Number of Maintenance Applications Submitted to Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents

4 Ms Rahayu Mahzam asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) in the past five years, what is number of maintenance applications submitted to the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents; (b) whether there has been any significant increase or decrease in the number of applications made over the years; and (c) what percentage of the applications are resolved by mediation.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social and Family Development (Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim) (for the Minister for Family and Social Development): Mr Speaker, there were 262 new maintenance applications submitted to the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents in the last five years. There is no clear trend in the number of applications. It has ranged from a low of 36 in 2015 to a high of 70 in 2016.

Applicants who file maintenance applications have to attend mediation before their case is heard by the Tribunal. In 2017, our mediators resolved half, that is, about 51%, of the maintenance applications filed, an increase from 39% in 2013.

Mr Speaker: Ms Rahayu Mahzam.

Ms Rahayu Mahzam (Jurong): I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the answer to the question. First, I would like to declare that I am a mediator with the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents (TMP). I would like to seek specific information on numbers that have applied and where there had been settlement.

Also, if the Senior Parliamentary Secretary could give comments on the effectiveness of the process in place, including mediation, in resolving the issues raised at TMP. Further, whether there is any scope of review of the role of TMP, perhaps in providing and enhancing services to the families, for example, in counselling or allowing for financial planning classes for the families.

Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, I thank Mdm Rahayu for the supplementary questions. Looking at the details and numbers, as I had said earlier, we cannot see any trend. Nevertheless, from 2013 to 2017, numbers have gone down. In 2013, it was 63 new applications; 2014 saw 55 new applications; 2015 saw 36 new applications; 2016 saw 70 new applications and 2017 saw 38 new applications. So, as a whole, we feel that the Commissioner for the Maintenance of Parents (CMP) has been able to help in facilitating to resolve the issues amicably. The number of applications at TMP has dropped since 2011. We feel that this can be attributed largely to the CMP's success in resolving maintenance disputes through conciliation.

Since 2011, CMP has resolved eight out of the 10 cases, with 90% of these cases being resolved within three months. We feel that with better upfront conciliation, fewer applications are being filed at TMP. The applications fell from 63 in 2013 to 38 in 2017. It is not only about conciliation or about how we can help them. If along the way, we find that there are efforts that we can carry out at the Social Service Offices level by community agencies, we will do our best to refer. We want to promote filial piety; we want families to be able to support one another. And the community can play a part in this.

Mr Speaker: Mr Seah Kian Peng.

Mr Seah Kian Peng (Marine Parade): I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the answers. As the one who, together with the Work Group, led the changes to the last amendment to this Bill, I am heartened to see that the conciliation rate has increased significantly.

What I would like to ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary is whether, given that these are encouraging results and, indeed, we want more conciliations rather than going through the Tribunal per se, that more efforts, more focus, even more attention and more publicity be given. We do know that there are strains for many families in this day and age, and every family that we can help, first publicise this avenue and how conciliations can result in success. I will urge the Ministry to consider putting more efforts into this.

Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim: Sir, we will certainly take in Mr Seah's suggestion.