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.”
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“In short, the fundamental organising principle for technology in defence is that MINDEF will determine what should be done while the statutory board is free to determine how best to do it. Transforming the DTG into a statutory board is the most optimal framework as it offers operational flexibility while ensuring MINDEF's overall control. Under the new structure, MINDEF will be able to maintain a balanced focus on policy issues. We will not be overly influenced by technology implementation. At the same time, DSTA will have the autonomy to operate in a fast changing environment for the development of defence technology. It will have flexibility in personnel management so that it can gear itself to meet the competition for quality engineering manpower. DSTA will also have more flexibility to strike up strategic alliances with strategic partners and leverage on the expertise and resources of others. The restructuring will allow DSTA more space to be more innovative and responsive to emerging technologies and to try out best practices. DSTA can also operate more efficiently using market and world class organisations as performance benchmarks. And because DSTA is given the autonomy to form partnerships, MINDEF's technology needs will be met through the increased use of commercial technologies and collaborations with research institutions and companies. This will alleviate the strain on Singapore's engineering and R&D manpower resource, and help us transcend the limits of growth imposed by our limited manpower.”
“Second, unlike in the past, today's defence applications no longer lead technology advancement. Some of the most advanced technologies are developed by commercial companies. We must be able to quickly seize opportunities for collaboration with external organisations to stay at the cutting edge of technology. Sir, it is imperative that we find new ways of repositioning and re-organising ourselves to ensure that we are well placed to meet these challenges. At present, the DTG in MINDEF provides the whole range of technology functions, from policy formulation to acquisition, maintenance and development. This arrangement has helped MINDEF to build up our defence capabilities quickly. But it may not be nimble enough for us to meet future challenges. MINDEF has therefore decided to restructure the DTG to better meet the future challenges. The core policy and resource allocation functions will be retained within MINDEF Headquarters, while the executive and implementation functions of DTG will be undertaken by a separate entity. MINDEF will set up a new statutory board, to be called the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) by 1st April 2000. The DSTA will serve as the Ministry's executive arm in implementing defence technology plans while the Ministry retains the policy planning and resource allocation functions. The DSTA's key roles will be to conduct defence R&D, acquire defence material, and develop military infrastructure. It will also act on behalf of MINDEF to promote and foster the development capability among the defence science and technology community in Singapore. The statutory board will continue to provide inputs and advice to assist MINDEF in policy formulation.”
“Over the years, the Defence Technology Group (DTG), which is the engineering and scientific arm of MINDEF, has built a strong technological base. We have invested in facilities, equipment and, most importantly, in some of the best engineering and scientific brains in Singapore to handle advanced technologies needed by the SAF. Today, the DTG is a smart defence equipment buyer as well as a technology application leader with world-class capabilities in systems engineering and integration. DTG not only buys the best equipment off the shelf, but develops in-house expertise to modify, customise and upgrade systems to maintain the SAF's technological edge. As we approach the 21st century, the challenge for MINDEF will be to maintain and sharpen this strategic edge. In this regard, there are two key driving forces in technology that we cannot ignore. First, technology advances at a phenomenal rate. New technology and systems emerge, then become obsolete at an exponential pace. The modern battlefield is rapidly evolving. We must therefore ensure that we will not have to fight today or tomorrow's wars with yesterday's technology. Hence, we must be able to keep up with the rapid technological changes and continue to stay ahead. However, rapid technological advancement will mean ever-increasing demands on Singapore's limited pool of engineering and scientific talent. Yet it will be impractical for MINDEF to simply continue to expand its engineering talent pool, as this would distort the deployment of the national engineering resource. Instead of simply growing larger, we have to do things smarter. DTG needs to be nimble enough to effectively tap on external engineering expertise to transcend our manpower limitations.”
“There are today many Malay commanders - officers, warrant officers and specialists - in the SAF. They serve in the various arms just like their non-Malay counterparts. As Malays progress up the educational ladder, they will also qualify for more and higher appointments in the SAF. A higher proportion of each cohort of Malay enlistees now possesses the educational qualifications for selection for training to be commanders in the SAF. There has been a corresponding upward trend in the proportion of Malay enlistees selected for Officer Cadet School, and in the number of Malays serving their full-time national service as officers and section leaders. The number of Malay commanders in the SAF today reflects the educational attainments of the community and compares favourably with the proportion of Malay managers and professionals in the economy. About half the Malay regular officers are graduates. The SAF encourages promising young Malay officers who intend to make a career in the SAF to further themselves. They are given scholarships to go to university, like other deserving officers in the SAF. Malay officers have been consistently getting such awards since the early 1980s. Sir, on technology in defence, a point brought up by Dr Ong Chit Chung, besides good and committed people, it is also vital that the SAF makes use of technology to give us the edge. Technology is a strategic tool for the SAF. Manpower and resource limitations dictate that the SAF must harness technology as a force multiplier to enhance its operational capabilities. In the modern battlefield, technology is a critical factor. The odds favour the side that makes best use of technology. Therefore, we have to be proactive and innovative in exploiting technology for our defence.”
“The SAF needs good people at every level to ensure that it can continue to perform its role effectively. The Warrant Officers and Specialists corps is just as important, as WOSEs form the backbone of the SAF. 2.30 pm Having reviewed and revamped the management of the officers corps, MINDEF has embarked on a total review of the career structure and remuneration benefits of the WOSEs corps. This review will take an equally in-depth look as for the officers into the career structures and the aspirations of WOSEs, and will make recommendations on how the manpower systems, career management, and performance management of the WOSEs can be improved. The study is in progress and the recommendations will be implemented starting in April next year. When the measures are in place, we will enhance the SAF's ability to attract and retain quality men and women at all levels, and better equip the SAF to meet the challenges of the 21st century. The SAF has always emphasised quality manpower. To that end, the SAF, like all sectors of Singapore society, works on the principle of meritocracy. This means that so long as a person is committed to Singapore, dedicated to the SAF, and capable of doing the job, his appointment and advancement will be based on performance and merit. Regardless of whether he is Chinese, Indian or Malay, regardless of what his religion may be. Meritocracy is an important ingredient in the cohesive and operationally ready SAF that we have today. I have said on another occasion, and I will say it again this afternoon, that it makes no sense for the SAF to deny an appointment or a promotion to an officer simply because of the officer's race or religion. Sir, some Members have asked about the opportunities available for Malays to progress in the SAF.”
“In a way, we ensure that our defence requirements are well met and that foreign investors have the confidence to invest their money in Singapore. Sir, this policy has served us well. Today, we have an armed forces, the SAF, which has helped to make it possible for Singapore to remain an oasis of calm amidst the turmoil and uncertainty in the region. The SAF safeguards our security. It gives Singapore more room to adopt policies and take actions which best serve our interest. Hence, no one is tempted, just because Singapore is a small country, to have aggressive designs on us. Sir, the topic of people in the SAF, particularly some aspects of Malays in the SAF, and the recruitment of manpower for the SAF were touched on by Dr Ong Chit Chung, Mr Sin Boon Ann, Mr Hawazi Daipi and Mr Zulkifli bin Baharudin. Sir, the highly capable SAF that we have today is the result of many years of investment, not only in equipment and hardware, but more importantly in people. As Dr Ong has said, we must continue to attract and retain good people to join the SAF. And it was with this objective in mind that last year MINDEF launched a Manpower Management Initiative "The New Partnership Programme" for the uniformed officers corps. The objective of the New Partnership Programme is to provide a first-class career to our officers that is both challenging and rewarding. The New Partnership Programme includes changes to the career structure, remuneration package, career management and performance management of our officers. MINDEF has implemented most of the measures in this initiative last year. But, Sir, it is not enough only to make changes to the career structure and remuneration benefits of its officers corps.”
“Sir, on the bilateral front, our defence relations with a host of countries both in South East Asia and outside the region have been expanding in the scope and depth of the interactions and cooperative activities. These include SAF access to the training facilities of our friends which is valuable both to make up for our own lack of training land and airspace as well as to allow the SAF to benchmark itself against other armed forces. The SAF has valuable training facilities in countries such as Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand, Australia, France, Sweden and the United States. In the case of the US, we also believe that the US military presence in our region contributes to regional peace and security. For that reason, we have opened some of our military facilities for use by US armed forces. Our defence relationships are valuable relationships from which both Singapore and our partners derive benefit. In most cases, there is keen interest on both sides to see how we can build on interactions and cooperation for even greater mutual benefit. Sir, on defence spending, a topic touched on by Dr Ong Chit Chung and Dr Wang Kai Yuen, we must have a credible defence capability to ensure Singapore's continued security and success and in order that we can also contribute to regional peace and security. Our policy on defence spending is to cap it at 6% of the GDP regardless of whether the economic situation is good or bad, although in practice we have usually spent less. We take a long-term, steady approach because defence planning is a long-term process which requires prudent and steady investment over many years, both in people and money. In this way, we ensure that the development of the SAF proceeds smoothly and efficiently.”
“Mr Chairman, Sir, Members have brought up many pertinent points relevant to our defence effort. I will comment on four areas: defence relations, defence spending, people in the SAF and technology in defence. My colleagues in the Defence Ministry will address the other points which have been brought up by Members this afternoon. Sir, the economic and political uncertainties which have beset our region will continue into 1999. Although there are some positive indicators on the economic front, we are not in the clear yet. We cannot be sure how the global economy will perform this year. The last two years have shown clearly how events can take sudden unexpected turns with serious consequences for political and social stability. Sir, questions of defence relations have been brought up in different forms by Dr Ong Chit Chung and Mr Shriniwas Rai. This climate of uncertainty which prevails in the region today requires more focused efforts by countries in the region to ensure regional peace and security. Singapore's policy is to build a security architecture comprising strong bilateral relationships interwoven with multilateral security arrangements. We believe that such an architecture helps to develop understanding and trust and to foster an environment which allows difficult issues to be discussed and disagreements to be resolved peacefully. Sir, the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) is an example of a multilateral arrangement which has served its members well. The FPDA has been in place for 27 years and its members have found it to be of value. Over the past few years, FPDA exercises and activities have been progressively enhancing professional value. The FPDA can be as useful and relevant as its members want it to be.”
“The fact, that in spite of all the allegations and close scrutiny the detailed information which Singapore requested to carry out investigations was not forthcoming, speaks for itself. CUSTOMS, IMMIGRATION AND QUARANTINE (CIQ) ISSUE 17. Mr Zulkifli Bin Baharudin asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs what is the status of negotiations to resolve the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) issue with the Malaysian Government.”
“Our records show that over the past five years there have been two instances (both in 1996) when the Malaysian Government officially complained about RSAF intrusions. On the first case of an alleged RSAF intrusion, MINDEF conducted thorough investigations and found no evidence to support the claim of an intrusion. We sought more information from Malaysia to help us with our investigations, and we even offered an exchange of information but Malaysia did not respond. In the second case, Malaysia sent a TPN which set out seven alleged instances of intrusions. Our investigations showed that the claim was without basis. In two of the instances the aircraft concerned were not even RSAF aircraft. There was another instance, early this year, when the Malaysian Ministry of Defence made an informal request to MINDEF to check whether some RSAF F-5s had strayed from their flight path in the Low Flying Area. They provided us the necessary details. We conducted a thorough investigation and found that the F-5s had unintentionally deviated from their planned route due to weather and temporal disorientation of the lead pilot. MINDEF conveyed this and our apologies to the Malaysian Ministry of Defence. There is no reason whatsoever for the RSAF to intrude into Malaysian airspace. In fact, the RSAF had every reason to adhere strictly to the terms and conditions of the various agreements we had with Malaysia for the use of Malaysian airspace, for to do otherwise would have brought an immediate response from the Malaysian Government. The Malaysian authorities would have been carefully scrutinising RSAF flights in Malaysian airspace and would not have hesitated to produce evidence to prove any deviation from the agreements had any such deviation occurred.”
“And this is why the RSAF's SAR assets will continue to be ready for deployment at a moment's notice. However, while our SAR assets may be highly trained and prepared for all contingencies, we must recognise that international cooperation is often necessary in SAR operations. We will continue to coordinate our SAR efforts with neighbouring states where necessary. We will also continue to render our utmost assistance to the SAR efforts of neighbouring states, and we hope to get similar cooperation from them when we have to conduct such humanitarian operations. In the context of the latest developments on the airspace issue, there have also been various allegations of intrusions by Singapore aircraft into Malaysian territory. Such allegations are not new. Only two weeks before the latest allegation on 1st October by Malaysia's Minister of Defence, there had been reports in the Malaysian press quoting allegations by Johor residents of RSAF intrusions. Datuk Syed Hamid himself had come out to say that there was no intrusion. He also pointed out that such news reports were provocative. We noted and we welcome Datuk Syed Hamid's statement that Malaysia and its Ministry of Defence would not react on hearsay and allegations but would investigate the complaints. Our response to all allegations of intrusions by our aircraft and vessels has always been a simple one. Inform us through official channels and give us the details so that we can conduct a thorough investigation. If we find that our personnel did intrude, we will punish them for we regard this as a very serious matter. But if all we get is an outcry in the media with no evidence provided, then we cannot be expected to pursue the matter further.”
“After the British helicopter mishap, the Malaysian Defence Minister asked Singapore to notify Malaysia of planned exercises and to apply for airspace clearance well beforehand for SAR operations during these exercises. SAR operations are by their very nature meant to handle emergencies which by definition cannot be anticipated. And emergencies can happen during training and even routine flights. Furthermore our Air Force, like the Malaysian Air Force and other air forces, carry out flying training and exercises almost daily. That is why countries have standing SAR arrangements, such as the one which the RSAF and RMAF had until 31/2 weeks ago. This is the most practical arrangement, meant to expedite and smoothen the operations and procedures between both sides for humanitarian reasons in order to save lives in an emergency when SAR is required. Some of the most basic principles of Search and Rescue, which are internationally accepted, are that there should be no delay in search and rescue efforts; that states should extend any possible assistance to search and rescue efforts; and, that states should coordinate their search and rescue efforts. Singapore's approach to SAR has always been based on internationally-accepted practices and universal humanitarian principles. As a responsible member of the international community, we will continue to uphold these principles and practices. This means that we have and will meet the obligation to provide SAR to those in distress in the quickest time possible. It also means that we must continue to maintain the highest readiness for our SAR operations. This is something which we cannot and will not compromise, for lives - whether Singaporean or other nationalities - are at stake.”
“This is despite the fact that the terms of one of the agreements clearly provide for six months' notification for termination. Thirdly, these agreements and arrangements were established in good faith and for mutual benefit. They were drawn up within a spirit of cooperation and Malaysia also derived some benefits in exchange for the RSAF's use of their airspace. For example, the RMAF was given access to RSAF Operational Flight Trainers and Air Combat Simulator. The RMAF was also allowed to station its personnel at the RSAF's Joint Air Traffic Control Centre to help coordination between the two air traffic control centres. While Malaysia's action has not affected the RSAF's training and operations, there will be an adverse effect on Search and Rescue (SAR) operations, as we were unfortunately reminded of only a week after Malaysia cancelled the SAR Agreement. This agreement, which is a common one between countries, was based on humanitarian considerations to facilitate SAR operations. In such operations, time is of the essence. How quickly distressed personnel can be located and rescued can mean the difference between life and death. Usually, SAR aircraft will take the shortest, most direct route to the search area. Under the agreement, the RSAF had in the past rescued both its own pilots as well as Malaysian pilots. For instance, in 1988, the RSAF rendered assistance to the RMAF twice for Search and Rescue and Search and Locate efforts. In the first case, we located the downed pilot at sea, picked him up and sent him to an RMAF airfield. In the second, we located the survivor and directed Malaysian search aircraft to his location. We worked hand-in-hand with the Malaysian authorities on both occasions.”
“The RSAF does not depend on any one country for its training needs. The RSAF has established extensive overseas training arrangements. These have provided valuable training areas and also the opportunity to train and exercise with other highly professional air forces. We will continue to look for new training areas in other parts of the world. In addition, we have invested heavily in advanced training simulators. We will continue to conduct more sophisticated training and exercises and make more extensive use of simulators, to ensure that the RSAF's operational and training effectiveness continues to be of the highest standards. MINDEF would like to clarify some of the misconceptions about the agreements and arrangements covered by Malaysia's action. Firstly, the arrangements did not allow RSAF aircraft a free run of Malaysian airspace. For safety and other reasons, the arrangements set out minimum heights and demarcated areas, which were strictly adhered to by the RSAF. The RSAF also ensured that its aircraft did not fly at certain times because we were sensitive to noise concerns. Secondly, many of these arrangements were established many years ago, with some dating back to the 1960s. As these are long-established bilateral arrangements, mutually agreed upon, we had expected some consultation or discussion before any action was taken. Especially as over the years the Ministries of Defence and air forces of the two countries have had regular consultations, conducted professionally and for mutual benefit, to make adjustments to the arrangements when necessary so as to take into account such things as aircraft noise and congestion. Instead the decision was conveyed with less than 24 hours' notice.”
“On 17th September, Malaysia informed the Ministry of Defence that it was terminating various agreements and arrangements governing the RSAF's use of Malaysian airspace. Their decision came into effect on 18th September, effectively giving us less than 24 hours' notice. This was a unilateral decision by Malaysia. We were not given prior notification nor consulted. Malaysia's decision affected the agreements and arrangements covering RSAF flights through South Johor to the South China Sea Training Area; RSAF training within Malaysia's Low Flying Area; RSAF navigational training flights in Peninsular and East Malaysia; RSAF aircraft taking off from Tengah Air Base using South Johor airspace; and combined Search and Rescue operations and exercises. MINDEF and the SAF plan for all contingencies, and Malaysia's decision has not curtailed the RSAF's training and operations. When the decision was conveyed, the RSAF immediately implemented alternative arrangements. Today the RSAF conducts its training and operational flights with the same frequency and tempo as before. RSAF aircraft proceeding to their training areas no longer transit through Malaysian airspace but take alternative routes. In doing so, we have not compromised on safety. The RSAF has been working closely with CAAS to ensure the proper sequencing of RSAF flights and civil air traffic so that air safety is not compromised. We have also minimised the number of RSAF flights over built-up areas. However, the adjustments in flight paths could mean some inconvenience to those living on both sides of the Johor Straits as more aircraft now have to fly over Singapore's territorial waters in the Straits. In fact, several of the arrangements which Malaysia terminated had been designed to reduce the aircraft noise level.”
“There are presently more than 240 canteen operators in MINDEF premises. Most of the operators pay less than $300 per month per stall. Our rental rates are reasonable compared to rates elsewhere. Nevertheless, MINDEF will monitor the situation and review the rates if necessary. BUSINESS CESSATION 2. Mr David T E Lim asked the Minister for Trade and Industry what is the number of business failures since the second half of 1997; whether this shows a rising trend against the last few years; and what types of businesses are involved, giving a breakdown by industry, size and ownership.”
“NSmen who attend NS training are eligible for the SAF service pay. To make up for the loss in their civilian salary, they are paid an additional make-up pay. MINDEF recognises that with the increasing use of flexible wage systems in Singapore, more companies are linking the compensation of their workers to their output. Bonuses and other forms of payments are therefore very often an integral part of the regular income of our NSmen. It would not be fair for NSmen to suffer a loss in income when they are recalled for NS training. MINDEF will be amending the Enlistment Act to include bonuses and other regular payments in the computation of the make-up pay. PROGRESS OF JTC'S PROGRAMME TO LEASE HDB FLATS 38. Dr Wang Kai Yuen asked the Minister for Trade and Industry what is the progress of the Jurong Town Corporation's programme to lease Housing and Development Board flats to foreign professionals in Singapore.”
“In addition, the proposed Tamil language department or programme need not look towards merely training Singaporeans, but could also aim to become a training and research hub for the language in Asia. In addition, the proposed department or programme can offer programmes which are of interest and relevance to non-Indians. With the growing business and trade ties between us and the Indian sub-continent, there is now greater interest in the economics, culture and history of the Indian sub-continent. These subjects can be taught in English for those interested in these areas. The South East Asian Studies Programme and the European Studies Programme are good models to follow for a start. Sir, the Indian community has waited too long for the introduction of Tamil studies at our university. I would urge the Minister for Education to introduce the teaching of Tamil language at the university as soon possible.”
“But no department or programme has been introduced to offer Tamil language. The Indian community has blamed the absence of Tamil language at university level as a cause for the drop in the quality of Tamil teaching, as many local Tamil teachers in Singapore are not graduates. I believe that out of 450 Singapore Tamil teachers, less than 30 are graduates. A vast majority of these Tamil language teachers have no university education in Tamil or other disciplines. Some of these teachers have stated that they are unable to progress in their teaching careers, because of a lack of tertiary qualifications. Are these teachers really qualified to teach Tamil to our secondary and pre-university students? Many Indian students learn Tamil for 12 years only to stop there as there is no institution offering it at tertiary level. Some undergraduates have complained that they are unable to continue with the learning of the Tamil language at the university. Sir, when the hon. Member for Kreta Ayer-Tanglin, Mr R. Sinnakaruppan, raised the subject last year, the Senior Minister of State for Education, Dr Aline Wong, stated that sustainability and sufficient numbers of students with entry qualifications as two issues to be studied carefully before a decision is made. Sir, the number of students taking Tamil as a language has increased over the years. The various efforts of the Government and the community at large have led to an interest in the maintenance and further promotion of Tamil language in Singapore. The pool of future entrants taking the subject at university level should get larger.”
“An International Academic Advisory Panel, comprising eminent academicians from the United States, Europe and Japan will be meeting in Singapore next week under the Chairmanship of Dr Yeo Ning Hong to discuss the issues which I have just outlined. Their recommendations will help us to work out the right approach to tackle these difficult and complex issues of university education in Singapore. Much obliged, Mr Speaker, Sir. Mr R. Ravindran (Bukit Timah)( In Tamil): Sir, the Tamil language is one of the official languages in Singapore. Singapore has the distinction of being the only country outside India where Tamil is an official language. Sir, our bilingual policy helps to impart mother tongue language skills, moral values and cultural traditions. According to the figures as at 1995, Tamil is studied as a second language by more than 18,000 students. The Government has gone to great lengths to ensure that Tamil language classes are held wherever there are sufficient numbers of students. However, the noticeable absence of the teaching of the Tamil language in the university has been a cause of concern for the Indian community in Singapore. The cry for the teaching of Tamil at university level has been echoed in this House, at various public forums and through written appeals. All other official languages are being taught at the tertiary level. There is the Department of Chinese Studies and the Department of Malay Studies in NUS. The irony or what is amazing is that there is a Japanese Studies Department offering Japanese language, and a South East Asian Programme offering Vietnamese and Bahasa Indonesia. Even European languages like French and German are offered in the European Studies Programme.”
“Third, a course in human relations, because whatever a graduate does after graduation, he or she needs to be able to interact effectively with other people in order to succeed. Finally, a course in expository writing, report writing, so as to make sure that at least every graduate of NUS is able to write grammatically and concisely. Even with this limited requirement of only four core courses out of the total undergraduate curriculum, it is going to be a big task to mount the courses at a level which university students will find interesting and meaningful. And you cannot do this with Faculties of Arts and Science which are at the bottom of the totem pole in standing and prestige in the university structure. This is the issue which we have to grapple with - how to build up the Faculties of Arts and Science in NUS so that they can hold their own against the professional schools - Law, Medicine, Engineering and Business. It requires a great deal of thought. One way perhaps could be to merge the Faculty of Arts with the Faculty of Science, to create a large Faculty of Arts and Sciences, as in Harvard, which with their combined resources can then hold its own against Medicine, Law, Engineering or Business. This, I know, is a major decision. But it may provide the impetus to make Arts and Science the central disciplines in NUS, which should actually be the case for a general university like NUS. Sir, the issues which I have just outlined, as Members will realise, are very large questions, which have to be thought through. The purpose of my speech this afternoon is not to provide answers to these questions, but to inform Members of the issues so that we can have the benefit of your views.”
“You are allowed some flexibility depending on your major, or what Harvard calls the student's concentration. Each of the six fields contains a number of courses run by different Professors, and these Professors are not graduate students or Assistant Professors. They are the best in the field, and the senior faculty makes it a point to teach these core courses. In one field, for example, in Foreign Cultures, you may have a dozen courses. So students can choose. Each course has a small number of students, and they are taught at a very high level. For example, in the Foreign Cultures field, I think Erza Vogel, the author of Japan As Number One, used to teach a course in that field. If you want to learn about Japan, he is an authority. If you want to take a course in science, you can take a course which is run by a Nobel Prize Laureate. These eminent faculties make it a point to teach these courses at undergraduate level, often at first-year level. This makes the courses meaningful. Each student can attend a course which he or she likes and is interested in, and the course is conducted at a rigorous level. But to do this, you need a good Faculty of Arts and a good Faculty of Science. Otherwise you cannot do it. It took Harvard about seven years to establish the core curriculum and another four years to actually implement it fully. We need not go as far as Harvard. One way perhaps would be to require all students in NUS, and possibly NTU, during the course of their 3-4 years in the university, to take a minimum of four courses. One course in the history of Singapore, out of a menu of courses which would be available for students to choose. Second, a course in the history, culture or society of one of our neighbours.”
“My worry is that if something is not done, I can see in the next few years the professional schools in NUS - Law, Medicine, Engineering, Business - overshadowing the Faculties of Arts and Science, so that eventually you will not get good people teaching Arts and Sciences, and you will not get good students taking these disciplines. Singapore will then lack a very valuable resource, because, first, the Faculties of Arts and Science in NUS produce the teachers for our schools. Secondly, they also provide the means by which we can enrich the whole area of university education, particularly at the undergraduate level. Sir, let me give you one example. We have been thinking on how to introduce National Education in our schools and also at the tertiary level. How do you teach National Education in a way which is meaningful, interesting and challenging to university students? It is not the same as secondary school students. At university level, you cannot just have one first-year course. Then ask all 7,000-8,000 first-year students to attend the same course in a huge lecture theatre and expect the students to find the course meaningful. It is not possible. It is a big problem. One way of doing it could be to emulate, eg, what Harvard University has done with its core curriculum. In Harvard, every student has to take 32 courses to graduate. Out of the 32 courses, one-quarter or eight of the courses have to be taken from what Harvard calls its core curriculum. The eight courses are chosen from six fields. These are Foreign Cultures, Historical Studies, Literature and the Arts, Moral Reasoning, Science and Social Analysis. Basically, you take one course from each field, and the other two courses vary.”
“We will also need to set up proper admission offices in NUS and NTU which can attract and look after students from Singapore and overseas and they will need accommodation, they will need to be looked after, particularly students who come perhaps from far away regions. Sir, there is a market for students, just as there is a market for everything else. If you want to get good students, you have to go out and attract them. We are preparing to do this. One example is by having a "need blind" policy of admission which means that we guarantee students both Singapore students as well as foreign students that if you meet our standards for admission to university, we will guarantee that you will have sufficient financial aid to defray the cost of your studies in Singapore. The type of financial aid will depend on the needs of the student as well as on his academic achievements. Very good students will get a full scholarship. Students who are not so good but good enough to get into university will be given a package, perhaps of loans or paid work, some scholarship money but enough in order to pay for the course of his or her study in Singapore. Sir, you may imagine that when we do all this, students will flock to Singapore. That is not the case. These initiatives have to be advertised and have to be told to students. Otherwise, they will not apply on their own and this requires effort on the part of NUS and NTU. It is not easy but it has got to be done. 12.45 pm Sir, the third issue which affects NUS particularly is the standing of the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Science in NUS. Arts and Science are basic university disciplines.”
“With continuing improvements in our schools and with better teaching, as outlined by the Minister for Education yesterday, from a cohort of 40,000 to 50,000 students every year, we can with a lot of effort raise the number of Singapore students qualifying for university studies from 8,000 today, possibly to 10,000 students, or hopefully, 11,000 students a year by the year 2000-2001. This is the first step. The second step is we must increase the number of tertiary level institutions in Singapore. If you have an intake of 15,000-16000 students going to university every year and all of them go only to NUS and NTU, then this means that NUS and NTU will become mega universities with student populations of 30,000-40,000 each. I do not think this is desirable. This will lower the standards of education in the two universities. So this is why, Sir, the development of the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) into a private university concentrating on finance and business courses is very important and timely because this will give us another tertiary institution which can take in university students and increase the overall enrolment of university students in Singapore without making NUS and NTU so large that they become unmanageable. Finally, Sir, in addition to getting as many of our own students into university as possible, we have to go out to recruit students from overseas. This has to be done with greater focus and with more resources than we have done so far. We have taken the first step by restructuring the university fees structure so that there is one fee for all courses except Medicine and Dentistry and foreign students from next year will pay only 10% more than local students. But this is not enough.”
“First, advanced engineering because engineering is very important to Singapore and we do have in Singapore, some areas of engineering, for example, chemical engineering because of our petrochemical works and electronic engineering when we can really do good work. Secondly, East Asian Studies because of the importance of East Asia, particularly China to this part of the world and to the future stability to the whole region. We are in a unique position to act as an interface and interpreter of East Asia to the rest of the world and to facilitate East Asian interactions with the West. Third, molecular and cell biology because we already have an Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in NUS which is of world-class standard and the bio-technology industry could become very important for Singapore. Such world-class institutes will need a lot of resources to set up and to maintain. So we need to be very sure about the areas to be emphasised before we adopt this solution. Now I come to the second issue, Sir, which concerns tertiary education in Singapore and the issue is student numbers. To put it bluntly, we do not have enough students. This year, NUS and NTU will admit some 9,000 students of which 8,000 students are Singaporeans, 1,000 are foreign students. By the year 2000, that is in three years' time, the Ministry of Trade and Industry has projected that we will need something close to 17,000 graduates a year to service our economy. This is almost double what we can produce today. How do we get this large number of graduates whom we need to service the Singapore economy? First, we must give every Singapore student as much opportunity as possible to qualify for university study.”
“This requires the university to educate as large a number of students as possible. But if you want to become a world-class university, what you really want to do is work at the cutting edge of knowledge and this generally means that you want to concentrate not on large numbers of students but on a small number of top quality students and staff and give them the support and opportunities to compete with the best in the world. Sir, the question is: how to reconcile these two objectives of a world-class university? In the United States, this is done by a division of labour. The United States has a large number of universities. Most of the universities concentrate on basically producing the manpower which is required for the US economy. A very small number of universities try to be the best in their field and to operate at the leading edge of knowledge and these are usually not large universities. But in the case of Singapore, we cannot afford to allow NUS and NTU to concentrate on educating only a small number of students because we only have two universities here. So this is the dilemma. One solution to the dilemma which has been proposed is NUS and NTU to concentrate on producing the manpower which Singapore needs but to also have a small number of world-class institutes which can be affiliated either to NUS or NTU, or to both universities, and which can tackle problems of importance to Singapore at a level which can compete with the best in the world. Three areas have been suggested for such world-class institutes.”
“There are many advantages to this structure. It allows for flexible deployment of staff and strong identification of the students with the department or the faculty. The disadvantage is that undergraduate teaching may sometimes not receive sufficient attention as professors and lecturers may tend to gravitate towards research and teaching of graduate students. Another model which has been adopted by some of the best American universities is to have a formal Undergraduate College which will concentrate on undergraduate studies together with Graduate Schools to teach graduate students. The purpose of the Undergraduate College is to focus identification of each year's class with the university rather than the faculty or the department and ensure that teaching of undergraduate students is given the importance it deserves. Of course, the dividing line between the Undergraduate College and the Graduate Schools is not a water tight one. Professors teach in both the Undergraduate College and the Graduate Schools. But a formal Undergraduate College can help to ensure that teaching of undergraduate students is not neglected in favour of research or teaching of graduate students. Sir, NUS and NTU have been well-served by their present structures. It has brought them recognition and we should not change these structures unless there are compelling reasons. So further thought is necessary before any decision is taken by the two universities. Sir, the next question is how to foster excellence in research at NUS and NTU. Sir, here, we have a dilemma. One of the fundamental purposes of a university, particularly in a small country like Singapore, must be to train manpower to service the economy and society of a country.”
“Sir, thank you, for allowing me to join in this debate. I listened with interest to the speech by Mr Loh Meng See yesterday on university education and I would like to comment on some of the matters which he has raised. Sir, there are three fundamental issues of particular concern to university education in Singapore today. The first issue affects both NUS and NTU. The second issue concerns tertiary education in general and the third issue affects NUS particularly. The first issue, Sir, is our objective to develop NUS and NTU as world-class universities to spearhead the development of Singapore as the "Boston of the East". The reasons for this objective have already been explained and I will not go through them again. What we have to consider is how to achieve this objective. Both NUS and NTU have come a long way. Both universities are well-recognised, highly regarded by overseas universities and employers. NUS and NTU graduates do not find it difficult to get good jobs both in Singapore as well as overseas. To develop NUS and NTU as world-class universities, we have first to decide what makes a university world-class. There will be many views on this subject. However, most academics and the general public will probably take the view that for a university to be world-class, it must have excellence in teaching of both undergraduate and graduate students and excellence in research. Then we ask ourselves: Is the present structure of NUS and NTU appropriate to enable the universities to achieve world-class standards in teaching and research? Because of our colonial heritage, NUS and NTU are structured largely on the British model where subjects are taught in departments, grouped into faculties which undertake the teaching of both undergraduate and graduate students.”
“Just last month, IDSS co-organised the inaugural general meeting of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific. This conference brought together established think-tanks in the Asia-Pacific region in a most useful exchange of views and ideas. Sir, my colleagues will elaborate on some of the other points brought up by the Members in due course in this debate.”
“Towards this end, the Institute is developing a research wing and plans to launch a Visiting Research Fellowship Programme to enable overseas scholars to work on such issues in Singapore. The Institute is also tasked to provide educational opportunities at an advanced level to professionals from both the private and public sectors in Singapore in the initial years, and when the Institute is more established, to such professionals from other countries. Through its research and scholarship, the IDSS hopes to enhance political awareness of strategic questions which should help strengthen regional and international bonds among scholars and researchers working in related fields of study. The IDSS will be launching its inaugural M.Sc in Strategic Studies Programme in the 1998/99 academic year. This will be a full-time course conducted by local and international specialists over one calendar year. King's College of the University of London, through its Department of War Studies, will serve as consultants to the programme. MINDEF intends to send some SAF officers each year to IDSS to do the post-graduate programme in strategic studies. This will broaden their outlook and give them a deeper understanding of the security issues confronting Singapore and the skills to make assessments of our strategic environment which will be pertinent to MINDEF's policy making. IDSS also participates actively in the network of regional think-tanks and academic bodies which conduct seminars and conferences on various regional security issues. These "Track 2"activities make an important contribution to the efforts to enhance regional security in the formal ASEAN Regional Forum process by generating ideas and developing understanding.”
“In addition to joint exercises, Australia and New Zealand also offer the SAF training areas and being a land scarce country, we are grateful for these offers. The defence relationships with these countries have grown steadily as both sides see benefit in expanding the cooperation. Another important component of the regional security framework is multi-lateral arrangements such as the FPDA. Singapore is working with the other members to maintain the relevance and operational readiness of the FPDA. Among other things, we will work towards enhancing the professionalism of the FPDA in the form of exercises and other defence activities. Beyond ASEAN and the FPDA, our defence relationships with the United States are noteworthy for the extensiveness of the interactions. This relationship too has grown in depth and scope. The RSAF has access to valuable training facilities in the United States. And over here, military exercises between the SAF and US forces have grown in complexity and scope over the years and testify to the value and benefit which the US forces derive from their training with the SAF. I now go on to the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS). Sir, the IDSS was launched at the end of July 1996. It will develop two main areas of activities reflecting its two broad functions - teaching and research. With its development as an independent institute, the IDSS will enable scholars and students to research, critically examine and make a more detached assessment of defence and security issues, their impact and implications, especially from a longer time-frame perspective. The Institute's focus on research will thus be on issues related to the security of the Asia-Pacific and their implications for Singapore and countries in the region.”
“We have over the years developed a network of strong defence relations with many countries and we continue to put much effort into enhancing existing relationships and developing new ones. This network of defence relations, besides bringing mutual benefits in professional areas for the armed forces and deepening the bilateral relationship between Singapore and the respective countries, is also an important part of the regional security architecture and contributes to regional stability and security. Besides deterrence, diplomacy is one of the two pillars of our defence policy. We will continue to put much emphasis in this area, exploring new areas of cooperation and interaction. Our defence relations with the ASEAN and the FPDA countries are good. The SAF trains and exercises with the armed forces of almost everyone of these countries on a bilateral basis. We also send officers to each other's military academies and command and staff colleges, and organise regular visits and exchanges for the rank-and-file as well as senior officers. Such interactions enable us to learn from each other and contribute to mutual understanding and confidence-building. 1.30 pm In the region, our defence relations with Indonesia, Thailand and Brunei are particularly strong and warm. Just as we attach importance to our defence relations with these countries and the benefits we derive from our defence cooperation, so too do their political and military leaderships attach importance to their defence relations and cooperation with Singapore. This has led to our defence interactions with these countries increasing quite significantly in scope and depth in recent years. Defence relations with Australia and New Zealand have also expanded significantly in recent years.”
“The SAF will continue to upgrade its equipment and acquire new state-of-the-art weapon systems to enhance its fighting capability. But more important than having good equipment and good technology is to have good people. That is why, Sir, we have restructured the terms and conditions of employment for SAF officers to ensure that we will be able to continue to recruit, retain and develop a fair share of the best and brightest Singaporeans to serve as officers in the SAF. The SAF will continue to monitor its terms and conditions of service to ensure that they are more than competitive with the market in order to ensure that we will have a capable and effective armed force that is staffed with committed and well-trained soldiers led effectively by dedicated and able WOSEs and SAF officers. Sir, Singapore has done well in the three decades since we became an independent nation. But we must not allow prosperity to erode our commitment and capability to defend ourselves. Unlike bigger countries, we have little margin for error. A united people and a credible defence force are our most effective deterrent to any potential aggressor. The more we can demonstrate that Singaporeans have the will and the resolve to defend our nation should the need arise, the more likely would it be that we will be left in peace to cooperate with our neighbours for the peace and prosperity of Singapore and the region. I will now go on to some of the points raised by Dr Ong. First, defence relations. Sir, Singapore believes in the importance of having good defence relations with other countries, both in our region and outside our region.”
“As I said last year, Sir, and I quote: "It can take only one year for a strategic and security situation of a country to change significantly, but it takes more than one year to build a credible defence force. To have a credible defence force, you must invest for many years in people, in equipment, in the development of doctrines and tactics. The best time for such investment is when the country is doing well and everything appears to be peaceful. By the time the situation becomes tense, and the need for a credible defence force is evident, it is too late to talk about investing in defence." Sir, the 21st century offers the prospect of a golden and prosperous era for the Asia-Pacific region. For Singapore, the future is bright and exciting. There is no reason why we should not grow from strength to strength and enable every Singaporean to live a full life and develop his or her potential to the fullest. But as we try to build a better future for ourselves and our children, let us never forget that Singapore has no future if we do not have security. This is why a strong and credible SAF, supported by all Singaporeans, is a foundation for peace, progress and prosperity for Singapore. Sir, our defence policy is based on deterrence. Singapore does not want to fight with anyone. But anyone thinking of launching a campaign against Singapore must know that they will be met with a sophisticated, well-trained and well-armed defence force that is capable of delivering a decisive victory against the aggressor and that is supported by the whole country through National Service and our Total Defence effort. The SAF today is a modern, balanced and integrated armed force which is ready and capable of fulfilling its mission to defend Singapore when it is called upon.”
“Sir, permit me to respond to some of the points raised by Dr Ong Chit Chung. Sir, when I addressed Parliament last year during the debate on the 1996 Budget estimates for the Ministry of Defence, the backdrop to my speech was the serious escalation in tension across the Taiwan Straits, with the Taiwanese armed forces being put on full alert and China massing more than 150,000 soldiers, together with air force and naval elements, in Fujian province opposite Taiwan and engaging in a major military exercise, which included the firing of missiles to land in an area just 20 nautical miles off the coast of Taiwan. This year, Sir, another serious security situation has developed in a country even nearer to Singapore than Taiwan. After many years of war and bloodshed, Cambodia was on the road to recovery after the 1991 Paris Peace Accord laid the foundation for a return to normal government for that unfortunate country. Indeed, Cambodia was on the verge of joining ASEAN when the country was again plunged into crisis with fighting in the provinces and tanks patrolling the streets of Phnom Penh. As I speak in the House this afternoon, the Foreign Ministers of the ASEAN countries are meeting in Kuala Lumpur to discuss the Cambodian situation and how ASEAN can help to bring the country back to normal so that the Cambodian people can focus their energies on rebuilding their country and improving their lives. What is the lesson that Singaporeans can learn from the Taiwan situation last year and the Cambodian crisis this year? Sir, the lesson is that a country can come to the brink of war and descend to instability and chaos very rapidly. We must therefore never take our stability and security for granted.”
“With an appropriate pricing for water, we could eventually arrive at a point where people use what is actually needed, no wastage and adopt every feasible measure in water conservation. Ultimately, it helps to reduce our dependence on foreign water supply. Sir, I support the motion.”
“I feel that the authority should conduct some studies and come out with specifications in guiding the import and installation of such water conservation equipment. We should also encourage people to reuse the relatively clean water from home as one of the ways of water conservation. Take, for example, the reusing of water from the washing machine for the cleaning of floors or even for the flushing of toilets. Just by selling this simple and painless water conservation concept, we could easily save up to 10 million gallons of water per day, which is a substantial portion of our total domestic water consumption. We should continue our effort in water conservation. I hope more innovative ideas could be introduced to further conserve our water. For domestic usage, the charges are about 50 cents per cubic metre for the first 10 cubic metres per month, and subsequently 80 cents per cubic metre for additional consumption. The pricing system is based on the concept of paying a higher rate if one should consume more. However, it does not help much in encouraging people to use less water because the penalty in consuming more water is not significant in this particular pricing system. Sir, now that we are going to produce water by a relatively expensive way - desalination - we should be more concerned about conservation of water. In order to do this, in the future pricing of water, it should build in two important factors. First, the people should be constantly reminded to use less water. Every additional bit of water we consume will have a significant effect on the total water bill. Second, for those people with a higher water consumption, the cost of water for desalination must be properly reflected in their water bills.”
“These measures include water reuse or recycling, water conservation and our policy on water charges. The percentage of water reuse in Singapore at the moment is very low. There is great potential for us to look into the possibility of enhancing the level of water reuse. The recycled water could be used for industrial cleaning, cooling of systems, cement and concrete mixing for the construction industry, watering of plants by the National Parks Board, irrigation for our agrotechnology industry and recreational facilities like golf courses. The reuse of water could also be extended to household applications, like flushing of toilets, cleaning of floors or even cleaning of cars. This is a good time for us to promote further water conservation and the use of recycled water because people are now concerned about the future water supply. We should also seriously consider the installation of water recycling facilities and a dual water supply system which allows recycled water to be piped into industrial and new housing estates. The success in promoting water reuse could help in a big way in reducing our reliance on fresh water supply from another country. The water conservation campaign has been successful. Many of the water conservation devices have already been installed for both public and domestic applications, for example, installation of orifice for the reduction of water pressure and the push button water tap to overcome the problem of not turning off the tap after use. Sir, these water conservation equipment have no doubt been installed. However, the performance of the equipment is, in fact, still not optimally tuned. The water supply from these equipment, in most cases, is more than what is actually needed to prevent people from complaining.”
“The recent report by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California on large scale desalination plants shows that it is possible to produce water at a cost of about 70 Singapore cents per cubic metre, which is three times the cost of water produced currently, and the construction cost is $3.60 per gallon per day. In other words, the construction cost of a desalination plant supplying half of our water demand at 150 million gallons per day will be $540 million for a life time of 30 years. Judging from the cost, it is very affordable to us. For Singapore, the issue that holds us up for not entering into desalination is the cost of water production. As long as we can safely secure sufficient fresh water supply, why should we pay more for adopting desalination? However, even if the water agreements were signed and filed in the United Nations, we are still constantly threatened by the cutting off of our water supply. The renewal of the agreement after the present one expires will still be kept in uncertainty. The possible supply from other sources in the region still remains uncertain. In order to safeguard our water supply in meeting the future demand, we have no other alternative but to invest in desalination plants. The capacity of desalination could be gradually built up to meet the quantity as stated in the first water agreement when it expires by the year 2011. By doing so, it ensures that the water supply will not be disrupted by the expiry of the first water agreement and, at the same time, we will stand a better chance in securing the renewal of the agreement under reasonable terms. Sir, while producing water from desalination, we should also look into other measures which would help us lessen our dependence on fresh water supply.”
“Our own water resources could support up to half of the current water consumption. The rest has to be dependent on the water supply from Malaysia, based on two water agreements. The first agreement will expire by the year 2011 and the other by 2061. The recent result of a survey reported by the Straits Times on 11th May 1997 showed that 96% of Singapore citizens would like the Government to look into other alternative water supply, and 79% said that we should do it now. I am glad to note that in the Addendum of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, it is mentioned that the PUB will expand its water production capacity and also build a desalination plant. The long-term supply of water to Singapore should depend either on opening up more water supply sources or desalination. The exploration of new fresh water resources in this region is not an easy task. Even in a situation which has the endorsement of a foreign government, many of their own domestic matters need to be resolved and they are beyond our control. It will take a long time before water could be delivered to Singapore. Despite the difficulty and uncertainty, it is still worthwhile for us to further explore the possibility of alternative fresh water supply as long as it is cheaper than desalination. Desalination is a very established technology and is a viable means of supplying water to Singapore because we have an unlimited supply of unpolluted sea water as raw material for the desalination process. Countries like Kuwait and Malta depend heavily on desalination for their fresh water supply.”
“To upgrade LaSalle and NAFA, I have, on the recommendation of Mr Liu Thai Ker, Chairman of the National Arts Council, appointed Mr Tan Chin Nam, Chief Executive Officer of Singapore Tourist Promotion Board, to chair a Committee to put up appropriate recommendations to Government. Also in consultation with BG George Yeo, Minister for Information and the Arts, and RAdm Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Education, I have appointed Mr Peter Chen, Senior Minister of State for Education, to be the adviser to the Committee. The Committee will comprise, among others, representatives from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Information and the Arts, National Arts Council, National Heritage Board, LaSalle, NAFA, Singapore Arts Centre and, of course, members of the business and arts communities in Singapore. The Committee will complete its deliberation and submit its recommendations to Government by the first quarter of next year. Secretariat support will be provided by the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Information and the Arts and the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board. Sir, I believe that the setting up of this Committee is a timely move. It will help to enhance considerably the status of the arts in Singapore. It will provide the manpower which is necessary to realise the full potential of developments which we are creating in Singapore, for example, the Theatre by the Bay. I think it will make Singapore not only a more competitive nation but also a more lively and interesting place for all Singaporeans to live in in the coming years. Assoc. Prof. Low Seow Chay (Chua Chu Kang): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, water is an important commodity and a shortage of it would affect the quality of life and the economic development of Singapore.”
“And the demand for such people with such talents can only increase, and we must realise the full potential of our human resources by facilitating the development of these skills for Singaporeans who have such endowment and inclination. It is in recognition of the importance of the arts, both to Singapore as a nation and to the competitiveness of our economy, that the Government has decided to re-position the LaSalle-SIA College of the Arts (LaSalle) and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) as institutions which can play a central role in the development of our creative and artistic manpower. We need to redefine the purpose and role of LaSalle and NAFA to make them even more relevant as we move into the next phase of our development. LaSalle will be developed as a centre for the Visual and Performing Arts with an emphasis on Western and South-East Asian cultures, and NAFA will concentrate on developing Fine Arts and Design, focusing particularly on Asian and Oriental cultures. With support from the Government and the public, LaSalle and NAFA can develop, I believe, into centres of excellence which will attract staff and students from Singapore and the region and even beyond, and participate in a renaissance of the arts and learning which will make Singapore a vital hub in the New Asia. Support from Government can include financial support for buildings and equipment as well as an annual operating grant. And this move will help to develop Singapore into a creative nation, a renaissance city with considerable artistic skills which will complement our achievements in technology and economic progress.”
“It will make a difference in determining who will emerge winners in this race of global economic competition which will rely more and more today on brain resources rather than on possessing large amounts of natural resources like land or large populations. How creative we are as a nation is strongly linked to the capabilities of our people and the environment in which we grow up. Already, we are transforming our education system to encourage the creative potential of our students. We are encouraging more innovation as the cornerstone of our economic strategy to bring our country up to a higher level. Creativity and the arts must invariably thrive alongside each other, and we therefore need to look more closely into how we can encourage the arts to flourish in Singapore. The artistic fields, both the visual arts and the performing arts, offer accessible means by which creativity can be expressed and developed in our children, in our people. The arts challenge the mind in many ways. They force the individual to think beyond traditional confines. In so doing, they open up new vistas, new possibilities and new creations. These activities can give new vitality to our nation, they can nourish our culture, refine our society, and ultimately improve the quality of life for all Singaporeans. In addition, we must appreciate, I believe, more fully the economic value of artistic capabilities which up to now have not been emphasised sufficiently. As we move into the next millennium, the economic relevance of such capabilities will become even greater. Even in Singapore today, there are already many industries which require such people, for example, in industrial design, graphic design, entertainment, media, just to name a few.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, first I would like to thank you for allowing me to join in this debate. I have listened to the comments from the Member for Tampines with much interest. I think there is a lot of value in what he has said, particularly with regard to the need for National Education, which is a very important but very difficult subject, which the Ministry of Education will have to tackle within these few years. It is important to give our children a sense of history, some knowledge of the values which we hold and why we have come to hold such values. Without such knowledge of National Education, which should not only be transmitted at the school level but also at the university level, we cannot say that our education system is complete and we have given our children the necessary ballast, knowledge, foundation, which would enable them to grow up to be responsible citizens. Sir, National Education is a very big subject. I do not think that today is the right occasion for me to talk about it at length. I will speak on it on another occasion. What I would like to do this afternoon is to talk a little bit about the subject which Mr Sin has raised, ie, the upgrading of the LaSalle-SIA College of the Arts and of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. Sir, in the next stage of Singapore's development, we would need to nurture a stronger spirit of creativity and innovation in Singaporeans to achieve greater competitiveness and to create a better future for our people. In this knowledge and information age, this spirit of creativity will be a key factor which will sharpen Singapore's competitive edge.”
“Unicorn International conducted its own internal investigations into the 7 cases that were highlighted by the Auditor-General's Office in its report and has since taken appropriate action to rectify the irregularities. In the first three cases of double payments, the Police also conducted their own investigations, and concluded that there are no grounds for criminal prosecution. The company has recovered moneys from staff where there had been double payment. Disciplinary action in accordance with company policy and procedures has also been taken where required. The company has reviewed its operating controls and put in place measures to further improve its systems. These relate to procedures on claims to be reimbursed based only on original invoice and receipt to avoid double payments, and more thorough checks to avoid mistakes in mileage claims. ESTATE DUTY COLLECTION 2. Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for Finance if he will state how much estate duty the Government expects to collect in respect of (i) immovable property and (ii) movable property following the recent amendments made to the Estate Duty Act.”
“In order to command their confidence of our local people and foreigners for the leadership of our Government, I suggest that the Government should require Ministers to make written declarations of their assets and sources of income to Parliament annually and have them gazetted in the Government Gazette. I feel that declaring to the Prime Minister alone is not good enough. As for the purchase of private condominium units by the Senior Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, the parties concerned, including the Senior Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, have already made their explanations. I think we should leave the matter to the people to ponder over it.”
“If necessary, Sir, and if there is not enough time in this debate, we can, I suggest, discuss these wider questions in another debate in this House. [Mr Deputy Speaker in the Chair] 6.10 pm Mr Cheo Chai Chen (Nee Soon Central)( In Mandarin): Mr Deputy Speaker, recently, the purchase of private property at discounted prices by the Senior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Lee has caused a storm of disquiet among the people. Singaporeans are beginning to consider one question, that is, can Ministers, including the Prime Minister, Senior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister be allowed to buy other private properties or to invest in property. My personal view is that the Government should legislate to stipulate that any Minister who is in office shall be allowed to buy and own not more than one private house for his own use and that he shall not be allowed to buy another property for investment purpose. If the Minister has to sell the house during his term of office and buy another new house, he must first inform Parliament and must obtain the approval of Parliament before he can proceed to do so. This is because Ministers possess the power of policy-making and law enforcement. This measure can minimise the possibility of Ministers abusing their power and influence to make huge profits from property transactions. In addition, the Ministers' immediate family members should also own only one private property each. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the duty of Ministers is to serve the people and not to make money for themselves.”
“The Prime Minister has kept me informed of the developments in his investigation which my colleagues and I considered to be necessary to maintain our clean and honest system of Government even though the investigation involved the Senior Minister and DPM Lee. Having access to all the facts of the purchases, I am confident that no one can disagree with the Prime Minister's judgment that there was no impropriety in the purchase by Senior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Lee of a unit each in Nassim Jade and Scotts 28. That being the case, I see no reason for the Senior Minister and DPM Lee to return the discounts they have been given to the Government, whether this is in the form of "unsolicited gifts" or otherwise. I expressed this view at a meeting with the Prime Minister, Senior Minister and DPM Lee shortly before the Prime Minister released his statement on 26th April. I see no reason to change my view. Sir, I have focused my remarks today on whether it was proper or improper for the Senior Minister and DPM Lee to purchase units in HPL's two developments. The reason I have done this is because the integrity of two senior Ministers in the Government has been questioned and I feel that the issue of propriety has to be settled first. Members should not allow this issue of propriety to be clouded by the wider questions of how to ensure fairness in property sales and whether it is appropriate or inappropriate politically for Ministers to be given discounts from list prices or priority in bookings by property developers or participate in soft launches of property projects. These wider questions are, of course, important and should be discussed. But they should not be allowed to confuse the issue of the propriety of Senior Minister's and DPM Lee's purchases.”
“At that time, I was Chairman of OCBC and the OCBC Property Department faxed a message to me saying that people had been queuing up for three days in order to buy the properties and all the properties in the first phase had been sold in one day. My reaction was what a mistake we had made. Obviously, we had underpriced the properties. And so in the second phase, I told the property development people to try and sell it by closed tender so as to try and get a better gauge of market prices. The point, Sir, is not to denigrate the property development people at OCBC who are a very experienced lot of developers, but to point out that no one can read the market with accuracy and properties which may appear today to be underpriced would not have seem so at the point of sale. Different boards of directors will have different polices and adopt different practices. Each property development company is entitled to pursue its own approach to selling properties but all companies have to operate within the provisions of the Companies Act and listed companies additionally have to abide by the regulations of the Stock Exchange. If a company or a director is suspected of contravening the Companies Act, or the Stock Exchange regulations, or if there is any suspected irregularity in the sale of properties by any property development company, then it is the responsibility of the proper authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly and take the necessary action as we are doing today in this debate. Sir, with regard to HPL, the Prime Minister has explained carefully how he investigated the circumstances of the purchase by Senior Minister and DPM Lee of units in the two HPL developments.”