Teo Chong Tee
Singapore
“Sir, may I be allowed to express my heartfelt thanks to the Ministers for Communications, especially Dr Yeo Ning Hong and Mr Mah Bow Tan, and all the various transport authorities, for finally agreeing to bring the MRT extension line to Changi Airport after nine long years. [Applause].”
“Sir, may I ask the Senior Minister of State for Education whether he is aware that there is a growing population in Simei Estate, in particular, and there are a lot of young children who are now in our PCF kindergarten education centres? So we see a need for a primary school to be built within the Simei Housing Estate.”
“Having heard the Minister of State's reply, I have got a supplementary question. Why is the extension line not planned to go beyond the passenger terminals to the airline cargo complexes and engineering complexes where there are several thousand workers who are also dependent on public transport?”
“In view of the above circumstances, may I request the Minister to, firstly, consider reviewing the rules on the forfeiture of the security bond to protect the interest of the Singaporean employers and, secondly, consider allowing Singaporean employers whose maid has run away to employ another maid without delay while they search for the m…”
“Given the emotive element of this issue, it would be helpful if Singaporeans are informed of its progress from time to time and the approximate time-frame for the implementation of the committee's recommendation. Sir, I would appreciate it if the Minister would consider this suggestion.”
“Sir, I thank the Minister for his reply and beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $51,364,070 for Head S ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $257,500 for Head S ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.”
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“As such, it is typical to find that practically all teachers do not really teach but simply impart knowledge to the average and sometimes above-average students. In the process, the interest of many students is killed. This is the reason why most students do not look forward to going to school. Therefore, more attention should be given to seek solutions to this problem which is, after all, what education is all about. Next, I would like to mention something about the morale of teachers. Compared to the past, we can say that the morale of teachers has slightly improved. However, there is still much room for further improvement. Seriously speaking, the Ministry of Education can do much to improve the working conditions of teachers. At present what the Ministry of Education says seems to contradict what it actually does. For instance, according to the Ministry of Education, most of the vacancies for teachers have been filled, but there are still many relief teachers serving in our schools. These relief teachers come and go as they please and they cause a lot of disruption to the school curriculum. In fact, some of the relief teachers have been teaching for years and they are not considered for permanent appointment. Sir, with regard to the promotion of teachers, some Members in this House have already spoken on this subject. But I would like to add my piece. More thought should also be given to devising a new system of promoting teachers. In the last promotion exercise several thousand teachers were shortlisted for interview but only. a small percentage of them were promoted. As the number of vacancies for promotion was limited, one cannot understand why such a large number of teachers were shortlisted for interview.”
“In fact, the changes have been so rapid and sudden that not only the students but also the teachers and principals appear to be confused. Clearly, the Ministry of Education has not given enough thought to these changes before implementing them. This should be looked into seriously because the future of thousands of students is at stake. We hope that in future if any changes are to be made, a more thorough study would have to be carried out. A change can only be made if it is feasible and practicable. 7.15 p.m. At present all students have to go through six years of primary education. However, if they are retained on three occasions, they are channelled into Basic Course classes specially designed to provide them with simple skills to help them find employment eventually. It is also the objective of the Ministry of Education to keep these students in schools until they are old enough to seek employment. This scheme is beneficial to students who are not able to cope with the normal workload. This is a good thing. But the Ministry of Education must bear in mind that some students are slow developers and may thus be sacrificed if streaming begins too early. If more attention is paid to these students, they might be as good as any other students. Therefore, every parent would like to know whether steps have been taken to segregate this category of students so that they can be given remedial teaching. Moreover, teaching students in the Basic Course classes involves an entirely different technique and methodology. Has the Ministry of Education trained teachers specially to teach these classes? I feel that many of our teachers are not adequately trained to cope with students of varying standards and abilities in one class.”
“Sir, thank you for allowing me to speak on the same Subhead. Sir, mass recruitment of teachers is a thing of the past. Today, when it comes to recruitment of teachers, the Ministry of Education can afford to be choosy in placing emphasis on quality rather than quantity. Moreover, the Ministry of Education has not forgotten that teachers who are already in the education service need to be upgraded in their quality of service. As such various steps are being taken to improve the quality of teaching among serving teachers. Non-graduate teachers with potential are sent on scholarship to take up degree courses. A few years ago the Institute of Education introduced the Advanced Certificate-in-Education course for serving non-graduate teachers. Furthermore, in-service courses related to all aspects of teaching were planned for teachers from time to time. All these courses are designed to widen the knowledge of teachers and to keep them informed of the latest development in teaching techniques. Therefore, the emphasis is on the knowledge aspect. This leads one to question whether the steps taken at present are adequate. Improving the knowledge and skills of teachers alone, however, is insufficient to improve the quality of teaching. To be a good teacher, one must be interested in teaching and this can only be achieved if one has a keen interest in children, possesses a genuine interest in their welfare, has a healthy personality and character, holds high ideals and has a high sense of national consciousness. Thus, it is equally important to instil these qualities into our teachers. The educational system in Singapore has undergone tremendous changes in recent years.”
“To alleviate this problem, there should be effective control of all the entrances leading to the airline counters. Perhaps guards can be positioned to man the entrances. These guards should see that only people with air tickets are allowed to enter. Well-wishers should be segregated from the passengers. 7.45 p.m. Knowing that the volume of passengers is growing year after year and that the capacity of our airport is limited, it is surprising to note that plans to expand the airport facilities were obviously drawn up late. The New Arrival Block was only completed towards the latter part of last year and was put into operation sometime in December last. Modifications to the present Departure Block are now under way. Obviously plans for the expansion of the airport facilities were decided only when the present facilities at the airport were already taxed to their limit. Why did the relevant authorities make such late decisions for expansion of this Airport? Although the expansion is necessary to meet the present demand, I wonder whether this expansion should be continued on a large scale. May I know from the Senior Minister of State whether it is worthwhile spending so much money on expanding the present airport when it will be shifted to Changi in 2 to 2 1/2 years' time. How are we going to utilise the present facilities when the airport is shifted to Changi? Surely, these facilities will not be left idle or it will be a tremendous waste of public funds.”
“Sir, thank you for allowing me to speak on this subhead. Before I say a few words, I would like to assure Members of the House that I have no vested interest in this subject. Sir, Singapore is at the cross-roads between East and West and she is also strategically located in the centre of Southeast Asia. As such, she is an important point in air transportation. In recent years, statistics showed an increase in air traffic movement. This increase is expected to continue at a higher rate as is forecasted by various bodies involved in airport development. Past records and future forecasts in air traffic movements are important statistics for airport authorities because they indicate the facilities required in the airport. Today our airport, particularly at the departure terminal, is plagued with numerous problems. It is very congested at certain times of the day. The congestion in the passenger terminal has been relieved to a certain extent by the completion of the New Arrival Block. However, the situation at the departure area is still unbearable. If we were to visit the airport, we will see not only congestion but also confusion in the departure terminal during peak hours. Certainly, some measures can be introduced to ease the problems. We see large signboards reading "Entrance for Passengers only" prominently displayed at all entrances leading to the airline counters, but no one seems to take notice of them. As a result, the area is packed with more well-wishers than passengers, thus creating the congestion and confusion. In the midst of this congestion and confusion, thieving and pickpocketing could arise and, in fact, I believe these incidents are going on.”
“Sir, in view of the assurance given by the Senior Minister of State, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting - (13) That the sum to be allocated for Head N be reduced by $10 in respect of item 8301 of Subhead Code NG-02 of the Development Estimates.”
“Sir, the Senior Minister of State has not given me a really satisfactory answer in regard to the unhelpfulness of these resettlement officers. I would like to seek the Senior Minister of State's assurance that these officers who are now carrying out such exercises in my constituency are categorically told that they must be more helpful instead of trying to pass the buck to the Member of Parliament concerned. In this House last year I brought up the matter of unsympathetic officers of the Resettlement Department. As this problem is still existent in my constituency, it is apparent that the situation has not improved. During my meet-the-people sessions complaints have been brought to my attention about the unhelpfulness of these officers and the threatening attitude that they have adopted.”
“However, the situation is different for the older citizens. No factory will accept them because they have already passed their middle age and besides they do not possess other skills except farming skills in the case of the farmers. If these people have families to support them, everything is fine. But what about those who have families to support? Is the compensation offered to them adequate to last them throughout their lives, not forgetting that their cost of living is going to be higher when they shift into HDB flats? If not, what can they do, once their resources are depleted? Surely we do not expect them to live on fresh air alone! Therefore, the HDB should help them in seeking employment, irrespective of their ages. They should also be recommended for allocation of hawker stalls in particular, to enable them to earn a decent living.”
“If they refuse to sign the documents when they are told to do so, the unscrupulous officers threaten them by saying that they will bring in the demolition squad. If the farmers are illiterate, it is the duty of the officers to explain to them what is specified in the documents before asking them to sign. Obviously this is not done, presumably because the officers either adopt a "couldn't care less" attitude or are taking advantage of the people's ignorance for the benefit of their administrative convenience. Little do these officers realise that these signed documents may eventually deprive the people of some of their rights and privileges. Therefore, are we fair to the farmers as well as to the other people who are affected? I believe that such problems not only affect my constituency but also other constituencies as well. Another problem with regard to resettlement is the poor coordination between the Housing and Development Board and the Resettlement Department. I have personally come across several persons who were told to vacate their land by a certain deadline but the Housing and Development Board was not able to offer them flats before that deadline. This state of affairs is far from satisfactory. In actual fact. we expect the Housing and Development Board to offer them flats at least a few weeks in advance so that they can carry out renovations to their flats which take time. An important point which the HDB has failed to understand is that getting employment is as important as getting a place to live in. People like the farmers who are affected by resettlement often find difficulties in seeking alternative employment. This problem is not so critical with the younger generation because they are still flexible and they can look for a job.”
“This leads to many complaints of inadequate compensation. Whenever the farmers are not satisfied with the compensation, the so-called conscientious officers will ask them to see their MP. The existence of passing the buck is not acceptable. If the MPs have to attend to all these problems which should have been dealt with satisfactorily by these officers in the first place, what then is the job of the assessment officers? These problems will be pleasantly resolved if the officers take more interest in their job. We hope something can be done immediately so that the good name of the civil service will not be tarnished. Another problem which deserves our attention is the communication gap between the resettlement officers and those affected. Most of those affected, especially the farmers, are simple people and they are quite ignorant of the regulations and conditions governing their rights to monetary compensation as well as allocation of alternative accommodation. Simple as they are, they are still interested in their rights, However, some of the officers are not always in a position to enlighten the people regarding their rights because of their illiteracy. Can we have the assurance of the Hon. Minister that only people who are tactful, courteous, sympathetic and helpful are sent out to deal with the affected people? This is very important, as otherwise a lot of doubts will be instilled in the minds of those affected. I often come across many people who are very unhappy because of unjust treatment accorded to them. Another major complaint is that very often the people are told to sign documents against their rights. This is of great concern to them because they do not know what will happen to them next.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head N be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead Code NG-02 of the Main Estimates. Sir, redevelopment in Singapore is progressing at a rapid rate. Every year, hundreds of families are affected by resettlement and this often causes great inconvenience and hardship to many people, including farmers. The Government is fully aware of this fact and to alleviate this problem the people are given certain compensation. For instance, ,shopkeepers who are affected by resettlement are given priority in the allocation of shops in the Housing and Development Board estates. Furthermore, they are given concession in their rent for a certain number of years. Likewise, farmers are given priority in the allocation of flats if they choose to stay in flats. They are also given compensation to overcome their transition from a farming life to a completely new way of life. These measures taken by the Government are quite appropriate as it has alleviated the hardship of the people to a certain extent. 4.30 p.m. However, the attitude of the officers from the Resettlement Department leaves much to be desired. Some of the officers are adopting a "couldn't care less" attitude while others are over-zealous in their work. They think that their job is to get rid of those affected and the sooner they can accomplish this the more credit they will get. They fail to understand that affected people who have to vacate their land are making great sacrifices for national development and thus deserve fair treatment. I often receive complaints from these people that the officers of the Resettlement Department are unsympathetic and bureaucratic. To prove the point, the officers are very slipshod in their work, particularly in their assessment of compensation.”
“Sir, in view of the satisfactory explanation given by the Senior Minister of State, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment by leave, withdrawn.”
“The defects should be rectified otherwise the noise from the rubbish chute will disturb the neighbours in their sleep. Secondly, the repairs carried out by the HDB are too slow and are not properly done. I have received complaints about leakage of pipes and through the ceiling. If a report is made to the department concerned, the complainant will have to wait for several days before the repair is done. Meanwhile he has to bear the inconvenience of a continued leakage of the pipe and the ceiling. I hope the Minister will urge the Maintenance Department to take immediate steps to remedy the situation and, if necessary, to recruit more staff to cope with the workload. Thirdly, I would like to ask the Minister whether he is aware that there have been frequent thefts at the HDB market and cooked food hawker centre at the Marsiling housing estate. Implements and articles of trade are stolen. To protect the hawkers there, I would suggest to the Minister that security officers should be posted to the market and the hawker centre to prevent any further thefts. Fourthly, I would like to ask the Minister whether he has any plans to build residential flats and also shops in the Naval Base area in Sembawang because many people living there require such accommodation. I hope he will take steps to speed up the building of such flats there. There is a provision of over $900 million for this financial year. I hope enough funds are being set aside for such a purpose in the Sembawang Constituency. Lastly, I would like the Minister to consider whether immediate steps can be taken to set up sports and recreational facilities in Marsiling Estate, such as community centres, swimming pools, sports grounds and other such facilities for the use of the residents.”
“During the time of serious housing shortage 10 to 20 years ago, people would be overjoyed to be able to get just a very ordinary type of premises. Over the years the HDB has built many flats to satisfy the needs of the people. There is a couplet in an ancient poem that runs like this: "To build houses in the thousands, To please the poor all over the land". But today the HDB is not only building thousands of flats but tens of thousands. It is providing cheap accommodation for the common people. With the rise in the standard of living of the people, the HDB is now building flats with larger floor areas and better quality suitable for people in the middle income group. Under the Home Ownership scheme, it has also allowed the people to buy the flats on hire purchase terms by means of CPF contributions. At the moment 60% of our population are living in HDB flats. The achievements of the HDB are something which we can all praise and be proud of. But the Minister should not be overjoyed with such achievements. Certain flaws and defects can still be found. Let me convey to the Minister some of the views of the people. First, many people living in Marsiling Estate in Sembawang, which is a new HDB housing estate have complained of certain defects in the flats. The ceiling in the kitchen and toilet do leak. A loud noise can be heard from the rubbish chute whenever somebody throws rubbish, particularly items like glass. Certain sections of the rubbish chute are broken and as a result the rubbish spills into the flats of other occupants. Obviously the construction of the rubbish chutes is not strong enough because hollow bricks have been used in the building of the flats. I hope the Minister will go round and see for himself and try to remedy the situation.”
“Perhaps a new scheme of accepting applications for flats can be introduced. For instance, the number of flats that can be built in any estate can be estimated, using the available usable land as a guideline. The number of applications accepted in any area should be based on this estimation. If this is done, all applicants will be assured of flats in the locations of their choice if their applications are accepted. This will be better than to keep them waiting for a few years hoping to get a flat of their choice. Sir, I would also like to briefly say something about housing within the city area. Measures have been introduced to attract people to the city because it is reported that more and more people are moving out to new housing estates. However, does the HDB realise how many people are already on the waiting list for flats within the city area? Is the HDB able to satisfy the demand of these people? If not, why should more people be encouraged to apply for flats within the city area? Will it not worsen the situation and thus arouse discontentment among the people, if they have to wait for a long time before flats are allocated to them? Will the measures taken not be self-defeating, if the people become disillusioned with the Housing Board authorities? Mr Teong Eng Siong( In Mandarin): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, Members of this House have made a lot of criticisms on the Housing and Development Board yesterday. Today I would not like to criticise it but to praise it. The achievements of the HDB are very well known not only to the people of Singapore but also to other countries around the world. Some developing countries have even sent their representatives to Singapore to investigate and learn the administration and achievements of the HDB.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head N be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead Code NE-01 of the Main Estimates. Sir, today more than half of the population of Singapore are living in flats and this number is expected to increase in future. In fact, the demand for HDB flats is so great that it is not possible for the Housing and Development Board to cope with. However, with the intensification of housing development in recent years, it is reported that the number of applicants waiting for flats has been reduced considerably. It is true that the waiting list is now shorter, but the waiting time does not seem to improve except for new towns like Woodlands and Clementi. Sad to know, we are now in a position where in certain housing estates people are waiting for flats to live in, whereas in other housing estates flats are waiting for people to live in. I am sure the HDB knows about this. However, has any action been taken to remedy this unhealthy state of affairs? Perhaps it is interesting to know how the HDB decides on the number of flats to be built in each housing estate each year. Does the HDB take the choice of the people into account when deciding on housing developments? It is obvious that certain housing estates are more popular than others. Thus, to meet the demand of the people, the development programme in the less popular housing estates should be slowed down so that the limited resources can be mustered to intensify housing developments in the more popular housing estates. 3.15 p.m. It may be argued that the demand of the people could not be met in certain estates because land is limited. If this is the case, the present practice of accepting application for flats in the popular areas without limit should not be continued.”
“It is said that over the past few years, because of our tax measures, many traders dealing in traditional products like rubber, copra, palm oil and pepper have shifted their operation base to Hong Kong. This shift is not only a loss in terms of revenue to Singapore but also in terms of other chain benefits, such as banking, financing, insurance and shipping businesses. I therefore hope that the Finance Minister will also grant this concessional company tax rate to such offshore trading companies dealing in traditional products. Sir, over the past few years, with the concerted effort and cooperation of the various quarters, Singapore has been able to make progress in adversity and difficulty. With continued efforts and further cooperation from all concerned in the direction of our laid down development policies formulated in the interest of the people and the country, we will be able to move ahead together towards a more stable economic foundation and establishing a more fair and sound society, thus making Singapore a healthier and more progressive country. 7.08 p.m.”
“Local capital participation is still not ideal. I feel that the Government is not giving enough encouragement to local capital participation. While we could not deny the importance of foreign capital to our economic development, there should also be more local participation in our industrialisation. The mobility of foreign capital is high, because profits are the main consideration. If there are profits, it will stay. If there are little or no profits, it will run away. But it is different in the case of local capital, simply because local capital is deeply rooted. It just cannot run away. It is an integral part of our economy and grows with it. Therefore, it will be a judicious measure to give greater encouragement and assistance to our local capital to participate in industrial development. While touching on industrial development, the Finance Minister has also directed his attention to trade development. This will strike a balance in our economic development. However, on trade development the Finance Minister has given emphasis only on the promotion of export of industrial goods. All along, we have been giving the same emphasis when allowing deduction of double taxation for the participation in international trade fairs and trade missions abroad. The reduction of double taxation for permanent trade offices abroad for the first two years is also in the same vein. No adequate attention therefore has been given to our entrepot trade and trade with third world countries. Our entrepot trade has maintained our economic life-line over the past century. It is therefore regrettable that the concessional rate of 20% company tax is only applicable to offshore trading in respect of non-traditional commodities.”
“In his Budget statement the Finance Minister stated that in the new financial year the main industrial thrust will be to develop products that will be less sensitive to the political climate in the industrial countries. This is a correct measure. Only with this measure will we be able to find an outlet for our products in the face of increasing trade protectionism. For example, in the recent signing of the textile agreement with the United States, it is only after our textile manufacturers have agreed to reduce the quota of the items sensitive to the political climate in the United States that they have been able to get increased quotas of less sensitive items. In the Budget statement, the Finance Minister also stated that he would welcome multi-national corporations, and medium-sized and small-sized industries into Singapore to strengthen our industrial base. No doubt, multi-national corporations do make some economic contribution to our country and with our local existing medium and small-sized enterprises these two do complement each other. However, to a certain extent, are the multi-national corporations not strong competitors to the latter? It is my hope that the Government would look after these local medium- and small-sized enterprises as they are smaller in size and financially not strong enough and theref6re likely to become victims of this unequal competition. With the Government's assistance, they will be able to contribute to Singapore's economy. Over the past ten years or so, our emphasis has all along been on industrial development. At present, major industrial establishments are to a large degree as a result of foreign investments. Even in the case of joint ventures, they are mainly joint ventures between foreign capital and the Government.”
“Sir, this achievement is mainly attributed to the foresight of our Finance Minister who has adopted a realistic and enlightened policy to seize whatever opportunities advantageous to Singapore to promote our economic activities. He has also been able to take the necessary measures to cope with the ever changing situations in the international scene. On the domestic scene, the Government has been able at the same time to maintain political and social stability to provide a good investment climate. With the cooperation and effort of the Government, the employees and the employers, productivity has been increased, and it is through the hard work put in by the tripartite parties that we have been able to tide over many difficult times. This has come about definitely not by luck or chance. On the whole, the Budget presented by the Finance Minister reflects the wisdom of the Government, particularly in respect of tax adjustments which have great significance. The reduction in income tax and the increase in consumption tax is one of the main features of this budget before the House. It has significant merit in encouraging savings by the people. The reduction in personal income tax is also a piece of good news to the general wage earner. This measure reflects the intention and the determination of the Government to rationalise the tax structure in Singapore to bring about a more equal and just society. For the middle and upper middle income groups earning between $40,000 and $80,000 there will be a tax reduction of 10%. This is to prevent brain drain from this group of professionals on the one hand and to encourage greater and positive contribution from them on the other. In addition, this will assist in the further development of Singapore as a services centre.”
“Unfortunately, the Government has decided to take away this concession at this juncture when more people should be encouraged to make the living environment more congenial and pleasant. Will not the people neglect their gardens once this tax concession is taken away or has the Government now believed that maintaining a clean and attractive garden is part of the people's way of life? Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is my hope that the Minister for Finance would be able to devote sometime to devise a more equitable means of taxation. 6.57 p.m. Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon (Tiong Bahru)( In Mandarin): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, when the budget was presented by the Finance Minister last month, the Minister made a comprehensive survey on the economy of Singapore. He also made out the prospects of our economy this year together with an appropriate and realistic appraisal of the various problems that we have to face in the next two to three years. He has given a good analysis of the whole situation. Throughout last year, despite the world economy still in a state of stagnation and a very slow recovery of economic growth, Singapore's growth rate has been better than that in the advanced countries of the world. Our GDP increased by 7.8%, which is higher than the average growth rate of the countries in the world. For Singapore, a small island country without natural resources and independent for 13 years, it is quite a great achievement to be able to attain this growth rate in spite of strong protectionist pressure and sluggish economic growth of the major industrialised countries in the world.”
“The point that the last revision was some 12 years ago is appreciated. But I Wonder what is the aim of the Government in increasing this tax. Is the objective of the Government to discourage people from getting a driving licence, or has the administrative cost increased so much so that licence fees have to be increased so drastically? We should bear in mind that many farmers, delivery boys and even lorry drivers need driving licences to earn their living. For them, to pay $10 more a year is not a small sum. Over the past years, the Government has actively encouraged our citizens to appreciate some of the finer things in life such as music, drama and poetry. Officials from the Ministry of Culture have worked hard at organising concerts and recitals and establishing orchestras. Lately, even RTS announced the expansion of its FM stereo service. However, we are now told that there will be an increase in the Entertainment Duty which affect duty rates for cinemas, amusement parks, trade fairs and live entertainment such as stage plays, concerts, recitals, music performances and dances. If the increase in duty is not passed on to the consumers, we have nothing to grumble about. However, is the Government going to stand firm on this and make sure the increase in duty does not affect the consumers? Sir, it is the aim of the Government to make Singapore a clean and green city and to achieve this objective a tax incentive was given to owners and occupiers of houses to encourage them to maintain clean and attractive gardens. Today we can see many houses maintaining attractive and clean gardens and this is largely due to the tax concession offered by the Government.”
“Minister has not suggested any measure to bring them under this fold. Perhaps the Government could consider abolishing or modifying the present system of taxation and instituting in its place a system that taxes at source. The Government's concern over the continued increase in the number of cars on our roads is understandable, but it seems to me that the only means known to the Government to discourage car ownership is fiscal in nature. Increasing the additional registration fee by 25%, 100% or even 200% will not affect the upper income group. They can still afford to buy new cars and probably will. For some of the self-employed, expenditure on new cars are listed as business expenses and therefore eligible for tax benefits. However, has the Government thought of the problems that have been created for those fellow citizens who are in the lower income group? To these people, transportation is equally important. If they are discouraged to own cars, the only means of transportation is the public transport. However, our present public transport system is still not up to the required standard. Thus, these people are subject to a lot of inconvenience because they cannot afford to own cars and on the other hand they cannot rely on our bus services. Perhaps the Government should defer increases in Additional Registration Fee until such time when the people can rely on the public transport system. Another method of limiting car ownership without creating problems for the lower income group is to have a discrimination in taxing motorist. For example, we can have a progressive form of taxation for motorists. Sir, having had his vehicle taxes increased, the motorist finds that he now has to pay a 100% increase in driving licence fees.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, it is encouraging to hear that despite the poor shape of the world economy, we managed not only to hold our own but actually achieved a 7.8% growth. Obviously, the Government's monetary and fiscal policies have so far been very successful. For this, the Cabinet and in particular the Hon. Minister for Finance deserves our as well as the nation's congratulations. On the strength of the Government's past achievements, I have every confidence that we will continue to do well. It is apparent that attracting new investments into Singapore is not an easy task. Advanced countries are being pressured into instituting protectionist measures to protect their own sagging economy. By using various means at their disposal, these advanced countries are making overseas investments financially unattractive. It is therefore incumbent upon us to offset this by offering potential investors a disciplined, hard-working and skilled workforce, a stable political environment and as an extra special effort to tip the scales in our favour, tax incentives like those proposed by the Hon. Minister for Finance. With little to offer by way of natural resources, any serious reversal in the present influx of capital into Singapore will have dire consequences. The Government should be commended for this aspect of its tax policy. However, the same cannot be said for some of the other tax changes that have been proposed. Although attempts are being made to make taxation more equitable, the steps taken so far do not seem to be very successful. The working population are paying their income tax faithfully, but this is not true with the self-employed and businessmen. Despite acknowledging the existence of tax dodgers, the Hon.”
“A supplementary question, Sir. Would the Hon. Minister consider launching a courtesy campaign in all Government departments?”
“To ask the Minister for Social Affairs (a) whether the rates of public assistance can be increased to meet the present escalating cost of living, as many of the recipients consider the amount granted inadequate; (b) what was the number of recipients of public assistance as at 31st December, 1977; (c) how many of them were (i) below 40 years; (ii) between 40 and 60 years; and (iii) above 60 years of age; and (d) whether regular reviews are made to determine the continued eligibility of the recipients of such assistance. BILLS INTRODUCED ENLISTMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Enlistment Act (Chapter 229 of the Revised Edition)", presented by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence (Dr Goh Keng Swee); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament and to be printed. SINGAPORE ARMED FORCES (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Singapore Armed Forces Act, 1972 (No. 7 of 1972)", recommendation of President signified; presented by Dr Goh Keng Swee; read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament and to be printed. FACTORIES (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Factories Act, 1973 (No. 6 of 1973)", presented by the Minister for Labour (Mr Ong Pang Boon); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament and to be printed. PETROLEUM (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 3.34 p.m.”
“To ask the Minister for Social Affairs (a) how many written complaints of discourtesy and unhelpfulness against civil servants were received by the Central Complaints Bureau from the general public in 1975, 1976 and 1977; (b) whether the complaints have been thoroughly investigated and what disciplinary action has been taken against the guilty ones; (c) What measures have been taken to improve the situation; and (d) how many letters complimenting civil servants were received from the public in those three years. 35.”
“HIJACKING AND PROTECTION OF AIRCRAFT BILL "to give effect to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Seizure of Aircraft signed at The Hague on 16th December, 1970, and to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation signed at Montreal on 23rd September, 1971, and for purposes connected therewith", presented by the Minister for Home Affairs and Education (Mr Chua Sian Chin); read the First time: to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Chapter 15 of the Revised Edition)", presented by Mr Chua Sian Chin; read the First time: to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. JURONG TOWN CORPORATION (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Jurong Town Corporation Act (Chapter 209 of the Revised Edition)", presented by the Senior Minister of State for Finance (Mr Goh Chok Tong); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament and to be printed. PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 3.36 p.m.”
“To ask the Minister for Social Affairs (a) whether the rates of public assistance can be increased to meet the present escalating cost of living, as many of the recipients consider the amount granted inadequate; (b) what was the number of recipients of public assistance as at 31st December, 1977; (c) how many of them were (i) below 40 years; (ii) between 40 and 60 years; and (iii) above 60 years of age; and (d) whether regular reviews are made to determine the continued eligibility of the recipients of such assistance. BILLS INTRODUCED PARLIAMENTARY PENSIONS BILL "to provide for the grant of pensions and gratuities in respect of service as Members of Parliament and as holders of ministerial and other offices and for purposes connected therewith, and to repeal the Parliamentary Pensions Act (Chapter 51 of the Revised Edition)". recommendation of President signified; presented by the Minister for Law, the Environment and Science and Technology (Mr E.W. Barker); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. PETROLEUM (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Petroleum Act (Chapter 256 of the Revised Edition)", presented by the Senior Minister of State for National Development (Dr Tan Eng Liang); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament and to be printed. TRUSTEES (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Trustees Act (Chapter 40 of the Revised Edition)", presented by Mr E.W. Barker; read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament and to be printed.”
“To ask the Minister for Social Affairs (a) how many written complaints of discourtesy and unhelpfulness against civil servants were received by the Central Complaints Bureau from the general public in 1975, 1976 and 1977; (b) whether the complaints have been thoroughly investigated and what disciplinary action has been taken against the guilty ones; (c) what measures have been taken to improve the situation; and (d) how many letters complimenting civil servants were received from the public in those three years. 51.”
“To ask the Minister for Home Affairs and Education if part-time National Servicemen residing in Pulau Tekong can be assigned patrol duties on the island itself, instead of being asked to report to the mainland where they have to incur additional expenses by having to remain overnight after duty, as there is no more launch service in operation from Changi Point to take them back to the island. 37.”
“Overloading in these buses may, be disastrous particularly in the upper deck. I foresee this will happen when they are put on the roads, for they will become a novelty on our roads. Unless the stipulated passenger capacity for each bus is strictly observed where commuters can travel in comfort either standing or sitting, buses will continue to be over-crowded with commuters. As a consequence, accidents will happen and will definitely raise the rate of traffic accidents on our roads. In fact, this morning I saw another accident at Airport Road where an elderly lady was killed on the spot. I thank you, Sir, for allowing me this opportunity to speak although my name is not on the list.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, some years ago a campaign on queuing-up for buses was unsuccessfully launched in Singapore. I wonder whether the Ministry had analysed the failure of that campaign and whether or not another similar campaign will be launched to instill in the minds of commuters that a sense of discipline must be developed in bus stops situated in heavy traffic routes. During peak hours, commuters comprising office workers, school children and other bus users gather in large numbers at bus stops. In such circumstances, buses packed with passengers are frequently seen overshooting such bus stops to allow certain commuters to disembark. This has caused waiting commuters to run, rush and worst of all, scramble their way into these buses which have hardly any standing room left. Obviously, there is overcrowding in the buses. Accidents can happen during this mad scramble. I can imagine that these commuters are losing their patience after a long wait for buses. It is ironical to see a big and bold display board in the passenger cabin of every bus stating the number of passengers it is licensed to carry (sitting and standing) when practically every bus overloads passengers at peak hours. Perhaps, the situation can be further improved by increasing additional buses with similar service numbers on routes where the corn muter traffic is very heavy. I wonder whether the excess passengers over and above the figure stipulated in the licence are covered by insurance. I also wonder whether the drivers, conductors, conductresses or for that matter the bus companies have ever been prosecuted for such overloading, as it undoubtedly flouts the law. Perhaps the Hon. Minister can enlighten us on this. Double-decker buses will soon be introduced on our congested roads.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have two points to make in respect of this subhead. Firstly, I am inclined to agree with the hon. Member for Anson in regard to road digging in Singapore. The Government's efforts to reduce traffic congestion will not go very far if the PWD keeps digging up roads from time to time. Although there is improvement, there is still room for further improvement, as it is still causing much inconvenience to motorists. No sooner has a road been properly resurfaced before it is broken up again by the PWD, the TAS or even the PUB. This shows that there is no proper coordination among these departments concerned. The cost of this lack of coordination can be measured by the amount of precious time lost due to traffic congestion resulting from constant road-digging. Secondly, I was given to understand that most PWD area contractors are reluctant to give quotations for small jobs and, if they do, the quotations are usually high. They usually pass the jobs to sub-contractors. In order to prevent abuses by licensed contractors, the PWD should not allow these licensed contractors to monopolise all Government minor works. Should the Government not look into the licensing of small-time contractors and make tendering for minor works more competitive? This will save a lot of public funds and get improved services.”
“In the last elections it appeared that the Presiding Officers in charge of polling stations did not execute their duties strictly and effectively, as was expected of them. In my constituency open canvassing went on in polling stations, with or without the knowledge of the Presiding Officers. In one instance, the Presiding Officer in charge was aware of the open canvassing that went on in his polling station, but no action was taken against the culprit concerned. In another instance, the Presiding Officer was not only not aware of the open canvassing that went on in the polling station under his charge but had mistaken the two canvassers to be his assistants. As I did not want to be too harsh with the two incidents I encountered at these two polling stations. I brought only one case to the attention of the police who subsequently took action against the culprit. The culprit was recently fined $300 for illegally carrying out canvassing activities within 200 metres of a polling station on polling day. From these two incidents that I had highlighted, it appeared that the Presiding Officers were not sufficiently alert in enforcing the rules strictly and effectively to prevent such incidents from happening. I am sure that the same incidents also occurred in polling stations in other constituencies on 23rd December, 1 976. I wonder what steps the Elections Department will take to ensure that a stricter control is exercised to prevent such malpractices in' future elections.”
“Sir, with your kind permission, may I be allowed to say a few words in regard to the Elections Department?”
“Sir, another point I would like to raise is the shortage of teachers, which warrants the employment of many relief teachers. If relief teachers are required to cover teachers who go on maternity leave, national service, and on annual study leave, is it not possible for the Ministry of Education to form a pool of relief teachers? The number of relief teachers is quite substantial, so they should be given proper training at the Institute of Education. Since the future of our children lies in their hands, it is absolutely essential that these relief teachers are offered proper training so that they can perform their duties more effectively. I understand that there are some teachers who have completed their training in the Institute of Education but are still employed as relief teachers. Some of them have to work for a period of two to three years as relief teachers before they are offered permanent posts. Why is this so? In spite of the acute shortage of teaching staff in schools, why are these qualified teachers not considered for permanent employment immediately after graduating from the Institute of Education?”
“Furthermore, our youths in schools may not be able to adapt themselves to such rapid changes. Hence, the decline in the standard of education in general and English in particular. Our method of examination may also be a cause for the declining standard of English. In schools, both teachers and students are examination-oriented. The student's main concern is to pass the examinations. Little thought is given to improving both oral and written English. Presently, more emphasis is placed on technical education to satisfy the requirements of our industries. Possibly, this is another cause for our declining standard of English. More resources are channelled into the development of technical education, which over-rides the object of improving the standard of English. Sir, having given the number of possible causes for the present state of affairs, I hope the Ministry of Education would look into them more deeply before making any justification for the recruitment of more and more expatriate teachers. I wonder whether the employment of expatriate teachers is the only solution to this critical problem. I am all for the employment of expatriate teachers to help us improve the standard of English in Singapore if this is the only solution to our problem and if the commitment of these expatriate teachers in our Republic are not prejudicial to the welfare of our people and the security of Singapore. Alternatively, has the Government thought of sending our teachers to Britain for training? If our teachers can be trained to do the work as efficiently as the expatriate teachers, then I see no reason why we should employ them from overseas, particularly from Britain which the Member for Anson has mentioned. This will be cost-saving.”
“In other words, we are indirectly importing Western social values and lifestyles, and although these teachers are engaged on a short-term we may not realise the harm that it can do to us. Thirdly, the employment of expatriate teachers may cause discontent among our citizens as it somehow denies our citizens opportunities of employment. Apart from the dangers which I have highlighted, we should also consider the cost of employing these expatriate teachers. Not only do we pay them handsome salaries to attract them to our clean and green Singapore, we are also paying them a host of allowances, including return air trips, possibly in our well-known airline. With this recruitment, the expenditure on expatriate teachers is expected to increase by almost 300% this year. Thus, it is far more expensive to employ an expatriate teacher than a local teacher. I wonder whether the Ministry of Education has weighed carefully the cost and benefit of employing expatriate teachers. A continued employment of such teachers should be carefully considered, and only when the benefits outweigh the cost. We must spend our money wisely. Before we can think of the benefits of employing expatriate teachers, we must first find out the principal cause of the declining standard of English in our schools. Has the Ministry of Education made a detailed study of the problem to determine what is the real cause of this decline? We must bear in mind that besides the lack of qualified English teachers in our schools, there may be some shortcomings in our present educational system which may be responsible for the poor standard of English. Perhaps, the rapid changes in the educational policy in recent years have caused confusion among teachers and students.”
“Sir,I have two points to make. The first concerns the drop in the standard of English in our schools and the recruitment of expatriate teachers. The second point concerns the great number of relief teachers which the Ministry of Education has recruited in our schools. Although the Hon. Minister had already briefly explained my first point, I would like here to elaborate further. Sir, it is unfortunate but true that the standard of English in our schools has dropped steeply in recent years. According to the Ministry of Education, this is due largely to the poor standard of English of the teachers themselves. An increasing number of expatriate teachers has been recruited from Britain to remedy this situation. In the past year alone. 13 expatriate teachers were employed. Whether or not these expatriate teachers will improve the standard of English in our schools has yet to be seen. However. I would like to draw the attention of the House to a number of dangers which we may encounter if we employ more and more of these teachers. Firstly, an expatriate teacher may have an ulterior motive in coming here. A typical example is Brian Maurice, former History teacher at the United World College, who was involved in the Euro-communist plot against the popularly elected PAP Government. I wonder how much distorted information about the Government and the PAP leadership had already been fed to his counterparts in Europe. Secondly, the social values and life-styles of these European teachers may have an adverse effect on our youth. Our youths in primary and secondary schools are still too young to know what is good and what is not so good for them. If they are exposed to the influence of these expatriate teachers, they may adopt the social values and life-styles of the West.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, with your permission, may I be allowed to say a few words on the subject of Hindu temples? In Changi Village which is in my constituency there is a Sri Rama Temple which has been there for more than 30 years. I understand that with the Government development projects going on in Changi, this temple will have to make way for development in the near future. A few days ago the Hon. Minister for Finance has stated that Changi Village will be used as a tourist stopover point and that Changi Prison will be made into a tourist attraction. In view of this, I would like to ask the Minister for Social Affairs whether the Sri Rama temple in my constituency will be allowed to continue to remain in Changi Village as one of the tourist stopover points.”
“These may be isolated incidents involving a minority group but, whatever the number, their misconduct in public places is definitely affecting the good reputation of our Armed Forces. If this is allowed to go on in Singapore unchecked, the high reputation that the Armed Forces has attained will be tarnished not only locally but overseas as well.”
“Sir, a small nation like Singapore has been able to build up a strong defence force so rapidly to replace the vacuum created by the withdrawal of the British, Australian, and New Zealand Forces. The achievements and success are due largely to the able leadership and farsightedness of the Minister of Defence. Today, national service has become an aspect of our national life, which is here to stay. Thousands of our young men have served it with pride and honour, but this cannot be said of the many who are presently serving. Misconduct on the part of some of these soldiers when they are out of their camps is a breach of discipline that will undoubtedly tarnish the high reputation of our Armed Forces. In many public areas such as bus stops, food centres, cinema halls, to name a few, one can find national servicemen in groups of two or more people, in sloppily dressed military uniforms mingling with the crowd and misbehaving in the eyes of the public. The abusive language they use to curse shylessly and freely at each other either jokingly or seriously in public places are signs of bad upbringing of these young soldiers, in so far as their discipline is concerned. Uncalled-for remarks are being complimented to young girls who walk past. Apparently, once they are out of their camps, they are just like birds out of their cages. Possibly, they just want to let off steam. I do not think this is a pleasant thing for them to do while still in their military uniform. Nevertheless, it has happened and I am sure it is still happening. The discipline of these young men leaves much to be desired. I hope that the Ministry will look into this matter more seriously as the good name of the Armed Forces is at stake.”
“However, for the poor there is nothing to offset their extra tax burden. Thus the gap between the rich and the poor will widen. The Government may have noble objectives in giving the four tax concessions. For example, the concession in estate duty is introduced to encourage home ownership, the tax concession on offshore income derived from Asian Dollar Market operations is given to further develop Singapore as a financial centre, and the tax concession on income from reinsurance business is to take advantage of our ideal location and good business infrastructure so as to develop Singapore into an important centre for reinsurance business. Such objectives are good for the country as a whole and I am not against them. What I am concerned is that the Government, being too pre-occupied with these objectives, may neglect the welfare of the lower income group and the poor. 5.15 p.m.”
“Increase in the price of cigarettes has a very marginal effect on its demand because the demand for cigarettes is highly price-inelastic. Therefore, the people will continue to pay for the higher prices and will instead economise on other expenses. For example, if they save in their marketing by cutting down on more nutritious food, their health may be affected in the long run. I believe a more effective way to discourage smoking is to educate the people on the grave health hazards of smoking, and this can be done through the mass media and in the schools. Sir, turning now to tax concessions, I would say that the general public is pleased to learn that the Government is very generous in granting certain tax concessions at a time when more revenue is required to cover the high expenditure. However, a closer examination of the tax concessions shows that only a very small fraction of the people stand to benefit, and the majority of them are from the upper middle-income group. In particular, the concession on estate duty will not benefit the lower-income group at all. Only people in the upper middle-income group and a minority in the lower middle-income group who own houses valued at more than $100,000 will benefit. For these people, paying $8,837.50 in estate duty for a $200,000 house is not a problem at all. The changes in taxation seem to affect the `have not' and not the `have'. Both the rich and the poor consume cigarettes and intoxicating liquors. Thus, the increase in taxes for these items will affect both groups of people equally. On the other hand, those who will gain from the tax concessions are the rich. For the rich, the increase in the tax burden due to increases in taxes for cigarettes and liquors is offset by the gain in tax concessions.”
“To make the increases in salary commensurate with the increases in productivity, increases in salary should be based on the profits of the employers. Thus employers must grant salary increases within the range recommended by the NWC. One may argue that those employers who are just breaking even or are making a loss will be forced to go bankrupt. If we look at it from the economic point of view, this may be favourable. Our resources are scarce and therefore we must make full use of them. If employers are not able to make optimum use of their resources, it is better that they go out of business so that the resources can be redeployed more efficiently elsewhere. Sir, I would now touch on the question of tax increases and concessions. On the whole, the budget can be described as a relatively painless one, with increases in tax only for cigarettes and intoxicating liquors. Generally, it is very moderate and well received as it does not directly affect the livelihood of the majority of the people. Such increases will undoubtedly be passed on to consumers by the dealers, and the smokers and drinkers will certainly have to pay a higher price. The aim of increasing the tax on cigarettes. according to the Finance Minister, is to discourage smoking and not on revenue consideration since the yield in revenue will be offset by tax concessions. However, I doubt the increase in the price of cigarettes can be effective in discouraging smoking. Notwithstanding the fact that the Government has been making efforts to advise and urge people against smoking and the mass media have long ceased carrying advertisements on cigarettes and tobacco. the number of smokers has not decreased but tends to increase instead.”
“As a result, the industrialised countries are faced with severe unemployment and spare manufacturing capacities. In order to solve their problems, these countries may reduce the prices of their manufactured goods to stimulate their economies. Thus we have to be prepared for such action by the industrialised countries. To remain competitive in international trade, we have to keep the prices of our manufactured goods low. Thus the need to control wage increases. In recent years, increases in wages are based on the recommendations of the National Wages Council (NWC). This method of granting wage increases has favourable effects on our economy - it prevents workers from demanding excessive increases in their wages. However, it is not without criticism. There is a danger that employers may take advantage of the Government's restraint on wage increases by not granting wage increases to workers even though the productivity of the workers has gone up. Instances when employers pay large amounts of bonus to their top executives and yet refuse to grant pay increases recommended by the NWC to the workers have come to light from time to time. Perhaps the Government should give some attention to the problem before undesirable effects set in. The NWC's recommendations for wage increases are based on the productivity of workers. However, measuring the productivity of workers is by no means easy. The only guide to the productivity of workers is the profit of the employer. Therefore, it may be better to make it compulsory for employers to grant salary increases recommended by the NWC. The NWC should recommend a range of percentage increases in salary.”
“This is due to the slowing down of world economic recovery. Industrialised countries, fearing that another round of inflation will set in, are cautious in their economic development. Another restraint to economic stimulation is the uncertainty of the oil price caused by the split of the OPEC nations over the increase of oil price which resulted in the recent two-tier oil price. Therefore, as a whole, our economic prospects for 1977 do not seem too promising. However, the Government has a plan for action. In the efforts to further strengthen our economy, the Minister for Finance said that steps would be taken to strengthen our trade, investment and diplomatic offices in key centres to safeguard our economic interests. Greater efforts will be made to attract more investment from the United States, Japan, West Europe and West Asia and to maintain steady progress in our economy. With a firm economic base and the steps that will be taken, the prospects of achieving an annual growth rate of 6 to 8% are not gloomy. It is also hoped that the domestic policies drawn up by the Government will counteract some of the more negative effects of the world economic slowdown of our economic performance. It is the aim of the Government to contain wage inflation in our country. Therefore, the Government has drawn up policies of orderly wage increases. Wage increases are based on the productivity of workers. It is largely due to the success of our wage policies that we are able to remain competitive in international trade. These policies are essential because of the present world situation. The industrialised countries were badly affected in the severe slump a few years ago and the slow recovery of the world economy that follows.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to join my colleagues in paying tribute to the Finance Minister for giving us such a clear picture of our economic performance in 1976 in his Budget statement. In 1976 we saw a gradual recovery of the world economy. However, the economic situation was still gloomy because of the uncertainty of oil prices and the fear of another round of galloping inflation. Under such circumstances, industrialised countries were not too hopeful for a good economic performance. We in Singapore also faced the same problems and yet we managed to have a real economic growth rate of 7%, a satisfactory growth rate considering the overall economic conditions at. home and abroad. This, I should say, is due largely to our efficient Government in implementing our policy of diversified economic activities, which helps cushion the impact of world economic fluctuations on our country. Our nation is a small nation, dependent on foreign countries for our requirements. We are therefore vulnerable to unfavourable economic developments in other countries. In other words, most of the factors that affect our economic growth are beyond our control. But our Government does not use this as a scapegoat for not being able to manage our resources well. On the contrary, the Government tried its best, manipulating the factors which were under its control so as to counter the unfavourable economic effects of the factors which were beyond its control. The fact that we managed 7% real economic growth rate whereas industrialised countries in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) managed only 5% real economic growth rate reflects the success of our Government's efforts. The economic prospects for 1977 are not very bright.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, these people are not criminals in the true sense of the word. The hawker inspectors are over-zealous in discharging their duties in constituencies where MPs are not Ministers. [Laughter] Indeed it is not a pleasant sight to watch. One just wonders where the seized goods have gone to thereafter, and how are they accounted for and disposed of. Mr Speaker, Sir, I am sure my colleagues in this House who face similar problems in their constituencies will fully agree with me that there are shortcomings in the Hawkers Department, which have caused some aberration and defects that need to be improved. The personnel concerned must be educated, particularly in improving their attitude in dealing with the public with respect to their work. Sir, I support the Motion in the name of the Member for UIu Pandan. 2.54 p.m.”