Othman bin Wok
Singapore
“Mr Speaker, Sir, since 1958, the Land Office has been administering the Singapore Badminton Hall on trust for the Singapore Badminton Association. The Ministry of Social Affairs had been looking into the possibility of the Singapore Sports Council taking over the Singapore Badminton Hall.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there are no plans to expand the seating capacity of the National Stadium. The present structure can accommodate 60,000 people. The development plans for Phase II of the National Stadium Complex have been abandoned. SINGAPORE BADMINTON HALL (Take-over by Singapore Sports Council) 22.”
“Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for Social Affairs (a) whether the Sri Rama temple which has been existing for more than 31 years in Changi Village will be allowed to remain on the present site in view of its significant importance of being the only one of its kind in Singapore as well as in the whole of South East Asia; and (b) if so…”
“I have already mentioned previously in this House that my Ministry is setting up a coordinating committee of officials from various Ministries and departments to see what can be done for these cases. I would like to assure the hon.”
“Sir, I am not aware of this temple in Changi and I am also not aware that it is going to be pulled down, or whether it is to be preserved and thus allowed to continue its activities.”
“I have had such requests since the early sixties but on each occasion I have been unable to bring about the operation of this part of the legislation mainly because of two reasons: (i) the tremendous amount of cost that would have been involved; and (ii) it is felt that all prosecutions, being supervised by the Attorney-General, would onl…”
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“The Bill provides for the establishment of welfare homes for the care and rehabilitation of destitute persons, and empowers the Director of Social Welfare to require destitute persons to reside in welfare homes after due inquiry. There is also provision for any destitute person to be admitted to a welfare home on his own application. Alterations have been made to one of the Department's existing homes - the Bushey Park Home - to adapt it for the reception of destitute persons. This Home will be the first to be set up as a welfare home under the provisions of the Bill. And as the need arises, other appropriate homes run by the Department will be similarly adapted and used for the purposes of the Bill. Under the Bill, any person who has been admitted to a welfare home may be discharged to relatives who satisfy the Superintendent of their ability to support or care for the person to be discharged. Where the destitute person who has been admitted to a welfare home is not a Singapore citizen, there is provision for him to be repatriated to his country of origin. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[Inche Othman bin Wok]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. MEDICAL (THERAPY, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 3.38 p.m.”
“The Bill also deletes Part II of the Vagrancy Ordinance relating to the setting up of a house of detention which will no longer be required on the establishment of welfare homes for destitute persons under the provisions of this Bill. Transitional provisions are also made for persons at present detained in the house of detention under the provisions of the Vagrancy Ordinance to be admitted to a welfare home after due inquiry by the Director of Social Welfare. Secondly, the Bill will enable the Government to deal more effectively with the beggars problem which has lately been aggravated by the activities of professional beggars, including many from across the Causeway who have found it extremely profitable to come to Singapore to beg for alms. As hon. Members are aware, the Social Welfare Department has been engaged for some time in a campaign to clear our streets of these beggars, especially the professional beggars, and some statistics may be of interest to the House. Since the beginning of the campaign in November last year, the Department has dealt with some 450 beggars. Of these, some 70 or so were found to have come from across the Causeway - some from as far north as Kota Bahru and Alor Star - and arrangements were made to send them back to their country of origin. Those of Singapore origin, who were found to be genuinely destitute and without relatives or friends to care for them, were given shelter in the Social Welfare Department's homes. The Bill gives power to the Department of Social Welfare to deal directly with the beggars problem, and will therefore enable more effective and expeditious action to be taken.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The purpose of this Bill is two-fold. In the first place, the Bill seeks to implement certain recommendations of the Prisons Inquiry Commission which was appointed in November 1959 and, among other things, recommended reform of the existing legislation dealing with destitute persons. Under the Vagrancy Ordinance (Chapter 125), no distinction is made between destitute persons and petty criminals, who are all broadly classified as vagrants and may he committed to a house of detention maintained by the Prisons Department in the precincts of a prison under the provisions of the Ordinance. The Prisons Inquiry Commission recommended in its report published in 1960 that no person should be committed to a prison because of destitution, that destitute persons should be kept in welfare homes run by the Social Welfare Department as part of the State's Welfare services, and that their admission to these homes should be through the Social Welfare Department and not normally through a court sentence, as is the present practice under the Vagrancy Ordinance. These recommendations have been accepted by the Government in the White Paper on the Commission's Report (Cmd. No. 30 of 1961), which was presented to the Legislative Assembly on 27th October, 1961. Mr Speaker, Sir, the Bill accordingly amends the Vagrancy Ordinance by excluding destitute persons from the definition of vagrants, so that that Ordinance will in future apply only to petty criminals - as distinct from purely destitute persons - who may, under the provisions of that Ordinance, be committed to varying terms of imprisonment.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as this Bill is, in your opinion, a hybrid Bill, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (1) of Standing Order 64, I beg to move, That the Bill be referred to a Select Committee consisting of Mr Speaker as Chairman and seven Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection. Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That the Bill be referred to a Select Committee consisting of Mr Speaker as Chairman and seven Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection. PROPERTY TAX (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 3.14 p.m.”
“The Comparative Table attached to the Bill shows that many of the provisions of the Bill follow similar provisions in the corresponding enactments in Selangor, Pahang and Penang which are, however, merely cited as examples. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time.”
“It is proposed that the imams of mosques in Singapore should be appointed Naib Kathis. The Bill seeks to lay down the age of 15 years as the minimum age of marriage for Muslims, but power is given to the Kathi to approve a marriage in special cases, where the girl has attained puberty. In view of the hardship that can be caused in cases where the man divorces the woman by three talak, it is proposed that such cases should be referred to the Shariah Court, so that the Shariah Court can be satisfied that the interests of all parties are adequately safeguarded. Part VII deals with property and in the main re-enacts the provisions of the Muslims Ordinance. 1957. One major change is the provision that the Muslim law shall apply to dispositions by will by Muslims. The effect will be that a Muslim can only freely dispose of one-third of his property by will; the balance must be distributed to the persons entitled to take an intestacy. Part VIII of the Bill deals with conversion. Power is given to make rules to provide for the procedure for conversion and the Majlis is required to maintain a register of converts. Part IX deals with offences relating to marriage and divorce. It does not go to the extent of punishing offences against the Muslim religion, as in the States of Malaya, but clause 130 provides for the punishment of persons who cohabit and live with another person outside marriage. The Bill also provides for the control of Muslim religious lectures so as to ensure that such lectures are not used for political or communal propaganda or to advocate teachings or doctrines which are repugnant to the teachings of Islam. Part X deals with miscellaneous matters and gives power to make rules.”
“Provision is made in the Bill for the vesting of Muslim religious trusts in the Majlis and the manner in which the incomes of Muslim religious endowments are to be applied. The Majlis is also empowered, with the approval of the President, to collect zakat and fitrah. Part V of the Bill deals with mosques of which the Majlis is to be the sole trustee with powers to control the erection of new mosques and with duties to keep existing mosques in good order and repair. Power is given to the Majlis to appoint committees of management for mosques and also to appoint officials. It is the hope of the Government that in this way the Imams and other officials of the mosques will have a better status and position in society and that the mosques will be able to be the focus of Muslim activities in the various districts and parts of Singapore. Provision is also made for the registration and supervision of Muslim religious schools. Part VI deals with matters relating to marriages and divorces and re-enacts with amendments the provisions of the Muslims Ordinance, 1957. It is proposed that the powers at present exercisable by the Chief Kathi should be exercised by the Kathis attached to the Shariah Court. Provision is made for the appointment of Naib Kathis who will be mainly concerned with the solemnisation and registration of marriages, to which the guardians or walis have consented. Where the woman has no wali or guardian, or where the wali or guardian refuses his consent to the marriage, the marriage may be solemnised and registered by the Kathis attached to the Shariah Court. All divorces will similarly be dealt with by the Kathis in the Shariah Court. There are at present two Kathis attached to the Shariah Court, and if the need arises, additional Kathis will be appointed.”
“At present there is no provision whereby a party to such a marriage can obtain a divorce, for example, as the Shariah Court has only jurisdiction in cases where all the parties are Muslims and the High Court has no jurisdiction in the case of Muslim marriages. It is expressly provided, to remove all doubts, that the Shariah Court will apply the Muslim law, as varied by Malay custom, that is, clause 35 (2) . Provision is made for representation by authorised agents (clause 38) and for reciprocal arrangements for the service of summonses in the States of Malaysia (clause 41). Clauses 47 to 49 of the Bill clarify the law relating to applications for divorce by a married woman, and clause 49 sets out the grounds on which a married woman can apply to the Court for judicial divorce on fasakh. The provisions relating to the appointments of arbitrators in marriage disputes has been strengthened by giving power to the Shariah Court, where the arbitrators originally appointed are unable to reach agreement, to appoint other arbitrators or hakam with power in appropriate cases to effect a divorce (clause 50). Power is given to the Shariah Court to order payment of maintenance beyond the period of eddah, if the Court is satisfied that it is fit and proper to do so. That is in clause 52. Part IV of the Bill deals with the financial powers of the Council of Muslim Religion and in particular it establishes a General Endowment Fund. Hitherto there was no such fund in Singapore and there was therefore no central organisation which could deal with Muslim charitable trusts. Some Muslim endowments are at present administered by the Muslim and Hindu Endowments Board but the majority are administered by private trustees.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." This Bill has been under consideration for a long time and its provisions have been considered in detail by the Muslim Advisory Board and copies of the Bill have been sent to a number of Muslim bodies in Singapore. The comments which have been received on its provisions have been considered by the Muslim Advisory Board and the present draft incorporates the suggestions which have been considered reasonable and in keeping with the scheme and purpose of the Bill. The Bill in the main follows the legislation in the States of Malaya, which have tended to follow the model set by the Administration of Muslim Law Enactment of Selangor in 1952. The Bill, however, incorporates the provisions which were designed to control the exercise of the right of divorce and the permission of polygamy which were first introduced in Singapore, and which have, I am happy to say, been followed in recent legislation in the States of Malaya, notably in Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Perlis. Part II of the Bill constitutes a Majlis Ugama Islam or a Council of Muslim Religion to advise the President in matters relating to the Muslim religion. The Majlis, unlike the present Muslim Advisory Board, will have certain executive powers in issuing rulings on Muslim law and the administration of Muslim Charities and will be a corporation, with power to hold property and to sue and be sued. Part III of the Bill in the main reenacts the provisions of the Muslims Ordinance, 1957. It is sought to give power to the Shariah Court to deal with cases where the parties were married under the Muslim law but where one or both of the parties have ceased to be Muslims (clause 35).”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not think there is any possibility of starting a creche in the community centres because most of the community centres especially in the rural areas are being used during the day time. In the morning, for instance, they are used for selling pig food and other things. There are also centres run by the Social Welfare Department and these are used by the public from three o'clock in the afternoon. So if you have working parents who wish to leave their children in the creches, that means they have to take back their children at three o'clock and not at five o'clock because both parents usually finish their work at about 5 p.m. However, the Ministry will look into this matter further to satisfy the Member.”
“Our aim is to make our approach humane, just, practical and acceptable. This is necessarily a difficult and long-term task, and constructive criticisms and suggestions are always welcome. 4.42 p.m.”
“The underlying aim is to spread the use of the national language at all nation-wide levels. It is the Government's wish that employers in the private sector provide facilities and inducements to their employees to study the national language. The Government will continue the same policy in 1966 with promise of more varied and more meaningful language activities in the coming year. Mr Speaker, Sir, increasing importance is being attached to the National Museum now that we are a sovereign and independent nation. As the repository of our cultural heritage, it has been a constant centre of attraction to our own people as well as to visitors. Its modernisation is already under way. In the endeavour to stimulate cultural activities, funds are being secured for the coming year. In conjunction with civic organisations, the production of artistic work by local people has been given a fillip. A great number of art exhibitions and other cultural activities highlight the year 1965. The Government encourages new modes of expression to impart identity to our new nation. The National Theatre Trust is empowered by legislation as an agency for promoting cultural activities. It is actively engaged in planning a wider range of activities for the coming year. The Ministry of Culture has endeavoured to fulfil the major cultural needs of the people. More remains to be done in the coming year, and the indication is that 1966 will see a greater flowering in the artistic, intellectual and cultural activities in our State. A multi-racial society inevitably poses a greater variety of problems than a homogeneous one. Solutions to them are many - some are crabbed while others are downright stupid. Our solution based on a multi-racial rationale cannot be wrong.”
“Last but by no means least, in the light of independence, external publicity has become a "must". Through our external short-wave networks and through other media of publicity, including our missions abroad, our situation, ideology and reaction to world affairs can be made known to our friends in Afro-Asia and elsewhere. The acceptance of Malay as our national language since 1959 was and is based on multi-racial logic, political acumen and common sense. Internally, a national language can serve several purposes. It can effectively weld the various communities into a compact national unity. Malays, Chinese, Indians, and others can think of themselves as part of one people who speak a common national language. Other advantages also accrue from a common language. Through our language policy, most of our younger generation will be in the fortunate position of being bi-lingual or even tri-lingual. Their horizon being broadened, they will be able to pick up the best from the literary and technical literature of these languages. While accepting Malay as the national language, our people are exhorted to study their mother tongue as well. Language liberalism, as practised by us, will make for greater national progress in the long run. A national proficient in several languages will he able to pick the best from the wisdom and knowledge in the literature of the other languages. Apart from regular lessons over radio and television, National Language Months were held in 1965. The first, in June 1965, generated a great deal of enthusiasm among all sectors of the population, as evinced by the wide range of activities that took place. The second National Language Month, which was recently concluded, again created a great impact on our people.”
“Thus, over a period of time, we expect powerfully to demonstrate the virtues of multi-racialism, multi-lingualism and multi-culturalism and, at the same time, the futility of the one-language, one-race and one-culture doctrine. The completion of the new Television Building and Studios in the middle of 1966 will result in more viewing hours for our people. Also the quality of programmes can be stepped up and improved. Television time over both channels will increase. Mr Speaker, Sir, while on this subject, I gather that some of our viewers are annoyed with the hard selling of merchandise over television at the most exciting times of the best programmes. Scientific research into human nature has revealed to advertisers these periods as being the most effective on the sub-conscious minds of even those who are apparently unhappy. The net result is more money from this source of revenue and a lessening of the burden on the taxpayer for the essential broadcasting services and the possibility of buying better programmes. This practice is now universal, and besides being a dollar earner, advertising stimulates economic activity in the State. In 1965 a gross return of $4.3 million is expected from the Commercial Service, which represents 53 per cent of the recurrent expenditure for the broadcasting service. With more time over television from the latter part of next year, the income will no doubt increase when consideration can be given to having less frequent commercials in any particular programme. In a State where about half a million children are at school, the value of educational television cannot be over-emphasised. This is now in the planning stage and in 1966 a pilot scheme is expected to come into operation.”
“The basic objectives and policies of the Ministry of Culture, which have been geared to the long-term needs, hopes and aspirations of our people in a multi-racial society, have not required any radical reappraisal after separation and independence. The continual policy of preserving the basic elements of our four different cultural streams and accentuating those facets of our heritage that will ensure national unity, still stands. This policy can be instrumental not only in building an abiding multi-racial society with built-in constitutional safe-guards for minority groups, but can also serve as a bridge of amity between our people and the people of Malaysia who are traditionally one people. In general, as in the past, the total effect of the various divisions of the Ministry of Culture will be, on the one hand, to provide the people of Singapore and friendly peoples in other parts of the world with essential information on the nation's policies and activities, and on the other, to guide and sustain our people in their cultural, artistic, intellectual and other pursuits. In the context of multi-lingualism and multi-culturalism, Radio and Television Singapura will go on informing, educating and entertaining our people, and in conformity with the Government and people's four equal-language policy, daily news casts are being transmitted over radio and television. Such a practice not only benefits the most number of people but also reinforces the superstructure of our multi-racial society. Hence, the practice also of juxtaposing Malay, Chinese, Tamil and English programmes over television.”
“With the completion of these two projects during the next five years, Singapore will have a total of seven fire stations located strategically on a regional basis to provide protection against the hazards of fire, which must grow in a rapidly developing society like ours. Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government has not, however, forgotten that our progressive and hard-working population also needs recreational facilities for their leisure hours. The new Faber Scenic Park, which was officially opened last year, and the latest Raffles Park Garden-cum-Car Park, which was recently opened by the Prime Minister, have already proved to be Singapore's favourite resorts during the evenings and on public holidays. It is my Ministry's intention to continue to increase and improve these recreational facilities. A programme of improvements has already been put in hand to enhance and beautify the existing facilities at the Botanic Gardens, including the building of an ornamental bridge across the Lake, and there are plans to extend the Faber Scenic Park to the adjacent land and hill, to clean up and beautify the very popular beach resort at Nicoll Drive, and to provide more children's playgrounds especially in the densely populated areas of the city environments. As the Minister in charge of sport, I should like to refer to the Government's plan to build an up-to-date sports complex including a National Sports Stadium of Olympic standards at Kallang. This is a major project which, when completed, will give a tremendous boost to the promotion of sport in Singapore and will help to put Singapore in the forefront in the field of international sport.”
“In addition, there are plans to build extensions to an existing Girls' Home and a Boys' Home in order to increase the accommodation and improve the facilities available. While on the Social Welfare Department, I should like to draw attention to the fact that the 1966 provision for the Public Assistance Scheme, which provides financial relief for the unemployed among our citizens ($9.6 million) shows a welcome reduction as compared with this year's provision of $10 million. This is, indeed, a healthy sign, a clear indication that despite Indonesian confrontation our unemployment problem has been kept under control. Hon. Members would have read in the Press about the public display that was given by the Singapore Fire Brigade at Empress Place recently. It was the first display of its kind in the history of Singapore, and gave the people a heartening assurance of the efficiency and quality of the Fire Brigade. In particular, I should like to mention the two latest items of equipment which have been acquired by the Fire Brigade and both of which were demonstrated in the display: a new "Snorkel" Fire Engine, which is the latest development in fire fighting and particularly adapted for fire fighting and rescue work among high buildings, and the Foam Cannon, which has been specially designed for dealing with oil fires. There are also expansion plans for the Fire Brigade. Work is expected to start next year on a new $2.5 million Fire Station to serve the new satellite town that is coming up in Toa Payoh, and plans have been formulated for yet another Fire Station to serve the Jurong industrial complex.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as has already been pointed out by my colleague, the Minister for Finance, in his Budget speech, expenditure on social services has been on the increase every year. For education and health services, for example, there has been a ten per cent increase in expenditure this year over that of last year, and the 1966 Budget provides for a similar order of increase next year. This is, of course, as it should be, for the continuing improvement and expansion of social services is in accordance with the declared socialist aim of the Government to provide more of the amenities of life for the people as part of the general objective of bringing about a more just and equal society. In the field of social welfare, where the needs of the handicapped and underprivileged of our society are catered for, as distinct from the needs of the people generally, there has been a constant endeavour not only to maintain the existing level and standard of the services provided, but also to improve and expand. With the coming into operation this year of the Woodlands Home for old people, which has a maximum capacity of 500, the Social Welfare Department now runs a total of 12 welfare institutions, which between them provide care and shelter for all age groups, from boys and girls of school-going age to the aged and infirm. To provide for future needs, plans have been formulated for two new Old People's Homes on the same lines as the Woodlands Home, and a Junior Approved School for boys. The Junior Approved School will provide training and rehabilitation facilities on up-to-date lines for boys below the age of 13 (the present Gimson School provides for boys above 13), and will have accommodation for 80 boys.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the ugly incident as described by the Member for Bras Basah has given rise to considerable publicity in the local Press. I should like to take this opportunity to state that it was not due to any shortcomings or defects in the prison administration. In fact, the incident underlines the fact that quite contrary to the allegation of ill-treatment and torture made by the Barisan Sosialis, our political detainees are so well treated that they even have the time to engage in a little fracas now and then. Political detainees are housed in blocks segregated from the ordinary and other prisoners, and are permitted to live comfortably in dormitory accommodation as compared with the cells of convicted prisoners. Unlike ordinary prisoners, they are not required to do any work and, therefore, have a considerable amount of free time on their hands. Hence they have plenty of opportunity to quarrel and fight with one another if they are so disposed. They are allowed freedom of movement within the open grounds of the precincts of the place of detention, and normal locking-up time is 9 p.m. in the evening. In the matter of food they are given preferential treatment over ordinary prisoners. Their rations cost $1.30 cents per day as compared with 75 cents per day for ordinary prisoners. They are allowed to select the type of diet on which they wish to be placed, and most of them have taken the opportunity to be placed on European diet. So in view of the somewhat pampered life which they have been leading, I am, in fact, surprised that there have not been more fights and incidents among them.”
“As for the Malays in Singapore, I would appeal to them to steer clear of the communal blandishments of the Malay extremists. The real interest of the Malays lies in co-operating with the other communities in a concerted effort to achieve economic viability, step up the standard of living and create a more just and equal national multi-racial society in which every citizen irrespective of racial origin can make the most of the opportunities of life. 3.32 p.m.”
“As part of the campaign to topple the Singapore Government, the extremists incited the Malays with communal slogans of one race, one language and one religion. This culminated in the two riots of July and September last year. Those two race riots would not have happened but for the determination of the extremists and racialists to force the people of Singapore into accepting Malay rule. In fact, the position was neatly summarised by an U.M.N.O. Backbencher when he said at the Second Session of the Malaysian Parliament, "The trouble with Singapore is that it is not accustomed to Malay rule." Even after our expulsion, the extremists would not leave us alone and blatantly interfered in our internal affairs by exploiting religious and language issues. Their attempts in the Jawi Press to create religious conflict in Singapore were foiled before any damage could be done. Then they switched over to language. During our Second National Language Month concluded recently, these Right-wing extremists, claiming to be "the anti-national language leaders", distributed literature denouncing Malay as the national language and demanding that Chinese be made the sole national language of the State. These pamphlets written in rornanised Malay were purported to have originated from Chinese language chauvinists. But their game was exposed and the pamphlets were traced to be the work of Malay extremists, their real intention being to create communal ill-feeling between the Malays and Chinese which might result in racial conflagration. In conclusion, Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to echo the Prime Minister's suggestion that a more rational relationship between the Malaysian Government and the Singapore Government be ironed out at the conference table.”
“But our offers were flatly rejected. Instead, the Malaysian Government went around on the quiet to find out how we ran our efficient government machinery, how we could build low-cost houses, schools, clinics, hospitals and other social amenities. Openly, they expressed their envy of our achievements which could have given them inspiration to embark on similar projects but which were only regarded by them as posing a challenge to them. Three days after the Singapore general elections in 1963, U.M.N.O. members in Geylang Serai, led by their extremist leaders from Kuala Lumpur, burnt an effigy of the Prime Minister. This was to give expression to their frustration because their candidates were rejected by the people and all had lost their seats. From then on, the vicious propaganda that "the P.A.P. Chinese Government is suppressing the Malays" was echoed with monotonous regularity by the U.M.N.O. leaders in their speeches and in the Jawi Press. It was a systematic campaign. Social projects designed to benefit the Malays were distorted. Low-cost flats aimed at providing the Malays with modern facilities were decried on the fictitious ground that they were not suitable for Malays who prefer to stay only in kampong-type houses. Malay families were threatened into refusing occupation of these flats, described by the Utusan Melayu as "pigeon holes". The vicious propaganda went on, day in and day out. Their aim was to impede Singapore's social and economic headway. Under the influence of the extremists, the Malays refused to move out of their dilapidated houses to make way for modern flats. Urban development projects were held up.”
“The trend is that more and more overseas trade missions will visit Singapore, not only from the non-Communist countries but also from the European Communist countries. For example, Yugoslavia and Russia have expressed their desire of relations with us. We encourage relations like these on the basis of mutual benefit. It is our hope that economic relations will be the prelude to other and closer relations. This can be our contribution to international goodwill and understanding. Mr Speaker, Sir, it is not without reasons that Singapore is the centre of communications and business in South-East Asia and has within the last 150 years developed into the fifth largest port in the world. This is due to a quirk of geography - that we are in the centre of world trade routes. But some people in the neighbouring territory refuse to accept this. To them, Singapore was and still is nothing more than a small fish which makes a tasty morsel. But two years of Malaysia made them realise that what they mistook for the ikan hilis was really the ikan lepu which, small though it be, is protected by a ring of poisonous spikes. So to save their own skin, they had perforce to spew out the ikan lepu. For during the two years we were in Malaysia, Sir, we amply demonstrated ourselves as a people not to be cowed into submission but willing and able to fight for principles and inalienable rights. We joined Malaysia in the sincere conviction that we could play our part in helping to create a multi-racial, equal and just society. We were willing to co-operate and offer whatever help we could in a common endeavour to improve the lot of the less privileged in the country. We offered the services of our experts to help them to build low-cost housing for the lower income groups, and so on.”
“Against this background we can clearly understand that at this sitting, Members of the Barisan Sosialis have absented themselves because their attempts to hoodwink the people on the phoney independence myth have failed miserably. Their unfounded allegations that independence has loaded Singapore with acute and chaotic economic problems fall on deaf ears. The people of Singapore refuse to listen to such silly and childish remarks and will not allow themselves to follow a suicidal course like that of 1961 when the Barisan Sosialis created economic paralysis by launching strikes which resulted in the closure of many factories, unemployment among workers and transfer of capital across the Causeway. I suggest, Mr Speaker, Sir, that the Barisan Sosialis Gentlemen should have their heads examined; after all, they have plenty of free time in which to do this, for instead of fulfilling their parliamentary obligations as the Opposition here, they are now on a long holiday. Four months after our separation from Malaysia, Singapore is still very much alive and is in fact even more viable. As revealed by my colleague the Minister for Finance in his Budget Speech, there is every indication that Singapore will definitely survive and prosper in the years ahead. His "painless" Budget has been viewed by the people as an index of confidence in Singapore's economic future. As an encouraging first step, some overseas buyers have already made bulk purchases of our locally manufactured plywood, veneer and textiles. And now they are engaged in exploring the possibilities of introducing a wider range of locally manufactured products to the markets of their respective countries.”
“At a time when we were working feverishly for the reunification of Singapore and Malaya in the establishment of Malaysia a few years ago, they worked in the opposite direction. They branded Malaysia as a neo-colonialist plot. They opposed merger to fight for an independent Singapore. Independence first, followed by merger at a later stage was their formula. And now that Singapore is no longer part of Malaysia but has become an independent and sovereign State, they say, "We do not want an independent Singapore because it is phoney independence and is a plot of the British colonialists and imperialists working hand in glove with their stooges." Mr Speaker, Sir, nobody can gainsay that Singapore's independence is genuine, to substantiate which there is more than ample testimony. We were admitted into the United Nations without any hitch. No African or Asian country opposed our application for membership of the Afro-Asian Conference which unfortunately failed to hold its meeting in Algiers. In fact, the United Nations as well as the Afro-Asian Conference accepted us with open arms. If our independence were phoney, as the Barisan Sosialis claimed, surely we would have been rebuffed by these two bodies. There is further proof of our State's legitimacy. And again, Mr Speaker, Sir, our mission led by the Deputy Prime Minister was well received and highly honoured by African, European and Asian countries. The countries they visited represented every shade of ideology from non-Communist to Communist countries. They not only accepted Singapore as an independent and sovereign State but also saw the presence of the British base in the correct perspective. They were convinced that the protective base here would not negate or detract from our independence.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, at the opening of the First Session of the Singapore Parliament, exactly four months after the promulgation of Singapore as an independent and sovereign State, the Head of State, His Excellency the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, remarked that: `When we last met in this Chamber, little did we foresee that in two years we would meet here again as a sovereign Legislature of an independent nation, a separate member of the Commonwealth and of the United Nations.' In fact, even in this very House, Mr Speaker, Sir, the atmosphere and the scene have changed. The seats in front of us, which were 90 per cent empty after the last general election in 1963, are now all completely unoccupied. And since last Monday we have missed the sight of eight tiny men in black trousers and white shirts, shuffling in and out of this Chamber shouting silly and sometimes insolent remarks whenever Government Members spoke. Although we are in no position to predict the length of their absence, there are indications that their boycott will go on at least for the whole of this Session. It is hard for us to understand what sort of people they are and what they really want. They talk of democracy, but when they are given the opportunities through the democratic parliamentary process to air their grievances face to face with us, they prefer to absent themselves, to shout morbid and empty slogans outside this Chamber to the effect that the Government is undemocratic and dictatorial. Since the 9th of August, the Barisan Sosialis has lost much of its ground support, not because of the so-called undemocratic and dictatorial attitude of the P.A.P. Government, but because of their puerile and stupid actions and utterances which are prejudicial to the interests of the people.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to seek the general assent of the Assembly to move the following motion:- That, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of Standing Order 23, and notwithstanding the Orders of the Assembly on 13th December, 1965, that the under-mentioned Bills be read a Second time on the first available sitting day in January 1966, the undermentioned Bills be read instead a Second time on the first available sitting day after 21st December, 1965:- (1) The Administration of Muslim Law Bill, (2) The Destitute Persons Bill.”