Eric Cheong Yuen Chee
Singapore
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head Q be reduced by $10 in respect of Code QI 1000 of the Main Estimates. The Minister has announced the issue of new identity cards. Since it affects the vast majority of the population the registration process should be made more convenient.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as we all know, ambulance services are run by the Singapore Fire Service and also by the Government hospitals. As there is an increasing need for the sick and aged to be transported from place to place, many of these cases are non-emergency cases requiring an ambulance run by the Fire Service.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head Q be reduced by $10 in respect of Code QH 1000 of the Main Estimates. Sir, at present a work permit holder who marries a Singapore citizen without getting prior approval from the Commissioner for Employment is banned permanently from entering Singapore.”
“Sir, my other colleagues have a wide range of subjects on the drug control. I have just one point to make, and that is, whether the Minister will consider the confiscation of vehicles used in the transportation of illegal drugs. This is different from confiscation of assets that may belong to the drug traffickers.”
“Police, because of limited manpower, will emphasize high efficiency and optimum use and deployment for all the various functions, and greater emphasis will be given to mechanization and computerization. But while doing all this, the Police must continue to strive to get public support and community support.”
“Sir, the points that I wish to raise have already been covered by the Member for Boon Teck. But I have just one little point, and that is, to reinforce his argument that there is a reduction in manpower in the NPP. Originally it was eight per shift, now it has been reduced to four.”
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“Sir, point of clarification, I have never called my constituency the "Chicago of Singapore". In fact, I am trying to discourage people from calling it that, particularly the press. Prof. Wong Lin Ken: Mr Speaker, Sir, when I say that the state of crime in Singapore does reflect that our police force has shown a higher degree of operational efficiency, I do not at any moment suggest that it is not trying to reduce the crime rate. I am trying to say that our crime position is not alarming. 6.30 p.m. With regard to the school for detectives, a group of people are working on the reorganisation of the Criminal Investigation Department. One of their proposals is that we should have such a school, and its desirability and feasibility is at the moment under review. At various times Members of the House have referred to cases of corruption of the traffic police. Investigation is still going on, and I do not think it is proper for me to say anything at this point of time. But I do want to take the opportunity to say that if some members of the traffic police are moved out of the Traffic Division, there should be no conclusion at all that they are involved, because some of them are transferred out merely as a matter of routine. The Member for Potong Pasir has raised the question of victimisation on the part of the traffic police. Last year alone there were 260,735 reports of traffic offences. I should have thought that if a policeman wants to victimise anybody, he would be standing there and could not be doing his duty properly. But I think the traffic police has been enforcing the law impartially, and the fact that there are so many cases of traffic offences is an indication in that direction.”
“Sir, I am also not moving my amendment. The sum of $12,604,810 for Head 1108 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. Head 1109 - The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ng Yeow Chong - That the sum to be allocated for Head 1109 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 2013.”
“(3) That the sum to be allocated for Head 1108 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1581.”
“Point of clarification, Sir. The Minister has said that the fittings which I have mentioned are regarded as an encroachment on a common area. I beg to differ; they are not. They are actually installed within their own premises.”
“For instance, there is a case of a family whose two children were murdered. Their application for a transfer to another flat or an early allocation of a sale flat met with the same negative response. As regards the lifts, it appears that the policy of the Board, in accepting the lowest tenders for lifts, has resulted in poor quality lifts being installed in the Board's flats. Frequent breakdowns, inadequate ventilation, rusty interiors, inferior fittings like indicator knobs where the signs are obliterated after a short time of usage, are fairly common. When you enter a lift in a Housing Board flat, you have a feeling of insecurity. Whether the lift will move up or get stuck halfway is a matter of interest. It is never a smooth journey when you travel in a Housing Board lift. Sometimes the lift vibrates or emits a grumbling noise which sends shivers down your spine. I hope, Sir, the Minister will look into these problems and try to rectify them wherever possible. 3.00 p.m.”
“To solve the problem, I would suggest that the Board restrict the parking of buses, commercial vehicles and taxis to the larger car parks which are less used and to review the demarcation of the smaller ones to ensure optimum usage of the space available. On the question of play areas, in reply to a question raised in the previous sitting, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Law and National Development (National Development Division) stated that play areas are now provided by the Board on the ground floor of flats. This is indeed welcome news, particularly to the lower-income group. However, may I point out to the House that the play areas mentioned are located in the west sector of Toa Payoh. There are none in the east sector where there are more people of the lower-income group. There are 20 blocks of one-room flats in the east sector compared to seven only in the west. In order to meet the recreational needs of residents in the east sector, may I suggest that the Board consider resiting some of the ground floor residents in the one-room flats so that these flats could be converted into play areas? One question that always irritates tenants is the applications for transfers. Most applications for transfers are from smaller to larger units or from larger to smaller units. There is a tendency for the Board to treat all applications alike, irrespective of whether it is a deserving case or not. The usual reply is that all vacant flats are reserved for resettlement cases and applicants are requested to wait for their turn, which can be for months or years. I see the need for the Board to reserve vacant flats for resettlement cases. But allowing a transfer does not fill such vacant flats. It merely creates another vacancy elsewhere.”
“There are others who are unemployable for various reasons. It is better to allocate stalls to such people than to let them subsist on public assistance. Because of a shortage of stalls and unsuitable location, there is an increase in the number of unauthorised hawkers in Toa Payoh. The location of the market near Block 18 has also given rise to numerous complaints from residents. Due to the close proximity of this market and the hawker stalls, residents have complained of flies and noise nuisance coming from the stalls day and night. The noise starts from 5 am, in the morning when stallholders arrive in the market to prepare for the day's work. At night, the cooked food hawkers also join in. The noise from the conversation of stallholders in the early hours of the morning and the banging of frying pans at night disturbs the peace of the residents. As a result, many of them have indicated that they wish to sell their flats and go elsewhere. I would suggest that future sites for markets and hawker centres should be so located that they are further away from the residential area. With regard to car parks, much has been said in the local press about inadequate car parking facilities in Toa Payoh. I must say that, overall, there are adequate parking areas in Toa Payoh, but the location of such parking areas leaves much to be desired. Here, the planners have failed to make a proper assessment of the situation. Large and spacious car parks are located near to the one-room and two-room flats, for example, near Blocks 45, 44, 28, 30 and 99. Car parks near the sold properties are much smaller. Common sense will tell us where the demand for parking space is. Block 99 is mainly used by unauthorised hawkers.”
“The Board maintains that if the occupier has been in residence in a flat for more than six months, it is not responsible for such repairs. I believe there is one such building regulation which favours the Board. It is absurd for the Board, on the one hand, to disclaim responsibility for repairs to these defects and, on the other hand, to discourage owners from improving their flats. The defects mentioned usually appear after the six-month period of residence. Representations were made to me by the flat-owners and complaints were brought to the notice of the Board, but so far no satisfactory solution has been found. Most of these defects are due to the negligence on the part of the Board's contractors. Debris is conveniently dumped into drainage pipes and toilets, thereby choking the whole system and affecting several floors in some instances. The Board should exercise more stringent supervision of the contractors and impose penalties if they are found to be negligent, like barring them from further contracts for a period of time. Here again, Sir, I would like to mention the irresponsible attitude of some contract workers in defacing and dirtying partially completed buildings in Toa Payoh. It is not uncommon to find human excreta in some of these buildings when visitors go up there to have a look at them. As regards hawkers, the present policy of the Housing Board in allocating stalls to bona fide hawkers only has caused hardships to some residents, particularly those staying in one-room flats. With more one-room flats coming up in Toa Payoh, more people will be taking up petty hawking as a means of supplementing their income. There are residents who because of tragic circumstances, have to take to hawking to earn a decent living.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, it is a well-known fact that the achievements of the Housing and Development Board in public housing have earned praise, both locally and internationally. However, there are some matters concerning public housing that require the attention of the Minister. There are various problems facing flat-owners and tenants in Toa Payoh that give rise to irritations and misunderstanding. One of this is the Housing Board's attitude in prohibiting flat-owners from making improvements to their own flats no matter how minor they are. As a flat-owner surely one can be permitted to make improvements to enhance one's own property provided such improvements do not alter or damage the structure of the building. Flat-owners always have difficulties with the Housing Board over the fitting of louvered windows, metal grills, gate canopies and even colour schemes for such fittings. As a matter of fact, the Board is now taking legal action against several flat-owners for installing louvered windows in preference to the casement type installed by the Housing Board. No one in his right senses would take the trouble to make alterations to existing fittings or install new fittings which obviously cost money if they do not serve a useful purpose. If a flat-owner feels that the fittings installed by the Housing Board are not up to his expectations, he should be allowed to change them. We should encourage flat-owners and tenants to keep the environment attractive instead of discouraging them. The other problem concerns defects like cracked floors, cracked ceilings, and choked and leaking pipes. Here the dispute is who should be responsible for repairing such defects.”
“Sir, I think the Minister of State for Labour has missed one very important point. There are two procedures for processing an application for a work permit. If the applicant is a holder of a Singapore blue identity card, he goes through the usual process and his application is dealt with expeditiously. But for those who come from Malaysia or elsewhere, in addition to submitting applications to the Work Permits Office, they also have to submit applications to the Immigration Department for visit passes. I believe this is where the delay is caused.”
“Sir, it is quite often that the Employment Exchange officers accept applications for all categories of work like hospital servants, school servants, cleaners and sweepers although there are practically no such vacancies. This gives rise to ~i lot of misunderstanding between the registrants and the Employment Exchange. In most cases, these people go to their M.P.s and complain. I wonder whether it would not be desirable for the officers in the Employment Exchange to give at least some indication to people who go there for registration as to how long they have to wait for certain categories of jobs.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in view of the Minister's reply, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Against this, despite the ostensible purpose of the two instruments, the general impression created by the absolute and blanket character of the provisions of the two instruments is that of panic and anxiety on the part of Government that it may not be able to find jobs for its national servicemen on their return to civilian life. Another conclusion could be restriction of the employer's right to hire does not prejudice the climate for foreign investment as long as the scope for profit-making is not affected. It then seems more probable since there can be no doubt about the employers' right being drastically curtailed. In that case, where does it leave the trade union movement which unquestionably supported the Government's employment legislation in 1968 on the grounds advanced by the Government? Lastly, Mr Speaker, Sir, the establishment of a national labour exchange will be a means, though more expensive and intricate, of achieving the purpose of the two instruments. 4.15 p.m.”
“Among the categories of employees expressly exempted under the Order from the ambit of the National Service (Employment) Act are managerial and executive personnel in receipt of a monthly salary of not less than $1,920. The question is, why exemption on the basis of salary and not skill? It is likely for more national servicemen to be competent to hold managerial and executive positions than to become highly skilled artisans, such as welders or mechanics. The suspicion that the two instruments are designed to cope with the problem of the high rate of turnover of labour is further strengthened, for highly skilled artisans are very much in demand and very difficult to replace. Managerial and executive personnel, unless they are technical and experienced are not all that indispensable. A further point is that fixing a limit of $1,920 will be an added argument for foreign firms to bring in expatriate personnel. Since they can only freely employ executives at such higher salary, they may as well obtain what they consider to be the real McCoys. In enacting these two instruments, Government is restricting the right of the employer to hire. At the time of enacting the Employment Act in 1968, one of the reasons put forward by Government for the need to give employers an unfettered right to hire and fire is the urgency of maintaining a congenial atmosphere for foreign investment. A valid conclusion, therefore, is that the need for foreign investment is not so urgent, which seems probable in the light of governmental pronouncements about the spate of new employment opportunities over the next few years.”
“As the two instruments stand at present, coupled with the employer's right to hire, as enshrined in the Industrial Relations Ordinance, if an employee in such a situation chooses to refuse to make an application for exemption or appeal against the refusal of the Director in respect of prospective employees who are ex-union members or likely to be union members, there is nothing the trade unions or the Minister for Labour can do. The end result would be that the trade union position would be further weakened in Singapore. There are some further points that I would like to ask the Minister. What is the purpose of the two instruments? Apparently an inducement for citizens to accept national service willingly and enthusiastically and penalise those citizens who shirk or refuse or begrudge national service. If that is the case, then many citizens are being unfairly penalised. For example, (a) those in age groups not called up for national service; (b) those who are genuinely debarred from national service on grounds of medical or physical infirmity; and (c) those who are unfortunate to be female citizens. No consideration and credit are given to persons who are not eligible for registration under the National Service (Employment) Act but who voluntarily offer their services in military, para-military and civic organisations in the republic. Such persons should also be entitled to preferential treatment if that is the policy of the Government. For their civic consciousness and devotion to their civic obligations, such persons are as deserving as, if not more than, the national servicemen of the gratitude of the republic.”
“I am, however, more concerned with the absence of provisions for trade unions or the workers concerned to institute or to be represented at proceedings before the Board. The very fact that there is provision for the N.T.U.C, to be represented at every session of the Board indubitably indicates that the matter of exemption does not concern only the employers and the Director. Trade unions and workers are interested in the fair and equitable operation of the exemption provision in so far as it pertains to the right of a person to work. While the N.T.U.C. nominees on the Board can be expected to look after the interest of workers, it would be illogical and unreasonable to expect an N.T.U.C. nominee on the Board to do full justice to the interest of labour in any deliberation of the Board if all the facts pertaining to an application for exemption are not adduced before the Board and he does not know the facts himself. A provision, therefore, should be made for an individual trade union or worker who is more conversant with such facts to be represented before the Board either in support of or against any application for exemption. A similar provision should also be made for an individual union or group of workers to be permitted to make an application for exemption in respect of any category or class of workers in the absence of non-availability of registered persons.”
“It may seem that a provision for appeal by the employee concerned against a decision of the Director under Part V of the Rules may be necessary and reasonable. To return to my point, Sir, the provision of section 3 of the Order, while seeking to assure employment opportunities for former national servicemen seems to be tantamount to an "overkill" provision in restricting the scope of all other persons for changing employment or finding alternative employment. In our dynamic society, it is inevitable and healthy that there should be a reasonable degree of turnover of labour. Moreover, employers are not averse to exercising their powers to hire and fire practically at will under our present laws. Doubts have therefore arisen whether unions can now persuade employers to re-engage workers who have been retrenched or dismissed in circumstances where no reinstatement by the Minister for Labour is possible. Theoretically, employers can apply for exemption under the Rules. But from trade union experience, I think it is more likely that the employers will use the exemption provision as an added argument against re-engagement. The second point of clarification which I wish to seek is in relation to Part V of the Rules governing the Appeals Board. Is it the intention of the Government that the Appeals Board's decisions are not to be treated as precedents and that the decisions are relevant to and binding upon the respective employers who appear before the Board, somewhat similar to the awards of the Industrial Arbitration Court? There may be compelling arguments on the grounds of consistency, and certainly the decisions of the Appeals Board should be made to apply to other cases of a similar nature.”
“Under rule 7 (2) , the Director is empowered to ref use to issue a new employment card to a registered person unless he is satisfied that there is sufficient justification to warrant a change of employment. Such a provision can in itself result in a great amount of dissatisfaction being generated among ex-national servicemen, as judgment may vary from Director to Director. It is patently desirable that the range of opinions among the various incumbents of the post of Director in the years to come is narrowed down to within ascertainable limits by Ministerial guidance or otherwise. The importance of knowing what will constitute satisfaction to the Director can perhaps be best illustrated by this hypothetical example. A registered person may wish to have a change of employment by reason of what he considers to be in his own best interest. He intends to effect such change of employment by giving up his current job for a lower-paid position but with much better prospects. It would be tragic if he is to be prevented from changing his employment because the Director is not satisfied with his reason. It would be more tragic if eventually he is forced to resign his job out of unhappiness but after the five-year period when he is no longer entitled to any preferential treatment. Incidentally, there does not seem to be any safeguard against the Director making an adverse decision against a registered person through becoming unduly susceptible to the persuasive charms of employers, who may be plagued by a high turnover of the labour force, if such charms are exercised in circumstances completely devoid of any suggestion of corruption or graft.”
“Mr Speaker. Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 0401 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1007. Sir, I rise to speak in the hope of obtaining clarification of certain provisions in the National Servicemen Employment) Rules, 1970, and the National Servicemen (Employment) (Private Employers and Statutory Bodies) Order. 1970, made by the Minister of Defence in pursuance of section 11 and section 5 (1) of the National Servicemen (Employment) Act. 1970. The two instruments in question have already been gazetted and have come into operation with effect from 2nd January. 1971. It is amply clear that the purpose of the instruments is to fulfil the assurance of the Government to provide adequate employment opportunities to national servicemen after completion of their tour of duty. No one, whether inside or outside this House who considers himself to be a true and responsible citizen of the republic, can deny that the provision of adequate employment opportunities for our young citizens who have undergone national service is the least that the republic can do by way of showing gratitude to them. The relative novelty and wide scope of the provisions of the two instruments, however, have given rise to much misgivings and anxiety among workers who have not been national servicemen. Certain of the provisions, which I will be referring to in a little while, can do with some necessary amplification and clarification, not only in the provisions themselves but also in their underlying purpose. Until an authoritative statement is made to such effect, undue confusion and worry is bound to exist. The first point of clarification which I am seeking is in relation to rule 7 (2) of the Rules and section 3 of the Order.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to make a few observations on clause 8 of the Bill. Will the Minister consider making it an offence for bus drivers to stop their vehicles along the route without reasonable grounds, thus causing inconvenience to the travelling public? There are some instances where bus drivers in certain Chinese bus companies make it a habit of stopping their buses along the route when one of their buses is involved in an accident, whether it is a minor or a serious one, and to lend moral or physical support to the driver involved in the accident. We have recently heard about the skirmishes that took place in Toa Payoh when buses from two companies stopped their services for a period of more than four hours, thus causing serious inconvenience to the travelling public.”
“Sir, I would like to touch on one or two points which are possible loopholes for cigarette and tobacco manufacturers to circumvent. The first point is that from the $3 million or more saved, it is pretty certain that the cigarette and tobacco companies will manufacture articles like ashtrays and cigarette lighters outside Singapore for distribution to the public. They will also make articles like diaries and pencils for free distribution and invariably most of these articles will fall into the hands of young children, particularly school children. I think this will indirectly promote the sales of cigarettes. Another possible loophole is that there is no provision to prevent a tobacco company from encouraging people to purchase certain brands of cigarettes by offering indirect inducements like if you return 10 empty packets of a certain brand of cigarette, you wilt be entitled to certain articles. This may be a possible loophole. In conclusion, I would like to support the passing of this Bill. 7.08 p.m.”
“Sir, I was only seeking clarification. I am not asking a supplementary question. HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD FLATS (Payment of water-meter rent) 9. Mr Cheong Yuen Chee asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will ascertain from the Public Utilities Board why some owners of Housing and Development Board flats are required to pay water-meter rent and some are not.”
“Sir, as regards the answer to Question 8 (a) , I do not think that is the position. I wrote two letters to the Housing and Development Board. One was to the Estates Officer for the same case, and the application was turned down. The other letter was addressed to the Chairman of the Allocation Committee and, the reply was also in the negative. As regards Question 8 (c) - the provision of playrooms for children on the ground floors of flats - the blocks of flats mentioned by the Parliamentary Secretary are in the west and central areas. But there are no such facilities in the east.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, my question is framed in such a way that I am asking whether this facility can be extended only to owner-occupiers who are unemployed or in straitened circumstances. I agree with the Minister that it should not be done for all owner-occupiers. In my meet-the-people sessions, I have come across people who had utilised their C.P.F, deposits to purchase a Housing Board flat and, after a year or so, they found themselves out of a job, and because of age and other circumstances, they were unable to obtain any alternative employment and so were in no position to pay the property tax.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in view of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendments stood in the name of Madam Chan Choy Siong - (4) That the sum to be allocated for Head 1102 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1151. (5) That the sum to be allocated for Head 1102 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1181.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 1102 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1101*. (* The same amendment also stood in the name of Madam Chan Choy Siong). Mr Speaker, Sir, Toa Payoh is a fast expanding satellite town and more and more people are moving in to stay in the estate. The bulk of the population in this estate are workers. Most of them cannot afford to employ servants or baby-sitters to look after their own children while they are at work. Many of these young children are left alone to look after themselves. In some cases, these young children are locked inside their homes without any adult to look after them. There is therefore a need to provide amenities such as a children's centre or a creche for the residents in Toa Payoh. May I know from the Minister whether any provision has been made to provide the residents of Toa Payoh with these amenities?”
“When they were in Malaysia, they had work permits in order to be able to work. When their work permits were withdrawn, they wanted to bring their families to Singapore. The men were allowed to come in, but not their wives and children.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in the past many of our citizens have gone across the Causeway to seek employment. The recent action by the Malaysian Government to restrict employment opportunities to our citizens has forced many of them to return to Singapore to earn a living. During their period of residence in Malaysia, many of these citizens have raised families there. For obvious reasons, the members of their families have taken out Malaysian identity cards. The men-folk, however, were allowed entry into Singapore without any restriction, but not the wives and children of these citizens. I have raised this problem with the Immigration Department, and was surprised to receive a reply stating that the people concerned could only apply for social visit passes for the members of their family in this instance, as there is no provision in the regulations to enable them to return to Singapore for permanent residence. Will the Minister consider measures to assist the families of these Singapore citizens who are affected by the Malaysian Government's action to return and reside permanently in Singapore?”
“Imagine empty oil drums and rattan loaded into the lorry and their height is two or three times that of the lorry. This can create a very dangerous situation for other road users. I hope the Minister for Communications will take notice of such undesirable practices and stop them from being continued. As regards the bus services in Singapore, we all know that the Singapore Traction Company has a virtual monopoly of city routes. Since it is unable to provide an efficient and frequent service for bus users, I wonder whether the Minister will consider other alternative measures like allowing other bus companies to ply these routes until such time as the S.T.C. can improve their services. There are also frequent break-downs of the Company's buses. In Toa Payoh, this Company has more than half a dozen bus services running. This gives the false impression that it is providing a proper service to the people. But the truth of the matter is that only a minimum number of buses are being used. Can the Minister for Communications look into this matter and try to improve the bus services in the new town?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, with the increase in the tempo of our industrialisation programme, more and more goods are being transported by road. It is not an uncommon sight to see small vehicles carrying large loads and big vehicles carrying loads twice their length. Vehicles which are not designed for certain types of haulage are used indiscriminately along our roads, thereby posing a grave danger to other road users. Sir, I have witnessed three incidents along the roads in Singapore. One incident was along Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim. A lorry, stacked high with crates of knocked-down units of motorcar spare parts, was negotiating a bend when half a dozen of these crates fell on to the road. Fortunately, my car, which was following behind, was quite some distance away. In another instance at Queenstown Circus, a lorry, carrying goods which were inadequately secured, was negotiating the circus when part of the load fell off the vehicle. In this instance, my car was also following behind, but fortunately nothing untoward happened. In the third instance, a lorry, carrying a lot of steel rods which were twice the length of the lorry itself, was going up a steep incline when suddenly the front of the lorry upended and all the steel rods fell on to the road. As I said, I wonder whether the Registry of Vehicles has any regulations preventing owners of lorries from stacking their vehicles with goods that are two or three times as high as the lorry or goods that are twice the length of the lorry. It is also a common practice for transport contractors to make the maximum use of their vehicles. For instance, if the lorry is licensed to carry three tons, they will stack goods in it weighing about three tons.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in the last Budget sitting I did raise the question of provision of a full range of postal facilities for the residents in Toa Payoh. The Minister for Communications then said that it was anticipated that the Postal Services Department would be able to provide such services during the latter part of 1969. The number of residents in Toa Payoh has now nearly doubled, and many light industries are being set up in the estate. Two of them are already in operation. In view of this, will the Minister indicate when the Postal Services Department will be able to provide such facilities to the general public in Toa Payoh?”
“No, Sir, I agree that $5 is not a big sum. But unfortunately, the flat owner does not know the amount he is liable to pay until he receives the notice of assessment months later.”
“The explanation given was that that this fee is for the issue of demand notice and warrant in respect of tax outstanding which was not made known, until months after. If the Property Tax Division had been prompt in issuing assessment notices, such a situation would not have arisen. Mr Speaker, Sir, $5 is not a big sum for any flat owner to pay, but is it fair to penalise a person for not paying what he owes when he is not given the opportunity to know how much he is owing in the first instance, and then subsequently he is allowed to settle his arrears by monthly instalments? In order to avoid penalising the ratepayers unduly, may I respectfully suggest that the Property Tax Division issue notices of assessment to flat owners within a reasonable period of their occupying their flats? By ensuring that the estimated amount of tax payable is made known in time to the owner-occupiers, they can make provision to pay the tax before it is due. I am sure some arrangements can be made between the Property Tax Division and the Housing and Development Board offices to collect their keys to the flats. If the Minister can look into this matter urgently, the owner-occupiers of Housing and Development Board flats will have one unnecessary frustration less.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the recent decision by the Government to reduce the rate of property tax in respect of owner-occupied Housing and Development Board flats is indeed a most welcome move. This move is another indication of Government's policy to support and encourage a property-owning democracy. The Government is also to be congratulated on resolving the anomalies in the rates of assessment for similar properties. The rectification of such anomalies greatly benefits the flat owners, the majority of whom are wage-earners. There is one point, however, to which I would like to draw the Minister's attention. That is the manner in which notices of assessment are issued. In most cases, such notices are served on flat owners several months after they have moved into the flats. In some instances after a period of more than one year. This inevitably gives rise to a situation where a flat owner is confronted with a property tax bill amounting to a few hundred dollars in respect of the property tax for the past several months or year. As you are aware, Mr Speaker, Sir, very few wage-earners can afford to pay such a huge bill in one lump sum. Even the Housing and Development Board is aware of this problem and the Minister for Law and National Development has now permitted the inclusion of legal fees, stamp duty, etc. into the housing loan so as to enable the purchaser of Housing Board flats to pay such fees by instalments Although the Property Tax Division has allowed flat owners to settle their arrears by monthly instalments, it imposes a fee of $5 for late payment by default. Such a fee adds insult to injury as the delay in payment was occasioned not by the default of the ratepayer but by the Property Tax Division through its failure to issue its advice on time.”
“If the unions concerned are prepared to foot the bill, will the Minister consider operating such a scheme for retrenched workers in the private sector in conjunction with that accorded to service personnel?”
“May I suggest that the Ministry look into this matter and ensure that goods of exceptional length are conveyed in trailers, unless the vehicle so used is of sufficient length to accommodate at least two- thirds of the length of such materials.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to raise some points on safety measures for haulage vehicles. It is not an uncommon sight nowadays to see goods- carrying vehicles flouting safety regulations with im punity. For instance, take the lorries that convey materials such as steel rods, concrete beams and oil drums along the public roads. Some of these concrete beams and steel rods are nearly twice as long as the lorry itself. I am sure that this constitutes a safety hazard. There are also vehicles that are licensed to carry goods up to a certain tonnage, depending on the size and capacity of the vehicle. Some of the transport contractors have taken advantage of this regulation and they pile up goods several feet high on their lorries. To make matters worse, the attendants sit on top of the goods. Two months ago, in Jurong, I noticed a lorry conveying four large crates of knocked-down car units which were not secured with rope, and while rounding a circus, one of the crates fell on the road. It was fortunate that there were no vehicles around at that time, otherwise it could have caused a very serious accident. Another factor contributing to accidents is the traffic-indicators on lorries and buses. Many lorries --particularly earth-carrying lorries - are covered with mud and some of them have no lenses. So no one will know whether the lights are red or white. There is also the position of the indicators. Some of them are hidden below the rear fenders of the vehicles. They are very difficult to see until one is two feet away from the vehicles.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head Head 0806 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1001*. 7.15 p.m. Sir, I believe that it was in January 1966 that the Government took over Cable and Wireless Limited. The integration exercise has since been in progress. I wonder whether the Minister will inform the House of the progress made so far in the integration exercise and, particularly, I shall be pleased if the Minister will answer the following queries: (1) Is it not true that there are undue delays in the integration exercise? If so, what are the causes of the delay? (2) Is it not true that the union representing the workers in the Telecommunications Department has been refused permission by the Director of Telecommunications to be present even as observers in such integration exercise on the flimsy excuse that the discussions do not concern them? (3) Is it not true that offers have been made to the staff who were former employees of Cable and Wireless Limited that might put the staff of the original Telecommunications Department in a very unfavourable position? (4) In view of the foregoing, can the Minister say that he is satisfied that the integration talks do not concern members of the Singapore Government Technical Services Union and, therefore, they need not be represented at such talks? (5) Can the Minister say when this integration exercise will be completed and whether delays in this exercise have caused any loss to public funds?”
“1 would submit that the best way to cultivate such a desirable interest is for management to declare categorically that the workers shall be entitled to a fair share of any distributable profit. In this event, the workers will see that it is in their direct self-interest to increase productivity and thereby to enhance the profitability of the undertaking which employs them. For they know that the higher the profitability, the larger the bonuses that will accrue to them. There are some other considerations which I would urge the Minister for Labour and his colleagues to consider more carefully when the leader of the N.T.U.C. moves his amendments to this clause. Not to do so would be to turn a deaf ear to sane and rational arguments, which is what the Government professes to encourage in the trade union movement. 4.50 p.m.”
“Long established banks, insurance companies, petroleum companies and various other commercial undertakings, which have long enjoyed comfortable or more than comfortable profit margins, have been in the habit of paying annual bonuses to their employees without any qualms and. indeed, quite cheerfully. Such payments have very often been sanctioned or awarded by the Industrial Arbitration Court. Every year millions of dollars are being distributed to commercial employees by way of bonus payments. It is now proposed to remove these annual payments altogether from the sphere of collective bargaining. Indeed, assuming that all bonus payments are stopped, can the Government tell us what employers will do with these millions of dollars which they have been in the habit of distributing annually as bonus payments? Does the Government have any guarantee that all these large sums of money will go into reinvestment in Singapore? The chances are that they will go into nothing of this kind. Rather they are likely to go into private pockets. I can give up the benefit gladly if I am convinced that the surrender of this benefit will lead to greater social benefit. But in this case I have no such assurance. All I know is that the bonus payments will, in all likelihood, be taken away without leading to any corresponding social benefit. Indeed, the only outcome of my renunciation is that the bulging purses of a few will bulge even more. The Government has not given sufficient thought to the fact that bonus payments can be made to serve as an incentive to increased productivity. We all know that it is desirable to give an increase in the profitability of an undertaking.”
“It is to the lasting credit of the people of Singapore that they have thrown up a political leadership which refuses to play up to any sectional gallery but, instead, has the courage to take the people into their confidence and tell them, even brutally, the harsh facts of economic life. The Government has placed a premium on intelligent trade unionism. It must, therefore, be prepared to subject the measures it proposes in this Bill to intelligent and searching criticisms. Other trade union colleagues in this House have touched on various aspects of this Bill and have pointed out some of its serious defects and shortcomings. For my part, I would like to ask the Government to re-examine very carefully the provision in clause 47 which proposes to remove bonus payments altogether from the sphere of collective bargaining. Let me grant straightaway that bonus payments have sometimes been abused and that there have been occasions when profit sharing bonuses were claimed even when no profits existed. Let me also grant that potential investors may not be forthcoming if such abuses are not checked and if unions are expected to demand bonus payments even before any industries have established themselves on a stable and profitable basis. Throw the bath water out by all means. But must the baby also be thrown out with the bath water? This, in effect, is what this particular provision proposes to do. The more intelligent thing to do would be to provide the necessary checks to prevent obvious abuses. I would ask the Government to give serious consideration to the observations which I propose to offer.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, they are not wanting in Singapore, people who give no thought for the future and who seem to think that the purpose of trade unionism is generally not to think at all but to rave and rant, to strike up heroic postures and beat the war drums of industrial strife. This is the kind of trade unionism that has led to all the broken-back States which today litter the developing world. Judging by some of the anonymous correspondents who get regular publicity in the Eastern Sun, it is apparent that the formidable and daunting economic challenges which await the people of Singapore just around the corner do not concern these gentlemen at all. They are more interested in painting the leaders of this Republic as a lot of anti-labour ghouls and accusing the responsible trade union leadership of being stooges. If we go by the standards which these anonymous cowards set, then the one qualification which no trade unionist should possess on any account is the capacity for careful thought and analysis in depth. Rather should trade unionists say, in effect, to blazes with the unemployment problem, and to blazes with the need to create 100,000 new jobs by the early 1970s, or to blazes with everything except the satisfaction of the organised creed of the labour movement. It is to the lasting credit of the labour movement in Singapore that today we can boast to a much larger extent than previously of the trade union leadership which thinks in terms of social priorities and of the collective effort and discipline necessary if the people of Singapore are to survive in the gruelling years ahead. Not for us any more the empty-headed sloganising of the past, nor the striking of idiotic and thoughtless postures.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have stated at the outset that I have only a few words to say, but perhaps I ought to amend that by saying that I have had quite a few words to say. I should like to end here as I began, by saying that except for the views expressed by me, I support the President's Speech. 5.34 p.m.”
“Member who spoke before me and would urge the Government to consider seriously the setting up of a retrenchment and! or unemployment insurance scheme. The ranks of the unemployed are already massive without the retrenched workers swelling their ranks. The price we have to pay for such a restive, displaced and literate population is too heavy. In many developing countries, Marxist theory has won great appeal. Our task is to see that this threat does not become real. If radical changes must come, be it in the Employment Bill or elsewhere, I plead that this threat be borne in mind. Finally, the proposed additional Central Provident Fund contributions are indeed commendable. I should like to consider this in relation to the civil service employees when they resign. The present Government regulations are such that when an employee resigns, he does not get a cent by way of gratuity or accrued retirement benefits. This is the case irrespective of whether the employee has served five or 15 years. We are all agreed that such regulations are trappings of a colonial era intended to exploit the workers in a colony. We are further agreed that the Government, being the largest employer, must be a model employer in terms of fairness and justice to its employees. I maintain that if the Government is a government of the people, it must rid itself of the vestiges of colonial trappings and give its employees a fair deal. I therefore urge the Government to consider granting gratuities and such other relevant benefits when their employees resign.. Forfeitures may possibly be made where an employee resigns in order to avoid dismissal. Such entitlement then may be put into the proposed second Central Provident Fund contribution scheme.”
“Sir, I am wondering what the Government seeks to drive at by limiting such fringe benefits. Does the Government hope, along with the proposed 44-hour week, to provide a wider spread of employment? If the answer is in the affirmative, then I beg to submit that something has gone wrong with my little head and the heads of many people who share my view. The effects of limiting fringe benefits are not inconsequential in terms of morale as well as money. When examined closely, this is tantamount to a subtle wage cut. Mr Speaker, Sir, I repeat - a subtle wage cut. I am not an economist, but the House will recall that not so long ago the necessity for expenditure was emphasised, expenditure to counter recession. The necessity for expenditure was argued on the ground that "expenditure generates income and creates employment". My argument is this. In order to spend, we need income. If income is cut, how much can we spend? Further, as presented earlier, there is the argument for non-extension of the 39-hour week on the ground that additional jobs will then be created. With the availability of jobs and income, expenditure is forthcoming. All this results again in the creation of further employment, greater economic growth and high morale. I am not unaware of the proposed second Central Provident Fund contribution which, for the purpose of collective bargaining, would count as part of the wage bill. But I have doubts whether this compulsory contribution will be able to offset the losses that arise with the proposed Employment Bill. The spate of retrenchment has grown quite alarmingly. I fear that the proposed Employment Bill will aggravate the situation, not mentioning the temptation of management to misuse their authority. In this connection, I would support the hon.”
“This results in an immediate rise in prices of commodities, i.e., a price mark-up. (2) When these same commodities are produced in Singapore, the prices are the same, if not higher than the marked-up prices. (3) Even when productivity is increased by virtue of the smallness of the local market, the producers are not likely to demonstrate their concern for lower prices of their commodities. In short, coupled with the continued protection of industries, a take-it-or-leave-it attitude will prevail. Who then benefits from increased productivity? Not the workers who have sweated for it and not the consumers in the domestic market. For these reasons, there arises the urgent need for a system of controls which will make it imperative for producers to lower their prices. If such a system of controls is not established to give an assurance of just rewards, it is not unreasonable to say that our workers will participate in this productivity drive with suspicion. For it would be a fair question for them to ask, "Why should I sweat it out so that my employer can make more exorbitant profits at my expense?" Incidentally, it should be borne in mind that many of these ventures are either foreign-owned or joint ventures with high participation by foreign capital. The outflow of profits would, therefore, affect our balance of payments position. On the question of limiting certain fringe benefits to lessen abuses, I should like to hazard a few guesses as to what this would mean. It would mean that paid annual leave will be reduced. As to how much is another question. It would mean that a number of paid public holidays will be out. It would mean that the worker's entitlement of sick leave will be reduced whether drastically or not is to be seen.”
“I do not suggest for one moment that excessive over-time should be encouraged in the face of massive unemployment. But the basis upon which excessive over-time must be curbed is so that people can be employed and national income may be increased. The basis is not for the purpose of exploitation of labour. Yet this is what it will amount to if overtime work is curbed on the one hand and hours of work are extended on the other. I fear, that this so-called comprehensive Employment Bill that is to come is nothing but a cock-eyed and retrogressive policy. It is to be noted that among the measures to be implemented in order to achieve the objective of economic growth is one which seeks to "limit certain fringe benefits to lessen abuses and increase productivity". I propose to deal with the aspect of productivity first. It is agreed that the ultimate goal of increased productivity is to raise the standard of living, not the cost of living. In other words, such a drive is calculated to achieve greater economic growth and high morale. This is certainly another laudable move. The success of a productivity drive may best be evidenced in the lowering of prices of goods and services. It has been mentioned earlier that the sum total of a man's high morale constitutes, amongst other things, not merely his income, but rather what his money can buy. Is any drive to increase productivity likely to result in lower price levels? I humbly submit, Mr Speaker, Sir, that the chances are not too bright. At least not unless some form of price control is established. I submit the following reasons for maintaining price controls which are necessary before lower domestic prices can result: (1) Protection of infant industries, necessitating the imposition of import quotas and restrictions.”
“This goal of the Government, if achieved, will go towards promoting economic growth and raising morale. How, it may be asked, does it bring about high morale? It is evident by way of an illustration that a man with five mouths to feed will surely feel greatly relieved when his son gets a job, let alone the prospect of a bigger family income. The fact that there is one dependent less to feed means that there is more to go round the rest. Therefore, the Government's objectives of economic growth and high morale cannot but gain high commendation. But does the proposed legislation of a 44-hour week help in any way towards achieving these two objectives? Further, does it in any way help towards a wider spread of employment? Sir, I respectfully submit that it does not. I am, of course, not unaware that certain categories of workers are presently engaged on a 44-hour week. Extension of the present 39-hour week involves the working of an additional five hours per week per worker. Assuming that 50 per cent of our employed labour force of 502,000 put in the additional five hours per week, this would total 1,255,000 hours per week. If these workers had continued with the existing 39-hour week, about 32,000 additional jobs could be created. Sir, I repeat 32,000 additional jobs. This is surely a figure to reckon with in terms of economic growth and high morale. On the question of regulation of over-time, I should like the House to see this in the light of the proposed 44-hour week as against the 39-hour week. The additional five hours per week that would be so affected represents a loss of five hours per week of overtime earnings. This is certainly not a situation conducive to high morale.”
“Yes, Sir,I am referring to the high morale consequent upon the confidence which the people will have in being able to seek a better and higher standard of living. For it must be remembered that while the Government may measure economic growth in terms of the gross national product, the ordinary citizens measure economic growth in terms of per capita income. Further, income is here seen not just in terms of dollars and cents and what that money can buy, but also in terms of what may be broadly called fringe benefits. Sad to say, it is in the proposed Employment Bill that Government policy is cock-eyed. Take the extension of the 39-hour week to a 44-hour week. We are all aware that a high percentage of the economically-active population are unemployed. Even way back in 1965 we had a labour force of 573,000 of whom 502,400 were employed. On the basis of the recent Sample Household Survey and population projections, a total of 827,775 is estimated to be the labour force in 1977. This works out to be a labour force growth rate of 3.5 per cent per annum between 1966 and 1977. This, it may interest the House, is 1.3 per cent higher than the decade from 1957 to 1966, the decade which represents the full impact of Singapore's population explosion. Incidentally, who says that Singapore's population is not productive? In short, if our labour force in 1977 is to be completely employed, something like 308,000 additional jobs will have to be created. Sir, the basic premise of the proposed Employment Bill is "to enable a wider spread of employment". This, if I may be allowed to say, is a laudable objective, bearing in mind that we have a high rate of the population dependent on the earnings of only a comparatively small income-earning group.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the President's Speech and the Addendum to the speech in general. But I should also ask to be allowed to say a few words on the objectives of the Government as outlined in the President's Speech. That economic growth, especially in the direction of increasing productivity, be the Government's objective is praiseworthy. That high morale, internationally or internally, be another objective is also praiseworthy. The fact is that high morale and economic growth go hand in hand. In order that the people can be spurred on to greater efforts towards the economic growth and prosperity of the nation, the people's morale must be kept high. I am referring to the high morale consequent upon the confidence which”