, when the parents come to see us to appeal for the scores and to get into the schools. So, it stresses out everybody with very little gain in return besides generating the national examinations scores to help us do the school postings. Instead, it risks producing an education system that dampens the innovative and entrepreneur spirit. Students may score well in exams for those subjects, but they may have little passion or interest in that subject matter, which some recent international studies have shown. So, we need to distinguish the truth from the facts. Also, schools should avoid crowding out less easily assessed curriculum such arts, sports and aesthetic subjects as these activities stimulate a wide range of social, thinking and behavioural skills. Rather, the weightage of these subjects should be increased so that learning in school can be fun and can be enriching. So, when I heard that in some schools, co-curricular activities (CCA) were stopped for students in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) year or the "O" Level year, just so that the students can focus on their major examinations, it disturbed me quite a fair bit.[+16 sentences] How does stopping CCA during the PSLE year or O-level year help in developing the students that we want? It is just going to increase the tension and add more stress. We need to develop students to be self-assured, confident and, for that matter, to be able to multi-task. I agree with Minister Ong Ye Kung that we should not be too obsessed with numbers. Often, when I attend schools' annual award ceremonies, the Principal's speech and presentations sometimes really sound like a shareholder's Annual General Meeting (AGM). There will be a lot of performance indicators being shown. So, I do not think numbers are that important. The speech should be about motivating the students and motivating the parents as well. I do believe that there exists a distribution of strengths and abilities for each cohort of students. There will be some who may appear to do less well in a whole bell curve, but who, nevertheless, have the inclination to think out-of-the-box, and are perhaps less "conventional" than others in their learning attitude. Perhaps, they have more of the "maverick-like" thinking. These are the people who may have street savviness to be entrepreneurial and to venture into uncharted waters. These may those who may not do well in schools, very much like Jack Ma, Steve Jobs or George Quek of "BreadTalk". In the early years, they tend to daydream a lot – I agree with Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam that some of it is good. In fact, we should not dampen their natural curiosity, especially during their early formative years. Help them, open up to them and give them second chances and if not, third chances even if they have not done well academically in their early years. Keep them in the system so that they can learn on and gain knowledge. I am glad that the two Ministers at MOE have reiterated in their Ministry's Addendum that MOE will reduce the over-emphasis on academic results and make learning more enjoyable.[+15 sentences] And that the learning institutions will help Singaporeans discover their strengths and interests and thereby cultivate passions and fulfil aspirations. I have lifted this from the Addendum. I am sure this is music to our ears. These are all necessary moves to become an innovative and entrepreneurial society. We must not just say it or signal it, but also do it in every sense and every aspect. Another human aspect that is essential for a flourishing innovative and entrepreneurial scene is the existence of lively communities of innovators and the related stakeholders. These are very much informal social structures that may involve the university alumni support groups, networks of overseas Singaporeans, mentors or serial entrepreneurs, among others, to create buzz, facilitate sharing and mentoring, and also to foster collaborations and partnerships. We need to place-make of some sort to get the entrepreneurs and innovators to come together to participate in lively forums and to leverage on the value of interdependencies. Universities and polytechnics are among the suitable convenors for such social groups and should be encouraged to initiate such communities to form. Mdm Speaker, the third human factor I would like to touch on is life-long learning. Continual learning and seeking new knowledge are the best response to the rapidly changing technological landscape and also equally fast changing business models. We must keep up and not be on the wrong part of the skills mismatch curve as the landscape changes. Coupled with the emergence of the so-called "gig economy" – something that Mr Ang Hin Kee has talked about with the freelancers – the concept of full-time employment or permanent employment may well be under threat. We have already seen how Uber has disrupted the traditional taxi business and the livelihood of taxi drivers, or how waves of digitisations by fintech companies are threatening traditional bank financing and bank intermediation. We are not alone in this challenge. A recent study in the United States (US) estimated that 47% of the total US employment is at risk of being computerised or digitised.[+1 sentence] Hence, we have to make learning continual, whether it is by seeking new knowledge or learning new skills a way of life and actually enjoy and be motivated by it. SkillsFuture could be the mindset game changer and especially with the SkillsFuture's credit of $500 that will certainly help ease the costs barriers. What I like about SkillsFuture is that it enables individuals to take ownership of their own learning journey and hopefully inculcate the attitude to always seek new knowledge and to improve skills as part of their lifestyle routine. However, we should also be mindful about whether the training and courses under SkillsFuture would have sufficient depth and focus and whether it would help improve individual employability and skills mastery.[+9 sentences] Also, continuous learning should be made more accessible to all in ITEs, polytechnics and universities. There should be no age barrier. There should be no paper barrier. We can calibrate the right fee structure, but we should make it accessible to all. We should also ensure that it will not be at the expense of places set aside for each cohort of new undergraduates. Over time, we need to blur the lines between learning in schools and training during employment, and it should be a continuous journey. Mdm Speaker, for entrepreneurship and innovative culture to permeate across the society, we need individuals who are willing to try and willing to explore to step out of their comfort zones. Going forward, we literally have to think like a start-up in the way we respond to opportunities. It is not just the businesses and individuals but the entire ecosystem including the educational institutions, social stakeholders, business associations and, crucially, the Government and regulators. Our laws, our rules as well as our Instruction Manuals (IMs) in the Government are written quite some time ago and may need to be updated to cater for a more entrepreneurial society.[+3 sentences] Mdm Speaker, to conclude, as we venture into the value-creating world and to become an innovative economy, we have to remain open to all talents and ideas. That is very much part of the interdependencies needed for the ecosystem to flourish. Having a diverse range of talents will strengthen our position as an innovation hub. By all means, manage and calibrate our overall foreign manpower supply in accordance to our physical and social constraints like what many international centres, such as New York and London, have done.[+5 sentences] But we must remain open and not be averse to an innovator or entrepreneur from a foreign land coming here to innovate and venture. It is all a necessary part of the buzz and vibrancy. Staying open and staying plugged to the global network has strengthened our position as a key economic hub in the past. We need to continue to stay open, to stay connected and to stay open to changes, and that way, we will give our local entrepreneurs and local innovators access to more opportunities, and it enhances our chances of succeeding as a value creating economy. Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion.
Mr Png Eng Huat (Hougang)1664 words
[+11 sentences]Mdm Speaker, the President ended his Address two Fridays ago with a call for Singaporeans to write the next chapter of our future together. The next chapter, in the words of President Tony Tan, will "see Singapore progress as an exceptional nation with a thriving economy and a caring an inclusive society". It is apt that the President has called on Singaporeans to renew our pledge at the half-century mark of our nationhood to build a better Singapore as one people, regardless of race, language or religion. But our pledge goes beyond calling on Singaporeans to merely unite as one people to build a better Singapore. The frameworks of our pledge support good politics and espouse the values of justice and equality to be the foundation of our democracy so that our people as a nation can achieve happiness, prosperity and progress. Although the President did not talk about justice and equality when he spoke on good politics, these values are non-negotiable if we want to get our politics right in the next chapter. The President has reminded us that as Members of Parliament, we all have a responsibility to do our best for our people, regardless of our party affiliation. About 18 months into my first term as Member of Parliament for Hougang, a resident asked me if his child would be given the Edusave Bursary, will the child receive the award from me? I believe all of you know the answer so I will dispense with that. Nevertheless, I thank the President for the reminder, and I can assure the President that the Workers' Party (WP) will do its best for the people while we wait with bated breath the impending improvement to our political system, as mentioned in his Address. Mdm Speaker, the President talked about the need to keep our nation safe and secure right at the beginning of his speech for good reason. The ASEAN region has taken a dangerous turn with the terrorist attacks in Bangkok in 2015 and in Jakarta a fortnight ago. ISIS has successfully taken its terror and fight right to our doorstep.[+2 sentences] Our way of life as we know and enjoy is now under threat. These are indeed dangerous and uncertain times we are living in. A terrorist attack in Singapore is no longer a remote possibility.[+1 sentence] Thus, I fully support the President's call for Singaporeans to remain steadfast and united under these trying times, when misguided extremists are trying to tear this world apart through violence and fear. While it is reassuring that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will strengthen our border security and tap into technology to help fight criminals and terrorist threats, it is my hope that this Government will also put effort in countering the spread of radical ideologies online.[+23 sentences] The war on terrorism at our homefront is psychological as well. We cannot influence the people beyond our shores, but we can surely remind our own to value and preserve the peace and harmony we have here. The walk with terrorism probably begins with some form of self-radicalisation, and such activities are impossible to prevent and they usually go under the radar. Self-radicalised individuals will probably pose one of the biggest threats to our security and the preservation of our social fabric. Madam, Singapore has a lot to show the world on what it means to live in racial and religious harmony. Our cultural and religious diversity is a testament to that. Our work at achieving our unique interfaith, interracial and intersectoral harmony should be told to each successive generation to counter those dangerous and destructive ideologies propagated by radicals with misguided and violent intent. I share Senior Minister of State Ong Ye Kung's observation that it is a sight to behold to see religious symbols of different faiths side by side and opposite each other in our HDB estates. But behind the cold existence of these religious artefacts lie a whole lot of effort in exercising tolerance, consideration and good neighbourliness. These stories must be passed down from generation to generation in all forms and means. We have to start young to sow the seeds of religious and racial tolerance in our classrooms, and hope for the best that our children will be able to discern dangerous ideologies online and reject them outright. We all have a part to play in this – this Ministry, the schools and most important of all, the parents – to make Singapore safe and secure. Finally, the next chapter in education is critical because it is going to churn out the talents and the workforce that will take Singapore to SG100 and beyond. Madam, education is one of the key building blocks of Singapore. The Government has made many changes to our education system over the years, in search of a balanced approach to prep our young for a world that is constantly evolving. The change the educator intends to make in the next chapter must stand the test of time because lives are at stake. It must result in fostering a generation of thinking, self-motivated and innovative, and confident students. We have to invest heavily in our human capital because it is our only hope at becoming an exceptional nation. The Prime Minister has shared that his biggest achievement as Head of Government was the emphasis he had placed on education when he first assumed office. In his first National Day Rally, the Prime Minister talked briefly about the "Teach Less, Learn More" concept of getting the maximum benefit out of educating our students through quality teaching. The "Teach Less, Learn More" model has found its way into schools in the past decade. Can our educators say for sure that this model really works because our students continue to do well in high-stake examinations, despite being taught less in school? Has the shift to focus on quality teaching instead of quantity teaching resulted in better desired outcomes of education? Or has it merely shifted more of the learning from the classroom to the private tutors? I am sure MOE would like to know the effectiveness of the "Teach Less, Learn More" model, but without a corresponding study into the tuition culture here, nothing can be conclusive. I do urge MOE to commission a study into the tuition culture because it will help our educators to formulate better policy decisions in the next chapter.[+2 sentences] Moving away from basic education, how far are we prepared to inspire our young to shoot for the stars in the pursuit of their interests at the tertiary level? Is the Government pull out all the stops to attract a Nobel Laureate to take up a research or teaching chair at one of the local universities so that the Laureate can inspire a student to dream big? We need role models in life to inspire ourselves to greater heights. This Government has gone to great lengths to pursue an Olympic medal using foreign talents in the hope that the move will bring glory to the nation and the imported Olympians could be role models for our young athletes.[+7 sentences] In the next chapter, it is my hope that Singapore will produce a Nobel Laureate of our own. Almost 900 Nobel Laureates have been recognised since 1901. Countries such as Azerbaijan, Cypress, Algeria, Guatemala, St Lucia, and Madagascar, to name a few, have all produced a Laureate or two each. Is this Government prepared likewise with the same vigour in our human capital outside of sports? A Nobel Laureate is recognised by his or her own country of birth, so we cannot engineer that by import. Mdm Speaker, in the next chapter in education, I do hope to see a deeper engagement between our institutes of higher learning and local small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and government-linked corporations (GLCs) in the area of R&D. Many American universities were intricately involved in the US Space programme from Project Mercury to Project Apollo and to the Space Shuttle programme. The benefits that such deep collaboration brings to the schools, the students and the community at large are immeasurable. I am heartened to read in the papers that six students from Singapore polytechnics have had their invention patented by Boeing and their names listed as co-inventors of the patent recently.[+10 sentences] Such news is inspiring. I wish our young inventors well and hope that their inventions will go into commercial production someday. The R&D Framework under the National Research Foundation cuts across many Ministries. I am unable to determine who gets the lion share of the R&D budget, but I do hope that our Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) will be given ample opportunities to nurture our young Singaporeans into exceptional scientists and inventors if the future. In conclusion, I agree with the President that the political system here needs to be refreshed. We all want a clean, effective and accountable Government, but not at the expense of less democracy, justice and equality. I am also quietly confident that Singaporeans of all faiths will stand united to reject terrorism and attempts by misguided extremists to sow seeds of discord among the diverse and peace-loving people of Singapore. And finally, Madam, we all know education is not all about classroom and examination. It is a never-ending journey. The Chinese has a saying “活到老，学到老”. The SkillsFuture initiative announced last year is certainly a step in the right direction.[+1 sentence] However, the values we impart to our young must stand the test of time. Each successive cohort that leaves our classroom must be resilient and, most important of all, must have a sense of belonging, without which we can never have an exceptional nation. I certainly believe that when we get our education right, we will get our security right, we will get our economy right, we will also get our society right, we will get our living environment right and most important of all, we will get our nation building right.[+1 sentence] We will be an exceptional nation.
Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng (Jalan Besar)2355 words
[+5 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion of Thanks for the President's Address. I fully agree with the five key priorities of the Government as outlined by the President. The devil, of course, is in the details. Madam, the world confronting us and those who come after us will be different. Our society is ageing rapidly. Every job task that can be replicated can be replaced by a machine.[+1 sentence] Citizens who cannot add value enough are at risk of being left behind. Income gaps widen between those whose skills are in demand and those who cannot catch up.[+41 sentences] In the words of Albert Einstein, "The significant problems we face today cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when the problems were first created." Madam, let me first share a simple poem that shows the different levels that we can view and address the challenges we face in life. This poem by a Ms Portia Nelson is entitled "Autobiography in 5 Short Chapters". Chapter I I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost ... I am helpless. Is it my fault? It takes me forever to find a way out. Chapter II I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don't see it. I fall in again. I can't believe I am in the same place. But it isn't my fault. It still takes a long time to get out. Chapter III I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in ... it's a habit. My eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately. Chapter IV I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it. Chapter V I walk down another street. Madam, the new world is full of deep holes. Sometimes, we patch up the holes. Often, when it involves entrenched mindsets and structures, it will take more than patching up or just walking around them. We may have to walk down another street or make U-turns. Let me share some observations and suggestions on two areas that I think will require more than patching. First, in the space of Learning; next, in Caring and Doing. On Learning – the future of learning will be far from the teacher-directed, traditional classroom settings we are used to. In the future, learning can take place anytime, anywhere; not constrained by time or the physical dimensions of a school. We can choose from a quiver of tools, devices and learning solutions that can be face-to-face, online or blended. If SkillsFuture were to succeed, then learners will come in all ages with all backgrounds. They will have to be self-driven lifelong learners – a habit that is not yet pervasive today. Many positive changes have taken place in the education landscape in Singapore in the last decades – learning support; online learning resources; special education; teacher recruitment and compensation; and, most recently, to me, a brilliant move of having MOE actively take on the SkillsFuture portfolio in Continual Education and Training (CET) for adult learners. As a GPC member for Education for the last 10 years, I have met many authentic, diligent and professional educators who want the best for our young. However, Madam, our education system is one that is pimpled by three unhealthy "P"s: one, a pre-occupation with academic scores; two, parentocracy; and three, physical segregation of our students.[+3 sentences] One, on our pre-occupation. Our pre-occupation with academic scores is an outcome of years of conditioning, a choice borne out of a perceived lack of other better avenues of social mobility. Academic rigour is a good thing, but it becomes an impairment when even academically stronger students start seeking extra help through tuition. It is an impairment when the posting criteria to popular schools is based on cut-off points of high-stake examinations at the age of 12. It is an impairment when teachers teach to test, and parents feed the $1-bilion tuition industry in order to ace examinations and increase one's options.[+7 sentences] It is hard to cultivate or inculcate a love for learning when all that matters to the majority is the score from a series of high-stake examinations. When the curiosity and love for learning is snuffed out when one is young, it will be hard to re-ignite it after one's formal school years when he leaves the school gate. On parentocracy. The second unhealthy "P" of our education landscape is parentocracy. It is commonly described as a phenomenon in which a child's education is shaped according to the wishes and opportunities that can be afforded by his parents. As the stakes of academic scores become higher, parentocracy will further rear its ugly head. Parentocracy restricts social mobility and can unfairly deprive those with lesser resources and networks, undermining the development of their potential. In the case of the Direct School Admissions (DSA) programme, for example, it is an open secret that children from more affluent backgrounds stand a higher chance of benefitting from it since they could be nurtured from young in the arts or even sports.[+18 sentences] In the case of overseas exchange programmes or internships, the more affluent parents will be better able to put their children through. We need to level the playing field as much as possible. The third "P", physical segregation of our young during their school years especially. Madam, we have acquired the habit of feeding the sacred cow practice of physically segregating students into different geographic settings whenever they are assessed to be different, or they learn differently. We tend to promote a system where those who excel in the academics are placed in the top academic schools, those who excel in arts in School for the Arts (SOTA); those good at sports to the Singapore Sports School, and so on – a very efficient system that sorts and places our students in geographically different location, meeting occasionally at school-driven projects or events. But, Madam, one of the most effective ways of keeping our country safe, secure and empathic is to forge relationships of acceptance and trust among citizens of different abilities, faiths, and socioeconomic status, during one's growing-up years, in natural settings. Trust and empathy cannot be built deeply when Singaporeans are physically segregated from young. Madam, this is a sacred cow that ought to be examined closely and slaughtered if need be. Suggestions on Learning. I would like to make four suggestions today, to address the unhealthy three "P"s − a pre-occupation with academic scores for high-stake examinations, the risk of parentocracy and physical segregation. At times, it would take walking another path or making a U-turn, when tweaking and patching will not work. Suggestion one is to create an open architecture and invest in e-learning developers and curators to accelerate the sharing of best learning materials including lectures and self-driven learning modules. This is especially urgent across some 400 primary, secondary and special schools in order to level the playing field and empower more teachers, students and families. Invest at the national level for learning management systems like Canvas or the like. Make templates on these platforms available for easy development and sharing. Reward those who share materials and pedagogy of good standard, lesson plans as well. Create 21st century jobs of Curators and Coaches who can help sieve through the submissions and advise on usage. Take reference from the smartphone apps platform where both developers and users can interact actively and put the power of learning content development into the hands of those beyond the Ministry as well. Suggestion two is to remove the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) without compromising academic rigour and pilot a 10-year through-train school model.[+1 sentence] This is not the first time that I and other Members of the House have raised this. Seriously, walk another path − remove one high-stake examination, the PSLE![+5 sentences] Even educators, I understand, call for this. At the age of 12, it is too early to sort. Tweaking the assessment grading system will not remove the deeply entrenched mindsets of chasing the scores. The problem is unlikely to disappear even if we replace PSLE T-scores with Banding – students will start scoring four "A"s, five "A"s and so forth. We are back to square one. Suggestion three is to re-dream and slay the sacred cow of physically segregating people who learn differently.[+2 sentences] Re-think the concept of the School of the Arts, the Singapore Sports School, Normal (Technical) schools, the Special Assistance Plans (SAP) schools, and the Special schools. Think programmes, yes, even programmes for the gifted, and make these programmes available across more physical school campuses – so that students of different abilities and talents can grow up together under one roof. Suggestion four is to pilot inclusive education villages across Singapore to house students of different abilities and backgrounds.[+10 sentences] There is no better way to learn inclusion except to play, eat, interact and learn with others who are unlike yourself. Let those who are academically stronger learn via subject-banded classes, but design school campuses that allow diversity and vibrant social interactions for all groups. Better still, make full use of these Education Villages to allow SkillsFuture learnings for adults to take place there too. There is no better time to consider taking another path in this aspect especially when enrolments are falling, and some physical capacity can be found. Next, on Caring and Doing. Madam, there will be those who are at risk of being left behind in the new economy we are heading towards. I am most concerned with the elderly, especially those who are lower skilled and those with special needs and disabilities. Building a caring society is an aspiration expressed not only in the President's Address; it is the desire of many Singaporeans who participated in the "Our Singapore Conversations" led by Minister Heng Swee Keat. The Government has made some excellent moves in ensuring the essentials of healthcare, housing and transport for the vulnerable amongst us. It is time for us to consider taking bolder steps to entrench this value of Care into our system. Can the Government exercise the moral authority to commit schools and corporations, including Government agencies to adopt, on a regular and longer-term basis, vulnerable groups, especially the low-skilled elderly and those with special needs and/or disabilities?[+16 sentences] Do we have the courage to legislate the protection of their rights and welfare into our way of life? We should. The women have the Women's Charter; abandoned parents have the Maintenance of Parents Act; those who are mentally incapacitated have the Mental Capacity Act; even the animals have the Animals and Birds Act to protect their welfare. We should do the same for the education, employment and care support for the elderly and the disabled. Should we aim for a way by which Civil Society and the Government can work more collaboratively to achieve their mission and shared values? We should. In this matter, I beg to differ from the WP's desire to have the Government out of the way as much as possible. At times, getting the Government out of the way may not work when it is in the interest of the target community or the cause to have more of Government engagement and involvement. Two experiences come to mind. One is my journey as an advocate for the special needs community and the second, that of Member of Parliament Mr Louis Ng, an animal rights advocate. We were both not Members of this House when we first began our work in the two causes. Separately, we decided at some stage, that the confrontational "name and shame" way of advocacy could only go that far. We learnt that if we truly have the interest of the communities we care for at heart, then we need to be part of the solution, to persuade, to coax, to explain and dirty our hands, where necessary, and to engage those, including the Government, who can help us as partners. We do not all need to end up as parliamentarians, but we can lead, sponsor and/or run initiatives that can advance those whom we care for. Sweep and clean up the school compound or the animal habitat, if necessary. We learnt that we need to move beyond criticising, and initiate or join others and get involved in Care Projects ourselves. That is the purpose of the next series of citizen engagement in the form of the SG50 discussions, and the mission of agencies such as the Community Development Councils (CDCs). There is still much more to be done for the vulnerable in our midst, but they will not get any better unless we collaborate with, instead of simply naming and shaming or pushing away, those who could make a difference with us.[+2 sentences] In conclusion, Madam, I believe the "Future of Us" is only as strong as our humility and boldness in taking another path or making the U-turn when we confront the deep holes or even craters in our pathways. The "Future of Us" is only as strong as our determination to stick our necks out for what we instinctively know is right and humane. The "Future of Us" is only as strong as our willingness to be part of the solution and dirty our hands if we need to, and our ability to genuinely collaborate – giving credit when credit is due; refraining from naming, shaming and posturing to score points for oneself or for one's political party. Someone once said in a political satire that politicians will lose votes when they advocate something controversial, but they will lose an election if they choose to be too bold or courageous. But for the deep holes that confront our nation, I urge us all to be bold and walk another path if need be; for not doing so, may not only cost us an election but cost us our beloved country.[+1 sentence] Madam, I support the Motion. .
The Senior Minister of State for Health and the Environment and Water Resources (Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan)2810 words
[+4 sentences]Mdm Speaker, the President highlighted that one of the challenges we face is a rapidly ageing population. By any definition – statutory, scientific, common sense – I am or will soon be in the "aged" category. That I suppose qualifies me to speak on this subject. This is not a new subject, but one that has exercised the minds and skills of policymakers for many years now. We need to plan far ahead to adequately meet this challenge. Hence, the Ministerial Committee on Ageing announced last year an Action Plan for Successful Ageing. It is a collaborative effort among Government agencies, Voluntary Welfare and Non-profit organisations, business and community organisations as well as union leaders, and reflects the aspirations and ideas of more than 4,000 Singaporeans from all walks of life who were widely consulted over a period of close to one year. The Action Plan offers more than 60 initiatives in 12 areas such as health and wellness, employment, volunteerism and retirement adequacy.[+1 sentence] And we welcome ground up innovative ideas including those suggested by Members Miss Cheryl Chan and Ms Joan Pereira yesterday. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has plans to co-locate Senior Care Centres (SCCs) at Community Clubs and town hubs such as at the Bedok Integrated Complex. The first such SCC, co-located with Ci Yuan Community Club, will be welcoming its first clients in the coming months.[+37 sentences] The SCC will also provide home care services to surrounding residents. We are also planning for Active Ageing hubs in new HDB developments with both aged care and active ageing programmes together. We hope to work with more grassroots organisations to develop a range of active ageing and aged care programmes, using existing CCs and Residents’ Committees (RCs) as platforms. Let me clarify, just in case they are misconstrued or misrepresented. SCCs, nursing homes, and other forms of long-term care facilities would be provided in places where we assessed that there are needs from the residents. Just like Edusave awards which are awarded based on eligibility criteria, they will be awarded to students who qualify regardless of which constituency they stay in. I think these are very fair and objective assessments based on needs and merits. Indeed, we should not be consumed by what we see on one side of the coin – the fear of a silver tsunami, with all of its attendant problems. If we do, we are shortchanging ourselves. The other side of the coin is longevity, with the immense opportunities for Singapore and Singaporeans that come with a population living longer. I would urge all Singaporeans to be bold and positive about our ageing population, and not just look at the challenges this brings. Just as we have turned our water insecurity into path-breaking water technology solutions highly sought after even by other countries, we need to reframe our ageing problem as a platform for us to innovate and create new opportunities. We need a new "philosophy of ageing" to guide our national narrative on ageing at the individual, community and national levels. So, how can ageing be re-framed? For individuals, ageing can be a positive force. Longer life spans could open up new life choices, new learning, new careers and new experiences. To allow this to happen, we will need to provide the platform for seniors to keep their minds active and their spirits fulfilled by working for as long as feasible and providing them with opportunities to learn new skills and develop new interests. For the community, ageing can become a powerful, unifying cause that rallies residents, students, community organisations, and grassroots organisations to create new programmes and develop new social networks to embrace our senior population as active and participating members of an inclusive Singapore society. One aspect of this is promoting senior volunteerism. We can help them start the journey by matching volunteering opportunities to seniors with the appropriate backgrounds, and by providing the necessary tools to equip them to function more effectively as volunteers. This will be the proof of concept for an inter-generational volunteer movement to help and be helped by seniors in our community. At the national level, ageing can be an opportunity for businesses to create new products and services to tap the silver market, in the same way that millennials constitute a distinct market segment for smart phones, tablets, social media marketing and the like. Whether it is gym facilities for those over 65 only or anti-ageing products – if you swear by them – or holiday packages for retirees, the opportunities are limited only by our imagination. Likewise, rather than fret over a declining workforce, or dependency ratios in some cases, we should instead seek to harness the productive and creative energies of more mature workers, many of whom bring a steady hand to help and guide the younger ones. Beyond the mere economics of a longer stream of income, productive work has many benefits such as bestowing on the elderly a sense of fulfilment and keeping their minds alert. Mdm Speaker, population ageing will be a part of the Future of Us. Minister Heng's Committee on the Future Economy (CFE) will also need to blend in the demographic inevitability of an ageing population into its deliberations and recommendations. Our seniors should not be taken out of the equation in the future of our economy. Based on our current demographic trends, they are part of the future of our economy. So, instead of being overwhelmed by the prospect of a silver tsunami, let us ride on longevity to create a distinctive Nation for All Ages. However, this is a future that can only be created by all of us working together as partners – Government, Community, Businesses, Grassroots organisations and individuals. And this is my three-fold appeal. I appeal first to families. We must have strong families that provide emotional support and are willing to love and care for older members. Some frail and older people can be forgetful and walk very slowly. They can become quite grouchy and difficult to get along, like Carl Fredrickson, the elderly widower in the 2013 Disney Pixar movie "Up". But they are still family members with whom we have long ties of kinship and bonds of love. Though still a minority, it is painful to read about cases of cheating, abuse or even neglect of elderly parents. It was recently reported that social workers are seeing more senior citizens who have been cheated or financially abused by their children.[+1 sentence] I myself have also recently seen a few such instances of financial abuse at my Meet-the-People Sessions. In one tragic case, an elderly parent was convinced to sell her home to live with her son who purchased another house with her money, only to be asked to find a home of her own when the relationship with the son's family turned sour.[+9 sentences] While we strengthen legislation to protect the vulnerable elderly, what is key is that every Singaporean parent must help to inculcate the right values of filial piety and care for our seniors in their own children. Our young Singaporeans should not only learn about such values in schools. Most importantly, they need to see how their own parents live out these values in caring for and loving their grandparents, in word and deed. They will do the same when it is their turn to look after their parents. Secondly, I appeal to businesses. Businesses can unlock productivity and innovation in longevity for their own companies and for our economy as a whole. But they can only do so if they see older workers as assets, and if they can create ageless workplaces to enable older workers not only to continue to work but also to thrive in their jobs. Take, for example, Virtual HR. This human resource solutions specialist has tailor-made its working and remuneration arrangements to enable older workers to take on payroll processing and other jobs in the company. As a result, it has seen mature workers in the company bring in more revenue per dollar of salary than some of the younger staff.[+6 sentences] This need not be a rare exception and indeed it is not. We can find other examples of such age-friendly companies but there can be many more. In fact, I believe it can be the norm if business leaders apply their minds and hearts to it. The Government will continue to help both employers and workers to transit more seamlessly into this new regime. However, employers as well as HR and line managers must take ownership of this challenge to avoid unconscious ageist employment attitudes. Much work has been done over the years to encourage employers to hire older workers. According to the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP), complaints against workplace ageism have been falling, but TAFEP also noted at a seminar last year that some employers here still lack a sense of urgency when it comes to employing older workers.[+17 sentences] As one The Straits Times reader, Loke Soo Heng, puts it in a Forum article dated 19 November 2015, re-employment legislation caters to older workers who are already recognised for their value in their current companies. But older workers who leave their jobs due to restructuring may be perceived differently when they apply for jobs. The Government will do its part to encourage and engender an ageless workplace. But ultimately, the business community must be convinced of the benefits of being age-blind and to hire purely on merit. Thirdly, I appeal to our communities. We need neighbours and residents living within each community to look out for older residents among them and lend a hand in supporting them to age well in place. This is even more pertinent as families are getting smaller and there is also increasing incidence of singlehood. More fundamentally, we want to provide an environment where the elderly can age with dignity and be supported by family, friends and the community. But the ecosystem for this to take place is multi-layered. Because of the immense strain that caregivers bear, they themselves also need support. We have all read about the tragedy of caregivers in Japan going down a slippery slope after they quit their jobs to look after the elderly, only to find themselves unemployable after their loved ones pass away. We ourselves may also know of friends and family who are triply strained by the stress of their day jobs, the pressure from looking after young children and caring for their ailing elderly parents. We need therefore to refresh and strengthen the support environment for caring for the elderly so that they can age in place in their own homes, in the community, among people who know and care for them. This will also help to strengthen family ties and the community spirit so essential to a cohesive society. How can this work in practice? An example is the befriending programme that has sprouted in different communities. Various community organisations have taken the lead to recruit, train and deploy befrienders to visit and help frail seniors living in the neighbourhood. In Marine Parade, the local senior activity centre Goodlife! started a community kitchen in the precinct called "Goodlife Makan", after they noticed that there were many stay-alone elderly in Marine Terrace.[+14 sentences] So, there is now a kitchen in the void deck, where stay-alone seniors can come down, cook together, eat together and clean together. I am told that even the gentlemen themselves are learning to cook. We hope to nurture and grow more of such movements. Mdm Speaker, the vision of a distinctive Nation for All Ages I have sketched may sound impossibly hard to achieve because it means changing thought patterns, and ingrained practices. But challenges have never deterred us as Singaporeans from striving to build an exceptional nation. We can apply that to population ageing too. With the same shared vision, many determined hands and many strong hearts, we can chart a positive path ahead for population ageing, one that will inspire not only Singaporeans, but hopefully even other ageing cities. But a key ingredient to creating such a Nation for All Ages as in tackling other national challenges is leadership and good politics. President Tony Tan has also raised this subject in his address. How do we further strengthen the political system such that the right leaders – honest, selfless, capable, and committed – can surface? How do we sustain a robust political system that does not paralyse Government unnecessarily, but also does not stifle well-reasoned, cogently argued dissent? How can we assure alternative and minority voices a platform to be heard at the national stage? Singapore has implemented various political innovations over the past few Parliaments. One such innovation is the Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP). The NCMP scheme presently allows for nine highest scoring Opposition members to enter Parliament.[+3 sentences] The NCMP scheme was introduced some 32 years ago to allow for alternative party views to be aired in Parliament. This was in recognition of Singaporeans' desire for alternative views and the value of contest of ideas and robust debates to sharpen policy making. But while the People’s Action Party (PAP) has won a strong mandate from Singaporeans in the recent General Elections, the desire for alternative voices has not waned. In fact, I believe that with greater diversity of our population, as well as rising political interest and awareness among a better educated population, such a desire would grow. I would thus support further expansion of the NCMP scheme, say to 12 or even beyond, recognising the value of having issues dissected from various perspectives that can sharpen and refine policy formulation.[+2 sentences] This is especially relevant as the challenges we face becomes even more complex and unpredictable. In fact, this would also affirm our desire to build a more inclusive society. The number of Parliamentary seats has also increased since the last election in 2011 from 87 to 89 in 2015, and it is envisaged that this number could continue to rise given the rising population.[+10 sentences] Hence, it would be sensible to increase the number of NCMPs in this House. But, regardless of the number of NCMPs admitted, what is most important, to ensure that our Parliament continues to have robust, well-informed and quality debate that will help shape and sharpen policies, is for Singaporeans to judge and scrutinise every Parliamentarian with the same lens and apply the same set of standards – whether it be of conduct or the substance of the argument. Another political innovation has been the Elected Presidency (EP). The EP is the custodian of our financial reserves against pilferage by irresponsible government. He also safeguards the integrity of our public service. The EP is therefore to be above party politics and should play a unifying role. The issue of the EP has drawn vigorous debate in the media recently. One key issue is how to depoliticise the EP scheme, such that it is not an alternate power centre that keeps "checking" on the government of the day or offer presidential endorsement of everything the Government does. Both actions would be contrary to the EP's role and lead to either policy paralysis or cause divisions in our society. The last presidential election was widely perceived as a kind of proxy contest between the PAP and the Opposition. Some commentators have suggested that we do away with elections for the Presidency by the People. However, an Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) survey after the 2011 Presidential Elections suggests that a majority of Singaporeans wish to choose their President through an election.[+1 sentence] As the 24 January 2016 Sunday Times lengthy feature on impending political changes has suggested, the qualifying criteria for candidates, which has remained unchanged for the last 25 years, should be raised to ensure that the candidate is up to the task given the greater complexity and demands of the EP's custodial roles in today's environment. For instance, the minimum paid up capital of the private or public company that a candidate leads as CEO or chairman of the board of directors should be raised significantly from the current $100 million.[+6 sentences] I would also support more public education so that Singaporeans have greater clarity on the role of the EP. Mdm Speaker, in many ways, getting our politics right is a pre-condition to Singapore's survival over the next 50 years as we cast our eyes toward SG100. Way before then, quite a number of us in this House, myself included will be in the aged or very aged category. Hopefully, by then, through the inventions of science, and our efforts in living a healthy lifestyle, we will have many more years to life. But I also hope that our Nation for All Ages will be a shining reality, and that it will also add life to our years. Madam, I support the Motion.
Mdm Speaker45 words
[+4 sentences]I propose to take the break now. I suspend the Sitting and will take the Chair again at 3.55 pm. Sitting accordingly suspended at 3.35 pm until 3.55 pm. Sitting resumed at 3.55 pm
Dr Chia Shi-Lu (Tanjong Pagar)2143 words
[+6 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to join the Members of this House in expressing my support for the motion of thanks to the President for his Address. The President had spoken passionately about the importance of building a caring society. And as the hon Member Dr Amy Khor had mentioned earlier, a key characteristic of this society of ours is that an increasing proportion of it will comprise the elderly. So, for this speech, I will be focusing on strengthening the care of our seniors. The numbers are familiar to all of us. Just five years ago, under 10% of our population was aged 65 and above. In 2013, that number had crossed the 10% mark, and by 2030, this would increase to 24%. Our old age support ratio would drop from today's 1:5.2 to 1:2.3 in 2030.[+19 sentences] While these statistics may sound alarming but, in fact, getting old is not necessarily bad news. What we need do is to focus on functional age, not chronological age. Healthy lifestyles and preventive health measures play a big part in ensuring that an older person remains as functional as possible, enabling him/her to lead an active and fulfilling life in his/her golden years. Socially and economically active seniors will lessen concerns about the support or dependency ratios – 60 will be the new 40; 80 the new 60, and so on. In the Ministry of Health's (MOH) Addendum, one of its priorities is to intensify efforts to keep Singaporeans healthy, such as through plans to reduce obesity and smoking. As a society, we must work together to make ageing a positive experience for all. And in my opinion, there are three important criteria for positive ageing. First, one must be healthy and stay connected to the community. Second, in the event that one falls ill, I am glad to note that help for our elders has been significantly expanded. Third, when the elderly need to be looked after, they should have a range of options to choose from. Keeping healthy and connected. Health is the foundation for positive ageing. This does not mean taking more medicine or going to see the doctor more often. In fact, over-medication or treatments could do more harm than good and is costly for both the patient and the country. Recent studies suggest that reducing medication, a process that has been termed "de-intensification", has significant benefits in terms of both morbidity and mortality. The other day, I wished a sprightly octogenarian lady the best of health, and she brightly replied that she was indeed in the pink of health, and whereupon to emphasise this point, she proceeded to show me a fistful of pills that she takes every day. This led me to ask her, "Since you are so healthy, why is there a need to take so many pills?" She just smiled wistfully but did not have a reply. Singaporeans should take preventive measures, such as eating healthy and exercising regularly to slow biological ageing. I am very happy to see the many efforts in our community for our elderly to keep healthy. There are wellness programmes in all 87 constituencies in Singapore.[+3 sentences] In addition, we are embarking on community-wide longitudinal health screening in some parts of Singapore, more recently in the Mei Ling and Stirling estates in Queenstown. Workplace health has also not been neglected. We have health programmes that are customised for mature workers in workplaces. For example, some 3,000 taxi drivers have had health screening and follow-up consultations and since last June, about 400 bus drivers had gone through a customised programme that includes chronic disease management, eyesight monitoring, ergonomics and hydration.[+6 sentences] Keeping healthy is not just a matter of exercise but feeling involved and connected. Many elderly want to continue to lead active lives. I know of examples of many nurses and other healthcare workers whom I work with, who continue employment way past the official retirement age and still continue to contribute significantly to the care of our sick and elderly. The role of family and friends is very important. Our seniors should be able to live in a familiar environment surrounded by loved ones, friends and neighbours, not segregated from the rest of the community. Ageing-in-place is a principle that should be robustly defended. In a recent survey by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), about 80% of household heads aged 65 or above prefer to age-in-place at their existing flats.[+20 sentences] Many of the elderly I spoke to speak of the joys of remaining part of the community, living in their own homes. For those living with family members, they benefit from the inter-generational bonds. For those who are living on their own, ties with long-time neighbours and even shopkeepers keep them integrated within their communities. I was delighted when the Ministry for National Development (MND) supported a programme to allow up to six neighbours to select their replacement flats together, as part of the en-bloc redevelopment of the historic precinct of Tanglin Halt. This social glue is important. We want to see as many Singaporeans grow old with dignity within the community where they have spent the better part of their lives. Second, support for the elderly. I believe that this is one area in which this Government has done a lot, and I am sure that our seniors can be assured that the Government has invested significantly in building up capacity across the healthcare system. In addition, medical bills have become more affordable through higher subsidies for Specialist Outpatient Care (SOC) and outpatient drugs, Flexi-Medisave, the Pioneer Generation Package, MediShield Life and Medifund has also been strengthened. Our elderly will get the care that they need, without unduly worrying about healthcare costs. Outside of healthcare, our elderly will get help with their daily living expenses through a variety of programmes such as CPF LIFE, the Silver Support Scheme, Enhanced and Additional GST Vouchers. And they also receive assistance with housing matters through, for example, the Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) scheme which helps to put age-friendly improvements in the homes of seniors, studio apartments, the Lease Buyback Scheme, the Silver Housing Bonus, priority schemes and/or additional grants for children and parents to live close to one another, such as the recently announced Proximity Housing Grant. Housing estates are also undergoing continuous improvements to make them as senior-friendly as possible, and even our traffic system and road networks are making the transition, for instance, outdoor lifts in housing estates and for overhead bridges, and the Silver Zone programme which has a suite of age-friendly traffic safety enhancements, the latest example of which was inaugurated in Lengkok Bahru just last weekend. Moving on to long-term care needs, I think this is one area where we still face many challenges. About 3% of residents aged 55 years and above are non-ambulant and require physical assistance. Long-term care needs can last for several years if disability strikes. This group of elderly require a lot more support from their families to care for them and their daily needs. Many prefer to age-in-place, but strong family support is needed to make this happen. They also need the support from services in the community, for example, like home nursing care. I applaud MOH's efforts in expanding long-term care capacity, including nursing homes as well as home and centre-based senior care services, to ensure that the disabled elderly have access to the care that they need. Since 2011, nursing homes beds has increased by 1,000, home care places by 2,700 and centre-based care by another 1,000 places. I am glad to note that the Government is committed to increasing nursing home beds to 17,000, home care places to 10,000 and centre-based care to 6,200 places, by the year 2020.[+2 sentences] MOH has also worked on enhancing the quality of aged care services by introducing new licensing standards for nursing homes and new guidelines for home and community care services. The Government has been increasing support for long-term care and more Medifund assistance has been made available. Patients can receive subsidies of up to 100% in some cases, and that eligibility has broadened from half to two-thirds of households by the year 2012. Other measures include the Enhanced Interim Disability Assistance Programme for the Elderly, the Senior Mobility and Enabling Fund, ElderShield and the Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme.[+15 sentences] So, it is evident that much has been done, and yet it is timely to ask if we should consider other ideas to address nagging concerns among some Singaporeans. One of these is the uncertainty over long-term care costs. Many Singaporeans believe this to be large and required for an extended period. They also worry that nursing homes may be their only option, when they prefer to age at home. Quite a number of families are willing to have grandpa or grandma or their parents at home, if they have access to quality home care services. Another worry they have is being a burden to their families – financially, physically and emotionally – should they lose their independence with severe disability. Naturally, they are apprehensive about long-term suffering if they were bedridden and needs various aids to survive. I have some suggestions for the Ministry's consideration. First, we should have a comprehensive action plan to help our seniors remain healthy and connected. We have to accelerate the development of more alternatives to nursing homes. Our seniors want to be with their families even when they become frail. Family members want to be assured that they can rely on skilled help and nursing support when their parents or grandparents require it. And for seniors without family, or when their families can no longer look after them, new models of care such as assisted living centres should be explored. The level of care delivered by a traditional nursing home may be excessive for some residents. Studies have shown that restoring the autonomy of nursing home residents, while theoretically putting them at higher risk of accidents, may actually have many positive effects on their well-being that more than offsets the potential risks. My medical colleagues have recently called upon the MOH to reconsider building subsidised single and twin rooms in nursing homes, as research has shown that residents with dementia in nursing homes with individual rooms have less anxiety, irritability and aggression, and also sleep better.[+7 sentences] And so, they have called for a move towards providing more individualised care for the elderly in nursing homes and also to allow them to retain some degree of independence. Not only is this good for the elderly, but it may also reduce the need for manpower in the long run, as earlier stated. And so, perhaps a mix of both single and multiple bed setups can be considered for future subsidised nursing homes, so that we can explore both paradigms. Second, we should have an ongoing public education campaign to sensitise our young and middle-aged to the need to plan ahead. This means putting aside some savings for old age, not to over-commit in terms of property purchase and not to opt-out of ElderShield. And if they do buy a larger flat, to consider downgrading after their children move out, for ease of upkeep and to release cash for post-retirement needs. I have seen the recent advertisements on our television channels highlighting this issue, and I think this is a good start. Third, we can consider a bigger role for insurance in long-term care financing, just as we enhanced MediShield. As there are plans to review ElderShield, I urge MOH to be comprehensive in this exercise and address the most important elements – the role of individuals in saving, the role of the family in supporting them and the role of the community and Government in sharing of the risks. Lastly, in line with our aim to be a Smart Nation, I hope that the Government will increase funding for the research and development of health and mobility aids and monitoring devices such as variables and robotics and even drones to help out our elderly. To accelerate our development in this area, we should look into partnering foreign leading firms and institutions in this industry.[+1 sentence] Japan is one of the leaders in this field and exoskeletons like those developed by Cyberdyne and interactive personal robots, such as Pepper, which was launched by SoftBank recently, provide us with an endearing view of the future. Much has been said about the future of us but literally, the future of us is ourselves in old age. And to answer this call, I would ask that we, all of us, work together to help our senior citizens remain healthy and socially connected within the community, to give them and their family better assurances in their golden years and provide options for them to age within the community.
[+8 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the Motion. The President and many Members of this House have spoken about the bracing challenges that we face in the future – terrorism, our economy, maintaining our social cohesion, among other things. Indeed, it is a daunting list. But as Members have emphasised, we have every reason to be confident that we can overcome them – one by one, together. The question is: how do we do that? How can we build a stronger Singapore? How can we progress together? For Singapore to succeed, what must we do? One fundamental requirement, beyond individual policies, was what the President said at the end of his speech – we need good policies, but we also need good politics.[+8 sentences] Members would have read the Addenda to the President's Address. These comprehensive documents lay out the agenda for this term of Government. The business of Government is to govern. Voters elect us to develop policies, to implement them, and to make things happen. They want policies which respond to people's needs, like enhancing social safety nets, making housing more affordable and accessible, improving public transport, and managing the growth of foreign workers. They want to see policies that will enable our people to achieve their aspirations, for themselves and for their children: investing in education at all levels, for example, the SkillsFuture; implementing major projects which transform Singapore, like Changi Airport – building T4, putting up Project Jewel, planning for T5 – or Jurong Lake District or the Southern Waterfront City. One by one, brick by brick, building a better Singapore. That is what this Government has done for many years. And this is what my Government will do in this term.[+1 sentence] We will fulfil our promises. But in order to have these good policies done, we also must have good politics, because the two go hand-in-hand.[+9 sentences] Good politics make sure that we will elect governments who will develop good policies, who will expand our common space and strengthen our society for the future. If we have good politics, then we have the best chance of having our system continuing to work for us, instead of against us, over the long haul. If we are only concerned over the next five or 10 years, we do not have to make any changes in terms of politics because the system is working now and will continue to do so for the next 10 years, maybe a bit longer. The actors are in place. We are familiar with one another. We know where the leaders are, we know the response function – you press this button, this will happen; you pull that lever, something else happens. We know how to make it work today. But if we are thinking beyond this term and this team, about a new Prime Minister and a new Cabinet, and a new population, different electorate, then we will need to keep Singapore able to work well with them in charge and with them being the team that leads Singapore. Then, it is prudent for us to consider what possible adjustments may become necessary now, in good time. It is not an urgent task that you must do today instead of tomorrow. But it is this generation's responsibility to make sure that our political institutions and system continue to work well, well beyond the term of this team, and work well for future generations.[+2 sentences] In theory, to get your politics right should not be such a very difficult problem for most countries because there is some sense of identity and unity, and leaders and your followers of different political persuasions should be able to come together and work for the common good. It makes sense to work together; it is a lot of trouble if you are at odds with one another. But if we look around the world, in fact, it is not such a simple matter. There are some countries which face division and gridlock, and the government is paralysed, like the US.[+5 sentences] The executive and the legislative branches are controlled by different parties. The government is stalemated on issues ranging from gun control to trade policy. Democrats run the Administration; the President is Democrat. Congress is led by Republicans. The two do not see eye-to-eye and are unable to compromise. Three years ago in 2013, the Federal Government had to shut down for 16 days because Republicans and Democrats in Congress could not agree to pass a Budget.[+46 sentences] And last year they nearly had to shut down again. In President Obama's recent State of the Union address, this was the theme he took up right at the end of his speech – the most important thing which he felt he had not been able to achieve – to get American politics to work. He described how the founding fathers of the US – Washington, Jefferson, Madison – had distributed power between states and the branches of government. That means between the federal government and the different states; between the executive and the legislature and the judiciary; checks and balances. And they expected people to argue over matters as they themselves did, but eventually to find common ground and be able to work something out. But now, the basic bonds of trust between the major parties, between the Democrats and the Republicans, have totally broken down. There is rancour and suspicion, no willingness to compromise. The system desperately needs to be fixed but no Congressman, no Senator, not even the President, is able on their own, to put it right. That is the US, the most powerful country in the world. Other countries too have seen their national consensus fray. Many European countries were governed by stable, centralist coalitions. Sometimes, you have a centre-right coalition that will govern for a time. The mood changes, the country's priorities shift, a different balance emerges, and you have a centre-left coalition, perhaps even some of the same parties continue in the new coalition. You shift from one to the other within limits, never out of control. But now, the economy has broken, the immigration and refugee crisis is presenting them with an insoluble problem and deep disenchantment has set in. Extreme left and right groups are gaining ground. In every country, the regular political parties are losing support, never mind whether you are left-wing or right-wing. It is the extreme parties, the ones who just say, "To hell with it. I am unhappy with the world. Vote for me and I will show two fingers to the world." They are the ones who are getting support. In Greece, it is called Syriza. They are now in government and having to make decisions which their supporters do not like at all. In Spain, they have Podemos. They have just had elections and Podemos won a significant number of seats. Now they are having a lot of difficulty forming a new government – in Germany, Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), an anti-immigration party; in France, the National Front; in Britain, UKIP – pushing anti-immigrant, anti-EU, anti-globalisation platforms. Just expressing angst and anger, not propounding compromises and solutions. They are reflecting public unhappiness, but they are also riling up the public, offering no coherent policies of viable alternatives. In many Asian countries, whom you vote for depends on your race, depends on your religion. In some countries, it depends on what caste you belong to. It is not policies; it is not integrity but "Is he my guy? Does he have the same caste name as me? Then, I know whether I can trust whether he will look after me." These are fundamental divides, divides which countries have tried to close but which remain deep and have sometimes even deepened decades after independence. You may say, "Well, that is the problem of democracy", but even countries which do not have elections also have not such an easy time. You take China. It is a major challenge for the Chinese government, for President Xi Jinping, to keep his system clean, to keep his officials accountable and to keep his government with authority and legitimacy. Chinese officials visit Singapore. Invariably, they ask to see our Meet-the-People Sessions. They come, they sit in, they watch our Members of Parliaments and Ministers take cases and they are deeply impressed at how the system works. They go back and try to do the same. It is not the same. What is the fundamental difference? In Singapore, Members and Ministers are taking cases for their voters. The person sitting in front of you votes for or against you come election time. In China, the officials may have a good heart and want to do good for their population, but they do not owe their positions to the votes of the people they are in charge of. The moral of the story is there is no perfect model anywhere in the world, much less one in which we can import wholesale and apply in Singapore.[+9 sentences] If we look at other people's political problems, we do not feel any "schadenfreude", any sense of superiority or rejoicing. In fact, we say, "There but for the grace of God go I", because what happens elsewhere can easily happen in Singapore too, if either we blindly copy other people's practices which do not work here, or we find our own way but take a wrong turn. We can end up in such a situation also. It does not mean we do nothing. It does not mean we learn nothing. It means we have to keep evolving our system carefully, step by step, making sure that our Government works and the politics in Singapore serve our people's interests. We have to find our own way forward. What kind of political system do we want in Singapore? I would list five "desiderata", desirable things. First, it must enable us to have a high-quality government – accountable, honest, competent, and effective.[+3 sentences] You have to be responsive to the people, able to look beyond the short term and keep us safe and successful. Because as a small country with no luxury of resources, with no domestic hinterland, excellence and integrity have been and always must be a crucial competitive advantage for Singapore. An excellent, honest government. It is something which we have, which we can do, which others can see; not so easy for others to duplicate. I will put this quite bluntly; if we had not had a first-class government in Singapore, led by exceptional leaders who are able to foresee problems, head them off, seize opportunities, reap dividends for Singapore and mobilise people to work with them and to support policies – sometimes tough ones – we would not have Singapore today.[+11 sentences] So, we cannot ever afford to be paralysed, gridlocked or become dysfunctional like some other countries. For America, you can live with it. You go down, you go up. It is an aircraft carrier. For Singapore, you go down, you are finished. You do not come back up again. Secondly, the political system has to be open and contestable. What do I mean? There has to be free and fair elections, and it must not be forbiddingly expensive for people to stand and contest elections. In fact, that is one of the greatest things we have done to keep our system open, to make sure that we keep money out of politics, and it does not cost a lot of money to contest elections. So, if you take last year's General Elections. All of the parties together, added up, during the national General Elections, they spent all of $7 million, less than $3 per voter.[+2 sentences] The Straits Times calculated it at $2.89. You compare that with the cost of the US elections. In 2012, when they last had their Presidential election together with Congressional elections, it cost them US$7 billion.[+8 sentences] Not cost the government to run it; cost the candidates to raise it and to spend it; US$7 billion divided by about 350 million Americans. That is US$20 per American. That you may say is American-class, one of its own. But look at the money politics that you see in many countries, including in our region. The sums which are spoken about, which are necessary for elections, openly, not a secret, not even illegal or embarrassing. But it is a reality. It is an insoluble problem and ours must never become like that. Thirdly, our political system must foster accountability so that the government is always kept on its toes and will always be motivated to look after the interests of Singaporeans. Parliament here must be a serious forum where big issues are discussed and decided – defence, economy, choices to tax and spend, and plans for the future.[+15 sentences] The Government's actions have to be scrutinised and debated in Parliament. If a Member of Parliament – whether it is an Opposition Member or a Government Member – argues a case against the Government's proposal, then either the Government has to be able to rebut it and explain convincingly what it is doing and why, or if the Member makes a good case, then you have to acknowledge that, and policies have to be changed. That is what Members have seen happen in this House, not just with Opposition Members but with Government Members or Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs) as well. On the other side, if a Member makes a good proposal and advocates convincingly for it and persuades the Government, then I think the Government should support it, back it with resources and help to make it happen – as also has happened with PAP Members and Nominated Members, who have, from time to time, moved private Member's Bills and other times, have persuaded the Government that the bee in the bonnet is a justified bee in the bonnet and we should do what they are buzzing us loudly to carry out. Every government must take Parliament seriously. And I think we take Parliament seriously in Singapore on both sides of the House. It is a place where you have debates, where big issues have to come to be decided. You can agree or disagree, and vigorously; and you ought to disagree, if you have strong views. But you must take it seriously; it is not a place where you throw chairs, swing handbags or pour water on one another; or a place where you exchange clever put-downs but really avoid the serious issues concerning the Government and the future of the country. So, our Parliament may not be as entertaining on television as many other parliaments which you watch on the news at night, but I think, in terms of quality and seriousness of purpose, we have it and we should keep it. Ultimately, of course, the Government is accountable not just to Parliament, but also to the electorate. If it performs well, then it gets the support of voters again, and it can continue in office. If it performs poorly, there is an electoral price to pay. Then, either the Government mends its ways and regains its support, or the electorate can vote it out and another party, another team, will have to take its place and try to do better. So, we must have a system where the Government does not, over time, become complacent, go soft or even worse, become corrupt. Fourthly, our political system must uphold a multiracial society.[+2 sentences] Multiracialism is fundamental to our identity as a nation because we have three major races in Singapore, we have all the world's major religions in Singapore. Race and religion will always be fundamental tectonic fault lines for us. If we ever split along one of these fault lines, that would be the end of us. Therefore, our political system must encourage multiracial and secular politics, not racial or religious politics.[+20 sentences] It has got to encourage political parties to seek broad-based, multiracial consensus and pursue moderate policies in the interests of all Singaporeans, regardless of race, language or religion. It has to discourage parties from forming along racial or religious lines or championing the interests of one race or religion over others, whether it be a majority or minority group in our society. Minority Singaporeans must have the confidence that they will not ever be marginalised, or shut out, or discriminated against. Every Singaporean must have the confidence that he has a place in Singapore. Fifth, our system needs to incorporate stabilisers. The Government has to be responsive to the will of the people, but at the same time, we also have to have safeguards, in case the country is swept off course by a transient public mood, or an erratic government, which can happen. By the time you change your mind and realise it is unwise, it is too late to come back. So, you need stabilisers to make sure that you respond to the mood, but you do not get carried too far and capsize the boat. Most political systems have such stabilisers built in. They have an Upper House like the Senate in the US, the House of Lords in the UK, or especially in big countries, you have a division of powers between the city and regional governments and a national federal government on the other. So, no single point can cause the whole system to fail. You clear the Lower House, you must go pass the Upper House. Elections may be different times, may have different rules. You persuade one region to do something, but it is a big country and other regions have to go along. You have to get the consensus, take some time, sleep it over, think carefully and perhaps think the better of it. We are too small to have either an Upper House or to have a regional set of governments. The most we can do are Town Councils. Useful, but not really a regional government. We have overlaid on top of them Mayors. We call them Mayors, but actually if you compare them with the Mayor of London or the Mayor of New York, it is what they call, 小巫见大巫. It is a small personality, same title, but is quite a different entity indeed. We may be small but we still need stabilisers, and we especially need stabilisers in two areas: (a) protecting our reserves and (b) safeguarding the integrity of the public service.[+1 sentence] Why do I say this? Because these are two critical elements that give us safety, security, assurance and resources for the future. It has taken us decades to build up our foreign Reserves.[+1 sentence] They are our oil in the ground. If we do not have a second key, and you happen to have a generous or profligate government, then one government can spend it all and bring you back to zero. Elections will become auctions, where the parties compete to be more generous than the other, offering what it can do to voters by raiding the bank.[+32 sentences] This happens in countries much richer than us. Look at Australia. Ten years ago, under a basically conservative government, they built up significant amounts of reserves or surpluses. They set up a pension fund for the future and said, "This is our sovereign wealth fund and this is to make sure that in future, you will be provided for with state pensions" and so on. But then came elections and both parties, whether in government or out of government, because of the dynamics of the situation, they have no choice. One side offers something, the other side offers more, and back and forth. It is an auction. Today, the funds for the future have disappeared. The country is in deficit. The commodities boom is over. The budget cannot be settled. They have to cut back spending. It is extremely contentious. They are back where they were. All within 10 years. It can happen to Australia with all that wealth and resources. Think what can happen if it is Singapore. That is money. What about people? The whole of our excellence in Government, the competence and the performance of the country depends on the integrity and the ability of the individuals in the key posts in the public service – judges, central bankers, the Accountant-General, the Commissioner of Police, the people who head our Statutory Boards, who sit on our key Statutory Boards, the people who manage our Reserves. Once corrupt persons get into key positions, it will be the end. It is not only the end because they take money and help themselves because we can stop that and put them in jail. It is the end because they subvert and corrupt the system and make it impossible to root out the cancer which then becomes entrenched throughout the system. The system is permanently broken. Look at other countries. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia used to lament publicly about the problem he had with what he called the "judicial mafia". He does not mean the mafia on the streets. He means judges whom he could not trust for their integrity because they had become corrupt and had become part of the problem. If you look at other countries where the police are in cahoots with the crooks, and if you have a problem, you are not sure whether you should go to the police station or run away from the police station. Or you look at countries where those responsible for safeguarding state assets instead raid the bank. As the Malay proverb goes, "Pagar makan padi". You are the hedge but you are eating the rice which you are supposed to protect. To prevent this, or at least to make this harder, this system needs a second key. The challenge for us is how to ensure this second key strengthens and stabilises our system of Government.[+24 sentences] We have evolved our system of politics over the years and it has served us well. Our political and constitutional history is quite different from that of most other newly-independent countries, countries which were colonies and became independent after the war, in Asia, Africa and particularly in Southeast Asia. Most newly-independent countries start life anew, with a brand new fresh-minted Constitution. But when we became independent, we did not do that. We decided to retain and tweak our existing Constitutional arrangements that had worked for Singapore when we were part of Malaysia, and that had been working before that, when we were a self-governing state before we joined Malaysia. Mr Lee Kuan Yew felt that it was better for us to evolve our model gradually, learning from experience, rather than to strive for some unworkable perfection. Mr Lee said that his best teacher of the difference between political reality and constitutional theory was the Tunku. Once, he wrote, I think this is in his memoirs, Mr Lee was in the Tunku's office and admiring a beautiful leather-bound green-covered volume. It was the Pakistani Constitution and was presented to the Tunku by Ayub Khan, who was at one time President of Pakistan. Mr Lee admired the book and the Tunku told him, "You know, Kuan Yew, they make very good constitutions. They have many brilliant lawyers. With every leader, they have to make a new one." When we became independent, we cobbled together the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, which is what we have today. Where did it come from? Part of the provisions from Singapore's State Constitution, part of the provisions from Malaysia's Federal Constitution which we adopted and incorporated, plus amendments which we made after Separation, for example, amendments to safeguard our sovereignty and to ensure that any decision to give up our sovereignty would have to be put to a referendum of all the voters in Singapore and not decided by the Legislature. It is "rojak". It is a messy document and such a messy document that in 1970, Mr Lee asked the British High Commissioner to get British Constitutional law experts to polish it up. And it came back polished and shiny. Mr Lee thought that the British experts had done a first-rate job. The idea was you look at the American Constitution. It has lasted 200 something years and over these 200 something years, it has only had 20 plus amendments. So, you worship it. You get it precisely right, beautiful form of words, every school child knows it and that is what is going to guide the country for the next several hundred years. But, in the end, Mr Lee decided not to take that approach. He did not take in the brand-new versions drafted by the British experts in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) because he concluded that the experts had not understood the context, nor why we had made certain basic decisions. He explained this to the House in 1984, when he moved the Constitutional Amendments to create the Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) scheme.[+38 sentences] He used Thomas Jefferson's analogy of a suit. He said, "From my experience, Constitutions have to be custom-made, tailored to suit the peculiarities of the person wearing the suit". He changes the metaphor here but I think you will forgive him this mixed metaphor. He said "Perhaps, like shoes, the older they are, the better they fit. Stretch them, soften them, resole them, repair them. They are always better than a brand new pair of shoes". He said, "Our people have got used to and understand the present system. It takes a long time. Any fundamental change takes a long time. But most important of all, the Constitution works. Many countries have tried and gone through several Constitutions since Independence. They have not brought stability or legitimacy. I believe it is better to stretch and ease an old shoe when we know that the different shape and fit of a younger generation requires a change." Like many of Mr Lee's speeches, this speech made in 1984 in the old Parliament House is still worth reading more than 30 years later. The Sunday Times published an excerpt. I encourage you to read it, and I urge Members to read the full version in the Hansard. Apart from talking about Singapore politics, he gave a tour of the horizon of how historically other countries – Britain, France, America – have each got their own histories and how the system evolved for them and how difficult it was. He talked about France, and how as a young man in 1956, after attending a constitution conference in London, he took a side trip to Paris on the way home, and the taxi driver took him around, showed him the sights and brought him to the National Assembly. This was 1956, it was a democracy and the politicians could not agree. The taxi driver pointed at the National Assembly and said to him, "wala, wala, wala" , and he said that was an education for a young politician to the reality of politics. Unfortunately, Hansard did not quite catch the nuance of this expression and the Hansard, I just recently noticed, transcribed it as "voilà" three times, and as a result of which, it makes no sense. You will therefore not find this in The Sunday Times because The Sunday Times could not make sense of it and edited it out. But it is a most vivid example of how things can go wrong in politics. It was a highly civilised nation, but the system did not work. In the end, General de Gaulle had to come back out of retirement and changed the rules. He took very stern measures and created the Fifth Republic. But even de Gaulle must die and till today, the French, they also, like other countries, have political problems. Today, in the newspapers, if you read The Straits Times, Paris is in upheaval, because there are strikes. Who is on strike? Taxi drivers, air traffic controllers and for good measure, civil servants are on strike. I think we have to understand the difference between the theory and the practice, and what looks good on paper and what we need really, truly in real life to do. This is not "masak-masak". The approach which we have taken has been to evolve our political system as we go along. Mr Lee did this and we continue to do this. Learning from experience, stretching and easing the old shoe, and adapting it to our needs and dealing with problems as new problems emerge, as we understand the difficulties and weaknesses. For example, we inherited the first-past-the-post parliamentary system, modelled on the British House of Commons in Westminster. We have kept the first-past-the-post system. That is why here we sit opposite one another – the Government and, in principle, the Opposition on the other side. We do not sit in a semi-circle, the way the Americans sit in a semi-circle, or the way the European legislatures sit in a semi-circle.[+2 sentences] It is a parliamentary system, first-past-the-post. You are in opposition to each other. We kept that system but subsequently, we introduced new institutions – Non-Constituency Members of Parliament, Nominated Members of Parliament, Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) and the institution of an Elected President.[+4 sentences] Each institution with a purpose, each one in line with our principles. Let me say something about them. The first-past-the-post parliamentary system tends to produce clear election outcomes. You either win decisively or lose decisively, and especially in Singapore where every constituency is more or less the same composition and the same mood as every other constituency, all the more you tend to have a national swing and it goes across the board and so you end up with a clear majority in the House. After Independence, after Separation, the Barisan Sosialis Opposition walked out of Parliament in 1965.[+2 sentences] From then, Parliament was composed entirely of PAP Members. In the next four General Elections, the PAP won all the seats and as well as all the by-elections in between, the PAP won all of them. This enabled the Government to govern decisively and effectively in the vital first years of our nationhood. It lasted from 1965 until 1981 when the first Opposition Member, J B Jeyaretnam, was elected to Parliament.[+4 sentences] It had been, by then, 16 years since Separation. A new generation of voters was coming of age. A new team of Members of Parliament and Ministers was preparing to take over. Mr Lee and his senior colleagues watched what happened in the House after Mr Jeyaretnam came in. After some time, they concluded, to their surprise, that despite all the to-ing and fro-ing and unpleasantness, it was good for the Government and good for the Singapore system that we have Opposition voices in Parliament because the Opposition could express opposing views, could question and criticise the Government and could make Ministers justify their actions.[+2 sentences] The Opposition provided Mr Lee and his team the "foil" or a backdrop against which they could set out their ideas more clearly, in contrast to what was being presented on the other side. Right against wrong, good ideas against better ones. Through the debate in Parliament, helped Mr Lee and his team get their message across and aid public understanding. So, Mr Lee proposed the NCMP scheme in 1984. The NCMP scheme made sure that whatever the election outcome, there would always be a certain minimum number at least, of Opposition Members in Parliament.[+1 sentence] At first, this minimum was three Opposition Members – either elected or not elected NCMPs, or some combination. Over time, we gradually increased it and we have brought it now to nine.[+35 sentences] The design of the NCMP scheme is unique but the concept of a parliament with members who have been elected in different ways is not at all unusual. Many countries do that. Look at New Zealand, look at Taiwan. They have Mixed Member Proportional Representation systems. Some Members are elected from constituencies; others are chosen from party lists – in other words, the proportional representation system. How many you take off the party lists depends on the proportion of the total vote that your party got. One reason that New Zealanders do this is because they want to ensure that there is Maori representation in parliament. Such a system, where you top up beyond what the first-past-the-post system gives you, will help to moderate the extreme outcomes of a first-past-the-post system. And that is why we did the NCMP system. We did not do the proportional representation way because we felt that it would be bad for Singapore. It would result in political parties that are based on race or religion. It would encourage political leaders to champion the demands of their particular segment against the broader interests of Singapore. It would divide us, rather than bring us together, because to win in a proportional representation system, you have got to have your base. What is your base? It can be Christians, it can be Buddhists, it can be Muslims, it can be Indians. It can be a special interest group, maybe on gender issues. What is your interest? Your interest will consolidate that base, take a hard position, demand as much as you can for your group. Then, you increase the percentage. You do not have to win seats, you just get a higher percentage, and you will get seats in Parliament. You do not have to win constituencies. I think if you do that, you end up split, polarised and severely weakened. Instead, we created the NCMP scheme. NCMPs are Opposition candidates who had the best results but did not quite win their seats. In fact, some NCMPs have higher percentage, if you look at it on a personal basis, than other people, Members elected in GRCs. If you just count their chunk of the GRC and how many votes they got and the percentage, the NCMP may have got more than the person from a GRC. But the point is, he did well, he is one of the best losers and they come in, ensuring that Opposition voices are always represented in Parliament. They have at least as much right to be in Parliament as Members who are elected on a party list under a proportional representation system. In fact, arguably more, because on a party list under a proportional representation, no voter specifically chose you. Your party boss puts you on the list in position number two or three or 20 and there is a cut-off, and you happen to make the cut. Here, to be an NCMP, the voters in a constituency in which you contested have to have a sufficiently high regard of you to give you one of the highest votes amongst all losing candidates before you can come in. So, you have got people who are really, truly, personally voting for you. I think that gives legitimacy as well as objectivity to the system. It depends on electoral contest and not just on the say-so of the party they belong to or the party bosses of the party they belong to. We introduced the NCMP scheme in 1984. In 1990, we introduced the Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) scheme to bring into Parliament diverse voices from civil society. So, now if you take elected Opposition Members, NCMPs plus NMPs, altogether about 20% of Members in the House will, at all times, not be Government Members.[+2 sentences] So, there is diversity, there is debate, and I think there is value. The NCMP scheme is a good one which has achieved its purpose. In the last 30 years, other than the very first time in 1984 when there were special circumstances, Opposition parties have always taken up the NCMP seats offered to them.[+11 sentences] For example, Ms Sylvia Lim was first elected as an NCMP in 2006 and she acquitted herself in Parliament, impressed voters and became a Member of Parliament elected in Aljunied GRC in 2011. In the last term, we had three NCMPs: Mrs Lina Chiam, Mr Yee Jenn Jong and Mr Gerald Giam. They all took up their seats and participated actively in Parliamentary debates. This term, the WP's NCMPs have also taken up their seats. We have Mr Leon Perera, we have Mr Dennis Tan – they made their maiden speeches this week – except for Ms Lee Li Lian who has said that she will not take up her NCMP seat. She is not taking it up not out of any objections of principle but to give it to another WP candidate. Whether that is in the spirit of the scheme, we can debate but we will wait for the Motion which I believe Mr Low will move to discuss the matter further. The Opposition, of course, would like to have it both ways – take up NCMP seats when they win them, but also protest that an NCMP is a second-class Member of Parliament, in order to persuade voters to cast their votes for them and make them constituency Members of Parliament. In fact, in reality, NCMPs have exactly the same opportunities to question, speak and debate in Parliament that constituency Members have. They can file Parliamentary Questions (PQs), move Motions, speak in all debates, and they can show voters – past and future – what they can do. There is just one distinction between an NCMP and a constituency Member today. Unlike constituency Members, NCMPs are restricted in what they can vote on in Parliament. There are a few matters which they cannot vote on: constitutional changes, supply bills, money bills, votes of no confidence, and also removing a President from office.[+31 sentences] This was how the scheme was designed by Mr Lee Kuan Yew back in 1984, and he had his reasons which he explained in an exchange, because Mr Jeyaretnam was in Parliament and challenged him on this. I suppose this is an example of how Mr Jeyaretnam as the Opposition played a constructive role. Mr Lee was particularly concerned with one scenario: a split in the ruling party leading to a motion of no confidence in the House. He felt that in such a situation, NCMPs should not have a say in determining the Government. There is a context to this. In 1984, Mr Lee would still have fresh in his mind, the memory of what had happened in 1961, when the extreme left-wing split off from the PAP and formed the Barisan Sosialis, and the PAP hung on in the Legislative Assembly with a one-seat majority. And then one Member of Parliament died and it was levelled – no seat majority. I think Mr Lee must also have been conscious that even in 1984, within the PAP, there was opposition to the pace of leadership renewal, which could have led to a leadership challenge. The amendments were moved around August 1984. The general election was upcoming and took place in December 1984. It was a crucial General Election because many of the third-generation leaders entered politics in that election – Wong Kan Seng, Yeo Cheow Tong, Mah Bow Tan, Abdullah Tarmugi and myself. There were very strong different views within the PAP on whether this was going too fast, and it was not to be ruled out that there could have been a challenge. Mr Lee felt, in that situation, NCMPs should not have a say. But after 30 years, in a different phase of our political development, we should re-examine this. I am not saying that we can now rule out the possibility of leadership challenge within the ruling party. We can never rule that out. I have a cohesive team but as Mr Lee said, "It is a real distinct possibility because strong men have strong views and they can collide." In other countries, it happens regularly. In Australia, in the UK, it is marvellous theatre! Suddenly, you hear news there is going to be a spill. The Australians call it a "spill". A "spill" means somebody has mounted a challenge. The leader then has to call his members in Parliament together to vote. It happens within 24 hours. Ministers take positions, Members of Parliament take positions, furious to-ing and fro-ing. Next thing you know, there is a new Prime Minister, and I am writing a new letter of congratulations. It has happened three or four times within the last five years in Australia. And in Britain, leadership challenges are also dramatic events. Mrs Thatcher was challenged and deposed. Mr Tony Blair left because he knew if he did not leave, somebody would challenge him, and he would be pushed out. So, we cannot rule out it happening in Singapore. But if we accept that NCMPs have as much of a mandate from voters to be in the House as constituency Members of Parliament and more mandate in the House than party list Members of Parliament would in a proportional representation system, then, even in the case of a vote of no confidence and the other restricted matters which NCMPs are presently not allowed to vote on, I think we can make a case and I will make the case that they should not only be allowed to speak, but to vote. Therefore, I intend to amend the Constitution during this term to give NCMPs the same voting rights as constituency Members of Parliament. NCMPs should therefore be able to vote even in the case of confidence motions, and all the other presently restricted matters.[+1 sentence] They will be equal in powers, although not in responsibility and scope, to constituency Members of Parliament because they are non-constituency and they do not have specific voters to look after. But there is no reason at all to perceive NCMPs as second-class. I will also increase the minimum number of Opposition Members of Parliament, including NCMPs, in this House, from the next General Election. I will increase the number from nine to 12.[+15 sentences] Given that in any election, at least 30% of voters will vote against the Government, ensuring a minimum of 12 Opposition Members of Parliament in the House of about 100 Members, I feel it is reasonable. The Opposition often claims that they are unable to put up a stronger showing in Parliament because they have too few Members of Parliament. I think this is an excuse because the Opposition's impact depends on the quality of Opposition Members of Parliament and arguments, far more than on their number. But having more NCMPs will give the Opposition more opportunity to show what they can do. And if, in fact, the NCMPs are capable and effective, the exposure will win them recognition and help them win a constituency the next time. We will also continue with the NMP scheme. So, together with the NCMPs, 12 plus 9, we will now have at least 21 non-ruling Members of Parliament in the House. In making these changes, I am by no means presuming that the Government will always have a strong majority in the House, although this has been the case for the last 50 years. Nor do I assume that the PAP will always form the Government. That will depend on the performance of the PAP and the verdict of Singapore voters. But regardless of election outcomes, the NCMP scheme ensures a stronger Opposition presence in Parliament, so that if the Government wins overwhelming, nationwide support, it will still have to argue for and defend its policies robustly. In effect we will be aiding the Opposition, giving their best losers more exposure, very possibly building them up for the next General Election. But I believe that in this phase of our political development, this is good for the Government and good for Singapore. No ruling party or Government should ever be afraid of open argument. The PAP never has been and ultimately, Singapore will benefit from a contest of ideas in the House. Next, let me talk about Group Representation Constituency (GRCs). We introduced the GRC scheme in 1988 to ensure that we will always have a minimum number of minority race Members in Parliament.[+39 sentences] This would also encourage all political parties to pursue multiracial politics rather than sectarian politics. Unlike a proportional representation system, which would also have led to minority Members in Parliament, but via racial political parties. With the GRC system, parties and Members of Parliament have to give weight to the interests of minorities. The GRCs have pushed parties to become more multiracial in their approach. Opposition parties know that they have to win support from the minorities and that they have to field credible Malay and Indian candidates in their teams. They make quite a big effort to go and do that. It puts pressure on us in the PAP, but I think it is the right system. The Opposition parties have to make that effort in order to put up a credible team. They also know that if they play racial politics during elections, then whatever votes they may win from one group will be at the expense of votes which they will lose from the other groups, because in the multiracial team, with a multiracial electorate, you have always to strike that balance and internalise that balance within your team and amongst your voters. Of course, this has not stopped candidates from being naughty from time to time. In the 1997 General Election, you will remember Tang Liang Hong in Cheng San GRC. He made provocative, chauvinist speeches to appeal to the Chinese majority vote – outrageous statements, but powerful. The PAP exposed him, and the minorities swung solidly against Tang Liang Hong and his WP teammates. They lost. In the last elections, some Opposition candidates tried the opposite; tried to exploit Islam to collect Malay votes. Some ostentatiously performed prayers in public before election rallies and posted photos of themselves doing so on the social media. But beyond a point, they would have hurt their non-Malay fellow candidates in the GRC teams, and it would have cost them non-Malay votes. In the end, their tactic failed and their teams lost. So, GRCs have kept our politics multiracial. The GRC scheme also has one bonus, which I think is important and that is, it works together with our system of Town Councils. The constituency Members of Parliament have to run the Town Council. They have to manage Service and Conservancy Charges (S&CC) collections. They have to receive, spend and account for Government subsidies. They have to maintain the estates to a proper standard. They have to administer rules and fines, and look after substantial sinking funds. This makes sure that any party which aspires to form the Government of Singapore, first has a chance to demonstrate in a Town Council what it can or cannot do. And if it can do, that is a base from which it can build and persuade Singaporeans. If it cannot do, it is as well that Singaporeans know this early and everybody is under no illusions. The GRC system is a good one, and I think we should keep it. But there is a question of balance. How many big ones should we have, versus small ones? How many GRCs should we have, versus Single Member Constituencies (SMCs)? There are pluses and minuses both ways. A bigger GRC benefits from having an anchor Minister take care of their affairs and also benefits from having better economies of scale in running GRC-wide programmes and activities, and in running the Town Council. But smaller GRCs create a closer connection between Members of Parliament and their residents. On the other hand, SMCs have their place in our system too, because they are not just easier to contest, but also give a Member of Parliament direct responsibility for everything that happens in his constituency. So, we have to strike the right balance between GRCs, big and small, and between GRCs and SMCs. In the last two elections, we have created smaller GRCs and more SMCs. I think the results have been good. The next General Election is a long way off. I do not want to raise excitement prematurely but I will say now that in due course, when I appoint the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee, I will instruct it to reduce the average size of GRCs further, and to create more SMCs.[+1 sentence] Let me talk about the institution of the Elected President. In 1990, we passed legislation to make the President an elected office, so that he could act as a stabiliser in our political system. The President would exercise custodial powers over the spending of past Reserves and key appointments in the public service – the two vital areas which I talked about earlier. He would be directly elected by the people in a national election, so as to have the mandate and moral authority to say "no" to the Government, should this become necessary. We also created a Council of Presidential Advisors (CPA) to assist and advise the President in carrying out his duties and exercising his powers.[+10 sentences] The Elected Presidency as an institution was a major innovation, again with no precedent anywhere else. So, we spent a long time designing it. We published one White Paper. We debated it. We published a second White Paper. After extensive debate, we legislated it, operated it and have amended it over the years. In addition to exercising custodial powers, the President would also continue to be the Head of State. He has to be above politics. He represents all Singaporeans, regardless of race, language or religion. He is a symbol of our sovereignty and of our nation. By design, the President has no executive, policymaking role and this remains the prerogative of the elected Government commanding the majority in Parliament.[+6 sentences] But in the last Presidential Election, many people did not understand this. I suspect even now, quite a number of people still do not understand this. Regrettably, during the last Presidential Election, those who did not understand it included some candidates. They campaigned for President as if they were going to form an alternate Government. But the President is neither the Government nor is he the Opposition. He is a custodian, a goalkeeper. The Constitution gives him power to block certain actions of the Government, in areas which are specifically carved out for him. But it does not give him the power to initiate policies or generally to champion policies.[+12 sentences] So, it is a very delicate balance. He is elected for a specific purpose. The purpose is specified in the Constitution, and we have to operate by the Constitution, both to be complying with the law and to make sure the system works. For the system to work, both candidates and voters have to understand this. Otherwise, if you have a President who thinks that he is the Government, competing with the Government, you have two power centres in the system. At the very least, you have confusion, you could have an impasse between the two and the democratically elected Government will be undermined. As the Chinese phrase says: 天无二日,国无二君, which means that you have no two suns in the sky, you have no two governments in a country. There are one or two countries which have had two Prime Ministers simultaneously, and it was not a happy experiment. In the last 25 years, we have accumulated experience operating the institution of an Elected President. We have improved and updated it over time. We have refined how the financial safeguards operate. The details are complex, and we could only get them more correct after operating them and getting experience operating them. We created a Constitutional Tribunal to which the President can refer Constitutional questions which arise for an opinion, especially if there is a disagreement between him and the Government. We introduced the Net Investment Returns Contribution (NIRC) framework, a new spending rule to enable the Government to tap a stable and sustainable income from our Reserves.[+5 sentences] In the Global Financial Crisis in 2008, we exercised and put to the test the President's custodial power over Reserves. It was a worldwide crisis. We ourselves watched the indicators with great alarm. We needed to act expeditiously. We needed to make sure we threw all that we had at the problem. The Government, therefore, sought the President's permission to use past Reserves to fund the Jobs Credit scheme and the Special Risk-Sharing Initiative.[+26 sentences] It cost $4.9 billion. We briefed the then-President, President S R Nathan. He consulted the CPA; the CPA supported him and he gave approval. It was a critical decision, instrumental in saving jobs and enabling us to bounce back quickly from a deep recession. If we had not done that, if we did not have the mechanism, both to lock up the money for ordinary times and to unlock the money during extraordinary times, we could have not have reacted. If we had not locked it up in ordinary times, and we had just helped ourselves from time to time from it for some good purpose or other, come a crisis, you would not have had the kitty. If we had not been able to unlock the kitty in a crisis and spend it when we needed it, we would not have come through the crisis the way we did so smoothly that many people did not even realise that we had gone through a near-death experience. But the system worked. As Mr Lee Kuan Yew would have said, this is now a shoe that we have worn for 25 years. I hesitate to call it an old shoe, but it is 25 years. We have mended and adjusted it from time to time and, generally, it has fitted well. Yet, we need to continue to review and adjust the scheme regularly to keep it functional and in good repair. The President must remain an elected office. If the President is not elected, he will lack the mandate to wield his custodial powers. I have read various op-eds in the newspapers which say we can go back to the old system; just do away with the Elected President and have Parliament elect the President, do not have a national election. I think the WP has sometimes espoused this view, too. I think it is most unwise. The President has a role. It is a difficult system to get right, but we have to adjust it and try and get it more right than wrong over a period of time, and not abandon the project altogether and leave ourselves naked and defenceless against all the difficulties which the Elected President enables us to avoid. But I think it is timely for us to review specific aspects of the Elected President system, and I would like to set out three areas which merit further consideration. Before I do that, I would like to state upfront that the Government has a very good and constructive working relationship with this President, President Tony Tan. We are not proposing this review because of any dissatisfaction with the present working arrangements or any difference of views between the Government and the President. But we are doing this because any adjustments that may be necessary for the future should be made in good time, in order to give us time to think it over in a thoughtful, mature and unpressured way and in order to keep the Presidency a robust and effective institution in our political system. I have shared the Government's thinking with President Tan so he knows what I am going to say today. He has noted it and, in due course, he will formally express his views when we have more definite proposals. What are the three things which I think we should consider? First, we should review the qualifying criteria for the Elected President.[+3 sentences] The Elected President is elected to fulfil specific constitutional duties. And to be capable and qualified in carrying out those duties, he needs to have that experience to be able to judge and to make decisions. So, there are qualifying criteria spelt out in the Constitution. The concept was to peg it at people with senior management competence and experience, because they have to assess and decide on financial proposals which will involve billions of dollars, and they must judge and decide to approve or reject appointments of people into posts which will involve running big organisations, making decisions, investing, managing and spending billions of dollars.[+5 sentences] The person who is making those decisions must understand what those decisions are, what is involved in that job before he can decide whether a person is fit to do that job or not, and before he decides whether a spending proposal is right or wrong, justified or otherwise. Therefore, the candidates are required, under the Constitution, to have held key appointments themselves, like Speaker, the Chief Justice, Judges, Ministers, or Permanent Secretaries. That is in the public service. Or, in the private sector, to have held Chairman or CEO posts running large and complex companies, like Singtel, or, at that time, we said, the Public Utilities Board (PUB), because PUB was one entity before we had broken it up. The principle remains valid, but I think the details may need to be brought up to date. Just based on inflation alone, $100 million in 1990 would be equivalent to $158 million today. But it is much more than inflation, which is at issue, because over 25 years, our economy has grown, Government spending has gone up, Government Reserves have accumulated, the size and the complexity of the organisations which are subject to the second key of the President have grown many-fold. Apart from the key appointments in the Government, the President also has a second key on organisations like the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Temasek Holdings, GIC, the Housing and Development Board (HDB), and JTC.[+3 sentences] These are big organisations and they have grown much bigger over the last 25 years. I have prepared a table which shows this. Mdm Speaker, with your permission, may I ask the Clerk to distribute the table to Members?
Mdm Speaker10 words
[+1 sentence]Yes, please. .
Mr Lee Hsien Loong1896 words
[+5 sentences]The table shows a list of items with their values in 1990 and their values today. The first row shows the Consumer Price Index. If we take 1990 as 100, today it is 158, which is what I have told the House. If we look at our nominal GDP, in 1990, it was S$72 billion. Today, it is nearly S$400 billion. Our Government spending, the Government Budget, has gone up from S$11 billion in 1990 to S$68 billion in 2015 − six times.[+14 sentences] CPF balances, members' money − S$41 billion to S$275 billion. MAS' Official Foreign Reserves − this is in US$ because these are foreign Reserves and we are holding them overseas − US$28 billion increased to US$248 billion. Temasek, which is one of the companies on the Fifth Schedule protected by the President, in 1990, they were worth about S$10 billion. Today, the Net Porfolio Value is about S$266 billion. I also put in Singtel − which is one of the jobs which you would consider comparable and suitable as experience to become the President − I do not have the figure in 1990 because they had not yet been corporatised and listed. In 1993, it was S$500 million of paid-up capital. Today, it is S$2.6 billion. If you look at their Net Tangible Assets, it has gone from S$2.5 billion to S$25 billion. The amount and complexity have gone up. On the other hand, if you look at the qualifying criteria and how many companies qualify, that is, S$100 million paid-up capital − I do not have the 1990 number, but in 1993, it was 158. Back in 2010, it was 1,200. Today, it is 2,100-plus. More and more people, on paper, are qualified to do this job. During the Presidential Election, there is the Presidential Elections Committee which vets candidates to make sure they are qualified, and it is chaired by the Chairman of the Public Service Commission (PSC), and in the last election, the Chairman was Mr Eddie Teo. After the last election, he sent me a report and I quote from the report, paragraph 6.1 in the conclusion: "In the course of its work, the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) noted that there were about 1,200 registered companies with a paid-up capital of $100 million or more in 2010." As I pointed out today, it is 2,100.[+4 sentences] It has gone up further. "The criterion of $100 million in paid-up capital in Article 19(g)(2)(iii) of the Constitution was set more than 20 years ago. It is therefore unclear whether or not, with inflation, the threshold continues to reflect the original intent of the requirement. The PEC noted that in the Report of the Select Committee on the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment No 3) Bill, the examples of PUB and Telecoms…", presumably the Telecommunications Authority of Singapore, "…were cited as benchmarks against which organisations should be compared to for size and complexity. However, the smallest companies in Singapore with a paid-up capital of $100 million today would fall well short in both size and complexity. This is an issue that the Government may wish to review." I agree with Mr Eddie Teo that we should review the qualifying criteria for candidates to be President.[+4 sentences] The second aspect of the Presidency that we should review is examining how we can build up the Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA) further. The CPA is an integral part of the two-key mechanism. The Council assists and advises the President in exercising his powers, so that the system does not solely rely on the judgement of a single person acting alone but, rather, on a President well advised by a team of wise and experienced men and women. As Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong once described it, together, the President and the CPA would play the role of "a goalkeeper together with a team of defenders". Over time, as the new institutions of the President and the CPA established themselves, we should consider if the CPA's advice should come to count for more in the decisions made by the President, so as to make our governance system more stable.[+16 sentences] We have to strike a delicate balance because the President must have the right to exercise his veto powers, even against the advice of the CPA. He has thought about it. He believes that he should say "no". He should have the right to say "no". But a veto which is supported by the CPA should carry more weight than a veto which the CPA disagrees with. Let me say that again. Whether or not the CPA agrees that something should be vetoed, the President should have the discretion to say, "I believe it is right, I want to veto". But if the President says, "Veto", and the CPA says, "Yes, I agree", that is a heavy veto. If the CPA says, "No, let it through", and the President says, "Regardless, I want to veto", the President's view must carry weight. But the weight in this instance will be less than if the CPA had agreed with him. I think it makes sense. In fact, some parts of the Constitution are drafted like that today. For example, decisions on supply bills or key appointments, the President has to consult the CPA. The supply bill is the bill when we vote money for the Government to spend during the year. If the CPA concurs with the President's view, the veto is final, that is the end of the matter. The Government must redo its sums or put up a new candidate. But, if the CPA disagrees with the President, then the President can still veto but Parliament, in this case, can override his veto with a two-thirds majority. So, if the veto is unilateral, the CPA thinks it is okay, the President says "no", the Government can come back to Parliament, make the argument, explain its position and try and get a two-thirds majority to pass it through. This applies to supply bills, it applies to key appointments, but this arrangement does not apply uniformly when the President exercises custodial powers in other areas. We should study if the CPA's views should be given greater weight in more areas and, if so, how this can be done.[+3 sentences] The third aspect we should examine of the Elected President is how we can ensure that minorities will have a chance to be elected to the office of President. The President is the Head of State, he represents all Singaporeans in our multiracial society. I think it is important that minorities have a chance to be elected President, and that this happens regularly. Since we introduced the Elected President system and brought it into effect in 1991, we have not had a Malay President.[+3 sentences] From 1999, we had an Indian President, Mr S R Nathan, who served for two terms with distinction. Mr Nathan was elected unopposed both times. But in future, when Presidential Elections are more likely to be contested, and even hotly contested, I believe it will become much harder for a minority President to get elected. It is the same problem with Parliamentary Elections which led us to create GRCs to ensure a minimum representation of minority race Members in Parliament. I think we should consider a similar mechanism for Presidential Elections to ensure that minorities can be periodically elected if we have not had a particular minority as President for some time. These are three broad areas to look into: (a) to bring the eligibility criteria up to date; (b) to strengthen the CPA; and (c) to ensure minority Presidents periodically. I will appoint a Constitutional Commission to study these issues and make recommendations. It will be chaired by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon and include distinguished jurists, academics and corporate executives. The Commission will look into each of these issues, take views from the public and, in due course, it will recommend how we can improve the system – I hope by the third quarter of this year.[+16 sentences] And then, depending on the Commission's recommendations and the Government's response to them, we will follow up to table any legislation which may be necessary within this year. Mdm Speaker, Singapore has had a good 50 years because we have had good policies and good politics, and because the Government has never shied away from doing the right thing and putting issues squarely to the people, persuading the people to come along and do things that ultimately benefited them and benefited Singapore. Despite unpromising conditions at Separation, we have developed a political system that has worked well for us and we have evolved it carefully along the way to suit our changing needs and circumstances, in the light of our growing experience. But our responsibility is not only to keep our political system working today, but to make sure that it works for the longer term. Nobody can predict the future or tell how our needs will change. If our system is to serve future generations well, then it is our responsibility to keep it up to date – regularly recalibrated, adjusted and improved, while preserving the principles that it was built upon. At the beginning of this term after SG50, I am raising this issue now because my aim is to strengthen the system to make it more open and contestable, to keep it accountable to the people, to go into the next 50 years with the best chance of making a success of Singapore. We have to have a system where all the political parties, and especially the PAP, have to fight hard, stay lean and responsive to the people, and win the right to govern afresh at each election. A system where Parliament will always be the place to debate and decide important policies, where alternative views always have a place, the Opposition will never be shut out, and the Government will be held to account, so that the Government of the day – whoever that may be – is always kept on its toes. We must not assume that future governments, whether it is PAP or a different party forming the Government, will never falter. In fact, it is not possible for any political system to guarantee a country political stability and prosperity forever. But we can make such a happy outcome more likely if we design our system carefully and correctly around the core principles: ensure high-quality Government; keep our politics open and contestable; maintain accountability for the Government; uphold a multiracial society; and institute suitable stabilisers and checks-and-balances in the system. In 50 years' time − SG100 − I think many of us will not be around. We do not know what Singapore will be like or whether the PAP will still be in Government. But whatever the shape of Singapore 50 years from now, today, we can and must help Singapore build a political system that will give us the best shot at prosperity and progress over the next 50 years. A system that is not set in stone, a system that is not fixed and unchangeable, but one that future generations can continue to improve and adapt in order to meet their future needs. That way, future Governments can work with future citizens of Singapore to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our people.[+1 sentence] Thank you, Mdm Speaker.
The Minister of State for Communications and Information and Education (Dr Janil Puthucheary)2513 words
[+2 sentences]Mdm Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to join this Debate. I would like to tell you about the events I experienced one Saturday in July 2015, six months ago. I was at the Padang as I had the privilege to be the reserve commander for the PCF Marching Contingent of the National Day Parade (NDP).[+36 sentences] On that particular day, Ms Ellen Lee, the contingent commander, was on the parade square. The parade had already started. It was one of our dress rehearsals and I was at the reserve form-up point with the other reserve commanders. The reserve form-up point was at the entrance to a tunnel through the stands. Above us were the seats with thousands of Singaporeans. Behind us were rows of portable toilets. Around me were the medical teams, stretcher bearers, and other members from the community contingent – what was called by one observer – the "Aunty-Uncle" contingent. A little bit further behind was a group of warrant officers, the Enciks who had trained the various groups out marching on parade. They were relaxed. This was something they had done many times before. Many of us were engrossed with our mobile phones. Just in front of me, to my left, were three young men – soldiers, also on reserve duty, ready to go out on the parade square, if needed. Their uniforms were white and starched, their boots shined to a mirror finish – the brass all buffed and polished. I was reminded of my three sons, especially as those three in front of me were engaged in a very familiar mix of bravado, aggression and camaraderie that seems to strike any group of young men when they are away from the influence of their mothers, girlfriends and wives. They were joking and poking, pushing and shoving and enjoying each other's company. Then, the music started. The first few bars of "Majulah Singapura", we all turned to face the flag that we could not see. Ahead and above, and around us were the stands full of people who could not see us. We began to sing. We began to sing as we had done many times before. But something was different on that afternoon. Maybe it was the excitement of the dress rehearsal, or maybe it was just the sense of whimsy or foolishness on the part of one of those soldiers, but these three young soldiers on my left started to sing as loud as they could, pouring all their energy – not shouting – but putting every ounce of effort into singing, using every fibre of their being. You could hear all the passion and pride that they could muster. Maybe they were egging each other on. Maybe they thought they would try and drown out the thousands of spectators that they could not see. Whatever the reason, the aunties and uncles around me – I will include myself in that – would not be left behind. We also raised our voices louder and louder and louder. Although I could not turn around to check, in my mind's eye, the Enciks behind us were also singing louder, louder and louder. If you have ever sung in a choir, there is a special feel in the air when everyone gets it right, and the timing is just perfect with everybody in step. It is the same feeling you get if you are rowing a boat, paddling for a dragon boat and, suddenly, all strokes fall into perfect time and the boat surges forward. The choir lifts their voices a little bit more, not because of any effort, but because everybody had fallen into step perfectly. The moment does not last long, but it feels special, almost magical. So, louder and louder we sang, until it was a roar – a roar full of pride and full of passion, unseen and, perhaps, unheard. When the last notes faded away, we all fell silent. We looked around, smiled, acknowledged with the combination of joy and awkwardness that you get when you share a public experience with strangers. But we all agreed that we had felt something special that afternoon. When I left the Padang later that evening, I had an extra spring in my step and a song in my heart. I was rushing back to my constituency to join the Punggol-Damai Residents' Committee for an SG50 celebration. They had worked very hard for many weeks, decorating their estate, building a little kampong, putting up flags everywhere, some big, some small. It was a great event, a huge event, with several hundred families having a great time.[+3 sentences] As the night came to an end, we were in the multi-purpose hall in the HDB estate singing. I found myself standing on the floor in front of the stage. It was the last event, and the stage was filled with kids. The last song, of course, was going to be "Majulah Singapura".[+12 sentences] So, as the Committee was getting ready to play the music, I turned around and found a small boy, just on the stage behind me, with his head just behind my ear. I said, "We're going to sing Majulah Singapura. Are you going to sing?" I asked him. He said, "Yes, uncle! Yes, uncle." "Do you know the words?" I said. "Yes, yes, uncle, I know all the words!" he replied, full of excitement and energy. We began to sing. He did not know the words, not at all. You could vaguely make out the tune, but that was about it. Even worse, he did not know the timing. So, as the first verse finished with "Berjaya Singapura", there is that pause into the short silence between the verses, you could hear this young voice with all his energy and gusto trying to sing, and trying loudly to sing but you could not really hear the words he was singing – completely out of time.[+16 sentences] And his parents from the front row of the seats facing me, they began to have a worried look on their faces, looking like they wanted to do something or fix something. I smiled at them and shrugged, it was okay, he was trying his best, he was doing his best, and everything was okay, a little child trying his best to sing our Majulah Singapura. We all smiled, we all sang and throughout this song, we heard his little voice trying harder and harder to get it right. Maybe he thought that if he sang a little bit louder, all the Aunties and Uncles would follow him. We also sang louder and louder. When we finished, we all laughed, we high-fived, we hugged. On my way back home, I was thinking about the two versions of the song: one in perfect time, synchronicity; one completely out of time, chaotic. But all sung with passion and pride, celebrating our National Day. I have told the story many times, to family, to friends, to my students, to my residents. And after a while, I began to think about how people would respond to the story, how they were responding to my story, as I watched them. Their expressions, their emotions, what they said and, in particular, I wondered about what questions might be asked when someone heard my story. And there was one question that occurred to me. One particular question that would be very natural in many parts of the world, if you heard the story. Maybe it would have been natural to ask this question 50 years ago in Singapore, maybe 10 years ago, maybe five years ago. I began to look out for the story, telling the story deliberately waiting to see if someone was going to ask me, watching and waiting. I was never asked this question. In the Singapore of today, and in the six months I have been telling the story and boring my grassroots leaders with it, I have never even once been asked about the race of these boys – the soldiers and the little boy.[+1 sentence] I have never been asked what race they were. What does that say about the Singapore of today, that when I tell a story like this, it does not occur to anyone to ask, because it does not change the story – the story is about Singapore and Singaporeans, regardless of race, language or religion.[+16 sentences] We have a unity of purpose to build the Singapore we imagine. Our country is not a utopia and I am under no illusions about the reality of race relations in our society. I am under no illusions. There are difficulties, there are frictions, there are tensions and there are troubles. There remains much work to be done, but we all recognise the need to do the work together. We all want the same thing and we will deal with the problems together. This started as a simple but important story about our National Anthem, but by highlighting a question that was not asked, everything has changed. The words left unspoken have had a profound effect. You can listen to the story, imagine these young men singing the "Majulah Singapura", imagine their pride at being part of the NDP, imagine the excitement of the little boy on the stage. They will be alive at SG100, the soldiers will be approaching 70, maybe thinking about the next generation. The little boy will be in his 50s, maybe thinking about his second career. Between them, they will build the next 50 years of our country. They are Singaporeans. Listening, you embrace them as Singaporeans through and through. We sing the same songs, we eat the same foods, wear the same uniforms, believe in the same values that drive our country. We, together, will stand shoulder to the shoulder, face the future and all that the unknown may bring, regardless of race, language or religion. And listening to my story, you understand this, you believe this, you embrace this. But what if one of those boys is a new citizen?[+7 sentences] What if one of them is gay or an atheist? Or maybe he is someone who takes his religion very, very seriously? Maybe he embraces a different set of political views or is very conservative? Does the story change? Is he less Singaporean? Listening to my story, are you still convinced that he will stand beside you as a comrade and as a brother? Will you stand beside him as a fellow citizen? What does it mean "Regardless of race, language or religion"?[+13 sentences] In those few words, six words, are captured thousands of years – race, language or religion. Thousands of years of history, hundreds of wars, conflicts of blood shed between our races, of fights between other countries and religions, places we are not a part of. In those few words are described hundreds of millions of people outside our borders with whom we share history, heritage, ties of ethnicity and culture. We do not ignore all of this, we do not pretend it does not exist. But we look through, we look ahead and imagine a future where we have unity regardless of our history. If we can do this for race, language and religion, why not for other fault lines, other divisions amongst us? We will always have differences among us and between us. I will not suggest we can pretend otherwise, nor should we. Often, these things that I describe are facts that determine our personality, determine our world views. We need to embrace this, we need to work through this together. Over the next 50 years, what will be the new fault lines? How will the old divisions of race, language and religion be interpreted? And potentially, how will these basic differences be exploited by those seeking to sow strife and divide us? How we deal with fault lines of division, depends less on the Constitution or our pledge and more on our deeds, our actions and our words – words that are said, words that are held back.[+12 sentences] For sometimes, the things that are not said have a deep impact. To create a division, to create a proverbial line in the sand, is very easy, all it takes are a few words – them and us. It is easy to separate people, all it takes are a few words and that line in the sand is drawn. Sometimes accidentally, sometimes deliberately. And every line in the sand is a problem, every line in the sand can become a gulf too large to cross if given enough words, enough malice. A wall is created and before, there was just space. All it takes are a few more words and then there is no going back. It becomes impossible or difficult to forget and forgive. But every line in the sand, every potential division, is also an opportunity and a chance – a chance to reach across and offer the hand of friendship and to face another across the line and speak words of unity. Every difference amongst us is an opportunity to show the world and each other that our diversity is our strength. Fifty years ago, our nation was founded in troubled circumstances. Events that highlighted an important principle that the founding generation took to heart, and used to write our pledge and build Singapore. The idea that in our country, there would be no second-class citizens.[+1 sentence] We would all be equal. No child in Singapore should grow up believing that they are a second-class citizen.[+3 sentences] And that will take work to ensure that we get it right now and prevent it from ever happening. There must be no second-class citizens. Whatever the future, we must hold to that idea. After a short 50 years, we are one of the most religiously diverse countries in the world, and our racial harmony and integration are celebrated and something to be rightly proud of.[+4 sentences] Returning to my story, it began as a warm fuzzy tale about National Day and the Anthem and some very enthusiastic boys. Then, it became an example of the extent of our racial integration. I spoke only a few more words and it became a platform for some difficult and contentious questions. But I hope we can return to that first chapter, the initial frame that with the right circumstances, with the right drive and passion, we can roar "Majulah Singapura" and that we must do so as one united people. If we are to build a Singapore with a unity of purpose, a nation that sees our diversity as strength, then it is our deeds and our words, spoken and held back that will matter most.[+1 sentence] There is still much to be done and many challenges ahead, but we are a forward-facing purposeful people. We are a people who want unity and harmony and are prepared to put in the hard work to make this happen. We are a people who understand that our diversity is our strength.[+2 sentences] Together, and only together, we will prevail. Madam, I support the Motion.
Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar (Ang Mo Kio)1822 words
[+4 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the Motion of Thanks to the President for his address at the Opening of this 13th Parliament. The President reminded us of the need to continue our hard work and commitment in making this nation succeed – be it in safety and security, renewing our economy, nurturing a caring and magnanimous society, rejuvenating our urban landscape, or strengthening our Government-and-people relations in nation-building. In my speech, I would like to address two related areas – that of opportunities and that of inclusivity and social cohesion. I am deeply heartened and grateful for the opportunities available to Singaporeans, particularly through the SkillsFuture initiatives. SkillsFuture will help to prepare us for the future economy through various skills, be it re-skilling, up-skilling, second-skilling, deep-skilling and even multi-skilling.[+7 sentences] Mdm Speaker, please allow me to deliver this part of my speech in Malay. (In Malay): I am pleased to see more and more of our Malays who are now becoming entrepreneurs. This shows courage – in seeking opportunities and exploring uncharted territories. Many are also displaying the "never say die" spirit. Although faced with failures, they kept trying, and improving themselves and their skills. I hope that many amongst us will draw lessons from the experiences of these entrepreneurs, not just from their courage in becoming entrepreneurs, but also their bravery and their willingness to never give up. I would like to encourage our entrepreneurs to share their experiences and knowledge, so that, together, we can enhance the abilities and potential of our community. Presently, there are many assistance schemes for entrepreneurs by the Government, like the Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC), iSTART Accelerate and Catalyse Entrepreneurship (iSTART: ACE), and Capability Development Grant (CDG), among others.[+1 sentence] I hope that our community can seize this opportunity to know more about these schemes, and how their businesses and companies can be strengthened through these schemes. At the same time, the SkillsFuture initiatve – for instance, the SkillsFuture Credit and the SkillsFuture Earn and Learn – can help to improve and sharpen our skills in entrepreneurship as well as in other careers, with the aim of enhancing the income and employment opportunities for Singaporeans.[+10 sentences] Here, I would like to urge mothers, especially homemakers, to use their SkillsFuture Credits to gain new knowledge or skills, or to deepen them. These knowledge and skills may come in useful if our homemakers would like to go back to work, or in their efforts to enhance their family income. Further details about SkillsFuture Credit can be found in this brochure, which is being sent to every Singaporean aged 25 years and above. At the same time, I would like to suggest that organisations like Mendaki Sense and the Singapore Muslim Women's Association (PPIS) to lead a combined effort where skills upgrading programmes and courses using SkillsFuture Credit can be planned and implemented to help mothers, especially homemakers or single mothers, gain new or deeper knowledge and skills. With this, our mothers will not feel that they are alone in their efforts to enhance their knowledge and skills. When we empower our mothers, we will secure the future of our community through our children. The hand that rocks the cradle can change the world. (In English): With this, Mdm Speaker, please allow me to continue in English. The main focus of SkillsFuture is to help Singaporeans obtain relevant skills and experience that will prepare them for the future workforce and economy. I laud this move to look beyond paper qualifications and consider skills, experience and abilities other than the academics. However, at the same time, I am also concerned about one specific group of Singaporeans – our university undergraduates, particularly those in general degree programmes, who may not have industry-relevant training or skills. I would urge the MOE to look at how students in such programmes can benefit from cross-discipline attachments or internships, and opportunities for multi-skilling or second-skilling during the course of their undergraduate studies, so that they are more employable in future.[+5 sentences] There are increasingly many opportunities to recognise and reward diverse abilities. In our education system, there are multiple pathways that our children can explore and venture forth in. This is good but it will still take time before we are able to look beyond academic achievements and paper qualifications. Here, I echo the Acting Minister Ong Ye Kung when he cautioned against excessively viewing ourselves in numerical terms – whether in scores or ranking. I would like to add on to Acting Minister Ong's words and urge us to not simply reduce individuals to numbers but also to mere categories – you are either young, middle-aged or old; you are either a university graduate or not; you are either in the Express or Normal stream in school. Specifically, I would urge MOE to review the way we categorise our students in schools into academic streams – Express or Normal (Academic) or Normal (Technical).[+21 sentences] Since we are already allowing lateral transfers and greater flexibility for students to take subjects at different levels of intensity or difficulty based on their abilities, we should extend that to remove the labelling of students altogether, according to academic streams. My concern is that pigeon-holing students into Express or Normal (Academic) or Normal (Technical) streams will create and entrench the self-limiting belief in each student that they are only as good as the academic stream they are in. Yes, it will be a lot messier not to have academic streams, but neatness or expedience cannot be the reason for creating a less than optimal environment – for abilities to flourish and full potential to be achieved without imposing artificial limits. While the Government has taken the lead in recognising different peaks of excellence, as a society, we still have some way to go in accepting, recognising and rewarding different talents. Yet, sometimes, opportunities come not so much because of abilities or prior experience, but because of inherent factors – be it age, sex, or even race. Age, sex, or race are characteristics that we cannot quite change, but which, to a certain extent, have influence on employment opportunities or job promotion. There are older Singaporeans who are worried about being retrenched because of their age or because of competition from younger co-workers. A resident I know, Joseph, was retrenched from his job as a C-suite executive as a result of budget cuts and job restructuring in the company. However, he was convinced it was because of his age. He was 58 years old when he lost his job. In light of a slowing economy, these concerns are very real. In addition, I have met Indian and Malay Singaporeans who have expressed their worry that a slowing economy would mean either opportunities for employment or job promotion for members of our minority races, would be even more difficult. This may simply be a perception, but the perception that is observed or heard often enough becomes entrenched as a reality. Although I have reassured them that our Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices (TAFEP) will not allow such race-based discrimination from happening in the workplace, their worry still exists. There is always the worry that because of how different you look, you can be denied of opportunities. It is important for us to see beyond our physical differences and see the person within. We need to recognise that our abilities and potential come from what is in our hearts and minds, and are not determined by our physical appearance, by the colour of our skin or by what is covering our heads. I have spoken about this before, but it is important enough for me to say it again. I hope that those in positions of influence or power can show that these worries and concerns will remain unfounded. It is necessary for us to continue our efforts to enhance social cohesion and inclusivity in our common spaces, such as in the community, at our workplaces, and particularly in our education institutions and schools. In this, I have two suggestions. First, in teaching Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) in schools, I propose that this be changed from being taught in Mother Tongue classes to common lessons or in the form classes at the primary school level. The rationale for teaching CCE in Mother Tongue classes may be to address racial issues or values more sensitively, but I believe that after 50 years of nation-building, our society is mature enough and sensible enough to discuss sensitive issues pertaining to character or citizenship openly and honestly, starting with our children who are even more race-blind.[+1 sentence] Let us be sensible and honest enough to discuss issues of discrimination, stereotypes, perceptions and social cohesion openly with our children. Second, I would like to once again propose that our Special Assistance Plan (SAP) schools be opened up to admit students who do not take Chinese as a Mother Tongue language but who meet the school's cut-off point for the PSLE. I would propose that as a requirement of admission, these students will have to take Chinese as a third language from Secondary 1 to Secondary 4.[+4 sentences] This will enrich the racial make-up of students in the SAP schools and create more opportunities for multi-racial interactions and learning, making it more authentic and representative of society at large. As a parent and educator, I believe that taking Chinese as a third language and exposure to the Chinese culture for more of our children will help to prepare them to venture into a big market in China and other Chinese-speaking economies for employment and entrepreneurial opportunities in future. I am not asking for the SAP schools to be abolished. Far from it. I am asking for the SAP schools to be enhanced and for its social environment to be enriched. I am asking for MOE to pilot this in one or two SAP schools to see how it works out.[+8 sentences] If it does not, then at least we have tried. There are no sacred cows in so far as enhancing our education system to benefit as many of our children as possible. To me, this will be a significant move towards greater inclusivity in our schools and among our children as current strategies for social cohesion in SAP schools are, at best, intermittent and simulated. In conclusion, there are still areas of sensitivities in our society that we need to address sensibly and tactfully. But we cannot continue to just be cautious or careful about these sensitivities at the expense of not making progress. The President's address reminded us of the opportunities and potential we have ahead of us, amidst existing vulnerabilities and sensitivities. Let us work harder and together to minimise our vulnerabilities and at the same time, strengthen the social fabric that binds us as we move ahead to many more years of nation-building. With that, Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion.
Dr Teo Ho Pin (Bukit Panjang)1718 words
[+14 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the Motion. I support the President's call for all Singaporeans to work together to build a better Singapore. As we progress as a sovereign country comprising Singaporeans of different races and religions, we must stay united as one people and work towards improving the quality of life for all Singaporeans and future generations of Singaporeans. Madam, Singapore is ageing rapidly. In the next 50 years, we must focus on making Singapore a holistic, healthy and happy city. We must introduce and encourage innovative technologies allowing Singaporeans to access information easily for lifelong learning of new skills. We must provide a safe living and working environment and protect the vulnerable, especially the elderly and children in our society. We must set up informative and alert systems that will further strengthen our emergency rescue and healthcare support services. In this way we will be able to provide Singaporeans a better environment for them to grow in and live in. Madam, I propose five steps for the Government to consider towards building a holistic, healthy and happy Singapore. First review the planning concepts and norms for land use. Madam, I understand that the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has adopted the "live, work and play" concept in the development of our concept and master plans for land use in Singapore. However, many Singaporeans still have to travel long distances from their homes to their workplaces as well as for food and leisure. To better fulfil the needs of our people, we need to review the planning concepts and norms so that residential areas, business clusters and leisure amenities can be planned and built at suitable locations. This may entail the following transformations to our urban landscape.[+1 sentence] First, high-density residential clusters. We need to facilitate the change of land use and increase plot ratio for residential developments at key transport hubs.[+2 sentences] This involves redeveloping and upgrading of HDB towns into large high-rise and high-density residential clusters. Second, future economy business clusters. We need to provide more incentives for businesses to move into future economy clusters. This involves relocating existing supporting businesses and building new business clusters for future economy industries including smart city technologies, medical and pharmaceutical manufacturing or finance and professional services.[+13 sentences] Third, leisure amenities clusters. We can locate or relocate leisure amenities near MRT stations for better accessibility. For example, building mega hawker centres, sports complexes, shopping malls, seafood centres and parks near MRT stations. Next, enhancing "live, work and play" in Singapore. Madam, we need to enhance the quality of life for Singaporeans to live, work and play in Singapore. First, we must build quality homes; second, we must provide good connectivity for Singaporeans to travel to work conveniently; and third, there must be accessible leisure facilities for Singaporeans and their families to enjoy. Madam, I commend HDB for building quality flats for Singaporeans. With better designs for new flats and the upgrading of older flats, HDB has provided a high-quality living environment for Singaporeans. In addition, by building neighbourhood town centres which provide a wide range of services, HDB and neighbouring private estate residents enjoy affordable products and services at great convenience. However, as HDB towns grow, more flats are built away from the neighbourhood centres. As a result, some neighbourhood centres have become less accessible to residents, especially the elderly who live further away. This problem will be exacerbated as our residents age – travelling the distance to town centres may be challenging to these seniors. Madam, we need to enhance the infrastructure of our HDB towns to make our neighbourhood centres more accessible. To achieve this, we need to set up a planning unit to develop infrastructure connectivity master plans for all HDB towns.[+6 sentences] Today, our road pavements are cluttered with road signage, electrical installations, dustbins, trees with roots uplifting pavements and many other installations that impede easy access for pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair-bound users. Many of these installations built many to different Government agencies. We must align these agencies in order to build wider walkways and cycling paths promoting accessibility for all users. Madam, we can also build more high-rise residential buildings and basement car parks. This will free up more surface land areas for gardens, paths, walkways and cycling paths. It will provide more green lungs within our towns and reduce the heat island effects – that is the warming of our built environment. In this regard, the Ministry of National Development (MND) and the HDB can explore innovative solutions to build flats above 40 storeys and replace surface and multi-storey car parks with basement car parks.[+7 sentences] We must aim to make every HDB town into a town where people can live comfortably, access town amenities easily and have leisure facilities near their homes. Madam, as part of increasing accessibility and connectivity, we should also review our public transport, infrastructure and services. I support the Ministry of Transport’s (MOT) proposal to build the North-South Expressway and provide dedicated lanes for buses, cyclists and pedestrians. We should also consider adding capacity to our existing expressways by building two-tier expressways. The upper tier can have dedicated lanes for express buses and cars while the lower tier expressways can have dedicated lanes for motorcycles and goods vehicles. This segregation will ease the flow of traffic and may help to reduce accidents. Madam, we should also review our existing express bus or train services and consider increasing their capacities. Better connectivity of express buses and trains from residential clusters to business districts, shopping areas or the airport will encourage more people to take public transport. We can also introduce weekend public transport day pass at an attractive price such as $2 for multiple trips.[+6 sentences] This will encourage more people to take public transport as they spend the day out with their families on the weekends. Third, building a sustainable built environment. Madam, Singapore is a land-scarce country. We must implement the correct policies to build a sustainable environment. Climate change and environmental pollution will have adverse effects on our people and economy. We have to prepare and protect ourselves from such changes, in particular, flooding, global warming, haze, and air pollution. As Singapore's economy moves up the value chain, there will be more people working in indoor air-conditioned work environments, such as offices and laboratories.[+1 sentence] This will increase the demand for energy. I propose that the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) step up the Green Mark Building Scheme and provide more incentives for all buildings to go green or become zero-energy buildings.[+7 sentences] In addition, we should further encourage the use of solar energy in powering our building utilities. I understand that HDB has piloted the use of solar energy for HDB blocks. We should maximise the solar energy potential in Singapore and install more solar panels at our roofs. This will not only reduce heat transfer into our buildings but also promote the use of "green" energy and reduce our reliance on less sustainable energy sources. Madam, as our society becomes more affluent, there will be higher demand for more electrical appliances in our homes. Many flat owners are installing larger capacity air-conditioning systems, larger capacity refrigerators, shower heaters, and home entertainment systems, increasing the demand for energy. To be sustainable, we need to focus on promoting Green Homes among Singaporeans. BCA can consider setting up a Green Mark for homes and provide incentives for homeowners to make their homes eco-friendly and sustainable.[+10 sentences] Fourth, building smart city and smart towns. Madam, we should aim towards building a holistic and smart city. New technology has been introduced to make cities smarter. These include sensors, CCTV, big data analytics and dashboard management systems. We must be careful and vigilant when adopting these technologies. We must first understand the present and future needs of our people and ensure that Singaporeans are ready to adopt and benefit from these smart city initiatives. In order to implement Smart City systems in Singapore, we must first prioritise the needs of our people and businesses. I would urge the Government to focus on three key areas to apply smart city initiatives. First, safety and security. Over the last few years, the town councils have been working closely with our Police to install CCTV at HDB void decks and common areas to enhance safety and security. To date, over 52,000 cameras have been installed in 8,600 HDB blocks.[+9 sentences] This has enhanced crime prevention efforts significantly. I wish to commend the Police for spearheading this project and their success in using the CCTV system to solve crimes. In view of the ever-present threat of terrorism, I urge the Government to introduce this project to more areas, especially at high human traffic locations. Second, healthcare services. Smart city systems can provide intelligent and alert systems and facilitate data collection to further strengthen our emergency and healthcare services. Big data analytics can provide real-time monitoring of trends. The information gathered will support preventive healthcare interventions and contribute towards developing response strategies in disease outbreak management. Third, town and facilities management services. In the areas of town and facilities management, smart technologies can provide 24/7 monitoring of the functionality of buildings or facilities and send alerts for faster response by the maintenance team. For example, the lift telemonitoring system at HDB blocks allows our lift technicians to respond within 25 minutes to rescue trapped passengers in lifts.[+8 sentences] Many Town Councils have also installed LED lightings with sensors to control lighting and save energy. I would urge the HDB to play a more proactive role in introducing more smart city applications in HDB towns. Fourth, building future vertical cities. Madam, 25 years ago, I visited a building research centre of a Japanese construction firm in Japan. I was indeed very impressed by the innovations and futuristic thinking of the Japanese researchers. They were already exploring construction techniques and materials to build vertical cities then. These vertical cities consist of skyscrapers towering 1,000 metres or 300 storeys. They house residential, commercial, office and recreational facilities within the same building, enabling users to live, work and play with convenience. With limited land for development in Singapore, we should start to consider building a vertical city which will allow Singaporeans to live their lives with greatest enjoyment.[+1 sentence] Together, we can build a great future for Singapore and Singaporeans.
Mr David Ong (Bukit Batok)2004 words
[+36 sentences]Mdm Speaker, the President calls on us to write the next chapter of the Singapore story together. I fully support this call. As we are all aware, all grand narratives may include elements of hyperbole, and parts may require further interpretation. In the telling, we allow ourselves some artistic licence. Members who have spoken before me have painted vivid pictures of how we need to evolve, with "faster legs" and hearts of lions. Even as we do so, we need to be careful of the myths that have been perpetuated as part of our national narrative. We need to look at the margins of this story, and see those who have not been included in our story so far. Recently, I came across an academic paper and the title interests me – as a politician. The paper was called "Stupid Public Policies and Political Myths". The writer, David Shultz, a professor at an American university, claimed that such political myths often appear to "capture the imagination of political elites." By "stupid public policies", he means policies that are repeatedly proposed, and which do not work, and which have been proven by social science research not to work. "Political myths", he said, are ideas which "seem to circulate everywhere, often repeated or held up as true," even though there is no hard evidence to support them. One "stupid policy" he cited was the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act, which held the provision allowing states to deny higher benefits to recent migrants to their state. This was based on the idea that welfare recipients migrate to the state simply to seek higher benefits. In Minnesota, which is a high-benefit state, officials have claimed that "busloads of individuals in Chicago would travel monthly to their state, which is about 800 kilometres away, to collect their welfare checks, only to return for the duration of the month." This picture appears probable. But the reality, however, is quite different. Research found that few recipients moved between states, and when they did do so, it was not a result of benefit levels. Poor people move, of course, but it is largely for the same reasons as rich people. They move for job opportunities, family reasons, or a fresh start in life. The writer said: "Much of the myth of welfare migration is premised upon several questionable assumptions. First, it assumes that the poor are rational calculators who make cost/benefit lifestyle decisions. Second, it assumes they have knowledge about different welfare benefit levels. Third, the benefit differences are enough to outweigh the costs of travel." He lists other assumptions which are questionable. Overall, the reality of migration is that it is the more affluent who move and who are mobile. Wrong assumptions are easy mistakes to make – it is wrong to assume that people would make socially deviant decisions once welfare benefits are made available to them. These may be the same assumptions that may lead a policy of differential benefits for single mothers. For example, we could assume that single mothers are rational calculators who will compute the cost and benefits of a divorce. Calculations that, say, just because they are eligible for the Jubilee Marriage and Parenthood Package, these women will stay married. Second, some may assume that the single mothers have knowledge about these differences in welfare levels. And third, some may assume that the benefit differentials are enough to outweigh their desire to separate from their abusive husbands, husbands to-be, or to reconcile irreconcilable differences. If we treat single mothers differently from divorced, widowed or married mothers, such a policy might be premised on the basis that the above assumptions were true. But social spending need not increase deviant behaviour. And we could, and should, treat single mothers as mothers, rather than singles. If our assumptions are false, I call on the Minister to consider making available to all mothers the same benefit across the board. Unwed mothers have half the maternity leave entitlements, do not get perks such as the Baby Bonus cash gift and the Parenthood Tax Rebates. They cannot have access to BTO flats or the ASSIST housing scheme and must also wait until they are 35 years old to buy a flat under the singles scheme. They are currently marginalised under our schemes, and more could be done to assist them in their time of need, especially if there are little or no grounds to differentiate them from other mothers.[+3 sentences] Madam, I would like to touch on our older workers. Our older workers are often perceived to be less productive, set in their ways, less healthy and cost more. Thus, we make them cheaper so that they can be more employable. Senior workers who put in the same amount of effort and time at work as everyone else, generating similar output, but receive less in their employer's CPF contributions or have their benefits and wages reduced at the point of re-employment.[+1 sentence] Why should older workers be discriminated in terms of their age, and see them more as a cost and liability, instead of seeing them as assets with experience and loyalty? We should do more to change the mindsets of employers and colleagues, and to enable and motivate companies to restructure their workplace to enhance the productivity of our senior workers. We can do more to entrench a fair and just re-employment framework, continue to narrow the gap of their employer's CPF contribution so as to enable them to embrace a productive and fulfilling ageing.[+5 sentences] Another assumption relevant to our Singapore society is that if you supply the option for 18-year-olds to devote themselves to sports, and to defer their National Service, there will be a floodgate of higher physical adult young men clamouring for this privilege. This assumption ignores the fact that these are young men who are willing to spend many hours a day training in their sports, enduring injuries and pain, and with that special talent, the necessary financial and mental resources to enable them to do this throughout their growing up years. Madam, when I first raised a Parliamentary Question on this issue of deferment of National Service (NS) for male athletes in 2013, the Minister for Defence replied that deferment may be granted in exceptional circumstance to sportsmen who are assessed to be potential medal winners and bring national pride for our country. Minister Tan Chuan-Jin, the SNOC's President, has said he would wish to "push the boundaries" with MINDEF to see how they can collectively take a step towards including more promising athletes into the band for consideration. How can we help spur more promising and deserving athletes to reach their full potential, to be considered? Right now, only two young men have obtained deferment – Joseph Schooling, at 21 this year, and probably in good stead for another two more Olympics; and Quah Ting Wen, at 19, is another. We need to cast a wider net to find promising individuals and team sportsmen who can potentially win medals for Singapore, not just at the Olympics, but also the Asian Games. Can we have an NS Scheme for our elite sportsmen that allows these elite athletes in their prime to bring glory to Singapore on the world stage and serve their NS obligations later?[+11 sentences] Mdm Speaker, thus far, I have spoken about exceptions. Whether you are termed as a single unwed mother or an Olympian athlete, you are exceptional to the policymaker because you do not fit policy rules. Here is a third class of exceptions. Since I have been a Member, I have had a resident who has come to see me every week during my Meet-the-People Session. She is in her 40s and divorced. She looks perfectly well, but her family left her, she cannot hold a job, she cannot take care of herself, and yet, she has no one else. She insists on seeing me first, even though there is a queue of people in front of her. When she does not get her way, she will throw a tantrum. Neighbours have problems with her too, contributing to both her and her neighbours' woes. Madam, she has mental difficulties and I want to help her. As a fellow Singaporean, she deserves a place at the table too. Mental health as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) refers to "a state of well-being" and "not just the absence of mental disorder". It was previously estimated by WHO that about 450 million people have a mental problem.[+11 sentences] Madam, I will speak more about this during the Budget debate, but for now, I would like to focus on what the President has said of "fostering a caring society that is sustainable over the long term." Welfare spending will have to be judicious; it cannot be a blank cheque, nor a dishonoured one. But building a society for all is not the job of the Government – it is yours, and mine. The President said, "Ours should be a society where the bonds of kinship run deep and people look out for one another. A society where we extend our concern for immediate families and friends to the broader community. A society consisting of generous hearts that treat one another with warmth and dignity." These are not matters of policy or of budget. These are moral choices we make as individuals. This is a choice especially true for the mentally ill. There are a few things we can and should do. First, the mental health stigma remains strong in Singapore. We need to address this with more mental health awareness and understanding to build an emotionally resilient and supportive society. There is a need for increased resource allocation to continue the development of services and infrastructure to ensure that we have sufficient capacity and capability to cater to the increasing mental health needs in Singapore.[+18 sentences] This would also include better understanding the mental health needs of vulnerable populations as well, for those with disabilities, persons from disadvantaged backgrounds, and catering adequately for their unique needs. Last, in terms of human resource, there needs to be a commitment to ensure there are sufficient psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health professionals who cater to persons with mental health problems. Mdm Speaker, I am sure that there are other Members of Parliament on both sides of this House who have experienced what I have with regards to residents who are mentally ill. We want to help but a long-term sustained solution is needed, and if I may add, a professional one. I am not a counsellor, and I do not know what a medical condition requires. For this particular resident of mine, I give her patience and a listening ear, keep working with the volunteer welfare organisation (VWO), the police and her neighbours. And over four years of trial and error, I have figured out a way to keep her steady – for another week. But Mdm Speaker, her life cannot be lived band-aided from week to week. Mdm Speaker, I started my speech by pointing out that "stupid policies" are not the domain of any one particular country. The Singapore Story is one of continuous experimentation, to test what works and to look at data without an ideological lens. This is our national signature. The Singapore Story at its birth was one of uncertainty and grim determination, of tight belts and hungry bellies. Today, we write the Singapore Story from what appears to be a position of strength. But we are a chain of people, as strong as the weakest among us. Even as we develop "faster legs and wiser minds", we are as weak as our fastest runner, as strong as the single mother, the mentally-ill. Whether rich or poor, Singapore is strong only if we stand together, strong only when no one stands at the margins, when we leave no one behind. This is our new Singapore Story, one which all of us must be proud to write. Mdm Speaker, I support the motion.
[+3 sentences]. (proc text)] [(proc text) 'We, the Parliament of the Republic of Singapore, express our thanks to the President for the Speech which he delivered on behalf of the Government at the Opening of the First Session of this Parliament.'." – . (proc text)]
The Acting Minister for Education (Schools) and Senior Minister of State for Transport (Mr Ng Chee Meng)2089 words
[+11 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion. As we enter SG51, the President, in his Address, has called for Singaporeans to renew our commitment to a better Singapore and write the next chapter together. Many Members have spoken at length about how Singapore remains very vulnerable to our external circumstances and our inherent limitations, such as land and population size. We are reminded, even as we stand from a position of strength today, that our survival depends on us continuing to be exceptional, in both our security and economy. In my view, the need for a strong security umbrella is never in doubt. I know the threats and dangers to our country quite well. We all must be clear-minded that our basic vulnerability of being small has not changed and will not change. A strong SAF is needed to deter potential adversaries and, together with our Home Team, safeguard Singapore. This is needed to enhance the peace so that our vital interests can be taken care of. A secure environment is critical not just for our safety but for our economy, our businesses, our very livelihood, our rice bowls. Our economy is vital to our survival. In this next chapter of our Singapore story, we are faced with a strategic challenge of an ageing population and a declining workforce. We need to recognise this impending change that is already at our doorstep and restructure our economy to adapt and sustain growth. The work of the Committee on the Future Economy will be critical to ensure that our economy can remain competitive and Singaporeans can continue to aspire to good jobs and opportunities.[+28 sentences] Mdm Speaker, these are the hard realities that Singapore faces. We have faced them for the past 50 years and we will continue to face them in the next 50. We will have to continue to take a pragmatic approach, adapt and evolve our policies so that we can continue to succeed economically and protect ourselves. But in a fast-changing world with growing diversities and forces that can pull our society apart, Singapore will need a source of inner strength to keep us united. I call this the Singapore Heartbeat. Singapore is commonly known for our "Head" because of our pragmatism. We are admired for our economic miracle with a well-run, efficient and well-organised city. Page: 30 Unfortunately, this may be a double-edged sword because, on the downside, many questioned if we have traded off some of our soul and heart in the pursuit of efficiencies. Those of us who are honest about it will probably admit to having asked ourselves if we are too cold, or whether there is a Singapore "Heart". Yet, last year, when our founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew passed on, we proved the world wrong when Singaporeans came together in solidarity. I think we surprised even ourselves at how much heart and spirit we have in all of us. We all remember our own experiences and the countless stories of how ordinary Singaporeans, together with their elderly parents and young children, came to queue patiently for hours to pay their last respects. Many were touched by the accounts of businesses and volunteers giving out food, drinks and umbrellas so that they could afford some creature comforts to fellow Singaporeans queuing in the blazing sun. I was personally moved. I was moved to see the hundreds of thousands lined up on that Sunday morning in the pouring rain, standing shoulder-to-shoulder to send Mr Lee off on a final journey across Singapore to the state funeral service. The Economist described this phenomenon as "an improbable patriotism". For once, others, looking in from the outside, saw what it meant to be Singaporean. They witnessed the pride of our people, who are usually not very expressive with our emotions. It was truly uplifting for me personally to witness a re-energised Singapore Heartbeat. This continued beyond the week of March and into the SG50 celebrations throughout the year, especially on our National Day on 9 August. Mdm Speaker, the President's Address spoke about the people uniting and resolving to move ahead together and the bonds of kinship that make us a caring society. To me, these are two dimensions of the Singapore Heartbeat. The heart is the central powerhouse that pumps life-giving oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body. While others consider us exceptional because of our Head, we must never forget that the Heart is our source of inner strength, our inner core. So, today, I would like to talk about how we can keep the Singapore Heartbeat strong and steady beyond SG50 and into the next phase of nation-building. First, we must keep united in vision and purpose, with one heart. The idea of the Singapore Heartbeat is that all of us are indispensable and complementary parts of a living system, our Singapore. Just as the different organs in the body have to work together for the body to be healthy, we, too, must find a place for every Singaporean to be part of the nation's progress. We must provide the opportunity for everyone to discover their strengths, develop them and then contribute to society in meaningful ways. This is the direction in which we must continue to evolve our approach to meritocracy, so that our system encompasses broader definitions of success and fulfilment.[+2 sentences] We must also ensure that every Singaporean has the opportunity to succeed and share in the nation's prosperity and progress, regardless of their starting point and background. Education has an important role to play. While we cannot ensure equal outcomes, we should provide children equal access to opportunities in our schools.[+7 sentences] We will create multiple pathways to success and do our very best to nurture each and every child so that they can reach the fullest of Page: 31 their potential, grounded on sound values and character. Many Members in this House have spoken on education. I thank all of you for your ideas and appreciate the high interest that you have given to education. This is a good indication that all of us place significant emphasis on education in our country on our children. On the social front, we have made significant efforts and must continue to ensure social mobility and strengthen social safety nets. After all, the well-being of our society, like the body, is measured by the health of all our parts. Similarly, the strength of our social fabric lies in the spirit of mutual support within our society. I recently saw a video of "Forget Us Not", which is an independent initiative organised by the Lien Foundation and Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. This initiative was kick-started in Yishun Chong Pang area to raise awareness of the growing number of persons with dementia. This is perhaps a tribute to our ageing population. It involves the Neighbourhood Police Centre and 80 Citizens-on-Patrol residents trained to detect, respond and assist persons with dementia whom they may meet during patrols. The initiative also organised education talks on dementia and conducted training sessions to over 6,000 people and businesses.[+22 sentences] To my mind, this is a wonderful example of a ground-up initiative that embodies the Singapore Heartbeat. It brings together the expertise and energy of different segments of the society for a common good. As our society matures, we should do more to encourage individuals and organisations to come forth and take collective ownership of the community they live in, for the Singapore that we all love. Second, for a steady Singapore Heartbeat, we must also nurture deep bonds of kinship. A heart is much more than just a muscle. The heart is also where we hold the things we cherish the very most and where our passions spring forth. Therefore, a strong Singapore Heartbeat is formed by deep bonds of kinship among our people and the pride of simply being Singaporean. These come from shared experiences of studying in the same school, playing together, living in the same community and, for our men, having served National Service together. We are connected by our everyday things that make us uniquely Singaporean, including our Singlish, perhaps our favourite chicken rice and even "choping" our seat in the crowded hawker centres with our tissue papers. The irony is, sometimes, it is only when we are away from home, away from Singapore, that we feel such a surge of pride when we bump into fellow Singaporeans overseas or when our overseas friends ask us about our country and the secret to our success. But pride and love for our country and fellow Singaporeans should not be just feelings that arise only because of the occasion or the atmosphere. That type of sentiment is not bad, but it is not sufficient for the long haul and does not anchor a nation. We do not want a racing, erratic heartbeat when we run a long-distance race. What we need is a steady and strong heartbeat that will take us forward in our journey. It involves us demonstrating our love for the country and to care for our countrymen on an ordinary day and in ordinary ways. A middle-aged taxi driver approached me recently for help to appeal to waive a parking fine. He told me he was driving a wheel-chair bound lady on an early morning shift. When they had arrived at her destination, at her flat, he left his car by the road so that he could personally wheel Page: 32 her all the way up to her high-rise flat, to her very doorstep. I applaud his act of kindness, going out of his way to help, at a certain level of personal sacrifice and personal inconvenience. Till now, I am not sure what has happened to his parking fine but I hope it got waived. But the point is, I think, sometimes, we tend to look out for the big gestures and forget that an ordinary act of kindness, like what this taxi driver did, forms the basic rhythm of the Singapore Heartbeat. Indeed, patriotism and love for our country are inseparable from caring and looking out for our fellow countrymen. But sometimes, such acts can go unnoticed amongst us and that is why, sometimes, people get cynical about the Singapore Heartbeat. This inspired a movement called The Hidden Good, started by two then-NSFs, Leon and Rovik, back in 2013 when I was still in the SAF.[+2 sentences] In a team of undercover journalists, they would go around the island with a hidden camera to capture everyday kindness and graciousness among Singaporeans. Then, they would upload videos or stories online. It could be simple things like someone giving up their seat on the MRT or someone helping a "popo" to reach the groceries on the top shelf in a supermarket. This youth movement has gained a lot of traction on social media, bringing to light the "hidden good" of society, bringing forth the Singapore Heartbeat.[+8 sentences] Our Singapore Heartbeat is about such altruistic acts, but it is also much more than that. We must build the Singapore Heartbeat to forge our collective core strength, collective resilience and cohesion. Together with our economic strength and a safe and secure environment, the Singapore Heartbeat will propel us forward to the next lap. Mdm Speaker, let me conclude by quoting a verse from our National Anthem, "Marilah kita bersatu; Dengan semangat yang baru; Semua kita berseru". In English, "Come, let us unite; In a new spirit; Let our voices soar as one." In the last five decades, our founding fathers and the generations before us have risen to this call – building a strong and free nation, a robust and prosperous economy and a peaceful and progressive society. Now, let us refresh and re-energise ourselves with a new spirit – a Singapore Heartbeat – to carry ourselves forward to SG100 and beyond. While we do face new and complex challenges ahead, we stand in a position of strength, compared to where we started off 50 years ago in 1965. We must continue to think wisely with our head to grow our economy. We must build our muscle to defend our country. At the same time, I call on this House and fellow Singaporeans to forge a strong Singapore heart. As long as our Singapore heart beats strong and steady, as long as we remain united as one people, I am optimistic and confident that we will build an exceptional and enduring Singapore for our children and our children's children.[+1 sentence] With this, Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion.
Mr Low Thia Khiang (Aljunied)1691 words
[+16 sentences]Mdm Speaker, the President asked an important question that should concern all Singaporeans in the next decade, "How do we ensure our island-nation remains a shining red dot and that our children and grandchildren will thrive?" Page: 33 In the last 50 years, the question that has occupied us was different. It was how to make sure our small island state and our multiracial people survive an unforgiving and hostile world. Our solution has been to discipline ourselves and to make sacrifices under a strong one-party top-down rule to guide the development of the economy and society. National institutions were built and tied closely to the PAP so that the leaders could steer the ship in the direction they thought best and everyone else was not to rock the boat. Times have changed. We are now a globalised society with a well-educated people. We are now seeking to ensure our children will thrive, not just survive. The ship model has to change. Singaporeans are aspiring to set sail on their own to fulfil their aspirations. Many have become leaders of their field. Global conditions are now very different. We need to be nimble and experiment as a country to search and seize the hidden opportunities in the next industrial revolution. We cannot simply rely on a group of so-called super talents in Government steering society from high above. For Singapore to continue to shine as a red dot, the people of Singapore must shine, Singaporeans must shine if Singapore is to chart our own path. The red dot will no longer be red if its people turn pale in the face of challenges or when faced with intimidation. Hence, nurturing a confident Singaporean people is the way to ensure that our children and grandchildren will thrive.[+1 sentence] Empowering confident Singaporeans. I believe the Government's SkillsFuture programme contains the DNA for empowering confident Singaporeans.[+1 sentence] What is this DNA? First, it is all-inclusive and does not discriminate on the basis of household background, income and employment status, educational attainment or age. Second, it trusts individual Singaporeans to be the ones who know themselves best and have the wisdom to know where they should head to next in life.[+5 sentences] The Government takes a step back and only provides counsellors to help those who want advice to help them decide. Third, it does not measure value in the narrow terms of economic value-add and caters to people's passion and interests. It has been said that one could even use the SkillsFuture credits to improve one's skills in calligraphy. Fourth, it exemplifies what some analysts call a nudge policy instead of the usual carrot-and-stick approach favoured by the Government. A nudge policy is said to be more effective for today's modern citizens and does not mean less or weaker Government. Although the $500 SkillsFuture credit is not a big sum, many people are exploring ways to use the credit.[+1 sentence] The credit is nudging Singaporeans to engage in lifelong learning. Fifth, and most importantly, the whole policy is focused on empowering Singaporeans, instead of trying to direct or steer them to fit into the planned economy or the needs of corporations.[+25 sentences] Empowering Singaporeans' future is something the Workers' Party will fully agree with. Madam, SkillsFuture is not enough. If we want to empower confident Singaporeans, this policy DNA – all-inclusive, trusting Singaporeans, seeing value broadly, nudging and empowering Singaporeans' future – should be applied to many other policy areas. It should be applied to at least the schools and the SME sector. These two are important and also because they are related to SkillsFuture. If the graduates of our schools are not self-driven and Page: 34 unafraid to take risks to pursue their interests, then SkillsFuture will become meaningless over time. It would also be a terrible waste of synergy if SkillsFuture helps Singaporeans to be more enterprising but the lack of funding and business opportunities, as well as high operating costs, continue to hamper the growth of the SME sector. In the schools, we need to nurture the thirst for learning and to revamp the syllabus and assessment methods so that we would not kill the natural curiosity of children. In the last few years, we have been discussing educational reforms in terms of reducing the stress on children. I think we might have been wrong in focusing on the symptoms of the problem. Empowering our students to think critically and creatively and to solve complex problems can also be stressful, but it will be a rewarding and fulfilling kind of stress. We have also been emphasising too much on cohesion as a value in schools and have not appreciated the importance of diversity, differences and even dissent for cultivating critical thinking and creativity in schools. Our curriculum and culture in schools should avoid influencing our students to think in narrow practical terms and not in relation to their interests and passion. Graduates of our schools should have a strong sense of self-driven purpose with the right values of tolerance and respect for diversity and differences. Although the ASPIRE Report is the correct road map, we have a long road ahead to redefine our long-ingrained notion of success from the focus on material gains and academic achievements to the pursuit of passion and happiness and the possession of different kinds of skills. Right politics as insurance. Madam, I agree with the President that we need to get our politics right. But while empowering confident Singaporeans is the way for us to ensure our shining red dot stays brilliant, getting our politics right is the way for us to insure against bad government and the failure of governance. The outcome of good politics is not just good policy and ensuring no gridlock. That would be a narrow technocratic view of politics. The outcome of good politics is the fostering of a political system that is able to withstand shock and turbulence, including the unexpected collapse or slow corruption of the ruling party, to ensure the continuity of the nation as a united people. Such a resilient political system must be able to make adjustments in the face of adversity. How should we do good politics to ensure a resilient political system and a confident nation? I believe the same principles making up the policy DNA for SkillsFuture are pertinent. First, our politics must be all-inclusive. National interest should be defined by consensus and the narrative should not be shaped and monopolised by the ruling party.[+8 sentences] The Government should recognise that there are many on-going and independent national conversations and should allow for differences in opinions to flourish without marking these conversations as disloyal and divisive. Second, our politics must be nudging instead of censoring. We should not be afraid of narrow interest-based politics, which I do not think we can avoid. In fact, if we look at SkillsFuture, it leverages on the so-called narrow interests of individual Singaporeans to pursue the collective good. Page: 35 Instead of rejecting narrow interest-based politics altogether, we need to nudge Singaporeans with narrow political interests to talk to each other. We should take such discussion as an educational process for Singaporeans to learn and to discern what is politics for the collective good of the nation and society. We should not design a system of shutting out discussion based on assumption that it is interest-based and narrow. Third, our politics must trust Singaporeans to be independent, rational and wise social actors. The Government and the ruling party must be able to let go and allow the building of independent institutions trusted by the people, regardless of race, language, religion and political affiliation.[+7 sentences] Our Universities are a case in point. For a while, they were tightly controlled for fear of their political influence. But since they were released and their autonomy protected, we can be proud of our Universities today for achieving world-class status. Today, our academics could disagree and criticise the Government and a few have even joined alternative political parties to contribute to the national debate and in politics. Our political system has not been destabilised as a result. Fourth, our politics must see value in the broadest sense. The outcome of good politics is not to ensure no gridlock. Excessive fears of political gridlock will lead to a society depending only on one political party, waiting for it to rot to the point of no return before any alternative party can be formed to take its place. We must see value in having alternative parties around and having the opportunities to develop. Alternative parties are valuable because they are an insurance against any collapse or failure of the existing ruling party.[+1 sentence] We cannot expect a political party to transform itself into a credible alternative party overnight. If this Government truly believes in preserving this shining red dot, then the onus is on it to build a political system conducive to the growth of alternative parties as well as the renewal of the ruling party.[+9 sentences] Political value must not be narrowly construed and concentrated in one political party. That is too dangerous for a small state such as ours. Chasing the Pledge. In all this talk about the future, SkillsFuture, Right Politics for FutureSg, we must not forget our foundational ideals enshrined in our national pledge – to build a democratic society based on justice and equality so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress. Mr Lee Kuan Yew said, I quote, "In 1966, my colleagues and I settled the words of our pledge. We did not focus on our navel or we would have missed that rainbow in the sky." Madam, no other nation in Asia has such lofty and progressive ideals. And it would be an injustice to the memory of our Founding Leaders and Pioneer Generation if we do not chase this ideal and keep focusing on the PAP navel instead. Singapore needs to choose and make our own destiny, but we cannot depend on one political party or the Government for charting and directing our path, if we are to be not just an exceptional, but an outstanding nation that is an example to all in Asia.
Ms Rahayu Mahzam (Jurong)2796 words
[+9 sentences]Mdm Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to join this debate. The President's Address was a rallying call to all Singaporeans to stand together in solidarity as we embark on the new chapter of nation-building. The realities of today's world merit Page: 36 a word of caution for the path ahead and the President, in his Address, said that we cannot expect an easy journey. He explained the challenges that lay ahead and put forth the question that was oft repeated in this House: how do we ensure that our island-nation remains a shining red dot so that our children and grandchildren can thrive? My short answer to this question is that we have to do whatever it takes whilst holding true to the values that define us as Singaporeans. We have to fiercely protect and preserve the gem of a nation that our forefathers have built over the years. Fight and strive we must, but I believe that it is of utmost importance that we abide by our values and principles. The President, in his Address, said that we must also have a shared understanding of what unites and binds us to one another. So, what are some of these values, principles and shared understanding? Members of this House had, over the past days, alluded to some of these, such as the generosity of spirit, resilience, valuing racial and religious harmony, meritocracy. This House had, in fact, debated on a White Paper on Shared Values in 1991 and passed it after a two-day debate.[+4 sentences] These shared values include: encouraging community support and respect for the individual; consensus, not conflict; and racial and religious harmony. Over time, we have developed a set of values and principles that makes us Singaporeans. Values guide us when we make our decisions for this country and, as each day unfolds with its multifaceted challenges, the expressions of these values will develop. Today, I would like to add a further perspective to these expressions. In this regard, I believe there is another value that should prevail as we chart our way into the next half century, that is, the sense of responsibility – both on the part of the Government as well as on the part of the Singapore citizen.[+10 sentences] I would like to demonstrate the importance of this in two areas: (a) caring for the vulnerable and disadvantaged in our community, and (b) diversity of views and discourse. In the area of caring for the vulnerable and disadvantaged, I believe that in principle, our common understanding on this is clear. We will help those in need. We will not leave anyone behind. We will shape policies to encourage social mobility. The challenge often lies in executing the principles and the policies. Over the years, the Government has made major shifts in social policy. The community and the state took on greater responsibility for individuals and families who needed social support. This was welcomed and provided a reprieve to many who struggled to keep afloat in this ever-changing world. However, the implementation of this provision of support is fraught with rules and dictates certain expectations of the recipients. For example, when one makes an application for financial assistance, checks are made on the income and contributions of his or her children or other family members.[+2 sentences] This is fair and reasonable but becomes tricky and sensitive when the family members have their own financial problems and are unable to support the individual. We should, in such instances, exercise discretion and provide the necessary support. Another aspect of this I would like to highlight is that the support for the individual or family is often only available till they are able to find employment and meet the means test. However, in some of these cases, the families are still struggling for a while after assistance has stopped.[+12 sentences] The early withdrawal of subsidies and assistance can easily bring a family back into financial difficulty, particularly when the family has had little opportunity to build up a reserve for the rainy Page: 37 day. We should look into how our social support networks and the community networks can continue to provide support and look out for these families. We should not leave them at the starting block of the track, but be there till they are able to sustain themselves. As we tread through the challenges that lie ahead, we should not regress and limit the efforts on improving social policy. The Government will need to continue to be responsible. We should not compromise on the social support that needs to be given to the individuals and families that require them. In fact, it is when times are hard that we need to be more compassionate. Having said that, I am aware that we are not sitting on a pot of gold which we can distribute at a whim. Resources are limited and there is a need to identify the ones who truly deserve the assistance. While the Government remains responsible to care for the people, the people, too, have a responsibility to take care of themselves. We all need to work hard, continue to improve our skills and remain relevant. While the Government has the responsibility to navigate the country through this challenging period, Singaporeans, too, need to have a keen awareness of the bigger picture – that Singapore sits in competition with the rest of the world and some tough decisions have to be made. Ambassador-at-Large, Mr Bilahari Kausikan, in his speech during the Singapore Perspectives Conference in January 2015, said: "The world is constantly changing and since the world will not change to suit our conveniences, we will have to constantly adapt to it.[+7 sentences] Since the future is unknowable, adaptation requires nimbleness of thought and action; and thought and action based on a clinical – some would say cold-blooded – understanding of the world as it is and not as we think it ought to be." The changing world forces us to change and adapt. And we need to do what is necessary for Singapore's survival. I move on now to the point of diversity of views and discourse, clearly, a point that has been raised often in this House as well. As we write the chapters for the next 50 years, we do need to look at how, as a mature society, we handle diversity of views. I think we can all agree that diversity can be a strength, if it can be synergised and used for the good of the people. However, it is also a potential divisive factor that can tear our social fabric. So, how do we make it our strength and not cause our fall? I feel that the Prime Minister's announcements yesterday regarding increasing the number of Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs) in Parliament and extending powers of NCMPs, are concrete steps towards bringing diversity of views in Parliament. I, therefore, welcome this proposal as it allows for respectful discourse on real issues that matter to Singaporeans and leads to the shaping of useful and important policies for the people.[+7 sentences] I also feel that the approach of encouraging diversity of views should be extended to the masses. I laud the Government's efforts in creating platforms and engaging various segments of the community, including the young. It is definitely important to engage the youth on matters that are important to them, especially since they would inherit the nation and should have a say in how the society develops. Platforms, such as the SGfuture Engagements, are definitely useful to trigger the discourse. Page: 38 But beyond creating the platforms and spaces, there needs to be real discourse and the exercise of not merely lip-service. I believe there needs to be a push for more open debates and discussions. For instance, in the light of the increasing wave of terrorist attacks and influence globally, inevitably some attention is now placed on the Muslim community in Singapore. The Muslim community has expressed concern over the increasing Islamophobia and the observation that some Muslims are growing somewhat more distant from the rest of the Singaporean community.[+6 sentences] There is a need to have very frank conversations about real issues facing the community. These conversations may possibly be difficult but this is an effort that should be put in together by all in the community, not just the Singaporean Muslims. And I believe that the leadership has a role in encouraging these discussions. The reality is that some of these conversations are already happening on the online platform. In certain instances, such discussions appear to be rather toxic. So, we should manage and encourage further respectful discussions. Our efforts in encouraging racial and religious harmony can no longer be at a superficial level of attending each other's cultural events. We should allow for space to talk about our identities, our religious practices, such as the burning of incense paper, the wearing of the tudung, the playing of music during Thaipusam, for example.[+22 sentences] And there should be open dialogues as such conversations allow for better understanding of each other's concerns. Yes, we need to preserve the sanctity of the harmonious co-existence of various races and religions. Our forefathers had learnt to live together despite their differences and had managed to achieve a state of peaceful equilibrium. This is something we should cherish. But we should also continue to build on the bonds we have. There is a need for faith in the maturity of the Singapore people and a realisation that the preservation of our individual identities or practice of our respective religions does not necessarily mean that our common spaces are being encroached upon or that we are distancing ourselves from each other. Perhaps, there is a need to redefine the common space. Perhaps, there are new norms that Singaporeans can agree upon. We must allow for such discussions to flourish and work towards achieving consensus. Mdm Speaker, allow me to continue my speech in Malay. (In Malay): The Malay/Muslim community has certain traits that bring something important to the table for other Singaporeans. Malay/Muslims truly value living in a society. This spirit is always visible; so much so that the gotong-royong concept has spread and been adapted by non-Malays in Singapore. Our community has a highly-developed culture, a refined language and is well-mannered. If we look at it, our vocabulary is filled with noble values. Our proverbs, poems (pantun) and metaphors reflect the sharp minds of the Malays. I will give you some examples: "We depended on the fence, but the fence destroyed the paddy", meaning "the one you trust betrayed you" – a proverb used by our Prime Minister yesterday. Another example, "We have to face difficulties before enjoying the good times" – a proverb that gives us a reminder and encourages hard work. We should be proud of our culture and language and continue to use and internalise their values in our daily lives. Page: 39 All these values are important in our societal relations, especially in the current context, which includes a challenging economic situation and the spread of radicalism. In Parliament, many have spoken about the spread of terrorism and the attacks around the world. Our Malay/Muslim community rejects such beliefs. Surely, our community cannot be blamed and our loyalty should not be questioned.[+3 sentences] Nonetheless, the reality is that the attention is now placed on the Malay/Muslim community. I think it is important for the Government to take steps to encourage open discussions on these issues so that any prejudices and misunderstandings can be eradicated immediately. There should also be stern reminders to condemn and prevent actions that reek of Islamophobia. One other thing that is constantly in the minds of our community is the tudung issue.[+7 sentences] As a woman who wears tudung, I definitely hope that all women can pursue their career of choice. Hence, I hope this can be reviewed and flexibility be given where possible, so that there will not be too many barriers for women to choose their own careers. However, when we ask for something from the Government, I hope that we, as a community, can be mature and discuss respectfully. We should know and understand that there are implications to whatever decisions that we wish for, in the context of a plural society. We should use the opportunities available to improve relations with the other races so that there is a deep understanding about our culture and religion. We are part of a plural society in Singapore and we must always be mindful to maintain racial and religious harmony. The Malay/Muslim community also has aspirations and hopes to succeed and see Malays in all fields, including leadership. Prime Minister Lee yesterday spoke about the changes to the Constitution of Singapore, including having smaller GRCs and the changes to the eligibility criteria for the Elected President.[+2 sentences] There are now mechanisms to ensure that the concerns of Malay/Muslim Singaporeans are looked after due to the existence of the GRC system which requires the representation of minorities. This is important and needs to be maintained. In changing the eligibility criteria for the Elected President, Prime Minister Lee said that there will be a process to ensure that minorities will not be excluded and there will be a President from the minority group. We would definitely like to see representation from our community but we would like our Malays to be chosen because he or she is the best and not because of his or her race.[+16 sentences] We do not want the selection to be a symbolic one only. Hence, while I welcome the Government's concern for the minority communities, I also feel that the Malay/Muslim community must continue to work hard so that they can generate the next generation of leaders of a high calibre, who can not only compete in Singapore, but also in the international arena. Just now, Acting Minister Ng Chee Meng spoke about a Malay song, that is, our National Anthem. I would also like to highlight another song that is written by the late Pak Zubir Said. I am not a good singer so I shall just read out some of the lyrics. "If you become a Singaporean, Page: 40 You must have a good heart and be courteous. You must be resilient, work hard, Be well-mannered and respectful to your elders. Only then others will admire and respect us, Only then you can be called a Singaporean." In this song, the late Pak Zubir spoke about having good manners, courtesy, resilience, working hard, loyalty towards the country, our race and our religion and living together as a society. I think this is very meaningful and it truly reflects the values that should be present in all Singaporeans. These values are already present inside us. I am sure that, with this spirit, we can face any challenges that may come. (In English): Mdm Speaker, allow me to conclude in English. Over the past few days, my colleagues in this House have shared their perspectives and proposals on how to move this country forward. The breadth of issues raised and the variety of ideas shared are a testament to the diversity and dynamism of the Members of this House. This, in turn, reflects the diversity of the Singaporeans whom the Members represent. [restates an earlier point]As I have mentioned earlier, I welcome the improvements to the NCMP scheme.[+9 sentences] I look forward to seeing more of the likes of Mr Leon Perera and Mr Dennis Tan who will add to the robust debate and change laws. I am, therefore, quite surprised that they were being compared to duckweeds, because nothing stops the NCMPs from going to the ground, do house visits, organise sessions to gather ground concerns. In fact, I recall Mr Perera mentioning that he does grassroots work at East Coast and Aljunied and definitely can bring value to this House with the issues that he will collate from all these people that he has met. These improvements will strengthen the NCMP's position and I think it is hard to argue otherwise. In any case, the contest at elections remains open to all and it is still open for Singaporeans to choose the best party and people to be their elected Members of Parliament. Mdm Speaker, we may not all agree with one another but we debate respectfully and I believe that this decorum can extend beyond this House because Singaporeans are responsible people who care about this nation. We do not argue for the sake of argument and will always seek consensus and not conflict. Whilst there is much fear and uncertainty about what the future brings, I feel a sense of excitement on the possibilities for this little red dot. Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion.
Mdm Speaker48 words
[+5 sentences]Order. I propose to take the break now. I suspend the Sitting and will take the Chair again at 4.05 pm. Sitting accordingly suspended at 3.46 pm until 4.05 pm. Sitting resumed at 4.05 pm Page: 41
Miss Cheng Li Hui (Tampines)1349 words
[+9 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I rise to express my support for the motion of thanks to the President for his Address. As a new Member of Parliament, I feel the weight of my new responsibilities. I see my role as a Member of the Thirteenth Parliament as contributing meaningfully to the debate of this House in two ways. One, I will voice the hopes, worries and dreams of my constituents and, two, I will talk about issues that I feel strongly about. Our predecessors in previous Parliaments have set a high standard. Now, it is our turn to build on their good work. I would like to take this opportunity to put on record my appreciation and gratitude to all our seniors in this House, past and present. Mdm Speaker, I wish to focus on two issues which the President mentioned in his Address. The first is to "future-proof" our economy. The Government has implemented several measures to prepare our students and workforce, one of which is SkillsFuture, to support lifelong learning.[+3 sentences] I know a young man, Adam, 31 years old, father of two. He has Secondary school education, tried several jobs and, finally, decided that being a taxi driver suits him best. He explained that it is hard for him to tap on SkillsFuture as he works long hours and has family commitments. People like Adam who needs SkillsFuture the most may have difficulties finding time for it. We need to stress the urgency and importance of SkillsFuture for the current generation of workers because, like Adam, they have not been trained in new technologies and they will be the ones who will be most affected.[+9 sentences] I will share more on this later. I worry about the current cohort of workers due to the confluence of developments in information technology (IT), artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics. Some have called it the robotics revolution. Are we prepared in our education and training systems to ride the crest of this development wave? The future is very exciting but it is also very challenging. Increasingly, we will see more machines taking over dangerous occupations and relieving us of mundane, repetitive jobs, including household chores. It also means that many jobs we know today will be eliminated, including some white-collars. A Merrill Lynch report says, "The combination of AI, machine learning, deep learning and natural user interfaces, such as voice recognition, is making it possible to automate many knowledge worker tasks that were long regarded as impossible or impractical for machines to perform." What about us? If about 30% to 40% of our jobs were to be made redundant, will we achieve higher productivity, higher unemployment, or both?[+21 sentences] I recently visited the Future of Us exhibition with my branch volunteers. It was an inspiring evening together. We got a glimpse of life in future Singapore. For example, we could be moving Page: 42 around in driverless cars. But then last week's Sunday Times asked this question: "In a driverless future, what happens to today's drivers?" With the advent of taxi applications, driverless cars and car-sharing schemes, the taxi and bus industries will be affected. Will all these technology advancements make taxi drivers redundant in 10 years? Not so far-fetched. A mere 20 years ago, dial-up Internet was hardly seen in most homes. Today, high-speed Internet has permeated all aspects of our lives, so much so that we can hardly imagine going through a day without it. The pace of innovation and technological development is relentless. So, what happens to Adam? I will have to persuade him to take SkillsFuture seriously, to make use of the opportunities to pick up new skills. In this way, he will be able to earn a living in future Singapore. All of us will be affected one way or another; it is not only the blue-collar jobs. With cloud computing technologies, many companies will automate white-collar functions, such as HR, IT, customer service and accounting. We need to do two things to prepare ourselves for this. One, we need a renewed focus in education on these new technologies, such as ITE courses on the technology involved in driverless cars, augmented reality in JCs, and industrial robotics in Polytechnics. Two – and I repeat my earlier point on SkillsFuture – we need to ensure that our current workforce, people like Adam, can be trained in other areas and to remain relevant even as their jobs may change or eventually disappear. The second issue I want to raise is on the better integration of our infrastructure for caregiving. Our infrastructure must take into account how to better integrate facilities and services to make life easier. Last year, the Ministerial Committee on Ageing announced a $3 billion national plan to help Singaporeans age confidently and lead active lives.[+7 sentences] One initiative which caught my eye was the decision to co-locate eldercare and childcare facilities in 10 HDB BTO new projects. I have a combined childcare, student care and eldercare facility in my Tampines constituency, which was initiated by my predecessor, Mr Mah Bow Tan, 20 years ago. My centre takes care of 90 children, 70 students and 50 senior citizens. One of my constituents, Mdm Tan, was enrolled in our eldercare facility in this 3-in-1 centre and her granddaughter is in student care. They live in separate homes but they get to see each other in this centre. So, it is very convenient and also precious that grandma and granddaughter get to "hang out" with each other because of shared facilities and programmes. I have seen first-hand the benefits both groups receive from each other because of this facility. As the number of elders in our society grows, I would like to propose that we accelerate the Page: 43 development of these inter-generational facilities that will benefit both the young and the old.[+5 sentences] We have two public facilities which, I think, can be better used for this purpose. The first is our schools. Taking a cue from my 3-in-1 centre, I would like to propose that our schools have integrated eldercare facilities. Our schools have safe open spaces with appropriate exercise facilities and areas suitable for the elderly. The seniors can participate in the school's activities, whether passively like watching school performances, or actively in music and art classes. Like Mdm Tan's family, many of our young are cared for by their grandparents while their parents work. These facilities will provide a nexus for these grandparents who send their grandchildren to school, to stay on, mingle, get involved as a volunteer or even be a participant in the eldercare programmes.[+1 sentence] Let our more abled seniors help the less abled. The second public facility that can be better used is our many beautiful neighbourhood parks.[+3 sentences] On weekdays, they are quiet. Let us do more with them. I would like to suggest that the Government build integrated centres in our public parks. I recently learnt that this idea will be implemented in Tokyo, with three wards in Tokyo opening childcare centres in urban parks next year. Locations, such as Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and Tampines Sun Plaza Park, would be suitable. These parks are close to HDB heartlands, have convenient drop-off and pick-up points and ample space.[+3 sentences] The children and elderly can exercise, take strolls and be with nature. Community "urban farmers" can supervise and share their gardening expertise. Most of us will live longer and well into our eighties and beyond. What do we hope to see when we reach that age? I hope that we will be a nation of multi-generational neighbourhoods, where we take care of each other and where our elderly and our young can mingle and share their lives and experiences, like Mdm Tan and her granddaughter.[+3 sentences] This means providing many more opportunities for our neighbours and generations to come together, interact and encourage each other. Mdm Speaker, I believe that the integration of facilities, institutions and services will result in stronger community bonds. As we strive to be a Smart Nation, I hope we can also be a cosy and compassionate Home for Adam, Mdm Tan and all Singaporeans.
Ms Tin Pei Ling (MacPherson)2770 words
[+8 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I stand in support of the Motion. Madam, Singapore had just celebrated our 50th year of Independence last year as a nation. It was an extraordinary year and one thing that stood out for me was that we were all reminded of how exceptional we are as a little red dot and how the responsibility of ensuring another 50 great years for Singapore now falls squarely on our shoulders. This mission cannot be taken lightly and we must do our best to ensure that Singapore remains a land of opportunities and a home for all Singaporeans. For me, this mission is more personal and poignant, now that my son is barely six months old and he would still, hopefully, be in his prime when the time SG100 comes. I believe I speak for all parents who have young children, when I say that I would like him to grow up in a safe and secure Page: 44 Singapore in which he can get great education, achieve his aspirations, as well as live in and contribute to a peaceful, harmonious society. In his speech, the President described five key aims that we ought to fulfil. I whole-heartedly agree that these are critical and we must get them right. In fact, I believe these five aims are interdependent and, for me, the most critical of these aims would be the need to foster a caring society, one in which our people feel meaningfully engaged and are actively involved.[+1 sentence] Ultimately, no matter how robust our economy, how strong our society or how advanced our technology may be, a strong nation has to draw strength from its people. Therefore, please allow me to speak on the aim of fostering a more caring society and, more specifically, on how we can all care more for our elderly and young families.[+1 sentence] First, on our elderly. We must care for our elderly, make sure that their needs are catered for, so that they need not live in anxiety and fear post-retirement, or worse, gloomily count down to the last day of their lives.[+6 sentences] But more than that, we must enable our elderly, so that life post-retirement is still exciting and promising. We all aspire to lead a good life and a good life cannot be judged by the number of years lived. It has to be based on qualitative measures, such as health, a sense of self-efficacy and self-esteem. At home, shrinking family sizes and increasing numbers of singles will limit the scope of home care for our elderly. One way to deal with this would be to have the elderly institutionalised in a nursing or an elderly home. But this is far from ideal because, given our rapidly ageing population, there is insufficient space to build enough nursing or elderly homes. Moreover, this does not align well with our vision of "ageing in place". Therefore, we must continue to invest in technological research and expedite the implementation of tested solutions that can enable our elderly to live independently at home.[+5 sentences] As we move towards a "Smart Nation", this has to be given priority. At work, our elderly should be encouraged to work for as long as they can and want to. Firstly, staying employed helps to keep our bodies and minds active. Secondly, staying employed helps to preserve our sense of self-efficacy and self-esteem. Of course, the additional "pocket money" from the income earned is welcomed. Thirdly, as we have an ageing population, the average age of our workforce is expected to rise. Hence, it is not just a social responsibility to enable our elderly to stay and, indeed, to thrive in their jobs, but there is economic imperative as well, given the tight labour market.[+1 sentence] Our systems, our working environments and, especially our attitudes, have to change in preparation for this eventuality. Age discrimination at work, especially at the point of recruitment, must be stemmed out.[+17 sentences] There is also a need for a more concerted and stronger push for jobs to be redesigned to become more elderly-friendly. At the community level, we need to continue our efforts to build a strong social network of support, as it helps to keep out loneliness and complement familial support. Such a network requires not only the participation of Government agencies and voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs), but neighbours can have a role to play as well. Neighbours can help to keep an eye on an elderly, notice any irregularity and call for help immediately. Neighbours can help to, for instance, bring an elderly to his/her medical appointment at the polyclinic nearby, explain schemes that are available for the elderly to benefit from, or encourage and assist the elderly to participate in community programmes and stay active. Within the community, we should not only consider the elderly as being simply the recipients of care. They can also be enabled to contribute meaningfully as well. At present, I am very heartened and encouraged to witness how our seniors in MacPherson have been actively serving our community. For instance, many are involved in the Pioneer Generation (PG) Ambassador Page: 45 programme, in which it involves them helping to explain to fellow Pioneers what the package entails and even help them to seek help with problems not covered by the package. The PG Ambassadors receive good training and support and they feel empowered and proud to be able to help others. Hence, we must continue to promote senior volunteerism and find ways to empower our elderly, as they are hidden gems in our communities. Madam, I would like to continue in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): In recent years, many of our speeches have inevitably been about the vision of a caring society. In my opinion, the measure of success in achieving this goal is how we treat our elderly. Based on my observations in the last few years, Singaporeans are compassionate about our elderly and the Government has actively implemented many measures and packages to look after our elderly. However, there are still some people who are prejudiced against the elderly, seeing them as a burden to the family, workplace and society. And some of the elderly also see themselves as old and useless, passively counting down to the last day of their lives. I hope we can end these prejudices and take action to help everyone recognise that age should not be a barrier, that an elderly can still be driven, useful and healthy. Hence, I propose that we should advocate three ideas: care for the elderly, respect the elderly and cherish the elderly.[+4 sentences] First, care for the elderly. This means to enable them to live in ease and comfort in their golden years. We should look after the elderly, satisfy their basic needs and preserve their dignity. Besides basic needs, such as food and clothing, we must also make sure they age in place. Although we are building more nursing homes to meet the needs of an ageing society, most elderly prefer to spend their last days in their own home, not a nursing home or a home for the elderly. In addition, there is a rising trend of elderly living alone, so we should help them – indeed, for ourselves in future, too – redesign their homes. We should use technology and actively research and implement assistive technologies, so that the elderly who live alone or have disabilities can lead a safer and more independent life.[+30 sentences] By doing this, we can achieve our ideal of "ageing in place". Beyond that, we should continue to engage and organise the community, encourage residents to work with the Government and VWOs to strengthen our social support network and maintain the community spirit of neighbours looking after one another. Second, respect the elderly. This means to respect the seniors and not to look down on them. We should encourage and support those who still want to work to do so, or support them to fulfil their unfulfilled dreams. This is because work can help them to stay active physically and mentally and maintain confidence in themselves. Moreover, extra pocket money is welcomed. However, when working in my constituency, I would have seniors sharing their woes with me every now and then about how difficult it is to get a job as they grew old. Therefore, we need to put in more effort in improving our national system, work environment design and attitude towards the elderly. As the saying goes, "An old horse knows its ways". It means that the elderly are very experienced. Hence, we must respect them and provide them with opportunities. At least, we should not deny them the opportunity of taking that first step. Can an "old horse" not continue to gallop? Third, cherish the elderly. It means to appreciate and treasure our seniors. The elderly, especially those who have retired, are our precious resource. They have the time and experience and are able to continue to contribute to the country and the community. In MacPherson, we have Page: 46 many seniors who are passionate about charity and volunteering in the community. They often help out at community events and look after vulnerable neighbours. Sometimes, they can even mobilise the aunties and uncles in the community to help. Sometimes, they will voluntarily offer to solve problems for their neighbours. If they are unable to do so, they will accompany troubled neighbours to come and see me. So, let us not lose these gems of ours! (In English): Families have been the bedrock of our society. Hence, we must continue to support families in Singapore so that Singapore will continue to be strong. Often, I receive pleas from young parents seeking help with childcare as they have to work. They feel stressed having to balance the needs of their families and careers, sometimes, at the expense of each other. Young mothers also lament to me about how they are trying to heed the Government's call to have children, how they are trying to fulfil their duty to the nation but it is just very difficult to do so when they cannot get the support they need. So, why should young families be subjected to such a trade-off? Can we not better enable them to raise their young whilst not having to compromise on their aspirational pursuits? I am glad that the Government is increasing the supply of infant care, childcare and student care centres, as well as proactively strengthening the quality of such centre-based care.[+9 sentences] However, supply is still chasing demand at present. We need to look for alternatives so as to enhance accessibility of care and provide options for young parents. One, could we leverage more on homemakers with childcare experiences within the community? In the course of my constituency work, I have met many housewives who are experienced and willing to care for neighbours' children and whose children have grown up. They love children and, of course, a little pocket money would not hurt. At the same time, I have also just recently come across a young couple with two-year-old triplets who are in desperate need of support. The couple need to work, their parents have yet to retire and they could not find a reliable maid. Hence, we are now looking to the "auntie-network" within the community to provide some interim childcare support in the meantime, especially with Chinese New Year nearing. Can we expand such arrangements into a wider support scheme? Could we systematically identify and build up a formal network of housewives within communities?[+2 sentences] Their profiles and childcaring resumes can be consolidated into a directory which young families can refer to when considering childcare options. And for quality assurance, the enrolled housewives can go through basic courses to update them on some of the latest developments, needs and standards. Two, could we further facilitate familial support by increasing the quota of flats set aside under the Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS) per BTO development? The Government must be credited for enhancing MCPS about two years ago and for introducing the Proximity Housing Grant (PHG) last year.[+2 sentences] But there continues to be a demand. Firstly, there are still young couples who sincerely hope to secure a new flat near their parents for mutual care and support but have been unsuccessful in their ballot despite the priority. This challenge is exacerbated when their parents live in mature estates, where flat supply is already scarce and where competition is also keener.[+1 sentence] Secondly, the PHG is meant for resale flats and, while the resale prices are no longer going up, many young couples continue to find the prices beyond their purchasing power. Hence, while the PHG helps to offset part of a resale flat's price premium over a subsidised one, it is still not enough to make a resale flat within the affordability range to them. As such, could we seriously consider Page: 47 increasing the quota of flats set aside under MCPS per BTO development?[+3 sentences] Thirdly, we need to continue to entrench the belief that mothers can continue to contribute and value-add in the workplace and society. We need employers and colleagues to be understanding to mothers who go on maternity or childcare leave. Once, a young mother wrote to me to share her woes about her employer who would make scathing remarks when she took maternity leave. Her employer approved of the leave anyway because it was mandated, but were the remarks necessary? We need to enable more flexi-work arrangements so that mothers can still contribute fully even as they take childcare leave.[+25 sentences] We need fair appraisal systems that focus on the quality of work done and that do not mark down mothers simply because they are out of action for a few months. Such behaviours – mean remarks and unfair appraisal systems – are manifestations of an underlying prejudice that mothers are liabilities at work, thereby negating the value that they can offer professionally and to our society. We should work to improve the situation in Singapore so that women can thrive in both motherhood and career. Madam, I have just shared my thoughts and suggestions on how we can better care and enable our elderly and young families in Singapore. At this juncture, I would like to highlight that active citizenry runs through almost all the points that I have made. Indeed, I believe that all Singaporeans have a shared responsibility in the many works of our nation. A truly caring society is not one in which the caring is only done by the Government or a selected group of people. A great nation is not one in which its people care only about themselves. Thankfully, I would say that Singaporeans do care. From the time I served as a grassroots leader, which would have been about 11 years ago, I have witnessed how many Singaporeans are prepared to sacrifice their personal time, space and resources to help others. I am constantly touched by their concern for the less fortunate or more vulnerable and, even more so, when those who needed help in the first place are also helping others. Such care and concern for our fellow men and women build trust, strengthen our community and keep us together. It inspires us to do better, to think about how our actions affect the others around us. It makes life worth living. Therefore, beyond policy debate or discussions of current affairs, we must continue to focus on building an active citizenry. This has to happen at all levels – within the community, we should enlist Singaporeans to form a network of support; within the nation, we should encourage volunteerism and charitable causes and engage citizens to give ideas for Singapore and to participate in building a better future for ourselves and our children. Finally, it is a privilege to serve and to stand in Parliament. Singaporeans sent us into Parliament because they trust us and hope that we can give voice to the challenges, worries, hopes and dreams that they have. We, all of us in this House, including my hon Non-Constituency Member of Parliament colleagues, must do our best. Such a privilege cannot be transferred. We must cherish it and, hence, in this Thirteenth Parliament, we must continue to speak up actively and work hard together to fulfil the five aims that the President has shared with us. SG100 takes time to build, but it is not that distant a dream. Let us continue to build on one another's strengths in fulfilling the vision of a safe, secure, caring and united Singapore. With that, I support the Motion. Page: 48
Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai (Marine Parade)2833 words
[+19 sentences]Mdm Speaker, we celebrated SG50 last year. As one Singapore, we rallied together, we reminisced, we rejoiced, we reflected. And we also came together in one unbelievable moment in the outpouring of grief when our founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew passed on. The range of emotions we shared served to bring Singaporeans closer together, like never before. We are still only a fledgling nation, but we have had much to celebrate of our achievements over the last 50 years. It is nothing short of a remarkable success story. But at the same time, we must recognise that all of that is now firmly in the past. We can live in the past, or we can move on. We can strive to build on our past successes, but we can never assume it to be a given that the next 50 years will be anything like the last 50. By all accounts, the litany of challenges for us on the horizon is, indeed, very daunting. What we make of it and how we overcome them will define us as a people and successive generations will measure us by what we put in place and achieve today for the Singapore of tomorrow. How do we tackle the road ahead? Over the last few days in this House, we have heard many suggestions. There have been many passionate calls for bold new directions, policy changes – as my hon colleague Ms Denise Phua said – redreaming and calling for the slaying of the sacred cow as well. There is much richness in the broad canvas of these ideas but we have to find a way to tie them together. I have got some competition. At the very heart of our success has been the stability and cohesiveness which we have enjoyed as a society. But that has not come about by chance. Inclusion, mobility and opportunity delivered by a sound political system which is fair, transparent and stable, has allowed successive Governments to design and implement policies to benefit and uplift society. As the Prime Minister said yesterday, we need good politics to make for good policies.[+5 sentences] In my view, therefore, behind every successful society – and, indeed, as Acting Minister Ong said, if we want to achieve, "faster legs, stronger hearts and wiser minds" – we have to have a sound political system. Politics and political systems shape and drive social norms – it is a point I will come back to later – but politics is never very far away from the way we run our society. In his Opening Address, President Tan spoke of the "innovations" to our system which have served us well. These innovations are unique to Singapore. We might have started with the British system, but our founding fathers had the foresight, political will and gumption to adapt and bespoke it to meet the specific needs of our society, our Singapore society. Take the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) scheme, for instance.[+5 sentences] We have had to adapt and change the original system because we are a pluralistic, multiracial society; quite unlike the British, from whom we inherited the system; quite unlike almost every nation in the world. Singapore is almost synonymous with multiracialism. So much so that if you went to google "multiracial society" now, you will find that two-thirds of the hits on the first page mention or are about Singapore. Carefully nurtured and cultivated over the years of our history, multiracialism is now self-evident in almost every facet of our life – in our schools, our HDB flats, our common spaces, our Page: 49 food and our shared heritage. And, yes, even in our politics. In June 2015, US President Barack Obama observed this about Singapore in a dialogue with young Asian leaders and he said: "And the truth of the matter is that one of the reasons that Singapore, as I mentioned earlier, has been successful, is that it has been able to bring together people who may look different, but they all think of themselves as part of Singapore.[+9 sentences] And that has to be a strength, not a weakness, but that requires leadership and government being true to these principles." It is, indeed, a unique strength, but we must jealously guard it for it could so easily turn into a weakness – a fault line in our society to be exploited. When you look around the world today, some of the deepest fault lines in civil society are drawn precisely on racial or religious lines and we, in Singapore, are not necessarily immune to that. Our racial and religious harmony and the Government's role in maintaining this through good politics, can never be taken for granted. Indeed, not very far away from us, in Malaysia, we see an example of a society fractured by their political and social lines being drawn precisely on racial differences. Two recent examples come to mind and you would have seen them in the press, both involving scuffles at an IT mall, one in July 2015 at a popular IT mall called Low Yat Plaza and another one in December 2015 at the Kota Raya. Both involved Malays and Chinese clashing over unhappy business transactions. In themselves, the incidents were not necessarily remarkable. But what I found staggering was the Malaysian government's response. Instead of seeking to bridge the divide, they decided to designate a "bumiputera-only" mall in response; that opened in December 2015. In fact, it came with free six months' rental to Malay entrepreneurs.[+13 sentences] Can we imagine for a moment that taking place in Singapore? But why has this happened just across our shores? As I have mentioned, politics drive social norms and shape behaviour. The origins of the recent racial tensions in Malaysia can, in some ways, be traced to the racial stratification that has been deeply entrenched in the Malaysian political system for many years, for decades. Political parties were formed along racial lines. The Barisan Nasional coalition is made up of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and the Chinese-based Malaysia Chinese Association (MCA), as well as the Indian-based Malaysian Indian Congress. Can we imagine any of these taking place in Singapore? A racialised political system has resulted in significant lines of divide in Malaysia's society which still persist today. That is why politics is not an abstract. It is not distinct from the policies we seek to make, or the type of society we seek to build. Politics touch and affect the way we live in a very real and tangible way. That is why the GRC scheme, an "innovation" which we have introduced, must remain a very fundamental tenet of our political system. It is the bedrock which safeguards multiracial representation in our Parliament and, ultimately, in our Government. The GRC system was implemented in 1988 precisely to prevent politics in Singapore from being polarised along racial lines. Aside from guaranteeing minority representation in Parliament, the requirement that at least one candidate of each GRC belongs to a minority community means Page: 50 that candidates and their political parties cannot campaign on racial lines.[+10 sentences] These objectives remain relevant, if not more relevant, today. I, therefore, support the continuation of the GRC scheme and I should add that this scheme is by no means a political tool to marginalise the prospects of success for Opposition candidates in an election. In fact, having taken Aljunied GRC on two previous occasions, I am surprised we still see the Workers' Party continuing to make such an argument. At the same time, I also welcome the move to have smaller and, therefore, more GRCs and more Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) in the next election. I think this makes for better options and choices for the electorate and the Workers' Party surely cannot complain about smaller GRCs! The question of economies of scale in the running of a Town Council can, I think, be easily overcomed by having more than one GRC make up a town, which is currently not the case. Another innovation we will re-look is the Elected Presidency, first mooted by then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in 1984. Two White Papers later, the Elected Presidency became a feature of our political landscape, as an additional check and balance on the Government of the day – an additional insurance for the people of Singapore. The question is whether this office has outlived its relevance and should be abolished. I think not. Far from heeding the calls to abolish the Elected Presidency, I think it is now even more important than ever that we retain and enhance it. We have heard from the Prime Minister yesterday that our foreign reserves have grown almost 10 times in the period 1988 to 2015. Our GDP per capita has grown about eight times in that same period.[+12 sentences] These reserves, carefully accumulated over years of careful, considerate and conservative budgeting, need a strong second key to safeguard them. The President, therefore, fulfils more than just a ceremonial function. Though his powers are reactive in nature, he is the custodian of Singapore's accumulated foreign reserves and acts as a check and balance on public service integrity and against possible excesses of power by the Executive. In order to achieve that, it is, therefore, necessary for him to act with a mandate and moral authority and that is why he is elected and not appointed. However, the review of some key aspects of the office of the Elected Presidency is timely and appropriate and I will suggest two points. First, as a starting point, it can surely brook no dissent that only the very best, the most qualified, experienced, competent and honest persons of the highest calibre should even be considered. There can be absolutely no political agenda behind this. Yet, we have previously seen the Workers' Party complain bitterly about this programme – complained that the stringent prequalifications for Presidential candidacy has made it much harder for aspiring candidates to become nominated. Why? Why should we feel apologetic about imposing the very most stringent conditions and criteria on a person who is to be carrying out heavy constitutional burdens to safeguard your reserves and mine? Only the very best people should be the Head of State, not an inexperienced or under-qualified one and certainly not a populist one. In fact, I would suggest that we would need to strengthen the qualifying criteria from at least two perspectives. First, obviously, the paid-up threshold has become obsolete and that should be reviewed.[+10 sentences] But, second and, perhaps more fundamentally, I hope the Constitution Commission can look into this, Page: 51 that we look beyond just the numbers. Just because a candidate has been a CEO or a CFO of a company with $x million of paid-up capital or turnover does not necessarily make that person the right person or, indeed, a suitable or appropriate person to become the Elected President. In my view, there is every reason to impose far more stringent qualifying criteria because this is not a popular contest. It is serious business making sure that the constitutional duties are properly discharged. If the Elected President fails as the guardian, Singapore fails. So, if we elect either a populist or a partisan President, what kind of an effective second key can we expect? Second, we should review the current make-up of the CPA which advises the President on a range of matters. I think we can all agree that the members of the Advisory Committee should be well-qualified – they should be strong. The question is: how should we select them and who should they comprise? I would make two suggestions. First, to have more than just the current six members available as advisers to the President. The CPA should be enhanced with competent experts appointed from across a diverse range of fields as well as from across a spectrum of civil society who, collectively, can represent a broad cross-section of stakeholders in Singapore. Second, I would also suggest that these advisers be required to outline the grounds on which they give their advice, save on matters of national security.[+3 sentences] This ensures transparency and accountability and engenders public confidence. Finally, the last innovation I would like to deal with is the NCMP scheme. Mr Low Thia Khiang said earlier good politics is not shaped or monopolised by the ruling party – alternative voices, dissenting opinions should be heard. That is precisely what the NCMP scheme, as now currently revised, seeks to achieve. It will be enhanced, it will be enlarged, it will be made more robust and it will give the Opposition an expanded voice in Parliament.[+10 sentences] I heard the press quoting Mr Low last evening as saying that "the NCMP is still weak because he does not have roots, unlike elected MPs. He is not grounded in a Town Council. He does not have a constituency to run." I think Mr Low has missed the point. The privilege to run a Town Council and to manage a constituency is one that can only be bestowed by the electorate of that constituency. It is a mandate from the people. And if, in elections, the electorate does not choose the Workers' Party to run their Town Council, perhaps because they feel that the Workers' Party is not qualified to do so – that choice has to be respected. The NCMP scheme does not, in any way, take away the ability or opportunity of any candidate to contest freely for the privilege to run a constituency or the Town Council. If you win your seat, then you run the Town Council. You grow your roots. But if you do not, then the NCMP scheme still gives the Opposition a second chance. Hence, in cases where the Opposition candidate has tried but failed to win the mandate of the people, then, in those cases, the best losers are, nonetheless, offered a seat in Parliament – now with all the parliamentary privileges of an elected Member.[+26 sentences] Clearly, the NCMP Scheme has brought a more diverse range of views into Parliament and we heard that in the last Parliament. At the same time, it has also served the Opposition well, even if they do protest a little loudly. They have, in many instances over the years, taken advantage themselves of the NCMP seat Page: 52 precisely for the advancement of their own political agenda. A good example of this is the hon Member Ms Sylvia Lim. As the Prime Minister noted, she was first elected as an NCMP in 2006 before winning her seat as a Member of Parliament for Aljunied in 2011 and again in 2015. I think even Ms Lim would agree that her presence in Parliament, as an NCMP, gave her the exposure and contributed greatly to her eventual success as an elected Member. More recently, we have seen the Workers' Party opting to re-assign their NCMP seat from Mr Gerald Giam to Mr Leon Perera, both of whom were members of one of the best losing teams on the East Coast GRC slate. This presumably was to allow the younger and newer members, such as Mr Perera, to gain experience and exposure. Why? Clearly for increased exposure, for their own agenda, so that he would be better placed at the next elections. So, the fact of the matter is that the NCMP scheme not only introduces greater diversity and debate in Parliament, it helps Opposition Members gain exposure and recognition. I, therefore, cannot see the basis on which the Workers' Party continues to mount this complaint. Let me conclude, Mdm Speaker. I am heartened by the changes that the Prime Minister has announced. They not only improve the political landscape and make for a solid infrastructure in which to take Singapore forward. Far from navel-gazing, as Mr Low has said, I see in these steps the hallmark of strong political will, great foresight and a determination to build for the future, not for this term, not for the next term even, but for the future. And with the Sigmoid Curve theory, transformational changes have to be made before the peaks of success are achieved, to ensure that success continues uninterrupted. Let me conclude by going back to the point that good politics make for good policies. That is, indeed, true. But it takes two hands to clap and good politics also means that Singaporeans, too, must remain engaged with the Government. Singaporeans, too, must continue to be proactive in active citizenry and play a part in shaping our country's destiny. This is a crucial partnership, as we head into SG51 and beyond, if we want to build on the legacy of our founding fathers and leave Singapore in a better shape for successive generations to come. We all have a part to play. So, in the words of someone recently made famous all over again: "Do or do not. There is no try". Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion.
Mdm Speaker7 words
[+1 sentence]Ms Sylvia Lim, you have a clarification?
Ms Sylvia Lim (Aljunied)118 words
[+3 sentences]Yes, Madam, thank you. Madam, Mr Low is not in the Chamber, so I would like to clarify with Mr Tong on part of his speech. I am not sure whether I heard Mr Tong correctly, but was he trying to imply that the Workers' Party is arguing for NCMPs to be on equal standing with elected Members? Because from what I understood from what Mr Low said, basically, he was making the point that they are not the same. And speaking for myself as a former NCMP, I can say definitively that while yes, we are in the Chamber to contribute to debates, but it can never be the same as being an elected Member representing constituents.
Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai126 words
[+5 sentences]I was referring to Mr Low's point where he was suggesting that the NCMPs create duckweeds. I do not think that is true. As the Member Ms Rahayu Mahzam mentioned earlier, you really make what you will of it yourself. You have the opportunity to make your house visits. You have the opportunity to grow your roots in your own constituency, whether you are an elected Member or an NCMP. The fact of the matter is that the scheme being expanded Page: 53 gives the NCMP greater voices in Parliament in terms of numbers, at least, and also with the proposed amendments by the Prime Minister, they are now voting on an equal footing with elected Members.[+1 sentence] And those were the issues I took issue with.
Ms Sylvia Lim35 words
[+2 sentences]Madam, just to clarify on the Member's most recent exposition, did he say that NCMPs have the same capacity to grow their roots in the constituency that they are contesting? Was that what he said?
Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai58 words
[+1 sentence]I said you can make what you will of it yourself. If you choose to be proactive on the ground, you can be present well beyond what the current NCMPs might well be doing. But the fact of the matter is, nothing in the scheme today precludes the NCMP from being visible, present and active on the ground.
Ms Sylvia Lim65 words
[+1 sentence]Madam, would the Member not agree that if a non-incumbent person, meaning not the incumbent Member of Parliament – besides if you are not a grassroots leader as well, under the People's Association – if you try to organise any activities in an area where you have no locus standi, you will need permission from other authorities to have the space to run those activities?
Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai29 words
[+1 sentence]I think the fact of the matter is that whenever we choose to run an event, we hold a show, we all get the necessary permission, even for myself.
Mdm Speaker35 words
[+4 sentences]Ms Lim, your last point is actually no longer a clarification. You are making a new point. So, I think I will stop your clarification at this point. I call now Mr Heng Chee How.
The Senior Minister of State, Prime Minister's Office (Mr Heng Chee How)2873 words
[+36 sentences]Mdm Speaker, thank you for allowing me to join this debate. In the days of the Cold War, there was an East German person who braved the landmines and the machine gun fire in order to cross the border into West Germany to freedom. So, when he got to the other side, the Western media at that time were very interested to find out what happened – why this guy did this. And they were all gathered. The first one asked, "Why did you risk your life? I mean, you risked your life to run from communism to freedom. Therefore, what do you think of democracy and capitalism?" So, this man said, "I think democracy is chaotic and I think, in capitalism, men exploit men". This was not the sort of answer that the reporters had expected because this guy braved the machine guns. Stunned, they asked again, "If that is what you thought of democracy and capitalism, then why did you risk your life coming here?" The man thought for a moment and he said, "Because I think that there is more bread here." Mdm Speaker, certainly, man does not live by bread alone, but I think bread is also important. And before I go into my text for today, I just also wanted to reflect some of the things that Mr Low said just now. He said the first 50 years – not his exact words, but that is what I understood to be what he was saying – that it was a journey where Singapore came out of very difficult circumstances, hostile environment, hostile neighbourhood to make it this far and that the next 50 years is different and, Page: 54 therefore, we have to change the model of our boat. I say it is not so simple. I would agree that the first 50 years is a journey fraught with difficulties. We came out of difficult circumstances, people did not expect us to go very far or to survive very long. And we made it this far, taking those necessary and difficult decisions along the way, good leadership, good people working together. The next 50 years, totally different, we have arrived and it is just about aspirations – I do not think so. I think it is on top of these constraints. If anything, I think the world is becoming ever more complex, more difficult to deal with and, therefore, I say that the aspirations that we have, the values that we want to espouse, we build it on top of and never neglect that. So, Mr Low says that as a result of that, one thing that we have to do is to buy insurance for our political system. I ask Singaporeans to consider: in this world, where all the original constraints continue to bind us and it is becoming ever more complex, think of what insurance to buy. Yesterday, the Prime Minister spent a good deal of his speech explaining to Singaporeans and this House how we should enhance our system, precisely because – and he recognised that – we need that diversity of views. For one, for the NCMP system, he is expanding it not only in numbers but in the powers that they would have, voting in this House. Look at that. That is a practical example of a political party which understands what the people want and taking steps in order to ensure that their interest, what they want, is also reflected here. I say, buying insurance is correct, but please know which insurance policy you are considering. Madam, in this House, we have heard many adjectives used by our hon colleagues in their speeches these past few days describing the vision of the Singapore that they want to see – wise, united, confident. Indeed, these are important elements of a successful society and nation because they help us imagine the ideal collective spirit of the nation that we should commit ourselves to protecting, to co-creating for the future. That said, it is equally important that we think clearly about what needs to be done to achieve those ends in practical terms and in practical ways. For today, I would just limit what I want to say in the context of a maturing population and local workforce. Madam, whenever people consider the future, sometimes, there is a tendency to speak in terms of the young inheriting the future. The young will certainly be there to inherit the future – that is true. But what is often assumed, perhaps not spoken, is that the older population has less of a part in that future because they are, willy-nilly, fading away, or that they are more there to be cared for than to contribute. And I think we must strenuously disabuse ourselves in Singapore of that notion and I would explain why. All of us know that we have an ageing population, brought about by ever-improving longevity and prolonged low birth rates. We are told that we have, by a recent count ,some 300,000 citizens above the age of 65 and that by the sheer movement of the baby boomers through time, that the number will triple to 900,000 or more by the year 2030. And, of course, if we were to count from those aged 50 and above, the numbers would be even bigger.[+7 sentences] Therefore, this is not a question of a possible black swan appearing on our horizon. This one needs no guesswork. It is an inescapable fact. The older population among us is not fading away. It is, in fact, an expanding segment. Page: 55 So, does it really matter if the older population is an expanding segment? The answer is yes, it does. If this growing segment is strong, healthy and capable, then we have an advantage nationally. If it is weak, sickly and outdated, we will have to find more resources in order to pay for its upkeep.[+1 sentence] This is a core part of our social and economic defence. If we look around us − and for those of us, middle-aged, you just look at our cohorts − I think it is fair to say that, by way of physical health, mature Singaporeans today at whatever chronological age are, on the whole, in a better shape than those of equivalent-age citizens two or three decades ago.[+12 sentences] And this has led some to say that the 60s are now the new 50s. This is an important notion, in my view, because if the condition of mature citizens today is equivalent to those much younger in days gone by and, with improved assistive technology and design that the physical disparities between the older and the younger could also be compensated for, then what does that mean? It means that we can and we must retune our thinking and mindsets about what each age cohort is capable of doing, not only as individuals but within corporations and for this country. The whole idea of what constitutes that bracket called "Working Age population" is itself shifting. It is expanding. And for us to fail to take note of this as individuals, as companies, as HR and companies, I think it is for us to live in the past and to be guilty not only of mindless ageism and misjudgement, but, indeed, of wasting national resources, to our own detriment. So, the old is, in a relative sense, getting younger. Interestingly, even as that is becoming clearer to us by the day, I think something quite the opposite is happening to those who are, by chronological age, younger. We hear much about the ever-accelerating pace of change in science, technology and societal tastes and norms. We acknowledge that whatever content we may learn in school and University will very quickly become obsolete as a result of this relentless whirlwind of change. The young people emerging from our institutes of learning in their twenties will also find themselves falling behind the technology curve within, let us say, 10 years of graduating and be considered by companies to be outdated if they have not kept up with upgrading. Thus, strangely, those younger in age are also feeling the pressure of obsolescence that we typically think are associated with people maybe 20, 30, 40 years their senior and the physical fitness that they have, conferred by youth, is not an antidote for that. MOM released today an Employment Report showing that net local jobs growth in the economy for 2015 has basically become flat, following more robust growth previously. So, it is continuing with its efforts to promote quality growth, to get quality jobs for locals, to maintain and strengthen the Singaporean Core, even as our economy and the local labour supply do not grow like before.[+5 sentences] I look at these trends with keen interest, because what do we make of them? My belief is that they do not necessarily bode ill for us, if we play our cards well. This is because these trends actually help us focus and they help educate us that we must abandon the deep-seated assumptions and biases about this correlation between chronological age and one's potential and capabilities on the one hand; and on the other hand, it makes it crystal clear that all of us, regardless of age, the chances of being able to take up good jobs, of being able to be matched to good jobs when jobs are, perhaps, not as plentiful as before, rest upon continual broadening and deepening of capabilities. And, I say, regardless of age. Page: 56 The data also show us what our realistic options are in terms of our sources of manpower. In short, we have to make the best use of every single person. And if a segment in that workforce, namely, the older segment, is growing, then you want to make the best use of that certainly, especially when we are told by previous reports by MOM, by the National Population and Talent Division (NPTD) that this workforce will, in fact, peak, on an overall basis, sometime between 2020 and 2025.[+14 sentences] Foreign sources will not be easily available and have to continue to be tightly managed for social and security reasons. Mdm Speaker, numbers aside, there is also a rich store of value in mature working people, the value accumulated and distilled through years of experience, networking and overcoming challenges. If companies and industries fail to intelligently tap and hold on to persons with such valuable assets and lose them, say, through unnecessary and premature retirement or short-sighted retrenchments, then when they need them, they cannot find them, they lose important institutional memory, knowledge and expertise. This is, to my mind, the equivalent of inflicting upon themselves a form of corporate or industry dementia. In order to avert this lose-lose scenario, HR systems, policies and training opportunities must certainly adapt to the evolving realities. Investment in mature workers' training and development, done over a longer time span and runway, certainly, is not about tokenism. It is not even about fairness. It is straightforwardly, in our case, about smart decision-making by those accountable for business continuity and competitiveness. If you have a mature worker, you may say, by way of analogy, that you have a saw. If you do not keep that saw sharp, you neglect to sharpen it, then you will find that your sawing operation will be less efficient. You created that result. Do not belittle or blame the saw. Madam, for our people to confidently make a good living in future, we must anchor our hopes on staying relevant to changing needs and being able to adapt quickly. At the same time, we must continue to innovate and enable options for more earning years. As of December last year, through surveys done by the NTUC, 85% of unionised companies are consciously employing workers beyond the age of 65. Tripartite partners are finalising the implementation schedule of raising the re-employment age ceiling from 65 to 67 and I am confident that the agreement will be made public soon.[+22 sentences] And with that, I think it sets the stage for us to, once again, think ahead to what may be possible beyond that. For example, can we conceive of giving workers the chance and the choice to work beyond 67 on a regular basis? And, if so, what safeguards would be necessary and appropriate to put in place to address both the interests, as well as the fears, of workers and companies? Can there be more scope for customisation of arrangements according to industry or job types? How about, where there are company groups, the whole concept of where do you re-employ people to? Could it see a possible extension in a responsible way? These are some of the issues that I think are good for the tripartite partners to begin thinking about and discussing. I think there is also room for Government policy to be reviewed to enable more earning years in a responsible way. I will give Members an example. In June 2014, at my Meet-the-People session, one of my residents from Whampoa, Mr Ng, came to see me. Sixty-nine going on 70, he had a heavy vehicle licence and had been using that to drive heavy vehicles for a living for years and brought up a whole family. Problem was that the Page: 57 policy says that when you reach 70, you cannot renew that heavy vehicle licence which, to him, meant what was he going to earn a living with? I looked at him, he looked very fit, very alert and he said to me, "Send me to any health test, eye test, reflex test, test me. If I am good, let me through. If I am no good, stop me." I thought that was reasonable, I appealed for him. The appeal was rejected. I did not think it was right. I did not think it was fair. We must, of course, ensure safety for all road users. And I felt that appropriate tests, indeed, ought to be put in place to safeguard that aspect and then allow those who pass to continue earning a living. So, both he and I persisted in our appeals. And I was glad that the Government heeded the needs of groups of Singaporeans in that kind of situation and updated the policy. So, in December last year, it raised the age limit from 70 to 75, subject to the motorist passing specified medical and driving proficiency tests.[+6 sentences] This shows that enabling, giving a chance and a choice, is possible. If you think about it, think about what is it that makes a person employable, is it fitness, is it attitude, is it skills? Address those things. It can be done. There is also more that the tripartite partners can do to further bolster retirement adequacy provisions. For example, various measures were implemented in last year's Budget to boost that. From the CPF angle, higher CPF salary ceilings, higher Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) contribution cap; raising CPF contribution rates for older workers, equalising those aged 50 to 55 with younger workers; enhancing progressivity through extra CPF interest. The CPF LIFE scheme would also pay CPF members a stream of income in old age, with the Silver Support Scheme providing additional support for low-income seniors.[+1 sentence] We should continue to consider what further steps could be put in place, at the appropriate times, to enhance retirement adequacy through both CPF and non-CPF pathways. CPF contribution rate ceilings, differences and interest rates should, of course, be periodically reviewed to ensure that they keep in step with changes in, for example, nominal income, as well as changes in conditions of the labour and money markets.[+1 sentence] There should also be a deeper study of the apportionment of CPF savings between the various uses, to ensure that the original and primary purpose of the CPF scheme to help strengthen retirement adequacy is sufficiently assured. It is still common to hear the phrase "Asset Rich Cash Poor". Hence, the Government should also examine the experience of facilitating the monetisation of property assets in retirement.[+8 sentences] Anecdotal evidence suggests that people are still generally reluctant to sell or partly lease-back their property in order to derive cash in old age, for cultural reasons. So, how then, if they have locked the money in there, can we help people make more rational allocations and monetisation? Finally, we must tap ever-improving assistive technology and world-class age management and job design practices in order to enable productive employment, regardless of age. Mr Deputy Speaker, the economy's chances of successful renewal and achieving a sustainable Singaporean Core rest squarely on how the Government and society rally and mobilise the entire population and workforce to lifelong learning, skills upgrading and adaptability. And this is not just a question about programming and funding. Page: 58 It is about clear-headedness, effort, judgement, perseverance and, above all, an unwavering commitment to creating a better future for each and for all. Our goal must be that every citizen is a stronger and more versatile person and that, together, we will build a more resilient and dynamic Singapore. To this end, I wholeheartedly support the Motion.
Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan (West Coast)2090 words
[+1 sentence]Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Motion to thank the President for his Address and to join in this debate. Just this morning, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) released a set of manpower and employment data for 2015.[+1 sentence] There are critical ups and downs that I would like to bring to this House. Employment growth in 2015 is down and the lowest in 13 years.[+1 sentence] Redundancy is up in 2015. Unemployment is flat but we must not assume it will stay flat or low.[+43 sentences] I expect an uptrend, especially for PMEs. Indeed, a timely reminder to all of us of the pressing need to redouble our efforts to restructure and find breakthroughs, lest we run the risk of having many of our fellow workers, especially PMEs, left behind or, worse still, left in the lurch. The data reflect a worrying trend that I have been seeing in the increasing cases of PMEs coming to the Labour Movement for help. Allow me to elaborate. There are PMEs entering the workforce who want to land a job or are looking to move up within their jobs; there are also female PMEs who have left the workforce to look after their family and now want to re-enter the workforce; and then there are the mature PMEs, many of whom are above 40 years of age, who may be out of job or are vulnerable to job loss or returned from an overseas job role and looking for jobs to move across or move into. I personally know some of them and have spoken to those who visit our U PME Centre. Some are demoralised, some are resigned, some are fearful and some dejected. I strongly feel we can do more and do better in this area of jobs and job security for our fellow Singaporean PMEs because, if we do not, we will run the risk of more ups and downs. We run the risk of an increase in the unemployment of PMEs and PME redundancy. We are also likely to see a dip in employment creation and, subsequently, a drop in the hiring of locals. In short, in the next couple of years, the likely reality will be that workers and, in particular, PMEs, may need to brace themselves for redundancies, unemployment, slower employment growth and, possibly, under-employment. So, what can we do for our PMEs? We must, first, recognise the three mismatches or challenges our PMEs face. What are these three mismatches? They are the mismatch of skills, mismatch of jobs and mismatch of expectations. First, mismatch of skills. I often hear complaints from some employers that our local PMEs lack the skills and experience for certain jobs and, therefore. they have to look elsewhere. Some employers feel our workers lack the regional and global experience and so cannot promote them or Page: 59 fill them up with our local PMEs. Then again, there are those who are over-skilled or over-qualified for the jobs, resulting in an under-employment situation. Second, mismatch of expectations. My colleagues at our U PME Centre and e2i have highlighted that there are some PMEs who go to them with unrealistic expectations in terms of the type of jobs and conditions. Then, I also hear of employers who lament and do not hire mature PMEs because they claim many of them cannot change, they cannot adapt to the new requirements expected of them and a host of other ageist remarks. There are some PMEs who may not be able to keep pace with the new job demands. There are also companies which do not take proactive steps to re-design, re-create or re-size the jobs or manage the change. Our society, too, must recognise and expect that we have a growing ageing workforce and that there will be an ever-increasing number of PMEs, mature ones, in our midst. Third, the mismatch of jobs. There are cases where PMEs are not well-matched with their current jobs. They do jobs which they have neither passion nor interest for. Sometimes, the job size is too small or quality of the job is not good. They become less motivated and less productive. There are those whose characters or personalities do not quite fit or match the kind of requirements the job entails. So, with these ups and downs and three mismatches, how can we help our future workforce of PMEs grapple with the Future Landscape and land themselves in Future Jobs? Is there a way to help us overcome the challenges of the employment landscape in the months and years ahead? Can we do more to minimise the gaps? I strongly believe we can and we can do so through strengthening what I call the 3Cs. What are these three Cs? They are: (a) strengthening the Core – the Singaporean Core; (b) strengthening the Connection – the Connection between PMEs and jobs; and (c) strengthening Careers – the Careers of PMEs to ensure they stay future-ready. First, strengthening the Singaporean Core. PMEs I speak to highlight the issue of nationality bias in the workplace. Two situations arise. One is where the entire workplace is filled with PMEs of a particular nationality. The grouse is not with their presence but the excessive presence and stark visuals. Second, is where foreign PMEs take jobs which Singaporean PMEs can fill, such as hiring a foreign PME to handle our local SME market or doing support or administrative functions, including basic HR functions. The Fair Consideration Framework and National Jobs Bank had been rolled out in 2014.[+4 sentences] This is a good start. However, the test now is whether it has helped create a Singaporean Core in all sectors and all companies. I still hear murmurings about certain sectors, the IT sector and the financial sector, in particular. The feedback is that there are still companies in these two sectors where there is a weak Singaporean Core and a weak commitment to create a Singaporean Core. The employment data fleshed out this morning seemed to have confirmed the ground feedback about the IT sector.[+5 sentences] We should and must take more resolute steps. However, it should not be a broad sweep. We should target at specific sectors and companies which remain recalcitrant and show a disregard or weak commitment to forming a Singaporean Core. Mr Cedric Foo and Ms Foo Mee Har had, on Tuesday, sounded the same concern. I am now putting forward two Page: 60 suggestions. The first is to impose a PME dependency ratio, similar to that for Work Permits and S Passes, for problem sectors which display the two "weaks" – weak Singaporean Core and a weak commitment to hire and develop Singaporeans. The second is to impose stricter Employment Pass application conditions and requirements for companies with the two "weaks".[+2 sentences] We need to move not just from a manpower-led to manpower-lean economy, but a Singaporean PME-led and foreigner PME-lean economy for our locals to fully exploit the labour market and, yet, be able to fully realise their potential and skills. As we have seen in recent weeks, certain sectors have started laying off PMEs. This may well be just the tip of the iceberg. We need to brace ourselves and, when employers do downsize and retrench, we urge them to let go of our Singaporean PMEs last.[+23 sentences] Second, strengthening the connection of PMEs to jobs. Many of the PMEs who come to the U PME Centres are experienced, knowledgeable and skilled. However, they may not know that with their experience and skills, there are other jobs, other sectors, that they can move across to. Hence, we need to strengthen the connection of jobs to our people and minimise the information gap. We need to know where the in-demand jobs are and the gaps in supply. We have the National Jobs Bank and other job portals where we can easily aggregate the job openings, mine the data and get a good sensing and greater insights. Our national programmes and agencies would be the best source of sussing out the demand and supply, particularly now, with SkillsFuture and the sectoral manpower plans and EDB/MOM data. With all this information, we can strengthen our employment facilitation. There are lots of analysis, synthesis, forecasting and analytics involved. It is hard work and it has to be a joint and collective effort by all, across agencies, tripartite partners and different stakeholders. In the same vein, even as we recreate current jobs and create new jobs, we should provide diversity and variety so that we can marry aspirations, passions, skills with good jobs and quality jobs. PMEs are increasingly more vulnerable to job losses and retrenchments. With the uncertain economic outlook, I worry for them. I, therefore, recently revisited the idea of better protecting our PMEs through unemployment insurance. I do not think unemployment insurance is an impossibility, whether privately-run or publicly-run and universally administered, but it needs closer study and scrutiny. We have to ask ourselves some important questions, such as: who can, should or shall be on the scheme? How much premium does one pay? What if you are in an industry which is more vulnerable or, in the converse, one which is more secure? How much and for how long should the monthly payouts be? At the end of the day, it all boils down to whether we can ensure the livelihood of the individual. Instead of a short-term and temporary fix like an unemployment insurance, why not give our PMEs the best insurance – that of a decent-paying job with a decent pay? Many employers and PMEs I speak to are not aware of the Career Support Programme (CSP) which was rolled out on 1 October last year. I urge all to take a closer look. The CSP provides subsidies to employers who hire mature PMEs 40 years and above for jobs paying $4,000 and Page: 61 above.[+2 sentences] Whether in peacetime or in the event of a downturn, the CSP not just helps PMEs land a job through direct wage subsidy to their employers, it ensures all PMEs affected have a job, a monthly salary, for the longer term. Better still, no premiums need to be paid. And if you ask how long it can sustain the PME, I would say it is for as long as you do your job and do it well. I suggest we should further promote, position and expand the CSP to provide targeted help to all PMEs.[+13 sentences] The CSP must drive and alter the behaviour of our companies and businesses and the mindsets of employers to seriously consider our mature PMEs. It will also provide our PMEs more options and opportunities in a challenging landscape. Third, strengthening the careers of PMEs. We need to arm our people with the right skills, put them in the right jobs with the right experience and expectations so that they can embark on a right career. As part of SkillsFuture, we must focus on the skills required for our PMEs to progress and prosper in a rapidly changing world. In the past, training was about imparting knowledge. Today, it is about providing each individual with the tools to navigate an increasingly uncertain, volatile world. One answer would be promoting skills-oriented learning throughout workers' lives and integrate it into the workplace and outside the workplace. It has to be a continuum from Primary education to work and adult learning. It is not just to up-skill but to deep-skill, second-skill, to stay future-ready and future-proof themselves and also reskill if old jobs are gone and new jobs created. Training and lifelong learning needs to be both employer-supported and individually initiated and will require the involvement of every sector of society, from tripartite partners to various stakeholders. All said, the future will depend on individuals and their willingness to take advantage of the opportunities and invest in their own futures to stay future-ready. To conclude, we can overcome the ups and the downs and better match the three mismatches by: strengthening the Singaporean Core; strengthening the connection to jobs; and strengthening the careers of every worker, especially PMEs. As we move into an increasingly unstable, unpredictable and uncertain economic landscape, our workers need to re-calibrate ourselves and re-set our mental models. Employers and businesses must not be content with just re-adjusting but need to re-innovate and restructure.[+1 sentence] The Government needs to rethink and recreate. We need to triple our collective efforts to retool ourselves to be ready, relevant and resilient.[+1 sentence] On this note, I support the Motion of thanks to the President.
Mr Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh)2669 words
[+8 sentences]Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to speak in support of the Motion. Sir, The President has set us on course in his speech and we are charting the path for the future. Singapore, as a nation, has to find our way amidst the shifting sands of global economic, societal and political developments. But as the economy and society evolve rapidly, Singaporeans are in an ongoing struggle to survive and thrive. Page: 62 As we continue to adapt and develop, we must go beyond merely acquiring skills to developing an outlook that is enlightened and progressive, being confident in ourselves and having the strength to welcome the participation of some non-locals into our workforce to complement and supplement us in areas where we lack resources. But in the process, it is our deeply rooted Singaporean Core and sense of belonging which will inspire Singaporeans to continue to propel the nation forward. Sir, a component of a sense of belonging is a firm belief that there are equal opportunities for all Singaporeans and every citizen knows that he or she has an equal chance to participate in and benefit from the nation's future progress. As the President pointed out in his Address, we must strive to leave no one behind, even as we create opportunities for all. The Prime Minister yesterday highlighted the importance of upholding multiracial diversity in our political system; in particular for minorities to have equal opportunities for political representation in the Elected Presidency as well as the GRC system.[+3 sentences] This assurance of representation in leadership contributes towards all races having a sense of belonging to this nation. And it is, of course, also the case that all Members of Parliament – regardless of our ethnicity – are required to prove ourselves in the course of our terms. We must demonstrate our competence in our duties and that we represent and protect the interests of all Singaporeans, not just any particular race. Smaller GRCs – as proposed by the Prime Minister – will enable us as Members Parliament to connect more closely with our constituents and represent them even better.[+6 sentences] This is what makes Singapore strong, that we all look out for one another, regardless of our various backgrounds, for the benefit of our nation as a whole. We are also justifiably proud of our system of meritocracy. But along with that, we must also work towards ensuring that all citizens have equal opportunities for social mobility. As science and technology advance at an exponential rate, we may soon be confronted with many chasms – one of which could potentially be between those who are able to use technology and those who are left behind. In addition, a lag in skills catch-up could lead to technological or structural unemployment, making matters worse. Programmes have already been put in place to help train all Singaporeans and narrow the skills gap. There have been many useful training and educational opportunities to help to level the playing field for all Singaporeans, no matter what their starting point. These include the SkillsFuture and the recently set up Future Ready Committee in MENDAKI, amongst others.[+7 sentences] I would like to, first, focus on the progress that my community, the Malay/Muslim community, has made as well as the opportunities and challenges that we face. Deputy Speaker, Sir, at this point, please allow me to speak in Malay. (In Malay): The Malay/Muslim community has made significant progress over the last 50 years. This improvement was the result of various programmes by the Government and Malay/Muslim bodies. However, our community can achieve much more and we should also seize more opportunities in Singapore and the world. The Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs has outlined three challenges for the Malay/Muslim community. One of them is staying relevant in a rapidly-changing economy. If there is a good time in our community's history where we can all rise and build a better future together, that time is now. We have many young people with a median age of 31.4, compared to the national median age of 37.4.[+10 sentences] In a few decades, we will have the opportunity to Page: 63 build a larger middle class that is highly educated and successful. This group will become an important component of a strong Singaporean Core – as positive contributors who are essential to the nation in all areas. Nonetheless, this opportunity can also be viewed as the biggest challenge to our community. If we fail to harness the potential of our youths, it can turn into a major and great loss. We should also focus on efforts to encourage and channel our youths into sectors that have the potential for high growth. These sectors can provide high salaries and the community should try to penetrate and take advantage of these sectors. These include new areas that are required by digital transformation, special production activities, applications and modern services, which we will see in our future economy. We must also maximise the potential of youths who do not have tertiary education. I would like to highlight the findings from the journal of the Third AMP Convention, whereby, out of the cohort of Primary 1 Malay students, about 60%-65% of them will not receive higher education. About 45% will go to ITE, while 20% will become post-secondary school students. If we look at the job market now, 40% of people who seek employment through "MENDAKI Sense" in 2015, for instance, are those who have "N" or "O" level certificates as their highest qualifications.[+24 sentences] The other 30% have ITE or Polytechnic diplomas. If this trend continues and if economic recession takes place, it is very possible that this will have a cascading effect on the economic status of Malay/Muslim families. At the other end of the spectrum, initial findings from a study commissioned by MENDAKI about employment prospects, which was done on over 100 Malay/Muslim graduates, managed to give a peek into the situation involving our Malay/Muslim graduates. The study was done by Prof Tan Khee Giap titled "Longitudinal Study on Comparative Employability and Career Advancement Path for Tertiary Educated Malay/Muslim Singaporeans and Chinese Singaporeans". Over 70% of respondents showed a risk-averse attitude and cannot see themselves moving to another industry in the next five years. Almost 60%, for instance, are unaware of the latest SkillsFuture initiatives. More than 60% feel that they will need assistance to enable them to progress in their careers. If these findings are taken as an indicator, future PMETs from this cohort will be facing major challenges. Therefore, it is important to prepare our youths and younger workers to face future challenges. Workers without new skills or those who have lower qualifications and skills will be affected. The recent call about SkillsFuture is timely for our Malay/Muslim youths. Recently, MENDAKI set up a Future Ready Committee that aims to play an important role in this issue in a more consistent manner for the long term. It is also important to strengthen our sense of belonging, especially in the efforts to ensure racial harmony and also increase the confidence of the Malay/Muslim community, so that we can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the other communities at the workplace. Hence, I would like to stress the importance of improving fair practices in job opportunities. In the current situation, where we face a landscape of a slowing economy in the future, tight labour Page: 64 market and disruptive technology, it is crucial that focus is given to overcoming the perception that the available opportunities are unequal and there is discrimination. This is important in order to avoid potential social and security issues from emerging in this country in the long term. Singapore's economic challenges will impact everyone in Singapore and not just the Malay/Muslim community. We may see a future scenario where current Malay/Muslim workers and those who will enter the job market must be ready to compete on an equal footing in the job market. I am sure that the Government will do its best to help those who are affected to find employment. Hence, while no Singaporean will be denied the opportunities, it also means that no one will be given special treatment. I end with a poem stating that there are opportunities being made available for everyone equally and we should also ensure that we have a broad view of the entire situation. "A major lane outside the city Travelling by car in the evening Opportunities are available equitably We have to keep an open mind." (In English): Deputy Speaker, Sir, I shall now continue in English to discuss enhancements to our employment practices as well as the challenges that the PMETs face. We all remember the bad old days of the job advertisements in our local newspapers which would boldly state, for example, only a certain race can apply. Thankfully, those days are firmly in our past. I am particularly pleased to note that, based on the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (TAFEP)'s 2014 annual report, the number of complaints lodged against discriminatory practices in 2014 had been almost halved from 2013.[+1 sentence] Employers are proactively seeking out resources to hire previously-disadvantaged groups of people. The number of enquiries in this regard has risen by about twice from the year before.[+6 sentences] This is very encouraging, as it is a clear indication that outreach exercises have been helpful and more companies are developing into conducive workplaces on their own accord. While TAFEP has been inspiring and supportive, greater enforcement is necessary to get passive employers on board. The Australian Government's Fair Work Ombudsman comes to mind as a model statutory agency that not only educates, but investigates and enforces. If there is a serious breach of a workplace law, Government officials will conduct the relevant investigations. The offending employer can be taken to Court, depending on the outcome of the investigation. The Australian Employment Act prohibits discrimination against employees based on race, religion, age, gender, physical or mental disability, marital status, family or carer's responsibilities and pregnancy, amongst other factors. Employers guilty of unlawful discrimination could be fined up to A$54,000 per contravention for a corporation and A$10,800 per contravention for an individual.[+4 sentences] Likewise, in Finland, Finnish employment law specifically prohibits discrimination against employees on the basis of a similar range of factors. Employers found guilty of discrimination can Page: 65 be fined or imprisoned, while victimised employees may claim compensation for illegal discrimination. The employment laws for both countries have essentially made discriminatory practices prosecutable by law, in order to emphasise the importance of equality. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the TAFEP framework deserves to be equipped with more teeth to be more effective in weeding out discriminatory workplace practices. MOM is introducing the Employment Claims Tribunal which covers PMETs earning above $4,500.[+4 sentences] The Tribunal will have the power to make orders for employers to reimburse employees for employment-related claims. Parties who disagree with the decision of the Tribunal or with the quantum of the award made by the Tribunal, will have the right to appeal to the High Court to review the decision. These enhancements will go a long way towards ensuring that all PMETs and non-PMETs are protected under the law. However, I propose that we take things a step further. If we, as a nation, are serious about ensuring that all Singaporeans have equal employment opportunities, we must also have the power to impose meaningful sanctions upon errant employers, as the laws in Australia and Finland allow.[+4 sentences] In addition, these sanctions should be extended to cover incidences of discriminatory practices during the hiring process. We must ensure every person has the same opportunities, giving each citizen the same platform to excel by their own merits. This is even more important in an economic environment where labour market competition runs high. Meaningful sanctions will go some way to ensuring optimal employment practices. Deputy Speaker, Sir, employment growth in Singapore in the first three quarters of 2015 was the lowest in six years.[+1 sentence] Disproportionately hard-hit are the PMETs. The hon Member Patrick Tay has highlighted some of that earlier, but the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) reported in the first three quarters of 2015, a significant majority of seven in 10 of employees laid-off from their jobs were PMETs, many of them degree-holders aged 40 and above.[+1 sentence] This is an escalation of the trend which has been growing in the past few years. Between 2014 and 2015, the Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) experienced a more than doubling of the number of PMETs approaching the organisation for assistance. From 128 applicants in 2014, e2i saw 337 applicants registering their interest to undergo intervention programme last year.[+14 sentences] Within my own constituency, we have seen a slow increase in PMETs attending the Meet-the-People Sessions, requesting assistance because they have not been able to find new employment. One such constituent is a 56-year-old tower crane operator, who was working for an offshore oil and gas company. Due to the downturn in the industry, his contract was not renewed and he had been searching unsuccessfully for employment in any industry for the past year and e2i is currently assisting him to obtain a Class 3 driving licence, so he will be able to find work as a driver. Another constituent is a 52-year-old IT Systems Director who, in his last job, earned in excess of a quarter of $1 million a year but was retrenched over a year ago and is still unable to find a new job. Deputy Speaker, Sir, my great concern is that this is merely the tip of the iceberg, as Member Patrick Tay has mentioned, as many PMETs, because of embarrassment, perceived loss of face, or the belief that we would be unable to help, are reluctant to approach Members of Parliament for Page: 66 assistance. It is hard to hold on to that sense of belonging, of being Singaporean, when you are not able to provide for yourself or your family in your own homeland. The e2i's Employability Coaches in its Career Services Centre highlighted the following. First, mid-career jobseekers have to grapple with acquiring new skills and to accept lower salaries. Second, workers with long years of service without acquiring new skills or increasing their scope of responsibilities, find it challenging to find a similar job matching their last-drawn salaries. And, third, employers are unwilling to offer jobs with higher salaries to potential employees who have not built depth in their field of expertise. We must also consider how to effectively redeploy the segment of workers mentioned above. They do have specialised skills which are valuable. In addition, employers need to be more open in recruiting older PMET workers who are likely able to pick up new skills faster due to their technical background. One approach would be to match PMETs with our SMEs in a more structured way. SMEs make up 99% of the companies in Singapore, employ 70% of the workforce and contribute to nearly 50% of our GDP.[+8 sentences] And as SMEs are currently facing three key business challenges, namely, high labour costs, manpower shortage and increasing competition, the channelling of displaced or retired PMETs into appropriate SMEs makes great sense. To further help PMETs to adapt, we need more transparency at the macro level to examine where the demand is in terms of skills, so that Singaporeans can make timely informed choices in their skills accumulation to meet future demands. The displaced PMET workforce remains a significant potential contributor to the economy. Every displaced PMET matters. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, every Singaporean wants to achieve great things – for themselves, their family and the nation. As we face ever-developing challenges, we, as parliamentarians and individuals, have a duty to our fellow citizens to continue to ensure that every Singaporean has the best possible opportunity to reach their fullest potential. This is how we strengthen our Singaporean Core and prepare ourselves for the next 50 years and beyond. On that note, Mr Deputy Speaker, I support the Motion of thanks.
Mr Ang Wei Neng (Jurong)2283 words
[+20 sentences]Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for the opportunity to participate in this debate. Alexander Fraser Tytler, born in 1747, was a History professor at the University of Edinburgh. He said the following about democracy more than 200 years ago: "A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship." He further said that the world's greatest civilisations always progressed through the following sequence: Page: 67 "From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to selfishness; From selfishness to complacency; From complacency to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage." Prof Joseph Olson of Hamline University School of Law in the United States was of the view that the US is now somewhere between the "apathy" and "complacency" phase, based on Prof Tytler's definition of democracy. What about Singapore? I was concerned that Singapore could be on the brink of passing from abundance to selfishness after GE 2011. However, the milestone events in 2015, from the passing of our founding Prime Minister, followed by a series of SG50 events and GE 2015, appeared to have steered Singapore away from the phase of selfishness. There are fewer incidents of the likes of the Maplewoods residents' protest against the launch shaft site blocking the entrance of their condominium during the construction of Downtown Line 2. There are also fewer complaints about the building of an eldercare centre in the neighbourhood in general. But, is Singapore immune from the downfall of a democratic nation, as mentioned by Prof Alexander? Far from it. Singapore has defied all odds to survive. Singapore has gone against the grain to thrive, moving from Third-World to First-World in one generation. Singapore is special, in the words of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Singapore needs to remain special if we want to see a glorious SG100. Our political system is a key factor. It enables us to remain special. The institution of the Elected Presidency is a key safeguard against loose fiscal policy. I agree that we need to review it to make it a stronger safeguard, as said by the Prime Minister.[+1 sentence] The NCMP scheme is another unique feature that makes us special and has strengthened our political system. Since it started in 1984, with an upper limit of six NCMPs, this was increased to nine in 2010 and Prime Minister Lee said that he would like to raise the number to 12.[+9 sentences] The intention to increase the NCMP numbers entrenches the importance of the NCMP scheme; at the same time, it recognises the contributions of past NCMPs. The political parties of the best-performing losing Opposition candidates that have accepted the NCMP nomination have benefited from the system. So, instead of calling names, let us all embrace the NCMP scheme as a unique feature of Singapore's political system. This is also consistent with what President Dr Tony Tan has said, "to remain special, we must first resolve to move ahead together". The President further said that "we strove to leave no one behind, even as we created opportunities for all". Page: 68 Yes, no one should be left behind as we progress as a nation. No one, including the persons with disability, or PWDs, should be left behind. Singapore has made much progress thus far in educating and assisting PWDs. The Enabling Master Plans I and II have significantly improved their livelihoods. The spending on special education has increased 50% over the last five years and the Open Door Programme, launched in 2007, has gone some way in encouraging employers to hire PWDs.[+3 sentences] On the employment front, however, the progress is painfully slow. In reality, for every success story which is highlighted, there are far more PWDs who have taken a long time to secure a job, if at all. This runs the gamut from the low-skilled disabled who lost the job of cleaning airline headphone sets to technology, to a hearing-impaired university degree holder who missed her employment opportunities, many a times, due to the fact that HR personnel failed to note that the job seeker can only respond to SMS messages and not telephone calls. There are no statistics on the local employment rate amongst the disabled in Singapore, who are defined as those with physical, sensory, intellectual and developmental impairments. However, a strategic market research consultancy, Spire Research and Consulting, conducted a survey of 100 companies in January 2014 which showed that while 20% were open to hiring PWDs, only 7% actually did so.[+24 sentences] This is a classic case of "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak". We can pump resources into training and assistance for PWDs and we can try to encourage employers to hire PWDs. However, we are still reliant on the goodwill of the employers. Perhaps, we could consider introducing legislation to compel large organisations with more than 500 staff to employ PWDs, with some effort to redesign jobs to suit the PWDs. Countries which have quota systems in place include Germany, Thailand and Japan. In Japan, for example, private-sector organisations with at least 56 employees must ensure that at least 1.8% of their headcount comprises PWDs. If these quotas are not met, the organisation is usually required to pay a levy towards a fund used to promote the employment of PWDs. Alternatively, some countries like Australia, Canada and the US have introduced anti-discrimination laws. It is illegal for employers to discriminate against current and prospective employees on the basis of disability. China employs a hybrid of a quota system and anti-discrimination laws. Singapore has neither. With the right training and set-up, PWDs can become self-reliant and contribute as much as their able-bodied peers. PWDs are also a valuable addition to the diversity of the workplace. We do not want PWDs to be left behind as an Annex as Singapore progresses, a phrase often used by fellow parliamentarian and Mayor Denise Phua. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, at this juncture, please allow me to declare my interest as I am a staff of ComfortDelgro before I touch on public transport in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): Mr Deputy Speaker, when the Government implements its policies, it is important to look after Singaporeans' needs in terms of food, clothing, housing and travelling. Today, I would like to touch on the issue of travelling and hope that the Government can make public transport more user-friendly. Page: 69 In the Addendum to the President's Address issued by the Ministry of Transport (MOT), the Ministry states that its mission is to connect Singaporeans from their homes to schools and workplaces all over Singapore. As the train network becomes more extensive, many are willing to take the train, which is comfortable and convenient, but they are hampered by the connectivity from their homes to the train station. For residents staying within 800 metres of a train station, most abled people are willing to walk to the station. Beyond that, residents typically ask for feeder bus services. Unfortunately, the authorities often cite resource constraints and cannot meet the residents' demand for more feeder services. I am sympathetic towards this. If resource is, indeed, a constraint, perhaps LTA could consider boldly reorganising bus routes, especially long distance cross-island routes. For example, bus service 51 plies from Hougang Bus Interchange to Jurong East Interchange, covering close to 38 kilometres and the average traveling time is about two hours and 42 minutes. In contrast, a train ride from Hougang to Jurong East takes only 53 minutes, that is, a saving of almost two hours.[+7 sentences] Imagine how many Singaporeans will be willing to take the bus instead of MRT to work or school! In fact, along the route of Bus 51, there are a number of MRT stations. Residents also use Bus 51 from the nearby estates to the MRT stations. For example, many residents at Ayer Rajah rely on service 51 to bring them to Jurong East MRT Station. How reliable can service 51 be when it has to travel about 30 kilometres before reaching Ayer Rajah? No wonder our fellow Parliamentarian, Ms Foo Mee Har, has been complaining about the reliability of service 51 when it serves as a pseudo feeder service for her Ayer Rajah residents. Does it make sense to continue with such cross-island bus services? If we are able to eliminate 14 bus services with bus routes longer than 30 kilometres, we could easily use the same resources to run 40 new feeder bus services.[+9 sentences] That is 14 long trunk services for 40 new feeder services. Does it not sound attractive? These 40 new feeder bus services will go a long way towards improving the first- and last-mile connectivity and persuade more Singaporeans to switch to public transport and help achieve the goal of a car-lite society envisioned by the Minister. (In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the economy, the President said that "we cannot predict the future, but we must adapt as the world changes". The future of Singapore lies in encouraging innovation and creating value. People and businesses need to adapt and change. While the Government has provided funding to people and businesses to explore new ideas which will benefit the society, the Government also has to constantly review existing rules. Some rules and regulations which might have been necessary previously are now harmful and not beneficial to value creation. This is particularly relevant now, given the rise of the "sharing" economy in which people rent beds, rooms, cars and other assets directly from one another through the Internet and mobile phone apps. Regulators worldwide do not quite know how to deal with this phenomenon, which is estimated to generate US$335 billion in revenue worldwide by 2025.[+4 sentences] Take home-sharing sites, like Airbnb or Onefinestay. These sites allow a growing global community of people to rent out personal spaces to travellers and transient tourists. Since 2008, over 60 million people have used Airbnb to book accommodation in over 190 countries, but Singapore is not one of these countries. At least, not yet in a big way. Page: 70 In Singapore, private homes can only be rented out for six months or more, while HDB flat owners are not allowed to sublet their units or rooms to tourists for short-term stays.[+10 sentences] Nonetheless, we could still find more than 300 listings in the Airbnb Singapore website. The owners who let out their units or room through Airbnb may be fined or jailed if caught. This is a lost economic opportunity. In a study done in San Francisco in 2012, it was found that Airbnb travellers spent US$56 million in a year. About US$12.7 million went to the hosts and US$43.1 million to San Francisco's businesses. But beyond the money, what Airbnb travellers relish most is the novel experience of staying in an affordable and unique local space which could be someone's home and seeing the "authentic" side of a country. In Singapore's context, this could be a HDB flat, a condominium or a shophouse. There is much value in terms of local Singapore charm and a dash of real Singaporean hospitality, which could be offered to visitors and keep them coming back. There are concerns over rampant profiteering and neighbours may be uncomfortable with a constant flow of foreigners staying next to their apartments. However, rules can be modified to make sure that there is compliance with local laws. In London, Airbnb was legalised in March 2015. So, home owners can rent out their places for up to three months a year, with certain conditions attached, of course.[+2 sentences] Similarly, car-sharing apps like Uber and Grabcar have been popular among commuters but have also created uproars as taxi-drivers all over the world decry the unfair competition. Unlike home-sharing, car-sharing has already taken off in Singapore. A basic regulatory framework was introduced last year where all third party taxi booking services are required to comply with certain conditions.[+4 sentences] Many taxi companies complained that Uber taxi drivers do not have to obtain a taxi driver's vocational licence, unlike licensed taxi drivers. Uber cars also need not go through the stringent safety checks, as compared to existing players, thereby compromising the safety of commuters. To regulate, we must. Otherwise, it is like tying the hands of the traditional brick-and-mortar companies and having them compete with online companies on a 100-metre tight race. The Government is still reviewing the need for further regulations. But at the end of the day, the desire to even out the playing field must be for the safety of the commuters rather than inconveniencing the commuters − like making them wait 15 minutes before they can get onto an Uber taxi, which has been the case in Paris since 2013.[+5 sentences] Change is never comfortable, especially when livelihoods are threatened. If Singapore is to remain competitive and future-centric, we have to edit the rules to support value creation and innovation and not stifle them. In conclusion, I urge all Singaporeans to continue to keep Singapore special. At the same time, we all need to do our part to help the vulnerable, the disabled and those who are sometimes forgotten, so that Singapore can continue to march towards SG100 with no one left behind. With this, I support the Motion.
Er Dr Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon)1667 words
[+6 sentences]Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is, indeed, a privilege to listen to the President's Address in the House. I thank him for his encouraging and illuminating words Page: 71 which will certainly continue to echo in this House throughout the sessions of this Parliament. President Tan said in his Address that "good policies and good politics go together". We are known around the world for having an effective and honest Government that comes up with good policies, but there are also areas in which we did not do well enough. I would like to point out three common factors that lead to less-than-ideal results. The first one is not planning for the long term. For example, in 2015, we saw a spate of MRT disruptions in February and March, as well as the worst disruption in the history of the MRT in July.[+16 sentences] Many of the commuters, including my residents at Khatib MRT station, were greatly inconvenienced. The problem lies in engineering issues which were not properly addressed from the early days of the MRT system. We did not train a pool of engineers and technicians to specialise in maintaining the rail system. Having in-house expertise is very different from using subcontractors. We cannot be always using economic benefit as the sole yardstick in making decisions. Now, Minister Khaw Boon Wan and his team have the unenviable task of completing a major overhaul while maintaining normal services. Then, we have the grass pitch issue at the Sports Hub. The pitch was not ready for many sports, the roof leaked and even the sound system got complaints from many concert-goers. We have to accept that the Government could have done better, expertise from our National Parks Board could have anticipated the problems and exercised more oversight over the project execution, especially with all the public money invested in the project. Perhaps, the Government had drawn the line too fine, too clearly and washed their hands too early. The second is not keeping in mind how things are for the man-on-the-street. One example is MOE's naming of a new JC − Eunoia JC. The word was chosen for its meaning, but did anybody think whether the man-on-the-street can pronounce it easily? Would an English, Chinese, Malay or even Tamil word have been easier for the common man-on-the-street to pronounce and relate to? Now, MOE is faced with unnecessary flak and even petitions to change the name. Another example is our hawker centres. To the man-on-the-street, a hawker centre is the place to get good food at a reasonable price. But how can the price be reasonable if the hawker has to pay $6,000 for his stall? To be exact, I was told by the taxi-drivers who live in Nee Soon South, it is $5,000 rental plus $1,680 for cleaning services and this is charged in a new hawker centre.[+2 sentences] In Chinese, we say 羊毛长在羊身上. And I certainly hope that the new hawker centre in Yishun will not have this kind of rental for the stalls. And the Yishun residents do not just hope to have good food at reasonable prices, many also hope to get a stall to provide them with employment. Therefore, I hope that NEA is open to the concept of working with the community, perhaps with the social enterprises, to operate the new hawker centre in Yishun.[+30 sentences] The last area is coordination between Ministries. Recently, I was involved in trying to provide a covered linkway from the nearest HDB block to the nearest bus-stop in my new BTO, Acacia Breeze. For many months, HDB and LTA could not resolve their differences. I was trying to call a meeting for both parties to sit down to seek a solution. And, you know what? LTA officers refused to have the meeting. Why? I do not know. In fact, even our Deputy Prime Ministers have pointed out these issues recently. Deputy Prime Minister Tharman said at a public service leadership dinner that we need to develop the habit of Page: 72 looking at issues through the eyes of ordinary citizens and bringing policies from different agencies together to serve their needs. Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean also said at a Civil Service award ceremony that the public service needs to stay connected with the people they serve. I quote: "…to listen deeply and better understand aspirations and concerns and to work together with Singaporeans to make Singapore a better home for all of us". I must emphasise that I am not here to point fingers or to make anyone uncomfortable. I am bringing this up because I hope that the Government can do even better than before. To do this, we need to look beyond the near term, beyond our individual agency responsibilities, at how we can maximise benefits for the man-on-the-street. We need people at all levels to be more than just carrying out the formulation and execution of policies. We need people who are committed, trustworthy and serve with heart. I know that in many instances, the civil servants are doing their best, but they are stretched as the public gets more vocal and they have to balance the different demands. Perhaps, we should pay more attention to the quality of the officers, their career path, training and the motivation for them to excel, innovate and give their best. There are three areas in which we need even more dedication and foresight from the Government. They are the environment, housing and the economy. I would like to expand in Chinese. (In Mandarin): Singapore is famous for being clean. However, if you walk around the HDB neighbourhood at 4.00 am in the morning, you will realise that this cleanliness is, in fact, an illusion created by our cleaners. In comparison, Japan and Taiwan have fewer cleaners than us but their environment is cleaner than ours. Can we inculcate a similar culture? I started the "No Cleaners Day" project in Nee Soon South. I noticed that when we have to pick up the litter ourselves, we tend not to litter and we will also remind others not to do so. Can we expand the "No Cleaners Day" scheme and let our children clean their campus themselves, like Taiwan and Japan, so that the young will see a clean environment as their own responsibility? I read a Straits Times report a few days ago. Last year, the amount from fines for littering was the highest in six years.[+1 sentence] It looks like not only our SMEs need to innovate; NEA also needs to be more creative in dealing with litter-bugs. Our smoking rate is gradually going back up.[+1 sentence] How can we ensure a smoke-free environment and that non-smokers do not have to inhale second-hand smoke? The Designated Smoking Point scheme piloted in Nee Soon South has achieved its desired outcome. This year, we will build 50 smoking points and extend the programme to the entire Nee Soon South.[+26 sentences] I would urge the Government to consider making the Designated Smoking Point scheme a national policy. Second, housing. I am delighted to hear from the President that the Government will continue to create a caring home for Singaporeans by building more affordable and comfortable HDB flats, higher quality infrastructure and convenient public transportation. I hope these plans can be implemented more smoothly. We do not want to see the situation again whereby new estates do not have enough childcare and transportation facilities even after the residents have moved in. I also hope that the singles and the divorced people, especially those with children, can have their Page: 73 own flat as soon as possible. Third, the economy. This year and next year, Singapore will continue to face challenges, such as a shrinking manufacturing industry and China's slow economic growth. The economic outlook is not very rosy. I believe many Members, just like me, would have met many residents who came to seek help because they cannot find a job. I would like to ask the Government if it foresees large-scale unemployment this year and next year. There are many unpredictable factors when it comes to the economy. Does the Government have plans to deal with a slow economy and unemployment? Early this month, a resident came to seek help from me. He is a crane operator at a construction site. He said that his company, starting from last year, would lay off one crane operator every month and it just so happened that, each time, it was a Singaporean who was laid off. My resident, who has diligently worked for the company for more than 10 years, was also laid off at the end of last year. Another resident of mine works in the IT industry. He told me that he was under a lot of pressure lately. Why? Because his company has brought in a foreign talent, who is his boss now. Soon after, this foreign talent brought in his own countrymen and asked this resident to teach them. He is under a lot of pressure and does not know when he will be laid off himself. He said, "In Singapore, to have someone laid off is not difficult. You just need to cite the reason of the company restructuring." And his company has restructured many times. According to MOM's report this morning, last year, we witnessed the slowest job growth in 13 years.[+1 sentence] I guess, after the Chinese New Year, there will be even more companies which will undergo "restructuring". Would the Government consider that each time a company lays off a Singaporean worker, it will subsequently lose a Work Permit? If a company lays off one Singaporean, it will lose one Work Permit; if it lays off two, it will lose two Work Permits.[+4 sentences] Mr Deputy Speaker, we did a great job in our first 50 years. I hope we will do even better in the next 50 years. Let the Singapore Spirit continue to shine. I support the Motion to thank the President.
Mr Gan Thiam Poh (Ang Mo Kio)2441 words
[+35 sentences]Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I enjoyed the speech by the hon Member Er Dr Lee Bee Wah. I agree with her. She mentioned that to retrench one Singaporean, the company must cut one Work Permit. I think it is not enough. Because in Singapore, it depends on the sector and there is a dependency ratio. For the services sector, the ratio is one is to five, if I am not mistaken. So, it should be proportionate to this dependency ratio, then, it would be fair. I wish to support the Motion to thank the President for his Address. Last year was a watershed year for us. We celebrated 50 years of Independence. The founding father of modern Singapore, Minister Mentor Lee, passed away. Twenty sixteen is the first year of the post-Lee Kuan Yew era. The world is watching us, as they have been for the past 50 years. Can we make it? Well, we have proven to ourselves and the world, over and over again, yes, we can. We sing lots of patriotic National Day songs every year. Page: 74 In particular, one song "We are Singapore" expresses best for me what I want to say today: "There was a time when people said that Singapore won't make it, but we did. There was a time when troubles seemed too much for us to take, but we did. We built a nation, strong and free, reaching out together for peace and harmony." We have overcome lack of resources, lack of water, a few rounds of recessions, the Asian financial crisis, SARS, Lehman crisis. Time and again, we have emerged stronger and more resilient. At the last General Elections, we witnessed a show of unity. We demonstrated our determination to carry on the Singapore spirit, to forge ahead like our forefathers did. We had nothing and now, we have everything. In Chinese, 我们什么都没, but 我们什么都有. We did not have water; we now have four national taps, including NEWater. We even sell treated water. We do not have oil, but we process oil and is the hub for the fuel trade in Asia. We may be small but we have a big impact. Let me share an example. In September 2011, a fire broke out at Pulau Bukom refinery. It was Shell's largest refinery in the world. This incident caused the premium of October oil gas swaps over November to increase to the highest for an inter-month spread in three years in anticipation of an oil shortage. We may be a little red dot, but whatever happens here also can move the markets in the world. To survive, we constantly reinvent ourselves. We evolve, as hon Member Mr Ong Ye Kung had described so poetically on Monday, "to adapt to the changing global environment". We have to be the first country in the world which gives free lifelong scholarships to everyone through SkillsFuture – I call it scholarship, no other country I have heard of so far is giving this scholarship to every citizen – so that our people can upgrade themselves while pursuing their interests and passions.[+7 sentences] Minister Mentor Lee studied until he passed on. He showed us the true meaning of lifelong learning 活到老, 学到老, 甚至学到死. We upgraded our new skills, we are equipping Singaporeans to be multi-skilled and versatile so that they would qualify for fulfilling future jobs. When one is in a vocation one loves, then a job becomes fun and satisfying. People who work at jobs they love are usually good at them because they are motivated and naturally inclined to put in their best. This is working hard and working smart. With Singapore's natural constraints, our workers have to be among the best for Singapore to survive. SkillsFuture is the way the Government takes care of Singaporeans.[+5 sentences] Not by providing them with fish but teaching them to fish for themselves. SkillsFuture is not about pursuing qualifications. Its many modules offer training across a wide range of sectors and levels of mastery. A new mindset towards broad-based and lifelong learning is important. We have to go beyond the paper chase and broaden the definitions of success in our society. SkillsFuture will enable Singaporeans to stay relevant and ahead of competition throughout their lives.[+9 sentences] It enables skills acquisitions and constant improvement in a fast-changing environment where the lifespan of a know-how may be increasingly shorter. Page: 75 May I suggest that for SkillsFuture, the Government raise awareness of its benefits through public education, similar to the efforts CPF has been making to get Singaporeans to start planning their finances for the future early? SkillsFuture is the key to Singapore's success. It will strengthen the Singaporean Core as we will be less reliant on foreigners in highly skilled and niche areas where fulfilling and better paying jobs will be available. I agree with the President that in the face of a very competitive global environment and with our limited resources, we have to restructure our economy. The journey ahead will not be easy. Singaporeans must stay resilient and united and forge ahead as our forefathers did. We cannot afford to shut our doors in this competitive world. Protectionism will do more harm than good. We will continue to need foreign investment and promote free trade with other countries. Hence, I am glad that MOF had announced in its Addendum that the Government will be putting in measures to transform our economy from one which focused on value-adding to value-creating, to develop innovative and differentiated products and services. MTI's Addendum also listed out the Advanced Manufacturing, Logistics & Aerospace, Biomedical Sciences and Smart & Sustainable Urban Solutions Growth Clusters which it will be focusing on.[+6 sentences] I am excited by the opportunities these sunrise sectors will be offering us as a nation and for our people. To meet the requirements of these industries, we have to equip Singaporeans with the knowledge and skills and update technology regularly to take on these new challenges. Otherwise, our prospects will diminish if our competitors make it with the same skillsets and lower wages. Shielding Singaporeans from the reality of competition from other countries and their people will prevent us from improving. In the meantime, we will not be updated on a timely basis of how much advance the competition has made. It is better that we recognise and face up to the challenges and overcome them together. Next, I would like to speak on our SMEs, particularly, the need to reduce business costs. I support the recent call by the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) to set up a cost review committee to look into the main contributors to rising business costs.[+2 sentences] Rising manpower, rental and compliance costs and foreign worker levies are a burden on our companies in a slowing global economy. For smaller firms which are struggling to make ends meet, the combination of high costs and slowing demand could deal an irreparable blow which they will not be able to recover from. Remember that our SMEs employ 70% of our workforce and their survival is critical to their employees and their families who depend upon them for their livelihoods. As we have already in place quotas for foreign workers in every sector, the levies are unnecessary as a mechanism to regulate demand by businesses.[+5 sentences] I appeal to the Ministry to consider reducing the levies to lighten the load on our SMEs. To incentivise our SMEs to become more productive from mechanisation and technology, the Government had implemented measures, such as the Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) Scheme. I hope that the Government will continue to provide tax breaks and cash incentives to our SMEs so that the drive to move to more productive technologies will be maintained. Constant renewal and updating of technology should become a culture of our SMEs. Page: 76 It would be good if our SMEs can link up with our tertiary and research institutions to work on productive advancements jointly. Our SMEs need the edge to break through to the global market as our domestic market is too small. I also hope the Government will double the Special Employment Credit from 3% to 6% to support workers above 65 years old who wish to work.[+9 sentences] This would be at a level which many of our SMEs will find very useful, as manpower is one of the key components of their business costs, especially when our population is ageing. Nine hundred thousand Singaporeans will turn 65 years old in 14 years' time in 2030 and, probably, we will be only left with two working adults to support an aged Singaporean if nothing is done. To support our ambitious plans for the future, we have to tackle the root of the problem of our manpower shortage which is our low fertility rate. There are implications for our economy, security and defence if we do not have enough Singaporeans from our next generation to replace us. Our total fertility rate (TFR) has grown slowly from 1.15 in 2010 to 1.25 in 2014. That is good news. The Government has provided many incentives to encourage couples to have more babies, but the response has not been as good as we would like it to be. In my view, one of the most effective measures so far has been the easier access to accommodation and flat ownership. The correlation between the availability of accommodation and fertility has been very encouraging. More than 100 babies were born to couples living in the first batch of 1,150 temporary flats under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme (PPHS).[+22 sentences] I hope the Ministry will continue to ensure a good supply of flats. Perhaps, the Ministry could consider maintaining a year's worth of BTO flat supply ahead at any point of time, for example, between 10,000 and 15,000 units. With shortened waiting times, our couples will find it much easier to plan for their families. I would also like to suggest that we build more affordable, bigger flats to encourage families to have more children. These flats will be different from the usual 5-room HDB flats. They may have four or five bedrooms built over 1,600 square feet with absolute priority given to families with four children or more. Such flats can be built in both mature and new estates and buyers can choose between leases of 99 years or the shorter leases of 60 years, which may be more affordable to them. Next, I would like to voice my support for the Fresh Start Housing Scheme which will help public rental households to own homes again. I hope this scheme can be extended to include third timer families. These are third-timer families which had tapped upon housing subsidies or grants twice, sold their flats and have become public rental tenants. Many of them had sold their flats due to poor planning or very difficult personal circumstances or unfortunate circumstances. However, they now want to have their own homes again. Everyone deserves a fresh start. To ensure affordability, the BTO flats under the scheme will be smaller – 2-room – with shorter leases. We also need to put in place conditions to ensure that the scheme is not abused, such as restricting them to only reselling their flats to HDB. One of my concerns with the families involved is that they face multiple problems – financial, relationship and at work, or the lack thereof. The Government would have to assist them beyond their accommodation needs and provide longer term counselling, especially if there are children in Page: 77 the families. We must help prevent their children from getting caught in the vicious cycle of low education, poverty and unemployment. Another worry I have is that a number of these families have more children and may also have elderly members living with them, so the living conditions will be cramped. Is there any way we can help these families cope by offering them some form of advice on how to maximise their interior layout and living arrangements? Mr Deputy Speaker, continuing in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): The success of Singapore's public housing policy and Home Ownership Scheme is universally recognised. More than 80% of Singaporeans live in HDB flats and many Singaporeans are proud to be owners of their HDB flats.[+9 sentences] Many foreigners are envious that Singaporeans can own their own flats and hope to learn from our experience in public housing. Several new public housing schemes introduced during the term of the previous Government were well-received by Singaporeans. These good policies stabilised prices and assured Singaporeans. In the previous term, I spoke on the state of housing prices and resale flats at that time. I felt that the strong demand was, to a certain extent, a panic reaction to the rising property prices. This is similar to stock market reactions: when the stock market is hot, investors will chase after the market; once the bear market emerges, investors become hesitant and stay on the sidelines. To a certain degree, this also reflects the state of the property market today. Those who need to sell their existing private property or HDB flats now, find that there are not many buyers. This is in stark contrast to the flurry of activities seen previously. Many who want to sell their properties now face the dilemma of reducing prices to sell their house, or face the pressure of falling prices. There must be continuation of good policies and I hope that the Government will continue to delink the prices of new HDB flats from the open market and use the average annual salary of Singaporeans as the basis for determining prices, so as to ensure that Singaporeans and their descendants will not have to worry and that they will always be able to own a flat that they can afford.[+1 sentence] Let me suggest that the Government further consider fixing HDB flat prices such that it does not exceed a maximum mortgage tenure of 20 years. This is to encourage Singaporeans to manage their finances and not over leverage. I also hope that this term of Government will consider extending the Lease Buyback Scheme to bigger flats and not just 4-room and smaller flats. On executive condominiums (ECs), I also hope that the Government will consider regulating the prices of ECs and use the pricing model of new flats as a basis to determine the prices of ECs. This will prevent the re-emergence of a bubble in our property market.[+1 sentence] At the same time, it will provide a relatively stable environment that allows Singaporeans to make long-term plans to upgrade and work towards achieving their dreams.
Mr Deputy Speaker11 words
[+1 sentence]Mr Gan, you have run out of time, half a minute.
Mr Gan Thiam Poh177 words
(In Mandarin): I also agree with my fellow Parliamentary colleagues with regard to Australia's measures to prevent property speculation by foreigners. We can follow the example of Australia, whereby foreigners, including permanent residents, can only sell their houses to Australians. In terms of the design of 2-room flats provided for singles, I also hope that the Government will bear in mind the needs of these singles during their twilight years. I support HDB's policy of co- Page: 78 locating 2-room flats with other flat types within a block of flats.[+4 sentences] This will prevent single flat owners from facing the difficulties of living alone. (In English): Mr Deputy Speaker, it is better to teach our people to fish rather than to feed them. We have to strive to give every Singaporean lifelong opportunities to not only pursue one's interests but also do well and be the best, if not the best of the best. This will ensure Singapore will continue to attract quality investments that provide quality jobs for Singaporean entrepreneurs and workers.
Mr Deputy Speaker6 words
[+1 sentence]Mr Gan, your time is up.
Mr Gan Thiam Poh131 words
[+3 sentences]Give me one more minute, please. (In Mandarin): In the General Elections last year, Singaporeans sent a very clear signal: Singaporeans want a stable, safe, prosperous, caring and harmonious society, a Singapore that is fair and just, where all are treated equally, regardless of race and language. They want a responsible, efficient, clean and good Government that is willing to serve the country and the nation, to create a beautiful home together with the people. They also want an ideal and reliable Opposition party in Parliament, to have more voices in Parliament without affecting the Government's efficiency or crippling the administration. Therefore, I agree with the Prime Minister's political reform proposals. They will be able to meet the needs of the country and expectations of Singaporeans.
Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang (Nee Soon)2457 words
[+2 sentences]Sir, I support the Motion of Thanks to the President. I would like to especially reflect on the third and fifth key aims, which are to foster a more caring society and engage and partner Singaporeans in nation-building. As the last new Member of this House to speak, let me first start by saying that I am humbled, we all are humbled and honoured to be given this opportunity to serve this House, to serve Singapore and to serve Singaporeans.[+7 sentences] I am humbled to be given this opportunity to help shape policies and programmes and help make Singapore even better and improve the lives of Singaporeans significantly as we move towards SG100. I am here to speak my mind, to speak up constructively, to help ensure that we have the best policies in place for Singapore and Singaporeans. I am here to help ensure that we become an even more caring and compassionate society but still remain the economic powerhouse in this region and the world. We have talked and debated a lot about the hardware of this nation, about the software as well but I hope we place or continue to place equal emphasis on the heartware of this nation. This is not something new but something I hope we can focus more on. Acting Minister Ong Ye Kung had earlier cautioned against excessively viewing ourselves in numeric terms and I wholeheartedly agree with him. While numbers are important as we debate on issues, my sincere hope is that this is not just a numbers game. Let us also discuss and debate even more about the morals and ethics, about Singaporeans' dreams, hopes and aspirations, more Page: 79 about the heart of the matter.[+6 sentences] As we progress as a nation, we have achieved a lot in the past 50 years, we have made significant economic progress, but we must continue to place moral and ethical progress on par with economic progress. We need to ensure that Singapore is not run as a Singapore Incorporated and that economic growth is not the only measure of success in our country. Numbers and dollars and cents are part of the equation, in fact, very important parts of the equation in this complex world we live in, but there is more to it and it has to be more to it in order for us to progress. My fellow Member of this House, Mr Seah Kian Peng, said in Parliament almost a decade ago, and I quote, "Minister Mentor speaks of how we want to be in the first half of the First World. We can only truly do that, join the ranks of the civilised countries, not just by cranking up our economy, churning ever brighter students, but by caring for those who cannot speak and are 100% dependent on us for their quality of lives – animals." And when we talk about animals, let us not talk about them as purely numbers, numbers of animals we trap and cull, but talk about them as sentient beings who live amongst us in the community and who share this island with us. Let us ensure that we fight animal cruelty and we find humane long-term solutions to the human-animal conflicts in Singapore.[+2 sentences] There is no doubt that we have to do something to address the conflicts but, at the same time, we need to ensure that what we do addresses the root of the problem, not the symptoms of the problem but the root of the problem. We need to ensure our policies are humane. The very essence of being human is being humane. We need to ensure that the policies we implement address both residents' and animal welfare concerns and are scientifically justifiable. When we talk about the environment and climate change, let us not only focus on the economic losses due to climate change, not just the monetary values of trees and the ecosystem, but focus on our moral obligation to ensure a sustainable future for all and the intrinsic value of our trees and ecosystem. We need to focus not only on recycling but also, more importantly, the other Rs, Reuse and, most importantly, Reduce.[+19 sentences] Several Members of this House have used quotes from Einstein and, so, I will also share one of his quotes which reads, "Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty." Members of this House know me as a strong activist for the past 15 years, in particular, a strong champion for animal welfare and environmental causes. Lately, I am known as the guy hunting the cat killers. Let me take this opportunity to assure this House and members of the public that those are not the only issues I will champion. Through monthly townhall and dialogue sessions, I will also be championing other concerns of fellow Singaporeans. Through my monthly work experiences, I will learn more about different professions and help champion improvements. I have been a healthcare worker, a driver and, Page: 80 earlier this month, a cleaner, and it truly has been a worthwhile journey. These are jobs which are important in the progress of our country but where the workers receive too little appreciation at times and should receive more recognition. I am also a new parent of a 2-year-old daughter and having a child has been one of the most rewarding journeys of our lives. My daughter lights up our lives and seeing her grow up, seeing her smile and laugh, hearing her start to talk have been an amazing experience and always puts a smile on our faces. She is also a beaming activist already, having launched her first campaign, which is to end my 17-year habit of smoking. I am delighted to say that she has succeeded. Her copy-and-paste function has also now begun and so she has made me a much better person as she now scrutinises and copies every single word we say and do, and all my bad habits are very quickly gone. So, any bad habit she has is clearly not from me. And to make sure I do not sleep on the couch tonight, any bad habit she has is also clearly not from my wife. But I worry for her future. I worry about the Total Fertility Rate (TFR). I am sure we all know that it is a worrying trend. But as we talk about the TFR, we also need to make sure that this is not just a numbers game again. I fully understand, appreciate and am experiencing the costs involved in bringing up a child in Singapore. So, the Baby Bonus Scheme, which helps to lighten the financial costs of raising children, has been very useful.[+5 sentences] The maternity and paternity leaves have been useful as well even though we heard that fathers are not taking up the paternity leave, but I did. And I hope we can do more to promote parenthood, the positive aspects of parenthood and to share positive stories. We need to inspire people to have kids. Our policies need to focus on making sure we have time to have kids, to look after our kids and bond with them. We need to focus more attention perhaps on flexi-working hours for parents without compromising productivity. I support what Mr Desmond Choo had earlier said about more flexi-working hour arrangements following maternity leave. I hope we can also relook our childcare leave policies, leave policies and base the amount of leave not just on the age of the children but also the number of children one has. Quite simply, the more children you have, the more childcare leave you should have.[+10 sentences] I hope we can do more to help those who have kids to have more kids. I do not think I have all the answers to the million-dollar question of how we can increase our TFR, but I have ideas and suggestions I hope we can try out and see if they will work. I have stories to share about the journey my wife and I have embarked on and, personally, I will walk the talk. I will help increase the TFR by having another child soon, I hope. There really is no greater reward than having a child. Another area that concerns me is an overarching one and, that is, how we can mobilise our most important and valuable resource in this country – our people. We can mobilise them so we continue this journey, the Singapore story together. How can we mobilise everyone to step forward to volunteer, to serve and to make a difference? If we succeed in this, then this will help in a lot of the issues we will discuss in this House. Page: 81 This will help the lower income families where we need to do more than provide financial assistance. With the help of the community, we can do more and do more to ensure that these families can get out of the poverty cycle. We have launched a new programme for our lower income families in Nee Soon East where I serve and I am glad that more and more people are stepping forward to help. The beauty of the programme is that it is planned by volunteers, run by volunteers and funded by volunteers.[+27 sentences] Having this strong community spirit is vital in times of crisis, be it a terrorist attack or an economic downturn. It is this community spirit, this caring society where we look out for one another, that will keep Singapore going and allow us to recover quickly. To mobilise people and get the active citizenry we want, we need to make sure people are engaged, empowered and inspired. Engaged, empowered and inspired so that we have a nation committed to helping, giving and sharing. But this also cannot just be a numbers game. It is not just about sharing the total number of volunteers we have or the number of volunteer hours. It has to be more meaningful. To engage people, we need to listen more, listen more than we speak. I quote, "The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them." So, we are not just there to explain policies to people, to throw them with facts and figures but we are there to truly listen and understand. The Our Singapore Conversation and The Future of Us dialogue are fine examples of engagement and they have been impactful. And I urge the Government to conduct more of such dialogues. But we also need to empower. We need to make sure that the debate on policies, programmes and legislation takes place beyond these four walls. In fact, I think the most important work Members of this House do is beyond these four walls. We need to ensure that the views of people are not just sought, but worked on, developed and presented in this House. We need to ensure that the debate we have in this House is started outside these four walls. We need to ensure people feel and are empowered. The robust debate we have in the public arena is crucial and will ensure that we truly understand what the ground concerns are, the various ideas out there are and the different solutions available. Because, ultimately, we do not have all the answers. Let us also empower by setting up committees comprising people on the ground, a committee of people who are not like-minded but who will come together to argue, to debate and to find common ground. To move forward, it is committees like these, like the Animal Welfare Legislation Review Committee, where I feel we will get the best policies drafted. Empowering is vital and we need to empower our constituents and ensure that they have a voice in this House and a role to play in shaping Singapore. And we need to inspire them with positive stories of the Singapore story, of the amazing Singapore story and how, with their help, their views and their partnership, it can continue to be and, perhaps, be an even more remarkable story. Sir, I am thankful for the Singapore we have today, thankful for the opportunities that she has given me, for the Singapore story I have lived for the past 37 years. Page: 82 We are, indeed, the island of possibilities, the island of the impossible, the island where miracles can happen, have happened and will continue to happen, if we continue to believe, if we continue to fight passionately and continue to be determined for a better Singapore. In this island where the impossible has been achieved, my choice of pursuing an unconventional career 15 years ago has been made possible. Many sceptics laughed at me 15 years ago when I started my charity ACRES, when I told them I was going to become an activist, an advocate for change. They told me that I would fail, that this is not something feasible to establish and sustain in Singapore and that I would not be able to engage, empower, inspire and mobilise anyone. And so, if there is one lesson I have learnt in the past 15 years, it is that nothing is truly impossible in Singapore.[+2 sentences] As we pass our 50th year mark, it cannot be business as usual. In fact, we cannot run this nation as a business. I hope that "Home" is not just a song we sing at events but that Singapore continues to be a place we call our home, a place we treasure and a place we build up for our children. I hope we leave behind a legacy of compassion, of giving, of hope for a stronger Singapore as we move towards SG100.[+2 sentences] And as far as my medical checks have shown, I believe, and I hope, I will be here for SG100. Let me end with a quote that I hope Singaporeans will hear that I have used for all my school talks to mobilise students. And it reads, "I am only one but still I am one, I cannot do everything but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do." Each one of us has that part to play, an important part to do something and, together, we can make Singapore even better, even stronger and even more beautiful.[+3 sentences] We can make Singapore the caring society and continue to be the shining red dot our President spoke about. Sir, I reaffirm my support for the Motion. Page: 83
[+2 sentences](proc text)] '[(proc text) We, the Parliament of the Republic of Singapore, express our thanks to the President for the Speech which he delivered on behalf of the Government at the Opening of the First Session of this Parliament.'." – . (proc text)]
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth (Mr Baey Yam Keng)3004 words
[+4 sentences]Mdm Speaker, I rise in support of the Motion to thank the President for his Address. In his Address, the President highlighted the need for the Government to partner citizens to shape our common future. He also urged all Members to work closely with the people to write the next chapter together. We must and we shall. As a more diverse society emerges and with a more complex global environment to navigate, we should put our heads together, to take things forward as one people.[+1 sentence] Madam, in 2012, we held Our Singapore Conversation to listen to what mattered most to Singaporeans. We heard from some 47,000 Singaporeans, expressing views on matters concerning our livelihood, such as job opportunities and housing.[+5 sentences] We also heard calls for a more fulfilling pace of life, where we can pursue other aspirations outside of work. There was also interest among many to forge a stronger sense of a national identity and these are all important, and have guided the Government's work in the last few years. This is still work-in-progress. But we need to adapt how we, as Singaporeans, want Singapore to be run, with the new challenges we face. And as it is evolving quicker than ever, we need everyone to chip in, to make it work for all of us. As Minister Grace Fu said last week, we need all hands on deck to face the challenges ahead.[+1 sentence] It is time to take action. We want to build a democracy of deeds, where Singaporeans have a greater sense of ownership, responsibility and a greater connection to what it means to be Singaporean. That is the premise behind the SGfuture engagements launched last November.[+22 sentences] It is an opportunity for Singaporeans to come forward to share their views and suggestions on how to build a better future for Singapore. These are focused engagement sessions, aimed at looking into specific topics, including the arts, sports, volunteerism, environment and even hawker food culture. These are not just discussions, but brainstorm sessions to establish the next steps on matters that concern us. I attended one of the sessions last Thursday with over 70 youths. Their enthusiasm was infectious. Ideas came fast and furious, on ways to help other segments of society. For instance, one participant had the idea of building public gyms for people with special needs. Another suggested having retro disco parties for the elderly in the void decks of housing blocks. There are all ideas worth pursuing, so I encouraged them to take it further and, if necessary, consider how they can partner the relevant Government agencies and other organisations to turn these ideas into reality. Madam, I believe we have all seen on reality TV shows, how it is not just the celebrities, but also ordinary people who shape the plot and attract viewership. Not everyone can be on the show. But there is a role for the audience to play in deciding who gets to go, who gets to stay and who finally wins the contest. Hence, we should not sit passively to watch the Singapore Story unfold. Take part in one of the SGfuture sessions, or get involved in other forums that exist. We should take an interest in following the developments and better still, play a part in shaping the Singapore we want for our future generations. We have all seen the power and effectiveness of collective wisdom. Crowd-sourcing and crowd-funding, for instance, are concepts that have fuelled opportunities for many people and businesses. The run-away successes of Kickstarter, Uber and AirBnB for instance are not solely because of the technology or the products they offer. They manage to effectively match demand with supply and vice versa. Their apps bring people together for a mutually-beneficial outcome and their apps make it easy for people to see what is out there, seize it and achieve a better outcome for themselves. In the same way, SGfuture harnesses the wisdom of crowds. This idea of co-creating with the people is not entirely new. But SG50 has given us a renewed sense that Singaporeans want to be involved. This democracy of deeds will therefore be an integral part of this term of Government.[+1 sentence] This also means within the Government, public agencies will need to reorganise ourselves, in order to effectively involve and engage Singaporeans. The SGfuture engagements give a glimpse into how we are intending to do so by matching ideas with action and people with projects.[+19 sentences] As Members of the House, we also need to do more engagement with our residents, whether is it to decide on what to build and where to build in estate upgrading projects. Madam, one of the groups that I hope to involve closely in this, is our youths. They are vocal, energetic and teeming with ideas. I know many of them want to be involved in shaping the Singapore they hope to live in. I have been hearing from more of them since taking up my appointment at MCCY. Recently, I spent a day at Outward Bound Singapore on Pulau Ubin kayaking and abseiling with students from Bartley Secondary School and Tanjong Katong Girls' School. As I think about the time we spent together that day, I was encouraged by the display of teamwork and resilience in our youths. I hope to be able to catch up with more young Singaporeans in the coming months. I want to hear about what moves them and what they want for Singapore. I hope to share with more of them that they are in a good position to make a difference for Singapore and that the future is theirs to own. I hope to do so through more informal ways, including more kayaking or abseiling, if necessary. Over the last few years, as a Member of Parliament, I have found it useful to create such relatively informal channels to reach out to Singaporeans, through face-to-face conversations, social media and even exercising. Madam, since General Elections (GE) 2011, I have been holding monthly "KopiTalks" in a food court and online chats through my Facebook account. It is a way to connect with my residents in Tampines and the public at large. During these informal sessions, my residents raise questions as well as give feedback on improvements for the constituency. We also talk about ways to manage issues, from noisy neighbours to national topics like whether there should be free parking at national parks, which the Senior Minister of State talked about just now. It is all very casual and free-flowing. But from these regular check-ins with my residents, and even some non-residents, I get a good sense of what concerns them. What I have observed, over the last few years of such engagements is that Singaporeans are moving away from just giving feedback or complaints. Increasingly, I see offers to get involved, for example, the Hope Centre's monthly bread distribution to rental flat residents in Tampines North which started last year. Hope Centre and Tampines North grassroots organisations are now discussing and planning for a new free tuition service for children of needy families.[+29 sentences] At the same time, I am also getting requests to help with their causes, for instance, in promoting a giving culture, better road manners and even attending their baby shower parties. This is encouraging and affirms, too, that the approach we are taking as a Government, starting with the SGfuture citizen engagement, is timely and a step in the right direction. Madam, another way I try to reach out to fellow Singaporeans is through exercise. I run about twice a week. Regularly, I would post an open invitation on social media, for anyone to join me in my runs. These sessions, which I call "Run with BYK", allow me to meet more people. As we jog around places like Marina Bay or Tampines EcoGreen, we chat and learn more about one another. These groups are not large; in fact, often, there are just about two, at most six people. But what makes it different is that it is also very conducive to hear from one another because every new person I speak with is a new opportunity to learn about them, to gather feedback and to look at how we can improve the way we do things in Singapore. I think this is the mentality we should adopt when we talk about engaging the public, that there are no "right" platforms. We just need to recognise the many opportunities around us to engage with one another, to enlarge the common space to collaborate and to co-exist. And "Run with BYK" is all the more meaningful too now that I am with MCCY, where together with Sport Singapore, we are promoting better living through sport. During each small group run, we enjoy our conversations as well as the beautiful sights and green spaces of Singapore along the way. So, if you are keen, you can look out for the next run through hashtag #runwithBYK. Well, this is my personal exercise regime which I do anyway. I am just opening it up for others to join me. Likewise, public engagement should be and will be in the Government's DNA. These channels will augment the other established channels that the Government already has, from the REACH platforms, to the hotlines and Facebook pages that almost all agencies have. Our Singapore Conversation and the SGfuture engagements are the most recent efforts to reach out. These are not one-off efforts, but they are a continuum in the Government's plans to reach out to Singaporeans over the years. And with SGfuture, we also want Singaporeans to take up projects, to seed a change and to shape our future. Many views will emerge, as well as ideas to take Singapore forward. Importantly, we want people to take these ideas and views further, to translate them into action. The Government cannot do it alone or unilaterally, more so as our society becomes more diverse and the demands more diffused. But the Government can and will partner people in making Singapore a better home for all. Madam, on this note, I would like to comment on several issues raised by Members Sylvia Lim and Leon Perera earlier in the week. Mr Perera spoke about an op-ed piece by Arts Engage on the Government's role in funding the arts. In Singapore, funding of the arts is a partnership between the state, corporates and individuals, which reflects the spirit of shared responsibility and co-creation that I talked about earlier on. This approach acknowledges the role that the Government plays in supporting the development of the arts sector. Over the last three years, with the Arts and Culture Strategic Review, we have not only seen increased funding but also more arts groups and talents in the arts community are benefiting from this funding.[+9 sentences] This is because the Government sees the importance of the arts and culture in meeting the aspirations of the people and in building a sense of national identity. But as the custodian of public funds, the Government is also accountable to the public in the application of funds towards achieving our social objectives. The need to maintain a wide common space among communities and ensure social harmony in our multi-racial and multi-religious society has been expounded by many speakers before me. The public expects the Government and public agencies to uphold these values in our policies, including our funding guidelines for the arts. At the same time, there is funding from the private sector: corporates and individuals. They do not necessarily carry the same social objectives and are not bound by our arts funding guidelines. However, one can expect conditions to be similarly imposed by these private donors and individuals. The conditions may vary from meeting brand attributes to audience size, but the point is that there will be conditions. It is therefore not realistic to expect any public funds to be given out unconditionally. For example, the Productivity and Innovation Credit that helps companies raise productivity comes with conditions in employment. Sports scholarship for our athletes comes with conditions in training and in performance.[+9 sentences] The public expects us as custodian to discharge our responsibility with care and to good effect. But rest assured, as an advocate of the arts, NAC will continue to focus on arts excellence and continue to make the case for enlarging the space for our artists and arts groups to grow. We will get better in doing this. And when there are broader interests of society that may be at odds with this role, we will try to bridge the differences. At the very least, we seek to help all parties see the other points of view. After all, there should be better and deeper engagement. Madam, let me now talk about the National Sports Associations (NSAs) that Ms Sylvia Lim had talked about. She questioned the need for Members of Parliament to take up leadership roles in NSAs. I would like to clarify in the House that all the leaders in NSAs have to be elected in accordance with the respective constitutions. The Ministry does not appoint Members of Parliament to head NSAs.[+1 sentence] They must be elected by their members. The only exception today is the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) where the President of FAS has been appointed by the Minister responsible for Sports.[+1 sentence] But this, too, is changing. FAS is transiting to a system of election by members. By June, an AGM will be called during which members will elect their next president.[+30 sentences] Members of Parliament who are holding NSA leadership positions have to earn their stripes and gain the respect of the members of the associations. They bring along with them experience and expertise in their own right. At the same time, the vast majority of NSAs, in fact, 55 out of the 63 NSAs, do not have Members of Parliament as their leaders, for example: Singapore Swimming Association, Singapore Sailing Federation, Singapore Bowling Federation, Singapore Rugby Union, Fencing Singapore, Singapore Silat Federation and many others; and these are very good NSAs. In fact, leaders from NSAs have joined us in the Chamber as Nominated Members of Parliament. We have Jessie Phua, Nicholas Fang and Dr Benedict Tan. Madam, I would like to clarify in the House again that leadership in NSAs is not dictated by the Government. Madam, let me now touch on my last topic of today's speech, long-time PRs. There is a group of Permanent Residents or PRs in Singapore who have been calling Singapore home for decades but they do not enjoy the privilege of having our red passport or pink IC. Many of them live through the years when Singapore and Malaysia were both British colonies, when Singapore joined and subsequently separated from Malaysia. Typically, they will fall in such a profile: with little or no education, about 60 years old and above and have raised a family of children who are Singapore Citizens. Usually, only they themselves or sometimes with their spouses, still hold Malaysian passports. I have seen enough appeals for citizenships and permanent residency to speculate that ICA look at the following key factors in assessing the application: applicants' educational level, income status, age and how well they have integrated into the Singapore community. This group I am speaking up for today, most probably or most definitely, would fail the first three criteria miserably. They would also fail the minimum English Language standard for new citizens as proposed by Member Darryl David. However, they would be able to strike a good conversation with many of our Pioneer Generation members in Mandarin, dialects, Malay, Tamil; and Mr Seah Kian Peng would be happy to hear, probably Singlish, too. After living in Singapore for the most part, and some, all of their life, they are as Singaporean as can anyone can be in their experiences, lifestyles, attitudes and social habits. Some of these PRs tried applying for citizenship in the past but did not succeed. Others did not even try, for two reasons: either they did not think they stood a chance, or they did not see the need then. To be fair to them, Singapore only started to make a bigger distinction between citizens and PRs in the last five to 10 years. For a long time, PRs were treated no differently from citizens. Hence, many of them did not bother with the hassle of going through the paperwork. But now, there is a huge difference between subsidies for PRs and citizens especially in education and healthcare, for very good and valid reasons. While education may not be the top priority for this group of residents at this phase of their life, healthcare cost is. So, do we begrudge them that they are now seemingly only re-aligning their loyalty or allegiance for selfish interests? Yes, indeed, they may now realise that by not being citizens in Singapore, they would face higher medical expenses. But it is probably their Singaporean children who have to shoulder the heavier burden. What matters to them too is that after all these years in Singapore, they hope to able to travel with their children without having to apply for visas. They hope to queue in the same line when they are at the Singapore immigration counters, or simply to rest in peace as Singaporeans. There is a Chinese saying, 没有功劳，也有苦劳. While these people may not be well-qualified in education, may not earn a high income, they have contributed to Singapore, even as a housewife, taking care of children, raising a family of children. They have done their part as good member of the Singapore society and the Singapore community. Therefore, I hope the Government can give this group of long-time PRs from Malaysia special consideration and concession in their citizenship application.[+1 sentence] Mdm Speaker, let me conclude by re-affirming my support for the Motion and for the President's call to partner citizens in writing the next chapter of the Singapore Story, as we progress towards a better, more inclusive nation in SG100.
Mdm Speaker7 words
[+1 sentence]Ms Sylvia Lim, you have a clarification?
Ms Sylvia Lim (Aljunied)189 words
[+1 sentence]Thank you, Madam, a clarification for the Parliamentary Secretary. He spoke in his speech about leadership of sports groups and also referred to what I had said earlier. I am glad to hear his confirmation for the association where the Government is nominating all the council members, in other words, in the Football Association of Singapore, that that is being changed and now they would have an election.[+3 sentences] But, of course, he brought up the bigger point about leadership in other sports associations and he pointed out that many of them who are led by non-politicians are actually doing very well. I wonder if the Government thinks it is actually better for politicians to refrain from going into contest in these sports associations. After all, we have enough talent in the sporting fraternity and I am not doubting the sincerity of the PAP Members who have gone into certain sports associations, but the bigger point is: is it not better to build a stronger sporting leadership and for politicians actually to sort of step back and let others take the lead and they can always support in other ways?
Mr Baey Yam Keng140 words
[+4 sentences]I thank Ms Sylvia Lim for the question. I was the President of the Volleyball Association for eight years. Honestly, I do not know a lot about volleyball. But the Association had benefited from various Presidents coming from Parliament through our networks, through our grassroots experience and they have continued to request for us to continue and for other Members to succeed when our term ends. [restates an earlier point]As I mentioned, currently, there are only eight NSAs with Members of Parliament at their leadership.[+1 sentence] A huge majority of NSAs do not. The Government does not ban politicians from entering NSAs nor dictate that the leadership must be helmed by Members in this Chamber.[+1 sentence] So, it is really up to NSAs to decide and to elect their president, their leadership as they deem fit, that is, in the best interest of the NSA.
Mdm Speaker3 words
[+1 sentence]Mr Leon Perera.
Mr Leon Perera (Non-Constituency Member)192 words
[+10 sentences]Thank you, Mdm Speaker. I would just like to put a clarification question to the hon Parliamentary Secretary Mr Baey Yam Keng. Mr Baey referred to my speech when I quoted from an op-ed piece by some of our artists. I would like to ask the hon Parliamentary Secretary if he agrees with the views specifically expressed because it was not entirely clear. So, here, I am quoting from the op-ed piece by Mr Tan Tarn How and Mr T Sasitharan. Mr T Sasitharan, as you know, if I am not wrong, is a Cultural Medallion recipient. In any case, he is a very prominent local artist speaking on behalf of the Arts Engage network of Singapore which involves a number of local artists. The view that he expressed was, and I quote verbatim here, "Our website also documents cases of works censored to protect the Government from embarrassment rather than for society's good. Perhaps it is fitting to remember here that arts funding is not the Government's but the people's money." So, I would like to ask the hon Member does he agree with that view; and if not, why not?
Mr Baey Yam Keng198 words
As part of the funding principles of NAC, there is a requirement and understanding with the arts groups and the applicants that they should not put any public institutions in a bad light or put them in a derogatory position. It is in this context that was quoted by Arts Engage that the funding was re-considered. But also, there was a change in substance of the content of the works that were first submitted for application and the eventual product that was produced by the artist.[+6 sentences] So, there was a difference in what was submitted earlier. There was also some of this to and fro that happened. Among the many applications and support that NAC has given to the many arts groups and artists in Singapore, these are a minute minority of cases which the group has pointed out. As I said in my speech, in MCCY and NAC, our role is to advocate the arts. We will stand on the side of the artists in their pursuit of artistic excellence. We hope to create and develop a bigger common space so that Singaporeans and the community-at-large can enjoy the works of our very talented artists in Singapore.
Mdm Speaker3 words
[+1 sentence]Mr Pritam Singh.
Mr Pritam Singh (Aljunied)1565 words
[+5 sentences]Thank you, Mdm Speaker. Much of the attention surrounding the President's speech at the Opening of Parliament concerns the upcoming changes of the political system. The President's speech intermitted that an inclusive Singapore is a clear objective of the Government. I will speak on one aspect of the political system that I believe can play a very significant role to improve both politics and policies in Singapore and that is through Parliament and the institutions it offers. Mdm Speaker, Woodrow Wilson was quoted to have said, "It is not far from the truth to say that Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee rooms is Congress at work". To this end, Select Committees that meet regularly when Parliament is not session are fundamental pillars of many parliamentary democracies. The Erskine May on parliamentary procedures, the signature reference book used by parliaments in the Commonwealth, including Singapore, notes that Select Committees "have over recent years become the principal mechanism by which the House discharges its responsibility for the scrutiny of Government policy and actions".[+16 sentences] It goes on to say "the Select Committee members have been able to acquire significant levels of expertise in the specific areas for which that committee is responsible. This, together, with the resources available to them have reinforced the authority of their reports". Mdm Speaker, Select Committees are also an important means by which Members of Parliament build a public record, communicate with other Members of Parliament, civil servants, activists and the general public. It is my view that the processes afforded to Select Committees are helpful because the testimony of witnesses, who could be private sector individuals, civil servants or implementing agents on the ground, would lead to greater information sharing and the acquisition of greater knowledge on specific policies by all Singaporeans, not just parliamentarians. In addition, an appreciation of the trade-offs in a more complex Singapore and a more complex international environment beyond SG51 would, in my own estimation, significantly mature our political discourse, level up knowledge and serve to unify our people. It would also encourage Singaporeans not just to look at an issue more deeply, but to understand why what may be a solution to some, has to be balanced with other demands, all of which must confront the question of financing, a question that a small country with no natural resources can ill avoid. The depth of knowledge of policies and their trade-offs enabled by Select Committee hearings and reports can also be a strong insurance against the danger of retail politics and political aspirants who irresponsibly make policies in the hopes of winning votes. Fast forward to the next 50 years, any conversation with Singaporeans cannot only be about seeking feedback and brainstorming sessions from the people before policy-crafting and implementation, which is important in its own way. But instead, it has to involve Singaporeans along every step of the way, including during execution, so that mid-course corrections, reviews and assessments can be made together. In September last year, as Members of this House were busy at the election hustings, the UK House of Commons' Select Committee on Business Innovation and Skills received evidence on the UK government's productivity plan. This plan sought to address the main causes of low productivity in the UK. The Select Committee sought to determine whether the government's policies were likely to achieve their desired results. Ordinary citizens were able to submit their evidence to the committee through the UK parliamentary website. There was also the prospect of giving oral evidence at hearings that are open to members of the public and companies. As an example, some of the companies that gave evidence at the productivity inquiry included Rolls Royce and Virgin Atlantic, hence, providing a lot of scope for a deeper understanding of the problems of the day surrounding productivity from a wide canvas of citizenry. Even Hong Kong's Legislative Council carries out significant policy work behind the scenes. The Hong Kong Legislative Council hosts 18 different panels to deliberate on issues relating to specific policy areas and also to give views on major legislative or financial proposals before their formal introduction to the Council or the Finance Committee.[+7 sentences] These panels also examine important issues of wide public concern as referred by the Council or raised by the panels themselves. These include the development of elderly care services, retirement schemes, studies into free kindergarten education, animal welfare and cruelty to animals and even hawker policy. In practice, Mdm Speaker, our Parliament does not need to mirror the UK system, Hong Kong system, or any other system in its entirety, nor do we need to establish an excessive amount of Select Committees for the sake of it. However, there is a number of issues that would clearly keep the Government and the Opposition occupied in the years to come. In view of the longer experience and size of the UK, they host an extensive A to Z of Select Committees. Our Parliament, on the other hand, can establish Select Committees for key issues of the day as determined by Parliament. What could be some of these issues? First, there is a prospect of a Singapore where the number of elderly Singaporeans is expected to double in the next decade.[+2 sentences] It will have an attendant impact not just on our healthcare system, but on families too with more children having to take time off to look after their parents to see that they age well and gracefully. An Active Ageing Select Committee would be helpful in this regard to understand what gaps need to be plugged, in addition to where the deficiencies continue to exist in the system, the reasons for their existence and how they can be overcome. Second, there is a difficult population policy issue for which the Government has announced a mid-course review to take place around 2020. The Population Select Committee could potentially start hearings on this issue early, allowing Singaporeans to understand the decisions taken thus far and outline what other policies need to dovetail closely with our population strategies. It could also flesh out the different perspectives of Singaporeans with regard to trade-offs between the dwindling Singaporean Core and the economic strategies required for Singapore not just to survive, but to thrive in the next lap.[+6 sentences] Mdm Speaker, this House can endeavour to establish just one Select Committee in the immediate term, as a pilot Select Committee, and that is a SkillsFuture Select Committee. In his speech, the President clearly emphasised the importance of SkillsFuture to the economy, how important it is for SkillsFuture to be a success and how it must to be a national movement. There are many dimensions to SkillsFuture: PMETs, career guidance, sectoral manpower plans, Earn and Learn credits, individual learning portfolios, amongst others, across the age spectrum. Then, there is the issue of productivity. As I noted in my Budget Debate speech last year, the National Productivity Council has now come under the purview of SkillsFuture. For many advanced economies including Singapore, improving productivity is a serious matter. Even in Singapore, we have not achieved the productivity aims set in the Economic Strategies Committee Report 2020 of 2%-3% each year, and our numbers continue to look weak. As productivity and the acquisition of new skills are closely linked, a SkillsFuture Select Committee of Parliament comprising Members of Parliament from all parties would be in a good position to pursue and consider improvements and innovations to the Government strategies. This would ensure that SkillsFuture would work well on the ground, and examine how it could do more and to account for the taxpayer dollar that is eventually expended on it.[+12 sentences] The presence of Select Committee Members from all parties would not just be symbolic. In fact, it will be in step not just with the wishes of many voters, but it would mirror the inclusive Singapore the President spoke about and the Singapore we all desire. More importantly, it would operationalise what the President meant when he said, "Individual aspirations may defer, but we have to work together to create a common future". In conclusion, Mdm Speaker, the tremendous scope of Parliament and specifically Select Committees to make our politics more accountable and better accessible to all Singaporeans should not be underestimated. This proposal to establish a SkillsFuture Select Committee can be read in two ways. The more cynical view is that Select Committees could be used to secure information not in the public domain on Government processes and decision-making, and to embarrass the Government. But there is another long-term perspective to be considered. And that is the in-depth granularity offered by Select Committees on vital issues affecting Singaporeans which would contribute significantly to create a culture of mastery and excellence; and for Singaporeans to take a deep interest in policies and to understand the trade-offs surrounding policymaking. This theme of excellence and mastery, not just competence, was covered in the Finance Minister's Budget speech 2014 and that is exactly what SkillsFuture is about. Parliament is in a privileged position to re-configure the relationship between the public and the Government as we march towards SG100. A more public role for Parliament and more time spent in it by Members of Parliament, offers greater scope to better our political system so that it governs effectively in the interests of all. Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion.
Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo (East Coast)2215 words
[+20 sentences]Mdm Speaker, thank you for allowing me to speak. I rise in support of the Motion to thank the President for his Address at the Opening of the first session of this Parliament. President Tan reminded us that we are a small country with no natural resources and our strength is our people. This improbable nation, Singapore, is the result of the people who came before us. Their conviction, courage and hard work brought us to where we are today. There are several areas that are important. Many Members have discussed in the last few days in terms of ensuring that Singapore continues to be a special place for all Singaporeans, young and old, to realise their aspirations. I would like to speak about jobs. We all have aspirations to provide for a better life for ourselves and our families. To enable Singaporeans, no matter where our starting point, to continue to improve our lives, I believe that Singapore must be able to give Singaporeans fulfilling jobs. I believe that to have meaningful work gives confidence to our people to not only make a living but also to feel included and, hence, a sense of belonging and commitment. This point was so nicely said in a movie that I recently watched titled "The Intern". Robert De Niro, who plays a 70-year-old retiree, decided to apply for a job as an intern in an online fashion site, a work environment very different from what he knew. He spoke about why he was doing so and I thought was so apt. He said that he wants "the connections, the excitement, I want the challenges and I guess I want to be needed." With evolving business models, our economic changes, technological and social changes, the kind of work and the "workplace" is changing rapidly. Many of today's top jobs did not exist a few years ago and even how work is organised is changing. The workplace is evolving. There is no longer a place for people to go to work, with more people being able to work from anywhere. I am both somewhat optimistic of the new opportunities that will be created, as well as concerned of the impact and disruption on Singaporeans that these changes will bring. According to preliminary estimates released by MOM, while the unemployment rate in Singapore remained low last year, total employment growth slowed to a 12-year low. Redundancy increased in the fourth quarter of 2015, as 4,200 workers were laid off. This was higher than the previous quarter and the year before.[+1 sentence] Although anecdotal, I am hearing residents' concerns about losing their jobs and the anxiety of not being able to get another job given the slower economic growth or taking longer to get another job, given what businesses are going through in terms of the changes. The World Economic Forum's "The Future of Jobs" report that was issued this month outlined that these changes are not unique to Singapore. It highlighted that "many of the drivers of major transformation currently affecting global industries are expected to have significant impact on jobs, ranging from significant job creation to job displacement and from heightened labour productivity to widening skills gap." While we must have strategies to ensure that Singapore continues to have good growth and quality jobs, what is equally important will be to ensure that Singaporeans are able and more importantly, ready to take advantage of these job opportunities and that businesses in Singapore are also able to fill these jobs with the right talent.[+51 sentences] This readiness goes beyond just the hard skills and knowledge and will involve greater adaptability. Given these employment trends and feedback from businesses that it is taking them longer to find the right persons to fill the roles they are hiring for, I believe that there is urgency to ensure that we adapt to this changing employment landscape. So, how do we future-ready our workforce? There are fears that these changes will displace jobs and routine work would be automated or business models would change and make certain jobs go away. These changes can also create new jobs or greater job scope and opportunities. While both these views are valid, if we want to be future-ready and if we want to future-ready our workforce, we must advocate a mind-set of learning and curiosity. This will enable us to adapt and embrace these changes so that we can take advantage of these opportunities. We will have to acquire new skills on an ongoing basis. And this ability to continue to learn and to build a portfolio of skills and experience will affect everyone regardless of whether we are young and just entering the workforce, or an older person, or whether we are a lower skilled worker or PMET. Technology is pervasive and is impacting many aspects of our work and life. Today, with the ability to use search on even, what many of us have in our pockets, a smartphone, you will have quick access to information, to knowledge, even on a subject that you know nothing about. And with this, you can ask, "Is that good? Is that bad?" I think it is a good thing in the sense that it enables us to do work more quickly and more efficiently. But it is also important that we understand the information that is coming towards us and what to do with that. That is what we have to equip our people to be doing. So, in that sense it frees us. But if we are not careful and we do not apply it, then that becomes a challenge. With technology, relationships are also becoming more networked rather than hierarchical, so hence, being able to use these technologies will enable us to have faster and more effective communications and connections. But it is important to prevent an opportunity divide. We must ensure that all people at all levels and ages are comfortable and able to leverage the use of technology. We need to better equip our people and we must invest in developing strong communication skills so that people can communicate their ideas better and connect and share these ideas. Some fear that the lower skilled jobs will disappear with technology and that these roles will be displaced. I think that it is true but it could also create new and better jobs. Let me give an example: the cleaning industry. Without having to do extra work, if we put sensors in the areas being cleaned, one person could probably be able to monitor a larger space and then go to the places where there are more people and where more cleaning is required. And you can do that without having to make that person work extra hard. But it has to be applied correctly. To differentiate our workforce, as many have said in this House, we must have a mastery of skills and innovation. With the rapid changes that we are experiencing, while knowledge is easily obtained and probably computers can handle information better than a human being, I still think that the person has a very important role to play and if we know how to leverage this knowledge, we would be able to leapfrog on innovation. I believe you cannot replace a good teacher, a good nurse or even a good salesperson. But with the use of the right business processes and technology, you can provide them with the ability to do what they do best and improve the experience for the student, the patient or the customer. One area that I must emphasise that we must never lose, is our desire to improve and a mind-set of resilience. I want to share a story of a young boy whom I met many years ago in my first term as a Member of Parliament. He and his mother had come to see me because this boy felt that he was being singled out by his teacher. When he came to see me he was suspended for some incident in school and he felt that he was being singled out. And he said to me, "I have been unfairly singled out by a teacher." Then, I asked him why, and he said, "Yes, because he does not think I am capable." I said, "Okay, if he does not think you are capable, do you think you are capable?" He says "Yes!" I said, "Then, the best way to win your teacher over is to show him that." And I did not see this boy after that, but one day when I was in a school at a Book Prize Award ceremony. This lady came up to me smiling away and I was trying to figure out where I had seen her. She said, "I am here because my son is getting an award and recognition." And guess what, it is the same boy, in the same school, a year or so later, being recognised for his capabilities. While circumstances can affect us, we have to have that mindset of resilience and we must have that confidence and that belief. Another area that I feel needs attention is the Human Resource (HR) function. As we talk about all these changes, businesses will need the HR function to be a lot stronger because not only will your talent base come from within your company, you will need to source available freelance talents somewhere else; you have to go into partnerships; you have to plan for that. And in order to do that, you need a very strong HR function. I do not think we are doing enough in Singapore to develop this competence and capability and I hope that we can do more. Let me finally talk about a very important area, called the Singapore Core, and, in particular, the Singapore Core in our workforce. As outlined by MOM in the Addendum, strengthening this Singapore Core in the workforce in very important. I believe that given that Singapore has a highly educated workforce with more than 50% holding PMET jobs, this trend will continue to increase and, so, we must have high-quality jobs that Singaporeans aspire to do and can do. What must we do to achieve this, apart from the measures that MOM is driving? I believe that employers must play a big role for a strong Singapore Core to be successful. It will require employers to be willing to make a deliberate bet on building a Singapore Core.[+3 sentences] Because with the rapid changes in the workforce, regardless of whether you are a large or a small organisation, it is difficult for your talent to keep up to reskill and upskill fast enough that there would not be skills gaps. Businesses would find it difficult to find the exact skill they will require and, so, if you do not take proactive actions to develop them, then it is not going to be possible. The Member Pritam Singh talked about SkillsFuture, PMETs, all these programmes. I encourage employers, workers, educational institutions to leverage and use these. I must say that while I do applaud the involvement of Select Committees to do this, I think what is more important now is for us to exercise what is there so that businesses, individuals and associations and educational institutions will be able to knock out the kinks to see what those requirements are, to further refine it so that we can really build up that skills base that is required for our workers to be really strong and to really build a Singapore Core.[+3 sentences] I do implore companies, because this is not about companies doing what is right or what is good. It is a win-win situation. You have access to a talent base in Singapore that is highly educated, very, very highly educated, both men and women. In fact, the women are more highly educated now, so do tap on the women as well.[+6 sentences] My point is, for companies, you have a very strong base to tap on; why ignore that base? Yes, you have to put some investment into it. But you have the backing of funding for the programmes and at the same time, you also have the educational institutions. If you are a small company, you have the educational institutions working with you and with that talent over a period of time, to actually help you with the skills development and skills match. It is a win-win for all and the individual as well. I would say, go in with the right mind set. And I am not talking about just the graduating workforce. We have a very, very precious workforce called the middle-age or the mature PMEs.[+2 sentences] They have a wealth of experience. Go watch this programme that I talked about, "The Intern" and you will know what I mean. When you bring that diversity of talent together, both young and old, you will see the impact that will bring. Therefore, I do encourage all of us to go forward to build that Singapore Core.[+1 sentence] If I can quote President Tan in his speech, "To remain special, we must first resolve to move ahead together". In order to future-ready and build a strong Singapore Core in our workforce, I implore all of us to work together.
Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang)3245 words
[+12 sentences]Mdm Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to address this House in this new term. Incidentally, I have made a mental note to watch "The Intern" this weekend. Thank you to Member Jessica Tan. I rise in support of the Motion. Madam, please allow me to begin my speech in Malay. (In Malay): Singapore's ability to thrive and survive as a prosperous nation with a plural society depended upon several fundamental principles, which did not come about by accident. It is an ongoing effort that includes good and credible governance that corresponds with current and future needs. Nonetheless, the situation will not remain static. Just look at the ever-changing global situation, whether in terms of the economy, politics, social and security, it will affect and impact us greatly. The harmony in society is one of the most valuable assets that we must look after. Hence, I truly welcome the review of Singapore's political system in order to secure the future of the nation for the long term. The changes proposed take various aspects into consideration, among others, ensuring good policymaking through good politics. The Elected Presidency, for instance, it is appropriate that the qualification criteria is reviewed because many changes have taken place, including the administration of the state institution, while the size of national reserves have also changed since the system of Elected President was introduced. We have to be responsible in ensuring stability, because when a leadership change occurs in the Government, we will need sufficient safeguards to ensure that any government, regardless of which party it is, will act responsibly when making key appointments and in the protection of reserves. The role of the President has undergone many changes, not only as the Head of State who represents Singapore's interests, but also as the guardian of the national reserves. We must use this review process to further highlight the actual role of the Elected President, and the people need to recognise and understand the President's functions and powers, that is, the President's role is not imbued with political power, and he does not play a role in developing policy initiatives.[+3 sentences] Many people are still unclear, including some candidates, about the actual role of the Elected President and they may even confuse the voters. I welcome the move to form a commission to analyse the qualification criteria for Presidential candidates because it is important that we get male or female candidates of a high calibre and who are suitable and can represent us inside and outside the country. The proposed changes will further strengthen the institution of the Elected President that is already robust. However, a review needs to be done to make this institution more relevant and able to constantly meet future needs.[+1 sentence] I would like to now touch on an important area regarding the changes proposed in the Prime Minister's speech, that is, the interests of minorities which have always been the concern of the PAP Government. I am sure that the Malay community welcomes the considerations made to provide for a minority candidate for the office of the Elected President.[+2 sentences] Although it is too early for us to understand how this will be implemented, nonetheless, in terms of concept and principle, it is something that is gladly welcomed by the minorities. It will certainly fulfil the aspirations of the Malay/Muslim community, who have longed for a Malay President. Singapore had not had a Malay President since the late Encik Yusof Ishak in 1970, which is over 45 years ago.[+23 sentences] We still remember the vast contributions of Encik Yusof Ishak, the people's President. It has been a source of great pride for the Malay/Muslim community. If the community is proud to have had President Yusof Ishak performing that role – he represented all races outstandingly – surely, there will always be a Malay of a suitable calibre and can fulfil the qualifying criteria. But it will be unfortunate if our qualified Malays do not have this opportunity just because of the voting pattern. Another important issue is how the provision is implemented. It must be done by ensuring that there are no perceptions that this is an affirmative action; and it must ensure that the candidate is presented on the basis of merit, and can fulfil the qualifying criteria. Ultimately, what is important is that we must ensure diversity, without compromising the issue of merit and without affecting the quality of candidates. Our meritocracy system has worked well. We can see more of our Malays in key positions and there have been no questions on their abilities or qualifications. The GRC system is a concept that looks after and protects the interests of minorities in the landscape of a plural society in Singapore. As we plan for more Single Member Constituencies, the Government must also ensure that minority representation continues to be safeguarded. As a community, the Malays support this concept and this can even help us contribute more at the constituency and national levels. The increase in the number of Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs) also allows more Opposition representation in Parliament, which will ensure more diverse views and opinions, and may also give more opportunities for Malay opposition candidates to enter Parliament through this scheme. Hence, I support the intent of these changes, in terms of providing diversity in this House and also because the Government is trying to fulfil the aspirations of the younger generation, who desires diversity in the Parliament of Singapore. (In English): Mdm Speaker, as President Tony Tan mentioned in his Address at the Opening session of Parliament, we need to keep our politics and our governance updated. In this regard, Prime Minister's speech on Wednesday was a timely reminder of how our political system had evolved since Independence and why we need to continue to evolve our political system to prepare Singapore for the future, from the NCMP and GRC schemes to the Elected Presidency. The NCMP and Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) schemes both came about as a response to have more diverse views in Parliament – one partisan and the other one not. The Elected Presidency came about 25 years ago as a custodian and a checking mechanism to protect Singapore's national reserves and the integrity of the civil service. In doing so, the President would help to deliver long-term stability for Singapore. As we have seen in the last Presidential Election in 2011, this function of the President can no longer be taken for granted. To be a stabilising force, the President has to be above party politics and play a stabilising role for Singapore, even if there was a change in the ruling party. Since the last election for the President, there are concerns that the election process was seemingly politicised and threatened to divide a nation, rather than stabilise it. And I agree with the Prime Minister that the process and the elected position remains objective and non-political, supported by a capable and wise Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA). The revision of the qualifying criteria by the Constitutional Commission is timely – it was 25 years ago since they were drawn in 1990 – as the complexity of safeguarding our state institutions and reserves has gone up in magnitude since then. For instance, in 1990, the Temasek Net Portfolio Value was S$10 billion. As of March last year, this amount has grown by more than 25 times to S$266 billion.[+10 sentences] So, it is important that we find men or even women of calibre, of excellent standing who can represent us here and on the international stage. However, the weightage in qualifying criteria cannot just be heavily weighted on one's ability to manage high-value companies or based on the limited number of key public sector appointments. It is an important criterion as a proxy to one's ability to fulfil the role of Presidency, but we must also ensure that this does not reduce the number of potential candidates, especially those from the private sector. Given the proposal to have the CPA's advice to the President to be given greater weight, it is therefore, just as important that the selection process and the merits of the selection of the CPA be made more transparent to the public. Also, if they had provided advice contrary to the President and a vote needed from Parliament, there must also be greater transparency on why this is so. But, we also want Presidents who can represent the diversity of Singapore's society, especially when we want to project the accurate image of Singapore's meritocracy and multi-culturalism to the rest of the world. The announcement by Prime Minister is thus welcomed by the minority races as it will go a long way in strengthening multi-culturalism in Singapore. In the early years, our nominated presidential system ensured we had minorities like Mr Yusof Ishak and Mr Benjamin Sheares. We were also fortunate to have Mr SR Nathan as an Elected President but his term came at a time when elections were uncontested. Given the current climate and competitive nature of the last Presidential Election, I wonder when another minority can be expected to be elected to the office in the years to come. In fact, we have not had a Malay President in Singapore since Mr Ishak, in 1970, almost 46 years ago.[+8 sentences] Here, I also note the concerns from the ground as to whether the intervention to ensure a minority President is elected then becomes a form of affirmative action and against the principles of a free election of the President. Personally, I do not believe that we should revert to the old system of the appointed President. But as a guiding principle, any mechanism that is chosen, the minority candidate must first and foremost, meet the qualifying criteria of any Presidential candidate, so that the merit of his or her abilities and character will not come under question. But perhaps, one proposal to catalyse a minority in the office of the Head of State is to consider the concept of a Vice President, where President and Vice President candidates are elected as a team and either one should be a minority. This may set the path for a minority Vice President to build his credentials and stand in good stead for the Presidency in subsequent elections in the event that we are unable to elect a minority President in the role directly. While we keep a view on ensuring diversity, what is important, ultimately, is that merit is not compromised and that the quality of the representation is not compromised. We must find men and women of good standing to safeguard the nation's and people's interests. On Prime Minister's announcement on tweaks to the NCMP scheme, I am supportive, in order to promote greater diversity in Parliament in terms of voices. Many I spoke to were surprised that after winning a strong mandate from the people of Singapore last year, the PAP Government could have easily kept the status quo, ensuring that Singaporeans can afford to continue to vote a PAP Government and yet have diversity in Parliament through the existing NCMP scheme. But yet, it has opened the competition wider by expanding the NCMP scheme by as much as 25% in the spirit of having greater debate in Parliament.[+2 sentences] To the outside world, this may sound a bit strange as the PAP is seemingly diluting its hold in Parliament. But I support this move, to increase the number of NCMPs and allow them equal voting rights with constituency Members of Parliament, to assure Singaporeans and Singapore that the Government respects the need for diversity, though it was not what the electorate expressed through the results of the last General Election. Given the increased voting privileges to the NCMP, I would like to point out that the position is one that has been given more respect and dignity and not turned down so easily for replacement. Parties cannot also assume that just because one of its candidates turned down the offer of being an NCMP, that it is their entitlement to offer it to anyone of their other candidates.[+6 sentences] As a constituency Member of Parliament, if elected, you are expected to serve the five-year term. Any Opposition candidate who stands for elections knows the system. Once you stand for elections, you must then be ready to serve if you are called upon as an NCMP. You cannot just have a myopic view of being "a duckweed in a pond that cannot sink roots" and not give the NCMP position any dignity and "suka-suka" swap candidates. This is a privilege enshrined in the Constitution. We do not want political parties playing the system to provide parliamentary exposure to whoever they like. If we want to take the NCMP system seriously, we should treat it like any seat left vacant by a constituency Member of Parliament moving forward, any seat that is left vacant should only be considered for replacement should there be a by-election before the next General Elections.[+1 sentence] Madam, moving on to my next topic, the challenges confronting Singapore becoming more complex. Increasingly, the Government will have to grapple with heightened terrorist activities and the rise of ISIS in Southeast Asia, as well as the possibility of Islamophobia and increased religious tensions.[+8 sentences] All of these also mean that there is a new normal in governance and society in Singapore. That is, the increase of religiosity and issues concerning religion and how the Government will manage this going forward. There are many such examples in recent times. Like dealing with the sensitivities in the City Harvest case or the changes made to the rules for Thaipusam. Or even addressing issues on radicalisation or extremism and learning how we need to deal with the hijab. All of these things are fast becoming a norm and the Government has to understand and work out how it should manage this "new normal". For one, the Government may need to review how it engages all the different racial and religious groups. For example, today, the Government uses a hub-and-spoke model, where it is at the epicentre governing the different groups. In doing so, sometimes, the Government gets caught in between and, thus, has to calibrate its intervention and relationships. This model should change into a roundtable where each group is an equal partner and a stakeholder to the social harmony and stability.[+27 sentences] Such a model will also foster collaboration between the different groups and have more ground-up initiatives without the Government always having to play the role of catalyst. Such a roundtable will also not just mean involving the leadership of all faiths but also to engage them at their congregation level and that will help to gather their views on tough questions affecting the community. This not only helps to promote greater understanding, it also allows us to reach a new calibration, that is, what we are each prepared to accommodate as Singaporeans in our respective common spaces. Otherwise, the Government may be behind on where this "new normal" of acceptance is. Religious leaders may also try to second guess the Government in what it is prepared to accept. So, this roundtable multi-way dialogue should become an important feature of Singapore's future. In building this new construct, let us also not forget the atheists as I have also received feedback on whether they have a say and if policymakers understand their perspectives, too. Hence, social cohesion today becomes more difficult as you try to figure out friend from foe. And I fear most when this manifests, where opportunities and progression become more limited due to fear in our workplaces, schools and social environment. We must thus safeguard against intolerance. However, our policies and how we manage increased religiosity must also take into account the "new normal". So, Muslims here are not consciously distancing themselves from the mainstream. In fact, the majority of Muslims I spoke to recently do not take any issue in respecting other people's religions and practices as well, or in greeting them during their religious holidays. So, how the Government handles issues concerning Muslims and inter-faith must evolve, including the use of hijabs in civilian spaces. I understand the limitations of the uniformed services and schools, but the trends have also changed. If you look the consumer groups today, hijab wear is big online. Even global brands, such as Dolce & Gabbana and H&M, which are mainstream brands, have shifted to embrace hijab fashion as the mainstream. So, I just picked up a few. I think you would probably have seen them, quite common, with many of the young ladies. Maybe, Madam, you also want to consider this. This is H&M, by the way. This is Dolce & Gabbana, by the way, with nice handbags and nice shoes. So, they are quite mainstream today. That is the "new normal", it is not just about religion but, really, how it has come to mainstream as a fashion statement and how people dress. I agree that any threat from any religion that may threaten our social cohesion among the religious and race groups must be curtailed. We cannot accept intolerance. And for the Muslim community, the Muslim identity in Singapore must also be strengthened, due to the many interpretations and influences given our open borders and the age of the Internet. Given this "new normal", it may now be a good time to recalibrate and also sense where each of the other faiths are with all these difficult issues. I would ask the Government to establish a task force, made up of members of diverse religious and racial groups, to study and recommend appropriate mechanisms to strengthen this inter-racial and inter-religious fabric, as well as discuss areas where we need to recalibrate our policies to accommodate new developments or requirements of different faiths, areas that other respective faiths are also prepared to accept.[+1 sentence] Simple things even, like altars, altar fixtures outside your HDB flats, for example. Today, these fixtures are illegal when these are installed at public spaces.[+3 sentences] How do we manage this? We look at some of our policies. While religion and faith cannot be ignored in our policies to maintain religious harmony, to preserve our secular nature of politics, we also need to be vigilant that we do not go the way of other countries by having religious-based politics. For instance, during the last General Elections, campaigning by certain candidates took a religious tone and I was surprised that the Elections Department did not intervene or come out with a warning sooner. This is probably because it did not lead to any open conflict, which the Parliamentary Election rules specify as a premise for intervention. But when candidates start to campaign along religious lines, what does this indicate about our political landscape? It has been seen in many countries that religion and state can be hard to separate and once we go down that path, away from the open and secular spaces that we have built after decades of Independence, there may be a point of no return.[+4 sentences] So, we have to be careful. Madam, our way forward, our social fabric is as important, if not even more important, than the hard economic policies that we are proud of. With wise, calibrated and relevant political reform, and with the Government reviewing terms to manage the "new normal" in handling religious harmony, our social fabric will be strengthened. I support the Motion.
Mdm Speaker38 words
[+2 sentences]Order. I suspend the Sitting and will take the Chair at 4.20 pm. Sitting accordingly suspended at 4.00 pm until 4.20 pm.[+1 sentence] Sitting resumed at 4.20 pm
The Minister for Finance (Mr Heng Swee Keat)4139 words
[+1 sentence]Mdm Speaker, Members have spoken about the policies and the politics we need for a better Singapore. I appreciate the thoughtful points raised and congratulate the new Members on their maiden speeches.[+25 sentences] I encourage all Members, new and old, to continue to speak from the heart, as Mdm Speaker has advised, and I would add, with heart, on the things that matter to Singaporeans. Members have spoken about the "whys", the "whats" and the "hows" of our way forward. The "why" is the world has changed and we ourselves have changed in the last 50 years. The "what" is the kind of good policies and good politics that we need to navigate this changed world. And the "how" is the way, throughout the changes to come, we remain as one dynamic, cohesive, caring people. Today, I wish to speak about the "so what" and "what for". Let me share a memory to explain why. This is the first Parliament without our founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Throughout this week, his words have come up repeatedly in Members' speeches. In this time, one word of Mr Lee kept sounding in my head. You could say that was his favourite word. And the word was "So"? When I worked for Mr Lee; this is now more than 15 years ago. He liked to ask, "So?" Say, I would report some facts to him. He would say, "So?" I would talk about the implications of those facts and he would say again, "So?" And it would go on like that until we got to, "So, what does this mean for Singapore and Singaporeans? So, what must we do differently to ensure the success of Singapore and Singaporeans?" All that, in one word: "So?" Members spoke about profound changes taking place around us: in the global economy, in security, in society. And I asked myself, so what? So, what does this mean for Singapore and Singaporeans? So, what must we do to ensure the success of Singapore and Singaporeans? And I would like to suggest, the "so what" is this. First, we need to continue creating value for the world and for ourselves, if we are to make a living and survive.[+1 sentence] We can continue to do this by staying open, innovative and adaptive to change. Second, the value that we create, we must share, in a way that lets us continue to be our best.[+24 sentences] We must create value for the world and ourselves, so as to achieve a society based on justice and equality. This is how we can enable every Singaporean to reach our dreams. Singapore will have a place in the world, if we are of value to the world. Throughout our history, that was what we did, by being of use to the world. For hundreds of years, we were a key node on the Maritime Silk Route. We served as an emporium. We welcomed traders from all over the world. Just outside these Chambers, on the Singapore River, traders exchanged a wealth of not only goods, but also ideas, cultures, friendship. Our streets remember that trading emporium history today in name: Arab Street, Armenian Street, Muscat Street. Our spirit retains that same trading emporium history in our openness to the world. In the last 50 years since Independence, we have found new ways to be of value to the world. During the wave of globalisation in the 1960s and 1970s, we welcomed MNCs, and differentiated ourselves as a first-world oasis in a third-world region. In the 1980s and 1990s, as the region grew, we regionalised and grew an external wing. In the 2000s, as the knowledge revolution took off, we made the shift to a knowledge-intensive economy. The global economy goes through waves of changes. It has been one wave after another. Each time, we have been able to catch the wave, we have asked, "So, what does this coming wave mean?" And, each time, we unlock how we can be of value. We have been resourceful and resilient. A new wave is coming. Some are calling it the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It will bring disruptive changes in connectivity and extreme automation. It will transform lives. Already, we are facing an explosion of data and information. Global digital data usage is doubling every two years. By 2020, the size of the digital universe will increase 50-fold from 2010.[+28 sentences] This is like each household in the world having around 300 iPhones! Each household in the world. We are more and more connected: humans to humans, machines to machines and humans to machines. A more connected world can be a more dangerous world, as the recent well-orchestrated terrorist attacks show. Terrorists are using social media to radicalise and recruit new members. But a more connected world is also a world of new possibilities. Alibaba and Amazon are more valued by some investors than Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart has a more extensive physical infrastructure, has a longer history, but the e-commerce giants are better connected and more nimble. So, what does this mean for Singapore and Singaporeans? We may be at the beginning of a major structural transformation. Disruptions are coming much faster. To succeed, we must remain at the forefront, not just of having new ideas but, more importantly, to have the capacity to turn ideas into useful products, services and business models. We must create value, by being a place where good ideas for the world can be realised; where people can come together to create value, to make an impact. If we can be a place to help solve a fraction of the world's challenges, we will create value, we will have our place in the world. I am optimistic that we can be a place where good ideas for the world can be realised. Why am I optimistic? There are several reasons. First, no choice. It is a question of necessity. We have to solve many of our own pressing challenges. We did not have enough water? We created the water technology to overcome this. We are ageing? We will find a way to make that a source of new life in our society. It is most striking that so many Members this week, when speaking on ageing, viewed it not as a problem, but as an opportunity. Dr Chia Shi-Lu said, "80 is the new 60 and 60 the new 40". We want Singapore to be a place where we can age with opportunity, dignity and vitality. This will drive us to be innovative. Last year, the National Innovation Challenge on Ageing crowdsourced solutions in areas like better home-care, increasing healthy lifespans and creating ageless workplaces. We got over 100 good proposals and these have been evaluated and the good ideas will be put into action.[+13 sentences] In fact, we have heard many good ideas in this House just over the last few days. The second reason I am optimistic? We have no lack of support. We have been investing in R&D, in knowledge creation, in connecting with the world. Just two weeks ago, I hosted 21 Nobel Laureates and eminent technologists from all over the world. Imagine 21 Nobel Laureates and the Millennium Prize winners, the Technology Prize winners, all congregating in Singapore. Why? They were inspired by what we are doing and they want to come here to inspire our young people in Singapore and the region so that they can go out and make an impact. Last week, we saw the first-ever Southeast Asia Venture Capital Summit. There is a great deal of energy around how Singapore can serve as a base for good ideas from around the world and how we can deploy good ideas from Science, Tech, Engineering and Math (STEM) domains, especially in Asia, to uplift lives. Third, there is no limit to our imagination. We may not realise this, but we are a people with a habit of innovation and a habit of applying innovation in every aspect of our life. Just earlier this week, the Prime Minister spoke at length on the innovations in our political institutions over the years and the changes that the Prime Minister is proposing will serve Singapore well in the long run. Our social policy innovations in CPF, HDB, healthcare, social safety nets and the Pioneer Generation Package are studied by people around the world.[+7 sentences] In fact, some academics have said that our social policy innovations are most remarkable. So, no choice but to innovate. No lack of support to innovate. No limit to our imagination to innovate. We have these three conditions. Of course we can be a place where good ideas for the world can be realised. We also see innovation in many areas of life. One inspiring example which I learnt recently is our Chinatown library. It is a public library with no staff.[+3 sentences] It is manned entirely by a team of volunteers! Everyday Singaporeans who care about our libraries enough to make a difference. The readers return the books to the right shelves. Best of all, of all libraries in Singapore, it has one of the highest user satisfaction rates.[+52 sentences] It just shows how a simple idea of reshaping the relationship with library visitors not only saves manpower, but enhances their experiences. Singaporeans have the attributes for innovation. We are a people who care to innovate and innovate to care better. We still have a long journey ahead, but I am confident that we will deepen our innovative instincts, that we will continue to see, in every constraint and every challenge, the possibility of solutions and opportunities, and we have the confidence and can-do spirit to figure things out. In our early days, we were a trading emporium. We then became a First World oasis in this region. Let us strive to be an innovation lab for the world, where the best ideas from around the world for the world can be realised. Let us catch the next wave. This is a subject that the Committee on our Future Economy will study in detail. But so what? So what if we create value? Is that all we hope for? Is value creation alone all that we mean, when we think of the success of Singapore and Singaporeans? It cannot be. It cannot be just that. Innovation, prosperity, progress, growth. These achieve their true value when they are shared. If we want to move forward together, we must share value, in a fair and inclusive way. That is how we bring out the best in one another, and help each of us to continue growing. Value created is measurable. Value shared is immeasurable. I have been struck by how SG100 has entered our vocabulary. A week in politics is a long time, as they say in the West. For so many Members in this House to mention SG100 is really remarkable. When I first mentioned SG100 to my residents, their initial reaction was: it is so far away! But I pointed out: our SG50 babies will be 50 years old in SG100; a Primary 1 student will be 57; a Secondary 4 student will be 66; a young adult who starts work at 25 will only be 75. And the parents saw that SG100 is about our children's future. Will the next 50 years be better than the last 50 that we had? And how do we make sure they will be the best years of their lives? How do we give them the best chance of success? What kind of society do we want them to grow up in? A Singapore that is of value to the world must be of even deeper value and meaning to Singaporeans. I hope to see a Singapore that brings out the best in every Singaporean, and enables each of us to fulfil our potential and aspirations, and to lead a life of opportunities and purpose. It should be a society of opportunities for all, a society that is fair and inclusive. Many societies, in wanting to be inclusive, start with redistributing wealth. Election becomes an auction. There is a Chinese saying, “坐食山崩”. Even if you have a pile of grain as large as a mountain, if you sit there and eat, it will run out one day. In Singapore, we start with fostering the conditions for all of us to create opportunities for ourselves. While it is easy and tempting, to redistribute what we have today, it is much harder to think of how we can create opportunities, not only for today, but for the future, and for future generations. But this is critical if we want Singapore to succeed, beyond SG50 and even beyond SG100. I recently met a professor who explained to me why his family and his relatives were all highly successful, through education. His parents were refugees who had to flee their homeland, losing all their possessions. No matter how little they had, they always made sure that they invested in his education and his siblings' education. And he told me, "Whatever the tumultuous changes outside, however you may be dispossessed, what matters most is what is in your head. No one can take that away from you. It stays with you for life." Indeed, the best gift we can give to each child for the SG100 journey is the gift of education. This is what we have been doing since Independence. We must continue to share the value of education with all, so that every Singaporean, regardless of family background or starting point, is empowered to build a better life. We are continuing to make significant changes in our schools, so that our students can learn through multiple pathways, in multiple domains, to achieve multiple peaks of excellence. Applied learning, inquiry-based learning and the emphasis on empathy will sharpen the innovative instincts of our students, as they connect learning to real world needs. One very significant innovation that we are embarking on is SkillsFuture, which will enable our people, regardless of age, regardless of professions, to continue learning all their life.[+1 sentence] The other significant area of work is in healthcare. The Pioneer Generation Package takes care of our pioneers, while MediShield Life provides for risk-pooling. The next major area in healthcare would be preventive and primary care, as set out in the MOH Addendum.[+27 sentences] And all these come on top of the commitment to enable Singaporeans to own a home. Education, healthcare, housing are major ways that the Government is sharing the value of what we have created together. All three share one quality, one very important quality, that these are of value throughout one's life. Education to enable us to realise our potential and healthcare to keep us active and vigorous, in our lifetime; and housing to build our life and family. Yesterday, Mr Low Thia Khiang said that for Singapore to shine, we must enable Singaporeans to shine. This, in fact, is what we have been doing all these years, and I am glad Mr Low agrees with this direction. SkillsFuture is another important step in this direction. Unfortunately, Mr Low made a convoluted link between SkillsFuture and politics. And Mr Low claimed that all our schools emphasised too much on cohesion. I was quite surprised that in a world where there are so many forces that can fragment a society, Mr Low thinks we could place too much emphasis on cohesion and that our education system does not appreciate the importance of diversity, differences and even dissent. Mr Low is mistaken both in facts and in his reasoning. Valuing cohesion does not come at the expense of critical and creative thinking. So, let us be very clear-headed when we make education policies. Education policies must be made with serious intent, and not superficially, and certainly not for political purposes. Having worked with our educators, I have every confidence that we have a strong team of professionals with the experience and insights to educate our students well and prepare them well for the future. In fact, we must continue to value the unity and cohesion of our people so that our students learn from young to share the value of what we have created. And, in fact, sharing the value of what we have created makes us more cohesive and enables us to go on to create more. So, we must continue to make Character and Citizenship Education meaningful, as Mr Christopher de Souza stressed in moving this Motion and to empower our young to make a difference to others. Sharing the value of what we have created, building an inclusive society, goes beyond policies. It is what each of us does, day-in, day-out. Members have shared many heart-warming stories; let me share one more. In July last year, we had "Youth Celebrate!" A team of about 500 swimmers from all schools were seeking to break the record for the most number of laps swum in one hour. It was the students' gift to the nation. When I met the swimmers, they were so fired up. Among them is Lim Kah Yi, a Secondary 3 student from Pathlight School. Kah Yi's mother told us how happy she was that he took part in this event, to be part of the team. Our students swam to a new record of 7,505 laps within one hour, almost double the old record set by adults.[+12 sentences] The swimmers included novices and experienced ones, from young ones in Primary 2 to tertiary students, and Kah Yi. This, to me, symbolises how we are moving forward as a country. We move forward together and everyone has a place. Some may swim more laps and some fewer; some faster and some slower. But we do it together. We set a record together. Every person's contribution counts. Everyone is valued. However many opportunities we create, there will still be people who are vulnerable, who need a helping hand. This is where the community plays such a critical role. It is most encouraging that many acts of giving are underway. Acts of kindness big and small. When we were planning SG50, we sought to rally Singaporeans to share. I am delighted that over 200,000 volunteers came onboard our SG50 Care and Share movement.[+12 sentences] Mr Philip Tan, who chairs the SG50 Care and Share movement, regularly updates me on the progress of the fund raising effort. Each email he sends me speaks of his passion and joy in helping others. I am happy to say that with Government's matching grant, Community Chest and the 240 VWOs under the movement expect to raise more than half a billion dollars by March this year. More than half a billion. This will give the social service sector a big boost and support good work that cannot be measured in dollars. I support Ms Denise Phua's call on Government to work closely together with VWOs, because together, we can achieve more than what each of us alone can accomplish. These are the foundations of a society where people care for and lift one another up. There is a richness in our relationships, reflected in the way we lead our daily lives, as peers and equals, regardless of class, status, age, race, or religion. The quality of these relationships cannot be measured by metrics like GDP. Mdm Speaker, please allow me to speak a few words in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): Mdm Speaker, Members have debated about the good politics and good policies we need over the past few days in Parliament. Ultimately, why must we make these changes? Our objective is very clear: to keep Singapore prosperous and stable, and improve the lives of succeeding generations of Singaporeans. In order to achieve our objective, we must create value together, shape our future together and share value amongst Singaporeans.[+12 sentences] Throughout our history, we have found new ways to create value to the world and for ourselves in different areas. Singapore is now at a critical juncture. Our development has taken off; it is difficult to draw from the experience of other countries. We face many uncertainties, both internally and externally. Therefore, we must constantly innovate and adapt our political, economic and social systems. In order to create value successfully in the future, we need to go beyond the development of hardware. More importantly, we need Singaporeans who are innovative. We also need to continue to keep an international outlook, have the ability to bridge cultural differences and seek new business opportunities. In this way, we can better attract talents and pool resources together to become a global innovation centre, continually create new value and more opportunities for Singaporeans. Even as we create value, we must also think deeply about how to share value amongst Singaporeans. This is not just about wealth re-distribution. We must be people-centric and foster the conditions for Singaporeans to pursue their dreams. Education is the best gift that we can give to each child.[+1 sentence] This is because we can bring out their potential through education. Every child, regardless of family background, should have a chance to succeed.[+24 sentences] At the same time, we must share value in a fair and inclusive way if we want to move forward together. Last year, I attended "Youth Celebrate!". Seeing how children from different backgrounds worked hard and performed together, I was very much moved. In 50 years, these children would only be in their 50s or 60s. This reminds us that SG100 is not so far away. What we do now will determine whether our children will have opportunities to showcase their talents and realise their dreams, just as we now have. We owe the success we enjoy today to the hard work and sacrifice of our Pioneers who continually sought to create value. It is now our responsibility to continue this mission, to create value together, share value with every Singaporean and build a better future that belongs to us all. (In English): I believe Singapore can succeed in our journey to SG100. We can create value for the world, and for ourselves, if we rely on our people, remain outward looking and possess the guts and gumption that our Pioneers had, to adapt and turn constraints into strengths. To share value, we must preserve our sense of togetherness, see value in every individual and help them flourish. We believe that individuals thrive when others thrive too, when our community is harmonious. We are a society that moves forward together, because we believe we are part of something larger than ourselves. When we look at the sum of all that has brought us to where we are today, the changes and challenges we face today and our hopes for our shared future, this is the "so what", we must keep creating value for the world and for ourselves. And we must share the value we create in a fair and inclusive way. Which brings me to "what for?" I learnt to ask and to answer, "so what?" from Mr Lee. But I also learnt the "what for?" from him. Mr Lee was always focused on outcomes and purpose. What are we doing all this for? The "so what" changes all the time. With every new circumstance, every new challenge, we need to examine anew, so what does this mean? So, what do we do? But the "what for" is evergreen, be it 1965, 2015 or 2065. The "what for" is this: to build a Singapore where every Singaporean can reach our dreams.[+11 sentences] A Singapore where every Singaporean can reach our dreams is a Singapore where our people are fully aware of, but are not one bit afraid of, our challenges. It is a Singapore where our people can reach high in our lives no matter what background we come from and where our people can hold our heads high no matter where in the world we go. It is a Singapore where our people never fear, never give up, never leave anyone behind. It is a Singapore where we are confident that we can each be at our best and are caring enough to support and cheer one another on to each be at our best. This is a Singapore where every Singaporean can reach our dreams. This is our "what for". Many good ideas were raised in this Chamber over the past few days. Now, all of us, together, need to put words into action, turn our aspirations into reality. As representatives elected by the people, we share a collective responsibility to bring Singaporeans together, listen with humility and find the best solutions for Singapore. As we start towards SG100, as we weather the challenges ahead and forge our future together, I encourage every Member of this House: always ask, "So what?", and always remember, "What for." Mdm Speaker, I support the Motion.
Mr Christopher de Souza (Holland-Bukit Timah)3439 words
[+15 sentences]"You must first be honest. You must next have idealism. You must have convictions. Finally, you must organise to bring home your convictions to the people." Relevant today as when these words were first spoken by Mr Lee Kuan Yew in the Legislative Assembly in 1957. It reminds us that our positions in this House must be motivated by honesty, integrity and conviction. Mdm Speaker, 62 Members have spoken in support of the Motion, including the Prime Minister. New Members made their maiden speeches, and returning Members brought to the debate their vision for Singapore based on the political experiences they have accumulated so far. It has been, as the Prime Minister aims it to be, a serious forum. I hope to be able to do justice to all fellow Members and thank you, Madam, for allowing me to round up the debate. Madam, during his Address, the President highlighted five key aims that the Government hopes to fulfil. I propose to categorise the speeches that we have heard into these five areas. First, building a safe and secure Singapore. Given the current geo-political climate, it is no surprise that many Members echoed the President's reminder of the importance of safeguarding our sovereignty. Mr Vikram Nair highlighted how the threat of terrorism, especially from non-state actors like ISIS, is real. Just in the last few months alone, Jakarta, Paris, Istanbul and Beirut were hit by terrorism. The recent arrest of 27 radicalised individuals right here in Singapore is a sobering reminder of this new reality.[+16 sentences] Terrorism is no longer fought using conventional means. Dr Mohamad Maliki accurately noted that the far reach of social media has allowed radical ideologies supporting terrorism to invade the thoughts of our people. Mr Png Eng Huat noted that self-radicalisation is almost impossible to prevent. This makes the threat of terrorism even more insidious than other more conventional threats. However, a "safe and secure" Singapore does not just refer to safeguarding Singapore and Singaporeans from physical harm; but should also encompass creating a strong and united Singapore that is able to overcome adversity should a threat materialise. As Mr Amrin Amin rightly pointed out, in order to achieve this, "legislation, policies and even weapons alone are not enough". We need to win hearts and minds of all Singaporeans, and when the time comes, we have to stand as one united people. This was echoed by Ms Joan Pereira. And as both Mr Ng Chee Meng and Dr Janil Puthcheary shared, our National Anthem, Majulah Singapura, is itself a source and symbol of unity and strength, to re-energise us to soar to even greater heights as a nation. Madam, since Independence, Singapore has overcome adversity, through the leadership of effective Government and a united people. It is a good partnership and we must do our best to preserve it. Second, economy. Calls to renew and restructure our economy were heard from several Members of the House. Big developing economies are showing signs of distress as Mr Sitoh Yih Pin pointed out. But in order to overcome this period of economic uncertainty, we cannot afford to be stagnant; it is imperative that we adapt and face the threats of the new economy head on, as highlighted by Mr Desmond Choo and Mr Yee Chia Hsing. And this is a challenge that I am confident Singapore is ready to face, because Singaporeans have proven time and time again, that we have the will, not only the will, but the acumen to overcome obstacles put in our way. The formation of the Committee on the Future Economy, helmed by our Finance Minister, Mr Heng Swee Keat whom we just listened to, shows the Government's emphasis in developing economic strategies that will position Singapore well for the future.[+1 sentence] This also emphasises the need for a whole-of-Government and whole-of-Singapore effort to renew our economy, points emphasised by Mr Heng in this House just moments ago. With the SkillsFuture initiative, we should be ready for a future economy where workers are empowered to re-skill, up-skill, allowing us to develop a strong Singaporean Core in the workplace, issues raised by Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar, Ms Foo Mee Har and Mr Heng Chee How.[+11 sentences] Mr Pritam Singh himself has suggested applying SkillsFuture ideology in Parliament. Another key component to overcoming this economic uncertainty is for the tripartite partners to innovate and reinvent our economic landscape. We must not be afraid to adopt new policies and ideas and to discard or reinvent outdated ones. Perhaps as Mr Zainal Sapari suggested, the tripartite partners can champion new approaches to improve productivity in our economy by reinventing business processes and rethinking creative use of robots and machines in the workplace. As Mr Patrick Tay stated, we should not forget to care for our Singapore PMEs in the process. At the same time, as new technologies develop and we continue to restructure our economy, there will be a need for us to optimise our workforce for the future. Some industries will need more manpower, some require manpower in new skills, others may need to shed manpower through automation. This was highlighted by Mr Melvin Yong, Mr Cedric Foo, Mr Saktiandi Supaat and Ms Jessica Tan. But as Minister Yaacob Ibrahim noted, all these efforts will only succeed if Singaporeans step forward with a desire to learn and equip themselves with new skills, and if companies actively support and invest in developing their workforce. This might even mean Singaporeans taking on a different role like that of a freelancer, as Mr Ang Hin Kee shared. There were also calls to continue supporting SMEs and entrepreneurs to inculcate a vibrant start-up ecosystem in Singapore. Dr Koh Poh Koon, Mr Gan Thiam Poh and Mr Leon Perera pointed that SMEs and startups, especially those with high growth potential, are an important source of innovation in our economy.[+16 sentences] They will help to rejuvenate our business landscape and therefore should be supported. As Mr Liang Eng Hwa highlighted, we need to continue staying open and plug into the global network so that we can give our local entrepreneurs and local innovators access to more opportunities and enhance our chances of succeeding as a value creating economy. Essentially, Madam, we need to overcome challenges innovatively. If I may borrow the analogy that Mr Alex Yam used on the first day of the debate, we all know that Singapore's economy stars have not always aligned. Drawing from Mr Yam's own words, "On paper, Singapore was never meant to be the successful economically. A country with no land or natural resources. But as a nation, we stand here today as a testament to the importance of hard work, carefully forward planning and team spirit." I think we can all align to such thinking. And as an aside, Madam and Members, at present for Mr Yam, his stars have all aligned again. He became a father for the second time, to a second baby, on the second day of this debate. Two-two-two! Not to be outdone, Mr Louis Ng has passionately volunteered to keep this going and had declared yesterday in this House that he will help to increase our TFR by having at least one more baby soon. Good luck! Next, fostering a more caring and compassionate society in Singapore. This is a topic that is very close to my heart and, if I may say so, Madam, your heart, too. So, it was heartening to hear many Members of this House highlight the importance of creating a more compassionate society in Singapore. For our seniors, innovative ideas like co-locating senior care centres at community clubs and planning for active ageing hubs in new HDB developments as well as the planning for multi-generational neighbourhoods were mooted by Dr Amy Khor and Miss Cheng Li Hui respectively.[+11 sentences] And more than just having community spaces and activities to keep our seniors active, there is also a need for us to encourage engaged lifestyles to keep our elderly engaged, happy and mobile. We need to build a strong social network for them, as were importantly raised by Ms Tin Pei Ling and Dr Chia Shi-Lu. A key component of a caring and compassionate Singapore is the role active citizenry takes and the growth of an altruistic spirit. Mr Louis Ng shared his daring vision to set up ACRES and spoke with passion to help us ensure our policies relating to animals are humane. They too share this home with us. Ultimately, bolder steps need to be taken to entrench this value of care into our system, as Ms Denise Phua stated. This compassion should even extend to ensuring that people have access to justice, as Ms Indranee Rajah explained. As Members of this House, an important role that we play is to give a voice to the voiceless, and those who are marginalised in society. If we do not include their voices in law making, who will? And as Ms Sun Xueling, Mr Dennis Tan and Mr Muhd Faisal Manap shared, we must care for the less well-off, the less fortunate. Ms Low Yen Ling reminded us that the values of our pledge should be upheld for all of society, a theme echoed by Mr Darryl David. The creation of a Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social policies, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman, reflects the Government's emphasis on aligning our social policies with those of our economic policies, for our economic policies must meet our social needs.[+3 sentences] This helps us in our vision that no Singaporean is left behind. A vision shared by Mr Chong Kee Hiong, Mr David Ong and Ms Rahayu Mahzam. Next, transforming our urban landscape. As highlighted by several Members including Dr Teo Ho Pin, Mr Lim Biow Chuan, Mr Ang Wei Neng and Mr Ong Teng Koon, this transformation should involve building better and more affordable public housing, creating more green spaces within our communities, embarking in long-term infrastructural plans to support a changing population, and harnessing technology and its potential benefits.[+4 sentences] To achieve this transformation, we need to put in foundations now, so that our children and our grandchildren will be able to benefit when these plans come to fruition in the future. As clearly put by Mr Henry Kwek, we should prepare our citizens so that they can go beyond Singapore, but let us build a home so that they would want to stay. On the fifth theme, there has been strong support by fellow Members for the call by the President to engage and partner Singaporeans. The Government's emphasis on active citizenship engagement saw Our Singapore Conversation in 2012. Moving forward, the President has highlighted two national platforms, namely the SGfuture dialogues and the Committee on the Future Economy.[+12 sentences] That will be used to engage Singaporeans on creating a common future together. The keen value of these face-to-face interactions was brought to bear by Mr Baey Yam Keng. As Dr Tan Wu Meng highlighted, we each have a role to play – Government, politics, citizens – all together. No part operating in silo. This was echoed by Miss Cheryl Chan who noted that, as Singaporeans, we can and should aspire to be part of nation building. In shaping the future of our economy, as Mr Seah Kian Peng shared, we must embrace what it means to be Singaporean. Our future, and that of our children and grandchildren, lie in our hands as a community, society, a multi-racial nation. As Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef pointed out, the only upper limit for our future is the one that we set in our own mindsets. Together we must strive to improve ourselves as a nation, and to quote Mr Ong Ye Kung, "to develop faster legs, stronger hearts, wiser minds". I trust Mr Ong has all three. There has been a call to renew or resolve to march towards our common destiny. And as Mr Chee Hong Tat passionately proclaimed, "We are the descendants of lion-hearted Pioneers who built this country. Stay united, work hard and embrace the pioneering spirit of our forefathers." The vehicle to which these five aims will be delivered is a decisive, stable and reliable Government, one that is effective and leads by example, and that introduces well-crafted and effective initiatives.[+1 sentence] Ms Sylvia Lim had rightly stated that Singaporeans want a strong Government, she went on to say with checks and balances. In my view, an increase in the seats of NCMPs to 12 and equipping them with constitutional voting rights, provide assurance of more voices in Parliament, more diverse views and, consequently, a greater need to persuade, placed on the Government's shoulders.[+4 sentences] I should say as with any checks or balance or insurance, as Mr Low Thia Khiang calls it, much depends on the quality and credibility of such insurance. But I believe Ms Sylvia Lim's premise remains that Singaporeans have a desire for a strong Government and that Singaporeans must feel they can make a difference. Over the past five years, we have heard various views about the need for the renewal of the political institutions and for political change. Many Members, like Mr Edwin Tong, Er Dr Lee Bee Wah and Mr Zaqy Mohamad just recently spoke passionately about how they envision our political landscape moving forward and how policies should be tweaked for better and more effective results. The Prime Minister outlined how the Government will be making the necessary refinements to the current system to make our political system more robust and responsive to the changing political landscape.[+4 sentences] To many of these proposals, I am in agreement, but one caveat. I would like to say that any change needs to be closely accompanied by a deliberate retention of the existing culture of mentorship and the passing down of experiences. That should not change. Let me share why it is important. Starting politics at a young age, I had to learn humbly and fast, and more than anything, it taught me the importance and value of mentorship. Therefore, while we tweaked and refined the system, let us not throw out the continuity of mentorship, especially in the ecosystem of politics. The value of mentorship from more experienced Ministers, Members, senior leaders, the imparting of values, and the training of reflex actions to make important decisions in crisis situations must never be sidelined.[+41 sentences] This is especially important for a young nation who is storing up its own precedence of experiences to learn from and to rely on in future. I hope there will continue to be a long path for senior leaders to impart lessons on how to tackle difficult situations and most importantly, values even after they leave day-to-day leadership roles. In the same way, it is valuable for a young nation like Singapore, such mentorship and teaching is valuable to younger office-bearers and elected Members of Parliament alike. Madam, please allow me to share real examples: Emeritus Senior Minister Goh. He led Singapore as our Prime Minister and still continues to serve his constituency and our nation as a Member of Parliament with loyalty. To have him as an elected Member, still imparting lessons, is a treasure. Even more encouraging was watching news clips of Emeritus Senior Minister Goh walking under the blazing hot sun from home to home in areas within his constituency like Frankel Estate, where he encouraged Singaporeans to consider carefully their vote and what it would mean for Singapore. It encouraged me and I am sure many of us here, to dedicate ourselves to the constituencies we serve. Similarly, Mr Lim Swee Say and Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, my senior in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, impressed the importance of constituency work, being resolutely focused on residents and ensuring changes are made in Parliament if one believes hard enough in the causes one holds. Mentorship is very important. Without it, we will be adrift at sea. Another example: President S R Nathan continued to mentor well into his 80s and still does. I remembered I accompanied Mr Nathan on a state visit to Istanbul. It was quite a long flight. So, Singapore Airlines dimmed the cabin lights after the meal was cleared. During the flight, I remembered going through in my mind the briefs MFA had issued us on Singapore's purpose and objectives for the trip. And all of the sudden, I found Mr Nathan seating on my seat's arm rest in the plane. He had walked over from his seat. I stood up immediately and anticipating he would ask me questions on the briefs. He did not. Instead, he spoke with me about Singapore, "Never let our guard down, stay driven, stay focused". He then talked with sincerity and insight about the Singapore-Eurasian community and asked after it. He was mentoring there, at 33,000 feet, when the rest of the cabin was asleep. He left a deep impression on me. I thought how fortunate we are to have such a man as our Head of State and that he was our President, makes all races, majority and minority all very proud. The value of mentorship is in ensuring that values continue. These can only be passed down by human beings. Not an SOP, not an Instruction Manual. Mr S Dhanabalan himself, an exceptional person, recounted the value, talked of the value of being mentored by Mr Lee Kuan Yew in his eulogy at Minister Mentor's funeral. The returning Members, both PAP and Opposition, would remember what Minister Mentor said to all of us after cutting his 90th birthday cake, just there, in the Members' Room. "Keep it clean. Keep it honest," was what Minister Mentor said. How much richer we are as a nation that we have men with deep reservoirs of personal experience who are able to impart life lessons and leadership long after they step down from day-to-day leadership positions. This must continue. I was in the region on travel recently. A trusted friend many years my senior said Singapore had got it right. Former leaders helped. They do not ambush. In 2012, when the Minister Mentor was accepting less public engagements, I wrote him a note expressing thanks for his mentorship. He wrote back within a day; the letter stated "I'm glad you found our conversations over the years of value. When meeting people, you need EQ. You need IQ because the margin of error for Singapore is very small." The need to ensure continuity of mentorship.[+5 sentences] Madam, one final example on this point. The Prime Minister has regular lunches with two or three Members of Parliament at a time. Sometimes, we have no idea what we will be quizzed about. It is always a healthy lunch which almost always ends with fresh fruits. Like the meal, the discussion is healthy. The content invariably revolves around four areas: one, how can we better the lives of Singaporeans; two, how we should never be afraid of breaking out of outdated mind sets; three, how we each play a part in advancing Singapore; and four, very importantly, how are our constituents?[+6 sentences] Are they well? Are the children advancing? Are they happy? Do they have opportunities? A 360-degree conversation on Singapore and Singaporeans. Living, thinking Singapore. The store of experience in the Prime Minister and his senior colleagues is immense. While we tweak and refine the political institutions and the landscape, I ask because I believe this to be important, that we preserve the model of having long paths for senior leaders to impart values and lessons even after they decide to leave apex or active leadership positions. There is much value for Singapore to reap, provided Singaporeans and their advancement always remain the focus of political energy.[+1 sentence] In conclusion, two weeks ago, Madam, you reminded us that as Members of this House, we must speak honestly, sincerely and from the heart, for the good of our residents, for our communities and for all Singaporeans. Let us respect the precious trust that has been placed in our hands by the constituents we serve.[+3 sentences] Let us build on foundations past and deploy ourselves, our whole selves, for our country's future. I now call upon all the Members of this House to join me in thanking the President for his Address. [(proc text) 'We, the Parliament of the Republic of Singapore, express our thanks to the President for the Speech which he delivered on behalf of the Government at the Opening of the First Session of this Parliament.'." (proc text)]