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 7 of 44.
“Mr Chor Yeok Eng (for the Minister for Low, the Environment and Science and Technology),( In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of the Environment considers that most contraventions of the Sale of Food Act and the Food Regulations in a technical manner should not be treated lightly as they can lead to serious mass adulteration practices thereby jeopardising general public health. However, if any food is found slightly short of our required standards but does not endanger the health and safety of consumers, a warning is given for the first offence. The warning may be verbal or written, but no publicity is given. DRUG REHABILITATION CENTRES (Particulars) 16. Mr S. Dhanabalan asked the Minister for Home Affairs and Education how many drug rehabilitation centres there are in Singapore, the planned capacity of these centres on the basis of accepted norms of living space per person, sanitary facilities etc. and the range of numbers housed in these centres at any one time in 1977; how many persons are housed in each cell/room for cold turkey treatment and whether there is any separation in housing and treatment of addicts in the strict sense of the term and those who have been apprehended while in the early stages of drug experimentation; and whether he will agree to periodical visits by groups of Members of Parliament to these centres.”
“The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment (Mr Chor Yeok Eng) (for the Minister for Law, the Environment and Science and Technology)( In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, four authorities are responsible for the management of hawkers. The Ministry of the Environment manages Government markets and food centres, whilst the Statutory Boards, i.e. Housing and Development Board, Jurong Town Corporation and the Port of Singapore Authority, are responsible for the markets and food centres built by them. Applications for new licences are made to the appropriate authority which manages these markets/food centres and the allocation of stalls is governed by a common Government policy. If processing of applications and allocation of stalls are centralised under one Ministry, there will be further delays as these applications will still have to be referred to the respective authorities managing the markets/food centres. However, we will continue to find other means of simplifying the procedure for application of hawker licences. SALE OF FOOD ACT (Penalty for first offenders) 15. Mr Ivan Baptist asked the Minister for Law, the Environment and Science and Technology (a) whether he will consider just warning supermarkets and such like enterprises if they contravened for the first time the regulations governing the sale of foods in a technical manner which would not endanger the health and safety of consumers; and (b) whether he will at the same time ensure that no publicity is given when the warning is meted out.”
“Sir, it is true that in some places, such as bus stops and shopping complexes in the city centre, littering has increased. But littering is not so rampant as to warrant a national campaign. Since the launching of the first national "Keep Singapore Clean" campaign in 1968, the majority of the population have become conscious about keeping the environment clean. However, despite rising literacy and affluence and public health education, some people still continue to liner streets, drains and public places. The Ministry of the Environment provides daily cleansing and daily refuse removal service besides surveillance of litter-prone areas, such as public resorts, bus stops, shopping complexes and food centres. Summonses are issued directly to offenders caught in the act of littering and the subsequent publicity in the mass media on litterbugs who are convicted in court helps to remind the public to keep Singapore clean. The Member in his Question stated that "the bad habit of littering has come back to Singapore". It has not come back. It has always been with us. It has not gone away. In 1973, 9,578 persons were convicted of the offence. These convictions have reduced and last year, there were 3,823 cases, roughly 10 a day. ISSUE OF HAWKER LICENCES (Centralisation) 14. Mr Ang Nam Piau asked the Minister for Law, the Environment and Science and Technology whether he is aware that new applicants for hawker licences have been referred from one ministry to another, and if the Government will consider centralising the issue of hawker licences within one ministry so as to avoid the inconveniences caused to the applicants.”
“Mr Hwang Soo Jin asked the Prime Minister how many cases were investigated by the Corrupt Investigations Bureau in 1977 and how many prosecutions resulted therefrom; and what were the comparative figures for 1976 and 1975.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the Motion* standing in my name as it appears as item 10 on the Order Paper. *The motion reads as follows: That this Parliament resolves in accordance with subsection (4) of section 3 of the Audit Act (Chapter 60) that the salary of the Auditor-General shall be $5,050 per month with effect from 1st November, 1977. Sir, section 3(4) of the Audit Act (Chapter 60) provides that the Auditor-General shall be paid such remuneration and allowances as may from time to time be determined by Parliament and such remuneration and allowances should be charged on and paid out of the Consolidated Fund. Mr Speaker, Sir, the salaries of officers in the public service were consolidated by the incorporation of the National Wages Council allowances for 1973-1977 into the salary scales, with effect from 1st November 1977. On the basis of this consolidation, the Auditor-General's salary (Grade D) will need to be revised from $3,500 to $5,050 per month. This Motion is necessary for the new consolidated salary to be paid to the Auditor-General. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That this Parliament resolves in accordance with sub-section (4) of section 3 of the Audit Act (Chapter 60) that the salary of the Auditor-General shall be $5,050 per month with effect from 1st November, 1977. ADJOURNMENT Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn to Friday, 17th February, 1978." - [Mr E.W. Barker]. Adjourned accordingly at Twenty-four minutes to Five o'clock p.m. to Friday, 17th February, 1978. WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS CORRUPT PRACTICES INVESTIGATION BUREAU (Cases, 1975-77) 1.”
“The reclamation will join up Pulau Selegu and Sarong Island with Sentosa Island which will not only improve the visual impact on visitors, but will also create more land for future development. The Port of Singapore Authority, as agents of the Corporation, will undertake the reclamation works which are expected to be completed in about 14 months' time at an estimated cost of about $7 million. Fill for the reclamation will be obtained from the Public Utilities Board Reservoir project at Ulu Pandan and the Port of Singapore Authority's Inland Container Depot site at - Holland Road/Bukit Timah Road junction. On completion of the reclamation, the land will be proclaimed as State land and alienated to the Sentosa Development Corporation on terms and conditions to be agreed with the Commissioner of Lands. Suitable landscaping, including the planting of coconut trees along the fringe of the reclaimed land to preserve the image of a tropical island, will also be undertaken. 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 at Sentosa Island containing a total area of about l7.0 hectares as shown coloured pink on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 3/77" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore. SUBSCRIPTION TO ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK AUTHORISED CAPITAL STOCK 4.30 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the Motion* standing in my name as it appears on the Order Paper. *The motion reads as follows: That this Parliament, in accordance with section 4 of the Foreshores Act (Chapter 270), approves the reclamation by Government of those portion of the foreshore and seabed at Sentosa Island containing a total area of about 17.0 hectures as shown coloured pink on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 3/77" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore. Sir, on 30th November, 1973, this House approved the dredging and reclamation of about 11 hectares (27 acres) of the fore-shore off Sentosa Island for the creation of a swimming lagoon and construction of some foreshore structures (temporary bridges) as well as the reclamation of about 3 hectares (7 acres) of the Kuchin Creek Estuary by the Port of Singapore Authority as agents of the Sentosa Development Corporation. The reclamation off Sentosa Island for the swimming lagoon and the construction of tem- porary bridges have been completed. The reclamation of Kuchin Creek Estuary was, however, shelved temporarily since 1st June 1976 by the Corporation, as the Corporation had second thoughts on the profile of the reclamation. The Corporation now proposes to proceed with an enlarged reclamation scheme of about 17 hectares (42 acres) covering the foreshore at Kuchin Creek Estuary as well as the reef between Sarong Island and the Main Jetty as shown coloured pink on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 3/77". A copy of this plan is displayed in the library of this House for the information of Members. The area proposed for reclamation is an eyesore at low tide when muddy flats, mangrove swamps and flotsam are exposed.”
“hectares, as shown coloured green on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 4/77" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore. RECLAMATION AT SENTOSA ISLAND”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move the Motion* standing in my name as it appears on the Order Paper. *The motion 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 off Tampines and Changi containing an area of about 44 hectares, as shown coloured green on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAIMATION PLAN NO 4/77" which is deposited in the Land Office, Singapore. Sir, with the development of more and more homes by the Housing and Development Board, it is necessary to provide more green "lungs" and public parks for the use and benefit of the residents. A number of public parks will be developed by Government, amongst them Pasir Ris Park. The development of this Park necessitates the reclamation of about 44 hectares of the foreshore and seabed off Tampines and Changi as shown coloured green on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO. 4/77", a copy of which is displayed in the library of this House for the information of hon. Members. The proposed reclamation will cost Government about $5 million. Fill for the reclamation will be obtained from the cut-site of the Housing and Development Board's Tampines New Town. When completed, Pasir Ris Park with an area of 95 hectares will be the major green "lung" serving the population in the north-eastern sector of the island including Upper Serangoon, Punggol Housing Estate and Tampines New Town. 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 off Tampines and Changi containing an area of about 44.”
“Sir, the Constitution (Amendment) Act, which is the enabling Act, the principal Act, leads to the other two Acts. The Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act lasts for five years. At the end of that five years, it has to be renewed. The Member for Kallang has a point when he said that the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill should have been made of a temporary nature, perhaps for three years or five years when we should come back here to discuss and debate it in Parliament. But again, if he has that suggestion, I am afraid he is a little out of time. The suggestion should have been made when the Bill was debated in the House last year. Unfortunately, the Member, not having the advantage of a study of the law, did not know that the Act was ultra vires the Constitution. But, as I said before, the Minister in charge had to deal with a rather drastic situation. When you have thousands of drug addicts on your hands, you cannot sometimes wait even for a parliamentary sitting. As for future assurances, like the Member for Jalan Kayu, I myself swore to defend and uphold the Constitution. But sometimes amendments to the Constitution have to be made; in fact, there have been very few in the last 12 years since we gained independence and adopted some of the provisions of the Constitution of Malaysia.”
“Sir, the Member for Kallang has made many good points in his speech, but the better part of his speech should have been made last year when he spoke on the Second Reading of the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill. But let me assure both hon. Members that other solutions were carefully explored before it was concluded that arrest and detention without trial was the only practical method of dealing with the drug problem. My colleague, the Minister for Home Affairs, has explained in detail the reasons for the act. Sir, the spread of drug abuse was somewhat like the spread of an infectious disease like cholera, of which I am in charge, and had to be dealt with expediently and drastically. We could not wait. To take thousands of drug abusers to court would have meant delays. If the accused claimed trial and was granted bail, as is the usual practice, he would continue to take drugs and make himself even more addictive, Sir, it is not just a question of not enough courts or magistrates or administrators. We can set up special courts purely to deal with the drug abusers, as we have with the two traffic courts dealing with traffic offenders. But that is not the solution. Hence it was felt that drug abusers should be detained for rehabilitation without trial even before the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill became law. The Member for Kallang has asked me to consider an amendment to provide that any law which authorises the arrest and detention of drug addicts without trial should have a definite life of, say, three years. I hope he is not suggesting that the present amendment to the Constitution which I am moving should be a temporary one, because it is not usual for amendments to the Constitution to be made of a temporary nature.”
“Part V of the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act, which authorises the arrest and detention of any person in the interest of public safety, peace and good order, was enacted in the year 1955. When Singapore became a state within the Federation of Malaysia in 1963, the fundamental liberties clauses (including Article 5) of the Malaysian Constitution became applicable to us. These clauses were retained in our Constitution when we separated from Malaysia in August 1965. It may be arguable that Part V of the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act infringes Article 5 of the Constitution. The Bill before this House will ensure the constitutional validity of Part V. In all the circumstances, which I have related, it is necessary to make this Bill both prospective and retrospective. Question proposed. 3.58 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Sir, you will recall that my colleague, the Minister for Home Affairs and Education, at the Second Reading of the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Bill, informed the House how serious the problem of drug abuse and addiction had become. As compared with the few cases of heroin addiction in 1971, we now have as many as 12,000 heroin addicts and abusers. The Act, which was enacted to deal with this pernicious problem, provides for the necessary powers of arrest and detention of these drug addicts and abusers for treatment and rehabilitation in approved institutions, subject to certain safeguards. A constitutional problem, however, arises in regard to the Act, vis-a-vis Article 5 of the Constitution of Malaysia in its application to Singapore. Article 5 lays down the constitutional requirement that a person, who is arrested and detained, should be informed of the grounds of his arrest, should be allowed to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner, and should be produced before a Magistrate within 24 hours of his arrest. Whilst the importance of this fundamental right is recognised, it, like any other fundamental right, cannot be absolute and may have to be qualified in the interest of public order, safety or security. A departure from the normal constitutional requirements is necessary to deal effectively with the grave drug problem. The Bill before this House ensures the constitutional validity of the Misuse of Drugs Act, in so far as that Act authorises the detention of drug addicts and abusers in approved institutions for treatment and rehabilitation.”
“Sir, I beg to move, "That the clause be read a Second time". Sir, under the existing provisions of section 28(1) of the Parliamentary Elections Act (Chapter 50), candidates for elections are required to make their deposits in legal tender as defined under section 14(1) of the Currency Act (Chapter 64), that is to say, in cash. It is now proposed to allow the Returning Officer to accept deposits made other than in legal tender. The proposed amendment will enable such candidates to make their deposits by a bank draft order or a certified cheque apart from cash. "Certified cheque" is defined under this new clause to mean a cheque which is certified by the drawee bank as good for payment of the sum stated in the cheque. Question put and agreed to. Clause read a Second time and added to the Bill.”
“Members that it has been decided to increase the deposit required to be made by a candidate for election under section 28 of the Act from the present sum of $1,200 to $1,500. The Act (section 28(6)) provides that the Minister may vary the amount of the deposit provided that it does not exceed 10% of the total allowances paid to a Member of Parliament in each year. With the consolidation of the NWC awards into basic salaries, the monthly allowance of an MP is now $1,340. The yearly allowance is therefore $16,080 (not including the 13th month's allowance). Ton per cent of the yearly allowance is $1,608, a sum larger than the proposed deposit of $1,500. The increase will be implemented in due course by a notification in the Gazette in accordance with subsection (6). 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] 3.41 p.m. Clause 1 -”
“However, on practical considerations, where a writ of election has been issued for an election in an electoral division, no entry will be made in the register of electors of that division until after nomination day or, if a poll is to be taken, until after polling day. The second amendment (clause 6) is designed to enable persons who have failed to vote at any election and whose names have been expunged from the registers of electors to have their names restored without having to wait until the next ensuing revision of the registers. The present provision is unsatisfactory in that it requires such persons to wait until the ensuing revision of the registers before their names can be restored, even though they may have furnished the Registration Officer with a good excuse or have paid the penalty of $5.00 for the restoration of their names. This amendment provides that such persons will have their names restored the day after the payment of the penalty of $5.00 or the day after the Registration Officer has satisfied himself of any good excuse which has been furnished. Again for practical considerations, it is provided that where a writ of election has been issued for an election in an electoral division, no name is to be restored to the register of that division until after nomination day or, if a poll is to be taken, until after polling day. The third amendment (clause 7) seeks to prohibit, inter alia, non-citizens and undischarged bankrupts from taking part in any election activity. It is not in the public interest that such persons should play an active part in election campaigns. Before concluding, I would like to inform hon.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." This Bill contains a few amendments to the Parliamentary Elections Act, which have been found to be necessary. The first amendment (clause 4) empowers the Registration Officer to remove from any register the names of electors whose addresses as shown in the register have ceased to exist or to be used as a place of residence, and to transfer such names to the appropriate registers, provided that the changes of addresses have been notified to the Commissioner of National Registration. At present such removal and/or transfer of names can only be done if there is a general revision of the registers of electors; the amendment will enable this to be done without having to wait for such a general revision. As a result of urban renewal and redevelopment, many electors have vacated their residences and resettled elsewhere. It is considered that these electors should not be entitled to vote in the constituency in which they have clearly ceased to reside. They should vote in the constituency in which they are currently residing. Provision is made for the Registration Officer to give appropriate notice in the Gazette and to make available for public inspection a list of the names of the persons so affected, at least two weeks before making any removal or transfer of names. If at the time a person's name is removed from a register of electors he has not yet notified the Commissioner of National Registration of his change of address, he can still subsequently apply to have his name entered in the appropriate register so that he will not be prejudiced by the removal of his name.”
“We certainly will. CONTAMINATED FOOD IN SUPERMARKETS (Measures to prevent) 34. Mr Cheong Yuen Chee asked the Minister for Law, the Environment and Science and Technology what measures are being taken to prevent further occurrences of contaminated food being sold in supermarkets and what action is being taken to make the public aware of such dangers to their health so that they can become more discerning when they shop. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment (Mr Chor Yeok Eng) (for the Minister for Law, the Environment and Science and Technology)( In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of the Environment carries out regular checks of supermarkets, restaurants, eating establishments and food centres for compliance with environmental health requirements. Samples of products are taken for analysis and compliance with the Sale of Food Act. Inspections are also carried out to ensure hygienic handling of food products and good personal hygiene of the food handlers. Where samples of food are found to be contaminated or the food products are not hygienically handled, enforcement action is taken. Convictions in court for non-compliance of health requirements are given due publicity in the mass media and reported in the press. The Ministry also carries out health education programmes including campaigns to educate the public and food handlers on food hygiene and proper handling of food.”
“Sir, frankly, I do not know. But like Kublai Khan, who believed that those who plant trees live long, I am sure the Minister of State for National Development will do his best to provide and plant trees in the buffer zone between the housing estate and the pig farms.”
“Sir, there are approximately 280 pig farms, 170,000 pigs and about 280 cesspits. The Member may be interested to know that it will cost $1/2 million to desludge the cesspits once a month.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in 1974 Government decided to shift pig-rearing in the Kranji/Pandan water catchment areas to Punggol/Jalan Kayu, a non-water catchment area zoned for agriculture. The Senior Minister of State for National Development informed the House in May 1977 that farms which can be managed efficiently with modern husbandry practices and improved sanitation are being resettled in the Punggol/Jalan Kayu area. These farmers are required to provide proper waste treatment facilities like cesspits and slatted floors for their pig pens. If the cesspits are maintained and desludged regularly, there should be no public nuisance or health nuisance from the overflowing of pig waste. Unfortunately, Sir, this has not been done by most of the farmers, probably to reduce the cost of their operations. It may be necessary to require these farmers to desludge their cesspits regularly, perhaps at least once a month. Otherwise the Ministry of the Environment will have to do the desludging and charge the cost to the farmers. The Ministry is also implementing a drainage improvement scheme in the area to cater for the proper drainage of the farmlands. The widening and deepening of Sungei Tongkang Pechah is in progress at an estimated cost of $1 million. The improvements of the other earth drains, including drains serving the farmlands, will be carried out as soon as funds are approved.”
“61 of 1973)", presented by the Minister for Home Affairs and Education (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. DEVELOPMENT LOAN BILL "to authorise a sum of six thousand million dollars to be raised by way of loan for the purposes of the Development Fund", recommendation of President signified; 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. ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 3.53 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish I could. But I am not the Minister in charge of the Housing and Development Board. I used to be. Since then I have moved to the Environment Ministry. Once again, I am not passing the buck. But the decision is not mine. Perhaps the Minister for National Development will consider kindly the request of the Member for Whampoa. BILLS INTRODUCED 3.50 p.m. PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Parliamentary Elections Act (Chapter 50 of the Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister for Law, the Environment and Science and Technology (Mr E.W. Barker); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament and to be printed. PUBLIC UTILITIES (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Public Utilities Act (Chapter 211 of the Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister for National Development and Communications (Mr Lim Kim San); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament and to be printed. HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Housing and Development Act (Chapter 271 of the Revised Edition)", presented by the Senior Minister of State, Ministry of National Development (Dr Tan Eng Liang); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. CONSTITUTION (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Constitution of Malaysia in its application to Singapore", presented by Mr E.W. Barker; read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament and to be printed. ARMS OFFENCES (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Arms Offences Act, 1973 (No.”
“Sir, the Ministry's hawker centres have been divided into Class A and Class B because some hawkers make more money than others. They are, in fact, classified according to districts. For instance, in the central area the hawkers are classified as Class A whereas the hawkers in the rural areas make less money and therefore are classified as Class B. As for the HDB ones, I do not know the details. The fees are set out in the Schedule. For instance, Retail Vegetable, HDB, the existing fee is $15; for the Ministry of the Environment, the existing fee for Class A is $15 and for Class B it is $10. With the revision, it will be $20 for Class A and $15 for Class B in the first phase. I presume that the HDB ones will be in Class A. As for the hawker centres in Whampoa, I am afraid I do not have the details. Perhaps some are in Class B and some are in Class A. But I could look into their cases and tell the Member concerned whether his centres are classified under Class A or Class B.”
“Sir, I have set out the reasons for the increase plainly and clearly. It has got nothing to do with income tax. Some feel that those few hawkers who make a lot of money rightly should pay income tax. My own view is that the majority should not pay income tax. But this is not for me to decide. A proper question directed to the proper quarters will get a correct answer.”
“Cooked food, fruit and piece and sundry goods hawkers in the Ministry of the Environment's markets and food centres pay licence fees for two sessions. However, these hawkers in H D B markets and food centres, at present, pay rental equivalent to the licence fee for one session only. It is proposed to do away with this discrepancy. Henceforth, all such hawkers in HDB markets and food centres will pay the same fees as those in the Ministry's markets and food centres. However, for street hawkers, fees will continue to be charged on a per session basis, because for a number of these sites, the hours of hawking have to be stipulated and restricted as the sites are required for other uses such as car parks. Sir, in the first phase of the revision, about 13,000 or 50% of the total number of our hawkers will pay an additional $5 per month, about 5,300 or 23% roughly, will pay an additional $10 per month, and the remainder an additional $15 to $60 per month. Vegetable, egg, bean cake and noodle, assorted ground spices and sea food hawkers will only pay a small increase of $5 per month. These modest increases are spread over three years and should not justify any increase in the prices of hawkers' goods.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in the Addendum to the President's Speech at the Opening of the Fourth Parliament, Honourable Members were informed that the licence fees for markets, food centres and street hawkers would be revised. These licence fees were last revised in 1970 but were and are still less than the economic rental. Since then, the cost of maintaining and building new markets and food centres has increased. It is felt that hawkers should pay their share of these higher costs. Government has therefore decided to revise the licence fees. The proposed revision is set out in three Schedules (Cols. 191 - 196) which have been circulated to Members and should be lying on their seats. The revision will rationalise some of the fees for markets and food centres eliminating the discrepancy in the fees paid by stallholders to the Ministry of the Environment and to the Housing and Development Board. Schedules - EXISTING AND PROPOSED MONTHLY FEES FOR MARKETS/HAWKER CENTRES, EXISTING AND PROPOSED FEES FOR STREET HAWKERS, MISCELLANEOUS FEES (Cols. 191 - 196) The increases will be introduced in three phases, in January 1978. January 1979 and January 1980. The licensees will thus be able to absorb the increases without suffering undue hardship. Care has been taken to relate the proposed fees to the sale and profit margins of different goods. For example, retail vegetable licensees whose commodities are perishable and less profitable will pay less than the cooked food, fruit and piece and sundry goods hawkers. The licence fees for poultry hawkers will be higher because their business occupies more space, poses greater pollution and maintenance problems and their profit margins are higher.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, it is nearly 3.30 p.m. and we have not finished all the Questions. I seek your consent, Sir, and the general assent of Members present to move a motion to enable Questions for Oral Answer to be taken after 3.30 p.m. at this sitting.”
“I certainly will, Sir. REHABILITATION OF DRUG ADDICTS (Compulsory aftercare service) 17. Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for Home Affairs and Education what measures are being taken to improve the compulsory aftercare service to drug addicts in view of the large number of addicts who are released from the Drug Rehabilitation Centres.”
“With the permission of the Speaker, I would say yes.”
“Sir, even some Members of Parliament have helped to explain. Perhaps when we reach Punggol, the Member will do his best to help. But it is a difficult process. Our people are more used to katis and tahils than to grams, litres, metres or centimetres. I am more used to feet and yards. I know what six feet is. But when someone says 1.8 metres, it does not strike a bell. The conversion must take time.”
“Sir, a survey of housewives was carried out in October 1975 to determine their level of metric awareness. The survey showed that only about 50% of the housewives were familiar with the use of the system. The Metrication Board has since then embarked on an intensive campaign to educate the public by way of inter-school metric competitions, quizzes and even telemetric shows. Weekly "Metrication and You" exhibitions have so far been held in nine community centres and will be carried out finally in all constituencies. Members will perhaps agree with me that the conversion to the use of the metric system is a long-term process and must be implemented unhurriedly and in phases. Mr Ng Kah Ting (Punggol): Mr Speaker, Sir, as the results of the survey showed that only 50% of housewives were aware of metrication, will the Hon. Minister agree with me that the so-called exhibition at markets which provides the necessary information to housewives concerning metrication should be stepped up and that more personnel should be deployed to explain the conversion, so that more housewives will be conversant?”
“Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Law, the Environment and Science and Technology whether any survey has been carried out by the Metrication Board to ascertain the percentage of the population conversant with the use of the metric system and whether there is the need to intensify efforts to familiarise the people with the use of the metric system.”
“The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment (Mr Chor Yeok Eng) (for the Minister for Law, the Environment and Science and Technology)( In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, there are 9,642 licensed street hawkers who need to be resited into markets and hawker centres. There are plans to resite 5,370 street hawkers into new markets and hawker centres by 1981. The street hawkers will have to take up stalls in markets/hawker centres which will be mostly built in new housing estates. The remaining street hawkers will be resited later depending on the availability of sites and funds. There are 528 licensed itinerant hawkers in Singapore comprising 400 ice-cream vendors, 106 bread hawkers and 23 pre-cooked food and sundry goods hawkers. It is already the policy of the Government to consider requests favourably from licensed itinerant hawkers for stalls in markets/hawker centres. Since 1976, out of 531 resettlement cases, 19 were bona fide farmers and were given stalls in markets/hawker centres. The existing hawker licensing policy has already been relaxed to issue licences to hardship cases. Since 1976, new hawker licences have been issued to 521 hardship cases. It will not be practical or advisable to liberalise the hawker licensing policy further until most of the 9,642 licensed street hawkers are resited into premises. Otherwise we will find it impossible to tackle the present hawker problem. METRICATION (Progress report) 16.”
“Sir, I am not aware of the facts set out by the hon. Member. All I can assure him is that we will not only consider but we will landscape the sides of the canal to his delight. LORONG BUANG KOK AND LORONG CHENG LIM (Drainage system in farm areas) 14. Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Law, the Environment and Science and Technology whether he is aware that the drainage system in the farm areas of Lorong Buang Kok and Lorong Cheng Lim is inadequate, and what plans the Ministry of the Environment has to improve the drainage system. Mr Barker: Sir, my Ministry is implementing a drainage improvement scheme in three phases in the Punggol/Serangoon area. The widening and deepening of Sungei Tongkang Pechah is in progress and will cost about $1.1 million. Tenders have been called for the widening, deepening and concrete lining of Sungei Tongkang along Lorong Buang Kok, near its junction with Yio Chu Kang Road. The widening and deepening of the other drains including the drains serving the farmlands near Lorong Cheng Lim and Lorong Buang Kok will be carried out as soon as funds are approved. HAWKERS (Resiting of and licences for) 15. Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for Law, the Environment and Science and Technology (a) how many more licensed street hawkers are presently awaiting to be resited in markets and hawker centres; (b) when the resiting exercise is expected to be completed; (c) whether the itinerant licensed hawkers will be given the opportunity, if they so request, to be settled in a permanent market or hawker centre; (d) whether the Minister will consider relaxing the rules governing the eligibility for issue of now hawker licences in the future: and (e) how many bona fide farmers affected by resettlement have been offered hawker licences to date.”
“Sir, this canal flows into Sungei Kallang. When the tide is rising, flotsam is carried into the canal from the polluted Sungei Kallang. The canal is polluted but, I understand, not mosquito-infested. My Ministry is drawing up a programme, as I have said, to clean up Kallang Basin involving the resettlement of squatter areas and rundown parts, resiting of hawkers and farmers and extension of sewerage facilities. All I can say to the Member is that the present efforts to keep the canal clean by desilting and removal of refuse, which as I have stated are palliative measures, will continue to be carried out until the whole Kallang Basin is cleaned up. In fact, my Ministry spends about $3,000 per month on the desilting of this canal.”
“We do take palliative measures. But 10 months would be impossible. CANAL ALONG JALAN TOA PAYOH (Cleaning up) 13. Dr Augustine H.H. Tan asked the Minister for Law, the Environment and Science and Technology whether and when steps will be taken to clean up the heavily-polluted and mosquito-infested canal along Jalan Toa Payoh, especially the stretch adjoining St. Michael's Estate.”
“Sir, the Prime Minister has directed my Ministry to do this job within 10 years. But Members will realise that all these rivers have been polluted for more than 150 years. I would say that our target would be about the mid-1980s.”
“Sir, I have details of these squatter premises. Going by constituencies, Kallang has 53 such premises. Whampoa has only eight. Toa Payoh has 63. Kuo Chuan has 35. Moulmein has 114. Tanglin has 274.”
“Sir, I would say as often as needed, depending on how dirty the canal is - usually about once a month.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, pollution in Sungei Whampoa comes from its catchment and mainly from indiscriminate dumping of refuse and discharge of sullage water into the drains from premises, in particular from squatter colonies. The present efforts to keep the river clean by desilting and removal of the refuse are only palliative measures. Until the sources of pollution on land have been eliminated, Sungei Whampoa will continue to be polluted. Sungei Whampoa is one of the five rivers or canals which flow into Kallang Basin. The other four water courses are Rochore Canal, Kallang River, Pelton Canal and Geylang River. The catchment itself covers seven constituencies, namely, Kolam Ayer, Kallang, Tanglin, Whampoa, Moulmein, Toa Payoh and Kuo Chuan. The catchment is less polluted than the other four catchments of the rivers which drain into Kallang Basin. However, during high tides, the polluted water from the Kallang Basin is carried into the upper reaches of the Whampoa River, thereby adding to the problems of pollution. The Ministry of the Environment is drawing up a programme to clean up the whole Kallang Basin. This will involve resettlement of squatters and the redevelopment of squatter areas and rundown parts of the city, the resiting of hawkers and farmers and the extension of sewerage facilities. This will take many years.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, it is with sorrow and regret that we listened to your announcement about one of our Members. Mr Lim Guan Hoo was first elected to Bukit Merah on the 18th January, 1966. He has been a Member of this House for more than 11 years, but is only 38 years old. He will not qualify for a pension until he attains the age of 45 years, which he is unlikely to do. When I moved the Second Reading of the Parliamentary Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 1977, I explained that the amendment will also provide for the payment of a commuted pension gratuity to the dependants of an MP who has had 9 years of reckonable service but dies before attaining the age of 45 years. Mr Lim's dependants will unfortunately not benefit from this amendment as he would have ceased to be a Member of this House before the Bill can receive the assent of the President. His dependants will also not be entitled to receive the death gratuity of a year's emoluments payable to dependants of deceased MPs because he will soon no longer be a Member of this House. Government has considered his long years of loyal service and his present unfortunate circumstances, and decided that it would be just and proper to pay to his dependants a gratuity of a year's emoluments upon his death, as if he were a Member of this House and Parliamentary Secretary at the time of his death. He is married and will leave behind his wife and two young children, both boys, one now aged six and the other three years. Honourable Members join me, Sir, in extending our sympathies to his family. ADJOURNMENT Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn to a date to be fixed." - [Mr E.W. Barker]. Adjourned accordingly at Six minutes to Four o'clock p.m. to a date to be fixed.”
“MOSQUE BUILDING FUND SCHEME (Statement by the Minister for Social Affairs)”
“(for the Minister for Finance): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Minister for Finance. There has been no official announcement by Saudi Arabia to increase its oil price by 5% on 1st July, 1977. There have been, of course, speculative press reports. Let us hope that these reports will not be borne out by events. Any further increase in oil prices will adversely affect the economic development of many non-oil producing countries like Singapore. In itself, a 5% increase is not substantial. But since more than 60% of our crude oil imports comes from Saudi Arabia, this will represent a further aggravation of the already high oil burden for Singapore. Posted prices for crude oil have gone up by 330% from US$3.01 per barrel in October 1973 to US$13.00 per barrel at present. The direct effect of an oil price increase would be greatest on the domestic oil bill. There would be an increase in the cost of such oil, with a substantial proportion of it having to be paid by our industries. Besides this domestic impact, the effect of a further oil price increase on the economies of the other countries, especially the advanced industrial countries, has to be considered. The economies of such countries are recovering, albeit slowly. Any adverse effects from an oil price increase on their economies would affect Singapore's exports to these countries, thereby affecting our economic growth. Given that we are fully dependent on external sources for oil like many other non-oil producing countries, it is our hope that the reports on Saudi Arabia's proposal will not materialise. If the effect of any price increase is to be at all ameliorated, there must be a conscious effort by Singaporeans to conserve energy, thereby reducing our need for oil imports. 2.53 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there is no plan to build a market in the Somapah Road/Upper Changi Road area in the near future. There are three markets at Bedok New Town and a private market in Bedok Road to cater for the needs of the residents within Somapah Road/Upper Changi Road area. Sir, this area has been undergoing active redevelopment. At present, part of Somapah Road is affected by a road project and a large area has been acquired for the development of a Singapore Bus Service depot. Many of the residents have been resettled at Bedok New Town. NON-PENSIONABLE SCHOOL TEACHERS (Medical benefits after retirement) 12. Dr Lau Teik Soon asked the Minister for Home Affairs and Education whether non-pensionable school teachers after their retirement can continue to have the medical benefits which they enjoy at present.”
“The Ministry of the Environment has no immediate plans to build a hawker centre near the Punggol Estate because the Estate is served by a market-cum-food centre and the area is not densely populated. However, I understand that the Housing and Development Board may consider building a new hawker centre in its plans for expansion of the Punggol Estate.”
“Sir, the lot referred to by the hon. Member is vacant so that no resettlement will take place. Perhaps the Member has mistaken this lot with another lot in the vicinity. These two lots, Lot 26, Part 2, referred to by the Member, and Lot 24, Part 2, of Mukim XXII, with a total area of about 43 acres were gazetted for compulsory acquisition on the 7th April this year for middle income and public housing development. As I have stated earlier, Lot 26, Part 2, about 6 1/2 acres in area is vacant. But Lot 24, Part 2, about 36 1/2 acres in area is encumbered with six temporary structures at the South-west portion thereof. Resettlement in accordance with the current policy will be carried out after formal possession of the land is taken in a few months' time probably around July. MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND EDUCATION (Replies to letters) 26. Mr Ho See Beng asked the Minister for Home Affairs and Education in the normal circumstances how promptly he replies to letters addressed to him by the general public including Members of Parliament.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I seek your consent and the general assent of Members present to move a motion to enable Questions for Oral Answer to be taken after 3.30 p.m. today.”
“Sir, on a point of clarification. Will the Member for Toa Payoh clarify whether he meant a transfer of a hawker's licence to another hawker, or a transfer of the hawker from one stall to another stall?”
“Sir, he has gone on to another subject. I think this point was probably not carefully looked into by the Presiding Officer or he did not think about it. But I do remember old and feeble persons being carried into voting stations by religious nuns who were there to see that these old people exercise their right to vote. The Member has a point and I am sure whoever is in charge of the polling station will bear this in mind so that in future the voter does not have to climb one storey or perhaps even two or three storeys. So let them vote on the ground floor.”