Chew Heng Ching
Singapore
“Sir, in terms of sports facilities, we, as a nation, are certainly very well-endowed. We have many stadiums, swimming complexes, sports halls, multi-purpose fields, tennis courts, school fields and many, many more.”
“These jobs need not necessarily be limited to menial jobs like cleaners, sweepers and lift attendants, but could be extended to include the services of older professionals such as engineers, accountants, managers, and clerical officers.”
“For this reason, Sir, I am a bit disappointed with the Budget in that we could have done more for our SMEs, many of which have also made sacrifices in the past and are still struggling and not able to reap the benefits of economic recovery.”
“In so doing, we may have addressed the form of the issue at high cost to our charities, deterred some good people from coming forward to serve and to volunteer, but may miss out on the substance, which is the bigger picture, ie, what is the best means with reasonable level of disclosure and accountability to help meet the needs of the nee…”
“May I, therefore, suggest that the Government look into the plight of these wet market stall owners. Many wanted to give up their stalls but, with outstanding loans from the banks, they could not. Some wanted to sell their stalls but there were no buyers. And their children are not willing to take over the stalls.”
“May I therefore propose that the Ministry, in the light of this massive LUP project announced by the PM, review the adequacy and the use of town council sinking funds.”
The complete record
Every one of 653 lines we hold for Chew Heng Ching, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 14.
“Toh See Kiat (Aljunied): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister has said that we are on the threshold of a new millennium. We are indeed a new generation of Singaporeans forging into that millennium into a bold new future of our own making. It is an exciting prospect and the first step in this long journey has begun with the release of the Singapore 21 report. In reality, it is the report of not just the Committee but of the thousands of Singaporeans who have contributed their views. It is a well-thought-out vision, and deserves the unwavering support and commitment of all of us in Singapore. But the report is only a sketch outline which needs filling up. This may be why some people have unfairly called it "a collection of motherhood statements". For acronym loving Singaporeans, the report begins aptly with an acronym - "KBE". Pre-independence, it would have stood for "Knight of the British Empire". In the early years of independence, it could have stood for "Kneel before you eat". Many Singaporeans were so poor they did not know where their next meal would come from. And they could only kneel and pray, or beg. In later years it probably stood for "Kiasu but efficient". Not all of us are proud of these antecedents. In the new millennium, we want "KBE" to stand for something dignified, grand and meaningful. The report says it stands for "Knowledge-based Economy". I hope it stands for "Kindness blossoming everywhere". Kindness and graciousness are two very rare commodities in any modern urban society. They are rare because the practice of it has been forgotten. City life is stressful, lonely, quick-paced and cold. City life is to be endured because of the material benefits it brings to the family. But city life in the end is dehumanising.”
“Secondly, in the area of strengthening families, MCD will hold a series of public forums in June and July this year to discuss the findings of the recently completed National Survey on the Family. Through these forums, we hope to generate public interest and discussion on family issues close to the heart of Singaporeans, and in the process, identify policy measures and specific programmes that will help to make the Singapore family stronger and fulfil its care responsibilities better. Finally, on the elderly front, we will launch a Stakeholder Consultation Programme to tap on the views of service providers and key partners serving the elderly population. This programme will help to ensure a thorough and comprehensive review of eldercare services and will form an integral part of the Elderly Services Masterplan review the Ministry will be carrying out later this year. Conclusion In conclusion, Sir, we can expect the people sector to grow in the years to come as a greater diversity of civic organisations come into existence. Each of these new civic organisations will bring with them their unique identities - their own raison d'etre, and their own strengths. With increasing numbers, we should also expect a more diverse and more vibrant people sector. This diversity need not be viewed with alarm or alacrity as long as we are united by a common national vision. Instead, we should see this as the maturing of Singapore society and a growing desire on the part of Singaporeans to contribute to their wider communities. By harnessing the resources of the people sector, and by forging new partnerships with the new pairs of Helping Hands, I am confident that we can build a stronger, more vibrant Singapore. Sir, I support the motion. Assoc. Prof.”
“Our experience with the people sector also suggests that when the community and the Government work in close partnership to serve the community, we reach more individuals and families better than either party could on its own. Services would be provided with greater compassion and be more meaningful to recipients. However, this partnership has not developed overnight. It requires a high level of co-operation and collaboration on both sides and a mutual respect honed over time. It also demands a common vision and a shared commitment among a wide spectrum of civic groups from diverse backgrounds. Mr Speaker, Sir, my Ministry is committed to developing and strengthening new partnerships with the people sector. We believe that this is important not just because we rely on the people sector to provide core social services, but also because the people sector is an important arena to bond Singaporeans and to shape a sense of shared responsibility and ownership for our collective welfare. MCD's S21 Initiatives Over the course of this year, my Ministry will launch three initiatives to signal our commitment to making the S21 Vision a reality. First, in the area of developing active citizenship, we will spearhead the establishment of a national body to promote volunteerism as a way of life in Singapore. The National Volunteer Centre as it is tentatively called will be a promotional and resource centre for individuals and corporations who want to be part of the volunteer movement in Singapore. The Centre will work with volunteer activists to involve more Singaporeans in community and social service, and enable our citizens to play a more direct role in serving the public through a bottom-up process.”
“My Ministry is fully committed to this philosophy and vision. Second, we must anticipate and address the challenges of our ageing population. And third, we must strengthen the social service sector as part of the national effort to build a dynamic and vibrant people sector. MCD's Commitment to S21 The five Key Ideas developed by the Singapore 21 Committee will give my Ministry fresh impetus in these three areas of focus. Collectively, the five Ideas articulate a concrete yet robust vision of the kind of society that our policies must strive to realise. Indeed, many of my Ministry's core functions are aligned with what S21 seeks to achieve. Our rehabilitation programmes for juvenile offenders, the protection we give to victims of family violence, and the assistance we provide to the less able and less fortunate members of society, all support the idea that Every Singaporean Matters. The basis for this assistance has been that everyone deserves a second chance and should be helped to become a responsible citizen, contributing to our nation. The guiding philosophy remains that people should be helped to help themselves. Equally important, MCD has, over the years, forged a close partnership with voluntary welfare organisations, self-help groups, religious organisations and other civic groups that provide social services. Many are involved in the running of welfare homes, halfway houses, family service centres, day care centres for the young and old, and other social service facilities. They serve their fellow Singaporeans tirelessly and selflessly, regardless of race, language or religion.”
“In order to make Singapore the home where the family, community and societal bonds are meaningful to these people and to encourage them wherever they are to have the heartbeat of Singapore, we have to allow for greater civic and community participation at all levels. The spirit of inclusiveness and consensus building that created this report has to be extended to those living abroad. In time we may even consider reviewing our immigration policy to allow Singaporeans who had previously left to return home, as they may then identify and want to contribute to Singapore's continued success. Sir, I fully support the recommendations of this Report. However, I am somewhat concerned that there is a lack of concrete implementation strategies. Although there is argument that society will only move as fast as it is ready to do so, I believe that the Government's role to nurture society in the right direction is significant. In this respect, I therefore recommend that the Government consider commissioning a full review of how the recommendations of this Report can be adopted and implemented by the civil service and the many Government agencies and the Community Development Councils as well as through the private sector. This will ensure that we can put our first foot forward in the door towards the success of Singapore 21 when the new millennium starts. The Minister for Community Development (Mr Abdullah Tarmugi): Mr Speaker, Sir, at the Committee of Supply debate earlier this year, I had outlined to Members of the House three developmental thrusts that my Ministry would pursue to build social capital for the future. To recap, we will intensify efforts to build strong and stable families. The S21 reaffirms our belief that the family is a fundamental building block of our society.”
“It is therefore timely to encourage Singaporeans, as reflected in the Report, to take responsibility and pride for their lives and their community. It is also worthwhile to stress and encourage a culture that allows for greater risk taking. Instead of just recommending that society gives second chances, and be more tolerant of failure, I believe that the Government could also play a greater role than merely encouraging Singaporeans to pursue alternative interests in the arts or sports. The Government and the civil service could give greater recognition for mature degrees when considering employment, for example, and also consider revising bankruptcy laws to make it easier for an individual to turn failure into a success. As an example, an entrepreneur in Silicon Valley who has had many failures is not viewed as a failure but indeed as a very experienced person, as he has had accumulated a wealth of failures and experience. In addition, to encourage entrepreneurship in Singapore, the Government could also review the prohibition of registering offices or businesses in HDB dwellings, so as to allow for wider proliferation of KBE business activities, and greater opportunities for families to interact. Sir, in the Singapore of the 21st century, we can easily envisage that a large proportion of our citizens would be living abroad at any one time. They could be away on business or posted overseas as our companies regionalise or even globalise. They could be pursuing academic studies or even be on holiday abroad. They could have retired and choose to reside overseas. Singaporeans would be highly mobile in the next century.”
“This would also serve to encourage employers in the private sector to follow suit and to change their reward and remuneration system to one of efficiency and productivity, as opposed to time spent in the office, as is currently the arrangement. More flexible working hours or a 5-day work week has not impeded the productivity of USA, for example, which is currently the most productive nation in the world. It has served well to present the individuals there the opportunities to spend more time pursuing civic and community activities, engage in KBE activities through continuing education, and develop interest in arts and culture. More importantly, for Singapore in the next century, it would allow more opportunity for Singaporeans to spend time with their family such as for leisure pursuits to build up intergenerational bonds. I would like to suggest that although this concept of a 5-day work week may be radical to Singapore, it would tie in and allow for the gradual achievement of the goals in the S21 Report, which as a package involves a series of changes in mindset, personal evaluation and lifestyles. Sir, I am conscious of the fact that Singaporeans have been conditioned for many years to think of success in economic and material terms, and also to look to the Government to solve most of their problems. This has led to a curious paradox that there is a "dependency effect" where the general population generally expects the Government to step in to solve problems at both the personal and the social levels. I am certain that every Member of this House would have encountered this in their experience interacting with residents. And it is ironic that at the same time, these residents also complain that the Government is too nannying and interventionist.”
“We are extending it to other enviable pursuits like job satisfaction, the arts, culture and community activities. We are also encouraging Singaporeans to embrace the knowledge-based economy (KBE), and to engage in life-long learning, develop an interest and participate in civic activities. Sir, in the midst of all these, it is timely to remind ourselves that we have to continue to uphold the pre-eminence of the role of Asian family values, even as we move towards a radical transformation of our societal values in future. Positive values such as filial piety, respect for our elders, ethics, honesty, integrity and nuclear families should continue to play a significant role in our lifestyles in the next millennium. The basic building block of our society has to continue to be the family and not the individual. The individual can grow and express himself in the KBE environment, but only as far as the bonds of family, the community and the nation remain intact. I believe that all the goals that form part of the S21 Report are necessary for our future success in the next millennium. My question is: is what we have laid out in the Report enough to enshrine the family as the fundamental unit of our society and secure the primacy of our family based values? Indeed, one of the recommendations in the Report, that the Government could encourage flexible work arrangements, such as part-time work, working from the home and job sharing deserve more emphasis. As the biggest employer in Singapore, perhaps the Government should lead the way. I would like to suggest that the Government consider introducing flexible work hours, or even a 5-day work week in certain non-critical public services in the next millennium.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I shall focus my speech on national issues and stay away from municipal issues! Sir, I rise to support the Committee's efforts in charting a new paradigm - to secure Singapore's success in the 21st century. In particular, I am happy to note that there has been an extensive consultation process across a wide range of individuals and institutions. Indeed, this goes to strengthen a key element of our success thus far, and that is consensus building. It is important as we move into the information age in the new millennium, that we not only continue but also widen our net for feedback gathering in this spirit of consensus building. This will ensure that Singaporeans can both feel and play a direct part in the future of our country. It makes Singaporeans responsible for their destiny, and strengthens our cohesiveness and unity as a nation. It is indeed heartening to note that the S21 Committee has continued to stress the value of strong families as foundations for our future success. This has been the hallmark and underlying strength of our society since independence. With the rapid progress and modernization permeating through our society today, it is critical that the family should continue to be a source of strength, and that we do not go down the path of unbridled individualism leading to social alienation and dislocation of individuals, as is happening in other countries. There remains a source of concern that the rapid and fast-changing Singapore society today, with its many stresses and burdens on the individual, has led to fragmentation of the family unit over the years. Now, we are striving to refocus the definition of success in terms of economic well-being and material wealth.”
“However, we have to consider, Sir, at what cost, especially in the light of the current economic difficulties faced by motorists and businesses. Sir, the CTE is inevitably a crucial part of our road system and we should perhaps avoid the regressive use of price as the only consideration. Any further hike in ERP charges along the CTE could lead to increased cost burden to our motorists and businesses if there are no better alternatives or transport options. I think we could afford some degree of tolerance for some form of congestion along the CTE until a better alternative transport system is made available. I therefore urge the Minister to go slow on increasing the ERP charges along the CTE.”
“Sir, I would like to reiterate my support for the COE and the ERP. Both measures are necessary to control our vehicle population and restrain road usage in the long term. Indeed with the ERP, motorists are now more careful in planning their roads. Some have even shifted to taking MRT and buses. Sir, I would like to raise two concerns by Singaporeans arising from the ERP. The first concern relates to the loss in revenue to the Government as a result of the ERP. It was reported recently in the local press that the Government road revenue actually dropped to $5.8 million a month on the average under the ERP system as compared to a revenue of $9.3 million per month under the ALS system. Some motorists are of the opinion, Sir, that because of this drop in revenue, the LTA may have to quickly adjust the ERP charges upwards as well as install more gantries to collect more revenue. In doing so, the Government will recover the shortfall in road revenue. I would like the Minister's clarifications on this observation and reassure the House that the ERP exercise is not driven by revenue. The second concern, Sir, relates to the congestion on the CTE despite the introduction of ERP there. There has been a lot of concern from the public that one of the reasons why pricing on the CTE has not had a significant impact in reducing congestion is mainly due to the lack of a better alternative or alternatives. I believe the North-East MRT Line when completed will present a fairly good alternative, but that is some time away. In the meantime, Sir, demand for use of the CTE appears to be very price inelastic. Sure, at each level of price increase, some motorists would be priced out.”
“Therefore, Sir, I would strongly recommend that along with greater transparency and open bidding, we also try out the pay-as-you-bid system. This would ensure responsible bidding and it would not result in artificially raising the average price through the possible anomalies highlighted above, benefiting all users and consumers in the long run. With a combination of open bidding and pay-as-you-bid system, it is unlikely that the "winner's curse" situation, as argued by the Committee, would result, as consumers would be making bids responsibly based on up-to-date information, and can best reflect their own interest and demand. Sir, neither system is without its merits and flaws. I would like to strongly recommend to the Minister that we use the proposed refinements of the categories to test the pay-as-you-bid system which has a lot of support from the public. For a start, we can continue with the status quo arrangement for the 1,600 cc and below category. We can also take up the Committee's recommendations for open bidding to be experimented with the Open Category. My proposal is that we use the same period in assessing the open bidding system for the Open Category to test the pay-as-you-bid system for the 1,600 cc and above category. This will ensure that we can have a gradual approach to change while evaluating all three systems together, in order to best decide once and for all which is the best system for us. Let us try out the three systems simultaneously among the three categories of vehicles and review them, perhaps, in a year's time, to decide which is an ideal system for us. I hope the Minister will take up these suggestions.”
“Consumers who have no choice but to purchase less powerful cars unfortunately end up paying more for their COEs, compared to consumers who are able to afford the larger cars. I believe the proposal to streamline the categories into two will in part address this anomaly and flatten the spread across the categories, not to mention the freak result of a $50 COE. However, I would like to raise a matter of serious concern - the underlying assumptions of open bidding. Firstly, consumers are rational. We assume that they can make informed decisions that best reflect their self-interest. Secondly, the transparency of the system in itself would cancel out possible abuses since the free market competition will set the price. Sir, the failure of any or both of these conditions may disadvantage the majority of Singaporean car owners. It is inevitable that there would be asymmetry in information accessed by both the laymen and the specialists in the motor trade. If buyers are allowed to bid and withdraw at will, which may happen in an open bidding system, there could be manipulation of prices by concerted parties who may have an interest in maintaining vehicle price at a particular level. Further, Sir, the kiasu mentality of Singaporeans could result in extensive tendering, leading to misallocation of resources. Since, in order to ensure that one gets the COE, it is more likely that competitive bidding may lead to higher prices, which may not necessarily reflect an efficient market pricing for this reason, as well as the potential manipulation of prices by interested parties. This is a matter of serious concern to many Singaporeans who have voiced objection to the open bidding system, considering the difficult economic period that we are all going through.”
“Sir, there has understandably been much concern and anticipation over the proposed changes to the COE and the Vehicle Quota System. In general, I am supportive of the recommendations made by the GPC Committee on revising the Vehicle Quota System. However, I have my reservations regarding the proposed open bidding system. The present Vehicle Quota System is not perfect. We all know that. However, there are merits to the system, and it has served our purposes very well all these years. The present system of limiting vehicle growth through a quota system should stay. However, refinement or fine-tuning may be necessary. Changes towards more transparency, as recommended by the Committee, whilst beneficial may impact greatly upon existing users and consumers. Hence, I believe the Committee's recommendation of progressive change by trying out the open bidding system with only one category of vehicles at the moment is useful, as it allows consumers and participants in the car market to adjust progressively towards a new system, if it works. This also allows for refinement to the system should open bidding for the open category be subject to abuse and manipulation later on. Sir, besides the principles of transparency and gradual change, I am pleased to note that the Committee is also recommending collapsing the two categories down to two broad ones. This is sensible in my mind, as congestion costs for vehicles are not directly correlated with the size of engine capacities for cars. There had been occasions in the past where due to affordability of the smaller capacity vehicle owners, COEs for these smaller categories were higher than those for larger categories.”
“It was a lively debate. I have one cut which I have no chance to talk. I will raise it as a Question for Oral Answer at a subsequent sitting. With that, I withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $195,007,210 for Head R ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $174,697,300 for Head R ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Thereupon Mr Deputy Speaker left the Chair of the Committee and took the Chair of the House. BG George Yong-Boon Yeo: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made further progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 1999/2000, and ask leave to sit again on Monday, 15th March, 1999.”
“I would venture to suggest that this body comes under the purview of MITA, the Ministry in charge of information. I would like the Minister's comment on this.”
“Sir, the importance of Internet has been recognised by the Government for some time now. And I am proud to say that Singapore is widely recognised by the international community as being at the forefront of developing an intelligent island, with the various initiatives such as Singapore One project. Sir, our current approach to tackling the Internet problem is a multi-agency one. We have progressed thus far with various initiatives by the universities to promote the teaching and usage of Internet, Ministry of Education on the teaching of Internet among students in schools, EDB working with business community to promote e-commerce and to develop web-related businesses, NCB on developing an Internet culture, and the Singapore Broadcasting Authority on the regulation of Internet, and so on. Like it or not, Internet has become part and parcel of our life, be it at work, at home, or in dealing with the Government. This current multi-agency approach to tackling the Internet problem may not be a good one. I feel a need for an overall body to coordinate the regulation, promotion, development, teaching and the usage of Internet in Singapore. This will help ensure that our limited resources are not duplicated and that there is a more coordinated approach to achieve Internet development, instead of just leaving it to individual agencies to chart up individual road maps which may not have the same benefits as a more systematic coordinated plan in place for the whole country. Sir, I am glad that the Minister for Finance had two days ago announced the possibility of forming an IT coordinating body comprising NCB, TAS and SBA. I would like to propose that this body take on the task of promoting, regulating and developing the Internet industry.”
“Sir, following calls by Members of this House in the past to develop the film industry in Singapore, the Government last year set up the Singapore Film Commission. I understand the Commission's task is to nurture, support and promote Singapore talent in film-making, the production of Singapore movies and films and the development of our film industry in Singapore. With the recent success of locally produced movies like Liang Po Po, Money No Enough and Forever Fever, the demand for local movies has increased markedly. I think we should now accelerate and step up the development of our local movie and film industry. I therefore wish to ask the Minister what plans the Singapore Film Commission has to meet its challenges ahead and how soon can our local movies reach a standard comparable to the better ones in Hong Kong, Taiwan and even the PRC.”
“Sir, there has been some talk or opinion that the next millennium in the 21st century will start only in the year 2001, and not the year 2000. May I ask the Minister what is the official view on this, and what is the basis for this view? I understand that MITA is coordinating the millennium celebration this year to try to bring Singaporeans together to celebrate this occasion to usher in the new millennium. May I ask the Minister to unveil the celebration plan to this House, and also let the House know what amount of money is estimated to be spent on these celebrations? What proportion will come from the Government coffer? On the next subject matter on heritage projects, I do not propose to speak, as I understand Mr Hawazi Daipi will be speaking on this.”
“I would therefore like to ask the Minister whether he would convince the Ministry of Finance to provide more grants through the NAC to assist these arts groups. Unless this is done soon, some of our arts groups may not survive this recession, and many may not see daylight when the economy recovers. Sir, the NAC in the last 1-2 years has been promoting our arts abroad, and this is also a wise move. This includes promoting Singapore's arts and artists at international markets to secure performance and exhibitions. I wish to ask the Minister what is the objective of regionalising our arts, and how successful have they been so far.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head R of the Main Estimates be reduced by $100. Sir, thanks to the National Arts Council (NAC), we have been fairly successful in promoting the arts, and bringing culture to the mainstream, as part of our greater efforts to develop a more gracious society. The NAC has recently unveiled a master plan for an intensive Arts Outreach Programme which aims at making the arts accessible to all Singaporeans. It will try to bring music, dance and theatre performances to HDB new towns, HDB town centres, MRT stations and shopping centres. It is indeed a good move. Thanks also to Shell, the sponsor, for this new Arts Outreach Programme for this year, 1999, without which the arts would not be able to reach our HDB heartland. At the same time, Sir, the NAC has called for more private sector companies to come forward to sponsor and to help bring the arts to the doorstep of every Singaporean. My concern is that our arts groups have been affected by the economic slowdown. The amount of sponsorship has not been as forthcoming as before, as many companies have been affected by the recession. And unless the Government comes in to help fund the arts groups during this economic slowdown to make up for the shortfall in sponsorship, I am afraid some of our arts programmes may suffer. Sir, the operating grant given to the NAC in this year's budget is $16.3 million, and this amount shows a decrease of 7.2% over last year. The decrease is attributed mainly to a lower EOM provision because of a cut in employer's CPF contributions. The savings in manpower costs here could have been given to our arts groups by way of greater grants to the NAC to enable them to develop their talents and to carry out their activities.”
“When the studio apartments for the elderly project was announced, my constituency in Bedok North, East Coast GRC, was selected as part of the pilot project. As Mr Lew has said, the project was successfully launched in the later part of 1997 and the response was good. Many of the senior citizens in my ward applied to purchase the apartment. The scheme was attractive as they could sell their existing 3- or 4-room HDB flats and buy these studio apartments, and yet pocket the difference in price as cash to see them through their remaining years of life. Depending on the size of these studio apartments, the prices range from about $60,000 to $85,000. However, Sir, since the launch of this project some 16 months ago, the prices of their existing HDB homes had fallen by some 20% to 30%. Many of them now realise that they have less cash available to see them through their remaining years in life, if they participate in the scheme. Many of the senior citizens have therefore approached me to appeal to the HDB to lower the prices for the studio apartments. I am therefore seeking the Minister's approval to review the scheme and to lower the prices for these studio apartments on the grounds that, through no fault of their own, these senior citizens will now have substantially less cash to see them through their life. Unless the prices of these studio apartments are lowered by some 20% to 30%, many of these senior citizens may consider pulling out of the scheme. I therefore urge the Minister to consider their request and ensure that the success of the studio apartments for the elderly scheme stays.”
“Would the Minister consider requests by CCCs or constituencies inviting the Ministry of the Environment to go in to review the food establishment as and when necessary? Encik Sidek bin Saniff: You are not talking about one outlet. You are talking about the whole area or centre. We may consider the request. BILL INTRODUCED CRIMINAL LAW (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS) (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act (Chapter 67 of the 1998 Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Wong Kan Seng); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE OF SINGAPORE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 1999 TO 31ST MARCH, 2000 Order read for consideration in Committee of Supply [2nd Allotted Day]. [Mr Speaker in the Chair] Head N (cont.) - Resumption of Debate on Question [10th March, 1999], "That the total sum to be allocated for Head N of the Main Estimates be reduced by $100." - [Mr Shriniwas Rai]. Question again proposed.”
“Would the Senior Minister of State step up the frequency of review to, say, twice a year in order to uphold the standard of hygiene?”
“I think the Senior Minister of State has not answered my second question. I have one other supplementary question and, that is, whether the location of the food establishment is one of the criteria.”
“Sir, I wish to ask the Senior Minister of State whether he will tell the House the criteria for the assessment and how frequent is the assessment made and whether MOE can step up its frequency of review and assessment of the food establishments.”
“I wish to ask the Minister when will this study be completed. He mentioned "over the next few months".”
“To what extent are gang fights as a consequence of the current economic conditions? Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, gang fights take place not purely because of economic conditions. Like I said, the majority of these are street gang type members. So they can fight out of staring incidents, sometimes keeping to turf, and sometimes because of disagreements over certain matters. So it is not essentially linked to the economic situation.”
“Sir, to what extent are these gang fights influenced by the presence of foreigners and also due to the current economic recession? Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, Police has been very careful in keeping out foreign triads. They will continue to do this.”
“I must quickly add here that judging from the increase of letters to the Editor over the past few years, Straits Times had indeed published many "alternative" views from Singaporeans on a whole range of Government policies. There were angry protests and clear rebuttals to public policies; the Chinatown theme destination was one recent example. I applaud the Straits Times for printing the comments from the critics and the public for undertaking the initiative to write in and make their views known. For me, such effort reflects a growing independent thinking among Singaporeans who want more say in national policies. And I urge all newspapers to continue to give more space to Singaporeans to capture their different opinion pieces. In conclusion, I do not support the motion because it is framed within unclear terms of reference and postulates a theoretical situation which has not occurred. But I do wish that a bona fide newspaper company will step forward to take up the challenge to compete with SPH. I hope the Government will grant it a licence to operate as a business; then we should let Singaporeans, as intelligent readers, decide if it can survive and flourish. If this happens, Singaporeans will be all the better prepared in the new millennium to benefit from, rather than be overwhelmed by, the intense competition of ideas arising from the information explosion from the Internet.”
“And even the renowned Asian Wall Street Journal lost money for over 10 years before it made any profit. So, if a bona fide application to start a newspaper was made and denied, then perhaps Mr Jeyaretnam should ask for a reason. Otherwise, we cannot expect the Government to give assurances for theoretical issues. There will be no end to the number and types of assurances which it will be asked to make. Having said that, I do believe in competition - between companies, and certainly between newspapers. Competition already exists for the private sector, and is being introduced for state-owned monopolies. GLCs which had natural or quasi-monopolies are also being encouraged to face competition. In so far as SPH is a GLC, I believe it is healthy for it to face competition, particularly since it has pretty much cornered the newspaper business in Singapore. As a consumer, I would certainly welcome a competitor to start another daily, but this is not for us in this House nor the Government to mandate. I would only hope that if a serious-minded competitor wishes to challenge the Straits Times, the Government will not stand in the way. So much for business competition. I believe that there is another issue here which should be addressed, ie, the competition for ideas. Learning to evaluate competing ideas helps to nurture in our young the attributes of critical, independent and analytical thinking which will be the basis for a knowledge-based economy. If we truly wish to be an open society, capable of making sound judgments by assessing a situation from different angles and discerning the substantive from the fluff, then we must encourage an environment which enables a competition for ideas. For these reasons, I would encourage a competitor to the Straits Times.”
“With a population of only three million people and about 700,000-800,000 households in Singapore and for reasons of economies of scale, it makes more business sense for consolidation of the newspaper industry, as there is not enough advertising revenue or readership in Singapore to make it viable for an alternative newspaper company to survive financially on its own. There is currently sufficient competition already as we can access the major newspapers and publications from all over the world. In conclusion, Sir, I would suggest to Mr Jeyaretnam that it is simply a matter of financial economics that has led to the present status quo and not, as he has implied, a result of Government controls and pressure. Sir, I urge the House to reject the motion. Mdm Claire Chiang See Ngoh: Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity. Sir, the motion calls for the Government to give an assurance about granting a newspaper licence to any company applying for one. I believe, like Mr Chew, this is not necessary. My understanding is that there have been no applications in recent years for any newspaper licence. The last time an application was made was in April 1988 when the Straits Times Press Ltd applied for and was issued a permit to publish the New Paper. The difficulty in sustaining another daily publication as a viable business is perhaps the disincentive against another daily newspaper being established and not because the Government is not willing to grant the licence. Asian cities do not find it easy to support two English language daily papers. The No. 2 daily newspaper is only marginally profitable. Examples are the Nation in Bangkok and the Hong Kong Standard.”
“Singapore has successfully transformed itself today into a regional media hub where CNBC, ESPN, MTV, Discovery channel and many other international broadcasters have set up bases here. Access to information will be further enhanced when Singapore One and CableVision are transmitted live into the majority of homes in Singapore by the end of this year. These organisations are most sensitive to Government controls and they will not thrive in a closed and controlled society. If this happens, they will be the first to flee from it. As has already been pointed out, I think this motion is nonsensical. There is no need for such a motion as there is no specification by the Government that newspapers are only allowed to be printed by Singapore Press Holdings. Indeed, under the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act, which Mr Jeyaretnam has just described, anyone can set up a newspaper company in Singapore, provided they meet the shareholding criteria. They must have two classes of shares, management and ordinary shares, and management shares have to be in the hands of Singaporeans or organizations approved by the Government. Any shareholder cannot hold more than 3% of the shares. An additional criterion is that the directors of this newspaper company must all be Singaporeans. If indeed Mr Jeyaretnam can find enough Singaporeans to meet these criteria, he can set up a newspaper. Sir, I have been involved in the print media for many years and I believe that the print media has consolidated throughout the years due to pure economic fundamentals.”
“This does not, however, prevent anyone else from publishing another newspaper here, provided they are conscious of their social responsibilities. A free press is not an end in itself, and journalists here are fully aware of the responsibilities that come with this freedom. In order to stay relevant and respected, our local press has thus far acted in a most responsible manner in reporting the facts as our journalists are all fully aware of the additional role they play in nation building, and they are not under Government control or pressure, as implied by the motion. Sir, there are already many alternative means to convey information in this age where technology has enabled, through the Internet, for instance, almost instantaneous transmission of news. Currently, quite contrary to what Mr Jeyaretnam has said, Singaporeans have the freedom to access the Internet, have access to cable TV and have access to foreign newspapers and magazines, to obtain, to compare and to analyse information in order to make rational informed choices. Our track record underlines the openness of our news media. Indeed, the problem today is not whether we should have another newspaper. The problem is that Singaporeans have too many choices to choose now, too many choices to access information and news, given the limited free time that they have after minusing hours for working, sleeping, resting and recreation. Singaporeans are increasingly more and more selective in the news that they read. Sir, the existence of a vibrant and active media hub in Singapore is evident that the assumptions of Mr Jeyaretnam's motion cannot be true.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to oppose the motion. I believe, essentially, the motion is flawed for a number of reasons. To begin with, I would like to stress that whilst there exist certain regulatory controls on the print media in Singapore, there is no prohibition for any company independent of the Singapore Press Holdings to apply for a licence and to publish an alternative newspaper in Singapore if they meet the conditions stated in the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act. We do not have to go too far back in our short history to remember that there had existed a number of alternative newspapers here, not run under the ambit of the Singapore Press Holdings, right up to the 1980s. And through natural attrition and consolidation in the newspaper industry, the industry has evolved to what it is today. Sir, I believe that the Government does not dictate nor does it have any direct influence on the media and the newspapers here. What minimalist control the Government has over licensing, for instance, is necessary to safeguard against the potential rampant distortion of facts that may permeate and undermine the fragile social fabric of our society. Issues like religious and ethnic harmony have to be dealt with very carefully in order to avoid the conflicts evident in a close neighbour of ours like Indonesia where the mass proliferation of news and the print media following the change in the President last year has simply led to more confusion than illumination of the truth. And this has contributed in part to much civil disharmony, religious and racial conflicts today. Here, in Singapore, we cannot afford to take such risks. Hence, we require newspapers and other print media to be licensed.”
“My question to the Government is that figures notwithstanding, whether the Government will also consider pump priming the economy at the moment.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I compliment the DPM for the cost reduction package. I want to seek one clarification. It appears from the Table, that has just been circulated, that Government will incur a saving of about $7.5 billion in wage cost, and Government will forgo a revenue of about $3 billion. If my interpretation of this Table is correct, there is a net saving of $4 billion to the Government. There is a net saving of $7.5 billion in labour costs to the Government. BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Speaker, Sir, not all the savings in labour costs accrue to the Government. Many employers are not the Government, contrary to popular perception. And I do not think that they are going to pay the Government what they save. So most of the $7.5 billion accrues not to the Government. The Government will be substantially out of pocket as a result of this. And I have said, we are expecting a deficit of 3% to 4% of GDP next year.”
“We should continue to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Finally, Sir, not every country can have the foresight and the cohesiveness to be able to implement a comprehensive cost cutting programme that involves $10 billion in savings to businesses with the majority of 70% coming from wage-related costs. I am proud that we are going forward in biting the bullet upfront, so as to secure our long term economic interests. Singaporeans have shown that they have the unity and the pragmatism in banding together in the past to ride out storms in the global economy. I have confidence that Singaporeans will have this unity and the pragmatism today to overcome this storm. We have to continue to reinforce our qualitative competitive strengths and distinguish ourselves with our honesty, integrity, stability, unity and resolve, whilst upgrading our efficiency and managing costs. I am confident that with this ambitious plan at hand, we can emerge leaner, stronger and more cohesive as a workforce, as a people and as a nation to face the challenges in the next millennium.”
“It does not mean that it will get us out of the current recession immediately. There are still too many variables outside our control. Prospects for next year remain uncertain. I would like to paint an extremely gloomy but still probable scenario, and that is the devaluation of the Chinese renminbi coupled by failures to revive the Japanese economy and a recession in Latin America and its consequential impact on Europe and the United States. The Chinese economy is undergoing severe stresses since the onset of the economic crisis. Indeed, the Chinese have undershot their growth target of 8% for the first nine months of this year, and even the 7.2% GDP growth figure is estimated to be an overstatement of the real economy which is plagued by weak financial institutions and huge excess capacity. The financial crisis that is now destabilising Japan and Latin America may knock on the doors of Europe and the United States, plunge the world economy into a severe recession, precipitated by a devaluation of the Chinese renminbi next year. In this scenario, Sir, it would appear that the direct cost cuts recommended by the CSC may not be enough to offset the adverse effects of another round of currency devaluations by our competitors. Overnight, the proposed 15% cost cuts may be lost in the midst of such a scenario, further dragging down our economy. If such a scenario occurs, we may have to further review and cut our costs. Sir, I do not mean to be unduly pessimistic or gloomy. The scenario I have just painted appears a likely one, as recent as two to three months ago. But events that have occurred recently have changed the scenario a bit and the outlook today looks less pessimistic. It is still not optimistic. But we should not be complacent.”
“I therefore urge the Government, as we implement the cost cutting exercise, to consider and implement corresponding measures that may prevent a severe recession that would result if consumption falls. We should have adequate additional, either on-budget or off-budget, measures to boost confidence and to avoid by default a deflationary spiral in asset values and domestic business activities, as Singaporeans in the next few months tighten their belts whether out of sheer need or kiasuness. The savings that the Government has from a reduction in the wage bill for the public sector should be passed on to generate economic activities and to boost domestic demand. As our workers accept the bold step of wage cuts, the Government could equally be bold in cutting costs to the individuals as well, such as lower transportation costs, lower petrol taxes, higher income tax rebates, amongst others. Similarly, in line with the call by the Feedback Unit, I would like to urge that private sector companies, corporations and employers pass whatever savings they have arising from wage cuts to consumers by way of lower prices of their goods and services. Here, I would like to commend the big local financial institutions in taking the lead by rescheduling mortgage loans and lowering interest costs and the NTUC Fairprice by lowering prices of essential food items. More corporate bodies should follow the example. This is necessary so that the real impact of wage cuts can be mitigated, and we can move down to a more cost competitive economic structure without necessitating a real decline in disposable income and threatening a deflationary spiral. Sir, this Report has given us directions to remain competitive, or to be more competitive in the next millennium. But we must not be complacent.”
“Sir, we should shift from a more materialistic evaluation of work to a standard where the pursuit of unconventional careers, new business, or even what is perceived to be a less than desirable job choice, becomes acceptable and even commendable in our society. We should focus not just only on earning a good income but on the right job match and an improvement in the overall quality of life. The Singaporean worker has to change his attitude from being a functionary in the system for a fixed salary, to one that genuinely takes an interest and pride in the work he produces. This has an important bearing on labour productivity and will enable the Singapore worker to gain a significant competitive edge, which wage cuts and skills upgrading alone cannot address completely. We need to emphasise this qualitative aspect that is fundamental to our competitiveness as well. And it is for this reason that I strongly support the call for employees to be treated as stakeholders of companies and for the employee share option scheme to be liberalised to encourage more Singaporeans to be shareholders of the companies in which they work. Sir, I would like to caution that in our haste to cut costs, we have to also consider adequate compensating factors to offset the corresponding declines in disposable income. This is to avoid a self-fulfilling deepening of the economic downturn as consumption shrinks, affecting our domestic economic activities and asset values, as families adjust to wage cuts. The perils of deflation are quite evident in the Japanese economy, for instance, where the government has had to embark on radical steps to stimulate consumption after a prolonged stagnation, as even negative real interest rates failed to generate demand.”
“Sir, unique to our success is the close cooperation between our unions, the employers and the Government which is a remarkable competitive strength and advantage. In the next millennium, we must strive to further strengthen this tripartite relationship which has presented Singapore as a stable, pragmatic country with an efficient workforce to attract global MNCs and investors. Sir, I would like to touch on some of the qualitative competitive aspects of our workforce. We have mainly been looking at costs and skills, which I consider to be hardware items. Critical to a competitive workforce are the software items as well. We should take the opportunity in this downturn to address the work attitude of Singaporeans which is critical for us to succeed in the future. It is high time that we considered reducing our dependence on foreign labour, as in reality not all Singaporeans will be able to climb the skill ladder. Some foreign workers, particularly unskilled ones, contribute to numerous social problems. It is therefore in our interest to encourage more and more Singaporeans to undertake jobs that are shunned by the majority of Singaporeans, as being "low-class" jobs. Jobs like maids, conservancy cleaners, construction workers, etc. We must change the work attitude of Singaporeans to take on these jobs as we have to cater to those workers in the 40-60 age group who simply cannot be upgraded as they have less than basic education. There are other aspects in our workforce which can be improved. Singaporeans have to be nurtured to be more tolerant of failure and be less risk averse. The ability to accept failure and take risks is critical in forming our attitudes in society towards the perception of jobs and towards alternative careers.”
“This year, we have been confronted with the images of rioting, mass rapes, destruction of property, with a disturbing racially motivated slant to violence amongst our neighbours. Sunday's religious clashes in Jakarta serve as a grim reminder. These are some of the results of endemic corruption which have accentuated inequality and poverty, and precipitated the social and political instability that is plaguing many countries now. The results are a loss of life and the destruction to property, elimination of decades of economic growth and wealth creation. I see it therefore necessary that in this exercise, we should remind ourselves of the need for political stability, non-corrupt government, racial and religious harmony and social cohesion. We cannot afford to be complacent. Indeed, a pre-requisite to our economic achievements in the future must be the need to strengthen these institutions institutions that are fundamental to these intangible qualities in our effort to make Singapore more competitive and attractive to investors. These include, amongst others, our transparent and efficient legal and political system, a pro-business environment led by Government agencies like the EDB, and our meritocracy, compared with corruption, cronyism and nepotism which characterise some of our competitors. The development and evolution of intermediate civil institutions like the Community Development Councils (CDCs) and more public forum such as the Singapore 21 Committee and other feedback mechanisms would also serve to forge unity, nationhood and consensus. This process of consensus and consultation must continue to be a fundamental part of our strategy and policy for the next millennium.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the Report of the Committee on Singapore's Competitiveness. The strategies and policies proposed are timely and much needed as we can now capitalise on our strengths, review our weaknesses so as to ride out the economic storm and emerge leaner, stronger and better positioned to engage the global economy on a higher platform. Sir, it has been argued that the proposed reductions in our costs may not go far enough to offset the impact of currency realignments that have taken place since the onset of the economic crisis. Between June 1997 and November this year, the Singapore Dollar has depreciated by about 15%. This compares with a devaluation of 72% of the Indonesian Rupiah, 36% of the Thai Baht and 35% of the Malaysian Ringgit. It is worthwhile to note that Singapore does not need to close this currency gap completely to remain competitive. We have superior qualitative advantages and strengths that far outweigh the absolute cost differences with our competitors. Indeed, we have just been ranked No. 1 Business City in Asia by Fortune magazine, above Taiwan and Hong Kong and have received consistent top ranking by PERC (Political Economic Risk Consultancy). Hence, in this mammoth exercise to review our competitiveness, we should not only focus on the quantitative aspects. We should also take steps to remind ourselves and reinforce the qualitative aspects that contribute to Singapore's competitiveness. These aspects include the benefits of a stable political environment, non-corrupt government, a positive business climate, excellent infrastructure, highly educated and skilled workforce, conducive industrial relations, racial and religious harmony and social cohesion.”
“HDB also takes into account individual attributes of the flats such as location, proximity to MRT/LRT stations, the view from the flats, and special design features and finishes. New flats tend to have better designs and finishes, and are located in towns with better facilities and infrastructure. HDB does not consider the prices of private residential properties when it sets prices of new HDB flats. However, it does factor in current HDB resale market prices, because resale prices are an indication of how willing and able Singaporeans are to pay for HDB flats. Prices of new HDB flats are below the market values of equivalent flats. At present prices, new HDB flats continue to be heavily subsidized. The overall sales proceeds do not cover their total development costs. The loss incurred by HDB has to be funded by a Government grant.”
“Question No. 1, Sir. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for National Development (Mr Koo Tsai Kee) (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, as at 31st August 1998, there were 108,500 applicants on the waiting list under the Registration for Flat System (RFS). Of these, 42% were first-timers and 58% upgraders. Compared with 145,700 applicants in June 1997, the waiting list has dropped by 26%. HDB reviewed its building programme in August this year. It will build 22,000 flats in non-mature estates in 1999 as the number of new applications has declined in recent months. Together with replacement flats for the Selective En-Bloc Redevelopment Scheme and studio apartments, HDB has planned for a building programme of 28,500 flats for 1999. HDB will continue to monitor the demand and adjust the building programme accordingly. It will also ensure that applicants are invited to book their flats within a reasonable time period. HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD FLATS (Revision of sale price) 2. Mr Ong Kian Min asked the Minister for National Development whether the Housing and Development Board will revise the sale price of new HDB flats in view of (i) the drop in values of resale HDB flats and private properties, and (ii) the present economic conditions, in general. Mr Koo Tsai Kee (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government is committed to provide affordable housing to Singapore citizens, especially first-timers and low-income families, despite the current economic conditions. HDB considers several factors in setting prices of new flats. The main one is affordability. HDB prices new flats such that 90% of Singaporean households can afford at least a 3-room flat, and 70% at least a 4-room flat.”
“Further, whilst the Bill deals extensively with the transfer of business undertakings to DBS, there is no mention in the Bill with regard to the tenure of employment for employees of POSBank save to say that the existing employment contracts would be continuing under the DBS entity. Would the Minister consider it necessary to include provisions in the Bill for POSBank employees in order to safeguard their employment interests in this period of uncertainty, at least for a minimum period of one year, ie, would the Minister ensure that these POSB employees would not be retrenched for at least a period of one year following the merger of the two banks? Finally, the Minister has said that POSBank was offered only to DBS as the latter bank was the natural choice because of a common denominator - Government ownership. May I suggest that the Minister give a full explanation on this, because the concern of the public, the citizens at large, is that the Government could have obtained a higher price for POSBank through a more transparent and open tender system, and this will benefit the majority of the taxpayers. Would the Minister shed more light on this?”
“Most of the public concerns are with regard to the possible rise in the cost of servicing their Credit POSB mortgages. I am appreciative that the Government has mandated DBS to start re-pricing the mortgage rates to market levels only from the end of 1999 onwards over the next three years, as the Minister has explained. Effectively, this allows for a four-year transition period and presumably the Minister is assuming that economic recovery will happen, perhaps in the Year 2000, for this transition period to take place. By removing subsidies across all levels and benefiting the majority of POSBank depositors, the Government has indeed been very astute in nipping a potential problem in the bud. This could ensure that our financial system remains strong, our banks remain healthy and we can thus avoid the pitfalls of potential bank failures that are dragging down some of the economies in the region. However, given that there is no clear end to the current economic crisis, I want to ask the Minister whether it would be possible to have perhaps a caveat or provision put in place. That caveat or provision is that the present four-year transition period will hold, subject to a review at the end of 1999 whereupon, if the economic crisis worsens or deepens, and if economic recovery is further delayed, then extend the transition period accordingly, beyond four years, maybe five, six, seven or eight years. I believe this would alleviate some of the present concerns of the public over the commercialisation of POSBank as it would be a clear indication that the Government is prepared to be flexible should circumstances require.”
“Sir, I rise to support the Bill. I am pleased that, despite the trying times that our economy is going through, the Government has the foresight and determination to ensure that Singapore comes out of this crisis stronger and better able to meet the challenges of the changing world. The commercialisation of POSBank is timely as it forces our GLCs and our banking system to be more efficient, enabling the domestic market to employ capital more effectively so as to compete on the same footing as the larger players in the global market. We cannot afford to allow subsidies in the cost of capital to distort investment decisions of our GLCs or even purchase considerations of individuals financing their homes. Our GLCs would have to be able to make commercial decisions based on market realities so as to realise their full potential and not be molly-coddled by easy access to cheap funds. Similarly, cheaper access to credit from Credit POSB could have contributed to the present housing market over-shooting in the mid-1990s with the resultant effect being a drag on the economy and on the individuals. In specific, Sir, the resultant DBS-POSBank entity would have the capacity to undertake larger projects as Asia rebuilds itself and serves as a spur to encourage other Singapore banks to consolidate in line with the global trends in the financial industry. It is indeed critical that for Singapore to be a major financial centre, we should have the infrastructure in place and the underlying efficiency in our domestic banks and the capital markets to cater for this development. The sale of POSBank to DBS would serve as a catalyst and as a spring board for faster progress in these fields. There has been some disquiet over the specifics relating to the sale of POSBank to DBS.”
“Secondly, Sir, I believe there must be social consensus all round, among parents, teachers and employers, that indeed the new admission criterion is in the interest of all, particularly in producing graduates who should be more forward-looking and who have to compete with talents all over the world as they venture out to the region to seek opportunities in line with our move towards regionalisation and globalisation. To do this successfully, and to gain acceptance, we must also educate and prepare our parents, our teachers and our employers, on this move. And I believe that we should start now and not wait till the year 2001. The Government therefore should look into implementing changes to our education system and employment scene to facilitate this process of acceptance and social consensus. Finally, Sir, in establishing new criteria for admission into our universities, inevitably we have to learn from the experience of more well-known and established universities world-wide. By all means, learn from the others, but I would caution against the wholesale adoption of a particular model, whether it is based on the US, UK, Australian or Japanese model. May I therefore suggest that the Ministry look into the various models and adopt whatever is relevant to our needs. At the end of the day, Sir, we must develop our own admission criteria, given the unique nature of Singapore, with its constraints and limited manpower. Sir, I urge the Ministry to consider these concerns and suggestions in drawing up the new university admission criteria.”