Ho Cheng Choon
Singapore
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the portion of Balestier Road from Serangoon Road junction to Moulmein Road junction is well planted with trees and is quite shady and green. The portion from Moulmein Road junction to Thomson Road junction has no trees because no planting can be done on the road divider which is only about 0.4 metres wide.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as soon as the Ministry of Finance approves the project, work on the Sembawang Park will commence and development is expected to take two years. The Member also asked what kind of facilities will be provided.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Punggol has suggested that the authority concerned should undertake park development and ensure a speedier completion of the projects.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the proposed site for the Centralised Motor Repair Workshop is at 19.3 km Woodlands Road. Plans and cost estimates for the project have been completed. The Ministry will proceed with the implementation of the project as soon as funds are available.”
“We will give every encouragement and assistance if the private sector is prepared to go into deep-sea fishing. Sir, the Member for Punggol asked whether it is possible to have a joint venture on deep-sea fishing between the ASEAN countries.”
“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 at Labrador/Tanjong Berlayer containing an area of approximately 11.80 acres as shown coloured yellow on the plan marked "LAND OFFICE RECLAMATION PLAN NO.”
The complete record
Every one of 228 lines we hold for Ho Cheng Choon, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 5.
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Public Works Department is now preparing plans, specifications, estimates and provisional apportionment for this service road, and notice under section 19 of the Local Government Integration Ordinance would be served on the frontagers as soon as the apportionment list is ready, probably by the end of July. If no objections are received, tenders would then be called for and work could commence by the end of 1966. GRAY LANE OFF TANJONG KATONG ROAD (Government take-over) 14. Mr Ng Yeow Chong asked the Minister for Law and National Development whether the Government proposes to take over Gray Lane off Tanjong Katong Road as a public road, and when.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not aware that the whole area along Tanjong Katong Road is flooded during the monsoon season. It is possible that an area bounded by Tanjong Katong Road, Mountbatten Road, and Wareham Road, being below high tide level, is subject to flooding during certain seasons of the year. Action has, in fact, been taken to provide a reservoir with pumping stations at Poole Road and Wimbourne Road, adjacent to the Geylang River, to deal with normal flooding situations, but the flooding cannot be prevented at all times because of the pumping capacity of the pumping stations. In any case, such flooding, when it occurs, is temporary and is not of a serious nature. It is, therefore, considered that huge sums of public funds should not be spent on relieving the minor flooding situations affecting a small area such as this. SERVICE ROAD BETWEEN CRESCENT ROAD AND TANJONG KATONG ROAD (Government take-over) 13. Mr Ng Yeow Chong asked the Minister for Law and National Development whether the Government proposes to take over the service road (between Crescent Road and Tanjong Katong Road) parallel to Mountbatten Road as a public road, and when.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Public Works Department is in the process of widening Upper Serangoon Road, from Woodsville junction to Ponggol Road. The work now being carried out will eventually improve traffic conditions near and around Tampines Circus. At present, no steps are being taken to construct a pedestrian overhead bridge near Tampines Circus. Consideration, however, will be given to building such a bridge if, after Upper Serangoon Road has been widened, traffic congestion still exists. TANJONG KATONG ROAD (Flood alleviation) 12. Mr Ng Yeow Chong asked the Minister for Law and National Development whether he is aware that during the monsoon season practically the whole area along Tanjong Katong Road is flooded, and whether the Government has any plan to alleviate the situation.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the answer is: (a) Tenders will soon be called for to make up Jalan Senang under section 19 of the Local Government Integration Ordinance, and it is expected that work will commence within the next three months. (b) Jalan Lapang and Jalan Selamat have both been included in the list of roads to be made up under section 19 of the Local Government Integration Ordinance. However, as the frontages are not yet well developed, these roads have been given low priority and may not be made up until 1968. (c) Jalan Senyum has been approved for making up under section 19 of the Local Government Integration Ordinance. Plans are now being prepared and notices will be served on frontagers when the plans and specifications are ready. It is expected that the work will commence early next year. PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS NEAR TAMPINES CIRCUS (Easing of traffic congestion and construction of overhead bridge) 11. Mr R. A. Gonzales asked the Minister for Law and National Development what steps are being taken to ease the traffic congestion at the two pedestrian crossings near the Tampines Circus and whether any steps are being taken to construct an overhead bridge for pedestrians at this locality.”
“The urgent projects which require immediate attention are, for example, a road which is in a very bad condition, having a lot of pot-holes, and usually Government will give this their immediate attention. MAKING UP OF JALAN SENANG, JALAN LAPANG, JALAN SENYUM AND JALAN SELAMAT 10. Inche Mohd. Ariff Bin Suradi asked the Minister for Law and National Development when will Jalan Senang, Jalan Lapang, Jalan Senyum and Jalan Selamat be made up.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, priority is usually given to projects that are urgently required. On this basis each request from the Kampong Kembangan Constituency for improvement of roads, drainage, street lighting, and other public amenities will be considered.”
“Mr Speaker, I have just mentioned that the details of the projects will be circulated with the Official Report - that means our Parliament's Official Report. I do not know when.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, proposals for the improvement of roads and drains and the installation of stand-pipes and street-lights in the Kampong Kembangan Constituency, recommended by the Citizens Consultative Committee to the members of the Urban and Rural Services Committee during their visit to the Constituency on 9th June, 1965 (not July 1965) have, by and large, been implemented. Details of the projects will be circulated with the Official Report.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Punggol has asked about the applications for electricity to the kampong houses. He complains that the applications were sent in a few months ago and that no action has been taken. If he can give me more details of those people who have already submitted their applications, I can assure him that I will take up the matter. The Member has also asked how many jetties will be constructed in the Southern Islands. There is a provision for jetties, $100,000 provided for next year. The Government is considering constructing 6 jetties -5 in the Southern Islands and one in Changi. The 5 in the Southern Islands are: (1) Pulau Seraya, (2) Pulau Bukom Kechil, (3) Pulau Seking, (4) Pulau Semakau and (5) Pulau Ayer Merbau. These 5 are in the Southern Islands, and Kampong Panghang, Pulau Tekong, that is in Changi. The estimated cost of all these jetties is about $80,000. The Member has also raised the question of water supply to rural areas in Track 13. Sir, the Urban and Rural Services Committee this year has already approved $88,400 for the Punggol constituency. The sum of money is spent on the repair of roads as well as on providing for standpipes and water supply. He should be satisfied, Sir. Whenever it is repair to a major road to provide for drainage, the Committee will consider it, but not for a small track or a small lane to provide the drainage. The cost of the drainage in this case will cost more than the road.”
“Mr Speaker, in reply to the Member for Punggol, I want to say that in repairing roads in the rural areas, the most important thing is to repair the not so good roads first and the next stage is to consider the drainage system. To give an example, I remember that at one place - I forgot the name of the road - we provided earth drains along a road but after two or three months they disappeared. The reason is that everybody who has a frontage fills up the drain so that he can easily cross it. 7.00 p.m.”
“More than three miles long. We can do it by stages, you know! The Member for Punggol complained that there is very little improvement to the road repairs in the kampong area. Sir, he is a member of the Urban and Rural Services Committee and this type of problem can be raised and discussed at Committee level. Regarding the Member for Ulu Pandan's complaint about the project approved by the U.R.S.C. in March, and that no work has since been carried out, I have to explain here that he is referring to Kampong Kim Ho. This area has been acquired by the Housing Board and is earmarked for future development, probably in one or two years' time. There is no point at this moment in spending much money on the place when the Government is going to clear the area. The Urban and Rural Services Committee has issued a circular to all Assemblymen concerned to inform the Committee whenever any project is not carried out by the Committee after it has been approved. Any Assemblyman wishing to do so must then write in officially and not raise a verbal complaint, so that the Secretary can take up the matter with the Department concerned. The Member for Ulu Pandan also complained that most of the roads in the rural areas are of agricultural standard and not metalled. This is entirely wrong. Mr Speaker, Sir, from the beginning of this year, the Urban and Rural Services Committee has adopted a policy to metal as many as possible of the kampong roads so that the number of agricultural roads will decrease. Most of these kampong roads that we are going to repair are of agricultural standard. After a shower of rain, the whole road is damaged. So the policy is to metal these kampong roads to avoid wasting public money on temporary repairs.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Kampong Kembangan has raised the question about the kampong roads in his constituency. According to him, most of the requests which were made during our Prime Minister's visit to his constituency were submitted to my Ministry, but they were not carried out. This is not true. For example, in 1965, the Urban and Rural Services Committee has already approved an amount of $106,845 for the improvement of kampong roads, drainage, the provision of stand-pipes and other social amenities. Sir, the Urban and Rural Services Committee has to look after 51 constituencies, and not only one or two particular constituencies. As such, the vote allocated should be spread out to 51 constituencies. So you will see that for that one constituency we are spending over $100,000. This is a very special case. I also want to draw the attention of the Member for Kampong Kembangan to the fact that before the P.A.P. Government came to power, Kampong Kembangan was totally neglected. The Member for Changi has requested for repairs to Jalan Nanas. This road leads to the Changi Prison compound, and there are about one hundred houses there. I can assure the Member that the engineer in charge of the area concerned has been asked to investigate the matter and when the estimate of cost is ready, it will be submitted for the consideration of the Urban and Rural Services Committee. Regarding the road at Pulau Tekong Besar, this is a very long road, probably more than three miles long, and its repair will cost a huge sum of money. But we are now looking into the matter. An hon. Member: How long?”
“Mr Speaker, I can assure the hon. Member for Kampong Kembangan that my Ministry is now looking into this matter.”
“Mr Speaker, with your permission, shall I deal with the problem raised by the ---”
“It will be difficult for the Government to regularise such unauthorised and newly constructed houses which go against certain building by-laws. Now, the Chief Building Surveyor's Department will assist the farmers or rural residents to obtain the necessary temporary building permits, and there is no need to set up a special unit just to assist them. As in Punggol the Primary Production Department has recently completed a veterinary centre at the 9th milestone Punggol Road. Perhaps the officer working in this veterinary centre will be instructed to assist in this matter.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Punggol wants to know why requests from rural residents or farmers to reconstruct their existing houses or retain their existing house numbers are being delayed and whether a small unit should be set up in the Chief Building Surveyor's Department. Now, the problem of unauthorised houses in Singapore has been reduced ever since the end of World War II. There are thousands of such unauthorised houses and the Government has been realistic in not taking action to put the residents occupying unauthorised houses out of them, but rather to permit them to remain there temporarily. It has been considered dangerous if we were to regularise every unauthorised house, even though it has been in existence for a number of years, for the simple reason that it will mean putting the stamp of legality on something that is unauthorised. It will soon be accepted to mean that the people can construct houses without bothering to apply for permission and with the passage of time these houses will be authorised. Since the Government is not in a position to throw out families living in unauthorised houses, each house will be authorised with the passage of time. The Chief Building Surveyor's Department has been dealing with this problem for some time. Efforts have been made to contain the problem within limits rather than to provide a solution. Wherever possible, those houses that could comply with the building by-laws would be regularised and the owners could then obtain house numbers to enable them to get supplies of electricity and water. For those houses which are so irregular as to be unable to comply with the building by-laws, the Chief Building Surveyor cannot regularise them and they will have to remain as they are or be demolished.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Punggol has asked whether the rest of Punggol Road can be lighted. I can give him this answer. This request will be forwarded to the Chairman of the Urban and Rural Services Committee for consideration.”
“No, Mr Speaker, this is procedure and it will take some time. Once a project is approved by the U.R.S.C. today, it does not mean that it will be carried out tomorrow. It is impossible, you know. When a project is approved, the usual procedure is to hand the job over to the P.W.D. The P.W.D. will then advertise in the newspapers and tenders will be called. When this procedure is completed, work will be carried out. So it is difficult for me to state here when this work will be carried out, because a certain procedure has to be followed.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Changi is a member of the U.R.S.C. So when the project is approved, of course, tenders will be called and work will be carried out.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Changi has complained about Tanah Merah Kechil. In fact, an engineer of my Ministry has already looked into the matter, and the estimates will be forwarded to the U.R.S.C. for consideration.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the hon. Member for Kampong Kapor has raised two points. Firstly, regarding the contractors in the Housing Board and, secondly, regarding the malpractices in the Letting Section of the Housing Board. In reply to the first point, I must say that if a tenant finds any defects in the flat, he should inform the respective officers by phone or by letter so that the Maintenance Inspector can go to the flat and check what are the defects. The contractor would be instructed to repair this in two or three weeks' time. If nothing has been done, then the tenant can approach the Complaints Bureau in the Ministry of National Development and lodge a complaint, and action will be taken. I do not know what instances the Member for Kampong Kapor is referring to. If he can give me more details, I will look into the matter. In regard to the second point, the Letting Section of the Housing Board. The present position is this. The Letting Section handles 300 cases per day and sometimes there is considerable delay in the work and applicants who receive the letter late often complain. There must be something wrong somewhere. If the hon. Member knows some instances where he suspects that corruption is going on, he can give me the information. Surely my Ministry will refer it to the C.P.I.B. for investigation.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Changi has raised the question of allowance to the penghulus and ketuas. In fact, the allowances given to the penghulus and ketuas are not emoluments or monthly salaries as such, but rather reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses for transport and incidentals which a ketua or penghulu will reasonably incur in discharging his duties. The Government is of the view that the present allowances, which were raised not very long ago, are adequate to cover such out-of-pocket expenses. If a ketua or penghulu can show that such allowances are not adequate for this purpose, then his case can be put up for consideration. 6.45 p.m.”
“should select men or women for certain posts. But the question is that, in inserting advertisements in the Press, the Department concerned could stipulate that there should be a certain quota for women applicants or a certain number should be filled by men applicants. So this actually has nothing to do with the P.S.C., but it has something to do with the Department which is going to put out advertisements to recruit members.”
“It is not possible for anyone to be certain that female officers are more careful in the handling of money than male officers. The Car Parks Division must, of necessity, treat every officer as being equal. There are no posts of checkers as such in 1965, but there will be new posts created in this way in 1966, and car-parking attendants will be selected to fill the posts of checkers, but the selection will not be based on sex, but rather on the merits of each candidate. Madam Chan Choy Siong(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for National Development has given me a reply, and I would say that from the start I had already told the House not to criticise me when I was going to mention something about the treatment of women. Actually, I am not trying to get more favours for women. I only hope that the Minister can, more or less, give some consideration to them. I am not requesting him to reduce the working hours for women car park attendants, but because of certain conditions peculiar to women - judging from objective circumstances - he should give some consideration to the fair sex. It is not a question of giving more favourable treatment to women, or to assign them to covered car parks. It is only a matter of administration, and I hope that the men, the opposite sex, will not be too harsh in this respect, and I think that all the Members here will agree with us, because usually the men will say, "Ladies first!" This is really a very simple matter. I am not requesting a favour; I am making a request based on human nature. Just now, the Parliamentary Secretary also mentioned that the recruitment of car park attendants should go through P.S.C. selection. Of course, I was not suggesting that the P.S.C.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, just now the Member for Delta has asked three questions which are in a way surprising from a champion of equality of rights for men and women workers. She is now suggesting that we should give preference in the recruitment of parking attendants to females and posting them to covered car parks; and we should also permit the checking and handling of money within car parks to be done by female attendants, as females are more careful. The selection of car park attendants for appointment is done by a special committee in the Ministry of Labour and approved by the Public Service Commission. It is not for the Ministry to say whether the committee should select or the Public Service Commission approve male or female attendants. It is Government's policy to make no differentiation whatsoever between male and female officers. It is also patently unfair to reserve the softer jobs - the jobs that are within the covered car parks - for female parking attendants, while the male parking attendants should be posted to do outdoor work. Car-parking attendants, by the nature of their appointments, are required to attend to the many car parks in different parts of the city, and he or she must discharge all the duties of the post which he or she holds. In the past, there have been some complaints that certain car park attendants were favoured in that they were given work in the office or in covered car parks. Now, Sir, it has been decided that there should be a proper roster drawn up so that every car park attendant would do the same range of duties, both indoors and outdoors, on an equal basis, irrespective of whether or not the attendant is a male or a female.”
“There are other minor examples I would not like to enumerate. I only hope that the Ministry of Education can urge the present Nanyang University Council quickly to claim such outstanding donations from these people and collect the sums quickly so as to satisfy the general members of the public. At the same time, Nanyang University is almost bankrupt. If such sums can be collected, then I believe it will he a great help to Nanyang University's development.”
“Mr Speaker, under this subhead 2118 relating to grants for higher education, the sum allocated is $15,488,000 which is about $2.7 million more than that of the previous year. From this we can see how much importance the Government attaches to higher education. I would like to mention one thing in passing, namely, Nanyang University. When it was first initiated, it received donations from members of the public. Now I want to talk about the problems relating thereto. Ten years ago when Nanyang University was about to be set up, different classes of the people, including trishaw riders, merchants, traders, workers, all responded keenly and donated generously to the Nanyang University Fund, amounting to tens of millions of dollars, but 10 years hence - today - we find that about $6.13 million of such donations has not been received by the Nanyang University authorities. I would like to mention a few points in regard to this sum. For instance, Mr Tan Lark Sye was one of the sponsors or founders of Nanyang University, and he was the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nanyang University until 1963. He donated $5 million. From 1954 to 1959 he paid $2.5 million. He is still in debt to the Nanyang authorities to the tune of $2.5 million. The Nanyang Siang Pao donated $1 million, but it has paid only $99,662.50 and is still in debt to the tune of $900,337. Another example is Shaw Brothers Co. Ltd. They donated $250,000, but they are still in debt to the amount of $0.2 million. It has only paid $50,000. So from these examples, you can see that such people have won general acclaim from all sides through the newspapers because their names were publicised. But up till now, in the course of 10 years, large sums from them are still not yet paid.”
“Mr Speaker, it is the intention of the Government to draw up a new Fisheries Ordinance in order to encourage deep-sea and off-shore fishing, including trawling. The new legislation will be presented to the Assembly as soon as it is ready, and will contain provisions to permit trawling to be carried out without causing detrimental effects to our in-shore fishermen. In the meantime, those persons who wish to engage in deep-sea and off-shore fishing, including trawling, can consult officers of the Primary Production Department for advice and assistance. BILL INTRODUCED SINGAPORE FAMILY PLANNING AND POPULATION BOARD BILL First Reading”