CITY COUNCIL TRANSPORT AND RURAL BOARD CLEANSING DEPARTMENTS (Disciplinary action against drivers)

Mr S. V. Lingam asked the Prime Minister (a) whether he personally took action to sack a driver of the City Council Transport Department in March 1960, and on what grounds; and whether the Rules of the City Council were followed in this case; (b) whether he personally directed that disciplinary action be taken against a driver of the Rural Board Cleansing Department who was driving a Cleansing Department lorry along East Coast Road on Vesak Day, and on what grounds; and (c) on how many occasions has he initiated disciplinary action against labourers under his jurisdiction.

Mr Chan Sun Wing (for the Prime Minister): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have been asked by the Prime Minister to reply to this question.

(a) The driver was specially employed by the ex-Minister for National Development for the Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of National Development. The Parliamentary Secretary found the driver unsatisfactory and he was given one month's notice of termination of service in March.

(b) The Prime Minister reported the crew of a lorry of the Rural Board Cleansing Section for disciplinary action for reckless speeding and allowing refuse from their lorry to fall and litter Bedok Road. They were disciplined after due enquiry and received no pay that day. The driver and co-driver concerned were transferred to another section.

(c) The Prime Minister's report initiated disciplinary action in this instance.

Mr Ong Eng Guan: Mr Speaker, is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of any rules in the City Council whereby labourers are engaged for specific jobs, or has there been any labourer engaged by the City Council on specific jobs?

Mr Chan Sun Wing: The driver was specially employed by the ex-Minister for National Development on a temporary basis. Therefore, it has nothing to do with the rules of the City Council.

Mr Ong Eng Guan: Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the Prime Minister initiated disciplinary action against the second driver in question because he did not recognise the Prime Minister?

Mr Chan Sun Wing: It is not a question of whether he recognised the Prime Minister or not. It concerns the attitude of a civil servant towards a member of the public.

Mr Ong Eng Guan: Mr Speaker, is the Parliamentary Secretary aware, on (c), that the Prime Minister had either taken disciplinary action against or picked quarrels with almost all the labourers in Changi bungalow?

Mr Chan Sun Wing: I am not aware of that.