Ong Chit Chung
Singapore
“Sir, the SAF may buy the best aircraft, best tanks and the best ships, but the real core of the SAF remains its officers and men. Without the commitment of the officers and men, the SAF would be nothing. Besides the full-time and Operationally-ready Servicemen, the SAF has to attract and retain good career officers and men.”
“Sir, I know that in geopolitical terms, it is better to keep Myanmar within ASEAN than to leave it out. It may help to prevent Myanmar from being too drawn into or be dependent on China, but there is a limit to the price for keeping Myanmar within the ASEAN fold.”
“Have we rushed into such a proposal without taking into full consideration the internal dynamics of Indonesia? What are the prospects of such an agreement to be accepted? How would the anti-competition charges against Temasek Holdings affect bilateral relations and the future flow of investments into Indonesia?”
“Sir, I wish to seek some clarifications from the Minister on Myanmar. Many of us feel that ASEAN has no teeth, but the Minister clearly thinks that ASEAN has a tongue. I would rather describe it as a tongue-in-cheek way of explaining how ASEAN deals with Myanmar.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State whether the Extradition Treaty will undermine or, to use his own word, compromise Singapore's position as an international financial centre, and whether Indonesians will hesitate to invest, put their money or buy property in Singapore because of this.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, I will leave the Minister to describe the elephant, but I would say that the SAF has embarked on what some call a "Revolution in military affairs", employing IT and state-of-the-art technology to transform the SAF into a 3G fighting force: I believe, a decisive force, an effective deterrence against any would-be aggresso…”
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“And they get a lot of operational experience both by rubbing shoulders with their counterparts of other countries as well as in operating in various types of climates and terrains, and this prepares them for a wide variety of contingencies. Singaporeans have in recent years seen how the SAF successfully executed a number of missions when called upon to do so at short notice. This was possible only because of our operational readiness. The more recent missions which the SAF executed with distinction, and which all Singaporeans are familiar with, include the evacuation of Singaporeans from Phnom Penh and the recovery operations following the SilkAir crash in Palembang, and our participation in UN missions, INTERFET and UNTAET in East Timor. The SAF is geared to fight any external aggressor who may threaten Singapore's security and territorial integrity. But there are other sorts of security challenges that Singapore may have to deal with, apart from these - what Dr Ong has mentioned, chemical, biological, electronic warfare, and so on, which our defence research institutes, together with the SAF, conduct research and equipping on contingency basis for our soldiers, so that we are prepared and we know what to do should such a threat arise. But we are also preparing the SAF to deal with other forms of low intensity threats which DPM Tan referred to earlier. But such threats cannot be dealt with by the Ministry alone. An effective response requires coordinated efforts of all the relevant Government agencies, and the SAF will continue to work closely with these agencies to expand our spectrum of capabilities to deal with these security challenges.”
“I wish to ask the Minister if MINDEF and SAF have developed new capabilities to deal with such threats, and whether the SAF is ready operationally on D-day, whenever it happens, or when the chips are down. RAdm Teo Chee Hean: Sir, the SAF we have today is the outcome of years of investment in people and equipment. The SAF is a modern and well-integrated fighting force with sound doctrines. It puts much effort and resources into training and it is operationally ready to deal with any contingency that involves our national security. While we may be a conscript armed forces, the Singaporeans who serve national service know that they are as important a part of the SAF's capabilities as regulars. So they take their training very seriously and they are always heartened when they benchmark themselves against the seasoned armed forces that they exercise with and come out well. And we have exercises with armed forces like the US Armed Forces at the National Readiness Centre and have come out quite well compared to regular US forces. As the House is aware, the SAF also conducts regular mobilisation exercises to ensure that we maintain our high state of operational readiness. And I am happy to say that the turnout rate in the past few years has almost always surpassed 95% for the mobilisation exercises. While the SAF is basically made up of urban Singaporeans living in a relatively small island, we do give our soldiers exposure to a wide variety of training because of the extensive training facilities or opportunities that are provided to us by various friendly countries in the region and beyond. So our soldiers - our Air Force, Navy, and Army - are in fact training all over the world, in the United States, Australia, Thailand, Brunei, and elsewhere.”
“Sir, I must applaud MINDEF for building nice and well-designed training camps, for example, the new basic military training camps at Pulau Tekong. Visitors are indeed very impressed by the new and upgraded facilities there. Even the food, I dare say, is delicious. However, I hear lament from some old soldiers, the `Lau Ping', that the training is not what it used to be and that the training has gone soft. The old soldiers talk about the times when they had to run up and down Peng Kang hill with full packs. In this context, I hope the Minister will assure us that the training is no less rigorous and vigorous, despite the very nice setting there, and our soldiers are as fit as fiddle, and have the fighting spirit or warrior spirit. Sir, I know that most operationally ready National Servicemen take their in-camp training very seriously. They are prepared to make the sacrifices and take the disruptions to their careers in their strides when they go for such training. All that they ask is that their time in training be used productively. What they hate most is to wait around for their slot for shooting at the range for a long time, or wait for their transport, or hang around for the next phase of the exercise. I wish to ask MINDEF if it can cut down such `idling' time, and make in-camp training even more productive, and perhaps some in-camp training could even be shortened, without forgoing quality or operational readiness. Sir, in line with the advances in technology and changes in the political landscape, military threats have changed and evolved over time. Besides full frontal attacks, we have to prepare for chemical attacks, terrorist attacks, hijacks and electronic warfare, for example.”
“Sir, in this modern world, we must not only build up our armed forces and train them to be operational and ready, but we should also pursue defence diplomacy and build up a good defence relationship with the armed forces of the neighbouring countries. Good relations with neighbouring armed forces could open up opportunities for cooperation in defence matters. Such cooperation, through bilateral and multilateral exercises, dialogues, the ASEAN Regional Forum and visits would enhance confidence building amongst the countries concerned. Sir, in difficult times when political relations are strained, such good ties amongst the armed forces could help to serve as a buffer and bridge for understanding. May I ask the Minister for an update on the SAF relations with the neighbouring armed forces and whether such relations have improved or declined in the wake of the Asian financial crisis? Sir, in terms of multilateral defence arrangements, we have the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) which comprises Singapore, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. FPDA has been in existence for 30 years. I believe FPDA is still relevant today. However, I would like to ask the Minister whether there are any plans to strengthen FPDA and enhance the quality of FPDA exercises.”
“Sir, Singapore is strategically located at the heart or hub of Southeast Asia, with sea lines and lanes of communication radiating outwards from Singapore. Singapore straddles the access to the Straits of Malacca, the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, as well as the Indonesian archipelago. East-West trade from Europe and the Suez Canal passes through India to Southeast Asia, and onward to China and Japan in East Asia. These very sea lanes are not only our trade links, but also our lifelines for food and essential items that are imported wholesale to sustain our population. For the sake of security, trade and essential supplies, we must keep these vital sea lanes open and accessible to shipping and passage at all times. Sir, from time to time, there are reports of piracy in the seas, as well as attempts by illegal immigrants to land on our shores. I would like to ask whether the SAF and, in particular, the Air Force and the Navy, have been beefed up to meet this challenge of keeping the sea lanes of communication open. And whether, in view of the sea change in Southeast Asia and the resulting uncertainties, that such vital sea lanes would continue to be kept open. In view of our limited resources, we cannot patrol the vast seas and the sea lanes entirely on our own. Indeed, the cooperation of the major powers would be necessary. May I ask what is the current Singapore position on cooperation with the major powers in keeping these vital seas lanes of communication open to all of us?”
“As President Theodore Roosevelt once said, "speak softly, but carry the big stick." Sir, defence is everyone's business. It is the business of every Singaporean. It is total defence. Let us all support defence and endorse the Defence budget. It has always been the cornerstone of Singapore's policy that there should be a balance of power in the Asian region. We welcome in this context the presence of major powers, as their presence will help to balance the forces in the region, and thereby maintain peace and security for all of us. Sir, we now have a Republican in the White House. We hope Singapore will enhance the good economic and defence ties with the United States, and President George W. Bush will keep the United States engaged in the region. So far, analysts are not very clear about the position of the new US Administration, and the new steps or initiatives President George W. Bush will take. In this context, therefore, I would like to ask the Minister on his assessment of the security situation in Southeast Asia and the role of the major powers in our region. Sir, since 1989, Singapore has participated in a number of peacekeeping operations. In 1999, Singapore sent a medical and logistical support team to East Timor, as part of the UN peace-keeping mission. I am sure such participation in the UN peace-keeping is much appreciated by all parties concerned, and the SAF officers and men have learned valuable lessons from such peace-keeping operations. As the situation arises, I hope MINDEF will consider other requests for UN peace-keeping missions, within the limits of our resources.”
“Any fund allocated to the SAF is without doubt money well spent. It is an investment in our security: an insurance. If there is no SAF, there would not be an independent and free Singapore. Sir, Mr J. B. Jeyaretnam claims yesterday that we are spending too much money on defence and that we are giving too much priority to defence. He is mistaken. He should read Sun Tzu, the famous strategist who wrote the classic 'Art of War' in the 4th Century BC. Sun Tzu tells us that states can be undermined, subdued or conquered. The only guarantee is wise leadership, good strategy, robust defence and a resilient economy which can fund the defence expenditures. Sun Tzu proclaims that defence is a deadly serious business, that ultimately decides the fate of states, and the fate of the people. In the very first paragraph of his 'Art of War', Sun Tzu says, "Defence is a matter of utmost importance to the state; it determines the life or death of the state; the road to survival or ruin." Sir, the key to victory is, as Sun Tzu puts it, the use of the right strategies. And the ultimate aim of strategies is to overcome an opponent with the minimum of force, conquering an enemy already defeated psychologically, dislocated or out manoeuvred. Sir, we should therefore learn from Sun Tzu and never let our guard down. We must stand by and be ready for any scenario. We must monitor the events and developments closely, scan the horizon, or the radar screens, and take the necessary precautions and steps. We pursue peace, with goodwill to all men. But peace can only be attained, and maintained, if we are able, ready, and has the will to defend our homeland and our interests. To have peace, we must be ready for war. It is a matter of deterrence.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head K of the Main Estimates be reduced by $100. Sir, recently we have wave upon wave of earthquakes, from India to El Salvador. Besides physical earthquakes, the Southeast Asian region is also vulnerable and prone to social and political earthquakes and upheavals. These political earthquakes open up fault lines of race, religion and political struggles of power. In the wake of the Asian financial crisis, the strategic landscape in Southeast Asia has not changed for the better. Indeed, it has turned for the worst. Southeast Asia is now at the crossroads, buffeted by storms and whirlpools. Many of the countries in the region are in the throes of transition. In the Philippines, we have another round of people's power which ousted President Estrada. In Thailand, we have a change of government, and the new Prime Minister, Mr Thaksin, narrowly escaped a bomb blast recently at the Bangkok airport. In Malaysia, there are also political uncertainties. Indonesia, Sir, is not the same after Surharto. President Abdurrahman Wahid is facing increasing pressures from inside and outside of Parliament, and some regions, like Aceh, are seeking secession. In Kalimantan, we have horrific reports of Dayaks head hunting the Madurese. No one, Sir, knows for certain what is in store for Indonesia. In the midst of the upheavals and uncertainties in the region, it is foolhardy to neglect defence. Remember, when we separated from Malaysia and became independent in 1965, we had only two infantry battalions; no artillery, no armour, no Air Force and no navy. Today, Singapore can stand tall and confident because we have a strong SAF. No one can bully us. No one can just walk in and walk over us.”
“Sir, I was not referring particularly to the political office holders but to the civil service as a whole.”
“CIVIL SERVICE NWC AWARD, PUBLIC SECTOR SALARY REVISIONS AND REVIEW OF SALARY BENCHMARKS Debate resumed.”
“We are not aware that many poor performers are downgraded or removed, whereas in the private sector, the risk factor is much, much higher, and staff are hired and fired according to performance and circumstances. With higher pay, it is only right that we expect the Government to be more stringent in the selection and promotion of staff in ensuring accountability and not hesitating to act on non-performers. We must pay market rate. That is the right thing to do but, at the same time, market-related performance for the public sector staff must also be expected. The higher the pay, the higher should be the performance. The civil service should not forget that ordinary Singaporeans, the men-in-the-street, are indeed their pay masters, as well as their customers. Sir, what is of concern to all Singaporeans is the widening income gap in the country, which is very much part of the global trend in the wake of the new economy, something we cannot totally avoid. It is impossible to close the income gap completely and swim against this tide but Singapore should do all we can locally to minimise the income gap. We must not allow the income divide to become a political divide of the haves and have-nots. We should take every opportunity to emphasise job training and skills upgrading for the bulk of the population, especially those older workers who need to re-adapt and retrain for the new economy. In conclusion, I dare say that we indeed have a good Government and we should be thankful that we have a good Government, and we should support this pay revision. EXEMPTED BUSINESS (Motion) Resolved, That the debate on the Statement made by the Deputy Prime Minister be exempted at this day's sitting from the provisions of Standing Order No. 1. - [Prof. S. Jayakumar].”
“Even the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC), a Hong Kong-based think-tank, ranked Singapore first for the overall qualities of the political leadership and its successful economic management of the country. This is an independent research institution and it puts the Singapore Government right at the top, well ahead of Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, with the rest of the other countries in the region trailing far, far behind all of us. Sir, this is the real world. Let us not pretend that we can continue to have good Government without paying appropriate and realistic salaries. You get what you pay. This is the fundamental parameter and lesson from the private sector. We know it only too well because many of us are from the private sector. Sir, it is indeed better to give realistic salaries to the public sector than to end up as a broken-back country and face the prospect of being refugees on the high seas, sailing to nowhere, as we have witnessed in so many other countries. Sir, a new generation has grown up in Singapore, fascinated by IT, the dot.com and the life sciences. The Government has to compete for talents in the open market, even more so in the knowledge-based economy. Let us also not forget that good talented Singaporeans can also go global, go out of Singapore's shores to seek other opportunities in the brave new world outside. Sir, I wish to make one point about performance of the public sector staff. I am glad that the Government is putting a greater portion of the pay into performance bonuses and incentives but I must highlight the perception that persists that the civil service is an iron rice bowl and many can get by day by day. The point here is that we must not be seen to be harbouring poor performers.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join in the debate. Sir, I support the Government salary revision. In particular, the Government should be commended for taking the initiative to fine-tune the salary benchmarks and formula, making it even more realistic and practical. Sir, after suffering pay cuts and being held back, in terms of benchmarking, during the Asian economic crisis, the question is: when should pay be adjusted for the public sector? Is it too soon? Is it too much? I think not. Sir, we have a good Government. A good Government that shines like a beacon of light in the darkest moments of the Asian economic crisis. There is none better than the Singapore Government. It delivers. The Government brought us out of the economic crisis safe and sound. And Singapore is well-positioned indeed to ride the next wave of political and economic opportunities in the region. Whereas, in comparison, our neighbours have economic and political upheavals. We have peace, stability and economic growth. The Government has indeed given us security, peace and prosperity for more than 40 years. It has enhanced the assets of all Singaporeans. What more can we ask of a good Government? We must pay well in order to have good men and women in the Government. The good men and women would make a major difference to the well-being of the entire nation. Let us not hold back but instead ensure that our country, Singapore, is in good hands, and that we have a bright future to look forward to. We can of course pay less, but we will get less. Rather, we should invest in our future and our children's future. It is, in my opinion, a very small price to pay to ensure that we have good Government, and good men and women in the Government.”
“Sir, I want to thank the DPM and the Ministers for their very full and comprehensive replies and we are rest assured that Mindef is in good hands and that we are able to defend our country. Also, I am glad that we have used our time very efficiently and that we have finished before the "guillotine" time. It is a very rare occurrence. On that note, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $6,562,000,000 for Head K ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $861,000,000 for Head K ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.”
“May I ask the Minister if Mindef will further enhance the national education programmes in the SAF, and work closely too with the Ministry of Education and the schools to further promote the concept and practice of total defence.”
“Sir, ultimately, defence is everybody's business, not just that of the National Servicemen. It is the business of each and every Singaporean. It is the total defence. It requires the support of the family: the father, the mother and the siblings. National Service is now accepted as part and parcel of life, part of the Singaporean's way of life. National Service is so institutionalised and ingrained, that it has become a people's movement for the defence of the homeland. I call it "homeland", because we are defending our homes, every home and every inch of our land. Nowadays, at the meet-the-people sessions, we see more and more cases of petitioners appealing for upgrading rather than downgrading of medical classifications in NS. Our young men would rather be in the combat vocations. They compete fiercely for a place in the Officer Cadet School. This is indeed a good sign. There is no doubt that young National Servicemen are now better prepared and enlist with the right attitude and aptitude. This, no doubt, is helped by the improvement in the facilities and services in the SAF. The food, for example, has improved tremendously. Some even told their mothers that the food in camps is better than that of mum's cooking! I am sure mum does not mind a little bit of competition. My son told his mother that. The point here is that if all appreciate the importance of defence and National Service, then we would have achieved the aim of Total Defence and the strategy of deterrence. As Sun Tzu, the strategist, said, we would win the war without fighting. The enemy would not dare to make the first move.”
“Sir, first I want to thank the Minister of State for his frank responses and trust that Mindef will put measures in place to ensure accountability and proper procedures are observed. Sir, we talk about maximizing our defence dollar and getting maximum value for each dollar we put into defence. With our scarce resources and limitation in manpower and space, we must optimise the use of manpower as well as land. Land use could be optimised by relocating and redesigning camps, let units share common facilities, put some facilities underground, for example, putting the ammunition dumps underground, train more intensively overseas and use IT and simulation technology to cut down the use of space. In terms of manpower, courses and exercises should be well designed to optimise the time available. Idling time should be minimized. Those who have been through NS know often times the NSmen have to wait a long, long time at the range for their turn to shoot. It was a very long wait. Can we not revamp the system and cut down idling time at the ranges, for example? May I ask the Minister what further progress SAF has made in optimising the use of land as well as manpower? Sir, I will go to my next cut. Some three years ago, we had a number of unfortunate casualties in the SAF during training and exercises. The whole SAF was geared up to give the highest priority to safety measures in training. I wish to ask the Minister for an update of the safety measures implemented, and whether such measures are being followed religiously by all units.”
“Sir, the SAF is made up of a judicious mix of regulars, full-time National Servicemen and operationally-ready National Servicemen. And every year, the SAF has to make do and make the best use of the cohort of male citizens enlisting for full-time National Service. It emphasizes higher productivity and reliance on technology, and at the same time outsourcing non-essential functions. I am also glad to note that Mindef will adhere to the maximum of two and a half years of full-time National Service, and will not seek further extension of the period of service. I would like to ask, with the changing roles of the SAF, whether the SAF can cope with the increasing manpower requirements. With the recovery of the economy, are the various manpower schemes sufficiently attractive for the recruitment of regular officers and men? We know, at the same time, that it is the declared aim of the SAF to renew itself and keep the SAF young and fighting-fit. Is this working out well? While the SAF may be achieving its overall aim, may I ask if some officers are being moved up the chain of command too fast, such that field commanders may not have sufficient ground or command experience at various levels of command. I must say that it is not just a matter of pay. It is also about ethos, people management, the art of leadership and staff welfare. It is this common bond and team spirit that hold a fighting unit together in times of crisis and in the line of fire. Are our unit commanders trained and groomed to motivate the men in their command?”
“Sir, I understand Mr Ravindran is not taking this cut. Can I take the three cuts together?”
“It would not do Mindef's reputation any good if this continues. I, therefore, urge Mindef to act, take remedial actions, exercise tighter supervision and undertake preventive measures so that such incidents would not recur again.”
“Sir, I want to thank the DPM for his comprehensive overview of the defence policies. Sir, the Auditor-General, in his report for the financial year 1998/99, has highlighted the irregularities and non-compliance with the Government financial procedures in the Ministry of Defence. The Auditor-General noted that five full-time National Servicemen were seconded to DSO National Laboratories, a privatised unit, in 1997 for about one to two years and another 14 National Servicemen were on loan to ST Automotive Ltd, a private company, in 1998. The Auditor-General deemed that there were irregularities in such a scheme. Audit revealed that in February 1998, full payment of $976,000 was made to a supplier for goods that had not been received by Mindef. The Auditor-General classified this as a "false declaration". The Auditor-General also reported irregularities in contracts awarded to DSO National Laboratories. Mindef officers who also served as the company directors were involved in decisions leading to the award of contracts to the company. Security deposits were not collected and banker's guarantee for advance payments of about $30 million was waived without proper approval. Audit also highlighted that a bank account for fixed deposits of $180 million was opened without approval of the Accountant-General, as required under the financial procedures. Sir, the Auditor-General noted that there was repeated failure to refund security deposits no longer required, amounting to $196,000. On the other hand, there was delay in clearing and collecting long outstanding personal advances to officers for official expenses, in some cases, up to six years. Sir, this is not the first time that such weaknesses are brought to the attention of the public by the Auditor-General.”
“Sir, as a small nation, with limited resources and manpower, we cannot count on mass in numbers to overwhelm the potential enemy. In any case, it is the skills, the firepower, and the mobility that matter. Our critical mass has to be in technology. It is the cutting edge of technology that will give us a cut above the rest, ensure our competitive advantage, and win the war for us. There was always the danger that the generals were fighting the last war. On the eve of World War II, for example, the Polish Army still had the horse cavalry, which was, of course, no match for the German tanks. It is the same today, even more so with the galloping pace of advancing technology, which made equipment and doctrines fast becoming obsolete. So fast is the pace of change that there is now a revolution in military affairs or some call it RMA. This revolution encompasses electronic information system, advanced information technology, precision strike technologies, stealth technology, unmanned technology, and cyber warfare, just to name a few. I would like to ask the Minister if the SAF is keeping track of the changing nature of warfare and is on top of the revolution in military affairs.”
“Sir, in certain scenarios, instead of big predators, there could be sharp and pin-point attacks by terrorist groups. And terrorist attacks could happen at any time, any place. Remember that in March 1991, four Pakistani terrorists hijacked Singapore Airlines flight SQ 117 flying from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore. They issued an ultimatum and threatened to kill the passengers one by one. Fortunately, the SAF commandos successfully stormed the place, killed the hijackers and freed all passengers. And years earlier, if Members remember, in 1974, there was the hijack of the ferry boat, the Laju. Indeed, President S.R. Nathan was involved in this rescue exercise successfully. I therefore wish to ask the Minister whether we are ready and able to deal with any terrorist attack, at any time.”
“Sir, from time to time, there are reported incidents of piracy in the seas around us. They are not just a nuisance, but also a threat to shipping and the orderly conduct of trade. There is also the problem of illegal immigrants coming by sea or waves of refugees sailing in and attempting to come ashore. Singapore is a sea port. It is situated at the hub or crossroads of Southeast Asia. Through our port, we export as well as import materials and essential food supplies. The sea lanes to and from Singapore, and through the vital Straits of Malacca, are not only our livelihood, but also our life-lines. We must keep the sea lanes of communication open. May I ask the Minister what measures are being taken to tackle the problem of piracy, illegal immigrants and potential refugees, and if the SAF is able to secure, and ensure, that the sea lanes of communications are kept open at all times for trade and essential supplies.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, unlike my colleague, Dr Vasoo, I still cannot see the connection between dengue fever and the crows. Is the Senior Minister of State trying to suggest, in fact, crows with the dengue fever? Then he mentioned about housekeeping by town councils. I am sure, as the Chairman of a town council, we want to cooperate with the Ministry of the Environment. But one should not pass the buck to the town councils because the crows fly everywhere. The individual town council cannot control them because they fly from one town council to the other. I think it is more a matter of the Ministry of the Environment taking a concerted action to deal with this problem at source.”
“Sir, I want to thank the Ministers and the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for their answers. Since we are running out of time, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $181,606,920 for Head O ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $80,273,900 for Head O ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head R -”
“A Memorandum of Understanding on IT Cooperation was also signed in July 1999 during the visit of Minister for Trade and Industry BG George Yeo to the Philippines. New mechanisms have been set up between agencies from both sides, for example, between MTI and the Philippine Board of Investments, or between the NCB (which is now renamed IDA) and the Philippine's Department of Science and Technology, to better consider and coordinate bilateral cooperation in targeted areas. To enhance educational exchanges, Singapore's Ministry of Education has made a visit to the Philippines last August to explore new initiatives, and MOE has also awarded 20 Secondary Three scholarships under the PSAP. As part of the people-to-people exchanges to improve understanding of each other's way of life, there has been exchange of visits by senior pathologists from both countries, while a number of journalists from the Philippines have also visited Singapore last year. Lastly, Sir, both countries are also working on a proposal, which President Estrada had raised during his state visit to Singapore, to set up a centre in Singapore to cater for the recreational and vocational training needs of Filipino workers in Singapore. Singapore has since identified a site that could be used to set up such a centre, and we are now discussing with the Philippines authorities on the steps it may take to operationalise the use of the site.”
“PM Goh has been to the Philippines three times in the last four years, most recently to attend the third ASEAN Informal Summit last November, and President Estrada paid a state visit to Singapore in October 1998. Sir, my Minister has a good working relationship with Philippines Foreign Secretary Mr Domingo Siazon who came here on an official visit in late January/February. Last but not least, a major milestone was the decision of both countries to launch a Philippine-Singapore Action Plan (PSAP) to put the bilateral relationship on a more solid footing. The Philippine-Singapore Action Plan, if I may elaborate on that, having strong and broad-based linkages, will reduce the susceptibility of relationship as a whole being wrought by any single bilateral issue. The idea of the PSAP to provide a comprehensive framework of bilateral cooperation under which we could work together to diversify, intensify and institutionalise bilateral linkages arose during PM Goh's official visit to the Philippines in June 1997. The PSAP proposal was elaborated upon and formally endorsed on 14th December 1998 at the sideline of the sixth ASEAN Summit in Hanoi. The PSAP covers cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, information technology, education, culture, defence and people-to-people exchanges. Much has been achieved in bilateral cooperation under the PSAP. For example, the Singapore TDB mounted seven trade and investment promotion missions to the Philippines while Singapore also hosted several visits by business delegations from the Philippines Economic Zone Authority and various Filipino chambers of commerce and business clubs.”
“Sir, the final item of debate on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' budget will bring some cheer to our Foreign Service staff and officers. It is not really a budget cut as such, but really a boost. Sir, the Foreign Service Officers constitute the core of our diplomatic representation overseas. There are now many alternative careers for bright, young graduates coming into the market. The Foreign Service's terms and conditions must therefore be attractive enough to enable the Foreign Ministry to recruit and retain the best graduates to serve in its ranks. We must also make it easier for our diplomats to educate their children when they are posted overseas. Upon return to Singapore, they should not be disadvantaged in finding places for their children in Singapore schools. Also particularly important, the children must be prepared for second languages as they have to come back to Singapore eventually. Our Foreign Service Officers should also be given extensive training in foreign languages, so that they can be effective when they are posted overseas. I would like to ask the Minister what are the schemes or incentives for such foreign language training in Singapore for our staff. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed): Sir, on behalf of my Minister, allow me to answer the questions raised on Singapore-Philippines relations. Singapore-Philippines relations today are excellent and warm. Bilateral interaction, exchanges, visits and economic cooperation have intensified to surpass the pre-Contemplacion level. Political relations have also improved. This is manifested in the good rapport and high comfort level that exist between key leaders of the two countries.”
“Sir, I join Mr Simon Tay in discussing Singapore's bid for a seat on the UN Security Council for the year 2001. Can the Minister assure us that we have a good chance of clinching the seat? 6.45 pm Sir, I believe that a seat on the UN Security Council will give us important mileage, better access to various countries, and more importantly, insights on how the Security Council functions. This experience will stand us in good stead when there is a crisis in the region or when we run into some problem or the other. And also I would like to ask the Minister, if he could take this opportunity to give training for younger Foreign Service Officers to be involved in this, and in particular when we have a seat in the UN Security Council.”
“Sir, ASEAN-EU relations have gone through a rough patch. ASEAN wishes to be close friends of the Europeans. However, meetings are always held up or bogged down by the Europeans' stand on Myanmar. Very often, double standards are applied. ASEAN, on the other hand, has been consistent and operated on the basis of unity and consensus. May I ask the Minister whether he could persuade the Europeans to come to our point of view. The message is that multilateral relations should not be held hostage by some bureaucratic or misguided conception, and we should let long term interests prevail. Mr Charles Chong: Sir, as mentioned by Dr Ong, I understand the ASEAN-EU relations have been complicated by Myanmar's membership in ASEAN since 1997. The EU has objected to Myanmar's presence in any ASEAN delegation in its dealings with the EU. Could the Minister brief the House on the state of ASEAN-EU relations and tell us when and where would the next ASEAN-EU meeting take place? Does the Minister foresee further complications in the relations as a result of Austria's Freedom Party being a coalition member of the Austrian Government, and Austria being an EU member, would ASEAN member countries have difficulty granting visas to an EU delegation comprising members of Austria's Freedom Party?”
“Sir, the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is an important security architecture for multi-lateral security cooperation and dialogue. ARF has firmly established the mechanism for security dialogue and confidence-building measures within the region. ARF also plays a pivotal role in relation with the external powers, like the United States, China and Japan. Indeed, some of these external powers use the ARF sessions to meet each other and to float ideas. Prof. Desmond Ball of the Australian National University wrote recently that the ARF has emerged as the centrepiece of security architecture in the region. So far, so good. But ARF should move beyond security dialogue and confidence-building measures to the next stage of conflict prevention and preventive diplomacy, whereby incipient problems are nipped in the bud. May I ask if the Minister would actively encourage ARF to take on new directions and new roles.”
“Sir, ASEAN, since its establishment, has provided Singapore and other South East Asian nations with a good regional platform for internal consensus as well as a springboard for dialogues with other regional bodies and big powers. We are all indeed very proud and fond of ASEAN. We say ASEAN this and ASEAN that, but times have changed. Mr Suharto was the anchor for ASEAN unity and stability for many years, but he has stepped down, and it signalled the end of an era for ASEAN. ASEAN has indeed served us well. ASEAN has grown. It is still growing, growing and growing. But it is now somewhat tattered and in disarray. The question is: has ASEAN outgrown itself? Does it still have a vital role to play? Singapore was the Chairman of the ASEAN Standing Committee in the most difficult of times in the region. May I ask the Minister on how Singapore helped steer ASEAN through such troubled waters? In terms of trade and investments, are there any progress with the ASEAN investment roadshows? As an organisation and with the benefit of recent experience, is ASEAN better equipped and organised now to deal with future outbreak of financial crises or any other political issues that might crop up?”
“Many in Asia are alarmed by the prospects of hostilities in the narrow strait, and the spillover effect on us politically and economically. Sir, we hope that wise counsel will prevail and the issues can be resolved amicably. I wish to ask the Minister on Singapore's stand on the cross-strait relationships and what impact it has on trade and development, and whether we can play a role in this relationship.”
“Sir, Singapore's relations with Japan have been warm and friendly. Japanese investments, trade and technology have been flowing in, and Japan has the biggest expatriate community and largest Japanese school in Singapore. Japanese presence also serves to balance that of the other regional powers. I know many Japanese businessmen and managers like to be posted to Singapore. They find Singapore comfortable, safe and an interesting city to live in. I am sure, not least of all, many of them like to play golf in our many golf courses, and also to mix with the local population. In terms of bilateral relations, Singapore and Japan would be examples extraordinaire of free trade in the region. Singapore and Japan could cooperate closely in free trade arrangements, and this would possibly inspire the other neighbours to follow suit. May I ask the Minister whether there is any progress with regard to the proposal on the free trade arrangements between Singapore and Japan? Sir, Singapore's relations with the People's Republic of China have always been warm and positive. Singaporeans have extensive investments in China, and the Chinese economy is growing. At the same time, we have good trade and economic relations with Taiwan. Indeed, some of the cross-strait conferences and meetings between the PRC and Taiwan were held in Singapore. We are friends to all. However, the situation over the Strait of Taiwan is not very comforting. China has issued a White Paper on Taiwan, which is undergoing a presidential election. One wonders what would happen to cross-strait relations. Is it sabre-rattling or will there be an exchange of blows and missiles across the Strait?”
“Sir, Singapore-Philippines relations have improved tremendously in recent years, culminating in the visit to Singapore recently of the Philippines Foreign Secretary, Mr Domingo Siazon. All parties appeared to have buried their hatchet after the Flor Contemplacion's case. Trade and investments have increased significantly. Within ASEAN, Singapore and the Philippines share much common interests and there is a congruence of views on many things. Sir, the Philippines can be a good ally and balance within ASEAN. May I therefore ask the Minister what more can Singapore do in terms of promotion of bilateral trade, investment and cultural exchanges?”
“Sir, Singapore has sent a peace-keeping and support contingent to East Timor. We were among the first wave which arrived at the shores of East Timor. Our logistics support was excellent. We are indeed proud of the Singaporean officers and men who have performed very well in a very difficult situation and at such short notice too. I wish to ask the Minister if this mission suggests that there will be more such missions or involvement by Singapore in other parts of the world. Do we have the manpower and resources to mount and sustain such operations? On East Timor, Singapore can help in the reconstruction and development of the country through technical cooperation and assistance, eg, in providing expert advice and programmes on training of the civil service, infrastructure development and the management of airports and seaports. Sir, now that the UN is in place in East Timor and the situation has stabilised somewhat, will East Timor become independent soon and apply to join ASEAN? What would be the stand of Singapore and ASEAN if East Timor applies to join the ASEAN body? How long will it take the East Timorese to set up their infrastructure and services and reorganise themselves?”
“Sir, before I proceed, can I seek your permission to seek some clarification from Mr Chiam who has made two very interesting proposals today? Mr Chiam has talked about having an economic union with Malaysia, in the first instance, and then proposed that we lease a whole island from Indonesia. May I ask whether he proposes to lease the island first or to have an economic union with Malaysia first? And does he realise that it is so difficult just to operate an industrial park, whether it is in Bintan, Batam or Suzhou? How then does he propose to lease a whole island from an independent and sovereign country like Indonesia which has tremendous pride in its own country and sovereignty? Earlier on, when he spoke about an economic union with Malaysia, he seems to blame Singapore for having a gap between Singapore's standard of living and Malaysia's standard of living. Are we to be blamed if the Malaysia's standard of living is lower than that of Singapore? Is he proposing that we Singaporeans lower our standard of living, so that we are on the same common denominator as Malaysia's standard of living so that there will not be any problem of any kind?”
“Sir, Singapore's relations with Indonesia have improved significantly after Dr Habibe was replaced by President Abdul Wahid. We want to be a good neighbour of Indonesia, another close neighbour. We wish Indonesia all the best, and hope Indonesia, under the leadership of President Abdul Wahid will have a new beginning in the new millennium. In the recent crisis, Singapore has willingly given support and economic assistance to Indonesia. May I ask how and to what extent has the economic package of loans been utilised? The whole Indonesian situation has changed radically. President Abdul Wahid is asserting his leadership vigorously, while the military is in retreat politically. There are religious riots and local independence movements in many parts of Indonesia. One wonders who would ultimately call the shots. Some analysts have speculated that Indonesia might break up, with various regions competing for power, for example, Aceh and Irian Jaya. I hope not. We want a stable and prosperous Indonesia. May I ask the Minister for his assessment of the Indonesian situation and its impact on bilateral relations and, furthermore, very recently, very close to our shores, we have demonstrations and riots in Bintan and Batam. Can I know how that would affect our investments in the nearby islands?”
“Thank you, Minister. Sir, Malaysia is our closest neighbour in a geographical sense. However, we may not necessarily be the closest emotionally or politically. It has been a love-hate relationship over a period of years. In the web of circumstances, we must therefore expect ups and downs. With the general elections behind them, we hope that the Malaysian leaders would be better able to focus on improving bilateral ties. There is some light at the end of the tunnel on the CLOB issue. We have just heard this in this Chamber, though some doubt it. But no solution is yet in sight on water, the Malaysian Railway land, airspace and Pedra Branca. Relations between Singapore and Malaysia appear to be on the mend. We can hope for the best, but we must always not be taken by surprise by any downturn at any time. We have to live with it. I hope that Singapore will not again become the scapegoat or whipping boy in the forthcoming UMNO Assembly and party elections round the corner. I wish to ask, in this context, the Minister on the Government's approach and strategy on how to handle these thorny issues in Singapore-Malaysia relationship, and on how problems of a bilateral kind could be resolved. 5.45 pm”
“Sir, with your permission, could I seek clarification from the Minister before we proceed to the next cut? Sir, I want to thank the Minister for his very comprehensive answer. But mainly about the United States' role, many are worried that the US may not be so committed to the region or may not put all their attention and resources, distracted by domestic matters or by Euro or Mexico, or so many other places that they can engage itself in. Recently, there was this Williamsburg Conference in Singapore last week when the Foreign Minister and DPM also participated in the Conference. Is there any conclusion from this Conference and what would be Singapore's stand on this particular issue?”
“And, if I may add, interests may change over time. May I therefore ask the Minister what useful roles can Singapore, as a small country, play to promote peace, stability and economic development in our own region while at the same time remain vigilant and watchful.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head O of the Main Estimates be reduced by $100. Sir, the Asia-Pacific region has been through a series of political upheavals and economic meltdown. Old leaders like Suharto have been swept away. Old icons are gone. Old paradigms are no longer valid or relevant. It is indeed a new millennium. A new year. The strategic parameters have changed. At the same time, the situation has somewhat stabilised, after the election of Gus Dur as the President of Indonesia. The sense of crisis is not so pronounced, though not all issues have been resolved. What then can we make of this new scenario? Where are the new fault lines? How has the balance of power shifted? What are the interests and agendas of the big powers like the United States, China and Japan? These are some of the questions and issues I wish to pose to the Minister. What is the Minister's reading of the current strategic situation? As the Chinese words for crisis wei chi show, where there are dangers, there are also ample opportunities. I believe that Singapore has done well and is in a much stronger position after the crisis. By comparison, Singapore has emerged stronger economically, remained politically cohesive and has the resources to continue to upgrade our own defence capabilities. Singapore, though small, is like the mouse deer: nimble, agile and strong, able to deal with any tricky situation, and able to fight back too, if necessary. Remember Dr Habibie liked to call Singapore the "tiny red dot". I think he is mistaken. It is the mighty beacon of light, shining across the seas for all to see. But we have to be vigilant. Today's friends may be tomorrow's enemies. Nations have no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests.”
“We should therefore allocate more grants from our budget surplus for adult retraining, and make it a people's movement for skills upgrading. Sir, while we go global, many of our graduates have to go overseas to work, we must remain rooted in Singapore. We must anchor every Singaporean to our own homeland. But how do we cultivate this sense of belonging and bonding, when our schools do not give much emphasis to our own history and culture? History lessons are downplayed or not given much attention in schools. Whereas in the United States, every child in school knows about George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, John Kennedy, or the American War of Independence. We must therefore give more thought and priority to the teaching of history in our schools. Sir, on that note, I support the motion standing in the name of the Minister for Finance.”
“Are we producing a generation that is averse to risk-taking, that is so kiasu? This is a pertinent question as Singapore enters a new phase of development in the new economy, which beckons us with opportunities and challenges of risk-taking, of entrepreneurship, of going global, and of daring to do. But is our education system preparing our young to take on these challenges in the new economy? Are they taught the right skills in our schools? Are our young well prepared for life in the outside world? Are they street-wise? Are they equipped and ready to take on or deal with businessmen from China, Hong Kong, Korea or Japan? Society as a whole should also be more tolerant of those who dared to try but failed. There should be no stigma in failure. Remember, failure is the mother of success. This climate of support will then encourage more to strike out, take risk and be entrepreneurial. Sir, education should also include the training and retraining of our working adults. It saddens me to see workers in their 40s in my meet-the-people sessions, who are retrenched in the economic restructuring, who could not find new jobs easily, as they have no new or relevant skills. Some are still looking for canteen stalls, security jobs, cleaning jobs, and such like, when the economy has changed radically. Many are fast becoming unemployable. We should therefore do more for this group of workers, and retrain them for the new economy. We have apprenticeship training scheme for the young, why not more apprenticeship training scheme for the older workers. If necessary, pay them a subsistence allowance when they are under intensive training, as they have families to support.”
“Do not forget, ultimately, we have to compete against other regional economies, like Hong Kong, Taiwan and Thailand. Overall, I am glad that the Government is taking good care of the man-in-the-street, with rental rebates, rebates for S&C charges and utilities rebates, and the CPF top-up scheme. This shows that the Government has a heart for our heartlanders, and appreciates the sacrifices made by the people in taking pay and CPF cuts in difficult times. Sir, in this budget, we are spending the lion's share on education. This is the right move. People are our precious, and only resources, more so in the knowledge-based economy, the very foundation of our future. While we invest so much on education, will it not be wise for us to do a strategic review of education, a stock-taking and seeking new directions in the new economy, in the new world of the Internet, wired together in one global village? I ask this as it is clear that the pace of change has quickened, and the momentum may be overwhelming. Old methods and old ways of teaching, for example, may not be relevant any more. It is an IT world, yet many schools, I observe, are still mainly using the blackboard, the duster and chalk. The classroom need not be square, with tables and chairs all facing the same direction towards the blackboard. We should use more IT in the schools and in teaching. This will make learning more fun. And how do we impart good moral values or highlight character development when students and schools are bent and preoccupied with examination grades. Examination grades are important, but not everything. Are we bogging down our students with too many facts and figures that they do not have the time to think for themselves? Is it stifling initiative and creativity?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join in the debate. First and foremost, Sir, we must thank and congratulate our Government for its outstanding management and leadership in pulling Singapore out of its worst economic crisis that hit this region. No one, Sir, can deny that the Government has done well indeed for the people and for the country. In comparison with other governments, this Government stands up and stands tall, as one with the vision, the courage and the determination to see us through to the promised land, and to bring us to new heights in the new economy. Nevertheless, we were surprised the other day to hear from the Minister for Finance that for the last financial year, instead of the projected $5 billion deficit, the Government has turned in an estimated $3.2 billion surplus. Any surplus is good and most welcome. But the question in our mind is: had the Government been overly cautious and extraordinarily conservative in holding back expenditures? Had the Government not held back so much and released more funds into the economy, would there not have been a greater multiplier impact and faster recovery of the economy? Now the Government has quickly cut and reduced some of the rebates, and increased significantly, for example, the development charges for properties. Are these actions too drastic and too soon? Will they lead to other Government departments and agencies raising their charges quickly? The pendulum must not swing the other way too quickly, otherwise business costs will rise sharply, and that will hurt the competitiveness of our economy and our own country. We should give more time for companies to restructure and consolidate.”
“This is in line with what Sun Tzu, the best known Asian strategist said 2,000 years ago, that the best strategy is to win without fighting, and to out-plan and out-manoeuvre the enemy. Sir, I wish to raise two points for consideration and clarification. First, the `no strike' clause which stated that "No employee of the Agency shall go on strike or instigate or initiate others to take part in or otherwise act in furtherance of any industrial action." I appreciate the sensitive nature of the work of this Agency, and that we must not and cannot afford strikes and disruption in such a critical area. I appeal to the Agency management not to use this clause as a fig leaf but to take it as a calling, as their special responsibility, to place an even higher premium and priority on good employee-management relationship. They should take care of the interests and welfare of all their employees. I urge the Agency to put in place procedures for handling staff grievances and appeals and provide ample opportunities for staff dialogues and counselling. May I also ask whether this prohibits the employees from joining the NTUC union or the general branch of the NTUC, not for industrial actions, but for welfare purposes and for the wide range of benefits of NTUC membership. Sir, the second point is that the Agency will present its annual report to a committee, appointed by the Prime Minister, instead of to Parliament. This is indeed a special provision, necessitated again by the sensitive nature of its work. I hope the persons appointed to this committee will be thorough in their scrutiny and fearless in their enquiry, for the good of the country. Sir, I support the Bill.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the GPC for Defence and Foreign Affairs supports the establishment of the Defence Science and Technology Agency. However, we wish to raise some points of concern in this debate. Sir, it is timely to establish the Defence Science and Technology Agency as the integrated body for defence R&D, technology, IT, communications, command, defence procurement, and land and estates matters. It is no doubt the right move to put all under one roof, with an integrated management and command, with a central focus and direction. It will maximise, I am sure, the synergy, resources and impact. With greater flexibility, it will be easier for the Agency to attract, nurture and retain the best talents, and enlarge the talent pool. Talent is the critical factor. With the right strategy and deployment, the R&D talent can tip the scale between victory and defeat. Indeed, the Agency has a pivotal role in the defence of Singapore, especially in this technological and IT age. Defence research, development and related preparations will indeed decide the outcome of war. Technology alters the course of war. The machine gun in the First World War, the tanks and aircrafts in the Second World War, and the precision guided missiles in the Gulf war changed the face of warfare. Next it will be the digital battlefield and cyber warfare. The Agency can therefore give the SAF the comparative advantage, the cutting edge in technology, communications and IT. If the Agency does its job, we will win the war before the first shot is fired. Better still, such intensive and thorough preparations will deter any potential enemy from waging war against us. The strategy of deterrence is indeed our best bet.”
“Indeed, the regional crisis has driven home the message more than any other pep talks can do. Sir, the new millennium is our new frontier. We are revving to go forward to invest and apply new technology, to be creative in all that we do, to do things better, to do it differently, if necessary, so that we can all make a difference to the lives of our fellow Singaporeans. As we march into the new millennium, we must remain united and cohesive, taking the ups and downs as one people and one nation. Our hearts must beat as one for Singapore. We will then be able to weather any unexpected storm. Sir, I support the motion.”