[Big A]

Workers' Party MPs have filed a total of 23 questions for the 9 July Parliament sitting. These will be answered by the respective ministers either orally or in writing.

Questions for Oral Answer

*2. Mr Chen Show Mao: To ask the Prime Minister what is the rationale for the residency requirement for overseas Singaporeans to have resided in Singapore for not less than 30 days during the three years immediately before a general election to be eligible as overseas voters; and what measures are in place or will be taken to remind and assist overseas Singaporeans to register and vote, and whether the Ministry will consider increasing the number of nine overseas voting centres to be nearer the number of our diplomatic missions abroad or permitting online registration and voting by overseas voters.

*3. Mr Chen Show Mao: To ask the Prime Minister how many Singaporeans were entitled to vote in each of the 2001, 2006 and 2011 General Elections; of these voters, how many were registered to vote in each case; how many voters were removed from the register of electors following the 2001, 2006 and 2011 General Elections respectively; how many voters were restored to the register of electors before the 2001, 2006 and 2011 General Elections respectively; and for each of the 2001, 2006 and 2011 General Elections, what is the demographic breakdown of voters who were removed from the register of electors, by age gender ethnic group and type of residence.

*4. Mr Chen Show Mao: To ask the Prime Minister what is the rationale for removing non-voters from the register of electors when voting is compulsory for all eligible citizens; whether the $50 penalty imposed to restore a name to the register of electors without valid reasons for non-voting can be waived for low-income Singaporeans; and what measures are in place or will be taken to remind and assist citizens to restore their names to the register of electors; and whether the Ministry will consider changing the laws or regulations so that a voter's name is not removed from the register of electors even if a penalty is imposed for not voting.

*26. Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song: To ask the Minister for Education whether the textbooks used by primary schools are comprehensive enough to cover all the curriculum content examined during the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) without the need for supplementary content and/or materials provided by teachers or tuition centres.

*27. Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song: To ask the Minister for Education how are textbooks used by primary schools selected by the Ministry for inclusion in the Approved Textbook List (ATL); whether primary schools are allowed to select textbooks outside of the ATL as their primary text for a subject; and how does the Ministry ensure that all textbooks used by primary schools are of a uniform and sufficiently high standard to meet the demands of examinations, especially the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).

*42. Mr Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap: To ask the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts & Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs what is the amount of funds that are granted to Mendaki for the Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy (TTFS) scheme each year since 2001; what are Mendaki's plans to ensure the financial sustainability of funding for the Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy (TTFS) for Muslim students; and in the event of a deficit, what are Mendaki's plans to ensure that the welfare of our students are met.

*48. Mr Yee Jenn Jong: To ask the Minister for Education over the past five years, in terms of primary schools that are ranked according to their number of graduating students with PSLE T-scores of 250 and higher what percentage of the graduating class in the top 10 primary schools obtained PSLE T-scores of 250 and higher; and what percentage of the graduating class in the bottom 10 primary schools obtained PSLE T-scores of 250 and higher.

*50. Mr Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap: To ask the Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts & Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs whether he will consider involving community leaders on the Community Leaders Forum's Steering Committee.

*56. Ms Sylvia Lim: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Manpower with regard to employers facing insolvency who have a mix of local and foreign employees whether the employer is usually required to settle all wage claims by foreign employees before they are repatriated; and whether local workers' wage-related claims are thereby jeopardised as local workers typically file their claims only when the businesses are liquidated.

*61. Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song: To ask the Minister for Health what are the top five contributory factors for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in our public hospitals; whether the HAI rate is linked to the high bed occupancy rates in the public hospitals; and what is the Ministry is doing to reduce HAIs in our hospitals.

*65. Mr Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap: To ask the Minister for National Development what were the number of cases in 2010 and 2011 respectively where owners of HDB flats had to sell off their units to enable them to pay off their HDB mortgage arrears; and whether HDB has any schemes or plans in place to facilitate such cases of displacement to acquire a shelter after the sale of their flat.

*70. Ms Sylvia Lim: To ask the Minister for Law regarding the conviction of Dr Woffles Wu for abetment of giving false information to the police in what manner did Dr Wu abet the giving of false information to the police; whether the Attorney-General's Chambers' statement of 17 June 2012 explaining the choice of charge against Dr Wu has addressed public concerns about the equitability of the legal system; and whether the Ministry has confirmation that written grounds of decision will be given by the sentencing court, despite there being no appeal pending.

*71. Mr Yee Jenn Jong: To ask the Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports whether the arrangement to allow a private pre-school education provider to manage a childcare centre in Bishan East on void deck space designated for non-profit childcare operations is consistent with the Ministry's objectives in providing such spaces at subsidised rents; and whether the Ministry will consider allowing the private pre-school education providers to operate on these spaces subject to their school fees being pegged to the median fee of non-profit operators or other appropriate controls of their fee structure.

*77. Ms Sylvia Lim: To ask the Minister for National Development what criteria does the Government use before granting approvals for single-house land plots to be redeveloped and sub-divided into multiple-unit developments such as condominiums; how does the Government ensure that such approvals for new developments do not adversely affect the liveability of estates by creating strains on the local infrastructure such as traffic congestion or parking place shortages along the local access roads; and for the Kovan/Hillside/Rosyth estates, how will the Government manage redevelopment so as to alleviate the current traffic congestion and parking crunches along local access roads and minimise such problems in the future.

*87. Mr Yee Jenn Jong: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance whether the returns from GIC and Temasek Holdings had influenced Singapore's fiscal policy in the past and, if so, how; and whether the returns from GIC and Temasek Holdings under the current investment climate will influence the planning of future fiscal policy.

Questions for Written Answer

3. Mr Chen Show Mao: To ask the Prime Minister how many overseas Singaporeans are currently registered as overseas voters.

5. Mr Chen Show Mao: To ask the Prime Minister how many Singaporeans were entitled to vote in the 2012 Hougang by-election; of these voters, how many were registered to vote; how many voters were removed from the register of electors for Hougang following the 2011 General Election; and how many voters were restored to the register of electors for Hougang following the 2011 General Elections and before the 2012 by-election.

9. Ms Sylvia Lim: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Manpower given that only 28 of more than 900 cleaning companies have tapped into the Inclusive Growth Programme (IGP) in the last two years what is the Ministry's target number of cleaning companies tapping into IGP by 2015; how much funds have the 28 cleaning companies received under IGP; what average percentage wage increase did the IGP-aided 600 cleaners receive and what is their average wage after the wage increase; and what number and percentage of all 69,000 cleaners and of the IGP-aided 600 cleaners are senior citizens aged 60 years and above.

22. Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song: To ask the Minister for Health for each of the last three years what has been the healthcare-associated infection (HAI) rate (measured per 100 hospital admissions) in each of the following hospitals: (i) Singapore General Hospital (ii) National University Hospital (iii) Tan Tock Seng Hospital (iv) Changi General Hospital (v) Alexandra Hospital (vi) Khoo Teck Puat Hospital; (b) how many patients are diagnosed with HAIs in these public hospitals; and (c) what are the annual direct medical and non-medical costs on the healthcare system and patients resulting from HAIs.

23. Mr Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap: To ask the Minister for Health whether the Ministry can release an eldercare facilities masterplan to show Singaporeans where eldercare facilities will be built in every precinct; what are the criteria used in siting eldercare facilities and whether these are explained to residents; what consultative time frame and procedure has the Ministry put in place to engage residents; and whether the Ministry will request the URA to share its best practices given its recent success on consultation with the Dairy Farm estate.

26. Mr Gerald Giam Yean Song: To ask the Minister for Transport when will the report of the Committee of Inquiry (COI) looking into the December 2011 MRT train disruptions be released; whether the full transcripts of the COI proceedings will be released to the public; and whether the Government will table the report as a motion for debate in this House.

30. Mr Yee Jenn Jong: To ask the Minister for Education over the past five years what percentage of each Gifted Education Programme (GEP) cohort and how many GEP students enter secondary school by Direct School Admissions yearly; and what percentage of each GEP cohort receives the Edusave Entrance Scholarships for Independent Schools yearly.

32. Mr Yee Jenn Jong: To ask the Minister for Education whether the Ministry will consider reviewing its policy of not allowing full-time NSmen to be eligible for government subsidy for part-time degree studies undertaken by working adults; and increasing the award values of bursaries for part-time degrees for those ineligible for the subsidy for working adults.

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Source: Parliament Order Paper: http://www.parliament.gov.sg/order-paper

[Raj_Copi_Jin]

Thanks Bro. I am glad someone is doing this. Since the MSM takes pride in not covering in a neutral manner this helps.

[PhillipHer]

Workers' Party MPs have filed a total of 23 questions for the 9 July Parliament sitting. These will be answered by the respective ministers either orally or in writing.

nice job, bro!

just wondering if WP could also help an Aljunied GRC voter, me, to ask our dear leaders what is the projected population density for Singapore in the next 20-50 years. me also have a number of questions raised previously, as shown in the thread (link below).

http://singsupplies.com/showthread.p...the-city-state

[tgs]

Hmm no questions for MFA? MINDEF?--don't given Ng EH and Shanmugam free passes for the million buck salary

[Lt_Apple]

Someone should ask -

How many new citizens, those granted citizenship for less than 12 years, voted in GE 2001, 2006 and 2011?

What is the breakdown of their country of origin?

This simple question will provide ample opportunity to scrutinize the liberal immigration policies of the PAPzis.

[Ifroham4]

Sibei bo liao!

How about FT issues that the mad crowd had been crying over? WP has no issue with these? What a joke!

[Beerinkol]

Sibei bo liao!

How about FT issues that the mad crowd had been crying over? WP has no issue with these? What a joke!

Can you anticipate the backlash from MSM if this is ventured into? Too sensitive an issue to bring up in Parliament with a PAP-sided MSM..

Use your brain..

[Fegasderty]

Can you anticipate the backlash from MSM if this is ventured into? Too sensitive an issue to bring up in Parliament with a PAP-sided MSM..

Use your brain..

You mean WP is scared? Jialiaobi like that. $15k per month for wat? Talk rubbish in parliament?

[Lillie_Steins]

Talk rubbish in parliament?

Sames goes to you Talk rubbish in Sammyboy forum right from the FIRST DAY you join !

Pot Calling A Kettle Black !

LOL

[NeroASERCH]

You mean WP is scared? Jialiaobi like that. $15k per month for wat? Talk rubbish in parliament?

Strategy and rushing in blind/scared are completely 2 different matters..

you don't go and rush 1 man versus 100 man.. unless you're Lu Bu and and the rest of the 100 are strawman :P

[Fegasderty]

Strategy and rushing in blind/scared are completely 2 different matters..

you don't go and rush 1 man versus 100 man.. unless you're Lu Bu and and the rest of the 100 are strawman :P

Not suggesting rushing into anything. Why waste time?
All they need to do is to bring up real issues properly. Won't die one, why scared?
Everyone will be able to see.

[PhillipHer]

Not suggesting rushing into anything. Why waste time?
All they need to do is to bring up real issues properly. Won't die one, why scared?
Everyone will be able to see.

Rome wasn't built in a day. You can't expect to go in there and change everything at 1 go.. plus a lot of sensitive issues, once bring up will be unstoppable, maybe even uncontrollable

I wish they would bring up these more emotional issues, but you have to be able to see what will happen/the fallout from these issues once they are being brought up.. otherwise the person won't be worthy of being a politician..

[softy54534]

If its a good and legitimate issue, why not?
What exactly are they afraid of?

Can't you see that all those questions are boliao questions?

It seems like since the last parliamentary sitting, they got whacked so hard that they are now super scared isn't it? World class parliament? Where is Low Thia Kiang BTW?

[9mm_fan]

If its a good and legitimate issue, why not?
What exactly are they afraid of?

Can't you see that all those questions are boliao questions?

It seems like since the last parliamentary sitting, they got whacked so hard that they are now super scared isn't it? World class parliament? Where is Low Thia Kiang BTW?

By the way, I'm not affiliated so I can't speak on their behalf, just stating my own opinion.

You can try to stand in the middle of a bus interchange/mrt station and shout these issues at the top of your voice.. see what happens.. and let us know after

after all they are good and legitimate issues..

[S.T.D.]

By the way, I'm not affiliated so I can't speak on their behalf, just stating my own opinion.

You can try to stand in the middle of a bus interchange/mrt station and shout these issues at the top of your voice.. see what happens.. and let us know after

after all they are good and legitimate issues..

Really? Why don't you ask WP to do that?

[PhillipHer]

Really? Why don't you ask WP to do that?

Don't think they will listen to me. I'm a nobody..

You can try asking them, maybe they will listen to you.. remember to state your name and ic number, including your sammyboy nick! then they will stand up and take notice!

[doctorzlo]

Where is Low Thia Kiang BTW?

Wait ah, I sms him ask him where is he now.. let you know in 5 min.

[S.T.D.]

hah, i would love to hear him right away

[Beerinkol]

Don't think they will listen to me. I'm a nobody..

You can try asking them, maybe they will listen to you.. remember to state your name and ic number, including your sammyboy nick! then they will stand up and take notice!

You suggested it wat, you ask la.

[Beerinkol]

You suggested it wat, you ask la.

Back to your Zoo la, so talk much shit and SPAM !

Bo Ji boy. Your balls are eaten by the dogs !

No wonder you so COWARD....