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

The Chairman: Head X, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. Dr Lim Wee Kiak.

Rallying Singaporeans

Dr Lim Wee Kiak (Sembawang): Mr Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head X of the Estimates be reduced by $100".

Last year, we witnessed the year-long SG50 celebrations which were held to mark the 50th anniversary of our Independence. More than 500 initiatives were organised to celebrate Singapore's 50th year of Independence, including the biggest National Day Parade and the Future of Us exhibition. What is heartening is that about 400 of the initiatives were started by ordinary Singaporeans. They were all ground-up. The SG50 celebration fund disbursed about $10 million to organisers of these ground-up projects. Each project was evaluated on its ability to raise awareness of our Singaporean identity, our sense of belonging to Singapore, outreach to engage the community; as well as to show potential in successful completion and execution according to plan.

The ground-up initiatives saw many new innovative projects that rallied Singaporeans together and touched our hearts. There were many short films and documentaries produced by individuals and groups.

One such documentary is "And So They Say", a documentary project showcasing an honest narrative on life's construct from interviews with 25 seniors, allowing an intimate glimpse into the legacy of Singapore's Pioneer Generation. Another is "Singapore, My Home". It is an effort to foster a sense of community and belonging. It features a video collection of stories from Singaporeans and people who have come to call Singapore home.

With food being a favourite Singaporean past-time, there were also projects with a food theme, such as #SgEatWithUs. It is a ground-up movement that celebrated the stories and values of Singaporeans surrounding local home-cooked food by building a community which shares, cooks and appreciates local home-cooked food. There was a series of food carnivals organised to bring people together.

There is another project called "jiakSimi.sg", a website documenting recipes of top 50 local hawker dishes from the major races in Singapore, accompanied by a short write-up on each dish's origin, history and where we can find them.

These celebrations led Singaporeans to appreciate the Pioneer Generation and the country's past and to reflect on how Singapore overcame the odds.

The variety of activities touched the hearts of many and it helped to bring a sense of belonging and bonding to everyone. People were encouraged to come together and build the future together, to share their memories of the past and contribute ideas on what future they want. Many other pieces of feedback were given during dialogue sessions, young people shared their aspirations and these were subsequently captured in The Future of Us exhibition. Indeed, one important discussion dwelt on the need to build on the trust and confidence among different races in the light of challenges posed by religious extremists.

The important point is: now that we have aroused so many good vibes, elicited so much feedback, thoughts and ideas, where do we go from here? How do we make good use of the goodwill and gems arising from the SG50 celebrations so that we do not miss out on the opportunities to grow and nurture them to take us into the next 50 years?

I am glad and excited on the proposed Our Singapore Fund that was announced in this year's Budget. Our Singapore Fund will support projects that build the spirit of caring and resilience, nurture our can-do spirit and promote unity and our sense of being Singaporean. The total fund size will be up to $25 million and will be set up by the second half of this year.

Can the Minister shed more light and details on this new fund? Is this a continuation of the SG50 Celebratory Fund? What valuable lessons have we learnt from the SG50 Celebratory Fund that we can apply to Our Singapore Fund? Will the Government increase the fund size if there is an overwhelming demand?

I am confident that the Our Singapore Fund will be welcome and well-utilised. I would like to quote Minister Heng Swee Keat in an interview that was published in December last year, "I hope that we will build on the Singapore spirit, stay united and... build an even more endearing home for every Singaporean."

That summarises and captures the essence of Our Singapore Fund. Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

Inspiring a Knowledgeable and Adaptable Malay/Muslim Community

Mr Zainal Sapari (Pasir Ris-Punggol): Sir, in light of an ever-changing economic landscape, we need to improve opportunities for our citizens and help them prepare for the future ahead. Global competition will not get any easier and the needs of companies from the workforce are ever-changing.

In October last year, MENDAKI set up the Future Ready Unit to help the Malay/Muslim community to better prepare for the future economy by optimising opportunities arising from the SkillsFuture initiative. In Malay, Sir.

(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] MENDAKI's Future Ready Unit comprises members who are experts in their respective fields and they can share their experience to help the community benefit from the national SkillsFuture initiatives.

One of the tasks of this unit is to identify strategies that can equip Malay/Muslim workers, including students, with the relevant skills, in addition to encouraging Malay/Muslim workers to identify the various pathways that they can take in order to deepen their knowledge in a certain area.

This will help them to acquire future skills that are relevant so that they will stay employable when the industries here undergo the transformation to improve productivity and stay competitive.

(In English): I would like to ask the Minister what are some of the plans that the Future Ready Unit will be working on for the coming year.

Helping the Malay/Muslim Workforce

Mr Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh): Mr Chairman, Sir, in Malay, please.

(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Singapore is gearing itself for the Future Economy that will be challenging and offers many opportunities. There will be structural changes in our economy and this will invariably affect jobs and the skill demands of the workforce among the Malay/Muslim community.

Retraining and staying relevant to the needs of the economy are necessary if the workers wish to find jobs and keep pace with the changing economic environment. The whole country will have to work hard to stay competitive in the global market. Many businesses are jostling for market share with lower profit margins, as they try to retain their clients or even when getting new customers on board. I believe our Government will do everything within its means to help Singapore's workforce, including Malay/Muslim workers, to be retrained and to keep them relevant to the Future Economy.

Can the Minister outline what is MENDAKI and SENSE College doing to help the various segments of the Malay/Muslim workforce so that they can cope with the short- to medium-term challenges, apart from other national initiatives that are available now?

The Chairman: Mr Azmoon Ahmad; not here. Mr Amrin Amin.

Knowledgeable and Adaptable Care

Mr Amrin Amin (Sembawang): Our Singapore Malay/Muslim community is in a better educational standing compared to five years ago, as suggested by the General Household Survey 2015 report. This progress was made possible through the efforts of the Government, our Malay/Muslim organisations, families and parents.

But the world is changing and there are many new challenges. As a community, we have to respond to this changing landscape. What are MENDAKI's plans to further strengthen its educational programmes and outreach, especially with the increased Mosque Building and MENDAKI Fund (MBMF)?

I was a tutor in the flagship MENDAKI tuition scheme (MTS) for many years. I enjoyed my weekly tuition classes tremendously. MTS centre supervisors and tutors play a very critical role in ensuring the success of MTS. How can we better support and equip our tutors so that they can ensure even better educational outcomes for our students? Mr Chairman, with your permission, I will speak in Malay.

(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The achievement and progress of our community were made possible through the efforts and dedication of parents and families within our community, as well as the strong support from the Government and Malay/Muslim organisations.

The Malay/Muslim community in Singapore has undeniably achieved much progress. The General Household Survey 2015 report found that the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore is doing better in terms of education, compared to five years ago. This is good progress. However, the world is changing and will continue to change. Challenges are becoming more daunting.

Recently, an announcement was made about the increase in the MBMF contributions. The fund supports the development and enhancements to mosques, religious programmes as well as various educational and social programmes by Malay/Muslim bodies like the MENDAKI Foundation and the Association of Muslim Professionals (AMP).

On the issue of education, this fund is crucial so that our children can succeed in school and enhance their knowledge in order to have a brighter future. We must work with parents, teachers, schools and community leaders so that our children have the opportunity to achieve their potential through education.

May I ask what are MENDAKI's plans to further strengthen its education and community engagement programmes, especially with the increase in the MBMF contributions?

MTS provides tuition classes for subjects like English Language, Mathematics and Science. Many Malay/Muslim students have benefited from it. The success of this scheme surely depends on the abilities of its tutors.

Hence, may I know how we can provide better support and equip the MTS tutors with the necessary skills so that they can perform their duty to ensure that our children can excel further in education?

Nurturing Resilient and Caring Families

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef (Marine Parade): Sir, families represent the basic unit of society. Strong families make for strong nations.

Our community has been putting in a lot of effort trying to reduce the disamenities faced by disrupted and reconstituted families. The "Many Helping Hands" approach is certainly helpful towards this. There may be a need to continue to enhance resources, empowerment as well as the take-up rate and regular attendances at counselling and nurturing sessions. Currently, there are some generic as well as targeted programmes for these families that are being offered but we hope that more can come forward. How else will Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) and MENDAKI assist and also sort out the root causes faced by these families and also provide more support for them in a targeted way? Also, can I find out what proportion of our annual zakat collection is being disbursed to such families? Has this proportion remained stable or has it changed over the last three to five years?

The Chairman: Mr Azmoon Ahmad; not present. Mr Muhamad Faisal.

Malay/Muslim Community Development Fund (MMCDF)

Mr Muhamad Faisal Bin Abdul Manap (Aljunied): Sir, in Malay.

(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] In his reply to my query in this Chamber on whether the Malay/Muslim Community Development Fund (MMCDF) can be extended to the mosques, the Minister said that this cannot be done as mosques are not considered to be Malay/Muslim bodies. However, he added that mosques can receive this fund if their social programmes are run in cooperation with Government bodies or other Malay/Muslim organisations.

I really admire the efforts of the Muslim community in Singapore in the administration of mosques. The management board and staff of every mosque work hard to run these mosques, while the Muslim community also plays a role to achieve stability for the mosques by contributing their money and energy. As we know, mosques welcome contributions from the community in any shape or form, especially financial contributions. This is because, as I understand it, all the expenses incurred in running a mosque like utility bills, payment of monthly salaries and so on are also funded with money contributed by the community.

This spirit of partnership is born out of the intent and sincere effort to achieve a shared objective that is to help mosques in Singapore prosper. The stability of mosques, which is built on this spirit of partnership, will turn mosques into one of the important and main contributors not only in spiritual development, but also in the social development of our Muslim community.

Sir, one of the themes of this year's Budget is the spirit of partnership. In the name of this spirit of partnership, I would to like to ask that the Minister and the Government consider the proposal that this fund be extended to the mosques, so that this MMCDF can bring further benefits towards the development of the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore. This will also strengthen the spirit of partnership between the Government and Malay/Muslim bodies.

Sir, I have two questions for the Minister. First, can the Minister clarify what are the criteria that are being used to categorise an institution or organisation as a Malay/Muslim organisation (MMO)? Secondly, who decides on these criteria?

Underage Marriages

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef: Mr Chairman, the numbers of underage and teenage marriages have always been on the radar of our community. This is because observations, studies and statistics have shown a significant proportion of them to have family financial problems, as well as a higher rate of divorce, and subsequent remarriages, resulting in many challenges and disruptions for the children of such families.

Efforts have been proactive and have been put forth to contain their numbers. Marriage counselling has also been targeted towards this group of people.

Can we have an update on the current numbers that we face in the community and to assess if targeted interventions that have been implemented along the way have been positive and have impacted these families? How are we tracking them and the existing couples who need assistance and continue to need assistance? Are there further interventions and new initiatives underway?

The Chairman: Ms Rahayu Mahzam, you can take your three cuts together.

Marriage Preparation Course for Malay/Muslim Couples

Ms Rahayu Mahzam (Jurong): Thank you, Chairman. In Malay, please.

(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Strong families are the foundation of a resilient community. Hence, efforts should be made to help families stay strong. It is important for the Government to provide specific programmes to help the community with this, especially for young couples.

There are already Marriage Preparation Courses that couples who intend to get married have to attend. These courses are useful in preparing these couples so that they can receive some guidance and are encouraged to think about the important aspects of marriage.

In order to ensure the effectiveness of this programme, a review and assessment should be done to see whether this programme has achieved its objectives and is well-received by couples who attend the courses.

In addition, it is also important to ensure that there is a follow-up programme to help couples in the early years of their marriage. They may face challenges when dealing with issues like finances, relations with in-laws, plans for their children and so on. I hope that attention can be given to this group in order to help them go through the challenging times during their marriage and ensure that they stay together.

(In English): Strong families are the foundation of a resilient community. It is thus important to invest in programmes to help families stay strong. I note that there are already in place Marriage Preparation Courses for couples to provide the guidance and support for those who intend to be married.

Apart from these courses, I believe that it is also imperative that we give some support to couples with young children in the early years of their marriage. These couples have to cope with significant changes in their lives and may face some challenges.

At last year's Committee of Supply (COS) debate, the Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs mentioned that the Ministry of Social and Family Development will be developing a Cinta Abadi enrichment framework targeted at Malay/Muslim couples in their first 10 years of marriage. Can the Minister give an update on this development?

Counselling Programme at the Syariah Court

(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Divorce rates have remained steady over the past few years. I believe that the Syariah Court's efforts in conducting counselling programmes have helped. However, usually, couples who go to the Syariah Court would have already decided to proceed with divorce and it is hard to save their marriage.

Even so, it is important for us to ensure that their family relationship is preserved, especially if the couple have small children. The couple should discuss in a mature manner and come up with a plan for their children after they are divorced. Based on my past experience as a lawyer and as the Deputy Registrar at the Syariah Court, divorced couples are usually still angry and have difficulty talking to each other.

This behaviour will have a negative effect on their children. Hence, efforts should be taken to provide support for these couples. The Syariah Court has embarked on several initiatives like discussing parenting plans during counselling and information sessions for those who have divorced.

I think that there should be a sustained effort in this matter to provide support to couples who are divorcing, in order to take care of their children's well-being. It is also important for counsellors and lawyers who are assisting divorcing couples to be trained and equipped with the necessary skills, so that they can give effective support and guidance to divorcing couples.

(In English): Divorce rates have remained steady over the past few years. I believe that the Syariah Court, through its Marriage Counselling Programme, has helped in this regard. But not all marriages can be saved and the Syariah Court has embarked on several measures to help divorcing couples and to ensure the best interests of the children are met. Can the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs give an update on some of these measures?

We have also seen some developments in the Family Justice Courts in respect of child-centric initiatives, such as the introduction of Parenting Coordinators. Are there plans to mirror some of these developments and, in particular, in enhancing the capabilities of our practitioners, such as lawyers and the marriage counsellors?

Enhancement of Syriah Court Processes

The Syariah Court is a key institution in the Muslim community, dealing primarily with Muslim divorces. The powers of the Syariah Court are set out in the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA) and the specific procedures are detailed in the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Rules (MMDR). The Court deals with couples and families and it has, over the years, developed its procedures to enhance its services to the community.

I believe that efforts can be put in place to further enhance the Court's delivery of services in two areas, namely: (a) through improvements to the Court's processes; and (b) through a review and update of AMLA and MMDR.

Firstly, in respect of Court processes, I believe there is a need to review the processes and incorporate the use of technology, where appropriate. In particular, the Court may wish to consider introducing electronic or online filing of Court documents like how it is done in the Family Justice Courts and the State Courts.

This is also in keeping with the national approach of embracing technology to improve productivity and enhancing service to the community. Processes like the registration process can be made simpler and faster and data collected can be stored and used at the next stage of proceedings, without requiring parties to provide the same information again.

Secondly, there is a need to review and update AMLA and MMDR. The last amendment of AMLA came into effect in 2009. It is important to review whether the provisions match the existing circumstances of the community, as well as the current practice of the Court.

Issues, such as jurisdiction, the hakam process, the talak declaration process, may be some of the areas that the Court may wish to review. It is useful to look at the existing procedures and forms and amend AMLA and MMDR accordingly, to make the process more expedient. It is important to do so, so that the Court can better serve the community.

In light of the above, could the Minister share if there are plans to review and enhance the Syariah Court processes and amend AMLA or MMDR to clarify and streamline the legal procedures?

Empowering a Cohesive and Progressive Muslim Community

Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim (Nee Soon) (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Sir, our mosques play an important role in the lives of our community. Our mosques are not only a place where we seek tranquillity, but also a place for us to acquire religious knowledge.

Mosques are also the key to a broader network in the provision of social assistance, including zakat, and to refer cases to the Social Service Offices (SSOs) and Family Service Centres (FSCs), if necessary. There is a very strong gotong royong spirit in our mosques. Many youths serve as volunteers in various mosque activities and operations, especially during Friday prayers. I am heartened to see such strong support from the community, because everyone in the community has a role to ensure that our mosques are safe and comfortable for all.

The Minister announced an increase in the MBMF contributions last month and shared plans to improve the mosque institutions in the coming years, by increasing prayer space and improving the infrastructure for the convenience of the congregants, especially the elderly.

Can the Minister elaborate on the progress of the Mosque Development Programme? In addition, can the Minister give an update on construction of the Maarof Mosque in Jurong West and the Yusof Ishak Mosque in Woodlands?

During last year's COS, the Minister announced that we will build the Tampines North mosque and are looking at ways to deal with the shortage of prayer space in the Al-Istighfar mosque in Pasir Ris. Can the Minister provide more details about these plans and share with us what the community can expect in the next few years?

Joint Madrasah System

Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar (Ang Mo Kio): In Malay, please, Mr Chairman.

(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The Joint Madrasah System (JMS) that was implemented in 2009 has come a long way in levelling up our full-time Madrasah education system and developing it into a world-class education system. Many changes have been made to strengthen our Madrasah education, including the revamp of secondary education for Madrasah Al Arabiah, where from 2015, the students are able to choose between a four-year direct GCE "O" Level route; or a five-year GCE "N" Level route, followed by the GCE 'O' Level examinations.

In the light of abundant opportunities in the information technology and other growth sectors, I would like to know how our Madrasah curriculum will be modified and strengthened to better prepare our full-time Madrasah students, so that they can seize the available opportunities when they join the workforce.

I would also like to ask the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs if he can provide an update on the progress of the JMS and what else can be done to make our full-time Madrasah system more holistic.

My two other concerns are: firstly, students in our mainstream schools who come from lower-income families can tap on the Ministry of Education (MOE) Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS). However, for full-time Madrasah students who may come from less privileged or lower-income families, are there similar financial assistance schemes provided by MUIS or the madrasahs? Secondly, I understand that the land lease for Madrasah Al Arabiah will be expiring soon. There are concerns in the community about where the Madrasah will be relocated and whether a longer term lease can be obtained, so that proper facilities can be built and implemented for the students and asatizahs of Madrasah Al Arabiah.

Part-time Islamic Education

Mr Saktiandi Supaat: Mr Chairman, in Malay, please.

(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The religion of a person can play an important role because it is a form of guidance, especially in times of crisis. It is a good sign that more Malay/Muslim youths and adults are actively seeking out a better understanding of Islam. This is evident from the relatively good demand for part-time Islamic Studies in Singapore, from both public and private institutions.

One of the key thrusts of MUIS' fifth three-year plan is to focus on increasing the community's participation in Islamic Education, particularly among our young. This will help to ensure that our young remain rooted to the proper values, based on the foundations of Islam.

The actions of extremists in the Middle East have generated a lot of curiosity and controversy. Subsequently, there is a prevalence of flawed online resources masquerading as Islamic teachings.

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These resources are often dynamic and provocative, and youths who do not have a good understanding of the religion would run the risk of being susceptible to erroneous teachings and become misguided.

An effective curriculum in Islamic Studies can help to empower a cohesive and progressive Muslim community. It is important that all institutions offering Islamic Studies provide legitimate curriculum and content that are true to Islam, easily absorbed and understood.

Could the Minister elaborate on plans and strategies for part-time religious education in the coming years?

Cohesive and Progressive Muslim Community

Mr Zainal Sapari: Sir, visitors are highly impressed by our ability to maintain a high level of cohesion amongst the various races and religions. This is what makes Singapore united as a nation. It is the focal point of our national identity. Unfortunately, we are facing challenging times where falsehood is being hailed as the truth and it is becoming increasingly difficult to counter such propaganda. As a Muslim, I am worried that people of other faiths may have a biased view of Islam in light of recent events around the world. There is an urgent need to counter any possible negative perception.

I would like to reiterate that inter- and intra-religious cohesion is of paramount importance to Singapore. We have closed ranks and stood together to speak out against extremism and against those who could threaten our security. In Malay, Sir.

(In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Our asatizahs, or religious teachers, can play an important role to discuss the issue of terrorism and also guide our community about life in a multireligious society like ours. I am heartened to see that many of our asatizahs are aware that it is important that we practise tolerance and give and take with other religious groups.

Hence, in order to play this role better, it is imperative that we provide training for our asatizahs and equip them with secular knowledge that is updated and relevant, so that they have a wider perspective of issues pertaining to society and the world.

Our asatizahs must also possess an open mind and a willingness to acquire the latest secular knowledge in their effort to help the community understand the challenges that can damage a harmonious plural society.

I would like to hear the Minister's views on the role that our asatizahs can play and how our community can stay together in these challenging times.

Strength in Diversity

Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang) (In Malay): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Mr Chairperson, I am pleased and proud to see so many of our madrasah students progressing in education, with some of them even going on to achieve excellence in the mainstream schools.

Many have also continued their studies in Islamic institutions overseas like Cairo and Jordan. This group will potentially become future community leaders and, hence, we should continue to engage and communicate with them, so that they will stay rooted here. The knowledge that they acquire overseas, together with an understanding of the multiracial and socio-economic situation in Singapore, will be crucial.

How will MUIS and our religious leaders shape the relationship and ties with this group and how are they being prepared for their return to our shores? I hope that we can make good use of their potential and ensure that every graduate has ample opportunity to serve our community, religion as well as our economy in the future.

Diversity will always be part of our lives, and these young people will also play an important role in maintaining our solidarity. In this era, the education of our young is not solely done in schools because we must also expose them to a broader mindset and perspectives, including life values, especially with the influence of social media.

So far, we have been able to increase understanding through various initiatives, but due to the presence of many influences and challenges, including within the Muslim community itself, the situation may be different for future generations. The ability to give and take, and being tolerant, does not happen automatically.

What is the Minister's view on the type of life values that our young people should display and advocate and how can we encourage more Malay/Muslim youths to play a part in nation-building and provide leadership opportunities for them in the community as well as at the national level?

People's Association

Ms Sylvia Lim (Aljunied): Sir, the People's Association (PA) has evolved since its inception in 1960. Its original role was countering communist activities and fostering social stability and national security. PA has gone from community centres to community clubs, from providing television sets and simple sports facilities to holding courses and large-scale activities. I am concerned with two aspects: the PA's ever-increasing budget and whether PA has, in some respects, deviated from its mandate.

First, the budget. While we understand that the financial year (FY) 2015 Budget was much larger than usual due to the SG50 activities and building residents' facilities, the FY 2016 budget is still very high, at nearly $900 million. This is a significant 34% increase from FY2014. How is the high expenditure justified?

Second, it seems to me that some PA activities have exceeded its mandate. To recap, the People's Association Act states that PA is incorporated for the purpose of promoting community recreation and incidental matters. Its objects are stated to relate to fostering cohesion and bonding and to promoting group participation that transcends sectional loyalties. The PA's role then is to unite, receiving heavy taxpayer funding for such.

An unhealthy culture seems to have developed within some quarters of PA who sees its role to include advancing the Ruling Party politically and undermining the work of Opposition Members of Parliament. PA activists being mobilised to campaign for People's Action Party (PAP) candidates at elections is just one aspect. As Opposition Members, when we try to advance our residents' welfare through infrastructure projects, we learn that Government agencies like the Ministry of National Development (MND) and the Housing and Development Board will only recognise PA organisations, such as Citizens Consultative Committees (CCCs) and Residents' Committees (RCs) as "the proper channels". When I tried to simply get information from MND on the plans for private estate upgrading projects within Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC), the Ministry referred me to the CCC. I then wrote several times to the CCC, but it seems that my letters do not even merit a reply.

The Chairman: Mr Alex Yam, you can take your two cuts together.

National Resilience

Mr Alex Yam (Marsiling-Yew Tee): Mr Chairman, the founding fathers of modern Singapore placed a huge premium on multiculturalism and racial harmony to help chart Singapore's course forward towards success and prosperity. But in our journey towards these goals, did we leave behind the resilience that we had in us and which served us so well, when standing up to the communists and communalists in our formative years?

What has happened along the way? Did our new-found prosperity and confidence in ourselves lead us to losing our fundamental principle of being Singaporeans as one united people?

Our children are taught the importance of unity and racial harmony in schools. But how much of it is retained in their later years? How big an impact is information gleaned online, so much so that intolerance takes root in our young?

For those who are somewhat surprised by what I have said, I would, however, give in that when we look online, this is the situation that we see. The online chatter is disconcerting, to say the least, and leads us to wonder how digital communications may have poisoned the chalice.

I hope the Ministry would be able to shed some light on this recent phenomenon and advise the House on the measures being taken to engage young people so that we understand their concerns and lead them on to become better Singaporeans who care for their own and the community at large. Only by doing so would we be able to chart our way forward to SG100.

And moving on to the growing threat of radicalisation amongst the young due to the pervasiveness of online disinformation, what are the Ministry's plans to continue to build up national resilience and cohesiveness to safeguard unity in Singapore?

Accessible Arts and Digital Engagement

Mr Chairman, art challenges us, inspires us, enables us and provokes us. Over the years, Singapore has made tremendous progress in growing, promoting and nurturing a cultural landscape, curating both world-class museums and the performance arts. Even as we grow this scene and put in the investments, how do we make sure that just such a landscape is accessible and relevant to Singaporeans and our own local culture?

Accessibility also lies beyond whether art is comprehensible but also whether fundamentally it is physically accessible. Often, we hear of people talking about visiting the museum, watching the latest theatre production. But for people with disability, attending a concert is not as simple as buying a ticket and turning up, and going to an exhibition may not be as simple as an impromptu visit to the galleries. In addition, the less fortunate, especially children, deserve a stake in our nascent arts scene.

Arts hold tremendous remarkable learning opportunities for the young, and no one should be left behind. Could the Ministry share how it has made it possible for the disabled, the less well-off and the vulnerable young to be engaged in the arts scene and how the Ministry plans to expand this so that they can contribute to and fully experience the arts and cultural life?

I further urge the Ministry to extend more funding to worthy ground-up initiatives to engage the less fortunate in arts.

On the subject of potential digital platforms, has the Ministry also looked at the potential for it to transform and expand the arts scene and in reaching out to more Singaporeans? How has the Ministry been tapping on this and what plans does the Ministry have, especially in engaging our youths with arts, heritage and culture?

The Chairman: Dr Lim Wee Kiak, take your two cuts together.

Building a Cultural Capital

Dr Lim Wee Kiak: Chairman, in the past decade, we have seen many commendable infrastructure developments to boost our arts and culture scene for Singapore. We have over 40 galleries. There is an almost inexhaustible number of arts venues listed in the Singapore Art Gallery Guide. There are also more than 20 heritage centres and museums about history and culture. Our newly revamped museums with state-of-the-art technology and our National Gallery opened last year were all welcomed. These cultural infrastructures were significant investments by our Government. However, they need to be complemented and supported by programmes that can engage, enhance and excite our public. Otherwise, they will remain nothing more than just impressive infrastructures.

I am not sure if we are getting the support from the ground that we are targeting. Are we getting more people involved and engaged in arts and culture or have we hit a plateau?

But how do we measure the amount of arts activities in Singapore? How do we currently stand, compared to five years ago, for instance? And how do we stand, compared to other countries? Artnet, for example, has listed Oslo, Brussels and Mexico City as the best cities for the modern-day artist. What can we learn from these artistic countries to close the gap and make arts more accessible and pleasurable for Singaporeans? What does the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) see as the next step, in our efforts to develop our city centre as a lively arts and cultural belt that is distinctively Singaporean, and that Singaporeans can be proud of and enjoy?

Supporting Traditional Arts

Raising the level of appreciation of our traditional arts can help Singaporeans better understand our roots, promote cross-cultural understanding and help make sense of "What does it mean to be Singaporean?" How can MCCY help more young Singaporeans to be exposed to and learn to appreciate traditional arts in schools and forge cross-cultural understanding?

To support and promote Singapore traditional arts, we need to have greater focus or attention on the development of artistic and management capabilities, as well as to cultivate new audiences across different genres of traditional arts. We need to identify the training needs of the traditional arts scene, showcase homegrown talents, encourage active cultural and knowledge exchange and provide networking opportunities among artists, both locally and regionally. These initiatives will complement the existing total range of support provided for traditional arts groups, ranging from grants and arts house subsidies, to the national competitions to identify and nurture young talents in traditional arts and music. Can the Minister give an update on how the National Arts Council's (NAC's) traditional arts plan has helped to nurture and deepen traditional arts practice in Singapore and what are the plans ahead?

In 2015, the Government announced that it would put some $25 million in funding for traditional arts over the next five years. These funds are used to foster audiences both at home and abroad and to improve research and documentation of traditional Asian art forms. Where are we now in promoting traditional arts in Singapore today? Can the Minister give the House an update on the progress?

Interpreting Singapore's History

Mr Low Thia Khiang (Aljunied): Sir, I believe that the learning and understanding of Singapore history can contribute to having a stronger national identity and of being Singaporean. This is especially so when young minds in schools are exposed early to the history of Singapore.

I am of the view that this can only be achieved if history is presented to encourage students to consider multiple perspectives and engage in critical thinking. This will also reduce students' and parents' perceptions of using history as Government propaganda.

I believe the same should apply to the representations of history in exhibitions curated by the National Heritage Board (NHB). This would include exhibitions at museums such as the National Museum and interpretive centres, such as the Malay Heritage Centre and Nanyang Memorial Hall.

It is time we move away from representations of a "standard" or "official" history. We should allow different interpretations of history with the goal of encouraging critical thinking and promoting citizenship education to guide NHB exhibitions.

For example, the recent Parliament in Singapore History exhibition could take on different interpretations as seen from the multiple perspectives of the Pioneer statesmen, ruling party backbenchers, opposition party Members, women Members, minority Members and so on.

NHB now provides grants to organisations and individuals keen to conduct historical research and curate exhibitions on history. An independent commission made up of professional historians and heritage specialists from different institutions should be set up to oversee the grants, with the mission to encourage critical thinking through different interpretations of history.

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An independent commission would signal to the public that the Government is not here to control and censure history. The historical exhibitions will have more legitimacy with the public and, therefore, promote citizenship education.

Heritage Impact Assessment

Mr Chen Show Mao (Aljunied): Sir, local heritage is becoming increasingly important as Singapore matures and our national identity develops. Our heritage is key to understanding who we are and where we came from.

In the past few years we have seen several public debates over heritage and what we should preserve. We have also seen several archaeological excavations, for example, in Fort Canning, St Andrew's Cathedral, Adam Park, Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, the site of the National Gallery Singapore and most recently, Empress Place. These excavations are signs of our interests in our past and the Government's efforts to support heritage awareness. Sir, we can do more.

Strengthen the existing legal framework over heritage impact assessments, or HIAs, and over artefacts from archaeological excavations. Currently, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Planning Act does make it mandatory for persons seeking to develop land to carry out HIAs. Without these assessments, we would not know if such development would put historically significant buildings, structures or artefacts at risk. We should make HIAs mandatory. These are assessments that will help URA or the Minister make better informed decisions over development.

Another crucial gap in the legal framework is the issue of ownership of artefacts that are discovered in the course of archaeological excavations. The law is currently unclear on who owns the artefacts, the landowner or the state, with different implications for their protection.

I call on the Government to establish an inter-Ministerial working committee to develop HIA requirements and review the current state of heritage protection, in consultation with civil society groups like the Singapore Heritage Society, Nature Society and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Singapore.

The Chairman: Mr Kok Heng Leun, you have two cuts, you can take them together.

Community Development and Place-making

Mr Kok Heng Leun (Nominated Member): Let me, first, declare my interests. I am the Artistic Director of a theatre company that is very much involved in creating and curating socially-engaged and community-engaged art. I am also a member of the examination board of the Intercultural Theatre Institute.

Mr Chairman, in 2011, the Arts and Culture Strategic Review (ACSR) report was unveiled. It outlined a vision for 2025. I quote: "...a nation of cultured and graceful people, at home with our heritage, and proud of our Singapore identity". To achieve this vision, two strategic directions were identified: one, to bring arts and culture to everyone, everywhere, and every day; two, to build capabilities to achieve excellence.

In response to the report, the Government has committed $270 million worth of programmes under three master plans, rolled out over five years from 2012 to 2016. This would mean that come 2017, we can look forward to a comprehensive review of what has been achieved.

This review will be an important document to help us determine the approaches we should take for the next eight years as we move into 2025. Hence my two cuts will deal with these two strategic directions for the future.

The community engagement master plan that was rolled out since 2012 has seen a proliferation of arts programmes organised by PA, NAC, NHB and the National Library Board (NLB). It has increased the number of art activities and brought the arts closer to our doorstep. This has provided livelihoods for some artists who are very committed to working with the community. Going forward, I would like MCCY to look at the following issues.

Firstly, engagement on a deeper level. Let me share about a project entitled "Unseen: Constellation" which is currently being exhibited at the Chapel Gallery of Objectifs along Middle Road. Initiated by artist Alecia Neo, the project involves seven students living with visual impairment from Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School. Over two years, under the guidance of mentors from a diverse range of professions, the students were immersed in a very deep process of discovery, which resulted in them creating works that explore their lives and dreams. The various artworks now displayed at the gallery comprise music videos about friendship and discrimination, a short film about vulnerability of love and boyhood, a motivational speech, amongst others.

In the motivational talk, student Dallon Au revealed his insecurity as someone with impaired vision, I quote, "Many times, I just feel like giving up and killing myself. This is so unbecoming of a motivational speaker, right? You have no idea how many times people have said this to me. ‘If you cannot even keep yourself motivated, how are you going to motivate others?' Believe me, I agree. But I am working on it and I am getting better."

Through the work, you can see how these students had learnt so much about themselves through a highly engaged process facilitated by very thoughtful and sensitive artists and mentors. The process has resulted in the creation of artworks that are moving and of high quality.

"Unseen" is deeply engaging and impactful. Its engagement is deep and life-changing. As we move towards the future, we should encourage more of such deep and engaging work. The depth and process will result in profound learning experiences for the community and will also result in artistic work that is aesthetically rich. It moves the audience, changes their sensibilities, by making the invisible visible and the unheard heard.

Secondly, development of intermediaries. Facilitation and organisational skills are specialties that not all artists possess. Artists need a different set of skills to encourage and inspire community participants to express their creative selves. At the same time, artists may need to organise and mobilise resources from different agencies to make projects happen.

For example, if you are going to do a project on end-of-life issues, we may require the involvement of the Agency for Integrated Care, hospitals, nursing homes, caregiver communities, amongst many others. Many of these agencies are not familiar with arts. Hence, when artists partner them to create community work, dialogue and processes are important so as to avoid miscommunication and distrust.

This requires specialisation, an intermediary role that bridges artists and communities. A good example of such a good intermediary would be the group ArtsWok Collaborative. They facilitated and produced "The Rite of Spring", a dance performance choreographed by Cultural Medallion recipient Angela Liong of Arts Fission. The performance was presented at Esplanade Theatre, featured four different elderly groups like AWWA Seniors Activity Centre, AWWA Community Home for Senior Citizens, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) Eldercare and Henderson Senior Citizens' Home, as well as children.

To accomplish such an intergenerational work, a lot of facilitation and organisation need to be done. The intermediary needs to be someone who is well-versed in the process of art-making but, at the same time, understands the art of community engagement deeply. Many artists who work in the community tend to operate as individuals, without the backing of administrative and organisational support. As such, to encourage more participation and engagement from the community, more intermediaries must be made available to facilitate fruitful collaborations among artists, related agencies and the community. I, therefore, urge the Ministry to look into developing these specialists.

Thirdly, creative place-making. To bring arts closer to the community, such that it becomes an everyday presence, we should begin looking at creative place-making.

Creative place-paking makes the arts a part of community living. It is not a place or venue management. It is not about presenting performances and programmes to create buzz. The key word is "place".

According to Tuan Yi Fu, a well-known geographer, a place comes into existence when there is a "moment of pause", which provides people within the space to reflect and connect with others around them. It is created not by transactional needs, but by relational needs.

In creative place-making, the arts are an essential mediator that helps to bring the community together. It is also important for artists to want to be involved in place-making; they must want to see community engagement very much as part of their work.

Creative place-making will only be sustainable if it is ground-up. It must not be forced. It must not be "hip". It must not be short-sighted. If planned and executed properly, it will not only foster community bonding and identity, build capacity in a community, it also empowers the community to action and change, it will also solve one of the problems that artists and arts groups face in Singapore: the lack of physical space to work.

Developmental Programmes

In examining the Ministry's key performance indicators, I noted that there is an emphasis on the instrumentalisation of art: what art can do for society. I would like to thank the Government for acknowledging that the arts can have such an extensive impact on society, which I hope will also help to convince more Singaporeans of the importance of arts to be part of our lives.

But I would also like to recall a Chinese saying: 工欲善其事，必先利其器. That is, to do a good job, the artisan must have the best tool to do it. In this case, the art must be good.

Besides having institutions to provide the best arts education for emerging artists, there must also be arts centres or venues that will help young or mature artists develop their craft without the pressure of market forces. Institutions that pay attention to developmental objectives must be seen differently from, say, a theatre company that sells tickets to their work. In a way, they are revenue generating.

But for institutions with a developmental objective, their focus should be on process over results, experimentation over tried-and-tested products. One is reminded of what the late Kuo Pao Kun had said before: "Better to have a worthy failure than a mediocre success."

The Substation, founded by Mr Kuo, was such an arts centre: it provided infrastructure support and resources for young artists to kickstart projects and, at the same time, provided an environment to encourage artists to take creative risks. In other words, The Substation was a home for the arts, a place for artists to learn, a safe space within which they could venture to explore, that is, to innovate.

Many young artists have begun their careers there, including filmmakers Royston Tan and Boo Jun Feng, and theatre director Goh Boon Teck. Artists like Lee Wen and Amanda Heng created some of their most interesting works there and these artists later became Cultural Medallion recipients, honoured by the nation.

Institutions like this, such as Centre 42, Intercultural Theatre Institute and the up-and-coming Traditional Arts Centre, are important in the development of Singapore's arts scene. I hope there will be more of such centres; and some of them can support interdisciplinary and intercultural experimentation, developing ways of art-making that incorporate science and technology, as well as different kinds of genres and cultures.

Singapore is in a unique position. Being such a globalised economy and a connector among different regions, we can take advantage of our status to be a facilitator for exploration and exchange.

I would also like to advocate for such institutions to have a different funding model. For example, the Intercultural Theatre Institute (ITI), are funded under the three-year Major Grant Scheme, just like other arts organisations. The key performance indicators of these kinds of developmental centres are different from a typical arts organisation. I would urge MCCY and NAC to develop a different model for these institutions that will encourage experimentation, creative processes and learning.

The very fact that we have a Ministry and affiliated agencies that look specifically at the arts and what it can do for society means that the arts and politics are not strange bedfellows. Yet, the arts should be viewed for its intrinsic worth, and not merely to serve political purpose. Here, I think it is apt for me to quote from the great author Lu Xun who spoke about the relationship between arts and politics, I will say this in Mandarin, but I will translate later.

"…两者之间，倒有不安于现状的同一。惟政治是要维持现状，自然和不安于现

状的文艺处在不同的方向......政治想维系现状使它统一，文艺催促社会进化

使它渐渐分离…"

That is to say, while the arts and politics are frequent fellow travellers because both seek change, at some point on this journey, they will take divergent paths. It is in the nature of art to examine change, to pursue truth. In doing so, art may raise uncomfortable questions, and may seem to divide, but it is through these questions that society can progress.

Community Arts

Dr Teo Ho Pin (Bukit Panjang): Mr Chairman, Sir, MCCY has been very supportive in promoting arts in the community. Since the formation of the Community Arts and Culture Club (CACC) in Bukit Panjang in 2014, we have organised many arts and culture activities to benefit more than 7,000 residents.

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These activities have added much vibrancy and inclusiveness in our community where arts and culture become more accessible to everyone, everywhere and every day. I wish to ask the Ministry whether it will continue to promote community arts by providing more funding support to CACCs in the community.

Sir, MCCY has brought greater vibrancy to the community by creating a space where people can develop a greater emotional connection to our heritage and society. In line with this, I am pleased to share with Members that Bukit Panjang constituency has started work to build a "Bukit Panjang Arts Street" at Bangkit neighbourhood centre. Arts streets are often found in important towns and cities. It is a place where local artists frequent, display their arts craft and engage the local community. The Bukit Panjang Arts Street will not only promote arts and culture. It will also generate greater vibrancy in the community and be a pride of place for our residents.

Sir, can I have your permission to show a slide on the LED screen?

The Chairman: Yes. [A slide was shown to hon Members.]

Dr Teo Ho Pin: Sir, the Bukit Panjang Arts Street with its colourful motif and vernacular arts design on the tiles, themed-business signage lining the street, and designed walkway, will also see a more environment-friendly canopy to shelter residents from unpredictable weather and interesting lighting to reflect the mood and many festivities in Singapore.

Sir, we plan to use the arts street to root arts as part of everyday life and get local artists and more residents to participate in the arts and culture activities. One day, the Bukit Panjang Arts Street in the heartland may find a place on the Singapore tourist map.

Nurturing Arts Appreciation from Young

Ms Rahayu Mahzam: Chairman, our Singaporean children are our gems and the hope for the nation. We should endeavour towards making their education and development holistic. I trust we can all agree that the education and development for the young are not limited to what is taught in school and through the school curriculum. It is our duty to make available as many learning opportunities as possible for our children so that they may be able to gain experience and exposure in different fields and grow up to be well-rounded individuals.

One aspect of this learning journey must be exposure to the arts and culture. Early exposure to the arts and culture helps develop creativity, a strong sense of aesthetics and confidence in children. It also helps sustain their interest and appreciation for culture into adulthood. In the local context, this learning journey also serves as a platform for them to understand and appreciate the different cultures in Singapore and build their national identity.

I also believe that the arts and culture should be made accessible to all children, including those from lower-income families. This endeavour could be a social leveller as all students, regardless of social background, are given the knowledge and exposure that contribute towards their holistic development.

I am, therefore, of the view that there should be targeted efforts on the part of the Ministry to reach out to students and families with children to promote interest in the arts and culture. I would, therefore, like to find out more about the existing programmes that are in place for students and families and the Ministry's plans to reach out to this group.

Sports Facilities

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon): Chairman, a five-storey regional library, a 20-court badminton hall, six swimming pools and a 5,000-seat stadium with a Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)-approved football pitch are some of the facilities residents can enjoy when the new Town Hub at Tampines opens progressively from the end of 2016.

Whenever there is such news reported in the media, do you know what is the reaction of my residents? I will receive lots of emails. Yishun is one of the largest and fastest growing towns in Singapore. We have over 50,000 households today and nearly 6,000 households moving in this year and next. These new households will consist mainly of young adults and young families. They will have a very large demand for sporting facilities. Already, our existing facilities are not enough to cope with the population. Residents are finding it difficult to have access to their favourite venues and sports on a regular basis. Yishun urgently needs more sports facilities and in greater variety.

There is only one swimming complex to serve the entire Yishun Town. It has only three pools which consist of one competition pool, one teaching pool and one wading pool. By contrast, Queenstown, which has about 20,000 fewer residential units, has a swimming complex with five pools. On top of that, residents told me that the pool is very rundown. When they go swimming with their friends and relatives in other parts of Singapore, they feel very envious of the beautiful and modern swimming pools elsewhere. They look forward to water play facilities like those in Jurong East Swimming Pool.

I have been bringing up this request for a few years. The Yishun Swimming Complex urgently needs to be refurbished, redesigned and expanded. Under the $1.5 billion Sports Facilities Master Plan announced in 2014, community sports facilities are supposed to be upgraded and rebuilt. Could the Minister clarify if there are any plans, especially for the swimming complex? Certainly, I hope that the next big announcement on sporting facilities will be for Yishun.

Sports for Life

Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry (Nee Soon): Mr Chairman, first of all, I would like to echo Er Dr Lee's sentiments. I would like to file a cut on sports for life. I think we can all agree that sports are important. Sports keep us fit and bring our people together. Sports are also fun and helps us to relax after a long day.

But we also live in a fast-paced society. And when we start work, start a family and embark on other transition points in life, it is not easy for us to continue our passion for sports because of life's many demands.

Moving forward, it will be good if MCCY and SportSG can finetune our programmes to ensure a continuum of quality opportunities for Singaporeans to participate more actively in sports. I look forward to hearing from MCCY about the latest developments in these areas.

National Youth Sports Institute – Developing Future Sportsmen

Mr Alex Yam: Chairman, I declare my interest as the Deputy President of the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA). The National Youth Sports Institute (NYSI) was announced in November 2015 and the first centre was officially launched at the Singapore Sports School (SSP) in January 2016. Aimed at grooming the "Champions of Tomorrow", NYSI is supposed to cover both athletes from SSP as well as mainstream schools' student-athletes.

How would NYSI support athletes within and outside SSP? It indicates that its mission is in the four functional areas of Talent Identification and Development, Coaching, Sports Science and Athlete Life Management. How will these functional areas benefit young sportsmen and women?

In addition, what role would NYSI play in relation to the National Sports Associations? For example, STTA runs a Junior Development Squad with student-athletes from mainstream schools as well as those in the School Within School programme, a collaboration that STTA has with SSP. Will both groups have equal access to NYSI?

As NYSI is a new entity, it would also be interesting to know its goals and KPIs and the cost involved in setting it up. Do we have the required number of qualified sports scientists and sports personnel to oversee the running of these courses?

There is also the Singapore Sports Institute (SSI), set up in 2011 to drive the high performance pathway in our local sports ecosystem. How will NYSI complement SSI and are there overlaps?

Building Sporting Talent

Mr Ganesh Rajaram (Nominated Member): Sir, today, Singapore has world-class sporting facilities, such as the $1.3 billion Sports Hub, as well as many programmes to groom sporting talent: the Sports School; the Direct Schools Admission programme; the Singapore High Performance Sports System; Sports Excellence Scholarships; and the list goes on. Given all of this support, it seems like a wonderful time to pursue a sporting career. But is it really?

While facilities and Government support are in abundance, have Singaporean attitudes towards sports really changed over the years? Do parents see a sporting career as a viable, respectable career goal? Are Singaporean parents going to be "sporting" about their child choosing football, swimming or table tennis over medicine, law and banking?

This is a very real scenario that parents face today, a logical next step in a nation that has invested billions of dollars in world-class facilities and programmes. I think that more can and needs to be done to address the way people, particularly parents, think about sports.

I know of parents who send their children for intensive coaching to get them into elite schools through the Direct School Admission (DSA) programme, and how these children end up hating the sport they gained direct admission for, as it is not their passion but they are forced into it.

How many of these children admitted into DSA schools actually continue to pursue the sport beyond school/junior college/polytechnic. Likewise, at the Sports School, what has become of all the fantastic young talents unearthed during the 2010 Youth Olympic Games? I remember how the whole country came together to cheer on the boys in the national under-16 football team and how we were all mesmerised by their sheer passion and talent. Are these boys still together as a team or have they given up on their passions to pursue what would be considered "normal careers" in Singapore?

But there are children who yearn to pursue a professional career in a sport that they are very good in. How should we support them? Is there a way the Singapore community, from parents, grandparents, teachers and opinion leaders, can be moved to a point where we see a career footballer or golfer with as much societal value and respect as you would an airline pilot or an architect?

There is nothing wrong with kids pursuing their passion for sports. We should let them live their dreams and support them to the fullest. Society should not stigmatise a child who wants to pursue a sports career, regardless of whether the child ultimately makes it or not. When children are passionate about their dreams, are willing to be disciplined, hardworking and focused to achieve their goals, they are already displaying qualities that any parent should be proud of. On the flipside, we should avoid over-coaching children to the point where they lose the love for sports. Sports should be about passion, fun and joy!

So, what happens when your child says he wants to be a professional footballer? Well, after the initial alarm, periods of insomnia, and long heart-to-heart conversations, we told our son that he has our fullest support. To build a strong sporting spirit, and a sporting nation, parents and society at large need to learn how to be good sports, too.

Supporting National Athletes

Mr Darryl David (Ang Mo Kio): Chairman, SG50 was notable for many things, not least the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Para Games. Then, we saw the entire country come together as one family to support our national athletes who truly did us proud. Indeed, one enduring memory of that period was when the entire country almost seemed to sing our National Anthem a capella after the sound system failed at one of the venues. We have seen how our athletes have inspired a palpable sense of national pride in Singaporeans through these Games, often at great personal sacrifice.

I would like to ask MCCY how they will continue to support our athletes in their pursuit of sporting excellence? What support will be provided to Team Singapore athletes who will be competing in this year's Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games?

The Chairman: Mr Melvin Yong, you can take your two cuts together.

Plans for Disability Sport

Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye (Tanjong Pagar): Sir, the ASEAN Para Games held in Singapore last year was a rousing success and a game-changer for disability sports in Singapore. Our para-athletes trained hard and competed with international para-athletes of outstanding calibre. Backed by strong support from our fellow Singaporeans, our para-athletes achieved an outstanding medal haul at the Games.

I was at the National Stadium for the deciding football match between Singapore and Malaysia. Both teams were competing for the bronze medal. The energy in the stadium was palpable. Singaporeans of all ages were cheering their hearts out in support of Team Singapore. What moved me deeply was the determination shown by our para-athletes. Despite their physical challenges, they displayed grit and resilience. Many of them are residents of Tanjong Pagar GRC. The stadium shook when Mr Muhammad Mubarak scored the winning goal.

There is so much potential for disability sports to flourish in Singapore. The task at hand would be to keep on encouraging participation, as well as to identify, groom and support potential talents so that, one day, we will have a stronger team of para-athletes to represent our country in disability sports.

Moving forward, I would like to ask what will MCCY and SportSG be doing to further engage persons with disability within our community to participate in sports. What other measures are in place to create more social awareness about disability sports among the public? And what more can SportSG do to provide the necessary support for our para-athletes?

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Volunteerism in Sports and Culture

Sir, I move on to volunteerism. Last year, Singapore hosted the 28th SEA Games and the 8th ASEAN Para Games. In both sporting events, our athletes created history by winning a record number of medals. Their historic achievements brought the nation together in celebration.

Organising such major events and making sure everything runs smoothly and according to plan are no easy feat. Thankfully, there were thousands of volunteers who responded to the call for help and sacrificed their time to ensure that all aspects of the Games went smoothly.

We witnessed a sense of camaraderie among these volunteers, who hail from all walks of life. Friendships were forged over the months of working and training together, and many of the volunteers have continued to stay in touch with one another since.

To build on this momentum, I would like to ask: what will MCCY be doing to encourage more Singaporeans from various backgrounds to participate or volunteer at sporting events or activities? Besides volunteering in sporting events, are there plans to extend this to the arts and heritage communities as well?

Recognising Volunteers

Dr Lily Neo (Jalan Besar): Work and family commitments prevent many volunteers from continuing, let alone putting in more involvement or time. This is a pity because there is an ever-increasing need for more volunteers in our society. The social needs of the society are plentiful in our ageing population. As we progress socio-economically as a country, we need to uplift our lowest income strata groups, such as the less-advantaged families and children.

It is necessary for us to better care for them, and this requires more social workers and volunteers. Befriender volunteers do prevent the seniors from isolation and depression by visiting them in their homes. Befriender volunteers are useful in keeping seniors healthier by reminding them to take their medicines, taking them for medical check-ups or early treatment before illnesses get worse.

Although I agree that volunteers are altruistic individuals, I would like to suggest that we do more to recognise them and motivate them to stick with their volunteerism. May I request MCCY to consider nominal allowances for volunteers who can commit certain hours and who can visit residents at their homes, similar to how Pioneer Generation Ambassadors are being reimbursed? The reimbursements are for transport and meal allowance in the course of their roles.

The growth of volunteerism cannot be left to chance alone. Let us take whatever steps are necessary to expand and sustain volunteerism.

Singapore Roadmap for Corporate Giving

Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry: Mr Chairman, I would like to touch on the Singapore Roadmap for Corporate Giving.

Many of us would agree that Singaporeans are a generous people. I would also like to add that many business owners and corporations I have come across have a heart to give. There is, of course, more we can do to make Singapore an even more caring and inclusive society. So, I am heartened to hear that MCCY and the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) started developing a Singapore Roadmap for Corporate Giving. Such a roadmap will provide much needed clarity to employers, employees and voluntary welfare organisations.

Can I ask MCCY on the status of this development? How will it help companies, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to do more to encourage employer-organised volunteerism? I look forward to inputs from MCCY.

Recognising SMEs' Volunteering Efforts

Mr Thomas Chua Kee Seng (Nominated Member): Mr Chairman, in Mandarin again.

(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] Chairman, fellow Members of Parliament, the Government has rolled out tax incentives to encourage enterprises to do more charitable work and set up the "Our Singapore Fund" to promote social cohesion and a caring spirit. This is the right societal guidance.

In fact, many enterprises, including SMEs, do actively participate in all kinds of charitable activities, except that these were not widely publicised by the media. By introducing tax incentives, the Government is endorsing the charitable work by enterprises. Moving forward, this could enable enterprises to do even more. Companies which organise charitable activities can "kill two birds with one stone".

Firstly, it inculcates the spirit of giving back to society, builds up the corporate image, establishes shared values among employees and strengthens employees' sense of loyalty.

Secondly, it would improve company bonding and help to cultivate mutual understanding among management and employees. Staff who work in different departments do not usually have the chance to interact with other colleagues. Participating in charitable activities organised by the company gives them the chance to work together and deepen understanding.

However, when companies plan for such activities, it would be more effective if they could take reference from some successful experiences. Hence, I would urge the relevant agency to provide cases of some successful corporate social responsibility projects as a reference point. While companies could learn by example more easily, charitable organisations would also stand to benefit.

The Chairman: Ms Joan Pereira, you can take your two cuts together.

Encouraging Corporate Giving

Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar): Mr Chairman, according to the Individual Giving Survey in 2014 released by the NVPC last year, one in five employers organised volunteer activities but one in two employees expressed interest in employer-organised volunteering. Clearly, there is room for our companies to increase volunteer opportunities for their staff.

Businesses are an important part of our community. By contributing to good causes together with their staff, they build goodwill and gain respect from the public and their customers. Their employees also have better job satisfaction and a stronger sense of corporate identity. Many employees I have come across admire corporate leaders who have the heart to give back to society.

We have many examples of corporates contributing money, time and effort to good causes, such as Singapore Airlines (SIA), Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) and Mediacorp. In my constituency, Mr Peter Ng of Sin Kian Choon Fruits Trading is a good example of a business owner from Bukit Merah who has stepped forward to help needy residents in my constituency. He not only sponsors the fruits and rations for needy households, but helps out in the distribution, too. For these big companies and SMEs, the employees share with me that they gain great satisfaction seeing the happy and appreciative faces of the residents who received help.

In May 2015, MCCY announced that the NVPC would be developing a Singapore roadmap for corporate giving. How has this plan helped to increase donations, both in cash and in kind, as well as volunteering from our corporations? Have companies been receptive so far? Some companies, particularly SMEs, need help or advice in how they can contribute. What plans does the Ministry have to engage and assist such companies?

Promoting Senior Volunteerism

Sir, our seniors have a lifetime of skills and experience to contribute to our society. They can also benefit from volunteering. In fact, studies have shown a positive association between volunteering and mental, physical and social well-being.

An example of a senior volunteer is Mdm Doh, aged 70, who has been a long-time volunteer with Thong Kheng Welfare Services, Lions Befriender and the RC in Bukit Merah View in my Division. She has learnt that many elderly value, above all, relational connections – a listening ear, a shoulder to lean on. She had to respond to a few emergencies and gained great satisfaction in being able to help.

However, some, especially those who are just starting out as new volunteers, may face challenges in volunteering. For example, they may have difficulty in getting a good match between their skills or interests and the segments of need and, most challenging, balancing family and personal commitments.

There are also some volunteers who cannot find a good fit with the volunteer host organisations or who find that their volunteering experience could have been better managed.

What are MCCY's plans in managing our pool of talented and active volunteers? Is there a portal or a point of contact where they can go to and register their interests and expertise, and be matched to appropriate volunteer host organisations? After registration, are there volunteer consultants they can turn to for advice and guidance? And, finally, for areas which need sustainable pools of volunteers so that they can be rostered for their duties, is there a system to organise them?

Singapore Charitable Trust

Ms Foo Mee Har (West Coast): Chairman, Sir, I applaud the Government for its continuing efforts to promote a spirit of charity and volunteerism in our society. The introduction of the Business and Institution of a Public Character (IPC) Partnership Scheme in this Budget is likely to spur more corporations to encourage volunteerism amongst their employees and to contribute to the community. To encourage giving by wealthy individuals in Singapore, we should review the laws governing the setting up of charitable trusts by Singapore Citizens and residents.

Sir, Singapore is well-positioned to become an international hub for philanthropy, because of our robust legal system, strong governance and a trusted and stable Government. To this end, we have launched such initiatives as the Economic Development Board's (EDB's) International Organisations Programme Office (IOPO) for the setting up of International Non-Profit Organisations (INPOs) in Singapore, and the Commissioner of Charities' Foreign Charitable Purpose Trust (FCPT), under which charitable trusts set up by non-Singapore citizens or residents are exempted from registration and eligible for tax exemption.

Sir, we should also cater to Singapore-based high net worth individuals, served by the private wealth industry, who want to give back to their country of residence by setting up charitable trusts. Often, these persons do not wish to be associated with any conspicuous, high-profile foundation. All they want is giving and preferring their contributions to be discreet, they just want to leave behind a legacy or satisfy some personal and private sense of duty and gratitude. However, if they wished to set up a charitable trust in Singapore, they would be subject to greater administrative burdens and more onerous governance structures than FCPT, just because they are Singapore Citizens or residents.

While these philanthropists have the option to register their charities as "Qualifying Grant Makers", ostensibly subject to "lighter touch" supervision by the Commissioner of Charities, but even this "lighter touch" option is comparatively unattractive, because traditional offshore jurisdictions, such as the Channel Islands and the Caribbean, do not impose such requirements that incur additional administrative costs which eat into the net proceeds which were intended for their beneficiaries. Whilst I do not have actual figures, anecdotal evidence from my interactions with the private trust industry suggests this "shrinkage" is quite significant.

Sir, I call on the Minister to consider applying the same set of rules under FCPT to trusts set up by Singapore Citizens and residents, so long as the necessary safeguards are in place. This includes being prohibited from soliciting public funds and ensuring that all gains and income are reserved for charitable causes only. To qualify, the charitable trust must be administered by a Singapore-licensed trust company to ensure strict governance and regulatory oversight by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

The harmonisation of treatment for charities set up by foreigners with those set up by locals will encourage more charitable trusts to be set up in Singapore. The assets of local trusts are likely to be held and managed in Singapore, and likely to benefit more needy Singaporeans. Expertise built up in this sector can help Singapore develop yet another global centre of excellence, this time, in a field that connects those who cannot help themselves with those who can and want to help them. And we will do well by doing good.

The Chairman: Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin, you have five minutes for your two cuts.

A New Approach to Religious Knowledge

Ms Kuik Shiao-Yin (Nominated Member): There have been two principles that have helped us maintain a decent level of social cohesion thus far. One, we have always been determined to respect freedom of religion; and, two, we have also been equally determined to let that freedom be limited by our respect for the secularity of the state, as well as our sense of responsibility towards the common good.

My concern is that these two fundamental principles are not being effectively passed down to our youths and this gap is showing up in the kind of conversations, or lack of conversations, they are having about religion in society.

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A lot of our public education efforts at the school and grassroots levels are still mostly modelling the form of religious tolerance rather than the substance of religious harmony. Checking out different places of worship and sharing religious meals during religious festivals are just the tip of the iceberg. What lies underneath is a far more complex conversation about our beliefs on relationships, life, death, time, work, money, power and more that we need to learn to talk about and listen to. Yes, we have Social Studies and Civic Moral Education, but many youths will tell you few teachers want to discuss race and religious issues in depth. Many teachers deliberately keep discussions at the surface level because they are scared that the answers could be offensive and get them into legal trouble. And that is not a healthy sign.

If we do not model for our youths what respectful conversation about religion looks like, someone arbitrarily and potentially dangerous will fill the gap for us. It could be a fundamentalist thought leader, a bigoted website or just prejudiced, ill-informed peers. In some sense, Religious Knowledge (RK) has never been taken out of schools. It has been ongoing, except everyone is managing it by themselves and cherry-picking their own curriculum and their own teachers. And there are definitely echo chambers forming within exclusionary religious and non-religious communities online and offline.

If we do not teach our young people how to build bridges, they will naturally build walls. I understand the resistance to introducing anything resembling RK in the school curriculum ever again because implementation will always be complicated by the challenge of proselytisation. So, can I suggest we develop a faith-and-reason modular programme to be run across schools as well as external community platforms reaching young people?

A faith-and-reason programme could have three key characteristics that distinguish it from the old RK programme. First, it is not about understanding religion in isolation but understanding why preserving freedom of religion and preserving the secularity of the state both matter to the common good. Real-life Singapore case studies of clashes between different ideologies, like the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) saga should be discussed and the different stakeholders' responses respectfully debated over.

Second, it makes room for the views of the non-religious community. Both religiosity and secularism are growing in Singapore and the region. The non-religious make up 18.5% of our population and more than half are youths. Many in this group do hold the controversial view that religion is irrational and not beneficial to society. It matters that both the non-religious minority and the religious majority learn how to uncover their commonalities and also discuss their differences with compassion.

Third, it goes beyond building inter-religion to intra-religion understanding as well. There is a dangerous lack of conversations between conservatives, moderates and liberals within the same religion. Religious teachers do not typically initiate engagement of leaders from their own community on the opposite spectrum for fear of looking like they are softening their standards. Such a conversation needs to be encouraged by outsiders as well as insiders.

Sir, let us have the courage to learn from one another how to have scary conversations. When we create safe spaces where we can be honest about the differences that we disagree over and yet open towards the commonalities that bind, we will reap true religious harmony.

Bespoke Roadmaps for Youth Resilience

According to the Centre of the Developing Child at Harvard, the best way to understand how we develop resilience is to visualise a see-saw. On one side sits positive experiences, coping skills and at least one stable committed adult relationship. On the other side sits adversity.

The more protective experiences, coping skills and strong relationships we provide, the more we can counterbalance the piling on of adversity on the other end. It is this holy trinity that develops resilience in a child and no singular organisation can achieve this effectively by itself.

When Minister Heng Swee Keat shared about having bespoke plans for the industrial transformation of more than 20 specific economic sectors in Singapore, it struck me. Do we also have bespoke plans for the generational transformation of, say, 20 or more specific archetypes of youths?

The Outward Bound School (OBS) @ Coney is but one part of what must be a whole-of-sector strategy. I hope MCCY can develop a strategic roadmap that will guide the whole ecosystem of youth organisations from the public, people and private sectors to see their role in developing resilience in youths together. The sector is still fragmented and working in silos. I believe the sharing of such a roadmap will help all of us stakeholders within the youth sector to know our place in the resilience value chain and thus realise how to collaborate more effectively for our common goal.

Encourage Youth to Embrace Diversity

Ms Rahayu Mahzam: Chairman, as we write the next chapters for the next 50 years of Singapore, we will need to look at how, as a mature society, we handle diversity of views. Diversity can be a strength if energies can be synergised and used for the good of the people. However, it is also a potential divisive factor that can tear our social fabric.

I am particularly concerned that we are starting to see vitriolic debates and conversations happening in the online space. I understand that these toxic exchanges do not necessarily reflect the current state of affairs offline or the mentality of the larger majority. However, I cannot help but worry that such airing of views reflects the unspoken thoughts of many. I am also concerned that the young, who grow up exposed to and dependent on information they obtain from the Internet may be impacted by the views online.

It is, therefore, imperative that we create real-life platforms to bring youth from different backgrounds together so that they may interact, learn about one another and have open and frank conversations about their differences. I, therefore, laud efforts like the development of the OBS @ Coney Island which has the great potential of being the platform to encourage healthy and organic interactions amongst our youths. The SGFuture engagements have also been an excellent platform for discussions.

Our hope lies with the young. We need to engage youths on matters that are important to them, especially since they will inherit the nation and should have a say in how the society develops. Beyond creating the platforms and spaces for them to interact, for there to be real discourse, I believe there also needs to be opportunities for more open debates and discussions. I would, therefore, like to ask what specific measures the Ministry would take in ensuring meaningful social mixing, interactions and discussions through the youth activities. What more can be done to ensure a sustainable and continued engagement and interaction among youths from diverse backgrounds, beyond just the activities which they participate in?

Our call for embracing diversity and maintaining our multireligious and multicultural values need to go beyond platitudes. We need to make diversity our strength and not cause our fall. I have faith that we will be able to achieve this. But there needs to be effort by all to make a constant and conscious effort to encourage and embrace diversity.

Developing Resilience of Youth

Mr Darryl David: Chairman, while we can debate the role of education or parenting in growing young people with strength and fortitude, I believe that experiential learning is critical to developing our youths holistically in this area. I was thus heartened to hear that the Government will soon be building a new OBS on Coney Island to enhance the OBS experience for our youths.

I believe that every child should, at some point, be given the opportunity to spend time in OBS. The experience of being in a natural setting, away from urban familiarity, to have one's physical and mental abilities stretched to the fullest, should be offered to all Singaporean youths. Indeed, I was just at OBS on Pulau Ubin few days ago on Sunday and just being there for few hours really helped alleviate pressures of being in an urban environment and brought back fond memories also of my time in OBS.

Many of us who have also spent time in OBS would attest to the benefits of that experience, not only because of the confidence that they gave us but also the resilience and strong bonds of friendship, camaraderie and teamwork that we build up not only among our school mates but also across schools.

What is my wish? That going for an OBS experience could thus be something that all Singaporean youths eventually go through as a "rite-of-passage", the same way that all male Singaporeans go through National Service.

One element of National Service which is important is the social mixing that it involves. Singaporeans of all races, religions, socio-economic groups and educational backgrounds get to mix together, and this strengthens and enhances the social fabric of our community.

I am happy to hear that the Acting Minister for Education said at an earlier COS debate last week that all Singaporean youths would have the chance to experience OBS within the next few years.

In this light, I would like to suggest that the next batch of students from not just different schools but also from different types of academic systems and institutions get to undergo their OBS experience together. For example, students from the Institute of Technical Education, could undergo their OBS with their peers from an International Baccalaureate (IB) through train school. And those from a Special Assistance Plan (SAP) school could go for OBS with unique schools like School of the Arts or even NorthLight.

While this would require some logistics and planning, I believe that it would also be beneficial as students now not only get stretched physically and mentally, they also get to develop their emotional quotient and empathy by learning how to interact and cooperate with other young Singaporeans who are different from them.

In addition to continuing their collaboration with MOE, I hope that MCCY can share with the House how we can all work together to create a new generation of Singaporeans who are physically and mentally tougher and ready to accept any challenge that comes their way.

Outward Bound School at Coney Island

Ms Sun Xueling (Pasir Ris-Punggol): Mr Chairman, I still remember the experience I had at OBS when I was in secondary school. It was especially memorable because I was from an all-girls' school and it was my first time interacting with boys of the same age, solving problems and battling the rugged outdoors.

It was also an opportunity for girls to push their physical limits, challenge their fears and bond with students from other schools and other races, especially since girls do not serve National Service. I found the experience extremely valuable and was thus delighted to hear that such an experience would be available to all in the cohort.

However, just as OBS @ Coney Island was greeted with much excitement, given that all in the cohort will be given the opportunity of outdoor learning, there were also concerns raised by many parents who feel that their child is not ready or suited for such outdoor activities and that OBS should not be made compulsory. It is, therefore, critical for parents to buy in and support this initiative in order to ensure that it successfully achieves its objectives.

Can the Ministry provide greater details of the activities that OBS will embark on and what it tries to achieve? If in their daily interactions with their children, parents are able to compliment and reinforce what OBS sets out to achieve, we are more likely to achieve longer-term benefits of this programme.

Also, in order to maintain the quality of the OBS experience for students, can the Ministry take steps to educate students ahead of the programme so that all will do it with the right attitude and enthusiasm? OBS has, in the past, been seen as a star programme for student leaders. Even as it is now made available to all, the experience of the programme should be upheld and all students should come away from it feeling proud of themselves and their achievements.