Speeches from 12th Parliament in Year 2011
Yaw Shin Leong’s speech on Work Injury Compensation (Amendment) Bill
Mr Speaker Sir, the Bill makes several improvements to the existing Act. The Act now covers exposure to chemical or biological agents and improves the insurance protection of the worker.
READ MOREYaw Shin Leong’s speech on CPF (Amendment) Bill
Mr Speaker Sir, while I acknowledge the intent behind the Bill, there are two areas in which I wish to seek further clarity. First, the Special Needs Savings Scheme introduced
READ MORE
Low Thia Khiang’s speech (Debate on President’s Address)
议长先生， 总统在宣读政府施政方针时以继续保持新加坡的独特性为总结。我认为，我们的独特性除了施政方针中所提到的，还应该包括我们的多元语文和文化。我国自独立以来就是一个多元种族的社会，各族的语言和文化也增加了我国多姿多彩的民俗景观。 然而，建国後，随着教育体系和教学媒介语的统一，各族的语言和文化都受到不同层次的冲击。华族的应用语言也在这个过程中产生了巨大的变化。从六十年 代开始，短短在一代人的时间里所施行的各种政策，使方言几乎在华族社群中绝迹，取而代之的是华文、华语。如今，这个趋势又步入另一个“舍华文就英文”的状 态。眼前所见的是，华族社群以英语为家庭用语的学生比例，已经超越了以华语为家庭用语的学生人数。这似乎已成定局，不可扭转。 目前，华文华语在新加坡正处于转变的关键时期。随着外在大环境的改变，中国的崛起，我们越发感受到华文华语的重要。虽然我们坚持实施双语教育多年，...
READ MORE
Pritam Singh’s speech (Debate on President’s Address)
Mr Speaker Sir, Please allow me to congratulate you on your election as Speaker of this House. In his speech to this House, the President noted, “we must find ways
READ MORE
Yee Jenn Jong’s speech (Debate on President’s Address)
Mr Speaker, Sir, before I touch on the President’s speech, I like to add to the references on Bhutan, as well as correct misconceptions that had surfaced in this House.
READ MOREYaw Shin Leong’s speech (Debate on President’s Address)
Mr Speaker Sir, I would like to begin with my heart-felt thanks to the voters of Hougang, for allowing me this opportunity to serve our country in Parliament. I also
READ MORE
Gerald Giam’s speech (Debate on President’s Address)
Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to make this, my maiden speech to this House. In his address to Parliament, the President gave a broad outline of
READ MORE
Chen Show Mao’s speech (Debate on President’s Address)
Mr Speaker, Thank you, and congratulations. Following our two elections this year, some commentators tell us that Singaporeans’ political differences are rising to the surface. Many of our leaders have
READ MORE
Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap’s speech (Debate on President’s Address)
Mr Speaker, Sir, let me highlight a couple of points brought up by the President in his address. He said, “Strong families are the building blocks of a resilient society”
READ MORE
Sylvia Lim’s speech (Debate on President’s Address)
May I first thank the President for his Address and the government for making the promises contained in the Address. The Workers’ Party welcomes and supports the statement that Singapore’s
READ MORE Mr Low Thia Khiang’s speech at the Opening of the 12th Parliament
Mr Speaker Sir, on behalf of the members of the Workers’ Party, I extend to you our congratulations on your election as Speaker of Parliament. I would also like to
READ MOREMICA – Protection of Privacy Online
The modern lifestyle in Singapore has made Singaporeans more and more exposed. We are exposed not because we have less cloth on our clothes due to the hot weather, but
READ MOREMICA – Broadband Speed
Telcos here have been offering Internet services to consumers based on access speed. With the advent of OpenNet, Telcos now offer high speed internet access with different maximum bandwidth. These
READ MOREMOM – Productivity
Chairman Sir, Singapore’s economy has grown by an average of 5% a year over the last 10 years but productivity growth from 1999 to 2009 has only averaged 1% a
READ MOREMOM – Employment of Older Workers
Chairman Sir, The Government has progressively delayed the CPF drawdown age from 62 to 65. Older workers will need to stay employed for as long as possible until they can
READ MORE MOT – Taxi Licence
陆路交通管理局在2003 年规定新经营德士的公司必须在获颁执照的第一年内推出100辆德士，在四年内把车队增加到最少400辆。陆交局的用意在于促进规模经济和保持良好的服务水 平。 这项措施的拟定确保新成立的德士公司的单位成本下降, 从而形成业者的长期平均成本随着产量的增加而递减， 取得德士公司和消费者双赢的局面。德士公司能有效地经营生意和提升服务水平，从而确保信誉上能得到好评。消费者这方面也能在德士市场开放的当儿，在“高 端”服务和价格之间取得一个良好的平衡。
READ MORE MHA – Gangs in Prisons
It is well-known that people with gang affiliations would end up in prisons. It is also likely that gang members are recruited within prison walls. 10 years ago, our Prisons
READ MORE MCYS – Singapore Soccer
Singapore’s shock exit in the group stage of the AFF Suzuki Cup in Hanoi in December led to much public outcry about what was ailing Singapore soccer. One sign that
READ MOREMOE – Education System and Tuition Culture
Singapore prides itself in having one of the best education systems in the world. MOE’s website states that “We have a strong education system. Singapore students aim high and they
READ MOREMEWR – Dengue Fever
Chairman Sir, The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that incidence of dengue has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades. WHO estimates there may be 50 million dengue cases
READ MORE MOH – Standard Drug List
The government maintains a Standard Drug List (SDL) of subsidized drugs. However, there are some issues of transparency concerning the List and decision-making processes. First, is the SDL public information?
READ MOREMOH – End of Life Care
Chairman Sir, The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Report, ‘The quality of death’, commissioned by the Lien Foundation ranks end-of-life care services across the world. Apart from palliative care, the ‘End-of-life care’
READ MOREMOH – Long Term Care
The Eldercare Fund was set up in the year 2000 to grow income to provide funding for nursing homes and other long term care providers. The government has stated that
READ MOREMOH – Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a major public health problem worldwide, and of particular significance to Singapore’s ageing society. The government is aware of this, as seen in the issue of the MOH
READ MOREMOH – Expanding the Primary Care Partnership Scheme
Chairman Sir, The Primary Care Partnership Scheme (PCPS) by MOH has helped needy elderly and disabled Singaporeans receive subsidized treatment at General Practitioners (GPs) and dental clinics near their homes.
READ MOREMND – Managing Agents
Residential property which is badly managed will adversely affect the quality of residents’ lives, and may even become safety hazards which cost lives. For instance, last November, a fire in
READ MOREMFA – ASEAN
The tension between Thailand and Cambodia over the Preah Vihear Temple flared up once again in February, with military attacks across the disputed border resulting in casualties and deaths on
READ MORE How Inclusive Is Our Society?
Budget Speech 2011 by Sylvia Lim One of the aims of this Budget is to foster social cohesion and to build an inclusive society. The term ‘inclusive society’ has different
READ MORE Budget Speech 2011 by Mr Low Thia Khiang
Speaker Sir, Budget 2011 is seen by many Singaporeans as a pre-election ‘sweetener’ designed to win back the hearts and minds of people disempowered by 46 years of PAP rule.
READ MORESpeech on Motion on Inclusive Growth
Speaker Sir, Despite economic expansion in the past years, the 2009 report on wages in Singapore shows that the median monthly gross income for cleaners, labourers and related workers went
READ MORE 退休与重新雇佣（修正）法案
议长先生， 2007年9月国会辩论公积金修正案时， 工人党反对政府把提取公积金的年龄和退休年龄挂钩。也反对把提取公积金的年龄从62 岁逐步提高到67 岁。虽然说新加坡人的寿命越来越长，但长命不一定就健康和有精力继续拼搏。更何况，到了60岁时，是否有雇主愿意聘请还是个未知数。我们担心这项公积金政 策可能使到国人在达到退休年龄时半天吊，一方面找不到适当的工作，另一方面却不能提取公积金维持生活，落得两头不着岸的处境。 现在国会所辩论的这个退休与重新雇佣（修正）法案尝试解决以上我们所指出的问题。基本上，这个法案要求雇主在雇员达到62岁时必须提供雇员另一个新 的雇佣合约，重新聘用这个雇员。不过，我们应该注意的是这个法案也同时允许雇主可以不必继续雇佣达到退休年龄的雇员，而以支付一笔“遣散费”给雇员了事。...
READ MORERetirement (Amendment) Bill Speech
Three years ago, Singaporeans were subject to Central Provident Fund reforms which deferred the age at which they start drawing down their balances from 62 to 65 years. At that
READ MORE Children and Young Persons Amendment
While I note and support the government’s intention to protect the safety and well-being of children and young persons, I have several concerns about the Bill. Effect on Poor Families
READ MORE