Ng Kah Ting
Singapore
“Mr Speaker, Sir, before I ask my supplementary question, may I declare, on behalf of the Member for Kebun Baru and myself, that we are both involved in the building of Montfort Secondary School and Montfort Junior School both of which are Government-aided schools. My question now, Sir, is: when will this take effect?”
“But, Sir, at the end of this debate on the Second Reading and the Bill committed to a Select Committee, I sincerely hope that all those who have the interest of Singapore at heart should come forward and make their contributions, be they critical or ways and means on how better we can improve upon this Bill.”
“But the basic foundation, I submit, and that is, the political stability-honest, efficient and an incorruptible political leadership-is paramount to the future well-being of Singapore, and that is, if we are to continue to enjoy our good standard of living, our good government and of course as an independent, sovereign entity or nation.”
“Sir, I knew that the NCMP would come out and say that-don't mix up the ISA with PPSO because basically it is the same. I say, no. Because in 1958, PAP was not in power. It was the Lim Yew Hock government. That is the difference I am trying to make. So let us not go around in this wild political rhetoric. I understand that.”
“Sir, before I make my observations, I just want to make a couple of points in reply to the Non-Constituency MP, Dr Lee. He said that in 1958 when he was asked to stand as a PAP candidate in Kallang he was afraid of the ISA. I do not think that is quite correct because in 1958, Sir, there was no ISA.”
“We should take advantage of the present political stability to provide for the future. In conclusion, Sir, let me draw an analogy. With Singapore being the No. 1 port in the world, this analogy is not inappropriate.”
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“Sir, can I ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary how these courses conducted by the CIDB will help reduce our reliance on foreign workers in the construction industry?”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head T be reduced by $10 in respect of Code TI 3000 of the Main Estimates. Sir, in asking this question, I merely wish to find this out. Since the establishment of the Construction Industry Development Board, they must have conducted some training courses. I would like to know what sort of training courses have been conducted, what is the number, and the level of skills that has been taught. Because we see a provision of $4.5 million to be used as Grant in aid, which is an increase of 54.6% over FY87.”
“Sir, since the Minister says that that is sufficient, I take his answer, and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“The question is that for FY88 the building programme will be reduced somewhat down to 23,000 units, and this is the amount that will be required. I think what is missed is that, again, we come to the question of the need for HDB to borrow this sum of money, and so these 23,000 units will need so much money in order to achieve your building programme.”
“Then, Sir, I come to the second part of my question. How does he relate this to the need to build some 23,000 units of flats, among others the infrastructure facilities and amenities, in this fiscal year of 1988? He has not explained that. Mr Dhanabalan: Sir, I must confess I am a bit lost. What actually is the question?”
“Sir, I anticipated that. I take the Minister's point. He might not have it, but I would just easily give him a copy of the Main Estimates where there is this Loan Repayments spelt out there, which I could follow. But I think he would have no objection to that and I take the point of his explanation. I merely want to show to him that there is that indication down there, in the book. He might not have a copy of the Main Estimates.”
“No, Sir. I have indicated that I would just speak on this point.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head T be reduced by $10 in respect of Code TH 5310 of the Development Estimates. Sir, I just wish to touch on this question of loans to the HDB and I hope I will not be giving some quarters a wrong impression that we are talking at cross purposes. May I refer to page 668 of the Main and Development Estimates? Under this subhead, there are four items and amounts. The actual money loaned to HDB in FY 86 was $5,865 million; for FY 87 the provision was $4,595 million. It was revised in FY 87 to $1,850 million, and so forth. In FY 88 it is estimated to be $1,317 million, which is $533 million less, or -28.8%. Sir, I would just like to pose the question to the Minister: could he explain the reason for the decrease in the loan provision? As I understand it, a loan will be needed to help in the building and purchase of lands to build some 23,000 units, as opposed to 32,000 units last year. How does this relate to the needs of the public housing programme of HDB vis-a-vis the targetted number of flats to be built in the fiscal year of 1988?”
“Sir, I must thank the Minister and his Minister of State for being so patient for the whole of yesterday afternoon and this morning with their replies. Some might not get satisfaction out of the replies but some are satisfied. On that note, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Since it is about 50% could the Hon. Minister of State, at some later stage let us have the figure?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, can I ask the Hon. Minister of State whether he thinks that 15% of these rental tenants who purchase flats is a satisfactory figure? If not, will he try to devise an incentive scheme to encourage more of these people to purchase flats so that the full home ownership scheme will be accomplished?”
“Sir, on a point of clarification. I just want the Minister to clarify whether a large part of this subsidy goes towards scaling down the cost of building of some 32,000 units, as mentioned in here at page 625 of the Estimates. In other words, all these flats that are built are heavily subsidized.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head T be reduced by $10 in respect of Code TH 5200 of the Development Estimates. Sir, I just wish to make some observations on the revision of capital grants to the Housing and Development Board. On page 625 of the Estimates, the first paragraph states: 'The HDB is allocated a sum of $1.07 billion as a capital grant to cover its FY87 net operating deficit which arose largely from price subsidies on 32,000 completed flats and expenditure on recreation, welfare and community facilities provided for new towns.' This brings me to this point - unfortunately the Member for Potong Pasir is not here - the Hon. Minister in his statement to the House yesterday, in fact, he was trying to explain to him today, that public housing is heavily subsidized. My point is that there appears to be a reduction of some 3.3%, ie, from the estimated expenditure to be incurred for FY 88. It will only be $1,066 million as opposed to the estimated FY 87 expenditure of $1,666 million. In fact, this FY 87 expenditure is more than the revised FY 87 figure. I am wondering, in the light of the Minister's statement to the House yesterday, whether he would like to enlighten this House as to how this sum will help to subsidize the building programme of the HDB.”
“I thank the Hon. Minister for his reply and beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head T be reduced by $10 in respect of Code TG 5110 of the Development Estimates. Sir, I just want to take up the matter of reclamation works at Tuas and Punggol by posing the Minister three questions. What is the progress of such works at these two places? When will reclamation be completed? What is the acreage of land to be reclaimed and, of course, when reclamation is completed, what are the future plans for these areas?”
“Sir, I take the Minister of State's point and I do not wish to belabour on it. I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“The Department has also concluded that 20 years for a farm of this size and this kind of investment will be an adequate timeframe for them to recover their investment and to make the venture commercially viable and sufficiently attractive to companies. However, as I said yesterday, if on expiry of the 20-year lease there are no new uses required for the land, the Government will certainly consider extending the land lease wherever possible and give the company more time to operate. The other point that the Member has brought up is whether there is enough time to develop this land and to let it out. I take his point that we should develop it as soon as possible. I believe the Primary Production Department will be doing everything within its powers to develop and to let out these plots of land. But first of all, we must also find interested parties. We must find ways of promoting this concept and attract investments in agrotechnology parks.”
“Sir, that brings me to the point of this allocation of 2,000 ha of land for agro-tech development. If I heard the Minister of State correct, he said by 1995 we should see an enhanced increase in the production of our food supplies thereby reducing our dependency. But I mentioned that the lease of some 20 years for this agro-tech or high-intensive farming the time will not be insufficient. And judging from the report that he has given us just now, it is less than a 100 hectare of land and the whole project cost is $57.34 million. Starting from FY 85 to date, less than $7 million has been utilized. In fact, in FY 87 it is just a revised expenditure. As for FY 88, there is provision of $4.3 million. So if it takes seven years from now or ten years from 1985 to start off the agro-technology farming on some 2,000 hectares of land, it will take you quite a longer time still to fully develop these lands. Therefore the question of lease of 20 years will then have to be stretched further. I hope the Minister of State will enlighten this House. Dr Lee Boon Yang: Sir, first, I would like to inform the Member that the land for agro-technology park is not available completely in one go. So development has to be carried out in phases; hence, the different stages. And as soon as the land has been developed and infrastructure provided, the land can be let out by public tender, which is what the Department has been doing. As regards to the period of the lease, as I said yesterday, the Department has looked into it. For the present moment, they are prepared to consider a lease of up to 20 years.”
“Sir, the Minister has not given me the answer to Sungei Tengah and Murai schemes.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head T be reduced by $10 in respect of Code TF 5100 of the Development Estimates. Sir, I merely have a question of farmlands at Loyang, Sungei Tengah and Murai. These are the areas where agro-tech farming activities will be carried out. I just want to ask the Minister whether he could enlighten the House as to the progress of the scheme and how much investment has been committed so far to these farmlands.”
“I thank the Minister of State for his reply and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head T be reduced by $10 in respect of Code TF 1000 of the Main Estimates. Sir, the objectives spelt out in the Primary Resources Programme are numerous. In order to achieve its mission, the PPD, amongst other things, takes charge of the prevention and control of animal diseases, identification of sources of wholesome meat, provision of veterinary public health services, and development of areas for intensive farming, agricultural and fisheries research. As I said, all these objectives are laudable, but my question is: to what extent can PPD meet these objectives because I notice that the staff it has is not that many. It has about 100 professional staff while the rest, about 800 or so, are not. I would like to ask the Minister whether he will enlighten the House as to how the PPD will be able to achieve its objectives.”
“Sir, I thank the Minister for his kind reply, and I beg leave to withdrawn my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head T be reduced by $10 in respect of Code TC 9853069 of the Development Estimates. Sir, this subhead concerns the widening of Upper Serangoon Road. As has been said in this House, the widening of Upper Serangoon Road will mean that more land will have to be acquired for road widening works to be carried out. My question to the Minister is when will the widening of Upper Serangoon Road be completed? It will best serve the convenience of the residents in Hougang New Town which at the moment has already some 22,000 housing units completed.”
“Sir, I will let the Minister of State off the hook, and I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“I think the Minister of State, if he looks at page 644 of the Development Estimates, the total project cost is $51 million; Actual FY 86, zero; Estimated FY 87, $9.3 million; Revised FY 87, $2.622 million; Estimated FY 88, $18.4 million. And he told us that it will take 30 months to complete. Therefore, in my view, there is an over-provision for this project.”
“Sir, just to bring the point clearly across. The total project cost of the renovations of the MND building was projected to be $51 million. Taking the projections of costs, last year it was $2.9 million; this year, the vote asked for is $18.4 million. If these two figures are added up, it is less than the $51 million project cost.”
“Sir, I recall that the Minister of State in his reply to some questions last year enlightened the House that this project on the MND building will take a span of five years to complete.”
“Since the work will take 30 months to complete, warranting a proposed expenditure of $18.4 million, how does this reconcile with the fact that the total project cost is $51 million?”
“Sir, may I ask the Minister of State when the completion date will be?”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head T be reduced by $10 in respect of Code TA 5110 of the Development Estimates. Sir, in moving this amendment, I would like to seek the enlightenment of the Hon. Minister of State with regard to the Project votes, particularly the increase of 531.5%, from $2.9 million (FY 87 revised) to an estimated figure of $18.4 million. May we know what is this provision for? Why is there such a substantial increase, and what are these projects?”
“Sir, in view of the Minister's reply, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“In view of the Minister's reply, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I must thank the Hon. Minister for his patience and for the way he has been able to deal with all the questions posed to him. And I think everybody is happy now with all the replies given, I hope. On that note, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. I just wish to make a clarification on the Hon. Minister's statement yesterday. Could I ask him why he made no mention of my GPC's recommendations vis-a-vis HDB's new role in public housing and land use, particularly concerning lands at Marina South and East Coast? Is it because we are on the same wave length? As can be seen from his statement, the GPC made those recommendations and this was not acknowledged. Government policy on HDB public housing will now be shifted to full home ownership which would mean affordability of a 3-room flat. Here, we cannot disagree with him. However, we would like to ask him whether this will mean that HDB's 4-room, 5-room, Executive apartments and maisonettes will now be priced higher. As I said, we agree with the full home ownership but not 100% ownership which, we think, is not realistic.”
“Some people have been in the same traditional type of business or shop-keeping for years. Therefore, they could not adjust and adapt to new situations and new jobs. So I hope the Government will understand their difficulties and give such people more concessions where possible, particularly those shop owners who have before the new scheme been subject to notice to resettle. There are many ways to give concessions. Certain concession could be like what the Member for Punggol had earlier suggested, for tender concession increasing the 10% margin to 30%, at the same time, reserving certain shop houses for such shop owners who have been affected by resettlement to tender for them.”
“Dr Koh Lip Lin( In Mandarin): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in the past 20 years, our various development plans involving the building of new towns, industrial zones and new network of roads have all been very successfully carried out. It has been mainly due to well conceived resettlement planning and its execution. But many people have been affected by resettlement. Although there have been various schemes of compensation and concessions for them. Following changing times and circumstances and consequential amendments to compensations and concessions and changes to rules and conditions, these have resulted in some people being happy and some other people being unhappy and dissatisfied, the details of this I would leave to the Member for Chua Chu Kang to let us know. Now I would like to direct my attention to the point of shop compensation. In the past, shop owners affected by resettlement could get priority allocation of shops and also five years' rent rebate concession. Since last year, the rental concession and priority allocation was cancelled and was replaced by $26,000 cash compensation. Some shop owners accepted this scheme while others felt certain dissatisfaction. The dissatisfaction of those shop owners affected is mainly because for many years in the past, their business had been quite all right. Since they came to know they are affected by resettlement, they have been hoping to be allocated a new shop so that they could have a new chance to start all over again. But now they are very disappointed because under the new scheme all their hopes are dashed and their many years of dreams could not be realized. What a great blow to them! Many of them had only one trade or one kind of career all along for many years.”
“These families have been in the farms for, perhaps three or four generations. I think the hon. Minister of State for National Development himself is aware of this because he comes from an area where I and a few other MPs come from. So although the farmer is compensated with quite a sizeable amount of ex gratia compensation, he faces the prospect of not getting any employment simply because he and his family has been farming for generations. Another case in point is to be found in the Lim Chu Kang area, in the constituency of my good friend, the Member for Chua Chu Kang. So the cash grant together with other enhanced compensation that this farmer receives will have to go towards the payment of a few HDB flats, on average, 2 or 3 because, as I said, of the break-up of these large families. The other difficulty they face is that their prospect of employment is practically nil. Let me elaborate. In addition to encountering this problem, they have to adjust themselves to living in the flats. And whilst adjusting themselves in a new environment and trying to get analternative trade or a job, they have to make use of whatever cash grants and resettlement benefits that they have received. The net result is that their cash vaporize rather too soon. So post-resettlement problems arise. They come back to us and ask for assistance to help them obtain hawker stalls, lock-up shops. I do not think we should turn them away. In fact we should try to help them. After all, Sir, we have been elected to serve our constituents. They come to us for help and we try our best to help them. In this respect, could I ask the Government to, at least find a way to look at the predicament and assist these resettled farmers.”
“Sir, I would just like to touch on resettlement policy. This is in regard to land that has to be urgently cleared. I must say that one such piece of land which is in Punggol has to make way for the expansion of Woodbridge Hospital. Many people have been resettled, some not in areas, of their choice and some others, if they want flats in areas of their choice, will have to vacate from the site first and to rent flats elsewhere as an interim measure so that development can be speeded up. In this respect, my question is: will the Government consider helping these people who are greatly inconvenienced as a result of urgent clearance? After all, in the case that I mentioned, there are not more than 100 families. Secondly, on the question of non-priority of allocation of shops as a result of clearance. We accept that. But can we not ask of the Government to consider raising the preferential margin for tendering of shops, say, from 10% to 30% to help shopkeepers relocate into HDB shops? Earlier on, the Hon. Minister in his reply said he was surprised why tenders were not put at the reserve price of the tender but were actually put at a much much higher price. The answer is very simple. There is a demand for these shops. Let us say, there are 5 or 10 shops for tender but we have got 100-200 wanting to apply. So only 5 or 10 applicants will be successful. Naturally, Sir, I submit, everybody will want to put up a higher tender price. It is as simple as that. I am quite sure if this suggestion can be favourably considered, it will go some way to help alleviate the trauma of resettlement of our shopkeepers. Sir, as regards resettlement of farmers, I am talking of farmers who have large families. These families will have to be broken up.”
“Minister for Finance in reply to the Member of Jurong, the Senior Parliamentary Secretary (MCI), that our nearest neighbour, Johor state in Malaysia, would be a very important area where we can encourage investment. So it is with this in mind that I raise this subject and, therefore, the Primary Production Department should help to develop such expertise so that we become the services centre in this region.”
“Yes, Sir, I will take on the subject of agro-tech. Yesterday, the Minister for Finance in his reply to the suggestion that I proposed that agro-tech will play an important role besides increasing food production and developing agro-tech expertise. And the Minister has accepted our suggestion that perhaps a pioneer status could be considered and he has informed the House that he will be asking the EDB and MTI to look into this. So here we are moving in the right direction in agro-tech, given our very limited supply of agricultural lands. Sir, we went to the Primary Production Department (PPD) for a visit and we were told that there were some agro-tech parks comprising lands at Sungei Tengah, Murai, and Loyang, with some 2,000 hectares of land and which forms about 3-3 1/2% of our total area of 60,000 hectares. But what we were disturbed to hear was that the lease for such agro-tech would only be for some 20 years. We would like to suggest that 20 years is not sufficient. As I put the case before the House two days ago, the R&D, apart from setting up the agro-tech farms, will also have to be set up, with this, there is tremendous scope for the development of agro-tech. And surely this will increase the productivity, production, quality and so on, so that we will not have to be dependent on imports. And having developed this expertise, we may sell our expertise. For example, in the field of intensive pig farming, with pig farming to be phased out by 1989 as I was told, there is this reservoir of expertise which could be exported. We could use Singapore as a centre of such expertise and pass on this expertise to our neighbouring countries. We could even encourage, as the Hon.”
“Sir, under this subject, Road Networks, it also features an important aspect of the overall concept of land use, as what has been explained by the Minister earlier on in his statement. With our limited land available for transportation needs, we have to ensure a very good road network system. Our present road system provides good links between major population centres and the commercial and industrial areas. Sir, the MRT has now also come in to enhance our transportation facilities. But, nevertheless, we think we can further improve on our road network. For example, our New Towns can be planned with road linkages and this is to minimize the need for major road widening or realignment of existing roads which can be very inconvenient and destructive and can also be quite costly and it can also mean more land to be used. A case in point, Sir, is the widening of Upper Serangoon Road to Punggol Road. It is being covered under the road development. The row of shops abutting Upper Serangoon Road will have to make way for road widening. That reinforces the point that I made earlier on. We need a more integrated road network and perhaps with a major road system which would inter-connect our New Towns. It can be seen that the New Towns are not close to one another, but certain of these main expressways inter-connect them. I hope we could realign and devise a system whereby these New Towns can be inter-connected through a better network of road system so that transportation time to these New Towns will be reduced. Mr Ng Kah Ting resumed his seat.”
“Similarly, Sir, those living in older estates and townships now may also want to have the improvements these new towns have. Therefore, we feel that the HDB should focus on ways and means to upgrade existing estates as the demand for new flats has now dropped. Maybe only some 12,000 to 15,000 units need to be built each year to meet this new demand. But we talk of a gracious living environment. So in this respect, could not, we ask, the HDB encourage the private sector to play a role in our public housing development? This we think can be achieved by a two-pronged approach: (i) allow the private sector and general public to express and submit ideas or designs of new estates, neighbourhoods and townships; and (ii) set aside lands next to or within townships to allow the private sector to develop, as has been suggested by the Hon. Minister of State (National Development) recently. However, we feel that the terms must be sufficiently attractive, for example, the term lease of 99 years may need adjustments, should such semi-detached or terrace houses be built in those areas. The question of privatization was discussed, particularly on the Board's facilities like car parks, shopping complexes and other infrastructural facilities. But I shall leave such discussions to be dealt with in greater length by my colleagues in the GPC. Lastly, Sir, we propose that industrial estates and workshops built by the HDB and managed by the HDB be handed over to the relevant authority, like the JTC, to manage. Also, estate management in the estates should be hived off. With the successful pilot scheme on town councils, particularly the Ang Mo Kio New Town, we propose that HDB's management exper- tise be made available to the town councils to assist residents in managing themselves.”
“Just as the MRT took many years of feasibility studies, public discussions and participation to become a reality today, so it is with the City of the Future. We propose that Government starts this project now and not delay. Secondly, Sir, we support the Master Plan for the Civic and Cultural District, as proposed by the URA. We agree that some parts of Singapore, as described in the Master Plan, must be preserved. We support the need to have private sector participation in order to ensure realization. However, we notice that some of the buildings in these areas are deteriorating too fast. We are, therefore, of the view that URA should spare no effort to facilitate and hasten conservation work. We agree that in order to encourage pedestrian movement in this area, certain roads should be closed to vehicular traffic. More importantly, Sir, in our view, the proposed Civic and Cultural District will indeed serve as an historic link to remind posterity of their heritage. Next, Sir, I come to the HDB, its core objectives. We believe that HDB, with its 27 years of public housing development, has fulfilled much of its objectives. However, it is now time to review HDB's core objective to provide public housing at affordable cost. Its role in public housing should now be re-examined and re- defined to take into account the needs of a better educated and younger generation looking for high quality HDB residences. Their expectations are high. They want better amenities and facilities like those provided for in the new towns like Yishun, and even those in private condominiums. In short, the HDB should strive to achieve zero defect by improving its quality of work in its building construction programmes.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head T of the Main Estimates be reduced by $100. I have got two topics to bring up for discussion. One is Towards a Better City. Sir, in less than three decades, the PAP Government, with the support of the people, has transformed Singapore from slums and swamps into a modern City state. I do not intend to list our past achievements. I am looking towards an even better tomorrow, surpassing our achievements. However, I will confine my remarks to what my GPC on National Development and Housing and the Resource Panel discussed. We would like to make some proposals on the subject - "Towards a Better City". I shall deal with it in two parts: (1) Land reclamations at the Marina South and the adjacent East Coast have been or will soon be completed. There are plans for their interim use over the next 10-20 years. However, we would like to ask the Government what are its long-term plans for development of such lands. We are concerned because in Singapore we have no choice but to make optimal use of our limited land resource. So we propose that the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) co-ordinate a project to invite architects, town planners and others in the private sector to submit their ideas and concepts for the building of a future city in the early 21st century on these lands. This, in our view, will give the people of Singapore an opportunity to take part in shaping their own city and to contribute to the kind of city that they want. We believe that such a common goal will foster national identity and such a common task will foster unity. The people of Singapore will naturally be proud of a city they helped to build and they will be quick to defend it also.”
“Such an incentive, I am positive, will certainly help in the development of agrotechnology consultancy services so that Singapore will soon become a regional agrotech service centre. Finally, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I note two other points. (i) Government's expenditure in 1987. It was much less than the estimated figures in some Ministries by as much as 20%. (ii) The overall revenue collected in 1987 was more than that estimated, by over $800 million. So can we have an explanation for this? Let me put it this way. The Government is on the one hand saving money by spending less and on the other hand collecting more money than estimated. Sir, although I do not expect 100% accuracy in the Ministry of Finance's estimates, I do hope to see more accurate forecasts in the future, which I shall deal with the matter in greater detail during the debate of the Main and Development Estimates, ie, these forecasts, estimated, actual, and revised. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, suffice to say at this point, that I fully support the motion moved by the hon. Minister for Finance.”
“By deliberately encouraging high technology farming, we maximize returns and productivity of our limited farm resource to be used as farm lands. I understand that some 2,000 hectares of land which form about 3-3(r)% of our total land area have been set aside for the development of agrotechnology parks. Here, I am also given to understand that such lands have a lease term of up to 20 years only. I am of the view that agrotechnology services is an important industry that we should pay greater attention to, as can be seen by the Minister's concession to this particular industry. We can, in my view, supply ourselves with, and export, high value and good quality products and services. At the same time, of course, we become less dependent on food imports. Therefore, there is much R&D to be put into the agrotechnology industry. With our conducive environment and well trained manpower, we can build a good reputation in this field and establish ourselves as a regional agrotechnology services centre. Sir, perhaps more incentives could be considered for this important industry. Because of the amount of investment required in agrotech (short for agrotechnology), especially in the field of R&D, I venture to suggest to the hon. Minister to consider giving agrotechnology pioneer industry status, that is, those who invest in agrotech can then enjoy tax holidays under the Economic Expansion Incentives (Relief from Income Tax) Act. This will accord to agrotech due recognition of its increasingly important role in our national development. Sir, in any case the Economic Development Board will be the agent which should manage this aspect and that the Primary Production Department will do the matching.”
“Therefore, I share the sentiments expressed by my good Friend, the Member for Jalan Kayu. Indeed, where we can afford to give rebates and concessions, we should do so. This will be in line with, as I have described, the Minister's cautious approach and will thus help stimulate confidence in the property market. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, next I come to the question of stamp duty. I welcome the exemption of stamp duty for certain transactions by an ACU or approved securities company. This brings us one step closer to maturity as a major financial centre. I also welcome the imposition of the $500 ceiling on stamp duties on assignment of leases of property other than immovable property. However, Sir, I would like to ask the Hon. Minister for Finance whether he will consider extending such stamp duty concessions to immovable property. I understand that stamp duty on commercial and legal transactions on immovable property has remained unchanged for some years. After all, with the increase in the value of land, as acknowledged by the Government in amending the Land Acquisition Act recently, the Stamp Office is expected to collect some $430 million in stamp duty on various types of commercial and legal instruments, eg, conveyances, transfers, leases and share transactions. Sir, I make this suggestion to draw the Minister's attention to the stamp duty property buyers have to pay. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would also like to commend the Minister for his recognition of important industries such as agrotechnology, horticulture and aquaculture by giving them attractive tax incentives. These are double deduction for research and development (R&D) expenses and also the industrial building allowances.”
“Therefore, making more land available to the private sector for development, in my view, will not only help to bring back buoyancy to the depressed property market but also allow them to contribute to nation-building and, more importantly, instil greater confidence in our economy. Of course, Sir, I do not advocate that the Government release so much land as to cause a glut in the property market. I am confident that the Government, being a cautious and sensible government that it is, will do so in a moderate and calculated manner. With the acute land shortage in Singapore, we should take steps to ensure that lands not earmarked or not likely to be required for public projects in the foreseeable future are not left idle in the Government land bank but should be made available to the private sector for productive use by way of short-term leases. This is borne out by the fact that certain areas where lands acquired and have not been fully cleared have been granted temporary leases for other purposes such as non-pollutive farming activities. I understand that lands in Marina South will be put to temporary use for the next 10 to 15 years. I shall not dwell on it now as I shall have more to say on this subject with regard to Master Planning or "Towards a Better City" during the debate on the Main and Development Estimates. Secondly, Sir, I come to property tax, the point that has also been raised by the Member for Jalan Kayu. The Minister said that he would review the property tax rates for 1989 during the second half of this year because, according to him, the outlook for the economy next year is uncertain. For the same reason, I appeal to him to defer increasing property tax until we are confident of a strong performance in 1989.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Minister for Finance's cautious approach in 1987 coupled with the people's ready acceptance of painful measures like wage restraint and the 15% reduction in CPF contribution by employers paid off and our economy grew by more than 8%. With the support of the people, we have pulled our economy out of our worst recession in the last two decades and we can now look forward to healthy economic growth again, I hope. Sir, the 1988 budget is similarly a cautious one in view of a possible slowdown in the second half of the year. I commend the Minister's plans to consolidate the economy further. We must be ready to face the uncertainties ahead to ensure that what we have achieved in 1987 will not be eroded. Sir, I would like to focus on some of the issues in the Budget Statement concerning housing and property development. Firstly, I support the purchase of surplus lands held by statutory boards, such as the Jurong Town Corporation and the Urban Redevelopment Authority, by the Government. This is indeed a good move as the land bank will now be more centralized. However, I would like to suggest that the Government consider releasing to the private sector parcels of land from its land bank from time to time for development. The parcels of land should be big enough to make development viable and the number of parcels released should be sufficient to help keep the price and cost competitive. With the slow-down of building programmes, particularly by the Housing and Development Board and for schools, MRT and roads well catered for, this should not be too difficult. After all, the Government has said before that the private sector should be the engine of growth.”