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.”
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“When I have got rid of all these squatters, I will build this road myself." So there are always two sides to the question and it is not for the Government to acquire a piece of land to build a road on someone else's land where squatters have been sitting for years. We would rather not interfere in civil disputes between landlord and tenant. Sometimes it is the landowner who is at fault. Sometimes it is the tenant. But the solution is not to acquire the land for the making up of a road. I have nothing further to add, Sir, except this. If any Member of Parliament is not satisfied with any decision of the Projects Committee, I suggest that he file or petition for a reconsideration of the application - perhaps asking for more pipes - and I can assure him that the Projects Committee, instead of arbitrarily rejecting the appeal, will once again give it careful consideration - and if it appears that the decision was wrong, I can assure him that the Projects Committee is big enough to withdraw its decision and approve the project. Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That Parliament do now adjourn. Adjourned accordingly at Six minutes past Six o'clock p.m. to 14th November, 1967.”
“I did not suggest that it was the Member for Choa Chu Kang who has made suggestions that we should trespass on other people's land. But if you remember, I said that I had to give you a little history of how these points developed. When the Projects Committee was formed, its first decision was that any projects could not and would not even be considered until the landowner's permission was forthcoming. But this led to a howl of protest and it is for this reason that I am raising it here and making it clear once and for all that we cannot flout our own land laws. As for acquisition, we are always acquiring land. And there have been allegations that my Ministry would soon become one of the biggest landowners in this town. We are very careful when we acquire other people's land. For major road widenings, yes. But if you want to build an agricultural road, surely you do not want the Government to acquire land. But we do acquire land for road widening and making of new roads. But if every time the owner refuses to give permission for us to acquire his land and we acquire it, this would cost the Government a big packet and the land would probably not be worth acquiring. To suggest that it is better for the U.R.S.C. to write to the landowner in the first instance I would say is wrong. We have done it - to quote a case in Upper Serangoon where the Member for Upper Serangoon wanted a road metalled. We advised him to write to the landowner, which he did. The landowner said no. So the Projects Committee wrote to the landowner and the reply was to this effect: "At the moment I am having a lot of trouble trying to get rid of squatters on my land. To build this road would only make the stay of the squatters more permanent.”
“I am prepared to give way, Mr Speaker, Sir. Get up, Mr Tang.”
“So these items, for which money was being spent by the P.W.D., had not been taken into consideration by the Finance Committee of the Economic Planning Unit. And when this was discovered, they had to calculate again and fresh figures were given for each constituency, resulting in apparently less money for each constituency. But the facts are that the monies spent in each constituency were not reduced.”
“But finance is controlled by the Minister for Finance, and I asked him half an hour ago what I should say to the Member for Choa Chu Kang in case he raised this point again, that not enough money is being spent on urban and rural projects. The answer was a definite `No'. "The State has got no more money to give to the constituencies." In fact, under the Second Five-Year Plan, Government has made provision for $12 million for these projects. This works out at roughly $2.5 million per year. But Parliament actually approved $2.7 15 million for this year. This amount is small compared with the Development Budget. But these are necessarily small projects compared with the other projects in the Republic. It is not correct to say that this original provision of funds approved by Parliament has been cut down by the Projects Committee. The Projects Committee has no power to cut down what Parliament provides. What actually happened was a readjustment of the allocations done by the Ministry of Finance at the request of the Projects Committee. There are certain items which come under the heading "U.R.S.C." in the Development Estimates - like private streets, minor improvements and reconstruction of roads, roadside railings and fencing, footpaths and cycle tracks, roadside drains, roadside trees and shrubs. The total amount for these items is roughly $795,000. When making the original allocation for each constituency, this Committee did not consider these items. These items are usually done by the P.W.D. If they are building a cycle track, they do not build it in Tanglin and stop within the Constituency. They have got to go on to Ulu Pandan. And if they build it in Choa Chu Kang, they will probably proceed on to the next constituency.”
“The Member for Sembawang mentioned a certain road which has big holes within a month or two of making it up or repairing it. I wish he had drawn this to my attention earlier, so that investigations can proceed into whether there have been rnalpractices, in the sense that the work had not been done according to contract, or whether some big lorries which pass there night and day broke up the road soon after it was made. I will now deal with the Member for Choa Chu Kang in whose name this motion stands. He wants a categorical statement from the Minister concerned explaining why a scheme for electricity was approved in his constituency and a suggested project for water supply was rejected. The answer is simple. Choa Chu Kang is allocated $77,952 per year. The Member for Choa Chu Kang, supported by his Citizens' Consultative Committee, wants us to spend more than half that amount on a water main which, according to investigations of the U.R.S.C., will be supplying water to 50 families: the whole project to be done in three phases - first year, $46,000; second year, $46,000. The Projects Committee had already, at the same meeting, approved a water main project for Choa. Chu Kang to the tune of $23,000. Taking $23,000 from $75,000, he is left with $52,000. If we had approved $46,000 for another water main, then work on all other projects in his constituency would have stopped. So does he want to spend all his funds on 50 families in his constituency, or does he want to divide this money proportionately and fairly in various parts of his constituency? If we had more money, we would give it to him.”
“It is important, and we are giving them more money. The Member for Bras Basah does not get much.”
“Jalan Kayu - $69,219. An hon. Member: What about Sembawang? Mr Barker: Tampines - $101,165. Nee Soon - $82,414. If you want Sembawang - $75,000. So the facts are obvious. You cannot run away from these figures. Much more money is being spent in the rural areas. Whether we win the elections in the rural areas the next time depends not so much on figures but on each and every one of you and how you work in your constituencies.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, if I may deal first with the proposition made by the Member for Bras Basah. He said that the P.A.P, lost the elections in the rural areas because the Government had not paid much attention to development there. On the contrary, the facts are that the Government have spent and are spending much more money in all the rural areas compared to the urban areas. Whether this policy is the correct policy as far as vote-catching is concerned, I do not know. Let us wait for the next elections. But the facts are these. This year, just to give you an example, Anson, an urban area - $9,280. Let us try Choa Chu Kang - obviously a rural area - $77,952, which is. I think, more than $9,000! Kampong Glam - $9,569; Kampong Kapor - $11,425. These are urban areas. They cannot do much with the money that they are allocated. [Interruption] Let us try Changi.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That Parliament do now adjourn. Question proposed. FINANCING AND ADMINISTRATION OF URBAN AND RURAL SERVICES PROJECTS”
“The Member is right when he referred to the previous reclamation which cost about $50 million. But two square miles of land which will be worth probably about $5 per square foot is well worth reclaiming. We will get more than $53 million back. We are not throwing the money into the sea. We are reclaiming the sea. Otherwise we will reach a position where the price of land will reach a fantastic level in Singapore. Our buildings are already going up higher and higher and every available space of land is certainly well worth having on a small island like ours. Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 foreshore and sea-bed containing an area of approximately 306 of the Foreshores Ordinance (Chapter 246), approves the reclamation by Government of that portion of the acres from the location of the Singapore Swimming Club at Tanjong Rhu to the Esplanade as delineated on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 2/67", which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am prepared to listen to the Member for Tiong Bahru if you will allow him to speak after I have finished with the Member for Sembawang. His grouse is that we are reclaiming land from the sea and, as a result, he says we have lost our seashore. I really do not understand how we lose the seashore. When you reclaim a coast, all you are doing is to push the seacoast back but it is still there. He suggests that we reclaim swamps and low-lying land in Singapore. I can assure him that that is being done and has been done in the past. The outstanding example is Jurong which was reclaimed from a swamp. Another bright example is the reclamation which is now taking place at Kranji. But the land along East Coast Road is a valuable strip and will provide Singapore, which is only 224 square miles of land, with another two square miles of land. I say two after 224 is well worth having.”
“I have not finished with Mr Teong Eng Siong.”
“I have made it quite clear that for future contracts we will consider the Member's suggestion. I have said it twice. I say it once more. Mr Lee Teck Him rose -”
“If the Member will sit down and let me finish, and then I will be prepared to clarify. But I am not prepared to make a clarification whilst I am in the middle of the first clarification. And I have said that for future reclamation, the one for which I now seek the permission of the House, consideration will be given to the Member's suggestion. I am now prepared to clarify.”
“I did not say that tenders have been called for and accepted. In fact, we cannot reclaim any part of the foreshore without first seeking permission from the House. I refer to the reclamation which is at the moment taking place, for which approval has already been given by the House, and for which the tender has been given to a firm of Japanese contractors. For that I have said it is up to the Japanese firm to decide whether or not they want more labour or they want to use German machines and Australian ---”
“If I may deal with the Member for Choa Chu Kang who has suggested that we employ more labour. The answer, for the present contract, is a big "No". The reason is that the first part of the reclamation has been let out by tender to a Japanese firm of contractors and we are, of course, bound by that contract. And it is up to this firm to decide whether or not they want to use their machines or use more labour. But for future contracts in respect of land reclamation, perhaps consideration can be given to the suggestion of the Member for Choa Chu Kang.”
“The fill will come from Bedok where there is sufficient earth for this reclamation as well and will be transported by an extension of the present conveyor belt system already in use. The second part will consist of the reclamation of 226 acres along Nicoll Highway up to the Singapore River mouth. The fill will come from excess earth from the development at Seventh Precinct No. 1, Erskine Hill, the balance of the Tiong Bahru fire site, Queenstown neighbourhood. 6 and 7, and Telok Blangah New Town. It is anticipated that the whole project will be completed by 1971. No firm decision has been made on the utilisation of this land. However, the first public project to be undertaken will be the construction of a coastal highway from Bedok to the city. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the motion standing in my name, That this Parliament in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Ordinance (Chapter 246), approves the reclamation by Government of that portion of the foreshore and sea-bed containing an area of approximately 306 acres from the location of the Singapore Swimming Club at Tanjong Rhu to the Esplanade as delineated on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 2/67", which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore. This is the third phase of the scheme for the reclamation of the foreshore and sea-bed along East Coast Road. The first phase of the reclamation scheme of foreshore and sea-bed along Upper East Coast Road from the junction of Bedok Road was a pilot scheme completed in late 1963 and realised a surveyed area of 37 acres. Work on the second phase, the 1,000-acre reclamation of foreshore from Bedok to Tanjong Rhu approved in 1965 by the then Legislative Assembly, is progressing satisfactorily according to schedule and is expected to be completed by mid-1970. The Government now proposes to reclaim a further 306 acres of foreshore from the Singapore Swimming Club right up to the end of Tanjong Rhu and from Nicoll Highway to Elizabeth Walk, near the Singapore River mouth. A copy of the reclamation plan is displayed in the Library of this House for the information of Members. Mr Speaker, Sir, this phase of the reclamation, which will also be undertaken by the Housing and Development Board acting as agents of the Government, will, it is envisaged, be undertaken in two parts. The first part will comprise the reclamation of 80 acres from the Singapore Swimming Club to the end of Tanjong Rhu.”
“Can I just add one last sentence perhaps to satisfy the Member for Choa Chu Kang who criticised the Board for not insisting on interest to be paid on the $1½ million? Let me assure the House that it was not the Housing Board and its Minister that settled this matter. This matter, in view of its wide implications and the sums of money involved, had the blessing of the members of the Cabinet of the Singapore Government. STAMP (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 4.02 p.m.”
“In answer to the hon. Member for Aljunied who originally asked this question in the House, I did set out in detail the steps already taken by the Board to try to prevent future frauds of this nature. As I have pointed out, previous frauds were due to lack of supervision. The clerks of works have to be supervised. Now you want to get engineers to supervise the clerks of works. How far do we go from there? Do you want someone else to supervise the engineers? And someone else to supervise that someone else? We can go on for ever. But I myself am satisfied that satisfactory steps have been taken by the Board to prevent future occurrences of a similar nature and I think we will have to wait and see what the future holds for us.”
“The Board is responsible and Gammon will be responsible under this clause of indemnity.”
“May I assure the Member for Joo Chiat that the sum of $2.7 million does not exonerate Gammon from future claims in respect of, say, major structural defects which might appear. In fact, if I may quote clause 4 of the agreement: 'The Company hereby undertakes liability to the Board in respect of and indemnifies the Board in full in respect of all damages, costs and expenses of whatever nature suffered or incurred by the Board consequent upon any structural defects in any buildings covered by the said contracts arising within ten years from the date of completion of each particular contract as a result of inadequate piling by the Company.' Some of these contracts started in 1961. So for the earliest contracts, we can wait till 1971. For others, you calculate a period of ten years.”
“I take it that the Member for Punggol is referring to past contracts. Since investigations started, no contracts have been awarded to Gammon as yet. I cannot tell you exactly how many piling contracts were awarded to Gammon in the past. Out of the $2.7 million, roughly $2,098,000 was in respect of short-piling. I do not think I need bother you with details, but I have the figures here showing how the sum of $2,098,000 is made up in respect of contracts all over the island. It adds up to $2,098,000 based on the calculations of the consultants. Roughly, it represents about 20 per cent of the total cost of piling work done by Gammon. The uncovering of the piles at Toa Payoh revealed that there was a shortage of roughly 20 per cent. It was physically impossible to go around Singapore pulling up piles from occupied buildings. So the estimate was 20 per cent right round the island. And 20 per cent of a little more than $10 million works out to about $2,098,000. As for the balance - a sum of roughly $350,000 - $300,000 was for compensation in respect of delay covering nine blocks in Toa Payoh; $50,000 being the amount estimated to be payable to the Board's contractor for uncovering the piles. Then you have other items like investigation costs, including professional fees and wages of the Board and P.W.D. personnel involved in the investigations into the said short-piling. And then the cost of reinstating buildings damaged or demolished. But in a settlement for a lump sum of $2.7 million, it is difficult to say how much went to each particular item. But the bigger part of the sum, i.e., nearly $2,100,000 was estimated to be in respect of short-piling.”
“Sir, I think it is pure logic that $1½ million to be paid now is worth much more than $1½ million to be paid in three instalments. That is admitted. But again under the terms of settlement, Gammon were allowed to make these payments because they were in no position to pay $2.7 million cash. As for the lifting of the suspension, once the suspension is lifted, how does the hon. Member expect me to give him an assurance that Gammon's tenders will not be accepted? Is the hon. Member asking me to black-ball Gammon again? As I have pointed out, under the terms of the agreement, no company paying $2.7 million is going to pay that money without getting something in return. Mr Ng Kah Ting and Mr Tang See Chim rose -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am surprised that a member of the Bar should ask me, after a settlement in which the Housing Board is to be paid $2,700,000, why Gammon's suspension was lifted. The answer is simple. If the Board had not agreed to lift the suspension, Gammon would not have paid $2.7 million. It is a big sum. The other alternative was to take them to court, and again here a member of the Bar should know that court proceedings take a long time and, in the final analysis, the Board may get more, maybe a little more, or they may get less. But in any settlement, there must be give and take. The fact that the suspension has been lifted means that Gammon, like other contractors, can tender. There is no guarantee that their tenders will be accepted. But there are measures taken by the Board not only in respect of work sites, on which Gammon are employed, but also of other piling contracts. As for the second question, there is no agreement for interest to be paid on the sum of $1½ million. The Member wants to know why not. The answer is this. Gammon were in no position to pay the Housing Board $2.7 million in cash. There was bargaining on the final figure, whether it was $2.5 million or $2.7 million. But the question of interest was not taken up by the Board because, in the final analysis, it was the Board's figure that was accepted by Gammon, not Gammon's figure accepted by the Board.”
“Thirdly, Sir, internal technical audit checks have been introduced on the piling and building sites. The Technical Audit Team makes periodic visits to do surprise checks. These are the measures the Board is taking. At the same time, Members are aware that the suspension on Gammon tendering for future work of the Board has been lifted as a result of the settlement, and Gammon have been asked by the Board what measures they themselves will take to ensure or to prevent frauds of a similar nature taking place again. And Gammon have replied to the Board stating that, firstly, no officers and other employees involved in the over-claims remain in the employ of the company or any of its associate companies and that they have been replaced by men of proven probity. Secondly, piling work by Gammon will he carried out by direct labour on an incentive pay basis under stricter supervision, and sub-contractors shall not be employed for any piling work in Singapore. Thirdly, the company's technical auditor is now under instructions to conduct an independent scrutiny of all their piling contracts and personnel employed by them unhindered in any way as a matter of policy laid down by the Board of Management.”
“As to the first question, which refers to the sum of $2,700,000, the agreement was that $1,200,000 was to be paid on the signing of the agreement. That sum has been paid. The balance of $1 ½ million is to be paid by Gammon in three instalments. The first instalment of $½ million within six months of the date of the agreement, and the two remaining instalments at intervals of six months after that. The agreement itself was signed on the 8th day of September this year. In order to ensure that payment is made by Gammon, the Board insisted on Gammon providing a banker's guarantee that the three instalments of $½ million each will be forthcoming. I think that answers the first two questions. The Member also wants to be satisfied that steps have been taken by the Board to prevent frauds of a similar nature. Sir, the frauds were in fact committed because of lack of supervision on the piling site, lack of supervision over the clerks of works and Gammon's men on the site. In this respect, the Board has taken steps to introduce more effective means of supervision to prevent the occurrence of irregularities in future contracts. Resident engineers are now stationed on the major piling sites. In fact, the Board has created more posts for such engineers and it is now possible to have these engineers permanently stationed on a rotation basis on the piling sites. As an additional safeguard, to enable checks to be made at any time after the piles have been driven into the ground, a half-inch diameter iron pipe is inserted into the centre of a pile in a group of piles, the group of piles consisting of about two to five piles. This is to enable the length of the pile to be measured at any time after the piling has been completed by the insertion of a flexible iron rod.”
“It would not be appropriate at this stage for me to say any more about these proceedings which are still pending. In addition, disciplinary proceedings have been taken by the Board, as a result of which, after due inquiry, 12 clerks of works have been dismissed, one has absconded and one resigned before an inquiry was held. Inquiries with a view to the dismissal of a further three clerks of works remain to be held. Other disciplinary proceedings are also in contemplation. The agreement reached between the Board and Gammon is subject to reopening if it is established that any director or responsible member of the managerial staff of Gammon not below the rank of chief engineer, past or present, was a party to or at that time aware of the circumstances resulting in the short-piling. Finally, the House will wish to be assured, as is in fact the case, that all proper steps have been taken to ensure that, despite the frauds which have been committed, all the Board's flats in question are structurally sound. The Board's consulting engineers have been asked to report fully on this, and I am satisfied, as a result of what they say, that the Board's flats in question are in fact structurally sound.”
“In the majority of the contracts affected, the buildings concerned were all completed or substantially approaching completion at the date when these malpractices became known, it would, therefore, be impossible, without incurring enormous expense out of all proportion to the Board's claim, to make a full and accurate physical measurement of the short-piling involved for reasons which will be very obvious. The Board did, however, instruct a firm of consultant engineers, experts in this particular field, to make a survey and an analysis of the short-piling by the best and the most efficient method known, short of demolishing the buildings concerned and lifting the piles. Based on this survey and on the advice of its legal adviser, the Board has reached agreement with Gammon on terms which have already been published in the form of a statement by the Chairman of Gammon. The settlement involves the payment to the Board of an aggregate sum of $2,700,000, over $2 million of which is allocated to compensation for over-payments on short-piling. The remainder represents compensation for the cost of reinstatement, losses due to delay in completion, and the cost of investigation as to the whole of which the Board has been fully indemnified. In addition, the expenses of the consultant engineers and the Board's legal expenses are to be met by Gammon. The investigations which have been carried out have implicated a number of individuals, among them some employees of Gammon and certain of the clerks of works employed by the Board. Criminal charges have been preferred against five persons, one employed by Gammon and four by the Board, under the Prevention of Corruption Ordinance, 1960, and other charges of a similar character are contemplated.”
“Mr Speaker. Sir, on the 14th December last year I informed the House that the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau was conducting investigations into certain alleged malpractices in connection with building construction carried out by the Housing and Development Board. These investigations followed information received in August 1966 by the C.P.I.B. about certain piling work carried out for the Board by Gammon (Malaya) Ltd., a firm of piling contractors. The results of these investigations revealed that there had been extensive malpractices resulting in considerable over-payments by the Board to Gammon under the terms of the various contracts in question. As soon as sufficient evidence was available from the C.P.I.B., steps were taken to uncover and measure a small number of piles at Toa Payoh. The results of these physical tests confirmed the findings of the C.P.I.B. and in December 1966 Gammon were informed that they would be held responsible. Discussions were held between the Board and Gammon and between their respective legal advisers, as a result of which early this year Gammon agreed to accept full liability for all over-payments for any structural defects which might arise as a result of inadequate piling and for further incidental expenses incurred by the Board as a result of the delay in completion of certain of the contracts. Gammon also undertook to bear the full cost of any investigation necessary to establish the extent of the over-payments.”
“No, Sir. PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS (Warning to motorists) 13. Mr S. V. Lingam asked the Minister of State (Prime Minister's Department) whether he will consider installing (a) floodlights at all pedestrian crossings; and (b) a line of studs on the approaches to each pedestrian crossing and about 100 yards short of it in order to give motorists a physical warning that they are approaching a pedestrian crossing. Tuan Haji Yaacob Bin Mohamed(In Malay): The Public Works Department is gradually replacing as many pedestrian crossings as possible with overhead bridges or underpasses. If, for any reason, the construction of such bridges or underpasses is not possible, the P.W.D. will provide zebra crossings with floodlights of the blinker type. Studs are expensive and tend to damage the asphalt surface of the roads, and therefore it is not intended to use them extensively for pedestrian crossings.”
“I can assure the Member for Bras Basah that Government will accept full responsibility according to the law.”
“By "security", I assume the Member is asking whether there are car-park attendants or guards. I assure him there are. For instance, in Queens-town we employ 12 car-park attendants and they work for 24 hours on three shifts - four attendants at a time. So if you pay your $12 in Queenstown and put your car in this car-park, you are assured of better protection than if you leave it on the main road.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thought we were discussing the introduction of car parks! But, like the hon. Member for Tiong Bahru, the hon. Member for Queenstown has also been approached by his Citizens' Consultative Committee and the residents of Queenstown to try to get these car-parking fees reduced. But these are the fees that have been calculated by the Board to recover their costs of building the car park and providing for its maintenance. I can assure the Member that the Board is not making any profit out of the fees charged at Tiong Bahru or Queenstown. But representations have been made. This is the first representation I am hearing from Tiong Bahru, and I will ask the Board to consider whether or not they can reduce the parking fees. But what really surprises me, Sir, is the number of cars that are at present around Housing Board estates. The flats are meant to be for the lower income group, and yet many of them can afford to buy cars. And if they can afford to buy cars, surely they can afford to pay $12 a month.”
“I take it that the Member is not merely referring to Housing Board estates but to car parking in the whole of Singapore. We have no intention to replace car-park attendants with car-parking meters, but we intend to start a little experiment to test car-parking meters. I can assure the Member that it will only be an experiment. We will be trying it out in places like High Street where the meters will not be damaged or stolen. But I repeat - it will be only an experiment and we will continue to use car-parking attendants and provide some employment rather than replace these attendants with meters.”
“It was anticipated that the drawing of white lines on these one-way streets would result in motor-cars having difficulty in finding parking places. Some provision, therefore, had to be made to accommodate them. Two lots of Housing Board land which had been set aside for other purposes were, therefore, converted into car parks for those prepared to pay a small fee to park their cars in these two lots. These two lots can accommodate 185 and 250 cars respectively. On the1st of July this year, the tenants of Queenstown were invited, if they so wished, to put their cars in these parking lots for a fee of $12 per month. The fees were determined on the basis that costs will be recovered over a period of time. In the first three months, of the 435 lots provided, an average of about 200 lots were taken up. The Board expects that there will be no difficulty, once the tenants get used to the idea of parking in these lots, for the lots to be fully occupied. In other housing estates where open space or suitable land is available, similar facilities will be provided and a fee charged to recover costs. In Tiong Bahru Estate car-parking sticks are provided with parking lots and are rented out to the tenants at $5 and $10 in parking areas in Moh Guan Terrace, Guan Chuan, Eng Hoon and Eng Watt Streets. It is also planned to provide similar paid car-parking lots in MacPherson Estate and in Toa Payoh.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the short answer to the two points raised by the Member for Jurong is `Yes'. The paid car-park system introduced in Queenstown housing estate is working satisfactorily and will be introduced to other Housing and Development Board estates. It is, however, necessary to elaborate on the policy of the Government with regard to the provision of car parks in Housing Board estates in order to dispel some wrong impressions that might have been created following the introduction of the paid-car-park system in Queenstown. Free car parks are provided in central localities and near to shopping facilities in Housing Board estates as part and parcel of the approved layout. These car parks are made up to approved standards and taken over by the P.W.D. Instead of providing one car park for each flat as required in luxury apartments, in the low-cost housing estates of the Board the ratio is one car park for each seven flats. On this basis the car parking and road network of Queenstown has been planned. Over the years the income of people living in flats in Queenstown has increased and more and more of them have bought motor-cars. There has also been a considerable increase in the number of pirate taxis. As a result, in Queenstown motor-cars overflowed from the available car parks on to the public roads, causing traffic congestion. Many complaints were received and the traffic police had difficulty in sorting out this traffic problem. Initially a one-way traffic system was introduced, but even this proved to be inadequate when cars were parked on both sides of one-way streets. To reduce congestion, it was decided to draw white lines on the roads in order that these roads would not be blocked.”
“After approval has been given by the appropriate Tenders Board or the Assistant Director of Public Works, checks are made to ensure that the rates and the bills of quantities and schedule of rates are arithmetically correct. These approvals are then conveyed to the successful tenderers by means of letters of acceptance, and action is then taken to prepare and sign the necessary contract documents. The system, as I have outlined, has worked satisfactorily and there is no reason why it should be changed. PAID CAR-PARK SYSTEM IN HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD ESTATES 12. Mr Ho Kah Leong asked the Minister for Law and National Development whether the paid car-park system introduced in Queenstown housing estate is satisfactory and whether it will be introduced to all other Housing and Development Board estates.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, to answer this question, I will have to outline briefly the tender system adopted by the Public Works Department. Tenders for public works projects are normally invited by means of tender notifications published in the Government Gazette and in cases where the value of the project is estimated to exceed $50,000, a tender notice is also advertised in the Press. Only registered contractors are selected and may tender for public works. These contractors are selected and classified on the basis of sound finance, good experience and satisfactory performance for past work, technical knowledge and availability of plant and good organising ability. Registered contractors call personally with their registration cards to collect the various tender documents, such as forms of tenders, specifications, bills of quantities and drawings. To safeguard the secrecy of the competitive nature of the tender system, all tenders must be enclosed in a sealed envelope and deposited in the locked tender box provided for the purpose before the closing time for receipt of tenders. At the appointed time on the closing date, a Tenders Opening Committee opens the tender box, collects the tenders and opens them in the presence of all the members. It is the duty of the Tenders Opening Committee to number and initial each and every tender received and to prepare a precis of tenders containing such information as the names of the tenderers and the amounts of tenders. The precis and the tender forms are then processed and recommendations made to the appropriate Tenders Board for consideration and decision. In the case of minor works valued at less than $10,000, consideration for acceptance or rejection is undertaken by an Assistant Director of the Public Works.”
“There are no definite plans for the further development of the Sembawang Malay Settlement. In addition to the 108 sites already allocated in this Settlement, approximately 92 more house lots can be made available if the area is further developed. The estimated cost of filling, site preparation, drainage and roads in respect of the additional area is, however, around $100,000 i.e. more than $1,000 for each plot. The high cost of development, the limited funds available for social development, the need for most effective utilisation of the limited areas available and the number of applicants on the waiting lists have all contributed to cast doubts as to whether further development in the Settlements along the previous lines of individual house lots is in fact desirable. On balance, it would appear preferable if these areas could be more intensely developed by building flats so as to cater for all the many applicants requiring housing.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Singapore Government bases its foreign policy on the principle that every nation should have the right to select its own political, economic and social system and its own way of life free from any outside interference or pressure. We believe that mutual respect, non-interference and equality among all nations are essential principles underlining the creation of a stable and peaceful international order. The tragedy of Vietnam is that the conflict between North and South has drawn in also the big powers, so that the war has come to be regarded as confrontation between the big powers themselves. We believe that all those who feel for the sufferings of the Vietnamese people, whether they be in the North or in the South, are anxious that the war should be brought to a speedy end. Many countries, Asian, African and European, have made efforts to mediate in the war but to no avail. If that is so, Sir, I need not add that there is precious little that Singapore can do to help bring the war to a peaceful conclusion. All we can hope is that the outcome can be settled at the conference table and not by enlargement of the war. This calls for restraint and patience on the part of all those directly and indirectly involved in the war in the name of Vietnam. PRIMARY SCHOOL LEAVING EXAMINATION IN 1967 (Secondary school places and postings) The following Question stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting - 14. To ask the Minister for Education whether all students who pass the Primary School Leaving Examination this year will be given places in secondary schools; whether he is aware of the many cases in previous years where students were posted to secondary schools far away from their homes; and what steps he will take to prevent a similar situation this year.”
“Yes, Sir. ORAL ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS SINGAPORE AIRPORT (Improvement to technical facilities) 1. Mr Yeoh Ghim Seng asked the Deputy Prime Minister what measures are being taken to improve the technical facilities at the Singapore Airport so that it will acquire a reputation among international airlines as an equal to the safest airports in the world.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the land in question has been let to the People's Association on a Temporary Occupation Licence. My Ministry would have no objection if the People's Association wishes to turn the land into either a children's playground or a small park. My Ministry would certainly assist the Association by doing the landscaping work and making every arrangement to turn this piece of land into a park. VIGILANTE CORPS BILL Order for Second Reading read. 4.19 p.m.”
“I am not in charge of the Economic Development Board. At the most, I can ask my Director of Primary Production to sound first, not the Economic Development Board, but the farmers whose hens produce the eggs. OPEN GROUND BEHIND BUKIT HO SWEE COMMUNITY CENTRE (Development scheme) 34. Madam Chan Choy Siong asked the Minister for Law and National Development whether the Housing and Development Board has any scheme to develop the open ground behind the Bukit Ho Swee Community Centre into either a small park or a children's playground, as this open ground is overgrown with tall grass.”
“There was such a proposal but it remained and still is just a proposal. But I would advise the Member for Punggol to direct his inquiries to the Minister for Finance, who is in charge of the Economic Development Board, so that such a factory could be set up in Jurong. Mr Tang See Chim: Will the Minister concerned -whether he be the Minister for Law and National Development or the Minister for Finance -take steps to implement this proposal?”
“At the moment, I do not think that an Egg Buying Board is required. But I do not profess to be an expert on this subject and I will ask the Director of Primary Production to look into the suggestion made by the Member for Choa Chu Kang.”
“I give the hon. Member my assurance now. The Primary Production Department is always keeping a watchful eye on the price of eggs not only for the sake of the farmers but also for the sake of the consumers.”
“The average prices of eggs for the last few years were as follows: 1964 Average ex-farm price 8.7 cents Average retail price 10.3 cents 1965 Average ex-farm price 8.3 cents Average retail price 9.9 cents 1966 Average ex-farm price 9.2 cents Average retail price 10.7 cents March 1967 Average ex-farm price 6.8 cents Average retail price 8.1 cents August 1967 Average ex-farm price 8.8 cents Average retail price 10.2 cents.”
“Mr Speaker, I am aware of the low prices in recent months, but the hon. Member should know that the prices of eggs depend on supply and demand. According to statistics collected by the Primary Production Department, the ex-farm prices of eggs dropped to an average of 6.8 cents in March last and the retail price to an average of 8.1 cents. The Primary Production Department, in conjunction with the Singapore Livestock Farmers' Association and the Singapore Stockfeed Manufacturers' Association, organised a campaign to slaughter old and unproductive hens. Between the 20th of March and the 19th of May this year, about 30,600 hens were slaughtered. This measure prevented egg prices from falling further. Since then, there has been an upward trend in egg prices, and in August the average ex-farm price of eggs was 8.8 cents and the average retail price 10.2 cents. Mr Speaker, Sir, only yesterday, the Minister of Defence had to take great pains to explain why the prices of various goods in Singapore have gone up recently. It is refreshing for me to have to answer a question querying why the price of eggs has gone down.”