Zainul Abidin Rasheed
Singapore
“I think much has been done as far as recovery is concerned, and the Japanese government itself is now paying due attention to reconstruction. Just at the Jakarta meeting, in fact, there was a lot of sharing of what has been done, and while they are grateful, they also look forward to us working together in terms of the reconstruction.”
“Kelp that he had met Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew when Mr Lee visited Moscow in 1970. Even though then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew at that time showed an interest to learn from the Soviet socialist system, he changed his mind after visiting the Soviet Union and made changes to the political system and the system of governance in Singapore…”
“In my opinion, the measures and programmes to achieve progress are quite visible and numerous. The Community Leaders’ Forum network continues to develop. What else should be given attention to, especially in relation to dysfunctional families and divorce cases?”
“I found the Malay workers in the Middle East very encouraging. This is one of the best opportunities for us in this new area. Finally, the three-prong Government measure is to ensure that every citizen will continue to contribute towards the development of Singapore to ensure that every Singaporean will be given the best opportunity to en…”
“Sir, I believe ASEAN's credibility does not just hinge on Myanmar. ASEAN's credibility has been built over the years and we have shown a lot of credibility in many areas in terms of international relations.”
“As the President has said, when we take advantage of the existing opportunities through globalisation, we must also pay attention to the fact that these new opportunities should not result in a wide income gap.”
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“The letter by a Malaysian Malay, Malik Tahir, published in the Straits Times, looking at Malaysia-Singapore relations from the point of view of the so-called abang-adik, or big brother and small brother, and ethnic Malay-Chinese angle, would not help. So with the May 1997 anti-Chinese riots in Indonesia and the off and on Christian-Muslim killings in Maluku. Thus, all the more we need to continue to work hard at improving race relations in Singapore. Whether it is a question of promoting understanding and even more difficult, to build better trust, something that will take a longer time to achieve, we have to soldier on. Allow me to share with you a conversation I had with my son, an officer in the army. He was of course appalled at the survey results. He was saddened that about 60% believed that there was a need to check the background of a Malay officer before putting him in an important position in the SAF. He protested pointedly - I quote: "Put yourself in the position where you are putting your best foot forward, you are all hearts and soul to serve the SAF and Singapore, how would you feel about such survey findings?" - when responding to the survey finding about the question of whether to trust the Malays in times of war with a Malay/Muslim country. He comforted himself by saying that perhaps the survey could be seen academically. "What matters", he said, "are practical situations." He was confident that his men, whom he served NS with, would feel differently. Having trained and served together under NS would have made that difference. He feels that whatever the feelings shown in the survey, primordial or otherwise, we must continue to develop better bonding and better trust. Sir, I share that sentiment. We have no choice.”
“Mr Speaker Sir, thank you for allowing me to participate in the debate on the Budget Statement. I rise in support of the motion in the name of the Minister for Finance, Dr Richard Hu. Sir, much has already been said on how to make our economy strong and competitive. After all, the Budget is about the economics of governing Singapore. While Mr Inderjit Singh's magic of doing business through the Internet is fascinating, I am glad that Mr Sinnakaruppan has reminded us of the concerns about the digital divide. It is in this context that I find Dr Hu ending his remarks on the Budget Statement with a sober reminder about the importance of social cohesion as interesting, if not telling. I quote: "Most important of all, we have to work on preserving our social cohesion, without which we will be much weaker as a nation in weathering a future crisis." Perhaps a coincidence, or perhaps to buttress the point, the Straits Times released, a day after Budget Day, survey results on ethnic relations which say a lot about our vulnerabilities as a multi-racial and multi-religious society. No, Sir, I would not bore you with more rhetorics about why we must not get complacent about race relations and multi-racial harmony, but suffice to say that those survey findings should serve as a wake up call for us that all is not well when it comes to our social cohesion. Yes, Sir, I can see the progress we have made. But there is still a lot of ground to be covered before we can really say that we are truly race and colour blind. The survey results proved this. Perhaps the survey results could have been more positive if it were carried out in better times, when Singapore-Malaysia relations were warmer.”
“Otherwise, in my view, it is difficult for us to realise our dream of reducing our dependence on foreign food supply. Sir, on this note, I support the motion standing in the name of Mr Davinder Singh.”
“If practical, separate industrial effluent, which is contaminated by heavy metals and toxic substance, from the non-polluted sewer, so that the recycled water from the cleaner source could be used for producing water for better application. I note that the Ministry of National Development is considering to increase the production of food in meeting the local demand and reduce the excessive dependence on foreign supply. In my view, this is a healthy approach to ensure food security. The recent experience of animal diseases and excessive pesticide used in farm products taught us to be more cautious about over dependence on foreign imports. Besides increasing our food production using mechanised and intensive farming technologies, we should also take pains to develop more foreign sources of supply to cater for the shock due to the shortage of supply, like the recent shortage of pork supply. For increasing the local farm production, I am concerned about the shortage of manpower which we already face in the present high-tech farms. At present, the high-tech farmers are only allowed to hire foreign workers from the traditional source, meaning Malaysians. The Malaysian workers are not very keen to work in the farms due to the relatively unpleasant working environment and the reward is not as good as those involved in the renovation and construction industries. The farmers are really desperate in looking for manpower supply from non-traditional sources, but their applications were not granted. While the Ministry is contemplating increasing food supply as a means to achieve a stronger food security position, I hope that this matter of foreign workers from the non-traditional source could be properly dealt with by the Ministry of Manpower.”
“However, for those who are financially weak they might have to place the community cohesion promotion programme in lower priority. We should enhance the funding to provide adequate funds for the grassroots organisations, so that they could respond fully to the national call in developing community cohesion. So far, I know that MCD always receives one of the smallest budgets in the past. With this new emphasis, I hope more funds could be allocated to MCD in the coming budget session. Both the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of the Environment mentioned about the issue of water. Besides developing the water catchment in Marina South, widening the sources of water supply and desalination, industrial water was mentioned. In fact, recycled water will be one of the important sources of water supply in our water scarce island. Our sewer system throws away more than what we have consumed, in terms of the amount of water. Considering the fact that our catchment could produce half of the water we consume, with the water entering into the sewer system being recycled once, we will be self-sufficient in our water needs at the present stage, except that the cost would be higher. I am glad to note that the Jurong industrial area might be using recycled water for certain industrial applications. I hope that the experience we learn from this project will lead to a wider application in recycled water and an increase in its volume of production. While we are developing newer HDB townships and Marina South, we should consider the dual water supply system to cater for both the recycled water and potable water. The deep tunnel sewer system we plan to build should also take the recycled water into consideration.”
“Due to the differences in the priority set by the respective Ministries, some projects will drag on for years before they could be implemented. I would like to cite an example for building a childcare centre in my constituency by a charitable organisation. MCD gave the approval very promptly. However, another Ministry which is supposed to build the centre dragged their feet due to shortage of resources. In my view, the two Ministries have different priorities on the issue. The aged population issue could also face a similar problem if each Ministry sings a different tune on the issue of priority. I hope the poor experience I had encountered will not be repeated on this very important issue. In the development of a cohesive society, MCD will be one of the main bodies to spearhead the various programmes. Besides the emphasis on the CDCs in promoting social cohesion, the community centres and other various grassroots organisations like the RCs are equally important in promoting social cohesion among our people. So far, all the programmes carried out by these organisations are either self-financed or through community donations. The Government has relatively negligible financial involvement except payment for the administrative staff and the premises like the community centre. Sir, to strengthen the social cohesion of our society is an enduring and open-ended task for the community organisations. Endless educational programmes and social projects will be launched in order to qualitatively achieve the improved cohesion of our people. In my view, funding for all these projects will be very essential. For the community organisations who are well funded by their well wishers, they should have no difficulty in participating strongly in this long enduring project.”
“As we live the future together, with a sense of common destiny, trust will grow. It will take time but we will need to do it together. Assoc. Prof. Low Seow Chay (Chua Chu Kang): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to thank the President who addressed this House on behalf of the Government. One of the emphases of the Speech was developing social cohesion. I am glad to note that there is an Inter-Ministerial Committee which is looking into the issue of the aged population. Recently, I attended an Asian Parliamentarian meeting on the issue of population development. With the help of the Ministry of Community Development, I presented the model of Singapore in dealing with the aged population. In response to our model, we received very favourable comments from the participants who were parliamentarians in Asia. Some even jokingly wondered whether they could retire in Singapore. In fact, we are one of the Asian countries which have a comprehensive aged programme besides Japan. Sir, the aged population issue involves the families, the community, the employers, the health service providers, the housing authority and those who provide public amenities. This is not an issue that only one Ministry would adequately deal with. The Inter-Ministerial Committee with inter-Ministry involvement and participation would be the proper way in dealing with the issue, and to ensure that our people would be properly looked after when they join the aged population. On the issue of inter-Ministerial cooperation, my experience is not very positive from what I encountered in the past. The Ministry of Community Development might have aggressive plans in dealing with community issues. However, the progress of the plan will depend on the physical implementation by other Ministries.”
“Is it Thanksgiving? My apologies. Until Thanksgiving. One needs to be thankful for such a correction. There is definitely a need to create a better understanding all the time. We need more understanding and, even more critical, trust. In the future, it would not just be a question of who handles the machine gun unit but also who has access to cyber warfare. In yesterday's Sunday Times, for example, we read about how cyber war will grow in presence. The Pentagon has even set up a centre to combat cyber war, which will not be just limited to the battle-front, but also on the computer attacks on foreign bank accounts, eg, as in the case of the war with Yugoslavia. Cyber war could even be waged from the living room of your home. In other words, without trust, more will be at stake. To establish trust would take an even longer time than it would to work on better understanding. But we have to work hard at it. This is something we owe to our Singapore. Collectively, we must continue to nurture and strengthen the network of institutions we have established in Singapore to promote multi-racialism. We have to find ways to monitor and appreciate the changes taking place in race-related matters, including in public housing and our schools. The foundations established by our pioneering fathers of independence in promoting greater multi-racial harmony and political stability, as achieved through our form of parliamentary democracy, must be strengthened. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in conclusion, as we approach the new session and the new century, first, let us count our blessings on what we have achieved. Let us build on them and in the process enhance trust among our people. Education and knowledge continues to be the key to our future.”
“Sir, on behalf of the Minister, the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) has an annual budget of about $17 million. SCP sponsors training courses and study visits for about 2,000 officials annually from 105 developing countries from the Asia Pacific, Africa, Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean. Singapore, as we all know, is a small country with no natural resources and no large manpower base. Nevertheless, we will do what we can within our limited resources to contribute to the manpower training and human resource development of other developing countries. We have trained, in fact, 8,000 officials from over 100 countries in specific fields including public administration and management since 1992, and I am sure Members will agree that it is a commendable feat.”
“Finally, these amendments have been initiated with the intention to improve the situation. The aim is noble. Although not ideal and perfect, it should be seen as a temporary way out or as an emergency way out, while the Syariah Court is strengthened.”
“There will no longer be any controversy as to whether the Civil Court has the power or not to handle the matter. The situation in the past was embarrassing. Some people were saying as though we had no shame to ask when we were not welcome. But with this amendment it will be official. This will definitely help. This is another alternative avenue to handle the cases. Nevertheless, the concern of some sections of society is also true as the ground for settling the cases is based on a different basis of law. To my mind, whilst we accept the concurrent system, we should also monitor these cases so that the issue of conflicting laws could be avoided. The differences should also be explained to the community so that they will be more responsible in their decision-making in order to resolve their problems. Besides, the President of the Syariah Court is empowered not to grant leave to the cases which it thinks need the attention of the Syariah law. Also, the process to enhance the resources of the Syariah Court must continue. In fact, it should be actively pursued so that the time will come when the Syariah Court can handle all these cases. However, until we reach that stage, we must be realistic by taking this middle path. It may not be ideal but it will ensure that we can cope with the problems ahead of us. We must realise that the resources in the Civil Court are also our country's resources too. We must know how to utilise it if it can fulfil the needs of the Muslim community in Singapore. Not all cases that can be handled by the Civil Court will be in conflict with the Islamic tenets. For these cases, the facilities of the Civil Court should be used together by the Muslim community. These resources belong to the Muslim community too.”
“For MUIS, although its scope of work has expanded and MUIS has undertaken more tasks, including the management of the performance of haj, issuance of halal certificates, wakaf development, family development and various socio-economic projects, AMLA does not reflect that. With this amendment, the position of MUIS, as the supreme body of Islam in Singapore, will be `formalised'. MUIS by right should expand its role in line with the needs of the times and aspirations of the community. However, MUIS must be realistic in fulfilling these hopes to avoid a situation where (a Malay proverb) it fails to get what it wants and at the same time loses what is already at hand. MUIS must be given the support for manpower, particularly professionals who can shoulder this responsibility. MUIS should be given the power which is wide-ranging and strengthened with even bigger resources. The community must show their support by giving more contributions to zakat or the development fund of the mosques. Coming back to the question of the Syariah Court, if we were to look closely at the real situation, I am confident that the amendments bring more benefits than weaknesses. This has been clarified by Mr Abdullah Tarmugi earlier. However, the problem that has arisen, in fact a cause for controversy, is the concurrent jurisdiction conferred on the Civil Court to handle some aspects of divorce, including custody, maintenance and the division of matrimonial property. This, as stated by Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, is not a new thing. In fact, there were many other such cases that were settled with the help of the Civil Court. With this amendment, the power of the Civil Court to carry out this task will be `formalised'.”
“Together with other religions, Islam is encouraged to play an important role that is positive and constructive. The existence of MUIS as a statutory body bears testimony to that. In addition, the Registry of Muslim Marriages and the Syariah Court play an important role with regard to the questions of marriages and other ancillary matters. The way we handle these matters is being seen by others, Muslims and non-Muslims in and outside Singapore. This is an important process. It is a test for us to show how Islam and the Islamic community can live harmoniously even though Singapore generally is a secular country. The system of administration and development programmes that are found in Singapore is an example for other minority Muslim communities throughout the world. In fact, there are also countries with an Islamic majority which may want to learn our system of Islamic administration. Examples which I can put forward is the administration of MUIS, the question of construction and administration of mosques, the system of halal certification, marriage registry and also the Syariah Court. We must pay high regard to these good examples. Our community has taken bold steps in many areas. Ideas and programmes for the development of the Islamic community have borne results. I believe and am confident that we will continue to be able to show examples of good systems and ideas as to how to live in a secular and plural environment. Through the amendment of AMLA, particularly for MUIS and the Syariah Court, the positions of these two Islamic institutions can be strengthened.”
“Every Muslim would want to look for blessings, but what must be done wisely is that it must be practical and suitable to the conditions in the context of the history of the Singapore society which includes being multi-racial and multi-religious. The passage to look for the ideal model to implement a Muslim way of life is indeed far and long. It must be done in stages. It is better to be slow but steady. Islamic governments, countries or Muslim majority communities are not one as to which model accurately fulfills their needs. This can be seen in the economic, political or even social system. With your permission, Mr Speaker, my experience since 1973, about 25 years ago, since attending the International Youth Conference in Libya, making research and studies as to how Islamic governments and countries and minority Islamic communities handled these issues. They include Islamic developments in the Middle East, and the Islamic revolution in Iran, Islam and secularism in Turkey, Malay/Muslim community in South Africa, Pancasila and Islam in Indonesia and the thinking and process of Islamisation of UMNO and PAS in Malaysia, simply show how varied these examples are. The Islamic world is at variance. In fact, they develop animosity between one another in their search for a solution as to how to imbue Islamic values and system of administration. In the ASEAN region, through the cooperation of Mabims, (unofficial cooperation among the Religious Councils of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei) there are efforts towards finding convergence and to learn different experiences from one another. We should be proud that even though Singapore is generally a secular country, Islam has an important place in society.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank you very much for giving me the chance to speak in support of the Administration of Muslim Law (Amendment) Bill, which has been proposed by the Minister for Community Development and Minister in charge of Muslim Affairs, Mr Abdullah Tarmugi. This amendment to the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA) is long overdue and timely. Now, that it has gone through for years a process of thinking and formulation, it is now before us for our common good. Its passage seems to be very rough because of the many controversies enveloping it. It is not without blessing though. Hopefully, all of us will gain enlightenment through this exchange of ideas, be it inside or outside the House. In this context, I support the decision of Minister Abdullah Tarmugi to propose that the Bill be sent to a Select Committee. It is also my hope that the opportunity and the time given will be used fully for all parties to understand the background of the thinking behind the effort to do this amendment, particularly with regard to the parallel power of Syariah Court and the Civil Court; it should be seen not only from an ideal principle perspective but also the reality of the situation. If we were to pay too much importance to its principles and not its practicality, at least taking into account the present needs and conditions, we will face problems in finding solutions to the problems which we face now. Truly, as a Muslim, I would wish the power that is bestowed on the Syariah Court to be absolute, but if this were to be done now, the question we have to ask ourselves is: will it assist us or otherwise?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, may I just add to the discussion by saying that there is an Islamic saying which says that differences of opinion can be a blessing, but not so much the type of differences of opinion that can tear the society apart. In fact, what matters is how we manage those differences. So in that context, Sir, I believe that, yes, there can be more consultation, more conciliation and even more debate. If adversarial means that we have less deliberate finding of fault or less putting up of motions that waste people's time, where hundreds of people have to listen to one hour of old record being played and replayed, then I say, "Let's be less adversarial." But if it means a contest of ideas, and if that is understood as being more adversarial, then I say, "Let's be more adversarial" in the sense that we have more contests of ideas, more exchanges of opinions and let us decide based on what is constructive and what is good for the community. On that score, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would like to say that this motion, of course, has different meanings for different people, just as the Minister's understanding of us being necessarily adversarial as against Dr Tan Cheng Bock's opinion that we are not adversarial. I think the answer lies in between.”
“Sir, on "ASEAN Plus", is the financial system in the ASEAN countries transparent enough to make "ASEAN Plus" effective?”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask a supplementary question on the issue of confidence building? In addition to the trade finance guarantee scheme, is the Government taking any other measures to help, in terms of confidence building, for example, in our contact with IMF or other agencies, that would help in the process of confidence building? BG Lee Hsien Loong: Sir, to be quite candid, the issue of confidence is something which the Indonesian government has to address. It is not something which an outside party, like Singapore, however well-intentioned, can make a big difference to. But the IMF can make a difference if they conclude that the Indonesian government is indeed carrying out the correct measures and they signal that they approve of the measures which the Indonesian government is doing. Perhaps the great powers like the US, maybe the EU, and perhaps Japan, if they similarly signal confidence, it would have some impact. In the case of Singapore, I think the demonstration effect might be somewhat less.”
“Sir, since we have already got indications that the number of those to be retrenched would be more than the number retrenched in 1985 when we had very strong measures introduced, would it not be better to introduce the measures now rather than wait for the second quarter results where we may end up with a position of too little, too late? Dr Richard Hu Tsu Tau: These are all estimates of what the retrenchments might be. I am not certain that in fact it will actually turn out to be more than in 1985/86. I think the most important thing to remember is that we should not over-react to monthly changes in statistics. We have to ensure that whatever measures we take are consistent with sound principles. The last thing we want to do is for the Government to micro-manage the economy, ie, when you see one sector falling, suddenly you have to apply measures to correct the whole economy. We will take whatever measure is necessary and I am not suggesting that we should wait months or years for something to happen. All indications are that it will be sooner than later.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Minister whether the number of those retrenched would be considered as one of the significant factors before more off-Budget measures will be introduced?”
“Sir, I think we all know that we have a very high literary rate in Singapore. I do not know whether there is a measurement for motivation. But I am sure if there is one in Singapore, Singaporeans would measure very well on that score. If you look at this booklet on "Desired Outcomes of Education", Sir, you will find that the Ministry has outlined various attributes which they would want to see as outcomes of education. If you look at just secondary and junior college, you will find that they want the products of education to be enterprising and innovative, possessing a broad-based foundation for further education, believe in their own ability, understand what it takes to inspire and motivate others, have an entrepreneurial and creative spirit, be able to think independently and creatively, and strive for excellence and have a zest for life. I think all these will contribute to more and more Singaporeans wanting to improve their level of education and, thus, I am glad to see that we are pursuing the Open University actively. The question I would like to ask is: what level of coordination is there among the institutions of higher learning in Singapore with the Open University? And what more could be done to make the Open University more open with more opportunities for those who are not able to pursue full-time tertiary education? I also would like to suggest, Sir, that there is room for selective twinning with foreign universities on an open university concept and level. For I am sure all these will contribute towards making our Singapore achieve the target of excellence and a thinking society.”
“Probably, the Minister responsible for Muslim Affairs, Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, can explain the mission of MUIS with regard to the development of Madrasahs. What steps have been taken to ensure that not only the needs of the teachers are fulfilled but the potential of each student who enters Madrasah education for the benefit of the national economy? The Madrasah should play an important role to fulfil the aspirations of the community and the nation in order to develop fully the potential of our citizens. With regard to the future of Madrasah, the Minister can consider the establishment of a joint committee between the sponsors of Madrasahs and MUIS and the Ministry of Education to settle issues connected with these Madrasahs.”
“Sir, recently, NMP Dr Lee Tsao Yuan reminded the House how important it is for national cohesion to exist. Her interest and concern of society touches on the question of community and religion. We must ensure that this element will not divide the multi-racial and multi-religious community in Singapore. Islam, as we know, is an important instinct for the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore. We also know that Islam encourages harmonious living and Islam is holistic and encourages us to live in tolerance. When the Minister for Education, RAdm Teo Chee Hean, raised his concern that a number of Muslim pupils are unable to enter the national school system, it has become a topic of general concern of the Muslim community. Is the Government not happy with the Muslim students attending classes at Madrasahs? What is the future of these Madrasahs? I am confident it is not the policy of the Government to put aside the Madrasah. Madrasah has an important role to play and is close to the hearts of the Muslim community in Singapore. As we know, the Muslim community of Singapore has voluntarily given $14 million for the Madrasah Aljunied in a short time and in record time. We know the Malay/Muslim community has high hopes for their Madrasahs. The Muslim community wants Madrasah graduates to fulfil the religious needs of the community and strengthen their beliefs in the religion. The question is not that the Madrasah should be there or not, but whether the system is suitable for the Muslim community in Singapore in the context of this multi-religious society. I am confident that the Madrasah will have its place in the community and that MUIS and Madrasah sponsors can work hard to improve the Madrasah.”
“It is important that this department together with other Muslim organisations set up a network with other Government agencies and non-Government agencies to utilise the resources available as the Muslim community is taking part in this. Finally, I would like to congratulate the Minister for Muslim Affairs, Mr Abdullah Tarmugi, for showing great interest in the Family Development Unit. Family is the core of individual development. The stronger the family is, the better will be the opportunity for individuals to progress forward with the other communities in Singapore.”
“Sir, I would like to make some comments on the subject with regard to the Family Development Department in MUIS. I would like to declare my interest as the former President of the Muslim Religious Council of Singapore and Chairman of the Committee that was appointed by the Minister responsible for Muslim affairs to study and make recommendations on the question of divorce. One of the suggestions was that there should be a special unit established to handle the problem. It has got close connection with the question of family development. Members of the House may still remember that at the Budget session last year, I had stressed the importance that the Government should increase its assistance to MUIS. The work and responsibility of MUIS in the development of the Muslim community in Singapore has become so wide that MUIS should be given more opportunities and resources to carry out its duties. Therefore, I am happy to see that the Government has allocated an increased contribution to the Family Development Department. Though the provision of $1.8 million is quite a lot I see that it is only for the financial year 1997. The Government should consider increasing its contribution as the responsibility of this Department is heavy and important. If it is not done through MUIS, the Government may assist through MENDAKI, AMP and other grassroots organisations. If the Government is to promote this good effort, MUIS will have to rely on the effort of the organisation. Strategies will have to be made for this Department to increase its responsibility. In this connection, Sir, the relevant unit of MUIS has to work closely with AMP, Madrasahs and other grassroots organisations to obtain better synergy.”
“Sir, with that refreshing response, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.”
“One era of some interest and importance is that of the pre-Parameswara and prior to the opening of the island by the British.”
“Sir, I beg to move, That the sum to be allocated for Head U of the Development Estimates be reduced by $10 in respect of Code UL 5200. Sir, after the chicken and egg, shops and constituency development, allow me to clear the air and move to greener pastures. It is about the development of the Singapore Botanic Gardens and Fort Canning Park. After nearly 10 years of development and upliftment, the Botanic Gardens has come to be recognised as an attractive landmark not only by Singaporeans but the world over. It is now a major recreation and education resource for locals and tourists. The Ministry should look into ways as to how to attract more visitors, especially locals, to allow better utilisation of this rich green lung in our highly urban environment. Would the Minister consider increasing its activities of mass appeal, especially at night when it is much cooler in this tropical climate? Other than the environmentally-friendly approach towards upgrading the gardens, how about introducing more soul into it? More could be done to have cultural and musical activities staged in the Botanic Gardens, especially during the weekends. In addition, elements of history should also be injected into the Gardens to enrich its value. The early history of Singapore, particularly those pertaining to that part of the island, could be re-enacted or shown through exhibits in the Gardens. Similarly, for the Fort Canning Park. More soul could be blown into the Park through cultural and musical events, staged in open air. As for history, Fort Canning is abound with history, both modern and ancient. While the Ministry has done much to capture the elements of modern history from the `shrine' of Sultan Iskandar Shah, the Fort Gate to the Battle Box, there is more that could be done.”
“First, if the local farm is doing both the egg-laying and egg-importing business, should the two products, local eggs and imported eggs, be branded by the same logo but the word "Singapore" is added for the local eggs. I ask this question because this could cause confusion as certain local farms do not print the word "Singapore" next to their farm logo. Second, when we see the word "Singapore" printed on the egg, does it mean that the eggs are genuinely produced by our local farms? Does the Ministry take sufficient action to ensure their authenticity? About a month ago, my CCC Chairman and I went to a supermarket to purchase two boxes of local eggs, twenty pieces, with the word "Singapore" printed on them. I notice that in one particular box, three out of the 10 eggs were tainted with chicken droppings. In order to prove that there is nothing unusual, I went to a supermarket in Queenstown last week. I was unable to confirm that dirty eggs could be easily found. I believe that the name "Singapore" means "quality" and how could we feel comfortable when it is used in association with dirty eggs tainted with bird droppings. I hope the Ministry could set out some specifications for the farms if they want to print the word "Singapore" on their products. A penalty should be considered if anyone should misuse the word "Singapore". 4.15 pm”
“As said by Prof. Low just now, the recent outbreak of avian flu in Hong Kong was tragic, with consequences more lethal than before. I gather for the first time that avian flu had affected human beings. In May last year, the first human was affected in Hong Kong and since then there were 18 confirmed cases with 6 deaths reported. I am sure, Sir, many Singaporeans were anxious then whether the same could have happened in Singapore. We all know of course that Singapore's Primary Production Department is very well known for its strict import and control system, and that must have given many Singaporeans comfort. But, nevertheless, certainly there must have been lessons that could have been drawn from the Hong Kong avian flu experience. My question, Sir, to the Minister, is: what did PPD do during the Hong Kong crisis and what lessons were drawn from that experience? Does PPD have any contingency plan to meet such an eventuality, touch wood? If yes, such a plan should be regularly tested. In view of the seriousness of what happened to Hong Kong, Sir, PPD should review its existing control measures, and if and when necessary, tighten them. Assoc. Prof. Low Seow Chay: Sir, the topic I would like to talk about is branding of eggs. I spoke on the branding of eggs consecutively in the past two Budget debates. I am glad to note that some progress was made. Today, all chicken eggs sold in Singapore are branded with logos representing either the farm or the importer. For some eggs, the name "Singapore" is printed to indicate the eggs are produced by our local high-tech farms. Sir, on the branding of eggs, I would like to ask the following two questions.”
“The Government's profit on each unit is $29,000, and after selling all the units, the total profit may exceed $12 million. In Contract N2C28, there are 444 units and the profit on each unit is $1,016. After the sale of all the flats, the total profit will amount to $451,000. So, after selling all these flats in the Sengkang area, the Government can make a profit of more than $44 million. I would like to ask whether the Government is subsidizing the flats in Sengkang or making a profit from there.”
“Sir, many policies have been introduced by the HDB since 1992 that have pushed up prices of HDB flats. Just now, we heard from the Minister the milestone policy that was brought about since the 1990s. Whether it is a market valuation system adopted for mortgage loan financing, the MUP, SERS, the CPF Housing Grant, I think they all contribute to higher prices of HDB flats. However, the introduction of ECs in July 1996 helped to moderate prices. Similarly, there was further moderation when the Government announced in April 1997 the revised mortgage financing policy and the revised allocation of flats policy. May I ask the Minister how effective are these last two measures in curbing speculative demand for HDB flats and do they make HDB flats more affordable for the public? How would the Minister measure that? I also like to ask what measures would the Minister introduce to make HDB flats more affordable, especially for the lower income group. What percentage of the lower income group own their own flats and how would he make more of them home owners? Mr Low Thia Khiang(In Mandarin): Sir, on 19th February this year in Parliament, I asked the Minister for National Development a few questions relating to the sale price and subsidy of HDB flats. In his written answer, the latest figures for the fourth quarter of 1997 and the first quarter of 1998 show that after deducting the construction cost and land cost, there is a lot of profit to be made from the sale of the Sengkang flats. In Contract N2C27, there are 795 units. From each unit, the Government makes a profit of $39,221. After the sale of all the flats, the total profit may exceed $31 million. In Contract N3C1, there are 442 units.”
“Sir, I agree with Mr Ong that in these days of austerity the rescheduling of the MUP is understandable. But I must say that when Government announced that the MUP schedule will be slowed down to 10 precincts, many were disappointed. I think my GRC chief, Mr Lee Yock Suan, will know that. Even my residents in Punggol East were looking forward to their own IUP and MUP. They were hoping that their turn could come sooner than later. As we know, originally 15 precincts were scheduled a year from 1996 to the year 2000. But I am sure many will also understand, pending improvements in the economic outlook of the region, they will have to live with this new situation. However, in view of the expectations raised earlier, I wonder, Sir, whether the Minister would continue to monitor the economic situation closely and review the MUP schedule as soon as possible. In addition to the question of surpluses, what other criteria would be used, whether, in fact, the economic growth rates and developments in the region would also be taken into consideration to determine the scale of the review.”
“Sir, the nexus between the private property market and public housing is clear. This is especially so for Singapore where home ownership is more than 90%. We know that the private property prices have an effect on public housing and vice versa. Thus, the need for the Government and the Ministry of National Development to tread carefully on this plain. It was, therefore, very reassuring to see how Prime Minister Goh handled the issue of upholding high standards when MP Mr Heng Chiang Meng, the former President of REDAS, was caught in the tricky position about Government land sales and the property market. In the words of the Straits Times editorial, Mr Heng, I quote, "did the honourable thing" by quitting as the REDAS President and resigning as Executive Director of Far East Organisation, which is Singapore's biggest developer. PM Goh, in making public his exchange of letters with Mr Heng, brought relief to many for it reinforced the belief in the transparency and accountability of our system. 5.30 pm May I ask the Minister, Sir, what further assurances would MND give to ensure public confidence in its transparency and accountability would be preserved, if not, enhanced? Specifically, what are the critical considerations that would determine MND's policy on land sales? What effect do you expect land sales to have on current property prices, both on the private property and public housing? And finally, if I may ask the Minister, what effect did the Ministry's adjustments to the private residential policies announced last November have on our property market?”
“We have been told that the situation today is not as bad as in 1985, and there is no need to cut CPF contributions, and that is only an option of last resort. We are reassured, Sir. But workers must be ready to accept tough decisions to make the companies and the economy as a whole a lot stronger. After all, there must be a strong commitment to work as a team for the longer term interest of Singapore. My question, Sir, is: how does MOM see her role to ensure there is that understanding and that employers too will play their part and not take advantage of the situation, say, to get rid of older workers as a way to reduce cost? I am reassured also, as Mr Ahmad Magad has spoken, that on the part of employers they have to play their part to help us form this formidable team in facing the economic turmoil.”
“Sir, with your indulgence on the question of names between MOHR and MOM, my choice, of course, is clear. In fact, the word "MOHR" reminds me of Oliver who is asking for more. In the tradition of our training and retraining, I thought MOM is best and wise too, with due respect to my colleague, Mr Chay. And as suggested by Dr Lee, the test of the pudding is in the eating, so while we wait for MOM's pudding, allow me to share some food for thought on tripartism to strengthen MOM's foundation. I am glad to see that MOM has included and I quote, "to harmonise workers and employers' interests in employment, safeguard workers' rights and provide advisory and promotional services in labour-management relations as part of its terms of reference for its labour relations department." From the Ministry's point of view, what are the possible minefields one needs to look out for in terms of future tripartite relationships, particularly in the context of the economic turmoil in the region and possible economic restructuring? 6.15 pm As a labour MP, I dare say that the union leadership, and the labour movement as a whole, will play its part to help companies meet the challenges of the region's economic turmoil. This is not a mere rhetoric. The NTUC and our workers have proved themselves to be positive and made the necessary sacrifices to help Singapore move out of the 1985 recession. The CPF cut then was proof that the unions were ready to take initiatives and make tough decisions when the situation demands it. In another instance, for example, Straits Steamship of the Keppel Group, there was agreement then to cut wages across the board so that retrenchment could be avoided, helping workers to keep their jobs back in the mid 80s.”
“Would the Ministry of Manpower consider organising programmes that would help Singaporeans to understand why we need foreign workers and talents and also to assist foreign workers in urgent need of help and those treated badly by irresponsible Singaporeans? 5.00 pm”
“Sir, come 1st April, the Labour Ministry will become MOM to conceive quite a formidable task to deliver, and that is no joke. As stipulated in the mission statement, Sir, the Ministry of Manpower will be entrusted with the role of developing a globally competitive workforce for our Singapore. This will be done through proper manpower planning and development and this will also be done with the support of selected international talent. A question that comes to mind is how much different will this new Ministry be from the former Ministry of Labour? The budget shows a 13.8% increase in manpower and 14.5% increase in expenditure. What does the Ministry see as its major challenges? Will the Ministry of Manpower set training and upgrading of the local workforce as its main priority? In trying to augment local manpower with international talent, does the Ministry see conflicts of interests? And how does the Ministry intend to balance the needs and interests of the local workforce and foreign talent? The Ministry of Manpower has also identified the need to enhance Singapore's international image and interest in the field of labour. This is also an area which is of interest to the NTUC. How does the Ministry of Manpower see the two, that is, the Ministry and NTUC, collaborating in this field? Would MOM consider working with Singapore International Foundation (SIF) and other related agencies which leave visitor programmes to facilitate their visitors to observe and understand the state of industrial affairs here? Finally, Sir, one important area that could enhance Singapore's image is the way Singaporeans treat their foreign workers and talents.”
“Singapore's strong reserves and potential as an investor will be looked upon as a source for help. The MFA therefore can help identify more such opportunities to enhance Singapore's active foreign policy through economic imperatives. The Malaysian Minister for Trade and Industry will be in Singapore on Monday to woo our investors. I expect similar missions and efforts from other countries in the region to do likewise. I see tremendous potential for Singapore to exercise diplomacy and enhance foreign relations through our economic strength and I hope MFA will continue to take advantage of such opportunities. After all, Sir, our economic muscle can be put to bear as an equalising balm for enhanced international and regional relations.”
“Sir, Singapore has for a long time preferred quiet diplomacy, sensitive to its size and other countries' sensitivities, particularly, our ASEAN neighbours. But we know that in our own quiet ways, Singapore's Foreign Ministry has done much and achieved a lot relative to its size. However, in areas where we need to be vocal, for example, on Indochina in the 1970s, the question of strategic balance of power and the interest of small states, we have made our presence felt. Our diplomats have done Singapore proud. Prof. Tommy Koh is one outstanding example. Earlier this week, we read about Australia complimenting our Prime Minister, Mr Goh Chok Tong, for his role to alleviate the problems brought about by the regional currency and economic turmoil. We also read about how and why the American President and other international financial agencies sought the views and advice of our Singapore leaders on the same issue. While I agree that the full ramifications of the economic turmoil are yet to unfold, let us not underestimate the role Singapore can play and the favourable position in which we can take advantage of to play a constructive role. We must, however, continue to be sensitive as not to be misunderstood as exploiting their plight and hardship. But within those boundaries of sensitivity, we should look for those opportunities to play that constructive role that is mutually beneficial. In the process, we should also strengthen our base and position, vis-a-vis our trading and business partners. The offer of the $5 billion credit backing to Indonesia is one example of an initiative that has gained us enhanced goodwill. Although the proposal is now on hold, it was a gesture which was well-appreciated and considered timely.”
“Sir, by way of clarification, can I ask the Minister whether he has any response to this problem which I raised earlier about the hardware, meaning psychological barriers which people may have in turning to IT? So before we come to the cyber age, what more does he plan to do and does he see the role of the grassroots organisations towards overcoming this initial block by many people in Singapore? BG George Yong-Boon Yeo: The most important thing is to get our students on to it. All of us know that we are starting our kids on computers even from kindergarten, from K1. There is a big project by the Education Ministry to provide one computer for every two school students. But there is also the problem of training the teachers and of getting parents and grandparents to be familiar so that they can guide their charges along. We are trying to do different things in a fun way so that this psychological barrier can be broken. It is not easy. Till today, there are still not an inconsiderable number of Singaporeans who fear the ATM. We should try, but it is also in the nature of human beings to be conservative. But we must make sure that those who are young and do not have this psychological barrier are fully raised in this milieu.”
“Sir, much has been said about IT and its role today. IT is expected to permeate our daily lives even more in the years to come. May I say that no one will be able to escape the growing tentacles of information technology. Much also has been done by the Government, NCB in particular, to prepare Singapore and its people for IT. Be they in the industry or schools, we can be proud of the proactive approach taken by NCB and Singapore to get our island all wired up and IT-friendly. But we have not achieved the desired results for all the programmes we have. The FAST FORWARD by PSB and its predecessor for adult workers, for example, achieved limited success, some say even failure. However, in the light of the importance about IT and our future, whether it is in our economy or quality of life, we should not relent and should instead press on with programmes to bring more people on-line by hardware and heart-wise. For the latter, that is, to help more Singaporeans to cross the psychological barrier before they embark on familiarisation and improvement courses, I would like to urge MTI and NCB, in particular to do more work at the grassroots level, tap the grassroots organisation network and reach and goodwill to bring home the message of the importance of IT familiarisation hands-on and upgrading. The grassroots, Sir, are an important base to plant the seeds of IT culture.”
“As the demand for our scholars, in terms of R&D areas, will grow from multi-nationals and international companies in America and Europe, we need to provide more opportunities for such collaboration so that we can also expose our scholars and manpower to such needs. May I continue with the next cut, Sir?”
“For example, in 1997, 14 research institutes and centres collaborated in more than 120 joint projects with industry and train more than 170 researchers to support the five key industry clusters, mainly electronics, manufacturing and engineering, IT and telecommunications, chemicals and life sciences industry clusters. But, again, here, I think we are very far from our full potential and I believe MTI could look into it to provide more resources for its development. In the area of nurturing greater interest in science and technology, Sir, the School Adoption Scheme (SAS) saw the participation of 144 students in 16 R&D companies and organisations, while the national undergraduates research programme and the overseas R&D attachment programme in the universities encourage the participation of more than 648 students respectively. While it is a good start, I think there is room for more participation and I hope we can provide facilities for that. Finally, Sir, we need to create a more conducive environment to foster a culture of innovation and technology entrepreneurship in Singapore. In 1997, for example, NSTB facilitated a total of 16 international R&D collaborations with Singapore based companies and R&D institutions. Again, it is a credible start, but I think there is room for more collaboration projects which will enable Singapore to leverage on overseas technological capabilities and manpower resources. One point I think that bears scrutiny is, for example, the problem we face in terms of losing some of our scholars.”
“Sir, as our economy upgrades to more high-tech industries, I think we will need more R&D activities. I learn from the Economic Survey, the latest release by the Government, that the number of personnel engaged in R&D activities in 1996 grew by 18% to 15,419. I think it is a credible improvement and progress. But I believe that more could be done. If you look at the statistics again released by Government, you will notice that as far as the gross expenditure on research and development is concerned, it has tripled from 1990 to 1996. Similarly, the number of research scientists and engineers has more than doubled from 4,329 in 1990 to 10,153. However, if you were to look at R&D expenditure per research scientist and engineer (RSE), it has increased only from $130,000 to $177,000 for the same period, which is less than 30% growth. So I think here is an indication where in fact more needs to be pumped into this area to help facilitate the growth of R&D and R&D activities to expedite the upgrading of our industries. Another point, Sir, is that the private sector was the largest employer of R&D personnel in 1996 employing 57% of the total R&D manpower and the RSEs in the private sector were most highly concentrated in the electronics industry cluster which is about 2,780, followed by engineering which is a low second, about 895, and IT and telecommunications at 614. Here, again, we will notice that the spread of our RSEs is uneven and, in view of that, more could be done to effect a better spread of our R&D energy. The National Science and Technology Board (NSTB), Sir, is doing a good job in continuing to facilitate the build-up of technology and its knowledge infrastructure to benefit industries and companies. And they are doing a credible job.”
“With your indulgence, Sir, I have the privilege of working with some of the senior and top civil servants, including Mr Lim Siong Guan and the Director of the Civil Service College, Ms Lim Soo Hoon. I find them very bright, very enlightened and very open-minded. The development of the higher echelon of the civil service, in fact, is in good hands. But my attention is drawn to the question of how much attention is given to the lower echelon of the civil service. I have had the privilege also of attending a joint seminar between PSD and the public sector unions at Batam recently. There again, the experience was rewarding because it gave the opportunity between the higher echelon of the civil service to interact and have a better understanding with the union representatives. So I would like to ask PMO whether in fact more of such opportunities could be provided so as to allow better interaction and better understanding of each other's aspirations and also to allow the members of the civil service, especially those of the lower echelons, to feel that they are an important and an integrative part of the civil service, which we all know is one of the pillars of the success story of Singapore.”
“Expose more of our better brains with the best in the world to allow better flexibility in retaining the much needed brains trust for the civil service and even the private sector through the statutory boards and the GLCs.”
“The importance of overseeing the national talent pool by ensuring continuous inflow and integration of desirable foreign talent and retention of local talent cannot be overstated. For a country with limited resources, it is even more urgent, as in Singapore. Thus, I am most glad to see PMO spending more on its PSD's programmes, in particular, its talent management programmes. The holistic approach in terms of attracting and retaining the right talent, the SDU in promoting marriage among graduates and formation of families, and the Personnel Guidance Unit's work in conducting psychometric and other assessment procedures to assist the civil service in selection, placement and development of staff, is commendable. It is very relevant to what we just discussed in terms of scholars and bonds. It should help to minimise the problem of attrition and enhance retention. But PSD must be aware of the growing competition for such talents from other countries. As globalisation grows in importance and Asia's economy gets plugged in a bigger way to the west, particularly the US, the latter will be looking for more Asian talent. Prime talent from Singapore will be much more in demand. In fact, it comes with a premium. For our scholars keen on R&D, our budding R&D facilities may not be able to match. Bill Gates and his type will be hungry for such talents, as his giant business grows. That is our challenge. How does the PMO and PSD intend to meet that challenge and competition for talent? PSD should look into possible strategic and collaborative alliances in the competition for that limited talent worldwide. While the more than 18% increase in the talent management programme is impressive, it may not be sufficient to match the growing competition.”
“The question I would like to ask the Deputy Prime Minister is on the breaking of bonds. Just now, I gather that he was saying that each case would be considered on its own merits. In view of that possibility, in future, when such cases arise in Government, GLCs and statutory boards, should they first be referred to the DPM or a higher authority before the naming of bond breakers is carried out? BG Lee Hsien Loong: Mr Speaker, Sir, that is not how the Government works. There are procedures. There are people who are properly authorised and apprised of the facts and competent to make these decisions.”
“I am sorry. As regards asking my colleague to resign, I thought it was unnecessary because we have seen precedents where Members disagreed with Government policy and the issue of resignation did not arise. On the question”