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.”
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“Sir, with that assurance I have Hobson's choice but to beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“That is because the Minister for the Environment is in that constituency”
“No modifications of these machines have been considered to enable them to service the more squalid areas. Greater efforts are necessary to ensure that these congested areas that face greater health and fire risks are kept clean. This will, of course, necessitate greater vigilance by the Ministry. I am not suggesting a "Keep the Singapore kampongs and squatter areas clean" campaign. Perish the thought. As I said earlier, Sir, the "Keep Singapore Clean" campaign sufficed. I am only asking for an active follow-up to that very successful campaign by the Ministry of Health nine years ago. Must I enumerate the ills the community will suffer if this is not done in double quick time? Sanitary refuse disposal and a clean environment are essential to community health. Refuse has been shown to be important as a breeding ground and food source for rats - not rat-catchers - flies and other potential carriers of diseases of man. Rubbish has also been found to be a significant factor in the incidence of building fires.”
“Yes, you have guessed it. It is none other than the Ministry of the Environment. The Ministry seems satisfied to remain status quo. Oddly enough, my complaint may appear unwarranted as not only Singaporeans but also tourists still sing praises of a clean and green Singapore. Everyone notices the clean streets and the greenery lining them, and many comparisons are made when Singaporeans return from overseas and, of course, when tourists visit us. The Ministry of Health's campaign started off with calculated plans to achieve an objective which it did with a great impact. The methodology was to start off cleaning the main streets and the thoroughfares which almost everyone use, through exhortation, campaigns and then legislation to punish the recalcitrants. Then efforts were shifted to the side-streets with much success. So today we see the clean and green environment whenever we drive or bus down main streets or into side-streets. Then, of course, tragedy struck. The Ministry of the Environment was formed. There was a standstill. Yes, the main streets and side-streets were kept spick and span but nothing beyond that; for a few people - except residents and occasional visitors and, of course, frequent visits to the area by MPs, never VIPs - travel beyond these streets into the kampongs and squatter areas. Members of the House who are unfortunate enough to suffer the same fate - my constituents and I suffer - due to lack of interest shown by the Ministry of the Environment on squatter areas and kampongs will most certainly need no further illustration. The new-tangled machinery imported by the Ministry to cater to the cleaning of only main streets further illustrates lack of interest to try to beautify our kampongs and squatter areas.”
“Sir, I beg to move. That the sum to be allocated for Head U be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead AAA 1004.* (* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Ho Kah Leong ). The "Keep Singapore Clean" campaign initiated by the Ministry of Health in 1968 has lost its momentum and has come to a grinding halt almost immediately after the responsibility of keeping our country clean was taken over by a new Ministry. An hon. Member: The Ministry of the Environment.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, would the Minister not like to see the consumers getting a cheaper price for their sugar, and this could be done by getting, say. the NTUC Welcome to import sugar from overseas?”
“A further supplementary question. Mr Speaker, Sir, what will be the effect on the price of sugar in Singapore as a result of the ban on saccharine in the United States?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask supplementary questions? First, why did we not attempt to re-negotiate the agreement very much earlier when we knew that world prices were dropping? Second, we had a price escalation clause. Why did we not negotiate for a price reduction clause? Third, I believe Malaysia retails their sugar at 65 cents a kati and we have the same sort of contract with the countries mentioned by the Hon. Minister. Why is that so? Why are we retailing our sugar at 75 cents a kati? Fourth, why did we not have the foresight to realise that the sugar prices could have dipped and so have a shorter term instead of that long-term contract?”
“Sir, does the Hon. Minister not realise that accidents do not happen? They are caused. I am sure the Member for Kampong Chai Chee will agree with me. So if they are caused, something can be done about them. I do not see why we have to tolerate it.”
“Sir, from his answer the Senior Parliamentary Secretary has grasped the problem, but I hope that he can filter this down to his Factory Inspectorate. I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $9,783,950 for Head N ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $799,000 for Head N ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head Q -”
“statistics will reflect the safety or otherwise of the working environment and enable Government, employers and workers to put to use tripartitism that exists in most working places towards ensuring a safer working environment. Whilst not wanting to be too technical for the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Labour. I must say that statistics is an important arm to assist in reducing the number of accidents in working places. For the past years the Ministry has produced monthly statistics which are made available to employers, trade unions and workers, and any one interested in seeing accident incidence rates dip. Unfortunately, the Ministry has decided to sweep the dust under the carpet, so to speak. It stopped issuing monthly reports containing statistics. No, I am not asking for the American National Standard statistics under Z 16.1. Gross statistics alone will be sufficient and it will not entail too many able-bodied men from the Ministry of Labour to work out these statistics so that people like us and others, who are interested in ensuring that workers do not end up maimed or dead will be able to come together and Sort out the problem that we face either in the factories or in building sites to ensure that accident incidence rates have actually dipped. I feel that statutory safety committees - it is a good thing it has been introduced into the law - will be able to utilise these statistics for the benefit of workers who would not otherwise have been injured. Unless they know the working environment, know the conditions that exist. know the hazards that exist and once these hazards have been spotted, they can control them and prevent their recurrence.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head N be reduced by the whole sum in respect of subhead AHA 1101. Before I fire the first salvo, Sir, at the Factory Inspectorate, may I be permitted to give them a bouquet where the shipbuilding and repairing industries in Singapore are concerned. Accident statistics have dropped tremendously in this area, and I believe that it is because of the good work of the Factory Inspectorate. But I must hasten to add that without the assistance of very able personnel from outside the Factory Inspectorate, such a record might not have been possible. Where the building industry is concerned, I am afraid that the Factory Inspectorate has been quite fast asleep. Accident statistics have been hovering above 600 and shot up last year, close to 700. Fatalities have been over the 30 mark - 34 in 1974, 34 in 1975 and 32 in 1976. I believe the Factory Inspectorate has not grasped the problems in the building construction industry. It is something intricate, something that they will need to go deeper into, maybe seek help from outside as they have done in order to contain the accident rate in the shipbuilding and repairing industry. I am hoping that the hon. Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Labour will be able to give this House some concrete measures planned by the Factory Inspectorate to ensure that this condition will not be repeated when we meet again this time next year and debate as to whether the Factory Inspectorate should receive the sum as allocated in the Main and Development Estimates. 3.30 p.m. Sir, let me touch on another point. While agreeing with the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Labour that knowledge of accident statistics alone cannot alleviate the accident incidence and severity rates.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, that is excellent. I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I notice that the Industrial Health Unit, now called the Industrial Health Department, is still monitoring dust levels in granite quarries. So could they make recommendations to the correct Ministry concerned?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head N be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead AGA 1101. Mr Speaker, Sir, as the Senior Parliamentary Secretary has answered most of the questions which I had intended to raise under subhead AGA 1101, I propose therefore to touch on just one point. According to the 1975 Annual Report of the Ministry of Labour, 15 out of 25 granite quarries have installed permanent dust control measures. What steps are being taken to ensure that the 10 other granite quarries introduce these permanent dust control measures?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Can the Parliamentary Secretary cut it short?”
“Sir, three points of clarification. First, the Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Labour stated that the noise level of 90 decibels was considered in the United States and after some discussion they decided not to belabour this particular problem due to its cost. But I do believe that noise levels are not the only ones to be considered but also exposure time. Maybe the Senior Parliamentary Secretary had just missed It out inadvertently. I believe it is six hours. On the second point with regard to noise-induced deafness, the quantum of compensation paid out has not been answered by the Parliamentary Secretary. He mentioned about 2,000-plus workers were screened by the audiometric testing facilities at the Ministry. I believe there are 24,000 workers in about 400 factories with high noise levels. How does the Ministry intend to cover all these. And when they do so, will the levels of noise-induced deafness and the quantum of compensation shoot up to a fantastic level that could frighten us? 3.00 p.m.”
“But as the 1976 annual report is not available (I do not know whether it is still being printed or being prepared), I would like to know the latest figures of compensation paid out and the number of cases concerned, separately, in respect of these two diseases, since they were included in the Schedule to the Workmen's Compensation Act as compensable diseases. Could the Minister also enlighten the House whether these workers obtained alternative employment or are still employed in the same establishment where they contracted the diseases? If they are still employed by the same employer, are they in the same jobs as they were prior to contracting these diseases?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head N be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead ADA 1101*. (* The same amendment also stood in the name of Dr Ong Leong Boon.) In 1975 13,966 accidents were reported to the Workmen's Compensation Section. Of these, 3,278 were reported under the new Act which came into force in that year. When the Workmen's Compensation Act of 1971 was repealed and the 1975 Act came into being, among other things, the new Act included industrial dermatitis and noise-induced deafness as compensable diseases. This was in line with the Ministry's policy to continue in its effort to improve the health and welfare of workers and to bring the legislation in line with the modern working environment - that utilises chemicals and other irritants that can cause serious skin ailments if workers are not protected against them through barrier creams or appropriate gloves. In addition the high noise levels in certain manufacturing sectors could probably deafen workers if they are not adequately protected with ear protection. Since the introduction of this legislation, Sir, I believe that some cases of industrial dermatitis and noise-induced deafness must have been compensated. The latest Ministry of Labour annual report. 1975, does not carry any figures of compensation paid out for these two compensable diseases. Perhaps it is too early for such cases to have emerged, as the law was only then three months' old.”
“Sir, is it the policy not to give work permits for shop assistants? Singaporeans normally do not like to be shop assistants.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, just on a point of clarification. Does the Minister of State not realise that even with an increased quantum of wages for certain jobs, Singaporeans still shun away from these jobs? The work establishments cannot carry on without these personnel who are necessary.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I crave your indulgence. May I bring up matters under a different subhead AHA 1101 of which I have given notice, as they are related?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, sometime in October last year it was reported that more than 30 people died in the United States of America of heart or lung diseases after receiving swine-flu vaccination. Could the House be enlightened as to whether the Ministry of Health did purchase such vaccine? If so, at what cost, and whether the vaccine was used and its effect. How long will this vaccine retain its potency if kept unused? And in the light of what took place in the United States, will the Ministry use the vaccine at all? If not, what does it propose to do with the stock? 4.15 p.m.”
“Sir, tuberculosis is an infectious disease common to man and certain animals. In 1960 the PAP Government initiated the programme to ensure that the incidence level of this disease was suppressed. The Tuberculosis Control Unit was set up aiming at, among other things, active case-finding and adequate treatment for all tuberculosis victims discovered and immunisation of all children. The BCG vaccination programme covers over 90% of all infants in Singapore. This is indeed a laudable achievement. However, Sir, from the figures of the 1975 Annual Report of the Ministry of Health on specified notifiable diseases, of which tuberculosis is one, there is no significant drop in the number of tuberculosis notifications over the last six years. In 1971, 3,407 cases were notified; 1972, 3,109; 1973, 3,037; 1974, 3,451; and 1975, 3,097. They have been hovering on the 3,000-plus mark, and one wonders why such a situation exists when in addition to the Tuberculosis Control Unit we have SATA. What is the role of SATA in relation to the Tuberculosis Control Unit? Is SATA performing as well as to be expected? For that matter, is the Tuberculosis Control Unit performing an admirable task? The figures speak for themselves, Sir, What is most worrying, Sir, is the fact that most employers utilise SATA to check the pulmonary condition of their workers and SATA. I believe, does not go into the treatment of tuberculosis. How many cases of active pulmonary lesions have been referred by SATA to the Tuberculosis Control Unit for treatment? What is SATA's grant from Government, and are we getting the best from SATA? These are bothersome questions that must be answered. I hope some active and positive steps will be taken to ensure a drastic drop in the Tuberculosis figures in the near future.”
“I am wondering whether or not this is contradictory to the Addendum to the Presidential Address, or is there some rational explanation as to the state of affairs indicated in the Main and Development Estimates for the financial year 1st April, 1977 to 31st March, 1978, under Head K, Ministry of Defence.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, permit me to refer to the Addendum to the Presidential Address at the opening of the First Session of the Fourth Parliament on Tuesday, the 8th of last month. I am referring, in particular, to the submission of the Ministry of Defence standing in the name of the Minister of Defence. Without a doubt. Sir, the citizens of Singapore accept national service as a necessary duty of the young, and they proved this by returning the PAP to power by an overwhelming majority at the general elections of December 1976. The Addendum on Defence stressed this point, and I quote [Hansard, Vol. 36, Col. 21] 'However, since our defence forces have to import nearly all their weapons and equipment, the rising prices of these products impose a severe financial burden. It is therefore necessary to exercise the utmost economy in defence expenditure..' A committee of Finance and Defence Ministries' officials was appointed in November 1976 to keep watch over expenditure and prune it. The Addendum carries on, and I again quote: `It will certainly be necessary to trim down manpower establishments and reduce or even abolish vocations which do not contribute much to the combat efficiency of army units.' It is, therefore, surprising, Sir, to notice that this pruning down of expenditure results in an increase over FY 76 by 6.7% on Manpower Expenditure and by 22.9% on Other Operating Expenditure. This amounts to a total increase of 22.5% in FV 77 when compared to FY 76. In addition, the Development Estimates show an increase of 16.4% over FY 76. If I may refresh the memory of this House, an increase of only 25.4% over FV 75 was tabled for approval about this time last year.”
“Sir, does not the Minister realise that this will cause enormous inconvenience for the residents in that area? What plans has he got to alleviate this inconvenience.”
“Sir, just to clarify a point, I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State whether he realises that in Lorong 8, for instance, the turfed area has a boundary with barbed wire fencing running beside a pathway. At night this area is not well lit, and there is the danger that children might accidentally get cut by these barbed wires. Something has to be done. Could we have a positive answer on this, please?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, does the hon. Minister realise that the barbed wires could cause serious injury to children, especially at night when certain areas are not lit?”
“This situation will always exist in order that a competitive labour market can function to the benefit of both workers and employers. Many of our workers who are not choosy and who realise that a bird in hand is worth more than two in the bush, accept jobs that they were neither educated for nor trained for. After such time, when a suitable job, commensurate with his training comes along, should he not be at liberty to change jobs? There are many other legitimate reasons for changing jobs, such as an unreasonable and tyrannical employer who makes life miserable for employees. Such circumstances do not warrant the penalty of a loss in NWC wage increase recommendations, I must therefore stress that Government should take heed not to upset the labour market by applying constraints on the individual's freedom to choose his own employment and employer. After all, does not the employer have the right to hire and fire? So why should not the worker also have the right to opt in or opt out? An hon. Member: Hear, hear! 3.47 p.m.”
“Employers have even lowered salary and fringe benefits to workers the moment they are organised in order to hit back at trade unions, If there is to be a continuation of co-operation among Government, unions and employers to ensure a united contribution to economic growth by the promotion of a stable and peaceful industrial relations climate, immediate steps must be taken to ensure that employers do not act arbitrarily. Sir, job-hopping is not a symptomatic cure sought by workers. It is also not a frivolity they are fond of indulging in. Let us look at the reasons for job-hopping before we consider penalising job-hoppers by reducing their share of the NWC wage increase recommended. If the reasons for job-hopping are justified, I do not understand why these workers should be penalised. Sir, the first reason that comes to mind for workers who job-hop in Singapore is distance from home to place of work. With the rapid building of HDB flats and many workers wanting to live in them, the tendency for them to move house is almost certain. In addition, many of our workers are young and earn small wages. They usually live with their parents. With greater number of people moving into HDB flats due to resettlement and the need for them to improve their living conditions, they will have to move away from their former abodes which in most cases are close to their working places. In addition, when they marry, they normally make their own home, which means movement of both husband and wife from their former abodes. The next reason is almost always due to inadequate wages. One cannot penalise a worker who goes for another job that pays more. After all, he is willing to give his best and why should he not receive his worth?”
“I had occasion to take up a case of a bed-ridden paralytic Constituent who lived with his unemployed, old and sick wife. Each month, she had to travel a good five miles from Jalan Potong Pasir to collect her husband's allowance from the Social Welfare Department. This meant a one-mile trudge to the bus-stop from the kampong, an unnecessary waste of bus-fare, a long wait at the Social Welfare Department and the tiresome journey back home. All the while, her helpless husband lay on his back without her care, awaiting her return. Most certainly, the authorities concerned could quite easily have saved her the strain and cost by making available at her house the public assistance due to them. To make matters worse, when she was admitted to hospital for an operation, the cost of hospitalisation was deducted from the public assistance allowance leaving them a mere $20 to survive for the month. This inhuman practice turns assistance into cruelty. There surely must be many other such cases which merit immediate attention. Sir, the real incentive to labour organisation is the control of the work environment, stemming from the realisation that control over the conditions of employment can be achieved only by workers who become organised and who act collectively. Hence, trade unions are the essential instrument for the achievement of collective freedom, which is itself the prerequisite for the protection and the advancement of the individual worker. Throughout their history trade unions have had to battle against powerful enemies, not the least of which has been the law. The law seems to favour employers, and as such, the advantage they take against trade unions leaves much to be desired.”
“Before judgment can be made about the magnitude of the occupational disability problem, aggregate data on the number of injuries and deaths must be standardised. To draw comparisons between industries and plants or even between departments in a plant or factory, such standardised data would be of tremendous positive value in preventive action. Standardised accident frequency and severity rates therefore should be a part of the responsibility of statutory Safety Committees. Sir, registered with the Social Welfare Department are more than 10,000 handicapped or disabled persons. By modest estimates, there could be as many that are not registered. Their disablement is congenital or as a result of the toll taken by industrialisation. Of those registered, more than 4,000 are in the employable age-range. A quota scheme for the employment of disabled persons is necessary. The scheme has to be strictly enforced if it is to be successful and employers should be required to make quarterly returns indicating the percentage of disabled persons employed. Dis-incentives could perhaps be introduced to ensure compliance with the quota scheme. Sir, those that are not employable should be given realistic public assistance, This would also include the aged. It is right not to encourage misuse of public assistance by increasing its quantum to such an extent as to make it attractive enough for citizens to cease supporting their aged or disabled. Incentives introduced to ensure such support could be introduced. But where such incentives cannot benefit those who support the aged and disabled, the quantum of public assistance must be realistic, Humane treatment by civil servants of those receiving public assistance is essential.”
“In Singapore, however, although there was generally little increase in industrial activity, in the influx of new workers, etc, the percentage of accidents, as I have said earlier, has increased tremendously. However, Mr Speaker, Sir, attitudes have yet to be changed. Employers show little interest in implementing safe working methods, self-regulatory systems, and in providing satisfactory safety apparel and a safe working environment, with machines regularly maintained and guarded. Workers also lack safety consciousness, sometimes disobey safety rules and regulations and fail to put on personal protective equipment while on the job. In addition, the enforcement machinery lacks adequate strength in numbers, discipline and dedication. Inspections at factories and pressure vessels seldom result in severe action being taken for contraventions of legislation. Similarly, seldom are effective recommendations made to alleviate common ailments such as poor house-keeping and misuse or lack of safety appliances which could quite easily result in accidents. Sir, one of the important techniques of accident prevention is the analysis of accidents to determine their underlying causes so that positive action can be taken to prevent recurrence. The American Standards Association provides a procedure for selecting, classifying and summarising the fundamental factors in accidents. The Annual Report of the Ministry of Labour lacks vision in its statistical data and leaves little room for employers and workers to pin-point the areas that need greatest vigilance. In addition, it must to some extent handicap the Factory Inspectorate in its enforcement and accident prevention duties.”
“But, insufficient has been done and our workers are paying the penalty. One can hardly blame workers on ships to appreciate the dangers of gas in the ships' holds and of the fires that can be generated from a spark from their shoes, when the dangers have not been explained Our workers are simple-minded people who concentrate on the job and on productivity, and it is up to the employers and the Government to ensure that they are given protection from the dangers of modern industry and chemistry. It will be recalled that with the British pullout, because it posed a major problem, it received serious attention, and among other things, training schemes were devised to retrain those who lost their jobs, to fit them for other work, But because industrialisation has gone on quietly and steadily in Singapore, the re-training of our workers, to enable them to cope with new methods of production, with new forms of machinery, has received scant attention. Safety measures have similarly not attracted sufficient scrutiny. In 1975, the total percentage increase in the number of accidents over 1974 was an alarming 18.8%. Although for the same period the number of fatalities dropped, the position is still not under control. The 1976 statistics is still to be made available by the Ministry of Labour, but as I understand, there is still a marked increase in the total number of accidents last year. In the United States in 1959, the long-term trend of declining accident rates was reversed with an increase in industrial activity, influx of new workers and a more rapid introduction of new processes and activities. Legislation was immediately updated and comprehensively provides for measures for the prevention of industrial accidents.”
“In the process, new forms of machinery, new forms of production, new forms of construction have been introduced in our Republic. They have brought with them attendant hazards for the workers - the man who operates the machines, the man who services and repairs the ships, the man who works on high-rise buildings and so on. For example, about 15 years ago, there were hardly any high-rise buildings. Construction was then quite simple. Wooden scaffoldings were adequate for construction work. Steel girders seldom had to be hauled up to high places. Today, we have 30- to 40- storey buildings springing up all over the Island and wooden scaffolding is quite inadequate. Metal scaffoldings are necessary as steel girders have to be hauled to very high places. The whole concept of construction has changed and brought with it dangers to the workforce. But it is most regrettable that very little has been done to retrain our workers who were used to the former methods of construction to cope with the new situation. Old habits die hard and this has resulted in a number of serious accidents and deaths. There has clearly been an omission on somebody's part to retrain our workers for the new situations. Similarly, Mr Speaker, Sir, Government legislation has been very slow in catering for the new developments. It is not as if the Ministries concerned were unaware of the hazards facing workmen in the building trade as a result of high-rise development. They must have observed the patterns in countries with high-rise buildings before us. Similarly, in factories the workers are faced with a whole range of threats to life and limb from industrial machines. The safety measures required in the factories can easily be adapted to our needs by observing what goes on in the factories abroad.”
“In this game of exploiting the gullibility of consumers, I must reiterate that our RTS is where the shoe pinches. Our commercial television service appears to be guided only by the amount of revenue that advertisements bring in and is not concerned with the type of advertisements. This matter. I must add, has been mentioned in this House before and seems to have fallen on deaf ears. For example, although the Government has introduced a ban on tobacco and cigarette advertisements and discourages smoking, our television commercial service quite happily advertises cigarette lighters, which is a product ancillary to smoking. And, of course, there are other misleading advertisements, very skilfully portraying unnecessary products, such as expensive imported apparel, etc., with jingles to promote their sales. Sir, the Addendum on the Ministry of Finance indicates that: `Singaporeans can enjoy an increasingly higher standard of living because we can pay for our needs in food, housing, education and health and for more and better goods and services` This is an encouraging assurance which will be welcomed by all. The increase in our GDP, which makes possible a higher standard of living and a better life, represents the sum total of the output of all in our Republic. The largest contributor to our GDP is the industrial sector and we should therefore not forget that the productivity of the industrial sector represents ultimately the productivity of the workers. It should also be remembered as we enjoy the fruits of our industry, that our industrial progress, has, because of certain omissions taken an undue toll of human suffering in mangled limbs and lives. Remedial action is called for immediately. Sir, Singapore developed an industrial economy during the past 17 years.”
“Indulgence in wasteful spending can be clearly seen in the market places, shopping complexes, restaurants and so on. Only last Sunday, one of our local newspapers exposed the gullibility of Singaporeans who, because of a desire to be up-to-date and fashion-conscious, have succumbed to advertising expertise and high-pressure salesmanship, and beguiled into purchasing locally-made jeans and jackets, which are exported, labelled with a foreign trade mark, re-exported to Singapore and sold at prices about five to six times the original cost of production in our Singapore factories. Our own mass media, especially our television, has in no small measure contributed to this unnecessary spending and wasteful habits among our citizens. We seem to be succumbing to the phenomenon common in developing countries, where the imported product acquires snob value, mainly because it costs more and partly because people wish to ape the life in the West, in the mistaken belief that the West are the trendsetters of fashion with a sophisticated way of life. It is evident that Singaporeans, falling prey to high-pressure salesmanship and advertising, are squandering their hard-earned money by indulging in wasteful habits. If we are not careful and our people not warned, we could be completely misled and cheated. I read recently an account of the exploits of two enterprising young businessmen who decided to take advantage of the American consumers gullibility. Realising that they could sell anything to Americans, if the goods were packaged well and attractively, they made a fortune by selling 450 gms of plain earth for $25.00. They sold them as potting soil for plants, in chic little bags.”
“We must not be misled by the peace and tranquillity enjoyed by all in Singapore, which has only been made possible by the firm measures taken during the past years. We are only a few miles away from the hot-bed of terrorist activities and our people must be warned and constantly reminded of the speed with which the communists can mount acts of terrorism against us as they have done in the neighbouring states of Thailand and Malaysia. We must be on our guard at all times and never be lulled into a false sense of security. Otherwise, all that we have worked for, all that our citizens have striven for, all that they have built over the last 17 years will be destroyed by a communist take-over. We have only to take note of what has happened in Cambodia after the communist take-over and the recent acts of violence on the Thai border, to realise the sort of treatment that will be meted out to our people if we are not vigilant and allow communist infiltration. I am, therefore, grateful to the prominence and emphasis given to the need of security in the Presidential Address. Sir, in sharp contrast to the optimistic tenor of the President's Speech in 1972, we have now been warned to prepare for a slower growth rate and have been advised to adjust our spending habits accordingly both as a Government and as individuals. The Government's decision to economise in governmental expenditure became noticeable during the past year. It is a matter of regret, however, that Singaporeans have not learnt to similarly restrain their spending habits. In fact, one could say that spending habits are still indifferent and reckless, tending towards adoption of Western contemporary life styles, which do no good to our citizens and our country.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, since the opening of the Third Parliament in October 1972, international developments have had serious repercussions on Singapore, and today Singapore and the Southeast Asian region are facing a whole range of new problems. In 1972, the President's Speech and Addenda indicated optimism, with expectations of continued economic growth and better lives for our citizens. We were then enjoying a mini-boom and the Ministry of Finance, indicating continued economic growth, was able to assure us that there was no need for any major increases in taxation or revenue collection. However, that prediction and euphoria did not last long. We were overtaken by circumstances beyond our control by inflation, increases in the price of oil and international economic depression, resulting in lower economic growth, the threat of unemployment and social insecurity. In spite of the fact that the world in general has been able to cast off the shackles of stagflation and the future looks brighter than it did two years ago, new problems, that may rock the very foundations of democratic societies in this region, are foreseeable, and we have to be firm in our resolve to resist and repel attempts to undermine and destroy our independence, our way of life and our security. Since the communist victory in Indochina, the democratic governments of neighbouring countries have been threatened overtly and covertly by external aggression and internal insurgencies, and with physical and moral support to communist terrorists within. We in Singapore have to be ever vigilant; there must be no let-up in our internal security measures.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in rising to support the Motion of thanks to the President, moved by the hon. Member for Ulu Pandan, I am also expressing the sentiments of the community leaders and constituents in Potong Pasir, who so overwhelmingly voted for the People's Action Party at the recent election. I would also like to take this opportunity to extend to you, Sir, my congratulations for being re-elected Speaker. The unanimity of the House in your re-election is a clear reflection of the excellent manner in which you have always conducted the affairs of the House. Our meeting, Sir, in this Fourth Parliament is undoubtedly an occasion of gratitude for the total victory of the People's Action Party at the polls and of satisfaction that our policies have once again been endorsed by the electorate. Our happiness, however, has been diminished by the tragic loss of the Member for Radin Mas, who in the summer of his life, has left vacant his seat in the House. His voice, as I remember, resounded vigorously in and out of Parliament, many a time, for the cause of his constituents and the workers of Singapore. As an hon. Member and a trade unionist, he worked unselfishly and unstintingly to improve the standard of living and quality of life of those under his charge, despite the fact that his tired and sick body could no longer take the pressures necessitated by his dedicated life. He spent the evening before he died - he passed away in the small hours of the morning - in his constituency, giving away Chinese New Year ang pows to those in less fortunate circumstances, I will miss him much, in and out of the House, as I am sure many will.”
“Sir, could the Minister enlighten us on whether the Concorde will be allowed to commercially use the Paya Lebar and Changi Airports?”
“Sir, has the Ministry of National Development been consulted to provide flood relief?”
“Sir, can the Hon. Minister tell us whether the Traffic Police Department has liaised with the Ministry of National Development and Communications, to ensure that the flood-prone areas could be relieved? In other words, to carry out some flood relief projects and so on.”
“Sir, can the Minister tell us whether the Traffic Police, together with the relevant departments, have taken any corrective action to ensure that these flood-prone areas are relieved, so that there will not be any need for avoidance of these areas during floods by the people but rather having the situation corrected?”
“Sir, can the Minister tell us why the Traffic Police did not react fast enough to lessen hardship for' the people?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Minister tell us how profitable this method of cultivation is when compared with the normal method?”
“These three markets are only a quarter of a mile away from the housing estate. In addition, a new market-cum-food centre with 135 stalls has been completed recently by the HDB at Telok Blangah Rise about half a mile away from the housing estate. In view of all these facilities and the small population in the estate, an additional site for hawkers is not required. The 21 hawkers at Silat Square together with 14 other hawkers in the vicinity have been given stalls in the Telok Blangah Rise Market on 1st May, 1976, in accordance with the policy to resite hawkers in open spaces within markets and food centres.”
“Part of this electricity will be used by the plant itself and the surplus power sold to the Public Utilities Board. The plant will also have facilities to recover ferrous metal from the refuse. Swamp land for dumping of refuse is scarce; the incinerator will reduce the volume of refuse it burns by 90% and is the best way of disposing the growing volume of refuse. At present about 2.000 tonnes of refuse is disposed of at our dumping grounds. This quantity is expected to increase to 2,300 tonnes a day in 1979 when the incineration plant is commissioned. The plant will be able to burn 1,200 tonnes of refuse a day, and the rest will continue to be disposed of at the two existing dumping grounds at Tampines and Lim Chu Kang. The dumping ground at Tampines is provided with proper earth bunds to prevent solid waste from going into the Serangoon River. The refuse is covered each day with earth to minimise pollution. As such the dumping ground should not have too serious an effect on the marine life in the river. HAWKER SITE AT SILAT SQUARE 10. Mr P. Govindaswamy asked the Minister for Law and the Environment whether it is proposed to provide a hawker site in the Silat Square area in place of the previous hawker site which had been converted into a car park. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment (Mr Chor Yeok Eng) (for the Minister for Law and the Environment)(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, as the Member for Anson is doubtless aware. Kampong Silat Housing Estate has only 446 housing units. There are two Housing and Development Board markets, namely. Kim Tian Road Market with 164 stalls and Jalan Bukit Merah Market with 138 stalls and a private market with 71 stalls at Nelson Road.”