Religion, race & rights — Topics

4 Nov 2020

Extension of Grace Period for Free Parking by Vehicles Ferrying Persons With Disabilities

Ms Yeo Wan Ling proposed extending the free parking grace period from 10 to 30 minutes for vehicles escorting persons with disabilities to medical facilities.
The Minister explained that current policy provides a 10-minute grace period for caregivers, after which standard charges apply, and highlighted the existing car park label scheme for accessible parking up to one hour.
The Minister supported the scheme’s role in aiding caregivers and persons with disabilities, noting its availability to both private caregivers and transport operators.

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3 Nov 2020

Number and Percentage of Differently-abled Children with No Access to Development Support and Learning Support Programmes in Last Five Years

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development about the number and percentage of differently-abled children who did not have access to the Development Support and Learning Support programmes over the last five years.
The Development Support and Learning Support programme is available in 550 preschools, covering about 40% of preschoolers aged five to six, with efforts to expand to more preschools through funding and training initiatives.
For children in preschools without the programme, there are channels for parents, healthcare professionals, and preschools to refer children for developmental screening and support through hospitals and early intervention services.

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3 Nov 2020

Respite Care Options for Family Care-givers of Special Needs Children

Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Social and Family Development about respite care options for family caregivers of special needs children and whether plans exist to expand them.
The Minister outlined current options, including preschools, early intervention centres, Special Student Care Centres, and Child Disability Homes, which provide temporary relief during childcare hours or residential care.
SG Enable has established a caregiver support coalition, an online guide, support groups, and Peer-to-Peer mentor training to help caregivers access resources and community support.

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3 Nov 2020

Service Standards Required for Telecommunication Operators

Christopher de Souza asked about service standards for telecommunication operators and whether they accommodate elderly or less tech-savvy customers.
IMDA sets baseline requirements for telecom operators, including transparent disclosure of terms and avenues for contesting charges, and intervenes to prescribe standards when needed.
Telecom operators have implemented measures like express queues for seniors, callback services, and language-matched hotline assistance to support elderly customers.
Surveys show high consumer satisfaction with telecom services, and IMDA’s Seniors Go Digital programme has trained over 36,000 seniors, with 80% applying the skills learned.
IMDA will continue monitoring feedback and collaborating with operators to better accommodate less tech-savvy users, including the elderly.

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3 Nov 2020

Employment of Persons With Disabilities

Seah Kian Peng inquired about the employment status of persons with disabilities (PWDs), the number of employers hiring them, and the support available for both employers and families.
Masagos Zulkifli B M M provided data showing that about 28.2% of working-age PWDs are employed, with the government offering wage offsets like the Enabling Employment Credit and enhanced training grants to encourage hiring.
The government also announced additional support through the Jobs Growth Incentive and the Open Door Programme, which includes job placement, training, and job redesign grants for employers.
For families, financial assistance schemes such as the Home Caregiving Grant and CareShield Life are available, along with caregiver support networks and resources through SG Enable.
A collaborative workgroup is working on future initiatives to improve PWD employability, with a full report expected in the first half of 2021.

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3 Nov 2020

Clearer Communications for Alleged Sexual Misconduct Incidents at Autonomous Universities

Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked the Ministry of Education (MOE) to ensure Autonomous Universities (AUs) provide clear and timely communications to students during investigations into allegations of misconduct by teaching staff, to better protect students from potential predators.
The Minister of State for Education, Ms Sun Xueling, outlined current protocols where AUs can temporarily remove accused individuals from campus and issue No-Contact Orders, while MOE expects institutions to be open and timely in communications, balancing victim safety, privacy, and ongoing police investigations.
Ms Sun provided statistics showing a declining trend in sexual misconduct cases handled by AUs from 2015 to 2019, with an incidence rate of 0.12 cases per 1,000 staff and students, and emphasized that staff found guilty face swift disciplinary actions, including dismissal.
MOE has established Victim Care Units in AUs to provide trained support for victims, and sexuality education is delivered in schools from primary to secondary levels, using targeted scenarios to teach students about self-protection and consent.
MOE confirmed that investigations into misconduct involve both internal boards (including student perspectives) and independent police investigations for criminal cases, and the ministry is open to engaging experts and examining proactive measures at younger educational levels.

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2 Nov 2020

Subtitles for All News Broadcast on Free-to-air TV Channels

Ms Poh Li San inquired if subtitles will be provided for all news broadcasts on free-to-air TV channels and the timeline for their introduction.
S Iswaran confirmed that prime-time news bulletins on Mediacorp's free-to-air channels are already subtitled in the four official languages.
The government, with Mediacorp, will continue exploring technological solutions to expand subtitling progressively.
Subtitling is considered important for accessibility, especially for the elderly and hard-of-hearing viewers.
Efforts will focus on assessing practical solutions to enhance news accessibility across all broadcasts.

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2 Nov 2020

Regular Reports and Training for Educators on Sexual Misconduct on Campuses

Ms He Ting Ru questioned the Ministry of Education on its supervision of Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) regarding sexual misconduct, the possibility of regular reports, and current educator training.
Minister Lawrence Wong outlined that IHLs have enhanced efforts in education, campus infrastructure, victim support, and disciplinary frameworks to address sexual misconduct holistically.
The Ministry confirmed that IHLs have codes of conduct for staff, periodic reminders, and measures like no-contact orders, while monitoring trends and requiring internal investigations for misconduct cases.

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15 Oct 2020

Racial Proportions in Current Immigration Policy

Gan Thiam Poh asked whether Singapore's immigration policy still aims to maintain existing racial proportions.
The Minister of State for Home Affairs affirmed that immigration intake is calibrated to preserve racial balance for social stability.
The Minister stated that over the past 10 years, the ethnic proportions of Singapore's citizen population have remained stable at 76% Chinese, 15% Malay, 7.5% Indian, and 1.5% others.
Gan sought clarification on the current racial proportions and whether they had changed over the years.
The Minister confirmed the specific figures and reiterated that the proportions have remained unchanged.

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14 Oct 2020

Proposal for Students to Learn Alongside Differently Abled or Special Needs Students

The Ministry of Education stated that about 80% of students with special educational needs are already integrated into mainstream schools, where they learn alongside peers and are supported by Allied Educators.
Special Education (SPED) schools have satellite partnerships with mainstream schools to facilitate joint activities like community service and arts, fostering social interaction and inclusivity.
Inclusive initiatives include joint participation in events like the National School Games and Singapore Youth Festival, as well as programmes like the Play Inclusive campaign and an inclusive sailing pilot with Outward Bound Singapore.

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14 Oct 2020

Towards Full Participation of Persons with Disabilities in Singapore Society

Ms Denise Phua proposed five changes to enhance the inclusion of persons with disabilities (PwDs) in Singapore, urging a shift from charity and medical models to a social model that removes barriers, addresses gaps in provisions, ensures transparent reporting of progress, fosters collaboration across sectors, and includes the voices of PwDs in policymaking.
The government, represented by Minister of State Sun Xueling, acknowledged progress in education, healthcare, employment, and caregiver support through initiatives like the Enabling Masterplans, Enabling Employment Credit, and CareShield Life, while committing to further co-create solutions and engage PwDs and caregivers.
Key challenges highlighted include the "cliff effect" for SPED graduates, limited lifelong learning opportunities, insurance coverage issues, and the need for a more integrated, lifecycle approach to support services for PwDs and their families.

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6 Oct 2020

Protection Orders and Domestic Exclusion Orders Granted under Women's Charter since Start of Circuit Breaker Period

Ms He Ting Ru asked about the number of protection orders and domestic exclusion orders granted under the Women’s Charter each month since the start of the circuit breaker period.
Minister Masagos Zulkifli B M M stated that the Family Justice Courts grant personal protection orders and domestic exclusion orders to those experiencing family violence.
On average, about 75 personal protection orders and seven domestic exclusion orders were granted per month since the circuit breaker began.
The monthly average from April to August 2020 was similar to the average from the first three months of the year.

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6 Oct 2020

Unsold Units in HDB's Sale of Balance Flats and Open Booking Exercises

Mr Chong Kee Hiong asked about the number of HDB Sale of Balance and open booking flats unsold for over two years in the last three years, the reasons for this, and whether the Ethnic Integration Policy could be lifted for such flats.
As of 30 September 2020, only two flats remained unselected for more than two years since their first offer, with reasons including the Ethnic Integration Policy, personal preferences, and flat attributes like location or layout.
The Ministry has no plans to lift the Ethnic Integration Policy for unselected flats due to the small number of such flats and the policy's importance in maintaining racial harmony and social cohesion.

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6 Oct 2020

Number of Appeals Received from HDB Flat Owners for Waiver of Ethnic Integration Policy

In 2017 to 2019, HDB received about 530, 690, and 630 appeals respectively from flat owners to waive the Ethnic Integration Policy, with Chinese owners making up 16% of appeals, Malay owners 25%, and Indian or other ethnic groups 59%.
The success rate for these appeals increased from 8% in 2017 to 18% in 2019.
HDB approved over 900 time extensions per year on average from 2017 to 2019 for flat owners to sell their flats, though reasons were not tracked in detail.
The Minister did not provide data on how many flats remained unsold at the end of time extensions, as HDB does not track this specific outcome.

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6 Oct 2020

Proposal for Extra Childcare Leave for Parents of Differently Abled Children

Louis Ng Kok Kwang proposed that the Government provide extra childcare leave for parents of differently abled children to attend medical and developmental appointments.
The Government, through Indranee Rajah, highlighted existing enhanced childcare leave provisions, flexible work arrangements, and tripartite standards to support working parents.
Additional support for parents of children with special needs includes subsidies for Special Student Care Centres, tax relief for grandparent caregivers, and training resources through EIPIC and SG Enable.
The Government emphasized balancing caregiving needs with employers’ operational requirements to protect parents’ employability while continuing to study further enhancements.

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6 Oct 2020

Profile of Employees Retrenched due to COVID-19 Pandemic

The Minister for Manpower highlighted that while retrenchments have increased during COVID-19, the incidence for seniors aged 60 and above is comparable to the overall local workforce, and the government is actively monitoring the situation and providing support through various job assistance and training programmes.
Ministers and Members raised concerns about ageism, the protection of Singaporeans in retrenchment policies, and the need for a legislated baseline retrenchment benefit, with the Minister explaining that the tripartite consensus opposes a mandated baseline to avoid straining businesses and reducing long-term contract offers.
The government emphasized its commitment to preserving a strong Singaporean core, offering enhanced hiring incentives, mid-career pathways, and targeted support for senior workers, while enforcing anti-discrimination laws and promoting fair retrenchment practices.

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6 Oct 2020

Attention to Employment Prospects for Persons with Special Needs amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

The Minister for Social and Family Development outlined measures to support persons with disabilities (PWDs) during the COVID-19 pandemic, including enhanced wage credits, virtual career fairs, and job placement services through SG Enable, while noting that specific retrenchment data for PWDs is not tracked.
MPs raised concerns about the lack of detailed statistics on PWD retrenchment and disguised retrenchments, urging the Ministry to consider more active data collection and to shape employer awareness of the value of inclusive hiring.
The Minister affirmed that case managers provide direct assistance to retrenched PWDs who seek help and committed to accelerating the work of an existing workgroup addressing underemployment and unemployment issues in the PWD community.

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5 Oct 2020

Number of Pedestrian Overhead Bridges with Lifts Installed and Plans to Install More Lifts at Mature Estates

There are about 580 pedestrian overhead bridges in Singapore, with 71 equipped with ramps and 48 with lifts for barrier-free access.
Plans are in place to install lifts at approximately 50 more pedestrian overhead bridges, prioritizing locations that benefit many seniors and commuters with mobility challenges.
Priority will be given to bridges near public transport nodes and healthcare institutions where no other barrier-free crossings are nearby, including mature estates like Woodgrove.

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5 Oct 2020

Malay/Muslim Community's Response to Meet Religious Needs in Light of COVID-19 Restrictions by Age Group

The Malay/Muslim community, led by religious leaders and Muis, adapted religious practices by closing mosques early, allowing household prayer gatherings, and deferring the Haj pilgrimage to safeguard public health, while progressively resuming Friday prayers with safe management measures.
New digital platforms like SalamSG TV, online aLIVE and ADIL classes, and the MuslimSG app provided religious content for all age groups, with strong engagement and subsidies for those in need, helping the community maintain religious practices despite restrictions.
The community showed resilience by assisting less tech-savvy elderly with online access, supporting mosque operations through digital donations, and demonstrating compassion by delivering meals to migrant workers during Hari Raya Haji, reinforcing unity and care during the pandemic.

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5 Oct 2020

Ensuring Effectiveness and Accessibility of Courses for Elderly During COVID-19

The government transitioned senior learning courses online using platforms like Zoom and Facebook while providing technical assistance to help seniors adapt.
Digital Ambassadors and community hubs offer one-on-one coaching to boost seniors' digital skills, with thousands reached so far.
Traditional media such as TV and radio are used to deliver content in multiple languages, reaching hundreds of thousands of seniors.
A hybrid model combining virtual and in-person classes is now adopted to improve accessibility and convenience for seniors.

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