Ong Teng Cheong
Singapore
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as of now, the position is this. We have signed an in-principle agreement with the Suzhou Municipality to help plan, develop and manage a township. There are two parts to this development. So far, we have put up a rough outline plan for the development of the township.”
“The consortium would include members or companies from both the Government as well as the private sector. Whether SLF will hold a significant share it has yet to be decided. I believe SLF will hold a very small share or no share at all, because, as I have said, our role is that of a facilitator.”
“Like all other projects undertaken by SLF, such as the Pasir Ris Resort, the Sentosa Beach Resort and the Orchid Country Club, the ultimate objective of SLF's investments is to help raise the social and economic status of our workers, and ensure that our workers will continue to enjoy a fair share of Singapore's progress.”
“Sir, I think Mr Chiam has got all this confused. PAP and NTUC run BEST classes jointly. NTUC does not run BEST classes by itself. George Sita, he is referring to, is a member of the SDP who stood against the PAP in the last election. He was employed jointly by NTUC and PAP.”
“NTUC Comfort is a co-operative. The taxi-drivers are members of the co-operative, and there were more than two members who had been removed from membership of the co-operative because of misbehaviour or misconduct, or arrears of their instalment payments, or whatever it is. There were many reasons why they were removed.”
“But when members of the co-operative are actively involved with opposition political parties against the PAP or NTUC, then they are acting against the resolution of the National Trade Union Congress, and it was a compliance of that resolution that action had to be taken against them.”
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“Sir, another provision in the Bill provides that, under certain circumstances, the Housing Board can repossess a flat upon the death of the owner, whether or not the owner has left a will. Again the Housing Board officials also said that after the Bill has been passed and become law, the Board will notify the people concerned of the circumstances under which the flat could be bought back by the Board upon the death of the flat owner. Sir, I hope the Minister would consider the fact that flat owners are not wealthy property owners. Most of them are not conversant with the law and being in the low-income group they are not able to take on any additional burden that is imposed on them. The Government should have sympathy for the hardship of the people and simplify all the necessary procedures. The Government should follow the example of the Central Provident Fund Board system of authorising a nominee successor to administrate the estate, which system is for the convenience of the people and also to reduce their burden. I hope the Minister can enlighten us with a clarification as well as a direction on these matters. 3.20 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, our Government has all along been advocating the policy of home ownership for the people in order to look after their welfare. The people can thus own their own homes and have a sense of security in life. This amendment Bill therefore has come as a surprise. Certain provisions in the Bill are rather vague and will cause concern and confusion among the people. I am referring particularly to the provisions of clauses 5 and 8 of the Bill which, I think, ought to be clarified. Clause 5 provides that no person shall be entitled to purchase an HDB flat if he, his spouse or any authorised occupier, is the owner of any other immovable property. What will be the position of a person who owns a shophouse or a nonresidential property in the name of a company or on behalf of a company, or who jointly owns such property with a company? Will he be entitled to apply to purchase a Housing Board flat? According to the Public Relations Officer of the HDB, after the Bill has been passed the Housing Board will announce details specifying the circumstances under which persons are entitled to purchase flats and those who are not entitled to purchase flats. May I ask why should the details of these new provisions be explained to the people after the Bill has been passed? Is this not tantamount to effecting the law before any prior information has been given? The people who suffer will be those who live in the HDB flats. They will be at the mercy of the Housing Board after due passage of the Bill. Therefore, I hope the Minister will be able to clarify these two vague provisions as to which category of persons possessing which types of property are or are not entitled to buy HDB. flats, so as to enable us to understand the intentions of this Bill and its measures in detail.”
“Sir, I would like to thank the Minister for his explanation. If the Bill must be passed today as it stands, and I believe it is going to be passed, may I make an appeal on behalf of the ordinary citizen? We know that ordinary citizens are not conversant with the numerous legislations that exist and are usually unaware of the hidden rules and regulations which are introduced from time to time as amendments are made to this or that Act. May I request the Minister, therefore, to assure the House that he will instruct the relevant authority, when approving any subdivision of land, to advise the landowner of his obligation to inform the Collector of Land Revenue of such approval within one month from the date of granting of the written permission.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister said that the purpose of the Bill is to enable the Collector of Land Revenue to apportion the rent. I am of the view that it is rather premature to inform the Collector within one month from the date of obtaining approval of subdivision from the relevant authority, as the land would still be under the same ownership at that stage. Therefore, the question of apportionment of rent does not arise. Besides, the owner of the land may decide not to proceed further with the subdivision. He may decide not to obtain separate titles for the subdivided plot through the Registrar of Land Titles and Deeds. The apportionment of rent will only be effected when separate titles for the approved subdivided plots are issued. Would the Minister not agree then that it would be more appropriate for the Collector of Land Revenue to be informed at that stage in order to enable him to apportion the rent?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to request the Minister to explain to this House why it is necessary to make it obligatory for a landowner to inform the Collector of Land Revenue of any approved subdivision. Why not make it obligatory for the relevant authority to inform the Collector of Land Revenue of the subdivision when approving the application? I can understand the situation where if a landowner subdivides his land without Government approval, then it is fair that he must inform the Government. I find it rather difficult to perceive in this particular situation where the Government approves an application for land subdivision and then requires the landowner to inform the Government that his application has been approved by the Government. I would have thought that this is a simple inter-departmental communication - one arm of the Government telling the other arm what is happening. Why rely on the people to do the transmission work and then penalise them on default?”
“Sir, unfortunately appeals have rarely been successful. Despite the rather disappointing reply, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. 7.45 p.m.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head V reduced by $10 in respect of subhead DEE 1109. Sir, hon. Members in this House must e read in the press or in other reports t prices of real estate, especially in respect of residential properties, have e down tremendously during the last months or so. In some instances the value has dropped by as much as 30% even 40%, so much so that there is w a glut in housing stocks in the market. However, the property assessments which have been revalued upwards the past, corresponding to the increase property prices before 1974, have named at its peak. Many people have said that this is like an oral thermometer used by nurses in clinics and hospitals measure the temperature of a patient. goes up and up, registering only the highest reading, but never comes down less treated with a violent shake, rely a 30% or 40% drop in property ices is rather violent by any measure. Therefore, I wonder if the Minister could inform the House whether he has y intention to adjust the property assessment correspondingly downwards view of the current property market situation.”
“Besides, the consequent reduction in crime rate, such as robberies in the lifts or in the flats, would mean a saving not only to the society as a whole but also to the Ministry of Home Affairs in respect of their costs of administration and operation against crime. But the most important consequential benefit is that the Housing and Development Board estates will be a much safer place to live in. Therefore, I request the Minister to take the suggestions seriously and perhaps I should take this opportunity to urge him to consider the possibility of carrying out a comprehensive cost-benefit study on the subject. The next issue is the most generally acknowledged fact that the quality of construction and finish of HDB flats have obviously been poor and deteriorating. I would like to know what steps are being taken to remedy the situation. The last point I wish to ask the Minister - I have brought it up previously and I am sure he will recall it- is the problem of water-logged open spaces in Toa Payoh Town. I had raised this point in the past and he admitted then that he was aware of the problem and that he would look into it. I wish to enquire what measures or action have been taken so far to remedy the situation.”
“Sir, it is observed that the standard of maintenance services in the Housing and Development Board estates has apparently deteriorated, despite the fact that the conservancy charges have increased since early last year. The lawns are not mowed regularly and the public corridors and staircases are not kept clean as they should he. I hope the Management Department of the Housing and Development Board will examine and tighten their administration and supervision to ensure that full and effective maintenance services are rendered by the maintenance contractors or subcontractors or sub-sub-contractors. Meanwhile I wish to ascertain if the Housing and Development Board has any intention to expand their maintenance department and task force to maintain their estates instead of relying on the maintenance contractors or subcontractors. I also wish to request the Minister to reconsider the suggestions which have been made frequently of the provision of lift attendants in Housing Board estates, in view of the increasing crime rate particularly in these high-density housing estates. I hope that the suggestion of providing lift attendants will not be ignored or brushed aside simply because it will cost the HDB $8 million to $10 million a year. I am sure the Minister is aware that many direct and indirect savings and other benefits will accrue with the introduction of lift attendants. For example, it will cut down, if not totally eliminate, vandalism to lifts and other public properties: This is a direct, though invisible, saving to the Housing and Development Board.”
“Sir, in view of the Minister's reply, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“I hope the Minister will not ask me to name the unauthorised erections put up by Government agencies. I am not suggesting that the Demolition Enforcement Department should be more stringent. On the contrary, I am suggesting that they should extend their understanding and reasonable attitude to the public, as they have to Government agencies. I wish to join my colleagues in urging the Department officers to adopt a more humane and reasonable attitude in the performance of their duty in order to minimise grievances and hardship to the people. The public is aware arid recognises the powerful arm of the law. But there is nothing to be gained by adopting a harsh and rigid approach. Sometimes economic loss to our nation is the result instead.”
“It is not unusual to realise that one Division is not aware of the decision or action taken by the other Division and members of the public involved are often required to transmit information on their behalf. This has resulted in unnecessary loss of valuable time to both the Department and the public. I wonder if the Minister is aware of this and whether immediate remedial measures would be introduced to rectify the situation in order to achieve the intended objective of the transfer of the function or part of the function of the Planning Department to the Public Works Department. I am sure the Minister will agree that the sooner the working relationship within the Department is improved, the more expeditiously and effectively it will serve the public. Another point that I would like to speak under this subhead is on demolition enforcement. It is noted that the demolition enforcement policy has been rather inconsistent and that the action taken by the Department has been rather unpredictable. There were complaints that stringent action had been taken against those who had difficulty in communicating with officers of the Department. There were also complaints that swift action had been taken against those members of the public who had innocently put up minor extensions and repairs, as have already been raised by the Members for Jurong and Paya Lebar. And sometimes even awnings erected over windows to keep off the weather had to be demolished at short notice, while other unauthorised erections had been allowed to remain. If this is not inconsistency, what is? What about unauthorised erections put up by Government agencies or statutory bodies? What action has been taken against them? An hon. Member: Nothing.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head S be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead CDD 1107. Sir, I was wondering whether the Minister concerned would recall - if he were to refer to page 235 and page 244 of the Main and Development Estimates for the Financial Year 1974-75 - that there was, in fact, no indication at all that the function of the Development Control Division of the Planning Department would be transferred. But as soon as the last Estimates were approved by this House last year, a Ministry circular dated 28th March, 1974, was issued advising that the function of the Development Control Division was to be transferred from the Planning Department to the Building Control Division under the overall charge of the Assistant Director (Building Control) of the Public Works Department, with effect from 1st April, 1974. No reason had been given for the transfer of functions. But one thing was clear. It was a hasty decision because it had rendered the last Main and Development Estimates out of date as soon as it was approved in this House. I am not against the transfer of the Development Control Division to the Building Control Division of the PWD. In fact, I thought it would be a rather good idea if it could cut down red tape by amalgamating the two Divisions, both having very closely related functions regulating almost all aspects of the physical development in the Republic. Although almost a year has lapsed, it is noted that there is still an obvious lack of communication and coordination between the two Divisions within the same Department.”
“Sir, I also wish to request the Minister to consider waiving the current charges or fees in respect of reapplications or resubmissions which are necessitated by changes in Government policies and standards or due to the necessity to comply with departmental requirements. Mr Barker: Sir, the levy of fees for the processing of planning applications was introduced in January, 1974, in line with the policy that any service that is provided should not be free of charge. This is not just the policy of the Ministry of National Development. It has been found that, with the introduction of processing fees, architects have taken greater care in the submission of proper designs and layouts. The developers also have been more definite, as any subsequent amendment would entail payment of further processing fees. The introduction of these fees has, in fact, cut down the number of frivolous and speculative applications. But, as the Member has rightly pointed out, sometimes this can be taken too far. Where another fee has to be paid because the developer has to send in amended plans to comply with Government's requirements, then I am inclined to agree with the Member that the second fee should not be charged. These are matters which 1 am grateful to the Member for raising in this House and which I promise him will be given every consideration.”
“I only wish to urge the Minister to review the charges and fees currently chargeable by the various departments and statutory bodies in his Ministry, and to disallow further introduction of new levies unless they have been carefully examined and proved to be reasonable and absolutely necessary. An hon. Member: Hear, hear!”
“Sir, there have been grouses and complaints about unreasonable charges and fees which one has to pay to the various Government departments and regulatory agencies in the Ministry concerned when he submits his application for development, alterations and renovation works, etc. First of all, he has to pay a processing fee to the Development Control Division, and this fee was introduced, I believe, sometime early last year, or perhaps a bit earlier. At the same time, he has to pay another similar processing fee to the Urban Redevelopment Authority in respect of car parking requirements. The Minister may perhaps recall that when the Urban Redevelopment Authority was first established in April, 1974, it introduced an exorbitant charge or fee on car parking requirements which must be paid by the applicants before the applications could be considered by the Authority. These car parking charges often amount to thousands of dollars, and in some instances up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. This has created a lot of unhappiness and had discouraged some would-be investors in proceeding with their development projects. After numerous complaints, these unpopular car parking charges were then waived and replaced later by a nominal processing fee to the satisfaction of most people concerned. Sir, besides the above, there are other fees to be paid, for example, plan fees, consent fees, search fees and other fees. Even to look at the Master Plan at the counter on the 3rd floor of the Ministry of National Development building, a $2, fee is levied. I understand, Sir, that some charges and fees have to be levied in order to prevent or discourage abuses of the services provided. But they must be reasonable.”
“Sir, I shall wait until the Minister has replied to the Member for Paya Lebar.”
“They are pragmatic and down-to-earth and it is for this reason that our leaders have encouraged the Back-benchers to comment and criticise boldly on any shortcomings or faults in all the Government policies and measures. It is therefore my hope that our public servants will emulate our political leaders and adopt the principle of "winning the minds and hearts of the people in a princely way, instead of driving them away in a despotic manner". It is only in this way that they are able to establish an efficient service and the right attitude in serving the interest of the people. Finally, Sir, I would like to thank my colleagues once again for supporting my Motion thanking the President for his speech. Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That the following Address in reply to the Speech of the President be agreed to:- "We, the Parliament of the Republic of Singapore, express our thanks to the President for the Speech which he delivered on behalf of the Government at the opening of the Second Session of this Parliament." ADJOURNMENT Resolved, "That Parliament do now adjourn to Monday, 3rd March, 1975." [Mr Jek Yeun Thong]. Adjourned accordingly at Fourteen minutes past Four o'clock p m, to Monday, 3rd March, 1975”
“These are evident shortcomings and what he has said is very timely and is representative of what is in the minds of our people. The various shortcomings that he pointed out include: (i) each Ministry acting on its own; (ii) wastage of manpower and resources; (iii) over-commercialisation; and (iv) growth of bureaucratism. He has got a lot of facts to bear himself out when he made these criticisms, and nobody can deny that. The administration in our Government and statutory boards, generally speaking, is efficient, clean and honest. But there are of course shortcomings which may be unavoidable and which are capable of improvement. Without early rectification, the political confidence that the people have in the ruling party over the past 10 years, as pointed out by the Member for Jalan Kayu, will be seriously damaged and undermined. Mr Speaker, Sir, on the issue of land use, for example, apart from the Land Office or the Commissioner of Lands, as he pointed out, there are other Ministries or quasi-Government statutory bodies which have the powers to acquire land. Among them there are signs of competition and rivalry in dealing with policies on land use, resulting in unnecessary friction and conflict internally. I feel that there is a need to set up a high level committee, similar to the Road Transport Action Committee, to ensure that there is comprehensive and coordinated planning and formulation of land use policies, so that our limited land resources may be distributed and utilized appropriately and efficiently. Mr Speaker, Sir, our pragmatic leadership is not afraid of deviating from the traditional and conservative political practice.”
“Many of my colleagues have also shown particular concern for the difficulties of the people over the services provided by the Ministry of Health. They have appealed that hospital outpatient charges and charges for third class wards should not be increased, and at the same time expressed the hope that efforts would be made by the Government to attract and retain experienced specialists and doctors in our medical services. Mr Speaker, Sir, my colleagues have expressed the view that in our long-term interest there is a need for some kind of cultural and basic philosophical reform among our people coupled with proper financial measures in order to change the traditional attitude of male chauvinism respecting the male and despising the female, amongst our people and to implement and achieve family planning objectives so as to raise the quality of our people with each generation better off than the previous one. Many of these criticisms and views are valuable and constructive. Unfortunately, I am not in a position to speak on behalf of various Government Ministries to answer such criticisms and suggestions. But I am sure that these views and suggestions will be noted and considered or even accepted by the Ministries concerned so that Singapore may soon become a more progressive, more prosperous and a more stable country. Sir, a number of my colleagues have felt that there is a need to review critically the administrative organisations of the various Government Ministries. They have also expressed dissatisfaction with the present relationship between the Government servants and members of the public. The Member for Jalan Kayu has pointed out several shortcomings in some of our administrative organisations.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, to begin with, I would like to thank my colleagues for their warm support of my Motion of thanks to the President for his speech. They have expressed their views not only on the achievements of the various Ministries as revealed in the Addendum to the Presidential Address but also on the shortcomings. They have also made constructive criticisms. Some of my colleagues have criticised that there have been far too many frequent changes in our Education system and they expressed the hope that in the process of further changes and restructuring of our Education system, the views of those concerned with education should be sought to ensure that the new Education Act will be able to meet the present requirements of our country. They have also emphasised the importance of the contents of education in order to more effectively inculcate the correct social values and concepts amongst our children. Some of my colleagues have also spoken on the tax-free incentives for pioneer industries. They support these incentives and they have also expressed the hope that for the existing industries with high potential, whether they are medium-sized or small-sized industries, assistance should be given. My colleagues have also shown their concern over the increasing crime rate in Singapore over recent years. The general consensus of opinion among my colleagues is that our Police Force has serious shortcomings both quantitatively and qualitatively which have caused some aberration and defects in our security field. They have expressed the hope that the Ministry concerned will soon improve the situation of the Force and educate the police personnel particularly to improve their attitude in dealing with the public and in respect of their service.”
“The reality of interdependence is obvious and immediate, and it is in this direction, as it should be, that the Addendum on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stressed the importance of cooperation with our South-East Asian countries to safeguard our common interests and the need to encourage increased trade with West Asia and Eastern Europe. But interdependence goes beyond economics to the question of food, population and jurisdiction over the seas, all of which requiring urgent attention but none of which could be solved by any nation acting alone. The importance of international goodwill as an overture to greater cooperation and increased trade cannot be over-emphasised if we are to truly establish Singapore as a "Global City". Our traders and those who have active business dealings with our neighbouring countries should be made to realise this, and I would urge them wherever possible to avoid sacrificing our long-term international goodwill for any immediate trading gain. Our traders should be encouraged to conduct "fair trade" not only intra-nationally but also internationally if this tiny City-state of ours is to continue to thrive under the "Global City" concept. Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. 2.48 p.m.”
“However, careful regulation or adjustment may be necessary to maintain a balanced set of management measures to ensure, among other things, that the scheme would not unnecessarily attract the normal public transport riders to opt for the park and ride alternative, in which case, a shift of traffic congestion from the central business district to the outer urban areas may result. Another growing concern is the increasing crime rate and the insufficiently staffed police force as expressed by the President. Although the introduction of full-time national servicemen for the police force will lessen the problem of manpower shortage, the effectiveness of our police force will depend more on the quality and maturity of the personnel than sheer numbers. It is imperative to stress the need to carefully train our selected young national servicemen for police duty. In the course of their active duty, their contact with the public is unavoidable, and their ability and tact in handling human situations will determine the goodwill or ill-will between the public and the police. It is without doubt, to quote the Addendum to the President's Speech, that "The Police will require the support of the public to be fully effective." As it is, the degree of mutual trust and cooperation between the public and the police leaves much to be desired. No doubt severe punishment must be meted out to law offenders, but more severe punishment should be meted out to the law enforcement officers who flout the law if we are to make Singapore a safe and orderly place to live in. The current world economic situation has made it very clear that the economic well-being of any country depends more than ever before on the well-being of other countries.”
“More hard work, unpopular policies and tough measures there shall be for the continued well-being of our society for generations to come. There is no question of any of this Government's policies and measures being swayed by short-term political considerations. There are new challenges and problems ahead of us, as pointed out in the Addendum to the President's speech; and to quote the President, "there will be much to keep Honourable Members busy in 1975." One of the pressing problems generated by our rapid progress of urbanisation and industrialisation is that of urban transportation, in particular, peak hour travelling. The daily traffic congestion has caused much social frustration, unnecessary fuel expenditure and an adverse effect on business activities in the central business district due to a lower degree of mobility. There is no easy and simple solution to overcome the complex problem of urban transportation which has become a major concern of all metropolitan and public policy in this century. The Government will soon introduce harsh traffic management measures such as the park and ride, city shuttle bus and area licensing schemes to relieve traffic congestion. The comprehensive scheme with unpopular management measures, though not a new idea, is attracting much international attention because few governments in the so-called free-world have dared to venture into such unpopularity due to short-term political considerations. Our bus service is improving, but the standard is still far from satisfactory. The introduction of the park and ride scheme will no doubt relieve the traffic congestion in the central business district.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, `That the following Address in reply to the Speech of the President be agreed to:- "We, the Parliament of the Republic of Singapore, express our thanks to the President for the Speech which he delivered on behalf of the Government at the opening of the Second Session of this Parliament.".'. Sir, I am sure that hon. Members in this House wilt rise in support of my Motion thanking the President for his speech which reviews the state of the nation and outlines the major policies and measures to be implemented in the coming years. I am also confident that I speak for all hon. Members that we welcome the proposed increased income tax relief for those with aged parents living with them, the measures to eliminate industrial friction and improve compensation rates for workers involved in industrial accidents. It is a relief to note that, despite the prevailing world-wide inflation coupled with economic recession, we have managed to achieve a real growth rate of about 7%. It is also reassuring to note from the President's speech the cautious optimism that "Singapore is likely to reverse the downtrend in her economy" with the prospect that we will probably do better by the later part of this year than now, provided there is no major unexpected catastrophe. We owe our present well-being to our decisive will to succeed and hard work. It is with the able leadership, imaginative policies and tough measures that our Government has been able to- minimise our economic and social dislocations under the current recessive climate. Although economic growth by itself does not necessarily generate happiness all round, the absence of such growth will undoubtedly create much unhappiness.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I fully support the Bill now being read a Second time. But I would like to urge the Minister for the Environment to give due consideration to avoid causing any serious or undue hardship to those contractors who are without qualifications but who have been engaged in contracting operations in electrical work in the past years. I wonder if the Minister would also inform the House the basis on which the licences of electrical workers and electrical contractors will be issued.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there are instances where occupants of offices and commercial buildings which are ready for occupation have to wait for months for the provision of telephone services. Clause 6 of the Bill says that it shall be the function and duty of the Authority to provide, operate and maintain a good and sufficient telecommunication service, and also to promote the economic development of the telecommunication service in accordance with public demand. I also note that clause 6 (1) (f) provides for the further advancement of telecommunication technology and the development of telecommunication in Singapore in co-operation with the broadcasting and television authority and tertiary technical institutions. I would like to see closer co-ordination and also streamlining of the administrative structure of the Authority to ensure that this long wait for telephone services is avoided. As we know, in the past the reasons usually given to applicants for the long wait are either there are no spare lines available or there is a shortage of equipment. Because of this, commercial premises without telephone services are, therefore, in many cases left unoccupied for months because they are unsuitable for business operations although they are certified fit for occupation in every respect. I am sure the Minister will agree that this state of affairs is obviously undesirable because it means a waste of usable facilities and also a restriction of commercial activities. I would, therefore, like to see this part of the administrative structure streamlined in the new Authority.”
“Sir, I am just wondering whether the Minister is aware that most of the open spaces at Toa Payoh New Town are, in fact, badly water-logged due to very poor sub-soil drainage. Most of these open spaces remain soggy for days after a rainfall. This really defeats the purpose of providing open spaces. The people cannot even run about on a proper turfed area. I was just wondering whether the Minister would look into this because I have spoken to the Housing Board officer many times and I have written in too. So far nothing has been done, and I believe the condition has remained the same for many years. I hope some action could be taken soon.”
“Sir, I would like to thank the Minister for the explanation given, and beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $42,168,000 for Head LH ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $32,154,900 for Head LH ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head LH be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead BA 3038. Sir, again I only wish to seek information from the Minister regarding the special projects for which a sum of $5 million has been allocated. Can the Minister inform the House of the nature of this project, as a large amount of money is involved?”
“Sir,I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head LH he reduced by $10 in respect of subhead BA 3037. Sir, again I am only seeking information from the Minister regarding the Feasibility Study on Computerised Traffic Control of the Central Area. I wonder whether he could tell the House the aims of the Study, who will be conducting it and how long will it take.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in view of the Minister's reply, I beg to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head LII be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead BA 3027. Sir, I remember asking about this Feasibility and Engineering Study for Central Area Expressway during the Budget debate last year. According to the Minister's reply, I believe Phase I of the Study should have been completed by now. I only wish to seek information from the Minister regarding the progress of this Study, and what are the recommendations for Phase I of the Study.”
“Sir, I am just wondering whether the Minister is aware that compensations are being paid to owners and tenants of unauthorised structures and buildings, which are affected by clearance and resettlement schemes, in order to make room for development of public schemes. Some of these unauthorised structures and buildings were under court mandatory orders and because of the substantial backlog of such mandatory orders, action on many of these cases has been pending for years. There is obviously a serious lack of co-ordination between the departments concerned. I hope the Minister will look into the matter, as this unnecessary expenditure and wastage of public funds has got to be stopped.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I only wish to ask the Minister if he will inform the House of the achievements of the Bases Economic Conversion Department, and the progress made so far in the conversion programme. I need not stress, in our land-scarce State, the vital role played by the Bases Economic Conversion Department in expeditiously redeploying land, formerly occupied by British bases, to economic use. I shall also be pleased if the Minister could indicate when will the full conversion programme be completed, and what will be the status of the Bases Economic Conversion Department after it has completed its conversion programme?”
“Sir, the Minister did not quite fully answer my question just now. I wonder whether he would indicate the price range for middle income housing which he proposed, and when will this be open for registration. Sir, may I now speak on resettlement and compensation, which had already been touched on by other Members?”
“While I am still on the subject of home ownership, I wonder if the Minister could elaborate on a recent announcement that the Government will be building houses for our middle-class citizens. Would he inform the House as to who will be responsible for the project? Where and when will this middle-class housing estate be constructed? How many units will be built annually? What will be the terms of sale and whether there will be any income limits imposed on the purchase of these houses? I am sure that not only members of the middle-income public are thrilled by the announcement, but also some Members of this House are just as anxious to hear more about this scheme.”
“Sir, you may recall the announcement that was made in September last year regarding the restriction on the purchase of residential properties in the Republic. It stated that non-citizens, permanent residents, and companies incorporated in Singapore or abroad must obtain permission from the Government to buy houses. This announcement, though rather belatedly, was welcomed as it is intended to curb speculation in residential properties with a view to assisting our middle income group of citizens, who are not eligible at the present moment to purchase HDB flats, to own private houses as part of the Government's overall home ownership policy. But since the announcement in last September, there was a complete silence on the subject. Some of the permanent residents and non-citizens who wish to buy houses genuinely for their own use, hoping to make their home in the Republic, are at a loss as to where their applications should be submitted, or how to go about obtaining the necessary permission. Some of them have tried, I believe, and they have been going around from one department to another. Some of them are in our civil service and industry and other services. Many of them are making a useful contribution to the progress and prosperity of this country. There is no doubt that we wish them well and look forward to their continued contributions and service. Therefore, I will be pleased if the Minister could kindly inform the House as to when will he introduce legislation relating to this announcement last September to regulate the purchase of local residential property. And will the Minister also indicate the reasons for the delay in enacting this piece of legislation, and whether the delay is a deliberate measure?”
“Sir, I would like to take this opportunity to echo some of the comments and observations which have been made by previous speakers. I think the facilities and provisions in these institutions definitely need to be improved. As mentioned by previous speakers, the amount of public assistance given is very inadequate in view of the rapid economic development and high cost of living. Unless these facilities are improved and the subsistence allowances are also proportionately increased, I am sure the Minister will agree that eventually our society will have to pay more for the present neglect.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, speaking of refuse disposal, some of our industries are facing the difficulty of finding suitable dumping grounds for waste disposal. At the same time, they are being summoned by the Health Inspectors for incinerating their wastes in the factory ground. The reason is that the burning of wastes, including wood and paper, is considered to be a contribution to air pollution. I wonder if the Minister could inform the House whether he has any plans to install public incinerators in appropriate locations to assist the sawmillers and other like industries to solve the problem of waste disposal.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, speaking of subsidy, I was wondering whether the Minister would consider requiring statutory bodies, such as the Housing and Development Board, the Jurong Town Corporation, as well as private estate developers, to erect bus shelters within their respective estates at their own expense in the same manner as these developers are required to construct roads which are subsequently taken over by the Public Works Department. Does the Minister not agree that his Ministry will be able to assist in improving the level of services of public transport by requiring these developers, which I have included the statutory bodies as well, to provide the supporting facilities for public transport?”
“There is also the need for an early decision on the long-range traffic solution, whether with or without MRT, as this will go a long way to assist other Government agencies to plan and programme for the development of utility services and infrastructure, and to guide other major public and private developments. In view of the physical constriction of our City State, the existing and future pattern and intensity of urbanisation, as reflected in our public housing policy, inner city policy, etc., and the stated intention to develop Singapore as a brain services centre, I am of the opinion that our island Republic, as distinct from other cities, has the necessary pre-conditions for a viable MRT system. The existing mode and system of road-base public transportation has its operational limitation under the same urban conditions. Mr Speaker, Sir, with these observations, I give my support to the motion standing in the name of the Minister for Finance.”
“As the roads are already occupying more than one-third of the land space in the Central area today, to further expand the road space would mean less space for human activities for which a planned city is basically intended. The Ministry of Communications is to be congratulated for the introduction of the various bold measures of traffic management, such as the adoption of the one-way system, reserved bus lane system, and the impending park-and-ride system, car parking restriction in the Central area and other pricing policies, to solve the current problems. But traffic management alone could not for long prevent further deterioration of the traffic situation if the CBD activities were allowed to continue to be intensified, regardless. The problem is essentially a matter of rationalising the arrangement of activities and transportation system, and the urgent need to have a carefully planned economic and physical development programme to ensure that land use and transportation policies are properly co-ordinated. I am sure the Government is aware that whatever form of long-term traffic solution is adopted, either with or without MRT, it will have an immense impact on our strategic land use arrangement and distribution of activities within this City State. Therefore, there is an urgent need for much closer co- ordination between ministeries and agencies responsible for land use and transportation policies. Perhaps this may best be achieved through another high-level body similar to the Road Transport Action Committee.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in the Budget Statement on the financial policy of the Government for the coming year, the Minister for Finance has briefly touched on the subject of road transport, which has attracted much attention and debate both inside and outside this House. I am pleased to note that the solving of urban transportation problems has been given top priority, and I am particularly pleased to note the setting up of the high level Road Transport Action Committee which I consider is a major administrative step in the right direction. Urban transportation problems cannot be cured solely by "transportation" solutions. As we know, motor vehicles move because people want them to move in connection with their various activities, and traffic is therefore fundamentally a function of activities. This also explains why there is so much traffic in the Central Business District because activities are concentrated there. And since the intensity of activities is directly related to the intensity of land use, traffic is also similarly regarded as a function of land use. As the Minister for Communications has rightly pointed out yesterday in his reply to the Member for Kallang, the problem we face is one faced by all big cities. The number of people going to work in the CBD has increased more than five times since the redevelopment of the CBD, but road space has expanded less than twice to cater for the vehicles carrying people to work there. It is obvious, therefore, that our present deteriorating urban traffic situation is not merely due to poor management of the public bus services, and the situation can neither be saved by simply nationalising the SBS.”
“No, Sir,If the Housing Board is providing, say, only 200 car parking spaces for every three blocks of flats and allocation of flats is made without consideration of car ownership, then when the people move in with a total of, say, 400 cars, obviously there is going to be an over-spill problem.”
“Sir, I am coming to my question. The overspill problem that I mentioned earlier on is due to the insufficient number of parking spaces provided by the Housing and Development Board in their estates, based on these wrong planning assumptions. This problem is also partly due at the very outset to the lack of planning and control on the allocation of parking spaces in HDB estates. Therefore, I am wondering if the Minister would in future take into account the car ownership when making allocations for Housing Board flats.”
“Sir, I thank the Minister for the answer. Obviously, the planning assumptions in the existing Housing and Development Board estates on which the car parking provisions were based have been outstripped by the rapid growth of car ownership. There is insufficient car parking space -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, if I may just supplement what I have mentioned earlier. I hope the Minister would consider the possibility of setting up a special committee, as a matter of urgency, to study and formulate a comprehensive transportation policy and strategy for the Republic, in conjunction with the Ministry of Communications and other relevant statutory bodies, to guide the provision, distribution, and management of car parking facilities in the Central area. I appreciate his concern over the present traffic and parking situation in the Central area as reflected in Part VIII of the Bill.”
“Unless there is a very good reason for this new Authority to discharge such regulatory function, I would like to see this function continue to be the function of a regulatory and enforcement agency, such as the Planning Department or the Building Control Division of the PWD. If the object of this particular Part of the Bill is to enable the Authority to finance and develop multi-storey garages in the Central area, then I think there are other more appropriate means of achieving the same objective. Besides, it should be recognised that car parking is an important element of comprehensive land use and transportation policy, and it would be unwise to consider car parking policy in isolation, particularly at this present moment when a decision on a mass rapid transit system is still pending and that the bus services in the Republic is due for reorganisation again soon. I therefore wish to suggest, for the consideration of the Minister and the House, that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee for consideration, as I feel that the implementation of this Bill, particularly Part VIII of the Bill, is more far-reaching than it appears to he.”