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, first of all, I would like to compliment the two Members on their shi eyes in detecting a large provision the Five-Year Plan, 1966-1970, and very small provision for next year which is not quite in proportion if it is divided by five. It is true that when the Second Five-Year Development Plan for 1966-1970 was originally prepared, there was change in policy. This sum of $1.7 million was entered into the Plan the basis that the previous policy would be continued. The previous policy the time was one of acquisition of land and probably the construction of ten Government markets over a few years each of which would cost something like $200,000 to $300,000, and would be able to cater for only 150 haw stalls. But early this year, it was decided to review the situation and now it has been decided ---”
“Because she is trying to say that in another case, where she mentioned post offices, the Parliamentary Secretary had not visited the post offices and only got reports. But I have visited every outpatient dispensary. I know what I am talking about.”
“A point of clarification. I hope she is not suggesting that I have not visited my outpatient dispensaries. The Chairman: I do not think she was suggesting anything of that sort, Mr Yong. Madam Chan. Madam Chan Choy Siong(In Mandarin): What I meant to say was that the clinics are also very small - too small, in fact.”
“We have had it for the last four or five years. They are just starting it and we wish them luck. So I can only say that if we can get as many doctors as we want, then we will have to decide on our priorities and, to my mind, the priorities are that the doctors should go first to hospitals, and when we have enough of hospital beds to look after the acutely sick, maybe we can think in terms of building more outpatient dispensaries. But, in my view, there are more than adequate Government outpatient dispensaries for a long time to come. Madam Chan Choy Siong(In Mandarin): Sir, I merely want to clarify two points raised by the Minister. I never meant to say that the answers given by the Minister are wrong. But because he is too preoccupied with his work, he might have neglected certain aspects. I gave an example that last time when I raised a question about postal services, he answered in the sam way, that in these areas there were already postal services. But he did not consider or carefully read the report submitted to him. The postal services provided at those places are inadequate and cannot meet the needs of the population there. There has been no development in the postal services. In the Tiong Bahru Post Office, some years ago the population was small ---”
“The building of this polyclinic, which is a combination of an outpatient dispensary and a maternal child health centre, is really something that I am building in order to close down one old-fashioned outpatient dispensary in Pasir Panjang, which is in a shop-house, and a maternal child health centre in Buona Vista. This is where the National Training Institute is. In fact, the National Training Institute wants to take over this maternal child health centre and has asked us to buzz off. I have said that I will readily do so if I can find another place to move over. So subhead 201 will be to build something in place of what is now available. So there is nothing new in the development of another outpatient dispensary. And I say that it will be a long time before we can consider the building of more outpatient dispensaries when we already have 26 outpatient dispensaries available to the people throughout the island. As regards private doctors wanting to help in the outpatient dispensaries, this is nothing new, Sir, because the offer has always been a standing one. I think we pay them something like $40 per session of two hours. We have a few of them. Off-hand, I think there are about three or four who have given their services and are being made use of. If the Member for Delta has any friends of hers who are private doctors and who are prepared to come and help - I am not asking for free service, I am not asking them to prescribe their own medicines and so on for the poor public - we are prepared to pay them. I will be very happy indeed if the Member for Delta can suggest friends of hers who are prepared to do this service. Of course, we will be glad to have them. This is a system which the Malaysian Government has copied from us.”
“There is a site available off Bedok - which is probably closer to Kampong Kembangan than if it were stationed in Guillemard Road. Now I come to the Member for Delta who still makes a plea for increasing the number of outpatient dispensaries. I think she keeps on reminding me that my answers are all wrong and evidently her requests are all right, which is not the case. It is all very well, Mr Speaker, Sir, to say. "We must have dispensaries to look after the poor people," and things like that. We understand all these things, but we have got to be practical. Here is a little island of 200 square miles and a population of 2 million. There are 500 doctors in private practice all over the island. Government already has 26 outpatient dispensaries, some with one doctor, some with two doctors, some with three, and some even with five, seven, or eight doctors to man them. This has tied up nearly 70 doctors to look after 26 outpatient dispensaries and to treat common coughs, colds and tummy aches after dinner. 70 doctors can staff one good-sized hospital. So I say that as long as we do not have as many doctors as we want in our service, the first need is for doctors to be posted to hospitals to deal with the acutely ill cases. I will keep on saying that, as long as I am the Minister for Health, I have decided to stop establishing new outpatient dispensaries. On page 22 of the Development Estimates, Sir, there is a subhead, No. 201, which mentions a polyclinic at Pasir Panjang. I may appear to be talking at cross-purposes.”
“If there is any complaint and it can be proved that they really go out of their way to be unkind and uncivil, then they come under the Disciplinary Code and disciplinary action will be taken, sometimes with a strong verbal warning and, if it is being repeated, a written warning, and later on perhaps a stoppage of increment, and finally, if the people are still impossible, then they get the sack. We expect all civil servants to show courtesy. But there are sometimes extenuating circumstances and we have to be reasonable. I think not all members of the public are angels either. Sometimes they demand the impossible and we have to be fair to our staff. If it can really be proved that our staff are going to the limit, then I say they deserve to be rapped. But I am not prepared just to jump to conclusions and say any complaint is a justified complaint. It has to be looked into. I will now come to the Member for Kampong Kembangan who is interested to know whether the Ministry of Health has in mind the building of a hospital on the eastern side of Singapore Island. Yes, we have the intention to build another hospital there. It should form part of the Second Five-Year Plan, 1966 to 1970. This Second Five-Year Plan has yet to be published. Anyway, this project is accepted as being part of the Plan. It might be built probably late in the sixties - 1968 or 1969. So I can assure the Member for Kampong Kembangan that a hospital is coming up there and it might be a 700-bed hospital. 4.30 p.m. Originally there was a site off Guillemard Road. But I understand we have been pushed out of there in favour of another Ministry, and so we are now looking for another site.”
“The units that will be housed in this Institute of Medical Specialities will be radiotherapy, cardiology and cardiac surgery, neurology and neuro-surgery, units for kidney diseases and blood diseases; genetics and psychology units, gastro-enterology, endocrinology and an intensive care unit after surgery. His second question is in respect of the extension to our Nurses' Training School in the Outram Road General Hospital. We are moving so fast and expanding so rapidly that I think we must also expand our training facilities for our nurses. With this extension, which is being provided for next year, we should be able to have a larger intake of nurses and train them --- it takes three years to train a nurse --- and also increase our intake of students for this purpose. Also for purposes of expansion as we are going to have more hospitals. I will have to defer going into that a bit in order to answer the other Members concerned. On the question of courtesy for nurses, it is really part and parcel of their training to be kind and courteous. But everyone is human. We all say we want to be kind, to be nice, and to smile under all difficulties; but being human sometimes we do not smile. I do not think we can expect a hundred per cent from anyone. I think we will be expecting the impossible. Of course, it does not mean that we tolerate rudeness and incivility from not only nurses but anybody.”
“May I, Mr Speaker, Sir, attempt to answer the Members in the order in which they spoke? Firstly, the Member for Sembawang. I believe he wants two questions answered: firstly, when will the Institute of Medical Specialities be built? It should have been built much earlier because the foundation ceremony was performed quite some time ago. But, unfortunately, like most building projects, they always want new additions and try to get new ideas. I was trying to explain to the Member for Joo Chiat how the Institute of Medical Specialities came into being. It is a nine-storey structure to be built on top of our Radiotherapy Centre which will form the ground and the first few floors. Our Radiotherapist actually had the advantage of going round the world, under a W.H.O. scholarship, to see various radiotherapy centres. That is a good idea because we will be spending a considerable sum of money, and if we can get the best ideas after visiting a few centres, then we will be able to keep abreast of scientific progress and not make mistakes which were made by other people. Just when I thought he had settled down, another offer came from Australia and off again he went there for another few months, and so the matter was delayed. But I hear that piling will get started next month. So we are well on our way to making some progress. I believe the Member for Sembawang also indicated what would be found in this institute and what it would provide for. I have indicated just now to the Member for Joo Chiat the various specialities, and if it is necessary, I will repeat again.”
“Thank you, Sir,I am all in favour now that the University of Singapore should have its own Teaching Hospital with its own teaching facilities and be responsible for administering and running it. In fact, I have been thinking of forming a committee to see to the demarcation of Outram Road General Hospital so that one section of the hospital will be hived off for the University to look after it, and that this committee should be set up very soon. [Mr Speaker in the Chair] 4.14 p.m.”
“So our Government officials of doctors, surgeons and specialists who work shoulder to shoulder with the University officers always find that, for some reason or other, the University staff always appear to be getting the best of all worlds, whether it is in salary, perks, leave of absence, study leave, consultation fees, holidays - a long string of perks - and the Government officials feel that they are always the worse off. I think that is not good for administration or morale. But I am cheered to find that the doctors and surgeons who are now in Government service are of very good material and are holding their own with the University staff. For example, at the last Surgeons' Seminar for the Asian Pacific Region, which was sponsored by the Academy of Medicine, there were as many Government doctors who were taking charge of sessions as there were University officers. Whereas in the past, I think it used to be led generally by University personnel. It has been one of my functions during the last three years to try to make our Government officials in the service feel proud that they are as good as the University staff in all fields. It so happens that some of them are more academically inclined and, therefore, choose a University career, whereas those who are in Government service are doing an excellent job in their posts. So I do say that I have now come to the point where I think it is highly desirable that the University of Singapore ---”
“I think it is sometimes necessary not to impose Government's views too much on the University of Singapore because we would like them to be able to let us know what they think their development should be, and then we would give them all the necessary support, sometimes financially and sometimes morally. From the point of view of Government then, we have moved on from having to provide the sum of $1.7 million by adding another $600,000-odd to a sum of $2.3 million for this scheme. On the subject of a separate Teaching Hospital for the University, I was originally of the view that it was not necessary, because if our Medical School has done so well with what it has, that is to say, making full use of the facilities that are available in our Outram Road General Hospital for the last 60 years, the conception of a separate Teaching Hospital is something which perhaps could be considered a luxury, especially if one is presented with the idea that a Teaching Hospital would come to as much as $20 million as conceived by the University authorities in 1962. But if it were something more modest, then I think there would be great advantages if there were a separate Teaching Hospital, because I am beginning to find that in the Outram Road General Hospital we are having a lot of complications because the University uses Government facilities. The administration, the staff, everything is Government. The University staff are just grafted on to a Government department and they appear to have the best of both worlds. [Mr Lim Cheng Lock in the Chair] 4.07 p.m. If it suits them, the University talk of research. But there are service functions to be performed.”
“These were ultimately accepted, as I have said, for grafting on top of our proposed Radiotherapy Isotope Centre. All in all, it came to just around $4 million. That was how this joint project, shall we say, was presented to the public as part and parcel of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Medical School in Singapore. By adding on the extension to the medical library of $¾ million, the joint target for the Medical Progress Fund was therefore $4.75 million, with the Government agreeing to back this proposal dollar for dollar up to a maximum of $2 million for the Institute of Medical Specialities itself, plus another one-half of $¾ million for the extension to the medical library. I am very glad to say that this project captured the imagination of the public in Singapore so that the response was exceedingly good. The figure ultimately donated or pledged to be given to the University of Singapore for the Medical Progress Fund (some of the amounts pledged are to be paid in instalments over a 3-year period) has exceeded its original target of $2.375 million for the University of Singapore. And I think the Member for Joo Chiat has mentioned that they have actually got something like over $3 million. Sir, I would like to say that the conception of the Institute of Medical Specialities is really a move on the part of the University of Singapore to join hands with the Government in building something which, in their view, is necessary and which, in our view, is really part and parcel of our own development.”
“It was then that the Medical Faculty of the University of Singapore were thinking of what to do to commemorate their Diamond Jubilee. I think they originally had the idea of a very modest extension to the medical library for a sum of about $700,000-odd, and they already had in hand a grant from the China Medical Board for this particular project. They wanted to be more ambitious and thought that perhaps it was time to consider the project of an Institute of Medical Specialities. They therefore held consultations with our Ministry so that their ideas could be grafted on to our Radiotherapy Isotope Centre. We were glad that the University was prepared to discuss matters of development with the Ministry. This was a great improvement compared to a few years back when the University authorities thought they would just draw up a plan for development on their own. That was in 1962 when they drew up a very ambitious plan of $40 million, half of which ($20 million) would be for a Teaching Hospital. But, unfortunately, there was no prior consultation between the University and either the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Health, so that Government could not support this rather ambitious plan of $40 million and I am afraid it did not have a very long life. They did try to go out on their own to get funds, and they probably got less than one per cent of their target. So we had the University of Singapore authorities at the end of 1964 coming for consultation with us and wanting to incorporate a number of specialities. The approved specialities were neurology and neurosurgery, kidney diseases, and blood diseases, genetics and a psychology unit, gastro-enterology, endocrinology and an intensive care unit.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not regard the speech of the Member for Joo Chiat as a maiden speech, but it is practically a maiden speech because, although he did say something a few days ago, it was only very briefly. I welcome his speech today on the very important subject of the Institute of Medical Specialities, especially coming from one who has had a distinguished career in our University and who, unfortunately, left it for private practice before I became the Minister for Health in 1963. So that I do have to pay great attention to what he has to say on medicine and medical progress. Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Joo Chiat is also, fortunately, an honorary consultant to the Ministry of Health, besides being the President of the Medical Council. So I am speaking to one who is really a specialist in his field and I am just an ordinary layman. 4.00 p.m. I am in full sympathy with most of his remarks, but I would like to give a little background on how the Institute of Medical Specialities came to be born. The Member for Joo Chiat has rightly pointed out that he is all in support of the speciality of Radiotherapy Isotope Centre. It was actually part of Government's plan to establish this centre. In fact, it has been so for a number of years. It was in the First Development Plan for 1960-64, but, unfortunately, for some reason or other, it was not implemented, but we did intend to go ahead with it this year. We had a sum of $1.7 million earmarked for the establishment of a new Radiotherapy Centre, shall I put it that way, as we do have a very small and rather out-of-date centre at the moment which is doing its best with out-of-date equipment in the Outram Road General Hospital.”
“Secondly, it will put a stop to the nonsensical system of cleansing workers turning up for work on Sundays for double pay and public holidays for triple pay as of right and absenting themselves on Mondays and days following public holidays! This racket has unfortunately gone on for too long even since 1960 - for six long years! We must put an end to this historical farce! Hereafter, Sunday and public holiday work, if any, will be at the request of the employer, which is and has been the prevailing situation in Singapore for some time. Finally, since the re-organisation is to take effect, strike or no strike, as from 3rd January, 1967, I am now in the position to offer to all members of our Emergency Cleansing Corps prospects of permanent employment in 1967 subject, of course, to completion of three months' satisfactory service in the Emergency Cleansing Corps.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as the Ministry of Health has been planning for a complete re-organisation of the public cleansing service for some time and has also been gradually building up an Emergency Cleansing Corps towards this end, I can assure the Member for Bras Basah that should the cleansing service go on strike at midnight on 29th December, 1966, we shall be able to maintain not just a skeleton service during the strike but at the start perhaps provide one-half of the present service with a gradual buildup thereafter. On the 26th of August this year, I reported to this House that the then strength of our Emergency Cleansing Corps was 624 and it could be stepped up without limit to keep up with the requirements of re-organisation. I am happy to state that the present-day strength of our Emergency Cleansing Corps is 1,325. This is twice the strength of what it was four months ago and is equivalent to one-half of the strength of the present work force in the Public Cleansing Department of the Ministry should they go on strike. I wish to add, Sir, that strike or no strike, I shall personally take charge of the complete re-organisation of the public cleansing service with effect from the 3rd of January, 1967, which is only two weeks ahead. Re-organisation will proceed along the following principles. Firstly, our public cleansing service will henceforth be on a two-shift basis and this has twofold advantages. One, productivity will be practically doubled because the same equipment and vehicles could be used to clear twice the present output of refuse daily. Two, we can double our work force if necessary and thus provide excellent employment opportunities for our large pool of unemployed citizens now numbering about 70,000.”
“As soon as the Salaries Commission publishes its findings, and if this matter of medical benefits does not come into the picture, perhaps it could be taken up separately then. I do not think the instance the Member has mentioned, that someone having died on the operation table should have had health insurance, is really what he wants. The way to help this particular bereaved family is whether there is adequate life insurance or not. Health insurance does not do anything except meet the medical expenses for the operation, whether the person is dead or alive. But if the poor chap dies on the operation table, and if he has had some life insurance, then he gets the benefit of the life insurance, but not health insurance. Health insurance really means that if you pay your premiums, and in case medical expenses have to be incurred, like the payment of operation expenses, then the insurance company pays for the expenses, which would probably amount to just a few hundred dollars. I would say that we would like to look after our civil servants as well as we can. Not only can they break down because of hard work, but I think Members of Parliament can also break down because of hard work. But I think, all in all, we have a reasonably good health service and I hope we can maintain the high standard of health services in Singapore.”
“This practice is not checked by teachers. And so it goes on. So there must be a health campaign to make everyone pick up the litter and put it into the waste-paper basket. We have to provide thousands of wastepaper baskets all over the city. Almost every home has a little garden, and in collecting rain water it breeds mosquitoes at the same time. The people complain about mosquitoes, but at the same time they are breeding mosquitoes in their backyard. Despite the fact that D.D.T. is such a wonderful anti-mosquito insecticide, mosquitoes have become clever and now they are also resistant to D.D.T. The few that are not killed become tough and thereafter D.D.T. does not affect them. So we have a stronger breed of mosquitoes, unfortunately, not only in Singapore but all over the world. All these, I am afraid, Sir, are big problems. However, we are at the moment conducting a three-month pilot scheme for a selected area in Singapore bounded by the Geylang River, Guillemard Road, Paya Lebar, Sims Avenue, Lorong 3, Geylang Road and Kallang River - an area with about 8,000 houses - and a specific house-to-house survey of mosquitoes is being carried out. We should be able to complete this survey this month and then we will be in a position to launch an island-wide campaign. I can then assure the Member for Punggol that even in his constituency we should be able to see a reduced number of mosquitoes, but not just now. Finally, Mr Speaker, Sir, coming to the civil servants who, because of illness, may find it necessary - as stated by the Member for Punggol - to seek medical treatment overseas. I am afraid this is a matter which is not under my control. I think the Ministry of Finance has to come into the picture.”
“Because the problem of mosquitoes in Singapore is not just a question of exterminating the mosquitoes as you see them. We have to get down to the basic causes and there are numerous causes why we are having so many mosquitoes in Singapore today. Not that we are very proud about it, but it is a legacy. First of all, there has been rapid building development over the last five years of which we are all so proud, but, unfortunately, it does create problems. Because of the speed to get things done, other factors are sometimes either ignored or put on a very low priority, so that whilst we see many beautiful multi-storeyed flats and factories coming up, many drains have been blocked. So we see after every shower large pools of stagnant water, and within a week, we have millions of mosquitoes. It is a case of chasing and closing up all these possible loopholes. This has to be tackled at ground level. Then we have numerous drains all of which have been covered up to look pretty on which to allow hawkers to hawk. But underneath, the drains are clogged and there is no flow of water, and stagnant water results in the breeding of mosquitoes. Then we have our tens of thousands of hawkers who use the drains as refuse dumps. They, and even our citizens, throw their rubbish into these drains. I would like to inform this House that three-quarters of the refuse which we throw into our city garbage dump is collected from the streets or dug out from the drains. Public streets and drains are used as refuse dumps. We have to educate the whole population not to treat the streets and drains as refuse dumps, and that takes time. Let us have a look at our schools. Every school ground looks a disgrace with all the litter which has been thrown by students.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I will touch on only two points raised by the Member for Sembawang - hawker control and the possibility of launching a cleansing campaign. He has spoken in very glowing terms about the Ministry of Health, and I am glad he has chosen it to be the Ministry with which he wishes to be associated. Because of its good reputation, he is adding mere lustre to it. I am pleased to say that he is doing very good work in the Ministry of Health, especially in assisting the second Parliamentary Secretary in hawker control, and he has given us very valuable advice. I am sure that with his continued good work we should be able to resolve this big and outstanding social problem in due course. As regards his call for a general cleansing campaign in Singapore, I can assure him that he will be called upon very soon to lead it, because I gather the Public Daily Rated Employees' Unions Federation are intent on following up their strike ballot. If I am correct, they are supposed to serve their strike notice today, or maybe it has already been served. So a general cleansing campaign will very soon be coming, and I hope the Member for Sembawang will lead it. I assure him that we have plans to maintain more than a skeleton service. May I now come to the three points brought up by the Member for Punggol? I do not think it is fair to say that the Parliamentary Secretary, the Member for Bukit Timah - he is not in the House at the moment, because he is now in the St. Andrew's Orthopaedic Hospital making a short speech on my behalf for the children's concert way up in Siglap - was trying to give a very evasive answer to Members who were very critical about the mosquito "population", which has also increased in Singapore. I thought he did exceedingly well.”
“We still have to license, I think, another 30,000 to 40,000. In other words, another two-thirds of the problem has yet to be tackled. We have about one-third of the problem in hand. Given time, patience and co-operation from Members of Parliament as well as from members of the Citizens' Consultative Committees and from the hawkers themselves, we should be able to resolve this problem in a couple of years. The most recent attempt at licensing and controlling hawkers was in the North Bridge Road and High Street area. Even just outside this House, there used to be a number of hawkers plying their wares on the five-foot way. I think there is now easy access to all and sundry when they shop along North Bridge Road and High Street, which, I think, is very noticeable. We have been able to do this because we have the co-operation of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Culture and the Member of Parliament for Stamford. With his kind co-operation, we have been able to persuade the hawkers to take alternative sites in side streets, away from traffic junctions and busy streets, so that they can continue with their business and also allow the life of this community to go on as it should. I can say with quiet confidence that the progress in the resiting of hawkers has been reasonably smooth, that we have achieved some success, and that we hope, given a bit of time, that the problem of hawkers in Singapore is a soluble one.”
“I am glad that the Member for River Valley has given me an opportunity to outline the progress on the resiting of hawkers in Singapore. In this respect, I must, first of all, express my gratitude to him for his co-operation and the part he himself has played in the successful resiting of hawkers in his constituency of River Valley, especially the large number of unlicensed hawkers who used to congregate along Killiney Road and Killiney Road Private Market. At the beginning of this year we outlined the basic principles of the new Hawkers Code for the licensing and control of an estimated 40,000 to 50,000 unlicensed hawkers in Singapore. We have accepted the fact that hawking is a way of life in Singapore and we have also ensured that any Singapore citizen is entitled to apply for a hawker's licence so long as he complies with a few basic principles - of not being a public menace in respect of public health, be a problem to traffic, whether pedestrian or motor, and flouting law and order. So we have for a start licensed more than 2,500 hawkers in pasar malams at 66 sites. With that experience we then moved on to selected areas where there were hawkers congregated at street junctions, and the Killiney Road Market was one of the selected targets where we wanted to put matters right. 4.45 p.m. With the help of Members of Parliament, which also includes my friend and colleague, the Minister for Finance, in the Cairnhill Constituency, we tackled hawkers around Koek Road and Newton Circus. We have up to date licensed and controlled about 5,000 hawkers during 1966. As we have had something like 12,000 licences issued to hawkers prior to the introduction of the new Hawkers Code, we can say that today we have under licence and control something like 17,000 hawkers.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am, in fact, contemplating a change in the composition of the membership of the Licensing Committee to include members of the public who are generally affected by such licensing policy, so that there would be various viewpoints and opinions expressed in this Committee comprising professional officers, those in the political field, and also ordinary members of the public, to ensure that the policy that we implement will be found to be reasonable and, therefore, any harshness in the application of regulations might be tempered. Mr Lingam: Mr Speaker, Sir, I agree with the Minister. But the people concerned are not against the requirements. What they are asking is that the requirements should be the minimum. But the Health Ministry has asked them to have a better place. This is more or less a case where these people have been running this business for the last 20 or 30 years. They are willing to abide by the rules. But if you ask them to take off the attap roof, or demolish the old building and build a concrete one, then it is too much for them. So I hope the Minister will look into this case and consider it sympathetically.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I tend to agree with the Member for Aljunied that, in the determination of whether a factory should be licensed or not, perhaps some exemption may he permitted if such a factory is indeed a small one and could be classified as a home industry. But the rub is that one does not know exactly when it is a home industry that has done so well that it has become a real factory. However, it is not, I think, a fair principle to say that just because a factory has been going on for the last 20 years, therefore, it should go on for the next 20 years in its old-fashioned way. Because Singapore is fast being rebuilt and urbanised, what used to be a cottage industry and may be far, far away from the city area 10 or 20 years ago is not the same cottage industry today, because it might very well be in the heart of Singapore itself, so that it is necessary to have some element of control and the minimum of health requirements. I must, however, say that precautions have been taken in the Ministry of Health for the Licensing Committee to be composed not only of professional officers but, in fact, to have a membership largely composed of Members of Parliament who are non-professionals and who are best able, therefore, to appreciate the political implications in the implementation of official regulations, etc. It is my view that for quite some time, the Licensing Committee of my Ministry seems to have been somewhat rigid in its application of regulations, and I had hoped that, with the presence of a large number of non-professionals in this Committee, this aspect of the problem would be looked into.”
“But I think it is very difficult for a proper investigation to be made if the Member just makes a sort of graphic description of what took place, without indicating the time, and the person concerned. I hope he will take into account the actual situation in which things happen in the Labour Ward of the Kandang Kerbau Maternity Hospital, which has the reputation of being the largest maternity hospital in the world. Medical students going for training in Kandang Kerbau Hospital say their hair stands on end when they see babies popping out every few minutes! They use the words "popping out". Every day over 100 babies are born; every few minutes a baby pops out. Can you imagine a doctor, or a midwife, or a nurse behaving naturally under such conditions? Naturally they are all excited and at their wits' end trying to save the lives of the mothers and babies. 4.30 p.m.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am very sorry to hear from the Member for Paya Lebar that his wife had a bad experience in the Kandang Kerbau Hospital. I was not aware of that. He should at least have given me some indication that such an unfortunate thing had taken place and I would have looked into the matter. But I think his long complaint of what took place in the Kandang Kerbau Hospital unless it is the personal experience of his wife - could very well be an essay written by one of his students in class of the goings-on in a maternity hospital, because he was so dramatic and graphic! I do not, for a moment, tolerate any ill-behaviour or discourtesy on the part of nurses and midwives towards their patients. Hon. Members: Hear, hear!”
“Patients usually go to doctors for tonics. They are given iron tonic which is really iron in a liquid form and which does good, I think, to the human constitution. I do admit that it must have come as a shock to the patient - especially a sick and ill patient in the Tan Tock Seng Hospital who generally stays in the hospital for a fairly long time from three to six months - to find a rusty nail in the food. But it is always possible, even in the very best of hotels where you may pay $20 for a dinner, to find a rusty nail and, of course, if it is discovered, there will be ample apologies from the head-waiter downwards, probably with the manager running out of his office to extend his apologies. These things are possible. This should not be taken as an example of deliberate negligence, but it should be taken in the spirit in which the letter was written, that we will do our best. We are sorry that it has happened - it can happen again, of course. But we will try to see that it will not happen again, and we will draw the attention of the cooks to a complaint like this, and so forth. But I certainly cannot guarantee that another rusty nail will not turn up in another hospital! Mr Lingam: Before I withdraw the amendment, I would like to say that iron tonic is different from rusty iron tonic! Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I notice that our Members start off very well by saying that we have got a wonderful health service, etc., etc., and then when everything is nicely said and done, they give one "kedong" - a little jab to make things a little more interesting! Apparently the Member for Aljunied takes very seriously the letter of complaint that he wrote to the Ministry, but I thought he got a fair answer from the Deputy Director of Medical Services in charge of Hospitals. 4.15 p.m. I used to make it a rule that letters of complaint from Members of Parliament should be sent to me, but I have been a bit busy recently. So this particular exchange of correspondence was not made known to me until the Member read it out. I think it is a fair reply given by the official that it is regretted that a nail was found in the food. An hon. Member: Lucky.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, time has already run out for me. But I hope, with your permission, I shall be able to answer the Member as much as I can. I agree with her that one should never be satisfied with conditions and should always attempt to improve; especially if there should be any deficiencies, we should endeavour to rectify them. It is only in this way that we can progress. The Member has spoken largely on the role of nurses, but she has been good enough to say that not all nurses are unkind. So here again we are dealing with the subject of the minority of any community who may not live up to the high traditions of this noble vocation of nursing. She makes the suggestion that nurses should be asked to put on a number like that of police constables, so that it will be easy for identification in case of complaints. But she is also wise enough to say that it is also possible for a patient to be able to remember the number of the nurse who has looked after him very well, so that there will either be a bouquet or a brickbat. This is a question which I believe has been discussed with A.U.P.E., which represents the nurses, and I am given to understand that there is some resistance to even having names attached to the lapels of their uniforms. I personally think it is a good suggestion to have tag names on uniforms. We are already making a start with the doctors, and I would like to pursue this matter in respect of nurses with a different colour - one colour for doctors and a different colour for nurses. There may be resentment to having numbers on uniforms. I will endeavour to look into this matter for 1967. Madam Chan Choy Siong(In Mandarin): I beg to withdraw. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. The sum of $4,574,830 for Head 0701 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.”
“If it is true that the control of the sale of pep pills by unauthorised persons in Singapore is now being made the subject of passing the buck from one Ministry to another, from the Customs to the police, and from the police to the Ministry of Health and so on, then I will certainly look into it and ensure that at least the Ministry of Health will make up its mind whether or not control is really necessary with the present state of knowledge that we have of the pep pills.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not quite able to answer the Member for River Valley in respect of his first question, when he states that he does not appear to find in the Government Gazette the publication of tenders for the supply of drugs to my Ministry. I would consider that rather odd if that is not done. If it is the case of not providing full particulars of the successful tender, then there may be a reason for it. It is not possible to itemise every tender that has been awarded, because certain tenders amount to hundreds and thousands of dollars and cover a variety of items. I would say that, in principle, it is desirable and necessary that when Government Ministries make purchases of articles or drugs where they are put to open tender, the results of such award should be publicised in the Government Gazette. If the Member could give me further information later on on this subject and if there is any deficiency, I shall see to it that it will be rectified. On his second point, he feels that there should be some form of control on what he calls the sale of dangerous drugs by indicating that pep pills are dangerous drugs. I would like to be guided by professional officers in this respect. If it is true that there are those who, having had a surfeit of pep pills, have been admitted to Woodbridge Hospital, I am confident that my doctors in Woodbridge Hospital would be the first to raise this point with the Ministry and, on receipt of their advice, action would follow.”
“I am one of the fortunate Ministers to be ably assisted by two Parliamentary Secretaries.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I must congratulate the Members for Aljunied and Delta on their very sharp eyes in detecting that the 1967 Estimates provide for only one Parliamentary Secretary, but, in fact, I have the pleasure and privilege of having two Parliamentary Secretaries. The second Parliamentary Secretary, who is now the Member for Bukit Timah, was my Political Secretary for the last three years and he has been doing excellent work in the Ministry. But when it was time for the Bukit Timah by-election to take place, and it was decided by the People's Action Party to field Mr Chor Yeok Eng as a candidate, it was necessary for him then to resign from the service of the Government as my Political Secretary. With his return unopposed, I put to the Prime Minister the question of his reappointment either as a Political Secretary or as a Parliamentary Secretary. It was then decided by the Prime Minister that Mr Chor could be another Parliamentary Secretary. It was, therefore, the privilege of the Prime Minister that Mr Chor Yeok Eng be made a Parliamentary Secretary. Therefore, he was posted to the Ministry of Health. Perhaps the two Members concerned are not aware of the fact that the preparation of the Estimates takes as much as eight months before it could find itself in print. In fact, at this very moment, all Ministries are working on the 1968 Estimates. So although the post of a second Parliamentary Secretary may not appear in the 1967 Estimates, all that is necessary for, the Minister for Finance and Treasury to do is to agree to an application for supplementary estimates. I can only assume that so long as the second Parliamentary Secretary gets his salary, therefore, the Treasury has already approved his post.”
“Sir, may I pay a compliment to the Member for Mountbatten where, in one respect, he did come across a case of a hawker passing on a bribe to a hawker inspector. I took action and had the latter sacked. Amendment, by leave, Withdrawn. The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ng Yeow Chong - That the sum to be allocated for Head 0107 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1022. *”
“The matter could then be taken up and, after due investigation, if an official is really found guilty, then disciplinary action will be taken. I do not think it is necessary to undergo what is known as a re-orientation course as suggested by the Member for Mountbatten.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I am glad that the Member for Mountbatten has started off by paying a tribute to the Court interpreters for their honesty and sincerity in the performance of their duties. His long complaint is in respect of perhaps some interpreters who may be rude and discourteous to the public. I think it may be said that ever since 1959 - seven years ago - there has been a great improvement in the conduct and behaviour of our officials in Government service. With the establishment of a Central Complaints Bureau, it is possible, if members of the public have any complaints about rude behaviour or discourtesy of public officials, for such cases to be investigated into. And also the fact that Members of Parliament have been dutifully holding their Meet-the-people sessions where members of the public could lodge their complaints personally with either Members of Parliament, Parliamentary Secretaries and Ministers. Sir, if a member of the public really feels that he has been unfairly treated, it will be necessary for such complaints to be lodged not just verbally but in writing. As in the case of corrupt practices, there has always been the difficulty that members of the public will just make verbal complaints and expect things to be followed up. 3.45 p.m. Therefore, I would like to answer the Member for Mountbatten that if there are any particular cases of rudeness and misbehaviour by public officials, such allegations should be made in writing and, if necessary, the Member of Parliament for the constituency concerned would be good enough to report these cases directly to the Minister for Finance who is, after all, in charge of all Government officials throughout the State, or the Public Service Commission.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, what has been stated by the Member for Choa Chu Kang is readily accepted, that is to say, it is not considered advisable to leave any particular officer in one position for too long a time. I think that is really what the Legal Service Commission would not like to do in regard to the posting of officers. But the usual reason is, because of the exigencies of service, a particular officer is left in the said post much longer than is considered desirable. I should have said that it is the Attorney-General who is responsible for the postings of legal officers and not the Legal Service Commission. I hope the Member for Choa Chu Kang appreciates the fact that I am trying to act for another Minister at a moment's notice, and therefore I may not be au fait with all the procedure. The postings and transfers of legal officers in the Legal Service are jointly the responsibility of the Attorney-General and the Chief Justice as Heads of the Legal and Judicial Branches respectively. I can assure the Member for Choa Chu Kang that if a particular legal officer has been kept in a position much longer than is necessary, when it comes to the question of promotion, this will not be held against him because it was not within his control, and therefore adequate compensation will be made. Wherever possible, it is the view of the Attorney-General's Chambers to move officers around in order to give them a well-rounded experience to assist them in their future work.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, there is no doubt that the Member for Aljunied is a man who is very curious about certain items in our Estimates. This item of "Special Services" which appears under the vote for the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau is considered not quite in the public interest to be discussed on the advice of the Solicitor-General. But since it has appeared in print. I think I will go as far as I can without endangering security. This is a sum meant to meet contingencies, such as the payment for information to agents and informers, and for other items which are incidental to the efficient performance of the functions of the C.P.I.B. I hope he will be prepared to accept it as far as I have gone.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, as you will have probably noticed, my colleague, the Minister for Law, was not quite himself yesterday, being sort of disabled with his left foot in a plaster, and he has been advised not to repeat his performance in the Chamber today, and so I am replying on his behalf. I would like to answer the Member for Kampong Kapor that one of the difficulties which face the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau is that there are always rumours, statements which are not followed up with the reporting and placing of such information before the C.P.I.B. The Member has given enough information in this House of allegations of corruption which appears to be within my Ministry. I shall be very pleased if he will go further and place this information before the C.P.I.B., so that we could then follow up with the necessary action once the investigation is completed. I must say that I have always encouraged members of the public, whenever they have complaints to the effect that there is corruption amongst our public officials, to do so not verbally but in writing, which information we could then pass on to the C.P.I.B. I can assure the Member for Kampong Kapor that we have had cases of such written complaints being followed up, sometimes with success but sometimes without as much success as I would have wished. Once the C.P.I.B. report recommends disciplinary action to be taken, even though it is dismissal, the Ministry of Health has always accepted the advice and the official concerned has been dismissed from the service ignominiously. So I would seek the co-operation of the Member for Kampong Kapor and ask him to supply all the necessary information so that the C.P.I.B. could follow up. I can assure him that I will be very interested in this particular report.”
“In almost every instance, it is the employer who will be bearing the expenses for such treatment. Therefore, it will not in any way increase the burden for the less fortunate members of our public if they are admitted into paying wards, because it is the employer who will have to meet such liability under the workmen's compensation insurance which every good employer takes up to protect his liability. As for the numerous accidents which we have - something like 100 motor accidents a day - every car on the road is covered compulsorily with third-party insurance, and therefore personal injuries as a result of motor accidents are rightful claims against insurance companies. I have already indicated sometime ago that it is our intention to make it so, so that insurance companies will meet these dues. In the past, for some queer reasons, the Government hospitals have not taken the trouble to send bills to insurance companies and I think it is time that this serious loophole in the revenue of the State should be plugged. I can therefore assure the Member for Kampong Kapor that by having more paying-class wards in our Orthopaedic Units we shall not be penalising the poorer sections of the public, because we shall be able to recover most of the dues from employers or insurance companies. It is anticipated that we will be able to get at least $� million each year by this process and therefore we shall be able to recover all capital expenditure probably in a matter of years. The Chairman: Will the Member for Choa Chu Kang please let me know if he wishes to withdraw the amendment or have it put to a vote?”
“In my opinion - as the Member himself has admitted - the doctors might have been grossly over-worked and were therefore perhaps a little short of temper during the wee hours of the morning. However, if I can get more information, I will be in a position to investigate into the matter fully and give a firm decision on it. But I do not think that it is as simple as suggested by the Member, that to meet the situation, all we need do is to employ more doctors. It is not that we do not wish to employ more doctors. There are on the establishment 450 doctors, and at the moment we have close to 400 doctors. The vacancies are there. It is available for any doctor who wishes to apply to be considered for appointment, and it is very rarely that we turn down any application from a doctor who wishes to join Government service. As regards improvements to the conditions of service, etc., this is something which I, as a Minister, would very much like to encourage and support. But here again, there is my colleague, the Minister for Finance. In addition, there is already a Salaries Commission in existence and I do not think that we should anticipate events or to say things which would embarrass the working of this Commission. I hope I have answered the comments of the Member for Choa Chu Kang and I will now answer the Member for Kampong Kapor. He does not appear to be happy over the fact that the funds asked for are for the renovation of Wards 61 and 62 into paying-class wards, because he feels that this would not meet the situation of those less able to pay after being admitted into the hospital. It is important to remind him that the majority of cases admitted into the Orthopaedic Unit are in respect of accidents arising out of employment or motor traffic.”
“Mr Speaker. Sir, may I answer the criticism of the Member for Choa Chu Kang in the first place? I believe he indicated that there was not enough information in Paper Cmd. 24 of 1966 on the request for additional funds to provide improvements to the Orthopaedic Unit. I would like to give a little background history of this particular item - Improvements for the Orthopaedic Unit in Outram Road Hospital. The original plan was as late as 1958 - eight years ago - and it was then something like a $ 1� million proposal which in 1959 I felt was excessive, and I had it brought down to a sum of $300,000. There were therefore considerable savings for the State of more than $1 million. Of this reduced sum of $300,000, unfortunately, the Ministry of Finance provided only $50,000 for 1966. Later on, an approved transfer of $75,000 was granted, and the request in the Command Paper is for a sum of $224,400 which is really in keeping with a contract which has been let for a sum of $339,967.80. This does not include, however, a vote for "Furniture and Equipment" which is estimated at nearly $110,000, but this sum will be entered in next year's Development Estimates. I hope that will meet the Member's request for more information on the expenditure of this sum of money. To answer his second question that the outpatient service in the hospital is bad, I am sorry to hear that he has had an unhappy experience in the hospital and I would appreciate it if he would put this matter in writing, indicating the day when he was at the hospital and where he felt he had not been fairly treated, so that I can investigate further into the matter. Because I think it is pretty dangerous sometimes just to listen to one complaint and "tar" the whole service.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I regret again to inform the Member for Anson that Government has no intention of building a Government market between 4 m.s. and 7� m.s. Thomson Road for the foreseeable future. It has been the policy of Government to build markets in areas where large-scale public housing is being undertaken. In accordance with this policy, 10 Government markets with 2,171 stalls have been built since 1961 in Housing and Development Board estates at a cost of $2.3 million. INSTITUTE OF RESEARCH ON PROBLEMS OF WOMEN 11. Madam Chan Choy Siong asked the Minister for Culture and Social Affairs whether he intends setting up an institute of research on problems of women, as outlined in "The Tasks Ahead, 1959", with a view to improving their social, economic and political status in society.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I regret to inform the Member for Paya Lebar that there are no immediate plans to establish an Outpatient Dispensary inside Paya Lebar Constituency. The reasons are the same as those given to similar questions raised by other Members in the recent past. It is not possible to have Government Outpatient Dispensaries in every constituency, and in my opinion the present 26 Government Outpatient Dispensaries situated all over the island are adequate to serve the needs of Singapore for the foreseeable future. Furthermore, residents of Paya Lebar Constituency can go to any one of three nearby Government Outpatient Dispensaries: (a) Paya Lebar Outpatient Dispensary (with three doctors) which is situated at the junction of Upper Serangoon Road with Yio Chu Kang Road and just outside the boundaries of Paya Lebar Constituency itself; (b) Lim Ah Pin Outpatient Dispensary (with one doctor) which is just off 6th milestone, Upper Serangoon Road; and (c) MacPherson Road Outpatient Dispensary (with three doctors) at Pesiaran Keliling, off Lower Paya Lebar Road. THOMSON ROAD MARKET 10. Mr P. Govindaswamy asked the Minister for Health whether the Government will build a market between the 4 m.s. and 7� m.s. Thomson. Road, and when.”
“I am happy to hear that confirmation, Sir. So let us not therefore get ourselves all worked up over the fact that there will be no Sunday work nor public holiday work as from 1st October, 1966, unless we want them to turn up. Therefore, we do hope that the National Trades Union Congress will exert their influence in this respect, and that in the discussions which I shall have with the officials of the Public Daily-Rated Cleansing Workers' Union and A.U.P.E., they will be able to give them responsible advice, that the scheme of re-organisation which the Ministry of Health has in mind can have their full support and co-operation, and that we can look forward to a reasonably more efficient public cleansing service in Singapore than has been possible in the past. Question put, and agreed to. Resolved, That Parliament do now adjourn. Adjourned accordingly at Eight minutes to Eight o'clock p.m. to a date to be fixed. WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS Friday, 26th August, 1966 Second Language in Secondary Schools 1. Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Education in how many secondary schools are second language classes conducted, and how many students are taking up a second language.”
“So I shall be cracking the whip not only at the daily-rated workers but also at the monthly-rated to do their share of work and try to produce something that is more like a public cleansing service for a city of ours. I am very happy to hear, too in the very early part of the speech by the hon. Member for Bras Basah, who is the Secretary-General of our National Trades Union Congress, on the subject of Sunday work and public holiday work at the rate of twice normal day pay and three times normal day pay respectively that this is at the request of employers. Hear, hear! That is what I like to hear: that work on Sundays and public holidays would be at the request of employers, and that is exactly what we have decided in this re-organisation that this should be so. If the Public Cleansing Department requires the cleansing workers to turn up for work on Sundays and on public holidays - and may I repeat that there are 52 Sundays and 11 public holidays in a year, making a total of 63 days - because it wishes certain work to be done on Sundays and public holidays, and it says, "Yes, we want 300 workers or 500 workers," then it will pay this overtime. But not where the whole force turn up on the 52 Sundays and the 11 public holidays and clear less refuse than they do under normal working conditions and absent themselves on Mondays and on days following public holidays. This is ridiculous. So I am very pleased -”
“And there will, therefore, be an allotted beat, shall we say, allocated to a team of workers plus the vehicle with a daily quota of dustbins to be collected. It may be 1,000, it may be 1,500, or it may just be 500. And I have already indicated that we will not insist that this particular task force work from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. If they are efficient enough and be able to complete their duties by 12 o'clock - one hour ahead of knocking-off time - we are going to start a new precedent and say that they can check out and not try to linger and dilly-dally, park their refuse vehicles under a shade and spend a long time over coffee, or park their refuse vehicles in front of junk shops and bargain over how much they could get for old bottles and old tins. What we want our cleansing workers to do is to be reasonably efficient and productive and to do their allotted share of work, clear and dump the rubbish, and clean up and go home. What they do after that is their business. That is why we want to introduce not just one shift duty but two shift duties. They know exactly what they are supposed to do. If they have done their job, off they go. They get their pay and off they go. And it will be possible then to pin responsibility. I agree with the hon. Member for Bras Basah that lack of supervision has been responsible for what has gone wrong. That is why, in winding up my rather long reply to the hon. Member for Anson today over the public cleansing service, I shall be inviting officials not only of the Public Daily-Rated Cleansing Workers' Union but also that section of A.U.P.E., the monthly-rated supervisory staff, for a discussion on this matter. I think they are both jointly responsible for an efficient service.”
“This unfortunately is a very general statement and is a little out of date if it is a statement of fact, unless he is able to give specific examples. I understand there was a contract not within the last two years but as long ago as 1959 - seven years ago, and rather out of date I should say -and the contract was let out for 3,000 nightsoil pails at the rate of $3.57 each; and that ever since 1960 such work has been dealt with through departmental labour. I would like, first of all, to say that I regret that the hon. Member for Bras Basah has made a general statement which is not true. And if it is true, that it is seven years behind time. [Interruption] I look forward to that, Sir, when I am in a position to answer specific complaints. But if it is a general statement, I am afraid I am just being drawn into a discussion on other topics. Sir, I welcome the hon. Member putting forward specific complaints to which I will then give him my answer. Then, unfortunately, in his long speech, he brought in topics like, "How is it possible to assess the output of a cleansing worker, say, in Tanglin, as compared with a cleansing worker in a new housing estate or at hawker congregations?" Sir, I have indicated earlier on that part of the plan for reorganisation of the public cleansing service will be to start a new system whereby a refuse vehicle will have a work force of, say, four workers including the driver, who will be given what is called a norm. Naturally the norm will be a little different in a congested area from a norm for a residential area, and a norm for a rural area. That will have to be determined. It will not be infallible.”
“Sir, the hon. Member for Bras Basah made passing mention of the fact that in the Health Ministry refuse handcarts and night-soil pails are being farmed out to contractors. I hope I have got him right there.”