The Workers' Party

[sengkang]

Re: WP Doing Nothing?

"The resale levy itself constitutes a financial burden to owners with a monthly income of $1,500 and below. Often during my Meet-the-People sessions, I have come across many lower income families who have been advised by the HDB to sell off their flat due to outstanding arrears or owners who have been ordered by the Court to sell off their matrimonial flat due to a broken marriage.

Under the circumstances depicted above, it is noteworthy to highlight that the owner has little or no choice, as a result of evolving life circumstances to sell off their property.

In the first place, these families already face considerable financial difficulties and the proceeds from the sale of the flat would provide some much-needed financial breathing space.

At the same time, the owner has been debarred from renting a flat directly from the HDB and hence has to resort to paying open market rental rates. Any sales proceeds received would then be depleted by exorbitant rental rates.

Moreover, by the time the owner decides to obtain a new flat, he would not have the financial means to pay for his resale levy.

This has the effect of limiting his housing options and his desire for a new start." ~ MP Muhammad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap (11 March 2013)








COS 2013 Debates: MND – HDB Housing Levy (MP Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap)
wp.sg


Mdm, I understand that the resale levy is introduced to reduce the subsidy on the 2nd

 

[sengkang]

Re: WP Doing Nothing?

"Many of the government’s productivity assistance schemes focus on helping SMEs improve productivity within their companies.

But in order to raise productivity on a larger scale within industries, the government should look into funding and building more common infrastructure and systems that SMEs can tap on. These large scale systems are often beyond the ability of individual SMEs to develop on their own. [...]

Next, the government is one of the biggest buyers of goods and services from SMEs. It can better support companies as they strive to increase productivity, through the way tender requirement specifications are structured. [...]

Lastly, the government should provide more incentives to help SMEs recruit local staff and talent. This is at the top of many SMEs’ wish list for Budget 2013, according to an ASME (Association of Small and Medium Enterprises) survey.

I had earlier proposed a New Hire Wage Credit that will pay for a quarter of the salaries of new Singaporean hires for half a year, provided they have been unemployed or out of the workforce for at least four months. I hope the government will seriously consider this proposal because I believe it can help SMEs attract more Singaporeans, and reduce reliance on foreign workers." ~ NCMP Gerald Giam (11 March 2013)





COS 2013 Debates: MTI – Helping SMEs as they restructure (NCMP Gerald Giam)
wp.sg
Many of the government’s productivity assistance schemes focus on helping SMEs improve productivity within their companies. But in order to raise productivity on a larger scale within industries, the government

 

[sengkang]

Re: WP Doing Nothing?

"Since 2007, the government has invested $350 million to fund the development, testing and export of clean energy solutions. By 2015, the government expects the clean energy industry to contribute $1.7 billion to Singapore’s GDP and employ around 7,000 people.

It is now 2013. How far are we from this target? We have a dozen tidal, wind, and solar energy MNCs setting up largely R&D facilities here, but how many sizeable Singapore enterprises have sprung up to export clean energy solutions? [...]

Currently, we only have two small scale schemes for private companies, one to encourage test bedding in government facilities and the other to offset the capital costs of installation. We need to scale up system adoption and use in the private sector to develop the industry and make the market.

I propose the government look into three areas.

One, Feed-In Tariffs for solar energy producers selling their electricity back to the grid on long-term guaranteed contract at a slightly marked-up price.

Two, Rooftop Leasing to encourage building owners to lease out their rooftops to solar energy companies to produce electricity.

Three, Solar Leasing to encourage building owners to rent panels from solar energy companies." ~ NCMP Yee Jenn Jong (11 March 2013)





COS 2013 Debates: MTI – Renewable Energy (NCMP Yee Jenn Jong)
wp.sg
Madam, it has been some years since the government identified clean energy as a key economic growth area. Since 2007, the government has invested $350 million to fund the development, testing and export

 

[sengkang]

Re: WP Doing Nothing?

"Singapore should promote our silver industries, which produce goods and services for the elderly, as a key plank of our restructuring, evolving economy.

For example, the Budget refers to funds set aside for Collaborative Industry Projects for productivity growth, where industry wide collaboration provides scale that individual firms lack. [...]

In addition to productivity growth and capability upgrading, which are the objects of these schemes, could we foster similar collaboration to address the economic opportunities presented by an ageing population, first within Singapore, as a test-bed to develop robust and innovative silver products and services, before then exporting them to regional markets. [...]

[...] we should also foster synergistic collaboration by firms with companies outside their own industries and by firms with senior citizens themselves as consumers and key stakeholders to offer co-creative solutions to the challenges of an aging population – such as Japan has been doing with robotics – we can focus on solutions in elder care, elder housing and elder living.

We can be both hopeful and realistic, that one day the popular science fiction saying may very well be true in Singapore: “live long and prosper!” " ~ MP Chen Show Mao (11 March 2013)





COS 2013 Debates: MTI – Silver Industries (MP Chen Show Mao)
wp.sg
The demographic trend of our ageing population is highlighted in part of the recent Budget. The Budget has two parts – “Quality growth” and “an Inclusive society.” They contain pillars of the government’s

 

[sengkang]

Re: WP Doing Nothing?

"Transparency International (TI) has recently come up with a government defence anti-corruption index, where countries are ranked from A to F on corruption risk in defence. Singapore was rated D+, which TI defines as indicating a high risk of corruption. MINDEF has issued a response reiterating that it is prudent in managing its resources, has its own audit mechanisms, and does not tolerate corruption. [...]

I think we should continue to review how more information about MINDEF spending can be shared with Parliamentarians and the general public to reduce corruption risk.

Australia and Germany managed to be graded A, and USA was graded B, even though arguably they have equally or more compelling security concerns about transparency. Can we be a bit more transparent?

It is interesting that every now and then, international publications such as Jane’s Intelligence Review make revelations about specific purchases of military hardware by the SAF, and yet we seem to survive the disclosure.

Has the government closed its mind on this issue, or is it studying how MINDEF can move towards more oversight to minimise corruption risk?" ~ MP Sylvia Lim (11 March 2013)








COS 2013 Debates: MINDEF – Corruption Risk in Defence (MP Sylvia Lim)
wp.sg
Transparency International (TI) has recently come up with a government defence anti-corruption index, where countries are ranked from A to F on corruption risk in defence.

 

[sengkang]

Re: WP Doing Nothing?

"Today, Singaporean males have accepted that they can be called up for NS for up to 40 days a year for 10 years, and that is after they have completed their 2-year full-time NS stint.

The point about NS is that Singaporean males do not just serve 2 years of NS, they serve a 10-year NS training cycle when they enter the workforce as well.

While it may be operationally and bureaucratically inefficient to get new citizens to serve full-time NS for two years, it is not in the realm of imagination to conceive of new citizens up to the age of 30, serving a 10-year NS cycle till they are 40 years old, which is the current statutory age limit of service for many Singaporean NSmen.

Recently, the SAF has raised some battalions specifically for the purposes of protection of key installation duty, with a specific vocation raised for this – the security trooper.

These soldiers, amongst other duties, help patrol key installations and places like Changi airport and Jurong Island.

Without undermining the importance of such responsibilities, one can conceive the development of a training program implemented to train new citizens for NS duties over a 10-year NS training cycle with the first 3 years (effectively up to 40 days a year) set aside to train new citizen soldiers on the rules of engagement, and specific vocational training relevant to the protection of key installations.

When deployed, these new citizens can be envisaged to patrol jointly with Singaporean NSmen vocationally trained as security troopers who have completed their 2-year cycle, so no distinction is made between new or old citizens, and they perform their duties as Singaporeans." ~ MP Pritam Singh (11 March 2013)





COS 2013 Debates: MINDEF – Strengthening the Singaporean Core (MP Pritam Singh)
wp.sg
National Service (NS) has remained a bedrock of nation-building since 1967. With the government opening the door to large numbers of foreigners in a short space of time over the last decade, foreigners and

 

[sengkang]

Re: WP Doing Nothing?

"Singapore is currently subject to another onslaught of the dengue virus. It seems that the current dengue outbreak has peaked at an unusual time of year – at end 2012 and the start of 2013, rather than the usual July-August periods of the past. [...]

I would first like to acknowledge the tireless efforts by the teams at the National Environment Agency (NEA) in their outreach and enforcement efforts, going door to door in their inspections and public education. NEA has also collaborated with Aljunied-Hougang Town Council and our MPs regularly in responding to the dengue situation. [...]

It was reported that last year, a team of researchers from our university medical schools and the Defence Science Organisation laboratories managed to discover a human anti-body which may have the potential of limiting the damage caused by the dengue virus serotype 1 while inside the human body.

Does NEA collaborate with such external agencies to synergise its research efforts, especially regarding prevention and treatment responses? What are its current research priorities concerning dengue generally?" ~ MP Sylvia Lim (12 March 2013)








COS 2013 Debates: MEWR – Dengue outbreak (MP Sylvia Lim)
wp.sg


Singapore is currently subject to another onslaught of the dengue virus. It seems that the current dengue outbreak has peaked at an unusual time of year – at end 2012 and the

 

[sengkang]

Re: WP Doing Nothing?

"In 1999, the then-Ministry of Environment set up a Rodent Eradication and Control Committee after identifying 11 areas in Singapore, which included HDB estates, overrun with rats.

In 2004, a Straits Times report noted that 8,631 rat holes had been identified across the island, while separately noting that the Ministry had spent $280,000 to address the problem that year in five estates with NEA footing 75% of the bill, and Town Councils paying the other 25%.

In 2009, a Sunday Times report observed that the rat problem in the Orchard Road shopping belt had worsened, and in 2010, NEA found 1,687 areas in Singapore populated by rats, three times more than the 443 that were found in 2009.

More recently in November last year, Ang Mo Kio Hub was also hit by a rat problem. [...]

I would like to request the Ministry to step up in its anti-rodent enforcement and education efforts, and to consider raising the profile of these efforts to the level of its anti-dengue efforts, so as to work towards a cleaner Singapore going forward." ~ MP Pritam Singh (12 March 2013)








COS 2013 Debates: MEWR – Rats in HDB Estates (MP Pritam Singh)
wp.sg


In 1999, the then-Ministry of Environment set up a Rodent Eradication and Control Committee after identifying 11 areas in Singapore, which

 

[sengkang]

Re: WP Doing Nothing?

"MOT recently said that it was exploring private bus operators’ interest in new, shorter services that feed to MRT stations, and that these new feeder services could be outside of the current Bus Services Enhancement Programme (BSEP).

During last year’s Budget, it was announced that of the $1.1 billion budgeted for the BSEP, $280 million had been budgeted for the purchase of 550 buses over the next five years, and $820 million was budgeted to cover the net operating costs of these buses for 10 years.

My understanding then was that the BSEP budget was to supply additional buses and drivers to the two current public transport operators (PTOs).

How do the new bus services contracted out to private bus operators fit into this budget?" ~ NCMP Gerald Giam (12 March 2013)



COS 2013 Debates: MOT – Public transport operations expenditure (NCMP Gerald Giam)
wp.sg


MOT recently said that it was exploring private bus operators’ interest in new, shorter services

 

[sengkang]

Re: WP Doing Nothing?

Singapore Vulcan: "Live long and prosper!" Putting our senior citizens closer to the centre of our economic strategies. http://wp.sg/2013/03/cos-2013-debates-mti-silver-industries-mp-chen-show-mao/

 

[sengkang]

Re: WP Doing Nothing?

"Obtaining salary documentation is onerous for some patients, including those who are not IT-literate, who do not have a SingPass to retrieve their CPF statements, or are odd job workers who are not issued payslips.

Some need to contact their employers to request for letters to prove their income. Others may have difficulty obtaining the documentation from family members, who may not want to reveal their income or may be estranged from the patient.

I hope MOH will review its means-testing process to ensure that it does not burden patients or their family members, so that patients receive all the subsidies that they are eligible for." ~ NCMP Gerald Giam (12 March 2013)








COS 2013 Debates: MOH – Means testing for family income (NCMP Gerald Giam)
wp.sg


Currently, all hospitals and nursing homes conduct means-testing to determine a patient’s eligibility for government subsidies. Patients have to submit documentation to prove their incom

 

[sengkang]

Re: WP Doing Nothing?

"During last year’s budget, the Minister for Health spoke about strategies to improve the quality of healthcare delivery. The twin pillars to achieving this goal are the Regional Health System and the National Electronic Health Records.

With regards to the Regional Health System, I would like an update on the progress of the formation of this system. One such example is the Eastern Health Alliance that was established in late 2011.

What are the main lessons learnt from the initial planning to the final implementation of the Eastern Health Alliance? How have patients benefited either directly or indirectly from this Regional Health System? [...]

With regards to the National Electronic Health Records, to what extent has this programme been developed? Is it a single system applicable to all institutions across different health clusters or multiple systems stitched together?" ~ MP Low Thia Khiang (12 March 2013)





COS 2013 Debates: MOH – Regional Health System and National Electronic Health Records
wp.sg


During last year’s budget, the Minister for Health spoke about strategies to improve the quality of

 

[sengkang]

Re: WP Doing Nothing?

"However, if a patient sees his GP and is deemed to need a specialist consultation at the government-restructured hospital, he will not be considered as subsidized patient by the specialist clinics of the hospital on the basis of his GP’s referral.

To qualify for subsidized out-patient specialist care, he has to make a trip to the polyclinic, wait many hours to see the polyclinic doctor and pay for this additional consultation in order to get a referral letter that allows him to be seen as a subsidized out-patient at the hospital.

Such a cumbersome referral system increases both direct and indirect healthcare costs i.e. double consultation with two primary healthcare doctors in addition to time lost from work for the patient and possibly for the accompanying family member. With the increasing and ageing population, the limitations in the current system will be aggravated.

I believe that it is timely for MOH to review the referral system and allow patients the same default subsidized status for out-patient specialist care regardless of their referring primary healthcare doctor." ~ MP Low Thia Khiang (12 March 2013)



COS 2013 Debates: MOH – Medical Referral System (MP Low Thia Khiang)
wp.sg
The increasing and ageing population has further stressed our current healthcare delivery system. The mechanism for referral to subsidized

 

[sengkang]

Re: WP Doing Nothing?

[h=1]COS 2013 Debates: MOH－TCM Continuing Education Programme (MP Low Thia Khiang)[/h]
Browse > Home / Budget 2013, Committee of Supply 2013, Parliamentary Speech / COS 2013 Debates: MOH－TCM Continuing Education Programme (MP Low Thia Khiang)
[h=1]COS 2013 Debates: MOH－TCM Continuing Education Programme (MP Low Thia Khiang)[/h]

By MP for Aljunied GRC, Low Thia Khiang
[Delivered in Committee of Supply on 12 March 2013]



中医管理委员会决定在今年开始实施为期两年的自愿性中医延续教育计划。 依据委员会所发布的指南，参与这个延续教育课程是自愿性的。
然而，注册中医师的一般理解是第一、第二年是试验性阶段， 但第三年，2015年起，则为强制性，不发行医执照给分数不达标者。
我请问卫生部长到底这个中医延续教育计划的目的是什么？是否被误解成是为了减少注册中医师人数的一种手段？或者卫生部真的认为只要中医师不肯接受延续教育，就必须被淘汰？


我国中医界除了职业医师，也有许多义务的医师。义务医师通常是利用业余的每周几个小时行医。他们的担忧是，如果必须强制性地通过累积学分才可以更新 执照，对在繁忙的工作之中拨出时间义务行医的医师是一种挑战。 更何况，义务医师还必须为了进修而自掏腰包付学费。而且，就算这一年学分足够更新执照，下一年还是有同样的顾虑。在这种情况下，义务医师们能维持得了多久 呢？如果义务医师人数因而减少，对提供中医服务的自愿福利团体又会有什么影响呢？


以目前中医界的具体情况来看， 如果中医管理委员会的目的是提升中医的专业水准，增强中医的专业知识和技能，哪我建议设立中医专科医师注册制度，订立比现在中医注册更高、更严格的要求，也可把这一套延续教育计划包括在内。

 

[sengkang]

Re: WP Doing Nothing?

"At present, restructured hospitals appear to be managed like profit-driven companies. International Medical Services that solicit business from foreign patients are present in most of the restructured hospitals.

The common argument is that money earned from private and foreign patients is used to support treatment for local, subsidized patients.

If so, then what proportion of the overall patient load should private and foreign patients constitute – 20%, 30% or more? Who provides and overseas the implementation of the guidelines? [...]

Next, I would like to discuss remuneration scheme of specialist doctors. Many specialists in restructured hospitals are under a remuneration scheme that rewards them for treating private patients, i.e non-subsidized patients.

I believe that the remuneration scheme is one of the factors hindering the hospital to improve the situation of long waiting time, especially for subsidized patients. [...]

I am of the view that the current remuneration scheme incentivizes specialists to treat private patients over subsidized patients.

As a result, there is unequal distribution of workload among specialists. Morale drops and specialists leave. Over the years, pay increases alone have not been able to stem this tide of resignation." ~ MP Low Thia Khiang (12 March 2013)



COS 2013 Debates: MOH – Specialist Care And Hospital Resource (MP Low Thia Khiang)
wp.sg
The Ministry of Health website states that: restructured hospitals are different from the

 

[sengkang]

Re: WP Doing Nothing?


[h=5]Daniel PS Goh[/h]
Remembering his 105th birthday. A repost of a tribute I wrote five years ago, now personally more significant than ever.


David Marshall: A Bittersweet Remembrance
[url]www.danielpsgoh.com
Life is funny for the bittersweet turns it takes. When I first wrote this tribute to David Marshall for his centennial


[/URL]

 

[sengkang]

Re: WP Doing Nothing?

"The government has stated that Anchor Operators (or AOPs) must be non-profit, non-religious and non-racial based. I do not think these criteria are necessary as long as operators accept students of any race and religion and follow strict rules which I will elaborate. [...]

Firstly, available sites can be clustered as a package for open bidding. Each tender can be for around 10 centres, with rental cost tied to what non-profit operators currently pay. [...]

Once an operator is awarded, it cannot change fees without approval by MSF. To achieve investment payback, operating period can be for a period of say 10 years, with interim review every 3-4 years.

This is to ensure operators will continue to innovate and provide quality services. After the operating period, the sites are re-opened for bidding again by all."

The key advantage of this over the existing AOP scheme is that it allows newer operators who have proven themselves in the market to join in continuously when sites are available. This provides greater diversity of choices. Competition spurs innovation.

The current scheme kills competition and freezes AOP players to the few based on the time of selection. It limits choices for consumers requiring affordable fees." ~ NCMP Yee Jenn Jong (14 March 2013)






COS 2013 Debates: MSF – Restructuring the childcare sector (NCMP Yee Jenn Jong)
wp.sg


By Non-Constituency MP Yee Jenn Jong [Delivered in Committee of Supply on 14 March 2013] Madam, I declare my interest as a

 

[sengkang]

Re: WP Doing Nothing?

"Childcare needs do not suddenly change when a child enters Primary One; parents still need to work and the child is still unable to care for himself.

Student care should be seen as a natural extension of childcare.

This will help both parents to remain in the workforce and reduce the demand for foreign maids, while providing a safe and nurturing environment for the children.

I would like to suggest that student care be brought under the purview of the Early Childhood Development Agency, so that the government can better regulate and promote the sector." ~ NCMP Gerald Giam (14 March 2013)



COS 2013 Debate: MSF – Supply of childcare and student care (NCMP Gerald Giam)
wp.sg
By Non-Constituency MP Gerald Giam [Delivered in Committee of Supply on 14 March 2013] Mdm Chair, Childcare is one of the biggest concerns of

 

[sengkang]

Re: WP Doing Nothing?

"The Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) framework aims to professionalise industry sectors and improve labour mobility into and within these sectors.

WSQ is also meant to be “a powerful business tool for employers to access and maintain a skilled workforce.”

Given these highly industry-centric goals, it is important to track if those trained are contributing to the industries they are trained for or at least using their skills for the economy. [...]

How is the Workforce Development Agency tracking whether those trained are contributing to the industries or to the economy generally?

If so, what does the data show and are there areas to review to minimize resource wastage?" ~ MP Sylvia Lim (14 March 2013)



COS 2013 Debate: MOM – Tracking Continuing Education & Training (CET) wastages (MP Sylvia Lim)
wp.sg
By MP for Aljunied GRC, Sylvia Lim [Delivered in Committee of Supply on 14 March 2013] The Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) framework

 

[sengkang]

Re: WP Doing Nothing?

"I have come across cases where the CPF members’ OA balances were sufficient or more than sufficient to make full redemption of their outstanding CPF mortgage loan balances and free themselves from the financial burden of servicing their home mortgages.

Unfortunately, they were not allowed to do so because of the Minimum Sum requirement.

If these CPF members were allowed to make the full or partial redemption of the mortgage loans using their available CPF OA balances, they would save considerable sums on their mortgage interest. [...]

I urge the Minister to consider allowing such CPF members to continue using their CPF OA balances to make full or partial redemption of their mortgage loans." ~ MP Low Thia Khiang (14 March 2013)



COS 2013 Debate: MOM – Use of CPF for Home Financing (MP Low Thia Khiang)
wp.sg
By MP for Aljunied GRC, Low Thia Khiang [Delivered in Committee of Supply on 14 March 2013] Currently CPF members are allowed to use their Ordinary Accounts