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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“Mr Speaker, Sir, when the problem of excessive pesticides in vegetables from Malaysia was first detected, the situation was not considered serious enough. Let me explain the whole situation. The pesticide in question was dithiocarbamate or CS2. CS2 itself is not a carcinogen. But when it is heated, it produces a compound known as ethylenethiourea (ETU) which has been known to be carcinogenic in animals. Evidence of its carcinogenicity in human beings has not been found. When the problem was first detected, it was not considered serious enough to raise public alarm because the amount of ETU formed from the excess of CS2 found was below the Acceptable Daily Intake levels of the FAO and WHO. But in the meantime we informed the consumers to wash the vegetables before cooking them because, by washing, between 90% and 95% of the residue would be washed off.”
“Sir, my Ministry has also taken other measures to minimize inconvenience to the importers. For instance, a cold room has been reserved for the importers to store their vegetables that are placed under seal and awaiting results.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, my Ministry samples all sorts of food for laboratory analyses daily. When a particular type of food is suspected to be unsafe for consumption, the sampling frequency for that food increases and checks are intensified. Each year, more than 8,000 food samples are analysed. This number of sampling is adequate, according to the guidelines set by the World Health Organization. However, in 1986, as a result of a pesticide residue problem and the Chernobyl incident which brought about an extensive check on radioactive contamination in imported food, the total number of food samples analysed rose to 22,137. The total number of samples taken for fruits and vegetables alone came to 2,334. Sir, the checking of meat is not done by my Ministry but by the Primary Production Department under the Ministry of National Development. Sir, everything is being done to expedite the testing of vegetables for pesticide residue, so that importers will be subjected to the minimum inconvenience. My reply to the suggestion that my Ministry sets up an inspection unit at the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre to expedite the examination process is that it is not necessary. The present laboratory, where the vegetable samples are brought to, is only 15 minutes away from the Wholesale Centre. The equipment at this laboratory has been specially put aside to test the vegetables. And as soon as the results are known, they are relayed by telephone to the Health Inspector stationed at the Wholesale Centre, who will inform the importers immediately. Those consignments which are satisfactory will be released while those which are unsatisfactory will be destroyed under the supervision of the health inspector.”
“Long before the Member for Potong Pasir came into this House.”
“You are politicking. BG Lee Hsien Loong: I presume the Member for Potong Pasir believes that the Malay MPs will be out because he will become the next Prime Minister.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, I would like to ask the Member for Potong Pasir what authority has he to speak on behalf of the Malays? Is he politicking? We have just been telling the Malaysians to lay off. This is a Singapore problem and I am telling the Member for Potong Pasir that this is a Malay problem. The Malay MPs will solve them.”
“This is a beautiful building! Mr Tang See Chim:So you think, but there is not enough space. But I do not think, Sir, that we should contribute to the building glut. What we should do is to convert an existing building for our use. I am thinking of City Hall. It is a grand old building, dignified and spacious. I understand that the Foreign Office is moving out of City Hall to Raffles City. We might as well take advantage of this and get hold of City Hall and convert it into the Parliament House of Singapore. City Hall is an imposing building. It is dignified and has a history behind it. Our independence was proclaimed at the City Hall steps. How appropriate that it should become the Parliament House of Singapore. I am sure, with renovations, it would be a beautiful home for Parliament. The present Parliament building can be turned into a museum. An hon. Member:And the exhibits.”
“Sir, the number and frequency of bus services are increased on an on-going basis as the population of Hougang New Town grows, as with other new housing estates. I have asked SBS to provide details of all future increases to the hon. Member. SBS will also liaise with the Member and his community leaders to obtain feedback on the requirements for feeder bus services in Hougang New Town.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, to answer the Member for Telok Blangah's first question. As I have mentioned earlier on in my response to the question from the Member for Buona Vista, as a result of the campaigns there has been a general improvement in the cleanliness of public toilets. But more can still be done. And here, I think members of the public can play a part in observing good personal hygiene and in having enough civic consciousness to keep public toilets clean for the other users. Sir, so long as people misuse and abuse public toilets, we will continue to have dirty toilets. It is not possible for my Public Health Inspectors to check on the users to ensure that they practise good toilet habits. It is just not possible. So this is where members of the public can play a part. With regard to the figures, these figures refer to public toilets and it is the duty of the Public Health Inspectors to inspect public toilets. Some of them could be due to complaints from the public and some could be due to their own enforcement action. HOUGANG FEEDER BUS SERVICES 6. Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Communications and Information if he will ascertain from the Singapore Bus Service (1978) Limited (i) whether the number and frequency of feeder bus services will be increased in Hougang New Town, particularly in Hougang Avenues 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 5 and 7 to meet the demand of commuters; and (ii) the reasons for the delay in responding to the demand. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications and Information (Mr Ho Kah Leong) (for the Minister for Communications and Information): Sir, I have been asked by my Minister to reply.”
“To make him the Chairman? I think I shall consider. The purpose of the campaign is to reinforce the message of keeping public toilets clean. The campaign also aims to reach out to the building managements, the cleaning contractors and the users themselves.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Member for Buona Vista for appreciating that campaigns on keeping public toilets clean have produced some positive results. In fact, Sir, the Ministry is considering having another campaign this year. An hon. Member: Make him the Chairman.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I shall give the number of written warnings issued first, followed by the number of convictions for the year in question. They are as follows: No. of written No. of warnings issued convictions 1982 1,558 97 1983 2,580 127 1984 1,275 77 1985 1,709 84 1986 1,058 53 Sir, re-inspections following the issue of written warnings showed that the majority of the shortcomings were put right by the building management. Recalcitrant offenders were ticketted and subsequently prosecuted.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I name the first available sitting after 1st April 1987 for the Second Reading of this Bill.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of the Environment has been implementing various flood alleviation schemes over the years and has since August 1985 accelerated a number of new drainage systems with the objectives of flood alleviation and prevention. For example, Sir, in 1986, nearly 50 contracts totalling about $200 million were tendered out as compared to around 30 in 1985. The House may be pleased to know that the number of areas affected by floods has been decreasing gradually. Areas such as Orchard Road, Siglap, Bedok, Kallang, Woodlands and Ulu Pandan are no longer flood prone. And when the accelerated drainage schemes such as the Bukit Timah Flood Alleviation Scheme, Phase II, are completed in three to four years' time, areas which are presently flood prone, eg, the Bukit Timah catchment valley itself, Tanjong Katong, Pasir Panjang and Upper Paya Lebar Road will no longer be flood prone, hopefully. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, besides alleviating floods in flood prone areas, my Ministry is also implementing drainage schemes in new developments such as the Tampines New Town, Bukit Batok New Town and Caicuogang New Town in order to ensure that flooding will not occur in these places. DISCONTINUANCE OF MRCS (Implications) 8. Dr S. Vasoo asked the Minister for Finance whether he will review the implications of the discontinuance of the multi-revenue collection service and consider introducing the service in New Towns where there is pressing need for such a service.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, until last year the stretch of Telok Blangah Road between Wishart Road and Bukit Chermin Road was a known flood prone area. My Ministry has since widened and deepened Bukit Chermin Canal and the adjacent roadside drains. The project costing $3 million was completed in August last year and this stretch of Telok Blangah Road is not flood prone any more. However, Sir, the junction of Henderson Road and Telok Blangah Road floods at present because of the inadequate flow capacity of the roadside drains there, and the Public Works Department of the Ministry of National Development is now improving these roadside drains under its Telok Blangah Road Widening Project, and this project is expected to be completed in the middle of the year. Sir, I would like to stress that drainage systems cannot be designed against great extremities of the weather. It is just not economic to do so. So the drainage improvements along Telok Blangah Road will substantially alleviate flooding but cannot ensure a completely flood free road under all weather conditions.”
“There are four crematoria in Singapore located as follows: (a) Mount Vernon Crematorium Complex; (b) Mandai Crematorium Complex; (c) Phor Kark See (Bright Hill) Temple; (d) Tse Tho Aum Temple. The Mount Vernon Crematorium Complex at Upper Aljunied Road is owned and managed by the Ministry of the Environment. The Mandai Crematorium Complex was constructed by the HDB for the cremation of exhumed remains from cemeteries which have been acquired by the HDB for redevelopment purposes. The crematoria at Phor Kark See Temple at Bright Hill Drive and Tse Tho Aum Temple at Sin Ming Drive are run by the respective temple authorities. The Ministry of the Environment does not decide on the location of private crematoria. Such matters come under the Ministry of National Development and it has not received any proposal for the relocation of any private crematorium.”
“The Budget Division of the Finance Ministry, recognizing the increase in the workload of the Syariah Court, approved the creation of one additional post of Clerical Officer in 1984 and an additional post of Muslim Social Case Worker for FY 85. I expect this latter post to be filled soon. With this additional Muslim Social Case Worker, the Syariah Court expects to be able to clear marital dispute cases more expeditiously. I do not therefore consider it necessary at this point of time to create another post of Registrar for the Court. As far as salary scales for the President, the Muslim Social Case Workers, and indeed for all staff of the Syariah Court, are concerned, they are fixed at levels commensurate with the academic qualifications required and the nature of their duties and responsibilities. They must also be comparable with other posts in the Civil Service requiring comparable qualifications. Sir, I think I have answered most, if not all, of the queries raised by Members.”
“With regard to staffing, it is expected that new appointments may have to be made if the ICS is to be adequately managed. One of the main areas of work to be given priority is the establishment of the Library cum Reference Centre which, to all intents and purposes, will eventually serve as an Islamic Resource Centre. The Member for Geylang Serai may be happy to know that his suggestion that Muslim scholars of international repute be invited to come to Singapore on a regular basis is already in the ICS pipeline. For the information of Members, work on the ICS will be completed towards the end of 1987. And as MUIS will occupy two floors of the seven-storey building, the need to upgrade MUIS' present office, as suggested by the Member for Pasir Panjang, therefore, does not arise. Next, the Syariah Court. On this subject, Sir, the Member for Kampong Ubi has spoken on staff shortages in the Court and on the salary scales of the Court's staff. The Court has an approved establishment of 10 permanent staff comprising the President of the Court, an Executive Officer, two Clerical Officers, three Muslim Social Case Workers, a Typist, a Process-cum-Notice Server and an Office Attendant. Except for one post of Muslim Social Case Worker which will be filled soon, the remaining posts are all filled. As the Member has quite rightly pointed out, the number of new cases registered by the Syariah Court has been increasing at an average annual rate of 7% over the last five years. In terms of numbers, the average number of new cases registered each year during the last five years is 1,500.”
“I am sure Members will agree that we can all do without this kind of pilgrim broker who obviously was motivated only by commercial considerations. The Member for Siglap has made some pertinent observations on the JHDs. As the Member is aware, the main function of the JHD is to coordinate missionary activities in the districts where they are located. "How are the activities of the District JHDs coordinated by the Central JHD?" he asked. Sir, the Central JHD meets from time to time to discuss matters relating to activities to be organized as well as to deliberate over current issues affecting the Muslim community, particularly those in consonant with its objective. Two Exco members of each District JHD are represented at these meetings. Activities to be carried out by District JHDs are first discussed at Central JHD meetings before they are implemented. How can Muslim organizations know the District JHDs they belong to? Sir, District JHDs are usually identified with the HDB Housing Estates in which such district committees are located. District Muslim organizations including block committees, mosques, madrasahs, suraus, are all invited to attend the annual general meeting of their District JHDs in which their representatives are nominated to serve on the JHDs. Being the components of the District JHDs, the Muslim organizations in the district would, without doubt, know to which district they belong. Sir, I shall now turn to the proposed Islamic Centre of Singapore (ICS). I welcome the suggestions from the Member for Kampong Ubi that will go towards making the ICS of MUIS the focal point of Islamic activities and a centre of Islamic intellectual learning in Singapore.”
“However, I have been assured by the Saudi Minister for Pilgrimage and Endowments, when he was here as my guest last year, that every effort is made by his Government to minimize these problems. With regard to pilgrim brokers, Sir, Members may be pleased to know that the duties and responsibilities of these brokers have been revised. One such revision requires all selected pilgrim brokers to undergo a thorough physical examination by medical officers at Government Outpatient Dispensaries. This requirement is imposed on pilgrim brokers this year to ensure that they have a clean bill of health to enable them to carry out their various duties in the Holy Land effectively. On the appointment of pilgrim brokers, care was taken to weed out those who have been found wanting. For instance, arising from complaints received against a pilgrim broker at last year's Haj, MUIS has, after substantiating these complaints, barred him from participating in this year's pilgrimage exercise. Sir, apart from charging more than the other pilgrim brokers who provided similar services, this particular broker was not able to provide any accommodation in Mina for his pilgrims, although the fees paid to him were inclusive of accommodation, transportation, food, etc, etc. He was not concerned about the welfare of his pilgrims. Sick pilgrims were left unattended and had to look for medical treatment on their own. He did not make any effort at all to look for one of his pilgrims who was reported lost. And on the return leg of the journey, Sir, he had brought his pilgrims to Jeddah Airport six days in advance without providing any accommodation and food. This created problems for his pilgrims.”
“It is, therefore, for Muslim organizations to pool their financial resources if the proposal is to be implemented. But, as administrators of wakaff properties, Sir, MUIS has faithfully discharged its responsibilities such as the collection of rents and the maintenance of these properties. Mr Chairman, Sir, I share wholeheartedly the Member for Pasir Panjang's concern and anxiety over the long delay in the renovation of Keramat Habib Noh and the adjacent Masjid Haji Mohammed Salleh at Palmer Road. Hon. Members may still remember that the decision to renovate the Keramat and the Masjid was taken in early 1983. It is three years now and work has yet to start. It is much faster to build a multi-purpose mosque in a New Town than to give a facelift to the Keramat. A more expeditious handling of the matter by the Departments concerned would have saved much time in completing the project. But I would like to assure the Member for Pasir Panjang that I will closely monitor its progress and ensure that it is completed within the period targetted. I hope the Member would not have to raise the issue again when this House sits in Committee of Supply next year. As for the Haj service, Sir, I do not intend to go over it again as measures taken by MUIS for this year's Haj have been widely reported in the local press and over SBC's Radio 2. All I can say is that MUIS will continue with its efforts to ensure the smooth running of its Haj service. Those of us who have performed the Haj will, I am sure, agree that there will always be problems - bound to be. There is no running away from problems - not when there are 2-2(r) million people all assembled at a particular place at almost the same time.”
“Under section 59 of AMLA, MUIS is responsible for the administration of wakaff properties. Presently, eight wakafs are under MUIS charge. However, there are other wakaffs which are not administered by MUIS. Surviving trustees are administering them. The eight wakaffs under MUIS fall into four categories - mosques, cemetery lands, business properties and residential properties. The respective Mosque Management Committees are responsible for the maintenance of the mosques while MUIS looks after cemetery lands, business and residential premises. The few cemetery lands which it owns have been officially closed for burials. As for business and residential wakaff properties, they are, without exception, pre-1947 buildings and are therefore subject to the Rent Control Act. The Ministry of National Development has recently served notices on MUIS against three wakaff properties, namely, Wakaff Masjid Kassim at Changi Road, Wakaff Jabbar at Duku Road and Masjid Abdul Hamid at Gentle Road. MUIS has been asked to clear the temporary structures on these wakaff properties and to landscape the area cleared. Alternatively, action must be initiated to prepare these wakaffs for redevelopment. MUIS is arranging to meet all the parties who are directly involved in the management of the properties of the three wakaffs to decide on the course of action to take to comply with the Ministry of National Development's directive so as to save these properties from being compulsorily acquired. However, I must add, Sir, that redevelopment will require expenditure of some magnitude to revoke tenancies, to pay compensations to tenants, and to meet construction costs. Unfortunately, Sir, MUIS does not have the funds for this purpose.”
“For the information of Members, Sir, "Deviant Teachings will be the major topic to be discussed at an Islamic Convention to be organized in September this year by the Central Muslim Missionary Committee (often referred to as the Central JHD) under the auspices of MUIS. With regard to Mosque Building Programme of MUIS, I regret to say that the current recession is beginning to affect voluntary contributions to the Mosque Building Fund (MBF). According to the MBF statistics compiled, twice a year for MUIS by the CPF Board, the number of working Muslims who contributed to the Fund fell from 142,018 in May 1985 to 136,261 in October 1985 - a decrease of 5,757 persons or 4.05%. The corresponding decrease in MBF collection was $10,473. As the next statistical information is only available in May this year, a further comparison cannot be made at this juncture. However, working on the nett total collection of $3.68 million for the MBF in 1985 and comparing it with the $3.96 million collected in 1984, there was therefore a decrease of about $280,000 or 7.07% in 1985. The decrease does cause some concern to MUIS, especially taking into account the possibility of the annual collection being further eroded and also the likelihood of building costs picking up when the economy recovers. However, barring these two elements, the on-going Phase II Mosque Building Programme of MUIS would not be significantly hindered. On Darul Ghufran Mosque in Tampines, Sir, the Member for Geylang Serai may be pleased to know that tenders will be called in September this year and construction work is expected to begin in January 1987. HDB architects are presently working on the model of this mosque. Mr Chairman, Sir, I shall now turn to Wakaff Properties.”
“Action has also been taken by MUIS to compile the names of Muslim professionals in the various disciplines with the view to consulting them if the need arises. One such group comprising 31 Muslim professionals in accountancy and related disciplines is already assisting MUIS in the auditing of mosque accounts. Referred to as Honorary Accounting Auditors, these professionals are advising Treasurers of Mosque Management Committees and Mosque Building Committees in preparing their accounts. Sir, this area of work is becoming increasingly important in view of the greater volume of transactions each of these mosques is handling. On deviationist and false Islamic teachings, Sir, the best way to check their spread is by upgrading the Islamic religious knowledge among Muslims and by raising public awareness against such teachings. Therefore, MUIS continually exhorts the Muslim public to be wary of such deviant teachings through statements in the press and other MUIS publications, religious lectures and Friday sermons. On the Qadiani, or also known as the Ahmaddiya Movement, Sir, the House may want to take note that the Qadianis have been regarded as non-Muslims throughout the Muslim world. And in some Muslim countries the Movement has even been banned. In Singapore, Sir, they have re-built their place of worship at Onan Road in Geylang Serai Constituency and blatantly called it a mosque. They have also, from time to time, distributed copies of their publications to Muslims here. These are acts of serious provocation. The matter is being actively looked into by MUIS and the other local Muslim organizations.”
“With regard to staff upgrading, I must say that MUIS officers are from time to time sent to the Civil Service Institute and other institutes to attend relevant training courses which these institutes hold for civil servants and statutory board employees. And among the training courses attended by MUIS officers so far are Personnel Management Courses, Statistics and Its Applications for Division II Officers, Computer Courses, and Financial Administration Courses. Sir, I take note of the Member for Geylang Serai's suggestion that MUIS develops a core group of local and international Muslim scholars to advise on issues faced by Muslims here, so that in our eagerness to absorb new ideas brought about by developments in science and technology we do not, in the words of the Member, Sir, "breach the fundamental teachings of Islam." I could not agree with the Member more. It would be a valuable asset, not only to MUIS but also to Singapore Muslims in general, if we could set up such a panel. But to get a scholar who has a fair balance of temporal and spiritual background is a very difficult, if not impossible, task within the Singapore context. However, since last year the Fatwa Committee of MUIS has been initiating action to invite local religious scholars or Ulamas to monthly meetings to discuss and seek their views on matters pertaining to current issues directly affecting Muslims here. I would like to assure the Member for Geylang Serai that his suggestion has not fallen on deaf ears. I do not rule out entirely the role of local and international Muslim scholars who can make significant contributions towards achieving this objective.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, I am replying in my capacity as the Minister-in-charge of Muslim affairs. First of all, I would like to thank hon. Members for their views and comments on the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) and matters related to it, the proposed Islamic Centre of Singapore and the Syariah Court. I shall divide my replies into the three subjects I have just categorized. MUIS matters. Sir, this topic covers a broad spectrum of issues and I shall endeavour to answer them all. I shall deal with the Islamic Religious Schools or Madrasahs first. Sir, under sections 81 and 82 of the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA), MUIS is responsible for the control and supervision of these religious schools. A comprehensive study on various aspects of Islamic religious education in Singapore has been made jointly with MENDAKI, with the view to implementing these sections. Arising from this study, a paper on Islamic Religious Schools in Singapore which, among other things, incorporates matters related to curricula, salary scales of teachers and other recommendations, has been prepared. Discussions on this paper and also on the implementation of sections 81 and 82 have been held with representatives of the Madrasahs and with the religious teachers themselves. Needless to say, Sir, the objective of implementing sections 81 and 82 of AMLA is to ensure that an improved system of Islamic religious education will replace the present system to meet the political, economic and social challenges in Singapore. MUIS has made tentative plans to set up a Religious Education Unit for this purpose.”
“We can have a private discussion afterwards.”
“Sir, certain chemicals, for example, Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Tetraethyl Lead, and Tetramethyl Lead, for which local treatment facilities are not available, are re-exported to the country of origin and treated there.”
“A one-month survey was conducted after that. The number of plastic bags taken from four random rubbish chutes increased from 373 per day to 496 per day, an increase of 33%. I think the campaign is producing some concrete, positive result.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, I think I owe replies to two issues, one raised by the Member for Kaki Bukit and another by the Member for Siglap. Sir, the Member for Kaki Bukit would like an assurance of some sort that there will be minimum disruption to the flow of traffic while the widening of Bukit Timah Canal is going on. While work is going on along that section of Dunearn Road, it may be necessary to close, intermittently, one lane of Dunearn Road to traffic. But I would like to assure the Member for Kaki Bukit that every effort will be taken to reduce the disruption to the smooth flow of traffic by constructing temporary diversion lanes, wherever space is available. In fact, Sir, a Technical Committee under the Drainage Department of my Ministry has been set up for this purpose. This committee is made up of members from the Roads Division of PWD, the Parks and Recreation Department, Planning Department, Lands Office and services departments like the PUB and TAS, whose services may have to be diverted to make way for the larger canal along Dunearn Road. The Member for Siglap wants to know the results of our Plastic Bag Campaign. As this House is aware, my Ministry has over the years encouraged members of the public to use plastic bags to dispose of their refuse. Campaigns, talks, exhibitions have been held in community centres, markets, shopping complexes and so on. In fact, Sir, with the help of Members of this House, with the exception of two, and all the RCs, officers of my Ministry have conducted house-to-house visits to disseminate the good habit of using plastic bags and to distribute pamphlets showing how to dispose of refuse properly. Incidentally, in September last year, the Ministry conducted a "Use Plastic Bags" Campaign in Siglap Constituency.”
“Sir, transportation of large quantities of hazardous will, in future, be restricted to certain times of the day and along certain specified routes in order to avoid peak hour traffic, built-up areas, and our water catchments. And, in some cases, the transportation of large quantities of hazardous substances may even require the provision of mobile escorts. I think I have covered most, if not all, of the points raised by Members. I shall now ask my Senior Parliamentary Secretary to deal with issues related to hawkers raised by Members.”
“The APU is also working with the Singapore Fire Service on measures to deal with emergencies. These include the use of caution labels onvehicles and containers used for the transportation of these substances. These vehicles are inspected annually at an ROV approved inspection centre. Then companies are also required to draw up emergency procedures for both fixed storage installations as well as for transportations of these substances. These procedures will be vetted by the Singapore Fire Service. Thirdly, Sir, companies are also required to keep the Singapore Fire Service informed of the times when large quantities of hazardous substances are being transported and of the routes taken. Sir, we are currently looking at international standards for the construction and inspection of specialized vehicles used in the transportation of hazardous substances for possible adoption as Singapore standards. Sir, one area which my Ministry has identified concerns the control of industrial chemicals. To date we have identified 22 such chemicals, and these have been gazetted as poisons under the Poisons Act since August last year. Companies dealing with these 22 gazetted industrial chemicals are now required to apply for special licences and to comply with specific requirements on their storage and transportation. Then companies are required to set up emergency procedures to deal with spillages in accidents and, as I have mentioned earlier on, they have to keep the Singapore Fire Service informed of the times when these chemicals are being transported and of the routes taken.”
“Existing legislations controlling different aspects of hazardous substances are vested in a number of Ministries. For example, Sir, under the Poisons Act, the Ministry of Health controls the importation, transportation, storage and manufacture of industrial and medicinal poisons. But under the present arrangement, the Anti-Pollution Unit (APU) of my Ministry will take over control of industrial poisons while the Ministry of Health still retains its control over medicinal poisons. Then there is the Petroleum Act under the Ministry of Home Affairs which controls the transportation and storage of petroleum. The Building Control Act under the Ministry of National Development controls the use of premises for dangerous trades. The Factories Act under the Ministry of Labour deals with the control on the handling and usage of hazardous substances, and to control pollution we have the Water Pollution Control and Drainage Act under the Ministry of the Environment. Sir, these are just five of nearly a dozen Acts of Parliament controlling different aspects of hazardous substances in Singapore today. Sir, the Anti-Pollution Unit of my Ministry is presently working very closely with these other Ministries to implement a more efficient system of management and control of hazardous substances. For instance, proposals for new industrial and commercial activities referred to the APU either by the HDB, JTC or even by the D&BCD are carefully scrutinized in order to ensure that my Ministry's policies on the control of hazardous substances are complied with. As a general policy, industries and commercial activities involving the storage, manufacture, handling, transportation and transhipment of large quantities of hazardous substances are not encouraged.”
“As I have mentioned earlier on, at present the Ministry of the Environment operates two dumping grounds and one incineration plant. The two dumping grounds are at Lorong Halus in the Tampines area and the other one is at Lim Chu Kang and the incineration plant is at Ulu Pandan. In 1985, 36% of the total refuse collected were incinerated and the remaining 64% dumped at these two dumping grounds. With the commissioning of the Tuas Incineration Plant by the middle of this year, 64% of the total refuse generated will be incinerated and the remaining 36% dumped at the two refuse dumping grounds. A third incineration plant has also been planned at Senoko. Another refuse dumping ground, also in the Tampines area, is presently under development and is expected to be ready for use by 1987. This site may be the last available place on Singapore mainland to be used for refuse disposal. Dumping on an offshore island may then have to be considered. Sir, based on the Solid Waste Master Plan put up in 1984, we may, after 1996, run into a shortfall of incineration capacity against the projected quantity of incinerable refuse. The shortfall will be quite substantial after the year 2005. There is therefore a need for us to look into the possibility of building a fourth incineration plant in order to conserve our available dumping grounds. I shall now turn to some of the queries raised by the Member for Buona Vista. The Member wants to know the progress made on the control of hazardous substances since my Ministry took over the responsibility in April last year. Sir, for the information of this House, there is no single Act of Parliament at the moment for the control of hazardous substances in Singapore.”
“The Member then talked of bulky wastes being indiscriminately dumped on the road, public places, car parks and so on. In the first place, they should not have been there. With a little bit of effort, members of the public can dispose of their unwanted articles, unwanted TV sets, unwanted refrigerators and washing machines, quite easily. Firstly, Sir, my Ministry operates a bulky refuse collection service. Members of the public can phone the Ministry directly or of our Environmental Health Offices nearest their home to arrange for their bulky refuse to be removed. There is, of course, a small charge for this service. Alternatively, Sir, members of the public can bring their unwanted articles themselves to either the Ulu Pandan Incineration Plant for those articles which can be incinerated, or to our two dumping grounds, one at Lorong Halus in the Tampines area and the other at Lim Chu Kang. There is no charge for loads under one tonne. Of course, for loads over one tonne, there is a scale of charges. Sir, the exemption of payment of fees for loads under one tonne is designed to encourage members of the public to bring their unwanted articles to these sites rather than dumping them on the roads, at car parks or at other public places. I think this exemption has worked. Roughly 75% of some 300,000 transactions in 1985 were below one tonne. I think contractors who often engage in renovation works are aware of this arrangement. With regard to bulky refuse left in HDB bin compounds, HDB has contractors to collect them and bring them to the disposal sites. Sir, the Member wants to know the refuse disposal capacity of Singapore, I presume, in the future.”
“He has spoken of refuse collection service provided by my Ministry. He wants to know whether I am satisfied with the service provided. He has also mentioned about the bulk refuse being left on roads and public places. The other issue he raised was on the "Use of Plastic Bag" Campaign and refuse disposal capacity of Singapore. My Ministry operates a fleet of 274 refuse collection vehicles with a workforce of 1,019 to provide daily refuse collection service. As the Member has rightly mentioned, Singapore is perhaps one of the few places, if not the only place in the world, where refuse is collected every day for 365 days of the year. Sir, this is possible as we have, over the years, developed a waste management system that is reliable and efficient. Our operation is computerized. We have continuously upgraded our fleet of refuse collection vehicles in order to ensure productivity and set high maintenance standards with a modern vehicle workshop. In spite of this, cost is kept low as we enjoy an economy of scale. I would like to assure the Member for Siglap that every effort is made to provide an efficient refuse removal service. Sir, the refuse trucks of my Ministry have been provided with devices such as compactors and what they call tail-gate seals to ensure that there is no spillage. As far as the work attitude of the workers are concerned, we have always advised them and trained them to do their best. But, of course, in any set-up there are always black sheep. Here again, Sir, the members of the public can help to make the job of the refuse collection worker easier by using plastic bags to dispose of their refuse. Needless to say, Sir, it is easier to handle refuse in plastic bags than in the loose form.”
“On the structural aspects, my Ministry has upgraded the requirements for public toilets, such as using heavy-duty toilet bowls, wash basins, flushing cisterns and non-slip tiles. On the software side, Sir, my Ministry has over the years carried out numerous public toilet campaigns, the most recent being the month-long campaign held over October/November last year. The managements and caretakers of public toilets have been impressed on the importance of keeping the toilets clean. Posters and stickers were displayed, talks cum slide shows and exhibitions were held in shopping complexes, factories and even schools. There has been a general improvement in the cleanliness of our public toilets compared to, say, a few years ago. Members of the public must also play their part in observing good personal hygiene and also in having enough public consciousness to keep the toilets clean for the other users. The Member for Kaki Bukit also spoke on the plight of daily-rated employees who may be retrenched as a result of mechanization of activities in my Ministry. Daily-rated employees of my Ministry who have been made redundant are offered alternative jobs in the first instance. To equip them for the new jobs, they are being sent for in-house courses or even VITB courses. Retrenchment is carried out only as a last resort when the individual DRE rejects the alternative vacancies in other grades and opts for retrenchment. Mr Chairman, Sir, my Ministry's personnel philosophy is to train employees to their maximum potential and not just those that are redundant. For the 1986-87 financial year, a sum of $6,000 has been set aside for the training of DREs alone. Sir, I move on to the issues raised by the Member for Siglap.”
“They are the Flood Alleviation scheme for Tanjong Katong area, Kranji Catchment Drainage Scheme, Sungai Lanchar Drainage Scheme, Concrete-lining of Earth Drains in the Jurong Industrial Area, Siglap Catchment Drainage Scheme and Drainage Improvement to the Pang Sua and Woodlands Catchment Areas. These schemes will alleviate floodings in the Tanjong Katong; Kranji; Jurong, Jalan Eunos, Frankel Avenue and Bukit Panjang areas. Mr Chairman, Sir, the Member for Alexandra has also been complaining to me about floodings in the Stirling Road area of his constituency. Sir, the area referred to is part of the catchment which is presently being served by the Stirling Road Outlet Drain and its tributaries. Various developments in the catchment have increased the surface run-off substantially, resulting in the drains being inadequate to convey storm run-offs. Flooding is expected to be more severe and more frequent in the coming years in view of the continuing land development in the catchment, particularly in the upper reaches of the catchment. My Ministry proposes to reconstruct the drains to alleviate flooding. The project estimated to cost $17 million would increase the conveyance capacity of the Stirling Road Outlet Drain so as to contain the flooding situation in the area. The Member for Kaki Bukit has also complained of the state of affairs in our public toilets and wants to know what could be done to improve them. At present, there are about 15,000 public toilets in Singapore. And the common complaints of public toilets are wet floors, dirty toilet seats, unflushed toilet bowls, damaged wash basins, damaged flushing cisterns.”
“While it may bring significant improvement to flood areas downstream of Swiss Cottage, it will not bring significant improvement to flood areas upstream of Swiss Cottage unless Bukit Timah Canal is adequately widened to carry storm waters without overflowing its banks. So the answer to the Member's question is, we have to widen the mid-section of Bukit Timah Canal. The Member has also expressed some concern for the nurseries at the floral mile, along Dunearn Road which have to be resited. Sir, when the project is completed, the strip of land between the widened Bukit Timah Canal and Dunearn Road will still be big enough to accommodate the nurseries,should they want to go back to the present site. Incidentally, Sir, these nurseries use the present site as a staging point for their sales. Speaking of nurseries, Sir, of the 18 nurseries at the floral mile along Dunearn Road, only 11 have got to be resited due to projects of one kind or another. But of the 11, only four are affected by the Bukit Timah Canal widening, and these are the four who can go back to their present site if they want to after the completion of the project. For the record, Sir, the four nurseries I am talking about are Evershine Florist, Rose Garden, Khai Seng Garden and Coronation Nursery. The other seven, I am afraid, have got to be resited permanently because they are affected by PWD's Whitley Road flyover scheme. Speaking of flood alleviation schemes, I would like to inform this House that apart from the massive Bukit Timah Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase II, the Drainage Department of my Ministry has also obtained approval to implement the following drainage Schemes over the next few years.”
“Before launching this scheme, Sir, a comprehensive study was conducted by the Drainage Department of my Ministry, and among its recommendations are (1) the construction of this diversion canal at Swiss Cottage to divert the flow of water from Bukit Timah Canal into Kallang River; (2) the widening of the mid-section of Bukit Timah Canal itself from Coronation Road to Swiss Cottage; (3) the widening and deepening of Kallang River itself, from Jalan Toa Payoh to Sir Arthur's Bridge; and (4) the deepening and widening of all subsidiary drains which come under this scheme. Sir, Government has approved the expenditure of some $240 million for this project. Tenders will be called in the third quarter of this year, and the whole project is expected to be completed in 1990. Sir, some Members of this House may recall that following severe floodings in the 1960s, a major flood control measure was undertaken by the Government by constructing a trans-catchment diversion canal at the upper third of the Bukit Timah Canal to divert flow from the Bukit Timah Canal into Sungei Ulu Pandan. Called the Bukit Timah Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase I, this diversion canal taps the flow just upstream of the Sixth Avenue/Bukit Timah Road junction into Sungei Ulu Pandan at the Clementi Road/Ulu Pandan junction. The Member wants to know whether the widening of Bukit Timah Canal is necessary. In other words, can we do without it? Sir, my answer is no. Unlike the Phase 1 Flood Alleviation Scheme, where the diversion canal was built upstream of the flood areas thereby bringing significant improvement to flood areas downstream, the Phase 2 Bukit Timah Alleviation Scheme calls for the construction of the diversion canal at Swiss Cottage which is within the flood area itself.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, my Senior Parliamentary Secretary will be replying to points raised by Members on hawkers and hawker related issues. First, I will give a reply to the Member for Kaki Bukit who has touched on the Ministry's Bukit Timah Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase II, involving the construction of a diversion canal at Swiss Cottage. I think, if I got him correctly, he wants to know whether this scheme would solve the problem of flooding, particularly in Bukit Timah area. Sir, the incidents of flooding in any catchment are attributed to a number of factors, chief of which are heavy rainfall (worse still, if it is continuous heavy rainfall for days on end, like the one we experienced about two weeks ago), tidal influence; low-lying nature of the catchment and the limited conveyance capacity of the drainage system in the catchment. Sir, of all these factors, unpredictability of weather, especially our weather in Singapore, is something beyond our control. You see, Sir, the drainage system of a catchment is designed for storms of a certain magnitude. When this capacity is exceeded, due to freak weather conditions or other factors, the drains overflow and flooding results. So the drainage system of a catchment cannot eradicate flooding. It can, however, alleviate flooding in catchment. Sir, the diversion canal at Swiss Cottage which the Member for Kaki Bukit mentioned is, as I have stated earlier on, part of the Ministry's Bukit Timah Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase II.”
“Sir, as I have said, the architect is presently working towards complying with requirements prescribed by the various authorities, after which tenders will be called. The duration of the renovation works after tenders have been called will be about eight months. PROPERTY TAX REBATE (Extension to tenanted business premises) 8. Dr Arthur Beng Kian Lam asked the Minister for Finance and Minister for Health whether he will consider extending the property tax rebate, announced in the Interim Report of the Economic Committee, to non-owner occupied business premises, with the proviso that the landlord passes on part of the benefit to the tenants.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the mosque at Palmer Road referred to by the Member for Pasir Panjang is known as the Masjid Haji Mohd Salleh. There are plans to repair the mosque. In fact, it is part of the renovation programme of the adjacent Keramat Habib Noh. The Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) has appointed an architect for the project. The Member may be pleased to know that the Chief Planner has given approval for the renovation plans subject to compliance with the requirements by certain authorities such as the URA, the Land Office, the Preservation of Monuments Board, the Parks and Recreation Department, the Roads Division of PWD and the Sewerage and Drainage Departments of the Ministry of the Environment. The architect is presently working towards complying with these requirements, after which tenders will be called for the renovation works to begin. Encik Abbas Abu Amin (Pasir Panjang)( In Malay): This mosque is one of the mosques located in our city, and it is also the focal point of not only local Muslims but also Muslims who visit our city. The question I wish to ask is: can these renovation works be expedited because the mosque is now in a bad state of disrepair?”
“Because they operate with minimum cost, minimum overheads and with minimum standards of public health. We have passed this stage, Sir. We should look forward and not look back.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the policy on pig farming will be announced by my Parliamentary Secretary soon. What I would like to do is to add to what he has said on street hawkers. Sir, having been told of the environmental problems caused by street hawkers, I hope Members of this House will be in a better position to understand why Government has to take this hard-headed decision of not allowing hawkers on the streets. Sir, over the years, street hawkers have been resited into markets and hawker centres where they can operate under more hygienic conditions with proper facilities, waste disposal and pollution control. My Ministry does not wish to see street hawkers, pasar malams, Sunday markets, being reintroduced in Singapore. We should not portray ourselves as a nation of street vendors. Mr Speaker, Sir, if we aspire to reach the status of a developed country, then we should strive to reach for high standards of orderliness, high standards of efficiency, high standards of public health. Street hawkers, pasar malams, Sunday markets, are usually associated with the less developed countries. Some hon. Members: No.”
“I would like to assure him that the implementation plan for resettling pig farmers is being actively worked out, and we expect to be able to make an announcement concerning the details of this programme shortly. The Member for Punggol also commented on the use of cleared farming land for some other economic activity. Sir, anybody in Singapore who is interested in conducting some non-pollutive farming activity is welcomed to make proposals on the use of such land to the Primary Production Department. The Department will look favourably upon any such request, provided the originator of the idea is willing to accept a short-term lease on the land, because the nature of clearing the land means that such land is intended for other public development project at a later stage. And to extend long-term leases on such land would, in the net result, inhibit the development of new projects when they are required. So it is again simplistic to say: let us go out and plant durian trees on such land. Everybody knows a durian tree takes many years to grow and fruit, six to seven years at the minimum. So if we are to plant durian trees on all the cleared farming land, it means that we would have to commit ourselves to 10-15 years without any use of the land, because for the first seven years, you are not going to harvest any fruit, and thereafter it takes a certain amount of time before you can recover your costs? I think we need to look at other more productive, higher turnover type of farming for such land.”
“The fact that such hawkers wander around, today he is here and tomorrow he has gone to another place, means that it would be very difficult to trace or detect the causes of food poisoning. Sir, overall, my Ministry is not in favour of promoting such itinerant street hawkers. I next come to the Member for Punggol. He spoke about wet markets. He spoke about the advantages offered by the wet markets. On 7th of this month, in reply to a question, I have already informed the House that a very intensive study was carried out to review the use and the benefits of building more wet markets and food centres. The result of the study indicates that better alternatives are available which are more in keeping with the lifestyle that is evolving in Singapore today. Sir, to say that not providing wet market and food centre would naturally cause an increase in food price is an over-simplification. It is a simplistic conclusion which can only be arrived at by those who choose to ignore the obvious. Between 1971 and 1984, Sir, the Government provided a total of 25,448 market and cooked food stalls. This has not at all stopped food prices from increasing over these years. We all know very well that in 1970 what could be purchased for 50 cents will now cost more. The Member for Toa Payoh referred to a plate of kway teow costing $1.50 now. The cost of food, whether it is cooked food or fresh market produce, is dependent on many other factors, such as the cost and the availability of labour, the material cost itself, the demand for the particular item and the season when the item is available. It is not so much the availability of the stall itself. 12.15 pm Sir, the Member for Punggol spoke on the progress of resettlement of pig farmers.”
“Sir, I next turn to the Member for Buona Vista and the Member for Anson. Both have spoken on the itinerant street hawkers, especially those associated with vanishing trades. Sir, I understand the emotional appeal and the nostalgia attached to such itinerant street hawkers, I too grew up in a time when there were many of them around. But such street hawkers, if they were encouraged, would invariably lead to a proliferation of many other similar street hawkers and as a result, give rise to many undesirable consequences, such as pollution and congestion and obstruction, which are points that I have raised before, Sir, as for hawkers of a vanishing trade character which have some nostalgic value, I believe the Government is taking other steps to allow them to continue to ply their wares and practise their trades. For instance, the Handicraft Centre will be offering such an opportunity. Likewise, I am aware that the Government is also thinking of building a Malay kampong where certain other trades can be allowed. Perhaps the kachang puteh man might find a more permanent home in parts of Little India which has been proposed to be preserved. Sir, regarding the street hawkers selling food, including rojak, as brought up by the Member for Anson, I would like to remind him that for a person to sell food on a bicycle, it is obvious that he does not have adequate means of maintaining basic standards of hygiene and cleanliness. The food is also exposed to dust and fume which one finds on the road. The Member is indicating to me that it is covered up. Sir, I do not see how you could ply your rojak in a hermetically sealed container. If we were to promote such itinerant street hawking of food, we are promoting an untraceable source of public health hazard, such as food poisoning.”
“I will leave the Member for Whampoa to deal with the spiritual pollution. Mr Chairman, Sir, my Ministry has plans to resettle the Bugis Street hawkers into two new markets-cum-cooked food centres - one in Jurong East New Town and the other in Jurong West New Town. The activities of these hawkers give rise to water pollution, choked drains, littering and, worst of all, Sir, rats infestation. Most of the buildings in the area are still using bucket latrines and they are constructed back-to-back and therefore could not be hooked on to available public sewers in the vicinity. Sir, an MRT station will also be constructed in Victoria Street and part of Bugis Street will be affected. With the noise and continuous construction work in progress, the hawkers may find it difficult to operate there. We are in the process of resettling them. But the Ministry of National Development, together with the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board, is conducting a feasibility study to preserve Bugis Street. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications and Information and the Minister for the Environment (Dr Lee Boon Yang): Sir, I will respond first to the Member for Braddell Heights who commented on the need for upgrading the food centre and market in his constituency. Improvement to food centres and markets is an on-going programme within my Ministry. We have been doing this for several years, and in the coming fiscal year we have a budget item for improving such public places. As I reported yesterday, in reply to the Member for Pasir Panjang, in fiscal year 1985 we will be providing better roof insulation for that food centre. Likewise, we will look into the older food centres throughout Singapore and, where it is necessary, such improvements will be made.”
“The other source of pollution in the Kallang Basin comes from the street hawkers of Bugis Street. They cause food waste, sullage water, refuse to be discharged into the Basin. Mr Chairman, Sir, I wish to assure the Member for Whampoa that cleaning up of the Kallang Basin, including the Sungei Whampoa, is one of my Ministry's top priorities. The bulk of the sources of pollution should be cleared by 1987 and water should be much cleaner then.”