Wong Kan Seng
Singapore
“We all want a better future for our children and the future generations. Amid the debates, let us not lose sight of what we are working for – we are working for the benefit and future of Singaporeans. Not for growth targets, not for foreigners, but for Singaporeans.”
“Mrs Mildred Tan also suggested doing a longitudinal study on the impact of new citizens on Singapore. I am told that there is a periodic study on the perception of integration and rootedness of Singaporeans and PRs. A study is now ongoing too.”
“All they need to do is simply declare that they meet the residential criteria. EASING IN US ECONOMY (Impact on Singapore) 9. Ms Sylvia Lim asked the Senior Minister what will be the expected impact on the Singapore economy arising from the US Federal Reserve's announcement on 3rd November 2010 of a "quantitative easing" of the US economy…”
“Well, from the data I have here, 553 registered to vote before the 2006 GE and this is the data I have but Ms Lim may be right. There may be 1,000-odd that Ms Lim had mentioned. From what I am told now, we have 1,325 Singaporean overseas who are eligible to register to vote have registered.”
“But, as I said, there are so many other possibilities that they could come in and there could also be many possibilities that we could have missed and they have entered or left Singapore. LAND SWAP AGREEMENT FOR KTM STATION AND RAILWAY LANDS 2.”
“They are also recruiting people by offering them scholarships. So, we hope more of our companies can do that. Hopefully they come here to work for a while and, if they like our place, they may want to settle down. This is a place which they can think about. POPULATION AND TALENT DIVISION 5. Assoc. Prof.”
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Every one of 3,192 lines we hold for Wong Kan Seng, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 63 of 64.
“And he said he would contribute a quarter of his earnings. Has he done so? We do not know. And in the same breath he said, "I am going to set up a Help Mr Jeyaretnam Fund to collect $100,000 to help me fight the case." Well, I think the public were not very happy about that. He was asked a lot of questions and he chose to remain silent because he was asked to account for it. Because if he were to speak, he is afraid that whatever he says may eliminate him. So in this instance, he has tried to hoodwink the public; he has tried to pull wool over their eyes. And who is the greatest confidence trickster of them all? I think the people know. He talked about the Economic Committee's composition, that it is not representative. I think that is an insult to the thousands of people who have contributed their time, their efforts, their energy to the Report. As the hon. Member for Moulmein has said, the worker representative was there as a member of the trade union elected by the triennial Congress. He is a worker representative.”
“But not the Member for Anson. What he does, he must tell the public about it. What he does not do, he also tells the public about it. He called a press conference to announce his setting up of the Anson Needy Fund. To help who? The Workers' Party?”
“How is it that you suffer from such amnesia?”
“I did not make it. I was away at that time, if you remember?”
“Oh, I see. But I am not like him. I did not tell the press what I did. The Member for Potong Pasir, I think, once said that what the right hand does, the left hand must not know. He must have quoted the passage from somewhere. In some circumstances I agree with him. And this is one circumstance I would agree with him that I did not make any publicity out of it.”
“I was making a point about the hon. Member for Anson.”
“I am just trying to clarify the points he made.”
“Are you prepared to give me a chance to reply to this one?”
“I want to reply to the point you are raising. Why are you afraid?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the proposed measure is not intended to prevent the expression of alternative viewpoints. In our local papers and even in foreign publications, we do see alternative viewpoints. Debates are held freely, meetings can be called, press statements can be given by anybody. Foreign publications can continue to come into Singapore. There is no restriction on that. PENSION TO FORMER PRESIDENT 5. Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for Finance whether the past President of Singapore is being paid a pension following the resolution of this House on the 31st August 1985.”
“From what we see in the papers, the papers also report on the Member for Anson and the Member for Potong Pasir. So it is not just reporting news regarding the Government.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the question is left for the public to decide because from what we see in the papers ---”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the implication of that question is that the Government has encouraged the creation of that monopoly. This is far from the truth. The House was informed on 19th October last year and 23rd July this year that the Government neither directed nor initiated the merger of the newspaper companies. The newspaper companies decided to merge on their own, purely on business grounds. Like any company, newspaper companies are directly accountable to their readers and it is for them to persuade their readers that that is the price they should pay. Even though they may have a monopoly of the advertisements, it is up to the advertisers themselves whether to use their services or not.”
“Yes, we will try to do that. IMPORT DUTY ON REFINED SUGAR (Rationale) 9. Mr Chng Hee Kok asked the Minister for Trade and Industry if he will explain the rationale for retaining the import duty on refined sugar after abolition of the excise duty.”
“I do not have an answer right now, but I think the recruitment by the Public Service Commission is under way.”
“The Member for Anson said that he will announce his intention. Is he going to tell the people that he is going to accept what I have just asked him to do, ie, join me in contributing 50% of his professional fees and MP's allowance to the Community Chest? Why not tell us now? An hon. Member: Why wait? Another hon. Member: Because he wants to consult Mr Chiam. Question, "That the words proposed to be left out, be left out," put and agreed to. Question, "That the words proposed by the Minister of State to be inserted, be there inserted," put and agreed to.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, a point of clarification.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have asked the Member for Anson whether he would join me in contributing to the Community Chest half his Member of Parliament's allowance, as well as half his professional fees that he receives, and he did not want to respond. The Member for Anson has claimed that his motion is serious and not in jest. Let us see about that. He said his gesture is symbolic. I call it a trick. I call it a gimmick. I call it a frivolous idea. Sir, I beg to move my amendment.”
“Yes, I will ask him when I have finished this. If you ask a discerning and seasoned traveller, you will know the answer. So let me now ask the Member for Anson: will you join me in contributing half of your MP's allowance and half of your professional fees that you receive to the Community Chest? I will do it. [interruption] No?”
“Half, sorry. Half will do. Will you contribute half of your total professional fees you receive in your practice to the Chest to show your sincerity, your earnestness, your credibility? So let us not waste time by indulging in shadow-boxing. Let all Singaporeans, the Government, the legislators, the people, the businessmen, put our minds together to resolve our current economic problems that we are now facing. What we are undergoing now is like an aeroplane going through a storm. The plane is a bit shaky, yes, but because it was well-maintained, well-serviced, well-checked, and it has an experienced pilot and crew and navigator, it will go through this storm and come out safe and sound. What we need to do is to fasten our seat belts, and for those who feel uncomfortable, take some air sick pills. Of course, among our midst will be those who ask us to take a quick exit through the door, and you know the consequence of that action. Should we listen to seasoned pilots and crew who have flown thousands of hours, or should we listen to hobbyists who have tinkered only with aeromodel planes and now enticing us to jump off the aircraft?”
“Yes, and also half of my Minister of State's salary to the Community Chest. Will you join me to do likewise, as well as the Member for Potong Pasir, and contribute half of your MP's allowance and your total fees that you earn in your professional services? Some hon. Members: Half.”
“Too much. Well, if the two Members genuinely and sincerely want to identify themselves with, I quote, "the suffering and hardship" of the people, they should have done it earlier without bringing the motion up in this House. We are not that gullible. I would not be beguiled into joining them in this frivolity. Cutting pay does not boost the economy, but if you are really earnest, sincere and genuine in wanting to help the less fortunate, then join me in contributing to the Community Chest. I will contribute half of my MP's allowance and my -”
“And you shall see in deeds as well. We should also make provision for the rainy day. When life is down, it is also important that we should steel our determination and pick ourselves up instead of lying down and be paralysed by the temporary setback and disappointment. If a Member genuinely and sincerely wants to feel for the people, there is nothing to prevent him from donating to charity a significant part of his total earnings in order to set an example for others to follow. I am sure many PAP MPs contribute financially to charity as well. But they do not feel a need to tell the world about it. I am puzzled by the two Members, especially the Member for Potong Pasir. He put his name down to support a motion. Now he amends the motion. What does he want us to believe? Was he thinking at that time? Was he honest to himself? Was he truthful to the Member for Anson? I have no illusions at all about his sincerity and credibility. Now he exposes himself. Why did he shrink from his original motion? Why? Why so niggardly? Some hon. Members: Too much.”
“Of the 2,991 retrenched workers who were offered jobs by the Employment Services Department, only 733 or 25% responded to the offer, and of these, 265 or 36% subsequently told the Employment Services Department that they have found jobs on their own. Are our businesses closing like autumn leaves yielding to the winter? Or are they like trees in the storm, and those which are less well-grounded and weak will be uprooted? I do not want to sound unsympathetic to such failing businesses. Indeed, I feel sad reading such news. The Government is taking appropriate action to help small businesses, and more will be done if necessary. I know the experience of losing a job, of failing in a business. It is a very traumatic one. It is an affront to a person's dignity or ability. The pain is equally felt by his family, and I fully empathize with them. But then life is not a bed full of roses. There are ups and downs in our life. What is important, however, is that when life is on the way up, do not forget the time when we were down. We must continue to show compassion to those less fortunate than we are.”
“Yes, yes, very soon. Be patient, Mr Jeyaretnam, the Member for Anson. There is no doubt at all that the Government is fully aware of the economic problems we are facing. There is also no doubt that the Government is able to feel for the people. That is why in addition to the Economic Committee with members from the private sector, there is also a Ministerial Committee to look and find solutions. The Government has urged wage restraint. This is different from a wage freeze or a wage cut. The First Deputy Prime Minister and the Member for Kebun Baru have already explained the differences between the three, and I shall not go into them. Wage cuts, as proposed by the Members for Potong Pasir and Anson, are drastic. This method need not be resorted to now. This is because when this measure is resorted to, it will cause a panic and send the wrong signal to the people, as the Member for Leng Kee has said. But should it really become necessary for earnings to be reduced as a national measure to overcome the recession, Members of Parliament, including Ministers, and other officeholders, shall be the first to suffer such reduction, But let me also caution that what the Government does is always closely watched by the people. They look to the Government for direction, leadership, guidance in their action. What signal does the Government want to give to the people about this difficult phase of our economy? Is there massive unemployment, as the Opposition Members would have us believe? Or do you believe in the Labour Minister? It is not as if there are crowds of people outside in the streets begging for jobs. We heard the Labour Minister yesterday.”
“The Member for Kampong Chai Chee is offering his service. It is just a gimmick really designed to gain political capital and pull wool over our people's eyes. There is no doubt -”
“Yes, the Member for Potong Pasir has made an amendment to his own motion but, unfortunately, he is not here to speak on it. Even if it were so, the sum is too paltry to have any effect. Let me read out the amendment made by the Member for Potong Pasir to his original motion when he supported the Member for Anson. He says: 'I propose to move an amendment to the motion to be moved by the Members for Anson and Potong Pasir as foUows - To delete the words "one quarter" appearing in the 6th line from the top and substituting therefor the following words, "fifteen per cent". (Signed: Member for Potong Pasir [copied I think, to the Member for Anson) dated 31 August 1985).' Well, both the original motion in the names of the two Members as well as the proposed amendment to the original motion by the Member for Potong Pasir are frivolous propositions, not to be taken seriously. And I smell a rat there, if not two. Maj Fong Sip Chee (Kampong Chai Chee): Call me, I am still available.”
“Do you know why? Do you know why he has changed his mind?”
“Cutting 15% or 25% of an MP's remuneration does not automatically mean that its equivalent amount will be injected into the economy. Incidentally, I do not know why the Member for Potong Pasir has made an amendment to his own motion, something that he signed when he supported the Member for Anson.”
“Paul Samuelson. Page 5 of Samuelson may be of interest to our Member. Let me quote: 'Every national issue . . requires economic understanding to make progress in dealing with it. A person who has never made a systematic study of economics is handicapped in even thinking about national issues; he is like a deaf man trying to appreciate a symphony: give him a hearing aid, and he may still lack talent, but at least he has a fighting chance of sensing what music really is.' Samuelson went on further to say: 'As an example, Winston Churchill [don't misunderstand, l am not comparing you with Winston Churchill] was a great man - a leader without peer, an orator, a gifted writer, and a shrewd judge of the Hitlerian threat while most around him slept. Yet all his life, Churchill was a babe in the woods when it came to economics. In 1925, as Chancellor of the Exchequer he put England back on the gold standard at the pre-1914 parity of $4.87 for the British pound. Experts at the time warned against such folly, and history has recorded that England never quite recovered from her stagnation of the 1920s.' But if the motion is ill-motivated, then we must take every opportunity to expose it. We must be able to distinguish the wheat from the chaff and separate factious ideas from the facts. We are elected representatives of the people to look after their interests and their children's welfare and long-term interests. How well we do this will depend on the policies, the programmes and actions that we take to raise their standard of living. We do not indulge in fantasies, illusions, lip-service, empty words, promises, platitudes, which are appealing in tone but disastrous in consequence. The two Opposition Members make it sound as if we were back to the Great Depression of the 1930s.”
“I am not as qualified as the Member for Leng Kee but I have a recommendation for you. So just be patient, I will recommend it to you. They should not offer bogus ideas because of their shallow grasp of economics. Indeed, as Alexander Pope, the 18th century poet once wrote in "An Essay on Criticism": "A little learning is a dangerous thing. Drink deep or taste not the Pierian spring." The Members for Anson and Potong Pasir have said: put 5% more money into workers' pockets. That will stimulate demand. Economics is not an exact science. Nobody can predict consumer behaviour. The talk about customs union was not explained. Even if the two Members are prepared to be misguided themselves, they should not misguide the ordinary man. Even an 'A' level student who studies economics will know that all national issues require an understanding of economics before they can be intelligently resolved. He can get an understanding of this by reading up an economics textbook which is what I would like to recommend to the Member for Anson. You can find this [indicating] in the library. This is the tenth edition. I was told that this is not the latest. They can probably get the latest edition.”
“For the internal problems and the solutions to resolve them, the First Deputy Prime Minister's statement and the Minister for Finance's statement have shown a firm commitment and seriousness of this Government in trying to address the current economic problems. If it is necessary to introduce further measures, the Government will certainly do so at the appropriate time. We should not resort to any hasty measures to cut wages. To do so will only harm the workers and further impair the economy. Mr Speaker, Sir, the foundation of our economy is still very strong. We are one of the few near debt-free countries in the world. I think many debt-ridden countries in the world would like to be in our position. Industries affected by structural problems need time to consolidate, rationalize, shed excess capacity or even be replaced by those which have better market demand. The learned Members for Anson and Potong Pasir's motion is either misguided or ill-motivated. If it is due to misguidance because of a lack of knowledge on how the economy operates or because of the lack of elementary knowledge of economics, as they have so frequently displayed in this House, they would be better off to take counsel with qualified economists. The Member for Leng Kee may not be prepared to give them a lesson or two.”
“Any rational being will approach today's economic problems rationally. As responsible representatives of the people, we must also approach such problems responsibly. We want to take a logical step by step approach to solving the problems. First, by finding out what are the causes of the problems. For those problems which are not within our control, there is really little that we can do about them except to take palliative measures to ease the pain. It is like sitting out in a typhoon in a secured place and taking all the necessary precautions. The PAP Government has built this tiny little island into one of the shining examples of economic success over the last 25 years together with the people. Our country is not about to collapse or to go bankrupt. For those problems which are within our control, we need to separate them according to their order of priority. The more immediate problems which are amenable to immediate solutions will indeed be resolved first. Others which take time or more resources to resolve would take a bit longer. After all, we did not achieve today's success in one day. Neither can we make one wave of the magic wand and wish the problems away. The Government has made a thorough analysis of our economy. The Prime Minister, the First Deputy Prime Minister, other Ministers and the PAP Members of Parliament have given this analysis thorough airing. The hon. Member for Leng Kee and my other colleagues have also eloquently recounted them in this House. I shall not repeat them. We cannot control a slowdown of the world economy, just as we cannot control the weather.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I also speak on the amendment?”
“I beg to move the amendment, Mr Speaker, Sir.”
“Sir, I now beg to move an amendment to the motion standing in their names: Insert a semi-colon after the word "recession" in line 2. Delete all the words after "recession" and substitute instead the following: 'Conscious of the duty of Members as responsible representatives; Declaring that if it should become necessary for earnings to be reduced as a national measure to overcome the recession, Members of Parliament including Ministers and other office holders shall be the first to suffer such reduction; Noting that there is nothing to prevent a Member from donating to charity a significant part of his total earnings in order to set an example for others to follow; Urges all Singaporeans to address the current economic problems in a serious and comprehensive manner without resort to hasty measures to cut wages which can only harm the interest of workers and further impair the economy at this stage.' Mr Speaker,Sir, l also note that there is a notice of an amendment to the motion in the name of the Member for Potong Pasir.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I have an amendment to make to the motion standing in the names of the Member for Anson and the Member for Potong Pasir who, unfortunately, after having supported him in the motion, is not in this House to explain.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am not sure if the hon. Member for Anson was listening when I was describing the process. I said that all suggestions received by the Feedback Unit from the members of the public are evaluated, considered by the Feedback Supervisory Panel and discussed with the Ministries concerned, and every point which they raised will be checked and counter-checked.”
“There is no need for us to set up one desk, especially in Anson, to do the job of the Member of Parliament.”
“I think there are many avenues for members of the public who could not write to the Feedback Unit to express or give their suggestions. These avenues are the respective RCs, CCCs or MCs or even the Members of Parliament. They can also phone in to the Feedback Unit, and we have received phone calls from members of the public regarding some of the suggestions.”
“All suggestions received are classified in the order of frequency. And when we see that there is a significant issue to be discussed openly in public, we will definitely arrange for it.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, there is no such phenomenon. We have received a constant stream of suggestions from members of the public. For example, when we first announced the Feedback Unit in April, we received 57 letters, in May we received 88, in June we received 62. And before the formation of the Feedback Unit, we received 22 letters. So I think there has not been any significant change in the flow of suggestions to the Feedback Unit.”
“All suggestions received by the Feedback Unit are discussed by a Supervisory Panel chaired by the hon. Member for Ayer Rajah. If they require further discussion with the individual writer, then steps are taken where the individual will be asked to discuss further on the subject. If the matter deserves further consideration, it will also be referred to the Ministry concerned where further discussions and deliberations take place.”
“So let me assure the hon. Members that there are enough equipment and contingency plans to ensure that our high-rise buildings are not safety-and-fire hazards to our public.”
“He does not seem to understand. Let me move on to answer the questions from the Members for Ang Mo Kio and Serangoon Gardens regarding the capability of the Fire Service to fight high-rise fires. I understand their concern and I am sure our Fire Service has not letup in the vigilance against the capability of fighting high-rise fires. Sir, there are about 200 commercial buildings in Singapore and, generally, the number of exit signs and the necessary fire precaution appliances are in compliance with the Fire Precaution Code. Inspections are carried out annually on all these highrise buildings as well as on places where the public have access. Just last year alone in 1984, there were 262 inspections carried out on these buildings to check and test the fire-fighting appliances and facilities, and to ensure that the staircases and exit doorways are not obstructed. Fire evacuation drills are also conducted in these buildings and since 1976, 222 such drills have been carried out. In addition, the employees are also taught the basics of fire-fighting, particularly those in the departmental stores and supermarkets. 119 such fire drills and basic fire-fighting were taught to 18 departmental store employees. 24 one-week training courses were conducted for the management of these commercial high-rise buildings since 1977. 1,419 spot checks were carried out on public places such as restaurants, departmental stores, supermarkets in 1984 alone. And 58 premises were served with notices for obstruction and 15 exit door locks were removed when they were found to be locked. There are a number of equipment that the Fire Service has already purchased to deal with high-rise fires, in addition to adopting the operational procedures used in fighting high-rise fires in the United States.”
“As usual, Sir, the Member for Anson has only one side of a coin. He does not have the full coin, so he is usually short-changed by his constituents.”
“That is under the condition for employment to get a work permit, Sir.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there is a difference between getting approval to get married from the Commissioner for Employment and getting the marriage registered in the Registry of Marriages.”
“Sir, we are arguing on a question of details, about the percentage of crime in what place and so on. I think it is not necessary to go into these details, especially if we do not have a lot of time for the other hon. Members who may have another point to make.”
“I remember mentioning this when I gave the answers just a couple of days ago. One of the things that the officers or the planning team looked at was the crime rate in a particular place. And also the establishment of the grassroots organizations. So in determining whether we should have NPPs that cover a constituency or a particular neighbourhood, across boundaries of constituencies, it is also necessary to consider the establishment of rapport between NPP and grassroots organizations in a particular constituency.”