Religion, race & rights — Topics

14 Jul 2015

Senior Group Homes Model for Elderly Singaporeans in Public Housing Estates

The Senior Group Homes model, launched in 2012, provides shared flats in rental blocks for frail seniors, offering coordinated care services and mutual support, with 14 homes planned to accommodate 250 seniors.
The Minister noted that the government is exploring ways to extend this model beyond rental flats and to younger persons with special needs, emphasizing a needs-based approach rather than age-based criteria.
Ongoing reviews will assess the model’s scalability and potential integration into mainstream housing, while alternative support systems for persons with disabilities are also being considered.

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14 Jul 2015

Benefits of Smart Nation Project for Persons with Disabilities

The Smart Nation project aims to benefit persons with disabilities through technology initiatives like enhanced subsidies for assistive devices, funding for special education schools, and grants for innovative projects to improve daily living and independence.
Government and partners are building capabilities within the social service sector, including training for professionals and setting up centers to provide assessments, loans, and IT training to bridge the digital divide for persons with disabilities.
There is a call for a more integrated, whole-of-government approach with a clear roadmap and timeline to ensure persons with disabilities are included in Smart Nation planning, with upstream involvement in design and feedback mechanisms to address accessibility issues.

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13 Jul 2015

Rohingya Situation in Myanmar

Mr Gerald Giam asked the Government to outline its foreign policy on the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar and whether concerns have been raised with Myanmar officials.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs stated that the Government’s policy would be detailed in a subsequent oral reply to related questions.
The Government confirmed it has communicated its views on communal tensions in Myanmar but declined to disclose details due to diplomatic confidentiality.

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13 Jul 2015

Waiting Time for Assessment of Children and Youths with Disabilities

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked about the current waiting times for assessments of children and youths with disabilities like speech disabilities, dyslexia, and autism in both public and private sectors.
In 2014, the median wait for initial assessments at KKH and NUH for subsidised children under six was 18 to 40 days, with those identified receiving therapy within three to four weeks or enrolment in early intervention within about five months.
For children over six, average waiting times for subsidised patients in 2014 ranged from one week to two months, with MOE psychologists in schools prioritising referrals based on urgency and severity.
MSF is working to expand early intervention services to meet growing demand, and students with disabilities can access support through SPED schools or mainstream schools.

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13 Jul 2015

Deterring Cross-border Human Trafficking in ASEAN

Christopher de Souza inquired whether Myanmar can be compelled under the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration to address the Rohingya crisis and what diplomatic pressures could curb alleged human trafficking against them, citing specific articles.
He also asked if ASEAN will act collectively under Article 13 of the declaration to deter cross-border human trafficking, especially after mass graves were found along the Thai-Malaysian border.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, K Shanmugam, responded that the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration is aspirational and not legally binding, so ASEAN cannot force Myanmar to act but encourages adherence to its spirit through dialogue.
He outlined ASEAN’s cooperative efforts, including adopting a convention and plan of action against trafficking, coordinating with Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, and establishing a trust fund and potential task force for crisis response.
The Minister emphasized the need for international and regional cooperation beyond ASEAN, such as through the Bali Process, to address the trafficking syndicates and support affected countries.

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11 May 2015

Sensitising Youths to Inter-cultural Issues

The Ministry of Education teaches inter-cultural issues through Character and Citizenship Education and various subjects, with age-appropriate methods such as stories for younger students and case studies for older ones, supplemented by activities like Racial Harmony Day and dialogues with community leaders.
For online communication, Cyber Wellness lessons focus on digital responsibility, teaching netiquette, consequences of online behavior, and laws related to social media, with increasing emphasis on active role promotion and awareness of issues like mob mentality as students advance.
Institutes of Higher Learning deepen these lessons through scenario discussions, projects, and experiential activities, while enforcing student codes of conduct that prohibit inflammatory content and emphasize mutual respect in both physical and online interactions.

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11 May 2015

Rehabilitation Programmes for Youth Offenders who make Seditious Remarks

The Ministry of Social and Family Development implements rehabilitation programmes for youth offenders who make seditious remarks, including counselling, community service, and mentorship to foster respect for different races and religions.
Collaboration between the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the Ministry of Education includes cyber-wellness curricula and school counsellors to address online behaviour and support parents in guiding youth.
Programmes like OnePeople.sg’s Explorations in Ethnicity offer experiential learning to help youth navigate sensitive topics online, with strong support from relevant ministries.

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13 Apr 2015

Honouring the Founding Prime Minister of Singapore, the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew

The Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, stated that while many suggestions have been made to honour the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, such as naming landmarks or placing his image on currency, decisions should not be rushed and must align with Mr Lee’s ideals of multiracialism, meritocracy, and integrity rather than promoting a personality cult.
He highlighted that Mr Lee was cautious about monuments and explicitly wished for his Oxley Road home to be demolished after his death, a wish documented in his will and respected by the government, though digital preservation of the house was suggested.
A committee chaired by Mr Lee Tzu Yang will explore conceptualising a Founders’ Memorial to honour not just Mr Lee but the entire founding generation, aiming to foster national unity and educate future generations on Singapore’s history and values.
Members of Parliament emphasised the importance of inclusivity, ensuring all communities can connect to the commemoration, and the need to focus on embedding Mr Lee’s ideals in education and national identity rather than solely on physical memorials.
The Prime Minister concluded that any memorial must be meaningful, forward-looking, and developed over time with public input, avoiding haste to ensure it resonates with future generations and strengthens Singapore’s nationhood.

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13 Apr 2015

Edusave Awards for Full-time Madrasah Students

Member of Parliament Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap questioned whether the Edusave Awards could be extended to full-time madrasah students.
The Senior Minister of State for Education responded that Edusave is designed to support secular development in MOE-funded schools.
She noted that while Edusave contributions are available to all Singaporeans aged 7–16, the awards themselves recognize achievements in MOE-funded settings.
She stated that extending the awards to private schools, including madrasahs, is not appropriate.
She highlighted that madrasah students already receive support through MUIS initiatives like the PROMAS Performance Award.

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12 Mar 2015

Committee of Supply – Head I (Ministry of Social and Family Development)

Denise Phua proposed creating a cross-ministry Municipal Services Office to better coordinate social services, advocated tiered support for VWOs of different sizes, and called for a "Grand Social Challenges" series to address major societal issues with innovative ideas.
Multiple MPs raised concerns about the preschool sector, highlighting shortages of qualified teachers, high attrition rates, and the need for better training, retention strategies, and clearer accountability on how government subsidies affect fees and teacher wages.
Several members urged more support for adults with disabilities, including better employment opportunities, caregiver support, and improved communication of the Enabling Masterplan, while others argued for equal benefits and housing rights for single parents.

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12 Mar 2015

Committee of Supply – Head X (Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth)

The debate centered on MCCY's budget and plans for SG50, with members highlighting the need to preserve heritage, promote sports, and support the Malay/Muslim community, including zakat management, mosque development, and madrasah education.
Minister Yaacob Ibrahim outlined initiatives for the Malay/Muslim community, such as expanding mosque infrastructure, enhancing educational support through MENDAKI, strengthening family programs, and ensuring madrasah students receive examination fee waivers.
Minister Lawrence Wong emphasized SG50 celebrations focusing on heritage, culture, and the future, detailing investments in cultural institutions like the National Gallery, support for traditional arts, and efforts to make Singapore a "Giving Nation" through volunteerism and corporate philanthropy.
Discussions included proposals for heritage impact assessments, preserving sites like Haw Par Villa, expanding sports facilities under the Sports Facilities Master Plan, and supporting athletes ahead of the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games.
Members raised concerns about racial and religious harmony, youth engagement, and inclusivity, with the government committing to initiatives like the Harmony Fund, Youth Corps Singapore, and enhancing disability sports participation.

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11 Mar 2015

Committee of Supply – Head X (Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth)

Baey Yam Keng urged the government to leverage SG50 and the 2015 SEA Games to sustain patriotism and strengthen Singaporean identity, calling for policies to nurture uniquely Singaporean cultural icons like hawker food, xinyao, and getais.
Several MPs asked about the expansion and monitoring of MENDAKI's education programs, including its tuition scheme and potential involvement in early childhood education, to better serve the Malay/Muslim community.
Questions were raised on financial and policy support for Madrasah kindergartens, the use of funds like Zakat and the Malay/Muslim Community Development Fund, and initiatives to address high consumer debt and divorce rates in the Malay/Muslim community.

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9 Mar 2015

Estimated FY2015 Expenditure for People's Association

The People's Association's FY2015 expenditure rose by 51.3% to over S$1 billion, driven by a higher government commitment to social cohesion and racial harmony.
The 115.4% increase in development expenditure, amounting to S$239.3 million, is primarily for building new facilities like the Tampines Town Hub, nine new community clubs, and two Water-Venture outlets, plus upgrading 28 existing clubs.
Operating expenditure increased by 22% or S$100.3 million to fund the Pioneer Generation Ambassador programme and support grassroots organizations and Community Development Councils in assisting the needy and fostering community bonds.

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12 Feb 2015

Requirement for Employers to Offer Healthcare Insurance for Re-employed Workers

The Ministry of Manpower encourages employers to provide health insurance for senior workers beyond the re-employment age, noting that many already offer inpatient medical benefits and that incentives exist for employers to enhance such benefits.
The tripartite workgroup is exploring ways to improve portable medical benefits to complement MediShield Life, which provides lifelong healthcare coverage for all Singaporeans, including older citizens.
Employers are legally required to provide work injury insurance for manual workers and non-manual workers earning $1,600 or below, regardless of age, when re-employed.
The government is promoting the employment of workers beyond the current re-employment age of 65 and may consider extending it to 67, while continuing to encourage companies to maintain medical benefits for older workers.

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29 Jan 2015

Non-religious Entities Bidding for Developments Zoned for Places of Worship

Minister Khaw Boon Wan explained that tenders for Places of Worship sites have historically been open to companies affiliated with religious organisations, with the winning bid from the highest eligible bidder, but the recent Sengkang case revealed a for-profit company without religious affiliation won the tender intending to build a commercial columbarium, which does not align with the site's planned use as a temple.
The government is discussing with the company to restore the Sengkang site to its original purpose as a Chinese temple and is conducting a review to tighten tender criteria, such as requiring bidders to be directly linked to religious groups, to prevent future mismatches and ensure fair competition for religious organisations.
Several MPs raised concerns about non-religious entities bidding for worship sites, potential increases in land prices disadvantaging smaller temples, and the need for clearer communication in sales brochures, with the minister emphasising ongoing reviews, standard operating procedures for transparency, and the distinction between incidental temple columbaria and commercial ones.

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20 Jan 2015

Making HDB Flats Accessible to Wheelchairs and Ambulance Stretchers

Zaqy Mohamad questioned whether newer HDB flats have lifts designed for wheelchair and ambulance stretcher access, what proportion of existing flats cannot accommodate stretchers or moving the deceased, and if regulations will be enhanced for future upgrades.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that regulations require at least one lift per building to meet minimum dimensions for wheelchair access, and newer HDB lifts are larger and can accommodate wheelchairs or inclined stretchers.
However, current regulations do not require lifts to fit stretchers in a flat-lying position, and about 15% of lifts in HDB blocks cannot accommodate inclined stretchers, though some lifts in those blocks are large enough.
The Ministry noted that enlarging lifts beyond current standards is limited by the size of existing lift wells.

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20 Jan 2015

Strengthening Penalties for Companies that Discriminate against Singaporeans in Hiring

Foo Mee Har questioned if penalties are tough enough to deter companies from discriminatory hiring against Singaporeans.
Tan Chuan-Jin stated that MOM enforces the Fair Consideration Framework and Tripartite Guidelines, having taken action against 150 firms last year through warnings, work pass curtailments, and naming-and-shaming.
The Ministry also proactively engages firms with low Singaporean representation, requiring action plans and closer scrutiny of work pass applications.
MOM combines enforcement with TAFEP’s education efforts, noting positive company responses but prepared to take further action against unresponsive employers.
The current approach is deemed sufficient to deter discrimination, with ongoing monitoring and potential review of the framework.

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20 Jan 2015

Number of Events at Speaker's Corner

Seah Kian Peng asked about the number of events at Speakers' Corner over the past year, how it compares to previous years, and whether regulations need review.
Khaw Boon Wan reported 136 event registrations last year, down from 169 in 2013 and 129 in 2009 when NParks took over administration.
The Minister stated regulations have worked well historically but cannot comment on a review due to ongoing legal proceedings related to a September incident.

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19 Jan 2015

Statistics on Re-employment of Civil Servants and Statutory Board Officers

Seah Kian Peng asked for statistics on civil servants and statutory board officers aged 65 and above, re-employment rates at ages 62 and 65, and future re-employment targets.
Teo Chee Hean reported that as of end-2013, there were about 139,400 public officers, with 1,400 aged 65 and above; 94% of retirees at 62 were re-employed in 2013, while 6% were not, primarily due to poor performance, conduct, or medical fitness.
The government noted that re-employment rates at age 65 are not yet available due to recent policy changes but are being offered where possible, and no specific re-employment rate targets are set for the future.

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19 Jan 2015

Barrier-free Access for Existing Hawker Centres and Markets

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef urged the government to streamline plans for barrier-free access in hawker centres and to consider modifications like ramps and wheelchair spaces in existing facilities.
Minister Vivian Balakrishnan affirmed the importance of barrier-free hawker centres, noting that new ones comply with accessibility codes while existing ones are being upgraded over time.
All hawker centres currently meet or exceed accessibility standards except for Dunman Food Centre, which faces site constraints, though efforts are ongoing to improve its accessibility.

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