Ivan Baptist
Singapore
“Mr Speaker, Sir, what prevented the Ministry of the Environment from hastening the flood alleviation work in Potong Pasir? Owing to the delay, Sir, much hardship has been caused to my constituents, especially in the Jalan Potong Pasir and Meyappa Chettiar Road areas.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, a supplementary question. What is the Hon. Minister's reaction to a report in the Straits Times on Friday, 9th June, concerning the Singapore Tobacco Company's parent company in Britain, the British American Tobacco, and I quote: "STC's parent company in Britain, the British American Tobacco (BAT), the world's largest tob…”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the amendment to section 75, by clause 16 (c), still poses problems for consumers, both local and overseas. If a licensee has for sale in addition to duty-free goods those that are duty-paid, consumers could still be hoodwinked.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, does the Hon. Senior Minister of State realise that at the present moment there are many occupational health and safety hazards at the Nelson Road Mails and Parcels Centre? I had occasion to visit it sometime ago and I have since made recommendations to alleviate these hazards, but nothing seems to have been done.”
“But on this particular measure, I strongly oppose this increase of the fees at the A & E Departments. Nobody would like to be referred to a hospital, and it is not a pleasant place to visit either. The Minister for Health (Dr Toh Chin Chye): I see the Member there so often!”
“Sir, I do agree that a new Postal Complex is being built. But he has said that this new Postal Complex is being built in place of the old one, and at the present moment the old one is posing a lot of hazards. So I want to know what he is doing about the old one.”
The complete record
Every one of 399 lines we hold for Ivan Baptist, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 8.
“Sir, could I suggest to the Senior Minister of State that he should not have these cultural shows at the park in Changi because of the noise problem when the airport -”
“Sir, does that mean that the park near the HDB estate in Changi will be utilised for such cultural shows?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there is a safe substitute. Why not just have that substitute and not the ionization type which could be dangerous, as the Hon. Minister has indicated just now?”
“The Minister has mentioned that they are available.”
“Sir, does the Hon. Minister realise that about 75% of all fires in the homes begin as smouldering fires and the smoky fires which result are responsible for the fire fatalities? Consumer product tests show that photo-electric smoke detectors, the safer ones and no radiation possibilities, are more sensitive to smouldering fires than the ionization type. Why therefore risk the possibility of radiation contamination by allowing the ionization type detectors to be marketed?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am speaking about photo-electric smoke detectors which do not have the dangers of radiation that the ionization types have. I have another supplementary question, Sir. How will the disposal of these ionization smoke detectors be carried out? Will the manufacturers take the responsibility of this disposal? Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, as the Member is aware, the main problem of these detectors is, as he has put it, the disposal. Obviously the manufacturers will have to provide proper disposal measures before these detectors are sold or allowed to be sold on retail in Singapore.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, does the Hon. Minister not realise that there are photo-electric smoke detectors available for protection from fires? Why are these not recommended?”
“Sir, a supplementary question. Is it not true that Changi Airport will have heavier traffic with greater frequency? This would most certainly increase the noise exposure duration to the people in Somapah Road and the areas nearby. If the noise level is 100 db or more and if the duration is for more than six hours, there would be a possibility of Noise Induced Deafness for the people living in those areas. What plans has the Minister in mind to ensure that the people living there do not contract Noise Induced Deafness?”
“But the Ministry of Social Affairs is still giving them a grant of $25,000.”
“Does the Hon. Minister realise that SATA was founded in 1947 with the specific objective of promoting measures for the prevention and treatment of tuberculosis? Thirty-one years later, it would appear from a recent statement (Straits Times, Monday, 27th February, 1978) by the Chairman of the Flag Day Committee of SATA that "TB still remains a scourge." Does the Minister not realise that this is an indictment on the non-success of SATA's programmes? Could we have some comments on this, please?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Hon. Minister tell us approximately what is the cubic capacity of space provided per inmate in the drug rehabilitation centres, and the cubic capacity of the cold turkey cell?”
“Sir, could I seek clarification from the Senior Minister of State whether learner drivers will be allowed to practise late at night? If so, that could cause a terrible nuisance.”
“Sir, has the Senior Minister of State any plans to ensure the road safety of the pedestrians, especially school children from the many schools in the area? The safety of these children would be greatly endangered by the increased traffic especially of learner drivers with limited driving experience and skill.”
“Sir, does the Minister not realise that Woodlands is such a distance away from their places of work?”
“Could the Senior Minister of State not hasten this allocation, Sir?”
“If the HDB could provide the land to the People's Association, we will build the squash court.”
“Sir, that still does not answer my question. I would like my question answered. We could provide the resources. Could the People's Association get the Housing and Development Board to provide us with the land?”
“Sir, would the Senior Minister of State consider asking the Potong Pasir Constituency to raise resources for building a squash court?”
“Sir, does the Senior Minister of State not realise that the three community centres near the vicinity mentioned do not provide for tennis and squash facilities, and that the Sennett Community Centre is more than 4 km away from Lorong 8, Toa Payoh?”
“Sir, I am not speaking of contamination of food. 3.30 p.m.”
“Sir, does the Senior Parliamentary Secretary agree that only when contaminated food is sold to consumers, court action, heavy fines and adverse publicity should follow? And does he also agree that when the health and safety of consumers are not affected, the first course of action should only be a warning? If so, why then was a supermarket prosecuted for only a technical offence when it had on its shelf a jar of cream with 12.1% fat instead of at least 25%? Are not many Singaporeans already obese? Most certainly. Despite the Singapore Sports Council's sports-for-all policy, Walkarun and so on, this obesity continues. Mr Chor Yeok Eng( In Mandarin): Sir, in dealing with cases of food contamination, we do not consider whether the company involved is a big one or a small one. It is a question of whether or not the food is contaminated. The samples of food that we have collected are analysed and if found to be contaminated, they will be dealt with according to the law.”
“Can the Senior Minister of State allow me to debate with the competent authority?”
“Sir, has the Minister of State ever noticed a public gathering in such landing spaces?”
“A supplementary question, Sir. Can the fringe of this land, close to the existing SBS depot, be utilised for the planting of large trees which would serve as a barrier to minimise the noise, dust and air pollution generated by the buses? Such pollution is especially evident early every morning. Can the Hon. Senior Minister of State also convince the SBS authorities that they should also plant large trees close to the SBS depot fence, especially the portion facing the Lorong 8 flats, to further assist in alleviating the noise, dust and air pollution?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we can always write into the Act to refuse him bail. Anyway, can he not be given a chance to defend himself? Maybe something went wrong and he was put in detention through no fault of his own. He could have been lured into taking that drug. It could have been put into his drink. So give him a chance to defend himself, and we could refuse him bail, as I said earlier. Mr Chua Sian Chin: To refuse him bail is the same thing. It might be even longer if there is a trial.”
“Sir, just another point of clarification. Why can we not charge the drug addicts in court? Why do we detain them without giving them any opportunity to defend themselves? Is it because it is very difficult to make out a case against them that we take this sort of attitude?”
“May I know what is the purpose of affording the officers such protection?”
“I know we do not want our Singaporeans, especially our young Singaporeans, to be involved in drug-taking. But do we want them to be unfairly treated? Can we not give them some opportunity of defending themselves in court after the urine specimens are taken? And when we talk about 13,000 people, the number itself will mean greater abuses. If we have just a few, the chances of abuse are limited. Here we must consider not only the drug-takers, most of them young, but also the trauma that their parents will undergo. I would like some clarification on these points, Sir. Mr S. Dhanabalan (Kallang): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would also like a clarification on the second urine test. It is not unknown that even in medical laboratories and hospitals where the staff are specially trained to conduct tests that there are cases of mix-up. Here we have cases of people who are not specialised to take such samples, and I think we would appreciate the Minister's assurance that very detailed methods of taking test samples would be laid down. Of course, it is not possible to have a foolproof system but I think a detailed system of taking test samples which would minimise the incidence of mix-up would be appreciated. Secondly, Sir, in the proposed amendment where a complaint on oath of wrongful detention can be brought before a magistrate, the Minister's remarks seem to imply that the complaint must be made by the person detained. My reading of the amendment does not indicate so, and I would appreciate if the Minister could clarify whether the parents or relatives of the detained person could make such a complaint. Thirdly, Sir, it is also proposed that evidence taken at such hearings before the magistrate are not admissible in a civil or criminal proceeding if improper conduct has been proved.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to seek a number of clarifications from the Minister on the answers he gave just now. Whilst I am in support of the Bill and want to ensure that drug addiction does not become an almost uncontrollable menace in Singapore,( believe that the powers given under this Act are so tremendous that possible abuse is very clearly seen. From the answers the Minister gave just now, he failed to satisfy me in regard to the second urine specimen. As I understand it, a specimen of urine is taken within such time and in such manner as may be prescribed and a second test of the same specimen is made if there is an application by the person aggrieved. From what the Minister said just now, two urine specimens are taken. Are they taken in two separate containers? Are they taken in the same place for that matter? Because if there was a mix-up before this amendment and if now the specimens are taken in the same place and two containers are used at the same time, the possibility of a mix-up will surely still exist. I have had a number of cases of my constituents approaching me in regard to this mix-up, and invariably their applications were turned down when I wrote to the Minister. In addition to that, there is this business of detaining a person, who is aggrieved, just by a urine specimen test or an observation by the Director, CNB, or his officers. Most certainly, this can lead to quite a lot of abuse. No lawyer is required at the inquiry as the Minister has stated, and that means the person cannot defend himself. He is accused of something that he has done which would mean his detention; in other words, imprisonment and then, of course, "cold turkey" and all the rigmarole.”
“Sir, a further supplementary question. Is the Hon. Minister of State then willing to employ these very skilled workers who have lost their jobs in the private sector, and to consider upgrading the quality of HDB flats, because there have been a lot of complaints about their poor quality?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, does the Hon. Minister of State intend to introduce incentive schemes to ensure that private developers are encouraged to increase development in their sector? The second supplementary question is: does the Hon. Minister of State realise that we are losing many skilled guest workers? Unless steps are taken to get private developers to increase their activities, such loss would be detrimental to Singapore.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, what steps is the Minister for Health going to take, liaising with the relevant Government departments, to ensure that this fraudulent practice is stopped immediately for the safety of our community?”
“Sir, in regard to my contribution to the debate on this subject, I would like to know whether the Senior Minister of State would consider lengthening the period of the responsibility of the HDB in regard to major defects arising because of poor workmanship or substandard materials?”
“Sir,I believe the policy of the HDB is to require owners of flats to pay out of their own pockets for repairs of major defects like cracks, for instance, that occur in their flats a year after the handing over of the flats by the HDB to the owner occupier. Sir,I fail to see why the onus of repairs should be on the owner-occupier if the defects are due to poor construction or arise from poor building materials used. This policy has to be changed and the HDB owner-occupiers should not be made to pay the price of poor workmanship or substandard building materials. In fact, the HDB can get rid of this problem or can at least minimise it by establishing greater vigilance over their building contractors.”
“1071 and 1072]: 'Sir, these Regulations were deleted because in drafting the 1974 Regulations, the Attorney-General had advised that it would be undesirable to duplicate provisions which already existed in some other legislation. The deleted Regulations are covered by the Factories Act. 1973.' However, Sir, the only regulations contained in the Factories Act deleted were Regulations 20, 21, 22 and 23 which I accept, and these were not the regulations that came under query by the Member for Toa Payoh. Regulations 11, 12, 13. 16, 17, 18 and 19 are the ones that must be included in the 1974 Regulations. These are the ones pertaining to dust control and health measures that, without which, could cause health problems not only for the workers but also the people living around the quarries, many of them squatters with no knowledge of the dangers. Due to the absence of these clauses dust levels from the HDB quarry in Mandai, for instance, continue to remain high. It is about time the Ministry took action to restore the Regulations to an effective state. I am sure the assistance of the Ministry of Labour's Industrial Health Department can be sought, for are they not Government experts on industrial health?”
“Sir, on the 21st March, 1975, in this House under your able guidance, I brought up the matter in regard to the deletion of certain clauses from the Sand and Granite Quarries Regulations, 1971, when the Ministry of National Development took over the enforcement of these Regulations from the Ministry of Labour and replaced the 1971 Regulations with the 1974 Regulations. I wanted to know why this was done as it clearly disadvantaged the workers' health due to the lessening of the dust control measures and the reduction of medical checks. Free silica, a dust pollutant, emitted from granite quarries, when inhaled, can cause a pulmonary disease, silicosis, which is a dreadful disease indeed; it is incurable, rendering the ones inflicted a painful and useless life resembling the living dead. In reply to my queries on the deletion, the Hon. Minister for Law and National Development said [Hansard, Vol. 34, 21st March, 1975. col. 785]: `The Member for Potong Pasir referred to the deletion of two important clauses in the Sand and Granite Quarries Regulations of 1974. There seems to be substance in what he says. I was not aware of the deletion of these two clauses. Perhaps there is good reason, but there does not appear to be. But I will look into these regulations and reinsert these two clauses if that should be done.' Again, on 24th November, 1976, the Member for Toa Payoh queried the deletion of certain clauses from the 1971 Regulations when the 1974 Regulations replaced them. The Minister for National Development and Communications in reply stated [Hansard, Vol. 35, 24th November, 1976, cols.”
“But, Sir, the Member has not come to it yet.”
“Sir, on a point of order, I do not see the relevance in this.”
“I believe, was a matter that was brought up by the Member for Jurong and there are many people who have complained to the PUB about the strange taste of the water. So while not doubting that the water supply to the people in Singapore in certain areas, especially that from the Pandan Reservoir, comes within the WHO Standard, it appears strange that so many people have complained about the strange taste of the water. It would be most informative if the Minister could tell the House whether the WHO Standard does cover this matter of taste and how did the PUB determine, if such a taste criteria were required by WHO, that the water from the Pandan Reservoir serving the people, in actual fact, comes to within the WHO Standard.”
“Sir, it is with considerable interest that I note the reply to the Oral Question raised by the Member for Jurong in regard to the salt content of the water supply in Jurong. The Hon. Minister on 3rd September, 1976 replied and I quote: [Hansard, Vol. 35, No. 12, col. 1008] "The water supplied from the Choa Chu Kang Water Treatment Works is well within the WHO Drinking Water Standards and is perfectly safe for potable use." Then again the Minister for National Development and Communications in a speech on the 27th February, 1977 at the opening of Upper Peirce Reservoir hastened to reassure consumers, when he referred to the PUB being inundated with complaints about the strange taste of the water from the Pandan Reservoir, that (I quote): "its quality is well within the WHO requirements for drinking water." He went on in his speech to, once again, reiterate that (I quote): "The water is potable and fit for domestic use as it is within the requirements of WHO. We should therefore be prepared to accept the different tastes of our water in the future." I am sure that many of us do not know what the WHO Standard is. The WHO Standard. I believe, does not only speak about a maximum chloride content in parts per million or the total dissolved solids content in parts per million, I believe the WHO must go on to speak about many other requirements and the methods to determine the bacterial, biological and chemical purity of drinking water. I believe it is not necessary for water to be only safe to drink but also reasonably attractive to drink. It should be cool. clear, colourless and free from disagreeable odour and taste, apart from being free from organisms and faecal pollution and a control of pesticide levels. radiological activity and so on and so forth. Precisely this.”
“Actually when I was in the Members Room, another fellow Member said, "Look, what is your problem? I have close to 100. They have been voting in some other constituency although they are living in my constituency and they have been seeking my assistance in my meet-the-people sessions. Yours is a small problem really." True. I realise it is a small problem but still a problem. However, as the Hon. Minister has said that early necessary correction need be made if there is a possibility of a by-election, let me hastily withdraw my amendment! Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, why not then just the ground floor premises instead of the first floor for the old and the feeble?”
“Sir, I did raise another point; the possibility of introducing, say, postal balloting for the old and the feeble.”
“There are many permutations and combinations of errors which I need not go into, but perhaps I could sum up by urging Members of this House that if they are aware of such cases they should advise the persons concerned to have the errors in the registers of electors rectified. This can be done either at the Elections Department or at the next exhibition of registers of electors. I do not know when, and unless there is a by-election in Potong Pasir (Laughter], they will have to wait five years. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Mr Ahmad Mattar): Sir, just a point of observation. I do not quite agree with the example given by the Minister. I agree with him that 1411 could become 1411. But if it is 1411 Woodlands Drive. for example, the worst that could happen is 1411 becoming 1411 Woodlands Drive, the "Woodlands Drive" would not be affected.”
“They are not all my constituents according to the polling cards sent by the Elections Department. Mr Barker: It is not possible for me to give an answer to his questions as to why they were left out or why they had to vote in another constituency unless the circumstances of their cases are looked into. Perhaps I should tell Members how the registers of electors are compiled from the records of the National Registration Office. Changes of address can be made at community centres, the office of the Commissioner of National Registration or the Central Manpower Base for national servicemen and SAF personnel. To effect a change of address, a form is completed on behalf of the applicant. At this stage possible errors can occur. It is quite simple. Change of address is written as 1411. By an error it goes down as 1411. Instead of being in that part of Bukit Timah near Woodlands, you end up somewhere near Newton Circus. This is only just an example. These mistakes have been made. There may be a translation error. Au Kang 5 ms could be either Yio Chu Kang or Upper Serangoon Road. These change of address forms at the community centres are then posted to the National Registration Office. The completed forms are then despatched by the National Registration Office to the Elections Department for coding. They are then posted. Some of them do not even arrive and hence the husband could be voting at one place and the wife at another. The coded data are fed into the computer at the Computer Services Department to update the registers of electors. Even in the process of coding and punching the data into the computer, errors of misleading the figures could arise.”
“Mr Sawa Khan R, of 127E Upper Serangoon Road was sent to Potong Pasir II, Kwong Avenue School, Sennett Estate, and this is correct. But his poor wife, Madam Sathewa binte Abdullah also of 1 27E Upper Serangoon Road was sent many kilometres away to Upper Serangoon Ill, Charlton School. Aroozoo Avenue. I could go on and on. Sir, but I know your time and that of the House is most precious. 7.15 p.m. Another matter is the great inconvenience to elderly voters who, because they understand the need to participate in the polls, have to climb up the stairs to the first floor to cast their votes. Most certainly. Sir, suitable ground floor premises can be obtained or some other methods of voting, like postal voting, to alleviate the hardship of the old and the feeble.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head J be reduced by the whole sum in respect of subhead DAA 1101. Sir, election comes once every five years or thereabouts. Is it because of this infrequency that the Elections Office bungles? Take the mass rush to community centres to check the electoral registers last year. Potential voters had to wait for hours and sometimes in the rain as there was little room in the community centres to cater for such large numbers. Most certainly there could be better planning, or could not a better system be devised? In addition to this, many who were listed in the electoral registers did not receive polling cards and others who voted in 1972 were left out completely in the 1976 electoral registers, although they voted in 1972. Let me give you. Sir, further illustrations of the haphazard situation that must exist in the Elections Office. Husbands were sent to different polling stations and even different constituencies to vote although they lived in the constituency with their spouses for goodness knows how many years. Why this attempt to separate husbands and wives? Why this inconvenience? It is a well-known and established fact that it is cheaper and more convenient for both to accompany each other to the same polling station in the correct constituency, the constituency they have established house in and established relationship with their MPs. I have definite instances. Take Mr Fok Yew Woon, for instance. He lives in Potong Pasir. 14H Upper Serangoon Road. He was asked to vote in Aljunied I, Playfair Road School. Burn Road. His wife living in the same house was sent to Upper Serangoon III, Charlton School. Aroozoo Avenue - both rightly constituents of Potong Pasir, mind you. Sir.”
“Sir, I am befuddled with the way the Minister has handled this matter. He has anticipated quite a number of my questions. Sir, water pollution is also another problem that has to be tackled with redoubled effort. The Prime Minister spoke of the possibility of having fishing in the Singapore and Kallang Rivers in 10 years' time when he declared open the $55 million Upper Peirce Reservoir on the 27th February this year. Targets must be set to ensure a successful programme for unpolluted air and water in Singapore. I am sure the House would like to be enlightened on the targets that the Anti-Pollution Unit has set itself and the programmes it has in mind to achieve its targets. What bothers me is haw targets are to be met when one compares in the Main and Development Estimates FY 76 and FY 77 that staff have been reduced by 5.4% and EOM and OOE increased by a mere 6% and 3% respectively. In addition, there is no provision in the Development Estimates.”
“Sir, one of the methods to ensure a faster transfer of technology would be to prepare our workers adequately for this transfer. I am just wondering whether such steps are being taken, and if so what are these steps?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, what steps are being taken by the Economic Development Board to ensure the smooth and effective transfer of technology to our Singapore workers? Our industrialisation programme is more than 10 years old and to-date the technology transfer is still far below that expected. What are the problems preventing a faster and more effective transfer of technology? Are we facing a selfish attitude of those that possess higher technology and grudge passing this on to our workers? This transfer of technology is without a doubt essential for our country and its workers.”