Religion, race & rights — Topics

7 Oct 2019

Reasons for Cancellation of “Dialogue and Dissent” Programme at Yale-NUS

The cancellation of Yale-NUS’s “Dialogue and Dissent” programme was due to concerns over its lack of academic rigour, exposure of students to legal risks, and the involvement of individuals with activist backgrounds that could politicize a compulsory course.
The Minister emphasized that academic freedom in Singapore’s universities must operate within the law, maintain educational missions, avoid partisan politics, and respect Singapore’s unique social and cultural context.
The decision was supported by Yale University’s independent review, which found no undermining of academic freedom, and the Minister reassured that liberal arts education remains valued, provided programmes adhere to clear principles.

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4 Sep 2019

Measures at Educational Institutions to Detect, Minimise and Combat Bullying Based on Gender Expression

The Ministry of Education affirmed a zero-tolerance policy on bullying, with existing measures including prompt investigation, counselling for victims, disciplinary action against perpetrators, and collaboration with parents, while teaching respect and empathy through the curriculum.
Assoc Prof Walter Theseira highlighted documented bullying against LGBT youths and raised concerns about teachers inadvertently reinforcing stereotypes, asking about specific initiatives to combat gender stereotypes and targeted sensitivity training for staff.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary detailed the role of school counsellors in providing a safe environment for students with sexuality-related issues, emphasizing problem-solving skills, emotional regulation, and facilitating family support when appropriate.
Teachers receive extensive training at the National Institute of Education to handle bullying, address gender identity or sexual orientation issues, and foster inclusive classroom cultures, with support from senior staff and peer support groups.
Both the government and the questioner emphasized a shared responsibility among parents, schools, and the community to develop sound values and ensure a safe learning environment for all students.

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3 Sep 2019

Audit of Insurance Companies' Coverage of Employees with Disabilities

Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Ministry for Manpower to commission an audit of insurance companies to ensure they approve workmen’s compensation coverage for employees with disabilities and that all such employees are covered.
Josephine Teo stated that all employees, including those with disabilities, are covered under the Work Injury Compensation Act (WICA) and can receive compensation for work-related injuries.
She explained that the new WICA 2019 requires insurers to be licensed by MOM and prohibits them from refusing coverage based on personal characteristics like disability, age, or health status.
Designated insurers under the new Act can access actual company claim records to price premiums based on risk, eliminating the need to presume higher risks from hiring disabled persons.
The Ministry affirmed that there is no need for an audit because the existing regulatory framework already prevents selective coverage and ensures equitable insurance for employees with disabilities.

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3 Sep 2019

Provision of Sensitivity Training to Police and Other First Responders to Victims of Violence

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether sensitivity training is provided to police and other first responders for handling victims of violence related to sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, including LGBTQ victims of family and intimate partner violence, and how such training is conducted.
The Minister for Home Affairs, K Shanmugam, responded that police officers are trained to be sensitive to all victims, including those from the LGBTQ community, covering issues like trauma causes, victim needs, vulnerabilities, and victim management.
The training aims to ensure that first responders effectively address the specific needs and challenges faced by LGBTQ victims of violence.

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3 Sep 2019

Additional Housing Grants and Priority for Adults with Special Needs to Live Near Care-givers

Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar asked if the Ministry will consider special housing grants and priority for adults with special needs to live near their parents or caregivers.
The Minister responded that the Government already provides significant subsidies, including discounted HDB flat pricing, additional grants for first-timers, and priority for flats near parents.
First-timers with special needs can also choose resale flats near parents and receive CPF housing grants and the enhanced Proximity Housing Grant.
The Government will continue reviewing housing schemes to ensure affordability and accessibility for all Singaporeans, including those with special needs.

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3 Sep 2019

Programmes to Support Companies to Adopt More Age-friendly Work Practices

The government has supported over 1,800 companies through the WorkPro Job Redesign Grant since 2013, benefiting around 20,000 older workers, while many other companies have implemented age-friendly practices like flexible work arrangements and well-being programmes.
Training rates for older workers aged 50 to 64 have increased from 26% in 2015 to 40% in 2018, supported by schemes like the SkillsFuture Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy offering up to 90% funding for eligible courses.
Over 90% of eligible local workers aged 62 and above who wish to continue working are offered re-employment, with similar high rates for those aged 63 to 67, and most retain the same wages during re-employment.
The Tripartite Workgroup on Older Workers recommends broader job redesign across organisations and structured career planning to help older workers stay relevant, moving beyond task-specific interventions.
The government continues to encourage companies to create age-friendly workplaces and support older workers’ skills upgrading to enable longer, more productive careers.

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2 Sep 2019

Number of Persons with Disabilities in Institutional Care in Last 10 Years

The number of children with disabilities in institutional care has remained stable at around 40 over the past decade, with all residing in Children Disability Homes.
For adults with disabilities aged 16 to 64, the count in Adult Disability Homes and Welfare Homes increased from about 780 in 2009 to 890 as of June 2019.
Persons with disabilities aged 65 and above in institutional care numbered about 110 as of June 2019, while seniors in subsidised nursing homes rose from 8,000 in 2014 to 12,000 in 2018.

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2 Sep 2019

Training Participation Rate of Unemployed Persons and Their Utilisation of SkillsFuture Credits in Last Three Years

Anthea Ong asked for the training participation rate and SkillsFuture credits utilisation among unemployed persons, broken down by gender, over the last three years.
The Minister provided data showing unemployed males had a significant training rate increase from 2016 to 2017, with a slight dip in 2018, while females’ rates rose steadily over the same period.
The government does not have a breakdown of SkillsFuture credits utilisation by employment status, but overall gender utilisation has been relatively balanced since the credits began in 2016.

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2 Sep 2019

Education of Young Persons with Disabilities

Mr Chong Kee Hiong asked the Ministry of Education for statistics on the percentage of young persons with disabilities in special versus mainstream schools, changes in their proportion over the last 10 years, and programmes for community integration.
MOE reported that as of December 2018, about 32,000 students with Special Educational Needs were enrolled, with 80% in mainstream schools and 20% in special schools, and the proportion rose from 5% in 2014 to 7% in 2018 due to increased awareness and better identification.
Mainstream schools promote inclusivity through classroom lessons and school-based programmes emphasizing values like respect and empathy, while special schools partner with mainstream schools for social mixing activities such as combined community service and co-curricular programmes.
MOE collaborates with schools and partners on inclusivity initiatives in arts and sports, including the Play Inclusive programme and participation in events like the National School Games and National Day Parade.

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2 Sep 2019

Number of Persons with Disabilities Benefitting from Assistive Technology Fund in Past Three Years

Over the past three years, 2,037 persons with disabilities benefited from the Assistive Technology Fund in FY2018, up from 1,450 in FY2016 and 1,808 in FY2017.
A total of $10 million has been disbursed through the Fund over the three-year period.
No appeals have been received for disbursements beyond the $40,000 individual cap under the ATF.
The Fund subsidises devices for rehabilitation, education, employment, early intervention, training, and independent living.
A cross-sectoral workgroup has been established under the 3rd Enabling Masterplan to further explore technology and design for supporting independent living.

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2 Sep 2019

Number of Households with Persons with Disabilities and Help Measures Available

The Ministry of Social and Family Development does not currently have data on the number of households with persons with disabilities but plans to include this in the 2020 population census.
A range of financial support is available across life stages, including ComCare assistance, subsidies for early intervention, special education, and day activity centres, as well as grants for caregivers and tax reliefs.
Additional measures include transport subsidies, assistive technology funding, workfare schemes for low-wage workers, and job placement support through SG Enable.
Respite care services are provided by nine Adult Disability Homes and three Children Disability Homes, with caregivers able to seek information from SG Enable.

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2 Sep 2019

Providing Housing for Single Unwed Parents and their Children

Mr. Louis Ng argued that single unwed parents under 35 face severe housing challenges, proposing clear eligibility criteria for rental flats, removal of "compassionate grounds" language, updated HDB communications, and a scheme for them to buy 2-room flexi flats to ensure equality and reduce stigma.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary Sun Xueling acknowledged the government's evolving stance and commitment to ensuring no child lacks housing, noting that HDB already assesses applications holistically and has approved many cases, including appeals by Mr. Ng.
The government will review communication touchpoints and the HDB website to explicitly state that single unwed parents can apply for flats, aiming to alleviate anxiety and improve their experience without discriminating based on marital status.

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2 Sep 2019

CareShield Life and Long-Term Care Bill

The CareShield Life scheme aims to provide universal, basic long-term care coverage for Singaporeans, with a focus on inclusiveness, affordability, and sustainability, and will be auto-enrolled for those born in 1980 or later while remaining optional for older cohorts.
Premiums are kept affordable through government subsidies, the use of MediSave, and early enrollment at age 30, but the scheme's design—including gender-differentiated premiums based on actuarial data—sparked debate on equity, with the Senior Minister of State emphasizing that gender-neutral premiums could lead to adverse selection and risk pool imbalances.
The government has established safeguards such as the CareShield Life Council for oversight, provisions for additional premium support for those in genuine need, and measures to prevent fraud and ensure transparency in claims and fund management.

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2 Sep 2019

CareShield Life and Long-Term Care Bill

The CareShield Life and Long-Term Care Bill establishes a mandatory long-term care insurance scheme for Singaporeans born from 1980, providing lifelong cash payouts for severe disability, while older cohorts can opt in, with government subsidies and support funds to ensure affordability and inclusivity.
The bill transfers ElderShield from private insurers to government administration, introduces MediSave withdrawals for long-term care, and creates new assistance schemes like ElderFund for low-income severely disabled individuals.
Key concerns raised include the adequacy of the $600 monthly payout, the strict three-ADL eligibility criterion, gender-based premiums, data privacy, and the need for better public education and streamlined application processes for long-term care support.

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2 Sep 2019

Maintenance of Religious Harmony (Amendment) Bill

The bill aims to amend the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act and related laws to better address religious intolerance.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Home Affairs presented the bill on behalf of the Minister, marking its first reading.
The bill is scheduled for a second reading in the next parliamentary sitting and will be printed for review.

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2 Sep 2019

Mother Tongue Language Exemption for Special Educational Needs Students

The Ministry of Education explained that exempted SEN students are assigned Mother Tongue scores between AL6 to AL8 for PSLE posting to ensure fairness, as most students taking Foundation MTL score within this range.
Simulations show similar proportions of exempted SEN students qualify for the Express stream under both the old and new scoring systems, and DSA pathways are expanded to support their school admissions.
MOE declined to delay the new scoring system for current cohorts or create a separate system, citing the need for consistent comparison in secondary school posting, but committed to supporting SEN students through transitions and DSA options.

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2 Sep 2019

Statistics on Employment of Persons with Disabilities

The Minister of State for Manpower shared that the resident employment rate for persons with disabilities (PwDs) aged 15–64 is 28.6%, with higher rates for those aged 40–49 and lower rates for those aged 65 and above, while the main employing sectors are community, social, personal services, food services, administrative support, and manufacturing.
Government support schemes like the Special Employment Credit, Open Door Programme, Career Trial, Workfare Income Supplement, and Workfare Training Support have helped over 5,700 employers hire more than 8,600 PwDs, with ongoing initiatives such as job redesign guides and a new workgroup to enhance employment pathways.
A member’s query about a 5% employment rate was addressed by clarifying that it was based on outdated, composite data, while current data from the Comprehensive Labour Force Survey is more accurate; suggestions for enhanced tax incentives, affirmative action, and a one-stop employment portal were noted for further study.

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6 Aug 2019

Trends of Persons of Minority Sexual Orientations or Gender Identities Seeking Mental Healthcare

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira asked for statistics and trends on minority sexual orientations or gender identities seeking mental healthcare and for plans to provide targeted resources and LGBTQ-sensitivity training.
The Ministry of Health does not track figures for such individuals seeking mental healthcare and affirmed that services are available to all Singaporeans regardless of gender identity.
The Institute of Mental Health has a Gender Care Clinic offering support since 2017, but it is too early to identify trends, and healthcare providers are trained to offer empathetic and sensitive care.

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6 Aug 2019

Violence Against Persons of Minority Sexual Orientations or Gender Identities

Assoc Prof Walter Theseira questioned the Ministry on outreach to LGBTQ individuals facing domestic violence, institutional sensitivity when reporting, and plans for awareness campaigns with NGOs.
Desmond Lee affirmed zero tolerance for violence against anyone, citing existing laws like the Penal Code and POHA that protect all persons, including LGBTQ individuals.
He stated that social service agencies are trained to support diverse victims without discrimination and that public campaigns like "Break The Silence" raise awareness regardless of sexual orientation.

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5 Aug 2019

Action against Perpetrators who Spread Fake News on Social Media that Cause Racial Disharmony

Mr Lim Biow Chuan asked if action will be taken against those who spread fake news on social media to cause racial disharmony.
Minister K Shanmugam stated the government takes firm action under the Penal Code against acts that wound racial feelings or promote enmity, citing recent cases like racist graffiti and false claims about public transport checks.
Investigations are ongoing against individuals who made false allegations of racial discrimination and those involved in a rap video attacking the Chinese community.

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