Arthur Beng Kian Lam
Singapore
“Sir, the aim of the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) is to encourage optimal road usage so that car ownership can be increased. My questions to the Minister are (1) what is the estimated cost to a motorist, ie, the median, that the Ministry of Communications is expecting?”
“Sir, one point of clarification, please. I am very pleased to hear the announcement made by the Senior Minister of State about the very comprehensive way in which IT is going to be applied in schools. I am also very glad to hear that six more computers are going to be added to the existing five for administration.”
“Sir, my topic is on public transport in mature HDB estates. Sir, we are all excited about the plans to achieve a world-class public transport system. However, as many of the mature towns have little or no reserve land, it would seem that the bus will still be the mainstay of transportation. I would like to ask the Minister two questions.”
“The Minister has implemented a paradigm shift in his approach to personnel management. The new salary scales announced are welcomed and will do much to raise the morale of the teachers. I am glad to hear that the Minister recognises the principal as the CEO of a school. This gives a significant recognition to the role of the principal.”
“Sir, I am glad to know that the Minister will be taking active steps to implement the IMC and that he himself will be chairing the Ministerial Steering Committee which will include the Minister for Education and the Minister for Home Affairs.”
“However, upgrading is necessary as the business of the centre will be affected if the town is not upgraded, and experience has shown that the business in upgraded town centres indeed improves. Sir, the HDB or MND earns from the sale of shops. Should not a sum from this be allocated to town councils for the upgrading process?”
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“Mr Speaker, Sir, the establishment of the LTA will have one great advantage, that is, to ensure that we will have an overall and comprehensive planning for the whole land transport system in Singapore. The land transport system covers a very wide range from planning, development, management to operations. At present, these tasks are being handled by six different Government agencies. So in terms of coordination, there are inherent disadvantages. I believe that with the establishment of the Land Transport Authority, the whole land transport system in Singapore will be developed more systematically and rationally so as to ensure that the limited land resources in Singapore will be put to optimal use, especially our road network and the rail network which will then be better linked to the convenience of the commuters. Mr Speaker, Sir, it is my hope that the Land Transport Authority will be able to accomplish the following two tasks and objectives. One, to have optimum use of limited land resources; and two, to improve our public transport services as soon as possible, including the bus services and the MRT services. Singapore is a small island. The land that we have for housing and roads is becoming very scarce. So for long-term planning and requirement, our land transport system should take into consideration the necessity to save land space. To achieve this objective, road development and MRT development should be closely interwoven and linked. They should not be taken separately. We should not only make the best use of the land space available, but also make the best use of the underground space available. On the North-East line, I would like to look at it this way, that is, the entire North-East line should be built underground. I think this is a far-sighted concept.”
“The old towns must not be left out in this reorganisation of land transport. Public involvement. Very much more needs to be done in this area. Close liaison should be established with the CCCs and Town Councils. Sir, all studies show that transportation planners are often "swimming up stream" in trying to convince commuters to give up their cars. To quote a Japanese transportation specialist Prof. S. Morichii, Professor of Engineering at the Tokyo Institute of Technology: `When you plot a graph showing the relationship between these two factors (per-capita GDP and car ownership), most Asian cities show a straight line. In other words, as soon as they have money, people in Asian countries want to buy cars.' This, we know, also applies to developed countries, but maybe not as a straight line relationship. What then is the answer to this vexing problem of car ownership? The answer lies in providing good alternative public transport together with car restraint measures. One without the other will not be able to reach the goal. Providing Singaporeans with travel choices with a sense of good design, convenience, reliability, safety, comfort, and at an affordable cost - this is the challenge to the LTA. I support the Bill. Mr Goh Choon Kang (Braddell Heights)( In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of this Bill. I hope that with the passage of this Bill and the establishment of the Land Transport Authority (LTA), we will not only be able to improve on the infrastructure of land transport but also enable the whole public transport system to provide a better quality of services.”
“I am sure that the LTA has all these eight points, and maybe even more on their agenda. I for one know that the Minister has item (8), emphasis on public involvement, high on his agenda having accompanied him in his study of the Light Rail System in Europe. Sir, like the Americans in 1991, we today make this paradigm shift in land transportation management. Let me give some examples of areas which I feel that the LTA should immediately focus on. Firstly, integration of our existing systems: bus, rail, taxis and cars. We need to quickly take decisions on how to use the light rail or other people-mover-systems to harmonise our existing systems. We need to make inter-modal transport more user friendly. In this context, flexibility must be achieved by the LTA by persuading all operators to work more closely together. As has been mentioned by my colleague, Dr Wang, the total cost would be taken as one total land transport system. Advanced integrated transportation for new towns. We should move away. Let us dare to make this paradigm shift from our present thinking of waiting for the road system to be less than efficient before putting an alternative rail system in place. Let us dare to do this. We should not think of transportation as road or rail, but road and rail right from the planning stage. Here is where the issue of new methods of funding then becomes relevant. In this respect, I urge the Minister to move on with the North-East line immediately. What about the old towns? This is most worrying. This is admittedly the most tricky and difficult problem. Can the LTA be involved with the Main Upgrading Programme and the Interim Upgrading Programme of the HDB and Town Councils to advise on this problem?”
“I support what Dr Wang has said that the Land Transport Authority requires more funds to be able to carry out its mission successfully. Sir, the new transport policy in the US is characterised by the following, and I mention this because I think there is much that we can learn from this. (1) Emphasis on a systems approach, in particular on alternative modes, environmental protection and mobility of persons and goods. (2) A holistic approach to planning, as has been mentioned by the Minister, which expands the concept of system performance to include mobility and access, equity, reliability and external impacts, and which stipulates cooperative planning by local and state government. While in the US they talk of local and state government, here we can talk in terms of the involvement of Town Councils. (3) Emphasis on flexibility in allocating money among modes (roads, transit, bicycles and pedestrians), so making funding decisions clearly a part of the planning process. I hope that this would be done soon by our Land Transport Authority so that we can know how much funds we require to be able to achieve integration. (4) Linking to air quality and environment in both funding and planning. The haze of last year is still fresh in our minds. (5) Emphasis on performance with a focus on preserving, maintaining and managing the existing system through management systems. (6) Emphasis on aesthetics with both planning requirements and funding set aside for scenic by-ways and easements, history preservation and other features. (7) Emphasis on safety on the roads and in community for both users and non-users, (8) Emphasis on public involvement, moving the nation towards a participatory model of decision-making in which an informed citizenry plays a key role.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the setting up of the LTA is welcomed and timely. At this stage of our economic development, when Singapore is being developed as a business hub for the region, we cannot afford an inefficient land transportation system that would paralyse us. This Bill unifies four very important bodies managing different areas of land transportation. As has been mentioned by Dr Wang Kai Yuen, the fact that this is possible today is testimony to the political will and vision of our civil servants and the Minister to make land transport the new challenge for us. Sir, the challenge to the LTA is indeed great. I am sure that the officials in the LTA will rise to the occasion. They will be vested with powers under this Bill to do their job. They face a unique challenge and I believe that today there is no equivalent of the LTA that exists in any part of the world. Indeed, in the words of the Minister, he says that it is a single agency to meet one nation's needs. They will be a pioneering group and, to be sure, their performance will be watched not only by all Singaporeans closely, but by the world transportation community. Sir, this Bill already spells out in quite explicit detail the formation and duties of the Authority. In 1991, the United States Congress, realising that the building of the Interstate Highway alone (ie, roads) was not going to solve their land transport problems, passed a major piece of legislation called the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act. The legislation authorised US$155 billion for transportation investment during a six-year period, an increase of 25% over past trends. This was indeed a paradigm shift in transport policy supported with Government funds that made it possible.”
“It is inconsistent, in principle, for the Government to both prosecute and defend the same accused person. I see this as paradoxical. I understand that the Law Society of Singapore runs a well-regarded and successful Criminal Legal Aid Scheme to provide criminal legal aid to accused persons in non-capital cases. What are the types of cases in which they assist? It ranges from the Arms and Explosives Act, the Enlistment Act, Public Nuisance Act and the Misuse of Drugs Act. It covers a wide range and I think that the people who cannot afford will benefit from this Criminal Legal Aid Scheme run by the Law Society. And I am sure that they are assured that they will get good legal counsel. I believe that this is the way to go - an effective partnership where Government provides defence counsel in capital cases and the legal community volunteers its services in non-capital cases, which is to be applauded. Mr Speaker, Sir, in closing, may I say that our belief in the legal-criminal-justice system must remain unshakable. Indeed, it was only in the last sitting of this House that we reaffirmed this. This means that we believe that the Police will investigate thoroughly, without fear or favour, before a recommendation is made to proceed; that the Attorney-General's Chambers must be convinced that there is a case before a person is brought to court. The issue of legal aid for criminal cases must be seen in this setting and not in isolation.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to speak in support of the Bill. Sir, this Bill is long awaited and timely. The current means test is unrealistic in today's context. The upward revision is therefore welcomed. Sir, legal costs have risen. I see this Bill as another step taken by the Government to complement the measures taken by the Judiciary to make justice more affordable and available to Singaporeans. Other innovations include enhancing the jurisdiction of the Small Claims Tribunal, encouraging Alternative Dispute Resolution processes, setting up the Family Court and instituting mediation processes in our court system. The Law Society of Singapore, as already mentioned by Assoc. Prof. Woon, has also done its part by giving pro bono criminal legal aid and by holding talks and exhibitions on the law. These measures on the part of Government, Judiciary and the Law Society are laudable. I am sure Singaporeans are appreciative of this trend. Sir, this Bill will be a great boon to Singaporeans who may require the assistance of a lawyer, particularly in non-commercial matters such as divorce and probate. Over the years, the Legal Aid Bureau has performed good service to help lower income Singaporeans tide over difficult times. Raising the means test will enable the Bureau to benefit more Singaporeans in distress. And I am glad to note that the Bureau will be able to cope with the increased workload. I hope that the Government will continue to track the cost of living in Singapore, particularly in regard to legal fees, and revise the means test accordingly should the need arise. Sir, I support the move to delete the part of the Act on provision by Government of criminal legal aid.”
“On the other hand, the two Opposition parties have said nothing and have not expressed their stand on the rebuttal of the Philippine Commission by the Singapore Government, or the statements of our forensic pathologists. They have also chosen to be blind to the description of the Philippine Commission that Singapore had "ceased to be a humane society", the Philippine media attack of Singapore being a "Police State" and Mr William Safire's insult to our judicial system in the New York Times. At that time when the incident was making people very worried, the SDP and the Workers' Party issued such statements. What were their ulterior motives? Therefore, it is important that this House reaffirms the confidence in Singapore's criminal justice system so as to clarify the matter to the public.”
“Therefore, the people and the Government should be united together to cope with a sudden change of situation. The second part of the motion is about the confidence in our judicial system. This is something we should express our unanimous support. On 10th April, the Straits Times published the report of the Philippine Commission. On the same day, the Singapore Democratic Party issued a statement, which was carried in the Straits Times, on 11th April, stating "Our nation and its system has come under close scrutiny. Indeed, it seems that Singapore has been put on trial. It is thus crucial that Singapore clears up any discrepancy found and question raised about this case." The next day, the Workers' Party also issued a statement suggesting "Refer the Report of the Philippine Commission to the World Court, or to a tribunal of jurists from Commonwealth countries to investigate the allegations that there might have been a miscarriage of justice in the prosecution of Ms Flor Contemplacion." In other words, the two statements by the two Opposition parties have insinuations or they hold the view that there was some doubt about our judicial system and the way our Police conducted its investigation. Such statements by the two Opposition parties could only add fuel to fire, to further complicate and emotionalise the issue. Such statements, on the one hand, gave the Philippine media and politicians ammunition to attack Singapore and make life difficult for President Ramos and, on the other hand, they misled the public with insinuations which cast doubts and aspersions on our judicial system.”
“But when it comes to a major issue that concerns the dignity and national interest, they are united. They give strong and full support to the Government. There were two features in the Feedback Unit's poll which are particularly relevant to the motion before this House today: Firstly, one-third of the respondents, having the benefit of hindsight, came to the view that the Government could have acceded to President Ramos' request to delay the execution of Flor Contemplacion. Secondly, most of the respondents have expressed confidence in our judicial system. On the first point, the motion gives the Government an opportunity to explain to one-third of the respondents and others who hold the same view, the reason why the Government at that time could not accede to the request of President Ramos. I would like to stress that among these people, many of them acknowledged that, with the benefit of hindsight, that is, only after tension has developed between the two countries, they only come to this view. Just now when I heard Dr Soin presenting her argument, I have a further understanding of the Chinese saying: " ". After the event, everybody becomes wiser, everybody becomes Zhu Ge Liang ( ). But before the event, nobody could anticipate the development. How many people, including the Filipinos, expected that the murder of a Filipino maid and the son of her employer by another Filipino maid would be politicised and emotionalized to such an extent, four years after the trial and conviction of the accused, and after the petition by her President for clemency was turned down by our Government, and she was eventually hanged? Perhaps from this incident, Singaporeans can learn one lesson, that is, we are a small and vulnerable nation.”
“(c) The respondents had affirmed their confidence in our judiciary system. They believed that our Police had done a thorough and proper investigation into the matter and the report of our pathologists was credible and backed by the American experts. (2) What is your impression of the Government's handling of the issue? All the 100 respondents also gave an affirmative answer. They felt that the Government had handled the matter properly. They appreciated the difficult position of the Government, in view of the irrational and emotionally-charged situation in the Philippines. They also endorsed and confirmed the Government's cool and level-headed approach in dealing with such unreasonable allegations made by the other side. But among those who supported the Government's stand and handling of the matter, one-third of them felt that, with the benefit of hindsight, the Government could have acceded to President Ramos' request to delay the execution of Flor Contemplacion. Over the past two months, the 84 grassroots leaders who have given feedback to the Feedback Unit also asked the same question: Why did the Government turn down the request of President Ramos? Mr Speaker, Sir, over the past three years since May 1992, there have been 13 surveys conducted by the Feedback Unit on issues ranging from NMPs, allocation of Telecom shares, the Michael Fay case, and the Ministers' salaries. None of these surveys conducted in the past received such an overwhelming support of 98%, as in this case. I am very glad with the result of this survey and with the response of the grassroots leaders, members of the public, and the readers who wrote to the newspapers. Among these people, there may be some who are unhappy or critical of certain Government policies.”
“EXEMPTED BUSINESS (Motion) Resolved, That the proceedings on the business set down on the Order Paper for today be exempted at this day's sitting from the provisions of Standing Order No. 1. - [Mr Wong Kan Seng]. EXECUTION OF FLOR CONTEMPLACION (Motion) Dr Ow Chin Hock (Leng Kee)( In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, after more than two months of stormy disturbance over the Flor Contemplacion case, and with the Philippine elections being over, the dust had more or less settled down. All these had already been reported clearly and in detail in the press and there is no need for me to repeat. I hope and I believe that the relationship between Singapore and the Philippines will be restored readily, if not rapidly. The Feedback Unit has collected feedback on this matter from grassroots leaders and the public. From March until now, grassroots leaders and members of the public have contributed 84 inputs, out of which 75 or 89.2%, endorsed or supported the Government's stand on this matter. There was only one against (1.2%) and the stand of the other 8 (9.5%) was not clear. In late April, the Feedback Unit also conducted a straw poll on 100 regular feedback contributors. Two questions were posed: (1) Do you support the Government's rebuttal of the Philippine Commission's report? Almost all of them, that is, 98% of the respondents had given an affirmative answer in support of the Government's rebuttal. Only 2% made no comment. These respondents had given three reasons for their support: (a) They felt that the Government is in the right and has to tell the truth. (b) They felt that the allegations made by the Philippine Commission were groundless and could not be substantiated. Furthermore, the manner in which this Commission conducted its investigation was not professional.”
“No legal rights were denied to her. Our Government also made available to the Commission of Inquiry in the Philippines all documents relevant to the case. This did not seem to have helped them in their deliberations. And yet the SDP, in the press statement of 23rd March 1995, suggested that a Commission should be set up by both countries to facilitate an exchange of views. Perhaps, Members of the SDP would like to explain what they meant by this. In addition, the SDP also called on our Government "to exercise greater political and diplomatic tact when it comes to making comments about our neighbours in the international community." This press statement was issued on 23rd March this year at a time when emotion was riding high. Here you will really question why the SDP issued this statement at that time and asked for a commission to be set up by both countries to facilitate an exchange of views and facts. It also stated that the "SDP stands ready to assist in any way it can to help to resolve this position". Sir, when we appoint a Commission of Inquiry, it is taken in all seriousness. Persons with experience, integrity and objectivity are appointed. The findings are often treated very seriously by our Government. Here we have a case in which the credibility of the Commission of Inquiry, even in the Philippines, is being questioned. Sir, to conclude, Singaporeans can stand tall and proud. An execution is not something anyone will celebrate about. In this case of Flor Contemplacion, the due process of our criminal justice system has been adhered to. There has been no miscarriage of justice. We have a criminal justice system that we can all be proud of. Let us remind ourselves that two persons were murdered - another Filipino maid and a very innocent Singapore child.”
“The torture that they were talking about - electrocorticogram - was ordered by her own doctors to show her innocence and these are electrodes placed around the brain which are very similar to the electrocardiogram that we do for our cardiac tracings. These are tracings of the brain waves. They cause no pain. They cause no electric shocks. Maybe the author ought to go and try this himself and know that one does not get electric shocks from having ECGs done. That the Embassy did nothing? The Embassy staff was there when the police confessions were made and she was visited nine times at least by the Philippine Embassy staff. (3) Referring to our political system, it states: "the dictator's front man, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, realised this had caused a rift between two members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations." This is the ultimate insult to our system and to our leaders that our Prime Minister is called a front man, as in the American mafia. Mr Safire has also made reference to the Michael Fay case. There he also showed total disregard for his own countrymen. Referring to the caning of Michael Fay for vandalism, he accused the local US business community of "sucking up to the dictator". Mr Speaker, I hope you will excuse me for this unparliamentary language. The dictator, of course, is our Senior Minister. In the Philippines, the fact-finding commission appointed by the Government concluded that Ms Contemplacion has suffered injustice in Singapore. What is the truth? The truth is that she was accorded all rights available to any person charged in Singapore. Two lawyers were assigned by the Supreme Court Registrar to defend her initially for her trial in January 1993. When notice of appeal was given, another two lawyers were appointed to defend her.”
“But that is just not our style of working. The second part of the motion asks this House to "reaffirm" its confidence in Singapore's criminal justice system. Here, Mr Speaker, I would like to clarify my interpretation of this motion. We need to reaffirm not because there is any doubt in our mind, that is, in the majority of us in this House, that our criminal justice system is a sound and fair one. We have no doubts regarding the integrity of our judges. We have no doubts regarding the competence of our police. However, because of the scathing attack on our system by the various media, we need to reaffirm our system as a signal to these people that this House has indeed no doubts regarding our criminal justice system. The most scathing attack has been an article by William Safire and carried by the New York Times. The attack by Mr William Safire extends beyond our criminal justice system to the Singaporean society, our values and our political leaders. Some quotations from the article: (1) Referring to the treatment of Filipino maids in Singapore - it states: "treated as little better than slaves by their Singaporean masters". It is indeed paradoxical that an American is talking to us about slavery. Where did slavery start and end? (2) Referring to the criminal justice system, it states: "she was jailed, confessed - perhaps under torture - and her country's embassy did little on her behalf. Just another maid, who cared?" He could not even get the order right. She "confessed" first, then she was "jailed". She was not jailed before she confessed. That is important, because ours is a system which is well entrenched.”
“The attempt to infuse objectivity into the case through the involvement of forensic pathologists from Singapore, the United States and the Philippines has also failed thus far. The findings of the Commission of Inquiry in the Philippines are alarming. The conclusion is that Ms Contemplacion has suffered injustice in Singapore. Other absurd findings have already been mentioned by the speaker before me. The belief of the movers of the motion that a "stay of execution" could prevent the "present strain" in the Singapore-Philippine relations is pure conjecture and, in my view, naive. The most important question to ask ourselves is whether there was any legal argument to warrant a stay of execution. If there was, then it would be justified to grant the stay of execution. The legal system must not be tampered with for purely political reason such as is put forth in this motion. Herein lies the time-held tradition of separation of powers between the Executive arm of State and the Judiciary. I will not take up the valuable time of this House by presenting the facts of this case as I am sure that the Ministers in charge of the case will give all the details. It leaves me only to say that there was no valid legal reason for a stay of execution. To summarise very quickly, let us recollect the facts. Throughout the two years of court hearings, until about eight days before the execution, there was no issue raised. When did the new witnesses appear? One week, and subsequently just hours before the execution, two new witnesses appeared. Nevertheless, the police investigated these allegations and found them to be obviously false. Do we want our police to be less efficient and work more slowly so that we can delay the execution? I am sure this can be arranged.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the execution of Flor Contemplacion is today a subject for debate in this House. This event has received widespread coverage in the media in Singapore, and of course much more extensively overseas, and most surely in the Philippines. Mr Speaker, Sir, first let me say that many Singaporeans are surprised that this House is debating this motion. As has been stated by Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, Acting Minister for Community Development, Singaporeans in general believe that there has been no miscarriage of justice and have supported the Government in its management of these events. If there is any criticism, it is that the Singapore Government has been too patient and accommodating. A personal view is that the Government has been patiently and objectively rebutting each criticism and allegation as the Government wants to preserve the spirit of ASEAN, and believes in maintaining good relationships between nations. This, in my opinion, is a correct and prudent approach at a time when emotions are riding high. Sir, the first part of the motion refers to the issue of the "stay of execution". Would a stay of execution have prevented the "present strain in Singapore-Philippine relations"? Sir, as we watch the saga of events unfurl in the Philippines, I seriously doubt whether it would have made any difference. Even before the execution, demonstrations against Singapore started. The proclamation that Ms Contemplacion is a "national heroine" and the outburst of fury and anger resulting in the burning of our National Flag, show the very emotional reaction of a nation. Remember, the President's wife also received the cortege at the airport.”
“Ho Peng Kee: Sir, first, let me thank the GPC Chairman for his support of the Bill. I think his call to CASE to take a higher role in helping consumers is timely. Sir, the GPC Chairman has asked about the announcement made by the Minister earlier this year on the setting up of regional centres for the Small Claims Tribunals. Since then, Sir, we have been looking at this seriously. A Working Group has been formed comprising Ministry of Law together with Subordinate Court officials. The idea is to bring community justice to the people. So we are targeting the implementation of this scheme by way of a pilot centre some time towards the end of the year in a suitable locality. If it is successful, we can consider having more centres. Sir, the other point about this scheme is that we intend to have leading members of the community, like Justices of the Peace, who can be appointed as Assistant Registrars under the Small Claims Act who will help to mediate in these regional centres. They will act as the conciliators in the consultation stage. Only when the parties cannot settle their dispute at the consultation stage at these regional centres, they will then go to the Small Claims Tribunals at the Apollo Centre. That is the progress at this stage. 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. - [Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. MERCHANT SHIPPING BILL Order for Second Reading read. 1.47 pm”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Small Claims Tribunals have been in operation for 10 years now. It has fulfilled its promise of being a simple, inexpensive and accessible forum for small claims to be made, in particular, consumers have benefited from this forum. I take this opportunity to call on all Singapore consumers not to be shy of using the Small Claims Tribunals. My understanding is that consumers who have used the Small Claims Tribunals have found this a pleasant experience. The fact that the tribunals now do seven times more work is testimony to this. The fact that they have to present their own case has helped them also to better understand how the law works. On this score, I suggest that the Consumers' Association of Singapore consider providing assistance and advice to consumers who may wish to press their claims before the Small Claims Tribunals. CASE could advise them on their legal rights and prepare them for the hearing. I commend the Government for taking this important step of enlarging the jurisdiction of the tribunals. With more types of claims and a higher quantum, I am sure more Singaporeans, both businessmen and consumers, will benefit. In addition, this will provide a viable alternative to our court system where legal costs are incurred. In this way, this amendment will help to keep legal costs down. I welcome this amendment as it will make the small claims process even more convenient for Singaporeans. Sir, the Minister for Law had announced in this year's Committee of Supply debate that the Government is considering setting up regional centres and to decentralise the Small Claims Tribunals. I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary on the progress of this scheme. Assoc. Prof.”
“This will help them all to understand our concerns for the control of the car population in Singapore. With regard to the uniformed youth organisations (UYOs), I would like to ask the Minister regarding the enrolment status and performance of UYOs in schools. Much has been said about the problem of discipline in schools and I would not add more except to say that UYOs have an important role to play in inculcating discipline in our students. 1.00 pm One principal shared this experience with me. When he first took over the school, the school had a big problem of discipline and what he did was to place a lot of focus on UYOs in the school. In five years' time, he managed to control this problem and it is now a premier secondary school, Gan Eng Seng Secondary School. Another important aspect is the teaching of Information Technology (IT) in schools. I understand that in some schools, the teaching of IT, or the use of computers, may not be so easily available. I would like the Minister to consider making it a priority allocation of the school's Edusave allocation for expansion to IT. Computer studies should be made as soon as possible as part of the curriculum and not only as an extra-curricular activity. I know that in some schools, it is already a curriculum subject. In conclusion, I would like to say that it is Edusave that has made possible the "cream on the cake" in education. The Ministry of Education should now wisely guide the schools towards achieving national goals through ECA with the prudent use of Edusave.”
“Sir, it is good to see that the Government has set another $1 billion to the Edusave fund to enable more to be offered by the schools to our children. In education, the final satisfaction is seeing every child being developed to the maximum of his or her potential and in the nurturing of a good citizen. In this era of rapid technological change, and that of regionalisation and globalisation, the education system must quickly fine-tune to meet up to this challenge. Will the children now in school be equipped with the skills to cope and work effectively in this new environment? When seen against this back-drop, Edusave and extra-curricular activities have a new challenge. It is ECA which complements the academic studies to provide for total pupil development. I thus welcome the Minister's statement earlier this year to recognise the use of ECA points for entry into Junior College. The student today has a wide range of activities inside and outside school to distract him from what can be seen as very mundane ECA. Teachers and others involved in ECA must move quickly to make ECAs relevant to the times. Included in this must be more challenging and exciting ventures. Educational trips overseas must be more than just sightseeing visits. They should include adventure training, participating in programmes, interacting with their peers overseas, and a chance to understand another culture. This will make not only the understanding of our neighbours better, but also a better appreciation of what we have, and our own social and political structure and problems. For example, a visit to Thailand should not only consist of visits to interesting historic sites, but should also include travelling to Bangkok in a non-air-conditioned bus, so as to understand the meaning of traffic jams.”
“Sir, I thank the Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary for their replies and beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I would like to seek two points of clarification from the Minister. Firstly, he mentioned that for those foreign workers who are found to have committed crimes they will not be allowed to re-enter Singapore. But we know that in many of these foreign countries they can actually change their passports and names and then try to enter Singapore. Are we addressing the problem in this respect? Secondly, I raised the question about the capacity of vehicles for motorcyclists who have just passed. This arose out of my visit to Toa Payoh Training Centre. When I asked an instructor what sort of vehicle capacity new riders would choose or select and whether he is in a position, as instructor, to advise them to go for smaller capacity vehicles before they go up to bigger capacity vehicles, his answer perplexed me. Because he said that most of them have already come with a fixed view that they want a very big bike. Sometimes, they may be small in physical build but they want a big bike. Can the Minister comment on this?”
“Sir, in a seminar in the second half of last year, the resurgence of the drug problem and the problem of relapses in treatment were discussed. Many new measures were put in place. New programmes were introduced, and high amongst these were the Naltrexone programme and the management of half-way houses by community groups. I would like to ask the Minister to comment on the effectiveness of these new programmes. As the management of half-way houses is very important in the overall drug rehabilitation plan, can he tell us how many new half-way houses were established, what are the community groups involved, and is he satisfied with the level of community support for the programme?”
“Friends must also play a role, as peer pressure is effective. The final responsibility is, of course, personal - ultimately personal responsibility. Will the Minister give us an update on this problem? The issue of illegal parking has been discussed in this House recently, and though a problem, I will not pursue this further at this time.”
“(c) What other methods do the Traffic Police have in mind to manage this problem? Sir, on a wider issue of road safety, we see that the Traffic Police have been tackling head-on the problems of speeding, illegal parking, and drunken driving, amongst others. On the problem of using speed-trap cameras, I would like to ask the Minister to give the House an update of the effectiveness of this. Some members of the public have expressed the view that the 50 km/hour restriction at certain sites is ridiculously extreme. What is his view? Recently, the PWD has also announced a plan to install video cameras at busy junctions to ensure a smoother flow of traffic. The control centre will be located at the Ministry of National Development. It was stated in the press report that a law enforcement role will also be introduced. I am concerned here on two counts: (i) PWD engineers should not be in the business of law enforcement. Traffic enforcement should be with the Police and the ROV. (ii) Should there not be a more comprehensive management by Government as a whole to use IT (an expensive though effective tool) in road traffic management? There must not be a confusion of roles, and there must not be wastage. Sir, the next point is the issue of drunken driving. The penalty for drunken driving is severe, and rightly so. However, to tackle this problem, society as a whole ought to be involved. There must be more awareness and education. Hosts of parties and dinners should not put social pressure on drivers to drink. Establishments serving alcohol must also take a responsible approach. I am glad to note that some establishments are already installing breathalysers (to measure alcohol content) for their clients. Should this be made compulsory in certain categories of such establishments?”
“Sir, for the first time since 1991, the number of persons killed and injured in traffic accidents dropped as compared with the previous year. There was a 11.3% drop in the number of accident fatalities and casualties. For this we want to congratulate the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Police, and in particular, the Traffic Police. Sir, I would like to highlight some areas of concern: (a) Problems of motorcyclist. Sir, in Singapore, we take the loss of life and limb very seriously. As I look at the accident statistics for motorcyclist, I feel that we have to do something very proactive to curb this loss of limb and life. Some statistics: motorcyclists form 46.5% of fatal accidents and 55% of serious accidents. There is furthermore a definite relationship with age. Age 16 to 19 years - 1,144.5 casualties per 10,000 motorcyclists; age 20 to 24 years - 683.1 per 10,000 motorcyclists, compared to the national average of 242.3 per 10,000. Sir, parents are very anxious. Spouses are anxious. All of us are very anxious. It is the youngest drivers who are the most vulnerable. In a GPC visit to the Toa Payoh Training Centre, I am glad to note that at source the competence of new drivers is being addressed. However, this is obviously not enough. As the highest risk groups are those youngest, age 16 to 19, five times the national average; age 20 to 24 years, three times the national average, I would like to put forward some ideas for the Minister's consideration: (a) Should these persons only be allowed to ride a motorcycle of smaller capacity? The Traffic Police should do a study to see whether there is a correlation between machine capacity and fatality or accident rate. (b) Should the age limit of holding a licence per se be increased?”
“Parents today can no longer use the "Police is coming" trick to frighten the disobeying children - one of the most effective deterrents in the past! It is good that the image of the Police Force is no longer one of intimidation and fearsome, but the side effect is that people nowadays seem to have lost their respect for the "men in blue". Young people no longer fear the Police and I think this is one of the important factors contributing to the rise in juvenile cases. We should withhold the dignity of the Police and teach our young people to respect the law enforcement officers, and hence to observe law and order. I think this is very important. With our economic development and a tight labour market, we have attracted a lot of foreign workers to Singapore, and with the heavy influx of foreign workers we face some serious social problems. In the past few years, there were quite a number of murder cases in Singapore which remain unsolved. Many people are suspicious that hit men from foreign countries are being employed to operate in Singapore. I hope the Ministry of Home Affairs will look seriously into this matter.”
“The construction industry is also anxious from the crime viewpoint. In addition, they are also anxious from another two viewpoints: (a) costs; and (b) the problem of sub-contracting, which is widely used in the industry, which makes control difficult. I would like to ask the Minister, firstly, on the status report on this problem. Secondly, what are the steps being taken to manage this problem? We know that we will always need foreign workers in the construction industry, therefore, the problem will not go away. Lastly, I would like to ask the Minister to give the House an update regarding other crimes of a serious nature that have been linked to foreign workers. Mr Peh Chin Hua (Jalan Besar GRC)( In Mandarin): Sir, according to Police statistics, the number of juvenile cases is on the increase in Singapore. In 1993, 1,878 young persons between the ages of 7 and 16 years were arrested for involvement in various kinds of criminal offences. This was an increase of some 400 cases or 27% as compared to the 1,478 cases in 1992. If we take the figure of 983 in 1984, then the number of juvenile cases had increased by some 91% in the past decade. This is indeed very alarming! Over the years, home education has slackened because in most families, both parents are busy working and tend to neglect in the supervision over their children. In the school, teachers are deprived of the right to use the cane, thus losing control over their charge. Furthermore, the establishment of Neighbourhood Police Posts and the promotion of good Police-resident relationship has been so successful that the policemen are now being publicised as "friends" rather than "law enforcement officers".”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head Q of the Main Estimates be reduced by $100. Sir, the Ministry of Home Affairs has the onerous responsibility of ensuring law and order and internal stability in Singapore. These are the pre-requisites for the economic and social development and progress of our nation. Last year, our crime statistics showed that Singapore is even safer today. Significant declines were noted for snatch theft, housebreaking, robbery, motor vehicle theft and murder, ranging from 17% to 25% for these offences. I congratulate the Ministry and the Police for their achievement without being unduly restrictive. Sir, this year, the GPC will concentrate on three specific areas: crimes in construction sites, the Traffic Police and drug enforcement and rehabilitation. We have not forgotten the problem of juvenile crimes, but have decided to await the Committee Report from the MCD on this problem. This, I understand, will be ready in June this year. The problem of crimes in construction sites has been highlighted with increasing frequency in the last two years. There is cause for concern because: (a) they are of a very violent nature; (b) they often involve groups of people, though not amounting to "gangs"; and (c) some of these problems can spill into the residential neighbourhood of the work sites. Therefore, it is not only problems like theft, but consists of more serious crimes like violence, rioting and even murder. Furthermore, the investigation is often made difficult because of cultural and language problems. To compound the issue even further, illegal immigrants or overstayers (immigration offenders) may also be involved. I know that the Police have been working closely with the construction industry to manage this problem.”
“I thank the Minister for his reply and beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, can I have the Minister's view on the role of CASE?”
“The Small Claims Court is another avenue of ADR, and the courts have initiated Court Dispute Resolution schemes and the Family Court is another example of this. I would like the Minister to consider giving two other groups a role in ADR. Firstly, professional bodies. As the public becomes better informed ---”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head T of the Main Estimates be reduced by $100. Sir, the administration of justice needs to meet two main criteria from the public's viewpoint: (a) it must be fair; and (b) it must be speedy. Implicit in fairness is that it must be accessible, affordable and of a high professional standard. In Singapore, over the last two years, the Judicature has implemented changes to make the administration of the courts more efficient. This has resulted in the clearing of the backlog, which is bedeviling to many courts in other countries. For this, the Chief Justice and his team, the Attorney-General, the Ministry of Law and of course the legal profession must be congratulated. However, efficiency has a cost. It is not disputed that legal cost taken as a whole has risen. I do not intend to dwell on this issue as it has been debated both in the profession, in the media and even in this House. Suffice it to say that it is multifactorial, and sometimes not within the control of the administrators or the profession. There has to be evolved a delicate balance between efficiency and a fair administration of justice. Neither do we want to encourage a litigious society - no one wins. Sir, one solution is to look into alternative methods of dispute resolution (ADR). In Singapore, some avenues of ADR are already in place: The Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) is one such example. This centre trains and educates the professionals in ADR, and some insurance companies are already using the SIAC. In these proceedings, lawyers may or may not be involved. The SIAC is backed by the International Arbitration Act passed in this House in October 1994 and has both a domestic and an international role.”
“Some residents asked for rebate in telephone charges because they could not afford to engage private tutors for their children, so they have to use the telephone to discuss homework with their classmates. So the telephone bill is costly. Some asked for rebate in electricity charges, and so on and so forth. Some even asked for rebate in water charges. We heard from the Minister just now that water is of vital importance to us. To a certain extent, I agree with the concern of the Minister as to how we could help the lower income family. However, we cannot just have one uniform measure to help them. I think we should think more positively and ask the Minister whether he could implement some measures to help the lower-income people with large families. We must not just criticize that this Budget does not benefit the poor. We have to come out with some constructive suggestions on how to help the poor families. If you say 20 cubic metres are not enough, then how much do you want? 100 cubic metres? 200 cubic metres? I feel that Mr Low Thia Khiang should be more patient and allow the Minister more time to give us more details on how to help the lower-income families. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to express my hope that the Government will consider the suggestions by the Nominated MP and the other MPs that, while considering the long-term benefits, it should also see if some short-term policies may be adopted to assist and help the lower-income Singaporeans. As it is said, "Water from afar cannot help to put out a fire nearby". I hope that the Minister will seriously consider this matter. 5.03 pm”
“From the 10% rebate on income tax given by the Government and the rebate on the S&C charges, the benefit he gets is more than $300. So the net income is more even after paying his GST. When Mr Low criticised the GST and the Budget, he should have thought more carefully along this line. He was wrong in his calculation, just like Mr Chiam See Tong. The implementation of GST in Singapore is still in a very preliminary stage, but it appears to have been accepted by the people already. While we are still trying out this GST system, I think we have to look at it on a long-term basis, and not be short-sighted in our approach. Just now, the Nominated MP made his plea on behalf of the people and workers in the lower income group. I do agree with him in many aspects. Personally, I have conducted a lot of house-to-house visits and I have met a lot of residents in the lower-income group. In many aspects I agree with what he said. However, I feel that if we want to help the members of the lower-income family, we should take a more long-term view. Most senior members of these low-income families have low educational level, and they are unskilled. Therefore, our duty is to see how we could help them to improve the prospects of their children so that the next generation will be better-off with better education and higher skills level in order that they may be able to stand on their own feet in a highly competitive society like ours. This is the most important point. Of course, we can give them some immediate benefits like rebates in S&C charges, income tax rebate as well as CPF top-up. There are also many other things we could do.”
“This afternoon, I heard with regret the speeches by Mr Ling How Doong, a Nominated MP and Mr Low Thia Khiang. Mr Low said that this year's Budget appears superficially to be one that would please everybody. I think this is a very unfair comment on a budget so carefully and thoughtfully presented by the Finance Minister on behalf of the Government. All the newspapers, whether Chinese newspapers or the English newspapers, share the view that this is one budget that will benefit everybody. It is a farsighted budget. If you say that this year's Budget is no different from last year's, then it only goes to show that the budgets presented by the Finance Minister and the Government are consistently far-sighted. What they have done is for the long-term benefits of the nation and not like what Mr Ling How Doong is advocating - to turn Singapore into a welfare state. As for the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Mr Low said that the GST is a huge monster. I tend to agree with him to a certain degree because GST has become a part of life in Singapore. However, the revenue increase from GST is basically due to two main factors: firstly, the consuming power of our people has increased and, secondly, the extent of inflation. As for inflation, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has already given its explanation. Inflation is well under control. Because our economic performance is good, people have better purchasing power - that is the reason why the revenue from GST has increased. This is a very fundamental point. Let me give you an example. A resident of a 1-room or 2-room flat has an income of $800 per month. If his income is more than $800, then it will not be possible for him to live in a 1-room or 2-room rented flat. If his annual income is, say, $10,000, 3% is $300.”
“Although the Government is strongly promoting the enhancement of family cohesiveness and encouraging children to maintain their parents, there is nothing in this year's Budget to put this policy into effect. On the contrary, the Government is introducing measures with punitive implications. The water conservation tax is one example. Of course, water is precious and Singapore lacks water resources. Encouraging people to save water is a right thing to do. But using 20 cubic metres as the standard, irrespective of the size of the family, and punish those who use water in excess of the quantity fixed by the Government, branding them as "wasting water" and making them pay the water conservation tax, is just too arbitrary. I hope that some originally filial children and daughters-in-law will not make a fuss when their parents take a bath too many times during the hot weather, and stirring the whole family into a tempest. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this year's Budget is no different from that of the previous year. Apart from the financial sector which will receive quite a lot of benefits, the cost pressure on the other businesses has not been reduced and there is no tangible improvement in the international competitiveness of Singapore. Yet, this huge monster in the form of GST is hanging over the life of the people of Singapore. The lower-income families with large family sizes, and those with heavy financial burden do not seem to get much compensation from this Budget. As compared with the previous year's Budget, this year's Budget is merely an "old medicine in a new bottle"! Mr Choo Wee Khiang (Jalan Besar GRC)( In Mandarin): Mr Deputy Speaker, first of all, let me state my support for the Budget announced by the Finance Minister.”
“With regard to the fiscal measures in this year's Budget, the 10% rebate on personal income tax across the board is of no great benefit to the lower-income people. According to the Government, the majority of Singaporeans do not need to pay any income tax after the implementation of GST. Therefore, the 10% rebate will only enable the higher income group to receive even more benefits. What is even more disappointing is that the Government is only prepared to pay the same amount as in last year in respect of the S&C charges for the HDB dwellers. Since the GST has increased the Government's revenue and surpluses have increased so much, logically, more should be given back to the residents, especially those in the smaller flats. Because their income is lower, many of them cannot enjoy the 10% across-the-board income tax rebate. Furthermore, they also cannot benefit from the tax rebate allowed to offset GST which was originally set at $700 but has been reduced to $650. This lower-income group does not get any real benefit and every day they have to pay GST to the Government. Is it fair to them? In the next financial year, the Government should try and compensate this group of people for their losses. Furthermore, after the implementation of GST, when the Government is providing tax rebates and returning some of its budget surpluses to the people, it should consider the GST tax burden of the individual families. A family with more members, where the wife is a housewife and the children are still young and not economically active, and with retired parents or siblings who are still schooling, the GST tax burden will certainly be higher. The Government should alleviate the GST tax burden of such families.”
“What I know is that in order to offset the impact of GST on the people of Singapore in general, one of the measures was to pay one to three months of service and conservancy (S&C) charges and rentals of some HDB dwellers, for which the Government paid out $28 million. As for the other measures, they would only cause a reduction in the Government's revenue. How do these measures implemented together with the GST suddenly increase so greatly? I would like the Minister for Finance to enlighten us on this. Who are the people favoured by the Government to receive such unexpected windfall in these measures? In implementing the GST, the Government promised that the corporate tax would be reduced to 25%. But this year, because of the fear of overheating the economy, the corporate tax is not further reduced. If corporate tax is not reduced and Singapore is still able to retain its competitiveness in the international market, then the Government's earlier argument of implementing GST so that the corporate tax could be reduced in order to be competitive in the international market just cannot hold water any more. Furthermore, in 1994, the average labour cost in the manufacturing sector was not any lower than 1993. It is worrying to see from the economy as a whole that the average labour cost has, in fact, increased by 1.9%, which is higher than the cost in 1993. Compared to other Asian NIEs, in terms of US dollars, I think the relative competitiveness of Singapore is declining. Furthermore, with the exchange rate of the US dollar declining and the Singapore dollar remaining so strong, I believe that our competitiveness will decline. If the Government does not try to lower the cost of doing business in Singapore, our economy will surely be affected.”
“There is another group of Singaporeans which should also be given appropriate training. I refer to the thousands of women who have either dropped out of the job market to look after children or who have never worked. They need to be lured back to the labour market. Funds can be made available to train or to re-train them. By them taking up jobs, perhaps we can restrict the number of foreign workers. On this note, Sir, I support the motion. Mr Low Thia Khiang (Hougang)( In Mandarin): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, on the surface, this year's Budget appears to please everyone. There is no increase in personal income tax and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) has not been increased. On top of that, the Government is unconditionally giving $200 to every Singapore citizen above the age of 21. However, the people of Singapore will not forget that the GST has already been implemented since the last financial year. Although the GST is a mere 3%, it has enabled the Government to collect a revenue of $1.5 billion in the last financial year. It is worth mentioning that the GST revenue estimate took a sudden jump from the original $960 million to $1.5 billion. The Government expects to collect $1.6 billion next year. Will the Government's GST collection exceed its estimate again? Let us wait and see. In other countries, the governments normally expend more than their budget. But in Singapore, the Government's net income exceeded its budgeted amount. This must be another "First in the World"! With the huge increase in GST collection, the Government has also announced that offsets against the GST will be increased from the original $1.2 billion to $1.7 billion. As such, the Government is saying that the GST is revenue negative. I do not understand how the Government works out its sums.”
“Here, let me state that I support the Minister's argument that as we equip Singaporeans with skills to compete effectively, we need to pay attention to those among them who are most able to create wealth for all. I say by all means reward these able Singaporeans. But look again at what we give to our lower income. While still on the lower income, let us pause and ask: have we done enough to raise the skills level of such people so that they can move up in life? Members would have read in the newspapers of my recent criticism of seven professionals who argued that Skills Development Fund money should be used to pay for management training instead of training unskilled workers. I am happy that the SNEF supports the line I took. SNEF has made it clear that it shares NTUC's concern over the mass of workers with only primary education and with little or no skills. Both SNEF and NTUC want to have these unskilled workers given proper training to make them employable even if they were retrenched. But I am not sure this is going to be an easy task. Older workers, those 40-plus and without skills, are the most vulnerable should there be an economic downturn. But because the economy is humming along nicely, many do not see the need to go for training. Why? Because they are tired after a hard day's work or they prefer to do overtime to earn a little extra. Whatever the reason, a number of these workers are not training. By training, they may lose out on additional income. They may be having additional jobs, part-time jobs, to make up for the shortfall. Here is where subsidies can be given to encourage this cohort to go for skills upgrading. Some form of make-up payment, if I may suggest, for loss of income arising out of availing oneself for training or re-training.”
“In 1991, Mr Goh Chee Wee, the Member for Boon Lay, then a Backbencher, drew needless blood from the Straits Times for suggesting that a good segment of workers earned less than $600 a month. Recently, in response to my question on the SDF levy, Mr Goh stated that raising the ceiling from $750 to $1,000 would cover about 50% of our workers. This means that the take-home pay of workers earning $1,000 is $800. The point I am making is that we do have a sizeable proportion of workers earning relatively low salaries. They will not benefit from the 10% income tax concession. True, they will gain from the $200 which the Government will put into their CPF accounts. They will also earn another $300 if they or their employers have put $750 into their CPF accounts in an 18-month period ending 31st August 1995. But the well-heeled will also have the $200 plus $300 credited to their CPF accounts. Here, on this point, I would want to ask why the age of 21. Thousands of workers in manufacturing, in the retail, in the hotel or even in the civil service are below the age of 21. Why not give this concession to the working class? If we look at the rebates for conservancy charges and rentals for HDB dwellers, we cannot but note that they are skewed in favour of the lower income. This is as it should be. It is good that concessions apply even to those living in 5-room flats. But with a large surplus, surely the Government can be more generous towards the lower income. Let me reiterate my point. Since we made an exceptionally high surplus last year, why stint on those who could benefit more from Government generosity?”
“Mr John De Payva (Nominated Member): Mr Speaker, Sir, going by newspaper accounts, employers or people representing the corporate world, like some Members in this House, are unhappy with one aspect of the Budget. Contrary to expectations, the Finance Minister has not lowered the corporate tax. But surely these people also pay income tax. Since there is to be a 10% rebate across-the-board, surely they will also benefit, at least as individuals and by large margins. The Minister has introduced several measures to help companies become more competitive through employers, though employers expect much more from the good Minister. What about workers? Are they pleased with the Budget? Yes, they are, somewhat. They stand to gain from rebates and concessions announced by the Minister. Nevertheless, I hope the Minister would not think me churlish if I were to argue that overall the better off in society benefit more than the less well endowed. A person who has to pay $10,000 income tax will now save $1,000 because of the across-the-board rebate of 10% of income tax. On the other hand, a worker who has to pay $1,000 income tax will save just $100. In the last financial year, a 5% across-the-board cut in income tax was given before a rebate of an amount not exceeding $700 of tax payable. In layman's term, it means that those whose income tax was $700 or below need not have to pay income tax. In this year's 10% across-the-board rebate, is it more generous than last year's? Would people again escape paying income tax if their tax is $700 or lower? I would strongly urge the Minister to retain the $700 cut-off point. Better still, why not raise it to, say, $1,000?”
“Finally, Sir, I am comforted by the Minister's statement in paragraph 41, and I quote: "It will keep the overall burden of Government levies on successful Singaporeans as low as possible, taking into account both income taxes as well as other levies like the foreign maid levy, and revenues from land transport, including COEs." Yes, the issue of the middle class needs to be addressed. Often, we champion the cause of the poor, but are awkward in addressing the needs of the middle income earners. I must congratulate the Minister for identifying this as one of the two key new challenges for the future. One can see the very different approach to the problem by the Minister for Finance compared to that of Mr Ling How Doong. The middle class are a highly mobile people and sought after by many nations, both developed and developing, and even the underdeveloped. Their needs and aspirations must be addressed. The Minister has made a statement on the Government's stand on this. I hope that he will elaborate on the specific issues that he has addressed in paragraph 41, and I hope that in the Committee of Supply debate, his other Cabinet colleagues will amplify on this area. In the Bedok GRC, there are condominium units which are also ageing. Is there a similar plan for upgrading in a manner similar to that of the Interim Upgrading Programme? After all, they are also Singaporeans, be they middle class Singaporeans. Yes, the Minister is right, the needs of the increasingly large pool of the middle class need to be addressed. On this note, I congratulate the Minister on the Budget and support him.”
“Furthermore, to keep families intact, opportunities for the family to be together should be made possible. For the wife who has to give up her job, should not some form of tax rebates on the husband's income be made possible? Also, could it not be considered making the air-ticket home tax-exempt? For example, a company may allow the employee to come back once a year and if the ticket is also tax-exempt, then the family can be together twice a year instead. I am sure that our very efficient Inland Revenue Authority is capable of drawing guidelines to make sure that these socially desirable objectives are not abused. It is often not possible for the whole family to move overseas with the husband or breadwinner for many, many reasons. Another area that requires a relook is that of the use of Medisave for our citizens who are working overseas and hospitalised overseas. Sir, Singapore no longer has a "development" bank. The Development Bank of Singapore now prefers to be known as DBS Bank. It is thus good that the Government has addressed the needs of the SMEs through the EDB venture capital funds, and also to allow the EDB to make strategic investments in SMEs. This again is very important, as regionalisation must not only benefit the "big boys" but all Singaporeans, directly or indirectly. The EDB as a leader, mentor and master-planner, now has even more teeth to assist the SMEs. The EDB should be congratulated on its performance, and should also urge the other GLCs and MNCs to bring more SMEs on board in their overseas ventures.”
“I support the views given by my colleagues earlier. There are two groups of persons who I especially want to see assisted. Firstly, these are the polytechnic and "A" level holders who, after some years at work, want the chance of a university education. Their chance of being accepted into NUS is small, so many go overseas at great costs. Many borrow from friends and relatives. The second group are the graduates who are not necessarily "scholars" or "high-fliers", but who are nonetheless doing well and want to upgrade in specific areas, especially that connected with their work, ie, after several years of work experience, they want to progress further. The courses that these persons may want to attend may be costly. There is no scheme to help these two groups of people. Perhaps the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Education should look into the setting up of a fund to help these two groups. The SDF does not cater to these two groups. These are highly motivated individuals who should be assisted to further upgrade and contribute to Singapore's economy. Yes, the Open University is one avenue, but can there be others? Addressing these matters will indeed add to better social cohesion, as these individuals who are striving to help themselves would then not feel "left out" or "denied" because they are not the "high-fliers". They form the very important group of middle managers. In the Budget Statement, the importance of regionalisation has been explained. However, some serious social problems related to regionalisation should also be addressed at governmental level. An example of this is the provision of hostels in some schools for children whose parents are overseas. However, this is costly. Can the Government assist in this area by providing grants or tax rebates?”
“This is a very meaningful way to ensure that our public housing estates do not turn into slums like in the old cities, whilst at the same time enhancing the personal value of each homeowner's assets. In the area of the Interim Upgrading Programme, I feel that additional funds should be given to two main areas: (a) lift upgrading and (b) utilities upgrading - rewiring, changing of ageing water and sanitary pipes. This should not be a part of the allocation of $6,000 per unit, but could be funded jointly by the Town Council's Sinking Fund and the Government. The Minister for Finance may be wondering why I am bringing this up at this point of time. It is because I know that if I bring this up during the Committee of Supply, the Minister may answer that he would refer this to the Minister for Finance. So I thought that I would bring this up to the Minister's personal attention. Every person living in the block uses the lift daily, and the lift does not stop at every floor. With an ageing population, for the lift to stop at every floor becomes no longer a luxury, but a necessity. On utilities, it is just commonsense that tells us that it is of no use upgrading the exterior if the utilities are not functioning. Many would like to install air-conditioners in their flats and this can cause an overload on a block basis. I would urge the Minister for Finance to support these measures and to ask him also to seek the support of the Minister for National Development. Education Our education system is sound and good, and 60% of each cohort now enters polytechnic or university. However, as the Minister has stated, education does not stop here. Education involves training and retraining or continuing education or upgrading. In this area, we must do more.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, if one were to look at the Budget Statement for "give-aways", one would definitely be disappointed. The commonly heard comment is why were there not more "goodies" for a year which showed sparkling performance. I must admit that I personally expected more "goodies". However, on reflection, it was not the numbers game that was the most important part of the Budget Statement. It was the underlying philosophy which I found most engaging and most enlightening. Let me elaborate. The section on "Laying the Foundation for Sustained Growth" is an area, to me, more important than the "give-aways" announced. It stressed, firstly, social progress and social cohesion and, secondly, it focused on the two key new challenges for the future: (a) entry of new players; and (b) the development of a middle class society in Singapore. I would like to comment on these areas. Social Progress and Social Cohesion In economic terms, this refers to equitable income distribution and addressing the role of government in social programmes like public housing, primary health care and education. In all these areas, the Government has done well. In Singapore, we believe in a meritocratic society which gives equal opportunity to all through education. Here I cannot agree with Mr Ling How Doong on his philosophy regarding scholarships. Education is universally available to all. We have successfully addressed many of these issues. However, we can refine these areas to meet future challenges and give our citizens an even more satisfying quality of life. Public Housing The Main Upgrading Programme and the Interim Upgrading Programme have been welcomed by our residents.”
“This is a mere cost of one secondary school. To me, as long as there is a commitment to appoint the ablest and the best on the one hand, and there is no reason to doubt this, and there is a commitment by those appointed to serve selflessly for the common good on the other, and we have a track record of this, paying our Ministers better as laid out in the White Paper is easy to endorse. However, the people will be dissatisfied if their trust is misplaced. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the motion. ADJOURNMENT OF DEBATE Resolved, "That the Debate be now adjourned." - [Mr Wong Kan Seng].”