S Iswaran
Singapore
“The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has incorporated the requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2020 regulation in its Prevention of Pollution of the Sea (Air) Regulations 2022. The Regulations are applicable to Singapore-registered ships and all other ships while they are in Singapore waters.”
“The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) plans to progressively roll out the charging infrastructure for electric harbour craft operations in the Port of Singapore from 2025.”
“Since 2018, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has imposed minimum bicycle parking provisions covering different types of developments. The requirements are determined by multiple factors, including the developments’ use, location and gross floor area (GFA).”
“I had addressed similar Parliamentary Questions by Mr Gerald Giam on 29 November 2022 and 10 January 2023, as well as in my Ministerial Statement on 8 May 2023. The Member can refer to these past answers and statement as there has been no material change in the allocation of Certificates of Entitlement.”
“To encourage the uptake of electric cars, the Government has rolled out the Electric Vehicle Early Adoption Incentive and enhanced Vehicular Emissions Scheme. When taken together, it provides up to $45,000 off the Additional Registration Fee of an electric car upon registration.”
“The Land Transport Authority studies all potential changes to the Certificate of Entitlement (COE) system carefully, including conducting sensitivity analysis where appropriate.”
The complete record
Every one of 2,300 lines we hold for S Iswaran, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 46 of 46.
“They can network with other VWOs. They can network with CDCs to ensure that there are enough help or social agencies or institutions to help the disabled in their constituencies. It has always been my Ministry's philosophy that the disabled can live meaningful lives and can be integrated in the community. In fact, they ought to be. It is better for them to be integrated into the community, rather than being put aside in institutions or being hidden at home. She mentioned three areas of focus - training, employment and informal support networks. In terms of training, we actually have many agencies serving disabled people, which also run training programmes, eg, Rainbow Centre, Down Syndrome Association, Singapore Association for the Visually Handicapped, Canossian School for the Hearing Impaired. They have training programmes for disabled people. 1.45 pm I agree with the NMP that employment plays a very important role in the integration of disabled people into the community. My Ministry, in fact, together with NCSS set up Bizlink Centre in 1988. So the Centre is 10 years old now. It is now known as Bizlink Centre Singapore Limited. It is a central body to coordinate employment assistance for disabled persons in Singapore. It works together with the Ministry of Education and also the Ministry of Labour and provides vocational assessment and assistance and also job placements for the disabled. Indeed the Centre's data bank has about 2,000 potential employers which we can draw on to provide employment to the disabled. We feel that there is scope for Bizlink to work together with CDCs to reach out to the community for job placement/assessment of the disabled.”
“If demand still exceeds supply despite all this building, my Ministry will consider building more child care centres in Woodlands. Dr Toh See Kiat asked for more child care centres in the workplace. I cannot agree with him more on this. It is very important and I think it is very convenient for parents to have child care places in their workplace. Indeed, we have been working toward this. We have been trying to do this for quite sometime now. The benefits of child care centres in the workplace are immense. I think nobody can argue against it. It is mutually beneficial for the employer as well as for the employees. And it is also good for the bottom line of the companies. The Government has been setting an example in this. It has taken the lead in providing child care centres in workplaces. There are about 30 workplace centres in various Government departments. Actually, there are a lot of incentives for companies to set up child care centres at their premises. There are financial subsidies, for example, which we give to non-profit organisations, and which we also extend to firms. In addition, the firms are allowed to claim expenses incurred in capital expenditure and subsidies given to employees for child care as tax deductive expenditure. They may also claim industrial building allowance on capital expenditure for the renovation and conversion of their premises. In fact, there are already enough incentives for firms to set up child care centres in their buildings, and we will continue to find and to encourage more companies to build such centres in their workplace. Madam Claire Chiang spoke very extensively on the disabled, and she made a rallying call. I am thankful for that. I think MPs at the local level can help as advisers to their grassroots organisations.”
“The person is not bound to work in any centre. He is free to work in any non-profit organisation's centre or in a private child care centre if he or she wants. Prof. Chin asked for tax rebate for child care courses. I am afraid there are no such rebates, but SDF, I am told, provides 80% funding for course fees, whether it is basic course, intermediate course or advanced course. In addition, SDF also funds 50% of the course fees for first aid and other enrichment courses. I think there is really no need for tax rebates for people to go to child care courses. Coming to the supply of child care centres in Woodlands, Prof. Chin commented that MCD was slow or rather sluggish in the development of child care centres in his constituency. The Member must be aware that there are currently 12 child care centres providing 920 child care places in the Woodlands estate. The total enrolment in these 12 centres is about 90% right now, and there are, in fact, still 50-odd vacancies in these centres. As regards the long waiting list, I have given the reasons just now. They are mainly for the more popular centres in the ward. Assoc. Prof. Chin may not be aware that for some years, Woodlands had only two centres and the utilisation of these two centres was actually poor. Consequently, private and non-profit organisations were actually reluctant to set up child care centres in the estate for some time. Despite this, my Ministry pushed for the development of more centres in the estate and as the estate expanded. And within two years, between 1996 and 1997, 10 new centres became operational, and 10 more with a total of 780 places are being planned for the estate. Out of this number, I am told that six are already under construction and will be ready by the end of this financial year.”
“As of now, actually Government is very deeply involved, as I mentioned earlier, in the development of child care centres. It has regulations for these centres. It sends officers to check and monitor the progress of these centres. MCD actually adopts a three-pronged approach in developing child care centres. First, to ensure that there is availability and accessibility of child care centres; second, to ensure that child care centres are affordable; and, third, we want to ensure the quality of the child care centres. We project the demand of child care centres, review such projections annually, and we take into consideration HDB's housing development plans in new estates. So there is already close coordination between my Ministry, HDB, URA and the Land Office in terms of location of child care centres and availability of sites for child care centres in the estates. HDB will indeed be incorporating child care centres and other social facilities in its building plans for new estates, and, as far as possible, to have such facilities built in tandem with the development of the estates in the future. Therefore, once we have the estates, we will have the child care centres and other social facilities built up at the same time. In terms of quality, MCD ensures that there are enough training programmes for child care centre teachers and supervisors, training programmes by accredited agencies. We set the curriculum for the training to ensure standards. MCD also gives training awards to those who are interested in pursuing a full-time career in child care centres. The award comprises a grant for fees and allowance during the duration of the course. And on completion of the course, the candidate is allowed to work in any child care centre. In other words, there is no bond.”
“The Ministry, however, does allow child care centres to conduct one approved enrichment programme, in addition to the normal programme for children enrolled in the centre. Assoc. Prof. Low also mentioned the shortage of child care places. This problem apparently arises every year, that there are not enough places and there are long waiting lists. But the truth of the matter, as I have answered at a previous sitting, is that there are enough places and, indeed, some centres have vacancies. The problem is that parents want to choose more popular centres, and they want to choose preferably centres below their blocks. Therefore, there are some centres which are over subscribed and there are other centres which are empty or which have vacancies, simply because parents tend to choose centres which are more convenient to them or which they prefer. So if we look at the child care centre situation at the macro level, there are enough places. The supply is enough for the demand. But if we look at each child care centre, there seems to be some mismatch between what the parents want and what the centres can provide. Right now, there are 464 child care centres providing places for 38,000 children. Another 40 new child care centres for an additional 3,000 children will be provided this year. We will continue to provide sites. We will continue to monitor demand and supply and, if need be, we will continue to build more child care centres. Prof. Chin Tet Yung feels that MCD should take a more positive role in planning and coordinating the provision of facilities in child care centres. Mr Zulkifli calls for a national child care centre system where Government will be involved in the setting up and running of child care centres.”
“Low also asked about the Boys' Home. I think I have answered some of his concerns. He suggested that there should be better programmes in the Home. I am glad to say that in the new premises, there will be a classification centre where all new committals will begin their rehabilitation programme. Each boy will be assessed by a team of officers and an individual treatment plan will be designed for each inmate and a contract worked out. In other words, there will be a more sensitive classification system, so that each inmate or each committal boy will be better looked after in that sense. 1.30 pm As regards staff/resident ratio, I agree with Members that the ratio of 1:40 for the existing homes is simply unacceptable. We will look into this and we will improve the staff/resident ratio in the new complex. On child care centres, Assoc. Prof. Low Seow Chay asked whether there ought to be stricter control over the usage of child care centre premises. He mentioned that some of the child care centres, instead of administering the programmes as determined by my Ministry, come out with a lot of enrichment programmes. They even refuse to take in extra students because they feel that the students will not be "enriched" enough if they take in more students. I would like to inform the Member that there are child care regulations which stipulate that child care premises cannot be used for any purpose, other than the ordinary conduct and business of a child care centre. Our officers visit these centres frequently and, in fact, there is an annual report. In other words, we have an annual assessment of each centre and we use a list of criteria to evaluate the centres.”
“In the amendment too, we will see to it that not only parents but also family members are more involved in the rehabilitation of children. I would like to thank Mr Rai - I am afraid he is not here - who has offered to help review the CYP. The CYP has in fact gone through a lot of discussions between my Ministry and the courts, the Police, the AG's Chambers and even the GPC for Community Development. I intend to table the amendments in this House later this year. However, I would be pleased to receive views and suggestions from the NMP in the meantime. Mr Rai also suggested that instead of sending children to court, he would rather that a tribunal, similar to the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents, be set up to deal with juvenile delinquency. This is to divert the juveniles from the juvenile delinquency system and also not to criminalise the boys. We support the use of diversionary measures wherever possible and we too believe that the juvenile court should be the last resort where boys should be sent to for treatment and rehabilitation. But we do not think that a tribunal is necessary because a tribunal, as proposed, will also include a judge and a judge will preside and thereby it would be similar to a court or at least a quasi-court. The NMP also suggested that there should be social workers to sit with the judges in dealing with cases. This is happening, Sir. In the juvenile court setup, we have a court system but we also have a magistrate who sits with at least two members of the panel of advisors who are laymen (not lawyers), who may be teachers and social workers to advise or hear the case together with the judge. They serve to advise the magistrate on the possible treatment of cases and to discuss the case with the magistrate. Prof.”
“Previously, the number of boys with history of violence or involvement in violent crimes was about 20% but now it is about half, or 50%. In other words, the kinds of children and teenagers that are being sent to the Homes are different. About 90% of these boys have previous secret society or gang connections. Since the attempted break-out, MCD had further upgraded the security of the Home because security was the immediate concern. We had brought in the Prisons Department. We had sought the advice of the Police on how to increase the security of the Home. We even had to employ CISCO officers as guards because, previously, we had only commercial guards. We had some of our internal procedures reviewed and tightened our management and control of the boys in the Home. There will be a new Home for the boys to replace the Boys' Home. It will be ready by the end of the year. And in the new Home, we hope that things will be better. The environment will be better, there will be more facilities, more space, and security will be better. We would also improve the staff/resident ratio. So be assured that we have looked at the problem very carefully. We will continue to monitor the boys there and we will see to it that the conditions in the new Home will be so much better than the old one. Amendments to the Children and Young Persons (CYP) Act are being thought of by my Ministry. We will be amending the Act to include provisions for enhancement in the treatment of young offenders and those who are beyond parental control. There will be new sentencing options which will be available and will provide the courts with a wider choice in selecting an appropriate treatment for the kinds of cases that come up to them.”
“Whether we like it or not, they may suffer the stigma of being sent to the Homes. The thing to do is to empower the parents instead, not the schools. We must put the whole responsibility of looking after the children on the parents. Therefore, we need to reinforce parental responsibility. We have to ensure that parents get the help and the knowledge parenting knowledge to look after their children and to bring up their children properly. There are avenues, Sir, in the community which parents can turn to. They can go to the Family Service Centres for help. They can come to my Ministry for help, advice or counselling. And if a child is really recalcitrant, the parents can lodge a complaint. The parents must lodge a complaint to the Juvenile Court and the child may be placed under statutory supervision or admitted to an approved Home. It is a serious matter before a child can be sent to a Home. So I do not think we want to empower the schools to send children direct to the Homes. I think it is unfair to them. Sending of children to the Homes should be a last resort, something which we would not do and something which we only do after trying other ways to solve the child's problems. Mr Shriniwas Rai and Dr Yaacob also asked about the Boys' Home and measures to improve the Boys' Home. Members must have heard about the recent riot which happened in the Boys' Home. It is something which we did not want to happen, but it happened. The Singapore Boys' Home, as has been mentioned yesterday, is over 100 years. We face problems of staff. There is overcrowding. But, more importantly, the profile of the boys that are admitted into the Homes has changed over the years.”
“In terms of enforcement and rehabilitation programmes, we have the Guidance Programme for Police Caution Cases, the National Youth Council's Streetwise programme and networking between MCD and social service agencies to provide counselling, support and supervision for juvenile delinquents. Dr Yaacob asked how do we keep our children and teenagers occupied so as to prevent them from becoming juvenile delinquents. As you know, there are many programmes organised by the People's Association Youth Movement, the National Youth Council, and the social service agencies to keep the children occupied. Even the BASCs will keep them occupied to ensure that they keep themselves away from bad peer influence. And we will be looking into more ways to see how children could be distracted from bad peer influence into activities which are wholesome and useful for them when they grow up. There is one interesting point which Dr Vasoo and Mr Rai brought up, and that is, empowering schools to send children beyond parental control (BPC) cases to the Homes. I am reluctant to support this and I would not want to advocate this proposal. Let me explain. If we do this, we will run across problems with differing standards of assessment by teachers or principals. Some principals may be more than happy to send their students direct to the Homes. But some other principals or teachers may have more stringent standards; in other words, they will not want to send them to the Homes. We may have very differing standards and we may also encourage schools to be less stringent in trying to help their students because it is an easy avenue for them to get rid of problem students. The most important thing is that it is not fair for us to place this very heavy responsibility on the schools.”
“The best approach is a multi-disciplinary and multi-pronged one which involves the community, the Government, the VWOs and, most importantly, the parents. So we involve the schools, social service agencies, the Police, the community, teachers, preachers, friends and, most importantly, as I said, the parents. At the local level, we already have a network involving the different agencies. At the national level, I am not too sure whether Members are aware that there is an Inter-Ministry Committee on Juvenile Delinquency chaired by the Minister of State for Home Affairs. This Committee looks into all problems of juvenile delinquency which are brought up by the various Ministries and coordinates the efforts of the various Ministries. There are two approaches which the Government takes on juvenile delinquency. One, is the preventive and development programmes approach, and, two, the reinforcement and rehabilitative programmes approach. In terms of preventive programmes, we have an intensive public education programme to make people aware of the dangers of juvenile delinquency and also how to prevent juvenile delinquency from happening. We have linking of schools with MCD and social service agencies. We have in schools a checklist for teachers and also for VWOs where they can identify children or students who are at risk and would need help so that schools can refer them to FSCs or professional social workers to be counselled. They can be helped. Then of course there is the Before-and-After-School programme.”
“CDCs would bring the micro perspective of local needs and constraints. Together, MCD and CDC can identify VWOs with the expertise and interest for specific projects and support them with resources. In this way, each party is able to add value according to their strengths. This approach applies not just to BASCs but also to other services aimed at the aged, the disabled and the young. Ultimately, the many helping hands must work in concert if we are to reap the greatest benefit for our community. I would, therefore, like to ask the Minister what plans there are to step up cooperation and coordination with CDCs and VWOs in the planning and implementation of the community service programmes. The Minister for Community Development (Mr Abdullah Tarmugi): Sir, I thought I should stop the debate here for a while to reply to some of the questions. I am not too sure whether I can finish answering everyone by the time the "guillotine" for my Ministry comes into effect. Yesterday we were concentrating on the aged, but today apparently we have shifted to the other side of the fence by going to the children. We have questions on juvenile delinquency, child abuse, and child care centres. I would like to start with Dr Vasoo's questions yesterday on juvenile delinquency and also Mr Shriniwas Rai's and Dr Yaacob Ibrahim's. These three gentlemen raised some questions and concerns on the issue of juvenile delinquency. 1.15 pm Sir, the issue of juvenile delinquency is a very complex one. There is till now no single, quick fix solution to the problem of juvenile delinquency in any community. And in any community, no matter at which stage of development it is in, there is the problem of juvenile delinquency.”
“Sir, today in Singapore, the planning and delivery of community and social services occurs at three levels. The first is at the national level where the Ministry of Community Development studies overall trends, ascertains needs and plans and implements programmes nationwide. The second is at the district level. With the advent of Community Development Councils last year, we now have the equivalent of local governments to cater to the needs of residents at the CDC district level. Finally, we have the community groups and volunteer welfare organisations. These organisations target specific groups or neighbourhoods in order to serve the community. Sir, clearly, there is a need for coordination and cooperation across these three tiers. And it already occurs to some extent. MCD has enlisted the support of many helping hands by working closely with the VWOs. CDCs are doing the same, particularly with volunteer organisations in their respective districts. However, it is the third axis, that between the Ministry and the newly established CDCs that is perhaps not as strong as it ought to be. A case in point is the provision of Before-and-After-School Care services. MCD has a plan to roll out BASCs islandwide. It then invites VWOs to indicate their interest in running these centres. Most, if not all, the CDCs have similar plans to offer BASC services. They too are approaching VWOs to collaborate. It seems to me that much duplication can be avoided if the Ministry shares its long term master plan for BASCs with the CDCs. The implementation can then be a joint effort. Indeed, the Ministry should not just share but also jointly develop these master plans with the CDCs and possibly the VWOs. MCD would have the macro perspective of overall trends.”
“Some motorists are still puzzled or uncertain as to the value that this system adds to the traffic management. In part, Sir, this is due to some confusion over the name. Some think it is a MINDEF initiative, that it stands for Emergency Mobilisation Announcement System. And others who are more mischievous point out that EMAS is the word "same" spelt backwards, meaning traffic condition remains unaltered. Sir, there is a need obviously to explain clearly to motorists what is the value that this system brings, especially since a lot of it already is provided through radios. In addition, I would appreciate it if the Minister could elaborate what further use is envisaged for this EMAS system.”
“Sir, the Minister and his team have struck a fine balance between the need to move towards usage based charges, rationalise tax structures and ensure an element of progressivity in the system. I would just like to highlight three points for the Minister and his team to consider in implementing the system. First, it must be administered flexibly. The changes are wide-ranging and the system is complex. Road users and the industry need time to digest and adjust to the system and, therefore, I think the Ministry needs to be flexible in responding to any unanticipated issues or problems. The recent response to bring forward some of the reduction in charges was, I think, a case in point where the Ministry responded flexibly. Second, there is a need to closely monitor the impact of ERP on public transportation. The question is how this cost will be transferred or passed on to the users of public transport. This is particularly important now because the Minister has, in conjunction with this ERP initiative, announced the deregulation of taxi fares. In Singapore, we have less than a handful of taxi operators and in such an oligopolistic market structure, the scope for cartel-like behaviour does exist. Sir, I fully support the principle of deregulation and its attendant benefits. But I do believe there remains the need for Government to retain a residual anti-trust type of function to ensure and protect against non-competitive practices such as price fixing. Thirdly, Sir, the move towards ERP and other usage based charges must be matched by a commensurate improvement in road services. It is gratifying to see the underpasses, tunnels, flyovers, which improve traffic flow. The most recent addition to this series has been the EMAS (Expressway Monitoring and Advisory System).”
“There are about 60,000-70,000 such households. I urge the Minister to consider extending a Government grant or some other form of measure to defray at least part of this cost which would otherwise have to be borne by these households. It would at least bring it to a level more comparable to that paid by private flats and HDB estates. One possible measure could be for Government, the household and SCV to bear this cost equally, for argument's sake, $500 each. I think this would amount to about $35 million investment for the Government as a one-off exercise. This would be a worthwhile investment in Singapore's IT infrastructure, as we all know that the cable network is not just a medium for TV programmes, it is part of Singapore One providing a high bandwidth network for access to the Internet and other multimedia applications. In time to come, a cable point is going to be as essential in the home as a telephone point, and we do not have this kind of differentiation when it comes to telephone points in the home. At least, the cost relativities are far less. It would therefore be a great pity, I think, if we do not seize this opportunity to ensure that all of Singapore is cable ready by the end of next year. I think, in my view, a Government financial stimulus would be a welcome catalyst in this respect.”
“Sir, first, I wish to declare my interest. I am a director at Singapore Technologies (Pte) Limited, which is one of the principal shareholders of Singapore Cable Vision (SCV). SCV is responsible for wiring up the entire island to ensure Singapore is cable ready by the end of next year, in time for the new millennium. I wish to take up, more specifically, the point just raised by my colleague, Mr Chew. I understand that progress in wiring up has been good. 80% of the HDB flats have been wired and I think about 40% of the private flats have also been similarly wired. The project has been extended to landed properties, and I understand the response from this segment of the population has been less than enthusiastic. I think the relatively high cost of getting wired up is the principal reason for this. If I may illustrate, Sir, for the typical HDB unit, the first TV point is free. For each subsequent point, the cost is $60-$70. This affordable rate is possible, partly because of a Government grant to SCV to wire up about 7,000 HDB blocks. For a typical private flat, the cost to the first TV point is $150 and $90 for each subsequent point. There is no Government subsidy, as far as I understand, but the operator is able to offer more competitive prices because of the density of these developments. But for private landed properties, the cost to the first point is at least $1,500 and, in some cases, as high as $3,000. This is largely because they have to foot the bill of the external wiring, to tap the main lines of Singapore Telecom and bring it to the household. Members of these households could reasonably ask the question whether the service or cable access they receive is worth paying 10 times as much or more as that paid by their counterparts in HDB or private flats.”
“When I was a scholar, the first contact I had was a note telling me I had been given the scholarship and intermittent, during my study period, I got letters asking for my results and progress. And that was about it. I understand from the Deputy Prime Minister that things are more enlightened now. Nevertheless, I think more can be done and, in particular, scholars would benefit immensely during the period of study if they have regular dialogue sessions and discussions with senior civil servants and Ministers. I think this would give them a chance to appreciate first hand and learn from role models what the civil service stands for and why they have been selected. Second, Sir, whilst we talk about bond breakers and highlighting their questionable actions, I think it is equally important that we highlight the good role models. The focus has been on a minority and a balance must be restored in this debate and in public perception. The best way is to demonstrate by example. I would urge the civil service and the Deputy Prime Minister to consider highlighting the many others who have come back and who have also had attractive alternatives at their disposal, but they have come back to serve, and they have succeeded in their careers.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, if you will allow me, I just would like to share a few comments from my perspective as a scholar or one who had the privilege of taking a Government scholarship. I think DPM has given a very extensive account and I believe that the force of his arguments is particularly strong in the context of civil service scholarships. We need to invoke the spirit and value of noblesse oblige that privilege entails responsibility, and with Government scholarships, I firmly believe this is true for three reasons. First, they are funded by tax dollars contributed by DREs through to CEOs. Second, because it is a privilege that the people of Singapore are bestowing on a scholar, it is not just a manpower recruitment device. Third, it is given with the expectation and hope that the scholars will come back and serve in the long term for Singapore's interest. Sir, this cannot be a simple financial calculation. It would do Singapore or Singaporeans no good, in my view, if someone comes back to serve simply because he cannot afford to break his bond. Today, it may be a cost-benefit analysis of whether they come back to serve an organisation. Tomorrow, it may be an economic analysis of whether it is worthwhile staying in Singapore. But if a scholar has truly imbibed the value of noblesse oblige, of wanting to serve, I think we would have a real national asset in that individual, for that person who serves Singapore and Singaporeans. In that spirit, I have two suggestions for the Deputy Prime Minister to consider. First, can more be done to imbue scholars with the values and culture of the civil service?”
“Sir, will the Minister please comment what is the Government's position on the proposed Asia Fund to support regional currencies in moments of crisis and whether such a fund, if used, would be subject to IMF conditionality?”
“Sir, notwithstanding the Minister's explanation, could he say whether there is a systematic difference, eg, in places in the West Coast which are in close proximity to petrochemical plants and refineries, and whether the haze level readings will be systematically higher?”
“Would the Ministry or LTA consider briefing the private estates' representatives on the plans and any imposition on their property?”
“Does the Minister envisage that this development will entail any acquisition of land from the private estates abutting these roads?”
“So there will be no net increase. Or will NCSS continue to fund two times so that there is an increase?”
“I would like to thank the Senior Minister of State for her comprehensive reply on special education. Does it mean that with the new funding formula, there will be a net increase in the funding extended to special schools from 4 to 4.5 times per capita of the primary school expenditure? Or will NCSS' component be reviewed?”
“Point of clarification, Sir. The Chairman: We are running behind time. Please make your clarification quickly.”
“In Singapore, their qualifications are far more modest and many do not even have a degree. In general, special education teachers appear to be placed at the same level as an assistant teacher. The work is physically and emotionally demanding, and the terms of employment compare less favourably when you equate it with comparable job opportunities in the market. Morale is consequently low, I understand from some of the people who run these schools, and turnover is high, in some cases, as much as 30%. Is the Ministry studying the possibility of perhaps offering a more professional course for the training of special education teachers so that their esteem and standing would be raised?”
“Firstly, some principals apparently are reluctant to offer admission to disabled students for fear that their school's results and, hence its ranking, will be adversely affected. If this is indeed the case, could the Ministry consider excluding the results of disabled students for the purposes of the ranking exercise? I would imagine the number of such students cannot be very large. Secondly, can more training be given to mainstream teachers who are then better prepared to teach and educate special students in the school environment. Specifically, I understand there is already a module on special education in the NIE training programme. Are there plans to augment and enhance this to better equip our teachers? The second approach to educating disabled students is through special schools which devise customised programmes catering to these students' unique requirements. I have two questions for the Minister. Firstly, what is being done to increase the enrolment capacity of our special education schools? At present, I understand that there are 16 such schools with a total enrolment of about 3,400. They apparently have a collective waiting list of about 300. There may be some double counting but I understand that is the order. That refers to those who have actually registered. I do not know how many there are outside the system. Does the Ministry have some sense of the number of this? More importantly, will the Ministry be funding the development of new schools or the expansion of the existing facilities? Secondly, Sir, there is a need to professionalise special education. In the United Kingdom, for example, special education teachers are professionally trained, often with post-graduate qualifications.”
“Thank you, Sir. With your indulgence, I would just like to start by thanking the Minister for agreeing to study the idea of establishing a South Asian Studies Programme. Sir, the principal objective of our education system is to enable each student to realise his or her full potential. Over the last few months, we have heard of numerous initiatives targeted at students in the mainstream in order to help them realise that objective. Sir, I rise now to ask the Minister for Education what more can and will be done for another small but important group of young Singaporeans - students with disabilities. They too have aspirations and potential to be realised. Equipping them with skills for life and even employment goes to the very heart of human dignity. Mr Peh has illustrated this point vividly earlier. I was happy to observe that the budget allocation for special education will increase by nearly 40% from FY96/97 to FY97/98. Could the Minister elaborate on the programmes and initiatives that will benefit from this additional budget allocation? Essentially, Sir, there are two approaches by which we can educationally assist students with disabilities. The first is by integrating them, as Mr Hawazi has pointed out, where possible, in mainstream schools. It offers important benefits for the intellectual and social development of high functioning disabled children, for example, those who are autistic but mildly so, and they therefore have the capacity to learn and play with students who do not have those disabilities. However, I understand from the parents of disabled children that there are a few impediments to its implementation in practice, the incorporation of disabled children in the mainstream. I would like to highlight a couple for comments from the Minister.”
“It will enable us to contribute to and benefit from their growth. The NUS Arts and Social Science Faculty already offers programmes in South-East Asian Studies, Malay Studies, Chinese Studies, and Japanese Studies. In addition, we have research institutes such as the Institute of South-East Asian Studies and the East Asian Institute. It is, therefore, surprising that there is no equivalent programme for a comprehensive study of South Asia, although there are individual units in the History, Philosophy, and Political Science departments which students can avail themselves of. Sir, there is good sense and good case for the establishment of a South Asian Studies Programme. The object would be to give students a good grasp of South Asia - its society, economy and polity. It can integrate existing courses in the various departments into a holistic programme. In addition, the programme could offer courses in South Asian Economy, Tamil Language, and Literature as well. Such a programme should be of interest to all Singaporeans, regardless of race, who have an interest, economic or otherwise, in South Asia. It should, I believe, generate sufficient demand and enrolment to render the programme economically viable. I think an added benefit would be that it would offer Tamil teachers an avenue for them to realise their aspirations of tertiary education. Sir, I understand that such a course is not offered in any of the universities in the region. The establishment of a South Asian Studies Programme would therefore give our university a comparative advantage in the field. Sir, I would be grateful if the Minister could consider the idea favourably.”
“Sir, with your indulgence, may I just start by thanking the Minister for Education for his comprehensive account yesterday of Thinking School and how it brings together the various new initiatives. I know from initial feedback that it has gone a long way in allaying the concerns of parents and teachers. Sir, I rise now to request that the Minister for Education consider the establishment of an undergraduate programme for South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore. Sir, Singapore has strong historical ties with three major regions of the world. Most Singaporeans would trace their ancestral roots back to East Asia, South-East Asia, and South Asia. Our links with the countries of these regions are deep-rooted, based on rich linguistic, literary, cultural, and even legal heritage. The economic renaissance of the Asia-Pacific has added a new dimension to this relationship. All three regions offer large markets - ASEAN has a population of 500 million; East Asia, 1.4 billion; South Asia, 1.2 billion. Per capita GDP (with a few notable exceptions) is relatively low, and purchasing power will certainly increase as they catch up with more developed countries. The three regions also encompass some of the fastest growing economies of the world. The GDP growth rates of ASEAN countries range from 4% to 9%. In East Asia, the rates are between 3% and 9%, and in South Asia, they have varied between 3% and 7%. Singapore is situated at the heart of these three regions. Our trade and investment links with them are substantial and will grow further in tandem with their progress. It, therefore, makes strategic sense for Singapore and Singaporeans to be well-versed with the culture, traditions, economies, and politics of these regions.”
“It is alert, actively taking stock of data and establishing interconnections, rather like the waking equivalent of REM sleep, as psychologists call it. It can be argued that some of the most significant leaps in the history of human thought had occurred during such periods. One wonders where modern physics would be today if Newton had not spent that contemplative moment---”
“He or she would have little opportunity to interact with those of more modest academic abilities. The atmosphere gets rarefied in junior colleges and even more so at the University. Ironically, it is these very students who are then expected to go on to take on leadership positions in business and society, and be expected to work with precisely those whom they have little interaction in their earlier years. The problem also has an ethnic dimension when one considers that the top 10% of our students who have Mandarin as their mother tongue then go on to Special Assistance Plan schools. Sir, students of the thinking school must engage, and be able to engage in the entire spectrum of society. They must be able to understand their community's needs and be prepared to play a meaningful part in the development of a cohesive nation. Cluster schools can help in this regard, especially if they have activities that regularly bring students together from different schools. Perhaps another idea which I would like the Minister to comment on is whether classes of mixed abilities are allowed or disallowed in schools. It is the practice in schools to band students according to ability and there are strong pedagogic reasons for this. But there are equally persuasive arguments for mixed ability classes where students of higher ability then get into a group teaching environment, and the question is: can our principals experiment with such methods and are they allowed to proceed with such autonomy? Finally, Sir, on curriculum adjustment and lightening the load. One should not under-estimate the value of time spent in quiet repose. The mind is not idle during this time.”
“Apparently, a comparative advantage of sort has emerged in schools arising from the latest initiatives. The more experienced teachers, by virtue of having experience of Singapore's history first-hand, appeared to have an advantage in teaching National Education with passion and fervour. Younger teachers, because of their exposure and familiarity with IT, have a greater proclivity to use that technology. In economic terms, there is a clear opportunity here to specialise and trade and share with each other ideas to see how we can improve. Another example of this is our independent and autonomous schools. When they were introduced, they were hailed as laboratories of our education system who will try new methods and techniques which could later be translated into the neighbourhood schools. I am not sure what has been done to effect such technology transfer within our education system. I would, however, urge the Minister to consider measures to facilitate such exchanges amongst teachers or across schools. For instance, each school cluster could have, in its nucleus, an independent or autonomous school which can be the laboratory for that cluster. Thirdly, Sir, social interaction. The thinking school must also mould Singaporeans with an awareness of the concerns and needs of a wider society and the commitment to contribute to its upliftment. The cream cannot rise without the milk. There is a risk today that young talented Singaporeans may spend their formative years in our education system in an environment that is perhaps artificially homogenous and far removed from everyday life. For example, a student entering one of our top secondary schools would predominantly interact with peers of similar ability.”
“Principals must be allowed the authority and operational flexibility to deploy resources to achieve what they deem to be optimal results. 4.30 pm I am reminded of the recent experience of the principal of Anglican High School who sought to revise his school's excellence in three sports. Realising that it is difficult to perform well at the sports final, knowing that tomorrow you have an examination or a class test, he wished to put these students in these sports into its specific classes and structured curriculum around them. His desire to achieve sporting and educational excellence was, apparently, greeted with scepticism by his Board and even some staff. He persisted and was able to demonstrate that it could be done. His success was accomplished despite the system, and I think it is a tribute to his courage and perseverance. We must encourage others like him to try new ideas and learn from them, whether they succeed or fail. The advent of school clusters is a positive step in this regard. I would appreciate it if the Minister could elaborate on the nature and extent of autonomy that is to be given the principals and schools in these clusters. Secondly, Sir, pedagogic training and innovation. We must have a system that is conducive to the development and sharing of pedagogic methods across schools and amongst teachers. There is a veritable ferment in our schools today brought about by changes in Government policy and the external environment. Teachers need the training and guidance to navigate their way through this uncharted territory. The teaching profession needs regular opportunities to exchange ideas and learn from each other. I am reminded of an experience that a teacher shared with me recently.”
“He or she is a facilitator, a catalyst of the learning process. Sir, these are not new ideas, neither are thinking schools a panacea for all the woes that might be said of our education system. But the initiative is a significant one because it signals to all Singaporeans the new level we wish to take our education system to. Thinking schools can also help us forge an education system which incorporates the best features of two noteworthy models. At one end of the spectrum we have the American system that creates an environment within which individual brilliance is nurtured and flourishes. At the other end, we have the Japanese paradigm with its enviable record of consistently raising proficiency and attainment at the collective level. Are these mutually exclusive or can we find a happy medium that we can achieve both? Typically, Singapore's quest in this regard is for the middle path and thinking schools, in my view, are a manifestation of that quest. Sir, to succeed, in my view, thinking schools must have several characteristics and I would like to highlight some which, in my opinion, are key. Firstly, devolution of authority. We must be willing and ready to devolve greater authority to the schools. It is a basic tenet of management that the authority must be co-located at the commensurate level of accountability. Our school system is no exception to this dictum. It is essential that the Ministry continues to maintain from the centre the key pillars of our education system: the core curriculum; bilingualism and national examinations and standards. But residual authority must then be devolved to the schools who are tasked with the attainment of our educational objectives.”
“Sir, I rise to speak in support of the motion moved by Mr Loh Meng See. By all accounts, Singapore's education system enjoys good standing at home and abroad. Our students' performance and landmark examinations have been improving steadily over the years. The 3rd International Mathematics and Science Study placed our students at the top of the list of 41 nations, including the likes of Japan, USA, England and Germany. Singaporean students consistently do well when they venture abroad for their tertiary education. Even Singaporean parents, notwithstanding their grouses, will readily attest to their faith and the quality of our education system. Yet of late, our education system has become the object of yet another bout of intensive introspection. Several new initiatives have emanated from Kay Siang Road. National Education, information technology and creativity are the focal points. Thinking schools, learning nation, is the catch phrase that seeks to encapsulate our educational aspirations. The initiative comes at a time when Singapore is poised to face the new millennium. It denotes a pre-emptive response perhaps to a time when challenges will be qualitatively different, and the skills required of our people even more so. But why do we need thinking schools and what would they actually do? Sir, in my view, thinking schools must seek to imbue in Singaporeans a culture of learning, an attitude that recognises learning as a life long endeavour, not confined in time to one's school going years, nor in space to the school or university. It entails a shift away from content and closer towards process or methods. The student is not a receptacle to be filled with information. They are minds and hearts to be nurtured and inspired. The teacher is not a mere purveyor of data.”
“There seems to be good reasons behind their question. Estate duty raised about $69 million in the last financial year and is projected to raise $70 million in FY 97/98. These amounts, whilst not insignificant, are dwarfed by other sources of revenue. Estate duty accounts for less than one half of one percent of total revenue. Its value as a revenue-raising or income-redistributing fiscal device is therefore limited. On the other hand, the duty does distort inter-generational transfers of wealth by creating perverse incentives for high net worth individuals to undertake estate planning. Singapore is also one of a few countries that continue the practice. Neighbouring countries do not have estate duties, eg, Australia, Malaysia, etc. This disparity may take the shine off our attractiveness as a location for wealth and distort the flow of capital into Singapore. If one takes costs of these distortions and the costs of collection and compliance into account, one can reasonably question the economic efficiency of the estate duty and its place in Singapore's fiscal policy. I would therefore be grateful if the Minister could give us an elaboration.”
“It also raises invidious questions as to whether through such devolution, Government is also seeking to divest itself of the fiduciary responsibility for such services. I would therefore urge the Government to adopt a different basis for extending financial support to community organisations. Government could first identify a cluster of core services or programmes that it deems to be an essential part of the national social development programme. Such services, and the organisations rendering them, should then be given financial assistance invoking the principle of co-effort instead of co-payment. There would be an implicit contract whereby Government undertakes to absorb the bulk of the financial cost of providing such services, say, up to 90% of recurrent cost, and the community organisations in turn undertake to mobilise the volunteer manpower and meet certain qualitative and quantitative standards spelt out by the Ministry. In other words, volunteers' sweat equity will be matched by the Government's financial equity. Indeed, Government has already recognised this need in extending a $3/$4 for one matching grant for funds raised by the CDCs. It is a small step to extend it from here to other community organisations. Such an approach, I believe, will certainly ensure that our volunteers channel their energies into their value-adding component of their activities. Finally, Sir, a word on estate duty. It has been said that the only two things that are certain in life are death and taxes. Estate duty has the dubious distinction of merging these two seemingly immutable facts of life. Notwithstanding the revisions in recent times, I have been asked by several Singaporeans why the need to continue with this fiscal device.”
“I was particularly pleased that the allocation for this programme will increase by nearly 24%, from $138 million in FY 96/97 to $172 million in FY 97/98. The absolute figure may be modest but the rate of increase is heartening. Sir, even as we allocate more financial resources to these essential services, I would urge the Government to review the basis on which financial support is given to the community organisations that deliver the services. Today, the Government policy is to finance 90% of approved capital expenditure and 50% of recurrent expenditure. This approach is based on the principle of co-payment to ensure that the recipients of such support also bear a share of the costs. Sir, in principle, I have no objections to this approach. However, I do believe that it needs moderation in practice, because it imposes a considerable, at times onerous, financial burden on these community groups. Many a volunteer has remarked to me that if he or she is not busy selling donation draw tickets, he or she is busy buying them or participating in a walk-a-jog. It is the perennial problem of too much charity chasing a finite pool of funds. This problem will be exacerbated as Government, true to its motto of "Many Helping Hands", devolves more services to community organisations. For example, CDCs will be responsible for the Rent and Utilities Assistance Scheme and Financial Assistance Scheme, formerly administered by the Ministry of Community Development. The community organisations have also increasingly taken on the responsibility of running Family Service Centres, Student Service Centres and the like. Their recurrent expenditure will inevitably rise and with it their fund raising needs.”
“A case in point is the tax incentive for the fund management industry. To qualify, a fund manager must be managing at least the equivalent of S$10 billion of non-resident funds in Singapore, employ at least seven professional fund managers and analysts, and have a track record of three years operating in Singapore under the tax exemption scheme for fund management. I would appreciate it if the Minister could let us know how many fund managers based on current data would qualify for such incentives. Sir, I would now like to turn to the social policy embodied in the Budget Statement. It is reassuring to note from the Minister's Statement that the Government continues to accord high priority to the fostering of a cohesive, resilient, caring and gracious society. This commitment is backed by the allocation of the largest share, 38%, of the overall budget to social and community services. This group of services accounts for 39% of operating expenditure and 41% of development expenditure for FY 97/98. The fiscal priority accorded to Community Development, Health, Environment and National Development is fitting, given that these investments in our people and their living environment are likely to yield the most durable returns for our country. I would like to focus, in particular, on the resource allocation to the Government's family and support services programme. This programme is responsible for the provision of services for child welfare, child care, senior citizens, the disabled and destitute, family welfare and a host of other social services. Increasingly, such services are being rendered through community organisations including the Community Development Councils, self-help groups, Citizens' Consultative Committees and voluntary welfare organisations.”
“These are not insignificant amounts and I do believe that they will bring joy to the hearts of many average Singaporeans. As regards the additional reliefs for parents, wife, children and the 10% rebate, Mr Jeyaretnam dismisses them as payments to the rich or the well-off. I disagree with him. I look at them as incentives to the wealth creators in our economy. Unless the top 25% are rewarded and given incentives to perform, we will not have the wherewithal to do all the other socially desirable programmes that Mr Jeyaretnam and others desire. Sir, on incentives for companies, the tax changes for companies are notable for their focus in terms of sectors and scale. Clearly, the Minister is desirous to focus on a few key sectors such as finance, logistics and satellite operations for fiscal incentives. Two questions beg to be asked. The first, which has been repeated several times, is what about the manufacturing sector which accounts for one-quarter of our GDP, the small and medium-sized enterprises who are deemed to be our indigenous engines of growth and the ailing retail sector? The Budget is conspicuous by its silence on this front. There is, however, a hint - and I assume that it is a hint - from the Minister's Statement that these and other sectors have not been forgotten. In his Statement, he mentioned the establishment of an Economic Committee to study the important issue of Singapore's long term competitiveness. In particular, this Committee is charged with identifying long term solutions and strategies to address the underlying challenges that Singapore has to overcome. Perhaps March 1998 or sooner may bring forth more good news for these groups. The second question pertains to the qualifying criteria which appear to be rather stringent.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, Sir, for allowing me to join in this debate. Sir, the Budget for 1997/98 bears the hallmarks of this Government's policy on financial management - prudence, equity and incentives for wealth creation. On the point of prudence, I was in fact about to commend the Government for the way it has been able to keep its operating expenditure below 10% of GDP but I was somewhat perplexed by the point made by the NCMP. I think if he were to draw a comparison with any mature economy and most of our regional economies, he will find that 10% compares most favourably. The forecast for 1997/98 is 9.6% of GDP which is the same for the previous year and allowing for some extraordinary items. I think that is no mean feat in an era when Government agencies are under increasing pressure to provide a wider range of services at ever higher quality. So I would like to commend the Government on its prudence in being able to restrain expenditure. Indeed such notable frugality on the expenditure side compels one to turn to the usual suspects to explain why we have a "modest" budget surplus of $4.8 billion. The other point the NCMP makes is that there is not much joy in this Budget for the average Singaporean. I suspect this must be due to some selective reading on his part, because I do have here some numbers which I thought were a good sign in this regard. Government has been fairly generous in the redistribution of income amongst Singaporeans in this Budget. A sum of $420 million has been set aside for the S&C and rental rebates, utility and S&C grants and the Medisave Top-Up schemes. In addition, $500 million will be given to the Endowment Fund for Edusave and $100 million for Medifund.”
“Few spectacles can equal the Kallang Roar as a symbol of Singaporean unity. The people of Namibia celebrated as one the success of their national sprint champion, Frankie Fredericks, at the Atlanta Olympics. We have the resources; why not tap this avenue by encouraging Singapore sportsmen and teams? A champion team or individual can really capture the imagination of a people, regardless of race, language or religion. Sir, National Education can also serve this purpose. It gives us an opportunity to study our history, and think about our common future. It is a chance for us to take ownership for each other's aspirations and concerns. In short, for us to think, strive, and unite as Singaporeans. Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to conclude by sharing a memory from the 1960s. It is that of a $10 note bearing the image of four arms of four different hues linked together in solidarity. In those days, I had few opportunities to behold such currency, let alone use it. Nevertheless, those rare occasions have left a vivid imprint in my mind of our multi-racial society. Sir, I do believe that we must nurture and cherish these and other icons of what Singapore society is if we are to succeed in our quest to build a nation. Sir, I support the motion moved by the Member for Bukit Timah.”
“Sir, finally, on the issue of multi-racialism. There is a concern amongst young Singaporeans, particularly professionals, that we may be becoming a more ethnocentric society at the expense of our national identity. Policies and programmes of recent times may have unwittingly accentuated these anxieties. The establishment of Special Assistance Plan schools, the advent of community-based self-help groups, the introduction of ethnic quotas in HDB estates, and the formation of Group Representation Constituencies - each of these initiatives has a compelling rationale of its own. Each also has an inescapable ethnic dimension and taken together cumulatively, they may have contributed to this perception. Sir, this concern is exacerbated by the educational underperformance of some communities. In a meritocratic system, these educational differences will be translated into socio-economic stratification along ethnic lines. It makes it all the more important for Government to guard against the emergence of divisive trends within our society and to take appropriate measures. In this regard, the efforts of the Ministries of Community Development and Education, the self-help groups, the CDCs and other civic organisations can help to uplift the underprivileged, disadvantaged, and mitigate these adverse trends and they deserve our wholehearted support. However, Sir, beyond this, there is a call for Government to do more to emphasise our national identity to counteract divisive forces. Several Members have touched on various ways that this can be done. I would just like to add two dimensions to it. The first is in the arena of sports. Shouting oneself hoarse for 90 minutes at a soccer match can sometimes achieve a lot more bonding than hours of classroom work.”
“The object is to imbue Singaporeans with a spirit of quiet, pragmatic, confidence. Secondly, Singapore's constraints should not be considered in isolation. Rather, the discussion should be in the context of the challenges faced by others. In a recent interview with the Straits Times, a veteran Russian political commentator, Professor Georgi Arbatrov, said: "It is difficult to be a small country, but it is even more difficult to be a large country. In a nutshell, that describes the different challenges countries face because of their unique circumstances." At a time of growing interdependence among nations, greater awareness of these relativities will serve Singapore and Singaporeans well. As DPM Lee put it at the launch of the National Education programme, "We must have the confidence that we can overcome our problems, but also the humility to know that we do not have all the answers for ourselves, much less for other countries". Armed with such knowledge, Singaporeans are less likely to draw invidious comparisons with Singapore when visiting others. Thirdly, Sir, I submit a plea to the Minister for a moderation of the school workload. When I discussed the introduction of National Education with some of my constituents, one of the first responses was to ask whether it would be an examination subject and how much additional homework it would entail. National Education is too important an endeavour to let its impact be obscured by the weight of the school time-table. The Addendum from the Minister for Education states that the school curriculum will be revised "to stretch but not overload" our pupils. It is an assurance that will undoubtedly bring cheers to the hearts of many students and their parents. We wait with bated breath for the outcome.”
“But Singaporeans, young and old alike, need to cultivate an abiding respect for our constraints, not as insurmountable hurdles, but as pragmatic limitations. I believe National Education can help us do that. Having said that, I humbly offer three suggestions with regard to National Education for consideration by the Minister for Education. Firstly, in the quest to instill national values in our young, we must take care not to be over-zealous. Over-emphasis on our vulnerabilities may imbue our very young with a pathological anxiety of the future. Worse, it may breed cynicism among youth that this is a mere propaganda exercise. National Education lessons should be balanced with a countervailing focus on our strengths. For example, smallness is not without its virtues. It means that we can marshall our resources well, that we can be more adaptable and, therefore, respond quickly to change. McKinsey, the global consultancy group, has mooted the idea of "bubbles of value". They note that successful companies pay special attention to identifying discontinuities early, in order to take advantage of money-making opportunities that may be short-lived. This also holds true for countries. As competition intensifies, windows of opportunities will narrow. Those who are nimble enough to seize transient opportunities will be successful. Our size can be an asset. In short, I advocate that the NE curriculum should give equal emphasis to the problems that we face, and the strengths, such as a strong leadership and a united people, that helped us prevail. When older teachers regale students with their experiences, they should be encouraged to share not just the agony of hardship, but also the ecstasy of their triumphs.”
“In a discussion on our nation's values and responsibilities, one group of students had this to say about managing materialism: "Our scenarios suggest that there may be an optimum level of materialism that is necessary in society to keep the work ethic in a healthy state. However, it also seems likely that beyond a point this may be detrimental to society . While it may not be good to mechanically restrict materialism, there is certainly no need to encourage it by making materialism a virtue. We would suggest that Government and community groups try to highlight success in areas that have nothing to do with personal gain and recognise a broad field of accomplishments." Sir, I think our young do recognise the need for balance and I believe we have good reason to be sanguine. I turn now to the subject of National Education. I identify with that generation of Singaporeans born in the post-independence era. Most of us have a cursory knowledge of the events that shaped the birth of our nation. Some, who have persevered, would have a cerebral grasp of these events and their significance. Few, if any, would have a visceral appreciation - the kind our parents and grandparents would have, the kind that the preceding two speakers exhibited - of those turbulent and trying times. For us, the defining moments of Singapore's history are at best a series of tableaus. In this regard, the introduction of National Education is a welcome initiative. It is important for Singapore that the parameters that define our existence as a nation are deeply embedded in our psyche. We may not have a nostalgic passion that is the privilege of our founding fathers.”
“Indeed, the first tenet of Singapore 21 is the creation of wealth - it underscores economic success as the very bedrock of our survival. Young Singaporeans have imbibed this message well. If they seem impatient, it could be due to youthful impetuosity. If they appear over anxious, it could be due to concern that opportunities lost will never be regained. I urge those who look askance at such behaviour to cast their minds back to a time when they too were embarking on a career, starting a family, and situated at the wrong end of a stream of home mortgage payments. I believe the logic is compelling. Indeed, the problem could be worse if our young were in no hurry to go nowhere. But our best home cannot be just an aggregate of a stream of economic benefits. Otherwise, patriotism would be reduced to a mere function of the ebbs and flows of the economic cycle. The intangibles are equally important - a sense of community that binds us together as a nation. It is a question of balance - an equilibrium between self-interest and group-interest - that tempers materialism with compassion and responsibility. Government has set the tone by emphasising the sharing of wealth, building of ties, and care for the young and aged, as part of Singapore 21. Are young Singaporeans aware of the problem and, more importantly, will they respond to the call? It is perhaps best to hear it in their own words. Sir, at this year's Pre-university Seminar, more than 500 junior college students have spent the past few days contemplating their future in the 21st century.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, Sir, for allowing me to join in this debate on the Presidential Address. Sir, as the last of the maidens of this Parliament, I approach this lectern not without some trepidation. My trepidation is all the more because the precious few nuggets that one wishes to add have all been taken. Nevertheless, I persevere and I wish to address, in particular, the vision that the President has painted in his Address of Singapore in the next millennium. It is a vision of particular significance to young Singaporeans for it is they who will inherit Singapore 21. I, therefore, propose to address from the perspective of young Singaporeans three themes that have emerged in the course of this debate - materialism, National Education and multi-racial harmony. Sir, every Member of this House has lamented the trend towards materialism among young Singaporeans. I would like to offer an alternative perspective. If, by materialism, we mean the drive to create and accumulate wealth, it is but, in my view, a corollary of our environment. Domestically, we have enjoyed peace, stable Government and unprecedented growth. Our success has been calibrated in economic terms. Today, some of the fastest growing economies in the world are within the Asia-Pacific region. Singapore is linked to these countries through our regionalisation effort, and other efforts to economically integrate, such as AFTA and APEC. Global trade and investment have been given a boost by the conclusion of the Uruguay Round which has lowered tariff barriers to historic levels. These then are the ingredients of an environment burgeoning with opportunities for wealth creation. Is it then so surprising that young Singaporeans strive for material comfort?”