Lim Kim San
Singapore
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Public Utilities Board's investigation shows that the residents of Pulau Ubin are unwilling to pay higher prices due to higher operating costs, thereby causing the contractor to cease operations. It was explained to the hon.”
“Sir, I understand the Member's point, but I hope he realises that six months after serving notice, the pigs will still be defecating freely which will continue to contaminate our water.”
“Sir, if anyone should get sick from coming into contact with contaminated water, I hope they will accept sympathy from the Member for Jurong. But we cannot evaluate the danger to human life in terms of dollars and cents. The farmers have known for several years now that pig-rearing will have to be phased out of the catchment areas.”
“Sir, all I can say is that we are still looking into the feasibility of siting a coal-fired station on one of the islands to reduce the pollution problem. But no definite decision has yet been made. We have several offers to do a feasibility study on it, and we are looking closely into the matter. 5.45 p.m.”
“Merit Scholar- Merit Courses ships Bursaries Medicine/ Dentistry 44 41 Engineering 28 22 Architecture/ Building/ Estate Management 6 18 Accountancy/ Business Administration 9 14 Arts/Social Science/Law 32 40 Science (includes Pharmacy) 82 102 ___ ___ 201 237 === === Sir, I believe the hon.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, air pollution is being monitored daily by the Anti- Pollution Unit, and we find that the air pollution in industrial estates and the urban areas is normally higher than in the residential or rural areas.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,111 lines we hold for Lim Kim San, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 6 of 23.
“If I were to accede to the request of the Member for Sembawang, then the policy of moving hawkers into centres with healthy and sanitary surroundings, so that there would be no outbreaks of cholera and typhoid, will be defeated. The whole policy will be defeated. While sympathising with the Member for Changi on the plight of his constituents, here again, I cannot accede to his request to allow the hawkers in his constituency to sell in two places. If that is allowed, then the whole policy will go awry. There is already a shortage of suitable places to rehouse another 16,000 bona fide hawkers and here I am being asked, "Will you allow the hawkers in my constituency to sell at this place for a few hours and then in another place for another few hours?" Very soon all the MPs will come up to me and say, "Can you do the same for my hawkers?" What will the result be? We move them into what we think are suitable areas and they can do their trade under sanitary conditions. This is the policy of the Government. Sir, the Member for Changi stated that the former inspector understood the difficulties and, according to him, allowed the hawkers to sell in two places. Whether it is the former inspector or the new inspector, he knows the policy. If that has been allowed in the past, then there has been some neglect on the part of that inspector. It is not the policy to allow that because otherwise it will defeat the policy that has been decided by my Ministry. Sir, I think we have to continue with very firm action against unlicensed hawkers. If we allow unlicensed hawkers to continue hawking then the whole purpose of licensing them and resiting them into hawker centres will be defeated.”
“Sir, the Member need not seek clarification now because by the time I have finished I would have made it very clear to him what I mean. Sir, what is the point of having a Hawkers Department and spending so much money on campaigns on antipollution, Keep Singapore Clean, Keep Singapore Green, better food for better health, when, on the other hand, Members say, "Let them hawk. These are difficult cases. They are suffering." Our policy is to see that all hawkers are sited in centres where they can sell their food in really good surroundings with amenities like potable water; where they can keep themselves and the food they sell clean and can practise health hygiene. This i5 the reason why we are spending so much money. On the one hand, we hear the Member for Toa Payoh saying that we should go down and see that hawkers prepare their food under very sanitary conditions and, on the other hand, we have an appeal saying, "Please let them sell". In Singapore, there are hardship cases, of course. Definitely. A lot of our people have gone through a lot of hardships. Resettlement causes a lot of hardships. There is no doubt about that. But Singapore has been able to survive because our population is able to adapt themselves to changing circumstances, and it is our policy not to encourage hawking especially for young able-bodied people as there is a shortage of skilled labour in the more productive sectors of our economy. They can be trained and they should be trained. In our opinion, there are 31,000 hawkers in Singapore, bona fide licensed hawkers, and this number is sufficient for the needs of Singapore.”
“Here, we are spending millions of dollars engaging inspectors, teaching them how to enforce the regulations, organising campaigns for better health standards -”
“Sir, presumably the Member for Toa Payoh thinks that the health inspectors of the Ministry of the Environment are not strict enough in enforcing the regulations governing hawkers. He has suggested that we should pass further regulations to see that the food is covered. We already have regulations requiring food to be covered, either in transit or on display for sale. Presumably in this instance, my health inspectors have been very kind and flexible in the enforcement of the regulations. 7.30 p.m. But Members will agree with me that the inspectors in my Department do not have an easy job. As a result, I am finding it very difficult to recruit the full complement of health inspectors. The staff turnover is great. So not only must the health inspector be firm, but he must also be tactful. That is why, as I have said, we have set up a training department to teach them not only the know-how of the job but also to teach them the right way to deal with the public. The Member for Bras Basah mentioned a case of unfair confiscation on the part of the health inspectors in his constituency. Well, as I say, there are always two sides to a picture. He has got his version. And if he is not satisfied with it, he can give me the details and I will find out what is the other side of the picture. Then probably we can arrive at a point where justice is done. Sir, to accede to the appeal of the Member for Sembawang as well as the Member for Changi means that I would have to recommend to Cabinet that we close down the Hawkers Department. What is the point of having a Hawkers Department if we allow every Tom, Dick and Harry to just go out and hawk.”
“As I said just now, these courses are run to train our inspectors in law enforcement, in their attitude and behaviour towards the public, and also in their approach to work. So these courses are a very necessary adjunct to the Ministry because they teach members of the staff not only the technical know-how but also the way to carry out their work effectively.”
“Sir, the Training and Education Department of my Ministry has not received any publicity and the public is not quite aware of what it is doing. So I am glad to have this opportunity to clarify the role of the Training and Education Department in the Ministry of the Environment. The Training and Education Department of my Ministry was set up to train personnel of the Ministry, in particular, the field staff, and to educate the public on environmental public health matters. These are some of the courses: Orientation Course for Assistant Public Health Inspectors, Water Pollution Control Courses, Refresher Courses in Public Health Law Enforcement, Technicians Sanitary Course for technical staff of the Sewerage Department, Sewage Treatment Works Operators Course for the technical staff attached to the Sewage Treatment Works and Industrial Waterworks, Intensive Course on Sewerage and Sanitation for technicians preparing for Departmental examinations. There are also the Royal Society of Health courses for Public Health Inspectors. This is quite an important course because they are awarded certificates. This is carried out in conjunction with the Royal Society of Health in England. In 1973, 28 Public Health Inspectors underwent this course, and 34 in 1974. This year 39 students are attending this course. There is also a Royal Society of Health course on Air Pollution Control. Eighteen students are now doing this course. All in all, for 1974 we have a total of more than 200 students undergoing the various courses in the Ministry. Students from other statutory boards or government departments also enrol in the courses appropriate to their duties.”
“Sir, it is a good suggestion that we build more crematoria all over Singapore. There are plans for their construction but they have to be sent to the Building Control Division for planning approval. We must find suitable sites. Similarly, permission will be given for the establishment of funeral parlours all over Singapore. But hon. Members must realise that if funeral parlours are set up in crowded areas, the neighbouring residents might find it inconvenient and might not like to live next to funeral parlours. Therefore, suitable sites have to be carefully considered for the setting up of funeral parlours. Anyway, the matter is under consideration. Once it is being decided where these suitable sites are, an announcement will be made. With regard to the question of a campaign to further the adoption of cremation, I am glad to inform hon. Members that the idea of cremation has caught on. Latest figures show that about 41 % of the dead in Singapore were cremated. Of course, we will keep on encouraging cremation. A columbarium will be built at Mount Vernon where the cremated ashes can be kept.”
“That is exactly what I said. Sir, we clean the place regularly. On normal days the place is clean. But when he talks about festival days, I can understand the situation because there is an accumulation of rubbish during such seasons, and this will take time to clear.”
“Sir, I do go round the constituencies. I only want to ask the Member this question: how many times did he find his place full of rubbish? Probably once in a few months. Is it an everyday occurrence? If it is, he should have written to my Ministry and I will see to it that something is done. If it is an everyday occurrence, I wonder how is it that he can sit on it for so long.”
“Sir, as I said, I do not want to take too much time to go over the ground that I had covered last year. There are some places where rubbish is removed three times a day, and generally bin centres are kept clean. I am quite satisfied that we have enough lorries now and the department is well organised to keep Singapore clean. We keep the place clean regularly. Otherwise the Member would complain of the "aroma" not only in odd places but all over Singapore. I have already mentioned that in most cases we will seek the views of hon. Members whenever there is a plan to build a hawker centre. Their views will be sought but, of course, the final details have to be worked out by members of my staff. The Member for Jurong mentioned a case where just because a hawker dropped a leaf of vegetable, the health inspector issued him with a summons. If the health inspector from my Ministry had been that inconsiderate, I would have received many many more complaints than I have received so far.”
“You will find that there are always two sides to a story. What I dislike is the implied threat in the Member's statement with regard to the behaviour of health inspectors. If I am not mistaken, he wants the health inspector to be more polite, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous. Let me warn those who attempt to take the law into their own hands and hurt health inspectors or public servants in the course of their duty. They will be severely dealt with when caught and we will do everything possible to see that they are caught. After all the inspectors are doing their duty, and it has been impressed upon them that they must be polite but firm. It is only this firmness that can bring about the desired results. With regard to the question of consulting Members in the design of hawker centres, the Department does from time to time seek the views of Members. But I think Members will agree with me that when it comes to detailed planning the staff of the Department who are professionals are in a better position to know the requirements. Of course, we would be very fortunate to be able to find the most suitable place for a hawker centre and to be able to provide more than enough stall-space for hawkers in the vicinity, but the ideal is not always possible. There are financial limitations and space limitations, but wherever possible we will consult hon. Members. I must stress here again that the final decision rests with my Ministry because in building any structure not only one department is concerned but many others. It is only the professionals at the job who will be able to give advice which is not only suitable but also in keeping with the regulations.”
“No. In Tampines Road. We tip this refuse largely over dumping grounds outside the city. At the moment they are adequate enough to take 1,200 tons of refuse daily. For the information of the House, I would just like to say that we are planning to build an incinerator of 1,200 tons capacity per day, and it is expected to be operational by 1978. I am not able to give the Member for Anson facts and figures on people who have been caught smoking in buses. If he wants such detailed information, he can send in a question for oral answer. What I know is that enforcement action is taken to see that the sign "No Smoking" in buses is strictly observed. Coming to the Member for Jurong, he complained that the inspectors are very hard on the hawkers and are issuing summonses indiscriminately. I cannot accept that. There are certain procedures to be followed, and our inspectors are told to adhere strictly to them before they issue their summonses. Usually a summons is issued only after a warning has been given. Knowing how irresponsible some hawkers can be, the situation would certainly deteriorate if we are lax in enforcing the rule of cleanliness among our hawkers. As it were, we have already achieved a certain standard of cleanliness and I would hate to see it deteriorate. Once it does, then we will have a tough time restoring it to our present high standard. I can assure the Member that we do train our health inspectors to be polite, but firm, with members of the public. If Members receive complaints from hawkers that the inspectors from the Ministry have been very rigid and rude, I would ask them to listen to the other side of the story. In instances where complaints of rudeness have been brought to my attention, I always make it a point to carry out a thorough investigation.”
“We dispose of our refuse largely by dumping them in -”
“Sir, the Member for Anson is repeating what he said in previous Budget sessions, i.e, the unsatisfactory collection of rubbish. I have replied to him in detail during the last Budget session, and therefore I am not going to take too much time of the House by going over the grounds again. But let me remind the House that rubbish in Singapore is collected regularly and at least once a day. This is one of the few big cities in the world where rubbish is collected daily. On the average the Ministry collects 1,200 tons of refuse daily and our trucks cover 260 routes each and make 400 trips per day. On the question of refuse bins, it is not whether there are enough or not enough bins. It is a question of whether members of the public do make correct use of the facilities at bin centres. On occasions members of the public throw refuse around bin centres instead of putting the refuse into the bins. This, of course, would give the Member for Anson the impression that rubbish has been left behind. There are occasions when rubbish is piled up at bin centres. These occasions are few and when they arise, it is due to the breakdown of the collecting truck. But, once information is received by the Ministry that a refuse truck has broken down, another truck will be sent to do the collection. Sir, on the question of bad smell coming from trucks carrying refuse and of spillage, I can say that situation is gradually improving. The Member for Anson probably had the unfortunate experience of driving behind a very old truck that sprang a leak. We are replacing all these old trucks with leak-proof trucks so that, in future, if he should be driving behind one of these trucks he will not be able to smell any, thing at all. 6.45 p.m. The next question is incinerators.”
“Under these circumstances, the consumer can ask for the meter to be checked, and if the meter is proved to be faulty, there will be a refund or the leak detected and repaired.”
“Sir, I think the Member believes that attack is the best means of defence, and that is why he is complaining loudly for a start. I agree with him that it would be a very good thing if consumers can read their own meters. In fact, the PUB is planning to teach consumers to read their own meters. As long as consumers take their readings correctly and send them in by the scheduled date, the PUB will be able to check them from time to time. That will save us a lot of expenditure in engaging meter-readers. There are a total of 400.000 accounts, and there are about a million meters to be read. We are working on a documentary with the RTS at the moment and it is expected to be ready by May. The documentary will teach the public how to read their own meters. We are also printing cards for consumers to record their meter readings. These readings can then be checked by the meter readers from time to time. But I would like to take this opportunity to say that the complaint about 100-200% increase in the consumers' bill is not quite true. I have come across cases where, in actual fact, consumers have used a 100% or more than the previous month's consumption. In one of my Meet-the-People sessions, I had a consumer who showed me his PUB bills. The average for six months was about $80 per month, but for the month in question the amount billed was about $200. I asked him whether he had any celebration in his house. He said no. On investigation it was found that a dinner party took place for three successive nights to celebrate a wedding. PUB bills can increase substantially because of a leaking water pipe or a faulty meter.”
“Sir, I think the key to the complaint made here is the term, "if properly organised". In the experience of the PUB, on many occasions when students participated in cross-country runs in the reservoirs, they were found littering. So I say "if properly organised" is the answer. Our experience shows that these runs have not been properly organised on many occasions. That is the reason why, among the 10 conditions imposed by the Chief Water Engineer for the use of MacRitchie Reservoir is one disallowing soft drinks. But after listening to the eloquent appeal from the hon. Member, I think arrangements can be made with the schools and the Chief Water Engineer for children to have ice-cold cheap drinks, if the runs are properly organised. I will take this matter up with the Chief Water Engineer of the PUB, and between the Ministry of Education and the PUB they should be able to work out a scheme to prevent littering in the reservoirs as well as to provide cheap cold drinks for the children.”
“Sir, may I clarify the position? I am not responsible for the mechanical maintenance of the buses, but partly responsible for the control and monitoring of pollution caused by the buses emitting smoke. If the Member wants satisfaction about how spare parts are used by the SBS, I think he should ask my colleague, the Minister for Communications. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“The Foreign Ministers also agreed that there should be cooperation and consultation amongst the three countries when submitting claims for compensation arising out of oil spills. These are measures to ensure that while oil tankers, including the Very Large Crude Carriers, use the Straits of Malacca and the Straits of Singapore, they will not create oil spills to damage our waters and seashores and those of our neighbours. On the Showa Maru incident itself, the Port of Singapore Authority has submitted a claim for $3.8 million. These are specific claims on amounts actually expended in both fighting pollution and preventing the spread of pollution caused by the oil spills. As regards general damages, the matter is somewhat complicated and is still under consideration.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think we all know that the main cause of excessive smoke from buses, cars and other vehicles is bad maintenance of their engines. Anyway, because of the enforcement action taken by the Registry of Vehicles and the Traffic Police, matters have improved. Owners are more careful and, with the exception of buses, they have maintained their vehicles quite well. There has been an improvement in the control of smoke pollution all over Singapore. I quite agree with the Member for Anson that Scheme B buses are in a much better condition. They do not make so much noise, nor do they emit smoke as much as the SBS buses. But I would like to inform him that Scheme B buses are not as heavily used and so there is less deterioration and thus easier to maintain. I can assure him that with more new SBS buses coming to the scene and with a team of army personnel helping in the maintenance of the buses, the situation will improve. However, it will be some time before any improvement in the SBS could be seen. The Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr E. W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I, on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, answer the Member for Anson's query on the Showa Maru incident? The incident, as the Member knows, brought our Foreign Minister and those of the neighbouring countries together to discuss the safety of navigation and the control of marine pollution in the Straits of Malacca and the Straits of Singapore. As the Member would have read in the press, a Ministerial Council was formed as a result of the meeting. A Traffic Separation Scheme and the use of additional navigational aids were also considered at the meeting and, if implemented, the safety of navigation in the Straits would be further enhanced.”
“They cannot enlarge their farms if they keep on losing money.”
“If it is not lucrative they will not want to continue farming.”
“If it is not lucrative, they will not continue farming.”
“Sir, I beg to move, In page 10, line 35, to leave out "injury" and insert "damage". Sir, this amendment is to rectify a typographical error. Amendment agreed to. Clause 4, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clauses 5 to 11 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill. Bill reported with an amendment; read a Third time and passed. NEWSPAPER AND PRINTING PRESSES BILL (As reported from Select Committee) Order for Third Reading read. 4.02 p.m.”
“Sir, I do not know if the hon. Member for Bras Basah was present just now when I made my Second Reading speech on the Electrical Workers and Contractors Licensing Bill, but just in case he was not present or that he was not listening, I would like to repeat what I said just now. We have already got 732 licensed persons who in our view are competent to handle electrical work, and this figure excludes 951 contractors. If there are in existence people who feel that they are competent enough to do such work, then I think they should be wise enough to get themselves registered. And if they are left out, obviously they are incompetent. 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 Lim Kim San]. Bill considered in Committee. [Mr Speaker in the Chair] Clauses 1 to 3 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 4 -”
“Sir, there are many institutions which conduct courses in electricity. It may lead to a degree, diploma, or a certificate. We on our part have carried out certain examinations in the past - and I think we will continue to do so - to prove that a person who is to be licensed is at least competent to handle electrical work. But we now have the vocational institutes, the Polytechnic, and the University, and I think they should be able to turn out enough electrical workers for our needs.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed.”
“A new Part VA has accordingly been introduced into the Act to remedy this deficiency. A licence granted to a water service worker will specify the scope of the water service work to be carried out and any restrictions in regard to the type of work, or class of water service installation, or the circumstances or manner in which the holder of the licence may perform water service work. New definitions of "water service installation", "water service work" and "water service worker" have been included in this Part. Section 19 (3) of the Act, as it stands, does not empower the Board to enforce any limitation of supply or to cut off supply made necessary in the public interest. The need for amending this subsection became clear when consideration was being given to the introduction of surcharges in the Tariff Regulations by which the Board sought to limit consumption of electricity to consumers, and in the event of any consumer exceeding that limitation to impose a surcharge. Under the existing provisions, the Board would not be able to cut off the supply of electricity to offenders who flagrantly disregard the limitation of consumption without prosecuting them. Subsection 19 (3) of the Act has, therefore, been amended to confer that power on the Board in this situation or in other situations in which the interests of the public are affected. Again, Sir, a new subsection (4) has been inserted in section 19 to enable the Board to cut off the supply of electricity to any person who operates an electrical or supply installation without a licence. The other amendments appearing in the Bill have the effect of increasing the penalties for contravention of the Act. The existing penalties have not been changed since 1963 and have therefore ceased to be realistic as a deterrent.”
“In proposing these amendments, Sir, full consideration has also been given to the second recommendation, that is, for a system of periodic inspection of places of public concourse so that the appropriate authorities may be aware of unauthorised additions or alterations which might endanger the safety of the public. The amendments proposed to Part V of the Act are significant in that they would have the effect of making it mandatory for all electrical installations, including private electrical generating plants except those owned and operated by the Board, Government, other statutory authorities, or those used exclusively for domestic purposes, to be licensed and to be supervised or operated by such class of licensed electrical workers as are prescribed in the Electrical Workers and Contractors Licensing Bill, 1974, and ensure also that- (a) a licensee of an installation must cause an installation to be inspected at such intervals as the B'oard may deem necessary; (b) an inspection as required by a licensee must be carried out by such licensed electrical worker as the Board may direct; on completion of the inspection a Certificate as to the fitness of the installation for licensing purposes must be issued by a licensed electrical worker; (c) specified procedures are observed in case of dangerous defects in installations; (d) serious accidents and the investigation thereof are reported; (e) installations existing before the commencement of the amending Act are subject to the Act and the Regulations. Sir, although the Board at the present time does operate an administrative system of registering plumbers, it lacks the legal power to regulate the duties and responsibilities of such plumbers.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Sir, the principal amendments proposed in this Bill relate to Part V of the principal Act. Not only are substantial amendments proposed to the existing Part V dealing with the licensing of eiectrical and supply installation (as defined) but a new Part VA is also proposed, which provides for the licensing of water service workers, such as plumbers. While drafting the Electricity Regulations, under sections 62 and 88 of the Public Utilities Act, the Public Utilities Board recognised the necessity for recommending amendments to Part V. This Part, as it stands, is limited in its application to private electrical generating plant. The increasing use of electricity in major industries, highrise buildings and shopping complexes poses the problem of ensuring the periodical inspection of electrical installations. The necessity for legislation in this regard is dictated primarily by safety considerations in places of all public concourse. This is further underlined by the recent recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the Robinson's Departmental Store fire. The Commission's first recommendation, Sir, is that for electrical installations of a stipulated higher current rating, consideration be given by the Public Utilities Board to grade the licensing of electrical workers with a view to ensuring that only personnel with the requisite professional expertise and experience be allowed to undertake such work. This has been taken into account in the Electrical Workers and Contractors Licensing Bill, 1974, which is now before the House.”
“Sir, I beg to move, In page 6, after line 28, to insert - "(b) a person to replace any fuse in premises used for residential purposes, not being a fuse belonging to the Board;". Sir, under the Bill house owners are prohibited from changing fuses in their houses themselves. This provision is considered too restrictive and difficult to enforce. The amendment will allow house owners to perform simple opera- tions, such as changing an electric bulb or replacing an electric fuse in dwellings. Amendment agreed to.”
“As I have mentioned just now, we already have a register of contractors and electrical workers. The basis on which they are registered depends upon their qualifications. Among them are professional engineers, holders of diplomas from the Singapore Polytechnic, technicians who have completed a prescribed course in the vocational institutes and contractors who, from long association with their work, are considered to be competent to deal with electrical work. We have on the register 961 contractors and 732 competent persons working with the electrical contractors. It is apparent, therefore, that most, if not all, of those contractors who are carrying out electrical work are registered. This Bill is unlikely, therefore, to cause hardship. 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 Lim Kim San]. Bill considered in Committee. [Mr Speaker in the Chair] 3.45 p.m. Clauses 1 to 7 inclusive ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 8 -”
“The overall aim of the Bill, therefore, is to achieve licensing and control of electrical contractors and electrical workers with a view to ensuring that they will render good service to those who employ them. Penalties in the form of fines and/or imprisonment or both have been provided under the Bill, and convey the assurance that by reason of their qualifications they will perform electrical work in a safe and efficient manner. Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed.”
“The Electrical Workers and Contractors Licensing Bill now before this House has, therefore, been specially drawn up to cover these categories. Professional engineers engaged in electrical power engineering work have also been included in this Bill. The Public Utilities Board at present registers electrical contractors to provide an ancillary engineering service. There is, however, no registration of electrical workers. Even the registration of electrical contractors lacks legal powers to regulate their duties and res- ponsibilities. The Board can only deregister them. The Bill now makes a clear distinction between an electrical worker involved in the personal performance of electrical work, and an electrical contractor who, in the course of or in connection with any trade or business, carries on electrical work. The classification of electrical workers according to qualifications, duties and degree of responsibility and the licences to be issued will be spelt out in the Regulations to be made under the Act. The particular licence would specify the scope of the electrical work to be carried out and any restrictions in regard to the type of work or class of electrical installations, or the circumstances or manner in which the holder of the licence may perform electrical work. Provisions have been made in the Bill to ensure that it is not too restrictive in its operation, especially in regard to contractors on the Board's temporary register. I will also move an amendment to the Bill in Committee which will ensure that bona fide users of electricity may be able to perform simple electrical operations such as changing an electric lamp bulb and replacing any fuse in premises used for dwelling purposes.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Sir, the Public Utilities Board has for a long time recognised the need for comprehensive legislation to license, control and regulate electrical workers of all grades engaged in electrical works. The need for such a legislation has become even more pressing with the rapid development of Singapore into an industrial, commercial and communications centre. Such development entails the installation and operation of complex electrical equipment operating at increasingly higher power and voltage levels, with inherent problems of safety and requiring competent workmanship and supervision. This need has been further reinforced by the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the Robinson's Fire. Whilst some form of legislation could be achieved by means of Regulations under the Public Utilities Act, legal opinion is that the licensing system contemplated would require an Act of Parliament rather than a subsidiary legislation. The Professional Engineers Act, 1970, prohibits anyone other than professional engineers with prescribed qualifications from engaging in electrical work. It also regulates the ethical conduct of such professional engineers. It is thus, apparently, limited to professional engineers and to those exempted under the Act. As the Professional Engineers Act stands, it will not be possible, unless specifically exempted, for electrical contractors, artisans, craftsmen and technicians to undertake electrical work. These grades of workers exist and are necessary in the engineering field. Such electrical workers should be licensed, controlled and regulated.”
“NATIONAL POLICE CADET CORPS BILL "to provide for the raising and maintenance of a National Police Cadet Corps and for purposes connected therewith; and to repeal the Police Cadet Corps Act (Chapter 77 of the Revised Edition)", presented by Dr Lee Chiaw Meng; read the First time, to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP BILL Introduction and First Reading”
“Sir, I beg to move. 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 Lim Kim San]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. ESTATE DUTY (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Estate Duty Act (Chapter 137 of the Revised Edition)", recommendation of President signified; presented by the Minister for Finance (Mr Hon Sui Sen); read the First time, to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. CUSTOMS (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Customs Act (Chapter 133 of the Revised Edition)", recommendation of President signified; presented by Mr Hon Sui Sen; read the First time, to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. JURONG TOWN CORPORATION (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Jurong Town Corporation Act (Chapter 209 of the Revised Edition)", presented by Mr Hon Sui Sen; read the First time, to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. DEVELOPMENT LOAN BILL "to authorise a sum of five thousand million dollars to be raised by way of loan for the purposes of the Development Fund", recommendation of President signified; presented by Mr Hon Sui Sen; read the First time, to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. NGEE ANN TECHNICAL COLLEGE (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Ngee Ann Technical College Act (Chapter 179 of the Revised Edition)", presented by the Minister for Education (Dr Lee Chiaw Meng); read the First time, to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act, formerly known as the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Ordinance, was brought into force on 21st October, 1955, and has been extended from time to time. The Act will lapse on 20th October, 1974, unless further extended. This Act provides primarily for the maintenance of public safety, peace and good order, prevention of strikes and lock-outs in essential services, and detention and supervision of persons associated with activities of a criminal nature. Since its introduction, this Act has been very effective in the maintenance of public peace and order in curbing the activities of persons associated with secret societies. An indication of the effective use of the provisions for detention under the Act is established by the fact that for the past 10 years the average number of persons arrested per year under section 43 was 1,090. As on 31st July, 1974, the total number of persons detained under section 30 was 1,074 and the number of persons ordered to be placed under Police supervision was 832. These are known criminals who would otherwise be free without the powers provided by this Act. The current situation with regard to secret societies in the Republic is under control. For the past 10 years there has been an average of about six secret society incidents per month. However, without exercising the provisions in the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act it would not be possible to maintain this control. There is, therefore, a need to extend the operation of the Act. It is essential that the suppression of secret societies in the Republic should go on relentlessly and also in view of their possible involvement in racial disturbances.”
“Now, Sir. Certificate of Urgency signed by the President in respect of the Bill, laid upon the Table by the Minister. Typed copies of the Bill distributed to Members.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to introduce a Bill intituled "An Act to amend the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act (Chapter 112 of the Revised Edition)". Bill read the First time. Second Reading”
“And if the ash trays were deep enough, they became mini-litter bins. So it does not work. Anyway we are looking into the problem and we will be trying out a new type of litter bin where the top section is filled with sand for cigarettes. This matter is under consideration. The Member also raised a question on the division of authority over hawkers between the Ministry of National Development and the Ministry of the Environment. It is very clear cut. Hawkers who ply their trade in Housing Board estates come under the Ministry of National Development because the housing estates are built and maintained by them. It would be difficult for another authority to go in and maintain part of the estate. Moreover, the rents collected from these estates are due to the Housing Board. Anyway, there is very close liaison between the Ministry of National Development and the Ministry of the Environment with regard to the control of hawkers. I would not say that the case which the Member mentioned where a family gets more than one hawker stall would not occur. It does occur even if control were to come under a single Ministry. Such cases do occur. But whatever it is, there is very close liaison between the two Ministries, and we have been operating this division of authority for quite some time. As far as we can see, it is working quite smoothly. Whenever they have problems in controlling hawkers and in maintaining cleanliness, they come to us and we do send reinforcements. On the question of rules and regulations governing hawkers, we try to make the same rules and regulations.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to thank the Member for Kim Seng for his opening statement. I think my staff will be really encouraged by his expression of appreciation for the work they have done under very difficult circumstances. Members may not know that the enforcement of rules and regulations regarding the cleanliness of a place and the control of hawkers is quite a difficult and dangerous job. Members may have often heard of officers of the Ministry of the Environment being assaulted. Yesterday two of my inspectors were badly assaulted. One of them is now warded in the hospital with a broken head. This is the other side of the picture which the Member for Kim Seng should know. As far as possible, they do their work with firmness and fairness, but we do come across members of the public who take the law into their own hands. And in instances of this nature we will definitely take a serious view and those responsible will be severely dealt with. 6.45 p.m. To come to the suggestion in regard to the provision of litter bins and ash trays at hawker centres, there are litter bins in these centres. Probably there may not be enough. But the places which the Member mentioned, especially the Orchard Road car park, are so crowded that the customers even find it difficult to pass each other, and invariably litter bins are kicked aside. On the question of ash trays, we have tried it out in the old market at Beach Road. The hawkers there were asked to provide ash trays. Members know that commercial houses have been giving away free ash trays as a form of advertisement, and they come in various sizes and various shapes. They were put there. Some ash trays were shallow and, as a result, cigarette ash was blown on to the food.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not know whether his explanation of the water coming this side or that side is the right one. But for his information the tide that day was not only unusually high in Singapore, but it was also high all over the world. So this was a world-wide phenomenon. It was not a result of our land reclamation. As regards the flood in Stevens Road and Balmoral Road, I know that area much better than the Member. I know from my experience that now there have been less floods there than before.”
“The tide that he mentioned was a freak tide, which is not normal. The freak tide was the highest recorded in 20 years. It was two feet higher than normal, and high tides usually occur around that time of the year. We have the spring tide around the Chinese New Year and, as far as I can remember, very high tides usually occur on the 3rd day and on the 18th day of the Chinese Moon. On these occasions a large part of that part of the town is flooded because it is just a few inches above high water level. But the freak tide that the Member referred to was so high that it even covered the breakwater. Those Members who were observant enough on that day would have noticed that it even covered the breakwater. So the freak flood that had occurred was not the result of land reclamation. It has got nothing to do with it. It is the result of some special conjunction of the moon, the sun and the earth. Sir, I think I have replied to all the queries raised by the Member.”
“The Rochore Canal is a difficult canal to work on too. That is one of the reasons why many contractors have gone bankrupt or have given up their contracts half-way through because they had to work in between rising tides, and the canal being messy and dirty, they could not get enough people to work there. There was also a shortage of materials. But we have a new contractor now, and he has completed 70 per cent of the work. There is a balance of 30 per cent of the work to be done, and we hope that he will find enough workers to work in these very unpleasant surroundings and complete the contract by the end of the year. The sky may be bright, the moon may be high, but it is exactly when the sky is bright and the moon is high that we get high tides.”
“Sir, for the information of the Member for Anson, I would like to say that regulations are not made to cause epidemics. They are made to prevent epidemics. So the occurrence of typhoid fever has got nothing to do with the regulations. In fact, if we had not been alert, the epidemic would have spread to far greater proportions. He has asked what remedial action has been taken to alleviate the constant floods in low-lying localities, like Bukit Timah and Thomson Road after a short shower. I live around that area. In fact, I pass that area every day in the morning, evening, and sometimes at night. But I am not aware of any increase in occurrences of floods. There has not been any increase and it is largely because we have completed the first part of the Bukit Timah Flood Alleviation Scheme. So what he has come across is probably what we call a "flash flood" which occurs when there is a sudden heavy downpour. Large areas of our country have been developed. Where there was land before, there is concrete now; it is built up, and the capacity to absorb water is not there. The drains are built for normal showers just like our roads are built to accommodate normal traffic. And as peak hour traffic jams up our roads, so a heavy downpour causes "flash floods" which will subside after a short period. Coming to the smell at Rochore Canal, I agree that this place has been famous for it for many years. Government after government had been making efforts to get rid of the smell. For his information, I would like to say that the smell is not due to poor flow of water, but rubbish thrown into the canal by careless and irresponsible members of the public, and the rubbish prevents the water from flowing. It decomposes, putrefies and the result is the smell.”
“Our main objective is, of course, to move all hawkers from the streets into hawker centres or appropriate buildings where they can exercise cleanliness and where they can be better supervised so that they would not dirty or clog up the streets. This will go on until all of them are resettled. The Member for Anson need not have any fears that computerisation of hawkers' particulars would result in some of the hawkers losing their livelihood. This is just an administrative measure to use modern methods of administration and modem machines so that when the hawkers go to the Ministry for renewal of licences, it could be done quickly. This is just to speed up administrative procedure. There is nothing sinister in that.”
“Sir, I am aware that certain sections in the Food Ordinance do not allow handling of food with bare hands, but I have enough confidence in members of my staff to see that they enforce the law with intelligence and humanity. Of course, there are exceptions. I quite agree that poh piah and roti prata cannot be prepared other than by the use of the hands. I think we have been allowing such methods of preparation, and I am not aware that the officials of the Ministry insist on the hawkers wearing gloves. But I am sure that Members would like to see that the poh piah and roti prata that they eat are prepared by very clean hands. In fact, only last week I had occasion to come across some hawkers who, while preparing certain food with their hands, were at the same time handling dirty shillings. This is an instance of unhygienic handling of food that we want to stop or at least to teach the hawkers the correct and hygienic way of handling food. As the Member for Kim Seng has properly put it, the emphasis should be on cleanliness and not on the method of preparation. There is the sad story by the Member for Anson about harassment by inspectors which caused a woman hawker to commit suicide. I doubt his story very much. If it were true, and if he can give me details of the case, we will see that the culprit is brought to book. To blame the hawker inspector for the suicide of that woman hawker is just like blaming the Housing and Development Board for building high-rise flats which have led to so many suicide cases. So I think it is a bit unfair. I think the Member for Anson and hon. Members must have known that during the last few months we have been spending a lot of time and effort in resiting hawkers from the streets.”
“Sir, the most effective way of keeping down mosquitoes is to have good housekeeping. There are 500,000 homes in Singapore and if every one does his share of housekeeping, there would be no mosquitoes and there would be no complaints about mosquito nuisance. With regard to the oiling of construction sites, under the law now every one is responsible for mosquito breeding in his home and the contractor is responsible for mosquito breeding at his work site. We tried to help before by oiling the work sites for them. But we found that as a result there was no feeling of responsibility. They became more careless, and we found that it was not possible for us to keep track and do the work for them. Arising out of this, they found that it is cheaper for them to do the oiling themselves or to get professionals to do it, than to pay fines imposed on them. I think every one of us has a responsibility to see that we do not provide the facility for mosquitoes to breed in our own home. In the same way, the contractor is responsible for the cleanliness and safety of his construction site and to see to it that there are no facilities for mosquitoes to breed. Incidentally, by the way, for the Member's peace of mind, the mosquitoes usually found in construction sites are not the type that caused dengue haemorrhagic fever.”
“Sir, much as I would like to give the figures requested for, I am afraid I cannot because, firstly, the figures are not available and, secondly, even if they are available I would request that a Question be put up for oral answer because these are too detailed. For the information of the Member, there are no figures available for the years 1969 to 1972 largely because dengue haemorrhagic fever was a non-notifiable disease then. It is very difficult to diagnose dengue haemorrhagic fever and there is no way of telling quickly whether it is really DHF or otherwise. But to allay the Member's fears, the situation is under control. The number of incidence in January and February has gone down greatly. In fact, in February there were only eight known cases. We have come to an understanding with the authorities at the General Hospital for a standard form of diagnosing dengue haemorrhagic fever. The incidence has been brought down largely because of swing-fogging in affected areas. That is all I can say at the moment. But as far as figures are concerned, I am afraid I am unable to give the Member.”