FIRST SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR 1961 SECOND SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES OF EXPENDITURE FOR 1961

Order read for consideration in Committee of Supply [1st Allotted day].

[Mr SPEAKER in the Chair]

3.01 p.m.

The Chairman: Will the Minister signify the recommendation of the Yang di-Pertuan Negara before the Committee proceeds with the consideration of these Supplementary Estimates?

The Minister for Finance (Dr Goh Keng Swee): I so signify.

The Chairman: First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for 1961 (Paper Cmd. 13 of 1961). The summary is at page 6.

There is an amendment on Head 36, Inland Revenue, at page 2, standing in the name of the Member for Kampong Kembangan in relation to the New sub-head - Temporary Staff. Inche Mohd. Ali.

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 36 be reduced by $10 in respect of the new sub-head (Temporary Staff).

Mr Speaker, in my opinion, the amount of $66,000 allocated for Temporary Staff should not be limited to that sum alone. What has become a question mark to me is why that amount is voted for Temporary Staff in order to take charge of a new department in the interests of the State of Singapore. Would it not be better if permanent staff were recruited, and not initially temporary? If permanent staff were recruited, it would be made through the Public Service Commission and then there would be no doubt in the minds of the Opposition Members. If, on the other hand, temporary staff were to be engaged - I do not know whether the Minister concerned could enlighten us as to the reason why - would the temporary staff be drawn from members of the Work Brigade or from such members as were favourably considered by the Government?

Dr Goh Keng Swee: Mr Speaker, Sir, the underlying note of the two remarks of the Member for Kampong Kembangan is that somebody is going to do a fiddle over temporary staff. He thought that a far better arrangement would be to get this new department staffed by permanent officers so that their appointments could be decided by the Public Service Commission, thereby giving no room for any possibility of fiddling appointments. Now, the Member is under a misapprehension. It is not true that only permanent appointments are decided by the Public Service Commission. Any appointment, temporary or otherwise, for a period of two months or more must be approved by the Public Service Commission. The Public Service Commission Ordinance is explicit on that score and, in fact, this is the practice which the Government is observing.

I can assure the Member that the reason why we are recruiting temporary staff is not that we have any intention to fiddle appointments - that is not the way the P.A.P. Government conducts its business - but there is a more simple explanation and it is this. The operation of registering businesses will probably begin sometime about the middle of the year. The Bill introducing the Business Registration Tax will be passed in the Assembly before long, but until that Bill is passed, no work can start. Therefore, in the first year of operation, this new department will have about six months or less to do a whole year's work. It is therefore necessary to engage people temporarily to tide over this rush. That is the reason why we have decided to ask the Assembly for this vote to enable us to engage more staff on a temporary basis than would be required on a long-term basis by this department.

Mr A. P. Rajah (Farrer Park): Mr Speaker, Sir, I understood the Minister to say that this staff would be required to register businesses in order to extract tax. As I appreciate the situation, there is already an organisation whereby all persons carrying on businesses in Singapore are required to register under the Business Registration Ordinance. If that is so, what then is the need to employ all this temporary staff to effect that registration, because the registration should already have been effected?

Dr Goh Keng Swee: Mr Speaker, Sir, the present Business Registration Ordinance provides for a once and for all registration. Once you register, that is the end. That department has no more work to do as far as relations with that firm are concerned. But in this case, it is a different matter. You have to keep in touch with them year by year. Every year, you have to inform the Registry that they are in existence and that they should pay their tax. Therefore, the volume of work will be much larger than the work handled by the present Registry of Business Names.

Mr Thio Chan Bee (Tanglin): Mr Speaker, Sir, as there are thousands of unemployed, I am sure a good many would be disappointed and frustrated unless they know in advance on what basis the selection for this temporary staff will be made. Could we be enlightened, Sir?

Dr Goh Keng Swee: Mr Speaker, Sir, the number of staff we intend to engage is as follows:

Clerks ... 20

Typists ... 8

Office Boy ... 1

I do not think that that is going to raise much hope in the thousands and thousands of unemployed.

Mr Rajah: Perhaps, Sir, we are now involved in the mechanics of tax collection. Now, as I understand it, there is a Business Names Ordinance - this Ordinance has been in force since 1940 - under which anyone who carries on a business in Singapore must register. Having registered, he must also notify the Registrar of Business Names of the change in partners and that sort of thing. So there is in existence now a skeleton staff anyway which knows who are the persons carrying on a business, what are the businesses registered, and where they are situated. Having reached that point, the next point I take it will be to extract tax from these businesses every year. Now, I do not know what the new Ordinance is going to say, Mr Speaker, Sir, but it seems to me that possibly a lot of money could be saved if extensive powers were given to the Registrar of Business Names to collect the tax every year, rather than give it to some specially created revenue collecting department.

Dr Goh Keng Swee: Yes, Sir, that is exactly what we intend to do. The present Registry will be the nucleus of this new department. It was formerly in the Ministry of Labour and Law, and when we contemplated introducing this tax, it has since been removed to my Ministry.

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, to revert to the answer given by the Minister for Finance, I appreciate the explanation given that there will be no fiddling with the appointments, but what still remains a question mark to me is whether it is true or otherwise. I know that in the Work Brigade there are members who have passed the School Certificate examination with Grade II or Grade III. Will there be the possibility that those who are not members of the Work Brigade but who have higher qualifications can be absorbed into this temporary staff? I would like to know what are the qualifications required of applicants for these temporary staff posts. Are the qualifications required on the same basis as that who are unemployed now?

Mr Rajah: Sir, I think the doubt in the mind of the Member for Kampong Kembangan arises from a statement made by the Minister for Labour and Law some time ago to this Assembly, when he said that instructions had been given by his Ministry that, in so far as the filling of any future Government appointments was concerned, the first choice should be given to members of the Work Brigade. I believe that is what is at the back of the mind of the Member for Kampong Kembangan.

Dr Goh Keng Swee: Let me dispose of the statement about recruitment from the Work Brigade. The present position is that for certain types of jobs in the Government service - they are jobs in the daily-rated services, Division IV appointments, which are not promotion posts - recruitment for these appointments are made from members of the Work Brigade. We have also come to an arrangement with several statutory authorities, including the Singapore Harbour Board, whereby they will recruit from the Work Brigade for similar posts. We have also had requests for assistance in recruiting workers from firms, manufacturers and others who want good workers. We have made use of Work Brigade members, suitably qualified and trained, for recommendation to such posts. Now the temporary posts relevant to this exercise are not the posts for which we make special arrangements to select from the Work Brigade. Clerical officers are in Division III. Typists are in Division IV. They are regarded as promotion posts for more junior staff. We may recruit the office boy, but that is only one.

3.15 p.m.

As regards the qualifications for temporary staff, the qualifications laid down will not have any relation to how the unemployed are qualified, but they must be related to the work and responsibilities which these people have to perform. For instance, for clerical officers, the minimum educational qualification will be the Senior Cambridge or the equivalent academic standard. For typists, it will be somewhat lower, and for the office boy, it will be still lower. The qualifications laid down will be the same in comparable jobs in the Government service.

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have another question to ask. Will this opportunity be only limited to citizens of Singapore in view of the fact that they are temporary posts? Or will it be open to all and sundry?

Dr Goh Keng Swee: The posts in Divisions III and IV will be limited to Singapore citizens.

Mr Rajah: I think a further point arises in the selection of Divisions III and IV posts. In view of the circular that has been issued by the Minister for Labour and Law, is it going to be an advantage to be a member of the Work Brigade in order to get an appointment in this department if the posts are in Divisions III and IV? I understand that Division III is outside it. What this House wants to know is this. Insofar as Division IV appointments are concerned, covered by this temporary staff, would it be an advantage to be a member of the Work Brigade? Or is it compulsory that he should be a member of the Work Brigade? Or is it open to all?

Dr Goh Keng Swee: So far, as the office boy is concerned, he will be recruited from the Work Brigade.

Question on the amendment put, and negatived.

The sum of $152,890 for Head 36 ordered to stand part of the First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for 1961.

Head 47 -

The Chairman: There are four notices of amendments standing in the name of the Member for Kampong Kembangan. The first is in relation to "New item - Assistant Head ... $7,700" on page 2.

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 47 be reduced by $10 in respect of the new item (Assistant Head).

Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to receive clarification from the Minister for Culture on more or less the same question as I have asked the Minister for Finance. Will the prospective Assistant Head carry out the policies already formulated by the Head of the Department who has been made available to us from Indonesia? According to my interpretation, the appointment of an Assistant Head will mean that the Ministry will be short of staff, and that it will only begin to operate. If the contrary is the case - plans might have been formulated but there is no staff - could the Minister for Culture explain to me the position?

The Minister for Culture (Mr S. Rajaratnam): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not quite clear about the question. I gather the question is whether the Assistant Head would carry out the policies laid down by the present Head of the Dewan. Of course, the Assistant Head's function would be to assist the Head in administering the Dewan. To that extent, he would have to carry out the broad policies laid down by the Head of the Dewan who, in turn, discusses with the Minister the general policy of the Dewan.

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like further enlightenment from the Minister for Culture. The staff is for the Dewan Bahasa dan Kebudayaan Kebangsaan. Will the Assistant Head be a Malay? If that is so, will he be selected from among persons with diplomas, such as a B.A. from the University of Malaya? Or will the Government engage au Assistant Head from among persons with qualifications and experience and who are now employed in the Malay section of Radio Singapore?

Mr Rajaratnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, this Government does not make appointments in terms of whether a person is a Malay, a Chinese or an Indian. We advertise in terms of particular skills and abilities required for a post, and the person most suited would naturally be selected by the Public Service Commission. In this case, this post has already been advertised - I think it was on Monday - and the qualifications and experience necessary are an Honours degree of a recognised University plus experience in writing and post-graduate research, preferably academic research, in an institution of higher learning, administrative ability and leadership. So it will be left to the P.S.C. to decide from among the applicants the person who would be most suited to fill the post.

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi: (In Malay): Mr Speaker. Sir, I am aware of the explanation given by the Minister for Culture. As he is from a Socialist Party - subject to correction - it may be that the P.A.P. is always right in implementing its policies. But could the P.S.C. engage only a Malay? It is not our responsibility but it is the responsibility of the P.S.C. But if the Government could so direct, I believe the opportunity could be given to the Malays because only one man is required. The responsibilities of this post, to carry out the functions and operations of the Dewan Bahasa dan Kebudayaan Kebangsaan, are great. If, however, the Assistant Head is a non-Malay - I am not suggesting the Government policy cannot be implemented - I think it is proper that the Government should look to the Federation. I am not going to teach the Government, but the staff of the Dewan Bahasa should comprise more Malays who will be the pioneers to implement the Government policy. This is my opinion, Mr Speaker.

Mr Rajaratnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, the functions of the Dewan are well known to Members of the Assembly. There are two functions. One is to foster the development and the popularisation of the national language, which is Malay; and the second is to undertake research in connection with the primary aim of integrating the various cultures and of spreading a knowledge of those cultures. So it is inevitable that whoever is the Head of the Dewan shoud be one who is most capable of discharging these functions. It will therefore depend on who can best discharge those functions. He may be a Malay or anybody else, so long as we choose the right person who can discharge these two essential functions - one, to spread knowledge of the national language (Malay), and to help in the research and development of the language; and two, to carry out sociological duties in connection with cultural work. The staff has been chosen with the view that, apart from the Malay language, the other three languages and the four cultures are involved. It is impossible to find one man who can carry out this work and therefore the staff must be balanced in such a way that they can complement one another's work.

3.30 p.m.

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, in any case that is the Government's responsibility. I have duly conveyed my views.

Another point, Mr Speaker. Can I be informed whether administrative correspondence in this Dewan will be in Malay, the national language? I ask because I know that the status of the national language has not yet been made official, and I would like to know whether the national language will be used in the daily administration of the Dewan.

Mr Rajaratnam: Mr Speaker, the use of the national language in this Dewan will depend on the extent to which use would be made of the national language in the whole administration. But here again, in view of the present transitional phase of our development, it would obviously be impractical to send, say, a letter in Malay to a Chinese cultural organisation which might have individuals who do not understand the national language. So the use of the particular language will depend on to whom correspondence is being sent. It is no use sending a letter in English to somebody who knows only Malay, and it is no use sending a letter in Malay to somebody who knows only Chinese. It is hoped that as we go on and as the national language is extensively used throughout the administration, the Dewan too will make better use of the national language.

Question on the amendment put, and negatived.

The following amendment stood in the name of Inche Mohamed Ali Bin Alwi:

That the sum to be allocated for Head 47 be reduced by $10 in respect of the new item (Editors).

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi: I am not moving, Sir.

The Chairman: The next item on the Order Paper Supplement is "New item- Research Officers, three". Inche Mohd. Ali.

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, I move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 47 be reduced by $10 in respect of the new item (Research Officers).

Mr Speaker, first, I would like an explanation from the Minister for Culture as to the definition of "Research Officers". I do not know what these officers will do. So could the Minister first explain what are the functions of these Research Officers?

Mr Rajaratnam: These Research Officers are people who carry out research. But if the Member would like to know their duties, it was advertised last week and it says:

`To do research in various aspects of local cultures, customs, languages and literature. In addition, research officers may be called upon to organise various scientific and educational bodies to standardise and define words in Malay and be responsible for the publication of terminological works.'

Question on the amendment put, and negatived.

Inche Mohd. Ali Bin Alwi: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, I move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 47 be reduced by $10 in respect of the new sub-head (Promotion of Art and Culture).

Mr Speaker, the subject of culture has been discussed at previous sittings of the Assembly. We are in the dark as to which culture we should adopt - whether it is Government culture, or culture as understood by Members of the Opposition. In short, there may be one, two, three, or four cultures. I hope the Minister for Culture will explain to us what is culture, so that we could consider his views and remarks.

Mr Rajaratnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am delighted at the capacity for punishment that Members of the Opposition show in not only being prepared to listen to a lecture on culture, but also inviting the Minister for Culture at this late juncture to deliver a long lecture on culture which I am always prepared to do. In view of the fact that we are going to spend a large sum of money in establishing a Dewan Bahasa dan Kebudayaan Kebangsaan, I hope the Member for Kampong Kembangan will be able to satisfy his curiosity about culture in general by not only attending the lectures and activities which are organised by the Dewan but also by perusing the excellent publications which will be produced by the Research Officers of whose functions he was not quite well aware.

Tun Lim Yew Hock: Sir, the Opposition is not curious. The Opposition wants to know, on behalf of the people of Singapore, why it is that the Government wants $2,500 on the Promotion of Art and Culture when it has already put in the Budget quite a large sum for culture itself. We would like to hear from the Minister the kind of culture that the P.A.P. is introducing in Singapore, and we have the patience to hear him if only he will tell us.

Mr Rajah: Sir, as the vote stands, it comes from "Other Charges - Annually Recurrent" which continues on to the next page: Promotion of Art and Culture, $2,500. If I am reading this correctly, Mr Speaker, Sir, the suggestion is that this Promotion of Art and Culture ($2,500) is an annually recurrent expenditure. We would like to know what he is going to, spend the money on annually.

Mr Rajaratnam: I was only answering the question by the Member for Kampong Kembangan. If he had asked me in the way that the Member for Cairnhill did, I would have explained what the $2,500 was going to be used for.

It is true that we have a Culture vote, but in this particular case the item "Promotion of Art and Culture" is in connection with a specific type of activity that the Dewan would undertake, things like organising congresses, meetings, special meetings, lectures by well-known authorities on some particular aspect of art or culture. So this amount would be used to finance a special type of cultural activity which is not undertaken by my Ministry under the vote "Cultural matters".

Question on the amendment put, and negatived.

The sum of $164,210 for Head 47 ordered to stand part of the First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for 1961.

The Chairman: Heads of expenditure undisposed of. They appear in the Summary at page 6 other than Heads 36 and 47. I propose to take those heads of expenditure*

*Following are the heads of expenditure:- Head Title $ 28 Ministry of Finance 149,424 29 Charge on Account of the Public Debt 10,691,420 50 Defence Services 8,403,850

Question, "That the sums stated in the Summary of Totals contained in Paper Cmd. 13 of 1961 for Heads 28, 29 and 50, stand part of the First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for 1961", put, and agreed to.

Question, "That the sum $19,561,794 shall be supplied to the Government under the heads of expenditure for the public services shown in the First Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for 1961 contained in Paper Cmd. 13 of 1961", put, and agreed to.

Resolution to be reported.

The Chairman: Second Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for 1961 (Paper Cmd. 14 of 1961).

No notice of amendment has been received. The Summary is at page 3. There are two Heads of Expenditure: Head D.55, Prisons and Head D.58, Colonial Development and Welfare Schemes. I propose to take those Heads of Expenditure together.

Question, "That the sums stated in the Summary of Totals contained in Paper Cmd. 14 of 1961 for Heads D.55 and D.58, stand part of the Second Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for 1961", put, and agreed to.

Question, "That the sum of $109,141 shall be supplied to the Government under the heads of expenditure for the public services shown in the Second Supplementary Estimates of Expenditure for 1961 contained in Paper Cmd. 14 of 1961", put, and agreed to.

Resolution to be reported.

Thereupon Mr Speaker left the Chair of Committee and took the Chair of the Assembly.

Dr Goh Keng Swee: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply have come to certain resolutions.

Resolutions read.

Dr Goh Keng Swee: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move that the Assembly doth agree with the Committee on the said resolutions.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolutions accordingly agreed to.