Yeo Cheow Tong
Singapore
“Mdm Ho Geok Choo asked the Minister for Health in light of the recent report on fungal corneal infections (a) whether those who contracted the contact lens related fungal corneal infections will suffer permanent damage to their eyes; and (b) how long will his Ministry take to conclude its investigations into the causes of these contact le…”
“My Ministry performs a regulatory role and what we do is that we try to ensure that we have a conducive regulatory environment for the growth of this industry in Singapore. Let me tell him what we are doing in some areas.”
“Sir, on her two questions, whether we are satisfied that the school buses are collecting fares during the school holidays, as I mentioned just now, the school bus service is a contractual service between the parents and the service provider. It is therefore up to them to work out the terms and to abide by the terms.”
“Sir, on the first question, whether there is any abuse by owners of buses while using the 50% rebate, the answer is no, because LTA monitors very closely.”
“Sir, I have to repeat my answer. We are not responsible for regulating school buses and therefore will not be involved. SCHOOL BUSES (Installation of seat belts) 5. Assoc. Prof.”
“Ong Soh Khim asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports (a) if his Ministry will increase the cap of $10,000 per disabled person over their lifetime for the Assistive Technology Fund scheme; and (b) if not, whether there will be a flexibility to adjust the funding cap for this scheme based on the applicant's need, as j…”
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“Yes, we will undertake a study into this problem.”
“Sir, when any pregnant woman comes into a clinic in a Government hospital for abortion, she is first counselled and dissuaded from going through with the abortion. The abortion is, therefore, an act of last resort. She is motivated by the trained medical staff on the use of proper contraceptive methods. So this should help to prevent repeated abortions.”
“Sir, I agree with the Member that more education is required. I have already stated that perhaps the school should consider expanding the moral education curriculum to cope with this problem.”
“Sir, I do not think it is the impact of the hospital services that we are worried about. It is the impact of the lack of good medical services possessed by the back-street abortionists that we are more concerned about. The Ministry does recognize that the number is large and we are in the process of reviewing the Act. And I would like to invite Members to perhaps pass on their views to us which we will take into consideration when reviewing the Act.”
“Sir, repealing the Abortion Act, I feel, would be an act of refusal to recognize that there are social and health problems involved. The very act of repealing the Abortion Act will not wipe out the abortions because teenagers who have this problem and who do not want to go through with the pregnancy will then have to resort to back-street abortions, thereby posing great risks to their health and even their life.”
“That is a fact of life, but to be forewarned is to be forearmed. Sir, the targiqt of 5-7% economic growth for the next five years may appear to be deceivingly low when we compare it with growth over the last 10 years. However, with the storm clouds ahead, the target may turn out to be a real challenge. However, I am confident that our fellow Singaporeans, if properly informed and galvanized, will surely rise to the challenge. 12.54pm”
“I will therefore like to appeal to the various training authorities, the Polytechnics, our University, and NPB to review the curriculum and the output of students who are knowledgeable about modern maintenance technologies. Let us make sure that we have machine surgeons and paramedics available before old age sets in. It will not be a pleasant thing to be caught with a leaky umbrella when It is storming outside. Let me now touch on the land cost in Singapore. Sir, I know that Singapore is a small country. It is a small island. I know too and I accept that land costs should be set at a premium. But must it be set at a premium? We often hear comparisons of land costs in Singapore with those in Hong Kong, Japan, New York and other modern cities. I agree that in a comparison between cities we have to compare apples to apples. But we also have to accept the fact that our manufacturers eventually have to export and to be able to compete on a very competitive basis internationally. Every cost factor becomes important. And land cost or rental cost for manufacturers is definitely an important factor. We should therefore only be comparing the equivalent cost of industrial land or land rental in Singapore with those of our main competitors, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and other countries. Sir, there are also other costs which are government-influenced. Perhaps the EDB can also perform a watchdog role in carrying out dialogues with the various associations and monitor the various changes in the government-influenced costs. Sir, the Government cannot be the sole body responsible for ensuring that we can achieve our future goals. The private sector and our people must also chip in with renewed vigour. We should not be pessimistic about things such as business cycles.”
“The Government will have to continue ensuring that appropriate preconditions are being made available for the creation of wealth and more jobs to take care of the younger people coming out into the job market. What are some of those areas that the Government can focus upon? I will restrict my comments mainly to the manufacturing sector. There is one very common topic which, I think, at least half of my fellow Members here have spoken about, and that is, on SDF. I am glad to read in yesterday's paper that there are 11 new training centres that are being set up or are already in the pipeline. Sir, if we are going to be able to continue upgrading our industries, training regardless of economic conditions must continue. However, in view of the huge cumulative funds in the SDF, I fully concur with the comments that the Government should review perhaps whether the SDF contributions should be permanently reduced or temporarily removed. Mr Speaker, over the past five to six years many companies have been automating, upgrading their operations, bringing in very sophisticated equipment. Productivity has therefore gone up and everybody is happy, happy that is until these machines break down. One thing we have to realize is that these highly sophisticated and modern equipment are sometimes more difficult to diagnose when they "fall sick", are more difficul; than human beings because they cannot speak. Sir, a marginally-cured machine will definitely be able to perform satisfactorily but only for a short time. Its life expectancy will then be drastically reduced, Our manufacturers will then incur much higher operating costs.”
“I therefore dread to think what will happen to the international banking community should even a mild recession set in to affect the exports from these countries. Sir, if you allow me, I would like to quote from The Economist of 2nd March. It says: 'The United States is borrowing heavily from abroad and running down its overseas assets. This year it will become - or may already be - a net debtor for the first time since 1918. Without a big fall in the dollar, it is a reasonable bet that America's annual current-account deficit will exceed US$300 billion by 1990 even if its economic growth is slower than the average for industrial countries. By then the United States will have more foreign debt than all developing countries together have today.' Sir, this may be of interest also to the Member for Alexandra who just came in, when he talked about protectionism. 'The loudest calls for protection are coming from the American Congress. They have a new twist because Congressmen are trying to find ways to cut America's deficit. Many like the idea of an import surcharge which, says its advocates, will raise about US$80 billion in a year, therefore helping to halve the budget deficit and take pressure off the American industry.' Sir, the storm clouds are therefore very real, very potent. What do we in Singapore have to do to prepare to weather the blistering winds and to ensure that we do not get blown over? Sir, I am not advocating that we should all run out now and head for the nearest half-completed MRT tunnel. No, there is no need to panic because, with some hard and prudent efforts, we can ride out whatever is facing us in the future, but we have to recognize the fact that hard efforts will have to be made.”
“Sir, our economic growth is dependent not only upon our own efforts but, more importantly, upon how the rest of the world performs. Singapore has negligible space. We have only about 600 sq km. We have no natural resources that can be tapped and sold to generate foreign exchange. We can only either generate goods or provide services that can be sold competitively and efficiently to the rest of the world. The world economy, however, is heavily dependent upon one country, the United States of America. In the USA today, the Federal budget deficit is expected to be in the region of US$200 billion and this is expected to continue for the next few years. To finance this massive debt, the US government is obliged to let interest rates remain high, raising the value of the US dollar and continuing the flow of foreign funds into the country to finance this deficit. Sir, the strong US dollar is also stimulating the import of goods into the USA bringing the US trade deficits also to record levels. There are already strong calls by US manufacturers and Congressmen to levy a tax surcharge of 20% on all imports into the USA. Though the US economy appears to be very robust this year, many economists are predicting that 1986, or at the latest, 1987, recession will once again set in. Sir, another danger ahead is the total debt of the developing nations in South America. In these relatively healthy times, these countries have managed to boost their exports to what some economists term as miraculous and totally unimaginable levels. What surprises me is that these miraculous levels only allow them to generate sufficient foreign exchange to pay for their interest costs. They do not even have a surplus to repay a portion of their principal loans.”
“Perhaps it will be sufficient for me to say that these achievements are a tribute to the farsightedness and the fortitude of our leaders over the past 25 years and, equally important, to the determination, the diligence and the efforts of our fellow Singaporeans. Sir, over the last few days, we have been taken for a bus ride by the Member for Teck Ghee. We have gone on a bicycle tour with the Member for Bukit Merah. And the hon. Member for Ayer Rajah has taken us for a stroll up the path in Botanical Gardens. I do not intend to take the House for a short ride today. In this age of high technology and upgrading of industries, I would like to bring in the satellites, computers, fiber optics. I do not intend to bring us up on a space shuttle because we do not have the resources. But what I would like to do is just to dial quickly for a short weather forecast, using the modern telephone. Members here have spoken out on their concern about business conditions this year. I am more concerned about the weather forecast for the next three to five years. Sir, we definitely must show some concern about the retrenchments that have happened this year. However, if we look carefully most of them occurred in the very sick ship-building and ship-repairing businesses or in the various sectors that have grown rapidly last year. It is only to be expected that after rapid expansions, some technical adjustments will have to be made. I equally accept that there are some sectors that are facing some slowdown this year. But as far as the longer-erm is concerned, are we to expect only scaftered showers? Or are we seeing the formation of some dark billowing clouds on the horizon?”
“I maintain that the Government has not increased any accouchement fees for the first and second child. Sir, for the fourth child, the same accouchement fee of $600 applies to Bl, B2 and C wards, whilst those in the A wards will have to pay $750. For the fifth and subsequent births, the accouchement fees have been increased to $1,000 for all wards in order to strongly discourage large families. The Member for Queenstown on 5th March expressed his fear that a person without a Medisave Account or who is poor will not be able to obtain services from the Government hospitals. Unfortunately, the Member for Queenstown is not here today. Perhaps he has been away from Singapore for too long. So I would like to refresh his memory. Our Govern- ment hospitals have never turned anyone away on the basis of his not having a Medisave Account or on the basis of his not having a cash deposit. If the Admissions doctor certifies that immediate hospitalization is required, the patient is immediately admitted. After treatment, if the patient claims that he cannot pay, the team of medical social workers stationed at each hospital would then investigate each and every claim. Depending on the circumstances, if the patient's claim is found to be true, he can get either full or partial waiver of the charges. Sir, I would like to assure Members of this House that the poor in Singapore will always be able to avail themselves of services in the Government hospitals. Sir, the President has also mentioned in his speech about preserving and building upon the achievements of our Singaporeans. I need not detail out the achievements because I think they are well known.”
“They remain unchanged because this Government recognizes that it is good, in fact, for married couples to have a couple of children. Why not? I think they bring fun and joy to our lives. They also help to strengthen family bonds. However, the Government would be remiss in discharging its duties if it does not actively discourage those who cannot afford to maintain a large family from having more than two children. We would be doing a grave disservice to the nation and to these children who are likely then to be poorly guided, unassisted and poorly maintained. We have to help these families focus their-limited resources on the two children that they have. Sir, the Government will not subsidize at taxpayers' expense the delivery costs of third and subsequent children. Members can refer to the table that was distributed before the beginning of this session which shows the accouchement fees that are effective now. Sir, they will see that the accouchement fees for the third child for A and B wards are $550 and $400 respectively. Similarly, the fees for the B2 and C wards are also at $400. For the fourth child, the same accouchement fee of $600 applies to Bl, B2 and C wards.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the motion moved by the hon. Member for Ayer Rajah, thanking the President for his speech at the opening of this Parliament. Sir, many of my fellow Members have spoken quite thoroughly on the Government's intention to focus on the ways and means to help the lower income group. This topic has been very well debated, and so I will restrict myself only to answering a couple of points and clarifying them. The hon. Member for Radin Mas on Monday made a thorough and well-researched presentation on the lower income group. He maintained that most of them live in 1- and 2-room rented flats. Most of them have large families and therefore they are left with a much smaller living space of about 8,3 sq metres. The resulting problems are that they face over-crowding, they have large families with low income per family member, they are unable to give good educational support to their children. Sir, all these problems greatly concern the Government. We have to actively encourage such large families with low incomes to improve themselves, to break out of this vicious cycle. Sir, to encourage them to have large families would only serve to perpetuate this cycle. The Member for Potong Pasir in his speech stated that he is very sincere and he also wants to help this low income group. However, his comments on the recent increase in accouchement fees leave doubts in my mind as to whether he is really sincere in wanting to help this unfortunate group of our citizens. Sir, in June last year, it was announced that revised rates of accouchement fees would only be effective nine months later, on 1st March 1985. Under these revised rates, accouchement fees for the first and second child remain unchanged.”