Mohd. Ariff bin Suradi
Singapore
“Sir, were these two welfare officers appointed by the MUIS, on did they voluntarily come forward to offer their services as welfare officers? As regards air passage, was it paid for by the travel agents who arranged the flights for the pilgrims, on was it paid by those who had no connection whatsoever with the pilgrimage?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, if the cost of the air passage for these two welfare officers was paid by the travel agencies which organised the pilgrimage, this is indeed improper.”
“I think this is most inappropriate. Again, recipients of these scholarships have been known to drive in Opel 1700s to attend classes whilst applicants for such scholarships who are genuinely in need of financial assistance, as they are fatherless and depend solely on their brothers who themselves have their own responsibilities, are depri…”
“Sir, in view of the explanation and assurance by the Minister, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY REPORTING PROGRESS (Suspension of Standing Orders) 6.50 p.m. Resolved, "That notwithstanding the Standing Orders, progress be reported and leave asked to sit again."-[Mr E. W. Barker].”
“In view of the Minister's explanation, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the names of Messrs Ng Kah Ting and P. Govindaswamy - (4) That the sum to be allocated for Head R be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead BDA 1107.”
“The People's Association should not content itself with giving orders to the management committees through its supervisors, without advising how best to implement its instructions.”
The complete record
Every one of 252 lines we hold for Mohd. Ariff bin Suradi, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 6.
“When will the detailed report be circulated, please?”
“Mr Speaker, is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that Jalan Perwira at Kaki Bukit has been damaged on a number of occasions by lorries carrying sand? Will the Minister for National Development take action to prosecute the lorry owners? Mr Ho Cheng Choon: Mr Speaker, Sir, yes. Investigations carried out by the Public Works Department revealed that the roads were damaged by vehicles belonging to operators of sand quarries in the Kaki Bukit area. Action is now being taken against them under section 22 (a) of the Local Government Integration Ordinance. To prevent further damage to the roads, the Public Works Department has applied to the Urban and Rural Services Committee for release of funds to construct bollards at entrances to the roads. This is due for consideration by the U.R.S.C. at its meeting next month. BUSINESS MOTION 2.44 p.m. Resolved, "Under Standing Order 10 (2) that the Ministerial Statement to be made today by the Minister of Defence be taken immediately after the Introduction of Bills."-[Mr Barker]. BILLS INTRODUCED LIMITATION (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Limitation Ordinance, 1959 (No. 57 of 1959)", presented by the Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker); read the First time, to be read a Second time at the next available sitting day of Parliament, and to be printed. REVISED EDITION OF THE LAWS BILL First Reading”
“Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Affairs inform this House whether action will be taken against those unlicensed sawmills?”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head D 08 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 001 of subhead 016. Mr Speaker, just now I spoke about the bad drainage system of Kampong Kembangan. Now I would like to talk about the roads in Kampong Kembangan which are very bad. You can say that 90 per cent of the roads there are earth roads. When it rains, the roads become muddy, and when it is hot, the roads are full of dust. Petitions have been made several times and also during the time when the Prime Minister visited Kampong Kembangan, and requests were also made through the U.R.S.C. but up to now the kampong roads in the Kampong Kembangan area have not been repaired yet. I would like to know from the Minister concerned when they could be repaired so as to give the kampong people the use of better roads.”
“Mr Speaker, the Parliamentary Secretary has just now said the Government is all the time prepared to clear the drains as a temporary measure. I would like to ask him, has this measure been taken or will it be taken?”
“Yes, Mr Speaker, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head D 08 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 007. Mr Speaker, I believe the building of flood alleviation works in the Geylang area is to reduce flooding, and I believe this includes Geylang Serai and Kampong Kembangan. Before, Kampong Kembangan Constituency was an area which seldom experienced floods, but now with this flood alleviation measure in Geylang. It has experienced many floods. 6.30 p.m. Flood alleviation works in Geylang have been built, but the drains around the Kampong Kembangan area have not been repaired, and when the rain falls for a short while, the Kampong Kembangan area is flooded and animals and plants are destroyed. Now is the best time for the Minister for Law and National Development to visit Kampong Kembangan Constituency, because it is now the rainy season, and he will he able to see for himself the condition of the drains in this area. I would like to know from him whether the drains will be repaired. Mr Ho Cheng Choon: Mr Speaker, the whole area of Geylang Serai is low-lying and drainage in this area is totally inadequate. The drains are too small and there is hardly any gradient for water to drain off. Therefore, it obviously inevitable that flooding will occur whenever there are heavy showers. The proper and adequate drainage for this low-lying area is entirely dependent upon the construction of the main outward drains provided in Phase 4 of the Geylang Flood Alleviation Scheme. This scheme has not been implemented all these years because of the presence of thousands of squatters. However, as a temporary flood relief measure, the Government is all the time prepared to clear the drain to relieve the present position.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $82,931,000 for Head D 05 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head D 06 -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head D 05 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 007. Mr Speaker, Sir, next year the Ministry of Finance will lend to the Economic Development Board a sum of $48 million for the purpose of financing factories. Would the Minister for Finance consider the building of sawmills in specific areas? Lorries carrying logs pass through crowded areas. This is a source of danger to the people. There are also sawmills in the vicinity of wooden houses. That also is a source of danger to the people because lorries carrying heavy logs pass through these areas. They are thus damaging the roads and causing the drains to be choked. I hope the Ministry of Finance will be able to allot specific areas for sawmills so that there will be no more sawmills located in the centre of the city and in the heavily populated areas. I wish to know whether such a plan is envisaged by this Ministry.”
“Mr Speaker, I would like to know from the Minister of State for Education, in this allocation of not less than $30.8 million for Primary and Secondary Schools, whether there are other plans to build such schools in Kampong Kembangan. In Kampong Kembangan the number of children attending school has increased and new buildings for primary and secondary schools are limited. Children staying around Kaki Bukit are sent to Opera Estate and those staying in Jalan Eunos are sent to Kaki Bukit because of lack of classrooms. Likewise, the building of secondary schools where there is only one secondary school in Kampong Kembangan Constituency; that, too, is an integrated school. Thus, a good number of children whose ages are above 13 years and who have passed primary school and who should be going to secondary school, are sent to as far as Punggol, Changi and other places. This is a matter for concern for their parents because their children are sent to faraway places. Another matter, Mr Speaker, Sir, is that a girl staying in Changi who has passed an examination to go to a secondary school, is sent to Jurong. Is this not a matter for concern? The girl herself is staying in the east of Singapore and is attending school in the west of Singapore. In view of the distribution of primary and secondary schools, I would urge the Minister of State for Education to tell this House how many primary and secondary schools will be built in Kampong Kembangan Constituency for next year.”
“What I mean, Mr Speaker, its workers' representatives sit on the Telephone Board. In the past, Mr Speaker, a workers' representative was a member of the Board. When this Bill becomes law and the powers are reverted to the Deputy Prime Minister, will he appoint workers' representatives to sit on the Singapore Telephone Board, as this is necessary to look after the interests of the workers and continue the good relationship between employer and employee?”
“Mr Speaker, this Bill provides that powers be taken from the Federal Minister concerning the activities of the Telephone Board. Before Malaysia, a workers' representative was a member of the Singapore Telephone Board. When Singapore became part of Malaysia and the powers transferred to the Malaysian Telecommunications Minister, the workers' representative did not sit on the Board. I would like to know from the Deputy Prime Minister whether workers' representatives or Telephone Board employees will now be allowed to be members of the Telephone Board in order to look after the welfare of the workers and to ---”
“If there are bogus cases, not only should their assistance allowance be stopped, but the due process of law should be taken against them. But if the cases are genuine, then the matter should be considered. I have put forward four cases to the authorities, but to no avail.”
“We do not wish to see innocent people involved in differences of political ideology, so that each political Party in this island carries out its functions, not by representing people of one particular origin but people of all origins generally. I believe that the people in Singapore have come to a midway stage in their political progress where they are able to differentiate between Parties which are communal and those which are non-communal and for the general welfare of all. Therefore, to my mind, the political Parties which wish to be registered should fight for the welfare of people not only of one racial origin but for people who are citizens of the country as a whole. But we know that there are political Parties which name their Parties after particular races, carrying out things which are undesirable and thereby involving innocent people. Because of this, it is the responsibility of this Ministry to ensure that there is a progressive policy so that these political Parties should be based on the welfare of the people of this State as a whole. 6.15 p.m.”
“I withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Inche Mahmud Awang(In Malay): Mr Speaker, I beg to move. That the total sum to be allocated for Head 1001 be reduced by $100. * *The same amendments also stood in the names of Mr. P. Govindaswamy and Madam Chan Choy Siong. Mr Speaker, Sir, to what extent has re-registration of political Parties such as U.M.N.O., the M.C.A. and the M.I.C. been carried out in Singapore? In the light of recent developments after Singapore was evicted from Malaysia, first, is the Government allowing the registration of the M.C.A. and the M.I.C., which, as is well known, are now defunct? Second, is the Government paying attention to the status of U.M.N.O.? According to the constitution of U.M.N.O., as I understand it, U.M.N.O. stands for United Malays National Organisation. If the constitution of U.M.N.O. provides that only Muslims can be members of U.M.N.O., then it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Culture and Social Affairs to get a suitable name for the Party so that the word "Malay" will not be misused by people of Arabic origin who have the title "Syed" to their names, by people of Pakistani origin who have the names "Hamid Khan" or the name "Khan" at the end of their names, by people of Muslim Indian origin with such names as "Naina Mohamed" or "Naina Hashim", by people of Indonesian origin with such names perhaps as "Parjo" or "Pardjoe" or by people from the Bawean Islands, perhaps with the names of "Masmawi" or "Masmawal". Mr Speaker, Sir, I bring out these points because this is a political matter which is related to the internal peace of the State.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 1001 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 2004. Mr Speaker, Sir, I merely wish to put forward a question to the Minister. How many students are there in the Muslim College Class for Religious Studies at present, and are there no plans by this Ministry to send students overseas, such as to Azhar University, or, in other words, to countries which are more modern and progressive?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I merely wish to add a little to what has already been said by the Member for Kampong Kapor relating to birth certificates without names. I believe, Mr Speaker, Sir, that while the Bill which has been passed is good because it will prevent incidents of maladministration, it will also deprive the rightful citizens of Singapore of many facilities. I believe that since the announcement has been made regarding birth certificates without names and birth certificates supported by statutory declarations need not necessarily be proof of birth in Singapore, the office of the Citizenship Registry has been inundated with inquiries by applicants for registration, because they fear that they will be deprived of the facilities enjoyed by them. As has been explained by the Minister for Education, those who are not in possession of citizenship certificates or are not children of Singapore parents will have to pay school fees both in the primary and secondary schools. This will create a lot of problems to the bona fide citizens of Singapore. Therefore, I appeal to the Minister for Labour, who looks after citizenship and re-registration, to be flexible in the application of this particular rule, especially to those whose names appear in the electoral register and who have voted in past elections, so that their citizenship applications may be approved and that birth certificates without names but supported by other documents, such as school leaving certificates, may be considered as proof of birth for the issue of citizenship certificates. This is to facilitate matters for our bona fide citizens. If there is any doubt, then the rules may be enforced.”
“Just now the Minister for Health has explained that the emergency task force works only in the urban areas. Can he explain in this House if this emergency cleansing corps will work in the rural areas, like Kampong Kembangan and other places?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head 0703 be reduced by $l00. * *The same amendment also stood in the names of Mr.Sim Boon Woo, Inche Rahamat bin Kenap, Mr. P. Govindaswamy and Mr. S. V. Lingam. Mr Speaker, Sir, just now my colleague has spoken about the fly and mosquito nuisance. Kampong Kembangan is not free from it. It is a low-lying area and the fly and mosquito nuisance is very widespread. However, the Minister has given an assurance to improve the situation. There is another point which concerns rubbish in Kampong Kembangan. In this constituency, many of the roads are kampong roads and the labourers dump their rubbish at one place where the rubbish bins are placed. But the Public Health Division does not send its garbage lorries to collect the rubbish on the ground that the roads are narrow. Therefore, the labourers are forced to burn the rubbish there, but when it rains, it cannot be burnt. Further rubbish is dumped there as the days go by. In those kampongs where the people rear poultry, if the rubbish is not removed, the poultry scatter the rubbish. So I ask the Minister to give consideration to provide a small lorry or a jeep which can go over the kampong roads for the collection and disposal of rubbish which has been collected from house to house and dumped by the labourers. I believe that, in this way, the drains will be kept in a better condition and that the sanitary condition of the surrounding area will not be neglected. I hope consideration will be given by the Minister for Health to providing a jeep for the collection of rubbish which is dumped there. 3.30 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Mr S. V. Lingam (Aljunied): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I have your permission to move the two amendments (4)* and (5) + together? +Amendments (5) reads as follows: That the sum to be allocated for Head 0702 to be reduced by $10 in respect of item 8 of subhead 2551.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to thank the Minister for the assurances he has given - that the assistant nurses who have graduated this year will not face any difficulty in being taken into the hospital service. But I would ask him what is the position regarding assistant nurses who graduate in the years to come?”
“So I would like to assure those who have graduated this year from the School of Nursing as assistant nurses, that there should be no difficulty in placing them on the permanent establishment, but this is a precautionary measure being taken by the officials so as not to have a situation whereby they find themselves caught, as it were, with more trained nurses than there are established posts approved by Treasury. Next, I would like to say that the question of nurses in our hospital service is a matter that is receiving attention by the Nursing Board. This is a question of reviewing the whole position of staffing of nurses in our hospitals. A memorandum is already in preparation and it will be studied by the Ministry during the course of the next few months. It is hoped that when this matter is finally considered, a situation like that which has recently taken place in Tan Tock Seng Hospital will not have to take place at all.”
“There is a shortage of trained nurses as well as trained assistant nurses in our hospitals, and this will be so for quite some time. 3.00 p.m. But unfortunately, owing to the fact that a number of approved posts in the hospitals for assistant nurses would appear to be a little less than the number of pupils in the School of Nursing, it was necessary in the middle of this year (that is to say, in July), for a tripartite discussion to be held between the Public Service Commission, the Treasury, and the Ministry of Health, to ensure that by next year, 1966-7, a situation will not arise where there are less posts than there are numbers of trained assistant nurses who have graduated; in other words, we will be having trained assistant nurses and not having posts for them. Therefore, it has been decided that the few batches of assistant nurses that will graduate this year will be informed that it would be necessary for them to go through a selection exercise by the Public Service Commission. It was not necessary to do so in the past because there were more approved posts than there were trained assistant nurses. So it was actually a case of the Public Service Commission having waived the requirements of a selection exercise after graduation. Hence, there was a little unhappiness amongst assistant nurses in Tan Tock Seng Hospital, that there has been a change in the terms of service.”
“If the conditions of employing the nurses and midwives are the same as assistant nurses, and those who are not selected can work in private clinics, and so also the midwives can work in private clinics, or become private certified midwives, then their time and training would not have been wasted. These assistant nurses cannot work as private assistant nurses. The only place where they can work is in the hospital. Therefore, I hope the Minister concerned will see to it that the system whereby assistant nurses have to reapply in order that they can be taken on as assistant nurses will be abolished. This will enable those who have passed their examination to work straightaway as assistant nurses, because they have had training for not less than two years. Otherwise they will merely be victims of circumstances, and it would not be possible for them to earn their living by working elsewhere in a private capacity. Two years of their time would thus have been wasted. I hope the Minister for Health will see to it that the assistant nurses who have passed their examination will be accepted rightaway to serve as assistant nurses in the hospitals. Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the Member for Kampong Kembangan is raising the question of some assistant nurses who are now in the Tan Tock Seng Hospital over their recruitment policy, which has shown a slight change as compared with previous years. There is no question at all regarding the value of assistant nurses in our hospital service. When opening the School for Assistant Nurses in Thomson Road Hospital some months back, I had occasion to pay tribute to the assistant nursing service which has become one of the pillars of our hospital service in assisting staff nurses to run our hospitals.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 0702 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1650. Mr Speaker, Sir, assistant nursing is a profession which requires the necessary education, training and skill. Quite a number of our girls who have qualifications higher than the minimum necessary for assistant nurses prefer to go for other jobs rather than apply as assistant nurses. The reason is that they have to undergo training for not less than two years, and they have to pass an examination. Once they are accepted into the medical service, they have to go on shift duties. There are times when they have to be awake the whole night until morning. There are times when they have to work while others have their day off on public holidays. However that may be, there is a sufficient number of our girls who wish to work in the hospitals in order to give assistance to members of the public who require medical attention, by joining the service as assistant nurses. The spirit of these girls who do want to join as assistant nurses is dampened by the existence of the new government system - this applies to pupil assistant nurses - whereby those who passed their examination after their training have to reapply in order to become assistant nurses and serve in the hospitals. Those who are selected will continue to serve as assistant nurses and those who are not selected will be victimised. They cannot work in private clinics because they have qualifications only as assistant nurses, and private clinics do not employ assistant nurses. I do not know whether there are nurses and midwives who, after having passed their examination, are required to reapply.”
“Mr Speaker, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $2,253,530 for Head 0104 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. Head 0105 -”
“Mr Speaker, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 0104 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 2013. Mr Speaker, in past years, bursaries and other forms of assistance given to Malay students in Singapore and Malaysia to attend higher institutions were from special bursaries for Malays. But in the 1966 Estimates, there are no special bursaries for Malay students because they are to compete only among themselves in order to get bursaries. So I would like to know from the Minister concerned whether there are special Malay bursaries for 1966.”
“In the end, the fact of Singapore's independence cannot be ignored by the Barisan Sosialis and the pseudo socialists, or even affected by their slogans and smears. History will finally record that such people will fail in all their attempts. Now I would like to give the people a very reliable analysis. In order to understand the activities of the pro-Communist Barisan Sosialis, we should go a step further and understand the background of international relationships so that we can have the right solution. Finally, let me say that Singapore is now an independent country, and it has been so internationally recognised. It has now an international status. But the fate of our country is in the hands of the people. This is a Government elected by the people. All people, irrespective of race and class, should unite together for one purpose - to fight shoulder to shoulder with the Government to reform our society so that we can realise the higher objective of a Malaysian Singapore. At the same time, we should recognise that despite the political and economic separation of Singapore from Malaysia, the demographic and geographical factors are such that the people in the two territories are inseparable. These are facts. But, however much the other people wish to force us into our present temporary position, we can strive so that in the end, through the determined effort of our people and in the spirit of Yu Koon who, according to Chinese legend, moved mountains, we can establish a multi-racial society - a non-Communist, democratic socialist society - in this part of South-East Asia.”
“Every year the production of animals for domestic needs will be about 20 million heads, 200 million eggs, 750,000 pigs and 40,000 tons of vegetables. The economic value of all this will amount to $200 million. This agricultural produce will not only be sufficient for our own consumption, but there will also be a surplus for export. It has been exported to various places in Malaysia. Such produce like eggs has also been exported to Hong Kong and adjacent territories. Singapore is the only city in Asia which is able to export eggs. Statistics show that in 1961 the eggs exported reached $2.3 million. Last year it has increased to $3.3 million. The total increase in exports amounted to $1.06 million. In the same period, Singapore imported eggs valued at $6.8 million. By 1964 there was a sharp decrease to $3.8 million. The total decrease was $3 million. That is a favourable figure to show the success of our farmers. All this success is the result of our hard work and the progress of the farmers. It has shown that the Government's policy has been successful in raising their standard of living. I would now like to comment on the boycott by the Barisan Sosialis. I believe the people are intelligent and when the right time comes they will be able to understand the various activities of the Opposition Members and will be able to give the correct and just judgment on them. Let us expose their facade of democracy and socialism. In fact, these Opposition Members have fallen into a contradiction of foreign political philosophy. They have fallen into the contradiction of the Soviet revisionist policy of peaceful co-existence on the one hand, and the orthodox Leninist line on the other. This has resulted in a division and contradiction in their analysis of Singapore's independence.”
“First, the development of industry will no doubt provide the focal point for our efforts in the future progress of economic development. At the same time, it will be a safeguard for our society to exist in a modernised and developed economy. Industry will play a very important role in an independent Singapore. From the figures which I will give below, we can see that we have enough viability and verve to exist. In 1964 the Government provided sums totalling $120 million for industrial development. It is estimated that in Jurong the investment in industrial development by 1970 will reach about $200 million, and by 1980 this industrial city will be able to accommodate about one-half of the total population of Singapore. The Economic Development Board has already approved various loans. By the end of last year it has reached $43 million. They have directly invested in various industries totalling $15 million. At the moment, new industries number 110. Their registered capital amounts to $649 million, with a paid-up capital of $216.86 million. By the end of last year, there were 58 new factories which came into production. Four other factories are in the course of construction. These factories will he able to provide about 16,000 jobs for our citizens. It is expected that the annual production will be worth $505.85 million. Last year there were 120 factories which were non-pioneer industry factories, engaging in production. The investment reaches $44 million, thus providing 4,000 jobs. Singapore's husbandry has also made great achievements. It has brought about better prospects in the economy of Singapore. Agricultural activities have been neglected by the urban people.”
“Mr Speaker, from all these facts and figures, we can see that the Government has done and is doing all it can to improve the standard of living and the environments of our people. But in spite of the efforts of the Government to do good things for the people, the Barisan Sosialis and the other anti-national elements are trying to be very obstructive, particularly in cases of land acquisition. They try to whip up the feelings of the people against the Government and create trouble for their own political ends, because they do not want us to carry out our work of construction and nation-building. They know that if we are successful, it will be very difficult for them in their political struggle to achieve their own selfish ends. They are not loyal to the country. They are traitors to our people. They are loyal only to the political leaders of a country outside Singapore. We can see through their treacherous intrigues and plots. They claim that they should inculcate the theories and political ideology of Mao Tse-tung into the minds of our young people. I would like to tell them that our people are not interested in any foreign indoctrination of any kind, because it has practically nothing to do with the improvement of the lot of our people. Our people want to see an actual improvement in their livelihood. Because of this, the Barisan Sosialis have not been able even to hold on to their own political strongholds. Mr Speaker, our main task ahead now is survival. I would like to tell you what the Government has done in the various fields, such as industry and agriculture. From these figures we will be able to see the development of Singapore's economy and its bright future.”
“Against this background, let us take a look at the history of the former Singapore Improvement Trust. In its 32 years of existence, it was only able to put up 21,689 units of houses and shophouses. This shows that the former Lim Yew Hock and the colonial governments were not only inefficient but also incompetent. Against this historical background, we will take a look at our achievements. We have been able to put up altogether about 52,206 units of houses since 1959. This figure includes flats as well as shophouses. The break-up is as follows: in 1961, altogether 7,320 units of low-cost houses were built for our people; in 1962, we built 12,230 units; in 1963, we built 10,085 units; in 1964, we built about 13,280 units. Since the Government came to power, we have been able to put up a lot of flats and blocks of houses in various areas in Singapore, particularly in Queenstown, Bukit Ho Swee, MacPherson, St. Michael's, Alexandra, Jurong new town, Kim Keat, Geylang Serai, Toa Payoh, Kallang, Selegie Road, Onan Road, Toa Payoh South, etc. In these areas, we have been able to put up altogether about 44,345 units of houses in order to enable our people to live in housing estates. The Government also provides them with housing subsidies. The figures are as follows: in 1960, the subsidy provided was $2.1 million; in 1961, the provision was $2.1 million also; in 1962, it was $4.2 million; in 1963, it was S6.5 million; in 1964, it was $9.5 million and for 1965 it will be $9.7 million. All these figures show the amount of housing subsidy provided by the Government for the people. So the Government has not only solved the acute problem of housing shortage but has also provided the people with social amenities in the housing estates, such as schools, clinics, playgrounds, etc.”
“You will remember that when we first came to power in 1959, many, many people were without decent housing and even experts were of the opinion that our housing problem was difficult to solve, because at that time there was an acute shortage of houses in Singapore and whatever programme for housing development we had, it would not be possible to catch up with the growth of our population. But the facts before us today show that all those fears were actually unfounded and that the housing programme of the Government has been very successful all along. Mr Speaker, you can see that many, many question marks have turned into a lot of exclamation marks in praise of our achievements. Now we have come to a stage where we are able to build one unit in 45 minutes. All this goes to show the overall success of the housing programme of the Government. Mr Speaker, you can see how successful we are. A development officer of E.C.A.F.E. said that the housing programme in Singapore provided by the Government in respect of low-cost housing has been shockingly and surprisingly successful and that this was a very massive programme - in fact, the greatest of its kind in the whole of Asia. Mr Speaker, our success can be seen in the new housing estate now in Bukit Ho Swee which was devastated by a big fire in 1961 in which about 16,000 people were rendered homeless. The Government then took up the challenge to build houses for these people. On 1st February, 1960, the Housing Board was set up and it took over our housing development project from the former Singapore Improvement Trust. Mr Speaker, let us take note that the people of Bukit Ho Swee have been lucky in that in a short time they are able to enjoy decent housing provided by our Government.”
“These figures also show that Singapore's commerce occupies a very important point in our economic structure. It is erroneous to say that it is only in times of prosperity that the Government is able to go ahead with its economic programmes. This is a very backward view which is not shown in our first Budget speech. Mr Speaker, Sir, I am pleased to have learned from the Minister for Finance that for the first time the Government is intending to consolidate and improve upon our infrastructure with great sums of money, such infrastructure being necessary for our further improvement in social amenities and economic growth. All this will, of course, give our people a better standard of living. I understand that it is the intention of the Government to spend some $976 million in the next five years, which is 60 per cent of the estimate for the purposes of economic development. Of this figure, a sum of $486 million will be spent on social development programmes, and these are all very good for our people, because this sum takes up about 32 per cent of the estimate for this particular Five-Year Plan. Mr Speaker, with regard to social development, I would like to mention in particular the programme in housing. Our housing achievements have not only won praise locally, but they have also boosted our international repute. This very well proves that our country is going on the right track and that our Government has the determination and verve to face all types of difficulties and challenges in order to find a way out for our people through all these economic challenges and difficulties. Mr Speaker, the reasons for saying so are very simple and clear.”
“What is more important is that, Mr Speaker, I would like to stress at this juncture that the contents of this Budget speech show that those theorists who are politically shortsighted are wrong in their view that they can stifle Singapore's independence with economic measures. They also show themselves that they are very stupid in believing that they can stifle our economic growth. Mr Speaker, I would like to give some facts and figures to prove my point. This will, of course, give you a better picture of the Budget speech. The average national income per capita of the working class in Singapore is as high as $1,300, which is the highest in the whole of Asia. Mr Speaker, compared with Malaysia, which is only $800 per capita income, Sabah - $700 per capita income, and Sarawak -$550 per capita income, we are also the highest in this region. The main sources of our national income come from these different fields: Commerce and Trade, 23 per cent; Industry, 18 per cent; Government services, 18 per cent; Armed Forces, 14 per cent; Agriculture, 18 per cent; Building Construction, 5 per cent; Tourism, 3 per cent; and Others, 15 per cent. The employment opportunities for our people come mainly from our commerce, transportation and other services which provide employment to 70 per cent of our people. In the field of industry and building construction, 20 per cent are employed. Agriculture provides for some 8 per cent of our employed, and others, 2 per cent. From all these figures, we can see that the economic policies of our Government are correct and on the right track. This is because, on the one hand, we can maintain our traditional trading centre and, on the other hand, we can go ahead with our industrial development programme.”
“Against this we will be spending a total of $505 million. So the balance is that we will have a surplus of some $30 million. This is the first point. The second point is that, because of our economic resilience and viability, we have not only been able to recover our losses as a result of Indonesian confrontation, but we have also been able to increase our national income by at least 2 per cent in the past one year. This is the second salient feature. The third point is that, as a result of Singapore's independence, certain retrogressive taxes have been repealed. These taxes were imposed by the Malaysian Central Government. Instead of these retrogressive measures, we have replaced them with some new measures which provide protection for our economic prosperity. From all this, we can see that with efficient and progressive new methods our economic future is well protected, and this will in turn bring about a reorganisation in the whole of our social order and improvement therein. On the other hand, this Budget speech goes a step further to show that our non-Communist democratic socialist Government is a well-organised and highly efficient piece of machinery. With its consistent policy and long-term objectives, it is able effectively to lead the people of our island State of 224 square miles towards a well-organised and better society, in which the standard of living of the people will be enhanced and improved with economic independence, which will bring about a more just, equal and prosperous nation. These are altogether the salient features that one will see in the Budget speech.”
“When it can use this weapon provided by the Minister for Finance, then it will deliberately delay negotiations. Ultimately, union members who are strongly united and support the union will lose faith in the union, resulting in the union going defunct and this is the opportunity which the management has long been waiting for. But I do not know whether the Minister for Finance adopts the same attitude as the management towards the unions. When the unions can no longer represent the workers, the management will adopt policies at its own whims and fancies and this will result in the workers being oppressed by the management. Madam Chan Choy Siong (Delta)(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, soon after our Finance Minister delivered his first Budget speech in the first independent Parliament of Singapore, he was received with great applause among the people of the various races in Singapore. All these people are of the opinion that this is a great assurance for the economic stability in Singapore. This is because in this Budget speech, we have been able to show our economic achievements which represent our national spirit and which augurs well for a bright future for our nation. And this again is a New Year gift for our people with the festive season just around the corner. As a representative of the people, Mr Speaker, I, on behalf of my constituents, would like to thank the Finance Minister for his Budget speech. I express my confidence in and support for this Budget speech in which our stability and progress are assured. Mr Speaker, looking at the Budget speech as a whole, we can see various salient features. I think it is necessary for me to point out these features. Firstly, in this budget we can see that the sum of some $537 million will be collected from revenue.”
“Mr Speaker, I believe there is not a single Singapore citizen, whether from the working class or from the capitalist class, who is uneasy after the Finance Minister delivered his financial speech on the 13th December last. Usually after the policy speech by the Minister for Finance, people will be uneasy because of increased taxes. This time, not only are they very pleased because there has been no increase in taxes for the forthcoming year, but the taxes which were imposed by the Malaysian Government when Singapore was part of Malaysia have now been removed. Not only that, Mr Speaker, a point which further pleases the people of Singapore is that there are many other guarantees given by the Minister for Finance, like the setting up of more factories which will give more employment opportunities to the people, and the resumption of trade, particularly with Malaysia. This will bring prosperity to Singapore. But there is one thing about which the people of Singapore feel uneasy, and that is the attitude of the Minister for Finance in connection with back-pay. When he replied to a question by the Member for Telok Blangah on this matter, he reiterated his positive stand relating to back-pay. There is no change on that. The emphasis by the Minister for Finance can be equated to his giving a weapon to the employers to kill militant national trade unions by dilly-dallying over negotiations between the management and the trade unions. The Government will also employ this tactic to avoid reaching agreement between workers and management. For instance, when a union puts up wage claims for better working conditions, the employer can deliberately dilly-dally over the matter. Or the management will first ascertain whether there is a claim for back-pay.”
“Mr Speaker, on the whole, this Bill is good for the people of Singapore. It will mean more employment to the people of Singapore. I merely wish to touch a little on what has been explained by the Minister just now. Non-citizens who are already in employment will be issued with work permits. Those who were employed before 1963 will he given sympathetic consideration. However, Mr Speaker, Sir, I fear that with regard to those already in employment before 1st June, 1961, employers will misuse the provisions of this Bill by terminating the services of those who are non-citizens of Singapore before 1st June, 1961. This will give an opportunity to employers to retrench workers because, according to clause 7, workers who have been retrenched because of their work permits being withdrawn cannot, or the unions cannot, negotiate with the employers on this matter. This is in clause 7 (3) (a), (b), (c) and (d). Under clause 7 (3) (a), the union cannot represent such category of workers and negotiate with the employers. No action can be taken by such trade unions. Under sub-clause (d), the matter cannot he discussed under the Industrial Relations Ordinance. Since this Government is a pro-labour Government and it has an Industrial Relations Ordinance, I hope the Minister for Labour can enlighten me further in respect of non-citizens who are already in employment before 1st June, 1961, so that they will not become the victims of those employers who are anti-union.”
“At the time when the Minister was moving the Second Reading of the Bill, he stated that it would not necessarily be evidence. As was stated by the Member for River Valley, this leaves the door open for corruption, because a person who has a blank certificate and who is able to gratify the officer responsible would be issued a plastic identity card by him, while those who are not in a position to gratify to satisfy him would be told that, according to law, the birth certificate could not be taken as conclusive evidence. So I would suggest that the Minister for Labour take particular care to see that nothing would happen, as mentioned by him when moving the Second Reading, since there are many forged identity cards being sold. If this matter is not looked into very carefully, then what he fears will happen.”
“Mr Speaker, this clause will also cause concern and anxiety to many people in Singapore, particularly those in the low income group, and I hope the Minister will give due consideration to the matter. Some hon. Members rose ---”
“Nevertheless, I believe there will be many more persons who were genuinely born in Singapore but whose birth certificates did not state their names, and persons who lost or who cannot trace their birth certificates in the Registry of Births and Deaths. I myself do not know whether the Minister for Labour has a birth certificate with his name on it. This is because our forefathers felt that birth certificates would not be an important document in later years, for in their time birth certificates were not necessary at all. They paid very little attention to birth certificates. So, Mr Speaker, clause 12 will result in thousands of genuine Singapore citizens being deprived of citizenship because they cannot trace their certificates, or because their birth certificates do not have their names on them. And when their citizenship is deprived, they will suffer consequentially - deprivation of school facilities, social welfare aid, and such other facilities, while people who were born outside Singapore but obtained citizenship by registration could enjoy these benefits. In the circumstances, Mr Speaker, I hope the Minister for Labour will give further consideration to clause 12, so that we will not neglect our own citizens at the expense of outsiders, particularly the benefit in respect of paying school fees. As the Minister intends to charge a citizen 50 cents and a non-citizen $1 for the issue of a new identity card and $5 for a replacement, it is a burden to wage earners in the low income group who have many dependants of ages above 12 and such persons must be given free new identity cards. Through no fault of their own, they should not be charged $5 for a replacement but a nominal fee. And I suggest the issue of a new identity card should be free of charge.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Bill tabled by the Minister for Labour can be considered to be a Bill which deserves the support of all, as it will protect the interests of the people of Singapore, and their livelihood will be enhanced. But I have a little doubt, and I am quite sure the people of Singapore are equally doubtful, and also the Members in this House, about the provisions of clause 12 of the Bill. Clause 12 of the Bill states that (a) birth certificates without names (b) birth certificates without names but supported by a statutory declaration and (c) cards issued under the Registration of Persons Ordinance, 1955, will not be sufficient proof that such holders were, in fact, born in Singapore. Mr Speaker, Sir, this clause gives me grave concern, and I am quite sure to those who were actually born in Singapore and who are in possession of birth certificates without names, or those who have mislaid or lost their birth certificates. At one time such persons were informed by the authorities that there was no need for them to obtain citizenship papers as they were born in Singapore. However, when this Bill becomes law, such persons will no longer become Singapore citizens. Where do they stand, Mr Speaker, Sir? Although it has been explained by the Minister for Labour that in the implementation of the clause there will he flexibility in respect of those who are in possession of birth certificates without names, Mr Speaker, I still have my doubts because I fear that such persons will be disappointed. Mr Speaker, I agree that there have been forgeries or falsification of birth certificates without names.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I merely wish to touch a little on the Registry of Persons. The Ministry of Labour will be issuing plastic identity cards, and I wish to draw the attention of the Minister concerned to this matter, so that when plastic identity cards are issued, people who have not changed their addresses will have the changes duly made. In my constituency, for instance, before the construction of Airport Road, Kampong Ann Teng was known as Lorong Tai Seng. But after the Airport Road was built, the eastern part of the road is called Jalan Ann Teng, and the rest is still called Lorong Tai Seng. So it is hoped that the Minister for Labour will bear this in mind so that when plastic identity cards are issued, this point will have been clarified and the changes in the addresses of the people made, because most of the people affected are farmers and vegetable growers, and they do not understand the matter well. I hope, therefore, that the Minister for Labour will give a full explanation to settlers in Jalan Ann Teng who number not less than 2,000, so that they can understand the position when the new identity cards are issued.”
“The Berita Harian of Sunday, 14th December.”
“But, in fact, not a single programme was supported by U.M.N.O. It is difficult to see how they supported the campaign. This is something insincere as Malay has been accepted by all sectors of the people as the national language.”
“If they truly wish to be of assistance to the Malays here, then they should not continue to object, because by so doing the fat people will grow fatter and the thin people will grow thinner, as what has happened in Malaysia. As I have said earlier, Mr Speaker, the true picture has been misrepresented by the leaders in Malaysia who, through the ultras in their midst and through the Utusan Melayu, say that the Malays in Singapore are oppressed and are not enjoying life. Why I say that the Utusan Melayu is behaving that way is this. There was an article by its correspondent on the 16th December, 1965, regarding the speech of the Member for Geylang Serai, when he referred to Tun Razak's comments on the speech of the Yang di-Pertuan Negara. As reported in the Hansard of the 14th December, the Member for Geylang Serai continued with his speech and mentioned what had happened in Rahang. Here, we can see that what actually was said in the House was misreported in the paper. Thus we can see how the true position of the Malays in Singapore is misrepresented in the Malay paper, the Utusan Melayu. Mr Speaker, our effort to build an independent sovereign nation and a harmonious relationship between the peoples of various races, religions and cultures is being countered by efforts to destroy it. We have clarified our efforts to unite the people of various races, and the acceptance of Malay as the national language has been well received by all sections of the people. But recently when the Government launched its National Language Month campaign, Ahmad Haji Taff of U.M.N.O. is reported in the newspaper Berita Mingguan to have stated that U.M.N.O. Singapore supported the National Language Month and supported the Government's campaign.”
“The shorts of the new film were screened in Ayer Hitam in Penang, and Rahang in Negri Sembilan, to attract the people of Malaysia in 1969. This is a new picture, Mr Speaker. If my memory serves me right, in 1962 the Malaysian Government stopped the import of poultry and pigs into Singapore. That was one way to stop the prosperity of Singapore. But, on the other hand, because we wish to live, we have to find a way to bring about a better standard of living for the people of Singapore. We in turn have to stop the import of their vegetables into Singapore. But this was later discontinued. All these restrictions were not for the benefit of the people of Singapore. If the people on the other side of the Causeway were shouting about the oppression of the people of Singapore, particularly the Malays, then these restrictions which they had imposed and were against that ideal would further create distress and difficulties for the Malays in Singapore, because 90 per cent of the Malays in Singapore are wage earners. If these restrictions were imposed, then it is the Malays in Singapore who would feel the pinch. Further, we wish to resume barter trade with Indonesia in order to bring about a better standard of living in Singapore, particularly to that community of wage earners. But the Government of Malaysia objected to that wish on the ground that it would be against their defence interests. However, that was part of our effort to bring about a better standard of living for our people, including the Malays. If the Malaysian Government still continues with that attitude, it will mean that they are not only not giving their co-operation to the people of Singapore, but indirectly oppressing the Malays of whom a great majority are poor.”
“On the other hand, we received our independence with sadness because of the doings of the people on the other side of the Causeway. We have read in the papers, particularly the Utusan Melayu, that the Malays in Singapore are downtrodden. The Utusan Melayu very often gives a wrong picture of the true situation of the Malays in Singapore. On the other hand, if we deeply study the true position, it can be said that a great number of people in Singapore have connections with people in Malaysia who are well aware of the conditions of the people here. Mr Speaker, to those who allege that there is no democracy in Singapore and that the Malays here are oppressed, I would like to say that the Government of Singapore is very much practising democracy and is giving freedom to all races, languages and religions. The Head of State of Singapore is a Malay. The Chief Justice is a Chinese. And the Speaker of this House is an Indian. Here, we can see for ourselves that only a tolerant multi-racial and multi-lingual society can bring about this state of affairs. It is this sort of society that we must have in order to live happily. On the other hand, the efforts of the Malaysian Government appear to be directed against the harmonious living together of the people. For instance, in the Utusan Melayu of Saturday, 11th December, Tun Razak in a speech likened the speech of His Excellency the Yang di-Pertuan Negara to that of playing an old film. But the new film which will be screened in 1969 was not stated in that paper. Mr Speaker, Sir, when old films are re-screened in the same theatre, it means that the film is popular and liked by many. That is the reason why it is re-screened. Therefore, it is proof that that old film was a film which was popular.”
“One point can clarify this. If I am not mistaken, in the Assembly on Friday, there was a Question for Oral Answer put up by the Barisan Sosialis. This concerns the workers in a Bee-boon company who lost their jobs where the Barisan Sosialis themselves were the leaders of the workers there. Mr Speaker, it is not only the people who have lost faith in the Barisan Sosialis. Many workers at one time had faith that the Barisan Sosialis is a Party that can lead the people, but they finally realised that they had been led up the garden path. Many workers have lost employment because they have been led astray. Many of the firms had to dismiss their workers and close down. This is all because of the Barisan Sosialis who led the pro-Communist unions. Many workers' unions, which were formerly with the Barisan Sosialis, have now withdrawn their membership and have joined national unions which are affiliated with the N.T.U.C. This is a clear indication that the influence of the Barisan Sosialis in the Assembly today is dwindling. It is not because Singapore is no longer enjoying democracy but because of the realisation by the people in regard to the leadership of the Barisan Sosialis. Mr Speaker, I wish to stress in this House what I have said just now. Singapore is undergoing a new phase in its history. The manner in which she was forced to receive its independence fills us with a feeling of sadness. If we were to compare Singapore with other countries which have achieved their independence, we will see that they received their independence with joy. Even the independence achieved by the Ian Smith's faction in Rhodesia was a source of joy to the people of that faction.”
“Mr Speaker, I wish to associate myself with my colleagues in expressing my thanks to the Yang di-Pertuan Negara for his speech on 8th December. In his speech in this Assembly, His Excellency said that Singapore is undergoing a new history because Singapore is now an independent and sovereign State. Now that Singapore has obtained its independence, we can show to the world that the people of Singapore can live in peace and prosperity in a multi-racial, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural society. Mr Speaker, while we are making every effort to build up our newly independent and sovereign country, the Barisan Sosialis have chosen to boycott this Assembly on the pretext that the present Government is not democratic. But, Mr Speaker, you know that the Barisan Sosialis have no more life in the independent and sovereign State of Singapore. The reason why the Barisan Sosialis have boycotted this Assembly is that they are now in a precarious position. We have proof that the leaders of the Barisan Sosialis are quarrelling among themselves on ideologies. As you know, the Rightist Secretary-General of the Barisan Sosialis is receiving medical attention at Woodbridge Hospital. A number of their leaders are in an uncertain position. If the Barisan Sosialis are still in Singapore, they will definitely be in this Chamber to argue in the interest of the people. They were elected to this Assembly by the people, but they were unable to give their views in the interest of the people. You may perhaps remember, Mr Speaker, the time when the Chairman of the Barisan Sosialis gave a speech in this Assembly which lasted seven hours. He thought he was a champion fighting for the rights of the people. But now not even one Member of the Barisan Sosialis is seen here.”