Yeoh Ghim Seng
Singapore
“Thus, without any prospect of monetary gain, I can say that this Bill is a sensible one. However, I am inclined to agree with the Member for Bras Basah that the proposed pension for Members of Parliament would appear to be rather inadequate, because by the time a Member of Parliament reaches the age of 50 -and I can see from a look at Mem…”
“I take it that when the Minister talked of this fundamental right of women, he was only confining his remarks to our citizens. Yet in clause 5 (8) of the Bill, our female citizens residing outside Singapore will not be entitled to this fundamental right to have an abortion.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I know that there are many advantages in having ships registered in Singapore. But what worries me is what will happen in case of accidents, say leakage of oil from a tanker registered in Singapore? Is the Government of Singapore responsible for such incidents?”
“May I know if it is the usual custom for other countries to have a clause similar to clause 6 of the Bill? Mr P. Selvadurai: Mr Speaker, Sir, while I would welcome this Bill, clause 6 is a bit difficult because it tends to expropriate property rights.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, with the exception of those people of the Muslim faith, what will happen to our citizens born out of wedlock and whose parents do not subsequently get married? Are they going to be labelled for the rest of their lives as bastards? Or will they be ordinary citizens of ours and not have the stigma of bastards?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the point I am getting at is, what will happen to our citizens whose parents were never married? Will they carry on for the rest of their lives as illegitimate citizens of this country in the eyes of the law, and what happens when they hold passports, and so on?”
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“Thus, without any prospect of monetary gain, I can say that this Bill is a sensible one. However, I am inclined to agree with the Member for Bras Basah that the proposed pension for Members of Parliament would appear to be rather inadequate, because by the time a Member of Parliament reaches the age of 50 -and I can see from a look at Members in this House that some of them will not take a long time to reach the age of 50 - I am doubtful how much his pension will be worth. If a Member of Parliament can serve ten years, he will get only about $200. I agree with the Member for Anson that if the figure of ten years' service is put down, it is very doubtful if a third of the Members of this House will qualify for such a pension. 3.12 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not belong to the second echelon leadership and it is doubtful if I would qualify for pension as a Member of Parliament because I am already rather an old man in this House. An hon. Member: The Member has no grey hairs!”
“If this is so amended, then the Bill may be more acceptable in its title as it will indicate what it is really meant to be, that is, legalised abortion will be allowed only for medical, legal and socio-economic reasons and not on demand. 3.20 p.m.”
“I suspect the Minister and his advisers have a lot of qualms about recommending legalised abortion. Otherwise, why are there so many restrictive clauses? This Bill will not eradicate our back-alley abortionists who will still create all the horrifying complications so clearly illustrated by the Minister. Sir, much reference has been made in this House to the medical practitioners. I am not going to make excuses for them nor am I going to explain the reasons for any divergent views held by some of them. The medical profession is noble enough to weather any storm, political or otherwise. Let me, however, point out that medical practitioners are not economists and thus do not have the vision or perhaps the acquired ability to visualise the socioeconomic reasons for abortion. As citizens, a great majority of them will appreciate the humanitarian reasons for legalised abortion. Like the rest of the citizens, there is a minority among them who are beset by religious scruples and this has been the bane of the Minister for Health's life. Surely this minority of medical practitioners are free to express their views on abortion. I respect their views and I hope the Minister for Health will do likewise. Sir, if abortion is legalised it will be the medical practitioners who will be doing the operation and not the politicians. Thus, I feel it is completely justified for my medical colleagues to air their opinions on a step which they will be taking, a step that is so completely radical to what they are ac customed to. Finally, I have the feeling that no matter what we say, this Bill will be accepted in toto by the House. If this is going to be so, then may I suggest amending the title of this Bill to read "Abortion (Restrictive) Bill".”
“I take it that when the Minister talked of this fundamental right of women, he was only confining his remarks to our citizens. Yet in clause 5 (8) of the Bill, our female citizens residing outside Singapore will not be entitled to this fundamental right to have an abortion. This is also applicable to wives of citizens who happen to reside abroad at the time of unwanted pregnancies. Sir, last year when the Minister for Health spoke of liberalising the law on abortion as a complement to family planning, I said to myself, "Here is a daring, outspoken and most up-to-date Minister." I thought he was going to introduce an Abortion Bill that will be an all-out Abortion Bill. Alas this is not so. An hon. Member: Half-hearted!”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, my auditory receptors have been subjected to so much convincing oration in the past two days that I have almost become converted to the idea that an Abortion Bill is urgently required in Singapore. The macabre description given by the Minister for Health of the harms inflicted on some of our women folk by back-alley abortionists, and the soul-searching communication by the Minister for Communications make me wonder if this Abortion Bill, as it stands, would be sufficient to meet the needs of thousands of women requiring medical termination of unwanted pregnancies. Will the Bill, as it is, eradicate the parasites in the medical world who thrive on the miseries and anxieties of women wanting abortions? Will this Bill, with its restrictive clauses, permit pregnant women openly to seek medical attention? I have the suspicion that this is not going to be the case. A woman with an unwanted pregnancy is usually a desperate woman. She wants the pregnancy aborted as soon as possible. Do you really think, Mr Speaker, Sir, that she will have the patience to wait for her case to be reviewed by an Authorisation Board? And how long will it take the members of this Board to decide on such a case if the Board is snowed under with hundreds of applications per week? She would surely find some back-alley abortionist to do the job for her as this can be done on the same day of her visit. [Mr Lim Cheng Lock temporarily in the Chair] 3.12 p.m. If, as the Minister for Health has stated, it is the fundamental right of a woman to decide when she is going to have her babies, obviously the Bill is not liberal enough. If the Minister is sincere on this fundamental right, then abortion on demand is definitely indicated and should be legalised.”
“Sir, I am thinking in terms of musical films of any kind for T.V.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, if we have clause 6, I am afraid one day the result will be such that even the poorest type of films or musical shows of any kind will not be obtainable for Radio and T.V. Singapura.”
“May I know if it is the usual custom for other countries to have a clause similar to clause 6 of the Bill? Mr P. Selvadurai: Mr Speaker, Sir, while I would welcome this Bill, clause 6 is a bit difficult because it tends to expropriate property rights. In order to justify this clause, I would like to know how much Government proposes to save by validating its action in recording these materials.”
“Sir, another point which I have in mind is this. Can illegitimate children who subsequently grow up become Ministers of State or Ministers?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the point I am getting at is, what will happen to our citizens whose parents were never married? Will they carry on for the rest of their lives as illegitimate citizens of this country in the eyes of the law, and what happens when they hold passports, and so on?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, with the exception of those people of the Muslim faith, what will happen to our citizens born out of wedlock and whose parents do not subsequently get married? Are they going to be labelled for the rest of their lives as bastards? Or will they be ordinary citizens of ours and not have the stigma of bastards?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I know that there are many advantages in having ships registered in Singapore. But what worries me is what will happen in case of accidents, say leakage of oil from a tanker registered in Singapore? Is the Government of Singapore responsible for such incidents? Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Sir, I think this is a question which is exercising the minds of legal experts the world over. So I would hesitate to try to be one up on them. It is not wise to anticipate too many obstacles and problems so that you do nothing. First, I think we should get more ships registered with us and then think of the consequences, if any, later. Question put, and agreed to. Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House. The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill.- [Mr Yong Nyuk Lin]. Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed. LEGITIMACY (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 3.55 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Parliamentary Secretary the reason for building a swimming pool at such a centre.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, arising from what the Minister has just said, I take it that the Junior College will not be the only one in Singapore. Perhaps there are plans to build others elsewhere?”
“They have been so neglected that unless some measures are taken to clean them up, none of us will be proud of them. Can some measures be taken to have them cemented so that they will become playgrounds for our thousands of children who live in the houses flanking them? The Member for Serangoon Gardens says that this Bill is harsh. In my opinion, Sir, the Bill should be harsher. It is only by being harsh that our citizens will realise the necessity for a cleaner and healthier Singapore. I am sure through the efforts of a very determined Minister for Health and also equally determined members of his staff, Singapore will be healthier and cleaner in the years to come. 9.00p.m.”
“Sir, I can only speak as the Member for Joo Chiat. Jon Chiat constituency is a relatively clean area compared with many other areas. But there are a number of black spots. These are the kampongs and back-lanes. The properties in the kampongs are mainly privately owned and are not very healthy due to the presence of the cesspools there. A lack of proper drainage has caused these cesspools to be formed. They are thus found in the low-lying areas of these kampongs. Not unnaturally, mosquitoes and flies thrive, leading to a mosquito or fly "population explosion". I am afraid the owners of the properties in these kampongs are not particularly susceptible to verbal or polite requests to construct proper drainage systems for their properties. Sir, clause 76 of the Bill will undoubtediy go far towards improving the hygienic and health standards of the dwellers in these kampongs and also in the surrounding areas when proper drainage is enforced. Back-lanes are also one of my headaches. Back-lanes were originally used for night-soil collection and perhaps even for fire escape purposes. Today, with the introduction of a modern sewerage system in Joo Chiat, the back-lanes have been neglected by the health authorities and are slowly but surely reverting to miniature lalang jungles. This is not a tribute to Singapore as a garden city. The inhabitants of the houses flanking these back-lanes are also contributing to their deterioration by using them as dumping grounds. Admittedly, Sir, the "Keep Singapore Clean" campaign did help clean up this place a bit. But this is not good enough because nowhere in the Bill, no matter how harsh it is, can I see any constructive proposals to do something to these neglected back-lanes.”
“Sir, I am still not satisfied with the explanation on the lower basic salary of the home-based officer.”
“On a point of clarification, Sir. Why should the post be down-graded just because the appointee is recruited from Singapore? Inche Rahim Ishak: Sir, that is a very intelligent question. As the hon. Member for Mountbatten has pointed out, there is an increase in the salary, and yet I have mentioned that the post has been down-graded and apparently the salary is less. The incumbent, who is the present Trade Commissioner in London and is not home-based - he was recruited in London - receives all kinds of other allowances. Whereas the home-based Counsellor who will be appointed in his place next year will, of course, be entitled to overseas cost of living allowance, overseas allowances for wife, children, etc. That is why in the Estimates it is reflected as an increase, but the basic salary is lower. I hope that explanation satisfies both the Members for Joo Chiat and Mountbatten.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The Chairman: Mr Ng Yeow Chong, amendment No. (3) +. It might be convenient for you just to move amendment (3) . In the debate you can range over amendment (4) *. They both provide for commercial diplomatic officers. * Amendment (4) reads as follows: That the sum to be allocated for Head 0501 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1061.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 0501 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1052. In the estimates of expenditure for the years 1967 and 1968, one could know at a glance what we were paying our hard-working Ambassadors and High Commissioners. For the estimates of expenditure for the financial year 1969 and the first quarter of 1970, the salaries for the five Ambassadors, Grade 111, have been lumped together in one sum. Why must the salaries for these Ambassadors be grouped together? Is it to hide any disparity in the salary scheme for the Ambassadors who are all Grade III? Is this to prevent any embarrassment among the Grade III Ambassadors, as this must have been done when we see the estimates of expenditure for the financial year 1968? One Grade III Ambassador was stated to draw a salary of $27,240 per annum as compared to the rest of the Ambassadors, Grade III, who were drawing $20,040 per annum each. I would like the Minister to clarify this point for me, Sir.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to touch on the subhead relating to the salaries of Ministers. Unless somebody says something now, our Ministers will be getting $2,000 a month a hundred years from now! I realise that it will take some time to change the thinking in Government service, but getting the best at the cheapest rate is a clever scheme. This kind of thinking is probably inherited from the colonial past and has led to some unnecessary exploitation of our talents. Is it therefore surprising that we are having a brain drain from the Government service to the private sector and also to other countries? Take, for example, the salary of the Minister for Finance. His salary is formulated on civil service emoluments of 1955 and I think it is very much out of date and unrealistic in relation to his status and to the work he has to do and even to the rise in the cost of living. I am sure the House will agree with me that we can easily afford to pay our Ministers more. I suggest, therefore, that their salary scales should be reviewed and revised. Some hon. Members: Hear, hear!”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, can the Minister tell the House what steps have been taken to allow the free flow of water from the two large drains in the Joo Chiat area to the sea during and after the reclamation of the foreshore of Joo Chiat?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, in rising in support of this Bill I have two queries to make. (1) How is the Ministry going to destroy fleas by not destroying rats? (2) Why is it that cockroaches are not included in the Bill? Sir, as the Minister has rightly pointed out, fleas, if infected, can cause plague and I can see no way of getting rid of fleas by means of insecticides unless rats are destroyed at the same time. I was hoping that the Minister was going to tell us of a "get rid of rats campaign" in Singapore. I hope he will do that. As regards cockroaches, they are, as everyone knows, scavengers among the insect world and may easily be disease-bearing insects. I understand in certain medical quarters, cockroaches might be considered to be carriers of viral hepatitis. Everyone knows that viral hepatitis is quite a fatal disease. I gather from the Ministry of Health statistics that there were 700 cases of hepatitis last year of which 47 were fatal. I hope the Minister will find ways and means of telling us how he is going to destroy cockroaches in Singapore. 7.01 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I was hoping that the Minister may be able to clarify the position of pharmacists being on the "non-professional" salary scale, because in my opinion I think they are, in fact, professional men.”
“It is on page 48, **paragraphs 141 and 142. ** The paragraphs read as follows: '141. The Association in their representation proposed that Pharmacists should be' included in the Scheme of Service for Professional Officers. They proposed that Medical Officers, Dental Officers and Pharmaceutical Officers should all be emplaced on a, common Professional Timescale but Pharmaceutical Officers should enter the proposed Timescale at a lower point of entry. We have given consideration to this proposal but do not support the suggestion since we do not feel that a case was made out for giving Pharmaceutical Officers parity of treatment with Medical and Dental Officers and other officers in the profession, e.g., Legal, Engineering, Architecture, etc. 142. We recommend that Pharmacists should continue to be emplaced on the non-professional salary scale.'”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the pharmacists in this country are not particularly happy because they have not been classed as a professional group. Perhaps the Minister may be able to clarify this point? Dr Goh Keng Swee: The responsibility of keeping everybody happy is not really mine. If the hon. Member can refer to the paragraph containing the recommendation of the Commission on this grade, perhaps I may be able to venture an opinion.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as the only medical Member in this House, although seemingly incognito, and as a member of a profession that requires no advertisments, I cannot resist the temptation to say a few words on this amendment Bill. The original Ordinance has been in existence for some years, but somehow it has proved to be inadequate. It has too many loopholes, and all sorts of savoury and Un savoury advertisments on medicines and so-called professional skills are able to find their way into the newspapers, to the profit of the advertisers. Such fanfare is not worthy of detailed mention in this House or even to fall on the ears of hon. Members. Suffice it for me to say that the advertisers are either gods or fakes in what they so blantantly claim to be able to do. Illnesses of any description, fatal or otherwise, are practically guaranteed to be cured. Appetite, digestive or reproductive, can be improved, increased and strengthened. I presume, Mr Speaker, Sir, looking at such advertisements in some of the daily papers, one must have the impression that the advertisers are either leading the readers up the garden path or they are trying to promise them elixirs of life. Most of our citizens must surely have developed a sufficient degree of sophistication to ignore or laugh at such medical claims. Unfortunately, quite a number of our citizens happen to be gullible enough to swallow these advertisements, hook, line and sinker, and put their hard-earned wages and even their lives into the hands of these smart manipulators. It is therefore time for the Ministry of Health to plug up any loophole in the existing Ordinance. The amendment Bill seems to me to be doing just this. I therefore support it. 6.54 p.m.”
“Why must the landowners or property owners be at the losing end all along the way? The Bill expects these owners to develop the properties out of their own funds. I do hope, therefore, that the Tenants' Compensation Board, when formed, will bear in mind the loss of reasonable income by the owners for many years. The amount of compensation calculated must be based more on what the owners can do in the development of Singapore than on what the tenants hope to extract from society. If compensation is to be paid to a principal tenant who has sublet the house to others, then this compensation should also be proportionately parcelled out to the sub-tenants. Sir, I see in clause 7, sub-clause (1) (a), (b) and (c) , that a minimum compensation is stressed in relationship to controlled premises. Surely if stress is made on a minimum compensation, it would be equally fair if a possible maximum compensation is also stressed so as to cut down demands to a sensible amount. Otherwise, where is the limit to demands by unreasonable tenants? May I ask the Minister why only certain areas will be designated? How are these areas to be earmarked? Is it by reason of the age of the areas, congestion, squalid conditions, ugliness or tourist attractions? If these are the reasons, then practically the whole city of Singapore must be designated for re-development. 4.28 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir,I have no doubt that this Bill has a lot of salient points in its favour, and most of the landowners who genuinely believe in development of their properties must hail this as one step forward in the development of Singapore. Personally, I believe such a Bill has long been overdue. However, I understand that it is better late than never. The P.A.P. Government has managed in a relatively short space of time to re-house a fifth of our population in modern housing estates, and I am sure this is quite a record in the world. Yet a good number of our people are still living in congested squalor in many of the privately-owned residential premises or even shophouses in many parts of our city. I understand most of these residential premises are leased to tenants, many of whom exploit the shortage of accommodation by sub-letting as much space as is humanly possible to other tenants. These sub-tenants are thus compelled to live in almost sub-human conditions and surroundings. These houses are therefore a constant risk to human lives in terms both of health and fire. Sir, I am as sorry for these sub-tenants as for the owners of such properties. They are victims of the Control of Rent Ordinance. The law protects the principal tenants from eviction and an increase in rents. The proposed Bill, although very commendable, may yet prove to be a boom to the principal tenants. So far, these persons have enjoyed very low rentals and thus saved a fortune. Many of them have acquired another fortune by subletting to as many persons as possible. Now these principal tenants have the prospects of getting a third fortune, namely, compensation for vacating their rented premises. Surely there must be a limit to so much good fortune being given to these principal tenants.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill and I would like to say a few words on the new Article IA. Singapore is an independent country and, as such, has acquired a lot of pomp and ceremony. And with this, naturally, a lot of protocol. In the past two years or more, it has become apparent to even the least alert of our citizens that the duties of our President have been more than one man can shoulder, no matter how fit he may be. A Vice-President will therefore be a useful person to have to share or undertake some or all of the presidential duties. I am glad to hear from the Minister that the proposed office of Vice-President will not necessarily be a full-time appointment. This provision will therefore allow a wider choice of a suitable person. However, I cannot see how the Cabinet can come to the conclusion that the appointment should be for a maximum period of three years. I think three years is rather too short a time. It is so short that before the new Vice-President can get to know his job and its finer points, he will relinquish his job and a new person could be appointed.. I feel that a five-year term will be a more reasonable appointment. 3.58 p.m.”
“Not Joo Chiat. Mr Speaker, Sir, surely it is time that the appropriate Minister should see to it that the purpose of widening our main arterial roads is not to provide parking bays for cars and lorries for some of our citizens, but for the smoother and safer flow of the ever-increasing traffic on our roads. Mr Speaker, Sir, finally I would like to make some remarks on off-shore fishing. I feel that the encouragement of off-shore fishing is very commendable, but I wish that the Ministry of National Development will see to it that the owners of abandoned kelongs be legislated to remove stakes and dismantle structures from discarded kelongs. We want to beautify our islands, but the presence of such unsightly and dangerous stakes surely spoils the off-shore silhouette. 2.43 p.m.”
“I would also like to point out that such a stadium can earn money, because when it is used as a venue for the training of players and for international badminton tournaments, money can be collected for the use of such a stadium. Mr Speaker, Sir, I would now like to make a few comments on the widening of the main arterial roads and the development of dual carriageways. I am sure the House will agree with me that the Public Works Department has done an excellent job on these roads and everyone who uses them can have nothing but a lot of praise for the P.W.D. However, I am not too happy to see these beautiful highways cluttered up with rows of parked vehicles. Such a display of lack of civic consciousness can easily be seen in Queenstown or Paya Lebar, for example. An hon. Member: Or Joo Chiat.”
“- any such difficulty encountered will be overcome. I would, therefore, like to suggest to the Minister for Education to give my idea some consideration and to adopt it for all ethnic schools in the course of time. Mr Speaker, Sir, having dealt with children in ethnic schools, I would like to say that I agree with the proposal that greater emphasis on sports should be given by the Ministry of Social Affairs. However, I note with some disturbance the neglect of one of the most popular forms of sports in this country, namely, badminton. Not so many years ago, we in Singapore could boast of a number of leading world badminton players, but today we cannot even find a youngster in our midst who can be ranked among the first ten leading badminton players in the world. We have ample talents in Singapore, but we do not provide suitable facilities for them to develop and grow. The few indoor badminton courts available are so humid and torrid that no amount of practice among the players can improve their standard, as they are exhausted long before they can bring out their very best in the game. Therefore, I do hope that the organisers of and planners for the National Sports Stadium Complex will bear in mind that badminton is one of the very few sports that can produce for us world champions. It is obvious to me that an air-conditioned badminton stadium must be included in this sports complex. I will not accept the excuse that such a stadium will cost too much money. If we are going to spend $50 million, an extra expenditure of another million dollars or so should not prevent the building of such an air-conditioned badminton stadium.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am sure that all thinking and loyal citizens will not disapprove of my suggestion that the present system of any schools for ethnic groups be abolished sooner or later if we are to achieve 100 per cent unity among our multi-racial society. The integration of races in the schools is the best way to start educating our young citizens to the realisation that they are all Singaporeans and therefore equal citizens. It always saddens me to go past a school specifically run for a particular ethnic group. What better way can one have of isolating one race from another than by the presence of such schools? Is it not more logical in terms of nation-building to have every school open its door to our children of all ethnic groups? Then these young citizens will grow up to know, respect and assimilate each other's way of life and thoughts. Mr Speaker, Sir, please do not think that my suggestion means that the abolition of any one of our four languages will be in sight. In fact, my own feeling is that all our children can still be sbrought up to become at least bilingual school-leavers as they can still study mathematics, science and technology in the medium of English and the humanities through one of the other languages. I realise that this integration may take a bug time to implement, but knowing the efficiency and dedication of the staff of the Ministry of Education -”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I know it is rather difficult to use certain terms and words. But these two words "female workmen" really offend me. I cannot, for the life of me, understand why our workmen should become females. Why cannot we use better terms like "female labourers", "female employees" or "female workers", rather than "female workmen"?”
“Sir, I am still concerned about the possible injury to pupils of Raffles Institution. Can the Minister tell us whether the damaged parts of Raffles Institution have been repaired before the school reopens next year?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I see that the vote for the reconstruction of Raffles Institution is only $10 for works and buildings. I understand part of the school is now falling to pieces. Surely something must be done in case of any possible accidents to the pupils there.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am glad that some form of appeal will be launched sometime in the near future, so that the various alumni of our University will make sure that our University will be an institution of some greatness in the form of a Great Hall. With that, Sir, I beg to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. 3.15 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 20 be reduced by $10 in respect of item (001) of subhead 301. Mr Speaker, Sir, I know that the University has essentially all the basic requirements to teach the various academic subjects leading to the degrees conferred by her. These, to my mind, are not enough to grace the dignity of this queen of higher education. What she really needs to crown her glory is a University Hall that will have enough space to cater for the annual convocations, act as an examination hall, and be utilised as an indoor stadium for badminton and other indoor sporting activities. It is, therefore, a crying shame that this institution, with an associated history of providing higher education for some 60 years, has yet to be provided with the necessary funds to build such a hail, whereas junior institutions such as secondary schools and vocational institutes can boast of such facilities. Will the Minister for Education, who is an old boy of the University, reconsider with some sympathy the urgent need for this so-called Great Hall of the University?”
“(2) That the sum to be allocated for Head 0701 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 3001.”
“Sir, I am satisfied with the Minister's explanation, and therefore I withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. 3.45 p.m.”
“This surely is a very small number in the health service which covers the whole of our island. Is it not possible for the Minister for Health to consider increasing the number of pharmacists employed and thus reduce the tension of anxiety and frustration among the graduates in pharmacy?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head 0701 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1301. Mr Speaker, Sir, for some time now a storm has been brewing in the rather sedate atmosphere of the medical and pharmaceutical world. Dark and thundery clouds have threatened to blacken this shining and friendly skyline and claps of rumbling discontent have echoed occasionally through the columns of our daily newspaper. I see that my colleague, the hon. Member for Tampines, has been exposed to some of these outbursts and has, with great dexterity, managed to dodge the scathing and sarcastic bolts from the pestle and mortar of the pharmaceutical colleagues. This eternal and purely locally peculiar dispute of our qualified pharmacists is in many ways understandable as being suitably trained in the art of pharmacy. They feel they should inherit the useful and sometimes mystifying world of drugs and dispensing. I, as a medical man, do not begrudge them their rights of dealing with drugs. I am rather sad to see so much encouragement has been given to the idea of producing as many pharmacists as possible from our University without one iota of thought being given to the consequences if the markets for qualified pharmacists in Singapore should become saturated. Mr Speaker, Sir, judging from this dispute, I feel our small island has probably reached this saturation point so that our qualified pharmacists are now feeling the pinch of not being able to find enough jobs to justify their position in our society. Something should therefore be done to absorb this surplus, and I feel the Ministry of Health should be able to do this. I note that only 35 pharmacists are in the employment of the Ministry.”
“Is it customary to give a scholar more than one scholarship? Would it not be better to distribute the scholarships around so that more students will benefit?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, we pride ourselves in this country on our President's scholars, as they represent the cream of our schools and thus of our youths. These scholars are sent abroad as junior ambassadors and are therefore sent with a lot of fanfare and with the country's blessings. For the past few years, Mr Speaker, Sir, the number of school children enrolling in schools must have increased tremendously and, therefore, I would have expected a wider selection of first-class pupils for the coveted and signal honour of being President's scholars. At least, Sir, one would have expected the number of such scholarships to remain the same annually. Yet I see that the 1968 vote has been cut from the 1967 vote of $143,000 to $110,000. Surely, the Public Service Commission or the Prime Minister cannot tell this House that our pupils are deteriorating in their mental capacity. If not, why has there been such a drastic cut in the President's Scholarships vote? Surely such a cut is not very encouraging to our students in the schools because they have been trying their best to gain the honour of being the President's scholars. So, Mr Speaker, Sir, I hope the Prime Minister will reconsider the estimated amount for the vote so that the number of President's scholars for 1968 will remain at least the same as for 1967.”
“Can the Minister say whether the reclamation of the sea-bed opposite the Golden Mile will affect the popularity and demand of the Golden Mile?”
“What happens if human lives are also damaged?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to know who will be responsible to the Board in the event of possible structural damage to flats? Does the sum of $2.7 million exonerate Gammon from future liabilities?”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker, Sir. The Western-trained doctors do not advertise. According to the hon. Member for Delta, they have been advertising. No cases have been reported to the Medical Council about Western-trained doctors advertising. I wish the hon. Member will withdraw the remark. Madam Chan Choy Siong(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, I did not refer to the doctors themselves as individuals. I referred to the pharmacists and the druggists who advertise extensively in the newspapers about the efficacy of their medicine. I think this should also be controlled. I did not refer to the medical profession as such.”