SINGAPORE COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

3.49 p.m.

The Minister for Social Affairs (Inche Othman Bin Wok): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The main purpose of this Bill is to incorporate the Singapore Council of Social Service. The Council, which is a registered society under the Societies Ordinance, was established in December 1958 to co-ordinate the work of all voluntary welfare organisations in Singapore. It has contributed much in welfare work in the past ten years of its existence, especially during times of fire, flood, and other calamities. In recognition of its past services and the planned expansion of its future activities, including the construction of the Singapore Social Service Centre, the time is now opportune to incorporate the Singapore Council of Social Service by legislation so as to accord it the status due to it. This is provided for in clause 3 of the Bill. Since the Council is already a going concern, clause 5 of the Bill provides for the transfer of all its assets and liabilities to the new corporate body.

Clause 6 of the Bill provides for the composition of the Council which shall comprise a representative each of the 83 organisations as set out in the Schedule to the Bill. These 83 organisations are already represented in the existing Council. Power, however, is provided in clause 6 (2) of the Bill for the Minister to amend the Schedule on the advice of the Council or the Board of Management so as to enable new organisations that may be established to be represented in the Council, or delete such organisations which shall cease to operate as welfare or charitable organisations. Besides the representatives of the 83 organisations as set out in the Schedule to the Bill, clauses 7 and 8 of the Bill allow for two additional members in the Council as representatives of the associate members and two ex-officio members, and they are the Director of Social Welfare and the Head of the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Singapore.

The objects of the Council which are set out in clause 10 include the coordination of all voluntary welfare activities in Singapore, improvement of standards of welfare work and encouragement of welfare work in fields not covered by Government, initiation, organisation, assistance in schemes of social service, raising and administering funds and goods entrusted to it, as well as advising Government on legislation in fields of social welfare work or in furtherance of the objects of the Council. In carrying out these objects, power is provided in clause 10 (2) of the Bill for the Council to acquire and dispose of property, to receive monies and donations in kind, and to carry out such business as will further the objects of the Council.

Power is also provided in the Bill for the setting up of a Council of Social Service Fund into which all monies received and raised shall be paid. The management of the Council of Social Service is invested in a Board of Management, the composition of which is provided in clause 13 of the Bill, which comprise a President, two Vice-Presidents, a General Secretary, a Treasurer and 11 other elected members including two ex-officio members - they are the Director of Social Welfare and the Head of the Department of Social Work and Social Administration, University of Singapore.

The other clauses of the Bill are of a minor nature governing the procedure of meetings of the Board, setting out subscriptions which each member organisation shall pay as subscription per year, and the dissolution of the Council only by an Act of Parliament.

The provisions of this Bill have been examined in detail and agreed to by the Singapore Council of Social Service.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

3.53 p.m.

Mr Ang Nam Piau (Thomson): Mr Speaker, Sir, I fully support the Bill introduced by the Minister for Social Affairs. It is introduced in time to cope with the social welfare services which will be limited in expansion because of the increase in defence expenditure in the approaching crucial years ahead.

The Minister for Social Affairs has promptly taken appropriate and practical steps to maintain and enhance the reputation that the social services in Singapore are acknowledged to be the best in the whole of South-east Asia. I am sure that all Members of the House will agree with me in my appreciation.

Mr Speaker, Sir, in the past, the Singapore Council of Social Service was in existence as a voluntary organised body formed by some social workers and civic-minded citizens who saw the need to co-ordinate whenever and where-ever possible the work of voluntary welfare bodies and to avoid duplication of their activities. In addition, they tried to encourage efforts in fields not presently covered either by voluntary workers or the Department of Social Welfare.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the existing Council has done good work. Let me mention here one commendable and most striking example. On 13th February, 1959, when the Tiong Bahru fire rendered 5,000 persons homeless, the Council undertook the tremendous task of raising $700,000 within a month for the relief of the homeless. There were other fires and floods from time to time. In each case, the Council was able to raise funds and obtain relief for the victims at short notice.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the praiseworthy welfare work done by the Council and other voluntary bodies in Singapore is a matter of great credit to the good people who are engaged in this work. They deserve our appreciation and thanks.

The Minister for Social Affairs has correctly timed the introduction of this Bill to incorporate the Singapore Council of Social Service. It will undoubtedly help to strengthen and perfect the existing voluntary organisations or welfare bodies and will further benefit the people of Singapore.

3.59 p.m.

Mr Rodrigo: Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to say a few words in praise of the objects which this Bill is intended to achieve, in particular the promotion and publicity of voluntary welfare work.

Many words of approbation have been uttered in this House in respect of various efforts and ventures, but not enough, in my opinion, has been uttered in respect of voluntary efforts. I take this opportunity to express my appreciation - and I can quite certainly say the appreciation of all Members of this House - of the efforts of all the voluntary workers in the Republic.

Sir, the value of the effort, is not only in the function of its contribution, but more important still in its exemplariness of concern for the welfare of one's community and country. It is an effort generated by the altruism which I believe is a common human component of all our peoples, and the House should give more recognition to this altruism and accord it the commendation that it deserves. I am sure that the Council, as envisaged in this Bill, will succeed in co-ordinating voluntary efforts and improving standards of social activity and thereby I hope it will succeed in publicising its efforts and attracting more of the disinterested benevolence of our people.

However, I notice that an unfortunate omission has been made in this Bill, that is the provision declaring that this is a council or institution of a public character for the purpose of exempting from income tax donations made to it. I would like to believe, Sir, that this Bill contemplates exempting donations to this institution from income tax. This has been omitted from this Bill. Perhaps when the Minister sums up he can enlighten us on this matter.

4.01 p.m.

[Mr Yeoh Ghim Seng temporarily in the Chair]

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): This is a very good Bill which deserves our support. I give my full support to it. I hope the Member for Nee Soon will not say that he cannot support it. In my view, this Bill should have been introduced much earlier, so that all the voluntary organisations in Singapore could become members of this statutory body in order to improve the social services of our Republic. But it is not too late to introduce this Bill and we welcome it now.

I would like to take this opportunity to associate myself with the last two Members who spoke in support of this Bill and in appreciation of the services rendered by the various voluntary organisations and their contributions to our nation. For example, these organisations have made great contributions in organising relief for the victims of outbreaks of fire and other kinds of calamity. They do this in a spirit of unselfishness and a sense of public-spiritedness. It is because of their contributions that the less fortunate members of our society are able to enjoy some of the comforts of life. They have thus the hope and the will to continue earning their livelihood.

It goes without saying that the Singapore Government is always interested in the welfare services of the country. For example, we have given a lot of money by way of public assistance to the less fortunate members of our society. I remember that in 1966 the sum allotted for public assistance was about $9.6 million. In 1967 it was about $7 million. This money was disbursed to people who were suffering from chronic diseases, particularly those who suffered from tuberculosis, and to the unemployed. At the same time, we have also set up homes for the aged to look after old people and also homes for children to look after the helpless children of our Republic.

All this goes to show the socialist spirit of our Government and the humanitarianism that we are seeking to establish. As a centre for social services, the Government has a great responsi bility, particularly in view of the accelerated withdrawal of the British troops by 1971. We will be faced with two problems, namely, economic and defence. Under these circumstances, we will of necessity require more voluntary organisations to step up their activities and thereby assist the Government in carrying out social services and also help solve the problems relating to these services. It is my earnest hope that the well-to-do and rich members of our society will be more interested in social services. I appeal to them to be more generous in their contributions to the social services of Singapore so that all the voluntary organisations and the Singapore Council of Social Service will have more money to carry out social service work.

4.05 p.m.

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon (Tiong Bahru): (In Mandarin): Sir, I rise in support of the Bill introduced by the Minister. However, there is one aspect of it which is regrettable. In clause 6, which relates to the constitution of the Council, there is no provision for a representative from the Association of Nanyang University Graduates. Since its establishment, this Association has made contributions to the welfare work of our Republic. But there is no provision in this Bill for a representative from the Association. This is a matter for regret and I do hope the Minister will include a representative from the Association of Nanyang University Graduates on the Council.

4.06 p.m.

Inche Othman Bin Wok: Sir, first, I would like to thank all the Members who have spoken in support of the Bill.

On the question raised by the Member for Serangoon Gardens, I think he has got a point there and it will receive my attention.

As for the question raised by the Member for Tiong Bahru, I do not see the name of the Association of Nanyang University Graduates included in the Schedule to the Bill. However, I will certainly look into the matter.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

4.07 p.m.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time.

Inche Othman Bin Wok: Mr Speaker, Sir, as the Singapore Council of Social Service Bill is, in your opinion, a hybrid Bill, in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 64, I beg to move,

That the Bill be referred to a Select Committee consisting of Mr Speaker as Chairman and seven Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection.

Question put, and agreed to.

Resolved,

That the Bill be referred to a Select Committee consisting of Mr Speaker as Chairman and seven Members to be nominated by the Committee of Selection.