Tony Tan Keng Yam
Singapore
“One of the problems which they have in Britain is that, up to recently, they have no means to stop people coming into Britain and preaching in their mosques messages of hate, jihad and violence. Here, MUIS monitors our mosques very carefully, what is being preached at Friday prayers.”
“Sir, I am not going to enter into a debate about whether the war in Iraq is justified or not. That is another issue. But I would say, Sir, that with all the measures which have been taken over the last three years since 9/11, including the war in Afghanistan, the war in Iraq, the arrest of the Al Qaeda leaders, the detention of the JI lea…”
“Sir, we are extending the CCTV coverage in our bus stations, MRT stations and other places in Singapore where people congregate. It is a part of life now. For example, at our MRT stations, all our CCTV cameras are those where the films are recorded and we can analyse them. Surveillance is one of the effective ways of deterring terrorism.”
“The Muslim community in the UK has contributed to the healing process and has worked hard with the other communities to strengthen the moderate voice of Islam.”
“I would say again, Sir, that what we should do is when you see something which is suspicious, if you see a bag which is left unattended, report to some authority. We will look into it. We have to. And I am glad that we are getting more reports today, be vigilant.”
“It could reach here. We have to live with it. We support the war in Iraq. We believe that it is good for us to join the coalition led by the US against terror. The fight against terror is worldwide. We cannot opt out by not taking part. We are in it. We must continue whatever the difficulties.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,158 lines we hold for Tony Tan Keng Yam, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 12 of 24.
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in the first part of the question from the Member for Anson, he has repeated what is in the Order Paper. And I do not propose to waste Members' time by repeating my answer again.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, it is the policy of the National University of Singapore to encourage its academic staff to engage in research and to publish their ideas, views, findings and discoveries in reputable journals. The University expects its academic staff to ensure that what they publish is carefully researched, accurate and of high academic standard. When staff members, especially expatriates, express opinions on areas likely to generate domestic political controversy, they do so on their own personal behalf and not that of the department or faculty they teach in. Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, does the Minister realize that my question was not directed as to who would be responsible for the criticisms, if any, made by the academic staff? My question is whether the Minister would clarify what is the Government's policy towards academic freedom in the University, which includes criticism of the Government on any policy or decision taken by the Government, by any academic member of the staff of the University? May I ask specifically whether the Government had anything to do with the University not renewing the engagement of the expatriate member of the staff who had criticized certain policies of this Government?”
“Imports from South Africa are prohibited under the Prohibition of Imports Order (South Africa), 1965. There is no official prohibition of exports to South Africa, but we do not encourage such exports. COST OF BUS SERVICES 17. Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for Communications and Information whether he does not think it timely in view of the increased passengers using the bus services and the increase in revenue reported by Singapore Bus Service that a committee should now be appointed to study the cost of the bus services and what economies could be effected with a view primarily to reducing the bus fares for commuters.”
“The Bedok Reservoir is part of the Sungei Seletar/Bedok Water Scheme. This consists of two storage reservoirs - the Bedok Reservoir and the Sungei Seletar Reservoir. Water from the two reservoirs will be treated at the proposed Bedok Treatment Works. The construction of the Bedok Reservoir was completed in July 1985. However, construction of the Sungei Seletar Reservoir and the Bedok Treatment Works is still in progress and is expected to be completed by the end of 1985. TRADE WITH SOUTH AFRICA 16. Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for Trade and Industry if he will say whether Singapore has any trade with South Africa and say what goods are imported from South Africa and exported to South Africa.”
“When a consumer closes his account, PUB sends him a cheque for the balance of his deposit after offsetting the outstanding charges in his account. If the cheque cannot be delivered at the consumer's usual address, PUB tries to trace him through the National Registration Office. PUB has on record 2,171 closed accounts for which deposits totalling $154,400 have not been claimed despite efforts to trace consumers through the National Regsitration Office. This represents 0.3% of the total number of accounts. PUB maintains a record of such unclaimed deposits for six years to check claims by consumers. Deposits which are not claimed within the six-year period revert to the Board as revenue. Under the Limitation Act, PUB has no liability for claims made more than six years after the account was closed. BEDOK RESERVOIR 15. Encik Zulkifli bin Mohammed asked the Minister for Trade and Industry when the construction of the Bedok Reservoir is expected to be completed.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am glad to give the Member that assurance. NEWSPAPERS (Price increase) 13. Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for Communications and Information whether the Government was consulted before clearance was obtained by the local newspaper companies before they raised the prices of their newspapers recently. The Minister of State for Communications and Information (Mr Wong Kan Seng) (for the Minister for Communications and Information): I am replying on behalf of my Minister, Mr Speaker, Sir. The answer to the question is "No".”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the number of relief teachers varies from month to month. On the average, there are about 1,000 relief teachers in our schools and junior colleges, constituting about 5% of our teaching force. The majority of the relief teachers do not have formal teacher training. About 150 of them are former teachers or retired teachers. They would have undergone a formal training course.”
“The Ministry would of course prefer that all graduate teachers, including the temporary teachers, should have taken teaching subjects as part of their university courses. However, graduates in Engineering, for example, could teach Mathematics and Physics, and some of these graduates may find that even if they had not previously considered being teachers they may be well disposed, after a year in the scheme, to take up teaching as a career. All the teachers to be recruited under this scheme will be given a two-week training course which is meant to give the graduates some basic knowledge about pupil and class management. These graduate teachers will be deployed mainly to teach the lower secondary levels. They will be supervised by the principals and the senior teachers. Students who are preparing for the 'N' level and the 'O' level examinations will be taught by experienced teachers. RELIEF TEACHERS (Number and training) 12. Mr Philip Tan Tee Yong asked the Minister for Education how many relief teachers there are in Singapore and how they are trained.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the purpose of introducing the Temporary Graduate Teachers Scheme is to help redress the general shortage of graduate teachers in our secondary schools. The scheme was not introduced simply to meet the shortfall of teachers required to teach the larger number of Secondary 5N pupils expected as a result of the recent relaxation of the promotion criteria to Secondary 5N. Sir, instead of introducing the Temporary Graduate Teachers Scheme, the Ministry could have recruited more relief teachers or recruited teachers from overseas. Of these two options, recruiting more relief teachers is hardly a solution. Relief teachers should be employed to cover short-term vacancies due to permanent staff going on sick leave or maternity leave or short courses or to meet exigencies of service. The majority of our relief teachers are untrained and turnover is high. Sir, I do not see how this option has any advantage over the Temporary Graduate Teachers Scheme which has at least the benefit of proper and standardized selection procedures. The next option - the recruitment of teachers from overseas - is certainly one possibility. However, Sir, I see no reason why we should adopt this option until we have exhausted the possibility of recruiting enough teachers from our own graduates in Singapore. Only, Sir, if we are unable to attract enough teachers from our own graduates should we resort to recruiting from overseas. Some hon. Members: Hear, hear!”
“ln l984, 40 companies wholly returned 28.46 ha ofland and six companies gave up part of their land totalling 15.63 ha. From January to July 1985, 32 companies wholly returned 43.14 ha of land and seven companies gave up part of their land totalling 21.29 ha. PUBLIC HOUSING LOAN OF NON-CITIZEN SPOUSES (Use of CPF Contributions) 8. Mr S. Vasoo asked the Acting Minister for Labour if there are plans to allow non-citizen spouses of Singaporeans to use their Central Provident Fund contributions to repay their loans for public flats.”
“The following are the data on the number of companies owing rents as at 31 December 1984 and as at 31 July 1985. As at As at 31 December 1984 31 July 1985 Companies owing 3-6 months rent 115 154 Companies owing more than 144 416 6 months rent LAND RETURNED TO JURONG TOWN CORPORATION 7. Dr Toh Chin Chye asked the Minister for Trade and industry and Minister for Education what was the area of land wholly or partially returned to the Jurong Town Corporation for the year 1984 and for the period January-July 1985.”
“(a) The vacant buildings which had previously housed Ahmad lbrahim Secondary School will be let out on a Temporary Occupation Licence (TOL) to an appropriate user selected by the Land Office in conjunction with the Planning Department. (b) The Land Office has received several applications for temporary use of the buildings and is currently in the process of selecting a suitable tenant. (c) Residents who wish to use the facilities will have to approach the lessee once the Land Office has issued the TOL. COMPANIES IN ARREARS OF JURONG TOWN CORPORATION RENTALS 6. Dr Toh Chin Chye asked the Minister for Trade and lndustry and Minister for Education what was the number of companies owing rents to the Jurong Town Corporation (i) for three to six months and (ii) for more than six months, for the year 1984 and for the period January-July 1985.”
“Jayakumar: The MP for Anson is fully aware that I have received the letter since a copy of that letter was sent to him by my Ministry at Chia's request. Chia in his letter merely denied the allegations against him and wanted to register his protest over the allegations. The letter did not call for a reply. For reasons best known to himself, Chia has not bothered to challenge any of the allegations or grounds of his detention before the Advisory Board since his detention in November 1966. Chia knows that he is legally entitled to present his case to the Board which is an independent review board comprising a High Court judge and 2 prominent members of the public. He can engage his own counsel to represent him. PERMISSION TO DETAINEE TO SEE MP 8. Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Law why a prisoner may not be allowed to see a Member of Parliament if he wishes to.”
“(a) The number of Singapore students offered admission to the National University of Singapore for the current academic year 1985/86 by faculties is as follows: Number offered Faculty and accepted Arts/Social Sciences 967 Science 802 Medicine 161 Dentistry 31 Law 176 Business Administration 490 Accountancy 434 Architecture 87 Building/Estate Management 112 Engineering 692 Chemical Engineering 50 TOTAL 4002 (b) The University's intake of students is dependent largely on the manpower needs of the nation. The University projects its intake of students in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Professional and Technical Education which take into consideration Singapore's manpower requirements and economic development. Any increase in intake can only be done after a careful study of these factors including the employment market for graduates. (c) The University's enrolment is still expanding and the targeted staff/student ratio has not as yet been reached in several faculties. As part-time courses will impose a heavy demand on staff members and require additional facilities, this can only be considered by the University when its enrolment has been stabilised. CORRESPONDENCE WITH MR CHIA THYE POH 7. Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Law (a) if he has received the letter of 20th May 1985 from Mr Chia Thye Poh; and (b) if he has replied to the letter and, if not, does he propose to. Note: The Member for Anson has stated: "I have no personal pecuniary interest in this question but I should perhaps point out that I saw Mr Chia Thye Poh as his legal advisor after I was refused permission to see him as a Member of Parliament." Prof. S.”
“Investigation by the Public Utilities Board revealed that the recent electrical surge at Block 222 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1 was caused by failure of a cable joint. A contractor damaged the cable supplying electricity to Block 222, causing a short circuit. The short circuit was so severe that it caused the cable joint to fail, resulting in a high voltage surge. PUB has referred the matter of assistance for the damages suffered by the affected residents to the contractor and his insurance company. The insurance company has replied that they will consider the claims by the affected residents. PUB will be glad to assist in any way it can to help the affected residents to lodge their claims against the contractor. NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE (intake and Part-time Courses) 6. Mr S. Chandra Das asked the Minister for Trade and Industry and Minister for Education (a) how many Singapore students have been offered admission to the National University of Singapore for the current academic year 1985/86 by faculties; (b) whether there are any plans to increase the intake next year; and (c) whether the University will consider starting some part-time courses in view of the high demand for places.”
“Sir, the difference is a very small one, but a very significant one, In the 1983 scheme, priority under Phase 1, Phase IIA and Phase IIB for siblings or for children whose parents are connected with the school is given only up to the second child. In the 1982 scheme this priority is also given to the third child and I think that it is more desirable. BILLS INTRODUCED 12.10 pm CINEMATOGRAPH FILM HIRE DUTY (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Cinematograph Film Hire Duty Act (chapter 132 of the Revised Edition)" presented by the Minister for Finance and Minister for Health (Dr Hu Tsu Tau); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. PRISONS (AMENDMENT) BILL "to amend the Prisons Act (Chapter 79 of the Revised Edition)" presented by the Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Law (Prof. S. Jayakumar); read the First time; to be read a Second time on the next available sitting of Parliament, and to be printed. REQUISITION OF RESOURCES BILL Order for Second Reading read. 12.12 pm”
“Sir, the answer is yes. If the number of applications in any phase exceeds the number of places, then priority will be given to those children whose homes lie within two kilometres of his school of choice. Dr Ow Chin Hock (Leng Kee): Sir, may I ask the Minister what is the essential difference between the 1982 and 1983 registration schemes?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as Members will see from Annex 11, there will be an estimated 41,100 children who will be eligible to register for Pre-Primary and Primary 1 classes in 1986. There are slightly over 42,000 places available. So every child who is eligible to register for Primary 1 in 1986 is assured of a place.”
“The estimated numbers of children who will be involved in each phase are shown in Annex II (Cols. 97 - 98), which is already with Members. Annex II - ESTIMATED NUMBERS FOR THE PROPOSED 1985 REGISTRATION SCHEME (Cols. 97 - 98) Sir, the 1985 Registration Scheme is not perfect. Nor is it as neat and as tidy as I would have liked. But I believe that Government has a duty to be fair, not only to present and future generations of parents and children but also to those children whose parents have undertaken action as a result of announced Government policies. In framing the 1985 Registration Scheme, my officials and I in the Ministry of Education have endeavoured to keep the interest of the child in the forefront and to discharge our duty as fairly as we can.”
“You cannot change the rules when the runner is half-way through the race. Children of graduate mothers who gave birth to their second or subsequent child will therefore not lose the priority (Phase 1) they enjoyed in the 1984 scheme provided that the second or subsequent child was conceived between the 24th January 1984 (the date of announcement of the 1984 registration scheme) and today's date, the 14th May 1985. Giving an allowance of one month for pre-mature deliveries and one month for late deliveries, the second or subsequent child would be born between the 24th September 1984 and the 14th March 1986 (both dates inclusive). Similarly, children from three-child families where one of the parents has at least one 'A' level pass or the equivalent will qualify for Phase llA provided that the third child is born between the 24th September 1984 and the 14th March 1986 (both dates inclusive). Children from 2-child or 3-child families where one of the parents has at least 3 'O' level passes (obtained at one sitting) or the equivalent will qualify for Phase IIB provided again that the second or third child is born between the 24th September 1984 and the 14th March 1986 (both dates inclusive). As regards sterilization cases, Government will also honour its 1984 commitment so that children from families where one of the parents has been sterilized on or before the 24th January 1984 after the birth of the first or second child, will qualify for registration under Phase IIA. As in the 1984 scheme, if the parent was sterilized after the 24th January 1984 after the birth of the first or second child, then the child will qualify for Phase IIA only if both parents do not have any 'O' level pass.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in the debate on the estimates of the Ministry of Education on 25th March 1985, I informed Members that I would recommend to Cabinet that the priority scheme for graduate mothers for Pre-Primary and Primary 1 registration should be abolished and the guidelines for this year's Pre-Primary and Primary 1 Registration exercise be modelled along the lines of the 1982 guidelines which, in my opinion, are the fairest and the most satisfactory. I am happy to inform Members that Cabinet has accepted my recommendation, Subject to past Government commitments, the Ministry of Education will use the 1982 system to register children for admission to Pre-Primary and Primary I classes in 1986. This system is set out in Annex I (Cols. 95 - 96) which, with your permission, Sir, I will now ask the Clerk to distribute to Members. [Copies of document distributed to Members.] The actual dates for the various phases of the registration exercise will be announced by the Ministry of Education early next month. Annex I - PRE-PRIMARY AND PRIMARY I REGISTRATION EXERCISE 1985 (Cols. 95 - 96) The reason why I consider the 1982 system to be the fairest and the most satisfactory is because this system gives priority to the interest of the child. For example, the desirability of having siblings studying in the same school is recognized by giving such children top priority under Phase 1. The importance of preserving alma mater or religious ties is catered for under Phase IIA and Phase IIB. The remaining phases follow exactly the criteria used in the 1982 registration scheme. Sir, in my speech of 25th March, I stated that commitments made by the Government in previous registration exercises should be honoured. In my view, this is only fair.”
“Sir, it is not for me to suggest or to decide what should be done on what should be the proper province of my colleague, the Minister for Finance. I am sure that he has taken note of the suggestion from the Member for Rochore. It is a decision which the Minister for Finance has to make. I hope that he will stand by what has been decided.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Government is concerned at all times to ensure that we have a prosperous and thriving economy. As I said in the Budget Statement, I expect this year, 1985, to be a somewhat more difficult year than 1984. But our economic structure is a strong and resilient one, and I do not expect any serious damage to occur to any sector of our economy. We have had four exceptional years of strong growth. During the first quarter of this year, economic growth in the United States was slow, at 1.3%, and we may expect that the effects will carry over to countries like Singapore. I think that the measures which we should take in order to combat the recession this year should be designed to ensure that our economy is strengthened for the long term. This means a more competitive structure, a lower level of costs, better training, and such assistance as would be compatible with our aim of upgrading our economy and bringing it to a higher level. After this period has passed, our economy will be stronger, fitter, and we will get back on the path of rapid growth.”
“Sir, I beg to That the Bill be now read a Third time." Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Third time and passed. ADOPTION OF CHILDREN (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 4.08 pm”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to That the Bill be now read a Second time." The purpose of this Bill is to make provision in accordance with Clause 2 of Article 145 and Clause 2 of Article 147 of the Constitution of Singapore for additional expenditure in excess of the provision authorized by the Supply Act, 1984. The additional sum has been scheduled as a Supplementary Estimate which has been considered and approved by the House as Command Paper No. 3 of 1985. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time. Third Reading”
“Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Third time." Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Third time and pased. SUPPLEMENTARY SUPPLY BILL Order for Second and Third Readings read.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." In accordance with Article 145 of the Constitution of Singapore, heads of expenditure to be met from the Consolidated Fund other than statutory expenditure have to be included in a Bill to be known as the Supply Bill. The purpose of the Supply Bill before Members is therefore to give legislative approval to the appropriations from the Consolidated Fund to meet expenditure in the financial year, 1st April, 1985 to 31st March, 1986. The heads of expenditure and the sums that may be incurred in respect of each head are shown in the schedule to the Bill. These have been approved by the House in the Main Estimates of Expenditure for the financial year, 1st April 1985 to 31st March 1986, and appear on page 17 of Command Paper No. 4 of 1985. The Supply Bill, when approved, will empower me to issue warrants, authorizing expenditure up to the amount for each head as shown in the Bill to be paid out from the Consolidated Fund. Sir, I beg to move. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time. Third Reading”
“Sir, I beg to move, "That Parliament doth agree with the Committee on the said resolutions." Question put, and agreed to. Resolutions accordingly agreed to. SUPPLY BILL Order for Second and Third Readings read. 4.05 pm”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply have come to certain resolutions. First Resolution reported - "That the sum of $8,348,120,020 shall be supplied to the Government under the heads of expenditure for the public services shown in the Main Estimates for the financial year 1st April, 1985 to 31st March, 1986, contained in Paper Cmd. 4 of 1985." Second Resolution reported - "That the sum of $10,472,455,300 shall be supplied to the Government under the heads of expenditure for the public services shown in the Development Estimates for the financial year 1st April, 1985 to 31st March, 1986, contained in Paper Cmd. 4 of 1985."”
“Finally, Sir, I would like to state categorically that patients who are given prescriptions at the Singapore General Hospital are not directed to go and purchase drugs or medicines at this private pharmacy at the Singapore General Hospital, or indeed at any other particular pharmacy. Sir, it saddens me that a Member of this House should resort to innuendoes of such a nature as to make it necessary for me to make this Ministerial Statement today. But when the integrity of the Government is questioned or when the reputations of innocent parties have to be protected, the truth must be made known. MAIN AND DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES OF SINGAPORE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 1985 TO 31ST MARCH, 1986 11.21 am Order read for consideration in Committee of Supply (8th Allotted Day). [Mr Speaker in the Chair] Head I (cont) - Resumption of Debate on Question (27th March, 1985), "That the sum to be allocated for Head I be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead IA-01 Object Group 1100 of the Main Estimates." - [Dr Ow Chin Hock] Question again proposed. The Minister for Communications and Information, Second Minister for Defence and Second Minister for National Development (Dr Yeo Ning Hong): Mr Speaker, Sir, when we adjourned yesterday, we were talking about the necessity to ensure that the growth of cars does not far exceed the growth of roads in Singapore because if that were not so, then we would in the very near future end up with massive traffic jams. Sir, the Member for Potong Pasir has suggested that we should try to follow the examples of some other countries where they have subsidies for their public transportation service and, I believe, he quoted the example of Britain.”
“The highest tender was from a company called Somedico Private Limited which offered a monthly rental of $5,000. The next highest tender was for $3,200. The Junior Tenders Board comprising the Deputy Director of Medical Services and representatives of the Permanent Secretary (Finance), Budget Division, and Chairman, EDB, reviewed the tenders and approved the award of the tender to Somedico Private Limited for a period of three years commencing 1st October 1981. In 1984, the Ministry of Finance approved the extension of the lease to Somedico Private Limited for a further three years based on the Chief Valuer's assessment of market rentals for the pharmacy and in accordance with the provisions in the Government Instruction Manual. Sir, at the time when this pharmacy was tendered out in July 1981, the Minister for Health was the First Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Goh Chok Tong. Mr Howe Yoon Chong was appointed the Health Minister on 1st June 1982. I would like to make the following points concerning the tender for the pharmacy at the Singapore General Hospital: (1) The pharmacy was leased out based on the normal Government open tender system; (2) As the amounts involved were not substantial, the tenders were reviewed by the Junior Tenders Board, and no Minister was involved in any way in the award of the tender; (3) Mr Howe Yoon Chong has no interest in the company, Somedico Private Limited, which was successful in the tender. Neither is Mr Howe Yoon Chong related in any way to the Howe family who are the owners of Somedico Private Limited.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, on Tuesday in the Debate on the estimates of the Ministry of Health in the Committee of Supply, the Member for Anson asked under what conditions was the private pharmacy allowed to be set up at the Singapore General Hospital. Sir, I quote from the Member's remarks which were telecast on television: 'These drugs were bought from a chemist and druggist who has set up business, I see, at the Singapore General Hospital and it is Somedico Chemist and Druggist. May I ask the Minister how this company came to set up its business in the Singapore General Hospital? I see it is owned by a Howe family. And may I know when this company was set up in the Singapore General Hospital and whether tenders were called? Far more importantly, whether patients who were given prescriptions are directed to go and purchase their drugs or medicines at this druggist store at the Hospital?' I said, Sir, on that day that I agreed with the First Deputy Prime Minister that the manner in which the Member had asked his questions was calculated to cast a slur on the Government implying that there was some wrongdoing. I would go further to-say that, in his attempt to discredit the Government, the Member for Anson has besmirched the reputations of innocent parties who, regrettably, are in the unfortunate position of not being able to be present in this House to clear their names. Sir, slurs and scurrilous remarks cannot be left unchallenged. I am, therefore, making this statement to set the record straight. Sir, tenders for the lease of the pharmacy at the Singapore General Hospital were invited through publication in the Government Gazette and in the local press on the 24th of July 1981. Eight tenders were received.”
“Sir, may I make a point? The Member for Anson just now asked for particulars of the letting out of the pharmacy at the Singapore General Hospital to a certain family. I agree with the First Deputy Prime Minister that the manner in which he has asked his question is calculated to cast a slur on the Government, in that he implied there is some wrongdoing in the letting out of this pharmacy and that the Government has something to hide. All I want to say, Sir, is that if the Member sincerely wants to know how the pharmacy is let out, all he has to do is to table a Question for Oral Answer, and I shall personally be very happy to give him all the details. The Government has, as I have already said, nothing to hide and our books are open all the time and all tenders are let out in the proper way.”
“Sir, I would just like to say that I am happy that the Member for Kampong Kembangan has accepted the principle of streaming. As regards his suggestion on the names for the various streams, I would like to tell him that, as it is a sensible suggestion, Sir, I will ask my officials to look into the matter. He has also brought up a number of anomalies in salaries. If he will give us the details, we will look into them.”
“All sensible suggestions from Backbenchers will be considered.”
“This is what Dr Goh has been striving over the last six years to remedy, with the help of Members in this House, and occasionally with the help of the Member for Anson. Sir, all the controversy over streaming, all the money which the Government has been spending on education has been for one purpose - to upgrade our primary schools, to upgrade our secondary schools, to upgrade our junior colleges, so that we will have enough students who can qualify and benefit from a university education and in that way, Sir, I hope that in years to come we will approach closer the percentages or the number of people who can go to the university as in Taiwan or in other parts of the world.”
“No, Sir. What I said was, every student who is able to benefit from a University course and who can qualify to go to the University, we will find a place for him. There is a vast difference between a student who wants to go to the University and the student who qualifies. I am sure that the Member for Potong Pasir can understand the difference. Sir, he has quoted statistics from other countries and asked why we are not producing as many university graduates per 1,000 population as England, Taiwan, and so on. He quoted statistics from the Goh Keng Swee Report in 1978. The answer, Sir, is very simple. And if the Member for Potong Pasir will not pay attention in this House, he should at least pay attention to manners outside this House. The reason why we have not been able to produce as many University graduates as in other countries and as we would like lies in the fact that we do not have, in the past years, students of the required quality and ability and training who could benefit from a University education. And the reason, Sir, why we do not have these students is because there were severe flaws in our education system.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Potong Pasir should try and keep awake in this Chamber. I know the speeches are sometimes dull, but still, when one is here, one is expected to pay attention. I did not say, Sir, that every student who wants to go to the University can go to the University.”
“- to make it difficult for foreign students to study at their universities. Sir, coming back to the point which the Member has raised. All students who graduate from our University have to sign a bond to live and work in Singapore for at least three years after they graduate. Sir, we have a very limited talent pool in Singapore and the fact that we have been able to attract these foreign students to our University and subsequently to have them live and work in Singapore is to the benefit of Singaporeans. I do not think we should ever get into the situation where we try to exclude competition. The more talented people that we can attract to Singapore, the more benefit all Singaporeans will receive from this policy. And I will repeat again, Sir, that because we have been expanding our tertiary institutions over the last few years, because we have increased the number of places, we have made it possible for every Singapore student, who deserves to go to University, to have a place at the University. No student has been deprived.”
“Sir, I do not believe that we should follow the policies of other countries, whether Australia or England, where these policies are, in my opinion, wrong. I think that it is detrimental to the interest of the two countries, Australia and England, which the Member for Anson has mentioned, that they should adopt this policy of restricting the entry of foreign students into their country. It is not in the long term interest of these two countries -”
“45 am Sir, the University has just arranged during these holidays a special course for these provisional students in order to help them to meet this Second Language requirement at 'AO' level. And I have no doubts, Sir, that with the intensive training given by the University and the personal attention which will be given to these students, no student will have any difficulty in meeting this requirement by the time he or she graduates from the NUS or from the NTI. Sir, we must have confidence in our student population. Those who go to the University are a bright lot. They will make the grade.”
“This is not for the benefit of the foreign students but for the benefit of Singapore. As regards the percentage which the Member for Anson has asked, I stated in 1981 that I would regard a reasonable percentage for the University for foreign students to be of the order of 20%. And I would say that I make no apologies for stating the fact that I believe that this is a reasonable percentage. If we require more places for our own students at the University, then I think the solution would be to expand the NUS rather than to exclude foreign students and let our students grow up with closed minds, without the opportunity, as I have said, to interact with other students. The Member for Potong Pasir has suggested, quoting Dr Winsemius, that we should have a second university in order to provide more places. Sir, I would like to inform him that we do have a second university, and that is, the Nanyang Technological Institute. At present, it is affiliated to the NUS but in due course, we hope to develop it into a technical university, which is what Singapore will need in future years. Finally, Sir, I come to the point raised by the Member for Anson regarding the Second Language requirement at 'AO' level which a student who, I presume, has already been admined provisionally to the University, is required to fulfil before he is allowed to receive his degree. The reason why he has to fulfil this requirement is because this is part of the entry requirements for admission to the NUS. It is because we know that a number of students may have difficulty in meeting the Second Language requirement at the pre-U level that we have given them the opportunity to be admitted into the NUS so that they can fulfil this requirement while they are doing their courses at the NUS. 11.”
“And the more that we can develop our people, the more education that we can give them, the more that we can groom and train those who have the capacity to receive and benefit from this training, the more Singapore will benefit. So I would hope that this will not become another debating point in Parliament. As I have said, we only admit a small number, a limited number, of foreign students into the university.”
“And in this way, Sir, I would hope that our students at the University would be able to acquire what I would regard to be a full university education, ie, not only getting the required training and getting their degrees but also learning more about life, not only about life in Singapore but also about life in countries outside Singapore. Sir, we are very stringent about the admission of foreign students into the NUS. For a start, only those foreign students who are significantly better in academic quality than our own students have any chance of being admitted. First preference is always given to our local students. Sir, I was the Vice-Chancellor of the National University of Singapore in 1980-1981. Since then, I have been the Minister in charge of the NUS and the NTI. During all these years when this policy of admitting a limited number of foreign students into the University was in force, I have not yet come across any instance when Singapore students who are qualified, whom we would regard as being able to complete their courses successfully at the NUS and at the NTI, have been refused admission. In fact, Sir, our problem, as the Member for Teck Ghee has said, is that we do not have, unfortunately, enough students of the right quality to proceed to university education. It is to our benefit that every Singapore student who can make it to University and who can benefit from a university education should go to the university and a place should be found for him or her at the University. And this, Sir, is something which I would say is not only in the interest of the student himself but also in the interest of Singapore. I have stated many times in my Budget statements that the only resource which Singapore has is its people.”
“Perhaps the Member for Anson will point out in our Government publications where we have used the words "junior Minister"? Sir, let me go on to a more serious point. The Member for Teck Ghee, in response to a point made by the Member for Anson, has asked me to confirm that the admission of foreign students to the University will not limit the opportunities for Singaporean students to take up tertiary education and that, in fact, this policy of admitting a limited number of foreign students to the University is in the best interest of Singapore. Sir, I hardly need to add anything more to what the Member for Teck Ghee has already said most eloquently and, I would say, most pertinently. We do not admit foreign students into the NUS or into the NT( simply because we are a generous nation with overwhelming largesse to spread beyond our shores. In fact, I believe the Member for Anson has always criticized the fact that we are a parsimonious Government. But there are good reasons, Sir, why we should at all times ensure that our University student community does not become a parochial community. You see, Sir, we are a small society in Singapore. Our children, by and large, go through the same system of education. There is not the variety of experience or of backgrounds which would make for a truly university education. Sir, admitting a limited number, and I stress the words "limited number", of foreign students to the university gives our own Singapore students at the NUS and at the NTI the chance to interact with students who have grown up in different societies with different backgrounds.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, when one is in Parliament, I believe one should observe the forms. One of the forms, Sir, if I may respectfully say, is that one should address Members by their correct designations, The Member for Teck Ghee is the Minister of State for Defence and Trade and Industry, and not the junior Minister for Defence.”
“Sir, the purpose of NTI admitting a limited number of Polytechnic graduates who already have working experience is to enable these Polytechnic graduates to interact with the students who are admitted to NTI after they have finished the first year of the Engineering course at the National University of Singapore. The Engineering courses at the NTI are practice-oriented courses, and NTI believes it is desirable to have at any one time a small number of students from the Polytechnic but they must have been working for one or two years. Sir, to avoid further confusion in this matter, I would like to explain that NTI's priority for admission is as follows: First priority will be given to those students who have finished the first year in the Engineering course at the National University of Singapore. Second priority will be given to graduates from our Polytechnics who have at least one or preferably two years of working experience. Third priority will be other graduates of the Polytechnics. Sir, I would like again to take this opportunity to urge all students who have finished their 'O' levels and who have good results and who intend to take Engineering at NUS or at NTI to go to preuniversity and after that to the NUS directly. They should not go to the Polytechnics because, if they go to the Polytechnics first and then to University, in fact, they are depriving other students from a chance of getting at least a Polytechnic qualification.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I just want to take this opportunity to clarify the case brought up by the Member for Whampoa at yesterday's sitting concerning the Polytechnic graduate, now in national service, who applied to the Nanyang Technological Institute (NTI) for admission and was informed, according to him, that NTI could not reserve a place for him, as is the case with those students who have been accepted for admission at the National University of Singapore. Sir, I made inquiries into this case and found that actually the student has not been offered a place at NTI. What happened was that after he had finished his course at the Polytechnic and was enlisted for national service, he applied to NTI but NTI had informed him that he would have to finish his National Service first and then preferably work for one or two years before he could be considered for admission to NTI. Sir, I would like to explain very briefly why NTI has adopted this policy. The Polytechnics were set up to train technicians who form a very important part of our industrial workforce and the Technician Diplomas of the Polytechnics are valuable tertiary qualifications in their own right. If the student had wanted all the time to take an Engineering degree at the NUS or at the NTI, then he should have gone through pre-university first and then proceeded to the NUS, and subsequently to the NTI after finishing his national service. By first going to the Polytechnic and then, having qualified from the Polytechnic, going to the NTI, the student, Sir, would actually have taken two places - one at the Polytechnic and one at NTI. This would mean that, in effect, the student would have deprived another Singaporean student of the opportunity to obtain a tertiary qualification. I think this is not desirable.”
“Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made further progress on the Main and Development Estimates for the financial year 1st April, 1985 to 31st March, 1986, and ask leave to sit again tomorrow.”
“Sir, foreign students at the University pay a much higher rate of fees, 50% more than our local students.”