Ch'ng Jit Koon
Singapore
“Sir, the Member wants to know the future commitment of the Government. I can assure him that the Government and NCSS have and will continue to assist all the VWOs to extend their reach and enhance their service delivery to individuals and families in need. The Member asked why the report cannot be disclosed.”
“As I have answered earlier, this is a confidential report and is meant for internal reference. All the recommendations in the Report of the Master Plan are already being implemented. What we are doing first is to implement the recommendation in the Report on the computerisation programme which I have already mentioned just now.”
“No. I have to continue with my answer. (In Mandarin): I feel that this question need not be repeated. We do not have to argue over and over again because all this is in accordance with the original plan of the PA formulated a few years ago. We cannot change our original plan just because the Member for Potong Pasir has objected to it.”
“Sir, as from 1980 the number of campaigns organized has been actually cut down, a lot. Those mentioned by the hon. Member just now were actually campaigns from 1980 onwards. All campaigns are organized for specific purposes.”
“To ask the Minister for Labour (a) what is the rationale for the stipulation that an undischarged bankrupt is not allowed the use of his Central Provident Fund contributions to purchase a Housing and Development Board flat; (b) what is the number of persons affected; and (c) whether he will consider amending the aforementioned stipulation…”
“Sir, what I actually intend to touch on are matters relating to the Housing and Development Board. I notice there is another amendment to consider the HDB's allocation. It is on amendment (10) under this Head. I propose to speak when that amendment comes up for debate.”
The complete record
Every one of 159 lines we hold for Ch'ng Jit Koon, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 4.
“Sir, I would like to praise the Government's effort in the past years to improve and develop our medical services. However, we often read in the newspapers about the shortage of medical personnel in Singapore. On the one hand, the Government has to meet the shortage of medical personnel and, on the other hand, it has to maintain the high standard of the medical profession. I therefore welcome the timely proposed amendments to the Medical Registration Act. But I would like to take this opportunity to seek clarification from the Minister for Health. We know that university-trained doctors, other than those listed in the Schedule, have been recruited to fill the vacancies in the Government medical service. Among some of them are Singapore citizens. I wish to enquire whether these doctors who are Singapore citizens will be allowed to be registered for private practice, without having to go through the required examination, when their contracts with the Government expire.”
“Therefore, I hope that the authorities concerned will, wherever possible, preserve these existing sports grounds and, at the same time, for the safety of the users and members of the public, try to make the owners of these grounds improve the safety precautions therein. 6.36 p.m.”
“Firstly, as revealed by the authorities concerned, the National Sports Complex is quite a large complex; hence the cost of its maintenance and operation will also be considerable. In clause 15 of the Bill, Singapore Pools (Private) Limited and grants in aid of the Government are included as among the sources of finance. I would like to stress here the importance of Government financial aids. Otherwise, the Sports Complex will be like the National Theatre and be faced with the same problem. Because without Government aid, the National Theatre, in order to survive on a "self-supporting" basis, has to seek a solution by living on rentals and hire fees, thus meeting with diverse difficulties while promoting art in our country. In this way, civic art organisations are also not benefited. What we are worried about is that if there is no Government financial aid, the National Stadium Corporation, in order to meet the large amount of recurrent expenditure, will similarly be forced to obtain money from civic organisations and spectators in the last resort. Then it will be contrary to the high ideal and aim of promoting sports in our country by building the National Sports Stadium Complex. Secondly, with Government's active encouragement and promotional efforts, sports activities in our country can be said to be quite vigorous. However, it is sad to note that the existing number of sports fields is rather inadequate. Some of these are even on private property. Even when the National Sports Complex is completed, these existing grounds still deserve to be preserved and utilized.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, since ancient times, athletic sports have been an important item of activities. Today, countries throughout the world, whether big or small, attach great importance to sports and are actively promoting them so that they have become even more popular. Especially in this fast-changing society where life is both busy and tense, sports have an important role to play in promoting health and harmonizing the mind and the body. In addition to this, sports also play an important role in the international political arena. They are the main bridge to the promotion of international friendship and understanding. Singapore has been very active in promoting and popularising sports activities. Particularly today when we are an independent, sovereign and young developing country, we have been behind none in sports activities. This is in keeping with our foreign policy of "Making more friends and fewer enemies", so as to establish friendship and promote good relations with other countries. On the other hand, the great majority of our population is made up of youths who are our future successors and who must have the prerequisites of health and ruggedness before they can shoulder the heavy task of nationhood. Therefore, in order to meet the aim of our Government to build a rugged "Society, a big and well-equipped national stadium is necessary. Equally important is the need to set up a Corporation to take full charge of the planning, building and managing of such a big sports complex. Therefore, I welcome the presentation of this Bill. However, I would like to give two points of view for consideration.”
“Can the Minister consider directing the Housing and Development Board to find out from the tenants whether they desire to buy these houses or flats?”
“In the Presidential speech, mention has also been made of the reorganisation and improvement of our social welfare services. This is, of course, good news. But I would like to see a review of the scheme of public assistance paid to the poor and the sick by the Social Welfare Department. According to the present scheme, the guardian parent of the sick or poor can get $21 per month, the spouse can get $10, and those children under 16 years of age can get $5 each, subject to a maximum of $60 per month per family. We know that these rates were formulated in 1961. Ten years have passed. Following urban renewal and social development, many people have moved to Housing Board flats. The cost of living has also risen as a result. This meagre sum of money is not enough to pay for food and rental. It can pay for only one item. So I hope the Government can review the present scheme of public assistance in order that our economic growth may benefit all our people. Sir, I support the motion of thanks by the Member for Ulu Pandan. 2.51 p.m.”
“Many non-citizens have been engaged in these jobs instead, so that economic production and growth may be maintained. However, we should consider whether or not the issuance of too many work permits to non-citizens will affect the employment opportunities of our own citizens after they have completed their term of national service. In spite of Government legislation for their protection, at present there are still some employers who employ discharged national servicemen in an opportunistic manner because they have no confidence in them. So the Government should try to adopt proper measures to deal with this situation so that employers will have more confidence in discharged national servicemen. Improvement will be made in the fields of transportation and communications to achieve efficiency and speed. In view of the increasing number of vehicles on the road, the Government has plans to improve the traffic system, and an evaluation of a mass rapid transit system for Singapore will also be made. However, with the increase in the number of vehicles and the increase in the number of accidents on the road, the question of insurance cover for vehicles and accidents is also important. There was a case of a youth who was knocked down by a car and half his body was paralysed. The court awarded the youth about $100,000 as compensation. But the youth could not get a single cent because the driver who had knocked him down had given false particulars when applying for a policy from the insurance company. On this ground, the insurance company disclaimed liability and refused to pay the youth. Similar cases have happened before. Therefore, I would like to urge the Government to work out a scheme whereby victims of accidents or their families can get the compensation due to them.”
“Whether or not these resettled people can live on the new site is nobody's business. As a result, we received complaints from these people that long after they had moved into the new site there was still no water supply and electricity, let alone other sanitary facilities. Even in their newly-settled areas, they were usually interfered with by other Government departments which accused them of putting up illegal structures without sanitary facilities or of not having obtained any permits from the Fire Brigade. Some of them have been asked to remove again very soon after resettlement. All this shows the result of insufficient care taken by the authorities in dealing with people affected by resettlement. In respect of industrialisation, we have the Economic Development Board to help the industrialists set up factories. Similarly, I hope the Government will give the people affected by resettlement some technical assistance to help them rebuild their homesteads and avoid unnecessary loss or wastage. From the start the President has said in his speech that after six years of independence we have shown that Singapore is viable. She is gradually developing into a centre for manufacturing, servicing, communications and transportation. In spite of the total withdrawal of British troops, which will be completed by the end of the year, facts show that we not only will not have large-scale unemployment, but, on the contrary, because of economic progress, will be short of labour, particularly skilled technical workers. Therefore, the Government has adopted a more liberal policy in regard to the question of issuing work permits to non-citizens. This new policy is necessary in view of our national service policy which has absorbed many of our youths.”
“People who are staying in one-room flats have to seek larger accommodation if the membership in the family has increased. However, on applying to the Board for larger flats, their requests will usually be met with a similar answer. There will also be a long delay of two or three years before a reply is given. Sometimes no reply is given. Even if they wish to buy such flats they will have to register afresh and queue up. There is no priority or concession for them at all. At the earliest, they can get a new flat only after one or two years' waiting. Usually, if everything goes well, they will be able to get new accommodation after waiting for three or four years. No wonder there are complaints all round! I feel that the Housing and Development Board should first clear up these "old accounts". As regards those who are affected by urban renewal, rural redevelopment and resettlement schemes, the Government has announced that, because of our improved economic situation and a better capacity to pay the people affected by them, the rate of compensation will now be raised to a more rational level. Although this is good news, these people have to live in a different environment, and whether they have to change their careers or resume their old trade, the Government should make it a point to give them some sort of technical assistance in addition to financial aid or compensation. We know that usually in the past, in order to clear up a piece of land for redevelopment purposes within a stipulated time, the people staying on the land were cleared out by the Resettlement Department in a haphazard manner. Once the people had been cleared out of the site, the move was regarded as a success by the department concerned.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, yesterday just before the adjournment I was saying that the President had in his speech commended the Government for its achievements in the field of housing. Through the agency of the Housing and Development Board, it is planning to build, for the period 1971 to 1975, one flat every 26 minutes, thus solving the housing problem of our people. From now on the Board is aiming to build 20,000 units each year so that in five years' time it will have built 100,000 units for our people. In addition to "quantity" housing, the Board will now pay attention to "quality" housing, that is, improvement in the design of the flats, and there will also be emphasis on the comfort of living in a healthy environment. It is anticipated that by 1975 there will altogether be about 1.2 million people staying in Housing and Development Board fiats; that is to say, another half a million people will have been moved into the Board's houses. In this respect, we can be both pleased and proud of the Board's plans and achievements. However, I am now reminded of certain problems relating to the allocation of flats. In my "meet-the-people" sessions, I hear complaints from my constituents that they had applied to the Housing and Development Board to rent the two-room or three-room flats without getting any allocation, although they had waited for two or three years. After repeated inquiries, the reply given was that all the newly-built two-room or three-room flats were mainly meant to be sold direct to members of the public under the home ownership scheme. Even if there are occasional vacancies in such flats, they will first be allotted to families affected by resettlement.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the second session of the Second Parliament was solemnly opened by the President of Singapore on the 21st of last month. That was the first time President Sheares performed the opening ceremony of Parliament, which represents the two million people of Singapore. On this occasion, he addressed Parliament on the policy of the Government for the coming session. We thank him for his speech and the policy directives for the Parliament to follow. We have been independent for six years. During this period, we have weathered many a storm and pulled through many difficult situations in this turbulent corner of South-east Asia. The capable leadership of the Government, together with the concerted effort' and co-operation of the people, has enabled us to steer successfully through these six eventful years. Thus we are now able to march confidently into the l970s and to meet the new challenges facing us. The President in his speech has also commended the Housing and Development Board for its achievements. It has a target plan to build 100,000 units, at the rate of one flat every 26 minutes for the period 1971 to 1975, thus solving the housing problem of our people. 4.30 p.m.”
“He has also a distinguished record of service to our country and our people. He reflects in his own life the finest qualities and the best spirit of Singapore. These are dedication to the country, devotion to society, a love of people, contribution to human welfare, and a profound understanding of the characteristics of our multi-racial country. We fully support the recommendation by the Prime Minister of Dr Sheares to this high office. It is our hope that he will, in the same kindly spirit of a physician and by his own virtues, carry .on from where our late President has left off, so that our new and young Republic will be able to set a shining example in turbulent Southeast Asia and make her name felt throughout the world. We pledge our full support and co-operation.”
“Sir, ever since the demise 0 the late President Yusof, the office of the Head of State of our Republic of two million people has been vacant and the question of the new candidate for the presidency has become a topic of the people and the subject of speculation in various quarters. Indeed, in the same way as a group of dragons cannot go without a leader, no country can go without a Head of State, and it has become our first task today to decide on the question of who shall succeed the late President Yusof. As we all know, the office of President in our Republic is somewhat different from that of other countries. He represents, both here and abroad, our Republic and is a symbol of the dignity and honour of our people. He is also a symbol of the unity and the values of our Republic. In these turbulent times and in the course of nation building and development, he will have an important role to perform. Therefore, the office of President cannot be overlooked. It is indeed a very difficult task to choose a suitable person for this post. He should be a person of learning, good conduct and high reputation. He should indeed be a 1eader acceptable both here and abroad. To a big country with a lot of people the choice of such a person presents no difficulty. But to Singapore, it is not easy to make such a choice. Having heard the Prime Minister and read the curriculum vitae published in the newspapers recently, I firmly believe that Dr Sheares is the best and the most suitable choice, because he has all the attributes and qualities required for this high office. He was born and bred in Singapore and has been brought up as an outstanding figure in our Republic. By his own efforts he has made his name known internationally and has brought great honour to Singapore.”
“Sir, the Parliamentary Secretary has stated that teachers of Government schools sent to the vocational institutes as instructors are covered under two schemes. But what about those teachers in the Government-aided schools?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, what I want to say is that the Hawkers Department and the Housing and Development Board have been discussing the question of taking over of hawkers' sites. I hope they have come to some agreement on the matter.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, what I want to ask is quite relevant to the item here.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, yesterday I asked the Minister two questions on the vote for hawkers, but the Minister did not reply to one of my questions because of the lack of time. Therefore, I feel that since the question I raised yesterday has some relationship to this vote, i.e., "Development of and Improvement to Markets and Hawkers' Sites" --”
“I am not moving, Sir. Mr Lim Cheng Lock: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 91 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 201. In moving this amendment, Sir, I am trying to seek information from the Minister as to the intention of the Land Office to purchase Chip Bee Gardens, Married Quarters Estate. What does Government propose to do with this estate in the future?”
“I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ho Kah Leong (5) That the sum to be allocated for Head 41 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 502.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 41 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 301. This subhead concerns new primary schools. That the Government has not made proper plans for building new schools can be seen from the fact that in Tiong Bahru places for children in the primary schools are not sufficient. As a result, many pupils are being sent to distant schools. This is causing a lot of inconvenience to the pupils as well as the parents. We know that the Government is providing $100 million to the Housing and Development Board to build high-rise flats in the Tiong Bahru, Delta and Alexandra areas. After the Housing Board has built the flats, there will be more people staying in these areas. There will then be a serious problem of finding school accommodation for the children. I wonder whether the Government has any plans to build more schools in these areas.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am having the same problem as my colleague, the Member for Jurong.”
“We must remember that some hawkers cannot afford to pay such a big sum of money and we should allow them to pay their fees monthly. I should also like to take this opportunity to ask the Minister about the taking-over of markets by the Housing and Development Board. All markets are at present under the Hawkers Department's control. Now the Housing and Development Board has also built many hawkers' centres and these are under the control of the Housing and Development Board. In these housing estates, chaos exists. For instance, in the same area, there are two types of hawkers' centre. There are two organisations with different systems of management. People often get confused, and this is likely to give rise to misunderstanding. As far as I know, the Hawkers Department intends to hand over the control of these markets to the Housing and Development Board in order to centralise the administration. These two bodies have carried out negotiations on this matter. I do not know whether the Minister can inform the House what decision has been taken on it.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to raise a point about the collection of hawkers' licence fees. We all know that except for a small minority of hawkers, the great majority of them lead a very poor life. Most of them work hard during the day and can only earn just enough to keep their family alive. Very few of them have savings. Previously the authorities allowed them to pay their fees monthly. However, as from January this year, the hawkers' licence fees have been increased, and the new regulation is that they must pay three months' fees in advance, that is to say, they must pay at the beginning of the month the licence fees for the next three months. Vegetable hawkers previously had to pay only $6 per month, but now they have to pay $15. Also, they have to pay three months' licence fees, i.e., $45, in advance. Hawkers selling provisions had to pay $45 per month previously as licence fees. Now if they are also selling canned food, they have to pay $180 as licence fees for three months. I have just said that the great majority of the hawkers are poor and their daily income is just sufficient for their livelihood. If we ask them to pay their fees for three months in one lump sum, are we not bringing hardship on them? Also those hawkers who cannot afford to pay their fees for three months in advance have to borrow, and they will have to pay interest on their loans. I do not understand why the authorities found it necessary to change the system of monthly collections to quarterly collections. I am not sure whether this is to reduce the work of public servants. If it is so, I think we have thereby increased the hardships of the hawkers. This is a most inappropriate action. I hope the Minister will reconsider this collection of quarterly fees.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have only one question to ask of the Minister for Education. I notice that in the provision for salaries of secondary school principals, the salary scale for the principals of Raffles Institution and Raffles Girls' School is higher than that for the other 54 school principals. If these 54 principals carry out the same work as that of the principals of Raffles Institution and Raffles Girls' School, why is it necessary to have a difference in their salary scales? Does the Government propose to convert these two schools into junior colleges?”
“Sir, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 0601 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1005*. (* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Lim Cheng Lock.) Mr Speaker, Sir, our country is now in the midst of nation building. We are expanding our activities in all fields of human endeavour. Our burden has now become heavier. To be successful in nation building, there must be efficiency in all the departments of Government. In order to attain a high rate of efficiency, the work in the departments should be so distributed that the staff will be able to spend their time, effort and energy in the best possible manner. Our country will then make further progress. Mr Speaker, Sir, the Permanent Secretary plays a very important role in his Ministry. He holds the highest rank in the administrative service and he has the duty of implementing Government policy. His work is very important and his burden is heavy. As far as I know, the Permanent Secretary to the Minister for Labour is also the Permanent Secretary to the Minister for Culture. He is also the Director of Broadcasting. Mr Speaker, Sir, I think a person's stock of energy is limited. When a person is responsible for so many jobs, he will be overworked. He will be worn out. In order to maintain a high rate of efficiency and in order that senior officers can concentrate on their own work, I hope the Government will try to avoid giving them too many jobs. The same person should not be given too many appointments. 6.15 p.m.”
“Yes, Sir. Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether Government's policy on applications for citizenship will be revised?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, at present, the Government is very strict as regards the approval of citizenship applications. Normally, an applicant who can fulfil residential and other qualifications is granted citizenship. But now the Government will have to consider whether he is likely to contribute economically to the state and, because of this, it is very difficult to have applications for citizenship approved. I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary --”
“Sir,I merely want to ask the Minister one question. If my memory serves me right, the Government announced some time ago that the People's Association intended to build holiday flats along the sea coast to enable urban d~ellers to spend their holidays there. But there is no such allocation for this purpose in the Development Estimates. I wish to know whether any decision has been made on this project.”
“Will this sum of money be enough for the introduction and development of honours degree courses? I understand from the press that the Vice-Chancellor of Nantah will be retiring. Some honours degree courses will be introduced as from the next academic year. As Nanyang University is entering a new phase, it is necessary to appoint a new Vice-Chancellor. I wish to know whether the Minister has been informed that the Nantah authorities have taken any steps to appoint a new Vice-Chancellor. 3.15 p.m.”
“" These scholars should not just write articles on what they have learnt, but should be able to put into practice what they have learnt. In view of the present scientific development in the world, we should encourage them to move with the times by providing them with research facilities so that they can further advance their knowledge. We should not let them be stagnant in their scientific field. Unless we provide them with such facilities, our country will suffer a loss. There is not even an electronic computer in Nanyang University. We may concede the fact that not all research necessitates the purchase of equipment, as in some Arts subjects. However, equipment is essential in scientific research. This is how some Nantah scientific scholars feel the need to have at least a small computer. At the moment, the quarters, too, are limited. The number is not enough for the teachers and students. The Nanyang University authorities have made it compulsory for first-year students to stay in the quarters. As a result, 95 per cent of the students are staying in the quarters. Other facilities, too, are not adequate. Nanyang University is very far away from the city. The stu dents do not have ample opportunities to take part in cultural and recreational activities. We are trying to evolve a rugged society. Yet when we look around Nanyang University, we find that there is not even a standard playground for the students to exercise or relax themselves. The Minister for Education has told us in this House that Nanyang University will introduce an honours degree course in the coming academic year. The sum allocated is only $100,000. This is the final part of the $1 million Government allocation.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Member for Jurong. I wish the Government can give more allocation to Nantah. When I read the 1969-70 Development Estimates, I was quite surprised. In the allocation for Nanyang University for the coming financial year, there is only $100,000 for the purchase of equipment and library books. There is no allocation for the extension of buildings and the provision of other facilities. There is not even a token provision. Does this mean that Nantah has all the facilities and, as such, does not need any allocation for further development in fields other than scientific equipment and library books? In my opinion, there are still many fields in which Nantah needs improvement and development. In the past, Nanyang University has depended mainly on contributions from the people. Its expenditure on development has been tuned to its financial resources. All development has been on an austerity basis. Nantah should be different now. In the light of our present national development, Nanyang University could play an important part in education because of the recognition of the fact that it is part and parcel of the educational institutions of our country, it has a great role to play in nation building. All the defects that are existing should be rectified as soon as possible. In a very short time, Nantah has been able to produce many eminent scholars. Some have gone abroad for higher studies and have returned with the most up-to-date knowledge. Some have returned to teach in Nanyang University itself. We should not allow the knowledge they have acquired to be wasted. We must always renew ourselves. As the Chinese saying goes, "One must be newer and newer 'day by day.”
“In view of this, it serves no useful purpose to spend a large sum of money to install fire-fighting equipment in the Housing Board estates.”
“Sir, I am not moving. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Law and National Development (National Development Division) (Mr Ho Cheng Choon): Mr Speaker, Sir, it is an acceptable practice all over the world to grant exemption from certain requirements of the building bylaws to low-cost housing in order to bring down the cost. Similarly, the Housing and Development Board has obtained exemption from the Chief Building Surveyor for the provision of fire-fighting equipment, among others, in our low-cost housing so that the cost of these housing flats could be reduced to an acceptable level. There is provision under section 169 of the Local Government Buildings Regulations, 1966, for giving such an exemption. During the last eight years, not a single case of fire has occurred in any of the Housing Board flats, which means that they are very safe and sound. 2.45 p.m. Small fires such as those caused by the tipping over of kerosene stoves have never been able to spread to the next flats due to the sound design and non- inflammable materials used in these multi-storey buildings. Moreover, adequate hydrants have been provided in all the housing estates for use by the Fire Brigade in the event of an emergency. The Chief Building Surveyor considered these facts and agreed that exemption from the building by-laws for the provision of fire-fighting equipment could be granted to housing estates. Fire-fighting equipment is very expensive and it is often tampered with or stolen when it is stored in the Housing Board estates. In fact, the Housing Board did install fire-fighting equipment in the flats built under the First Five-Year Plan but, unfortunately, most of it has either been stolen immediately after installation or tampered with by the residents.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the cases mentioned by the Members who have spoken before me have also happened in my constituency. Male citizens were unable to obtain permission for their non-citizen wife to stay perman ently in Singapore. They were also asked by the Immigration Department to speed up the necessary formalities so that their wife could leave Singapore as soon as possible. I do not know whether the aim of this policy is, as with the aim of protection of our local industries, to encourage our male citizens to marry only our women citizens. In our present society, we believe in having love as the foundation of marriage. Whether we like it or not, they have already become husbands and wives. It is therefore unreasonable, from the humanitarian point of view, if we do not allow a non-citizen wife to stay in Singapore and force her to separate from her husband and her family. Sir, there is a well-known Chinese fairy tale of a cowboy called Niu Lang and a spinner called Jze Nyu. The audience shed tears of sympathy when that fairy tale is shown on stage. This story is now being re- enacted with our own people acting as the cowboy and the spinner as the case may be. I hope the Minister can review the present immigration policy so that this tragic Chinese story will not be repeated.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the point I wish to raise concerns the auction of old vehicles confiscated by the Government. During the auctions, many old, dilapidated and unserviceable vehicles are sold. As a result, the public have been able to buy some of these vehicles at the lowest possible price and they can use them as pirate taxis. We therefore very frequently see such pirate taxis on the road. So the measures taken against pirate taxis are more or less offset by the auction of confiscated vehicles which are eventually put back on the road. I would like to ask the Minister whether in future auctions of confiscated vehicles, all those unserviceable vehicles will be condemned, and what steps will be taken to ensure that auctioned vehicles will not be used as pirate taxis.”
“From these instances, we can see that the law enforcement officers did not know what they should do so as not to cause any unhappiness among members of the public. I hope the Minister will take note of this and give suitable instructions to the officers regarding this matter. 8.57 p.m.”
“Sir, after one month of the "Keep Singapore Clean" campaign, we can say that we have achieved some improvements in our public health. In order to ensure a continuation of this high standard, the Minister has tabled in this House a Bill known as the Environmental Public Health Bill. This Bill is being introduced with all good intentions and deserves our support. But in the enforcement of this Bill there are some technical problems and difficulties which may give rise to public inconvenience and we have some misgivings about it. From November this year, the Ministry of Health has taken action to ensure the observance of a high standard of public health among the people. I have since received several complaints against police officers and public health inspectors for their unreasonableness. According to the law, every hawker is required to provide a receptacle beside his stall and to maintain general hygienic conditions around his stall. The provision does not clearly say whether that has to be complied with during the peak hours of business. There is one bean-sprouts (tow gay) hawker who is licensed to do business in the morning and when he is kept busy during morning business hours, action is taken against him for not keeping his pitch area clean. There is another place where the unlicensed hawkers customarily congregate. One morning, after the unlicensed hawkers were chased away by the Housing and Development Board staff, there was a heap of rubbish left outside a coffee-shop. Soon after, two policemen came and took down the particulars of the coffee-shop owner for an offence for which he was not responsible.”
“In view of these factors, sympathetic consideration should be given to their applications.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Member for Anson in respect of his amendment. I request the Government to review the present policy of granting citizenship. In the interest of the nation and in order not to increase the national burden, there is nothing wrong in critically examining every application for citizen ship. But I do feel there are certain aspects of the present policy which are too restrictive. They are too strict and unreasonable. As far as I know, there are in the Registry of Citizens many applications awaiting consideration, Among these applications are some from people who are in good employment. They have decided to make Singapore their permanent home and a nation to which they can owe loyalty. They have their families here. They have their wives and children living here, all of whom are Singapore citizens, However, the income of these people is not very high. They are not considered to be making any contribution to our national economy. As a result, their applications for citizenship have not been approved even after a long period. As a matter of fact, we can say that although their income is low, these people do, to a certain extent, make a contribution to our country. Through the sweat of their labour they have provided for their family who are Singapore citizens. Without the efforts of these people to make a living, it will be the Government who would have the responsibility of looking after their families who are Singapore citizens. These people are members of our society. They share the responsibility of looking after the citizens of Singapore. In a sense, they have made a definite contribution to our country by reducing our social burden. I hope the Government will not neglect this aspect of their contribution, however little it may be.”
“It is hoped that the Government will supervise closely the implementation of the Bill when it is passed. 2.55 p.m.”
“There are also other unsatisfactory provisions. Members of Parliament have earlier in their speeches referred to them. Since I have no better views to add, I will just make my stand known when we come to the clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill. Whilst Parliament is debating this Bill, we have been trying our best to explain the naked facts of our situation to our workers, and that the Bill is intended for their long-term interests. On the other hand, we must make the employers understand that the tolerance and sacrifices made by the workers are meant for the welfare of the whole country, so that the employers may not abuse their rights and exploit the workers. This is the worry we have when the Bill is passed and implemented. According to the Minister for Culture and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour, there are certain short-sighted and unwise employers who have already taken steps to reduce the workers' wages and are trying to threaten the workers by referring them to certain provisions in the Bill. This is like trying to fish in troubled waters. I appreciate the timely revelations by the Minister for Labour of the ugly faces of those employers who have been warned severely by him and that the Government will not stand idly by to see them exploit their workers and destroy the industrial peace and stability that we have taken so much pains to build up. This assurance by the Minister for Labour is sufficient to allay the doubts the people are having. The sincere co-operation of labour, employer and the Government in the process of economic development is the very factor of our economic growth. The non-cooperation of one party will damage not only our economic growth but also the interests of our people.”
“According to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour, this provision is to ensure that those who are inefficient and incapable of further productivity will not be engaged so that more capable, energetic young people capable of greater productivity may be engaged. According to his explanation, it seems that he is telling all workers reaching the age of 55 that they will become unproductive and decrepit. Generally speaking, there are many instances of people reaching the age of 55 who are not senile; they are actually in their prime. On reaching this age, they will have accumulated a lot of experience and will be more skilled in their respective trades. To do away with the good workers who have reached the age of 55 just because of a few bad cases is not quite fair. The Minister for Science and Technology has said that we must make full use of all available human resources in the process of our economic growth. This shows that human resources are one of our treasures. In view of this, we must not allow this provision to be passed Un-amended. If this provision is implemented without amendment, then when higher paid workers retire, the lower paid workers will be engaged, and this will not solve our unemployment problem because an "old hand" is replaced by a "new hand" and this will decrease efficiency in the work concerned. There are other more realistic problems. For instance, in the smaller commercial firms which do not provide pension and where the productive workers on reaching the age of 55 must retire, to whom will the members of their families look for a living and on whom should they depend for their livelihood? Therefore, the amendments that will be moved by the Member for Bukit Ho Swee are worth our support.”
“Due to short-sightedness, the workers there have taken actions which have led to the economic deterioration of their respective countries. England was faced with the depreciation of sterling and France was faced with a crisis caused by the depreciation of the franc. Let us look at Japan. After the end of the Second World War, Japan was a defeated country and its economy was ruined. Every enterprise was in ruins. But in the short period of 20 years, Japan has been able to revive its economy and even make it the best and most active economy in Asia. Its living standards have become the highest in the whole of Asia. All this has come about from the people's energy, sacrifices, understanding and efforts, it is important for us to have all these qualities. With all these facts before us and from the experiences and lessons gained from elsewhere, we must get our people to understand the realities of life and tell them that we must work hard if we are to face successfully the difficult challenges ahead of us. The Employment Bill is both necessary and realistic. I support it as a whole. But I cannot agree with certain provisions therein because they are not realistic enough to meet our situation. If they are compulsorily implemented, I am afraid they may not achieve what the Government intends them to achieve. It may lead to results which are contrary to what the provisions are meant for. One of the most important clauses is clause 15 which provides that a worker, on reaching the age of 55, should retire.”
“We have no other alternative but to achieve this. We have to make adjustments in the distribution of profits so that the capitalists may reinvest the profits earned here to create more employment opportunities for our workers. This will help us to solve some of our employment problems. Sir, if we are still firm in the belief of the pro-labour stand of the P.A.P. Government and if we care to make a study of the crux of the problem, we will have no difficulty in understanding the Government's real intention in introducing the Employment Bill and its aim to make it a success. The main purpose of the Bill is to ensure the long-term interests of our workers, to prepare us to overcome the coming problems and difficulties, and to maintain our present prosperity. In a nutshell, this is in the long-term interest of our people. It is not meant to deprive our workers of their hard-earned rights. It is not meant to make their livelihood more difficult or to sacrifice their interests to make the rich richer. I think it is necessary and important to make the workers understand these points, because in the past they have shown their patriotism which has contributed much to our favourable investment climate, which is one of stability and peace. If the workers can understand that the sacrifices expected of them are meant for the long-term interest of the people and not for just a handful of capitalists, they will surely be able to respond and contribute their effort to raise productivity as they have done in the past. From events happening in foreign countries, we realise that we must not permit the episodes that have taken place in France and England to happen here.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Employment Bill has aroused much public interest since its introduction, and many have criticised it. If we analyse these criticisms carefully, it is not difficult to find out that generally they support the common principle, namely, that when our country is facing major problems and difficulties in the coming years, the spirit of the Employment Bill is worth supporting. This is necessary for and beneficial to the implementation of the industrialisation programmes in our existing social conditions. From the viewpoint of our history and our geographical position, we need foreign capital, managerial expertise and technical know-how for the industrial development of our country. Our merchants have all along been used to the entrepot trade and other commercial enterprises. They have all along felt that it is easier to make money by this means. They are not keen to go into industries which need more capital and more attention, because they dare not venture into the unknown. The point we must recognise is that we must march towards industrialisation. We have to attract foreign capital and expertise and managerial skills to assist our economic progress and growth. We cannot achieve all this just by giving some talks. It is not that simple. Many developing countries are making intensified efforts to attract more foreign capital into their countries. In this respect, we will be faced with rather keen competition from other countries. The capitalists are most interested in making profits. They prefer to invest in countries where they can make huge profits. So we must create a more favourable investment climate in order to attract foreign capital and make them believe that Singapore is more suitable for their investment.”
“I do not know whether the Minister for Health will consider setting some sort of official examination to legalise some of the Chinese qualified Sinsehs. 6.51 p.m.”
“The Nanyang Siang Pau, 2nd of May, 1968. In this edition we can see advertisements publicising "cure-all" medicines for various diseases. For instance: 'If you want to think of bearing children, come to us. We are specialists in promoting fertility and infertility. If there is no efficacy, money will be refunded in full.' And so on. Sir, the advertisements are very attractively worded. Some quacks have their own ready-made medicines for sale and distribution in the market. Some of these are advertised in the newspapers as having been patented and registered with the Government. As a result, ignorant people are misled into believing that the Government has approved and recognised the medical skills of these quacks. Hence, these quacks have their way with the public. Consequently, the Government earns a disreputable name. If we continue to allow these unscrupulous and good-for-nothing quacks to have their way with the public, maybe one day, Mr Speaker, we will see in the newspapers more shocking medical advertisements. The Bill before us will, therefore, exercise some sort of control over these pedlars of medicines and quacks. Of course, this Bill will not affect all those who are professionally qualified in medicine. At present, the best way to control these quacks is to deny them the opportunity to advertise their products in the newspapers and thus mislead the poor people. We must educate the people to the efficacy of modern medicine. At the same time, however, we must exercise some sort of control over medical advertisments which mislead the public. That is why I support this Bill. It is by legislation that we can control these medical advertisments. This is only one way of dealing with the quacks. There are other ways to control and regulate their activities.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of this Bill. When our ancestors came from different parts of the world to this small island, they brought with them various methods of treating all kinds of ailments. We have still some people here who practise these traditional methods. Of course, there are some methods which are effective. But with the progress of time we should replace them with the latest medical methods to treat the sick among our people. Some people who fall ill just buy any kind of medicine for treatment without going to the hospital for proper care. When people, particularly those who have to work all day long fall ill, they hope to be cured in the fastest and quickest way. They therefore resort to ready-made medicines and fall victim to medical quacks and pedlars. Mr Speaker, when we turn the pages of the local Chinese newspapers, we can see advertisements for medicine on every page. I have three copies of the latest editions. All these are large-sized advertisements and we can see all sorts of things in them.”
“Sir, I rise in support of the Bill introduced by the Minister. However, there is one aspect of it which is regrettable. In clause 6, which relates to the constitution of the Council, there is no provision for a representative from the Association of Nanyang University Graduates. Since its establishment, this Association has made contributions to the welfare work of our Republic. But there is no provision in this Bill for a representative from the Association. This is a matter for regret and I do hope the Minister will include a representative from the Association of Nanyang University Graduates on the Council. 4.06 p.m.”