UNAUTHORISED HUTS (Request for legislation)

Mrs Seow Peck Leng asked the Minister for National Development whether he will introduce a Bill for the purpose of (a) protecting and helping occupants of existing unauthorised huts, and (b) controlling the further building of unauthorised huts.

Mr Tan Kia Gan: Sir, I do not consider it either feasible or desirable to legislate to protect the occupants of existing unauthorised huts, as to do so would be tantamount to condoning the acts of law-breakers and giving official encouragement to the erection of more unauthorised huts.

Sir, I have already mentioned several times in this House, to queries from Members of the Opposition, that Government will take steps to control or regularise unauthorised houses. As a first step, I have already set up a Committee to consider the disposal of mandatory orders which have obtained over the past years in respect of existing unauthorised structures. This Committee is now examining the circumstances of each case and will recommend the action to be taken for the retention or demolition of each unauthorised structure. In the case of an unauthorised structure which cannot be recommended for retention, the occupants will be given a final extension of time to find alternative accommodation before proceeding with demolition.

As regards the second part of the question, a Committee of officials has gone into the question of tightening up and providing more stringent legislation for centralised control of unauthorised structures in the future. A Bill will be drafted for this purpose as soon as the Committee has completed its deliberations and submitted its recommendations.

Mrs Seow Peck Leng: Mr Speaker, Sir, is the Minister aware that hundreds of unauthorised huts were going up in Kampong Amber at the time of the P.A.P. mayorship? Almost all of them, with the exception of 56, I think, were given numbers as authorised, and it has been said that they were authorised for political reasons. Would the Minister consider looking into the question? And if existing huts, which are not authorised but deserve to be authorised as they conform more to the law than those that have been authorised, would the Minister rectify the position?

Mr Tan Kia Gan: Sir, I am leaving the decision of authorisation or regularisation of unauthorised houses all over Singapore to this Review Committee.

Mr David Marshall: Will the Minister indicate whether the Review Committee will hear the occupants and, furthermore, whether he will give consideration to the question of offering alternative sites to persons whose houses have to be demolished?

Mr Tan Kia Gan: Sir, what the Member for Anson is asking the Government to do is to give alternative sites to those people who have erected unauthorised structures on lands that do not belong to them. Sir, the Government cannot undertake to do this sort of thing. As regards hearing the occupants, when the Review Committee has advised all the occupants of unauthorised houses, if they have legitimate complaints to make, I am sure their views will be listened to.

Mr David Marshall: If it please you, Mr Speaker, it is admitted that those who erect unauthorised houses are transgressing the law. But this is a matter of humanity in respect of people who have no homes. All I ask is: would the Government consider, if it has land available, offering alternative sites to those whose homes will be demolished?

Mr Tan Kia Gan: Mr Speaker, Sir, at this juncture all that I can say is that we will offer alternative accommodation to these people.

Mr Speaker: Mr Prime Minister, a ministerial statement.