STATE OF BILATERAL RELATIONS WITH MALAYSIA FOLLOWING 9TH MALAYSIA-SINGAPORE LEADERS’ RETREAT
On Singapore’s 1962 water agreement with Malaysia, Pritam Singh asked if there had been situations where Singapore was not been able to tap the 250 million gallons daily limit.
Vivian Balakrishnan replied that Singapore’s water supply had not been affected in previous episodes of disruptions to the plant in Johor.
Read the full exchange here.
REMUNERATION CAP FOR KEY MANAGEMENT STAFF OF FIFTH SCHEDULE COMPANIES LIKE GIC AND TEMASEK HOLDINGS
Png Eng Huat asked if there was a remuneration cap for key staff of Fifth Schedule companies like GIC and Temasek, as well as the range of total annual remunerations for such personnel over the past five years.
Lawrence Wong replied that the commercially-run GIC and Temasek Holdings are independently decided by their respective Boards. The Government he said had an arms-length relationship with the two companies and do not interfere with their operations, including on remuneration matters. He added that the Boards of both companies benchmarked the remuneration framework of their executives to industry, basing the salaries and bonuses on the companies’ both short-term and long-term performance gains.
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PROPOSAL FOR ENCLOSED HDB DECK SPACE TO BE DESIGNATED PEDESTRIAN-ONLY PATHS TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS WITH PMDS
Pritam Singh proposed if it was more practical to have non-use of PMDs at void decks be covered under the Active Mobility Act, than be subjected to individual Town Councils’ rules.
In his reply, Lam Pin Min mentioned that the configuration of void decks differed from one place to another. He added that the Government currently allowed Town Councils to exercise flexibility in whether to ban PMD usage at void decks based on each town’s needs.
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ENHANCING MEASURES TO PREVENT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTES OF HIGHER LEARNING
Part 1
Faisal Manap asked for an overview and review of measures, and further steps to reduced sexual harassment and misconduct in the institutes of higher learning (IHLs).
Indranee Rajah said that NUS had noted its shortcomings in victim support as well as areas to be improved on, and NUS had moved to establish a Victim Care Unit for such victims. She shared that other IHLs were also reviewing their support for victims, and were focused on ensuring the support provided would now be holistic, timely, and accessible.
Part 2
Faisal Manap also asked about the training at educational institutions to address sexual harassment and assault cases, measures to support victims, policies on investigation of allegations, and procedures to review the effectiveness of such measures.
Indranee Rajah stressed that there had to be “strong end-to-end support for victims, starting from the time they step forward to report an incident, to post-incident counselling and psychological support” at the IHLs. These included trained personnel and counsellors in all the IHLs. Other measures being reviewed and implemented were improvements to campus security, and strengthening education on the importance of respect and consent.
Part 3
Noting that it took Monica Baey’s case to trigger security infrastructure improvements in our IHLs, Leon Perera asked if these improvements were being done across all IHLs, and the time frame for them to be implemented.
Indranee Rajah replied that it was ongoing in NUS, and the other universities were “looking at it.”
Read the full exchange here.
POLICE’S HANDLING OF VOYEURISM CASES AND ISSUANCE OF CONDITIONAL WARNING
Leon Perera requested for information on the number of reported campus sexual harassment and assault cases in the autonomous universities, and the considerations for the actions taken in such cases.
K Shanmugam replied that from Academic Year 2015/16 to 2017/18, there had been 56 cases of sexual misconduct reported on campuses, with 37 reported to the Police. He added that the actions taken differed depending on the facts, but there were “no free passes” to university students or anyone else. He shared that the Government was looking to “toughen” the laws in areas involving sexual offences.
Read the full exchange here.
MOVE TO ALLOW CASINO OPERATORS’ TO INCREASE THEIR APPROVED GAMING AREA
Part 1
Daniel Goh and Dennis Tan asked the Government for clarifications on the Government’s decision to allow the two integrated resorts to expand their gaming areas. Both asked why the Government saw it commercially necessary and viable to allow Marina Bay Sands (MBS) and Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) to increase their gaming areas and gaming machines.
Chee Hong Tat replied that the gaming revenues derived made it commercially viable for the operators to continue to run and invest in the non-gaming activities at the integrated resorts (IRs). He added that the IRs came as an “integrated package” and gaming activities must come together with non-gaming activities to make the IRs commercially viable. He added that non-gaming investments (e.g. theme parks, 15,000-seater arena) would not be viable for the operators without the additional gaming areas options.
Part 2
Daniel Goh asked for information on land allocation and costs for the proposed expansions, while Dennis Tan queried if stakeholders were consulted prior to the approvals, with regards to the possible social implications from the expansions.
On the additional gaming options, Chee Hong Tat stated that the IRs have not decided to activate additional gaming options yet, but if they do proceed, the total gaming areas as a proportion of the total IRs’ areas will drop from 3 to 2% as the non-gaming activities continue to expand more. If the IRs opt to activate the additional gaming options, they will pay “fair and market value” for their land as determined by the Chief Valuer, in accordance with market conditions and established valuation principles. He noted that MBS’s expansion site was about 3.3 hectares and costing about $1.3 billion, whereas RWS had budgeted about $1 billion to intensify the use of their existing land and to potentially purchase about 1 hectare of new land.
When prompted further by Dennis Tan, Chee Hong Tat said that on the decision to provide additional gaming options, the Government had engaged the National Council on Problem Gambling, as well as key stakeholders from religious groups and voluntary welfare groups that were on the ground dealing with issues relating to problem gambling.
Read the full exchange here.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES AT HOSPITALS IN LIGHT OF EMERGENCE OF DRUG-RESISTANT SUPERBUGS
In light of the dangers of multidrug-resistant pathogens like candida auris, Leon Perera asked about measures to maintain public confidence in our hospitals.
Gan Kim Yong replied that the Government had measures to deal with the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance in Singapore. These included regulating the prescription and retailing o antibiotics to minimise the risk of misuse and overuse, as well as public education campaigns on proper usage of antibiotics.
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PROCESSING TIME FOR MAKE-UP PAY FOR IN-CAMP TRAINING
Noting the 10 days processing time to disburse in-camp training payment, Dennis Tan asked if the SAF could reduce this processing time.
Ng Eng Hen replied that NSmen’s claim for Make-Up Pay were paid within 10 working days from submission, though in practice payments were usually disbursed within five to seven working days. Longer processing time was usually for verifications.
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ACRA’S OVERSIGHT OF AUDITORS WHOSE AUDIT OPINIONS OF LISTED COMPANIES FOUND WANTING
Png Eng Huat queried about ACRA’s oversight powers in cases where audit opinions of listed companies were later found wanting, and what actions could be taken against negligent audit firms or audit partners.
Heng Swee Keat replied that ACRA’s Public Accountants Oversight Committee (PAOC) was empowered to assess public accountants’ compliance with the Singapore Standards of Auditing. He added that the PAOC had powers to inspect and review a public accountant’s work, as well as restrict the services of the public accountant, and suspend or cancel his license. He shared that the Government would be amending the Accountants Act to expand audit inspections to audit firms and to apply sanctions for audit firms’ lapses, which would help “hold audit firms to higher accountability”.
Read the full exchange here.
IMPACT OF INSTRUMENT LANDING SYSTEM WITHDRAWAL AT SELETAR AIRPORT
Dennis Tan asked about the technical and commercial consequences following Singapore’s withdrawal of the Instrument Landing System (ILS)’s usage at Seletar Airport, and about the necessity of the ILS for Firefly’s operations at Seletar.
Khaw Boon Wan said that in 2017 Firefly had informed the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) to install an ILS in order for Firefly to comply with Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia’s requirements. CAAS had agreed and proceeded with the ILS, as the ILS would also “allow all other pilots” to operate at Seletar in all weather conditions.
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NUMBER OF PEOPLE USING MEDISAVE TO PAY FOR PARENTS’ HEALTHCARE BILLS
Png Eng Huat requested for information on the number of people using Medisave to pay for their parents’ healthcare cost for each of the past five years, and the median withdrawal values.
In reply, Gan Kim Yong said that Medisave withdrawals for parents’ healthcare expenses had varied between 161,000 in 2014 and 193,000 in 2018, or 9.7% and 3.8% respectively of total Medisave withdrawals. He shared that the average withdrawal amount ranged between $760 in 2014, to $440 in 2018.
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QUALITY OF TRAINING AT OVERSEAS MEDICAL SCHOOLS DROPPED FROM APPROVED LIST
Noting that 57 overseas medical schools were to be dropped from the current list of 160, Daniel Goh asked if there were concerns with the quality of training at these 57 schools and how these concerns were measured and determined. He also asked whether Singaporean students at the 57 schools should be worried about the quality of their training.
Gan Kim Yong replied that with an increase in local medical school students, the Government could moderate the number of approved overseas medical schools. He shared that the Singapore Medical Council’s (SMC) Schools Review Committee took into consideration various factors. The SMC had opted to retain institutions with higher international and national rankings, as well as schools that produced doctor with satisfactory performances and fewer local practice adaptation challenges.
He added that Singaporean students currently studying at, or who will be commencing their medical study before 1 January 2020, and doctors who have graduated from the affected schools would not be affected by the change.
Read the full exchange here.
TRAFFIC RECOVERY PROCEDURES AND RESPONSE TIME
In cases of traffic recovery following traffic and road failures due to accidents, road cracks, and fallen trees, Faisal Manap asked what were the procedures involved, the current recovery response time, plans to improved the current responses, and if there were sufficient channels to alert motorists of disruptions.
Khaw Boon Wan replied that in cases of traffic disruptions, the Traffic Police (and if necessary, the Singapore Civil Defence Force) would respond “as quickly as possible” to the scene. He added that rectification works were done on an urgent basis, though traffic recovery procedures and response times differed based on the nature of incidents. Officers would be deployed on the ground to manage such situations, on top of radio and online alerts.
Read the full exchange here.
ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN EXPORT SALES OF WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION BY SINGAPORE TECHNOLOGIES LAND SYSTEMS
Sylvia Lim asked if the Government played any strategic role in approving, restricting, or advising Singapore Technologies Land Systems in its export sales of weapons and ammunition to buyers, and if such a role factored in risks such as likelihood of such weapons being used for war crimes.
Ng Eng Hen replied that the Government issued exit permits for exports only if such exports satisfied Singapore’s international obligations and commitments under international law and ratified agreements. These obligations included the prevention of illicit trade in conventional arms, weapons of mass destruction, and prohibition of exports to named countries.
Read the full exchange here.
NUMBER OF KITCHEN EXHAUST DUCT FIRES FROM 2014 TO 2018 AND MEASURES TO MINIMISE RISK OF SUCH INCIDENTS
Leon Perera asked for data on the number of kitchen exhaust duct fires each year from 2014 to 2018, and what measures were being taken to minimise such incidents.
K Shanmugam said that there were 42 fires involving kitchen exhaust ducts (KEDs) from 2014 to 2018, happening mainly in food establishments within residential areas. He shared that the Fire Code required KEDs to be maintained regularly, and over the last five years 270 enforcement actions had been taken against non-complying offenders. Fire safety advisories and posters by SCDF and the Singapore Food Agency had also been distributed to stallholders.
Read the full exchange here.
COMPETITION FROM CHINA’S PLAN FOR GREATER BAY AREA PROJECT
Leon Perera asked for the Government’s assessment of the competitive risks to Singapore’s financial and ICT services sector from China’s Greater Bay Area (GBA) plan, and what was being done to benefit from, and mitigate against, the GBA.
Chan Chun Sing replied that the Government welcomed the development of the GBA, citing the “strong mutual desire” between Singapore and GBA authorities to nurture a digital economy with various platforms already in place to facilitate idea exchanges and collaborations. These, he added, would lead to opportunities for Singapore’s ICT, financial, and other companies in the GBA in sectors such as tech innovation, infrastructure development, data management, and digitalization. Further, he said the Government was continuing to invest in businesses and Singaporeans to remain competitive.
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TRANSFER OF FLATS UNDER 2-ROOM FLEXI SCHEME FOR SENIORS
With regards to 2-room Flexi scheme Flats for seniors, Sylvia Lim asked if the Government would consider approval transfers of such flats to family members or estate beneficiaries if the flat lessees passed away before the lease expiry.
Lawrence Wong replied that in such situations, a flat can be transferred to a named beneficiary, provided that the beneficiary was eligible to own the short-lease 2-room Flexi Flat. Otherwise, HDB would reimburse his/her the value of the residual lease.
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CITIZENS EARNING LESS THAN $1,300 AND $2,000 PER MONTH FROM FULL-TIME WORK
Daniel Goh asked for information on Singapore citizens earning less than $1300 monthly, and those earning less than $2000 monthly from full time work in 2018.
Josephine Teo stated that over the past five years, the proportion of full-time employed Singapore Residents earning less than $1,300 in gross monthly income from work (including employer CPF contributions) had fallen to about 5%, with the number of such residents declining by about 40% to 97,000. About 15% earned less than $2,000, declining by about 30% over five years to 282,000.
Read the full exchange here.
MEDICAL INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR FOREIGN DOMESTIC WORKERS
Highlighting that foreign domestic workers (FDWs) were covered up to $15,000 per annum for inpatient care and day surgery under current compulsory medical insurance, Daniel Goh asked how many FDWs had additional medical insurance, and if the Government would require compulsory medical insurance to also cover outpatient care.
Josephine Teo said that the Government did not track the number of employers who purchased additional medical insurance for their FDWs. She noted that 96% of FDW medical bills in the past three years were below $15,000, and that requiring FDW insurance to cover outpatient care would likely raise insurance premiums for employers across the board and may not be welcomed by all.
Read the full exchange here.