E.W. Barker
Singapore
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." This is a simple Bill which seeks to amend section 33 of the Land Acquisition Act on the amount of compensation payable to owners of land compulsorily acquired under the Act.”
“For the five-year period from 1st July, 1981 to 30th June, 1986, the HDB demolished a total of 8,098 units. As the HDB's new accounting system was only implemented from 1st April, 1985, the Board does not have ready information on the value of flats demolished prior to 1st April, 1985. RELOCATION OF CREMATORIUMS 4.”
“The HDB did not allocate any MP's office to the previous PAP MPs for Anson and Potong Pasir constituencies. NUMBER OF H.D.B. UNITS DEMOLISHED 3.”
“I would not know. Why don't you ask them? I don't know. Sir, to put things in a nutshell, it is the legal profession amongst all the professions that help in the administration of Singapore. Doctors help to cure you of diseases.”
“I am not saying it's wrong. I am not telling you stories. I am relating. So they decided to take us on. When we went into Select Committee, the first day and the later part of the second day, there was confrontation between the Committee and the lawyers.”
“As the Member for Anson would know, the Minister for Law is not in charge of prosecutions or the conduct of any criminal proceedings in court, nor does he give any directives on these matters.”
The complete record
Every one of 2,152 lines we hold for E.W. Barker, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 18 of 44.
“Sir, I will deal with the last Member first. I think he has got the wrong end of the stick. I explained earlier why it was the PWD that built bus shelters. It is because bus shelters are on public roads, the responsibility for which falls on the PWD. Hence, car parks within housing estates are the responsibility of the Housing Board. The Housing Board also does not discriminate between the haves and the have-nots. Otherwise they would not be building so many flats. To suggest that tenants with cars in Housing Board estates are the haves is also perhaps not true. Otherwise they should also not be living in Housing Board estates. As for permits to renew or repair premises the rule is that if you want to build a new house, or to reconstruct a house, or to effect substantial alterations to a building, you must get the owner's permission. If the repairs are merely repairs to the roof, you will not require the owner's permission. We realise that some owners will not give permission. There is a law which says that you cannot build on someone else's land. To get rid of this law will not be fair to the owners. If you build an unauthorised house on someone's land, he will not put his signature to a permit either to renew, repair, or rebuild. But we do enforce the law with humanity. As the Member for Jurong has pointed out, he has referred cases to me. We have been rather lenient. We have postponed demolitions. We have extended the periods. But it is part of the Member's job to get these extensions, and it is part of my job to run the department, and sometimes we agree to postponements of demolitions. If I can now briefly deal with the Member for Toa Payoh.”
“He pointed out the case of two hawkers, both doing well and one paying $170 a month for space in a shop and the other paying $35 for a stall space. To withdraw this subsidy, after having given it, would only lead to more complaints. The Member's other suggestion was to let youth organisations - perhaps he is thinking of boy scouts and girl guides -- occupy some space within housing estates so that they can organise and carry out their activities. This is a good idea. But can I point out that we have been approached by many organisations - religious organisations, charitable organisations and other organisations like the boy scouts - for space within the Housing Board estates. Frankly, we have not got enough space. To allow one would be to let in all the others. That would mean less units of flats for the people. There is, of course, the suggestion to let them use the open space at the ground floor of every multi-storey block of flats. But the practice of the Housing Board is to leave this space open and free, and for a good reason: there is fresh air and children may move around. To block up the space would only be a step backward. I hope I have dealt with all the queries, Sir.”
“If you add this figure to the 25,000 applicants who have registered to rent, the total would exceed 50,000. We hope to build 25,000 or 30,000 units this year. If we complete 30,000 units, we would have done well. But then there is still the balance of 20,000 and more will register throughout the year. Though my sympathies are with the suggestion made by the Member for River Valley, all I can tell him now is: be a little patient; their turn will come. The Member for Toa Payoh has registered some valid complaints. He complains about certain six-storey blocks of flats in Toa Payoh which have been badly constructed. First, I am glad to note that the Member has pointed out that these defects were not immediately apparent but only arose after some time. The Member will be happy to note that remedial action is being taken on the six-storey blocks referred to, and the doors, windows and floors will be put right. The Member for Toa Payoh also suggested that the system of tendering sometimes does not work out to be fair or perhaps practical. Sir, in order to give everybody a fair chance to obtain Housing Board shop premises, the lettings of the shops must be by competitive public tender, otherwise you will have complaints of bias and corruption. I would be happy to consider any alternative fair form of letting out that can be suggested by any Member of Parliament. Because of the keen competition for shops in certain locations, tendered rentals are higher than elsewhere. As for the rent of $35 of certain stalls, the subsidy was given at the persistent request of some Members of Parliament. I am glad to hear one Member saying now that he is not in favour of this subsidy because it does not work out to be fair in all cases.”
“To increase the income limit would appear to be desirable so as to look after the middle class, or the lower middle class if you like, but this will only lengthen the waiting period and waiting list. However, I agree with the Member that something should be done for this group of people. All I can say is that at the moment we cannot do anything. There are priorities. The Member for Paya Lebar complains that some of his constituents have had to wait nearly three years before getting housing accommodation. If we were to increase the income limit, I think more Members will grumble because their constituents in the lower income groups will have to wait a longer time. Perhaps Members are interested in the numbers registered to purchase Housing Board flats. As at last month, there were 56,000. But I wish to point out that of the 56,000, approximately 20,000 or 36 per cent are already in occupation of Housing Board flats. In other words, they are tenants now. They want to better themselves. Their families have grown probably. They are at the moment in occupation of one or two-room flats. So with rising affluence they get more money, the family grows, and they want to buy a bigger flat. A further breakdown of these 20,000 or 36 per cent, who are already in flats, is as follows: 2 per cent are existing owners wanting to change their purchased flats. 24 per cent are existing tenants wanting to purchase, instead of renting Housing Board flats. 10 per cent are immediate relatives now staying with registered tenants or owners in Housing Board flats, but they want to purchase their own separate accommodation. The remaining 64 per cent or 36,000 applicants are not living in Housing Board flats.”
“As I understand him, balloting should take place perhaps one, two or three months before the building is completed so that alterations can be effected with the least inconvenience. This appears to be an admirable suggestion. This has been done in the past. But this also leads to complaints from those who do not want to put in any additions or alterations or those who do not want mosaic floors. They grumble and say, "What is the use of selling me a flat if it is not completed?" So either way we hear grouses. The Member himself suggested that, whilst people are in occupation of the flats, the lifts are used to carry cement or mosaic, common corridors are thereby littered, the lifts themselves get dirty and even go out of order. This is the reason why the Housing and Development Board wants to control alterations to Housing Board flats. Without control, your neighbour upstairs may be hitting the ceiling down to you. This is why the Board must have some sort of limited control. Otherwise tenants of other floors and other units will complain. 3.15 p.m. If I can go on to the suggestion by the Member for River Valley, he suggests that the income limit for buying a Housing Board flat be raised beyond the present $1,500 a month. Sir, the income limit for home owners was, in fact, increased from $1,200 a month to $1,500 a month with effect from 1st July, 1971. A few thousand people applied, but they could only apply for 5-room flats. They have waited more than 18 months. They have not got any flat. The first of these few thousand will only get their flats at the end of this year, when about 192 units at Farrer Road will be completed.”
“If the Members are interested, I have copies of the application forms in my file for them. To provide on-the-spot service and advice to the public, sub-offices have been established at Bukit Panjang District Office (Rural West), Serangoon District Office (Rural Central) and at the former Midwives' Maternity Centre (Rural East) in Jalan Eunos. To further assist the public, the Building Control Division will shortly be issuing a booklet on the do's and dont's of building activity to inform the public of the procedures to be taken before any building works are carried out. If you put up an unauthorised house five years ago and then want to renew or repair it, naturally you would not get permission because your act five years ago was illegal in the first place. You have got to put that right before you ask for permission to carry out repairs. But there have been many cases where the original building was authorised and application is made for repairs or minor alterations and at the end of which the building becomes larger or even taller. Then, of course, the builder is in trouble and runs to his Member of Parliament. Sir, to accept the suggestion that the Citizens' Consultative Committee be given authority to approve or disapprove building plans either for building repairs or renewals might lead to chaos, as far as planning and building is concerned. Either we have control, or we do not have control. My sympathies are with the Members of Parliament complaining. I have similar problems in my constituency. If I can now deal with the other matters raised by the Member for Bukit Panjang. This is a question of additions and alterations to Housing Board flats before the purchasers move in.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I first attend to the request of the Member for Kim Keat? Like him, I would be happy if we could get more money from the Minister for Finance for the construction of bus shelters. Certain sums of money have been allocated for bus shelters but there are priorities. And we have to make the best use of these monies according to the priorities for bus shelters. The present policy is to provide bus shelters, firstly, near clinics and hospitals; secondly, near schools and, thirdly, in housing estates. The Member also made the suggestion that the building of bus shelters should be transferred from the Public Works Department to the Housing and Development Board. This will lead to complication because as soon as a housing estate is built and the roads are completed and become public roads, they then come under the responsibility of the Public Works Department. Many Members have made requests for bus shelters in their constituencies and have not got them within the time they want them. I myself had to wait one or two years before getting bus shelters in Tanglin. But there are priorities - priorities between constituencies and also within a particular constituency. The Members for Paya Lebar and Bukit Panjang have almost the same grouses. This is in connection with building permits and planning permission. They should be interested to know that the Building Surveyor's Department was reorganised and set up as the Building Control Division under the Public Works Department on the 1st of February last year. The procedures for obtaining approval for effecting urgent repairs and minor alterations to attap houses and similar structures have since been simplified and the application forms revised.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I seek your consent, and the general assent of Members, to move a motion for the rising of Parliament before 8.00 p.m. today? I propose to move that the adjournment be taken at the conclusion of the consideration of Head 1108 today.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Sir, there are about 7,000 acres of land designated as "Nature Reserves" under the Nature Reserves Act. This Bill proposes to amend the Act so as to reorganise and to strengthen the Board of Management constituted under section 5 of the Act. The amendment provides for the Board of Management to consist of a trustee as Chairman to be appointed by the Minister and not less than six but not more than nine other trustees, two of whom shall be appointed by the President and the others by the Minister. A new section 5A, under clause 4 of the Bill, empowers the Board to appoint committees and to delegate its powers, functions and duties. Clause 5 amends section 14 so as to enhance the penalty for offences committed under the Act, in order to deter trespassers from using these Reserves for illegal purposes; some like to fish, some like to camp, while others like to shoot animals or to cut down trees for firewood. Such activities in these Reserves must be prevented. Sir, I beg to move, Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr E. W. Barker]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. GENEVA CONVENTIONS BILL Order for Second Reading read. 3.35 p.m.”
“Meanwhile, the Port of Singapore Authority, faced by the need to urgently remove earth from the Housing Board's Telok Blangah new town preparatory site in order not to delay the construction of Housing Board flats the demand for which considerably exceeds the supply, has been forced to dump fill in that part of the foreshore and seabed shown hatched red within the area shown edged purple on the plan. Approval of this House is now sought to regularise the reclamation done so far, as well as to provide for the reclamation of an additional area within the area edged purple. This will give time for the problems (squatters and engineering difficulties) to be overcome when the reclamation of the remaining 52 acres already approved where reclamation works have been held up, can be completed. The area edged purple, when reclaimed, will he developed for recreational purposes in accordance with Singapore's Concept Plan. Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 270), approves the reclamation by Government of that portion of the foreshore and seabed at Pasir Panjang containing an area of approximately 102 acres as shown edged in purple on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 3/73" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore. CIVIL LIST 2.41 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the motion* standing in my name, as it appears on the Order Paper. * The motion, standing in the name of the Minister for Law and National Development, reads as follows: That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 270), approves the reclamation by Government of that portion of the foreshore and seabed at Pasir Panjang containing an area of approximately 102 acres as shown edged in purple on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 3 /73" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore. This is the Third Phase of the reclamations planned for Pasir Panjang. Members will recall that, at its sitting on 30th July, 1971, this House approved the reclamation of about 91 acres of the foreshore and seabed at Pasir Panjang as shown edged red on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 3/73", a copy of which is displayed in the Library of this House for the information of Members. Subsequently, on 26th October, 1972, the reclamation of another 25 acres of the area shown edged green on the plan was also approved. Both reclamations are being undertaken by the Port of Singapore Authority as agent of the Government, using surplus earth from the Telok Blangah new town site. Owing to engineering difficulties encountered in the area edged red and the presence of squatters in the area edged green, the Port of Singapore Authority was able to complete the reclamation of only 64 acres (47 acres within the area edged red and 17 acres within the area edged green) out of the total of 116 acres so far approved under the Foreshores Act, leaving about 52 acres yet to he reclaimed.”
“recommendation of President signified; presented by Mr Hon Sui Sen; read the First time, to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. RECLAMATION (PASIR PANJANG) 2.38 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the St. Mark's Hospital at Joo Chiat Place is on 28,874 square feet of private land presently zoned Clinic and Health Centre in the Master Plan, while the surrounding area is zoned Residential. No change in zoning is required if the site is developed for a hospital or a clinic. However, the existing development surrounding the area is mainly residential. My Ministry will consider any proposal for redeveloping the said land on its merits. BILLS INTRODUCED 2.35 p.m. ROAD VEHICLES (SPECIAL POWERS) (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Road Vehicles (Special Powers) Act (Chapter 120 of the Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister for Health and Home Affairs (Mr Chua Sian Chin); read the First time, to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. ENTERTAINMENTS DUTY (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Entertainments Duty Act (Chapter 136 of the Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister for Finance (Mr Hon Sui Sen); read the First time, to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. SUPPLY BILL "to provide for the issue from the Consolidated Fund of the sums necessary to meet the estimated expenditure for the public services of Singapore for the financial year 1st April, 1973 to 31st March, 1974", recommendation of President signified; presented by Mr Hon Sui Sen; read the First time, to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. SUPPLEMENTARY SUPPLY BILL "for making Supplementary Provision for the public services for the financial year 1st April, 1972 to 31st March, 1973".”
“The Corporation has now applied on behalf of the Singapore Petroleum Company for foreshore leases in respect of - (a) those portions of the foreshore and seabed at Pulau Ayer Merlimau shown coloured green on the plan for the construction of: (i) an oil handling dock for receiving crude oil for processing and shipment of petroleum products; (ii) a dry cargo dock for receiving equipment and materials for the maintenance of the refinery, ship dry products, such as sulphur and drummed asphalt and bunker barges and ships; (iii) a personnel jetty for the landing and disembarking of personnel to operate and maintain the refinery; (iv) a dredge water intake for sea water intake to cool product streams in the refinery process; and (b) a small area of the foreshore and seabed adjacent to Pulau Ayer Merlimau (also shown coloured green) to include rights and liberties for the construction of a 10-inch submarine water pipeline across the seabed from Pulau Ayer Merlimau to Pulau Ayer Chawan, as shown in broken blue line on the plan. Under section 4 of the Foreshores Act, approval of this House is necessary before any work can be carried out. Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 270), approves the construction of docks, jetties or other public works and a submarine water pipeline along or out from those portions of the foreshores at Pulau Ayer Merlimau, as shown coloured green and in broken blue line on the plan marked as "LAND OFFICE PLAN NO. 1/73", which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore. DEPARTMENTAL TITLES 4.45 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the motion+ standing in my name, as it appears on the Order Paper. + The motion, standing in the name of the Minister for Law and National Development, reads as follows: That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 270), approves the construction of docks, jetties or other public works and a submarine water pipeline along or out from those portions of the foreshores at Pulau Ayer Merlimau, as shown coloured green and in broken blue line on the plan marked as `LAND OFFICE PLAN NO. 1/73", which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore. Sir, you will recall that at its sitting on 19th October, 1971, this House approved the reclamation of about 170 acres of the foreshore and seabed at Pulau Ayer Merlimau as shown coloured yellow on the plan marked as "LAND OFFICE PLAN No. 1/73", a copy of which is displayed in the Library of this House for the information of Members. This reclamation, undertaken by the Jurong Town Corporation as agent of the Government, is now in progress. On completion, the whole of Pulau Ayer Merlimau, comprising about 150 acres of dry land (shown edged red on the plan) and the reclaimed area, will be alienated to the Corporation for 99 years to enable the Corporation in turn to sub-lease the island to the Singapore Petroleum Company (Private) Limited for the development of an oil refinery.”
“76 acre), will be reclaimed. Earth obtained from the excavation of the area shown coloured blue on the plan will be used as fill for the proposed reclamations. The dredging and reclamation works will be undertaken by the Sembawang Shipyard as agent of the Government. On completion, the drydock and the adjoining reclaimed area will be proclaimed as State land and alienated to the Shipyard on terms and conditions to be agreed with the Land Office. Although the total area of the foreshore and seabed to be reclaimed is only 4.71 acres, approval of this House under section 4 of the Foreshores Act is necessary since the project also involves the dredging of some 3.16 acres of the seabed. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 270), approves the reclamation by Government of those portions of the foreshore and seabed off Sungei Sembawang containing a total area of approximately 4.71 acres as shown coloured yellow, red and green respectively on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 7/72", which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore, and the dredging of approximately 3.16 acres of the seabed off Sungei Sembawang shown coloured and hatched in blue on the same plan. PULAU AYER MERLIMAU (Construction of Docks, Jetties and other Public Works) 4.42 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the motion+ standing in my name as it appears on the Order Paper. + The motion, standing in the name of the Minister for Law and National Development, reads as follows: That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 270), approves the reclamation by Government of those portions of the foreshore and seabed off Sungei Sembawang containing a total area of approximately 4.71 acres as shown coloured yellow, red and green respectively on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 7/72", which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore, and the dredging of approximately 3.16 acres of the seabed off Sungei Sembawang shown coloured and hatched in blue on the same plan. Sir, the Sembawang Shipyard (Private) Limited, a corporation set up by Government to run the former Naval Dockyards at Sembawang as a ship-repairing centre, is presently occupying the land and buildings within the area shown edged red on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 7/72" (a copy of which is displayed in the Library of this House for the information of hon. Members), on a 60-year lease. As part of its expansion scheme, the Shipyard proposes to construct a new dry dock at Sungei Sembawang parallel to the existing King George VI Dock at an estimated cost of $31.64 million to be completed by the end of 1974. The floor area of the proposed drydock will be about 6.15 acres, comprising nearly three acres of the existing land to be excavated (coloured blue on the plan) and another 3.16 acres of the seabed to be dredged (coloured and hatched blue). The foreshore and seabed near the proposed drydock, i.e, the portions shown coloured yellow (about 2.36 acres), coloured pink (about 1.59 acres) and coloured green about 0.”
“And there being at present only 14 members including the Chairman, it would therefore be proper to accede to the Council's wishes in this regard. Sir, I beg to move. Amendments agreed to. Clause 2, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 3 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Bill reported with amendments; read a Third time and passed. TRADE UNIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 3.40 p.m.”
“Sir, I beg to move, (1) In page 3, line 13, after "(b)", to insert "not more than". (2) In page 3, line 15, after "(c)" to insert "not more than". (3) In page 9, line 6, to leave out "ten" and insert "eight". Sir, the first and second amendments relate to the composition of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights which, as in the case of the present Presidential Council, consists of the Chairman, 10 permanent members appointed for life and 10 other members appointed for a period of three years. However, the quota for the permanent and the temporary members has never been filled in full. With regard to the permanent members, as was pointed out by the then President in a speech at the time of the presentation of the instrument of appointment on the 2nd of May, 1970, it is the intention of Government to leave at least three of the permanent seats vacant so that any successor government can include some of the senior Ministers in the Council. At the present moment, there are only five permanent members, one having resigned, and eight temporary members. It would, therefore, be more appropriate for the expression "not more than" to be inserted at paragraphs (b) and (c) of Article 81(B).-(1), so that these provisions now read: (b) not more than ten permanent members appointed for life; and (c) not more than ten other members appointed for a period of three years. Sir, as regards the third amendment of Article 81(P).-(1) whereby it is sought to lower the quorum of the Council from ten to eight members, the Council is of the opinion that eight would he a more realistic figure, having regard to the fact that the full membership of 21 has not been filled and is not likely to be completely filled in the near future.”
“' Again, in the Presidential Council's annual report for the following year, 1971-72, the Council, after stating that it had in its previous annual report suggested the modification of its functions, which I have just quoted, observed that, in the absence of any statutory amendment to the Council's functions, the Council continued to exercise the functions originally entrusted to it under the Constitution. It will therefore he seen, Sir, that it is in accordance with the wishes of the Presidential Council itself that these amendments are being made today. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The house immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill.-[Mr E. W. Barker]. Bill considered in Committee. [Mr Speaker in the Chair] 3.36 p.m. Clause 1 -”
“Upon the coming into operation of the Act, therefore, it will not be part of the Council's functions to draw attention to inconsistencies with the fundamental liberties of the subject as set out in Part II of the Constitution of Malaysia which applies to Singapore. These amendments are being made as the Presidential Council itself over the last two years has indicated that it wishes its principal function to be the examination of legislation with a view to ascertaining whether any provisions therein may be discriminatory against racial or religious communities. In the annual report of the Presidential Council for the twelve months ending on 30th April, 1971, the Council urges at paragraph 9 thereof, and I quote: `In the light of the topics that have been raised by members and discussed during our meetings, we are of the view that the Council can best serve the multi-racial multi-religious peoples of Singapore if the Council is required under the Constitution to devote its principal attention to considering whether or not any proposed legislation, including subsidiary legislation, in its opinion "is, or is likely in its practical application to be, disadvantageous to persons of any racial or religious community and not equally disadvantageous to persons of other such communities, either directly by prejudicing persons of that community or indirectly by giving advantage to persons of another community". In other words, [the report continues] we recommend that this Council's principal function should be to examine legislation with a view to "preventing" Parliament inadvertently passing laws which discriminate against racial or religious minorities in Singapore.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." It is the purpose of this Bill to make the necessary amendments to Part IVA of the Constitution of Singapore so as to enable the Presidential Council hereafter to be concerned only with minority rights and not with fundamental liberties. The Council will accordingly be re-styled the "Presidential Council for Minority Rights". Although Part IVA as a whole has been repealed and re-enacted to make for easier reading, it is substantially the same as the existing Part IVA except for the changes which I shall now mention. Article 81J under clause 2 of the Bill now reads: `It shall be the particular function of the Council to draw attention to any Bill or to any subsidiary legislation if that Bill or subsidiary legislation is in the opinion of the Council a differentiating measure.' This Article differs from the present Article 8li in that the words "or otherwise inconsistent with the fundamental liberties of the subject" at the end of that Article have been omitted. This phrase has, in fact, been deleted throughout Part JVA, while at Article 81A the definition of "inconsistent with the fundamental liberties of the subject" has also been excised. The omission of this phrase from the Bill means that the Presidential Council for Minority Rights will be concerned only with drawing attention to "differentiating measures" in any legislation, principal or subsidiary, that is, measures which are disadvantageous to persons of any racial or religious community.”
“It is not necessary to name the Member of Parliament, but the fact is that one did. DANGERS OF SPEEDING AND SPILLAGE BY LORRIES (Measures to minimise) 4. Encik Rahmat Bin Kenap Al-Haj asked the Minister for Health and Home Affairs what measures are being taken to minimise danger to road users from spillage on the roads from lorries carrying sand, stones, earth, etc., and from such lorries being driven at speeds in excess of the prescribed speed limits.”
“Sir, it is true that the Member raised this question sometime last year. But this portion of the road does not go through Kampong Kembangan constituency alone. There are other M.P.s involved and, in fact, one of them asked me to go slow. Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff(In Malay): Sir, can the Minister tell the House which Member of Parliament has asked him to go slow?”
“Sir, roads take time to build. We will do our best to expedite it. But I do not think the time I gave can be shortened, as it will take at least six months to a year for the completion of the job. Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff(In Malay): Sir, if my memory serves me right, I brought this question up last year.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Public Works Department will widen and improve that portion of Jalan Ubi between the Pan-Island Expressway and Airport Road sometime in the middle of this year. The road will be widened to have a carriageway of about 22 feet, and the total cost will be in the region of $100,000. Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff(In Malay): Sir, can the Minister expedite the development of the road, in view of the present bad state of the road?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Sir, section 15 of the Parliamentary Elections Act requires the electoral registers for each electoral division to be revised annually before the 31st of December in each year, or such later date as the Minister may appoint. The revision of the electoral registers for the year 1971 was completed in May 1972, and we went to the polls on the 2nd September last. It is unlikely that any by-election will be held before the end of this year and, for reasons of economy, it is proposed to dispense with the revision of the electoral registers for the year 1972. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[Mr Barker]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. PENSIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 2.54 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Mr Speaker, Sir, there is a need to increase the membership of the Public Service Commission because of the increased workload placed on the Members of the Commission. The Commission meets weekly. The Members also have to act as chairmen of Selection Boards which deal with the recruitment and promotion of civil servants and, sometimes, employees of statutory boards. A Member may have to attend at least three meetings in a week in his capacity as chairman of a Selection Board. In addition to these duties, each Member may be delegated certain powers to decide on matters relating to the recruitment, confirmation, promotion and disciplinary control of civil servants. These matters take up a lot of time. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[Mr E. W. Barker]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 2.52 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I propose that Mr Tang See Chim, Member for Chua Chu Kang, be elected as Deputy Speaker of this House. Sir, Mr Tang's professional background, coupled with his experience both in this House and in Government, make him eminently suitable to assist you in discharging the responsibility of your high office.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the motion* standing in my name, as it appears on the Order Paper. Sir, Standing Order 95 (1) (a) provides that: `There shall be a Committee to be known as the Committee of Selection appointed as soon as practicable after the beginning of every session to perform the functions allotted to it by these Standing Orders, and for such other matters as Parliament may from time to time refer to it.' Standing Order 95 (1) (b) provides that: `The Committee of Selection shall consist of the Speaker as Chairman, and seven Members of Parliament to be appointed by Parliament, in such manner as shall ensure that, so far as is possible, the balance between the Government benches and the Opposition benches in Parliament is reflected in the Committee.' There being only one party in this House, it is decided to appoint the Leader of the House, the Government Whip and five Backbenchers. Sir, I hope that the House will find this satisfactory. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, * That this Parliament, in accordance with paragraph (1) of Standing Order 95, appoints the following as members of the Committee of Selection: E. W. Barker Ch'ng Jit Koon N. Govindasamy Hwang Soo Jin Sia Kah Hui Tan Eng Liang Yeo Choo Kok. ADJOURNMENT Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn to the 22nd November, 1972."-[Mr Barker]. Adjourned accordingly at Eighteen minutes to Six o'clock p.m. to Wednesday, 22nd November, 1972.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, In page 2, line 1, to leave out "following". This amendment is necessary to remedy a clerical error made in clause 3 of the Bill. Amendment agreed to.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Sir, two new appointments were created recently in the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau, namely, a Deputy Director and a Chief Special Investigator, to cope with the increasing work in the Bureau. But the Prevention of Corruption Act as it now stands does not confer on the incumbents of these two posts the powers that are now being exercised by the other officers of the Bureau, namely, the Assistant Directors, Senior Special Investigators and Special investigators. This Bill, therefore, seeks to amend the said Act in order to confer on the Deputy Director and the Chief Special investigator the powers now exercised by the Assistant Directors and Investigators of the Bureau. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill.-[Mr E. W. Barker]. Bill considered in Committee. [Mr Speaker in the Chair] 5.23 p.m. Clauses 1 and 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 3 -”
“Sir, unless we have Article it would mean that we could not any joint venture, or enter into any treaty, extradition treaty, or other s with any other country. Surely not the purpose of this Bill. The purpose of this Bill is to guarantee that at our sovereignty and independence remain with us, and should we want to join up with some other country, as we did with Malaysia before, we should go to the people - hold a referendum and two-thirds of those casting votes must be in favour. Unless we hive this exception in Article 52K, we would be precluded from even joining any other venture. It might be a trade venture. It might be a question of economics, or labour, or something else. Should there be any doubts, of course, it would be for the Courts or the Judiciary to interpret whether the move is a lawful move or ultra vires the Constitution. We have given very careful thought to this particular provision, and therefore have phrased it in the way that it has been finally drafted. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill.-[Mr Barker]. Bill considered in Committee; reported withol4t amendment; read a Third time and passed~ FACTORIES BILL Order for Second Reading read. 3.30 p.m.”
“The manner of entrenchment is by prohibiting any alteration to Part IIB of the Constitution unless the Bill making any amendment (including addition or repeal) has been supported, at a national referendum, by not less than two-thirds of the total number of votes cast by the electors. Only then may the Bill be passed by Parliament. Mr Speaker, Sir, the need for a Bill such as this cannot be denied. Unless we take steps now to preserve all that we have won by our sweat and toil, we may wake up one day to see it all gone. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. 3.01 p.m.”
“Lest Article 521 gives the impression to some that Singapore is to live in an isolationist citadel, Article 52K makes it abundantly clear that without derogating from the force and effect of Article 52J nothing in that Article shall be construed as precluding Singapore or any body or organisation in Singapore from participating or co-operating in, or contributing towards, any scheme, venture, project, enterprise or undertaking of whatsoever nature, in conjunction or in concert with any other sovereign state or country or any body or organisation in that sovereign state or country so long as such scheme, venture or project confers, has the effect of conferring or is intended to confer on Singapore or any body or organisation in Singapore, any economic, financial, industrial, social, cultural, educational or other benefit or is, or appears to be advantageous in any way to Singapore or any body or organisation in Singapore. Nor is Singapore prevented from entering into any treaty, agreement, contract, pact or other arrangement with any other sovereign state or country where such treaty, agreement, contract or pact provides for mutual or collective security or any other object or purpose beneficial to Singapore. With regard to Article 52L, I must point out that provisions of the nature contained in the Bill are of no avail if they can be simply repealed by another Act of Parliament. It is, therefore, necessary to entrench this new Part JIB as set out in the Bill and give the provisions therein a degree of permanency in the Statute Books beyond that of ordinary legislation.”
“The expression "Singapore Police Force" in this context means not only the Police Force itself but also the Special Constabulary, all Auxiliary Police Forces in Singapore, the Vigilante Corps and any other force declared by the President by notification in the Gazette, to be a police force; the term "Singapore Armed Forces" means the armed forces of the Republic raised and maintained under the Singapore Armed Forces Act, 1972, as well as any civil defence force and any other force declared by the President, by notification in the Gazette, to be an armed force. Members will observe that this Bill does not totally prohibit merger or incorporation with any other country. There may be situations where merger may be desirable but, if so, each and every elector must give thought to it and vote on it at a national referendum and only if at least two-thirds of the total number of electors casting their votes say "Yes" can such a merger or relinquishment of our police and armed forces take place.”
“This could be done by infiltrating into political and other bodies, by pumping in funds into these bodies for nefarious purposes and by the use of modern mass media, so that in time the climate of public opinion may be moulded. The seductive blandishments of foreign agents must not be allowed to succeed. It must be made impossible for outside inimical interests to jostle Singapore into incorporation with any country when it is not to Singapore's benefit. We must accordingly seek to ensure that any Government of the future seeking to merge with a foreign country, .may only do so with the sanction of a clear and undoubted majority of the people of Singapore. As the President said in his address at the opening of Parliament, "No foreign interests can be allowed to take over Singapore through financing and manipulating political parties through their naive or vain, self-proclaimed leaders". Hence, there is, Mr Speaker, Sir, the need for legislation to combat machinations by foreign interests to the detriment of the Republic. Mr Speaker, Sir, the Constitution (Amendment) (Protection of the Sovereignty of the Republic of Singapore) Bill provides at Article 52J that there is to be no surrender or transfer, either wholly or in part, of the sovereignty of the Republic of Singapore as an independent nation whether by merger or incorporation with any other sovereign state, Federation or country or in any other manner whatsoever without the support at a national referendum of at least two-thirds of the total number of votes cast by the electors registered under the Parliamentary Elections Act. Nor indeed without such support of the electorate is there to be any relinquishment of control over the Singapore Police Force or the Singapore Armed Forces.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Sir, in the methodology of the destruction of a nation by its foes, war by force of arms is not necessarily the only means employed. The independence of a nation may, by more subtle means, be subverted. Although more time-consuming, propaganda, especially from within, could work just as well. The gradual erosion of the mind of a nation may well be achieved by persuasive arguments stemming from vested interests, often foreign. Again, an even more subtle method, that of manipulating political parties within a country, may be employed. This is especially attractive in a country like Singapore. In such circumstances, we can never be over-cautious in safeguarding our integrity as an independent sovereign nation. It is possible with unlimited funds at one's command to gain control of political parties, succeed at the polls and thereafter bring about the surrender or transfer of the sovereignty of our Island-Republic by fusion with another country. Singapore, with its industrious and skilled population, its vast financial resources and expertise, its high standard of living and social amenities, its superb port facilities and economic infrastructure and its know-how and the skilled services in almost every field that it can provide from banking to the ship-repairing business, would indeed be a worth-while plum. Foreign interests with vast resources might find it advantageous to advocate, with smooth blandishments and in euphemistic terms, a "merger" when such merger would in reality be a take-over. These foreign interests could attempt to persuade Singaporeans that a surrender of its sovereignty might be advantageous to Singapore.”
“Sir, the Housing and Development Board has tried out a scheme in one Housing Board estate to provide sweet-vending stalls on the ground floors of a few blocks of flats for aged persons to do petty hawking. However, there have been many complaints of noise nuisance and littering and problems of pedestrian obstruction and quarrels between the stallholders and the residents of ground floor flats. As the scheme was not successful, it was therefore decided not to extend the scheme to other Housing Board estates. INCOME TAX RELIEFS FOR CHILDREN (Statement by the Minister for Finance) 2.34 p.m.”
“Twenty-five seconds out of every 90 seconds, Sir, is in my view already quite a considerable gap for pedestrians to cross. To stop traffic longer might lead to traffic hold-ups. HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD (Vending stalls for the aged and handicapped) 2. Encik Abdul Aziz Karim asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will request the Housing and Development Board to construct vending stalls to be let out to the aged, handicapped and other categories of persons suffering from one form of disability or another to carry out petty hawking within their housing estates.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the light controlled pedestrian crossing was recently put into operation at Bendemeer Road in front of Block 43. The automatic stopping of traffic at this crossing for 25 seconds in every 90 seconds provides sufficient gaps in the traffic flow to enable pedestrians to cross Bendemeer Road between Blocks 43 and 25. There is also a light controlled pedestrian crossing at the junction of Bendemeer Road and Boon Keng Road, a distance of about 500 feet from Block 25. The installation of pedestrian lights in front of Block 25 is, therefore, not considered necessary. The Police have taken action against vehicles exceeding the 30 m.p.h. speed limit along Bendemeer Road. For example, for the week 9th to 15th September, 1972, 27 drivers were booked for speeding along the road and offered composition ranging from $30 to $50 depending on their speed. The Police will continue their operations against inconsiderate motorists. Those racing at excessive speeds will be arrested on the spot and charged in court under the Road Traffic Act for dangerous driving, or under the Penal Code for endangering the lives of other road users. The Member for Kallang will be interested to know that in the first nine months of this year, the Police took action against some 14,000 motorists for exceeding speed limits along our roads.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I seek your consent, and the general assent of hon. Members, to move a motion to enable Parliament to adjourn before 8.00 p.m. this evening, namely, at 4.30 p.m.?”
“Tomorrow, Sir. Mr Speaker: So be it. ADJOURNMENT Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn." --- [Mr E. W. Barker]. Adjourned accordingly at Thirty minutes past Four o'clock p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I seek your consent, and the general assent of hon. Members, to move a motion to enable Parliament to adjourn before 8.00 p.m. this evening, namely, at half-past Four this evening or earlier, should you so decide?”
“Sir, in the event of a partnership being introduced, resettled shopkeepers are now allowed concessional rentals but not at the same figures. The concessional rentals are at the rate of 75 per cent of the reduced public rental in the first year, rising gradually by five per cent annually to the sixth year, and payment of the full public rental in the seventh and subsequent years. Under the previous policy where permission was granted for the inclusion of a partner into the business, the rising rental concessions were withdrawn and the rental was immediately raised to the full public rental. INCREASE OF ACCOUCHEMENT CHARGES FOR HIGHER ORDER OF DELIVERY (Statement by the Minister for Health) 2.40 p.m.”
“As a further safeguard against the rents being set too high by erratic public tenders, the Shops Committee of the Housing and Development Board will fix an appropriate rent for resettled shopkeepers where the public rental is more than twice that of the minimum rental approved by the Board.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Housing and Development Board fixes the rentals of kiosks and shophouses allocated to resettlement cases by basing the rents on the lowest of the several successful public tenders for the type of trade in the particular shopping centre. For ease of reference, I will hereafter refer to this lowest tender for rent as the public rental. Prior to 1st July, 1971, a rising rental concession was also granted whereby shopkeepers were required to pay only 70 per cent of the public rental in the first year of tenancy, the payments of rent being increased at the rate of 10 per cent annually until the full public rental was reached in the fourth year. To further assist resettled shopkeepers, a new resettlement policy increased the concession rate after 1st July, 1971, whereby a rental subsidy of 50 per cent is granted in the first year, and the payments are increased at the rate of 10 per cent per year until the full public rental is reached in the sixth year. Apparently, even this further increase of rental subsidy has not worked out to be fair and reasonable in all cases. To minimise hardship suffered by shopkeepers, the policy has recently been reviewed and a new formula worked out whereby the rental for resettlement cases for shops is fixed at a reduced rate of 90 per cent of the public rental. As from July this year, resettled shopkeepers will initially pay only 50 per cent of the reduced public rental in the first year and a rental increase of 10 per cent per year until the sixth year. The rental for the sixth and subsequent years is, in fact, equivalent to 90 per cent of the public rental so that resettled shopkeepers will continue to enjoy a rent rebate of 10 per cent of the public rental from the sixth year onwards.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am happy to inform the Member that work on the construction of the four bus shelters in front of the four blocks, referred to by the Member in his question, started recently and all of them are expected to be completed by the middle of November this year. RENTALS OF HOUSING BOARD KIOSKS AND SHOPHOUSES 2. Encik Abdul Aziz Karim asked the Minister for Law and Home Affairs, and National Development if he will ask the Housing and Development Board to review its current policy of computing rising rentals on the basis of public tenders when allocating kiosks and shophouses to resettlement cases and to rationalise rentals in respect of resettlement cases to a fair and reasonable level in comparison to rentals for such premises let out by tender.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I was about to move, "That Parliament do adjourn to tomorrow." But I believe the sentiments expressed by the two new Members are shared by the others. Therefore, I have great pleasure in moving, That Parliament do now adjourn to Tuesday, 24th October, 1972. Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn to Tuesday, 24th October, 1972." - [Mr E. W. Barker]. Adjourned accordingly at Twenty-eight minutes past Four o'clock p.m. to Tuesday, 24th October, 1972. Annex to Statement on New Electrical Tariffs (Cols. 91-102) (Cols 0131-0142)”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I seek your consent, and the general assent of hon. Members, to move a motion to enable Parliament to adjourn before 8.00 p.m. tonight, namely, at 4.30 p.m.?”