J.F. Conceicao
Singapore
“Sir, first of all, I would like to express my agreement with the expression of sympathy, almost sorrow, expressed in this House for those people living in the older estates, especially in the one-room flats. I merely rise to seek some information.”
“Sir, I am very gratified that the Senior Minister of State will convey my sentiments to the Board. I think the matter is of great importance that more and more people are brought to the realisation, as I have said, of their past. And it is not just a question of a small number of people working on the Board.”
“I take the point, Sir. And I also take the point of his reference to the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board. This is the whole point. It is not to the tourists that we want to give an impression of what Singapore is. It is our people that we want to give the impression to, of what Singapore is and how they are related to Singapore.”
“(v) What is the actual extent of the Centre's contribution towards the solution of the drug problem in the Republic? (vi) Are there plans to shift the present Centre somewhere else in a better and more conducive environment for such rehabilitation work to be carried out?”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head U be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead CBA 1101. I would just like to reflect a problem which has repeatedly been brought to my attention by my constituents. The drainage in the Tanjong Katong/Mountbatten Road as well as Poole Road, Parkstone Road, Goodman Road area is poor.”
“Sir, I suppose I shall have to do with the Minister's sympathy. With that I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting - (7) That the sum to be allocated for Head U be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead BGA 8401.”
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“(6) That the sum to be allocated for Head Q be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead FAA 1111. Mr Ho Kah Leong: (7) That the sum to be allocated for Head Q be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead AAA 2030.”
“Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn,”
“Furthermore, in the present search for talent that is going on among administrative officers, here again those in Broadcasting in the producer/controller category are left out because they do not happen to be classified as administrative officers. In view of such circumstances steps should be taken to provide adequate incentives for people who. because of the intrinsic interest the job holds for them offer good service but feel at the same time left out of recognition.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head Q be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead CAA 1107*. (* The same amendment also stood in hte names of Messrs. Hwang Soo Jin, P. Govindaswamy, Ch'ng Jit Koon) I would like to speak here. Sir, just hopefully to help the Minister get further support for the work that he is doing in respect of the Department of Broadcasting. In line with the necessity to stimulate greater interest in cultural matters, it is obviously necessary to give greater strength to Broadcasting. Therefore, we need to give every encouragement and incentive to the staff to express commitment and dedication to the realisation of whatever cultural policy is decided. Presently certain categories of staff who are critical to good production effort seem to be excluded from present incentive schemes. This is a condition that prevails also in other departments besides the Department of Broadcasting, but I am interested in Broadcasting in this case. We have heard of schemes like merit increment schemes established in favour of people with professional qualifications like accountants, architects, engineers, and so on. In `The some amendment also stood in the names of Messrs. Hwang Soo Jin, P. Govindaswamy, cling Jit Koon and Dr Ong Leong Boon. Broadcasting, the engineers would benefit from such schemes. However, categories of staff like producers, controllers, executive producers and people in the same salary code, as those with professional qualifications, although they might merit recognition through increment, will not qualify. At the same time also, people with professional qualifications can be promoted beyond establishment strength but not so in the case of producers and controllers.”
“After listening to the Minister. I would like to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Yeo Choo Kok - (2) That the sum to be allocated for Head Q be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead AAA 1105.”
“I am sorry. That is water. There you are! I am afraid if that reflects my knowledge of culture, then I stand very very disgraced indeed. But we can quantify culture. The quantification is in the same direction that the economists quantify economic development - how many television sets you have, how many cars you have, how many jobs have been created, how many houses, what standard of living. I think we can quantify culture in that respect --how many agencies are there for the promotion of culture, how many people go and attend concerts, what is the spread of the effect of the work that the Ministry has done, how many people watch such and such television programmes. So I think we can quantify. The Ministry of Finance officials. the Budget people, they can be asked. They are the experts to analyse it, the systems or that kind of thing. So he can ask them to help in the quantification. As the Hon. Member for Ulu Pandan has said, if on a cooperative basis, the Minister can seek some form of tangible policy to say that we can go one step further, then this time next year I think we can make the quantification. If the Minister can come up with a programme then I am sure, as everybody has said, we can give him support for a greater allocation of funds for cultural promotion. Some Hon. Members: Hear, hear! 4.00 p.m.”
“Of course, if we want to appreciate a painting, then we get into several difficulties on the aesthetic side. Take a modern painting, for example. Personally, I must confess my complete ignorance about what are its aesthetic features. It looks to me as though we can get a donkey and have a brush for his tail and he can go round swinging his tail - put it on to a piece of canvas and we can get a fine piece of modern art, probably. I do not know. But on this point, certainly we cannot say what culture really means. But I would like to take the Minister's resemblance of culture to air, He says "Culture cannot be quantified. It is just like air and water around us." But our scientists will tell him that he can quantify air to some extent. We can have so many cubic centimetres of air. I am not sure but I think air is H 20, or something like that. Some Hon. Members: No. [Laughter]”
“Sir, if I may just be allowed to say a few words before I withdraw the amendment. I think it is very clear, Mr Speaker, Sir, that the Minister is himself very conscious of the fact that his Ministry, from the economic sense, is not considered worthy of receiving more grants from the Ministry of Finance. It is our job here to get greater support for the work that he is doing, and I think the consensus is quite clear that we want him to get this support. Sir, if I may be allowed just to go on and pick up one or two points that the Minister has made in order to help towards giving the Ministry of Finance an idea that we could get more money for cultural support. The Minister has said that cultural activity will have its place in society and the time is when society has overcome certain financial and economic problems. I am sure the Minister must be aware of the theory of a well-known psychologist, Abraham Maslow, who says that people do not want to go above a certain level of needs unless a previous level of needs has been satisfactorily attained. In our society, I think we have come to a certain reasonable satisfaction generally of our needs so that I think it is time that we attended to cultural matters. I think this is the point .-- that it does not require very much quantification or statistics, which is a viewpoint that many people can reasonably accept. And it is because of this viewpoint that many Members here reflected the view that we should get more money for the Minister to promote cultural activities. The principal point the Minister has brought up about which I cannot fully agree with him but which he may differ with me over this view, of course, is about the question of the abstractness of the notion of culture.”
“Perhaps our organisation has not arrived at a standard when we can produce programmes like Panorama and 24 Hours that I have noticed, and I am sure the Minister has himself noticed, on BBC and British Television, but we should certainly try to encourage a more particular appreciation of the larger world around us where our young people are concerned.”
“Yes, we will come to Pao Piao. Otherwise, we do not seem to be able to break through beyond insular situations when one ethnic group is watching programmes only in its own language. Let me make it plain that it is good that entertainment be provided for Tamils to watch Tamil cinema and Malays to watch Pesta Ria and Chinese to watch Pao Piao, but we want something in addition to this where their sights are taken beyond their own cultural boundaries. I hope that the Minister will not retort like he did the last time when I said the same thing, hsin p'ing, chit, chiu new bottles, old wine. I hope I got the pronunciation right. Culture is a laborious process of growth and points have to be reiterated in order to arouse adequate attention, especially as adequate attention does not seem to have been aroused previously. If I may make one last point that relates to our young people, we should think of providing them with more opportunities to continue the cultural interest they have developed in schools which have been encouraged by the Ministry of Education's Extra-Curricular Activities programmes, youth festivals, band competitions, and so on. I have also mentioned the view held by some young people themselves that not enough is done to set the sights of our young people beyond their immediate surroundings. In this connection, perhaps TV could produce programmes on ASEAN problems, matters, background and other regional themes, gradually extending the focus in a more global direction. We, of course, have Newsreel but the shots of Newsreel comprise mere flashes and there is no depth analysis of events that take place around us. We have thought and talked about the necessity to carry the attention of our young people beyond their immediate preoccupations.”
“An exceptional, important role as everybody knows is that played by broadcasting: perhaps, especially, by TV in respect of giving expression to cultural policies. In this regard, for further contribution to a sense of belonging, to a consciousness of community. TV has to turn to encouraging greater understanding among our citizens of one another's cultural forms. People have to be stimulated into a more heightened awareness of, and interest in the various characteristic forms of cultural expression. And the stimulus can be provided by RTS if it sets its mind to it and if it gets the support; if it is the policy to require it to do this kind of thing. However, just as an illustration, what is the position at present in terms of programmes that are viewed by a mixed viewership, by a multi-lingual viewership, by a viewership composed of audiences from the different language streams at the same time? I am just trying to illustrate a certain condition in our society. The programmes that get a multi-lingual viewership are the imported programmes, especially in English and mainly in the crime and violence. entertainment, and full-length film categories. And these programmes would perhaps occupy as much as half of TV time during a week. At the same time, one other programme that gets a mixed audience, a multi-lingual audience, is Justice Pao. Incidentally, this popularity of Justice Pao with a multi-lingual audience shows that a programme with a cultural flavour of one of the main cultural streams of our society can, can indeed, have an audience transcending a particular ethnic group. Unfortunately, here again. Justice Pao is also an imported programme.”
“For example, for the promotion of cultural matters and exhibitions, there has been an increase of allocation from $65,000 for last year to $105,000 for this coming financial year, which (mind you) includes a sum of $30,000 that is subject to Treasury sanction, While the Minister for Culture is no doubt grateful for such small mercies, it would be interesting to find out what we are getting with this kind of money. Perhaps the Minister could tell us later. What appears to be happening in the case of the activities like Art for Everyone, and Concert for the Young, and so on, is that they seem to be organised on an ad hoc basis and this is because there is not very many staff to look after these events. Like when it is come to be known that some artistes are passing through, or when a local military band is available for some performance. There does not seem to be any sequential programme planned or any particular aim that is discernible in the arrangement of the events in such items as Music for Everyone and Concert for the Young, although one must admit that an idea like the Beautiful Singapore Art Exhibition does have a worthwhile theme. To take yet another illustration, if you look at the National Theatre Trust Annual Report for 1974-75, you will find that its first preoccupation is major renovations to the Theatre and expenditure. This kind of thing represents its principal problem. What else can the Trust do except what it has done, namely, enter into joint presentation with other organisations. All the same, with limited resources the Trust seems to have done well. But again its dependence on sponsors is a clue to the extent of official support for its work.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head Q be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead AAA 1004*. (* The same amendment also stood in the names of Messrs Teong Eng Siong, L.P. Rodrigo, Hwang Soo Jin. P. Govindaswamy, Ch'ng Jit Koon and Dr Chiang Hai Ding.) Mr Speaker, Sir, culturally we have always been conscious of our rich and varied heritage, and have expressed pride in our cultural diversity. The Ministry of Culture has given as much encouragement to the reflection of the variety of our cultural potential as limited financial allocations would allow. I think I must emphasise here "as limited financial allocations would allow". More recently we have had the development of such activities as Music for Everyone, Art for Everyone, Concert for the Young, and various exhibitions. But I think my point about financial allocations, and therefore constraint upon effort, may be illustrated. For example, in a Ministry whose avowed aim is nurturing and development of culture, there is only one cultural affairs officer. I understand he is assisted by a very small number of officers, perhaps two or three officers. The Minister may be able to enlighten us there. What can this small, even if gallant, handful of people do? How many cultural events have they been able to organise, and for how many people? Compare this number with what reasonable number would indicate an effective spread of influence of these cultural events. Such a kind of examination would serve as an indicator to show the extent to which we are committed to a policy of encouraging cultural development. 2.45 p.m. There are other indicators. If we examine another item of expenditure we can get a good idea of how a policy is reflected in budget allocations.”
“Sir, in relation to the Minister of State's remarks that Changi will be the main airport. may I ask him this question? Does it imply that there will be a continued and fairly intensive use of Paya Lebar Airport? Because my constituency lies directly under the flight path of planes landing at Paya Leban Airport, I ask this question: what will be the rate of usage at Paya Lebar Airport?”
“First, having to travel for some reason along Mandai Road quite frequently, I notice that the roadwork there has taken a very long time to proceed. In fact, for a spell the metal laid down at the road side was overgrown with grass and shrubbery. There may be similar instances of delay in respect of other road repair or development projects. Secondly, with regard to road surfaces, one notices the different shades of mixture, texture and consistency of the mix laid on for the surfacing or resurfacing. This gives the impression that the standards in respect of the quality of road surfacing are not consistent. It is possible that supervision is not as effective as it should be, resulting in the contractors getting away with shoddy work and other irregularities of this kind. Thirdly, if I may just refer to a development project to illustrate my point. When examining the Pan-Island Express Way scheme between Thomson Road and Jalan Anak Bukit, one might gather the impression that work could have been concentrated on certain segments and if these segments are completed, then they could be used and the effects of such development felt and enjoyed immediately. For example, the alternative routes thus provided could result in improved traffic conditions and greater convenience to the public. But instead one gathers the impression of scattered work being carried out at different points of the Thomson Road/Jalan Anak Bukit project resulting in effort being diffused and the effects not concentrated. This may point to problems of organisation in respect of roadwork and road maintenance. I would appreciate the Minister's response to these comments.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 0 be reduced by $10 in respect of item lal of subhead BBA 2190. Sir, I originally wanted to touch on the work of the committee set up to coordinate the laying down of utilities along the roads. But that matter has already been raised in the discussion on the Minister's Head of Expenditure. All the same, we might remember that last year during the Budget sitting the Minister for National Development did mention that he was shocked to learn of the fact that about 80% of our roads would be dug up during the financial year, that is, the financial year that is just coming to an end. Under such circumstances, obviously the question of coordination just does not seem feasible. However, we might express the hope now that when this large-scale development is over, that is, the laying of utilities on such a large scale is completed, the committee will once more be in a position to coordinate road digging to lay down public utilities. On another point, there is no doubt that looking over the Estimates for the past five or six years, we find that an enormous amount of money and effort are being spent on the maintenance and extension of our road network in Singapore. In fact, when we look at the detailed statement of the estimated and actual expenditures, we might rightfully conclude that the Roads Section is getting on with the job of using funds allocated for this general purpose. At the same time, it is possible that, looking at the Establishment position, one may ask whether there is such a shortage of staff, especially at the technical level, as to affect the smooth accomplishment of road maintenance and development plans. There are a few possible indicators that may suggest one or two problems.”
“I will come to the swimming pool a little later. I think every effort should be made to emphasise a spirit of cooperation and understanding of the problems of one side with the other. With the kind of idea that many people have about the Housing Board, it would be a pity indeed if it is thought of as a cow that gives good milk and then kicks the bucket over. With regard to this red herring that has been raised, the swimming pool is not only meant for the people in my constituency but for everybody around there within an adequate radius - Mountbatten and J00 Chiat - and if the Member for Bras Basah wants to have a swim he is entitled to come over for a swim too. 3.15 p.m.”
“Many of the tenants are living in extremely crowded circu mstances; perhaps if the Minister makes an examination of Tanjong Rhu estate, he might find the highest number of people with very large families living there. Could consideration be given as early as possible to rehousing those people in such circumstances? I am very reluctant to want to receive special consideration, but I think the history and circumstances of Tanjong Rhu estate may well warrant some special attention. In regard to the other points that have been raised, especially relations between Housing Board officials and the people living in housing estates -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, much has already been said about the Housing and Development Board and my first thought was, perhaps, sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. However, there is one point I would like especially to make and that relates to the Tanjong Rhu housing estate, and I hope this will not be considered as a particular or special pleading. The Tanjong Rhu housing estate was constructed in 1962, quite soon after the HDB replaced the old Singapore Improvement Trust. The flats raised at Tanjong Rhu were, in fact, sometimes described as "emergency flats" aimed at making up for the backlog of people that had to be housed urgently at that time and at resettling displaced families. Quite a lot of fire victims from Geylang and Crawford were moved there. Since that time the quality of HDB accommodation has improved tremendously. When I compare the Tanjong Rhu estate with the new estates like Marine Parade in the next door constituency - in fact, with your constituency of Joo Chiat, Mr Speaker, or with Ulu Pandan, or Bedok and soon - I am struck by the comparative shortage of amenities that we have in Tanjong Rhu. Tanjong Rhu estate may well be unique in the spartan considerations that went into its construction. On this basis I think consideration of priority ought to be given to this estate for whatever improvement that may be planned, and I think Tanjong Rhu estate deserves a special look in this direction. For example, it could have a community hall of which some other estates have several. Could we have this early? Could the lay-out and appearance of the market/hawker centre be improved, and its potential for service to the community extended? Could additional car parking facilities be made available?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Hon. Prime Minister has certainly given me plenty of things to think over and I am very grateful for the very forthright way that he has dealt with the questions. I am very sorry, Sir, that the Hon. Prime Minister has thought that I was supercilious. It was not my intention at all. I may sound supercilious right now. If one were to ask: is the "Minister for Katong" supercilious? I do not think he will find a consensus among my colleagues. I am very sorry that he has carried that opinion away. At the same time, I would like to assure the Hon. Prime Minister that, in the midst of all the stresses, I shall follow his advice and maintain a very calm, polite, courteous attitude to all those who may place a strain on my patience, as I hope I have not placed too much of a strain on the Prime Minister's patience. With that. Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Moreover, if there are good manners and human respect within the civil service family contributing to an esprit de corps, this will show in the attitude towards the public. Lastly, while senior officers have decided that inductees into the administrative service should have the experience of sitting with MPs in their meet-the-people sessions, let me invite senior officers themselves - those near or at the top - to come and see for themselves how people at the grass-roots feel. The experience would be salutary. I have brought up this matter because the closest the public come to an appreciation of Government is at the point of contact with civil servants. If the impression they gather at this point of contact is unfavourable, then I am afraid their attitude towards Government will be affected by this unfavourable experience.”
“Is an office environment conducive to a good relationship between the civil servant and those he has to serve? Are the public served in surroundings of cleanliness and reasonable comfort, or do we find light and ventilation deficient and the organisation of space uneconomic, long queues, long waiting periods, and so on. 2.45 p.m. Are toilet facilities adequate, canteens offering reasonable service, or is it perhaps that no such amenities exist at all? Are signboards properly displayed, or are they tatty-looking, bent or frayed at the edges, and have unofficial doodlings all over them? Are those who handle the public properly trained to feel sensitive, to put themselves in the place of the petitioner, the client? If there is a possibility that members of the public may not understand rules and procedures, are these adequately explained? Now such concerns, I think. Mr Speaker, Sir, should be the subject of attention at the very centre of management in the bureaucracy. Senior civil servants can be expected to set the standard and the example of demonstrating such interest and commitment, not through circulars only, but by action. I would like to point that one line of example also is to show human and personal concern for one's very own subordinates. I would like to hear more often of a subordinate being frank, straightforward, firm and forthright with his superior, albeit maintaining due respect for him. And superiors should show courtesy and consideration towards their subordinates, and patience in the face of difficulties encountered. Intelligent attention to the human element in the work situation is in keeping with the best modern administrative practice everywhere.”
“It cannot be that the public are just cussed, that they insist on having indelibly imprinted in their minds a poor image of Government departments. It seems to me that just as the bad impression of Government can become ingrained in the minds of people, so the principal way to ensure that this does not happen is to have the commitment to courtesy ingrained in the minds of the civil servant, not merely at the level of contact with the public but right up the line to the top-most administrator. The concern of the civil servant that should be his constant preoccupation is not merely the accomplishment of a job and closing of a file, but the citizens' welfare. I am afraid the civil servant has frequently become so task-oriented that he alt too often forgets whom he is serving - what he is doing the job for - namely, the people's well-being. And every now and then he just wants to get on with the job, ignoring the sensitivities and needs of the very people he is supposed to be doing the job for. I hope when we are inducting our new administrative cadres into what should be their vocations, this point of commitment to concern for the individual will be stressed from the beginning. I imagine that it is because of the absence of this concern that there has again and again been complaints about discourtesy and bureaucratic indifference in the civil service. Now how can this commitment be demonstrated? Perhaps we can ask some pertinent questions. Do our leaders in the civil service, our super civil servants as they have been described (although I do not quite understand this term), do our top bureaucrats show their concern for the conditions in which people meet the civil servants, the conditions in which the civil servants themselves have to work the whole day long?”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head J be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead ABA 1107*. (* The same amendment also stood in the names of Messrs N. Govindasamy and P. Govindaswamy). Sir, throughout the whole of this debate on the Budget I would like to emphasise, wherever I may, the theme of how necessary it is for Singaporeans to show regard for one another. With this particular amendment. I would like to refer to the problem of the attitude of civil servants to the public. Complaints in this House have been regular as almost to be ritualistic regarding discourtesy shown to the general public when they have approached various offices. or service centres, for example, the Immigration Department, the Registry of Vehicles, the Hawkers Department; or the hospitals or clinics arid so on. Yet the problem still remains. To be fair to senior Government officials, there have been attempts to bring to the attention of officers the need for courtesy when dealing with the public. Circulars on courtesy in the civil service and relations with the public have been dutifully sent around to Permanent Secretaries and various officers on distribution lists. And these circulars have even attempted to analyse what has contributed to the problem. The Central Complaints Bureau has. I am told, been asked to investigate more effectively complaints of discourtesy and petty bureaucracy and yet right up to the moment the problem still remains. I need not exemplify. Every Member in this House can come up with instances of thoughtlessness and officiousness. What is wrong? Is it that something fundamental has been overlooked in the attempts to tackle this problem?”
“I was dismayed all the same, where future projections are concerned.”
“That is not the impression that I tried to give.”
“But I am never in doubt that the Government, with the help of its Backbenchers, will take successful action to correct the situation - with the help of the Backbenchers. 4.13 p.m.”
“That is why in respect of our education policy there has been a stress on the preparation for work, development of skills and so on. While we certainly cannot let up on our development thrust, we should make adjustment for development of values important for society, for harmonious living, for development of rounded and mature citizens. Therefore, I think the time has now come for us to think of a policy which will lay stress on the inculcation of healthy values which balance self against the needs of the community, not only in our pupils in school but also more broadly the message has to be carried across to the adult citizens at home. I do not mean by policy that we should determine what kind of people we want to produce in specific terms: we cannot make people in the splitting image of some preconceived mould; we cannot make people in our own image and likeness; but we want to encourage and promote actively the development of a healthy pattern of values. This aspect we have before left to develop incidentally. Now we have to attend to this matter in a more deliberate fashion. I think the time is ripe, I think the problem is urgent. In all this, the two Ministries that appear to have the most important role to play would be the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education. I would not like to preempt on what may be said when the debate on education and culture gets under way, but I am sure there will be plenty said and I would have one or two things to say myself. Mr Speaker, Sir, in moments of melancholy, in respect of these thoughts I have expressed. I may feel that indeed a grave situation has arisen.”
“In the West, in socialist countries, young people are in some way constantly reminded of how their countries have faced serious situations. For example, we ourselves have seen such films on TV as Cities at War, World at War, even comedy programmes such as Dad's Army. Our young people view these detachedly. To a Western youth, they would be subtle insights to a more turbulent past his parents' generation experienced. Other things such as memorials, monuments, ceremonies, and so on are other forms of reminders of grimmer times. Our own youths have remained in more blissful condition. The education and social upbringing of our young people have not conduced to encouraging them to see their world as a larger place than their housing estate and transcending parochial Singapore circumstances. In this they have not been better than their elders. Schools have stressed examinations (at this level, this is the test of meritocracy). I have had some thoughtful young people in my constituency, as I am sure other MPs have in theirs, complaining that newspapers and mass media and Government attention have not focussed the notice of youth on concerns beyond the circle of light which they see from inside their wells. I think we should consider carefully before blaming a member of our younger generation for his limited perspectives, even if such perspectives tend to make him also an egotistic individual. Especially when we think of the sins of the fathers being visited upon their children. Now, what can we do about such a circumstance that has arisen? Our Government has always worked on the basis of attending to first things first. That is why there has been so much emphasis throughout all these years on economic and material development.”
“The more thoughtful and socially motivated want to participate in activities aimed at community improvement. It is in this way that we could help arrange opportunities for young people to understand worthwhile, genuine and practical relationships with one another, not the vague, phony rapport and freedom proclaimed in the advertisements directed at the new generation. We should help our young people find a useful role for themselves, but they want to identify this role themselves. Certainly we should not tolerate laziness and skiving, complacence and truculence. But we should not treat our young citizens in the same way as, in the past, the Ministry of Education has treated our teachers, many of whom have not yet got over the trauma of exposure to over-bearing officialdom. Our younger citizens have generally not known the hardships their elders have experienced in their lifetime. These same older folk (perhaps understandably) in the flush of good times want to push out of their minds the trouble they have faced before. Among our younger citizens, those who are reaching their majority years will remember best these last ten years of good going, of more and more consumer goods coming within their means of enjoyment: clothes, entertainment, TV (including colour), perhaps cars, leisure outings. They have been assured of places in primary schools and enjoyed opportunity to proceed for further and higher education. In many instances their parents have bought flats built by Government; these same parents perhaps with the disapproval of the Member for Telok Blangah have spent sizable sums and considerable effort to redecorate and furnish these houses. Serious political and national crises, conflict and wars are quite foreign to the experience of our younger citizens.”
“I am sure there will be several Members dwelling and expanding on this point and similar ideas when we come to the debate on Education. The importance of moulding the right attitudes in our young people cannot be overemphasised, considering the wide ramifications of the result of our educational efforts. Let us consider. A young man who is about to cast his vote may well have had all his years of education and further education under our Government's jurisdiction. In a few years' time he will marry and begin to have a family. How will he bring up that family, that second generation of our Singaporeans? Presently our young people are not against the Government; they are not anti-national, they are not even anti-PAP. Despite a few who try to avoid national service more for reasons of wanting to avoid personal discomfort, generally the acceptance of national service shows that the people are not against, indeed they recognise the need for, measures taken in the national interest. But what is important to note is this. I do not think our young people are all fully committed to exactly the same values as the Establishment. This may be simply because many of them are not certain of what it is that is desirable in terms of the kind of Singapore they want. What one can be certain about is that they want to feel that they are participants, not merely people being directed and told what to do, They do not want to be part of a system where they are the ruled and others the rulers. They want to have a say. That is why the People's Association appears to face difficulties because it is organising for young people. Perhaps the young people want to find themselves in a position where they can organise things for themselves!”
“Changes to make the law more applicable were not instituted until these irregularities were reported to Parliament. In this connection. I am not saying that we should retain outdated regulations, but if what has been laid down by Parliament is considered not to be applicable under changed circumstances, then action should be taken to change regulations promptly; and not just ignore these regulations (in some cases for several years), thus setting an example of placing expediency before correct behaviour. If such actions reflect indifferent regard for the authority of this House, can we expect the public to receive more consideration? Underlying all this, we have the background of our very recent forbears being migrants who were primarily interested in getting what they could out of Singapore. This is well-accepted and has been referred to more than once even by our political leaders. Now we have to assess to what extent this attitude has percolated down to the younger generation. If our schooling has been successful, then our young people would have different attitudes. But in the very respect of a sense of values directed towards more gracious relations between people, our education has not been so successful. Our education has been successful in emphasising the very developmental traits that I have referred to earlier. Moreover, we must not take for granted that what is learnt in school receives reinforcement at home. In fact, values inculcated in school may be in direct conflict with values at home. One exercise we should try to embark on is to reach Out to the homes to try and engender social support for the values learnt in school.”
“Once a Mercedes-flaunting young executive or businessman was booked by a traffic policeman for a parking offence. The owner of the Mercedes disdainfully told the policeman that he could pay quite easily the traffic fine he expected would be imposed, and promised the Traffic policeman that he would come back to indulge his expensive parking habit again. My reference to the Mercedes has put me in mind of top civil servants. In their case too, preoccupation with their special concerns has sometimes pushed aside more civil considerations, The Head of the Civil Service has mentioned that in a number of instances civil servants have contrived to get laws passed to enable them to do their work more easily. I would go further to say that, if necessary, the civil servant will now and then even ignore legislation in order to suit his own convenience. For example, a few years ago we had a publicised instance of the law relating to advanced accounts not being observed, and this was the subject of some newspaper comment and a reply from the Ministry of Finance. In this case, audit reports pointed out the fact of advanced accounts exceeding the authorised limits for the years 1965 to 1969/70, but no attempt was made to seek Parliament approval to raise the limit until 1971. Since then we have continued to meet with similar instances of the law not being observed. Two recent examples come to my mind: one, in respect of the valuation of our investments in our financial statements, and another the failure to show certain civilian posts under Expenditure on Manpower (as required by law), instead of under Other Operating Expenditure, of the Ministry of Defence Head of Expenditure.”
“On another point, I have heard of cases of national servicemen losing items of equipment issued to them and, instead of taking the responsibility for this loss, they expropriate the missing item from somebody else who is left to shoulder this responsibility if he is unable to steal from somebody else again. Inasmuch as it has been found difficult to retain administrative officers in the civil service, I would not be surprised if the same difficulty is faced in the SAF of recruitment into the officer-class and retention of officers. Then there is skiving in the Special Constabulary: a reluctance to do the small national service stint because of the boredom of the activity. Again, here it is not the thought of service, the subordination of individual interest to the group need, but inconvenience to self that is the paramount concern in many instances. In another way, complaints not too long ago about the poor standards of finish in the building industry are also a pointer, Take for example, all that has been said about the quality of finish in HDB flats. We meet with many instances, when we order a service or a good, of eagerness to get a job done and be finished and for the bill to be settled as soon as possible. One fairly persistent example of this is the way contractors do road surfacing work. Because of lack of supervision I am sure that in many instances such contractors are allowed to get away with sub-standard work. On the roads, you see how self-centred the motorist is. Instances of aggressive driving and lack of road courtesy abound. Sometimes this egotism has become obsessive as when misunderstandings arising from motoring incidents have led to ugly scenes.”
“Singapore is a centre for technical expertise. Singapore is the top maker of "jackups", whatever that may mean. Singapore will be the first Asian country possibly to greet the two millionth tourist in 1979. There is a Singapore way to a richer ASEAN. These headline impressions were gathered from about a fortnight's reading of two English language newspapers. Even our road taxes have become the talk of the world! With this kind of ambience. Mr Speaker, Sir, how do you expect a young emerging community to react? I shall tell you. Mr Speaker. Sir. Recently I had occasion to review essays written by students from higher educational institutions in Singapore, who were competing for scholarships to attend summer schools abroad. Too frequently, when these students referred to Singapore, they reflected a sense of complacence and superiority from Singapore's success. It seemed to me they felt that with Singapore the way it was, the whole world was their oyster. Do you think, Sir, that such smugness can help in developing a sense of social responsibility? There are many indications of inability or reluctance to subordinate personal interest to group interest. Look at the way industrial accidents have happened. From another angle, if you look at the conditions in which workers are frequently transported to their place of work, loaded in open lorries, you will feel here another indication of the lack of concern for people. In various spheres of activity, further illustrations may be found. In national service there may be enough instances to show how the eagerness to look forward to the run-Out date (ROD) has resulted in a lowering of concern with continuing responsibility.”
“And we have also, as a result of this development-orientation, a preoccupation with a task, with a job, with something to do and perform, and very little concern for the person, for the individual, for other graces. And indifference to religious and cultural matters has not made things any better in this respect. And for this reason I applaud what the Member for Whampoa said in the last few sentences of his speech. Interestingly, a factor contributing to our inordinate sense of well-being and complacency is the kind of praise that we have constantly received from outside. Many of the views representing what others say about us all over the world are expressed by such references as dazzling growth: extraordinary techniques of statecraft; Singapore has broken inexorably with the past and leaped self-assuredly into the future with a roar that is resounding round the world; our life-style has no parallel in Southeast Asia. We stand high in the esteem of the most developed countries of the world. We are the political light of the region. Singapore is the most remarkable city on earth - and so on, with adulation far exceeding criticism. I wonder how these writers and journalists who have echoed such resounding praise of Singapore would treat us if we get into serious difficulty, especially as a result of the possible over-confidence that such adulation can engender. At the same time our own newspapers are not backward in taking up this same cue of pandering to the ego and conceit of the Singaporean. Headlines have said that Singapore is the best base for oil supply; so many million dollars have been spent to do this, that and the other. Singapore is the top regional centre for such and such kind of trade. Singapore is the top tourist spot in Asia.”
“Basically this shortcoming consists of a lack of concern for others that amounts in some cases almost to an obsession with selfish interests. Too often, a Singaporean is disinclined to look beyond his own immediate circumstances to the realities of the larger world around him. He has also generally not been too successful in striking a proper balance between personal goals and group goals. Now, what has been the cause of this unrelenting devotion to individualistic and (I am afraid) short-sighted goals? It was our own successful development, and the high expectations of the material quality of living it has engendered, that has perhaps resulted in this particular condition. It seems to me that our strategy of emphasis on certain values deemed necessary for development has resulted in a kind of over-kill, inadequately tempered as this strategy has been by non-materialistic considerations, like cultural interest, aesthetic appreciation, and consideration of religious and traditional values. For what generally are the virtues, the qualities of our development-oriented persons that we have only too well succeeded in inculcating? They are chiefly (a) a powerful need for achievement. (b) the urge to act. (c) far-sightedness, in terms of opportunity for material advancement, (d) interest in career, not necessarily in a job -what may `be described as low job primacy, (e) high motivation towards material returns, (f) occupational mobility, and (g) indifference to religious or cultural matters. With this array, it is no wonder that we have had examples of young civil servants leaving, after a while, for greener and richer pastures. At another level, job-hopping was recently a noted phenomenon among our young people.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have listened, with growing depression, to the discourse of the Member for Whampoa upon our bleak future in economic terms. Correct as he may be in his forecast, the point still remains that since the end of the Pacific War, the last ten years -the years of our independence - have been by far the most comfortable and satisfying for the bulk of our citizens. True, there have been one or two anxieties. In 1968 strict labour legislation had to be enacted to enable us to face up to the anticipated British withdrawal. In 1969 we faced for a few days the threat of civil disturbance, and, as has been pointed out already in this House, the immediate future does not seem to be too good. But by and large 1965-75 has been a decade of impressive and assuring performance. The people - citizens and leaders - have worked hard to make for a swift and unprecedented growth. Our GNP nearly tripled in the last decade. Singapore's skyline has been transformed out of all resemblance to the old water-front scene because of the shining new skyscrapers in the Central Business District and the high-rise apartment buildings the Government has constructed everywhere. The general standard of living of the people has obviously improved with greater than ever consumption of goods and services beyond the basic survival needs, and at a fair level of comfort. Money paid Out in wages, at least by employers paying the payroll tax, in the last financial year was about equal to that paid out during the whole of the first five years of our independence. Despite such progress, and partly because of it, there somehow seems to me to be some fundamental quality or qualities lacking in the Singaporean.”
“The administration, I am sure, realises that with authority over the Union in their hands they should seek at all times, as far as possible, to move in the direction that reflects the will o~ the majority of the students and certainly towards the good of the Union and the development of student community potential and individual intellectual and moral qualities in an atmosphere of academic calm and stability. This is what I think the Vice-Chancellor wants. This is what the vast majority of students and their parents would want. This is what the people want. This Parliament represents the people, this is what the people want. Some hon. Members: Hear, hear! 4.55 p.m.”
“I have referred to attempts in the University to express dissent, and this I did during the debate on the Annual Budget Statement. I have mentioned that our students should be warned against being pawns of shadowy individuals who, while espousing humanistic aims and freedom, cynically exploit youthful ideals. It is for this reason that I support the passage of this Bill. The Union seems now open to exploitation with the leadership exercising themselves over imagined political grievances which have nothing to do with the welfare of the students themselves and which indeed have no foundation in reality whatsoever. I imagine that it would be correct to say that this Bill is in a way an expression of a no-confidence motion in the present way the Students' Union is being run. There is no doubt that in future the administration will play a bigger hand than it has been able to in the past in the affairs of the Union. In this respect I can only refer to the statement made by the Vice-Chancellor that he would have the interests of the students at heart in respect of the Union. I would expect that the majority of the students would accept this assurance, and I think they do. I cannot but reprehend the reference made (in a very recent student publication) to the Vice-Chancellor as the chief controller, namely, a man long experienced in controlling student organisations - a sort of super gestapo chief. This is another example of the kind of distortion a small coterie of student leaders go in for. It would be more reasonable to think of the Vice-Chancellor as being a man of vast educational experience who has reached the top of his profession, whose academic abilities have been recognised through the university bestowing on him an honorary award, and so on.”
“But may I ask this small coterie of students whom they represent: what are their credentials? In fact, today they called for a solidarity rally and when I looked out at the lower quadrangle, on which they were supposed to assemble for this solidarity rally, I was greeted by a smiling expanse of empty green with a few students studiously studying under the shade of a tree. A very peaceful sight indeed, Mr Speaker, Sir. It is sad that a few individuals who have suffered from a distortion of judgment have been able to bring the affairs of the Union to such a sorry state in which, overpowered by the hot air that they themselves have generated, they have neglected even mundane things like Union finances, that it is public knowledge that the auditor has given only a qualified report. Yet the minority, who are student leaders and their personal following, do not have the support of the majority of the students who simply want to swot it out in the library, commuting between library, canteen and lecture theatre and who, despite their own amusement and entertainment over the antics of student leaders, seem reluctant to do anything to change things for themselves. But this is not unusual. In many other universities, as far as I have occasionally witnessed, it is a few who work in the Union while the large majority merely want to go about their business of getting their education, training their intellects and preparing for a role for themselves in society. However, where we are concerned, we are facing the possibility that the student leadership at the University of Singapore may well find themselves manipulated by those who do not have the woolly idealism of students but instead a clear notion of what they want, and what they want may not be for the benefit of our people.”
“The anti-bus fare hike campaign was launched. The integrity of Members of Parliament was questioned, including my hon. Friend, the Member for Jalan Kayu. Some agitation against the Press Bill was contrived. The Housing and Development Board's increase in service and conservancy charges was severely criticised. Agitation on the ground of issues prevailing in a friendly neighbouring country was mounted, for example, in respect of the Johore Bahru squatters. The so-called Retrenchment Research Centre was started and agitation was mounted ostensibly on behalf of retrenched workers but, aimed also, it seems to me, at denigrating workers' representatives. Sir, it seems to me that it is all well and good for students to want to indulge in what has been' described as conscientisation. But it seems to me that the awakening that is being contrived is directed overwhelmingly in the direction of a strident emphasis on grievances and on opposition to Government action. Some student leaders have become so hypnotised by this development and have apparently become so inward-looking that they are not able to distinguish illusion from reality. I think my colleagues in the Philosophy Department might describe them as solipsists. A solipsist may be likened to a person who dreams he is a butterfly and when he awakes he is not sure whether he is a person who has dreamt that he is a butterfly or whether he is a butterfly who is dreaming that he is a person. The illusion and reality are confused. This small group of student leaders complain of anti-people action by the Government and they identify themselves with the people's struggle which, they say, shall be a victory. I have no doubt that the people's struggle will end in victory.”
“Motions of no confidence too, Mr Speaker, Sir, have figured among attempts at censure quite frequently throughout the history of the University of Singapore Students' Union. In fact, the Member for Kim Seng has himself had the unpleasant experience of a combination of EOCM, EOGM and a motion of no confidence. Sir, if students want a release of tension, some excitement, at the same time as they make sure the Union is operating in their own interest, this is all fine. However, recently, events associated with the Union have taken a more serious turn. About two years ago, as a result of the traditional EOGM, EOCM and motion of no-confidence, a number of individuals were elected to Union leadership including Juliet Chin and Tsui Hon Kwong. From then on despite pressing student problems the Union seemed to have been directed towards what I would like to describe as political agitation. I say "despite pressing student problems" because at about that time some students complained publicly of irresponsibility displayed by some of their fellows, and editorial comments in the Undergrad, now also known as the Hsueh Hseng Pau, referred to a general decline in standards of behaviour, both social and moral, and to blatant examples of vandalism, hooliganism, immorality and decadence. Despite this view by some students at that time it was decided by student union leaders to try to achieve what was described as a maximum exposure to social, political, educational and academic issues. Note, Mr Speaker, Sir, that academic issues take last place. There was also no mention of students' welfare and I believe students have commented upon this lack of interest in students' welfare. As a result of this decision to stimulate a consciousness arousing, national service was criticised.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to refer to sections of the Bill which relate to the Students' Union. Since the University of Malaya was constituted out of the two component colleges, namely, Raffles College and King Edward VII College, for all the time that we have had a university in Singapore, I imagine it would be difficult to find any generation of students who have not witnessed their union experiencing some tribulation or vicissitude of one kind or another. I know because I took an inordinate time to get my Degree! EOGMs (Extraordinary General Meetings) may not have been held with the same regularity as AGMs (Annual General Meetings). But the EOGM has, one might say, become institutionalised. Indeed, it has become so institutionalised that, at a recent forum attended by the Vice-Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor was asked (I am told) whether the same facility to allow students to call for an EOGM contained in the current Union constitution would be retained when the new statute for the new Students' Union is passed; not indicating very great support on the part of the students for the Union leadership. In the past few years another device seems to have been resorted to quite frequently, namely, the EOCM (Extraordinary Council Meeting). The difference between the EOCM and the EOGM, as far as I have been able to observe, has been that the rate of calling for the EOCM in moments of crisis is much more rapid than the EOGM, the gap between one EOCM and another, in fact, being a matter of days. Perhaps, Mr Speaker, Sir, you might appreciate that just as an EEG or ECG can tell you the condition of a patient's health, the EOCM and the EOGM rate can be used to judge the health of the Union.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, perhaps the Ministry of Education might consider reaching out to the child's environment through the mass media. We have an Educational Television Service and we also have a good Broadcasting service. Will the Minister of State consider reaching out to the children who are not so good in the second language through the mass media?”
“Pardon me, Sir, but I would like some clarification with regard to the Minister of State's reference to the lack of reinforcement in the child's environment. I presume this is the :home environment. Therefore, I would ask, with respect, Sir, what sort of reinforcement can he contrive for the home environment to improve the opportunities of the child learning the second language?”
“Sir, in respect of his reference to the lack of reinforcement in the child's environment, can the Minister of State tell us what steps are being considered to provide such reinforcement, if possible? And I think it is possible. Also, in his reference to the provision of continuing education, what is he thinking in terms of the provision of this kind of continuing education to the school dropouts?”
“As permanent as possible! TRAFALGAR ESTATE AND JALAN SERANGGONG KECHIL (Metalling of tracks) 5. Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for National Development and Communications when tracks in Trafalgar Estate and Jalan Seranggong Kechil will be metalled under the Kampong Roads Scheme, and what the cost will be.”
“Deputy Speaker, Sir, since so many matters have been raised on the Minister's Head, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I just want to refer briefly to a point that has been referred to indirectly by the Member for Jalan Kayu. From what he said, there seems to be one matter not adequately considered, namely, the question of getting parents to understand the education policy better. I hope in this respect the Ministry, teachers' unions and teachers' bodies will collaborate to put the idea across and get the cooperation of parents.”