NATIONAL DEFENCE FUND (Setting up of committee for public donations)

Mr Lee Teck Him asked the Minister for Defence whether he has any intention of setting up a committee for the purpose of inviting the public to donate to the National Defence Fund.

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, I stated late last year that the target set for the National Defence Fund is $10 million. At present, the fund stands at $8,343,897.84 as at 28th March, 1969.

The National Defence Fund was officially set up on 29th January, 1968, as the result of spontaneous contributions towards national defence by some groups of citizens. Since then, donations from people from all walks of life, such as school children, taxi-drivers, hawkers, business concerns and Government departments, have been spontaneous, indicating a strong sense of loyalty and concern among the people.

At this juncture, then, to set up a committee to invite donations from the public, in order to raise another $1.7 million more, would seem unnecessary, as most people are well aware of the existence of the National Defence Fund. I am sure, with some contributions from the large foreign and local firms in Singapore, the target would be easily reached.

Contributions from the public must be voluntary, and must be willingly given by the people as the result of a sense of national pride and an awareness of the imminent importance of building up a defence capability.

A committee inviting donations from the public, while advantageous in spurring up contributions, in money or in kind, might be construed as an instrument to coerce the public to contribute.

Singapore is a society of very civic-minded people who contribute financially to many causes, and to those who can well afford it, I am sure they would willingly step forward to contribute to the National Defence Fund without any pressure.

Mr Lee Teck Him(In Mandarin): Sir, the Minister said that since the target is about to be reached and the fund is going to be wound up, it is not necessary to set up a committee. But in my view, there ought to be a committee for public donations so that more money will be collected.

Mr Lim Kim San: Sir, I said that there is a limit of $10 million and there is no intention of continuing with the Fund.