PROGRESS IN SCHEME TO BREED PRAWNS IN ULU PANDAN NATURE RESERVE

Mr R. C. H. Lim asked the Minister for Commerce and Industry-

(a) whether he has made any progress in his effort to obtain 1,300 acres of the Ulu Pandan Nature Reserve for prawn cultivation; and

(b) what is the view of the Nature Reserve Board on the release of the 1,300 acres of the Ulu Pandan Nature Reserve for prawn cultivation.

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: Mr Speaker, Sir, no progress has been made in my effort to obtain 1,373 acres of the Ulu Pandan Nature Reserve for prawn cultivation. An application was made by my Ministry to the Nature Reserve Board on the 13th of February, 1957, but the Chairman replied on the 6th of June that the Board would not recommend nor agree to the excision of the Ulu Pandan Reserve for this purpose. On this the Trustees were unanimous. No progress has therefore been made in expanding prawn cultivation in the Ulu Pandan area because of this unanimous opposition from the members of the Board.

The answer to (b) is that the view of the Nature Reserve Board on my efforts to seek the release of 1,373 acres of the Ulu Pandan Nature Reserve for prawn cultivation is that nature conservation is more important to the community than the use of this swamp for the proposed prawn cultivation: Singapore's flora and fauna must be preserved and therefore the Board is unanimous in its opposition to my proposal.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew: As a matter of further information, Sir, has the Board expressed any opinion about the preservation of Singapore's human species?

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: I confess, Sir, that that struck me also but I could not find any reference to the human species in the letter addressed to me.

Mr Speaker: It appears to me that prawns and human beings do not go together.

Mr Goh Tong Liang: May I know why we should preserve those trees?

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: I would like to know that too, Sir.

Mr John Ede: Is the Minister aware that that Ulu Pandan Nature Reserve is in fact protected by law?

Mr J. M. Jumabhoy: I am aware of that, Sir, and that is why I said that I could not make any progress. It is protected by the Nature Reserve Ordinance.