MANY QUERIES: Five MPs have submitted questions related to the seat-belt issue. Dr Lim Wee Kiak wants to know what safety requirements a bus needs before it is allowed to ferry students. He is also asking if the Ministry of Transport monitors the driving performance of bus drivers who ferry children. -- ST FILE PHOTO

The matter was thrust into prominence after eight-year-old Russell Koh was killed in a road accident last month. Many felt he would have survived the crash of his minibus if the vehicle had been fitted with seat belts.

Five Members of Parliament, including Dr Lim Wee Kiak (Sembawang GRC), have submitted questions related to this road-safety issue.

Dr Lim wants to know what safety requirements a bus must adhere to before it is allowed to ferry students. He is also asking, among other things, if the Ministry of Transport monitors the driving performance of bus drivers who ferry children.

'I think the issue is something that concerns a lot of people. I've said it before that one life lost is one life too many,' he said, adding that he supports the government announcement last week that it would start making it compulsory for all new buses with up to 15 seats to be fitted with seat belts.

Mr Sin Boon Ann (Tampines GRC) wants to know if the Government would consider offering financial help to school bus operators should safety belts be considered necessary.

Another issue several MPs are raising is the situation in Myanmar and what Singapore or Asean can do about it.

Ms Irene Ng (Tampines GRC) wants Asean to 'act decisively' in providing aid.

She said: 'Asean seems able to tolerate many things - a country which does not uphold human rights and which cracks down on monks such as Myanmar - but it must surely push the limit to be cosy with a country which wilfully refuses to help its own people to cope in times of natural disaster.'

Parliament is also expected to get an update on the Mas Selamat saga, as Dr Lam Pin Min (Ang Mo Kio GRC), has submitted a question on the disciplinary action against officers deemed culpable in the escape.

At the previous sitting a month ago, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng, who is also Home Affairs Minister, had said the lapses related to the escape would be investigated and officers found accountable would be punished.

Other issues to be discussed on Monday include the use of the strong Singapore dollar to fight inflation, the way the hand, foot and mouth disease outbreak was handled and the Government's approach to Internet regulation.

jeremyau@sph.com.sg