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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“Sir, defence relations with other countries constitute an important function of MINDEF and is part of our overall defence strategy. Good defence relations among Armed Forces Chiefs and personnel will enhance bilateral communication and relationship, and help us to avoid misunderstanding and tide over difficult periods of time. Good defence relations, I believe, will yield good dividends, giving us access to overseas training, facilities, enabling us to conduct bilateral and multi-lateral defence exercises, giving us the opportunity to test our doctrines and measure ourselves against the best armed forces in the world or in the region. As the Minister has earlier said, we are short of local training areas. The overseas training facilities will, I believe, provide us with good alternative areas and terrain for hands-on training. I would therefore like to ask the Minister to update us on our defence relations with the other countries, the joint military exercises that we have and whether we are having more access to overseas training facilities.”
“Sir, MINDEF has many years ago embarked upon and launched the concept of total defence, embracing and encompassing not only military defence, but also psychological defence, social defence, civil defence and, not least of all, economic defence of which we are painfully aware of in view of the economic turmoil in the region. Total defence is part and parcel of our national education. While we train our National Servicemen on how to use and maximise the hardware that we have, we must not forget the heartware. Each and every National Serviceman must know what he is fighting for, why the sacrifices, why we hold dear our sovereignty, integrity and independence and our hopes and visions for the future. Our National Servicemen should have, through national education, a sense of history, an abiding commitment to our homeland, an appreciation of our strength as well as vulnerabilities, and an unshakeable faith in our own national defence. Through national education, our National Servicemen, indeed all Singaporeans, will be rooted in our own homeland. If our National Servicemen have their hearts in the right places, Sir, we will win every battle. We must drum into our servicemen the `can do' or the gungho attitude or to put it in the local Hokkien context: pa see bo chow. I would like therefore to ask the Minister whether enough has been done to promote national education in the SAF and whether there are better and more effective ways to win over their hearts and minds of our National Servicemen. Sir, can I continue with the other items?”
“Sir, it is a time of changes and uncertainties in Asia Pacific, a time of paradigm shifts in the strategic environment in the region. In such circumstances, we must be single-minded and focus on the operational readiness of the SAF. We want to be certain that the SAF is ever ready, when the chips are down, to discharge its missions in any scenario. Last year, Sir, we read in the Parameters, a quarterly journal of the United States Army College, and I quote: `Singapore's ground forces are considerably more competent tactically than those of its neighbours . . Singapore's equipment, personnel, training, and overall readiness are considered the best in Southeast Asia.' This year, I came across the Australian Strategic Policy, a paper published by Australian Department of Defence. And I quote from this paper: `Singapore's forces are the most advanced and effective in this region, making it a valuable partner for the Australian Defence Force in terms of peace time interaction.' Would the Minister care to comment on these external assessments, and whether the SAF is operationally ready, come what may, and that the SAF is more than equal to its tasks? That having invested substantially in the SAF, we can count on the SAF in a crunch.”
“But we also want to know that the defence dollars, or indeed the taxpayers' dollars will be well spent. We want to know whether the defence expenditure is cost effective, whether we are getting good value for the hardware we purchased. I wish therefore to ask the Minister whether he would elaborate on the measures to ensure that the defence funds are maximised in terms of cost effectiveness and the judicious mix and selection of hardware.”
“We must expect the unexpected. We will do well, Sir, to remember Athens, which despite its affluence and excellence, lost to Sparta in the Peloponnesian War. A democratic and commercial Athens was vanquished by a militaristic Sparta. Athens fell because of the lack of military preparation. We, in Singapore, should draw a lesson from the city states like Florence and Athens. We should avoid being driven or consumed by materialism and we should never, never neglect defence. We can also draw a lesson from World War II with regard to defence closer to home. We know that on 15th February 1942, it was a day of infamy for the British. On that day, the British surrendered to the Japanese at the Ford factory at Bukit Timah. As Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister declared at that time, it was the `worst disaster'. It was too late, too little. I am glad that the Government in Singapore is giving high priority to defence. My question is: in view of the uncertainties in the region and the unpredictable turn of events and the nature of events, are the funds allocated for defence sufficient? If the Minister considers they are inadequate, we will be happy to oblige and support his appeal for more funds. After all, the defence allocations will amount to 4.6% of the GDP, still well below the cap of 6% of GDP declared earlier by the Government. As a Chinese proverb puts it: (yang bing qian ri, yong zai yi zhao) "Train an army for a thousand days, for use on the day of need of crisis." We just cannot wait for the crisis to happen and then pour our resources or funds in. We cannot build and train an armed forces overnight. It will be too little and too late. Sir, we are all for defence.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head K of the Main Estimates be reduced by $100. Sir, Machiavelli, the famous sixteenth century strategist and the author of The Discourses and The Art of War, reflected upon the fate of Florence and other Italian city states, which fell prey to foreign invasion and occupation. His conclusion: "The first way for a state to lose its independence is to neglect its defences." And his advice: "The foundation of a state is a good military organisation." In other words, Sir, neglect defence at your own peril, especially for small city-states like Singapore. That is Machiavelli from the West. And from the East, we have Sun Tzu who wrote The Art of War in the fourth century B.C. And in the opening paragraph of his book, he proclaimed that: "Defence is a matter of vital importance to the state, the province of life or death; the road to survival or ruin." Sun Tzu's formula is not for going into battle per se, but to build up our defences in peacetime, and deploy them in such a way as to prevail, overwhelm or deter the enemy by strategic planning and deployment, or what we will call today, deterrence, balance of power or the indirect approach. Sir, we are in the tail-end of the 20th century. It is a time of changes and uncertainties in Asia Pacific, a time of paradigm shifts in the strategic environment. It is the most challenging of times; it is the most unsettling. It is as if we were in the birth pangs of a new era. The point is that the unexpected does happen in history. Few predicted, Sir, the collapse of the Berlin Wall or the collapse of the Soviet Union or the outbreak of the Gulf War. We must therefore in Singapore prepare ourselves for the worst turn of events, while hoping for the best.”
“Sir, I wish to thank the Minister for his very clear and comprehensive answers, and beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“The question is: are we doing enough for our career diplomats, many of whom have to stay overseas for many long years, cut off from home, and many are, at times, placed in hardship postings, where they have to be ready to evacuate at short notice, for example, from Cambodia? Will the Minister also kindly update this House on the appointment of roving ambassadors, and whether this scheme is successful?”
“Sir, I join my colleagues in asking about Singapore's position in the United Nations, which we know is a very good forum for a small country like Singapore. It gives us a voice and a contact point for networking with many countries from other continents. 3.00 pm Singapore has served notice that we will be running for the seat on the United Nations Security Council from the year 2001. I think this is a good opportunity for us to learn about the workings of the United Nations Security Council, which can come in handy in a time of crisis. I would like to ask the Minister to review and evaluate the roles of the UN and Singapore's position in the UN, in view of our proposal to be represented on the Security Council. I would also like to ask whether our entry to the UN Security Council would also mean that Singapore will play a bigger role in UN missions, for example, in peace-keeping operations. Sir, the roles, functions and overseas missions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have expanded by leaps and bounds since our independence. Our Foreign Service diplomats have to keep track of the fast moving regional and international developments and trends, and protect, promote and project Singapore's national interests overseas. Our national leaders are making more visits abroad and there is a constant stream of foreign dignitaries visiting Singapore. We are active participants in the United Nations, ASEAN, ARF, APEC and ASEM. Indeed, our diplomats are being kept very busy. In this context, we have to attract the best and brightest to our Foreign Service, train and groom them as diplomats and mark up attractive career paths for them.”
“Sir, I do not think we can expect too much, or expect constructive comments, from Mr Jeyaretnam on constructive engagement with Myanmar, which the Minister would expound. I think we should be proud that we have a Senior Minister who is highly esteemed and welcomed by so many countries, and whose opinion and advice are sought after. As a small country, I think we should be very proud to have such a Senior Minister. Sir, we remember that in the early years of our independence and economic development, foreign experts from the UN Bureau of Technical Assistance and other international agencies came to our help. We also benefited from the regional programmes such as the Colombo Plan. It is good that we are now able to extend our help to other countries. Though we are a small country, Singapore has played an increasing role in technical cooperation and assistance to other countries. Within our means and capability, we extend a helping hand to other countries in goodwill and share our resources and experience with our friends. In 1992, to give a better focus to our various programmes of assistance, the Singapore Cooperation Programme was established. I would, therefore, like to ask the Minister to give us an account of the technical assistance we rendered so far, and whether such technical assistance could be further expanded, thereby enhancing the goodwill and friendship for Singapore.”
“Sir, the ASEAN Regional Forum was launched a few years ago with great fanfare. A number of years have passed and the ASEAN Regional Forum (or ARF) has become bigger and grander, with more participants, more deliberations and more media coverage, for example, most recently, in Kuala Lumpur. It is good that the ASEAN grouping is enlarged and is engaged in dialogue with big powers like the People's Republic of China and the United States. We would like to ask the Minister whether the ARF is playing a strategic and vital role or is it just a glorified talkshop? Can we do without the ARF? To what extent is the ARF vital to regional stability? Sir, every now and then we read in the news media of flash points, contention or territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Spratlys Islands and the Paracels are familiar names by now. Recently, more and more points of dispute have emerged, for example, at Scarborough Shoal. Although Singapore never lay claims on any of these islands, or rocks, in the South China Sea, and I am sure we will never lay any such claims in the future, we may be affected one way or the other, especially in terms of freedom of navigation. May I ask the Minister on Singapore's position on such territorial disputes, and whether we will be much affected by such contentions in Southeast Asia, and whether the countries will take into consideration the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which came into force in November 1995, or is the UN Convention all lost at sea.”
“Sir, we are glad that Laos and Myanmar are now part of ASEAN, enlarging ASEAN to nine. We particularly welcome the admission of Myanmar as part of ASEAN, despite constant criticisms of Myanmar in the foreign press and in the West. I personally believe that the ASEAN approach of constructive engagement is the right one, which will lead to long term stability, growth and development for all in our region. With regard to ASEAN, I would like to ask the Minister, with the admission of Laos and Myanmar, whether ASEAN will make better progress or would ASEAN be held back by this new development; whether Laos and Myanmar would change the dynamics of ASEAN; whether they could make the traditional ASEAN spirit of give and take, and of consensus making, more difficult; and whether the internal equilibrium within ASEAN would be upset. Further, I hope that with Myanmar as part of ASEAN, Singapore's good relations with Myanmar will be further enhanced, especially in economic development and trade, to our mutual benefit.”
“Nearer home, we are concerned with who will eventually succeed President Suharto in Indonesia, while across the causeway, lest we forget, there are problems with Malaysia. The question before us is: what are the strategic changes in Asia and how do they impact on Singapore? How do we, as a small country, in reality a city-state, survive and prosper in the midst of all these changes? I wish to ask the Minister to give an overview of the strategic situation in the Asian region, and also a briefing on the latest in Malaysia-Singapore relationships, and whether there are any new developments, which he may care to update this House.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head O of the Main Estimates be reduced by $100. Sir, we are on the threshold of the 21st century and the dawn of a new era. There is an air of excitement as we turn and edge towards the 21st century. It is the most promising of time, full of opportunities and prospects. It is also the most worrisome of time, full of changes, challenges and dangers. It can be the best of times; and it can be the worst of times. In the last few years, the strategic situation in Asia has changed dramatically. Napoleon once said, "Do not wake up the giant in China." Sir, China has awakened. It is on the rise. After over 150 years, Britain handed back Hong Kong to China. It is truly a historic moment in history, marking once and for all the end of the British Empire and colonialism. Sir, all these changes will impact on the triangular relationships among Japan, the People's Republic of China and the United States. We would very much like the United States to continue its strategic presence in the region and play a vital role in the strategic balance. Many are trying, indeed, to find out what exactly will be the role of Japan in this new scenario. Some are concerned about the Taiwan factor, witness the high tension across the Straits between China and Taiwan. In this complex triangular relationship, there are the issues of China-US relations, China-Japan relations and Japan-United States relations. Will there be a Cold War between China and the United States, for example? There is also concern over North Korea, with constant reports of famine and breakdown. And in Cambodia, there are political upheavals.”
“Sir, I very much regret that Mr J. B. Jeyaretnam was not here to listen to the points that he raised, which the Minister has kindly responded and it was left very much to Mr Low Thia Khiang to interpret what Mr Jeyaretnam said or did not say. I would very much like to ask Mr Jeyaretnam how he could lower defence expenditure without expecting to lower national defence. It would be a wonderful secret recipe which many other countries would love to have and cut down defence expenditure without affecting the resilience of the defence capability of a country. Anyway, I want to take this opportunity to thank our Ministers for their comprehensive replies and beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $5,703,242,900 for Head K ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $418,000,000 for Head K ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head N -”
“Sir, this year we read with sadness the unexpected explosion of an artillery shell in an SAF exercise in New Zealand, which killed two of our National Servicemen. Subsequently, there was another death at the live firing area in Pasir Laba and a number of injuries. The Committee of Inquiry on the New Zealand incident has completed its reports, and the Ministry of Defence has carefully reviewed various procedures and made safety the top priority in training. Military training has to be tough and realistic. On the other hand, training should emphasise safety, and all necessary precaution should be taken. Parents are naturally concerned about safety in training and the well-being of their sons in National Service. I would like to ask the Minister to update us on safety in training and whether any other measures can be instituted to ensure safety in training for our National Servicemen.”
“Sir, all of us know that SAF trains seriously for operations. It has invested wisely in the right mix of hardware and given top priority to the training of our officers and men, with emphasis on the state-of-the-art technology, mobility, firepower and intelligence. The SAF trains locally as well as overseas, in realistic live-firing exercises. I am sure the SAF is able and ready, operationally ready, for any emergency, as the DPM has said, ready to defend our national interests and integrity. To reflect this state of readiness, we have rightly renamed the reservists as operationally ready National Servicemen. However, some sceptics still think that the SAF does not have the capability to operate in major scenarios that may face our country. Recently, however, I came across an interesting article in Parameters, a quarterly periodical of the United States Army College, published in the Spring of 1997. The article was written by D. R. Dillon, a Southeast Asian Foreign Area Officer serving in the Pentagon. In the article, entitled "Contemporary Security Challenges in Southeast Asia", Dillon states, and I quote: "Singapore set about turning its tiny post-colonial military into the most competent armed force in Southeast Asia . Singapore's ground forces are considerably more competent tactically than those of its neighbours . Singapore's equipment, personnel, training, and overall readiness are considered the best in Southeast Asia". And this is not from our Pioneer magazine, mind you, but from a Pentagon specialist writing in Parameters. I would therefore like to ask the Minister to comment in this context the readiness of the SAF and whether we are ready and able to deal with any crisis or scenario.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, I want to thank the Deputy Prime Minister for his reply. I will go on to the next item, that is, on National Service. Sir, this year, we celebrate 30 years of National Service. National Service has indeed become an institution, a national institution. Parents and sons have accepted National Service as part of nation building, as part of growing up, and as part of character building. National Service is now very much part of Singapore's culture. Whatever our background or station in life, we all serve in National Service. It promotes and enhances national cohesion and bonding. Indeed, we now have second generation of National Servicemen. The sons of the first generation of National Servicemen have served or are serving in National Service. I have myself served in National Service and I am sure many of my colleagues here in this Chamber have done so. My elder son has just completed his National Service this year and my second son went for his pre-enlistment check-up only yesterday. I must say he went for his pre-enlistment check-up with enthusiasm and excitement. He is looking forward to National Service, to follow the footsteps of his father and his elder brother. Sir, thirty years is a fairly long time in the context of Singapore. It is time for us to take stock of National Service, review the trends and developments, for example, how the smaller birth rates affect our manpower requirements in the Armed Forces. I would therefore like to ask the Minister to give us an overview, and his comments on the future trends of National Service, whether there can be even better recognition and appreciation of our National Servicemen and their contributions to the nation.”
“Sir, way before National Education became a catch phrase in Singapore, MINDEF has already established a National Education Department, and a National Education programme, promoting understanding and appreciation of our national interests, our national history and our Singaporean way of life, and enhancing the support for National Service and our national defence policies. Now, of course, the focus on National Education has shifted to the schools and the Ministry of Education. We should, however, not forget that the pioneer in all this is MINDEF. The schools and other Ministries should learn from this unique MINDEF experience. I would like to ask whether the Minister would let us know of MINDEF's plan for National Education and Total Defence in the context of the wider National Education programme in Singapore. Sir, last year, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence announced the establishment of the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS), which is located at the NTU campus. In my view, IDSS has a vital role to play in strategic review and analysis. It can play a special role in research and in the teaching of both our military officers as well as civilian students on campus. IDSS can put Singapore on the strategic map by networking with the established defence and strategic institutes in Asia, Europe, Australia and the United States of America. Most encouraging of all is that the IDSS is scheduled to conduct a Master's degree in strategic studies. I would like to ask the Minister whether the IDSS is making good progress and is meeting the targets and expectations. I would also like to ask when the Master's programme will start and whether the professors have been appointed, and the post-graduate students selected.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head K of the Main Estimates be reduced by $100. Sir, defence relations with other countries are, I believe, important pillars of our defence policy and strategy. Good bilateral and multi-lateral defence relations will enable us to have joint military exercises. Through such joint military exercises, we can train our officers and men, stretch their capabilities, hone their skills and test our doctrines. Such defence relationships will also give us access to the important training areas overseas. I have in mind our bilateral defence relationships with our immediate ASEAN neighbours and the Five Power Defence Arrangements, which were set up many years ago. I therefore would like to ask the Minister on the state of our defence relations with other countries and how such defence relations could be further enhanced and deepened in the future to our mutual benefit. Sir, moving on to the next item, the concept of Total Defence was inaugurated by the Ministry of Defence a few years ago. MINDEF rightly believes that defence is comprehensive and indivisible, and for our very own survival and security, we must adopt a total, integrated approach in defence. I believe an invincible defence strategy would have to encompass not only military defence but also civil defence, economic defence, social defence and psychological defence. In my view, MINDEF is doing very well indeed in promoting and marketing Total Defence. It is now a household word. Indeed, MINDEF is the pioneer in Singapore in terms of National Education.”
“It is only through skills upgrading, productivity enhancement and full employment that we will be able to improve our standard of living, especially for those low skilled and lowly educated workers. We know that the open-door policies of China, India and other developing countries have intensified competition in the field of labour-intensive industries. If we want to constantly improve our standard of living, I personally feel that the only way is to have full employment and to improve the skills of our workers.”
“We will then be faced with the same problem as the European countries. So we must ensure that at least 50% of our workers in our workforce undergo training or retraining programmes. Next, we must have proper educational guidance so that our people can understand the need of training and retraining. They must be willing to sacrifice a few hours every evening to ensure they remain employable for the next 10 to 20 years. At present, our workers claim that they cannot afford the time to go for training or retraining because they need to work overtime or take up two jobs to make ends meet. Therefore, our training programmes must be made flexible in terms of time and contents (so as to meet the needs and the time of the workers) to help them overcome their problems. When we talk about training fund, the Government has told us that money is not the problem. In Singapore's situation, we have enough funds. Since money is not a problem, the real problem is whether the money has been properly allocated. I think in our Budget, it has not been very clearly indicated as to how we are going to help our workers and employers to undergo the training programme. I would suggest that we set up a National Centre for Training, with financial support from the Government. Since the Government is so generous to train our present students through the Edusave top-up, I think we should also seriously consider setting up a personal skills training savings account for each of our workers. In short, the NTUC's suggestion is that the Government and the employers should set up a nation-wide coordinating centre for continuous training for our workers until they reach their retirement age.”
“Although for the past 18 years we have been rated as the most competitive labour workforce by BERI, in terms of technical skills, we are ranked 39th; in terms of motivation, we are ranked 12th; and in terms of workers' ability to accept changes, we are ranked 7th. As such, when we talk about training or retraining of our workers, it is not only technical training but also training on teamwork, work attitude and other aspects of human conduct and behaviour. The Singapore Standards and Productivity Board, trade unions, and EDB have been providing some ad hoc training programmes. I think we should set up a coordinating centre for continuing education and training. The NTUC has considered this very seriously. One of the problems we encounter is that our workers were educated in different language streams. We have to encourage them to learn English before they go for skills training courses. This is very difficult. For those who are above 40, I think we should have a nation-wide standard evaluation system to ascertain their skill levels and to upgrade their skills accordingly. Some Members have talked about the bus drivers. Like workers in some industries, they can only work up to the age of 45. We have to help them find a suitable job later by providing them with career guidance as to what kind of jobs are high in demand in Singapore, and whether these jobs are suitable for them. Therefore, a coordinating centre would be needed to do the study and investigation on the needs of different trades and industries, and the training required. Perhaps we can set a certain quota or criteria on how many workers we want to train or retrain per year. Otherwise, it may be too late to train the unemployed when structural unemployment occurs in Singapore.”
“We must maintain our competitiveness and to ensure Singapore's full employment situation. Under such a situation, even if the unions do not ask for a wage increase, the employers will take the initiative to offer wage increase. We must understand that we may not be able to enjoy a full employment situation forever. Take, Switzerland, for example. They have been enjoying 30 years of full-employment, but now they are also facing high unemployment problems. Even when our economy is good, the Minister for Finance and all the other Government agencies must constantly review and implement policies to encourage workers to continuously upgrade their skills. According to our report on retrenched workers, from 1987 to 1996, the number of retrenched workers in Singapore rose from 3,600 to 11,000. Most of these people are above the age of 40 who have a lower educational level. They are unable to find an alternative job that pays the same salary. If you want them to go for training, they have problems too. A few Members have already touched on this. I will not repeat here. According to statistics from the Skills Development Fund, there are 700,000 workers in Singapore above the age of 40, and among them 56%, or 400,000, did not complete their secondary education. So our main task ahead is to encourage this category of workers to continue upgrading their skills to ensure life-long employability. Regarding this, I believe the Government has certain schemes in place already. But I personally feel that the Government has not done enough.”
“For example, in France, the unemployment rate is 12.6% and structural unemployment accounts for 9.7%. In Switzerland, of the 5.3% unemployment rate, 3% is structural in nature. Why should there be structural unemployment? Different economies have different theories. But according to the Report I have received, the three main factors are, first, in the economic context, the technological demand and employment demand are not properly coordinated. In other words, some workers above the age of 40 who have lower educational qualification cannot find suitable employment. In the meantime, many companies are upgrading and restructuring and they need more skilled workers. But those unemployed are not able to meet the requirements of employers. That has thus resulted in structural unemployment. The other factor is that the unemployed have to share the job with existing workers. In other words, existing workers have to shorten their working hours so as to share their work with the unemployed. Sometimes, two jobs are shared among three workers. However, despite shorter working hours, the workers and the unions are not prepared to accept lower wages. The companies are having difficulty resolving this problem. The most `fatal' factor is the existing rigid welfare system in these countries which has resulted in the Government having to spend more when unemployment rate is high. However, the Government does not have the extra money to spend. With high unemployment, the Government wants to step in to train and retrain these people, but there is not enough money to conduct the necessary training programmes. When we talk about the Singapore Budget, we must not forget that as a trade union leader, our most important job is to help our workers generally.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, each Town Council has to decide, within its boundaries, how best to harmonise different rates. For example, my Bukit Timah Town Council has five former Town Councils within our current purview and we have to harmonise all the rates after the general election. We will try our best to harmonise in such a way that it would be fair to all residents, and we will take a benchmark and add on the new rates, bearing in mind the Government grants. So there will be minor differences. But on the whole I think the effect will be cushioned by the Government grant. But definitely, from area to area, each Town Council can make its own adjustment and decide on its own how best to serve the residents and how best to peg it. Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon (Bukit Timah)( In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, first of all, let me congratulate the Minister for Finance for a "pro-people Budget" which benefits the lower income group. However, while adopting these "pro-people" policies, we must also remind our people that they should not take our present economic successes for granted. They must not forget to keep on improving their skills to ensure their life-long employability, and to assist Singapore maintain its leading position in a competitive global economy. When we are debating the Budget, we are very calm and relaxed in our discussion. But, according to my colleagues who have just returned to Singapore, they are apprehensive of the economic problems of countries which they have just visited. Recently, the NTUC sent a study mission to 3 countries in Europe, ie, Switzerland, France and Germany. According to its Report, which captures my attention, the unemployment situation in Europe is very serious. The unemployment problem is mainly structural in nature.”
“In other words, the net result will be that with the matching Government grants, the 1-, 2- and 3-room flats need not pay more from their pockets in the revision of S&C rates. Any such increase will be matched and indeed cushioned by the generous Government grants. The PAP Town Councils wish to play its part and cushion any increase for the residents, despite the rising costs. For the 4-room flats which will receive $4 per month S&C Government grant, there will be some minimal increase above the $4 grant. The full details will be announced in the next few weeks by the Town Councils. Sir, furthermore, the PAP Town Councils will continue to contain operational costs, maximize economies of scale, mechanize the cleaning operations and cut down our dependence on manpower. And I hope our own residents will help us by keeping the estates clean and beautiful, and thereby keep the cost of maintenance down. Sir, I support the Budget presented by the Minister for Finance.”
“For those of us on the ground managing Town Councils, and for the HDB residents, it is indeed good news, and I must say it is a surprise to us. We did not expect such generous grants at this point. Though it is a surprise, we are nevertheless very thankful and appreciative, and much encouraged by the support given by the Government for the lower income groups in the 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-room HDB flats. Sir, it is not just those in the business sector who are facing rising costs. Those of us managing Town Councils also have to struggle and wrestle with the rising costs in manpower, in cleaning and maintenance work, in cyclical work, in horticultural work, and in utilities and in water. My colleague, Dr Teo Ho Pin, has referred to them yesterday. The 14 PAP Town Councils have, therefore, no choice but to raise S&C rates from 1st October 1997. Otherwise, the Town Councils will be running into deficit budgets and there will not be enough even for the cyclical works and ordinary maintenance works. Our Town Councils have tried our best to hold back any increase. The last increase was announced way back in May 1993, over four years ago. Costs have gone up significantly since then. For example, manpower cost in one Town Council has gone up during the period by 21.5%, and re-roofing works in the same Town Council by 189%. However, PAP Town Councils will try our very best to contain and minimize any increase, and we cannot do less than the Government and will likewise take special care of the lower income groups. The PAP Town Councils pledge not to raise S&C rates for 1-, 2- and 3-room HDB flats beyond the Government S&C grants of $3 for 1-room HDB flats, $4 for 2-room HDB flats and $5.50 for 3-room HDB flats.”
“Well, some have called this a "delayed budget", but perhaps an "interim" budget will be more appropriate. Better measures may come later on. However, some want these measures to be effected earlier. In any case, I hope our Minister for Finance will take this into consideration. On the whole, I agree with my colleague, Mr Bernard Chen, that we should learn from Hong Kong. Many of us who have visited Hong Kong on business are impressed by the enterprise, creativeness, the self-reliance and self-sufficiency of the people of Hong Kong. Singaporeans should learn from Hong Kong. They are enterprising, they are resilient. If anything goes wrong with their business, they would not blame the government. They blame themselves; they blame on bad luck. They go and consult all sorts of people to improve their luck and they try again. They try new and better methods. They are resilient. They are self-sufficient. We, in Singapore, should borrow a leaf from their book and learn from them. On the ground, the people are most pleased with the generous utilities rebates, S&C rebates, rental rebates and the special S&C grants announced by the Minister for Finance. These, I believe, will definitely go a long way to help the lower income groups and it demonstrates again that we have a caring Government that is concerned about the well-being of the people. Speaking on behalf of the residents and the 14 PAP Town Councils, as the Coordinating Chairman of the PAP Town Council Committee, I wish to thank the Government for giving S&C grants of $3 per month for 1-room HDB flats, $4 for 2-room HDB flats, $5.50 for 3-room HDB flats, and $4 for 4-room HDB flats. These are indeed very generous grants from the Government.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Budget presented by the Minister for Finance. Sir, I agree with my colleague, Mr Seng Han Thong, that workers in Singapore have a bright future and a better tomorrow to look forward to. Year in and year out, we have good budget presentations by our Minister for Finance, and this year, it is no exception. It is indeed a good Budget. Taxpayers welcome the 10% rebate on income tax payable, and the increased child and wife reliefs. On top of this, there are the CPF Medisave Top-Up and Pre-Medisave Top-Up Schemes. There is also an increase in parents' relief for taxpayers who are living with their parents. Sir, all these show that the Government cares for our people, especially the senior citizens. The Government is indeed doing everything possible to encourage filial piety and to promote Asian values in our country. In the private sector, those in the financial services sector are most happy with the new tax concession, and companies expanding overseas in their efforts to regionalise will definitely benefit from the Overseas Enterprise Incentive scheme. There is no doubt that it is a good Budget. Of course, some in the business sector are asking whether more could be done to give a boost to private enterprise, especially now when many of the companies are facing the twin problems of increasing business cost and increasing competition. The business sectors, particularly the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), are hoping for more measures to boost the economy, and some measures to help cut or contain business cost and enhance our competitiveness. Perhaps the fuller measures will come when the studies and report by the Committee on Singapore's Competitiveness are completed.”
“Sir, I support the motion standing in the name of Dr Wang Kai Yuen to thank the President for his Address. 2.02 pm”
“Sir, in the context of the recent Malaysian criticisms of Singapore, we want the Malaysians to know this: do not take us for granted or make us the whipping boy. It cannot go on like this. Enough is enough. We want to let them know that there is quiet anger in Singapore over this Singapore-bashing, and the perennial threat of cutting off our water supply. Sir, we should not be held ransom by such threats. I urge the Government to redouble our efforts to secure alternative supplies of water from other sources and other countries, and embark fully on the conversion of sea water. Besides raising the price of water to reflect its increasing cost, we should have water saving campaigns, which we used to have years ago, and rationing from time to time, to drive home the message and ensure that every drop of water counts. We also want Malaysia to know that it is not a zero-sum game. With goodwill on both sides, both countries can mutually benefit from cooperation and joint projects. It can be a win-win situation. With increasing regionalisation and globalisation, both can cooperate together to compete more effectively overseas. There can be synergy and symbiosis. The choice is clear. Let not the wrong choice be made. For young Singaporeans, who have not been through merger, the riots, the separation and early days of independence, this episode serves as an eye-opener. It is a lesson in history, an unforgettable lesson indeed in national interest and national bonding. We have through this, I believe, a new sense of national purpose, of renewed determination and of national cohesion and identification. We have turned adversity to advantage, and emerged stronger for it. Let us move on from here.”
“We then have to kowtow and ask permission for everything that we want to do. Is that what we want in Singapore? I am sure all Singaporeans will agree with me, we definitely would not want to have such a situation. We want to be ourselves and to protect, defend and preserve our national interests and our way of life. Mr Speaker, Sir, defence is not just about fighter aircraft, artillery, tanks or warships. It is about people. It is about will power. It is about total defence. At the end of the day, the people must support the defence budget and national service, and rally behind the Government in a crisis. I am therefore glad that the Government has announced a comprehensive plan for National Education. I must say, as a historian, that it is a bit late, but better late than never. We must, through National Education, inculcate in our young a sense of history and understanding of our vulnerabilities and potentials, and an abiding love for our country. We must anchor ourselves in our historical roots, and be like a banyan tree, standing tall and strong as a nation. This National Education message must go beyond the schools, to the workforce, to the trade unions, to the professions and to those in the coffeeshops, and even to the housewives. And ways and means must be found to reach all sectors of the population till the message permeates the air, and we speak as Singapore united, in one voice. In Singapore, we hold dear our multi-racial heritage and the common opportunities for advancement for all with talents, drive and commitment. This is indeed our Singaporean way of life. We do not seek to impose it on others. And we hope others will leave us alone, to pursue our own way of life and happiness.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join in this debate. Sir, 1997 promises to be an eventful year indeed. In just a matter of days, Britain will be handing over Hong Kong back to the People's Republic of China. This handover symbolically marks the end of an epoch, the last gasp, if I may say so, of the British Empire and the British lion. We are on the threshold of change, the dawn of a new era, of a new world order in the 21st century. A revitalised China after Deng Xiao Peng, with a resurgent market economy, will pose both opportunities as well as challenges for the region. Plugged into this is the complex triangle relationship between the PRC, the United States of America and Japan, with the attendant issue of Taiwan. There are claims and counter claims for the disputed islands like the Spratly Islands, the Daoyutai, the Paracels and the latest of all, the Scarborough Shoal, which appears in the newspaper today. There is uncertainty over North Korea where few know what is happening there, while trials and demonstrations in South Korea have captured the headlines worldwide. In Thailand, the Baht was under siege. In Indonesia, the recent elections were marred by violence, while speculations continue on who would succeed President Suharto. Nearer home, need we say, we have difficulties with Malaysia. It is an uncertain world, a changing and changeable world. The only certainty are change and competition. Sir, if history teaches us anything, it is that we have to expect the unexpected. In this uncertain world, therefore, we must never neglect our national defence. The SAF is the foundation of our State. Without a strong SAF, potential adversaries will just walk in, sit in the Istana and rule over us.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I want to thank the Minister for the very generous revision. I would like to ask whether the Government would consider giving longer land leases, 60 years or 100 years, to the aided schools. At present, some schools are on a 30-year lease.”
“In other words, permanent residents are more favoured than Singaporeans, when we are not certain of their loyalty. Therefore, I hope the Ministry of Education will find a solution to this problem so that there would not be any feeling of dismay in the minds of Singapore citizens. 2.45 pm”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head L of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code LD 1500. Sir, every year, parents try to give their children a headstart by enroling them in established and popular schools like Nanyang Primary School. Not all, of course, could be admitted to such good schools, as demand would exceed the number of available places. I am glad, therefore, that this year the Ministry of Education is giving the children a second chance to get into good schools like Nanyang Primary School, with a supplementary intake into such schools at Primary Four. This is indeed a good move. May I ask the Minister how many such places have been taken up at the selected popular schools, and whether the scheme will be extended to other popular schools. Encik Harun bin A. Ghani (Hong Kah GRC)( In Malay): Every year, during the registration for Primary One, many parents would come to meet their Members of Parliament to seek help so that their children can get places of their choice. This is so because parents nowadays take great interest in the education of their children. Being Singapore citizens, who are loyal to the country and especially those who voted and supported the Government, they want their interests to be given priority, especially with regard to their children's education. But at times the interests of Singapore citizens are being put to task when it concerns school registration for their children. As places in a school are limited, all those who have registered for a particular school will have to be balloted, regardless of whether they are Singapore citizens or permanent residents. In the process, some Singapore citizens are not lucky. Instead, permanent residents get the places.”
“Sir, I want to take this opportunity to thank the Ministers for their wide-ranging replies, especially the very welcomed announcement on Edusave grant and support for the special schools. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. 2.00 pm”
“Sir, in Singapore, neighbourhood schools have become very much part and parcel of everyday life in the HDB estates. Lest we forget, they have the greatest impact on our student population, who live mainly in the HDB heartland. I personally believe that we should constantly think of ways and means to upgrade the facilities and programmes, and encourage the students in the neighbourhood schools. Wherever possible, we should highlight the achievements of the neighbourhood schools, which are all the more commendable because of the uphill climb for them. Indeed, good principals and teachers posted to neighbourhood schools would have the greatest educational impact on the bulk of our student population. They can make a difference to the lives of these students. Sir, we have the Gifted Education Unit to run the Gifted Education Programme. What about a dedicated special unit to focus on neighbourhood schools, their problems, their needs and their aspirations. New ideas and innovative approaches can emerge to the good of all. The Neighbourhood Schools Special Unit could, for a start, for example, concentrate and target a number of neighbourhood schools and help to bring up the performance of the students in these schools. It would be a great encouragement, I believe, to all these students and will have also a demonstration effect on the rest of the students in the other neighbourhood schools.”
“Sir, the National Institute of Education (NIE) was established in 1991 and has been operating for some years now. I wish to ask the Minister for a progress report or report card on NIE. Is NIE on the right track? Is NIE meeting the needs and aspirations of the trainee teachers? Is NIE keeping abreast of the latest teaching methodologies, including IT methods, while inculcating in our trainee teachers the ethics and ethos of the teaching profession? More than just training new teachers, the NIE should be the resource centre for all teachers, a place where the in-service teachers go for intellectual discourse, for new ideas, for upgrading and upliftment. It should be the spiritual home of the teaching profession. At present, NIE only accepts students on Government scholarships and bursaries. I wish to ask whether the Ministry will allow NIE to accept fee-paying students who wish to enrol at their own expense, like other students of NUS and NTU. They may, upon graduation, apply to teach in schools. Others, eg, those in the NIE School for Physical Education, may decide to take up other appointments as PE instructors or coaches. Trainee teachers at NIE would also benefit from the interaction with a broader mix of students.”
“Sir, since its establishment in 1992, the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) has come a long way in upgrading its facilities and restructuring its programmes, and to focus on its role as a post-secondary technical institution. It has conducive campus environment, good staff, and practical and well-designed courses. I visited the ITE recently and was impressed by its facilities and programmes. What is sadly lacking, however, is the ITE's public image. Few people know about its new upgraded role as a post-secondary technical institute or its many facilities and programmes. Some shy away from the ITE. ITE, I think, has to get rid of its past trappings of being a low grade, low skill vocational institute. I am convinced that ITE has a good product. It should market it, sell it and raise its public profile. It should reach out to the students as well as the parents. Indeed, many of the students of ITE have gone on to the polytechnics and the universities. They have made it through the ITE route. ITE should therefore publicise this extensively, make known its market worth, and network with its successful graduates. If need be, parade the successful graduates and show to the world. In the long run, ITE should help to cultivate in Singapore a sense of pride, identification and achievement in technical education. This is the crucial role of ITE. It should enlist the help of the industries. In Japan and Germany, for example, those with such technical education are held in high esteem and they command good pay.”
“Sir, IT is the wave of the future. We cannot do without it. Those without IT knowledge or skills run the risk of being out of touch with new and advancing technologies. Few would dispute that the best place to start IT is in the school. I would like to ask the Minister if we are indeed doing enough to spearhead IT in schools. Can we do it more extensively, and at a faster pace? We should ensure that every pupil in secondary school, if not, primary school, would be computer literate. Learning with IT is fun and enriching. It can be interactive and at a pace suitable for each student. It can be used for remedial teaching. Therefore, I want to ask the Minister whether we could use more IT in teaching and learning and whether there are sufficient PCs in our schools.”
“To change a person's character and conduct requires a lot of patience and time. Teachers who come into daily contact with them are the people who are most effective in changing and reshaping these students apart from parents. So the focus should be placed on counselling through the teachers to teach the students and not to rely too much on outside help.”
“Of course, parents must discipline their own children but when family education fails to achieve its desired effect, the teachers who come into contact with them every day are in the best position to lead and guide them. So whether the behaviour of the students can be improved or not depends very much on the teachers. Ultimately, it is the teachers who can help such students. But with the pressure exerted on teachers and the limited resources available in the schools, I think the teachers, even though they want to help, may find it quite helpless to do so. Currently, the pastoral care also cannot help the students very much. I therefore suggest that: (1) The Ministry of Education consider spreading out the problem students to different schools so that you will not have too many problem students concentrated in one school. (2) Teachers responsible for teaching Technical class in Normal stream should have fewer periods. Their workload should be reduced so that they have more time to look after and teach these students. (3) Classroom periods for form teacher should be reduced so that he has the time to play an advisory and counselling role. (4) Counselling Courses should be conducted for the teachers. They must also know how to work hand in hand with outside voluntary bodies to help these students. (5) Apart from academic results, we must assess the students on their behaviour and conduct and give them appropriate incentives. (6) After the normal school hours, extra courses or extra-curricular activities should be conducted for the students so that they can stay longer in the school to do something meaningful, instead of loitering around outside the school. Sir, the problem of "problem students" cannot be resolved overnight.”
“Now, a revision of salaries for teachers has been announced, and this may solve some of the problems for the time being. Let me now deal with the question of problem students. According to my understanding, in the neighbourhood schools, the teachers are having difficulties dealing with problem students. These students are hard to discipline. They are defiant and they do not accept the instructions of teachers. Some of them do not even go home after school. After school, they will loiter around outside. Some of these students have parents who are busy working and they have little or no time to supervise their children. Some of these children come from broken families. They suffer from psychological imbalance. I think the question is very complicated and complex. You need patience, time, love and counselling knowledge to teach them properly and gradually rectify their wrong behaviour. Right now, the schools are facing great competition and teachers have overlooked the real problems of such students. Because the schools are paying more attention to results and the principals also assess teachers on their performance, the streaming process has brought about a concentration of all the problem students in one class. Teachers who are assigned to such classes are under great pressure in handling such difficult problems and producing good results at the same time. So the teachers themselves do not have enough time to counsel and guide these pupils. Some of these teachers are disappointed with these students and they give up on them and leave them alone. Some of the teachers even seek the assistance of policemen and volunteer workers to help them.”
“This school should have teachers who are specially trained in counselling and even professional counsellors who will be in a better position to educate and guide these problem students. Once the counsellor is of the view that a student has turned over a new leaf and is ready to get back into the mainstream of society, he shall be allowed to return to the same school he came from. Such an institution is similar to the Boys' Town in Bukit Timah. With this institution, problematic pupils can complete their secondary education and yet receive proper guidance to turn over a new leaf. This would definitely help to reduce the number of problem students in our schools. Over the years, the Boys' Town had trained and converted a good number of problem children into good and useful citizens of Singapore, many of whom were found to be very talented in various fields. I understand that the Ministry of Education has recently set up a Counselling Section at its headquarters. Once a student requests for help, the officers will be able to provide the necessary counselling. However, for one reason or another, the counselling service may be delayed. It may give the impression of "distant water not being able to put out a fire close at hand" (a slow remedy cannot meet an emergency). If we can set up a special school to enable the problem students to complete their studies in an environment conducive to their reform, and at the same time relieve the ordinary teachers of the unpleasant task and mental stress, it will also help to attract more young people into the profession. I hope the Ministry of Education will seriously consider my proposal. 5.00 pm Mr Low Thia Khiang( In Mandarin): Sir, the Ministry of Education has found it difficult to recruit teachers.”
“Sir, there are now 15 Government-funded special schools providing education to about 3,000 disabled children. Sir, we should help to train these unfortunate disabled children and do what we can to prepare them for life in the adult world. We have earlier appealed to the Minister to extend Edusave grants to these special schools. I now wish to ask the Minister if he is also prepared to consider giving special schools more support in terms of operational cost and funding for infrastructure and upgrading. Sir, we have some children with dyslexia in our schools. I believe that with assistance and coaching, these children can overcome their learning disabilities and maximise their potential. We all know that not every child can be a Lee Kuan Yew, but each can learn to cope, improve over time, and overcome their disabilities. Indeed, they can do well in life. I would like to ask if the Minister would kindly consider giving some additional help to these children. I am sure this will be very welcome by the children and their parents. Mr Peh Chin Hua( In Mandarin): Sir, in recent years, the number of problem students has been rising. I am glad that action has been taken by the Ministry of Education to tighten up the discipline of problem students in school. In primary schools, pupils are young and the teachers may still be able to guide and help the problematic ones. However, when pupils reach adolescence and are in secondary school, they may encounter some social problems and teachers who are not trained in counselling skills will find it hard to counsel the problem students. As such, perhaps we should consider setting up a special school which caters to the needs of these problem children.”
“Sir, the Education Ministry's Edusave Scheme is a huge success. I think it is a winner beyond doubt. It is welcomed by one and all throughout the island. The Government has, in this budget alone, transferred another $500 million to our Edusave Fund. I think this amply demonstrates the commitment of our Government to education and to the young people of Singapore. There is no doubt that Edusave is a good scheme that benefits the people, particularly the students from the lower-income families. Many of us have come across many residents in our constituencies who openly thank the Government for such a scheme. The question is: why not extend such a good scheme to a larger proportion of our student population? I hope that the Minister will seriously consider extending the Edusave grants to junior colleges, centralised institutes, ITE and even special schools for disabled children. I know the question of Edusave grants for special schools comes up every year. But perhaps, this year, the Government will consider it generously. There seems to be a new mood. Similarly, the Edusave Merit Bursaries, which made such a positive impact last December in many of the constituencies and throughout the island, should be extended to students of junior colleges, centralised institutes and ITE, especially when many of the ITE students come from the lower socio-economic strata of our country. I believe this will bring more students into the loop of the Edusave Scheme and it would definitely be a great encouragement and incentive for our students to study well and prepare themselves for life in the adult world.”
“Sir, before I proceed to the next amendment, may I have your permission to take this opportunity to thank the Minister for his very good response and very generous revision of the salaries of our teachers. It is not only revision of salaries but creation of new promotional posts. All these represent a major milestone for the teaching profession. I would take this opportunity to urge our young men and women to seriously consider teaching as a worthwhile and life-long profession. Some hon. Members: Hear, hear!”
“So how do you identify future successors for the principals? At the same time, we must also stop the school specialist inspectors from putting pressure on the teachers by throwing their weight around, treating teachers in a way that policemen treat robbers and thieves. I think this is against the principle of the Ministry of Education to uphold the dignity of the teachers and their morale. Of course, our teachers today have no right to impose corporal punishment on students. They cannot exert their authority over the students, and they often have to be confronted by the parents. In order to enhance the social status of teachers and their professional image, and to attract more people to go into teaching, I hope the Ministry of Education will consider these suggestions: First, revise upwards the salaries for teachers and principals to attract more young people to join the teaching profession; Second, enhance the promotion opportunities for teachers in order to make teaching more attractive and challenging; Third, publicise the professional image and enhance the social status of teachers; Fourth, retain ranking of schools but the Ministry should adjust the criteria for the ranking, so that it can consider the students in terms of moral, intellectual and physical education; Fifth, improve the working relations between teachers, the school, the Ministry of Education and the parents so that teachers can have job satisfaction, more dignity, and better morale; and Finally, cut down the administrative and clerical work of teachers so that they can devote more time to teaching. 3.45 pm”