S. Vasoo
Singapore
“I would like to ask DPM whether the public as well as the Government-linked companies would be looking at some ways in which jobs could be created to absorb some of the older workers. In the longer term, I think job creation will become an issue, especially when many of the industries in the manufacturing sector are going to hollow out.”
“Our recruitment has been excellent over this past period and our attrition has been relatively low. But I am realistic enough to know that it is not just because of the Ministry of Education, the economy has helped a lot. I believe that I have answered most of the questions posed by Members.”
“Can I ask the Minister of State, when he claims that the LRT is of world-class standards, but the Member for Sembawang is complaining that there are so many frequent breakdowns, what world-class standard are we talking about?”
“May I ask the Minister whether the viewpoints of the commuters and the private bus operators will be solicited in his review? Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: Sir, we are in touch with the private bus operators and we would definitely take the views of the public into consideration in the context of the overall framework of the public transport system.”
“It would be the last resort, as the Minister has put it, to institutionalise persons because, by institutionalising them, one breaks them up from the family, and family dynamics are disrupted. Therefore, it is very important to ensure that we have other means of rehabilitating young persons and juveniles within a community setting.”
“All the time, we emphasise on marriage as a partnership. We also accept, as one of our core values, the family as a basic unit. It is, therefore, desirable that the wording, at the beginning of this Bill, should reinforce this value. Under clause 13, the Minister will have powers to exclude certain classes of persons.”
The complete record
Every one of 879 lines we hold for S. Vasoo, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 17 of 18.
“Sir, if the Ministry believes in private enterprise and initiative, why not allow these hawkers to have their own initiative? Why should we then suggest the procedures that they should follow?”
“Sir, I rise to support the amendments to the Bill. The amendments suggested, in fact, are neat and it provides better administration of the functions of the Board and it reduces some of the bureaucratic procedures which might hinder the effectiveness of the Board. So I feel that the amendments suggested give a new lease of life to the Board and it is worthy of support. I support the Bill. 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 Wong Kan Seng]. Bill considered in Committee. [Mr Deputy Speaker in the Chair] Clause 1 -”
“Sir, is the Minister aware that there are quite a number of people who cannot go on to the cashless system? And in their interest, what positive steps will be taken to cater to their needs? Dr Richard Hu Tsu Tau: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am aware that there will be some people, particularly the low-income group, who might find it difficult to have bank accounts. But I think the objective should still be to try and encourage everyone to have an account with the POSB, for example. The Member may not be aware that of the six major billing organizations, it has never been possible to collect bills through the multi-revenue collection system in four of them. And these are PUB, HDB, Telecoms and SBC. The two other major bill collecting bodies are the Income Tax and Property Tax Departments and these, by and large, do not involve people in the lower-income groups. The multi-revenue collection centres' activities were centred around income tax, property tax, hospital bills, road tax, renewal of certificates of registration of businesses, ambulance service bills, TOLs, parking and traffic offences. By and large, I believe that the majority of these activities do not involve the very low-income groups. EMPLOYMENT REGISTER (Figures) 9. Dr S. Vasoo asked the Minister for Labour (a) what was the number of persons registered for employment as at 31st December, 1986 and the number of jobs found in 1986; and (b) whether the job market improved in the last quarter of 1986 and in which sectors.”
“The final area one needs to look at is to provide sufficient support for the bereaved families, particularly, as they are suffering from grief and therefore they should be supported when their beloved ones have suffered death. And I think the Ministry whilst implementing this scheme should provide a good system of crisis counselling to help breaved families through so that they can become more supportive of the organ donation scheme. It will help them find relief and eventually give the best support to the scheme itself. On that note, thank you, Sir.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the Bill. The Bill will provide a new lease of life for kidney disease sufferers. At the same time, no amount of dialysis is going to help kidney disease sufferers. It is only momentary. But the Bill will in the long run provide a long-term solution to the problems of kidney disease sufferers. I have a number of points to raise in connection with the Bill. One is that there is some public concern about the extent the Bill is going to cover . The concern is about whether the Bill is going to stop with the kidneys or whether it will extend to cover other organs in the near future. This is basically the misconception some sectors are having and I think it is essential for the Ministry to erase this public misconception. The second point that I would like to raise is the time span allowed. Six months' grace is a rather short period because there are a lot of Singaporeans who are less-informed and who may not know exactly the implications of the Bill. I think it is essential that, with the passage of time, one needs to allow the Bill to be well publicized so that more Singaporeans will become aware of the implications of this Bill. I think the more they know about this Bill and what it means to volunteer support for those in need, the Bill will receive the best support it can have. The third area is whether this Bill will be subsequently reviewed because in time to come with less accidental deaths, cadavers would be less in time to come and there will be insufficient kidneys available, and whether there will be subsequent review to cover adequately to meet those who are suffering from kidney diseases.”
“Sir, recognizing that the Civil Defence Force requires the support of the civilian population, it must therefore seek to mobilize the participation of people in the various neighbourhoods or housing estates. I feel that it is necessary for the Ministry to look at the possibilities of providing logistics support and resources, essentially more resources, to the various Civil Defence units that are supported by our volunteers working side by side with our full -time personnel. This is essentially necessary because I find that unless sufficient resources and logistics are deployed at the neighbourhood we may not be able to mobilize an effective volunteer force at the various housing estates to be able to meet emergencies. The other question which I would like to seek clarification of the Minister is that I see that under clause 111 the Government will provide compensation for volunteers who suffer loss of life or injury whilst on active duty. I am wondering whether this provision does cover people who suffer from temporary disability or partial disability as a result of their active service whilst undergoing training or called for duty. I feel that additional provision of welfare support should be given to volunteers because they form, to some extent, the backbone of our Civil Defence Force. I also think that it may be necessary to consider some form of insurance to cover, I suppose, against risks of such members who participate in CD movement. I hope the Minister will be able to look at this provision and provide for further extension of support and protection for volunteers whilst they are engaged in civil defence activities.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the Bill. The introduction of the Civil Defence Bill is timely and necessary. It is timely because I feel that it charts another milestone of growth in our total defence programme. We need to create a safer and secure environment for Singaporeans. As such, I think the Bill enhances the Civil Defence Force to be able to garner and mobilize resources which are essential for the provision of a safer and total defence environment. It is also timely because I feel that it will provide an impetus to the Civil Defence Force to grow and develop into a force which can be reckoned with. It is essentially necessary because the Bill provides a basis for civil defence matters to be organised in an environment like ours. We live in a high-rise environment - a very compact environment and in such an environment there are a lot of events which we cannot predict and we need to meet exigencies of nature or emergencies from time to time. So the Bill will develop the capacity of the Civil Defence Force to organize the necessary resources to deal with emergencies and situations that are beyond our control. Sir, the Civil Defence Bill will also enhance the status of the Civil Defence Force. On too many an occasion people think that the Civil Defence Force does not have this credibility. It is seen as a 'Dad's Army' in a sense, but with the passing of this Bill, it will give the Force the status, the image and the credibility to be able to discharge the necessary functions. Sir, the Bill also provides for the organization, mobilization, deployment and the effective management of the Civil Defence Force and I think this is essentially necessary because it provides the teeth and the instrument for the Force to be well organized.”
“I feel that though the family, the aggrieved party, could appeal to the Board, I assess that the Board may need to set up a review committee, at least comprising community leaders, to ensure that there is equity, there is equitable justice, that is being applied to families that may be wrongfully deprived of their flat. I see that leaving it to HDB and the discretion of the officers raises some doubts and problems in the minds of the people who are affected. Sir, I feel that if the Board can set up a review committee comprising community leaders and Parliamentarians to review such cases, it will be useful. This is because the number of cases that are going to be convicted and deprived of flats will be small in number and such review committee would be able to help in deciding as to whether such families need to be de-possessed. With that note, I thank you, Sir. 11.37 am”
“I suggest that the Board itself also need to provide clear notification to families. As you know, some families, not that they do not want to pay their bills or their fees, sometimes I can see that under extenuating circumstances, they may forget to do this. I am of the opinion that adequate notice should be given to residents themselves. I feel that there are also genuine problems faced by residents to be able to meet the payment of fees. I think that under such circumstances, the Board should look at the specific problems and issues before imposing the penalty on such families. Sir, the other area which I am concerned and which has been shared by the Members for Changkat and Rochore is the powers which allow the Board to compulsorily acquire flats when killer litter offence has been committed. I see that the law is drastic in itself and it de-possesses families who may not necessarily be a party to the offence. And to punish such people and family members, I think it is really unnecessary and it creates further problems for them. Because I feel that having acquired the flat, they may have no place to go to because the Housing Board is trying to plan for homes for as many people as possible. I doubt that in future there will be places where such families can go to. Sir, this provision seems to be unfair because it punishes the family twice for an offence which they have not committed. I feel that if this section has to be imposed it has to be directed at the person who commits the offence, so be it. The culprit has to be taken to task. He should be adequately punished and not the family.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I be allowed to comment on the Bill? I am concerned about further regulations of Housing Board matters. I feel that the Bill provides further discretionary power to the Housing Board itself and, as you know, further discretionary power would entail interpretations and implementations of these discretionary powers. This will obviously lead to problems and issues because it requires the Board officers to interpret and implement in terms of the rules and regulations which are enforced. I see that this would create further problems and create further strained relationship between residents and the HDB, in terms of how these new rules are going to be implemented. I feel that the whole objective of public housing is to build an identity around people. And if you are going to build ownership and a feeling of attachment and bondage to the homes and to the property, I view that Housing Board should direct itself more in terms of educating residents and to manage the environment more appropriately. Sir, more specifically, I am concerned about clause 4 (b) which empowers the HDB to prescribe a penalty for late payment of any rent, licence fees and maintenance fees. I can understand the rationale for this provision. But the definition is ill-defined in its sense. What does this penalty entail? Does it entail a surcharge? Does it entail a fine? Does it entail an interest levied? I find that nowhere in the Bill it is defined more clearly. And this would lead to some form of discretion in relation to what is going to be implemented. I feel that it needs to be specified. In order that we can be clear about how this is going to be implemented, I feel that the HDB has to try and work out more clearly in defining this aspect.”
“Sir, could the Minister look into ways of allaying loan repayment problems of families without CPF savings and those who have lost their jobs?”
“I am wondering with the closure of the Board whether strategies and plans to deal with population matters would be effectively carried out. Finally, we have new concerns, such as falling birth rate, singlehood, lopsided procreation and various other related matters. We need to take a fresh look at these new issues which are before us. And I feel that there should be a unit in one of the Ministries, not necessarily with the Ministry of Health, which would be able to look at this whole question critically because it has to do with issues that we will be concerned about, the future survival of our own society; and in terms of the kind of people that we will have for our community. With that note, I thank you, Sir.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I make some observations as regards the repeal of the Singapore Family Planning and Population Board Act. As I see it, there is no pressing reason why we should repeal the Act. The forms have changed, population dimensions have changed, and population activities have taken different directions. All we need to do is perhaps to reshape and redesign the activities of the Family Planning Board. However, if the Act is to be repealed, I think that there are a number of implications that the Ministry of Health will have to be aware of. These implications are important in the context of Singapore because we depend on a very small population. The population itself is reducing and there is no new growth in terms of population. As such, I feel that one should look at this whole question of population issue more critically. I wonder whether the Ministry has the expertise and the capabilities to monitor population matters and to direct activities which will in a way prevent unintended consequences to the context of our future population trend. The implication that I am concerned with is that the activities on population and family planning matters will become rather defused. There will be lack of thrust and coordination on matters related to population. Secondly, changes in the demographic trends need closer analysis and monitoring. And I am wondering whether the Ministry itself will have the expertise and the people to look at these trends closely and to interpret these trends in terms of its implications for future manpower needs. Thirdly, we need to have better coordinated strategies and plans to deal with the various issues of concern about our future population itself.”
“The public assistance rate of $90 given to this group of single unsupported old person is meagre. I feel that though they may get support from other institutions, I do not think that it is fair for them to hop from one organization to another to get additional funds. Though they may be able to get further support from other groups, I feel that a more concerted effort can be made to provide them with additional support. Other kinds of support which are available could be organized in a manner that they can be given with some dignity. At the same time I feel that, without adequate support, these single old persons who are living in the housing estates are more likely to get into institu- tional care. I believe that our effort is to try and encourage as many old people to live in the community. If this is our aim and objective, then adequate support should be considered for the old who are particularly single and unsupported because they deserve all our help. On that note, Sir, thank you.”
“Many researchers have substantiated that children who are young, perhaps those under child care, can be influenced tremendously by the quality of staff that is available in such child care centres. Sir, I am wondering what are the steps taken by the Ministry to monitor and maintain minimum standards of care in these child care centres to ensure that the standards do not drop below the minimum level. Sir, at present, the grant and the subsidies given by the Ministry for organizations interested in running child care centres are not too attractive to encourage more organizations to embark on such programmes. Perhaps the Ministry could look into the possibility of extending the subsidy period from three to five years and the support period to meet operational deficits from six months to one year. I feel that unless organizations are certain that they are going to be given a reasonable period of support, many organizations are not going to take the initiative to pioneer into this new area which the Ministry is promoting. Finally, in the area of public assistance for the aged, I see from a report by the Ministry that there are 3,278 persons who are on public assistance in 1984, and the increase is only 1% over the previous year. The number is small because we have stringent criteria to ensure that those who deserve the support gets the assistance. Sir, if you look at the figures further, you will find that at least about 80% of those on public assistance are old persons above the age of 60. Some of these people live in old people's institutions and they get support. Others live with their friends and relatives. And some of them live alone in the housing estates together with other single old persons.”
“Such seed money or start-up fund can lessen the burden of organizations interested in initiating such services. And I feel that unless such grants are available, community groups and organizations may find it hard to be able to initiate and take up additional responsibilities in pioneering into new areas of services. Sir, start-up grants can also help existing organizations to redesign their institutional facilities to cope with the changing needs in terms of the care for the aged sick. Sir, moving on to another area is the area where the Ministry is trying to promote extensively, ie, in the area of child care services. The Ministry's plan to promote more child care centres will have to be carefully implemented after systematic assessment. These centres will have to be sited in estates where there are likely to be a demand for them. This is likely to be in new housing estates where there are more young married couples. In the siting of these day-care centres, I wonder what are the steps taken by the Ministry to assess whether there will be a demand for such services. Otherwise, we will find that there will be a glut of child care centres in many of these estates. They will remain under-utilized. Sir, the popularity of child care centres depends on the parents' view of the ability of the staff managing these child care centres. It is therefore important that the staff have adequate training and orientation in child care. This is important because the children's development in these child care centres is going to be influnced by the type of staff, their training, their perspective and their orientation in the care for children.”
“Sir, I therefore feel that greater efforts and greater attention should be given by the Ministry in its role to help encourage, nurture and support voluntary groups and organizations. I see this is important because it will provide a basis for their growth and for their strength to be able to deal effectively with various needs in the community. Sir, the voluntary social service organizations urge the Ministry to examine its policy on the provision of grants. Government grants to these organizations have not been reviewed for the last 10 years. These grants were based on assumptions which are not relevant today. I am particularly concerned about the minimum grant given to organizations providing care for the aged sick. The problem of the aged sick, as you all know, is likely to become more acute in the years ahead. Coupled with this, the aged in our homes for the aged will be vulnerable to disabilities. Sir, there is a case to reassess the need to provide additional financial grants to these organizations so that they can expand and improve upon their services and their programmes for the aged sick. Sir, Government grants to these organizations account for only 2% of their total expenditure in 1984. Whilst they do not expect a substantial increase in grants, they will be further encouraged to expand their services if they can receive some grants to employ health care personnel, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists and nurses, to help in the implementation of new programmes within their institutional set-up. Sir, I also feel that capital grants and start-up funds can also be extended to organizations which are interested in initiating new programmes for the old in the community.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have three amendments under the Ministry. I shall take them together. Sir, I would like to just cast our mind a few years from hence. We will probably notice that our population characteristics will change dramatically. We will have more senior citizens. We will have more middle-aged persons and, Sir, we will have a declining number of children. These profiles are changing fairly quickly. And I feel that we have very little idea as to what really is happening in this changing population profile. I also feel that there is a wealth of information around for the various departments to collate such wealth of information. Such information, if properly used, will give us some clear-cut social indicators for us to plan and respond to new community needs which are emerging in housing estates. Sir, as I see it, these changes will surface different types of needs and issues in the neighbourhoods of our various housing estates. The neighbourhoods of our housing estates will be the neigh- bourhoods where future problems and issues will rise. In the light of these changing social circumstances, I am wondering how will the Ministry organize itself to meet the challenges in the housing estates in response to these changing social profiles of people and their needs. What directions will the Ministry take to encourage voluntary groups and organizations to participate in community problem solving? As I see it, Sir, the neighbourhoods of the future will be the base for the organization of people to respond to various social needs and unless we nurture such neighbourhood groups and community groups, and encourage voluntary efforts, we will not be able to build a more positive social network in the community of the highrise.”
“I think abortion should be made specifically available to those who seek abortion for a medical condition.”
“Sir, I would like to raise a few points, fairly quickly. I am concerned about the condition of Toa Payoh General Hospital and its medical and physical facilities. The hospital appears to be congested. It is old. It has served its time. It is now overcrowded, and it is not providing an efficient service for a growing population in the neighbourhood. The residents living in Ang Mo Kio, Toa Payoh and Bishan estates want to know what plans are being taken to develop the Hospital to meet the growing health needs of this population. Sir, on the second area, I am concerned about the increasing admissions of psychiatric patients to Woodbridge Hospital and also the increasing number of discharges of psychiatric patients from the Hospital, as well as the increasing attendances of psychiatric patients at outpatient services. Sir, many of the families are concerned about the quality and the follow-up services provided to such families who are mainly living in housing estates. Most of them are seen for a very short time and they ultimately do not get the required attention. Consequently, many of them get re-admitted again. This revolving door admissions and discharges creates a problem for the family. I am wondering what plans are to be taken to strengthen the outpatient services in the treatment of psychiatric patients. Finally, Sir, on the question of abortion, I share the sentiments of the Member for Whampoa but I am more concerned about the increasing number of teenage abortions. What has been done to help teenagers who seek abortion? What are the types of services available? More importantly, Sir, I feel that family life education programme for young people would be relevant in order that we can prevent such an increase in abortion.”
“Sir, is the Minister aware that the age requirement causes increasing overcrowding in families of one and two-room flats and whether he will be prepared to waive on a case by case basis, based on pressing problems of such families also?”
“TDB's overseas offices will continue to aggressively promote Singapore's exports. Ofices in the developed countries will concentrate on exports of manufactured products, while offices in India, China, Middle East and in other developing countries will focus on exports of services. In addition to organizing fairs and missions and cultivating trade contacts, TDB will encourage international purchasing offices to locate in Singapore to source more of their requirements from our companies. In view of the increasingly hostile trading environment, TDB is stepping up its efforts to safeguard local companies' business interests. The offices in Geneva and Washington will be on the alert for any protectionist moves affecting Singapore and will seek immediate remedies for our companies.”
“Would the Ministry intervene if the price of rice goes beyond unrealistic levels? BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Speaker, Sir, that is the purpose of the national rice stockpile. In case of a national shortage, as has happened before, we can release rice from the stockpile, and in that way hold prices down. OVERSEAS TRADE (Plans for expansion) 17. Mr Philip Tan Tee Yong asked the Acting Minister for Trade and Industry what is the Trade Development Board's plan to expand the overseas network, and how local businesses can benefit from it. The Minister of State for Trade and Industry (Dr Lee Boon Yang) (for the Acting Minister for Trade and Industry): Mr Speaker, Sir, since its establishment in 1983, the Trade Development Board has expanded its overseas network in Singapore's major markets. As at end-1985, it had 13 overseas offices, compared to only seven in 1983. Two offices, one in Bombay and the other in Shanghai, were set up in 1985 in response to new market opportunities in India and China. In 1986, this network will be further expanded with new offices in Jakarta, Paris, Washington and Geneva. Future plans to open offices in Latin America and Eastern Europe are also under consideration. TDB's overseas offices provide timely and accurate information on trade developments in our export markets and help local companies seek out new trade opportunities. Last year, over 700 companies participated in 69 fairs and missions organized by TDB's trade offices. In addition, the offices provided on-the-spot assistance to 850 companies that were on overseas marketing trips. Total export sales generated from the activities of these offices amounted to almost $76 million. Another $320 million worth of possible sales are under negotiation.”
“The third area that I would like to bring up is with regard to the number of premature school leavers for the year 1984. I understand that there are about 6,700 primary and secondary school leavers who prematurely cease their education. I am wondering what programmes are being undertaken to help recycle these premature school leavers to enable them to gain vocational skills, because from our Education Committee Report we are trying to harness and enhance skilled manpower. I am wondering what plans will be made more concertedly to assist and to recycle these people back to our education stream.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have several points to raise for the Ministry to consider. I note with deep interest that a large proportion of our teachers have long years of service. According to the 1984 key education statistics, among the 18,809 teachers in the education service, about 60% of them have 20 years of service and above. Many of these teachers are expected to retire in the years to come. I am wondering what plans will be made to fill the vacuum of this loss of valuable manpower who have the experience in terms of teaching. I would like to know (1) whether the Ministry has any plans to see how the invaluable services of these teachers could be retained; (2) whether the Ministry has any plans to see how the transition created by this vacuum could be made more smooth so that more younger teachers and others could be inducted into the education service and so enable us to build up a second line of leadership into the education service. Sir, the other area which I am concerned about is that much has been said about the education for disabled children. I feel that there are still a lot of disabled children who need to be educated. I understand that the Ministry has a shortage of teachers and there will be problems for the Ministry to deploy trained teachers to the organizations that are providing education for disabled children. I am wondering whether the Ministry could make plans to provide grants to these organizations so that they would be able to hire the necessary teachers to carry out the educational programmes for the disabled children. Sir, I feel that these children deserve the attention of the Ministry because they, like all other normal children, should be given the support in terms of their educational needs.”
“Though the objective of the Board is to encourage a 100% home ownership, I feel that the objective could be better achieved if you look at the needs of those who do not have CPF contributions. There are a lot of workers on seasonal jobs, those who work on contract jobs. These are people who do not have CPF savings and they are still living in the 1-room and 2-room flats, and they will never be able to move out to upgrade themselves. I feel that, for these people, we would probably have to make special exceptions if they can show that they are on seasonal jobs or contract workers and that they cannot, in fact, hope to become home owners. I feel that the Board should review and look into the needs of such people.”
“So I feel that there is a need to see how the services of the term contractors could be better coordinated so that the residents who bring up the complaints could be followed up fairly quickly. The other area which has been brought up is the 30-month debarment by my colleague, the Member for Tanah Merah. What I would like to point out is the ceiling of $100,000 of property value placed on people who sell their private property in order to apply for an HDB flat. I feel that this ceiling itself is rather low because currently the cost of executive flats and 5-room flats in the Outer Urban area and Urban area are priced higher than this ceiling. I feel that joint property owners who, in fact, each have more than $100,000 value, find that they are disqualified from public housing. I feel that this 30-month debarment plus the $100,000 ceiling set in terms of the share of private property could be reviewed. The other concern that I have is the increasing backlog of flats which are not chosen by people who have registered to purchase flats. In time to come, as more and more of these flats are found to be unsuitable, the backlog will grow. I am concerned about what Housing Board will do with this increasing backlog of flats which are not taken up. Are they going to lie idle for longer than necessary? So I feel that one needs to look at how this backlog could be quickly disposed of. Otherwise, I think increasing public expenditure will be spent on flats which are going to be empty for more time than is necessary. The final area that I would like to touch on is this 5% downpayment or deposit required to help low-income families.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to draw the attention of the Minister to a number of issues related to his Ministry. The first area that I would like to draw his attention to is the need for improvement of the HDB Area Office enquiry service. Increasingly there will be more complaints in the near future. As it is, there have already been more complaints by residents at the HDB Area Office. I feel that the services provided are rather diffused at the Area Office itself. As a result, there are perception gaps between the residents and the Area Office itself. So, I feel that, through time, it will have a cumulative negative effect on HDB itself, in terms of its image to provide a friendly service to residents. In order to build better rapport between the Area Office and the residents, there is a need to reorganize the enquiry services provided at the HDB Area Office. I feel that there is a need to look at this area more critically because, with the aging of housing estates, more complaints and enquiries can be expected in the near future. I assure the Minister that if he is able to reorganize enquiry service at the Area Office, probably half of the problem that is encountered at the local level would be followed up more closely. The other area that I would like to touch on is the follow-up service provided by the Area Office to residents based on their complaints that they raise. From time to time, the HDB Area Office has to coordinate with the term contractors to carry out repairs and maintenance which are required or requested by residents. There is a time lag between the time that response is made and the time that matters are resolved.”
“Sir, what type of health care will be given through the community hospital?”
“Sir, in cases where both husband and wife are working and contributing to Medisave, is there a need to keep such a large sum in the Medisave account?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, before we jump to discuss on Aids, we might as well move on to Question 9. MEDISAVE (Reduction of ceiling) 9. Mr S. Vasoo asked the Minister for Health whether he will review and reduce the present ceiling for Medisave for the time being, in view of the current economic situation.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, if they have lost their job and are unable to obtain another job, how long would this deferment be allowed?”
“Sir, much emphasis has been placed on our economic plans to make various economic sectors to be cost saving and productive. Very little attention is focused on the necessity to improve the quality and the marketing skills of people involved in our various economic sectors. In order that our products can be saleable, it is desirable that we develop a concerted plan to improve our marketing skills and our marketing creditability of the people involved in the various sectors. I feel that at the moment there is a lack of coordination between TDB, EDB and STPB in marketing the various goods and services or to sell Singapore overseas. I feel that there should be a better coordination among these three sections in terms of our sales of Singapore and goods and services overseas. Sir, in conclusion, to make our economic plans work, we must ensure that our workers are not demoralized. We must ensure that our workers would not become demotivated through the process of our implementation of these new economic plans. We must also ensure that Government policies are consistently introduced and implemented. There is indeed a need for a more consistent strategy in helping us to recover economically. 4.14 pm”
“With the involvement of these expert groups, I am sure better inputs, better insights into various intangible social problems and various side effects of various policies could be examined more thoroughly and a better comprehensive and effective policy measure could be effected. Sir, like what my colleagues have shared, we need to do more in the education of our workforce. I shall not elaborate further on it, but to bring up a point which seems to be more relevant in the context of providing more opportunities for them to be better educated. Sir, it must be pointed out that at the moment there are insufficient social incentives for our workers who have missed out in education to be educated. It is therefore necessary to review and strengthen our programmes for continuing education for our workforce by undertaking a two-pronged strategy. Firstly, a continuing education department fully responsible for the overall planning and the implementation of educational programmes for workers be established within the VITB. Secondly, more educational support should be and could be planned and organized and directed at children of families in the lower income group so that eventually we will be able to prevent more attrition rates amongst children of families who may be in a disadvantaged position. More of them will be able to have a better head start earlier. Sir, I would also like to touch on improved marketing skills. Sir, it is not just sufficient for us to focus our attention on wage cuts, wage restraints and increased productivity. These exercises may help us to produce more competitive goods and services. However, it will be futile if we do not find the markets.”
“I feel that at the moment we have little data as to what is happening to their family life and perhaps through knowing more about them we will probably be able to assist them with better coordination with other governmental sectors and departments. Sir, the CPF objective, I feel, will have to be reviewed. The punctuated increase in CPF has been singled out to be one of the causes of our economic problems. Justified or not, CPF is one of the main foundations for social security of the workers in their old age. Over the years, we have digressed from the primary objective of CPF. It is time we took a fresh look at the objective of CPF so as to ensure its future viability. On the question of open and authentic feedback, I would like to share my views with Members. Sir, in order that different Government ministries can respond and deal with social and economic issues effectively, there is a need for more coordinated effort among ministries to monitor the impact of various social policy measures. Those involved in policy implementations cannot remain insular or defensive about policies which are not relevant. It is not just sufficient to have a good data gathering mechanism. But we must have people who are open enough to give objective interpretations of the effects of various policy measures. There is a tendency in the public sector to screen off what we do not want to hear and we are unable to learn how to avoid some of the pitfalls ahead. Therefore, Sir, an open and authentic feedback of our social realities at all levels in our various governmental institutions need to be made more effective. It will be appropriate for the various public sectors to invite different groups of people with varied expertise to be a sounding board on various issues of social concern.”
“But the other plans with regard to wage restraints are not clear as yet. Sir, I feel that at the appropriate time a clear-cut direction will have to be set and this will erase whatever misconception there is floating in the public. Sir, in the last one year, the number of retrenched workers has increased. Little is known about their employability and the problems they are facing. They are undergoing social and economic adjustment problems. It will be appropriate for the Government through the Ministry of Labour to establish a more comprehensive monitoring unit to assess the progress and the problems of workers who are retrenched. Retrenched workers who have little or no CPF savings are likely to require more assistance to reschedule their loan repayments or to make adjustments in the meantime to find new employment. Sir, in the case of retrenched workers who are middle-aged and who have no appropriate skills, it will be useful to enable them to be retrained or to cushion them in whatever way we can to alleviate their problems and to place them on alternative employment or create new employment that they could acquire with the skills that they have. Sir, the number of retrenched workers is likely to increase further when the full impact of our recession is felt. It is therefore urgent for Government to organize a more coordinated plan to assist the resettlement of retrenched workers who may require services such as job placement, retraining, guidance and counselling. This will become increasingly essential when the number of retrenched workers is on the increase.”
“Sir, I would like to draw your attention that last year in the Presidential Address we have made plans to see how we could improve the quality of life of the low income families. For these families they are going to ask what is the stake for us? They are likely to suffer more pain than others in this whole process of our recession. Sir, in this respect I feel it is important for us to review the present CPF salary contribution point which at present is $200. Maybe it will be timely or opportune for us to review this starting contribution point for CPF at $200. The review is suggested because the minimum subsistence level for families has increased significantly, since the implementation of this CPF starting point. Sir, on the whole, the CPF reduction which accounts for 60% of the employer's contribution may directly or indirectly affect the domestic economy. Workers are likely to tighten their belts as they have to meet other obligations which they have committed earlier. In the long run, it may delay us to achieve the desired effects of our economy. Sir, if the workers' real income will be eroded through domestic inflation in the foreseeable future, I feel strongly that appropriate measures should be taken to reduce the employee's contribution to the CPF by at least 5%. I hope this will be looked into seriously if there is domestic inflation because the workers' real income would then be reduced. Sir, on the other note that, in order that the present recession can be tackled collectively, it is necessary for the Government to erase or clear public misconception that the workers in the private sectors are carrying the burden, this misconception must be erased although the Government has recently announced that the half- month incentive payment is to be withdrawn.”
“Sir, whilst our workers have to make the sacrifices at this stage of our economic recession, it is necessary to ensure that employers do not take advantage of the workers' goodwill. Employers must act wisely to reinvest the savings from the workers' sacrifices to strengthen their enterprises. If employers are found to be wanting and irresponsible, the workers' trust and confidence in them will be lost, poor relationship will arise and hence we may witness more industrial relation problems because of this loss of trust between the workers and the employers. We may witness more industrial problems because of this loss of trust between the workers and the employers. Sir, if this happens, there will be far-reaching effects on our economy and what we hope to achieve may be lost through this poor relationship. I hope that employers who are making profits will be able to share their profits with the workers. There are, I am sure, firms that are making profits and who is there to ensure that these firms will pass on the benefits to the workers. Is the Government going to intercede through the unions to ensure that the employers who are making money will disburse these benefits to the worker? I think this is indeed an issue that some of the workers are raising. Sir, the CPF reduction with wage restraint create a burden for the lower income workers, particularly those who are earning less than $700 a month. Why I am saying this is because a large number of them have more dependent households, more needs to be met. I feel that they are likely to be affected because of the various wage restraints and wage cuts that some of them have undergone.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, like all my other PAP colleagues, I would like to support the motion moved by the Member for Changkat. Sir, we have heard that the new economic plans hope to stimulate our economy. We have heard that the plans will set new directions to make Singapore more economically viable and competitive. The common man is asking: Will the plans work? Are we sure that we are going to achieve the targets that we have set? I share their concern because they are required to make sacrifices. I am sure the Acting Minister for Trade and Industry would not like to give them the reassurances because he himself probably may not be able to predict what is going to happen. Whether we will make it or not depends on the will of the workers, employers and the Government to cooperate as a team. Team work will therefore become an increasingly important factor for us to overcome the present economic recession and achieve greater heights in the future. Sir, the implementation of the recommendations of the economic plans will have to be carefully tempered so that the workers will not feel demoralized in the process of time. I feel that it is important because they are going to eventually make sacrifice in terms of wages and we must ensure that they will not become demotivated in the long run. Sir, the new economic plan has indicated that the workers will have to sacrifice about 15% of their future earnings. This is indeed a sizable loss of their earnings. It will create disruptions to their financial plans. They will have to adjust and it will cost disruptions to their family life and their life plans. I feel that perhaps a 10% CPF reduction from the employer's side will be more palatable.”
“I feel that perhaps a Residents' Enquiry Counter could be established in the Area Office so that residents themselves will feel comfortable when approaching the HDB to deal with problems relating to the neighbourhood, or to deal with issues that the residents may face with regard to the maintenance of their homes. More importantly too, I feel that when new estates are built, there is a need for the Board to build the Area Office when residents are moving into these new estates. By having the new Area Office located in new towns, problems related to new residents could be tackled as quickly as possible. A better rapport could be built between new estates Area Offices and new residents and through their mutual cooperation, the estates will then have its social throb and be better socially organized. The neighbourhood problems will be solved together with cooperation from the HDB. I thank you, Sir. Mr Speaker: I think it is a good time to suspend the Sitting until 2.30 pm. Order. Sitting accordingly suspended at 1.00 pm until 2.30 pm. Sitting resumed at 2.30 pm [Mr Speaker in the Chair] ORAL ANSWER TO QUESTION PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO CHINA, THE US, AND THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT CONFERENCE IN THE BAHAMAS (Report) 1.”
“I feel that it is time we reviewed the way in which social services and other community efforts, in terms of programmes, can be channelled to this sector. There are increasing number of children who are growing in this environment. And if we are looking at the cycle of poverty trap of families, then I feel that the Board must liberalize by giving facilities or make provision for facilities such as social facilities and facilities for programmes, to be organized for this sector. I also anticipate that there will be some changes in the social texture of the older housing estates. It is probable that they will not have a good social mix of people when the better-off move out. The neighbourhood will become less resourceful in tackling its problems at the local level. Therefore, there is a need for HDB to rethink ways to rejuvenate the older neighbourhoods in order to make them more attractive to people who have the potential to contribute and be attracted to live in these estates. Finally, Mr Speaker, Sir, many housing estates will age further in the next five years. More demands and pressures for maintenance tasks can be anticipated. In order that the Board may respond fairly quickly to these tasks, it will be necessary for the Board to decide decentralizing some of its decision-making processes to the estate level. Estate officers can be given more powers to deal with localized neighbourhood problems. In doing so, the estate will be able to galvanize itself and to mobilize the residents together to build a better social environment.”
“I will just identify a few of them for the Board to think through in the next five to 10 years so that its social management perspective can be further strengthened. Some housing estates will have a growing number of elderly residents. This will be acute in older estates where more young people have been resettled into new housing estates. In view of this situation, it will be important for the Board to modify the existing facilities so as to attract more young people into these estates, and at the same time to make these estates more accessible, more conducive, to the growing elderly population in the next five to 10 years. Currently, about 21% of the HDB households, representing 108,745 households, are living in 1-room and 2-room flats. They are low income families. It is difficult for them to become home owners because the social and economic cost is too much for them to shoulder. This sector of the population will always find it difficult to meet payments when they become home owners. It will be desirable for HDB to waive the 20% deposit required, and perhaps consider extension of the loan repayment, to help this sector of people who wish to become home owners. Even with these considerations, there will still be a small number who will not be able to make it. I think the rental scheme should still be made available to this lot of people who have difficulties in moving into home ownership. I feel particularly concerned for this sector of people. More attention will have to be given to the building of social community organisation and infrastructure programmes programmes to help these residents to help themselves in solving their problems, and to encourage them to assist in the maintenance of the environment.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the motion by the Member for Chong Boon. Our 25 years of public housing programme has changed not only the physical but the social landscape of Singapore. Lifestyles of families, children and the young have changed. In fact, for many families, there is dramatic change - the way family lives has been organized. Mr Speaker, Sir, never in the history of public housing have so many people gained so much from governmental efforts to provide homes for people. I must say that credit must be given to the many people who had a hand in shaping our housing programmes for the last 25 years. Mr Speaker, Sir, having relocated about 81% of our population in various public housing estates, the HDB has become a convenient target for social blame because it deals basically with issues from cradle to grave. The House, I think, has given sufficient critical comments. The Opposition too have given critical comments. The difference is that the comments by PAP parliamentarians are well-researched, documented, supported with sufficient evidence to get constructive programmes organized and done. Despite all these pressures and demands by the public, the Board has attempted to remain on course to do its best. Mr Speaker, Sir, what I am concerned about is the issues which will arise in the next five to 10 years. I feel that HDB has to become more sensitive to the social and demographic changes and the needs of the people living in the various public housing estates. It has to gear itself to be more socially responsive to some of the social challenges ahead. Now, what are these social challenges that the Housing Board needs to respond?”
“Sir, could the Minister tell us the steps that have been taken to assist older workers who are retrenched?”
“Sir, could the Minister enlighten the House whether there is sufficient expertise to interpret the social demographic changes and its implications for social policy?”
“Sir, besides this release of CPF savings, are there any other measures which have been considered?”
“Sir, would the Minister be kind enough to enlighten the House as to whether his Ministry has any contingency plans to assist workers in the event of chronic or long-term unemployment of workers?”
“As Opposition, it is their duty to ask questions, to criticize and generally to make life a bit difficult for us. Is the Member for Anson saying that it is our constitutional duty to help the Opposition to grow in Singapore? First to grow, and then to take over the Government. Is it our constitutional duty to help them to grow so that they can replace us in this House? The key question in parliamentary democracy is whether we allow open competition of ideas, whether we allow a free play of ideas, not just during elections or during the campaign before a general election, but in between elections. We do. That is why we have the proceedings in this House telecast. We are handing over a powerful medium to the Opposition Members to reach out to the people, to persuade them that their views are better than ours. They talk about difficulty in getting a permit to hold a rally. By all means have a rally. Make your points. I do not know whether the Toa Payoh Stadium is available. But if it is not available, please apply for another stadium.”
“It is not for a parliamentary Opposition. Two out of 79 seats cannot reflect the will of the people. The people are sensible. They want to have an honest government to govern them, to lead them to a better future, and they have chosen the People's Action Party. The Member for Anson wants to know how the Government will help the growth of the Opposition Parties in Singapore. He knows full well that political Parties are rivals. They are political adversaries. They fight, sometimes tooth and nail, to win the right to govern Singapore. That is a fact of parliamentary democracy. Parties collect candidates. They stand for elections with a programme to sell to the people, and they fight to earn the right to run the country. Even the Opposition Parties themselves are competing. We see here, in this House, the Member for Anson always being the first to jump up, whether it is to move a motion or to make a speech. So there is this competition going on. Who is in fact the leader of the Opposition? I think these are facts. If political Parties do not compete with one another, whether they are in the opposition or whether in the government, then in fact the members should be helping one another in the same Party, selling the same programme. A fundamental fact of parliamentary democracy is that political parties are rivals. Indeed, the Member for Potong Pasir in his maiden speech in this House on 4th March 1985, declared that he would not be loyal to the PAP. And indeed he has been doing all he could to make life difficult for us, to make our governing of Singapore more difficult. The Member for Anson has been doing the same thing since 1972, and perhaps even before that. We have not complained about the unhelpful attitude of the Opposition.”
“I am confident that they will be able to do so, given the years of their experience in their neighbourhood. 2.38 pm The First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence (Mr Goh Chok Tong): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I can take this debate in one of two ways: to answer the allegations of the two Opposition Members point by point, or to widen the discussion to concentrate on bigger issues, the real issues that Singaporeans will have to face in the years to come. For example, how do we guarantee that Singaporeans will not become unwanted refugees? How do we ensure that they have got decent homes to live in, a good job with better pay? I think our interests are better served this afternoon if I were to widen the discussion to include these fundamental issues. Have we obstructed the growth of the Opposition in Singapore? Ever since the PAP came to power in 1959, have we not been holding elections regularly? Have these elections not been held honestly, fairly? Has there been a single allegation that we have not held our elections fairly, honestly? And have the Opposition Parties not participated in these elections? The Member for Anson took over the Workers' Party in 1972. He immediately fielded 27 candidates for the elections held in that year. He did not win a single seat. In 1976, he fielded 22 candidates. All lost. In 1980, all his eight candidates were rejected. In 1984, he fielded 15 candidates, He was the only member of his Party to win a seat. Another Member from another Party won another seat. The PAP won 77 of the 79 seats. Of course, there was a swing of 12.6% away from the PAP. But the bottom line is that some 63% of the people voted for the PAP. So what is the will of the electorate? The will of the electorate is for an honest, dedicated, effective government.”