Budget 2009, Parliamentary Speech
11 February 2009
MOE – Mother Tongue
后港区国会议员，刘程强
主席先生，
据我所知，教育部2006年开始在25间小学推行新的华文教学课程。2007年起，在全国小一小二班实施新的小学华文课程，这个课程现今已经推行到小五班。教育部是否对实施这一套新的课程做过评估？这一套新的课程达到了什么教育成果？
这一套在小学推行的新华文教学法，所注重的是听和说的部分，学生读和写字的能力被视为其次。从小学一年级上半年的华文课本来看，105页厚的课本里，前面的66页用来先教汉语拼音，其中有几篇课文在遇到生字时只标上了汉语拼音，没有把字打印出来。在这样的教学方式下，学生就算学会了字的正确读音，也未必学懂该用那一个华文字才正确。
有些教育学者也许认为在小学先学习汉语拼音，减轻学生学习的负担，打好听和说的基础，以后再认字和写字。然而，华文字不是拼音文字，如果读音不和字形同时联合起来学习的话，以后是否能凭读音来认字还是个未知数。
另一项华文教学的改革是允许学生在作文考试时使用电子字典。虽然说这是为了进一步减轻学生记忆华文字的负担，但也同时加剧了学生日后使用错别字的可能性。即使用汉语拼音输入法，就算是在旧制的华文课程下同时学习读音和字形的国人也都可能出差错。
以汉语拼音为本的教学制度已经出现了一些令人关注的问题。联合早报就曾刊登了一则家长的来信，说读小四全年级最好的华文班在朗读课文时，全班除了她女儿，都把“莱佛士”念成“菜佛士”！
在韩国，类似的情况已经使他们陷入了“文化危机”。年轻人普遍不懂得汉字，越来越多“汉字盲”。问题的严重性使到韩国的20位前总理，联名上书现任总统李明博，提出解决危机的建议。虽然韩国的情况和我国不尽相同，但在很大的程度上，问题的症结在于他们的语文教育着重于类似汉语拼音，以拼音为主的表音文字，而忽略了汉字字形的学习。
我国目前推行的这一套新华文教学法，把华文文字的字形和字音生生剥开来教，并在小学教育的阶段以学习汉语拼音为主，这样的教育政策是否会在若干年后使我国的学生沦为汉字盲呢？
(Note: this speech was delivered in Parliament on 10 Feb 2009.)
Budget 2009, Parliamentary Speech
11 February 2009
MOF – GIC and Temasek
By Sylvia Lim, NCMP
Sir, in this financial crisis, Singaporeans are naturally concerned about the health of our reserves managed by GIC and Temasek.
According to reports, Temasek invested nearly US$6 billion in Merrill Lynch which is now worth about 20%. It has large paper losses in Standard Chartered and Barclays. GIC’s investment in Citibank of US$6.9 billion may now be less than 20%.
Last Oct, the Finance Minister discussed the government’s stance on transparency of GIC and Temasek as follows: “public disclosures had to be shaped by the SWF’s characteristics as long-term investors, with the ability to… ride out cycles. A short-term focus in financial disclosures would…not shed light on the right areas.”
However, the government is but the legal trustee of the funds and the ultimate true owner is the people. They deserve to know how this turmoil has affected our national wealth. Can the government tell us how much paper losses have been incurred? How have these losses affected the liquidity of the funds and their ability to take opportunities in the downturn? Does the fact that both funds invested so heavily in the financial sector at the same time undermine the diversification objective for our sovereign wealth?
(Note: this speech was delivered in Parliament on 10 Feb 2009.)
Budget 2009, Parliamentary Speech
11 February 2009
MOH – Hospital Disinfection Measure
By Low Thia Khiang, MP for Hougang
Sir, I understand that Singapore currently ranked the sixth best nation in the world for its medical advances and the best in Asia by the World Health Organization. Singapore’s hospitals and medical centers have achieved high marks in clinical indicators that equal and even surpass those in the developed West.
However, it is important for us to strive to maintain the high standards and quality of our medical and healthcare services.
Recently, I received feedback from my constituent that some patients who were admitted to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) was infected by virus in the hospital and died of pneumonia.
I would like to ask the Minister for Health was there an unusual increase in the number of patients at TTSH who died of pneumonia?
Read the rest of this entry »
Budget 2009, Parliamentary Speech
11 February 2009
MOH – Funding of Mental Health Services
By Sylvia Lim, NCMP
IMH maintains the WH Endowment Fund to raise public donations. The purpose of the Fund is stated as providing welfare and medical care for needy patients.
In explaining the need for public support, the IMH website states: “Although there is the Medifund, there are some patients from the lower income group who do not qualify because of the stringent criteria”. Examples are given of the programmes supported by public donations. For instance, IMH highlights that mental patients need not only medicine but also psychotherapy sessions. However, noted the hospital: “Some patients do not seek treatment because they cannot afford to pay for this service”.
It is worrying that the IMH needs to ask the public to donate money directly to provide essential treatment to its patients. Should the Medifund criteria be further relaxed for mental health services?
(Note: this speech was delivered in Parliament on 9 Feb 2009.)
Budget 2009, Parliamentary Speech
11 February 2009
MOH – Step Down Care
By Sylvia Lim, NCMP
Last year I raised the issue of affordability of nursing home care and the means test for government subsidy. The Minister replied that the means test is reviewed from time to time. As the cost of nursing home care continues to rise, I believe now is the time to look at the financial impact of such charges on families and to review how we can assist them.
Currently, government subsidies for step down care are means-tested, based on household per capita income. The rate of subsidy is tiered at 75%, 50% or 25% subsidy depending on per capita income. For those whose per capita income is more than $1,000, no subsidy is given.
Under the current framework, the impact of nursing home bills on families can be very drastic.
Read the rest of this entry »
Budget 2009, Parliamentary Speech
11 February 2009
MTI – Tourism
By Low Thia Khiang, MP for Hougang
Sir, Singapore’s reputation as the best destination for tourism retail experience is under threat. We hear cases of retail shops selling over-priced electronic goods, over-charging tourists or dealing in unfair retail practices of “bait and switch” or misrepresentation.
Such poor service appears to be prevalent despite the introduction of the Singapore Service Star scheme by the Singapore Tourism Board which seeks to recognize, through accreditation, businesses that promote good service.
Tourists’ confidence in Singapore’s retail sector can be easily tarnished by a few black sheep and shops that choose to remain outside this scheme.
I would like to ask what is the Government’s strategy to provide a “uniquely Singapore” tourist retail experience in view of the presence of recalcitrant retail businesses who continuously dish out poor service and bad practices?
Read the rest of this entry »
11 February 2009
MOE – Mother Tongue
后港区国会议员，刘程强
主席先生，
据我所知，教育部2006年开始在25间小学推行新的华文教学课程。2007年起，在全国小一小二班实施新的小学华文课程，这个课程现今已经推行到小五班。教育部是否对实施这一套新的课程做过评估？这一套新的课程达到了什么教育成果？
这一套在小学推行的新华文教学法，所注重的是听和说的部分，学生读和写字的能力被视为其次。从小学一年级上半年的华文课本来看，105页厚的课本里，前面的66页用来先教汉语拼音，其中有几篇课文在遇到生字时只标上了汉语拼音，没有把字打印出来。在这样的教学方式下，学生就算学会了字的正确读音，也未必学懂该用那一个华文字才正确。
有些教育学者也许认为在小学先学习汉语拼音，减轻学生学习的负担，打好听和说的基础，以后再认字和写字。然而，华文字不是拼音文字，如果读音不和字形同时联合起来学习的话，以后是否能凭读音来认字还是个未知数。
另一项华文教学的改革是允许学生在作文考试时使用电子字典。虽然说这是为了进一步减轻学生记忆华文字的负担，但也同时加剧了学生日后使用错别字的可能性。即使用汉语拼音输入法，就算是在旧制的华文课程下同时学习读音和字形的国人也都可能出差错。
以汉语拼音为本的教学制度已经出现了一些令人关注的问题。联合早报就曾刊登了一则家长的来信，说读小四全年级最好的华文班在朗读课文时，全班除了她女儿，都把“莱佛士”念成“菜佛士”！
在韩国，类似的情况已经使他们陷入了“文化危机”。年轻人普遍不懂得汉字，越来越多“汉字盲”。问题的严重性使到韩国的20位前总理，联名上书现任总统李明博，提出解决危机的建议。虽然韩国的情况和我国不尽相同，但在很大的程度上，问题的症结在于他们的语文教育着重于类似汉语拼音，以拼音为主的表音文字，而忽略了汉字字形的学习。
我国目前推行的这一套新华文教学法，把华文文字的字形和字音生生剥开来教，并在小学教育的阶段以学习汉语拼音为主，这样的教育政策是否会在若干年后使我国的学生沦为汉字盲呢？
(Note: this speech was delivered in Parliament on 10 Feb 2009.)
Budget 2009, Parliamentary Speech
11 February 2009
MOF – GIC and Temasek
By Sylvia Lim, NCMP
Sir, in this financial crisis, Singaporeans are naturally concerned about the health of our reserves managed by GIC and Temasek.
According to reports, Temasek invested nearly US$6 billion in Merrill Lynch which is now worth about 20%. It has large paper losses in Standard Chartered and Barclays. GIC’s investment in Citibank of US$6.9 billion may now be less than 20%.
Last Oct, the Finance Minister discussed the government’s stance on transparency of GIC and Temasek as follows: “public disclosures had to be shaped by the SWF’s characteristics as long-term investors, with the ability to… ride out cycles. A short-term focus in financial disclosures would…not shed light on the right areas.”
However, the government is but the legal trustee of the funds and the ultimate true owner is the people. They deserve to know how this turmoil has affected our national wealth. Can the government tell us how much paper losses have been incurred? How have these losses affected the liquidity of the funds and their ability to take opportunities in the downturn? Does the fact that both funds invested so heavily in the financial sector at the same time undermine the diversification objective for our sovereign wealth?
(Note: this speech was delivered in Parliament on 10 Feb 2009.)
Budget 2009, Parliamentary Speech
11 February 2009
MOH – Hospital Disinfection Measure
By Low Thia Khiang, MP for Hougang
Sir, I understand that Singapore currently ranked the sixth best nation in the world for its medical advances and the best in Asia by the World Health Organization. Singapore’s hospitals and medical centers have achieved high marks in clinical indicators that equal and even surpass those in the developed West.
However, it is important for us to strive to maintain the high standards and quality of our medical and healthcare services.
Recently, I received feedback from my constituent that some patients who were admitted to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) was infected by virus in the hospital and died of pneumonia.
I would like to ask the Minister for Health was there an unusual increase in the number of patients at TTSH who died of pneumonia?
Read the rest of this entry »
Budget 2009, Parliamentary Speech
11 February 2009
MOH – Funding of Mental Health Services
By Sylvia Lim, NCMP
IMH maintains the WH Endowment Fund to raise public donations. The purpose of the Fund is stated as providing welfare and medical care for needy patients.
In explaining the need for public support, the IMH website states: “Although there is the Medifund, there are some patients from the lower income group who do not qualify because of the stringent criteria”. Examples are given of the programmes supported by public donations. For instance, IMH highlights that mental patients need not only medicine but also psychotherapy sessions. However, noted the hospital: “Some patients do not seek treatment because they cannot afford to pay for this service”.
It is worrying that the IMH needs to ask the public to donate money directly to provide essential treatment to its patients. Should the Medifund criteria be further relaxed for mental health services?
(Note: this speech was delivered in Parliament on 9 Feb 2009.)
Budget 2009, Parliamentary Speech
11 February 2009
MOH – Step Down Care
By Sylvia Lim, NCMP
Last year I raised the issue of affordability of nursing home care and the means test for government subsidy. The Minister replied that the means test is reviewed from time to time. As the cost of nursing home care continues to rise, I believe now is the time to look at the financial impact of such charges on families and to review how we can assist them.
Currently, government subsidies for step down care are means-tested, based on household per capita income. The rate of subsidy is tiered at 75%, 50% or 25% subsidy depending on per capita income. For those whose per capita income is more than $1,000, no subsidy is given.
Under the current framework, the impact of nursing home bills on families can be very drastic.
Read the rest of this entry »
Budget 2009, Parliamentary Speech
11 February 2009
MTI – Tourism
By Low Thia Khiang, MP for Hougang
Sir, Singapore’s reputation as the best destination for tourism retail experience is under threat. We hear cases of retail shops selling over-priced electronic goods, over-charging tourists or dealing in unfair retail practices of “bait and switch” or misrepresentation.
Such poor service appears to be prevalent despite the introduction of the Singapore Service Star scheme by the Singapore Tourism Board which seeks to recognize, through accreditation, businesses that promote good service.
Tourists’ confidence in Singapore’s retail sector can be easily tarnished by a few black sheep and shops that choose to remain outside this scheme.
I would like to ask what is the Government’s strategy to provide a “uniquely Singapore” tourist retail experience in view of the presence of recalcitrant retail businesses who continuously dish out poor service and bad practices?
Read the rest of this entry »
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