PRESIDENT'S SPEECH Debate on the Address (First Day)

Debate resumed.

4.47 p.m.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am happy to join the Prime Minister in thanking the President for his speech. The Prime Minister and, indeed, several other Ministers have spoken of the crucial years ahead and that they cannot afford to be naive nor ingenuous. The President in his speech laid emphasis on three important points, namely, national defence, economic growth and national consciousness. In respect of the second point, that is, economic growth, both the Minister for Science and Technology and the Minister for Finance in their recent speeches stressed the need for managerial and technological advance in industry. I agree wholeheartedly with them. If these advances are to be fostered, it follows logically that we should harness the natural talents of our youths and provide them with the necessary training to become scientists, engineers, managers or technologists.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to draw the attention of this House to the large sums of Government money being spent on the training of medical personnel. It is generally known that, because of the status symbol of doctors and because of the lucrative income of the medical profession, the Medical Faculty of the University of Singapore has attracted and is continuing to attract the top layer of the cream of our H.S.C, graduates. The Medical Faculty takes in about 70 to 80 of our best H.S.C, graduates every year and we are spending on each student about $7,000 each year. This means that we are investing about $42,000 in every medical student if he graduates within six years. While I hold a good doctor in the highest esteem and while I agree that we need good doctors to maintain our high standard of health, I wonder if some of this top talent could not be better utilised in ship-building, engineering and other industries of top priority.

Mr Speaker, Sir, unemployment is an urgent and serious problem that is constantly troubling our minds. Even before the British decided to withdraw their forces, we had tens of thousands of school-leavers joining the unemployment ranks every year. Now with the impending withdrawal of the British Forces from Singapore, this problem will become even more acute. In this respect, the Minister for Science and Technology has said that education must now be regarded as a means towards increasing one's usefulness in society and as a means of obtaining rewarding and satisfying employment. He has also said that emphasis should move from the white-collar to the blue-collar jobs. I agree entirely with him. But I would like to know how and when he is going to implement this change. Is he considering changes in the many adult education classes which are preparing students for repeat attempts in the School Certificate and the H.S.C. examinations? These classes are, in effect, producing more white-collar workers while the need is to produce blue-collar workers. Many of these classes are being conducted by teachers who are already engaged in day schools, thus providing earning opportunities to those who are already in employment, whi1st the number of unemployed persons is increasing by leaps and bounds every year. Besides that, the employment of full-time day teachers in the adult education night classes deprives younger children in the day schools of effective teaching, for full-time day teaching followed by extramural activities and then followed by night teaching hardly leaves the teacher any time to prepare his lessons properly. Further, Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to know whether the Minister, in his efforts to resolve the unemployment problem, is considering the withdrawal of married women from employment. If so, perhaps he should spare married women in the lower income bracket.

I now wish to turn to the Finance Minister's speech on 30th of March, 1968, wherein he gave a clear analysis of how he intended to counteract the recession created by the impending withdrawal of the British Forces. I must congratulate him on his very careful and exact conclusions. However, although he was aware of the magnitude of the import leakage, he did not elaborate on how he could keep this to the barest minimum. Obviously he was mindful of the need to encourage the use of local products in place of imported goods. Although it is often said that the Singapore consumer market is small, yet the Minister disclosed that about 60 per cent of consumer expenditure leaves for places abroad. That is, it is spent on imported goods. This means that, despite spectacular capital investment in industry, ranging from $20 million in 1961 to $404 million in 1967, only 40 per cent of consumer expenditure has been captured. It, therefore, seems that there is still plenty of room for industrial expansion in consumer goods alone. But in order that locally-manufactured consumer goods can capture the local market, it is necessary that our local manufacturers should convince the public that their goods are comparable in quality to imported goods and that they are cheaper.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to stress that whereas the encouragement of local industry will conserve foreign exchange and create more employment opportunities, it is essential that prices be kept as low as possible. The profit margins of industrialists should be closely examined by the Minister. I am aware that investors in industries expect the best returns from their investments, but unless their profit margins are kept to reasonable proportions, the cost of living will go up and all our efforts in encouraging local industries would seem to benefit only the factory owners.

The Minister for Finance on 16th April, 1968, disclosed his plans to develop economic growth in four main fields, namely, the entrepot trade, tourism, shipping and the manufacturing industries. His study of the tourist trade is most commendable and I wish him every success in his attempt to establish Singapore in the Pacific tourist circuit. Mr Speaker, Sir, there are two types of tourists coming into Singapore. One type is the American soldier from the Vietnam war theatre. He comes here to rest. For him a comfortable hotel, good food and good recreational facilities would be all that he would ask for. The other type is the average tourist who comes here for sight-seeing. I am aware that the Tourist Promotion Board has a fleet of sight-seeing buses to take tourists on conducted tours. But I would like to know if the advantages of our multi-racial and multi-cultural society and our natural vegetation, such as rubber plantations, pineapple plantations and coconut plantations, have been fully exploited and developed for sight-seeing to attract foreign tourists. Promoting tourism abroad is of no use, if, when a tourist comes to Singapore, he finds nothing to see. Therefore, the Tourist Promotion Board should concentrate their efforts on promoting more attractive facilities on our island for the tourists.

Finally, Mr Speaker, Sir, I hope the Hon. Minister will take my remarks in good spirit, for I was indeed prompted by the Prime Minister in his speech here on Monday to speak my mind. May I once again endorse the Prime Minister's thanks to the President for his speech.

4.59 p.m.

Mr J. F. Conceicao (Katong): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I express my warm support basically for the measures that this Government will implement in the crucial years ahead, as outlined in the President's Speech, in the addendum to the speech by the President, and in the Ministerial broadcasts entitled, indeed, "The Crucial Years".

May I also, however, enter some observations on portions of the documents referred to, respectful as I hope I am of the President's injunction to speak in forthright terms. It is likely that my comments will focus themselves on particular details of implementation of Government's measures in respect of one or two Ministries, details which may have already suggested themselves to the officers of the Ministry concerned or the Ministers themselves; but I feel that certain problems must be underlined so that the fullest attention is given to them.

I note, and I note with feelings of congratulation, that in education one of the targets of Government's attention will be a reorganisation of the secondary school system to divert a much larger number of students to technical education and vocational training. It is hoped that the selection of candidates, especially for vocational training, will be on the basis of a scientific assessment of their potential for this type of development. I make this point because customary attitudes in the past have resulted in drop-outs from the academic stream finding themselves saddled with vocational training as a rather poor and second choice. Such outcome has been somehow or other based on the dimly-conceived assumption that if one is no good for a white-collar occupation, then why not give training (or so-called training) for a blue-collar job a desperate bash?

Mr Speaker, Sir, the country needs in the field of vocational training, as much as in the field of technical education, the optimum potential that it can recruit, not pupils who will enter their training tasks with a consciousness of their having failed in some other educational sector.

We want our factories and industrial workshops manned by people assured of their capacities and confident of their skills - not by people who are apologetic about their academic short-comings. It is hoped, also, that the type of training given will be sufficiently flexible to allow our technical workers and technicians to be adaptable to quite certain scientific changes in the future. Confident as I am of the far-sightedness of our Government, I am sure also that the creative side of the development of our workers will also be seen to. So that not only do we adapt technically to changes imposed on us somewhat from the outside, but that we may initiate these adaptations ourselves for our own benefit.

May I express my view that the new direction of emphasis in our educational policy (from the academic to the technical-vocational) will achieve the highly desirable result of largely removing from our educational system the unpleasant feature of many pupils being, in the final analysis, coached for failure in examinations. The diversification of our educational system will, I hope, provide opportunity for pupils of varying aptitudes to develop those capabilities which can be best developed to the satisfaction of the individual and the welfare of the State.

In this connection, it should also be hoped that there will be such qualitative improvement of our examinations system as will not result in examinations being the principal, if neurotic, goal of classroom endeavour. I remember reading a speech several months ago by one of our Ministers who gave it as his opinion that certain subjects in the curriculum could well be removed from the compelling grip of the examination syndrome. In my opinion, this is a most fruitful line of thinking. Perhaps we could further exercise better control over the effects of our examinations policy if we conducted all our examinations ourselves, whenever we have, at all, to conduct examinations. If we were to apply a cost-benefit analysis to the suggestion that we have our own school-leaving examinations system in the English stream, and if we were to take all factors into consideration (and not only those particularistic factors pertaining to immediate financial expenditure and administrative convenience), we might find our own examinations system a more economic and educationally productive proposition.

With regard to the question of bilingualism in schools, I endorse the principle outlined in the relevant sections under the heading "Ministry of Education", of the Addendum to the Speech by the President. I must emphasize, however, my view that knowledge of the principal medium of instruction must be carried to the highest standards of sophistication possible and desirable in relation to the appropriate levels of schooling. For example, Sir, one of the reasons why many of our English-educated youths are so hazardously exposed to the fads and blandishments of the mass-media in English is that their command of English permits them only to respond to base appeals in basic English. Many of such youths are not able to assimilate superior cultural notions that could come through the English medium simply because their ability to use this medium is just not adequate.

On the question of quality at all levels of education, may I suggest that every encouragement be given to the setting up of an educational research organisation which, while it is in a responsible way sensitive to the needs of our educational situation, should be independent of administrative control by civil servants in the education sector. May I hasten to add that I have, in general, a profound regard for the professional competence of our educationists who are also administrative civil servants. And their expertise and experience would be valuable in research projects. But their resources should be made available for research purposes in an undivided fashion, and they should not be exposed to the possibility of bureaucratic considerations affecting the direction of their research recommendations.

It may be feasible for our institutions of tertiary education and the Teachers' Training College to be jointly involved in this research enterprise, by way of an Institute for Educational Research, to which could be seconded officers from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Science and Technology.

A Cabinet Committee will now exercise supervision over crucial aspects of our education policy. Whatever the planning that is worked out, I must say, even at the risk of appearing trite, that it is basically the teachers in our schools who will be the human operatives on whose performance and contribution will depend the success of the plan. Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to stress that I want to express myself as cautiously as possible, but I must say that it is my belief that not enough of the potential enthusiasm and zeal of teachers have been released towards the vigorous improvement of our educational system.

When plans are laid, not enough of the opinion of the rank and file has been solicited. There are scarcely any devices or procedures whereby the feelings and views of those who are going to work the educational system are sought. Without discussion there cannot be that full and wholehearted commitment, that understanding zeal that is necessary to galvanise our educational system into ever-ready responses to the needs of our society. Whenever decisions are made, whenever plans are laid, we need more than a resigned acquiescence to these decisions and plans. We need the participation of our teachers in the thinking out of our problems.

In the last few years I have had occasion to receive feedbacks about the quality of our teachers. I must say that where those of our teachers are concerned who have finished their training and have had experience enough to be matured in the process of exposure to the joys and tribulations of teaching, they are adequate in their knowledge, competent in their practice (where circumstances allow scope for pedagogical application), and potentially alert to the possibilities of improvement. In other words, our experienced teachers would compare favourably with their counterparts in other societies which have a more sophisticated educational set-up.

We have achieved remarkable progress in the provision of educational opportunities for our children. This is a matter for profound congratulation. I am sincere and I do not wish to be taken as being condescending in this matter. In quantitative terms the target has been achieved, but in all the tremendous drive to achieve this physical triumph, have we jettisoned certain important psychological considerations pertaining to the need of teachers to feel that they are given adequate recognition of their role in the educational progress of our society? Do our teachers feel mere cogs in the educational machine that has been grinding out more schools, more laboratories, more equipment, more students even? Are they just being fed and perhaps fed up with directives and expected to respond to these impersonal instructions?

It is possible that in the near future we may want to make further demands on our teachers, in the national interest. Let our planners enter into a dialogue with those who are going to implement plans. When an idea, for example, strikes our planners that senior members of the teaching profession require civic or political orientation, do not let these teachers be gathered indoors and lectured to for hours with little respite, and with even less respect for the fact that they are teachers who have been taught to make lessons interesting and pupil-centred - and here they are in a situation where scant consideration is paid to basic canons of teaching practice.

If we wish to change attitudes, then we must have discussion. Exhortation, purely and simply as such, is going out of fashion even from the pulpit. Over the past two or three decades especially, studies in social psychology have very plausibly and, to my mind, quite conclusively indicated that when people participate in discussion, they are more ready to change their behaviour when they move out of this discussion context than when the channel of communication has been a one-way process. Because also in a discussion context, people have the opportunity for their human worth to be given recognition. Therefore, I say, Sir, let us structure devices and generate the mood and style, as a result of which our teachers can have opportunity for discussion among themselves, and transmit thoughtful proposals to our educational planners.

I have already mentioned what I consider to be the necessity for an independent educational research institute. It may be possible for there to be attached to this institute an educational liaison council which would be responsible, on a continuing basis for the reception and processing of memoranda, which could ultimately indicate fruitful lines of practical and productive educational investigation.

We wish all our citizens to be habituated to the democratic procedures of thoughtful discussion, wherein respect for the opinions and potential contribution of others may be a significant feature. Why not act with our teachers who are key people in the inculcation of healthy attitudes in our children?

At the same time, measures should be taken to see that in the classroom our pupils are not simply being made recipients of information from their teachers.

One aspect of education, perhaps not given sufficient consideration in the past, is the necessity to get our children to ask questions, and not simply lap up devotedly what the teacher says as the last oracular word. That discussion techniques seem to be notable rather by their absence from the educational scene has been brought home to me with some force on several occasions. When discussion time comes up, for example, in adult education classes, there is a vast sticky silence. On one occasion when I had a chat with some senior teachers and I suggested to them that perhaps they could institute certain discussion procedures in their classrooms, they agreed that it would be a good idea, but said that the cultural shock to their pupils would be so great that they would not know how to handle their classes after that!

May I now, Mr Speaker, carry the point I am making about the necessity for discussion opportunities a little further. I have said that our teachers need discussion opportunities and our pupils need discussion opportunities. I would say that our citizens need discussion situations to be structured for them. We read in the Addendum to the President's Speech, under the heading "Ministry of Culture":

`To get our people better prepared and to participate more in the immense national effort required in the crucial years ahead, the mass media of Radio, Television and publications will be improved and expanded.'

It is intended that our mass media "will not only inform, entertain and educate but will also stimulate patriotism, public-spiritedness and the importance of increased productivity."

Sir, may I suggest that an important ancillary to propaganda through the mass media - and I must stress that I am using the term "propaganda" in its neutral sense, without any pejorative implications - is adult education. In conjunction with the mass media, listening and viewing groups could be encouraged in our community centres, in the premises of voluntary organisations, in schools in respect of teacher-parent gatherings.

Other aspects of systematic public education could also be encouraged. Sir, we are inculcating in our children in schools various attitudes and mores which we feel will help our national effort. At the same time, many children get little social reinforcement of these attitudes in the home. We want our children to exercise wisdom in their vocational choice. Yet parents with traditional views may insist on their own outmoded predilections. I hope the following may not be too trivial an anecdote for the House, but in a conversation with a school's dental officer, I was told that while our dentists are teaching our children healthy care of their teeth, some parents do not provide their children with tooth-brushes. [Laughter]. I am not intending to strike a note of levity, Mr Speaker, Sir, because I notice that in the section devoted to "Health", there is a paragraph referring to dental care. This little anecdote which I related just now has some bearing on what we intend to do. While we urge our children to help to make our city beautiful, these same children may be living in circumstances which are far from being aesthetic.

It is highly desirable, to my mind, that continuing educational opportunity be afforded the parents of our children so that any discordance between home and school may be eliminated; not only this, but that indeed an understanding of public issues may be generated. In order to achieve this, more devices must be resorted to, besides the mass media. I would like to enter a mild caveat against exaggerating the effectiveness of the mass media as a means of communicating a specific message, especially in the circumstances of a free and open society like ours.

Any teacher will be able to say that at any juncture of a teaching activity, it may not be the information that he is trying to impart which is percolating through. The pupils may be more interested in distracting background items, such as the way he dresses or the unerased diagram on the blackboard. In the case of the mass media also, full attention is not guaranteed, and it may be that other features are coming across besides the intrinsic information that it is desired to convey. Where any medium of communication is concerned, it is the whole medium that is the message.

Adult education, therefore, has to come to the aid of the mass media to stimulate awareness and committed concern for our problems.

It is easy to see from the experience and history of other countries how adult education has been brought to the service of national construction.

In England, for example, adult education as a national movement for the education of workers contributed towards the redressing of balance of national and political influence in favour of workers. In Denmark, the folk high schools were created (and I am quoting learned authority) "for the express purpose of refashioning a national culture". In the Soviet Union adult education (and I quote again):

`has served as an instrument of State policy directed at producing loyalty to the state and developing technical competencies required by national plans.'

In the process of changing China, adult education has had two functions, namely (and I quote different authority now):

`(a) breaking down the class barrier and fostering the union of workers and peasants and the patriotic intelligentsia, and

(b) contributing to the construction of the new China.'

Chou En-lai has himself issued "Directives on Increasing Peasants' Spare-Time Education". Israel is also an outstanding example of how adult education, in the Kibbutzim, in the Histadrut and in the universities, has contributed to national development. Mr Speaker, Sir, the lesson is quite clear that whatever the hue and complexion adult education has assumed in other countries, different national and social circumstances have thrown up peculiar, specific and indigenous adult education responses.

Our own adult education scene has also been characterised by a gratifying ebullience, but more imaginative forms should be encouraged by the Government towards striking roots more deeply among the masses of our people. Remembering, too, that the better educated our people are, the more firmly we can make assurance doubly sure of our survival in the crucial years ahead.

May I conclude, Sir - probably much to the gratification of hon. Members -by expressing my particular endorsement of the various details related to education in its different aspects, in several places in the Addendum to the speech by the President. I was happy to read the paragraphs on training in the section devoted to the Ministry of Labour. The Ministry of Culture's statement is welcome that "an appreciation for dancing, music, art and other cultural activities will be assiduously encouraged". May I suggest that there be not only presentation of cultural forms, but that explanation of their meaning and significance be also entered into more extensively.

I am happy to note also that "the Museum which will now come under the Ministry of Science and Technology will be modernised to serve as an educational centre displaying in vivid manner the rich political, social and economic history not only of Singapore but of the whole region of which we are the fulcrum." Up to now the permanent exhibition in the Museum seems to have taken on an aspect of immutability.

Mr Speaker, Sir, may I, in this my maiden speech, express my respect for the House and reiterate my support of Government.

5.33 p.m.

Mr Teong Eng Siong (Sembawang): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, on behalf of the people in Sembawang Constituency, I fully support the Prime Minister's motion. The speech made by the President in this House on the 6th of this month at 7 p.m, is undoubtedly historic. It is a very important document for nation building. It clearly outlines the three great objectives in our nation building, namely, the building of an effective defence capability and the promotion of greater economic growth and the enhancement of national consciousness, in order to overcome the various problems that will confront us. These objectives clearly show that the Government is determined to launch out in the task of nation building in the coming five years, namely, to build a more prosperous, more stable and more progressive Republic.

Mr Speaker, Sir, at present our people attach much importance to the problems of how to strengthen our national defence and how to speed up tour economic growth. These are the major issues affecting our national survival. If a country is weak in its defence and is not always prepared, then it will not be able to safeguard its independence and sovereignty, because at the moment we are still in a predatory world and the ideal of having one world in the future, which is cherished by all mankind, is still far ahead. Therefore, as a newly-emergent country, in order to safeguard and protect our territorial integrity and sovereignty, and also to protect the right of survival of our two million people, we have to build up our defence force. We have to consolidate our defence arrangements in order to achieve internal security and defence capability. Sir, we, of course, understand that since we are a country of only 224 square miles, it is not possible to spend large sums of money and most of our resources on defence expenditure. If we do so, then our cultural, educational and social welfare programmes will be greatly curtailed. Therefore, we are now implementing national service which stipulates that all those citizens of 18 years of age will receive two years' full-time training or part-time military training. Thus, we need maintain only a small regular army which would be responsible for our major defence task. On the other hand, we have quite a large reserve force which ordinarily would carry on with their work in their various capacities. But when there is an emergency, these well-trained reserves will receive instructions to regroup and will be organised speedily to defend our security.

Mr Speaker, Sir, in addition to the organisation of our Army, we should also, at the same time, set up an Air Force and a Navy to protect our air space and territorial waters. On this aspect, let me quote what the Prime Minister said on the occasion of the Military Officers Commissioning ceremony at the Istana Negara on 20th March. He said that in the next four years we must speedily build up our air defence capability jointly with Malaysia and other countries so that we may have a reliable air defence system and, at the same time, it should be one that can withstand any test and will live up to its reputation. This shows that the Government is quite determined to build up its air defence capability.

Sir, we examine what we have achieved in our military build-up in the past two years and nine months, we can be proud of the fact that we have not only organised and trained military personnel, but we have also achieved good results. Furthermore, we have successfully built an armoury which is producing bullets, hand grenades and other weapons. This is a very good example of our great achievements in self-reliance.

In the field of economic development, according to the analysis given by our Finance Minister, our economic growth mainly depends on four sectors:

(1) Import and export trade;

(2) tourism;

(3) shipping and communications;

(4) manufacturing industries.

Ever since we won our independence and became our own masters, we have been implementing a non-aligned foreign policy and have also set up good trading relationships with many countries, both Communist and non-Communist. Thus we have greatly increased our foreign trade. For instance, in 1967 our foreign trade amounted to $7,886,510,000, an increase of $440 million on the figure for 1966. At present many countries are trying to set up trade relationships with us. This is a good sign. If the commercial and industrial sectors can co-operate closely with the Government to promote our trade and commerce, I believe that we will be able to increase our foreign trade.

In the field of tourism, last year about 200,000 tourists came here. It would appear from this that the tourist trade has great hopes of expansion. We can now see many first-class hotels being built to receive tourists from other countries. I hope that in future more consideration will be given to the allotment of expenditure to promote tourism and that the Immigration Department and other Government departments dealing with tourists should accord them better facilities and extend them every courteous service. These are very necessary conditions in promoting tourism.

In the field of shipping and communications, we know that we are geographically at the centre of South-east Asia and also that we are at the cross-roads of communication lines between Europe and Asia. Recently we have seen much development in this field. According to statistics, there are 21 airlines operating regular flight services through Singapore. Last year 964,244 air passengers passed through Singapore. This is about 25 per cent increase over that of 1966. This is a great help to our economic growth.

There is even speedier development in the manufacturing industry. The Minister for Finance has said that total investments in 1961 amounted to $20,400,000. But in 1967 they had increased to $400,600,000, a twenty-fold increase. In 1961 only 330 persons were employed in the manufacturing industry. In 1967, 16,400 people were employed. This was an increase of 55 times the original figure.

Sir, when we were at the initial stages of industrialisation, some people with ulterior motives and certain reactionary politicians criticised and ridiculed us, saying that we would surely fail in our industrialisation policy. But today, seven years later, we are witnessing industrial prosperity. More and more foreign investments are flowing in constantly.

[Mr Lim Cheng Lock temporarily in the Chair]

5.46 p.m.

Mr Teong Eng Siong (Sembawang): This not only earns us more foreign exchange but also provides us with more employment opportunities. The success of our industrialisation programme shows that if we have the verve and determination, any sort of difficulty can be overcome.

Let me now touch on the various Government departments. There is one matter which should receive our attention, i.e., the Government has set up two new Ministries, namely, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Communications. As a matter of fact, these two Ministries are vitally necessary as they fulfil the need of national development. The Ministry of Science and Technology will have the function of co-ordinating the two Universities, the Polytechnic and other tertiary educational institutes. This Ministry is now headed by Dr Toh Chin Chye, who is concurrently the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Singapore. When the appointment was made, he won the acclaim of the academic world of the Republic and the Press. I believe that under his leadership the tertiary institutions in our Republic will make greater progress and more orderly improvement and that more talented and capable nationals will be trained for nation-building.

The Ministry of Communications will have the stupendous task of solving our traffic congestion. According to statistics, the total number of vehicles last year was 578,855. Of these, 116,000 were private vehicles. With a population of two million people, it means that there was one car for every four persons. On the other hand, traffic congestion has also resulted in an increase of road accidents. The 1966 statistics show that the number of people who died in road accidents was 251 and the number who were severely injured was 1,646, the number slightly injured was 7,576. In November 1967, the number of people who died in road accidents was 207 and the number who were severely injured was 1,575, while those who were slightly injured was 7,769. These figures are shocking. The Ministry of Communications, under the leadership of Mr Yong Nyuk Lin, in conjunction with the Ministry of National Development, will have to find a solution to our problem of traffic congestion so as to reduce the number of road accidents and to minimise the loss of lives.

Sir, I would now like to say some-thing about the work of converting the Naval Base at Sembawang into a commercial dockyard. According to the Addendum to the President's Speech, the work of conversion will be carried out this year. As the representative of Sembawang, I have reason to be glad about such a project, because it will not only provide job opportunities for more than 11,000 people in my constituency and their families, but it will also play a very important role in promoting our economic prosperity. As a matter of fact, this 5-mile long Naval Base is a great asset to our country. It is the greatest naval base for the British Empire. But as a result of the change in circumstances, the British will be withdrawing its entire forces at the end of 1971 and they will leave behind all the facilities there. The Government has now decided to convert the Naval Base into a gigantic commercial dockyard. Therefore, after 1971 the Naval Base will not be dead. On the contrary, it will be a busier and more active dockyard and bring greater prosperity to our country.

Lastly, let me touch on education. From now onwards the emphasis will be switched over from academic education to technology and science so as to fulfil the need of industrialisation.

There have also been great improvement and reforms in the fields of culture, health and social welfare.

In short, the President's policy speech is a very important document because it lays down correct directions in national construction for the next five years. It will enable us to achieve greater prosperity. With political stability, economic security and other favourable factors for economic expansion, I believe that if the people and the Government can work closely together in the crucial years ahead, they will not be daunted by the formidable challenges facing them. On the contrary, they will be able to surmount all difficulties and succeed in the great task of nation-building.

5.55 p.m.

Mr Lim Soo Peng (Havelock): Sir, I wish to join the House in thanking the President for his speech when he opened Parliament on Monday evening. In spite of everything, the President had graciously come to this House and honoured us with his presence, and to state the Government's policy for the crucial years ahead. He has correctly and succinctly diagnosed a possible malaise to which we may succumb in the next few years if we are less robust and less prepared. He charted a course for us in the field of defence, anticipating the British withdrawal of their Armed Forces in 1971. He told us that we have very little time indeed to build up our military muscles. He also warned us that our military muscles are built, and subsist, on adequate economic health. Thus, unless we can in the next few years consolidate and expand our economic well-being, our security will rest on weak ground. In order that we have adequate military might underpinned by adequate economic resources, the President informed us that we will have to galvanise our people into a closely-knit society, each conscious of his own, his neighbour's and the collective response of citizenship and nationhood. Indeed, living as we are a comparatively small group of two million people compressed in an area of 225 square miles, we can only survive, let alone prosper, if the people are absolutely united and act consciously as a single body towards the national goal.

As an Addendum to the President's Speech, various Ministries have outlined the programmes by which they anticipate that the problems posed by the President will be adequately met and solved.

The Ministry of Finance has the task of not only providing the economic sinews to our military muscles but of solving the more fundamental problems of economic expansion and the enhancement of the economic welfare of the population. The Minister for Finance has correctly assessed the position in his two speeches in the series of Ministerial broadcasts. The basic problem, of course, is that we have right now a grave and substantial unemployment problem. This problem will be aggravated and magnified by the British pull-out in 1971. It is also aggravated by the annual output of school-leavers seeking employment between now and 1971. The basic solution to this problem is, of course, a simple one of providing more jobs. But, as is usual, simple answers to problems require complex methods to effect. The first difficulty in this apparently simple solution is to find the necessary funds for capital investment. The Finance Minister has proposed schemes for the mobilisation of both domestic and foreign capital. One of the ways he proposes to mobilise domestic capital is to increase Provident Fund contributions from both the employee and the employer. Detailed workings are yet to be announced. But at this stage, it is necessary to draw the attention of the Minister to grave and adverse repercussions if the detailed workings are not adequately thought out.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

6.01 p.m.

Mr Lim Soo Peng (Havelock): It is, of course, a good thing for an employee to contribute more towards the Fund which will either yield him better security in his old age or will permit him to own his house which, in view of the land shortage in Singapore, will undoubtedly in time get an enhanced value. The difficulty here is to draw a line separating those who can contribute more towards desirable objectives, and those who have to pay an additional levy which, however well meant, will cause immediate and unbearable hardship. I should, therefore, like to appeal to the Finance Minister to give serious thought to where this line should be drawn. It is also undoubtedly a very good thing for employers to play their part in contributing to the Fund which, as I have said earlier, will serve very desirable objectives. Here again, the difficulty will be to determine whether there will or will not be a class of employees from whom any additional levies may mean the difference between survival and bankruptcy. Nobody in this House believes that our Finance Minister wants to mobilise capital even at the expense of killing it. But it can well happen if detailed workings are not adequately thought out. Arising from this, a further point is that an additional levy on the employer for the Provident Fund is, in fact, a statutory rise for the employee. This means that the cost of production will rise varying with the amount of labour content in the product. On the one hand, we need and solicit both local and foreign investment. On the other hand, we are, as it were, passing a law compelling higher wages. Whether the higher wage cost will deter investment is something which economic experts in the Finance Ministry will have to work out with great care. Not equipped with sufficient data to make my own analysis, I will content myself by drawing the attention of the Minister to the possible adverse effects which this highly commendable scheme may induce.

Labour legislation is to be introduced, as it were, to back up the economic policy of the Finance Minister. It is intended that there shall be less abuses by labour, higher labour productivity and longer working hours. As I have said earlier, it is desirable and even commendable for us to gird ourselves for difficult times ahead. But, at the same time, it is not amiss here to sound a warning that when trying to galvanise ourselves, we do not sacrifice our human dignity and human values. We have to bear this very much in mind whenever we legislate and we have also to convince our people that the measures we think are good for them do not take away from them those human values which we cherish. For instance, when applying the uniform rate of 44 working hours per week, a large number of people will have their working hours extended. It is true that some of them have acquired the advantage of shorter working hours not because our society or their employers can afford it, but because they happened to be in a union that was strong enough to secure an advantage over workers in other enterprises or in other industries. Such people must be convinced that the unpleasant medicine prescribed will be good for them as well as for our whole society.

In reviewing the economic policies proposed by the Finance Minister, I cannot help feeling that in his proposals lie a depth and width of thought that will command confidence. For instance, for some considerable time in the past, vociferous voices were heard in Singapore on how our tourist trade could be developed. There were proposals to have gambling joints, striptease acts and the like. The thought was that if Singapore could provide such facilities, tourists would flock to Singapore. No doubt, the exotic and the unique may attract some tourists, but in this field, we are in competition with places of high living scattered all over the world. The real answer to attracting tourists really lies in what the Finance Minister has lately proposed, and that is if only we can move the focal point or turning point of air routes from Singapore to Bali which has all the natural attractions for tourists, then they cannot help but come to Singapore on their way to Bali. This, to my mind, indicates very forcefully the depth of thinking and true answer to the problem.

Before I conclude, I should like to refer briefly to the Prime Minister's speech when he congratulated you, Sir, on your election as Speaker to the House. He referred to a number of parliamentarians who have not experienced the rough and tumble of elections, or the nasty intrigues of inter-party warfare. As a Backbencher in this House, I should like to take this opportunity of assuring him that though we lack the battle scars, we have the intelligence, the will and the capacity to learn from the old war-horses, albeit in a second-hand manner, the traumatic experiences, of fights in the Thai boxing style, so that if and when the situation demands, we will be no less prepared than those who have actually fought.

6.10 p.m.

Inche Rahmat Bin Kenap (Geylang Serai): (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to express my views in support of the Address of thanks.

Although Singapore is a small island and a young nation, its population has progressive ideas and is active in all fields, especially in the field of politics. As a nation practising parliamentary democracy, our Government is elected by the people who will feel its rule for another five years. All Government planning and development will prove whether the Government is sincere or insincere. The people will then be able to judge when the time comes for fresh elections. The victory of the P.A.P, in the last elections proves that the people are confident that the P.A.P, will discharge its responsibility to the people and lead the nation to prosperity. Prosperity will not come about until the rural people's problems can be solved. In rural areas like Geylang Serai, plans for road improvements, street lighting and drainage cannot be implemented if the sum allocated by the Projects Committee for Geylang Serai is for only $13,200. This sum is inadequate to meet even the cost of improving one road. The Projects Committee should have reviewed the minutes of meetings of the Urban and Rural Services Committee in order to improve all the roads in Geylang Serai. "The Projects Committee will then know how much it will cost to improve one road in Geylang Serai. I hope the Minister will investigate and review the allocation for each project in Geylang Serai.

With regard to public cleansing, it is usually found that workers from the Public Health Department are not giving satisfactory service to the public. In fact, some workers adopt an arrogant attitude and do not work satisfactorily. Similarly, the anti-malarial workers do not spray all the drains. Most of the anti-malarial sprayers were given to children to be sold. I hope the Ministry will investigate the matter and improve the working conditions of the workers for the sake of the public. I believe and, in fact, I am confident that this matter can be successfully dealt with by the Ministry and that the people of Singapore, whether they be in the rural or urban areas, will enjoy prosperity in the future.

6.14 p.m.

Mr L. P. Rodrigo (Serangoon Gardens): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like, at the outset, to express my appreciation and gratitude to the President for delivering a policy speech laying out his Government's clear intention and dynamic plans to ensure the nation's defence and prosperity.

On the eve of a decade of government by the People's Action Party, the people of Singapore find themselves politically consolidated, culturally integrated, socially cohering, economically sound, innovating for continued viability and further development, poised to withstand the economic impact of the British withdrawal and ready to surmount the problems that will arise therefrom. Problems of the coming decade will test our capacity to respond as a nation. Some of these problems, putting it briefly and simply, will require our people to sacrifice within their means today to ensure a better life for their children tomorrow.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I am heartened by the President's call to hon. Members of this House to speak in forthright terms on the speech and the Addendum thereto, and without further preamble I shall now begin to avail myself of the opportunity.

Sir, irrevocably committed as we are to industrialisation upon which our economic destiny will largely depend, the Addendum to the President's Speech, outlining the Government's intention to refashion the secondary school system so as to make it keep to manpower needs and employment opportunities, is indeed reassuring. The placing, by an education system, of about 21,000 Secondary IV students of 16 to 17 years, without the special skills or knowledge required by industry, must cease if we are to bring about the industrial acceleration which is required to help sustain our economy in the difficult years ahead. Secondary schools must place in the employment market instead that number of craftsmen and technicians or their potential.

While crediting the Government for having made the proper evaluation of the human resources which our programme for economic viability and development require, I sense that the Government contemplates only a partial and, in my view, insufficient committal of education to commerce and industry.

The reorganisation of the secondary schools to secure a larger output of vocational and technical skills without also the reorganisation of the primary schools to secure the appropriate bias towards commerce and industry is a half-hearted measure. With deference to the thinking that has produced these proposed changes, I see ourselves as a commercial and industrial society committed to an economic destiny whose course is charted by the successes or failures of commerce and industry in our country.

The intended diversion of large numbers of students to technical education and vocational training should be a diversion of technical and vocational potential. This entails the reorganisation of the primary schools as suggested, so that at the point where diversion is intended, preferences and inclination for, and ability in, technical education and vocational training are reasonably definite and become evident by a process of assessment.

Sir, diversion of academic potential, which is the end product of six years of primary education, to technical education and vocational training is short of what is ideally correct. Diversion of primary school students to vocational training as it is being done today must cease. It is a diversion of primary school students who have failed in the primary school leaving examination, notoriously abbreviated as P.S.L.E., and who are over-aged. It operates on the inscrutable theory that the over-age rejects of this examination have an aptitude for vocational training. I would suggest that the Government consider making the diversion at the early secondary school stage.

Mr Speaker, the creation of the Ministry of Science and Technology indeed announces the Government's recognition of the indispensability of science and technology in economic development and its intention to fashion our human resources to serve commerce and industry. Planning in this direction calls for increasing numbers of graduates, in science and engineering and the re-ordering of the priorities in learning at the secondary school level to provide the necessary mathematical and science teaching followed by technical college or university training. Initially, to harness the human resources for a sizable impact of science and technology on economic development, there must be a considerable option for science and technology on the part of the parents of the students. Effective persuasion to achieve this option would be the increasing demonstration and its advertisement of the prestige that, this Government and commerce and industry are prepared to accord to science and technology by reflecting the economic importance of scientists and technologists in their salary structures.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I hope that the intended reform in examinations as stated in the Addendum to the President's Speech will modify or abolish in toto the Primary School Leaving Examination. As long as this examination becomes the arbiter of the destiny of the Primary VI student, when its computations decide that he is either' academically fitted for secondary academic or technical education, which, as he understands it, holds promise of gainful employment at the end of it, or that he is an academic failure, a reject or a mere vocational probable, with, as he understands it, an uncertain future; and as long as this examination remains, the kind of examination it is, requiring of the student only abundant knowledge without the facilities of verbal and written expression which are its necessary concomitants, so long will primary school teaching be focused on success in the Primary School Leaving Examination, at the expense of the development of the skills in verbal and written expression which are the requisite mechanics of articulation.

In the secondary schools, teaching becomes focused on the need to pass the School Certificate Examination. The urgency of this makes secondary school teaching impatient of the need to develop the skill to compose or to articulate orally or in writing other than the minimal ability which is required for examination purposes. Only the brighter student excels on his own effort. The non-retention policy by which the student of maximum age for that class is promoted to the next grade at the end of the year, despite his failure in the terminal examinations, progressively worsens his inarticulateness apart from his overall ability. Sir, this is a decline which must be arrested immediately. For one thing, if we are to hope for the emergence of a responsible and effective Opposition as suggested by the Prime Minister in his speech offering sound alternatives to help work the machine of parliamentary democracy in this country, there must be opinion in our society, and the initial pre-requisite to opinion is the articulateness of the knowledgeable elite of the populace. In addition, there must be a climate which positively encourages the expression of opinion. The elite in this country is a rich human resource with considerable capacity to contribute to the nation but which unfortunately remains intellectually unagitated.

Sir, as suggested, the Primary School Leaving Examination may be suitably modified or even abolished and in its place a system of annual assessment set up. Perhaps the School Certificate Examination may be broken up into two stages so that the secondary student offers a number of subjects at the first sitting in Secondary III and the other half in Secondary IV.

Sir, I beg your indulgence if I descend into these details but I do so by way of commenting on the policy of the Government. This would, to a certain extent, dilute the examination urgency which tends to pervade the secondary school atmosphere and make room for additional subjects in the time-table also. The practical problem of examination-paper marking for the Primary School Leaving Examination is recognised. Change is urged, but change is urged without sacrificing the efficiency of the system or the teacher through sheer overloading.

Reform in the field of teacher-training and re-training is a necessary undertaking in the effort to achieve qualitative improvement. This would also be the necessary measure to take in conjunction with the reorganisation of the secondary schools towards an industrial re-orientation. It is hoped that the extent of the intended reform would include an examination of the basis of selection of student teachers for training with a view to formulating the basis which would in some measure ensure that student teachers selected thereby would manifest, or contain a potential to manifest, in some degree the natural teaching ability, selflessness and the dedication which the profession demands. I am given to understand that the selection of student teachers for training is done by the computations of a computer. While almost every student teacher with the necessary academic qualifications can instruct upon graduating from the Teachers' Training College, not every graduate can teach. Teaching is a personal or personalised activity motivated by considerations of concern, interest, professional pride and the desire to give of oneself. All these considerations may be absent in academic qualifications no matter how impressive they may be. In this regard, I am sure that I am also voicing the sentiments of my constituents.

For some time now, I have been wont to regard a large number of our schools as hardly anything more than centres of instruction and teachers as instructors. Qualitative improvement in teacher-training and re-training, together with the other comprehensive reforms intended, would eventually restore the school and the teacher in place of centres of instruction and instructors.

It may be pertinent for the Government to consider also the desirability of decentralising certain facets of school supervision and school administration, and to enhance the answerability of the school head and his staff for all affairs of the school. This suggested trend may succeed in achieving that total committal of the head of the school and his staff to the school, its prestige and its overall performance which, in the course of time, sets -the school tone and tradition. However, achievement in this direction is unlikely if the frequency of the transfer of school heads and teachers from school to school is not reduced to minimal.

The business of qualitative improvement in matters educational is that of a research body, preferably an education research council. It is significant instruction for those interested in edu cation that at this stage of education development in our country the only research unit in the field, as I understand it, is in the Teachers' Training College, which is hardly satisfactory. I would suggest the initiation of thinking in the direction of an Education Act which would incorporate a national science and educational policy, the structure and administration of education in the country, and which would set up an independent educational research council along the lines of the research council in the English Education Act of 1943.

The creation of the Sports Division has been timely. The numerous sports bodies in the Republic would expect the Sports Division or, in particular, the Sports Promotion Office in the Division to formulate and execute a comprehensive programme of sports promotion. It is hoped that this activity may be undertaken unobtrusively, for I believe that the Sports Division, as it is constituted, is intended to function in co-ordination with the voluntary effort of sports bodies in the Republic.

The National Stadium at Kallang when completed will, it is hoped, be a, pride to all sports enthusiasts in the Republic. And I am sure the Division has plans for an Asian or Southeast Asian Games at the Stadium to inaugurate its opening.

With regard to physical education, if our school-leavers are intended to constitute the industrial human resource and a military potential with the physical stamina and ruggedness which these occupations demand, then the Physical Education Department would require to take more manpower in order to execute a programme of physical education in schools with the necessary stress, vigour and continuity.

In conclusion, Sir, I only wish to say that I support the motion before the House.

6.37 p.m.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin (Jalan Kayu): Mr Speaker, Sir, in the President's Speech to the House he has outlined the objectives ahead which, to my mind, are a logical sequence to the events taking place during the past years. In -the past five years, one of the most significant developments has been the dynamic outlook of our political leadership in maintaining and improving the infrastructure necessary for greater economic growth. The skill, ingenuity and persistence demonstrated by those in office in the formulation of policies have been matched by the same skill, ingenuity and persistence of our people in -their response and in the implementation of such policies both in the public and private sectors. Within a comparatively short span of time, we have achieved what many sceptics consider to be impossible in our attempt to strengthen and diversify our economy. Today Jurong is a thriving industrial estate of more than 50 factories. Our port and air travel facilities are far more superior to what they were five years ago. What is more, we are already getting ready for -the container ships and the jumbo jets. Instead of higher wages and a wider range of fringe benefits, our union leaders have taken to talking in terms of productivity. The pre-conditions, both material and social for greater economic growth, have thus been set.

In looking forward we have, however, no cause for complacency. We have been warned of external forces at work which are likely to have far-reaching effects and repercussions upon our sensitive position, politically and economically, and which will render our tasks ahead more difficult. If we are to survive and prosper, the dynamic outlook will have to be maintained and sustained. It is not sufficient that those in power alone continue to provide the lead, as unless all the people are geared to a continuous process of adaptation in a changing world, we shall soon be left behind. The timely and welcome change in the attitudes of union leaders has signified a healthier climate conducive to greater economic growth. It remains for these attitudes to be applied and practised.

It is heartening to see that a comprehensive and undoubtedly revolutionary Employment Bill will be introduced aimed at increasing productivity and promoting more industrial growth. However, as has been pointed Out by the hon. Member for Bukit Ho Swee, productivity is the concern not only of those who are managed but also of those who manage. It is imperative, therefore, if the congenial atmosphere is to be maintained at all, management in general should equally play their part. Apart from developing more efficient management techniques and expertise, it will be their duty to ensure that appropriate incentives are devised and offered to the employees. Greater appreciation of life in and around Singapore is important, and it would be disastrous for all concerned if employers were to exploit the situation.

In this connection, Sir, it occurs to me that as the major part of our national savings are in the hands of financial institutions, this particular sector, although by the very nature of their business must be international in their outlook and operation, should perhaps begin to divert and harness a greater part of the substantial wealth in their hands to the more pressing needs and requirements of the country, particularly in the context of industrialisation. These financial institutions will soon have -the opportunity of demonstrating their patriotism or their support for the Government's policy by subscribing to the new and attractive Government securities to be introduced by the Ministry of Finance.

In perusing the outlined policy of each of the Ministries, one cannot but sense the cohesiveness of purpose in the planning. The overhauling of our educational system with greater emphasis on technological and vocational training, the expansion and improvements proposed for our transportation and communications, and the numerous other plans envisaged by the various Ministries will, I feel sure, jointly contribute to the economic well-being and security of our country.

Finally, as a Member from a constituency essentially agrarian in nature, I am pleased to note that particular emphasis will be laid by the Primary Production Department of the Ministry of National Development on the promotion of intensive and diversified farming to make maximum use of our limited land resources. I will watch with the closest interest the efforts made in this particular direction by the Primary Production Department, particularly in Jalan Kayu in the next five years.

6.45 p.m.

Mr Speaker: Order. Very conveniently it is a quarter to seven now, and the debate will be resumed tomorrow. In accordance with the resolution of the House, the House will now adjourn.

Adjourned accordingly at fifteen minutes to Seven o'clock p.m.