Dr Ng Eng Hen @ PAP Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC

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Grassroots Adviser Dr Ng Eng Hen’s visit to Blk 195 Kim Keat Ave on 29 Oct 2011 with his fellow Grassroots Advisers for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, Mr Zainudin Nordin, Mr Wong Kan Seng, Mrs Josephine Teo and Mr Hri Kumar Nair.

Dr Ng Eng Hen met a lady who is 106 years old during his house visit to Blk 195 Kim Keat Ave. He would like to wish her good health always.

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SINGAPORE: Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said his ministry is acutely aware that all full-time NSmen must be treated equally, regardless of their background.

Dr Ng said the equal treatment for National Service (NS) has been and must remain a cardinal principle because without strict adherence to this fundamental tenet, the commitment to NS will be severely eroded and the institution of NS weakened.

Replying to questions in Parliament on the disruption of NS by Dr Patrick Tan, the son of President Tony Tan Keng Yam, Dr Ng said the disruption was in accordance with prevailing policies to obtain his medical degree. In addition, a longer period was granted to those admitted to US medical schools.

He assured Singaporeans that neither Dr Patrick Tan, nor any other individual who has disrupted their NS, was given any preferential treatment because of their “connections”.

Some allegations that Dr Patrick Tan had received preferential treatment were made during the Presidential Election campaign in August.

Dr Ng said the policy to allow full-time national servicemen (NSFs) to disrupt for medical studies in Singapore dates back to 1973. Then, Singapore needed military doctors to serve in the Singapore Armed Forces, a policy which continues today for local medical graduates.

From 1981, this policy was extended to allow NSFs to study medicine overseas because the number of local graduates was insufficient. From 1981 to 1986, 38 NSFs were disrupted to go overseas.

This was further tightened in 1986 to take into account basic military training and their physical employment standards.

Dr Ng said 86 applicants were disrupted under this scheme. Among them was Dr Patrick Tan, who went to the United States to study medicine in 1988. Then, he had completed his Basic Military Training and was halfway through Officer Cadet School.

However, he added that from 1992, disruption for overseas medical studies was no longer allowed as the number of local medical graduates had met SAF’s needs.

Dr Ng explained that in the US, the medical course is a graduate programme, where students need a pre-medical degree.

Thus, Dr Patrick Tan deferred his NS for a total of 12 years, for his premedical course from 1988 to 1992 and later for his combined medical degree and PhD in Stanford University’s medical scientist training programme.

He re-enlisted in 2000 after having obtained both his medical degree and PhD, and was deployed to the Defence Medical Research Institute (DMRI) in view of his training.

Dr Ng also noted that other full-time NS men have been posted to DMRI before Dr Patrick Tan’s posting.

Dr Ng said: “There was no preferential treatment given to Patrick Tan, or any other individual who has disrupted, because of their ‘connections’. Let me emphasise to all, including commanders on the ground, that no NS man should be accorded preferential treatment.

“I would like to further assure Singaporeans that Mindef implements a policy of selective disruption for university studies fairly and openly, in accordance with existing criteria.

“Mindef shall henceforth publish the list of all those disrupted for university (education) annually on a routine basis for public scrutiny.”

-CNA/ac

Source: CNA

SINGAPORE: Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen has said the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will continue to modernise and upgrade its capabilities into an integrated, network-centric force, with the ability to sense quicker, manoeuvre forces effectively and strike targets precisely.

He said this in his ministry’s addendum to the President’s Address to Parliament.

Dr Ng added that in SAF’s transformation efforts, it will continue to rely on the dynamism, will and professionalism of its people.

As the SAF’s systems and operations become more complex, its people will need to build deep professional expertise and engage in knowledge creation and continuous learning, said Dr Ng.

“We will continue to enhance our training methods, curriculum and learning environment, and provide fulfilling careers and opportunities for professional development. There will also be more opportunities for continuing education and training as part of our servicemen’s professional development,” said the minister.

Dr Ng said National Service remains a crucial and indispensable element of Singapore’s defence.

With National Servicemen forming the backbone of the SAF, Dr Ng stressed that the armed forces must ensure that training is realistic and effective to raise a potent fighting force.

Dr Ng also underscored the importance of a secure environment for peace and progress in Singapore, given the uncertainties in the regional environment driven by global strategic shifts.

He noted that the aftermath of the 2008 global financial crisis is still unfolding while the US and Europe face considerable economic difficulties.

There have also been dramatic changes in the Middle East but the ramifications of the “Arab Spring” remain uncertain.

At the same time, the interplay of relations between US and China will continue to have an impact on ASEAN and the region.

As such, participation in multilateral meetings and operations is key for Singapore, said Dr Ng.

He said Singapore works closely with its friends and like-minded partners through bilateral and multilateral platforms to strengthen relationships with individual partners.

It also actively encourages an open and inclusive regional security architecture with ASEAN at the centre.

Dr Ng said Singapore has pushed for greater regional cooperation through fora such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus.

He added that the Shangri-la Dialogue will continue to be an important and useful platform for security leaders to meet and share perspectives.

Source: CNA

Mr Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the House, I extend to you our warmest congratulations on your election as the Speaker of the 12th Parliament of Singapore.

Sir, apart from your legal training, you also have an abiding passion for sports, having been a rugby player in your student days. You have served in the Singapore Olympic Foundation and Singapore Disability Sports Council. This House can therefore expect a Speaker who is used to robust interchanges to spur the other to greater heights, but always within the gentlemanly rules of fair play.

Indeed, since your election to the House in 2006, you had participated actively in the debates of the House, moving and supporting motions on many issues and presenting the concerns of those who elected you to this House. Together with your chairmanship of two Government Parliamentary Committees, you bring much parliamentary and legal experience to your role.

Mr Speaker, Sir, as the 8th Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore, you join an illustrious line of distinguished persons who have occupied the Chair of the House since our beginning as a Legislative Assembly in 1955. In electing you, this House places its full confidence in your ability to preside over its proceedings with dignity, fairness and impartiality. I am sure all Members will join me in pledging our full support and cooperation as you seek to improve this institution further, to uphold the standards of this Chamber and maintain the decorum by which our debates are
conducted.

Mr Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the House, I wish also to pay a tribute to your immediate predecessor, Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, who is with us in the Speaker’s Gallery. Mr Abdullah Tarmugi was first elected as the 7th Speaker of the Parliament of Singapore at its 10th Parliament and re‐elected for the 11th Parliament. In all, nine and a half years, from 2002 to 2011. On his election as Speaker, Mr Abdullah declared – “ I shall do my utmost to fulfil the trust and confidence that Members… to preside over the proceedings of this House and to preserve the dignity and role of this august institution. I shall be impartial as Members expect me to be.” Further, he urged members to “Speak honestly, speak sincerely and without fear and let your conscience be your guide. ”

His wise exhortations guided Members as they wrestled over significant pieces of legislation and motions across the spectrum of social, moral and political issues that would test conventional norms in Singapore’s 10th and 11th Parliaments. These debates, many contentious, reflected the challenges that confronted Singaporeans through a turbulent decade.

Among others they included:

‐ The Motion on MHA’s White Paper on The Jemaah Islamiyah Arrests and the Threat of Terrorism in 2003 as Singapore grappled with the homegrown threat of terrorism. It was a seminal paper that has kept us safe till now.

‐ In March that same year, invoking a Certificate of Urgency, this House expeditiously amended the Infectious Diseases Act to tackle the global SARS crisis. In effect, we doubled jail terms and fines for those who breach quarantine orders or expose the community to the infection by other means of willful action or sheer neglect. With these new powers for quarantine,
SARs was contained.

‐ In 2005, the House debated the Government’s proposal to allow for casinos to be built in Singapore, a first in Singapore’s history, followed by the passing of the Casino Control Bill.

‐ In 2006 and thereafter, this House debated and approved significant changes to our CPF system and extended employment through the Retirement Age (Amendment) Bill to improve the retirement adequacy for Singaporeans. In tandem, the fourth pillar of our social support system was added through Workfare.

‐ In 2007, there was intense debate on the retention of section 377A of the Penal Code which criminalises acts of gross indecency between two male adults. Views and positions were polarised. Public petitions from both camps were received, as were hate mails by NMPs who argued their convictions. After two days of debate, Parliament concluded that legislation has to reflect both the societal norms and the views of the majority and opted to keep section 377A. PM Lee also spoke on the issue and expressed that the social norms in Singapore call for heterosexual and stable family units, but that the government acknowledged homosexuals’ contributions in society and assured that section 377A will not be actively enforced. He highlighted that people on both sides hold strong fundamental views on the matter and discussions will not bring the views of the two groups any closer, and hence it is better to stay status quo for now.

‐ In February 2009, in response to the global financial crisis, Parliament passed the Supply Bill and the Supplementary Supply (FY 2008) Bill. The President gave his assent to corresponding Acts, effectively giving his formal approval for the drawdown of past reserves, for the first time ever, amounting to S$4.9 billion.

‐ Last year, the House deliberated on a backbencher’s Bill, the Maintenance of Parents (Amendment) Bill, to reinforce the social responsibility of parental maintenance.

‐ Recently, the Constitution (Amendment) Bill was also debated and passed which raised the minimum number of opposition seats in the House to nine.

I would also remind everyone that in the midst of this turbulent period, we had a change of Prime Minister in 2004. Singaporeans have been through a lot and have shown resilience. Mr Speaker, greater nations have stumbled, if not fractured, over lesser crises we have had to face in the last decade. Through it all, this Parliament has guided Singapore through these momentous changes in the political and social landscape and played its vital and positive role in Singapore’s nation building.

Mr Abdullah, as Speaker, has delivered on his promise to be impartial and preserve the dignity of this House. He did this with quiet patience and firmness in the conduct of House proceedings and ensured that the standards of behaviour and debate in this House were maintained.

Mr Abdullah also sought to improve on our efficiency, yet never sacrificing our ability to make adequate representation on behalf of Singaporeans. As he reminded members, “ But be as concise as you can and try hard to avoid repetition. Long and rambling speeches are also subject to the laws of diminishing returns! ”

To this end, he proposed changes to the Standing Orders in 2004 and 2010 which were supported by all Members that provided for more efficient business rules. Revised speech times gave Members more opportunities to speak in Budget debates, allowed the use of multiple languages in a single speech, and provided greater flexibility in the extension of sitting times.
Mr Abdullah also spearheaded initiatives to improve the physical facilities of the Chamber. These included the installation of security glass panels, LCD screens, adjustable lecterns, better acoustic walls and an improved ventilation system. He ably chaired various Select Committees of the House and in particular the Special Select Committee that nominated four batches of NMPs.

During his tenure, Mr Abdullah had the distinction of serving as the President of the ASEAN Inter‐Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) from 2007‐2008 and President of the Asia‐Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) from 2009‐2010, which culminated in Singapore hosting the 29th AIPA General Assembly in August 2008 and the 18th Meeting of the APPF in January 2010.

Mr Speaker, Sir, Mr Abdullah’s long career spanning some 26 years in Parliament is an outstanding record of distinguished service and this House puts on record its appreciation and gratitude to him. We hope he will enjoy a long and happy retirement and wish him the very best for the years ahead.

Mr Speaker, Sir, this 12th Parliament has an increased number of Members, with 87 elected Members and 3 Non‐Constituency Members. With nine opposition Members, this House has the largest number of Members on its opposition benches since 1967. Of the 90 Members that we now have, thirty are new Members, forming one‐third of the House. I welcome all members to this 12th Parliament. Old or new, let us Members all resolve to conduct ourselves in a manner that maintains the high esteem of our Parliament.

To this honourable elected position, let us never to betray the trust or degrade the respect won from Singaporeans. Front or back bench, Pro‐ Government or Opposition, let us each resolve to find wisdom through rigorous debate and impartial scrutiny on issues that affect the lives of our people. Let us above all have the courage of our convictions to speak out and do what is the best for our nation. On this raison d’ētre, Mr Speaker, we entrust ourselves to your impartial and guiding hand and the mercy and finality of your judicious guillotine.

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SINGAPORE: In nine months time, residents living in Bishan—Toa Payoh will soon be able to enjoy a new common space.

Works are underway to upgrade the area at the junction of Braddell Road and Lorong 8 Toa Payoh.

These include upgrading the existing playground and pavilion in Lorong 6 and 7.

The existing plaza will be fitted with a roof, seating gallery and barrier—friendly accessibility ramps.

Some S$1.6 million will spent on the project.

There will also be a bridge to link residents to a new Japanese Garden and more fitness stations for the elderly.

Source: CNA

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