Ang Kok Peng
Singapore
“Sir, earlier this morning, the House was informed that HDB has an ongoing project to detect urine in lifts by installing urine sensors inside the lifts. Will the Minister inform us whether the purpose is to expedite the cleansing of the lifts after somebody has urinated or is it to catch culprits urinating?”
“Sir, I believe there are regulations under the Destruction of Disease-Bearing Insects Act which require building contractors to take adequate measures to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes at construction sites.”
“Sir, may I ask the Minister how many statutory boards are retaining the services of their low income employees aged over 60 years? And would the Minister agree that the information I am seeking now should be given fair publicity so that the private sector employers could be encouraged to follow suit.”
“Sir, I have two questions for the Minister. How many blocks of flats along Avenue 8 Ang Mo Kio are really having a higher dose of noise because of the MRT system? What other areas near the MRT system will experience a higher noise level in future when more MRT lines become operational?”
“Sir, I have two supplementary questions for the Senior Parliamentary Secretary. First, has the Ministry conducted any survey to find out whether the disposable ware used by food hawkers and vendors in Singapore are of a quality that meets the safety specifications adopted by advanced countries such as the USA or UK?”
“Sir, I would like to seek some clarification from the Minister. Clause 34 which replaces section 42 of the Environmental Public Health Act being repealed provides for the licensing of itinerant hawkers. Today, apart from the ice-cream vendors who are mobile, all hawkers are now operating from stationary stalls.”
The complete record
Every one of 198 lines we hold for Ang Kok Peng, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 4.
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the Motion moved by the Member for Mountbatten to thank the President for his speech outlining the policy of the Government. In doing so, I wish to make some comments first on the Addendum on the Ministry of Education and then on some of the other Addenda. Except for the Special Assistance Plan schools, most secondary schools have been allocated the Express and Normal stream pupils in the recent post-PSLE exercise. This is a step in the right direction as it will demonstrate to the parents that the Ministry intends to make all schools equally effective so that their children will not be unduly disadvantaged by not being in the better known schools. It is highly desirable for all schools to have a fair share of the more capable pupils who will be able to provide leadership. At the same time, by spreading them out it will afford them more opportunity to give full play to their leadership talents. In the Addendum, the stated object for streaming pupils according to their ability is to enable them to be taught at the most suitable pace. It would therefore seem logical to consider introducing a system whereby pupils are grouped according to their ability in each subject so that they can be taught at a pace commensurate with their learning ability. In this way, no pupils need be under great pressure to keep pace with the fast learners nor the fast learners need to be held back by the slower pupils. The establishment of a Schools Council is most welcome. Through it, the schools are able to participate in the decision-making process of the Ministry and contribute to a better system of education. In the first stage the schools are to be represented by 20 principals selected by the Ministry.”
“Sir, in view of the explanation given by the Minister, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Eric Cheong Yuen Chee:- (4) That the sum to be allocated for Head R be reduced by the whole sum in respect of Subhead Code RC-02 of the Main Estimates.”
“Sir, these two matters are important, and I would like to ask the Minister to let the House know what progress has been made on them so far.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head R be reduced by $10 in respect of Object Group 1100 of Subhead Code RA-01 of the Main Estimates. Sir, a year ago, the Minister for Labour, recognising the enhanced earning capacity of our workers and the higher cost of living, informed the House that the Workmen's Compensation Act would be amended accordingly to provide for a fairer compensa- tion for injured workers and the dependants of deceased workers [Vol. 38, col. 795]. Among the amendments being considered were the raising of the eligibility wage ceiling of $750 per month for non-manual workers which was fixed in 1971, and an upward revision of the quanta of maximum compensation payable for death and permanent incapacity fixed in 1975. When fixing the new eligibility wage ceiling for non-manual workers and the quanta of compensation for injury and death, will the Minister consider including a provision in the Amendment Bill for the periodic upward adjustment of the eligibility wage ceiling and the quanta of compensation to take into account the increasing wages and the rising cost of living? This will obviate the need for the Minister to come to the House whenever a necessary revision has to be made. This makes for more speedy response to changing circumstances through an administrative process. On another matter, the Minister, in reply to a Member, also informed the House that the use of CPF money for life insurance purposes was being deliberated upon. The rationale for this consideration was to include an insurance element in the CPF scheme so as to provide better protection for members' families, especially in the event of the untimely death of young workers early in employment.”
“What puzzles me here is that in 1978 Singapore attained a per capita GDP approaching that of Japan in 1972. Between 1973 and 1978, Japan's GNP grew by less than an average rate of 5%. Perhaps the Minister may care to enlighten me here as to why we need 12 years to reach the 1978 per capita GNP of Japan if we assume such a high rate of growth of 8 - 10% for Singapore. I welcome the Budget and fully endorse the various measures contained in its economic strategy. The across-the-board income tax reduction will encourage Singaporeans to give of their best. The fiscal and financial policies will provide the conditions for Singapore to strive towards the twin objectives of being a high-level technology manufacturing centre as well as an international financial centre. Sir, let us hope that we can still see a smiling Minister delivering another go-getter Budget next year. 5.09 p.m.”
“And in certain sectors where automation is not possible, increase in productivity becomes a difficult process. Nevertheless, it is correct to pay heed to any indication of a less than satisfactory productivity performance in any sector for we must avoid the trend observed in most of the industrialised countries where productivity in the service sector has been lower than in other sectors. Apart from the high employment growth there may be other factors responsible for the low productivity growth. A careful monitoring of the situation is therefore necessary to see what remedial measures can be taken. In the long run productivity growth does not depend on capital and machinery alone. Motivation and attitude of our new generation of workers are crucial. Coming to the Budget itself. The world economic outlook for this year seems quite dismal. The developed countries would likely have only a zero to 1% growth rate in 1980. High inflation and unemployment will continue to plague these countries. Unrelenting trade protectionism will remain the order of the day. In the difficult world of to-day it was unusual to see a Minister smiling happily as he entered the House to deliver his Budget speech. His mood was right as he later presented in the House a very generous Budget which was hailed as a joy Budget, give-sway-Budget, painless Budget, etc. In many other countries, this is a period of belt-tightening rather than a time for tax liberalisation. Hence, the Budget before the House is an expression of great confidence. According to the Budget Statement, if we succeed in achieving an 8-10% annual growth rate in the Eighties, we shall attain in 1990 a per capita income of $15,000 to $18,000 (at 1979 prices) which Japan has already achieved in 1978.”
“The Russian invasion of Afghanistan and the continuous Vietnamese aggression in Kampuchea presented a threat to world peace and stability. For the third successive year the world economy moved along sluggishly. The oil price went up to twice what it was a year ago. The problems of inflation and unemployment were still intractable. In this setting, the economy of the industrialised countries grew by 2 to 6% whereas the inflation rates varied from 3.3 to 14.8% Our economic growth of 9.3% in real terms with a low inflation rate of 4% is, therefore, a highly commendable achievement. It speaks well for the foresight and careful planning of the Government and the industry of our people who have assiduously striven for higher skills. Our economic growth is also particularly satisfying in that all sectors of the economy expanded, and substantial investments went into plant and machinery. Heartening to note is that in 1979 alone investors committed a total of $943 million in new investments, reflecting the continuous confidence in Singapore and her economic strategy. The Survey noted that productivity growth fell to 2.6% from 4% last year due to the low productivity of the financial and business services sector where there was an exceptionally high employment growth rate. Productivity change for one or two years does not have much meaning in itself. By its nature it has to be measured over a longer period of time. When productivity is measured in terms of value added, this is highly susceptible to price fluctuation of raw materials and finished products. It also depends on the capital investment per worker, as investments in modern and efficient equipment may bring immediate increase in productivity.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to join my colleagues in paying compliments to the Minister for Trade and Industry for presenting a good Budget that has been received with popular acclaim by all and sundry, save those manufacturers who prospered under protective tariffs. The local industries should have realised that tariff protection would only last as long as was considered necessary. As early as 1968 Singapore stopped introducing now protective tariffs and from 1973 onwards protective tariffs have been progressively removed. This year's Economic Survey of Singapore which preceded the Minister's Budget speech is a well prepared document; it includes a timely review of Singapore's economy in the 70's as well as references to our economic performance in the 60's. It permits us to reflect on our past achievements and plan for our future. In reading this Survey, one cannot help but derive tremendous reassurance that our economic development has been guided by very competent hands with the full support of a people who responded well to the demands of changing circumstances. In the 70's, the world was beset with many woes - turbulence, recession, the 1973 oil crisis with its subsequent continuously rising oil prices, and protectionism in world trade. Against this backdrop Singapore's economy grew by an average rate of 9.4%. and the standard of living of the people improved by leaps and bounds. Our per capita GNP of $8,232 in 1979 is almost three times that at the beginning of the decade. Such a performance is no mean achievement measured by any yard-stick. We have ended the decade with our economy having a more diversified structure and firmer foundation from which we can soar to greater heights of development. 1979 had been a difficult year.”
“In the meantime, he may wish to consider appointing some Polytechnic graduates, who have distinguished themselves in the various professions, as members of the Board of Governors under clause 2 of the Amendment Bill when it comes into force. I am confident that such members will render valuable service to their Alma Mater”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to make some comments on the Amendment Bill before the House. Clause 5 of the Amendment Bill introduces nine new sections, 13 to 21. Of these new provisions, section 13 subsections (1), (2) and (3), and section 21 subsections 1 (e) and 1 (f) have caused great apprehension among a certain section of the students in the Singapore Polytechnic. They feel that these provisions encroach upon their basic rights to organise student activities. In this connection, the students should now have their fear allayed by the speech of the Hon. Minister which clearly shows that it is not really his intention to suppress legitimate and healthy student activities which are so much an integral part of the educational process of students in an institution of higher learning. Mr Speaker, Sir, I note that neither in the Singapore Polytechnic Act (Chapter 180 of the Revised Edition) nor in the Singapore Polytechnic (Amendment) Bill before the House is there provision for a Guild of Graduates of the Polytechnic, nor is there provision for the Polytechnic Graduates to be represented on the Board of Governors. As the Minister is aware, he being an academic besides wearing his many different hats, there is a Guild of Graduates of the University of Singapore and that the Guild elects four members to the University Council which can have a maximum membership of 18. Through this provision in the University of Singapore Act, these elected members from the Guild have over the years contributed in no small measure to the development of the University of Singapore into an esteemed place of higher learning. I hope that the Hon. Minister will consider introducing a provision in the Singapore Polytechnic (Amendment) Bill for a similar organisation in some future date.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, on 27th May, 1977, I first touched on the question of an amendment to subsection (1) of section 48A of the Housing and Development Act to allow an owner or lessee of a Housing and Development Board flat to purchase a commercial property for conducting his own business. I am gratified that the Amendment Bill before the House has incorporated such an amendment. However, I would like to seek clarification from the Hon, Minister on subsection (1 A) of section 48A regarding this amendment. There is no mention of joint ownership of a commercial property, In this connection may I ask whether any owner or occupier of an HDB flat can purchase jointly with others a commercial property of any value so long as his share of the commercial property does not have a value exceeding the amount regulated by this subsection.”
“" Using the statistics given therein, among the poor schools 16% are government-aided schools and 84% are government schools, although the number of government-aided schools is only slightly less than that of the government schools: 44% against 56% according to the Report. This does not speak well for government schools. Parents providing better home background are the very ones who are more discriminating in the choice of schools and are naturally attracted to good schools. Unless something is done, the poor schools will not be able to attract pupils from good home background and will remain poor schools. The Ministry should take appropriate measures to improve the situation so that all schools can have a fair distribution of pupils from varying home background and parents can then be spared the anxiety over the choice of schools, and the morale of teachers in these poor schools can be raised with an attendant improvement in performance. The Report makes no reference to one-sex schools. Are they more successful, I wonder, and hence more popular among parents than mixed schools? If so, what are the contributing factors, and why not have more of such schools? What about the integrated schools? What has happened to them? Why is there no mention about them in the Report? Mr Speaker, Sir, many of the other issues such as the careful implementation of the streaming process, the teaching of moral values, the introduction of uniform standards in all schools, care to avoid unduly overloading our pupils and the raising of the morale of the principals and teachers, are issues which are important and which I myself would wish to raise but as they have been so eloquently covered by several Members of the House, I do not wish to repeat them.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, like so many of my colleagues who spoke before me, I wish to congratulate the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education for the excellent Report on the Ministry of Education tabled in the House. I consider it an important document prepared with the same thoroughness that so characterised the many successful undertakings of the Deputy Prime Minister. It is a praiseworthy discourse on the past ills and the present state of affairs of our education system, and it also contains carefully considered recommendations for a restructure of the education system and an overhaul of the administrative machinery of the Ministry of Education. The study leading to this Report was a timely one; we can no longer afford to keep on muddling along in a matter that affects all our children and hence the very future of our Nation. That the Study Team made a careful analysis of the past and present state of our education system is not to be disputed and, in fact, is to be highly commended. In examining the Report my impression is that the recommendations contained therein are sound. However, on reflection I am surprised that since the Study Team has frankly disclaimed any professional expertise in education it has not considered it necessary to submit its recommendations to professionals for an assessment to see whether the recommended system so devised can achieve the objectives for which the system is designed. I think there is merit in so doing before implementing the proposed system. Now I would like to raise a few specific points. In Chapter 3 of the Report a conclusion is made that "most of the good schools are government-aided schools whose pupils are mainly from better home background.”
“Sir, in view of the very satisfactory answer, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment by leave, withdrawn.”
“Yes, perhaps I should ask for more some day.”
“Sir, I would like to seek clarification from the Minister. He said that an unlimited number of sons and daughters could be included. But what is the rationale in this particular case for allowing only one son to be included as a partner?”
“Another matter I wish to raise relates to the lessee of a HDB shop premises. A shop owner may have to depend on his children for assistance in operating the business. When such children are working full-time in the shop, the owner wishing to include them as partners may encounter some difficulty. If I may refer to a recent case, it was only after I made representation to the Hon. Minister, that permission was very promptly given for one of the three sons to be included as a partner without any upward revision of rent. On behalf of my constituent, I am grateful to him. However, this does not mean that I am fully satisfied as I would have liked the Minister to have shown a greater measure of understanding, and that is to permit all the three sons to be included as partners as they have been working full-time in the family business. May I know from the Hon. Minister if it is the policy of his Ministry to allow only one son or daughter to be included as partner of a parent's business?”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head U be reduced by $10 in respect of Object Group 1100 of Subhead Code UA-01 of the Main Estimates. As far as I can recollect, there has been no amendment to subsection (1) of section 48A of the Housing and Development Act in order to allow an owner or lessee of a Housing and Development Board flat to purchase a commercial property for conducting his own business without having to surrender his HDB flat. I understand that to-date, well over 60% of our population reside in HDB flats. These dwellers are therefore precluded from owning commercial premises. What I cannot understand is that we are, on the one hand, encouraging our citizens to develop entrepreneur skill and, on the other, we are precluding the dwellers of HDB flats from acquiring commercial properties for their own business ventures. On 27th May, 1977, in reply to a question posed by me, the then Senior Minister of State for National Development informed the House that the question of allowing owners or lessees of HDB flats to purchase commercial property for conducting their own business without having to surrender their flats was being considered by his Ministry and that a decision would be forthcoming in perhaps a few months' time. Almost 22 months have gone by, during which period the Ministry of National Development had a change of Parliamentary Secretaries, a resettlement of two Senior Ministers of State to other Ministries and a change of Ministers. You will agree that this is indeed a long period of time. Hence, the Minister would not consider me impatient if I were now to ask him whether the House can be informed as to the Ministry's decision on this matter of commercial property ownership.”
“Sir, I would like to join the hon. Member for Alexandra in his appeal to the Minister to revise the income ceiling of $750 per month so as to enable people with a higher income to claim workmen's compensation. I understand that this amount was fixed several years ago while in the meantime our workmen's earnings have increased substantially. To reinforce my colleague's argument, I would like to cite an example. If the National Wages Council's yearly recommendation had been implemented in full for the period 1972-78, a workman earning $200 per month in 1972 before the NWC wage adjustment would now be earning 82% more, and one earning $750 per month, 60% more. In view of this, I think the Hon. Minister should look into this matter to revise the amount of $750 to make it commensurate with the higher income of our non-manual workmen. I would also like to draw the Hon. Minister's attention to another aspect of the Workmen's Compensation Act. In 1975, the quantum of maximum compensation payable in fatal cases was raised from $21,000 to $35,000 and, in permanent incapacity cases, from $28,000 to $45,000. Bearing in mind the increased earning capacity of our workers and the higher cost of living, would the Hon. Minister now consider it opportune to increase the maximum quantum of compensation in both cases?”
“Sir, may I, as a matter of interest, seek clarification on one point? How many of those countries that have ratified both The Hague and Montreal Conventions have invoked them in dealing with hijackers?”
“For such a case, you will note that Article 7 of The Hague Convention and a similarly numbered Article of the Montreal Convention make it mandatory for that Contracting State to deal with the offence of hijacking as an offence of a serious nature under the law of that State which is likely to carry the same penalty as clause 8 of the Bill before the House. Would the Minister then agree that it is therefore not to our disadvantage to revise clause 8 of the Bill to make the penalty consistent with the graveness of the offence according to our law. 3.53 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Bill tabled by the Minister for Home Affairs and Education, In recent years the unlawful seizure of aircraft, commonly referred to as hijacking, has occurred on many an occasion, sometimes with loss of lives. Only last year an aircraft of a foreign country in domestic flight was hijacked and flown to Singapore. Hijacking an aircraft endangers the safety of persons and property and undermines the confidence of the people in the safety of civil aviation. It is therefore necessary that there are appropriate measures to deal with criminal offences of this nature. Both The Hague and Montreal Conventions are designed to suppress such unlawful acts by providing the procedural instrument for hijackers to be dealt with and punished by the relevant Contracting States. It is timely that we now introduce the necessary legislation to deal adequately and speedily with such unlawful acts against the safety of civil aviation committed in the territory under our jurisdiction or on board an aircraft registered in our country. In going through the Bill, I find the penalty provided under clause 8 of the Bill not consistent with the penalty provided in our other Bills where a lighter offence, e.g. the illegal possession of a certain quantity of hallucinating drugs, is punishable with the capital sentence. Clause 3 of Article 4 of The Hague Convention and clause 3 of Article 5 of the Montreal Convention make provision for the exercise of criminal jurisdiction in accordance with the national law of each Contracting State. I therefore see no reason for this inconsistency. I do, however, recognise that a treaty of extradition between States may contain a provision for a State to exercise its discretion not to extradite an alleged offender.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Senior Minister give an indication as to when a decision will be made?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in fact, I have very carefully avoided the term "nightclubs". I just mentioned for decorative purposes and for producing certain stage effects especially in places of entertainment. I am sure the Minister is aware that there are many places of entertainment which are not nightclubs and yet his explanation seems to confine to nightclubs. Sir, the Minister's excellence is not in the area of the technical field, and though his cursory comment on ultra-violet lights is unsatisfactory, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.”
“This method of the ends justifying the means does not care for the difficulty and the plight of these people. It is too rigid and not humane. This would give rise to a lot of hardship to these people. I would therefore plead for flexibility and leniency in dealing with such cases. I will therefore propose to the Minister concerned two alternative propositions to help them. The first is to issue them with temporary licences for these small business operations for a few more years to enable them to carry on their business while they try to change their method of earning a living. The alternative is to give these people a hawker licence and allocate them a hawker stall so that they have some other alternative means of livelihood. When I suggest the method of issuing hawker licences to these people, I hope the Minister will inform the Hawkers' Department to issue or grant licences directly to such people, so that they will not have to be confronted with a lot of frustrating conditions to be imposed by the Hawkers' Department resulting in the rejection of their applications. This is my hope which I pray the Minister will consider sympathetically.”
“These people only know how to make use of their own effort and labour to do a small business in their own homes for a living. They think there is nothing wrong in doing this kind of business. As far as they can see, this is not a crime. Neither do they know that they have to apply to the Ministry of the Environment for Iicences to operate such business. In fact, right from the very beginning when they started such business, no Government officers had ever informed them of the requirement to apply for a licence to operate such a business. So all along they have been dependent on business as their sole means of livelihood. Now the situation is different. When officers from the Environmental Health Section of the Ministry come to notice the existence of this business, they would send out letters asking them to stop operations forthwith and also informing them of the requirement to apply for licences, however long they might have been operating. These people are also told that they have been doing illegal business all this time as unauthorised eating houses or unauthorised food manufacturers. The modus operandi of this Department is this. First they start off politely - give you a letter or notice to stop your business, and if it is not complied with, a summons will be issued. Then you know you will be fined or have to pay a composition in lieu of a fine. Then the money paid can get one out of trouble. After the payment of a fine on composition, if the order is not complied with, then the premises will be required to be demolished. Otherwise official action will be taken to demolish the premises. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this is too strict an enforcement because the livelihood of these people is threatened. How are they going to earn their living?”
“Mr Lee Yiok Seng (Bukit Panjang)(In Mandarin): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, my colleague has told us just now that the Ministry of the Environment has done very well in looking after the environmental health of Singapore. I agree with him. But there are always two sides to a story. Although you may be successful in one aspect some other matters are affected. The Hon. Minister in his efforts to enhance the environmental health has given rise to some other problems. I would like to let him know of these problems. In the rural areas, for example, many families are engaged in the preparation and operation of a great variety of food. In addition to the manufacture of food, they are also engaged in selling coffee, cooked food, cake making, biscuits, bread, taohu, taokua bean curd, fish ball, etc. This family business provides the supply of cooked food and other prepared food for neighbouring residents in the rural areas and for the hawkers in the vicinity. This kind of business is run on a family basis, a small-time business. Everybody in the family works hard and they depend on this small business for their livelihood. These people have been doing such business for many, many years. Many of them have inherited their business from their ancestors for a few decades. At least, some of them have five to six years' history in doing this kind of business. Although they are running a small business, the whole family depends on this kind of business for their livelihood and they are able to live quite happily. 6.30 p.m. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as I have said earlier in this House, the people in the rural areas are not so well versed in Government administration and the organisation of the Government departments.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head U be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead BAA 1101* (*The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Lee Yiok Seng) Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in moving this amendment I do not intend to belittle the efforts of the Ministry of the Environment; on the contrary, I wish to congratulate the Hon. Minister for looking after the environment of Singapore so wonderfully well. He has set a very high standard of environmental health and his Ministry has measured up to it remarkably well. Hence, a clean and green Singapore, among the best in public health. However, there are still areas for improvement. Sir, in the Addendum to the Presidential Address, the Minister for the Environment said that air pollution was on the increase and that anti-pollution measures would have to be enforced more stringently. I cannot agree with him more in this respect. I would, therefore, like to draw his attention to the poor ventilation of the car parks inside some high-rise buildings. The question I would like to pose is whether the Hon. Minister is aware of this fact, and whether any measure has been taken to rectify the situation and also to ascertain the health hazards to personnel working for long periods of time in such places. The second matter I would like to raise is that on the use of ultra-violet light for decorative purposes and for producing certain stage effects, especially in places of entertainment. As the Minister is aware that ultra-violet light is harmful to human eyes and skin, would he therefore consider taking appropriate measures to dissuade the public from using ultra-violet light for such purposes.”
“Accordingly the Board is empowered to remove the names of such persons from the register or roll or impose as it sees fit lesser penalties such as cautioning, censuring or suspending persons for adverse practice. The Board is also empowered where it deems fit to restore names of persons to the register or roll. Aggrieved persons are allowed to appeal to the High Court. A registrar of the Board is to be appointed and he shall be responsible for the preparation and maintenance of the register and roll and act as secretary to the Board. The Act also prevents unqualified persons from taking the titles of nurse or midwife so that the public will not be misled. An offence under this section carries a fine not exceeding $1,000. The Bill seeks to repeal the Nurses Registration Act and the Midwives Act. However, those whose names are already on the register or roll of nurses and midwives prior to the passing of this Bill will be deemed to have been registered or enrolled. 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.-[Dr Ang Kok Peng]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. INCOME TAX (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 5.10 p.m.”
“Consequently midwifery should logically be regarded as another branch of nursing, the separate law on midwifery be abolished, and the activities in regard to nursing and midwifery be put under the jurisdiction of a single board The Singapore Nursing Board. This Board will supersede the Nursing and the Midwives Boards. The consolidation of the two professions and services will also lead to administrative convenience. This, however, does not mean that midwives will play a role secondary to that of the nurses, neither does it suggest that midwifery is to be governed by a nursing body. On the contrary, the composition of the Board allows for both midwives and nurses to be represented. In addition to the traditional role of midwives which was confined in the main to the delivering of babies and giving advice to mothers on the care of children, the midwives nowadays also have an important role to play in family planning by giving counsel to parents on the need for planning a small family. The Singapore Nursing Board will be responsible for ensuring that nurses and midwives who are to be emplaced on the register or roll have been adequately trained in accordance with the courses and examinations conducted by the Board. The Board shall also have powers to determine what qualifications are necessary for anyone seeking to be emplaced on its register or roll. In short, it will oversee, maintain and improve the standards of practice and conduct of nurses and midwives. The Board is empowered also to impose punitive measures on those who choose to bring the professions to disrepute.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The Bill will bring about an amalgamation of the nursing and midwifery professions by having one controlling body to regulate their activities. These two professions are now quite separate. Each is governed by its own regulatory body: the nurses by the Nursing Board and the midwives by the Midwives Board. Both Boards were established under authority of separate laws. The first legislation on nurses known as the Nurses Registration Ordinance came into effect in February, 1949, and a Nursing Board was established to maintain a register of nurses and to regulate on the training and conduct of nurses. The legislation for midwives was introduced very much earlier. The Midwives Ordinance was brought into effect in July, 1917. Amendments were passed subsequently in 1923 and 1924, and in 1959 new regulations were incorporated. Under this Ordinance, a Midwives Board was established with the function of maintaining a register and regulating the training and conduct of midwives. Times have changed. Midwifery has now become a subject of study in the training of nurses. It is also taken as a course in the post-basic nursing training. Furthermore, fewer people arc choosing midwifery training solely. The sophistication of our population, increasing urbanisation and the extensive and comprehensive medical services have reduced the demand for domiciliary midwifery. More than 80% of all deliveries in Singapore are now undertaken in our Government medical institutions. The rest are delivered mainly in maternity homes. Only a few are delivered by private midwives at home.”
“Where the Auditor-General is not the auditor, copies of the audited financial statements are to be forwarded to him at the same time as and when the auditor submits accounts to the Board. 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.-[Dr Ang Kok Peng]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. NURSES AND MIDWIVES BILL Order for Second Reading read. 5.00 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The proposed amendment is to allow the Singapore Family Planning and Population Board to adopt certain financial procedures so that the Board's financial accountability can be placed on a firm footing. These amendments are now required of any statutory board set up by the Government. In keeping with this move, the amendment will require the Board to keep proper accounts and records of monetary transactions, ensure that payments made are credited and properly authorised and proper control is maintained over its assets; in short, the Board is to take steps to ensure that money given to it is well and properly spent. It also allows the Board's accounts to be audited by the Auditor-General. However, where it has been decided that the Board's accounts are to be audited by any other qualified auditor, it shall be done with his concurrence. The duties of the auditor are clearly spelt out. He shall have to certify that financial statements reflect fairly the financial transactions and state of the Board as well as report on such matters which he considers should be reported upon at any time. A penalty is also imposed on persons who wilfully obstruct the auditor from performing his duty such as preventing access to any records which he may wish to see or withholding of information relevant to his work. The auditor is also entitled to make copies or extracts of documents. Further, apart from submitting his annual report the Auditor is empowered to inform the Minister on any relevant matter that comes to his notice at any time.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to thank the Member for River Valley for his views which will be conveyed to the Select Committee for consideration. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time. Resolved, "That the Medicines Bill be committed to a Select Committee consisting of Mr Speaker as Chairman and the following Members: Dr Ang Kok Peng Mr Ivan Baptist Mr Chan Chee Seng Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon Mr P. Govindaswamy Haji Sha'ari Bin Tadin Dr Tan Eng Liang."-[Dr Ang Kok Peng].”
“We will also rely on the independent reports published regularly by the World Health Organisation and internationally renowned research centres for making rational judgments on the safety and efficacy of particular drugs and their use in Singapore. To administer the law will require a large expansion of the section of the Poisons Inspectorate of the Ministry of Health. This section will be responsible for the keeping of the registers, issue of licences and inspections. There are provisions in the law for the Minister to appoint committees. Perhaps the one which would be of more immediate interest would be a Committee to deal with appeals against decisions taken administratively on licensing. Other expert committees such as a committee on safety may be introduced in due course. Because of the complexity of the Act and its far-reaching controls which will affect the fabric of medical practice and the pharmaceutical trade, it is recommended that the Bill be committed to a Select Committee. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. 4.15 p.m.”
“Their premises will have to be adequate with suitable storage and distributing space and equipment. Persons supervising the dealing of medicinal products at wholesale dealer's premises arc to be suitably qualified if dealers wish to deal in the sale and supply of non-general sales list products. It shall be mandatory for all licence holders to maintain adequate records for their transactions as well as ensure that such records are well and safely kept for inspection at reasonable times by the Ministry officials. Adequate records are required also to facilitate easy recall of drugs. The Bill also protects the purchaser from fraudulent representation on the safety, efficacy and quality of medicinal products. Medicinal products shall have to comply with the standards of relevant monographs if they are claimed to be sold or supplied in accordance with such specification. The Act has provisions for it to be brought into effect in parts. Thus one of the first parts to be implemented will be the notice categorising medicines on a general sales list and a non-general sales list. The next would be the regulations on registration of all medicines and medicinal products. The regulations would be for provisional licensing of medicinal products so that medicinal products on the market can continue to be available. In the advanced countries, research establishments undertake research into drugs, including clinical testing of their toxicity, effectiveness and side-effect. While our facilities and expertise in this field are not adequate for such comprehensive investigations of drugs, we are able for the time being to concentrate on testing the toxicity of drugs for which we can enlist the assistance of the Ministry of Science and Technology.”
“Medicines on the general sales list which are relatively harmless will be subject to less stringent control and may be sold as it is now being sold in our medicine shops, over the counter and without a prescription. Medicinal products will now be screened by the Ministry before they appear on the local market. Where necessary, the screening will be done by advisory committees. The evidence that is to be provided by applicants for a product licence will include details of pharmaceutical, bio-chemical and chemical formulation, conditions and locality of manufacture, details of qualified person supervising its manufacture, and results of trials carried out, and whether it complies with the laws of the country of manufacture if this is not manufactured locally. It shall be an offence to misrepresent any of these facts and the licensing authority is authorised to refuse to grant or revoke a licence and vary any or all of the conditions upon which the product licence has been granted. Penalties are provided for those who breach the law. Manufacturers of medicinal products will be required to apply for licences. The issuance for such a licence will be conditional on, amongst other requirements, suitability of personnel, equipment and premises, as well as adequacy of storage facilities. Only qualified persons should be employed by manufacturers to supervise production at each stage and deal in medicinal products. No person may manufacture a product if that product is not so licensed. Wholesale dealers will also be subject to licensing. The issuance of such a licence will be tied to amongst other requirements suitability of premises as well as the employment of qualified personnel.”
“However, we cannot adopt this simplistic attitude as we are an important centre of communications and trade. Nevertheless, we must exercise certain controls and restrictions while permitting legitimate pharmaceutical trade without compromising on the efficacy and quality of medicines available in Singapore. This Act attempts to do just that. The Act accordingly provides close control at all levels of the pharmaceutical trade - from the import and manufacture of drugs to the sale of drugs and even to the dispensing of drugs by practitioners and pharmacists. Strict regulations will be aimed at ensuring public safety. This is paramount. Further, in view of the general ignorance about medicine there are controls over advertisements and other techniques for promoting drug sales since doctors and patients are normally not in a position to verify the claims of manufacturers. The Act lays down in considerable detail the authority and the principles of control while the procedures for implementation will be set out in the regulations. The basic instrument to effect the objectives will be the product licence. Any persons wishing to import or manufacture any medicinal products will have to satisfy the licensing authority who is the Director of Medical Services that the product complies with certain quality standards. Medicinal products will be classified under two categories, (a) non-general sales list medicines and (b) general sales list medicines. Only qualified persons, i.e, doctors, dentists, pharmacists and veterinary surgeons, may deal with non-general sales list products.”
“Medicinal products prepared from herbs, animals or insects which have been used in traditional systems of treating ailments and which were largely not controlled previously will now be subject to similar scrutiny under the law. This is essential. These products are more often than not supplied as pills and potions where the original herb or animal part is no longer recognisable. It has been discovered that unscrupulous manufacturers and charlatans have resorted to adding highly active chemical substances to lend potency to their medicine. Arsenic discovered in several brands of preparations used widely in the treatment of asthma is an example. Potent hydrocortisones have been found in others and so too have mercury and lead. We can no longer ignore the large numbers and brands of medicinals which are freely available in the market, nor can we rightly assume that they are harmless. More often than not they are mixed with poisons and arc compounded by persons with no knowledge of basic pharmacy or pharmacology and distributed by persons whose sole interest is profit. Even cosmetics which may contain harmful or deleterious substances can also be brought under the purview of the Act. The simplest method of achieving the objective of protecting the public in regard to medicines is to impose a ban on advertisements of medicines anti couple this with a complete control over the dealing in medicines by only allowing sales by prescription and restricting the import or manufacture of medicines to a few types of brands. In fact such controls are practised in some countries. Such a measure would reduce considerably the expenditure on drugs and drug control. It would eliminate malpractices and unscrupulous dealings in drugs.”
“The existing controls are no longer adequate in dealing with a pharmaceutical trade that has grown tremendously and a situation where complex chemicals with far-reaching effects on the human being now form the bulk of medicines available in Singapore. The proposed Medicines Act is an omnibus act designed to bring together controls which were formerly exercised under various separate Acts. Most of the provisions of the Poisons Act will now be incorporated into the Medicines Act. Only a residual portion on the control of industrial poison will remain. The Medicines Act will supersede the Sale of Drugs Act and the Medicines (Advertisement and Sale) Act, both of which will be repealed. As the control of opium and other similar narcotic drugs is subject to international conventions because of international illegal trafficking, special controls will continue to be exercised under the Misuse of Drugs Act. The primary purpose of the Medicines Act is to protect the persons who use drugs, that is the customers who, by and large, have no knowledge of factors influencing the safety and usefulness of a medicine. The Act is to ensure that the medicine which a consumer obtains is safe and useful and of a quality he should expect. Since he is generally not knowledgeable in this matter, the influence brought to bear on him through advertisements must be fair. The drug he obtains, be it from a doctor who prescribes it or bought over the counter from a medicine shop, should comply with certain quality and safety standards. Conversely, neither should he have access to drugs for which he has no need of; nor should he consume drugs which he has no knowledge of their potency or safety. Under the Act, all medicinal products will come under strict scrutiny.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." It is perhaps a sad commentary on present-day living that there is such a large consumption of medicines. And because of this tremendous appetite for drugs, a vast pharmaceutical industry exists today. In Singapore the total value of trade in pharmaceutical products in 1973 was $170 million. For the four years 1969-1973, imports increased by over 80% while exports increased by 400%. In earlier times, medicines were of simpler chemical substances or derivatives of herbs. They were consumed in the form of powders prepared by pounding or in the form of liquid obtained by brewing the medicinal preparations. The advancement of science has made it possible for us to extract the active ingredients from these medicinal preparations, synthesising them and even modifying their structures to make them more potent and specific. In these forms they are then made available to the public in elegant pills, capsules, injectionables and suppositories. Even preparations used as home remedies in the traditional systems of treating ailments have changed beyond recognition. No longer do they conic only as dried parts of plants or animals; they are now sold in powder form or liquid extracts and some of them have been found to be mixed with dangerous substances making them no longer harmless remedies but potent poisons. The existing bewildering array of medicines of high potency and diverse effects has created certain problems of control. Whilst on the one hand the public needs to be protected and assured that the medicines that are available are safe and useful; on the other hand, those who are in the pharmaceutical industry should not be unduly discouraged from introducing new and more useful medicines.”
“We have not yet quite decided on the establishment of a board. At this stage of drafting the Bill, I am in no position to specify the details on how we would implement this measure of drug control. MEDICINES BILL (Introduction of) 7. Dr Tan Eng Liang asked the Minister for Health and Home Affairs if the views of experts outside his Ministry and of interested organisations and associations are being sought in the drafting of the Medicines Bill, and when the Bill will be introduced.”
“Sir, I would like to assure the hon. Member for Kim Keat that all efforts will be exerted towards closer co-ordination between the various parties concerned to ensure speedy installation of the necessary telephone services. But I would like the Member to note that the increase in the number of telephones installed has been averaging at about 14 per cent per annum. This is a very high rate of growth compared with the world average of about 8 per cent. So it is sometimes difficult to meet immediate demands and some delay is unavoidable. 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. - (Dr Ang Kok Peng]. Bill considered in Committee: reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC HEALTH (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 2.45 p.m.”
“To ensure that our Republic will continue to be a leading communication centre, the new TAS will continually keep abreast of latest technological innovations and developments. Hon. Members may wish to note that a five-year development programme costing more than $560 million has already been prepared for implementation by the new TAS. Before I conclude, Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to add that all necessary steps have been taken to ensure that the merger will proceed as smoothly as possible, and an extensive internal reorganisation has already been put into effect. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. 2.38 p.m.”
“The new TAS shall consist of a Chairman, a General Manager and not less than five and not more than seven other members all of whom shall be appointed by the Minister. The new TAS shall have the exclusive privilege of operating telecommunication services in the Republic and, in addition to the functions of the existing TAS, the new TAS will also perform the functions of the STB. There are pro, visions for the appointment of staff and the appointment of a General Manager. The General Manager is to be appointed by the TAS with the approval of the Minister and will be chief executive of the organisation. The persons presently employed by the STB or TAS shall be transferred to the service of the new TAS on the same terms. The new TAS will be empowered to raise funds by the issue of stocks or loans from banks and to levy charges, rates and fees. The new TAS will acquire the existing assets and liabilities of the STB and TAS. The new TAS has power to acquire land and to enter upon land for the purpose of its installations, and compensation is payable for the exercise of such powers. The accounts of the new TAS shall he audited by the Auditor-General or by an auditor appointed by the Minister in consultation with the Auditor-General. The audited accounts as well as the annual report shall be presented to Parliament. The new TAS will be commanding substantial manpower of over 5,000 staff and financial resources exceeding $150 million in annual gross revenue. With such resources and an integrated organisation, we can expect more vigorous development, increase in efficiency and higher quality of telecommunication services.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Before I elaborate on the provisions of this Bill, may I give a brief summary of the background? Prior to April, 1972, the Telecommunications Department was a Government department providing external telecommunication services while the Singapore Telephone Board was a Statutory organisation providing domestic telephone services. With very high rates of growth and fast changing technology in communications, it was clear that radical changes in the organisation and management were required to cope with the developments and challenges in the years ahead. An expert from the International Telecommunications Union was therefore invited to advise the Ministry on the reorganisation of the telecommunication services and his recommendation was that the Telecommunications Department should be converted into a statutory organisation. This recommendation was accepted and implemented on 1st April, 1972, with the Telecommunications Department becoming a statutory body known as the Telecommunication Authority of Singapore (TAS). This Bill seeks to provide for the second stage of reorganisation, namely, the merger of the Singapore Telephone Board with the Telecommunication Authority of Singapore into a single organisation to be known as the Telecommunication Authority of Singapore (new TAS), i.e, both domestic and external telecommunications are to work as one and not as two separate entities. I will now summarise the main features of this Bill. The Bill essentially re-enacts the provisions of the Singapore Telephone Board Act and the Telecommunication Authority of Singapore Act, 1972, both of which will be repealed.”
“All of us are affected. When we have a traffic jam, we always blame the other person, "Why do you not stay away?" But we never ask ourselves: Why are we contributing to the jam and to the frustration? It is in the hands of the 137,000 private car owners to make it possible. In conclusion, Sir, who knows, if we succeed in doing what we attempt to achieve - to reduce peak-hour travel - we may be able to reach the happy prospect drawn by Dr Wilfred Owen in his Study - page 64 - of avoiding the heavy cost of spending billions of dollars to build a subway for Singapore. I think my colleague, the Minister for Finance, will be the happiest man in-deed. Dr Owen was analysing the problem of building a subway in an oil-rich city of Caracas, Venezuela: `The success of the subway, therefore, will depend on improved bus transport and on measures to restrict automobiles to the extent necessary to enable the feeder bus system to operate. But if it is politically feasible to introduce such restrictions with the subway, an alternative might be to restrict car use without subway. The money saved could be used to provide a system of buses on exclusive bus streets, fares could be considerably lower than for the subway, and automobiles could be confined to areas outside the centre and to off-peak hours. The cost of the subway could be avoided, and the resources used to remedy the critical housing conditions that compel one-fourth of the population to live in squatter settlements.' Of course, Caracas may not have solved their housing problem. We, in Singapore, have, but all that money could go towards other forms of economic development and social improvement of Singapore.”
“The following data show the extent of various low-cost traffic improvement programmes in 296 cities in the U.S, with population of over 50,000:- Percent of Cities with Programme Type of Programme 14 Cities All 296 with over Cities 2 million people Staggered work hours 26 36 Encouraging car pool 7 14 Banning cars from downtown 0.7 0 Increase in daytime parking rates 20 29 Reserved Bus lanes 8 50 Restrictions on kerbside truck loading 51 86 Evening truck deliveries 9 21 Before more measures are introduced to bring about a mandatory change in our travel pattern, I hope that employers, trade unions and owners of private vehicles would consider a voluntary change and to give serious thought to introducing staggered work-hours and formation of car pools. In order to encourage staggered work-hours and car pools, we are planning to launch a National Campaign to drive home the need for such voluntary restraints. A meeting will be called in July this year (after the 20 busy streets in the Central Business District have reserved bus lanes in operation) to drive home the problems associated with peak-hour travel and to actively promote the staggering of work-hours and car-pooling schemes. Representatives from Government agencies, transport operators, organisations in the private sector and road users will be invited. It is hoped this would help bring about an extensive adoption of staggered work-hours and formation of car pools in an effort to voluntarily change the pattern of present peak-hour travel and thus help reduce overall congestion on our roads. Let us make 1974 the year in which we voluntarily make an effort to change our travel pattern - namely, to avoid peak-hour travel. Why must everybody travel at the same time? It is most interesting to watch.”
“In plain language, the priority of movement of motor vehicles in our limited road space will be as follows: - Public Vehicles (1) Public Buses (SBS) 2,000 (2) Supplementary Public Transport - during Peak Hours only: Scheme B (PT) licences - School Buses 600* } Lorries 400 } 1,000 Scheme A - (Adult Workers Contract) 1,000* (3) School buses (*include Scheme B & AWC) (say) 2,000* (4) Taxis 5,000 ------ 10,000 ====== (5) Private cars - 137,000 In other words, all the 10,000 public service vehicles responsible for group travel will be given higher priority and precedence in the use of limited road space during peak-hours over 137,000 private cars. It has already been announced that a study is underway to consider a park-and-ride scheme, whereby commuters could park their cars in fringe car parks and take a shuttle bus into or out of the Central Business District during peak periods. Furthermore, measures to curb the rise in private car ownership are also under study. 4.30 p.m. We are not alone in this battle against peak-hour traffic congestion. There is an authoritative paper on the subject submitted to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Paris, in August 1973 entitled "Automobiles and Cities - Strategies For Developing Countries" by the well-known Transport Consultant in Dr Wilfred Owen, Senior Fellow of Brookings Institution, Washington, DC. With your permission, Mr Speaker, Sir, I am making available two stencilled copies of this Study to be placed in the Parliament Library for the information of Members who are interested to learn more about this wide-ranging subject. [Copies handed in to the Clerk.] It was revealed in page 53 of his Study that such traffic management programmes have been initiated in many American cities.”
“It is now up to vehicle owners to take up this offer to help ease traffic congestion during peak periods. Another measure which employers in the private sector can help is to arrange for group transport, like Scheme A of the Supplementary Public Transport Service (SPTS), or Adult Workers Contract (AWC) vehicles, whether of buses or lorries. Yet another alternative would be for the employers to own and operate these vehicles themselves, i.e, to form an employers' supplementary public transport service. Measures have been and will continue to be taken to provide an adequate public bus service, supplemented where necessary with other feasible forms of public or group transport. However, a a public transport system cannot operate efficiently if it is not protected from the congestion caused by private cars in central areas, on high-density routes and in peak-hour traffic. If the traffic congestion cannot be eased through voluntary means, such as staggered work-hours and the formation of car pools, then physical constraints will have to be introduced to obtain a mandatory change. The introduction of reserved bus lanes is one step in this direction.”