Mansor Haji Sukaimi
Singapore
“Mr Speaker, Sir, does the Minister of State have any programme to visit my Constituency and to meet the principals and teachers of the secondary and primary schools in my Constituency to discuss matters of common interest? If so, when will that visit likely be?”
“To ask the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education if he will report on the progress of implementation of the "Gifted Project" and state what representations or reservations have been expressed to the Ministry concerning the project and from whom; and what solutions or modifications will be made by the Ministry in view of su…”
“To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Culture whether prior comparative studies were made of the video-film censorship systems in other countries in the formulation and setting-up of the video-film censorship system in Singapore; and which countries were used in such studies, stating how our system varies from the syste…”
“To ask the Minister for Trade and Industry if he will report on the progress of the German-Singapore, French-Singapore and Japanese-Singapore joint industrial training centres, stating the types of courses available, entry requirements, methods of application for entry, and the allocation of training places that will be offered by these c…”
“They may be knowledgeable in their respective fields but there is a need for the Library staff to be trained and to gain experience in relating themselves with the grassroots leaders, mixing with them, and also in developing the techniques of selling the programmes that they have developed in the National Library.”
“Sir, will the Minister of State be able to say that the techniques and system used in the prefabrication projects will ensure that the seepage problem, a notorious phenomenon in most pre-fabrication schemes, will not crop up, and if it does crop up, there are sufficient measures to ensure that the seepage problem is minimized?”
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“In this regard, will the Government seek the active participation of both management and the labour movement so that both will get the benefit of the greater application of industrial robotics, while ensuring minimum disrupion to the workers in Singapore? 7.50 p.m. Dr Koh Lip Lin (Nee Soon)( In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, in his Budget Statement the Minister for Trade and Industry has mentioned about our good economic performance last year and the prospects for this year. I believe that, with the cooperation and effort of all our people, this year will be another successful year. Sir, I would like to touch upon certain aspects of our education. The budget allocation this year is 45.6% more than that for last year. This shows that the Government is attaching greater importance to education. From the standpoint of an educationist, this is really a cause for elation. Other than human resources, we do not have any. From a long-term point of view investment on education is the most judicious investment. Our people, particularly parents, are deeply conscious of the importance of our children's education. The importance that parents attach to their children's education can be seen from the fact that they are selective in their choice of schools for their children, they engage private tutors for their children, and are concerned about their children's examination results. This is evidence of the great demands on education and it reflects our high standard of education and our social progress. However, there is a difference between our school education and that in the Western developed countries. Our school teachers and parents pay too much attention to the examination results and certificates, while our students specialize in copying, learning by rote and doing exercises.”
“Instead, we must push our efforts to learn as much as we can and take urgent but systematic steps to promote greater use of robotics in our industrial sector. My questions to the Minister are: 1. What steps will Government take to promote greater use of industrial robotics in Singapore, besides of course granting tax concessions and incentives under the Government's Economic Expansion Incentives (Relief from Income Tax) Act and also through loans under the Small Industries Finance Scheme. 2. Do we have sufficient expertise in Singapore in this field of industrial robotics? If not, what steps will Government take to ensure that there is continuous growth of the expertise that is needed for this purpose? Does Singapore participate in international symposiums, like the ones that are organized annually - if I am not wrong it is called the International Industrial Robot Symposium - the 11th Symposium being held in Japan in October last year. And during that symposium I understand that 750 researchers from the United States, Europe and other countries presented about 100 research papers. I think we would benefit through our active participation in such symposiums. 3. Considering the possible fear of workers of their being displaced with the greater application of robotics, what steps will Government take to ensure that there shall be no undue displacement of workers? What details ought to be given to workers, to be explained to them, so that they will understand the reason, the purpose, the benefits and the rationales for greater application of robotics in our industrial endeavours?”
“Otherwise if we really take this concept of welfarism seriously I could see the need for each Ministry to have its own policy and programme of staff welfare and recreation and all those related to this concept. Thirdly, if we are to take this concept seriously, and since it is not just staff welfare or recreation, maybe we need to develop a kind of prototype model or models of company-based or organization-based welfarism describing its attendant operational details, its guidelines, its activities, how it should be managed and planned and get this institutionalized in larger numbers of Ministries, departments and even companies in the private sector. The next point is whether we really have the expertise to promote this idea of welfarism. If there is insufficient expertise, would the Minister consider the need to develop this expertise. Finally, would the Government develop this company-based welfarism on a long-term basis so that it will extend to both the private and public sectors? Industrial robotics I welcome the Government's intention to promote the development and greater use of industrial robotics in our effort to raise productivity and industrial sophistication. The experience of Japan and a number of highly industrialized countries tells us that greater application of industrial robotics is one answer to ensuring greater productivity and also an effective solution to the problem of labour shortage. While the development and application of industrial robotics is a recent development - I understand this was actively pursued about 15 years ago - it will be unwise for us to take a wait-and-see attitude. The longer we wait, the farther will we be left behind in this new technology.”
“In many instances, many companies in Japan ensure that the children of the workers are assured of jobs when they finish school or graduate from universities. I do not know whether this concept has been well understood in Singapore. If it is not the case, I think we ought to ensure that there is a proper understanding. I say this because we in Singapore are all too steeped with the traditions of British socialism where, under this concept, the understanding of welfarism is very different. And the PAP itself had long projected the role of government as the main force in providing public housing, decent health care, education, etc. But when we take on this programme of company-based welfarism, the concept is very different. We can foresee the situation where large corporations in Singapore can take on greater roles in the provision of housing and medical care of their workers which at the moment are primarily rendered by the Government. So I would like to suggest, if I may, that the Minister inform us of more details about the programme on company-based welfarism, what details are in the pipeline, what activities or programmes will be implemented beyond the recommendations of the Committee on Productivity, and whether efforts will be made to promote a better and correct understanding of company welfarism for more workers and Singaporeans. Secondly, I have noticed that, whilst some Ministries do have provisions for staff welfare, there are other Ministries which do not have any provision at all. I notice, for example, in the Postal Services Department and the Airport Fire Service, there is no provision at all for staff welfare and recreation. If there are special reasons for this, I would be grateful for the Minister's explanation.”
“One is on company welfarism and the other is on industrial robotics, I have chosen these two points for three reasons. First, these two points were not highlighted in previous budgets. Secondly, both of them, especially company welfarism, have wide implications on the social fabric of our society. Thirdly, especially on industrial robotics, it is a very new concept and there could be misconception if this is not well explained to the population as a whole. Company welfarism This is a new dimension in the overall economic restructuring programme and it is one that is very significant.In his Budget Statement, the Hon. Minister should have given this subject greater treatment because, as I have said, this is a new concept and more so as I have come across many people who, I think, have a misconception of company welfarism. They equate company welfarism to staff recreation and staff welfare. If I am not incorrect, this is a misconception. Com- pany welfarism goes beyond staff recreation and staff welfare. In fact, if I am not wrong again, the main thrust of the recommendation on company welfarism came more strongly from the recommendation of the Committee on Productivity which was chaired by the Hon. Minister of State for Labour, and its recommendation was made in the latter part of last year. The recommendation was made after an indepth study of the experience in Japan where the management's concern for the employees was based on the profound and abiding understanding of and respect for the workers, not just for profit motives. There is concern for the workers' family. Company welfarism in Japan entails not just giving or providing recreational facilities, good welfare, good wages but also concern for the workers' families and their children's education.”
“My due respect to you, Mr Speaker, Sir. Let me come to the debate on the Budget. We have heard many arguments from the Backbenchers. In fact, we owe a lot to the hon. Member for Whampoa for raising many good points, and if you will allow me, Sir, to reiterate this point - if the hon. Member for Anson really has good points, I think he should bring them up for discussion together. As regards the Budget debate, and since you have made a specific request, Mr Speaker, Sir, my general comments are that this Budget which has been presented by the Hon. Minister for Trade and Indus- try reflects continuity. There are no new taxes. There are no fundamental changes in the basic financial and development policies which were set out in the programmes for economic structure by the preceding Budget Minister, Mr Goh Chok Tong. I think this continuity is a good sign. It shows the validity and credibility of the thinking of the preceding policies. This continuity is reassuring. The significance of this point may not be apparent. We know, for instance, in some other societies how often and tempting it can be for a new Minister to make his brand felt by making sure that his ideas are made to prevail or even seen to over-ride those of the preceding Ministers. Sometimes there is even an effort to make sure that the past policies are cast aside, drastically modified or, worse still, condemned. But in this particular instance, we have seen the maturity and the insight of the Minister for Trade and Industry in reiterating the strength and correctness of past policies and in making programmes to ensure that this will continue. I therefore wish to congratulate him for these programmes. I have chosen to speak only on two points.”
“If the hon. Member for Anson has a better programme than the Hon. Minister for Trade and Industry, I think he should present it to this House and let us consider it together.”
“Yes, Sir. It is for this reason that I see the debate on the Budget as a very serious debate.”
“Member for Anson finds any deficiency in the Government's policies on training, development and education, I think he and all of us have that profound responsibility to raise them in this Chamber. But let us do it with a clear understanding that our job here is an honourable task and we must do so with full facts. And if the hon. Member for Anson disagrees with the policies of Government, and I do not think he has been thorough with his arguments - I noted that he raised only 13 or 14 points - if he really has reasons, he must come out with alternative programmes. Tell the people of Singapore why and how the Workers Party can be better than the PAP, and I think Singaporeans deserve better programmes if there are good reasons.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not understand why the Member for Anson is so unashamed as to claim credit when it is not due to him. I say this not with malice or ridicule because I have respect for the man. After all, he is an honourable Member of this House. I say this because I think it is necessary for us to know that this debate is a serious matter and if there should be any criticism of the Government, I think all of us have to play a role, and I will be one of the first Backbenchers to point any mistake or deficiency of Government in the interest of the people of Singapore. But when we do this, let us do it with some very basic principles. As my colleague, the Member for Ayer Rajah, has said, the concept of a caring society is not a new concept. It did not originate in 1976. It went back, I think, earlier than 1959, even to 1954. We knew from the start that the political parties in Singapore would never be a credible movement until and unless we care for the people, we care for their problems, and not only care but work for it to create the means to bring about what the hon. Member for Anson referred to as getting Singaporeans to have happier and fuller lives and to help them to develop their potentials to the maximum. Even on this point, he seems to suggest that all the while we have ignored this fundamental responsibility of politicians to their constituents. Why do we improve our universities? Why do we spend so much money on schools and industrial training institutions? Why do we make an unpopular decision to get employers to contribute towards the Skills Development Fund? Is it not because we have recognized the need to develop Singaporeans' potentials? If the hon.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, would the Hon. Minister of State assure the House that the structural strength and quality of finish of the flats constructed by the prefabrication method will be as good as, if not better than, flats constructed by other methods? Secondly, in view of the savings in time and operation costs of the flats constructed by the prefabrication method, will the cost of flats be lower?”
“Sir, assuming that their medical standing is equal, does it mean that priority is given in accordance with the level of educational achievements?”
“Sir, noting that there will be more technical and technological training of national servicemen and noting in the Minister's remarks that this training is of value to the national servicemen in their civilian occupation, could the Minister of State inform the House as to how the Ministry of Defence selects these trainees, and what criteria does the Ministry use in selecting those for the various training schemes?”
“Sir, would the Hon. Minister of State consider giving me a report of the accident which occurred about two or three weeks ago at Block 45, Chai Chee Street, involving the death of a scooterist? I understand that this accident was the result of the blocking of the view at the junction near Block 45, Chai Chee Street.”
“Could the Minister of State consider a special scheme if this Neighbourhood Watch Scheme is not appropriate to look into this particular problem?”
“Yes, Sir. This is because two weeks ago a death resulted from a traffic accident.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, would the Hon. Minister of State advise me whether this Scheme could be further extended to look into the problem of traffic hazards in the various constituencies? If this Scheme is not an appropriate scheme for this purpose, would the Hon. Minister of State consider a special scheme to study the traffic hazards in detail? The reason is that in Kampong Kembangan I have received a report from the Officer-in-Charge of the Traffic Police indicating that over 600 summonses have been issued for traffic offences in Bedok North Street 3, Bedok North Road and Chai Chee Street. Despite this, there are still many vehicle owners and drivers who simply ignore the parking regulations.”
“Sir, is it true that the Public Service Commission only selects graduate scholars for appointment to the Administrative Service at the exclusion of the good graduates who may have Upper II and above but who are non-scholars? If yes, what is the rationale? Does this mean that non-scholar graduates of local universities or even of universities overseas are less able for appointment in the Administrative Service even if they have at least a good Upper II? Should we not open appointments to Administrative Service to these non-scholar graduates who have good degrees? What really are the reasons for resignaions? At what stage do most of these officers, especially Administrative Service Officers, resign the service? What really is he intolerable or tolerable rate of resignaion? Or to put it differently, what is the minimum core number of top-grade AOs necessary to keep the Government machinery going effectively? Comment on this question: I understand that over the years we have between 15% and 20% of unfilled posts in the Administrative Service. Yet we seem to manage. How certain are we that these salary revisions will effectively check the brain-drain to the private sector? I reckon that the private sector can easily match the Government in improving the terms of service so as to continue to make them more attractive in the private sector. I reckon this can happen. Finally, besides these salary revisions, are there any schemes to give more specific perks to the Administrative and Professional Officers, and also to the officers who constitute the heart, the hands and legs of the Civil Service? If there are, could the Minister give them in greater detail?”
“- in complimenting the Minister for Trade and Industry for proposing a good scheme for the Administrative and Professional services.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to share the compliments given by my good Friend, the hon. Member for Moulmein - The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education (Dr Goh Keng Swee): Sir, on a point of order. May I insist that Standing Orders be adhered to and that Members just ask questions and put them briefly?”
“Sir, noting the important role of school principals in their effort to upgrade the school performance in PSLE in so far as the primary schools are concerned, would the Hon. Minister of State inform the House whether the Ministry has further plans to ensure that the school principals will acquire better skills in management and also will have a wider scope of ingenuity and initiative in searching for projects which can help to upgrade the performance of schools?”
“Sir, in thanking the Hon. Minister for informing the House that the morale of the workers in the Civil Service is very high and also about the Personnel Officers Service, could the Minister state what will be the role of the trade unions in the Government departments and statutory boards, in this effort to further improve the industrial relations and personnel system in the Civil Service and in the statutory boards?.”
“Sir, taking into account that, up to the late 1980's, there will be an increase of 13,500 hotel rooms, in the opinion of the Ministry what would be the increase in the demand for the workforce? Secondly, would the traditional and, non-traditional sources of labour that we depend upon, be able to meet this demand?”
“It is true that they have no right in the eyes of the law but, as a social problem, they lose both ways. On the one hand, the landlord gets the money from rentals and also tom compensation. On the other hand, the tenant does not get assistance from anybody and the landlord does not have any obligation on his part to provide for alternative accommodation for the tenant. I wonder if the Ministry could look into such problems and see whether some form of assistance could be rendered to such tenants.”
“Sir, is the Minister aware that in cases where landlords have leased out or rented out their premises to tenants, the problem of getting alternative housing following acquisition of the land by Government does not fall on the landlord but on the tenant? Is there any way by which Government can be of any assistance to such tenants?”
“I understand that my colleague, the Member for Radin Mas, has a point to ask in his Notice of Amendment and so I would not like to mention that specific case. But I foresee that in five to ten years' time the whole area of the central business district will be subject to an overall development. Old buildings will be pulled down and multi-storey modern business houses will be constructed. It is important for us to ensure that the total development of the central business district should not be impaired, not because we are against any traditional institutions but for the lack of advanced planning to provide for the necessary institutions. In this regard I am wondering if the Minister could inform the House whether his Ministry has any long term plans for the possible relocation or even redevelopment of mosques in the central business district. I see this as important for two reasons. First, there is a large population of Muslims in the central business district. From the experience we see in the present mosques in town, there is usually severe congestion during Friday prayers. Secondly, consistent with our policy of encouraging residents to stay within the central business district, it will be useful if the Minister could provide religious institutions with facilities like those enjoyed by residents in housing estates, so that those who will eventually stay in the central business district can also enjoy such facilities.”
“I would also like to mention that, unlike the experience of the mosques in the kampongs, the mosques in new housing estates are multi-functional in nature. They not only conduct religious activities but also implement educational programmes, missionary activities and even organize social recreational programmes which are not normally organized by mosques in the kampongs. It also handles large amounts of money. Previously in the kampong, it was quite normal for mosques to handle about $1,000 to $2,000 per month. However, the cash flow of new mosques in housing estates entails large amounts of financial transaction, maybe four or five times the amount which is normally handled by a mosque in a kampong. It is extremely important therefore for the management committees of these new mosques to have a sufficient level of competency in handling cash and the management of accounts. We must ensure that the officials are able to make good use of the funds which are being entrusted to them. The people who contribute to the mosque building fund are not only people who stay within the catchment of the mosque but are Muslims all over Singapore. The extent of responsibility in ensuring proper accountability of the funds becomes much wider. It is important for the Minister to consider the feasibility and even the urgency of trying to attract a larger number of professional people to be involved in the running and management of mosques, either directly or indirectly. Presumably there are many professional Muslims who are not yet active in this area. Perhaps the Minister could consider formulating programmes to attract their active involvement. The other point which I would like to raise concerns the mosques in the central business district area.”
“Sir, may I be given the permission to also say something about the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura? I join my colleague, the Member for Telok Blangah, in commending MUIS for effectively implementing various programmes which have brought about the rationalization of the religious services in Singapore and the upgrading of various facilities including mosques, religious schools, the collection and payment distribution of fitrah, the administration of pilgrimage, and so on. It would be pertinent for us to consider a number of issues that could crop up, bearing in mind the rapid implementation of various programmes which have never been experienced by the Muslim community in Singapore. I wish to make particular reference to the mosque. Normally, in a mosque which exists in an enclosed kampong, there is a general homogeneity of people and the thinking and values of the residents are quite uniform. There is no likelihood of any fundamental disagreement within the residential area concerned. But as we introduce and construct modern mosques in the new housing estates, where the community includes Muslims and non-Muslims, it is important to remind the mosque officials that they are administering their mosques in a totally different environment. It is important for MUIS to ensure the proper selection of mosque officials, MUIS should not just be a regulator but should also help the officials to upgrade their programmes. It should also ensure that the mosque programmes will not only serve the needs of Muslims in the Housing Board estates but will also be consonant with and contributive to the overall development of Singaporeans as a whole.”
“Sir, I have not been out camping as often as my good Friend, the hon. Member for Kaki Bukit. But I share his views about the importance of outdoor life, particularly for children. However, if I may, I would like to make one small suggestion - that while the holiday camp is organized with emphasis on group interactions, I am wondering whether the Ministry can add another component in the week-end camping, that is, to relate it to the study of nature. In this regard I would very much like to hear if the Minister would consider the possibility of expanding or of having more week-end camps, by making use of the nature reserves in Bukit Timah Hill. I think there is tremendous potential in encouraging our children to study nature, organize group investigations and help them to acquire a wider outlook towards the importance of ecology. With regard to the ECA, I am wondering if the Minister could ask his ECA officials to ensure that. the conduct of sports, either inter-school or inter-district, if they are still being organized, should not in any way lead to any bitterness between schools or even occasionally fights between students. I think it will be a shame if, at the end of all these efforts of promoting sports among school children, we have children fighting amongst themselves. 3.00 p.m. I do not know what are the possible reasons. Maybe they were over-zealous in the competition, or possibly we had not explained to the children the basic purpose of sports, or had not adequately ensured that the teachers guide the children in promoting the positive purpose of sports. I hope the Minister could emphasize this point so that while our children become good sportsmen they would also become people of high character.”
“Sir, I am convinced of the views expressed by the Minister that the SBS cannot be viable unless it is given the opportunity to raise its fares. But what I would like the Minister to do, and I will be asking him again in the near future, is to make public, through the media possibly, more details as to why the raises must be made. I recall seeing some papers on this matter, and I think his Ministry has got very good arguments. I am sure the public will understand and support his decision if some of the details he has in his analysis are made public. I am also convinced that generally the Singaporean accepts the principle that the SBS must be able to operate without subsidies. The question is for us to go to the people, give them the arguments and tell them why we have to have these increases. At the moment we have not had the details, and in my own experience with my own constituents I find it very difficult to convince them unless the Minister helps me to provide the details.”
“If we think that on the average 15 minutes' wait for a bus is fair, then I am sure the SBS would require a specific number of buses with a specific level of maintenance and repair service to maintain a flow of buses to meet the criteria of efficiency, that is, 15 minutes of waiting on the average for a bus service. It is not possible to maintain a very high standard of service if the SBS does not look for ways and means to raise the necessary funds. I am sure one of the ways is to increase the fares. I grant that it would be necessary for the SBS to increase the fares, but what I like the Minister to do is to give a clearer statement of the profit and loss of SBS. When there is a need to raise the bus fares, I would also like to ask the Minister whether he could also request the SBS to convince the public that it has taken all possible measures to reduce the cost of operations, administration and other costs which constitute part of the SBS cost of operation. Presumably, if the administration is more efficient, there will be more savings in manpower and so on. Any marginal increase in fuel cost can be met from savings in the administrative cost. Therefore, if the SBS can convince the public that it has taken all measures to save on administrative cost, and in spite of that, it still has to increase its fares, then please explain to the public. If this is done, I think it will be easier for us to understand why the SBS fares must be increased.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I also take this opportunity to join in the debate. When I met my constituents and discussed about the Budget, some of the points, like those raised by the hon. Members for Khe Bong and Jurong, were also raised by my constituents. First, my constituents seem to have a very awkward feeling that the SBS is becoming and acting like a callous monopoly. Whether or not that is true, it is good for the Ministry to try and give some clarification. They also believe that the SBS is making a profit, because if it is not making a profit then the value of SBS shares must go down. In this regard, I was asked by my constituents whether, sometime in the future, I could ask the Minister to provide a more detailed statement of the profit and loss accounts of the SBS, taking into account the capital investments of the SBS over a specific number of years. They say this would help to clarify why in the case of the City Shuttle Bus Service they are able to operate with profits and without frequent increases in the bus fares. At the same time, it is also the first company to offer concessions to our senior citizens. Perhaps if the Minister could give more details about the profit and loss accounts of the SBS, then we would be in a better position to make an assessment on the viability of SBS, whether it is really making a profit, an unfair profit, against the interest of the commuters. I am confident that the SBS will find it more than an easy job to run an efficient service and, at the same time, make a profit and also avoid raising bus fares. This actually relates to the criteria of efficiency that we expect of a bus service.”
“I think this SAFRA institution provides tremendous potential for this purpose. I hope that the Minister could look into this possibility and take efforts to intensify the programme to bring about a more profound sense of camaraderie in SAF.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to join the Member for Punggol on the issue of SAFRA. If the proposal of the Member for Bu kit Ho Swee is accepted by the Minister, the word "SAFRA" will have to be changed. For the time being, I would like to know whether it would be possible for the Minister to intensify efforts, through the SAFRA infrastructure, to provide not only healthy recreations for the reservists but also to use the institution to create a more positive relationship between the senior officers of the SAF and the subordinate officers. I think it is imperative, if we really want to develop that strength of commitment and dedication amongst our soldiers, that there must develop a kind of environment where the feeling of comradeship between the subordinate officers and the senior officers is a strong one. Within the military structure, we have that innate difficulty because rank counts. Sir, if you are a colonel and I am a major, tradition requires that I have to be more condescending to you in my dealings with you and it would be difficult for you to also be more informal with your subordinate officers. Secondly, national service emanates from the legal obligation in that we are required by law to serve national service. This creates some degree of enforced service which makes abiding loyalty difficult to come by. I feel that these two factors may aggravate the problem of bringing about that positive relationship we hope to have between the senior officers and the junior officers. For this reason, it is imperative that we should look for all possible ways and make use of the amenities, like SAFRA, to bring about this greater feeling of camaraderie, as the hon. Member for Punggol has mentioned.”
“Sir, I would like to inquire whether it is possible for the Minister t? consider the granting of differential annual leave, particularly for female workers. I understand that in certain countries the amount of leave eligibility for female workers differs according to their age or child-bearing status. For example, prior to marriage, female workers would be granted a reduced amount of annual leave eligibility. For the period from maternity confinement to the early years of a child, the women workers are granted supplementary leave eligibility. This would allow them more time to raise their children. Beyond that age, when the children have already grown up, they would be granted a reduced amount of annual leave eligibility. I wonder whether this concept could be considered for implementation in Singapore.”
“Sir, it is heartening to note that the General Insurance Association has agreed to give a contribution, which was a point raised by the Member for Thomson. First, does the Minister or the Senior Parliamentary Secretary consider that a contribution of a quarter million dollars is a token or an initial amount, and whether in his opinion it is a reasonable amount? Secondly, would it fall under the purview of the Ministry to ensure that claims for compensation are cleared or settled with expedition, because I have received complaints from my constituents that their claims for compensation have been prolonged. There have been instances, however, when the delays have been due to the lack of consensus between the parties involved. I would like the Senior Parliamentary Secretary to assure me that in cases where there have been undue delays, will the Ministry take the responsibility to ensure that such cases can be expedited.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I know from the Minister whether in planning for the full-day schools, consideration has been given to pupils from a certain section of the population who may have to fulfil certain religious obligations. By virtue of the full-day school scheme, secondary school children especially cannot go home to fulfil their religious obligations. Will there be facilities for such purposes?”
“Sir, I am grateful to the Senior Minister of State for his comments and clarification. But can he give an assurance that he is as concerned as many other parents about the prolonged time taken to repair the school fields? But more important is the fact that some children, and because they are children they need to play in the field, have been unduly reprimanded for using the school field during the period of consolidation.”
“Sir, I will make my own investigation. But may I ask the Senior Minister of State whether he considers it desirable for such prolonged delay in repairing school fields? I feel that the pupils have been unduly deprived of the use of school fields. I also wonder whether the Senior Minister of State is aware that certain school authorities have issued stringent instructions to the children not to play in the field during periods of consolidation of the field. In some cases students have been penalized and reprimanded for playing in the school field.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, would the Senior Minister of State inform us which section of the PWD says that it will take between 12 and 14 months for the repair work? I have got information which says that in normal cases it would take about six to eight months to repair a standard-sized school field.”
“I am no economist, Mr Speaker, Sir. The Minister should be in a better position to clarify this. But let me explain. I go with the layman's understanding that if a person is able to earn more wages, he would possibly be able to withstand the effects of inflation. Therefore, I thought it would be logical for Singapore to use this as the main rationale rather than, for example, in some countries where they used to dole out subsidies or financial assistance. In so far as the healthy workers are concerned, it would be possible to train them with new and better skills so that they can take on jobs which can provide better wages. But in certain categories, for example, pensioners, we really cannot use this rationale of helping them to earn more wages. But, at the same time, we do not practise the giving out of doles or subsidies to pensioners. So how do we solve the problem of such a category of Singaporeans?”
“Sir, possibly, one effective way of combatting inflation is to help Singaporeans to increase their earning capacity. How would the Minister propose to help Singaporeans, especially pensioners who cannot earn enough wages, who cannot be trained, and who will not be spared from the effects of inflation?”
“Sir, could the Minister inform the House whether his Ministry is satisfied that the design of the bus shelter is such that it provides adequate protection for commuters, for example, from rain, and more importantly, from the possibility of commuters failing into the path of buses which drive into the bus bays? Could his Ministry consider the construction of safety railings at the bus shelter, if there is the possibility of such an accident occurring? Could he also investigate why in certain new bus shelters there is heavy leakage of rain water, thus wetting the seats meant for commuters to rest?”
“On a point of clarification, Sir. In his answer to the point raised by the Member for Toa Payoh, the Minister mentioned about the Skills Development Fund being used to help the retrenched workers who were undergoing retraining courses. Does this include payment in the form of living allowances? If not, would the Minister consider the merit or otherwise of such payment and, if so, would he recommend that such living allowances be paid?”
“Sir, can I raise a point of clarification? In fact, it was at that convention on Industrial Relations in the 80's that this question about the Industrial Affairs Council was raised. In our discussions on the proposal to form this Industrial Relations Council, one of the officials mentioned that there was already an Industrial Relations Council under the purview of the National Productivity Board. It was formed in 1975. So my question really is not to propose that it be formed under the NPB but to find out from the Minister whether this Council has been functioning and, if so, what is the progress of this Council which is under the NPB.”
“This is important because if we want a retrenched worker to undergo a retraining course, we should also help him by paying some living allowances because he has a family to look after. I do not think this will be a serious burden to the Fund because the question of massive retrenchments will not be an indefinite problem. It may be so in the initial years but definitely not for all the years. In suggesting that the Skills Development Fund be used to pay living allowances to retrenched workers, I do not in any way suggest that this effort to improve one's own skills and knowledge must be the responsibility of Government. On the contrary, I would like to stress that Singapore workers must be prepared to view this effort to improve themselves educationally or in skills to be their personal responsibility. They must make the effort. But then, besides this effort, if we have this strong backing of the Government, particularly through the Skills Develop- ment Fund, this effort to upgrade skills will have a greater success in the future.”
“On the part of the workers, with greater education and skill training, we can expect our workers to be more educated and more skilful in the years to come. There will be one trend which will be significant in the field of industrial relations: the new breed of workers will be less keen in accepting the authoritarian modes of supervision or in the "take-it-or-leave-it" method of settling grievances. They would, I think, want to know the reasons why things are done. They want to know the full facts of any case which involve them, and it will be much more difficult to keep on giving them half replies on all matters, all the time. The net effect of all this is that personnel officers and unionists must be competent and professional all round. In this regard, I think the formation of a high level tripartite Industrial Relations Council with this consultancy service will be a positive step towards achieving the objective of improving the quality of industrial relations in Singapore. The next question I would like to raise, Mr Speaker, Sir, concerns the question of retrenched workers with regard to the use of the Skills Development Fund. I think there is a need for Government to pay greater attention and to give more money from the Skills Development Fund for the retraining of retrenched workers. We need to emphasise this, not just to say that the Fund will be used to upgrade workers as a whole. There must be this specific emphasis on retrenched workers. In so doing, I would also like to ask if the Minister could consider whether the Skills Development Fund could be used to pay living allowances to retrenched workers while they undergo retraining courses or upgrading courses.”
“Thirdly, with the identification and development of better industrial relations policies and methods, there is a better chance for the employers and the employees to achieve good working relationships and put into effect what we have been saying for so many years about the need to introduce greater consultation and joint action in enterprise. Finally, this council could serve as a consultant body which could help companies to identify the types of industrial relations policies or committees or programmes that are appropriate for the respective companies, and help develop such policies in the companies. I think we all know there is a need to upgrade the industrial relations policies and practices in Singapore. A very good justification is our effort to restructure our economy. I foresee that with the rapid restructuring of the economy, two factors will become particularly relevant to the industrial relations practitioners. First, the question of technology and, secondly, the types of workers that we will have in the years to come. Let me take technology first. Technology will become more sophisticated and more complex. In such a situation, the organisation itself will be complex. There will be greater specialisation, division of work, greater delegation, and so on. A personnel officer or unionist working in such a situation cannot solve problems merely by being experts in interpreting labour laws or in out-witting one another at meetings or negotiations. Both personnel officers and unionists not only must be competent in their respective fields but also must grasp the human implications of the actual processes of production, the application of technology, the way the companies are being organised, and the factors that make the companies succeed and viable.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, Sir. Sir, I understand that there is an Industrial Affairs Council under the purview of the National Productivity Board. I would like to know whether it is possible for the Minister to inform the House of the progress made by the Industrial Affairs Council. I think there is a need to revive this Council, or even to reconstitute it as a national tripartite Industrial Affairs Council. There is a need for such a Council, preferably a tripartite one as I have said just now, so that it could guide and expedite the efforts at industrial modernization and implementation of policy and practices of industrial relations. Perhaps this council should be concerned with the following four matters. First, it could coordinate the effort to raise the professional standards of personnel officers and trade unionists. Perhaps with this coordination, we would be able to identify core issues, skills or methodology which will be applicable and needed both by the personnel officers and the unionists. If we can develop such common principles or approaches, then there is a greater chance for both the unionists and personnel officers to bring about better cooperation at the shopfloor level. 3.00 p.m. Secondly, this council could help in promoting the effort to select the types of industrial policies or practices on a sector basis. For example, we could develop the "common good" policies for the banking sector, for the shipbuilding sector, or even for the finance sector. By so doing, the personnel officers in these different sectors together with unionists working in these sectors will understand the prime concerns and issues of the sectors.”
“Sir, may I be allowed to speak on this amendment? The Chairman: Yes, Encik Mansor.”