Seet Ai Mee
Singapore
“However, it will not be cost effective to develop a Masters programme at University level in the next 5-10 years. It is unlikely that there will be a demand for such a programme.”
“The Member for Jalan Besar GRC spoke about his Town Council's difficulty in getting low-income families to pay conservancy charges. May I suggest that for those who do qualify for the Rent and Utilities Assistance Scheme, he refers them to the Singapore Council of Social Service and takes advantage of the scheme available.”
“The RUAS is not a scheme to give hand-outs to the indolent and those who do not want to work. In Singapore, an able-bodied person has no difficulty getting a job. He can walk into one any time.”
“We are aware that the Day School Programme will affect the lifestyle of many people - principals, teachers, parents and pupils as well as administrative and support staff in the schools. The Government is ready to support it because people have asked for it and primary school children have a need for it.”
“The SNCF is the body which utilises this fund and will organise the education and training courses. These courses include computer programming, use of word processing and other software, report and minute writing, managing a thrift and loan co-operative, public speaking and presentation skills, etc. The list is long.”
“Sir, may I be permitted to check on the facts? I disagree with the Member for Potong Pasir that we did not get any medal during the Commonwealth Games but I may be wrong. Sir, we do have a sports excellence programme.”
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“Our trip to Taiwan and Hong Kong was not intended to identify core values to be taught, but to examine the approaches used by these countries in teaching traditions and values through the primary school, and the outcome of these approaches, and, also, to study their system of training primary school teachers. What did we find? Moral Education in Taiwan's primary schools is targetted at teaching pupils in good habits for wholesome living, fostering in pupils virtues like loyalty, filial piety, kindness, etc, and developing in pupils good character and lofty national sentiments. Mr Speaker, Sir, Members may say that we do almost the same here, and I am in total agreement with them. There is, however, a major difference. In Taiwan, the teaching of morals pervades the curriculum. Besides Moral Education taught in the syllabus, there is moral content in other subject areas, particularly in language teaching and the social studies curriculum. And there are many supportive activities which buttress the teaching, eg, formation of pupil councils, participation in service projects, participation in school cleanliness, assembly talks, etc, and parent education programmes where the pupil's personal conduct, social development, as well as academic progress, are monitored and discussed regularly with the parents. Sir, in teacher education in Taiwan, in the training of teachers, great emphasis was placed on personal development of the teacher, fostering in teachers a commitment to serve as role models to their pupils. The whole environment of the Teachers' Colleges from the dormitories to the lecture halls centres on this theme. Indeed, the central role of the teacher as exemplar contributes to the success of the Moral Education programme in Taiwan.”
“Grandparents, parents and teachers were also firm in advocating the need for improvement of curricular material and teaching methods, to impart culture, stimulate interest and participation in the value-learning exercise through the teaching of the mother tongue and through the moral education syllabii. Recognizing that values are not only taught but also caught, many expressed the need to teach core values indirectly through the whole school curriculum and co-curricular programmes. It was further emphasized that, as values are inculcated at home, taught and reinforced at schools and practised in society, it is necessary to have the involvement of the whole society, especially the media, in the fostering and teaching of core values to our children. Much public interest was generated recently by the study trip to Taiwan and Hong Kong, resulting in advice from the Member for Moulmein cautioning us not to act impulsively from superficial glimpses, as both Taiwan and Hong Kong are racially and culturally homogeneous societies. We won't. As to his suggestion that we should look in our own backyard, I wish to assure him that the curriculum team is one involved in the Good Citizen programme and three of our own home-grown experts went with me on the study tour. We do not wish to reinvent the wheel. If we are wise, we will learn from those who have done it earlier, and who, in our thinking, have done it well. We can benefit from their experience, and the pay-off accrued will provide us with a headstart, and long-term gains.”
“Consultation and discussion with a cross section of the population through the Feedback Unit and with teachers' unions and organizations have yielded a listing of important values and concepts on how these values ought to be taught. Sir, I shall not take up your time with a complete listing of the desirable values identified by our population. Suffice it to say that the listing is available to Members who may be interested. The values identi- fied covered the total societal spectrum, ie, from self, to family, community, the nation and the world. However, it is needful for me to report that many identified the need to consider the following factors when formulating these core values: Firstly, the sensitivities of the different groups in our multi-racial, multi-religious society, each with its particular cherished values and shades of interpretation of the same. Secondly, the need for judicious balance in promoting core values, taking into account the differences between Asian and Western values and influences. Thirdly, the values to be incorporated should go beyond a listing of virtues, but should instead be those principles that are relevant and desirable, and which can be practised in the present-day context. Fourthly, the forging of consensus and commitment to the desirable values takes time. There was consensus that for maximum impact and effective inculcation, values have to be taught young, that means at the primary school level. However, there was much emotion, and some variance, in the discussion of the language in which it was to be taught, with more advocating that core values should be taught in the mother tongue.”
“May I suggest to the Member for Potong Pasir that, besides reading the Confucian ethics school textbooks as suggested by Dr Aline Wong, he consult the hon. NCMP on matters related to Confucianism before he makes further pronouncements on the subject. The problem is not a new one. A decade ago, in an attempt to correct the situation, the 2nd Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Ong Teng Cheong, at the request of Dr Goh Keng Swee, led a Committee to investigate the teaching of Moral Education in schools. This resulted in the publication of the "Report on Moral Education 1979", development of special curricular Moral Education materials and setting up of Moral Education teaching in our schools. Today, 10 years down the line, there is much evidence to suggest that modernization has made even greater inroads into Singapore lives, and there is fear that we may be losing our roots in our culture and our values. Indeed, Mr Speaker, Sir, in the last five months, while there has been much discussion about the identification of core values, and vehicles and methods for their transmission, there has been no one who has stood up to say that we as a nation do not need core values. To identify desirable values and to select from these core values is not an easy one in our multi-cultural, multi-racial and multi-religious society. It is like picking out the prime colours from a colourful mosaic. After the values are identified will come the need to disseminate these values with the aim of establishing them in our society. The first major task given to me on taking office was that of investigating the dissemination of core values.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank our Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) for his kind remarks and cautious reminder to political leaders to be good examples. I am glad that in the area of core values he is very much on our side. May I suggest to the Member for Potong Pasir that, besides reading the Confucian ethics school textbooks - unfortunately he is not here - as suggested by Dr Aline Wong, he consult the hon. NCMP on matters related to Confucianism before he makes further pronouncements on the subject. Singapore is undoubtedly a modern and industrialized society which has made every effort to achieve a higher growth rate in the economy. Concomitantly, new values and social norms have been introduced and adopted by the nation. Not all these new values can be termed "desirable" ones and as these found their way into our lives, traditional values were displaced.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, it is going to be difficult for us to draw the line between the care-giver who can be considered for registration and one who cannot. Control measures to prevent such abuse will be difficult and expensive. So it would be difficult for us to implement this kind of subsidy. WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ACT (Review of compensation) 7. Dr S. Vasoo asked the Minister for Labour whether he will review the compensation payable under the Workmen's Compensation Act in the light of the changing industrial structure and economic circumstances.”
“In the same way as we do not produce geniuses every day, it would be difficult to produce Olympic medallists every day. FEEDER-BUS SERVICE TO MRT STATIONS The following Question stood in the name of Dr Koh Lam Son - 5. To ask the Minister for Communications and Information what the Public Transport Council proposes to do to satisfy the need of residents living in Housing and Development Board estates closely to Mass Rapid Transit stations, such as the Telok Blangah Heights/Drive Estates, for a direct feeder-bus service to the MRT stations.”
“Mr Speaker, as a sportswoman, I am aware that much discipline goes into the preparation and selection of sportswomen or men for any competition. I believe the procedure is correct. Only those who excel in SEA Games, in Asian Games and in Commonwealth Games will have proven their ability, and we can then look into the kind of training they will need for the next Olympics.”
“The usual preparations: the selections will be made after the SEA Games, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.”
“Can the Senior Parliamentary Secretary inform the House how many were rejected? And also for 1989, is the Senior Parliamentary Secretary able to inform this House how many possibly will be approved for this year?”
“717 - 718) Aside from the financial assistance schemes, the Government also provides developmental assistance to local SMEs. These schemes include: Local Industry Upgrading Programme (LIUP) which helps SMEs in our supporting industries upgrade, by helping to forge ties between them and multi-national corporations (MNCs) in Singapore. So far, 21 MNCs have teamed up with the EDB to upgrade their local suppliers. Eight of these MNCs have implemented the scheme fully, providing assistance to 58 local SMEs. Another developmental assistance scheme is what we call the Technology Adoption and Automation Programmes which include schemes implemented by SISIR such as technology promotion and information services, competence centres for contract R&D, consultancy, testing and technical services, incubator units for technology innovation and quality upgrading services to meet export requirements. The results of all these financial and developmental assistance schemes are becoming visible. The participation rate in these schemes is high. By helping to reduce the financial and technological risks, these schemes have raised the confidence of local entrepreneurs. This is reflected in the significant increase in the value of local investment commitments from $295.1 million in 1987 to $347.8 million last year. The number of local enterprises also increased substantially from 64,200 to more than 71,000 over the same period. Dr Wong Kwei Cheong (Cairnhill): Sir, based on the table of financial assistance given to SMEs which was circulated to Members, may I ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary that for the design venture programme, why is it only 18 were approved in 1988? Is it because there was a lack of applications or is it because of the stringent requirements?”
“The voluntary organization concerned is the Young Men's Christian Association. ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS IN 1988 (Progress report) 8. Dr Wong Kwei Cheong asked the Minister for Trade and Industry if he will give a progress report of assistance rendered to local entrepreneurs during 1988 in terms of (i) the amount of grants and cheap loans extended, (ii) the number of local companies that have benefited from such financial assistance, and (iii) the kind of assistance and results extended by the Trade Development Board, Economic Development Board and Singapore Institute of Standards and Industrial Research. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Trade and Industry (Mr Eugene Yap Giau Cheng) (for the Minister for Trade and Industry): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am answering on behalf of my Minister. Sir, the Government's assistance schemes to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are comprehensive. They are designed to help local SMEs gain access to financing, fixed capital investments, technology and know-how. The major financial assistance schemes which Members are familiar with include: (i) Small Industries Finance Scheme (SIFS); (ii) Liberalised Investment Allowance Scheme (LIAS); (iii) Small Industry Technical Assistance Scheme (SITAS); (iv) Business Development Scheme (BDS); (v) Market Development Assistance Scheme (MDAS); (vi) Product Development Assistance Scheme (PDAS); (vii) Design Venture Programme. As at the end of 1988, there were 8,719 cases of direct financial assistance given to local SMEs under the above schemes. This amounted to some $1.38 billion. Details are given in the Table (Cols. 717 - 718) that I have circulated to Members. Table - SUMMARY TABLE OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GIVEN TO SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES (Cols.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Bill just provides the court with an attractive method dealing with an offender who might otherwise have to be committed to a penal of corrective institution. Not all offenders are eligible for probation, whether it is for a minimum of six months or a maximum period of 36 months. So there is still provision for the bad offenders to be under probation for 36 months. Because this Bill has not been implemented, we of course cannot give him a report on whether there has been any success in that area of rehabilitation within six months. However, the Ministry has made studies and followed up cases of rehabilitation after the period of 12 to 36 months. Two studies were undertaken by the Ministry to measure these long-term after-conduct effects. They showed that in the case of adult probationers, nearly 55% steered clear of the law five to seven years after they are discharged. And for juvenile probationers, 58% steered clear of the law. This is an indication that there is a good degree of success after probation. But I would take note of his request, and after this is instituted, we will follow up cases who have been on six months' probation and see if the degree of success matches this or betters the percentages we have obtained with those under the old 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. - [Dr Seet Ai Mee.] Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. DESTITUTE PERSONS BILL Order for Second Reading read.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, if I read the Member for Tiong Bahru GRC correctly, he is not objecting to the reduction of the terms but he is worried that rehabilitation process should be closely monitored. I did not quite get what he meant by that aspect of it.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." The Bill seeks to amend the Probation of Offenders Act to reduce the minimum period of probation from one year to six months and to increase the fine for failure to comply with a probation order from $100 to $500. For certain offenders, particularly those with no previous delinquent traits and who commit minor offences, a minimum one-year period probation is too long. Experience shows that offenders, particularly young offenders, who come from relatively stable homes and who have had good school or employment records, only need a shake-up. Such offenders would benefit more from short concentrated rehabilitation work within the first six months of their probation order. The fine for failure to comply with conditions of a probation order was set at $100 in 1951. It is too low a sum to be a deterrent in present day circumstances. The Bill also seeks to delete section 5(5) of the Act which requires the Government to appoint as Probation Officer the person responsible for the supervision of the probationer. For many years, this section has been a dead letter because of frequent changeover of staff due to resignation or transfer. The courts and the Probation Service have grown over the years and the Magistrates and Judges cannot be expected to know the Probation Officers intimately. It will suffice for the offenders to be placed under probation supervision. There is no need for the courts to name the officer who should be responsible for the supervision. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed.”
“In Singapore, if we define poverty to mean the indigent or starving, there are few. If we define it by mean lower income, it is subject to many vagaries. From a labour force survey in 1988, based on gross household income data, it was estimated that 20,430 very low income families, or 4.8% of total households, with gross minimum household income of less than $400. Can a household really manage on less than $400 a month? This 4.8% are therefore, really, really, poor! In the experience of the hon. Member for Kebun Baru and the Ang Mo Kio Town Council, 4.5% of households were in arrears of service and conservancy charges of six months or more, and in a recent article in December 1988 the hon. Member asked: "Who will help the poor in Town Councils?"”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the motion moved by the Member for Siglap in thanking the President for his Address. Mr Speaker, Sir, in two important documents presented by our First Deputy Prime Minister in 1984 and 1988, namely, "The Vision of 1999" and "Agenda for Action", Singapore is depicted as the "Switzerland of Asia" with highly developed manufacturing and service industries, vibrant economy, per capita income of US$15,000 or more, a beautiful and efficient city, where Singaporeans have more leisure and are more mature, better educated, and live in harmony and tolerance. The First Deputy Prime Minister has painted a beautiful picture - one which tugs at the very heart strings, truly a utopian and perfect picture. Referring to perfect pictures, I am reminded of this anecdote: While looking at him painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, Pope Julius II criticized Michelangelo and suggested that the artist put a gilding round where the prophets were depicted or, the Pope added, "they would look poor." "But", Michelangelo replied, "the people I painted were poor". In Singapore, economic growth has enabled our people to improve dramatically our standard of living. Our per capita GNP is now among the highest among the countries of Asia. Higher productivity in the economy has meant that people have been able to purchase more goods and services than ever before. Poverty has decreased by most measures because the economy has been successful in expanding business activity without excessive inflation. However, the prosperity of the last decade is not shared by all. There are some in our community who have missed out. Mr Speaker, Sir, to the question of how many are poor, there is no simple answer.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support my colleague, Mr Chandra Das, in rejecting the amendment. Dr Lee, in his presentation, attacked the slogan "Three or more if you can afford it" and labelled it as discriminatory. As a wife and mother, I find the statement perfectly acceptable. Sir, it is irresponsible to bring children into the world if we cannot look after them.”