TIME TAKEN FOR GRADUATES TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT IN PAST FIVE YEARS
Leon Perera asked how long did university, polytechnic, and ITE graduates take to secure full-time employment, and the proportion of those who take up intern, contract, or part-time work as their first job after graduation, over the past five years.
Ong Ye Kung replied that the Government did not track such statistics, though the Graduate Employment Survey tracks graduates securing employment six months after graduation. The surveys showed that the overall employment rate for Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) graduates were 89%, 89%, 90%, 88% and 89% between 2014 and 2018.
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NUMBER AND PROPORTION OF SINGAPOREANS CHARGED WITH OFFENCES UNDER TERRORISM (SUPPRESSION OF FINANCING) ACT
Sylvia Lim asked how many persons have been charged under the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act, of which how many were Singaporeans, and the range of amounts collected by such persons.
K Shanmugam replied that 11 individuals have been charged under the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act. Two were Singaporeans, and the amounts involved ranged from $60 to $1200.
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NUMBER OF PIRACY INCIDENTS IN SINGAPORE STRAIT BETWEEN 2015 AND 2019
Dennis Tan requested for the number of piracy incidents annually in the Singapore Strait between 2015 and 2019.
Khaw Boon Wan provided the following information:
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NUMBER OF TRAIN AND BUS TRIPS UNDERTAKEN BY SINGAPORE SENIOR CITIZENS ON YEARLY BASIS FROM 2015 BY AGE
Pritam Singh asked how many train and bus trips Singaporean seniors undertook annually from 2015, per age group (i.e. 60-65, 65-70, 70-75, 75-80 and 80-90).
Khaw Boon Wan said that the Government did not track trips by seniors by age group, as all residents above the age of 60 enjoy the same concessionary fares. He provided information as below:
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PROJECTED IMPACT ON PRICE OF TREATED WATER FOR LOCAL CONSUMPTION AFTER 2022
In light of Malaysia’s plan to reduce Johor’s dependency on treated water supply from Singapore by 2022, Png Eng Huat asked what impact would that have on the price of treated water in Singapore after 2022.
Masagos Zulkifli replied that it was premature to answer as Malaysia had not made formal notifications on the matter. Singapore would consider all factors relevant for the time when looking at the price of water.
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PLANS TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS FROM OIL REFINING INDUSTRY
Dennis Tan asked if the Government intended to reduce greenhouse emissions from our oil refining industry.
Masagos Zulkifli replied that improving industrial energy efficiency was a key pillar of the national strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To reduce emissions, the carbon tax rate was being reviewed, while oil refineries were encouraged to achieve high standards of energy efficiency and to adopt sustainable practices.
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INVESTIGATIONS INTO PIRACY INCIDENTS IN SINGAPORE STRAIT IN AND AFTER DECEMBER 2019
On the piracy incidents in the Singapore Strait in and after December 2019, Dennis Tan asked if there had been investigations, and if the responsible persons or groups had been identified and action taken against.
Khaw Boon Wan replied that while there were 12 incidents involving piracy and armed robbery against ships in the Singapore Strait in December 2019 and January 2020, these did not occur in Singapore’s territorial waters and thus no investigations were required of our authorities. In cases that require attention, agencies like the Singapore Police Coast Guard, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, and the Navy would respond and act robustly.
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ACTION AGAINST SINGAPOREANS INVOLVED IN DUMPING TOXIC, PLASTICS OR OTHER WASTES IN NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES
Daniel Goh asked what action could be taken against Singaporeans involved in dumping toxic, plastics, or other wastes in neighbouring countries.
Masagos Zulkifli replied that the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, which Singapore is party to, governs transboundary movement of hazardous and other controlled waste. The import and transit of such dangerous materials required the consent of countries, but did not prohibit it.
Under Singapore’s Hazardous Waste (Control of Export, Import and Transit) Act, companies need a Basel export permit for the export of controlled waste, and companies can be fined and individuals fined and/or imprisoned under the Act for illegal exports of such waste.
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RATIONALE FOR HDB ISSUING TEMPORARY OCCUPATIONAL LICENCES OVER STATE LAND TO PEOPLE’S ASSOCIATION
Sylvia Lim asked why HDB, as managing agent for SLA, issued Temporary Occupation Licences (TOLs) over state land to entities such as the People’s Association (PA) Citizens Consultative Committees for durations of several years at a time, and the what was the fees rate charged to the PA for such TOLs.
Lawrence Wong stated that vacant State Land could be used for interim use such as recreational, community, commercial, and other uses until the land was required for development. HDB, as an SLA agent, issues TOLs for such State Land under its charge. The chargeable TOL fees vary, depending on the use, and rates were available on SLA’s website.
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REVIEW OF NUS BUSINESS SCHOOL RESEARCHERS’ FINDINGS ON PROPERTY DEVELOPERS EXCHANGING INFORMATION ON GOVERNMENT LAND SALES RESULTING IN IMPUTED LOSSES
Could property developers be exchanging information about Government land sales that led to imputed losses due to lower winning tender bids? Daniel Goh asked if the Government would be looking into these findings by NUS Business School.
Lawrence Wong noted that the researchers on the NUS study had withdrawn any claims of insider trading amongst developers, as there was no evidence produced that such activities had transpired. Government Land Sales were, and are conducted in a transparent and competitive tender process.
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NUMBER OF CYCLISTS BOOKED FOR RIDING ON ROADS WITHOUT HELMETS SINCE NEW REGULATION TOOK EFFECT
Dennis Tan asked how many cyclists had been booked for riding on roads without helmets since the new regulations on helmet use took effect from 1 February 2019.
K Shanmugam replied that between 1 February 2019 and 31 December 2019, Traffic Police had enforced against 109 cases of pedal cyclists and 25 cases of PAB cyclists who failed to wear helmets when riding on the roads.
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PROHIBITING DISSEMINATION OF PHOTOS AND VIDEOS OF VICTIMS OF ACCIDENTS AND CRIMES THROUGH ELECTRONIC MEANS
Daniel Goh asked if the Government could consider banning the electronic dissemination of photos and videos of victims of accidents and crimes.
K Shanmugam said that laws currently exist that ban the dissemination of photos and videos of accidents and crimes through electronic means in certain instances. These laws include the Penal Code and the Protection from Harassment Act.
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WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO THE 2019 NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (2019-NCOV)
Low Thia Khiang sought verification on the mortality of the Covid-19 coronavirus as compared to SARS.
Gan Kim Yong replied that the fatality rates of SARS was about 10% and the fatality rate of the coronavirus was about 2% to 3%. Numerically and statistically, the coronavirus was less fatal than SARS, though as it was still early in the development of the disease, the numbers would change over time.
Sylvia Lim asked for an elaboration on the procedures expected of Singaporeans returning from China routes.
Lawrence Wong said that anyone returning from Hubei in Wuhan was deemed a higher risk and required isolation and quarantine on arrival. Though inconvenient, he asked for understanding as the Government worked through the processes and improvements.
Leon Perera asked if the Government would consider using the Price Control Act to impose price controls for items like masks in the current climate. He also asked why masks were not mailed out instead of the collection points system,
Lawrence Wong replied that the Price Controller was following up on all related matters, and would consider actions against profiteering. On the distribution, he shared that the Government considered against mailing to minimise wastage from households that may not need them.
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ASSESSING ADEQUACY OF PARKING LOTS FOR DELIVERY TRUCKS IN MULTI-STOREY CARPARKS IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES OR TOWN CENTRES
Dennis Tan asked if HDB could assess the adequacy of parking lots for delivery trucks that cannot access multi-storey carparks due to height limitations. He also asked if there could be flexibility for cases where there was only one driver, or two persons but one was unable to stay behind in the vehicle during the delivery run.
Desmond Lee shared that loading and unloading bays were available at multi-storey carparks to facilitate loading and unloading activities, and these bays do not have height limits. He added that HDB practise flexibility to allow delivery drivers (alone or otherwise) time to do the deliveries.
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DISCOLOURED TAP WATER ON PULAU TEKONG ON 20 NOVEMBER 2019
Leon Perera asked what was the cause of the discoloured tap water at BMTC on Pulau Tekong on 20 November 2019, measures to prevent another such incident, and if the Government ensured the potability of the water supply on Tekong.
Masagos Zulkifli replied that the discolouration was due to naturally occurring minerals in the water settling and accumulating in the water supply over time. After flushing, the water turned clear. He assured that all drinking water was tested regardless of where the supply was, to ensure compliance with WHO standards and regulations.
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AMOUNT OF GRANT AND SUBSIDIES GIVEN TO PAP COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR SET-UP AND OPERATION OF CHILDCARE CENTRES AND KINDERGARTENS
Png Eng Huat asked for information on the amount of grant and subsidies given to the PAP Community Foundation for the set-up and running of its childcare centres and kindergartens over the past five years. He also sought the Government’s assessment on allowing these state-subsidised facilities to be used for political activities such as Meet-the-People sessions.
Faishal Ibrahim replied that the amount of Government grants depended on the number of places and services types offered by the anchor operators.
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EFFECTIVENESS OF TOTAL WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH APPROACH
Daniel Goh asked if there had been a spike in workplace fatalities and injuries in the past year, and if the Total Workplace Safety and Health was failing.
Zaqy Mohamad replied that the workplace fatal injury rate has been maintained at a historic low since 2018, though non-fatal injuries rose slightly in 2019 versus 2018. He added that Singapore’s Workplace Fatal Injury rate per 100,000 employees has improved significantly since 2004, falling from 4.9 in 2004 to 1.2 in 2018.
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SURVEY ON PERCEPTIONS OF DISCRIMINATORY HIRING AND OTHER HR PRACTICES TO INCLUDE EMPLOYEE RESPONDENTS
Leon Perera asked if the Government had surveyed employees on perceptions of discriminatory hiring and other HR practices, and if such findings would be made public.
Zaqy Mohamad said that a 2018 survey commissioned by MOM showed that over 80% of job seekers did not feel that their gender, marital status, number of children, race, religion or nationality was an impediment in finding work. He also shared that the number of complaints had also decreased from about 580 in 2015 to about 200 in 2018.
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UPGRADING ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS IN ALL PRIVATE AND PUBLIC HOSPITALS TO ENABLE THEM TO HANDLE SEVERE AND MULTIPLE TRAUMA CASES
Arising from the Lucky Plaza tragedy, Daniel Goh asked whether private hospitals’ emergency departments should be upgraded for a tiered national accident and emergency system for better use of medical resources.
Edwin Tong stated that all public hospital Accident & Emergency (A&E) departments were equipped and capable of providing resuscitation, stabilisation and initial treatment for all life-threatening emergencies, including trauma cases, for both adults and children.
At present, private hospitals were not configured to provide the full range of emergency and trauma services required to manage all life-threatening emergencies or situations, involving patients with multiple or serious injuries, though over the last four years MOH and Raffles Hospital had been collaborating for the management of non-life threatening and urgent SCDF ambulance cases.
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IMPACT ON CITIZEN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE WHEN PERSONS WHO ARE EMPLOYED BECOME NEW CITIZENS
Leon Perera asked to what extent did persons employed and becoming new citizens each year affect how the citizen employment rate was determined.
Josephine Teo said that the addition of new citizens in Singapore did not change the citizen unemployment rate in any significant way, noting the mathematically negligible impact new citizens had on the labour force in general.
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IMPOSING LEGAL OBLIGATIONS ON FOOD DELIVERY COMPANIES TO ENSURE THEIR DRIVERS COMPLY WITH ACTIVE MOBILITY AND ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATIONS
Dennis Tan asked if the Government would look at imposing legal obligations on food delivery companies to ensure their drivers on e-bikes or e-scooters comply with active mobility and/or road traffic regulations.
Khaw Boon Wan replied that the regulations under the Active Mobility (Amendment) and the Shared Mobility Enterprises (Control and Licensing) Bills would apply to businesses such as food delivery companies.
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CONSULAR SUPPORT FOR SINGAPOREANS ARRESTED OR CHARGED WITH OFFENCES IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES
When Singaporeans abroad were arrested or charged with offences, Leon Perera asked what considerations were used to determine consular support for such individuals.
Vivian Balakrishnan replied that in cases of Singaporeans arrested or detained overseas, MFA ensured that they were accorded due process under the local laws, and consular assistance was determined by the unique circumstances of each case and the bilateral and international obligations of the host country.
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TAKE-UP RATE FOR ADULTS FOLLOWING LAUNCH OF NATIONAL ADULT IMMUNISATION SCHEDULE
Leon Perera sought information on the vaccination take-up rates amongst adults for conditions like pneumococcal disease and influenza after the launch of the National Adult Immunisation Schedule in 2017, and if the Government did subsidy-MediFund cost modelling for vaccinations.
Amrin Amin replied that MOH did not have comprehensive data on the number of adult Singaporeans who have taken up NAIS recommended vaccinations. However, based on MediSave claim data, MediSave use for flu vaccination in adults has almost doubled from 39,000 in 2017 to 74,000 in 2018, while MediSave use for pneumococcal vaccinations increased from 9,000 to 12,000. He shared that the Government would study the suggestion and announce details of their package in due course.
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GOVERNMENT STRATEGY FOR GROWING ECONOMY AND GOOD JOBS WITHOUT OVER-RELIANCE ON FOREIGN MANPOWER
Pritam Singh asked for a clarification on how the Government intended to balance the manpower demands in the economy between local and foreign workers, and sought an update on the population review as stated by the Government in 2013.
Chan Chun Sing replied that there were serious considerations to be looked at in pursuit of a zero foreign workforce growth with a 1% resident growth. He added that population growth was a serious and difficult challenge with many dimensions.
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HELP FOR HDB OWNERS IN FINANCIAL HARDSHIP WHO ARE UNABLE TO SELL FLATS DUE TO ETHNIC INTEGRATION POLICY
Pritam Singh asked if affected minority households have had to reduce the selling price of their HDB flats (vis-à-vis neighbouring units) to secure buyers.
Desmond Lee replied that whether a flat was sold at a lower price relative to the neighbours depended on the attributes of the flat, the location, the height, the facing and its linkages to other amenities.
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EFFORTS TO COMBAT SPREAD OF COVID-19 ON PUBLIC BUSES AND TRAINS
Png Eng Huat asked about measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 in our public buses and trains under DORSCON framework, and asked if staggered timings for school or working hours was being considered.
Janil Puthucheary said that since the outbreak, MOT had been working with transport operators to implement precautionary measures such as redeployment of workers. More frequent cleaning of public surface areas and high commuter touch points have also been conducted, along with twice-daily temperature screening for all staff.
He added that changes to work patterns or school closures were not being considered for instituting at the moment.
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INDUSTRIES THAT FIND IT DIFFICULT TO HIRE PMET SINGAPOREANS
Pritam Singh requested for information on industries that struggle to hire PMET Singaporeans, and the measures or initiatives of Singaporeans and local employers to address the issue.
In reply, Josephine Teo said that based on MOM’s survey, sectors with higher proportions of PMET vacancies that employers indicated were hard-to-fill by locals include information and communications, built environment, including construction, professional services and manufacturing. MOM worked closely with agencies to place locals in sectors with good growth potential, and for reskilling plans like the Professional Conversion Programmes.
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NUMBER OF FAMILIES AND COUPLES RENTING UNDER PARENTHOOD PROVISIONAL HOUSING SCHEME AND THOSE IN ARREARS
Png Eng Huat sought information on the number of families and couples renting under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme and how many were in arrears.
Lawrence Wong replied that there were about 630 households renting under the Parenthood Provisional Housing Scheme as at end January 2020, with about 7% in arrears. HDB works with them on an instalment plan to repay their arrears, or to move to a flat with lower rent, according to their budget.
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CASES OF UNDECLARED PEANUT ALLERGENS IN FOOD PRODUCTS
On undeclared peanut allergens, Leon Perera asked how many such cases had been found in food products sold in Singapore and if there had been any adverse health effects noted from such cases.
Masagos Zulkifli said that there were no cases of undeclared peanut allergen in pre-packed food products from 2015 to 2018. But since 2019, there had been five such cases. Upon detection, SFA had directed a recall of the products. SFA had not received feedback or information on adverse health effects arising from these cases.
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PLANS FOR ALLIED EDUCATORS IN SCHOOLS FOR LEARNING AND CLASSROOM SUPPORT
Leon Perera asked if there were changes being planned with respect to the current numbers of allied educators (AEDs) in schools for both learning support and classroom support.
Low Yen Ling replied that over the past five years, MOE had grown the number of School Counsellors, Student Welfare Officers and AEDs(LBS) by over 30%, with intentions to grow this further to meet the growing needs of students. For the existing AEDs(T&L), MOE was encouraging and facilitating them to still remain as allied educators, but in the other specialised roles. MOE would continue to review the AED numbers and workforce profile.
Read the full exchange here.