Ho Kah Leong
Singapore
“Sir, the Member is right that the sewerage fees comprise two components, a fixed fee and a variable one. The sanitary appliance fee, which is the fixed fee component, is based on the number of sanitary appliances. It is a charge towards the cost of providing the sewerage infrastructure which I think the Member should have no quarrel.”
“Sir, we do not require canned food to be date marked because they are sterilised during canning and will not spoil over a long period of storage. These foods have a long shelf life. Sir, My Ministry does not intend to date mark all foods since there is no need to, from public health considerations.”
“After months of hard work and with the full cooperation of the Joo Chiat residents to spruce up the neighbourhood, the situation showed immediate and impressive improvements. The number of premises found breeding Aedes mosquitoes dropped. Correspondingly, the number of dengue cases also dropped from 28 in 1993 to 11 in 1994.”
“Yes. The Member also touched on malaria disease. Although Singapore has been declared free from indigenous malaria by the World Health Organisation since 1982, Singapore will always be under the threat of malaria because we have many visitors and foreign workers from malaria-endemic countries in the region.”
“My Ministry will continue to educate the public on how to prevent the Aedes mosquitoes from breeding in their homes and properties. My Ministry will also continue to seek out breeding grounds in public places and tighten our control, surveillance and enforcement measures.”
“Let me now turn to the Member for Jalan Besar GRC. Let me first tell the Member that in the business called "promotion of the arts", even if you have done a lot, there is still a lot to be done.”
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“Sir, the points are taken. If there is a need to review them, we will take the points into consideration.”
“Sir, the Member is right that the sewerage fees comprise two components, a fixed fee and a variable one. The sanitary appliance fee, which is the fixed fee component, is based on the number of sanitary appliances. It is a charge towards the cost of providing the sewerage infrastructure which I think the Member should have no quarrel. The water borne fee, which is the variable component, is based on the actual usage, that is, the amount of water used. If you have less people in your household, of course you use less water. So it is a charge towards the cost of sewerage treatment. Sir, my Ministry feels that the present system of fixed and variable charges is a reasonable one and we have no intention of changing it.”
“Sir, we do not require canned food to be date marked because they are sterilised during canning and will not spoil over a long period of storage. These foods have a long shelf life. Sir, My Ministry does not intend to date mark all foods since there is no need to, from public health considerations. Unnecessary date marking will pose problems to retailers. Customers are known to avoid foods that have an earlier expiry date and choose one that expires later even when the food is to be consumed soon after purchase. Such consumer behaviour can lead to wastage and financial loss.”
“Sir, may I respond to the points which were so vividly raised by the hon. Member for Aljunied GRC, Mr Chin Harn Tong, just now. Firstly, be brought up the issue of road littering. Sir, let me assure the Member as well as the House that my Ministry is as concerned as the Member in keeping our public roads clean. In fact, every contractor is required to ensure that vehicles leaving the work site will not litter the roads with earth from the wheels. For large construction work sites where a lot of vehicle movements are expected, the contractor will provide a wash bay at the exit of the site. Every vehicle leaving the site will have its wheels and undercarriage washed. The washings are channelled to a silt trap where the silt is separated. The driver of a vehicle that causes earth littering on the road will be prosecuted under the Environmental Public Health Act. Sir, for the information of the Member and the House, in 1995, 851 summonses were taken against such offenders. If the Member comes across any vehicle littering our roads with mud in future, I suggest he should keep my Ministry informed. Sir, the next issue brought up by the Member is in regard to date marking of foodstuff. I wish to inform the Member that not all foods are required to be date marked. Those that are required by law to be date marked are listed in the food regulations. At present, a total of 19 groups of prepacked food products are required to be date marked. These are foods which can perish or deteriorate in quality during storage. Generally, these foods have a relatively short shelf life. Some of the foods that are required to be date marked are milk, milk products, tofu, flour, raisin and cooking oil.”
“After months of hard work and with the full cooperation of the Joo Chiat residents to spruce up the neighbourhood, the situation showed immediate and impressive improvements. The number of premises found breeding Aedes mosquitoes dropped. Correspondingly, the number of dengue cases also dropped from 28 in 1993 to 11 in 1994. This is a clear example of how a quantum leap in the quality of our living environment can be achieved when everyone lends a helping hand. Sir, my Ministry is committed to work closely with residents and grassroots leaders and the schools to further improve the quality of the environment and to make it a safe place for all. Having said that, Sir, however, I would also like to add that my Ministry will consider tougher measures against those who repeatedly breed mosquitoes in their premises.”
“There were also no reported cases of food poisoning resulting from the consumption of yu sheng this year. Sir, let me now turn to the point raised by Mr Teo Chong Tee regarding dengue fever. Although there has been an increase in the number of dengue cases in 1994 compared to 1993, the increase is not considered alarming. The number of cases in 1994 at 1,239 is far below the epidemic level of 1992 at 2,800 cases. Sir, in 1994, there were several outbreaks caused by the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes at construction sites, which added to the figure. To deal with this problem, my Ministry launched a training programme for site supervisors on how to prevent mosquito breeding in their workplaces. Those who have attended the course have indicated that they have benefited much from it. My Ministry will continue to keep a close watch on construction sites. If we examine beyond the construction sites, there was in fact an overall improvement in 1994 in terms of the Aedes mosquito situation. Fewer premises were found breeding the Aedes mosquitoes in 1994 compared to 1993. This is an indication that our public education programme is working. Sir, I agree with the Member for Changi wholeheartedly that the eradication of dengue calls for a concerted effort by all. In this respect, I would like to share with Members the experience of a project carried out in Joo Chiat last year. The Member for Marine Parade GRC, RAdm Teo Chee Hean, together with grassroots leaders, launched a well-planned and comprehensive campaign to eradicate mosquito breeding and dengue in the Joo Chiat neighbourhood. The campaign involved active participation by all the residents.”
“We have done better. There were 1,182 food poisoning cases in Singapore in 1985. Last year, the number dropped to 409, as observed by Mr Teo Chong Tee. Of these, only 13 were attributed to hawker centres. Sir, Dr Tan Cheng Bock also asked whether hawkers be re-educated on the use of disposable gloves. Yes, if need be, my Ministry will conduct re-education programme for hawkers. However, the Member may be pleased to know that a survey conducted by my Ministry late last year showed that, by and large, food vendors' knowledge of food hygiene is generally good. There will, of course, be the few recalcitrants. I can assure the Member that my Ministry takes a very serious view of those who neglect proper food and personal hygiene, for example, the handling of money with gloves on, as mentioned by Dr Tan just now. With every conviction, demerit points will be given and their licences can be suspended or revoked when they accumulate a certain number of points. Mr Teo Chong Tee just now asked whether the demerit points are adequate. My Ministry is of the view that the present Points Demerit System is adequate. Mr Teo also touched on raw fish salad or yu sheng served during Chinese New Year. Let me inform the Member that each year, before the start of the Chinese New Year, environmental health officers from my Ministry will remind those planning to sell yu sheng of the hygiene standard to be complied with. During the festive season, samples of raw fish sold in restaurants, hawker centres and other food outlets are taken for analysis. Members may be pleased to know that this year the result was very good, despite the increase in the number of outlets serving this food. Out of 34 outlets sampled, only one was found to have prepared the food in unsatisfactory conditions.”
“Sir, let me respond to the points raised by Mr Chin Harn Tong, Mr Teo Chong Tee and Dr Tan Cheng Bock regarding food hygiene and related matters. Sir, I cannot agree more with the Members that all food establishments in Singapore should maintain a high level of food hygiene at all times in order to prevent food poisoning. In fact, every food establishment in Singapore, be it a hawker centre, a kopi tiam, or a snack bar, or a restaurant, is subjected to the same stringent system of checks by my Ministry. Those with poor track records are checked more frequently, at least once a month whilst others are checked once in six weeks. There is no distinction made in the regularity of checks between hawker stalls and the big restaurants. Sir, in 1994, out of 19 licences suspended, four were restaurant licences. My Ministry is satisfied that hotel restaurants are taking steps to ensure that food hygiene standards are maintained at the highest level. We demand a high standard from them, just as we demand a high standard from every food outlet in Singapore. I am glad to inform the Member for Changi that every hotel has engaged or appointed a food hygiene officer responsible to ensure a high standard of food hygiene in its kitchen. My Ministry has also recently conducted a refresher training course for these food hygiene officers. Sir, the overall standard of food hygiene in our licensed food establishments is high because of our stringent requirements. As a result, the incidents of food poisoning cases in Singapore have remained low. In a recent worldwide survey conducted by WHO, it was reported that food poisoning cases have increased significantly in many countries in the world. In Europe, for example, the number of cases grew three-fold in the past 10 years.”
“Yes. The Member also touched on malaria disease. Although Singapore has been declared free from indigenous malaria by the World Health Organisation since 1982, Singapore will always be under the threat of malaria because we have many visitors and foreign workers from malaria-endemic countries in the region. The disease is easily spread by the Anopheles mosquitoes. This means that we need to be continuously vigilant. Vector control measures are regularly carried out to prevent the breeding of the Anopheles mosquitoes. Such measures have been successful in keeping the population of these mosquitoes very low. Sir, I would like to assure the Member as well as the House that my Ministry will remain vigilant at all times to protect our population against dengue and malaria.”
“My Ministry will continue to educate the public on how to prevent the Aedes mosquitoes from breeding in their homes and properties. My Ministry will also continue to seek out breeding grounds in public places and tighten our control, surveillance and enforcement measures.”
“It is true that 47 persons were treated in hospital for food poisoning after they had breakfast in a hotel in Orchard Road on 12th March. As soon as my Ministry was notified of the outbreak, my officers went immediately to the hotel to investigate. It is suspected that an item of food served at breakfast was contaminated because of unhygienic handling and storage of the food. My Ministry is still investigating into the incident and appropriate enforcement action will be taken. Sir, my officers do regularly inspect food outlets to ensure good food hygiene practices. The number of food poisoning cases reported has steadily declined over the years from 1,182 in 1985 to 807 in 1990, and 379 in 1993. Despite this, all it takes is the carelessness or indifference of one food handler and a food poisoning outbreak can occur. This, I believe, is what happened in the case referred to by the Member. Sir, let me emphasise here that, be it in a hawker centre or in a five-star hotel restaurant, a high standard of food hygiene should be maintained at all times. Sir, let me now turn to the points raised by the hon. Member for Changi, Mr Teo Chong Tee. First, he talked about dengue outbreak. The dengue outbreak in 1992 was brought under control in 1993. The number of cases decreased from 2,878 in 1992 to 946 in 1993. The situation remains stable in the first two months of this year. Sir, as Singapore is situated in a region where dengue fever is endemic, we must remain vigilant to control the spread of this disease. The only way that we can prevent an epidemic of dengue is to control the Aedes mosquito population. 2.15 pm Sir, since these mosquitoes breed in homes and compounds of premises, each of us can do his or her part to deny the mosquito a place to breed.”
“Sir, let me first respond to the points raised by the hon. Member for Aljunied GRC, Mr Chin Harn Tong. Sir, Mr Chin has raised several points regarding food hygiene. I can assure the Member that my Ministry has always insisted on high standards of food hygiene in the food retail industry. Every food handler, from a hawker to a chef in a restaurant or in a five-star hotel, is expected to practise good food and personal hygiene. It is a responsibility that they owe to their customers. Sir, in fact, a lot of efforts have been made by my Ministry to educate food handlers as well as to encourage them to upgrade and improve their kitchens and housekeeping. The Member is correct in saying that every food handler has to sit for a course in food hygiene and pass a test after that. Today, all 72,000 food handlers registered with my Ministry have passed the course. They are also medically screened periodically, once every three years, to make sure that they are not carriers of any infectious disease. Sir, the Member also mentioned about food vendors in trade fairs. My Ministry is fully aware that because of the proliferation of trade fairs in Singapore, the food sold in many of these places is not always up to the hygienic standard expected. In the last six months, 32 stallholders at trade fairs were caught for having unhygienic practices. In January and February alone, there were 18 such offenders. I wish to inform the Member as well as the House that enforcement actions will continue to be taken and an overall review to tighten up the control of this problem is being done. Sir, the Member also mentioned about the food poisoning case in one of the hotels in Orchard Road recently.”
“Sir, first of all, may I reply to Dr Vasoo. He has asked whether MITA or NAC could give grants to smaller interested art groups. The answer is "Yes". There are several schemes to help the various art groups. Let me just quote a few of them. We have the Project Grant Scheme, the Annual Grant Scheme, the Theatre Assistance Scheme and the Arts Housing Scheme. Interested art groups can apply for one of these grants to NAC. NAC will consider giving them grant on their own merit. But I would also add that while we should try to help as many groups as possible, we should not adopt the policy of egalitarianism in the arts. To achieve excellence, we must be prepared to back fully those who show more promise. Now I will respond to Mr Choo Wee Khiang in Mandarin. (In Mandarin): Mr Choo has just spoken very excitedly that some TV serials produced by SBC had some violence and sex scenes in them. I think my Minister had already replied to this topic in detail a moment ago. Singapore Broadcasting Corporation itself has a very stringent internal censor audit system. They have the Programme Advisory Committee to look into this matter. This Programme Advisory Committee comprises respectable people from society and they meet regularly to offer advice to SBC. I think we should all look forward to more interesting TV serials by SBC so that Singaporeans could enjoy viewing them, after a hard day's work.”
“Let me now turn to the Member for Jalan Besar GRC. Let me first tell the Member that in the business called "promotion of the arts", even if you have done a lot, there is still a lot to be done. But I can assure the Member as well as the House that with the formation of the National Arts Council, greater emphasis will be given to assist local artists and art groups, including their promotion overseas. As regards the proposal by Mr Choo to set up a cultural village, I think it is a good idea. I will ask my officers to look into the feasibility of such a proposal.”
“Can I just have another one or two minutes?”
“As for the screening of dialect programmes on TV, I think it is the policy of the Government that dialect programmes should not be screened over TV, because it would jeopardise the effort made by the Speak Mandarin Campaign over the years. 2.00 pm”
“Singapore artists and art administrators will have a chance to visit Glasgow and other Scottish cities for training and study tours. This is in line with NAC's objective of linking with the international arts community through cultural exchange programmes with cities noted for the arts. Sir, let me now list some of the programmes and activities that NAC will implement over the next 12 months: the Festival of Arts to be held in June this year; the Singapore Arts Fair in August this year; cultural twinning with the Hong Kong Arts Festival; the establishment of an Arts Endownment Fund and the new arts awards schemes. Sir, the NAC will also step up its efforts to widen the audience base, as mentioned by the hon. Member just now. It will work with schools to promote interest in the arts among the students, and with mass organisations such as NTUC, People's Association and the Federation of Clan Associations, so that the general public will have greater access to art activities. We hope that with mass participation, we will have a better chance of success in realising our vision for 1999. As to the specific questions raised by the hon. Member, MITA will give equal treatment to all art groups and organisations and we will provide the necessary assistance to them whenever it is required. So if one group wants to hold an international Cantonese opera and yet another group wants to hold another one, we will try our best to tell them that it is in their interest to combine to have just a grand one, because our audience base is not big enough. And if they still go ahead with their project, good luck to them. Of course, as far as MITA is concerned, we would like to give them whatever assistance that is needed.”
“Sir, let me first respond to the hon. Member for Sembawang GRC, Mr Ho Peng Kee. Before I do that, I wish to declare my interest. I am an amateur artist. As an artist, I definitely welcome what was said by the hon. Member for Sembawang GRC, as well as the hon. Member for Jalan Besar GRC. Sir, with the economic success over the years, we can now afford to divert our attention and channel a bigger chunk of our resources in the promotion of the arts. In Singapore, we are fortunate to be blessed with fine traditions from both the East and the West. These have shaped and enriched our cultural and social life. Our multi-cultural heritage provides a good foundation for a Singapore identity. Of course, it would take time, but many who are familiar with the local arts scene will agree with me that the evolution of such an identity is well under way. Sir, with the formation of the National Arts Council, under the able Chairmanship of Professor Tommy Koh in September last year, the promotion of arts was given a fresh momentum. We can expect a more active arts scene in the years to come. However, the National Arts Council (NAC) alone is not enough. The private sector and the arts community must also come forward to form a tripartite partnership in developing Singapore into a culturally vibrant city. Sir, the Member also asked about the work of the NAC. Let me briefly answer him. Since its inception last September, the NAC has successfully completed a few major projets, such as the Traditional Theatre Festival and the Singapore Dance Festival. The NAC has recently signed an agreement with the Scottish Arts Council and the Strathclyde Regional Council to promote cultural exchanges between Scotland and Singapore.”
“In the end, it is not what Government could do but what all of us can do as Singaporeans because when we travel each and every one of us is an ambassador.”
“And the Singapore International Foundation would be established to help us achieve that. 3.30 pm I am happy to tell the House that Prof. Chan Heng Chee has agreed to be the Executive Director of the Foundation. The job of the Foundation will be to link up Singaporeans worldwide. Singaporeans who are now organising themselves in clubs and in associations, we will wire them together, keep them in touch with each other and with their home country and supply them with everything from "The Next Lap" to belachan or whatever. After a while, an instinct will develop that we are all part of a family and that we look after each other. This can be a very important asset. Of course, to do this, we must also ensure that we look after the education of children who live overseas. It is for this reason that we recently established a Singapore school in Hong Kong. But I would say that even in the other cities where there may not be that critical mass of Singaporeans we may have to look after some of the other educational needs, particularly in the learning of the mother tongue. This is something that we have to explore as we go along, solve problems as they crop up. "The Next Lap" has done quite well so far. Sales have been very brisk. We are now into our third run. 40,000 in the first run, 27,000 in the second, 25,000 in the third, and we may have to go on to a fourth, maybe 100,000 copies altogether, many of which will be distributed overseas, through Government agencies, through our missions, and by our businessmen. I think many of us have on our own sent the book to our own friends overseas. This is just one effort and we need many such efforts to answer the question on what else Government could do.”
“BG George Yong-Boon Yeo: Sir, Mr Yatiman's call to us to be concerned about our image abroad is very timely. I think in the next lap of our national development, we have to internationalise, which means more Singaporeans will have to work overseas, which means that there will be even more contacts with foreigners, both in Singapore and outside Singapore. Image is not just a matter of packaging. It is in the end what we are, because we cannot pretend to be what we are not. And even if we succeed for a while, after a while we will be found out. So the question of Singapore's image abroad is really a question about what we are, in essence, as Singaporeans. This is not just a problem for MFA, or MTI, or MITA, or any particular Government agency. I think it is a problem for all Singaporeans that we do not adopt double standards when we treat others, we respect them for what they are, and that we become, in effect, good citizens of the world. And in this regard, we have done a few things recently which I think had stood us well in the international community, like our contribution to the UN, like in Namibia, and our modest medical team to Riyadh. There will be many such occasions in the future for us to show that we are upright and full citizens of the world and that we undertake our share of responsibilities. This is very important because our entire strategy is founded on Singapore being a hub city, on Singapore being of use to other people. So if we are ugly, then surely others will not want to make use of us. We have to be charming, and the more charming we are, the better the facilities we provide, the more conveniences we offer to them and the stronger will our economic development be. So this is a matter of some importance.”
“Sir, I cannot agree more with Encik Yatiman Yusof when he said that information is essential in decision-making. In fact, MITA is working closely with other Ministries to ensure that greater openness is achieved in their information-sharing exercise. Sir, meetings of PROs from all Ministries are held on a regular basis to discuss work problems and to recommend solutions. As far as possible, MITA assists them in the area of public communication and facilitation from time to time. Training courses are arranged for PROs to help them meet the rising expectations of the society. Sir, the Member also asked how many Ministries are equipped with PROs and whether they are senior enough to make quick decisions. Let me inform the Member and the House that all Ministries are equipped with PROs. Some of the larger Ministries have even more than one PRO. By and large, these PROs are authorised to release information within their portfolios and they have direct access to the Permanent Secretary and senior officers. In the event that a quick and correct decision is needed, they may immediately consult their superior and give quick and correct responses. MITA will work with Ministries to develop this capability. Sir, I agree with the Member, wherever possible, Ministries should provide information which is readily available to the public without charge. However, some information sought by the public may require processing or laborious search through records. In such cases, an administrative fee may be levied. The example quoted by the Member falls under this category. MITA would, however, encourage other Ministries to reduce, if not waive, such fees. Sir, my Minister will now respond to Encik Yatiman Yusof regarding Singapore's image abroad.”
“Sir, the points raised by the hon. Member are not new. In fact, sometime in February last year, the Consumers Association of Singapore had a meeting with two relevant associations, namely, the Singapore School and Private Hire Bus Owners Association and the Singapore School Transport Association, whose members are mainly school bus operators. The decision of that meeting was contained in a letter to the editor which was published in the Forum Page of the Straits Times dated 10th February. Sir, please allow me to read out the relevant decision, and I quote: "At the meeting it was unanimously agreed that bus operators would take the following steps and their Associations would ensure compliance: (i) Maintain a close rapport with parents so that the terms and charges are fully understood and accepted by parents prior to engaging the bus operator's services; (ii) Allow variations in charges to encourage competition and provide consumers with a choice; and (iii) Not to engage in cartelism or price-fixing arrangements.' If the Member is interested, I can pass on to him the press cutting.”
“Sir, allow me to respond to the points made by the hon. Member for Aljunied GRC, Mr Wan Hussin. For safety reasons, school buses are regulated under the Road Traffic Act and subsidiary legislation. The legislation spells out the licensing requirements such as the statutory lifespan, seating capacity, etc to ensure the roadworthiness of the buses and the safety of school children. The job of the ROV is to make sure that the school buses comply with the relevant regulations. As regards fares, Sir, I think they are determined by the market-place between the bus operators and the parents, similar to fares for adult workers transported by private hire buses and for tourists in excursion buses. Sir, on its part, the Government has helped by keeping road tax down and exempting school buses from the quota system. In this respect, I would like to urge school bus operators to keep their fares down in order to provide a valuable service to as many school children as possible. Encik Wan Hussin bin Hj Zoohri: Sir, may I also enquire from the Senior Parliamentary Secretary whether he agrees that this is also, if not a fully public transport, a semi-public transport. In that sense, would not the Public Transport Council have a look at this situation? If it is fair for the parents, then I think I have no problem. But there is no body or avenue for parents at least to register their dissatisfaction. The Ministry could at least ask such a Council to just look into this matter and to ensure that this is a fair deal.”
“Public safety includes the safety of the commuters as well as other road users. For example, school bus commuters are school children and we are particularly concerned about the safety of our school children. Nevertheless, the points expressed by the Member are taken and I shall pass them to the Registry for consideration. TEENAGERS DETAINED OVERNIGHT (Notification of parents) 11. Mr Lau Ping Sum asked the Minister for Home Affairs whether police officers notify the parents of teenagers who have been detained overnight.”
“Sir, I share the sentiments expressed by the Member. I cannot speak for other Ministries. As far as my Ministry is concerned, I do not think public safety should be compromised. As regards less serious criminal offences, if the Member were to let me have details of the cases, I will certainly ask the Registry of Vehicles to look into them again. Each case will be considered on its own merit.”
“Certainly, Sir. "LEASE-A-DENTAL CLINIC" SCHEME (Progress) 6. Dr Ho Tat Kin asked the Acting Minister for Health what is the progress made by his Ministry's "Lease-A-Dental Clinic" scheme; and whether this scheme has been able to provide better dental care at a lower cost to the people. The Acting Minister for Health (Mr Yeo Cheow Tong): Sir, the Lease-A-Dental Clinic Scheme was introduced in 1984. So far, 11 dental clinics with a total of 25 dental chairs have been leased. The Scheme has met its objectives. It is providing young dental officers with the opportunity to gain commercial experience before they venture into their own private practice. So far, 44 dental officers have participated in the Scheme. The dentists operating the leased dental clinics are providing a more personalized service. They spend more time on each patient and also offer a much wider range of dental services such as crowns and bridges. Waiting time has also been reduced. As for the cost of treatment, it is not possible for the dentists operating the leased dental clinics to charge the same fees as the subsidized Government dental clinics. However, their fees are generally lower than the fees charged by other private dentists providing a similar high degree of personal service. MAIN AND DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES OF SINGAPORE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 1988 TO 31ST MARCH, 1989 Order read for consideration in Committee of Supply [10th Allotted Day]. [Mr Deputy Speaker in the Chair] 11.08 am Head R - Resumption of Debate on Question [28th March, 1988], "That the total sum to be allocated for Head R of the Main Estimates be reduced by $100." - [Mr Lim Boon Heng]. Question again proposed.”
“It should not be long. I will ask my officers to get in touch with the Member as well as the bus operators concerned.”
“Sir, I am answering on behalf of my Minister. Sir, I will ask SBS to look into the Member's suggestion and to liaise with his grassroots leaders on how the public transport needs of Telok Blangah and Depot Road estates can be best served.”
“Sir, these courtesy campaigns are aimed at all Singaporeans.”
“Sir, if there are bus operators who are willing to run feeder services and if their applications are approved by the Public Transport Council, then I think the feeder services will be provided. Nevertheless, I shall sound out the Member's suggestion to the bus operators concerned. SINGAPORE POOLS (PTE) LTD (4-D agents) 7. Mr Yeo Choo Kok asked the Minister for Finance (a) how many 4-D agents of the Singapore Pools (Pte) Limited there are to date; (b) whether these agents were appointed on the basis of each constituency having at least one; and (c) what was the revenue collected by the Singapore Pools (Pte) Limited from these agents in 1987.”
“Sir, I am answering on behalf of my Minister. Last year, I informed hon. Members that the HDB will be building a bus interchange next to the Buona Vista MRT Station. The bus interchange was meant to serve the proposed New Town nearby. Since then, the HDB has embarked on a review of the land use around the area. The need for the bus interchange is therefore also being reviewed. Whatever the outcome of the review, access to the Buona Vista MRT Station would be made as convenient as possible for all commuters.”
“All these taxi kiosks are registered with the ROV. Whether or not they are registered with the Registry of Societies, I do not have this information. BUONA VISTA MRT STATION (Bus interchange) 6. Encik Abbas Abu Amin asked the Minister for Communications and Information what is the detailed plan for the bus interchange to be built at Buona Vista Mass Rapid Transit station.”
“Sir, as I mentioned in my reply, a school bus that is licensed to carry more than 30 school children must have an attendant. So I presume the attendant will be able to look after the boarding and alighting of school children. For those carrying less than 30 children they are mainly mini-buses. I think the driver can render personalised service. However, I will ask ROV to take note of the Member's remarks. As regards the upgrading of school buses, Sir, the mandatory life span of a school bus is 20 years. So it is inevitable that we see some of these old buses still running on the road. But, mind you, Sir, these buses are subjected to a yearly inspection. Those above 10 years old are bi-annually inspected. So they are safe, they are well-maintained and road worthy. As to the point whether school buses should be air-conditioned, I think we will leave this to the operators. If the parents are prepared to pay more, I do not think we will object to it. EFFECT OF MRT ON TAXI DRIVERS 6. Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for Communications and Information whether the earnings of taxi drivers have been affected since the partial operation of the Mass Rapid Transit system and whether the Registry of Vehicles has ceased issuing further taxi driving licences with the operation of the MRT system.”
“Therefore, they will be able to achieve the objective of learning such language. Most students, after completing their 'O' level education, is the standard of their second language sufficient enough to enable them to read and write? Has the Ministry of Education carried out a survey or test to find out whether students completing their 'O' levels are able to use the Chinese language to read the Chinese newspaper articles? Another question which should merit our concern and attention is that Chinese in our society has been relegated to the status of second language and the functional value of the Chinese language has been reduced. Under such circumstances, there is a possibility that future parents and students will look at the question of Chinese from an utilitarian angle. This is a very objective or practical result. They will treat the Chinese language in the examinations from the angle of utility. If people generally believe that there is no utilitarian value, then they will not be keen or motivated in studying the language. Therefore, the fault may not lie with the Ministry of Education. It may lie with the parents. They would be under pressure to relax and lower the standard of the mother language so that they may be better disposed to the study of other subjects. Has the Ministry of Education foreseen such a development and what will be its policy to deal with such a trend?”
“Even students in primary 2 and primary 3 are able to write a fairly good piece of composition. This is all due to the efforts of the dedicated Chinese teachers. With regard to the standard of the Chinese language, this is a matter of opinion. Some may think that the standard is not high enough, but others may think that the standard is already too high. We must adhere to a standard which is functional within the given circumstances. In the primary schools we expect students to master 2,000 characters. These are single characters and the characters can combine to form vocabulary. Based on the 2,000 characters a lot more vocabulary can be formed. Therefore, if a student could master 2,000 characters it would be sufficient for him to be able to write some simple compositions or letters and to read simple books or articles. When he completes secondary school, he is expected to have learned 3,000 characters. If he is diligent, equipped with this number of characters he will be able to read and write reasonably well in Chinese. Mr Goh Choon Kang (Braddell Heights)( In Mandarin): Language is a very sensitive issue, so when discussing this sensitive issue of language we must be calm and rational in our attitude. On the question of Chinese language we must be pragmatic and realistic. All Chinese students in schools are learning their mother tongue as a second language. What is the standard of second language? Our students learn this language from Primary 1 onwards up to Secondary 4. The reason why they must study mother tongue is that through the study of mother tongue they would be able to retain the root of their culture. In other words, after the compulsory learning of mother tongue they can basically use the language to read, write, listen and to speak.”
“Can I join in the debate since my name was mentioned? (In Mandarin) Sir, these few days we have heard the Member for Queenstown talking at great length. Some of his speeches were quite reasonable or rational, while others were not so. I know that he was a journalist before and he is able to write good articles. He had also been a member of the Government and a High Commissioner to London. He should not be speaking on things in a jesting and ridiculing manner to belittle himself. He talked about the place named zhujiao in Chinese. We are using Hanyu Pinyin to teach our students Chinese hoping that our next generation students would be able to master the Chinese language and to pronounce the words correctly. The appearance of Hanyu Pinyin may cause some confusion to those who are not well-versed with the Hanyu Pinyin system. Chinese pronunciation has got four tones. We should use Hanyu Pinyin phonetic system, not English, to help pronounce the words. I do not think anyone can mistake Zhujiao as zhujiao meaning "pig's leg" because four big Chinese characters zhujiao zhongxin are placed alongside with Zhujiao Zhongxin. So I do not agree with the Member for Queenstown that we committed some big mistake in naming of places. What he said just now about Chinese textbooks was not quite fair. At present the Chinese textbooks are written by two different project teams in CDIS under the Ministry of Education. One is for primary school and the other is for secondary school. All these textbooks give equal emphasis to the four skills, speaking, listening, reading and writing. It is not what the Member for Queenstown said just now that the students learn by the "tikam" method. Our new teaching method is very effective.”
“Sir, the Traffic Police and the ROV will step up enforcement action and try to reduce offences of this nature. On his second question, I have mentioned that, if need be, we will review the policy. A & E DEPARTMENTS (Screening of emergency cases) 7. Dr Koh Lam Son asked the Acting Minister for Health what are the reasons for employing a nurse rather than a medical officer to screen emergency from non-emergency cases at the Accident & Emergency Departments. The Acting Minister for Health (Mr Yeo Cheow Tong): Mr Speaker, Sir, nurses are employed to screen patients at the Accident & Emergency Department as the screening process is a relatively routine function which nurses are competent to undertake. This relieves such duties from the doctors who can then devote their time attending to the true emergency cases. Screening is done by asking the patient for details of his or her symptoms and by visual assessment of the general condition of the patient. Where necessary, the nurses will measure the patient's temperature, pulse and blood pressure. The nurses employed for screening are experienced nurses who have been trained specifically and provided with guidelines to distinguish emergency from non-emergency cases. There is also close supervision of the nurses' work by the doctors. Should they encounter any doubt or difficulties in screening, they would immediately consult the doctors or refer the patients to them.”
“Sir, the answer to the first question is that these figures are only significant if the Police and the ROV were to carry out the same number of blitz on the offenders. I am not quite sure whether they have done so. I presume in 1986 they stepped up their enforcement action. That is why the number is more than that for 1984. On the second question, Mr Speaker, Sir, I have stated in my answer that it is to facilitate employers to ferry their workers to work. Otherwise they would have to hire other type of vehicles to transport their workers and this will add on to the labour cost of the employers. However, if need be, we will review the policy. Dr Koh Lam Son: On the answer to the first question, does this increase in number suggest that there is an increase in the number of offenders in 1986? In other words, is the problem getting out of control to warrant further enforcement action by your Ministry? The answer to the second question ---”
“Sir, I have been asked by my Minister to reply. Goods vehicles are designed and licensed primarily for carrying goods, not passengers. They are not permitted to carry any persons other than employees proceeding on business. The number of offenders who violated traffic rules in transporting passengers in both light and heavy goods vehicles are as follows. 1984, 5,213; 1985, 5,333; 1986, 5,883. Earlier figures are not available.”
“As I mentioned in my answer just now, the number of vocational licence holders exceeds the number of taxis and this is to ensure that we do not have difficulty in finding relief taxi drivers. ACCIDENTS INVOLVING MALAYSIAN VEHICLES (Figures) 8. Dr Koh Lam Son asked the Minister for Home Affairs what was the number of traffic accidents involving Malaysian vehicles in each of the past five years.”
“Sir, on record there are 10,843 taxis in Singapore now.”
“Sir, I have been asked by my Minister to reply. Sir, at the end of January 1987, there were a total of 42,427 taxi vocational licence holders. ROV does not monitor the number of owners and hirers. This is left to the operators, owners and hirers to decide for themselves. The training of taxi drivers is also carried out by the operators themselves. ROV's role is to test the driver to ensure minimum levels of knowledge and competence. By not restricting the number of vocational licences, we ensure that taxi operators and owners will have no difficulty in finding relief drivers and hence maximize the use of taxis. In this way commuters will also be better served.”
“Sir, I cannot speak for SBS. But I do not see why if the passenger load is able to sustain relative viable route, the bus company should not want to provide a service. In any way, I shall convey the Member's anxiety to the bus company concerned. VOCATIONAL TAXI-DRIVING LICENCE HOLDERS (Taxi-owners and Hirers) 7. Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for Communications and Information how many vocational taxi-driving licences have been issued by the Registrar of Vehicles as at the latest convenient date; how many holdersof these licences are taxi owners and how many are hirers, and how many of them have not been able to drive a taxi due to non-availability of taxis.”
“Sir, my Ministry is of the view that the installation of seat belts in large passenger vehicles such as school buses is not practical as it may impede mass evacuation in the event of an emergency. As regards attendants, at the present moment, buses which are licensed to carry more than 30 school children are required to have an attendant on board the bus. EDUCATION OF THE ELDERLY ON DEALING WITH CONFIDENCE TRICKSTERS 5. Mr Philip Tan Tee Yong asked the Minister for Home Affairs, in view of the recent spate of confidence-trickster cases on the elderly, whether his Ministry will study ways and means to educate and assist the elderly to deal with such encounters.”
“Sir, as I have said, we will take necessary measures to try and cut down such accidents. NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICE POST IN PAYA LEBAR 8. Mr Philip Tan Tee Yong asked the Minister for Home Affairs, in view of the rising crime rate in Paya Lebar, whether his Ministry will consider setting up a Neighbourhood Police Post there in 1986 instead of next year.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, for the first two months of 1986, there were a total of 68 accidents involving the Singapore Bus Service (1978) Ltd and the Trans-Island Bus Services (Pte) Ltd which resulted in passengers suffering injuries. There was no accident in which bus passengers died. For comparison, during this period for all road accidents, there were 38 fatal cases and 970 cases which resulted in injuries. For January and February 1985, there were 59 accidents involving SBS and TIBS which resulted in passengers suffering injuries. There was again no accident in which passengers died. Overall, the accident rate for buses over the past decade has been decreasing from 3.3 accidents per 100,000 km travelled in 1977 to 1.6 in 1985, as shown in Table 1 (Cols. 1225 - 1226), which has been circulated to Members earlier on. Table 1 (Cols. 1225 - 1226) Sir, as regards the action my Ministry will take on such accidents, I have already given a reply to the hon. Member for Delta two days ago in this House.”
“In that case, Sir, I shall ask TIBS to look into the Member's problem. SECRET SOCIETY ACTIVITIES INVOLVING STUDENTS (Particulars) 6. Mr Yeo Choo Kok asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) if there is any sign that students have been systematically recruited by secret societies; (b) what is the number of students involved in gang fights and other secret society activities since the beginning of 1984 up to the latest convenient date; and (c) what steps have been or will be taken to protect innocent students from being used or harassed by members of the secret societies.”
“Sir, I shall ask SBS to outline the plans for improvement of services for Yishun New Town, to the Member for Nee Soon. In addition, I shall also ask SBS to liaise closely with the Member and his community leaders in future changes of bus routes, with a view to improving bus services in Yishun for the benefit of the residents.”
“Sir, altogether there will be four post offices in Yishun New Town. I have named one in my answer just now. The other three post offices will be situated at Yishun Neighbourhood Centre 8, Yishun Town Centre, and Yishun Neighbourhood Centre 4. They are expected to be completed in the year 1987, 1988 and 1989 respectively. YISHUN NEW TOWN (Improvement of bus services) 5. Dr Koh Lip Lin asked the Minister for Communications and Information what are the plans to improve the bus services in Yishun New Town.”