S. Rajaratnam
Singapore
“There are two already there! BG Lee Hsien Loong: Well, we see the future before us. The proposal to have a 4% interest rate on HDB loans without a corresponding drop in CPF interest paid on the deposits is the first step to raiding the reserves.”
“This concern for the 15-20% was taken up in the President's Address by the new Cabinet. Many of the new and older MPs who preceded the Member for Queenstown have spoken eloquently and constructively on this subject. Quite a few had come forward with suggestions on how this goal could be achieved and it is constructive criticism.”
“Just two minutes. So the Member for Queenstown ended his vision of the future in what I thought was an apocalyptic note, and I would like to quote, I hope he does not deny this: 'Water [he said] can carry a boat but it can also sink a boat. Respect the people and attend to their needs at all times and the people will carry you far.”
“You will have time. You will be here for four years, five years. Do not worry. If you are serious about alleviating the lot of the less fortunate, then the politics of envy and hypocrisy is the surest way of ensuring that this goal is not reached.”
“It is incredible. He wants us to set the example that he wants to follow, to prove that he is a man who is prepared to render service. He can put us to shame (i do not think he will) by just voluntarily, one-sidedly, unilaterally, as a man of principle, sacrificing $3,000. That is nothing. it's peanuts to him.”
“May I finish my speech? - and which has the distinction of being the first political party in this country or in any other country which has been brought to a state of bankruptcy by a politician.”
The complete record
Every one of 375 lines we hold for S. Rajaratnam, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 8.
“If he were there and it is simply done by saying "All right" to all applications, then your next problem would be that every non-citizen who becomes a citizen is entitled to all the privileges of citizenship, including jobs. Mr Lee Teck Him rose -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, first of all, I think the Member for Delta has probably summed up why the discussion has centred largely on the question of citizenship. She says that she has been harassed at meet-the-people sessions, and that life has been made intolerable for every Member of Parliament because of representations on the question of citizenship. Let me say that if I were to follow the suggestion of the Member for Ulu Pandan, who obviously is a "super Permanent Secretary" as he says he can go through 500 files in one day”
“One of the difficulties is that if a young local officer is given the choice, he would rather enter the local administrative service, where the prospects of promotion are greater, than join the foreign service where the scope for advancement is limited because the Foreign Ministry itself is a small outfit. So these officers naturally tend to be diffident about serving abroad because they feel that they will miss chances for promotion and advancement in the civil service. This is one of the reasons why we are reluctant to have a separate foreign service because then the officer feels that he will fall into a trap. Therefore, we are devising a scheme whereby an officer entering the foreign service will not lose or be deprived of a chance, depending on his ability and so on, of rapid advance in the home service. As regards entertainment allowances, I think there is no problem. Everybody likes to have a bit more entertainment allowance, and as far as I know, there has been no serious representation made by some of our missions abroad as to the inadequacy of these allowances.”
“Sir, in regard to the re-examination of the Again, Sir, can the Minister inform this House what measures are being taken to ensure that the recruitment of personnel into the diplomatic service abroad is sound and effective? Also, in view of the high cost of living abroad, may I know what entertainment allowances are given to our officers in overseas missions? working of the missions abroad, in the light of experience over the past few years, I think we have, through a series of trial and error procedures, finally arrived at a position where we are able to for-mulate a more coherent foreign service scheme. The first step is to attract and retain officers as well as to smooth out the inevitable difficulties that the man-on-the-spot, i.e., our Ambassadors, encounters when he conies up against the machinery of the government at home. It is a fairly comprehensive scheme, but one of the aims is that there will be a greater delegation of responsibility to the Ambassador concerned, in regard to details of finance or otherwise. This is so partly because a routine has been established. In the early days everybody in the foreign service was a bit cautious because the Ambassador was new, everybody else was new to the game. If there were no strict controls, we might find ourselves involved in unnecessary difficulties. With regard to a foreign service scheme, I think we are now moving to a position where we feel that we can attract more suitable people who are prepared to serve abroad.”
“Sir, this is merely an instance of our having to do "in Rome what the Romans do". Sir, from the rather forcibly expressed letters from our Ambassador in Manila, I understand that it is the practice in Manila for offices as well as residential areas to have security guards for a variety of reasons. Indeed, all diplomatic missions in Manila have their own security guards to look after their own chanceries. The security guard shown under the subhead 1646 is for our chancery in Manila. Our Ambassador's residence is located in Forbes Park Village, and there is an association which affords protection to residents in the village. A sum of about 520 pesos is paid daily by each resident to meet the salaries of the security guards and other expenses. Therefore, this sum is only to pay for a security guard for our chancery. I must congratulate our Ambassador there, because he has not yet pressed for a security guard for his residence. 3.15 p.m.”
“Sir, I am afraid this particular item escaped my That the sum to be allocated for Head 0501 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1521. This is to seek information only. I note that the provision for the Embassy at Rangoon is only for locally recruited staff and appears to be for part of the year only. Is it the intention of the Government to ask another Ambassador to cover the duties in our Rangoon Embassy, and begin operations only at the end of the year? If so, will the Minister state which Ambassador will cover the duties in our Rangoon Embassy and when will it begin work? notice until it appeared in print in the Budget Estimates. This was in the early days soon after independence when we were deciding where to put up our missions. Since then, events have moved very fast and with our limited resources we have had a different system of priorities. So even should we announce that "Tomorrow we are going to establish a mission in such and such a place," events would have so overtaken our initial planning that we might have to change the venue from one country to another. Therefore, I am afraid that this particular item is one which has been overtaken by events. Not that we have no intention of establishing a mission in Rangoon, but with our limited resources and priorities, there is no immediate intention of establishing a mission in Rangoon.”
“Of course, Mr Speaker, Sir,I do agree that if we can find a local person with those capabilities, naturally he would be sent, but unfortunately we have not been able to find that talent. Even if there is such talent, I do not think we will be able to entice him to come to my Ministry. That being the case, we have to make good with whatever is available. But just for the information of Members, despite what appears to be a fairly attractive pay, the lady in question has decided to tender her resignation because she is getting married and hopes to get a better job.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, this subhead 1162 refers to the appointment of an Executive Assistant. Past experience has led our mission in New York to conclude that they need a local person capable of preparing factual draft briefs on agenda items for the United Nations General Assembly sessions, research on any given subject, translating correspondence in French and Spanish into English, putting up background material on matters which come before the United Nations as directed by our permanent representative to the United Nations, and preparing factual minutes of the United Nations resolutions adopted during the General Assembly sessions. This was therefore supported by my Ministry, and as obviously the duties call for special talent and experience far greater than those expected of a clerk or typist, it was proposed and agreed to by the Ministry of Finance that the post of Executive Assistant should be created against the deletion of the post of Clerk/ Typist, and that it should be filled by a local person.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, this subhead 1095 means what it (lie sum total of the salary and allowances, if means. It is a make-up allowance and it does not make up anything else. The special make-up allowance has been designed to compensate overseas officers with working wives for the loss of their wives' income. In the world of diplomacy, as Members know, it is not only desirable, but very wise, that married officer diplomats should have their wives with them in foreign countries. Working wives who have to give up their employment in Singapore to accompany their husbands overseas, we feel, should be compensated for by adjustments to their husbands' salary. At the moment, the overseas allowance to officers does not take into account loss of wives' earnings. It is only paid to enable overseas officers to meet additional expenses that they would have to incur to maintain a standard of living that would be a credit to Singapore, and to meet the high cost of living in the countries of their postings. Therefore, it is only reasonable, we feel, that an allowance should be paid to compensate the husband and wife for their loss. The quantum of allowance is arrived at by subtracting any, of a husband and wife drawn on the date immediately before the date of the husband's posting overseas from the sum of the salary, overseas allowance, children's allowance, acting allowance and so on, payable to him as a result of his posting to a mission.”
“Sir, the point of the Member is that by redesignating a Cypher Officer as a Stenographer or some other name, the country concerned will not get on to the fact that the gentleman is a Cypher Officer. I do not think much purpose would be served by changing the name unless there are far more pressing reasons. Last year, the Member suggested changing the designation of one particular officer. There was some justification.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not disagree in principle that it is good to have as many Students' Advisers as possible wherever there are students. But, by and large, our students are concentrated in the United Kingdom, Australia, and an increasing number in the United States. It is impractical to have a Students' Adviser attached to all places or universities where students forgather. In the United Kingdom, we have about 1,500 students, and therefore it is both practical and worth our while to have a Students' Adviser attached to our High Commission in London. His duties include assisting in placement work, the welfare of students and so on. In Australia, where there is another heavy concentration of Singapore students, there is no Students' Adviser. But there are Students' Liaison Officers in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth who work direct with our High Commissioner in regard to student affairs, including welfare in their respective areas. If at some future time we feel that there is a sufficient number of students in any particular locality or country to justify either a Students' Adviser or a Students' Liaison Officer, we shall give it consideration.”
“The Member for Punggol wanted to know about the annual contributions that Singapore makes to international organisations. My Ministry is responsible for contributing to some 17 international organisations such as the World Meteorological Organisation, the International Civil Aviation Organisation, the International Customs Tariff Bureau and other international agencies like the United Nations, E.C.A.F.E., the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and so on. The amounts of contributions vary from year to year as they are generally based on the annual budget submitted by these bodies. The annual budget is apportioned on a particular formula. In addition to these, we also make donations to such organisations as the Peace Keeping Force in Cyprus, the Refugee Fund in the Middle East and so on, on an ad hoc basis.”
“I think the Member for Telok Blangah and a few other Members made some comments on the lack of equipment in some of the overseas offices, about rent being paid for houses which are not occupied, and that they should be larger and so on. I think the Member had one particular mission in mind, where admittedly things were a little bit rough for the head of the mission. 2.45 p.m. In fact, he has written to me a number of times. The reason is that we had to send an advance team from the Ministry of Finance to this particular country to recommend purchases in regard to office equipment, furniture and so on. But it was found that things like typewriters, duplicating machines and a few other pieces of office equipment were extremely expensive in that particular country. So we had to purchase and ship them from Singapore and communications are not all that speedy in that part of the world. So the head of the mission and his staff had to rough it out for a while. But I am happy to say that since then I have had no letters of complaint from the head of the mission. He is extremely satisfied. In fact, he has gone on a visit to other parts of this particular country. I think this matter has been rectified. On the question of rent which was paid for a house which was not occupied for some four months, this was due to the delay in selecting a suitable officer for this particular mission. At the same time, we did not want to let go this particular house because we might have to send another advance team from Singapore to look for another house. So we asked them to hold on to the house. Unfortunately, the selection took about four months. The officer is there now and he is occupying the house and everything is going along smoothly.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Anson raised the question of housing allowances for officers serving in our missions abroad. It is true that Government officers serving in our missions abroad are not paid a separate housing allowance for the simple reason that they are provided free accommodation in their respective stations. The accommodation is commensurate with their status. In each case a rent ceiling is fixed, again commensurate with the status of the particular officer and having regard to the prevailing conditions. It is true that officers are expected to obtain suitable accommodation of their choice in locations approved by the heads of missions but within an approved ceiling. In the opinion of the head of the mission, if the accommodation is sometimes considered inadequate or inappropriate, such representations are carefully considered. Rent ceilings have by and large been raised to the recommended levels. The other point which the Member for Anson raised was whether, on their return, serving officers are provided with accommodation until they are reposted. There has been no provision in the past for quarters or accommodation for officers returning from abroad. But they are allowed three days' stay in a hotel in Singapore at Government expense on their return from abroad. However, it has now been agreed with the Ministry of Finance that suitable accommodation be provided for such officers on payment of a reasonable rent. At present, negotiations are under way for the leasing of suitable flats, probably from the Housing and Development Board. These flats will be used to accommodate officers returning from abroad until their next posting, or to enable them to secure suitable accommodation for themselves or their families if they are not being posted.”
“For example, take three of the more important achievements, if you would like to call them that. First, there is the project for a "Visit A.S.E.A.N. Year" in 1971 to promote tourism in the region. Secondly, there is the acceptance of a Memorandum of Understanding on Assistance to A,S.E.A.N, on Economic Co-operation by E.C.A.F.E. Thirdly, there is the creation of an A.S.E.A.N. Fund. I will take this opportunity to reply to the Member for Punggol about the purposes of the A.S.E.A.N. Fund. We agreed at the meeting at Cameron Highlands to contribute U.S. $1 million, which works out roughly to $3,080,000 in our currency. The contribution is to be paid into the national fund of each member country and held in custody by that country. The national fund will be replenished by each member country to the required level as decided by the Foreign Ministers, taking into account any outstanding claims for reimbursements by member countries. The fund is to be used only for the purposes of implementing projects which have been approved by the Foreign Ministers of A.S.E.A.N, countries. The projects so approved will be categorised as approved projects. Under the agreement, the host government will be responsible for the administrative and capital costs of the approved projects, the operational cost being shared equally by member countries. The agreement also provides for the ownership of any property, movable or immovable, acquired by the host government, under an approved project to be vested in the host government. However, the host government may not exercise the right to dispose of any such property until after completion of the approved projects unless otherwise agreed to by the Foreign Ministers. Sir, this roughly is the principle on which the A.S.E.A.N. Fund will operate.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, since the general remarks made by Members have been gratifying, I will not take up the time of this House by dealing with them. However, I would like to elucidate on or reply to some of the points raised by Members. The Member for Sembawang wanted to know what benefit Singapore would gain by joining A.S.E.A.N. and what projects, if any, it has initiated. He wanted to seek further details about the $3 million that we have contributed towards A.S.E.A.N. The third ministerial meeting of A.S.E.A.N, was held at Cameron Highlands last year. The meeting approved 98 recommendations covering projects for co-operation among A.S.E.A.N, countries. They include, among other things, the fields of commerce and industry, tourism, shipping, civil aviation, air traffic services, meteorology, transportation and communications, food supply, fisheries and so on. The A.S.E.A.N. Standing Committee and the A.S.E.A.N. Secretaries-General at their meeting last month in Manila decided to meet more often in order to keep in touch with the progress of the work of the various committees and to get a move on with the work of A.S.E.A.N. As I have repeatedly stated, A.S.E.A.N, is rather a new venture by relatively under-developed countries which have agreed to work towards regional co-operation. I just want to remind Members of the House that the European Economic Community, consisting largely of well-established and highly industrialised nations, has after a period of some 20 years, just about got going with regional co-operation. So I do not think we should expect too much of A.S.E.A.N, during a period of only three years. However, though nothing spectacular will be achieved for a long time, there is, nevertheless, some small but hopeful progress being made.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year 1st April, 1970, to 31st March, 1971, and ask leave to sit again tomorrow.”
“To answer the second part of the question first, a Students Director has been appointed in our London Mission and one of his first tasks is to compile complete statistics of our students in the whole of the United Kingdom, with full details of their background and the courses they are pursuing. In the case of Australia, it is not practical to have a Students Director resident in Canberra where our Mission is located, as the number of students there is relatively few. Nor is it practical to have one stationed in another city because our students are scattered over a very wide area. Instead a number of Students Liaison Officers have been appointed on a part-time basis in several states. A similar situation exists in the United States, though instead of our own Students Liaison Officers, each university there is well served by a separate department for the administration and counselling of foreign students. In other countries, like New Zealand, India, Japan and various European countries, our student population is too small to justify the appointment of a Students Director. As for statistics of students, complete statistics of both private and Government students in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand are maintained by our respective Diplomatic Missions there. For the other countries, fairly reliable estimates of total numbers are available, besides accurate and fairly comprehensive information of Government scholars. Appendix to Mr Barker's motion on "Department Titles" at (Cols 0217-0232)”
“Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour whether overseas missions maintain records of the numbers of Singapore students studying in their respective countries; and whether he will consider appointing more students directors in overseas missions to look after the welfare of our overseas students.”
“In general, our diplomats on first appointment are given general training, comprising lectures as well as attachments, before being posted overseas. The attachments are to various divisions of the Headquarters of my Ministry and to the various departments concerned with trade, information and consular activities, e.g. the Trade Division of the Ministry of Finance, the Customs, Marine, and Immigration Departments, and the Registry of Citizens. The lectures arranged follow a set pattern, but, where relevant, trainees also attend courses organised by the Extra-mural Studies Department of the University of Singapore. Advantage is also taken of visitors, from time to time, for ad hoc lectures to be arranged. Briefings on protocol and etiquette are also arranged. Thus the present training arrangements are as systematic as can be, without the setting up of a separate diplomatic service institute. Even then the more practical aspects of diplomacy will have to be learnt through attachments and later on the job. Supplementing all these, advantage is taken to send specially selected officers to overseas courses such as those run by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Research and Training), and the institutes run by various governments such as those of Australia and India. It is intended to develop further this line of approach. Since 1966, a total of 10 training awards abroad have been utilised. Three of these were for courses conducted in New Delhi by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, three others by the Ministry of External Affairs of Australia, and one by the Ministry of External Affairs of New Zealand. OVERSEAS MISSIONS (Records and welfare of overseas students) 2.”
“As of today, Members will be interested to know, and note with appreciation the fact, that we have hitherto been assisted in this respect by the Governments of Malaysia, the United Kingdom and Thailand in different parts of the world where we have no missions of our own. Provision is, therefore, made in the Bill for such situations where these friendly governments can perform the functions envisaged in the Bill on our behalf and for these to be valid in law. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[Mr Rajaratnam]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. SEAMEN'S REGISTRY BOARD (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 3.24 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Singapore's international trading character, coupled with the fact that many of our citizens often travel to different parts of the world, makes it necessary that officers of our Diplomatic Corps should be enabled to administer oaths or affirmations, take affidavits and do notarial acts which notary publics in Singapore are normally empowered to undertake, and for these to be valid in law. From the copies of the Bill which have been provided, Members will have seen that the primary purpose of this Bill, as set out in clause 3, is to empower diplomatic and consular officers of Singapore missions abroad, as well as those consular agents who may be acting for Singapore in countries where we are unrepresented, to perform these functions and levy appropriate fees for such services. Members will appreciate that the process of consolidating the friendly relations we have established with foreign countries will take time, money and personnel. Much as we would wish to do so, it will not be feasible to establish missions in every friendly country. As of today, we have diplomatic missions in 11 countries. In alphabetical order, our missions are located in Bangkok, Cairo, Canberra, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, London, New Delhi, Phnom Penh, Tokyo, Washington and Wellington. Besides these, we also have a Commissioner in Hong Kong and a permanent mission to the United Nations. With our citizens travelling and doing business with more countries than those in which we are represented, Singapore has to depend upon friendly governments with missions in those countries where we are unrepresented for the performance of the functions envisaged in the Bill as and when the need arises.”
“On a point of clarification. Before the Members go into deep waters, I must explain that the swimming pool is not for the trainees but for paying guests who will be actually using it so as to give realistic training to our hotel and catering staff.”
“Many of them come from the Members' constituencies. They make inquiries and they always say this, "But I must have my citizenship now because I cannot get a job." Some of them are of an age when they could have applied for citizenship five or six years ago when things looked a bit dicey for Singapore. Then they kept their options open. Now that things are better, they want U' press for citizenship and the rights that go with it. Therefore, let us not be too sentimental about this picture that is drawn about poor people who can be loyal citizens and who are now enduring hardship. If things are not as good as they are today, I think you will find less demand for citizenship, less pestering of Members of Parliament. So, first, let me say, if things improve - and I hope we will review this year by year - and we feel that we can give citizenship to those people from whom we now withhold citizenship, we will do so. But I think it will be disastrous if, purely on humanitarian grounds, we open the doors, Though Members of Parliament may be able to satisfy a small minority, the consequences of opening the gate may be such that they will find themselves confronted with other problems of mounting unemployment for citizens who, incidentally, are already voters. Therefore, though I sympathise with some of the difficulties of Members of Parliament and with some of the hardships undoubtedly created for many non- citizens as a result of our strict enforcement of the citizenship policy, in the long run, it is a matter of balancing the interest of the majority against that of the minority. For the time being, we will have to adhere to and protect the interest of the majority. Mr Rodrigo and Mr P. Selvadurai rose -”
“Even if we increase the staff, a lot of applications will still be under consideration, and for a good reason, because if they are under consideration, there is a possibility that when conditions change or when circumstances make it possible for us to allow more people to become citizens, we will do so, lf the applications are rejected, that is that. So, as a matter of policy, many of the applications are kept under consideration, because if between now and the next few years, say, after the withdrawal of the British forces in Singapore, we find that the economic problems associated with the British withdrawal are not as disastrous as they were thought to be, we will be more generous to those people who have made applications for citizenship which have been under consideration for three or four years. But if we give a reply now, that means they are out. So the reason why no decision has been taken on many of the applications is that maybe in three, four or five years' time, it may be possible to grant citizenship to those whom we would be compelled to reject now, if we feel that conditions have improved and we can take them in. Let me also say, in this connection, that quite a large proportion of applications for citizenship are made by people who could have applied five or six years ago when citizenship was granted more readily. At that time, they kept their options open. Now they have decided. And, therefore, when people now say that they are loyal, yes, many of them may be loyal. But some of them are what I call "rice-eating citizens", because they kept their options open, and they now come and pester some Members of Parliament as the options are now closed. Very often, they have come to me - in fact, too many of them.”
“Members - especially the trade union Members - suggest that we should stop giving permanent residence, will they say categorically that permanent residence should not be given to people who are prepared to invest $250,000 here and who provide jobs for maybe a few hundred persons? I think the most important point to realise - I reiterate what I have said before - is that, on humanitarian grounds, it is good to give citizenship to everybody who has been here for ten years or who qualifies for citizenship. But for every one who is made a citizen, there are other liabilities. The moment a man becomes a citizen, he is entitled to free education, housing, medical attention, employment, a vote and to social welfare assistance. So every citizen who is granted citizenship is a liability to our society. It means coming back here for money to finance our new citizens who need not have become citizens, I quite sympathise with many of the difficulties that some people are confronted with as a result of our strict enforcement of the citizenship law, but we do so in the interest of the majority. Sometimes the choice is between two unpleasant things and I will, therefore, make the choice in favour of the less unpleasant course. As regards applications for citizenship that are made and are not acknowledged or answered, I will say that it is a source of hope. The Parliamentary Secretary did say that it may be due to a shortage of staff. But I will say that it is not really due to a shortage of staff.”
“The Members of Parliament who spoke are getting themselves into more and more difficulties. I thought I had better intervene at this stage! I think the difficulties of Members of Parliament should be the least of our considerations. Most of the Members who spoke have been trying to persuade the Government to change its policies in regard to a very important subject like citizenship, apparently on the ground that it creates difficulties for them and makes them unpopular. I am also a Member of Parliament. I also happen to be the Minister in charge of citizenship and I do get bothered by people who come and tell me that they made applications for citizenship two, three or five years ago. If you are a Member of Parliament, your duty is not to get popular but to enforce the law to see that you do things in the interest of Singapore. 1 sympathise with Members of Parliament who are in difficulties -being one myself - but that should not he the criterion on which we make decisions. Many Members who spoke got worked up. The Minister for Culture was going to intervene and explain. If he had been allowed to do so, I think hon. Members might not have heard some of the things they heard, especially from the Member for Bukit Ho Swee. First of all, anybody who invests $250,000 in Singapore does not get citizenship. He gets right of permanent residence. So I think all this oratory about, poor people not getting citizenship and rich people getting citizenship is singularly ill-informed. Let me say that when somebody invests $250,000 in Singapore, maybe 10, 20, 30 or 40 Singaporeans get jobs. If any of the hon.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, with regard to the increase in the number of hand injuries, I am happy to say that this matter has been exercising the mind of the Ministry of Labour recently and, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, we are exploring the feasibility of setting up a Hand Unit in the Ortho paedic Ward of the General Hospital to look into this type of accidents, because, according to the statistics that we have, the number of accidents involving injuries to hands and fingers has shown a persistent increase in the last three years. The figures that I have here are, for example in 1967, out of 799 reported accidents, something like 360 involved injuries to hands and fingers. Therefore, with the growth of industrialisation - and as hands are the parts of the body which come into contact with machines - we expect more injuries to hands than to other parts of the body. I can assure the Member for Serangoon Gardens that this matter is being looked into. I hope we shall be able to set up a proper Hand Unit to deal with these particular problems of industrial accidents.”
“One application from a Division I civil servant who did not qualify residentially was rejected. One hundred and twenty-two applications are still under consideration.”
“I think the hon. Member should read the newspapers because I cannot read them for him! SINGAPORE CITIZENSHIP (Particulars of applications from trained teachers and Divs. I and II civil servants) 3. Inche Mohd. Ariff Bin Suradi asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour (a) how many applications for Singapore Citizenship were received during the period 1st January, 1967, to 30th June, 1968, from (i) trained teachers in the four language streams; and (ii) Divisions I and II civil servants, other than teachers; (b) how many of the applicants have been interviewed; and (c) how many of the applications (1) were approved; (ii) were rejected; and (iii) are still under consideration. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Labour (Mr Sia Kah Hui) (for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have been asked by the Minister to reply. The number of applications for Singapore citizenship received during the period 1st January, 1967, to 30th June, 1968, from trained teachers in the four language streams was 106. Of this number, 53 were from the English language stream, 24 from the Chinese language stream, 26 from the Malay language stream and three from the Indian language stream. The number of applications received from Divisions I and II civil servants, other than teachers, during the same period was 55. The number on the racial basis comprises 39 Chinese, two Malays, nine Indians, four Ceylonese and one British. The total number of applicants interviewed during the period was 161. Thirty-eight applications were approved up to the end of November 1968. Of this number, 10 were teachers and 28 were Divisions I and II civil servants.”
“The mission's report has been presented and accepted in principle by the Government of Indonesia pending a more detailed assessment to be undertaken by the Stamford Research Institute. As to the future plans of ASEAN, the hon. Member's guess will be as good as mine. Like many other efforts at regional co-operation, ASEAN too is running into a spot of bother at the moment. I do not want to minimise these difficulties, but all I can say is that the present difficulties would appear trivial and irrelevant to what ASEAN countries would face were they to abandon altogether their belief in the need for regional co-operation. As far as Singapore is concerned, its attitude towards ASEAN has never been one of starry-eyed optimism. Progress towards regional co-operation will be, particularly in the early stages, slow, painful and interrupted by setbacks. But we are equally convinced that hard economic and political facts will push ASEAN countries in the direction of regional co-operation. However much we the members may drag our feet, each passing year will make clearer to ASEAN countries that the choice for them ultimately is one of hanging together or hanging separately. So, Mr Speaker, Sir, to put it succinctly, at the moment as of today, I will describe ASEAN as a state of mind rather than a fulfilment.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, ASEAN has as yet brought no direct economic benefits to its members. However, this should occasion no special disappointment because ASEAN was formed only a little over a year ago. However, during this year, it has been able to clarify for itself the possible approaches to greater economic cooperation among member states. At the ministerial meeting held in Jakarta last August, reports by ASEAN ad hoc committees on food production and supply, including fisheries, shipping, transport and telecommunications, civil aviation and tourism were approved and adopted. The Ministers further decided that these recommendations should be examined in greater detail by the ASEAN National Secretariat to decide which could be implemented immediately and which would require further study. Singapore has already given effect to some of the recommendations made at the last ministerial meeting, though all these related to tourism. Firstly, we have introduced seven-day visa free facilities to persons arriving in Singapore provided they possess valid passports, firm bookings and entry facilities to their destinations and continue their journey within seven days of arrival in Singapore. Secondly, we have agreed to accept collective passports and travel documents issued to parties of between five and 25 persons, all of whom should be nationals of a country and travelling on package or chartered tours to countries within the ASEAN region. Singapore, together with Indonesia, has also been pursuing the possibility of joint development of Bali as an international tourist resort. Last April, a ten- man technical fact-finding mission from Singapore visited Indonesia to make recommendations on the project to the two Governments.”
“I cannot recollect the precise number. It is neither too big nor too small. But if the Member is interested, he can ask the Ministry of Culture which has a consular list of the countries which have diplomatic relations here. ASEAN (Benefits to Singapore and future plans) 2. Mr Teong Eng Siong asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour (a) what economic or other benefits has ASEAN brought to Singapore since its formation; and (b) whether he will inform the House briefly about the future plans of ASEAN.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, Singapore's policy - it has been repeatedly said -is to be friends with all countries regardless of their political ideologies or their system of government so long as they respect our sovereignty and territorial integrity and refrain from interfering in our internal affairs. Singapore is therefore prepared to establish diplomatic relations with all countries who want to be friends in Asia and elsewhere too. However, the establishment of Singapore diplomatic missions abroad is a different matter. This will be governed by financial considerations, personnel re sources and the degree of our interest in the various countries. So friendly contacts with countries in Asia will be maintained and consolidated, in some cases, by the establishment of our diplomatic missions and, in other cases, by official visits and by working together with them in the United Nations and other organisations. However, in speaking about the establishment of diplomatic ties, one feature which is somewhat unusual in the world today is the existence of divided countries. In the case of divided countries, diplomatic relations with one part of a divided country to the exclusion of the other can only mean lending support to one against the other. For this reason, we have since independence maintained, in the case of divided countries, that we would be most happy to have trade and consular relations with either of them on an equal basis and that we would do nothing that would give an advantage to one side over the other.”
“- the employers do stick by their agreements. The other point is the possibility of allowing people who are unemployed before the age of 55 to withdraw their Central Provident Fund contributions. As hon. Members will know, I gave some statistics which will show that this will not really help anyone who is unemployed to set up business. Something like 70 per cent of the contributors, as I have indicated, have a balance of $1,000 each. Thirty per cent of that is about $300. Any man who decides to set up business with $300 is obviously going to lose that $300 which will be there if he does not withdraw it when he is 55. So I suggest that this Bill will safeguard at least many of the younger people. If the Bill is passed, 20 per cent of their wages every month will be put into a Central Provident Fund which, over a period of 10 or 20 years, will be very substantial enough for them to buy a house and perhaps go into business. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. -[Mr Rajaratnam]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. HIRE-PURCHASE BILL Order for Second Reading read. 5.41 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in view of the fact that hon. Members are relieved that at least this Bill is the silver lining in the black cloud which has been hanging over them for the past few weeks, I think there are only two points to which I need reply. The first point is about the question of offsetting the increased contributions to the new Central Provident Fund against gratuities payable under collective agreements. I suggest this is one instance where the trade unions can legitimately pursue their job of protecting the interest of the workers by insisting that --- An hon. Member: It is also good for the Government!”
“The new paragraphs (e) , (f) and (g) that are added to subsection (1) of section 25 of the Ordinance enable the Minister to make regulations. There are a few other amendments which are of minor moment. Mr Speaker, Sir, the amendments to the Central Provident Fund Ordinance proposed in this Bill usher in a piece of social legislation that brings to the workers benefits which they did not enjoy before increased savings to provide for their old age and the opportunity to buy a house or flat of their own. This is an exercise in social innovation and social transformation, an attempt to create as large a proportion of property-owning population as possible so that they would have a deep and abiding stake in the country and thereby revolutionise the pattern of living of our people for the better. Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. 5.25 p.m.”
“The amendment will merely enable the Minister to require employers who operate approved funds to contribute to the Central Provident Fund for their employees if the Minister so directs. Further, the deletion of subsection (8) of section 21 of the Ordinance will affect between two and three thousand employees who have been exempted from the provisions of the Ordinance by the Board. It is now proposed to exempt by Regulations to be gazetted employees whose country of domicile is outside Malaya and Singapore and who are employed in Singapore on an Employment or Professional Visit Pass issued by the Controller of Immigration. Clause 12 of the Bill contains a new section dealing with the refund of amounts paid to the Fund by error. Most of the provisions of the existing section 24 have been continued, but provisions have now been made for dealing with contributions paid in error by persons who are not employees, and with errors made in the payment of interest under section 7A of the Ordinance. The time for claiming refund of amounts paid in error has been reduced from three years to one year. Clause 13 introduces a new section 24A which is designed to enable the Board to engage in activities not directly related to the administration of the Fund and to call for information under certain circumstances. Hon. Members will appreciate that in the context of the present situation, when economic planning is to the fore, compilation of vital statistical information relating to employees and employers may be required from time to time. Clause 14 includes a number of amendments to section 25 of the Ordinance, the most important of which are those in paragraph (d).”
“The rights of members of the Fund to withdraw will be affected: - (a) by restricting the right of withdrawal on the ground that a member is leaving Malaya permanently to persons who are not citizens of Singapore; and (b) by discontinuing the existing provision under which a person who has not been an employee for more than two years to be allowed to withdraw if he can satisfy the Board that he is not likely to be an employee again. The restriction in the case of persons who have not been employed for more than two years is necessary in view of the fact that provision has been made for self-employed persons to contribute to the Fund. The existing provision in the Ordinance that allows such persons to withdraw from the Fund is not compatible with the new requirement that they should contribute to the Fund. The amendment to section 14 of the Ordinance, which is embodied in clause 9, enables, firstly, a member's balance in the Fund to be used as security for the purposes of purchasing a house or a flat for his own occupation and, secondly, deletes a transitional provision in the Ordinance that ceased to have any effect some 10 years ago. The purpose of clause 10 is to make new provision to provide penalties for publication of information by an employee of the Board to unauthorised persons. The amendment to section 21 in clause 11 of the Bill is in connection with approved funds. There are 26 such funds. It is probable that in many cases the new rates of contributions payable under the Ordinance will be of greater benefit to the employees who are members of such funds than their existing rights as members of approved funds.”
“Central Provident Fund members who already have sufficiently large balances in the Fund would be allowed to use their balances to purchase flats outright, while those who have already purchased flats will be allowed to use their monthly contributions to pay the instalments of their housing loans, but they will not be allowed to use their balances to settle outstanding balances of any existing loans. I must inform hon. Members that regulations will be introduced to make the necessary arrangements for implementing the housing scheme. The other notable amendment is the provision to extend coverage to self-employed persons, that is to say, persons who derive income from any trade, profession or vocation. Any such person, however, need not contribute after he has attained the age of 55 years. Provision is also made to ascertain from the Comptroller of Income Tax the incomes of such persons. These are contained in clauses 2 and 14 which amend sections 2 and 25 of the Ordinance. The necessary regulations in this regard will also be made in due course. The other amendments to the Central Provident Fund Ordinance are in part consequential and in part designed to improve the drafting and the administration of the Ordinance. These amendments, however, include a number of others which are considered necessary for other reasons. In particular, provisions have been made in clause 6 to require employers to contribute to the Fund in respect of employees over the age of 55 years and to require such employees to contribute. Clauses 7 and 8 of the Bill introduce two new sections designed to clarify the procedure and conditions of withdrawal from the Fund.”
“29 per cent of those who expressed uncertainty live in one-room flats, 35 per cent in two-room flats and 36 per cent in three-room flats. An interesting feature was that 53 per cent of those who did not wish to buy flats live in one-room flats, 27 per cent in two-room flats and 20 per cent in three-room flats. These figures indicate that the proportion of households wishing to purchase flats varies directly with the number of rooms in a flat. While only 24 per cent of those living in one-room flats wish to buy, 50 per cent of those living in two-room flats and 68 per cent of those living in three- room flats have expressed a wish to buy them. In regard to Central Provident Fund balances of households surveyed, an interesting revelation is that about 31 per cent have between $1,000 and $5,000 and 13 per cent above $5,000. About 10 per cent have between $500 and $1,000 and 21 per cent less than $500. There are, however, a good number of people in these households who do not contribute to the Central Provident Fund but who wish to buy flats. These people are generally self-employed. Hon. Members will see that there is, therefore, justification in enabling members to make use of their savings in the Fund to purchase houses as a sizable proportion of our people, whether in or out of the Fund, are keen to own their own homes. This should give the lie to those who allege that people are forced to buy Housing Board flats. With the enhancement of savings through increased contributions, it can reasonably be expected that more people will have enough funds in due course to make down payments and pay instalments.”
“Members know that the British are leaving and retrenching their employees. The Minister is given powers to vary the schedule of contributions. The intention behind these powers is to increase the rate by another 1½ per cent in the second stage. Therefore, the total savings each month for the worker as a result of contributions payable both by employer and employee will be 16 per cent - that is 8 per cent each by employer and employee. In the third stage, the contributions will be increased by a further 2 per cent to make it 10 per cent from each side, or a total savings of 20 per cent of salary each month. This will considerably increase the savings of the employees and build up their reserves in the Fund which will stand them in good stead both by enhancing savings and accumulating sufficient money to purchase houses or flats. A very significant departure from the existing law are the amendments to section 25 of the Ordinance, as embodied in clause 14. This is to enable members of the Fund to use their savings in the Fund for the purchase of houses or flats for their own occupation. A reasonable question that can be asked in this regard is the basis on which Government has assessed the situation. I must inform hon. Members that the Government has assessed the purchase intentions of the people through a feasibility survey conducted by the Economic Research Centre in conjunction with the Housing and Development Board. This survey has shown that 49 per cent, or nearly half of the householders in Housing Board flats, expressed the intention to buy them, 10 per cent expressed uncertainty and 41 per cent did not wish to purchase flats. Among those who wish to buy flats, 16 per cent live in one-room flats, 30 per cent in two-room flats and 54 per cent in three-room flats.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the principal purposes of the Bill are: (i) to increase the contributions payable to the Central Provident Fund by employers and employees; (ii) to enable arrangements to be made for members of the Fund to use their savings in the Fund for the purchase of houses or flats for their own occupation; and (iii) to enable the provisions of the Central Provident Fund Ordinance to be extended to cover persons who are self-employed and who do not at present contribute to the Fund. I shall first deal with the proposal to increase the contributions. An amendment is made to the Schedule to the Ordinance whereby new rates of contribution payable are prescribed. The effect of this amendment is that the current rate of contribution of 5 per cent each by employer and employee is increased by 1½, per cent to make it 6½ per cent each, and the existing provision that limits the employers' and employees' contributions to a maximum of $25 per month from each is removed and a new maximum of $150 per month from each is substituted. It should be noted, however, that employees who earn less than $200 per month, will not, as at present, be required to contribute to the Fund. This means that the payment of an additional 1½ per cent by the employer will, in respect of about 60 per cent of the members of the Fund, mean contributions only by employers towards enhancing the savings of workers. In an indirect way it is an addition to workers' pay. The same advantages would also apply to employees in the higher wage groups. However, it is not intended to apply the new rates to the United Kingdom Government and its employees and they will therefore contribute the present rate of 5 per cent each. The reason for this is obvious as hon.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." This Bill is the third of three Bills which are designed to meet the challenging economic problems that loom ahead. Whilst the purpose of the Employment Bill and the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill is to have more realistic terms and conditions of service and employer-employee relations consonant with the need to induce greater investment, generate higher productivity and employment, this Bill deals with another inter-related problem -- the marshalling of domestic savings for the economic and social benefit of our people. Before I deal with the Bill itself, hon. Members will no doubt like to have the air cleared in regard to the Fund itself. At the end of 1967, there were 456,029 members with balances totalling $477,315,488. The number of active accounts in 1967 was, however, 299,157 and contributions received during the year amounted to $55.8 million. An interesting feature of the Fund is that about 60 per cent of the members earn less than $200 per month, whilst about 31 per cent earn between $200 and $500 per month, and only about 9 per cent earn more than $500 per month. It would also be interesting to note that about 57 per cent of the total membership have a balance of less than $500, but if we were to consider the total number of members having a balance of under $1,000 the percentage would be about 71 per cent. The analyses given here will help hon. Members, in the light of what I have to say later on, to appreciate the effect the proposed amendments to the Central Provident Fund Ordinance will have on the wage earning population of Singapore.”
“If we do not achieve these objectives soon enough before 1971, at least in the 1970s, then the arguments about the right to hire and fire and retrenchment would become superfluous and unreal, because there would be massive unemployment. Employers would be checking out and concerns would be closing down right and left, in which case even the exercise of the need for unions would become problematical. My colleagues and I, and I am quite sure Members opposite also, are convinced that this Bill will, when enacted into law, bring about new investments, industrial expansion and, in the long run, bigger, more prosperous and stronger unions. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time.”
“But where it appears to us that the number of madcap employers becomes very substantial, then, as I made it quite clear in my speech, we will reconsider amendments to our Industrial Relations Act with a view to controlling unreasonable employers. But as things are at the moment, we work on the assumption that most employers are reasonable, as most trade unionists are reasonable. If that feeling prevails and if employers and trade unionists work on the basis that both parties are reasonable men, then I think this Bill, when passed into law, will achieve what we really want to achieve. In the debate not only on this Bill but also on the Employment Bill, there are different objectives or immediate objectives. Naturally for the trade unionists, they are only interested in the trade unions and the workers. The employer is concerned only with his own sectional interest. But, as a Government, our interests are national. We are interested in the welfare of Singapore as a whole - workers, employers and professional men. One of the main objectives of the Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill, as with the Employment Act, is to resolve serious and real problems of economic expansion, new investments, increased productivity. And the overriding test to which we submit any legislation is, will it help to bring about these objectives - economic expansion, new investments, increased productivity? If it can or if it gives a reasonable assurance that it can, then the legislation must over-ride the sectional interests, whether of employers or workers or any other groups. And this, I am convinced, will help and definitely bring about industrial expansion, economic expansion, new investments.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, before I deal with some of the points raised by the hon. Members opposite, I think I should correct the misapprehension of one of the hon. Members that I had quoted statistics relating to strikes to blame the workers. If he will re-read my speech, he will see that that was not the intention. The intention was to show that during the period in the early 1960s, something like 57 per cent of the disputes arose out of quarrels over management rights, retrenchment, the right to hire workers and so on. This was the basis on which this Bill was introduced, because obviously there is considerable misunderstanding between workers and management about what are management rights. The Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill now, for the first time, spells out something which hon. Members, and especially the trade union themselves, admit are common law rights. These rights have been there. They are accepted as such. The rights of the management to manage have not been queried, except by the Member for Kallang who has suggested that workers should also participate in the management of industries. That is something for the future. But, at the moment, there is no dispute and no quarrel over the essence of the Bill. Where there is misgiving is in regard to the abuse of these rights by certain employers. Of course, if one assumes that all employers are madcaps, then not only this legislation but all other pieces of legislation go by the board. But employment laws are normally made on the basis that employers are reasonable and we frame legislation to suit reasonable conditions.”
“The objectives of these two pieces of legislation - the Employment Bill and the Central Provident Fund (Amendment) Bill - are, as it should be very clear by now, to help Singapore as an independent nation not only to meet the storms ahead but also to ensure that we ride them successfully. I hope that co-operation will be forthcoming from the employers in this regard and that the trade unions will make the necessary adjustments in face of the new situation. The delineation of management functions and trade union functions will do away with the "Heads I win, tails you lose" attitude. Let us resolve to replace this with "Heads we all win, tails we all lose". Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. 3.25 p.m.”
“There are, however, built-in safeguards, for safeguards there must be if abuses are to be minimised both by employers and trade unions. Some wise person has stated that private rights may become public wrongs. There is, therefore, the urgent necessity for both parties to make responsible decisions - decisions which are compatible with the well-being of the country. It is, therefore, in the interest of all concerned to ensure that rights are related to functions. Employers have their functions just as trade unions have, and it is imperative that their respective rights have a, correlation with their respective functions. The amendments embodied in this Bill are obviously designed to correct wrongs, balance rights and functions and equate responsibilities so that an independent Singapore can move through the crucial years ahead without coming to grief. The Government will, however, keep a very close watch on the workings of the law on industrial relations in the light of the amendments that are being made. If there are abuses, the Government will not hesitate to make the necessary adjustments. We hope, however, that employers will exercise their rights with responsibility, and that they will take a far-sighted view of their real interest. It is in their long-term interest not to abuse, as they can, this Bill, because then I think there can be no expectation on their part that the trade unions themselves will act with the restraint and responsibility which they have so far shown. We hope, therefore, that employers will exercise their rights with responsibility and that it will not be necessary to take corrective action.”
“For instance, where a trade union represents employees in more than one establishment, it is not unusual for the officers of the union to come from one and the same establishment. In such an event, the employer is penalised in that he either loses the services of his employees for the duration of their business for reasons quite unconnected with his own establishment, or he incurs additional costs by having to employ additional staff to cover the duties of his absent employees. This, it will be appreciated, is most unsatisfactory. There must be reason and logic in such circumstances and it is precisely to regularise matters that this amendment has been made. Paragraph (b) of clause 16 of the Bill amends section 79 of the Ordinance by the addition of a new subsection (6) which allows the Industrial Arbitration Court to commence proceedings in respect of the reinstatement of an employee who is alleged to have been dismissed in contravention of section 79 of the Ordinance before proceedings have been commenced in a District Court. At present, allegations in respect of such cases are heard before a District Court which also has the power to order reinstatement. However, thorough and time-consuming investigations must necessarily precede such proceedings. This has caused long delays which are frowned upon both by the unions and the employers. Mr Speaker, Sir, the amendments to the Industrial Relations Ordinance, particularly in the context of management rights, have evoked fears among some trade unionists. The principle of collective bargaining is in no way impinged. Collective bargaining is of the essence in a free and democratic society but vital management rights must not be eroded if we are to create the necessary climate of stability for investors to come in.”