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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“This is not to make a triviality of the importance of one against the other, but just to amplify on the meaning of the phrase "public responsibility of a political career". On an even more sombre note, the failure of a political career as a Minister is even more fatal. This could be a loss at the polls (for a myriad of reasons) or a failure to have lived up to his expectations, or other personal failures. There is even less room for manoeuvre or readjustment. How will he re-shape his life? Has anyone any answers? This must be a lonely, difficult, narrow and steep hill to climb. I have no answer. This is the ultimate risk to bear. This is why the Prime Minister has said that civil servants may accept, but their wives object. It is my belief that as the public becomes more aware of these realities, the empathy will develop, and the issue of benchmarking them becomes easier. To me, the job of a Minister is unique, and the demands on a Minister are also unique. There is no equivalent private sector comparison of the scope of the job, or the equivalent responsibility. Our whole nation's destiny is in the hands of these few to whom we have entrusted the affairs of state. Let us pause and reflect. The Government is responsible for building an infrastructure so that economic growth, social and cultural development, and ultimately a better life for all will be the result. Many nations and cities have faced the growing pains of an inadequate infrastructure. Others are unable to move into the next phase of development because of improper planning. The end result is a poorer standard of living for everyone. Is there a price that we can place for having this infrastructure? The Prime Minister has mentioned the cost of $17 million for the Cabinet.”
“He is not assessed by one boss - the Prime Minister - but by his whole electorate. For a single Member constituency, the candidate has some 25,000 to 30,000 assessors, and this is only at level one. At level two, he needs to satisfy the party cadre members that he has done a good job on a national basis. At level three, he needs to satisfy his parliamentary colleagues, and at level four he needs to satisfy the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. As the Prime Minister has said, in our system, the Minister sets the pace, not the civil service. Does the Minister have a secure job? Very, very far from it. As a friend told me, I think there are better ways to make a living. This, in reality, is what the White Paper refers to when it talks of risks. The Minister has a most insecure job. Besides his performance at the job, he has become literally public property with respect to the conduct of his personal life, and this also includes his nuclear and extended family. On the part of "public responsibilities of a political career", no other CEO's major decision is more transparent or more debated than that of a Minister. The Minister for National Development's policy on flat allocation as compared to that of the CEO of a real estate (even public-listed) company. The Minister for Health's hospital charges compared to that of the CEO of a private hospital or even a conglomerate. The COE policy of the Minister for Communications wins the challenge trophy in this respect! This is the meaning of "public responsibility" as compared to the decision-making responsibility of a CEO of a private or even a public-listed company.”
“Thus, a Minister is remembered as a former civil servant, a former Army officer or the professional or businessman that he was. So the benchmarking starts from that very point. If he had remained a civil servant, Army officer or businessman, would he command this salary today? This again is the rationale of Mr Ling How Doong. We forget that the candidate for first election 10-15 years ago has undergone a severe test on the job and is no longer that same person. The management, leadership and political skills acquired makes him the Minister he is today. He is very much a value added person. Thirdly, the lack of empathy for the risks and public responsibilities of a political career. And I think that this is an area which has been under-emphasised in the White Paper. For obvious reasons, the White Paper and the Frontbench cannot elaborate too much or dwell on these issues because they may be seen to be "blowing their own trumpets". Therefore, it is difficult for the public to understand what this means in real terms - risks and public responsibilities. What is seen is that the Minister is a self-confident CEO, surrounded by competent civil servants, escorted by security officers, enjoying all the perks, pomp and pageantry at official functions. He is a person who is perceived to have a very secure job. Does he need to be so highly paid? After all, he seemingly enjoys his position, and his family also enjoys this. As Mr Ling has said, whenever he goes overseas, it is a paid trip. By the way, I did not compare notes with Mr Ling. It just happens that I seem to have hit on the same key point that he has hit. However, Mr Ling has not mentioned the flip side of this image. If the Minister loses an election, he loses his job.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the reason we are discussing this issue of benchmarks in salaries for Ministers is because of the conviction we share that competent political leadership is crucial to good government. While some may disagree on the basis of benchmarking, it is my belief, after discussions with many, that our Ministers are well respected for their abilities and integrity. Many share the feeling that they are deserving of better salaries for their scope of work responsibilities and sacrifices. The Prime Minister has mentioned that no Minister has asked for a salary increase. However, when it comes to benchmarking, there are many different approaches and views. Often, after some discussions, one finds that we are actually not at all discussing an issue based on the same parameters. We are not comparing apple with apple. The discussion is far from objective. Why the difficulty in this issue of salaries? Firstly, for some, the absolute dollar value of a Minister's salary itself, some $600,000, now to be raised to $800,000 per annum, is difficult to imagine. This is because when this refers to the CEO of a multi-national company, the CEO is an abstract figure. However, when it comes to a Minister, a household name, or the MP-Minister that I have just met on Sunday, it becomes someone very real. You mean he is earning so much more than me? You mean he requires or he is deserving of such a hefty pay rise? Objectivity is lost and subjectivity sets in. We must realise this. Mr Ling How Doong must realise this. Secondly, when we refer to the value of a Minister, we often remember him as a candidate who first entered politics. For some, a decade ago; for others, many decades ago.”
“We aim to match that success. Finally, Sir, I welcome the Parliamentary Secretary's assurance that the Bill is the product of widespread consultation and has received good support from the legal fraternity. In this way, I am sure it will meet the needs of the business and legal community. Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, I thank the GPC Chairman for Law and Home Affairs for his support of the Bill. 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. CHARITIES BILL Order for Second Reading read.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the Bill. Sir, I agree with the Parliamentary Secretary that the Bill is a welcomed boost to the development of Singapore as an international centre for legal services. The Model Law has proven to be a practical and useful tool in jurisdictions which have adopted it. I share the view that its enactment will enhance the role of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC). Sir, we have been told that the Model Law is already operative in countries which compete with Singapore for international arbitration work. It is therefore timely that we give the SIAC this additional boost. Sir, with this Bill, business people overseas will not worry about encountering an unfamiliar element if they select Singapore as the place of arbitration. Foreign counterparts of Singapore investors, who are unfamiliar with the English law, on which the existing Arbitration Act is based, will find the Model Law more accessible. As I understand it, the Model Law is drafted in the six official UN languages, namely, Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. It is also consistent with our drive towards regionalisation, as it will be easier to convince these foreign counterparts to agree to the SIAC as a venue to settle disputes that may arise. In this way, this essential term of a contract can be more easily settled. Sir, the provision of an effective and mutually acceptable mechanism for settling disputes that may arise is an important element in any business transaction. As we strive to enhance Singapore's attractiveness as a total business centre, the Model Law will fill a gap. The Parliamentary Secretary has alluded to the success of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre since the Model Law was introduced in 1990.”
“Point of clarification, Mr Speaker, Sir. The Minister mentioned that there will be another system for mature estates. Does he mean that the redevelopment that is going on within our present estates will have a totally different scheme from this?”
“Sir, I also support the new scheme. I would like to ask for two clarifications from the Minister. Firstly, for the old 3-room flats that have just been sold to tenants, I hope that the whole period of tenancy will be taken as the period of occupation, because there will be some priority given for those who have stayed longer. The flats have just been sold in the beginning of this year. And I hope that the whole period of their tenancy, whereby they are actually staying in that flat, will be taken as the period in which they will qualify for priority. Secondly, rather than raise the premium of 10% to 20% in one jump, I hope that he will also consider using this length of stay as a criterion in gauging this quantum leap, because I think the whole idea is to discourage unnecessary movement.”
“Compound this with the easy availability of firearms in as close a region as Thailand, as has been recognised by the Thai authorities, we can realise how quickly our problems can multiply. My conclusion is that this Bill is still relevant today and that there are sufficient safeguards to ensure that detention without trial is not abused. Sir, I support this Bill.”
“Detention without trial has been a major factor in addition to the death sentence to keep Singapore relatively drug free. Yet, we still consider drug abuse as a major problem in Singapore. The drug dealers know that, because we have tough laws, it is better for them to stay away from Singapore. Singaporeans also know this. Let us look at some statistics regarding Singaporeans arrested overseas for drug trafficking. In 1989, 16; 1990, 15; 1991, 5; 1992, 31; 1993, 32. And up to June this year, there were 17, making a total of 116 cases. These 116 cases are cases known to the Ministry of Home Affairs and this is therefore not the complete list. Let us note the increasing trend in the last three years of Singaporeans committing drug offences overseas and being involved in drug trafficking overseas. Do we need detention without trial? My answer is yes, so that our whole society can be spared the agony of drug addiction. Is the problem of secret societies or triads totally eradicated? The answer must be a no. Under control? Yes. We read now of the Hong Kong triads penetrating the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe. In an article, as quoted by the Minister, senior police officers have assessed that Singapore's strict laws have been a major deterrent effect. A look at serious criminal offences committed by Singaporeans overseas, again to the best knowledge of the Ministry of Home Affairs, is telling. In 1989-1990, none was known. In 1991, 2; 1992, 2; 1993, 2. But up to June this year, six cases have already been recorded. Small as these numbers are, they should alert us to remain ever vigilant.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, whenever the issue of detention without trial arises, the question of safeguards and of relevance to society today must be addressed. The Minister has given us a review of the checks and balances that are in place. I am convinced that there are sufficient checks on the system. However, to me, the fact that this Bill must be presented to Parliament for review and extension every five years is itself a very fundamental procedure to ensure that this Bill cannot be abused or wrongly used by the Government of the day. If this Bill was meant to silence political opponents, no sane government would make itself go through the motion of seeking extension from Parliament every five years. Thus, the Bill is presented today, and I support the move to extend it for another five years. Sir, some may question the relevance of this Bill. We have a very law-abiding population. There is no major crime problem in Singapore. Where are the secret societies of the 50s, 60s and 70s that make this Bill necessary? The major problem in this area are different and changing. However, the problem of getting witnesses to testify is still a problem because of the fear of reprisals on themselves and their families. As mentioned by the Minister, drug trafficking is a very real problem. Our proximity to the Golden Triangle and our efficiency as a travel hub make Singapore a convenient drug hub. Drug syndicates are wealthy, well organised and very powerful with extensive international links. The persons who are intercepted and arrested are the pimps in the trade. They are the small boys. It would not be possible to get witnesses to testify in these cases for obvious reasons, the threat of reprisals.”
“This departure is welcome. Automatic discharges should not be allowed as it does nothing to encourage the settlement of debts and the maintenance of financial discipline and commercial morality. On the other hand, I applaud the scheme to enable bankrupts resulting from business failure to obtain discharges more easily. This will indeed promote our policy of encouraging business entrepreneurship without eroding financial discipline and commercial morality. In summary, Sir, this new system is a major piece of law reform. It represents a significant milestone in updating our commercial laws. Rightly so, a prime consideration is to find the right balance between the interest of creditors in being paid and bankrupts who like to be financially rehabilitated to start over again and society in having legislation which promotes our overall economic and social objectives. This Bill will be welcomed by both the business community and the general public. I welcome the Minister's decision to commit the Bill to a Select Committee. Sir, I support the Bill.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of this Bill. As the Minister has stated, the existing bankruptcy laws have not kept pace with social and economic developments in Singapore. This Bill, with its new and significantly different structure, is long overdue and should be welcomed by all concerned. As the Bill will be referred to a Select Committee, I will not speak on the specific provisions.I have a few general observations to make. Sir, this Bill has altogether 167 clauses and two Schedules. A tremendous amount of work and consultation must have taken place involving the Official Assignee's office, the Attorney-General and all those concerned in the administration of bankrupts and their estates. They have taken more than five years since 1989 when the Minister answered a Question in this House and I presume that the review must have commenced then before this Bill was completed. I would like to commend the Official Assignee and his officers for their commitment and effort in putting together this Bill. I also observe from the comparative table at the end of this Bill that several clauses in this Bill have adopted or incorporated, with modifications, bankruptcy legislation in other jurisdictions like the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Malaysia, just to name a few. Although such reforms were carefully considered, I would like an assurance from the Minister that there has been no slavish adoption from such foreign reforms, especially when these were enacted against the background of varying economic and social conditions existing in those countries for which it was legislated. Sir, I am pleased to note that we have not followed other jurisdictions, such as Australia where provisions on automatic discharges of bankrupts have been incorporated.”
“They should try to settle with the authorities these summonses, rather than wait for the renewal date of the driving licence which, as you know, can be renewed for three years in advance, or vehicle licence, and then suddenly find themselves without a means to continue their livelihood. The HDB and URA should also try to work out instalment payments if these persons cannot pay at one go. (2) Would the Minister ask the HDB and URA to give the CCC advisors a list of these persons? The grassroots leaders can also assist to alert these people. Sir, I believe that there are deeper underlying reasons for non-compliance with regard to parking offences although these are not excuses. This Bill is required to check the problem. Through this Bill, all future offenders, hopefully, will take their parking offences seriously. However, for the past offenders, it is my hope that, guilty as they are, we can soften somewhat the hardship on the family.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the Bill. Sir, the figures given by the Minister are really startling as it relates only to one offence, namely, that of parking. Each year, between 1991 and 1993, at year end, there are 60,000 outstanding warrants of arrest. Sir, as the Minister has mentioned, before a warrant of arrest is issued, three reminders would have been issued. Then a warrant of arrest is issued. I just wonder how we have reached this state of affairs! Singaporeans are a law-abiding people, but for parking, this seems to be a peculiar problem. Can the Minister tell us how many parking offences were committed in a year? Sir, the GPC has been informed that, currently, there are approximately 11,500 motorists with one or more warrants of arrest. 27 of them have accumulated more than 50 warrants of arrest each. This is a serious matter and, therefore, warrants more serious action. I therefore support this Bill to deal with the recalcitrants. Sir, whilst supporting this Bill, I worry as to how many of these offenders actually depend on driving as a key means of earning a living, for example, delivery man or despatch clerks. If a driving licence or road tax is not renewed when he presents himself, then the whole family's source of income is lost. This would then throw the whole family into a hardship cycle. May I make these suggestions to the Minister? (1) Some of the offenders may not dare to give themselves up as they are not able to afford to pay their accumulated fines. Can the HDB and URA disseminate widely circulars regarding the impact of today's Bill on them?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Bill. Sir, whilst this House has a heavy responsibility of debating Bills and making laws for Singapore, it is also important to publish these laws in such a manner that they are accessible to the legal profession and the public at large. The improvements moved by this Bill are based on the experience of the Law Commissioners. These learned men and women should know what is required to make their task more productive. In particular, I commend the implementation of the loose-leaf system of publishing our statutes. Those of us who have looked up statutes will realise how messy it can be when a statute has been heavily amended with lots of cuts and paste sections stuck all over the pages. With a loose-leaf system, such a cut and paste approach will be dispensed with. In addition, the amendment to give the Commissioners the discretion to reprint a heavily amended Act even before the ensuing 1st January is a very practical one. I wish to ask the Parliamentary Secretary how the loose-leaf system will be implemented. Does it mean that all current loose-booklet statutes will be replaced? If so, will this be costly and extravagant? Lastly, I will also ask the Parliamentary Secretary what is the implication of this Bill on the use of information technology in the legal profession as in LawNet.”
“As the workload on the specialists in these hospitals is already very heavy, will the Government not consider also allowing the private specialist admission rights and the right to practise in Government or restructured hospitals on an agreed upon fee scheme to the mutual benefit of all concerned? If we consider that other Government institutions are making use of private sector services to relieve their workload, there is no reason why the medical profession should not learn from them likewise. I agree and understand that patient care is not the same as architectural or accountancy services being "farmed-out" to the private sector, but surely the administrative procedures and the professional lines of responsibility can be worked out. I am again making this suggestion apart from the visiting consultant scheme. Will the Minister consider this scheme? Likewise, for the specialists in Government or restructured hospitals, the Government may want to consider allowing them limited hours of private practice in private hospitals per week. This would allow for a sharing of skills and better interaction between the two sectors. I do not see the logic whereby we have to import an overseas specialist when local talent is available and could be given his due recognition. Will the Minister please comment?”
“Sir, I would like to speak on the topic of optimisation of use of specialists. Sir, it is very costly to train specialists. It takes 10 to 12 years to train a specialist. To optimise their use, whether they are in Government, restructured hospitals or in private practice, is for national gain. Time and again, we hear of unacceptably long waiting time in especially the Specialists' Outpatient Clinics in restructured hospitals. This is an indication of their success, and the trust they have gained from the public. I congratulate them on this. One other major reason for this is that many major organisations only allow their employees to be seen in the Government or restructured hospitals for a myriad of reasons. Will the Ministry of Health consider using private specialists to man the Specialists' Outpatient Clinics in HCS hospitals to relieve the very heavy workload in these clinics and to provide better services to these patients? These specialists could be paid either on a sessional or hourly rate. This scheme may be attractive to the private specialists as it allows them to keep in touch with the wide range of cases seen in Government or restructured hospitals. I am suggesting this apart from the visiting consultant scheme which is for the elite in the private sector. I believe this scheme would be mutually beneficial and that especially the younger or new specialists in private practice may be interested in this scheme. Sir, many large organisations prefer their employees to be admitted to Government or restructured hospitals. However, there are times when the patient would like to be under the care of a specialist in private practice.”
“The Medical Council needs to give guidelines regarding acceptable forms of information dissemination if doctors are to make presentations to employers, so that they in turn can make informed choices on behalf of their employees. The employer then in turn needs to explain and discuss this with the unions and the staff. The doctors must also be able to have direct access to the patients to inform them regarding the packages available. Only after being well informed, will the patient or employer be able to get the best value for money spent. Will this be regarded as advertising? Managed health care has come by swiftly. It may be a good alternative. However, to succeed, I reiterate, a sound doctor-patient relationship is fundamental. Will the Ministry mount an education campaign to explain to the public the advantages and disadvantages of these new changes? The medical profession and professional bodies must, of course, also do their part.”
“The scale should start from the region of $200-$250 per annum for those in the 20s, rising to approximately $1,000 per annum for those in the 50s and 60s. This is also in line with the concept espoused by the GPC Chairman, Mr Loh Meng See, of being collectively responsible. Let us spend this money that we want to spend for health care in the best way. It is the more senior of our citizens who will incur a higher health bill. Many will have multiple illnesses. As we do not want them to be hospitalised - a costly affair to both the individual and the State - outpatient care should be encouraged. Therefore, the capitation for outpatient care should be rationally reviewed. I hope that the Ministry of Health will make a study of this and present these statistics to convince the Cabinet. Sir, on the topic of managed health care, the concept of managed health care is relatively new to Singapore. This is a system whereby a person is charged a certain fixed sum per annum for medical care in contrast to a fee-for-service system. Much more needs to be done so that employers, employees, the unions and the medical profession all understand the advantages and disadvantages of this system. The main aim in this exercise is to reduce wastage and abuse - wastage in terms of manpower, eg, unnecessary specialist referral or hospitalisation; wastage in terms of unnecessary consultations and expensive medications and procedures. This will require a major education exercise to educate employers, patients or employees and doctors. The patient-doctor relationship must be enhanced if this is to succeed and not result in more expensive health care because of medico-legal suits and legal expenses.”
“Sir, first, I wish to declare my interest in that I am a GP in private practice. When the new health care co-payment policy was announced, many civil servants were upset. Why were they upset? Largely, they were upset because they were totally unprepared for it. Although reassured that the pay rise given would more than offset the co-payments, many were sceptical. Now, with some modifications, further reassurances, and the intervention of the Prime Minister himself, allowing for pre-existing serious illnesses to be exempted from the co-payment scheme, the scheme becomes more acceptable. I know that this subject falls under the purview of the Ministry of Finance, but I choose to bring this subject up under the Ministry of Health because I feel that the capitation of $350 per annum under Option C regardless of age is not the best way to allocate limited funds. I hope to convince the Minister for Health so that he may convince the Cabinet. All of us know that apart from a few unfortunate exceptions when the young are afflicted by chronic or fatal disease or injuries, it is the older age groups that are the heavy health care consumers. They are the ones who spend most on health. At the Budget debate, I have put forward the rationale for this. I believe that it bears repeating. Many of the chronic degenerative illnesses, if detected and treated early, will prevent more severe complications. For example, good management of diabetes, when detected in the 40s, will prevent severe complications such as blindness and amputation of limbs later in life. Management of cardiac risk factors such as high cholesterol will prevent coronary heart disease and avert costly cardiac surgery. To provide for a higher capitation for those above 35 years is sensible and scientific.”
“Sir, the Minister in his reply to my point mentioned that there are different types of violence. Yes, I could not agree with him more. But I would like to refer him to paragraph 2.2 of the Report of 16th February 1994. Here, it is talking about programmes that are imported from overseas and are referring to Mandarin programmes. The Committee noted that "Hong Kong productions tended to have more graphic depictions of violence, torture and suffering". Sir, this is the type of violence that I am talking about. I am not talking about the type of kungfu or wrestling type of violence.”
“According to my knowledge, the SBC's Variety Show programmes have been trying to create a climate of psychology among our youth which makes them susceptible to such idolisation by arranging for bouquets, posters and banners to be presented to their favourite singers or entertainers. So young people who are watching the TV would want to imitate them. Therefore, you can see thousands of young people flocking to the airport to meet their idols. What is worse is that some are even prepared to make a R-rated film with Andy Lau. If such a trend is allowed to go on, what will be the future of our young people? They will become a group of idolaters who have lost direction in life. I hope MITA will pay attention to this.”
“I would like to quote two paragraphs: "In a trendy nightclub, a controversial playwright puts on one-man shows in which he lambasts the government, spews profanity, urinates, masturbates, even goes into convulsions." Second quote: "A collector visits a gallery and buys a work called Artist's Shit, a can of faeces weighing 30 gms and priced at the current cost of gold. He is not alone, the art world is so enamoured of the concept that the lucky artist sells 90 cans." Will the Minister please comment on the direction that art is moving in Singapore, and also comment on how he will reconcile these trends vis-a-vis the promotion of our cherished, accepted and treasured traditional values? Mr Peh Chin Hua( In Mandarin): Sir, idolisation is a problem which is prevalent in any era, any country. For example, in the 1930s we had Zhou Xuan, and in the 1950s we had Bai Guang. In the 1960s we had the Beetles. In the 1980s we had Michael Jackson. However, in the 1990s, our young people are so obsessed with their idols that they are in hot pursuit of them. They forgo sleep and meals and even neglect their studies. This is a matter for extreme regret. From the report in Zaobao, you can see how these young people are crazy over their idols. What is more serious is that some of them even toy with the idea of committing suicide if they cannot see Lin Zi, so much so that their mothers have to beg the principal to allow their children to see their idols. I think this is very bad for our young people. Idolisation is a psychological state or mental state experienced by adolescents who are still immature. However, the Government has the social responsibility to deter the media, particularly SBC's Variety Show programmes, from abetting in this idolisation.”
“To Mr Goldstein, it is the bystander effect that troubles him most. In a small island state like Singapore, all three are equally important. It is especially important when we are trying to promote neighbourliness and schemes like the Neighbourhood Watch Scheme at our block levels. Sir, I fully support the views expressed by the GPC Chairman, Mr Peter Sung. I would like to know from the Minister what further steps are being taken by his Ministry to control and monitor violence on television? What are the guidelines given to SBC in their screening, production and procuring of films with regard to violence. Sir, on social norms, values and the arts, the Government has been emphasising family values, hard work, personal responsibility, social cohesion, amongst other social values which are essential to the survival, prosperity and happiness of all Singaporeans. MITA, in its efforts to support the arts, has an important role to play. However, several incidents that have taken place make me concerned. If left unchecked, these will undermine our established social norms and values. One such incident was that of urinating on the stage. The other incident that alarmed me was the case of the two-way mirror installed in the changing room in a most reputable and established art school. How could this have happened? Sir, while we should continue to support the good work of MITA to promote the arts, we must ask ourselves where we in Singapore want to draw the line between what is acceptable and desirable and what is not. I quote from the Life! section of 11th March 1994, entitled "The Short - Art Fallacy".”
“Sir, in the debate on the Ministry of Home Affairs, I expressed my concern regarding the 27% increase in juvenile crime and violent scenes on the television screen. To quote Mr Arnold Goldstein, the Director of the Centre for Research on Aggression at Syracuse University in New York: `... after a while there's enough research to say we have a fact ... and this is a fact: Television violence begets real violence.' Sir, speaking at a two-day conference on violence in schools, he said: `There's just no question of the effect of television. Literally, hundreds of studies all point to this conclusion. The only people who seriously question the link - like the tobacco industry questioning the link between cigarette smoking and cancer - are the TV people themselves, and even many of them are coming around.' Sir, since this subject was brought up in this House last year, I am glad to learn that MITA and the Ministry of Home Affairs have taken active steps to jointly tackle this issue. Admittedly, it is a difficult issue to manage as many of our films are imported, and even for local productions, the question of balancing thrilling and violent scenes may not be easy, but try we must. I am glad to note that overall, there has been a significant reduction of the violent gory-type scenes over the last year. Sir, Mr Goldstein lists three major effects of violence: Firstly, the aggression effect. A substantial number of viewers will become more aggressive, more violent after watching violent TV shows. Secondly, the victim effect. This involves an increased level of fearfulness about the world in general. Third, the bystander effect. TV violence increases the degree of callousness and indifference to actual violence of those watching.”
“Sir, I hope that the Ministry of Home Affairs will also try to convince the Ministry of National Development to allow the Town Councils to have surveillance cameras in the common areas or areas known to be prone to outraging of modesty, for example, in lifts. Will the Parliamentary Secretary consider this?”
“Sir, as I have brought up the subject of outraging of modesty, may I be allowed to make some comments?”
“One last point, Sir. On the question of traffic safety, I am glad to learn that rear seat belts have indeed proven effective. Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I am very encouraged by the Minister's reply and the Ministry's strategy towards the problems that we have highlighted and also that of his Parliamentary Secretary. Sir, if I may just take one moment to comment on the use of caning in the case of drug addicts. Firstly, let me say that I am encouraged to know that from the study done by the Ministry of Home Affairs it is drugs that lead to crimes rather than it is the first timer who has a so-called criminal profile. I am glad to note the tougher measures that will be taken by the DRC. But I would like the Minister to consider and take into account these two points when he discusses the use of the cane in the management of drug offences. Firstly, we differentiate between those who have committed crimes and those who have not. Secondly, there should be judicial reviews and this should not be mandatory. Sir, on the question of juvenile offenders, I would like to say that I am very glad to learn that the Ministry has already started studies together with the National University of Singapore.”
“Sir, the traffic police has been introducing new safety measures over the years to reduce road casualties. Some of these measures have been in the form of legislation, such as that relating to drunken driving and safety belts, while others have been in the form of education and persuasion such as the "ride bright" campaign. This was a campaign to ask the motor cyclists to switch on their headlamps even in the day so that they can be better seen. Many are still cynical over the value of the use of the rear seat belt and of the effectiveness of "riding bright". Will the Minister please comment? Sir, the GPC has been briefed by the Ministry and notes with concern certain trends: (1) the accident rate of probationary, ie, new Class 2B, motorcyclist riders is about four times higher than that of all class 2B riders (motorcyclists). (2) the accident rate of probationary Class 3 drivers, ie, new drivers, is about 1.8 times that of all Class 3 drivers. The recent accident which resulted in the death of a school girl by a driver who had not driven for some years brings these statistics closer to our heart. I am sure that the increased accident rates in new drivers are multifactorial. There is a need to re-look into our system of training and testing. There is a need to consider whether these new drivers should be identified by a special plate for their vehicles for the safety of all on the road. Will the Minister please comment?”
“I will pursue this subject further in the discussion under MITA. Otherwise, our enforcement agencies will have an uphill task in promoting and enforcing our laws against crime and violent behaviour.”
“30 pm I think our law enforcement agencies ought to look more closely into the fundamental problems which result in the involvement of youths in crime. It is only by doing so that we can work out better preventive measures to keep youths away from crime, and devise suitable programmes for the rehabilitation of delinquent youths. This calls for a multi-disciplinary approach to juvenile crimes. The Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Community Development, the Ministry of Information and the Arts and the Ministry of Home Affairs should together spearhead this project. The rehabilitation of delinquent youths needs much more attention. Of course, the parents and the family have a key role to play. Will the Minister please comment? Related to this issue is the issue of violence on TV. In the toddler murder case in the UK, it was reported that the two children who killed the toddler watched a violent video show days before they committed the crime. There is now enough evidence of this correlation to concern the producers of such films in the West to cut down on violence. I know this subject has been debated at last year's Committee of Supply. Since last year, we have made some headway. However, much more needs to be done. In my view, the level of violence in our TV programmes must be closely monitored. Some may feel that some element of violence is essential for a story-line or to hype-up a programme. While this may be true in some cases, we should develop a set of acceptable standards aimed not only at reducing violent scenes but also to ensure that our TV programmes do not harden or make our viewers immune to acts of violence, ie, they get so used to seeing TV violent scenes that when they see these scenes happening at home, they are no longer troubled by them.”
“What is being done to address the increase in these cases? Sir, the violent crimes and murders that take place in the construction sites need looking into. Indeed, murders have increased by 38.1% and I believe that many of these take place in the construction sites. In this area, the Immigration Department must also come down hard not only on those directly involved but also those who may have knowledge but are not cooperating with the authorities to bring those guilty to trial. The lifestyle of foreign workers in their homeland must not be allowed to influence negatively work attitudes in Singapore construction sites. We must aggressively tackle this problem. Will the Minister explain to the House the strategy the Ministry intends to implement? Sir, on juvenile crimes, while we have done well in maintaining low crime figures, we must also be alert to trends that give problems in the future. I am referring to the problem of delinquent youth groups and street-corner gangs. I do not know whether it is simply a case of adolescent defiance of authority, or a case of lack of parental control, or some other fundamental reasons. The number of juveniles arrested for seizable offences in 1993 was 1,878, or 27.1%, higher than in 1992. There was a case of a 12-year old boy arrested for molesting an 11-year old girl. In another case, a student threatened his teacher with a pen-knife. We used to think that this would only happen in the West. In yet another case, a boy who quit school, felt bored and set fire to his former school. If we do not adequately address the issue of youthful offenders, it will add to our burden of crime enforcement when they grow into adulthood. 3.”
“Sir, CID's recent report on the 1993 crime situation painted a good picture for Singapore. I would like to congratulate the Police and the Ministry for a job well done in not only maintaining but also improving upon the standard of law and order in Singapore year after year. I agree with the Minister's recent statement that it is only with the close partnership between law enforcement agencies and members of the public that we are able to keep our crime rate very low and our streets very safe. I would also like to congratulate the Singapore Police Force on the reorganisation of the Marine Police to the Police Coast Guard Command. This is very timely and will ensure the safety of vessels in our coastal waters. But we must not rest on our laurels. We must not unwittingly allow Singapore to go the way of some countries, especially in the West, where violent crimes and destruction of public property are the order of the day. As an Asian society, we believe in social order and this requires a community that is law-abiding. However, there are three areas of concern that I wish to comment on. Firstly, outraging of modesty. It shows an increase of 8.5%. Secondly, problems in construction sites and, thirdly, juvenile crimes which have shown an increase of 27.1%. In these three areas, all the statistics show that these crimes are on the increase. In the case of the construction sites, serious crimes and murders have shown an increase. Sir, outraging of modesty is a cowardly crime. It is a crime that will leave considerable psychological damage on the victim. It worries the family members. It will affect workers who come back late because of shift work. Indeed if the increase in trend is not checked, it will affect workers' attitude to shift work.”
“To them, going back to the DRCs is just like going back to a second home. Their spouses suffer, their children suffer, but they, the addicts, remain unconcerned and irresponsible. In between admissions to the DRC, he adds to the misery of the family by making his wife pregnant again and then "merrily" checks into the DRC. This is a major area of concern. I am especially concerned because some of the most dedicated counsellors have told me that they are now beginning to despair. Sir, I am also told that there is a criminal element in drug addicts. This is a most serious association. Can the Minister please elaborate?”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head Q of the Main Estimates be reduced by $100. Sir, first, the topic of hardcore drug addicts. From press reports and my discussions with the Ministry officials, I know that the drug situation in Singapore remains a high priority concern in the Ministry. More drug traffickers and drug syndicate members are being arrested and large quantities of heroin and other drugs seized. Given the nature of drug trafficking, it is not possible to detect and arrest every drug trafficker or courier that supplies drugs to pushers in our streets. It is indeed an endless task for our drug enforcement officers in the CNB, the Police and the Prisons Department which manages the Drug Rehabilitation Centres. I would like to know from the Minister what is the state of the drug situation in Singapore today and whether there are any specific problems faced by the Ministry and its drug enforcement agencies, and how well are we placed to tackle these problems and concerns. In particular, I would like to know how we are tackling the problem of the recalcitrants or hardcore addicts. I am particularly concerned regarding repeat offenders. This is a problem not peculiar to Singapore. However, for years we have been pursuing a very enlightened policy of treating the pure addict as a patient rather than a criminal. What do I mean by a pure addict? This is an addict without a criminal record. He is not charged in court but is put on a compulsory rehabilitation programme. However, I understand that for some, being readmitted (for example, fifth time or more) is being taken by the addicts as nothing more than "home coming", that is, these persons do not seem to take personal responsibility for their addiction.”
“Sir, I thank the Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary for their replies. I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head T of the Main Estimates be reduced by $100. Sir, first, I would like to address the issue of development of Singapore as a Centre for Legal Excellence. Sir, many measures have been introduced to develop Singapore as a Centre for Legal Excellence. These have been initiated by the Government, the Judiciary, the Law Society of Singapore and law firms themselves. They include effecting a faster clearance rate of cases, computerisation of procedures, overseas trips of legal delegations and the setting up of overseas offices by local law firms. Local law firms also host visits by foreign lawyers to facilitate an exchange of information and to enable those foreign lawyers to learn from Singapore. The Singapore Government has done its part by taking steps to ensure better quality of lawyers and passing legislation to set up our own Court of Appeal and to cut the apron string from the United Kingdom. Will the Minister tell the House what further steps may be needed to quicken the pace in our drive towards legal excellence? Sir, I next turn to the question of legal reforms in Singapore. Sir, last year was a very busy year for the Ministry of Law. Several new legislation as well as amendments to existing legislation were introduced in 1993. These legal reforms had a positive effect and resulted in improvements in the efficient administration of justice, for example, faster clearance of capital cases and formation of our own Court of Appeal. Could the Minister inform the House what legal reforms are being considered for introduction in FY94?”
“This will provide a pool of well-trained specialists to serve the international city that Singapore must be for the next century. I am sure that the legal profession will rise to the occasion.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support this Bill. Sir, I shall be brief. Sir, four years ago when the GPC for Law and Home Affairs brought up the question of a single permanent Court of Appeal in this House, the Minister patiently explained that while he supported the concept, the constraining factor was that of manpower. Since then, more Judicial Commissioners have been recruited and today we know that another two new Judges have been appointed. Last year the single permanent Court of Appeal was set up. There has been one year of experience and the experience has been good. Sir, it is now close to three decades since our independence. The Government and Judiciary have patiently, carefully and meticulously worked towards this day when we are ready to assume our own judicial responsibilities as an independent nation. Today, the umbilical cord to the Privy Council will be finally severed. Sir, like Mr Davinder Singh, I would like to ask the Minister to clarify on an area of concern that has been expressed by some members of the shipping and financial community and other MNCs. In the previous Judicial Committee Act, parties could agree to have their cases heard by the Privy Council prior to a hearing by the Court of Appeal in Singapore. Will today's repeal of this clause adversely affect our position as an international financial, shipping and training centre? Sir, it is my belief that the passing of this Bill will have far-reaching implications for the legal profession. This Bill, together with the laws adopted earlier to restrict the use of Queen's Counsels to only very complicated cases, will be an added impetus to further encourage more lawyers to specialise.”
“Can medical science predict accurately enough? As a doctor, I understand the futility of keeping a "brain-dead" patient "alive" on expensive life-support systems. However, there will be many "grey" areas. There will be the wishes of the relatives and next-of-kin to consider. I hope that before we make any legislation on living wills the public will be consulted at every stage. I am sure that the Minister-in-charge will definitely do it before the Bill is presented to Parliament.”
“Many, as has been mentioned by my colleagues, will not want to move out of the home in which they saw their children grow up in, and in which they have so many happy memories, and the home in which they want to have the family come back over the weekend and to have family reunions. In other words, they just do not want to sell their home. Many also do not want to burden their children. Perhaps a scheme can be worked out with the financial institutions or HDB whereby a "reverse mortgage" takes place, ie, the elderly home owner is paid a certain sum in cash each month by the bank to supplement that of his CPF for his daily needs, including that of his medical needs. He can thus live to his last days in dignity in the home, in the place which he has called home all these years. On his demise, the remaining value of his property will revert to his estate. Of course, checks will also have to be instituted to ensure that the system can work successfully. I hope that the Government, with its wealth of expertise, and the financial institutions could throw more light on the pros and cons of this. Living Wills Mr Speaker, Sir, I will close my speech with the unsavoury but important subject of living wills. The subject of living wills whips up emotions for those who contemplate making it and their loved ones, and for those who will have to implement it - the medical personnel. Essentially, people do not like even to talk of making their own wills regarding their own estate. It is just our culture. We do not like to talk about something like this. So it is understandable that the subject of living wills will stir up emotions. However, the right to die with dignity is also important - but who decides? The person himself while he is still alive?”
“I can understand and support both the philosophy of co-payment and capitation to inculcate a sense of personal responsibility and prevent wastage. Regarding the 15% co-payment for employees and 40% for dependants, perhaps this could be implemented in stages over several years. The same principles should also apply to inpatient cases or hospitalisation cases. Greying of our Population Sir, I must state at the outset that I agree with the principle that more should be set aside for the retirement years. Even if one works till the extended retirement age of 67 years, our statistics show that we may still have to provide for maybe another 10-15 years after retirement. It is thus prudent to start now, especially for the young. My concern is for those approaching the age of 55 years, say, in the next five years. If the Minimum Sum is increased too heftily and too quickly, these persons who have planned all these years for their retirement will be very disappointed. They have worked long and hard and will feel extremely let down, especially if they find out that they are unable to withdraw any sum at all because they have not fulfilled the Minimum Sum requirements. This matter will be discussed further. I am sure that the Government will take into account the views of the public and especially the feelings of this group. At this point, Sir, I would like to link the issue of asset enhancement to this "Minimum Sum" issue. At the time of retirement, for most Singaporeans, their most precious single asset will be the home that they are staying in.”
“Health Care Sir, before I touch on this topic, I would first like to declare my interest as a doctor in medical practice. The Government's concern is a very serious one that is shared by governments in the developed countries and is shared by the medical profession and the public. Having participated in the deliberations of the Minister of State, Dr Aline Wong's Health Review Committee, I can appreciate the concerns that are being addressed, especially that of rising costs and the implications of an ageing population. However, Sir, I must say that for the majority of Singaporeans, including health care professionals and employers, the announcement of the co-payment scheme came as a surprise. This is especially so for those who are ill or under treatment for chronic illnesses. In the outpatient care area, my personal feeling is that the cap of $350 per annum is generous for the young who do not suffer from chronic illnesses. However, for the more elderly, who often have multiple illnesses, eg, if one has high blood pressure, he may also have cardiac disease, diabetes and high cholesterol, all put together, $350 per annum may not be sufficient. My fear is that these patients may now default treatment. The complications that will set in in later years will be even more costly in dollar terms, and the pain and suffering to the patient and family immense. For example, if a diabetic patient should default on treatment because of costs and becomes blind or has a limb amputated, the cost later down the road to himself and to the nation may indeed be very great. Perhaps the Government should look into having a two-tier capitation: one for those who are younger, say, under 45 years, and a more generous one for those who are older.”
“This message came across to me very well when the proprietor of a chicken rice stall came to seek assistance during my meet-the-people session to have outlets overseas. I am also glad to note that our schools are also aware of their role in preparing our young for this new role. The students are being exposed to more adventure-type activities and more visits overseas are being conducted to expose our students. Indeed, our schools and tertiary institutions play a pivotal role in moulding the attitude of our new workforce to pioneering work overseas. More attention must be focused on this area. Asset Enhancement Programme Sir, to me, the asset enhancement programme is an enlargement of the Government's successful home ownership for all programme. Previously, the emphasis was on home ownership. Now, the emphasis has been widened. How do you add further to the value of your home? How do you increase other non-property based assets, eg, share ownership? Of course, to the cynic who is always trying to fault the Government's good intention, he (the cynic) may feel that the Government is encouraging gambling on the Stock Exchange. This could not be further from the truth. The issue of the Telecom shares is but one example of how this has been done. It is done in a fair, equitable distribution of a blue-chip share. Sir, the enhancement of the value of HDB flats in the Upgrading Programmes (Main Upgrading and Interim Upgrading) is a programme very close to the hearts of all Singaporeans. At the national level, it will ensure that our HDB towns do not degenerate into slums. At the personal level, it is an enhancement of the value of each home-owner's flat. This has important and far-reaching personal and social implications and I will elaborate on this in a little while.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the motion to thank the President. Sir, the President has spelt out the Government's focus for the next stage of nation building. The Government's focus will be on long-term policies. The main issues that will be addressed are: (a) Regionalisation and globalisation of our economy; (b) The asset enhancement programme; and (c) Health care and greying of our population. Regionalisation and globalisation of our economy Sir, that this is the right direction for our limited domestic economy is becoming more and more obvious. Multi-national companies, regardless of their country of origin, are now going into strategic alliances and joint ventures with each other. Furthermore, their manufacturing and service centres are again strategically located in the country which can offer the best infrastructure, workforce, political stability and, preferably, of course, at the cheapest rate. Thus, it is that in Singapore, we have been able to play host to billion dollar venture projects between European, American and Japanese joint venture projects, as in the Tech Semiconductor project. What does this mean to the Singaporean? This will mean that the Singaporean, whether he is top management or a supervisor in a factory or a skilled craftsman, must be prepared to travel overseas, maybe many times a year. It may mean a posting overseas for longer periods. This may be something that is commonplace to some, but for the majority it is a new mindset and way of life, not only for the person going overseas, but for the whole family - the spouse and the children. However, I am glad to observe that the call to venture overseas has been well accepted by most Singaporeans.”
“This is a very drastic step, especially if the PR has a Singaporean spouse and children. I make this statement on the assumption that the offence is of a minor nature or a technical matter. I would expect that if it is a major offence, eg, murder or drug trafficking, their PR status will be revoked. I agree with the Minister that the vast majority of PRs are responsible people and persons of good standing. I therefore welcome this amendment.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the Bill. I would like to briefly comment on only two aspects of this Bill. Firstly, section 57(1)(e). Sir, this section refers to the responsibility on persons harbouring or employing foreigners. While I agree with the spirit of this amendment, mainly that they must show due diligence by checking the passport, I would like to differentiate between friends and relatives on the one hand, and employment agencies and employers on the other. In the latter case, that is, employment agencies and employers, the client or the prospective employee will expect to have all his documents checked, including, of course, the passport. Therefore, there is no sensitivity involved. However, in the case of friends and relatives, asking for their passports and checking the passport for the date of expiry of stay may become a very sensitive issue. I hope that the Minister will advise his officers to exercise discretion in the case of friends and relatives. The Ministry could also assist those cases asking for an extension of stay by informing the head of the household of the expiry date of the stay. Sir, next on the question of permanent residents. It has always been our policy, both economic and social, to welcome permanent residents who can contribute to the economic well-being of Singapore. As the economy matures and globalises, more foreigners will come. Some will find Singapore an attractive place to stay and apply for PR. Others may sink in deeper roots when they are married to Singaporeans. Some may decide to take up Singapore citizenship, while others may not want to for various reasons or are unable to do so. If, for some reasons, a PR contravenes the law, under existing provisions, the Controller would have to revoke the PR.”
“However, in a meritocratic and mature society we cannot prioritise for our citizens what should or should not be their aspirations: is it a car, a weekend car, a weekend home, an executive flat or a landed property? Singaporeans must decide for themselves their own aspirations realistically and work hard towards achieving their own objectives. It is the role of Government to ensure a level playing field for all, and to help the less fortunate.”