Religion, race & rights — Topics

19 Jan 2015

Continuing Education Plans for Special Needs Children

Heng Swee Keat outlined progress on the Enabling Masterplan 2012–2016, emphasizing curriculum reviews, teacher training, and infrastructure investments to enhance Special Education quality and accessibility.
While overall SPED schools have sufficient vacancies, the minister noted increased demand for Autism Spectrum Disorder placements, prompting capacity expansion and teacher recruitment efforts.
The government is introducing vocational education and post-school transition support, with SG Enable enhancing training and employment options for persons with disabilities beyond school years.

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19 Jan 2015

Support for Single Mothers

Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin questioned the fairness of benefits for children of single mothers, noting they miss out on tax reliefs, Child Development Account, and Baby Bonus, and asked if maternity leave could be extended to 16 weeks.
Minister Chan Chun Sing affirmed that all mothers receive childcare subsidies, Foreign Domestic Worker levy concessions, and childcare leave regardless of marital status, and that education and special needs support are provided universally.
The Minister explained that some benefits like extended paid maternity leave and tax incentives are reserved for married mothers to support parenthood within marriage, reflecting Singapore's societal norms.
The debate highlighted the need to ensure equitable support for single mothers and their children while maintaining policy alignment with societal values.

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5 Nov 2014

Public Airing of Songs with Prejudicial Lyrics

The Minister for Communications and Information confirmed that the MDA regulates songs on radio, in retail outlets, and at concerts but does not extend regulation to all public places playing background music, deeming it impractical and disproportionate.
The government encourages retailers and businesses to exercise social responsibility and common sense in selecting music to avoid causing offense, emphasizing public education over regulation.
Dr. Chia Shi-Lu raised concerns about the lack of data on complaints and suggested a feedback mechanism, but the Minister responded that no such system is planned and cases can be addressed if brought forward after initial resolution attempts with businesses.

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3 Nov 2014

Encouraging Public and Private Sector Organisations to Adopt Age-proof Workplaces

The Government introduced the WorkPro programme, which includes the Age Management Grant and Job Redesign Grant to provide incentives for employers to adopt age-friendly practices and redesign workplaces for an ageing workforce.
Public sector agencies engage older officers through open discussions and offer flexible work arrangements like part-time employment and telecommuting to cater to their needs.
Tripartite partners like NTUC and SNEF actively outreach to employers to highlight the importance of job redesign, with over 1,300 employers having tapped on WorkPro grants by September 2014.
The Government and Tripartite Partners continue to promote and support employers in implementing age-friendly practices and workplace redesign.

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3 Nov 2014

Special Consideration for Vocation of NS Enlistees with Special Needs

Lim Biow Chuan asked whether NS enlistees with special needs can receive special consideration in their vocation to better integrate and fulfill their obligations.
Ng Eng Hen explained that MINDEF assesses each individual’s capabilities and deploys them to vocations where they can serve safely and meaningfully without risk to themselves or others.
Additional support includes informing commanders of servicemen needing supervision, providing a 24-hour counselling hotline, and ensuring well-being is safeguarded throughout service.

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3 Nov 2014

Specifications for Use of Space at Hong Lim Park and Speakers' Corner

Hong Lim Park is a public park for shared use by all Singaporeans, with two lawns designated as Speakers' Corner but not for exclusive use by speakers.
Activities at the park and adjacent community centre facilities are permitted for events like concerts and family days, but political or religious use of the stage is prohibited.
The minister noted that multiple events can occur simultaneously without incident, but declined to comment on a specific recent conflict due to ongoing investigations.
Concerns were raised about ensuring no repeat of the September incident for upcoming events and improving communication of park usage rules to stakeholders.
The government emphasized that rules are publicly available and applicants are reminded of regulations, but gave no absolute guarantee against future conflicts.

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8 Oct 2014

Bus Announcements to Assist Visually-impaired Commuters

LTA is developing a central bus management system to provide real-time announcements on buses and through apps by 2017, but currently lacks infrastructure for audible bus stop announcements.
The government acknowledges the need to assist visually-impaired commuters but cites concerns about noise disturbance near residential areas and the preference for on-demand, push-button systems.
Alternatives like tactile announcements or bus-based announcements when pulling into stops are suggested, with the Ministry committing to explore feasible solutions.

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8 Oct 2014

Public Sector's Lead in Re-employment Contracts and Employment for Persons with Disabilities

The Deputy Prime Minister outlined that public sector re-employment follows tripartite guidelines, offering re-employment to eligible officers at the same grade and pay where possible, with benefits refreshed and the re-employment age extended to 67 from 2015.
The Public Service Division is collaborating with social ministries and SG Enable to increase employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, including job redesign, as part of leading by example.
For public sector employees not re-employed despite eligibility, assistance is provided to find alternative work, and ex gratia payments are available under tripartite guidelines.
The government emphasized that re-employment decisions are based on performance, conduct, and medical fitness, not solely on budgetary considerations, and that restructuring hospitals follow similar tripartite guidelines.
Initiatives are underway to re-engineer workplaces to support older workers’ productivity and longer employment, aligning with the public sector’s lead in inclusive employment practices.

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7 Oct 2014

Age Requirement of Couples in Enhanced Lease Buyback Scheme

David Ong questioned why the Enhanced Lease Buyback Scheme requires both spouses to be at least 63 years old, arguing it penalizes couples with large age differences and asked for a review.
The Minister for National Development explained that the age requirement aligns with the CPF draw-down age to ensure participants can immediately receive monthly payouts under CPF LIFE after using the scheme's proceeds.
For households not meeting the age criterion, the Minister suggested alternative options such as subletting the flat, moving to a smaller flat, or buying a Studio Apartment with the Silver Housing Bonus.

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7 Oct 2014

Security Threat from Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean confirmed an increased security threat to Singapore from ISIS, citing the group's recruitment of foreign fighters, brutal tactics, and potential for inspiring attacks in coalition countries, with historical precedent from Al-Qaeda's 2002 embassy bombing plot.
Singapore is taking proactive measures, including monitoring foreign fighter movements, implementing UN-mandated laws against joining extremist groups, and using the Internal Security Act where necessary, while also engaging communities to prevent radicalization and maintain social cohesion.
Ang Wei Neng and Low Thia Khiang inquired about Singaporeans fighting for ISIS and potential ASEAN involvement in military actions; Teo confirmed two Singapore citizens are in Syria and declined to comment on specific military cooperation.
Zaqy Mohamad asked about threats to social fabric from associating radicalism with Muslims; Teo emphasized ongoing community efforts, including collaborations with Muslim leaders, to counter ISIS ideology and prevent backlash.

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8 Sep 2014

Number and Profile of Stay-at-home Mothers

Irene Ng asked for statistics on stay-at-home mothers, their HDB flat types, average CPF savings at age 65, and poverty rates among elderly women and men.
Tan Chuan-Jin reported that about 312,000 women were economically inactive due to family responsibilities, with no data on their HDB flat types.
The average CPF balance for women who turned 65 in 2013 was $56,000, influenced by historical factors like lower wages and fewer women working.
Around half of women aged 65 and older were widows, and 35% of beneficiaries under the ComCare Long Term Assistance scheme were female.
The government emphasized that CPF balances alone do not reflect vulnerability, citing other resources and support schemes for the elderly.

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8 Sep 2014

Contributions to Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund

From 2009 to 2013, an average of 481 Muslim employees per year (about 0.2% of the Muslim workforce) opted out of contributing to the Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund (MBMF), primarily due to migrant workers' unfamiliarity with the fund or a preference for direct donations to mosques.
The MBMF is funded through a mandatory opt-out deduction from salaries of Muslim employees, including citizens, permanent residents, and foreigners, with voluntary contributions also encouraged.
MUIS does not track the annual number of reinstated donors, and the debate clarified the opt-out process under the Administration of Muslim Law Act.

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8 Sep 2014

10-year Validity Period for Passport Holders with Physical Disabilities

Mrs Lina Chiam proposed a 10-year validity period for passports of Singaporeans with physical disabilities.
The government stated all new Singapore passports have a five-year validity to incorporate security updates and prevent forgery.
Measures are in place to assist persons with disabilities in passport application and collection, including online services and wheelchair-friendly facilities.
The five-year validity period applies to all Singapore passport holders, and no exceptions for the physically disabled are being considered.

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8 Sep 2014

Audible Pedestrian Signals at Road Crossings

There are 860 out of 6,000 signalised pedestrian crossings equipped with audible pedestrian signals, primarily due to requests from the visually impaired community.
Audible pedestrian signals generally operate from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm daily to balance safety with minimal disturbance to nearby residents, with extended hours in select locations near the Singapore Association of the Visually Handicapped.
The Land Transport Authority has expressed openness to exploring on-demand activation and other measures to enhance the accessibility and safety of road crossings for all visually impaired pedestrians.

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8 Sep 2014

More incentives to Retain Workers beyond Retirement Age

The government currently protects older workers from age-based dismissal before 62 and requires re-employment offers up to age 65, with dispute resolution through unions or the Ministry.
Existing incentives like WorkPro, Special Employment Credit, and Workfare Income Supplement have raised employment rates for older residents from 47% to 65%, with 99% re-employment at age 62.
Tripartite discussions are underway to extend the re-employment age from 65 to 67, while promotional campaigns encourage fair employment practices and retention of older workers.
Efforts are focused on lifelong learning and skill upgrades to ensure quality employment, though concerns about low wages and fair pay for older workers remain.
The government continues to monitor the situation and considers further incentives, noting that current outcomes compare favorably with other developed countries.

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4 Aug 2014

Take-up Rate of Special Needs Savings Scheme by Persons with Disabilities (PwD)

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked about the take-up rate of the Special Needs Savings Scheme since its 2012 launch, including the number of Persons with Disabilities (PwD) enrolled, their age ranges, and how many have begun receiving benefits after their parents' demise.
As of June 2014, 199 PwD are enrolled in the scheme, with 84% aged between one and 20 years old.
No enrollees have started receiving monthly disbursements from their parents' CPF savings yet, as this only occurs upon the parents' demise.

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4 Aug 2014

Details of Books Withdrawn from the National Library Collection

Since 2011, 64 books have been withdrawn from the National Library collection, with 40 withdrawn based on public feedback and the rest due to internal reviews or other reasons.
In the past 10 years, 153 titles were withdrawn, of which 105 were due to public objections, with reasons including age-inappropriateness, graphic sexual content, excessive violence, crude language, disturbing images, religious sensitivities, and factual inaccuracies.
The Minister provided a breakdown of withdrawal reasons but did not list specific book titles in response to the questions asked.

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4 Aug 2014

Cases of Workplace Discrimination Lodged with Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices

Over the past three years, TAFEP received a rising number of discrimination complaints, peaking at 475 in 2013, primarily due to nationality-related concerns, though this trend has since moderated.
The majority of complaints involve nationality, age, and language or race, with TAFEP engaging employers to advise on fair employment practices and referring cases with prima facie evidence to MOM for investigation.
In the first half of the year, MOM curtailed work pass privileges for 41 employers and issued warnings to 34 others, while employers generally heeded TAFEP’s advice to adjust practices.
Fair employment benefits employers by expanding the talent pool and boosting employee morale and productivity, with support available from TAFEP for both employers and jobseekers.

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4 Aug 2014

Review of Enhancement for Active Seniors Programme

The Enhancement for Active Seniors (EASE) programme review has been completed, with the age criterion lowered from 70 to 65 years old, and further to 60–64 for those needing daily living assistance, expanding coverage to an additional 100,000 households.
The programme’s scope has been extended to include slip-resistant treatment and grab bars for a second toilet in eligible flats.
HDB will consider and approve requests from low-income families with special needs members who do not meet the age criteria if their needs are justified.

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4 Aug 2014

National Library Board's Book Acquisition and Review Process

NLB will establish an advisory panel with diverse community representation to advise on book suitability, while professional librarians retain final decision-making authority.
For books withdrawn due to controversial content, NLB will consider alternatives like transferring to adult sections rather than pulping, after reviewing disposal guidelines.
The Minister affirmed that NLB's collections must respect community norms, especially for children's materials, while maintaining secular policies and serving a broad audience.

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