March 2018

A Q U A R T E R LY P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E P E O P L E ' S A C T I O N P A R T Y

EXTRA: Budget 2018’s key initiatives

BUDGET FOR A BETTER FUTURE

Punggol Coast’sengaging activists pg18

Tan Chuan-Jin: Stronger connection between Parliament and people pg14

“At home” with ourNanyang MP Yee Chia Hsingpg24

INSIDE: HOW PROFESSIONAL CONVERSION PROGRAMME HAS HELPED THREE PMETS

04 COVER STORY Together, a better future for Singapore Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat urges Singaporeans to work together to achieve their shared aspirations.

07 Technology to help tackle healthcare challenges Singapore is using technology and focusing on personal health to cope with rising healthcare costs and an ageing population, says Senior Minister of State for Health, Chee Hong Tat.

08 MPs’ views on budget A cross-section of views from our MPs.

10 When government healthcare policies provide cover PPF member Chay Yiowmin is grateful for the various healthcare subsidies when his father received treatment for cancer.

11 Budget 2018 and You The key government initiatives to support a three-generation, six-member family.

12 Adapt and thrive in growth sectors Three mid-career PMETs tell Petir how the Professional Conversion Programme has helped them transit to new careers.

14 CONVERSATION Building a bridge to Parliament Singapore’s 10th Speaker of Parliament, Tan Chuan-Jin, wants to engage the public and de-mystify parliamentary processes in interesting ways.

17 Getting to know Parliament An explainer on the workings of Parliament.

GROUNDWORK 18 Branching Out All systems go at Punggol Coast Punggol Coast buzzes with energy as its team of activists and volunteers tackle the needs of a young population.

22 Young PAP Planning ahead Senior Minister of State for Finance Indranee Rajah, and YP Chairman Janil Puthucheary explain the Government’s

24 Backbencher’s Bite Down-to-earth Nanyang ward MP Yee Chia Hsing walks the ground to better understand the needs of his constituents.

PUBLICITY AND PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEELawrence Wong (Chairman) Desmond Lee Chee Hong TatSeah Kian Peng Lim Wee Kiak Baey Yam Keng Zaqy Mohamad Janil Puthucheary Chiang Heng Liang Diana Pang Dexter Chan Benjamin Tay Teo Lin Lee Adrian Liew

EditorChee Li Foong Editorial and DesignFocus Publishing Limited(Tel: 6319-2392) Printer KHL Printing Co. Pte Ltd Photos Singapore Press Holdings, istockphoto.com

MCI (P) 169/03/2018Petir is published by the People’s Action Party Central Executive Committee. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior consent of the publisher. Views expressed in this magazine are not neces-sarily those of the PAP or the Government. All rights reserved.

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Please send feedback, suggestions and comments to paphq@pap.org.sg.

March 20182

ContentsMARCH 2018

14

22 24

18

12

TOGETHER, A BETTER FUTURE FOR

SINGAPORE

04

March 2018 3

COVER STORY

As Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat wrapped up the two-and-a-half day debate on Budget 2018, he said growing the economy will ensure strong and sustainable revenues for the future, and help all Singaporeans realise their aspirations

BB UUUU DDD GG EE TT 2 00 1 88

for Singaporea better futureTogether,

March 20184

The annual Budget is not an accounting exercise but a strategic and integrated plan to secure Singapore’s future, said Minister

for Finance Heng Swee Keat, in Parliament in his round-up speech on March 1.

“It’s about how we can come together to achieve our shared aspirations, and how the government allocates the resources to achieve these aspirations,” he said. Financial Year 2018 begins on April 1, 2018.

This will be done in four ways – ensuring the economy remains vibrant and innovative with

diverse opportunities for all, living in a smart and green city, having a society that is both caring and cohesive, and maintaining a sound

needs in a fair and sustainable way.

numerous times during the debate that saw more than 50 Members of Parliament weigh in with their views on this and other topics.

Mr Heng noted that while Singapore must always be prudent in managing its resources, the reality is that the country needs to spend billions of dollars more each year in key areas such as healthcare, education, infrastructure and security. As such, it is not possible to pay for these major structural expenditure drivers simply by squeezing more out of every dollar.

Rationale behind GST increase in 2021 to 2025 period

Singapore has to be prepared that expenditures could rise further than projected and it is the responsibility of the government of the day to ensure the country has enough revenue to meet future needs, amid an uncertain future.

raise the Goods and Services Tax (GST) from 7 per cent to 9 per cent was taken, said Mr Heng, adding that he expects the increase will take place sometime between 2021 and 2025. The GST increase will not fully cover expenditure needs but will only make the

other measures to manage expenditure, he pointed out.

By announcing the GST increase several years before it is actually implemented, the Finance Minister said the Government was being “honest and upfront” about the national needs, and setting out early what needs to be done.

The option to raise taxes was not taken lightly, said Mr Heng, stressing that the Government should avoid taking people’s “hard-earned money” unless it

“Our future is tremendously exciting. When we, as Singaporeans, take the step forward to care for others, we begin to build bonds that bind, and these bonds enable us to go the extra mile for one another. Whatever the future throws at us, we know we will fight for our survival and figure a way out. Because there is something larger than us that we are fighting for.”

— Speaker Mr Tan Chuan-Jin to the House at the end of the Committee of Supply debate on March 8

Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat striding into Parliament to deliver Budget 2018.

We are now in a much stronger position than we have been in the past.

and well-connected economy, a highly motivated and educated workforce, a cohesive and resilient society.

March 2018 5

COVER STORY

was for critical national needs.He assured that the Government would take

utmost care in deciding the exact timing for the GST increase, and carefully assess the economic conditions as well as the needs of Singapore at that point.

The permanent GST Voucher scheme will be enhanced when the GST eventually is raised, said the Finance Minister. The Government will also

and middle-income households cope with the tax increase.

“It’s not about how much we spend, but how well we spend.” He noted that Singapore’s overall expenditures of about 19 per cent of gross domestic product in FY2018 is less than half of what Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries typically spend. This, he pointed out, illustrates how the government has achieved credible outcomes on expenditure.

Turning to the economy, Mr Heng pointed out that the most critical challenge facing Singapore is in transforming it.

“Growing our economy is not only the best way of ensuring strong and sustainable revenues, it is also the most important way for our people to realise their aspirations,” he said. “This task is growing more urgent by the day, as structural changes in the global economy and technological advances disrupt the status quo. Our strategy is to position Singapore as a Global-Asia node of technology, innovation, and enterprise.”

As he wrapped up the debate, Mr Heng noted the strong backing from the House for the Government’s various measures to prepare the economy for the challenges ahead.

This included support for a more cohesive and

provide for the longer-term needs.“Such a future will not be ours unless we do the

hard work for it and make preparations,” Mr Heng said. “Our success will depend on our unity of purpose and our collective spirit of enterprise and caring. We can only make it through this journey, if we work together,” he emphasised.

ensures that generation after generation of Singaporeans will continue to thrive and prosper.

Together, we will marshal our resources and chart our course – to come together, to work together, to make our aspirations today, the reality tomorrow. This way, we can build a better Singapore for everyone. Together, we can make a better future for all of us.

March 20186

Technology to help tackle healthcare challenges

With an ageing population and an increasing chronic disease burden, the demands on families and the Government will rise.

Finance Minister Mr Heng Swee Keat, in his Budget 2018 announcement, said Singapore’s average annual healthcare spending is expected to rise from 2.2 per cent of today’s Gross Domestic Product to almost 3 per cent of GDP over the next decade. “This is an increase of nearly 0.8 percentage point of GDP, or about $3.6 billion in today’s dollars,” he said.

As it is, the Government has more than doubled healthcare spending from $3.9 billion in FY2011 to an estimated $10.2 billion in FY2018. The increase went into building and operating more hospitals and other healthcare facilities, and enhancing healthcare subsidies.

To tackle the challenges of an ageing population, Singapore is adopting a multi-pronged approach, said Mr

Chee Hong Tat. Mr Chee, who is Senior Minister of State,

Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Communications and Information, said in an interview with wire service Bloomberg in Dec 2017 that Singapore is embracing technology and focusing more on personal health, as life expectancy improves.

He also noted that the number of patients with chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer is set to rise. It is a double-whammy because while the demand for healthcare workers is going up, their supply is shrinking. To mitigate this, Singapore will harness technological and business innovations to help our healthcare workers and patients.

For example, Singapore will use tele-health to care for patients. Take the case of a patient discharged from hospital. He can do rehabilitation exercises at home under the guidance of a remote therapist, with the aid of Internet broadband and a simple device. Nurses could also use technology to monitor the entire ward of patients under their care – from one desk, while

rather than manually. He said Singapore could leverage on

“Big data” to predict, for instance, whether certain types of people are more prone to diseases or ailments and take pre-emptive measures.

Mr Chee said the Government’s healthcare manpower plans through 2020 call for another 30,000 healthcare workers,

and foreign talent. The Government will also focus on

the training of healthcare workers for a dynamic healthcare industry that is adapting to data analytics and automation, he said.

He emphasised an across-the-board approach, pointing out that Singapore was uniquely positioned to mitigate the

addressing long-term problems now. The biggest challenge, he said, is how

to provide appropriate quality care for patients and how we can help people to focus on leading healthy lives so that the focus is not just on healthcare, but on health.

“Our belief is that if we do that and you are able to help people to stay healthy, that is the best way to help them to have a good life, good health and eventually for the country as a whole, we also have a healthier and happier population,” pointed out Mr Chee.

March 2018 7

COVER STORY

MPs’ views on budgetThis year’s Budget debate was the longest in five years.

Including the debate on the Finance Minister’s announcement, it spanned a total of eight days as MPs spoke on a range of

issues. Petir brings a snapshot of what they said

The youth of today will helm the nation in the future, and it's

crucial to engage them and let them have a say in the key

- Rahayu Mahzam MP for Jurong GRC, on giving youth more opportunities to shape policies.

Just as we have Total Defence, we must endeavour to have

Total Workplace Safety and Health.

- Melvin Yong MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, who called for stronger workplace safety and health.

It is important that, in our drive for economy, we do

not automatically go for the lowest bid in public tender,

long-term cost control.

- Henry Kwek MP for Nee Soon GRC, on balancing cost with quality.

Those who are older or less educated

accessing these online services, as many do not have internet access or mobile phones.

- Vikram Nair MP for Sembawang GRC, on the need for everyone to get on board the Smart Nation drive.

Spending is easier than saving. We

have to continue our public education

Singaporeans the value of preserving and growing our national piggy bank – our reserves.

- Gan Thiam Poh MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, on the use of Net Investment Returns Contribution.

Our market may be very small,

but we can still contribute to the movement of zero-waste manufacturing through a system of incentives and taxes.

- Chia Shi-Lu MP Tanjong Pagar GRC,

to cut e-waste.

For families who have to sell

their homes

setbacks, this can be

and emotional at times.

- Saktiandi Supaat MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, who asked for more help for low-income families undergoing

March 20188

COVER STORY

When government healthcare policies provide cover

As I waited for the results of dad’s colonoscopy carried out at the Singapore General Hospital

in January 2013, my worst fears were

who conducted the procedure informed me the diagnosis: there was a growth in dad’s colon which he suspected may be cancerous.

Although the family was devastated by the news, we stayed strong to provide mental and moral support to encourage

hospitalised throughout the Chinese New Year period in 2013 for surgery. Five years on, as our family celebrated Chinese New Year this year, we will always remember that fateful period when dad had to undergo surgery and his subsequent treatment, and cherish every moment of our family’s close-knit ties. Dad is now a hale 75-year-old enjoying time with the family.

As Singapore’s population continues to age, it has been projected that one in

four Singaporeans will be aged 65 or older by 2030. The Government’s policies to reinforce social safety nets to support the family and the individual in recent budgets, as part of its emphasis on the family nucleus and to acknowledge the silver generation, have indeed been encouraging.

For sure, I can say my family has

subsidies and healthcare coverage during dad’s cancer treatment. From this episode,

healthcare, especially the various medical subsidies and schemes such as ElderShield, a severe disability insurance scheme which

to Singaporeans who need long-term care, especially in old age.

This will give Singaporeans greater peace of mind, no matter which strata of society that we may fall under. No Singaporean will be left out.

The Chay family rallied around dad when he underwent cancer treatment during Chinese New Year in 2013.

Celebrating Chinese New Year in 2018. PPF member Chay Yiowmin (in blue T-shirt) with his hale 75-year-old dad and family members. Both pictures were taken on the 1st day of Chinese New Year.

CHAY YIOWMINCouncil Member, 7th PPF CouncilTreasurer, Young PAP ExcoTreasurer, Kebun Baru Branch

“This will give Singaporeans greater peace of mind, no matter which strata of society that we may fall under. No Singaporean will be left out.”

Two PPF members share with Petir how the Budget impacts them

March 201810

Thankful for a smart, green and liveable Singapore

Growing up in the 70s was an

from today. While we had more open spaces to play and explore, there were also a lot more inconveniences that we had to deal with, such as poorer sanitary conditions, a lack of public infrastructure, etc.

We have come a long way, perhaps at the

of old as a result of necessary urbanisation.

modern thriving city-state. So, what will we in turn leave for our children?

I’m heartened that the Government continues to plan for our and our children’s future, to make Singapore a smart, green and liveable city. Living in an urban setting drains the soul; it is essential to have common spaces, gracious green spaces

where we can recharge ourselves, to ensure that we live, rather than just exist.

The Government’s focus on providing open, green common spaces will help our children and in turn, their children, experience some of the joys of growing up as we did in our time. They will have more options for learning, lifestyle, work and leisure than we had in our days. They will continue living and building upon the Singapore dream. We can also expect

sector services through the Smart Nation initiative, and a much healthier living environment in the years ahead. All of which will serve us well.

Overall, I am thankful for the thought processes behind the planning of Singapore as a Smart, Sustainable City in a Garden. Majulah Singapura!

JUDE TAN KIM CHOOICouncil Member, 7th PPF CouncilChua Chu Kang Branch

Jude Tan Kim Chooi and his family is glad to be able to live in a smart and sustainable Garden in the City.

Grandparents• Review ElderShield

premiums to help more low and middle-income families

• Expand the Community Networks for Seniors island-wide by 2020

• $300 million top-up to Community Silver Trust

• $100 million top-up to Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund

Parents• Service and conservancy charges

rebates for eligible HDB households. Rebates range from 1.5 to 3.5

• to live with their parents will get a higher grant of $30,000 under the Proximity Housing Grant. Singles who live with their parents will receive a $15,000-grant while those singles who live near their parents will now receive a $10,000 grant

• Foreign domestic worker levy remains $60 a month for households eligible for concession. The levy will be raised for those who do not qualify for concession or employ multiple workers

Children• More students from low and middle-income

Independent School bursaries

• Increased annual bursary quantum for pre-university students under Ministry of Education Financial Assistance Scheme from $750 to $900

• More meals for secondary school students will be covered under the School Meals Programme

Budget 2018 and You Petir highlights some of the Budget’s support measures for a typical six-member, three-generation family

Refer to insert for more

Budget 2018 details

All All Singaporeans aged 21 and above in 2018 will get a “hongbao” of $300, $200 or $100, depending on their income

March 2018 11

Adapt and thrive in growth sectorsThe Singapore economy is transforming. To help Singaporeans adapt and apply their skills and experience to growth sectors, the Government has rolled out several initiatives to help Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMETs).

One of them, the Professional Conversion Programmes (PCP), aims to help the PMETs

learn new skills and switch to growth sectors. There are more than 30 PCPs, ranging from aerospace to creative industries. More than

from PCPs in 2017. Petir talks to three mid-career PMETs to

new jobs.

Operations executive Eric Chai has been in the logistics industry for two years, thanks to the Logistics

Professional Conversion Programme (PCP) which helped him to transit quickly and adapt to a new industry.

Although he is relatively young in the

graduate was entrusted by his company, YCH Group, to lead a team to set up warehouses in Shanghai, Tianjin and

in handy when he spent almost half of his time last year in the three thriving Chinese cities. YCH Group is Singapore’s leading supply chain solutions company and has

Before he joined the logistics industry, Eric was taking a break from his three-year

degree and gain more overseas experience. While planning to further his studies, he

took up temporary employment with YCH

During this stint, Eric realised the logistics

career with regional exposure which he

had always wanted. Seeing the potential in Eric and his good work attitude and

permanent position with YCH Group. Eric

To equip him with the necessary skills to take on the new job and help him transit

logistics sector, YCH Group hired him through the PCP as a logistics executive.

As a mid-careerist under the PCP, he underwent a structured modular programme with 20 per cent classroom training and 80 per cent on-the-job training covering the full spectrum of operational activities so that he will have the relevant skills to excel in his new role.

Eric learned warehouse operations, data analytics and other necessary tools and skills to streamline logistics operations to

He completed the rigorous programme last year and was one of 12 pioneer PCP trainees.

Eric has much to look forward to as he picks up new skills and experience in a growth sector.

New horizons in logistics industryGo-getting granny embraces e-commerce

At the age of 63, when most people are thinking about retirement but not the bubbly

Ms Jennifer Pong, a grandmother of six. If anything, she has embraced e-commerce, working for a Singapore start-up which provides a supply chain software platform to optimise last mile

Coincidentally named Fresh Turf, her current employer took the plunge by

in July 2017 and signed her up for PCP on

which consists of classroom learning and on-the-job training. She is in the process of moving from the typical admin functions to a more technology-based role of channel manager. In her PCP, she learned new aspects of e-commerce, data analytics and supply chain, among other things, which she described as an “eye-opening experience”.

“I want to keep learning and be active so that I can stay young,” she quipped. Her grown-up son, who lives with her, is a sole proprietor specialising

Eric Chai

“I have always liked to challenge myself. The Professional Conversion Programme opened another door for me and has broadenedmy horizon.”

COVER STORY

March 201812

Petir thanks WSG for its assistance with the interviews.

When Ira Ng’s life took an unexpected

turn, she had to re-assess her career options and future. She began work as a dancer, something she was passionate about. Unfortunately, her dream was cut short by an injury; her subsequent role as a dance coach also did not quite work out.

However, with the help and open-mindedness of her

current employer, Amara Singapore hotel, she has since embarked on a career to welcome guests from all over the world and show them Singapore’s hospitality.

Ira had previously worked in the hospitality industry. Believing she has a knack for knowing what people want and helping them to get it, Ira took an initiative and approached Amara for a job.

Seeing Ira’s enthusiasm, warmth and

potential, the hotel gave her an opportunity and eased her into the job by signing her up for the PCP (Hotel Industry) in March 2017.

Through the PCP, Ira has a better understanding of the entire sales system and processes about events and conventions. Her colleagues at Amara have been very helpful in coaching her to use the hotel’s IT system as well as to better manage time, understand customers and

progresses, her initial worries have eased.She completed the on-the-job training

portion of the PCP last year and is now taking a part-time WSQ advanced

Tourism Education Centre (SHATEC), specialising in sales and marketing in the hospitality industry.

in her new role as a hotel sales manager. She can also look forward to career advancement. Leveraging on her previous work experience and transferable skills, she is doing well, having exceeded sales targets as well as received positive feedback from the hotel’s guests.

A new “hospitable” career

in programming. He is supportive of her

Jennifer had worked in various types of

a car workshop and a printing company before she joined Fresh Turf. Having completed her PCP classroom training recently, she said the challenge now is to apply what she has learned to the job. However, she is not worried as her supervisors and colleagues, most of whom are young enough to be her children, will provide her with the necessary guidance and support.

Jennifer Pong

“At this age, I have no more worries about family commitment, so I decided to follow my heart and pursue something new to keep my spirit anew.”

Ira Ng

“When the door closed on Ira’s

dancing career, PCP opened

another door, so that she can take

on a different role and still shine.”

March 2018 13

CHAL

LENGES

STRA

TEGIES

VIBRANT ANDINNOVATIVE ECONOMY

• Extend Wage Credit Scheme for three more years until 2020, costing $1.8 billion

• Open Innovation Platform, a virtual crowd-sourcing platform, to be piloted in 2018

• National Research Foundation and Temasek will co-fund new $100 million investment venture to invest and groom start-ups that draw on intellectual property from publicly-funded research

• Integrated Enterprise Development Grant to provide up to 70 per

• Extra $145 million for Tech Skills Accelerator to train people in digital skills over next three years. TeSA will cover new sectors like manufacturing and professional services

•

infrastructure projects

SMART, GREEN AND LIVEABLE CITY

• First payment of carbon tax will be in 2020, based on emissions in 2019. At $5 per tonne of emissions from 2019 and 2023

• Extra $20 per year in U-Save rebates for eligible HDB households

• Embark on Energy Grid 2.0 to develop next-generation grid architectures to respond to rapid changes in energy demand and supply

GREEN ANDDSMARRT CARING AND COHESIVE SOCIETY

• Increased annual Edusave contributions to students • Enhanced Proximity Housing Grant for both families and singles.

• Rebates for service and conservancy charges extended for another

•

65 and above• $300 million top-up to Community Silver Trust; $100 million top-up

to Seniors’ Mobility and Enabling Fund which provides subsidies for assistive devices and consumables for seniors

• Extension of 250 per cent tax deduction for donations to Institutions of a Public Character until Dec 31, 2021

• Dollar-for-dollar matching on donations to Empowering for Life

FISCALLY SUSTAINABLE AND SECURE FUTURE

• Growth of ministries’ budgets capped at 0.3 times of GDP growth from FY2019, down from 0.4 times

• New $5 billion Rail Infrastructure Fund to save for major rail lines, to be set up in FY2018

• Statutory boards, government-owned companies to consider borrowing to fund infrastructure projects

• Raise GST by two percentage points from 7 per cent to 9 per cent, sometime from 2021-2025

• Introduce GST on digital services imported from overseas from 2020

• Buyer’s Stamp Duty rate for homes worth over $1 million raised to

• $100, $200 or $300 SG Bonus for all Singaporeans aged 21 and above, depending on income

GLOBAL ECONOMIC WEIGHT SHIFTING TOWARDS ASIA

• More advanced economies turning inward due to domestic pressures

• Brexit causing uncertainty over the UK and its trade with the European Union and elsewhere

• US tax changes and review of trade pacts causing global anxiety

• Asia will play greater role in world trade and

• Singapore must ride on these developments which

Asia’s growth• Regional geopolitical tensions can dampen investor

EMERGENCE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES

• Robotics and digital technologies fuelling rapid rise of e-commerce and sharing economy

• New technologies reshaping economy and jobs• Businesses must compete on intangible assets such

as intellectual property and data to stay ahead

A BUDGET TO SECURE

SINGAPORE’S FUTURE

ILLUSTRATION RICKY CHEN

PAGE DESIGN PATRIC HONG

Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said

Budget 2018 will tackle three over-

arching challenges – the economic pivot

to Asia, new technologies and an ageing

population. He outlined a strategic and

integrated plan to bring together all

stakeholders to build a better Singapore

AGEING POPULATION

• Major increase in healthcare and social spending in coming years

• enabling older workers to continue contributing

• Resident workforce will shrink, causing labour market to tighten and economic growth to slow further

• Remain dynamic in outlook, be more productive at work. Government will supplement workforce with

• Government will keep close watch on income inequality and social mobility

INFOGRAPHICS PATRIC HONG

• Rules on hiring of foreigners are being tightened to give Singaporeans more chances at higher paying jobs

• The Employment Act will be expanded to cover more professionals, managers and executives (PMEs) who earn $4,500 and more a month, compared to the current cap

430,000 more PMEs and help them seek better employment terms

• Career Trial, with enhanced features, including a doubling in training allowances to $2,400 a month, will replace Work Trial

MINISTRY OF MANPOWER

• Young couples, including undergraduates and national servicemen aged at least 21, can

shortening by about a year their ability to

• Young couples’ income assessment for housing loans and grants will be deferred to just before they collect their keys, instead of at the time of application. This means their home-buying plans does not have to be postponed due to lack of income history

• reducing the waiting time to between two and three years, instead of the typical three to four years

• Divorcees will no longer have to wait three years before they can apply for a second

MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• engage the young, will be introduced in April 2018

• Our SG Heritage Plan, a long-term national drive to preserve and promote Singapore's heritage, will be launched this year

• Four more Active Health Labs will be opened across the island this year to help

maintain active lifestyles

MINISTRY OF CULTURE, COMMUNITY & YOUTH

MINISTRY OF TRADE & INDUSTRY

• $110 million allocation for new Productivity Solutions Grant which supports selected productivity solutions over the next three years

• Small and medium enterprises that tie up with start-ups will qualify for the integrated Pact programme which will be backed by government funds of $100 million over the next three years

• Climate Action SG Grant will be set up to help NGOs and grassroots organisations defray the cost of organising programmes in support of the Year of Climate Action in 2018. The grant is up to $5,000

• Shops will have to provide in-store recycling bins or one-for-one take-back services by 2021 for old electrical and electronic equipment such as mobile phones and washing machines

MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT & WATER RESOURCES

• Senior citizens will be able to attend new courses to better prepare for a digital lifestyle

• The National Library Board will introduce SkillsFuture@Libraries to help people make well-informed choices on training and careers

• Businesses will be able to use a nation-wide electronic invoicing framework to process

productivity

MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS & INFORMATION

• The Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprises (SCORE) will extend the length of its job

from six to 12 months, to help them

workforce

• New Home Team Community Assistance and Referral Scheme, or HT Cares, will look at identifying and dealing with the underlying issues that cause people to commit crimes

MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

• The Government will provide subsidies of about $5 billion for public bus services and $4 billion to renew rail operating assets. It will invest another $20 billion in public transport infrastructure

• Commuters using the Bukit Panjang LRT can expect more reliable rides come 2022 when a $344-million project to overhaul the line is completed

• Another 450 buses will be deployed on existing routes along stretches of the MRT network which are being upgraded

• Government to review the point-to-point transportation sector. Private-hire car services such as Uber and Grab could be regulated and even licensed in the future

• E-scooter users will have to register their devices from the second half of 2018

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT

• By 2023, all primary schools will have the Applied Learning Programme which helps children learn through hands-on experience

• Universities and other institutes of higher learning will draw up plans for a student's career and learning path to support their alumni’s adult education and skills upgrading

• The Common Entry Programme will be expanded to more polytechnic students to allow them to sample foundation courses before deciding what they want to specialise in

MINISTRY OF EDUCATIONBudget 2018’s Key Initiatives

Petir highlights various Ministries’ efforts to deliver a

better future for all of us

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• and better coordinate their services to ensure people receive the help they need in a more holistic way

• Institute of Technical Education students who are already receiving ComCare assistance will be automatically assessed if they qualify for bursaries. This service, from the second half of 2018, will be extended progressively to students in mainstream schools, polytechnics and universities

• language classes, to help children build a strong foundation for their mother tongue languages

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL & FAMILY DEVELOPMENT

• Integrated Shield Plans will no longer come with riders that cover a patient's entire hospital bill. Instead, those buying

per cent of their hospital bill but this is capped at $3,000 a year. Insurers have until April 1, 2019 to come up with new riders that include the co-payment and cap. Thereafter, no full riders for such integrated plans can be sold. Anyone who buys a rider from March 8, 2018 will have to switch to the new scheme by April 1, 2021

• At least 30 polyclinics by 2030 in more neighbourhoods, an increase from the current 20

• Use of Medisave for outpatient treatments will have fewer restrictions. The annual withdrawal limit for chronic medical conditions, vaccinations and health screenings will be raised from $400 to $500. Age limit for Flexi-Medisave will be lowered from 65 to 60. About 260,000 Singaporeans aged between 60 and 64

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

• All recruits from army combat units, except those in elite and support roles, will now do their Basic Military Training (BMT) together on Pulau Tekong

• New technologies such as unmanned watch towers; unmanned surface vessels for maritime security and mine detection and disposal and smart airbases which use drones will be introduced

• The SAF will conduct more training and operations to counter the terror threat

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

CONVERSATION

QParliament was launched on January 16 this year. With about 2,000 “likes” and more than 2,000 "followers", it is full

What is an Order Paper and what does it look like?When is the next Parliament sitting and who is going to talk

about what?Did you know Parliament has a mascot – a lion with wings –

called Parley?

Parliament, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, after he was elected to the post in

Building a bridge to ParliamentSingapore’s 10th Speaker of Parliament, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, wants to strengthen the connection between Parliament and the people.

TAN CHUAN-JINSpeaker of Parliament;MP for Marine Parade GRCAge: 49Family: Wife, and two children aged 16 and 19.Hobbies: Photography, jogging, piecing together miniature scale military models.

March 201814

September 2017. His predecessor, Mdm Halimah Yaacob, resigned to contest the presidential election.

And outreach is high up on his agenda. He wants to de-mystify parliamentary processes in interesting ways, engage the public and combat mis-information head-on.

trust.“People need to trust and respect the

it. If not, we need to understand it for what it is,” he said.

progress, and he only expects it to be completed in a year or two.

While the Parliament Facebook page has been launched, he also hopes to start a new

on issues related to Parliament.Fun content which people can look

forward to include virtual “tours” around Parliament and “Did You Know” section

Speaker’s wig.He will also continue existing outreach

government feedback agency REACH which runs the Singapore Model Parliament event. It gives students and young adults a chance to participate in a mock Parliament. “The role-playing really helps to sharpen understanding a lot more,” pointed out Mr Tan.

Always reaching out

social media carries a greater risk of mis-information and fake news, which has to be countered.

In one instance, when Workers’ Party MP Sylvia Lim's bid to speak on the reserved Presidential Election upon an Adjournment Motion was not successful after two rounds of submission, sentiments that the parliamentary process was unfair were widely spread. However, it was simply because her bid was not picked through balloting. Balloting is carried out when requests to speak upon an Adjournment Motion are submitted by two or more MPs. Ms Lim got the chance to speak at a subsequent sitting when her re-submitted bid was successful through the usual balloting process for that subsequent sitting.

“I put out my explanation on my Facebook page to explain the process but as with most things, the explanation didn’t go viral as much as the allegations of unfairness. But at least we have to explain clearly how things work.

“Social media shapes perceptions which can translate into real-life consequences. This can create confusion and mistrust,” he said.

It is also in his nature to share, de-mystify and tell behind-the-scenes stories

not covered by the mainstream media.

Even in 2009 when social media was not as prevalent as it is now, Mr Tan, then-chairman of the National Day Parade Executive Committee, set up a Facebook page dedicated to the parade.

“It not only helps the public to understand what goes on behind-the-scenes; humanising the organisational process helps readers to realise how much blood and sweat goes into the NDP and how passionate the volunteers and workers are,” recalled Mr Tan.

them to be even more proud of what they do.”

Building an inclusive societyIn the lead-up to the same parade,

instead of the usual practice of getting the soldiers to pack the fun packs, he involved “others who are perhaps forgotten”. Their packs were then tagged with an acknowledgement that it had been packed by someone from the prisons, or who was disabled, or less privileged.

He continued his engagement and

Manpower, and then Social and Family Development. At the Manpower Ministry, for instance, he would accompany and

inspecting foreign workers’ dormitories. “Our guys were out every week, but they

were unseen and unheard and it’s not easy work,” he said. “We put out the stories so that people have a better understanding of the work involved. Now at Parliament, I’m continuing what I was doing previously.”

“People need to trust and respect the system. If it is flawed, we need to improve it. If not, we need to understand it for what it is.”

The 10th Speaker, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin, keeps order in the House.

March 2018 15

CONVERSATION

Heart and soul of societyHe might have spent 24 years in the Army and helmed “hard” ministries

like Manpower, but Mr Tan’s calling lies in the softer aspects of society – in helping, caring and giving to fellow Singaporeans.

“Economy, security, all this is important, but these are like the tactics, training, weapons, structures. The heart and soul of a nation relates to how we all want to be part of something bigger and better. The giving and volunteering space has direct co-relation to that,” he said.

Even as a Brigadier-General tasked with national defence, his thoughts centered on how people would only defend a country if they thought it was worth defending, and that boiled down to winning hearts and minds.

When he entered politics in 2011, he made it clear that one of his priorities was community service. At the time, he said: “We have to help our younger generation understand what it means to look out for each other, develop their character by helping and in turn, deepen the stakes in our society and our identity as a nation.”

He has stayed true to that belief. Even after leaving the Ministry of Social and Family Development, he continues with his work in enlarging the giving space.

On his own, he has raised several million dollars for various causes through sales of a book collection of personal travel photographs, The World We Live In, as well as photo prints.

While much has been done in schools to encourage students to volunteer, via Values in Action programmes, he hopes they can continue doing so when they start work.

To that end, he keeps up with meeting

“I share with them my vision and idea, to persuade them to do more,” he said. “While people may be initially ‘arrowed’ by their bosses to do more

“I don’t know of any other way to change society. It is really in giving, in learning to count our blessings that we really begin to change. I want to create opportunities for people to demonstrate that.”

Why is family so important to you?It is the foundation and building block of society. I am the patron of the Centre for Fathering and we are trying to create a climate so that more parents and fathers can be more conscious and be as present as much as we can. Children are not looking for big things, but just time with their parents. Take holidays for example. It’s not about where you go, but the fact that you are spending 24 hours together.

What are the “little moments” you treasure with your children?I sometimes iron my son’s clothes at home and I send him to school. While he can take the bus, I treasure the opportunity to chat with him on my way to work. My daughter’s university is near my son’s school, so sometimes I drop by after sending my son

How do you protect your family time?It needs to be programmed in with everything else. I ensure family time is included in my schedule.

family time. If I send out an e-mail on Friday, I don’t want anyone to reply on Saturday or Sunday. Unless it is urgent. And why do events have to start late? If it starts at 6 pm and ends by 8 pm, we can wrap up and the kids might still be awake when we get home.

Family Man

Mr Tan believes the spirit of sharing and volunteering begins with the young.

“It is really in giving, in learning to count our blessings that we really begin to change. I want to create opportunities for people to demonstrate that.”

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FIRST READINGThe Bill is introduced by reading its title

SECOND READINGDebate session

THIRD READINGOnly minor amenedments can be made to the Bill

GAZETTINGThe Act is published in the

publication of the Government

Presidential Council for Minority Rights (PCMR): PCMR ensures that the Bill does not

discriminate against any race or religion

President's Assent: Upon approval by the President, the Bill becomes an

Act of Parliament

INFO

GRA

PHIC

S: P

ATRI

C H

ON

G

Getting to know ParliamentPetir explains some common parliamentary terms and processes

Motion for AdjournmentA Motion for the Adjournment of Parliament is moved at

the end of a sitting day. At this point, a Member of Parliament may claim the right to raise any matter which the Government is responsible for.

The Member must give at least three clear days’ notice of the subject to be raised. This right is allotted to one Member only at each sitting. If necessary, there will be a ballot.

Once granted the right, the Member can speak for up to 20 minutes on his subject. The Minister responsible may reply for up to 10 minutes.

At the end of the allotted time, the Speaker will adjourn Parliament without any question put.

Green PaperGreen Paper is a consultative document which contains

proposals for public discussion. It is usually issued ahead of the formulation of government policy. A recent Green Paper was issued in Jan 2018 by the Ministry of Law and Ministry of Communications and Information, on how to prepare for the “real and serious challenges” posed by online falsehoods.

White PaperWhite Paper is a policy document issued by the Government

to explain or discuss matters. White Papers are often presented for debate in Parliament. An example is the White Paper on the "Report of the Junior College/Upper Secondary Education Review Committee" presented on Oct 22, 2002.

Select Committees There are seven Standing Select Committees which are

appointed for the duration of the term of Parliament for various

Selection, Estimates Committee, House Committee, Public Accounts Committee, Public Petitions Committee and Standing Orders Committee.

Besides the Standing Select Committees, Parliament occasionally forms ad hoc Select Committees set up by a Motion approved by the House to deal with Bills or other matters referred to it. A Select Committee is formed when a group of Members is selected by Parliament to inquire into and report on a particular subject. An ongoing example is the Select Committee on Deliberate Online Falsehoods – Causes, Consequences and Counter-measures which was set up in Jan 2018.

A Special Select Committee is provided for under the Constitution to nominate candidates to the President for appointment as Nominated Members of Parliament.

Select Committees on Bills and some Standing Select Committees are empowered to call for witnesses and send for documents and records. The Committee may hold closed-door

and recommendations, it presents a report to Parliament. Any Member may move a motion to adopt or reject the report. All questions in Select Committees are decided by a majority of votes.

From Bill to LawThe Law-Making Process

Committee of MPs will review the Bill and make

amendments to it

Select Committee i.e. consists of selected MPs

Committee of the Whole House

i.e consists of all MPs

March 2018 17

Wvisited Punggol Coast’s Meet-the-People session (MPS) in February 2018, the

visitors were impressed by the activists’ high level of commitment in attending to residents who needed assistance. The visitors were even more astounded when they learnt the volunteers were unpaid and that they did much of the work.

“These guests were also surprised that the MPS was generally a weekly event, allowing residents easy accessibility to their Member of Parliament,” said Punggol Coast PAP branch secretary Koh Lin Wei.

years ago had expressed similar sentiments. Indeed, it was from that visit that Mr Koh developed a system of standard operating procedure to guide volunteers in their work.

“Perhaps, MPS is a unique Singapore innovation,” he suggested.

Mr Koh, 47, pointed out that like all young estates, there is a cyclical trend to issues dealt with at the

issues. These would be followed by the need for pre-school places and school registration issues for their children. When the residents are settled in, they would suggest improvements to the infrastructure.

For the activists, no issue is left unattended. For instance, when a resident is keen to operate a food stall in a nearby school or hawker centre, the activists will advise them to get in touch with the school or the National Environment Agency. “If we can’t

residents should walk away with the help that they need,” Mr Koh said.

Recruiting volunteers is always a workin progress

The Punggol Coast ward has expanded

112 blocks with some 40,000 to 45,000 residents.This has made activist recruitment a key challenge

increase its pool of volunteers and activists.Their numbers have grown from 15 in 2015 to 25

regular volunteers today, in addition to about 10 ad hoc volunteers whom the branch can tap on when there are large scale activities.

GROUNDWORK > BRANCHING OUT

All systems go at Punggol CoastIts pool of unpaid activists and volunteers, brimming withzest, has earned the admiration of foreign visitors

GROUNDWORK > BRANCHING OUT

Punggol Coast branch is always on the look out for volunteers and activists to serve its residents, says branch secretary Koh Lin Wei, left, back row. Next to him is Mr Calvin Aw, assistant branch secretary. Husband-and-wife team Mr Adnan Mohamad Taip and Ms Quek Sze Cheah (both, front row) joined the PAP after they had a positive experience at an Meet-the-People session (MPS).

BY KHUSHWANT SINGH

March 201818

Among the regular volunteers are account manager, Quek Sze Cheah, 34, and her husband, Mr Adnan Mohamad Taip, a 35-year-old project manager. They started volunteering in May 2017 and joined the PAP about six months ago. It all began when Ms Quek sought help at an MPS about a housing issue. The experience made her realise that helping residents is a very rewarding experience, especially when she sees immediate positive outcomes.

Taking ownership

Mr Koh said that Punggol Coast branch chairman, Dr Janil Puthucheary, who is Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information & Ministry of Education and also an MP for the Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency, is very keen on trying new things and has

delegates on how the MPS works and its role in Singapore politics.

ABOVE Residents, together with Dr Janil, (in red T-shirt, centre) at the ward’s National Day Observance Ceremony.

solution, we will provide a direction because residents should walk away with the help that they need.” - Mr Koh Lin Wei, Punggol Coast PAP branch secretary

March 2018 19

GROUNDWORK > BRANCHING OUT

empowered activists and volunteers so that they take ownership of the branch’s activities.

their aspirations of helping people in need,” he added.

The branch is also planning to re-introduce a tuition scheme. Mr Koh recalled how it had previously helped the daughter of a Hokkien-speaking father and a Thai mother.

Hokkien so the little girl did not know English or Mandarin and the tuition classes were a blessing for her when she began formal schooling.”

“With the addition of two rental blocks in the neighbourhood, I expect that there will now be children again who need help with their studies so we are looking into reviving the tuition programme

residents.”From the looks of it, it is full steam ahead for the

Punggol Coast branch.

Volunteers George Chew and Fred Lee are among the pool of unpaid volunteers who give unstintingly of their time to help residents.

Artist's impression of future Punggol Digital Hub. (Photo by JTC)

The Government is set to transform Punggol into a thriving and vibrant digital

28,000 new economy jobs. Deputy Prime Minister Teo

Chee Hean, who announced the masterplan, said the 50-ha Punggol Digital District (PDD) will be a centre for digital and cyber-security jobs.

Punggol will be "a hub for key growth sectors of the digital economy", DPM Teo said at the masterplan’s launch in late January 2018. He said it could even involve relocating government agencies such as the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, currently in Maxwell Road, to the PDD.

"This will help create a new cluster of cyber-security and

residents can look forward to many exciting jobs in the future close to home," he said.

The PDD will also serve as a test bed for a slew of new features and planning practices. Punggol

is envisioned to be car-lite, with infrastructure such as parking spaces located underground so that the streets are friendlier to pedestrians, cyclists and users of personal mobility devices.

Punggol residents will have access to new transport infrastructure, including the new Punggol Coast MRT station, which will link the town with the rest of Singapore.

The Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) will have a new campus in Punggol, adding more buzz to the district’s innovative and entrepreneurial spirit. Students and faculty will have more opportunities to exchange ideas with industry practitioners working there.

SIT’s research labs and learning facilities could reside within JTC’s business park buildings, while JTC could host industry research and even create startup spaces within SIT’s campus. This "exchange of

take root.

From a sleepy fishing village decades ago, to today’s Waterfront Town of about 200,000 residents, Punggol is ready to embark on a new phase

Punggol set to transform

Their numbers have grown from 15 in 2015 to 25 regular volunteers today, in addition to about 10 ad hoc volunteers which the branch can tap on when there are large scale activities.

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GROUNDWORK > YOUNG PAP

Ms Indranee Rajah, Senior Minister of State for Finance and Law: We do not need to

Two weeks before Budget 2018 was announced on Feb 19, Senior Minister of State for Finance and Law Indranee Rajah, and Young PAP chairman Janil Putchucheary, Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information and Education, met young party members to discuss Singapore’s tax system. Several Young PAP members had questions for the ministers.

The Feb 3 dialogue marked the first “open” YP bi-monthly dialogue where non-party members, who were nominated by their branches, attended the session. As part of the efforts to build closer bonds with the National Trades Union Congress, nine Young NTUC brothers and sisters also attended. In all, about 145 attendees were at the dialogue. YP members in earnest discussion about Singapore’s tax system.

Planning ahead

Is it really necessary to raise taxes?Ms Indranee: We’ve done as much as we can to not

raise taxes but we’re at a stage where we will have to. Our revenue has increased from $43 billion in 2007

to $83 billion in 2016. However our social spending in

2016, 13.7 per cent of our budget was spent on healthcare compared to 6.7 per cent of 2007’s budget.

Going forward, our healthcare spending will increase because of an ageing population. In 2015, 1 in 8 Singaporeans was aged 65 and above. By 2030, it will be 1 in 4.

income tax, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and the contributions from our reserves.

The contributions from reserves is now the largest segment of our revenue, going up from 5.7 per cent in 2007 to 17.5 per cent in 2016. We increased the amount of our reserves that we can use, including moving to the Net Investment Returns (NIR) framework and bringing Temasek within it, but there is a limit to how much more we can tap on our reserves.

The increased expenditure must be funded from somewhere. Other than reserves, taxes are the main

do we tax?

Is raising the GST the best way to raise revenue?

Ms Indranee: Insofar as GST is concerned, it is broad based and will give a sustainable revenue. The most common argument made against raising GST is that it impacts the poor more. We have acted to mitigate that in past GST raises. Non-essentials are optional, so the more important thing is to look at necessities. In past

March 201822

to cover the GST increase on necessities. This, taken together with other social transfers, eg. ComCare, helps the lower income to cope with their expenses.

(GST rate is currently 7 per cent.)

Are there untapped industries that we can tax such as e-commerce?

Ms Indranee: We are studying this but it is not so easy to implement. Australia wanted to implement it last year but has had to defer it. We want to tax e-commerce and we are studying how other countries do it but we have not quite come to a decision on what is a good model for Singapore.

Instead of raising corporate tax, how about reducing it to ensure we remain more competitive and increase jobs for Singaporeans?

Ms Indranee: There is a worldwide trend of reducing corporate tax. The US, for example, has recently slashed its rates.

At the same time, there is increased scrutiny of jurisdictions with low tax rates, some of which have been labelled as tax havens. Singapore is careful to ensure that tax in Singapore is based on substantive economic activity.

Any adjustments to corporate tax rates must balance

activity and not being perceived as a tax haven.(Singapore’s current corporate tax rate is 17 per cent.)

Do we need to raise taxes for this term of

Ms Indranee: We do not need to raise taxes to cover

this term. But we have to consider raising taxes to cover the expenditure beyond this term. We are planning for the future.

The biggest increase in expenditure in the next 10-15 years will be for healthcare costs due to our ageing population.

We also need to invest in infrastructure. Good public infrastructure helps generate jobs, creates buzz and moves the country forward. Terminal 5, High Speed Rail, Tuas Megaport and MRT are all investments we

generations. A government that thinks short term will last only for a short term.

Among the questions raised by the attendees was whether increasing GST is the best way to raise revenue.

Should GST be a standard rate for all products?Dr Janil: We use as clean and simple a system as possible and then

The downside to this is that if infant formula milk is tax free, it is tax free from the poorest to the richest person. Such systems also have a very high cost to administer. They also tend to lead to certain “gaming” behaviour. For example, if someone brings in a luxury brand’s baby clothes, does that qualify the product for exemption from tax because it is for children? Every decision that doesn’t go the way of the company will be hotly challenged.

These are exactly the problems Singapore wanted to avoid. That is why we have a standard rate for all products.

YP chairman Dr Janil Puthucheary explains that Singapore uses as clean and simple a system as possible for its GST.

March 2018 23

Having lived in Jurong West for more than 20 years, Mr Yee Chia Hsing is very much at home in the Nanyang ward. He knows the ground well. And looking out for the common man is a key focus in his political and professional lives.

BACKBENCHER'S BITEBY KHUSHWANT SINGH

Down-to-earth

Private sector perspective The duty of an MP is to be the voice of the people.

As Head of Catalist in CIMB Bank Singapore, I have a lot of contact with SMEs. In the past, some have raised concerns about the high foreign worker levy; others have mentioned to me the high compliance costs to meet various workplace safety regulations.

sentiment from the ground. Sometimes, it may not be that the policy is wrong but that there may be a gap in the communications process.

Coming from the private sector, I believe I am more aware of the impact of various policies on businesses. For example, when I realised that residential properties can be transferred for a much lower stamp duty rate when structured under a corporate entity, I raised the issue in Parliament. I am very glad that the loophole was closed soon after.

Walking the talk Residents are concerned about

municipal issues such as having regular bus services, well-connected covered walkways and footpaths

functions and events in my ward, I deliberately park some distance away and walk through the blocks

any areas for improvement.On one occasion, I noticed a lack

of space to park bicycles, yet there were many disused bicycles at the bicycle stands. Some appeared to have been abandoned so I asked the Town Council to remove the disused bikes.

Strong advocate of volunteerism I started volunteering at Ren Ci

Hospital in 2009 and continue to do so even after becoming an MP. I believe that even a short period of exposure to volunteering can change a person’s outlook positively. As such, I am always happy to host students or undergraduates who would like to observe our Meet-the-People sessions (MPS).

I have also been successful in attracting more young volunteers to help out at my MPS. I realise that young people may be reluctant to start volunteering as they may not be able to commit to serving every week. Sometimes, it is due to exams or project work. Some also may have just started working. I told them it is ok, they can turn up when they are free. I hope the short

them.

“Let’s do it together” leadership Traditionally, leadership structures

are like a pyramid with the leader at the top. But feedback from the ground may not reach the leader because the middle levels may fail to pass it up.

the leader in the centre of things and readily accessible to one and all. The leader only sets the direction after taking in inputs from all, so it is not “Follow me” but “Let’s do it together” leadership.

with Yee Chia Hsing

WHO: Yee Chia Hsing, MP for Nanyang division in Chua Chu Kang GRC since 2015. He works at a bank assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to raise funds from the stock exchange. He is a strong advocate of volunteerism, having volunteered at various organisations since 2008.

WHERE: NTI Food Court at Block 964, Jurong West Street 91.

ON THE MENU: Oyster omelette and kopi-O.

“I started volunteering at Ren Ci Hospital in 2009 and continue to do so even after becoming an MP. I believe that even a short period of exposure to volunteering can change a person’s outlook positively.”

March 201824