Parliamentary Speech by Er Dr Lee Bee Wah on 28th Jan 2016
Video of full speech
1. Madam Speaker, it is indeed a privilege to listen to the President’s address in the House. I thank him for his encouraging and illuminating words which will certainly continue to echo in this House throughout the sessions of this Parliament.
President Tan said in his address that “good policies and good politics go together”. We are known around the world for having an effective and honest government that comes up with good policies, but there are also areas in which we did not do well enough. I would like to point out three common factors that lead to less-than-ideal results.
Three common pitfalls for government
2. The first one is not planning for the long-term. For example, in 2015 we saw a spate of MRT disruptions in February and March, as well as the worst disruption in the history of the MRT in July. Many of the commuters, including my residents at Khatib MRT Station, were greatly inconvenienced.
Scene opposite Khatib MRT station during a breakdown in November
The problem lies in engineering issues which were not properly addressed from the early days of the MRT system. We didn’t train a pool of engineers and technicians to specialize in maintaining the rail system. Having in-house expertise is very different from using sub-contractors. We cannot be always using economic benefit as the sole yardstick in making decision. Now Minister Khaw Boon Wan and his team have the unenviable task of completing a major overhaul while maintaining normal services.
3. Then we have the grass pitch issue at the Sports Hub. The pitch was not ready for many sports, the roof leaked and even the sound system got complaints from many concert-goers.
We have to accept that the government could have done better, experts from our National Parks Board could have anticipated the problems and exercised more oversight over the project execution, especially with all the public money invested in the project. Perhaps Government had drawn the line too fine, too clearly and washed their hands (off the matter) too early.
4. The second is not keeping in mind how things are for the man on the street. One example is MOE’s naming of a new JC – Eunoia (pronounce as: yoo-noh-iea) JC. The word was chosen for its meaning, but did anybody think whether the man on the street can pronounce it easily? Would an English, Chinese, Malay or even Tamil word have been easier for the common man on the street to pronounce and relate to? Now, MOE is faced with unnecessary flak and even petitions to change the name.
5. Another example is Hawker centres: for the man on the street, a hawker centre is the place to get good food at reasonable prices.
But how can the price be reasonable if hawkers have to pay up to $6,000 per stall? To be exact, I was told by the taxi drivers who live in Nee Soon South, it is $5000 rental plus $1680 for cleaning services. And this is charged in a new hawker centre. In Chinese we say, 羊毛长在羊身上.
I certainly hope that the new hawker centre in Yishun will not have this kind of rental for the stall. Yishun residents not only hope to have good food at reasonable prices, many also hope to get a stall to provide them with employment.
Therefore, I hope that NEA is open to the idea of working with the community, perhaps with a social enterprise, to operate the new hawker centre in Yishun.
6. The last area is coordination between ministries.
Recently I was involved in trying to provide a covered linkway from the nearest HDB block to the bus stop in one of my new BTOs, Acacia Breeze. For months, the differences between HDB and LTA cannot be resolved. I asked for a meeting to seek a solution.
Guess what? The relevant persons from LTA refuse to meet. Why? I don’t know.
7. In fact, even our DPMs have pointed out these issues recently. DPM Tharman said at a public service leadership dinner that we need to develop the habit of looking at issues through the eyes of ordinary citizens, and bringing policies from different agencies together to serve their needs. DPM Teo Chee Hean also said at a civil service award ceremony that the public service needs to stay connected with the people they serve. I quote: “…to listen deeply and better understand aspirations and concerns, and to work together with Singaporeans to make Singapore a better home for all of us”.
8. I must emphasize that I am NOT here to point fingers or to make anyone uncomfortable. I am bringing this up because I hope that the government can do even better than before. To do this, we need to look beyond the near term, beyond our individual agency responsibilities, at how we can maximize benefits for the man on the street.
9. We need people at all levels to be more than just carrying out the formulation and execution of policies. We need people who are committed, trustworthy and who serve with their hearts. I know that in many instances, the civil servants are doing their best, but they are stretched as the public gets more vocal, and they have to balance different demands. Perhaps we should pay more attention to the quality of the officers, their career path, training and the motivation for them to excel, innovate and give their best.
Three areas government needs to do even better
10. There are three areas in which we need even more dedication and foresight from the government. They are the environment, housing and the economy. I would like to expand in Chinese.
11. 新加坡以环境清洁闻名，不过如果你凌晨4点去组屋楼下走一圈，你就会发现，这可说是清洁工人制造出来的假象。相比之下，在日本或台湾，他们的清洁工人比我们少，环境却比我们清洁。
我们是否能建立类似的文化？我在义顺南开始了“无清洁工日”，我发现当人们自己动手捡垃圾，我们会建立起不乱丢垃圾，并且提醒别人乱丢垃圾的坏习惯。我们是否能扩大无清洁工日的计划，采取和日本、台湾一样，让我们的孩子自己清洗校园，从小视环境整洁为自己的责任？
Dr Lee joining residents in litter-picking
几天前，我看到《海峡时报》报道，去年的垃圾虫罚单，达到六年来的新高。因此，不只是我们的中小企业需要创新，环境局要解决这个问题，也需要进行创新。
另外，我国的吸烟率正在逐步回升，我们该如何保持无烟的环境，保护非吸烟者不吸入二手烟？我们义顺南的指定吸烟点实验可以説是达到预期的效果，今年内将建50个吸烟点，把计划扩大到整个义顺南。我促请政府考虑把指定吸烟点定为全国政策。
12. 第二是在住屋方面。我很高兴听到总统说，政府将继续致力于为新加坡人打造温馨的家园，建造更多实惠舒适的组屋、优质的公共设施和便利的公共交通。
我希望这些计划可以更顺利地付诸现实，不要再出现在居民已经住进去新的组屋区，周围却没有足够的托儿所和巴士服务的情况。我也希望能让单身人士和离婚人士，尤其那些带有小孩的, 能够尽快拥有自己的房子。
13. 第三是在经济方面。今年和明年，我国将继续面对制造业萎缩、中国经济低迷等挑战，经济状况不是很乐观。相信许多议员都和我一样碰到有不少居民找不到工作来求助。我想问政府，是否预计今年和明年将出现大规模的失业？经济方面有许多因素是不可预测的，政府是否有计划如何应对经济低迷和失业的现象？
这个月，我有一名居民来求助。他是一名起重机操作员。他说，他的公司从去年开始，每个月都裁掉一个人，刚好被裁的都是新加坡人。他在这家公司做了十年，十分努力，不过去年底也被裁退。
我有另一名居民在资讯科技业工作，他说他现在感到压力很大，因为公司聘请了一名外来人才当他的上司。不久后，这名上司聘请了一些来自同一个国家的职员，叫这名居民教导这些新职员。他感到压力很大，不知道什么时候会被炒鱿鱼。他说，在新加坡，炒掉一个人不难，只要说公司要重组就行了，他的公司已经重组了很多次。
本月，人力部宣布，去年的就业增长达到13年来的新低。过年后，预计将有更多公司重组。
政府是否可以考虑，一家公司毎裁退一个新加坡工人, 政府就相对的减掉他们的一个工作准证配额？
14. 议长女士，过去50年，我国做得很好，希望将来50年，我国会做得更好。 让新加坡精神继续发扬光大。 我支持感谢总统国会开幕献词的动议。