WORK BRIGADE (Setting up of Commission)

Mr David Marshall asked the Minister for National Development whether he will consider setting up a Commission to inquire into the functioning of the Work Brigade and to make recommendation for its future.

Mr Tan Kia Gan: Sir, the Work Brigade was set up in March 1960 with the following objects:

Firstly, to keep in useful and gainful occupation youths between the ages of 16 and 30 who would otherwise he swelling the ranks of the unemployed.

Secondly, to place them in permanent employment in Government and other organisations in the State after a period of training designed to turn them into useful citizens.

Through the years since March 1960, thousands of youths have been kept in useful and gainful occupation and over 2,000 youths have found employment through the Work Brigade.

Sir, the Singapore Work Brigade has been functioning satisfactorily and I see no reason for setting up a Commission to inquire into the functioning of the Work Brigade.

Mr David Marshall: May I ask the Minister whether he is not aware that it is generally believed that the Work Brigade is being used for political demonstrations and some of the members are being coerced thereto and paid public monies therefor? And would he not consider it helpful in the public interest that these rumours - whether true or untrue - should be nailed down by a public inquiry which would also assist in considering the future of these people?

Mr Tan Kia Gan: I can imagine all sorts of rumours about the Work Brigade because the election for the 15 seats to the Federal Parliament is drawing very near. Rumours will fly round anyway. For the Member's information, other than doing the routine work of the Work Brigade, Work Brigade members do crowd control work. For instance, on National Day or during Singapore Air Show Day or during the Singapore or Malaysian Grand Prix, Work Brigade members are used to prepare the site, to help in crowd control and many other things. These are the duties which the Work Brigade have performed to our satisfaction and we are satisfied with the functioning of the Work Brigade. As I have said, there is no necessity to set up this Commission of Inquiry.

Mr Ong Chang Sam (Choa Chu Kang): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, is the Minister for National Development aware that members of the Work Brigade have been selling P.A.P. party organs during their working hours? I would like to ask him whether he intends to set up a Commission to inquire into this matter and to see that members of the Work Brigade should be employed in their proper functions and not do something else for the benefit of the Party in power.

Mr Tan Kia Gan: Sir, during the days when the Member for Choa Chu Kang and the Member for Toa Payoh were with us on this side of the Assembly, I also heard that they were using Work Brigade members for their own purpose. At that time, of course, it was for P.A.P. purpose, and there was no necessity for a Commission of Inquiry because these were mere rumours. If the Member for Choa Chu Kang can substantiate what he has said just now, I will set up a Commission of Inquiry.

Mr Ong Eng Guan (Hong Lim): Mr Speaker, after having run the Work Brigade for nearly three years, would the Government not consider that a Commission of Inquiry would be able to inquire whether the present $1.50 per day allowance is sufficient for their purpose and whether we should increase it to $3 per day?

Mr Tan Kia Gan: Sir, the idea of admitting unemployed youths into the Work Brigade is to give them a period of training and find proper employment for them outside the Work Brigade. We do not intend to keep them in the Work Brigade forever. The allowance of $1.50 a day is to tide them over their weekend, the days when they are free to go out and enjoy a bit. This sum of $1.50 is not intended as a salary for them.

Mr Ong Chang Sam: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, a little while ago the Minister for National Development said that if I could produce the evidence, then he would consider setting up a Commission of Inquiry. Now I ask the Minister to set it up to look into the whole task of the Work Brigade and then we will get evidence as to -

Mr Speaker: Order. The Member is now entering into a debate. He has been asked to substantiate what he has to say, and if he can do so, then the Minister has undertaken to make an inquiry. That is the end of it. He must not enter into a debate now. Is it a question, he wishes to ask?

Mr Ong Chang Sam: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, my question is very simple. If the Minister would like to set up a Commission of Inquiry, then we would be prepared to give evidence to this Commission.

Mr Speaker: That is not a question.

Mr David Marshall: Would the Minister indicate what is the average period that a member of the Work Brigade remains in the organisation, if he is in possession of that information at the moment?

Mr Tan Kia Gan: The maximum period is nine months.