Yeo Choo Kok
Singapore
“Sir, does the Minister agree with me that there is a strong possibility that JTC will be confused with another JTC, ie, Jurong Town Council, if there is one in the future? BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not know what municipal development may take place in Jurong.”
“Sir, I have two questions. First, will the Minister revoke the approval given to the distributor nominated by the FEER which has banned its circulation in Singapore? Second, what is the Minister's response to the FEER's self-imposed ban for the magazine in Singapore?”
“Sir, has any Singaporean businessman just mentioned suffered any loss as a result of the political rearrangement that took place not long ago in the PRC? BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Deputy Speaker, I think the question is whether any Singapore businessman has suffered financial loss as a result of the political upheavals in the PRC.”
“Sir, this question is for the Minister for Communications and Information. Has the Time magazine apologized to the people and the Government of Singapore? Have they appealed against the continued restriction on its circulation? And the second question is: what is the present position or the latest development of the AWSJ affair?”
“Sir, is it possible for the Ministry to conduct an inspection of vegetables at the Wholesale Centre on a daily basis? Is he aware that the issue of excessive use of pesticide was first published by a mosquito press in Malaysia in 1983? My last question is: why did the importers at first refuse to let the vegetables be sampled?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I just want to seek one clarification from the Minister. Referring to page 1 of the handout, paragraph 2 begins with the sentence, "It is open to all parents above age 55." Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we do have a lot of single persons in Singapore. What about CPF subscribers who are not married?”
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“Sir, when will this feasibility study be completed?”
“Sir, are these individual taxi groups duly registered with the Registry of Societies?”
“Sir, could the Minister elaborate on the maintenance programme for the buildings?”
“Sir, will the HDB expedite allocation of flats to the remaining families in those blocks where most of the tenants have moved out?”
“Sir, does the Minister agree with me that there is a strong possibility that JTC will be confused with another JTC, ie, Jurong Town Council, if there is one in the future? BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I do not know what municipal development may take place in Jurong. When it occurs, we will weigh it carefully to see whether it constitutes a compelling reason for change. MAIN AND DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES OF SINGAPORE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 1988 TO 31ST MARCH, 1989 Order read for consideration in Committee of Supply [4th Allotted Day]. [Mr Deputy Speaker in the Chair] 11.43 am Head I (cont.) - Resumption of Debate on Question [18th March, 1988], "That the sum to be allocated for Head I be reduced by $10 in respect of Code IJ 5200 of the Development Estimates." - [Mr Leong Horn Kee.] Question again proposed.”
“Sir, can the Minister tell the House who these foreigners are? Are they visitors, tourists or workers?”
“Sir, does the Ministry intend to sell the stalls to the stallholders?”
“Sir, I have two questions. First, will the Minister revoke the approval given to the distributor nominated by the FEER which has banned its circulation in Singapore? Second, what is the Minister's response to the FEER's self-imposed ban for the magazine in Singapore?”
“Sir, can the Minister assure the House that he will urge the operators to keep any fare changes to a minimum or, better still, not to have any fare increase at all?”
“Sir, has any Singaporean businessman just mentioned suffered any loss as a result of the political rearrangement that took place not long ago in the PRC? BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Deputy Speaker, I think the question is whether any Singapore businessman has suffered financial loss as a result of the political upheavals in the PRC. Not that I am aware of. HOUGANG NEW TOWN (Polyclinic) 9. Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Acting Minister for Health whether and when a polyclinic will be built in Hougang New Town. The Acting Minister for Health (Mr Yeo Cheow Tong): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Ministry is planning to build a polyclinic at the Hougang New Town. The polyclinic will be located between Hougang Avenue 4 and Avenue 10. Building work is scheduled to commence in 1988 and the polyclinic is scheduled to be opened by 1989.”
“Sir, if the TAS is to privatize, will the consumers continue to benefit from these cost savings?”
“Sir, this question is for the Minister for Communications and Information. Has the Time magazine apologized to the people and the Government of Singapore? Have they appealed against the continued restriction on its circulation? And the second question is: what is the present position or the latest development of the AWSJ affair?”
“Sir, are we going to have any theatre in the airport? I do not mean the Dr Muller's theatre, but an ordinary theatre to attract travellers to stay longer in our airport.”
“Sir, are these five schools going to become independent schools?”
“Sir, out of the 79 constituencies, which constituency has the most concentrated AIDS patients? Mr Yeo Cheow Tong: I am sorry I do not have the information on that.”
“Sir, is the Minister aware that we have to save water from time to time?”
“What about the daily inspection? You have not answered my question yet.”
“Sir, is it possible for the Ministry to conduct an inspection of vegetables at the Wholesale Centre on a daily basis? Is he aware that the issue of excessive use of pesticide was first published by a mosquito press in Malaysia in 1983? My last question is: why did the importers at first refuse to let the vegetables be sampled?”
“Sir, do the schools have enough qualified teachers in the various streams to do the job?”
“Sir, how many of these foreign criminals mentioned by the Minister of State are also work permit holders?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I just want to seek one clarification from the Minister. Referring to page 1 of the handout, paragraph 2 begins with the sentence, "It is open to all parents above age 55." Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we do have a lot of single persons in Singapore. What about CPF subscribers who are not married? When they reach 55, does this scheme apply to them when they are not married and have no children?”
“Sir, are the 12 students in question members of secret societies?”
“Sir, will the Senior Parliamentary Secretary consider converting vacant stalls in a produce market into cooked food stalls?”
“Sir, in his answer just now, he said that hardship is the only criterion for applying for a hawker licence. Will the Senior Parliamentary Secretary consider, in addition to hardship case, culinary skills to be another criterion for applying for a hawker licence?”
“Sir, could the Parliamentary Secretary tell the House the number of itinerant hawkers at present? My second question is: will the Hawkers Department consider raising the upper age limit of 60 so that those who are above 60 and are still healthy but jobless can still apply for a hawker licence?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, could the 5% downpayment be further reduced or waived in view of the present economic recession?”
“Sir, could the Minister tell the House how much land is needed for these training villages, and where will these villages be? BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Speaker, Sir, we are thinking of about eight training villages under SAF control, totalling 21 sq km. Despite having these training villages, the total amount of land which the SAF would have available will go down. Today we have 80 sq km. By 1988, even with the training villages, we will only have 66 sq km. Where will they be? They will be in places where the land use is compatible, places which have been reserved for long-term development but will be available for the next 10, 20 years, for example, Seletar, West Bukit Timah, and parts of Marsiling and Mandai.”
“I believe if this new scheme, let us call it DANAMIS (Dana Amanah Masyarakat Islam Singapura) or Singapore Muslim Trust Fund were to be accepted, I am confident DANAMIS would be a dynamic force that would put the Muslims of Singapore in good stead in facing the challenges of the future. 4.06 pm”
“I see the need to enable Muslim workers to save from their first employment a sum of, let us say, between $30 and $50 a month so that by the time they reach the age of 40 years or thereabouts they would be able to save enough funds to pay for their pilgrimage. This contribution can be in addition to their regular CPF contributions. This monthly deduction should not cause any hardship because, in view of the obligatory nature of the Haj pilgrimage, all adult Muslims would have to keep savings for this purpose anyway. If we can effect their savings through the CPF mechanism, then there is the greater assurance to them that the required sums would be accumulated for them to fulfil this fundamental obligation. There is also the added security that, through the CPF, their individual savings would become a collective resource which, with expert, professional and proper management, could certainly multiply. If such a scheme is introduced, then the CPF would become a profound infrastructure that is so integral to all Singaporeans and to the Muslims here, that it will provide for the vital means to enable them to fulfil their social, economic, education and religious obligations through self-reliance and self-help. It is because of the CPF savings and the CPF machinery that the Singapore Muslims are blessed with the opportunity to build new and multi-purpose mosques and to do this with their own money in a manner that has no comparison in any other Muslim community in any other pads of the world.”
“I think it is appropriate, on behalf of my Muslim MP colleagues and on my own personal behalf, to raise this subject again. We are mindful now that it will not be in the interest of the Muslims to make use of their CPF balances for this purpose as most of them would have small net balances, as noted earlier. The analysis of members' balances by age group and sex as at 31st December 1982 in the Central Provident Fund Board Annual Report, 1982, shows that there will be a total of 71,417 members in the age group of 50-55 with total balances of $1,365,427,000. In two or three years' time, they will be retired and will have an average of $18,309.85 in the CPF. Of course, this is a broad across-the-board calculation. As of now, a couple needs around $12,000 to perform their Haj. Even partial withdrawal of 50% at the age of 55 will not suffice. In the same vein, it means that raising the CPF withdrawal age from 55 to 60 and then 65, at this particular moment, I must say, is not practicable. At least I would say confine it to those below 40. It means we must have some flexibility. It is worth reiterating that Prof. Leontieff, an economist, said: 'The point of an economy is not to effectively use resources. It is to provide a livelihood for society.' It will not also be practicable for them to prematurely withdraw their accounts to pay for the costs of the pilgrimage unless, of course, we devise a scheme with the same vision and ingenuity that would allow and encourage Muslims to perform their Haj while they are still young and healthy. I wish to ask that this scheme be seriously considered.”
“To the ordinary wage-earners, this dynamic and ingenious application of the CPF resources and machinery is of special significance, particularly in respect of five concerns that are so profound to them. Firstly, by their collective contributions, they become co-contributors to the massive modernization, physical and industrial development of the Republic. Secondly, by their judicious willingness in accepting and supporting the hard but necessary wage-restraint policies effected through the CPF, they help in dampening inflationary spending. Thirdly, with their CPF resources and through its machinery, they become owners of their own houses without encountering any financial hardship, or having to wait for their retirement gratuity. Fourthly, now they become more assured of obtaining the best possible medical care through the CPF-Medisave Scheme. Fifthly, it ensures them some comfort when they finally retire. They may wish to go places. To the Muslim, it is usually the fulfilment of the Haj pilgrimage. As hon. Members are aware, it is obligatory for all Muslims - besides declaring the Shahadat, praying five times a day, fasting during the month of Ramadhan, and paying the annual tithes to make the Haj pilgrimage at least once in their life-time. The only dispensation for not being required to perform the Haj pilgrimage is dire financial hardship which, in the case of most Muslims in Singapore, will not be a reality provided they work hard to save, use their CPF balances, or participate in a convenient and somewhat 'enforced' savings scheme while they are still young. In previous debates in this House, some of my Muslim MP colleagues and I did broach the idea of using the CPF contributions, or part of the savings, to enable Muslims to perform the Haj pilgrimage.”
“The other recommendation which I would like to express my support for is the one which proposes that payments due to the upkeep of aged residents in homes for the aged sick should be made by the Government itself in the first instance, and that the Government in turn should be empowered to recover the payments from the persons liable. Landlords can evict tenants who are in arrears of rent. However, voluntary organizations have no remedy whatsoever if unfilial children fail to pay the maintenance charges in respect of their parents who are inmates of homes. The proposed measure will, I am sure, be welcomed by all voluntary welfare organizations. Before I turn to the so-called hot issue of CPF, I would like to say how particularly gratified I am for the Ministerial Statement by the Hon. Minister for Social Affairs, who is also the President of the Mendaki Foundation, in proposing that an additional sum of 50 cents be collected through the MBF-CPF Scheme for the specific purpose of Mendaki's education programmes. I am sure all Muslims in Singapore will give their support in building the resources that are so urgently needed for the educational upliftment of the Muslims in our beloved Republic. To the Muslims, education is not only an economic and social necessity but also an act of piety, for it is a religious injunction that requires men and women to seek and attain moral, social and religious purification through education. Mr Speaker, Sir, the CPF is a magnificent example of how courage, vision and imagination can transform what otherwise would be an innocuous "social-security" instrument into a dynamic infrastructure that brings widespread economic and social well-being to so many ordinary citizens of a country.”
“However, the Committee has been careful to add two important provisos, namely, (a) that the court should be empowered to exempt a son or daughter from the whole or a part of the duty of maintenance if the aged parent was guilty of neglect of the children when they were young and in need of parental care; and (b) no court action shall be commenced without the consent of the Director of Social Welfare. These safeguards, in my opinion, are necessary. Parents who have failed in their responsibility towards their children cannot expect their children to help them when they are old and infirm. While we teach our children to be filial, as the Committee points out, we should not neglect the equally important task of educating parents on their responsibility towards their children. The Director of Social Welfare will guard against frivolous or vexatious court actions. As we all know, many a time court action can only exacerbate family feuds. I strongly support the Committee's view that the proposed legislation should not be allowed to become a means for invading the privacy of normal family relationships and that it should be viewed as an instrument for use against only the most blatantly unfilial children. I would like to touch on two recommendations concerning the setting up and running of homes for the aged sick by voluntary welfare organizations. Voluntary welfare organizations are experiencing great difficulty in obtaining sites for new homes; and, having found a site and erected the home, they find it virtually impossible to recruit staff. I support the Committee's recommendation that the Government should help these organizations to get suitable sites and to recruit staff from outside Singapore, if necessary.”
“I therefore strongly support the Committee's recommendation that the Government should introduce legislation for the control, supervision and management of homes for the aged. The Committee has rightly pointed out that aged persons will find it difficult to live in the community once infirmities set in, unless we provide the necessary social services. The Report mentions six such services. I do hope that the Singapore Council of Social Service will take the lead in providing these services. The Committee has also recommended that the law should impose an obligation on children to maintain their parents. This is a bold step. It is also a new experience. In fact, my first reaction, Mr Speaker, Sir, was one of startle and utter disbelief. But I chose to keep an open mind, recognize the problem and find a solution. Perhaps the day may come when, through the introduction of moral and religious education in our education system, our children or our children's children will find it appropriate to repeal the legislation. Since education has been and is being used as an agent of social change, all it needs is time. Only sometimes time is slightly longer than expected. In the meantime, Mr Speaker, Sir, we have long had laws which govern the responsibility of husbands towards their wives and of fathers towards their children. What the Committee has proposed is but an extension of the existing body of family law.”
“The Report covers subjects such as Health and Recreational Needs, Social Services and Institutional Care, and Family Relations. Public discussion of the Report has sadly focused almost exclusively on the subject of financial security, in particular, the recommendation concerning the withdrawal of CPF savings. I would like to think that the lack of discussion on the other topics covered by the Report was more an indication of public support for the recommendations on these topics rather than the result of a lack of public interest. On the subject of Social Services and institutional Care, we should be proud of the fact that as of now only 2.6% of the 121,000 people who are aged 65 years and above are living in homes for the aged. A very large proportion of the inmates of these homes are first generation immigrants who are either single or widowed and childless. With the passing away of this generation, we should expect the number of inmates of these homes to decline. However, I recognize that there are dangers. The most serious danger is the weakening of the family ties. We all know that the family is of fundamental importance. If we do not take effective measures to preserve traditional values and uphold the sanctity of the family, we will soon have in our midst a large number of aged persons who are estranged from their children. Another danger, paradoxically, stems from our excellent retirement benefit scheme, namely, the Central Provident Fund. In the future, roughly 15 years from now at least, having in mind a sound economic condition, there will be a growing number of aged persons who are financially quite comfortable. They will constitute a good market for the commercially run homes for the aged or sanatoriums.”
“At the moment the CPF is giving 6 1/2% interest and the CPF contributions have reached 50%. If we raise the withdrawal age, it may cause the CPF contributors more anxieties and difficulties. So I hope the Government will not try to solve everything by resorting to the use of CPF or manipulating CPF savings. Many who will be retiring at the age of 55 belong to the lower income group and the amount to be withdrawn will not be very much, yet they need the money. Since the CPF is not quite the cause of or the solution to the problem of the aged, I hope the Government will not touch it. Sir, I hope the Minister will pay attention to the sincere comments and recommendations of the Backbenchers and not be influenced by considerations of political propaganda. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Trade and Industry and Minister for Social Affairs (Encik Sidek bin Saniff): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I, before I touch on the specific recommendations contained in the Report of the Committee on the Problems of the Aged, commend the Minister for Health and members of the Committee for their excellent work. They have made a thorough study of the problems of an ageing population and have produced an exhaustive, comprehensive and searching Report. It is definitely not a sketchy Report, unless one is sketchy or hotch-potch in one's mind. If we were to study thoroughly from A to Z, we will find that all the measures are long-term. It is not palliative either because, if it is, then it deserves to be precipitated, which it does not. Mr Speaker, Sir, the Report deals with the future,and the future is no more the simple continuity of today. It is the direct consequence of today.”
“So they want to withdraw their CPF savings. They may not intend to use the money to enjoy themselves or to tour the world. In the old oriental society where there were no banks, people would want to hoard their money under their pillows or hide it somewhere not for future enjoyment but for the rainy days in the future. They saved money for the sake of their children in a society where there was no CPF Scheme. The present parents may be tempted to use their savings for their own enjoyment because of their unfilial children in the present circumstances. Now that the Government has found out the causes of the problems of the aged, and since the withdrawal of CPF savings is not linked with these causes, the Government should not touch the CPF withdrawal age. In fact, to those who are in the middle and upper middle classes who have enough money in their CPF, even if you raise the age for withdrawal of CPF to 100 years of age, it will have no effect on them. They will not object because they can use their CPF savings to buy property or to invest in SBS shares or some other form of investment at any time. They may even be advised to use their CPF savings to buy shares in the MRT very soon. Sir, since CPF is not the cause of the problems of the aged, we should deal with this question of CPF withdrawal age in a flexible way separately. We must allow those who have reached 55 years and unable to work to withdraw their CPF savings. However, if we raise the age for withdrawal of CPF savings and at the same time increase the interest rate to something better than the POSB or other banks' interest rate, then we will find it hard not to let them keep their savings in the CPF. It will also encourage those self-employed to contribute to CPF.”
“Many have taken to drugs and the sniffing of glue. Some have died young because of these activities. Sir, if there are no old men, then there will not be any problems of the aged. If we carry on like this, if all of a sudden several thousand young people turn up at Orchard Road and take part in breakdance which can hurt you if you are not careful or resort to sniffing glue, then very soon I think they would not be able to reach old age before they die. According to the Minister, who has spoken in this House, we try to solve the problems of the aged 50 years from now. But from the trends of today's society, the young may not live up to that old age of 80 years by then. So there would not be any more problems of the aged if there were no aged people, and the Report will be useless. Let me refer to page 17 of the Report where it says: 'The state of mind also affects the rate at which a person ages. A person is, to a great extent, conditioned by how old he feels he is, rather than how old he actually is.' This sounds nice. If that is true, there may not be the need to specify any age limit as to when a person should be regarded as being old and should retire. In other words, the heart determines whether a person is old or not. If the mental state of a person defines whether one is old or not, it will be very fine. But, if a young person has become old in heart even before he has biologically reached old age, in other words, mentally he is already senile, then he is actually old. Or, there may be parents who, after bringing up their children in a modern social environment and having toiled and exhausted their energies for their unfilial children all these years, when they reach 55 years of age they are already quite aged and quite senile in mind and body.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I promise not to waste everybody's time. (In Mandarin) Sir, after the publication of the Report of the Committee on the Problems of the Aged, there have been controversies from all sides. Up to our meeting today, the Report has become a report on the withdrawal age of CPF savings. That all attention has been directed to this matter and not to the true causes and the solution of the problems of the aged is regrettable. Whether there is CPF or at what age the CPF savings should be withdrawn has no direct bearing on the problems of the aged. There are many factors that have given rise to the problems of the aged in our society. The report in the first chapter has expressly stated that in the past 20 years the education system had paid too much attention to utilitarianism. This is one of the main factors which have created problems for the aged. The other factor is that the values of the Western world have eroded the traditional respect for the aged in our society. Thirdly, as the Report says, the mass media had put the aged people in bad light, describing them as ugly old men, senile persons. in the same chapter it is suggested that this kind of attitude towards the aged should be corrected. We should not allow our society to look at the aged in that light. The younger generation's respect for the aged should normally be one of the virtues of our Eastern society and the provision by the young as a repayment for the aged for their upbringing should also be a common practice. The society has paid too much attention to fast economic development. Everything must be fast. The young people are also adopting a fast life. They like to drive in fast cars. And there are various vices associated with the young people who keep looking for kicks.”
“Sir, would the Minister tell the House whether any firm in the oil industry, manufacturing industry, banking or law firm has ever applied for these passes?”
“Sir, has the Minister or the SBC ascertained the number of users of SBCText?”
“Sir, it is for the good and for the interest of the motoring public.”
“Sir, could the technical report in question be made public?”
“Could the Minister tell the House whether the PKMS has, like the Alumni of Chung Cheng High School, contributed anything to MENDAKI.”
“Sir, would the Minister of State tell the House which figure is correct: the figure he just gave, or the figure of 5,518 which his Minister gave not long ago in this House?”
“To ask the Minister for the Environment whether his Ministry has been successful in enforcing the prohibition of smoking in cinema halls and lifts and if he will consider extending such prohibition to bowling alleys and other recreation centres.”
“Sir, I thank the Minister for his reply and I beg leave to withdraw. Amendment by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head J be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead JC-06 Object Group 1310 of the Main Estimates. Sir, the Kallang Theatre was bought by the Ministry sometime last year. Several months have passed since then and we have heard nothing about this theatre. I understand that the theatre needs to be renovated before it can be used. I just want to know when the renovation can be completed and what events or activities have been planned to be held in the theatre. Sir, the provision requested here is meant only for recruiting temporary and daily-rated staff. How can staff of this category maintain and run such a big building? Why can we not have permanent staff to look after the theatre? Sir, I also want to find out from the Hon. Minister whether outside private organiza- tions can make use of the theatre for cultural and entertainment purposes.”
“Sir, in view of the promising reply, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment, standing in the name of Mr Yeo Choo Kok, was not moved: (3) That the sum to be allocated for Head J be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead JC-01 Object Group 2610 of the Main Estimates.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head J be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead JB-04 Object Group 1210 of the Main Estimates. Sir, in the past, the Ministry of Culture regularly published posters which were widely distributed and displayed at prominent places throughout the country for people to see and read. These posters were full of pictures with simple captions or explanatory notes. They did a good job in informing our people of meaningful and significant events that have taken place in the country. No good reason was given for ceasing to publish these posters. Most of the constituencies have now formed Residents' Committees and these Committees have maintained notice boards at strategic points within the constituencies. I hope the Ministry can resume publishing these posters and display them in these notice boards so that residents can easily read them. I would also like to request the Ministry to look into the feasibility of publishing a colourful pictorial regularly for the reading pleasure of both locals and foreigners. These colourful pictorials can be in the form of a monthly or bi-monthly magazine. Most of the countries have this type of magazine, It serves to depict the way of living and the culture of the people and the various developments and achievements of a country. I think our country can afford to have this type of publication.”