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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“Yesterday, DPM BG Lee Hsien Loong has clarified this, and I am in total agreement with him that we should "agree to disagree but amicably" and that in the process of reaching consensus, we must be careful that we "do not make enemies out of one another". In this connection, Sir, again with your permission, I will be moving another amendment to read, "Consensus not conflict" to substitute, "Consensus instead of contention". Sir, the DPM has defined the end point and the end point of discussion is when it will arise in conflict. The grey area comes when conflict is on the horizon in a discussion. That is when contention ends and conflict comes by. So I believe that if we put it in this form about consensus and clearly state that not conflict is our final view, that should be something which will clarify the situation and that is a statement that will clarify any misunderstanding that we are trying to suppress debate. Mr Chiam See Tong has said that all of the values are acceptable to him but not "Consensus instead of contention". And Dr Lee Siew-Choh has in other words said likewise. I hope that they will be able to accept this amendment. Practising the Shared Values Having shared values means we must now practise them. We must translate them into real working relationships. Here I believe the Government has an important role to play. We should now also begin to question Government policies not only in economic terms, but whether they conform with the shared values. If I may take what I believe to have been a successful model of this to explain what I mean. Let us take national service and the defence of our nation. National service really means putting community, society, above self.”
“Regard and Community Support for the Individual Sir, some people have expressed that in this document the weightage against the individual may have been somewhat overstressed. Several speakers, both yesterday and today, including the Chairman of the Feedback Unit, Mr Chandra Das, have mentioned this. DPM BG Lee has clarified on this yesterday. Indeed, in the spirit of consensus forging, he has stated that to clarify this point, he is prepared to accept an amendment to this statement. I will, with your permission, Sir, be making an amendment to this statement to read, "Community support and respect for the individual" to be substituted for "Regard and community support for the individual". This statement, when restructured, implies more than just a glancing "regard", but "respect" with the implication of treating the individual with TLC - tender, loving care. It also implies a commitment to the concept that everyone, every individual, every citizen of Singapore, has a place in his or her home here in Singapore. It is when we treat our citizens with respect and tender, loving care that we can bring out the very best in our citizens. Consensus instead of contention Sir, the basis of forging a consensus may be but is not always a smooth path. Clashes of deep convictions cannot but be contentious. Contention and debate may even be acrimonious. Sometimes, out of differences, a consensus is reached. What is more important is not so much "Consensus instead of contention" which can only conjure images of unquestioning conformity, but that all stand in unity for the common good once the differences have been aired and exchanged.”
“The third misconception which has been exposed is that this exercise of discussing Shared Values is a political ploy, as mentioned Mr Chiam See Tong. It is something much more fundamental and much more important. It is about having to preserve that which is best in our society today so that this can be passed on to the next generation. Mr Chiam has said that the Government has no moral right to do this. Indeed, I believe it is the Government's moral obligation to do this. Belief in God and Political Values Sir, in this paper, it has been decided to leave out "Belief in God" and political values as a statement of the Shared Values. It is my belief that religious faith is indeed "a constructive social force", to quote the White Paper, and that all believers of whatever faith will welcome this statement as part of the shared values. Personally, I would prefer to see "Belief in God" as one of the shared values. However, realising that there are some people who do not believe in any God, I can understand why it is not possible to include this as part of the shared values. The political system that we have, based on parliamentary democracy and meritocracy, is something very fundamental to us. We should not make any apology for the political culture that has led to good government in Singapore. We should include this as part of our value system. In a small way, yes, these values have been identified with the five stars of the State flag - democracy, harmony, peace, prosperity and justice. However, as this political culture has made progress, both social and economic, possible in Singapore, should we not include this as part of our value system? Perhaps we can re-examine this at a later date, if not now.”
“The very diversity we wish to preserve calls for a large measure of tolerance, regard and mutual respect. The freedom to be what we want to be which we cherish will not last long if we do not have some fundamental principles to guide us. To me, the White Paper reflects a refreshing sensitivity and tactfulness. The exercise has crystallised to the consciousness and to the five statements in the Shared Values. It has affirmed the core values which we can all subscribe to with minor amendments. Sir, the White Paper has dispelled three misconceptions. One, that we are "anti-West" in our approach. The Paper has stated in no uncertain terms in paragraph 28 that "Westernisation has helped us to run a more rational government, and build a more efficient economy". In paragraph 29, it is also stated that "not everything Asian is good, just as not everything Western is bad". Why is it important to dispel these misconceptions? This is because many of us have been schooled on the western mindset. Some have had their tertiary education overseas. Singapore is a global city. To have others believe that we reject westernisation in totality will not be good for our international image. It may also make the concept of Shared Values unacceptable to Singaporeans who have studied or lived overseas for sometime. Secondly, it is important to dispel the misconception that the Government was trying to impose Confucian values in totality, and even to the non-Chinese community. It has been stated in the White Paper in paragraphs 43 and 44 that there are Confucian concepts which are not acceptable. The most important of these are nepotism and the Confucian concept of family relationship.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in 1988, discussions on having a National Ideology started. Many, at that time, were sceptical of the need for a National Ideology. The term "National Ideology" carries the connotation of something very doctrinal. This paper on Shared Values in many ways is much less rigid. It is an open-ended exercise. Dr Lee Siew-Choh is very sceptical about this change of terminology. I welcome it. Some think that it is better that we allow for time to develop what we would consider as the core values which will make the Singaporean identity. However, Singapore being such an open society, and having adopted English as the working language has made it more urgent for us to review this premise. Unless we are consciously aware of the fundamentals, unless we ask ourselves what we are and what we want to be, where we come from and where we are going both in spirit and in mind, we may well lose our sense of direction. Unless we start reminding ourselves, how will we ever know what values to embrace? The years ahead will be fast moving ones. We need a moral anchor for our souls to stand us in good stead. We are a nation of diverse people. The Chinese, Malay and Indian communities are not homogenous communities. For example, we have Chinese from various dialects from all parts of China, Malays from Indonesia and what was at one time known as Malaya have now become a part of Singapore. The Indians have come from not only India and other parts of the Indian sub-continent but also from Sri Lanka. The Indians are also not homogenous in religion, language and cultural heritage. The riches of a cultural heritage can all too quickly explode if we do not have common shared values.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in previous debates in this House, the GPC for Law and Home Affairs had highlighted the issues of the role of QCs and had discussed with the Minister regarding the shortage of Judges on the Bench. I will not repeat the arguments. The GPC supports the amendments. The move to allow retired judges to practise as a solicitor will indeed remove one major obstacle. Having talked to members of my resource panel, I am convinced that this amendment will be welcomed. Sir, for a senior and successful lawyer to accept a position on the Bench is a major decision. There will be a change not only in practice but also in the person's whole personal lifestyle when he accepts a position on the Bench. Thus, to allow a retired judge to practise again, albeit in a restricted capacity as a solicitor, is correct and I feel will encourage more of the senior and successful lawyers to accept positions on the Bench. Furthermore, I agree with the Minister that it will inject a greater wealth of experience and wisdom back to the private sector. Sir, I have no doubt that the amendment regarding QCs will allow for recognition of our local lawyers' ability and enhance the development of litigation. It will also allow for specialisation in the legal profession. I am optimistic that this amendment will be a catalyst to specialisation and I am confident that our lawyers will rise to the occasion. On the other hand, they have not forgotten their client's rights. The client is protected in that in complex and difficult cases, clients will be allowed by the court to be represented by a QC. Sir, the GPC supports the amendments.”
“These amendments would provide greater confidence for entrepreneurs who have invested heavily in research, design and marketing of such goods and services. Sir, I would like to raise two issues for the Minister's clarification. Firstly, why retail service marks should be introduced. Retail service marks should be introduced because these are services which are not "pure services" for which payment is specifically made, but are ancillary to sale of goods, eg. the provision of trolleys and wide aisles between goods to assist movement across the stores. This will provide for a more aesthetic and convenient environment and may even be good for the handicapped cases who are in wheelchairs. If we do not provide for the registration of retail service marks, there may be a gap in the law. In providing for retail service mark registration, we may have establishments providing more efficient services and at less costs for the public. This may even encourage businesses to provide services such as child-minding facilities. The end result may be a more enlightened and more sensitive service to clients. Secondly, why reference to the UK Register should be retained and to extend this recognition to a schedule of countries with established trade or service mark registration systems? As the Minister has mentioned, our new registry would have a heavy workload in the initial period. Would it not be good to try and establish some form of reciprocal relationship with these established bodies, if not for the long term, then for an interim, say, three to five years? This proposal would expedite and simplify the process of registration of such trade marks in Singapore.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the GPC for Law and Home Affairs supports the Bill. The amendments in the Trade Marks (Amendment) Bill 1990 are timely. Firstly, it would promote Singapore's international trade and further enhance our international standing; and secondly, it would provide protection for local entrepreneurs. Service Marks Registration. Services are an important contributor to our economy. In 1988, services contributed about 60% or $28 billion to the local gross domestic product. Marks used to identify such services are plentiful. These marks are used by establishments to distinguish their services from others. The name, the face-type and colour of the signage, and the logo represent the quality of the service being marketed. The new provisions will be most beneficial to Singapore entrepreneurs as the protection of such rights is extremely important both as a source of revenue and a remedy against unfair competition. Now, beauty salons, credit card companies, software houses and banks can register their logos, names or marks at the Registry. Modification of registration of trade marks under Part B of the Trade Marks Register. The proposed amendment will make the criteria for determining distinctiveness less onerous. The condition precedent of two years bona fide use of the mark in Singapore will be deleted to expedite registration in Part B of the Trade Marks register. We welcome this amendment. Increased penalties for trade mark infringement and sale of counterfeit products. The proposed amendments provide for more severe penalties under the Act. The proposed penalties are consistent with the other related Acts, ie, the Copyright Act and the Consumers Protection (Trade Descriptions and Safety Requirements) Act.”
“Sir, the second part of my question refers to the percentage of what we would pay for a time-based call. What percentage of that would go towards manning the infrastructure?”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister what is the cost of putting in place the infrastructure to effect the change to this new billing system and what percentage of the 1.5 cents goes towards the infrastructure?”
“He well deserves a long vacation to enjoy his family and grandchildren to whom he is so devoted. But we still need him, in Mr Goh's words, as a "custodian". Singapore is indeed fortunate to be able to have this smooth transition of leadership. No traumatic changes, no blood baths and no undue excitement. To borrow our Minister for Education, Dr Tony Tan's description, "a boring style of politics to onlookers, but a style that indeed suits any nation that treasures continuity and stability." With this as our foundation, we will build, and successfully, an even better Singapore for our children and our grandchildren.”
“Often, it is the very Backbenchers that he himself has chosen, like myself, who have contributed to the greying process. Yet he encourages us to be constructively critical! He is constantly picking our brains for new ideas, and testing new ideas on us. He is a man committed to governing Singapore by consensus. His commitment to the less privileged in society is seen in the personal interest that he takes in the PAP Community Foundation as Chairman of the Management Committee. Problems and issues of the kindergarten programme are not too small to escape his attention. What is Singapore's most valuable asset? SIA? NOL? Changi Airport, the world's best airport? PSA, the world's best sea port? The MRT, the most modern mass rapid transit system? No, none of these! We have always said that Singapore's only asset is her people, and of course the most valuable asset must surely be the man who has led the people over the last 25 years - our Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. The question now is how Singapore, as a nation, can benefit from her most valuable single asset which is the envy of the whole world: Mr Lee Kuan Yew. The First Deputy Prime Minister's views are set in today's papers: 'Before a founder is assured of the capability of a younger person to take over, he would not relinquish his custodian role. I very much hope that Mr Lee would accept the post of a Senior Minister and give his views on policies, playing the role of a wise man and consultant.' As a Member of the third generation group of MPs, I fully endorse this. Mr Goh has hit the nail on the head. The majority of Singaporeans and foreign investors, I feel, will be most happy to see our Prime Minister in the role as a "custodian". The final decision is his, the Prime Minister's.”
“Our Prime Minister has selflessly planned for his own exit. In the last few months, he has travelled the globe to endorse his successor, Mr Goh, and the new team. Some others would do the exact opposite. They would travel abroad to plan a coup against their successor. All of us in this House have benefited from his wise counsel. Personally, I will never forget the occasion in 1986 when he very fatherly admo- nished me for spending too much time in my public duties and neglecting the family. I was sent to Mr Goh for counselling and to have my duties re-prioritised. As a new MP then, my wife and I were deeply touched by his concern. His order to me: "One short and one longer holiday every year with the family." At my first interview with him, he asked only one question of a personal nature: "Are you sure that after one or two terms you will not come to me and say that you have had enough?" That was his caution, and that was his concern even before we became involved in politics. Our Prime Minister is a man who does not need anyone to defend him or his image. Let me just say this to those who portray him as a tyrant and dictator: they could not be more mistaken, for one simple reason - they have not had the privilege that Singaporeans have of knowing and loving their Prime Minister. Their uncalled-for criticisms simply expose their ignorance and infuriate Singaporeans! Mr Goh, our First Deputy Prime Minister, was the man who selected many of us (the so-called third generation MPs) in this House today. He has been tutored, and prepared by the grand-master himself for his new job as the Prime Minister. While the Prime Minister is the "father" figure, Mr Goh is the "big-brother" figure. As each day passes, we see how fast his hair is turning grey - the greying of Singapore.”
“The move to extend the reservist's passport for up to two years at a time is a step in the right direction. To prepare our youth for full-time national service, the programme for ECA, rugged outdoor activities, and obesity correction programmes in schools must be stepped up. Each new intake of NS recruits is different. One can notice an attitudinal difference in every cohort of about five years. Therefore, there must be no let-up in the effort to expose our youth to the rugged outdoor life and to the activities of the SAF. The SAF should continue to support activities in schools and community activities to ensure that all our youth are mentally and physically prepared for national service. Finally, Mr Speaker, Sir, I turn to the President's remarks on the transition in political leadership. To me, this is the most important aspect of the President's Speech. The President has most aptly called it a "watershed in our political development", something that we have prepared for a long time. When I heard the President read, "The leadership transition is also almost complete. Mr Goh Chok Tong will take over as Prime Minister by the end of the year.", I was overcome with emotion. My feelings were mixed. These words of pronouncement with finality in this august House indeed mark the end of one glorious era of Singapore, and the opening of a new and exciting chapter. Our Prime Minister and the founder old guards have seen us through some of our darkest days. We owe them much, and their contributions must not go unacknowledged by this House in this discussion on transition. One Member of the old guards in the House today, Mr Ng Kah Ting, started at the age of 23 years. He has served seven terms over 27 years. It is people like them who have made Singapore what it is today.”
“As rentals are now at a high point, landlords should not complain. This will provide for a more stable business environment - to the advantage of both landlord and lessee. I know that the reflex answer will again be "market forces will dictate prices", but this is a case where I feel that moderation through legislation will be in the best interest of all concerned. I hope that the Minister in charge will at least consider the suggestion before replying a reflex "no". Education policy Sir, the education policy is most laudable - a larger university enrolment, a third polytechnic, more emphasis on vocational training and single-session schools. Since the Minister's last statement in Parliament on the bilingual policy, many parents are anxiously awaiting further announcements of the Ministry's plan to help those who have real problems with the second language. Whilst awaiting the long-term solution, will special dispensation or special programmes be initiated for the present-day cohort? For example, can one of the independent schools be allowed to initiate some form of remedial or other programmes to help them? Defence and National Service The vast majority of Singaporeans accept the importance of having an effective and credible defence force. The message on the importance of the reservists as front-line soldiers is well understood today. However, we must never take this for granted. We must try not to unnecessarily inconvenience the reservists with quasi-social activities, such as Commanding Officers' Day, and burden them unnecessarily. Social activities should be conducted under the patronage of SAFRA and be voluntary, and not through serving the SAF100. The SAF100 should be used only for duty related activities.”
“Privatisation programme Sir, the term "privatisation" to the public is now almost synonymous with price increase, especially the examples set by the Ministry of Health. The public view the impending privatisation of Telecom and PUB with fear. Likewise, the staff of these two statutory boards view it with suspicion. Perhaps a clarification by the respective Ministers in charge will be most comforting. Child care facilities Sir, there is now an acute shortage of child care facilities. This is a problem that deserves an immediate solution, even if the solution is less than perfect. Will the Ministry of Community Development allow foreign maids to be employed by those who wish to set up child care centres? Will the JTC, when it develops new industrial estates, set aside land to be leased by community, welfare, religious, or even business groups who want to manage child care centres? Many of our factory operators are young mothers, and having a child care centre in an industrial estate makes sense. I am sure that several factories in an industrial estate can get together to support a group who may want to manage such a centre provided they have the staff to do so. Increasing cost of doing business in Singapore Sir, one major component of the increase in the cost of doing business in Singapore, especially in the retail trade, is the phenomenal increase in rental in the last two years. We are here talking of 100% to 200% rental hikes! I am told that approximately 80% of the major buildings and office complexes in the CBD are owned by not more than 20 companies. Would it not make good sense if we, in this instance, legislate that in the renewal of tenancies, a fluctuation clause of, say, 20% to 30% either way, at maximum, be allowed?”
“This will also free the more popular specialists to attend to the complicated cases. It makes for good sense. (3) I call upon the Ministry of Health again to retain Tan Tock Seng Hospital as an un-restructured hospital, while at the same time revising the salaries of the staff in Tan Tock Seng, Hospital, so as not to demoralise them. Sir, I next turn to the issue of "contract marriages" or work permit marriages. This is an old and painful issue that has yet to be resolved: the marriage between Singaporeans and work permit holders. The earlier speaker has mentioned one example. This is an issue of "the heart" and not of "logical thinking". I am addressing the issue with respect to those whose families are separated. Their children are now growing up and coming to be of school-going age. Father is in Singapore, while mother and child or children are in another country or vice versa. In many countries, when national events are celebrated, an amnesty of different sorts is granted. May I suggest to the First Deputy Prime Minister and the Cabinet that as we celebrate our 25th Anniversary, can we not offer a one-time amnesty to these families? The number is not all that great that we cannot afford to accommodate them. No number of festivities, carnivals, parades, light-ups, fireworks or expositions can substitute for a permanent life-long family reunion. A once-in-25-year amnesty is surely not too much to ask. I am sure that this will not send the wrong signal to the ground, if that is what the Government is concerned about. For this one time, let us be ruled by the "heart" and not the "head". This is something which we should not be ashamed about.”
“The days of "shadow-boxing" or "wayang kulit" are over. An intelligent and better educated electorate will demand that its elected representatives in Parliament, whether on the Backbench or Opposition Bench, are serious in their debate and presentation of the views of those whom they purport to represent. Mr Speaker, Sir, the achievements of the PAP Government in the last 25 years need no repetition. What I would like to do is to address several issues which I feel are of concern to all of us. These are issues which the new administration must address. Health care Sir, the rising cost of health care is of great concern to all Singaporeans. The recent increases announced trouble employers (who provide health care benefits to their employees) and the individual Singaporeans. The "privatisation" or "restructuring" programme needs to be re-evaluated. There may be many benefits, but all of these will be useless unless they become affordable. Even B2 has become too expensive for many. May I suggest: (1) The creation of a B3 class to provide for an intermediate between C and B2, or an upgrading of C class wards with very moderate price increases, that is, for a little extra charge, the C class patient can enjoy better facilities while at the same time he still receives a substantial subsidy. There must be no reduction in the subsidy. (2) The uncoupling of class of hospital admission and class of outpatient management. For example, during the acute phase of an illness of, say, one week, a patient who can afford for that one week can opt for B1. After his condition has stabilised, he may be well satisfied to be followed up as an outpatient at B2 or C class status. There is no good medical reason to deny this when it is of the patient's own choice.”
“Sir, I rise to thank the President for his Address, and to support the motion. Sir, this is indeed an appropriate time for stock-taking. The Presidential Address summarises the events of the First Session of the Seventh Parliament and the addenda set the policy statements for the various Ministries. The First Session of the Seventh Parliament is outstanding in two respects. Firstly, the process of governing by consensus has taken a gargantuan leap forward. Many of the Bills tabled in this House had been discussed with Members of the House, especially the GPCs, even before the first draft. Several of the Bills, especially that on land transport and racial harmony, continued to be extensively debated after introduction. Select Committees and extensive dialogue took place after the introduction of the Bills. Two White Papers were also introduced. This augurs well for a participatory style of government. Secondly, the Government has continued to be decisive in providing leadership in addressing the sensitive issues such as the racial distribution in housing estates and the maintenance of religious harmony. These are pre-emptive actions, taken in the context of our own unique situation, regardless of the criticisms by those who do not, will not, and do not want to understand the problem and importance of ensuring racial and religious harmony. The attitude of governing through consensus, while at the same time not compromising on issues of national importance, will give our Government the credibility to govern at the end of the day. This we must continue to build upon. This will call for all of us to develop "thicker skins" so that we can debate candidly, without being personal and unnecessarily acrimonious. Debate, by its nature and definition, cannot be friendly.”
“Sir. the GPC for Home Affairs and Law welcomes the formation of the Police and Joint Civil Defence Sub-Commission. It will indeed boost staff morale. I would like the Minister just to convey the feelings on three aspects to the PSC, namely, (i) that annual promotion exercises should be held; (ii) that there should be accelerated promotions; and (iii) that post-graduate scholarships be not limited to scholars only but to all well-deserving officers. We have mentioned these points in the Budget debate.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, it is really magnanimous for the First Deputy Prime Minister to allow the Whip to be lifted at the next session. I welcome it. The clarification I would like to ask is this. Besides the Whip being lifted, will we also have an opportunity to review the mechanism? That means if we decide we want to make an amendment so that NMPs will not become Cabinet Ministers, will all these be rediscussed again?”
“In closing, Mr Speaker, Sir, may I add that this debate has far greater dimensions than merely discussing NMPs. It is about the role of Parliament, the responsibility of office holders and governing by consensus. PAP Backbenchers have often been urged by the party leadership to be constructively critical and not to be "yes" men. The party does not want this and neither does the electorate. During the Second Reading of the Bill, the First Deputy Prime Minister said that he wanted to: ' ... encourage participation to build consensus, to accommodate alternative viewpoints and dissent.' To go one step further, the electorate also does not want the Opposition to be "No" men, to disagree with everything that the Government does. However, after the last debate on this issue, there were some who expressed the view that if one disagrees with party line, then one should resign. I cannot disagree more. With a more educated generation, do we want to encourage this opt-out philosophy of life? Disagree with party, resign from party. Disagree with employer, resign from company. Disagree with Government, then what? Resign from Singapore? Emigrate? I believe that we must not become a generation or a nation of quitters. Out of discussion and disagreement may come out better ideas. Here I agree with the First Deputy Prime Minister when he said: "Do you agree or do you not agree with this intent of mine, ie, to do something which will allow us to forge consensus?" I thus hope that at the end of today's sitting we can all go home more convinced, if not converted, of this NMP scheme. The First Deputy Prime Minister has said, "Give it a try." Do we have any choice? But I would like to reassure him that we will give it a try very positively and we will try to make it work.”
“' Indeed, if an NMP is to give views that would help this House make better decisions, then this principle must be closely adhered to. I could not agree more with the Select Committee. Thus, on appointment the NMP should formally resign from membership of a political party. This is in line with the statement that the NMP should be required to be seen to be non-partisan. While it is also true that the act of resignation will not change the NMP's political philosophy or his sympathy for his party, resignation is still important, so that the NMP will not feel obliged to take his party's stand in Parliament. He will not be answerable to his party or beholden to his party. This very problem of finding non-partisan persons with no affiliation is one of the arguments against the NMP concept. However, as it has been accepted, the Special Select Committee will now have to seriously consider ways to overcome this. Then only will the NMP scheme gain credibility. The NMP standing for elections Sir, for the NMP to blossom as a respected person to be reckoned with and to be resected by both Members of this House and the public, we should not over protect him. Protect him from an embarrassment before appointment, yes, I agree. However, when he decides to enter the political arena in total, even as an independent candidate, he should not only resign his NMP position, but he should also be barred from ever being appointed again as an NMP. He has already made his position amply clear. He is willing of his own volition to enter the political foray and he therefore should no longer enjoy the protection of this House. The NMP who stands for election is no longer a member of an endangered species and thus he deserves no special privileges or protection.”
“Ministers cannot be merely able technocrats. They must be much more than this. They must have the confidence and trust of the public. However, if the fear is that "effective functioning of government" may be affected if we do not have a good Law or Finance Minister, then I feel that the amendment should in good faith categorically state that this Bill will only allow for the appointment of the NMP as Law or Finance Minister to the exclusion of all else. I find the argument for the appointment of an NMP as a Minister in charge of the Arts very difficult to accept. We were not a nation that used to sing, but now we are a singing nation. "Sing Singapore" is an overwhelming success. And the Minister for Communications and Information and the Minister for Community Development are by no means artistes at singing. We have often stated that we have an able and efficient civil service. I am sure that all our Ministers give due cognisance to the advice of our senior civil servants. The civil service is complementary to the politicians. It is not as if we do not have any fall back position. We have this. After listening to the First Deputy Prime Minister, I am still a little bit confused. He says that he does not intend to appoint NMPs as Ministers or other office holders. I await further clarification. That means he is making the provision now to allow them to hold political office but he does not intend to appoint them. Maybe he can clarify what this means. Next, coming to the point whether NMPs should sever all ties with political parties, the Report states: 'NMPs should be, and be seen to be, non-partisan with no affiliation with any political party.”
“However, with a secret ballot, the result need only be made known to you, Mr Speaker, Sir, and the list of successful candidates as announced. The counter argument is that a secret ballot is not a usual or normal procedure. To quote the Committee's Report, "a radical departure from the established procedures." In answer, let me say that we have been amending procedures in our House to suit our own unique situation. Unusual measures and proposals call for unusual procedures. Let us move on and not be held back by tradition for its own sake. As the First Deputy Prime Minister has mentioned, the Medisave and GRC schemes have proved successful. So we are moving in this direction, let us go and take another brave step. Move on to a secret ballot. On the question of whether NMPs should be permitted to hold political office, my answer here is a categorical no. A party aspiring to form the government must ensure that it has the necessary candidates. A major factor in the electorate's mind when they go to the polling box is whether the party that he or she is voting for can form the next government. By allowing this, we may inadvertently be telling the electorate, "Do not worry. After the election, I will find you a good Law and Finance Minister, even though at this present time I do not have one to offer you." The art and politics of fielding candidates should be able to provide the leeway to ensure that Ministers for specialised port- folios be elected. There are constituencies or wards that are marginal and there are also so-called "safe" constituencies. Office holders must be accepted by the public and must work to win the public's trust and confidence. Trust and confidence of the public, how is this reflected? Except at the polling box by votes.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, when the NMP proposal was first raised in Parliament, I was totally unhappy with the whole concept. After the First Deputy Prime Minister suggested a "sunset" clause or a "self-destruct" clause and proposed to call NMPs "Parliamentary Counsellors", I took time to reconsider the proposal. I consider these major concessions made by the First Deputy Prime Minister, concessions that are made by a listening leadership. I thought I could come on board, as called by the First Deputy Prime Minister. But having read the Select Committee's Report, and here the First Deputy Prime Minister is very right, I still have reservations and must state them at the outset. Since this House has already accepted the proposal and is now debating only on the merits and demerits of the scheme and on its details, I shall have to deal with these points as raised in the Select Committee's Report. Firstly, the recommendation that each Parliament should decide for itself whether it wants NMPs. My question to the First Deputy Prime Minister is: what does he mean by Parliament should decide for itself? If the Whip is again not lifted, then the answer is a foregone conclusion. This amendment is thus in effect a non-event, and we must realise that Parliament is in actuality left with no choice. We are back to square one. Perhaps the First Deputy Prime Minister will comment on this. Secondly, selection of NMPs. I am for a secret ballot. I am for this idea. Why? Because we do not want to embarrass potential NMPs. On this, I agree with the Select Committee. Discussing the merits and demerits of an individual will be unacceptable. I guess here the implication is that MPs are expected to be thick skin and NMPs are supposed to be very sensitive people.”
“If we consider that the average life expectancy today is 74 years and that a three-year grace period is given, then we will see that no one is penalised unnecessarily because of age. He will, of course, have to pass his medical examination to protect himself and the public. Sir, I agree with the amendments proposed by the Minister for Home Affairs. My colleagues in the GPC will cover the other aspects of this Bill.”
“Sir, regarding the proficiency and upper age limit for drivers of heavy motor vehicles, it is a sad fact, but nonetheless a fact, that age slows our sensory motor reflexes. Driving is based heavily on reflexes, ie, one perceives danger and responds by reflex action. The car in front suddenly slows down and one immediately slows down without going through the steps of logical thinking. Sir, ROV's age limit for taxi and bus driver's vocational licence is 70 years. This age limit is now being extended to holders of heavy vehicle driving licences. 1,326 drivers of heavy vehicles will be affected. The question that one would be very concerned with is, of course, whether the livelihood of these 1,326 persons will be affected. I am told that many, if not the majority of these 1,326 are not actively engaged in driving. Furthermore, for existing drivers, a three-year grace period will be allowed. This is indeed fair as these persons are given time to adjust. This is a compassionate Minister having to manage a Ministry which has to implement very harsh policies. I seek the Minister's clarification whether this grace period will also apply to those just below 70 years, ie, say for those 68 years and above, will it be 68 plus 3, 69 plus 3, then 70 plus 3? Sir, whilst agreeing with this legislation, I feel it is imperative to stress that this amendment must not send the wrong signals, especially at a time when we are encouraging our healthy to work longer and to carry on working and lead an active life. We must stress that this capping of the age at 70 years is not to be construed that we are saying that to be old is to be considered useless or not capable of gainful employment. It is because of the nature of this job that the upper age limit of 70 years is set.”
“However, had this been proposed for other forms of offences which are contentious, ie, arguable, such as dangerous driving, then I am sure that many in this House could not accept it. Sir, regarding heavier penalties for drunk driving, the alarming increase in drunk driving accidents by 110% from 1987 to 1989 convinces us that something has to be done. The problem is that the present penalties do not seem to have an adequate deterrent. Sir, the motor vehicle in the hands of a person under the influence of alcohol or an irresponsible person is a lethal weapon. The misery extends beyond these persons to the families of victims of road traffic accidents. No amount of monetary compensation can make up for the loss of life or limb. The amendments will allow for mandatory jail sentence for the repeat offender, besides fines being increased. For the first offence, jail sentence will be up to the courts, ie, the accused will have to mitigate his own case. This, I believe, is fair, as all of us can make mistakes, but it will be up to the courts to decide on the merits or otherwise of each case. Sir, the purpose of enhancing these sentences is to make all drivers more aware of their personal responsibility. Furthermore, we as a community must also be more aware. If at a party we feel that a friend or acquaintance is incapable of driving his vehicle, we should not allow him to drive. We will be doing him and society a big service by making arrangements to have him sent home. We should also make it a norm, not to cajole or force friends to drink excessively, using "celebration" or "fun" as an excuse. "If you drink, don't drive" must be deeply embedded in our subconscious mind.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I intend to speak on only the aspects of this Bill which my GPC covers. Sir, the GPC for Home Affairs and Law has been discussing these amendments with the Minister since the drafting stage of the Bill, ie, before the First Reading. We have been discussing various aspects of this Bill for more than a year. I also understand from the Minister that he has discussed this Bill with the previous GPC for Home Affairs. Thus, the incubation period of this Bill is about three years. Why the long incubation period? This is because the amendments being proposed will affect several hundred thousand motorists and makes for hefty punishments for some offences, especially drunken driving. We wanted to be sure: (1) that there is a real need to change the legislation; and that (2) the amendments proposed are appropriate to the offences. Sir, first, legislation regarding immediate suspension of licence pending court trial for serious offences such as drunken driving, driving under disqualification or suspension, or driving without insurance coverage where death or serious injuries have resulted. Sir, at first glance, it may seem that punishment before trial is not justified, ie, how can we presume a person guilty before trial? The GPC accepted this amendment, because we were persuaded that there would be little chance of miscarriage of justice. Drunk driving can be objectively assessed from blood alcohol levels, and whether or not a driver has a valid driving licence or insurance coverage can be easily verified. In addition, as the Minister has mentioned, allowing such socially irresponsible persons on the road is a danger to all - the motorist himself, his passengers and other road users and pedestrians.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am glad to hear that the Ministry of Health would take on a greater supervisory role after restructuring is completed. Here I think it is important because, as has been mentioned by my colleagues, the IVF programme will result in more premature births. And here is an area which I feel that the Ministry of Health should look into very seriously to see that all the approved centres have good neo-natal support programmes.”
“Sir, first, I would like to ask the Minister what role would the Ministry of Health be playing after hiving off all the hospitals to the restructured hospitals? Has he worked himself out of a job? Secondly, will each restructured hospital have to be administered in the same way as the presently restructured hospitals? If the Ministry is so convinced of their success, why not then have some fully privatised hospitals by opening up the beds to other specialists in the private sector? Then the Minister's argument of open market forces will be more convincing. Lastly, the point about differences in remuneration between surgeons and non-surgeons and how to close the gap. Here I feel the Government should set the example. Why? Because the Government should aim to provide the whole range of medical services, from paediatrics to medicine to the surgical disciplines. If this present trend continues, then we will see the next generation of medical students and doctors all opting for the surgical disciplines and we will then be depleted of doctors and specialists in the non-surgical disciplines.”
“The surgeon, of course, can remain to be the "prima donna" receiving the largest slice of the cake. This disparity must be addressed now. Unless we develop the hospital as a complete unit, excellence cannot be achieved. Finally, I would like to address the speed of restructuring. Should we not now take stock before proceeding further? What is the urgency? Should we not at least maintain one hospital, upgrade it, and see how this hospital can compete with the restructured hospitals? If the compass points to the direction of restructuring after stock-taking, then by all means, proceed. Sir, I would like now to turn to primary health care. Sir, primary health care or the early detection and management of disease is the best insurance for the reduction of expensive curative medicine. To go one step before this, health education and health promotion is equally important. I am glad to note that the Ministry last year conducted three nation-wide public health education programmes: Nutrition Week in April, Dental Health Week in July, and the National Health Fair in October. The National Health Fair, in particular, was an overwhelming success with more than 400,000 persons visiting the Fair. I would like to ask the Minister whether his Ministry is planning to have a permanent Health Exhibition Hall, maybe in the Science Centre, for students to visit. What are the other public health programmes planned for 1990? Sir, I would refer next to the polyclinics. There are constant complaints by patients of having to wait for hours before being attended to. Doctors are complaining of near-impossible workloads. What is being done to alleviate the situation?”
“Are we not falling into the pitfalls that the American health care industry has fallen into? Will the Minister review this trend? I hope that what this House has set aside for health care will go into the business of caring for patients and not for maintaining extravagant and expensive infrastructure. Sir, I would like next to turn to staff morale. If restructuring has been successful in looking after the interests of staff, one should see a slow down in the resignation of staff. Has this actually happened? Instead, we are constantly hearing of staff shortages and resignations. Is this fact or fiction? The Minister may like to comment. I would like to bring one specific problem to the Minister's attention. This is the problem of the specialists retaining their quota of specialist allowance. This has led to several problems: (1) The more junior specialists are complaining that they have little chance to manage cases as the Senior doctors fill up their own quota of fees first before handing cases to the more junior doctors. (2) A sense of despondency in the non-surgical discipline, as the surgeons, I am told, can earn as much as 300% of their basic salary. What about the physicians, pediatricians and other para-clinical support staff? Let us remind ourselves that the management of a case is not a "one-man" show. It is not only the surgeon who operates who manages the patient. What about the medical officers, the nurses, the operating theatre ancillary staff, the laboratory technicians, etc? Do they not also deserve a share of the "cake"? Perhaps a system of cost centres should develop for each department within the hospital. Then only will it be realised that the successful hospital is a successful team that has evolved, and thus, the cake should be shared.”
“Toa Payoh Hospital and Tan Tock Seng Hospital should aim to achieve excellence at the level of secondary health care, and for physical ambience, aim to achieve that of, say, a "3-Star" hospital. This, I emphasise, is not a second class hospital or an inferior hospital, but one that aims to achieve excellence for secondary health care. This would make good hospital care at an affordable cost readily available. For example, if a patient has a heart attack, it would be sufficient if he is monitored and treated at the secondary level. Then if he requires further investigation and/or cardiac surgery, he could be managed later at NUH or SGH. Likewise, if a patient has an abdominal cancer, he could be operated at Toa Payoh or Tan Tock Seng Hospitals and for specialised radiotherapy or chemotherapy, this could be done at NUH or SGH. This is the present practice, and this should continue after restructuring to avoid expensive duplication of equipment and staff. As a small country, expensive duplication does not make sense. Next, Sir, I would like to address the manpower aspects of the restructured hospitals. Under the present system, administration is centralized at the Ministry. With restructuring, each hospital will have its own team of administrators, medical director, accountants, health economist, etc. Will this make for a more cost-effective or a more expensive system? We have often heard of the advantage of "economy of scale" in the control of the Ministry of National Development. In the Ministry of Health, however, there seems not much emphasis on this. Are we not being too extravagant in having a whole new generation of people, with fancy titles, who are supposed to form the core of people called health administrators?”
“Another area of dramatic improvement is in the care of the very ill. Previously, all ill patients were put into a common intensive care unit. Now there is the Coronary Care Unit, Medical Intensive Care Unit, Surgical Intensive Care Unit and other specialised units. These are all moves in the right direction. In this sense, the Ministry of Health is one step closer towards achieving the Ministry's mission of providing a "comprehensive, modern, and efficient health care service." The environment of the restructured hospitals is definitely more conducive to both patients and staff alike. The improvements, however, have been achieved at a great cost and this has to be passed on to the consumer, ie, the patient. The affordability issue thus arises. My colleagues have addressed this and I will no longer dwell on this any further. Sir, instead I would like to spend the next few minutes on the direction which I feel restructuring should take. Sir, the NUH, SGH and NSC are all "5-Star hospitals" with "5-Star" physical structures, equipment and, of course, also "5-Star" charges. My proposition to the Minister is that there is no need for all restructured hospitals to go in this direction. My perception of NUH and SGH is that in addition to providing the services of a "5-Star" hospital they are also aiming to provide medical services at the tertiary level and beyond, ie, they are going into super-specialisation. This, of course, makes the cost of maintaining the hospitals extremely high. The other general hospitals to be restructured, Toa Payoh Hospital and Tan Tock Seng Hospital need not follow this same approach.”
“Sir, I would first like to declare pecuniary interest in that I am a medical practitioner. Sir, the first part of the mission statement of the Ministry of Health reads thus: 'To provide a comprehensive, modern, and efficient health care service to all Singaporeans who are in need of medical treatment ...' It is in this context, Sir, that we should see the restructuring of the Government hospitals. Has restructuring of the hospitals helped the Ministry of Health reach this noble aim of this mission statement? Sir, we should seek the answers to several questions. (1) How has restructuring progressed? (2) What are the successes and failures of the restructuring of the first three hospitals, namely, SGH, NUH and the National Skin Centre? (3) What is the direction that restructuring should take? (4) Should all hospitals be restructured? These four questions are also somewhat inter-linked. We await the Minister's reply to these questions. If I may, Sir, I would give my own views on some aspects. How has restructuring progressed? As far as the provision of improved physical amenities and better and modern (state-of-the-art) equipment, one cannot doubt that restructuring has achieved these aims. One only needs to look at the Accident and Emergency Department of SGH to realise this. This is a paradise compared to the A&E Department of the 1970s. I remember my own days as a Medical Officer in the A&E Department of Toa Payoh Hospital. There was no observation or treatment room. Resuscitation equipment was shared by the whole hospital, and the greatest nightmare for the doctor was that after 9.00 pm, X-ray services were no longer available routinely. If the doctor wanted an X-ray, the radiographer had to be summoned from his home.”
“Sir, there are illnesses, such as TB and malignancies which may fall into this category, and these malignancies are on the increase. Sir, I will be satisfied if the Minister will just look into it because I do not have the figures that he has. But from the trend of diseases I would think that two years would not be an unfair request.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister regarding Table 1, item 5, on temporary incapacity. He has reduced the maximum period of medical leave from five years to one year. From my own experience, I would be more comfortable if it is two years, unless he has other figures, rather than just standardise it to one year for both temporary and permanent incapacity.”
“Sir, I thank the Senior Minister of State for his reply and I am particularly cheered that he is working towards forming a core of paramedics. I beg to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, yesterday, I raised a question on the Fire Safety Bureau.”
“Sir, what about the points raised yesterday regarding the paramedics.”
“However, for most of us, in an emergency, it will be an almost reflex action for us to call for an ambulance by dialling 995 or even 999 in a panic situation. If an arrangement could be worked out with the private hospitals for less critical cases the patient could still call 995 and the call then redirected to the private hospital of the patient's choice. The ambulance from the private hospital could then attend to the patient, thus freeing our CD emergency ambulances to attend to the more urgent cases. Under present arrangements, the CD ambulance will not transport patients to a private hospital and this sometimes leads to ugly scenes, and more importantly, wastage of scarce resources. Perhaps Civil Defence HQ could take the initiative to urge the private sector to participate in this service so that a truly integrated ambulance service can be created.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head Q be reduced by $10 in respect of Code QE 1500 of the Main Estimates. Sir, I would like to speak on the emergency ambulance service. Yesterday, I brought up the problems involving the manning of the emergency ambulance service, ie, the problem of the nurses manning the service and the training of personnel from the ranks of the civil defence to form a core of paramedics. Today, I would like to focus on the services provided by our emergency ambulances. The crew of the ambulances are instructed to bring a patient to the nearest hospital. For this purpose, I understand Singapore is divided into six different zones. And depending on the zone that the patient is picked up from, he is sent to the hospital nearest his point of pick-up. This works out well for cases of traumatic injuries, eg, road traffic accidents. However, there are other emergencies which are of a non-traumatic nature. For example, if a patient has a medical problem being followed up at NUH turns ill at home, he may request to be sent to NUH even though his residential address may be at Bedok. The catchment zone of the patient, going by residential address, is not NUH, but his medical records are at NUH. Assuming that the patient is not critically ill but, nonetheless, ill enough for an ambulance to be called, it will make for better patient management if some flexibility is allowed into the system. Will the Minister comment on this? Sir, on a national basis, I also propose that it is time that we economised and rationalised our emergency ambulance service by including the private hospitals. Each private hospital maintains an accident and emergency unit and an ambulance service.”
“Sir, I would like to thank the Minister for his detailed answers and I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I seek some clarification. Firstly, the drug assets seizure law. 90% of our population live in HDB estates. If a drug trafficker has his home confiscated, what happens to the family? This is one situation that is quite peculiar to Singapore, as the Minister has mentioned earlier. There are situations that are peculiar to Singapore and the public housing programme is something which I hope the Minister will take into account. Specific questions on the police. First, for 'A' level officers, is there any scheme for good officers to study in the NUS either on a scholarship or on a grant? This is important if we want to keep many of our good younger officers. Secondly, how may post-graduate scholarships will be offered per annum? One anxiety is that there will be too few scholarships and these may be restricted only to those who are scholarship holders already, eg, President scholars or Colombo Plan scholars. Thirdly, will the Minister please remind the sub-commission of the PSC to ensure regular, if not, annual promotion exercises? This is an area of discontent often mentioned by officers. Would the Minister please care to comment?”
“Sir, I would like now to turn to the issue of laws on seizure of assets for drug-related offences. Sir, Singapore has always been in the forefront in the fight against drug abuse. This is due to the realisation that manpower is our only asset. Compulsory rehabilitation is not practised in many countries. But we are one of the few who are very committed to this. We deal with drug offences severely in using even the death sentence. But there are special problems involved in the issue of seizure of assets for drug-related offences as Singapore is trying to develop itself into a financial and services centre. I would like the Minister to elaborate and to update us as to what is our stand now and what are the problems involved in the drafting of our laws on seizure of assets for drug-related offences.”
“Our architects, engineers and the Fire Safety Bureau are working closely to allow for the speedy approval of building plans. I would like to ask the Minister what are the plans that are present to allow for the speedy disposal of building plans whilst at the same time not compromising safety standards.”
“Sir, I next turn to the upgrading of the Joint Civil Defence Force. Sir, last year the Singapore Fire Service and the Civil Defence Force were merged to form the Singapore Joint Civil Defence Force. I would like to ask the Minister for an update of the exercise. Is the Joint Civil Defence Force able to carry out the mammoth task of providing an efficient Fire and Emergency Ambulance Service, whilst at the same time preparing itself for major disasters? What are the new programmes that have been initiated by the Singapore Joint Civil Defence Force? Sir, in this matter of upgrading, I would like to bring to the attention of the Minister the problem of nurses manning the Emergency Ambulance Service. Sir, with the restructuring of Government hospitals, the nurses in the Singapore Joint Civil Defence Force will be left out in terms of career advancement. Will the Ministry of Home Affairs work out with the Ministry of Health a rotation scheme to allow these nurses an opportunity to attend post-basic courses? At a time when we are facing such an acute shortage of nurses, should the Civil Defence Force not now start seriously to study the possibility of training paramedics? Special training could be given to a group of Civil Defence officers to upgrade them to the role of paramedics. The deployment of paramedics in emergency ambulance services is now a well established norm in many countries. It would also provide another career advancement route for our Civil Defence officers whilst, at the same time, providing the long-term solution for the manpower needs of our Emergency Ambulance Service. Sir, next I would like to refer to the Fire Safety Bureau. Under this reorganisation, the FSB now comes under the Civil Defence Force.”
“It would mean that much more is expected of every single police officer, and the officers must be given the basic training to help them carry out their duties effectively whilst at the same time providing an opportunity for specialising in different spheres and at different times of their career. In short, Sir, the training offered by the Police Academy should now encompass all these disciplines. I would like to ask the Minister how his Ministry intends to deal with this new challenge. In addition, I would like the Minister to give us an idea conceptually of the career path of a police officer. What are the areas of postgraduate specialisation and what are the opportunities for postgraduate specialisation for the senior officers?”