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, I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for his reply, and I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 91 to reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 004. Sir, there is only a token vote of $10 to be given as a loan to the National Stadium Corporation for this subhead. I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary whether the loan provided last year was enough so that in the coming year there is no such need for any vote. Perhaps the proceeds from Singapore Pools (Pte.) Ltd. are sufficient to meet the expenditure involved in the building of a National Stadium. Could the Parliamentary Secretary enlighten the House on this? 7.00 p.m.”
“Sir, owing to the shortage of time, I have no choice but to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The time allotted for Head 81 having expired, the following amendments, standing in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting, were not proceeded with: (5) That the sum to be allocated for Head 81 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 705. (6) That the sum to be allocated for Head 81 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 804. The sum $5,572,200 for Head 81 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 91 - The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Low Guan Onn - (1) That the sum to be allocated for Head 91 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 001.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 81 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 703. Sir, this is a vote for the development and improvement to markets and hawkers' sites. As we all know and as we can see around a new market, there are stalls selling cooked food. Dirty and torn tarpaulins are used as roofing for these stalls and they are a very ugly sight, especially when they are in a new market. Therefore, I am glad to note that recently the Ministry of Health has taken steps to put up new hawker sites to accommodate these hawkers. I would also like to point out to the Minister that the wash basins and other facilities provided should be practical for the hawker sites. Otherwise the money spent will be wasted. I can give one example, Sir. In my constituency, in Taman Jurong Market I, the shelters put up for cooked food stalls are not large enough to cover the hawkers from the sun or the rain. It is as good as having no shelter. Because of this, the hawkers have to use their own canvas and tarpaulins for shelter. The wash basins provided are not properly constructed and inadequate for their use. As a result, the hawkers do not make good use of them. Another point is about the water supply to the dressed poultry sellers. At present, the anti-waste type of taps are provided. Whenever they want to use water, they have to press for it. They would rather have the ordinary taps which can be turned on for water when they pluck off the feathers of the chickens and ducks. I suggest that ordinary taps be constructed for them instead of anti-waste taps.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Parliamentary Secretary inform this House of the deferred applications - what sort of applications they are, and whether the present allocation is enough to meet the requirements of the deferred applications for services to be provided?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, having heard what the Member for Changi has said, not only do we feel sorry about the present policy of the Government in regard to the rural areas, but we also feel that we have not done enough for the rural people. In spite of the fact that the Government has all this time been claiming that it has been doing a lot for the rural people, in actual fact it has been doing more for the urban people than the rural people, as pointed out by the Member for Changi. 6.00 p.m. Mr Speaker, Sir, the amount of money spent on beautifying our city area exceeds by ten times the sum allotted for the roads in the rural areas. I would like to remind the Minister or his Parliamentary Secretary that the rural people also pay taxes. They do not just sit down and enjoy the fruits given by the Government. So they are entitled to ask for better roads. Sir, I also endorse the view of the Member for Changi when he says that this meagre sum of $450,000 is far from adequate for the construction of roads in the rural areas. From my own experience over the past few years, I know that unless the roads in the rural areas are metalled, they are useless and the money spent on making them is wasted, because after a monsoon or a heavy downpour they will be badly affected and a lot of money will have to go towards repairing them. Therefore, I propose that the Government should allocate more money for the rural roads. I am not asking too much, but Government should spend as much money on them as they are spending on beautifying the city or building more gardens. At least they should spend what is necessary for metalling them.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of what the Member for Changi has said. The Chairman: For your information Mr Ho, "guillotine" time is 6.15 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Minister for his answer. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 75 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 001 of subhead 211. Sir, this sum is meant for the widening of Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim. This is a major thoroughfare from the city area to Jurong Town. At the moment, this road is a dual carriageway. In Jurong, there are more than 200 factories and there are many workers. At peak hours, the traffic along this road is very heavy. If there is an accident, very often the traffic jam created is two or three miles long. If there is a factory fire, as the Member for River Valley has said, before the fire-engine can arrive at the scene of the fire, the factory will have already been razed to the ground. So the road is too narrow at the moment. In the estimate for the coming financial year, we finally see a vote for $500,000 for the widening of Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim. I believe that all the people working in Jurong town will be very happy about it. I would like to know how many traffic lanes will be built and when the work is expected to commence.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I support what the Member for Sembawang has said. However, I do not support his suggestion about in-shore fishing, because I believe there are no large quantities of fish along the sea coast. I have a question to ask. Many farmers who have been resettled will not be allotted a large piece of land. They will be allotted about one or, at the most, one and a half acres of land. The majority of them get half or three-quarters of an acre of land. It is not economical to grow vegetables or other agricultural produce on such a small plot of land. Some farmers have already changed their means of livelihood and are making use of their land in other ways, for example, the rearing of fancy tropical fish. Other farmers have planted orchids. It seems that the Primary Production Department is not quite definite about the measures to be taken in this connection. So I want to ask whether it can give support to the farmers by way of securing foreign markets for their agricultural products. Thus they will not be exploited by unscrupulous local middlemen. I would also like to ask whether the Primary Production Department can provide our farmers with cheap fertilisers. This is one good way to help them in their horticultural production, otherwise they have to buy expensive fertilisers from local merchants.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we know that the Jurong Central Fish Market was set up two years ago with the co-operation of the merchants concerned. At that time, very simple timber offices were built, as the Primary Production Department wanted to speed up matters. The Department promised the merchants concerned that after two years the office would be reconstructed. Since the merchants co-operated with the Government, they did not quarrel with the Department about the facilities of the office. Two years have now elapsed, but there is still no sign of the building of new and spacious offices for the fish merchants in the Jurong Central Fish Market. Can the Minister say whether there is any plan in hand to build a larger office, or any plan to improve the situation? There are many large holes in the ground of the fish market. Some of them have been repaired, but other smaller holes have appeared since then. All the places in the Jurong Central Fish Market need to be washed in order to keep it in a hygienic condition. We all know that a cemented ground can be washed easily and can withstand the splashing of water. So when any development is made to this fish market, I hope the surrounding area will be cemented so that it will facilitate washing. 4.30 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in view of the explanation given by the Minister, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I feel that not only I myself will support it, but all Members of Parliament in the rural constituencies, including the M.P.s for Tampines and Choa Chu Kang, will also be glad to give their support. Almost all M.P.s agree to the allocation of this sum for the agricultural survey. I hope that the Parliamentary Secretary will raise this matter again with the Ministry of Finance so that an agricultural survey can be carried out earlier. If he can give us the assurance, then I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.”
“Sir, on the question of the agricultural survey, I am afraid that all the Government departments are shifting the blame to one another. If the Primary Production Department and the Agricultural Survey Unit are so important to the Ministry of National Development, why is it that the sum allotted cannot be used for this work? Does it not go to show that the Government is putting emphasis on industry and neglecting agriculture?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Parliamentary Secretary in his answer says that farm registration is being conducted and he also knows the number of registered farms. But he does not know how many farms are in existence in Singapore. He says that there are about 26,000 registered farms. What I want to know is how many farms there are in Singapore and the definite number of those registered. The Parliamentary Secretary has also said that if some members of a farming household are taxi drivers or work in the factories, then the farmer will not be given land in case of eviction. I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary how the farmer got a farm licence in the first instance. If he has a farm licence, that means he is a farmer.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 73 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 206. Sir, I remember that last year the subhead was "Farm Licensing, Agricultural Survey and Agricultural Statistics Unit." Why is it that only the Agricultural Statistics Unit is left for 1971-72? Does it mean that the farm licensing and the agricultural survey have already been completed? I remember that farm licensing is undertaken every year. I would like to ask the Minister the following questions: (1) Can he inform this House how many farms have been registered since the farm licensing scheme came into operation? (2) As regards farmers who have been licensed, will they be given priority in the allotment of land when they are evicted from their present farms? (3) The Minister in answer to my question last year said that the data collected under farm licensing would be used to ascertain the existing state of agriculture in Singapore. This is in Hansard, Vol. 29, No. 16, dated 26th March, 1970, col. 1214. Now that all the data have been collected, can the Minister inform this House of the condition of the agricultural sector and whether there are any plans for further development? (4) Is the Ministry of National Development - considering any measures to provide the farmers with market research services of not only the local market but also of foreign markets? This will provide the farmers with useful guidance in concentrating on agricultural produce for export.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am in full sympathy with what the Member for Punggol has expressed. Land is a scarce factor of production in our country. Many farmers have been affected by resettlement and the new area of land allotted to them is very small. Therefore, we must try our best to introduce intensive farming methods or the factory farming pilot scheme to remedy the deficiency of land and the small size of the farms. I believe that the intensive farm improvement schemes or the factory farming pilot scheme which have been under active experiment by the Primary Production Department have achieved a certain measure of success. Can the Minister inform the House what progress and achievements have been made by these two schemes? Also, can these two schemes be applied to the whole farming community in Singapore?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have an amendment under subhead 203. Since the Member for Punggol has ranged over this subhead, may I also speak on it?”
“Sir, I would like to raise another question regarding the Central Abattoir. Is it supposed to be a profit-making enterprise, or is it to be an organisation performing a service? The Parliamentary Secretary has also said that the reason for slaughtering pigs in the day-time is to reduce expenditure and to economise. Since this has been objected to by the Slaughters' Association, I hope the Minister will give consideration to their representation. Mr Ho Cheng Choon(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Jurong has asked whether the Central Abattoir is a profit-earning enterprise or whether it is an organisation to provide a service. I can assure him that it is a profit-making organisation, and not a non-profit organisation. 3.45 p.m. The Member for Sembawang has suggested establishing small rural abattoirs. I can convey his suggestion to the private company which is in control of the Central Abattoir now. I am not so sure that it takes 10 hours for the frozen entrails to be sent from Jurong to the city. If the Member can provide further information, I will give him a detailed answer.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Parliamentary Secretary does not seem to have answered two questions. I asked whether the accounts of the Jurong Abattoir are on an independent basis or whether they are maintained by the Primary Production Department. The other question is whether or not it is true that the slaughtering of pigs will be carried out in the day-time.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we know that the Government has already spent $5 million on the Central Abattoir at Jurong. From what I know, this abattoir has been designed by experts, and it is comparable to that of other countries. But we must remember that the practice in other countries may not be applicable to Singapore. For example, foreigners do not eat the skin of the pig or its entrails, but the majority of the people of Singapore do eat them. Sir, since its inception three years ago a number of incidents have occurred at the Jurong Abattoir. In order to avoid trouble and to ease the difficulties, it is learnt that the Primary Production Department has handed over the Central Abattoir to a private enterprise. If this is so, I cannot understand why it is necessary to provide a sum of $247,170 in the Development Estimates for 1971-72. I would also ask whether the employees of the abattoir will remain as the staff of the Primary Production Department and whether the private company will keep a separate account which is independent of the department. According to the newspapers, the slaughtering of pigs will be carried out in the abattoir in the daytime. Many people object to this because they say that if the pigs are slaughtered in the daytime, the meat will not be fresh. Can the Minister say if there is such a plan to slaughter the pigs in the daytime?”
“Sir, in view of the Parliamentary Secretary's reply and his assurance, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $1,014,610 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 71 -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Parliamentary Secretary has not answered my question when the fire station will be built.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 61 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 301. Mr Speaker, Sir, the provision under this subhead is for the construction of a fire station in Jurong. The question of building a fire station in Jurong was brought up in this House more than once. I am glad to note that at long last the Government has decided to build a fire station in Jurong. As the provision is only $242,100, I believe that it will be a small fire station. Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Affairs tell the House what type of structure has been approved for this fire station and when it is going to be built? 7.30 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, under this amendment, I would like to bring up one or two points about community centres. Earlier on I said that Jurong is a new town and the population is increasing all the time. Probably in five years' time the number of people will exceed 100,000. 7.00 p.m. Mr Speaker, Sir, there is a lack of recreational facilities in Jurong. At night it is a dead place. At the moment we have a community centre in Jurong, but it is sited in one of the flats belonging to the Jurong Town Corporation. I hear that the People's Association intends to build a community centre, not in a flat, but elsewhere. There are one or two community centres in an isolated corner of Jurong. They are quite inaccessible to many people in Jurong. Therefore, there is a need to build not just a community centre but a bigger one in the centre of Jurong. In his reply to the Member for Toa Payoh, the Minister said that he could not find any appropriate site for a community centre in Toa Payoh. But in Jurong I know that the J.T.C. has already designated a certain area for the building of community centres. I would like to ask the Minister if the People's Association have any plan to build a community centre in Jurong and, if so, when they intend to carry it out.”
“Sir, I hope the Ministry will proceed speedily with the consideration of the new plans. In view of the assurance of the Minister of State, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 41 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 402. Sir, in moving this amendment I would like to ask the Minister of State about the extensions to the existing Jurong Integrated Secondary School. This school in Jurong was set up in 1963. I am afraid it is the smallest of the secondary schools in the republic. It has only eight classrooms, one laboratory and, of course, some toilets. There are no other facilities. It is just a simple school with simple facilities. Of course, one laboratory is not enough and so the facilities are inadequate. In spite of this, in the academic field and in sports, this school has had good results, especially in horticulture. For instance, in 1969 and 1970, it was the champion school in a gardening competition. Sir, I would like to ask the Minister of State whether the Ministry of Education would consider allotting more funds for the expansion of this school. At the moment, there is an urgent need for one more laboratory and one classroom for home economics. In addition, the school needs other facilities, such as a library and one or two additional classrooms. The Government is now paying attention to the quality instead of the quantity of education. In this context, I would like the Minister to give his comments on my request.”
“In view of the reply of the Minister of State, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 41 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 401*. (* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Cheong Yuen Chee.) Sir, in moving this amendment I would like to ask the Minister a simple question. We all know that Jurong Town is a new town. Its population is increasing. At present, there are about 25,000 people living in this town but there is only one primary school, unlike Toa Payoh town where there are several schools. In this respect, the Member for Toa Payoh is more lucky than I am. I would like to know whether the Ministry of Education has any plans to build a secondary school in Jurong Town and, if so, when?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister of State has mentioned earlier that Nanyang University has started a campaign for raising funds. I would like to ask him whether the Government is prepared to contribute funds to Nanyang University on a dollar-for-dollar basis.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Minister if he will exempt the old female Assistant Organising Secretaries from the very difficult physical training that they have to undergo.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have the same feeling as the Member for Moulmein has in regard to the officials of the Ministry of Finance. They are slow as snails in their working efficiency. I hope the Minister himself will supervise them and ask them to expedite the question of teachers' salaries. I would like to take this opportunity to ask the Minister one question. When we were discussing the question of fisheries, the Minister for Law and National Development said that the question of pioneer status came under the Ministry of Finance and not under his Ministry. I want to know why the pioneer status for the deep-sea fishing industry was withdrawn. The Minister for Law and, National Development has asked me to refer this matter to the Minister for Finance. So I am taking this opportunity to do so. I notice that in the Finance Minister's budget speech, he mentioned that he would encourage deep-sea fishing. If he intends to encourage it, why was the pioneer status for the deep-sea fishing industry withdrawn?”
“(4) That the sum to be allocated for Head 1107 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1321.”
“Sir, in future, when I have the opportunity I would like to ask the Minister for Finance about this matter. Since the Minister for Law and National Development has assured us that he is on my side, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Sim Boon Woo - (3) That the sum to be allocated for Head 1107 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1103.”
“Sir,I wanted to know why the pioneer status for the deep-sea fishing industry was struck off the list of pioneer industries. The Minister has not answered this point.”
“I hope the Minister will be patient. He will have an opportunity to speak after I have spoken. At least, the Government should consider the following points: (1) We have all along maintained good relationship with our neighbouring countries. We should have some sort of fishing agreement with our neighbouring countries so as to allow our fishermen to fish in their territorial waters. At least, they should be given safe passage home and not be detained. (2) We should send out more sea patrol boats or organise a kind of emergency sea relief fleet in order to protect our fishermen. (3) As regards fishermen being robbed by pirates, the Government should give them financial assistance to ensure that they could continue with their old trade so that they may not be forced to change their vocation. (4) The Government may perhaps set up a sort of air reconnaissance service to spot the location of fish from the air by scientific means. This would be better than the fishermen themselves spotting for fish in the vast expanses of the seas. Furthermore, with our own planes flying overhead, it would provide additional protection to the fishermen. (5) The Government should allot certain areas near the sea coast for fishing villages so that fishermen who are evicted can be resettled there. If they are forced to live in Housing Board flats, they would have to change their vocation. I hope the Minister can seriously consider my suggestions.”
“So the Government should provide more encouragement to this industry and take the lead. It should also establish joint ventures with local or foreign capitalists in this industry. Our traditional fishing methods, such as kelong fishing, are out-dated and backward. Our coastal fishing areas are limited in fish supplies. So our fishermen have to venture out into the open seas to fish. But now and then we read in the newspapers about fishermen being robbed by pirates or detained in foreign countries. This happens when they meet with a storm or an engine failure and have to take refuge in neighbouring islands belonging to other countries. Sometimes they meet with pirates and they incur more losses than just imprisonment, fines and confiscation of their ship by foreign governments. But some of them, after having been robbed by pirates, did not report to our police, knowing very well that even if they did, they could not get any assistance from the Government because it could not do anything. Due to all these hazardous incidents the off-shore fishermen are faced with problems. Furthermore, the Government has not allotted them sites for resettlement. So all this has resulted in the dwindling number of fishermen in our country. Sir, now is the time for the Government to save our fishermen and give positive assistance to them. The Minister for Culture (Mr Jek Yeun Thong) rose -”
“The more dependent we are on imported fish, the less bargaining power we have over increasing prices. So now is the time for us to save our fishing industry and I hope that the Government will make a two-pronged approach to remedy the situation. The Government should seriously develop the deep-sea fishing industry and provide actual and positive assistance to our fishermen who are in dire difficulties. 4.45 p.m. Sir, our island is surrounded by seas all round. In the seas, there are inexhaustible resources. Particularly in the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea there are rich fish belts waiting to be exploited. In the Indian Ocean, there are lots of tuna fish which is a great potential for our fish processing industry. The Government has not encouraged deep-sea fisheries in any way. On the contrary, by the end of 1969, the Government has withdrawn the pioneer status of the deep-sea fishing industry. It has spent a lot of money, in conjunction with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, to set up a Fishing Training School in Changi and also, under the aegis of the South-east Asia Fisheries Development Centre, to set up a South-East Asia Fisheries Research Centre to train our youth in deep-sea fishing. But then, although the Government has spent a lot of money, the trained youths cannot get any jobs because there are not enough deep-sea fishing boats. Is this all that the Government can do? In the end, all this is a waste of money. The Government should consider and encourage investments in deep-sea fishing and try to think out schemes to encourage its development. From the point of view of old-time merchants, an investment in deep-sea fishing is an uncertain investment.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister has not replied to the various questions which I have raised just now. However, because of the time factor I would not like to raise the same points again. But I hope that when the Hansard is out he will pay serious attention to my questions by reading them carefully. The question of fisheries was raised just now and I would like to express my own opinion on it. Sir, 152 years ago Singapore was a small fishing village. It has now developed into a great metropolis in South-east Asia. We should be proud of the progress our country has made, but we should feel sad because Singapore is not self-sufficient in its supply of fish. According to the statistics in the 1969 Year Book, the quantity of locally-produced fish was 12,714 tons, whereas in the same period the quantity of imported fish was 41,951 tons. In other words, three-quarters of our fish consumed is dependent on foreign import. Thus every year there is a loss of millions of dollars in foreign exchange. We can see from the same year book that the number of fishermen registered in 1962 was 4,366, whereas in 1969 there were only 1,348 fishermen registered left. We can see from this that our fishing industry is declining. With the increase of our population, the demand for fish consumed will, of course, increase, whereas the catch of fish is decreasing. Based on the calculation of 60 pounds of fish consumed per person per year, by 1985 when our population will have reached three million, the consumption will be 80,000 tons, whereas by the year 2,000 when our population will be four million, the consumption will reach 107,000 tons. From this we can see that while our population is increasing every year our fishing industry is dwindling.”
“In fact, even in the dissemination of technical assistance among the farmers, the department has not been very effective. I will therefore say that financial assistance is of greater importance to the farmers than anything else, and I urge the Government to convert the Primary Production Department into a statutory board, so that it will be in a better position, through the proposed Finance Division, to help our farmers financially. With adequate finances, they will be able to take advantage of whatever new developments, techniques, or technical aid is offered to them. At the same time, I would also like to suggest that the Finance Division of the Primary Production Department (as a statutory board) set up some sort of a crop insurance scheme, so that when the farmers are faced with problems such as a decline in prices of agricultural produce, they will not have to lose very much. This problem is particularly evident at the present moment as their prices are manipulated by the middlemen, The prices in the market are quite good, but because of the manipulation of the middlemen, all that the farmers get for their crops is very little. So the Government should assist them in this respect. Mr Speaker, Sir, I hope the Minister will give serious consideration to my proposals. Farmers make up about nine per cent of our population, that is there are about 175,000 of them, and so they deserve our assistance. Mr Teong Eng Siong rose -”
“I have, therefore, suggested to the Minister for Finance to establish a Farmers' Bank to grant loan facilities to our farmers in times of need. Since the Ministry of Finance has not indicated whether or not it is prepared to accept this proposal, perhaps we may consider converting the Primary Production Department into a statutory board so as to avoid all the unnecessary administrative restrictions imposed on it as a Government department, in this way the Primary Production Department, as a statutory board, will be able to have, in addition to its existing functions, a Finance Division to deal specially with financial matters to assist the farmers. The banks and other financial institutions in Singapore are prepared to grant loans only for commercial and industrial purposes. They are not prepared to grant loans for agricultural purposes, particularly to the small-time farmers. So they have no choice but to resort to money-lenders or to rely on tontines to raise funds. Sometimes they even have to borrow from the grocers or the animal-feed dealers. And if any epidemic breaks out among their livestock, or their harvest is poor, or if there is any price reduction in agricultural produce, they will be heavily in debt. But when times are good, their profits have to be used to purchase agricultural implements, seeds and fertilisers. So they have no savings at all and there is no capital accumulation. So whatever techniques you can create or devise for the farmers, they are not able to take advantage of the technical assistance offered because of lack of finance, if the Primary Production Department still stagnates in its function to provide technical assistance to farmers, it is of no help at all.”
“They make up the majority of our farming population, and therefore the problem of improving their standard of living is a very serious matter, deserving the attention of the Primary Production Department. Mr Speaker, Sir, although our country is unable to implement the scheme of "land to the tillers," our farmers should at least have some form of security in respect of their land. At the present moment, farmers are occupying land under Temporary Occupation Licences, a system inherited from the days of colonial administration. The T.O.L.s are granted to the farmers on a temporary basis, and they can be withdrawn at any time. Sir, if they are withdrawn, the farmers will be left without any land to till. Since a total area of 581 square kilometres (permit me to use the metric here) for the various zones, like the industrial zone, the Golden mile zone, the motor repair zone, and the high-class residential zone, has been drawn up in the Master Plan, how is it that there is no agricultural zone? Can we not give our farmers some kind of lease that is more tenable so that they can be assured of land to till without having to worry about the withdrawal of the T. 0. L.s? Sir, for several years the Primary Production Department has been carrying out a feasibility study of our offshore islands for agricultural purposes; in particular, Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong, with a total area of about 28 square kilometres. But why has it been so quiet about it? Does it not have any plans? The main problem confronting the farmers is finance. The farmers' crops are subject to price fluctuations, and they require financial assistance for any development or expansion.”
“Sir, I beg to move. That the sum to be allocated for Head 1107 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1101. Sir, I have already done my duty by repeatedly raising in this House the problem of the serious decline in agriculture in Singapore. On numerous occasions, too, I have repeatedly suggested certain proposals for the improvement and reformation of our agriculture. The speaker may be persuasive, but so far, unfortunately the listener is rather indifferent. I hope I will not find it necessary to repeat again what I have said in this House in future. The Primary Production Department was established over 11 years ago. But has it seriously considered the crux of the problem relating to the farmers? Has it seriously considered how it should help the farmers? Sir, before the department started to exercise farm licensing, it claimed that it was not in a position to assess the true position of the farmers. Therefore, on the 16th October, 1968, to be exact, the department carried out farm licensing. All the data on the farmers were gathered, but in spite of their establishment strength of 1,218 members, the Primary Production Department has not been able to disclose any plans for agricultural development in Singapore. If at all any help is given, it is only for the big-time farmers. Little assistance is given to the small-time farmers. When I last visited my constituency, I formed the impression that the small-time farmers are still on the brink of poverty. They lead a very simple life and they use very old methods of farming and livestock rearing. They work throughout the day and only manage to live from hand to mouth.”
“Sir, a few points of clarification. The first point is that the Minister said we sing the same tune every year. Why is it that we have repeatedly to bring up our points? It is because the departments concerned have not really seriously considered what we have proposed and therefore we cannot help but harp on the same tune. The second point I wish to clarify is that I am not against my constituency being developed for industrial and military use. The third point, as the Minister himself agreed, is that Jurong is a relatively undeveloped constituency and, therefore, we need more funds for road repairs and other facilities and so on But in drawing up plans for minor repairs, the three roads which I have mentioned require urgent minor repairs because they are in a shocking condition. As the Minister has said, it is only a few thousand dollars. I hope he will approve the expenditure of this sum.”
“This has given rise to a great deal of discontent and unhappiness. I would like to ask the Minister whether it is true that minor repairs cannot be carried out in areas designated for industrial or military development, and what is the reason for this.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to raise one or two points in this respect. In my constituency, more than half the area is designated for industrial or military use. In these areas, people have become very hard pressed. First, the period given for development is not fixed. Some of them say this area is to be developed in two years, but after five years, nothing seems to have been done. During this period, the farmers will have received notice to cease further cultivation of their land and their huts, however decrepit, cannot be repaired. Most of them do not have water and electricity supplies and they are not going to have any. If the drains are blocked and the roads damaged, no repairs are carried out. Only until the Citizens' Consultative Committee have repeatedly brought up their complaints that the roads are in poor condition that any action has been taken and only very minor repairs have been carried out. Needless to say, these minor repairs do not help to solve the problem. 4.00 pm. Sir,I have noticed that the policy of allowing no major repairs but permitting only minor repairs seems to have been changed. Three roads in my constituency are in a horrible and shocking condition. They are Lorong Kemabal, Joo Koon Road and Jalan Tuas. The people have recently submitted their applications for urgent repairs to be made to these three roads. I do not know why permission has not been given. I wish to point out to the Minister that the first two roads are used daily by thousands of people in my constituency. The third one is the only road that leads to an army camp. Many of the parents whose children are doing national service in the camp have to make use of this road to go to the camp. I fail to understand why even minor repairs to these roads are not approved.”
“(3) That the sum to be allocated for Head 0901 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1211.”
“Watching these dances we feel ourselves to be in a jungle with Red Indians who are isolated from the world of progress. Is the Minister satisfied with such dances? Does he consider that they reflect cultural advancement for our country? Do such dance programmes deserve to be telecast on our T.V. Singapore? If we look around us, we will find there is an abundance of national dances which we can tap from our multi-racial people and which should be appropriately telecast on T.V. Singapore. But why are these national dances completely ignored? Can the Minister for Culture clarify?”
“If we look at our own situation and we try to publish a healthy magazine or book, it is very difficult to sell even 2,000 copies. Is it because our people do not possess the ability to read that they do not like to read, or is it because the interest of our readers has been channelled into other directions? If the answer is the former, it is sad. If the answer is the latter, I think the Ministry of Culture should quickly do something about it. If we can ban advertisements on cigarettes, why cannot we ban those unhealthy publications and advertisements which will lower the morals and adversely affect the minds of our youths? We are now in the initial stage of nation building and we should therefore cultivate the qualities of our youths. Is this not a step in the right direction? If necessary, I think we should impose a "cultural quota system" and we should leave out those publications which are not necessary or of pressing need to us. We should encourage local writers and artistes to be more productive. At the same time, we can organise something like a cultural centre and employ people who specialise or are experienced in the arts and culture and those who are interested in the various fields of our arts to work for the cause. It will be a good idea to draw up a programme of the work to be done as an immediate requirement or put up one or two concerts or shows a month. I think all these will be of help and benefit to us. Tuan Haji Rahmat Bin Kenap (Geylang Serai)(In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to criticise T.V. Singapore's programmes which I consider are not suited to our country. I refer to the Pesta Pop programmes in which are featured crazy dances and Red Indian dances.”
“The main reasons for this tendency are, firstly, external influence; secondly, imitation from films; thirdly, what they learn over the Radio and on T.V.; and, fourthly, what they learn from books and magazines. If we look at our newspapers, what catches our eyes consists of publicity stunts and propaganda for singers, film stars, fashions, hairstyles, entertainment and such like. Newspapers are full of sensational stories like murders of passion and revenge. All these are meant to arouse the interest of the readers and to increase the circulation of the newspapers. But have we ever paid attention to the ill effects or undesirable influence of such stories of sex and violence? The newspapers even show bloody scenes of murders described in the fullest detail. Have they ever thought what sort of influence or effect this is going to have on our youth? The small bookstalls in the backlanes and street corners stock unhealthy stories of passion or violence and low-class comics. This is all bad for our children. Mr Speaker, Sir, films are a popular medium of entertainment. If we want to know how many healthy or useful films we had last year, the result will be most disappointing. All the films shown last year were about soldiers, cowboys, sex and violence. I suggest that the Ministry of Culture carry out a comprehensive review of this so-called "culture" of our country. We should not allow films to be shown if they portray violence and mysticism, particularly because they will adversely affect the minds and bodies of our youths. I understand some of these foreign singers can earn as much as $2,500 by performing just one show. This has been given wide publicity in our newspapers. What sort of impression is this going to create?”