S. Chandra Das
Singapore
“There is certainly a limit as to what volunteers can do. These organisations can do with additional funding from the Government. With additional funding, I believe the self-help groups can do much more. Sir, I would like to ask the Minister about the various support and assistance given to the self-help groups in Singapore.”
“Sir, ASEAN has come a long way since its founding. No one can deny that ASEAN as a regional grouping has been a great success. Not only is ASEAN strong in terms of regional grouping, it is also expanding. Vietnam has joined ASEAN in 1995. Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar are expected to join ASEAN before the end of the century.”
“The public will be able to know the actual expenditure incurred. The operators on their part must charge realistic fares, and any increase should be reasonable and commensurate with the level of service provided. In this way, the public will be satisfied and will not feel short-changed.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary what other measures are being considered by his Ministry. Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, other possible measures would include confiscating the handphone, increasing the number of demerit points or, if necessary, making phone driving a specific offence.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head V of the Main Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code VD 1500. Sir, there are many reasons for the success of Singapore as it stands today. The contribution of the Singapore civil service is an area which should not be underestimated.”
“Sir, I hope the media does not dub RAdm Teo as also "Mr No" from tomorrow. On that note, I withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $518,536,590 for Head N ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $769,080,900 for Head N ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. Head L -”
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“Can a young worker of Singapore today with his wife and two children, with a combined monthly income of about $1,500 ever hope to own an HDB flat? I think this is a question which we should seriously address ourselves to. The continual Government statements on the hefty increase of prices of HDB flats serve to accentuate this sense of hopelessness in the younger Singaporeans. It would be useful now to examine some of the contributory factors. They can be summarized as follows:- (a) shortage of labour, hence resulting in higher construction costs; (b) increases in prices of building materials, e.g. cement, steel, sand, etc., and (c) other oil-related hikes. It can be generally conceded that increases related to oil are not within our control, but what about cost increases that are the direct result of Governmental policy decisions? For example, take the policy towards relieving the labour shortage. I am of the opinion that we should seriously diversify our sources of supply, i.e. do not confine ourselves to traditional sources only. Increasingly, as these countries industrialize, not only would it become more difficult but also more expensive to tap these countries for labour. Then there is the concern over social problems arising from recruiting workers from non-traditional sources. I have a feeling that these problems are over- magnified. We could bring in workers from non-traditional sources either on a project basis or for fixed periods of time. Countries in West Asia have recruited foreign workers from Korea, Philippines and the Indian sub-continent and are none the worse for it. Finally, I will still labour on this point of the exorbitant $230 monthly levy. Earlier the Minister of State for Labour had given the answer. But I am still not satisfied.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in the 1950s and l9F60s, we were haunted by the spectre of inadequate public housing. Then, we prided ourselves on having broken the back of the housing problem. However, today, we are once again meeting this housing problem in a different way. It has been reported that 20% of the 83,000 applicants on the waiting list would not have sufficient CPF funds to pay for the price of new flats. Also, since 1st June 1981 the cost of HDB flats has gone up by an average of 38%. While the Government may want to unfold the stark truth to Singaporeans, the continual repetition of such statements by Ministers have unfortunately injected inflationary and speculative elements into the property market in particular and the economy in general. This will impede the Government's efforts to control inflation in general. Each time a statement is made, rather frequently too, the price of private housing jerks up. A one-storey terraced house of about 1,400 sq. ft. used to cost around $75,000 in 1979. The same house costs about $200,000 today. Government statements have a profound effect on property prices. The speculative element in the market, particularly property, is a crucial factor in determining the price. In the property situation in Singapore, the speculative element of the price has been more decisive than construction cost. The cost of labour and materials has not increased by 250% in the last 18 months, but the cost of properties has. The Government and the economists can discuss property prices in fairly high faluting economic terms. But the ordinary man is beginning to wonder whether there is any meaning in working.”
“Sir, in view of the Minister's explanation, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $38,918,550 for Head O ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $10,449.500 for Head O ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY REPORTING PROGRESS (Suspension of Standing Orders) With the consent of Mr Deputy 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 Deputy Speaker left the Chair of the Committee and took the Chair of the House.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head O be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead 08-01 of the Development Estimates. Sir, our Foreign Ministry was established on the attainment of independence and thus the necessity for us to be physically represented in the core capitals of the world. I am wondering what steps the Ministry is taking or has taken to ensure that we are purchasing sufficient properties overseas for the premises to be used not only as our chanceries but also as accommodation for our Singapore-based staff. To me, the provision of $10 million in the Development Estimates seems rather inadequate. I would urge the Hon. Minister to be a little bit more bullish on this subject, especially since the availability of money is not a major problem. If sufficient properties are judiciously purchased, this could, apart from being a sound investment, also reduce the Ministry's recurrent expenditure in terms of rentals. I am sure Members here will agree that rentals the world over are likely to be on the upward trend. I would be pleased to hear if the Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs has any plans in this direction. Secondly, I would like to touch on another area. Foreign Missions in Singapore are generally free to purchase properties for their chanceries and accommodation for their staff. It may be useful in this context for the Foreign Ministry to seriously reconsider this policy. I strongly feel that all privileges must be on a reciprocal basis. We should only allow foreign missions in Singapore to own properties in land-scarce Singapore if we are similarly allowed to do so in other countries.”