Yaacob Ibrahim
Singapore
“Our museums can do more to have spaces that touch on the subject of precolonial history and to give people access to the archeological finds. At the same time, acknowledging how that history has impinged on our own history and the myriad strands of diversity of ideas, lifestyle, food, religions that have come together to enrich our own ex…”
“For instance, SingPost invested in a $45-million mail sorting machine that has automated 95% of the mail sorting process. To make it easier for its postmen to deliver mail, SingPost has also introduced more delivery vehicles, such as three-wheel scooters and customised mail delivery trolleys.”
“With cyber threats growing globally, this Bill is timely to empower CSA to safeguard essential services from disruptions by cyberattacks, prevent and respond to cybersecurity threats and incidents, and to establish a licensing framework to improve the credibility of cybersecurity services in Singapore. Sir, I beg to move.”
“Our postal rates continue to be among the lowest among economies, such as the United States, Hong Kong and Norway. For parcel delivery, which does not require a licence from IMDA, it is fully open and competitive, and many local and international players provide services in Singapore today.”
“Factually aims to clarify widespread or common misperceptions of Government policy or incorrect assertions on matters of public concern that can harm Singapore's social fabric. Over the years, the site has addressed inaccurate assertions about various matters, such as housing, the economy and finance.”
“The amendment ensures that IMDA's regulatory framework for the deployment of telecoms cables stays relevant as copper cables are increasingly being phased out and replaced by optical fibre cables.”
The complete record
Every one of 236 lines we hold for Yaacob Ibrahim, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 5.
“We know there are many dual income families who would send their kids to BASC centres. The original intent of BASC was to help low-income families. Perhaps MCD may want to consider a graded fee structure where middle and upper income families who use these centres pay more than the low-income families. The Government subsidy must be given to the families most in need.”
“Sir, the before-and-after school care (BASC) centre was one of the key recommendations of the IMC. It was recognised then that for low-income families where both parents need to go to work, some form of care arrangement is needed for their school-going children, especially the young. The BASC plays an important role in the care of many children. Therefore, services in the BASC must be maintained at a high standard of quality. I have been made to understand that like kindergartens and other care facilities, the BASC faces similar problems of high staff turnover and of not being able to attract good quality staff. Maybe the Minister can enlighten us on this? Sir, the BASC was meant to help latchkey kids stay out of trouble. After school, these kids would proceed to these centres where activities are planned for them. I understand a tutor is usually around to assist them with their homework. My question, Sir, is whether this programme has been effective in reducing the problem of juvenile delinquency. Is MCD tracking the performance and behaviour of these kids? If so, perhaps MCD can share its observations with the House. I believe this is important as I understand that MCD intends to extend BASC to secondary school-going children. Will the BASC model used thus far be effective for secondary school children? It has also come to my attention that some parents view the BASC as a cheaper form of tuition. This is not right. Is anything being done to correct this image of the BASC among some parents? Parents of secondary school-going kids are more likely to view BASCs in this manner given the pressures of secondary school children. The BASC does not discriminate between low and middle or upper income families.”
“Tomorrow's grandparents will be more educated and may not be willing to spend their twilight years helping to raise their grandchildren. Furthermore, since most people are having children later in life, they may be physically unable to help out in the raising of grandchildren. Nuclear families have become common place. Usually, the wife is left all alone to care for the house and to manage the kids during the day. This can be very demanding. I have seen many cases of women who use part-time childcare facilities to free up time to attend to household chores, to study, to do freelance work or even community service. Many of these women also use part-time childcare facilities as they want to expose their children to an unstructured learning environment and provide them with an opportunity to socialise with other children. Sir, I would therefore urge MCD to reconsider their position on this.”
“My colleague, Dr Lily Neo, has just spoken about the need for us to ensure good quality childcare facilities, increasing number of childcare centres and new centres which are a bit more diversified. I support her position on this, Sir. However, my concern is on the role of childcare centre in the raising of our young. The Government in its attempt to attract more women back into the workforce has decided to give subsidies to women who need to leave their children at childcare centres. Women who work pay less as compared to women who do not work. Sir, I believe that women who are housewives also do work. In fact, the work they do can sometimes be more demanding than work done by some working women. Their contribution to the raising of children is equally important for this country as it is also for those women who contribute by working. So why do we treat women who stay at home differently? I agree with the need to attract our women back to the workforce. I am not so sure whether if the subsidy is not given, these women will not go back to work. But since it is already given to working women, why not consider extending it in some form to all women. I think it is not right to suggest that non-working women have more time on their hands and can therefore raise children without the need for childcare facilities. The family structure today has changed. Extended families which provide child-raising support through grandparents are not as common as before. In fact, the Minister for National Development, Mr Lim Hng Kiang, has mentioned this trend in relation to the lack of popularity of public housing type designed to attract extended families. The grandparents of tomorrow may not want to play the same role as grandparents did when we were growing up.”
“I am happy to hear what has been said by Mr Chan about the efforts by Government to promote racial harmony. I welcome any suggestion and any new ideas that we, at the grassroots level, can actually implement to promote greater cooperation among the different races. One example that comes to mind again is the Youth Festival where at the end of the first day of the performance, all the different racial groups came together and had one common performance. I thought that was a good display of the sort of racial interaction that we have in Singapore. I just want to take up one point raised by Minister Abdullah Tarmugi. Is that all right, Mr Deputy Speaker?”
“Sir, many of the issues raised lately with respect to juvenile delinquency were discussed and debated at the IMC. In fact, several key suggestions were made to help address the juvenile delinquency problem. I believe many Members of this House are concerned about this problem, including my GPC Chairman, Dr Vasoo. The recent move by MHA to restrict teenagers below 16 from attending tea dances outlet drew, in fact, an animated discussion in this House. Given the current situation, I am concerned whether the suggestions or recommendations made by the IMC have been put into place quickly enough. Perhaps the Minister may want to inform the House on the progress made and what, if any, are the factors which may hinder the implementation of any of the recommendations.”
“How can one group of people feel for this country if they are told that their role is insignificant in comparison to other groups? Everyone has a role to play, which can be different. Everyone contributes in his or her own way. The CEO of a multi-national is as important as a primary school teacher. They both contribute to the economic competitiveness of our country. And Mr Sinnakaruppan who spoke passionately about daily-rated workers, they too have a role to play in this country. Our country needs engineers and scientists. But we also need our musicians, painters, artists, writers, sculptors, and many others. Each has a role to play, each contributes his share to the development of his country. In a similar vein, every race has a role to play and contribute to this nation of ours. Only when we treat people in a way that shows that we recognise that they have a role to play in Singapore can we confidently expect people to defend this country. Sir, I would therefore urge the Ministry to consider running more programmes which can bring different groups together. Sir, the Inter-Ministry Committee on Dysfunctional Family, Juvenile Delinquency and Drug Abuse was formed in October 1994. A report was submitted to Cabinet which was subsequently approved in October 1995. The objective of the IMC was to recommend solutions so that the problems of families in distress, wayward juveniles and drug abuse can be arrested. The Committee took a total approach to the problem and recommended measures to strengthen families, detect families at risk, provide adequate family service centres and assist families through the creation of Before-and-After-School-Care (BASC) programmes.”
“But this is not to be done at the expense of the different races preserving their heritage. This approach could be described as an attempt to find the Singaporean in us. Ours is a multi-cultural society. In everyone of us here is a little bit of Chinese, Malay, Indian, Arab, Pakistani and others. It is inevitable. At the core, we remain true to our ethnic origin. But at the periphery, we take on different forms, we borrow from others, we adapt to other ways. Every time I stand in line at the engineering canteen at NUS, I notice Chinese students ahead of me adding a dash or more of chilli to their mee rebus or tahu goreng. And they invariably are either Singaporean or Malaysian. I was surprised, in fact, the other day to notice a PRC graduate student doing exactly the same thing. She told me she tried the chilli after being prompted by her Singaporean colleagues and got hooked on it since then! These are the facts of life in Singapore. Sir, my point is that I believe there is a need for us to showcase what is indeed truly Singaporean. The PA has done a fantastic job in preserving and showcasing the ethnic cultures. They should continue to do so. But I believe more should be done to highlight the similarities. Minister George Yeo has also underscored the need for TV8 to be more national and to reflect more of Singapore's reality in its television programmes. I believe that in highlighting the similarities and the contributions made by every Singaporean, we would go a longer way to bolstering a sense of being Singaporean than any amount of campaigning. Sir, an attempt to highlight differences among the races can lead to highlighting differences in the contributions each group has made to this country.”
“Sir, the Prime Minister said that "affluence and prosperity cannot be the only glue holding us together" when he posed the question of what will hold Singaporeans here during the debate on the President's Address. The Prime Minister felt that in order to keep Singaporeans together, we have to go beyond more material comforts, and he declared that "deepening our sense of belonging will be a priority in this term of my Government". It is this sense of belonging which will determine how this country will react in times of crisis and not peace. Do we join hands and close ranks when the situation changes or do we become like "migratory birds, seeking their fortunes in other lands when the season changes", as again reflected by the Prime Minister? Sir, at the heart of this sense of belonging is how far the different races in Singapore see themselves as more than just Chinese, Malays or Indians. I suppose one might feel that race is a non-issue in Singapore. After all, Singaporeans of all races go through similar experiences. We go through the same schooling system. Many of us live side by side in HDB flats. Most male Singaporeans go through National Service. Many would queue up for long hours just to be part of our National Day celebrations, and many of us here have been in this country for a very long time. So what is the problem? We know that race can be divisive. Just look at Bosnia, Rwanda and many other more recent conflicts. The question before us is a very simple one: because race can be divisive, do we then highlight the differences or the commonalities among the different races in Singapore? I believe the answer is obvious. Many of our Ministers have spoken in the past about finding more common ground among the different races.”
“One person wrote that he came to the museum because it was raining very heavily outside. His comment after the visit is that the museum was a place where you keep all the things which were not wanted in the house. I sincerely hope that our museums will not become just rain shelters or rubbish dumps. Sir, can I move on to my next cut?”
“First, we can consider introducing some form of package tickets, for example, season tickets for the individual ticket-holders to be given unlimited admissions to the museums within a certain period of time; family tickets for the whole family to visit the museums as a sort of family outing. In this regard, we may even consider including the grandparents as part of the extended family; and group tickets for grassroots organisations such as the CCCs and RCs to conduct museum tours for their residents. My second suggestion is that the museums may enlist some retired school teachers and retired civil servants to work as "friends of the museum". We have seen a lot of wives of expatriates acting as guides in our museum. I think we should get some Singaporeans to use their own languages or dialects to explain the exhibits to our own local Singaporean visitors. My third suggestion is that the labels of exhibits should be multilingual in our museums because if we want to become an Asian Cultural Centre, we must try to attract tourists to come here to visit our museums. We should cater to the needs of people of different language backgrounds by providing concise multilingual labels and captions. For example, in the Chinese Heritage Museum, we must have Chinese in addition to the other languages. If an exhibition is targetted at Japanese tourists, we must have labels in the Japanese language, otherwise they will not be interested. Before I conclude, I would like to tell a story about the museum. In order to conduct a survey on why people visited his museum, the Curator of the museum placed some questionnaires at the entrance and requested the visitors to write the reasons why they had decided to visit the museum.”
“Our museums should also be institutions of learning that provide future historians with the opportunities to get a first hand look at artefacts and the like and that contribute to public interest in our heritage preservation. Museums should also consider reaching out more actively to the HDB heartlanders. For example, they could have a travelling exhibition which stops at the various community clubs and centres. They could also help local groups set up their own mini-museums or exhibits showcasing the history and peculiarities of particular localities or local artistic endeavours. These efforts could also be tied up to the National Education programme and arts appreciation efforts. These efforts would provide yet another means of giving localities a sense of ownership in the National Education effort and help to strengthen a sense of community. Mr Seng Han Thong( In Mandarin): Sir, for a long time in the past, we had only one museum and the exhibits remained unchanged for 50 years. That is why people said you needed to go to the museum just once in your life time. But in recent years, we have opened up a number of new museums. Apart from the original main museum, we have the Singapore Heritage Museum which is in the process of being upgraded, the Singapore Arts Museum, Asian Civilisation Museum and the Singapore Philatelic Museum. These Museums have contributed much to our inculcation of a sense of history into our people. I would like to make three suggestions to make the museums more attractive to Singaporeans and tourists alike, and to ensure that our museums will become more and more educational, informative and interesting.”
“Sir, I must again applaud the efforts of MITA in preserving our heritage through the many museums we have in Singapore. For any country, it is important that the people themselves make the effort to preserve the country's past and memories. Museums are not dead places. They speak to us through the pictures, the artefacts and the displays they have on our past and our struggle as a people. I believe the museum development programme we have in place aims to do that. But I would appreciate it if the Minister could give us an update on museum development. Sir, I understand that as part of that programme, a Children's Museum was planned initially. This is in fact a very good idea. Such a museum could help to instill in our young a sense of history. It would be yet another step towards ensuring that our future generation would grow up appreciating more our heritage. This would indeed be good for our National Education programme. A Children's Museum would also help to promote learning and creativity. In some countries, these museums also showcase important scientific discoveries in a simple interactive manner for young children to enjoy and learn. Hence, perhaps MITA may want to shed some light on its plans for a Children's Museum. Museums in the West not only showcase artefacts and exhibits but some also conduct research and publish academic papers. Are there plans to link some of our museums with the History Department at NUS so that joint research projects can be conducted? Take, for example, the current excavation works being carried out at Fort Canning. I believe our museums must play an active role.”
“I think many of us here remember the days when we would spend time at the library researching, reading books, reports and magazines in order to complete a project. Have we thought about the impact of the Internet on reading habits? What about the development of our ability to cross reference and juxtapose different sources of information using books, reports, newspaper cuttings and magazines? When we carry out research on the Internet, we tend to be instrumental and detached. In a library, we have the opportunity to interact with the world of ideas in a more leisurely manner. We humans have developed an emotional bond with books. Being able to touch a book and to enjoy the aroma it has developed over the years cannot be replaced by the Internet. The libraries provide a unique experience that can play a pivotal role in engendering a love and respect for books and the written word. While the Internet has a role to play, it should not develop at the expense of libraries as a place of learning and developing reading habits. Libraries must adapt with the times, but they must not lose sight of the noble human activity which they have traditionally supported. Sir, I would appreciate therefore if the Minister could inform the House of the status of library development especially in relation to the Library 2000 plan. Can I take the next issue, Sir?”
“Hence, NL in this respect can provide some research facilities for the general public. I have seen how the community libraries located at public places, such as shopping centres, are quite a success. In fact, the GPC was pleasantly surprised when we visited the Cheng San Community Library one Saturday morning. We were there at 10.00 am, one hour before opening. The queue was already building up 30-40 minutes before opening time. The place was flooded with children and parents after it was opened. Placing libraries at such a location is in fact a very creative move by MITA. In this regard, Sir, I wonder if MITA can consider plans to locate libraries near places where our youths hang out. The hon. Member for Aljunied GRC, Mr David Lim, who is not here today, suggested that creative solutions must be found in order to attract our young away from tea dances outlets. I agree with him. Perhaps locating libraries where youths tend to congregate would help to attract them, not near tea dance outlets. That is not what I meant. Also, the manner in which the library is organised must be targeted at their interests and not ours. I understand, for example, there is a library in Britain where the decor and music are designed to attract youths. It seems that these libraries are quite successful. Sir, the libraries have taken the initiative to introduce Internet services in their premises. I believe this is a good step in line with the Government efforts to introduce IT island-wide. However, Sir, I believe it would be good for our young to also learn the traditional skills of using the library, searching for materials and then looking up books and reports in the shelves. This builds discipline.”
“Sir, I thank my GPC Chairman, Mr Chew Heng Ching, for allowing me to speak on library development in Singapore. The plan, as outlined by Library 2000 Report, seems to be taking shape. A number of regional and community libraries are already up and running. Judging by the number of visitors to these libraries, it seems that these libraries are indeed very popular. In fact, there is a circulated chart that shows the number of loans has gone up recently, which is quite encouraging. And for me, Sir, it is most encouraging to see so many young children actually visiting and using the libraries. If this trend continues and these young children continue to develop further their reading habits as young adults, we are indeed fulfilling our dream of making this country a nation of readers and hopefully thinkers. However, Sir, I would like to raise some matters pertaining to library development and would be grateful if the Minister could give us his response. I believe that it would be good if the public libraries are connected to some of the specialist libraries found in places, such as NUS and NTU. For example, the Medical and Law Libraries at NUS are indeed very good, providing a variety of materials which are useful for both researchers and practitioners. It would not be cost effective for, say, the National Library (NL) to build up a similar collection. However, if NL is linked to these specialist libraries, we would then bring these private collections to a wider audience. This of course presupposes that there are people who want to have access to these collections. I think there are such people. If there are none, by providing such a service, we would invariably generate a demand for such service.”
“We will need people to manage the Singapore Art Centre, to guide the National Arts Council and to oversee the many museums that we have here. Along these lines, Sir, one question that comes to mind is what incentives are in place to encourage students to pursue a career in the arts? Do we need such incentives in the first place? I believe we do. Given a choice, most students would prefer a career in professions such as law, engineering and medicine. In fact, we have seen a trend where students choose to do a course in business rather than engineering. The reasons invariably revolve around the perceived potential income associated with each profession. I believe there is enough talent in this country to develop a vibrant art life. The recently launched Singapore Youth Festival which I attended showcase the many talents which are available in our schools, in which even the Minister for Education agreed with me by nodding his head just now. Those who pursue a career in the arts often do so because they believe in it. However, the remuneration is not always comparable to other professions. Given our goal of establishing Singapore as a renaissance city, I would suggest that the Government provide more incentives for people pursuing education in the arts. These incentives can come in a variety of forms, eg, scholarships, low cost loans and other financial incentives. Such incentives would help to underscore the importance of arts education in Singapore. Mr Speaker, Sir, I would welcome any move by the Minister for Finance to consider my humble suggestions. On this note, Sir, I support the motion.”
“They could apply for support from this fund to implement some National Education projects. Private production houses, for example, could use this fund to produce children's TV programmes to promote National Education. I am sure we can think of a variety of projects which private groups could undertake. Such an arrangement is not uncommon in Singapore. The Government, for example, has set aside some money which private groups can tap into to fund projects which promote the Singapore Family Values. A Committee known as the Singapore Family Values Promotion Committee (SFVPC) decides on each application for funding. Thus, Sir, a similar fund could be set up by the Government to draw upon the resources and expertise available from private groups and organisations in our National Education effort. This fund would signal to the ground that this Government is serious about National Education and that everyone in Singapore has a role to play in its dissemination. Support for people pursuing arts education Our DPM Dr Tony Tan spoke in this House about the need to develop a stronger spirit of creativity and innovation in Singapore. The development of creativity through the arts is important for Singapore for two reasons: to establish Singapore as a cultural renaissance city and to sharpen Singapore's economic competitive edge. I fully support this view. I welcome the move to develop further both LaSalle-SIA College for the Arts and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). We need capable and talented men and women who can contribute to the artistic and creative life in Singapore, and man the key institutions and bodies which govern art life in Singapore.”
“Here, Sir, I would like to suggest that perhaps the Government consider starting a fund for National Education. The thrust of National Education is to ensure that succeeding generations of Singaporeans will continue to remember how this nation of ours came about despite the odds and the turbulent times we went through in the 50s and 60s. It is an attempt to pass memories down to the next generation. And, in so doing, to mould a people into a nation. The Government has, on its part, undertaken this task through a variety of projects. For example, the education curriculum, as I understand it, will be modified to incorporate elements of National Education. A recently launched exhibition in the Singapore History Museum entitled "From Colony to Nation" attempts, in a simple yet informative manner, to illustrate our short history. I understand a bigger exhibition is planned for next year. This is well and good. However, should not the dissemination and familiarisation of our history be done also by groups outside the Government? After all, the history of our country belongs to everybody. And I believe that there is a role for private groups in National Education. Private groups, by their very nature, would take a somewhat different perspective on National Education. With the inclusion of private groups, Singaporeans would be served a wide menu of presentations on National Education. Some will find one dish more appetising than others. In the end, all will be served. I believe in the long run it would be better for our country if the implementation of such an important subject as National Education includes everyone, as it would bolster a sense of collective ownership in our history. A fund for National Education would attract private groups.”
“SMEs must begin to realise that in order to stay ahead, they must innovate. My senior colleague, Mr Bernard Chen, has just called for Singaporeans to do something instead rather than wait for the Government to do something for them. This is a case in point. Also, on the Government side, we must find creative ways of attracting these companies to undertake R&D work. Small companies, unfortunately, do not have pockets as deep as the MNCs. R&D work usually does not bear fruit for a long time and tends to cost a lot. Hence, the way to go for SMEs is to form R&D consortia where the costs and risks can be minimised but the benefits can be shared by all. I understand such efforts are already in place but tend to involve large companies and have involved companies in a very narrow range of technology areas. Perhaps, the Government may want to consider making such arrangements more accessible to interested SMEs and encouraging efforts in a broad range of research areas. Participating companies could be given some financial incentives to encourage them to get involved. We need to convince more SMEs to participate in such arrangements as the costs and risks involved are minimised. Another way is to encourage big companies, such as MNCs, which are applying for R&D grants to rope in their suppliers, who are usually SMEs. In this way, the entire chain of companies involved benefits. I am confident that many SMEs would welcome some sort of help from the Government to help them remain competitive. Funds for National Education Sir, given the importance of National Education, I am somewhat surprised that there is no special provision in the Budget for this undertaking. We have heard several of our top leaders and MPs voicing the need for National Education.”
“I would also add my own concerns here. However, Sir, my interest is with the small and medium enterprises which have over the years contributed to the growth in Singapore. Through sheer hard work, SMEs have in fact managed to stay afloat despite tough competition and rising business costs. DPM BG Lee Hsien Loong noted in his speech at the presentation of this year's Singapore Quality Awards on 16th July 1997 that the number of SMEs has declined over the years. Citing Department of Statistics figures, he mentioned that only 46% of SMEs operating in 1984 were still around 10 years later. And that among those which are still around, only 30% had increases in sales and employment and only 2% became large corporations. These numbers, I think, speak for themselves. The Government has in place a variety of programmes to help SMEs. I understand that the Productivity and Standards Board (PSB) has over 60 development programmes aimed at helping SMEs to grow and develop. Among these, there are programmes designed to help SMEs undertake collaborative research with local universities or research institutes and centres. In this regard, Sir, I wonder if the Minister would consider creating more opportunities to encourage SMEs to undertake R&D work. The Prime Minister, in his speech during the recent debate on the Presidential Address, stressed the need for this country to develop its R&D capability in order to stay ahead. I think his call applies to all companies, big and small. The perception, however, is that most SMEs are not willing to undertake R&D work either due to the high cost or risks associated with such activities. This is where I believe a mindset change, something which has been discussed a lot lately, on the part of SMEs is needed.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Budget Statement announced by the Minister for Finance, Dr Richard Hu. This Budget has, in fact, addressed some of the key concerns of ordinary Singaporeans. The income tax rebate and relief for personal taxation is indeed welcomed by many. Also, the rebates for service and conservancy charges and to offset the increase in utilities charges have been warmly received. In fact, Dr Ong has just explained in detail how these increases will be offset. However, there are those who have cynically remarked that this move undermines our efforts to make ordinary Singaporeans view water as an important and strategic resource. I believe this is largely not the case. Many I spoke to from low income families within my own constituency have not only welcomed the rebates but have in fact strengthened their resolve not to waste water. Mr Speaker, Sir, there are some areas in which I would like to address with respect to the Budget. R&D support for SMEs The generous tax incentives given out to the financial sector must have been welcomed by one and all in that sector. In fact, as mentioned by Dr Tan Cheng Bock yesterday, word has it that this is a "Shenton Way Budget", and I understand Mr Seng Han Thong also mentioned that just now. Clearly, the Government is committed to making Singapore's financial industry the best possible in this region. I am confident that the measures that have been introduced will help the industry in this direction. There, however, has been some disquiet about the absence of specific new measures for the manufacturing sector. This sector contributes significantly to our growth and the Government has on other occasions demonstrated its willingness to also help this sector grow and flourish. Hence, the disquiet.”
“I am taking the broader sense of the expression to include workers in the cultural, arts, journalism fields. The Singapore National Soul can be manifested through the cultures, arts, music, dances and writings of the various races to express the feelings and ideals in our hearts. Mr Speaker, Sir, Singapore used just 32 years to transform a politically unstable and economically poor and backward island into a sparkling pearl in the world. Every Singaporean has a share in everything on this 650 sq m of land. We have a duty to defend and protect it. So long as the Singapore National Soul is alive, Singapore will not be just a beautiful legend but an eternal reality. I support the motion.”
“In other words, these problems and challenges should not be shouldered by the Government leaders alone. We should communalise the problems of the nation. We should educate the younger generation of Singaporeans to put the national problems and challenges first and their personal interests second. We have plans to share our wealth. We should also have plans for our Singaporeans to share the problems and challenges of our country. We can go through various channels to share information with grassroots leaders and the leaders in the private sector. Of course, our situation is unique. Not every problem can be discussed openly in the press, particularly the sensitive ones. But through these channels, I believe, with continuous effort, we will be able to pass the message to all Singaporeans. Secondly, I think we should put the community power into full play. When Singaporeans realise that survival of the nation is closely related to their personal interests, then the Singapore National Soul will be strengthened. We want to build up a tacit understanding. When our nation is being humiliated by others, when our leaders are being insulted by others, we must be united in heart and soul to fight the common enemy. When others threaten to cut off our water supply, we will spontaneously value and save every drop of water. If we coordinate this type of spiritual armour with our armed forces, we will become an indestructible wall of steel. Thirdly, we have to deepen and consolidate national education with the cultural strength of the various races. In the development of Singapore, we need mechanical engineers, electronic engineers, civil engineers. But I believe we also need to have the spiritual engineers. I am referring not only to the teachers.”
“However, our future success will depend more on our unique Singapore spirit. I shall call this spirit the Singapore National Soul. What is Singapore National Soul? This is not just an abstract general patriotism. It refers to the spirit under which Singaporeans are prepared to work hard and fight to attain their ideal and the determination not to submit to pressure from others. This spirit has been built up in the process of 32 years of nation-building. This kind of spirit was brought into full play by the older generation of Singaporeans. Because they had suffered, they had been downgraded to second class citizens. That is why they treasure very much the happiness of being first class citizens. They take pride in being the masters of Singapore. Mr Speaker, Sir, if we want to continue to enjoy success, we must consolidate and put into full play the Singapore National Soul in the younger generation of Singaporeans. I believe that cultivating the Singapore National Soul is the quintessence of our National Education. The Ministry of Education has drawn up a plan to implement systematic national education for our students. This is the beginning of a project of vital and lasting importance. It is excellent indeed. Since the Government is determined to promote National Education, I hope that it is an everlasting endeavour. I feel that apart from the students, the target of National Education should also include adult Singaporeans as well, particularly those who grew up after Singapore had attained its independence. This is because they lack the personal experience of the older generation of Singaporeans. In implementing National Education, we must take note of the following: Firstly, let Singaporeans have a full understanding of the problems and challenges facing the nation.”
“They had good foresight and were able to seize the right opportunities. They worked very hard to develop our economy. They eventually made Singapore a good home for everyone. This is a historical fact. But "good" is not enough. In the recent general election, the PAP set a higher target for itself and for the people of Singapore, ie, to make Singapore our "best" home. The election results showed that the people are supportive of our political platform. It is our vision to make Singapore our best home. It is the target that we have set for ourselves in the 21st century. Singapore's success is due to a number of factors. In my view, one of the most important factors is that the older generation of Singaporeans was concerned about our country's hardship. However, in recent years, our living conditions have been good and the people have been enjoying peace and harmony. Our economy continues to grow. HDB flats continue to be upgraded. Many people have already forgotten what is hardship. Some people even think that to have hardship consciousness is worrying about troubles of one's own imagination or entertaining groundless fears. The recent developments in the relationship between Singapore and Malaysia have dealt a head-on blow on these complacent Singaporeans, enabling them to face reality, showing them that the environment for our survival is very harsh. If we do not take good care of ourselves, all the progress and prosperity we have achieved through years of hard work will disappear into thin air. Using this basic fact as a starting point, I feel that if we want to realise our vision of the 21st century, we cannot just depend on our future economic development. I work in the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Of course, I know the importance of economic growth.”
“We must build upon these private efforts. The launching of NE will have far-reaching implications for the country for many years to come. It is an attempt to pass down memories and world views to succeeding generations. However, in so doing, we have to discuss, among other things, our history and our notions of nationhood. These are not easy matters to discuss. But I am confident that we as a people and a nation will be able to do so since the country's survival depends upon our ability to motivate succeeding generations and help them feel for the country. Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the motion of the Member for Bukit Timah in expressing our thanks to the President for his Address. The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Trade and Industry (Mr Tang Guan Seng)( In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for allowing me to join my colleagues in thanking the President for his Address, particularly with regard to National Education. In 1965, because of political differences, we left Malaysia and became an independent country. In the early days of nation building, our situation was very dangerous. That was something that happened 32 years ago. People's memory is short. After some time, many things have been forgotten. Yesterday, the Member for Potong Pasir suggested that we build an economic union with Malaysia. In the Lianhe Zaobao today there is a commentary that says that Chiam See Tong's idea sounds like not just a wishful thinking but very naive indeed. I agree with this comment. This episode further enhanced my belief that we ought to learn more about history. As I said, in the early days of nation building our situation was very dangerous. Fortunately, our first generation leaders were undaunted. They led the people of Singapore to fight against all odds.”
“Given the Government's push towards regionalisation and globalisation, Singaporeans are finding themselves operating in totally different environments. Success in such environments demands cross-cultural communication skills, sensitivity to diverse perspectives and understanding, and the flexibility to deal creatively with differences. The Government hence might consider setting up a department or unit within the Ministry. Perhaps the NE unit in the Education Ministry can be the nucleus to facilitate greater cross-cultural dialogues and communications. In doing so, the Government will send the signal that while it is important for the different races to preserve their own cultural heritage, it is equally important for all Singaporeans to find more common ground that will lead to greater understanding and rapport. While official efforts are needed, we must also look towards private initiatives by groups and individuals. I am happy to note that several schools have on their own started programmes which will lead to an appreciation of other cultures in Singapore. For example, I came across an instance in the Straits Times where in one school the principal encouraged the students to dress according to one cultural tradition on a particular day. Similarly, individuals have also stepped outside their communities to contribute to the less well-off in other communities. Again, as an example, I recently came across an Indian doctor who has volunteered her services to a free clinic run by a Muslim organisation for the past 10 years. She is not a Muslim. We also saw examples of non-Malays contributing to a Muslim old aged home during the recent Hari Raya celebrations. These efforts, to my mind, Sir, will invariably contribute to inter-ethnic goodwill.”
“NE, therefore, must be responsive to all groupings. We need to understand why Singapore works. How did we manage to motivate different groups of people to work side by side? Research would help shed some light on how the different races accommodate and interact with one another. To facilitate this process, I would like to suggest that the Government might consider sponsoring a Singapore Studies Programme at the university. The aim of such a programme would be to promote inter-cultural understanding and open the consciousness of all groups to the vast array of experiences within our society. This programme would be able to draw upon the resources and research already available in the university, such as Political Science, History, Chinese Studies and Malay Studies Departments. Hence, the proposed programme would take an inter-disciplinary approach towards understanding Singapore society. It would serve as a focal point for discussions, forums and research which will help to preserve and document the Singapore story. The recent launch of NE also showed that teachers are weary of conducting discussions in class on race, language and religion. It seems that we have not developed the expertise or know-how to deal with such sensitive issues. I think we need to find a way to discuss such issues in a way that does not arouse feelings of ill-will or negative sentiments. Our schools must provide students with an opportunity to develop the skills to understand and appreciate the richness of our differences and the value of what we share in common as Singaporeans. This is important not only for the preservation of our racial harmony but for the enhancement of our economic competitiveness.”
“If the faculty is allowed to be on its own but the Ministry determines what its output should be, then the faculty would have to strive to achieve those targets. The faculty should be given some flexibility in deciding the manner in which it wants to achieve those targets. This is sometimes what we call control chaos. The boundaries are defined but within that boundary a certain amount of free play exists. This flexibility also, to my mind, Sir, must extend to other aspects of university research. Is it possible for us to find an arrangement where a professor, perhaps through his consulting company, can obtain research funds from the industry to hire graduate students to do leading edge research? Obviously, the arrangement would have to serve the industry's aim of staying ahead of the competition. The long term effect of a flexible arrangement is that the universities become a source of new ideas and manpower which can then be channeled into the industry. Ultimately, this will be good for the country. Apart from emphasising economic competitiveness concerns, the President has highlighted the need to maintain social cohesion to stay ahead. I agree wholeheartedly with the President. In this regard, I am happy again to note that the Minister for Education in his Addendum has outlined National Education (NE) as one of his Ministry's missions. Along these lines, the efforts of the Ministry of Community Development in forming the CDCs to foster community bonding should also be applauded. The notion of a people or a nation is central to NE. After all, the objective of NE is to develop in the people a sense of belonging to one nation. In order to achieve this, we will invariably have to talk about our shared history and how the different races interact in Singapore.”
“They will pursue life long learning and will invariably probe and ponder over new things. They will retrain themselves without any prodding. This move towards creating a thinking and learning society has in fact been endorsed by none other than the Prime Minister himself when he opened the International Conference on Thinking here in Singapore yesterday. Societies which have a long tradition of learning, reflection and thinking are those societies which have bequeathed to mankind new ideas, innovations, great works of art and literature and scientific discoveries. If thinking and learning become one of our core values, we will be better able to contribute to the storehouse of human knowledge and ideas. At the tertiary education level, we may also want to consider some other options. The universities have served the country well for the past 30 years. To continue to serve into the next phase, we need to change the way we manage and develop the growth of our universities. Again, as mentioned in his Addendum, the Minister for Education has set out to make both NUS and NTU world class universities. To do so requires a new approach altogether. If we are to allow new ideas and technologies to emerge from the universities, I would like to suggest here that the Government might consider giving the Faculty of Engineering, for example, greater autonomy. I think we cannot look at two faculties alike. The management of faculties must be done differently with respect to their roles. Here, Sir, I would like to declare my interest in this matter as I am a staff member of the NUS. Competition is still the best motivator for progress and new ideas.”
“To attain the economic productivity and sophistication of a fully industrialised nation, we must invest in our young, encourage our industries and institutions of higher learning to carry out research and development work in key areas. The Government in fact has done a lot to promote R&D and creative innovation. The first National Technology Plan (NTP) did indeed achieve some of the targets it had set for the five years from 1991 to 1995. The Member for Bukit Timah has reiterated some of these figures. I will repeat some of those that he has mentioned. For example, the private sector contribution to National Gross Expenditure on R&D was a high of 64.7% in 1995. In the same year, we had 46 research scientists and engineers per 10,000 workforce surpassing the target of 40 set by the NTP. This ratio was in fact only 28 in 1990. So I am confident that the second technology plan which will pump $4 billion into R&D work from 1996 to the year 2000 will achieve its targets. With the right environment and the necessary manpower, companies here can actively pursue creative and innovative work along the entire value chain of business. In addition, the Government has undertaken international manpower recruitment and local talent development efforts to support its R&D drive. To cope with the manpower demands of a maturing economy, the Government also needs to look into ways of making Singaporeans better problem solvers, innovators and learners. I am therefore glad to note that the Minister for Education in his Addendum to the President's Speech has indicated that one of the missions of his Ministry is to develop creative and independent learners among our young. This is a step in the right direction. Independent learners are those who are imbibed with the spirit of inquiry.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I fully support the motion moved by the Member for Bukit Timah in thanking the President for his Address at the Opening of this Parliament. I think the President's Speech focuses on our need to remain economically competitive and to ensure that all Singaporeans benefit from the nation's economic strides. How this is to be achieved raises some very interesting questions for us to reflect and debate upon. As noted by the President, Singapore's basic challenge in the years ahead will be to upgrade the economy into higher productivity, higher skill and higher value added activities as other countries around the region develop and economic competition intensifies. While competition with other countries may not be a zero sum game, as has been mentioned by other Members here in this House, we must persevere to stay ahead and remain a key economic player both regionally and internationally. We must not only continue to work hard but smarter to ensure that growth is maintained at levels which are high enough to provide all Singaporeans with a higher standard of living. The key to accomplishing this, Sir, is to improve the technological and creative innovation capacity of the nation. Singapore must become a centre of learning and creativity attracting talent from within and outside the region. This is the only way we can stay ahead. The US, for example, is still ahead of other countries despite not being the leading producers of personal computers. That claim belongs to Taiwan. But American companies such as Intel and Microsoft own the technological know-how needed to produce the personal computers.”
“Mr Speaker, the original question asked was of a general nature, but the additional question asked is of a detailed nature, and I have to answer it in detail and I therefore require further notice.”
“This is merely for information, Mr Speaker. I am in full sympathy with the hon. Members who spoke just now on the freedom of the Press. This matter also concerns those who charge the Government for its dictatorial attitude. However, I wish to remind the reporter concerned, or anyone who may be concerned, that we are bound by regulations. Section 30 (h) of the Legislative Assembly (Privileges, Immunities, and Powers) Ordinance, 1962, provides that: `No person shall - (h) publish wilfully any false or perverted report or any writing containing a gross or scandalous misrepresentation of any debate or proceedings of the Assembly, or of any speech of a member in the Assembly;'. This is a reminder to reporters who, cover the proceedings of the Assembly. If a Member considers that there has been a contravention of this section of the Ordinance, he may seek recourse, under Standing Order 92 (7) , to move a motion complaining of a breach of privilege after notice, if the matter complained of is not raised at the earliest opportunity. If both Members consider that there has been a breach of privilege, then they are entitled to seek that recourse.”
“Mr Speaker, three new post offices will be built at Siglap, still Road and Owen Road. In the Estimates, there is a provision for four new post offices. But actually only three will be built in the course of the year. This programme was submitted to the Permanent Secretary, Economic Development Board, on 30th August, 1965. A decision was taken that only three new post offices will be built. The provision of "New Post Offices, four" should now read "New Post Offices, three".”