R. A. Gonzales
Singapore
“I can assure them that it is no picnic and that if they tried it they would not even get to first base, because from experience I know what it is like. The farmers in Singapore are a tough breed, but I do not think the Government should take it for granted that just because they are tough they can withstand misfortunes forever.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 67 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 208. Sir, because of the onerous duties you have to perform, I do not know how much time you have to watch TV.”
“I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $30,622,800 for Head 67 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 68 - The following amendment stood in the name of Mr S. V. Lingam - (1) That the sum to be allocated for Head 68 be reduced by $10 in respect of item (002) of subhead 101.”
“I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. 4.05 p.m. The time allotted for Head 0304 having expired, the following amendment, standing in the name of Mr S. V. Lingam, was not proceeded with. That the sum to be allocated for Head 0304 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 2051.”
“There are other things which we have to guard against, and that is to consider one unit of the armed forces more superior than another. By this, I do not mean that there should not be a distinction between the various services. For example, the army or the navy.”
“I am not moving. The following amendment stood the name of Inche Mohd. Ariff Suradi - (6) That the sum to be allocated Head 68 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 008 of subhead 101. The following amendment stood in the names of Inche Mohd. Ariff Suradi and Mr S. V.”
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“I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $30,622,800 for Head 67 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 68 - The following amendment stood in the name of Mr S. V. Lingam - (1) That the sum to be allocated for Head 68 be reduced by $10 in respect of item (002) of subhead 101.”
“No, Sir. On the one hand, you have TV appeals to motorists to drive more carefully, and, on the other hand, there is .this question of certain Government departments, especially the P.W.D., which carry out road repairs, resurfacing of roads and so forth, all over the island. Generally, Sir, if you go round Singapore, you will find that roads are being dug up, materials for resurfacing of roads are piled up on the roads, and all without the usual customary red lights and caution notices that road repairs are being carried out. Sir, this is actually criminal, as far as the P.W.D. is concerned. And not only the P.W.D., but possibly the P.U.B. and the Telephone Board whose men go out and dig up the roads, and in their anxiety to get home by 5 o'clock, leave the holes uncovered. If you go to the insurance companies, I think you will be surprised to find that many people have been seriously injured, especially motor cyclists riding at night, by riding over bumps, breaking their arms and so forth. I would like to appeal to the Minister, where the question of Stores and Equipment comes in, to provide more lights and caution signs, and insist that Government departments, especially the P.W.D., carry out road repairs, and to use these signs ---”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 67 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 208. Sir, because of the onerous duties you have to perform, I do not know how much time you have to watch TV. You may, however, have seen flashes which appear from time to time on TV advising motorists not to have "One for the road", and generally to drive more carefully. All the posters put up and all the appeals made on TV are for the sole purpose of saving life and to reduce the number of accidents on the road. On the one hand, Sir ---”
“I beg leave to withdraw, Sir. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $5,267,010 for Head 65 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head 66 -”
“Yes, Sir. All I say is that if there is a fairer allocation of priorities, the people will be very much happier.”
“I can assure them that it is no picnic and that if they tried it they would not even get to first base, because from experience I know what it is like. The farmers in Singapore are a tough breed, but I do not think the Government should take it for granted that just because they are tough they can withstand misfortunes forever. I therefore appeal to the Minister to review the expenditure under this head and to give more priority to areas more deserving than those which have more sums allocated to them in the Estimates for just concrete lining. To mention a few, for such subheads as 102, 107, and 108.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 65 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 109. Sir, flooding in Singapore is not uncommon even in the dry season. All we need is a heavy downfall coinciding with the high tide, and low-lying areas in Singapore are flooded. Flood alleviation schemes have been carried out in the areas affected, but looking at the Estimates for next year, I feel that priorities have not been carefully considered. My colleagues whose consti tuencies are also affected by flooding may not agree with me. Nevertheless, I wish to bring this matter up not on the ground of inconvenience caused to the people by flooding, but on the grounds of the suffering that people undergo when the areas in which they live are flooded. For instance, Bukit Timah Road has been flooded ever since I can remember. Sir, how much misery has it caused to the people other than its being a temporary inconvenience? Although Bukit Timah Road is a trunk road to the city, all you have to do is to by.pass it if it is flooded or wait until the flood subsides. Sir, flooding in other areas cannot be treated as lightly as that which occurs in Bukit Timah. Flooding in areas such as Lorong Kinchir or Lorong Chuan, which is in the Serangoon Gardens Constituency, and even those bordering Braddell Road, is not only an inconvenience to the people in the area, but it also destroys all the vegetables which they have toiled from morning to night to cultivate, and their chickens and pigs which cannot swim. Sir, the majority of the people of Singapore who live in urban areas do not probably realise how much toil and sweat is put into the growing of vegetables or the rearing of pigs.”
“(7) That the sum to be allocated for Head 0703 be reduced by $10in respect of subhead 1856.”
“I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. 4.05 p.m. The time allotted for Head 0304 having expired, the following amendment, standing in the name of Mr S. V. Lingam, was not proceeded with. That the sum to be allocated for Head 0304 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 2051. The sum of $6,077,270 for Head 0304 ordered to stand part of the Estimates. Head 0308 -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 0304 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1187*. * The same amendment also stood in the name of MrP. Govindaswamy. Since the formation of the Singapore Airport Auxiliary Police Force, it is noted that the salary scales for constables are very much lower than their counterparts in the Port of Singapore Authority or even in the regular police. The police at the Airport perform more or less the same duties as those in the Port of Singapore Authority and the regular police. They were, however, left out when salary increases were granted to other units of the Police Force in Singapore during Malaysia. Apart from not having been considered when a general pay revision was made, they were not granted any quarters nor any privileges that other units in the Police Force are getting. If this is allowed to carry on, I feel it will not be good for the morale of the members of this force. Sir, can the Deputy Prime Minister inform this House whether any consideration is being given to bring the salaries and conditions of service of the Airport Police in line with those of the regular police?”
“There are other things which we have to guard against, and that is to consider one unit of the armed forces more superior than another. By this, I do not mean that there should not be a distinction between the various services. For example, the army or the navy. What I mean is that there should not be a distinction between a regular soldier, a national serviceman, and a volunteer in regard to the uniform he wears and the accessories. We are endeavouring to have a closely-knit society in Singapore. Let us now take this opportunity, with national service, to build up an army where every soldier, irrespective of which unit he belongs to, can say with pride, "I am a member of the Singapore Army," and not, "I am only a national serviceman," or "I am a professional soldier." Sir, I hope the Minister will bear this in mind whenever he is advised to create a distinction between the various units in the armed forces. I would, in concluding, say that I fully support the Bill.”
“Let us not, however, get the idea that by serving in the People's Defence Force, we will be serving in a less superior unit than by being a regular or serving as a full-time national serviceman. The greatest mistake we can make is to belittle the part that the volunteer plays in the defence of his country. He is just as well trained, although his period of training is just a few hours a week. It should be appreciated that, after a full day's work, he is prepared to sacrifice a few hours of leisure by going for military training. It would appear that in our eagerness to introduce national service, we are forgetting those that are serving as volunteers. For instance, Sir, in clause 2 (a) of the Bill, the definition of "armed forces" says: '"armed forces" means any force constituted under the provisions of the Singapore Army Act, 1965, and includes the Peoples Defence Force constituted under the provisions of the Peoples Defence Force Act, 1965;'. This, I take it, covers those at present serving as volunteers in the Peoples Defence Force. New section 2lA in clause 20, however, does not appear to cover volunteers as regards pay or leave, but only those in the national service reserve. The reason, I think, Sir, is the fact that several volunteers have lost their jobs for serving their country, and the more fortunate are paid for attending parades. I would like the Minister's assurance that this new section 2lA covers the volunteers now serving in the Peoples Defence Force. If it does not, all that we are trying to build up will be in vain. Those who have come of their own free will to serve the nation are not even protected by law and they will, therefore, lose faith in the Government.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, over a year ago, a call was made to our citizens to come forward to serve in the armed forces. The response was better than expected and we now have a volunteer force larger than we ever had before or even dreamed of having. A large number of the force is, however, made up of citizens from the lower income groups who came out of their own free will to serve the nation when the call was made, and I take off my hat to them. Where were the young men from well-to-do families, the young intellectuals and those with long hair-dos? They were satisfied with sitting back and saying, "Well, there are enough stupid chaps willing to join up. Why should I?" They were willing then to let the stupid chaps do the fighting should the occasion arise and to protect them if trouble arose. And I think they still have the same view today as they had over a year ago. National service has not come too soon. It is time that every citizen realized that he has a duty to ensure the security and well-being of his country. Our thinking a year ago and our thinking today is the same. As a small nation, we know that it is beyond our resources to have a large standing army. Experience has shown us that it is pointless. What we need is a small but tough, well equipped, well-trained and disciplined force imbued with the spirit that this is their country and that they will defend it with their lives. The plan, therefore, to have full-time military service for a small number of people is a good one. As in the past, a larger number will be asked to serve on a part-time basis in the People's Defence Force, the Special Constabulary and the Vigilante Corps.”
“I am not moving. The following amendment stood the name of Inche Mohd. Ariff Suradi - (6) That the sum to be allocated Head 68 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 008 of subhead 101. The following amendment stood in the names of Inche Mohd. Ariff Suradi and Mr S. V. Lingam - (7) That the sum to be allocated Head 68 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 010 of subhead 101. The following amendments stood in the name of Inche Mohd. Ariff Suradi - (8) That the sum to be allocated Head 68 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 011 of subhead 101. (9) That the sum to be allocated Head 68 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 012 of subhead 101.”
“May I beg leave to withdraw, Sir? Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the name of Mr R. A. Gonzales - (5) That the sum to be allocated for Head 68 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 007 of subhead 101.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the Parliamentary Secretary has misunderstood what I said. I said that if drains were to be made better than they are today, we would spend less on roads. I was not saying that roads are not important. I said we could spend less on resurfacing roads, as excess water could be drained away instead of its draining away on to the road itself. In fact, we would have drains on roads and not drains on the side of the road, as has happened.”
“It would be more expensive initially, but the money saved in continually desilting the present-type drains will more than warrant the initial expenses. Furthermore, Sir, it will save the expenses of having continually to resurface roads in the rural areas which are being eroded during the rainy season, because the drains are not deep enough to carry away the excess water.”
“You may have also noticed, Sir, that due to lack of maintenance there is more grass growing on these tracks than on the road verge. I agree that it would take an army to educate the masses that they should make use of the facilities provided. It will take some time to make the people realise that footpaths and cycle tracks are to be made use of. I would suggest to the Ministers - not one Minister but several Ministers concerned - that they step up the campaign for safety on the roads. Cyclists should be fined for not making use of cycle tracks, and pedestrians pulled up or fined for not making use of footpaths and crossing the roads at any point they wish. Only when we accomplish this can we consider that the monies spent on footpaths and cycle tracks are well spent. On the question of roads or drains, I would like to ask the Minister how much was spent on making up of drains in the rural areas during the year 1966. We heard the Minister for Health the other day mentioning in this House that nearly half the city's rubbish could be found in drains. We find that in the rural areas roadside drains which are made up today may not be there the following week. Drains made in the rural areas are usually not lined and dependent on the type of weather, and especially during the rainy season you will find that they are filled up with earth that is washed off the roads within a matter of days, and all the money spent on making up these drains has - as what one would say - gone down the drain. 7.30 p.m. I would like to suggest that the Minister consider the possibility of planning roadside drains with concrete slabs or other suitable material.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head be reduced by $10 in respect of item 006 subhead 101*. Mr Speaker, Sir, visitors to Singapore and even Singaporeans, are amazed the progress that is being made Singapore. One day they find that there is nothing but swamp land, and in a few months or even days - if they visit the same area again - they find nothing but multi-storey buildings, roads all the other amenities that go w development. It seems to me that a lot of money is, however, wasted in providing footpaths and cycle tracks every time a new road is built. I am not saying that these should not be provided. In fact, I think they are essential for poor pedestrian and cyclist in Singapore if they are to keep out of the way some speed maniacs with which every country is plagued, and of which Singapore has more than its fair share. What I am against is that when these are provided at some expense, we s see cyclists cycling and pedestrians walking on the road. I can think of some reasons for this. One is probably due to the fact that some of our cyclists and pedestrians have not got the sense to make use of the facilities provided. Another reason probably is due to the fact that footpaths and tracks are taken up by hawkers. A further reason is that the tracks and footpaths are in such poor condition that cyclists and pedestrians are forced to make use of the road. I think you will agree with me, Sir, and you may have noticed it yourself, that no sooner is a cycle track made than up come the P.U.B. or the Telephone Board or the P.W.D. to dig it up, and by the time they have finished their work, it is not fit to be used by anyone.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in moving this amendment*, may I also be allowed to speak on the other amendment++ standing in my name? ++ Amendment No. (5) reads as follows: That the sum to be allocated for Head 68 be reduced by $10 in respect of item 007 of subhead 101.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Barisan Sosialis leaders who are absent from this House have issued a Press statement saying that our currency will be weaker and the value of our dollar will be lower than that of the Malaysian dollar, because Singapore has no natural resources as Malaysia has. Can the Minister for Finance assure the House of the value of the Singapore dollar since Singapore has limited natural resources?”
“Sir, can the Minister tell us whether Cheng San Road will be maintained regularly and not periodically and only when funds are available?”
“May I ask the Minister of Defence why it is that we are allowing British troops to remain in Singapore and, on the other hand, we are asking Malaysian troops to leave the island? I have my own reason for wanting Malaysian troops to go away, but quite a lot of people in Singapore want to know the reasons why we are asking Malaysian troops to leave.”
“I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head D 04 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 025. What I would like to ask the Minister is this. How many vehicles are going to be purchased with this sum which is being budgeted for and how many of them are refuse-collecting vans? Because I have had complaints from my constituents that their refuse has not been collected sometimes for a week, or sometimes for three or four days. In fact, Sir, if you look outside this Parliament House, you will notice that there is a pile of rubbish opposite the road which has not been collected for the last three days. Sir, I hope the Minister can let us have an answer to that. I beg to move.”
“I beg to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The time allotted for Head D 01 having expired, the following amendments, standing in the name of Mr Lim Cheng Lock, were not proceeded with: That the sum to be allocated for Head D 01 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 015. That the total sum to be allocated for Head D 01 be reduced by $100. The sum of $6,946,310 for Head D 01 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head D 02 -”
“Sir, as more and more people use the Airport every year, there will come a time when the present terminal building will be considered inadequate. It is therefore very important that the Department of Civil Aviation should look carefully into the question and plan an expansion programme that will see us through for the next 15 years instead of the next 15 months. I hope the Deputy Prime Minister could also investigate to assure himself that the Department of Civil Aviation is capable of drawing up a programme that will serve our needs for the future.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head D 01 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 004. Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not know how many people share my views that an International Airport could be a showpiece of the country, but I feel that the Deputy Prime Minister will agree with me that Singapore Airport could be the showpiece of Singapore. However, in order that it could acquire this reputation, there has to be efficiency at the Airport. And the one place where there has to be efficiency is in the ticketing area. It does not do us any good to have people say that they have had to wait for hours before getting their baggage cleared and tickets checked. The airlines themselves are responsible for getting their passengers cleared, but they can only do this if they are offered the facilities. Extension of Ticketing Offices is one of these facilities, but I would like to ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he could let us know whether these extensions are to be made to all offices, or are they for offices of airlines which have recently started operating in Singapore? Sir, it looks as if the question of future expansion of the Airport Terminal was completely forgotten when the Airport was planned, as was the requirement for other facilities at the Airport. Why is it that we have to knock down V.I.P. car parks to provide room for extra office space, not that V.I.P. car parks are absolutely necessary? The next thing that we will have to do without would probably be the V.I.P. room itself. This House recently approved a sum of $42,500 to provide for additional office space. What we will have to spend next is a question no one can answer, except probably the architect who made such a mess at the Airport. 3.45 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to take this opportunity of bringing to the attention of the Deputy Prime Minister the short-sightedness in respect of the future development of the Airport. The Deputy Prime Minister himself has said that more people come to and pass through Singapore by air than by any other means of transportation. Statistics also show that the volume of air cargo has increased year by year. I would ask him to look carefully into the question of converting this hangar into a cargo complex which, in my opinion, will be totally inadequate in a very short space of time. If we are planning for the future, then we should look into the question of building a cargo terminal instead of spending money on a project which would only serve our needs temporarily. Finally, as a matter of interest, I would like to ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many airlines will be taking up space in this new cargo complex.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to inform Members of this House that the hangar, for which the House is asked to approve a sum of $100,000 to convert it into a cargo complex, is not just an ordinary hangar made of steel girders and corrugated asbestos. It is a hangar which has got a history, and if it were by any chance a human being and member of the civil service, it could credit itself with reasonably long service, for it was dismantled and transferred from the old Kallang Airport in 1957 to its present site. Ever since then, officials in the Department of Civil Aviation have not made up their minds as to what is to be housed in it. They have been very fortunate in having a building up their sleeve to produce whenever someone wants some hangar space at the Airport. I think we have had badminton played in the hangar and parties held in it. There used to be cars parked in it; and the Airport Manager stole a march on the Ministry of National Development by charging each car owner $10 per month for the use of the parking space. Today the hangar is used as a garage by one airline and for varying reasons by other airlines. It would appear that the Department of Civil Aviation is now waking up to the fact that this hangar can be used for something worth while. What I cannot understand is why it has taken so long for them to realise this. What was done during the two years when we were in Malaysia? Did the D.C.A. at that time attempt to improve the facilities at the Airport for storage of cargo? Or did he think that, as there was a $50 million Airport at Subang, there was sufficient cargo space and that, as far as Singapore Airport was concerned, it could develop into a second-class Airport?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head D 01 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 001.”
“Self-interest, at this time when we are faced with the grave problem of survival, does not pay and I am confident that with wise leadership and the industry of the people, we shall succeed in maintaining and even improving our standard of living which we shall then be happy to share with our people in Malaya. Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the motion to express our thanks to the Yang di-Pertuan Negara for the speech which he delivered at the opening of this Session. 3.42 p.m.”
“It is heartening to note, however, that the door has not been entirely closed to our people across the Causeway who are skilled workers. I am sure they will realise that these steps have been taken to ensure our survival and that the responsibility of finding jobs for their unemployed rests on the shoulders of their leaders. On our part, Mr Speaker, we urge the Government to look very closely at the number of jobs created by the establishment of industries. We are informed of the number of workers employed by firms already in production and of the level that will be reached when these firms achieve full production. Careful watch must be taken to ensure that these firms achieve full production in the shortest possible time and that employment becomes a fact and not just a promise. Here, the role of our trade union leaders and workers becomes more important. Not only will they have to exercise more restraint in their demands, but they should also cooperate with management to increase production and to ensure that their products are of the highest quality and of a price comparable to or even cheaper than the price for the same product produced elsewhere. The Government is playing its part in encouraging trade missions to visit Singapore. The workers must also play their part in raising the productivity and the standards of the goods they produce. The more we produce for export, the better our economy, which eventually will result in more jobs being created - jobs for the sons and daughters of the workers themselves.”
“It is, therefore, heartening to note that those who exploit the situation by appealing to the racial and religious sentiments of the people would be dealt with. It is hoped that after a period of time and after we have succeeded in establishing a tolerant, multi-racial society that the leaders in Malaysia will accept the change, and in doing so pave the way for the coming together once again of the people who are, in fact, one. In his Speech, the Yang di-Pertuan Negara also dwelt on the question of defence, which is by no means a light burden that we have to bear now that we are independent. No self-respecting nation can forever depend on another for protection against its enemies or even for internal security. We are now faced with the necessity of raising an army and a volunteer force. This will be the acid test of the loyalty of the people to this country. This is the time when the traitors show themselves up. I am sure that we will not have to look for loyal citizens who will make the sacrifice to maintain their freedom and self-respect. Mr Speaker, Sir, the question of unemployment is another matter uppermost in our minds and of great concern to the Government. It has been estimated that the backlog of unemployment as at the end of 1965 is around 55,000, and will increase to 95,000 persons within a few years. As we can no longer depend entirely on the entrepot trade, dependence on our industries to provide jobs for those who will be entering the labour market will be increasing. The restrictive measures that have been introduced to restrict the influx of unskilled workers into Singapore to safeguard the interests of our citizens are, therefore, welcome.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, some four months ago when we were in Malaysia there were people, and I mean those in the minority group, who were becoming apprehensive about their future in Malaysia and whether they would be swallowed up as a result of a policy being adopted by certain mad men who unfortunately happened to be our neighbours. The policy, if pursued, would have spelt disaster not only for the minority group but also for the majority, for there is no way in our multi-racial society whereby one race can successfully dominate another except possibly by the use of force. There is no place for the communalists in this society of ours. A sigh of relief was heard on the 9th of August and there was even a certain amount of jubilation when we became independent or when independence was thrust upon us. But the happenings during the months preceding independence were still fresh in the minds of the people and there was still a certain amount of apprehension as to what their lot would be in independent Singapore. Unfortunately, we happen to have the same type of mad men here. This apprehension, I am glad to say, was speedily dispelled by the statements that the rights of the minority groups would be safeguarded by writing them into the Constitution. I am sure that there is no more doubt in the minds of those who doubt the sincerity of the Government. Now that they know that the rights of our citizens shall be equal, not only in law but also in practice, the creation of a tolerant, multi-racial, multi-lingual and multi-religious society is one which will take time, and we must spare no efforts in making this a reality in the shortest possible period of time.”