PUBLIC PARKS AND CULTURAL AMENITIES (Total Cost)

Mrs Seow Peck Leng asked the Minister for National Development what was the total cost (inclusive of (a) materials and services provided by the Public Works Department, the City Council or other Government departments, and (b) donations of drinks, materials, etc., from commercial firms and members of the public) of -

(i) the Kallang Park project;

(ii) the Nicoll Highway Promenade project;

(iii) the Hong Lim Park project; and

(iv) the orchestra and concert stage at Hong Lim Park.

Dr Toh Chin Chye: For the Kallang Park project, materials and services provided by the Public Works Department and the City Council amounted altogether to $566,265.97. Contributions from the public included 10,000 bottles of soft drinks by Bireley and Company, amounting altogether to $900; 10,000 bricks from Jurong Brickworks at $64 per thousand, amounting altogether to $640; 30,000 bricks from Nanyang Brickworks at five cents each, amounting altogether to $1,650. The total donation from the public was therefore $3,190. The total cost for the Kallang Park project was $569,455.97.

The Nicoll Highway Promenade project cost $221,880 in materials and services provided by the Public Works Department and the City Council. There was no contribution from the Public.

The Hong Lim Park together with orchestra and stage cost the Government $174,913.30. There had been again no contribution from the public towards this project.

Tun Lim Yew Hock: Sir, when the first two projects were mooted, the public was made to understand that they would be undertaken by voluntary workers and, if that is so, how could such a big amount of nearly $800,000 have been spent on them?

Dr Toh Chin Chye: Sir, I never said that the projects cost $800,000. The Kallang Park project cost $569,455 and the Nicoll Highway Promenade project cost $221,880. That was the cost which arose out of materials being used for these two projects. If we were to include the cost of voluntary labour which was put into these two projects, I would say that the ultimate cost of these two projects would have exceeded $1 million. As it is, the total sum for these two projects was only about $790,000.

Tun Lim Yew Hock: The answers of the Hon. Minister for National Development are misleading. The previous Minister for National Development -

Mr Speaker: Order. Will the hon. Member confine himself to a supplementary question?

Tun Lim Yew Hock: Sir, is it not a fact that the previous Minister for National Development did say in this House that voluntary workers were paid?

Dr Toh Chin Chye: Sir, to my re-collection, I was one of the voluntary workers in that project, and I was never paid at all.

Tun Lim Yew Hock: Mr Speaker, Sir, surely the Hon. Minister is not going to claim that it was as the result of his voluntary work that these two projects were completed. Many, many -

Mr Speaker: Order. I think the hon. Member for Cairnhill will probably do well perhaps to claim the right to debate this matter on the adjournment or to file a notice of motion. He is now embarking on a debate and that course is not permitted at Question Time.

Tun Lim Yew Hock: May I be given the right to ask a supplementary question?

Mr Speaker: A supplementary question, yes.

Tun Lim Yew Hock: Would the Minister, therefore, deny that such a statement has ever been made in this House by the ex-Minister for National Development?

Dr Toh Chin Chye: Sir, I cannot answer for speeches which have been made by somebody else.

Tun Lim Yew Hock: Sir, would the Minister deny that there is such a thing as "collective responsibility"?

Mr Speaker: Order. The hon. Member is embarking on a debate.

Mrs Seow, question No. 7.

Mrs Seow Peck Leng: Mr Speaker, Sir, can I ask a question on Question No. 6?

Mr Speaker: A supplementary question - by all means.

Mrs Seow Peck Leng: Would the Minister tell us whether all those volunteers who worked on this project were not paid, except himself?

Dr Toh Chin Chye: Sir, as far as voluntary workers were concerned, they were not paid. Where expert labour was used in this project, then obviously we had to pay them for their skill.

Mr A. P. Rajah (Farrer Park): Sir, is the Minister in a position to say what the total cost of labour involved in that project was?

Dr Toh Chin Chye: I need notice of that question, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker: Mrs Seow, question No.7.