Lau Ping Sum
Singapore
“Sir, does the Minister agree with the present method of computation under which any amount withdrawn on the last day of the month would not earn any interest between the first day of the month and the date of withdrawal?”
“In the case of the new housing projects in Ang Mo Kio, in deciding on the judicious mix between public and private housing, would the Ministry take into account the fact that a large number of Ang Mo Kio residents have indicated a preference for more HDB flats within the town?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head O of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code OA 1500. Sir, foreign service in Singapore, as in other countries, is a premier service. The demands on and challenges faced by the foreign service officers are many and varied.”
“Sir, in the last 35 years, a large number of Singaporeans have benefitted from technical assistance given by other countries, eg, under the Colombo Plan. Many of our senior engineers and other professionals were, in fact, trained in countries like Australia and New Zealand.”
“I am certain that the Singapore Turf Club is more than capable of devising schemes of various descriptions to finance the relocation of its facilities to Kranji. For example, with the use of modern technology, wireless communications and smart phones, off-course betting can raise its revenue significantly.”
“The activities that they organise are many and varied and it is common knowledge that many of our foreign guests are impressed by the safety and the quality of life that we get in HDB estates.”
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“With a more highly educated and sophisticated population, obsolete rules and policies should be discarded. I welcome the fact that the book "The Next Lap" has been translated in all the official languages of Singapore. However, I regret that the decision to translate them into the other languages seems to have been taken at the last minute, in response to requests from the press. This is far too important a book to have it only in the English language and we have precedents in the Government where other important documents are in four languages - the income tax returns, the Mindef invitations to parents to visit their sons in national service camps - and I venture to suggest that this book is no less important than either of the two documents. If we want our CCC members, our taxi drivers, our shopkeepers, our trade union members, many of whom have had not much of an English education, to discuss the concepts and ideas, then surely the book should be in all languages. I would urge the grassroots organisations, professional bodies, trade unions, clan associations, tertiary institutions and schools to discuss the topics extensively and contribute their ideas. Performance measures and check-points should be defined so that collectively we can track our progress and make appropriate and timely adjustments. Sir, the next century will be characterised by dramatic shifts in knowledge and wealth. Economies should "rev up or drop out". With the improved infrastructure, greater productivity and a greater sense of collective responsibility, we shall be ready for it.”
“These skills were not the result of a general educational system but of a process closely connected to competition in that particular field. As it is said, "It is the outcome of thousands of struggles for competitive advantage against foreign rivals in particular segments and industries." Examples are German high performance cars, Korean compact cars and Japanese general purpose machines. They have succeeded because they actively seek out, in a never-ending process, new advantages and struggle with rivals to protect the advantages. On the Ministry of Community Development, I welcome the plan to do more for the disadvantaged, in particular, the scheme to pay for HDB rental and public utility bills. The revised public assistance rates would help, in some way, those who are in financial difficulties. It used to be said, "We have no time for those who fall by the wayside." Surely, we have passed the stage where economic growth was of over-riding concern. We can afford and should do more to help those who have lost their sole breadwinners or those with chronic illnesses even as we continue to stress community and family support. Caring for the less fortunate is a measure of the maturity of our society and in keeping with all the religious faiths. On the Ministry of Information and the Arts, a more vibrant and dynamic cultural scene has been promised. Censorship policy review, cable TV and a re-vitalised SBC are new developments which many Singaporeans are looking forward to. It is recognised that to inform, educate and entertain all at the same time is extremely difficult, if not impossible. What is required is more good sense and balance and less bureaucracy and regulations.”
“"Singapore is our home." The concept of home should extend beyond our flats or houses. We cannot keep our own flats clean and turn a blind eye to dirty lifts and staircases. Selfish or inconsiderate acts are still common. Heavy penalties are necessary short term measures. Greater emphasis on moral values and civic-mindedness must be given in schools and at home. In the Addendum on the Ministry of Trade and Industry, it has been stressed that our competitive advantage must continue to be a competent and hardworking workforce and excellent infrastructure. The question of why a particular country has been able to create and sustain competitive advantage in a particular field has fascinated economists and planners for some years. Some see the issues in terms of exchange rates, interest rates and government deficits. But Italy and Korea have enjoyed rising standards of living despite high interest rates and government deficits. Others believe that competitiveness is a function of cheap labour and natural resources. But Sweden, Germany and Switzerland have done very well indeed despite high wages and labour shortage. Japan, of course, has limited resources, expensive labour and high overheads. Fundamentally, productivity is the main determinant of how well a country performs. The productivity of our workers would determine the wage levels and the productivity with which capital is employed affects the returns it earns. High productivity means high national income from which higher tax revenue would be generated to finance better public services. As has been pointed out by Michael Porter, some countries have succeeded in international competition in certain segments or industries largely because their workforce possesses specialised skills.”
“A leader must have a vision of the future, creating and channelling the people's energies towards reaching it. The leader sets the objectives and maintains the standards, motivating and encouraging his followers. He understands their concerns and shares their aspirations. Leadership means responsibility, as Truman said, "The buck stops here". A true leader is not afraid of strength in his associates and subordinates. It is because he holds himself ultimately responsible for the failure of his associates. And also because he sees their triumphs as his own triumph. Therefore, he encourages them and pushes them to greater heights. A leader must earn the trust of the people. If there is no trust, they will not follow him for long. To trust a leader, it is not necessary to agree with everything he says or all the policies of the day. Trust is the belief that the leader is honest and effective. Trust is the conviction that the leader is committed to the long-term interest of the country. One of the most significant elements in the President's Address is the series of measures to strengthen the sense of common ownership and collective responsibility. Every Singaporean must play a role and contribute to the progress of Singapore. It is necessary to increase the value of his assets, to make Singapore as attractive a place as possible. But more importantly, the sense of belonging must be emphasised. The national spirit has been mentioned in the Addendum on the Ministry of Information and the Arts. How do we develop this from young is a subject of vital importance, especially for a generation of young Singaporeans brought up on a diet of hamburgers and fried chicken and using English most of the time, and, in some cases, learning the mother tongue with the greatest of reluctance.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the motion moved by the Member for Toa Payoh GRC. Last Friday, when the President outlined the policy directions of the Government, he referred to a new chapter in our young history. He said, "A new generation of leaders is in place." Few countries, if any, have managed a change in leadership at the highest level as smoothly as Singapore. It is a testimony to the selflessness of both the old and the new leaders. The greatest indictment of a leader is to leave the country without an effective leader as had happened in Russia, the moment Stalin died. Some commentators in the foreign press have described our new Prime Minister as a consensus-seeker lacking in charisma. But is charisma necessary for an effective leadership? Eisenhower, George Marshall and Harry Truman were known to be exceptionally effective leaders but none of them was known to possess charisma. Neither was Konrad Adenauer who remained the Chancellor of West Germany after the War till the age of 90. Other examples include Lincoln in 1860 and even Churchill during the inter-war years. In fact, charisma may become the undoing of leaders. It makes them unfeeling and unsympathetic, convinced of their own righteousness, certain in their knowledge that they are never wrong, unable to adapt to new circumstances and oblivious to the suffering of others. Stalin, Hitler and Mao Zedong were truly charismatic leaders. But look at the suffering they inflicted upon humanity, including their own countrymen. Historians tell us that only Alexander the Great's early death saved him from being an ineffectual failure. True leadership is concerned with thinking through the basics of survival in a complex world characterised by dramatic shifts in power, in knowledge and in wealth.”
“Could I ask the Minister of State to respond to my question on the foreign workers? Mr Mah Bow Tan: My apologies, Sir, to Mr Lau Ping Sum. First of all, the question of foreign workers. The answer is, yes, foreign workers are covered under the Census but they will not be answering the same questions as the Singaporeans. In so far as when some preliminary data will be obtained, we are hoping that with the new methodology as practised, when more information is provided under this information exchange, we will be able to get the preliminary data much faster than before and we are hoping that some meaningful data will be available for analysis towards the end of this year or early next year. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Mr Mah Bow Tan]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. MASS RAPID TRANSIT CORPORATION (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read.”
“Sir, I just want to find out whether the census will cover the foreign workers in Singapore. And if so, whether they will be asked to answer the same questions as Singaporeans. Secondly, in view of the immense amount of data to be collected, how long will the Government take before some preliminary data can be compiled and publicised?”
“In recent years, the emergence of computer viruses has caused great concern to many system operators. Computer virus is a programme which can replicate and spread quickly through a network of computers causing nuisance and damage. Some viruses are benign and relatively innocuous, for example, displaying Christmas greetings on 25th December. There is one that specialises in giving colourful descriptions to the political leaders of the world. And I am afraid our leaders have not been spared. Considerable expenses and effort would be required to get rid of these viruses. Other more malicious ones seek to destroy all the data and corrupt the programmmes they come into contact with. I would like to know the progress of updating our legislation to deal with the persons who create and spread the viruses. What are the liabilities of the culprits to the persons affected by the virus? What are the rights of a person who suffers damages caused by the virus? Specific provisions with suitable punishment would deter potential hackers and those who create and spread the viruses. In addition, it will bring home the point that it is vitally important that all systems should pay greater attention to system control and security procedures.”
“This programmer was part of the team developing the front-end processing programme for the cheque banking system. This programme would verify that the manual transactions were collected and validated before being passed to the mainframe for processing. After testing was completed, the programmer amended the programme to arrange that the first 10 transactions were diverted to a bank account which he had in Switzerland. On the first day that the system was to run live, the programmer did not turn up for work. He was on his way to Switzerland. After 15 minutes, the bank discovered that there was something wrong and stopped the processing. But it was too late. Six million pounds had been fraudulently transferred electronically. It is said that the programmer has made a deal with the bank to return some of the cash in exchange for no prosecution. Sir, in the past, in Singapore perpetrators of computer fraud were charged under section 380 "Theft in Dwelling", section 381 "Theft as a Servant" or section 420 "Abetment of Conspiracy to Cheat." I would like to know if the Ministry is satisfied that these provisions are specific enough to deal with computer frauds. Sir, another form of computer crime is hacking. Hacking refers to the unauthorised access to computer systems by finding out illegally user identification and passwords. It is usually carried out by youngsters for the intellectual challenge or adventure it entails. Monetary gain is not usually the motivating factor. But damage may be caused if the system fails to function normally. I would like to ask the Minister to what extent can section 425 of the Penal Code which defines the offence of mischief be applied to hacking?”
“Sir, I would like to endorse the views expressed by Dr Ho and point out that the advent of Information Technology (IT) has transformed the way we work and live. Many of the repetitive, tedious and time-consuming operations in the office have been taken over by the computer. Increasingly, the new information systems are being used not just to replace manual work but to provide new and better pro- ducts and services to increase market share and revenue. At the same time, the extensive use of IT has brought with it problems relating to unauthorised access to and damage of computer systems. Since the introduction of computer network and on-line transaction processing, data can be exchanged all over the world in a matter of seconds. Prevention of computer crimes requires greater awareness of system security and control and specific provisions to deal with them. In many countries, the legislative process has not kept up with the rapid technological developments in IT. Singapore is no exception. Sir, computer fraud is the practice of abusing a computer system to obtain money or goods by deception. Human intervention is sometimes reduced after computerisation and where segregation of duties is not carefully enforced and monitored, opportunities could be created for fraud. Of course, fraud can take place in all systems, even in manual systems. But with an increasingly computer-literate workforce, the extensive use of the PC and terminals, such crimes have emerged even in Singapore, as reported by Dr Ho and the newspapers from time to time. In fact, the amount that has been lost in Singapore has been negligible compared to what has been reported overseas. For example, there was a case of an electronic fund transfer in UK involving a software programmer.”
“Sir, could the Parliamentary Secretary inform the House on the number of students in Ang Mo Kio who are affected by this?”
“There is a certain gray area in these instances. I think these reservations and issues should be explained fully by the Minister. The prohibition orders are designed to protect the long term stability of the country and not to suppress viewpoints not in line with official policies. There are some who have yet to be convinced of the rationale for the legislation and a full and frank debate and well-informed discussions at all levels are necessary for an insight into this fundamental issue. 4.55 pm [Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Abdullah Tarmugi) in the Chair]”
“To reinforce faith in the common ethical values, it is necessary for religions to establish constant contact and consultation. This process will enhance mutual understanding and lessen the likelihood of conflict between different religions. The proposed Presidential Council for Religious Harmony should widen its functions. It should not be confined to matters affecting the maintenance of religious harmony referred to it by the Minister or by Parliament. Apart from these matters, it should actively examine and review the existing inter-religious relations and recommend measures to strengthen mutual understanding . Where various religions are represented, is there sufficient dialogue and communication among the different groups? There is much the Council can do for Singapore to continue as a shining example of a multi-religious society. Sir, clause 8 1(b) empowers the Minister to make a prohibition order against a person for promoting a political cause and clause 8(1)(d) for exciting disaffection against the President or the Government of Singapore. Some reservations have been expressed in these two areas. These provisions are general and perhaps capable of different interpretations. For example, if a church leader were of the view that all children should be given equal opportunities to be admitted into schools regardless of their mothers' educational qualifications, would this have been considered as exciting disaffection if the policy had continued? If a religious leader told his congregation that more help should be given by the Government and the people of Singapore to the poor and needy in terms of financial assistance and infrastructural support, would this be promoting a political cause because the opposition parties held the same view?”
“A second principle is that we should refrain from condemning other religions. We should respect the right of others not to share our beliefs. Some religions claim exclusivity, ie, that they represent the only path to truth and the Almighty. They are of course entitled to their views. Nevertheless, they should not criticise and highlight the negative aspects of other religions. Perhaps they could take a leaf from IBM where the sales representatives are trained from day one to sing the praises of all the wonderful and even unique features of the IBM system architecture but never to pass derogatory remarks about the competitors' equipment. A third principle is that we should all try to learn more about various religions. Inter-religious conflicts are often caused by ignorance and prejudice. We live in an environment where the major religions of the world are practised. We cannot afford to take a blinkered view. The subject "World Religions" should be taught to all our students to impart knowledge but not to propagate a certain faith. I see no contradiction in this with the fact that Singapore is a secular state. On the contrary, the removal of ignorance and prejudice will strengthen the foundation for religious harmony in Singapore. All religions have a certain unity in terms of universal and ethical values. It is not merely a belief in justice, honesty, equality, human dignity, but also a belief in spiritual terms, the concept of an everlasting life, the repugnance of materialism, the importance of moderate living and family ties. For all the great spiritual ideals upheld by all religions, human behaviour unfortunately often falls short of these ideals. In the final analysis, we are judged not by what we say, but by what we do.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, Singapore has enjoyed a longish period of peace and harmony. The visible signs of inter-religious harmony are everywhere - mosques, churches and temples of various descriptions can be found in most if not all housing estates. But, more importantly, behind this external facade of peace and harmony, Singaporeans have come to terms with the fact that we profess and practise different religions and are free to propagate our faiths. This happy state of affairs has been brought about by a vigilant ISD because fanatical and extremist preachers have been expelled and barred from entry. In addition, a relatively relaxed and sensible attitude has prevailed among the followers of various religions in Singapore. It is of course the duty of all Singaporeans to protect the peace and harmony in our society not only for ourselves but also for future generations. The recent emergence of fundamentalist revival can be due to various factors. Perhaps it is due to the rapid modernisation and urban development. Perhaps it is a sense of insecurity, a fear of failure and a compensation for difficulties in competing with others in secular pursuits. Religious polarisation must not be allowed to emerge for it will lead to violence and bloodshed. For example, the Catholics and Protestants in Ireland, the Sunnis, the Druzes and the Maronites in Lebanon. A number of guiding principles are of fundamental importance. We should cultivate a willingness to show respect to one another. Tolerance is not sufficient for tolerance connotes a half-hearted acceptance of a disagreeable situation. It is one-sided. Mutual respect, on the other hand, shows a two-way process, a more positive attitude. It has to be developed and nurtured from young.”
“So the real difference is $1,000 and the rebate is in the region of perhaps $100-$150, assuming an effective income tax rate of 10-15%. Sir, in many of these cases, for example, children with low vision, medical costs are not exactly inexpensive as we know specialists' costs can be pretty high. Special transportation has to be arranged, perhaps even a special diet has to be provided for these children. I have urged the Minister for Finance to have some flexibility in the implementation of this income tax relief for in certain cases where higher amounts are neces- sary to look after these disabled children. I would like the Minister to add his support to the appeal of Backbenchers to ask for greater flexibility in the implementation of this relief. Mr Loh Meng See (Kampong Glam)( In Mandarin): Mr Chairman, I would like to touch upon public assistance. I am happy to note that the trend is towards the decline in the number of Public Assistance recipients from 3,874 in 1986 to 3,420 projected in the new financial year. Despite this, the cost of operating the department handling the Public Assistance cases is projected to go up with no additional benefits going to the PA recipients. Would the Minister give sympathetic consideration to the plight of these PA recipients? I am aware that the present rate of $130 pm was revised not too long ago but other rates and costs are all going up. The Government has itself acknowledged the need to adjust the CPF minimum sum scheme. I, therefore, urge the MCD to spare a thought to these PA recipients. I am sure that the state can afford to provide more financial help to these PA recipients who have after all met the stringent criteria for social welfare.”
“Sir, I am glad to note that the Minister has announced the acceptance of the Report produced by the Advisory Council on the Disabled. I would like to focus my attention on one or two aspects of the Report put up by the Committee on Employment, Accessibility and Transportation for the Disabled. Sir, as pointed out by the Committee, Singapore missed an opportunity to create a totally barrier-free environment when the public housing and urban renewal programme was launched. It further pointed out that the self-regulatory accessibility code would not work, as shown in Hong Kong which in 1985 eventually introduced a statutory code. As an independent country, we have lagged behind Hong Kong, a colony, in catering for the special needs of the disabled. The recently announced tax rebate for renovation to buildings to improve their accessibility to the disabled is commendable. However, it is uncertain how many buildings would be renovated in the near future as a result of the tax concession. I would therefore urge the Ministry to accelerate the work towards its noble objective. Serious consideration should be given to introducing a legislated accessibility code for all new buildings. Vision 1999 would be less than inspiring if the disabled among us cannot even move freely around Singapore and play their useful roles as citizens. The second point is connected with the question of the income tax relief for the disabled dependants which the Minister also mentioned just now. As announced by the Minister for Finance, the income tax relief for those with disabled dependants has been raised from $750 to $2,500 and appears at first sight it is a most generous provision. However, the income tax relief for those with normal children the tax relief is $1,500.”
“I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“' In our context, against a back-drop of increasing Westernization, the need to curb the violence, permissiveness and foul language used in some films is undisputed by most. However, standards of acceptability are not static. For example, kissing scenes were taboo in most Asian films only a decade ago. But today even films produced in China have relaxed such a rule. The role of the film censor is certainly difficult. It requires consistent application of good judgment based on a set of criteria which ought to be reviewed from time to time taking into account changing circumstances. I would like to ask the Minister if, in recent years, the criteria for censorship have been reviewed and updated, for the enjoyment of films can be marred by disjointed scenes. In addition, I would like to ask the Minister what kind of training and development plans are in place for the film censors whose responsibility is to achieve a balance between national objectives on the one hand and artistic expression and entertainment value on the other.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head I be reduced by $10 in respect of Code IF 1500 of the Main Estimates. Sir, as a medium of communication or artistic expression, the film is one of the most powerful. Whether for entertainment or education, vivid images and sounds create an impact which the printed word cannot match. With rising affluence, the TV set and video cassette recorder are found in almost all households. The way of life depicted, the attitudes and values shown on films and TV programmes reach out immediately to all segments of the population. It is, therefore, necessary to have some form of censorship or control of what is available for public viewing. This is true not only in Asian societies but also in the West where artistic expression is not without constraints. In a recent article in the "Economists" and I quote: ' ... If not quite unshockable, the West is thick-skinned, and is surprised when others are not. The truth is somewhat different, as followers of "The Last Temptation of Christ" will remember. The West shows regularly that it can take offence too, and that limits are set for artists even in the freest societies.' The writer then gave several examples where artistic expression was not without its constraints. One example, he gave, in a case in Britain, a Canadian artist and a gallery curator were fined in February for exhibiting a mannequin wearing earrings of freeze-dried human foetuses. In that case the Judge told the jury: 'In any civilized society, there has to be a constraint on freedom to act in a way which has an adverse effect on other members of the society.”
“Sir, before we formulate and formalize a national ideology, we need to encourage active participation by all segments of the population. In the nation-wide forums and discussions which had taken place before the Agenda for Action was drawn up, the English-speaking citizens had been most vocal. On the other hand, the dialect-speaking or Mandarin or Malay-speaking citizens were less active. Since the national ideology is concerned with the fundamental values and aspirations of all Singaporeans, more opportunities should be created for the reticent to give their inputs. It cannot be the case that they have no views of their own or they agree entirely with those who speak up. Perhaps it is an age-old habit of not wanting to say anything for fear of being proved wrong or the belief that actions speak louder than words. And I hope it is not an indication of latent discontent in some quarters. In any case, the reasons for the silence should be analyzed and reviewed. Sir, as we brace ourselves for the challenges of the future, we should clearly spell out what we believe in as a people and together make our mark in the community of nations.”
“It is, of course, not our intention to advocate a return to the traditional family in Chinese society where the father would seem to be omnipotent, obdurate and uncompromising. Chinese children growing up in extended households learned that they could get around the stern father by establishing personal ties with a particularly warm uncle or aunt or grandparent. The origins of "guan xi" ( ) or relationship began early in life. In due course, nepotism developed. And it was common for officials to dispense favours to relatives or close friends - a lamentable practice in Chinese society which is a stumbling block to progress - where rules and regulations are virtually ignored and the rule of law sounds hollow. Sir, much has been said about the pursuit of excellence. Indeed, we need to excel and produce quality goods and services more efficiently than others in order to secure a foothold in the international economy. Great emphasis has been placed on producing able scholars. It is gratifying to note that the Singapore student team did very well in the international Mathematics Olympiad which was held in Canberra last year. We should do our utmost to ensure that the brightest and the best students are given all the opportunities they fully deserve. At the same time, we must not neglect the educational and psychological needs of the many who are in the normal stream and the extended and monolingual streams. Have we done enough for them? What plans does the Government have to improve the quality and range of training courses for these people? No Singaporean should feel being left out and alienated in the 1990s, for everyone has a role to play in modern Singapore.”
“According to a recent BBC programme, doctors in the United States are subject to extremely high levels of stress mainly because of the likelihood of litigation, and medical costs have skyrocketted as they need to cover themselves against all kinds of claims by the patients. In many societies the human psyche and collective decision-making has not been conditioned to accept the confines of logical consistency. Coherent and logical views may not prevail for various reasons. It is common to see a great deal of violence and physical aggression on TV programmes in America. And despite the known harmful effects of such scenes on the viewers, there is little attempt to censor such scenes. They appeal to the aggressive instincts of the audience and commercial considerations outweigh the logic of social cost. One of the fundamental principles we subscribe to is the concept of the family as the basic building block of our society. In Asian societies, the family has always been a very important unit. It is the parents' responsibility to nurture the young and it is expected of children to look after their parents in their old age. We have to guard against a tendency to leave the old folks at some institutions forlorn and forsaken inspite of what they have done for their children. Single-parent families and high divorce rates. It is necessary for Singaporeans to re-emphasize the importance of closely-knit families. The mutual support and reinforcement among family members help us to ride out life's difficulties and the emotional ties and feelings of attachment make for a happy family. Such families are the foundation of a stable society.”
“And therefore I was a little disturbed when I read in the Chinese papers last week that the Minister for Trade and Industry pointed out that the use of Clips in primary schools in the teaching of Chinese language was a serious blunder. And I was rather relieved when the Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications and Information yesterday gave some statistics to show that the contents of the teaching materials used in primary schools, some 45% is concerned with the teaching of Asian traditions and moral values. However, perhaps a review can be made by the Ministry as to whether this percentage is adequate and whether some improvement could not be made. The study of the Chinese language should in any case never be based on a mechanistic or quantitative approach. The rationale of a set of common values, defined as National Ideology, is to ensure the emergence of a cohesive and durable society. These values would determine the obligations of our people in various roles as employees, employers, as children or parents, students or teachers, citizens or leaders. In the process, we should maximize the areas of agreement and seek consensus. If differences of views persist, we should accept them amicably. There is a saying in Chinese, "Junzi he er bu tong, Xiaoren tong er bu he" ( ), which roughly translated means that the gentlemen sustain harmony in disagreement, while the small-minded men quarrel even when they agree with each other. But this sentiment is not necessarily taken as self-evident by Western societies.”
“Still, we are mindful of the fact that Singapore remains a small and open economy heavily dependent on external trade. Protectionism and the cyclical fluctuation in the world economy will affect us directly. How our people will react to the vicissitudes in life would depend on the values we share as a people. Will people, especially the highly qualified and the talented, in Singapore flock to Canada or Australia at the first sign of trouble? I agree with the Minister of State for Trade and Industry that there is a need to look into this potential problem. Will Singaporeans be no different from the residents of Hong Kong? Hong Kong is still a colony, and we have been independent for 23 years. Over the years we have attempted to forge a sense of identity through the use of a common working language, English, through national service, community songs and all kinds of grassroots activities. Some degree of success has been achieved. But a good deal more needs to be done. The People's Association's efforts to encourage residents of all races to participate in CC activities are commendable. Interaction of residents of all races has taken place and should be promoted. It is now up to all Singaporeans to do what they can to promote this interaction. Sir, it has been said that people cling to their traditions not because of some vague feeling or sentimentality for their past legacies, but because these traditions and values form part and parcel of their personalities. To a certain degree, our attitudes and values are shaped by childhood experiences - the stories we heard and the lessons we learned at school usually had a moral message, the concept of right and wrong, the virtues of diligence, loyalty, respect for elders, and so on.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the motion moved by the Member for Siglap to thank the President for his Speech on 9th January at the opening of the Seventh Parliament. Sir, the President's Speech was significant for two reasons. In the first place, it outlined the goals and challenges facing Singapore and the programmes drawn up by the various Ministries to meet them. Secondly, it embodied the basic philosophy of this Government, and that is, to create a better life for all Singaporeans. There are undoubtedly many governments in this world which have declared similar goals to give a better life to all their citizens. However, not many have achieved the goal. For example, 71 years after the Bolsheviks took power in Russia the availability of consumer goods remains severely limited in the country and, in China, after 40 years of reconstruction under communist rule, General Secretary Zhao Ziyang told his party last year that they were still at the primary stage of socialism. Easing the controls in certain sectors of the Chinese economy has brought inflation to unprecedented levels. Equality and prosperity remain a pipe-dream in China and Russia. The market based economies have brought a high standard of living to the people. But there again they are beset by problems of rampant drug addiction and high crime rate. In some cities people dare not venture outdoors after dark. By any measure of people's well-being from health care and housing to education and employment, Singapore has done creditably in the last 20 years. We can look back with some pride and perhaps a little relief that, despite the recession of the mid-80s and the stock market turmoil in 1987, we have not buckled under.”
“I am sure in this and other areas, the Oral History Unit can play a crucial role in bringing home the importance of such virtues and qualities. The Archives and Oral History Unit has perhaps been too much of a low-key provider of a service. Perhaps they should look into ways and means of making available the materials that are in the offices of the Oral History Unit. The catalogues, references, indexes can be made available to our tertiary institutions and schools so that students who are doing projects on history can make ready reference to them. The Clan Associations, some of which have over a hundred years' history in Singapore, are a rich source of information and contain many stories of heros and heroines, many of them are unknown. I am sure the Unit must have very good contacts and connections with the Clan Associations in order to preserve a part of our Singapore history which might go unnoticed. I would like to find out about the plans and activities of the Unit and what they intend to do to give greater visibility to this very important area of work.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head J be reduced by $10 in respect of Code JH 1000 of the Main Estimates. Although this topic is on Oral History Unit, I would like to add my support to the previous speaker's request for the opening of libraries on Sundays. And if the Minister has problems with manpower, I suggest that he refers to the Minister for Labour who has successfully asked the People's Association staff to work longer hours without increase in numbers. Sir, here I would like to touch on a different topic which is the Archives and Oral History Unit. Sir, all countries, large and small, have their own historical perspective and we in Singapore are no exception. Without a sense of history and a pride in our past, we cannot have an adequate understanding of the present and realistic aspirations for the future. In the day of technology and telecommunications, do our younger Singaporeans understand the early history of Singapore? Are they aware of the deprivation and hardship that the early migrants went through, the quality of perseverance which is so much a hallmark of the success of Singapore, the brutality and the viciousness of the Japanese soldiers? To us in our 40s and perhaps some of us in our 30s, we have relatives or uncles, elder brothers taken away by the Japanese soldiers, tortured and beaten to death. This brings home the stark reminder of the importance of our own defence capability, the importance of national service. Do our younger Singaporeans see national service as a chore, as a burden of 2(r) years of unproductive work? Or do they see it as an essential part of our defence capability?”
“Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, even in the Harvard Business School, students of Business Administration were encouraged to read and discuss works of literature that reflect the moral question because there is a growing concern for values and moral decision-making. Surely, there is a need to encourage our local writers to spend their time in works of art, on writing to reflect our local values and attitudes. Literature can prompt us to think more deeply, to sift and sort, to look at the ups and downs of life and to look at ourselves and others around us, ie, to shape an attitude towards life, what we are, what we want life to be and at what cost. As a writer put it, through story-telling, writers try to reach the mind, the heart and the soul of the people. Stories affect them deeply in such a way that they sweat and tremble, toss and turn. Literature complements another kind of moral enquiry where specific situations are analysed and choices for actions dis- cussed and considered. The relationship between morality and art is subtle. Therefore, we should not under-emphasize the importance of literature. I hope the Ministry, in the years to come, will pay greater attention to the encouragement of local writers.”
“Sir, I beg to move, Tha the sum to be allocated for Head J be reduced by $10 in respect of Code JF 2000 of the Main Estimates. Sir, I am glad to note that the Minister assured the House that the Ministry has always paid sufficient attention to the promotion of culture. Here I would like to raise the question of the relative priorities allocated to the various cultural activities. The Ministry has always played a very active role in promoting the various arts, especially performing arts, such as drama, dance and music and the quality and range of programmes that we get in the Festival of Arts improve each year. This is surely evidence that the Ministry has tried its best to promote culture in Singapore. However, the audience that we reach out is perhaps limited to those who turn up year after year. We should do more to ensure that a larger number of Singaporeans will be exposed to these cultural activities. Yesterday, in the Straits Times, it was reported that the Singapore Cultural Foundation set aside $327,000 for various cultural activities for the year 1987-88 and this is nearly doubled the amount allocated in the previous year which was $168,000. If you look at the details the Festival of Arts has a sum of $100,000 allocated to it; the Heritage Week which will be held in September this year, $30,000; Singapore Dance Theatre, $50,000; the Singapore Youth Orchestra, $10,000 and so on. The conspicuous absence of literary associations or societies amongst those which have been given funds stood out quite clearly. The only exception mentioned in the Straits Times was the Malay Literary Association, the ASAS 50, which had a sum of $5,000 allocated to it.”
“Even when MPs of substance including the Ministers sought their help, their reply would always be the same, saying that they could only convey the message to the persons concerned. Whether or not the outcome is successful, it has got nothing to do with them. You can ask those persons concerned. So that is the most they could do. This reminds me of what the Prime Minister said last Saturday the 12th March when he officiated the opening of MRT. It was reported that before MRT construction work started he asked the officer in charge whether the MRT construction could be sped up. The officer after careful consideration replied that it could be done. I would like to stress this phrase, "after careful consideration" which expresses sense of responsibility, I appreciate very much this responsible manner of dealing with a matter and service attitude. He dared to take up the responsibility on his own and could give a definite answer. Sir, now the officers of various Ministries being in charge of certain duties and delegated with discretionary power could not pass the buck to Finance Ministry or blame it. This is very good. They should try to help the Government implement the new financial policy which is introduced just in time to realize the Government's vision of 1999. Whoever one is, whether an MP, a senior officer of the Government or a Minister of the Government or anybody else, I hope all will take up their responsibility to serve the people well and not let them down in order to help realize our future vision. Thank you.”
“I feel that from now on the various Permanent Secretaries will be enboldened to do on their own discretion the necessary tasks that behove their action without passing the buck. In the past two years there has been a strange phenomenon. When the Government's policy is quite right, however, when it comes to the higher officers of various Ministries for implementation they could not implement correctly according to the policies laid down. They would deviate from the policy lines, thus causing the people to complain and blame the Government. Let me give two examples. Recently, the People's Association has decided that for the new type community centres the time of opening hours would be advanced from 2.30 p.m. to 8.30 in the morning. This is a correct measure, as it is beneficial to the people. The P.A. requested Finance Ministry to supply the money in order to engage more staff. However the officials of the Ministry of Finance rejected their request, saying that the Government now is trying to cut down the number of staff to economize, yet you want more money to increase your staff! I won't give you. What can you do? So now the few staff in such new type community centres will have to work overtime everyday, being seriously short staffed. I asked them what happened. They won't dare to say there is no money forthcoming from the Ministry of Finance. They won't dare to offend the high-ups. How dare you! Let me give you another example. There were some poor people trying to apply for stalls in school tuckshops. They have the right to do so. When they approached MPs for help, they in turn wrote to the Ministry of Education. All MPs know what would happen.”
“Complicated procedures are stumbling blocks to efficiency and precious time and energy may be spent elsewhere. The problems mentioned are not insignificant and I hope the Minister will review the proposal in respect of unit trusts and see how these difficulties can be resolved or at least minimized. If the primary objective is to promote fund management in Singapore, then I am afraid the tax proposal for unit trusts is not likely to contribute towards it. Mr Lai Tha Chai (Henderson)( In Mandarin): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, just like what the Member for Tanah Merah has said too many MPs have talked a lot about taxation, so I would not like to deal with it any more. However, in the Budget Statement of the Finance Minister there is one characteristic which, although it is a small point yet it has a major significance, ie, the financial management has shifted from central control in the high-ranking officials of the Ministry of Finance to the other Ministries. This is a decentralization and delegation of management and control of finance from the Ministry of Finance to other Ministries. Henceforth, senior Finance officials can no longer monopolize the power but delegated to various Permanent Secretaries of other Ministries. On page 8 of the second section of his Budget statement, it gives the policy statement. It says that subject to a maximum of $10 million for development, any expenditure on any project lower than $500,000 need not seek the approval of the Ministry of Finance. Sir, this change is a major change in policy and it is good. It will have great effects. Henceforth senior officers of the various Ministries need not pass the buck round to the Ministry of Finance, eventually landing on the Minister for Finance and blaming him for everything for nothing.”
“The additional tax should be borne by those who contribute to peak hour traffic. Sir, from Year of Assessement 1988, unit trusts and investment holding companies can elect to have their gains on disposal from investments taxed on a sliding scale of zero to 33%, depending on the period of time during which investments have been held. For investments held for less than six months, they will be taxed in full, that is 33%, whilst those held for more than 18 months will not be taxed at all. In the case of investment holding company, the tax measure is acceptable as it has removed a long-standing uncertainty about the liability of investment gains. However, the extension of the proposal to unit trusts has not been well received. It is believed that the tax proposal instead of promoting the industry will retard its growth for the following reasons. Currently, individual investors on their own can buy and sell shares in the market and are not taxed on the gains derived. The proposed tax therefore acts as a disincentive to potential unit trust investors. Secondly, unlike investment holding companies, unit trusts may be forced to sell their investments to meet the redemption of units by unit holders even though the intention may have been to hold the investments for over 18 months. Unit holders redeeming their units may have to suffer tax that is eventually not payable if the investments are held for 18 months or more and the gain is therefore not taxable. The tax burden is therefore not equitable. From an operational viewpoint, considerable difficulties will be encountered in building the tax into the daily unit pricing. Moreover, it is specifically provided that CPF account holders are tax exempt on gains if their funds are invested in approved unit trusts.”
“It is, therefore, important to remain agile and adaptable. Changes in circumstances may come about sooner than expected. The Minister emphasized the importance of adequate investment in training. And he pointed out that in the case of Singapore, only 1% of our national payroll is spent on training as compared with 2-4% in the more advanced countries. By 1989, investment in training will increase to 2% and by 1992, to 3%. It is, of course, crucial to upgrade the skills and improve the knowledge of our workers. Even in the United States, it has been pointed out that between 1929 and 1957, about half the economic growth was attributable to training and technology. And for the years in the 1990s, the role of knowledge-intensive industries could be even more pronounced. The benefits of greater and more effective training can only be seen in the long run. The availability of funds for training is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for better training. The selection of relevant training courses, the standard of the instructors and the quality of the training materials are equally, if not more, important. The training of the trainers must be given greater attention to ensure that we have a competent and committed pool of trainers in Singapore. Foreign trainers, of course, must be used. But we cannot depend on them for all kinds of training courses for an indefinite period of time. Among the significant aspects of the Budget Statement is the absence of additional taxes on motor vehicles. This is surely good news for the motorists! If road tax is to be used to regulate the number of vehicles on the roads to reduce congestion, then car ownership per se is not an equitable basis for any tax increase.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Budget Statement delivered by the Minister on the 4th March has been described by various Members of this House as cautious, undramatic and unexciting. The remarkable thing is that he did not do a number of things that he could have done, such as the introduction of additional taxes, which is surely good news for taxpayers. The Budget has been designed and calculated to instil prudence and flexibility - qualities which have served us well in the past - which will be of increasing importance in the years to come which will be characterized by increasing competitiveness and protectionism in the world markets. Most of the sectors in our economy did very well in 1987. But in the face of a possible slowdown in the world economy this year, our cost-effectiveness must be monitored even more carefully. Sir, the total investment commitments in 1987 rose by 21% and reached the target of $1.7 billion, a significant portion of which came from the electronics and supporting industries. These industries were boosted by buoyant demand in many countries. However, it is well to remember that such demand has fluctuated cyclically every few years. Rapid obsolescence in the electronics industries means that production facilities need to be upgraded regularly and perhaps shifted to other locations from time to time. In some instances, the cost advantage of a plant in Singapore may be more than offset by other considerations such as proximity of markets and consumer preference. For example, it was reported in the press that Apple Computers may shift its overseas production facilities away from Singapore to Europe despite a very recent announcement by its Chairman that Singapore would be their production centre outside the United States of America.”
“Let us take an objective and long-term view and recognize the special constraints of a multi-racial society and ensure Singapore will continue to make steady progress into the 1990s and beyond.”
“The collective wisdom, capability and experience of the team must surpass that of a single MP and, given the multi-racial composition of each constituency, the understanding of and insight into any problem will be greater. Some people have called for a referendum before implementing the change. Besides the cost factor, the nature and implications of a referendum may not be perfectly understood by all. Therefore, there is a need for the Government to explain why the referendum is not necessary in this case. It is noteworthy that the system is still first- past-the-post and the party that wins the majority of the seats will form the government. There is no change in this respect. Each voter is given one vote. And this is in line with the concept of one-man-one-vote. In every general election, constituency boundaries have been re-demarcated following movements and shifts in population. Changes in the electoral boundary are nothing new. In essence, the voter is given the choice of two teams instead of two individuals. Nothing has been taken away from him. Some have suggested proportional representation to ensure a multi-racial Parliament. The fact is that proportional representation will give rise to divisive and disruptive activities. Candidates will tend to emphasize sectional interest at the expense of national interest, making extreme demands to gain popular support. Debate will become more emotionally charged and there is a very real risk that political stability would be undermined and not protected. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in order to gain cohesion and strength in Singapore, a multi-racial Parliament and a multi-racial candidature should be guaranteed. The GRC can do this without adverse consequences.”
“In the case of Falkland Islands, two-member district elections are held for the legislative council. And in the Tasmanian Parliament, several members represent the same constituency. It can therefore be seen that the multiple member constituency is not a new concept and it is up to each country to define and fine-tune the electoral process best suited to its circumstances. It has been said that the PAP wants to ensure complete domination of Parliament because one strong candidate in a GRC may pull up the overall number of votes and allow the other two candidates to get in. However, this could work for both sides, whether it is the PAP or the other parties. The system itself is perfectly neutral and there is no inherent reason for the PAP to enjoy an unfair advantage in this way. It is up to the voters to decide which team can best represent them and articulate their interest in Parliament and look after their constituency. Another criticism of the GRC is that the Team MPs may be less effective than one single MP. In the case of a single-Member constituency, there is a one-to-one relationship. The constituents can identify with him more readily. The Member of Parliament is many things to many people - a counsellor, advisor, consultant and perhaps the head of the local feedback channel. And it is said that the links between the residents and MPs may be diffused or weakened if there are three in each case. However, what is needed is proper coordination and sharing of the workload and with it a team of three MPs can provide a strong link to all aspects of constituency activities, and collectively and separately articulate the interests of the people they represent. There are at the same time other compensating benefits.”
“Sir, delegates to the conferences organized by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association will recognize that in many countries in the Commonwealth the parliamentary system is based on the Westminster model. However, many variations in parliamentary institutions, procedures and practices have evolved in these countries. In some instances, their parliamentary institutions and procedures have been similar to those developed at Westminister. In other cases, new practices have evolved in response to the challenges and problems of the time. Britain after all has had 300 years of fairly stable political history and a relatively long period of industrialization and economic development. It is not difficult to see why some of these institutions and practices may not be the most appropriate in other settings. For example, the British bicameral system developed because of the social and economic class systems from the 1200s to the 1700s. One Chamber represented the powerful land-holding elite while the other Chamber the commoners. But in a number of countries, a second Chamber has not been instituted because the population is too small or because there is no strong class- based society or they feel that there is no need for what they call "sober second thoughts" on any legislation. Another example is the Legislative-Executive relations. In the British model, the Executive comes from and is responsible to the Legislature. However, Cyprus, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Zambia opted for an Executive led by a directly elected President who is not an MP. And, except for Cyprus, the other cabinet members of the three countries must be MPs. Although single-member constituencies are the rule in many countries, there are quite a few examples of multiple MP systems.”
“As the Member for Changkat pointed out yesterday, it is a plus point to have a rich and diverse cultural heritage and this is one of the cornerstones of our nation building. Even in developed countries, linguistic and religious differences still give rise to tension and conflicts from time to time. Yesterday, the Member for Potong Pasir referred to the USA as a melting pot and he wanted us to emulate the example set in the States. But we know that the United States is a vast country. The various minority groups can be found in different parts of the country. You have the Irish in Boston, the Jews in Brooklyn, the Scandinavians in Minnesota, Hispanics in California and Texas, and Asians in Hawaii. Have they truly integrated as one society, as one people? The Irish in Boston are known to be the strong supporters of the IRA Movement in Ireland. And, of course, the Jewish lobby is the most powerful group, the pressure group, in the United States because of their financial power and presence in the financial sector. The black caucus is found in all the big cities and there are a large number of black mayors in the cities. And each of these minority groups sends their favourite sons to Congress. Do we want to emulate their example where Little India in Singapore would elect an Indian MP, Chinatown would elect a Cantonese MP and Telok Ayer a Hokkien-speaking MP? Do we want to go back to the Singapore of 30 or 40 years ago? So it is putting the clock back when he made reference to the melting pot of the United States. What the United States' example has shown us is that there is no simple solution in spite of the many affirmative actions taken to promote the interests of the minority groups.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the large number of Members of this House who have spoken in this debate testify to both the importance of the subject and the attention it has attracted in Singapore. Undoubtedly, the electoral process is a vital link in the political framework of any country for it determines the manner in which people choose their parliamentary representatives from whom the government is formed. Underlying the GRC proposal is the concern for the long-term future of our country. That concern is over the possibility that the political stability and harmony we have today will not be sustained over time. And without political stability, there will be confusion and chaos. Worse, it may bring about racial conflicts, a common occurrence in a number of countries today. Before the debate in this House took place, many grassroots leaders and other residents have discussed the GRC proposal. Many views have been expressed and it seems that some have not truly grasped the essence of the proposal. Perhaps it was because the Team MP concept was first raised together with the town council which has been set up. The town council concept is different and, as the 1DPM pointed out yesterday, is not an incompatible objective, allowing residents a greater role in managing their estates. It was, therefore, helpful to have this point clarified yesterday. I think more detailed explanations would be useful in removing any doubts. We cannot alter the fact that Singapore is a multi-racial and multi-religious society. As we seek to extend the common ground, that is the use of the English language, national service, the education system in order to forge a stronger sense of national identity, it is nevertheless rosy idealism to think that our population will become homogeneous with time.”
“Sir, would the Minister of State consider in the longer-term, in order to upgrade the quality of life and to provide greater convenience to residents, to review this policy of providing shelter to all overhead pedestrian bridges?”
“Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The time allotted for Head J having expired, the following amendments were not proceeded with:”
“Sir, as we implore our Singapore workers to work three shifts, overnight, Saturdays and Sundays, I do not see the difficulty in changing a rest day from a Sunday to a week day. However, in view of time, I would like to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Chiam See Tong:- (15) That the sum to be allocated for Head J be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead JG-01 of the Main Estimates.”
“Opening the libraries on Sundays is merely one of the several measures by which this long term objective may be realized. I understand that manpower is the main constraint. Surely, getting a few librarians and library assistants to work on Sundays and take a rest on a week-day is a small price to pay in getting our population to be more widely read and better informed. I wish the Minister would give this question a favourable answer.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head J be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead JG-01-1210 of the Main Estimates. Sir, although repeated requests have been made to the Ministry to open the National Library and the branches on Sundays, we have yet to receive a favourable answer. I understand that a trial was conducted at the Marine Parade Branch last year. The Library was opened on Sunday instead of Saturday. And as the number of people who made use of the Library on Sunday was not greater than that on Saturday, it was therefore concluded that there was no justification that the library should be opened on Sunday. Sir, the trial was on the wrong basis. The Library should be opened on Sunday afternoon and perhaps closed on a weekday, Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. We do not need a trial to know that more parents are free on Sunday than on a weekday. If the Library is opened on Sunday, it will encourage some parents to take their children there instead of a shopping centre. Experts tell us that the reading habit should be cultivated from young. We have excellent libraries with a good range of facilities, books and periodicals. But no one is able to use them on Sunday. Shopping centres are crowded on Saturdays and Sundays. Are we becoming a nation of window shoppers? If we wish to promote reading among our citizens and having spent enormous amounts of money on books, periodicals and other facilites, we must do everything possible to promote the use of libraries. By not opening the libraries on Sundays, are we not moving away from the national objective? The argument of cost effectiveness is not convincing. Getting more people to read is a long term, intangible benefit.”
“I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood on the Order Paper Supplement -”
“However, the Singapore Festival of Arts should be more Asian in character, otherwise it will be no different from that in Adelaide or Edinburgh. Whilst we wish to introduce our people to the top performances from the West, there should be more items from the rich cultural heritage of Asia. Local items should be encouraged and not dismissed outright, as some critics did last year. There are not many people in Singapore who are prepared to devote all the time, effort and energy to the pursuit and promotion of cultural activities. They deserve all the support and encouragement they need. I would like to find out more about the plans to improve the Festival of Arts, and what steps will be taken to encompass more local items and performances from Asia.”