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.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,595 lines we hold for Lee Yock Suan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 32 of 32.
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the dredging and desilting of Serangoon River is carried out by the Public Works Department (PWP) once every two years. The River was last dredged in 1980. It will be dredged and desilted again in June 1982, to be completed by September 1982. DEVELOPMENT OF ALEXANDRA TERRACE/ ALEXANDRA LANE AND PULAU SAKENG 12. Encik Abbas Abu Amin asked the Minister for National Development whether there are plans to develop (i) the areas around Alexandra Terrace, Alexandra Lane, Pepys Road and Jalan Pasir Ria along Pasir Panjang Road; and (ii) Pulau Sakeng, in the Pasir Panjang Constituency.”
“If such additions are considered part of the costs of the flats which have already been sold, how should the cost be treated; or if such improvements take place after some flats have been sold, and some others are waiting to be sold and still others rented, how should the cost be accounted? HDB's accounting system has been used since its inception. Over the last 17 years some 350,000 units of flats have been built. It is impossible to go back so many years to try and revise the accounts to the new format. A cut-off date will, therefore, be necessary to arrive at a proper set of accounts which will serve as the starting point for the new accounting system. The HDB needs time to study all the technical problems before implementing the revised system. In this complex and wide-ranging task, the HDB is further hampered by the lack of manpower. The Board has been losing many experienced accountants in recent months and it is having difficulty replacing them. In view of the many difficulties involved, it is expected that the earliest that the HDB can target to have the revised system installed is Financial Year 1983-84. 3.30 p.m. Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam rose -”
“Some accountants may prefer one system of accounting whilst other accountants may prefer another. The accounting system would also depend on the nature of the organization - whether it is a profit-oriented commercial firm or a statutory board providing a public service. The HDB accounting system has worked well and been accepted for many years. However, in view of the criticisms by the Auditor-General that the HDB accounting system is out of date and considering the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee, the HDB has decided to revise its accounting system, despite the many difficulties involved in such a major exercise. The change in accounting treatment has already been implemented for HDB's subsidiary operations and other peripheral activities, including hawker centres and car park operations. All these years, such surpluses or deficits have been properly and separately accounted for and the operating results from the hawker centres and car parks have all along been shown in the Income and Expenditure Account. As for the subsidiary operations, such as the HDB quarry, brickworks and tile factories, the operating results for Financial Year 1980-81 have, for the first time, been reflected in the Income and Expenditure Account for the year. Regarding the sale of flats activity, the problems involved are far more complex. Many technical problems concerning what is and what is not part of the construction cost will have to be ironed out. For example, in many instances, after an estate has been developed and completed, public amenities and other infrastructure are subsequently added to improve the estate.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, public attention has recently been focused on the HDB's accounting system relating particularly to the sale of flats. Since 1964 when the HDB first began to sell flats, proceeds from sales have been treated as capital transaction and, therefore, deducted from the asset value in the Capital Balance Sheet. This so-called "Double Account" System, which provides one account for Capital and another for Revenue, was in fact adopted from British practice. In England, it has been used by public utility undertakings established under Special Acts of Parliament. This accounting treatment by the HDB has been in use for 17 years now and there have been no complaints until recently. Before 1979, the HDB has increased the selling prices of its flats only once, i.e. in 1974. Since 1979, HDB has been compelled to increase the selling prices of HDB flats substantially because of the tremendous escalation of construction costs. The prices were increased by an average of 15% in 1979, 20% in 1980 and 38% this year. These price hikes have caused much anxiety and concern among flat buyers. The subject of concern is really the selling price, which is dictated by the construction cost, and not the HDB accounting system per se. Any accounting system adopted by a public institution such as the HDB, should allow for proper control and accountability of public funds, especially when large sums of money are involved. In this regard, the present accounting system has achieved its purpose. There is no doubt about that and the Auditor-General has satisfied himself that this is indeed so. The other aspect of an accounting system is the reporting function for internal management control and for public information. This is more a question of convention and style.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, that stretch of the Sembawang Expressway between Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 and Jalan Toa Payoh, now under construction, will be ready by January 1983. Its northward extension between Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 and Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5 is expected to commence in 1984-85 to be ready by 1986-87. This extension of the Expressway to Avenue 5 will be sufficient to meet the travel demands of Ang Mo Kio New Town and its adjacent areas. Further extensions of the Expressway northwards to Yio Chu Kang Road and beyond will be undertaken in the late 1980's. There will be appropriate pedestrian crossing facilities provided along the Expressway Extension beyond Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1. However, as detailed design has yet to commence, it is too early to determine the types or the precise locations of such pedestrian crossing facilities. HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD ("Double account" system) 18. Mr Eric Cheong Yuen Chee asked the Minister for National Development what is the rationale of the Housing and Development Board for continuing its present "double account" system and not changing to the standard accounting system despite repeated advice from the Auditor-General.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, about 770 units comprising 590 4-room and 180 5-room Model 'A' flats have been planned in the redevelopment scheme for Lengkok Bahru Estate. The contract for the first phase of about 170 units has been called. The flats are to be completed by the end of 1983. The remaining units are targetted for completion during 1985. SEMBAWANG EXPRESSWAY (Completion of link with Yio Chu Kang and Ang Mo Kio) 17. Dr Lau Teik Soon asked the Minister for National Development when the sector of the Sembawang Expressway linking Yio Chu Kang Road and Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 will be completed and whether overhead bridges or underground passes will be built along this sector.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, to improve the water pressure of the top floor units of apartment blocks, the Housing and Development Board will install additional distribution mains and additional downfeed stainless steel pipes to the topmost two floors. The internal water pipes of such rental flats which have become encrusted with sediment will also be replaced. Tender for the above improvement works for flats in Neighbourhood 5 of Bedok North Estate failing within the Kaki Bukit Constituency has just been called. Work is expected to commence in March 1982. Based on recent tenders, the cost of these improvements is about $30,000 per apartment block. The hon. Member may also wish to know that the newly completed flats in Neighbourhoods 6 and 7 of Bedok North Estate within the Kaki Bukit Constituency have been included in the improvement programme. Work is expected to commence in March 1982. COALITION GOVERNMENT OF DEMOCRATIC KAMPUCHEA (Progress made) 15. Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Culture, with reference to the recent visit to Bangkok by the Second Deputy Prime Minister (Foreign Affairs) and himself, and also with reference to the recent informal ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Pattaya, if he can inform the House of the latest developments on the efforts and progress made on the Cambodian question, particularly the efforts to assist patriotic Cambodians in forming the coalition government of Democratic Kampuchea.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, it is Government policy to review periodically the rates for resettlement compensation. There have been two reviews in the last three years. In March 1979, compensation rates were increased by an average of 20%. In March 1981, there was a further increase of 30% in compensation rates. The next review of rates will be undertaken by the Housing and Development Board in the first half of 1982. BEDOK NEW TOWN (NEIGHBOURHOOD 5) (Complaint of low water pressure) 14. Encik Saidi Haji Shariff asked the Minister for National Development (a) what measures the Housing and Development Board plans to take to improve the water pressure of the top floor units of flats in Neighbourhood 5 of Bedok New Town which falls within the Kaki Bukit Constituency; (b) when these measures will be taken as the present low water pressure is causing considerable inconvenience to residents; and (c) how much they will cost.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, if the hon. Member had listened carefully to my answer, he would already have got the facts in answer to his, supplementary question. In the case of private owners, for example, if any Member here buys some property and subsequently sells it, he will sell it at the market rate, not at the price he bought it. For example, if the hon. Member himself has property to sell, would he sell it at the old price? Definitely not. So the principle is fair. But the point that I am making really is this. The sitting tenants have, in fact, been enjoying subsidized rentals for many years before buying the flats. Why should they further enjoy the benefit of capital appreciation? This appreciation should really go to the Housing and Development Board for its operations. The HDB is not making a profit overall. In fact, public housing is highly subsidized. As regards the old flats sold by the Ministry of Finance, the question should properly be directed to the Minister for Finance. COMPENSATION FOR RESETTLEMENT (Request for increase) 13. Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon asked the Minister for National Development whether he will increase the quantum of compensation payable in resettlement cases as the amount of compensation presently paid does not correspond to the price rise of the Housing and Development Board flats and, if so. when.”
“This is evident from advertisements in the newspapers offering HDB flats for resale. In every case, the owner's asking price is much higher than the prevailing HDB selling price for a similar flat in the same housing estate. I am quite certain that sitting tenants who now purchase their flats at posted prices will ask for the going market price in five years' time if they should decide subsequently to sell off their flats. In fact, the prevailing posted prices of flats offered to sifting tenants are lower than the present construction cost of such flats. Most tenants know that buying over their existing flats is a good investment. Sitting tenants who buy over their flats get a 99-year lease effective from the date of sale. In addition, they enjoy the following benefits: (i) They do not have to pay the 20% downpayment if they have resided in their flats for two years or more; (ii) They do not have to submit fresh applications for purchase which, in effect, means that they are exempted from the eligibility rules relating to income ceiling; and (iii) They do not have to wait for their flats, and their flats are in localities which they have been used to. HDB rental flats are, in fact, highly subsidized. Rentals paid by HDB tenants are not sufficient to cover the financing and maintenance costs and property tax of the fiats, For example, the rental for a 3-room improved flat outside the Central Ares rented to a Singaporean is only $82.50 per month whereas the interest, administrative and maintenance cost and property tax borne by the HDB amount to $142 per month. Not only is there nothing left over to pay for the original cost of the flat, but there is, in fact, a subsidy of about $60 per month per fiat.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, certainly not. I think it is in the nature of accounts that we cannot present every bit of information. There have to be summaries. Certain items are grouped together. It is common knowledge that when you read accounts, unless you know the full facts, you may not be able to interpret correctly the information given. It is not an attempt to hide but the way the accounts are done, with summaries and so on, and the way that the items are grouped together, you may not get the full picture unless you know the full story. PRICING OF OLD HDB FLATS (Justification) 12. Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon asked the Minister for National Development what is the justification for pricing the old Housing and Development Board flats, that are being offered for sale to sitting-tenants, at current market value when the flats were built many years ago at a much lower cost. Mr Lee Yock Suan (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, since the Sale of Flats to Sitting Tenants Scheme started 12 years ago, the Housing and Development Board has sold 20,000 dwelling units to sitting tenants at sale prices prevailing at the time of offer of sale. The HDB will continue to sell flats to sitting tenants at prevailing posted prices because this is a fair practice. Any property owner who sells his property will not sell at his old buying price but will charge the going market rate. There is no reason why the HDB should do otherwise. This is the fundamental difference between renting and owning a flat. If you rent a flat you do not suffer any losses if the flat goes down in value; neither do you enjoy any capital appreciation if the market price goes up. All HDB flat-owners agree with the principle that the resale of flats should be at market value.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the explanation is quite simple. The accounts do not completely reflect the situation. Some of the cost items that I have mentioned here may not have been classified or explained clearly in the accounts that the hon. Member has seen. The actual cost figures that I have reviewed and studied indicate, in fact, that there is a deficit. The figures that the hon. Member has quoted do not present a complete picture. I think the hon. Member might have been mistaken by the accounts because of the way they are presented. Unless the Member knows the full picture, it is very easy to miss out certain items.”
“Regular vocational and technical training courses conducted by VITB are not suitable for the boys because of their different educational background, length of stay and aptitude. The rehabilitation process hinges on providing training in simple skills and the inculcation of work discipline and moral values so that the boys can take on gainful employment after discharge.”
“The answer is yes. BOYS IN SOCIAL WELFARE HOMES (Preparation for employment) 27. Encik Abbas Abu Amin asked the Acting Minister for Social Affairs how many boys are currently living in the various social welfare homes and what forms of education, including vocational training, are being provided to prepare them for gainful employment upon their discharge. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Affairs (Mr Teo Chong Tee) (for the Acting Minister for Social Affairs): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, there are 285 boys currently living in five Social Welfare Homes and Hostels. Of this number, 96 (or 34%) are boys who were committed to the Home by the Juvenile Court. They are mostly premature school-leavers and are prone to violence. They are trained initially to undertake manual work, such as laundry, Home-maintenance work and assembling parquet pieces. As their rehabilitation progresses, they will be trained in basic carpentry, metal work, arc-welding and assembling electronic components. Those who perform very well will be given job placements under the Day Release Scheme to work in manufacturing companies. They will report for work daily and return to the Home after work until they are released on parole. The remaining 189 (or 66%) are less problematic boys who attend normal schools or are given training in vegetable farming, gardening, laundry, general Home-maintenance work, simple assembly works and other basic skills. In addition, the boys participate in physical, religious, social and recreational and leisure activities to improve their physical and mental health and to appreciate communal living.”
“Sir, I will ask the Public Works Department to look further into this problem.”
“Sir, I was here when the two Questions were answered. But, as I recall, it concerns another road. It is not the same road that we are now talking about, which is Lim Chu Kang Road. The capacity of this road is 850 vehicles per hour. I have been told by the PWD that, based on their actual count, the peak level has not been reached.”
“Sir, recent traffic counts conducted by the Public Works Department along the most heavily trafficked stretch of Lim Chu Kang Road near the intersection with Chua Chu Kang showed that peak hour volumes are of the order of 560 to 620 vehicles per hour which are within the capacity of the existing road. There is, therefore, no need to widen the road at present. However, to improve traffic flow, the Public Works Department is signalizing the junction of Lim Chu Kang Road/Chua Chu Kang Road/Jalan Bahar. The signalization works will be completed in about two months' time.”
“The answer to the first part is yes. As far as possible, the HDB will try and make sure that there are available flats before they proceed with resettlement of families. But the complication is that some of the resettled families prefer certain areas and sometimes they do not want the flats which are available. So they end up with long waiting periods. LIM CHU KANG ROAD (Widening and upgrading) 26. Mr Tang See Chim asked the Minister for National Development what plans his Ministry has to widen and upgrade Lim Chu Kang Road which is being used by heavy traffic as a trunk road linking the Jurong Industrial Estate and the northern part of the island and which is inadequate to accommodate such heavy traffic.”
“Sir, there is no way we can give this assurance. I think the resettled families are in a similar position as other buyers. The fact that they have been resettled means that they are given priority to choose flats. But there is no assurance that flats will not increase in price. There is no way we can assure that.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Ministry and the HDB are fully aware of the anxieties which I think all the resettled families must be facing, and we fully sympathize with them. It is not that the HDB wants to increase prices. It is because of the rising cost of construction that HDB is forced to increase prices correspondingly. As I have said earlier, in answer to one of the questions, the only way to control prices is to control costs and the HDB is doing its very best to try and do this. There is simply no way we can assure buyers, ahead of time, that the cost will be within a certain range. All I can say is that the situation has improved considerably and that, as compared to previous years, the future increases are likely to be moderate.”
“Sir, a total of 1,425 families have to be resettled to make way for the development of Kaki Bukit Estate. To-date, 205 families have been allocated HDB flats under resenlement priority. Resettlement of all affected families is expected to be completed by 1983. Wherever possible, the HDB will allocate to affected families flats in the estate of their choice. However, this is not always possible because of the limited supply of flats. In such instances, the HDB will try to allocate flats close to the estate of their choice.”
“Encik Saidi Haji Shariff asked the Minister for National Development (a) the total number of families and persons to be resettled to make way for the development of Kaki Bukit Estate; (b) how many of them have so far been resettled by accepting alternative accommodation in Housing and Development Board flats under resettlement priority; (c) when the resettlement of the rest of the affected families and persons will be completed; and (d) whether they will all be allocated flats in the estate they have applied for under resettlement priority.”
“Sir, owing to the uncertainties prevailing in the construction industry last year, HDB contractors were reluctant to undertake public housing jobs. Consequently, in 1980, HDB awarded 15,053 units, an all-time low. In the first five months of this year, only 1.931 units were awarded. The situation was aggravated by an astronomical increase in the number of new registrants to purchase and rent flats. To resolve the critical problem, HDB entered into direct negotiations with contractors persuading them to accept contracts at negotiated prices. The results of these direct negotiations have been encouraging. In the last four months, 20,751 units were awarded. Another 10,000 units are expected to be contracted out by the end of this year. To speed up the public housing programme, HDB is also looking into the use of prefabricated methods of construction and the employment of overseas contractors. All these measures, however, will not yield immediate results. The average construction period for a block of high-rise flats is between 2 1/2 and three years. Applicants for public housing must accept the fact that they have to face an average waiting period of 31/2 to four years. Sale prices of flats depend on the construction cost. The HDB has taken the following measures to minimize increases in construction cost - (i) to simplify the design of the flats; (ii) To assist contractors in the recruitment of construction workers from non-traditional sources; and (iii) To improve contract conditions, such as giving protection to contractors against price fluctuations of building materials and extending interest-free loans to contractors to purchase equipment and machinery. RESETTLEMENT AT KAKI BUKIT (Particulars) 25.”
“Sir. provision of car parking facilities in the new HDB estates is generally adequate, although it may be insufficient in certain neighbourhoods because of uneven distribution of vehicle ownership relative to parking lots. In some of the older estates, there may be slight shortages of parking lots. The HDB will review the requirement of parking facilities in various estates and build additional car parks if necessary. The HDB will also study the feasibility of allowing kerbside parking along the minor roads of housing estates, particularly in areas where there are shortages of overnight parking facilities. HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD (Building programme and price increase) 24. Mr Yeo Toon Chia asked the Minister for National Development, in view of the increasing number of applicants for Housing and Development Board flats, (a) what measures will be taken to speed up the building programme to shorten the waiting period; and (b) what stops are being taken to ensure that the applicants, after paying their deposit, will not face a steep increase in the price at the time of allocation of the flat.”
“Sir, tenders for the cleaning and painting of flats in Bedok Constituency closed on 21st October, and work is expected to commence next month. POWER FAILURE ON 5TH OCTOBER 1981 (Steps to prevent recurrence) 22.”
“Sir, the sports and swimming complexes in Bedok are now in the final stage of construction. They are scheduled for completion by November 1981. HDB FLATS IN BEDOK CONSTITUENCY (Cleaning and painting) 21. Mr Eric Cheong Yuen Chee asked the Minister for National Development when the Housing and Development Board will carry out the exterior cleaning and painting work of those flats in Bedok constituency which were built more than five years ago.”
“Sir, the various areas for preservation are under study, and I am not in a position at the moment to say one way. or the other about those mentioned sites. SPORTS AND SWIMMING COMPLEXES IN BEDOK (Completion date) 20. Mr Eric Cheong Yuen Chee asked the Minister for National Development what is the state of progress on the construction of the sports complex and swimming complex in Bedok and the estimated date of completion of these two projects.”
“Sir, we have been preserving and conserving buildings which have historical, cultural or traditional values. The Preservation of Monuments Act, however, provides only for the preservation of individual buildings. My Ministry is now considering an amendment to the Act to provide for preservation and conservation of specific areas. The Urban Redevelopment Authority has meanwhile taken action to conserve the Emerald Hill area and to improve its environment. Other areas in the city are being identified for preservation and conservation.”
“Sir, on 1st March, 1981, when the announcement on payment of the $18,000 deposit was made, there were 6,456 applicants on the HUDC waiting list. 187 of them opted to transfer their applications to the HDB waiting list, 931 withdrew their applications, and 995 had not paid up the required deposits by the official deadline of 31st August 1981. Of those who have paid up the deposit, 2,045 will be allocated HUDC flats in 1982 while the rest will be in 1983. Keys will be handed to the purchasers when the flats are ready for occupation, approximately two years from the date of allocation. PRESERVATION OF AREAS OF HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL VALUE 19. Mr Lim Boon Heng asked the Minister for National Development whether, in addition to preservation of specific monuments, there is any plan in the context of urban renewal to preserve certain areas or vicinities (or pans thereon in our nation which, because of their historical, cultural, traditional or other significance, may warrant perpetuation for our present and future generations as part of our overall policy to promote an awareness of our past and the evolution-of a Singaporean national identity and culture.”
“Sir, I do not have the facts at hand to answer the question. If the Member will allow me, I will ask my Ministry to supply him with a written answer. APPLICANTS FOR HUDC FLATS (Payment of deposit) 18. Dr Chau Sik Ting asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many applicants for Housing and Urban Development Company flats have not paid up the $18,000 deposit by the official deadline of 31st August, 1981 ; and (b) for those who have paid the $18,000 deposit, approximately when their keys can be handed to them.”
“Sir, the answer to the first question is "Yes". The contractors who were involved in the previous projects involving similar incidents were all large and experienced contractors. The answer to the second question is that there is no necessity to cordon off the area because adequate safety measures will be taken. As I have explained in answer to the original question, the PWD will in future require all contractors to adopt procedures with two or more independent safety systems.”
“Sir, the answer is that the Ministry will review the problem periodically.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the number of flats to be completed in Yishun New Town in 1981, 1982 and 1983 are 752, 832 and 1,564 respectively. The projected total of 40,000 flats in Yishun New Town will be completed by 1990. A total of 1,151 families and 48 non-residential cases have so far been resettled to make way for the development of Yishun New Town. The remaining 1,000 families and 80 non-residential cases will be cleared within the next two years.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, most of the sites required for HDB's developments are encumbered by squatters. Priority has to be given to resettling these squatters in order to clear the land for public projects, including housing. As at 30th June 1981, there were 94,400 applicants on HDB's waiting list to purchase flats. About 8,000 or 8.47% of these applicants have waited for seven years or more for their flats. Most of them have registered for flats in the Central Area or popular estates fringing the Central Area. These applicants have been repeatedly advised to transfer their applications to other zones as at least half of the flats built in the Central Area are set aside for resettlement cases. The number of flats available for public applicants is, therefore, very limited. Those who transfer their applications to the New Towns are likely to get their flats immediately if they have already waited for five years. Those who insist on flats in the Central Area will have to wait many more years. YISHUN NEW TOWN (Development) 15. Dr Koh Lip Lin asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many units of flats will be completed in Yishun New Town by the end of 1981, 1982 and 1983, respectively; (b) when the projected total of 40,000 flats will be completed; and (c) how many families and persons have so far been resettled to make way for the development of Yishun New Town and how many more will be resettled.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the bus stop along Telok Blangah Road near the mosque opposite the World Trade Centre was recently removed to improve traffic flow. Before its removal, buses stopping there held up city-bound traffic because there was no room for a bus bay. This caused frequent congestion along this stretch of Telok Blangah Rood. With its removal, traffic flow has improved considerably. Consideration was given to replacing the bus stop somewhere between the mosque and the Bata factory. This was not possible as there was no room for a bus bay along this stretch. Any bus stop without a proper bus bay would obstruct traffic flow. The PWD plans to widen Telok Blangah Road in 1982-83. A bus stop with a proper bus bay will be constructed near the one removed. Meanwhile, bus commuters can use either the bus stop located directly opposite the World Trade Centre about 330 metres away or the other bus stop near Kampong Bahru Road about 470 metres away. APPLICANTS FOR HDB FLATS (On waiting list for seven to eight years) 14. Mr M.K.A. Jabbar asked the Minister for National Development what is being done for people who have been waiting seven to eight years for a Housing and Development Board flat because resettlement cases have been given priority over them.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, there are 55 car parks providing 13,625 parking lots in Ang Mo Kio New Town. From sales of season parking tickets, the Housing and Development Board estimates that there is an overall surplus of 8% in parking lots provided. While certain neighbourhoods may experience some deficiency, car parking provision in the New Town as a whole is adequate. The HDB will conduct a survey to gauge the situation and, if necessary, the HDB will expand existing surface car parks. There is no necessity to build multi-storey car parks which are much more costly. BUS STOP IN TELOK BLANGAH ROAD OPPOSITE WORLD TRADE CENTRE (Removal of) 13. Mr M.K.A. Jabbar asked the Minister for National Development why the bus stop in Telok Blangah Road, near the mosque opposite the World Trade Centre, was removed.”
“Now, however, the parliamentary report is broadcast only over the radio, and not on TV. Last night, at 9.45 p.m. I listened to the English News. The replies given by the Ministers were reported in detail, but not the Members' requests. If that is so, the constituents would not know what their Members of Parliament have been debating in Parliament. Therefore, I would like to ask the Minister that SBC should give equal publicity to the speeches of the Ministers as well as those of the MPs. Other- wise, the constituents would not know what we have been discussing in Parliament. We have been elected to represent the people and we are here to convey the complaints and other comments of the public. SBC should not disregard us.”
“Jabbar (Radin Mas)( In Tamil): Sir, we are now debating on the Ministry of Culture and I thank you for permitting me to speak on this topic. I wish to bring up a few points for the attention of the Minister for Culture. The Singapore Broadcasting Corporation is a sophisticated organization and I do appreciate what it has been doing over the past one year. However, I would like to point out that there are certain shortcomings which need to be resolved. SBC grooms artistes and it also promotes sports activities. Similarly SBC's programmes should also benefit the workers of Singapore so that their attitudes can be better developed. Some of the programmes show how to cheat the police and how rape is committed. Such programmes are not conducive to our society. We should not televise programmes which promote Western culture. Since television programmes can easily influence people, they should be used to lead our people to a better future. The Ministry of Culture promotes cultural activities and other life-styles of the people, and therefore it should preserve the life-styles of Singaporeans. 3.15 p.m. I would like to point out that SBC telecasts only one Tamil film a week and this film, which used to be shown at 9 p.m. previously, is now shown at 10.30 p.m. Whenever the children watch the film at that hour they fall asleep. Adults have got to go to work the following day and so they are not able to see the film. Therefore, I would like to ask the Minister why the film could not be shown at 9 p.m. as previously. The Minister should look into this matter. Previously, during Parliament sittings, the parliamentary report was broadcast over the radio and television. In that way, members of the public were informed.”
“Mr Ho See Beng (Khe Bong)( In Mandarin): Sir, what I want to talk about concerns entertainment permits. I feel that the procedure for the issuing of entertainment permits by the Ministry of Culture is rather complicated and troublesome. Sir, as you know, in July of every year the Chinese community celebrates the Seventh Moon festival in the various constituencies. In celebrating the festival groups of street wayangs and singing troupes are set up to give performances at various open spaces. The organizers will have to get permission from the Ministry of Culture to stage these performances. The Ministry will send inspectors to check whether such performances, even though permits have been given, have actually been given full approval. What happens is that although a permit is issued for a particular performance, however, the public address system for that performance is not covered by that permit. So trouble begins from there. Sir, since two different permits are required to enable such a performance to be staged, the Ministry of Culture staff should not refrain from telling the organizers that they should also apply for a permit for their public address system. It behoves on the staff in the department to let the organizers know about it. In the past such trouble happened. This year it is bound to happen again. There will again be people organizing the Seventh Moon festival. So there will again be people applying for the entertainment permit. Since it is understood that a separate permit must also be obtained for the public address system, why can the permit not be issued together? Otherwise how can the people stage the performances at all? Mr M.K.A.”
“I would like to ask the Hon. Minister for Culture whether the National Library is planning to build more branch libraries in the various new towns and when. In particular, I understand that a branch library which is planned for Ang Mo Kio New Town is expected to be completed by 1983 - 84 to cater for the population of about 250,000 residents. Would it be possible to bring forward the implementation of this project, as many residents are eagerly awaiting its completion? In response to a request from my Residents' Committee, the National Library has kindly agreed to establish a mobile library at the Housing and Development Board Ang Mo Kio (East) Area Office at Block 528 Ang Mo Kio to cater for not only the residents of Cheng San and Jalan Kayu Constituencies but also other residents of Ang Mo Kio New Town. The mobile library will operate once a week and will comprise an adult section with about 2,000 books and a children's section with about 3,000 books. Whilst the mobile library is certainly welcome as an interim measure, it is but a poor substitute for a full-scale branch library. In our efforts to promote culture and the reading habit, more branch libraries should be built as soon as possible in the various new towns if their populations are sufficiently large, as in the case of Ang Mo Kio, to justify the cost of building and operating these branch libraries. The existing libraries are well utilized and it should be possible to rotate the books amongst these libraries to minimize the inventory of books. By locating the branch libraries closer to population centres, we can cut down travelling time and expenses (this is increasingly important with rising SBS fares) whilst promoting the reading habit.”
“Sir, with your permission, may I add to what the hon. Member for Kim Seng has just said?”
“The point that I am trying to make is that Government policies often involve a trade-off between various priorities. As we are attempting to restructure our economy under unfavourable economic conditions, somewhat more weight should be given to the impact which various Government policies will have on our investment climate.”
“I am especially concerned with the rising cost of local construction, of homes, factory buildings and industrial plants. The boom in construction activities, coupled with the shortage of construction materials and labour, is causing a rapid escalation of construction costs. For manufacturing industries, which have to face the rigours of international competition, it is imperative that we keep our plant costs in line with those of our main competitors. As most of our plant and equipment still have to be imported from overseas and we need to incur additional freight costs to bring them here, we must compensate for this disadvantage by keeping the costs of local construction and civil works low so that the final plant costs are internationally competitive. Another important factor is electricity tariff. With rising oil prices and uncertainty of supply, it is inevitable that electricity tariffs will increase further. In the Addendum it is reported that the PUB is planning to remove the promotional block rates of non-domestic electricity tariffs to discourage wastage and inefficient use of electricity. However, I wish to point out that for a given process there is only a certain limited scope for saving of electricity consumption. The planned restructuring of tariffs means in effect that we will be discouraging certain types of more energy-intensive industries from setting up in Singapore although they may be desirable in other regards. As I have already stated, Government policies in these areas are dictated by important national considerations besides economic growth. For example, no one can question the need for strict pollution control to preserve the environment in our small island state.”
“However, excessive job-hopping, especially amongst skilled workers who require many years to train and much investment to train, will make it more difficult for us to upgrade into skill- and technology-intensive industries. In our present tight labour market job-hopping is inevitable to a certain extent. To alleviate the shortage of workers, we should economise on the use of labour in the various sectors of the economy. The Addendum to the President's Speech indicates a general consciousness of the need to economise on the use of labour within the government machinery. With better organisation and with computerisation and mechanisation, I think there is scope for further economies in labour usage. The Addendum also mentions two other measures. One is the promotion of part-time jobs for housewives. This is something which we should encourage. The other is to provide gainful employment for the disabled and the aged. These measures will serve a social objective besides helping to alleviate the shortage of workers. Apart from labour, which is probably the most important factor, other factors such as land rentals, local construction costs, utility charges and pollution controls are important too. Together they have a significant impact on our investment climate. Government policies in these areas are influenced by other important considerations, such as the need to build up a skilled construction work force, to conserve energy and to protect the environment. However, it is necessary to consider the economic implications of such policies and, where there are adverse impacts, the policies should be moderated so that our competitive edge is not unduly eroded.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Motion by the Member for Mountbatten thanking the President for the Speech which he delivered on behalf of the Government at the Opening of the First Session of this Parliament. The President began his speech with the sobering thought that seldom have events and circumstances been more unfavourable for our economic development. Yet, with full employment, with substantial wage increases recommended by the NWC in 1979 and 1980 and a similar wage increase expected this year as the third and final round of our wage correction policy, with booming property and share markets and with a general atmosphere of affluence, it is easy to be lulled into thinking that everything is well. However, foreign investors are looking at Singapore critically and assessing our policies, our actions and the attitudes of our workers in terms of the impact they would have on the viability of their projects. Externally, the outlook is gloomy and the factors are largely beyond our control. Internally, certain factors are within our control and we should as far as possible maintain a healthy investment climate which is conducive to the type of investments that we are trying to promote. Perhaps the most important factor over which we may be able to exercise some control is labour - the cost and quality of labour. As Members are aware, job-hopping has been a problem in Singapore, although it varies from industry to industry and from company to company. One thing is clear: job-hopping must be discouraged. A certain amount of labour mobility is necessary for a restructuring of the economy.”