Philip Tan Tee Yong
Singapore
“But from the point of view of the nation as a whole, it is better for the defence industries to do this and channel the private sector into other areas of business, rather than for the defence industries to keep their surplus capacity idle in order to give the business to the private sector.”
“Sir, I would like the Minister to consider whether this is in line with maximising the productivity of our limited manpower. BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Speaker, Sir, the line between what the Government should do, what the Government-owned companies should do, and what privately-owned companies should do, is a matter of degree, judgment and c…”
“Sir, is the Minister aware that ST companies are also agents for personal computers? BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Speaker, Sir, yes, indeed. The SAF Enterprises (SAFE) retails many brands of PCs as well as other consumer goods as part of its business.”
“Sir, but how can we say that they are on a fair footing? The Minister should consider that there are certain factors that the Government-owned companies will have to take into account, for instance, land cost, rentals and even the attractiveness of employing people from the industry.”
“I am referring to the ST company which is the agent for the AST personal computers. BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Speaker, Sir, rather than argue what advertisements have been published or not, I take the position that even if they were published entirely as the Member has maintained, I see nothing wrong with it.”
“I rest my case. TELECOMMUNICATION AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE (Sourcing of personal computers) 2. Mr Philip Tan Tee Yong asked the Minister for Communications and Information, in line with the Government's intention that the private sector be the engine of growth, why is the Telecommunication Authority of Singapore sourcing personal computers…”
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“So I decided that if I should go abroad one day, I would visit Europe to see for myself, in particular, the churches of Europe to see what it is all about. However, this book helped me to make up my mind to engage myself, life-time, in cultural work, which is important to me. Although I have talked so much, to some people it is like harping to cows. They might not understand what I am talking about. But this year is the Year of the Ox which symbolizes hard work and determination in one's efforts. Our leaders are people with brains. They have the verve and the specialities. They have worked well in the economic field. So now they should try their effort in the field of culture. That would be good to us and also would be better to the generations yet unborn. On this note, I support the Member for Ayer Rajah. 11.45am”
“I have been living happily with a peace of mind, and free of conscience. The propositions of Confucian thoughts are self-cultivation, putting one's family in order, ruling over one's country and achieving peace in the whole world. Of course, some people would say all this is grand theory but useless. It is hardly achievable. It depends on the cultural resolution for one to be of such mentality. Otherwise why should you, Mr Speaker, Sir, be here. You might as well go and earn a lot more money outside this House. Therefore, while we engage ourselves in economic tasks, we should not neglect our cultural tasks. Let me give an example to show the importance of cultural tasks. Talking about Lu Shing, he is a writer whom everybody knows. When studying in Japan, one day in a cinema he saw a film showing the Japanese killing the Chinese. Lu Shing. then was studying medicine, aspiring to save lives in Japan. He thought to himself, "If I could only cure a few people a day, then in one year I would not be able to cure more than a few hundred people. That would be a waste of my time." So he decided to give up his study or living the life of a doctor. Then he became active in the cultural field. His writing called, "Ah Q", has stirred millions of the Chinese people to take up arms in the war against Japan. After the successful war, China today regards the writings of Lu Shing as cultural treasures of China. I think it is only right and proper. Sir, let me quote another example. When I was 18 years old, I read a book called "The Reminiscences of Rousseau". In this book, there is a description about the writer when he was 17 years old having sexual relationship with a nun. Sir, I could not imagine how it could be like that.”
“What I have mentioned is just an indicator of our situation. At this juncture, if we just talk about economic progress without talking about culture, we are just talking about material civilization and not cultural or spiritual civilization. It would amount to only talking about material enjoyment and not about the family, the nation and the parents, the virtues of civilization of our people. Sir, in the long-term, we will be able to see whether this would lead to the unity and to the making of a strong society, or the division and the weakening of our society. Let each of us ponder well over these things. On the 1st of this month, the Member for Delta touched at length on Confucian thoughts. Like him, I have been nurtured for over 10 years in the Confucian school. So I have the same feeling as he does, having gone through the same mill. But I am also a pragmatic person. If we want to go back to our old path and old way, I would say that it is not possible, not practicable. He talked eloquently on Confucian ethics and principles: that when the four national virtues are absent, then a country will perish. Is there anything wrong? Of course, if the virtues are not put into effect or manifested among our people, then the nation will deteriorate. People could talk a lot about Confucianism, but what is the essence of Confucianism? To come down to brass tacks, fundamentally it means one must practise Jun Su way in human relationship, be of moderate temperament, faithful and kind to others, and forgiving. Nowadays, to talk about being faithful and kind to others sometimes would make one lose or be at a disadvantage for the time being, but in the long run it would not be so. For over 20 years I have suffered some loss, but on the whole, have I been disadvantaged? No.”
“Allow me one minute to read it out: 'When all the world is young, lad, And all the trees are green; And every goose a swan, lad, And every lass a queen; Then hey, for boot and horse, lad, And round the world away; Young blood must have its course, lad, And every dog his day.' Sir, I do not mean to say that our young people are like the young people of England or America who like material enjoyment and detest work and labour. No. Our young have to study very hard. They are under great pressure from a very young age. The Member for Ayer Rajah has been talking about education since 1981, and all well-said. Our Minister for Education said that we would review our education policy in order to make changes. But the young people feel that studying is very hard, a hard chore. Some people say studying is a very enjoyable thing to do. I would say studying is also a very enjoyable thing to me. Studying has been the most enjoyable period in my life. But many young people nowadays do not think so. They find it a hard chore. After leaving school, they will be enlisted for national service. Our Minister for Defence has also mentioned that we want to cultivate soldiers of good quality and not like what the Cantonese describe as "watery soldiers", soft and without bones. This is correct. We want elite soldiers. Regarding work, as Singapore is a very small place, we are facing great competition. Everybody will have to work hard. Otherwise, when you return home you will not have money to pay your PUB bills and rentals. Yes, it is a fact of life. We all have to work hard. Sir, in the past few years we have been stressing on economic growth and progress. So far, we have been able to see only the tip of the iceberg of such progress.”
“When the father fell sick, the son said he wanted to come back. So he returned to see his father. His father was quite pleased. This is a wealthy family. The father had a detached house, and he thought that since he was dying, he conveyed the house to his son. The father died later and the son went back to England. Soon his mother received a letter from the son from England telling the mother, "Mother, the house that you are staying in is mine. So I want you to send $700 to me in England as monthly rental for the occupation of the house." That is another factual story that I have quoted. This is a big matter. The third example is this. There was a family of a few boys who were brothers. They were getting on quite well. One of them who was less than 20 years old had been to various places like Australia, the United States and Canada. One day he told me, "Mr Lai, there is something wrong or something bad about our Government." So I asked him, "What is wrong? What is no good? Let me hear it." He said, "The Government wants me to study English. I am happy about it. But to ask me to study Chinese is a waste of my time." I asked, "Why?" He said, "i have been to various places in the world. In future I would not like to stay in Singapore. If I don't go to Australia to get a job, then I will go to the US or Canada. I will not stay in Singapore. In those places Chinese will not be of any use. It will be a waste of my time and money." I have quoted these three examples. Sir, despite our good economic position, these three examples have emerged. This made me think of a poem written by an English poet, Charles Kingsley.”
“I agree entirely with that. The Prime Minister has also talked about it on 1st March here, and also in 1981. Let me quote a part of what the Prime Minister said during the Chinese New Year season in 1981. He said that the cohesiveness and unity of the basic unit of a family has enabled the Chinese society to endure for 4,000 years without declining. This is a unique civilization in continuity. Despite the ravages of floods, famine, pestilences, wars or earthquakes, this civilization is still continuing, preserving its original form. We are doing well. It is good. Particularly in the recent decade we have made good economic progress. Everybody is happy. All are pleased. But I would like to mention something which the Prime Minister mentioned. I refer to three examples which I heard in the past ten years and which I have regarded as very important. First example, there was, living in a 3-room flat, a family of two persons, mother and son. This reminds me of what the Member for Ang Mo Kio has just said which is very important. The mother had a son, and then this son married and produced a grandson. So there were four persons. So if they wanted to stay in a bigger flat, would they be able to do that? There were CPF savings to help. The HDB had a good scheme. Just half a year ago, the son acquired a 5-room flat, so he sold the original 3-room flat. Then he, his wife and his son moved to stay in the 5-room flat. At the same time, he said to his mother, "Bye, bye. Will you please find your own accommodation elsewhere?" This is a fact. The second example that I would like to quote involves three persons, father, mother and son. This son went to England to study in a university. After graduation, he stayed on there and took up some work. He got married there and did not return.”
“I have a high regard for the HDB officials and will encourage them to continue their good work. I want to assure them that they have a friend in this House. May I then suggest that this Government consider asking the HDB to review its role which, in the main, is public housing, and pass on the other responsibilities to other statutory boards so that HDB can concentrate its efforts, expertise, and get ready to meet the greater task ahead and, that is, to reach the 100% home-ownership by 1999. Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the motion. 11.24 am Mr Lai Tha Chai (Henderson)( In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the six main objectives as outlined in the policy statement are quite good. Nobody says they are no good. If there is anybody who says that they are bad or no good, then he must be either an ass or a fool. The younger leadership have put their heads together and consolidated the thoughts of all. Therefore, I support these good suggestions. I would like the new Government leadership to consider that along with the good suggestions, there should be good methods of carrying them out. The 5-7% increase in economic growth, I believe, is achievable as there is no lack of eminent economists. I have the confidence. The Member for Teck Ghee has said on 1 March that the progress of a country depends on its economic growth. I agree with that entirely. A Chinese saying says the people regard food as the supreme providence. Marx had also correctly stressed the importance of economy. I agree: no money, don't talk of anything. "No money, no MRT", the Member has said. Without economic progress, there will be no well-being for the country. But I would like to point out that there is something as important as economic growth, that is, culture which the Member for Delta has pointed out to him.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to move on to another point the President made in his speech, The President mentioned that one of the goals of this Government is to reach 80% home-ownership by 1989, and 100% home ownership by 1999. I sincerely believe, barring all unforeseen circumstances, we will reach the goal. But I am very concerned because the HDB is involved, and because they will bear the main brunt of responsibilities. If they fail, it will be disastrous. My concern came to the fore arising from a recent event which I was involved in a very small part. Many Members here will remember the problems faced by the businessmen in the Defu Industrial Estate. This estate is managed by the HDB. Mr Sia Kah Hui, the former Member for Paya Lebar, laboured for many months, meeting with the businessmen, the HDB, but to no avail. Then came the current First Deputy Prime Minister in his walkabout. The same problems were presented to him, in fury and in anger. Lo and behold, in a short while afterwards, HDB solved the problems without much trouble. At this juncture, may I take this opportunity to record my appreciation of Mr Sia Kah Hui for his patience and hard work which finally paid off. To many, it seems that the HDB will attend to matters urgently only when a senior Minister intervenes, or in our Singapore slang "Big eye" and "Small eye". To an MP, it can be very humiliating. Mr Speaker, Sir, as far as I am concerned, I do not think that the HDB is partial. I believe the event is a symptom of an underlying problem within HDB. I want to take note that the HDB officials are overtaxed, because HDB has a finger in too many responsibilities. It is then natural that the officials can do that much, resulting in attending only to those problems which are most pressing.”
“I am thinking of the poorer 15-20% group and maybe another 15-20% above the poorer ones. Remember, they live in HDB estates which were designed and constructed in a hurry to solve their accommodation problems. We have come a long way. We have progressed but, for one reason or another, these two groups have not progressed fast enough and yet they are part of our workforce. And because they are part of our workforce, they must be fit too, but there are no facilities within their reach. In many HDB estates, there are very few playing fields and open spaces. If there are void decks, the HDB 9ign will show "No cycling", "No ball games", no this, no that. Where then are these people going to release their pent-up emotions after a day's hard work? They have no choice but to confine themselves in their crowded flats with their children and sit in front of their TV set, if they can afford it. Psychologically, I think this is bad and this may lead to emotional and, maybe, mental problems. May I then suggest that this Government consider opening up school fields which are usually found within walking distance from the HDB estates? The school field is one means where workers and their children could use to recreate their bodies and souls after a hard day's work. It may create a better family relationship. I realize that there are maintenance problems. I further suggest that we enlist the help of the RCs, the CCMCs and the CCCs to help. Mr Speaker, Sir, I am convinced that the Government and the workers must co-operate to ensure that we always have a workforce which is not only hardworking, intelligent, determined, but also healthy and fit.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Member for Ayer Rajah in his motion of thanks to the President for his speech made in this Parliament. From the speech, I notice that this Government, in its efforts to increase the wealth of the nation, has not forgotten the 15-20% of the population who are poor. This is indeed very commendable and is a clear sign that this Government has a caring attitude towards all. I say "very commendable" because we in Singapore are so influenced by the business environment and dealings that we nearly always discard the loss-making departments. I ask myself: why is this Government so concerned with this poorer group of the population? Among many other reasons, I have two main reasons which I think this Government is so concerned about. It is because every Singaporean is a person, and not a digit. And because every Singaporean is a person, he must be cared for to the best of our ability. The second reason is that people are the most important asset in the Singapore's economy. We treasure every person, and every Singaporean, rich or poor, has to be helped to contribute to the nation's wealth. But in order for anyone to contribute, he must, first of all, have the pre-requisite of being fit. Thus, it is an obligation of every Singaporean to be fit, physically and mentally, and it is an obligation of this Government to provide all the necessary facilities and environment. I want to suggest that the present facilities are not enough, and are not within walking distance for those living in the HDB estates, especially the older ones. Those who are better off do not have any problem for they just have to hop into their cars and zip off to their private clubs or public recreation parks and facilities.”