Rohan bin Kamis
Singapore
“With the Administration of Muslim Law Act and its successes, the Government has made meritorious contributions for the betterment of the Muslim community of Singapore which will continue to make progress, strongly upholding the principles of Islam, united with its own identity.”
“Sir, the Minister has not answered my query. Would he do a survey and by positive confirmation ask every resident whether he wants the HDB to continue or whether this body corporate should manage the estates? I think this is fair. The other thing is that the HDB has received 4,215 complaints. Agreed.”
“All in all, Sir, I subscribe to a partial withdrawal at 55, and I am suggesting that a partial withdrawal would be substantial enough for the contributors to carry out their plans and the balance of the CPF savings would be sufficient to cater for their needs after their retirement.”
“Here, the usual Singaporean touch of ingenuity and resourcefulness is required. Maybe the concept need to be repackaged to be more attractive and worthwhile to attract these mothers into our labour force again.”
“Sir, can I clarify this? The point is this. The financial arrangements appear to be one-sided. In other words, when CAAS makes more and more profit, there appears to be no provision whatsoever in the Bill to indicate how these surpluses are to be treated and under what circumstances can these funds be recalled for consolidation into the G…”
“This would also cause hazards to the many people who wanted to cross Telok Blangah Road to either take public transport or to go to Sentosa in front of the World Trade Centre. This situation is especially more serious when the seminar or the exhibition ends and every motorist wants to rush back to continue with his business.”
The complete record
Every one of 221 lines we hold for Rohan bin Kamis, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 5.
“Sir, before I support this Bill, I wish to seek the Minister's clarification and assurance on certain items of the Bill. These items are more basic, down to earth, and they will directly affect the welfare of the staff in the Postal Services Department as well as the service to the general public. According to the written objective on this Bill, it is an Act to give effect to the merger of Telecoms and the Postal Services Department. I feel this may be an administrative convenience because a merger is usually between two equals or two near-equals. However, in this case, taking only the net revenue for the last year based on the published reports, Telecoms had a net revenue of $264.4 million while Postal Services Department had a surplus of $41.5 million which represents only 15.7% of Telecoms' net revenue. Therefore, looking at the financial statements, it is apparent that this is not a merger but a take-over. I am not against take-overs because they can be good for both parties and also provide for greater benefits to the public as can be seen with the previous merger between Telecoms Department and the Singapore Telephone Board to form the current Telecommunication Authority of Singapore (TAS), though that was a reverse take-over in personnel terms. However, with take-overs, or paper mergers, certain implications arise and this is what I would request for clarification and assurance from the Minister. First, this merger can be a means of eliminating competition. If this is so, then the general public who is used to a certain level of postal services will suffer.”
“Sir, point of clarification. I said that I hope at least nine mosques will be built in future, not only under Phase 2, but also maybe under Phases 3, 4, 5 and so on.”
“I would appreciate if the Minister could inform this House of the plans that he has to further improve these services. Dr Ahmad Mattar: Sir, first of all, I will reply to some of the issues raised by the hon. Member for Geylang Serai. He has, all in all, raised five issues and I will take them one by one in the order they have appeared in his speech. First, on the construction of new mosques. He talked of leakages and cracks on the walls, and other defects. If my colleague, the Minister for National Development, is here, he will agree with me that it is quite difficult to find any new building which is free of defects. It is unfortunately true, Sir, that defects, such as roof leakages, wall cracks, etc. were found in the mosques built under Phase I of the Mosque Building Programme of MUIS. 6.30 p.m. However, under the building agreement which HDB entered into with the building contractors of the mosques concerned, the contractors were legally bound to rectify, without any additional charge, the defects which were uncovered during the one-year period from the date of the handing over of the mosque to the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura. Most of the defects found in these mosques were rectified within the one-year guarantee period. On mosques to be built under Phase 2, I would like, at this juncture, to correct the Member for Telok Blangah. We plan to build only nine mosques - not more than nine as he said.”
“Sir, I would like to join my colleagues in commending the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) for a good job done to-date. Six mosques have been built. God-willing, nine will be built in the years to come. I notice that with the appointment of a full-time President of MUIS in November 1980, more activities have been planned and implemented to the benefit of all Muslims in Singapore. Even the hygiene factor in the current MUIS offices has greatly been enhanced. I would like to bring up two points. One is on the mosque, the other is on the Haj. Building mosques is already a difficult task as mosques are very expensive to build nowadays. Administering it is even harder. As mosques grow in number, its impact on our Muslim population will be greater. I notice that some mosques are well managed while others could have done better. My question is, would MUIS further strengthen the administration of some of these mosques by, say, conducting courses and provide guidance, and what plans are there to make sure that these are achieved so that the same high standard of administration can be achieved by all mosques? The other point is on the Haj. Pilgrimage is a divine command to the Muslim. It may be worth mentioning that Muslim Singaporeans, who perform their pilgrimage to Mecca, are most happy with the services given by MUIS in coordinating such pilgrimage affairs. I am pleased to note that for the first time MUIS has even made available a medical doctor in Mecca and Medina. When I spoke to the pilgrims in Mecca, they were most appreciative of this move. Like all Singaporeans, we should not be complacent and I am sure that the Minister will be thinking of ways and means to further improve these good services.”
“Sir, I am proud that the Minister for Health is prepared to correct any inconvenience to the public whenever national health policy is not compromised. In short, the Ministry of Health officials are prepared to swallow the difficult ampicillin capsules and give the syrup to the public. May I record my appreciation for the good job done by all concerned, the nurses, doctors, pharmacists, dispensers and related workers, in providing the high standard of medical services to our citizens. An hon. Member: And the Minister also. Mr Rohan bin Kamis: And also the Minister, of course. We therefore have a healthy health service. On this note, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head P be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead PB-01 of the Main Estimates. Sir, last year on behalf of parents in my constituency, I pointed out in this House the inappropriate way of dispensing prescribed antibiotics to little children and even babies by the Singapore General Hospital in the form of ampicillin capsules. I then appealed to the Minister for Health to look into the matter and take corrective action. Sir, this appeal has a happy ending. Several parents have brought to my atten- tion that the situation has now improved. Now, not only are the antibiotics ampicillin prescribed for little children dispensed in syrup form, but they come in agreeable flavours - pineapple, strawberry. Sir, as I take my duty and responsibilities as an MP seriously, I checked these facts and went to the pharmacy myself. It is true. They are now being dispensed in syrup form. Therefore, would the Minister please inform the House of the details, particularly the how and when the Singapore General Hospital decided to bring about this happy state of affairs?”
“Sir, can I be of assistance about this accounting system? I know a little about accounts.”
“So I appeal on behalf of these residents who are disturbed daily in the morning that should HDB build such market stalls in future in any new housing estates, they should be built as far away as possible. Furthermore, would it be possible for the owner of this slaughter-house in the course of his business to start slaughtering his ducks a bit later at a more respectable hour of the morning, say, 5.30 in the morning?”
“(2) As you are aware, Telok Blangah constituency is a pleasant urban constituency and when any new block of flats, particularly the five-room ones, are built, it immediately becomes the centre of attraction because naturally, like all other Singaporeans, residents of Telok Blangah would like to have the first chance to purchase it. There is such a block of flats; it is Block 84 at Telok Blangah Heights. But unfortunately it is being used as rented accommodation for foreigners. Therefore, I would appreciate it very much if the Minister could explain the rationale of the policy to offer recently-completed HDB flats to foreigners for rental. How does he reconcile this policy with the policy to house Singapore citizens as quickly as possible when there are many citizens on the waiting list to purchase HDB flats? (3) The third situation is even more interesting. Nobody likes to be awakened as early as 3.30 in the morning by noise. This is the case of residents in Depot Road, particularly those in Block 110 and Block 111. As early as 3.30 in the morning every day they would be awakened without fail by the quacking of ducks from the duck stall in the market. This problem started only about a year ago, when the owner of this stall must have suddenly gone into wholesale duck-slaughtering business. I do not blame the ducks for quacking, especially when you are trying to take its life. Sir, I assure you this is not a rumour. It is not even based on hearsay because I personally, with some Citizens' Consultative Committee members and Residents' Committee members, went to the stall at 3.15 in the morning on Sunday, 14th March, 1982, to see what was going on. The ducks' quacking was disturbing. I have experience with roosters and cockerels, Sir, but very little experience with ducks.”
“Sir, after a gentle rap on its knuckles last year at the Budget session by me, the HDB has done a very good job to date. They have made a positive effort to correct the deficiency in their services to the residents of Telok Blangah, and it is about time that I should with all sincerity congratulate the HDB and its officers for a job well done up to date. The reason I say this is that the problem of water seepage, for instance, has been solved with the painting of all the flats in Telok Blangah; additional recreational facilities have been provided; even the bin centres are currently undergoing major alterations to minimize the problem of unsightliness and smell. Sir, a bouquet for the HDB and its officers. However, Sir, I do not want to appear to be ungrateful for all these good facilities provided by HDB. I only wish to highlight a few areas which I feel would require the HDB's attention this year at least. These are by no means complaints. They are purely suggestions for further improvement in the interest of my constituents. There are three in number, and they are: (1) Resident car park owners have made representations to me suggesting that the HDB send them reminders to renew their car parking coupons. It is not difficult in the hustle and bustle of Singapore life to forget, say, after six months or more the priority date for renewal of the car parking coupon. Sir, with the HDB's usual efficiency and with computerization, I hope the Minister will consider sending reminders to such car owners, particularly those families who own their first car and whose parking period for car park coupons is more than, say, three months.”
“He also mentioned that the price HDB pay for building materials is much cheaper than that paid by the private developers and about increasing wage bills. I agree with what the Minister of State had said on 22nd December 1981 that "The subject of concern is really the selling price, which is dictated by the construction cost, and not the HDB accounting system per se." [Hansard, Vol. 41, Col. 311.] However, if the HDB could reveal the unit cost per flat, it will give the people a better understanding as to why the prices of HDB flats must be increased. It will also show how much the Government is subsidizing towards building cost and maintenance cost of the HDB flats. We are an enlightened, honest and uncorrupt Government. We can open the books so that our people will have an idea as to how much the Government has subsidized towards housing for the lower and middle income groups. This will also prevent the opposition parties and people with ulterior motives from exploiting the situation to fish in troubled waters and fabricating rumours. 6.00 p.m. We understand that to improve the budgeting and accounting system of such a huge statutory organization like the HDB is not something which can be done overnight. However, we can make known the various components of the cost of various units. We can, first of all, show what is the labour cost per square metre, what are the material cost and the other variable costs per square metre of floor space. The HDB can also publish the building cost of each estate in the provision of public amenities like car parks, lifts, hawker centres, recreation centres, etc. and their maintenance costs and how the people have benefited from them before arriving at a reasonable assessment of the price of land and the cost of land per unit flat.”
“I believe that the HDB will be able to achieve this target. The o;her challenge is how are we going to make it possible for the middle and lower income groups to purchase flats in the coming years. We know that we cannot further raise our contribution rate to the CPF in order to meet the demand for purchase of houses because the present contribution rate is already as high as 42 1/2%. Therefore, the HDB must think of all means and ways, such as raising productivity, simplifying the design of flats and modernizing the building techniques to reduce the increase in unit cost. On 15th June last year the Member for Punggol, in his adjournment speech talked about the HDB's announcement on 16th May 1981 on increase of flat prices and its housing policy. Together with other MPs, they made much contribution. The Member for Clementi said then that the HDB had improved the quality of housing estates by way of better space, better roads, drains, open space and parks and upgrading of various amenities, which led to increased costs. The Member for Punggol also asked what was wrong with building flats of simple designs. I also feel that although novel designs add to the beauty of the housing estates so that there will be less drab and monotony, however, as we are faced with a shortage of labour and escalating costs in building materials, the HDB should consider carefully which should be accorded priority, basic need or beauty? Moreover, with the rising expectations, HDB's burden for building will increase further. At that sitting, the Member for Whampoa in his speech talked sensibly about the HDB accounting system and land cost in the costing of flats, and the Minister for National Development in his reply also touched on the difficulty of assessing land value.”
“I thank the Minister for his reply and beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Dr Ow Chin Hock (Leng Kee)( In Mandarin): Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head T be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead TE-01 of the Main Estimates*. Sir, in China during the Tang Dynasty a famous poet Du Fu made a plea in a poem that thousands of houses be built to accommodate the poor under heaven. Under the PAP Government the achievements of the Housing Board in housing the people far surpass that in China during the Tang Dynasty when the Chinese poet made such a plea. By the end of 1980, the Housing Board had built 372,000 flats housing 70% of the population and in the next eight years the HDB will build 290,000 units of flats. Our public housing achievement is second to none in the whole world. The Sunday Times of 14th March reported an interview by the Minister for National Development touching on land use and future development of public housing. His speech should be studied by every citizen, especially those applying for HDB flats. Two points raised by him deserve attention. First, according to the Prime Minister, 'If a three-generation family is allowed to break up, then we shall not have enough land to build the number of flats required.' Secondly, if applicants are too choosy about the flats allotted, (except a few applicants), the longer they wait the further will be their flats away from the city. But what worries the applicants more is whether they can afford to buy HDB flats in the coming years. Therefore, HDB will be facing two challenges. Firstly, how to speed up the building of 290,000 units of flats in the next eight years. This is 78% of all the flats built during the past 20 years.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head T be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead TD-02 of the Main Estimates. Sir, the purpose of moving the amendment is to seek information from the Minister. Some two years ago, I suggested to the Minister that a portion of a hill along Telok Blangah Heights, fronting Block 71, popularly known as Mount Washington, be converted into a park of sorts as it was an eyesore due to the soil erosion that was taking place. It is obvious that the project has been approved because there are visible signs of construction. Would the Minister therefore please provide details of this project as the residents are naturally anxious to see its completion and what are the facilities that would be made available for the residents?”
“Say, a family has three grown-up children. Therefore, only one of them can possibly have his or her parents staying in. However, the other two children would want to contribute, if they have already paid up their HDB flat in full, to the HDB flat payment of their brother or sister, as the case may be, with whom their parents are living. Here again, the Government should consider allowing the additional CPF contributions of other members of the family to assist their immediate family member, especially if their parents are involved. Again, appropriate measures by the CPF could be instituted to ensure no abuse and the bridging finance amount be reimbursed at a later and opportune date. Sir, would the Minister please consider favourably this proposal?”
“Sir, may I make the suggestion of yet another method for the use of CPF contributions for the benefit of contributors and their immediate families? This is in line with the home ownership scheme. Before making this suggestion, may I submit the following parameters: (1) Due to circumstances beyond the Government's control, the prices of HDB flats are becoming more expensive with time. (2) Team spirit and the sanctity of the family should be preserved. Each family member should be allowed, wherever possible, to assist one another, particularly in the purchase of a home. Closer family ties should be promoted. Furthermore, this is in line with the home ownership scheme. Having set the background, Sir, I propose that the Government should consider allowing the transfer of CPF savings from one member of a family to another member in the same family to assist in the purchase of an HDB flat. This, as I have said, is in line with the home ownership scheme. Allow me to explain, Sir. Situation No. 1. Say, a son (or a daughter) who is getting married wishes to purchase a flat so that he can start a family of his own in his own home. However, he does not have enough CPF contributions to even cover the high deposit because he and his young wife have just started working life. In this case, I feel the parents who must have fully paid up the HDB flat or private home, as the case may be, may have a large balance of CPF contributions in their account, and they should be allowed to transfer their CPF contributions to assist their children to purchase this HDB home. If necessary, the CPF Board can regulate the transfer to ensure that this amount is reimbursed by the children later when they can afford it. In other words, the money is used only as a bridging finance. Situation No. 2, Sir.”
“With your permission, Sir, since my constituency was touched on, I would like to clarify the situation. I wonder whether the hon. Member for Anson has been to Depot Road because if he did he would know that the bus stop proposed by me and supported by residents was built not more than 150 yards from the junction of Depot Road and Alexandra Road. I am a slow walker but certainly faster than the Member for Anson and I think it will take no more than two minutes to walk. This bus stop was built because I asked for it. Previously, the feeder service went round - into Alexandra Road, turned round the circus but because there is a road divider now, this is no longer allowed. I wonder which resident has complained to him. I wonder whether it is the same housewife who stays in Depot Road that filed an election petition. We have already disposed of that. But, anyway, I can assure the Minister that the residents in Depot Road are quite happy with the bus services, not the few disgruntled ones who have gone over to write such letters.”
“Sir, in view of the detailed and satisfactory answer given by the Minister, I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head I be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead IA-02 Project 8301 of the Development Estimates. Sir, in moving this amendment I wish to seek information and clarification from the Minister regarding the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT). Almost regularly I have been receiving reports after reports on studies being done on our MRT. They come in beautifully printed glossies. Notwithstanding the money spent on these beautifully printed booklets, I am sure a substantial amount of public funds must have been spent on the studies alone. Sir, I am aware that this is a very major undertaking and it will affect every citizen in Singapore and change their life-styles in terms of transportation as well as involving a vast amount of public funds. I know our Government is prudent when spending public funds. For this reason, therefore, would the Minister please inform the House what is the progress achieved to-date and how much more money, time and effort will have to be spent on more studies for the MRT before we decide to decide on it. Mr Bernard Chen (Clementi): Sir, can I be permitted to speak now because my amendment* is on the same subject?”
“Sir, I am sorry I cannot accept this argument. If the Minister will just bear with me, I recall this data on standard of living indicators. It shows that our per capita GNP has gone up - doubled. Everything has gone up. Why can they not put the data into the original calculations and come out with a new figure? If the Ministry could give $90 previously with bus fare concessions, why can they not recalculate or recompute it again? I see no reason why they cannot do that. Can the Minister please review this matter? Because if he says that it costs money, then why do we have to increase the allowances for the social welfare cases? That costs money too. Why do we have to increase the allowances for the pensioners? That costs money too. But I thought we had a balanced budget for many years that I can think of, and we are proud to have a balanced budget. Our revenue is always more than our recurrent expenditure. Surely, paying an extra sum of money for 20,000 people per month will not make Singapore go broke.”
“Sir, I understand that the allowance is inadequate. Agreed. But why do we have to make it more and more inadequate as time goes by? Last year, I spoke in this House and asked the Minister for Communications to continue giving bus fare concession to servicemen in full uniform. It was turned down. Today with inflation and without the bus fare concession, the Minister is saying that the allowance will continue to be inadequate. What I am saying is: why do we have to make it more inadequate? That is the point. The other thing is this. The Ministry arrived at this figure 10 years ago. They must have put their calculations in the computer and came out with this figure of $90. If they can put their calculations in the computer again, I am sure the figure that comes out will be $90 plus X dollars. That is all. Can the Minister not consider that? Encik Saidi Haji Shariff: Mr Speaker, Sir, I appreciate the explanation given by the Minister himself regarding the allowance of $90. There is a need for parents to make sacrifices. But then, on the other hand, the Minister of State mentioned that the $90 is meant for incidental expenses. From the very beginning, why did the Ministry introduce this $90? Probably they should not have given the $90, so that the question of raising it would not arise. I agree with the Member for Telok Blangah. They must have some criteria by which they decided to pay $90 for incidental expenses. But now costs have gone up. So logically the allowance must be increased.”
“Members can be sure that the allowance is not only inadequate, it will continue to be inadequate. And as spare boots and extra uniforms become more costly, some parents may have to pay more if they want to pamper their children in the same way as some 18-year old children are pampered - that they are not able to wash their uniforms in time for the next training, and therefore the parents must go round to Sungei Road to buy a few extra spare sets.”
“Sir, the argument that I put forth is that pensions are not salaries. The subsistence allowance is an allowance. For instance, even the allowances for Members of Parliament have been increased. So, why can we not consider an increase in the allowance of $90 for the first three months? The Minister of Defence (Mr Howe Yoon Chong): Mr Speaker, Sir, this problem has been cropping up year in and year out. We have heard it ad nauseam for the very simple reason that there is a lack of appreciation as between employment and compensation and education and the cost of education. I would like to say that, in the case of national service, it is an extension of education. By right, therefore, if the cost of education should increase, then not only should the allowance not be increased but the parents' contribution to the national defence should increase with inflation. This is because not only is the parent getting more money but we are paying more to maintain the children in the camps since the cost of food has gone up, the cost of uniforms has gone up and the cost of equipment has gone up. I would, therefore, ask Members of this House to bear with me and with the Ministry of Defence and to remember that national service is a sacrifice that we call upon every able-bodied citizen, supported by his parents, to contribute to national defence. And, therefore, the question of increasing the allowance does not come in. As a parent who has seen two sons through national service, I would like to say that I am very happy to be able to make sure that they get the right type of training. I have been, and I will still continue, if I have got more children, to pay more to make sure that they get better training and that they do their part in the defence of this country. 6.00 p.m.”
“Sir, I found it most illogical. Simple arithmetic would show that since $90 was the sum arrived at ten years ago based on some calculation, then if we apply the same calculations today, but taking into account our inflation rate and the purchasing power of the dollar, surely the amount must be adjusted. If the other ministries have seen the plight of the pensioners and adjusted the allowances for them and also the subsistence allowance for social welfare assistance cases, I am sure the Ministry of Defence, with two Ministers, could easily see this need for adjustment. I just cannot understand it.”
“A careful balance has, therefore, to be struck between reducing manpower requirements and increased sophistication of hardware. Mindef will continue to maintain this balance. Sir, here I would disagree with the Member for Punggol when he said that our weapons are obsolete.”
“Sir, because of the importance of security and defence in Singapore, I would like to elaborate further as some of the points would also impinge on matters raised by other Members. Singapore is a very small country. We can be a threat to no one. Indeed, we threaten no one. However much we may decide to spend on defence, it would be insignificant compared to the larger countries better endowed with natural resources and with much larger populations. Yet, without security and political stability, we cannot expect to survive, much less to prosper and to improve our living standards. However, it is exactly because of our very small size that we have to make strenuous efforts to build up a defence capability that is sufficient to deter potential adversaries from mauling us. In the past 16 years, our defence capability has achieved a balance. Without this capability, we would not have seen the present state of stability and security. If there had been a power vacuum immediately after the British withdrawal in 1971, there would have been no stability as it exists now. Indeed, there may not have been a Singapore at all. Our economic progress is completely dependent on political stability and security provided by defence. Without an adequate defence, all that we have built in Singapore would be worthless, for the more we have the more we invite marauders. Sir, because of our small population, we have to be capital-intensive in our defence. We cannot have, nor can we afford to have, a large standing army. So we build our defence force upon national servicemen rather than regulars. Modern hardware is sophisticated and it is also very costly both to buy as well as to service and to maintain.”
“Families are often invited and they do come along to such functions. The Member for Punggol very rightly noted that there had been a decrease in the Defence expenditure as a percentage of the total budget. The figures that he has given are indeed correct. Let me give more figures to establish the trend that has been taking place. For FY 78, the figure was 18.1% of the total budget, 1979, it was 16.8%, 1980, it was 16.6%, 1981, 15.6%, and 1982, 13.7% . Indeed the Member has got his priorities right when he expressed concern that we may not be spending enough to assure the security of Singapore, particularly in these days of high inflation and fuel costs. This is particularly important to bear in mind as the sophisticated weapon systems that the Member has mentioned are generally imported from industrialized countries where the rate of Inflation is a lot higher than that in Singapore. His concern contrasts very sharply with some less-thinking people who believe that the Government should cut down its spending on defence. [Interruption] And use the money to subsidize housing, transportation, utilities and other public services. 6.00 p.m. The defence of a country is a serious matter. I can do no better than to quote Sun Tze in his opening verse in his book, The Art of War. A translation of it reads: 'The art of war is of vital importance to the state. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.' Sir, this is wisdom that has withstood the test of time some 2,500 years. We ignore this ancient wisdom at our peril.”
“Dr Yeo Ning Hong: Sir, I would like to thank the various Members for their interest in the Defence budget. A number of points have been raised and I will take them in the order they were raised. The Member for Pasir Panjang talks about esprit de corps and the importance of camaraderie in our national service. Mindef could not agree more on that particular issue. Indeed we strongly believe that esprit de corps and camaraderie represents a critical part of the strength of any army. Records have shown that an army with people who know each other well, where the individual soldiers are friends with each other, inevitably fights better than armies where people are put together fairly randomly. To this end, the SAF has adopted a basis for teamwork and for close cooperation. We practise a mono-intake system in which soldiers belonging to the same active battalion are called into the army at the same time. They train together for two years and then they go ROD together. We have, in fact, taken this one step further by grouping units on the basis of population centres so that the soldiers of the units will come from one general area, for example, Ang Mo Kio or Toa Payoh. This makes it easier for the soldiers to develop close ties with each other, with their comrades in the same platoon, who may also be neighbours in the same block or just across the street. Concerning activities at a social level, we are also actively pursuing this. At the commander's level there are many activities where the reserve formations can come together. These functions bring the officers together with the NCOs and their men into activities which could either be social or professional or both. Examples of these activities would be road shows, mass gatherings and anniversary functions.”
“I am pleased, however, to note that these parents, as any other parents in Singapore, are no longer reluctant to send their children for national service. They have accepted this as a duty to the country. This is healthy. However, they are very concerned, especially when they have one son who could not even support himself let alone supplement the family's income on his national service allowance. These national servicemen, I understand, find great difficulty in supporting themselves in the light of prevailing conditions in Singapore with our current cost of living, especially when they are given such meagre allowances, and therefore they have to dip into the family kitty to support themselves. This situation is further aggravated because national servicemen are no longer given bus fare concessions by the Singapore Bus Service. Sir, even the Ministry of Social Affairs has been regularly reviewing the subsistence allowances for the social welfare cases. Only a few days ago, this House was informed that these subsistence allowances will be increased in line with the increase in the cost of current day living. May I, therefore, suggest that it is time the Minister of Defence reviewed the $90 per month allowance for a private soldier, which was set some 10 years ago. When the quantum of this allowance was fixed over ten years ago, there must have been certain parameters and conditions evaluated. The question is: surely these parameters and conditions must have changed because Singapore has changed tremendously in the last 10 years. Since the basis of the original calculation for the allowances has changed, I suggest that to stop inflicting undue hardship on these national servicemen and their families, the allowances should be accordingly reviewed as soon as possible.”
“Sir, I share some of the sentiments of my colleague, although my experiences with the parents in Telok Blangah are slightly different. Singaporeans are a lucky people because we have the benefit of a good Government. As can be seen from the facts presented by the Minister for Trade and Industry recently, we never had it so good. People nowadays are better off because, amongst other things, they are prepared to work ,harder, given the stable conditions for them to progress and prosper. Although our rate of inflation is low when compared to the rates in the industrialized countries and our neighbouring countries, it is still there. That is why the NWC adjustments are welcomed by the workers. Sir, I am cheered to note that the Government has reviewed the salaries of senior civil servants and has promised to do the same for those in Divisions I to IV as soon as possible. I am further grateful that even the allowance for pensioners was reviewed recently. This is very much welcomed as the Government is constantly reviewing all situations to ensure that undue hardship would not befall on any of its citizens. However, I am amazed, given the efficiency of our Government machinery, why one particular area of allowances has missed the gunsight of those sharp-shooting civil servants. Maybe they do not realize that national servicemen too have to sur- vive on the basic human needs like any of us. Maybe they felt that the national servicemen must experience undue difficulty when undergoing national service. Sir, I am speaking for all those parents in Telok Blangah who have come to see me about national service allowance for their children undergoing national service.”
“Sir, in view of the Minister's reply, we should not look a gift horse in the mouth. I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, would the Minister then consider on a case-by-case basis in the event the spouse of a married working lady in the Civil Service is an invalid? Would he then, on a case-by-case basis, extend the medical benefit to cover the spouse and the children because the husband is incapable of being gainfully employed?”
“I hope that just because one Member in this House, for reasons best known to himself, decided to claim a Division on that well-meaning and well-accepted concession, all married female civil servants would not be deprived of their medical benefits. I hope this is not so. In the light of the above, would the Hon. Minister please comment and, hopefully, give his assurance that he would be sympathetic to this cause.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head N be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead NB-01 of the Main Estimates. Sir, I am more interested in live-ware than software or hardware in this House. Last year, during the debate on the annual Budget Statement, as reported in Hansard, Vol. 40, col. 672, 16th March, 1981, I spoke and urged the Government to consider favourably two items. First was the plight of the pensioners and, secondly, medical benefits for female civil servants. I ended with the hope that the Government would review these cases and move on from slogan-shouting to practical implementation. I am glad that the Government has moved on and has done something positive. It is most heartening to note that the Government has reviewed these cases and only two days ago the Minister for Trade and Industry made a statement that our pensioners will get an increase in the form of the New Singapore allowance. Sir, that is one out of two. Now I am still awaiting a favourable reply to my second request for equal medical benefits for the married ladies in the Civil Service in terms of medical cover for their spouses and children. I am also renewing my call to the Minister for Finance to reconsider this outstanding matter, especially in the light of recent development. I notice that the Government is slowly but surely giving what is due to married working ladies in terms of equality in employment benefits. This was demonstrated by the recent amendment to the Income Tax Act to allow even the unearned income of married working ladies to be assessed separately for income tax purposes. This concession is well received by all married working ladies.”
“Sir, as you are aware, Telok Blangah is a pleasant urban constituency where most of the facilities are fully developed. However, the school facilities are not yet up to mark. For this reason, some two years ago I requested for a secondary school and a primary school to be built in Telok Blangah for the convenience of the residents in sending their children to nearby schools. The Minister had already informed the House that several schools will be built in Telok Blangah, a generosity which is most readily accepted and well appreciated by all residents in Telok Blangah. I can now see that construction work is in progress in several sites of Telok Blangah and as parents are getting more anxious, they would like to know more details. Therefore, I would appreciate if the Minister could provide full details of the progress of the construction programme of these schools. And to assist him in providing me with full details in the time available before the guillotine, may I be permitted to quote a poem which I recall and which has served me well in the search for any information in the shortest possible time, and it goes: 'I know of six honest men. They taught me all I knew. Their names are What, Where and When, How, Why and Who.' May I also assure you, Sir, that I am asking all these details solely and wholly for and in the interest of my constituents only.”
“Sir, in view of the shortage of time, may I be allowed to speak under this Subhead what I intend to speak under Subhead LC-02* because they are closely related?”
“Sir, at a previous sitting of Parliament, in reply to my Question (Hansard, Vol. 41, 15th June 1981, Col.27.) for Oral Answer, the Minister for Home Affairs said that the speed limit at the Expressways would be raised to 80 km per hour when the expressways were completed. Now that the East Coast Expressway is completed, can the Minister of State inform the House when the higher speed limit will be implemented?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Minister of State what attempt was made to acquire as an exhibit the giant grouper fish that was found off the beach of Sentosa for our National Museum?”
“Sir, would the Minister of State elaborate what these guidelines would be?”
“The Chairman: I do not know how mosques come into this amendment. Anyway, Dr Ahmad Mattar.”
“Sir, before I withdraw my amendment, I wish to thank the Hon. Acting Minister for his reply. However, I also wish to make a clarification, Sir, nowhere did I mention that the cases are divorce cases or otherwise and that they should end in divorce. Sir, I am an optimist, and therefore I said that the cases should be dealt with quickly, i.e. resolved amicably; in other words they should be reconciled. As regards the post which MSD has recommended and which apparently the Ministry of Finance has turned down, may I suggest that the Hon. Acting Minister tackle the problem at source. In other words, he should take the Ministry of Finance by its "Hon" (horn). On that note I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment by leave, withdrawn. Mr M.K.A. Jabbar( In Tamil): Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head V be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead VC-01 of the Main Estimates. Sir, I wish to speak on the mosque at Market Street, that is the Masjid Moulana Mohd Ali. Members of the management committee of that mosque have appealed to me to ask the Acting Minister to consider the problem which this mosque is facing. For a long time the Muslims, especially the businessmen and those who are working in town, have been going to that mosque for their prayers. A big bank has purchased the property recently. The management of that bank and the management committee of the mosque have made proposals and counter proposals, but they have not yet come to any settlement. According to the proposal, an alternative place below the car park will be given to the Muslims for their prayers. If a place above the car park can be given, it will be acceptable to the Muslims. I would, therefore, request the Minister to intervene and bring about a workable solution.”
“Sir, I must thank the Minister for the information and I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Yeo Toon Chia:- (5) That the sum to be allocated for Head L be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead LF-03 Project 8308 of the Development Estimates”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head L be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead LE-02 of the Main Estimates. Sir, in moving this amendment, I wish to seek information from the Hon. Minister about the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. I notice the subsidy for this Institute is steadily growing year by year. For this reason, I trust the Minister would inform the House what are the objectives and the success criteria of this Institute; what has it done; how well does the work carried out to-date measure against these objectives and success criteria?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am very satisfied with the Hon. Minister's answer. But before I withdraw my amendment, may I make a clarification? It is quite chic to throw computer jargon. My credentials are simply that I have spent more years learning about computers than many Members in the House. But I do not throw computer jargon because it tends to give what I call in a paper in 1977, "technological indigestion". I do not think we want technological indigestion. If we want to quote computer jargon, let us quote them all the way. It is not just hardware or software. But we tend to forget that the most important factor is "liveware" - the people, that is, the teachers, the principals, the vice-principals, the parents and the students. I am glad that the Hon. Minister has given an assurance that attention will be given to liveware, or the people involved, their feelings. On this note, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment by leave, withdrawn. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY REPORTING PROGRESS (Suspension of Standing Orders) 6.09 p.m. With the consent of Mr Speaker and the general assent of Members present, Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, "That, notwithstanding the Standing Orders, progress be reported now and leave be asked to sit again tomorrow." - [Mr E.W. Barker]. Thereupon Mr Speaker left the Chair of the Committee and took the Chair of the House.”
“One of the reasons why the morale of the teachers is low today is that the Ministry has now introduced full-day schooling as from this year. This means that the teachers have to increase their workload and to stay longer in school. I do not wish to discuss the merits or demerits of the full-day school here, but I would like to ask whether the Education Ministry had, before introducing this full-day school, made adequate preparations, whether it had sent people abroad to study any full-day schooling in practice in other countries, and whether it had looked into the advantages and disadvantages of such a system? Are we going to maintain the usual school hours in the morning? Do we have a sufficient noon break in between sessions? Will the students be given a place to rest or a room for a nap? Will the school canteens provide food warming facilities for the students who bring their own food to school for their lunch? If the answers are noes, we have insufficient provision for all these, then it is rather immature to start a full-day school. Sir, another thing I would like the Minister to note for the full-day school is that the burden on the parents will be greater. With rampant inflation that we see today, it will be a further blow to the poorer families. Will the Ministry of Education be providing subsidies for lunch to these poorer students? I wish the Minister will elaborate. 5.30 p.m.”
“If the Education Ministry does not really attach much love to the teachers, then how do they expect the teachers to have a sense of love towards their students? In other departments, the relationship between the employer and the employee perhaps may be cold, dispassionate and rigid. But in the Ministry of Education, the Ministry officials cannot be cold and cruel to the teachers. If the employer-employee relationship is devoid of any human feelings, then I feel it is very difficult for us to effectively tackle the problems of education. For the sake of keeping their rice bowl, the teachers may passively accept orders and continue to work, or allow themselves to be perfunctorily transferred by the Ministry from one school to another, and some principals or vice principals demoted to teachers. Under such circumstances, can the teachers work hard? From what I can see now, the teachers are quite heavily burdened. They have to go for re-training, re-examination and so on, resulting in their energies being dissipated and physically exhausted. Upgrading and promotion are mere distant possibilities. When our teachers are discontented with their jobs under such trying circumstances, how can we expect them to take teaching seriously? I feel that the Ministry of Education should make a thorough study into the reasons for the low morale of the teachers. It is best done through the systems engineers of other Departments, so as to find out the causes of this problem and to work out a workable solution. Otherwise, if the spirit of dedication to education on the part of the teachers is not given the right encouragement for development, it will be difficult for them to make important contributions to education in Singapore.”
“The Report by the Singapore Teachers' Union, which I mentioned just now, touches on quite a number of controversial matters. It also reflects the true picture of the education profession today. I feel that this report should be made compulsory reading for officials of the Ministry of Education as well as members of the Schools Council. I remember one veteran educationist once said that education is a job of conscience. I have been a teacher for many years. I fully agree with what he said. I also appreciate the connotations of those words he said. I am of the view that education is not only a job of conscience, it also behoves the teachers to have a love for the students. We notice that in the past in order to improve the work of the students the teachers spent much of their leisure time on giving extra tuition to their students, thus fulfilling the aims of teaching and guidance. This is apparent evidence that the teachers of the old days really loved their students. But, unfortunately such devotion is hard to find nowadays. No wonder many people today shake their heads in dismay that the devotion of the teachers of today is much inferior to that in the old days. But why, may I ask, has the Education fraternity of today come to such a stage? There must be reasons for this. The prime reason is that the Ministry of Education today does not really have any love for the teachers. Is the relationship between the Ministry of Education and the teachers purely that of employer and employee? If the Ministry treats teaching as an occupation, then how can it expect the teachers to regard teaching as a profession? It is very simple.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head L be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead LA-01 of the Main Estimates.* *The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Ho Kah Leong. Sir, last year, in reply to my request for more schools in Telok Blangah, the Hon. Minister said that six schools would be built in Telok Blangah. The parents in Telok Blangah are naturally anxious to know the progress of these projects. Therefore, would the Minister inform the House the progress of the school building programme for my constituency, where the schools will be, and when will they be operational? Mr Ho Kah Leong( In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I notice that the Member for Moulmein who in the past used to make some very vigorous speeches in respect of the Ministry of Education's policies has not proposed any amendment to the Education Estimates this year. Perhaps he has restrained himself from making speeches on educational matters. This is indeed regrettable. But since the First Deputy Prime Minister is not present today, he should be bold and free to make his speeches. Even if he is present, as conscientious MPs we still have to speak our mind on any aberrations of the education policy and give our views, as it is our bounden duty as MPs. The future of the teachers' unions is as yet still in a cloud. Sir, the newspapers today give great prominence to a comprehensive report produced by the Singapore Teachers' Union entitled Perception and Practice in Education. This shows that the Union is not only striving to improve the lot of the teachers but also spending a great deal of effort on professional research. And this is not only true in respect of the teachers' union in the English stream but also teachers' unions in the other language streams.”
“Among the patients who are receiving treatment at the Tiong Bahru OPD, some of them are chronic sick patients. They have to visit the OPD once in two or three days, some of them every day, for injection. These chronic sick patients are old people. Up to now, as they do not have to travel a long distance to the Tiong Bahru OPD, they can walk there by themselves. But with the new arrangement that they will have to attend the Bukit Merah Polyclinic instead in future, it will certainly pose a problem for them if they choose to walk there. If they are required to take a bus, then it will even be more difficult. In view of this, I wonder whether the Minister will consider making arrangements for two or three nurses to be posted at a community centre in my constituency to give simple treatment to these chronic sick patients.”
“Sir, I do not agree with what the Minister has said because I have checked with the consultants at the General Hospital. I am not prepared to quote the names of the consultants who have uttered a shock at the method of dispensing medicine to children. On that note, I most reluctantly withdraw my amendment. Amendment by leave, withdrawn. Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon( In Mandarin): Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head P be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead PF-02 of the Main Estimates. Sir, the Tiong Bahru Outpatient Dispensary at Jalan Membina has been in existence for the past 15 years. This outpatient dispensary has been providing very convenient medical services to the residents in Tiong Bahru and those living in the surrounding areas. Yesterday evening, on returning to my office from the House, I found a letter from the Ministry of Health informing me that the Ministry has decided to close down this outpatient dispensary as from the 27th of this month. This decision is also reported in today's newspapers. Henceforth, patients who are currently receiving treatment at this OPD will have to attend instead the Bukit Merah Polyclinic at Bukit Merah Central. This polyclinic is situated on the third floor of Bukit Merah Central. Those who have visited this place will agree that going into this Central is just like going through a maze. Those who go there for the first time will have great difficulty in locating the polyclinic. Sir, since the polyclinic is on the third floor of the building, patients on wheelchairs will have difficulty going up to the polyclinic. Of course, the Minister can say that lifts are available. But I can tell you, Sir, that the lifts in this building very often break down.”