David T E Lim
Singapore
“Our entrepreneurs need to feel that they are heroes and not left-behinds, and be motivated by this feeling to attempt great things. We need a civil and a civic society, where people believe that this is where their heart and home is. Such outcomes are helped by the right economic policies.”
“As the CRC process demonstrates, the views of the public are widely canvassed when developing censorship policies. Likewise, we have many advisory and review and appeal committees. The public inputs are obtained to guide the implementation of censorship rules.”
“With Members' support and working closely with partners from relevant Government agencies and the private sector, MITA will endeavour to develop the design and media industries, and we will endeavour to make the creative industries a cornerstone of our economy.”
“Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. ADJOURNMENT Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn to Monday, 25th November 2002." - [Mr Mah Bow Tan]. Adjourned accordingly at Six minutes past Seven o'clock pm to Monday, 25th November 2002.”
“He receives this amount whether or not he appeals to the Land Acquisition Appeals Board. Once he vacates the premises, he receives the remaining 80%. We have no knowledge of any land owner who has been made a bankrupt by the mortgagee bank because of the compensation amount awarded.”
“Sir, Dr Khor's question is whether we could consider sub-titling. We have said that we would explore this. But sub-titling means that it is no longer signing. It is put into a form that is in a regular language, so to speak.”
The complete record
Every one of 215 lines we hold for David T E Lim, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 5.
“But the moment a stranger comes into the lift, they will quickly switch to English. Of course, this may be due to the fact that they want to show respect to those who do not understand Chinese. However, some people deliberately reduce their use of Mandarin just to show their competence in English. Should such a trend continue, the use of Mandarin will gradually become confined to only within the lower strata of our society. And even possibly a language used by only a minority of our population in the future. Is this the situation that we would like to see? Some may think that such a development is not possible, taking into account the enhanced economic value of Mandarin nowadays which would no doubt spur interest in mastering the language. However, one needs to ask this question: does the value in learning Mandarin arise solely from reaping possible economic gains? If so, should such gains diminish? Is the need to master the language negated as well? We should carefully deliberate this issue. Currently, the economy in China is growing by leaps and bounds as a result of reforms, offering vast opportunities for investments and commercial development. Is the driving force behind the enhanced commercial value in learning the Chinese language? However, as the Chinese economy matures, its growth rate will gradually taper off. In addition, once its capital formation and accumulation reach a desired scale, its need for further foreign investment will not be as urgent as before. With economic progress comes the attendant risk of increasing labour and production costs which will slowly erode China's current competitive advantage derived from a low cost production base. As such, further investment opportunities will be much more limited as compared to the present situation.”
“And as much as we need greater diversity in our economic structure, we also need a broader spectrum of ideas and ideals in our social institutions. Each Singaporean must play his or her part. My wish is that each of us will make time for the community, will speak up, and will take on commitments that will transform Singapore into an open and civil society. Sir, I support the motion. Dr Ker Sin Tze (Aljunied)( In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the motion moved by the Minister for Finance. Like many budgets in the past, the Government has earmarked large sums of money for the teaching and learning of mother tongue languages in the current Budget. Vast resources have been committed by the Government in the teaching of the Chinese language? We should therefore ensure that our students having learnt the language will use the Chinese language effectively. Sir, I mentioned in my speech in this House on 2nd June this year during the debate on the President's Address that the current syllabus for the teaching of Chinese in schools not only allows our students to competently master the language but is also effective in maintaining the standard at a relatively high level. In terms of usage, Mandarin is now commonly used as a means of communication by the man in the street. We observe it being spoken in hawker centres, markets and other communal areas. This is an encouraging sign. However, in certain institutions and on formal occasions, the use of the Chinese language is less frequent. In such an environment, many Chinese educated Singaporeans feel a sense of alienation and they are reluctant to speak Mandarin in public places. A commonly observed scenario is this. A group of young people are conversing in Mandarin in a lift.”
“Then more people would be willing to speak up and we would move forward in a virtuous cycle of fostering more discussion, more ideas, more trust and more responsibility. Sir, the tea dance problem also reflects a larger, underlying impediment to the building of a civil society, ie, that society should still look to Government to solve a problem whose root lies basically in the home. Tea dances started as a fun way for teenagers to let off steam. When I was young, we socialised by other means, like catching spiders and fighting kites. But with urbanisation, there are not enough spiders to go around, let alone find space to fight kites in the neighbourhood. We could have joined up with street gangs then, but whether we did or not was a matter of how our parents looked after us, and brought us up. Tea dances are not evil by design or intent. But they have been corrupted. The problem is not just the street gangs which have infiltrated the dance halls. The problem is also the influence which parents have over their teenage children, and the role models which they set out for their kids. The problem of tea dances is something which parents, and not just the Government, have to address. Sir, to build a civil society, therefore, both Government and each citizen must do their part. On the part of the Government, each department, each agency, each officer, can think about how we can shape policies and programmes which give more choices, allow freer expression of preferences, and which help to encourage community oriented behaviour. As a country, we pay a great deal of attention to our financial resources as evidenced by the care with which the Government prepares its budget. We should pay as much attention to the development of our values and our people.”
“These markers help us to maintain social stability and create quiet conditions in which, once again, business can flourish. But for a civil society to emerge, we must change the perception that the marketplace for ideas and expression in Singapore is restricted and confined. In diversity, we will find even greater strength than in conformity. We can and must search for those means which allow free expression but, at the same time, contain unwholesome and unwelcome behaviour. Sir, I cite a recent example where a ban was placed on 16 year olds at tea dances. Yes, this measure solves a problem. It is an immediate and efficient fix. And I think many parents who found it difficult to control their children welcomed this. But it does not solve the problem. I asked a teenager what she thought of this. She told me that, at best, this would only drive them to other locations and, at worst, underground. The need for young teens to meet and to socialise is real. Cutting away their meeting ground does not curb that need. She asked whether I had considered an alternative: to station a police team at the tea dance. Now that may not be very efficient, manpower-wise, but I think it is a step in the right direction. If we think it over, perhaps we can find some other hybrid solution which does not punish the kids for wanting to belong, but helps them stay away from the dark alley ways and the wayward habits of street gangs. If we can find such a creative solution, which holds back the strong arm of the law, and holds it in reserve for when it is really needed, we will go far in establishing a climate of accommodation and trust.”
“We need to create a new social ethos if we are to overcome this limitation. At first, I thought that I should speak in favour of five-day work weeks - a topic I think that has come up before - that would free up weekends and give people more time to participate in social work. I still think this would help. But it is not the root of the problem. Years in corporate life has taught me that we will never have enough time unless we set priorities. And setting priorities is a reflection of our values. This is something which each Singaporean has to do personally. My wish is that all Singaporeans will take stock of their busy schedules and make a conscious decision to free up some time for community work. If we want to be a civil society, we need to change our values and our lifestyles. A civil society cannot emerge by Government policy. We cannot mandate it, or legislate it, or enforce it. But the Government can do more to create the conditions which will foster its emergence. One of these conditions is the climate for creative and open discussion. Sir, much has been said about the quality of debate in Singapore. Some perceive that the Government does not encourage open debate. Much has also been said about the strictness of laws in Singapore, and how this leads to feelings of being restricted and over-controlled. These perceptions are real, to the extent that people believe in it. I believe, as do most people, in the rule of law. The effective enforcement of laws has helped to make Singapore safe, efficient, and a trusted place to do business in. I also believe in placing markers for open debate - to disallow inflammatory remarks and orations which stir racial hate or seditious emotions.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the motion. The focus of the Budget this year is to keep Singapore competitive and to build up social cohesion. These two perennial challenges are our prerequisites for success. But these are challenges, not goals. They are means towards an end, but not the end itself. When all is said and done, we still have to ask ourselves how we measure the worth and meaning of our lives. Our goal is to become a civil society, one in which each and every individual lives a wholesome and fulfilling life, no matter what jobs we do, or where we live, or how much money we make. A society where each citizen actively participates in the affairs of the community. Today, we fall short of this goal. We have succeeded economically. And our per capita is now one of the highest in the world, higher than many developed countries. But we are not yet able to call ourselves a developed country. Not just because we have yet to develop depth in our industry, but also because we have yet to achieve maturity in our social and community institutions. Sir, the prerequisite for a civil society is that we value and consider it our duty to contribute to society's development. We should be offended if anyone says that we are not doing enough to care for the community, and to share the wealth that we have with others. We should be ready to say that we have set aside not just part of our wealth, but part of our time, in the service of others. We should be, but we are not yet. Today, it is not easy to find volunteers to help out in community work. Often, it is the same group of people who come forward to serve. There are many reasons for this but, basically, most people have not set aside time to serve. In busy Singapore, time is a premium commodity.”
“The future holds no guarantee of success. But we are spurred on by the knowledge that together we will achieve, and see even better days for our children and our grandchildren here in our best home. Sir, I support the motion of thanks.”
“But while we may no longer need to contribute sweat and toil, we must keep alive the spirit of hu xiang ban zhu, ie, mutual help and community care. We can do this by volunteering ourselves to community service and by encouraging one another. Last year, TCS ran a series entitled "Extraordinary People". It was an extraordinary programme, and I think it lifted the spirits of those who watched it. Our media should continue to focus on such ordinary people and their extraordinary deeds. They are role models who do much to keep our spirits alive by their simple acts of care and love. Perhaps the recounting of such deeds can become a regular column in some of the daily papers. Our grassroots organisations can also play an active role. They can organise activities to bring neighbours together to get to know each other and to create mutual care groups. They can also link up with schools in their neighbourhood, and help out with children who are facing difficulties in school or at home. Our goal is for each Singaporean to live active, rich and balanced lives. Lives which reach out to help those who have stumbled along the way so that we do not just make a living, but we also leave behind a legacy of care. This is where the CDCs can provide the leadership, and I hope that they will make the nuturing of community spirit their top priority. Mr Speaker, Sir, the President has presented us with an inspiring vision of a better future. Singaporeans are ready to make this vision into a reality. Some will snigger at such forecast. They say that Singaporeans are motivated by fear. They are wrong. We are a people motivated by fairness. Others claim that we are motivated by greed. We are not. We are driven by our collective will to succeed, and to care for each other.”
“Singapore survived in the 60s and 70s and prospered through the 80s and 90s because we have such a spirit. It united us in our cause to build a nation and gave us fortitude to face seemingly insurmountable odds. But today's young generation will grow up facing a whole new set of challenges. We will feel the pressure to work harder from a faster pace of technological changes. We will face ethical questions, as science and medical advances equip us with powers both to create and to destroy. The globalisation of industry will throw up new jobs but, at the same time, displace out-dated industries and dislodge workers. More people all over the world will become better educated, and lay their claims alongside ours for a better life. Life will be exciting, but turbulent. This turbulence will put pressure on our lives, and give rise to undesirable side effects. Some of this shows up in selfish actions. Examples are vandalism, killer litter and indiscriminate dumping of old and unwanted possessions. It also shows up in our families, in broken homes and delinquent children. At this time, the incidence of such problems is still low. By and large, our traditional values of family ties and community obligations are still strong. But we should pay attention to these warning signals. Left unattended, selfish actions can grow to become selfish, self-centred and uncaring lives. While the problem is still small, we should inculcate good habits to bind us strongly as a community, and to help us cushion the pressures which a more complex world brings to our lives. In the past, we used to have many gotong royong projects. Today, we depend on the Town Councils or the HDB or the PWD to spruce up the neighbourhood.”
“This will send a clear signal to others that overseas experience is both challenging and rewarding. We should also look into distance learning for children who follow their parents to cities where there are no Singapore schools. Even when our kids can find places in other international schools overseas, it would still be worthwhile for them to have linkages with schools back home, so that they will not lose touch with what their friends are up to at home. Special attention should also be given to the learning of a second language, which often would not be available in the international schools. For the children overseas, the involvement of their parents in their educational development is even more crucial. We should therefore also prepare kits for parents, to help them in their role of temporary teacher while their children are overseas. Finally, Singapore's consular offices overseas can be beefed up to provide more information to help new families settle into unfamiliar neighbourhoods, and to help budding businesses find their way around local rules and regulations. We can also find better ways to keep them connected to developments back home. And this is not just the news, but also a sense of continuing involvement. Perhaps by the next general election, eligible voters abroad can also be allowed to post in their votes. By these and other measures, we can help to build up a regional network of Singaporeans who work overseas, but continue to retain strong business links and family ties to Singapore. Mr Speaker, Sir, I now turn to my final subject matter, which is the importance of maintaining a strong community spirit of caring and of sharing. This is both a social issue and an economic one.”
“Trade and investment patterns have shifted, and an important part of Singapore's economic future lies in the region. The future leaders of our business enterprises and economic institutions must have first-hand and in-depth knowledge of the region. Getting good people out there is therefore essential for Singapore's future success. But finding people to go into the region is not always easy, as many businessmen have told me. The people who are most in demand are also those who face the greatest difficulties. They are in their 30s and their 40s. They have the skills, the acumen and the energy. But their spouses have good jobs in Singapore, and their children are still in school. The problems they face range from obtaining no-pay leave for their spouses to finding schools for their children. Likewise, coming home a few years later can be problematic, as children have to readjust to a different pace in school, and spouses may have to start from scratch to look for jobs. These and other problems of living and working in the region need to be looked into. The problems do not belong to any one Ministry, but span across many departments. This makes it all the more important that a concerted effort is mounted not only to work out comprehensive solutions to these problems, but also to encourage more Singaporeans to take up overseas postings. For a start, the Government can be a role model, by encouraging its best and brightest to undertake key assignments in our regional flagship projects. Those who work in the region should not lose out in seniority when they come home, but instead the invaluable experience they have picked up should be recognised. Where they have done well, they should be promoted quickly.”
“Educating the very young will require the full cooperation and participation of parents. We must therefore also pay attention to how we can help parents do their part in the full development of their children. Parents naturally want what is best for their child, but not all are aware of how to go about doing it. In education, more is not necessarily better, and rushing young children from one tuition class to another may provide more stress than stimulation. We should therefore provide assistance and aids to young parents on bringing up baby. By involving parents when their children are very young, we can also begin a process of involving parents in their children's development right through to adulthood. As our Prime Minister has said, learning is a life-long skill. Learning does not begin at primary one. It does not even begin at nursery. But it begins from the very day our senses come alive, and it only ends when those senses shut down. We should therefore rethink our approach to learning, and begin the process from the very beginning. I would therefore like to suggest that we give priority and emphasis to the education of the very young, and formulate new learning programmes at pre-primary levels. We should also involve parents, to train and equip them with the skills they need to share the responsibility of educating our young. Mr Speaker, Sir, from the education of young minds, I now turn to the movement of our people into the region. Since the early 1990s, the Government has encouraged more businesses to venture into the region. This is correct, because the growth in the region and the inter-dependency of our economies makes it both necessary and unavoidable for us to link up with the region.”
“They will know that to be sovereign is to be free, but to be free entails choices, commitment and sacrifice. I am also glad that the Minister for Education has launched a bold and decisive plan to apply information technology to our schools. Putting computers in every classroom, and on every teacher's desk is but a first step. The challenge ahead is to make use of this enabling technology to create a more stimulating learning environment, to make learning enjoyable, so that children look forward each day to going to school. We should start the process of stimulation early. Recent research presents increasing evidence that if children are exposed at an early age to music and language, their learning abilities later in life are enhanced. Children who listen and speak with adults in two languages from birth seem to have little difficulty in coping with and picking up these languages as they grow older. Research also suggests that children exposed to music before the age of two turn out to be better in mathematics later on in life, even if they may not become accomplished musicians. If all this is correct, then investing in the very young will enable us to further push the limits of our human resources. We should therefore invest even more resources to bring out the best in every child in Singapore. In the education of the very young, the goal is not to make toddlers read at the age of two, but rather to stimulate their minds. It is a bit like marinating the meat before you barbecue it - adding the wine later adds flavour, but only by putting it in early can you bring out its full yummy taste. But the idea here, I hasten to add, is not to fry the brains of our young, but to nourish its healthy development.”
“At the same time, the end of the cold war has brought about a realignment of the world order. Centrally planned economies are opening up their markets and shifting their policies towards open market operations. This, too, will create competition for us. Such competition will spur us on. It is not a zero-sum game. Growth in the region and beyond will create opportunities for all countries to raise their standard of living. And, as our economies become increasingly interdependent, there will be many occasions when we will collaborate rather than compete for profit and growth. But, whether we collaborate or compete, we must ensure that the goods we produce and the services we provide will be value for money. To do this, we need a systematic and comprehensive approach. We have to invest in infrastructure, upgrade worker skills, and retool Government policies to keep the economy humming and we have to watch our costs. But fundamentally, we must continue to improve the use of our human resource. It is our people who, in the final analysis, will make the difference. Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to address three issues in our continuing quest to make the most of our people's potential. The key to unlocking value in our people is education and training. I am therefore glad that the Government has already announced a number of new initiatives in education. The introduction of National Education in our schools is both timely and welcome. National Education will imbue in each successive generation an empathy with our history and our roots. It will give our children a sense of belonging, and bonding with each other. As they grow up, they will understand how events in the past continue to shape our actions in the present and to influence our outlook and strategies for the future.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I fully support the motion of thanks by Dr Wang Kai Yuen for the President's Address. On 20th May this year, the World Economic Forum published its annual ranking of the world's most competitive economies. For the second year running, we have earned the honour of being in the top rank. Singapore's success in the eyes of the global community is testimony to the foresight, wisdom and grit of our founding fathers and their successors. They had the courage to implement pragmatic policies, and today, we reap the benefits. Investors come to take advantage of our open and free economy. We are highly competitive because our workers have good skills and are hardworking. Our defence capabilities give us peace and security. We have good schools, excellent healthcare, affordable homes. We live happy and productive lives. Yes, Mr Low Thia Khiang, we have souls. Underlying our successful policies was a core value and principle: that every citizen would be given the opportunity to develop and to excel, each according to his or her ability. There was no discrimination by gender, or race, or religion. The inherent fairness of a meritocratic system motivated all to work hard, in the knowledge that their sacrifice would be rewarded, and their children and grandchildren would know a better life. They succeeded, and today all Singaporeans enjoy a higher standard of living in Singapore, our best home. Mr Speaker, Sir, today, other countries in the region have implemented similar policies. Their economic programmes and principles of governance may not entirely be the same as ours, but in their own way, they too have made progress. And increasingly, they compete with us for investments and for jobs.”