S. Dhanabalan
Singapore
“Mr Speaker, Sir, on a point of clarification. I said in my intervention on Tuesday that the general election is the right forum to determine the electorate's support because it puts the issue in a total and correct context.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, with hindsight, of course, we can be very wise. But since one of the three islands was excluded, it was a substantial reduction in the scope of works. The assessment then, which I agreed with, was that if you called for a re-tender, you would get a substantially reduced tender.”
“To the extent that we can, we should work with countries that have a common interest, to come together and form economic groupings targeted at trade liberalisation. We have started this process within ASEAN under the AFTA Scheme. Economic linkages in groupings like APEC are also growing in significance.”
“Mr Speaker, all these questions make a lot of sense when the events are finished, and you look back. But the officer looking at the case at that time had to deal with the facts as they were at that time.”
“ASEAN countries agreed to publish all the Inclusions and Exclusions lists, as well as the full list of actual tariff reductions. The ASEAN Secretariat had since followed up and released, as scheduled, on 1st November 1993, the publications showing these lists.”
“Kallang Theatre was closed for five months in 1992 for cyclical maintenance and upgrading costing $3 million. This included a major upgrading of the toilets, recarpeting the auditorium, rewiring and repainting.”
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“Mr Speaker, Sir, the hon. Member has raised a pertinent issue. There is evidence that the Soviet Union has obtained the use of naval and air facilities in Cam-Ranh Bay from its ally, Vietnam. This has enhanced Soviet strategic capability both in the Pacific and in the Indian Oceans and, if unchecked, will eventually tilt the power balance in Asia to Soviet advantage. Soviet intentions in the region are clear. As in so many instances in the past, they obviously hope to fill the vacuum left by the withdrawal of another super-power. The conclusion of the Treaty of Friendship between the Soviet Union and Vietnam in November 1978 foreshadowed the granting of these base facilities by Vietnam to the Soviet Union. There are provisions for military cooperation in the treaty. Through this treaty and other friendship treaties between Vietnam and Laos and the Vietnamese-installed Heng Samrin regime in Kampuchea, the three Indo-Chinese regimes are locked into a de facto military alliance with Soviet military underpinning. All these, of course, do not augur well for peace and security in the region, especially since this treaty relationship has provided the Soviet Union an opportunity and a treaty obligation to intervene in South East Asia as they consider necessary. It would be ideal for the peace and stability of the region if big power rivalry is kept out of the region. However, this is an unrealistic expectation. It is in the nature of things that big powers will seek to extend their power and influence wherever they can and to exclude the other contending powers from these areas. This is why Singapore has consistently argued for a multi-power presence in the region. A multi-power presence is the best guarantee.”
“We happen to be on the same side for different reasons and it is not improbable that, as we begin to work out a solution, for example, in the Kampuchean problem, our views and opinions would diverge as we pursue our own individual national interests. The last point which the Member raised concerned the proposal made by the Indonesian Vice-President on an ASEAN Community Foundation. I am afraid the only details I have on this proposal are those contained in the newspaper reports and we do not know anything more than what was reported. I understand that the objective of the proposed Foundation is to strengthen mutual understanding, cooperation and regional solidarity in ASEAN countries. In principle, we would support any scheme designed to promote mutual understanding and cooperation if such schemes do not duplicate already existing institutions and schemes. So we will await further details from those who have made the proposal.”
“Member must no doubt be aware that such a move in international diplomatic practice is deemed to be an extremely serious step, implying a serious breakdown in the bilateral relations between the two countries. Because we have spoken out strongly against the Soviet actions, it does not mean that we are, in fact, in a state of adversary relations with the Soviet Union. The present state of our bilateral relations with the Soviet Union can be more aptly described as correct. The number of Soviet personnel may appear to be large in relation to our trade with the Soviet Union. The Member is right in saying that our trade relations are rather insignificant and, although the absolute figures have increased, the share of Soviet trade in Singapore's total trade has fallen over the years. But we have to bear in mind that trade is only one of the elements in the bilateral relations between any two countries. Diplomatic personnel will be necessary to facilitate diplomatic communications as well as to strengthen bilateral relations in culture and other matters. We think that the present staff strength in the Soviet Embassy is adequate for these purposes and an increase in staff is not envisaged in the immediate future. The second point that the Member made on which he wants my comment is the apparent similarity between our views and the views of the People's Republic of China on various international issues. I want to reassure the Member that we take positions and express views purely from the point of view of what is in our national interest and in the interests of ASEAN. If our perception of Soviet-backed Vietnamese actions in Indochina as well as Soviet invasion of Afghanistan happens to be the same as China's perception, this is merely coin- cidental.”
“The Ministry is fully aware of the security problems that could arise from diplomatic personnel as well as other personnel engaged in Singapore and that such personnel could indulge in activities detrimental to our security. As is the acknowledged practice, the Government considers it its duty to keep a close watch on the situation to ensure that those who enjoy diplomatic privileges and immunities do not abuse these privileges and endanger our security. Should there be any breach of such diplomatic privileges, the Government, of course, will take such action as is appropriate and in accordance with internationally accepted practices and international law. In the case of non-diplomatic personnel, the relevant authorities in the Government, I am sure, are keeping a close watch and any breach of our laws will bring the full weight of the law against them, and certainly being asked to leave the country will be the least of the penalties that will be imposed. Members of the House must be undoubtedly aware that Singapore has taken a very strong stand against Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan and the role that the Soviet Union is playing in Kampuchea. Without Soviet support, Vietnamese occupation of Kampuchea will not be able to last very long. We have spoken out against Soviet activities in both Afghanistan and Kampuchea at all international and regional gatherings. As Members must be aware, we were active in the United Nations in garnering support against Vietnam and the Soviet Union on the resolutions pertaining to Kampuchea and Afghanistan. The hon. Member for Serangoon Gardens asked whether we should not reduce the number of Soviet Embassy staff as a form of retaliation against Soviet actions in Kampuchea and Afghanistan. The hon.”
“Sir, the hon. Member for Serangoon Gardens has made a general statement on the Soviet policy in Asia. I do not want to comment on its policy because I think both my Minister and other Ministers have so many times elaborated on Singapore's perceptions of Soviet policy. The Member raised three specific points which I would like to touch upon. Firstly, he wants clarification on the number of Soviet personnel in the Soviet Embassy in Singapore, and he asked whether we should not consider reducing these officials as one sign of displeasure with Soviet policy. The Soviet Union first set up a Trade Representation in Singapore in 1966 with a complement of only two diplomatic and six non-diplomatic staff. When diplomatic relations were established in 1968, the strength of the Soviet Embassy was increased and the staff now comprises a total of 28, i.e. 10 diplomatic staff who enjoy diplomatic immunity and privileges and 18 non-diplomatic staff. At present the Singapore Embassy in Moscow, although having reciprocal rights, has only three diplomatic and seven non-diplomatic staff, which we consider adequate for the present. If we need to, we can increase this strength to the same number as the number of Soviet staff in Singapore. In addition to the staff in the Soviet Embassy we have in Singapore at present 23 other Soviet citizens working in the various Soviet companies and services, like the media, Aeroflot, Moscow Narodny Bank, and so on. These people, of course, do not enjoy any diplomatic immunity. I am sure Members are aware that applications by non-citizens to work in Singapore are very closely scrutinised and periodically reviewed, and only those who are absolutely essential for the operation of a company in Singapore are allowed or permitted to come into Singapore.”
“The number sold in 1976 was 62, 65 in 1977, 173 in 1978 and 622 during the first 10 months of this year. If unchecked, the rising imports of used cars will undo all our efforts to restrain the growth in the car population. We are closely monitoring the import of used cars and considering various measures to curb the growth in imports.”
“Sir, statistics show that about 40% of fatal road accidents occur between 7.00 pm and 7.00 am. The Traffic Police Accident Study Unit together with the Registrar of Vehicles and the Public Works Department are, therefore, studying the frequency of road accidents caused by poor visibility including inadequate lighting of some roads, poor lighting by vehicles and poor visibility of objects and persons on the road. The use of headlamps will not only help the driver to see better but also make the car more visible to other road users. If the study shows that it is necessary to require motorists to switch on their headlamps when driving after dark, the Motor Vehicles (Lighting) Rules will be suitably amended to make the practice compulsory. IMPORT OF RECONDITIONED CARS FROM JAPAN (Particulars) 6. Mr Ang Nam Piau asked the Minister for Communications and Acting Minister for Culture why approval has been given to certain local car dealers to import reconditioned second-hand cars from Japan; how many such cars have been imported to date; and whether the importation of such cars is contrary to the policy of keeping down the car population in Singapore. The Minister for Communications and Acting Minister for Culture (Mr Ong Teng Cheong): Mr Speaker, Sir, restrictions on the import of used cars were lifted in May 1976 as it was thought then that, with import duty at 45% and Additional Registration Fee at 100% of the value of the car, not many such cars would be imported. Until this year, sales of imported used cars were small and did not give cause for concern. However, with rising affluence and with new cars becoming more expensive, sales of imported used cars, especially of reconditioned cars from Japan, have increased substantially.”
“The Minister for the Environment (Mr Lim Kim San): Mr Speaker, Sir, markets and food centres are built essentially to resite licensed street hawkers. As it is Government's policy to contain hawkers, no new hawker licences will be issued except on grounds of financial hardship. Another exception is made for vacant stalls in what are called "cleared markets", which are not required for resettlement of hawkers. These stalls will be liberally given to applicants who are Singapore citizens and are between 40 and 60 years of age. Licensed farmers affected by resettlement may apply for hawker licences on grounds of hardship and for vacant stalls in "cleared markets". "GREEN MAN" SIGNALS AT ROAD JUNCTIONS (Installation) The following Question stood on the Order Paper - 4.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, under section 13(3) of the Central Provident Fund Act the CPF savings of an undischarged bankrupt are deemed to be impressed with a trust in favour of the persons entitled to the savings upon his death. The purpose of this provision is to protect the savings of the undischarged bankrupt from seizure by his creditors. Such protection is in the interest of persons entitled to the savings upon the death of the undischarged bankrupt. Because of this provision an undischarged bankrupt has not been allowed to withdraw his contributions. However, under section 44(2) of the Housing and Development Act, a flat purchased by an undischarged bankrupt is protected from seizure by the official assignee to satisfy creditors. The same protection is afforded by section 41 (2) of the Jurong Town Corporation Act for JTC flats purchased by an undischarged bankrupt. Since there is this specific protection from seizure of an HDB or JTC flat, the Government will be amending section 13(3) of the Central Provident Fund Act to allow an undischarged bankrupt to use his CPF savings to purchase such a flat. Should the undischarged bankrupt sell his HDB or JTC flat, he is required to return to the CPF the savings withdrawn with interest, or the proceeds of the sale, whichever is less. At the end of November 1979 a total of 69 CPF members who are undischarged bankrupts have not been allowed to withdraw their savings to buy HDB or JTC flats. They will be allowed to do so when the amendment is passed. HAWKER LICENCES FOR RESETTLED FARMERS 3. Mr Ang Nam Piau asked the Minister for the Environment if he will consider allocating hawker stalls to licensed farmers who are affected by resettlement.”
“Sir, obviously the matter is not so simple. I said "various kinds of evidence". That example will be just one type of evidence which has to be weighed against other types of evidence that can be obtained. CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND CONTRIBUTIONS (Use by undischarged bankrupts to purchase HDB flats) The following Question stood on the Order, Paper - 2.”
“Sir, evidence to prove that in fact CPF contributions are a hindrance. This would involve studies of CPF data as well as representations or interviews with employers and employees' unions; all kinds of evidence that can support a conclusion either way, whether CPF in fact is a hindrance, whether it is a disincentive to older people working. If the Member can suggest other ways in which this can be proved, he is welcome to do so.”
“After five years if he continues working he can withdraw once every five years. If he reaches the age of 55 and he continues working, then at 60 he can withdraw once; at 65 he can withdraw another time; and at 70; and so on. But if he stops work at any time, then six months after he stops work he can withdraw whatever additional savings he has.”
“I confirm what I have said - that after the contributor has reached the age of 55 he can withdraw his savings whether or not he is working. Subsequent to that, he can withdraw once in every five years. But if he stops work, then he can withdraw six months after he has stopped work. I thought that is clear enough.”
“I heard a whisper that the Member for Punggol is offering himself! Sir, it is true that staff is one of the problems, and this is why we do not open many missions and we try to extend the accreditation of existing missions to cover as many countries as possible. With the existing staff in the European centres that I have mentioned, we will be able to cover a few additional countries.”
“Sir, the Ministry intends to establish an embassy in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in the next financial year. The provision of $1 million under the subhead will be adequate for the expenditure on capital items and other establishment costs. In the new financial year it is also intended to extend the concurrent accreditation of our missions in Bonn, Brussels, London and Paris, to the other European countries where Singapore does not at the moment have diplomatic missions. The expenditure for this will also come from this subhead.”
“Sir, I do not know whether the Member expects me to respond. Perhaps a more closer analogy would not be five thin men trying to take on Muhammad Ali. But if we want a man to jump five feet, we have to find somebody who can jump five feet, and not five men who can jump one foot each! Sir, I agree with the Member that sometimes looking at examples like the EEC can give rise to a lot of frustration and a feeling that we are not making enough progress. I do not want to go into the many reasons, historical, economic, cultural, that make the EEC what it is. As I have said, we have to be realistic. We have to work out our own brand of economic cooperation. We have got to do it within the kind of time frame that each member of ASEAN is prepared to accept. The Member for Serangoon Gardens raised one other point - that there are countries in ASEAN which are handicapped. I am sure none of the members would like to be branded as handicapped. So far, none of the ASEAN members has asked for any specific or very preferential type of treatment from the other members. We have always tried to work out a system of working together where we can give and take on an equal basis. I think this is the only way that we can cooperate together. None of the ASEAN members will accept a system that makes it appear that that member is dependent or is in any way given special treatment because of a lack of development or level of development. I do not think any of them would like to be branded as handicapped. 4.00 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think there is some implication that a cost benefit analysis, if applied to ASEAN projects, would not result in any project. That is quite wrong. It is a question of what is imputed as cost and what is imputed as benefit. In the approach to ASEAN projects, if we take not only short-term benefits and short-term costs, but long-term benefits and long-term costs to ASEAN as a whole, I am sure we can discover projects which are worthwhile promoting. I do not think it is quite fair to accuse bureaucrats of adopting an approach with narrow views as to what is cost and benefit and blame it on them for the rather slow progress that we have made so far. The Member mentioned about the need to study alternative sources of energy. This certainly is a very important subject. There are alternative fossil fuels in the ASEAN countries which could be sources of energy. Of course, this would necessitate a change in some of our present systems of energy generation. These are subjects which are being looked at by the various ASEAN committees which address themselves to these specific problems. ASCOPE is a committee in ASEAN but it is not an official committee. It is a committee established by the private sector. But there are also official governmental committees dealing with science and technology which can address themselves to these problems. I am sure that hardly anybody can really forget this problem which is looming so large in our minds and this subject would therefore get the necessary attention.”
“I understand that we have the organisation, ASCOPE, the ASEAN Council on Petroleum. To what extent we can assure ourselves of continued supply of petroleum, it is difficult to say. I suggest that we need to consolidate the goodwill that we have built up with the other ASEAN states, and to consolidate the goodwill, we need to be more flexible in our discussions on ASEAN economic projects.”
“Dr Lau Teik Soon: Sir, I am glad to note that the Senior Minister of State has given the lie to the criticisms that Singapore has not played a role in ASEAN economic cooperation or that Singapore has not identified herself with the developing states in North/South discussions. But the fact still remains that ASEAN economic cooperation beyond nominal projects has not made much progress. One of the problems, I believe, is that negotiators at these meetings base their arguments on cost benefit analysis or whether or not each country is to derive mutual or even equal benefits. I think Members are aware of the wide disparities among the ASEAN countries, in extremes between Indonesia and Singapore. So on the basis of objective cost analysis of projects, it is of course very difficult to arrive at any project for cooperation. I agree with the Senior Minister of State that ASEAN cooperation can only move as fast as the members can agree upon. But then there are handicap members within the organisation. If we are desirous of spurring ASEAN on the path of economic cooperation, there may be a case for reorientating the attitudes of our bureaucrats and officials, particularly when they negotiate on ASEAN economic cooperation. Sir, I would like to stress that in view of the present political economic crisis, we may increasingly have to turn to alternative sources - sources of investment, of energy, of food and so on. We have been mainly dependent on the industrial nations. But today, of course, we face a lot of problems from them, such as problems relating to protectionism and to restrictive supply of oil. So we have to look for alternative sources, and I suggest that one alternative source is, of course, within the ASEAN region itself.”
“Singapore's project will not be undermining the other projects in ASEAN countries any more than, say, a diesel engine plant in Germany, the USA, Japan or elsewhere, because it will not have any preferential entry into the ASEAN countries. 3.45 p.m. Singapore has also played its role and has tried to contribute towards the spread of technology in ASEAN. We have offered many training places in courses basically in technical fields to trainees from the ASEAN countries. To be exact, we have offered places for 286 trainees in 87 courses. And we have also hosted meetings for the exchange of technical knowhow and on other technical subjects in Singapore. In his concluding remarks, I think the Member tried to imply that in some way Singapore was not identifying itself with the developing countries in its international economic relations. I would like to disabuse the Member of any such impression. To give him one example, Singapore has very strongly supported the concept of the common fund, which really is of little benefit to Singapore. But we have decided to support this concept because we want to support any measure that would bring assistance to the other developing countries in their economic relations with the developed countries. I cannot think of any examples where we have clearly identified our interest against the interest of the Third world. If the Member can give me some examples, maybe I can be more specific in my reply. But I would like to assure him that this matter is always in our minds and that we have in the various international forums always identified ourselves with the developing countries.”
“members that it is advantageous to establish cooperation in trade through a common market type of arrangement with a definite time frame and a definite plan of implementation, then we in Singapore have to give serious thought to taking such action as introducing tariffs in order to give a protected market to other ASEAN products. At such a time we should be able to do a better cost benefit study and decide on a course of action which will be of advantage to the other ASEAN members as well as Singapore. But until such time, I think it is premature to consider any special measures to afford special entry over and above what we can do with our existing tariff structure. In the field of industrial cooperation, I would like to inform the Member that the basic agreement on the ASEAN industrial projects has been initialled. The ASEAN Economic Ministers have also initialled supplementary agreements for the ammonia urea fertiliser projects in Indonesia and Malaysia, thus paving the way for their implementation. Singapore will be participating in both these projects. Thailand's soda ash project has been approved by the ASEAN Economic Ministers. In the Philippines the phosphate fertiliser project is now in the feasibility study stage. Members are aware that Singapore's project, the diesel engine project, has not been approved because of various problems. We have decided to go ahead with a small-scale diesel engine plant in Singapore which will not be an ASEAN project, that is, it will not enjoy any preferential access to ASEAN markets. To suggest, therefore, that by going ahead with this project we are undermining the efforts of the other ASEAN countries or projects in other ASEAN countries, I think, is not a very valid or fair accusation.”
“The Member for Serangoon Gardens has touched on two particular aspects of economic cooperation which he says have been the subject of criticism levelled against Singapore. He touched on the preferential tariff agreement and the ASEAN industrial projects, specifically the diesel engine project which was supposed to be Singapore's project. First, with regard to the preferential tariff arrangement, I am sure Members are aware that the ASEAN Economic Ministers have agreed on the implementation of tariff preferences which has so far covered 1,326 products. Of this total, Singapore has contributed 248 products. This includes both tariff cuts as well as binding of tariffs. A start has been made and there has been some progress. The ASEAN Economic Ministers have also agreed that in future, at each round of negotiations, another 500 products will be added to the list. The Member must realise that there are many problems in establishing a system which will afford preferential treatment of ASEAN products in the ASEAN markets. Just to mention one problem. Many of the ASEAN countries depend very heavily upon import duties as a source of revenue. Obviously, the more successful a preferential system, the more the loss of revenue. Another problem relating to Singapore, which the Member has touched on, is that we have very few tariffs and even these are not at a very high level. There is some validity in the argument that we have little to offer in terms of preference to the other members of ASEAN. But we have to work within the framework of each ASEAN member's taxation and economic policy. When there is a general consensus among the ASEAN.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I could not agree more with the Member for Serangoon Gardens that members of ASEAN have to increase their efforts at economic cooperation. I have stated previously in this House that the conflicts in Indochina have bought for ASEAN members time, time which they must use fully to develop their economies. While I would agree with the Member that progress in economic cooperation could have been better, I would not agree that it has altogether been disappointing. Many, of course, would wish a faster rate of economic cooperation among the members of ASEAN. But in these matters it is better to make haste slowly and lay a solid foundation of cooperation. There are many examples that one can cite of countries which in a flash of idealism have agreed on very laudable projects of economic cooperation but which in actual practice have run into many problems and have collapsed. Such a collapse has left the countries in a worse state of relationship with each other than before they embarked on such cooperation. In ASEAN we have moved only as fast as the members as a whole can agree upon, and I think this is a realistic and practical approach. We have to work and evolve our own system of cooperation at our own pace, Very often critics who accuse ASEAN of very slow progress of economic cooperation have other models in mind, like the EEC. I must point out to such critics that the EEC is a very unique example which has not been really duplicated anywhere else. And there are many in the EEC who wish they could evolve something that is closer to the model of the United States of America which again maybe something that is very difficult for them to attain. As I have said, we have to evolve our own system at our own pace.”
“They could have gone to Bedok, Sir. Kolam Ayer happens to be in the Kallang Basin area, where there is very little new construction going on. So it is not possible to resettle them there. But I also do know of many cases who were resettled in Geylang West and Aljunied areas. Sir, we can give him the details if he wants. There were also complaints, Sir, from other Members about the demolition of unauthorised structures, especially in rural areas, which have been there for many years. Action is only being taken against such structures which were put up after 1969. In 1969, an aerial survey was made and a topographic map was prepared and we are able to ascertain whether such structures were there before 1969. Even in cases where structures have been put up after 1969, if they can be regularised within the building regulations, every opportunity is given to the person concerned to get his structure authorised. But where, of course, he cannot meet the regulations, the structure has to be demolished. The Building Control Division has relaxed the guidelines to permit open-sided extensions in the rural areas which are not more than 20 square metres. Sir, many of these unauthorised structures are in squatter areas where there is already great congestion. And if we allow further unauthorised extensions, the situation will become quite intolerable. 4.23 p.m.”
“But where people request for resettlement in areas where no more new flats are being built, it is not possible to accommodate them and it is also not possible to wait until such time as flats become vacant to resettle these people. So they are encouraged to try and give as many places as possible to which they would like to move to, in order to make it easier for the Housing Board to resettle them. But I want to assure the Member that this matter is not dealt with mechanically and quite heartlessly. We do take into account the place of work and the schools of the children in trying to resettle them.”
“But when applicants come in a group, for example, in the case of resettlement, sometimes a whole kampong turns up, it is not possible to deal with these applicants quite quickly, especially when many of them are illiterate and much time has to be taken to fill out the forms. It is also not possible, nor economic, for the HDB to staff itself to deal with such unusual situations. But the majority of cases are dealt with within, as I said, 15 minutes. The Member for Kampong Kembangan mentioned that families which are to be resettled should be told the truth as to their resettlement chances at the time of the survey. Sir, this is not possible because the survey is precisely to determine certain facts as to whether they are eligible for resettlement benefits or not. The officers conducting the survey merely collect the facts of each case which are then processed, and those who are eligible will then be given whatever resettlement benefits that go with it. So it is not possible to give any son of indication at the time of the survey. The Member for Potong Pasir said that "resettlement has always been a trauma for the people" and "often there has been a lack of consideration in carrying out resettlement." I think he gave some examples of people who were resettled far from their places of work or the schools of their children. Sir, every attempt is made to resettle people as close to their original place as possible. But obviously this is not possible in all cases. In the case of Braddell Road, for example, most of the people were resettled in Ang Mo Kio. In the case of Changi and Jalan Eunos, many were resettled in Bedok New Town.”
“A few in this group, of course, for some reason may not be able to afford to buy a three-room flat. One reason could be that the family income is fragmented over too many members in the family. In such cases, there is a special allocation committee in the HDB which is prepared to look into the particulars of the case and, if there are very good reasons, the rule applying to income is waived and a flat is allocated. So the rule is applied flexibly where the case really deserves special consideration. The Member for Changi complained that many people spend half the day waiting to collect keys or waiting to register for Housing Board flats. I see that one of the newspaper reporters had the commendable initiative to go and check to see whether this complaint was true, and I read a report that it was not true. Anyway, for the Member's benefit, I would like to inform him that the Sales Section in the Housing Board has implemented a system of staggered calls for applicants to come and collect their keys. Although times are given, Sir, people cannot be processed like inanimate things on an assembly line. Therefore, sometimes they do have to wait. Records are kept in the Housing Board of the time at which a person is dealt with and how long it takes to deal with him. And according to the records of the last two months, the overwhelming majority of cases were dealt with within half an hour of the appointment time. There may be a few cases which took more than that. In the case of registration for flats, the HDB registers about 80 applicants a day. The average time taken to register is 15 minutes. In some cases, it takes only five minutes.”
“I have seen the reports. Perhaps Members are beginning to be aware of the moral in the story of a man who used to go around complaining that he had no shoes until he met a man who had no legs. The Member for Khe Bong raised the point that the HDB policies do not take into account each and every individual circumstance. Of course, this is not possible. He cited the particular case of those who are not able to rent three-room flats because their incomes exceed $500. Members are aware that if the family income exceeds $400, an applicant is not eligible to rent a one-room flat and $500 is the limit to rent a two-room flat. If the family income exceeds $500, then the applicant has to purchase a flat. He made the point that there are many who do earn more than $500 but are not in a position to purchase a flat. Sir, if we look at the facts a little more closely, we will find that this difficulty is more apparent than real. The cheapest three-room flat costs $16,000 in a new town. The 20% down-payment amounts to $3,200. A worker earning, let us say, $600 per month would be accumulating CPF savings (his own as well as his employer's contribution) at the rate of about $200 per month. In about 16 months, he should have enough to cover the down-payment for a three-room flat. The monthly payment on such a flat on a 20-year loan from the HDB amounts to only $100. Therefore he can more than afford to cover his monthly instalment from his CPF contribution, So he should not have any reason not to be able to afford a three-room flat. According to the Housing Board records, at the end of 1978 about 12% of the total number of applicants had incomes from $501 to $600. I presume this is the group that the Member for Khe Bong was referring to.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there has been no change in policy with regard to extensions to residential houses. The Building Control Division has been taking enforcement action only against unauthorised extensions to buildings in various areas that cannot be regularised under the Building Regulations. In cases where the unauthorised extensions may be regularised through setting back, the owners or occupiers have been advised to demolish their existing extensions and to subMit applications for their proposed extensions for consideration. In no instance has the Division taken action to demolish extensions to residential houses where such extensions have been previously approved. BLUE IDENTITY CARD HOLDERS (Loss of permanent resident status) 10. Mr Ivan Baptist asked the Minister for Home Affairs and Education (a) how many blue identity card holders have to date lost their permanent residential status because they left Singapore without a re-entry permit; (b) what are the reasons for this policy of retraction of permanent residential status; (c) how many, if any, have been reinstated as permanent residents: and (d) whether there will be consideration to modify, if not cease, this policy of retraction of permanent residential status on humanitarian grounds.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, owing to limited public housing, it would not be possible to provide HDB flats to single persons affected by clearance schemes. However, allocation of one-room rental flats to single persons may be considered in cases where there are special circumstances to warrant such allocation. DEMOLITION OF APPROVED EXTENSIONS TO RESIDENTIAL HOUSES 9.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we have no immediate proposal to install traffic signals at the junction of Sims Avenue and Tanjong Katong Road Extension. The traffic light at the junction of Paya Lebar Road and Sims Avenue creates sufficient gaps for vehicles turning right from Tanjong Katong Road Extension into Sims Avenue. The traffic volume is not heavy. A new road has been constructed opposite the Tanjong Katong Road Extension. Traffic lights will be installed should traffic volume increase at this junction when the new road is opened to the public. HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT BOARD FLATS (Allocation to single persons affected by resettlement) 8. Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for National Development whether single persons affected by resettlement clearance will be allocated alternative accommodation in Housing and Development Board flats even if they choose not to share flats for personal reasons.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Public Works Department is aware of the hazards at the junction of Boon Lay Way and Corporation Road and has included the installation of traffic signals at this junction in its 1978/79 Financial Year programme. TANJONG KATONG ROAD EXTENSION/SIMS AVENUE (Installation of traffic lights) 7. Haji Rahmat bin Kenap asked the Minister for National Development whether consideration can be given to the installation of traffic lights at the junction of new Tanjong Katong Road Extension and Sims Avenue in order to facilitate the movement of traffic from the new Tanjong Katong Road Extension into Sims Avenue.”
“To tackle the problem in the A & E Departments, consideration should be given to opening the OPDs for longer hours or beefing up the staff in the A & E Departments. These are measures which we can well afford as the present taxes and Government revenues can easily withstand the relatively small increase in costs of such upgrading of medical services. Consideration should also be given to using para medical personnel such as nurses and medical orderlies, to screen, advise and even treat minor ailments so that the doctors would only treat the more serious cases. One of the implications of the present policy is that the patient should be able to determine what is a minor and what is a major ailment. Surely the para medical personnel would be in a better position to determine this. I sincerely feel that the Minister should reconsider the increase in charges that he has announced in Parliament.”
“Service in the A & E Departments is not so efficient, pleasant and quick that people find pleasure in going there for minor ailments, if they are aware that they have only minor ailments. The patient or those who bring the patient must be convinced in their own minds, however mistakenly, that the illness is serious enough to go through the harrowing experience of treatment at the A & E Department. How is the patient or the parents or others who bring the patient to know that the ailment is minor? They are laymen with no medical knowledge. In addition, a parent, for example, is emotionally involved with his child and quite naturally fears the worst. To a doctor, treating a child with a cut requiring some stitches or a child with high fever is a run of the mill affair. To a child or the parents it is a traumatic experience and one which cannot wait for treatment till the next day when the OPD is open. To only consider cases deserving hospitalisation as cases that should not be penalised with the $10 fee is most unreasonable. There must be many cases which are serious enough to warrant immediate attention but not hospitalisation. In fact, it may be precisely because the patient comes for treatment in the very early stages of the illness that he avoids hospitalisation. For this he is going to be punished under the new system. In fact, it is a good sign that people in Singapore are keen to seek modern medical treatment in the very early stages of their illness instead of trying self-medication or going to some quack medicine man or waiting until their condition becomes very serious. Instead of adapting to meet this change resulting from increased health consciousness, we are trying to set the clock back.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, from the constant punctuation of laughter, one would think we are discussing a very humorous subject. But I can assure you that to the poor low-income workers outside, this is no joke. It is important to consider and understand the reasons why people go to the A & E Departments, especially in the evenings. Many working parents can only take their sick or injured children for medical treatment in the evening hours after their work. In fact, it is active Government policy to encourage wives and mothers to go to work and this situation is likely to arise more and more in the future. Others who are not so ill as to stay away from work seek medical attention after work. This again is something that should be encouraged. It is better to go to work in the day and seek medical treatment in the evening. The OPD closes at 4.30 p.m. and these people have the choice of either seeking treatment at high cost from the few private clinics which open in the evenings or of going to the A & E Departments in the hospitals. Most of the poor choose to go to the A & E Departments. Such people will now have to pay $10 per visit which is more than a day's wages for most workers. I am sure many private practitioners will follow the cue from the Government and also increase their charges, making private practice even more lucrative thereby attracting more officers from the Government service into private practice and making the situation even worse in the Government service. For much the same reasons of circumstances and convenience, people seek medical treatment on Sundays and public holidays. No sane person enjoys spending a holiday in an OPD and it is quite unreasonable to charge a higher rate on such days.”
“Assuming that only half were shortlisted, I am prepared to stand corrected of course, and they were subsequently interviewed, then to get through the half over the remaining 48 1/2 days would have required a rate of about 6.4 minutes per person. So the person who was finally promoted would have been interviewed for a total of 9 1/2 minutes including the time taken for the candidate to come to the room, settle down, finish his interview and go out. So the actual interviewing time would be about eight minutes. By any standard, this is a remarkable achievement and all of us would be very interested to know the methods used in the interview because many schools of personnel administration would be only too keen to hear the methods used. Mr Teong Eng Siong( In Mandarin): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, several Members have spoken on the subject of education. If you allow me to speak, then I will do so. If not, I will wait. The Chairman: Mr Teong, are you speaking on Amendment No. (7)?”
“Sir, quite a few Members have spoken of the great unhappiness caused by the last teaching promotion exercise where so many teachers were interviewed. I have just been looking at the figures and I think they show some very remarkable statistics. From the answers given in this House, we understand that 9,696 teachers were shortlisted and 2,369 declined, leaving 7,327 to be interviewed. According to the Teachers' Rostrum, they were interviewed from the 28th July right up to 28th November. There was a whole series of interviews. This gives 97 full days if we exclude Sundays and take Saturdays as half-days. If the principals work eight hours a day without lunch or tea break to interview the. 7,327 candidates, the average time taken per candidate is 6.3 minutes per teacher. This period, of course, covers probably more than one interview. Assuming that the principals spent half the time interviewing all the candidates in order to shortlist for the interview by the PSC, then the first round should have taken 48 days or 48 1/2 days. The entire 7,327 teachers must have been interviewed at the rate of 3.1 minutes per teacher.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to clarify what I said about minors being out of the country. What I meant was that the minors themselves might be out of the country and therefore they are not in a position to take their oath within one year. They may be in a place where there is no Singapore Consul. Secondly, when I mentioned about papers, I meant papers relating to the fact that the person is a minor citizen and that these papers may be with the parents, as is often the case with Asian parents. The minor may not be aware that he is a minor citizen. There is no distinguishing mark on the red identity card to show that he or she is a minor citizen. The first time that the minor realises this is when he or she gets a letter from the National Registration Office. I am quite aware that the present law says that if the oath is not taken within one year then the person is deprived of his or her citizenship. That is the reason why I have asked the Minister whether he would consider - I do not mean changing the law - extending the period to three years. If I am not mistaken, he does not have the power to automatically regrant citizenship to those who lose their citizenship this way. I would like to ask whether he would consider seeking such powers. 5.00 p.m.”
“Minister be prepared to consider seeking powers to re-grant citizenship automatically to persons who lose their citizenship in this way if they apply within two years of such loss? Or still alternatively, would he consider reminding such people by post? If we can send a letter asking them to come and exchange their pink for the blue identity card, I think we can just as well send a letter reminding them to take their oath.”
“Sir, last year I raised the question of minor citizens who for various reasons did not take the oath of allegiance on attaining the age of 21 years. A period of one year is given for such minor citizens to take their oath of allegiance. Within this period if they do not take the oath, they are called up by the National Registration Office and their pink identity card is taken away from them and a blue identity card issued in its place. The young man or woman thus finds that he or she has lost his or her citizenship overnight. 4.30 p.m. I have received representations since raising this matter, which indicate that the problem is quite widespread. In many cases, the parents keep all the important papers and if the minor became a citizen at the age of, say, 10 years, it is very unlikely that the minor can realise the implications and remember to look out for reminders on TV and Radio about the need to take the oath on reaching the age of 21. If the parents are not educated, the chances are that they will forget the whole matter. It is also possible that minor citizens may be out of the country in a place where there is no Singapore Consul before whom they could take the oath on reaching the age of 21. Again, in other cases, males who lose their citizenship in this way would probably have completed their national service. After bearing arms for the nation, they end up without citizenship. This seems most unfair and unjust. I would like to ask the Minister whether he would be prepared to give consideration to extending the period within which the minor has to take the oath to three years instead of one year as at present. Or alternatively would the Hon.”
“80 to $2 per square foot for the upper floors - and I am comparing this with the upper floors in the hawker centres. If we work out on a per square foot basis for these hawker cubicles, the rental also works out to about $1.80 to $2 per square foot. An hon. Member: That is right. Mr Dhanabalan: This is very high rental which most of the stallholders cannot afford to pay. I do not think it is administratively difficult to work out a system where a stallholder would pay the double rate only above a certain number of square feet. If he occupies two stalls or three stalls, and all these three stalls put together are still less than a hundred square feet, he should pay just the rental for two or three stalls and not be asked to pay a penal rate for the second or third stall. I do not know whether anybody has got a third stall. But I do know that in Kallang many of them have two stalls. For two stalls they have to pay a rate which is extremely high. Sir, I hope that the Ministry would reconsider this matter.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to elaborate a little on the point brought up by the Member for Whampoa on the double rental on stalls or, as he calls them, cubicles above 10 square metres. I think the Member for Whampoa is very lucky if he has cubicles which are more than 10 square metres. In Kallang there are cubicles which are just over 40 square feet, that is less than 5 square metres. Under the revised rentals that were introduced last year, all those who occupied a second stall had to pay double rental on their second stall. In the early days the cubicles which were on the first floor of the markets had very poor business. Many stalls were not taken up. Some of the stallholders were therefore allowed to take a second stall to build up their business. Quite a few took advantage of this and hired two stalls. If rental for one stall was, say, $15 they had to pay $30 for the two stalls. Now, with the revised rentals, the rental on the first stall has gone up to $30 and on the second stall it is $60. So they are paying $90 for the two stalls for which they used to pay $30 previously. 5.15 p.m. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary has compared the rentals paid by these people with the rentals paid in the private coffee shops. I think I can equally show that the rentals that these hawkers have to pay are not very far from the kind of rentals that people in the big shopping centres are paying for the first, second or third floors. In many of these big shopping centres, rentals are based on per square foot basis and one pays a flat rental plus a charge for airconditioning. If we take away airconditioning, in many of these shopping centres, the rental is around $1.”
“Sir, I did not suggest that we should finish the flats. The flats could be sold with rough screeds and the purchaser could finish it in any way he likes. Since the finish has to be hacked out, I am saying: why not sell the flats with rough floors and let them finish in any way they want? But the price must be cheaper.”
“Sir, I do entirely agree that at the rate in which HDB is building flats, 30,000 a year, it is impossible to provide all the different kinds of finishes that purchasers would normally want. From my observation in my visits to the purchased flats in my constituency, I notice that at least 70 to 80% of the flats have floor finishes quite different from what was originally provided. I was wondering whether the HDB could, in the case of flats which are sold, provide only rough screed floors which will be much cheaper (it has to be sold probably at a cheaper price) and leave it to the purchaser to finish the floors, instead of providing smooth floors as at present.”
“Would he consider, as an interim and partial measure, the imposition of conditions in URA sales that would require developers to deliver registrable titles to purchasers within a stipulated time, and also to make such conditions as to protect the interests of the purchasers by controlling the creation of encumbrances on the title?”
“To compound matters, some of the developers have even further mortgaged the land after the completion of the development, despite the fact that all or a substantial number of units in the development have been sold and the full purchase price paid. During this period of delay, purchasers do not have any registrable title, although they have paid the full purchase price. The purchasers' rights are only covered by caveats lodged with the Registrar of Titles, but how good this protection is and for how long, and against what type of mortgages, are all matters which are still not very clear. In the case of URA projects, the URA administers the flow of funds from the purchasers to the developer. But this is done primarily to ensure that work has physically progressed before payment is made and nothing is done to ensure that encumbrances on the title are removed when purchasers have paid a certain percentage of the purchase price. Many purchasers of units of URA projects have assumed that because the development is done under the auspices of the URA, their interests are automatically safeguarded. In many cases the developers complain that the delay in issuing titles is due to the time taken by the Registry of Titles to issue strata titles. This is merely an excuse because, if the developers had paid off the mortgage in time and complied with the requirements of the Planning Department and Survey Office, strata titles can be applied for and obtained quite easily. Would the Minister, therefore, consider the introduction of a law, similar to the law on housing, to cover commercial properties?”
“Sir, I hope I will be able to lead Members out of the lorongs that they have been led into! Sir, I would like to raise a couple of points relating to the issue of strata titles to purchasers of commercial property. Purchasers of residential property have a certain measure of protection under the Housing Developers (Licensing and Control) Act. Under the Act, developers are required to give an undertaking of the date by which purchasers will be given a registrable title to the properties. Furthermore, developers have to obtain release of any mortgage or charge on units in the development on which the purchaser has paid 80% of the purchase price. For purchasers of commercial property, however, there is no such protection. There are, for example, several development projects undertaken on sites leased from the Urban Renewal Authority and designated as URA projects, where developers have not produced strata titles although eight to ten years have lapsed since the purchasers have paid the full purchase price. This is a highly unsatisfactory state of affairs, and there is no reason why developers should not be able to produce strata titles on time if they had acted appropriately and promptly. Developers often heavily mortgage their land on which the project is being built in order to finance the development. In the case of URA projects, it is done with the consent of the URA. Some of the developers of URA sites who have collected all the monies or a substantial part of the monies from the purchasers are not in a position to redeem their existing mortgage on the land on which the project has been erected.”
“On the other hand, if we can encourage the people to buy works of art created by our local artists, it will be a great help to our artists. The Ministry of Finance should therefore provide the incentive by granting tax concession for the purchase of works of art produced by local artists. In the meantime, the income derived from the sales of works of local artists should be able to enjoy income tax exemption. To prevent any malpractices we can approach the National Art Gallery to act as the middleman for the transaction and to produce proof of sale for tax relief or tax deduction. I believe that with such encouragement, many companies, collectors and ordinary people will buy more paintings or other works of an. In this way, we can stimulate the promotion of art and culture in Singapore, thereby helping to bring about the graceful society of more cultured people. I hope the Minister for Finance will give serious consideration to my proposal. With this note, I support the financial policy of the Government. 6.12 p.m.”
“As we know, Singapore is an open society, vulnerable to the influences from the external sources, particularly in the process of imbibing and importing science and technology and other things from the West. So we have also been subjected to the undesirable influences from other countries. Increased drug taking is one example. So there is the need for us to emphasise mother tongue education and together with our indigenous culture we can counter the influence of the decadent culture from the West. If we launch a cultural campaign, we will be more successful in our efforts. We must emphasise that culture plays an important role. In this respect I regret to note that in the next financial year the expenditure for cultural promotion is a very small amount of $49 million. This is a very meagre sum to develop culture. It is my hope that in subsequent financial years the Finance Minister will increase the vote for cultural promotion. However, with the lack of funds, it does not mean that cultural activities cannot be promoted. For instance, the Government can adopt other measures to promote cultural activities. Here, I would like to make some proposals for the consideration of the Finance Minister. In the past few years art circles have had quite a thriving activity but the trouble is that there were more viewers than buyers. I do not mean to say that works of art should be sold like a commercial commodity. Artists are human beings and they have to earn a livelihood. The cost of producing a work of art is increasing, and if artists are unable to sell their works, their spirit will be dampened because they will not earn enough to pay for their art materials.”
“I am not suggesting that there should be no taxes on foreign income brought into Singapore by residents but the situation should be carefully monitored and taxes reduced to a level that will not discourage the return of profits accumulated by Singaporeans abroad. 6.05 p.m. [Mr Deputy Speaker in the Chair] Mr Ho Kah Leong (Jurong)( In Mandarin): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Finance Minister's budget speech as announced at the end of last month fully reflects the stability of our economy. In spite of the sluggish recovery in the economy of the world, we have been able to achieve 7.8% growth, which exceeds the growth rate of some West European countries. This is something we should be proud of. Of course, we are fortunate to have a very wise and capable Finance Minister to help us achieve this. In his new financial policy, the Finance Minister has also made the necessary adjustments to our tax structure which will lighten, equalise and rationalise the tax burden of our people in general. There are also new incentives offered by the Finance Minister to stimulate industrial and economic activities. On the whole, over the past ten years or so as a result of our successful industrialisation programme the profits of the industries have been growing. This helps to improve the standard of living of the people over the years. For Singapore, we have already solved the immediate economic problems of the incipient stage of our nationhood. Economic prosperity has solved the problem of livelihood of the people, and it has also brought about radical changes to our society. In the wake of economic prosperity, we are confronted with new urban social problems.”