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Part-time home cleaning scheme….
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Part-time home cleaning scheme expanded to include basic care for children and elderly
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Published March 14, 2023 in todayonline
SINGAPORE — A scheme that allows companies to hire migrant workers to provide part-time domestic services such as home cleaning and car washing has been expanded to include basic care for children and the elderly.
From Wednesday (March 15), the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will launch a two-year pilot programme to expand the scope of the Household Services Scheme (HSS). The scheme was launched as a pilot in 2017 before it was formalised in 2021 and made permanent.
Companies on the pilot will be able to hire more migrant workers to provide such services to households, the ministry said in a press release on Tuesday.
“This will primarily benefit families that require such domestic support for only a few hours a day or week and give them more options to meet their household needs.”
According to MOM, workers from companies on the HSS pilot can work at multiple houses on a part-time basis to provide select household services. Unlike migrant domestic workers who live with their employers and can only work for them, workers from HSS companies do not live in the houses they work at.
A total of 25 companies were selected to participate in the pilot programme, based on their track record and relevant experience in home cleaning or care services, said the Manpower Ministry.
Households can engage these companies to provide basic care services for children above 18 months old and elderly family members.
Under the scheme, these companies are able to employ additional migrant workers and deploy them to perform part-time household services, including assisting children or the elderly with simple personal care tasks.
MOM stated on its website that the services provided under the scheme are intended to cater to households that “intermittently need additional help” with basic child and elder care.
Households that require a higher level of care should approach specialised caregiving companies, such as home nursing or home medical services.
HSS pilot companies must put in place safety measures before they can deploy workers to households, said MOM.
“They must conduct an assessment of households’ care needs, and fully disclose their workers’ relevant experience and qualifications to households.”
Additionally, these companies must ensure that their workers providing elder care services have met the training requirements set by the Ministry of Health. These workers must attend training courses or undergo competency assessments if they do not have relevant qualifications.
Households engaging the companies for elder or child care services should also ask the provider for the experience, qualification and training of the worker deployed, as well as access the suitability of the worker for the care needs of the household.
Households are also advised to have a member of the household present to supervise, especially when using the services of the worker for the first time, said MOM.
Currently, there are about 140 HSS companies providing part-time household services to more than 21,000 homes, said Minister of State for Manpower Gan Siow Huang.
With the expanded scope, selected companies under the scheme will have additional manpower to offer part-time basic caregiving serivces.
“This will give households more choices for respite care. We hope this will help Singaporeans better balance work and family commitments,” said Ms Gan.
“We will monitor the pilot programme, taking into consideration feedback from households and pilot companies, to assess its effectiveness and decide if further adjustments are needed.” CNA=
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It is all about money…and more.
Have your own lived-in helper or use a cleaning service.
No one can stop anyone from sacking an employer and work with someone else.
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Forum: Home cleaning scheme may entice maids to hop over
PUBLISHED7 HOURS AGO on 29th Sept 2021 in ST Forum.
A maid from Myanmar joined my family this year to care for my elderly father.
She has informed us that she will be leaving in December to be a part-time cleaner under the Household Services Scheme (HSS).
She said she is joining the scheme with her friends, who are also maids, as they can earn more.
Maids may prefer the HSS as it offers them the freedom to live on their own and have fixed working hours.
While some employers may be able to offer their maid a higher salary to entice them to stay, not everyone has the financial ability to do so.
Conditions like days off or fixed working hours can be hard to work around if the maid cares for someone who needs attention around the clock.
In hiring a caregiver, not only do employers pay hefty fees upfront to the employment agency, but they also spend time and effort assimilating her into the family.
If they are not able to hire a caregiver due to a shortage in supply or high cost, family members will have to give up their jobs to do the caregiving themselves.
It worries me that many families may soon be faced with this situation.
There needs to be more support for such families.
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PUBLISHED
DEC 20, 2021, 5:00 AM SGT in ST.
It is heartening that migrant workers here, including maids, could get medical insurance coverage that is several times more than what is required by law currently. Such changes would enhance medical care for those workers while providing greater financial protection to employers should their workers incur unexpectedly large medical bills.
Caring for the medical needs of foreign workers is both a practical and a moral imperative. Workers who know that they are well protected against the financial consequences of falling ill would enjoy a degree of security that would motivate them to put their best into their jobs. Also, since high out-of-pocket costs and the fear of being repatriated are major concerns for them, they are more likely to be forthcoming about their medical condition and not delay seeking care till the illness is advanced. Although it is natural for employers to bconcerned with their financial bottom line, they need to understand the benefits that they stand to gain from a better-insured foreign workforce.
Singaporeans at large should welcome the changes being considered, and view them as a measure of the greater appreciation for workers who leave their own behind to build homes, keep family life humming, construct roads and provide conservancy and other services that Singapore cannot do without. Better coverage would strengthen the social framework to create a more resilient migrant workforce. Indeed, housing standards for foreign workers will be raised, possibly as soon as next year, as part of a multi-year road map drawn up by the Manpower Ministry. The ministry is also redoubling efforts to provide quality, accessible, seamless and affordable healthcare for migrant workers and enhance their social well-being by improving recreation centres and beefing up community outreach.
These initiatives build on a growing recognition of the importance of improving foreign workers’ health, and mental and social well-being. The Employment of Foreign Manpower Act is rigorous about what employers must do, including providing appropriate housing and a safe working environment, and what they cannot do.
Like the authorities, Singaporeans too need to be committed to caring and catering to the needs of migrant workers on the ground, including by responding to reports of neglect or abuse. The coronavirus pandemic has put pressure on the mental well-being of all, including migrant workers, particularly by way of restrictions on their mobility – although the social and recreational needs of those in dormitories have been kept in mind when there has been an overall relaxation of rules when times have turned for the better. Foreign workers are an asset and the better that Singaporeans as a society regard them, the better for the country as it grapples with Covid-19.
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Gratitude for everything….
Gratitude to all…. domestic and non domestic….
How to reduce the number of construction workers? Solutions?
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The construction industry and FWs. How to reduce FWs. Solution?
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At Pasir Ris MRT station – A 260 tons concrete beam pre-cast in Ipoh, Malaysia was shipped by dumb barge to Singapore.
It is like Ipoh has indirectly exported sand, granite, steel bars, cement, labour, etc. to red dot.
A win-win solution?
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Singapore should import more of these pre-cast concrete beams to increase productivity in our construction sector.
We can even import pre-cast concrete floor slabs, concrete wall partitions, pre-cast toilets for all our construction projects [for HDB flats and multi-storey carparks, private condo, offices, factories, MRT projects, coastal polders and seawalls, etc.] from Asean countries, and even from faraway Bangladesh or Sri Lanka.
I believe these two countries [including Asean countries] will need such export earnings. It will mean creating employment for the people in their countries.
Red Dot can reduce FWs in the construction sector. Hopefully reduction by 50% will mean less demand for accommodation, food, transport, and medical facilities for the FWs, and less pressure on our other social issues.
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Let’s show our gratitude to migrant domestic workers this festive season
Malavika Menon
Employers can also improve the lives of helpers in small but substantial ways during their period of employment. PHOTO: ST FILE
PUBLISHED DEC 25, 2022, 5:00 AM SGT in Straits Times.
For the past five years, Christmas has been a quiet time of the year for Sybil (not her real name).
The 43-year-old Philippine national who hails from Bicol province has been working in Singapore since 2018.
Most years, she remains in Singapore during the Christmas break to match her employer’s schedule, completing chores around the house and taking care of her employer’s toddler, who reminds her of her six children back home, aged seven to 25.
Sybil said: “Each time I was back home, I would prepare food for Noche Buena (Christmas Eve), go to church and share a meal with my children after mass. Even when they have no gifts, they are happy to be in the moment. These are the things I miss the most when I am not with them.”
While Christmas is a time of cheer and love for many families in Singapore, it is a difficult time of the year for many Filipino migrant domestic workers like Sybil, hailed by former Philippine president Corazon Aquino as “bagong bayani”, or modern-day heroes, for the contributions they make to households in their home country.
While many of these women provide crucial caregiving services for elderly and young residents here, the physical and emotional toll of their work and their lived experiences beyond their role as helpers are often unrecognised in the community. Greater awareness and appreciation of their contributions to their host countries are needed.
More can also be done to support their mental well-being better, such as ensuring they have safe, non-exploitative work conditions, and helping to facilitate regular communication with, and periodic visits of, their loved ones back home.
According to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), roughly 256,300 migrant domestic workers resided in Singapore as at June this year. As most of their work takes place behind closed doors, it is often difficult to judge the working conditions of helpers and reach out to them if they are in need.
After a series of cases of abuse against domestic workers, the authorities introduced a new house visit scheme in April 2021, where officers appointed by MOM aim to visit about 200 houses a month to check in with helpers and share information on where they can reach out for help.
But while such inspections will surely go a long way towards preventing or catching abuse early on, they might not give the full picture of the helpers’ daily living conditions.
In a June 2022 report titled Invisible Wounds, the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics (Home) cited social isolation, lack of privacy and loss of dignity as some of the emotional abuse that helpers face in Singapore.
The report, which draws on data from interviews with 22 migrant domestic workers and Home’s casework, cited anecdotes where employers told domestic workers that they had no rights during an argument, as well as a case of an employer who threatened to deduct a worker’s salary if he saw her resting or standing still during the day.
Just as white-collar workers in professional workplaces have a fair right to a coffee break or a few minutes outdoors to collect their thoughts during the work day, migrant domestic workers also need breaks between their work, which is often highly physically demanding.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC
New clubhouse off Still Road for foreign domestic workers to socialise, take classes, get counselling
Maids to get mandatory day off: What helpers do during their downtime
On a community level, residents can look out for the treatment of migrant domestic workers in their own homes and those of their families and friends, either speaking out against mistreatment or reaching out to the helper and directing her to the right channels.
Employers can also improve the lives of helpers in small but substantial ways during their period of employment, such as by offering to set up a prepaid mobile connection that helpers can top up from their salary on a monthly basis depending on their usage; helping them purchase a phone to stay in touch with their family; or ensuring a fair number of rest days.
In a nod to the importance of ensuring adequate rest conditions for helpers, the Government has announced mandatory rest days for domestic workers that cannot be compensated with cash from Jan 1, 2023.
Employers can also consider offering bonuses at the start of the year or during holiday seasons so that helpers can afford additional school or household expenses or gifts for their families.
In the course of their work, migrant domestic workers are not often asked whether they are lonely, how their life was before they came here and what they would like to do when they return home. If visitors, neighbours and employers ask helpers such questions, it will go some way towards establishing enduring connections that make them feel heard and seen.
In exchange, helpers play a part in being vigilant and responsible employees, as they are often entrusted with the care of young children or elderly charges and the keys to the home. Building a good rapport helps employers and helpers develop trust and contributes to the smooth running of a household.
ST ILLUSTRATION: CEL GULAPA
For many domestic workers, their employers are their first points of contact in a new country. To help them build a support network, employers can introduce them to migrant worker support groups and activities such as those offered at the new hub launched by the Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training, or Fast, in November. These support networks will allow helpers to feel that they have a safe space to relax and unwind outside the home, which is as much their workplace as it is their living space.
Even with greater efforts to raise awareness and look out for the mental well-being of helpers in Singapore, it will be impossible to replace the warmth these women receive from their loved ones back home.
Sybil, who has left her children in the care of her parents, calls them three times a day to monitor their health and make sure they are eating well. She is deeply proud of her two youngest children, who have topped their school ranking this year. She has promised them that she will return for a visit by May next year.
The need for migrant domestic workers in Singapore will continue to grow in the future as the population ages and the demand for care work increases, which is why it is important to safeguard their mental well-being and ensure their employment is both fair and equitable.
As the mobility and caregiving stressors brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic have proven, we need to recognise the important role migrant domestic workers play in nurturing the young and old alike and treat them with the same respect with which we treat employees in professional workplaces, because their value to society is far greater than what their wages can measure.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC
Smaller proportion of maids took day off last year, but most were satisfied working in S’pore: Study
Migrant domestic workers longing to see their families again soon
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Part-time home cleaning scheme to be permanent, may also include grocery shopping, car washing
The Household Services Scheme started as a pilot in 2017 and has been expanded with 76 companies currently on board.PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER
PUBLISHED2 HOURS AGO on 24th August 2021 in Straits Times.
SINGAPORE – A scheme that allows households to engage part-time household services such as home cleaning will be made permanent on Sept 1, following feedback and increased demand for such services, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) on Monday (Aug 23).
The Household Services Scheme (HSS) started as a pilot in 2017 with 15 participating companies, but has been expanded with 76 companies currently on board.
The companies provide household cleaning service to more than 10,000 homes.
Besides home cleaning, workers will be allowed to provide services such as grocery shopping, car washing and pet-sitting.
“The increased participation numbers, as well as feedback from the companies and their customers, have shown that the scheme is useful in supporting the demand for part-time household services,” said MOM.
Those who wish to engage part-time household services may consider engaging companies approved under the scheme, it added.
MOM said it will continue to monitor demand from households and assess if the scope of services can be further expanded in the future.
Unlike migrant domestic helpers, who live with their employers, these workers from HSS companies can be deployed to multiple houses on a part-time basis to provide household services.
The workers live in accommodation provided by their companies.
HSS companies are currently allowed to hire female workers from India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand. This is in addition to the existing approved countries in the service sectors, such as China, Malaysia and North Asian sources, including Taiwan and South Korea.
The companies may also be eligible for additional work permit quota to hire more workers, depending on their headcount and employee composition.
From Sept 1, companies will be allowed to hire female workers from Cambodia, which would enable firms to diversify their recruitment efforts to augment their workforce, said MOM.
Clean Lab business development and human resource manager Kelvin Chang said the demand for home cleaning services has gone up, particularly in recent weeks as more are allowed to return to their offices to work.
He said his company currently employs around 40 cleaners, and more than half are locals who are in their 50s. The rest are from India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
Let’s talk about higher wages in S’pore’s cleaning sector
Helpers do crucial work for families, say employers
They clean about 30 houses on average each week and customers pay about $25 to $35 an hour, depending on the frequency of the visits.
Mr Chang noted there has been a number of requests for grocery shopping, and the firm is making plans to offer this, with car washing and dog walking services further down the line.
“We plan to train a pool of workers who will specialise in grocery shopping because home owners may have certain expectations when it comes to fresh produce, so we have to prepare for that,” he said.
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It is a two-way street in relationship….with a helper in the house.
Do human beings know what they have to cross paths in this lifetime together in the same household under one roof where one is the the helper, and the others are receiving the domestic help from her?
Who is owing who in the relationship to polish each others’ souls?
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Forum: Maids deserve respect from those they work for
PUBLISHED7 HOURS AGO on 18th August 2021 in ST Forum.
I run a group that distributes food items to migrant domestic workers and sometimes the workers come to me with their personal problems.
One of the common issues is employers’ children not respecting them. The children might, for example, call them “stupid”.
I asked them whether their employers would reprimand the children when such an incident happens, and was surprised to hear them say “no”.
These workers get called names by the young children because their employers do the same.
A job designation should not determine the level of respect someone gets.
Regardless of whether a person is a chief executive or a cleaner, the same level of respect should be shown.
Migrant domestic workers form the backbone of our society. We are a nation that relies heavily on such helpers from various developing countries.
They take on our household work and child-minding duties, allowing us to go out to make a living.
Just because they do menial jobs does not mean that they should be respected less.
More than pay or living conditions, what makes most of them want to quit is the level of respect they get.
People quit bosses, not jobs, and this applies to helpers too.
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Sad. May her soul remain RIP.
More than S$200k were donated by the public for her family in Myanmar.
Did our govt use some of the maid levies to donate too?
I hope all contracts with the domestic helpers will mention the law about brutality and the penalties.
Also, a video clip on this should be watched by both parties before signing the contract. It should be provided in the contract confirming this that both parties have understood the consequences under the law.
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Same old, same old, maid abuse cases are a blight on Singapore
Past cases make clear that current safeguards are inadequate – all the more so in an affluent country that has allowed so many to work here
Gaiyathiri Murugayan pleaded guilty to 28 charges on Feb 23, 2021 for abusing her domestic helper Ms Piang Ngaih Don.PHOTOS: HELPING HANDS FOR MIGRANT WORKERS, LIANHE WANBAO
Han Fook Kwang
Editor-at-Large
PUBLISHED2 HOURS AGO on 7th March 2021 in Sunday Times
Ms Piang Ngaih Don came to Singapore in May 2015 as a 22-year-old Myanmarese out of her country for the first time, to work as a domestic maid for Gaiyathiri Murugayan, 40, and her husband Kevin Chelvam, 42.
She died 14 months later in July 2016. The autopsy report counted 31 recent scars and 47 external injuries. Her hyoid bone, which holds the tongue to the neck, was broken, most likely from Gaiyathiri shaking her like a rag doll, according to the forensic pathologist.
This might be all that we would have known of her horrific death except that there was a closed-circuit television camera at the place she worked that recorded how her employers from hell tortured and beat her.
She was slapped, punched and stomped on, pulled up from the ground by her hair, burned with a heated iron and choked.
On one occasion, she was tied to the window grille for 12 consecutive nights and made to sleep on the floor.
Her crime? She had sneaked out of her bedroom at night for a bite.
She must have been always hungry, fed only bread soaked in water and cold food straight from the refrigerator.
Her employers gave her no respite, and even when she showered or used the toilet, they kept the door open so they could see what she was doing.
By the time of her death, she weighed only 24kg, having lost almost 40 per cent of her body weight.
The court hearing on Feb 23, 2021 at which Gaiyathiri pleaded guilty to 28 charges and where these ghastly details were revealed shocked and outraged many here, and the Government has promised a thorough review.
Reading the reports, my overwhelming reaction was: Why did it have to take this murderous act to get Singapore to put things right when many of the problems and issues that make foreign domestic maids vulnerable have been known for a long time?
The bigger tragedy is that there have been many other similar cases over the years, every one of them a red flag that, alas, did not raise the alarm sufficiently for firmer action to be taken.
In April 2018, Indonesian maid Sulis Setyowati, then 22, climbed down 15 storeys through the balcony of her employer’s Yishun flat to flee to safety, after having been hit on the face with a mobile phone, kicked on the head and had her hair pulled.
She started climbing down at 2am, taking the rest of the early morning hours to reach the ground floor, so determined was she to escape her tormentors.
Last year, in another case, Mun Sau Yeng was convicted of assaulting Indonesian maid Yuni Dwi Lestari, then 25, by using a meat-pounder to smash her, hitting her about 50 times, according to court documents.
Her problem with the maid? The window was not spotless and there were fingerprint marks on it.
Three days later, she punched Ms Yuni’s mouth 10 times.
In 2019, Linda Seah Lei Sie forced her Myanmar maid Phyu Phyu Mar to pour hot water on herself. She was scalded. When blisters appeared on her scalded body, Ms Phyu was given a needle and told to puncture them.
On another occasion, she was made to drink dirty water mixed with detergent, and was hit on her head with a mobile phone.
Her weight went down from 50kg to 38kg.
All this came on top of her not receiving her salary of $700 a month for the first eight months.
Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid: Govt to review 3 areas to ensure it doesn’t happen again
Case of Myanmar maid who was abused and killed ‘appalling’: Josephine Teo
One more example involves what has been described as one of the worst cases by the prosecutor in court: In 2019, Zariah Mohd Ali, 58, was jailed for 11 years for abusing Ms Khanifah, 39, including by hitting her head and mouth with a pestle, striking her left ear with a bamboo pole, stabbing her shoulder with a pair of scissors, slashing her forearm with a chopper and forcefully pushing her left finger back until it broke.
These cases, which I have culled from The Straits Times and other media reports, all ended up in court, with the abusers duly punished with prison sentences.
(Sentencing is pending against Gaiyathiri, while the cases against her husband and mother Prema S. Naraynasamy are pending in the State Courts).
But Singapore failed to protect the maids in the first place.
When a country allows large numbers of young, poorly educated women from poor families to work here, many away from their homes for the first time, it has a primary duty and responsibility to ensure their safety.
Some might argue that when you have more than 250,000 foreign domestic maids here, it is impossible to ensure that every single one of them is well treated and that there will always be the occasional rogue employer.
Fair point. Indeed, I believe the majority of Singapore employers look after their maids and are decent people.
But it is also precisely because Singapore has allowed so many to work here that it must do even more to ensure their safety, because even if only a small proportion are abused, the actual numbers will be unacceptably large.
If it is not prepared to take on the task, it should not permit so many to work here.
Looking at those past cases, it seems clear that the present safeguards are inadequate, especially over how employers are able to restrict the movement of their maids and their access to friends and family members.
The maid who had to climb down 15 storeys to safety would not have had to do so if she was allowed time off during weekends.
In the case against Zariah, the judge said the employer had “isolated her maid from her friends and family to force her into submission”.
Ms Piang was not allowed to leave the flat and prevented from using her phone.
Under present regulations, maids are entitled to one rest day a week, but if the employer requires her to work on that day, she is paid in-lieu, provided the maid agrees to do so.
This is where the problem begins. Employers have the upper hand on these matters and that is why so many maids end up having to work seven days a week, including those mentioned above.
The law should insist that every maid is off work one day a week and allowed to leave the home, period.
It is inhuman otherwise, least of all in a developed, affluent country like Singapore.
The other issue concerns how the authorities check on the welfare of maids.
The Manpower Ministry has a hotline and says it will do more to interview new maids to check on their well-being.
I do not think this is adequate.
Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid: Full force of law needed to keep evil in check, says Shanmugam
Woman sentenced to 6 months’ jail for hurting domestic helper who ran from flat to escape abuse
Every new maid should be interviewed within the first three months of employment without their employers’ presence.
This has to be the minimum level of checks when the worker in question is a 20-something, out of her country for the first time and experiencing communication difficulties.
I hope the authorities have also improved their understanding of the problems that both employers and maids face, and have people with the experience and expertise to deal with them.
Singapore started allowing foreign maids in large numbers into the country in 1978, more than 40 years ago, and there should be a wealth of data on the issue.
For example, has a study been done on maids who work seven days a week, on what problems they encounter, and the circumstances under which they have agreed to forgo their rest day?
Are there any insights that have been gathered on the type of employers which maids complain the most about?
What about employers’ complaints against their maids?
Can the results of these studies be shared among Singaporeans so that they too have a deeper understanding of the problem?
Some of the suggestions I have mentioned are also what various non-governmental organisations that support migrant workers have been proposing. These include the Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics, Transient Workers Count Too and Justice Without Borders.
Their views should be taken seriously.
When the next abuse case turns up, I hope it will not result in another sickening feeling of deja vu.
• The writer is also senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University.
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Have the law….have the hot line…
Also, I hope all contracts with the domestic helpers will mention the law about brutality and the penalties.
Also, a video clip on this should be watched by both parties before signing the contract.
It should be provided in the contract confirming this that both parties have understood the consequences under the law.
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Forum: Create three-digit hotline for maids who need help
PUBLISHED5 HOURS AGO on 10th March 2021 in ST Forum
There appear to be more maid abuse cases in Singapore, and this does not reflect well on us.
Apart from legislation to increase sentences, I suggest the following practical steps to stem maid abuse.
Make it mandatory for all maids to own a mobile phone and have their phone numbers registered with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). This would let MOM conduct random checks on maids by calling them to ask how their employers are treating them.
Set up a dedicated hotline with an easy three-digit number and let the maids know before they start work that they can use this number to get help if they face abuse.
As not all maids can speak English, all they would need to do is call the emergency number, which would show as a missed call and trigger an alert on MOM’s end. MOM could then check the employer’s address and investigate the case.
There are existing hotlines that foreign maids can call to seek help, but some maids may find them difficult to use.
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Why the domestic helper’s case has entered Parliament and has warranted a ministerial statement?
Was it a near case of travesty of justice attracting public outcry for fairness and equality before the law for all?
Does the public disquiet deserve a public inquiry?
Will the public inquiry into this near-miss of miscarriage of justice be the appropriate and an open platform to address the disquiet?
Will such a move not add strength to the PAP Govt to be seen listening to and fixing the disquiet with no fear or favour in upholding fairness and equality before all? It is to uphold justice before all else, and ensure that no one is above the law.
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No one must be above the law.
Do any of the civil servants [from the bottom to the top in the SPF and AGC office] who were involved in the case right up to the district judge and high court judge know [either through news report, etc] that Mr Liew Mun Leong is a top honcho in Govt-related companies, and that he could have close connections to the top people in politics?
If they do know, did that mere knowledge indirectly influence their handling and judging of the case?
If not equality, the opposite must be inequality….
If not absolute fairness, the opposite must be unfairness…
If not absolute happiness, the opposite must be unhappiness…
If not peace and calm, the opposite must be chaos,, conflict and mayhem.
All humans’ logic, wisdom, beliefs, laws, regulations, isms, etc. have inherent flaws and weaknesses.
Not a single thing that has been made by human beings is entirely flawless.
It is good to have many the majority on the side of the law.
One case against the law is one too many.
Is it to chop the head of a chicken to frighten the monkey the way forward?
The law on this must be direct and firm to bring those who become criminals under the law to be prosecuted and sentenced as prescribed by law.
No one is above the law. Live by it. Respect it.
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Do humans know why some are hauled into and some haul others into court in this lifetime?
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Maid case: Son of former CAG chief charged in court
Karl Liew will be back in court on Dec 17, 2020.
PUBLISHEDNOV 6, 2020, 5:00 AM SGT in Straits Times
Karl Liew, the son of former Changi Airport Group (CAG) chairman Liew Mun Leong, appeared in a district court yesterday, charged with giving false information to a public servant.
Karl Liew, 43, is also accused of giving false evidence during a judicial proceeding. He will be back in court on Dec 17.
For giving false information to a public servant, an offender can be jailed for up to six months and fined up to $5,000.
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Offenders convicted of giving false evidence during a judicial proceeding can be jailed for up to seven years and fined.
Karl Liew is linked to a case involving Ms Parti Liyani, 46, who used to work as a domestic helper for the older Mr Liew and his family from 2007 to 2016.
She was later accused of stealing more than $34,000 worth of items from the household.
The items included a $10,000 Gerald Genta watch, 115 items of clothing worth $150 each as well as two iPhones with accessories valued at more than $2,000 in total.
According to court documents, Karl Liew allegedly gave false information to Assistant Superintendent Tang Ru Long at around 8pm on Dec 10, 2016.
He is accused of telling ASP Tang in a statement that he had found 119 pieces of clothing belonging to him inside boxes packed by Ms Parti.
Karl Liew is also accused of intentionally giving false evidence in a judicial proceeding before District Judge Olivia Low at the State Courts on July 17, 2018.
He allegedly testified during the trial, while legally bound by an oath, that a cream polo T-shirt and a red blouse belonged to him.
Ms Parti was sentenced to two years and two months in jail in March last year.
But Justice Chan Seng Onn overturned her conviction on four theft charges following an appeal in September this year.
Her lawyer, Mr Anil Balchandani, who acted pro bono, had argued at her appeal that she was being framed to prevent her from lodging a complaint against the family for illegal deployment.
Parliament: Karl Liew, son of former CAG chairman in Parti Liyani saga, investigated for perjury
Parliament: Criminal justice system works, and vital to uphold its integrity, says Shanmugam
Mr Balchandani said that besides working at the Chancery Lane family home, Ms Parti had also been told to clean the office and home of Karl Liew.
Justice Chan had found that there was an “improper motive” on the part of the older Mr Liew and his son to prevent Ms Parti from complaining to the authorities.
Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam told Parliament in a ministerial statement on Wednesday that the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) will, from this case hereafter, seriously consider looking into allegations of perjury or other serious offences should such findings arise in court-issued judgments or decisions in legal proceedings.
In a statement on Wednesday evening, the police said: “Following the release of the High Court judgment and in the light of the High Court’s comments, the AGC directed the police to conduct further investigations with a view to assess if any offences have been committed by the Liews.”
The police added that they have completed their investigations.
Karl Liew, who is represented by lawyer Adam Maniam from Drew & Napier, was expressionless as he stood in the dock at around 9.30am yesterday.
Accompanied by his legal team and an unidentified woman, he left the State Courts building at around 11am and entered a black BMW car.
All of them declined to comment when The Straits Times approached them.
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When a public figure of high status and repute is involved with the law..
Who should the person report to?
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In going forward, what should the Govt do now to tighten control procedures that could prevent the whole of government or a public organisation to come under the public spotlight of disquiet and scrutiny due to a misdemeanour of or misdeed by an important public figure?
I would like to suggest:
When a public figure of high status and repute has a private or personal case where it involves the SPF, AGC or court, the person must immediately escalate the matter and make known the full details of the case in writing [by email and letter] to his immediate supervisor/superior. For example, in the case of a CEO of a company, the email and letter should be addressed to the chairman of the board of directors of the company or holding company.
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No one must be above the law.
Do any of the civil servants [from the bottom to the top in the SPF and AGC office] who were involved in the case right up to the district judge and high court judge know [either through news report, etc] that Mr Liew Mun Leong is a top honcho in Govt-related companies, and that he could have close connections to the top people in politics?
If they do know, did that mere knowledge indirectly influence their handling and judging of the case?
If not equality, the opposite must be inequality….
If not absolute fairness, the opposite must be unfairness…
If not absolute happiness, the opposite must be unhappiness…
If not peace and calm, the opposite must be chaos,, conflict and mayhem.
All humans’ logic, wisdom, beliefs, laws, regulations, isms, etc. have inherent flaws and weaknesses.
Not a single thing that has been made by human beings is entirely flawless.
It is good to have many the majority on the side of the law.
One case against the law is one too many.
Is it to chop the head of a chicken to frighten the monkey the way forward?
The law on this must be direct and firm to bring those who become criminals under the law to be prosecuted and sentenced as prescribed by law.
No one is above the law. Live by it. Respect it.
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MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ON PARTI LIYANI V PUBLIC PROSECUTOR
Minister
K Shanmugam Sc
set out the facts of the case, and highlighted that the case was treated as any other theft case and handled accordingly.
Here are 4 key takeaways from the statement.
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Any shortcomings found in criminal justice system must be remedied, says PM Lee on Parti Liyani case
Ms Parti Liyani was accused of theft in 2016 by her then employer, Mr Liew, and was convicted by the State Courts in 2019.PHOTO: ST FILE
Senior Political Correspondent
PUBLISHED1 HOUR AGO on 11th Nov 2020 in Straits Times
SINGAPORE – The Parti Liyani case, involving the former domestic worker of former Changi Airport Group chairman Liew Mun Leong, has generated much attention and concern among Singaporeans, and understandably so, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Tuesday (Nov 10), in his first public comments on the matter.
He also said that if there are any shortcomings found in Singapore’s criminal justice system, they must be remedied.
“Building a democratic society based on justice and equality is a fundamental goal of our nation. To do this, we need proper and fair enforcement of our laws,” he added in a Facebook post.
“We will continually strive to protect and improve our justice system, so that people can be assured that it is clean, just and works equally for all.”
PM Lee’s comments come after the matter was debated in Parliament last Wednesday in a marathon session that lasted nine hours.
The House heard from Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam, who delivered a ministerial statement on Ms Parti’s case, and also debated a motion put forward by Workers’ Party chairman Sylvia Lim on improving the criminal justice system.
On the session, PM Lee said the ministerial statement had comprehensively put forward the facts of the case, adding: “Both sides of the House agreed that it had been treated as a routine case by the police and the AGC (Attorney-General’s Chambers), and that there was no attempt by any party to influence its outcome.”
Ms Parti Liyani was accused of theft in 2016 by her then employer, Mr Liew, and was convicted by the State Courts in 2019.
She was acquitted this year by the High Court on appeal, sparking a public outcry among some, who asked why she was charged in the first place and whether Mr Liew had exerted any improper influence on the case.
Mr Liew is a prominent businessman and was also the chairman of government-linked infrastructure consultancy Surbana Jurong. In addition, he was senior international business adviser at Singapore investment company Temasek and a board member of Temasek Foundation.
He resigned from these positions following the public outcry after Justice Chan Seng Onn overturned Ms Parti’s conviction.
Former maid acquitted of theft from home of CAG chairman
Karl Liew, son of ex-CAG chairman, charged with giving false information and evidence in Parti Liyani case
Mr Shanmugam disclosed in Parliament that the internal reviews by the police and the AGC had found lapses in how they handled the case, but also confirmed that there was no improper influence at any point
He said there was no sign that Mr Liew or anyone from his family had lobbied or exerted pressure on the police, deputy public prosecutors or trial judge over the case.
In fact, the decisions on the case were taken by the investigation officer and his immediate supervisor, and it was the deputy public prosecutors and their directors in the AGC who decided to prosecute Ms Parti – the typical way such theft cases are handled, he added.
The minister reiterated this on Tuesday in a Facebook post which PM Lee shared: “The facts showed that the police and AGC had strong grounds to charge her, and no one attempted to exert any influence.”
In the post, Mr Shanmugam also linked video clips of the key points of his speech, including his criticism about the “cavalier attitude” of the Liews, particularly Karl Liew, who has since been charged with perjury in court and furnishing false information to the Police.
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Parliament: New facts cast different light on ‘improper motive’ inference in Parti Liyani case, says Shanmugam
(From left) Karl Liew, Mr Liew Mun Leong and his wife, Madam Ng Lai Peng.PHOTOS: ST FILE
PUBLISHEDNOV 4, 2020, 6:26 PM SGT in Straits Times
SINGAPORE – Former Changi Airport Group chairman Liew Mun Leong and his wife had thought about firing Ms Parti Liyani by late 2015, and Madam Ng Lai Peng had repeatedly visited the maid agency to review bio-data of new domestic helpers.
Ms Parti was fired on Oct 28, 2016, because her replacement became available then.
Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam revealed this in Parliament on Wednesday (Nov 4) to show that Ms Parti’s dismissal was not “sudden”, contrary to what High Court judge Chan Seng Onn believed.
In his ministerial statement, Mr Shanmugam said new evidence that emerged after Justice Chan’s decision to acquit Ms Parti of theft, was “quite different” from the inferences that the judge had made.
Mr Shanmugam emphasised that the fresh evidence is untested in court, but said he was duty bound to go through the facts, which arose out of further investigations into the Liews’ conduct.
In his judgment on Sept 4, Justice Chan found that there was reason to believe that Mr Liew and his son Karl had an improper motive for making the police report.
Justice Chan concluded that the Liews pre-emptively dismissed her on Oct 28, 2016, because they knew she was unhappy about being illegally deployed to work at Mr Karl Liew’s home and his office.
The judge concluded that, when she told members of the family – after being fired – that she wanted to complain to the Manpower Ministry, the Liews then filed the police report to stop her from returning to Singapore to lodge the complaint.
Justice Chan’s conclusion on the Liews’ motive rested on three planks – that Ms Parti’s dismissal was “sudden”, that she told two members of the family while packing that she wanted to complain to the Manpower Ministry, and that the police report was lodged to prevent her from returning to Singapore to file a complaint.
Parliament: Review of Parti Liyani case shows no improper influence by Liew Mun Leong at any point, says Shanmugam
Parliament: Karl Liew, son of former CAG chairman in Parti Liyani saga, investigated for perjury
But Mr Shanmugam said Ms Parti’s dismissal was not sudden.
He said Mr Liew had been thinking of firing her for some time after suspecting her of theft, but Madam Ng did not make a firm decision after looking for potential replacements in late 2015.
After a specially designed power bank from France he received in May 2016 went missing, Mr Liew decided to fire her and in September 2016, Madam Ng chose a replacement.
The new maid arrived in Singapore on Oct 25, 2016, and the family decided that Ms Parti would be dismissed on Oct 28, said Mr Shanmugam.
Parliament: AGC developing guidelines for valuation of items after Liew family inflated prices of allegedly stolen items
Parliament: Shanmugam admits police lapse in Parti Liyani probe, says disciplinary action being taken
The second point centred on what Ms Parti had said about her intention to lodge a complaint with the Manpower Ministry (MOM) after she was fired on Oct 28, 2016.
What the maid said was that she wanted to complain about the short notice period, Mr Shanmugam told the House.
This was confirmed by a maid agent who was present at the Liews’ house while Ms Parti was packing, he said.
“(Ms Parti) did not say that she wanted to complain to MOM about anything else. As can be seen, this is quite different from the inference that the High Court had made.
Parliament: AGC will consider looking into serious offences indicated by court judgment and decisions
Parliament: AGC had sufficient evidence to prosecute Parti Liyani as she admitted taking some items, gave contradictory statements, says Shanmugam
“But the High Court, understandably and naturally, went on the basis of the evidence, and the submissions made to it.
“The High Court didn’t have the benefit of this additional evidence. And as I’ve said, our purpose is not to reopen the High Court’s findings.”
Further investigations also revealed that the maid agents twice offered to help Ms Parti lodge a MOM complaint, but she declined.
Ms Parti lodged her complaint about illegal deployment after she was charged, he said.
Parliament: Criminal justice system works, and vital to uphold its integrity, says Shanmugam
Parliament: Standing order on sub judice lifted to discuss ministerial statement, motion on Parti Liyani case
As for the third issue, Mr Shanmugam pointed out that filing a police report would not stop Ms Parti from returning to Singapore to lodge a complaint.
“Indeed, in this case, it didn’t stop her from returning to Singapore.”
While the High Court found that the reason for filing the report were “curious”, Mr Liew had stated that he was doing so “for record purposes” because he was worried that Ms Parti’s boyfriends might break into their home.
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Parti Liyani case: Karl Liew, son of former CAG chairman, to be charged for giving false evidence in court
Liew Kai Lung Karl will be charged in court on Nov 5, 2020.PHOTO: ST FILE
FACEBOOKTWITTERs 2020, 7:17 PM SGT in Straits Times
SINGAPORE – Mr Karl Liew, the son of former Changi Airport Group chairman Liew Mun Leong, will be charged on Thursday (Nov 5) for furnishing false information and giving false evidence in court, the police said on Wednesday (Nov 4).
Mr Karl Liew was investigated following the release of a High Court judgment on Sept 4, which found that he had been dishonest in giving evidence against his family’s former maid, Ms Parti Liyani, in a theft trial.
The High Court judge found Mr Karl Liew’s statements in court suspect, including his claims to have worn women’s clothing.
Mr Karl Liew had also testified that a Gucci wallet, a Braun Buffel wallet and a Helix watch were given to him by his family members. Yet none of his family members, including Mr Liew Mun Leong, could recall having or giving him these specific items.
In the light of the comments from the High Court, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) directed the police to conduct further investigations, which have since been completed, said the police.
Earlier on Wednesday, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam told Parliament in a ministerial statement that the AGC will, from this case hereafter, seriously consider looking into allegations of perjury or other serious offences should such findings arise in court-issued judgments or decisions in legal proceedings.
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Parliament: Criminal justice system works, and vital to uphold its integrity, says Shanmugam
Law Minister K. Shanmugam said the case illustrates how the rule of law functions in Singapore.PHOTO: ST FILE
Senior Political Correspondent
PUBLISHEDNOV 4, 2020, 4:47 PM SGT on 11th Nov 2020 in Straits Times
SINGAPORE – A foreign domestic worker was charged and found guilty of theft in Singapore and the complainant was a wealthy, powerful person, but the maid was later acquitted by the High Court on appeal.
This shows that everyone is equal before the law and it does not matter who they are, said Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam as he gave a detailed account of the series of events in Ms Parti Liyani’s case, which sparked debate about the fairness of the justice system.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday (Nov 4), Mr Shanmugam said the case illustrates how the rule of law functions in Singapore.
He said: “We may agree or disagree with the court’s conclusions. But this is a different matter… This case shows that the criminal justice system as a whole works.”
He was making a ministerial statement on the case involving Ms Parti, who the High Court on Sept 4 acquitted of theft, and then Changi Airport Group chairman Liew Mun Leong and his family. The case sparked an uproar, with MPs and others raising questions about the criminal justice system.
Mr Shanmugam said there is a sense in many societies that the elite have bent the rules to their own advantage and, in the process, “suborned those in government”.
However, this is not the case in Singapore, he added, and it is all the more critical to protect the integrity of the system that has been built up over the years.
He said: “We must jealously guard the availability of equal opportunities. We must ensure that everyone has a fair shake. We must be alert, guard against the wealthy and the powerful taking unfair advantages.
“If Liew Mun Leong did unfairly influence the proceedings, then it will be a hit to our foundations. It will hit our sense of fairness, equality, justice. A dent to Project Singapore itself because Singapore is built on these ideals.”
Parliament: AGC had sufficient evidence to prosecute Parti Liyani as she admitted taking some items, gave contradictory statements, says Shanmugam
Parti Liyani case: Karl Liew, son of former CAG chairman, to be charged for giving false evidence in court
And while Singapore has always guarded against the corrosion of its justice system, this does not mean that there will be no abuse of power or corruption, said Mr Shanmugam.
When it happens, there must be swift, decisive actions to punish those responsible and stamp out such behaviour, and successive governments have been very clear about this position, he added.
The arrest of Teh Cheang Wan – who was minister for National Development between 1979 and 1986 – for corruption was a prime example of the Government’s “ruthless intensity in upholding integrity,” said Mr Shanmugam.
He added that Mr Teh was described by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew as “a man of considerable ability”, and he had played a key role in getting the Government to deliver on its promise to build enough flats for people in the country’s early days.
Yet, despite Mr Teh’s seniority and the public praise he got, when corruption allegations surfaced, Mr Lee directed the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau to investigate, said Mr Shanmugam.
Parliament: AGC will consider looking into serious offences indicated by court judgment and decisions
Parliament: AGC developing guidelines for valuation of items after Liew family inflated prices of allegedly stolen items
“Mr Lee Kuan Yew set the tone… He said at the time: ‘There is no way a minister can avoid investigations and a trial, if there is evidence to support one’.”
The values of Singapore’s founding generation of leaders have been scrupulously adhered to by successive generations of leaders and are like “religious commandments”, he added.
Mr Shanmugam said under Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, many high-ranking officials who have erred have likewise been punished, like former Singapore Civil Defence Force commissioner Peter Lim, who was jailed for six months in 2012 and dismissed from the public service for corruption.
Another civil servant, Mr Edwin Yeo, who was an assistant director at CPIB, was jailed for 10 years for misappropriating about $1.7 million, Mr Shanmugam added.
He also cited former National Kidney Foundation chief executive T. T. Durai, who was jailed three months for corruption, and former executive director of the Singapore Environment Council Howard Shaw, who was jailed for 12 weeks for paid sex with a minor.
Said Mr Shanmugam: “The message is: It doesn’t matter who you are. If you do wrong, action will be taken.”
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Parliament: AGC will consider looking into serious offences indicated by court judgment and decisions
Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam highlighted in Parliament Mr Karl Liew’s inconsistent answers during the trial.PHOTO: GOV.SG
PUBLISHEDNOV 4, 2020, 3:49 PM SGT in Straits Times
SINGAPORE – The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) will now seriously consider looking into allegations of perjury or other serious offences should such findings arise in court-issued judgments or decisions in legal proceedings.
This follows the highly publicised saga involving domestic helper Parti Liyani, whose former employer’s son was deemed by a High Court judge to have been dishonest in his testimony against her during her trial for theft.
Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam on Wednesday (Nov 4) highlighted in Parliament Mr Karl Liew’s inconsistent answers during the trial, to the extent that the High Court believed him dishonest and disregarded his entire evidence against Ms Parti.
Among some of his more questionable statements was his claim to have purchased and owned a pink knife, which he said he bought before 2002. It was later shown to have likely been manufactured after that date, and Mr Liew conceded this in court.
From this case, the AGC has decided hereafter that it will consider whether there should be further investigations or proceedings for offences pointed out in a court judgment or decision, said Mr Shanmugam.
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Parliament: Shanmugam admits police lapse in Parti Liyani probe, says disciplinary action being taken
Former domestic helper Parti Liyani, seen here with her lawyer Anil Balchandani leaving the State Courts on Sept 8, 2020.PHOTO: ST FILE
UPDATEDNOV 4, 2020, 9:39 PM in Straits Times
SINGAPORE – The five-week gap between the filing of the police report by Mr Liew Mun Leong and his son, and the police officers visiting the scene was a breach of a legal requirement as well as a breach of police protocol.
Disciplinary action is being taken against the officer concerned, said Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam in his replies to MPs after he delivered a ministerial statement on the Parti Liyani case.
The delay in the police visiting the crime scene was one of the reasons for the High Court’s decision in September to acquit Ms Parti of stealing from her employers.
In his judgment, Justice Chan Seng Onn found that there was a break in the chain of custody of the items that were said to be stolen.
Ms Parti had packed items into three boxes after she was fired on Oct 28, 2016.
She returned to Indonesia that night after Mr Karl Liew agreed to send the boxes to her.
The next day, the boxes were opened by the Liews, who found items which they said belonged to them.
Justice Chan said between Oct 29, when the boxes were opened, to Dec 3, when the police visited the scene, there had been a break in the chain of custody of evidence.
The judge said it could not proved that Ms Liyani took the items that were eventually documented by the police because there could have been interference while the boxes were with the Liews.
Parliament: AGC had sufficient evidence to prosecute Parti Liyani as she admitted taking some items, gave contradictory statements, says Shanmugam
Parliament: New facts cast different light on ‘improper motive’ inference in Parti Liyani case, says Shanmugam
On Wednesday, Mr Shanmugam said that the police should have visited the scene close to the time that the police report was made on Oct 30, 2016.
The police are legally required to respond to a crime scene promptly or as soon as practicable, he said.
In this case, the police went to the Liews’ home only on Dec 3, 2016.
Mr Shanmugam said: “”There can be no excuse for this lapse on the part of the police officer.”
He added that internal investigations are being carried out in relation to the conduct of the offiers involved in the case, and action will be taken as necessary.
Mr Shanmugam said he had asked for an explanation for the lapses and was told that the investigation officer was busy with a number of ongoing prosecutions, arrest operations, and personal matters.
The officer seemed to have been under a lot of work pressure and was in a predicament, he said.
Mr Shanmugam said he has asked for a review of the workload of police investigating officers, but acknowledged that there was no easy solution as it was a manpower issue.
He added that it is not always necessary for police to seize items when investigating cases.
Parti Liyani case: Karl Liew, son of former CAG chairman, to be charged for giving false evidence in court
Parliament: AGC developing guidelines for valuation of items after Liew family inflated prices of allegedly stolen items
However, even if the items are not seized, the police have to obtain a proper record of the evidence, such as by taking photographs of the items.
“In this case, careful photography, soon after the police report was filed, may have been good enough. But that was not done. I said, there can be no excuse,” he said.
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Parliament: AGC developing guidelines for valuation of items after Liew family inflated prices of allegedly stolen items
VIDEO: MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
PUBLISHEDNOV 4, 2020, 3:59 PM SGT in Straits Times
SINGAPORE – The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) is developing guidelines on how to properly value allegedly stolen items after it emerged during the Parti Liyani trial that the prices of certain items were inflated by the complainants.
Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam told Parliament this is one of two areas the AGC has identified that need rectification, after reviewing its actions in the Parti Liyani trial, where the maid was acquitted of all theft charges on Sept 4.
He also stressed that the prosecution’s overarching role is to ensure that justice is done, and not to “win the case at all costs”.
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“This point is not being made by reference to this case – it is a general point,” said Mr Shanmugam. He noted that Attorney-General Lucien Wong has publicly stressed this on many occasions.
“AGC has consistently emphasised this point to all its officers, and will continue to do so.”
Delivering a ministerial statement on the case of Ms Parti, Mr Shanmugam acknowledged that independent assessment of the value of items “may have helped” in some of the items in this case, as prosecutors had derived the value of items by relying on the Liew family’s estimates.
This has been the general practice for the valuation of items and there are no formal guidelines, said Mr Shanmugam, adding that prosecutors are expected to use their “judgment and discretion”.
During the trial, the courts had found that the values of some of the items had been “overestimated”, including a Gerald Genta watch that was originally priced at $25,000 by the prosecution.
Mr Karl Liew, the son of the former Changi Airport Group chairman, had claimed the watch was worth that much, based on his own “impression”, even though the strap was broken and it had a missing button knob.
Parliament: AGC had sufficient evidence to prosecute Parti Liyani as she admitted taking some items, gave contradictory statements, says Shanmugam
Parti Liyani case: Karl Liew, son of former CAG chairman, to be charged for giving false evidence in court
A witness called by the defence placed its current value at $500 instead, adding that the date function was faulty. The worth of the watch was eventually reduced by the courts to $10,000.
Mr Liew also told prosecutors that a Helix watch was worth $50, but a horologist who was called to the stand testified that the watch was a free gift from the petrol company Shell.
The second area that AGC will improve on is that all such relevant physical exhibits should have been shown to witnesses before they take the stand, said Mr Shanmugam.
He noted that the Liew family was mostly shown photographs of the exhibits during witness interviews.
Parliament: AGC will consider looking into serious offences indicated by court judgment and decisions
Parliament: Standing order on sub judice lifted to discuss ministerial statement, motion on Parti Liyani case
On exhibits, the High Court judge also said prosecutors should have fully disclosed the defect found in a $1,000 DVD player Ms Parti was accused of stealing during the trial. The prosecution only conceded that they had some difficulties playing a DVD disc with the machine in the appeal stage.
This element proved crucial in supporting Ms Parti’s point that the DVD player was “spoilt” and the High Court judge found that it was likely that the Liews no longer wanted the player as it was partially spoilt.
Mr Shanmugam said the matter is now the subject of disciplinary proceedings, where a full account of what the prosecutors did will be given, and as such he would refrain from commenting on it.
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Parliament: Review of Parti Liyani case shows no improper influence by Liew Mun Leong at any point, says Shanmugam
High Court Judge Chan Seng Onn said in his judgement that there was reasonable doubt about Mr Liew’s (right) motive for making a police report against Ms Parti (left).PHOTOS: ST FILE
Senior Political Correspondent
PUBLISHEDNOV 4, 2020, 4:31 PM SGT in Straits Times
SINGAPORE – When Attorney-General (AG) Lucien Wong resigned from the board of CapitaLand in 2006, it was over differences of viewpoints with Mr Liew Mun Leong who was then the president and chief executive officer of the listed real estate group.
Given this history, Mr Wong had recused himself from the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ (AGC) recent internal review of the case involving Mr Liew’s former maid Parti Liyani.
Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam on Wednesday (Nov 4) disclosed this information in a ministerial statement in Parliament as he emphasised that the reviews by the police and the AGC have confirmed that there was no improper influence at any point in the case.
“I can be categorical, there was no influence by Liew Mun Leong. It was treated as any other theft case and handled accordingly,” he said.
Questions on propriety had cropped up after High Court Judge Chan Seng Onn overturned Ms Parti’s conviction and said in his judgment that there was reasonable doubt about Mr Liew’s motive for making a police report against his former maid.
Mr Liew is a prominent businessman and was the chairman of Changi Airport Group as well as Surbana Jurong. He was also senior international business adviser at Singapore investment company Temasek and a board member of Temasek Foundation.
He resigned from these positions following public outcry after Justice Chan overturned Ms Parti’s conviction.
The relationship between the AG and Mr Liew came under scrutiny particularly after the AGC announced that the AG would not be involved in the review of the case.
Some had suggested that the two men were close given that Mr Wong had been on CapitaLand’s board of directors.
Parliament: AGC had sufficient evidence to prosecute Parti Liyani as she admitted taking some items, gave contradictory statements, says Shanmugam
Parti Liyani case: Karl Liew, son of former CAG chairman, to be charged for giving false evidence in court
On Wednesday, Mr Shanmugam said the decision on whether to prosecute the maid was dealt with at the level of the deputy public prosecutors and their directors in AGC, and the AG did not know of the proceedings against Ms Parti until the case went for trial.
Setting out how such cases are handled, he said typically when AGC receives a file from the police, prosecutors will assess whether or not to charge or if any action has to be taken.
This assessment and the decisions are usually cleared by a director, and are not brought to the attention of the deputy chief prosecutor, chief prosecutor, deputy AG or AG unless they involve more serious or sensitive crimes, or where the AG’s consent to prosecute is expressly required.
He added that neither Mr Liew, his family members or any intermediaries had approached the AGC on the case.
On why the AG recused himself from the AGC’s internal review, the minister said: “The AG felt that given the history of difference between him and Liew Mun Leong, the perception of fairness may be affected if he oversaw the review.”
“Thus, the AG had nothing to do with this case at any stage.”
Parliament: Shanmugam admits police lapse in Parti Liyani probe, says disciplinary action being taken
Timeline of events: How the Parti Liyani case unfolded
Similarly for the Police, its internal review shows decisions on the case were taken by the investigation officer (IO) and his immediate supervisor, and no one had lobbied or exerted pressure on them or anyone in a position to influence the investigations, he said.
“It didn’t come to the attention of the senior management either at the Police or in the Ministry,” he added.
Mr Shanmugam also pointed out that the case had been heard in open court in the State Courts in accordance with the rules.
“We have checked with the IO, his senior officer and the DPPs, they have confirmed there was no pressure or influence exerted on them by Liew Mun Leong or anyone acting on his behalf.”
“And they handled this as they have handled other theft cases.”
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Parliament: Govt studying setting up of public defenders’ office for accused who can’t afford lawyer, says Shanmugam
The unit is a proposal being considered in the review started last year of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme.ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
UPDATEDNOV 5, 2020, 1:47 AM in Straits Times
SINGAPORE – A public defenders’ office could be set up by the Government to provide legal help for those facing criminal charges in Singapore but are unable to engage their own lawyer.
It is a proposal being considered in the review started last year of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS), which was enhanced in 2015, Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam told the House on Wednesday (Nov 4).
The details and feasibility of such an office will be further studied by the Government, with the Law Society and Criminal Bar, he said, adding that the Law Ministry is in favour of it.
But such a scheme is not without challenges, he noted, citing examples faced by similar schemes overseas.
Mr Shanmugam explained that having a public defenders’ office means the Government pays for the lawyers and employs them in a separate structure, to defend the accused in criminal cases.
“How many officers, how big, how much, are conversations we have to have with the Ministry of Finance (MOF), among others. But in principle, we have to first discuss it with the profession, and then talk to MOF and deal with the issue.
“In principle, our approach, I think might have to go down that route, and we are, at least my ministry – Ministry of Law – in favour of this approach,” he said.
The minister was responding to Ms Carrie Tan (Nee Soon GRC), who had asked about implementing such a scheme, during his ministerial statement on the Parti Liyani case.
Ms Parti, who previously worked for the family of former Changi Airport Group chairman Liew Mun Leong, was sentenced to jail last year for stealing from the family. She successfully appealed against her conviction, and her acquittal prompted questions about the criminal justice system’s treatment of people who are less well-off.
Parliament: Having Appropriate Adult scheme for foreign workers would further stretch police, says Shanmugam
Parliament: S’pore legal system works well, strikes balance between specialisation, integration, says Shanmugam
Mr Shanmugam also addressed questions from Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim (Chua Chu Kang GRC) and the Progress Singapore Party’s Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai, on increasing direct legal aid to those who cannot afford to get their own lawyers.
He said there is a framework and assessment process in place for the Clas, which was initiated in 1985 by the late Senior Counsel Harry Elias and is administered by the Law Society’s Pro Bono Services.
Means and merit tests are applied for each case to ensure that funding is targeted and allocated to vulnerable applicants who genuinely need help.
The Government pays 75 per cent of Clas’ operating costs, including staff salaries and overheads costs, with Clas funding the remaining 25 per cent through private donations and the Law Society.
Parliament: Criminal justice system works, and vital to uphold its integrity, says Shanmugam
7 takeaways from Shanmugam’s ministerial statement on Parti Liyani case
He added that the honoraria paid to the lawyers is “extremely nominal”, so their services are effectively pro bono.
To decide if Singapore’s model, of the Government and private sector jointly funding such legal aid, should be changed to one of full government funding, Mr Shanmugam cited some overseas situations.
He said England and Wales offers a fully government-funded criminal legal aid scheme which comprises a public defender scheme with in-house government lawyers, and a legal aid scheme that outsources cases to private lawyers.
This has drawn much public debate and outcry owing to abuse and escalating government cost, and unhappiness over the large legal aid fees, especially for lengthy trials in which the defendants were ultimately convicted, he added.
Parliament: Shanmugam admits police lapse in Parti Liyani probe, says disciplinary action being taken
Parliament: Review of Parti Liyani case shows no improper influence by Liew Mun Leong at any point, says Shanmugam
The minister also said there have been many reports of rich defendants who had received legal aid as their assets were frozen, but still remained wealthy enough because the authorities had not managed to seize all of their assets.
“Around 50 defendants with more than S$1.76 million in illegally obtained assets were found to have received legal aid in 2012,” he said. Owing to the high legal aid costs, the government of the United Kingdom has had to implement drastic spending cuts to legal aid budgets since 2012.
But these reforms were strongly opposed by lawyers, who deemed the reformed fee schedules to be inadequate and went on strikes in 2014 and 2018, disrupting court proceedings and delaying the resolution of criminal cases.
“You must note, once you make legal aid a requirement, you can’t proceed with the case until you find a lawyer who is willing to handle it for the fees proposed,” said the minister.
Parliament: AGC developing guidelines for valuation of items after Liew family inflated prices of allegedly stolen items
Parliament: AGC will consider looking into serious offences indicated by court judgment and decisions
While Ms Parti was represented by lawyer Anil Balchandani pro bono, the defence counsel estimated that if full fees were charged, it could have cost $150,000. Mr Shanmugam noted that if criminal legal aid was set as a requirement, then taxpayers will have to pay that amount.
He cited Hong Kong’s fully government-funded public defender scheme, which cost S$217 million in civil and criminal legal aid in 2017. Hong Kong has also experienced growing legal aid budgets owing to continual increase in lawyers’ fees of up to 10 per cent yearly.
Mr Shanmugam noted that Australia and New Zealand also face such issues, which could get “very costly and very difficult to manage”.
Responding to Mr Leong’s question on whether lawyers under Clas can receive a higher honorarium, Mr Shanmugam said: “My preference is to keep the pro bono spirit. A mix of lawyers employed specifically by Clas….. with lawyers from private sector coming in.”
He added that “we are also not completely satisfied with the current model”.
Parliament: AGC had sufficient evidence to prosecute Parti Liyani as she admitted taking some items, gave contradictory statements, says Shanmugam
Timeline of events: How the Parti Liyani case unfolded
Mr Shanmugam further said that when it was announced in 2014 that Clas was to be enhanced, some lawyers were concerned that it would eat into their rice bowl. He, however, explained to them that the target group was those who could not have gone to them anyway.
He added that discussions are ongoing with the Law Society, which is supportive of expanding criminal legal aid but has expressed strong concerns on the impact on paid work, especially for small law firms.
Likewise, discussions are ongoing with the Criminal Bar, which has counter-proposed expanding the coverage of offences instead.
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Timeline of events: How the Parti Liyani case unfolded
Parti Liyani and lawyer Anil Balchandani leaving the Supreme Court on Oct 27, 2020.PHOTO: ST FILE
UPDATEDNOV 4, 2020, 9:41 PM in Straits Times
SINGAPORE – New details have emerged of the rift between Ms Parti Liyani and her former employers, the family of former Changi Airport Group chairman Liew Mun Leong.
The Straits Times outlines the events that have transpired since Ms Parti started working for the Liews, as stated in the court judgment and as given by Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam in his ministerial statement on Wednesday (Nov 4).
Indonesian Parti Liyani starts working for Liew Mun Leong’s family. Records with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) show that Liew was her 7th employer in Singapore since she started work here in 1997.
Over the years, Liew said his family’s possessions had gone missing, including a bag he bought from Tokyo, his jogging shoes, and he had suspected Ms Parti of stealing.
Mr Liew said he did not take action as he could not be sure, Minister for Home Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam told Parliament on Wednesday (Nov 4).
Mr Karl Liew, the son of Mr Liew Mun Leong, moved out with his family to a nearby house. Ms Parti was asked to go to his home to help with the chores, as well as clean his office in another location.
However, she clashed with the younger Mr Liew over the household chores. She expressed unhappiness at being made to do additional work for the younger Liew.
Parliament: Standing order on sub judice lifted to discuss ministerial statement, motion on Parti Liyani case
Parliament: AGC had sufficient evidence to prosecute Parti Liyani as she admitted taking some items, gave contradictory statements, says Shanmugam
Mr Liew Mun Leong said a specially designed power bank he received from France “disappeared” a few days after he received it, and there were only him, his wife and Ms Parti in the house then, although some others may have accessed the house
He decided to terminate Ms Parti’s employment. In Sept 2016, they informed the maid agency of their plans that once a replacement helper was available, they would let Ms Parti go.
The Liew family terminated her employment on Oct 28, 2016, while the older Mr Liew was travelling.
Mr Karl Liew went to the older Liew’s house with employment agents at Mr Liew Mun Leong’s request, and he told Ms Parti they were sending her back. When Ms Parti questioned why, the younger Mr Liew said there were “missing items” in the house, and the only people in the house were her and his parents.
When Ms Parti was arrested on her return to Singapore on Dec 2, 2016, some items were found on her, including two Longchamp bags, two watches and two white iPhone 4s. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
Given two hours to pack her belongings into three jumbo boxes, Ms Parti became angry and threatened to complain to MOM. She returned to Indonesia the same day, after asking Mr Karl Liew to pay for the boxes to be shipped to her.
Before she left, maid agents asked her twice if she would like to lodge a complaint, but Ms Parti declined.
Justice Chan Seng Onn, in his judgment, said there is “reason to believe” that the Liew family took the “pre-emptive first step to terminate her employment suddenly, without giving her sufficient time to pack, in hopes that Parti would not use the time to make a complaint to the Manpower Ministry.”
The Liew family, comprising Mr Karl Liew and his wife , and Mr Liew Mun Leong’s wife, opened the boxes belonging to Ms Parti.
They checked the contents and took a 21-second video of items they had removed from the boxes. They claimed some of the items belonged to their family.
Parliament: Karl Liew, son of former CAG chairman in Parti Liyani saga, investigated for perjury
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Mr Liew lodged a police report. After the report was made, the family members took and put back items into the boxes but it is not clear if the items were the same ones that were removed earlier. They also took out some items for their daily use.
Ms Parti, who was unaware of the allegations made against her, returned to Singapore to find work, but was arrested on arrival at Changi Airport at about 9pm. Items that allegedly belonged to the family were found on her.
The police visited the Liews’ houses to take photos of the allegedly stolen items. Police did not seize all the items, and photographs were taken in lieu of seizure.
Ms Parti recorded her first statement with the police.
Parliament: AGC developing guidelines for valuation of items after Liew family inflated prices of allegedly stolen items
Parliament: Review of Parti Liyani case shows no improper influence by Liew Mun Leong at any point, says Shanmugam
Ms Parti was charged with four charges of theft, involving 144 items valued over $50,000.
After she was charged for theft, Ms Parti made a report to MOM about being illegally deployed to work at Mr Karl Liew’s home and to his office.
Ms Parti claimed trial for four charges of theft.
While out on bail, she stayed at a shelter run by migrant workers group Humanitarian Organisation for Migrant Economics (Home). Home approached defence counsel Anil Balchandani, who represented her pro bono under the Law Society’s Criminal Legal Aid Scheme.
When Ms Parti was arrested on her return to Singapore on Dec 2, 2016, some items were found on her, including two Longchamp bags, two watches and two white iPhone 4s. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
MOM issued a caution to Mrs Liew and an advisory to Mr Karl Liew, for deploying Ms Parti to the younger Mr Liew’s home and office to work.
Ms Parti was sentenced to jail for two years and two months.
She was found guilty by District Judge Olivia Low, for stealing $34,000 worth of items, including the Gerald Genta watch. Mr Karl Liew claimed the watch was worth $25,000, but the trial judge reduced this to $10,000, based on the original guide price.
Ms Parti appealed against the convictions.
Parliament: Shanmugam admits police lapse in Parti Liyani probe, says disciplinary action being taken
Parliament: Criminal justice system works, and vital to uphold its integrity, says Shanmugam
The High Court overturned the convictions. Ms Parti’s lawyer Anil Balchandani argued that the police report was a pre-emptive move to stop her from making a complaint against the Liews for illegal deployment.
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Justice Chan found that the original conviction against her to be “unsafe”. In his 100-page judgment, Justice Chan highlighted several factors against Ms Parti’s conviction, including the police’s handling of the evidence. He also said the prosecution had failed to show there was no “improper motive” behind the allegations of some of the Liew family members.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers, police and MOM announced that they are reviewing the handling of the case.
Ms Parti walks out a free woman after she was granted a discharge amounting to an acquittal for the fifth charge, for fraudulent possession of property. This charge related to 18 items in her possession that are not linked to the Liews.
Parliament: S’pore legal system works well, strikes balance between specialisation, integration, says Shanmugam
Parti Liyani case: Karl Liew, son of former CAG chairman, to be charged for giving false evidence in court
Mr Liew steps down as chairman of Changi Airport Group and Surbana Jurong. He also resigns from his positions as senior international business adviser at Singapore investment company Temasek and as a board member of Temasek Foundation.
Ms Parti decides to proceed with her application to start disciplinary proceedings against two prosecutors who handled her case at the district court trial.
She had filed a complaint against the two prosecutors in June for misconduct, but had considered dropping her bid as she wished to return home to Indonesia.
The Chief Justice gave the go-ahead for investigations into two Deputy Public Prosecutors to commence.
Parliament: New facts cast different light on ‘improper motive’ inference in Parti Liyani case, says Shanmugam
7 takeaways from Shanmugam’s ministerial statement on Parti Liyani case
Ms Parti seeks compensation from the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), under a provision that allows acquitted persons compensation if it can be proven that prosecution was frivolous or vexatious.
In his ministerial statement on the case, Mr Shanmugam said Karl Liew has been investigated for perjury. Moving forward, the AGC will “seriously consider” whether there should be further investigations should there be findings of serious offences in court-issued judgments or decisions, said Mr Shanmugam.
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Seven takeaways from Shanmugam’s ministerial statement on Parti Liyani case
Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam spoke at length in Parliament on the case involving Ms Parti Liyani (above).PHOTO: ST FILE
PUBLISHEDNOV 4, 2020, 8:30 PM SGT in Straits Times
SINGAPORE – Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam spoke at length in Parliament on Wednesday (Nov 4) on the case involving Ms Parti Liyani, a maid who was acquitted of stealing from her former employers, the family of former Changi Airport Group Chairman Liew Mun Leong. The case had sparked public uproar about the criminal justice system.
Here are seven key takeaways from his speech.
1. The decision of the Liews to terminate Ms Parti Liyani’s employment was made some time ago
In his judgment, Justice Chan Seng Onn described the termination as “sudden” and noted there was reason to believe that it was a “pre-emptive first step” by the Liews to ensure that Ms Parti could not complain to MOM.
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However, Mr Shanmugam said further investigations have shown that the Liews had told their maid agency by end-2015 that they wanted a new helper as they had suspected Ms Parti of stealing.
Ms Parti was dismissed on Oct 28, 2016, because a new helper became available on that day, said Mr Shanmugam.
2. Police and the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) had handled the case as a routine theft case
Mr Shanmugam reiterated that there was no undue influence on the police or the AGC by Mr Liew, or by anyone acting on the family’s behalf.
However, he acknowledged that there were lapses in the investigation process, namely how there had been a five-week gap from when the police report was filed, to when the police officers visited the scene.
Parliament: New facts cast different light on ‘improper motive’ inference in Parti Liyani case, says Shanmugam
Parliament: Review of Parti Liyani case shows no improper influence by Liew Mun Leong at any point, says Shanmugam
3. The AGC had reason to charge Ms Parti for the crime based on the evidence before them
Police investigators and prosecutors had assessed that Ms Parti was untruthful, in initial investigations, and there was sufficient evidence to charge Ms Parti for theft, said Mr Shanmugam.
Her statements to the police had several inconsistencies, he added, noting Ms Parti had initially admitted to taking several items of male clothing without permission.
4. Mr Karl Liew’s “highly unsatisfactory” evidence and conduct during trial
Mr Shanmugam said there appears to have been a “cavalier attitude” on the part of the Liews in the way that some items were identified as belonging to them and in the way values were ascribed to some items. Mr Karl Liew, in particular, was singled out as many aspects of his evidence and conduct in court had “raised scepticism”, said Mr Shanmugam.
Parliament: AGC developing guidelines for valuation of items after Liew family inflated prices of allegedly stolen items
Parliament: AGC will consider looking into serious offences indicated by court judgment and decisions
5. Attorney-General (AG) Lucien Wong recused himself from the case because his history of differences with Mr Liew could affect the perception of fairness
AG Lucien Wong had resigned from the Board of Directors of CapitaLand, because he had a “difference of viewpoints” with Mr Liew, who was then president and chief executive, on some issues, Mr Shanmugam revealed in parliament.
6. The District Judge had convicted Ms Parti after she had found “serious inconsistencies” in Ms Parti’s evidence, among others
The lower court had also found that Ms Parti’s evidence on some items were “implausible”, said Mr Shanmugam.
This includes Ms Parti’s claims to have picked up two iPhones, jewellery and a Prada bag from the trash. The district judge had preferred the Liews’ evidence that they would not have discarded such items, said Mr Shanmugam.
Parliament: S’pore legal system works well, strikes balance between specialisation, integration, says Shanmugam
Parti Liyani case: Karl Liew, son of former CAG chairman, to be charged for giving false evidence in court
7. The High Court had acquitted Ms Parti primarily based on the finding that there was reasonable doubt of improper motive, and a break in the chain of custody for allegedly stolen items
The High Court judge had also expressed doubts on the credibility of the prosecution’s witnesses, and on whether Ms Parti’s statements to the police should be used against her as there were inaccuracies in the way the questions were phrased and grammatical errors, said Mr Shanmugam.
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The Straits Times’ Editorial says
Upholding rule of law and justice for all
PUBLISHED2 HOURS AGO on 9th Nov 2020 in ST
The parliamentary debate on the Parti Liyani case last week went far beyond a single and apparently simple matter of alleged household theft. Its importance lay in the way in which the discussion invoked and clarified the very role of the rule of law here.
Having the matter discussed in the House followed online and offline chatter, informed or not, over whether a well-placed individual was able to influence the way in which the case against his Indonesian domestic helper was investigated and considered for prosecution.
The airing of views during a marathon debate provided an opportunity for those on both sides of the House to scrutinise and raise important, sometimes difficult questions about the system of justice here. Parliament ultimately endorsed the robustness of the system, but also recognised the importance of constantly improving it.
The Parti Liyani case has entered the annals of parliamentary history – and for the good of Singapore. That is because no judicial system can stand if justice is not imparted to all without regard for their social status, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender or sexual orientation.
Justice must be blind for the truth to be seen. The case revolved on two critical points: whether there were human lapses in the handling of the case and whether that handling reflected inherent and structural deficiencies in the criminal justice system itself.
Parliament heard that internal reviews by the police and the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) found lapses in some aspects of how the case was handled, but also confirmed there was no improper influence at any point. There was no sign that her former employer or anyone from his family lobbied or exerted pressure on the police, deputy public prosecutors or trial judge. As for lapses, however, disciplinary action is being taken against a police officer and his supervisor.
As important is that the AGC is acting on or will seriously consider investigating allegations of perjury or other serious offences should such findings arise in court-issued judgments or decisions in legal proceedings. Indeed, a man involved with the case has been charged with giving false information to a public servant and been accused of giving false evidence during a judicial proceeding. This again indicates the seriousness with which the authorities take their responsibility as impartial arbiters in the affairs of citizens.
That a guilty verdict was overturned on appeal reflected the notion that there is equality before the law. That would not have been the case had wealth, power and influence been able to skew the judicial process.
The important thing now is to move forward: Take stock of learning points, ideas and suggestions and work to ensure that the system of justice and its attendant processes are continually improved to stay relevant with how society and the times evolve.
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Forum: Many maids are treated as part of the family
PUBLISHED7 HOURS AGO on 6th Nov 2020 in ST Forum
I thank Dr Yik Keng Yeong for sharing his experience and views that not all employers treat their foreign domestic workers (FDWs) badly (Don’t generalise about treatment based on black sheep, Nov 2).
Many do treat them as part of the family, dining out in restaurants and celebrating special occasions together.
Some of my friends have done wonderful things for their FDWs, including helping them to save money and set up small businesses or buy land in their home towns. Some have even visited their maids’ families in their home countries.
As part of the judging panel for the FDW and Employer of the Year Award 2020 organised by the Association of Employment Agencies Singapore in January, I heard stories of extraordinary kindness from both employers and FDWs.
One employer paid for her helper’s eye operation and cared for her while she was unable to see during her recovery period.
Another employer helped with the medical expenses when her maid’s mother suffered a major stroke, and paid for the maid’s flight home to see her mother. When the mother died, the employer comforted and cared for the maid.
In September, we worked with foreign worker advocacy groups Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics and MaidForMore to produce a video to help Singaporeans see life from the perspective of their helpers.
These stories strengthen my belief that not all employers exploit their FDWs.
There were an estimated 255,800 FDWs in Singapore as at June last year, which works out to about one in five Singaporean households employing a maid.
I believe that news reports of FDW abuse, while horrific, represent a minority.
Let’s remember to treat FDWs with empathy and be more understanding of their personal situations. Give them enough rest and time to talk to their family and friends, whether on days off or on the phone.
When we treat our FDWs with genuine kindness and respect, they will reciprocate in kind, with loyalty and trustworthiness and being happy at work.
Singapore Kindness Movement
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Why Singapore insists on equality before the law: Shanmugam
In his ministerial statement in Parliament on Wednesday on the case of Parti Liyani, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam underlined the importance of equality before the law.
Here are edited excerpts of his remarks.
The case of former domestic worker Parti Liyani, seen here with her lawyer Anil Balchandani, is an illustration of how the rule of law applies, said Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam. The complainant is a wealthy, powerful person, but it was treated as any other theft case, said the minister. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
PUBLISHED2 HOURS AGO on 6th Nov 2020 in Straits Times
The key question is whether the case was handled differently because of the status of the complainant, or if there has been any improper influence.
Did Mr Liew Mun Leong in any way influence these proceedings? Or was the case investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the rules like any other case? I have said it earlier, and I will reiterate. I can be categorical. There was no influence by Mr Liew. It was treated as any other theft case and handled accordingly.
This case is in fact an illustration of how the rule of law applies. A foreign domestic worker is charged. The High Court acquits her. The complainant is a wealthy, powerful person. But all are equal before the law. It doesn’t matter who the parties are. (They receive) justice according to the facts and the law as the courts see it.
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We may agree or disagree with the State Courts’ or High Court’s decisions and conclusions. But that is a different matter.
If you look at a systemic level, at the highest level, you talk about “the criminal justice system”.
We have the police who investigate in accordance with the legal framework for police investigations. The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) makes the charging decision based on (1) available evidence; and (2) public interest. The trial courts consider the sufficiency of the evidence and the legal issues. The appellate courts review the decision of the trial court.
This case shows that the criminal justice system as a whole works.
If you drill down to the next level, we have “systems”. For example, these would comprise investigative protocols, standard operating procedures for how the police and deputy public prosecutors operate. I have mentioned some errors that were made; we have to try to strengthen the systems at that level and try to prevent a reoccurrence. I have also mentioned the challenges.
Besides these levels to the system, there will always be the risk of mistakes by individuals. These lapses will have to be dealt with. The idea of rule of law is central to our ideas of fairness, equality and justice. It is even more important in the current zeitgeist that is sweeping through countries.
Societies around the world are grappling with debates on inequality. (There is) a sense that the elite are creaming off most of the economic benefits and bending the rules and systems to their own advantage, and in the process, buying off and suborning those in government. People are fed up with unfair structures. Equal opportunities are drying up.
In Singapore, we are not in the same situation. Our active intervention in socioeconomic issues has helped most people to benefit. But our people knowwe must jealously guard the availability of equal opportunities. We must ensure that everyone has a fair shake. We must be alert and guard against the wealthy and the powerful taking unfair advantage.
If a significant section of our people feel that the system favours some, or that it is unfairly stacked against them, then Singapore will lose its cohesion and it can’t succeed. Thus it is essential that we have a fair system, that we have a clean system, that we have a system that gives opportunities to all.
These are our fundamental concerns. If Mr Liew did unfairly influence the proceedings, then it will be a hit to our foundations. It will be a hit to our sense of fairness, equality, justice, and a dent to Project Singapore itself, because Singapore is built on these ideals.
Parti Liyani case shows everyone is equal before the law here: Shanmugam
Parliament: AGC will consider looking into serious offences indicated by court judgment and decisions
We have always been jealous about guarding against such corrosion. It does not mean there will be no abuse of power and no corruption. But when it happens, swift, decisive action must be taken. MPs will know that successive governments have been clear about this.
Cases of corruption There has to be a ruthless intensity in upholding integrity. Founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew set the tone. The case of Mr Teh Cheang Wan is a prime example of that approach.
He was one of the most senior members in Mr Lee’s Cabinet. But when corruption allegations surfaced, Mr Lee directed the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) to conduct investigations. Mr Teh was placed on leave of absence. He ultimately chose to end his life rather than face trial or corruption charges which the AGC had (then) yet to settle.
Mr Lee said at that time: “There is no way a minister can avoid investigations, and a trial if there is evidence to support one.”
These were the values of our founding generation. And these are, and have to be, our continuing values.
They have been scrupulously stressed and adhered to by the two succeeding prime ministers. They are like religious commandments. There cannot be any compromise. Where there is a breach, action is taken. Action will be taken.
Let me refer to some cases.
– Mr Peter Lim, Commissioner of the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). In fact, he was Commissioner of SCDF when I was Minister of Home Affairs. He was convicted of corruption charges for receiving sexual favours with three different women. He was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, and was dismissed from public service following disciplinary proceedings.
– In 2013, you had CPIB assistant director Edwin Yeo misappropriating money. He was jailed for 10 years for criminal breach of trust as a public servant and for forgery.
– In 2007, you had Mr . Durai, chief executive of the National Kidney Foundation. He was convicted of corruption and sentenced to imprisonment. He appealed to the High Court but (the appeal) was dismissed.
– In 2012, Mr Howard Shaw, then executive director of the Singapore Environment Council, was convicted of obtaining commercial sex with minors. He had asked for a nominal fine based on testimonials of his good character and social standing. The court found no exceptional circumstances and sentenced him to 12 weeks’ imprisonment. The sentence was to provide a strong deterrence to others.
Mr Lim was a senior Home Team officer. In many countries, his actions would not have attracted criminal punishment. In most countries, commissioners of SCDF and assistant directors of CPIB are pretty much untouchable. But not in Singapore.
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Guard against influence peddling
The message is, it doesn’t matter who you are. If you do wrong, action will be taken. But it is not only corruption that we must guard against. We must also guard against soft corruption and influence peddling. Let me quote what Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Dr Goh Keng Swee have said.
In 1984, Mr Lee said, and I quote:
– “We exercised power as trustees for the people, with an abiding sense of our fiduciary responsibility. Our honour, our sense of duty made us exercise power scrupulously. We have curbed, restrained, prevented any distortion of policies which would have been inevitable, if the personal interests of the few in charge were allowed full rein. This is the case in many new countries.”
– “When those in office regard the power vested in them as a personal prerogative, they inevitably enrich themselves, promote their families, favour their friends. The fundamental structures of the modern state are eroded, like the supporting beams of a house after termites have attacked them. Then the people have to pay dearly and long for the sins and crimes of their leaders.”
And as early as 1961, Dr Goh warned about the risks that groups of elites might create an environment that would favour one community at the expense of another.
In an article in the Nanyang University journal in 1961, he said, and I quote:
“To achieve an honest and energetic administration appears easy in theory. In practice, very few of the young and emergent nations have achieved this. Even in the most advanced and leading societies, whether communist or democratic, the problem of nepotism is a recurring one and can only be countered by constant vigilance.
“In advanced societies, it is not so much open nepotism that is to be feared, but the insidious ‘old boy’ type whereby no illegalities are committed, but in which the pinnacles of power, influence and wealth are the reserve of those born into the right families.
“In underdeveloped countries, the matter could be more serious. A system may arise in which the dominant majority, whether of families, clans or even entire communities, arrogates to itself not only the openings to the seats of power, but also the avenues by which individuals can fit themselves out for such positions of power. The dominant majority is thus able to point out that those outside of the charmed circle just do not have the necessary qualifications to be admitted to this elite group.
“Thus many able and aspiring people are denied the opportunity for the full use of their abilities.”
I personally find these words, very powerful, insightful, and I have more than once quoted the speech of Dr Goh in my own speeches because Dr Goh has, I think, identified precisely a serious, insidious risk in any society, including ours.
We are not that special that we can be immune to these risks. We have to constantly make sure that we don’t allow it. We have to be very careful, to try to stamp it out wherever it appears. And make no mistake, make no mistake – it will keep appearing in big and small ways.
This is again something successive prime ministers have been vigilant about. One illustration of that is the letter that the prime minister sends out at the start of each new term of this House. Most members are aware of the letter.
“The context each time may be different, but the subject remains constant. Integrity, honesty and incorruptibility are fundamental. We must never tire of reminding ourselves of their importance. One vital factor to retain the trust of Singaporeans all these years is honesty and integrity. The reputation for clean, incorruptible government is one of our most precious assets.
“I cannot stress strongly enough every MP must uphold the rigorous standards we have set for ourselves. Do nothing to compromise them. Never give cause for allegations that you are misusing your position, especially your access to ministers.
“A few will cultivate you to obtain benefits for themselves or their companies, to gain respectability by association with you, or to get you to influence ministries and statutory boards to make decisions in their favour. Personal favours big and small are just some of the countless social lubricants which such people use to ingratiate themselves to MPs and make you obliged to them.
“At all times be seen to be beyond the influence of gifts or favours. Separate your public political position from your private, professional or business interests. MPs who are in business, who occupy senior management positions in companies, or who sit on company boards should be especially vigilant.
“You must not exploit your public position as government MPs, your close contacts with the ministers, or your access to government departments and civil servants, for your personal interest or the benefit of your employers. Your conduct must be always above board. We have held our position because our integrity has never been in doubt. Always conduct yourselves with modesty, decorum and dignity.”
Parliament: AGC had sufficient evidence to prosecute Parti Liyani as she admitted taking some items, gave contradictory statements, says Shanmugam
7 takeaways from Shanmugam’s ministerial statement on Parti Liyani case
I can tell MPs this is all not just nice-sounding advice. Even before it reaches the kind of conduct referred to in the prime minister’s letter, if we feel that there is some conduct that requires a closer look, we do take a closer look.
I am referring here to conduct which is not criminal, nor a breach of ethics, but which in our view should be avoided. Something that may be legal but, for example, could lead eventually to something which is not of so good odour.
When we sense that, I usually have a chat with the relevant MP. They come and have a cup of coffee with me. When they leave, the issue is usually resolved. And if it is not resolved, then they don’t remain as MPs. But don’t worry, it doesn’t happen every time people come and have coffee with me.
If it is criminal, of course there will be prosecution. And there have been MPs and former MPs who have been prosecuted. And if there are breaches of other rules, the respective professional or regulatory bodies will take action, as they have done. We don’t intervene or try to stop any of this.
I have dealt with this at some length because we must understand these are fundamental values. If we don’t keep them, we will be in trouble. In Singapore, in this context, we have a more challenging environment.
We are a small place. A lot of people know each other. (There are) many educational, professional, work-related and social family connections – same schools, colleges, universities, time spent in national service, other connections. People interact with each other frequently.
We try to look for people on the basis of merit. And they will often, because of their careers and education, have deep connections with many others whom they interact with. The way we handle this is to make sure the persons appointed are men and women of character. That they have the moral fibre to do the right thing.
Our small size means these connections and interactions are inevitable.
And so, we will always have to be very careful. Always remember, we are fiduciaries. This is a sacred trust. We do this for the people. We do the right thing. Do not allow any corrosion of public interest. Act with honour. Be worthy of the trust people have reposed in us.
It is critical that whatever the relationship, the Government maintains high standards of probity, of conduct, so that decisions are made on objective and impartial assessment.
And have we lived up to those standards? MPs can ask that question honestly. What is the lived reality for Singaporeans? How much corruption do people encounter here?
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We rank highly on credible international indices for absence of corruption, for rule of law, for the way our system functions cleanly. This is a country known for all this – and that continues to be the case.
When the system goes awry
What happens if you allow the system to go awry? What happens when you allow influence peddling? What happens when you allow corruption, abuse of position and abuse of power?
Let me give you a couple of examples.
First, the United States. Influence peddling has become part and parcel of politics and governance. The US Supreme Court has said that “ingratiation and access embody a central feature of democracy”.(It is) not against the law for officials to set up meetings, host events and call other officials on behalf of lobbyists. Big businesses extensively lobby regulators, using middlemen.
I personally think this is not good for the healthy functioning of society.
Lobbying itself is a massive business. Big Pharma, for example, spent US$4.45 billion (S$6.03 billion) on lobbying alone, over the last 22 years. And it works. One study found that regulators were 45 per cent less likely to initiate enforcement action against banks that lobby, versus banks that don’t.
The experience of South Africa offers another example.
In South Africa, “state capture” is a buzzwordbecause of how private interests have exerted influence over government decision making and used this influence to plunder the state. Corruption scandals involving the former president and the Gupta brothers are the most famous examples. It is, of course, an extreme example of the system going awry.
Critical question for us: How do we ensure that the system stays clean? That we don’t allow what Mr Lee and Dr Goh warned against?
We have a media that highlights these issues. See the number of articles that have appeared in this matter in the Singapore media. Accountability – a well-educated, aware population that holds us accountable. And Parliament, where we have these issues to be openly discussed, debated. All these are essential.
But these factors are also present in many countries where influence peddling is nevertheless a cancer.
We have avoided that slippery path, because in addition to the above, we have had in our three prime ministers the strong will to ensure a clean system and the decisiveness to act when something goes wrong. Always, always – regardless of your rules, and regardless of your systems – the rot starts at the top. If the top is clean, the system can work well. And we’ve got to make sure of that. And if it starts, then very few things can save such a country.
In this case, if we had seen anything wrong by way of influence peddling, swift, open, transparent action would have been taken.
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Two court trials and a Parliament debate on Parti Liyani case: Justice in an imperfect world
Parti Liyani was found guilty, then acquitted. New facts surface. What do two court trials and a Parliament debate tell us about the justice system?
Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam speaking in Parliament on Nov 4, 2020.PHOTO: GOV.SG
UPDATED1 MIN AGO on 6th Nov 2020 in Straits Times
Before Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam spoke about the case of Indonesian domestic worker Parti Liyani in Parliament on Wednesday, many Singaporeans wondered if there was a miscarriage of justice in the way she had been previously convicted of stealing $34,000 of items from her former employer Liew Mun Leong, who used to be chief executive of CapitaLand.
Ironically, after the parliamentary debate in which new information was disclosed, many will continue to ask if justice was served – because she was eventually acquitted.
Welcome to justice in an imperfect world.
High Court judge Chan Seng Onn was widely seen as having righted the scales of justice by overturning Ms Parti’s conviction on appeal. In his judgment, he rapped the police over a break in the chain of custody of evidence, chided prosecutors over the demonstration of a faulty DVD player at trial, and criticised the lower court judge for misapplying the “legal and evidential burdens of proof”.
Then, on Wednesday, Mr Shanmugam spoke in Parliament for over two hours on the case, providing new information that emerged from an internal review of how the police and the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) had handled the case, that had been sparked by the High Court judgment.
Ms Parti had admitted to taking 10 to 15 items of male clothing. Also, it emerged that the Liews’ decision to terminate her employment was not abrupt, as the judge had assumed.
Justice Chan had acquitted Ms Parti, as it was possible the Liews might have an “improper motive” to accuse her of theft, and to terminate her employment suddenly, so that she could not complain to the Ministry of Manpower about being illegally deployed to clean the house and office of Mr Liew’s son Karl.
Mr Shanmugam said that, in fact, the Liews had suspected their maid of stealing from 2015, and decided to terminate her employment in September 2016. Once a replacement was found, they decided to let her go.
As for the threat to complain, Mr Shanmugam said this was a complaint about being sent home on short notice, not of illegal deployment – a point backed by an employment agent present when Ms Parti made that threat.
While untested in court, the new information now made public will lead many Singaporeans to ask, as People’s Action Party (PAP) MP Xie Yao Quan did in Parliament: “Is Ms Liyani in fact guilty?”
Mr Shanmugam did not give Mr Xie a direct answer, saying only: “She has been acquitted by the High Court and I said that we must proceed on that basis, and not reopen that issue. I think we leave it at that. And I don’t want to comment on the decision.”
With the High Court decision, the case is closed and its judgment final. But in the court of public opinion, the jury is still out.
Ironically, the niggling feeling over a possible miscarriage of justice may prevail, although directed towards a different target. Now, some will wonder if the High Court acquittal was just, and if Ms Parti did in fact steal some items, but has managed to get away scot-free, while the police officer investigating her faces disciplinary action for delaying investigations by five weeks, and Karl Liew has been charged with giving false evidence and information.
But as Mr Shanmugam noted, this was just one of the 10 per cent of appeal cases which succeeded. This simply meant that the higher court disagreed with the lower court, he said.
As he explained, the question “is not which court was right or wrong. The key question is: Was the case conducted fairly in both courts?”
As far as this particular episode goes, some clarity has been achieved.
This wasn’t a straightforward case. One picture emerged from the State Courts. Another scenario was laid out at the High Court. A third variation was presented at the parliamentary debate. Singaporeans will have different theories on what really happened, and whether and how justice was served.
But on the core issue of whether a rich, powerful family pulled the strings of the justice system for its own benefit, the answer from Mr Shanmugam was clear: No.
There was no attempt by anyone to influence the police or AGC, which handled it as a “routine theft case”.
Indeed, the overloaded police investigation officer took five weeks before visiting the Liews’ home, the scene of the offence – which is the opposite of what one expects if the case were flagged for special attention.
As Mr Shanmugam stressed, and as MPs from both sides affirmed, equality before the law remains a core tenet of the justice system.
The curious case of the maid, the business tycoon and the pink knife
Timeline of events: How the Parti Liyani case unfolded
Sceptical Singaporeans out there, however, may say this was yet another case of “ownself check ownself”. The internal review of police process was done by the Criminal Investigation Department. The prosecution’s conduct is now the subject of a disciplinary process.
Why not have an independent commission of inquiry (COI), some will no doubt ask. This was indeed Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai’s call in Parliament. In response, Mr Shanmugam noted that such a commission required having a senior judge preside and involved considerable resources, but he was prepared to recommend to Cabinet to have one if needed.
He asked Mr Leong, who is from the Progress Singapore Party, to pinpoint specific issues not dealt with, that merited such an inquiry. When Mr Leong replied, he responded to each point. Then he asked if Mr Leong was suggesting there was improper influence on the case, to which the latter said no. After a series of heated but polite exchanges, Mr Leong withdrew his call for an independent commission and Mr Shanmugam thanked him.
Mr Leong did not come across as intimidated, so I presume he withdrew his call for a COI on principle – with confidence that there was no need for one, after the internal reviews, parliamentary debate and forthcoming disciplinary processes.
So the rich folk in this case didn’t engage in “influence peddling”, to use Mr Shanmugam’s term.
But was there bias? Were the police and prosecution officers more inclined to believe the Liews than the maid?
When Singaporeans ask if the justice system is biased, they are asking not just whether the privileged get favourable treatment or pull strings for themselves, but also whether police officers, prosecutors, even judges, internalise social hierarchies and make decisions that favour the rich and powerful.
Are they more inclined to believe the testimony of someone from a similar socio-economic class as themselves? Who went to the same school as them?
This is at the root of discomfort over inequality in Singapore, the sense that rewards and better treatment, including a better chance of a favourable outcome in court, might go to those in the “insider” group.
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This kind of bias is harder to detect and deal with. I know bias is a human trait, and such issues are hard to unpack. In my September commentary on the Parti Liyani case which Mr Shanmugam shared on his Facebook page and promised answers to, I had asked if explicit or implicit bias played a role in this case.
Bias can be sussed out by one’s actions and decisions. It can be inferred from one’s statements. But it is also a state of mind, a meta-attitude that is hard to tease out. It can be seen in, for example, a police officer or judge who takes the word of Karl Liew that an item belonged to him, more easily than he would believe the maid who said it was hers and she bought it. Weighing who and what to believe, when, and by how much, is subjective, and yet so much of the justice process involves such subjective assessment, albeit backed by whatever evidence is available. Such assessments are easily influenced by bias.
Parliament: Shanmugam challenges Leong Mun Wai to justify ‘vague’ call for independent inquiry into Parti Liyani case
Parliament: No improper influence in case of Liew Mun Leong’s ex-maid Parti Liyani, says Shanmugam
While Mr Shanmugam did not address such implicit bias explicitly in his ministerial statement, he did deal with it when responding to PAP MP Christopher de Souza on how to “entrench impartiality”.
Mr Shanmugam said that while explicit bias can be detected, “we got to be always on guard” to see if some implicit bias is at work and “we got to guard against it”.
The best protection against bias is a system where the police, AGC as well as the State Courts and the High Court all work independently, have a clear role, and arrive at the right result.
“I think that’s the safeguard. Good people across all the different parts, clear rules, transparency and accountability. When people ask questions, we have to be accountable here. And if something goes wrong, the will to put it right as well… And to be very alert about any kind of influence peddling,” he added.
In over 30 years of covering parliamentary proceedings as a journalist, I would rank Wednesday’s debate among the top five in watchability and importance.
It was as gripping as a legal thriller and as dramatic as a political series on Netflix. The nine-hour debate should be edited into a two-hour docu-drama. Like the other iconic parliamentary debates (over ministerial salaries in 1994 and discounted property purchases in 1996), this debate is about politics and justice in the real world. It is candid about how justice works in the real world, and about the risks of “influence peddling”, especially in close-knit Singapore where many people know one another, and how to prevent it.
Mr Shanmugam, who said he had spent 22 years in private practice, added:
“I have worked with many senior counsels, senior lawyers, appeared before many judges. Our small size means these connections, interactions are inevitable.”
Where there is a conflict, the person involved can recuse himself. Otherwise, there is no neat solution except to appoint people of moral fibre to do the right thing. “Always remember, we are fiduciaries… Do not allow any corrosion of public interest. Act with honour. Be worthy of the trust people have reposed in us.”
As the debate continued, I felt some pride in how Singapore’s democracy is maturing.
With a few procedural lapses, the justice system worked as it should – from investigation to prosecution, conviction, appeal and acquittal. The High Court judge did his part in correcting what he saw was a wrong judgment, and took pains to point out weaknesses in the police and prosecution process. The relevant ministries took up the criticisms and did an internal review.
Parliament performed its duty as a forum which the Government accounts to. The opposition stepped up – the Workers’ Party’s motion raised the quality of debate to look beyond this one episode to consider broader systemic issues, with their MPs arguing passionately for measures to improve access and fairness in the justice system.
Indeed, Mr Shanmugam said the Government was on the same page as the WP and they were “pushing on an open door” as far as their calls to expand legal aid and codify prosecution disclosure of information to the defence are concerned.
Outside Parliament, Ms Parti is being supported by various migrant worker rights groups and defended by dedicated pro bono lawyers like Anil Balchandani. They are not letting up in pressing for justice as they see it.
Meanwhile, other rights groups want improvements in how vulnerable foreigners are dealt with in the justice system here.
Mr Shanmugam also mentioned the role of the media and a well-informed public in scrutinising court decisions.
The legislature, the executive, the judiciary, the media, the public, and an active civil society sector – these are all components of a modern democracy that together help ensure justice.
Justice is not just about what happens in a case in court. We live in an imperfect world and justice is never straightforward or absolute.
Justice is also about how we all relate to one another in life and how the component parts of different institutions adhere to advance fairness and equality.
By that measure, I think the Parti Liyani case shows we are doing quite well.
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Whether one is a foreign worker or a Singaporean, productivity must ride on the motto:
“Let us work with the aim to help others become efficient”.
Without all holding this as the main, we can forget about raising productivity as waste in all its forms at work will continue.
It is a deception that having a bigger workforce, and a bigger population by increasing the number of foreign workers will solve our productivity woes and GDP growth. It does not and will not be the true answer.
Do we know how much waste we have that affects and brings down our productivity, and what our GDP growth would actually have been if we were to remove the waste?
Do we know where the wastage lies, what constitutes wastage, and the fundamentals in wastage and how it arises, and can it be stopped or reduced?
Who will conduct a research and quantify the wastage we suffer each year as a nation?
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I hope all bosses will make this their motto at work from the top down to floor supervisors to be role models, who will inspire their workers to excel unselfishly.
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To make this a nation-wide movement, I hope NTUC will encourage all bosses to print or type this motto in bold, big and bright lettering, and hang it at their workplaces.
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To show by example from the top, I hope the bosses at NTUC will kick start this themselves at their own offices.
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By me writing to Today Voices [pls see below], I hope the editor and departmental chiefs at Today newspaper will make this motto visible too right from the editor office and down to the head of security office.
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As for all educational establishments, I hope school principals and teachers will hang this motto in their principal office and common rooms.
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A movement like this needs to start from the highest of the top, and that is the presidential office and the Cabinet.
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The office of the President of Singapore is the top of the nation, follow by the Cabinet and even all our MP offices.
All should be at the forefront to kick start this to make the mindset change to flow naturally from the top to reach out and influence all sectors of our nation.
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Let us have a clear direction for the whole country starting from the top to bring about the highest quality of workplace safety and increase our productivity movement in leaps and bounds by embracing this simple and yet profound workplace motto.
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It is possible with a one-sentence motto to transform the whole of Singapore that many countries will wish to emulate.
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Let us make this our motto to attain workplace safety. Why make it a motto for all?
This attitude also has the virtues of wishing to ensure the safety of co-workers and to not inconvenience them or other departments. It is to wish for workplace harmony by not leaving work-related issues to fellow workers to mop up.
It would also mean higher productivity for the entity, thus improving our nation’s GDP when wastage of time and materials at work are reduced through better teamwork. It would be a win-win situation for all.
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Please type this motto in bold big lettering, and hang it at your workplace.
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We have been told:
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“To work [hataraku] really means to make others [hata] feel comfortable [raku].”
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Today Voices published my letter on 17 Nov 2015
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“Work with the aim of helping others”
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I refer to the commentary “Boss, there is no need to delight our clients” (Nov 12), knowing that the debate about who is more important to a business, the employees or the clients, will continue.
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Humans must awaken to the purpose of work, which is not all about earning an income or raising productivity and the gross domestic product. When humans get to appreciate the hidden values of work, the rest will fall into place.
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I ask for all, from the highest organ of state to all business levels, to work with the aim of helping others to become more efficient.
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This motto would indirectly benefit clients when they are served by employees who care for one another and who have little or even no friction among themselves.
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Bosses and employees who put this motto at the forefront to work efficiently for the sake of others will beget better customer satisfaction. Virgin’s Richard Branson says: “If you have a happy company, it will be invincible.”
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A good work attitude means that customers’ interests will not be overlooked by employees, who would also wish to create work efficiency for the benefit of colleagues. The spillover effect is based on the positive attitude of caring for others.
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This attitude also has the virtues of wishing to ensure the safety of co-workers and to not inconvenience them or other departments. It is to wish for workplace harmony by not leaving work-related issues to fellow workers to mop up.
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This work motto is all-encompassing when applied, as efficiency would flow in all directions, surely bringing about client satisfaction ultimately.
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It would also mean higher productivity for the entity, thus improving our nation’s GDP when wastage of time and materials at work are reduced through better teamwork. It would be a win-win situation for all.
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Virgin Airline’s boss Richard Branson says:
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“The secret ingredient for successful businesses………
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If you have a happy company it will be invincible.”
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“If you look after your staff, they’ll look after your customers. It’s that simple.”
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“Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don’t want to.””
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Domestic Helpers…Yes, have the agreement that is in accordance with the law.
The intransigence of MOM is understandable, but in this unprecedented and difficult times of the COVID-19 Pandemic a simple solution must be found to address this ‘over-caring for domestic maids’ well-being’ in doing work for two families.
Let us adjust our policies and start first within an immediate family where the extended families staying in different locations can share a domestic helper under strict rules and guidelines promulgated by MOM for all to comply and with financial penalties for those who do not.
The employer and the domestic helper [the employee] should sign a mutual agreement to comply with the law and government policy.
For example, the domestic helper can only do work in one house per day, not in two places of the extended family on the same day, and she be financially compensated for the work-for-two arrangements in compliance with the law.
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Will the 10 WP MPs submit their solution to Parliament for debate?
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Let employer, maid enter ‘willing seller – willing buyer’ arrangement
PUBLISHED8 HOURS AGO on 28th Sept 2020 in ST Forum
I agree with the rationale behind Mr Paul Chan Poh Hoi’s proposal to let maids work part-time (Make it legal for maids to work part-time, Sept 24).
But legalising it might entice abusive employers to unilaterally force their maids, against their will, into arrangements detrimental to the latter’s interests.
The existing rules should be left unchanged to preclude a free hand to the employers.
Nevertheless, employers and their maids should be allowed to reach an amicable prearrangement on a “willing seller – willing buyer” basis.
To preclude dispute, the two parties should enter into a simple written agreement, signed by both parties and copied to the maid’s agent, who in turn, will serve as witness to the agreement.
The Manpower Ministry should seriously consider such a compromise, at least on a trial basis, and perhaps establish a standard agreement for the employer, the maid and the maid agent (as a witnessing party) to adopt.
Terms and conditions in the agreement should include the address and owner’s particulars of the second residence, nature of work, fee payable per hour, termination of the agreement by either party at short notice (say one week), and other details as deemed fit.
This will be a winning proposition for all parties – it helps the employer in cost saving, it allows maids to earn side income legally and helps the Government lower the number of foreign domestic workers that have to be imported in.
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Forum: Make it legal for maids to work part-time
PUBLISHED8 HOURS AGO on 24th Sept 2020 in ST Forum
Working a few hours part-time on rest days is moonlighting and is illegal. The law is clear about that (Clamp down on maids who work part-time illegally; Sept 12).
But there is a reason why some maids still do it.
It is the same as why some Singaporeans hold two jobs – to make ends meet or pay off their debts. I know what poverty is and why, in my younger days, I had to work while others could rest.
The household work of every family is different and some families really do not require full-time maids. Hence, limited part-time work would be ideal for their needs. Allowing maids to bridge this gap would be a good match.
If the law can legally allow maids to work on rest days and be paid in lieu of their day off, why can’t the law be tweaked to allow them to work four to five hours for other families who need them most when their employers don’t require their services?
Poverty and hardship forced these maids to incur thousands of dollars of debt to pay recruitment agents to secure jobs here, resulting in them working with no pay for up to a year’s salary.
We need to recognise why they had to leave their children behind to travel thousands of kilometres to work overseas. Earning money to support their families back home is the prime objective.
We should empathise with their situation to help them financially within reasonable limits.
If we allow them to put in a few hours of part-time work on domestic tasks on their rest days in private homes, they can earn some extra income.
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Humane to let maids work limited hours part-time
PUBLISHED8 HOURS AGO on 29th Sept 2020 in ST Forum
I disagree with the concerns Mr Phillip Tan Fong Lip raised over domestic helpers and part-time employment (Allowing maids to work part-time a kind but unwise move, Sept 26).
Mr Tan should note that, in the status quo, maids already have the option of doing additional work for their employer during official days off. There is an incongruence in permitting such arrangements while prohibiting external engagements.
Moreover, presenting the option of part-time employment does not take away the option of a rest day for maids who would rather unwind.
I believe that each maid is best qualified to judge her own capacity for work and need for rest. I see no issue with giving maids this option to choose what they prefer.
Second, on employer altruism, Mr Tan makes sweeping generalisations about the maid-employer relationship.
I employ a maid. If I knew that their services were not required around the clock, why would I object to their pursuing other beneficial endeavours during their “downtime”? Who am I to place arbitrary limits?
Third, on the issue of liability, one imagines that part-time work is not so hazardous as to make this a decisive argument.
Even if a mishap were to occur, the standard logic of liability – the location, time in relation to clocked hours, and the employer who assigned the duty leading to injury – would surely apply.
In the larger scheme of things, there is no good reason for our inclusive society to deny maids meaningful opportunities.
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Maids just trying to earn a few extra dollars
PUBLISHED8 HOURS AGO on 29th Sept 2020 in ST Forum
Much has been discussed and debated about allowing maids to work part-time, the risk involved and the legal obligations of all parties in this arrangement.
We are spending time questioning and justifying whether maids should be allowed to take on an added cleaning activity on their days off.
They are doing this to earn the extra few tens of dollars each time. I’m sure if given a choice, they would rather spend their only day off work resting than cleaning another household.
I can’t see the reason for the fuss over taking on part-time jobs if the situation calls for it, especially when one has to put bread on the table.
Perhaps the Ministry of Manpower would like to clarify.
by Roland Chong Kwong Min
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Forum: Allowing maids to work part-time a kind but unwise move
PUBLISHED9 HOURS AGO on 26th Sept 2020 in ST Forum
Much as I empathise with maids in Singapore who want to work part-time to earn some extra income on their day of rest, I do not think it is a feasible scheme (Make it legal for maids to work part-time, by Mr Paul Chan Poh Hoi, Sept 24).
First, a day of rest must be set aside for the maid to recharge, to connect with her family back home or even to enjoy some food or drink with her compatriots at the park.
Some maids are so stressed at their employers’ workplaces that taking away that day of rest might literally be the straw that breaks the camel’s back – even if the maid does it of her own volition.
Second, no employer will be so altruistic as to allow his maid such extra employment.
Third, if any mishap were to arise as a result of such part-time work, who is to take responsibility for the cost of recuperation of the maid?
Anyone who needs a maid on a part-time basis can get it from agencies that specialise in part-time maids.
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On Facebook: Maids working part-time
PUBLISHED7 HOURS AGO on 29th Sept 2020 in ST Forum
SHOULD MAIDS BE ALLOWED TO WORK PART-TIME?
Even their employers cannot work part-time or moonlight under our employment contracts with our companies.
If they work part-time, on weekdays, they will be too tired to work, then our children and elderly will be at their mercy.
The full-time employer has to bear all risks and hospitalisation charges, should the maid get injured during the part-time job. Once you give in to this, more demands will come and the story never ends.
I think the best arrangement is to give these foreign domestic workers a special pass. They look for their own place to stay, pay for their own meals, and are responsible for the levy and medical costs for themselves. Then they can work part-time as much as they like. They plan their own work schedule.
Some of us already have a lot of tasks that need to get done for one family for six days; the rest day is to give us some “me time”.
Most helpers earn on average $600 to $900 a month, and it’s already triple what we would earn if we work in our home town.
If we manage our budget wisely, I do believe we can survive.
Singaporeans should grow up and be like the rest of the developed world, without an addiction to cheap labour to improve their lifestyle. Hire a part-time cleaner or babysitter if you need one.
If there is a way to protect both the helper and their employers, then do a trial. Perhaps start with permitting the helper to do specific chores for their employer’s siblings or parents, and get paid a minimum wage of, say, $15 an hour, working only two days per week and limited to two or three hours each day. A standard contract needs to be enforced.
Yes, as long as the other hiring party is a known party to the existing employer. If this is allowed, then the maid insurance policy will need to cover this part, just like motor insurance policy requiring another named driver.
My mum’s helper is super hard-working and she just amazes me with her cooking talent. Not only that, she sells clothing online too. If they can, they should be allowed to work part-time, with proper time management.
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1 maid, 2 jobs: Maids made to clean more than one home rarely complain
Under the law, employers must ensure that domestic helpers perform only household and domestic duties.ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
PUBLISHED3 HOURS AGO on 13th Sept 2020 in Sunday Times
Maids deployed illegally – it’s a barely hidden reality here, with MOM getting an average of 550 complaints a year. There are many others who do not speak up.
by Jean Iau
For over five years, Siti (not her real name) would start her 16-hour work day at 5.30am cleaning her employer’s five-room flat on the 10th storey, followed by the five-room flat of her employer’s mother one floor below.
The then novice maid endured the arrangement, cleaning and cooking for both households in Ang Mo Kio between 2010 and 2015.
Despite the exhaustion from chores that had her working past 9.30pm every day – with only a half-hour reprieve for lunch – the East Java native, now 35, never reported the illicit deployment to the authorities.”I knew it was not correct but I was young and new. I was afraid to get in trouble with (the employer) because I thought I would get blacklisted. I felt I could not speak up so I just followed,” she said.
“My purpose here is to work and make money, not to make trouble.”
The workload eventually became unbearable, and she asked to go home. Two months later, she got in touch with another agency and returned to Singapore – and to a new employer.
The issue of maids being illegally deployed came under the spotlight after Ms Parti Liyani, a former maid employed by Mr Liew Mun Leong and his family, was acquitted of stealing from them. Mr Liew last week stepped down as chairman of Changi Airport Group and Surbana Jurong, as well as from posts in two other organisations.
Ms Parti had been asked to clean the home and office of Mr Liew’s son Karl Liew, and the judge found that there was reason to believe the Liews had pre-emptively terminated her employment and lodged a police report alleging theft after she threatened to report the illegal deployment to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM).
While official figures show illegal deployment of foreign domestic workers (FDWs) here to be a minor problem, interviews with a dozen maids here paint a different picture.
Seven of the 12 maids The Sunday Times spoke to had been asked by an employer to perform chores in another household. None of them had reported the issue to MOM.
Like Siti, they cited not having a complete understanding of the rules, fear of repercussions and a feeling of futility as reasons for not blowing the whistle.
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One maid, who wanted to be known as Diyah, said five of her previous employers asked her to work in other family members’ households or their workplaces.
She said she was unaware of the rules during her stints with her first two employers.
Her third employer claimed to have MOM’s approval, despite never consulting her on the arrangement, and Diyah said she did not know how to verify this.
Similarly, Surabaya native Lara was asked not only to tend to two households in the same condominium, but also to clean an office monthly over an eight-month stint. She told her agency about the multiple deployments at the end of her stint, but was unsure if the matter was ever reported to MOM.
“I was still in deduction at that time,” she said, referring to the initial period when part of her salary would go to the agency. “I didn’t want a lot of trouble because my boss’ wife had a temper, so I just wanted to finish the deduction and swallow it. I knew it was not right.”
Under the law, employers must ensure that domestic helpers perform only household and domestic duties, and can work for their employer only at the address stated on their work permit.
MOM said last week that between 2017 and 2019, it received an average of 550 cases a year of maids being made to work illegally by their employers or household members. That is 0.2 per cent of the more than 236,000 employers of FDWs here, it added.
I knew it was not correct but I was young and new. I was afraid to get in trouble… because I thought I would get blacklisted. I felt I could not speak up.
SITI, an Indonesian maid who was illegally deployed by her employer for five years.
Three quarters of the cases were brought to the ministry’s attention by third parties, while the rest were complaints lodged by the maids themselves, MOM said in response to media queries.
The ministry said that upon investigation, the majority of cases were FDWs who had been deployed with their charges – either children or seniors – to the homes of close family members to provide care there. This is permitted so long as the helpers accept the arrangements, are not required to perform the household chores of two families, and have their well-being taken care of, said MOM.
Those found guilty of illegally deploying an FDW can be fined up to $10,000 in the first instance, and be banned from employing FDWs.
MOM said every allegation is treated seriously and looked into, but did not elaborate on what its threshold for prosecution is. In serious cases, such as those where FDWs are regularly deployed to do non-domestic work or to work on commercial premises over a long period, employers can be fined and also debarred from hiring FDWs, it added.
Ms K. Jayaprema, president of the Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore) argued that the responsibility for curbing exploitation of FDWs ought to be shared among stakeholders.
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“We have to instil in everybody this responsibility to stick with the rules about illegal employment and deployment… We need to send a strong signal to every foreign worker and employer in Singapore so that everyone falls in line.”
But non-governmental organisations (NGOs) pointed out that the power asymmetry between employer and maid, as well as fear of retaliatory action, means many cases likely go unreported, especially if employers push the envelope of what is allowed without entering egregious territory.
“Workers often agree to partake in such activities (even if they know it is illegal) as they are afraid of being scolded or terminated if they refuse, as there exists an unequal balance of power between the worker and the employer,” said a spokesman for the Humanitarian Organisation for Migrant Economics (Home).
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550 complaints yearly of maids illegally deployed from 2017 to 2019
“Facing the possibility of being sanctioned will also prevent them from making complaints to MOM.”
Foreign Domestic Worker Association for Social Support and Training (Fast), referring to MOM’s advice for employers to work out a job scope with the helper when they have to visit other family members, said: “On the ground, the execution of these understandings and agreements may be different from one family to the next. While Fast has seen cases of misunderstanding, it does not reflect the overarching sentiments of the FDW-employer relationship in Singapore.”
While Ms Parti stood firm against her accusers after her threat of lodging a report with MOM ostensibly led to criminal accusations against her, many FDWs would have chosen to plead guilty and move on, given the financial and other constraints, said lawyer Anil Balchandani, who worked on Ms Parti’s case pro bono.
“They feel that it’s convenient or they are given the impression that it’s just convenient to apologise and plead guilty, and they’ll be sent home, which is what they really want after a little while of being accused and interrogated,” he said in an interview with Home. “And that in itself is an injustice.”
The Centre for Domestic Employees said it is in the self-interest of employers to ensure their domestic workers do not face stress or burnout from overwork, whether caused by working in two locations or additional chores.
“If the FDW feels tired due to overwork, the risk of sustaining an injury increases,” said the centre, which was set up by the National Trades Union Congress. The employer would then be responsible for the non-subsidised medical treatment.
Of course, not all domestic workers who were illegally deployed had negative experiences.
One 41-year-old helper told ST that she is happy to clean the home of her employer’s mother twice a week for an extra $50, as the children in her care have grown up and her original workload has fallen.
“It’s not too tiring, and my employer is very understanding and doesn’t rush me to come home. Usually, on those days she won’t make me cook dinner,” said the Indonesian from Semarang, Central Java.
But such cases where both parties are happy are “very rare”, said Ms Ummai Ummairoh, president of support group Indonesian Family Network. “Even if the helper tells the employer she is okay with it, many say yes and accept the money because they are scared,” she said.
Going forward, Ms Ummai hopes to see better communication between foreign domestic workers and employers, and stricter adherence to the rules.
“Things are better than in the past because of all the complaints and (the work of) NGOs, but there still needs to be a lot more support because we still see a lot of cases, and helpers ask for support because they are exhausted,” she said.
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Forum: Co-employing maids is exploitative
PUBLISHEDAUG 27, 2020, 11:55 PM SGT in ST Forum
The Centre for Domestic Employees (CDE) is concerned about Forum contributor Ishwar Murlidhar Mahtani’s suggestion of allowing co-employment of domestic workers (Consider allowing co-employment of maids, Aug 22).
The basis of this argument seems to stem from the perception that some employers may have weakened financial status due to the current economic situation, but still require the services of a foreign domestic worker (FDW). It further suggests the notion of having an FDW work at two places with double the workload.
CDE strongly holds the view that such a notion is unreasonable and exploitative in nature. Co-employment will only drive FDWs to seek out employment opportunities in other countries.
Based on our ground interactions with FDWs, we note that many feel stressed especially in the early stages of employment because it takes time to learn and familiarise themselves with their employer’s expectations.
For some, they also face communication barriers with their employer. For others, it is the stress from caring for the young or elderly or more vulnerable family members.
If co-employment is allowed, this will inevitably mean additional stress is placed on the FDW daily as she has to learn to manage the needs of both households effectively. The FDW may eventually experience burnout.
Also, imagine a situation where a co-employed FDW gets injured in an accident while travelling from one household to another, suffers an injury or falls gravely ill while working in one of the households.
Can both employers come to a mutually acceptable agreement on who will foot the bill or co-share the portion, bearing in mind that foreigners do not enjoy any medical subsidies?
Such incidents will add more stress to the employers especially if they are undergoing difficulties during this challenging period.
The job of an FDW is physically demanding and requires much patience and professionalism. They can perform effectively if their workload is manageable, especially when they are caring for families.
Other options provided by cleaning companies can be explored for those who need part-time domestic help.
Centre for Domestic Employees
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PUBLISHED
AUG 21, 2020, 11:31 PM SGT
Some time ago, I exchanged some correspondence with the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) regarding jointly employing domestic helpers.
Essentially, two households would use the services of a domestic helper. The costs – salary, the maid levy, and so on – would be borne by the two households. Of course, the maid would have to agree to the arrangement.
I was disappointed the MOM said it was not allowed. No reasons were given for it.
A case may be made to allow this kind of arrangement now, given the fact that many people in Singapore have lost their jobs or had their incomes slashed.
Furthermore, travel restrictions and the closing of borders by countries have made it difficult to bring in new maids to Singapore.
Many families may not be getting the necessary help they need at this time, and I appeal to the MOM to reconsider this restriction.
Allowing it would be a great help to many families.
Also, it would lighten the financial burden for those who have no choice but to engage a maid even though they are financially stretched.
The ministry could lay down some rules and regulations that hirers have to adhere to.
I hope the MOM can relook this.
Ishwar Murlidhar Mahtani
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PUBLISHED
AUG 24, 2020, 11:40 PM SGT
Forum contributor Ishwar Murlidhar Mahtani brought up some valid points in advocating joint employment of domestic helpers (Consider allowing co-employment of maids, Aug 22).
However, he has not considered how such a policy could lead to the exploitation of domestic helpers through both employers’ insistence on a maid working doubly hard.
The plight of domestic helpers could be further aggravated as employers in economic hardship are arguably less tolerant and more easily prone to losing their temper. It is easy to rationalise that this policy is acceptable so long as the maid agrees to the arrangement.However, the difficulty will surface when the maid realises she is getting the short end of the stick, then further realises she does not have the means to resolve the employment situation amicably, and without incurring a relatively large financial penalty on her part.
I urge the Manpower Ministry to maintain its current stance of not allowing a co-employment arrangement.
Larry Tan
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PUBLISHED
AUG 24, 2020, 11:40 PM SGT
The recent report on a company’s illegal actions in securing work passes shows how far it was prepared to go to hire lower-wage foreigners over Singaporean workers (Firm fined $52k for falsely declaring workers’ salaries to MOM, Aug 21).
The article detailed how 7Star Restaurant deceptively secured work passes for its foreign workers and systematically clawed back a significant portion of their salaries.
In 2018, Mustafa Centre was reported as being investigated by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) for similar illegal hiring practices. What action has been taken?
The question is how extensive, and for how long such illegal practices have been undertaken by employers?
Such illegal practices clearly have an adverse impact on the hiring opportunities for Singaporeans, who are already finding it tough to secure jobs in today’s employment landscape. We need to come down hard on such errant employers.
Tan Soon Hock
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The Population White Paper – Time to revisit an unpopular policy?
by Calvin Cheng For The Straits Times
PUBLISHED on 9th Jan 2017 in Straits Times
Issues raised in 2013 paper, such as ageing and shrinking workforce, remain urgent and need to be tackled
Three years ago in January 2013, the Government released the now infamous Population White Paper. To say the reaction was negative would be an understatement: not only did the White Paper elicit the normal grumblings that Singaporeans are well known for, but it also sparked online protests and real-world ones at Hong Lim Park where one rallying cry was “Singapore for Singaporeans”.
Since then, populist anti-immigrant anger has swept through several developed countries in the West. The political tidal wave produced Brexit in Britain and helped propel Mr Donald Trump to victory in last November’s United States presidential election.
Since 2013, the Singapore Government has, out of political necessity, rolled back immigration and tightened the inflow of foreign labour; for all intents and purposes, it seems that the Population White Paper is on ice and few politicians now mention it in public.
If these developments are being read by Singapore critics of the Population White Paper as vindication of their opposition to it, they would be wrong.
POPULATION ASSUMPTIONS STILL HOLD TRUE
Firstly, and most importantly, every single assumption that led to the proposals in the White Paper still holds true. Our population is still ageing and baby boomers are still entering retirement. The number of working-age Singaporeans will still start to decrease from 2020, which is now three years away, not seven. The citizen population will still start to decline in 2025 – now eight years away, not 12. The total fertility rate has barely budged despite various efforts.
The crowd at Speakers’ Corner in Hong Lim Park on Feb 16, 2013, at a protest against the Population White Paper. None of the assumptions in the Population White Paper has changed since then, and on some, the outlook has actually worsened, not got bet
The crowd at Speakers’ Corner in Hong Lim Park on Feb 16, 2013, at a protest against the Population White Paper. None of the assumptions in the Population White Paper has changed since then, and on some, the outlook has actually worsened, not got better.
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Disastrously, some things have actually got worse. The White Paper said that in order to achieve an average of 3 to 5 per cent gross domestic product growth up to 2020, Singapore will need 2 to 3 per cent annual productivity growth, whilst maintaining 1 to 2 per cent workforce growth. The recent cuts in foreign manpower put downward pressure on total workforce growth, which has to be made up for by even higher productivity growth. That is not happening; productivity growth has instead stagnated, with 2015 even seeing a fall in productivity of 0.1 per cent.
It is worth reiterating at this juncture: None of the assumptions in the Population White Paper has changed, and on some, the outlook has worsened, not got better.
SINGAPORE IS DIFFERENT
Secondly, there are next to no parallels between the situations in Europe, the US and Singapore.
In Britain, much of the anger was directed against the free- movement-of-labour policies of the European Union – any citizen of a qualifying EU country, including less developed countries such as Bulgaria, Romania and Poland, had a right to move to Britain to seek work without visa restrictions. There is genuinely an open-door policy for these foreign workers moving into Britain.
Singapore never had such a policy and nothing in the Population White Paper argued for such a policy. Immigration and the inflow of foreign labour into Singapore have always been controlled, and will always be controlled through visa and work-pass requirements.
The refugee crisis in the EU also has no parallels in Singapore, which does not take in refugees.
In the US, on the other hand, Mr Trump’s rhetoric was targeted at illegal immigrants, especially Mexicans. Again, Singapore does not tolerate illegal immigrants. Not only does Singapore jail them, but it also canes anyone who overstays by more than 90 days.
Local xenophobes and populists should make sure, in drawing comparisons to situations abroad, that their arguments are not built on sand.
OPEN IMMIGRATION IS KEY TO SINGAPORE’S EXISTENCE
Thirdly, Singapore’s very existence is built on being open to immigration. There are few Singaporeans whose forefathers were not themselves immigrants. As one of Singapore’s founding fathers, former culture minister S. Rajaratnam, said: “Being a Singaporean is not a matter of ancestry. It is conviction and choice.”
An immigrant nation rejecting immigrants is not only an irony, but it is also a tragedy. We cannot and should not contemplate closing our borders to immigrants and foreigners.
THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW
For these reasons, the People’s Action Party (PAP) Government cannot afford to sidestep the very real issues the Population White Paper highlighted any longer.
The Government must realise that in 2013, unlike now, their political capital was at an all-time low. Not only did the PAP just lose Aljunied GRC in 2011 in the worst general election performance since independence, but it was also soundly defeated in the Punggol By-election, days before the White Paper was released.
The PAP paid a political price, not because the reasoning behind its immigration policies was wrong, but because it messed up the execution. One cannot expect the people to support a policy with no immediate benefits to their daily lives, whilst enduring daily infrastructure deficiencies in the present.
Many of these problems have now either been solved or, at the very least, are in the process of being solved. Housing prices have stabilised, and the cooling-off measures should stay in place for now. Real efforts are being put in to correct the deficiencies of public transport, with the de-listing of SMRT and the implementation of the bus contracting model.
The Government must also continue to differentiate between sectors where wages can be pushed up by restricting foreign labour while maintaining competitiveness, and those that cannot.
Raising the wages of cleaners and security guards by hiring only locals will not directly impact on national competitiveness, because a Singaporean security guard does not compete with a security guard in Mumbai. But denying a talented banker or IT professional an employment pass in Singapore will just mean she moves to another country where she still competes with Singaporeans, just without Singapore reaping any benefit.
Technology is making the world more global, not less, despite the best efforts of isolationists. Foreigners will compete with us whether they are physically here or not. If they are physically here, we can at least make sure that companies that produce for the region and the world stay in Singapore, instead of relocating elsewhere in order to have access to the manpower they need. The arguments in the White Paper that explained that foreign workers are necessary for a dynamic economy not only still hold true, but they also become ever more urgent as technology globalises jobs.
The Government thus needs to redouble efforts to once again explain all of these to the electorate, especially since our population and manpower issues have not improved.
The best opportunity for it to do so is coming up, with the Committee on the Future Economy (CFE) due to deliver its first report soon. It is also the middle of the electoral cycle, after a PAP landslide win in 2015, and the most opportune time to spend some political capital.
No plan on the future of the Singapore economy can be presented without addressing the elephant in the room: how an ageing, shrinking population can have a future economy without addressing its population concerns.
If the electorate continues to reject the proposal of the 2013 Population White Paper, the Government cannot address the acute problems that an ageing, shrinking workforce brings. Without addressing these problems, how then can we bring in new plans of growth that will require an even higher increase of a productive workforce, and attract the best global talent to Singapore to help us execute these plans?
It is thus my hope that when the CFE presents its report, it does so anchored on the issues that the Population White Paper unsuccessfully sold to Singaporeans three years ago.
Now, more than ever, Singapore needs to implement the manpower and population policies the White Paper proposed, together with plans for our economic future. There cannot be one without the other.
The PAP may yet pay a political price for this, but the pioneer PAP leaders built Singapore by convincing the people to allow them to do what is right, not popular.
It is time the current leaders do the same.
• The writer is a media and technology entrepreneur and former Nominated MP.
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Who planted the bad seeds for both parties to meet in this lifetime, and for one party to invoke the evil deed to the other?
Hope many know the answer, if not please ask your religious leaders.
Using human wisdom will be like mankind trying to fart against thunder in providing the answer.
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Forum: Outraged by heinous behaviour towards maid
PUBLISHED7 HOURS AGO on 25th Feb 2021 in ST Forum
When I read about the terrible ordeal Ms Piang Ngaih Don went through, I was so outraged that I could not even bear to complete reading the report about how the maid came to her end (Employer pleads guilty to 28 charges; life sentence sought, Feb 24).
How could anyone in a civilised, advanced society like ours, which prides itself on embracing equality, justice and kindness towards the poor and defenceless, be capable of such heinous behaviour?
To control a surge of tears, I had to remind myself that for every unconscionable employer, there must be many who treat their maids decently. The punishment meted out to the perpetrator should serve as a strong warning to employers without a conscience.
Catherine Lim
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Forum: Maid’s death could have been prevented if someone had spoken out earlier
PUBLISHED7 HOURS AGO on 25th Feb 2021 in ST Forum
The death of Myanmar domestic helper Piang Ngaih Don from inhumane and cruel ill treatment could have been prevented if someone had spoken out earlier (Employer pleads guilty to 28 charges; life sentence sought, Feb 24).
The physical abuse would have created a commotion and alerted neighbours. And yet no one seems to have been bothered to alert the authorities.
The culture of keeping quiet and hoping peace will prevail has resulted in the very sad and premature death of a young mother working hard in a foreign land to support her family.
Maid agencies should conduct house calls on first-time domestic helpers at least once a month. Phone calls to check are not sufficient. Face-to-face meetings will alert the agency if there is any mistreatment.
Singaporeans must have the heart and courage to say something if they see any mistreatment, be it to a family member or a foreign worker.
tankoktim 