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".”
The complete record
Every one of 313 lines we hold for Ng Yeow Chong, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 7.
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in the wake of the British withdrawal from Singapore completely by the end of 1971, Singapore must forge ahead in economic development in all fields, particularly in industry, in order to meet the challenges in the crucial years ahead. Labour, therefore, becomes an important factor in economic activities. There is an urgent need to make modifications in our existing labour legislation so as to help accelerate the development of economic growth to ensure industrial peace and stability and to create more job opportunities for our unemployed citizens. Both employers and employees should not have any misconceptions in their minds that the enactment of the new labour law is designed to favour any party. Employers should bear in mind that under the provisions of the Employment Bill, they have more opportunities to expand their establishment with their accumulated profits. They should not take this as an opportunity to exploit or victimise their employees under any pretext. Though the employers have openly pledged their support and have promised to co-operate with the Government to achieve the ultimate aim of the Employment Bill, the Government must see to it that their word is honoured. Employees, on the other hand, must be aware that economic expansion will bring more revenue to the Government. This will help to provide adequate security which, in turn, will encourage more and more investment from local and foreign industries. If more industries are set up in our Republic, more and more job opportunities will be created for our unemployed citizens. Employees must also understand that the sacrifice of some fringe benefits on their part will be compensated with facilities to own homes, additional C.P.F.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not quite happy with the Parliamentary Secretary's answer. Does not the Government have a record of those who have not applied for new identity cards? Can the Parliamentary Secretary say why the Government cannot take some positive steps to send reminders to these persons?”
“Will the Parliamentary Secretary state whether the Government will consider making some arrangements to register aged or disabled persons at their homes, if such arrangements can be made?”
“Will the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Labour inform this House whether positive steps will be taken to remind old identity card holdrs who have not applied for the renewal of the new laminated cards?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I merely wish to bring up a small point. I am sure the Minister is well aware that there are tenants, or more precisely occupiers, who enjoy physical occupation of the controlled premises and pay their rent under the names of the previous tenants from whom they have taken over the tenancy right. There are, of course, cases of assignments or transfers effected without the knowledge and consent of the landlord. But there are also instances of occupiers who are relatives or surviving members of the deceased tenants. According to the provisions of clauses 10, 11 and 12 of the Bill, I presume - and I stand to be corrected, Sir - that such occupiers will be classified as trespassers and that they will be paid only ex-gratia payments. It would be gross injustice to treat these occupiers as trespassers simply because they do not have a tenancy agreement with the landlord in their own names. Sir, I would request the Minister to look into this problem and introduce some remedial provisions to protect the interest of these occupiers. Notwithstanding what I have said, I support this Bill. 5.24 p.m.”
“As regards private participation in urban renewal redevelopment, care must be taken to see that tenders are awarded only to bona fide developers with strong financial standing so that private re-development can be successfully carried out. An injunction case has recently been brought to light following a dispute among the directors of a development company over the payment of paid-up capital. This development company was awarded a tender to build a multi-million shopping centre-cum-flats complex. It is suggested that before any award of tender is made in future to redevelop any site of State land by private developers, there should be close scrutiny of the development company's financial position to guarantee the smooth execution of the redevelopment plan. Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to express, once again, my full support for the motion of thanks to the President. 3.18 p.m.”
“Students must look for their career in the technical sphere where job opportunities are many and future prospects are brighter than in the commercial sphere. Whilst the training of skills is being carried out in technical and vocational schools or vocational institutes, students should have opportunities to learn practical work in factories, in the Jurong industrial complex or other industrial estates during their vocations. This will enable them to get familiar with the actual method of production or application of their skills in order to prepare themselves for their roles as artisans or technicians when they leave school. As regards defence matters, everyone is fully aware of the need to have our own defence measures for a small nation like Singapore so as to ensure our security and progress. The people of Singapore from various walks of life, whether they are hawkers, taxi-drivers, school teachers, pupils, clerks or businessmen, have shown their patriotism by making contributions to the National Defence Fund. The spontaneous effort of our people should be highly praised. As a measure to drive home to the people that defence needs recurrent expenditure there should be something of a permanent nature whereby our people can contribute to the defence of our country. In my opinion, the best way is to issue Defence Bonds to raise loans from our citizens, which can be redeemed within five to fifteen years with attractive rates of interest. I hope the Government will consider adopting this proposal as a long-term measure. This is also in line with the counter-recession measures as expressed by the Hon. Minister for Finance in his plan to obtain extra funds by loans from private sources to meet the additional defence expenditure.”
“In the case of the latter, other tenants in the same estate who wish to avail themselves of the scheme, should be given priority over tenants of other housing estates. Mr Speaker, Sir, those requests have been brought to me by my constituents, and I am bringing them up for the attention of the proper authorities. I sincerely hope that these problems will be properly solved so that the home ownership scheme will be carried out effectively. Again, in this respect, Members of Parliament in the constituencies concerned should be consulted and informed before circulars are sent to the sitting tenants. Further, I am informed that the Housing Board is conducting a survey of the feasibility of offering for sale one-room flats with better accommodation. I do not agree with the sale of one-room flats as it is not practical and there will be poor response. These one-room flats will be rendered unsuitable even before the monthly instalments are completed, as the family will have increased by then. Therefore, any attempt to sell one-room flats should not be carried out. It is now opportune for the Government to revise the educational system particularly at the secondary level. The stress is now on technical and vocational training. We are making good progress on the path to industrialisation. There is a pressing need for artisans and technicians to cope with the expansion of our industries. If Singapore is expected to thrive as an industrialised society, both parents and students must now adopt a change in their attitudes towards education. The traditional bias against work in factories as craftsmen or technicians must be removed.”
“can be used to pay for the purchase of flats, consideration should also be given to approve the use of these balances for payments of life insurance policies, or even more sensibly, for payments of educational policies for children to pursue higher studies, if the wage-earners already own their own homes. I hope this can be worked out at a later stage. Sir, with regard to Housing Board flats offered for sale under the home ownership scheme, I have some observations to make because this scheme concerns those of my constituents living predominantly in Housing Board Estates, particularly the old Kallang Airport Estate. As I understand it, offers of sale of flats are now being extended to sitting tenants of 2, 3 or 4-room flats in the existing estates. It can be anticipated that some of the sitting tenants may not be in a financial position to purchase their flats. On the other hand, there may be other tenants in the same estate who may wish to buy the flats offered for sale. Mr Speaker, Sir, these are administrative details and trivial matters, but ineffective handling may lead to some discontentment if solutions are not thought out. In the former case, alternative accommodation must be offered to sitting tenants who are unwilling to buy for financial reasons, preferably in the same estate. Transfer out of the estate may cause a disruption to their family life and create schooling problems for their children. These transfers can be carried out smoothly and effectively if casual vacancies of flats which are not earmarked for sale and are at present reserved for dispossessed families from clearance sites, be released to rehouse the affected sitting tenants instead.”
“The abusive practice of earning more overtime than normal wages should cease forthwith. It deprives our unemployed of job opportunities. If working hours are to be prolonged to achieve higher productivity, more employees must be recruited for shift work rather than that the same employees do overtime work. The Government is wise to introduce this new measure to curtail overtime work, and if this new legislation is passed, it will help considerably to reduce the number of unemployed. If Singapore is to survive and progress as an industrialised nation, there must be joint endeavour amongst labour, management and the Government. We must look to Japan and its people as our example. The Japanese have been able to reconstruct their nation from the war ruins within the last two decades. We should emulate them. Mr Speaker, Sir, the majority of wage-earners or salaried people will certainly welcome the scheme now being worked out between the Labour Ministry and the Housing and Development Board to enable the balances in the present Central Provident Fund to be set off against the initial payment for Housing Board flats and the additional C.P.F, contributions can be used to pay off monthly instalments of both Housing Board and privately built homes. To support this scheme, the rates of assessment may be lowered to attract more workers to buy their own houses. If the home ownership scheme is a success, then we are not far behind some advanced socialist countries where almost 90 per cent of the population own their own homes. I therefore wish to add that if the balances of the present C.P.F.”
“I can assure them, Sir, that our Government will see to it that the workers will be treated fairly and justly under this new Employment Bill. They should not have any fear of exploitation by their employers. I take pride in saying that our Government has foresight and plans well for our future. With the accelerated withdrawal of the British forces by the end of 1971, more and more people will face unemployment. Hence, we must all work hard for our country. An extra few working hours a week to an individual worker is only a small personal sacrifice, but to a nation as a whole it will be of tremendous benefit. I wish to reiterate that in order to have a prosperous and brighter future for our younger generation, the personal sacrifice of every citizen for the good of the nation is inevitable. Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to appeal to the employers to co-operate with and render full support to our Government with a view to fulfilling the ultimate aim of the Employment Bill. They should not treat this as an opportunity to victimise their employees and cause them undue hardship and frustration. They must also play their role by assuring that their employees will receive fair treatment and protection. All workers in the private and public sectors should be made to realise that they have to give of their best by working hard. They should be aware that all their effort is for a national purpose. In Japan, the output of an average worker is one and a half times his wages. This is not only because of his skill but also his awareness of a national purpose. Here in Singapore, we are only expected to put in a day's work for a day's wages. Surely this is not too much to expect of our citizens. As regards overtime work, this should be so regulated as to give a wider spread of employment.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, many sentiments have been expressed in this House by hon. Members during the last two days of the present sittings on the motion of the Prime Minister to thank the President for his Opening Speech on the evening of the 6th of May. I share most of these sentiments, and I ask for your indulgence if I may be repetitious in some of my remarks. The President has briefly set out in his speech three main objectives which the Government will seek to achieve in its new term of office. With high resolve and determination on the part of the Government and concerted effort and support from the people of Singapore, there is no doubt that we will successfully achieve these objectives. The great inspiration that the President gave us in his brief speech will serve to spur us on to overcome what difficulties we have to encounter in the crucial years ahead. A close perusal of the Addendum to the President's Speech outlining the broad policies of the various Ministries and the policy speeches made earlier by the Ministers in the series of broadcasts under the title, "Crucial Years Ahead", have convinced us of the magnitude of our future problems. I welcome the move to introduce a comprehensive Employment Bill which is to standardise and regulate the conditions of employment for all categories of employees to replace the outdated Labour Ordinance, the Shop Assistants Employment Ordinance and the Clerks Employment Ordinance. At present, employees in industrial firms and shops have to work a 44-hour week, whilst others in commercial firms work a 39-hour week or even less in the case of firms which operate on a 5-day week. Most workers will be very unhappy indeed to see this Bill passed in this House.”
“Lastly, I wish to urge the Minister for Finance to refer this Bill to a Select Committee for views from all sections of the public. I see no urgent need to rush through this Bill today. 5.55 p.m.”
“Unlike service, the payment of interest varies according to the sums deposited. For example, if $10 million has been utilised and if it has resulted in profits of, say, $1 million, then the management of the finance company will be able to pass on part of the profits to the depositors according to the amounts they have deposited. Surely any finance company which can afford to pay such bonuses should deserve the support of the public. Fourthly, the finance companies in our Republic do play an important role in our economy. This being the case, the Government should encourage the existence of such companies rather than push them over the cliff, so to say, because of the extremely restrictive measures in this Bill. To me, some of the measures are even stricter than those in the Banking Ordinance. My fifth point is that at the present moment the finance companies are carrying on a very wide range of business ii our trading society. If too many restrictions are to be imposed, the end result will be that a few finance companies will exist and this will, in turn, contradict the policy of our Government to encourage industrial growth, as a lot of small traders and small factories are depending on loans from finance companies to carry out their expansion programmes. Sir, I now come to my sixth point. As the present position stands, finance companies have actually participated in the development carried out by the private sector, i.e., housing development for the higher income group, for which there is at the moment no government participation. In this particular field, a lot of private funds are involved and the depositors will then in turn enjoy the benefit.”
“Sir, I do not in any way oppose the introduction of the Finance Companies Bill which is now tabled in this House for Second Reading. However, I wish to offer my brief observations. First, I do agree that there is a need for the passing of laws to control finance companies in the best interest of the public at large. The main purpose of this Bill is to safeguard the interest of would-be depositors who are mostly the working-class in our Republic. This is a correct move and in line with the policy of our Government. Secondly, the provisions in this Bill are far too rigid. They are designed not only to control and restrict the establishment of finance companies, but also to regulate the scope of their business. Thirdly, I would like to offer some suggestions. The control must be gradual and not too rigid. Sir, the provisions contained in clauses 17 to 22 are far too stiff and restrictive. The result will be that the small trading houses will have to close down and the interest of the public may be jeopardised and unemployment will also result. The control and licensing of finance companies would create an impression that finance companies in general have been fiddling with public money. I agree that there may be a few dishonest and unscrupulous ones, and so there goes the saying - a rotten egg in a basket of good eggs has made the entire basketful rotten. According to this Bill, the Commissioner seems to have wide powers. The prescribing of the maximum rates of interest - and they are going to be ceiling rates - should be treated as a guide rather than an order, as some companies may not be able to pay such rates. As a matter of fact, it is purely in the public interest to have an equitable distribution of profits.”
“(7) That the sum to be allocated for Head 63 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 205.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, at least I have a supporter in this House in my appeal to the Government to explore markets for our orchids. In fact, I stressed this in my debate on the Budget statement on 14th December, 1967. Orchid growing at the present moment is confined to a few private growers who from time to time make use of the Botanic Gardens. That is why I suggested to the Ministry of Social Affairs yesterday that the re search work, the breeding and growing of orchids, should be transferred to the Primary Production Department. If I remember correctly, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Affairs said yesterday that if the research work was transferred to the Primary Production Department, there would be a duplication of work. In this case, I am inclined to agree with him because there is already a token vote provided in the Development Estimates under Primary Production. Here again in the Main Estimates we find some provision put down also for research work. All I want to know from the Minister is whether he will agree that this is really a duplication of work and, if so, will he consider which department is the proper department to do this kind of work? Another point I wish to stress is this. Orchid growing should be widely cornmercialised so that our farmers can benefit. Our national wealth should be widely distribu'ted instead of its being confined to a few nursery growers.”
“I am not moving. The following amendment stood in the name of Madam Chan Choy Siong - That the total sum to be allocated for Head 62 be reduced by $100. Madam Chan Choy Siong: I am not moving. The sum of $42,840,020 for Head 62 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 63 -”
“I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the names of Madam Chan Choy Siong and Mr Ng Yeow Chong - That the sum to be allocated for Head 62 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 601. Madam Chan Choy Siong: I am not moving.”
“There was a particular instance in which a resettled person was advised to change his trade. It is all stated in the letter. The resettle'ment officer went to the extent of say.ing that the change of trade was well received, particularly by the charcoal dealers themselves. I wonder how he could have formed such an opinion!”
“The Singapore Charcoal Dealers' Association contend that charcoal dealers should be allowed to carry on with their business in the Board's shop-houses until such time as they are able to adapt themselves to other trades, otherwise if they cannot find suitable alternative accommodation, they will have to close down their business. Of course, this is a very obnoxious trade and so are the workshops and machine-shops. Sir, I hope the Minister will be kind enough to urge the Housing and Development Board to look for a solution to this problem. Madam Chan Choy Siong(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to touch on the expenditure for resettlement. I hope the sum allotted will be used properly so that adequate cornpensation can be paid in resettlement cases. Sometimes the land in question belongs to the Housing Board and not to private owners or the Land Office. The question arises whether compensation will be paid to families affected by resettlement. With regard to the vote for resettlement, what areas does the Minister have in mind? Will it be used for areas like North Bridge Road or South Bridge Road in the urban areas or for other areas? These two areas are marked as Urban North and Urban South. Can the Minister enlighten me on whether the compensation is in respect of private investment or public housing? The Member for Mountbatten has touched on the question of small merchants and businessmen. Yesterday, the Minister said that he would not like to make recommendations to the Minister for Finance regarding compensation to these small traders. I feel that the resettled small traders should be well looked after so that they will not be unemployed.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 62 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 501+. + The same amendment also stood in the name of Madam Chan Choy Siong. Sir, I wish to seek clarification from the Hon. Minister on the policy of rehousing displaced trades such as workshops, tinsmiths and charcoal shops. As the present position stands, these obnoxious trades are not offered alternative accommodation in the Housing and Development Board's housing estates. For instance, 17 workshops affected by the "Golden Mile" Scheme were not offered Board's accommodation. The charcoal shops from the urban renewal areas were also told to change their trade because it was not possible to relocate them to Housing Board shop-houses in view of the nature of their trade. 6.00 p.m. The resettlement officers maintain that it is very difficult for this type of trade to survive in Housing and Development Board housing estates because the Board's flats are supplied with essential utilities. Here, Sir, I have a representation from the Singapore Charcoal Dealers' Association which is in my constituency. The charcoal dealers have been in this trade for more than 20 years, dating as far back as pre-war days. About 20.000 persons are directly or indirectly dependent on the trade for their livelihood. It is easy for our Government officials to suggest to them that they should change their trade,, but they do not realise the difficulties that will confront these charcoal dealers.”
“I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. A mendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 62 be reduced by $10 in respect of item (002) of subhead 301. Sir, under this vote there is a sum of $240,000 provided for land acquisition and ex gratia payments in connection with the East Coast foreshore reclamation scheme. May I seek information from the Hon. Minister for Law and National Development as to whether T.O.L. holders will be compensated for making improvements to the foreshore such as a jetty, a pier or a swimming pool? The T.O.L. holders are not only deprived of access to the sea but they have also to face the loss of their foreshore improvements which they built at some cost.”
“I am coming to the end now. It is, therefore, my fervent hope that the Minister will urge the Tourist Promotion Board to make full use of the vote of $100,000 provided for this purpose.”
“Sir, I believe the Member for Choa Chu Kang is referring to the beach-cleaning campaign last Sunday when about 100 or more civic-minded citizens of Singapore went to the beaches to carry out the campaign. Among them was a V.I.P. from this House, none other than the Member for Changi. The newspapers of all languages had given this campaign a lot of publicity. A tribute must be paid to all those who participated in the beach-cleaning campaign. Sir, I understand this is not the first time but rather the third time that a campaign of this sort was carried out. Sir, you will recall that when this House discussed the Development Estimates for 1967 on 20th December last year in Committee of Supply, I requested the Government to build beach resorts and recreational amenities near the seaside not only for the citizens of Singapore but also to attract tourists. This aspect of work has now been transferred to the Tourist Promotion Board this year. The Minister for Social Affairs said in this House - I quote from Hansard, col. 1015, No. 13 of Volume 25, dated 20-12-66: 'Sir, the need for better recreational facilities on our beaches is becoming urgent, and it is proposed to make a start at the Changi Beach which has proved extremely popular with the local population.' And he went on to say: 'If this pilot project [the pilot project means improvement to the beaches at Changi proves a success, plans will be made for further similar projects both at Changi Beach and other beaches on the Island.' Mr Speaker, Sir, a full year has elapsed and no beach resorts have been built as planned. Now that the improvement to beaches and their maintenance are placed in the charge of the Tourist Promotion Board, I expect the work wilt be speeded up. 5.45 p.m.”
“I am certainly glad if I can have the information. In that case, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $1,806,520 for Head 58 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 60 -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 58 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 301. Sir, I only want some information regarding wages. Is there a scheme of wages whereby the prisoners are paid for their work and their families are given part of their earnings for household expenses whilst the remaining wages are kept as savings until their release?”
“Not at all. I have something else in mind. In every country there is a national park and they feel proud of it. If you travel to other countries the national park is one of the many spots you will visit. Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Affairs enlighten this House on whether there is a plan to build a national park or to enlarge the Botanic Gardens into a national park?”
“I will come now to my complaint. Even our rural dwellers are provided with these essential services. So you will agree that the task undertaken by the P.U.B. in improving these essential services to cope up with urban redevelopment is indeed a gigantic one. However, there is a little complaint I wish to make. This concerns the billing of service charges to the consumers. The consumers, particularly flat dwellers in Housing Board estates, are very dissatisfied with the manner in which their con solidated accounts are rendered. In some instances, they are overcharged for the services supplied. I have a few complaints of this nature. When complaints are taken up with the appropriate department, they are rectified and the consumers are credited with the overcharge. In other instances, the consumers are usually debited with excessive amounts, many times their normal charges. When queries are made, they are often told that they were undercharged in the previous bills, and the surcharge covers a period of 10 to 12 months. When I examined all their old bills, I discovered that estimated charges were entered in all these old bills. Sir, I really do not understand why meter readings are not taken every month, so that the consumers are fairly charged for the actual consumption. 4.15 p.m. Is it due to a shortage of meter readers and, if so, why has action not been taken to recruit more people to do the job of meter reading? Sir, this is now being drawn to the attention of the authorities concerned. I earnestly hope the Minister will urge the Public Utilities Board to improve the situation so that this undesirable state of affairs will be eradicated. Surely this is not the kind of efficiency that the people of Singapore can expect.”
“Sir, I beg your indulgence to mention a little complaint, since the Deputy Prime Minister is here, and I will be very glad if he can help me out. This is an ordinary complaint by the man in the street. Mr Speaker, Sir, the loan of $20 million to the Public Utilities Board is, as I understand it, to finance public utility projects so that the people of Singapore can enjoy the services of water, gas and electricity. The services provided by the P.U.B. are of a very high standard as compared with those of any other city in South-east Asia. In our highly urbanised society, practically every household is provided with water, electricity or gas, and even waterborne sewage.”
“Yes, Sir. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $1,215,810 for Head 31 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 32 -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am greatly disappointed with the answer given by the Hon. Minister. The point is this: here, on the one hand, we are trying to clear slums and move the people into new Housing Board flats; yet, on the other hand, when they get into the flats, they have no way of earning a livelihood but to resort to hawking. The problem is this: we are now creating a modern slum. So unless the problem is resolved expeditiously, I think this undesirable state of affairs will continue to exist. We are trying our best to build a modern metropolitan city, and yet we have failed in this hawker problem.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 31 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 901. Mr Speaker, Sir, I note that there is a vote of $76,500 provided in 1968 for the building of markets. What I want to know is where they will be built and whether a market will be built in Tanjong Rhu Housing Estate to resite the unlicensed hawkers now congregating in the car park at Kampong Arang Road. Sir, the subject of markets in Tanjong Rhu Housing Estate was, in fact, raised by me in a Question for Oral Answer in this House on 5th December, 1966. In reply, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health said - I will quote from Hansard, Vol. 25, No. 7, : 'I am very happy indeed to inform the Member for Mountbatten that the problem of resiting the unlicensed hawkers now operating in the car park near Kampong Arang Road has been fully considered by the Housing and Development Board and that a twostorey hawker centre will be built as soon as possible to accommodate them at Lots 202-4, Mukim 25, off Mountbatten Road, as the operating site for the hawkers. By then, all the hawkers will be sited in this area.' Sir, since then, a full calendar year has elapsed, and the plan has not been carried out. Although the site has been cleared, I shall be grateful if the Minister will enlighten me on whether such a market or hawkers' centre will be built in the near future.”
“Sir, I would like to take this opportunity to ask the Minister of Defence whether he is aware that a site at the corner of Old Airport Road and Jalan Satu in Old Kallang Airport Estate was earmarked for a community centre in 1965. When will the People's Association carry out the plan? At present, my constituency has a community centre which was converted from the previous Katong Boys' Club. It is located in a remote corner of the constituency and is serving people predominantly from the Geylang area. My constituents in the housing estate at Old Airport Road are unable to make full use of this community centre because it is not conveniently located. This being the case, Sir, I am very anxious to hear from the Minister whether he will approve the building of a community centre at Old Airport Road on the site already earmarked in order to serve the people at Old Kallang Airport Estate. Mr Ng Kah Ting (Punggol): Sir since amendments Nos. (3)*, (5)+ and (6)++ stand in my name, I would like, with your permission, to the talk on People's Association and thereby not move those amendments. * Amendment No. (3) reads as follows: That the sum to be allocated for Head 11 be reduced by the whole sum in respect of subhead 101. + Amendment No. (5) reads as follows: That the sum to be allocated for Head 11 be reduced by the whole sum in respect of subhead 201. ++ Amendment No. (6) reads as follows: That the sum to be allocated for Head 11 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 402.”
“I withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $1,130,190 for Head 1111 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.”
“Point of clarification, Sir,I am not talking about those outstanding cases. I am talking about those who found their own alternative accommodation elsewhere, and they had difficulty in getting their applications approved for a change in the use of the land to build a warehouse.”
“And if they were to do it without the necessary permit, Sir - it is a well-known fact that the reconstruction will be un authorised - the Chief Building Surveyor's Department would step in and issue the necessary notice, and subsequently a summons, stating that such unauthorised structures should be demolished within a certain time. Sir, I now come to the other point where the landowner's permission is required. A number of landowners have been reluctant to agree to reconstruction, and especially extensions, with the result that the rural folk have nowhere to appeal for a reconsideration of their cases. They would find extreme difficulty in getting a permit to reconstruct their houses. Sir, I would ask the Minister for Law and National Development to look into this matter. Indeed it is no use to pretend that there has been no delay. I have raised this matter with the department concerned on quite a number of occasions, and I mention it again in this House; sometimes I get a very blunt reply, if not none at all. And this centres on the difficulties faced by an applicant - his house is in a state of near collapse and he is unable to obtain the necessary permit to reconstruct it. And he cannot reconstruct it without proper permission. And whoever contravenes the Local Government Integration Ordinance, 1963 - I believe it is section 52 - will be charged in court for putting up an unauthorised structure. I sincerely hope the Minister will look into this matter with a view to solving the difficulties encountered by those who apply for such permits.”
“But before that, he must obtain a temporary permit for which he has to pay $12, and which has to be renewed every year. In addition to paying for a temporary permit for a dwelling house, the property tax has also to be considered. I am not talking about property tax now. I am dwelling on the fee for temporary permits, which I hope will be reduced. The second point pertains to the application for the necessary permit to reconstruct an existing building, i.e., a numbered building. I am afraid I have to spend a little time on details, and I hope the House will bear with me.. First of all, the applicant fills in a prescribed form issued by the Chief Building Surveyor's Department. In addition to it, he has to purchase from the Planning Department some site plans. On top of that, he has to make out a couple of layouts of the building plan, not forgetting that he has to obtain the landowner's permission if he wishes to extend his house. And if the landowner refuses to sign, the applicant will not be able to make the necessary application. I will deal with this a little later, Sir, but first the application for reconstruction. It has been brought to my notice that there has been much delay in the processing of these applications. A number of applicants have seen me on this and have appealed for a more simplified method whereby the rural folk will not be too much inconvenienced in having to wait for three or six months before they get the necessary permission to reconstruct their houses.”
“On the contrary, they should be allowed to carry on in order to adapt themselves to the changing circumstances and should be given technical or financial assistance to expand their businesses. Mr Ng Kah Ting (Punggol): Mr Speaker, Sir, amendment (2)* stands in my name. It is actually the same as amendment (1) except for the sum to be reduced. * Amendment No. (2) reads as follows: That the sum to be allocated for Head 1111 be reduced by the whole sum in respect of subhead 1001. Sir, I would like to dwell on amendment (I) which was moved by the Member for Mountbatten. Sir, this concerns the Building Survey Division which is headed by the Chief Building Surveyor. I wish to bring the following matters to the attention of the Minister for Law and National Development. One is with regard to the issue of temporary permits by the Department concerned at a fee of $12 per year. Originally, this fee was $2 in respect of any temporary structure put up, but it appears to me that from 1966 onwards it has been increased to $12 - a very, very high increase. Sir, what I wish to point out is this. A temporary permit is issued for the erection of a dwelling-house of a temporary nature, a pigsty and a bangsal. But what I am more concerned with is the increase of fees from $2 to $12 especially with regard to pigsties. 7.00 p.m. If you build two pigsties, you pay $24. If you build three, you pay $36. I hope the Minister will consider that. But, Sir, along that line, as I pointed out when I was debating on the Property Tax Division yesterday. I said that to obtain a house number, much time is taken up and the applicant has to wait for months before he ultimately gets a house number.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 1111 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1001. Mr Speaker, Sir, I am concerned about small industries, workshops and warehouses which have been displaced as a result of the "Golden Mile" Project. A lot of these trades have found their own accommodation either because they refused to be re-located to the rural areas or no suitable alternative acconhmodation could be offered by the Housing and Development Board. Under these circumstances, they had no alternative but to carry on their businesses in whatever accommodation they could obtain. A problem now arises from their applications to the C.B.S.'s Department for a change of use of their present premises to suit their trades or to build warehouses for their stock-in-trade. More often than not, their applications are usually not favourably considered. What is worse is that subsequently they are served with notices of demolition of the present structures into which they have moved and are carrying on their businesses. Sir, I would like to ask the Minister to relax certain regulations governing the change of use of premises or building by-laws if the applicants are displaced as a result of urban renewal with a view to allowing them to carry on their trades for a temporary period. Mr Speaker, Sir, I do agree that there must be a certain amount of control over the use of land or its development to comply with the Master Plan, but special consideration surely can be given to these displaced industries. Surely, it is not the intention of the Government to see a complete stoppage of operations of the existing small trades or industries.”
“Sir, I have a complaint about the abattoir, a complaint similar to that of the Member for Aljunied. I am told that the modern abattoir at Jurong is not designed for locally-reared pigs, and that Ihere are some defects somewhere in the system itself. I am not well versed in machinery and therefore cannot describe the defects. The device - I use the word "device" - in the abattoir is not big enough for our pigs to go in. It is too small for our local pigs to he slaughtered. 6.30 p.m. I understand that the abattoir has been installed on a Danish design. Whether it is right or wrong, I stand to be corrected. Nevertheless, I wish to know from the Minister what action he proposes to take to rectify the defects in the abattoir. Otherwise the capital expenditure on this abattoir is a wastage.”
“In view of the answer given by the Parliamentary Secretary, I want to withdraw. Amendement, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not quite satisfied with the answer given by Parliamentary Secretary. First of all, he has not answered my first point. That is, whether we can get a man of suitable calibre to take over from the Director since his services are about to expire in 1969. The second point is, for the moment, I am not saying that the herbarium should be separated from the Botanic Gardens. I say that the herbarium itself inside the Botanic Gardens should be placed at the disposal of the university which has a Department of Botany so that students can study it. At the present moment, very few people are making use of this herbarium, let alone those people going down to the park to enjoy the quiet atmosphere. Those are park goers. I also go to the park and enjoy looking at the life plant, as the Parliamentary Secretary has said. But, on the other hand, who is interested in the herbarium? How many people are making use of it? The point is this. I am only suggesting that this herbarium should be placed at the disposal of the university so that students will benefit from the research. That is all I want to clarify.”
“I wish to take this opportunity to state that the activities are directed towards meeting the demands of the public in the following service: (1) by a botanical service, educational or research; (2) by a horticultural service, educational or research; (3) by a skilled supply of advisory service; and (4) by the provision of recreational grounds of a higher status than that of an ordinary park in the city. Should the Botanic Gardens be split, the herbarium to one of the universities, and horticultural research to the Primary Production Department, or the functions materially change, then these four avenues of service which the public at present enjoy would cease to exist.”
“In this connection, the function of the Primary Production Department is to assist the farmers by the provision of materials for planting on a large scale, not on a small scale, and with an advisory service. This is applied technology and not basic research, and it is a cashing in on the pioneering done by the Botanic Gardens. This is a perfectly correct process. And there is no overlap by these two departments in their essential activities. In this connection, the Botanic Gardens undertakes identification, description of new species and new hybrids in accordance with the requirements of the international code of nomenclature and the registration of new hybrid names with the international registration authority. This is both an essential part of the Botanic Gardens research procedure and public service. Since it is freely available to and constantly used by the public and orchid nurseries, the Primary Production Department employs no botanist or horticulturist and it has neither expertise nor experience to do these things. Since there is no overlap of functions and there would be a definite loss of research efficiency and the loss of public amenities by transferring the Botanic Gardens orchid research to the Primary Production Department, there is no intention to alter the present existing arrangement. The second and third points raised by the hon. Member seem to me to iniply a lack of understanding of the importance of the Singapore Botanic Gardens.”
“Secondly, the Botanic Gardens, being a Government depart nient, directly serves the public. Both universities are exclusive bodies with responsibility principally towards themselves and the students. The public demand for the Botanic Gardens service increases yearly, and with the regular rise in the standard of living this trend will continue. A denial of this service by putting the facilities out of public control would be indefensible. It is Government's policy to see that this service is maintained by retaining the facilities in a Government department. On the third point of the motion, it must be pointed out that all the basic research into orchid cultivation in Singapore was done by the Botanic Gardens. The first species collection was begun a century ago and hybridising and laboratory culture have been carried on since 1928. It is this work which has been the sole foundation for the present day thriving of the orchid nursery industry. Essentially in this aspect of their work the Botanic Gardens are engaged on (1) the establishment and expansion of the living collection of orchid species, since it is only the natural species that the first hybridising can be done; (2) the introduction of exotic species, one reason for which the Botanic Gardens' worldwide connections were developed; (3) acclimatisation; (4) methods of cultivation; (5) hybridisation; and (6) selection. All these stages must be gone through before desirable and commercially exploitable strains can be produced. This is basic research work which has a clearly economic end and it is being carried out with increasing tempo and success by the Botanic Gardens.”
“As a result of the overseas training he has arranged for the senior staff, there is a highly qualified succession available on his retirement. The professional contact of the Botanic Gardens has been expanded not only within the Republic but also with botanical institutions in almost every country of the world. This is an aspect of the Republic's international collaboration and is contributory to our prestige and international image. On the second point of the motion, I have to state that the Singapore herbarium holds the second largest collection of plant specimens in the tropics. It is unique as a store-house of knowledge of the plant resources of South-east Asia. It provides an advisory and educational service on plants and plant products. This service is made use of by innumerable local residents such as school children and school teachers, university undergraduates, post-graduates and lecturers, doctors, the police, businessmen and hundreds of members of the general public, with an interest in plants. The many overseas students who come to the Singapore herbarium do so because it has unrivalled facilities for study but they only come under Singapore Government sponsorship. This is an aspect of our Republic's contribution to regional mutual aid and developnient under the Colombo Plan and other international agreements. The acceptance of foreign students has never been to the exclusion of any local students. The transfer of the herbarium to one of the universities in Singapore is impracticable on two grounds. Firstly, the living collection in the gardens and the dry collectons in the herbarium are ipter-related and should not be separated, if they were separated, both would lose their value.”
“In my opinion, this type of research work should be handed over to the Primary Production Department which has scientists and research stations in Sem bawang and also has the facilities to train extension officers to teach the local farmers to grow orchids on a commercial basis. 4.45 p.m. If orchid growing could be commercialised, it would increase our export trade. To illustrate my point, if rubber or Hevea Braziliensis is still today confined to the Botanic Gardens, there would be no rubber industry today. Similarly, orchid growing and breeding should be widely commercialised. I sincerely hope, Sir, that our Minister will consider these matters. Mr Chan Chee Seng: Mr Speaker, Sir, in reply to the hon. Member for Mountbatten, 1 have to advise that the Director of the Botanic Gardens is an expatriate officer on the permanent establishment. Under the terms of Retirement from the Public Service Compensation Ordinance, 1956, he was offered a full career prospect till normal retirement. He will reach the age of 55 years in December 1969. I wish to add that the Director is a biologist of international recognition. He is a member of several international scientific societies. He is wholly dedicated to the maintenance of the highest standard of research and the advancement of the international reputation of our Botanic Gardens and the position of public esteem and utility of our Republic. He has not taken any Malayanisation compensation that was optionally available to him under the Retirement from the Public Service Compensation Ordinance, unlike so many others who have done. He has steered the Botanic Gardens through a very difficult time of staff transition from expatriate to local officers in senior posts.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 1006 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1001. Sir, I wish to bring up three points. Firstly, I understand that the Director of the Botanic Gardens is an expatriate officer. Can the Minister inform this House whether there is a contract of service for the post of the Director of the Botanic Gardens? And, if so, when is the contract due to expire? Moreover, can the Minister also enlighten us whether any of our local men of this calibre can be found to substitute the expatriate officer when his contract of service expires? Secondly, I wish to touch on the useful purposes of the Botanic Gardens. As far as I know, the Botanic Gardens is being used as a recreational ground with its aesthetic virtues of beauty and peace, and it also keeps a herbarium of a good collection of specimen plants with facilities available to students from other countries to study and to do research work. What I wish to know from the Minister is that, in terms of public expenditure, what benefit can Singapore derive from the results of the research? Assuming that the knowledge of the research is useful, cannot this work be undertaken by the University of Singapore and Nanyang University where there are Botany Departments doing similar research? is it, therefore, not possible for the Botanic Gardens to be placed under our own institutions of higher studies so that the knowledge from research studies of flora can be best disseminated to students of botany? Thirdly, there is now a dollar-earning industry in orchids which can bring extra income. The cultivation and research work in orchids are also being undertaken by the Botanic Gardens.”