Archives of Parliamentary Excerpts, Press Releases, and Speeches
4 October 2008
JBJ in Memorial
21 January 2008
Speech in Parliament by Chiam See Tong on HDB upgrading
22 October 2007
Amendment of the Panel Code
5 October 2007
Press release on Myanmar's Military Junta
22 May 2007
Parliamentary Debates
9 April 2007
Speech in Parliament by Chiam See Tong on Ministers' salary hikes
4 February 2007
Speech during MP's dialogue session by Lim Bak Chuan on GST increase
11 January 10
Mr Chiam See Tong: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) what is the rationale for the submission of MPs' speeches in the application for police permits when political parties organise public functions; and (b) whether the Ministry will consider discontinuing this practice.
Mr Wong Kan Seng:
The issue of political parties organising outdoor activities has been raised several times before in this House. Government’s position remains unchanged. Police will not grant permits for outdoor political events. This is due to the assessed potential for public disorder which politically-driven events can lead to, even when this is not intended by the organiser.
However, in a relaxation of this policy, we have gradually amended our laws between 2000 and 2008 to allow citizens to organise and participate freely in public speeches, performances, exhibitions and even demonstrations in the dedicated space at Speakers’ Corner. Political parties, like any other Singaporean individual or group, can use the Speakers’ Corner to hold outdoor political activities. They can do so without the need to apply for a permit if the speakers, organisers and participants are citizens. They can also hold such activities in indoor settings, without the need to apply for a permit.
Separately, in October 2000, we also changed our policy to allow elected Members of Parliament, including opposition MPs, to make speeches in the constituencies in which they were elected, as long as their speech was part of a constituency event organised for the benefit of the constituents, and where the participants were primarily from that constituency. This is why Mr Chiam could address the participants of an outdoor event to celebrate his 25 years as an MP recently in Potong Pasir.
In an application for such a constituency event, if its nature is not clear, Police will request further details of the event from the organiser to determine if the event in question is in essence an outdoor political event or a constituency event organised by the Member of Parliament primarily for his constituents. Such requests by the Police may include details of the speech to be made during the event. This practice will continue.
Mr Khaw Boon Wan:
H1N1 vaccination is recommended, but it is voluntary, not unlike seasonal flu vaccination.
Many employers have subsidised their employees for H1N1 vaccination, or even provided it for free. They take into account the need for business continuity and their existing employment medical benefits obligations.
In the public sector, we have compiled a list of essential front line staff and we offer them free H1N1 vaccination. They number some 200,000 persons.
We leave it to taxi operators to work with the associations representing their taxi drivers on whether to offer subsidised H1N1 vaccination to them.
For those who need to be vaccinated but who have financial difficulty, polyclinics will assist, subject to means-testing.
Mr Chiam See Tong: To ask the Prime Minister (a) which electoral boundaries of the present constituencies will be changed; and (b) when will the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee’s report be published.
Mr Lee Hsien Loong:
The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee has not been appointed yet. I am therefore unable to inform the Member which constituencies will have their boundaries changed or when the Committee’s report will be published.