PM Wong, Chan Chun Sing to deliver ministerial statements on government's response to review of political salaries
The ministerial statements will be debated on Thursday (Sep 10).
File photo of the Parliament House, Singapore (Photo: CNA/Jeremy Long)
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SINGAPORE: The review of political salaries will be in focus when parliament sits on Tuesday (Sep 8).
Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong as well as Coordinating Minister for Public Services Chan Chun Sing will deliver the government's response to the review of salaries for political appointment holders and MPs.
The ministerial statements will be debated under standing order 44 on Thursday.
Under the standing order, no amendments are allowed and the motion will not be put to a vote.
In January, Mr Chan said that an independent committee had been convened to review the salaries of political office holders.
The salary framework covers the pay of all political appointment holders as well as MPs and NMPs.
In May, Mr Chan said that the committee had completed its work, but the government had decided to defer consideration of its recommendations due to the uncertainty caused by the Middle East conflict.
The government will release the committee's report together with its response at an appropriate time, he said then.
The salary framework and political salaries have not been adjusted since they took effect in May 2011.
The current salary framework was established by a review committee in 2012, with the government agreeing with its recommendation that the framework would be reviewed by an independent committee every five years.
A subsequent committee was formed in 2017 to review the 2012 framework. It found that the framework remained sound, and that political salaries should be adjusted annually in line with the movement of the benchmark salaries.
Nevertheless, the government decided not to make any changes to political salaries then.
In 2023, the government decided to defer the scheduled review given the uncertain external environment, and the downside risks in the global economy at that time.
SIA-AIR INDIA DEAL
MP Kenneth Tiong (WP-Aljunied) filed a question on whether losses from Singapore Airlines' (SIA) foreign associates have been assessed against its capacity to provide essential transport services, given that it is a designated operating entity under the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore Act 2009.
He also asked whether such losses, or a continuing pattern of losses, would trigger the Act's notification requirement, under which a designated operating entity must inform CAAS of any event that could materially impede its ability to provide an essential transport service.
Scrutiny over SIA’s investment in the airline has grown after a Reuters report last month cited sources as saying that Air India is seeking a further US$1.5 billion in support from owners Tata Sons and SIA, just months after it posted a record annual loss.
SIA owns 25.1 per cent of Air India.
Following the report, an SIA spokesperson said that the board would "carefully consider any requests for additional capital from Air India, taking into consideration the group's other capital requirements and Air India's business strategy".
Temasek, the majority shareholder of SIA, has also backed the airline’s investment in Air India, but did not address whether it would support any capital contribution by SIA to Air India.
In a statement on Monday, SIA said its investments in India "have been, and will continue to be, funded through SIA's own internal resources".
"The Singapore Airlines Group’s investment in Air India is a long-term strategic commitment aligned with its multi-hub strategy and participation in a key growth market beyond Singapore," said an SIA spokesperson.
On Sep 5, Mr Tiong defended his criticism of SIA's investment in Air India, saying his concerns were "purely commercial".
This came in response to comments by Senior Minister K Shanmugam, who condemned "shameful" racist and xenophobic online comments related to the Nepal-Tibet disaster and SIA’s investment in Air India.
SEXUAL ASSAULT CASE AT MOSQUE
MPs also filed more than 10 questions in relation to the case of sexual assault committed against young children at a mosque after the man had previously been arrested and released on police bail for an earlier separate sexual offence.
The man had taken in two young boys from a broken family while conducting religious lessons at a mosque, and later raped the younger boy and molested the older victim. The offender was sentenced to 27 years and 10 months' jail and 24 strokes of the cane in August.
MP Fadli Fawzi (WP-Aljunied) wanted to know why the man was reportedly able to conduct religious classes in a mosque for the young victims and their friends, despite not being a staff member, volunteer, or an accredited religious teacher.
MP Sharael Taha (PAP-Pasir Ris-Changi) asked when the review of safeguarding measures at mosques would be completed, and safeguards over informal religious activities involving minors would be strengthened.
He also wanted to know if consistent mechanisms for reporting and responding to safeguarding concerns would be established across all mosques.
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) said on Aug 29 that it will develop a common safeguarding framework across mosques to strengthen protection for children and youth.
The council said that it will also strengthen safeguarding education for children, youth and parents, and extend safeguarding resources and support pathways to vulnerable families.
MP Wan Rizal (PAP-Jalan Besar) asked what proactive surveillance and enforcement actions MUIS is taking to identify and penalise unaccredited individuals who bypass the Asatizah Recognition Scheme by offering informal religious instruction, spiritual mentoring, or home tuition via social media platforms.
MP Hazlina Abdul Halim (PAP-East Coast) also wanted to know what support MUIS and the Ministry of Social and Family Development have provided to the victims of sexual offences and whether there are plans to work with social service agencies to support their families.
OTHER QUESTIONS
MPs also filed questions on the environmental impact of proposed development plans for a cluster of islands west of Singapore, as well as further works at Pulau Tekong.
The government has proposed that several islands west of Singapore, including Semakau, Bukom and Pulau Sudong, may be merged into a larger island to support a new generation of industries.
Mr Sharael wanted to know how the government will engage environmental, heritage and community groups when planning for the consolidation of islands to ensure that environmental impacts and the cultural and historical significance of the islands are adequately considered.
MP He Ting Ru (WP-Sengkang) asked what environmental impact assessments will be conducted before the projects proceed and what mitigation measures are planned for any environmental and climatological impact.
Local marine conservation advocates and recreational divers have raised concerns over development plans for a cluster of islands west of Singapore, including one of the country's most popular dive sites.
In response to the concerns, a Ministry of National Development spokesperson said the government “recognises the biodiversity value of the western Islands and its surrounding”, and it is “carefully studying the plans as there is a need to plan ahead and create options for the future".
The impact of the 12.5 per cent tariffs imposed by the United States on Singapore was also raised by three MPs.
Since July, Washington has imposed tariffs on a range of Singapore exports following a US Section 301 investigation into 60 trading partners over their alleged failure to enforce bans on imports of goods produced with forced labour.
MP Ang Wei Neng (PAP-West Coast-Jurong West) asked how the latest tariffs are impacting Singapore’s economy as well as how Singapore is going to engage with the US, given that Singapore’s trade surplus is in favour of the US.
MP Gerald Giam (WP-Aljunied) asked about the evidence Singapore has provided which verify local labour compliance and what mechanisms are being pursued to secure an exemption from this tariff.
MP Victor Lye (PAP-Ang Mo Kio) also asked whether the Ministry of Trade and Industry has sought specific evidence from the US Trade Representative to support its conclusion that Singapore's lack of a dedicated forced-labour import ban burdens US commerce.
