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 Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.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.”
The complete record
Every one of 567 lines we hold for J.F. Conceicao, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 12.
“I am speaking here particularly of the primary schools where the new policy will be initiated. Without the organisation of manpower and resources to help the teachers, this proposal that has been presented with such a bang will end in a whimper. More manpower is required, more training facilities and retraining facilities. And certainly the production of first class supervisors in the shape of capable education development officers who will really advise on development and not perpetuate the old inspectors role. All these are needed. In the conclusion to the official November statement on the restructure there was recognition of all these needs. If the Ministry makes its own response in a rational, positive, understanding manner, we need have no fear about how the teachers themselves will respond to the challenge.”
“In a recent seminar on the restructure of the education system, suggestions were sought from participants who were principals from all over Singapore regarding how to achieve certain outcomes that were envisaged as following upon the aim to make schooling more meaningful and enjoyable and the aim to ensure continual assessment of academic performance. Now this is the real nub of the restructure intention: the determination to achieve this intention and to implement vigorously and steadily what has been conceived of as a good plan. Views have been sought over aspects of implementation. Now these views have been forthcoming, and in terms of stress on certain lines of action, some recommendations standing out quite clearly. For example, children should have pre-school experience through kindergarten; learning should be through activities and experience that appeal to the children's interest and imagination, as for instance, excursions, projects, effective use of apparatus and aids, the application of a variety of methods and techniques; resort to educational hardware, necessitating of course the production of corresponding soft ware, group teaching, multi-level teaching and close monitoring of progress through personal observation, informal questioning, written assignments, stage by stage, unit by unit. Above all, classroom size should be reduced. The Ministry of Education has come out with a classic education proposal. In soliciting views over implementation they have received classic educational answers. Teachers are looking forward to participating in this thrilling development. My observation has been that most teachers have stretched themselves to the limit in their work in schools.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head W be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead AAA 1004*. (* The same amendment also stood in the names of Messrs Tay Boon Too, Ang Nam Piau, L. P. Rodrigo, P. Govindaswamy, Sia Khoon Seong, N. Govindasamy and Ho Kah Leong.) Sir, I would like to make some comments on the restructure of the education system, to which a remarkable amount of publicity has been given during this Budget season - but outside the House. In the debate on the Minister of Finance's Budget statement, I did remark adversely on certain statements about restructure, but these statements were really marginal to the statement of basic principle. For example, I disagreed that the changes in the past 15 years had been minor and I also felt that there could have been more consultation with teachers and teachers' bodies over the definition of policy. But having said this, where the basic principles germane to restructure are concerned, such principles have been stated in a manner that makes the restructure look like the answer to every teacher's prayer. Behold, Mr Speaker, Sir, schooling should be made a more meaningful and enjoyable experience; continual assessment of academic performance shall ensure that children are brought through their schooling with full appreciation of their abilities or their limitations. By implication the very intelligent would not find schooling a boring experience, and slow developers would receive due consideration. The promise is made that every student who has completed primary education will be channelled into some form of post-primary education or training. Thus by providing alternative avenues for different aptitudes, our resources will be optimally utilised.”
“Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Speaker, 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 Teong Eng Siong). Briefly, Sir, I would like to refer the policy with regard to the manpower position in the Police Force. The Minister, in a written answer to a question I raised recently, stated that the Pc Force as a whole had a vacancy of 15%. Has the Minister any measure in mind to resolve this unhappy manpower position, which may have a critical relationship to the effectiveness the Force? I have also a suspicion that recruitment requirements may not realistic, and also that the promotion structure in the rank and file does encourage a sense of motivation. Moreover, where officers are concerned there is some feeling that sufficient credit not given to field achievement, while too much attention is paid to academic qualifications. I would urge the Minister to give some clarification regarding policy over manpower. There has also been some reference to the calling up of young men into Police Force. In this respect, I think atmosphere should be cleared, other's there will continue to be certain apprehensions. I am sure the Minister's positive reply will do much to add to morale in the Force.”
“- (13) That the sum to be allocated for Head S be reduced by $10 in respect of item (b) of subhead CDB 2120. (14) That the sum to be allocated for Head S be reduced by $10 in respect of item (a) of subhead CDB 2190.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, it is obvious that the Minister and I see not only eye to eye but almost word for word, judging from the fact that the Minister has used the words which I have also used previously about the National Museum. Obviously, we have been reading the same material, and with that, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ivan Baptist - (6) That the sum to be allocated for Head Q be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead GAA 1111.”
“For example, there is $30,000 allocated for the acquisition of museum exhibits; but really this is peanuts. I am not suggesting that we go out and purchase something like the Mona Lisa, but we need to put vitality into the work of the art gallery which will have lasting effect on the cultural development of our young people and on future generations; we shall have to be a little more generous, Or we shall have to put out best foot forward in trying to stimulate the generosity of potentially wealthy patrons of the art.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head Q be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead FAA 1111. Sir, I have mentioned about the inadequate support for the National Museum and I would like to expand on this. I have already talked of the importance of the National Museum in nation-building and its activities being geared towards nation-building. May I express the hope that encouragement would be given to the expansion and further development of these activities with more facilities provided by Government. Admittedly, the measures taken to modernise the National Museum have included the provision of an art gallery. Most of the money in any case has come from the Arts Council. The measures have also included galleries and rooms for the display of the art collection of the University of Singapore and rooms for art exhibitions. While these physical amenities are coming up, the necessary staff to implement the plans of the National Museum have not been forthcoming. There are only two curators, one for art and one for anthropology. While the curator of art will take charge of the art gallery, the curator of anthropology will be responsible for a vast and bewildering range of subjects extending from prehistory through ethnology to present history. It would require a genius indeed to devote an adequate amount of time to so many disciplines, to such an expanse of knowledge, and excel in all of them. For a start, there should be an additional post of curator of history. There should also be an official placed in charge of public education if the National Museum is to be a centre for social Contact, cultural agitation and creative' activity. Again, I will admit that allocations for certain subheads in relation to the Museum have been increased.”
“One of the proposals, I believe, had it that it was possible to create a good professional library officer out of library assistants who only needed an `0' level qualification to become library assistants. I hope wiser counsels will eventually prevail and the situation at the National Library not made worse. If the Ministry of Finance wants to have a look, their officials should have a thorough look at the National Library and see it as performing a totality of functions related to the better cultural development of our people. The Minister has himself in a speech about a month ago - and I am speaking about the Minister for Culture now - recognised the onerous burdens and many problems concerning librarians as a result of the knowledge explosion. Let us help our librarians do their work better, not hinder them in the attainment of their professional objectives.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am raising a point under this head, which I moved just before the technical breakdown to forestall, if possible, a poor measure that might be introduced in respect of the National Library. In the last year or so, there have been 15 resignations of young library officers from the library service. Apart from there having to be a reason why these young officers have been so soon disillusioned with the library service, there is also the problem of work in the library service being affected. The library service has been successful in evoking a good response especially from our younger citizens, and in popularising the habit of reading. Yet if one scrutinises the list of popular titles produced by the National Library over the past year or so, one cannot help getting the impression that the purpose why a book is borrowed is a very material and instrumental one indeed. In the nonfiction section, for example, Shakespearean tragedy, electrical engineering principles, strength of materials, biology of functional approach, are titles that one comes across again and again apart from the extreme popularity of books on Lee Kuan Yew. Further work has to be done obviously by the library to encourage the habit of reading for the sake of interest in reading, not interest in passing examinations and doing well in the General Paper at `A' levels. In the midst of needs and in the midst of dissatisfactions that seem to prevail, an additional irritant may be added to the situation. There has recently been undertaken a review of the operations of the National Library. I do not know what the qualifications are of those who are involved in this review but some of the proposals have aroused severe criticisms from senior library staff.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head Q be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead DAA 1108(The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr P. Govindaswamy.) The Chairman: Order. There is still something wrong with the microphones. I suspend the Sitting now and shall take the Chair again when the mechanical fault is rectified. Sitting accordingly suspended at 5.36 p.m. Sitting resumed at 6.24 p.m. [Mr Speaker in the Chair] Debate in Committee of Supply resumed. [Mr Speaker in the Chair] Head Q (subhead DAA 1108) (cont.) -”
“If I say that our artistes should have a due return for their contributions, then am I mercenary? Even when I want the artistes to have at least a good life and to be encouraged to make their contributions? We believe that nothing is for free, except apparently in the cultural sphere. In respect of his reference to the Head of the National Museum (I am not making much play of that), he says it is not so much what we pay him as his contribution that is important. On the basis of that argument, we can go to every top civil servant and pat him on the back and say, "You know, it is not so much what we give you but your contribution that is important. So why don't you come down from Grade E to G?" or something like that. So I do not think his argument is necessarily one that holds water. In respect of quality, maybe that is something that we cannot measure. But, as I have said, if we want quality, then I am afraid we have got to pay for it. History shows that where there has been patronage of the arts, there has been a flourishing of the arts. If you withdraw the patronage, then the arts go down. If the Minister does not want to say anything, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I asked the Minister what plans he had for the future development of cultural policy in Singapore. In his answer, what he was definite about was that there are no plans, for example, for the development of a symphony orchestra. He did give a catalogue of the achievements and the present arrangements for cultural development, in respect of which we are gratified to see that there is a lot of activity going on which we know about. But as I have said, in the beginning of my address, the whole point about cultural policy is vague. The Minister referred to the possibility of quantification. In December the Minister attended a meeting in Indonesia in which discussions were carried on about cultural policy and the development of the arts and culture in the region. There were papers which referred to the possibility of the quantification of data in relation to cultural development. There were instruments which were used in places like Soviet Russia and Japan and they were thinking of introducing these instruments in Indonesia. So it is obvious that there are possibilities of finding out how many people attend the dramas, how many people attend the cultural presentations, what sort of budget there is, and what proportion of the total budget this represents. On the basis of such examination we can quantify and make plans to see whether in five years' time we are one step ahead or one step backwards. I do not agree with the Minister when he says that quantification is a bit dicey because whatever instruments we are given, even if they are crude, are still better than nothing. Now, the Minister made references to me being mercenary. I say to you, Mr Speaker. Sir, that the Minister knows me better than to say that.”
“Indeed, it is possible to select cultural indicators and study them and make an essay of what we have presently and what we could do to improve the situation. These cultural indicators, apart from relating to the number of books in libraries, the number of radio and television sets there are, can also be represented by percentages of the population taking part in cultural activities, numbers of students of the arts, the proportion of the budget allocated to culture and the proportion of the cultural budget allocated to different aspects of culture, and so on. Culture is so important to national development that it is about time that systematic modes of examination are applied to our cultural situation for the purposes of projection of plans for cultural development.”
“In respect of cultural cooperation even expenses related to the ASEAN Permanent Committee on socio-cultural activities have been pruned slightly from $20,000 to $15,000. 3.15 p.m. Another example of rather indifferent attention to aspects related to cultural development is the question of the low grading for the post of the Director of the National Museum and inadequate support for the work of the Museum although it should be seen as a repository of the nation's cultural heritage, as a fine centre of display to interpret effectively to the community the meaning of our heritage, and as a centre of activities of a cultural, educational and recreational nature. Another line we can discern is that we subscribe to the notion that culture is not for the elite as judged from our activities like music and art for everyone, concert for the young people, and also from the activities of the People's Association. Yet after saying these things we could still ask what other projections, what plans for development do we have, what attempts are we going to make to bring our cultural tradition up to date and in harmony with our needs and aspirations Static culture is dead culture but we are very much alive as a people. For any kind of vigorous development in the cultural field, money is required. To make rich contributions to our culture, I am not speaking in terms of money here, we cannot rely on the development of amateur talent, as we have in the past. We must work towards having an adequate core of professional artistes especially for music and dance, and regular and organised effort has to be planned for the encouragement of the development of talent for drama, writing and song. In any attempt at projection one has to know clearly what we have at present.”
“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 same names of Messr Eng Siong and Govindaswamy). Under this subhead I would like to raise the point about the need for a clearer definition of our cultural policy. This would be useful for various sectors involved in cultural activity to orientate themselves towards. Such sectors are the Ministry of Education, voluntary cultural bodies, teachers of the arts, institutions like the Music Department of the University of Singapore, the People's Association, the National Theatre, RTS, and even the Ministry of Culture itself. Cultural development seems to me to occupy a rather uncertain place in the general pattern of Singapore's development plans. And yet such development is so important for nation-building and giving people a sense of community and solidarity. Here I take cultural development to mean development of the means and facilities providing access and participation in relation to culture. Presently, what are the rather blurred lines of policy that can be discerned especially according to budgetary allocation for cultural development. We find that there is good support for broadcasting and publicity. The rationale here is evident for this relates to communication between the government and the people. But other sectors within the portfolio of the Ministry of Culture do not seem, at least to me, Sir, to be receiving adequate attention in terms of financial support. Good support for art, for example, had to await the generosity and the initiative of the Singapore Arts Council. Contributions to cultural organisations have gone down suddenly from $110,000 to $20,000.”
“Sir, I am very grateful to the Minister for his interesting outline of the educational work of that section of his Ministry. I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the names of Messrs Ng Kah Ting, Ho See Beng, Teong Eng Siong, Sim Boon Woo, P. Govindaswamy and Cheong Yuen Chee - (4) That the sum to be allocated for Head P be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead BGA 1111.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head P be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead BEA 1109. I am raising this matter just to ask the Minister to give us information, for the enlightenment of this House and perhaps the public, regarding the functions of the Training and Education Department. Who are the people being trained, and what are the purposes?”
“Sir, in view of the Minister's patient and detailed reply, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendments stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting - (7) That the sum to be allocated for Head 0 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead CAA 2120. (8) That the sum to be allocated for Head 0 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead FAA 2270.”
“On another matter, I would like to draw the attention of the Registrar of Vehicles to the inadequate enforcement of traffic regulations in respect of heavy commercial vehicles, especially Malaysian registered vehicles. In many places in Singapore, especially along Dunearn Road and Bukit Timah Road, large lorries carrying timber and vegetables at all times of the day, do not pay any heed to traffic regulations. They know that they can get away with it because it is difficult to impose measures against them. The more they realise this, the more flagrantly do they flout the law. I do not think that any vigorous action taken against these vehicles will necessarily sour up relations with Malaysia, for I am sure they are not allowed to behave in this way on their own roads in Malaysia. May I, therefore, urge the competent authority to take proper action against these vehicles to discourage them from this insolent act.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 0 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead FAA l108 (The same amendment also stood in the names of Messrs Teong Eng Siong, Ang Nam Piau, P. Govindaswamy, Chin Harn Tong, N. Govindasamy and Ivan Baptist). Sir, I have two points to raise. First, I would like to refer to the question of smoky buses. Last year the Minister posed the problem - either we have smoky buses to carry passengers or we look after the smoky exhausts and have fewer buses on the road. The inevitable answer to that, of course, was that we had to have smoky buses. However, I am sure that by this time, after a passage of one year and with so many improvements in the bus service, this problem would have been solved to some extent. It is important that we take a more and more serious view of the presence of smoky buses on the road. Tolerance of lower standards of control of emission of smoke, especially where SBS is concerned, means retarding the progress of our anti-pollution campaign. How can we take measures against one sector for air pollution and do not take proper measures against another sector? To give one illustration of smoke on the road, one need only to take the instance of our school children jogging by the side of the road as part of their extra-curricular activities. Not infrequently I have noticed passing heavy vehicles, mostly buses, emitting smoke right into the midst of these children doing their exercise. How healthy is it for such children to breathe in heavily polluted atmosphere on the road? I know that action has indeed been taken in respect of smoky buses. If fines have been imposed on the SBS for smoky buses, further penalties should be imposed. They are making money. So I think we can be strict in this respect.”
“In that case, Mr Speaker, Sir, I withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave withdrawn. The sum of $2,099,940 for Head H ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $563,000 for Head H ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head J -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head H be reduced by $10 in respect of item (a) of subhead AAA 3090. Sir, I am rising to perform an almost annual ritual. This question of compensation for accidents involving Government vehicles has cropped up several times before. In 1973 I said that if the situation did not appear to get better I would say something about it again, and that is why I am standing up before you here today. According to information in the old volumes of Hansard, in March 1973 a total sum of nearly $125,000 was paid out in compensation. According to a question which I tabled for written answer, the total for FY 74 for the 11 months of 1974 is $376,398.80, a sum that represents three times what it was in 1973. The matter has really become much worse. But to compound the situation it would appear that compensation has to be paid even for accidents involving Police vehicles because a sum of $62,000 has been paid out in respect of accidents involving the Police. Under such circumstances, the situation requires some very strong admonition either from the Minister or in some way through the Attorney-General's Chambers. It is for this reason that I have risen to speak on this matter. Another point is that the appropriation for 1974 is $100,000 while the sum that is going to be paid out or has been paid out so far is $376,000. This discrepancy between the appropriation and the actual sum paid out has appeared again and again in the Estimates. Sir, I suggest that when the next Estimates are prepared we put in a sum that is perhaps closer to the experience that we have had so that Members can have an idea of the extent of compensation that has been paid, instead of having to find out by asking for a written answer to a question.”
“Significantly a sum representing about one-tenth the amount of this direct expenditure will be spent on public works, especially roadworks, necessitated by development of housing. Nearly $850 million has gone into loans for housing. There is nearly a 40% increase in the amount of loans to Statutory Boards and Companies, including over $700 million in the Ministry of Finance's Development Estimates. And so the catalogue goes on, Mr Speaker, Sir. The Budget papers indeed make fascinating reading and I would recommend them to anybody who is in need of a morale booster, for they detail our achievement and they show our faith in ourselves and our hope for the future. 3.12 p.m.”
“However, we should not forget the revenue-collecting purpose behind the imposition of the additional car tax. A respectable $26 million is anticipated. But the burden will be chiefly borne by those who own small and medium-sized cars. It would be interesting to know how many of these owners also run small and medium-sized businesses. It is hoped that, in such cases, the taxes will not be passed on to the consumer, in another little boost to inflation. Especially as the Government has, by its own measures, done its part, otherwise, in arresting the rate of inflation. Comparing 1974 with 1973, the rate of increase in the cost of living has slowed down significantly. However, food contributes nearly 60% to increases in the Consumer Price Index. There is reason, therefore, for us to welcome the coming Government campaign to drive home the message that good food need not necessarily mean the higher priced food. Success in the campaign will not only help the housewife in her domestic bud-getting but will perhaps also contribute towards pegging down general food prices somewhat. I wonder, though, if we should not give thought to the possibility that success in increasing the demand for lower-priced foodstuffs might send the prices of these foodstuffs up a bit. Mr Speaker, Sir, on the whole, there is very little doubt that the Government has done well for the citizens who gave it their mandate. And it is geared under present recessionary conditions, to maintain a fair rate of development. The Estimates show nearly a 50% increase, in FY 75 over FY 74, in Government's direct expenditure on development (excluding expenditure on the Armed Forces).”
“There was no break in this bland quality even when he came to the part where he talked about additional revenue having to come from increased taxes on items, 1 quote, "not basic to life for the average family". This imposition was, I think, greeted with mixed feelings on the part of Singaporeans - a little irritation mixed with a little relief: relief that the imposition had not been heavier because there were rumours that the tax on cars, for example, would be high indeed. And a little irritation because at least one of these items, namely the car, is not considered so much a luxury, under present circumstances, as almost a necessity to large numbers of people, judging by the perennial parking problem even in HDB precincts and other places where the average citizen dwells. The principal way to make people less attached to their cars is to make travelling in public transport so much less deterring than it is today, that people will not mind sacrificing the use of private vehicles. There is no doubt that one aim of the imposition of additional road tax is to add to the discouragement of individual car ownership. Most people feel, however, that this measure will not succeed - and the people who feel so are the people who own the cars. I appreciate that it is necessary, in order to make public transport a success, to ensure a high volume of users of public transport, who will later patronise the mass rapid transit system. Thus it is necessary to discourage individual car ownership wherever possible. And I support all encouragement given to the use of public transport. But apart from quasi-punitive measures, it is a positive and radical transformation of the public transport system that will eventually turn people to its use.”
“In the Memorandum to the Estimates, we learn that half the rationale behind latest improvements to the Estimates format is to enable classification of Government expenditure according to the economic impact of an expenditure. My own observation inclines me to believe that, in cases of expenditure where there is not an immediate, patent, quantifiable economic impact, then this is seized upon as justification for automatic pruning. There does not seem to be much readiness to think in terms of dimensions of a problem, or the aims of a project - what it is hoped to attain by it. Productivity is demanded in a simple way: greater output with fewer digits. This is like the father in a family economising by giving his children less to eat. Whether they will do more work because they are lean, or much less because they are starving - this may well be a less simple judgment to make. When a look is taken at productivity, it may be all too easy to come to facile, unctuous conclusion about the necessity for pruning. One has to guard against this mistake. For example, I had occasion, only a few days ago, to visit Fullerton Building. There I passed a department of the Ministry of Finance. While waiting, I saw a few of the staff of this department, sauntering between desks, lounging, and talking with one another, full of smiles. But I said to myself: "My, these workers are indeed happy. They must surely be owing this happiness to the efforts of the Management Services Department." And now, Mr Speaker, Sir, if the Minister will allow, I would like to comment on the bland way in which the Minister presented his Budget statement.”
“With that let me turn to the way priorities seem to be ordered in the minds of those who decide on the Budget for items that are not related immediately to economic returns, but which are all the same important and have a long-term effect on the way our people live, learn, train, work and earn, and hence on the way we progress economically and otherwise. Let us take., for instance, the example of neglect of the National Museum. It is depressing to contemplate this aspect and I intend to say a little bit more during Committee of Supply. Then there is the National Library. There has been a spate of resignations recently of officers in the library service. Further alarm and despondency has been spread among senior library officers by certain proposals relating to so-called economy and efficiency measures that, if implemented without careful consideration, may well result in hampering the optimum development of our library services. Even where the traffic police are concerned, suggestions have been made to them to reduce the strength of the mobile squad. This has been done apparently in the naive belief that the introduction of the points demerit system, restricted entry into the CBD, and other new traffic regulations, will enable fewer men to do more work. By such crude economies, is it hoped that the traffic police will achieve what, up to the present, has patently not been achieved, namely, adequate volume of enforcement? It is quite evident that when our budget authorities (wherever they are) budget for enterprises that are not immediately economically productive, they tend to think of manpower and other operating factors in terms of reducible digits.”
“We needed the participation of our teachers in the thinking out of our problems. Today, Mr Speaker, Sir, this response of resigned acquiescence to decisions is still there. What other response can there be when decisions are still made and policies thrust on teachers for them to implement and their views are canvassed only in respect of smooth implementation. Where is the optimum productivity possible under these conditions? How is the best economic effort achieved in the education sector? There is also another matter which is related to what I would like to think of as the economic disposition of educational resources. Why is it that we try to contrive an input of all sorts of knowledge, possible and impossible, into schooling? The reason for this is that we visualise the formal school as the only place where learning should occur. That is why we tend to ask: Why has history been dropped? There is not enough second-language time. Why not include consumer education, even family planning education, safety first education perhaps, and other things? If we could only realise clearly that education is for life, then we could take more positive steps to integrate a humane and civic education into the working and adult life of our citizen. Presently, in the out-of-school sector, we have done very well indeed in the establishment of institutions devoted to the improvement of work skills. But where education for living is concerned the time that we have at our disposal, if we think only of school, is quite inadequate. We have to think of other structures to bring about with effect and impact what is incorporated in the Chinese saying - Huo tao lao, hsueh tao lao - Live till old, learn till old.”
“I feel certain there are features in our education establishment and implementation of education policy, which may in the long run tend to result in diseconomies than in efficiency and optimum output. I refer to the way measures are introduced and dropped and new measures thought of and introduced in bewildering succession. In November 1974 an official statement on the restructure of the education system averred that our Republic's education system had been in operation for the past 15 years with only minor changes. This statement has resulted in my wondering whether I have rightly understood the meaning of `major' and `minor'. But even if the changes have not been major and have indeed been minor as alleged, then there have been so many of them introduced, and in a patchwork way, that it was right for the Member for Ulu Pandan to call out for a moratorium on these changes. Let us sit down to think carefully of what we want to do and let us do it together, teachers and administrators -not the bureaucrats alone. Let not policy be decided in some obscure bureau and the views of teachers and their unions and other professional bodies be sought merely to ensure smooth implementation of a new system. As early as 1968 a point was made in this House in respect of decision-making regarding educational policy. It was said that when plans were made not enough of the opinion of the rank and file of the teachers had been solicited and it was pointed out that without discussion there could not be that full and wholehearted commitment to implementation. I myself appealed in this House seven years ago, that whenever decisions were to be made, whenever plans were to be laid, we needed more than a resigned acquiescence to these decisions and plans.”
“These individuals, while espousing humanistic aims and individual freedom, cynically exploit the difficulties our idealistic youths are facing in their struggle to relate the first flush of new ideas and exciting thoughts to the realities of their social and political environment. In the university recent attempts at expressing dissent have followed a well-beaten path, trodden over and over again by student dissenters all over the world. Sing-along sessions, the pretence of humanism hiding the incitement to hate, making a comrade of Christ, and Messiahs out of student officials, the manufacturing of martyrs, the desanctification of authority and the attempt to pour scorn on social institutions, including the judiciary directly, and even Parliament indirectly, attempts at disruption and willingness to drop out: the pattern is very clear. Our young men and women entering into university should be warned against being made use of by those who do not wish us any good. Now let me turn to the more pedestrian domain of our school system. Of course, the Minister for Finance has made reference to some sectors of our education system which are directly relevant to manpower training and are in this way immediately related to economic progress. He has thus expressed his concern over the relationship of education to work and certainly this is a right concern. But there are other aspects of the formal educational system not immediately and patently seen as having economic significance which will have in the long run very important effects on our economic and social well-being. This should concern us especially in view of our President's injunction not too long ago that we should be guided by the long-term interests of all our people.”
“We should not feel too perturbed or surprised even over our discovery of evidence of intellectual activity at the University of Singapore. We should be happy that our undergraduates are studiously exercising themselves over moral issues as to the kind of society we should have and the right relations between man and man in our society. At the same time we should also remember that the student movement is the easiest thing in the world for those with unwholesome intentions to penetrate silently and surreptitiously. In the spring of 1967, Ramparts magazine published a most significantly revealing report. The report claimed that the (American) National Student Association (NSA), to which was affiliated student unions on more than 300 campuses all over the United States, had been subsidised for 15 years past by the Central Intelligence Agency. This support from the CIA had been to counter Soviet influence in the international student movement, which had been evident since as far back as 1946, when Communist delegations gained control of the first World Student Congress, which met in Prague. More recently, there is also a fair amount of evidence of Communist penetrations of the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). In an odd way our own students show they realise their vulnerability to penetration by constantly expressing their fear of subversion by our Internal Security Department. All in all, our students, especially those just entering university, should be warned against being pawns of shadowy individuals lurking in the background.”
“What stands out as a particular achievement of the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board is the discovery of a rather controversial location for Sir Stamford Raffles' landing. Other contributions to tradition and cultural development do not seem to prevail very much. It is interesting to note that more tourists from ASEAN countries are visiting Singapore. Let us show them that we are conscious of our own history and commendable past and that we appreciate the finer forms of expression. To help in this, I would like to bring up the view held by many that some part of the proceeds from the cess levied on tourist establishments he given over for the patronage of artistic and cultural development. The Budget statement sounded a note of firm confidence in the face of continued uncertainty in world economic conditions. We show confidence in ourselves and we know that others are confident in us. And this I say to our people: let us not do anything to affect this confidence in any way. The Member for Changi has, during the debate on the President's Address, expressed his concern over the possibility of Communist exploitation of economic uncertainties as well as of come-back attempts by right-wing political opportunists. The Member for Boon Teck has also referred to unwelcome interference by "ugly adventurers" in our internal political affairs. Not too long ago we witnessed at the University of Singapore some manifestations of student unrest. In respect of students experiencing an awakening within their souls to the realities of conditions in the adult world they find themselves in, the members of our society should look upon this with some gratification.”
“We should make it very clear that we will not allow a few to spoil the good name of the majority. Quite early in his Budget speech, the Minister referred to the importance of tourism in the services sector of our economy. Even you, Mr Speaker, in those days, when as a Backbencher you could speak, you did touch on the importance of protecting our tourists from dishonest dealing. I think this matter has been taken care of, and is continually being looked after. But more recently on another aspect the Finance Minister remarked publicly that there is no reason why the tourist industry should help to import the more undesirable manifestations of Western life-styles. There is also every reason indeed, Mr Speaker, why the tourist industry should help in the promotion of our cultural development through greater encouragement of the arts, and propagation of life-styles that will result in tourists having a good opinion of us not only for our material achievements, but also for our pleasing and respectable cultural attainments. I think this is a more correct picture for them to take away. With regard to expansion of tourism, I myself do not have it very clear in my mind as to whether it is owing to the efforts of the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board that we are getting more tourists, or whether people would come in any case on the basis of promotion by our national airlines, our missions abroad and by the natural advantages of Singapore's convenient location, as well as by other features, as for example the fact that Singapore is a clean city with green and pleasant surroundings, and has also a reputation for being well-run.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to congratulate the Minister for his Budget statement. It was short; I dare not say it was short and sweet. It was a brief, businesslike presentation, reviewing economic policy against the scenario of the economic survey of Singapore 1974 and the Memorandum on the Main and Development Estimates, as well as the detailed estimates themselves. Not long before the Budget statement, of course, the President's Speech at the opening of Parliament outlined the general policy of the Government. All these should make up the total backdrop to the presentation of Members' views today. The Government has, of course, to be praised for having guided us through 1974 adroitly, managing a relatively good growth rate, encouraging or contriving diversification in the manufacturing sector in terms of manufacturing activities, and in the trade sector, in terms of markets. In respect of trade, while vigorous marketing is of course important, emphasis must be laid on the quality of goods supplied, but very important also, on the integrity of our traders. While there is no doubt that the great majority of our traders are reliable, there have been one or two black sheep. For instance, a very bad example has been set by one or two exporters of sawn timber who have indulged in such malpractices as to bring upon themselves, and unfortunately on others too, the distrust of buyers. It is significant also that ungraded timber is shipped mostly to west Asian countries and this is particularly one area in which, as the Finance Minister's Budget statement states, we are seeking new markets. Our merchants know that the best advertisement is the quality of their goods and service.”
“No. This vehicle had a 30 mph disc on its back. What is the use of putting a 30mph disc on a vehicle that is supposed to be chasing after other vehicles? Going through this Highway Code, Mr Speaker, Sir, just listen to this: `When being overtaken, never speed up to prevent another driver from passing.' `In traffic hold-ups, do not "jump the queue".' These are the things that are actually happening, but they are incorporated in this Highway Code as offences. You must forgive me for being a little excited, Mr Speaker, Sir,I have been coming to this House and repeating, this again and again but no action has been taken to push across the idea that the Highway Code is a very important instrument of civic education. The Highway Code lays stress on responsibilities and courtesy and it is an important instrument of civic education. I think the Government should do all it can to put across this idea of proper conduct on the public road. Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That this Parliament, pursuant to subsection (2) of section 65 of the Road Traffic Act (Chapter 92), resolves that the Highway Code published as Notification No. 58 in the Subsidiary Legislation Supplement to the Gazette of 17th January, 1975, as contained in Paper S.L. 17 of 1975, be approved. COMMITTEE OF SELECTION 2.47 p.m. Resolved, "That this Parliament, in accordance with paragraph (1) of Standing Order 95, appoints the following as members of the Committee of Selection: E. W. Barker Chai Chong Yii Chin Harn Tong N. Govindasamy Ong Teng Cheong Sha'ari Bin Tadin Sia Kah Hui." - [Mr Jek Yeun Thong]. CIVIL LIST”
“There is no point reporting the fact to the Police that one of their vehicles has exceeded the speed limit because they will say that I do not have my car properly checked for speed. So in order to make that report justifiably to the Police -”
“Yes, including the Police and the Army. In fact, yesterday when I was driving home very carefully, I was overtaken by a Police vehicle that was exceeding the speed limit.”
“But I think we have to emphasise in all areas, especially in the Government departments as some of the biggest sinners are the Government departments indeed - you find PUB and PWD vehicles and all sorts of vehicles belonging to the Government breaking the traffic regulations almost gaily -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, of course we have to approve the motion that has just been tabled, but I would like to take the opportunity of saying one or two words about the Highway Code. The first point I would like to make, Sir, is that the Highway Code, up to the present moment, has been more honoured in the breach than in the observance. It is to avoid this amended Highway Code becoming a dead letter that I would like to say a few words. You can just take your car out on any occasion to any place where there are road users and you will find scores of traffic violations. Take, for example, The most important rule that has been given some prominence in the Highway Code, namely, that of "Keeping Left". Coming down Bukit Timah Road or Dunearn Road, the two arterial roads that lead into and out of Singapore, you will find lorries, supposedly with discs indicating their maximum speeds permissible, keeping grimly to the right side of the road and those vehicles keeping to the left side of the road are those which are trying to overtake those that are keeping grimly to the right side of the road. Another matter is that of the speed limit, which is again another point that is stressed in this Highway Code. I think the general tendency is for people to drive at least 10 miles per hour faster than they are allowed to drive. Perhaps this has been taken into account. But let us not make a hypocrite of the law, a mockery of the code, feeling we can allow people to drive faster than they should. In order to inculcate a respect for the code, one has to implement this code. This is the reason why I am making this remark that implementation of the code has not been successful. There has been a safety campaign recently with certain limited success achieved.”
“This certificate syndrome represents a gross superstition which we should do all we can to dispel. While qualifications are not unimportant, an appointee vindicates the choice of him by his employer through work, dedication and proven ability. It is how a person makes use of his education that is important to society. Education is not terminal. The end of one phase is the beginning of another, and this goes on throughout life. Because of the formal structure of our education system - necessarily so- the idea that education is terminal and even final takes root too easily. Throughout all the streaming and phasing and labyrinthine ways of our education system one point should constantly be stressed - and that is that schooling ends, but education goes on. There is a Chinese proverb that goes roughly like this: "Ten years to grow a tree; a hundred years to grow a man". [Shih nien hsu mu, pai nien hsu jen.] it is good that we constantly bear this wisdom in mind. I beg to support the Motion of Thanks moved by the Member for Kim Keat. 4.24 p.m.”
“This written word would only reach the younger elements of our population, many of whom are still in school. When we talk of education, we must therefore mean also the kind of non-formal means that would include our mass campaigns and the informal messages that go out through TV, Radio, the community centres and the citizens committees. This sort of education is for the civic side of the development of our people. For the vocational side, or for the occupational or even professional side of our people's development, let us examine the statement that says, "The primary duty of government is to establish a society in which everyone has an equal chance to live, learn, train, work and earn to the best of his or her ability." Opportunities are many for our citizens to learn to live their lives to the full, and to develop their work capacity to their best advantage. However, the motivation for learning, as I have witnessed it, Mr Speaker, Sir, is almost wholly for hoped-for material gain. Mixed with other motivating drives, like the urge for cultural development or for the acquisition of a gracious outlook, the expectation of some more material benefit is not at all reprehensible. :But if this expectation is about all there is in the urge to acquire knowledge, then we will constantly go back to square one of moneytheism. One retarding factor in the way our people regard education mainly for the material returns to education, one socially retarding factor is the almost idolatrous attitude towards paper qualifications. A certificate is looked upon as a written guarantee to better economic returns. Not a few who have joined the civil service have sadly equated their university qualification with administrative talent.”
“However, the bus service still may be likened to a vessel that has been buffeted somewhat by the storm. We hope that it will emerge from port in a few years' time - clean, trim and serving effectively. Indeed, this has to be so if we are successfully to wean away people from excessive dependence on private vehicles. In 10 years' time, people should indeed be seen to prefer to take public transport. They should indeed deem going by bus convenient, pleasant and a journey which affords a commuter time to look more often at the environs of a more attractive Singapore. We should succeed in bringing this about by the mid 80s - otherwise our mass rapid transit system will not get off the ground. Worse still, we will not have succeeded in growing out of being a community of selfish individualistic car drivers who insist on their private convenience at the risk of choking the city with traffic jams and choking people with pollution. The key to this particular aspect of our experience is the note in the President's speech that we have a Government that is prepared to take action before things get out of hand. The action that Government takes has always to be within the circumstances of people understanding Government policy. The important factor in the facility with which Government communicates with the people is education, If we think of education as meaning only formal schooling, then quite large numbers of our people would have been left out. Although our literacy rate is an average of about 70%, this is composed out of about 80% for males and 60% for females. About 40% of our women and 20% of our men would lack the literacy qualification to understand our message if we gave it through the written word.”
“Even when the races are over at Bukit Timah, the traffic policemen will show more consideration to those leaving the racecourse than to the hundreds of motorists who will be held up in a long jam on Dunearn Road for the convenience of those who are dejectedly returning from their orgy of gambling. Our cinemas and TV shows frequently give oblique recommendations to violence for the sake of covetousness. Meanwhile our interest in finer things is expressed by our giving relatively almost nothing to the National Museum, which we claim will serve as "an educational centre devoted to the art, history and anthropology of the peoples of this region." Presumably all this will come about merely by our uncharacteristic subscription to the idea that the best things in life are free. It is therefore all the more refreshing to notice a recommendation to filial virtue in the reference in the President's Address to intended measures "to make it more attractive for young couples to have their parents live with them". The relevant paragraph even ends by conjuring the domestic portrait of grandma and grandpa helping in bringing up children whilst father and mother are at work. Oh, Mr Speaker, Sir, would that such human touches obtrude more often in our otherwise dispassionate official statements. While concern for the problems of the old represents the most warmly human touch in the President's Address, other concerns related to the welfare of the people are expressed, among which must feature of course the problem, as the Member for Kallang has pointed out, of public transport. It must be said that the public transport system seems now to be sailing on less rough waters. At one time it looked like it was going to be torpedoed. But rescue operations have been ably carried out.”
“If one reckoned by more objective criteria of income, education, occupation and housing conditions, distribution by socio-economic status would be: about 58% middle and upper class, 42% lower class. This does not represent a picture of economic degradation and oppression that some commentators have tried to convey. What it does represent is a challenge to improve the conditions of our people further, and to add wherever we can a component that is related to the growth of graciousness in our community, graciousness as may be principally discerned in a concern for the human and physical environment, and for spiritual and cultural values. This graciousness has nothing to do with being able to spend money on spacious accommodation, posh appurtenances, and evidence of luxury. It has everything to do with regard and respect for right conduct which all can afford. There is fair evidence of the lack of this regard and respect in many, especially of our young people. Indeed, the President's Address laments the fact that a generation is growing up that wants the good things in life, but without working to pay for them. This attitude is, of course, reprehensible. But to what extent are the elders of our society also responsible for contributing to the delinquency of our young people. Have we not held up money, frequently enough, as a shining criterion of success, even with the consequence of one of our Ministers contributing for almost international circulation the coinage "moneytheism". A torn bank note features in a TV slot advertising the advantages of family planning. In advertising the sale of our official lottery, desire for property is the key incentive offered.”
“However, we must also remember that among us there are still many such as those who live in their one-room flats and earn just a little more than enough perhaps to keep them free from the fear of physical deprivation and free from fear about the predictability of their incomes. We must continue to do all to ensure that the general level of living for these people is raised to a level where they will more and more have time and the motivation to think of a sense of belongingness, to think of wanting to relate to their neighbours and to their environment. There is no doubt therefore that the first business of government is to continue to attend to what it has always considered to be its basic task - namely, to increase the size of the economic cake in such a manner as to ensure (besides other things) a bigger income (in real terms) for those in the lower income groups. And to supplement this with housing, hospital, recreational and various services. Attention to other needs on a more sophisticated level of want follows only when the basic task has been done. In the light of this order of quality of life, the achievement of government has been respectable. In a consideration of income by house-hold heads for 1966 we find 66.7% earned below $250 per month. For 1972, an ECAFE survey noted that 32% earned below $250. The percentage of those earning more than $250 rose from roughly just over 30% in 1966 to just under 70% in 1972. If we try to identify our population by social class groupings an ECAFE survey tells us that just under 70% of those surveyed in 1972 considered themselves middle and upper class by self-identification.”
“For example, those in charge of making or servicing our roads should not be satisfied with the present standards considering how easily wear and tear affects road surfaces and how poorly the patching is done. For example, again, consider how so many people get away with petty to serious infringement of the law, as in the case of large numbers of overspeeding vehicles or smoky vehicles. Again, there is the continuing possibility of improvement that still remains in respect of service at various counters in government offices or institutions that deal with the public. Mr Speaker, Sir, this is not the most suitable juncture to catalogue further illustrations of the dangers of lowering standards that confront us in many aspects of our living, and even of our learning and working and training and earning and perhaps buying and selling, and so forth. In fact, the opportunity for such detailed comment will be given to Backbenchers very shortly when Parliament goes into Committee of Supply. But the point has to be made about the possible threat to the realisation of an ideal we have talked about regarding a higher quality of life for our citizens. It would not be inappropriate to mention here that quality is not equated merely with material betterment. However, we should remember too that, according to the most respectable social psychologists, people will not want to strive for the fulfilment of their higher needs until their most basic needs like survival and freedom from want have been adequately assured. This freedom we have succeeded in giving the vast majority of our people ample assurance of.”
“It is in this way that the revolution the party-in-power initiated 20 years ago has been continued and maintained, and this Government must continue to monitor the change and progress of our society towards a more and more stable and happy polity. However, I suggest that the Government has presently to be specially watchful and jealous in safeguarding the standards of service and achievement that have always characterised its actions, actions which have been supported by a people described in the President's Address as "responsive to collective needs". Within our community, general standards have recently faced the danger of some erosion - a danger of which the Government is only too well aware. The Prime Minister has himself recently remarked, for example, on the poor quality of finish in the building industry. No doubt where this particular detail is concerned, a suitable response will be contrived. For we note in the Addendum pertaining to the Ministry of National Development that programmes to train and upgrade skills in the building industry are being planned. This aspect is, however, only a symptom of a more general potential malaise - namely, the danger of people succumbing to the temptation of accepting lower standards as being the easy way out, within the circumstances of relatively hectic development. Because of rapid development, and a comparatively good development achievement (despite adverse world economic conditions) the temptation has been strong to being easily satisfied with chin-chye work, so long as it is speedily done. The temptation to give in to an insidious complacence and inclination towards making short work of things have not been easy to resist. And certainly we must resist the tendency to tolerate lower standards.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to endorse most firmly the Motion of Thanks moved by the Member for Kim Keat. The speech which the President delivered on behalf of the Government represents a succinct statement of policy, elaborated in the various addenda pertaining to the different Ministries. The contents of this combined statement have a comprehensive reference. Many issues have been touched upon and problems and tasks outlined. As the President's Address will have it, with perhaps characteristic understatement, "there will be much to keep Honourable Members busy in 1975." Shakespeare spoke of the famous Egyptian queen, Cleopatra, as one whom age could not wither nor custom stale her infinite variety. When one views the variety of problems the Government-party in power has been confronted with since 1959; when one considers the multitude of issues the present Government has been involved with since it assumed office; when one remembers the freshness and even audacity and determination, with which it has set about its tasks, then it is not a romantic embellishment, or any kind of verbal liberty, to say that custom cannot stale the infinite variety of the responses which our Government contrives to meet all sorts of situations it has to face. Indeed the changes we have brought about can only be described as revolutionary. Yet so many people take for granted, or have become over-accustomed to, the performance of the Government amidst its concern for the development of our people. This concern has not been characterised by sentiment or undue emotion or incorporated in extravagantly phrased political manifesto; this concern has been rational, cool, expressing interest in long term consequences and lasting benefits.”