DEWAN BAHASA DAN KEBUDAYAAN KEBANGSAAN BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.03 p.m.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Culture (Mr Lee Khoon Choy): (In Malay): Mr Speaker, I have received His Excellency the Yang di-Pertuan Negara's recommendation for this Bill to be read a Second time, and with that, I move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

Mr Speaker: Order. Under the Standing Orders, the Yang di-Pertuan. Negara's recommendation must first be signified by a Minister.

Dr Goh Keng Swee: I so signify.

Mr Lee Khoon Choy: Mr Speaker, the P.A.P. has been in power in Singapore for almost a year. During this period of time, several Bills have been tabled and passed in this Assembly. The point I wish to emphasise here is not the number of Bills which have been tabled by the P.A.P. To a certain extent, Bills introduced by the P.A.P. reflect the conditions prevailing in Singapore at the present time, and the conditions which the Government intends to achieve in the future.

But one thing is clear. That is that every action taken by the People's Action Party Government in the field of legislation has been made not as a result of any pressure, nor as concessions to any demand by any particular group. In fact, we of the People's Action Party can take pride in the fact that every measure taken by us in the political, economic and even social field has originated from our own plans and considerations and taken on our own initiative. It is not necessary for me to give details of the steps already taken by us for the improvement of the living conditions of the people of Singapore.

On our own initiative, it is enough for me to introduce this National Language and Culture Institute Bill at its Second Reading today.

Mr Speaker, if the Government wishes to develop and popularise our national language, and promote the evolution of a Malayan culture as a permanent measure and a long-term policy, it becomes essential to set up a National Language and Culture Institute for the purpose of directing, and co-ordinating all work in this direction.

The Singapore Institute of National Language and Culture has two aspects, that is to say, language and culture. We have decided to set up the Institute with these two main objectives, because we believe that the problem of achieving national unity is equal in importance to the problem of developing the national language and national culture. Efforts which aim merely at popularising the use of Malay as the national language will not be enough. It is essential to make efforts to encourage mutual understanding in the various aspects of the cultures of the races in this country as the first step to infuse the spirit of unity. Through such efforts, it is hoped that a basis for the eventual synthesis of a Malayan culture will be laid.

With regard to the first aspect, i.e. language, the immediate task before us is to popularise the use of the national language among the people of Singapore, the majority of whom are non-Malays. The object of this task is to educate the majority of the people in the national language during the next four years. Non-Malays in Singapore who do not have a sound knowledge of Ma-lay number about one million persons. It is clear that the problem of popularising the use of the national language among these people is a tremendous one. The role which the Institute will play in solving this huge problem is only a part of the overall solution. The Ministry of Education will also share in the solution of this problem. The Institute will be responsible for producing books on the national language, text-books and books on methods of teaching the national language to non-Malays of various races and cultures. The Ministry of Education will, of course, produce the national language teachers.

In addition to that, the Institute will publish magazines in the national language which can be easily understood by people of various age groups. It is also necessary to produce radio programmes in the national language which can be easily understood by listeners of all races. Books on politics, economics and science will be translated into Malay, Chinese and Tamil. Books and novels on Malayan subjects will be published. School text-books in the national language, and books on Malayan subjects for our schools will also be published.

In carrying out the aforesaid tasks of the Institute, it must be borne in mind that we earnestly desire to co-operate with the Malay-Indonesian Language Co-ordination Committee by implementing decisions on spelling, terminology and other matters relating to the standardisation of Bahasa Melayu and bahasa Indonesia, agreed upon by Malaya and Indonesia. Our Language Institute will try to establish relations and cooperate with organisations which have similar objectives such as the Language and Literature Agency in the Federation of Malaya, and the Indonesian Literature Institute, so that duplication in the translation of books, etc., for instance, can be avoided, and in general to carry out the objectives of the Institute. We will regard such organisations as being our elders and possessing more experience.

The cultural aspect of the work of the Institute is no more and no less important than its role concerning language. The Institute will encourage research in all aspects of cultures existing in one country, so that the people can understand the matter more deeply. This will include sociological, political and art research. For example, research on the Malay opera or the Peking opera has never been carried out before. It will be useful if research is carried out on the background of these two types of operas in order to find out whether their feudalistic backgrounds should be restored or revived, or whether a new type of Malayan drama should be created to replace both types of opera in the national language.

Mr Speaker, Members of this Assembly have surely noted that, among other things, our Language Institute aims at encouraging and, wherever necessary, providing facilities for promoting Malayan fine arts. Such objectives are based on the fact that culture is a thing that lives and grows. Members of this Assembly who are present here will agree with me that, in the field of culture, the arts can only live and grow well if it is nourished by healthy and progressive art creations which are consistent with changing times. Even though some of our arts contain traces of the influences of the past, yet not all these past elements should be eradicated.

Mr Speaker, I wish to draw the attention of this Assembly to one of the objectives of our Language Institute, namely, to encourage and promote literary talent in the national language and other languages used in this country with the aims of fostering the growth of a Malayan culture and Malayan consciousness. In this transitional period of our educational system, it will be found that there are many among the people of Singapore who are gifted with literary talent. But their talent can be brought to light only through the language in which they have been taught, such as Chinese, Tamil and English, apart from the national language. It would therefore be reasonable and realistic for us not to allow this to be wasted. It is better to allow them to write short stories, drama and plays with a Malaysian theme and background than to allow them to rely only on books and perform plays and drama imported from China, London, Taiwan or Madras. As I have said earlier in regard to the growth of a culture, which is nourished by healthy elements, it is likewise the same in the case of arts, literature and drama.

Mr Speaker, the establishment of the National Language and Culture Institute is based on the need for such a department that can tackle and solve various problems connected with our common aim to make Malay the national language of this country. Owing to the acute shortage of Malay teachers in Singapore, it is necessary for the Ministry of Education to provide courses in the national language for non-Malay teachers. This shortage of Malay language teachers is likewise a problem for this new department which we wish to set up, in so far as our Language Institute will face the problem of producing books in the national language and other text-books for the non-Malay teachers who will teach the Malay language to non-Malays. This is indeed an extraordinary situation.

Another matter which I wish to mention is the role of the National Language and Culture Institute in the adult education campaign which the Government is planning to intensify. Our Language Institute must play an important role in achieving the aims of the Adult Education Board in Singapore.

Question proposed.

3.19 p.m.

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi (Kampong Kembangan): (In Malay): Mr Speaker, on behalf of U.M.N.O. particularly, I say thanks to God Almighty. Neither will I forget to offer my congratulations to the Government which has shown its determination not only to raise, encourage and develop the Malay language, but also to solve the problem of nationality for all our citizens.

Mr Speaker, Sir, once again I pay tribute to the policy of the People's Action Party. During the First Session of this Assembly, the speech made by the first Yang di-Pertuan Negara of a self-governing Singapore was made in Malay. But the then Yang di-Pertuan Negara is not an Asian. He is an Englishman. From before the colonialists had encouraged Government servants especially to study the Malay language. Similarly, they also encouraged those people who were interested in learning that language.

What impresses me in the speech by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Culture was his remark that political history will also play its part in culture. Mr Speaker, as a Member of the Opposition, I need clarification as to what political history we should tell the people of Singapore, because if we are to extract this only from the history of the Malays, it will be communalistic. As I am still in the dark, I think it should be clarified in this Assembly.

Apart from that, Mr Speaker, I have noted this fact - the people of Indonesia and the Federation of Malaya, who are our neighbours, have achieved independence. I am proud of them.

Regarding the question of culture, which should be encouraged, we have seen the Indonesian badminton team whose members are the Ra'ayat of Indonesia. They are not of Malay origin, because all of them wear caps. Likewise, representatives of the Federation of Malaya who go abroad put on songkoks or caps. Could I have an explanation from the Government whether, in culture, we should put on caps to show that we are representing Singapore, which will be achieving independence? This is merely a question.

Apart from that, Mr Speaker, I do not know what to talk about. Looking at the Opposition, I see that the Member for Mountbatten is wearing sarong kebaya and a shawl. Will this be part of the problem of culture in so far as national dress is concerned? What would be the style of our national dress? Are we going to wear white shirts and long trousers like the Government side or like the Opposition Members, including myself, who merely put on caps? I feel that this too should be clarified, if it is the intention of the Government to get support from the Opposition.

In addition to all this, Mr Speaker, nearly one year has elapsed since this Assembly came into session. I hear with great regret that Mr Speaker will be resigning from office. But what to do? Mr Speaker will be succeeded by another Speaker.

During this period of one year, Mr Speaker, I wish to offer my highest congratulations to the Prime Minister, who has, on several occasions, used the national language in this Assembly. It could be said that the language used by the Prime Minister has been of a high standard. But what has become a question mark to me is that, aside from the Malay Members sitting on the Government side, only one Member has made his speech in Malay. So I hope that the Government should, as an example to the people of Singapore encourage the use of Malay right inside this Assembly House if we are to merge with the Federation of Malaya. We know what language is used there. In their Senate the official language is Malay. It should be an inducement in this Assembly, and I hope that Tun Lim Yew Hock in future -

Mr Speaker: Order. The hon. Member cannot address a Member of this House by name. There is no translation for Tun Lim Yew Hock, but he is the Member for Cairnhill.

Inche Mohd. Ali: (In Malay): I apologise, Mr Speaker, I withdraw that part of my speech. Mr Speaker, I also hope that Opposition Members, like the Members for Cairnhill and Farrer Park, will, if possible, speak in the national language.

Mr Speaker, I would also like to say something about culture. I would like to know whether the Government, in order to create a culture, wishes to make Malay culture as a basis? It is merely a question which I pose to the Government, because I wish to know further how the Government is going to implement the aim of creating one culture. I have given considerable thought to this matter. The Malays cannot easily be persuaded to leave their traditional culture. But we must remember that our fellow citizens in Singapore are made up of various races who have shown their loyalty to Singapore. We know from history that there are people who have had their own culture generations ago, and their culture is very much older than our Malay culture. Are they prepared to discard their own culture? Or will it be a hotch-potch of this and that culture of those people who have now become citizens of Singapore? I hope the Government will enlighten me on this matter so as to enable us to go further into it.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Malays have ronggeng or joget which is also part of their culture. At wedding feasts joget is performed to entertain the guests. In the changing times that we are now facing, Malays as well as non-Malays like dancing. The colonialists brought their own culture to our land. Likewise the people of other countries brought culture similar to the one I have mentioned just now. I would like to have a fuller explanation on such matters.

There is another point I would like to bring up in this Assembly. In the matter of culture, I would also like to refer to our national language. When are we going to use our national language on notices, notice-boards, etc.? The names of the roads should also be in Malay. Are we going to permit matters to remain as they are today? We must take positive steps now to bring the people together. We must eradicate all imported elements from our culture. All notices, advertisements, etc, should be printed in Malay. In this way, we can show to the people of the Federation of Malaya that Singapore is taking positive steps to promote the use of the Malay language. With such a claim to our credit, I feel that the possibility of a merger with the Federation of Malaya will not be so remote. In whatever we do, we must be sincere. We must not do things half-heartedly because we do not wish people to level the criticism that things are done half-heartedly.

Mr Speaker, Sir, you may recall how, during the Japanese occupation period, the Japanese tried to introduce their own culture in the occupied countries. But the method by which they tried to achieve this was by force. We know that such a method would be resisted by people who love independence, unity and prosperity. They would be prepared to fight to the death on this matter.

Sir, I hope the Government will clarify, particularly to U.M.N.O., the nature of Malayan culture in Singapore. Mr Speaker, Sir, I also hope, with respect to you, that you will be able to conduct proceedings in this Assembly in the national language so that you will not say, "Order, order" in English but in Malay.

3.36 p.m.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Mr Leong Keng Seng)(In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, we have just heard the parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Culture say that the National Language and Culture Institute will concentrate on the study of the Malay language and promote the mixing of the various cultures. We, as members of the Education and Culture Ministries, should support this resolution. We should co-operate with the Ministry of Culture and work hard on it so that it may be a success. We know that in the past the colonial Government tried to divide the people because of its multi-racial society. In the past, there was no inter-relation and co-operation between schools of the four different language groups. The non-English schools were suppressed. Since the new Government came into power, Malay has become the national language. The National Language and Culture Institute will be established for the development of the national language so that more people will be able to express their views in Malay. That is what we aim to do. In the schools, the study of the Malay language has been introduced. The Malay language should be the same as that of the Federation of Malaya and Indonesia. We have already sent a delegation to Indonesia to study the problems of education there. The textbooks of Indonesia can be used by us to nourish the Malayan culture. I believe that in future Singapore will send a delegation to the Federation of Malaya to study Malayan culture.

In order to promote the development of the Malay language, we must engage in various activities. We must encourage the teachers to make use of Malayan history and background in their writings, so that the next generation of people in Singapore will have a clearer picture of Malayan culture. In the past, the textbooks used in English schools came from England, the Chinese textbooks came from China or Hongkong, and the Indian textbooks came from India. Only Malay textbooks were produced locally but no serious effort has been made to improve the standard of these books with the result that there are only a few Malay textbooks. I hope in future Malay textbooks will be produced by the Institute.

With regard to the training of Malay teachers, we have trained many teachers to teach the national language to students in schools. We have started courses in the Teachers Training College for teachers to learn Malay so that in future they will be able to teach Malay. Since the establishment of the Adult Education Council, adults can study the national language at night. The Ministry of Culture can encourage the use of the national language in school magazines and in many other ways. The new Government has made Malay the national language, but we should not just sit back and shout about it. We must take positive steps to popularise Malay as the national language.

I hope in the not too distant future we will be able to have a clearer understanding of Malayan culture and that we will also be able to express our views in the national language.

3.45 p.m.

Inche Baharuddin Bin Mohd. Ariff (Anson): (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, in support of the Bill setting up the National Language and Culture Institute, I wish to say that the time has come for a self-governing Singapore to be administered by a political party which has the support of the masses in establishing an institute which aims at promoting and developing the national language and culture. The national language - which is Malay - is a national issue, which should have the support of all sections of the people, irrespective of their party leanings, and of the fact that generations of them have lived here, as long as they owe their allegiance to Singapore. In the Federation of Malaya there exists an institute called the Language and Literature Institute. Similarly in Indonesia, we find such an institute. Both these countries have Malay as the national language. Mr Speaker, we in Singapore also take Malay as the national language. It is therefore appropriate that we should have our own National Language and Culture Institute.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the objects of the National Language and Culture Institute, as mentioned in the Bill are, inter alia, to enrich and develop the Malay language so as to make it an adequate and comprehensive medium of expression and also to spread knowledge of the language to non-Malays. Here we could picture how wide the objects of the Dewan are. Apart from carrying out research, I am confident, Mr Speaker, we know that the Malay language has been in existence for a good number of years. It is hoped that with the cooperation of all concerned in this Island, regardless of their party leanings, we will achieve our determination to enrich and develop the Malay language and study and know the Malay language.

On the question of culture, Mr Speaker, we are trying to build our national culture from whatever cultural sources are available. I think our culture is still at a stage where research is being carried out, because the officials of the Dewan will carry out research into our national culture.

In support of this Bill, Mr Speaker, Sir, I should like to clarify that Government has opened the way towards one language which will be used and which will be spoken by people of all races in Singapore. For the purpose of achieving this objective, the support of the Opposition Members will be welcome.

3.51 p.m.

Mr Chan Sun Wing: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am of the opinion that the National Language and Culture Institute is a necessity. Since the P.A.P. Government introduced the slogan that Malay is the national language, the majority of the Chinese people in Singapore have not only accepted it but are also taking positive steps to learn the language. No matter where they are - in the trade unions, Nanyang University, rural organisations, all the branches of the P.A.P., and in various commercial organisations - many Malay classes have been set up. I can put it in this way - the majority of the Chinese workers, the young students and the intellectuals, sincerely accept Malay as the national language. They are aware that if they can directly communicate their feelings and their thoughts to their Malay brothers, then the Malays' fear of the Chinese will be eradicated. The Malays will then realise that the so-called Chinese chauvinism is not as serious as that considered by the non-Chinese educated people. It can be said that the non-Chinese educated young people regard the learning of the Malay language as more important than the study of the English language. This is not because the study of Malay is easier than the study of English, but that they are aware that the Malay language is the most important means of achieving national unity in Malaya.

Mr Speaker, Sir, just now the Member for Kampong Kembangan made some comments on Malayan culture. I venture to take this opportunity to say something so that everybody will understand what the attitude of the Chinese youth is towards Malayan culture. Throughout the year the campaign among the majority of the Chinese youth to learn Malay has created a certain psychological change. In the past many Chinese educated youths, because of their lack of understanding of the Malay language, looked down on the Malays. But this attitude has changed now. Since we have declared Malay as the national language, their attitude has changed, and they now accept Malay as the national language.

There are many articles translated from Malay into Chinese appearing in the Chinese newspapers. In these newspapers, we can read a lot of essays about the history of Malay literature. This is proof of the change of attitude of the Chinese youths towards Malay literature. We can see from the many articles that the Chinese youths have been able to translate into Malay, essays on trees and plants, and there is the Chinese version of Sejarah Melayu or Malai Chi Nien. The works of Ungku Aziz are welcome and are earnestly studied by the Chinese youths. Today the Chinese readers learn more and more of Malay works. From the Malay Tribune run by the Nanyang University, we also read articles published by the Utusan Melayu. The translation is made by Mustapha. From all these translated articles, the Chinese youths, for the first time, learn that there are many literary workers who work very hard and who have the correct mentality and consciousness in this field, especially when they learn about the transitional changes. And when these Chinese youths learn Malay literature, they deeply respect the Malay writers. They discover that in the history of Malaya there were certain people like the Chinese Wun Tiang Siang and Yeok Fay. There were also people who were resourceful and brave, for example, Hang Tuah. These Chinese youths have as great a respect for Hang Tuah as they have for Wun Tiang Siang and Yeok Fay. All these translated versions and all these essays appear in the newspaper, but they have not been done under a good organisation. Therefore, it is clear that a certain amount of effort has been wasted by the Chinese youths. They not only decide to learn more about the living conditions of the Malay people and their past history, but they also try to pass on to the Malay people their own feelings and their points of view in this respect. We can see for ourselves that there is a certain newspaper which is being run by the Nanyang University. Another publication, the Kesusasteraan Kebudayaan, is also run by the Nanyang University. The running of these two publications is to encourage the Chinese people to understand the Malay people, and also to encourage them to translate Malay literary works for the benefit of the non-Malay people.

Mr Speaker, Sir, if instead of trying to understand Malay culture in a purely formal way we try to understand it from the way which I have mentioned just now, that is, by showing as much respect for the past Malay heroes as for the Chinese heroes, then we can achieve national unity in this country.

In the meantime, there are many people who are learning Malay. But some of them have stopped half-way. One of the most important reasons which is responsible for this failure is the lack of suitable textbooks for beginners. At present, we have such textbooks like Sinar Baru,, which is for beginners. Our adult readers are people who have much experience, and they are somewhat sophisticated. A textbook like Sinar Baru, of course, cannot satisfy their needs and desires. Moreover, the supply of books is not adequate. Another reason for the failure is the lack of a good Chinese! Malay dictionary. When this National Language and Culture Institute is set up, we can then carry out the task, which I have mentioned just now under a well-directed organisation. We will no longer waste our time and energies as we have done in the past. After the setting-up of this Dewan Bahasa dan Kebudayaan Kebangsaan, we will bring a new climax to our campaign for the encouragement of the learning of the Malay language. In addition, it will make an unlimited contribution to our national unity.

4.05 p.m.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for National Development (Inche Yaacob bin Mohamed): (In Malay): Mr Speaker, I fully support the establishment of a National Language and Culture Institute, for which the Bill has been introduced today by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Culture. The decision to establish this National Language and Culture Institute was made by the Language Congress and the All-Malaya Language and Literary Congress more than a year ago, although at the meeting of the Congress referred to, members from the Party which form the Government today were not represented. Yet the People's Action Party Government is always paying attention to the welfare of the people, especially in the sphere of language and literature, and it is doing something which had been resolved by the Malay Language Congress, an organisation which represented all the language institutions throughout the land. The setting up of the National Language and Culture Institute had its origin at a meeting of the Malay Language Congress when a resolution was adopted. As far as I know, at the opening of the All-Malaya Language and Literary Congress, Singapore was represented by the Singapore Government. The Singapore Government was represented by its junior Minister for Education. He made a fiery speech, and gave an assurance that the resolution of the Congress would be fully supported. In the circumstances, Mr Speaker, if we were to note the time which has elapsed from the moment the resolution to establish the Language Institute was adopted up till now, I think, we are a little behind time in setting up this Institute. However, with a view to the full realisation and the fulfilling of the aspirations of the people, we have decided to establish a body known as the Dewan Bahasa dan Kebudayaan Kebangsaan.

Mr Speaker, if we consider the objects of the Institute, I am quite sure there will be nobody who will oppose them. On the contrary, they will be proud of the fact that our objects are-based on facts and not on fiction. Mr Speaker, I wish to bring this point to the attention of the Member for Kampong Kembangan, who has repeatedly and indirectly challenged the Government to declare its stand on the meaning of culture. I think the subject which we were discussing just now is similar to what we do when we provide a site to grow rice. We will provide the seed, and the result will be that we will reap the harvest in the future. So that only when the time comes for us to reap the harvest will we decide whether we are going to make it into a bryani or fried rice. So the clarification asked for by the Member for Kampong Kembangan is not how we are going to ensure that the harvest will be a good one, but what we are going to do when the rice is ready to be cooked. I think this is a question, which no linguist will be able to answer. As a matter of fact, I am not an expert on language and culture. But from what little I know, culture is not a dead thing, nor is it a thing which can be shaped or handled by human beings, like a shirt for a man to put on. Culture is a living organism. No government could force any kind of culture on the people, as was quoted by the Member or Kampong Kembangan when this sort of thing happened during the Japanese Occupation. In the final analysis, culture is evolved by the people themselves, not by any government. So it is up to the people of Malaya, who owe their undivided allegiance to this fair land of ours, to evolve a national culture.

Mr Speaker, I am conscious of the fact that some frivolous matters have been raised. For instance, coaching the representatives from the Indonesian badminton team putting on caps. But I think the Indonesians who came to Singapore with songkoks were Chinese. When they were asked, "How do you do", they said, "Well, thank you". But we would be disappointed if the residents of a country like Singapore, which has accepted Malay as its national language, were asked, "How do you do?" in Malay and they would not be able to answer. The basic problem is how to spread knowledge of the Malay language. This is what we should concentrate on. Similarly, Mr Speaker, with other matters like the nature of -our culture, names of roads and so on, which require clarification. The setting up of this National Language and Culture Institute, as has been explained by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Culture, will lay the foundation on which we can enrich and develop the Malay language so that all the people will learn the Malay language. Why do we refer to it as the Bahasa Kebangsaan or the national language? Because the Malay Language Congress has made, as its slogan, language is the soul of the nation. So that if we know that the Malay language is the national language, then the soul of the nation will be created by the people themselves. Mr Speaker, it is not just a question of culture or national language. A youth, if he is forced to marry a girl whom he does not know, will reject her, because, as the Malay saying goes, "If you do not know someone, you will not love him or her." So the first step is to spread knowledge of the Malay language to the people: so when they have studied and grasped the Malay language they will begin to have a love for it. Generations of Chinese and Indians will then have an interest in learning the Malay language. When the people are already versed in the knowledge of the various cultures that exist in Malaya, then there will evolve a spirit of mutual respect and understanding among the various races. Mr Speaker, in the struggle to achieve our object of spreading knowledge of the Malay language, we must work hard, whether we are from the Government or the Opposition benches. Our object is the same, that is, to create a national culture. So, Mr Speaker, the point is to work hard - not to lead or to demand. That can be equated to a child crying for milk. But for us, there should be no need for pleas or fears. The attitude we should adopt is "We will do this. We will demonstrate to society that we are positive in our actions." For instance sepak raga jaring, which is a national game. The extent to which this game is indulged in can be seen from the fact that Chinese and Indian youths also have an interest in it, and they participate in it. I have heard that it was a Chinese sepak raga jaring team, which won the championship recently. That is the kind of culture which, by itself, has been accepted by all the races which live in Singapore. Sepak raga jaring has automatically become a national game. So I hope, Mr Speaker, we should base our struggle on the principle that we must work, work and work. The Government, on its part, will be pleased to accept any constructive criticisms. So that is the clarification I wish to offer to the Member for Kampong Kembangan who has sought information as regards the nature of culture, whether all of us should put on caps, the changing of the names of roads to Malay names, whether ronggeng should be employed at wedding feasts. These will be determined by society. It would be too premature at this-stage to prophesy. I know Mr Za'aba, a professor, and Che'Gu Mahmud Ahmad, an expert on Malay culture. These experts themselves do not dare to come out into the open and say what the nature of Malayan culture should be, because they know that culture is not a dead thing nor is it a thing which could be forced on the people. Culture is the result of the birth of a process of enlightenment and refinement of taste acquired and gradually evolved by the people.

4.22 p.m.

Inche Ahmad Jabri Bin Mohammad Akib (Southern Islands): (In Malay):Mr Speaker, in regard to this Bill setting up a National Language and Culture Institute, I feel it is not necessary or essential for the Government to emphasise the objects of the Bill since the Opposition Members realise their responsibilities as to how they are going to create a national identity comprising the generations of the various races. It should not be the attitude of the Government to use the piece of paper on which the Bill is printed as a commodity to hoodwink the masses. As a responsible member of society trying to create one nationality, Mr Speaker, I wish to emphasise this in no uncertain terms. The Government itself is aware that this Institute contains two schools of thought, one of which is to create a united and strong nation. In talking about language and culture, there are -two aspects, which will benefit certain sections of the people. Take the question of the national language. If we dwell at length on the fact that Malay is the national language, it will naturally impress the Malays because their language has become the national language. But what is the object of making Malay the national language? Is it because it is recognised, or is it because it will be an instrument, which will bring benefit to those, concerned? If the purpose is to make the people realise that that is the only means whereby they can improve themselves, then I say that language becomes an instrument to improve the welfare of the people. From the changes going on in Indonesia and the Federation of Malaya at present, we can see that the Malay language is the national language. Therefore, in Singapore, there is no other way but to see that Malay becomes the national language, because the use of the national language will bring benefit not to particular individuals but to all the people. Therefore, we should work together on this problem so as to make the national language become one which is nurtured and loved by the people.

Concerning culture, Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government side has stated that that is a matter, which cannot be forced on the people. But culture has its influence. Also it is culture, which can keep one party apart from another, because to the individual using culture, it gives rise to an expression of feelings and opinions. Therefore, it is not something, which can wholly be accepted if the individual cannot raise himself to the standard of the culture. If this is something, which can benefit us, we should use it. But if it is something, which is not in accord with us, then I feel it can give rise to failure in our effort to build a national culture.

In the speech of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for National Development today, he stated that the Opposition should not have any fears about the objects of this Institute. He said we should wait until the harvest is collected before we decide on what to do with it. It is as though the Member wanted to make fun of what my colleague has stated. We from U.M.N.O. will continue to watch over this matter because the Malays in Singapore, who have been accepted by law as the indigenous people of the island, look upon it weightily and we from U.M.N.O. will oppose anything that is contrary to what is laid down in the Constitution.

I can say here, Mr Speaker, Sir, that the Ministry of Culture is about to hold a huge mass meeting on National Day, but we cannot be together with them because what is to be carried out on that day is not in accord with what we in the Opposition think is healthy for the people. This is the second time that Members of the Opposition are not together with the Government on a national occasion. The dictatorial attitude adopted by the Ministry of Culture in refusing to accept the views and opinions offered by the Opposition is resented, and I hope this will be given due consideration by the Government in future.

To talk about this and that and to tease one another in this Assembly is an attitude of irresponsibility. What we should try to resolve is the problem of how to make Singapore prosperous so that every citizen will feel that he is living in a safe and sound country.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not wish to dwell further on the matter except to elaborate on one point. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for National Development has accused the previous Government of not setting up a similar Institute. This kind of talk is irresponsible. This is merely to win the acclaim of the people. I would like to say that the National Language and Culture Institute in Malaya was established by language enthusiasts with the support of the Federation Government, but the Institute in Singapore is to be set up by the Government itself. So you will find that there is a difference between the Institute in Malaya and the Institute that is to be established in Singapore.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Culture (Mr Lee Khoon Choy): (In Malay): Mr Speaker, in reply to the Member for Kampong Kembangan, let me reiterate that culture is a living thing and it grows constantly. As an example, drama as an element in our national culture should be based on our national language but the materials used in our drama should reflect a Malayan society comprising Malays, Chinese, Indians and others. Eastern elements in such a drama could suitably go hand in hand with Malay, Chinese or Indian culture. For instance, what materials should we use for art? Art also requires a Malayan element. Mr Speaker, Sir, our efforts to unify the people should be based on the national language. That is the primary objective of the proposed Institute.

On the question of notice boards and street names, which are now in English, the P.A.P. Government has definitely taken the stand that these will be replaced and written in Bahasa Kebangsaan (the national language).

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole Assembly.

Assembly immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill.-[Mr Lee Khoon Choy].

Bill considered in Committee, reported, without amendment; read the Third time and passed.