Bill tabled to restrict online gambling in S'pore
Access to sites could be turned off, while payments could be blocked
By Lim Yan Liang, The Straits Times, 9 Sep 2104
GAMBLERS who go online for a flutter could find themselves staring at jail time.
A wide-ranging Bill, tabled in Parliament yesterday, seeks to expressly make unauthorised online gambling a criminal offence. It also aims to equip the authorities with the tools to fight this growing addiction.
Payments to remote gambling websites could be blocked, in a move that some noted may be a game-changer. Access to such sites could be turned off.
The gamblers themselves could be jailed for up to six months or fined up to $5,000, while the agents helping gambling websites could be hit even harder.
Since one key aim of the Bill is to protect young people from getting hooked on online gambling, anyone trying to lure those under 21 to this addiction would face even heavier penalties, said a spokesman for the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Bill also allows for Singapore-based operators to offer online gambling but this will be tightly regulated, and not be for profit.
The online gambling market here is estimated to be worth US$416 million (S$521 million) this year, up from US$383 million last year, according to data from Global Betting and Gaming Consultancy (GBGC). It estimated that more than 95 per cent of revenues go to operators offshore.
Online gamblers also set themselves up for trouble, as nearly 40 per cent of them tend to overestimate their wins and underestimate their losses, according to a study published in the Psychological Assessment journal.
The Remote Gambling Bill, which could become law when it is next read in Parliament, will equip Singapore with one of the toughest jurisdictions against online gambling, experts said.
The proposed law could also stop some of the more established remote gambling players from targeting Singaporeans.
"It will deter the major public companies and the larger private companies, and they presently represent a significant market share of the Singapore Internet gambling market," said Mr Warwick Bartlett, chief executive of GBGC.
"But the authorities have to keep a watchful eye on the market. If illegal gambling takes off... the police will be devoting too much time to catching illegal sites without any material success."
One Hope Centre executive director Dick Lum said that while he welcomed the proposed law as a good starting point, he was concerned that a clampdown could push hardcore punters towards gambling illegally offline.
With the strict requirements for companies that may apply to be exempted under the Bill, experts said the only legal online gambling operator here would likely be Singapore Pools. There would also be tight restrictions, such as limiting online gambling to certain types of betting.
"It will defeat the purpose of the protections if they allow casino games, so I suspect it will mainly be sports and numbers betting," said Dr Munidasa Winslow, an addictions specialist. "If you are a local company, you can impose caps on an individual basis."
A Singapore Pools spokesman said it was premature for the company to comment at this stage.
Proposals under the planned legislation
- Block access to unauthorised online gambling websites.
- Block money transfers to and from these sites.
- Criminalise activities relating to unauthorised online gambling. For instance, anyone found inviting someone under 21 to gamble online can be fined between $20,000 and $300,000 and jailed for up to six years.
- Allow for highly-regulated online gambling. Exempt operator must be based in Singapore and not be for profit, for instance
Change mindset on degrees: MPs
By Charissa Yong, The Straits Times, 9 Sep 2104
EVEN as the Government makes it easier for non-graduates to move ahead in their careers, Members of Parliament called for a radical change in people's mindset towards a degree.
"The biggest battle lies in the deeply entrenched paradigm that the degree route is the ticket to a better career and life," said Ms Denise Phua (Moulmein-Kallang GRC).
The MPs suggested three ways to get people to change.
Firstly, provide more information on educational opportunities and career guidance to students as well as their parents.
Secondly, parents need to teach their children values of respect and humility towards everyone, "regardless of the work they do or perceived social status", said Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar (Ang Mo Kio GRC).
Thirdly, employers need to stop discriminating against non-graduates. Nominated MP Ismail Hussein, a banking executive, noted that they are invariably paid less than degree holders even when both are doing the same entry-level job.
The trio were among seven MPs who spoke yesterday, the first day of a two-day debate on whether to endorse the Applied Study in Polytechnics and Institute of Technical Education Review (ASPIRE) report.
The rest of the 21 MPs on the list are set to speak today.
While all seven who spoke yesterday worried about the difficulty in convincing people to change, they were unanimous in supporting the report, put before the House by Senior Minister of State for Education Indranee Rajah.
The report recommends ways to give all Singaporeans, regardless of their qualifications, opportunities to succeed in their careers. It seeks to strengthen the multiple pathways by making it easier for people to build on their skills while working, modelled after the Swiss and German apprenticeship schemes.
These moves, however, need to be supplemented by a culture that defines success more broadly, said Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang GRC).
He cheered the Government's decision to promote non-graduate employees faster when they do a good job and to consider merging the career tracks of graduates and non-graduates.
But more should be done, he added.
He wants a review of the fast-track career schemes for government scholars, who get more opportunities and move up faster.
He also called for salary structures in the public sector to change and focus more on job responsibility and productivity.
Ms Lee Bee Wah (Nee Soon GRC) called for respect to be shown to not just graduates but non-professional workers as well, particularly those in the service, retail and hospitality sectors.
"We need to get to a stage where parents stop using (what are seen as) lowly regarded jobs to scare their children into studying," she said.
Improving, excelling in one's work despite age
Indranee outlines type of employees Singaporeans must be for the future
By Sandra Davie, The Straits Times, 9 Sep 2104
JAPANESE sushi master Jiro Ono and Singaporean curry puff maestro Tham Niap Tong were held up in Parliament yesterday as poster boys for the kind of Singaporean workers a new national report aims to nurture.
Senior Minister of State for Law and Education Indranee Rajah, who chaired the Applied Study in Polytechnics and ITE Review (ASPIRE) committee, said the two men, despite their age, strive relentlessly for perfection, always seeking to improve, upgrade and better their performance.
"The quality of their work generates its own demand. Virtually recession proof," Ms Indranee said when she presented the ASPIRE report for the House to endorse.
Mr Ono is 89 and Mr Tham, who owns the Rolina curry puff business, is 75. Mr Ono, who went to work for a sushi eatery at age nine, owns the first sushi restaurant in Tokyo to be awarded three Michelin stars. Mr Tham learnt how to make curry puffs from a Hainanese sailor at age 19, and owns two stalls.
Said Ms Indranee: "Both espouse the philosophy that they must seek to be the best in their profession, and their success is founded on real and deep skills."
She cited the duo's attributes and achievements to drive home the point about the kind of workers Singaporeans must be if they want to thrive in the new global environment that is volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous, termed Vuca for short.
In a speech calling on MPs to endorse ASPIRE's 10 recommendations, she said in a Vuca environment, it is not possible to predict the types of jobs for the future.
One thing, however, is certain: The demand for deep and relevant skills. But the nature of jobs will continue to evolve and in some cases, the jobs will change. Some may disappear forever because of disruptive change brought about by technology. "This means Singaporeans will have to constantly adapt and learn new skills in order to remain relevant and to get good employment."
Among the key ASPIRE recommendations were pathways for students from technical institutes to work and further their qualifications at the same time. It also proposed a pathway for those in the workforce to progress in their careers while building on their skills. ITE and polytechnic graduates will also get more career guidance, and their education will be strengthened so that they will be ready for their jobs when they enter the workforce.
Some MPs who spoke after Ms Indranee urged the Government to clarify ASPIRE's objectives.
Was the Government now saying a degree is overrated and no longer required, asked Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang GRC).
Ms Indranee said the Government always drew up an educational strategy that was closely attuned to the economic situation of the day. The "overarching objective" of the ASPIRE plan is not to educate people to serve the economy, but to enable Singaporeans to prosper, do well and achieve their aspirations. "It is not one size fits all - or one educational path for all," she said.
Skill that helped him earn a living
By Pearl Lee, The Straits Times, 9 Sep 2104
MR THAM Niap Tong, 75, was just 19 when he learnt to make curry puffs from a Hainanese sailor many years his senior. "I was young, had no education and no skills. It was hard trying to make a living in the 60s," he said.
The skill has served him well, for he has been selling curry puffs since then. He has two Rolina Curry Puffs outlets: in Serangoon Gardens and Tanjong Pagar Plaza. He started selling curry puffs by the roadside at Novena Church, which was how Rolina - a mispronunciation of Novena - came about.
Senior Minister of State for Law and Education Indranee Rajah highlighted his story in Parliament yesterday and said his success was "founded on real and deep skills".
"Even now, he still goes around buying curry puffs made by others to make sure his curry puffs are as good or even better than the rest," she said.
He spends almost a day preparing the chilli paste for the puffs, which takes about three hours to cook. He uses fresh ingredients and rejects instant mixes. "This traditional taste is what customers are paying for, so I can't lose that," he said.
He runs the Tanjong Pagar Plaza outlet while son Bren, 39, is in Serangoon Gardens. Now, he hopes to pass on his skills to his 18-year-old grandson.
"I told him having an education is important, but it is just as important to master a skill. That way, you don't have to worry in times of trouble, as you have a skill you can rely on."
Sushi master still seeking perfection
By Pearl Lee, The Straits Times, 9 Sep 2104
MR JIRO Ono, 89, owns the first sushi restaurant in Tokyo to be awarded three Michelin stars, and Japan has declared the sushi master a living national treasure.
His sushi was described by French chef Eric Ripert of Le Benardin as a "cloud that explodes in your mouth".
Yet in a 2011 documentary made about him - Jiro Dreams Of Sushi - and his sushi bar, Mr Ono said his work still has not "reached perfection".
"I will continue to climb, trying to reach the top, but no one knows where the top is," he said in the award-winning film by David Gelb.
Ms Indranee Rajah said in Parliament yesterday that such dedication and pride in his craft was a recipe for success.
He strives relentlessly for perfection, is always seeking to improve, upgrade, and better his performance, said Ms Indranee.
Mr Ono, who runs Sukiyabashi Jiro, a 10-seater basement sushi bar in the Ginza district, still kneads sushi for his customers every day, and tastes the food to ensure its quality.
He had humble beginnings, and started out as a kitchen apprentice when he was seven, where his tasks included cleaning the floor, washing the dishes and delivering items.
But this helped him develop his strong work ethic.
And it is a quality of work that generates its own demand, and is "virtually recession proof", said Ms Indranee.
Nine new Nominated MPs sworn in
By Rachel Au-Yong, The Straits Times, 9 Sep 2104
FOR nine new Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs), their first day in Parliament yesterday began with handshakes and congratulations.
Leader of the House Ng Eng Hen and backbenchers smiled and greeted them before their swearing-in at a five-minute ceremony. Corporate lawyer Chia Yong Yong, 52, who has peroneal muscular dystrophy, was the first to be called by Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob. Ms Chia is the first wheelchair user to be in Parliament - and sits next to Deputy Speaker Charles Chong in the front row.
She was joined by other new NMPs, the oldest being Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Thomas Chua, 60, and the youngest, social entrepreneur Kuik Shiao-Yin, who is 36.
All recited the oath at the Table of the House in the centre of the Chamber.
Veteran unionist K. Karthikeyan, 55, and bank executive Ismail Hussein, 51, made their maiden speeches on the ASPIRE report.
The other NMPs are Board of Architects Singapore president Rita Soh, 55; sports physician Benedict Tan, 47; labour economist Randolph Tan, 50; and veteran historian Tan Tai Yong, 51.
The NMP scheme was introduced in 1990 to provide more alternative voices in Parliament.
1949 stays as cut-off for Pioneer Package
By Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh, The Straits Times, 9 Sep 2104
THE panel looking into appeals by seniors to be part of the Pioneer Generation will not be accepting those born after 1949.
This is because "for any age criterion, there will be those who marginally fall short" of it, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said yesterday.
"It was not feasible or fair to allow age-related appeals without extending the new age criterion to all Singaporeans," he said.
To be recognised as pioneers and qualify for benefits under the $8 billion Pioneer Generation Package, Singaporeans must be 65 or older this year and must have become a citizen before 1987.
While the panel will not bend on the age cut-off, it will consider on a case-by-case basis those who did not obtain citizenship before 1987.
Factors it will be looking at include whether the person had been in Singapore in the early years of independence and had contributed to society, said Mr Tharman, in a written reply to Ms Lee Li Lian (Punggol East). She had asked for an update on seniors who had missed out on qualifying to be a pioneer.
As of last month, more than 1,200 people had appealed to be included in the Pioneer Generation Package since applications opened in April. About half of them did not meet the age requirement.
Mr Tharman said another reason the panel will not be accepting appeals based on age is that there is already a range of health-care benefits open to all older Singaporeans, such as MediShield Life premium subsidies.
Also, Singaporeans aged 55 and above who are not part of the Pioneer Generation are already slated to receive Medisave top-ups for the next five years.
Ms Lee also asked about the procedures in place for appeals.
The panel verifies supporting information and documents for each case, said Mr Tharman. Those appealing will be contacted for verification if necessary.
* Amount of Annual Medisave Top-Ups Under the Pioneer Generation Package
Low risk of Ebola outbreak in S'pore, says Lam Pin Min
By Linette Lai, The Straits Times, 9 Sep 2104
SINGAPORE faces a low risk of an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus because few people from the affected countries arrive here each month, Minister of State for Health Lam Pin Min said yesterday.
This is despite the worsening situation of the disease in West Africa.
Before the outbreak, between 200 and 300 people arrived in Singapore from Nigeria each month, he said.
Another 30 travellers in total came from the worst-hit countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone each month.
Since the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on Aug 8, many airlines stopped flying to the countries. So, there are fewer travellers from there to Singapore.
The current epidemic has killed more than 2,000 people in West Africa.
Replying to questions on the Health Ministry's plans in the event of an outbreak, he said suspected cases will be centrally managed at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Confirmed cases will receive intensive supportive treatment, and staff handling them will use protective equipment.
But should a person be initially admitted to another hospital, he will remain there to minimise the risk of infection during his transfer.
Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs Masagos Zulkifli said there are now 12 Singaporeans in Nigeria and one in Liberia.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry is in regular contact with them and urged them to consider returning, especially if they do not have essential matters to attend to there, he told Dr Janil Puthucheary (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC).
Mr Alex Yam (Chua Chu Kang GRC) asked Dr Lam if the Health Ministry has stockpiles of the experimental drug ZMapp, which has been used to treat Ebola cases overseas with varying success.
"We have been informed by the manufacturer that there is a shortage of ZMapp at this point in time," Dr Lam said. "We want to let Singaporeans know that while we monitor the situation very closely, ZMapp is not the mainstay of treatment for any patient infected with Ebola."
As for media reports in August of a suspected Ebola case here, he said the ministry was concerned about it and wrote "to the media to clarify with them and to ensure that in future reporting, they do check with the ministry to prevent such false alarms".
Construction delayed only at Jurong hospital
By Linette Lye, The Straits Times, 9 Sep 2104
ONLY the Ng Teng Fong General Hospital is facing construction delays, said Health Minister Gan Kim Yong yesterday.
"The other hospital projects under construction are currently on track," he assured the House.
He was replying to Mr David Ong (Jurong GRC), who had asked whether other projects, like Sengkang General Hospital, would also be delayed.
Mr Gan said that the main reason for the delay was the problems the contractor faced in procuring windows, glass panels and other parts of the building's exterior.
"These functional elements need to be installed so that the building is protected from the wind and rain, to allow internal building works and installation of critical equipment to proceed without the risk of damage by weather," he said.
Mr Gan also reiterated the measures that the Health Ministry is taking to ensure hospital bed capacity is not adversely affected by the delay.
These include pushing back plans to close the 330-bed Alexandra Hospital for refurbishment as well as adding 150 beds, spread between the National University Hospital and Singapore General Hospital.
Changi General Hospital will also add more beds as the new building it shares with St Andrew's Community Hospital opens in stages from December.
Said Mr Gan: "These measures, along with other ongoing capacity-related initiatives, will add about 400 acute and community hospital beds to the system this year."
Effects of dengue vaccine Sanofi 'too early to assess': MOH
The Phase II trial for the Sanofi drug, which started in 2009, is still ongoing at public hospitals, says Parlimentary Secretary for the Ministry of Health (MOH) Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim.
Channel NewsAsia, 9 Sep 2014
A dengue vaccine could potentially help reduce the number of cases of dengue in the country, but one specific drug - Sanofi - is still being tested and it is "too early to definitively assess the effects of the dengue vaccine", said Parlimentary Secretary for the Ministry of Health (MOH) Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim in Parliament on Monday (Sep 9).
MP Christopher de Souza asked in Parliament if there are clinical trial runs for Sanofi in Singapore, and whether the drug could reduce the number of people who suffer from dengue fever here.
To these questions, Dr Faishal said a Phase II clinical trial for the Sanofi vaccine has been conducted among 1,200 patients in Singapore, and was started in 2009. Dr Faishal added that MOH aims to assess the immune response and safety of the drug in healthy persons aged 2 to 45 years old, and follow-up checks of those in the trial are still ongoing at public hospitals.
"It is still too early to definitively assess the effects of the Sanofi dengue vaccine," said Dr Faishal, adding that all new vaccines must be assessed by the Health Sciences Authority for its safety, quality and efficacy to meet international benchmarks before being approved for use here.
Dr Faishal also pointed to results from two large-scale Phase III studies on Sanofi conducted in Asia and South America that were reported recently.
Both studies focused on effectiveness of the vaccine in children and showed that it had lower efficacy against dengue virus serotypes 1 and 2, which are the most common types of dengue circulating in Singapore. However, most dengue cases in Singapore occur in adults, said Dr Faishal.
Thus, to reduce the number of dengue cases, other measures such as reducing the number of mosquito breeding sites and using mosquito repellents continue to play an important part, Dr Faishal said.
DENGUE VACCINE FOR CHILDREN?
Mr De Souza also asked if MOH has plans to make a dengue vaccine available under the National Childhood Immunisation Programme, like the polio vaccine.
Dr Faishal replied that an Expert Committee on Immunisation (ECI) advises the ministry on matters related to vaccination.
"The ECI considers factors such as the local burden of disease, vaccine safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness when recommending whether a particular vaccine, such as the dengue vaccine when it becomes available, should be included into the National Childhood Immunisation Schedule," added Dr Faishal.
Low numbers employed under Letters of Consent, Training Employment Passes
By Loke Kok Fai, Channel NewsAsia, 8 Sep 2014
A total of 9,700 foreign workers were employed under Letters of Consent (LOC) as at December 2013.
This makes up less than 1 per cent of Singapore's total foreign workforce, excluding foreign domestic workers. Writing in reply to a question posed in Parliament on Monday (Sep 8), Minister for Manpower Tan Chuan-Jin said this percentage has remained fairly constant over the years.
He added that the number of foreign interns brought in by firms on Training Employment Passes (TEPs) has fallen significantly, from a peak of 4,100 in 2010 to 1,200 in 2013.
Mr Tan said the Government tightened the scheme in recent years to prevent firms from relying on "interns" on a permanent or ongoing basis, as well as to allow Singaporeans more internship opportunities.
Feedback on Jobs Bank has been positive: Tan Chuan-Jin
Increase in Jobs Bank sign ups are “encouraging” signs of the portal’s success, local labour market remains well
By Robin Choo, TODAY, 8 Sep 2014
More than 31,000 Singaporeans have signed up with the Jobs Bank and more than 10,000 employers have joined and are actively posting job vacancies, to date.
And over 65,000 jobs are available on the Jobs Bank, a more than 400 per cent increase from the portal’s official launch on July 14.
Feedback from both job seekers and employers, since the launch, has been positive. “It’s an encouraging start,” said Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin, who gave this update in a written reply to a parliamentary question posted by West Coast Member of Parliament Foo Mee Har today (Sept 8). He also expressed hope that more employers and Singaporean job seekers would use the Jobs Bank.
However, Mr Tan noted that actual figures and accurate or representative indicators of how well Singaporeans are doing in the labour market are difficult to determine due to multiple avenues of employment.
Singaporean job seekers may be hired directly by firms, through head-hunters or private job portals and other job advertisements. Even application for jobs that Singaporeans see on the Jobs Bank cannot be tracked directly as they apply through in-house human resource (HR) portals.
Mr Tan said: “What is important to us is whether the overall labour market ecosystem benefits Singaporean job seekers.”
This involves broader factors such as the number and types of jobs being created, and whether Singaporeans have the “skills and passion” for the job.
The Jobs Bank is a free service provided to all Singapore-registered companies and Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents, administered by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency. It is intended to facilitate a fair hiring process and greater awareness of job vacancies available for Singaporean job seekers.
“The Jobs Bank and the Fair Consideration Framework was not, however, set up to guarantee local job seekers that they will always get the job,” Mr Tan noted. Hiring will continue to be determined on the basis of merit, and to the best applicant for the job.
The Ministry of Manpower has been tracking and reporting indicators of citizen employment outcomes regularly, with seasonally adjusted citizen unemployment rate estimated at 3 per cent, as of June. Singaporean workers have also enjoyed positive real wage growth over the past five years. “The situation is healthy,” said Mr Tan.
Police step up fight against cybercrime
By Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh, The Straits Times, 9 Sep 2104
POLICE are making use of print and broadcast media as well as social media to warn people of tactics that crooks use to cheat them on the Internet.
Also, the authorities will work with agencies outside Singapore to crack down on these cyber criminals.
Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Masagos Zulkifli set out these measures in Parliament yesterday for countering the surge in cybercrime in Singapore.
The number of cases of online crime in the first six months of this year more than tripled to 787, up from 187 in the same period last year.
This, said Mr Masagos, could be partly due to greater public awareness and people being more willing to report these crimes.
He was replying to Mr Ang Wei Neng (Jurong GRC) and Ms Irene Ng (Tampines GRC) on measures the Ministry of Home Affairs is taking to curb cybercrime.
"A key strategy to reduce the number of online crimes is to raise public awareness and vigilance," said Mr Masagos, adding that the police are working with other groups to educate the public on these crimes.
For instance, the police are working with major local banks DBS/POSB, United Overseas Bank and OCBC to put up crime prevention advisories on their Internet banking websites by the end of the year.
Cases of online purchase and identity theft scams will also be highlighted in upcoming episodes of local TV series CrimeWatch.
Meanwhile, the police and the National Crime Prevention Council have come up with public education materials on cybercrime to put online and on bus stop panels and at MRT stations.
Prevention, said Mr Masagos, is the best way to tackle online crime. He said: "The people who are using all these mediums must be always aware that they can be victims of cybercrime."
As many of these crooks are located overseas, the authorities are also working closely with international agencies. "Our own forces in the police have had to upgrade themselves to understand the nature of these crimes, how they are perpetrated, including working with their foreign counterparts," said Mr Masagos.
He cited the Interpol Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore, which will house the global police agency's first centralised cybercrime data centre when it opens next year.
"We work together with international organisations like Interpol to make sure we have a bigger global view of the issue, not just about what's happening in Singapore," said Mr Masagos.
Implications of short-term rental trend to be studied
By Janice Heng, The Straits Times, 9 Sep 2104
THERE is a growing phenomenon in Singapore of home owners offering their residences for short stays.
It is a situation that will require the Government to study whether to change home rental rules, said Senior Minister of State for National Development Lee Yi Shyan yesterday.
But, in the meantime, he said owners who rent out their homes, whether private or otherwise, for less than six months are breaking the law and "necessary actions will be taken".
He made the point when noting the growing popularity of home-sharing websites like Airbnb, which let owners offer their homes for short stays.
Many such sites have disclaimers stating that those offering or taking up such accommodation must comply with local laws and regulations, said