Volume 95 Tuesday No 74 10 July 2018

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

SINGAPORE

OFFICIAL REPORT

CONTENTS

Written Answers to Questions Page

1 Breakdown of New Hires for Graduate Roles in Public Service and Civil Service from 2013 to 2017 (Mr Lip Fong) 3 2 Update on Current Status of Malaysia- High-Speed Rail Project (Ms ) 3 3 After-arrest Mental Healthcare Provided for Mental Illness Cases (Assoc Prof Pei Siong) 4 4 New Citizens Relinquishing Their Citizenship in Past 20 Years (Mr ) 4 5 Standardisation of Starting Salary for MOH Scholars Across All Its Healthcare Clusters (Er Dr ) 5 6 Research Conducted on Awareness Level of Smoking-related Health Risks among Singaporeans (Ms Joan Pereira) 5 7 Free Live Broadcasts of World Cup 2018 in Singapore (Er Dr Lee Bee Wah) 7 8 Regulation to Ensure Deletion of Personal Data Collected by oBike (Miss ) 8 9 Statistics on Stamp Duty and Property Tax Collected from Purchase and Sale of Properties from 2015 to 2017 (Mr ) 9 10 Breakdown on Disbursement of Agriculture Productivity Fund to Companies (Mr Leon Perera) 9 2

11 Average Annual Electricity Consumption for Commercial Buildings from 2013 to 2017 (Mr ) 10 12 Provisions for Candidates with Medical Certificate to Resit Primary School Leaving Examination (Mr ) 11 13 Tracking of Students Who Drop Out of Secondary Education (Miss Cheng Li Hui) 12 14 CPF Account Withdrawals and Cancellations by Singaporeans and Permanent Residents (Mr Gan Thiam Poh) 13 15 Annual Breakdown on Approval of Foreign Manpower Request for Companies Not Meeting Minimum Salary or Quota Requirements (Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong) 14

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Breakdown of New Hires for Graduate Roles in Public Service and Civil Service from 2013 to 2017

1 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Prime Minister what is the breakdown of new hires for graduate roles in the public service and civil service for each of the past five years according to graduates from local autonomous universities, local private educational institutes and overseas universities. Mr (for the Prime Minister): Between 2013 and 2017, the Civil Service1 hired an average of about 2,800 officers per year for roles at or above the entry- level grade for fresh graduates. Of these new hires, an average of 65% were from local autonomous universities, 4% were from local private educational institutes and 24% were from overseas universities. The remaining were non-graduates. Back to Contents Update on Current Status of Malaysia-Singapore High-Speed Rail Project

2 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Transport (a) what is the current status of the Malaysia-Singapore High-Speed Rail project; (b) what costs is Singapore incurring while waiting for a more definite conclusion; (c) how will local companies and employees involved in the project be affected by the postponement; and (d) what is being done to ensure a favourable outcome. Mr : I thank the Member for her questions. I have addressed them in my reply at the 9 July 2018 Parliament sitting. Back to Contents

1 We do not have information on officers in the Statutory Boards. 4

After-arrest Mental Healthcare Provided for Mental Illness Cases

3 Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Home Affairs what after- arrest mental health care is provided to people with mental illnesses involved in incidents resulting in their arrest. Mr K Shanmugam: After arrest, where the Police are aware that a person is mentally ill, the Police will arrange for a trained volunteer to be with the mentally ill person during interviews with the investigation officer. By the end of 2018, the Police intend to pilot the Home Team Community Assistance and Referral Scheme (HT CARES) at a Land Division, inter alia, for arrested persons who need treatment for mental illnesses. Under the scheme, social workers contracted by the Police (known as CARES officers) will work with the offender to identify underlying issues that could have led to the commission of the offence. We will study the effectiveness of this pilot, before deciding on the next steps. More details will be released later. Back to Contents New Citizens Relinquishing Their Citizenship in Past 20 Years

4 Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what cumulative absolute number of new citizens over the past 20 years have relinquished their citizenship; and (b) whether the number of such cases has been increasing or decreasing annually over the past 10 years. Mr K Shanmugam: A total of 5,400 naturalised Singapore citizens renounced their citizenship between 1998 and 2017, an average of about 270 each year. Over the past 10 years, the annual renunciation rate for naturalised citizens has remained stable and low, at around 0.1%. Back to Contents 5

Standardisation of Starting Salary for MOH Scholars Across All Its Healthcare Clusters

5 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Health (a) whether the starting salary for the Ministry's scholars is standardised across all its healthcare clusters; (b) if not, why is that so; and (c) what are the reasons for the salary discrepancy. Mr : The starting salaries for graduates on Ministry of Health Holdings (MOHH) scholarships are standardised within a range across the public healthcare institutions. The public healthcare institutions will determine the exact starting salary for each MOHH scholar within the range, based on factors such as their level of qualification and relevant working experience. Back to Contents Research Conducted on Awareness Level of Smoking-related Health Risks among Singaporeans

6 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Health (a) whether research has been conducted to investigate the awareness level of smoking-related health risks among Singaporeans; and (b) what is being done to raise awareness of heart diseases and other health problems that can result from smoking. Mr Gan Kim Yong: A 2016 study2 of awareness of the health risks of smoking found that 74 percent of Singaporeans surveyed were aware that smoking was associated with heart disease, 64 percent were aware of the association with stroke, 77 percent were aware that smoking was associated with mouth and throat cancer, and 82 percent were aware that smoking was associated with lung cancer.

2 Ratneswaran C, Chisnall B, Li M, Tan S, Douiri A, Anantham D, Steier J. (2016). Desensitisation to cigarette package graphic health warnings: a cohort comparison between London and Singapore. BMJ Open. 2016; 6:e012693. 6

To raise awareness of the harms of smoking and to educate the next generation of Singaporeans, the Health Promotion Board’s (HPB) has several ongoing communication and education measures: (a) Systematic coverage of the harms of smoking in the school curriculum, supplemented by interactive programmes such as skits, to help dispel common misconceptions about smoking and equip youths with techniques to refuse cigarette offers; (b) Social media outreach to better engage young Singaporeans; (c) Talks and seminars at workplaces and in the uniformed services to reinforce messages for adults; (d) HealthHub.sg to make information on harms of tobacco easily accessible online; (e) Graphic health warnings on all tobacco products to remind both smokers and non- smokers of the harms of tobacco use. Graphic health warnings have been mandatory since 2003, and are refreshed every few years. Many smoking-related ailments, including heart disease, have been featured. This year, HPB will conduct a new public education campaign to encourage Singaporeans to live a tobacco-free lifestyle. The campaign will continue to emphasise the harms of addiction and tobacco use. MOH has also recently conducted a public consultation on the introduction of standardised packaging of tobacco products in conjunction with enhanced graphic health warnings. We have received many submissions, and are in the process of evaluating the responses received. HPB’s communication and education efforts are part of a multi-pronged approach on tobacco control, that includes legislation to control tobacco advertising and the minimum legal age for tobacco use, fiscal measures to reduce affordability, and provision of smoking cessation support. Back to Contents 7

Free Live Broadcasts of World Cup 2018 in Singapore

7 Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Communications and Information (a) whether live broadcasts of World Cup 2018 will be made available in Singapore for free; (b) if so, where can the public access these broadcasts; (c) whether more free televised matches can be made available beyond the nine key matches; and (d) whether the Ministry is able to work with commercial sponsors to make future international sports events available for free broadcasts. Mr S Iswaran: All sixty-four FIFA World Cup 2018 matches will be screened for free across various public venues such as community centres and the Singapore Sports Hub. An estimated 100,000 members of the public have already enjoyed these free screenings. Nine FIFA World Cup 2018 matches are also being broadcast “live” on Mediacorp’s Okto channel for free. Six of these matches have already been broadcast, as will the two Semi-Finals and the Final in the coming days. It is becoming more challenging to provide such “live” broadcasts of international sports events for free. Broadcast rights for international sports events such as the FIFA World Cup are commercially negotiated. Over the years, the cost of these broadcast rights has grown significantly. For the FIFA World Cup 2018, broadcasters in the region paid an estimated 25% to 75% more this year compared to 2014. Broadcasters find it difficult to recoup the escalating cost of broadcast rights, because there are other options for viewers to watch such sports events “live”. Hence, commercial sponsorship is important and we welcome more sponsors to partner our broadcasters to make “live” broadcasts of such international sports events more accessible to Singaporean viewers. Back to Contents

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Regulation to Ensure Deletion of Personal Data Collected by oBike

8 Miss Cheng Li Hui asked the Minister for Communications and Information how can the authorities ensure the deletion of personal data collected by oBike in compliance of the Personal Data Protection Act especially since it claims to have around 1 million members. Mr S Iswaran: oBike, like any other business in Singapore, is required to comply with the data protection obligations under the Personal Data Protection Act (“PDPA”). If a business has no legal or business purpose for the personal data in its possession or control, the PDPA requires it to stop retaining such data. The PDPA continues to apply to a company undergoing liquidation. Where a liquidator is appointed, the liquidator will also have to ensure that the company undergoing liquidation continues to comply with the PDPA. This includes the obligations to protect customer data during liquidation and expunging customer data at the end of the winding-up process if there is no legal or business purpose to retain it. The personal data of customers in Singapore cannot be treated as assets and sold without their consent. In winding up a company, the company’s liquidator may sell the whole or part of the company, its assets, or business. If such a sale takes place, customer data that is directly relevant to the transaction may be transferred to the acquirer. However, under the PDPA, customers must be notified that their personal data has been transferred. If customers do not wish for the acquiring company to use their personal data, they can approach the acquiring company to withdraw their consent, whereupon the acquiring company shall then delete the personal data once there is no legal or business purpose to retain it. The Personal Data Protection Commission (“PDPC”) expects oBike and its liquidators to continue complying with the PDPA even as it prepares to exit the market in 9

Singapore. PDPC has reminded oBike of its obligations under the PDPA, and is monitoring the situation closely. PDPC will not hesitate to take further action to safeguard consumers’ interests if necessary. Back to Contents Statistics on Stamp Duty and Property Tax Collected from Purchase and Sale of Properties from 2015 to 2017

9 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for Finance how much stamp duty and property tax has been collected from the purchase and sale of properties in the first five months of this year and what is the percentage of increase year to year for the past three years. Mr : The Singapore Department of Statistics publishes monthly data on the Government’s operating revenue, including data on stamp duty and property tax collection. Stamp duty is payable on instruments which effect a transfer of interest in properties, and stocks or shares in Singapore. In the first five months of 2018, we have collected about $2.2 billion in stamp duty. The percentage changes in stamp duty collection are: - 6.2% in 2015, +14.2% in 2016 and +45.9% in 2017. Stamp duty from property transactions made up the vast majority of total stamp duty collection. Property tax is payable annually for property ownership. In the first five months of 2018, we have collected about $2.2 billion in property tax. The percentage changes in property tax collection are: +4.2% in 2015, -1.3% in 2016 and +0.4% in 2017. Back to Contents Breakdown on Disbursement of Agriculture Productivity Fund to Companies

10 Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for National Development (a) how much of the Agriculture Productivity Fund has been disbursed to date; (b) how many companies 10 have received funding support from the Fund; (c) how much of the financial disbursement has been to locally-owned enterprises; and (d) how many of these disbursements are related to indoor/vertical farming. Mr : Over $13 million has been awarded to 74 farms from the Agriculture Productivity Fund (APF) to date, of which over $7 million has been disbursed. Local enterprises received more than 90% of the funding disbursed. 14 of the farms are vertical or indoor farms. The AVA account managers will continue to facilitate the farmers’ efforts to transform their operations with the APF’s support. Back to Contents Average Annual Electricity Consumption for Commercial Buildings from 2013 to 2017

11 Mr Saktiandi Supaat asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (a) for the past five years, what has been the average annual electricity consumption for commercial buildings; (b) what is the standard air-conditioned temperature in these buildings; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider having a campaign to encourage companies to turn up the temperature to reduce electricity consumption and reduce carbon footprint. Mr B M M: The average annual electricity consumption of commercial buildings from 2012 to 2016 was around 6,276 GWh per year. The energy use intensity (EUI), which is the total annual electricity consumption per unit floor area, for commercial buildings improved by 7% from 2012 to 2016. Users of air-conditioning are encouraged to set their indoor temperatures at around 25 degrees Celsius. The Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) Green Mark scheme, which certifies environmentally sustainable buildings, awards points for buildings whose indoor temperature is set at 24 to 26 degrees Celsius and relative humidity at <65%, for the comfort of occupants. 11

Buildings contribute up to a quarter of Singapore’s carbon emissions. The “greening” of buildings is necessary if Singapore is to continue developing sustainably and meet our international climate change commitments. BCA leads the government’s climate change mitigation efforts for the building sector, and their third Green Building Masterplan is focused on changing the way building tenants and occupants consume energy. As part of our efforts in the Year of Climate Action, my Ministry will work with BCA on programmes to encourage owners and tenants of commercial buildings to reduce energy consumption and lower their carbon footprint. Back to Contents Provisions for Candidates with Medical Certificate to Resit Primary School Leaving Examination

12 Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for Education (a) whether provisions can be made for candidates to resit the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) when they have a medical certificate which deems them medically unfit to sit for the examination; and (b) whether this can be done without retaining the student for another year. Mr : Candidates who have been certified to be medically unfit to sit for the PSLE will not need to resit the examination as there are methods which allow us to assess the students’ attainment levels. Candidates who are absent from a subject at the PSLE with valid reason(s) will be given a projected T-score for the subject. The projected T-score takes into consideration the candidate's performance in that subject in school, his/her peers' performance in the subject in school and national examinations. If the candidate is absent for the entire PSLE, a PSLE aggregate score would similarly be projected for the candidate using the same approach. He/she will not be required to resit the PSLE. 12

Back to Contents Tracking of Students Who Drop Out of Secondary Education

13 Miss Cheng Li Hui asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry tracks the number of students who drop out of secondary education; (b) what are the reasons for these students not continuing their education; (c) what is the length of the absentee period before schools take action and reach out to the absent students and their families; and (d) what measures does the Ministry take to ensure such students return to school. Mr Ong Ye Kung: The proportion of the Primary One cohort that did not complete secondary education has fallen from 4% in 2000 to less than 1% currently. This is due to the concerted effort of schools, agencies and community partners. The reasons for dropping out are usually a combination of factors, including personal and family circumstances, desire to work rather than study, negative peer influence outside of school, lack of motivation to learn and difficulties coping with their studies. Teachers in schools mark students’ attendance daily. Schools have systems in place to promptly notify parents and check on the students when they are absent without valid reasons. Active steps are also taken to engage students who display irregular attendance, including counselling, parent engagement and home visits. Since 2009, schools have implemented the Time Out Programme to provide enhanced guidance and support for disengaged students, to help them overcome the difficulties that have kept them away from school. Additional support is provided by School Counsellors and Student Welfare Officers who support students in addressing their emotional and behavioural issues and work closely with the family and other community partners to encourage them to return to school. 13

Besides school-based solutions, MOE also taps on the expertise of our partners, such as Social Service Offices, Family Service Centres, Self-Help Groups and Voluntary Welfare Organisations. For example, students who drop out of school are referred to the Enhanced STEP-UP Programme set up by the Ministry of Social and Family Development. Under this programme, VWOs engage out-of-school youths and their families, to encourage the youths to re-engage their schools and community again. Back to Contents CPF Account Withdrawals and Cancellations by Singaporeans and Permanent Residents

14 Mr Gan Thiam Poh asked the Minister for Manpower (a) how many Singaporeans and permanent residents (PRs), in terms of numbers and percentages respectively, did not apply to withdraw $5,000 or more from their CPF accounts upon reaching the age of 55; (b) how many have left more than the minimum sum required in their CPF accounts; and (c) how many PRs have withdrawn and cancelled their CPF accounts, in terms of number and percentage of the total number of PRs, for the past 10 and 20 years respectively. Mrs : As of end 2017, 42% of those who turned age 55 in 2016 did not withdraw any CPF monies within a year of their 55th birthday. This includes the first $5,000 from the Ordinary and Special Accounts (OA and SA) which members can withdraw unconditionally, monies above their cohort Full Retirement Sum, as well as monies above Basic Retirement Sum which can be withdrawn using property charge or pledge. For those who did withdraw, the majority, about 6 in 10 members, withdrew up to $5,000. For the same cohort, about 53% of active members met their Full Retirement Sum in cash and pledge at age 55 in 2016 (i.e., able to set aside the Full Retirement Sum fully in cash, or met Basic Retirement Sum in cash and provided sufficient property pledge or 14 charge). Of this group, about 5 in 10 left additional funds in their CPF Ordinary or Special Accounts. Based on our observations, members do so because they have no immediate need of the money, or they wish to take advantage of the higher CPF risk-free interest rates. From 2013 to 2017, an annual average of 13,500 CPF members, or 0.4% of total CPF members, withdrew their CPF monies when they left Singapore. This includes former Singapore Citizens (SC), former Permanent Residents (PR) and foreigners who contributed to the CPF before 2003. Former SC and PR members can leave their monies in the CPF after they have given up their Singapore citizenship or permanent residency. CPFB does not track the number of former SC and PR members who choose to retain their monies in the CPF. Back to Contents Annual Breakdown on Approval of Foreign Manpower Request for Companies Not Meeting Minimum Salary or Quota Requirements

15 Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Manpower in each of the past five years (a) how many companies have had their foreign manpower requests approved despite not meeting the minimum salary or quota requirements; (b) what criteria are used to determine when such exceptions are to be made; and (c) how does the Ministry ensure that such companies do not gain an unfair competitive advantage over other companies who have not been granted similar exceptions. Mrs Josephine Teo: Our foreign manpower policy is designed to support a vibrant and innovative economy. Conditions for work pass applications are consistently applied. However, where economic agencies have assessed the need to provide additional support to meet specific objectives, we also need to exercise flexibility. 15

In deciding whether an enterprise merits such flexibility, MOM relies on the assessment of economic agencies like EDB, EnterpriseSG and IMDA. Examples of cases where flexibility can be considered include the following: (a) Under the Lean Enterprise Development (LED) Scheme, an enterprise implements a productivity enhancing project that would ultimately make it more manpower-lean. The employer has to hire temporary staff so that it can properly introduce a new system while being able to meet its operational needs using the existing system and manpower. However, during the transition, the additional staff would cause it to exceed the prevailing Dependency Ratio Ceiling (DRC). (b) Under the Capability Transfer Programme (CTP), an enterprise needs the help of foreign specialists to support the implementation of improved technologies or processes and build up the local team. However, while these specialists have the required expertise, they may not meet all the conditions of work pass applications e.g. salary requirements. (c) Early-stage start-ups usually structure their pay packages as a combination of salary and non-cash remuneration such as stock options, for both local and foreign hires. The salary component alone may not be sufficient to meet the prevailing Employment Pass (EP) salary criteria but the presence of these start-ups adds to our economic dynamism. In the past five years, an average of 400 enterprises were provided with such enterprise-level flexibility at any one time, constituting 0.5% of all employers of work pass holders. To ensure a level playing field, the same considerations are consistently applied to any enterprise that is able to provide similar justifications. Back to Contents

Office of the Clerk of Parliament Singapore, 10 July 2018