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, in view of the guillotine time, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The time allotted for Head O having expired, the following amendment was not proceeded with:”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 0 be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead OB-01 Object Group 1210 of the Main Estimates. Sir, in moving this amendment I just want to find out from the Minister whether there is a sustained recruiting and training programme to build up a core of career diplomats to man our overseas missions. It seems to me that we are seriously shorthanded in running the overseas missions. We still have to appoint a few parliamentarians to head overseas missions and quite a number of our heads of missions have to be accredited to more than one country. Sir, I moved a similar amendment in the Budget debate in 1978. In his reply to me, the then Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs gave me a lengthy description of the virtues of appointing parliamentarians to be heads of our overseas missions. Sir, honestly I was not impressed by the reply. He also informed the House that we had five parliamentarians as heads of missions out of a total number of 17. Today we still have four parliamentarians as heads of overseas missions. Sir, I am not saying that elected MPs should not serve in overseas missions. I just wonder if the Ministry has worked hard enough to recruit and encourage capable Singaporeans to join the foreign service. Maybe the terms and conditions for foreign service are not attractive enough. Sir, I want to know the total number of career diplomats in overseas missions, and I also want to know how many heads of missions are accredited to more than one or even two countries.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Leng Kee has given figures on the increase in the number of rats in Singapore, which he says is a problem with increasing seriousness. I would like the Parliamentary Secretary to tell us whether he has received complaints of rats in Parliament House.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in replying to a question, the Minister of Defence has said that the paunch evident in the reservists is the result of affluence in our society. The same affluence is going to force us to raise the income ceiling of the HDB and HUDC applicants. Would the Minister again consider raising the income ceiling of the HDB and HUDC applicants?”
“Sir, we were told recently that we might in the future appoint expatriate judges to the local Bench. I would not be surprised if we are going to have expatriate policemen policing our streets.”
“Since the Senior Parliamentary Secretary agrees with me that Delta needs a better and new market, and in view of the promising reply, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment by leave, withdrawn.”
“This amount had been decided last year and it is meant to renovate markets and food centres which have been earmarked for renovation and improvement this year. They are Taman Jurong, Empress Place, Boon Keng, Golden Mile, Boat Quay and Corporation Road. These are on the list for this year. It does not include Delta. According to the Member for Delta, we have to spend some money to improve the market in Delta. This year we have only limited funds. Each year we have to make our proposals for such an expenditure. Now that we know that the market at Delta is old and needs improvement, we shall be paying attention to this. If the expenses involved are not great and if funds are still available this year, we will try to improve the conditions there. But if the funds to be incurred are great, then we have to include it in the provision for next year. I have to state here that priority will be given to the street hawkers.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head M be reduced by $10 in respect of Subhead MB-05 Project 8101 of the Development Estimates. Sir, my constituents really appreciate that the Hawkers Department recently spent about $140,000 to improve and develop the Alexandra Road Cooked Food Centre into a very nice eating place with all the modern facilities. This shows that the Government does take good care of the environmental health of the people, and the provision of $2 million in FY 81 for the development and improvement to market and hawker sites further shows that the improvement of environmental public health has never been neglected by the Government, Sir, Delta is an old housing estate. Facilities need to be improved and upgraded from time to time. The present Alexandra Road Market was built in 1950 to cater for the needs of the dwellers of the low-rise SIT flats. With more and more high-rise HDB flats, thus bringing more people into the area, I think the outdated market needs to be improved to cope with the new environment. The market is a low building. The ventilation is very poor. During the dry season it is unbearably warm inside the market, and because of its locality and low structure it is dim all the time. As such, I would like to know if the Ministry has any plan to develop or at least to improve this market site for better market facilities. Sir, I also want to know where are the other market and hawker sites earmarked for development and improvement in FY 81. Mr Chor Yeok Eng( In Mandarin): Sir, the vote for the improvement of markets and hawker centres does not include the market in Delta.”
“Sir, are those unsolved cases to be treated as "closed" cases?”
“The recent fire at Dynasty Hotel which was reported in the press.”
“Sir, can the Hon. Senior Parliamentary Secretary elaborate? Mr Chan Chee Seng: Sir, can the hon. Member quote a case?”
“Sir, how do the firemen go up from the lower floors to the upper floors when the building is not completed?”
“Sir, I do not think so because uncompleted high-rise buildings are not equipped with localised internal fire-fighting equipment.”
“Sir, that is all fine for completed high-rise buildings. Are the facilities of the Singapore Fire Service adequate enough to fight fires in high-rise buildings which are under construction?”
“Sir, in view of the Senior Minister of State's reply, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I asked if I am right to conclude from the reply by the Senior Minister of State, that there will be more MPs to be enlisted in the foreign service in the future.”
“Sir, I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State if I am right to conclude from his reply to my question that there will be more MPs to be enlisted in the foreign service in future.”
“I wonder in what way the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organisation can do better than these other ASEAN bodies in achieving the declared goals.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head L be reduced by $10 in respect of item 1100 of Subhead Code LA-01 of the Main Estimates. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have a foreign service since independence. It seems to me that after more than a decade of independence the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not been successful in building up a pool of career diplomats to head our overseas missions. Up to now, we have to appoint five elected Members of Parliament to be the heads of about half of our overseas missions. I do not think it is fair to their constituents. Members of Parliament are understandably and popularly elected by their c6nstituents to serve them and not to be elected as Ambassadors. I am afraid that by staying away from the country for two or three years the elected Members may have lost touch with their constituents. In view of this and of the shortage of diplomatic personnel, I would like to suggest that the Ministry consider appointing some ex-Members of Parliament to head overseas missions as is being done in other countries. We have been independent for more than a decade now. Other countries, including fellow member-countries of ASEAN, should have by now clearly understood our thinking and philosophy of running our country. There should be no doubt that Singapore is for Singaporeans. We are our own masters. When we establish diplomatic ties with any country, it is for the good of Singaporeans and independent Singapore. In other words, our diplomatic decisions should not be influenced by worries of being suspected by other countries in the future. The ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organisation will function soon. We already have the ASEAN Secretariat and several ASEAN committees.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, a supplementary question. Why should the Government allow the specially selected foreign correspondents to be resident in Singapore if the scope of their activities is beyond the scope of journalism?”
“(8) That the sum to be allocated for Head S be reduced by $10 in respect of item (a) of subhead BED 3011”
“Sir, in his reply the Senior Parliamentary Secretary has stated that the criteria for public allowance are stringent. I understand that the mean test used to calculate the amount of public assistance allowance was fixed years ago. I want to know if the Senior Parliamentary Secretary thinks it is high time to review, revise and upgrade the mean test to keep up with the times.”
“Sir, according to the Memorandum (Paper Misc. 3 of 1977), the increase of $400,000 in Public Assistance provision is due to the revised rates. That means from now on those who have to depend on public assistance will be given more. It shows that the Government especially the Ministry under the care of the kind hearted Minister. does take good care of those who are less privileged and less fortunate. However, no matter how much we increase the amount of public assistance allowance, it is really difficult for the recipients to make both ends meet nowadays. Because of this, I would like to see the Department of Social Welfare relax its regulations and conditions in order that recipients of public assistance allowance can be reasonably allowed to take part-time jobs from time to time to supplement their public assistance allowance. In other words, no recipient should be disqualified if he is found to take on an odd job or a part time job because the amount of public assistance allowance that he receives is not enough. Sir, the Ministry has publicly announced a scheme whereby sums of $1,000 will be loaned without interest to those who need to start a small business so as to help them be on their feet. I would like to know whether the provision for Public Assistance allowance will also be used for this purpose and whether the present recipients of the allowance will be allowed to participate in this scheme.”
“Sir, may I seek your indulgence to speak on the same topic now, so that I need not move my amendment (8)* later on? * The amendment reads as follows (8) That the sum to be allocated for Head S be reduced by $10 in respect of item (a) of subhead BED 3011.”
“Question No. 3, Sir. The Senior Minister of State for National Development (Dr Tan Eng Liang) (for the Minister for National Development and Communications): Mr Speaker, Sir, as at 1st February, 1977, the number of 1-room, 2-room and 3-room flats rented out by the Housing and Development Board is as follows:- 1-room 71,000 units 2-room 35,000 units 3-room 19,000 units ------- Total 125,000 units ------- The rates of subsidy for the 1-, 2- and 3-room flats vary from contract to contract because the capital costs vary according to location and date of construction. The rates have generally increased over the years because of continuous improvements to the flats. Taking an average figure for the last two or three years, the rates of subsidy are as follows - 1-room (improved) $60 to $70 per month 2-room (improved) $55 to $65 per month 3-room (improved) $50 to $60 per month HOUSING BOARD "HOME OWNERSHIP" SCHEME (Number of flats sold) 4. Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon asked the Minister for National Development and Communications (a) up to the latest convenient date, how many units of flats have been sold by the Housing and Development Board under the "Home-ownership" Scheme; (b) how many of those flats were purchased outright by the owners; and (c) how many of the owners used their Central Provident Fund contributions to purchase the flats either outright or on an instalment basis.”
“In view of the guillotine time, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The time allotted for Head Q having expired, the following amendments were not proceeded with:”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head Q be reduced by $10 in respect of item (a) of subhead AAA 3020* (*The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr J. F. Conceicao). Sir, we have been told by the Minister that the cultural policy of the Minister is to improve its present range of cultural activities to meet the growing demand for more sophisticated programmes. This means that we need to have more money, but the fact is that the contribution to cultural organisations has been drastically reduced. In the Addendum to the Presidential Address at the opening of this Session of the Fourth Parliament, the Minister for Culture has stated, and I quote [Hansard, Vol 36, cols 42 - 3]: `Apart from sponsoring competitions, exhibitions and performances, the Ministry will provide financial and other forms of assistance to deserving amateur cultural groups.' Sir, in the light of his remarks I would like to ask the Minister the following questions. First, why is there a reduction from $186,500 for FY 76 to only $10,000 for FY 77? Second, what are the criteria for contributing financially to cultural organisations? Third, how many cultural organisations have received this contribution? Fourth, how can the Ministry help promote and improve cultural activities with much less money as budgetted here? Sir, the budget here is not in line with the policy of the Ministry of Culture as spelt out in the Addendum.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, according to the Memorandum on the Main Estimates there are two decreases in the Ministry. Under EOM, there is a decrease of $1.02 million and under OOE, a decrease of $1.00 million. The reason given is that: `no financial provision has been entered for the new posts and vacancies .., in view of the difficulties in recruiting staff for the various Missions.' Sir, it seems to me that the Ministry has made up its mind not to recruit any new staff for the vacancies in the various missions by not making any financial provision for the new financial year. Sir, the reduced budget only serves to give those who would like to make foreign service their career the wrong impression that there is no future in joining the foreign service. I wonder whether our foreign services will be weakened by this reduced budget. Sir, the Finance Minister has said in his 1977 Budget Statement that "to safeguard our economic interests, our trade, investment and diplomatic offices will be strengthened in key centres." Sir, how could our diplomatic offices be strengthened by unfilled vacancies and a total decrease of about $2.00 million for the staff and expenses for overseas missions? The Ministry has encountered difficulties in recruiting staff, as the Member for Anson has pointed out, over the years. I want to know whether the Ministry has up till now come up with any plan to solve the recruiting problems and whether our diplomatic offices in the various key centres have been affected by the weakened foreign service and shortage of diplomatic personnel.”
“We should judge hawkers on their individual merits and support those who are able enough to be hawkers. It has been reported that the Social Welfare Department is planning to provide interest-free loans to assist those who need help to operate small businesses. This is a good start. The President pointed out in his speech that "we should not seek to model our lives on Western social mores and their contemporary life-styles." This is a very correct and clear directive. I hope the Government in every field of its administration will try its best to keep and maintain those good but non-Western lifestyles, and endeavour to preserve, within the spirit and bounds of the law, oriental colours that would not obstruct our progress. 4.07 p.m.”
“If the teachers have lost their heads or direction, how can we expect them to be in a position or mood to look after the extra curricular well-being of the students? I hope the Ministry of Education will very soon be able to come out with ways and means to realise educational objectives that have been formulated. Another matter is air pollution which is increasing. With urban renewal and an increase in the number of high-rise flats, factories everywhere and growing congestion in public transport more and more obnoxious gases are emitted which are harmful to health. In the city in particular, the high-rise buildings and flats that line the roads and streets prevent the dispersion of obnoxious gases emitted by buses and other transport vehicles. If this situation persists it will undesirably affect the health of flat dwellers in the city area. In other major metropolis such as Tokyo and Los Angeles, the danger to human health posed by this kind of air pollution has reached disquieting proportions. Just as the Addendum on the Ministry of Environment concludes, "If air pollution is not checked early, its effects, may be irreversible." So I hope the Ministry concerned will take early measures to check pollution. One of the much treasured traditional virtues is that one should on all accounts live by one's hands, The Social Welfare Department and the units in charge of hawkers should be reminded of this virtue. This virtue should not be damaged by their restrictions imposed on the over-sixties. In Singapore where the standard of medical services is good, the opportunity and the ability to make a living do not necessarily stop at 60. Therefore, people of 60 years of age should not necessarily be prohibited from hawking and encouraged to live on welfare aid.”
“" The Government should put this maxim into practice thoroughly in the fields of administration and education. To allow the phenomenon of over-rewarding vis-a-vis actual performance to continue in some semi-official organisations, including higher institutions of learning, is not only a waste of public funds but also, if not checked in time, damaging to the reputation of the Government. Should the Government give these high-salaried perfunctory people who have made no contribution the chance to exist, it will be a mockery to the maxim of "From each according to his ability, to each according to his performance." From the Addendum on the Ministry of Defence, we come to learn that national service will very likely be extended to women. I believe that in a one-man-one-vote equal society where both sexes are equal, the women also have a similar obligation to defend the country. At present, there is no lack of women in the uniformed groups in the schools. I suggest that the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education should jointly recruit these women cadets, after leaving school, into national service or for employment therein. Sir, the Ministry of Education does not seem to have found the correct and effective way to realise the fixed objectives. This can be seen from the unstable administration manifested by the, constant changes in curricula and directives issued every year. Educational directives issued in the morning are only to be changed in the evening, so that teachers become confused, not knowing what to follow, and it is the students who suffer eventually. According to a recent newspaper report, there has been an increase in crime among the students, including girls.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, this Parliament is one in which the Government has got the highest votes and the biggest number of seats ever since 1955. This has come about because of the heightened political consciousness of the voters and their trust in the PAP. But this overwhelming support does not mean that Government departments can do what they like and implement measures unilaterally without a close scrutiny by Parliament. Soon after the results of the general elections were made known, the Minister for Health while commenting on the general elections said that the general elections had shown that from then on the Government would slightly change its practice to allow a wider debate on matters in the House, particularly questions relating to finance and its policy. He also quoted examples, such as the surcharge on PUB bills and the additional road tax on vehicles, which were imposed without a debate in Parliament. At this juncture when there is increasing political awareness among the voters, I hope this kind of incident will not happen again. Otherwise. Backbenchers will be deprived of the opportunity to conscientiously air the opinion of the people in this House. The President, in his speech at the opening of this Parliament, said that "No major policy or legislation should be passed without the closest scrutiny". This would be the new direction for Government practice hereafter. I hope that all Government departments in the administration of policy will abide by this direction and give the Backbenchers sufficient data and time to study and discuss any major policy or legislation. Sir, the Government firmly believes in the maxim "From each according to his ability, to each according to his performance.”
“Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the name of Mr J. F. Conceicao -- (12) That the sum to be allocated for Head V be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead AAA 4001.”
“Sir, do the three states of Indo-China still send trainees to the RELC for training?”
“Sir, I think languages such as Thai and Tagalog of the Philippines should be studied at the Regional Language Centre, if we are really interested in promoting the concept of regionalism.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head V be reduced by $10 in respect of item (d) of subhead AAA 3030 Sir, the South-east Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) is to me an anachronistic organisation. It has been outdated by the new developments in Indo-China. I wonder if the new governments of Indo-China will continue to subscribe to the concept and to contribute to the various centres of SEAMEO. I do not think the programmes and activities of these centres have meaningfully helped member-countries in those fields in which these centres are purposefully engaged. The Regional English Language Centre (RELC) has recently been renamed. The letter "E" in the abbreviation RELC does not stand for "English" any more. This letter "E' now goes with the letter "R" to stand for "Regional". Sir, what does this change imply? I am sure Members in this House would like to know what the Centre has done, with or without the word "English", in helping this country to improve the teaching and learning of English apart from sponsoring the eye-wash type of seminars from time to time. Sir, everyone is complaining about the ever lowering standards of English in our schools from primary to tertiary levels. Has the RELC done anything to help solve the problem of poor English by designing a teaching or learning programme that is relevant to the context of this country? Sir, I would also like to ask the Minister the following questions: (1) Is there any change in the membership of SEAMEO? (2) What monetary contributions have the Indo-Chinese states made hitherto to SEAMEO? (3) What are the breakdown figures of our contribution to the Secretariat and the various centres of SEAMEO? (4) Does RELC intend to introduce new language programmes which are really regional?”
“Sir, could the Minister tell the House how does a cultural organisation qualify for a grant? Could he tell us the criteria? In what manner can an organisation apply for contributions?”
“Sir, the Minister has not answered my question yet.”
“Sir, does the People's Association intend to replace the street wayang with this cultural troupe?”
“Although I am not particularly impressed by his answer, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I do not think the Minister has understood me correctly. I did not ask for free cultural shows. I am querying the attitude of "pay first, show later", I am querying this sort of mentality of the officials of the People's Association. I do not think the Minister has answered another point. I was asking whether he has got plans for zoning or grouping the Chairmen of the various Management Committees together at a monthly meeting. He did not answer that point.”
“Sir, for the Citizens' Consultative Committees, we have this zoning called the District Secretariat to facilitate the meeting of the Chairmen of various CCCs of the neighbouring constituencies so as to get them to know one another, For the Youth group, the People's Association also has the same sort of zoning for grouping leaders of the Youth group from the neighbouring constituencies, But those in between, namely, the members of the Management Committees, do not have this kind of zoning or grouping. Sir, I want to ask the Minister whether he has any plans for this sort of zoning or grouping so that the Chairmen of the Management Committees of neighbouring constituencies can get together once a month or once in a fortnight at the meeting table so as to know one another better.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head Q be reduced by $10 with respect of item (b) of subhead AAA 3020. After listening to the reply given by the Minister to the queries raised by previous speakers, I think I am beginning to understand why the People's Association is so profit-conscious. The People's Association, if I am not mistaken, should be people-orientated, that is, catered to the needs of the people at the ground level. I am not sure that this Association, as it is now, is an association of the people. by the people, but it is definitely not for the people. Sir, I will quote one incident to show why I am so disappointed with the present development of the People's Association. On one occasion, a community leader telephoned an official of the People's Association to confirm an earlier arrangement for a cultural show in connection with a public function to be attended by an MP. The reply from the Association was, "You pay the $300 first, otherwise there will not be any show in the evening." Sir, this kind of attitude prevails not only among the officials in the People's Association but also generally among the staff of the civil service. Sir, if we let this trend of behaviour to go unchecked, I am afraid the People's Association will end up as an association without people or, better, to rename it, the Bureaucrats Association.”
“Sir, the Minister of State has not answered my question on the payment of PUB bills at the Area Offices. Dr Tan Eng Liang: Let me first answer the Member for Delta. The answer is no. The reason is very obvious. In most housing estates we do provide facilities like the Post Office Savings Bank. In some of the estates, like Queenstown, there are also sub-branches of banks. Since they are providing all the facilities, theme is no justification in further loading the Area Office by granting that request. I hope the Member for Potong Pasir could at least appreciate the difficulties of the administrators in implementing certain policies. The Member for Kim Seng has already indicated that the policy of the two-child family concept was enunciated sometime in 1972 or 1973. Frankly, in those cases where there are 10 children in a family, it is totally not applicable. I have indicated that a good administrator uses his discretion and decides on the merits of each case. There is no such thing as saying straightaway that there is a policy or it can be so streamlined that we can say effectively that this is the policy. If the Member can appreciate the administrative difficulties, then he will understand what I have been trying to say, rather than to imply that we are woolly and cloudy.”
“Sir, I have just one question to ask. I want to find out from the Minister whether the HDB will allow its tenants to make payment of PUB bills at the Board's Area offices. At present private commercial banks accept payment of PUB bills from the people, including HDB tenants. If this can be done, why can't the Board allow the HDB Area offices to accept payment of PUB bills by its tenants?”
“Sir, how come there are only 11 missions?”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head M be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead AAA 4003. Sir, I wonder if it is in order for the Ministry to pay the Area Licence Fees for diplomatic missions. Our citizens, even our Ministers, have to pay the fees themselves. The Ministry does not own the cars used by the diplomatic missions and these missions do not work for the Ministry. If a country can afford to have a mission here, it should not have any difficulty in paying the Area Licence Fee. Sir, the Government can exempt these missions from paying the fee if such a payment can be treated as part of the diplomatic immunity. But the provision shown in the Estimates is an indication that the Government does not think so. If the missions are entitled to exemption from such a payment on diplomatic convention, why should the taxpayers' money be used to disburse the missions for such payments? Sir, I would like the House to be informed whether the amount shown in the Estimates is to pay for the Area Licence Fees for cars used by the heads of missions on all cars with a diplomatic number plate.”
“Sir, I am satisfied with the answer given by the Minister of State. I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head M be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead AAA 4001. Sir, in his reply to questions raised by other Members, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs has partly answered my original question without my raising it, But the Minister of State has yet to answer the unanswered parts of my original question and some additional questions which have just come to my mind. These questions are:- 1. What is the total number of ASEAN nationals who have participated in the ASEAN training awards in the past five years? 2. Among those students who have undergone training under the scheme during the past five years, which ASEAN country has topped the list? 3. Is his Ministry prepared to let all Members of this House have a copy of the booklet entitled "ASEAN Training Awards 1976-77", so that Members of the House can be informed of the sort of training programmes that Singapore is awarding to other ASEAN countries? 4. Is Singapore the only ASEAN member country that provides such awards?”
“(5) That the sum to be allocated for Head M be reduced by $10 in respect of item le) of subhead AAA 3030.”