Sia Kah Hui
Singapore
“Mr Speaker, Sir, a supplementary question. Is the Minister not aware that times have changed and continue to change? There are already so many complaints from flat buyers against the sub-contractors. I have here just two samples, one from the Singapore Monitor and the other from the Straits Times.”
“To ask the Minister for National Development if he will justify the increase by the Housing and Development Board from $3 p.m. rent to $785 p.m.”
“Not a copy of the letter which your Parliamentary Secretary has sent because, as I have read earlier on, this letter is not clear. Because it says, "to discharge your (the developer's) obligation to clear the temple." The developer says, "Here you are. This clearly says so.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, does the Minister know that after I have written to the developer who had in writing assured the temple people that he would build them a new temple at the developer's expense, his reply to me was that Government had taken over his obligation.”
“Sir, I am not the one who is not clear and I am not the one who is involved in this. It just happened that the developer takes your letter to mean that you are freeing him from his obligation.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Minister what difficulty is there that he does not want to clear this up? It is not with me. I understand, but the developer does not. He sends the letter from the Government to the temple saying, "Here you are, you see, I paid this money and there is a receipt. I am free from my obligation.”
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Every one of 309 lines we hold for Sia Kah Hui, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 7.
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I can only say that each case will have to be considered on its own merits.”
“Sir, there are many different shades of people and character in this world. It is almost impossible to lay down anything definite. Just look at the Gentlemen across the Floor. Each Member has a different background and each has a different face. So how are we going to lay down the rules as to whom we will give sympathetic consideration?”
“Sir, I do not think that would be practical. For example, people who apply for citizenship at the present time do not get their applications approved. But if they had applied, say, five years ago, their applications would have been approved. Therefore, it is almost impossible to lay down such a policy as indicated by the Member for Bras Basah.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have indicated just now that sympathetic consideration will be given to applications for citizenship. But as far as the policy is concerned, it is constantly under review.”
“To meet the requirements of industries for skilled personnel on a long-term basis, Government has taken measures to restructure the educational system so that there will be an increasing number of school-leavers in the coming years with vocational and technical training. From time to time, various organisations, including the Ministry of Labour, the National Productivity Centre, the Technical Education Department of the Ministry of Education, and the Economic Research Centre of the University of Singapore, have carried out their own surveys to ascertain the manpower requirements in certain specific areas or industries. At the moment, the question of an overall survey is not an urgent one. If at some future date the situation demands it, Government will consider making an overall survey to ascertain the skilled manpower requirements of Singapore. PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT PASSES (Particulars of applications) 3. Mr Ang Nam Piau asked the Minister for Defence (a) how many non-citizens have applied for Professional Employment Passes from August, 1968, up to the latest convenient date; (b) how many applications were approved; and (c) the reasons for rejecting the other applications.”
“I do not think I have anything to add to that. LABOUR SHORTAGE (Survey of situation in Singapore) 2. Mr Ang Nam Piau asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour (a) whether there is a shortage of skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour in Singapore recently due to the Government's policy of rapid industrialisation; (b) what steps have been taken or are being taken to remedy the situation; and (c) if he will consider an overall survey to ascertain the actual situation. Mr Sia Kah Hui (for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour): Mr Speaker, Sir, according to the categories and numbers of persons currently registered for employment in the Employment Exchange, there appears to be a shortage of skilled labour and to a lesser extent semiskilled labour in Singapore. However, there is no shortage of unskilled labour. Out of a total of 52,115 persons registered for employment at the Employment Exchange as on 30th November, 1969, 1,475 were registered as skilled workers, 3,259 as semi-skilled workers and 28,854 as unskilled workers. The remaining persons were registered as commercial and domestic workers. The steps taken by the Government to meet the immediate shortage of skilled workers include (i) encouragement to industrial concerns to undertake their own training programmes to meet their demands for skilled workers; (ii) permission for industrial concerns to bring in skilled labour from outside Singapore; (iii) provision of special courses to upgrade and retrain workers in the Vocational Institutes and the Industrial Training Centres by way of day-release and evening classes.”
“No, Sir. It can be seen from page 49 of the 1968 Report of the Ministry of Labour, where there is a report of a sample survey, that the average monthly income was $180.60.”
“Sir, that is a hypothetical question. I do not think I am in a position to answer that.”
“Sir, depending on the individual case, I am sure the deceased's family is at liberty to seek workmen's compensation or to seek redress in the High Court.”
“I think that is laid down as compensation; that is, a man's life-span of work expected of him. But I am sure, if the Member has any suggestion to make, we will be very glad to receive it.”
“Sir, that is the common practice when recruiting Government officers.”
“Sir, I have already indicated in my answer that the number of posts has already been increased in the 1969-70 Estimates. I think that is as far as we can go at this stage. An hon. Member: Is there a need?”
“Sir, I fully agree with what the Member for Sembawang has said.”
“I do not know whether the Member can indicate an instance where the Inspectors of Factories were not available to deal with any case in hand. As far as I know, there has been no complaint of any negligence or unsatisfactory performance of their duties. But, as I said, if we can make out a strong case that there is really a need for an increase in the number of Inspectors of Factories, I am sure the Minister for Finance will give it sympathetic consideration.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have already indicated that we have increased the number of posts in the Factory Inspectorate and that is as far as we can go just now.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think every department would like to increase its staff, but there is always a limit. I am sure as time goes on and when the need is such as to enable us to convince the Minister for Finance, I am sure more posts could be created.”
“They have completed their reports and their recommendations are being studied by the Government with a view to their implementation. The reorganisation of the Factory Inspectorate to increase its effectiveness is one of the recommendations made by the experts. However, industrial safety and health is not just a problem of enforcement. Both management and workers at factory level must themselves ensure that the laws enacted for the health and safety of workers are strictly observed.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Factory Inspectorate has already been strengthened by the creation of two posts of Inspector of Factories, one in 1968 and another in 1969. In 1967, the Factory Inspectorate had only four posts of Inspector of Factories in addition to the Chief Inspector of Factories and the Senior Inspector of Factories. The established posts of Inspector of Factories have now been increased to six in the I 969-70 Estimates. Although all the posts of Inspector of Factories have been filled, two of the officers have been taken into national service. To make up for the loss of service of these two Inspectors of Factories, provision has been made in the 1969-70 Estimates for a supernumerary Inspector of Factories to be recruited. Attempts are now being made to fill this post on a temporary basis until the return of the two Inspectors of Factories from national service, one in April and the other in September 1970. The salary scale of Factory Inspectors, including the Chief Inspector of Factories and Senior Inspector of Factories who are all qualified engineers, was revised in July this year to bring it into line with that of engineers employed in other departments of Government, such as the Public Works Department. Since the staff in the department is limited in number, consisting in all of 18 persons, Government has not seen fit to upgrade the post of Chief Inspector of Factories and Senior Inspector of Factories. If, however, the department is reorganised, consideration will be given to upgrade these two posts. Recognising the importance of industrial safety in the context of rapid industrialisation, Government has obtained the services of two International Executive Service Corps experts to make a study of industrial safety and health in industrial establishments.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir,I think the Member is anticipating the answers to his next question, because he is now dealing with the next question. FACTORY INSPECTORATE (Increase and upgrading of staff) 5. Inche Abdul Aziz Karim asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour if he will consider (i) strengthening the Factory inspectorate by increasing the numbers of Senior Inspectors and Inspectors of Factories; (ii) upgrading the posts of Chief Inspector, Senior Inspector and Inspector of Factories and (iii) re-organising the Factory Inspectorate to increase its enforcement capability.”
“I am afraid I have no idea of how old it is,”
“It is not just a simple matter of putting the recommendations into our present legislation. This sort of thing will take time. As far as the present Ordinance is concerned, we feel that it is quite adequate to meet our present needs. However, I am sure that when the time comes, steps will be taken to deal with such matters. I think the next question of the Member on the Order Paper will deal with that. Mr Ho See Beng (Bras Basah): Mr Speaker, Sir, arising out of this question, may we know how old is the Factories Ordinance?”
“The I.L.O. recommendations are being implemented.”
“Sir, as I have indicated just now, the present Ordinance is adequate to meet the present requirements. I think the House was told yesterday by the Minister for Health that the Industrial Health Unit was going to play a major part on the whole question of industrial safety.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, for the period 1st May, 1968, to 30th November, 1969, 2,257 work permits have been issued to Singapore blue identity card holders and 876 work permits have been issued to others, making a total of 3,133 work permits issued. IN-SERVICE TRAINING COURSES FOR TEACHERS (Particulars) 3. Mr N. Govindasamy asked the Minister for Education (a) how many teachers have attended in-service training courses, which will qualify them for incremental credits, up to the latest convenient date; (b) what is the basis of selection of teachers for participation in such courses; (c) how many teachers have attended more than one such course; (d) how many teachers who had undergone in-service training courses have been utilised in the Education Service; and (e) whether he will consider increasing the number of in-service training courses to enable more teachers to take advantage of such courses.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Central Provident Fund Board could set up the machinery to calculate the interest on Central Provident Fund accounts on a monthly or even daily basis if the Ordinance required it, but the administration of the Fund would be much more complicated and expensive than it is at present. A change of the method in calculation would not make more interest available for distribution to the members of the Fund and it is the Board's view that the present system is both simple and equitable. SCHOOL BUS SERVICES 8. Mr Ang Nam Piau asked the Minister for Education (a) what steps have been taken towards improving the schools transport service; and (b) whether there has been any response from schools to his suggestion on 17th December, 1968, that schools run school bus services of their own.”
“There may well be many people inside and outside the Board who are qualified to fill that post at the moment, but the question does not arise whether the present incumbent should be replaced when the time comes.”
“Sir, I do not think it is proper to answer that question at the moment.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Central Provident Fund Board proposes to fill the post of General Manager permanently when the contract of employment of the present incumbent, who is incidentally a Singapore citizen, expires on 30th April, 1971. A decision will be made by the Board at about that time.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as the hon. Member seeks clarification. I must explain in some detail the circumstances under which citizen identity cards are, or are not, issued on the strength of a certified extract from the Adopted Children Register. When an applicant produces an extract from the Adopted Children Register issued by the Registrar of Births and Deaths, Singapore, as directed by the District Judge in the Adoption Order, with place of birth shown thereon as Singapore, he is requested to produce a copy of the Adoption Order. Whether or not an Adoption Order is proof of one's birth in Singapore will depend on the terms of the order and evidence before the court making the order. If proof of place of birth is furnished to the satisfaction of the court, it will be stated in the order itself. In such cases, a citizen (pink) laminated identity card will be issued. If however a birth certificate cannot be produced and all that is relied upon to prove place of birth is a statutory declaration, then this evidence would not be conclusive evidence of place of birth, but only prima facie evidence in support of it. In such cases, a non-citizen (blue) identity card will be issued. It is also pertinent to point out to the hon. Member that an Adoption Order does not go into the question of nationality. CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND BOARD (Permanent filling of General Manager's post) 6. Inche Abdul Aziz Karim asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour if he will ascertain from the Central Provident Fund Board whether the post of General Manager of the Board will be permanently filled when the contract of employment of the present incumbent expires on 30th April, 1971.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have indicated that the injured workman is paid two-thirds of his monthly earnings or $130, whichever is the less, and I think that is roughly the correct figure for the moment. SINGAPORE CITIZEN IDENTITY CARDS (Non-acceptance of certified extract from Adopted Children Register) 5. Inche Mohd. Ariff Bin Suradi asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour whether he is aware that a certified copy of an entry in the Adopted Children Register issued by the Registrar of Births and Deaths under the Adoption of Children Ordinance containing a record, approved by the court, specifying Singapore as the country of birth of the adopted person is not accepted by the National Registration Office in support of an application for the red (Singapore Citizen) identity card; and if he will clarify the matter.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, when the need arises we shall surely look more carefully into the subject.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, workmen's compensation is regarded more as substitute income and represents partial indemnity for the loss of earnings suffered by a workman as a result of an industrial accident. The quantum of compensation is based on the earnings of a workman, including any privilege or benefit which can be estimated in monetary terms. For computation of the amount of compensation payable, the monthly average earning for all classes of adult workers is estimated to be $200. In 1955 when the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance was enacted, such average monthly earning was estimated to be about $147.20 cents (based on a sample survey), while in 1968 it was about $180.60 cents. Therefore the average monthly earning of $200 is still equitable since the average monthly earning for workers still remains below $200. As for temporary disablement cases which constitute about 90 per cent of the industrial accident cases reported to the Ministry, the injured workman is paid two-thirds of his monthly earnings or $130, whichever is the less. In some cases employers pay their injured employees full wages throughout the period of temporary disablement, though they are not obliged to do so. At present we do not intend to introduce amending legislation for an upward revision of the scales of benefit. However, my Ministry will keep a close watch on the situation and consider introducing amending legislation when the need arises.”
“Sir, I cannot give a categorical answer to a hypothetical question. If the hon. Member can set out the particular case in writing, we shall certainly give him a satisfactory answer. WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE (Increase in benefit) 4. Mr Lim Soo Peng asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour whether he will consider introducing amending legislation for an upward revision of the scales of benefit in the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the policy on the grant of citizenship has already been enunciated by the Minister in this House on several occasions, and I do not think we need elaborate further on the subject.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, it is always our hope that the sooner that happens, the better.”
“Sir, I think it makes no difference whether we copy it or not so long as the objective is a good one. I think the hon. Member will agree that whatever is good any socialist government will adopt. Never mind where it comes from. SENIOR CAMBRIDGE EXAMINATION (Replacement by local examination) 13. Mr Lee Teck Him asked the Minister for Education whether and when the Senior Cambridge Examination will be replaced by an examination to be conducted by a local examination board. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Dr Lee Chiaw Meng) (for the Minister for Education)(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I remember during the budget debate for the current financial year, the hon. Member for Ulu Pandan raised the same question. Our answer remains the same. At the present moment, we have no intention to replace the Cambridge School Certificate Examination by a local examination because so far this examination can satisfy the requirements of Singapore in respect of examination of pupils in the English stream. However, in view of our bilingual education policy and the present emphasis on technical education, discussions are being held with the Cambridge Syndicate with a view to making such modifications and adjustments as are necessary to meet our new requirements. Mr Lee Teck Him rose -”
“Sir, the number of foreigners who have been granted Singapore citizenship under the 5-year rule is 65. Forty-three of them are employed by the Government and statutory bodies. Two such persons have left the service of the Government. The criteria adopted in granting Singapore citizenship under the 5-year rule were announced in May 1967. Briefly they are as follows. First, persons who invest a minimum of $250,000 in any industry in the Republic are given permanent residence by the Immigration Department. They are eligible to apply for citizenship under the 5-year criteria but citizenship is not automatically given to them. Secondly, senior civil servants and officers of statutory boards. Thirdly, persons possessing technical or managerial skills whom the Economic Development Board would like to attract to Singapore. Lastly, other persons who have made outstanding contributions to the progress and welfare of the Republic.”
“Sir, I do not think it is just a question of costs involved. We will still have to look for space and instructors, and there are so many other factors affecting such courses. If the unions concerned are interested in any particular retraining scheme, I shall be very glad to have some idea of it on paper. We can then give the matter serious consideration. SINGAPORE CITIZENSHIP FOR FOREIGNERS UNDER 5-YEAR RULE (Particulars) 12. Mr P. Selvadurai asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour (a) what is the number of foreigners who have been granted Singapore citizenship under the 5-year rule; (b) how many of them are employed by the Government and statutory bodies; (c) how many such persons have left the service of the Government or statutory bodies; and (d) what were the criteria adopted in granting Singapore citizenship under the 5-year rule.”
“Sir, based on the experience of the first course organised for ietrenched base workers, the total cost of retraining 561 workers would be in the region of $57,000, which would include instruction fees, cost of materials and overhead. On this basis, the estimated cost of training each worker for a period of three months would be about $100. If a retraining scheme were organised for retrenched workers in the private sector, the cost would probably be no different. Indeed, costs can be influenced by the type of training to be given. For example, if electric welding were to be taught, the cost of materials and electricity would be much higher. The hon. Member will appreciate that in the light of the answers I have given to his other questions, there appears to be no justification at the moment to incur such costs.”
“Sir, the magnitude of the redundancy problem affecting some 30,000 civilian employees in the British Armed Forces has made it imperative to organise a retraining scheme for these workers to fit them for alternative employment. This does not necessarily mean that all employees declared redundant can be retrained. The limited resources of the Technical Education Department are at the moment fully taken up in this task. It must be pointed out that the cost of training is high and, therefore, it is the intention of the Government to recover the training cost from the British Government under the special aid scheme. The Government does not propose to provide a retraining scheme for retrenched workers in the private sector because the number involved is very small. Further, a retraining scheme for retrenched workers in the private sector would call for the provision of substantial funds. This being so, it may well be necessary for training costs to be paid by the workers themselves. The hon. Member will appreciate that, taking the circumstances as a whole, there is no urgent need for a retraining scheme for retrenched workers in the private sector at the moment. RETRENCHED WORKERS (Estimated cost of retraining schemes) 11. Mr Eric Cheong Yuen Chee asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour what is the estimated cost for organising the retraining scheme for retrenched workers of the British military establishments; and what will be the estimated cost for providing similar facilities to retrenched workers in the private sector.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, that requirement applies only to receptionists. As the Member knows, receptionists should have certain qualities -among others, good looks as well as brains! An hon. Member: Is he qualified?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the plan is only on paper. It is most likely that the swimming pool will not be built, and that the money will be more usefully spent on other projects. The intention is to give the trainees on-the-job training. In other words, it will be run just like an ordinary hotel. We can say that it is a teaching hotel. The trainees will get practical training. For the school a certain amount of income is possible.”
“As for the qualifications required for the various categories of trainees, I will just say that for waiters, barmen, waitresses, the minimum qualification will be Secondary II, the age between 16 and 22, and the training period will be about 12 weeks; for room stewards or room stewardesses, a Secondary II or Vocational II qualification is required, the age between 20 and 25, and the training period will be six weeks; for the receptionist's course, a School Certificate is necessary, the age between 20 and 27, the male should have a minimum height of 5 feet 4 inches and the female 5 feet 2 inches, and the training period will be about five weeks. For the cashier's course, again a School Certificate is required, the age between 20 and 27 years, and the duration of training will be only one week. 3.00 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the expansion of the training scheme for the hotel and catering industry involves the building of a hotel school with a view to increasing the scope of the training courses as well as increasing the intake of trainees. We have sought assistance from the Colombo Plan and the United Nations Development Programme Special Fund for experts. In fact, a hotel and catering adviser, whose services were obtained originally through the Asia Foundation and subsequently through the United Kingdom Government, has been here since June 1967. It is expected that another expert under the Colombo Plan, a waiting and bar services expert, will be here early next year. With regard to the building of a hotel school, there are at the moment three possible schemes under active study. The first scheme is to convert the present training centre into a two-storey building and the building facilities will include class-rooms, hotel bedrooms, a production kitchen, a training kitchen, a restaurant, a bar, a bakery, a hotel office, a language laboratory, a library, a communal room for trainees and staff, store-rooms and a swimming pool. The hotel bedrooms and the other public rooms are intended to be used for on-the-job training. A more ambitious scheme is to build a six-storey building with double the facilities of the first one. The third scheme is to convert a block of Government flats at Nassim Hill Road and, if possible, the con struction of another block nearby. But this will involve much more money than what has been provided. Anyway, these schemes are under active study and I think a decision will be arrived at shortly.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the number of people who can be trained is limited by the facilities that are available.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the expenditure for constructing, equipping and furnishing the hotel school with the necessary building arrangements for on- the-job training in hotel-style accommodation is provided for in the Development Estimates for next year. The Member said that the Ordinary Estimates for next year provide for only a token sum of $10. The money required appears in the Development Estimates, But if the need should arise, an application will be made to the Treasury for funds to meet other expenses connected with this project. Mr Lim Cheng Lock: Am I to understand that additional training will not take place until the expansion of the building is completed?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the eloquence of so many Members who spoke on this subject really leaves me in a very difficult situation, But I wish to say something in general, first, because I think a careful study and understanding of the statement given by the Minister in this House on the 21st of May this year might be of some help. I quote from Hansard, Vol. 27, No. 7 dated 21st May, 1968, : '...the grant of citizenship is a matter of privilege and not of right. A person who has the necessary residential qualifications will not automatically be granted Singapore citizenship.'”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am in full agreement with the Member for Crawford that it is our responsibility to see to the safety and welfare of the workers. I am afraid he made a rather general statement when he said that factory owners do not conform to safety requirements. I can only say that, as far as the Factory Inspectorate is concerned, close liaison has always been maintained between the various bodies interested in safety requirements in factories, in this connection, the Economic Development Board is one of the bodies consulted. The duty of the Factory Inspectorate is to see that the minimum safety standards laid down in the law are complied with. With regard to the Member's statement that the Factory Inspectorate is short-handed and that it does not have the necessary experienced men, I can only say that, like all the other departments, we would like to have as many as possible on the staff and as many experts as we can get. But I am afraid, as is always the case, a balance must be struck somewhere. In this case, the provision in the Estimates is considered adequate.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there is no plan at present to extend the Central Provident Fund house purchasing scheme to enable members of the Central Provident Fund to purchase houses other than those built by the Housing and Development Board.”
“Sir, I was just a little bit surprised to hear the Member for Changi saying that the Property Tax Department is rather slow in assessing new houses. From personal experience, I think I have got to come to the defence of the Department. I have moved into a new house and, within two months, the assessment papers came, even before the certificate of fitness was received. For one year now, I have been living in a house and paying property tax without a certificate of fitness. I do not think the Property Tax Department are slow. I think they are very alert. I am speaking from personal experience. But the experience of the Member may be different.”