Augustine H.H. Tan
Singapore
“There are instances when reserves should be used, but the govern- ment has to make a case to the President and if good arguments are used, the President is expected to concur. I therefore end by asking you, as you have done in your speeches, to support this Bill with a very loud "Aye" when it comes to the vote. [Applause].”
“We must have confidence that in the end, as Singaporeans, we know what is overall best for ourselves. We are a community of free citizens committed to making Singapore a great city to live in and for foreigners to come visit and admire.”
“There is such a thing as initiative. Who initiated the project? What was the objective of the project? And there is such a thing as economies of scale, the benefits of which are passed on to the taxi drivers. Let us not forget those elements. An hon. Member: They do not pay tax on their income.”
“They can still enjoy the seafood regardless of the indigestion. They can do the shopping and do other things in Johor Baru. I believe that what is important for us is that we do not preclude ourselves the option of setting our own national policies.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister stated that it is undesirable to employ foreigners to run child care centres because they affect the values of our children. Is it not also true that by having foreign maids in our homes that they too directly impact upon the values of our children?”
“It was a point which I brought out much earlier when a similar matter was debated here in Parliament. Because the government could borrow on the basis of the reserves even though the President has one key to the reserves because there is such a thing as credit-worthiness of the country.”
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“Mr Govindasamy, Sir, I rise to welcome the introduction of this Bill. It marks another milestone in the development of our Republic. We have reached the level where the need for quality in many areas of organisation and expertise is increasingly felt. The National Statistical Commission will, hopefully, not only avoid duplication of statistical work by various Government Ministries and bodies but also raise standards in the use of statistical techniques. Plans and policies can be formulated correctly only if the empirical data is statistically sound. I hope the Commission will also provide periodic barometers of the health of our economy and of our society. I look forward also to the stage where the Commission can utilise the research manpower resources available at our institutions of higher learning for long-range in-depth studies relevant to policy making in our Republic. The academic researcher in Singapore has long been greatly hindered by the lack of statistical sources. The stamp of the word "Confidential" on our files excludes him from access to the needed data. The consequence has been a serious misallocation of high-calibre brain power for, with limited access to needed data material, the academic researcher must turn to subjects more theoretical and more abstract. He is then guided more by the standards and the demands of international specialisation necessarily very abstract and remote from relevance to the economic and social needs of Singapore. So we get the perverse situation where policy making relies upon the slender research resources within Government, while our academic brains are exercised in an ivory tower not entirely of their own making.”
“Sir, while I welcome this Bill, I am a little bit curious about the criteria for determining the list of approved universities and colleges as listed in the Schedule. I am no medical man, but 1 would have thought that the medical schools of, say, Harvard or Stanford or a number of other Ivy League colleges in the United States are of sufficient stature to be included. Although the Minister does have discretion under the Bill to accept any applicant for registration, students are guided by the Schedule in deciding upon the college or university to go to. I hope to see some time in the future a more comprehensive list of universities including those I have mentioned, as well as some of the more prominent ones in India, Pakistan and Ceylon as mentioned by my colleague, the Member for Anson.”
“I would appeal to the Minister for Health to subsidize the Housing and Development Board on the property tax on hawker centres so as to reduce the licence fees payable by these hawkers and make things more equitable. Sir, I now wish to raise two matters relating to the Ministry of Finance. Sometime in April this year, on my return from a trade mission to Japan, I made a number of recommendations in respect of export promotion and financing. Perhaps the Minister for Finance will inform this House in due course what steps, if any, are being taken. Sir, the major thrust of the Government industrialization programme has been towards the encouragement of foreign investment. While the emphasis is correct, if we are to acquire the technological sophistication, the managerial and marketing know-how in the shortest possible time, I think that with full employment in sight, we can turn part of our attention and effort to the active promotion of local enterprise. Perhaps the Government can help identify and preserve limited areas of economic activity which local enterprise and capital can be encouraged to go into or develop. Sir, in the President's speech he lamented the recent financial coup achieved by a foreign company. May I ask the Minister for Finance whether, and what, measures are being considered to prevent a repetition of the incident? 4.24 p.m.”
“In addition, perhaps the Minister for Labour may want to consider the status of daily-rated workers in Government departments and statutory bodies, Can anything be done to, perhaps, give them more regularity or permanency in employment? Would the Minister also look into the reorganisation of the Employment Exchange in order to provide a better picture of the unemployment situation so that better placement of people can be effected, and perhaps upgrading of local skills can be facilitated? The Minister may also want to consider opening other `employment exchanges to improve the process of placing people into desired jobs. Sir, I now turn to the Ministry of Health, especially with respect to hawkers. The allocation of $5 million to build new hawker centres is a very welcome move. Hawking provides jobs for unskilled and uneducated people, especially widows, older people and people affected by resettlement. It is an important social welfare supplement, and hence a very important social safety valve. It is important in keeping down the cost of living. Moreover, it is potentially a good tourist attraction. There should be efforts made to help improve health and cooking standards. The Minister may also wish to look into the matter of better collaboration with the Hawkers' Section of the Housing and Development Board. There is one particular anomaly, which adversely affects hawkers under the Housing and Development Board's jurisdiction. This relates to the obligation of the Housing and Development Board to pay property tax of 36 per cent a year, which thereby raises the fees payable by its hawkers. Those hawker centres which are managed by the Ministry of Health are exempt from property tax.”
“The reasons for advocating such taxes are both economic and socialistic. A widening income gap between rich and poor is inevitable in a society with rapid development, unless there is government intervention. In the first place, low-income people can be given greater earning power through education and training. We can justify the rich having more, provided most of the accretion goes into further investment to provide more jobs. If, instead, it goes into lavish consumption, then the Government should introduce taxes to take some of it away to be spent on the poor. Moreover, if lavish consumption is not controlled or discouraged, the demonstration effect may be upsetting to poorer people and may affect their motivation to work and to save adversely. The Government, therefore, should seriously consider heavy excise taxes on luxury-type cars, luxury-type flats, houses, and so on. Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like next to comment on the programmes for a number of Ministries. My first comment is in reference to the development of higher education which comes within the purview of the Ministry of Science and Technology. I am wondering if the Minister concerned has in mind an optimal size for a university. Sir, administration becomes difficult and impersonal when the student population glows too big. Moreover, there are always dissidents in any group, but in a large congregation the absolute number of such people becomes significant and can lead to the kind of student unrest we see in western countries. It may, therefore, be more desirable to increase the number of universities rather than have fewer large ones. The Addendum to the Ministry of Labour lists a number of important new policies.”
“The poorer classes should, as a matter of firm principle, never be made to pay for economic or social development unless they themselves are clear beneficiaries in the end. In a society where the great majority of people are poor and oppressed, there is yet hope of redress via a revolution, because intelligent, if not developed, leadership exists among them. However, in a modern, technological society, where much of the brainpower has emerged into the upper and controlling strata of society, the poor have neither political power via the voting booth, nor articulate leadership among their ranks. In a developed society, clearly the political leadership must avoid the hegemony of the middle and upper income classes if the poor people are to get a fair deal. Let us, therefore, work for a society in Singapore where, on the one hand, people are rewarded and promoted on strict merit, and, on the other, ample opportunities are afforded to those who are hampered by poverty. In other words, let us build not merely a society based only on meritocracy, but let us have a meritocracy-plus society. One of the key measures available to a government in a democratic country to promote greater equality is the judicious use of the tax system. I think it is time we had a comprehensive review of our system of taxation to achieve more socialism without hurting efficiency. Certain taxes are inherently regressive, that is, they bear on people who can least afford them. I am concerned about the incidence of such taxes as taxes on P.U.B, bills, for example. Although the tax is graduated with a higher tax on bigger bills, poor people with large families and therefore, using more utilities are adversely affected. I think there should also be taxes to discourage lavish consumption.”
“Our economy is flourishing and will continue to flourish provided we are able to project enough confidence to the investor, whether local or foreign, so that he will build his factory to provide the jobs we need. Our standard of living will rise in two stages. In the initial stage we earn higher wages by learning more skills as technicians, engineers, managers and marketing personnel. Then, when our economy grows richer, even those with no skills can have a higher standard of living because we shall be able to afford it collectively. The basic organisation of our economy, given the peculiar conditions we have, is necessarily based on a capitalistic, free enterprise system. Government policy, at present and in the immediate future, has to be geared towards providing the infrastructure and the inducements to stimulate economic activity. There is a danger that, in pursuing these necessary objectives, we may produce large numbers of technocrats and bureaucrats with no social compassion or sensitivity. From time to time, therefore, we need to remind ourselves of our socialistic aims of a more equal and more just society. We need to give adequate thought to the problems of the poor, the weak, the disabled and the displaced. Sometimes policy measures, though economically and socially indispensable, bear harshly on certain sectors. In this respect, I greatly welcome the Government's move to increase compensation for the resettlement of farmers and shopkeepers and others affected by urban renewal. Our national welfare can rightly be considered to have improved if, and only if, those who are made better off do so not at the expense of others, or, if they do, there is adequate and fair compensation.”
“I, for one, do not mind any amount of criticism, provided my views are recorded accurately. I consider it highly unethical, if not mischievous and cowardly, to distort anybody's views and then to criticize, especially in pseudonymous columns. Let it be known to such people that I am always ready to debate with them publicly and fairly anywhere. What kind of society do we want- a society where everyone, regardless of race or other distinguishing characteristics, can have equality of opportunity, a decent job, a decent home and clean surroundings, or one where people suffer discrimination, talk in hushed whispers and walk the streets in fear? From time to time the under-currents of intolerance emerge in the columns of our newspapers. Not too long ago, for example, there were a spate of letters from readers discussing the appropriate use or non-use of non-Chinese names by Chinese. Do we want a society where we measure the worth of a man by the kind of name he has, or by the way he writes his name? I do not want such a society, and, if it comes to be, I do not want my children and grandchildren to live in it. We are a small country, Sir, but limited though we are by lack of land and other natural resources, there is no limit to the economic heights that we can attain, provided we organize ourselves properly and peacefully to acquire the necessary skills and to apply the ingenuity of our people. With economic affluence we shall have plenty of room for cultural development. There will, in other words, be plenty of room for all of us and our children and grandchildren provided we are willing to be tolerant and understanding. With firm and fair government, we are doing well.”
“A riot, for example, at Nanyang University or the University of Singapore would be of grave national concern. In America, a huge country, with hundreds of universities and colleges, a riot at any one of them is a local problem. I would therefore urge our intellectuals to be more realistic and to have greater perspective. They should not be so ready to hurl accusations of dictatorship and label our society a closed society. People who do, remind me forcefully of the fable of the boy who cried "wolf" when there was none, and nobody heeded him when a wolf finally came and devoured him. Our intellectuals should visit countries where democracy does not exist to see the vital differences for themselves. As we develop, our level of literacy and intellectual sophistication will grow. People will ask more searching, more substantive questions of their leaders. We must learn to adjust to one another. Political leaders will need not only to have substance in their programmes but will be expected to have appropriate style as well. Intellectuals outside the political arena must be constructive and realistic if they wish to be taken seriously. They should remember that the problems they perceive, though real and seemingly urgent, may lose priority to bigger ones they do not see within their horizon. To effect a proper and rational dialogue, the press must play its part responsibly. The habit of slanting reports or putting an angle to a story make sensational headlines and presumably interest more readership. By doing so, however, reporters and editors do public figures grave injustice and damage. Politicians are always subject to scrutiny and what they say is always discounted with some scepticism. The least that they deserve is accurate coverage.”
“At the same time, we need mastery or English as a tool for rapid economic development since many of the technological innovations stem for English-speaking countries, in our multi-lingual society, English a1so provides a convenient bridge for communication. To have peace and prosperity in our multi-racial society we should therefore curb our prejudices, allay our mutual suspicions, mute the voices of extremism and dam the tides of passion. There must be constant vigilance on the part of Government to prevent extremists from destroying the fabric of our society. We should stand firmly behind the actions taken by Government against those who seek to play up racial, language, cultural or religious differences for their own devious ends. We are a small country but we are no less entitled to our independence -to the right to chart our own destiny. There are insidious external forces, which seek to manipulate public opinion so as to weaken our national will and make our Government more pliable to their wishes. The mass media are particularly susceptible to such manipulation. We should not confuse actions taken by Government to preserve the autonomy of Singapore with the denial of freedom of the press. People, especially intellectuals of western liberal persuasion, should be more positive in their appraisal of social policies. They should bear in mind that in a developing country there is so much building to be done that free criticism that lack perspective and responsibility can be highly detrimental to the best interests of our society. We are also a small country so that individual actions can have far wider and more significant repercussions than similar actions in bigger countries.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to add a note to the chorus of praise for the President's speech to this House. In his speech, the President warned us against working up heat on the gut issues over language, culture and religion. In our multi-racial society we have more than our share of differences but we should never allow ourselves to be engulfed. We need to build bridges of understanding and pillars of tolerance so that all Singaporeans, no matter the race, can strive for a better future together in peace. Over the last 12 years, Government has sought to instil the necessary values and attitudes for the building of a cohesive society. One of the key features of Government policy is bilingual education, where each child achieves proficiency in his own mother tongue and English. This is a vast and vita' improvement over the colonial-type of education which all of us in this House underwent where, if you went to an English-medium school, unless you could afford private tuition, you had no opportunity to study your mother tongue. In fact, I recall that even the use of one's own dialect was severely discouraged in school. Our Asian languages are rooted in strong cultures, the best features of which are going to be important determinants of the development of Asian countries. Social discipline, respect for the older generation and for authority, the love and respect for learning-all these provide resilience and cohesiveness for a developing society. We need such values as antidotes to the disintegrating forces of western hippie culture.”
“Sir, I thank the Minister for his reply and I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $363,655,520 for Head 91 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 101 -”
“I have just one small point for clarification, Mr Speaker, Sir. As regards the equity participation mentioned by the Minister, does this relate to that owned by the Government alone, or does it include the shares owned by the statutory authorities as well?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head 91 be reduced by $100. Sir, in moving this amendment, I wish to find out from the Minister, first of all, up-to-date details of participation in industry by Government and statutory boards, and information relating to the failures of such enterprises engaged in by Government and the statutory boards. 7.30 p.m. Secondly, I would like to know what are Government's plans, if any, to help local entrepreneurs secure the technology, better management and help in terms of marketing abroad, learning export techniques and so on. Thirdly, I have a suggestion, namely, that perhaps Government ought to consider selling off Government-owned enterprises which have become viable to private holders and then using the money as a catalyst for further development of other industries which private capital is unable to go into for want of perception of opportunities or for want of capital and so on.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have two questions to ask in connection with the loans. The first is in regard to Neptune Orient Lines. I would like to find out from the Minister whether this shipping line is a going concern right now. In other words, is it in the black? Is it making a profit or is it still making a loss? Second, since the Government is providing substantial loans to the Jurong Bird Park, will the Minister be able to put pressure on the Jurong Bird Park to lower its entry fees to enable the poorer people to enter the Bird Park? It can cost quite a lot of money if we go there with the family.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I raise a point in relation to shophouses owned by the Housing and Development Board? I came across a case recently of one shopkeeper who has a licence to use his premises as a shoe-repairing shop, but he introduced, as a side line inside the premises a watch repairing facility. He was hauled up by the Housing and Development Board official concerned and was told, "Look, you must not do this because your licence does not permit it." I tried to intervene and said, "Look, why cannot you be flexible about the whole thing?" The official replied, "Well, this has got to go through such and such a committee and they will probably turn it down. The best thing is to forget about it and tell him to shut down the side line." Will the Housing and Development Board be more flexible in the use of shophouses?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the more important question here is whether the farmers are able to make a profit at the present level of the price of eggs. In other words, has productivity increased commensurately with the decrease in price?”
“If the Minister will recall the relevant sitting when this amendment was discussed, the then Minister for Finance indicated that any figure would do, and so he picked $10 million. At that time I thought that he was open to suggestions for an amendment, but I lost my chance at that stage. Mr Tang See Chim: Sir, I do not recall the Minister saying that. Perhaps in his lighter mood he could have made that statement. But I can assure the Member for Whampoa that $10 million was fixed after due consideration. But, of course, as I have just said, should circumstances change and if we can with advantage lower the sum, consideration will definitely be given to it. DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES FOR FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 1971, TO 31ST MARCH, 1972 Order read for resumed consideration in Committee of Supply [2nd Allotted Day]. [Mr Speaker in the Chair] 2.52 p.m. Head 72 -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, will the Minister of State consider lowering the qualification of $10 million required for expansion purposes to, let us say, $5 million or less, as this will encourage expansion, especially the smaller local industries? This is the qualification for pioneer status.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, will the Minister consider allowing the market stallholders to pay their rentals on a monthly basis, as they did some time ago? They have to make quarterly payments right now, and this constitutes quite a burden on them.”
“Sir, in view of the numerous complaints that I have received regarding the high rentals of the market stalls, will the Minister consider lowering them not only for the present stallholders but also for the unlicensed hawkers who will be given licences?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Minister what will happen to the unlicensed hawkers in the meantime, before the completion of the proposed hawkers' centre?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in addition to the queries of the Member for Sembawang, may I ask the Minister for Science and Technology the following questions: Firstly, in regard to the sports complex in the new University site, may I know whether a swimming pool is envisaged? Secondly, I would like to ask the Minister whether it is proposed to provide housing of some kind for the University staff at the new site. Thirdly, is it proposed to air-condition all the offices and lecture halls at the new campus?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, this House should not laugh at people who make heroic attempts to speak in unfamiliar languages.”
“Sir, may I know from the Minister when this project will be completed?”
“Sir, on this point of permanent status and the visitor's pass for the wives and children of Singapore citizens, will the Minister consider giving passes, say, valid for a year or two, to these people rather than having them go every two weeks and renewing their passes? In other words, recognise that they are going to be here in any case; save them the bus or taxi fares.”
“Sir, I am glad to note the progress of this particular training scheme. I thank the Minister of State for Finance for his reply and beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $26,949,120 for Head 1303 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. Head 1305 -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 1303 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 2406. Sir, I just wish to seek clarification on why there is a decrease of $1 million under this subhead.”
“As long as the Minister has indicated that he will ask for more money, and I hope he will ask for more and that it will be double the amount, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, as a matter of principle we can point out that we are spending millions of dollars on economic development. We have just voted $6 million as a subsidy to a shipbuilding firm; we have built the Jurong Bird Park costing $4.5 million, and its admission charges are so high that the poor people cannot get in. I am wondering if socialism in Singapore is strictly for the birds!”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not sure whether or not this is a case of passing the buck again. Why cannot the Minister insist on the provision which he wants? Sir, as far as I am concerned, this is a very serious matter. At a time when our economy is doing so well, surely one can improve the quality of our services, especially for children. At a time when we are not only enjoying economic progress but also, with increasing urbanisation, an increase in the population growth, there must be more and more children in need of help. Their diet can certainly be improved. The kind of services rendered and the care rendered for these children can also be improved.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 1303 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 2312. This subhead is in connection with voluntary institutions for children. Sir, I would like to know why there is a decrease in the provision under this subhead.”
“The Parliamentary Secretary is getting on to the question of languages. The Chairman: The Member for Whampoa started it. Question on the amendment put, and negatived.”
“Sir, I hope I can expect some courtesy in this House.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, since the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Affairs is so arrogant, I refuse to withdraw.”
“The Parliamentary Secretary has entirely missed the point. All I was saying was this. The number of T.B, patients has decreased. Why cannot we think in terms of improving the quality of the services, that is, spending more on each patient rather than keeping the per patient expenditure constant? Mr Chan Chee Seng(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not sure what the economic expert is thinking. Is he thinking that if people are sick and we give them more money, they will recover quicker? A patient in S.A.T.A. receives $30 each month by way of assistance. According to the opinion of the Member for Whampoa, this is not sufficient. If he has other opinions to express on how to improve the condition of the patients, he is at liberty to do so.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thought the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Affairs knew how to speak English too. Sir, I have noticed earlier that there is also a decrease in the allowance for tuberculosis patients. May I ask why we do not think in terms of improving the quality of our services? For example, we should give more aid to each person rather than allow the Finance Ministry to cut down the expenditure and keep the per capita expenditure constant.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 1303 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 2305. Sir, this subhead of expenditure relates to the Singapore Anti-Tuberculosis Association. I would like to know why the provision under this subhead has been decreased by half.”
“I thank the Minister of State and beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“I fully applaud the idea. But I am just wondering whether there are attempts to recruit people on a permanent basis, train them up so that they can engage full-time on a career basis.”
“Sir, I am wondering whether this vote is meant more as a subsidy to the labour movement, or whether it is intended to provide the Labour Research Unit with real research capability. If this is so, may I know from the Minister of State what are the actual attempts being made in this direction?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 1303 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 2161. Sir, this subhead is in respect of the Labour Research Unit which I presume is the N.T.U.C. Labour Research Unit. I just want to find out why there is a big increase of more than $200,000.”
“I thank the Minister for his reply and I do not think it would be fair for me not to withdraw my amendment. I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $163,208,290 for Head 1301 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. Head 1303 -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I get a very curious feeling in my economic bones that this is a give-away. But without any firm facts, I am not able to dispute with the Minister concretely. However, can the Minister say what is the selling price per ship?”
“Sir, can the Minister say whether the alternative of providing a loan, albeit on softer terms than commercial loans, was considered?”
“Sir, as I understand from the Minister's reply, this is going to be a joint venture with a Japanese shipyard. It seems that the principle of a subsidy, or a lump sum grant to any industry, is well taken provided that the learning process has to be established and the technological capability has yet to be learnt. In other words, the people are totally new to the entire process. But here I gather we have a joint project with well-known shipbuilders. So I am wondering about the economics of the issue and whether they really deserve such a big subsidy - $14 million for 15 ships, if I understood the Minister correctly, which amounts to a great deal even on a per ship basis.”
“Mr Speaker. Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 1301 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 3006. Sir, this subhead is in respect of a subsidy for building standard cargo vessels, and the amount is a very big one - about $6 million. Can the Minister let me know the details of this expenditure item?”
“I thank the Minister for his kind reply, and I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. 3.30 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 1301 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 2099. Sir, this subhead is in respect of expenses in connection with visits of experts, advisers, consultants, etc. I wish to find out from the Minister in detail the number of experts who visited us last year; that is, what are the categories of officers and what is the nature of the expenses incurred in connection with their visits, and why is there an increased provision of about $60,000.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 1301 be reduced by $10 in respect of item (3) of subhead 2091*. As you have correctly pointed out, Sir, the matter I wish to raise is similar to the one I raised under the Prime Minister's Office. But the reply given to me at that time was that the increased provision was due to the commercialisation of the Government Printing Office. But it seems to me that the sums which have to be paid are rather exorbitant. Is the Government Printer not being put in a position of monopoly in respect of the printing of such materials?”