Religion, race & rights — Topics

3 Oct 2017

Grant for Companies to Offset Cost of Hiring Temporary Staff for Pregnant Employees

Louis Ng proposed a grant for companies to offset costs of hiring temporary staff for pregnant employees until their child turns two years old.
The Second Minister for Manpower highlighted the Work-Life Grant as a flexible support measure for family-friendly workplaces, noting its broad use and high company participation.
Louis Ng emphasized the need for more support beyond maternity leave and requested a study on workplace discrimination against pregnant employees.
The Minister cited examples of companies using creative solutions like temporary contracts and technology to support pregnant workers, advocating for company-specific approaches.
The Minister offered to collaborate on a study of workplace discrimination if there is interest from relevant parties.

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3 Oct 2017

Government Websites that Meet Standards for Access by Persons with Disabilities

Leon Perera inquired about the compliance of Singapore government websites with WCAG 2.0 accessibility standards for persons with disabilities and future steps to enhance accessibility.
The Senior Minister of State confirmed that government websites are required to meet WCAG 2.0, with 90% compliance over the past three years and ongoing audits to address non-compliant sites.
Plans were announced to enhance digital standards beyond WCAG 2.0 in FY2017, including adopting new guidelines to improve usability for older adults and persons with disabilities.
Citizen Connect Centres were highlighted as providing assistance for online transactions and accessibility features, such as adjustable kiosks, for those needing help.
The government acknowledged that while compliance is high, it cannot guarantee 100% due to continuous updates, but committed to addressing any non-compliant sites reported.

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2 Oct 2017

Highest Level of Mainstream Education Attained by High-functioning Intellectually-disabled Children

Ms Rahayu Mahzam asked the Ministry of Education about the highest mainstream education level attained by high-functioning intellectually disabled children and the support to keep them in mainstream schools.
Education Minister Ng Chee Meng explained that such children are typically classified as having mild intellectual disability and their needs are best served in Special Education (SPED) schools, which offer customized vocational programs.
SPED schools like APSN Delta Senior School and Metta School provide Workforce Skills Qualifications and ITE Skills Certificate programs, enabling students to gain vocational certification and become employable.
The Minister highlighted that SPED schools employ specially trained teachers and allied professionals to cater to these students' specific learning, emotional, and practical needs.
The response implies that mainstream education may not be the primary or most supported pathway for these students, as SPED schools offer tailored programs for independent living and workplace readiness.

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2 Oct 2017

Racial and Household Income Distributions of Students in Primary and Secondary Schools

The Ministry of Education noted that about one in ten schools differ from the national racial norm, and while the performance of students from different ethnic groups varies, the gap, particularly for Malay students, has been closing over time.
The Ministry does not collect household income data across the system, but acknowledged that socio-economic status is correlated with academic performance globally, while emphasizing that student motivation, home support, and school quality are more critical determinants.
The Ministry is committed to providing equitable education through needs-based resourcing, such as additional staff for counselling and support programmes, enhanced financial assistance, and partnerships with community groups to assist disadvantaged students.

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2 Oct 2017

Juvenile Delinquents by Gender since 2013

The Minister reported that youth crime has declined over the past decade, with the number of youth offenders arrested falling from 4,280 in 2006 to 2,788 in 2016.
Shop theft, bicycle theft, other theft, rioting, and sexual penetration of a minor under 16 were the most common offences committed by youth offenders between 2013 and June 2017.
There is an over-representation of minority races among youth offenders, prompting collaboration with self-help and community groups to address the issue through a multi-agency approach.

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2 Oct 2017

Longer Pre-defined Time Period at Signalised Pedestrian Crossings

Mr Pritam Singh inquired about the factors LTA considers when extending the pre-defined crossing time at signalised pedestrian crossings and whether this time could be increased by 5-10 seconds in mature neighbourhoods or high-traffic roads due to the ageing population.
Minister Khaw Boon Wan stated that the primary factor is the road width, with crossing times programmed based on a steady green man time of 6-10 seconds and a flashing green man time of one second per metre of road width.
For crossings frequently used by seniors or persons with disabilities, the Green Man Plus scheme allows for extended crossing times—up to 13 seconds more—by tapping concession cards, with plans to expand from 760 to 1,000 such crossings by end-2018.

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2 Oct 2017

Private Residential Developments Encouraged to Accommodate Barrier-free Link-bridges

The Urban Redevelopment Authority requires developers of large commercial and institutional buildings to submit Walking and Cycling Plans that include barrier-free linkages to neighbouring HDB estates.
Developers are incentivised by having the floor area of qualifying link-bridges excluded from the gross floor area cap, and Government Land Sales tenders mandate such connectivity.
All buildings must comply with the Building and Construction Authority’s accessibility code, with older buildings eligible for grants to upgrade barrier-free features.

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2 Oct 2017

Singapore's Role as 2018 ASEAN Chair to Address Humanitarian Situation in Rakhine State

Singapore, as ASEAN chair in 2018, urged Myanmar to cease actions worsening the Rakhine State crisis and restore peace, stability, and the rule of law to enable humanitarian aid delivery regardless of ethnicity or religion.
The Singapore government announced bilateral humanitarian aid packages worth S$100,000 for Myanmar and S$200,000 for Bangladesh, while community organizations like the Singapore Red Cross and Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation launched fundraising drives for affected communities.
ASEAN, through a chairman’s statement, condemned violence in Rakhine State and activated the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance to support Myanmar’s relief efforts, while emphasizing the need for increased humanitarian access without discrimination.
Myanmar has established an inter-ministerial committee to implement recommendations from the Kofi Annan-led commission, aiming for long-term solutions to the inter-communal tensions in Rakhine State.

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2 Oct 2017

Compelling Myanmar to Remedy Human Tragedy in Rakhine State

Singapore acknowledges the humanitarian disaster in Myanmar's Rakhine State and urges a cessation of violence to allow aid access, while emphasizing that long-term solutions require Myanmar to address underlying issues and restore the rule of law.
Singapore is providing bilateral humanitarian aid to Myanmar and Bangladesh and has mobilized community organizations for fundraising and relief distribution, regardless of ethnicity or religion.
The ASEAN Human Rights Declaration does not impose legal obligations, but Singapore expects member states to uphold its spirit and has supported ASEAN efforts, including an ASEAN Chairman’s Statement condemning violence and facilitating humanitarian assistance through the AHA Centre.
Myanmar has taken steps such as establishing a commission led by Kofi Annan and forming an inter-ministerial committee to address recommendations, demonstrating commitment to resolving the situation with international support.
Singapore and ASEAN member states recognize the principle of non-interference but remain committed to enhanced consultations and supporting Myanmar in finding a viable, long-term solution for peace and reconciliation in Rakhine State.

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2 Oct 2017

Reported Domestic Violence Cases against Women

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah raised concerns about reported domestic violence cases against women, particularly those above 50, and asked about outreach to silent victims and public awareness efforts.
The Minister reported an average of 2,800 Personal Protection Order applications yearly, with 75% by women (20% above 50), and highlighted initiatives like the National Family Violence Networking System and the "Break the Silence" campaign.
In supplementary questions, Er Dr Lee noted a reported upward trend in cases from voluntary welfare organisations and requested a national study on root causes and interventions for elderly women.
The Minister responded that national data shows stable numbers for women above 50 but emphasized the invisibility of the problem and ongoing efforts, including a Vulnerable Adults Bill, to address family violence.

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11 Sep 2017

Measures to Protect Women in Crowded Places

Desmond Choo inquired about the Ministry of Home Affairs' efforts to protect women from outrage of modesty in entertainment outlets, public transport areas, and whether legislation needs enhancement.
K Shanmugam explained that entertainment outlet operators must follow licensing conditions to prevent crime, such as ensuring sufficient lighting and installing CCTV, while the Police conduct patrols and awareness campaigns in public transport areas.
The Minister highlighted current penalties for outrage of modesty, including fines, caning, and imprisonment, and affirmed that the government will enhance legislation if needed while urging public vigilance and reporting.

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11 Sep 2017

Changes in Benefits for Parking Labels for the Disabled

The Ministry revised the Car Park Label Scheme eligibility criteria to prioritize those who physically need extra space for boarding and alighting, such as users of bulky mobility aids, while assuring flexibility in assessing individual medical conditions.
Measures to curb abuse and improve accessibility include increased fines for misuse, ongoing public education, and a review of the Code on Accessibility to ensure adequate provision of accessible parking lots.
The Ministry highlighted the rising demand for accessible lots and outlined supplementary support schemes, such as enhanced taxi subsidies and public transport concessions, to assist persons with disabilities.

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11 Sep 2017

Investigation into Request to Remove Bilingual Signboards at NTU Food Court

The Minister for Education stated that the request for English-only signage at NTU was a misinterpretation by a staff member, not official policy, and NTU has issued a stern warning and will cover costs to restore bilingual signboards.
NTU is briefing staff on language policy to prevent future issues, affirming that bilingual signboards with English are allowed at all autonomous universities.
A member of Parliament raised concerns about a possible systemic bias against Chinese language and culture at NTU, citing past incidents and questioning if the staff member was a scapegoat.
The Minister responded that the issue was an isolated administrative error, not systemic, and that NTU has addressed it, though broader debates on Chinese culture would be lengthy.
The exchange highlighted differing views on whether the incident reflects a deeper issue or a one-off mistake, with the Minister asserting the matter is now concluded.

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11 Sep 2017

Petition

Mr Louis Ng presented a petition from seven single parents, highlighting difficulties in securing public housing due to HDB rules that do not recognize unmarried parents or divorced individuals as part of a family nucleus, leading to long debarment periods.
The petitioners cited a study by AWARE showing 95% of single mothers faced housing challenges and urged non-discriminatory rules instead of case-by-case exceptions, referencing Singapore's obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Key recommendations include amending the Housing and Development Act to prevent discrimination based on marital status and referring the issue to a Select Committee for further deliberation.
The petition was endorsed as compliant with parliamentary rules and referred to the Public Petitions Committee for review.

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1 Aug 2017

Day Care Centres for Persons with Special Needs

There are currently 26 Day Activity Centres providing 1,380 places for adults with special needs, with an average waiting time of three to six months.
The government plans to open five new centres and expand existing ones by FY18, adding 420 places to reduce waiting times to one to two months.
Efforts are underway to enhance staff training and care quality, including the use of a common assessment tool and developing a competency framework for DAC personnel.

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1 Aug 2017

Reach and Effectiveness of Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme

Mr Leon Perera asked for statistics on the Pioneer Generation Disability Assistance Scheme, including current recipients, annual applications, success rates, uncompleted applications, and its effectiveness.
Minister Gan Kim Yong explained the scheme's introduction in 2014 as part of broader government support for seniors, with about 95% of applications approved annually.
Application numbers were around 6,700 in 2014, 9,000 in 2015, and 8,600 in 2016, with automatic inclusion extended to certain recipients, benefiting an additional 15,000 Pioneers.

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1 Aug 2017

Administration of Muslim Law (Amendment) Bill

The Minister introduced amendments to strengthen Muslim families by requiring minor couples to attend a marriage preparation programme and obtain parental consent, and by mandating divorcing couples to attend counselling to focus on child welfare.
The Bill reinforces Muslim institutions by clarifying jurisdiction rules for the Syariah Court, encouraging divorce applications before pronouncing talak, and mandating the presence of a Kadi or Naib Kadi at marriage solemnisations.
Amendments enhance the management of Muslim assets by expanding MUIS's powers to remove wakaf trustees for mismanagement, allowing the creation of sinking funds for wakaf upkeep, and clarifying the use of the Mosque Building and MENDAKI Fund for mosque and madrasah development.

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4 Jul 2017

Website Accessibility by Persons with Disabilities

Leon Perera asked the Prime Minister about the number of official websites meeting international accessibility standards for persons with disabilities and the steps to ensure full accessibility.
The Speaker called for a reply on behalf of the Prime Minister, noting that Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary was unavailable.
The Minister from the Prime Minister's Office apologized and stated that Mr Puthucheary would provide the answer later.
The Speaker decided to move on to Question No. 18 by Mr Louis Ng.

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4 Jul 2017

Measures to Minimise Radicalisation in Our Community

The government is reviewing and implementing enhanced security measures, such as bollards and updated guidelines, to protect public spaces and critical infrastructure from terrorist attacks while balancing practicality and cost.
Efforts to counter radicalisation focus on schools and foreign workers, with curriculum changes, community engagement, and repatriation of radicalised individuals, while emphasizing the role of families, religious leaders, and community networks in prevention.
SGSecure initiatives and community exercises are being strengthened to improve public vigilance and unity, with plans to increase outreach and preparedness in response to evolving threats like lone-wolf attacks.

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3 Jul 2017

Additional Tests for Drivers Aged over 75

Dr Chia Shi-Lu proposed that the Traffic Police consider introducing cognitive or additional tests for drivers over 75 years old when renewing their licences.
Minister K Shanmugam explained that all drivers must pass a medical exam at age 65 and every three years thereafter, which assesses physical and mental fitness, and that this remains suitable for drivers over 75.
Heavy vehicle licence holders face a stricter regime with annual medical exams from age 65, and their licences expire at 75, with more comprehensive tests for those aged 70 and above.
The minister emphasized that individuals bear the responsibility for their own safety and that of others, and that the Traffic Police will monitor and adjust the licence regime for elderly drivers if needed.

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