Category Archives: Budget 2024

Strengthening Our Parliament

Ms He Ting Ru (Sengkang): Chairman, I beg to move, “That the total sum to be allocated for Head F of the Estimates be reduced by $100.” In our country’s governance, Parliament is where the authority of the Government stems. It is also the body which the Government is ultimately accountable to. However, while Singapore has aContinue reading “Strengthening Our Parliament”

Select Committees for Ministries

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song (Aljunied): Mr Chairman, Parliament currently has seven standing Select Committees. But none of these is specific to individual Ministries. This is quite unlike many other legislatures around the world. The United Kingdom’s (UK’s) House of Commons, for example, has Select Committees for every government department, like Defence, Home Affairs andContinue reading “Select Committees for Ministries”

Supporting Retired Athletes

Ms Sylvia Lim (Aljunied): Sir, last July, the House debated a Motion on sporting success filed by the Workers’ Party. I would like to follow up on the issue of how we could show our recognition and gratitude to our retired national athletes. How can we show that we have not forgotten the contributions and personalContinue reading “Supporting Retired Athletes”

Singapore Football

Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap: Sir, I have spoken extensively in this House on the topic of Singapore football. This was the focus of my speech during a Motion on sporting excellence which I filed in July 2023 alongside my colleague Assoc Prof Jamus Lim. From July 2023 until now, our national football team hasContinue reading “Singapore Football”

Progress of Malay/Muslim Community

Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap (Aljunied): Sir, in Malay.  (In Malay): Sir, I would like to ask a few questions to get some clarification and also give suggestions on these two matters, firstly, the Mosque Building and MENDAKI Fund (MBMF), and secondly, M3. Sir, the Mosque Building Fund (MBF) was initially set up to financeContinue reading “Progress of Malay/Muslim Community”

ComLink

Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap (Aljunied): Sir, at the Budget statement a fortnight ago, the rollout of a number of enhancements to ComLink, dubbed ComLink+, was announced. I welcome moves to provide additional assistance and support and empower low-income households. This can go a long way. One feature of ComLink+ is having family coachesContinue reading “ComLink”

Licensed Childminding Services

Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song (Aljunied): Sir, parents who are engaged in shift work often require childminding support outside of childcare centres’ operating hours, which are typically from 7.00 am to 7.00 pm. Many of these parents are from the lower-income groups, for whom shift work is more common. The Forward Singapore report said that childmindingContinue reading “Licensed Childminding Services”

Vouchers for Preschool Education

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim (Sengkang): There is a vast literature on the importance of early childhood education. The economic case for doing so is compelling. The reason is straightforward, as Nobel Prize-winning economist Jim Heckman explained. Early childhood development entails building the necessary foundation for all subsequent human capital development. Without solid roots deeply planted, one’sContinue reading “Vouchers for Preschool Education”

Urban Heat and Density

Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong: Mr Chairman, over the years, this House has raised questions about the urban heat island effect, with studies showing a difference of 7 degrees celsius between urban and less built-up areas of Singapore. Less has been said about the WetBulb Global Temperature (WBGT). Both the urban heat island (UHI) effect andContinue reading “Urban Heat and Density”

Lift Access for All HDB Flats

Mr Dennis Tan Lip Fong (Hougang): I speak again on the issue of lift upgrading for the six blocks of HDB flats in Hougang SMC, where there are still certain flats which do not have same-floor lift access, as I have done every year since 2021. HDB recently gazetted the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) for 10 unitsContinue reading “Lift Access for All HDB Flats”