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
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“Sir, the cost price may be $1 or $2. But we cannot just give it for $1 or $2, because the land must be sold on tender. In any public sale, there must be tenders, and the highest tenderer will normally get the land. If the Member for Punggol tenders for $1 and the Member for Bras Basah offers $10, obviously the latter gets the land. Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, I must thank the Minister for his patience and his reply. I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. 3.15 p.m.”
“It is roughly $1 to $1.50 per square foot.”
“As timing was crucial, it was the only place that offered the required land area for immediate development. The action taken was governed by the situation prevailing during that period, and the Ministry of National Development could not take on the Ministry of Defence.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the areas reclaimed by the Government on the east coast are, of course, mainly meant for purposes which would be of economic advantage to the state. The reclamation, as the Member for Punggol knows, is being undertaken in four phases, and the reclaimed land will be utilised for the development, firstly, of a major highway to link the heavily congested eastern part of the republic with the city centre. Apart from this, the reclaimed land will also be utilised for development of open spaces and parks to provide the much-needed recreational amenities in our republic, tourist projects such as the Aquarama, bathing beaches, hotels, institutional buildings, including schools, junior colleges, recuperation centres and even homes for the aged, commercial centres and residential homes. The first two phases of the scheme which have been completed have yielded about 1,135 acres of reclaimed land. The proposal is to plan for some development on the sites around the middle of next year subject to development of the infrastructure for roads, sewerage, water and electricity. Although the preliminary plans for the development have been completed, the Government is now looking into the possibility of engaging a well-known consultant to review the plans for this major development. The Member for Punggol can rest assured that it is our intention to offer some of the sites to the private sector on similar lines to those offered under the three sales of urban renewal sites. The reserve price will have to take into account the cost of reclamation, including the provision of the infrastructure. May I say that the development of the military camp at Bedok was made during 1967 when expediency dictated the urgent need to provide a camp for use by our military personnel.”
“Sir, the garbage composting plant is used to ferment garbage and produce compost from the garbage. Compost is an organic soil conditioner like sludge, manure and prawn dust. But it is a better grade of soil conditioner than sludge or manure. In 1962, it was proposed to establish a garbage composting plant by private enterprise with the participation of the Economic Development Board. It was then considered to be an economic proposition, as it was thought that the compost produced could be sold at profitable prices to neighbouring countries, in particular Malaysia. However, this proposal was not implemented because of the separation in 1965, following which the Malaysian market for compost was no longer open to us. Sir, times have changed again and, with the accelerated programme of planting trees, shrubs and other greenery in Singapore, the local demand for soil conditioners has increased substantially. It was therefore decided to reconsider the establishment of this plant in view of the changed circumstances. Sir, a comparative cost study has been undertaken by a committee of Government officials representing the various departments and Ministries. The committee has advised that it is comparatively cheaper to establish a garbage compost plant to dispose of garbage and refuse than to use the present conventional method of dumping garbage in the swamp at Tampines. The annual cost of operating the plant is estimated to be about $650,000, which would represent an annual saving of about $110,000.”
“Sir, up to date, the Car Parks Division has over 200 parking places with a total of 13,494 car parking lots. More than one-third of these lots are located in the central business district, whilst the remaining two-thirds are mostly in the city area with some extending to as far as Singapore Airport in the north and Jurong Fishing Port in the south-west. There are also parking places at very low parking fees for about 2,000 cars on the fringe of the city at the Kallang Park sports complex, Beach Road and Havelock Road. The division also provides parking for lorries at 30 parking places with 529 lots, and motorcycles and scooters at 42 parking places with 3,830 lots. It also manages 111 taxi stands with 756 bays.”
“I cannot say with any assurance when the car park will be completed because the plan has not been completed. It will take at least a few years. Neither can I say exactly how many parking bays will be provided. This depends on the completed plans. I have spoken earlier of a small-scale car park and then a second plan was for a bigger-scale car park. But at the most we can provide space for about 500 to 600 cars without affecting the Cathedral building itself.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, originally a small car park was planned to be built in the grounds of St. Andrew's Cathedral. The proposal was, however, temporarily shelved in favour of a bigger scheme. The study of the need of a bigger parking scheme is, in fact, in progress and construction work will begin as soon as the scheme has been finalised and approved. We are a little concerned that the digging and piling in the compound of the cathedral might in any way affect the building. As the original scheme was not proceeded with, a sum of $218,000, being the difference between the provision of half a million dollars and the revoted sum, was in fact not spent on the underground car park, but was used for establishing other car parks in Singapore. In fact, only $3,500 has been spent on preliminary work relating to the underground car park scheme at St. Andrew's Cathedral grounds, such as the construction of a model of the proposed car park, test bores and the printing of plans. Beyond that, I am afraid nothing much has been done nor has much money been spent.”
“Sir, I regret to say that there are no plans to build a recreational park on the land along the canal between St. Michael's Estate and Jalan Toa Payoh. The reason is that most of this land is a reserve for drainage. In fact, part of the land is being used as an access to the canal in order that the dredging of silt and clearing of rubbish from the canal can be carried out. A larger part of the remaining land is, in fact, earmarked for future widening of the canal. CATERPILLARS IN MADRAS THORN TREES (Remedial measures) 5. Mr Ng Yeow Chong asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will ascertain from the Housing and Development Board what remedial measures will be taken to relieve the residents of the nuisance caused by caterpillars which infest the Madras Thorn trees in the Guillemard Road Estate. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Law and National Development (National Development Division) (Mr Ho Cheng Choon) (for the Minister for Law and National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, Madras Thorn trees are liable to be infested with caterpillars when new leaves begin to grow. As soon as any tree is discovered to be so infested, action is taken to destroy the caterpillars with a solution of insecticide. Some Madras Thorn trees in Guillemard Road Estate were recently infested with caterpillars and they were treated with insecticide.”
“Sir, it is considered undesirable to provide car parking facilities along, and bridges across, the canal adjacent to the proposed Hawkers' Centre to be built near Block 8, Jalan Tenteram, to link up with Jalan Toa Payoh. Sir, Jalan Toa Payoh will in due course form part of the proposed Pan-Island Expressway, and our traffic experts are against allowing too many ingresses and egresses to and from the expressway. RECREATIONAL PARK ON LAND BETWEEN ST. MICHAEL'S ESTATE AND JALAN TOA PAYOH 4. Dr Augustine H. H. Tan asked the Minister for Law and National Development if it is planned to build a recreational park on the land along the canal between St. Michael's Estate and Jalan Toa Payoh.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, poultry sheds are not always small structures. Some of them are more than 25 feet wide, 100 feet long, and 15 feet high. The covered area of the shed is not the criterion used in determining whether architect's plans are required. The main consideration is the span of the roof truss and its design. If, in the opinion of the Building Surveyor, the service of an architect is required to ensure structural safety, he will advise the applicant to engage an architect. The Director of Primary Production has drawn up standardised plans for poultry sheds. Poultry farmers who wish to dispense with the service of an architect for erection of poultry sheds in excess of 900 square feet in area, should make use of the standardised plans prepared by the Director of Primary Production which conform with all the requirements. The Ministry of National Development is presently considering transferring the control of erection of temporary farm structures from the Chief Building Surveyor's Department to the Primary Production Department. Details are being worked out between the two departments. HAWKERS' CENTRE AT JALAN TENTERAM (Facilities for motorists) 3. Dr Augustine H. H. Tan asked the Minister for Law and National Development if it is planned to provide car parking facilities along, and bridges across, the canal adjacent to the proposed Hawkers' Centre to be built near Block 8, Jalan Tenteram, as those facilities will help to bring in business from motorists going along Jalan Toa Payoh.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made progress on the Development Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 1st April, 1971, to 31st March, 1972, and ask leave to sit again tomorrow.”
“I am sorry, Sir, I have the particulars, but time prevented me from giving the Member the answer.”
“I do not make awards, but it starts off by the Government Valuer making an award. If the landowner is not satisfied, there is a process by which he can fight that award, and that is to bring his own valuer and have it out. Finally, it is a judge of the High Court sitting on a tribunal who decides how much to give. 8.00 p.m.”
“But we cannot just give the land to the buyer and say, "Pay $5 for it." Then there will be allegations of bribery and corruption. One has to have a public tender. The first public sale was not successful. Only seven sites were taken up, and there were only about 13 or 14 tenderers. In the second public sale, people became wiser, and about a little more than 50 tenders were received in respect of 14 sites, and 13 were sold. In the last and third sale, more than a hundred tenders were received for 14 sites, all of which were sold. If we do not have a public tender, then there will be the allegation that Government wants to redevelop the land by itself. This is not true. We are happy to invite private participation. As far as the "Golden Shoe" is concerned, rent control legislation was amended in order to encourage private participation. Lastly, may I say that whatever profit the Government makes goes into the treasury and is ploughed back by way of social services to build roads and schools, supply water, lights and gas.”
“Because of stability, everyone in Singapore benefits; so does the Government. I would like to emphasise that of the three sales of urban land undertaken by the Government, only a very small percentage of the land sold was acquired land. I will give you the figures. Most of the land was always Government land which we offered to them three years ago and which no one wanted. Now they are all rushing in. The details are as follows: In the first sale, about 33 acres of land were sold by tender. Ninety-two per cent of this was state land and was always state land. Some 8 per cent was private land which was acquired. In the second sale, 13 acres were sold - 75 per cent was state land and 25 per cent private land acquired. In the third sale, 14 acres were sold - 78 per cent was state land and 22 per cent private land acquired. Perhaps Members are interested in the land along the "Golden Mile". Of the roughly 23 acres sold in what we call "the Golden Mile" area, 96 per cent of the land sold was always Government land and a mere 4 per cent (about 25,000 square feet) was private land acquired. Members may also be interested in the state land at Shenton Way which is selling today at $90 to $100 a square foot. People are rushing to buy. Please do not think that we acquired this land. All the state land along Shenton Way always was Government land. We have acquired not one per cent of it. Lastly, may I say that without urban renewal, this town cannot develop. With rent control, private owners find it hard to evict tenants and redevelop sites. Government owns large tracts of land and has acquired some pieces. There was an allegation before that the Housing and Development Board wanted to develop the whole of Singapore and hence we invited private participation.”
“The Government did not sell the land. In order to create this garden, we did not think we should pay the price of the land at the commercial rate. Hence the re-zoning to precinctal open space, and there is your garden. The owners had their remedies. They objected. When the rezoning took place, there was a hearing. They were heard and the re-zoning was upheld. They had legal advice. They could have taken the matter further to the High Court if they had felt that the principles of natural justice had not been complied with by us. Perhaps it is either because of the legal advice or their public spirit that they did not take the matter further. It is not denied that in the few cases where acquired properties were resold under the Urban Renewal Redevelopment Scheme, Government obtained higher prices than the prices paid for them. In addition to the reasons I have already given, another reason for the higher prices is that there is usually a lapse of time between acquisition and resale of the same properties. Sir, in the first sale of urban renewal sites, we offered several sites along the "Golden Mile" for public tender. No one tendered for any site. Anyone who had tendered at $5 a square foot would have got the land. But no one tendered; no one was interested. That was several years ago. In the subsequent second and third sales, the prices jumped up. Today they are rushing to get land along the "Golden Mile" at $60 to $70 a square foot. But do not blame us for that. The price of land has gone up since. Let us put it the other way. Let us say that the price of land has gone down. Who bears the loss? We bear the loss! Perhaps we can take some of the credit. The place is booming, money is rushing in, and the recent increases in the price of land have been quite fantastic.”
“To allow him to re-zone would be all right if the planners think there should be re-zoning, but the action of re-zoning is not just to allow him to make a huge profit. He must satisfy the planners that re-zoning is justified, in which case he must set out his grounds. If they agree, he gets it. But to grumble and say, "I can sell my land at $10 a square foot if you allow me to re-zone", is, I think, a weak argument. It is not denied that the Government can acquire rent-controlled properties at a low price. But Government properties are not bound by the Control of Rent Ordinance, and the argument is quite irrelevant. May I put it this way? If Government's intention is to make profits out of land transactions, it would simply acquire all rent-controlled properties, say, in the "Golden Shoe" area and resell them to private developers who are hungry for land for redevelopment. Instead, Government has introduced new legislation to enable private landowners to obtain vacant possession of their properties upon payment of compensation to be awarded by the Tenants Compensation Board. We would like to invite private participation in the redevelopment of Singapore. I have mentioned just now two cases in which we re-zoned before we acquired the land. If the objective was to resell the land for money, we would resell both properties. You cannot make a profit until you resell. In neither of these two cases has the land been resold. One recent case is still the subject of an appeal. Since the matter is sub judice, Mr Speaker, Sir, and as I am reminded of your warning earlier on this afternoon, I am not free to comment on it. But in another case, the property was re-zoned precinctal open space so that a garden for the benefit of the general public could be developed.”
“Under this section, a notification is published of Government's intention to acquire a particular land required for a public purpose. The section is used only in cases of real necessity and primarily to put a stop to unscrupulous speculative land deals which often take place as soon as it is learnt that a property is likely to be subject to compulsory acquisition. 7.45 p.m. Sir, in order to acquire the land, we send a team down to survey it. The moment they see the team, some, I do not say all, arrange for a resale. Hence section 3. If we move under section 3, we must acquire the land within six months of the notification. If we do, then the price is the market price at the date of the notification. If the land is not acquired within six months of the date of notification, any subsequent acquisition under section 5 will have to be made at the market price on the date of acquisition under section 5. The only advantage is the six months' period to prevent speculative dealings once the owners hear that acquisition may take place. Sir, a further mischievous impression has been created by the allegation that Government indiscriminately re-zones private lands as open spaces so that they can be acquired cheaply and resold at much higher prices. This is completely misleading. There are only two cases of re-zoning initiated by Government prior to acquisition, as against the hundreds of cases of acquisition and the hundreds of cases where private landowners have obtained an alteration of the zoning in respect of their own lands. The Member for Potong Pasir complained about the Government not allowing someone to re-zone so that he could sell the land at $10 a square foot. I believe the land is a "green belt" area.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, considerable interest inside and outside this House has been aroused in respect of my denial of the allegation that Government makes exorbitant profits when it acquires land and subsequently sells it. At the outset, I must point out that I did not say that we do not make any profit. We do. But not in every case and the profits are certainly not exorbitant. That was the myth I was referring to - "exorbitant profits". Sir, last Tuesday I took pains to outline the several factors why land sold under the urban renewal sales, sells at higher prices than the actual price of acquisition. I need not repeat all these factors again. But the major ones which I mentioned are the generous instalment terms in respect of the sale price -20 per cent down payment and the rest over 10 to 20 years. Secondly, the 12 per cent property tax which is very attractive. Sir, I reiterate that the procedure for the acquisition of land is set out clearly in the Land Acquisition Act, 1966, which obliges the Government to acquire land at market value. The Act provides for an appeal to the Appeals Board if the owner feels that he has been inadequately compensated. There have been grumblings about the valuation of our valuers. But on an appeal, the appellant has his own valuers to give their valuation. So the judge hears both sides and he decides. As to costs, I find it hard to believe that an owner of land cannot raise $5,000 to pay costs. If he is really broke, he can fight his own case. If he is not broke, he gets hold of a lawyer. But I repeat I find it hard to believe that an owner of land in Singapore cannot afford the services of a lawyer or a valuer. Sir, I have been asked by the Member for Potong Pasir to explain section 3 of the Act.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I say at the outset that I agree with the views expressed by the Member for Katong. The subordinate courts were already in a bad way when I used to practise in them eight years ago. They must have become worse since then. Hence, the new court building. The provision of $2 million against subhead 101 is required to meet the cost of construction works for the first year only. The whole project is estimated to take about 31 months to complete, from the date of obtaining vacant possession of the site. Reference to this subject was made in January 1971. Actual piling work is scheduled to commence next month, but there have been delays in site clearance, and the present Havelock Road, which forms part of the site, cannot be closed until the alternative proposed major road system in that area is implemented. The Member will be pleased to know that the subordinate court complex will be the first of its kind in this part of the Science Centre is not responsible for science research. It is an organisation responsible for some kind of a museum. I hope the Member for Sembawang will be able to distinguish between the kinds of work to be undertaken. I hope that the Science Centre will be completed by 1974 or 1975.”
“Sir, the number of shop-houses affected by urban renewal and Government development projects and cleared in 1969 and 1970 is as follows: 1969 1970 Urban renewal 212 97 Other projects 172 174 The number of shopkeepers so affected, who have vacated Housing and Development Board premises allocated to them during these two years, is as follows: 1969 1970 Urban renewal 4 9 Other projects 13 3 As to the last and third part of the question, Sir, two shopkeepers are allowed to share one shop of the Board. In fact, in the Board's housing estates, it is quite common for a barber to share a shop with a hairdresser, and a Chinese medicine dealer to share a shop with a cosmetics dealer. SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES FOR MEMBERS OF ASSOCIATIONS (Income tax exemption on contributions to associations' funds) 13. Mr Yeo Toon Chia asked the Minister for Finance if consideration will be given to income tax exemption in respect of contributions to funds which are set up by registered associations to provide for scholarships or bursaries for members of the associations and their families.”
“Sir, the Public Works Department, in conjunction with the Traffic Police, have already considered proposals for the construction of a pedestrian overhead bridge or the installation of traffic control lights for safer pedestrian crossing at Serangoon Road near the Kandang Kerbau Market. Both proposals were rejected. It is considered undesirable to erect traffic control lights for pedestrians to cross any road too close to any junction of two roads. As to the overhead bridge, there is not enough space for the erection of a flight of steps leading to the bridge, except possibly within the premises of the market and within the police station. However, the police consider it undesirable to erect an overhead bridge leading into the compound of a police station. URBAN RENEWAL AND GOVERNMENT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, 1969-1970 (Housing Board premises for shopkeepers affected) 12. Mr Yeo Toon Chia asked the Minister for Law and National Development (a) if he will give figures of shop-houses which have been affected by urban renewal and Government development projects in 1969 and 1970; and (b) if he will ascertain from the Housing and Development Board (i) the number of shopkeepers affected by urban renewal and Government development projects who have vacated the Board's shop premises allocated to them during 1969 and 1970; and (ii) if the Board will consider allowing two shopkeepers, who have been affected by urban renewal and Government development projects, to share shop premises of the Board.”
“Within six months from now. PEDESTRIAN OVERHEAD BRIDGE OR TRAFFIC CONTROL LIGHTS NEAR KANDANG KERBAU MARKET (Construction) 11. Mr Yeo Toon Chia asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will consider the construction of a pedestrian overhead bridge or the installation of traffic control lights and pedestrian crossing at Serangoon Road, near the Kandang Kerbau Market, to enable pedestrians to cross the road safely.”
“Sir, a preliminary survey shows that an overhead pedestrian bridge along Jalan Bahagia is not practical, in view of the narrowness of the road. The road is about 24 feet wide. However, the Member's proposal to install a push-button pedestrian light crossing at Jalan Bahagia appears to be reasonable and will be looked into by the Public Works Department.”
“Sir, in accordance with current practice, a survey will be carried out by the Public Works Department, in conjunction with the Traffic Police, to ascertain whether an overhead bridge should be built over Braddell Road near Upper Serangoon Road. The construction, if recommended, is of course subject to priorities and to funds available. PEDESTRIAN OVERHEAD BRIDGE OR CROSSING AT JALAN BAHAGIA (Construction) 10. Dr Augustine H. H. Tan asked the Minister for Law and National Development, in view of the heavy traffic along Jalan Bahagia and the large numbers of children crossing the road daily, if he will consider providing (i) an overhead pedestrian bridge; or (ii) a traffic-light-controlled pedestrian crossing.”
“Sir, lights have already been installed in eight of the 18 car parks in the Old Kallang Airport Estate. If the Member for Mountbatten desires more car parks to be installed with lights, he should apply to the Urban and Rural Services Committee for consideration of his proposal. PEDESTRIAN OVERHEAD BRIDGE AT BRADDELL ROAD (Construction) 9. Mr Ang Nam Piau asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will consider the construction of a pedestrian overhead bridge at Braddell Road, near its junction with Upper Serangoon Road, for the safety of the pupils of Ming Sin Chinese School.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the proposal of the Member will be considered by the Public Works Department in conjunction with the final detailed plans of the proposed expressway linking Balestier Road with Jalan Toa Payoh, which I have referred to in my answer to the previous question. CAR PARKS IN OLD KALLANG AIRPORT ESTATE (Installation of street lights) 8. Mr Ng Yeow Chong asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he has any plans to install street lights at the car parks in the Old Kallang Airport Estate.”
“Sir, the existing 24 feet wide carriageway of Punggol Road is considered adequate to cater for the present volume of vehicular traffic. However, as development around Punggol Point is increasing, a survey is now being made in respect of the widening of Punggol Road. Subject to securing the necessary approval of funds, work for the widening of the road can be carried out next year. Meanwhile every effort will be made to keep the road in a satisfactory condition. JALAN KEBUN LIMAU AND JALAN BAHAGIA (Plans to relieve traffic congestion) 6. Dr Augustine H. H. Tan asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he has any plans for relieving the traffic congestion along Jalan Kebun Limau and Jalan Bahagia which form a one-way street linking Balestier Road and Jalan Toa Payoh; and if not, if he will consider the construction of an access road linking Balestier Road and Jalan Toa Payoh. Mr E. W. Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, the building of an expressway is being planned to link Balestier Road and Jalan Toa Payoh. A section of Jalan Kebun Limau and Jalan Bahagia will form part of this expressway which, when completed, will relieve traffic congestion along these two roads. LINK ROAD BETWEEN ST. MICHAEL'S ROAD AND JALAN TENTERAM OR JALAN BAHAGIA 7. Dr Augustine H. H. Tan asked the Minister for Law and National Development if he will consider providing a link road between St. Michael's Road and Jalan Tenteram or Jalan Bahagia, as, presently, traffic from Serangoon Road and Upper Serangoon Road can reach St. Michael's Estate only via a circuitous route.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, if the repairs mentioned by the Member are carried out to the letter, it will not be considered by the department as reconstruction but under the phrase "repairs", provided, of course, the rooms are not extended. If you re-build your house, shall we say, on the same site with exactly the same area; that is, you completely demolish the house, and you put something new there but with exactly the same area as before, the department considers the work as repairs. But if you increase the size of the house by three square inches or three square feet and when the building inspectors measure it and find that the house is bigger, they will say it is a new house. The Member for Sembawang seems to be at issue with me as to what happens in the Chief Building Surveyor's Department. My understanding is that the building inspectors are there to help members of the public. The Member's understanding is that they do not help them. However, since the beginning of' this year, my Parliamentary Secretary has been put in charge of the Chief Building Surveyor's Department and he can keep an eye on what is happening in the department from day to day. If the Member has any difficulties on this score, I would suggest that the Member contact him. As for the court convictions, I do not think I need repeat what I have said. There have been convictions of even more than half a dozen times. But if there are sympathetic grounds on which we can drop the whole matter, we will do it. And this has been done in several cases. If the Member has any particular case in mind, he can draw my Ministry's attention to it and we will give it every consideration.”
“Sir, I sympathise with the Member for Jurong. I am just as sorry as the Member that it was removed. But I had nothing to do with it. I was for it. It was the Ministry of Finance which is in charge of industries and pioneer status. They removed it. I had nothing to do with it. I was against its removal, like the Member. I suggest that at the appropriate time, the Member should ask the Minister for Finance. Why ask me? I am on the Member's side.”
“I do not think we can take this argument any further. The Member for Whampoa has his point, and I have mine. We are surrounded by water and I say that we should catch more fish. I never said that we must catch all the fish that we eat. But we must catch more fish. I never said stop manufacturing, stop building Housing Board flats. That came from the Member for Whampoa.”
“Fish and rice, too, are two different things. You grow rice on land.”
“The Member for Whampoa has put it very nicely. But we can always import fish from our neighbours provided fish comes in. We can always import water from our neighbours provided the water always comes in. When there is a blockade, what happens? Dr Augustine Tan: Fish and water are two different things altogether.”
“I am not here to battle with the Member for Whampoa on economics. We are an island surrounded by water and we only catch one-quarter of the fish we eat.”
“Sir, perhaps the Member misunderstood me. We are an island surrounded by water.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, like the Member for Jurong. I myself was very disappointed when the pioneer status for deep-sea fishing was struck off the list of pioneer status industries. The Primary Production Department has done its best to encourage deep-sea fishing. There is the Fishing Training Centre at Changi, a joint Singapore-U.N.D.P. (United Nations Development Programme) project established in 1969 conducting two types of one-year courses: firstly, a deck course to train navigators and fishing technicians; and, secondly, an engineering course to train fishing vessel engineers. Prior to running these courses, the Fishing Training Centre conducted several short-term intensive courses of two to three months' duration for fishermen in late 1969 and early 1970 in seamanship, navigation, engine repair and operation of fishing gear. A total of 51 out of 75 fishermen satisfactorily completed these courses. The centre also conducted a one-week course in January 1970 for 32 captains of fishing trawlers based at Upper Serangoon Road. So the Primary Production Department is not sleeping on this matter. But as I said, our fishermen prefer to do in-shore fishing and I am ashamed to say that we import three-quarters of the fish we consume in Singapore. Dr Augustine Tan: Sir, why should we be ashamed? It is simple economics.”
“There are plans for agriculture on the off-shore islands, but they are mostly concerned with the growing of orchids. However, they have not started yet. In fact, quite a bit of land in Pulau Tekong was recently acquired so that our army can train there. It meant the resettlement of some farmers there. Therefore, development on the offshore islands has not started. I think industry will begin first instead of agriculture. As for deep-sea fishing, most of our fishermen are in-shore fishermen and they are reluctant to go far out. We have a training school in Changi to train them. A few of them have been trained. But, unfortunately, it is a hard life and very few would like to go far out to sea because it means being away from the family. But we are trying to do our best to encourage more and more fishermen to go into deep-sea fishing.”
“Hence, the price of land in Singapore is going up. As for chicken sheds being demolished, these are minor matters. If they are not built to specifications, naturally they are demolished. The answer is, build according to the specifications, I do not know whether I have dealt with all the matters, but if Members want to raise something which I have not answered, please do so.”
“I am not saying that at all. If the Member has been in this House for several years, he will hear Members saying the same thing every year - that the farmers are poor! When the price of eggs goes down. I am supposed to explain why it is down, and what am I doing about putting the price of eggs up. When the price of eggs goes up, some other Members of Parliament will ask me what I am doing about getting it down. Anyway, Sir, over the years, the Primary Production Department has developed a network of ten extension centres in the more important farming areas staffed by qualified officers. These officers visit the farms regularly and give on-the-spot advice to the farmers, whether they are big-time farmers or small-time farmers. They also organise training programmes and talks in the respective farming areas for farmers to obtain the most up-to-date information on farming techniques and the results of experiments and research. Information is also disseminated widely through the Department's news bulletins, pamphlets, rural film shows and rural news broadcasts. More specifically, the Pig and Poultry Training and Research Institute in Sembawang organises, within the station, talks and demonstrations on various aspects of pig and poultry rearing based on the results of research. The Agricultural Division organises regular courses in mushroom cultivation for the public. On a more formal basis, the Farm School at Sembawang offers training courses in which advanced and proven techniques of farming developed from the Department's research programme are passed on to our young farmers. I am afraid that land is in short supply in Singapore and it is really not possible to allocate more land to farmers. Land is needed for other projects.”
“That is accepted. But surely in Singapore there is not such a big number of farmers that this $200 million does not go a long way?”
“The Member wishes to enter into this debate?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, first, may I deal with the question of flatted farming'? It was a suggestion by the then Minister for Finance. However, he is not in charge of farmers. I am in charge of them. But he is in charge of money. If you want to borrow money or if you want your farmers to be financed, do not ask me. Ask the Minister for Finance. The Member should get this clear. The Minister for Finance is concerned with finance, and I am concerned with flatted factories. The Member for Sembawang has referred to the income of $200 million from farmers. Yet he says they are poor. I do not follow him. Dr Augustine Tan rose -”
“Sir, let me deal with the Member's last allegation first. That is not true. I had no dealings with the Member for Geylang East in this case as he was not concerned with the Sims Avenue extension. I think the Member for Paya Lebar has done him a wrong. Those people who were affected by the Sims Avenue extension were the constituents in Geylang Serai, Kampong Ubi, and, to some extent, Kampong Kembangan. We decided to give them priority because we considered the extension of Sims Avenue and the Paya Lebar Expressway as matters which must be completed quickly. So between one part, which is in Paya Lebar and the other part, which is in Sims Avenue, we had to decide whom we wanted to move first. We decided against the constituents in Paya Lebar. That is all. As for the Member for Jurong, we have already spent so much money on his constituency. But I can assure him that after this budget session, if we have any savings, we will spend more money to repair the roads which he has complained about.”
“I did not catch what the Member asked. Could the Member please repeat what he said about my relationship with the "Member for Sims Avenue"? 4.15 p.m.”
“This is not all. This is just for kampong roads and pavings. On the whole, a total sum of $219,124.65 was approved for carrying out various projects and services within Jurong. This again is the highest sum given to any constituency. If I can mention it, Choa Chu Kang has the second highest sum - $208,000. I am not saying that we should not spend money in Jurong or Choa Chu Kang. It is only right that we should, because both Jurong and Choa Chu Kang are in the rural areas. The rural areas are relatively undeveloped compared to the urban areas, like Hong Lim, or the semi-urban areas, like Tanglin. [Laughter] Do not laugh, because Tanglin is partly rural. We have ten kampongs or more, but all I am trying to say is this. I am surprised. We have spent so much money in the Member's constituency, which proves again that he is hardworking but do not come here and grumble about lack of repairs.”
“Sir, I will give the Member for Jurong an opportunity to seek clarification or ask me further questions, but I have not dealt with him in just one sentence. The Member grumbles about repairs, that only minor repairs are being carried out. To cut it short, proposals to effect minor repairs to Joo Koon Road and Lorong Kemabal, costing $2,000, and to Jalan Tuas, costing $1,400 were deferred. They were considered by the Urban and Rural Services Committee but were deferred due to lack of funds and also because Jurong Constituency had spent all the funds allocated to it. In fact, it had overspent. So there are no more funds to provide for further kampong road repairs and pavings. Other Members in this House will be interested to know that for the last financial year a sum of $61,284.65 was approved for repairing and paving kampong roads within Jurong Constituency. This is the highest sum given to any constituency in Singapore.”
“Sir, to come to the point, the position in Paya Lebar is this. A total of 335 families were affected by road widening. A total of 272 families found their own accommodation or accepted the accommodation offered by the Housing and Development Board. There are still remaining 63 families. They were offered accommodation in several Housing a n d Development Board estates, but they declined to accept it. They have requested accommodation as follows: 24 families want flats in MacPherson Estate or the Kallang Basin; 36 families want shops, and all want to go to the Kallang Basin, two motor vehicle workshop owners request locations which are not even available, and one light industrial factory wants another allocation which is also not available. Priority for allocation of accommodation in the Kallang Basin is given to those families affected by the Sims Avenue Extension and the Pan-island Expressway cutting across Paya Lebar Road We have not got enough flats. So the request of these 24 families asking for flats in the Kallang Basin and 36 more asking for shops in the Kallang Basin cannot be met. We have not got them. As for the summonses, we cannot proceed with the building of the road unless they move out. Yes, they have agreed to move out, but they want the moon, but we have not got the moon, so we have to prosecute them. If I may now turn to the Member for Jurong. He grumbles about military and industrial extensions in Jurong. The Member is fortunate. His constituents can easily find jobs in Jurong. Mr Ho Kah Leong rose -”
“The Members for Paya Lebar and Jurong are again singing their annual tune, playing the same organ-grinder. For the information of the Member for Paya Lebar, I do not understand Mandarin, but according to the interpretation I received, he mentioned "despair" and "hopelessness". I also heard the word "inconvenience". I think that is the proper word. I travel to Paya Lebar quite frequently, but I do not see any "despair" or "hopelessness" on the faces of the constituents in Paya Lebar. "Inconvenience" yes, because they are living next to a busy airport which is being extended. If they choose to live near an airport, they have got to put up with some degree of noise. As for road widening, we have been attempting to complete that job for the last few years, but we have not managed to do so in spite of the fact that I have sought assistance from the Member -his constituents are pretty tough - they will not move, so the road widening is still”
“The planning work has been done. In fact, the land offered is almost immediately ready for construction. And last but not least, the simulated plans provided by the Urban Renewal Department give the developer expert advice on the optimum use of the land. I have not given you all the factors. But these are the major factors why the three urban renewal sales that we have had have been successful and why the public is prepared to pay more and more for these sites. As for the assurance asked for by the Member in respect of resettlement of the small industries at Lavender Street, Geylang Road and Jellicoe Road, he need not worry now. No clearance programme has been initiated for urban renewal purposes as it is the intention of Government to ensure that there is suitable alternative accommodation available before full-scale relocation takes place. But the widening of Lavender Street by the Public Works Department will affect a few cases in this locality, and this cannot be helped as the road widening is urgently needed. There will be about seven cases affected -four carpenters, two repairers of engines and one business of detergent packing. We will look for suitable alternative accommodation for them.”