Yong Nyuk Lin
Singapore
“Sir, it gives mc a chance to say again that the modified plan cannot be accepted at this stage. But it does give me the opportunity to answer another point which was raised by the Member for Ton Payoh and which I have missed in my answer, i.e, that the fringe area car parks would not be utilized at night.”
“I am sorry, Sir, for failing to answer all the questions raised by the Member for Sembawang. As regards the full implementation of the recommendations of the White Paper which was meant to be completed by the middle of 1973, I can only say that it was not a 100% implementation of all the recommendations.”
“He said that they threw the mail on the floor. Here again, unless a complaint is lodged, we can do little about it because all postmen and postwomen are being told how to behave and to extend courtesy, and what the correct procedure is and methods of delivery of mail.”
“" And if, God forbid, priority national needs should one day call for a limitation of circulation of automobiles or any other measure, no one would then regard it as an intolerable sacrifice. "For in a society where humanism regains fully its rights, the automobile should not constitute an end in itself," Mr Graber said.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, it is regrettably true that after many of the estimates for Paya Lebar Airport had been voted, revotes had to be asked for. The reason is that it has taken a long time to get all these development proposals started. They are development proposals really, Sir, and plans have got to be drawn and checked.”
“In these circumstances, I hope it will be appreciated that they are stretching themselves far and wide, and there is always a limit to what a human being can do I can assure him that we will continue to enforce the regulations as far as it is humanly possible before getting a complaint from the Member for Sembawang who says that our enfor…”
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“Mr Speaker, Sir, I find it a little difficult to answer the sweeping statement made by the Member for Havelock that it is the general experience of most people who arrive at Paya Lebar International Airport that the handling of luggage is on the slow side - as long as 45 minutes by conveyor belt. I think this can happen even at the best of airports. Sometimes, a passenger arrives at Airport A and finds that he will not get his luggage because it has gone to Airport B. It will then not be delayed for 45 minutes but 45 days! I believe one of our Members of Parliament found that he had no luggage when he arrived in New York and he was recompensed. Later on, he did get his luggage after having been recompensed by the airline company concerned. So unless the Member for Havelock is able to give me specific instances, it will be very difficult not only for me but also for the department to try to investigate the problem and deal with it. But I will accept his statement that it is possible that these incidents have taken place and that it should be our endeavour to give satisfactory service, not only because tourists are coming to Singapore, but because this service is also expected of any airport or airline company. May I, first of all, say that at the present moment certain airlines are responsible for the handling of their own luggage and that other airlines have asked the Department of Civil Aviation to handle their luggage for a fee. So if it is possible for the Member for Havelock to state which particular airline was at fault, then we can dig into the matter. I see that he is on the point of giving me certain information, so I will sit down for him to clarify.”
“I believe there is a move afoot which will help to resolve this problem, although what it is I am not in a position to disclose today. 6.30 p.m. I think the Member for Sembawang has criticised the collection of licence fees and so on in the Registry of Vehicles. There is congestion in Middle Road where the Registry has to deal with hundreds of thousands of licence holders. It has been stated in this House that we shall be decentralising the collection of licence fees for next year by making use of the 40 odd post offices which are found throughout the island. We shall also be using an electric computer for this purpose. We do hope to see an improvement in the situation next year. The problem of pirate taxis has again cropped up, and mention has been made of the Car Parks Division using more and more public roads for the purposes of car parks and the collection of fees thereon. The problem of pirate taxis, however, comes within the province of the Ministry of Defence which is in charge of the Traffic Police. The Car Parks Division comes under the Ministry of National Development. I think the Member for Sembawang ended his speech with quite a good suggestion that the Traffic Police and the Car Parks Division should be transferred to the Ministry of Communications. I am very grateful for this suggestion, but I prefer not to be saddled with more departments than I can handle. It is true that it will be easier if both the departments are consolidated into one. However, I think it is a suggestion which can be considered by the two Ministers concerned rather than for me to agree with it. I would prefer that they keep those departments to themselves.”
“At the present moment, I am afraid I am not able to say more than this, because the Minister for Finance is looking into the economic implications of such a proposal. As regards the Transport Advisory Board, it was formed in August 1968. The Chairman of the Board is my Parliamentary Secretary. I believe an interim report has been prepared, but I have not received it and I am again not in a position to inform the Member for Sembawang what those recommendations would be. Perhaps it will be possible to do so at the next sitting of Parliament and I hope that after the festive season we will be able to settle down to study seriously the proposals. I agree with the Member that the number of accidents and deaths which occur on the roads in Singapore is on the high side, although there is a National Safety First Council which is fairly active, having instituted a number of road safety campaigns. It will be remembered that a few days ago the Member for Katong did raise the same question and I indicated that the Ministry of Communications would institute a sustained campaign for road safety next year. The Member for Sembawang then went on to deal with the problem of public transport in Singapore and mentioned that there is indeed a tremendous shortage of public service vehicles. Here again, I would not like to anticipate what the Transport Advisory Board will recommend, but I can endorse what the Member said, that there is a shortage of such public service vehicles. I understand that bus companies have placed an order for 150 new buses which they hope to put on the road by next year. As for taxis, there are, at present, 3,800 taxis and not 4,000 taxis as stated by the Member. This comes again within the terms of reference of the Transport Advisory Board.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, it is rather embarrassing to answer what I would say the kudos that has been given to me, whereas it is actually my other Ministerial colleagues who have been responsible for the good work that has been mentioned by the Member for Sembawang. I would like to draw his attention to the fact that if he sees new roads and extensions being made, new ped~strian crossings being marked out, and new flyovers being built, the credit for these projects is rightly due to my colleague, the Minister for National Development. I do not therefore wish to take credit for them all. The Member for Sembawang covered considerable ground in his speech -some of his remarks are for and some are against my Ministry - and he ended up by making certain suggestions. Sir, may I touch upon the points raised by the Member? The decision to appoint two advisers from London to survey the possibility of mass transit for Singapore had been taken before I assumed' office in the Ministry of Communications. Unfortunately, this report is, at the moment, still confidential. The Government is studying the impact of their proposal which recommends that Singapore should consider the possibility of what is known as an underground transport service in Singapore. This matter has got to be studied because of the financial implications. I will not disclose the exact figures, but it is more than a few hundred million dollars. This means that I will be competing with my colleague, the Minister for Defence, who requires over $300 million per annum. So I do not think Singapore, at this stage, is in a position to consider such a proposal, but we are studying the various aspects of this problem.”
“Inche Rahmat Bin Kenap asked the Minister for Social Affairs whether he is aware that there are persons who are instigating members of the Muslim community to oppose the Administration of Muslim Law (Fitrah) Rules, 1968, and what action he has taken or proposes to take in the matter. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Affairs (Inche Buang Bin Omar Junid) (for the Minister for Social Affairs)(In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir,I have been asked by the Minister to reply. No complaints have been received by the Ministry of Social Affairs that there are persons instigating mem bers of the Muslim community to oppose the Administration of Muslim Law (Fitrah) Rules, 1968. Should there be such persons, there is provision under Rule 13 (3) of the Fitrah Rules to deal with them. Rule 13 (3) states as follows: 'Any person who obstructs, prevents or restrains or does any act likely to obstruct, prevent or restrain any person from paying fitrah under these Rules and any person who without lawful authority receives any fitrah from any person, shall be guilty of an offence under these Rules and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.' CRECHES (Extension of services) The following Question stood in the name of Madam Chan Choy Siong --- 13. To ask the Minister for Social Affairs whether he will consider extending the services of creches till late evening to enable working women to have more time for participation in community activities.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, investigations, unfortunately, do indicate that the increasing oil pollution of the sea-waters around Singapore is related to the increase in the number of ships calling here, in view of the almost universal use of oil as fuel for ships. For the month of November 1968, the average daily number of ships anchored in the Port of Singapore was over 200. Oil pollution arises in the following ways: (1) From accumulated accidental spillage, particularly during bunker operations, which can reach large proportions, and it is difficult to control such offences, as offenders must be caught in the act. (2) Oil which has been discharged by ships outside our territorial waters and is then carried into Singapore shores, by the action of the wind and tide. (3) Damaged ships, leaking oil, which come to Singapore for repairs. (4) Oil refineries (we have quite a number of them around), and (5) Ship repair yards. They make the money, hut also pollute our shores. Officers of the Port of Singapore Authority do carry out sea patrols, in the course of which a watch is being kept for cases of oil pollution. Helicopter pilots of the Royal Air Force also co-operate by reporting any incident they observe. Prior to September 1968, only warnings were given to the offenders. Since then however, seven summonses have been issued against offenders, two of which have resulted in court fines of $75 each, while the other five cases are still pending. Finally, the Port of Singapore Authority is also constructing a special vessel to skim floating oil from the surface of the sea. ADMINISTRATION OF MUSLIM LAW (FITRAH) RULES, 1968 (Action against instigators of opposition to) 12.”
“And the hangar is scheduled for completion by the end of January 1969, i.e., two months from now; (v) A new High Capacity Foam Tender has been ordered and is due for delivery in 1969; (vi) Land has been acquired and a site prepared for the installation of approach lighting for the extended runway. Finally, a firm of consultants have also been appointed from the United Kingdom under the Colombo Plan, namely, Messrs. Scott Wilson Kirkpatrick & Partners, to conduct a survey and prepare a detailed Master Plan for the development of our International Airport, in phases up to 1990. OIL POLLUTION OF SEA-WATERS AROUND SINGAPORE 11. Mr Lim Soo Peng asked the Minister for Communications whether investigations indicate that oil pollution of the sea-waters around Singapore is to a great extent caused by oil tankers and other ships; and, with the increase in the number of such vessels calling at Singapore, what steps have been or will be taken to minimise such oil pollution and make more beaches, free of oil pollution, available to the public.”
“May I begin my reply to the Member for Serangoon Gardens by stating that although Paya Lebar International Airport is already a major international civil aviation centre in this part of the world, yet every effort is being made to maintain and develop our airport to keep pace with the fast changing modern developments in aviation today. The following projects have already been completed: (i) The air-conditioning of the arrivals block in our Passenger Terminal Building; (ii) The redevelopment of an existing hangar to accommodate Boeing 707 aircraft of Malaysia-Singapore Airlines, of which there are three in number at present. (iii) The construction of eight additional new airline offices; (iv) The construction of a new car park to accommodate an additional 200 cars, making a total of 380 parking stands, not for free but for a charge; (v) The installation of an Airfield Location Beacon. The following projects are now in progress: (i) The extension of the existing runway from the present 9,000 feet to 11,000 feet to cater for the larger types of aircraft that will be put into service through Singapore in the near future. In addition, there is re-surfacing of the entire length of the runway to strengthen it for heavier aircraft like the Boeing 747 (better known as the Jumbo jet). This project is scheduled for completion by the middle of next year. (ii) Installation of a Radar Training Simulator in the Departmental Training School which will be completed before the end of the current year; (iii) An instrument landing system has been contracted for and is scheduled for operation by August 1969; (iv) An existing hangar is being modified for the use of the Boeing 737 of Malaysia/ Singapore Airlines. There will be five coming by next year.”
“I agree with the Member for Katong that there is, unfortunately, today far too frequent a disregard for traffic regulations and road courtesy not only by motorists and pedestrians but also by most other road users in Singapore. This is reflected by the large number of traffic offences committed by motorists alone, which have come to the notice of our Traffic Police and Divisional Police, namely, a total of 146,297 cases for the six-month period from 1st April to 30th September this year. Although our Registry of Vehicles and Traffic Police have been actively associated with the work of the Road Traffic Safety Committee of the National Safety First Council in the promotion of various safety-first campaigns this year and of others planned for next year, I can assure the Member for Katong that my Ministry will be mounting a sustained campaign on road safety and compliance with traffic regulations for 1969. SINGAPORE PAYA LEBAR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (Development) 10. Mr L. P. Rodrigo asked the Minister for Communications what preparatory, renovating or developmental work is being undertaken at the Singa pore Paya Lebar International Airport to prepare it as a major international civil aviation centre in this part of the world.”
“When this 'Board is in a position to submit their recommendations on the subject, I will be in a better position to reply to the question now posed by the hon Member. ROAD COURTESY AND OBSERVANCE OF TRAFFIC REGULATIONS BY ROAD USERS 9. Mr J. F. Conceicao asked the Minister for Communications, in view of the frequent disregard for traffic regulations and road courtesy by 'motorists and pedestrians, if he proposes to take appropriate steps to encourage social responsibility and dis cipline where the use of roads is concerned.”
“In October 1968, all bus companies were asked and have agreed to install bins for used tickets in their buses. Many of the buses already have such bins. There may be a few bus companies who have not installed them, in which case by March 1969, that is four months from now, when they do come for the half-year inspection and they still fail to provide litter bins, their buses will not be re- licensed. SCOOTERISTS, MOTOR-CYCLISTS AND PILLION-RIDERS (Legislation for compulsory use of crash helmets) 8. Mr J. F. Conceicao asked the Minister for Communications if he will consider introducing legislation to make it compulsory for scooterists, motorcyclists and pillion-riders to wear crash helmets. Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: It is somewhat early to contemplate legislation for the compulsory wearing of crash helmets for scooterists, motor-cyclists and pil lion-riders, because whether there is, in fact, an adequate supply of approved types of crash helmets and, what is important, at reasonable prices available in Singapore has yet to be determined. In the meantime, we will continue to encourage riders to wear crash helmets voluntarily to protect themselves against fatal accidents. The Member for Katong will recall that in August this year I appointed a Transport Advisory Board with very wide terms of reference to study ways and means on how to improve the public transport service of Singapore. One of the members of the Transport Advisory Board is representing the National Safety First Council of Singapore, which body has been strongly advocating the compulsory use of crash helmets. He has been advised to raise this subject for consideration by the Transport Advisory Board.”
“Mr Ho Kah Leong asked the Minister f or Communications whether he is aware that bins for used tickets are not provided in some buses, and what steps he proposes to take in the matter.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Anson is no doubt aware that the Port of Singapore Authority employs a very large work force of approximately 9,000 persons, and since the smooth operation of our port activities is vital to the economic weIl.being of Singapore, it follows that the P.S.A, must make a careful assessment so that only persons of reasonably good character and integrity are recruited into its service. It is incorrect to say that all applicants with criminal convictions are being rejected outright by the P.S.A. As a matter of fact, since 1966, 62 persons with minor offences and 16 persons with criminal records have been recruited, after satj~fying the P.S.A, that they had indeed turned over a new leaf. SECOND-HAND AND OBSOLETE BUSES ON ROAD 6. Mr Eric Cheong Yuen Chee asked the Minister for Communications whether he is aware that a certain bus company is using second-hand and obsolete buses purchased from another bus company, and whether such buses are roadworthy. Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Sir, it has been the policy of our Registrar of Vehicles Department for some years not to permit second-hand and obsolete buses to be registered for use as public service vehicles. Unfortunately, it is on record that seven old buses which were purchased by a certain bus company from another bus company were approved for registration for use as public service vehicles early in 1966. But when this was discovered after an investigation, the senior official responsible for approving these cases was retired from service in the public interest in August 1966. The buses concerned are still in use, subject to half-yearly mechanical inspections as to their roadworthiness. TICKET BINS IN BUSES 7.”
“The Postal Services Department has plans to build a post office at Woodlands in conjunction with the development of the proposed Woodlands New Town Scheme, which is understood to be still in the planning stage. At present, however, postal facilities in the Woodlands area are being provided by, firstly, a postal agency and, secondly, a mobile post office. The postal agent, Mr Lim Soon Teng of 1408 Woodlands Road, Singapore, 25, who terminated his services on 23rd September this year, has since agreed to resume operation of the postal agency with effect from the 2nd of this month. As a service improvement, arrangements were made from 28th October this year for the mobile post office to increase the frequency of calls from once a week on Wednesdays, to thrice a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. PORT OF SINGAPORE AUTHORITY (Employment of convicted persons) 5. Mr P. Govindaswamy asked the Minister for Communications if he is aware that applicants for employment with the Port of Singapore Authority who have any criminal convictions recorded against them are rejected outright by the Authority; and if he will ascertain from the Authority whether the Authority will give consideration to such applicants in future recruitments in cases where the offences committed by them are not of a nature which will in any way be prejudicial to the interests of the Authority and the persons concerned have satisfactorily served their sentences, as employment will assist in rehabilitating them in society.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, the Postal Services Department plans to establish a delivery post office in the town centre of the Toa Payoh Housing Estate to provide the full range of postal facilities to the residents living in this estate. It is expected to operate the post office in rented premises for a change in a large building complex which is due to be constructed in the latter half of 1969. WOODLANDS (Post Office) 4. Mr P. Selvadurai asked the Minister for Communications when the Government will build a post office at Woodlands to serve the large number of residents in the area.”
“I may also add that provision has been made in the Departmental Development Estimates for next year for the purchase and installation of an Automatic Telex Exchange at an estimated cost of $600,000 and it is anticipated that the equipment will be ready for service in 1970. This equipment, together with teleprinters and associated equipment for which an additional sum of $1 million has been budgeted in next year's Development Estimates, will ensure that existing subscribers will be given a fully automatic telex service and ample capacity for the anticipated growth in the immediate future. TOA PAYOH HOUSING ESTATE (Post Office) 3. Mr Eric Cheong Yuen Chee asked the Minister for Communications when the Government will build a post office at the Toa Payoh Housing Estate in view of the rapid increase in the number of residents in that area and the policy of the Government to encourage savings with the Post Office Savings Bank.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as the Singapore Telephone Board is currently revising the whole tariff structure of its facilities, no changes are being contemplated until such study has been completed and accepted by the Board. The review does cover the subjects mentioned by the Member for Jalan Kayu, namely, whether or not there should be a sliding scale of charges and rentals for major subscribers such as hotels, and the different rates charged for coloured telephones. TELEX SERVICE FOR COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY 2. Mr P. Selvadurai asked the Minister for Communications if the Telex Service that obtains in Singapore is adequate for the Republic's commercial and industrial needs. Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: Mr Speaker, Sir, due to the unfortunate limited capacity of the existing manual telex switchboards and the current shortage of teleprinters and associated equipment, it has not been possible to provide applicants for telex service with immediate connection. In fact, there is at present a waiting list of 42 potential telex subscribers and it is likely that this list may become larger. In addition, there are 21 subscribers now using limited service with machines, not equipped with tape- perforation facilities, who have requested that they be supplied with machines incorporating these facilities which we are, unfortunately, not able to meet because of the present shortage of teleprinters. It is anticipated, however, that the 42 potential subscribers will be given service by May of next year, that is, six months from now, when additional manual switchboards and teleprinter equipment, which have been ordered by the Telecommunications Department, are expected to be ready for service. It will also be possible then to provide some of the 21 subscribers with tape-perforation facilities.”
“Sir, the interest rate is four per cent per annum and it is free from income tax.”
“It is not a racket. I think this is to teach secondary school children how to save for some time and, of course, that money is being used by Government for development. A pupil can draw the $10 out one year after he finishes his Secondary IV examination, or when he leaves school if he is a pre-University II student. That is the reason for this provision of $281,250.”
“Sir, I am pleased to give the information to the Member for Changi who has raised this question. It is part of a very large scheme and the Ministry of Finance will play a part in encouraging savings to mobilise what is known as "domestic savings" with which we will be able to encourage the development of the country. A committee was formed composed of members from the Ministry of Finance and the Post Office Savings Bank. We were also able to secure the services of three other gentlemen, one of whom is the Member for Havelock and Mr Tan Teck Chwee and Mr Han Fang Kong. As a result of this committee's findings, it was decided, among other things, to encourage students in our schools to develop the habit of savings. As from next year, every Secondary I student who is able to save $5 in his own account will get a gift of $5 from Government. This $5 is the maximum. Of course, if a Secondary I student has a well-to-do parent and is prepared to put $100 into the Postal Savings Bank, the Government will give him $5 and stop there, and not $100. We anticipate that for each year there may be as many as 45,000 Secondary I students. So at the rate of $5 per student, we are quite hopeful that we will probably get 100 per cent of Secondary I students putting in $5 each into the Post Office Savings Bank. The Government will then have to provide a sum of $225,000 for one year, and as the Budget is for a period of 15 months, the provision is now $281,250. But there is a little catch to this. When Government gives $5, it does not mean that the very next day the boy concerned can draw -out $10. The catch, Sir, is that we will freeze this $10 for the next five years.”
“At present, the power to seize a vehicle is vested solely in the hands of the police. I wish to add, Sir, that as the computerised driving licence renewal scheme represents a radical change from the present system, adequate notice will be given to present licence holders; in particular, drivers whose driving licences have lapsed for more than three years will be given sufficient time to renew their licences before the provisions relating to automatic cancellations are brought into force. As I have said earlier, a start is to be made for renewal of driving licences to be carried out at post offices. After this has got well under way and administrative problems have been ironed out, a further scheme will be introduced so that vehicle licences may also be renewed at post offices, thus relieving the present congestion at the Registry of Vehicles, and we will then be able to provide better service to members of the public and more congenial conditions of work for the staff as well. Sir, I beg to move. 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. SINGAPORE COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE BILL (As reported from Select Committee) Order for Third Reading read. 5.44 p.m.”
“The operating words "at some time" mean that a licence may have lapsed for an unlimited period and can still be renewed. Under the new system, as provided for in clauses 4 and 5 of the Bill, the computer will maintain records for three years only, so a licence which has lapsed for a continuous period of three years will be automatically cancelled, and the person concerned will have to apply for a fresh licence and to undergo and pass the usual tests. However, provision will be made under the rules for persons to apply for deferment of renewal for, various reasons, like extended illness, travel abroad, etc., and thus "preserve" the licence for subsequent renewal. Section 21 of the Ordinance contains provisions relating to endorsements on driving licences. This section has to be repealed on account of the limitations of the computer system which cannot record the endorsements on driving licences, and also in view of the fact that such endorsements do not, even at present, serve much useful purpose. Instead, the Registrar of Vehicles will now record particulars of convictions of certain offences and of any disqualification and will maintain such records for a period of three years from the date of the conviction of expiry of such disqualification, as the case may be. The amendment to section 21 of the Ordinance is contained in clause 7 of the Bill. The opportunity is taken in clause 8 of the Bill to amend section 41 of the Ordinance so as to empower the Registrar of Vehicles, or any officer authorised by him, to seize a vehicle found to be used in contravention of any provision of the Ordinance or of any rule, order or prohibition made thereunder or of any term of the licence for such vehicle.”
“, to decentralise the renewal of driving licences and for the use of computers to record and check particulars on driving licences. May I now. Sir, elaborate further on the Bill. The Ordinance at present requires applicants for driving licences to furnish photographs and, in the case of paid drivers, to permit fingerprints to be taken. Since photographs and fingerprints cannot be recorded by the computer, the existing requirements are to be dispensed with and this is effected by amending section 13 of the Ordinance in clause 3 of the Bill. However, the necessary identification can still be maintained by the fact that the new driving licence will bear the holder's identity card number and, in the case of foreigners, a special number will be allotted. As for fingerprints, the Registrar of Vehicles still has powers under section 18 of the Ordinance to take fingerprints, if he so desires. Clause 3 of the Bill also amends section 13 (8) of the Ordinance which provides that a driving licence shall remain valid for one year or three years from the date on which it was granted as the applicant may elect at the time of application. Since the computer is programmed to work in monthly cycles, it will be necessary to provide that licences expire on the last day of each month. For instance, under the new system, a licence taken out on 12th August, 1968, for one year will expire on 31st August, 1969, (instead of 12-8-69). Eventually, therefore, all licences will expire on the last day of the month, and will then become renewable on the first day of the following month. Section 14 (1) of the existing Ordinance provides that a driving licence shall not be granted unless the applicant satisfies the Registrar of Vehicles that he has at some time passed the prescribed tests.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." At present, renewal of driving licences, and vehicle licences is being carried out at the Registry of Vehicles, Middle Road. As there are now approximately 320,000 driving licence holders and 254,000 motor vehicles, the congestion at the Registry, especially during the first ten days of each month, is very bad indeed, thus causing great inconvenience to members of the public and to the over-worked staff, as well. These numbers are increasing steadily, so much so that the situation has become untenable and should be rectified early. Towards the end of last year, the problem was studied jointly by a team of officials from the Organisation and Methods Branch, the Electronic Data Processing Unit and the Registry of Vehicles. They came quickly to the conclusion that the congestion at the Registry of Vehicles can only be relieved if renewal of licences is decentralised, In other words, licences should not be renewed at one central place only, but should instead be renewed at post offices throughout the island, as in the case of television and radio licences. However, at the start, only 15 selected post offices will be used out of a possible 42. This team also recommended that the scheme be implemented in two stages. For the first stage, driving licences are to be renewed at post offices, leaving the renewal of vehicle licences to be implemented at the second stage. The scheme recom mended by them also includes the use of computers to record and check the particulars on driving licences to enable the Registry of Vehicles to send reminders to licence holders before the expiry of their licences. The Bill now before the House seeks to implement these proposals, i.e.”
“I shall be making an official announcement of those appointed to serve on this Advisory Board soon. EMPLOYMENT BILL Order read for resumption of debate on Question [10th July, 1968], "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Question again proposed. 2.36 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I regret to inform the Member for Anson that there is no intention at present to increase the number of taxi licences so that those now operating illegally as pirate taxis may thus apply to operate as licensed taxis. It should be noted that there are at present 3,800 licensed taxis of which 3,500, or more than 90 per cent, are owned by taxi drivers themselves. These licensed taxi drivers are already having quite a difficult time earning a reasonable living. The situation has been worsened by the activities of an estimated number of 10,000 pirate taxis. To allow the free issuance of another 10,000 taxi licences will mean that the present 3,800 licensed taxi drivers will be put in a worse situation than at present. However, as the problem of pirate taxis has partly arisen through the present inadequacy and inefficiency of the bus transport system now operating in Singapore, I have decided to establish a Transport Advisory Board with the following terms of reference:- Firstly, to study ways and means of how to improve the present public transport service, i.e., buses, taxis, etc.; and, secondly, of how to reduce congestion in our streets, including the possibility of introducing staggered working hours for Government as well as for business firms and even of schools in the city areas. The membership of the Transport Advisory Board will include representatives from four sectors. Firstly, workers, the majority of whom would be associated with road transport. Secondly, owners of bus companies or taxis. Thirdly, organisations or individuals who are interested in the improvement or safety of road users. Lastly, Government departments representing the Registrar of Vehicles, the Traffic Police and the State and City Planning Office respectively.”
“Mr Yong Nyuk Lin: If the telephones are out of order, they will be attended to. I agree that a number of would-be subscribers have not been able to obtain telephones. I have indicated that there is already a waiting list of 2,400 applications. This is a matter which will have to be put right. I shall be giving the Singapore Telephone Board my own personal attention. I visited it a few days ago. I think I can assure the Member for Kampong Kembangan that there will be increased activity in the Board hereafter. 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. NATIONAL LIBRARY (AMENDMENT) BILL Order for Second Reading read. 3.35 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker,, Sir, of the present seven members on the-Board there is, as stated by the Member for Kampong Kembangan, already one representative from the N.T.U.C. I am afraid that his request for an additional workers' representative is not acceptable' to me because, in my view, one workers' representative should be more than adequate for the purposes of workers' representation. In fact, I found to my surprise that although the Singapore Telephone Board is such a large corporation with a capital of $20 million and a general reserve of $25 million, there is not even a Ministry representative on the 7-member Board. So I have decided that of the two new members who will be sitting on the Singapore Telephone Board, one will be a Government representative who will keep an eye on the large funds that are being disbursed in this organisation. All the' other members are non-Government members, and I think it should be so. This very important organisation, which comes under the general heading of Telecommunications, is a monopoly at present, because there is no other competing telephone company to offer its services to the public. I would like-members of the public to participate in the supervision of this organisation and I look forward to appointing a non-Government member - perhaps another accountant or an economist - to serve on the Board. This will have to be done very soon. As for the request to increase the number of telephone booths, this matter is receiving attention. All requests from the Urban and Rural Services Committee come up for consideration. But I wish to state that there are over 750 public telephone booths throughout the island and I am given to understand that they are frequently used. An hon. Member: Many of these telephones are out of order.”
“Besides the new 50,000 exchange lines now under construction at the junction of Exeter Road/Devonshire Road to meet the rapidly growing hotel and business sector along the Orchard Road area, the Board has plans to erect another two exchanges in the near future, one in the Crawford area and perhaps another small exchange to serve the Ama Keng area. With the increase in the Board's activities, there has been a corresponding increase in the duties and responsibilities of the Board members. It is considered that the business of the Board has reached a stage to warrant an enlarged membership, which is the sole aim of this Bill. Sir, I beg to move. Question proposed. 3.25 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time." Subsection (1) of section 5 of the 'Singapore Telephone Board Ordinance provides that the Board shall consist of (a) a Chairman, (b) a Deputy Chairman and (c) five other members, or a total membership of seven members. The Bill now before the House seeks to amend this subsection in the Ordinance in order to increase the number of members of the Singapore Telephone Board (other than the Chairman and Deputy Chairman) from five to seven, or a total membership of nine members. During the past two years there has been quite a substantial increase in the Board's activities to cope with the rising demand for telephones. It was originally estimated that for the 5-year period, 1966-1970, there would be an average growth rate of 8 per cent, or nearly 30,000 direct exchange lines would have to be installed to meet the public's demand for telephones. But the actual number of direct lines installed during the years 1966 and 1967 was 5,800 and 8,400 respectively, which gives an average rate of growth of 12 per cent over two years, or 50 per cent higher than the original estimated rate of growth of 8 per cent. In fact, the present waiting list for telephones is 2,400, and with the Government's development plans being further accelerated, the demand for telephones must therefore increase still further and the Board has no alternative but to revise upward its plans again. To meet this increasing demand, the Board has set aside $15.6 million for development this year, and another $16 million for next year, thus making a total of over $31 million for the two years on development programmes and capital expenditure in building new exchanges, laying new cables and installing new equipment.”
“- which I understand came close to the very respectable figure of $100,000. I would like publicly today to commend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Affairs (as there are two Parliamentary Secretaries in that Ministry, may I say that I refer to the Member for Jalan Besar) and the Member for Changi for their outstanding work in organising this excellent drive for funds for our National Defence Fund. In conclusion, Sir, may I say that I shall be guided by three general principles in the discharge of my duties in the Ministry of Communications: First, to ensure dependability of transport service, i.e., to provide a regular, efficient, clean and courteous service to the public; Second, speed of service, i.e., as quickly as possible consistent with safety for passengers and goods; and Lastly, lowest cost to the paying public, subject however to both workers and management maintaining high productivity and ensuring a reasonable return for the capital invested. 3.13 p.m.”
“Although over 1,000 pirate taxis have been confiscated by the police and disposed of, there are, unfortunately, many thousands still at large, and they must continue to be severely dealt with by the police, as they must learn to play according to the rules and abide by the law. As an example of the social-minded and patriotic attitude of licensed taxi-owners and taxi-drivers as compared with pirate taxi operators, they have recently organised themselves and donated one day's earnings to our National Defence Fund”
“Licensed taxi-owners pay their share of road tax to the Registrar of Vehicles. There is a limitation on the number of passengers carried, depending on the size of the motor vehicle. They are subject to a half-yearly mechanical inspection of the road-worthiness of the vehicle and they have to pay a higher insurance premium to cover liability for passengers. On the other hand, the pirate-taxi operator only pays the lower road tax applicable to private cars, but evades payment of at least $500 per annum which is the additional tax payable for a proper taxi if a diesel-driven vehicle, which is the usual type used. They evade the half-yearly mechanical inspection of the road worthiness of the vehicle and thus neglect proper maintenance of the car to the peril of passengers and road users, and there is no effective insurance cover for passengers in case of an accident. In other words, the pirate-taxi operator is an unscrupulous person who seeks to earn his income through unfair competition with licensed taxis by shirking payment of his share of taxes and expenses of more than $1,000 per annum. It is akin to the nefarious activities of smuggling, for high profits obtainable through evasion and non-payment of customs or excise duties. To suggest legalisation of pirate taxis is equivalent to suggesting legalisation of smuggling activities! If we want law and order to prevail, I am afraid we have no alternative but to take firm action against the activities of pirate taxis. Because of them, the earnings of licensed taxis and of bus companies have been affected. Pirate taxis do "cream" away business which is the legitimate due of licensed taxis and buses.”
“As stated in the Addendum to the President's Speech, besides the two senior officials from the London Transport Board who have been invited under the Colombo Plan Technical Co-operation Scheme "to make a preliminary study of possible new measures to improve and expand Singapore's mass transport facilities", there are at present a team of United Nations advisers attached to our State and City Planning Office "to study the long-range aspects of providing a mass rapid transit system for Singapore." The Member for Ulu Pandan next suggested that as "pirate taxis" are providing service to the public which the bus services are not able to cope with, therefore such pirate taxis should he allowed to operate legally as "express taxis" and that pirate taxi operators should, at most, be subject only to a fine when caught and that their motor vehicles should not be confiscated. In my view, the pirate-taxi problem came into being for two reasons: (1) the growing problem of unemployment in Singapore so that those who do not wish to go on the dole - that is, to seek Social Welfare assistance - turn to hawking or become pirate-taxi operators. (2) the inability of the bus companies to provide an efficient, regular and adequate service for bus travellers. Unless the above two problems are resolved, the pirate taxi problem will remain with us for some time to come, as both the problems of unemployment and a better organised bus transport system will need considerable time and effort even to prevent the situation from worsening still further before attempting to resolve the problems. What differentiates the pirate taxi operator from the properly licensed taxi operator? At the moment, the number of licensed taxis is limited to 3,800.”
“We are aware of many public complaints regarding the inefficiency and poor service of our bus companies. The Member for Kallang has expressed to me verbally how dissatisfied he is with the inadequacy and inconvenience experienced by him as a bus traveller, and I have promised to look into the matter. The Member for Katong recently drew my attention to a complaint from his constituents regarding the curtailment of the Singapore Traction Company night bus service route 20-B, along Tanjong Rhu. The explanation given by the S.T.C, was curious, that stoppage of the night service was due to a "misunderstanding between the Managing Director and Traffic Manager"! However, the night bus service along Tanjong Rhu, which stopped on 21st April. 1968, was resumed on 12th May. 1968, after a written warning was issued to the General Manager of the S.T.C, by my Permanent Secretary, in his capacity as Chairman of the Omnibus Services Licensing Authority, drawing attention to the fact that bus companies can have their licences suspended or cancelled if they fail to provide an adequate service on an approved route. Of course, Mr Speaker, Sir, the decisions which I shall be making in the near future in an attempt to improve the public transport service in Singapore will be only short-term solutions. As for long-term solutions of our transport problems, this needs the attention of better qualified professional experts and planners.”
“We will be hard put to it to find the hundreds of millions of dollars which will be needed to build up a credible defence force of our own by 1972, and the further hundreds of millions of dollars which will be needed for massive counter-recession public works that have been and will continue to be launched, as a set-off against the consequences of the accelerated British military pull-out by 1971. Even if we have the funds available to nationalise the bus companies in Singapore, are we sure that we can provide a more efficient public service after nationalisation? The experience of other countries has shown that bureaucracy will not only worsen the situation but, worse still, more losses will be sustained which will have to be borne by Government. The end result of nationalisation would be a worse service, employment perhaps of more bureaucrats, and the country will have to carry the burden of heavier losses. As in the case of urban renewal of Singapore, it is not the intention of Government to take on this gigantic re-development scheme all on its own. Private enterprise is and will continue to be encouraged to play its part, with Government offering adequate and attractive incentives all along the line. I concede that the public transport service of Singapore is not what it should be. It can and should be improved, and this can be done within the powers already contained in the various Acts or Ordinances at present in force. If these powers are not enough, I shall seek fresh powers through new legislation. It will be my duty, during my term of office as Minister for Communications, to make a proper study of the transport problems first, and this takes some time. And when I am ready, I will suggest ways and means for its improvement.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as the Member for Ulu Pandan has raised two important issues during the current debate on the President's Speech which fall within the scope of my new portfolio, the Ministry of Communications, may I be permitted to inform the House, as well as members of the public, of my views on these subjects? I have arrived at these views in the short period of four weeks since assuming my portfolio. Is nationalisation of bus companies in Singapore the answer to our transport problem as proposed by the Member for Ulu Pandan? Is this the panacea to our transport problem? This was, in fact, one of the recommendations of the Commission of Enquiry set up by the former Labour Front Government in 1955, under the chairmanship of Mr L. C. Hawkins, a member of the London Transport Executive. Even if the former Labour Front Government had wanted to implement this proposal, it could not have done so because Singapore's reserves had been run down to such a low level, and there was no second Christmas Island to be sold to Australia to find the tens of millions of dollars which would have been needed to nationalise the bus companies then operating in Singapore. When the People's Action Party assumed the government of Singapore in 1959, nationalisation of bus companies was not one of its platforms and rightly so, even to this day! It is not just the question of money alone which deters us from opting for this solution. The whole tenor of the President's Speech gives a grim picture of the future which lies ahead of us, the great efforts and sacrifices demanded from every one of the two million people of Singapore to gird themselves to face the immense economic problems which we must overcome in order to survive.”
“If that is his wish, I am afraid it will take a very long time before it can be fulfilled. As things stand, with the funds made available to the Ministry of Health, all that we can do at the moment is to concentrate really on what are known as priority groups, which include school children, pregnant women, and those nursing mothers in need of dental care, and lastly adults. As for adults, the only place for them to get Governmental dental care at very low cost is at the Dental Clinic of the Outram Road General Hospital, which is also used as part of the Dental Teaching Hospital. I think it will be very dangerous for me to accept the Member for Changi's suggestion that perhaps I make an application for a supplementary vote for a mobile dental clinic. Maybe I can give him a little indication as to how he can get what he wants, not through Government offices, but perhaps by an appeal to members of the public. I do feel that there is a lot of room for the tapping of donations from members of the public. For example, very recently the Rotary Club donated a mobile blood bank, costing probably $40,000, which is being fully used at the moment. And there is a philanthropist who wants to donate another mobile blood bank, but, unfortunately, we do not have the staff to man this mobile blood bank if it is made available to us. We are trying to interest this philanthropist into doing something else. So it will not be too much to suggest to the Member for Changi that if he can really make a very good appeal, then this mobile dental clinic will be forthcoming to meet his needs. Perhaps if he could ginger up some charitable organisation or philanthropist - not this particular one but other philanthropists - they would be at hand to meet his needs.”
“I would like to assure the Member for Changi that there are three mobile dental clinics in existence. They are meant for the treatment of young children and school children for whom free dental services are being provided. But I am sure the Member for Changi is probably thinking in terms of a mobile dental clinic for adults.”
“I am sorry that the Member for Mountbatten is so depressed over the answer I have given him. I think he has to be a little more realistic about trying to resolve the hawker problem. This is a problem of long standing. It involves the livelihood of 40,000 to 50,000 hawkers, which in turn affects the lives of perhaps 200,000 to 300,000 people. So i will take some time before the problem of the hawkers can be resolved. I must say that it is the aim of the Housing and Development Board to ensure that their housing estates, which cost very large sums of public money, do not change the situation of the present slums to concrete slums. That is why they have asked for powers from the Ministry of Health to control the hawker problem within the estates, and this has been conceded. There has been an amendment to the Local Government Integration Ordinance to give them powers to deal with hawkers, and in this respect the powers were transferred to the Housing and Development Board on the 1st of December this year. I think it is only reasonable and fair to allow some time for the Housing and Development Board to organise itself to tackle this problem, but in the meantime their officers are being trained by the Hawkers Department of the Ministry of Health. We have already made a move to resolve the hawker problem, and we ourselves think that it will take quite some time before we can tackle the whole of Singapore. So to be fair to the Housing Board, they should also be given adequate time to control this problem.”
“There is a proposal for future development which I take it is for next year. I am in no position to say whether it is for 1968 or 1969 for a hawker centre around Mountbatten Road to look after 168 stalls. I presume that this is the hawker centre mentioned by my Parliamentary Secretary - was it a year ago? I hope it is not that long - and I will undertake to get more information for the Member for Mount-batten after today's sitting. 4.00 p.m.”
“May I, Mr Speaker, Sir, reply to the point raised by the Member for Mountbatten as regards the number of markets that will be built for the sum of $76,500 which is down for next year? This is really in respect of balances to be paid for three markets that have been in the course of construction during this year. The balance to complete Tuas Market is $12,400, and for Jurong I Market is $28,600. The other sum of $35,500 which has been entered for the 1968 vote has actually been settled and this is in respect of Bukit Ho Swee Market, Phase IV. That accounts for the sum of $76,500. I must say that in my reply to the Member for River Valley, when he brought up the subject of the vote for markets in last year's Development Estimates, I indicated that there had been a change in Government policy to erect markets and that it was the Housing and Development Board which would then undertake the building of markets in areas where there were new buildings or where urban renewal was taking place. Therefore, there is no provision for the building of any new markets for 1968 out of Government funds and the building of new markets, if any, hereafter, will be shown in the Housing and Development Board plans. The Member for Mountbatten has drawn attention to the fact that my Parliamentary Secretary has indicated to him that a hawker centre would be built off Mountbatten Road. I am afraid I am not in a position to indicate the building plans of the Housing and Development Board, because it comes under a different Ministry. I do not think it is necessary to ask my colleague, the Minister for National Develop, ment, to stand up to answer. I have tried to get an answer, and this has been obtained by telephone from our Ministry to the Housing and Development Board.”
“$10 of Scotch tape! Mr Tay Boon Too (Paya Lebar)(In Mandarin): Sir, I would like to pose two questions to the Minister on construction of secondary schools. Since the beginning of this year, the Ministry has noted that secondary school halls can be used for sporting activities, such as volleyball and badminton. However, the halls in certain secondary schools have glass windows. Therefore, the principals stop their staff and students from playing volleyball there. I want to know whether the Minister has plans to change these glass windows into some other type of windows for the school halls.”
“I think the Member for Geylang Serai indicated grass in drains. Exactly, sometimes the grass on the sides is cut and chucked into the drains. When grass is cut, it should be taken away. This adds to the rubbish that goes into the drains. Everything is thrown into the drains - tins, bottles, grass and boxes. So if the public are so irresponsible as to keep on piling these things, there is a limit to what our public cleansing workers can get rid of. So I do not think the blame should be put on just our workers. The blame must be put on the irresponsible members of the public whom we have to educate, and perhaps in time if persuasion fails, I will have to ask for powers to fine them.”
“Of course, I have to get more work and more efficiency out of my work force. They will play their part. If ever the Member for Geylang Serai has a complaint to make - and he should make it not by just ringing up the Health Officer for Katong, which he has done, but by letting me know - I will see that he is relatively satisfied, as I cannot promise him that Geylang Serai will be very clean, but it will certainly be much cleaner than what it is today. He did indicate that there is a lot of refuse on Saturday evening, that it is worse on Sunday, and still worse on Monday if Monday is a holiday. We have stopped the overtime racket of the Public Cleansing Department early this year. It is because we wanted to break the racket that the workers were misled into a strike. Now having broken it, I think it will be very foolish to revert back to Sunday and public holiday work at double and triple pay. I do not think this will be re-introduced so long as our work force is able to perform its functions thoroughly during week days. But it is the policy of the Cleansing Department that if there is a public holiday following a Sunday, work will be done on the public holiday. In other words, there will be no refuse lying about uncollected for 48 hours. But we do want to instil into our work force the fact that they will work on Saturdays, that there is no work on Sundays unless it is really very, very necessary and that if there is a holiday on a Monday, they are expected to work on that day. So the situation of refuse left lying about for 48 hours will never arise.”
“These are serious problems and I think my colleague, the Minister for Law and National Development, and his Ministry have indicated that it will take some time before they can deal with this problem. As regards public cleansing for which I assume full responsibility, I myself have visited Geylang Serai Market as announced three weeks ago. I must say that I am very dissatisfied with the public health conditions of this market and its surroundings. But whatever it is, I think it is a great improvement on what it was some months ago, before the overhead bridge was built across Changi Road at the junction of Changi Road/Joo Chiat Road, when it was necessary to resettle a large number of hawkers who had congregated around this junction and outside not only Geylang Serai Market, but also Joo Chiat and Changi Markets. I think there has been a great improvement. Thanks to the assistance of the Member for Geylang Serai and the Member for Joo Chiat, an attempt has been made to bring order out of chaos at this junction. Things have improved considerably but it must be admitted that there is still a lot more to be done. When I visited Geylang Serai Market, which was built at a cost of $400,000, I saw refuse all around the market, and a lot of refuse on its roof thrown down by tenants of multi-storeyed flats. 4.15 p.m. This is a ridiculous state of affairs - people living in flats just throwing rubbish outside their backyards on to the roof of a Government market. It has been cleaned before. So we are dealing with a situation where the public are responsible for the refuse and not playing their part by having it placed in chutes specially meant for the disposal of refuse. When we have a situation like this, I think it will take some time to educate the public.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I agree with the Member for Geylang Serai that the public health conditions in Geylang Serai are not as good as we would want them to be. But there are a number of historical factors, some of which have already been mentioned by the Member himself when he said that Geylang Serai is a low-lying area. If it is low-lying, therefore, deep drainage is difficult, and drainage comes within the jurisdiction of another Ministry. But somehow or other we seem to be saddled with all the complaints which we try painfully to carry on our shoulders. If an area is low-lying and waste water cannot flow, then it becomes stagnant water, and within a week it is very easy for a mosquito to lay eggs and there would be larvae and then mosquitoes. So the basic problem is how to drain an area well. I think it is going to take a lot of effort on the part of the Ministry of National Development to try to drain all our low-lying areas well so that water will flow readily, easily and, therefore, there will be less breeding-places for mosquitoes. Secondly, the Member for Geylang Serai will appreciate that most of the drains in Geylang Serai are not concrete drains which are found in most of the built-up areas, but they are earth drains. In other words, a few feet of earth have been dug away and water is allowed to flow in, which means that if there is a bit of rain or when there is a bit of flooding, the sides of the earth drain go into the drain itself and therefore greater stagnation results. These are problems of engineering. They need more than just putting anti-malarial oil into the drains to prevent mosquitoes from laying their eggs and larva-hatching.”
“In the light of the changing epidemiological situation, traffic development and scientific advances, there is a need for a review of the regulations and revision if required.' Sir, if Singapore has been free for years from small-pox, cholera, plague, etc., it is because we have taken very stringent regulations against incoming visitors. I think it is necessary to maintain this for our own sake.”
“I refer to our Government Gazette which regularly publishes statements of quarantine notifications of serious infectious diseases which are current in neighbouring countries. I am referring to Notification 3626 of our Government Gazette which gives a statement of quarantine notifications in force on the 8th December, 1967. They are: Country Disease Number of Districts Burma Plague 1 China Small-pox 4 (Cholera 20 India ( (Small-pox 23 (Small-pox 7 Indonesia ( (Cholera 1 Philippines Cholera 3 Thailand Cholera 1 (Plague 3 Vietnam ( (Cholera 2 I do not think we can possibly take chances when we are right in the heart of all these areas that have these infectious diseases which are endemic and as long as we have a situation where it is very easy just to get medical certificates for a small fee. May I, Sir, refer to the publication produced by the Regional Office for the Western Pacific region of the World Health Organisation of the first regional seminar on international quarantine which was held at Manila early in April this year. Just to quote two very important paragraphs. Page 18 of the Report, paragraph 11 (2.2) on vaccination: 'Vaccination against small-pox is a reliable quarantine measure for the prevention of small-pox. It is regrettable that forged vaccination certificates are still occasionally discovered. The co-operation of all governments in controlling the issue of international vaccination certificates is very necessary.' Another important paragraph, page 24, paragraph 17 (5). I quote: 'After 15 years of application, some of the provisions of the international sanitary regulations have been found by some governments to be inadequate for protection of their own territories.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I think the Member for Aljunied has raised three points on the question of quarantine. Our quarantine station is situated at St. John's Island, which is a very beautiful island indeed. I do agree that sometimes conditions may not be as good as one would want and there could be room for improvement. The Member says that the inmates, when placed in the quarantine station, would be subject to threats of insects like centipedes. I think even we, who live on the fair island of Singapore, are subject to this. It could happen. There are centipedes, lizards, and so on occasionally, but I have not had any reports to this effect. If there have been reports, I would expect that the matter has been looked into. What I consider as a question which needs a fuller answer is the Member's suggestion that deck passengers, when they come with health certificates, should be exempted from quarantine. This is what exactly health certificates are meant for. When people travel from country A to country B, they should be in possession of valid health certificates. But I am afraid that there have been occasions when such certificates have been forged. In those circumstances, it is not possible for the Ministry of Health to relax regulations because Singapore is situated among countries that are habitually endemic with very serious infectious diseases. We cannot accept a situation where just allowing one case to slip through with a forged certificate, as happened in 1949, would have caused a spread of small-pox which would then endanger not just the health but the lives of thousands of our people. Let me give an example, Sir, of the real threat which Singapore faces daily.”