MAIN AND DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES OF SINGAPORE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 1973 TO 31ST MARCH, 1974

Order read for resumed consideration in Committee of Supply [5th Allotted Day].

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Head 1201 -

Mr Cheong Yuen Chee (Toa Payoh): Mr Speaker, Sir,

I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for head 1201 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1001*. (*The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr P. Govindaswamy.)

Sir, I would like to ask the Minister whether he would consider setting up a recuperation centre for people who are recuperating from mental illness and who had been treated at Woodbridge Hospital. It is true that Woodbridge Hospital has excellent facilities for the treatment of mental patients. However, many mental patients who are considered fit are sent home to stay with their families. From the medical point of view, this may be desirable. But from the social point of view, this creates problems for the families of the mentally sick, especially those who stay in Housing Board flats. On account of the close proximity of the flats, a mental patient who has been discharged from the hospital is easily identified by the residents and is shunned and ridiculed. Such attitudes not only affect the mental well-being of the patient but also affect the relationship between his family and his neighbours. As a result, tremendous strain is imposed on the patient's family. They are treated as social outcasts by their misfortune of having mentally ill persons staying with them. Families of such patients, and neighbours alike, request for transfers to other flats, in one instance, a patient pounded on the doors of neighbouring flats in the middle of the night. In another instance, a patient consistently abused and threatened her neighbours, although she turned out to be harmless. There are other instances, but it would take too long a time for me to elaborate.

I must say, Mr Speaker, Sir, that the Woodbridge Hospital authorities have been very helpful when such cases are referred to them. The patients are readmitted but discharged again after a period of observation and treatment. The solution does not end there. What we need is a place, preferably outside the Hospital, where discharged patients can be taken care of or trained to do something useful, maybe on the lines of the Trafalgar Home.

Mr P. Govindaswamy (Anson): Mr Speaker, Sir, in addition to this amendment on Head 1201, I have another amendment* on Head 1202, Hospitals Division. Can I range over both amendments, Sir?

• The amendment, standing in the names of Messrs P. Govindaswamy and Ch'ng Jit Koon, reads as follows:

(1) That the sum to be allocated for Head 1202 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1001.

The Chairman: Yes.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Mr Speaker, Sir, recently, while one criminal was under treatment in a hospital, he got the help of an accomplice and escaped. After this incident, I want to know what measures have been taken to tighten up security in the wards where prisoners are being treated?

The doctors who work in the hospitals sometimes have to be on duty for 24 hours at one stretch. Although they are allowed time to sleep in special rooms, theoretically they are supposed to have some rest, but in practice it does not work that way.

An hon. Member: Hear, hear!

Mr P. Govindaswamy: A person whose sleep is interrupted every few hours is not going to be a person with good judgment in emergency cases. Are our citizens, who are sick in hospital, made to suffer at the hands of doctors, who have had insufficient rest? Surely it is inhuman to make a person work under such tiring circumstances. No wonder, despite all the incentives in pay and promotion prospects, there is a high rate of resignation among doctors.

Sir, may I also ask the Minister why the Thomson Road General Hospital does not deal with compound fracture cases? Recently, a person in a chase after some boys, fractured an arm and was taken to the Thomson Road General Hospital. The authorities made the poor man wait for more than two hours I mean two hours - before advising him to go to the Outram Road General Hospital as there were no facilities available at that hospital. We cannot make boast of our hospital service if we have cases like this. I wonder how many citizens have been made to suffer unnecessarily by the authorities of this particular hospital. According to the numerous complaints in the newspapers, I guess there must have been many cases. Can the Minister do something about this matter and remedy the situation?

Sir, I would like to know how long does the emergency ward in the Outram Road General Hospital take to deal with emergency cases. Recently there was an old lady suffering from a heart attack. She was taken to the hospital by an ambulance at 8 a.m, and was put in one corner unattended till 10 a.m. I wonder why the hospital authorities take such a long time to deal with emergency cases. Either the doctors cannot cope with emergency cases or something is wrong with the section. Can the Minister do something to remedy the situation at the Emergency Ward? I have mentioned only one case, but I am sure there are many other similar cases which might have cost some lives as a result of such delays.

Another point I would like to raise, Sir, is a complaint I received from a patient that some hospital nurses, who attend to patients, are unable to make out the prescriptions of medicines written in the case-history of patients which is kept beside the patient. The complaint was that a nurse, in going through a case-history, was heard to have told another nurse that she presumed the medicine should be this and that. This sort of presumption is not a playful matter because the medicine given to the patients could be the wrong one and might cause mishaps eventually. Can the Minister look into this complaint of "presumptions" by nurses and see that they do not discuss such matters in front of patients, which may cause worry to the patients who are on the sick bed.

Dr Ong Leong Boon (Kim Seng): Mr Speaker, Sir, we have just heard some complaints about the Ministry of Health as well as the medical practitioners. I do not pretend to answer for any of these. Sir, half a year ago during the debate on the President's Address in this House, I raised certain issues about health and hospitals. At this sitting of Parliament, allow me to bring to light again these problems facing the Ministry of Health and the good health of our citizens today and tomorrow.

It is with pride, Sir, to note, if not with assurance, that the standard of health care and the facilities available in Singapore is today the best in Southeast Asia. The Minister for Health has recently announced plans for the construction of new hospitals in the years to come. This, I am sure will further boost the Republic as a health centre in this part of the world. Already an increasing number of patients have come here from neighbouring countries to seek expert medical attention.

Recently, in the salary revision exercise for senior Division I officers, additional incentives were given to consultant medical specialists to remain in service. This is a positive step to slow down the drain of the specialists into the more attractive and more lucrative private sector. However, salary and service conditions for the vast majority of institutional doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses and other ancillary staff, remain much the same. It seems imperative to me that corrective adjustments in terms of salary and service conditions must be made if we are to prevent the present trend, short of an exodus, of moving into the private sector. A hospital with top specialists but inadequately supported by junior specialists and doctors is no good hospital at all. In other words, it is like a military establishment with generals and no army. Perhaps, what is more disturbing is the shocking and escalating trend today for fewer and fewer students from our schools to enter the medical schools and elect medicine for a life-time profession.

The emphasis in Singapore today on science and technology is necessary and unquestionable at this stage of national development. However, this emphasis has unfortunately taken its toll and amputated, quite inadvertently, one of the limbs of essential services, i.e, the medical and associated services. Singapore today has a doctor population of approximately 1,500 registered practitioners. This gives a doctor population ratio of 1:1,300 or 1:1,400. Many Western countries have attained the figure of 1:500, and they still continue to face a shortage of doctors and its related problems. If I were to proceed in my analysis and take the figure of 1:750 as a desirable ratio to work on - I have chosen this figure in view of the enhanced living standards and sophistication and, again, the rising expectations of the people -- we are today short of at least 1,000 doctors.

2.45 p.m.

Allowing for this shortage, and the exercise of natural deaths and unnatural accidents, we need at least between 100 and 120 new doctors annually to join the ranks of the medical profession. Do we have these many doctors graduating every year? As it is, Government medical institutions are understaffed. What with projected plans for setting up new hospitals? I have chosen this sitting of Parliament to highlight this serious and, I think, potentially catastrophic problem. Sir, if I may submit figures to illustrate my point.

In the medical school today, from Year 5 to Year 1, the number of medical students divided into citizens and non-citizens are as follows: Singapore Non-citizens citizens Year 5 87 30 Year 4 69 27 Year 3 54 55 Year 2 54 58 Year 1 38 87 You will notice that for the non-citizens, the ratio is completely reversed. To analyse this figure, let us take the final and first-year students ratio. Final year, 30 non-citizens, 87 Singaporeans. First year, exactly the reverse, 87 non-citizens and 38 Singaporeans.

In the Dental Faculty, a greater disparity is shown: Singapore Non-citizens citizens Final year 14 20 Third year 3 35 Second year 3 32 First year 8 37 For the School of Pharmacy, the figures are: Singapore Non-citizens citizens Final year 10 10 Second year 6 17 First year 7 19

Therefore, Sir, in the medical school, the number of Singapore students has dropped from 74 per cent to a low of 30 per cent. In the Dental Faculty, only 28 out of 152 students are Singapore citizens. In the School of Pharmacy, only 23 out of 69, that is 1:3, are citizens. We need dental surgeons very badly. We need pharmacists very badly, and we are also short of doctors. The various professional bodies can, I am sure, provide more detailed analyses if the figures I have just given are not sufficient to wake the authorities concerned. To my mind, there are four approaches to solve the problem.

(1) The Ministry of Education, in streaming students in the late secondary and pre-university classes, must advise students or allow them to choose subjects that will give them greater flexibility. There should be room for them to choose in gaining admissions to the university between Science, Engineering, or Medical and associated schools.

(2) A question of motivation. Parents and students must be made fully aware of good job prospects and also of the present manpower shortage problem in the Health Ministry, in the hospitals and related professions.

(3) A greater incentive must be provided in terms of salary and service conditions. Of course, pride and interest in the profession, dedication and mobility of the career must also be major considerations in electing careers for our school children.

(4) The question of recruitment of non-citizens into our medical institutions. Over the past few years an increasing number of non-citizens have been recruited into our expanding medical service. The non-citizens in this year's medical graduating class have all been issued with forms asking them to apply houseman's jobs in Singapore. With the figures I have given, I guess we shall have to do the same next year, the year following and the year following. However, past experience has shown that many, if not most, of these new doctors have taken up appointment as housemen only to get themselves fully registered in Singapore. And then, using Singapore as a stepping stone, they leave for Australia, the United States, or England, or back to where they have come from. I must admit that some stayed behind, but the number is small. Further, we have recruited an increasing number of specialists from the Indian sub-continent states to help us run our existing service. I do not wish at this stage to enter into a discussion as to the merits or demerits of recruiting foreigners into our essential services. Unless steps are taken to get our own citizens to run the store, I can well imagine that with time

The Chairman: Order. Dr Ong, you have already spoken for ten minutes. May I remind hon. Members that the guillotine time for this Head is 3.00 p.m. Mr Chua.

The Minister for Health and Home Affairs (Mr Chua Sian Chin): Mr Speaker, Sir, if I may first answer the last speaker, i.e, the Member for Kim Seng. I have very little to quarrel with what he has just said. With regard to shortage of doctors, if he had, in fact, followed some of my speeches made as far back as 18 months ago, he would have heard me say that because of our expanding programme of development for the medical specialities and so on, we would be short of doctors.

As regards recruitment of - doctors, since we are short of doctors, we cannot he very discriminating as to whether they are citizens or non-citizens. If we have our own citizens among them, they will be given first choice. If we have not got applications from our citizens, we recruit non-citizens.

The other point is about the intake of students in the medical school. We have done our very best to encourage students to go into the medical school and, after graduation, to come into our service. One of the steps which the Ministry of Health has done was to have a traineeship scheme whereby ordinary doctors can at the shortest possible time qualify themselves to become specialists. That, in itself, has been quite a great attraction to many medical officers.

On the point of conditions of service and pay of ordinary doctors and nurses, may I say that, as far as nurses are concerned, a decision was recently handed down by the Industrial Arbitration Court. In fact, the Court made awards to raise the salaries of nurses quite substantially and it even elevated the divisional status of nurses. Therefore, I would say that the terms and conditions of service and pay of the nurses are now on par with the other services which have got salary revisions. The' other point about ordinary doctors is a matter which, I think, the Minister for Finance did indicate that as far as the lower echelon of the civil service is concerned, a revision of their salaries will take place. That is a matter which squarely rests with the Minister for Finance.

The point raised by the Member for Toa Payoh concerns mental cases which have been discharged from Woodbridge Hospital. I fully sympathise with the plight of some of the families who have to take back their relatives who have been discharged from the Woodbridge Hospital. May I say this: the modern trend in psychiatric care is to admit mentally-ill patients into a psychiatric hospital only if they require active psychiatric treatment. As far as possible, patients should be treated as outpatients so that they will not lose their connection with their families and the community. This method of treatment is not only economical but it also prevents the patient from deteriorating as a result of prolonged stay in an institution. Outpatient management does in certain instances result in a social problem to families and neighbours, especially if they stay in a Housing Board flat, as stated by the Member for Toa Payoh. The solution is to develop psychiatric day-centres, and it is intended to include this in the future development of the Outram Road General Hospital. Such day-centres sometimes referred to as day hospitals are, in fact, identical to the creche that we see in our community. In the meantime, a half-way home i being set up in Sembawang - perhaps the Member for Sembawang will take note of this - for mental patients who are about to be discharged from Woodbridge Hospital. This half-way home is to rehabilitate them and to readjust them back to normal life with their families, so that they will not be a problem to their families when they eventually return home.

The Member for Anson mentioned the case of a patient who went to Thomson Road General Hospital but could not get himself treated for a compound fracture. May I correct the misapprehension of the Member for Anson? He thinks that all hospitals can deal with complicated cases. In fact, if you have a compound fracture, it is an orthopaedic case. It is a case for the specialist. As far as Thomson Road General Hospital is concerned, it is not as big a hospital as Outram Road General Hospital. It has less than 400 beds, and it is therefore not possible to provide every speciality in that particular hospital. Orthopaedic surgery is one speciality which cannot be provided in the Thomson Road General Hospital. Therefore, if there is a case of complicated fracture, it has to be referred to the Orthopaedic Unit of the Outram Road General Hospital.

The case in question, which the Member for Anson brought up, is this: when the patient came up to the Thomson Road General Hospital, the surgeon there wanted to deal with the case on an emergency basis. At the same time the surgeon did explain to the patient that it would be better if he were treated in the Orthopaedic Unit of the Outram Road General Hospital. The father of the patient concerned was quite happy to go to the Outram Road General Hospital, instead of being treated first on a preliminary basis in the Thomson Road General Hospital. Of course, in that event he had to wait because the orthopaedic surgeon had to be contacted. In fact, the orthopaedic surgeon was eventually contacted, and the patient was sent to the Outram. Road General Hospital.

3.00 p.m.

The Chairman: Order. It is guillotine time. I am sorry.

Mr Cheong Yuen Chee: Mr Speaker, Sir, in view of the Minister's reply, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The time allotted for Head 1201 having expired, the following amendment was not proceeded with:- Mr Sim Boon Woo: (2) That the sum to be allocated for Head 1201 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1004.

The sum of $22,101,540 for Head 1201 ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates.

The sum of $1,700,400 for Head 1201 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 1202 -

The Chairman: May I remind hon. members that the guillotine time for this Head is 3.40 p.m.

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon (Tiong Bahru): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 1202 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1001*. (*See footnote, cols. 935-6.)

Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of my constituents, to make a request to the authorities in charge of the Outram Road General Hospital. This request comes from people who live in Hospital quarters. They are Grade III Medical and Health servants living in the quarters at Outram Road. These low-salaried staff occupy quarters at a low rent, which is a very reasonable move of the Government. But the problem is that these quarters are too old, and the facilities are too basic and inadequate. Those who live there have to share a communal kitchen, a communal toilet and also a communal bathroom for their showers. There are many other inconveniences in these quarters. Very often they quarrel among themselves over the use of these communal facilities.

Another problem is that if one occupant unfortunately passes away, or is dismissed from the service for one reason or another, or retires when he reaches the age, then his family cannot continue to occupy the quarters. Mr Speaker, Sir, we all know that in Singapore today it is not easy to look for alternative housing. If a person applies for a Housing Board flat, he will have to wait for a few years before he gets his chance. But we know that the Housing and Development Board does give priority to certain applicants under special circumstances. In any case, at very short notice, it is not easy to look for a place to live in.

Accommodation is one of the most important things in life. Under the present circumstances, therefore, these people whom I have mentioned have this request to make. They would like to ask the authorities concerned to make arrangements with the Housing Board so that they can move into Housing Board flats. From my investigations, among these people who live in these quarters, the majority of them have already applied either to buy or to rent Housing Board flats. But the Housing Board will not give priority to them. So they are requesting the authorities concerned to liaise with the Housing Board in order that priority can be given to their applications for flats, so that the Government could demolish the old quarters and use the land for some other purposes.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, these quarters, which the Member for Tiong Bahru referred to, were built by the former Singapore Improvement Trust for the Outram Road General Hospital. I agree that they provide relatively poor accommodation by present-day standards; for example, the toilets are communal, as mentioned by the Member. Consideration will therefore be given to the construction of new quarters in the re-development of the Outram Road General Hospital.

Regarding expediting the applications of these Medical and Health servants for Housing Board flats, may I say that these applications go through the Medical Superintendent's Office. They are then forwarded to the Housing Board with recommendations for assistance for suitable flats. The rest is up to the Housing Board. As the Member knows at the moment there is heavy pressure on the Housing and Development Board for allocation of flats.

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

In the absence of the Members concerned, the following amendments standing in their names were not proceeded with - Mr Sim Boon Woo: (2) That the sum to be allocated for head 1202 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1231. Mr Ng Kah Ting: (3) That the sum to be allocated for head 1202 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 11.

Mr Teong Eng Siong (Sembawang): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 1202 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 14.

This provision of $250,000 is for Improvement to Sembawang Hospital-Works and Buildings. Sir, we know that the Government is doing its best in the development of medical facilities, Every year, we spend more than S90 million for the maintenance and further development of various projects in the medical field. Sembawang Hospital used to be a British Hospital. It has now been taken over by the Singapore Government. The people in Sembawang and surrounding areas will be able to receive better medical attention and care. This is praiseworthy indeed. I would like to raise some questions. Firstly, when will these improvements be completed? Secondly, what sort of new facilities will be available? Thirdly, what is the capacity of this new hospital?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, regarding the first question, tenders for the renovation of Sembawang Hospital are now under consideration, and work is expected to begin next month and to be completed in September.

With regard to the facilities that would be offered to the residents of the area after the renovation has been completed, they are as follows:-

(1) surgical in-patient and casualty cases:

(a) treatment of minor casualty cases of out-patient, less acute cases of in-patients, and providing first-aid to major cases before transfer to the Thomson Road General Hospital;

(b) caters for minor surgeries; and

(c) care of post-operative convalescent surgical patients from Thomson Road General Hospital for lying-in before complete discharge.

(2) medical in-patients:

(a) observation and investigation of cases referred from Sembawang out-patient dispensary;

(b) initial treatment of acute medical cases prior to transfer to Thomson Road General Hospital;

(c) care of convalescing medical patients from Thomson Road General Hospital.

(3) out-patients and follow-up.

The out-patient clinic will provide specialist out-patient services for the area and follow-up services for its discharged patients and patients resident in Sembawang who are presently follow-ups in Thomson Road General Hospital. Such patients require specialist services before transfer to the general out-patient services. (4) dental clinic.

The Hospital will have a new two-chair dental clinic for residents in the area.

(5) X-ray, laboratory and physiotherapy departments.

The X-ray unit and laboratory will serve the casualty unit, specialists out-patient clinic, minor operation theatre, in-patients, and the Sembawang out-patient dispensary. X-ray services may be rendered for mass X-ray of factory workers on request. Physiotherapy services will be available to in-patients, out-patients from Sembawang Out-patient dispensary and residents of the area.

I hope what I have just enumerated in detail will gladden the heart of the Member for Sembawang.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Minister for giving a detailed reply. Although the scale of this Hospital is not very big, but from the explanation given by the Minister, it appears that the facilities are quite extensive. So on behalf of the people of Sembawang constituency, I would like to thank the Minister for the efforts his Ministry is making for Sembawang constituency.

Sir, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $84,165,570 for Head 1202 ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates.

The sum of $8,827,500 for Head 1202 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 1301 -

The Chairman: Head 1301. The guillotine time is

6.40 p.m.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 1301 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1001*. (* The same amendment also stood in the names of Messrs Cheong Yuen Chee and P. Govindaswamy.)

Sir, the Ministry of Home Affairs is entrusted with the responsibility of internal security and law and order. The Police Department comes under this Ministry, and therefore it has the duty and responsibility to maintain law and order in our society. In recent years, the Police have improved their efficiency and relationship with the people. This is something which deserves our praise.

3.15 p.m.

However, I have a few questions to raise here. In recent years the corrosive influence of Western countries, particularly the hippy sub-culture from abroad, has caused certain undesirable effects on our youths. One of the bad influences is that our young people are now sporting long hair as a fashion. They would grow their hair down to their shoulders. Some of them sport a rather long beard, even though they are very young. They adorn themselves with all kinds of fancy clothes. Their behaviour really poses a social problem. The craze for long hair has become more prevalent in our society. It is now one of the many social problems Government has to face. It is also one of the problems which parents have to face.

Sir, let me give an example. I have a friend who has a son between 18 and 19 years of age. This boy keeps very long hair and is causing a lot of worry to his mother, who has a tender heart. She used to give him advice now and again, but without any result. This angered her very much. She told me that she hoped the Government would take action against the practice of keeping long hair, and she even hoped that the Police would cut off the long hair of these youths. I feel that this is a social problem which many parents are facing. Parents usually do not like long hair. It is only the young people who sport long hair as a fashion nowadays. We have also found out that certain Government servants, for example, office boys, are now keeping long hair. They even sport a long heard. This is really too much. Even on the TV recently, in a singing contest programme, many of the participants had long hair down to their shoulders. They also behaved in a wild manner which caused many of us to shake our heads. I remember sometime ago the RTS took strict measures to prohibit people with long hair from taking part in any competition. I do not know why it has relaxed this ruling. Is it because the authorities concerned have forgotten about the Government's policy against long hair?

Sir, Singapore is a young and dynamic state. We should therefore maintain a good social vogue and tradition. We should teach our citizens to behave, wear tidy clothes and maintain a good appearance. I would, therefore, like the Minister to take action to prevent any undesirable practice from gaining a strong hold on our young people.

I remember the Ministry of Home Affairs had issued an order that all Government servants should give the cold shoulder to any youth with long hair, should he come to a Government department on any matter. People with long hair were placed at the end of the queue. But it seems that this ruling has now been forgotten. The civil servants do not impose this ruling when dealing with members of the public who keep long hair. I hope the Minister will pay attention to this matter.

Another matter which I would like the Minister to consider is the question of the recruitment of policemen. According to my understanding, in the recent Police recruitment exercise most of the applicants came from Malaysia. A large number of our local citizens did not come forward to join the Police Force. This is not a good sign. The Police have the important task of maintaining law and order in our country. The Police Force should consist of people who are loyal to our country and faithful to our citizens. They should be in a position to protect the lives and property of our people. Therefore, I am of the opinion that an important establishment, such as the Police Force, should be filled by our local citizens.

Now why is it that our local citizens are not interested in joining the Police Force? Is it because the pay of the Police Force is very low? What I know is that the salary scales for the Police Force have been revised to some extent. Is it because the work is too laborious? If it is, I would like the Minister to look into the matter and to take remedial measures.

The last point I wish to raise is that if our male citizens do not want to become policemen, I wonder whether we can recruit more women into our Police Force. We have found that recently quite a number of our traffic police are women. I find that they are quite efficient.

Mr Cheong Yuen Chee: Mr Speaker, Sir, Members of this House have repeatedly brought up the subject of road accidents which have been increasing at an alarming rate. Apparently measures taken by the relevant authorities have not been very successful. In 1972, 3,982 vehicles were involved in serious and fatal accidents. Along the Jalan Toa Payoh expressway, for instance, in 1970 there were 55 accidents, one fatal. Between 1971 and 1972, for over a period of 12 months, the number of accidents increased to 97, with seven fatalities. One more case died a few months ago.

I was given to understand that the traffic police had conducted a survey on this stretch of the road and had made recommendations to minimise the accidents, including the provision of pedestrian crossings. I wonder whether a thorough survey has been made in this regard.

I would like to know whether the relevant authorities are aware of the following facts. First, trishaws, cyclists and pedestrians are prohibited from using the flyover at Toa Payoh. Therefore, such road users, from the neighbourhood of St. Michael's Estate and Balestier Road, are compelled to make a crossing over this stretch of road, approximately 100 yards from each side of the junction of Kim Keat Road and Jalan Toa Payoh, in order to avoid travelling a distance of two miles from the Thomson Road approach. Secondly, such crossings are usually made during peak hours and at dusk between 6.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. when visibility is very poor. I would suggest that to improve the situation the traffic police should look into the question of providing a safer passage for this group of road users by putting up Slow signs near this stretch of the road. There should also be special lighting at the junction, and increased vigilance by the traffic police to apprehend the speedsters and also to confine vehicles with restricted speeds to specific lanes.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Mr Speaker, Sir, what is the guideline used in the issue of permits for religious street processions? The authorities are now issuing permits for street processions, which are somewhat restricted. I wonder why the Police should deem fit to reject some of the applications for permits for street procession without giving any reasonable explanation.

Sir, I have to make an appeal in this Chamber on this matter because the street procession is a vow that some religious groups have made, and it has since been a tradition. Therefore, where religious matters arc concerned, I feel that the Minister should consider relaxing the rules for the issue of such permits. If it is a question of security measures that these permits have not been granted, then I would call upon the Minister to send more security officers to the procession to see that it is being carried out peacefully.

Mr J. F. Conceicao (Katong): Mr Speaker, Sir, since the matter of traffic has been referred to, may I seek your permission to speak on it now, instead of waiting for the next amendment* standing in my name?

• The amendment, standing in the names of Messrs J. F. Conceicao, P. Govindaswamy and Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff Bin Suradi, reads as follows:

(2) That the sum to be allocated for Head 1301 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1151.

The Chairman: Yes.

Mr Conceicao: Mr Speaker, Sir, as far as our traffic problem is concerned, it is obvious to the most casual observer that traffic conditions in Singapore are indeed in a near-lawless state; literally so. Almost every regulation imposed by the traffic police is conspicuously more honoured in its breach than in its observance. There is scant regard for speed limits. Lorries, which are supposed to go at 20 miles per hour, more often than not travel at about double that speed, fully loaded. Cars generally go at least about 10 miles per hour faster than they are supposed to go. This occurs in many accident prone areas. In my own constituency, at a particularly notorious bend, the traffic police have caused many clearly visible signs to be displayed, urging motorists to slow down to 20 miles per hour. As far as I have observed, only pedestrians pay attention to this sign. And there are also vehicles that travel slowly in the wrong lane -going along a 40-mile per hour highway at about 15 or 20 miles per hour -causing obstruction and inducing other motorists to weave in and out. Forming up correctly at a junction before making a right-turn is a procedure which only a few motorists are aware of. Double white lines are appreciated possibly for the meticulous way the P.W.D, has drawn them! Traffic lights are ignored even when they have turned red. Pedestrians do not use overhead bridges. I could go on with this litany, Sir, but I think I have made my point.

Mr Speaker, Sir, it is the rule of the bully that prevails on the road. It is the regime of one-upsmanship. It is "big fish eat little fish", with cement-mixer trucks, buses, heavy vehicles playing the role of the bold, had baron on the highway, and pedestrians being assigned to the lowest order of life, with the weak and old among this breed being regularly assassinated. In the circumstances of what I have outlined, Sir, I feel a profound pity for our Traffic Police Chief. He must be feeling like the Dutch boy in the story, who had his finger in a hole in a dyke. He was doing a heroic job but with quite inadequate resources.

The Minister for Culture (Mr Jek Yeun Thong): What about the Safety First Council?

Mr Conceicao: The least said about that, the soonest mended, Sir,I am told that the number of bookings for traffic offences is phenomenal. Yet offences seem to continue to increase. Singapore is being swamped by a flood of vehicular traffic. To add to the dismay of our vehicle control authorities, we have today large number of vehicles, not bearing Singapore number plates, which are able to defy our regulations with impunity. Obviously, Sir, a comprehensive retooling of the way we enforce our traffic regulations is called for.

3.30 p.m.

Sir, I have a few suggestions to make:

(a) There should be more mobile enforcement officers; equipped with radio communication.

(b) These officers should be trained to educate as well as book drivers.

(c) Where education is concerned, it is the business of all Government and statutory bodies to act in this regard in a concerted way. Just as a matter of one example, when senior Government officers drive around, they could be on the look-out for infractions on the part of vehicles in their Ministries. In the case of the Police, all police patrols and not merely traffic police should take notice of traffic offences and help educate or book offenders. In the case of selective enforcement operations, it may be a good idea to give wide publicity to the nature of the offence that will come under special enforcement action. This is to give notice beforehand. Wide publicity and the mass media should be more extensively used to acquaint people with a particular regulation each time. This educational process should he a continuing one, and should not be carried out only for the duration of a campaign, whoever may have organised it.

(d) The penalties for traffic offences should be reviewed. There should be greater use of licence suspension and even revocation of licence where danger to life has been evident. In the case of severe injuries or death resulting from a clearly culpable action, imprisonment is called for. Owners of vehicles should also, to a carefully considered extent, be held liable for the way their employees drive. In any case, owners should be taught to realise their responsibility for exercising discipline over their employees.

If Government should take an extremely serious view of the sad state of our traffic conditions, it is not only because hundreds of lives are being lost every year, and thousands are being injured, and tens of thousands of accidents are occurring, but because fundamentally all this shows a scant human regard of one citizen for another. This is part of a social malaise, like drug-taking, crime and delinquency. The Minister for Home Affairs, and also in his capacity as the Minister for Health, will doubtless agree that if the body politic is showing signs of sickness and therapeutic measures are inadequate, then a major operation is called for. In this, it is the entire Government that should participate in the exercise, and not merely one or two Ministries.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Mr Speaker, Sir, there has been a fantastic increase in the number of vehicles on our roads during the last decade. Although there is a continuous widening and improvement of our road system to cope with the increase in traffic, yet our traffic police force has not kept pace with this increase. As a result, it is a common sight daily to see drivers violating every traffic rule on the roads. Matters are being made worse by our bus and lorry drivers who seem to think that they are the untouchables in the eyes of the law.

When will the strength of the traffic police be increased before we experience a disorderly society giving vent to its feelings on the roads? The road seems to be a place for irresponsible behaviour on the part of our young drivers particularly. There seems to be an alarming increase in the number of traffic offences nowadays. The very small force of traffic policemen is not able to cope with the increase in traffic. Offences of beating the traffic lights and, in fact, ignoring the lights, seem to take place too often. It is time that the ordinary beat policeman was given the right to book offenders on the spot. On this point, may I suggest to the Minister that ordinary policemen be posted at the usual congested areas during the peak periods?

Sir, drug addiction is becoming quite prevalent in Singapore. Though the Central Narcotics Bureau has done an excellent job so far -

The Chairman: Mr P. Govindaswamy, we are not talking about narcotics now. We are talking about the Commissioner of Police. Narcotics will be considered under subhead 1651.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Sir, it is the same thing, is it not?

The Chairman: It is not the same, I am afraid. It is quite different. Perhaps you should wait until subhead 1651 comes up.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Yes, Sir.

Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff Bin Suradi (Kampung Kembangan): (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, the people of Singapore still need education in many matters which involve their morals, especially our teenagers. Most of our youths have been influenced by fashions and cultures from the West. Whatever fashion and culture that come from the West are considered modern fashion and culture. But if we scrutinise and analyse most of these fashions and cultures, we find that they belong to the stone age, and our youths imitate these fashions without considering whether they are good or bad. If I am not mistaken, Sir, the Minister of Defence has condemned the youths who imitate Western fashions as WOGs, or Western-oriented gentlemen, the steel guitar music as outrageous, and the youths who sport long hair as hippies. I agree with the views of the Minister of Defence. But what about the gentlemen who wear neckties and those who play golf? Are they also WOGs? What I regret, Sir, is the attitude of the Government in respect of these matters. The authorities concerned are not firm in dealing with them. On one previous occasion, the Police and Immigration took action against youths who sport long hair, but there has been no follow-up. The Ministry of Finance has issued circulars to Government departments and statutory bodies to take action against their staff who sport long hair, and to serve people with long hair last. Nevertheless, these instructions are not followed, and there are senior officers who still sport long hair.

On the question of WOG society, although the Minister of Defence has condemned these youths, the Trade Division still allows the import of nylon stockings and records with outrageous music. If the Government is sincere and wishes to eradicate the symptoms which will affect our youths, it should be firm in its stand and should not hesitate to take action to ban the import of silk and nylon stockings and "bad" records. On the other hand, Sir, if the Government depends on the revenue from the import of these articles, then do not condemn the people who admire these fashions. In my opinion, a more effective way to eradicate these fashions is to hold campaigns, like the "Keep Singapore Clean Campaign", "Garden City Campaign" and similar campaigns which have received good response in the past. Similarly, if we organise campaigns along these lines, I am sure the results will be beneficial.

I would also like to suggest that the Police hold an anti-vandalism campaign in Singapore because I find that at the moment, our society is not yet appreciative of public property. Many lifts in Housing Board flats are vandalised. Some lifts are disfigured with scribbles and obscene pictures. Some people urinate in the lifts and commit many others acts of vandalism. Bus shelters, public telephones and vehicles are not spared. The Government has to provide bus shelters, and the Singapore Telephone Board has to provide public telephones. But because of acts of vandalism by a small section of the population, many people suffer because they cannot use these facilities in times of emergency. The STB is trying to provide as many public telephones as possible in the urban and rural areas. But with increased acts of vandalism on public telephones, the efforts of the STB to maintain these telephones have not been fruitful. Every time a telephone is repaired, it would only be serviceable for one or two weeks at the most. After that, these people with low morals would commit the act of vandalism. Therefore, the STB has experienced losses in repairing public telephones. So I hope that in launching this anti-vandalism campaign, the Police can educate our society to appreciate public property and to impose heavy penalties on those who commit acts of vandalism.

3.45 p.m.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, first of all I would like to take the point about traffic, which has been brought up by the Members for Katong, Toa Payoh and Anson. I entirely agree with them that the traffic situation in Singapore is becoming a serious problem, especially with the increasing number of road accidents. However, may 1 point out the prevention of traffic accidents is not the sole responsibility of the traffic police, it also concerns departments in the other Ministries. Therefore, the traffic police maintain close liaison with the PWD and the ROV to improve traffic facilities, such as devising schemes to facilitate vehicular and pedestrian movements on the road, and introducing necessary legislation to enhance road safety. In fact, they have recently formed art Accident Prevention Committee consisting of representatives of these departments. A selective enforcement squad within the traffic police was formed in October, 1972, to carry out more effectively the selective enforce ment policy in respect of specific offences. Besides, the traffic police initiate as well as participate actively in road safety campaigns, which are always extensively publicised through the mass media. Towards the end of last year the traffic police launched a road safety campaign to educate motorcyclists, scooterists and trishaw-riders. In February this year, as Members are aware, the traffic police also participated in the Road Safety Campaign organised by the National Safety First Council and the Automobile Association.

With regard to convictions, may I say that in all convictions in respect of prevalent offences, the traffic police urge for deterrent sentences. In a recent case, a driver was jailed for six months and disqualified from driving for five years for causing death along Mountbatten Road in October, 1972. Perhaps that road is within the Katong constituency. This conviction and disqualification was widely publicised by the press and the RTS. The traffic police recognise that traffic education is an integral part of Police traffic supervision and make every effort, including enlisting the assistance of the mass media, to educate the public on road safety. In this connection, we are thinking of launching a nation-wide "Keep our Singapore Roads Accident-Free Campaign" in 1974, along the lines of the "Keep Singapore Clean Campaign". However, in order to ensure the success of such a campaign, we have to put our own house in order first. We are therefore reorganising the Traffic Police Department and are also looking into, as suggested by the Member for Katong, the traffic legislation with a view to up-dating them so that at the end of the Campaign we will be in a position to strictly enforce the law. It will not be possible to achieve success unless this nation-wide campaign succeeds in getting everybody to participate in it, not only the motorists but also the pedestrians as well, just as everybody was involved in the Keep Singapore Clean Campaign. I hope we might be able to get the Member for Katong, who is very interested in this subject, to help us in organising this nation-wide campaign.

Mr Conceicao: Yes, I will help.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Of course, the Member for Katong has experience in this sort of campaign while he was a member of the Safety First Council.

Mr Conceicao: The experience will be put to good use.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: On the specific point referred to by the Member for Toa Payoh concerning traffic accidents in the Toa Payoh constituency, may I say that the Accident Prevention Committee, which I referred to just now, had already studied and analysed the traffic situation in Toa Payoh, and it has taken the following remedial actions:

(1) Nine of the 27 openings in-between road dividers have been closed.

(2) Traffic lights have been installed at road junctions in Toa Payoh East and Lorong 6, Lorong 1 and Lorong 2, and Lorong 2 and Toa Payoh Central. An all-red period has been incorporated into the above traffic light system.

(3) Pedestrian crossing lights will be installed along Lorong 3.

(4) Installation of pedestrian crossing lights at Lorong 6, near Poi Ching School and Pei Chun Public School, is under consideration.

There is a list of all these remedies, but I do not want to waste the time of the House by enumerating them. If the Member for Toa Payoh is interested, and if he were to write to me, I will give him all the details. So much for the traffic problem.

The next point I would like to touch on is about long hair, brought up by the Members for Sembawang and Kampung Kembangan. May I say that there is a standing instruction, contained in I.M. No. 2, saying that Government officers must at all times wear clothing and hair style that give an appearance of neatness and decorum, and that outlandish or flashy clothings and unduly long and unkempt hair styles should be avoided. My Ministry has, by circular, reminded all its staff of this standing instruction and requested heads of departments to enforce the rules strictly.

Quite recently, my Ministry has also set up an Action Committee, chaired by a very senior officer of my Ministry, comprising representatives of other Ministries and statutory bodies to co-ordinate action to implement the anti-long hair policy. The Ministry of Finance which is represented on this Committee, in consultation with the Public Service Commission, is looking into the question of suitable penalties for civil servants who contravene the instruction on clothing and hair style. The Ministry of Education, I understand, has also directed all schools to ensure that male pupils keep their hair short and neat. Assurances of co-operation also have been received from the institutions of higher learning anti from representatives of the Chambers of Commerce. The Ministry of Labour is also paying due attention to the longhaired males who apply for work permits. So is the Immigration Department, in the case of applications for immigration clearance. Foreigners with long hair, wishing to enter Singapore on a visit, are required to cut their hair short before they are allowed in at the various check points. Returning Singapore students with long unkempt hair are required to surrender their passport to the Immigration officers on arrival. Their passports will be returned to them after they have cut their hair short. Persons with long unkempt hair also stand the risk of being checked by the Police, as they invariably look suspicious. The question of how to deal with long-haired performers in night clubs and places of entertainment is under discussion with the Tourist Promotion Board and the Ministry of Culture. The mass media is also co-operating not only by giving less publicity to long-haired characters and their activities but also giving due prominence to speeches by Members of Parliament, like some of our Members here, and other responsible persons critical of long hair. The National Sports Promotion Board has also issued a circular to sports bodies drawing their attention to the anti-long hair rule and requesting their co-operation in implementing it.

The Action Committee, which I have just mentioned, is also discussing as to what further effective action can be taken to discourage males from drifting towards the hedonistic way of life represented by long hair and hippism.

May I come to the Member for Anson and his religious procession? As a rule, religious foot processions in the streets are not allowed. An exception to this rule is Thaipusam kavadis, which are not similar to other foot processions in that they comprise individuals who proceed from one temple to another in fulfilment of individual vows. In issuing permit for kavadis, the following conditions are imposed: that kavadi carriers must proceed singly or in small groups, and by the shortest route to the designated temple. Permits may be granted for religious foot processions to be held within the grounds of churches, temples, mosques and suraus. In the case of Kiew Ong Yah and other religious processions involving deities, permits are granted for processions but these are subject to the following:

(a) Only vehicular processions are allowed.

(b) Distances travelled must be the shortest possible route from point to point.

(c) No music, gongs, drums or cymbals shall be played en route.

(d) The procession will be restricted to small groups in vehicles, and

(e) There shall be no stoppage en route.

There have been applications for religious processions which involve pulling a chariot with bullocks. This was in connection with processions on Lord Krishna's Birthday. As these animals were banned from the streets of Singapore - Members may remember the Cattle Act that we had passed some years ago - organisers should consider the use of a motorised chariot.

I believe the Member for Sembawang spoke about the recruitment of non-citizens into our Police Force. May I say this to him? It has always been the aim to fill all vacancies in the Police Force with Singapore citizens. Unfortunately, in our recent recruitment drives, the response from Singapore citizens has been poor. There are various contributory factors, one of which is the raising of the minimum qualifications for entry. At the moment the qualifications are the Singapore Cambridge GCE Examination with a minimum of three Ordinary levels, whereas previously a Secondary II certificate would suffice. Moreover, many others who have the necessary qualifications are enlisted into full-time national service on leaving school. Those who have completed full-time national service prefer to take up jobs in the private sector. Therefore, this recruitment of foreigners is an interim measure which will cease immediately when the response from local citizens is sufficiently good to cope with the needs of the Police Force.

Lastly, something about what the Member for Kampung Kembangan has said - WOGs and anti-WOGs campaign. Although we can organise a "Keep Singapore Roads Accident-Free Campaign" or "Keep Singapore Clean Campaign", I do not think we can organise an "Anti-Nylon Stockings Campaign". I do not think it is possible.

4.00 p.m.

Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff: (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, what I meant was the anti-vandalism campaign as a lot of public telephones have been damaged.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sorry, Mr Speaker, Sir, to have left that out. With regard to the anti-vandalism campaign, may I say that it is part of the crime prevention campaign which has been organised by the Police Force throughout the year. We have been doing this in a number of ways. One is the Police Week open house and exhibitions and crime prevention for festive seasons. The Police Week for 1972 was held at the Singapore Conference Hall concourse and at various community centres. This year, the Police Week will be held at the Victoria Memorial Hall in June. Open houses and exhibitions were introduced in September 1972. These open houses and exhibitions are held over a period of three days at different times at the Headquarters station of the eight land divisions. To-date, five open houses and exhibitions have been held. The next one will be held at the Beach Road Police Station from 30th March to 1st April, 1973. The crime prevention campaign for festive seasons for 1972-73 was conducted from 1st November, 1972 to 28th February, 1973. The purpose of this campaign is to plan, co-ordinate, and implement counter-measures to combat crime, including vandalism, theft of motor-cars and motor-car parts, in a more concerted and aggressive manner. These various campaigns, public warnings and crime preventive measures to be taken by the public are widely publicised through the mass media. In addition, pictorial and graphic exhibits labelled with a distinct crime prevention message in each case are also displayed.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Mr Speaker, Sir, regarding the religious foot procession, the hon. Minister has not given an answer as to why it was restricted last year. I had a lot of trouble last year. When the devotees were all gathered in the Perumal Temple and were ready to go to Mariamman Temple for the fire-walking ceremony, they found that the Police had blocked the place. They could not move because they had no permission.

Mr Speaker, Sir, these people have been holding that procession for more than a hundred years, so what is the reason for stopping them last year?

Mr Sim Boon Woo (Changi): Times have changed!

Mr P. Govindaswamy: You cannot give that reason. Has there been any trouble previously? Has there been any religious quarrel? This procession is a tradition. The Minister must not allow the Police to stop issuing the permit. I cannot bear listening to people talking about this, and, therefore, something must be done regarding this procession. I would like to ask the Minister to reconsider this matter.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, my explanation is quite simple. The Member for Anson himself has stated the reason why we do so - he did mention the point about security. May I add that the traffic problem has to be considered too. That is why we have advised them that if they wanted to have a vehicular procession, perhaps they could think of motorising the chariot. As the Member for Changi has just remarked, we have to keep up with the times. Conditions have changed, and our roads and traffic have also changed.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Sir, there is an increase in the volume of traffic, which cannot be controlled at the moment. And on the last occasion, why should they want to stop the procession? I do not think the Minister's reply is proper. The Minister will have to reconsider this matter and give favourable consideration next year. I do not want to say any more on this matter.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, before I withdraw my amendment, there is a question which the Minister has forgotten to answer. This is in regard to the recruitment of policemen. Not many of our male citizens have come forward because many of them have to go for national service. Since the number is small, he has to recruit non-citizens. May I put forward a suggestion? If we have fewer male policemen, can we not recruit more females? In other words, can we not recruit more policewomen to take their place?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: I entirely agree with the Member for Sembawang. In fact, this is what we have done. Where Police work can be done by females, we see to it that they are done by women police constables. For example, we have gone round to the various departments of the Police, and whenever we find that the work can be done by a woman police constable, such as clerical work, the male police constable is released to do other jobs.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Minister for his reply. On the question of long hair, he has given a very detailed explanation: that all the departments have been instructed to act against people with long hair. Sir, this goes to show that the Government is going all out to tackle this problem. We are waiting to see the results. I hope the other departments will take more effective action against people with long hair.

Sir, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 1301 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1601.

Sir, the Vigilante Corps has a glorious history. In the face of external confrontation, a group of civilians came forward in response to the call by the Government to take on the job of defending our country and maintaining internal security. The Vigilante Corps was thus formed. At its maximum strength, the number exceeded 10,000. Recently, only a few thousand members of the Vigilante Corps are left. But now that we have the National Service Vigilante Corps, every year a number of new recruits are taken into the Vigilante Corps. After a period of fairly strict training, they become members of the Vigilante Corps. My question is this. To-date, how many of these members are in the National Service Vigilante Corps, and what sort of work have they been doing? My point is that these members should be treated in the same way as the volunteers. In other words, we should send them to various areas for patrol duties, and to assist the Police in the maintenance of law and order. This will enable the members of the Vigilante Corps to gain more experience.

Another question I would like to raise is this. The Vigilante Corps is a volunteer organisation. Each member is given only two sets of uniforms. After a year or so, these uniforms become tattered and torn. But the headquarters does not issue them with new uniforms. So when they go out to perform their duties, they have to wear faded uniforms. I would like to ask the Minister if he would consider issuing a new set of uniforms annually to the volunteer members of the Vigilante Corps.

Another question I would like to ask is the transport allowance for the group leaders of the Vigilante Corps. These group leaders have to travel a few times a week to check on the performance of duties by other members. They have to spend on petrol and transport, but they are not given any transport allowance. This has become a burden to the Vigilante Corps leaders. So I would like the Minister to consider giving them some transport allowance so that they can carry out their duties without being out of pocket.

Lastly, I wonder if the Minister will consider recruiting volunteers. As far as I know, there are many people who would like to join the Vigilante Corps so as to be able to contribute something towards the society. I think if we should admit them, we will inculcate a sense of duty among these people.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, may I correct one statement by the Member for Sembawang which I think is incorrect? He has stated that at the moment only a few thousand Vigilante Corps members remain. That is not correct.

Mr Teong Eng Siong rose -

The Chairman: Mr Teong, do let the Minister make his point. You may clarify later.

Mr Teong Eng Siong resumed his seat.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: There are altogether 23,678 Vigilante Corps members. The other query he asked was: what duties do Vigilante Corps members normally perform? They do not perform duties, Mr Speaker, Sir, but they attend training once a week. However, members of the Corps are often called to augment the regular Police Force in crowd control, e.g. National Day Parade, Chingay procession, and so on.

With regard to the training of National Service Vigilante Corps members, may I say that after having completed the first year of service, Vigilante Corps members will proceed to the next phase of training. They will be deployed for three years' service, but at the same time they will continue to attend training once a week for three hours. At the training centre, the men spend half the time in civil defence services, such as fire-fighting, first-aid, rescue and fire drill. The other half of the time is utilised in the promotion of one of three skills, i.e, sports, marine or cultural. Deployment units are also required to conduct an annual hike and overnight camp. A one-week unit in-camp is conducted during the first year of deployment training, and another week for a civil defence residential course in the third year.

4.15 p.m.

With regard to uniforms, may I say that if we have the finance we would, of course, be very glad to issue new uniforms. But I do not think that if a Corps member puts on an old uniform, he is discouraged. In fact, one of the qualities which we want to promote among our Vigilante Corps members is thrift. Therefore, a good example of thrift is to put on a uniform which is not new.

With regard to transport allowance, I have looked into the matter. I doubt whether I am in a position to give transport allowance because if members of the Vigilante Corps get transport allowance, I am sure members of the Special Constabulary will also claim transport allowance. There will be no end to the matter.

With regard to encouraging more volunteers to join the Vigilante Corps, of course, we will always encourage that.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I did not get my figures wrong. I was referring to the Volunteer Vigilante Corps. There are only a few thousand volunteers in the Vigilante Corps. I am not referring to the National Service members. I quite agree that there are about 23,000 members in the Vigilante Corps who are national servicemen. But I was talking about members of the Vigilante Corps who are volunteers, and they number only a few thousand. I think the Minister did not hear me right, and said that my information was wrong. I therefore want to clarify the position.

Anyway, Sir, the Minister has given a satisfactory reply, and I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Conceicao: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 1301 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1651*. (* The same amendment also stood in the names of Messrs Teong Eng Siong, Sim Boon Woo and P. Govindaswamy.)

Sir, the spectre of the evils of drug abuse is looming in a more and more ugly way in our midst. Although we have been commended for our anti-drug action, we have to do more. The scenario which forms the background to our drug problem in Singapore is briefly as follows:

(a) Drug production on a large scale is taking place in South-east Asia in countries close to Singapore.

(b) Singapore stands squarely on the supply route from producer to large-scale consumer.

(c) Problems in certain surrounding countries may well have their spill over here. For example, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Australia are reportedly experiencing rapid increases in the incidence of drug-taking, including the so-called hard drugs.

I would not be surprised if the Director of our Central Narcotics Bureau feels that it is a matter of time before our young people are hit by a similar epidemic, if more vigorous measures are not taken.

We come to the situation in Singapore. It can be expected that the Misuse of Drugs Act with its severe penalties will cause those suspected of trafficking in or taking drugs to claim trial, when apprehended, rather than submit without resistance to such penalties as are provided in the new law. This will mean that a significant proportion of the Narcotics Officers and the Assistant Narcotics Officers will be tied up in court and in allied administrative procedures.

The situation is not too clear as to what categories of people take drugs. But young people from well educated and affluent family background as well as those from the lower income groups have been involved. What is significant is that drop-outs are more exposed to the temptation to drug abuse. The circumstances are compounded by the fact that both parents and teachers do not have very clear ideas about drugs, the conditions of their abuse, causes of addiction, and so on. They know that the devil is around, but they cannot recognise him early enough. It would seem, therefore, that a concerted and organised educational programme has to be directed towards teachers and parents so that they will be better equipped to combat this problem in co-operation with the authorities and other relevant voluntary organisations. This again means that the Central Narcotics Bureau, which bears the brunt of the responsibilities for education in the anti-narcotics field, will have to have additional manpower of various categories. This position may be further confirmed by the fact that drug traffickers are well organised, resorting to a variety of sophisticated equipment and strategy in their operations. I understand that flexibility and adaptability are their particular hallmark, and we, therefore, need more manpower, better trained and well equipped to deal with them.

The sum total of what I am trying to say, Mr Speaker, Sir, is that the strength of the Central Narcotics Bureau, increased as it has been in our present Estimates, does not go far enough. I cannot restrain from remarking that the first target of educational measures by the Central Narcotics Bureau should be directed to the relevant officials in the Finance Ministry, so that these housekeepers may understand the problem more ably and thereby sympathetically give the Central Narcotics Bureau the personnel to ably deal with drug trafficking.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I entirely agree with the Member for Katong with what he has spoken about the problem of drug-taking in Singapore, and the steps which should be taken to combat this menace. We know that a significant number of our youths are taking drugs. In 1971, 200 people were arrested for drug offences. In 1972, 444 people were arrested for drug offences. This shows that there was an increase of more than a hundred per cent from 1971 to 1972.

We know that in the United States of America and in many Western countries drug addiction has pervaded all strata of society. In these countries all traditional values have been thrown overboard. If we do not wish to see a similar tragedy in Singapore, we must take action now before the situation reaches the point of no return. Drug addiction among our youths brings with it a number of other problems. Although drug addiction can be caused by poor environment, another contributing factor is the external influence of hippies from abroad. We must tackle this problem very vigorously. We cannot allow this phenomenon to continue, or the end-result will be disastrous.

In this House last month I asked the Minister concerned if it was possible to conduct an anti-drug campaign so that everyone in our society, especially parents and teachers, would take action against drug-taking. Just now I heard the Member for Katong say that educational measures should be taken. The schools should do something about drug-taking. I hope the Minister will consider this matter. If for any reason we cannot conduct a nation-wide anti-drug campaign, I wonder whether we can conduct a publicity campaign against drugs in our schools. In this way, at least 50,000 to 60,000 of our students will appreciate the problem and dangers of drug-taking. We know that the majority of drug-takers are youths. Therefore, the anti-drug campaign should be directed against them. We should start our campaign in the schools so that they will recognise the ill-effects of drug-taking.

I have two further questions to raise. First, since the setting up of the Central Narcotics Bureau, what sort of work has been done? What new plans are afoot for the elimination of drug addiction? Secondly, how many people have so far been arrested for offences associated with drug-taking? What is the Minister going to do about these people?

Mr Sim Boon Woo: Mr Speaker, Sir, Members of this House know very well the problem of drug addiction in our schools, especially in the English stream. I was approached by many parents for help in this respect. We have talked a lot about drug addiction, how it has come into our society and the price we have got to pay for urbanisation. I think it is high time that we sought a highly positive measure to fight this evil. As a large percentage of our youths are still schooling, they could seek the help of school teachers. Their parents should also encourage them to come forward and give information to the Central Narcotics Bureau.

4.30 p.m.

Sir, principals and teachers are reluctant to come forward and give information. It is because when a drug-taking case is reported by any school, the Ministry of Education will ask the principal or the teacher to submit reports after reports to the Ministry. What is worse is that the school is black-marked by the Ministry, and life is made very unpleasant for the principal and the teacher. Sir, I would like to suggest that every encouragement should be given to principals and teachers to bring to the notice of the proper authorities of any case of drug-taking. When they do so, they should be highly commended. They should not be black-marked or their life made miserable. If we encourage information, we would be able to get better results in our fight against the problem of drug abuse.

Sir, I would also like to suggest to the Director of the Central Narcotics Bureau that when drug-pushers or traffickers are arrested, they should be made to take the drug themselves for some time and then to stop giving them the drug. They should be made to suffer. This is to show them how they make other people suffer. Sir, I hope the Minister for Health and Home Affairs and the Minister for Education will take note of my suggestions.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Mr Speaker, Sir, many Members have spoken about the Central Narcotics Bureau. I have a few points to raise. Sir, drug addiction is becoming quite prevalent in Singapore. We have established the Central Narcotics Bureau to fight this menace. Although it has done an excellent job so far, I would suggest that the Bureau be expanded immediately and officers be placed at all entry points of drug traffickers. At present, the small Bureau is tied down with work and soon it may not be able to cope with the increase in the incidence of drug abuse. I wonder whether a few prison officers can be seconded to the Bureau and be given the power to arrest drug traffickers and addicts because they are in a position to deal with the situation through information gathered from drug addicted prisoners. In addition, I suggest that to fight drug addiction, we should set up an effective national youth council whose sole function will be to help people who are drug addicts. At present, there are inadequate facilities to help drug addicts.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, may I first deal with the points brought up by the Member for Katong? May I say that talks on drug abuse have been presented to parent groups and student groups at service clubs, religious organisations, community centres, tertiary institutions, and schools. Many parents, brothers and sisters of drug abusers have come to the Central Narcotics Bureau to seek help for their loved ones who are drug abusers. Those concerned have been effectively counselled. The Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association has been gearing itself to provide a counselling and assistance service to drug abusers and to educate the public on the dangers of drug abuse. The Association is now considering organising a counselling course for volunteers comprising members of the public. The Association welcomes all the help it can get from the rest of the community.

The Member for Katong suggested that the Central Narcotics Bureau should have more officers. Of course, I welcome that suggestion. However, I would say that, in the nature of things, we have to start from a small beginning and we hope to enlarge the Bureau eventually. The point is not so much having so many posts but having the bodies to fill the posts. At the moment, many of the posts have been filled by way of secondments from the Police Force and the Customs. We will try our very best to get the Police and the Customs to second more men to the Bureau.

The Member for Sembawang warns to know how much has been achieved since the setting up of the Central Narcotics Bureau. May I say that the Bureau was set up in mid-November 1971 to deal with drug trafficking and drug abuse? In the year 1972, the Enforcement Section of the Central Narcotics Bureau carried out an average of 264 raids each month. It also carried out investigations into complaints and information given by the public, which amounted to an average of 30 complaints monthly. In co-operation with overseas enforcement agencies, the Bureau also undertakes investigations into international drug trafficking. Several successes have been obtained in this area of work. In the year 1972, the Bureau effected 2,634 arrests. These include 111 persons who were convicted for major drug offences. These were the traffickers, distributors, pedlars of the various dangerous drugs.

The publicity section of the Bureau provided speakers for talks on no less than 36 occasions. The talks were presented to school teachers, army personnel, doctors, nurses, University students, community centres, service clubs, religious organisations and schools. It also provided exhibits for various organisations. It is now in the process of preparing pamphlets for distribution. These pamphlets will only deal with drug abuse locally.

The Bureau is also acting in an advisory capacity to the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association, which is a voluntary organisation geared to provide counselling and assistance services.

With regard to the suggestion by the Member for Sembawang that we should organise a campaign to discourage drug abuse, may I say that many organisations have organised exhibitions and campaigns against drug abuse. The Central Narcotics Bureau has provided exhibits and acted in an advisory capacity to these organisations. The Bureau intends to organise a joint campaign with the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association this year. However, the Bureau feels that the prevention of drug abuse should be done on a long-term basis by developing attitudes against drug abuse. Campaigns by themselves have limited uses. Therefore, I agree with the suggestion that we should try to have more anti-drug education in the schools. I believe this will be part of the curriculum.

On the point made by the Member for Changi with regard to principals and teachers being reluctant to report cases of drug abuse in the schools because it would mean involving themselves with much paper work with the Ministry of Education, and the school being black-marked, if this is true I sympathise with them. I assure the Member that I would use my good offices to get the assurance of my colleague, the Minister for Education, that such things do not happen.

Mr Sim Boon Woo: Thank you.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, the Member for Anson has suggested expanding the Central Narcotics Bureau by getting the secondment of prison officers. I do not think we need prison officers, although we may need more police officers.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Mr Speaker, Sir, that is my suggestion.

The Chairman: Mr P. Govindaswamy, please allow the Minister to finish his speech.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Yes, Sir.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, the other point brought up by the Member for Anson is that there are insufficient facilities to treat drug addicts. I am afraid I cannot agree with him on this. If I may be permitted, Sir, I would like to say something about the various facilities that are available for the treatment of drug addiction. Drug abusers who need medical attention will be treated within the existing framework of our medical services but at different levels. They are as follows:

(1) The outpatient and school clinics will accept persons who may be brought in directly by the Police or other persons.

(2) The drug-dependence clinic at Outram Road General Hospital is a referral centre and will deal with cases which need more specialised attention.

(3) Alexandra Hospital is in the process of establishing a ward for addicts who require hospital care.

(4) The Opium Treatment Centre at St. John's Island caters for addicts of all types of drugs. This is an isolation centre which provides diversional activities such as carpentry, rattan work, tailoring, horticulture, fish-rearing, and so on. Plans are afoot to reorganise and enlarge the Opium Treatment Centre.

With regard to the suggestion by the Member for Changi that when we arrest a drug trafficker, we should make him take the drug; in other words, to give a dose of his own medicine, we will not do such a thing because to do so would mean adding another drug addict to our pool of drug addicts at the moment. This will, in fact, enlarge the problem. What we have done was to pass the Misuse of Drugs Act in this House recently, which provides very heavy mandatory penalties, including the rotan. I think that would be sufficient "medicine" for the drug traffickers.

An hon. Member: They should be shot!

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Mr Speaker, Sir, I suggested secondment of prison officers because they can get information from drug traffickers who are in prison. The prison officers can co-operate with the Bureau officers and arrest the drug traffickers. I do not say that all of them should be prison officers, but I feel that at least two or three prison officers should be seconded to the Bureau to track down the drug traffickers.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not agree with the Member for Anson that we should second prison officers to the Central Narcotics Bureau. I think their job is quite different. The job is for the Customs or Police officers.

Sir, information on drug trafficking is a different matter, and we do not need secondment of prison officers to the Bureau just to get information.

Mr Conceicao: Mr Speaker, Sir, before I withdraw my amendment, I just want to make a small point of clarification. Perhaps the Minister was being satirical when he thought that in my asking for an increase in strength I meant just the number of posts. No, I meant the number of bodies, and from the tenor of his answer, I am sure he himself will see to it that this is achieved. I can assure him of my support even for any supplementary estimates that he may wish to put up in respect of the number of bodies, and not posts.

Sir, with that, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The Chairman: Order. I propose to take the Suspension now.

Thereupon Mr Speaker left the Chair of the Committee and took the Chair of the House.

Mr Speaker: I suspend the sitting now and shall take the Chair again at 5.15 p.m.

Sitting accordingly suspended at 4.45 p.m. until 5.15 p.m. Sitting resumed at 5.15 p.m.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Debate in Committee of Supply resumed.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Head 1301 (contd.) -

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 1301 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1701*. (* The same amendment also stood in the names of Messrs P. Govindaswamy and Tuan Haji Mohd. Ariff Bin Suradi.).

Sir, the question of citizenship is still a matter of serious importance to many people, and has become a problem to them. Some people have applied for more than three times, and yet their applications have been turned down. Thus it has caused great inconvenience and disappointment to them. At a time when we were faced with economic difficulties, it was quite excusable to restrict the granting of citizenship to applicants. But now that we have greatly improved our economy, we can afford to relax our restrictions and regulations. In my "Meet the People" session every week, I used to receive complaints about applications for citizenship having been turned down. Some complained that they have waited two or three years without any result. I give my full sympathy to all these cases.

At this time when our economy is highly developed and we are faced with a shortage of labour, I do not see any valid reason to refuse to relax our regulations on the granting of citizenship. Even with all the attendant problems that go with it, for instance, housing, education, social and medical care, I do not think these are sufficient reasons to justify the refusal of citizenship. Because these problems, if they can be called problems at all, are ever present in our social life; they do not count very much in the granting of citizenship.

Many of the applicants for citizenship have stayed in Singapore for quite some time. Most of them have children and even grand-children who are enjoying the rights of citizenship, medical care, education and other things. So giving citizenship to these applicants would not cost us any more economic loss or burden, because all of them have their own proper jobs with good income. They are able to provide for their households.

On this question of housing, even if we do not grant citizenship to them, we are still faced with this social problem. In the past years we have been building at the rate of 20,000 units of flats per year. Now we intend to increase the rate to 30,000 units a year, and there are 60,000 people on the waiting list. So if this new lot of citizens is added on to the waiting list for Housing Board flats, it would not affect the priority at all because the Board has a policy of first come first served. So even if they were to wait for their turn, they would not impose any more difficulty on us in respect of housing.

So all these matters should not be an excuse for refusing to give citizenship to these applicants. On behalf of the applicants who are not successful, I make an appeal for the relaxation of the restrictions imposed on these applicants because many of them have relatives who are citizens. For instance, we all know that the spouse of an applicant, whether husband or wife, is usually a citizen and the children are citizens. The Minister can look up the Citizenship Regulations. Though these applicants may not be successful so far in their applications for citizenship, however, their husbands or wives, or parents, or children, may be citizens. I would therefore appeal to the Minister to relax the restrictions in respect of applications for citizenship on these grounds in order to alleviate any difficulty on their part.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Mr Speaker, Sir, we know that citizenship is not a right but a privilege, and the law changes from time to time, depending on the existing situation of the country. I wonder what are the conditions at the moment regarding the granting of citizenship. There are so many stateless persons in Singapore who are "floating characters", i.e, they are neither citizens nor are they ever likely to become citizens. These poor persons, because of their status, cannot get jobs. They can neither apply for a flat nor go across the causeway to visit their relatives and friends. Why cannot we issue them with a certificate of identity so that they can at least go across the causeway in case of emergency!

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, when both the Members for Sembawang and Anson talk of persons who are now permanent residents but unable to get citizenship, may I say that most of them are responsible for their own plight. They could have acquired Singapore citizenship years ago without any difficulty, because in those days conditions for the granting of citizenship were much easier. But they would rather keep their options open then, and as such have elected to take their chances. If things in Singapore are not as good as they are today, I am sure there will be less demand for Singapore citizenship.

As far as the citizenship policy of the Government is concerned, it is always kept under constant review. As a matter of policy, many of the applicants are kept under consideration so that, when conditions change or when circumstances make it possible for the Government to allow more people to become citizens, they may be favourably considered. Therefore, delay in finalising the applications means a source of hope. However, the Member is assured that there is no delay. Once a decision, on an application is made, action is taken to notify the applicant of the result immediately it is known.

The Members for Sembawang and Anson said that circumstances have changed. Maybe circumstances with regard to employment and so on have changed, but one big problem at the moment is housing. That has not changed. The Member for Sembawang said that there is a waiting list of 60,000. The Member for Anson will know much more because he is the Chairman of the Allocations Committee. If we were to grant citizenship to more people, what will happen? The present waiting list of 60,000 will come up to 80,000 or even more. But then the Member for Sembawang - it was quite clever of him to put it this way -said that the priority will not change because it is based on first come first served. He has forgotten one crucial point, because sometime ago I did announce in a Ministerial Statement in this Chamber that the allocation for housing as from the 1st August, 1973, will no longer be on a first come first served basis, but it will be on a priority basis based on the concept of a two-child family. In other words, those applicants with two children will have a higher priority after the 1st August, 1973. That nullifies the point made by the Member for Sembawang. I hope the Chairman of the Housing Allocations Committee will also bear that in mind. The point is that Members may not be aware of the fact that when this happens, then some of their voters who are citizens may have a lower priority. So I would like them to think very carefully before they advance these propositions because they might get themselves in hot water when they go back to their constituencies.

About the point brought up by the Member for Anson that some non-citizens cannot get work, I do not think that is true, because they can always get a work permit now.

As regards his point that a blue identity card holder, who is a permanent resident, should be considered for a certificate of identity so as to enable him to travel across the causeway, may I tell him this: if that person produces evidence that he is a stateless person and also that he is in urgent need to travel across the causeway, he will be granted a certificate of identity.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, some of the points given by the Minister in his reply are quite reasonable, but others are not quite so. Anyway, one good point he has made is that his department is constantly reviewing the matter of citizenship and that there is hope that the applications may be favourably considered. But when he brought up other matters, such as housing, these are not reasonable excuses because even if you do not grant citizenship to these applicants, the citizens who are already on the list for housing units will still have to wait for a long time.

5.30 p.m.

The Minister has said that applicants with smaller families will be given priority. So in this case, there is no priority for local citizens. This is not a good practice because after the applicants with small families have been given housing units, they can produce more children, and so expand their families. This is not a very good method to adopt. Their families will definitely become bigger because at the moment they practise family planning in order to get priority in the allocation of a flat.

Sir, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $72,981,970 for Head 1301 ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates.

The sum of $5,276,560 for Head 1301 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 1302 --

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 1302 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1001.

Sir, what measures has the Minister taken to prevent illegal immigrants from coming into Singapore? Since there are so many points of easy entry into Singapore, are there sufficient precautions to stop this traffic of illegal immigrants?

Sir, since we have numerous requests from people to have their stay in Singapore extended for more than six months, can we not charge a nominal fee for endorsing the extension? This privilege should also be given to those people who have gone abroad with good reasons. This will be an additional source of revenue.

At this juncture, may I ask what steps are being taken in respect of Malaysians who have overstayed? It seems that they can enter Singapore quite easily and stay on indefinitely without being found out. I suggest that we introduce a card-system similar to the one adopted by the authorities across the causeway. At present, I am sure there are many persons who are now overstaying here in Singapore, and this makes a mockery of the passports issued to them.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, this problem of illegal immigration is largely presented by illegal immigrants entering Singapore by sea. Illegal immigrants enter Singapore in small craft, such as motorised boats, sampans, or sailing boats. It is believed that the majority of them are brought in by organised syndicates which handle the illegal trafficking of people between Singapore and the neighbouring countries. Interrogation of arrested illegal immigrants and their traffickers has revealed the various purposes of illegal entry, chief of which is that the majority of them have come to Singapore to seek employment.

As the distance involved is short and the Singapore coastline is accessible to small craft, control of illegal entry is a difficult task. Within the resources available, concerted action has been, and is being, taken by the Police and Immigration Department against illegal entry and stay. The Marine Police patrolling the territorial waters of Singapore are on the lookout for small vessels which sneak in illegally. Members of the Police Force, on beat or other duty, carry out frequent checks to detect those who manage to enter illegally. Surprise checks and raids are carried out by the Immigration Department on information received. In addition, Divisional Police mount occasional surprise checks on the various worksites all over the Republic.

Such concerted action throughout each year has resulted in arrests of over 1,500 illegal immigrants last year. It is, however, Snot possible to say exactly how many illegal immigrants enter Singapore every year, or how many remain here illegally. When illegal immigrants are arrested, they are detained, prosecuted, and, wherever possible, removed out of Singapore. Traffickers of illegal immigrants are severely dealt with. The courts are asked to pass heavy sentences on them, and to order the confiscation of their boats and equipment.

Illegal immigrants manage to enter Singapore by landing at unauthorised landing spots. It is recognised that, in spite of the efforts so far, many illegal immigrants do manage to enter Singapore easily and remain undetected until much later. As an effort to stop or greatly reduce the inflow of illegal persons by sea, a special intelligence unit is being set up in the Immigration Department. The function of this unit is to penetrate into the organised syndicates, ambush traffickers or craft at the landing spots, and expose the local harbourers. It is hoped therefore that the efforts of this special intelligence unit will result in better control of illegal immigration.

Regarding the point made by the Member for Anson about Malaysians overstaying, we are considering some measure of exit control, but that will take some time to implement.

With regard to charging fees for extension of visas, that is a matter which I suppose my colleague, the Minister for Finance, will consider when he wants to increase the revenue.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Sir, in view of the explanation by the Minister, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $3,137,260 for Head 1302 ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates.

The sum of $1,000,000 for Head 1302 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 1303 --

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 1303 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1001.

Sir, how many warders and officers have resigned from the Prisons Department? I think the number must be enough to create staffing problems that can be described as critical. May I ask the Minister concerned, why has this situation been allowed to deteriorate to such an extent? Is it because of the working conditions that have aggravated these resignations? The warders and officers, who are supposed to guard some of our most dangerous criminals, are not even armed properly. As such, some criminals who are desperate might think of beating up warders in their attempt to get away. Probably this may be the reason why there are so many resignaations among our warders. To make matters worse, the pay is too small and is not in keeping with the responsibilities attached to the job. I understand the Prisons Department is going to be reorganised. If such is the case, I suggest that a revision of pay for the Prisons staff be considered so as to promote better morale among them.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, it is not correct to say that Prison officers are resigning because they are not provided with fire-arms. In fact, every prison is equipped with sufficient modem weapons to cope with any situation. The armaments are backed by arrangements to rush reinforcements to any part of the prison within two minutes.

However, in furtherance of our modern concept of rehabilitation through inculcation of good social values and attitudes in the prisoners and thus stimulate within them the desire to reform, officers performing duties within the prison are not provided with fire-arms. To do otherwise is not conducive to good officer/prisoner relationship, which is the foundation of rehabilitation. However, officers on custodial duties, such as guards posted on watch-towers or escorting prisoners to hospitals or the courts are fully armed.

The majority of Prison officers of warder rank resigned perhaps because of working conditions, especially in maximum security prison. The unfavourable conditions are aggravated by a consistently high rate of turnover and a serious shortage of manpower over the last five years. Against our present background of enormous economic expansion and industrial activities, and consequently abundant employment opportunities, the salaries offered to the Prison officers are perhaps not sufficient enough to attract an adequate inflow of recruits. In this regard, the service conditions and salary structures will be examined by the recently appointed Prisons Reorganisation Committee, headed by the Permanent Secretary (Home Affairs), as part of the terms of reference of the Committee.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 1303 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 11.

Sir, the provision of $266,700 is for the development of the Prison Industries. I think this provision is timely because this will enable the prison inmates to learn a trade so that they can be independent and make a living when they are discharged from the prison, and will not fall into evil ways again. I would like to ask the Minister two questions. Firstly, what sort of courses are being conducted in the Prison Industries and how many instructors are there? Secondly, what kind of products are being produced for the market and what are the proceeds from the Prison Industries?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, in answer to the queries from the Member for Sembawang, I would say that industries within the prison have been established with the following objects in mind:

(a) helping the prisoners to rehabilitate whilst under detention;

(b) training the prisoners to make good use of their individual talent by learning a particular industrial trade which they will be able to pursue after their release from prison, so as to become useful citizens of the Republic;

(c) making valuable contribution to the national output.

The Prison Industries commenced with only six workshops. Today, there are 19 workshops in the various penal institutions catering for the following trades:

(1) laundry;

(2) woodwork machine shop;

(3) cane workshop;

(4) tailor workshop;

(5) printing and book-binding workshop;

(6) timber seasoning kiln;

(7) footwear, leather, and upholstery workshop;

(8) metal workshop;

(9) concrete and cement workshop;

(10) miscellaneous light industries, which includes components of transistors, and so on.

5.45 p.m.

The facilities acquired over the years have enabled us to provide every convicted prisoner, who is required to labour, with employment. In spite of the unavoidable limitations pertaining to operating within the prison complex, the revenue derived and savings accrued to Government have been consistently increasing year after year. In 1959, the revenue from the Prison Industries was $335,065.52. In 1972, the revenue was $1,104,527.31. The figures I have quoted do not include revenue derived from the sale of bread to the Ministry of Defence and the social welfare homes, which is approximately $30,000 per month. Besides providing a service to other Government departments, the finished products of the Prison Industries are exhibited for sale to the public at the following showrooms: (a) Prison Industries, Changi; (b) the Council of Social Services, Penang Lane. I hope the Member for Sembawang will pay a visit to these two centres.

One of the terms of reference of the recently appointed Prisons Reorganisation Committee is to look into the possibility of expanding Prison Industries as an important rehabilitative process for prisoners. The problem of expansion is the shortage of space in our existing prisons. If the Member for Sembawang is interested, and if other Members of Parliament are interested too, I can organise a tour of the workshops in Changi Prison, followed by lunch pre-assembly and pared and cooked by our prisoners.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I am satisfied with the Minister's reply that the prisoners are given training in the various trades as a rehabilitative process in the prisons.

I would like to ask whether the inmates engaged in these various industries are given any allowance for their work. What about their food? Is it satisfactory? Has there been any complaint with regard to the food, such as the food served is not good or that they have not enough to eat? If the Minister would like to organise a tour for Members of Parliament, he should not inform the Prison authorities in advance, so that they will not prepare the food beforehand.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, as far as food is concerned, there has been no complaints at all. Perhaps we will organise the tour and invite the Member for Sembawang to taste the food.

With regard to allowances we are now devising a scheme whereby if they work hard in the Prison Industries, they will be given a bonus. In fact, the Prisons Reorganisation Committee is looking into the possibility of devising a bonus and savings scheme whereby prisoners who work hard would be given a certain payment as bonus. This money will be kept for them by welfare officers, so that they can help their families outside. In my "Meet the People" sessions, I find that quite a number of the families of prisoners do come up with stories of hardship and of not being able to make ends meet. The proposal to expand the Prison Industries, together with the bonus and savings scheme, should to a certain extent alleviate such hardship.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, the reply given by the Minister is very satisfactory. It shows that his department is looking after the welfare of the prisoners. I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $6,949,150 for Head 1303 ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates.

The sum of $966,700 for Head 1303 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 1401 --

The following amendment stood in the names of Messrs Sia Khoon Seong, Teong Eng Siong, P. Govindaswamy and Ho Kah Leong

(1) That the sum to be allocated for Head 1401 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1001.

The Chairman: Mr Sia Khoon Seong, amendment (1).

Mr Sia Khoon Seong (Moulmein): I am not moving, Sir.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 1401 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1001.

Sir, the Ministry of Finance is a very important Ministry. It is responsible for formulating the Government's financial policy. In the last few years, the Ministry of Finance has done a great deal towards the development of our industries and of our external trade. As a result we are now enjoying the fruits of economic prosperity. We have achieved a very high GNP growth rate of 13 per cent last year, and our average per capita income is increasing year by year. In 1971, our per capita income was $3,321 and in 1972 it was $3,687. This is indeed a gratifying achievement. However, the constant upheavals in the international monetary system have affected our economy. For example, there is now inflationary tendencies in our country, resulting in a rising level of prices. This makes life more and more difficult for our people. May I quote some examples? The price of rice used to be 35 cents per kati. Now, it is 55 cents per kati. Chinese cabbage used to sell at 20 cents per kati, but it is now 60 to 80 cents per kati. Sugar, flour, and many other commodities have also shown a tremendous increase in price. There is a general increase in price levels, and this indeed worries everybody. Has the Ministry of Finance any plans to counter this trend? Has the Ministry of Finance carried out the necessary investigations to find out the reason for these rising prices? Are the price increases justifiable? The Ministry should take immediate steps to stop prices from rising any further in order to stabilise the cost of living.

Another matter I would like to raise is the question of trade deficits. Our trade deficit has been on the increase over the last few years. In 1971, the deficit was $3,200 million. In 1972, it was $3,400 million. Although the Minister has told us that this trade deficit will be offset by other invisible sources of income, such as services, in the long run, this situation will be abnormal. Of course, this trade deficit is not like cancer. It can be compared to gastric trouble in the stomach which gives a person frequent pain. We must, therefore, try to do our best to remedy the situation. In this respect, I would like to ask the Minister what effective measures are there to reduce our trade deficit.

We know that a few years ago we set up INTRACO, a joint venture between the Government and the private sector. Its main object is to assist in the development of trade with Communist countries. The increase in trade with Communist countries will be to our mutual benefit. I would like to know what has been done to promote external trade since the establishment of INTRACO. What progress has been achieved? What is the increase in trade before and after the setting up of INTRACO?

Another question I would like to raise is the salary increases for Divisions II, III and IV Government officers. I asked the Minister for Finance this question on 16th of February [Hansard, Vol. 32, col. 401], and he told me that he would consider the recommendations and guidelines of the National Wages Council, and that the Ministry had been doing a restructuring of salary scales for these grades of officers. This shows that this matter is receiving attention. Of course, this is good news to these officers. However, I would like to ask the Minister whether he could give the House more specific details regarding the salary increases for Divisions II, III and IV officers.

The third question is on the decrease of capital investment in the shipbuilding industry. In his Budget statement the Minister revealed that the investments in shipbuilding and shiprepairing dropped from $142.2 million in 1971 to $66.9 million last year. This is quite a substantial reduction. What is the reason for this reduction? Is it because of the non-availability of suitable sites for shipbuilding? I hope the Minister will carry out the necessary investigations and take remedial measures so that our country will become the centre for shipbuilding and shiprepairing in Southeast Asia.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Mr Speaker, Sir, when can the people, who are involved in the two major chit fund companies, expect settlement of their investments?

Sir, there is another point. There is a great anomaly in the clerical service. The clerical assistants are not given the same pay as the clerical officers. Yet they do the same work. To add insult to injury, too many clerical assistants are doing the work with no prospects of promotion. Many of them do not even know when they will be promoted to clerical officers. Can something be done about the matter?

6.00 p.m.

Sir, when will the National Wages Council officially announce its recommendations? It has been a long time since they sat, and the public and private sectors are keen to know the outcome of its discussions.

Sir, we have heard about the rise in the salaries of the top civil servants. Some of them have also been given the opportunity to enjoy a maximum of four increments under the Merit Increment Scheme. This is well and good, and I must say that it is timely for we must try to retain the brains to run the country. But, at the same time, let us not forget the middle and lower income groups in the civil service.

An hon. Member: Hear, hear!

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Sir, where will these top civil servants be without the help of the lower grades of civil servants? Surely the lower grades of civil servants are as essential to the civil service. As such, they too deserve an equal number of increments. After all, the actual work is done by them.

May I also point out the plight of the middle and lower grades of workers in the Government service? The cost of living is rising continuously, not by leaps and bounds but enough to cause a pinch into the workers' earnings. To a certain extent, these are the workers who arc neglected, and they find it extremely difficult to stretch the dollar.

Sir, under the reduction of leave scheme, Government servants are compensated financially. But in the case of some statutory boards, although the officers are considered to be Government servants, they are not accorded the same leave scheme. A compensation, similar to that accorded to Government servants, should be paid to those officers in the statutory boards for loss of leave during the past years.

Sir, the increase in CPF contribution from 10 per cent to 12 per cent in 1972 has resulted in lower take-home pay. This greatly affects the middle and lower grades of officers. Their incomes as compared to the private sector are meagre, and they suffer more because o the increased cost of living. When the CPF contribution is increased to 15 per cent, they will suffer even more. Is it not time that some form of increase in salary be given to these grades of workers to alleviate their sufferings?

At this juncture, I would like to mention the rise in the cost of living in Singapore. Recently, the prices of many consumer goods and services have gone up greatly. The excuse given by most manufacturers is that they have not increased the price of their products for many years and, therefore, it is justifiable to raise their prices by a nominal sum. It appears that most of these proposals are coming one after another. Some retailers are only waiting for such slight increases in the cost of manufactured products so that they could extort a higher price from the poor consumers. I would like to call upon the Minister to view this grave situation with utmost concern before it gets worse. The Government in the past has been successful in getting rid of pirate taxis, banning cigarette advertisements and has also been successful with many important national campaigns. Therefore, I have little doubt that a remedy will be found for this major problem which affects the lives of the majority of our people. Nowadays, the ordinary housewife finds that her marketing budget dries up very fast. I would suggest that the Government takes control of all essential foodstuffs and, if possible, to open and to manage as many effective co-operative centres as possible. These co-operative centres could deal with the needs of the public so that there would be no unfair means of profiteering by any Tom, Dick and Harry. At the moment, it appears that most of the people are under the clutches of the shopkeepers because their attitude is "take it or leave it". The Minister should also consider introducing controlled prices for foodstuffs in certain places where the majority of the people do their shopping. And publicity on the actual prices of essential foodstuffs should be communicated to the people daily.

Sir, sometime ago, the Member for Telok Blangah raised the question of the payment of the 13th month allowance to civil servants who retired before the end of the year, to which the Minister gave a negative answer. The Member had also referred to cases of new recruits who are entitled to receive the allowance even though they have served for only a few months. The civil servants who retired before December had put in many years of loyal and dedicated service and yet they are not privileged to receive the 13th month allowance, just because they retired before December. Sir, I wonder whether the Minister can reconsider the matter, because I feel that a civil servant should be given a good send-off when he retires.

Sir, another point is that pensioners have all along been drawing pensions computed on their old basic salaries. I am not speaking for myself. With the consolidation of salaries a few years ago and also in view of the rising cost of living, can the Minister look into the matter and do something concrete to revise the pension rates?

Sir, I would also like to ask the Minister whether he has any intention of transferring all civil servants, who are at present under the pension scheme, to the CPF scheme?

Finally, in our efforts to promote the use of locally-made products through the Progress, Quality and Reliability campaign, we have forgotten one aspect. Foreign manufactured articles are allowed to compete with locally-made products at prices where the difference is small. Surely some form of tariff can be imposed on foreign products so that they can be priced out of the market.

Another point, Sir, is that the income tax forms sent out in January to taxpayers are literally causing a headache. The print of the text is so small that in some columns one cannot see the instructions clearly. Furthermore, the instructions seem to be too complicated for an ordinary worker to fill in the particulars. Can it be modified in such a way that fewer particulars are only necessary, because taxpayers seem to fill in the form wrongly? I myself find it difficult to fill in the form.

Mr Ho Kah Leong (Jurong): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I raise a question relating to the exemption of income tax for associations and societies? In Singapore, there are about 2,000 organisations registered under the Societies Act. These societies are useful for the promotion of a closely-knit society and they are financed by the subscriptions from members. Most of the office-bearers are voluntary workers. Some of these societies may employ full-time staff and their salaries are paid from the subscriptions collected from members. Occasionally these societies carry out fund-raising activities for the construction of new premises, for the establishment of a scholarship fund, or for sports and other recreational activities. Sometimes fund-raising is also carried out for the purpose of organising study missions and friendly visits to other countries.

Sir, these funds which are collected by the societies after making a great effort are not exempted from income tax, unless more than half of the amount are from members' subscriptions. Sir, what I do not understand is this. Why cannot the Government exempt these societies from paying income tax? The office-bearers of these societies voluntarily play their part in running the affairs of the societies. After great painstaking efforts, they find that a great chunk of their collection goes to the Government coffers. They are rather discouraged. I think the societies which contribute towards the development of our country should be exempted from paying income tax. If we do not grant exemption, then the desire to serve our country will be dampened. Therefore, from the long-term point of view, this is undesirable. Sir, if these societies can be exempted from paying income tax, they will have more funds for certain projects which are beneficial to the society as a whole. For example, they will have more money for scholarship funds and for the promotion of sports and other recreational activities. In this way, they can help promote the development of our society. I sincerely hope the Minister for Finance will consider favourably the question of granting exemption of income tax to these societies.

The Minister for Finance (Mr Hon Sui Sen): Mr Speaker, Sir, the questions which have been asked by Members cover a very wide field. Some of them perhaps are more appropriate to other Heads, e.g. Inland Revenue, in respect of income tax. But I hope that I can deal with all their queries under this particular Head.

If I may take the first question raised by the Members for Sembawang and Anson, I would assure them that in regard to the rising prices of foodstuffs and commodities, the Government has always been very conscious of their effect on costs of living, and has therefore devoted considerable time and effort to try and minimise the price increases of these commodities. However, it is not always possible to do very much because of the nature of our economy. Being an entirely open economy, Singapore is heavily dependent on imports for almost all of its requirements of foodstuffs and essential commodities. In 1972, imports of foodstuffs totalled $1.2 billion. Of these imports, $570 million was re-exported. But the balance, approximately worth $630 million, was retained for local consumption. The prices which are charged for these imports must, of course, reflect the conditions of the countries from which these imports come. Our locally-produced livestock, vegetables and fruits totalled only $160 million. We process, of course, some commodities such as sugar, wheat flour, condensed milk, and so on. But the raw materials which are produced abroad are imported, and they make up more than 70 per cent of the cost. Therefore, there is not much we can do as far as this 70 per cent is concerned.

6.15 p.m.

As inflation is rampant in the countries from which we buy our requirements, we can do very little to prevent price increases. However, we can try to moderate some of these price increases. For example, in the case of sugar, current world prices of raw sugar are about 100 per cent higher than they were a year ago. The price of sugar in Singapore has increased by only 16 per cent. This was possible because the Sugar Industry of Singapore, which produces all the sugar consumed locally, had the foresight to secure, over the next five years, supplies of raw sugar on a long-term contract basis at prices lower than current world prices. In the same way, in Australia, which is the cheapest source of wheat, wheat grain prices increased by nearly 50 per cent. The Government has allowed the two flour mills increases of only 25 per cent. In the case of rice too, because of our stockpile requirements which we impose upon rice importers, consumers in Singapore benefit from the imports which were made at lower than current world prices. A very sharp rise in the price of rice in Singapore has therefore been avoided. I think the figure of 50 cents mentioned by the Member for Sembawang is very reasonable in comparison with the prices charged in other countries, where there is even a physical shortage of rice at those prices. The Government will continue to be alert to any possibility of price increases in other essential commodities. However, it must be recognised that because of the great dependence on imports price increases cannot be avoided. A close watch on wholesale and retail prices to prevent any undue profiteering, hoarding or manipulation, will be maintained.

If I may take the second question of the Member for Sembawang. He spoke of our very great trade deficit and asked what action was being taken to reduce such great deficits. In past Budget statements I think I mentioned the fact that deficits in our trade, while very serious, have been covered by our invisible earnings from tourism, by capital inflow, and so on, so that there is really no need for much concern. Some of the trade deficit is also due to the importation of capital equipment and goods which will in future produce a greater possibility for export of goods. Therefore, to that extent, the figures would be self-balancing. I thank the Member, however, for his concern for what he called the "ulcer in our economic bodies".

As far as his question on INTRACO is concerned, the intention was that the setting up of INTRACO would help in the export of our manufactures. While the primary objects have been achieved, they are now exporting to 40 countries, including the United States, Australia, the EEC countries, ASEAN countries, and some socialist countries. The increase in our trade with the socialist countries has not been all that is desired. However, exports over the last two years have accounted for some 65 per cent of the company's total turnover. I think greater efforts will have to be made in export promotion and, while INTRACO will be one vehicle for such export promotion, it will be necessary over the next few years to develop other institutions. The Export Promotion Centre, which has been set up in the Trade Division of my Ministry, will be responsible for further progress in the drive for more exports to various countries, including the Communist countries.

The Member for Sembawang then turned to the question of what he called the sharp decline in investments in the ship-building industry in 1972. My Budget statement did not, however, refer so much to the decline in investments as to the decline in investment commitments, which is something different. If he will look closely at col. 466 of Hansard, he will see that this is really what I meant: 1971 was, of course, an unusually good year as far as investment commitments were concerned, and although commitments in 1972 were by comparison smaller, our computation has not taken into account the expansion of existing shipyards which, from provisional figures, amounted to some $83.1 million in 1972. As I have mentioned in my Budget statement, there is really not very much need for concern about investment commitments in ship-building and shiprepairing because our locational advantages are such that we would expect to maintain our competitive advantage in these industries. The investments which have been made in the past and which are continuing to be made, whether by expansion or by new commitments, will ensure that we will have an output of $600 million by 1975, as I have mentioned in my Budget statement, and some $800 million by 1976. I think what we are now looking forward to is an expansion of the supporting industries for shipbuilding, such as ship equipment and machinery, and this will, I hope, upgrade our ship-building machinery.

A further matter which the Member for Sembawang raised was the question of salaries of officers in Divisions IT, III and IV. In my statement in Parliament on the 16th February, I indicated that after the restructuring and realignment of salary scales, which have now been virtually completed, it will be Government's intention to consider increases for Divisions II to IV, and even for those in Division I, namely, on the basis of the guidelines issued by the National Wages Council. For the benefit of the Member for Sembawang, I would reiterate that it is Government's intention to adopt, so far as this relates or is applicable to the public sector, the agreed general guidelines of the National Wages Council for salary increases every year.

I now come to the questions asked by the Member for Anson. He raised a considerable number of points over a wide range of subjects. Let me first deal with the chit funds. The last date for receiving claims against Gemini Chit Fund Corporation was the 6th January, 1973, and against Stallion Corporation Limited was the 16th December, 1972. Since then the Official Receiver has been actively processing the claims from subscribers of these two and nine other chit fund companies being wound up by the court. There are approximately 42,000 claimants altogether, and each claim has to be individually verified. No effort is being spared to expedite the settlement of these claims. I do not think a date can as yet be set for such settlement.

The Member for Anson also touched on the question of the National Wages Council. I have mentioned this in another connection, but he wanted to know when they will be meeting and what is the time at which they will submit their recommendations. This is something which, of course, I am not fully aware of, but they have met since December last year, and I believe they are hoping to submit their recommendations to the Government by the middle of April. I believe some Members on the other side of the House will be able to give him more information on this.

The Member for Anson also touched on the question of price control. I have already answered this to some extent in my reply to the Member for Sembawang. But let me assure him again that the Trade Division and the Primary Production Department conduct checks on prices of essential foodstuffs. The Government will continue to exercise some control on such commodities as sugar, wheat, flour and condensed milk, which are protected by tariffs and are therefore to some extent dependent on Government permission for price increases. They have to justify such price increases by giving us figures of cost.

The Member for Anson made some suggestions as to how to beat the price increases. I appreciate the proposal he made for the establishment of cooperatives. This, I think, will contribute to free and fair competition, which would be the best safeguard against unfair and manipulated prices. However, such co-operatives are best managed by non-governmental organisations, such as the one established in Toa Payoh. I hope that this pilot project will prove successful and be the precursor of many other such co-operative stores.

6.30 p.m.

As to price tagging, it has already been introduced by shopping centres and emporiums, and no doubt this tagging could be extended to other shops. I do not think that legislation to this effect would help to overcome the problem of profiteering by retailers.

As for daily publicity of prices of essential foodstuffs, the suggestion is interesting and can be given consideration. But many prices, such as those for condensed milk, sugar, soft drinks, coffee, and so on, are fixed for long periods of time and do not really require publicity. In the case of other essential foodstuffs, prices vary from locality to locality. In the rural areas, for example, I think it may be possible to buy, say, papayas or eggs at cheaper rates than in urban localities.

The Member for Anson, I think, also mentioned about terms and conditions of service in the Government sector, relating particularly to clerical officers and clerical assistants. I agree that as far as clerical work is concerned, it is very difficult to distinguish the duties of clerical officers from those of clerical assistants. The general rule is that clerical officers are given more responsible clerical duties. It is not true that clerical assistants have no prospects of promotion. In fact, a promotion exercise was held in early 1972, and out of 833 clerical assistants who were eligible for consideration, 277, or 33 per cent, were promoted to clerical officers as from 1st April, 1972. 1 have already said that Government employees will get salary increases based on the National Wages Council guidelines, and it is not true therefore that the lower grades of workers in the Government sector are totally neglected.

The Member also asked about compensation for reduction of leave for officers in statutory bodies. I think this matter is being reviewed and will be the subject of further negotiations or offers by the statutory bodies.

Finally the Member mentioned the question of increase in CPF contributions from 10 to 12 per cent in 1972, resulting in a lower take-home pay. This may be true if one considers just the pay for a single month. But if the pay is taken in terms of a year, then the 13th month non-pensionable allowance, which was paid last year and again this year, more than offsets the increase in contributions to the CPF. If anyone feels that his take-home pay for the other months has been adversely affected by the increase in CPF contribution rates, he can always instruct the Accountant-General to have the total contributions for the year deducted at source from his 13th month payment. This would help in alleviating some of the hardship. I would remind the Member that, apart from the deduction from the worker's pay, the increased CPF contribution is also paid by the employer. This will result in some benefit to the worker because it can be used as payment to the Housing Board, so that lime amount which is previously paid from his salary is now substituted by the amount available from the employer's contribution.

The Member also mentioned the question of transferring workers from the pension scheme to CPF arrangements. The Government is thinking of transferring pensionable officers in Divisions III and IV to CPF terms when these have been improved. Details of this conversion are still being worked out, and I am therefore not in a position to say more at the moment.

The Member for Anson also made a very eloquent plea for the plight of civil servants, who are retiring before 31st December, to be given the 13th month payment or a proportion thereof. He also wanted to know whether I would consider increasing pension rates in view of the rising cost of living. As a pensioner myself, I have considerable sympathy for the case of pensioners, but I am afraid I will have to say no to his very eloquent pleas. I can hold out no hope of varying the decision on these cases.

He also mentioned the question of tariffs on foreign manufactured articles. The policy which Government has always adopted has been to grant tariff protection to efficient and deserving industries faced with unfair competition from foreign products, and which are able to contribute to the development of the economy. Such protection is normally given on a very selective basis so that we will be able to retain the stimulus of competition and avoid undue increases in the cost of living. The imposition of too liberal tariffs must be detrimental in the long run. The present position of manufacturing is that we are encouraging more technology-based industries, and these industries would usually have their markets abroad and would not therefore require tariff protection.

Sir, another matter which the Member for Anson raised was the question of the income tax forms. He complained that the forms are in very small print and too complicated for ordinary workers to fill in. I have considerable sympathy for the Member for Anson who, like myself and other gentlemen of advancing years, find it difficult to read what they now consider small print but which they previously found quite readable. I am informed that the print used in the income tax return is of the same size as that used in paper-backs and in certain pages of our daily news- papers which are very widely read and appear to give no difficulty to the average or younger reader. If a larger print is required, then the income tax form would run into more pages and cost considerably more. The income tax form has remained the same over the last few years and there is really no reason for the ordinary worker to be confused by the requirements. But I do not blame him if, like Professor Albert Einstein, he does not find the filling in of these income tax forms easy. I am told by the Income Tax Department, and I received it with some incredulity, that from experience they found that the majority of the forms received have been correctly completed. But if there is any difficulty in filling in the forms, the Income Tax Department is willing to offer assistance and there are officials who can help taxpayers to fill in the forms correctly.

I now come to the Member for Jurong who raised the question of societies registered under the Societies Act and the possibility of exempting them from income tax. I think he asked a similar question at Budget time last year, and T gave him a fairly lengthy reply. It seemed to be exhaustive enough. But if I may recapitulate: I confirm again that where the objects of a society registered under the Societies Act are wholly charitable and benefit the community at large, there is specific provision in the Income Tax Act for exemption of tax on its income. This then leaves us with societies which are not wholly charitable. Even among these societies, very few would be liable to income tax as tax is only liable if less than half of its receipts come from members. I think most of the receipts of the societies he mentioned have come from non-members and that it was rather painful that it should be lost in income tax. But as I said, the legislation enables us to give exemption to those societies which have more than half of its receipts from members. The rationale for this is that if the society is mainly dependent on its members for its funds and for its existence, it is not trading or profit-making.

6.45 p.m.

On the other hand, if the contributions received from non-members of the society outweigh the subscriptions collected from its members, then it can be assumed and deemed to be carrying on business and, therefore, tax is liable on any surplus in its accounts, just like any other trading organisation.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Mr Speaker, Sir, regarding the income tax form, is it right for the income tax officers to fill in the forms for the public? I repeat: the income tax officers are filling in the income tax forms for the public. Is this right?

Mr Hon Sui Sen: Yes. They will help them to fill in the forms. But, of course, they are not responsible for the contents.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: There is something wrong there. I am mentioning this because I think there is a loophole here. It is dangerous to allow the public to ask the income tax officers to fill in the forms.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to clarify one point. I feel that the Minister for Finance regards the societies registered under the Societies Act as a kind of trading concern. I think basically this is wrong. These societies have volunteered to work for the good of the community and their members. For example, they raise funds to build their own premises or to give scholarships. They raise funds to give money to their members. In the circumstances, I would like to ask whether these societies can be exempted from income tax although they are not charitable organisations as such.

Mr Hon Sui Sen: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am sure that if they are charitable organisations they would be exempted from tax. If the objects are for the benefit of the community at large, that is another condition. But if they benefit only a small group, say, the people living in one particular road, or they give scholarships to the children in the neighbourhood of say, 10 houses, obviously it is not something which is of general benefit to the community at large. In such cases we would not give exemption. In cases where the benefit is spread over the community at large, I think there would be no difficulties. I would suggest that if the Member has any particular case he could refer it to me and, if there is any doubt, then we will clarify the exact reasons why income tax exemption cannot be given.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I thank the Minister for his detailed answer to my questions. We know now that the Ministry of Finance has adopted certain measures to control the increases in the prices of commodities, and that the Government is doing something to put a stop to the rising cost of living. I believe this will help the people.

With regard to the trade deficit, he said that there was no reason for concern. I am much relieved to receive his assurance. But I feel that to allow the trade deficit to continue is not good in the long run. I hope the Government will do something to see that our trade deficit is decreased.

I beg to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The following amendment stood in the names of Messrs Sia Khoon Seong and Teong Eng Siong:

(2) That the sum to be allocated for Head 1401 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1021.

The Chairman: Mr Sia Khoon Seong is not here. Mr Teong Eng Siong.

6.50 p.m.

[Mr Deputy Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 1401 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1021.

Sir, this item relates to the Budget Division. It is a new division. I would like to make one suggestion for the consideration of the Minister. In the drafting of the Budget for the various departments, certain provisions are connected with two departments. For example, in making a loan to the Housing and Development Board, the provision is made under the Ministry of Finance vote. Therefore, in the past when the House debated on this item there was some confusion. In other words, the loan provision for the Housing and Development Board was made under the vote for the Ministry of Finance, but when Members spoke on that loan provision and made certain criticisms on the Housing and Development Board, the Minister for Finance turned round and said that this was not within his ambit as the Housing and Development Board came under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Development and that such criticisms should be directed to the Ministry of National Development. But there was no such provision under the vote for the Ministry of National Development. Hence, the confusion.

In drafting the Budget for next year, I wonder whether it is possible to place this loan provision under the vote for the Ministry of National Development, namely, "Loan to the Housing and Development Board". I do not know whether there will be any administrative difficulties in order to carry out this suggestion. We know that provision for the People's Association is put tinder the Ministry of Culture. So if provision for such an organisation can be placed under the Ministry of Culture, I would like to have this item, "Loan to the Housing and Development Board", placed under the Ministry of National Development. I hope the Minister will consider my suggestion.

Mr Hon Sui Sen: Sir, the suggestion of the Member for Sembawang has some merit in that, for better reflection of the true position, the loan provision should be made under the Ministry of National Development. I appreciate his suggestion. It is correct that if he wants details of the operations of the Housing and Development Board, then his inquiries should be directed to the Ministry of National Development. I believe he has taken every opportunity to do so in the discussion of the Estimates for the Ministry of National Development. The Member can raise a lot of questions under the provision for the Minister, in fact, any matter which relates to his Ministry.

The reason why the particular loan item appears under the Ministry of Finance is that the quantum and the terms of the loan are matters in which the Minister for Finance is involved. That means, if he wants to know why in the allocation of financial resources the Minister gave $20 million, or $30 million, or $100 million, or $300 million which is nearer what was provided, then it is the responsibility of the Minister for Finance to explain. And sometimes the Minister for Finance has to exercise the responsibility whether or not to give $300 million if he only had $200 million. That is why the provision is entered under the Ministry of Finance. Similarly, the terms and conditions under which the loans are given to the Housing and Development Board, whether it is for 20 years, 25 years, or 30 years, and so on, would be a matter under the jurisdiction of the Finance Minister. If there are any questions on this, this is the particular item under which it could be raised. But I accept the fact that perhaps matters on Housing and Development Board could also be presented under the Ministry of National Development.

As to whether it is better to present this provision under this Ministry or the other Ministry, that is a matter of judgment. I hope the Member has not been inhibited in any way by its being placed under the Ministry of Finance. The People's Association is in a somewhat different category in the sense that the Ministry of Finance does not give loans to the People's Association, and although there is a provision for the operational expenses of the People's Association, it comes under the control of the Minister for Culture.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, the Minister has said that the provision for the Housing and Development Board should perhaps come under the Ministry of National Development. However, we can easily solve the problem.

With regard to the loan provision for the Housing and Development Board, when Members move their amendments on this item they may raise questions relating to the Housing and Development Board, which comes under the Ministry of National Development. But the Minister for Finance will not be able to answer such criticisms because he is only responsible for making loans to the Housing and Development Board. He is not responsible for the detailed working of the Housing and Development Board. In past debates it has been found difficult whether to confine the debate to the Ministry of National Development or to the Ministry of Finance.

7.00 p.m.

According to the Minister for Finance, the People's Association is in a different position because the Ministry of Finance does not make any loan to the People's Association. On principle, this should not be different because the Ministry of Finance makes a loan to any department. It is a loan in the account books and it can claim repayment of the loan. I feel that there should be some arrangement between one department and another department. Perhaps this will only involve a change in the name of one department only. But the Minister may have other technical difficulties and may have to consult other departments. However, I am patient enough to wait.

Since the Minister has said that my suggestion has some merit, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 1401 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 11*. (* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Ho Kah Leong.)

Sir, the provision for this subhead is $140,200,000 and this is a loan to the Jurong Town Corporation. The Jurong industrial estate has become famous and is a pride to the nation. Many development projects have been carried out. To me, it does not matter whether the industrial estate is in Sembawang or in Jurong.

Sir, I would like to ask the Minister how this huge provision of $140,200,000 is to be utilised. I hope the Minister can give me a detailed answer.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Sir, I am grateful to the Member for Sembawang for his lavish praises on Jurong. However, I feel that there is room for improvement in the development of Jurong Town. I would like to ask some questions relating to the development of Jurong Town.

There are two types of flats in Jurong Town; one is low-cost housing and the other is executive housing. Priority is given to workers in Jurong. Low-cost flats can be purchased with CPF contributions. But one cannot utilise his CPF contributions for the purchase of executive flats. The first few blocks of executive flats were sold a few years ago at a price of $33,000 per unit. The second lot is about to be sold, and I understand that the price per unit is $38,000 upwards. To purchase an executive flat, one has to make a down payment of 20 per cent of the selling price. Not every executive can afford such a big sum of money for the down payment for the purchase of executive flats. I understand that the Housing Board is building five-room flats, and the price of these flats in the urban areas is around $30,000 per unit. These HDB five-room flats are about the same as those executive flats in Jurong. I do not understand why one can utilise his CPF contributions for the purchase of five-room flats but one cannot utilise his CPF contributions for the purchase of executive flats in Jurong. I would like the Minister concerned to explain to the House the reasons for this difference.

My second point is related to children's playgrounds in Jurong. There are about 40,000 people living in Jurong but there are only three children's playgrounds. One playground is still in good condition, but the other two are unfortunately in a state of disrepair. The play-things like the swings and the other equipment are already damaged. I feel that the people in Jurong do not have sufficient recreational facilities. The ground floor of the blocks of flats cannot be used as a playground for the children, as is the case with the new blocks of Housing Board flats. I would like to ask the Minister whether the flats to be built in Jurong will have playground facilities for children on the ground floor.

Sir, my third point is related to the question of hygiene and health in Jurong. The environmental condition in Jurong is getting from bad to worse. I know that the cleaning up or sweeping of public places and the collection of refuse in Jurong is done by contractors. If the contractors are not able to employ enough workers to carry out the job, perhaps because they pay very low wages or for any other reason, the result is that the drains are clogged up and rubbish begins to pile up in these public places. Sir, Jurong Town, as pointed out by the Member for Sembawang, is a model industrial estate in Singapore. It has attracted many tourists from abroad. If all these untidy and dirty conditions prevail, it will leave a bad impression on the tourists. I would like to ask the Minister to request the Jurong Town Corporation to pay more attention to environmental hygiene in Jurong. If the contractors are not doing their job, change them and get new contractors.

Mr Hon Sui Sen: Sir, the provision of $140.2 million for the Jurong Town Corporation is required to partly pay for an expenditure of $189 million in development projects. The surplus of the Jurong Town Corporation is sufficient to supply $48.8 million, to make up the total of $189 million for development projects.

During the financial year 1973-74, the projects which are intended to be carried out are as follows. Firstly, industrial projects: -

(a) Industrial projects in Jurong Town - about 1,000 acres of land with the necessary infrastructure will be prepared, and over 40 standard factories built.

(b) Industrial projects in other industrial estates, covering a total area of 268 acres to be prepared. They are as follows: Acres Ayer Rajah 61 Telok Blangah 10 Kallang Basin, including Kolam Ayer 180 Toa Payoh 17 --- Total 268 ===

In addition, seven blocks of multi-storey factories will be completed and construction of another six will commence.

(c) Work on the extension of the Jurong Port to add another 3,000 feet of deep-water berths will commence.

Secondly, housing projects: -

(1) Over 5,000 units of low-cost flats will be completed, and another 5,000 units will be built on 220 acres of land at Neighbourhood II, Jurong Town. In addition, construction of over 4,000 units of flats on 94 acres at Kampung Java Teban, Jurong Town, will commence.

(2) In Sembawang, 528 units of low-cost housing will be completed, and construction of another 572 units will commence covering 17 acres.

(3) On executive housing, over 3,000 units designed in the condominium standard will be built in Jurong Town, covering 10 acres.

Thirdly, social amenities. The Chinese Garden and the sports complex in Jurong Town will be completed in 1974.

Fourthly, the Jurong Town Hall will be completed by the end of 1973.

As for the question on executive flats asked by the Member for Jurong, the purchaser of such flats is not allowed to make use of his CPF contributions. The reason for this is quite simple. The CPF contributions are only allowed to be used for low-cost housing, and these $38,000-units are not in the low-cost housing class.

7.15 p.m.

I think the Member made a comparison with the five-room flats of the Housing Board. These are in a slightly different category. They are lower priced for one thing, and for another, they are still limited to people with combined family incomes of $1,500 per month and under. So the regulation still is that CPF contributions can only be used for purchase of a low-cost flat constructed by the Housing and Development Board or the Jurong Town Corporation. The JTC executive flat is intended for the need of the professional and managerial staff in the higher income group.

The Member also asked about the children's playground in Jurong. There are at present three children's playgrounds in the residential area in Neighbourhood I. He said that a lot of the equipment, swings and so on, is damaged. If so, the attention of the Jurong Town Corporation should be brought to bear on this problem and to have the damage repaired. The Jurong Town Corporation is, however, planning seven more playgrounds in Neighbourhood II, four of which will be completed in 1973-74 and the rest in 1974-75. In addition, the Jurong Park with 80 acres of park land will be opened soon to provide added recreational amenities for the children living in Jurong Town. The Member for Jurong is really more fortunate than most other Members in this House, so far as recreational facilities are concerned.

Then he spoke of the problem of taking measures regarding hygiene in the residential areas within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Environment. Therefore, this is not so much a problem for the Jurong Town Corporation. Enforcement measures are taken by the Ministry. The Corporation, however, works very closely with the Ministry, and has assisted in this matter since some of the Corporation officers, 24 in the supervisory and technical grades, have been empowered to ticket offenders. The number will be increased, if necessary, to cope with the problem.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, I thank the Minister for giving us a detailed reply. I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The following amendments stood on the Order Paper

Supplement - Dr Tan Eng Liang: Mr Teong Eng Siong: Mr Lai Tha Chai: Mr Ho Kah Leong: (4) That the sum to be allocated for Head 1401 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 13. Mr Ng Kah Ting: (5) That the sum to be allocated for Head 1401 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 14. (6) That the sum to be allocated for Head 1401 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 17. Dr Tan Eng Liang: Mr Ho Kah Leong: Mr Ng Kah Ting: (7) That the sum to be allocated for Head 1401 be reduced by $10 subhead 47.

The Chairman: Amendment (4), Dr Tan.

Dr Tan Eng Liang (River Valley): I am not moving, Sir.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: I am not moving, Sir.

The Chairman: Mr Lai is not here. Mr Ho.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: I am not moving, Sir.

The Chairman: Amendments (5) and (6). Mr Ng is not here. Amendment No. (7), Dr Tan.

Dr Tan Eng Liang: I am not moving, Sir.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 1401 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 47.

This provision is for Housing Scheme for Public Officers. I would like to ask the Minister concerned a very simple question. Are teachers and employees in Government-aided schools entitled to the benefits of this housing scheme?

Mr Hon Sui Sen: Sir, the housing scheme for public officers is a pilot scheme. At the moment it is intended for Government officers and officers of statutory boards, of whom Government is virtually the employer. It is not possible at present to extend the scheme to Government-aided institutions. These institutions are numerous and aid from Government takes many different forms. It is not possible at this stage to do anything else other than draw a line between the Government institutions and these other institutions.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Sir, I would like to ask the Minister whether the housing scheme can be extended to teachers in the Government-aided schools. We know that in the teaching profession more than half the number of teachers are employed in Government-aided schools. Those who teach in Government-aided schools have the same teaching load as their counterparts in Government schools. I am glad that the Government has already granted the same medical facilities to teachers in Government-aided schools. So, on the same ground, I think we should extend the housing scheme to the teachers in Government-aided schools.

Mr Hon Sui Sen: Sir, as to whether the scheme can be specifically extended to staff of Government-aided schools, I am afraid the answer is still no, for the reason that they are not Government servants. Even the current housing loan schemes are not extended to the Government-aided school staff so that, apart from the allocation of this housing scheme for public officers, they would not be eligible for such loans. The reason is simply that they are not Government employees. The distinction has been made, and their terms of service are not the same as Government in all respects. Maybe their teaching load is the same, but they are not subject to the same obligations, say, to be transferred from one place to another.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Sir, I am still not satisfied with the reply given by the Minister. He said that teachers in the Government-aided schools are not Government servants. I quite agree with this. However, I seem to have heard the Minister say that those officers in Divisions III and IV would be given the option to convert from the pension scheme to the Central Provident Fund Scheme. If this is done, then there is not much difference between Government and non-Government servants. The Minister also mentioned that teachers in the aided schools are not entitled to the current housing loans given by Government. So I would like to ask the Minister whether he is prepared to consider granting housing loans to the teachers of Government-aided schools.

Mr Hon Sui Sen: Sir, I do not think that consideration can be given at this stage. That answer should be sufficient. Whether or not they deserve to be given a scheme is not an appropriate matter to discuss under this particular subhead. Whether aided school staff should be given the same facilities as all Government officers is something which should be taken up, first of all, at Ministry level, before he comes to this more specific question. As you can see, Sir, the title to this item is "Housing Scheme for Public Officers". Therefore, whether the teachers are deserving cases and ought to get them, that is quite another matter. I am saying that at this stage it is not possible. In any case, the scheme is a pilot scheme. The number of public officers who are eligible are so numerous that we have not been able to satisfy them, so that even if we did admit teachers eventually, they will have lower priority on the basis of first come first served.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Sir, I am still not satisfied with the Minister's reply, but owing to the time limit, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head 1401 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 51.

I would like to ask the Minister to clarify one point regarding the loan to the Singapore Teachers' Union. I would like to know what is the purpose of this loan to the Singapore Teachers' Union, and what is the rate of interest charged. If other teachers' associations would like to have a loan from the Ministry will their request be considered?

Mr Hon Sui Sen: Sir, the total loan granted in December, 1972, to the Teachers' Union is a sum larger than the amount which has been provided. It is, in fact, $100,000, for which $60,000 was provided by virement this year and is expected to be drawn before the end of the current financial year. The loan is to help finance part of the cost of the Teachers' Centre project in the Teachers Housing Estate at 12 1/2 m.s. Yio Chu Kang Road. The Centre, estimated to cost $1.5 million, will include library, educational and research facilities, and is expected to serve as a focal point for teachers in professional, social and recreational activities. Members will surely agree that this is a project which is worthy of support not only by teachers but also by the Government.

As to whether the privilege of a similar nature will be extended to others, each case will have to be examined on its merits. Where the projects are sound, and where self-help is evident, and prospects of repayment of the loan are reasonably good, consideration will be given to loan applications.

7.30 p.m.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Sir, I asked a question about the rate of interest. What is the rate of interest for this particular loan? The Minister has not replied to this question.

Mr Hon Sui Sen: Sir, the loan is repayable at an interest rate of six per cent per annum. Repayment will be made by annual instalments over a period of five years, in accordance with the annuity method of repayment.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): I thank the Minister for his reply, and I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The sum of $368,326,810 for Head 1401 ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates.

The sum of $847,090,310 for Head 1401 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

The following amendments stood on the Order Paper Supplement: Head 1402 - Mr P. Govindaswamy: That the sum to be allocated for Head 1402 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1001. Head 1404 - Mr P. Govindaswamy: (1) That the sum to be allocated for Head 1404 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1001. Mr Ng Kah Ting: (2) That the sum to be allocated for Head 1404 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 3003. Head 1406 - Mr J. F. Conceicao: That the sum to be allocated for Head 1406 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1001. Head 1407 - Mr P. Govindaswamy: That the sum to be allocated for Head 1407 be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead 1001.

The Chairman: Those Members, who have given notices of amendment under Heads 1402, 1404, 1406 and 1407, have indicated that they are not moving. I shall, therefore, put the Question on each Head of Expenditure.

Head 1402 -

The sum of $4,050,240 for Head 1402 ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates.

Head 1404 -

The sum of $2,113,860 for Head 1404 ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $65,000 for Head 1404 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 1406 -

The sum of $9,316,800 for Head 1406 ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates. The sum of $900,000 for Head 1406 ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head 1407 -

The sum of $8,543,020 for Head 1407 ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates.