Religion, race & rights — Topics

14 Jan 2013

Reports Involving Women Being Dismissed or Discriminated Against During Work Appraisals

Ms Tin Pei Ling asked for statistics and reasons on reports of women being dismissed or discriminated against during work appraisals from 2003 to 2012.
The Ministry of Manpower receives about 70 cases annually from 2007 involving women feeling unfairly dismissed, with 70% related to pregnancy; most cases involve work issues like misconduct or poor performance and are resolved through mediation.
The Tripartite Alliance for Fair Employment Practices received eight gender discrimination complaints since 2007, mostly at pre-employment stages, with one in-employment case over non-confirmation after probation.
The government emphasized fair employment practices, urging employers to use objective appraisal systems and encouraging workers to seek help from TAFEP if they face discrimination.

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14 Jan 2013

Evaluation of Requests for Special Allowances for Students Sitting National Examinations

The Ministry of Education evaluates special allowance requests through two channels: medical specialists for sensory and physical disabilities, and an MOE panel of education psychologists for learning disabilities such as dyslexia, ADHD, and autism.
Over the last decade, requests for students with physical and sensory disabilities have remained stable at under 1.5% of candidates, while requests for learning disabilities have increased to about 2% across all examination levels.
Approved allowances include extended time, exemption from certain exam components, and use of readers or scribes, and result slips or certificates are annotated to indicate altered testing conditions, which does not affect student progression or employment.

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14 Jan 2013

Lifts at Overhead Bridges

Lim Biow Chuan asked the government to consider installing lifts at overhead bridges in estates with many elderly residents.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) began retrofitting lifts at six pedestrian overhead bridges near MRT stations in 2012 due to high usage and lack of nearby barrier-free alternatives.
LTA has studied expanding lift provision to more overhead bridges to better serve the elderly and other groups, and has decided in principle to launch a new programme for this.
More details on the new programme will be announced in the coming weeks after finalisation.

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14 Jan 2013

Maintaining Singapore's Values as Growth Continues

Singaporeans and government representatives identified key values such as family, racial and religious harmony, meritocracy, and graciousness as essential to maintain alongside economic growth.
The Minister emphasized that pursuing growth without concern for social justice and cohesion would undermine these values, requiring a balance between material progress and intangible social goals.
To uphold these values, the government and individuals are encouraged to actively participate in community initiatives, volunteerism, and educational programs that promote social responsibility and collective well-being.

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14 Jan 2013

Election of Speaker

Parliament congratulated Halimah Yacob on her historic election as the first female Speaker, praising her extensive experience as a union leader, MP, and Minister of State, and expressing confidence in her ability to preside impartially over debates on national challenges like aging populations and economic competition.
Members acknowledged the resignation of former Speaker Michael Palmer due to an improper relationship, commending his service while emphasizing the need for MPs to uphold high ethical standards, and extended wishes for his personal recovery.
Speakers from both sides of the House expressed strong support for Halimah Yacob, highlighting her advocacy for workers, women, and vulnerable groups, and her role in breaking the glass ceiling, while pledging to maintain decorum and focus on key issues like the Population White Paper and Budget.

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15 Nov 2012

Publication of Academic Performance Broken Down by Ethnic Groups

Asst Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene questioned the annual release of academic performance data broken down by ethnic groups, suggesting it could reinforce racial stereotypes and hurt student self-esteem, and proposed sharing data only with ethnic self-help groups and releasing it publicly every five or ten years instead.
Hawazi Daipi, responding for the Ministry of Education, defended the annual release as providing timely feedback for communities and self-help groups to monitor and celebrate achievements, and to plan educational programmes.
Daipi noted that self-help groups value annual data to assess their initiatives, citing improvements over years, and countered concerns about stereotyping by stating communities do not feel the data enhances stereotypes.
Tan maintained his stance that reduced publicity would still serve the objective of providing feedback while mitigating potential stereotyping, especially since year-to-year changes are minimal.
The debate highlighted a tension between the utility of frequent data for community engagement and the risk of perpetuating racial stereotypes through public reporting.

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14 Nov 2012

Relative Performance of PSLE Students

Asst Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene asked about the relative performance of Primary 6 boys and girls in the middle three quintile bands of the PSLE from 2001 to 2011.
Heng Swee Keat stated that between 2001 and 2011, boys and girls were relatively evenly distributed across the middle three quintile performance bands.
In 2011, girls comprised 20% in the second quintile, 20% in the third, and 21% in the fourth, while boys were 20%, 20%, and 19% respectively in these bands.

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14 Nov 2012

Barrier-free Accessibility Programme

The Minister reported that the Barrier-Free Accessibility (BFA) programme has been completed for all 7,791 HDB blocks, with basic features like ramps and railings retrofitted, and future upgrades may be incorporated through Town Council initiatives.
New HDB estates and all new buildings in Singapore are required to follow Universal Design standards mandated by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), ensuring barrier-free features are included from the start.
Close to 100% of frequently used public sector infrastructure, such as hospitals, markets, and MRT stations, now have basic barrier-free accessibility, including ramps, accessible lifts, and ground-level toilets.
The BCA provides an Accessibility Fund for private building owners to upgrade their premises, with 110 projects approved, leading to barrier-free areas like Orchard Road.

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14 Nov 2012

Sexual Harassment Recourse in Workplace Safety Guidelines for Healthcare Industry

Ms Faizah Jamal proposed that the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Council's guidelines for the healthcare industry explicitly include sexual harassment and sexual abuse, and that these guidelines be extended to all industries.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary noted that the WSH Council's CultureSAFE programme addresses psychosocial risks, including harassment, and that existing healthcare guidelines already cover violence and workplace harassment, which can encompass sexual harassment.
The Ministry of Manpower will consult stakeholders to incorporate psychosocial risk recommendations into additional WSH guidelines, ensuring they are meaningful to the relevant industries.

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14 Nov 2012

Ethnic Quota Policy in HDB Resale Blocks

Pritam Singh inquired about the 25% ethnic limit for Malay households in HDB rental blocks, including if it has been reached, plans to increase it, and whether allocation could be strictly needs-based.
Khaw Boon Wan responded that the Ethnic Integration Policy limits are regularly reviewed, with about 60% of rental blocks having reached the 25% Malay limit, and a review is underway to consider demographic changes.
He confirmed that rental flat applications are assessed on a strict needs basis, with flexibility for location preferences to help applicants, though they are advised on waiting times to make informed choices.

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12 Nov 2012

Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The Singapore government plans to sign the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities but has decided not to sign the Optional Protocol, which allows for individual or group complaints to be investigated by the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The government believes there are sufficient local platforms for raising concerns, such as the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the National Council of Social Service, to address any rights violations.
The Enabling Masterplan Implementation Committee will monitor the Convention’s implementation, facilitate dialogue with the disabled community, and ensure Singapore progresses steadily in fulfilling its obligations.

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12 Nov 2012

Employment for People with Disabilities

About 3% of Singapore's resident population has a disability, with varying degrees of severity, and there is no definitive data on their full-time and part-time employment numbers.
The Open Door Fund has supported 220 companies and 650 persons with disabilities since 2007, disbursing $3.2 million, while the Special Employment Credit has benefited about 1,200 employers and nearly 2,000 persons with disabilities.
The government supports job training through SPED schools, vocational education, and Centres of Training and Integration, though specific figures on beneficiaries over the past five years are not provided.
Efforts to improve public transport accessibility include creating barrier-free routes in MRT/LRT stations, making bus shelters barrier-free, and aiming for 100% wheelchair-accessible buses by 2020, with 54% currently meeting this standard.
Financial assistance for taxi costs is available through the Wheelchair-Accessible Taxi Grant, LTA Cares Fund, and Trailblazer-Chan Chiew Ping Special Schools Fund for persons with disabilities who are working or studying.

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12 Nov 2012

Film Rating of "Sex.Violence.FamilyValues"

Janice Koh raised concerns about the MDA’s reversal of the film’s rating from M18 to Not Allowed for All Rating, questioning the process, lack of alternatives, and its impact on Singapore filmmakers.
Minister Yaacob Ibrahim explained that strong public feedback on the film’s trailer led the MDA to consult the Films Consultative Panel, which overwhelmingly found the film offensive and recommended the NAR rating.
The Minister emphasized that the MDA reflects community standards, that the case is isolated, and that filmmakers can appeal to the Films Appeal Committee for a final decision.
Janice Koh argued that blocking the film denies Singaporeans a chance to discuss racial issues and shrinks the common space, while the Minister disagreed, citing other platforms for dialogue.
David Ong and Baey Yam Keng sought clarification on the classification process, industry engagement, and how differences between the Board of Film Censors and the Films Consultative Panel are resolved.

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12 Nov 2012

Academic Performance of Malay Students

Zaqy Mohamad questioned whether the Ministry of Education (MOE) has studied root causes behind the academic performance gap of Malay students, including factors like English proficiency, socio-economic background, and cultural differences, and what additional steps can be taken.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary responded that Malay students have shown improvement, with rising post-secondary admission rates, and highlighted MOE's support programmes like Learning Support Programmes and Student Care Centres, alongside partnerships with self-help groups and parents.
Zaqy Mohamad emphasized the need for a targeted approach rather than a race-blind one, noting that self-help groups face resource constraints, while MOE acknowledged working holistically with various groups to support students from all ethnic backgrounds.
A supplementary question asked about progress and response to enrichment programmes, with MOE noting positive student response to Learning Support Programmes but lacking specific figures.

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16 Oct 2012

Special Assistance Plan Schools

Minister Heng Swee Keat affirmed that Special Assistance Plan (SAP) schools have effectively nurtured bilingual and bicultural students with a strong foundation in Chinese language and culture, grooming cultural transmitters and language specialists for the Chinese community.
SAP schools offer unique programmes such as Chinese enrichment modules, overseas immersion in China, teaching traditional Chinese values, and integrating Chinese language with non-examination subjects, which are not available in non-SAP schools.
While SAP schools create an immersive Chinese environment that can pose challenges for students taking non-Chinese mother tongues, they have introduced initiatives like Conversational Malay programmes and inter-school activities to promote cross-ethnic interaction and inclusivity.

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16 Oct 2012

Independent Committee to Engage Malay Community

The Minister explained that an independent committee was set up to gather broad-based ideas from the Malay/Muslim community to address complex issues and identify practical solutions.
The committee is chaired by Haji Sallim Abdul Kadir with diverse Vice-Chairs and members selected based on their expertise and in their individual capacities to ensure independence and objectivity.
The committee will engage the community through wide outreach, including focus group discussions and an online feedback platform called "Suara Musyawarah," and aims to deliver a comprehensive roadmap within six to nine months.

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16 Oct 2012

Voluntary Sterilization (Amendment) Bill

The Voluntary Sterilization Act is being updated to align with the Mental Capacity Act and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ensuring that individuals with mental capacity give their own consent and removing discriminatory provisions.
For persons lacking mental capacity, a court order is now required to approve sterilization, ensuring decisions are made in the person's best interests with judicial oversight.
The amendment removes outdated requirements for ministerial approval of institutions and expands the list of qualified medical practitioners, while increasing penalties for unauthorized disclosure of confidential information and coercion.
Concerns were raised about the lack of court approval for minors under 21 seeking sterilization, but the Minister explained existing safeguards, including consent from the minor and a guardian, doctor certification, and hospital ethics committee review.
The debate highlighted the need for continued education, support for caregivers, and ensuring that sterilization is not seen as a convenience but as a decision made in the best interests of the individual.

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16 Oct 2012

Shortage of Haj Pilgrimage Places for Singaporeans

The Minister confirmed that Singapore’s official Haj quota is 680 places, which has been fully allocated, and additional places granted in previous years were not guaranteed, with the current shortfall due to Saudi construction projects affecting all countries.
Early booking losses for some Singaporean Muslims were attributed to travel agents taking business risks beyond the official quota, though the government is appealing to Saudi authorities and managing public expectations for possible future shortfalls.
The Haj management system is comprehensive and audited, with any past irregularities addressed, and the Minister advised the community to prepare for potential ongoing uncertainties in both Haj pilgrimage and overseas Korban arrangements.

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15 Oct 2012

Gender Differences in PSLE Performance

Between 2001 and 2011, girls consistently performed slightly better than boys in the PSLE, with two percentage points more girls in the top performance quintile and three to four percentage points fewer girls in the bottom quintile.
The Minister highlighted that such gender performance gaps are common globally, citing the 2009 PISA reading assessment where girls outperformed boys across all participating countries.
In Singapore, the gender difference in the 2009 PISA results was smaller than in most other countries and below the OECD average.
The data suggests girls hold an academic advantage over boys at the PSLE level, consistent with broader international trends.
The debate focused on examining whether these patterns indicate a sustained gender disparity in early academic performance.

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15 Oct 2012

Re-employment of Older Workers in Private Sector

R Dhinakaran asked the Acting Minister for Manpower about the number of workers offered re-employment contracts in Singapore's private sector since the Retirement and Re-employment Act began on 1 January 2012.
Tan Chuan-Jin stated that a 2011 survey showed 97% of local private sector employees retiring in the year ending June 2011 were offered employment beyond age 62, indicating employers were already re-employment ready before the law.
The implementation of the new law has been smooth, with confidence that older employees will continue to be offered re-employment if fit and able, supported by a tight labour market and tripartite efforts.

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