Ng Yeow Chong
Singapore
“Sir, there is a creche called Lee Kuo Chuan Creche which is not in Kuo Chuan Constituency as the name implies but it is actually in Mountbatten Constituency.”
“As I have said earlier, those who wish to go abroad by air or by sea are usually advised by the travel agencies to apply for a re-entry permit first before buying their tickets.”
“My point is this. Why cannot these people be informed of this requirement in one way or another? As suggested by the Member for Punggol, why not put up notices somewhere near the Woodlands Checkpoint to remind those blue identity card holders who wish to go across the Causeway to apply for a re-entry permit before leaving?”
“Sir, I would like to make a small point. I would like to ask the Minister whether he has ever thought of looking into the ages of meter readers. How many of them are between the ages of 40 and 50 years? Have they been subjected to eye examinations? This is to avoid mistakes in meter reading, as we have so often heard.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, is the Minister aware that some Special Pass holders are former permanent residents? They have lost their permanent status because they have contravened certain Immigration rules and regulations, for example, returning from Malaysia without re-entry visas.”
“Sir, I want to stress to the Minister the importance of a sufficiency of fire hydrants in all housing estates. I wonder if there are sufficient fire hydrants in all HDB estates. Encik Othman Bin Wok: Sir, in answer to the question by the Member for Mountbatten, the answer is "yes".”
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“Sir, may I now turn to our water resources which affect our very survival. It is heartening to note that the Public Utilities Board will be taking measures to develop our water resources. Short of this effort, we will not be able to cope up with demand of the growing population. I endorse the views of my two colleagues, the Members for Anson and Bukit Panjang, who earlier in the House suggested to open up new reservoirs, or to enlarge the existing ones. I would go further to suggest that more catchments should be created to collect rainfall that goes into our network of drainage in the city area. The rain water so collected can then be pumped and drawn through pipes into reservoirs. Mr Speaker, Sir, you are aware that most of the rainfall has fallen underground through bare soil in the rural areas. We should therefore look into the feasibility of tapping water resources that can be found in abundant supply underground. We can open up wells on a large scale and draw up the spring water to supplement our shortage of water. Sir, the retrenched civilian employees have become a problem which needs our immediate attention in the next few months. I understand that the Government has taken steps to absorb them into alternative employment in the various Government departments. There is the problem of finding them jobs of equivalent posts with pay similar to what they received during employment with the British military establishments. Most of these employees have reached their mid-forties and have still to support their minor children. Lesser pay in their new jobs will create financial hardship. One solution to assist them to earn more money would be to allow them to do part-time work outside their jobs.”
“Mr Speaker. Sir, the President rightly said in his policy speech on the 21st of July that most of our people have accepted the realities of life in present-day Singapore and that their approach to problems is generally practical and tolerant. Sir, we, the people of Singapore, are indeed glad to hear these most encouraging and rewarding words. Tributes are due to our people for their understanding, tolerance and support without which no government, however efficient it is, can successfully implement its policies. The sacrifices of our people for the sake of the country's progress and well-being are enormous. It is appropriate now that we should place on record the tremendous contribution that our people have made to our present-day prosperity. During the last six years of our independence, we have shown, beyond any doubt to the world, that although we are a small nation, we have the capacity and determination to live as a people, survive and continue to prosper. We set down our aim to transform our once disparate community into a modern and industrialised nation. This is by no means an easy task, and yet we have achieved in these six years what it took some advanced countries half a century or more to attain. From now on, we have to set our aims even higher. To achieve this, it is imperative that we should be viable in defence and stable in our internal security. This is critically necessary for we are only assured of stability and security for a few more years under the Commonwealth Five-Power Defence arrangement. After this, we will be by ourselves. We should always remain alert politically, and invulnerable in our defence. No subversion from within or aggression from without can ever rend us asunder. We either survive or disintegrate. Our choice is to survive.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether the National Sports Promotion Board has engaged a professional coach to train our national team?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, what I intended to raise has already been raised during the earlier debate on the Housing and Development Board flats. So I am not speaking now.”
“I thank the Minister for his information and I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $14,183,040 for Head 75 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 78 -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 75 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 311. Sir, this concerns Phase II of the approach roads and car parks for the Kallang sports complex. It is scheduled to be completed in 1971-72 and the sum of $750,000 is now voted for this purpose. What I wish to know is the location of this Phase II of the approach roads and car parks for the Kallang sports complex and what will become of the existing road off Mountbatten Road leading to Kallang Park. Will the Minister clarify this?”
“Sir, can the Parliamentary Secretary inform the House whether these infested trees will be cut down and new ones planted in their place?”
“Sir, can the Parliamentary Secretary inform the House how many such trees are there and how many are infested with caterpillars?”
“I am not going to ask for more as there is no land available. Fair enough. But this present community centre is very small. Originally we estimated that the community centre would cost about $80,000, but the People's Association said at that time that since funds were not available they could give us only $40,000 for it. Therefore, we could only build a very small community centre in my constituency. I would like to ask the Minister whether he will consider extending the building of the Anson community centre. Perhaps the management committee could try to get some money from the public and, together with assistance from the People's Association, we could then extend the building as soon as possible.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I must congratulate the Member for Punggol on bringing up the point of adequacy of funds for community centres. But I hope that not all the $313,000 will be taken up for the resiting of the two centres as mentioned in the Memorandum on the Development Estimates. However, I wish to seek information from the Minister whether there is provision for a standard community centre at the Old Kallang Airport Estate in my constituency, and whether a site has been located by the People's Association for this purpose. Sir, a site near Block 93 at Jalan Satu, off Old Airport Road, was, in fact, proposed by me in 1965 for a community centre. But it was turned down by the Housing and Development Board as it was meant for some other purposes. Up to now, this site is still left vacant. I wonder if the People's Association will reopen negotiations with the Housing and Development Board to develop a community centre on this site. I wish to stress that there is a great need for a community centre in the Old Kallang Airport Estate in view of the fact that about 34,000 people are now living there. You will agree with me, Sir, that community development is important in a housing estate. Although there is now a community centre at Guillemard Road, which was formerly the Katong Boys' Club and was converted into the Mountbatten Community Centre in 1960, it is sited in a remote corner of my constituency and is far away from the bulk of the population. This being the case, it does not adequately serve the needs of my constituents. In fact, it serves predominantly the people from the Geylang area. Will the Minister look into this matter? Mr P. Govindaswamy (Anson): Sir, I have only one point to raise. In Anson Constituency there is only one community centre.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer and I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 33 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 216. Sir, the vote is $400,000 for radio communications equipment for the offshore industry. I have two questions to ask the Minister. Firstly, when will this service be implemented? Secondly, what kind of revenue can be derived from this service?”
“Sir, the House is being asked to allocate a sum of money totalling $823,000 to establish a Motor Vehicle Inspection Centre at Upper Thomson Road. Last week this House heard the reply given by the Minister, that the new Motor Vehicle Inspection Centre would be completed at the end of 1971, and that the R.O.V. headquarters would be moving into its new building at Upper Thomson Road. 3.30 p.m. I heard recently that renovations are being carried out at the R.O.V., Middle Road. I would like to ask the Minister a few questions. First, if the Registry of Vehicles is going to move out of Middle Road, why are renovations being carried out there? Second, how much floor area is the new Motor Vehicle Inspection Centre going to occupy, and what sort of a building is it going to be? The last question is, how many cars can be inspected at this new Inspection Centre?”
“Sir, my point concerns the revision of salary scales and service conditions for the rank and file. I believe a committee of inquiry has been set up. In fact, the point has been raised by me and it seems to me that the Minister has missed giving me an answer. Can I ask him to oblige me?”
“Sir, can I just bring up one point so that the Minister can answer at the same time?”
“Sir, the Minister seems to be satisfied with the crime rate which he gave just now, somewhere in the region of 10.2 per cent. This rate is comparable to that in Hong Kong. I believe there is still plenty of room for improvement. Certainly we want to aim for higher performance by our police force. The other point I wish to bring out is that the Minister has not answered my last question about the setting up of a school for detectives within the Police Academy. I would be obliged for an answer.”
“Sir, we have just heard about the crime rate given by the Minister for Home Affairs”
“Will the Minister also consider improving the system of communication by installing direct telephone lines at all divisional stations? At present all calls made to the police must be transmitted through the number 72001. I would also like to urge the Minister to look into this matter. In conclusion, I wish to take this opportunity of asking the Minister a few questions. First, is he satisfied with the general efficiency of the police force and, if not, what steps will he take to improve their efficiency? Second, is the present strength of the police force sufficient to maintain law and order in the republic now and in the near future? Third, what measures are being taken by the Minister to curb the present increase in crime? Fourth, does he deem the indulgence of some members of the police force in corrupt practices serious enough to justify some reorganisation of the force? Fifth, when will the salary scales and conditions of service for members of the police force be revised on lines similar to those of the Singapore Armed Forces so as to attract capable and young men to join the force? Sixth, will a school for detectives be set up in the Police Academy to train our detectives in the modern techniques of crime detection?”
“A detective corporal was also sentenced to imprisonment for committing robbery with his service gun. Sir, we cannot afford to allow the acts committed by these black sheep to affect the discipline and morale of the police force as a whole. Normally, the public turn to the police for protection of their property and lives. But they will eventually lose faith and confidence if some of the officers in the police force, instead of rendering valuable assistance, take advantage of their authority to harm innocent persons, especially the females. Sir, in order to have a clean and efficient police force, these black sheep should be weeded out without any mercy and sympathy. Singapore has achieved progress and prosperity through the hard work of all strata of society, including, of course, members of the police force. Since police personnel are part and parcel of the republic, they should work hand in hand with the people to achieve peace and security. Mr Speaker, Sir, notwithstanding the misdemeanours of a few officers in the force, personally I have a high regard for some of our officers and members of the rank and file for their exemplary conduct and excellent performance. They have been able to adapt themselves to the change from the colonial days to meet the demands of the society of today. In order to maintain the high standard of our police force, I sincerely urge the Minister for Home Affairs to see to it that capable police officers, senior as well as junior, be given the opportunity to fill the existing vacancies in all ranks. In addition, I would like to support what the Member for Sembawang has said about the police telephone exchange at police headquarters.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, it is noted that the Ministry of Home Affairs was created in August 1970. This new Ministry has the Police, the Immigration Department, and the Registry of Societies under its portfolio. Sir, our police force is one of the best disciplined and most efficient law enforcement authorities in South-east Asia. Because of the efficiency and dedication of the members of the police force, crime in the republic is not so rampant as it is in some other countries. Law and order is indeed well maintained. Therefore, our citizens enjoy living in peace and security. However, we cannot afford to have some black sheep in the police force who take the law into their own hands and bring disgrace and discredit to the force. Sir, it is very unfortunate to have to mention that the Police Department has recently received bad publicity with regard to some members of the force who were involved in corruption, abuse of power, such as in rape cases, stealing property in the course of investigation, and committing robbery, etc, resulting in the dismissal of some officers and members of the rank and file. It would appear that all the above incidents occurred so rapidly one after another. For instance, two detectives are alleged to have removed personal articles from a house where they were assigned to investigate a case of housebreaking. A patrol crew in a radio car are alleged to have been found collecting money from lorry operators for a favour not to book them for traffic offences. As a result of this, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau probed into the Traffic Branch and some of the police personnel were transferred out. Again, one probationary police inspector and his staff sergeant were sentenced to imprisonment for raping a woman and a girl under threat.”
“In view of the answer, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 1306 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1191. Sir, many of our citizens are not happy about having to pay compounded fines for late renewal of their Radio and T.V. licences. Late payment of renewals is often due to an oversight. Sometimes notices of renewal might have gone astray in the post or might have failed to reach the licensees. Very few licensees, I believe, have deliberately tried to evade or to ignore payment. In any case, the amount of a licence fee is not large, only $36 per annum and it can be recovered throughout the duration of the whole year. Moreover, the Radio and TV. Licensing Section is not understaffed. Notices of reminders should be sent out to licensees to remind them to pay up. In this connection, Sir, I would like to suggest that, in place of compounded fines, a late fee of $2 be charged for late payment of renewal fees. The Property Tax Division also charges late fees for late payments. If this proposal is accepted, there will be no unpleasantness caused by bringing the offenders to court and fining them simply because they are reluctant to pay the compounded fine offered by the Radio and T.V. Licensing Section. Moreover, we do not want the public to accuse us of being too harsh to them just because they refuse to pay $10 to compound the offence.”
“Sir, I am not moving. The sum of $22,506,500 for Head 1109 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. Head 1110 -”
“(5) That the sum to be allocated for Head 1107 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 3005. The sum of $15,015,510 for Head 1107 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.”
“Sir, I thank the Minister for his reply and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $1,964,520 for Head 0707 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. 4.00 p.m. Head 0801 -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the Minister has overlooked my suggestion that the Registry of Vehicles at Middle Road should be reconstructed or expanded. I know that there is a provision in the estimates for a new Testing Centre and for the Vehicle Inspection Centre at Sin Ming Road. My suggestion is that the building at Middle Road should be expanded or a new administrative block should be constructed.”
“The second advantage of having season tickets is that bus commuters will not throw tickets about indiscriminately. The third advantage is that it is more economical especially for school children. They can save a considerable sum of money if they buy season tickets. The fourth advantage is that bus conductors will have more time to move around to check and collect fares from other passengers and therefore increase the revenue. I hope the Minister concerned will reply to my proposals.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 0707 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1001*. (* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Conceicao.) Sir, under the present reorganisation of our motor transport service, the Registry of Vehicles will be expanding its activities. We can imagine the amount of work that has to be done. From the budget estimates, we know that the R.O.V, will be setting up an Enforcement Unit to be manned by 80 police personnel. In addition, the existing Investigation Unit will be strengthened by 11 additional posts of Investigating Officers. Sir, I am afraid that the Registry of Vehicles at Middle Road will be overcrowded. No wonder our Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications has to make way and has his office moved to City Hall. In order to carry out its work efficiently, it is important that the Government expands the Registry of Vehicles or builds a new building at another site. In the Development Estimates for 1971-72, there is provision for building a Motor Vehicle Inspection Centre, but I cannot find any provision therein for the construction of a new building for the Registry of Vehicles. In my view, the Registry should improve its working efficiency especially following the reorganisation of our motor transport service. Mr Speaker. Sir, I would like the Minister to consider another suggestion. This is in reference to the memorandum I sent him on the 8th of March with regard to season tickets for bus commuters. This scheme, if accepted by the bus companies, will be appreciated by bus commuters as in the long run, it is more economical. Furthermore, the work-load of the bus conductors will be reduced, and their efficiency will be increased. This is the first advantage.”
“Mr Speaker. Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 0705 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 2017. I would like to take the opportunity under this amendment to suggest to the Minister concerned a change of uniform of the postmen. The present uniform was inherited from colonial times and is still in use today. The material is very thick and unsuitable for the tropical climate of Singapore. Sir, it is my view that the present uniform is obsolete and not in keeping with modern Singapore. Over the past few years, Sir, several Government departments have changed the uniforms of their staff. For example, the Police, Immigration, and Customs Departments have already adopted new and modern uniforms for their staff, but not the Postal Services Department. The postmen are still wearing the same old kind of uniform which has been in use for the past few decades. Therefore, I suggest that the Minister should give consideration to changing the uniform of our postal workers. If the new uniform is of better material, it will heighten their morale and efficiency. I wonder if the Minister will accept this proposal. Sir, I beg to move.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I said that we give the benefit of the doubt to those cases who can support their applications with birth certificates of their brothers and sisters who are citizens.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am concerned about those who were born in Singapore before and during the Japanese Occupation period and whose births were not reported and registered by their parents. They had no documentary evidence and were therefore not issued with the pink laminated identity cards during the last exercise in 1966 to replace the paper identity cards. Instead they were issued with blue identity cards and were, therefore, regarded as non-citizens. Consequently, they had to make applications for registration as Singapore citizens just as those who had migrated from other countries. Unfortunately, more often than not, their applications were not given any special consideration, even if they had the birth certificates of their brothers and sisters to support their cases. Most of these people are now married and have raised their children here. Yet they are still non-citizens. There are many such cases in my constituency. I believe there are quite a lot of similar cases in other constituencies. Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to appeal to the Minister for Labour to give these people the benefit of the doubt and approve their applications for citizenship.”
“Sir, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 0601 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1101*. (*The same amendment also stood in the names of Mr Low Guan Onn, Mr Conceicao and Mr Hwang Soo Jin.) My intention in moving this amendment is to make a little suggestion to the Minister for Labour to set up a Branch Factory Inspectorate in Jurong as the majority of our industries are located in Jurong Town. If this is done, it will facilitate the work of carrying out routine checks on factories. It will also be convenient to the factory owners who may wish to consult the Branch Factory Inspectorate from time to time on their factory problems.”
“Sir, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I am satisfied with the answer given, and I hope that in the near future he will have a Permanent Secretary to assist him. I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 0301 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1001. Mr Speaker, Sir, in moving this amendment, I am not criticising or speaking against the Minister. Far from doing so, I am in full sympathy with him for not having a Permanent Secretary to assist him in his duties. The Minister is performing the important task of promoting science and technology and tapping the resources of scientists and technologists to help our republic in its industrialisation and development programmes. He is now already in his fourth year of office as the Minister for Science and Technology, and yet today he is still without a Permanent Secretary. The need is even more obvious and great at this juncture, especially when he is also concurrently the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Singapore. It may be construed from this state of affairs that his Ministry is a baby uncared for, or that his Ministry is discriminated against. Obviously there must be some reasons. Members of this House will, therefore, be delighted to hear from the Minister whether he will have a Permanent Secretary in future. And if not, why? 3.30 p.m.”
“I am not moving, Sir. The sum of $3,141,430 for Head 0201 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. Head 0301 -”
“In view of the answer given by the Minister, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“The pollution caused by industrialisation is not only confined to air pollution caused by emission of smoke, etc. What about the pollution of water wastes and solid wastes? Do all these come under, the study of the Anti-Pollution Unit? Dr Goh Keng Swee: Indeed. The pollution of water wastes is a very serious subject, because we want to ensure the largest possible sources of good and clean water for our own domestic use.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 0201 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1041*. (*The same amendment also stood in the names of Mr S. Ramaswamy and Mr N. Govindasamy.) Sir, in moving my amendment, I would also like to range over subhead 3011 in amendment No. (4) + which is on the same topic. + Amendment No. (4) reads as follows: That the sum to be allocated for Head 0201 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 3011. Sir, the creation of an Anti-Pollution Unit is a timely and wise move. The fact that this unit is placed under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister reflects the importance of the pollution problem. This is especially so when Singapore is now undergoing a transformation through the process of industrialisation and urbanisation. Although the environmental problems in our island state have not yet reached a state of gravity, it is, of course, very logical for us to tackle the problems early if we are to avoid the environmental crises that other developed countries have to face. Sir, in this connection, Members of the House would like to know from the Prime Minister about all the necessary measures he will take to deal with the problem of pollution, and whether he will send abroad a senior official of the Anti-Pollution Unit to study the latest technique of dealing with this matter. Sir, I beg to move.”
“Sir, I have been asked by Mr Teong Eng Siong to raise Question No. 2. The Minister for Law and National Development (Mr E. W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, immediate steps will not be taken to repair Jalan Ulu Sembawang. The maintenance or making up of private roads is the responsibility of owners of the land fronting the roads. But the Urban and Rural Services Committee can help f the land-owner gives permission for the work and the constituency's Citizens' Consultative Committee recommends that the work be done and the cost paid from funds allocated to the constituency. Jalan Ulu Sembawang is a private road stretching from Sembawang Road to Mandai Road. A request has been received from the Sembawang Citizens' Consultative Committee to make up a portion of the road by gotong royong. Materials alone will cost about $64,000. The proposal will be tabled for consideration of the U.R.S.C, at its next meeting. Lorong Kasemek is also a private road and a similar request has been made by the Sembawang C.C.C, to make up this road. The U.R.S.C, cannot even consider the request until permission from the landowners has been obtained. The installation of street lights at Chong Sin Road from Huang Long Community Centre to Jalan Ulu Sembawang will commence in about a fortnight's time. TIONG BAHRU ROAD (Construction of new bus bay) The following Question stood in the name of Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon - 3. To ask the Minister for Law and National Development when work will commence on the construction of the proposed new bus bay at Tiong Bahru Road between Seng Poh Road and Jalan Membina. Mr Ho Kah Leong (Jurong) rose -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Parliamentary Secretary explain why licences are not issued to hawkers doing business at construction sites?”
“Pending the result of the police investigation, has the Minister taken sufficient precautionary measures to prevent incidents of this nature from recurring again?”
“(1) That the sum to be allocated for Head 94 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 201.”
“Sir, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendments stood in the names of Mr Ho Kah Leong and Mr Ng Kah Ting respectively - (8) That the sum to be allocated for Head 92 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 501. (9) That the total sum to be allocated for Head 92 be reduced by $100. The Chairman: Mr Ho, amendment (8).”
“Sir, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The time allotted for Head 21 having expired, the following amendments were not proceeded with:”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 21 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 004*. (* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting) Sir, I have some questions on the National Stadium Corporation for the Minister. What is the object in setting up this Corporation? How will the provision of $7.8 million be utilised? What is the National Stadium Corporation's relation to the National Sports Promotion Board which has yet to be established? Will the Kallang Park Sports Complex be managed by the corporation? Will the Corporation also manage other sports stadiums elsewhere in the Republic, such as the Jalan Besar and Farrer Park Stadiums? Finally, will the Corporation run and manage small gymnasiums in various parts of the city for the benefit of our workers?”
“Sir, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am sure the Minister is fully aware that a lot of businessmen store their goods in their own private houses in the residential areas and even in flats or apartments. Will the various authorities like the Chief Building Surveyor's Department, the Ministry of Health, the Fire Brigade and the Planning Department be lenient with them in view of the shortage?”
“May I, therefore, ask the Minister concerned what plans have been made to solve this shortage of warehouses in the near future, and what is the progress of sea reclamation along Pasir Panjang for the warehouse zone? 3.15 p.m.”