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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“I feel that the Ministry of Education should go to the mass media to publicise the traditional virtues and respect for the teachers to enhance their status and image. I remember that in the early years of our independence, when National Service was first introduced, a lot of people did not like the idea, as there was this traditional belief that "a good boy will not become a soldier". At that time, the Ministry of Defence started a publicity campaign and succeeded in changing this wrong perception among the people. The Ministry of Education should learn from the Ministry of Defence, and put in more efforts to enhance the image of teachers. I think this is very important. I feel that school ranking is good and well-intentioned. Competition will lead to progress. But if you only go by academic results as the only criterion to gauge the schools for their ranking, then we will often overlook the efforts of the teachers in the other areas of their job. So I would suggest that the Ministry of Education set new criteria so as to prevent the teachers from thinking that despite all the stress and strains of their job, their efforts are not appreciated nor recognized. My next point is how to select good principals and vice principals. You get what you pay for. So we must adjust upwards the salaries for the school principals, and give them proper training to improve their leadership quality and management skill so that they can run their schools better. I think it is very important to note that without a capable principal, you cannot have a good school. In order to have a good reputation for the school and higher ranking, principals have been putting a lot of undue pressure on teachers, and the teachers are cracking up under such pressure.”
“We should, overall, hasten to recognise, respect and reward our teachers. Our children's future is in their hands. I therefore urge the Minister to take bold steps and make teaching an attractive career. Mr Peh Chin Hua( In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to talk about raising the salaries, social status and professional image of the teachers. In order to enhance the quality of education and to solve the shortage of teachers, the Ministry of Education plans to recruit some 1,500 teachers over the next 4 to 5 years. From what I heard, the response has not been very encouraging. I think the main reason is that with economic prosperity in Singapore, there are a lot of opportunities for jobs which are more attractive to our young people. Young people working in the private sector can get a pay rise of a few hundred dollars every year. When they look at the poor teachers who get a very miserable salary increase each year, they are only too happy that they have not gone into the teaching profession. Furthermore, the status of teachers and the respect they command are also declining. In the eyes of the ordinary people, and the parents in particular, the social status of teachers is very low. A lot of parents do not regard teaching as a very challenging and attractive profession. It is therefore necessary for us to look into the reasons why the teachers are full of complaints, and that it is just plain bad luck that they have chosen teaching as a career. They are always complaining that they are doing a thankless job, and they are not given the proper recognition and appreciation. They also feel unhappy that teachers have to do a lot of administrative work which is taking away a lot of time from their teaching work.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head L of the Main Estimates be reduced by $100. Sir, day by day, the world is becoming more and more competitive. We have no hinterland or natural resources. To survive and prosper, we have to depend on our own human resource. And this is where our teachers play a crucial role in educating and moulding our next generation of Singaporeans, in laying a solid foundation for our continued economic development and ensuring that we keep our competitive edge. We may have the best infrastructure, the most beautiful school buildings, but without good teachers, it will come to nothing. We need both the hardware and software. In particular, we need the human touch of the teachers. We note with concern the high turnover rate of teachers, especially among young graduate teachers. There are so many other alternative and attractive careers in front of them. And many of the older teachers are also retiring soon. Sir, our 22,000 teachers are the backbone and pillars of our education system. We should do something for them. We should do all we can to make teaching an attractive career, develop career paths for our teachers and open up more promotional posts for them. We should identify, groom and promote good teachers. The principals, vice-principals and heads of departments in schools are indeed taking upon themselves heavy responsibilities for the education and well-being of our children in schools. The principals are indeed like CEOs, each taking charge of over 100 teachers and up to 2,000 children. We should recognise their contributions and reward them adequately. Remember good and happy principals will in turn motivate the teachers and students in our schools.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I call for a division.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, if he had read it, then he should know where his stand should be. And in the absence of the other SDP Member, he should represent the SDP. I am sure he is not going to say that he has a superior paper in SDP. We will call for a division and he should state his stand clearly. TIME LIMIT FOR SPEECHES (Suspension of Standing Orders)”
“All issues are complex. But we are perplexed that he cannot come to a conclusion. May I ask whether the Member has actually read the White Paper or not? Mr Cheo Chai Chen( In Mandarin): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have read the White Paper. I have also read the report in the Chinese newspapers on this ---”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I think the Report is very comprehensive. It is very detailed and clear. But if the SDP member is not clear, then I think he is hiding away from the issue and is avoiding the issue altogether. He is not giving us the truth or stating clearly the stand of the SDP.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, if I may ask Mr Cheo whether he will vote `Aye' or `Nay' on this motion. Will he support this White Paper since he said that the SDP agrees to some of the proposals? Mr Cheo Chai Chen( In Mandarin): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have already made my stand very clear. This White Paper does not give very comprehensive and concrete details on the Government's plan. It is very difficult for us to make a judgment on it. If some of the Government's transport policies coincide with those of the SDP's, of course, we will support them.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, he has not stated whether he supports this particular White Paper. And honestly, this is the time to debate the issue. He is trying to run away by saying that it is not about the SDP's alternative proposal. Is he trying to say that he is ashamed of the SDP's alternative proposal? Or is he trying to hide the proposal because there is nothing to show?”
“Yes. Mr Cheo Chai Chen( In Mandarin): I would like to clarify. I did not say that by travelling at 50 kph it will definitely cause an accident. I am saying that accidents may also happen if a vehicle travels too slowly. Because of the slow vehicles in front, some drivers travelling behind may want to overtake, and when they suddenly shoot out, they may cause an accident. That is the basis of my argument. I am not saying that travelling at 50 kph will definitely cause accidents. What I meant was that some impatient drivers behind may suddenly shoot out in an attempt to overtake and cause accidents. Dr Ong Chit Chung: Mr Deputy Speaker, even if a vehicle remains stationary, it can also cause an accident. The point I am trying to make is that we expect the SDP to give us an alternative or solution if it disagrees with this Report. That is all I ask. Mr Cheo Chai Chen( In Mandarin): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the suggestion I made just now is a point which may have been overlooked in the White Paper. Many other suggestions were made by Members of Parliament here. Our SDP's report on the land transport system has also mentioned some points. So we are debating on a world class public transport system and not the SDP's report on transport ---”
“Or no COE. Or if you stay in Orchard Road, you pay higher COE? Or if you stay in Marine Parade, will you pay higher COE? Does it mean that if you stay in the Prime Minister's constituency, you pay the cheapest COE? This system will not work. And Mr Cheo, for all that he is trying to enlighten us, only said that the speed for pick-up should be increased from 50 kph to 70 kph. Is this the solution to our transport problem? Then it will be very simple. He said that by keeping the speed at 50 kph, it is causing a lot of traffic jams and it may even lead to accidents. May I ask: are there any concrete examples of accidents being caused by pick-ups travelling at 50 kph? If not, he should not mislead this House. And traffic jams are not caused by keeping the speed at 50 kph. There are other factors. Mr Cheo Chai Chen rose ---”
“Here in Parliament is where we should be debating national issues. And where is Mr Ling? He is far away in the Philippines. Is a foreign conference more important than a matter that touches the hearts and minds of every Singaporean, ie, land transport, something which we talk about even in the coffeeshops? If they do not go to the coffeeshops, then they would not know that it is the talk of the town. We must put our national interest first by coming here, and not all the way to the Philippines and running away from a debate. Mr Cheo said that Mr Ling is away. But does he know that some PAP MPs were also away. Mr Heng Chiang Meng and Mr Goh Choon Kang were away for another important meeting, a da hui ( ) also. We can say that this hui is bigger, geng jia da de da hui ( ). But they made it a point to come back in time. They flew back in time to participate in this important debate because they know that this matter touches the hearts and minds of all Singaporeans. So we want to ask the SDP, "What is your stand? What are your alternatives?" There is no point that, after this event, the SDP will again write to the newspapers and say, "Let's have another debate." It is always running away from a debate. And yet on another occasion, they will ask for a debate. This is the time when we come to the truth. Does the SDP have any good solution to the problems of land transport? I would say none. The SDP suggested that, in its earlier report last year, it had carried out a study and recommended that there be separate classes of COE bidding to cater for people living and working in different parts of the island. This is indeed woefully inadequate. How can you have a COE system depending on where you stay? If you stay in Bukit Gombak, does it mean that you have a cheaper COE?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join in the debate. I support the motion and commend the Land Transport Authority for a world class land transport system and, I believe, at affordable prices. I think no one, Sir, can deny that it is a comprehensive report, and no one can deny that it is integrated in its approach, and no one can deny that it is creative and innovative in solving our land transport problems. The report endeavours to give us more mileage and more rail lines, set in a seamless web of feeder services. Details and preferences will vary, but we must focus on the big picture, and that is, the Government is working ceaselessly to give us a world class land transport system for the convenience of all Singaporeans. We must also not forget to appreciate and thank the Government for the new financing framework which takes care of part of the financing for the operating assets of MRT. This is indeed, Sir, a big step forward and must be applauded by all. The point I am trying to make here is against this outstanding report and very positive proposals by the Government, what do we have from the Opposition? We have complaints. We have all sorts of negative reactions. And we have just heard Mr Cheo. He has not said whether he supports this particular report or he objects to it. What is his stand? He has not clearly stated his stand. He merely said that he would photocopy one set of the Land Transport Report of the SDP and send it to Dr Chen. But that would be after the debate is over. What is the use of a report after the debate is over? Last year, when the SDP put up its report and made a hue and cry of it, and reported in the Straits Times and Business Times of 27th January 1995, it said that it had all the solutions and wanted a debate.”
“For those who doubt our system of justice, I like to refer them to Professor Harald Otto Schweizer, Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Oklahoma, who came to Singapore in July 1994 to investigate the Michael Fay incident. He then wrote a letter to President Bill Clinton, stating categorically that accusations that Fay was forced to plead guilty were completely unfounded, as Fay had legal advice and a lawyer was present when he pleaded guilty.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, this motion before us allows this House and all Singaporeans the opportunity to clarify the issues, and put the case in perspective. First, Sir, I want to thank Mr Chiam for being pro-Singapore. I think he speaks well for the development of democracy and the growth of a responsible Opposition as represented by Mr Chiam. No one should ever doubt that Contemplacion received a fair trial. Contemplacion voluntarily admitted to having convicted both murders in her statements made to the Police in the presence of Mrs Aurora Navarro, a Labour Officer in the Philippine Embassy. From the time of her arrest by the Police until her petition for clemency to the President, about four years later, Contemplacion did not deny to anyone that she killed Mrs Della Maga and Nicholas Huang. In fact, while awaiting trial, she was visited nine times by Philippine Embassy officials and 68 times by a nun, Sister Gerard, from the Convent of the Good Shepherd. She had indeed every opportunity to disclaim responsibility, but she did not. The case was first heard in the High Court, then the Court of Appeal directed the High Court to hear the case again and to review any new evidence and, finally, the case was heard again in the Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court assigned two sets of lawyers to defend Contemplacion in the hearings in both the High Court and Court of Appeal. Sir, by any yardstick, there was due process of law. Contemplacion was given every opportunity to be heard over a period of time. There is no doubt whatsoever that it was a fair and just trial.”
“Sir, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“In some countries like China and Japan, hot springs are used for the treatment of certain ailments, as well as for relaxation. Why is Singapore not paying attention to the hot spring in Sembawang? Here I would like to ask the Acting Minister for National Development four questions: (1) What is the condition of the Sembawang hot spring now? Is the hot spring destroyed because of the construction of Gambas Avenue? (2) Is the water from the hot spring still being used for the bottling of Seletaris mineral water? (3) The site of the hot spring in Sembawang has been acquired by the Ministry of Defence. But I do not think the Ministry of Defence needs to use that land. Will the Ministry of National Development consider recovering this land from Mindef for the development of this place into a tourist attraction? (4) The former Minister for National Development, Mr Dhanabalan, had told this House that the Government would consider allowing private developers to develop the hot spring in Sembawang. Why is it that nothing has been done? I would like to ask the present Acting Minister whether there is any intention to call for tenders to develop this site. Sir, I personally feel that even if no private developers want to develop the hot spring into a tourist attraction, the Government should use Government fund to preserve and develop the Sembawang hot spring. Otherwise, this hot spring may be damaged and may disappear. It will be a great pity.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head U of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code UD 1500. Sir, I would like to commend the Parks and Recreation Department and the National Parks Board for providing green belts and parks for recreation. These parks should be linked up and connected into a national network of parks. It will surely optimise the use of our park land and maximise the use of our limited land resources. It will enhance facilities for walking, jogging and cycling, adding to the simple pleasures of life for all Singaporeans. I think some work has been done. In this regard, I want to ask whether this will be rapidly expanded to cover all the major parks throughout the island. Many are indeed unaware of this connecting network. I believe that more publicity should be given to this so that more Singaporeans can be aware of such facilities and avail themselves of the recreational outlet and connecting links so that we will have a healthy nation of Singaporeans. Mr Cheo Chai Chen (Nee Soon Central)( In Mandarin): Sir, Singapore has a hot spring in Sembawang. This hot spring is a very precious natural resource of Singapore. We are in the non-volcano belt and the existence of the hot spring here is indeed rare and very valuable. I believe that this hot spring is the only one that we have. You cannot find a second one anywhere else in Singapore. As such, we must treasure it and develop it into a tourist attraction or simply a place of interest for the local people. According to a report, the temperature at the spring could be as high as 70 degrees Celsius and there is a lot of sulphur and other minerals in it. This water is good for the treatment of skin diseases.”
“Sir, after a long period of waiting, the construction of a second crossing between West Malaysia and Singapore was confirmed. This will definitely help to relieve traffic congestion at the existing Causeway and enhance trade and tourism between the two close neighbours. I would like to know the progress of this important bridge of crossing between these two ASEAN nations, which I will call the "Bridge of Goodwill", and when the first vehicle from Singapore will be able to move across this bridge into Johor.”
“This Committee must also have an effective head or chief executive whose job is to direct and decide on the facilities to be built, so that they can be properly coordinated with the building of a new town where all the facilities can be introduced at the right time to reduce the inconvenience of the people. Assoc. Prof. Low Seow Chay: Sir, can I speak on the next amendment?”
“For all these facilities I have listed above, quite often the grassroots leaders and MPs need to urge on and exert pressure on the various departments before they could materialize. These facilities are controlled by the various departments. When the HDB builds a new town, they are unable to keep pace with the building schedule. This is a question of coordination. If the representatives of the various agencies do not come together and reach an understanding on the development plan, or if there is no follow-up action, then there will be dislocation, as I have already mentioned. If nobody kicks up a row or exert pressure on the departments, the facilities, like sports facilities, will not come about until very much later. I feel that developing a large new town is a big matter and it must not depend entirely on the Ministry of National Development alone. You must also get the direct participation and assistance of other Government agencies. There should be proper coordination to let all the agencies understand the development and progress rather than each agency going its own way. Certain agencies which are more active will do what they should do. But other agencies may have different priorities and so there is a lack of coordination. Because of this lack of coordination, the facilities in new towns, especially the smaller ones, which should be there are not there. In the development of a new town I feel that it is necessary to set up a multi-agency coordinating committee headed by senior Government officers.”
“Sir, Singaporeans generally wish to upgrade to better housing, from 3- or 4-room HDB apartments to 5-room or executive apartments. Those in HDB 5-room or executive apartments may aspire to own private condominiums or landed properties. There is therefore this legitimate aspiration and constant effort to upgrade and improve, and enhance our assets for ourselves as well as for our children. Property is, of course, not everything in life, but we should do all we can to ensure that there is a reasonable supply of private residential properties so that such common aspirations of Singaporeans are not dashed or that the prices would escalate beyond the reach of most Singaporeans. The Government should periodically release more land and review the building regulations, plot ratio and mix of housing in the various parts of the island, so as to keep pace with the changing profile and preferences of Singaporeans. I think the public would like to know whether all that can be done is being done and that they would still have a chance to upgrade themselves socially and in terms of housing. Assoc. Prof. Low Seow Chay( In Mandarin): Sir, I am glad that over the past six years I have been able to see the entire Chua Chu Kang New Town being developed so rapidly. However, living in a new town can be a problem. The facilities in a new town cover a wide range, including shopping centres, eating shops, public transport, car parks, schools, child care centres, kindergartens, police posts, hospitals, clinics, library, sports facilities, parks, and so on. If these facilities are not properly coordinated, we will not be able to provide the necessary services for the residents there. In some cases, you will not be able to see any service at all.”
“Sir, by all accounts, the Major Upgrading Programme is a huge success. The demonstration precincts in Kim Keat, Marine Parade and other places have served to whet the appetite of Singaporeans for more of such upgrading programmes. There is an air of excitement as well as expectation for the upgrading to come earlier, or as Dr Vasoo says, sooner, to their housing estates. Many are worried that they have to wait a long time for their turn, and also costs would go up in the meantime. I am sure the Minister would take pain to reassure them that they do not have to wait that long. For those who are not due yet for the Major Upgrading Programme, but whose blocks of flats are within 10-17 years old, they can be eligible for the Interim Upgrading Programme, which the town councils are helping to implement on behalf of the HDB. The Interim Upgrading Programme has also proven to be a winner. It is a simple yet cost effective way of enhancing the assets and living environment of fellow Singaporeans. The residents as well as the town councils would very much like to see an expansion or speeding up of this programme. Of course, many are very worried that they have to queue up and wait a long time and, as Dr Vasoo says, they want to have it earlier. I hope they do not have to say, tan chin ku, wait a long time.”
“Sir, as our population profile changes with the greying of the population, we need to do more for the elderly, especially those staying in rental flats. Many are very pleased with the Government scheme to upgrade the rental blocks for the elderly in selected HDB housing estates. I think the Government has pumped in millions of dollars into this very worthy scheme. Indeed, it demonstrates, in my mind, beyond any shadow of doubt, that the Government is committed to the care and interest of our senior citizens. We must, of course, take steps to ensure that such blocks for senior citizens would not degenerate into ghettos. They should be spread out among other blocks in the HDB heartland and they can be close to their neighbours and relatives. With the demonstration phase well in place, I want to ask whether the Minister would consider extending it to the other parts of the island so that more senior citizens can enjoy this advantage and the fruits of this labour can be seen by all.”
“Sir, the introduction of the Registration for Flats System for the allocation of HDB flats, I think, is a step in the right direction. As we heard earlier, there is, of course, scope for fine-tuning, but I think now the applicants can know roughly when, as a first-timer or an upgrader, they can expect to have their flats allocated to them. There is more certainty in terms of timing. The allocation system having been emplaced, the residents would now like to know whether they can receive their flats in good time, and whether the waiting time can be cut down, without, of course, sacrificing the quality of the building programme or adversely affecting the resale price of their existing flats. We do not want the earlier period when there was a rush and the quality went down. It is therefore a matter of balance and a matter of assessment on the impact of each move. It will be good to hear the reasoning behind the current HDB building programme of 30,000-plus flats a year, and to ascertain that what can be done is being done. Because many applicants are rather worried that if they wait for a few more years, costs will escalate and the prices of new flats will go up. Sir, can I move on to the next topic?”
“We have also increased the quantum of housing loan for resale flat which has further stimulated the demand. Those who are buying a resale flat near to their parents are entitled to a $30,000 top-up in their CPF account, and private property owners can also buy resale HDB flats. All these measures have stimulated the demand for HDB resale flats. As a result, prices of resale flats are going up by leaps and bounds. That is the reason. The wider the gap between the posted and open-market prices, the greater will be the demand, and so will the pressure be on the Government. I hope that, in future, in the formulation of new policies for HDB flats, we must remember that we should not introduce measures to further stimulate the demand for resale flats.”
“I think there is one other important factor which merits our attention and, that is, the big gap between the original prices of HDB flats and the open-market prices of the resale flats. There is a wide gap between the two. Take a HDB flat in Chua Chu Kang, for example. The posted price for a 4-room flat is $105,000 and the open-market resale price is $220,000, more than double the price. For a 5-room flat, I believe, the posted price is $150,000, but the open-market price is $300,000. For an Executive flat, it is $251,000 for the posted price and $380,000 for the open-market price. When you sell a 4-room flat, you have enough money to buy a new 5-room flat. So when you sell a 5-room flat in the open market, you have sufficient money to buy a new Executive flat. As a result, those present owners think that it is worth their while to upgrade to bigger units. To those first-time applicants, they also feel that buying a new unit is worthwhile because the price is half that of a re-sale flat in the open market. Why should there be such a wide gap between the posted prices and the open-market prices? Let me give an illustration. If there is no need to wait and everybody can buy a new HDB flat, irrespective of whether you are married or not, whether you are a permanent resident or citizen of Singapore, then the resale flats will not fetch such good prices. As a matter of fact, the resale flats should be cheaper because they are older. The gap in prices has spurred on the demand for new HDB flats. During the past few years, the announcement of several new measures has stimulated the demand for resale flats, for example, allowing single persons to buy 3-room flats and below and allowing permanent residents to buy any resale flats from the open market.”
“Sir, in the coming years, the CBD and city areas are expected to grow in terms of business expansion and development intensification, both commercial as well as residential. The number of vehicles and traffic volume in these areas will increase significantly. I would like to ask the Minister what are the plans for ensuring that the road network will be able to cope with the increasing demand or usage, especially bearing in mind that it is probable that we are not able to cater to the surface road traffic, what are the plans for the underground road network in the city areas. I am sure the underground network of roads would help relieve traffic congestion and allow more cars on our roads. This would possibly bring some cheer to the motorists and commuters and members of the public. In my mind, the Ministry should try to finalise its plan as soon as possible and release the pertinent information to members of the public, so that those who are planning developments, or making choices regarding purchases of commercial or residential properties can take such factors into consideration. Assoc. Prof. Low Seow Chay( In Mandarin): Sir, I would like to declare my interest. I am a member of the Housing and Development Board but my speech is unrelated to my position as such. Sir, last year, the Government revised the method of selling flats to the people and, by right, the waiting list should have shortened but, in fact, it has increased instead, from over 90,000 to 100,000. 60% of the applicants are upgraders, ie, those who are already living in HDB flats. Why should there be such a great demand? Some people feel that housing prices are going up everyday. The earlier you buy, the better.”
“Sir, I wish to thank the Minister for addressing the problem which was brought up by members of the public and Members of this House. I think this is a more equitable system. Of course, we cannot satisfy everybody in any system, but I think it is much more acceptable. I have just one question for the Minister and this is on the question of supply. He said that 34,000 units will be built by 1995. However, he also mentioned that we should not go to the extreme as what we did in the 1980s when we built 50,000 flats per year and we had poor quality flats in many of the estates. I wish to ask that, in view of the larger population base today as compared to the 1980s, higher aspirations, higher demand, and I am sure our productivity has gone up in the building industry and with better supervision, can we not raise the supply to, say, 40,000 or 45,000? Because it is not just a matter of changing the allocation system. The vital question remains, which is the supply.”
“Sir, in Singapore, the number of foreign buyers in the private residential property market is still quite significant in view of the strong overall demand. I would like to ask the Minister whether he would consider some financial measures, or other measures, which would help to dampen foreign speculative demand.”
“This drop in the percentage of the supply of Government land might be one of the important reasons why the prices of private residential properties still go up despite the increase in the supply of Government land. I would like to ask the Minister whether he would increase the Government's share in the supply of land in order to moderate the price increase for the private residential property. Sir, by increasing the supply of land to moderate the price is only one of the methods that we could adopt. On the other hand, measures which help to dampen the demand could also bring the price down. At present, there are still other policies in place if they are strictly implemented. I feel that they could help to cool the demand slightly. During the last Budget debate, the then Minister, Dr Hu, informed the House that the permanent residents (PRs) and foreigners are not permitted to purchase landed property. However, a friend of mine told me that actually the rule for buying landed properties by PRs is quite lenient. One could actually obtain approval quite easily. I would like to ask the Minister whether this is true and, if so, would he consider tightening this rule so that the demand could be slightly reduced. Sir, in other countries, like Malaysia, foreigners buying a private residential property require the Malaysian government's approval, and these foreigners are not permitted to take loans from the local banks. They are not allowed to charge their property title to an offshore bank. In doing so, they manage to dampen the demand from foreign speculation. Sir, this is only one of the examples which the Government could adopt to moderate the demand from foreigners.”
“Now, he has found that it is even more difficult for him to own a house and he may consider emigration. Sir, the quick rise in the prices of private properties would trigger some fear among the people that they would be priced out of a private property if they did not take immediate action to secure one. Some people whom I knew rushed into purchasing a private property precisely because of this fear. If many people think and act in this manner, the price will rise even higher. Sir, supply and demand determine the prices of private residential properties. In a situation like Singapore, the Government is the largest land owner. The supply of land into the market, I believe, has a significant effect on the prices of land and properties in Singapore. In the past few years, the Government had increased its supply from 2,000 units in 1991 to 3,000 units in 1993. These are approximate figures. The increase in the past three years was about 50% more, that is, 1993 would have 50% more as compared with 1991. During the same period, the market demand also shifted upwards. If you make an assumption that it takes about two years for a house to be completed from the date of the land sale, the 2,000 units sold in 1991 would then meet the demand in 1993. Based on the figures published in the Lianhe Zaobao on 27th February 1994, the demand for 1993 was 6,551 units of private residential property and the forecast in the demand for 1995 will be 14,753 units which will be more than double the demand for 1993. The land sale of the Government, based on this figure, only constitutes about 30% of the demand for 1993. But the demand for 1994 has dropped to roughly about 20%.”
“Sir, there is a high demand for precious land in Singapore, witness the rush to tender or auction for land, and the rocketing prices of land and properties. Many of us appreciate that the Government is releasing more land for residential and commercial development through the quarterly sales released every year. But this release does not seem to meet the demand for housing. There is a marked increase in demand for land and, in particular, many HDB apartment owners are upgrading to private properties, landed properties, or condominiums. We should make room to cater for the aspirations of these Singaporeans. I suggest that the Government consider releasing more land because the Government is the largest land owner, or has the largest land bank, so to speak. Of course, you cannot satisfy all demands and we have to do it gradually. But we should encourage the Government to study ways of releasing more land to cater to this growing demand. The Minister may also wish to comment on the different methods of land sales, whether auctioning or tendering, and which is the more equitable or effective method. Assoc. Prof. Low Seow Chay (Chua Chu Kang): Sir, the price of a private residential property increased quite substantially in the past few years. In 1993 alone, the average price increased by about 32%. Such a rapid rise in prices creates some concerns by people who could be the potential first time private house buyer. Many young graduates feel that the ownership of a private property, especially landed property, is beyond their reach. One journalist told me one day that he is single but he cannot buy a HDB flat. He said that he is already facing difficulty in the ownership of a car.”
“Sir, it is some time since the Government embarked on the demonstration phase of the Major Upgrading Programme. It has now moved on to the steady state of the Major Upgrading Programme, as well as launched the Interim Upgrading Programme. I think all these programmes show that our Government cares for our people and wishes to let them share in our prosperity, as well as to enhance their assets. I wish to ask the Minister the response and experience of the demonstration phase and steady state phase of the Major Upgrading Programme, and whether the maximum of $6,000 per unit under the Interim Upgrading Programme will be sufficient for the purpose. The Town Councils will be involved with this Interim Upgrading Programme. They will be handling the project, but the HDB levies certain charges on this project to the Town Councils. I would like to ask whether such charges could be reduced and thereby cut down our overhead costs. If the response is favourable, will the Government consider extending the scope, and especially the speed of implementation of this upgrading programme, because many residents in many parts of Singapore are waiting anxiously for such good upgrading programme to reach their estates?”
“Their friends who also have stayed for five years in a mature estate can have this priority, but they in the so-called non-mature estate cannot have this priority. Why should the HDB be so arbitrary in the definition of mature or non-mature estates? Sir, in view of the difficulty and frustration faced by many HDB applicants, I would like to ask the Minister to explain this balloting system and ask him whether he would care to modify it so that all will feel happier and maybe seen to be treated in a much better way.”
“Sir, I refer to the revised balloting scheme for the sale of HDB apartments. Sir, a large number of unsuccessful applicants are frustrated at every turn of each ballot, and continuously bewildered by the seemingly unfair system. I understand that the HDB has modified the booking system by giving a new household applicant better chance than an upgrader. But I have residents who came to see me at my meet-the-people sessions who have balloted in vain for the ninth time while their next door neighbour got it the first time. I could not explain why to them. It is very frustrating for those who did not succeed. One resident told me that this is a state lottery system. Each computer ballot is like tikam tikam. You pray that you will get it. Sometimes you do, but most times you do not, according to some residents. One cannot be sure when one would get it, unlike the old registration system of first-come-first-served. Couples waiting to get married have to bite their nails and wait anxiously, with no certainty when they will get their new apartments and move in. We should not, I think, test their patience and keep them waiting for so long. This prompts me to ask: what is the average waiting time for getting a new flat and can it be improved further? Sir, I understand that the HDB has a Residents' Priority Scheme to accord priority in the ballot to residents of mature estates, who apply for apartments offered in their own estates. I think this is a good scheme. But I would like to ask why not extend this scheme to residents of other estates, so long as they have stayed within the estate for five years. This is a request from many residents of so-called non-mature estates. They feel that they are discriminated against. They have stayed there for five years.”
“Sir, home ownership and assistance to the lower income group are important twin pillars of the Government. Home ownership has now reached almost 90%. What more, may I ask the Minister, can be done to assist the lower income group to own their own homes? HDB has started with the budget flats in Chua Chu Kang and Woodlands. May I ask what are the results and the impact of this programme? Will the HDB build more 3-room flats or use some other means to get more 3-room flats in the market at reasonably low prices? I further suggest that HDB tries its best to sell its smaller rental flats to existing tenants, through generous financing and discount schemes. I think we should do all we can to help the lower income group to own their own homes, and to help them to have a share in the prosperity and have a stake in our country.”
“Sir, Singapore has a large pool of foreign workers and we need them especially to fill the shortage of workers in the construction, manufacturing and marine sectors. But we have to house them in proper places. This will minimise any socially destabilizing factors. At the same time, it will maximise productivity. Proper housing will also enable us to attract good quality workers. It is important because the other regional countries are growing and there will be less workers available. I wish to ask the Minister if he has any plans to allocate land, as suggested by Dr Tan Cheng Bock, for building of dormitories, especially for large corporations, which employ large numbers of foreign workers. Or is it possible to allocate land for the building of basic, no-frill but functional housing for the foreign workers? Of course, we have to choose such sites carefully. They should not be in certain areas near to the HDB heartland where the bulk of our population stay, or should not be concentrated in one part of the island. 2.30 pm”
“Sir, I think more could be done. But I accept the explanation and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $62,990,140 for Head X ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. Head L -”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head X of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code 4110. Sir, I wish to speak up for our pensioners who have served our nation and Government faithfully throughout all these years. In the early years, when we were struggling for survival, and when three months' bonuses were unheard of, they had to tighten their belts. They even took a pay cut when the PAP came into power in 1959. Now, in the midst of prosperity, we should not forget those who stood by us through thick and thin. Inflation has indeed eroded the pension. We should give adequate adjustment to offset inflation. We are not asking for welfare benefits, but due recognition and adjustment to match the reality of living in Singapore today. I know there is the Singapore Allowance, but it is perhaps too little and I hope it will not be too late. 4.30 pm”
“Would the Minister state whether the SBC licence fees would attract GST? BG George Yong-Boon Yeo: No, it will not.”
“In this case, I hope the Islamic Religious Council could consider running similar courses to provide weaker students with the basic requirements to enter the job market, while keeping to our objective of imparting religious teachings. School dropouts have the potential of getting involved in anti-social activities such as drug abuse and juvenile delinquency. The percentage of criminal cases involving school dropouts is large. These young people will be entering the labour market as low-paid workers. And they will then be mixing around in the challenging world of adults. They soon emulate the adult way of life, enjoy their entertainment and, saddest of all, get involved in drugs and gangster activities. As such, besides the schools playing a role to curb the rate of dropouts among their own pupils, the Government, in particular the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labour, should continue to monitor cases of dropouts in order that these students will be able to receive basic education to enhance their skills in the job that they have chosen. We have to do something to prevent them from getting involved in anti-social problems. 1.55 pm”
“And in order to cover the cost of providing the services and activities, the Government can allow the senior citizens to manage and run provision shops or void deck kiosks as partners or as a cooperative. Mr Speaker, the problem of dropouts among primary school students has been revealed last year. The revelation of a high percentage of dropouts reflects our concern. The new education system allows our pupils to undergo at least 10 years of education. But is this system capable of preventing parents from stopping their children's education voluntarily? Or to deter students from withdrawing from school at a young age? No system can do that. However, the schools can play a role by constantly ensuring that the school atmosphere is attractive and beneficial to our students. Schools and the Government, in particular, can continue to play a major role for our students in order that they can continue to be educated without being troubled by financial difficulties or squabbles between their parents, by drug or crime problems, and so on. Our adolescents should be given a fair opportunity to continue to remain in school. We might not all have the same talents or social backgrounds, but all of us must have a fair opportunity to develop our talents and move up the social ladder. As I have mentioned earlier, the school system enables pupils to undergo at least 10 years of education. If their PSLE results are poor, students have the chance to undergo normal stream education at secondary school with an interesting range of technical and commercial courses using sophisticated teaching equipment like computers, etc. But what about poor students in the Islamic religious schools?”
“The cost of looking after and caring for dependent parents, especially sick parents, is much higher than the relief of $3,500 now allowed for each parent. The CPF Top-Up Scheme for parents should also be reviewed. The sum of $230 a month allowed for each parent is not sufficient, especially to cover the cost of looking after sick parents who need medical care. The Housing and Development Board should continue to grant priority to applicants who want to preserve an extended family or who want their parents to live with them. The Government should also look into specific cases where there are valid grounds to allow children-in-law or stepchildren to receive the same benefits. This will help to reduce the number of neglected parents. It is unfair to place the burden of looking after and caring for our elders on their children-in-law or step-children without giving them equal benefits. Indeed, there are cases of step-children and children-in-law having to maintain the family after the death of the main breadwinner or where the breadwinner's income is insufficient for the family. In this connection, CPF should allow members to withdraw their savings to pay for the tertiary education of their step-siblings or siblings-in-law. Mr Speaker, loneliness haunts an elderly person each time his children or grandchildren go out to work or to school. But the aged will not be lonely especially if they are members of the Senior Citizens' Clubs that have been set up in every constituency. It is necessary for the Government to set up clubs like this in every zone so that activities that would benefit our senior citizens can be organised. These clubs can be set up under the auspices of the Residents' Committees.”
“And we will thrive and prosper into the 21st century. Small though we may be, we will be counted and Singaporeans will be proud to carry our Singapore passports, not only in the Asia Pacific, but throughout the world. Sir, I support the motion standing in the name of Mr Loh Meng See, and thank the President for his Address. Encik Harun bin A. Ghani (Hong Kah GRC)( In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the motion of thanks to the President moved by Mr Loh Meng See. The issue of neglect of the old is indeed a heart-breaking one. The rise in the number of residents in welfare homes is an indication of the further erosion of Eastern values among our young people and is also a sign of the weakening of family bonds among our citizens. There is no truth in the notion that the richer we are, the more we will necessarily shed these noble values. Something can be done to preserve them. We need to act on the lack of concern among our young people for their parents. Young people who show such irresponsibility must face stronger laws or be made to bear the cost of maintaining and looking after the homes, to the maximum possible, if they send their parents to welfare homes. Besides upholding responsibility and fostering a sense of caring and love among our young people towards the elders through the school curriculum, we can also have more and more varied activities in conjunction with Family Days and other similar events. The benefits granted to those who are prepared to look after their parents should be reviewed in accordance with the current situation. Considering the increasingly higher cost of medical care and standard of living, the tax relief for maintaining one's parents should be increased.”
“When our youth do not know where we came from, or what we had been through as a nation, there is no sense of history. It is that much more difficult to build an identity, or a sense of belonging to our country. It is time, therefore, for us to change gear and address this problem. The Ministry of Education should set up a committee to review the teaching of History in schools, and make History come alive in the classrooms and let our youth know what is the meaning of history and nationhood. In dealing with the problems of success, Singapore can also learn from Athens. Athens, a small city state, was then the centre of excellence in the Greek world. It was the leader in philosophy, architecture, culture, trade and commerce. It was a great trading city state, with the Mediterranean Sea as its commercial lake. Like a dragon fly, Athens had its second, third and fourth wings in trade. However, despite its affluence and excellence, Athens lost to Sparta in the Peloponnesian War. A democratic and mercantile Athens was vanquished by authoritarian and militaristic Sparta. Athens fell because of its internal problems, fractious democracy, the unbridled pursuit of wealth and affluence, and the lack of military preparation. We, in Singapore, should therefore learn and draw a lesson from Athens. We should avoid being driven by materialism, or by the blind pursuit of affluence and consumption, particularly conspicuous consumption. There should be internal cohesion and democratic consensus, and we should always remain strong and never neglect defence. I believe that if we do it right, we can be the reformed Athens of Asia Pacific, using the Pacific Basin as our commercial lake and developing not only a second wing, but also a third and fourth wing, like the dragon fly.”
“The Government went one step further and floated Singapore Telecom, thereby allowing 1.4 million Singapore citizens to be Group A shareholders of Singapore Telecom. With success and prosperity, there is the problem of rising expectations. In the past, most were quite happy to move from 1- or 2-room apartments in Bukit Ho Swee, for example, to 4- or 5-room apartments in HDB new towns. Now, there is a growing trend for upgrading to private condominiums and landed properties. I remember in my time, we were quite happy to have Bata shoes. Remember first to Bata, then to school. Now, it is either Nike or Reebok and nothing less. This is well and good in that it motivates the people to work hard for the good life. But prices will go up. The Government can help more in this regard by releasing more land for private development, or accelerating the HDB building programme. With the prosperity that we have and the advent of the age of telecommunications, there are changes in lifestyle. Changes are part of life of course, but we must be watchful that our time-tested values built around the family, thrift and self-reliance are not eroded over time. The schools, together with the parents, can help to explain and promote our Asian values. Our youth should learn more about history and our cultures, how Singapore became a nation in 1965, and the blood, sweat and tears of our pioneering generation. Few know about the Hock Lee Bus riots, the battle for merger, the battle for Malaysian Malaysia and how we had to start from scratch after separation. I am afraid that History has been somewhat neglected in our schools, much to our detriment in terms of nation-building. Sciences should rightly be emphasized in the schools, but we should not forget that history is the soul of the nation.”
“Like a family, we have to prepare for a rainy day, or an unexpected catastrophe. The reserves should be built up to see us through a recession, like that of 1985, an oil crisis, or a world-wide prolonged economic downturn, or a protracted conflict in our region. As pointed out by Dr Albert Winsemius, former Economic Adviser to the Government, we need abundant resources to deal with the unexpected. Further, with good reserves, we will have the resources to upgrade our infrastructure and services, keeping a few steps ahead of our competitors, as well as invest wisely in overseas projects and enterprises. And this will give us the cutting edge and generate additional revenues for all Singaporeans. The point here is that the unexpected does happen often in history. Few predicted, for example, the collapse of the Berlin Wall, or the Soviet Union, or the outbreak of the Gulf War. We must therefore, as a nation, prepare ourselves for the worst turn of events, while hoping for the best. The Government should be commended for consistently avoiding the pitfalls of the welfare states of the West. The European nations, for example, are finding out painfully that the work ethic is undermined, there is no incentive to work hard and their competitiveness is down the drain. Instead of spending endlessly, the Government has rightly invested wisely and increased our reserves, while taking care of the needy and embarking on an asset enhancement programme for our citizens. This twin strategy allows Singaporeans to share in the fruits of our success, to strengthen their stakes in our future. The HDB Home Ownership Scheme, the major and interim Upgrading Programmes, as well as the sale of shophouses and hawker stalls, all add enormously to the assets of Singaporeans.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the motion standing in the name of Mr Loh Meng See. We in Singapore have another good year, a vintage year of growth and prosperity. This came about not by accident, but by the hard work of the people, by the entrepreneurship of our businessmen and the far-sighted leadership of our Government, all pulling together in the same direction for the betterment of Singaporeans. This internal cohesion and unity of purpose are essential ingredients of success, and even more so of continued success. But success brings about a host of other issues and problems. The Roman Empire in the West, for example, had to grapple with the problems of success. At the dizzy heights of its success, it was overwhelmed by new issues. Rome became too soft. Romans indulged in luxurious living and society generally was lulled into complacency by years of Roman successes. This ultimately contributed to the decline of Rome. We can learn from this, and do not do what the Romans did. Singapore, after years of prosperity, is also facing the problems of success, or the management of success. If we manage these issues well and are not carried away by success, or lulled into complacency, we will, I believe, continue to enjoy the prosperity well beyond the 21st century. One of the issues in the midst of success is the accumulation of surpluses. As the reserves grow, some will ask what we are going to do about it, and there will be demands to spend and spend. The Government has wisely put in place the system of checks on spending of past surpluses under the Elected Presidency. The ultimate checks, however, reside with the people. The man-in-the-street must understand and appreciate the rationale and purposes of reserves.”
“Finally, Mr Low has expressed concern that Government will quickly increase the GST rate after the five-year moratorium. I have said in this year's budget speech that the 3% GST rate could be extended well beyond five years. If the economy continues to grow within our medium term forecast, in the range of 4-6% per annum, and our expenditure requirements are not bloated by public pressure to increase subsidies and consumption expenditure substantially beyond present levels of GDP, there should be no need to raise tax levels, whether GST or direct taxes. In fact, as in the past, if revenue continues to exceed expenditure because of good economic growth and careful control over expenditure, we should be able to continue to return some of the surpluses to Singapore citizens, either by way of tax reductions, tax rebates, or via distribution of discounted shares in GLCs or in other innovative ways. May I suggest to Mr Low that he has nothing to fear from this Government except fear itself. We are not a tax-and-spend Government so loved by many well-meaning democratic socialists. Our records show that we want to tax as little as possible and spend only what is necessary, and to save as much as we can. These are virtues which have built great nations. Although we are small, they are virtues we would like to emulate.”