NATIONAL SPORTS PROMOTION BOARD BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

4.38 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 the Bill as found in the Explanatory Statement is to incorporate the National Sports Promotion Board.

The Government has considered that the time has come for sports to be organised and co-ordinated in a more efficient way than hitherto if it is to fulfil its primary role of not only creating a physically rugged population but also promoting national consciousness and identity in our multi-racial nation.

Over the past ten years since the present Government came to power, recognising the importance of sports and games as a unifying factor of our nation made up of diverse races of immigrant stock, Government has actively encouraged sports and games as part of the activities of the network of community centres spread throughout the island and of the extra-mural activities of the half-million school-going population. Other steps taken to promote sports and games have been the introduction since 1964 of the annual Pesta Sukan when sporting teams from neighbouring countries are invited to participate in the games around National Day Week; the assistance given to the participation of the Singapore contingent in international sports events such as the SEAP Games, the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games and the Olympic Games; and in March this year the launching of the National Fitness Exercise so as to spread sports consciousness and physical well-being to a greater section of our population.

In the active encouragement of sports and games, Government has not overlooked the need for increased facilities to be set up where sports and games can be carried out. Besides the Extracurricular Activity Centre built by the Ministry of Education and the numerous school halls and fields to cater for sports and games amongst the school children, Government, realising that since a large percentage of our urban population are residing in Housing and Development Board flats, has found that it would be logical for sports fields, swimming pools and other facilities to be sited in the housing estates themselves. Plans have therefore been made by the Housing and Development Board to construct sports stadiums and swimming pools in its large housing estates of Queenstown and Toa Payoh Housing Estate as well as its other large housing estates. But the main centre of facilities for sports and games which Government will be providing for our population is the National Sports Complex at Kallang which, besides the main open stadium to be completed in early 1972, will also have a covered stadium for indoor games and swimming pools and tennis courts to cater for all the major games in international meets.

In spite of the active support for sports and games by Government and the setting up of the Sports Division of the Ministry of Social Affair in 1966 to provide assistance for voluntary sports organisations by way of getting foreign expert coaches and fund-raising, it has been found that the activities carried out by the voluntary sports bodies had been greatly handicapped by the lack of adequate finance and proper executive functionaries. It has also been found that the co-ordinating bodies of the voluntary sports organisations, such as the Singapore Olympic Sports Council, the Singapore Sports Council and the Sports Division of the Ministry of Social Affairs, have ill-defined functions which overlap in many ways and therefore have not provided the direction and impetus for the planned growth of sports in Singapore.

In order that the voluntary sports bodies and other organisations concerned with sports could better achieve the aims for which sports and games are to be promoted in the Republic, Government has seen fit that a statutory body whose primary function would be the promotion of sports should be set up. In order that this statutory body should be an effective one, it is intended that membership of the Board would consist of persons who have been generally accepted in the sporting world for their proven interest and knowledge of sports, and also of representatives of the Ministry of Education, the People's Association, and the Armed Forces, since all these institutions are actively involved in sports promotion in their respective organisations, and therefore can make significant contributions to meet the objectives of the Board. The number of members on the Board is provided in clause 4 of the Bill.

The functions of the Board are spelt out in clause 5 of the Bill. They are:

(a) to encourage, develop and promote sports for competitive and recreational purposes;

(b) to co-ordinate the activities of voluntary sports organisations;

(c) to organise, in consultation with national sports organisations, including the National Olympic Committee, international competitions and games;

(d) to foster research and study in sports, physical education and the training of instructors;

(e) to manage and maintain facilities and sports stadiums.

Provision is also made in clause 5 of the Bill for the Board to receive donations and contributions, to raise funds and to make grants and contributions to any person or sports organisation on such conditions as are stipulated by the Board. The Board is also empowered to prescribe minimum standards for participating in international sports competitions and games, and other terms and requirements for the purpose of receiving aid from the Board, and to promote schemes for the improvement of sports and recreational facilities.

In order that the Board should have sufficient funds for its activities, clause 6 of the Bill provides for the setting up of a National Sports Promotion Fund, which will consist of grants or loans made by Government, donations or contributions by the public, and monies accruing to the Board.

To prevent monies donated, contributed or accruing to the Board from being used for other purposes, clause 7 of the Bill requires that monies of the Board shall be applied solely for making payments in connection with the performance of the Board's functions.

Provision is also made in clause 11 of the Bill for the Board to employ staff and for it to set up pension schemes, gratuities or provident fund schemes for its employees.

To encourage public donations and contributions to the Board, provision is made in clause 16 for the National Sports Promotion Board to be an institution of a public character so that gifts to the Board shall be exempted from income tax.

It is hoped that by setting up the National Sports Promotion Board, there will be an organisation in the Republic made up of persons actively concerned with the promotion of sports and games in the various institutions and of individuals who are knowledgeable and have proven their interest in sports. It is also hoped that with the setting up of the Board, the overlapping functions of the various co-ordinating bodies in sports as found at present in Singapore will be resolved. This will be done by the modification of the objects of the Singapore Olympic Sports Council to be renamed as the Singapore Olympic Committee and concerned only with the participation of Singapore at international games, such as the SEAP Games, the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games and the Olympic Games, and the abolition of the Singapore Sports Council, an ad hoc Government Sports Council set up by the Ministry of Social Affairs, and also the absorption of the functions of the Sports Division by the Board.

May I conclude by saying that whilst sports must have the active recognition and encouragement of the Government, it should not be directly controlled and run by the Government and be just another portfolio of a Government Ministry or Department. The interest in sports, participation in it and support for it must come from the people and the private sector to a large extent. It is with this in view that the proposed National Sports Promotion Board, in motivation, organisation, objective and activity, is structured to perform.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

4.49 p.m.

Mr Teong Eng Siong (Sembawang): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, I fully support this Bill. Undoubtedly it has very grand objectives. When it is implemented, I believe it will have a very decisive effect on the promotion of sports in our country and on the raising of our standard in sports.

Sir, the purpose of this Bill, as the Minister has already described, is to set up the National Sports Promotion Board. Its tasks can be said to be quite comprehensive, with such functions as to encourage, develop and promote sports on a national basis for both competitive and recreational purposes; to co-ordinate the activities of voluntary sports organisations; to organise, in consultation with national sports organisations, including the National Olympic Committee, national and international competitions and games; and to foster research and study in sports and physical education and to provide for the training of instructors.

[Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

4.51 p.m.

Mr Teong Eng Siong (Sembawang): All these functions will ensure that this Board plays an important part in the promotion of sports in our country. Because of the various important tasks entrusted to the Board, it will have very great responsibilities, such as co-ordinating the various sports organisations and raising the standard of the various sports and popularising them. In carrying out these responsibilities, there are questions to look into and matters to be taken care of. In working to achieve the objectives envisaged in the Bill, the National Sports Promotion Board will, I am confident, do its best to live up to its expectations.

Sir, I believe you will agree with me that in promoting sports, there are three main objectives which should be well recognised. They are:

(1) To train our people to have healthy and strong bodies so that our country will be able to shoulder the heavy task of nation building.

(2) Through the various sports tournaments and competitions, the people will be able to enjoy some recreational activity.

(3) To raise the competitive standard of the various kinds of sports, our national teams should be sent abroad to take part in regional as well as international tournaments in order to gain honour as well as publicity for our country. So these are very grand objectives and high ideals in the promotion of sports.

Let us now examine the progress of sports over the past few years. Undoubtedly through the efforts of the Ministry of Social Affairs and with the help of various sports circles, we have had great achievements in many fields of sports, such as basketball, badminton, football, table tennis, swimming, and weightlifting. They are now flourishing. Now and then we see many youngsters training or taking part in tournaments either in school grounds or in community centres. These activities were never seen before.

Although we are a small country, our standard of sports is not far below that of other countries. We can be said to be comparable to them. This has been proved in the results we achieved at the last Asian Games and the SEAP Games. But we should also recognise that in certain kinds of sports we have not done as well as before. For instance, our basketball team brought back a "big zero" in the last international competition. Our badminton standard has dropped even further. A few years ago we claimed to be the champions of the world in badminton, but just about a month ago we unexpectedly lost to an unknown national team from New Zealand. Is this not a pity? How did this come about? We must examine the reasons for this dropping of standard and take remedial measures.

In order to promote sports, particularly to raise the standard of our national teams, I would like to make four suggestions for the Minister's consideration.

(1) To engage international coaches of repute.

(2) All national team members should be given certain safeguards in respect of their employment, so that they can have peace of mind while taking part in sports.

(3) Once a year there should be a definite programme for centralised group training. This will help the team members to attain all-round improvement, in addition to improvement in their physique, their spirit and their standards. And while they are taking part in group training, they should continue to draw their salaries if they are employed.

(4) We should inculcate into them the spirit of patriotism in order to win honour for our country.

The implementation of all these measures needs a lot of money. But the Minister has pointed out that there is provision for the setting up of the National Sports Promotion Fund to receive donations from various sources, such as commercial organisations and individuals, to meet expenses. These donations will be tax free. I believe this is a good measure, and with the setting up of this Fund, we will be able to have more funds to carry out our sports activities. Here I would like to appeal to sports enthusiasts, particularly those who are rich, to donate generously to help promote sport.

Sir, I support this Bill.

4.59 p.m.

Mr Tay Boon Too: (In Mandarin): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I take part in sports activities, and therefore I am concerned with all matters connected with sports. I fully support this Bill. In order to meet our future economic challenge, our people will undoubtedly have to have strong physiques and better endurance. A strong and healthy physique can only be acquired through sports. At the same time, through sports, we will also acquire a strong national consciousness and also we can, indirectly, fulfil the aim of achieving racial harmony.

As the Minister has said, the introduction of this Bill is to provide for the planning and promotion of national sports activities and to do away with whatever duplication there has been in this field. The result is that all sports activities will be planned, co-ordinated and controlled by a centralised body consisting of representatives of the Singapore National Olympic Committee, the Sports Division of the Ministry of Social Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the Armed Forces, the police and the People's Association. In this way, it is hoped to promote sports activities and raise the standard of sports in this country. These are lofty and praiseworthy aims.

Mr Deputy Speaker, in order to raise the standard of our sports and to achieve greater prestige for our country, the following points should not be overlooked. During the past two or three years, the various sports organisations as well as the Singapore Sports Council have done their very best to obtain the services of expert coaches for the more popular sports activities in Singapore. These organisations have also tried their very best to look out for talent and potential sportsmen so that under a proper system of training they will be nurtured and developed into State players. These are praiseworthy efforts. However, some doubts have been expressed in this regard. They have given rise to the question whether we are able to obtain the sympathy and support of other countries in supplying the first-class coaches that we require. If the answer to this question is in the negative, the next question will arise. Are we prepared to accept second- and third-class coaches to train fourth- and fifth-class players? Perhaps the Minister will give some consideration to a more economical approach to this problem and plan an extensive programme to train our players and thus obtain the instruction by cheaper means. One of the ways is to get a plentiful supply of films showing how first-class coaches train sportsmen in order to reach international standards. By showing these films to our trainees, we will be able indirectly to train our own people, short of getting expert coaches from abroad. Our trainees will be able to learn from watching these films; how they should train and what are the points they should bear in mind when they are in training.

The second point I wish to raise is the extension of the age limit for sports training. At the present moment, most of the sports activities are confined to our school-going population. In order to raise our sports standard, we must not only popularise sports activities among students, but also extend them outside the schools. This work must be done by the various sports organisations in conjunction with the commercial and industrial sectors. These sectors should also be encouraged to make a contribution to sports. In other words, Mr Deputy Speaker, it is our hope that they will at least shoulder some responsibility by taking in sportsmen who have graduated from schools and other institutions of higher learning. They should also allow such people to continue with their sports activities when they are working. In this way, their skill and standard will be maintained. There are people who have to give up sports activities because of their employment. We have lost a large reservoir of talent because of the hard economic facts of life. When sportsmen leave school and happen to be employed in a very small company which is not prepared to allow them to take time off for training, or does not provide any facility or encouragement for them to carry on their sports activities, the loss of such talent to sport will be complete. In order to earn their living, these sportsmen will have to accept the hard economic facts of life at the expense of their sports activities and the talent that they have developed.

Thirdly, I wish to stress that the present training facilities for sportsmen are more or less of a spontaneous and voluntary nature. We must have a centralised body, such as a sports college, to shoulder the responsibility of training our sportsmen. In this way, we will have better hopes of our sportsmen achieving higher standards. Furthermore, the establishment of a sports college will provide employment opportunities for those who are active in sports. In other words, those who are good in sports activities will be able to find employment in the sports college and they, in turn, will have the responsibility of training other sportsmen.

Fourthly, as the Member for Sembawang has just said, State players should receive the attention of the State. Perhaps the Minister's answer to this question will be that, as the State is faced with its economic problems, it does not have the capacity or the ability to look after our sportsmen in terms of finance. But it is my view that since our Armed Forces and our Police Force have the means and the ability to maintain brass bands, which consist of more people and cost much more money than, for example, a normal basketball team, how is it that we find ourselves unable to maintain a team of State players? Of course, it is not my proposal to ask the State to feed the players. My proposal is that the Government should do all it can to absorb these sportsmen into the various Government departments so that while in employment they will also have the time to continue with . their sports activities. Thus, in both ways they serve the country.

Finally, if the Minister will bear all these points in mind, he will surely find some solution to the problems raised. It is my belief that just as we have been able to raise our standard of health and hygiene, we should be able to raise our standard of sports. In view of the compactness of our island Republic, I sincerely believe that we will be able to achieve our aims. Let me reiterate my full support of this Bill.

Mr Ng Yeow Chong: I have just a brief comment to make on this Bill which is now before the House for its Second Reading. The Minister has mentioned that he will co-opt people from various organisations, such as the army, the police, the Ministry of Education and the People's Association, to serve on the National Sports Promotion Board. It appears to me that colleges and universities have been omitted. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, you are well aware that in advanced countries college and university students play a very prominent part in sports activities. In fact, most of the outstanding sportsmen have come from colleges and universities. In this respect, I would urge the Minister for Social Affairs not to overlook appointing representatives from our colleges and universities. This will at least enable our college and university students to participate actively in the promotion of sports.

Sir, you will agree with me that our younger generation must not only be intelligent but they must also be rugged and robust. It is, therefore, important that our college and university students must excel in all forms of sports and, in time to come, they will become outstanding sportsmen and be able to make a name for the Republic of Singapore in the world of sports. I support this Bill.

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim (Kallang): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support this Bill. However, I hope and I wish that the National Sports Promotion Board will never finance sports and recreation clubs, associations or bodies which are organised exclusively on a racial basis; nor should the players, members and officials of such organisations be allowed to represent the Republic at the expense of the Board; nor should the officials of such organisations ever he appointed to the Board by the Minister. I hope he can give this assurance.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Inche Abdul Aziz Karim (Kallang): 5.l5 p.m.

Inche Othman Bin Wok: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have nothing much to say except to thank Members for their support of the Bill, particularly the Member for Sembawang who has been repeating some of the points I have made in my speech. I will consider all the points that he has raised when the Bill is considered by the Select Committee.

On the first point raised by the Member for Paya Lebar, whether there is any possibility of our getting first-class coaches from abroad to train our sportsmen and, if it is not possible, whether it would be possible for us to have some training films from abroad, I think this is not a difficult matter. We can look into that.

On the question of sports training to be extended not only to the school-going population but also to persons outside our schools, if I am not mistaken, the Pioneer Industries Union have a sports division. Many of our industries in Jurong as well as business houses all over Singapore have got their own sports teams

On the question of State players being maintained by the State, I would like to inform the Member that there are quite a number of unemployed sportsmen and sportswomen who have been absorbed into some Government departments as well as business houses through the help of the Sports Division of the Ministry of Social Affairs.

The Member for Mountbatten has raised the point that members of the proposed Board do not include representatives from the colleges and universities in Singapore. He says that most of our sportsmen come from the universities and colleges. But, in fact, I am very sad to say that although this is true in other countries, it is not so in Singapore. Very few sportsmen and sportswomen come from the universities. Nevertheless, I will consider his proposal.

On the point raised by the Member for Kallang, he has my assurance that whatever help is given by the National Sports Promotion Board will not be on a racial basis.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time. Resolved,

"That the Bill be committed to a Select Committee consisting of the Speaker as Chairman and the following Members:

Inche A. Rahim Bin Ishak, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,

Mr Chan Chee Seng, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Affairs,

Dr Lee Chiaw Meng, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education,

Inche Othman Bin Wok, Minister for Social Affairs,

Mr Phua Bah Lee, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications,

Mr L. P. Rodrigo, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs,

Mr P. Selvadurai, Member for Bukit Panjang, and

Mr Sim Boon Woo, Member for Changi."-[Inche Othman Wok].