Parliament to sit on Nov 12

[CandiceChan]

Parliament to sit on Nov 12

AsiaOne
Friday, Oct 19, 2012

SINGAPORE - The Office of the Clerk of Parliament said in a statement today that the next Parliament seating will take place on Monday, Nov 12.

It will commence at 1.30pm.

[email protected]

 

[Lilac]

Sleepy heads spotted!

 

[droopal]

Fatimah in Alpha mode
Soo Sen in Theta mode
and the winner is :
Halimah complete in delta mode

 

[zhihau]

and the winner is :
Halimah complete in delta mode

bwahahahahahahaaa... :p:p:p

 

[Fook Seng]

Fatimah in Alpha mode
Soo Sen in Theta mode
and the winner is :
Halimah complete in delta mode

What occasion was that? National Day Rally?

 

[droopal]

"What occasion was that? National Day Rally? "
A looong speech on Remaking Sinkieland.

 

[Fook Seng]

"What occasion was that? National Day Rally? "
A looong speech on Remaking Sinkieland.

No wonder. Maybe these people read the speech before hand and were there to catch up much needed sleep.

 

[CandiceChan]

Parliament passes Income Tax (Amendment) Bill

Posted: 14 November 2012 2152 hrs

SINGAPORE : Parliament has passed the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, which involves changes announced in the 2012 Budget Statement.

Elderly and handicapped persons will get enhancements to Earned Income Relief so as to encourage them to stay employed.

A one-off cash grant capped at S$5,000 will help small and medium-sized enterprises offset higher business costs.

The Productivity and Innovation Credit scheme has also been enhanced so cash payouts can be given to businesses on a quarterly, rather than yearly, basis.

Minister of State for Finance Josephine Teo also responded to calls for more help for lower- to middle-income families.

She said: "The government does not look at tax reliefs alone, but takes a holistic approach to supporting families. And there are several substantive forms of assistance to families that are given, whether the mothers are in the workforce or at home.

"This includes the baby bonus, infant care and child care subsidies. The baby bonus, for example, is the same amount, regardless of the work status of the mother."

- CNA/ms

 

[CandiceChan]

Parliament passes Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill

By Imelda Saad | Posted: 14 November 2012 1744 hrs

Singapore Parliament House.

SINGAPORE: Parliament has passed sweeping reforms to the Misuse of Drugs Act aimed at tackling new challenges to the drug scourge.

Among the changes is the doing away with the mandatory death penalty for drug traffickers under very specific conditions.

Authorities, though, stress that this does not mean Singapore is going soft on drugs.

In no way do the changes dilute Singapore's tough laws on drugs, said Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Teo Chee Hean.

"Let me state categorically that we are maintaining our 'zero tolerance' stance against drugs. Taken in totality, these amendments will make our regime tougher against repeat offenders, introduce new offences especially against those who target the young and vulnerable, and enhance the effectiveness of the death penalty regime. We will also give CNB (Central Narcotics Bureau) officers more power to deal with emerging threats and improve their monitoring capabilities," he said.

Under the new law, the death penalty will no longer be mandatory for drug trafficking under two specific conditions.

First, the trafficker must have only played the role of courier and must not have been involved in any other activity related to the supply or distribution of drugs.

Second, the trafficker has cooperated with authorities in a substantive way, leading to, for example, the crackdown of a syndicate or if the trafficker has a mental disability which impairs his judgement.

Mr Teo explained that the policy intent behind "substantive cooperation" by couriers - that may allow them to escape the gallows - is not so much about helping them escape punishment but to make it harder for drug syndicates to operate.

He said: "What we are proposing is that where the Public Prosecutor has certified that substantive cooperation has been provided, judges will have the discretion to sentence them (drug traffickers) to life imprisonment with caning.

"We cannot be sure how exactly couriers or the syndicates will respond to this new provision. But we have weighed the matter carefully, and are prepared to make this limited exception if it provides an additional avenue for our enforcement agencies to reach further into the networks and save lives from being destroyed by drugs and make our society safer."

Some MPs have spoken strongly against the death penalty, calling for a total abolition.

But Law Minister K Shanmugam defended Singapore's tough anti-drug policy, pointing out that drugs affect more than just those on death row.

"Consider the impact on offenders, families, victims, society. Not many people in public shed tears for them," he said.

Mr Shanmugam also related the story of 2-year-old Noinoi who was murdered in 2006 by her step-father, a known drug abuser.

"How many Noinoi do we want? Each trafficker potentially destroys several Noinois," he said.

"It's not difficult to get people in this region to become couriers. Lots of people who need money and lots of drug abusers who can be persuaded to become couriers. Not difficult," added Mr Shanmugam.

"Our stance on death penalty is extremely well known. In Singapore, traffickers face capital punishment. That sends a message and reduces the number of couriers available. You remove that fear, you remove that penalty, are we willing to take the risk of many more people becoming willing to be couriers?

"You've seen the data, not just from our neighbouring countries but the broader region. We have millions in the region who have the potential to be persuaded to take drugs into Singapore."

Mr Shanmugam noted that it is because of Singapore's tough laws that the country is in a relatively good position even as the global and regional situation is worsening.

"Drug abusers have gone down since 1994. Drug kingpins avoid Singapore. Couriers think twice before trying their luck; they try to keep below capital threshold. We are not a transhipment hub, despite our connectivity. Drug prices are comparatively high; purity levels comparatively low," he said.

Mr Shanmugam reframed the debate, asking the House if it is prepared for the consequences should Singapore abolish the death penalty.

He said: "None of us, really, are there cheering for the mandatory death penalty. It has to be a careful calibration of the risks society faces and the punishment that can be imposed. And if we go on a particular route, let's do it without hiding the truth from ourselves or by assuming that nothing else will change when we change certain penalties.

"Accept that when we change certain penalties, there will be consequences. Ask yourselves whether we are prepared for the consequences. And if we are honestly prepared for the consequences then we change. I would suggest, ask (ourselves) whether the changes we make are going to help the victims or are they going to hurt the victims? And firmness, clarity of purpose and compassion - to both offenders as well as the victims."

Mr Shanmugam also sought to clear some "misconceptions" on drug couriers. Some MPs have expressed concerns that there may be couriers who are innocent or are so low down the ranks that they would have little information of use to authorities.

Mr Shanmugam said couriers traffick drugs for money and that every arrested courier is potentially a lead back to the syndicate.

On calls to give the courts more discretionary powers in meting put the death penalty, both ministers said that should be the responsibility of Parliament.

Mr Teo said: "We must also as Parliament carry the responsibility of putting in place an overall system that minimizes the number of those who will take the chance and end up becoming wrong-doers in the first place, by sending an unequivocal deterrent signal that this is a serious crime and the consequences are severe.

"As Members of Parliament, we have to reconcile the two - attend to the concerns of those of our constituents caught on the wrong side of the law and do our best to help them within the constraints of our law. But we also bear the responsibility of putting in place a legal and policy framework that minimizes the temptations for people to commit crime and cause damage to others, thinking they can get away with it lightly," said Mr Teo.

It will be difficult, if not impossible, if discretion is applied across the whole spectrum of drug trafficking, added Mr Shanmugam.

"Can we conceive of a discretionary sentencing approach which maintains the deterrent value of the death penalty across the whole spectrum of drug trafficking activities? With the best will in the world, I suggest it will be difficult if not impossible. That is a view we came to after discussing this extensively with the agencies, the Attorney-General, the courts," said Mr Shanmugam.

"Consider what factors you would set out for exercise of discretion. Age: Would you say youth? Would you say young mothers? Would you say impecuniosity? Would you say the trafficker was baited with love? Would you look at other family circumstances? Set out the criteria, and I promise you the drug lords will design the couriers in accordance with the criteria you have set out and they will send you as many couriers as you wish a fitting that criteria.

"That's because you are looking at background factors and the manner in which the crime is committed becomes less important. Trafficking is the crime! So while it is attractive in broad terms to talk about giving discretion, look at it in detail and see whether it is workable."

Both ministers Teo and Shanmugam stress that capital punishment is just one tool in an arsenal of measures to deal with Singapore's drug situation. It is something that has worked for Singapore.

The changes will affect the 28 who are currently on death row for drug trafficking. Authorities will re-look their cases and it is possible that some may escape the gallows.

Read the speech by DPM Teo

- CNA/ir

 

[CandiceChan]

Pay TV R21 content have proper safeguards Parliament told

Posted: 16 November 2012 1531 hrs

Singapore: Minister of State for Communications and Information Lawrence Wong has given the assurance that there are proper safeguards for the screening of R21 films on pay-TV.

Parliament was told on Friday that R21 content is only offered as a Video-on-Demand (VOD) service.

The service arose from a recommendation by the 2010 Censorship Review Committee (CRC), which conducts periodic reviews of Singapore's content regulation standards and policies.

"In accepting this CRC's recommendation, we had recognised the need to provide adults with mature content while at the same time protecting our young" said Mr Wong.

"We also recognised that VOD on pay TV allows for a higher degree of parental oversight, with the availability of an easy-to-use parental lock mechanism to prevent unauthorised access by under-aged viewers.

"VOD is also a paid service whereby consumers make a conscious choice to purchase the videos they wish to watch" said the Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth.

TV operators must include a parental lock mechanism to prevent access by under-aged viewers.

The content can only be unlocked by a PIN number, the House was told.

Existing VOD customers who request for the PIN number will need to have their identity verified over the phone using the name, age, NRIC number and date of birth.

As an additional safeguard, pay TV operators will also ask the caller to provide information ranging from date of last bill payment to the location of payment.

As for new customers, they are required to personally sign up and show proof of their age at retail shops.

Since the VOD is a paid service, consumers will have to make a conscious choice to buy the videos they wish to watch.

When the content is bought, there's another layer of checks, such as a monthly bill breakdown of the R21 videos bought, from the title, to the date and time.

This will allow parents to check if their children have gained access to R21 content without their knowledge.

In addition, MDA has also required pay TV operators to put in place sufficient publicity to educate consumers on the safeguards for the R21 VOD service.

At the same time, trailers for the R21 VOD are not allowed on linear pay TV channels.

StarHub and SingNet can only offer R21 titles that have been previously classified by the Board of Film Censors for commercial release.

The VOD services are also not offered to corporate subscribers, which include places like coffee shops, community clubs and hospitals, and subscribers will also not be able to record the R21 VOD content purchased.

Mr Wong said Singapore's content regulatory standards will have to keep pace with the evolving media landscape and consumer demands.

But he added that in allowing for more content choices for Singaporeans, the government will continue to safeguard the young, and will not move ahead of what society is comfortable with.

- CNA/sf

 

[CandiceChan]

Financial Advisers Act amended to better regulate industry

Posted: 15 November 2012 1948 hrs

SINGAPORE: The Financial Advisers Act has been amended to widen the scope of a financial advisory firm's obligations when dealing with customers.

These changes will complement the amendments made to the Securities and Futures Act.

Financial advisory or FA firms will come under greater scrutiny following the extension of the law, which covers "negligent or reckless dissemination of false or misleading information".

Currently, it is an offence to make a false or misleading statement only where there is an intent to deceive.

With the amendment passed in Parliament on Thursday, the law will now cover all statements made by the FA firm, including those that relate to the features or risks of an investment product.

At present, the Act only applies to "statements relating to the amount payable for an investment product such as the premium or benefits under an insurance policy, or to the effect of a provision in the contract for an investment product".

It will also be an offence if the FA firm does not care to ascertain if a statement is true or false.

Some Members of Parliament however raised concerns that these new requirements may lead to higher compliance costs that could be passed on to consumers.

MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Gan Thiam Poh said that the cost "may reach a level that will make investment advice unavailable to a significant segment of the public".

Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam responded by saying that the changes will instead raise industry standards and encourage the development of a culture of financial advice that is centred on the needs of the customer.

"I urge the industry to view the amendments as a means to improve professionalism, as the basis for sustained growth of the financial advisory business. Quality financial advice coupled with competitive and transparent costs will build consumer trust in the industry and enable the industry to grow on sustainable basis in the years to come," he said.

- CNA/jc

 

[CandiceChan]

Amendments to the Securities and Futures Act passed

Posted: 15 November 2012 1948 hrs

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam. (MediaCorp)

SINGAPORE: Parliament passed amendments to the Securities and Futures Act to strengthen safeguards for retail investors on Thursday.

The amendments seek to regulate over-the-counter or OTC derivatives and will allow investors who have suffered a loss as a result of false or misleading statements to obtain compensation.

This would be regardless of whether the contravening person had gained a profit or avoided a loss.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore's power to revoke licences, enter and search premises, and impose prohibition orders will also be extended.

Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said the amendments will put Singapore's Securities and Futures Act in line with the reforms being implemented in many other major financial centres.

"The proposed reforms to OTC derivatives regulation in Singapore have been designed to provide flexibility to respond to international developments and to take into account our local market conditions," said Mr Shanmugaratnam

"I believe MAS has struck an appropriate balance in this approach, and the steps being taken will enhance the safety, efficiency and reputation of Singapore's financial markets," he added.

Ong Teng Koon, MP for Sembawang GRC, however cautioned against over-regulation especially if a prescriptive rules-based approach is used.

He added: "It is my strong belief that in this regard we should seek to protect the integrity of our system by concentrating the definition on local players and local products, consistent with the local financial landscape... It would not make sense if we regulate every new-fangled product that comes out of New York, or every new hedge fund that opens in London," he said.

- CNA/jc

 

[CandiceChan]

Singapore Accountancy Commission Bill tabled in Parliament

Posted: 16 November 2012 0031 hrs

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Accountancy Commission Bill was tabled in Parliament today.

It aims to establish the Singapore Accountancy Commission, and a framework for the growth and development of the accountancy sector and its related fields.

It will also provide for the registration of chartered accountants in Singapore.

The setting up of the commission will put the accountancy profession on the same footing as the legal, medical, architectural and engineering professions, all of which are overseen by statutory bodies.

 

[CandiceChan]

MINDEF to compensate families of NSFs who died in training

By Vimita Mohandas | Posted: 15 November 2012 2236 hrs

SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) disclosed on Thursday how it compensates families of servicemen who die while in service.

While MINDEF did not reveal the exact amount received by a family of a deceased serviceman, a ministry spokesperson said that a family will receive a death gratuity equivalent to 12 months of the last drawn monthly gross salary of a regular serviceman of equivalent rank.

In a reply to Channel NewsAsia, MINDEF said that the death gratuity is outside of its compensation framework.

Under MINDEF's compensation framework, a compensation quantum will be awarded to the family of the deceased serviceman if the death was due to service.

The quantum of this compensation is computed in accordance with the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) and the civil courts.

If the death occurred during military training, the family will also receive a Special Award, which doubles the total compensation award compared to what is prescribed under the WICA.

However, all this may be cold comfort to the bereaved families of Third Sergeant Tan Mou Sheng and Private Dominique Lee, both of whom died during training earlier this year.

Findings from the Committees of Inquiry (COI) convened after their deaths uncovered breaches of training safety regulations.

In the case of Private Dominique Lee, who died after a training exercise that involved smoke grenades, the COI found that only two smoke grenades should have been used instead of the six thrown by his Platoon Commander.

The mother of Dominique Lee said that she has been visiting her son's grave at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery every day since he died in April.

In the second case, the COI found that the driver of the vehicle Third Sergeant Tan Mou Sheng was in did not have a valid licence.

Third Sergeant Tan was thrown out of the vehicle when it flipped, pinning him under it.

- CNA/jc

 

[CandiceChan]

MSF reveals casino visit limit assessment process

By Hetty Musfirah | Posted: 16 November 2012 1546 hrs

Mr Chan Chun Sing speaking in Parliament (File photo)

SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) revealed that a "due process" would be put in place to assess an individual's financial vulnerability before a person is given a casino visit limit.

Speaking in Parliament on Friday, Acting Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing said that the National Council on Problem Gambling's (NCPG) Committee of Assessors will consider factors such as an individual's frequency of casino visits, credit history and financial situation.

It will also take into account information provided by family members during the process.

Based on unique circumstances of each case, NCPG will also work with family members to help determine if an exclusion order or visit limit will be more appropriate.

Mr Chan also said that concerns that the visit limit would lead to an increase in gambling intensity was valid, and that his ministry would monitor the situation closely.

He assured that when alerted, the Committee of Assessors would review the case and impose an exclusion order if necessary.

Members of Parliament questioned the rationale behind introducing visit limits for people found to be financially vulnerable, and whether an automatic exclusion could be imposed on them instead.

Mr Chan said that there was a distinction between the financially vulnerable and those who were financially distressed.

The financially distressed, such as undischarged bankrupts or those who are dependent on government social assistance, are already excluded under Third-Party Casino Exclusion.

He said financially vulnerable persons may not necessarily be financially distressed and already excluded from the casinos.

Mr Chan assured Parliament that the NCPG can issue an exclusion order instead of a visit limit if the situation warrants it.

Under the proposed amendments, the Committee of Assessors can also issue a provisional family exclusion order if there is an urgent need to protect the family from harm.

He said that the NCPG may also require those who wish to revoke their exclusion or visit limit to undergo a harm assessment conducted by an NCPG-appointed professional.

Mr Chan agreed that more could be done to improve the visibility and efficacy of responsible gambling practices at the casinos.

The Amendment Bill requires the casino operators to propose a responsible gambling programme to the Casino Regulatory Authority for endorsement.

Audits will be conducted to ensure that the casino operators comply with the enhanced responsible gambling measures.

Disciplinary action will also be taken against the casino operators who breach the requirements.

- CNA/jc

 

[CandiceChan]

Casino visit limit regime for problem gamblers to start mid-2013

By S. Ramesh | Posted: 15 November 2012 1856 hrs

The entrance to the Resorts World Sentosa casino in Singapore. (AFP photo/Roslan Rahman)

SINGAPORE: Parliament debated the Casino Control (Amendment) Bill on Thursday.

Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade and Industry S Iswaran said the Bill aims to strengthen the legislative framework for the regulation of casinos in Singapore.

Mr Iswaran said that fundamentally, the approach to regulating casinos remains unchanged.

He added agencies have gained practical experience from regulating the casinos over the past two years.

And it is imperative to continually monitor developments, anticipate trends and challenges and ensure that the regulatory regime stays effective and relevant.

Mr Iswaran said: "The Bill has five main objectives. First, it enhances the provisions for effective gaming regulation, and streamlines regulatory processes.

"Second, it strengthens law enforcement levers to deal with casino-related crime. Third, it broadens our framework of social safeguards.

"Fourth, it refines the regulatory framework to give effect to the economic policy intent of introducing the IRs in Singapore. Finally, it improves tax administration, for consistency with other Tax Acts."

The two integrated resorts (IRs) in Singapore have generated significant economic benefits for the country, said Mr Iswaran.

But he added that there is the on-going challenge of ensuring that Singapore's social safeguards protect the vulnerable from the casinos.

Hence, among the proposed changes to the Casino Control Act is the introduction of the visit limit.

There are now exclusion orders for problem gamblers.

Soon, there will be visit limits on financially vulnerable locals who visit casinos frequently.

The visit limit will set a cap on the number of times an individual may visit the casino each month.

It may differ from person to person, depending on each individual's circumstances.

Individuals will also have the right to be heard and the right of appeal.

Some 4,000 to 6,000 locals could come under this regime, which is due to kick in by the middle of next year.

There will be three forms of visit limits: firstly, individuals can apply to the National Council on Problem Gambling for voluntary self-imposed visit limits; secondly, family members can apply for family visit limits; thirdly, the NCPG will be empowered to appoint a Committee of Assessors to determine whether a third-party visit limit should be imposed on a financially vulnerable person.

Mr Iswaran said the government acknowledges the impact of problem gambling on Singaporeans and will act on it.

He said: "Though the casino is a small component of the entire IR development, we recognise the impact it can have on law and order and problem gambling.

"Hence, from the outset, we have sought to establish a stringent casino regulatory regime, with strong enforcement measures, and strict social safeguards to address the potential adverse effects.

"The government is determined to keep Singapore safe and secure, and to ensure that our society's strong work ethics and values are not compromised."

On the employment side, the IRs directly hire more than 22,000 employees and have spun off more than 40,000 jobs throughout the economy.

The IRs have broadened the range of job and career opportunities for Singaporeans, with the bulk of the jobs in the IRs in areas such as theme park operation, retail and food and beverage.

Mr Iswaran also said the two IRs have committed a total development investment of over S$13 billion.

He added that while Singapore's tourism industry has grown, the tourism landscape in the region is also becoming increasingly competitive.

So the Trade and Industry Ministry will appoint an evaluation panel to assess the ability of the IR operators to fulfil their economic obligations.

And this will be considered on the basis of a broad range of indicators such as visitor appeal and benchmarks with respect to similar international attractions.

- CNA/lp

 

[CandiceChan]

MPs say Casino Control (Amendment) Bill not strict enough

By Hetty Musfirah | Posted: 15 November 2012 2323 hrs

MP Denise Phua in Parliament

SINGAPORE: Members of Parliament continued to raise concerns over the issue of problem gambling in Singapore during a debate in Parliament on the Casino Control (Amendment) Bill on Thursday.

Features of the Bill include a proposed casino visit limit that will set a cap on the number of times an individual may visit the casino each month.

However some like Nominated Member of Parliament Mary Liew were concerned if such a limit would only lead to an increase in gambling intensity.

"Is it not possible that with the visit limitation imposed, the individual can still make that single visit per month and during that single visit of no return, incur greater debts or liabilities and bring grief to their families," she said.

MP for Sengkang West GRC Dr Lam Pin Min instead suggested that the visit limit be complemented with an expenditure limit to be effective.

Gan Thiam Poh, MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, echoed this sentiment suggesting that the imposed expenditure limit could be a small percentage of the income of a financially vulnerable casino patron.

MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC Hri Kumar Nair, on the other hand, raised concerns over the methods taken to screen potential problem gamblers.

Under the amendment, a Committee of Assessors has the power to exclude or impose a visit limit on a person if the committee sees or acknowledges that the person has a poor credit record.

"My concern is how the committee may find itself privy to such information," said the MP.

He said that "a person's credit record is private and confidential. It is one thing if the individual submits such information, though I rarely think it will happen… It is quite another if the committee receives such information from other sources and acts on it.

"It seems rather inconsistent if we are nowadays concerned about protecting personal data but appear to be willing to allow personal information to be used without an individual's consent."

On the contrary, MP for Marine Parade GRC Seah Kian Peng suggested running a check through Singaporeans' water bills to sieve out vulnerable citizens.

"I do think if a person is unable to pay for his water bill, he is financially vulnerable. This may be seen to be draconian or anti-human rights. But in this case I prefer to err on the side of being conservative," he said.

Another feature of the amendment was the introduction of an Evaluation Panel, which will serve as an independent assessor of the ability of the integrated resort operators to fulfil their 'economic obligations'.

Some MPs like Denise Phua, MP for Moulmein-Kallang GRC, questioned the effectiveness of an Evaluation Panel appointed by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI).

"The panel should not be under the prerogative of the MTI… The panel should be an inter-ministerial one appointed by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and a final decision must take into consideration not just jobs created but also better assessment of the degree of transfer of learning for our own economic sustainability; the diversion of manpower to this industry; and the impact on law and order and social resilience," she said.

"The panel must be open to challenging the given assumption that casinos are here to stay," Ms Phua added.

The MP also suggested that Singapore should eventually exit the gambling industry.

She said: "I don't gamble but I was told that the Royal Flush is ranked as the highest hand in the game of poker… If you are lucky enough to get a Royal Flush then you should be sure to bet the entire pot because you will undoubtedly win the pot with the hand.

"But I was also told that one's best chance to get a Royal Flush in a casino is in the toilet."

Ms Phua added that "it is good to be reminded that the chances of a holistic win for Singapore in this industry are as good as that of getting the Royal Flush", and that Singapore should work towards exiting from the industry.

The debate on this Bill will resume on Friday.

- CNA/jc