Parliament to sit on Oct 15

[CandiceChan]

Parliament to sit on Oct 15

AsiaOne
Friday, Oct 12, 2012

SINGAPORE - Hot topic issues about the recent high levels of HDB resale prices and the move of Singapore's education system away from achievements will be debated at the next Parliament seating on Oct 15.

MP of Chua Chu Kang GRC Zaqy Mohamad is expected to ask the Minister for National Development about the ministry's assessment of the HDB Resale Price Index that reached a record level of 197.9 in the third quarter of 2012.

He also wants to know if the current cooling measures are effective and if the ministry has plans to assure the public that HDB and private properties will remain affordable for Singapore citizens.

MP of Ang Mo Kio GRC, Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar, will ask the Minister for Education if the ministry will review streaming at the secondary school level and consider removing the current academic streams (express, normal academic and normal technical); and possibly put in place the flexibility for students to do either academic or vocational subjects, or a combination of both.

On the topic of tertiary education, MP of Bishan-Ang Mo Kio GRC Zainudin Nordin wants to know how the objective of holistic development of students is being achieved in the ITEs and polytechnics.

Other topics that will be discussed include population and eldercare issues; as well as recent reports about taxi drivers setting their own fares above metered rates.

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[Leepotism]

It's like sinkies' god birthday once every 3 months. The stage wayang will start again.

 

[CandiceChan]

Nine new bills introduced in Parliament
Posted: 15 October 2012 1956 hrs

File photo: Singapore Parliament house

SINGAPORE: Nine government bills were introduced in Parliament on Monday.

Proposed key amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act aim to better protect the young.

The changes will also provide for a community rehabilitation centre for young abusers.

It proposes stiffer penalties for drug dealers who sell to or recruit the young and vulnerable.

It also aims to criminalise the organisation of drug gatherings.

The changes will also empower law enforcement officers to obtain hair samples to enhance detection and deterrence.

Changes are also being proposed for the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code.

This is to ensure an automatic process of appeal for cases where the death sentence has been meted out.

The law will be amended for cases where killing was not intentional.

It will give the court the discretion to sentence the accused to death or life imprisonment.

Amendments to the Casino Control Act were also introduced.

Changes include taking into account the operators' abilities to maintain and develop their non-gaming components when deciding whether to grant or renew their casino licences.

Casino marketing arrangements involving Singapore citizens or permanent residents will be prohibited.

There could also be a limit on the number of times a financially vulnerable person can visit the casinos.

On the financial side, changes aiming to increase safeguards for the investing public were proposed to the Securities and Futures Act and the Financial Advisers Act.

For example, providers of investment products are now obliged to classify investment products according to their complexity.

Information given to investors will also be further regulated to be clearer and simpler.

The proposals will also widen the scope of provision on false and misleading statements made by financial advisors.

Amendments to the Income Tax Act, GST Voucher Fund Act and Road Traffic Act were also tabled for the first reading.

- CNA/xq

 

[CandiceChan]

Criminal Procedure Code changes to entrench appeal process in death sentence
By S Ramesh | Posted: 15 October 2012 1710 hrs

Supreme Court

SINGAPORE: Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) introduced in Parliament on Monday will ensure an automatic process of appeal for cases where the death sentence has been meted out.

Amendments to the CPC will be made to create a mechanism for the Court of Appeal to review a death sentence where there is no appeal by the accused.

In such cases, the Public Prosecutor will be required to file a petition for confirmation with the Court of Appeal, who will review the correctness, legality and propriety of the conviction and sentence.

No sentence of death can be carried out unless confirmed by the Court of Appeal on appeal or review.

The government says this will provide an additional safeguard in Singapore's capital punishment regime and that the proposed changes will ensure that the sentencing framework properly balances the government's cardinal objectives.

These objectives are that crime must be deterred, society must be protected against criminals and that those convicted receive a punishment that is appropriate to the severity of the crime committed.

The amendments will also result in an appeal against a conviction be filed only after sentence has been passed. This is to ensure that appeals against the conviction and sentence are heard together, in line with the practice today.

The provisions will apply to all criminal cases and not just capital punishment cases.

On the Penal Code, the law will be amended to provide that in cases of murder where killing is not intentional, the court will have the discretion to sentence the accused to death or life imprisonment.

The court may also order caning in cases where life imprisonment is ordered.

All existing cases, if eligible, will be considered for re-sentencing under the new law.

Re-sentencing will take place at the first instance in the High Court, with the option of an appeal to the Court of Appeal.

The amendments to the two Bills will be debated at the next available sitting of the House.

- CNA/ir

 

[CandiceChan]

Amendments proposed to 3 pieces of legislation dealing with death penalty
By S Ramesh | Posted: 15 October 2012 1958 hrs

SINGAPORE: Amendments have been proposed to three pieces of legislation which deal with the mandatory death penalty for murder and drug trafficking cases - the Criminal Procedure Code, Penal Code and the Misuse of Drugs Act.

In July, the government announced its intention to reform the mandatory death penalty as it applies to these cases.

Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code will make the process of appeal automatic in death sentence cases.

The amendments create a mechanism for the Court of Appeal to review a death sentence where there is no appeal by the accused.

And no death sentence can be carried out, unless confirmed by the Court of Appeal on appeal or review.

Chairman of the Law Society's criminal law practice committee, Wendell Wong, said: "There is a belief that where fundamental liberties are concerned and especially where capital punishment is being imposed, we want to make sure that the right sentences are being passed down to the right offenders. Only in the most appropriate cases will the capital punishment be imposed and this is the right thing to do."

As for the Penal Code, in murder cases where killing is not intentional, the court can sentence the accused to death or life imprisonment.

Amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act will allow the prosecution to issue a "Certificate of Cooperation", if the trafficker only played the role of courier and not involved in any activity related to the supply or distribution of drugs.

Such a discretion only applies if the trafficker has also cooperated with the Central Narcotics Bureau in a substantive way or has a mental disability which substantially impairs his appreciation of the act.

"Substantive cooperation" is defined as "substantively assisting in CNB's operations to disrupt drug trafficking activities within or outside of Singapore".

Mr Wong added: "What this means is that there will have to be an active engagement by the Public Prosecutor, and it is almost like a condition precedent that unless a Certificate of Cooperation is issued, only thereafter will the courts have the discretion to impose a life imprisonment or not."

As announced in Parliament in July by both the Law and Home Affairs Ministers, all existing cases if eligible, will be considered for re-sentencing under the new law. And re-sentencing will take place in the first instance in the High Court, with an option of appeal to the Court of Appeal.

A spokesman for the Home Affairs Ministry said executions were suspended in July 2011, and the suspension will continue until the proposed changes are enacted.

And once legislation is in place, all accused persons who meet the requirements can elect to be considered for re-sentencing under the new law.

This will involve accused persons in ongoing cases, as well as convicted persons who have exhausted their appeals and are currently awaiting execution.

Currently, there are 34 people on death row for murder and drug trafficking cases.

The Bills will be debated at a future sitting of Parliament.

- CNA/ck

 

[bertaka]

Parliament to sit on Oct 15

Some meditate with eyes closed. Others do it with eyes opened.

 

[Television]

Get ready for another round of "Scripted" debating.

 

[greedy and cunning]

get ready for some rest and nap.

 

[CandiceChan]

Fight against unlicensed moneylending far from over: S Iswaran

By S Ramesh | Posted: 16 October 2012 1551 hrs

SINGAPORE: The fight against unlicensed moneylending activities in Singapore is far from over, said Second Minister for Home Affairs, S Iswaran.

Replying to questions on the subject in Parliament, he said loansharks are becoming more sophisticated and resorting to new methods to lure unsuspecting victims.

These include advertising their services via e-mail blasts and SMSes.

In Singapore, licensed moneylenders are not permitted to advertise their services through such means.

Mr Iswaran urged the public to be vigilant and report such instances to the police for investigation.

For the six-month period from January to June this year, there were 5,228 reported cases of unlicensed moneylending and related harassment -- a drop of 21 percent compared to 6,642 cases reported in the same period in 2011.

But the number of persons arrested rose by 22 percent to 1,033 in the same six-month period.

Mr Iswaran said, "This improvement can be attributed to several factors.

"The widely publicised increased penalties under the law have had a deterrent effect. Police have also stepped up enforcement and preventive education efforts, as well as engagement with community partners."

Mr Iswaran warned that there will be no let-up in the enforcement efforts to crack the syndicates.

"We have a nationwide CCTV rollout plan ... there is a certain level of prioritisation within geography, and within that, some specific areas. Some of that allocation by the police will be on the basis where they think the needs are greatest," Mr Iswaran said.

"But the police will make an operational assessment in deciding where those deployment should be made. That's not the only criteria -- there are other factors at play as well," he added.

- CNA/lp

 

[CandiceChan]

Govt to step up efforts to tackle rising levels of depression among S'poreans
By Melissa Chong | Posted: 15 October 2012 2305 hrs

Depression (photo illustration)

SINGAPORE: The government is increasing its efforts to tackle rising levels of depression among Singaporeans.

According to police records, the number of attempted suicide increased by about 40 per cent from 706 cases in 2007, to 992 cases in 2011.

To combat this trend, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said the government is adopting a multi-pronged strategy involving different agencies such as the MCYS, MOE, MHA and stakeholders in the social sectors.

This was revealed by Health Minister Gan Kim Yong in a written response to questions in Parliament on the problem of the rising number of people suffering from depression.

At the prevention level, there have been enhanced efforts to raise awareness about mental health.

In 2011, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) reached out to some 170,000 students and adults, sharing with them information on recognising early symptoms of mental illness. The board also stressed the importance of early treatment, and recommended coping skills.

Recognising that social support is key to suicide prevention, students are taught to build healthy relationships while befriending services are provided for the elderly.

For patients who have attempted suicide, hospitals provide crisis intervention, including psychotherapy, follow-up counselling support - and for acute cases - hospitalisation and sedation. Access to mental health services has also improved.

For example, the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) operates a 24-hour crisis hotline and deploys a team of staff to de-escalate stressful situations in patients' homes.

-CNA/ac

 

[CandiceChan]

Dead person's CPF savings can go to 'moral claimants'

Phua Mei Pin
The Straits Times
Friday, Oct 19, 2012

THE Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings of people who die without legal heirs and nominees can now be disbursed to their "moral claimants".

Under the Civil Law Act amendments approved by Parliament yesterday, the Government will be able to distribute such monies to the claimants.

CPF savings are now counted among the property, which already includes bank savings, company shares and real estate, that it can hand over to rightful claimants. Other new additions are Edusave and Post-Secondary Education Fund money and money placed in a Child Development Account.

Moral claimants are those to whom the dead person may have reasonably expected to leave his assets, such as those who have cared or provided for the person.

During the debate on the Bill, Minister for Law K. Shanmugam said: "When there is no entitled next of kin, it is only fair that such property can go to someone with an equitable or moral claim rather than the Government."

But a concern, raised by Nominated MP R. Dhinakaran, would be the false claims made by some people. The NMP said that the changes were timely because, with more Singaporeans eschewing marriage and children, the future was likely to see "many Singaporeans grow old without next of kin or clear heirs to their properties".

Acknowledging the concern, Mr Shanmugam replied that there will be safeguards against false claims. The practice will be to let six months pass after the death before processing any claims to allow time for any entitled next of kin to step forward.

While claimants will not need to get court orders, they will need to submit supporting documents such as receipts of hospital or funeral expenses, as well as a statutory declaration or affidavit that states the basis of their claim.

"These are safeguards which will minimise the likelihood of false claims being made," said Mr Shanmugam.

The changes do not affect the disposal of property according to Muslim law, which continues to be dealt with under the Administration of Muslim Law Act.

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