Chan Chee Seng
Singapore
“If these practices are not being taken seriously by occupants of high-rise buildings, they will be repeated until the Singapore Fire Service is thoroughly satisfied. Finally, I would like to assure the House that the Singapore Fire Service keeps abreast of technological advances in the fighting of high-rise fires.”
“Only the Kallang Creche has been transferred to SILO to run. In the case of the staff in the Kallang Creche, they were absorbed into the other 10 creches to fill vacancies. As for the transfer of the other creches to the NTUC, this is still under consideration and has not been implemented yet.”
“I would like to clarify matters today by posing two questions. The first question is whether we should encourage the habit of reliance on others? The second question is whether we should encourage the people to be self-reliant in order to be able to help or look after themselves?”
“The Social Welfare Department will improve its classification procedure so as to provide information of employable disabled persons and to assist disabled persons to remain in employment through intensive counselling before employment and follow-up services after job placement In 1974 the Social Welfare Department cooperated with the Mini…”
“Volunteer counsellors and advisers could be engaged from within the community to man them, with expert assistance from a small number of professional social welfare staff.”
“Anyway, I agree with the Member that we must look after our old people properly and give them good food and to prepare the food as palatable as possible. We must realise that there are about 270 inmates in the Bushey Park Home. When they were admitted, some of them were feeble, while others were sick.”
The complete record
Every one of 199 lines we hold for Chan Chee Seng, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 4.
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I first answer the query of the Member for Sembawang on the decrease in the rate of public assistance from $21 to $16 per month? The present rates of public assistance are: $21 for the head of a family; $10 for the wife; $8 for dependants above 16 years of age, and $5 for dependants below 16 years of age. The usual payment for the head of a family is $21 if the person receives no other sources of income. However, if he has partial income from other sources, the allowance may be reduced. It is not possible to comment on individual cases without knowing the full circumstances of the case. I repeat, we have not reduced any welfare rate at all and, in fact, the policy has not changed so far. In case the Member for Sembawang has got any individual case, he can take it up with my Ministry and we will look into it. As for the Member for Whampoa, he is correct in saying that the cut in expenditure on social welfare will amount to almost $2 million for the coming financial year. To be more exact, the current provision of $9,080,200 will be reduced to $7,178,250, representing a decrease of approximately $1.8 million or 21 per cent. I should point out, however, that this substantial drop in expenditure for the Social Welfare Department is due mainly to more efficient management of the existing welfare services aided by the improving social situation, and not due to any deliberate policy to cut down expenditure on social welfare, in fact, it is the policy of the department to assist all families who are in need of social welfare assistance in one form or another. I would also like to assure the Member for Whampoa that there will be no curtailment in the existing services provided by the Social Welfare Department during the next financial year.”
“As to the question whether regional or international tournaments or competitions will be held in our Sports Stadium, I think this can best be answered by the National Sports Promotion Board, because it is up to the Board to decide what kind of regional or international sports or athletic tournaments or competitions will be held. So I think this question will have to depend on the decision of the Board before any answer can be given.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, first of all, I must thank the Member for Sembawang for raising his questions and for saying so many words of encouragement. In recent years our Ministry, particularly the Sports Division, has actually done a great deal for our sports and athletic activities. The Member wants to know what plans the Sports Division has to train our sports representatives. I would like to say that we all know that sports and athletic activities in Singapore are mainly carried out by the individual amateur sports bodies, and they select their own representatives. We, as a Government department, are only responsible for administrative matters. As regards training, it is undertaken by the various amateur sports bodies. The Member for Sembawang may recall that we have recently established the National Sports Promotion Board, which is a statutory body. It is charged with the promotion and development of sports and athletic activities, and at the same time to provide facilities for the various amateur sports bodies. Now that the Board is functioning, I am sure it has a lot of plans to promote and to develop sports and athletic activities in Singapore. The National Sports Promotion Board has, among its members, the Minister for Social Affairs as Chairman. Since he is in the chair, I am sure the Board will have enough plans and facilities to promote sports and athletic activities. As to when the National Sports Complex will be ready, I can say that the building progress is now half-way through. It is expected to complete the Sports Stadium by the middle of 1972.”
“Since 1965 the Prisons Department has paid for only one deportation which was in respect of an air passage to Amsterdam for a banishee, amounting to $1,548. As no expenditure has been incurred since 1966, a token vote of $10 only is provided in the Ordinary Estimates for 1970-71 should there be a need for such expenses. Persons are deported to their country of origin as directed by the Police or immigration authorities.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, payment of the Good Conduct allowance is something like the payment of the English Language allowance. It has been the practice for a long time. Partly the provision is to encourage initiative and good conduct. Is the Member for Punggol suggesting that we should cancel the Good Conduct allowance? Hon. Members: Yes!”
“A further allowance of $2 per month may be given to an officer who has been drawing two good conduct allowances for three years, and has not been punished for any of the serious offences mentioned above.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the English language allowance is a non-pensionable allowance of $10 a month paid to the warder grades in the Prison service, as recommended by the Prisons Inquiry Commission of 1948. Only those who are in possession of a Standard V English Language Certificate, or those who sat and passed this examination whilst in the service, may draw this allowance. In 1964 this practice of paying the English language allowance was stopped. However, those who have been paid this allowance are allowed to continue drawing this allowance until they retire from the service. At the moment, 53 warders are still drawing this allowance. No other language allowances are paid. The Good Conduct allowance may be awarded by the Superintendent of Prisons, in accordance with the rules of good conduct, to warders, corporal warders and wardresses. This allowance of $2 a month may be given to any officer of the above grades of three years' service or over, who has served for two years continuously without being punished for being asleep on duty or being under the influence of alcohol or drugs while on duty, or without being punished for a serious offence against discipline, or for an offence for which he has been punished by forfeiture of three or more days' pay, or fined an equivalent sum in a court of law, or reduced in rank, class or grade. This allowance may be withdrawn if an officer is convicted for two or more offences. A further allowance of $2 per month may be given to an officer who has been drawing one good conduct allowance for three years, and has not been punished for any of the serious offences mentioned above.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, an approved foster mother is paid a monthly fostering allowance at the following rates: (a) for caring of babies up to the age of four years - $50 per month; (b) between four years and six years old - $60 per month; (c) between six years and ten years old - also $60 per month; plus $120 yearly for school-going children for school expenses. With this allowance, a foster mother is expected to clothe and maintain the foster child under her care as well as to meet other incidental expenses. Those mothers who take care of babies under one year also receive a free supply of vitamins and two pounds of milk powder monthly from the Maternal and Infant Welfare Clinic which the child attends. Although foster mothers do not gain materially, they do get great personal satisfaction in participating in the scheme. Parents are encouraged to make contributions towards the maintenance of their children who are fostered out to ensure that they maintain a continuing interest and responsibility towards their children. The amount of contribution varies with the financial circumstances of the parents. Their contributions are utilised to offset the allowance payable by the Department.”
“As for mentally defective children, the scheme for the fostering of mentally defective children aims at solving the problems of the following categories of mentally defective children: (i) Children who have been abandoned by parents and, because of their condition, cannot be admitted to ordinary Social Welfare homes; (ii) Children who require a great deal of care. e.g., they are either completely helpless or destructive; (iii) Children who require more care than their families can provide because of their social circumstances, e.g, mother has died and father has to work; mother is sickly in hospital; mother has deserted family, or is a widow and has to work to support her children; (iv) Children who seem to be a constant source of great emotional and physical strain on the parents causing attempts at suicide or causing a disharmonious relationship between them.”
“A total of 27 children were fostered out under the Mentally Defective Children Scheme in 1969. Each foster mother is paid $60 per month for the care of one mentally defective child, plus $10 per year for clothing allowance for the child. 6.30 p.m. The expenditure on the Fostering Out Scheme remained approximately the same over the period 1965 to 1969. On the Fostering Out Scheme for Infants and Children, the expenditure remained approximately the same over the period 1965 to 1969, i.e., $61,000 to $66,000, while the expenditure for Fostering and Maintenance of Mentally Deficient Children has remained at about $33,000 to the $41,000 level over the same period. Concerning the categories of children who may be fostered out, the main categories of children who qualify for fostering care are: Category I - Unwanted or illegitimate babies whose custody has been vested in the Protector of Children. Category II - Babies who are abandoned, destitute, and deserted orphans without legal guardians. Category III - Babies who need care and protection because of neglect, ill treatment or rejection by parents or guardians. Category IV - Babies who have to be fostered out on medical grounds and because their parents are incapable of giving them the special care they need, being either on public assistance or unemployed. Category V - Babies of parents who have to be hospitalised or who are medically unfit to care for the children. Any child below the age of ten who comes within one of the above-mentioned categories and either of whose parents is a Singapore citizen may be fostered out under the Boarding Out Scheme. The approval of the Director of Social Welfare will have to be obtained for the fostering of any children who do not come within the categories listed above.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, first, may I inform the House that the Fostering-Out Allowances are to be used as follows: (a) $65,000 for the Boarding Out Scheme for normal children administered by the Children and Young Persons Section of the Social Welfare Department; (b) $42,000 for the fostering and maintenance of mentally defective children administered by the Senior Almoner's Department. The Boarding Out Scheme was introduced in 1956 to provide for the fostering of infants under the age of two years. In 1962, the scheme was extended to include the fostering of children up to ten years old. In 1963, the scheme was further extended to cater for the fostering of mentally defective children. The aim of fostering is to provide an alternative to institutional care for orphans and children whose mothers or guardians are temporarily unable to care for them. Foster care can give such children a substitute home approximating closely to their own homes. An institution is not the best substitute for a home as it cannot give the child individual care and affection. Nor can it provide the security and warmth of a normal home life, which are important influencing factors in the proper development of a child's personality. The need to place a child in foster care may arise from circumstances such as illness of the mother, overcrowded conditions, breakdown of family life through death, desertion, neglect, destitution and so on. In 1969, a total of 218 children (160 infants under the age of two years and 58 children) were fostered out under the scheme. The number of cases fostered out during the first quarter of 1970 is 133. The total expenditure for fostering of normal children in 1969 was $64,242.05 and the expenditure from January 1970 to 17th March, 1970 is $16,908.45.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in case we cannot have the creche located on the roof deck of the emporium building, the Ministry will look for another site.”
“The Ramah Street Creche will be affected by urban renewal and an approach has been made to the Housing and Development Board to build a creche similar to the Park Road Creche as a replacement for the Ramah Street Creche when it is demolished. Subject to the terms of agreement with the Housing and Development Board, this new creche will be located on the roof deck of the proposed new emporium building in the shopping centre of Toa Payoh New Town. Mr Eric Cheong Yuen Chee: I understand the emporium that is going to be built in Toa Payoh will not not be up for the next one or two years.”
“Yes, they are permanent residents but not born in Singapore. There is a case of a deserted wife who is the holder of a blue identity card. The Ministry is considering cases of this nature. In fact, some of the cases are being processed and are being given favourable consideration.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I will answer the Member for Bukit Panjang's question first. Holders of blue identity cards are foreign citizens, although they are permanent residents in Singapore.”
“These open places will be determined after consultation with the constituency's Citizens' Consultative Committee and management committees of the community centres. Fire and other safety precautions will be taken at these designated places to deal with accidents. Quality control of crackers locally manufactured and imported is also being looked into. ELECTRICITY AND WATER SUPPLY TO RURAL AREAS ACROSS PRIVATE LANDS 15. Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will ascertain from the Public Utilities Board whether difficulties have been encountered in getting landowners' permission for the running of overhead cables and water-mains across their lands in order that rural folks can enjoy electricity and water supply; how many land-owners have objected and refused to co-operate; whether steps are being taken to ensure that such schemes will be successfully carried out; and whether he proposes to introduce legislation to amend the Public Utilities Ordinance to enable the Board to successfully carry out its tasks without encountering similar difficulties.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have been asked by the Minister to reply. No persons were killed as a result of fires during the Chinese New Year up to Chap Goh Meh. However, there were six deaths caused as a result of injuries suffered from cracker explosions on three separate cracker incidents on 20th February, 1970. In the first incident, two persons died as a result of a cracker incident at 11-A, MacKenzie Road. There was no fire in this incident and the Fire Brigade was not called. In the second incident, three persons died as a result of injuries suffered from cracker explosions at 290-P, Joo Chiat Road. The cracker explosions, besides fatally injuring three people, started a small fire in a bedroom which was put out by the occupants before the arrival of the Fire Brigade. There was no delay on the part of the Fire Brigade in responding to the call. In the third incident one person died as a result of a fire cracker incident at 8G, Block 105, Gagak Selari Barat. There was no fire and the Fire Brigade was not called. The six deaths were caused by cracker explosions and there is no question of any delay by the Fire Brigade causing the casualties. The Fire Brigade and the Police are working out regulations to prevent any repetition of such a disaster. Henceforth, all firing of crackers is prohibited, unless permits from the Police have been obtained. Permits will be granted only on very special private occasions. For traditional festive occasions, like Chinese New Year's Eve and Chap Goh Meh, each constituency will have a number of open spaces, designated by the Police, where firing will be allowed between specified hours but only by adults.”
“Sixteen co-operative societies have made provision for this purpose but have not remitted such monies to the College partly on their own accord pending consideration of finding alternative places for them to undertake the training course. In return for such contributions to the College, officials of the contributing co-operative societies could participate in the short-term courses of formal instruction in cooperative subjects conducted by the College. JURONG TOWN (Building of fire station) 10. Mr Ho Kah Leong asked the Minister for Social Affairs whether a fire station will be built in Jurong Town and when. Mr Chan Chee Seng (for the Minister for Social Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, although provision was first made in the 1966 Development Estimates for a fire station in Jurong Town, this provision was deleted in the 1969-70 Development Estimates on the ground of proximity of the Bukit Timah and Alexandra Fire Stations to Jurong Town. If it is found that these two fire stations are inadequate to meet the needs of Jurong Town, consideration will be given for the reinstatement of this provision in the Development Estimates of the next fiscal year. HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD FLATS (Particulars of eviction of tenants) 11. Inche Abdul Aziz Karim asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will ascertain from the Housing and Development Board (a) how many tenants of (i) one-room flats, (ii) two-room fiats, and (iii) three-room flats, respectively, were served with eviction notices in each of the years 1966 to 1968 for non-payment of rent: and how many of them were eventually evicted for not settling their arrears of rent: and (b) how many of the tenants evicted were known reci pients of public assistance.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there is no Co-operative Development Division in the Ministry but there is a Registry of Co-operative Societies which was transferred from the Ministry of National Development to the Ministry of Social Affairs on 16th April, 1968. Besides advising persons who desire to form co-operative societies on procedures of registration, the Registry provides informal instruction on the up keep of accounts and records to officials of co-operative societies, particularly the poorer rural co- operatives. It also acts as auditors to certain co-operatives which do not engage the services of professional accountants. In 1968, 34 co-operative societies made use of the services of the Registry as auditors for their accounts. The Registry also holds inquiries into co-operatives which are found or reported to be mismanaged with a view to deregistration. In 1968, seven such societies were deregistered. Although no representation has so far been made to the Ministry in regard to an amendment of the Co-operative Societies Ordinance, the Ministry will consider making amendments, if necessary, to the Ordinance in order to meet the practical difficulties which co-operative societies have experienced with the existing Ordinance. Under the Co-operative Societies (Modification) (Amendment) Order, 1954, the contribution of two per cent from the net profits of the co-operative sccieties to the Co-operative College in Malaysia is not obligatory. As far as my Ministry is aware, only a few cooperative societies are contributing to the College. Since the separation of Singapore from Malaysia in 1965, only four co-operative societies have been contributing to the Co-operative College in Malaysia.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the status of the staff administering the affairs of the Majlis Ugama Islam is as follows: (a) President of the Majlis: Paid an honorarium and attend office on a part-time basis. (b) Mufti: On contract for three years. (c) Secretary: A re-employed Government pensioner (on month-to-month basis). (d) one Executive Officer: Permanent and pensionable (e) one Clerical Officer: Permanent and pensionable. (f) one Typist: Permanent and pensionable. (g) one Office Boy: Permanent and non-pensionable. In regard to (c) , it is intended to engage a permanent officer to replace the re-employed Government pensioner as soon as a suitable officer can be found. The honorarium and salaries of all the staff above are met from Head A/c Code 1101 of the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure 1969-70, subheads 1141, 1142, 1144, 1148, 1149, 1152 and 1154. REGISTRY OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES (Assistance to co-operative movement) 9. Mr N. Govindasamy asked the Minister for Social Affairs (a) if he will state the nature and extent of assistance given by the Co-operative Development Division to the co-operative movement in Singapore: (b) whether he is aware that the Co-operative Societies Ordinance which was last amended in 1955, is outdated and if he will consider setting up a committee comprising officials from the Co-operative Development Division, the co-operative movement and the trade union movement to review the Ordinance: and (c) whether he is aware that many co-operative societies in Singapore are still contributing two per cent of their profits towards the upkeep of the Co-operative College in Malaysia and if he is satisfied that such contribution is of some positive benefit to the Singapore co-operative movement.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member has suggested that I should deal with this matter thoroughly. I cannot promise this. If there are cases where we can help, of course, we will be glad to do so. If we cannot do it, then it is just impossible to do so. Madam Chan Choy Siong(In Mandarin): I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. 7.45 p.m. The time allotted for Head 1102 having expired, the following amendment, standing in the name of Madam Chan Choy Siong, was not proceeded with: That the total sum to be allocated for Head 1102 be reduced by $100. The sum of $13,015,810 for Head 1102 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. Head 1103 -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we know that fleece is got from a sheep. So if we are millionaires, we can say, "I will give you as much as you want." But in the final analysis, the money comes from the taxes paid by the people. Of course, we have good intentions, but we must face realities. We all know that the Minister for Finance has given us a certain sum of money. If we are going to give money to anyone who claims that he is in -dire need, we will not be able to fulfil our obligations. I remember on one occasion the Minister gave $10 to a person at a "meet-the-people session" when he complained that he was in dire straits. Very soon afterwards, many people came for similar requests. I sympathise with what the Member for Delta has said regarding the plight of the poor people, that because of the inability of the Government to give sufficient public assistance some members of a family have to take in washing to earn an additional income and that this may result in a cut in their public assistance. The Public Assistance Section is in charge of public money. Although we have to help the poor people, at times they may not be satisfied with what they get. This is a fact of life. However, the officials in the Public Assistance Section treat all cases fairly. The Minister once asked the assessors and investigators to give instructions to them, because there had been some incidents -”
“I personally think this is wrong because such families are not getting sufficient public assistance. So we should give them sympathetic consideration. But, of course, if a recipient family is earning more than $100 a month, their public assistance can be cut off. I hope the Minister will give sympathetic consideration to this matter.”
“It is only when they have no other alternative that they go to the Public Assistance Section for public assistance. There are many kinds of people in the world. There are well-off people who shamelessly seek public assistance. I will, therefore, ask the Minister to reassess the situation so that the names of those who are not in need of public assistance can be struck off. I would like to mention the case of some recipients of public assistance. In my constituency, there are widows with seven or eight children who are neglected when their mothers go to work. When these mothers are unable to maintain their families, they seek public assistance. If an applicant is suffering from tuberculosis or a disability, he gets more, otherwise he gets $40 a month. The expenditure of a family of eight living in an attap house is smaller than that of a similar family who are required to resettle in Housing Board flats. Although the rent of a Housing Board flat is only about $20 a month, such a family may find it difficult to make ends meet as they have to pay an additional $10 or $20 a month for water and electricity. So some members of the household take in washing and earn about $10 or $15 a month. But if the inspectors of the Public Assistance Section find out that they are getting an additional income from other sources, the amount of money that they get as public assistance will be cut the following month. When this happens, they come sorrowfully to our "meet-the-people sessions" and the only thing that we can do for them is to approach the Public Assistance Section and plead on their behalf. The difficulty of the pro blem lies in the policy of the Public Assistance Section which stops paying public assistance to a family that is earning an additional income.”
“I am sorry I forgot to reply to it. The Member for Delta said a few days ago that the creches should remain open in the evenings. In many socialist countries where the children are looked after by the state, a somewhat cold relationship develops between the parents and their children. Therefore, it is better that the creches should be closed in the evenings so that the children can go home to their families. The Member for Delta made a good suggestion that some members of the women's section of the community centres should serve in the creches. But consideration should be given to whether the creches are extensively used. If only seven or eight children make use of a creche, there is no point in adopting her suggestion. But I will consider her suggestion. Madam Chan Choy Siong(In Mandarin): I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Madam Chan Choy Siong(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 1102 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1151. Sir, with your leave, I would also like to range over my next amendment No. (3) * in relation to subhead 1152 which comes under "Public Assistance Sec tion". During last year's debate on the Estimates in Committee of Supply, I raised a certain point and I was told that the matter could be referred to the Minister for action. One year has now elapsed and there is still no action yet. Therefore, I am raising this point again this year. I hope the Minister will do something in respect of the points I am raising and give sympathetic consideration to the voice of the poor people. * Amendment No. (3) reads as follows: That the sum to be allocated for Head 1102 be reduced by $10 in rspect of subhead 1152. As we all know, our people are self-respecting.”
“Many workers in the lower income group are employed in industries. It is a good suggestion that they can put their children in creches while they go to work in the day-time. As I have said, creches have not been extensively used. But I will look into the matter if there is a greater need for creches in the rural and industrial areas. Madam Chan Choy Siong(In Mandarin): The Parliamentary Secretary has not answered one of the points I have raised.”
“Our policy in educating these children is therefore based on multi-lingualism and multi-racialism. [Mr Speaker in the Chair] 7.25 p.m. I would like to give some figures about the teachers in the creches. Of the 10 assistant lady superintendents, five are educated in Chinese and two are educated in both Chinese and English. Of the 16 instructors in charge of the children's centres, nine are educated in both Chinese and English. The term "Chinese" also includes dialects such as Cantonese, Hainanese, Hokkien, etc. Some of them are able to speak Indian and Tamil. Of the 51 assistant instruc tors working in the creches and children's centres, 32 are educated in Chinese and seven are educated in both Chinese and English. We do not have sufficient books produced locally for the children to read. It is regrettable that there is a shortage of locally-produced books for reading. As long as the contents of the books are healthy and educative to the children and not pernicious to our policy of patriotism an-d nationalism, they can be used in the creches. It does not matter where they are produced. Books which provide lessons in singing, -dancing and handicraft are useful to the children and we have seen the works of these children in the various exhibitions held so far. On the question of quantity of food, the decision rests with the experts. If they are of the opinion that the quantity of food is insufficient, they will look into it. I think Members should not worry about this because almost all the children in the creches have very fat and round faces. This shows that they are healthy. 7.30 p.m. I fully support the suggestion that more creches should be set up in the rural areas. The setting up of creches in the industrial areas is logical.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, first of all, let me thank the Members who have spoken on the creches. Thus, they have given publicity to the availability of creches and the people will know that they can leave their children in the creches when they go to work. Two months ago, we held a press conference during which we mentioned the services that the creches could provide. But many parents still do not send their children to the creches when they go to work. Many of the creches are quite empty and some are not full up. So when Members raise the question of creches in this House, it will serve to inform the public of the services provided by the creches. Members have criticised the services provided by the creches, for example, shortage of food, etc. I would like to assure Members that if their allegations are correct, then we will take the necessary action to improve the situation. In regard to languages used at the creches, I agree that we should also provide opportunities for the children to learn other languages than English. In the past, most of the officials in the creches have been educated in English and so we have to use English as the medium of instruction. Since Members have expressed their views on this point, we will try our best to rectify the situation. But speaking from the administrative point of view, we have no alternative but to carry on using English, but, in other aspects, we may use other languages or even dialects. In fact, many dialects are spoken because the children in the creches come from various races an-d an Indian may be able to speak Hokkien. During the youth festival, we were able to see on television children of other races performing Chinese traditional dances and vice versa.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in the cases of those who were recruited for national service and whose public assistance had been terminated, we have got a means test. We always consider whether or not the family would be in a state of hardship before we terminate the public assistance. EXEMPTED BUSINESS (Motion) 2.58 p.m.”
“From 1st January to 31st October, 1968, a total sum of $4,837,454.80 was paid out under the public assistance scheme to an average of 16,775 families a month. It has been estimated that an average family on public assistance consists of five persons. Working on this basis, a total of 838,760 persons, on the average of 83,876 persons per month, has been given public assistance during this period. From 1st January to 31st October, 1968, a total of 3,104 families have had their public assistance terminated. Taking an average of five persons to a family, approximately 15,520 persons, or an average of 1,552 persons per month, have had their public assistance terminated. The main reasons for the termination of public assistance to the 3,104 families for the period 1st January to 31st October, 1968 are as follows: Head of a family having found employment; wife having found employment; children having found employment; family having secured a school tuck-shop: members of the family commenced hawking; receipt of a lump sum payment by way of workmen's compensation, Central Provident Fund benefits; receipt of maintenance by an estranged wife; re-marriage of divorcees or widows; receipt of financial assistance from relatives; family having migrated from Singapore; death of a person who is the sole recipient of public assistance; admission of single persons to welfare homes: withdrawal on own accord. Other miscellaneous cases were those of families requiring temporary assistance only.”
“This year, a sum of $113,000 has been collected.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, contributions to sports organisations are normally made only for those bodies which take part in the Pesta Sukan. For those sports organisations which have invited foreign competitors, the contributions given to them are based on the cost of accommodation of the foreign competitors during the period of the Pesta Sukan. Over the last three years, $25,000 has been allotted each year as grants to the various voluntary sports organisations. The grants range from $3,500 to $100. In addition to such grants to sports organisations participating in the Pesta Sukan, sports organisations which go abroad to take part in international competitions are given one-quarter of the total expenses subject to a maximum of $1,500 in each case. Grants are also made to the Singapore Olympic Sports Council when Singapore sends out its national teams to participate at international games. In 1966, at the Commonwealth Games at Kingston, $50,000 was given as a grant to the S.O.S.C. For the Asian and Ganefo Games at Bangkok and Phnom Penh in the same year, $100,000 was given as a grant to the Singapore Olympic Sports Council and the Singapore Sports Council. For the 1967 Seap Games at Bangkok, a sum of $73,000 was given to the S.O.S.C. and for the 1968 Olympic Games at Mexico, $14,000 was given as a grant to the S.O.S.C. In order to meet these grants to the S.O.S.C. to enable our national team to compete at the international games mentioned above, the Sports Division of this Ministry had to raise these funds by way of appeals for donations from the commercial sector, charity film premiers, donation draws, variety shows, dances and other fund-raising events. In 1966, a sum of $250,000 was raised and in 1967 the sum raised was $203,000.”
“If such upward expansion could not be feasible, the Association was also advised to consider other alternatives such as: (a) Operating its school in two sessions, as is done in Government schools, thereby freeing a section of the school for vocational training; or (b) Renting suitable premises elsewhere; or (c) Scaling down its land requirements to approximately 10,000 square feet, which is considered sufficient for a three-storey building with dimensions of approximately 160 feet long and 30 feet wide. The Association has been so informed of the alternatives, and detailed proposals by the Association are awaited before a recommendation is made for 10,000 square feet of land adjacent to the existing school to be leased for building the Vocational Training Centre and Workshop. In regard to funds for building the Vocational Training Centre and Workshop, it is understood that the Association has already raised about $250,004 for its building fund. It is considered that this sum would be adequate for the building of the Vocational Training Centre and Workshop on the land leased from the Government. Since the Government is already providing financial assistance to the Association., by way of $12,000 as an annual grant, and approximately $84,000 a year to meet the salaries of the teaching staff' in both the Oral and Sign Schools run by the Association, it will be difficult to justify any further increases in financial assistance to the Association.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Association for the Deaf and Dumb is given an annual grant of $12,000 in order to carry out its objectives, namely, to provide educational and welfare services for the deaf and dumb. Besides the monetary grant of $12,000 given to the Association, the Government also pays the personal emoluments of the following staff who are seconded to the schools using oral and signs methods: (a) Nine qualified teachers; (b) Five instructors; and (c) One Assistant instructor. The gross monthly salaries of these personnel amount to approximately $85,000 a year. There are 100 pupils in the Oral School and another hundred in the Sign School. These pupils are divided into 18 classes ranging from preparatory classes to Primary VI. 6.00 p.m. It is admitted that the setting up of a vocational wing in the school will help the deaf and dumb to become useful citizens. At present, the school has allocated a small class-room for training in carpentry work. Expansion of its vocational activities has been limited because of absence of space. The Association had, as early as 1967, submitted an application to Government for a lease of land of approximately 50,000 square feet adjacent to its school premises in Mountbatten Road for the purpose of building a Vocational Training Centre and Workshop. Since there is a scarcity of land in Singapore, particularly in the Mountbatten Road area, the Ministry has advised the Association that it would not be possible to recommend its application for such a large piece of land and that to cater for the vocational training of the deaf and dumb, it should look into the possibility of expanding the existing school upwards instead of constructing new buildings on additional land.”
“But I cannot agree when they say that Toto will cause the people of Singapore to have bad habits, that it will have a bad effect on the family, that it will break up the family, with evil consequences. I think the people of Singapore are wise enough to be able to avoid all this. They know what they are doing. 6.35 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister for Finance has said earlier that the raising of certain taxes is inevitable because of an increase in the Defence expenditure. Some people are against any increase in taxes. If we do not impose additional taxes, we will not be able to meet our increased expenditure. The decision to introduce Toto into Singapore was arrived at after consultations with various committees. Toto is not the best means to raise funds to build a sports complex. But then we do not have enough funds without recourse to Toto for that purpose. Members of Parliament and all the people cannot donate enough to the fund, although they pay lip service to this project. If we do not have enough funds to pay the necessary personnel required to run the sports complex, what then is the way open to us? There is a need today for Toto in order to raise funds for our national sports complex. All along we have been talking about the building of a rugged, brave and healthy society. But it is easier said than done. Whatever we intend to do, we must have the means to accomplish it. For instance, we must have nourishment to sustain our people. But what are we going to do if we do not have any funds? Every day we can see people indulging in many forms of gambling, not just chap-ji-kee and chee- fah. Why should we not divert the money being spent on these illegal forms of gambling to a legal form like Toto, the proceeds of which can be used to build a sports complex? if there is any surplus from the proceeds, we can also make use of it to promote various forms of sports and athletic activities. I do not deny that some of the remarks made by some Members just now are quite correct.”
“As the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Affairs and as Toto is a subject under my charge, I have to say a few words on it. I feel that a person who does not want to gamble cannot be coerced into gambling. For instance, even Members of Parliament who want to gamble can do so. Even prisoners gamble among themselves, although they are prohibited from doing so. I have learnt that they use match-sticks to gamble, if a fly alights on the match-stick belonging to a prisoner, he is declared the winner. In other words, if a person is inclined to gamble, he will do so under any conditions. If Toto is discontinued, the gamblers will turn to other forms of gambling. The Member for Changi spoke about various forms of gambling, such as chap-ji-kee, 1,000 characters, 10,000 characters, and so on. It is very difficult for us to prohibit gambling. We are all concerned about the welfare of the people of this country. We want to make sure that they can go through trials and tribulations, if we tell them only about the good side of things and do not tell them about the bad side, they will collapse when they are faced with it. This will not be good for our people. Ours is a newly independent country and the people should be able to endure all kinds of trials and tribulations. For instance, donations have been made for various purposes. My con stituents have been asked to donate towards a road- building fund and they have been urged to donate more money to build better facilities and improve the appearance of their constituency. They will then have a good impression of us and we will be able to win them over again at the next elections.”
“Hence we should also try to build up a good image in the arena of international sports, for our friends abroad measure us as a nation by the behaviour and conduct of our sports representatives. It is clear that few people would like to trade with a country which produces ill-mannered sportsmen. However, our policy on international sports should be based on quality and integrity rather than quantity. This is also cheaper and within the financial resources of a small nation. In conclusion, 1 should like to stress that organised sports is indeed very expensive. The Government is doing all it can to help raise the standard of sports in the Republic. The Sports Division of the Ministry of Social Affairs has helped to raise very substantial amounts of money to send national teams abroad to compete in international meets. Professional coaches have also been employed to help raise the standards of soccer, basketball and badminton. More coaches will be brought in for other games as well. However, with its enormous commitments to defence, education, health and social welfare, there is a limit to which the Government can help. It is therefore imperative that the help and assistance that sports-lovers, philanthropists and commercial firms have been giving for the promotion of sports in the Republic should be further increased. For it is only through all-out support from all fronts that we can ever hope to put Singapore on the map of international sports. 4.10 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there is too much confinement of certain sports to certain racial groups in Singapore. This is even apparent in the different games played in the schools of different language streams. For example, the Chinese school students excel in basketball, the Malay schools in sepak raga and the Tamil students in cricket and hockey. This tendency of "preferential confinement" must be stopped if we are to produce a homogeneous generation as regards outlook, interest and identity. Apart from this, integration of sports activities among the different races of our society also ensures that talent in every game can be easily spotted, for one can never be certain that a Malay cannot be a good basketball player, or a Chinese a good sepak raga player. Sir, I also wish to touch on our image in the field of international sports. Frankly speaking, we have not yet found a place on the map of international sports, and we are very far behind in the scene of Asian sports. However, we do compare favourably with our neighbours in Southeast Asia, as our success in the recent SEAP games testifies. This is a good start anyway for a small and newly independent nation. Here, I must mention that our success in the SEAP games was due to the timely formation of the National Sports Control Board, which has already won praise from all quarters, both at home and abroad. By adhering strictly to the policy of sending only those athletes who have reached the minimum standard requirements for international meets, the Board has been able to ensure a degree of success which is in proportion to the size of the contingent as well as the amount of money expended. I have mentioned earlier that the sports arena has become the focal point of all nations.”
“This does not, however, mean that individual interests should supersede the group interests, but rather that the former should be used for the promotion of the latter. Thirdly, sports can help to inculcate a sense of dedication and loyalty to the nation. The sportsman is taught to be dedicated and loyal to his team. This is his first lesson. When he represents the national team, his dedication and loyalty is therefore to the nation. As representing the nation is the highest honour any sportsman can hope for, he will be constantly and consciously striving for this rare honour and glory. Hence, the process of training and striving for a higher plane of achievement is also a manifestation of dedication and loyalty to the nation. Fourthly, sports provide training in leadership. As a nation whose survival depends on the quality of her people, we need to have leaders who can organise, think and inspire others to give of their best. It is my belief that such leaders can be trained and produced in the field of sports, especially if they are directly involved in the administration and organisation of any sports body. The last point I wish to make is that, through sports, we can help to build a united Singapore which transcends the religious, language and communal barriers. It is our declared intention to harness this important aspect of sports. We have in the past expressed our disavowal of sports clubs organised solely on a clannish or racial basis. We appreciate the need for a certain amount of exclusiveness in a club, but let this exclusiveness be not on clannish or racial grounds. The constitutions of the registered sports bodies do not provide for exclusiveness and hence the policy of many clubs with regard to membership and membership drive should be changed.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, sports today is not merely recreation. It is too important for us to treat it as such. In a way, the sports arena has become another testing ground for rival countries to try to score "one-up" against one another. For supremacy in sports is indication of potential power in other spheres too. This is borne out by the fact that the two superpowers of the world are also the leading nations in sports. It is not a coincidence, to be sure. Just why is sports so important that we should have a separate division in the Ministry of Social Affairs to look after it? Firstly, it is one of the best ways of inculcating intrinsic values such as initiative, perseverance, agility, endurance, courage and team-spirit in our younger generation. We want all our youths to possess these qualities which are essential for our national survival. To ensure this, all activities in sports should be properly co-ordinated and guided, and hence the setting up of the Sports Division is the first pre-requisite. Secondly, we also realise that sports can play a useful role in uniformed organisations, such as the Armed Forces, the Police, the Vigilante Corps, as well as the multifarious voluntary uniformed youth movements, if it is properly introduced, not just as a recreation, but as a basic part of the training programme. For the training of all these young people, the various games serve to diversify the pattern of training within the units. Although uniformity is an essential feature in uniformed organisations, the introduction of different sports does help to give the joy of variety and show these young people that there is also scope for individual differences apart from group similarities.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, prisoners who work in prison are given a nominal sum. In fact, if the Member for Mountbatten would like to know in detail, we can circularise the information to him.”
“Yes, $250,000 was asked for the expansion of industries listed in the attached appendix. The approval warrant was delivered to this -”
“Sir, can I take up your valuable time to explain this vote of $170,510?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Delta has said just now that the fountains to be built in the Botanic Gardens may draw a lot of courting couples into the Gardens. In actual fact, Singapore is a young country. I think it would be a good thing. Every young couple should go through this stage! If they cannot go to the Botanic Gardens, they can go elsewhere and make friends. Since we have seen so many couples along the beaches, we must not think that when young couples go to the Botanic Gardens they will act indecently. I think members of the public should have the right to go in. It is now under consideration only. We have not come to the final stage yet. As regards the time when the Botanic Gardens will remain open, this has yet to be decided. It may depend on whether or not there are incidents such as robbery, and so on which may happen in the Botanic Gardens. The security of the people there should be taken into consideration. They should have a sense of security when they visit the Botanic Gardens. Talking about a national park, the suggestion by the Member for Mountbatten is a good one. I think the Ministry can consider this point. But there are other considerations to bear in mind. It is not so simple to have a national park. According to my understanding, a national park may involve a lot of artificial structures such as we can see in the national parks in other countries. Even zoos are included in the national park. Some types of plants are also sold in the national parks. The question to be considered is whether artificial things put into the park will spoil the natural scenery or beauty. Mr Ng Kah Ting: The Parliamentary Secretary has just said, Sir, if you will permit me ---”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, this is connected with the question that the Member for Choa Chu Kang is asking. In fact, he talked about how beautiful the fountain heads of other countries are and all that sort of thing. In fact, we are determined to build Singapore as a Garden City. We have to have some beauty in our own country. As for the idea of the Member for Choa Chu Kang to supply more water, in fact, it is now the rainy season and there is a lot of water. Does he want more water in his area or does he want more pipes in his area? We have to beautify our country definitely.”
“The Director of Public Works was consulted on this matter and he recommended the installation of a floating fountain with underwater coloured floodlights at a cost of $38,000. However, this proposal was considered not suitable because (a) the fountain proposed was not of a gyrating type, and (b) it was not possible to site such a fountain in the heavily silted water of the lake. The present scheme submitted by the Senior Electrical Engineer consists of a composite set of three fountains at a total cost of $138,000. This increased cost is due to the following factors: (1) the fountains recommended are of a gyrating type as originally suggested by the Prime Minister. (2) A filtration plant will need to be installed so that the fountain can filter the silted water of the lake; and (3) this fountain will be provided with floodlights, as steps are being taken to have the Garden open to the public at night. Mr Speaker, Sir, if there is time, I would like to give breakdown figures of the estimated cost of the project. For a set of three fountains which cost about $25,000 each, and totalling $75,000, 36 floodlights at $500 each, and totalling about $18,000, pumping equipment for a storage well for water supply to the fountain set costing about $5,000, plant room storage well, fountain piping, etc., cost about $2,000 -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, it is rather regrettable that this fountain is not to be put up in Punggol or in Choa Chu Kang. I must also clear this point that it is not the Member for Tanglin (the Minister for National Development) who suggested building a fountain in his area. In fact, it was the Prime Minister who suggested in 1966 that a gyrating water fountain be installed in the Garden lake.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not think there is any ,confusion. If there is empty ground near the community centre, definitely the People's Association can look into it. If he has any empty space, and he wants the Ministry to look into it, he can write in and we will consider it.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the playgrounds near community centres will definitely be under the charge of the People's Association. This matter does not come within the portfolio of the Ministry of Social Affairs. An hon. Member: You are passing the buck! Mr Chan Chee Seng: I am not passing the buck. In case there is 'land, the Member for Punggol can certainly write to the People's Association which will consider his request. 5.00 p.m.”