Lee Yock Suan
Singapore
“The position will be clear when the regulations have been drafted. Right now we are debating it in the absence of actual wording of the regulations. The regulations will be fair, they are meant to maintain a level playing field, and we should wait for the regulations before we pass judgement. The intention is not to go after everybody.”
“I think the Member will be aware that Internet is a very dangerous place. We can have all kinds of poison letters and they will just spread like wild fire. So we must have some means to try and minimise this and make sure that everything is orderly and fair.”
“The other Members have no problem supporting the Bill, including Mr Chiam. I think the position is about 95% clear. 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 Lee Yock Suan].”
“Then we will have to see the actual situation. But, as I said, the intention is to go after the popular sites, the main sites of parties and non-party political sites. If it is an individual, eg, a young man posting up his own site and saying "These are my views", we are not going to go after those people.”
“The intention is to make the rules clear for the main parties involved in the contest, in other words, the party websites. These are the areas we are mainly after.”
“I thank Mr Chiam for reminding me about his question. On listening to his speech, I was under the impression that he was asking whether this ban on opinion polls applies to the mass media. The answer is yes, it applies to all media, not just the Internet but also newspapers, TV and so on. Thank you for pointing this out.”
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“Where such signs have been missed out, the PWD will install them. The third point concerns this question of too many traffic signs at a road junction and whether we can put them all into one neat single road sign. This is a good idea and it is possible in some situations but not always possible because some signs have to be installed at specific locations. For example, a pedestrian crossing prohibition sign has to be installed 50 metres from a junction. "Give-way" signs have to be installed next to the give-way lane and "no-right-turn" signs installed right at the junction. Wherever possible, PWD will integrate the traffic signs into one sign-post. Traffic signs will also be clamped on to lamp posts and sides of buildings to minimize the number of signposts along our roads. PWD will make sure that these signs do not obstruct the driver's view of the traffic light. The Member also raised two other suggestions about vertically adjustable manhole covers. I am afraid I am not too familiar with this item, but if he could supply details to the PWD I am sure they will be very happy to study them. An hon. Member: Catalogues!”
“I agree with him that the road signs are still inadequate. Just the other day when I was travelling along the Pan-Island Expressway, I found that some of the signs were quite confusing. For example, the one that leads to Tampines leads to the New Town and not to Tampines Road. So if you are not aware, you will be going off-direction completely. My Ministry has embarked on a programme to improve these road signs. Work on upgrading the signs along the PIE started in November 1982 and will be completed by April 1983. Even after that, I think there will still be room for improvement, and if Members have any suggestions or notice any faults please bring them to our attention. A similar upgrading of signs along the East Coast Parkway will be done. Under the new standards for road signs, there will be three large signs located before a junction to inform drivers of the name of the next exit road. The name of the final destination that the expressway is leading to will also be indicated. The opinion of my Ministry is that this should provide ample notice to drivers to either exit via the side road or to continue along the expressway. It may not be practical to give the names of all exit roads or to give additional information about distances and so on as suggested by the Member, but we will look into his suggestion more closely. The problem is that if we squeeze too many messages on the signboards, then it could be quite dangerous for the driver to read all the messages while travelling at high speed. At other traffic light junctions where there is a filter lane, the PWD normally places a directional sign well before the junction is reached. This is in addition to the confirmatory sign located on the nose of the traffic island leading to the filter lane.”
“Sir, I would like to thank the hon. Member for Toa Payoh for his many useful comments and suggestions. The first one concerns unauthorized parking along newly widened roads. As Members are aware, the PWD does not normally allow roadside parking along roads except for night parking at certain stretches where the traffic is light. The other day in Parliament I did explain to Members the policy-thinking, both short-term and long-term, on solving the parking problem for cars, lorries and other vehicles. In the case of Balestier Road, roadside parking has been allowed along certain stretches as a temporary measure because of the shortage of parking facilities in the area. These parking facilities are needed by the shops fronting the road for their business activities. As I said, this is only a temporary measure. All new building developments along Balestier Road are required to provide their own parking facilities. Some of these in-house parking facilities have already been provided, and more will be provided in future. When more of these in-house parking facilities are available, roadside parking along Balestier Road can be removed altogether. There are no plans at present to build centralized off-street parking facilities in the area but the situation is under review and is being monitored. The vehicles which were parked along the newly widened road, as observed by the Member for Toa Payoh, had been parked there illegally. The Minister for Home Affairs explained the other day that the Traffic Police would be taking strict enforcement action against these vehicles. I will ask the PWD to liaise closely with the Traffic Police in their control of illegal parking. The other point raised by the Member for Toa Payoh concerns the road signs along expressways.”
“Whatever it is, we cannot be responsible for their decisions. But we did try to be fair by offering them an alternative, and they made their choice.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, this applicant happens to be an officer of the HDB and he must have found out from his friend where he stood. But the point really is this. For the central areas, where many people have been waiting for flats for many years and where the demand for flats is very high, the policy of the HDB is that resettlement cases have priority over joint balloting cases because, unless we give the flats to these resettlement cases, they would not move out to make way for development. So faced with this situation, our policy guideline is that the six resettlement cases had priority over this applicant who was trying to come in on the basis of joint balloting. His real interest was to get a flat in the central area, not so much to stay with his father-in-law. We did offer to him that if he wanted to be with his father-in-law, he could still have this joint balloting in a fairly good area, Bukit Merah Town Centre.”
“Sir, I think the point is well taken. Having discovered this, we have to take action and it is too bad for the farmers concerned.”
“It was therefore very obvious that the Government had to take action to curb this undesirable practice, Therefore, we had to impose ceilings on compensation for fruit trees. The ceilings ranged from $5,000 to $30,000 per hectare depending on the size of the trees. After this decision, the Resettlement Department deferred the payments of compensation for fruit trees which had earlier been assessed under the old policy. Compensations were reassessed according to the ceilings imposed. Since this involved an abuse of public funds, I am afraid my Ministry has no alternative, although the farmers concerned are naturally very upset because they were expecting to get high compensation for trees planted earlier. I would like to explain that the payment of resettlement compensation is ex gratia in nature. Changes in compensation rates can be applied to squatters even after compensation had earlier been assessed under old rates. For example, in the past, when compensation rates were revised upwards, squatters benefitted from higher compensation although their payments had already been assessed under the old rates. So the guideline we follow is that until you get your money, the rates may still be revised and if a farmer is so lucky as o be still waiting to be compensated when he rules are changed and the rates are revised upwards, he will get a higher compensation. But in a case where a farmer has been found trying to abuse the system, we have to clamp down despite the earlier assessments. I hope the Member for Nee Soon will understand this and explain to his constituents.”
“Therefore, firm enforcement action is necessary to prevent further proliferation of squatters and to keep out gate-crashers who hope to gain from generous Government compensation when eventual resettlement takes place. In some cases, backyard industries try to cling on by setting up unauthorized and uncontrolled operations in rural areas. When such unauthorized uses are discovered, the Building Control Division has to take strict enforcement action, especially if the use is pollutive. Adequate grace periods are given for the unauthorized users to be relocated to proper premises. There are more than adequate facilities provided by the HDB, the JTC and the private sector to meet the demand for uses conforming to the Master Plan. The Member also mentioned the question of compensation for fruit trees. His problem really concerns the recent policy change made in late 1982 by the Resettlement Department. At that time, the Resettlement Department decided to impose ceilings on the compensation for fruit trees. This was necessary because, without ceilings on such compensation, an increasing number of farmers and squatters in rural areas had taken advantage by planting excessive numbers of fruit trees solely to get more compensation. For instance, normal planting standards would allow for durian trees and jackfruit trees to be planted at densities of about 83 sq metres and 37 sq metres per tree respectively. But some farmers took advantage by planting them at densities of less than 5 sq metres per tree. The Primary Production Department will tell you that such trees cannot bear fruit. So the obvious objective of these farmers was to try and cash in on this loophole in our regulations, which originally did not have ceilings on compensation for fruit trees.”
“For example, resettlement compensation rates have been increased three times since 1979 and, if I may say so, the rates are now on the generous side. Most people affected by resettlement also qualify for HDB housing priority and alternative business premises. The public should understand that extensive resettlement and relocation is unavoidable because of our land constraints and the pressing need to optimize our land use to provide security, water supply, housing, jobs and recreation for our growing population. It has therefore been necessary for many small farmers to cease farming and to change to other means of livelihood. They can apply for shops at resettlement rentals. Pollutive farms and industries in the water catchment areas have to be relocated or cease operations to preserve our scarce water resources. Squatters in large open tracts of land have to make way for higher density public housing. Those affected are adequately compensated and assisted to change to a new way of life, more compatible with land-hungry Singapore. I think the Member already understands all this but I want to bring this up here to inform the public of the rationale and why they have to understand the situation. The Member actually raised some questions on change of use, and I think he agrees with the policy that where the uses are pollutive, they have to be phased out. In those cases in the rural areas, we do allow temporary change of use to non-pollutive trades. I am not too sure what are the cases that the Member is referring to. If there are actual problems, he can bring them to my attention and I will look into them. It is important to note that the intention is eventually to phase out all squatters, especially from the water catchment areas.”
“Members of the public as well as grassroots organizations are welcome to approach departments under my Ministry for information and clarification on matters affecting them. If necessary, forums and meetings could also be arranged to explain my Ministry's policies. The hon. Member suggested that we form a council similar to the Schools Council. This is a new idea. I do not know whether it is workable because, as he said, there are so many constituencies involved. We would then be spending all our time attending council meetings. In the case of the Schools Council, the situation is rather more homogeneous because they are dealing with schools and school principals. But here we are a Ministry with which almost every Singaporean with all kinds of problems is involved, and there are 75 constituencies. So I think we can only try and improve rapport between the RCs and area officers, and so on, through meetings and forums where necessary. But I am not sure the idea of a council is a practical one. In fact, Sir,l am a little surprised that the Member should move an amendment to reduce the estimates of my Ministry by $10. I think he should have instead moved an amendment to increase our estimates by at least a few hundred thousand dollars so that more expenditure can be put into fostering better communications with the public. The other point that the Member raised concerns change of use. He has asked that the HDB and the various departments under my Ministry should be more sympathetic towards people such as farmers and small businessmen who are affected by resettlement. I would like to assure him that my Ministry is fully aware that resettlement is a painful process, and we do try to be as flexible and sympathetic as possible.”
“Sir, I would now like to move on to the points raised by the Member for Nee Soon or Yishun as he put it, or somebody else put it. He first spoke about the communication gap and the need for Government departments to improve their communication with the public. This is a point which I fully share with him, and is especially important for the HDB which provides housing and estate management for about 75% of our population. I think Members are aware that we have RC liaison officers attached to the various HDB area offices to provide a close link between the HDB and the RCs. These area officers attend the RC meetings and functions and they help to explain HDB's policies to the members as well as to provide feedback to the HDB concerning the members' problems and suggestions. In addition, as Members well know, the RC, CCC and MC members usually do maintain very close touch with the various HDB area officers and their problems and views are given due consideration. 7.15 p.m. Members may also recall that in December last year and also stretching over to January this year, the HDB organized a series of forums for CCC and RC members. These forums were chaired by my Minister and were widely publicized in the newspapers. I think the forums have been very useful in explaining policies and problems relating to public housing. This year the HDB is in the process of organiing a series of familiarization tours of area offices for members of RCs to promote better understanding and rapport. Besides the HDB, other departments under my Ministry are also conscious of the importance of maintaining good communications with the public. For example, the Primary Production Department works very closely with the farmers and other residents in the rural constituencies.”
“Consequently, existing applicants on the register were allowed to transfer to the 4-room register if they so wished and to retain their original registration numbers without losing their priority. This was a concession, as HDB's policy is that applicants transferring their applications to bigger flats must forgo their priority and obtain new registration numbers. The applicant concerned in this case had, however, transferred his 3-room application to the 4-room register two months before the HDB closed the register. Nevertheless, the HDB was prepared to give the same concession to applicants who had transferred their applications before the closure of the register but only at the request of the applicants or when such cases were discovered by the HDB in the normal course of their work. You must realise, Sir, that the HDB is not obliged to give this concession at all in the first place. Furthermore, there are 43,000 applications on the waiting list to purchase 4-room flats. It is, therefore, extremely difficult for the HDB to go through all these files to try and pick out the few cases who had transferred their applications before this change. What the HDB did was to make an announcement in the newspapers regarding the transfer, and indicating that all those who wanted to change would retain their priority. This announcement might have escaped the notice of this applicant in question because he did not come back to us, and we only discovered his case much later. Anyway, now that this case has been brought to our attention, we have given him back his own registration number and he will be getting his flat within the next 12 months based on the old registration number.”
“Sir, as regards the cases brought up by the Member for Kuo Chuan, I shall first deal with the case of joint balloting which he has mentioned. When two applicants join the joint balloting scheme, both will normally be considered for allocation of adjoining units when either applicant is due for allocation. However, a situation may arise when only one rejected flat is available for allocation after a ballot. In such a situation the applicant who is first due for allocation may be offered the remaining flat on condition that the joint balloting priority for the other applicant is withdrawn. The HDB always ensures that the applicant accepting the one remaining unit is fully aware of, and agrees to, this condition. In the case brought up by the Member for Kuo Chuan, the applicant's father-in-law was a resettlement case who was placed on the reserve list for rejected flats in the ballot for units in Bras Basah Complex, which is in the central area where there is a very high demand for flats. There were seven rejected flats. However, six were taken up by more urgent resettlement cases. The HDB offered the remaining unit to the applicant's father-in-law who accepted it, fully aware of the condition that the constituent would lose his joint balloting priority. If the applicant and his father-in-law were really more concerned about living together, they should have accepted the joint balloting of flats at Bukit Merah Town Centre a month later. In fact, the HDB did include them in the ballot but they rejected the offer of two adjoining flats at Bukit Merah. Coming to the second case, the HDB ceased building 3-room modified corner flats and closed the register for such flats on 8th August, 1978.”
“Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi asked the Minister for Trade and Industry if his Ministry makes studies to project the types of professional and skilled jobs that are needed in 5 to 10 years' time and, if so, what are the findings of such studies, the numbers of jobs projected, the types of academic or professional qualifications required of the jobs and whether special efforts are being made to ensure that our educational and training institutions will be capable of meeting those needs.”
“In addition, bulk loans are provided by the National Library and its branches to factories, army units, residents' committees and associations, community centres and other organizations. The Department's staff and resources are already stretched, with staff working on shifts and on night duty to provide these long opening hours for the convenience of the public. Opening on Sundays would involve additional manpower. The National Library is finding it difficult to recruit staff with the necessary qualifications or experience to man the new branches that have been opened or which will be opened as part of its expansion plan. Many of the Library staff are married women, who would naturally prefer to spend Sundays with their families. If they are required to work on Sundays, it would add to the difficulty of recruiting and retaining staff for the Library. The Library cannot be considered a service in the same category as hospitals, or the police or the fire department. Even Government outpatient clinics, HDB estate offices and post offices are not open on Sundays. On the whole, our libraries are open long enough at present for those who are working or in school to be able to use the libraries. In addition, more branch libraries will be built in the next five years in the population centres. Therefore, people who really want to read and use the library should be able to do so without much problem. PROJECTIONS ON PROFESSIONAL, TECHNICAL AND SKILLED MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS 15.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Concept Plan for the development of the areas adjacent to Telok Blangah Heights into a regional park has been completed. Facilities to be provided include look-out points, children's play-ground, fitness course, refreshment kiosks, park furniture, footpaths, park lightings, car parks and access road. The whole project is estimated to cost $3.6 million. Funds will be sought from Treasury in April this year for the project to be implemented in the latter part of the year. The whole project is expected to be completed by December 1985. LIBRARY FACILITIES ON SUNDAYS (Request) 14. Mr Goh Chee Wee asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Culture, at least on an experimental basis to gauge the public demand, if he will consider opening the National Library and its branches on Sundays to encourage good reading habits of our population during leisure time. The Minister of State for Culture (Maj Fong Sip Chee) (for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Culture): Mr Speaker, Sir, the National Library and its branches are open six days a week for long hours. The Central Library opens from 8.30 am to 9.00 pm, (12 1/2 hours) while the full-time branch libraries at Queenstown, Toa Payoh, Marine Parade and Bukit Merah open from 10.00 am to 9.00 pm (11 hours). Three part-time branches at Bedok, Jurong and Whampoa also open from 2.00 pm or 3.00 pm to 8.00 pm or 9.00 pm (average of six hours) three times a week. These opening hours are already longer than those in public libraries in many countries such as Britain, Australia, the United States and West Germany which normally open up to 8.00 pm on weekdays and up to 1.00 pm on Saturdays.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not think the question is relevant because I said there will be no executive flats in this area.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the vacant lands at Ang Mo Kio Town Centre are reserved for commercial development. Facilities such as shopping and eating places, banks and cinemas, will be developed depending on the future demand. Sufficient parking lots will also be provided when these vacant lands are developed.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in January this year, the Urban Redevelopment Authority implemented a pilot scheme for overnight kerbside parking at Old Kallang Airport. The scheme provided 118 car parking lots and 25 lorry and bus parking lots. The HDB, URA and PWD will extend kerbside parking to roads with low traffic flow at night. As a temporary measure, both light and heavy vehicles will be allowed to use kerbside parking lots. My Ministry is looking for suitable sites to build centralized lorry parks outside or at the fringes of HDB estates for the parking of heavy vehicles. Kerbside parking will be implemented along suitable roads in Ang Mo Kio. Additional car parking lots are also being constructed in Ang Mo Kio. By March 1983, i.e. by the end of this month, there will be 1,200 new lots. ANG MO KIO TOWN CENTRE (Development of vacant lands) 12. Mr Yeo Toon Chia asked the Minister for National Development what his Ministry plans to do with the vacant lands in Ang Mo Kio Town Centre; and, if his Ministry intends to construct executive flats or commercial buildings there, will he assure the House that adequate car parks will be provided in view of the present shortage of parking lots in Ang Mo Kio New Town.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the strip of land adjoining Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 is about 150 hectares in area. Part of the land is earmarked for a park. The site is under clearance and the Parks and Recreation Department is currently working on the design of the park. Development is scheduled to commence in late 1984 and the park will be ready in early 1987. KERB-SIDE PARKING IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES (Progress) 11. Mr Yeo Toon Chia asked the Minister for National Development (a) what progress has been made so far with regard to kerb-side parking during the night along minor roads in public housing estates; and (b) in view of the serious shortage of parking lots in Ang Mo Kio New Town resulting in a number of accidents caused by illegal parking of vehicles, will he consider implementing kerb-side parking during the night as soon as possible.”
“Sir, in this case, since the defect is external, I believe HDB will bear the cost. ANG MO KIO AVENUE 1 (Development of vacant land) 10. Mr Yeo Toon Chia asked the Minister for National Development if he will consider landscaping the strip of vacant land along one side of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 into a park to create a better environment for the residents of Ang Mo Kio New Town, and, if not, what plans does his Ministry have to develop the land.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, experiments to prevent water seepage through windows have been carried out in HDB estates in Woodlands, Marine Parade, Buona Vista and Telok Blangah using various materials such as aluminium strips, PVC battens and concrete hoods. According to feedback from residents, PVC battens and concrete hoods have proved to be effective. The HDB is considering using these materials in future to prevent the problem. In Radin Mas, a rectification programme using PVC battens is scheduled to begin in mid-1983 and will be completed by the end of the year.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as I said, we do not think the seepage will occur, So let us cross the bridge when we come to it. HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD FLATS (Water seepage) 9. Mr M.K.A. Jabbar asked the Minister for National Development whether he is aware that in older Housing and Development Board housing estates like Radin Mas HDB a few years ago was experimenting with one or two solutions to water seepage through windows during heavy rain and when the water seepage will be rectified.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, this and other aspects of the pre-fabrication method have been carefully studied by the HDB architects and engineers together with consultants and contractors. We are reasonably sure that leakage will not occur. But, of course, if it does occur, then remedial action will have to be taken.”
“Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister of Defence and Second Minister for Health how the Ministry of Defence educates full-time National Servicemen and reservists to understand the importance of National Service and not to regard it, as some do, as a waste of time.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the HDB has awarded 7 contracts for grass cutting and 17 for cleaning and conser- vancy works. Each contract is awarded for a period of two years. All the contracts were let out by public tender and awarded to the lowest tenderers. SINGAPORE ARMED FORCES (Traffic accident rate 1978-1982) 12. Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister of Defence and Second Minister for Health what are the accident rates involving 3-tonners of the Singapore Armed Forces for the years 1978 to 1982, and what new measures are being taken to improve the situation. The Minister of State of Defence (Dr Yeo Ning Hong) (for the Minister of Defence and Second Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, Sir, the SAF traffic accident rate has shown a continuous downtrend since 1978. Overall, in 1982 the accident rate was approximately 30% lower than in 1978. There were 2.0 accidents per 100,000 km travelled against a figure of 2.8 in 1978. For the Singaporean motorist who travels 10,000 km a year, this accident rate is equivalent to having two accidents in a period of 10 years of driving. There has also been a significant reduction in the total number of accidents - from 1,351 in 1978 to 1,054 in 1982. The number of 3-tonners involved in accidents has also gone down significantly, from 699 in 1979 to 465 last year. The decline in accident rate in the past years has been attributed to the sustained effort made by the SAF in improving the quality of the training for drivers and in minimizing the circumstances whereby accidents may occur. The SAF Provost Unit also conducts intensive road-patrols and checks to ensure high driving standards. IMPORTANCE OF NATIONAL SERVICE (National education programme) 13.”
“If it so happens that they are there when the neighbouring houses catch fire, that is too bad. But as regards the people in the other places he referred to, we are taking action through the normal process. As soon as we are able to offer them compensation, we will do so without delay. CONTRACTS FOR CLEANING AND GRASS CUTTING IN HDB ESTATES 11. Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many contracts have been directly awarded by the Housing and Development Board for the contract of cleaning and clearing rubbish and grass cutting or landscaping (i.e. maintaining and keeping the estates clean) in Housing and Development Board estates; (b) for how many years the present contractors have held the contracts; and (c) how were the contracts awarded.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am afraid the Member for Anson may not be familiar with the situation in this particular part of his constituency. In actual fact, the development in this area, which has been acquired by the URA, consists of two phases. The first phase has already been more or less settled. The people there have been given offers of compensation, alternative accommodation, and so on. Some of them are choosy and are still there. They are, therefore, facing the hazard of fire which is unavoidable in any resettlement site. You cannot expect the Government officers to keep going to those places and telling them, "Clear the debris. You are facing a fire hazard". What the Member is asking about concerns Phase 2, where the notices to quit were served only on 1st January this year, and I have already given him the answer. He should have checked clearly with the residents which phase they belong to.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, if the Member for Anson will refer to Vol. 42, No. 2 of the Hansard, in other words, if he will do his homework, he will find that I had, at the sitting on 31st August, 1982, described for him at length the necessary legal procedures in the clearance process. I had said that Notices to Quit are prescribed by the law to formally notify squatters that they are affected by resettlement action and have to vacate the site. After the service of the Notices, parallel action is taken by the Resettlement Department to determine the eligibility of those affected for resettlement benefits, including offer of alternative accommodation or cash compensation. I had emphasized in my reply that resettlement benefits are ex-gratia in nature and may be offered to affected residents at any point in the clearance process, not necessarily immediately after the service of the Notice to Quit. I had also assured the Member that no physical eviction action is taken until the Resettlement Department has offered alternative accommodation or cash compensation to those who are eligible. In the area referred to by the Member for Anson, the Resettlement Department is currently in the process of determining the eligibility of affected persons. There has been no undue delay. Compensation will be paid when the interviews are over and alternative accommodation will be offered when facilities are available. No eviction action will be taken before this is completed.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the proposal to provide an open shed behind the Muhajirin Mosque building in Boon Teck Constituency was received by my Planning Department on 25th January this year. The proposal has been approved and the applicant was informed on 7th February, 1983. AREA BOUNDED BY TANJONG PAGAR ROAD, BERNAM STREET AND ENGGOR STREET (Compensation for resettlement) 10. Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for National Development if he will explain the delay in determining the compensation payable and in allocating alternative accommodation to the owners and occupiers of properties in the area bounded by Tanjong Pagar Road, Bernam Street and Enggor Street when the owners and occupiers have all been given notice to quit their premises by the 31st January, 1983.”
“There are also an additional 15 JFC members who did not take the Private Pilot's Licence but have been recruited into the RSAF and are currently qualified as Air Force pilots. SINGAPORE BROADCASTING CORPORATION (Local programmes) 11. Mr Liew Kok Pun asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Culture whether the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation has any plan to produce more and better local programmes that will reflect the lifestyle and aspirations of our people, and if he will outline the plan.”
“The Minister of State of Defence (Dr Yeo Ning Hong) (for the Minister of Defence ind Second Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Junior Flying Club (JFC) was formed with the objective of instilling interest in flying amongst our students. Members come largely from secondary schools, junior colleges and institutions of higher learning, like the National University of Singapore and the Singapore Polytechnic. The courses on flying are provided free of charge. Students can work towards the Private Pilot's Licence. This particular course is usually over-subscribed. Over the past few years, the Club has increased its intake in order to meet the growing demand among students who are keen to learn how to fly. Besides flying, the Junior Flying Club also offers to its members, particularly the younger ones in the age group of 13 - 16 1/2 years, courses in aero-modelling. The Club also encourages visits by students to airbases as well as to other aviation organizations and industries. We also have the Aviation Library made available to all members of the Club. The membership of the JFC for the past three years has been about 900, of which 700 are aero-modelling members and 200 are flying members. For the Private Pilot's Licence, the annual intake of students for this particular course has increased by 58% over the last two years. The intake for 1980 was 71 students. This increased to 92 in 1981 and further increased to 112 students for the year 1982. To date, of the 205 Junior Flying Club members who had obtained the Private Pilot's Licence, 162 have applied to join the Republic of Singapore Air Force and 108 of them have been enlisted. Of these, 70 of them have already completed their training and obtained their "wings". Another 17 are in the process of pilot training.”
“Our roads are built to cope with traffic during peak hours. Overnight kerbside parking would allow us to maximize the use of road surface when the traffic flow is much less. The PWD, URA and HDB will ensure that smooth traffic flow will not be compromised by the implementation of kerbside parking. (iv) City Parking The standards for provision of car parks in private developments will be maintained. The URA will continue to build multi-storey car parks in the city to make up for the shortage of car parks in private developments. By 1985, an additional 2,200 car parking lots in the city will be made available by the URA. Pending the implementation of the long-term solutions just described, short-term measures will be taken to alleviate parking problems in HDB estates. These include:- (i) temporary kerbside parking in HDB estates along suitable roads for both heavy and light vehicles; and (ii) temporary lorry parks outside or at the fringes of HDB estates. These measures will help to stem the pressure for car parking lots in HDB estates while more permanent solutions are implemented. Where there is insufficient land for additional surface car parks in HDB estates, the only solution is to build multi-storey car parks. However, I foresee that parking fees will have to increase to cover the higher construction and maintenance costs of the additional parking space. JUNIOR FLYING CLUB (Opportunities and facilities) 10. Dr Tan Cheng Bock asked the Minister of Defence and Second Minister for Health (a) what opportunities and facilities are provided by the Junior Flying Club to meet the enthusiasm and interest of our youth; and (b) what is the total membership of the Club in the years 1980 to 1982 and how many of these members have joined the Republic of Singapore Air Force.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the URA has conducted a study of the parking requirements of both light and heavy vehicles. While detailed implementation plans have yet to be worked out, the broad conclusions and recommendations of the study have been accepted by my Ministry. Recommendations incorporating both long term and short term solutions will be implemented. The long term solutions will include the following:- (i) Centralized Lorry Parks The majority of heavy vehicles will have to be provided with permanent parking areas in centralized parks. Such car parks will be kept out of residential areas because heavy vehicles cause environmental disamenity and may pose a danger to residents, especially children. Subject to availability of land and wherever possible, they will be sited on the fringes of HDB estates for the convenience of most drivers who are HDB dwellers. Overnight lorry parking will also be encouraged in industrial estates where space is available. (ii) Car Parks More surface car parks will be built in existing HDB estates where demand exceeds supply and if space permits. The HDB has completed surveys in Bedok, Clementi, Ang Mo Kio, Telok Blangah, Toa Payoh and Queenstown. Additional surface car parks will be built in these new towns by early next year. Surveys in other estates are still in progress. Additional car parks will be provided if necessary and possible. Parking provisions for future new towns will take into consideration the results of such surveys. (iii) Kerbside Parking Orderly kerbside parking for cars and light vehicles will be allowed along selected roads at night in HDB estates. Outside housing estates, overnight kerbside parking will be permitted for heavy vehicles where roads are sufficiently wide.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there are 161,200 flat owners currently paying monthly instalments for the purchase of their flats. 103,700 pay their monthly instalments through the CPF. Of these, only 19,600 do not have sufficient CPF money to meet their monthly payments in full. SHORTAGE OF CAR PARKS (Solutions) 9. Mr Goh Chee Wee asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether his Ministry has any short and long term solutions to the shortage of car parks for both private and commercial vehicles; and (b) in view of the scarcity of land and the need to maximise land utilization, whether it is feasible to construct multi-storey car parks in Housing and Development Board estates.”
“agree that many of the maintenance problems in our HDB estates are caused by residents themselves. Two ready examples are the misuse of lifts and the blockage of drainage pipes. It is therefore necessary to make residents more conscious of estate maintenance. The HDB, on its part, constantly improves the quality of its maintenance services. In fact, it would not be an exaggeration to say that it has the most comprehensive system of property maintenance in Singapore or perhaps even in the region, a system which operates through a network of 33 Area Offices equipped with many teams of Housing and Maintenance Inspectors. HDB FLATS (Payment of monthly instalments) 8. Mr Goh Chee Wee asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many Housing and Development Board flat owners are currently paying monthly instalment for the purchase of their flat; and (b) how many of them are making their monthly payment through the Central Provident Fund and, of these, how many do not have sufficient money in the Fund to meet their monthly payment in full.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, an improvement programme is in progress to tackle the problem of low water pressure at the top two floors of all high-rise HDB blocks. Separate main and down-feed pipes are provided to these floors to increase the flow of water. Of a total of 1,971 blocks involved in the programme, 62% have undergone improvement works, The whole programme is scheduled to be completed by March 1984. Improvements are also being incorporated into all new blocks. The HDB regularly maintains its lifts to ensure that they work safely and reliably. Maintenance includes fortnightly servicing, annual tests and regular inspections. Data on defects, breakdowns and repair work are also recorded for computer analysis. Such analysis, in fact, reveals that the average number of breakdowns has decreased over the past five years, from 1.18 breakdowns to 0.83 breakdowns per lift per month, i.e. a 29.6% reduction. On the problem of water seepage, the HDB has since 1980 redesigned walls to minimize the problem. Existing flats with water seepage problems undergo remedial work during the repair and redecoration programme that is carried out every four to five years. The problem of blocked pipes and systems, however, is difficult to anticipate as it is mainly caused by the indiscriminate disposal of solid wastes that choke the systems. Nevertheless, the HDB has efficient maintenance and repair services to clear blocked systems as and when problems arise. Mr Speaker, Sir, I must stress that the role of estate maintenance does not belong solely to the HDB. A very important part should be played by residents themselves to ensure that the environment they live in is clean, healthy and properly taken care of. Hon. Members will.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, on 3rd December last year, I told the House that the waiting time for sale flats was 3 1/2 - 4 years in 1981. The situation has improved slightly and new applicants of 3-, 4- and 5-room flats need to wait an average of 3 - 3 1/2 years today. Over the next three years, i.e. between now and 1985, the HDB will be completing 120,000 units of public housing. The waiting time for flats will be shortened progressively over this period. After 1985, when the backlog of applicants now on the waiting list is cleared, the waiting time for new applicants will be about two to three years. HDB HOUSING ESTATES (Maintenance services) 7. Dr Ang Kok Peng asked the Minister for National Development what plan has his Ministry for the scheduled, periodic and comprehensive inspection, with appropriate follow-up actions, of Housing and Development Board housing estates to ensure that the problems of low water pressure, frequent lift breakdowns, blocked drainage pipes and systems and water seepage are dealt with systematically and effectively even before individual complaints are received from residents.”
“Sir, it is indeed correct. In fact, of the people living in the 1-room and 2-room rental flats, there are about 15,700 applicants who are on the waiting list to purchase flats. These people will be getting their flats probably over the next two to three years, making their flats available to other applicants who need to rent flats. NEW APPLICANTS FOR 3-, 4- AND 5-ROOM HDB FLATS (Waiting time) 6. Mr Liew Kok Pun asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is the estimated average waiting time now for new applicants of three-, four- and five-room Housing and Development Board home-ownership apartments; and (b) whether this waiting time will be shortened over the next two years when more HDB apartments are completed and, if so, by how much.”
“Sir, this is a matter of opinion and we do have data to show the actual affordability of the flats.”
“Sir, we can see that the Member is again harping on his old issues. There will be plenty of opportunity for him to raise these issues in the Committee of Supply when we will give him full answers to all the points. As far as rental flats are concerned, especially 1-room and 2-room rental flats, he may not be aware that there are about 64,000 1-room rental flats and 44,000 2-room rental flats. This is more than ade- quate to meet the future demand and the policy of the Government is to encourage people to own their homes. We have found that the applicants who register to rent flats have generally income levels not much different from those who apply to buy flats. What they need to do is to perhaps cut down on smoking and drinking and so on. Then they will be able to afford and it will be in their long-term interest to purchase the flats.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, on 3rd December last year, in answer to a similar question from the Hon. Member for Kampong Kembangan, I told this House that the waiting period for 1- and 2-room rental flats was estimated to be 1 1/2 - 2 years. Since then, there has been an increase in applications for 1- and 2-room rental flats. This increase was mainly caused by the transfer of a substantial number of 3-room applicants to the 1- and 2-room registers. The waiting times for rental flats will lengthen to two years for 1-room units and three years for 2-room units. The waiting time for rental flats is not expected to be shortened over the next two years. This is because the HDB, in line with the Government's policy to encourage home ownership of flats, has ceased construction of new rental flats.”
“Sir, in the cases mentioned by the Member for Anson, the HDB will try to arrange for this person to pair up with another single person to live together to rent a flat. In view of our housing shortage, it is necessary for us to insist that there should be at least two persons per household to qualify to rent or purchase flats. APPLICATION FOR ON E- AND TWO-ROOM HDB RENTAL FLATS (Waiting time) 5. Mr Liew Kok Pun asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is the estimated average waiting time now for new applicants of one- and two-room Housing and Development Board rental apartments; and (b) whether this waiting time will be shortened over the next two years when more HDB apartments are completed and, if so, by how much.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, single persons who are living together but away from their parents are not eligible for rehousing priority because they cannot form themselves into a family nucleus. There is a great shortage of flats at the moment and it is necessary for the HDB to apply this rule on family nucleus stringently to curb demand for flats. However, related single persons, such as brothers and sisters, whose parents have both passed away, will be considered as a family nucleus and will qualify for resettlement priority to purchase HDB flats. Single persons affected by resettlement and whose parents are living elsewhere are advised to join their parents. Where this is not possible, they may be allocated 1-room rental flats on a joint allocation basis with at least one other person. Grandchildren and their grandparents, if both of whom are alive, will be granted resettlement priority to purchase HDB flats. In cases where there is only one grandparent, rehousing priority will be granted if the grandparent forms a family nucleus with one or more of his or her grandchildren, and they can prove that they have been living together on the affected site prior to the resettlement cutoff date.”
“Sir, off-hand, I am not able to tell the hon. Member about the frequency for this particular road or whether there is any fixed frequency in general. I understand this count was done very recently for Punggol, in view of the Question by the hon. Member. REHOUSING PRIORITY FOR RESETTLEMENT CASES (Single persons living away from parents) 4. Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for National Development (a) if he will give single persons, who are living together as a family but not with parents and who are affected by resettlement, re-housing priority to purchase Housing and Development Board flats and, if not, why not; and (b) whether he will give priority also to grown-up grandchildren who are not living with their parents but with their grandparents and who are affected by resettlement.”
“It will also be carried out, wherever possible, during games period or at night when the soldiers are free. They will, therefore, not interfere with the servicemen's military training. The instructors for the classes in the units are the soldiers' commanders themselves. In this way, strong cohesive teamwork and rapport will be reinforced because the soldiers will realize that their commanders are taking an interest in their education and future well-being. The commanders, in turn, will develop a greater sense of pride and involvement in helping their men. Hence, the programme is not at all in conflict with the primary defence role of the SAF which is to be operationally capable and ready for our nation's defence. In fact, we strongly believe that a better educated national serviceman will make a much better soldier. A cohesive team will also make for a very much stronger and more effective fighting unit.”
“Annually, about 4,500 National Servicemen who can benefit from such basic education are enlisted into the SAF. Two years later, they will leave the SAF to join the national workforce. They will remain in the workforce for the next 30 or more years. The productivity and future well-being of these workers are at stake if they are not given extra assistance to improve their basic educational skills right away. It is MINDEF's contribution to our servicemen to see that they leave the SAF after two years of full-time national service not only as well trained proficient soldiers but that they are also better prepared for their civilian career. The BEST Programme in the SAF will help them. By helping them in their basic education in literacy skills, it is also an expression of MINDEF's concern for the soldier's welfare. The national BEST Programme consists of two subjects: English and Mathematics. There are four modules per subject. Each module requires approximately 60 hours of instruction. MINDEF has carried out a feasibility study and this indicates that two modules of each subject can be implemented within a two-year NS period. This is bearing in mind that military training and operational readiness must be our primary priorities. We have decided to have classes for English because English is of much more immediate value both to the soldiers while they are in the SAF as well as to them as Reservists after they leave the SAF. Two modules of English Language instruction will take up approximately 120 hours of instruction time and this will be spread over the entire two years of national service. The BEST classes will only be conducted during such time as the administrative and maintenance periods and will not eat into the training periods for the soldiers.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, this is not the first time that the Member for Anson has not been able to follow logical argument. I think the Members are hardly surprised and, in fact, I despair at having to explain to him. But the fact is that if the original tenancy was given to this partnership, the partners Mr A and Mr B, in the proportion of maybe 50-50, then when A transfers or gives up his share to B, B gets a 100% share. So there is a change in the original conditions. B is now getting a bigger share, and often this means that he is enjoying a bigger rental subsidy, and so on. Normally we would not allow a transfer. If, for example, A wants to transfer his share to someone completely new, we will say, "No. You bring this back to us. You tender again." This is because the market rental is different, and these are month-to-month tenancies. If A wants to take in a new partner, we will allow it, but then we will revise the rent to the market rental. So the Member must understand the basic premise. I can see a lot of confusion on his face, but as I have said, it is hardly surprising. BEST PROGRAMME FOR NATIONAL SERVICEMEN 11. Dr Koh Lip Lin asked the Minister of Defence and Second Minister for Health why the Ministry of Defence is introducing the BEST Programme for some National Servicemen, in view of the relatively short period of 2 to 2 1/2 years available to the Singapore Armed Forces to convert them into well-trained combat-ready soldiers. The Minister of State of Defence (Dr Yeo Ning Hong) (for the Minister of Defence and Second Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, Sir, the BEST Programme is part of the national effort to raise the basic educational level of our workforce.”
“Sir, I think the question should best be directed to the Member for Anson who is a lawyer. But, as is well known, the fees could be very substantial in terms of stamp fees and so on. Very often there is consideration involved because you are transferring something of value from one person to another. In this case our policy is that this tenancy really belongs to the HDB. It is not a property to be transferred from one tenant to another. We have actually made a concession in this case, by allowing a transfer in special cases and with a token charge.”
“The Member for Anson is referring to a written reply which we gave to him when he wanted to know a whole long list of fees and charges imposed by the HDB. Therefore, in the summary table it was only possible for us to give the various reasons in point form. One of the reasons for this fee is obviously for the administrative effort involved. But the reason is, as I have given just now in more detail, that it is basically a token charge. The normal policy is that we do not allow a transfer of tenancy. But we have made a concession in these cases to allow it, and in so doing we charge a token fee.”