Ong Leong Boon
Singapore
“Sir, I am not at all surprised with the reply. In fact, it was more than one sentence, but the rest sounded like an apologia for what he could not offer. I am not at any time saying the Government is not doing enough. In fact, I started by saying that the Government has done quite a lot.”
“I am sure other sports associations - volley ball, basket ball, table tennis and many others - would also want very much to have similar facilities. The question is: how does one raise the necessary funds to build these centres? At this juncture, I think one can fall back upon the example of the construction of community centres.”
“460 shall be supplied to the Government under the heads of expenditure for the public services shown in the Development Estimates for the financial year 1st April, 1980 to 31st March, 1981, contained in Paper Cmd 4 of 1980," put and agreed to.”
“I think it is important that, in carrying out this scheme, consideration ought to be given to preserving some of these blocks because there is a social need for retaining them.”
“Sir, when I spoke earlier on, I refrained from going into the various details. But I can assure the Hon. Senior Parliamentary Secretary that certain well-defined injuries which develop later complications could be included in the guidelines. This has been a recurrent problem in our everyday encounter with workmen's compensation.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head R be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead Code RD-06 of the Main Estimates. Sir, I move this amendment to seek information on the proposed Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. I notice that there is a vote of more than $3 million for this Institute.”
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“Perhaps what is more disturbing today is not the exodus of doctors from the public to the private sector, but the growing number of doctors and dental surgeons who have left or are leaving Singapore to work or emigrate to Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, U.S.A, and Canada! I hope the Hon. Minister can produce figures to highlight this very sad and very regrettable state of affairs. The last comprehensive salary review for doctors was more than 10 years ago. Unless an immediate review of salary and service conditions is made, the future of the health service and health care for our people will hang precariously in jeopardy. As it is today, the hospitals are grossly understaffed. Work-load continues to increase. New hospitals and new departments are set up and with fewer doctors the work-load per doctor naturally increases. Some departments, I am sure the Hon. Minister is aware, are now running with just a skeleton staff. I am sure the Hon. Minister is also aware that departments are running with one senior registrar when there should be four, and two medical officers when there should be seven, and five housemen when there should be eight or nine. What incentive is there to keep the remaining doctors from leaving? Sir, private practice is attractive with every good prospect of earning multiples of the salary that institutional service offers. Most certainly it is preposterous to expect Government to substantially increase salaries to match the private sector. What can be done is to raise salaries to a more realistic and reasonable level and at the same time to offer fringe benefits such as housing. Housing for the middle income group in Singapore is without doubt its biggest problem.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head MA in respect of the Main Estimates be reduced by $100. Mr Speaker, Sir, last year during the Budget debate, I raised several matters regarding the future of the health service in Singapore and expressed grave concern about the decreasing number of Singapore students who chose medicine, dentistry or pharmacy for a life-time profession. At the same time I pleaded with the Health Minister to review salary and service conditions so as to provide better incentives for doctors and dental surgeons to stay in the public service and simultaneously to attract more students to study for these professions. Sir, it is a year since, and sad to say, no definitive action has been taken to solve these problems. I am alarmed by the degree of discontent and low morale among hospital staff. This has been compounded by the world-wide inflation in 1973 that served only to further aggravate the situation. To illustrate this, may I quote figures of the number of doctors resigning from the Health Ministry from 1970 to 1974? Resignations 1970 35 1971 44 1972 69 1973 67 1974 (January to March only) 53 These figures eloquently speak for themselves. For the first three months alone this year, 53 doctors have resigned. It is conceivable that by the end of this year many more will leave - multiply 53 by 4, and we will have more than 200 resignations. Sir, are we to wait any longer to see more resignations before remedial action is taken by the Health Ministry to keep doctors in service?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in reply to the invitation of the Hon. Minister, I certainly shall explain it to the Member for Anson. I would just like to put on record the point made by the Hon. Minister regarding the working hours of doctors in hospitals. I should hate to have it thought that, in actual fact, doctors sleep when they are on night calls. As a matter of fact, I think the Minister could bear me out when I say that doctors in hospitals work seven days a week, Sundays and public holidays included. And many of them go on night calls, at least twice, if not three times and sometimes four times a week. This means that they start work at 8.00 in the morning, work the whole night through till 8.00 the next morning, and continue till 2.00 p.m, the following day, which means putting in at least 30 hours at a stretch, depending on the exigency of the service when they may not be released until 5.00 p.m, the next day. 4.00 p.m.”
“I would be touching on the subject of resignation of doctors.”
“Sir, the main topic that I would like to bring up has been touched on by the Member for Anson. If the Minister agrees, may I raise it now, or would he rather prefer I raise it later?”
“Sir, I can assure the Minister that I shall point out to him all the irregularly placed road signs in my constituency and also those in his constituency. With regard to my second point, I think the Minister has not given me an answer as to whether he would make it compulsory for all road workers to wear luminous jackets at night.”
“Sir, I thank the Minister for his reply. Before the Minister gave his reply, I had a feeling that he would say those same words, that is, he would pass the buck to us and hold us responsible for pointing out the irregularly placed signs and also for pointing out a finger at some rascal for that dastardly work. I believe there are too many signs inappropriately placed and that his Ministry should hold itself responsible for making sure that these signs are placed correctly. With regard to the second point, I was asking whether his Ministry would make it compulsory for all road workers to wear luminous jackets at night. I am aware that some road workers do wear these jackets, but they form a very small number and certainly not most of the workers as mentioned by the Minister.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I will come back to the topic of road signs. Earlier on I emphasised that there was a need for improvement in the erection and placing of road signs at the proper places in order to effect better observation of the road signs and so give the road users adequate notice. I have said that the "No Entry" signs are sometimes placed in rather inconspicuous corners, and frequently dual carriageways have been turned into a dangerous two separate-lane traffic where you have cars coming straight on when they should really be going in the other direction. This is particularly true with the road junction at Havelock Road and Kim Seng Road where a number of serious accidents occurred recently and to which ample publicity had been given in the press. The other point which I think deserves attention is the safety of road workers and road users. Road repairs can be seen going on all the time, and yet insufficient warning is given to road users and that road workers themselves are not given adequate protection. Here I would stress particular importance on the insistence that all road workers must wear luminous jackets. This is made compulsory for road workers in many advanced countries. In Singapore, particularly for road workers at night, I think it would be advisable to impose this regulation. It is very dangerous for road workers to work at night. They pave roads in the face of constant danger from road traffic.”
“Thank you for pointing that out, Sir,I will come back to road works. I think it is abundantly clear that we have come across so many instances where the Public Works Department of the Ministry of National Development goes about digging up roads or doing some repairs. It seems to me important that where there are road works, the driver or the cyclist should be given ample warning of the road works ahead. Frequently we find that all of a sudden we come right on to some road works and this causes the unnecessary problem of traffic control. The other point which the Minister raised regarding the digging and re-digging of roads is well-known. The Public Works Department comes along to improve and to widen a certain road, next comes the Singapore Telephone Board to undo what the PWD has done, then PWD comes back to repair everything. Then the Public Utilities Board comes in to make some improvements. And then when the question is raised in Parliament, the Minister gives his assurance. And all the different departments go back to their work, oblivious of what the Minister has obviously assured. The point I am trying to drive at really is, could there not be better co-ordination among the various departments in this respect? Instead of having to dig the road three times, could they not plan it together and finish it at one go?”
“On the first point of road signs, I think it is evident to all of us here as road travellers that often-times we come across road signs that are inappropriately placed or exhibited where they catch the least attention of pedestrians or drivers. This is one aspect which the Ministry can pay attention to. Frequently we drive into a "No Entry" road only to discover that the sign was exhibited in a very inconspicuous corner.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, developing on the point raised by the Member for Sembawang, may I just join in the chorus on our road works and so forth?”
“Sir, developing on the point of increasing the number of units to be built by the Housing and Development Board, can I ask the Minister whether it is his view that the programme to improve or to convert one-room standard type Housing Board flats built some ten or more years ago will necessarily have to be shelved for the next five years? If so, will the consequent labour available be employed to construct more flats?”
“Sir, on a point of clarification. I believe that this committee to review aid to voluntary organisations is in many ways a product of the Ministry of Finance, and it is well-known to Council members that in actual fact even a senior official of the Finance Ministry was surprised to learn that the Singapore Council of Social Services was not included in this committee. I take this opportunity once again to appeal to the Minister to reconsider this matter. On other matters, Sir, first, I did also touch on the question of available facilities for the care of the aged and chronic sick. I am afraid there was no reply to this question. Secondly, with regard to the question of supervision or legislation to impose some degree of control over standards and facilities provided for by various accredited and non-accredited welfare organisations, we all know that there are a good number of homes that are run by the Government and the standards are good. There are also a number of welfare organisations that are grouped under the Council of Social Services, and the standards are also the minimum at least. But there are also in existence in Singapore a good number of purportedly called "welfare organisations" when they are, in actual fact, money-making organisations. I think something should be done to control these organisations. If we do not move in this direction, I am afraid, that the number of under-privileged old people in our society who are helpless will become subjects of exploitation by these so-called "welfare organisations".”
“Sir, I have requested the inclusion of the Singapore Council of Social Services on the special committee to look into Government grants to various charitable organisations. The Parliamentary Secretary has put the role of the Council very well by calling it a co-ordinating body. The Council itself, if it is a recipient, is not, I think what its name implies. It is not a recipient in the same nature as another society like the Society for Aid to the Paralysed, because the Council itself is a co-ordinating body, i.e, a body that is responsible for co-ordinating the activities of various voluntary organisations doing welfare work. If the Government recognises the role of the Singapore Council of Social Services as that of a co-ordinating body, then on the matter of award of grants or assistance to various such bodies, I think Government should consider including this Council on that committee. This is only a request, and I hope the Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary will look into this matter.”
“If we were to stick to the means test under the present scheme, then if a member under the public assistance scheme were to come home with a salary of $120, in effect, he will be receiving only $10 from public assistance. This is no incentive at all for anyone in a family to go out and work in order to increase the family income. The same can be said for those under tuberculosis assistance. I am quite willing to provide details of such cases. My intention is that in readjusting the means test we can, with the present inflation and high cost of living, also provide these poor and needy people with incentive to work.”
“Would the Ministry consider setting up a standard formula in granting aids to these voluntary organisations? A standard formula has been utilised in some countries, for example, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia, to good purpose. On the topic of a committee to review aid to voluntary organisations, I understand that a committee was set up by the Government last year to review grants to voluntary organisations. I was surprised to learn that the Singapore Council of Social Services which is, in fact, a statutory body concerned with matters relating to voluntary charitable organisations, was not consulted on this matter, and neither was it asked to sit on this committee. I would like, if possible, to find out the reason for its exclusion. Lastly, on the matter of public assistance, I think there are grounds today for us to ask the Ministry to reconsider the rates of public assistance. I know that this is an issue on which the Government has very definite ideas. We do not wish to encourage people to be passengers but, at the same time, we must realise that the cost of living has spiralled significantly over the last year. I can show Members concerned here that the public assistance scheme is certainly far below what can really provide for a subsistence level for the recipients. What I seek to find out is really this. Would the Ministry of Social Affairs consider a readjustment in the means test? This would, therefore, give incentive to a member or members of a family under welfare aid. We know that a family under public assistance can receive no more than $70 and another family under tuberculosis assistance not more than $120.”
“Thank you, Sir. With reference to the care of the old and chronic sick, I would like to find out from the Minister what facilities as provided by the Government are available for the care of the old and the chronic sick in Singapore. I would also be appreciative if he could inform us whether the facilities available are sufficient to meet the present needs of Singapore. If, in his opinion, the facilities are inadequate, what would be the Government's policy towards the care of these old and chronic sick people? Secondly, with reference to the question posed by the Member for Anson regarding the temple mentioned in the local press on the 17th March this year, what steps would the Government take towards the supervision and control of establishments, such as that temple in question, which purportedly take care of the old and aged sick? It is common knowledge that there are in existence in Singapore a good number of such places which are neither licensed nor under the supervision of either the Ministry of Social Affairs, or the Council of Social Services. This temple in question has, in fact, been usurping its name by charging its inmates from $50 to $180 per head. I think there is a case for the Ministry to step in to regulate and, if possible, supervise its activities. At the same time, it should also supervise the provisions for the care of such people. 6.30 p.m. I shall now go on to a second topic with regard to grants or subventions to voluntary charitable organisations. May I ask the Minister what is the present Government policy in deciding grants to voluntary welfare organisations? It is well-known that no formula is used by the Ministry of Social Affairs with regard to the provision of voluntary grants to welfare organisations.”
“Sir, may I seek your permission to discuss, under the present subhead, an item for which I have already tabled an amendment? My amendment* is on Head KB, Social Welfare, subhead AB 3001, regarding the Home for Destitute Persons. In view of the line of discussion, I thought if I were to speak now it would be easier for the Minister concerned to reply. * The amendment reads as follows: That the sum to be allocated for Head KB be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead AB 3001.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the Member for Jalan Kayu has a very important point which has been further stressed by the Member for River Valley. I rise in support of their sentiments because it seems to me that there is obviously more room for improvement in the Central Complaints Bureau, and this will help to cut down the number of letters to the press. I am not against letters being sent to the press, because I think people are free to express any opinion they like. But if one were to plough through the papers and look at the type of complaints that have been lodged - some of these are very minor -- one does not see any reason why this should be in the press at all. If anything, it gives the public and the foreign tourist in Singapore a very poor image of our people and, sometimes, of our officers in the public service.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, touching on the topic of colour television, I am amazed by the rather spontaneous reactions that we hear today in Parliament against the introduction of colour television. As the Member for Bras Basah rightly pointed out, last year there was unanimous applause for the introduction of colour television and this year a sudden reverse reaction, I hesitate really to say that we should proceed with colour television because, to my mind, there must surely be very good reasons behind the Ministry of Culture's intention to introduce colour television. But we are faced with the problem of international inflation and the rise in oil prices, and this should certainly be a new factor in our financial calculations. I therefore do not wish to goad the Minister for Culture head-on to the introduction of colour television. At the same time, I think it is appropriate for the Ministry to sit down and have a serious calculation, working forwards and backwards, to find out if in fact we should proceed with colour television. And if it is convinced that it is necessary then we carry on. The Member for Moulmein has correctly pointed out that introducing colour television in two years' time might mean a lot more money. We can foresee that if colour television were not introduced by that time, some Backbenchers or some Members on the Government side might come up and say, "Look, two years ago you were against it."”
“Sir, in view of the assurance and comments made by the Minister, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $60,949,880 for Head IA ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $49,094,800 for Head IA ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head JA --”
“The second matter which the Minister might like to comment on is with regard to the division of control on the hawker population in Singapore. We all know that the hawkers are divided into two divisions, one under the Ministry of the Environment and the other under the Ministry of National Development. This division into two categories has caused a fair amount of confusion in the eyes of the public, and certainly among some Members of Parliament. Occasionally it has led to passing the buck from one to the other, so that a hawker applicant is shuttled from one to the other and back to the first. To me this is an unnecessary problem. Thirdly, I think the division into two categories may give rise to a lack of control over a situation which I can well imagine. It is Government's policy to allow one household to own no more than one hawker stall, but it is well within their imagination and certainly very possible - in actual fact true -that some families own more than one hawker stall, one obtained from the Hawkers Branch of the Ministry of the Environment and another from the Housing and Development Board. With these comments I would like to thank you for the opportunity, Sir.”
“I think the provision of ash trays on all the tables should be made compulsory, and certainly litter bins or dustbins should be provided. Sometimes at some of these places you can even see rats joining in the race.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head IA in respect of the Main Estimates be reduced by $100. Sir, I move this amendment in order to provide me with the opportunity, firstly, to point out that the Ministry of the Environment, in its short history of about a year's existence, has done a tremendous job in the promotion of a clean and healthy environment. How else can I come up with this statement during Budget time? I have said it with the most honest intention, and I think we are immensely proud of the fact that Singapore is, and it is again and again being repeated, the cleanest city in Asia, and rightly so. Much credit should be given to the Ministry of the Environment. I do not wish to dwell for long on praising the Ministry of the Environment. I originally intended to raise certain topics but they have already been covered. I therefore intend to point out just two matters which the Minister for the Environment might like to comment. One is the hawker problem. The Minister must be well aware that at various hawker centres, particularly at night and I am sure also by day, there are inadequate provisions for ash trays, litter bins or dustbins for the disposal of all forms of waste. It is no consolation to the consumers, in going either to Hokien Street, Beach Road, or the Orchard Road car park for a meal or a bowl of mutton soup, to have at frequent times to wallow through a rather unclean path littered with food wastes, paper litter and cigarette butts. I believe the Ministry of the Environment has powers to impose upon the hawkers the obligation to provide adequate facilities for containing these wastes.”
“Sir, I rise in support of the amendment moved by the Member for Anson. I think there is a lot of merit in what he said. While it is right and proper for the Ministry of the Environment to emphasise on clean and hygienic measures in the preparation of food and the method it should be served, I think a lot of consideration must be given by hawker inspectors in their inspection of hawkers for cleanliness and proper hygienic methods used for giving out food to the particular type of food that is prepared. The Member has mentioned quite rightly two items, for example, poh piah and roti prata. To insist that this poh piah seller wears gloves is utter nonsense to me. Poh piah cannot be prepared with gloved hands. On the other hand, emphasis on the use of gloves is not in itself a guarantee of hygienic preparation. A person can wear dirty gloves for the whole day, dig his nose and ears, and the pair of gloves will certainly not be hygienic. The emphasis is that the method of preparation must be hygienic. In any execution to ensure hygienic measures, the hawker inspectors should use their discretion and intelligence.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am afraid the Minister has not given me the assurance that I sought earlier on, i.e, no new taxes for new cars and no curb on private vehicles entering the CBD just yet.”
“The Minister can re-direct that suggestion to him later. Secondly, he will not impose a ban on cars entering the Central Business District until peripheral parking places are available and a shuttle service introduced in the CBD. Mr Yong Nyuk Lin rose -”
“Otherwise, when they criss-cross, they will meet somewhere and that happens to be the Central Business District. I think this is something which can be fully considered and should be given good attention. I believe what the Ministry of Communications can do right now is to cut down on kerbside loading and unloading. Anyone travelling in the City today at peak hours or during business hours will notice that other transport vehicles parked at the kerbside add to the horrible congestion that we already have. As regards staggered hours, I believe the Ministry can take a more active interest in persuading the private sector to get this scheme going. Unfortunately only the Government and statutory boards have started this scheme. Before we stir the Minister further, may I seek assurance from him that he will not proceed to add new taxes on new cars, and secondly, that he shall not -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I comment on the reply by the Minister for Communications? I think it is particularly interesting and important to note his statement that we are stirring up the hornets' nest. Members here will agree with me that hornets are not always rational. If the Minister is a hornet, and if we keep on stirring the nest, then his reaction might well be irrational. Let me give two examples of irrational action on his part. Firstly, by trying to dissuade people from owning cars. It has been well justified recently in a statement by the Minister for Finance that the tax imposed on petrol was to dissuade people from owning cars. Secondly, a 30 per cent increase in tax on car sales. Now these two measures were introduced with a view to dissuading people from owning cars. I am sure the people will use public transport if it is a good system. If we have not come to that stage, let us not at the moment proceed with irrational action, such as introducing those two measures. Having said that, let me comment on a few other things. I whole-heartedly agree with the Minister that there should be voluntary restraint in the use of cars by cutting down unnecessary driving, particularly during peak hours which adds to the congestion. Secondly, I also agree that car pooling is something that is desirable and should be encouraged. Thirdly, is the Minister quite well aware that the third peak according to the car congestion chart is due to school children going to and leaving school at about noon time? This is something which, I think, the Ministry of Education can look into. Students should as far as possible be posted to schools within the vicinity of their homes, and not from east to west, or north to south.”
“Yes, they are bad rules. This is one of the reasons why there is a lack of demand for accommodations offered by the Ministry of Finance. It is not because the middle income group do not like to move into these fairly good flats, but simply because the imposition of a further 10 years' service does not make it an attractive proposition. If the Minister of State really wants me to help him draw up rules and regulations, then I, and I think not just I alone but all my colleagues here, would be more than willing to volunteer.”
“Sir, I think I should reply to the statement made by the Minister of State. I do not think it is too early for us to draw up rules and regulations. Usually rules and regulations are first drawn up before moving ahead with any project. Certainly the Ministry of Finance has never been too late to draw up rules and regulations. These have already been enforced. An hon. Member: They are bad rules!”
“Sir, in view of what I would consider a non-reply from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $22,957,170 for Head FA ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. Pursuant to a resolution of the House, Mr Deputy Speaker thereupon left the Chair of the Committee and took the Chair of the House.”
“Yes, and some lecturers from the Department of Extra-mural studies or the Nanyang University. If they want to join, by all means. Another point which I think worth considering right now is in regard to our institutions of higher learning. To my knowledge, 25 per cent of the student population in Singapore's higher institutions are, in fact, non citizens. It is worth mentioning that virtually the entire 25 per cent are Malaysian students. Figures have been given by the Minister for Education showing that a sum amounting to about $4,000 per student is subsidised. If we work on the basis of 10,000 students in the institutions of higher learning, then we have at least 2,500 Malaysian students. Multiply that number by $4,000 and we have to spend something like $10 million a year to train Malaysian students in Singapore. I am not against Malaysians studying in Singapore. I think we should have more of them. It will help us to foster goodwill and strengthen our relations with Malaysia. But I think perhaps we can think of dividing the available places amongst the other members of the South-east Asian community. We should offer places to the Indonesian students, the Filipino students and the Thai students. I am not suggesting that each country be given one-quarter of the available places, but that we should offer more scholarships to students from these three countries. Sir, time is running out, and I would like to hear some reply from the Minister for Foreign Affairs.”
“They know where to go. They can take a drive up to the West coast of Malaysia. They normally stop at Bangkok in Thailand on their way to Europe or to Hong Kong. However, we must stress the importance of travel to Indonesia and the Philippines, certainly to Indonesia, which is our immediate concern. Secondly, perhaps as a further step in our effort to promote ASEAN co-operation, I think there is a case for sending Singapore's professional men to ASEAN countries, and I refer more in particular to our local doctors in the Singapore service. [Laughter]. I am serious about this in spite of the laughter. I think there is a case for us to send our doctors for a six-month posting or a year's posting to some ulu part of Indonesia. We can probably achieve much more in this way than some of the airy-fairy ideas that I have come across. [Laughter]”
“Coming? I hope so. I certainly hope that with time we shall be able to see the true fruition of this big family of ASEAN. I would like to develop this topic a little further. Unfortunately, Singaporeans had at one time some connection with old Britannia and also with the English-speaking world. Therefore, many Singaporeans are extremely conversant with what goes on in the United States of America, London, or up north in Edinburgh, yet, the vast majority of Singaporeans are ignorant of what goes on in Indonesia, in the Philippines or in the Sulu Islands. To my mind, to know about these countries is more important for the future of Singapore than to know about what goes on in the North Sea or in the River Thames. I think there is a lot that this country can do to promote the awareness of ASEAN and to foster further the concept of regionalism. I am most assured by the statement made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs that, in actual fact, ASEAN is moving faster than many other regional gatherings. This is tremendous. I hope it will continue to move. But, at the same time, we also recognise that ASEAN has its own problems. We know that there are differences between Malaysia and Thailand. We know that of late there are dramatic differences between the Philippines and Malaysia and, I am sure, between Malaysia and Indonesia. Happily we have no real problems just yet. I think the promotion of travel is a tremendous thing. This has been touched upon earlier on. But I think there is more that can really be done. Student travel should be promoted. We have an effective organisation, such as the People's Association, which can sponsor youth groups to visit Indonesia and the Philippines. I am not concerned about Malaysia because we can just leave the boys alone.”
“On the other hand, I have also read some literature on ASEAN and I am informed that, in actual fact, of the original 100 proposals or more that were conceived in 1967 with the formation of ASEAN, not more than 10 per cent of these proposals have come to light. What has happened to the 90 per cent? An hon. Member: Coming!”
“These parties include either forces in and around South-east Asia or even some members of the powerful and influential West. I can therefore understand why Singapore does not pursue a positive or dynamic policy with respect to the recognition of China because we want to make it doubly sure that our immediate neighbours in this part of the world know in heart and in spirit that we are all the way with ASEAN and South-east Asia. I think this is correct. On the one hand we are very hesitant, and on the other hand, we tend to overdo this particular posture by coming off with a statement which may be detrimental to our future relations with the countries with which we have no relations at the present moment. Moving from that to other aspects of foreign policy, I would like to touch on our foreign service. I realise that we have something like five High Commissions and 10 missions overseas. Not all of these missions are headed by Ambassadors or High Commissioners. Perhaps this is because we do not have qualified people. But I like to think that somehow we have not been able to develop a degree of professionalism in our foreign service. This is something which perhaps the Minister for Foreign Affairs could comment. I also understand that there is a pretty high turnover rate of staff in the Foreign Ministry. I wonder if the reason is due to the unfavourable salary, awards of fringe benefits. I think members of the foreign service rightly deserve something better. On the subject of ASEAN, the Minister for Foreign Affairs has given us a very rosy picture of the status of ASEAN, and I certainly hope he is right.”
“Mr Deputy, Speaker. Sir, I beg to move, That the total sum to be allocated for Head FA in respect of the Main Estimates be reduced by $100. Sir, I have moved this amendment in order to bring forth my own views regarding some of the policies adopted by the Foreign Affairs Ministry and to suggest some methods for promoting certain aspects of our foreign policy. Unfortunately, most of the topics I had intended to speak on had already been very well covered by previous speakers, either under the correct or incorrect Head. Sir, I would, however, continue by saying that over the past years the Ministry has conducted its foreign policy, to my mind, with a high degree of imagination, and this is said not with the intention of praising the Minister for Foreign Affairs or other Ministers who have been frequently outspoken on affairs of our foreign policy. But I am frequently amused and befuddled with, on the one hand, the expression of Singapore's intention of wanting to remain friends with all, enemies with none and, on the other hand, on many occasions, particularly at memorial lectures, with statements which leave very little for conclusion. I am particularly troubled because it gives the lay public in Singapore only one possible conclusion - that somehow in the 1970's there appears in South-east Asia the MaCarthys or Foster Dulles's. This is unfortunate because of our declared intentions to remain friends with all. This is particularly more annoying because today we realise that the real threat to Singapore's security and sovereignty comes not just from the Communist countries or Communist elements within these countries but it could well come from other vested parties.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister has given answers to the question on the number of abortions in hospitals and in approved institutions. Firstly, I wonder whether the Minister has any figures for abortions carried out in unapproved institutions. Secondly, how many of these abortions initially carried out in the unapproved institutions have to be referred to the Kandang Kerbau Hospital for a subsequent thorough abortion?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am quite impressed with the reply given by the Minister for National Development. However, will he agree with me if I say that we are, in fact, not constructing enough bus shelters and bus bays for the convenience of the public? Will he, therefore, give an assurance that this Government will continue to construct more bus bays and bus shelters?”
“My question is this. I do not think that bus fares should be dependent so much upon international oil prices. There are other considerations besides the price of oil, and I maintain that we should not just use the price of oil as a reason for any further hikes in bus fares. Will the Minister please comment?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, can I develop on the question raised by the Member for Anson? I am not happy with the reply given by the Minister when he said that further rises in fares would depend on a subsequent rise in oil prices. I think he must have read the newspaper report -”
“Sir, would the Minister consider the setting up of a more permanent office in that part of West Asia, such as an embassy, so that continuity of what has been established can be maintained, and it can also help them utilise and invest the expected US$50 million which they get from their oil trade?”
“I am sure the Ministry can also ask the SBS to reschedule bus routes so that these jumbo buses will not cause any inconvenience to other commuters on the road. Fourthly, the question of conductors, I am sure that the provision of just one conductor for a jumbo bus is going to create more problems for the commuters and also for the bus conductors. I am inclined to believe that unhealthy incidents between commuters and conductors may increasingly occur if we do not provide one more conductor to each jumbo bus. Let us say that we should have two conductors instead of one conductor in each jumbo bus. Can I have the answers?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I fully sympathise with the Minister on the state of the bus service in Singapore. From the points which he has raised, I would like to ask him a few supplementary questions. Firstly, it would seem to me that the introduction of bus lanes on certain roads has created new problems. The right of way for smaller vehicles is one such problem. It is all right if we are in a mini-car alongside a big bus. Actually out of fear for our own safety, we give way to the bus. What happens if an army truck happens to be parked at the red light next to the bus? Who has the right of way to turn left? The introduction of bus lanes also leads to a slowing down of traffic. All buses following behind a bus that stops at a bus stop will naturally have to stop. This will mean that the entire chain of buses have to stop, whether or not there are passengers getting off from the second, third or fourth bus. I am sure these problems have been thought over carefully by the Ministry, and the Minister will have good answers to them. The second question concerns the efforts made by the Ministry of Communications to encourage more and more people to use public transport. I notice that there are no schedules of routes at bus stops to help commuters. I think it would be a good idea if the Ministry could ask SBS to publicise at all bus stops a schedule of all the buses that come that way, giving the routes and Service number of every bus. I am sure this can be done and should be done with haste. Thirdly, I notice that the SBS has recently introduced some 40 to 50 jumbo buses. This jumbo bus can carry 90 passengers. I am told that at certain junctions cars following closely behind this jumbo bus have got to reverse in order to allow this jumbo bus to turn into a small lane.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the Bill. I think the Minister has given us a very detailed but extremely shocking account of the rising crime rate in this country. I personally believe that gangsters, hooligans and thugs who resort to violence and extreme methods in their criminal activities must be tried and punished by sentences no less than that with which they inflict their victims. To them I think the extreme punishment is something which they will probably understand. Anything less than that will not be effective. I am glad of the revelation by the Minister that over the last three months some beneficial results have been noticed. I take this opportunity, Mr Speaker, Sir, to express my support for the Bill and, secondly, to congratulate the police for the excellent work which we read every now and then in the recent past. I am also disturbed by the fact that to really seek a total eradication of such crimes in Singapore, we must have maximum co-operation from the people. We do know of occasions when policemen have been shot dead at point-blank in the presence of members of the public and yet they do not willingly come forward in spite of announcements in the press. Sir, I think we must at the same time encourage people to come forward in a more public spirited manner and unless and until they give the police this maximum co-operation, whatever Bills we introduce in Parliament will not bring about the desired results. Sir, I beg to support the Bill. 4.32 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, on a point of clarification. Will the Minister kindly let me know if these new prices for Housing Board flats apply to all new flats that are balloted with effect from 1st January, or are they for new applications?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Singapore Sports Council Bill. As in 1971, when the National Sports Promotion Board Bill was introduced, there is an air of hope for sports in Singapore. It is my personal hope and wish that the air now is not the same as the air then. However, looking at the present set-up, I am confident that the present Singapore Sports Council will augur well for sports in Singapore in future. However, I would be failing at this stage if I do not bring up a few points which I think are worth noting. Some of the officials in the last few surviving days-of the National Sports Promotion Board, who were responsible for some of the acts of mischief, are still very much with this new body and unless the new officials who are in charge will bear their authority upon these junior officials, I am afraid some of the acts of mischief committed in the past might be repeated in the new Council. Secondly, I notice that there is a definite shortage of staff in this big sports body. If that is the problem, then I think if we do not enlarge the staff we might be faced with more problems. Thirdly, I would like to comment on the efficiency and leadership which was so markedly lacking in the last National Sports Promotion Board. It is our hope that with the introduction of new officials, this noticeable lack of qualities in the past will no longer be with us now and we look forward to able leadership in the Singapore Sports Council. Mr Speaker, Sir, I can assure the Minister for Social Affairs that my colleagues and fellow Members of Parliament here who have in the past brought to light some of the unpleasant problems would join me in wishing this new Singapore Sports Council all the very best, and we give it our fullest support.”
“Parents and students must be made fully aware of good job prospects and also of the present manpower shortage problem in the Health Ministry, in the hospitals and related professions. (3) A greater incentive must be provided in terms of salary and service conditions. Of course, pride and interest in the profession, dedication and mobility of the career must also be major considerations in electing careers for our school children. (4) The question of recruitment of non-citizens into our medical institutions. Over the past few years an increasing number of non-citizens have been recruited into our expanding medical service. The non-citizens in this year's medical graduating class have all been issued with forms asking them to apply houseman's jobs in Singapore. With the figures I have given, I guess we shall have to do the same next year, the year following and the year following. However, past experience has shown that many, if not most, of these new doctors have taken up appointment as housemen only to get themselves fully registered in Singapore. And then, using Singapore as a stepping stone, they leave for Australia, the United States, or England, or back to where they have come from. I must admit that some stayed behind, but the number is small. Further, we have recruited an increasing number of specialists from the Indian sub-continent states to help us run our existing service. I do not wish at this stage to enter into a discussion as to the merits or demerits of recruiting foreigners into our essential services. Unless steps are taken to get our own citizens to run the store, I can well imagine that with time”
“In the medical school today, from Year 5 to Year 1, the number of medical students divided into citizens and non-citizens are as follows: Singapore Non- citizens citizens Year 5 87 30 Year 4 69 27 Year 3 54 55 Year 2 54 58 Year 1 38 87 You will notice that for the non-citizens, the ratio is completely reversed. To analyse this figure, let us take the final and first-year students ratio. Final year, 30 non-citizens, 87 Singaporeans. First year, exactly the reverse, 87 non-citizens and 38 Singaporeans. In the Dental Faculty, a greater disparity is shown: Singapore Non- citizens citizens Final year 14 20 Third year 3 35 Second year 3 32 First year 8 37 For the School of Pharmacy, the figures are: Singapore Non- citizens citizens Final year 10 10 Second year 6 17 First year 7 19 Therefore, Sir, in the medical school, the number of Singapore students has dropped from 74 per cent to a low of 30 per cent. In the Dental Faculty, only 28 out of 152 students are Singapore citizens. In the School of Pharmacy, only 23 out of 69, that is 1:3, are citizens. We need dental surgeons very badly. We need pharmacists very badly, and we are also short of doctors. The various professional bodies can, I am sure, provide more detailed analyses if the figures I have just given are not sufficient to wake the authorities concerned. To my mind, there are four approaches to solve the problem. (1) The Ministry of Education, in streaming students in the late secondary and pre-university classes, must advise students or allow them to choose subjects that will give them greater flexibility. There should be room for them to choose in gaining admissions to the university between Science, Engineering, or Medical and associated schools. (2) A question of motivation.”