Ahmad Mattar
Singapore
“Sir, I would like to urge the Minister, the newly appointed panel chaired by Mr Hsuan Owyang, and certainly the people in charge of Channel 12 Pte Ltd, to look into the quality of Malay programmes on Channel 12. There is not much point in increasing the number of hours of Malay programmes on Channel 12 if quality is not there.”
“Because if SBC conducts those surveys or SBC administers the people meter, what other conclusions can we get? Finally, Sir, I would like to urge the Minister, and certainly the General Manager of SBC, to re-look into SBC's programmes.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, Encik Ibrahim Othman has asked a number of questions on Muslim divorces. On the actual number of Muslim divorces registered in 1992, the answer is 1,002.”
“45 pm Sir, on wakaf properties, the House may want to know that the first development project comprising four units of terrace houses at Duku Road has been completed. This year, two more projects at Lorong L and Lorong G, Telok Kurau, will be launched.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am aware of that circular. Unfortunately, my Public Health Officers have reported that despite the circular there has not been any improvement to the littering problem. Even till this morning, Sir, when we inspected Potong Pasir, littering was still evident.”
“Sir, the question has been answered and the photographs have also been labelled with the time they were taken. My point is that if the Member claims that his constituency does not have a littering problem, then there should not be any litter at any time of the day, 5.30 am regardless.”
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“Sir, it is not possible to convert a primary school directly into a secondary school. If, however, a primary school has to be converted into a secondary school, certain facilities not provided for in the primary school will have to be introduced. For example, workshops have got to be built, science laboratories have got to be built, and there will be a need for a separate assembly hall and, of course, bigger desks and chairs. The Ministry is currently looking into a number of new designs for both primary and secondary schools. The Member for Jurong may be pleased to know that the designs so far considered have a certain degree of flexibility in them. Mr Ho Kah Leong: Sir, since that point has been taken into consideration, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. In the absence of Mr Ng Kah Ting, the following amendment was not proceeded with: (15) That the total sum to be allocated for Head W in respect of the Main Estimates be reduced by $100. The sum of $355,929,350 for Head W ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $92,096,800 for Head W ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. 6.12 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, it is not possible for the Ministry of Education to have a Youth Day. The term "youth", according to world-wide definition and the definition used by the People's Association, covers all persons within the age group of 18 to 30 years. As such the term does not apply to our students. However, the Member for Jurong may be pleased to know that the Ministry is considering declaring the Monday following the official opening of the Singapore Youth Festival a holiday for all schools. The Member for Jurong and the rest of the House may also wish to know that, in view of the problems of traffic congestion and transport difficulties, the official opening ceremony of the Youth Festival will, as from this year, be held on a Sunday.”
“MAINTENANCE ORDERS (RECIPROCAL ENFORCEMENT) BILL "to make new provisions, in place of the Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders Act (Chapter 26 of the Revised Edition), for the enforcement in Singapore of maintenance orders made in reciprocating countries and vice versa", presented by Mr E. W. Barker; read the First time, to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. CONSUMER PROTECTION (TRADE DESCRIPTIONS AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS) BILL "to replace the Merchandise Marks Act (Chapter 194 of the Revised Edition) by fresh provisions prohibiting misdescriptions of goods supplied in the course of trade; to confer power to prescribe requirements relating to informative marking and advertisement of goods and to their safe composition, construction or design, and for purposes connected therewith; and to make consequential amendments to the Trade Marks Act (Chapter 206 of the Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister for Finance (Mr Hon Sui Sen); read the First time, to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. ANNUAL BUDGET STATEMENT Order read for Resumption of Debate on Question [3rd March, 1975], `That Parliament approves the financial policy of the Government for the financial year 1st April, 1975 to 31st March, 1976.".-[Minister for Finance]. Question again proposed. 2.43 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir: (a) (i) As at 1st March, 1975, there were 215 vacancies in secondary schools for English-medium teachers. (a) (ii) All these vacancies were filled by relief teachers. There were additionally 91 relief teachers employed to fill casual vacancies. (b) For the two-year period between 1st January, 1973 and 28th February, 1975, 325 English-medium secondary school teachers out of a total of 3,789 resigned from the service. These consisted of 117 graduates and 208 non-graduates. BILLS INTRODUCED 2.38 p.m. PARLIAMENTARY PENSIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Parliamentary Pensions Act (Chapter 51 of the Revised Edition)", recommendation of President signified; presented by the Prime Minister; read the First time, to be read a Second time on 27th March, 1975, and to be printed. PARKS AND TREES BILL "to provide for the development, protection and regulation of public parks and gardens and for the preservation and growing of trees and plants and for matters connected therewith; and to repeal the Botanic Gardens Act (Chapter 300 of the Revised Edition), the Trees and Plants (Preservation and Improvement of Amenities) Act, 1970 (No. 59 of 1970) and section 79 and Part V of the Local Government Integration Act (Chapter 210 of the Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker); read the First time, to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. TRUSTEES (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Trustees Act (Chapter 40 of the Revised Edition)", presented by Mr E. W. Barker; read the First time, to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed.”
“If the Member for Anson is interested in the figures, he can ask for them by way of a written question. ENGLISH TEACHERS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS (Particulars) 4. Mr P. Govindaswamy asked the Minister for Education, in respect of secondary schools, (a) the number, as on 1st March, 1975, of (i) vacancies for English teachers in English schools; and (ii) relief teachers employed to fill those vacancies; and (b) the total number of English teachers who resigned between 1st January, 1973 and 28th February, 1975.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, steps are being taken by the Ministry of Education to train teachers, and this is being carried out by the Institute of Education. In the meantime, we have to get relief teachers to fill the vacancies.”
“And quite rightly it should be so, as the Police will continue to provide manpower, logistics and training support for the furtherance of the movement. With the enactment of the National Police Cadet Corps Bill, the Corps will gain in status, stature and strength and will no doubt continue to strive for better service to our youth and attain its aims at their highest level. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill -[Mr Ahmad Mattar]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP BILL Order for Second Reading read. 5.40 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The Police Cadet Corps movement was established in 1961 when the Police Cadet Corps Act (Chapter 77 of the Revised Edition) came into operation, under the auspices of the Ministry of Home Affairs. In 1963, the responsibility for all the four cadet corps, namely, the Police, Army, Sea and Air Cadet Corps, was transferred to the Ministry of Education. When Singapore became an independent nation in 1965, the need to expand the cadet movement in schools to revitalise and re-orientate our youth in schools became a matter of necessity and urgency. Members may recall that when moving the Second Reading of the National Cadet Corps Bill in November, 1972, it was indicated that steps would be taken to update the Police Cadet Corps Act to bring it in line with the main provisions of the National Cadet Corps Act. Hence this National Police Cadet Corps Bill before this House today. This updating of the Police Cadet Corps Act to place it on the same footing as the National Cadet Corps is necessary in the interest of the Corps as both these organisations are playing equally important roles in imbuing their members with a sense of loyalty for the establishment of a national identity. Furthermore, the updating of the Police Cadet Corps Act is necessary to remove the existing anomaly where there appears to be a dual control of the organisation by both the Ministry of Education and the Police. The establishment of a Council, with three nominees of the Commissioner of Police as members, one of whom shall be the Deputy Chairman, will enable the Police to continue to play an equally significant role in the administration and control of the Corps as has been hitherto the case.”
“CANCELLATION OF PLANNING PERMISSION BILL "to cancel planning permissions granted by the planning authority under section 9 of the Planning Act (Chapter 279 of the Revised Edition) and under section 61 of the Singapore Improvement Ordinance (Chapter 259 of the 1955 Edition) and for matters connected therewith, and to repeal sections 10 and 11 of the Planning Act (Chapter 279 of the Revised Edition)", presented by Mr E. W. Barker; read the First time, to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. FORESHORES (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Foreshores Act (Chapter 270 of the Revised Edition)", presented by Mr E. W. Barker; read the First time, to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. CRIMINAL LAW (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 3.28 p.m. First Reading”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the number of citizens and non-citizens admitted to the University of Singapore for the last three intakes is as follows: Non-Citizens Citizens Per- Admittted(including Per- Admitted centage permanent residents) centage Total 1972-73 1,136 74.0 400 26.0 1,536 1973-74 1,396 82.5 296 17.5 1,692 1974-75 1,421 88.9 178 11.1 1,599 The only source where statistics on hte employment of non-citizen graduates can be obtained is the general survey on graduate employment conducted by the Economic Research Centre in August 1973. The survey covered the 1972 and 1973 batch of graduates and yielded the following results: Number of non-citizen graduates employed in Government and Statutory Boards Private Sector 1972 10 17 1973 10 13 However, it is to be noted that these figures do not reflect the ture picture as only 70.3 per cent of the 1972 graduates and 57.1 per cent of the 1973 graduates responded to the survey, and it was conducted only three months after the 1973 graduation when many graduates were still seeking employment. BILLS INTRODUCED 3.24 p.m. ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Road Traffic Act (Chapter 92 of the Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister of State for Communications (Mr Chai Chong Yii); read the First time, to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. NAVAL AND AIR BASES (REPEAL) BILL "to repeal the Naval and Air Bases Ordinance (Chapter 83 of the 1955 Edition)", presented by the Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker); read the First time, to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, since the inception of the Institute of Education on 1st April, 1973, 217 university graduates have completed their training at the Institute of Education. Of this number, 58 of them were from the University of Singapore and 90 of them were from Nanyang University. Of the 217 who have graduated, 163 have been employed in secondary schools. UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE (Particulars of admissions and employment of non-citizen graduates in public and private sectors) 17. Mr J. F. Conceicao asked the Minister for Education if he will ascertain (a) how many (i) citizens, and (ii) non-citizens have been admitted to the University of Singapore for each year of the latest convenient three-year period; and (b) for the same period how many non-citizens who have graduated have accepted employment locally in (i) Government, and (ii) the private sector.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to the question on the completion date of the Jurong Town Primary School in Neighbourhood II, I think it is very easy for the hon. Member to estimate. Piling work alone takes about three months and then a few more months for other construction works to be completed. Sir, I think it will not be possible for me to give a definite date. I hope this time next year the hon. Member will not ask any more question on Jurong Town Primary School in Neighbourhood II. With regard to Joo Long School's request to build an extension block, the Ministry of Education will be considering the application for the proposed scheme, subject to its satisfying certain minimum requirements.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as the hon. Member for Jurong is aware, work on the construction of Jurong Town Primary School in Neighbourhood II is already in progress. In fact, piling work started about 10 days ago. If all goes well, the school will be ready sometime next year. With regard to Joo Long School, the management committee of the school has enquired into the possibility of constructing an extension block of 10 classrooms. The Ministry of Education welcomes the provision of additional school places. However, as far as Joo Long School is concerned, it would be better and in their interest too if, before implementing this proposed extension block, they can further consider whether or not the place is due for urban renewal, whether or not the Ministry is going to build more schools in the area, and whether or not they have enough land for the building extension.”
“Sir, I would like to know what the Member for Anson exactly meant by "poor response" at the recent inter-constituency sepak takraw tournaments. If he was talking in terms of crowd response, then he was wrong because I was there every night for as long as my team was taking part. The response from the crowd was good. If he was thinking in terms of participation, then I must say that it is the policy of the SSC not to force people to take part. This was one of the faults of the former NSPB.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the proposal by the Member for Jurong to set aside one day in the school calendar to be called Youth Day and to coincide with the opening of the Annual Youth Festival is indeed a laudable one. The Ministry of Education is actively considering this proposal and, if feasible, will certainly implement it. Mr Ho Kah Leong(In Mandarin): Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, this scheme is still being worked upon by the Ministry of Education and the People's Association, and the Member for Kampung Kembangan will be informed as soon as it is possible. Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff(In Malay): Sir, on the assurance given by the Parliamentary Secretary, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“However, in attaching importance to such development, we shall not forget that our young citizens must be encouraged to retain their cultural ballast, in order that they may derive enough confidence from a knowledge of their own cultural identity to counter any ills and problems which the pace of life in an industrialised and highly urbanised society may bring. This will be a further task of education in Singapore. It is our aim that education should equip our young Singaporeans for the task of turning Singapore not only into a regional centre for industries and services in shipping and communications, banking and commerce, but also into a city of grace and vitality. 3.57 p.m.”
“Education, as I see it within the context of Singapore, should be planned instruction, beginning with the young, to cultivate their potentialities and talents so as to enable them not only to engage in productive work in order to improve their economic well-being but also to contribute wholeheartedly to the promotion of social progress in the midst of a democratic system. Singapore has in recent years undergone transformation in every field -political, social and economic. And throughout this period of purposeful ferment, education has been the main strut upholding national planning. In support of our Republic's rapid industrialisation, the aims and content of our educational system were orientated towards science and technology. Many new measures have been implemented by the Ministry of Education. A major reorganisation of our secondary school system was started in 1968, laying unprecedented emphasis on technical education. This was necessary in order that the state of industry in Singapore could advance. Greater stress has been laid on the teaching of mathematics, science and technical subjects in our technical schools and vocational institutes. We have been encouraging the use of English in teaching science and mathematics at secondary and even at primary levels in non-English-medium streams. This is necessary in our long-term interests for we believe that the English Language can provide functional support to our plans for scientific and technological development in the `80s.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the motion, moved by the Member for Bukit Batok, expressing our thanks to the President for his speech delivered last Thursday on behalf of the Government at the opening of the First Session of this Parliament. As Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education, it would not be out of place for me to dwell for a few moments on education in general and on our educational policies in Singapore in particular. These arc matters of great bearing to the continued progress of our Republic. It is important that the system and content of education in any country be shaped according to the needs of the country. In a changing social order, education should guide the citizens in their efforts to build a new society. Young people must be taught to adapt themselves to the new social environment, and this should be the responsibility of the government. That education and the pursuit of knowledge should not be the monopoly of any privileged class needs no emphasis. Those who were not able, for one reason or another, to enjoy much education when young should be given the opportunity to pick it up again at a more opportune time through adult education and vocational training programmes. At the same time, however, the people should not be encouraged to climb the education ladder blindly, without regard to social needs. For example, if the country's need is for more people trained in practical skills, then courses offering such training should be given priority over those which are purely academic and non-practical.”