R. Sinnakaruppan
Singapore
“In the first place, is the reporting system of the hand, foot and mouth disease cases by the GPs to the Ministry quick enough? Could it be that by the time the Ministry gathered all the data, the disease has already spread?”
“It is, in some ways, like what the Government has done for our university by setting up a private university, the Singapore Management University.”
“Sir, the question I really have is this. While it is very encouraging to see that the Government has started this scheme late last year, I would like to ask whether, in addition to looking at the priority for older estates, there are wards where there are more private estates than public estates.”
“I would also like to ask that this lift upgrading programme, on a pilot scheme that has been planned, can be expanded and more of the mature estates in the city centre can be considered for this upgrading.”
“It must have greater compassion and greater commitment to level up the lower strata of our society. Like the call by Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, it must do much more on public education on what we want to achieve as a nation. It must rally our citizens to help them cope with the impending changes of our economy.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we welcome this more calibrated approach to killer-litter offences by MND as well as MHA. I would like to ask the Minister whether, in the light of this approach, the Housing and Development Act could be reviewed to raise the maximum penalty from $1,000 to $5,000, same as the penalty imposed by the Town Council, for the n…”
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“Sir, I am told by the Land Office and LTA that the first contract starts from Farrer Park Station right up to WTC Station. Is it possible that they start work at WTC where no residents are affected than to start at Farrer Park Station? Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, like I said, again, we have to see things in perspective. This is a massive infrastructure project that would take seven years to complete. It must start somewhere. The experts have looked at the entire picture and, unfortunately, for some residents who are affected in the initial phase, they would have to move first. So, like I said, considering everything, we have moved the deadline for 51 lots. But we are unable to move it for the other 55 lots. COMPULSORY ACQUISITION OF LAND IN POTONG PASIR FOR NORTH-EAST MRT LINE (Ex-gratia compensation) 6. Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for Law, as regards the compulsory acquisition of land in Potong Pasir in connection with the construction of the North-East MRT line, (a) how will the quantum of ex-gratia compensation be determined firstly for land owners and secondly for tenants of those premises which are under the provisions of the Control of Rent Act and those premises which are not; and (b) whether compensation will be made to those residents who spent money to renovate their premises with the permission of the Building Control Department prior to the announcement in March 1996 that their properties would be compulsorily acquired. Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee (for the Minister for Law): Sir, ex-gratia payment is made only to landowners who meet certain eligibility criteria, not to tenants.”
“Sir, most of the residents do not know what compensation they are getting because, as the Senior Parliamentary Secretary says, full compensation means different things to different people. Sennett Estate residents thought that the full compensation is $1.6 million. But they got $1 million. So most of the residents will be told how much they are getting by the end of September and given the fact that it takes more than three months to do a transaction, they have less than three months left to look for alternative properties. On that basis, will residents who are affected be given an extension until December 1997? Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, we have looked at the request very carefully, in terms of all the 106 lots. But given the tight time schedule for the completion of the whole line, the deadline for these lots cannot be moved, they are on a critical path. It means that if we delay taking possession of these lots, they will have a knock-on effect and the completion of the line may be delayed. So having considered the request of the MP very carefully, LTA has said, "All right. 51 lots can be deferred. But for the other 55 lots, I am afraid they will have to move out, as scheduled by March 1997."”
“Sir, I think the compensation that some Sennett Estate residents got was not full compensation and there was a lot of apprehension as to what was full compensation. And that is why the Member is asking for nominal rental in vacant premises.”
“Sir, I think the Member has missed the point completely. The issue here is whether there was anything amiss in the purchases by Senior Minister or DPM, and the Workers' Party has not come out with a position on this. They are looking at the peripheral issue of prices of property of HPL, which is not the issue here. Sir, I would like to proceed. I am happy to note that the Executive Condominiums would cost nearly 10% less than advertised before. All these measures would help to remove the heat from the market and make private properties affordable for younger professionals. I had said during the last Budget debate that property prices are slipping further and further away from the reach of younger Singaporeans and had asked the Government to introduce measures to control the situation. I am happy to note the swift action of the Government and I am confident that these timely measures would be effective. But even with the curbs on speculation, not all young Singaporeans can afford to own private properties. Younger Singaporeans must be realistic and moderate their aspirations according to their attainable incomes. They must continue to work hard to achieve their realistic goals and aspirations. Finally, I urge all Singaporeans, especially young Singaporeans, to put the issue of the purchases of the private properties by Senior Minister and DPM Lee behind them, and concentrate on more important matters, such as continuing to show their full support to the PAP Government to take Singapore into the 21st century.”
“Now that they are aware of the details after the debate yesterday, they must be reassured that nothing was amiss. Even the SDP and the Workers' Party who are never slow to challenge the Government, have so far made no accusations at Senior Minister or DPM Lee. They know that nothing was amiss. As such, they want to dwell on peripheral issues. The SDP made a press statement asking PAP candidates to declare their assets at the next general election and the Workers' Party wanted HPL to review its price policies. These issues have no direct linkage whatsoever to the matter at hand. Sir, Senior Minister and DPM Lee have forthrightly decided to bring this matter here for public scrutiny. The Opposition MPs in this House must come up and speak on the issue and state their position and their Party's position clearly. Mr Cheo spoke yesterday, but he has not stated his position or his Party's position. Obviously, he has no position and he is not sitting in his position today. I hope he comes because the Leader of the House has said that speakers can speak more than once in this debate. So I hope Mr Ling, who is here, will convey this. I hope that Mr Ling, being the unofficial Leader of the Opposition, will state his position. I challenge him and Mr Cheo to come out and make their position clear, or forever hold their peace. On the second point that is of concern to younger Singaporeans, I am happy to note that the Government has decided to curb property speculation by introducing tax, stamp duties and tighter loans on the purchase of private properties. I am also happy that the Executive Condominiums would cost nearly 10% less.”
“According to the Labour Force Survey 1994, only 42% of the Singapore's monthly wage bill went towards paying the rank and file workers who make up 67% of the workforce and the remaining 58% of the wage bill went to pay professionals, managerial, and technical people, who only make up 33% or one-third of the workforce. And Singapore's senior managers are commanding world class gross wages which are 11% higher than Paris, 50% higher than London and 66% higher than Sydney. So, let us not think that only Ministers are being paid well. Professionals too, especially our senior professionals. But of course, the younger professionals have to be a bit more patient to get there. But you will probably get there if you work hard. So let us not cast that green eye at others who are better off than us. And especially let us not gripe at how many properties Senior Minister Lee or DPM got or how much Minister's salary is. We have benefited tremendously from the system that Senior Minister and his generation of leaders have set up for Singapore. Mr Goh Chok Tong and his team are continuing the good work of their predecessors. Yesterday, Senior Minister said that his wife, Mrs Lee, was so uncomfortable about the whole issue that she felt that Singaporeans were ungrateful. I urge all young Singaporeans, please let us not be regarded as an ungrateful generation. Sir, I think if young Singaporeans approach the issue and the arguments rationally, they would understand that there is nothing wrong with the purchases by the Ministers. Initially, they may not have gathered the details of the purchases and might have unnecessarily read between the lines and came to wrong conclusions, and hence the insinuations and innuendoes.”
“DPM Lee had to put up with a physical and mental battle with lymphoma and SM Lee had to receive two angioplasty treatments within a very short period of time. Like all of us, they have their own families to think about and to take care of. So what is the problem when a father or grandfather buys two or more properties as an investment for them, their children or grandchildren. This is something that is most sensible and it is something that you or me would do for our siblings or kins. Even if they had been well, there is nothing wrong in buying properties for investment. They bought it with their own money and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. So people, especially, young people, should not insinuate about buying more than one property. Sir, I belong to a generation of young professionals in their 30s who have either paid very high prices for their properties or who have not been able to make that leap into owning private properties. So like many young professionals, I too feel the heat of having to pay hefty mortgage monthly payments. Yes, there is some frustration all round, but that is life. We did not choose to be born on a particular year. We had no choice. So we have to accept. But this frustration gives no reason for us as young Singaporeans to gripe and show our envy towards others, people of an earlier generation, because they have one or more than one private property. Sir, yesterday, Mr Chiam talked about younger Singaporeans being unhappy because of the high salaries of Ministers. But let us not forget that young professionals are paid very well too.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, a few weeks ago, to be specific, on 2nd May 1996, the Prime Minister called a meeting of the PAP MPs. The meeting was possibly called at the request of Senior Minister and DPM Lee to explain the details of their property purchases at Scotts 28 and Nassim Jade. As SM and DPM went on to narrate the details of their purchases very meticulously, I, together with other PAP MPs, felt very uncomfortable and very uneasy. Firstly, because SM was looking very pale and he was going to New York the next day for the second angioplasty operation. Secondly, because all of us felt that there was absolutely no need for Senior Minister or DPM to explain the circumstances of their property purchases which was a very private matter. We all have full confidence and full trust in our esteemed leaders and we felt very awkward about the whole matter. I was personally emotionally upset to see the fatherly figure of our nation, the architect of Singapore's success, a man who has sacrificed his own betterment for that of Singapore, being put through such a situation, one that he or DPM Lee does not least deserve. I was gravely concerned when it was pointed out at the meeting that the public disquiet on the matter was possibly steered largely by yuppies and young Singaporeans who in their earnest desire to own private properties had cast their green eye of envy over the purchase of two units by the Ministers in two different developments. I think that it is important to separate the two issues, ie, the Ministers' purchase of the properties and the desire of young Singaporeans to own a private property. First, let me take the property purchases of SM and DPM Lee. We all know that DPM Lee and SM Lee had gone through difficult times in recent years.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, although what is past is past, history can never be wiped away. Let history pass the final judgement on the course of Nanyang University. As for the transfer of register, which is the subject matter of this debate, it is something that has to happen and one which offers no alternative. If it has to be done, it just has to be done! I support the transfer of register of Nantah graduates to the Nanyang Technological University (NTU). At least, that was the origin of Nanyang University. Let the fallen leaves return to the roots!”
“Nantah was established with the support of people from all walks of life and under extremely difficult circumstances. It has nurtured many of us in Singapore. Unfortunately, at the time when she was at her last gasp and on the verge of death, we would only look on helplessly. Now I would like to express my condolence on Nantah's demise with the following words: Forty years ago, when we had yet to own this piece of land, our sagacious forefathers stood up to make a clarion call for the establishment of Nanyang University for the future of the children of the Chinese Community. At that time, the sense of righteousness soared to the skies. Under the suppression of the colonial government, no matter how high the mountain was or how deep the water may be, Nantah stood up proudly high on the hill. After we became master of our own land, some people said Nantah -- nan da -- would be difficult to grow up. With firm support of the people, it witnessed the changes in stormy and unstable political situations for more than 20 years. However, under the rule of power politics, the wind and the clouds changed colour, and Nantah was relegated to that of a third-class university. The final curtain fell, and it became history. Heaven was silent and people were dumbfounded. Suddenly, the long-lost souls of Nantah, which were forced into oblivion by circumstances, received the call of Yunnan Campus to revive the spirit of Nantah so as to become a witness for history. With the passing of the seasons, changes have taken place with the tides of vicissitudes. Those people who had put a rest to the history of Nantah, are now thinking of re-compiling the history. Nantah , feel no qualms, owes no apology to anybody. Rest in peace! Nantah.”
“So the graduates of NTI and NTU recognise the history of our campus and are happy to support the Government's move to transfer the alumni rolls of former Nanyang University graduates to that of the NTU Register of Graduates. Although earlier some of the pioneer graduates had some reservations about this transfer, the NTU Alumni Committee has since met the NTU administration and the Association of Nantah Graduates to discuss the issue and now the NTU graduates understand the need for this and are supportive of this move. When the Bill is passed in Parliament, the NTU Alumni (Association) will make the necessary amendments to its constitution to allow Nanyang graduates to join the alumni association as ordinary members. The NTU Alumni plans to set up an umbrella organisation called the NTU Alumni Council within the next year, which would comprise a network of affiliated Alumni organisations from NTI or NTU, such as faculty alumni clubs, hostel alumni clubs, and other society or special interest alumni clubs. The Association of Nantah Graduates will in due course be invited to be an affiliate of the NTU Alumni Council. It is hoped that the Nantah graduates will join the present Alumni to lend support to the development of NTU and especially to the University Endowment Fund. The Nantah graduates should rejuvenate their Nantah spirit and together with the present alumni help NTU to grow from strength to strength to become a world class university. Mr Low Thia Khiang( In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, much as I am honoured to have the opportunity to participate in the debate on matters relating to the Nanyang University (Nantah), I have complex feelings about it.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to declare my interest both as a member of the NTU Council and as the President of the NTU Alumni. Sir, I was amongst the first pioneer batch of undergraduates at the then NTI. Although many of us in that batch had the choice of opting to pursue a second year engineering course at the NUS, we opted to pursue a course at NTI which occupied the campus of the former Nanyang University. We were attracted to NTI because of the promise of a practice-oriented curriculum and because of the charm and tranquil of the former Nanyang campus. Sir, Singaporeans are well aware of the exemplary Nantah spirit and the sweat and toil of the relentless efforts of the Chinese community in setting up the Nanyang University. As the Minister has just pointed out, in 1980, the Government had to make a very difficult decision to close Nanyang University and merge it with the University of Singapore to become what is known as the National University of Singapore. Nevertheless, the Chinese community organizations donated the sprawling campus at Jurong to the Government. The then Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, later agreed to retain the name Nanyang when NTI was set up in 1981 at the same campus. Although NTI, and now NTU, is characteristically a different university from Nanyang University and although the graduates from these two institutions are a generation apart, the name "Nanyang" and the campus provide the nexus for the two institutions. Sir, I am told that there is a Chinese saying and I think it reads like this: ying shui si yuan ( ) which means that you must remember the source of the water you drink.”
“I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“He has not answered my query whether ECA could be included in the ranking of schools.”
“The second point that I would like to make is that the ranking of ECA should be included in the ranking of schools because a school's overall image should include ECA in addition to academic performance. The third point I want to make is that ECA be used as a criterion for admission to universities, as it is being done for JCs and the polytechnics.”
“Also, in the process of giving more weightage to uniformed groups for the reasons of national service, the girls become free-riders. I therefore urge the Minister to review the ECA points system.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head L of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code LC 1500. Sir, extra-curricular activities in our schools are an integral part of our education system because they inculcate in our pupils the right values, desirable social attitudes and provide for healthy recreation. Sir, I wish to raise several points about the present ECA points system in schools. Many educationists and administrators have pointed out that the present system favours those doing non-sports ECA and as a result more students try to find easier routes to scoring more points. This imbalance would make the ECA points system unfair, especially to sportsmen and will discourage our young to take up sports in schools. In a Straits Times' article dated 21st January 1996, even the Ministry's Deputy Director of the ECA Centre, Mr Ong Lye Huat, has acknowledged that sportsmen were disadvantaged under the present scheme although he said that the Bonus Points Scheme, which was introduced last year, would help to some extent. Sir, I was a very active sportsman myself in school. Therefore, I know that students involved in sports teams have to train very hard, at least three times a week for most parts of the year, to prepare for competitions. It is certainly a great pride for a student or even his entire school, when he represents the combined schools' team or even the national team. While it is important to recognise uniformed groups as they may help male students to prepare for national service, we must recognise that sports does more to prepare them for national service through the development of physical fitness and mental attitudes.”
“I do not know how much progress has been made in this area. But I would like to re-emphasise the importance of creative thinking in industry and business if we are to retain our competitive edge and remain in the forefront. I believe creativity is both a product of nature and nurture. The school plays a very important role here in helping to provide that nurture, firstly, by providing good thinking programmes for our children to equip them with thinking skills and, secondly, by creating the right environment for creative thinking to be exercised and rewarded. With respect to thinking programmes, I would like to ask the Minister how the Edward de Bono programme, or CORT 1 and 4, introduced into secondary schools from 1987 has been faring. Are there plans for other thinking programmes to be introduced? What other measures are being taken to create an environment conducive to creative thinking?”
“Sir, teachers will agree that learning is truly accomplished when students can acquire, evaluate and apply knowledge. Processing information without the ability to apply is not enough. Such a deficiency will come about when teaching methods over-emphasise memorisation and rote learning. Our present education system unfortunately facilitates such learning emphasis. Sir, I am happy to note that the Ministry has already started to promote thinking programmes, such as the CORT programme in our secondary schools. This is a good start. But more can be done. We must try to radically change our curriculum and methods of assessment so as to integrate thinking skills into these aspects. Thinking skills are so important in today's modern world that even IBM's motto is a mono-syllable word "THINK" which is found in all its note pads and meeting rooms. We must de-emphasise content learning and promote thinking and information sourcing and access skills. Methods of assessment must be changed so that it would force teachers and pupils to move away from the "teach for the test" and "learn for the exam" kind of syndromes. This would be critical in the promotion of creative thinking in our schools. Sir, I would also like to emphasise that thinking programmes in schools must start early in a child's life and I urge the Ministry to introduce thinking programmes in our primary schools, right from Primary 1, as soon as possible. Mr Lew Syn Pau: Sir, the Government's role in the education of our young is in providing them with a strong foundation and the basic skills to earn a living. One of the basic skills is the ability to think and be creative in their thinking. Much has been said in the past about the rote and unimaginative learning ways our children are taught in schools.”
“He says emphatically and unequivocally that "IT WON'T (replace the teachers)". "The information highway would not replace or devalue any of the human educational talent needed for the challenges ahead: committed teachers, creative administrators, involved parents and, of course, diligent students. However, technology will be pivotal in the future role of teachers." The Ministry must use the information highway to bring together the best work of countless teachers and authors for every student to share in our schools. Teachers will be able to draw on this material and students will have the opportunity to explore it interactively. In time, this access will help spread educational and personal opportunities even to students who are not fortunate enough to enjoy enroling in independent schools or some of the top schools in Singapore or even not having the greatest family support. Sir, the role of teachers would then be one of being a facilitator. To do this, they must adapt and re-adapt to changing conditions. Teachers who bring energy and creativity to a classroom will do well. So will teachers who build strong relationships with children because kids love classes taught by adults who genuinely care about them. In this regard, I would like to find out from the Minister how many teachers in our schools are trained in IT, both in primary and secondary schools, and how soon would all the schools, both primary and secondary, be equipped with state-of-the-art, say, Pentium 100, computers. I would also like to know the progress of the pilot programme on the students and teachers workbench (STW) project and, finally, when such a project would be available to all our primary and secondary school students.”
“Sir, I have spoken about IT for the workplace and IT for the handicapped. I think it is even more important that IT is propagated in schools. Let me briefly paint a realistic scenario in the near future. Wei Ming, an eight-year-old child, is woken up by his mother. He hops out of bed, brushes his teeth and changes into his uniform. He has breakfast with mum and dad. Then he goes to his computer and pulls out his CD-ROM textbooks and he sends his completed homework to his teacher through the information highway, using the Internet. Off he goes to school minus the heavy school bag, a pet topic of my Parliamentary colleague, Mr Peh Chin Hua. Sir, the Ministry must recognise that IT would also enable each child to maximise his or her potential. IT would allow each child to learn at his own pace. It would also spark the curiosity and imagination of children so that learning becomes easy and interesting. Howard Gardener, a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, argues that different children must be taught differently because individuals understand the world in different ways. IT will bring mass customisation to learning in the same way that IT has made possible the stitching and tailoring of custom-fit coats, shirts, pants and skirts. Mass customisation to learning has two distinct advantages. One, it allows students to follow divergent paths and learn at their own pace. Second, this would enable students to enjoy a custom-fit or tailor-made education at mass production prices. The Ministry must seek to tap this significant advantage in trying to maximise each child's potential. Bill Gates, the CEO of Microsoft Corporation, in his book "The Road Ahead" talks about the often expressed fear that technology will replace teachers.”
“Like the announcement that the Minister made just now on the total review of the salary levels, I would like to urge the Minister to call for a total review of the present appraisal system for teachers so that the salaries will work well with the appraisals and we can continue to attract and retain talents in our schools. 5.15 pm”
“Sir, many of the Singapore Teachers' Union (STU) members have expressed their concern on the new appraisal system for teachers. Under this system, teachers are appraised together with their Heads of Departments (HODs) in their own schools. Then HODs - luckily it is only the HODs - are cross-ranked with the HODs of a number of regional schools with the help of principals and school inspectors. This system has been found to be unsatisfactory as it is very subjective. Under the present system, a school principal would send his report to, say, nine, 10 or 12 other principals, and the other principals will do likewise. They will exchange the reports of the HODs. Then they would meet and discuss the merits and demerits of each HOD in their schools. The Singapore Teachers' Union has pointed out that this discussion which is so crucial to the ranking of the HODs is highly dependent on the written and oral skills of the school principal. An eloquent and articulate school principal will be better able to persuade the other principals on the merits of his own HODs. Sir, I would like to suggest that the appraisal system includes much more quantifiable components, instead of leaving it to the discretion of the school principals. Also, if a teacher who takes remedial classes is in charge of, say, the school band and is responsible for the swimming team which does well in inter-school competitions, then such a teacher deserves more points and weightage for his or her efforts. It is like the ECA point system in our schools for students. Why not apply it for teachers as well?”
“I hope that Dr Aline Wong would not tell me to wait for the next $500 million grant some years later before this can be done. Let us do it now. Let us show our support to the under-privileged students.”
“Sir, I join Dr Ong in thanking the Minister for this piece of excellent news on improving and enhancing the teaching profession. I am sure that teachers in the profession will find this a boon and more young people will join the profession in the coming years. Sir, the Edusave Scheme has grown from strength to strength since our Prime Minister mooted the idea in 1991. The Edusave Scheme is so sound an idea that even the Member for Bukit Gombak has not found any reason to take potshots at the scheme, as he did in the case of housing and medical care. The introduction of the Edusave Merit Bursaries has certainly helped to reach a wider spectrum of students and in fact has made a significant impact on the public, because of the outright grant given at a formal ceremony in front of their own parents. The Ministry should continue to enhance this scheme. In 1994, and again in the 1995 budget debate, I requested the Minister to extend the Edusave grants to primary schools and ITE. Dr Aline Wong then answered and said that it would be extended to primary schools when funds become available. I was happy that last year funds were available and it was extended to primary schools. In this year's budget, the Government has added another $500 million to the Edusave Endowment Fund. I would like to urge Dr Aline Wong that ITE be now included in this scheme. No excuses this time, please. I would also like to ask the Ministry to consider extending the scheme to a special group of students, the under-privileged studying in special assistance schools. When this was brought up in many forums, it was dismissed with the answer that such schools are already heavily subsidised. I would like to renew the call to extend Edusave to the special assistance schools.”
“In conclusion, I hope that the teaching profession will be given the true recognition that it really deserves.”
“The SAF drew many bright young men to its regular service because it offered prestigious scholarships and it promised a fast-track career, as they call it in the SAF, the Wrangler scheme, for the top-notch scholars. It even paid a full regular officer's salary while the young officer is pursuing his university degree. Very attractive indeed for any young bright man who has just completed his `A' levels. It is not uncommon to find some regulars or scholars who may not have the physical build for a career in the SAF, to put it mildly But they are bright and their physical build is no barrier to pursue a military career which they may have never ever dreamed of before they heard about the fantastic salary and prospects that come with it. Sir, the SAF is very successful because it has pitched itself right - right image and attractive rewards. To enhance the teaching profession, we must learn from the SAF. The Government must be prepared to spend more money in preparing for our economic defence by investing, firstly, in attracting the best to the profession while ensuring that it retains them with an attractive career development. The old norms must collapse like the Berlin Wall, and instead we must make the teaching profession a draw, not a retreat. Sir, I urge the Minister to do the following: (1) Introduce prestigious scholarships which are on par with SAF scholarships, complete with the Wrangler scheme type of fast-track career prospects. (2) Review the present salary scales so that it can attract graduates from other industries and private training institutions to teach in our schools. This would also help to retain talent and reduce attrition. (3) Make every school an autonomous school so that personnel development of teachers can be decentralised.”
“Sir, in the 60s and 70s, teaching as a career was regarded very highly as it commanded tremendous respect and, relatively speaking, teachers were paid reasonably well. It attracted people with the passion for teaching. Many of the pioneers have retired and others are in their late 40s or 50s. In the 80s and especially in the 90s, teaching is regarded as one of the many, many careers that is available for our young. Many of our young people are now lured by other professions that are much more lucrative and well-rewarding. A former teacher of mine told me recently that in his opinion the people who are drawn to the teaching profession are largely the less career-minded women because they, by and large, want to keep to the somewhat flexible hours in comparison with the typical office hours outside. Somehow, the teaching profession has lost the glamour and to some extent the status that it used to enjoy. The key reason for this is that the teaching career does not pay well and promotions are few and far between. This is true especially in the past. In comparison with other professions, one can rise through the ranks rapidly and earn mega bucks if one makes it. We often hear the cliche "we must develop the maximum potential of every child as we have no other resources". We seem to be spending so much money, millions and even billions of dollars, to buy hardware, as Dr Ong Chit Chung pointed out, and to set up better facilities. But somehow we seem to have neglected the software, the core, the essence which is attracting the best to be the teachers of our children, teachers who can develop the maximum potential in our children. I said this before in this House and, Mr Peh has mentioned it just now, let us look at the SAF.”
“In this regard, the Government must do its part for workers to remain in the workforce after the age of 60 by increasing the insurance coverage through the CPF medical insurance scheme and by increasing the Medisave through the Top-Up Scheme year after year. It is only through concerted tripartite efforts can we find mutually acceptable solutions to the raising of the retirement age.”
“It is estimated that in 30 years' time, there will only be two economically active persons to support one retired person aged 60 and above. If the Government does not take steps to raise the retirement age now, we may have to resort to welfare handouts in the years to come and go down the spiral of economic destruction or fallout. Let us not forget that it is not just the workers who would benefit from the raising of the retirement age, the employers would certainly benefit. As Dr Lee has just pointed out, he is not going to open the Pandora's box to allow more and more younger foreign workers to work in Singapore as suggested irresponsibly by Mr Cheo Chai Chen. I have also explained why there is a need to moderate the number of foreign workers in Singapore. The employers must speak up and make their views known on the issues concerning the retirement age. It is certainly a known fact that workers after the age of 60 cannot expect the same remuneration as they got when they change jobs, having retired at the age of 60. We also know that their productivity would possibly be lower as age catches up. Already we know that the employer's portion of the CPF contribution has been lowered and this should help employers to reduce costs. With the implementation of the base-up wage system, employers need not worry too much about the skewed nature of the seniority-based system. So I urge all employers to lend greater support for the base-up wage system. Perhaps, one thorny issue concerning retirement age would be medical benefits. While employers should provide at least the same benefits as for their younger workers, it would be inevitable that older workers would need more medical attention and such costs would revert on to the employers.”
“So the way forward for Singapore, especially with the impending raising of the retirement age, is what is called the base-up wage system. Its features are (a) a shortened salary scale, ie, a maximum/minimum ratio that reflects the value of the job and the job's learning curve; (b) a seniority element to reward loyalty and long service for those who have not reached the top of the scale; and (c) a base-up wage increase linked to production and productivity for all workers, including those at the top of the scale. These are the three elements of the base-up wage system. The Committee on Wage Reform has recommended that the maximum/minimum ratio be fixed at 1:5. I think this is a fair ratio for all of us to aim for. The base-up wage system would be the panacea for the woes of this seniority-based wage system. When everyone understands the base-up wage system, employers and employees, especially the young and even the old, would be happier. The civil service more or less has a system similar to the base-up wage system. Annually, the NWC wage adjustments are incorporated into salary scales together with periodic salary reviews of the scales. Some companies in the private sector have also implemented the base-up wage system. I would like to urge the Ministry and employer organisations, such as SNEF, to urge their member companies to implement the base-up wage system. Perhaps, only when this is done, should the retirement age be raised. Sir, I move on to the next cut. The rapidly greying population has been a great concern for the Government in recent years. In 1993, there were about seven working persons supporting one retired person aged 60 and above.”
“Thank you, Sir. The seniority-based wage system we have in Singapore is perhaps the root cause of many problems affecting younger and older workers as well as employers. On the one hand, younger workers are unhappy when they are paid lower salary than long service workers for doing the same job. This inequality is accentuated when there is a wide gap between the pay of a long service worker and a young recruit. As a result, younger workers resort to job hopping, especially when the economy is doing well. On the other hand, older workers are also unhappy when they stagnate at the top of the scale and do not get any pay rise year after year. When employers raise starting pay when it falls below the market rate, there is unhappiness all round. With the seniority-based wage system, wage cost will be pushed up without a corresponding increase in productivity. When a company is in financial difficulty, the company would very often target the older and higher salaried workers for retrenchment. If retrenched, such workers would have great difficulty in getting another job if they do not have the necessary skills. On the whole, in the long term, a seniority-based wage system that does not directly co-relate to worker productivity would result in financial difficulties for the company. This would, in turn, result in the loss of jobs for all, if the company relocates or goes bust as a result. So one way is to pay for the rate of the job. But this means that the older worker will get the same pay as the young recruit if they perform the same job. But with the seniority element so entrenched in our present system, it will make it very difficult to satisfy the older and more experienced workers.”
“But the potential is tremendous for the commercial and service sectors, especially for back office operations. Perhaps the Ministry can work with the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Finance to find possible financial incentives for the promotion of virtual organisations in Singapore so that married women can balance both the aspects that I have mentioned in years to come.”
“Sir, during the Budget debate, I had argued for the need to find a formula to balance the pulls on married women who, on the one hand, need to spend time at home to nurture their children and, on the other hand, have to go to work so as to have a reasonable standard of living in Singapore. Many in this House and outside, like myself, have suggested that one way out is to propagate the concept of virtual organisations and thereby enabling part-time (or even full-time) work. Last weekend, NTUC, in a seminar on membership drive, began to realign its membership drive in preparation for the era of the virtual organisations. According to the MOL's Labour Force Survey in 1994, in 1983 there were about 180,000 married women in the workforce. In 1994, this figure has reached about 343,000. In other words, it has almost doubled within a period of 11 years. The survey also covers part-time work. According to the survey, in 1991, there were a total of 19,695 married women engaged in part-time work, and in 1994, the figure remained at about 21,045, in other words, almost stagnant. Therefore, it is clear that although more women have joined the workforce, they find that part-time work is not sufficiently attractive. Therefore, I would like to ask the Minister if his Ministry would proactively try and promote the proliferation of the concept of virtual organisations in companies in Singapore. Already some in the private sector are moving in this direction. Perhaps the civil service should take a pre-eminent lead in this. I know that there are limitations, especially for certain occupations. For example, it is difficult to get, say, the electronic industries' line-based or operator-based jobs to be done at home.”
“Many people employ foreign maids in order to look after their elderly and sick parents, or their young children. They are unable to assume this responsibility because they are working. When they are not at home, they have to depend on foreign maids because it is very difficult to employ local maids. In order to appreciate their filial piety, and in order to encourage the woman folks to join the workforce, abolishing or reducing the foreign maids' levy is one of the better methods.”
“In order to encourage the foreign workers to exercise self-constraint, the Ministry of Labour may consider working with the Immigration Department to issue work permits with long periods of stay in Singapore to foreign workers whose conduct is good, or even to grant them permanent residence in Singapore, since these workers have not given us any trouble, and have in fact contributed to the construction of our nation. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have said in this House before that if the Government has a good budget surplus and is able to effectively control the problem of illegal foreign workers, it will be a wise move to abolish the levy on foreign workers, otherwise many employers will reduce the wages of the foreign workers. Once the wages of these foreign workers are too low, they may be compelled to carry out illegal activities, such as committing robbery, theft or other offences, thereby adversely affecting law and order in Singapore. As such, I suggest the Ministry of Labour abolish the foreign workers' levy. This will help to reduce the operational cost of local businesses, and at the same time prevent our law and order from being undermined. Yesterday, when we were debating on the budget of the Ministry of the Environment, the Minister, RAdm Teo Chee Hean, also mentioned about the shortage of environmental workers in his Ministry. Many contractors of the town councils are also facing the same problem. In his reply to a similar question just now, the Minister for Labour, Dr Lee Boon Yang, mentioned that he may consider allowing workers from non-traditional countries to apply for permits to work in these areas. This is good news. I hope that the Minister will make the decision soon. I hope that the Ministry of Labour will reduce or abolish the foreign maids' levy.”
“In order to solve the problem of labour shortage, I suggest that in considering applications for work permits the Government should take the individual merits and necessity of each case into consideration, rather than having an arbitrary quota. Nowadays, some industries are unable to secure the required number of work permits, and have to resort to stealthily employing illegal foreign workers. In fact, many industries need to employ foreign workers because the local people are not willing to work in these industries. Therefore, increasing the number of foreign workers in these industries will not affect the wages of our local workers. Of course, we cannot allow an unlimited number of unnecessary foreign workers to come into Singapore and affect the working opportunities of our local people. As I said just now, controlling the quality of foreign workers is more important than controlling their number. Therefore, when considering the applications for work permit, the Ministry of Labour should look into the quality or conduct of the worker concerned, and check whether he has any criminal record in his own country. If necessary, the Ministry of Labour may seek the assistance of the Embassy in Singapore and the agent in the worker's country to check his particulars and conduct. Of course, this is not a perfect solution, and the judgement so made may not be absolutely correct. Be that as it may, it will still, in a certain way, help our local companies to get some better- behaved foreign workers, and to ensure that they do not create trouble here.”
“It is possible for this reason that, although the Government has set aside SDF grants for up to 25% of total enrolment needs of worker upgrading courses, only about 18% or less have used it in the past few years. What this means is that employing such workers would lead to lower productivity by lowering the average skills level of the total workforce in our economy. This would get worse as new untrained foreign workers replace some of the trained foreign workers whose stay in Singapore is limited by the expiry of their work permits. Their lack of training has not just affected productivity, but has also impacted on occupational safety. This is evident by the fact that 50 out of 60 workers killed in industrial accidents between 1990 and 1992 were foreign workers. Therefore, I urge the Minister to balance more carefully our dependency on foreign labour in our tight labour situation with our national interest of protecting Singaporeans and increasing our total factor productivity. Mr Cheo Chai Chen( In Mandarin): Sir, in Singapore today, the demand for foreign workers is very great. Industries which have difficulty getting enough local workers will apply to the Ministry of Labour for work permits to employ foreign workers to join their workforce. Personally, I feel that the control of the quality of foreign workers is more important than the control of their number. The number of foreign workers can be regulated by controlling the number of work permits to be issued, but it will be very hard to control and moderate the quality of these workers.”
“Sir, foreign labour has played a significant role in meeting the shortfall of Singapore's domestic labour supply over the past two decades. The importance of foreign workers in helping to meet the needs of labour-tight employers in some sectors of the economy is recognised by the labour movement. However, it is felt that the inflow of foreigners should continue to be moderated, and not further liberalised. This is because of several important considerations. Of greatest concern is the displacement of local workers. According to some preliminary data gathered on retrenchment in recent years, there is reason to believe that less than a proportionate number of foreign workers were retrenched when compared to local workers. This may be so because of the fact that foreign workers may be cheaper to hire and to keep them employed. Unionists are already concerned that the liberal flow of foreign labour would have a depressing impact on local wages. If this leads to displacing of local workers, then we would have a social problem. NTUC is committed to ensure that our local workers are trained and retrained and reskilled so that they would not be the first target in any retrenchment exercise. But all things being equal, if a local worker is displaced because he is slightly more costly than a foreign worker, then there is concern for the labour movement, especially if he is a unionised worker. The second point I want to raise is that some employers look to cheaper foreign labour at the expense of upgrading to higher skills and capital intensive operations. Many employers also do not see the need to send their foreign workers for training and skills upgrading, as they feel that these workers would leave them in 2-3 years' time.”
“Sir, the services provided for the elderly in Singapore tend to concentrate, rightly, on helping those who have no dependants, those who live alone, those who are sickly and require nursing, and the destitute elderly. I commend such services provided by the Government, the community, the grassroots organisations, the religious and voluntary welfare organisations. However, with our ageing population, it will be useful and necessary if more social day-care centres for the elderly can be built, so that the elderly can make use of them when their family members are at work. Such centres should provide supervision and supportive help to the elderly. These centres should also have exercise, leisure and cultural facilities, mini handicraft and workshops catering to the requirements and convenience of the elderly. These centres would also allow the elderly to retain their independence and dignity in the community and provide them a social environment, while allowing them to stay with their families without the stigma of having to live in an old age home. To my knowledge, there are only four social day-care centres for the elderly in Singapore. I urge the Government to expand the number of such centres and to ensure that they are spread across the island. Sir, I would urge the Ministry of Community Development to step up the building of these centres and it should work with the network of PCF as well as the PA's community centres to provide these facilities. Sir, I hope that the Minister will look into these suggestions before the problems of the aged confront us in the very near future.”
“I believe the Minister has not answered my query on bringing the street games to HDB.”
“I would also like to find out from the Minister whether more teams would be added to the League after the pilot year and whether the present teams have raised sufficient funds that are needed for the League.”
“This is imperative for the success of the S-League. Any player or official caught should be banned from soccer altogether. Only when soccer is clean, can fans enjoy the game as it is played and can the players put in their heart and soul to the game. But whether we like it or not, we often find many Singaporeans engage in friendly bets on which team would win or by how many goals. Often, we hear of illegal syndicates operating betting dens. As much as the police are trying to eradicate these, it would be very difficult for the police to nab them when they start to shift from coffeeshops to operate through the Internet super highway. So I would like to suggest to the Government to introduce an official games betting system like that in western countries. Last year, the Government has introduced and facilitated the off-course betting for horse racing punters. This could possibly be an extension of that. The second point that I would like to raise is that there is an urgent need to upgrade the regional stadiums used for the S-League. The current capacity is in fact very low. This would seriously limit the fans who would want to watch their own team playing the game. For example, the recent game between Geylang United and Pahang had to be moved to the National Stadium because the Bedok Stadium had only a capacity of 3,000. I understand from the papers that 25,000 fans turned up for this game at the National Stadium. I would therefore urge the Government to look into expanding the capacity of the regional or community stadiums so that the S-League teams can build up their fanfare and support.”
“With our hectic pace of life, this would make the pursuit of exercise time efficient too. Fourthly, building these courts in between several HDB blocks or precincts will be convenient and will pave the way for greater interaction amongst our young. It would help to foster a community spirit and a cohesive society. For example, it is common knowledge that the different ethnic groups pursue each of these sports: more Chinese play basketball, more Malays play soccer, and more Indians play hockey. Therefore, integrating these games would allow greater interaction of our young. Promoting these sports would be an excellent way of pursuing MCD's policies of social cohesion. I know that the Minister for Community Development, Mr Abdullah, is a good sportsman and a rugby player. The Minister for National Development, Mr Lim Hng Kiang, is very keen to promote youth sports in his capacity as the Chairman of the National Youth Council. And the Minister for Health, BG George Yeo, wants more Singaporeans to exercise regularly. So I hope that their Ministries would work closely to look into this proposal and develop such multi-purpose courts in our HDB heartlands as soon as possible. Sir, the other cut is on the S-League Competition. I want to declare my interest, if any, as the Advisor to the Balestier Central S-League team. 1.15 pm The S-League due to be launched next month promises a lot of hope and excitement for soccer fans in Singapore. Will it be as successful as the British League or the Japanese J-League remains to be seen. The Government should assist in every way possible to make the S-League successful as S-League stands for Singapore League and Singapore is synonymous with success. First, we must ensure that corruption is kept out of the S-League right from the start.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, Sir. Universal games like soccer, basketball and hockey enjoy mass appeal in Singapore. In recent times, we hear of modern and trendy twists to these games. They call them street soccer, street basketball and street ball or street bandy. These games are not very different from the carpark soccer or the one-sided basketball or the carpark hockey that many of us have played in school as teenagers. Some people with the initiative have added fashion into these games and have made them trendy. I think that these games have tremendous benefits for Singaporeans and are worthy of greater support from the Government. I have myself played all these three games, and a study at NTUC has found that it is possible to integrate all these three sports in one multi-purpose court. I have a diagram here which shows how this is possible and I will be happy to share with the Singapore Sports Council and the Minister how this can be done. I would therefore urge the Government to seriously look into the building of such multi-purpose courts. The reasons are simple. Firstly, the generic version of these three sports is very popular in Singapore. Secondly, in land scarce Singapore, teenagers have great difficulty in finding sports fields in HDB estates and, as a result, they resort to playing in the void decks, thereby causing potential danger to passers-by, especially senior citizens. The courts that I am suggesting are very compact and integrating them means that it would be very space efficient and, therefore, would be cost-effective to build. Thirdly, as I said, I have played these three games myself and I have found that playing any of these games for just about 10-15 minutes or, as Encik Yatiman has found out, even three minutes would give you an excellent workout.”
“Stephen Hawking, a Nobel Prize winner and a Mathematics professor from Cambridge University, is a shining example of how the handicapped can contribute to society at large. So I urge the Minister to do more for the handicapped in Singapore. And I join my colleague, Mr Choo Wee Khiang, in asking for a committee to be formed, not just for the facilities, but also to try and work with the Ministry of Labour to identify new job opportunities, particularly in the area of IT, for the handicapped in Singapore.”
“Sir, the information technology (IT) era has opened up a whole new world of opportunities and possibilities that would facilitate the way we work and the way we live. One special group of people who would benefit tremendously from IT are the handicapped. I strongly believe that initiating them into IT is one of the most effective ways to integrate them into the mainstream of life. IT would help to liberate all forms of physical limitations. Sir, I recently officiated at the opening of the first computer centre for the handicapped initiated by the Handicaps Welfare Association. With the help of one of the polytechnics and the private sector, they have integrated innovative handicap-friendly input devices for the handicapped, so that even the paralysed can surf the Internet and write letters using word processor software. One of these beneficiaries told me and I quote: `This project has taken the disillusion and boredom out of my life, and has added a new dimension and meaning to my existence. I can even contribute to the economy instead of just being a burden or a beneficiary.' I am very touched by what IT has done to his life. With the advent of virtual organisations where people need not work under one roof, but from their homes through the PC, it will now be possible to enable and increase the participation of the disabled in our workforce. This would be a valued contribution from them, especially in our tight labour market. Employers must come forward to seize this mutually beneficial arrangement. I would also like to strongly urge the Government to pay more attention to the promotion of IT for the handicapped by giving funds and facilities to initiate the handicapped to IT. Prof.”
“Either CASE or RADAC should be restructured to do this or I urge the setting up of an arbitration board, or an appeals board, as Singaporeans do not like to go to court on such matters and I am sure we do not want to encourage a litigious society. Could the Minister look into this matter urgently please?”
“If supposing that this house was affected structurally, then I think under section 23 of the Building Control Act, I believe the family and not the developer would have been asked to get a professional engineer's report done, say, at a cost of a few thousand dollars, and if the report of structural damages was affirmative, then the affected family would have to move out for safety reasons whether or not the dispute is settled. What if such a family has no financial means to find alternative accommodation? With greater liberalisation of renovation guidelines for private properties, more and more people are renovating their houses. Even in HDB flats, many renovations are being carried out. As the MND officer has pointed out in his letter, under the present law, BCD, MND or the Ministry of Law cannot do anything to resolve such disputes. Very often, affected families are in a dilemma because going to the courts prolongs the agony and makes it very costly. And after all that process, there is no guarantee that they would be awarded costs. In the case that I have mentioned, I cannot take side with the family or the developer as I have heard only one side of the story. But the point that I am raising here is that the Minister must recognise this growing problem and find a conciliatory or an arbitration means to settle such disputes. Also, very often, families who renovate their houses end up with endless problems with the renovation contractor due to poor quality of work, materials used or missing of schedules, etc. The Small Claims Tribunal can only handle claims up to $5,000. CASE or RADAC are not in a position to do this.”
“Sir, in my ward in Moulmein, there is a row of single-storey terrace houses in a side road off Balestier Road. Apparently, a developer bought one of the corner terrace houses in that row and began to build a two-storey house. I visited this row of houses last year during my house-to-house visit. The owner of this intermediate terrace house next to the one that the developer bought was in tears when I shook hands with her. I was very concerned and asked what the problem was. She took me into the house and showed me the damages caused to her kitchen and the bedrooms that were leaking as a result of the redevelopment next door. I was shocked when I saw the cracks and asked her son why they did not resolve this with the developer. They told me that they had tried to do so, but to no avail. So I took the matter up with MND. An MND officer replied some two months later, stating that, and I quote: `Torts involving damages to property inflicted by one neighbour on another are in the realm of common law, a matter to be resolved between the parties concerned.' The letter also stated that there were no structural damages to the family's house and, I quote: `As such under the existing law, there is nothing further that the BCD could do in respect of the damages done to your house.' The letter also said that BCD would urge the developer to settle the matter as quickly as possible.”